Shore Leave: Sisters in Arms

[Gheskori]

USS Enzio, approaching Starbase 47

The arrival of the USS Crozet in its mission to relieve the USS Enzio had ended the battle. Seeing the Enzio's sister ship, the three Breen vessels had beaten into full retreat, warping out of the system. A quick calculation of the warp vectors had shown the warships heading in the general direction of the Breen homeworld, and whatever news they'd carry back would, for the time being, remain unknown. The system's political situation had not been penetrated enough to find out.

Now the two Prometheus class vessels, both on their first assignments were flying in formation back to sector headquarters. They were half an hour out from Starbase 47.

Captain Gheskori and his first officer had had dinner with Captain Mikhailov, along with the Russian Captain's own XO. Now Ghes, somewhat full and moving slowly along the senior officers' living deck, approached the quarters of one of his staff. He pressed the chime; getting nothing, pressed again several times. When the silence persisted he pressed his commbadge.

"Computer, locate Commander Tiana Galwyn Cet."

He entered the science lab, surprised at having to make the several-deck diversion but, seeing the lights on full illumination, interested and appreciative of his science officer's apparent attention to duty.

"Working late, Tiana?" he called, seeing the Trill in the corner of the laboratory, seemingly deep in thought studying a console, with a plethora of scientific instruments and specimens arrayed about her.

"I've just come to ask." Ghes took to leaning on one of the counters lining the walll; he hoped he hadn't too greatly disturbed his officer. "Do you know of Representative Ryat's intentions regarding her recommendation to the Symbiosis Commission? I'm afraid I've been kept awfully in the dark over these matters.

"I wouldn't mind and in fact didn't, if you consider our recent crisis. But it's time she made her report to me as well as the Commission, one way or the other." He paused, before quipping, "For my peace of mind if anything."

<Tag Tiana>

& <Tag All> - We are on shore leave for 2 weeks now at Starbase 47. Fill your time in any manner you choose but I do of course expect posting, unless people are on LOA

[Deleted]

Numike's face scrunched up in concentration as she hefted the, for her still slightly too heavy sword. It was a real sword at that, which had surprised her when Savin had given it to her. Her pale blue eyes sparkled with delight as she saw her brother's brief distraction when a female crewman walked by. Shifting her weight to her other foot, she swung the sword around, aiming for his side.

Savin caught the glint of metal from the corner of his eye and stepped back just in time. The tip of her sword only caught fabric, leaving a rip in his tunic. "Very good," he commented, "use your opponent's distraction to your advantage." He stared down at the little girl, giving her his full attention now. "Try again."

"You have an advantage I don't have," she argued, "you are a good deal taller than me." Numike stared up at her tall brother, knowing her argument was valid. The fight as unfair from a start as he was older, much more experienced, and much taller. She only reached to halfway up his chest, and that was if she was standing up all stretched out and as straight as possible.

"You will grow into your proper height yet little sister," Savin answered calmly, "now, are you going to bore me to death with your complaints, or are you going to try and defeat me." He knew she could do it, she had done it before.

Numike just shook her head. "I don't know," she muttered as she turned away, lowering the sword. She knew Savin was studying her, but she was waiting for him to let his guard down. While she was no telepath of any kind, her senses were just as keen as his and she didn't have to wait long. After a few seconds, she pivoted and flicked the tip of her weapon across his cheek. Delighted, she saw the surprise in his eyes as she pressed her attack. She jumped, causing him to lose his balance and fall back, his weapon sent spinning across the mat, only to come to a halt a mere few centimeters from a bystander's foot. Sat on his chest, weapon held at his throat, she grinned down at him, fangs bared. "Give?" she asked innocently, her smile feral.

Savin, not having expected such an unorthodox method, lay very still, the cut on his cheek still stinging. He blinked up at her, then quietly pushed the sword aside. That is, he tried to because it wouldn't budge. Any other movement could result in further injury, other than that done to his pride. To lose from an eight year old girl was somewhat embarassing, even to a Vulcan. And with Numike, he knew to be careful because her response could even be more unpredictable than any other opponent. At least, he reasoned, she hadn't gone for his throat this time. "Well done," he spoke softly, "I yield." A sigh of relief escaped him when the weapon was lifted from his throat, but the girl didn't move.

Instead, she moved her face closer to his, still pinning him to the floor, her hands now resting on his wrists. She was clearly enjoying her small victory. "I am not little," she hissed in his ear, knowing that this close, he could hear her. Especially, since skin was touching skin, she also knew he could sense it. Her lips grazed the bleeding cut, enjoying the coppery taste for a second. She felt him stiffen and knew that he could throw her off any second now. He would, if she went too far, and she knew she was getting close. So she sat back and released him, her eyes continuing to sparkle ferally. She'd had a taste of blood, she wanted more.

"Desist!" Savin ordered sharply as he sat up. His gaze hardened as it settled on her. "You will not feed." Jaw set, he held her gaze, willing her to obey. He fell back when she launched herself at him, teeth sinking into his throat. He gasped in pain, as he tried to catch his fall. A quickly applied nerve pinch had the girl fall limply on top of him, and two bystanders lifted her off him.

"Are you all right doctor?" one asked, kneeling beside him. Savin nodded numbly, eyes on the unconscious girl. "Are you sure, you are bleeding."

"I am...fine," Savin responded as he got back to his feet. "I will take her to sickbay, she must be ill, to attack me in this manner. Clean up here, please." He lifted her up in his arms and carried her out. "I will return for my weapons later," he told the crewman who had assisted, before actually leaving the gym.

[Tiana Galwyn Cet]

Tiana Galwyn

Tiana had left the bridge as soon as there was another member of the science staff available to relieve her. She had dutifully returned to sickbay and received some pointed looks from the medical staff but she had submitted to their tests and had done her best to be a good patient. She had ended up getting a few hours sleep in sickbay before she had been formally cleared for duty although she had a suspicion that they had been ensuring that she got some sleep before allowing her to leave. Not that she was going to complain.

After leaving sickbay she returned to her quarters, she debated getting some more sleep but knew that she wouldn't be happy until she had check the labs out properly. She settled for a shower, a change of uniform and a large mug of coffee. Not ideal but it would do for the moment.

=/\= Reprecentative Ryat to Commander Galwyn Cet =/\= Tiana tapped her comm badge in response. She was just leaving her quarters. =/\=Commander Galwyn here Representative =/\=

=/\=My transport will be arriving shortly. I wanted to thank you for your co operation in this. I will do my best to ensure that the Commission don't keep you in suspense too long. I'm in transporter room one. =/\= Tiana took the hint and went to see Elliane off.

The older woman was standing by the transporter pad with her bag over her shoulder when Tiana arrived. "I'm very glad we met I just wish it had been under other circumstances." Elliane said. She mouth quirked into a slightly dangerous smile. "I pity the commission if they ever have to deal with both of us."

That made Tiana smile. "Thank you for all the efforts you are putting in Elliane." The transporter chief signalled that the transport was waiting.

Elliane sighed "I've left a time locked copy of my report for both you and the Captain. I'm not allowed to give you the report before the Commission but this way you'll get them at the same time."

"Thank You Elliane. Tiana said


"Good bye and fair winds, Tiana." She gave Tiana a brief hug and then stepped up on the platform while Tiana recovered from the surprise.

"Good bye and fair winds." Tiana echoed. She smiled and waved as Elliane dissolved in a transporter haze. Elliane was an interesting character and Tiana hoped to meet her again someday. She was however glad that the pressure was off.

Tiana went to the science lab and started checking things over. she didn't like the chill that tickled the back of her neck when she stepped through the door. This was her lab and no one was going to take that away from her.

Sometime later she heard the door swoosh open and looked up to see the Captain enter.


"Working late, Tiana?" he called, Tiana smiled. "Late or early, I'm not really sure any more, sir." She sighed "I need to get things sorted after what happened to me and my team."


"I've just come to ask." Ghes took to leaning on one of the counters "Do you know of Representative Ryat's intentions regarding her recommendation to the Symbiosis Commission? I'm afraid I've been kept awfully in the dark over these matters. I wouldn't mind and in fact didn't, if you consider our recent crisis. But it's time she made her report to me as well as the Commission, one way or the other." He paused, before quipping, "For my peace of mind if anything."

Tiana scuffed a hand across her eyes. Why was everything so hard to talk about? "Representative Ryat has left us both timelocked copies of her report. So we get the information at the same time as the Commission. Even then the Commission can decide to over rule her recommendations. I should be informed in the next few days." She sighed. "I will inform you as soon as the Commission lets me know."

Tag: Ghes

[Gheskori]

"Thank you," Ghes said after a pause. He was put off his stride for a moment, having thought somewhat foolishly that he'd get some sort of instant result from this whole matter, and that he could bury the issue in just one visit to the science lab.

Things were never that simple, he knew he had to accept. But Ryat had left the ship and was presently en route back to Trill, hence, Ghes hoped, the results of her report would come soon.

He looked around the empty science lab; the dimmed lights and unoccupied stations seemed somewhat poignant in light of what'd recently happened. "I'd advise getting some more rest, Tiana; we're on shore leave now for a week... Before command sees fit to send us out again."

<Tag Tiana?>

He smiled once and departed the science lab, started making his way towards the bridge. The Enzio and the Crozet would soon be docking at Starbase 47 and Ghes thought it proper that the Captain should be on the bridge, in order to close off the mission proceedings properly upon the vessel's return from its first assignment. He passed by his route's intersection with that of the main route to sickbay, and upon doing so came upon the CMO's son, Savin, who was carrying his adopted younger sister.

He saw the spattering of green, a vibrant shade pulsing gently across Savin's neck; and also smeared on his cheek.

"Savin? You're injured." He blurted out somewhat unnecessarily.

As Savin turned it became obvious that his sister was unconscious. Ghes looked both of them up and down as the vulcan slowed to stop, but then still moved onwards towards - Ghes assumed - sickbay. Shockingly, there was green blood, vulcan blood, smeared around the child's mouth as well. Ghes eyed them both quizzically.

"Did she do this to you, Savin?" he asked as the young vulcan gave him a sideways look. Savin seemed in Ghes's opinion, slightly weakened as he walked the corridor. "What happened, have you called for help??"

<Tag Savin>

---

Later...

The Enzio slipped into final approach - making it at little more than twenty percent thrusters - to its mooring in Starbase 47's main docking bay. The pale blue rectangles of the bay windows slipped by steadily on the portside, and then with decreasing relative speed as the Prometheus class ship slowed its approach to the docking vestibule. Grey light shadowed its hull, snaking across the smoothed three-part hull and the four-nacelle configuration.

"Decrease thrust and hold at twenty metres per second, Ensign." Ghes ordered the helmsman, rising to his feet from the command chair. "Dockmaster, this is the USS Enzio, we are ready to engage umbilicals."

The response came in the green and Ghes smiled. He'd taken it upon himself to conduct the ship's docking, feeling responsible for her safe arrival back at base - and for the people under his command whom he'd managed to guide back home. Of course, the crew had done it themselves - being the incredibly resourceful group they were - but he couldn't help but feel a patriarchal protection for them all (thus it was he was sad at the impending departure of Ensign Wolf, but he consoled himself that a new tactical officer, one Ensign Tan, awaited them on base).

<Tag YiZhong Tan - we're soon to dock, but you may post as if we've docked and have come aboard the station>

There was the distant sound of interlocking mechanical umbilicals, engaging briefly for a number of seconds, before the whole ship became perceptibly more still, locked in the safe embrace of the station at last.

Ghes turned around and pressed the ship-wide intercom button. "All crew this is the Captain. There is full shore leave available to all of you for the next week. After that period, I'm afraid we've been strictly bound to our next assignment which will begin immediately. In the mean time however, you may relax."

<Tag All>

The Denobulan grinned, sitting in his seat as officers started filtering off the bridge. Parsons was sat in his seat running hard-dock checks, and Ghes got an idea. His reports, and those meetings with the flag officers he'd had scheduled could wait for a time. He did make a mental note though, to first check on Saryn and how his son and daughter were. "Commander Parsons, would you care to join me on the base? I thought the Captain and first officer could spend some time perhaps getting to know one another a little better." He stood and stretched. "It may come in useful. Where shall we go? Your choice."

<Tag Parsons><Tag Matthew, too, let's make this a senior officer gathering>

[Deleted]

Ensign William Walters stood by one of the expansive observation windows that lined the docking areas of Starbase 47 and watched the different ships fly by, hands clasped behind his back. Thanks to his prior work on the Lunar shuttles he was quite familiar with the workings of starports, but this was a scale beyond his experience. The largest ship he had watched on Luna was no bigger than a medium-sized passenger ship. Now he watched some of the largest vessels ever built in the Federation fly past.

A double-tapped bell ring played over the intercom followed by an announcement. “USS Enzio arriving.” His new Starfleet training took over and Will found himself shifting into attention as the Prometheus-class starship passed into view. Despite his slight formality, he was smiling. She's all mine... Admittedly he had been surprised to be assigned as the chief engineer of a modern warship, but now that he saw her in person the surprise was replaced by excitement.

As the Enzio took its place in the ensign noted the slight warping along the upper decks of the saucer section, and what looked like a hint of scoring near the bridge module. He made some mental notes to check those first then grabbed his bag, tossing it over his shoulder. It was time to get to work.

***

The Enzio may have been a warship but the computer was still its usual friendly self, more than willing to tell Will where the captain was. Stashing his bag into a spare locker for the moment, he followed the computer’s directions to his new boss.

“Excuse me, Captain? I’m Ensign William Walters, your new Chief Engineer. I’m here to report for duty.”

<Tag Ghes>

[Gheskori]

Ghes dropped the PADD before him on to the desk, looking up in considerable surprise. He'd been expecting his new tactical officer, but here was the chief engineer, beating his fellow new officer to the punch. Perhaps he'd find Ensign Tan on the station.

Ghes smiled. "Ah, excellent." He stood from behind his ready room desk and moved to shake the man's hand, in what was a rare acceptance of skin contact for a Denobulan. "Welcome to the ship, Ensign Walters. Captain Gheskori, Commanding Officer. We've only just arrived.. have you had time to stow your gear?"

<Tag Walters>

Retaking his seat, Ghes took a moment to try and size the man up. In the brief look he'd allowed himself at Walters' record - due to the sheer amount of post-mission reports he'd had to file - he'd seen that the man had been born on the humans' satellite moon. There was nothing about his physique that indicated he'd been raised in a low-gravity environment, which Ghes supposed was a testament to the physical training Starfleet officers underwent.

The ready room felt stifling to Ghes at this moment; he'd received a high priority call from the sector command on the base, and had told Adam to go on ahead to the station while he dealt with it.

Ghes nodded at Walters. "Our next assignment," he said tapping the computer device on his desk, "Is three days away. Command has seen fit to move it forward, so they must be really desperate." He laughed, "You may spend that time as if on shore leave or as preparation for the new mission. I suppose you might want to reshuffle the engineering team..."

<Tag Walters>

Not knowing fully what was on the engineer's mind, Ghes looked him in the eye. "Anything else?"

[Deleted]

Ghes smiled. "Ah, excellent." He stood from behind his ready room desk and moved to shake the man's hand, in what was a rare acceptance of skin contact for a Denobulan. "Welcome to the ship, Ensign Walters. Captain Gheskori, Commanding Officer. We've only just arrived.. have you had time to stow your gear?"

Ensign Walters chuckled at the question. “I took the liberty to commandeer a storage locker for the moment. Since the ship just arrived at Spacedock I didn’t know if I had been assigned quarters yet.

Ghes nodded at Walters. "Our next assignment," he said tapping the computer device on his desk, "Is three days away. Command has seen fit to move it forward, so they must be really desperate." He laughed, "You may spend that time as if on shore leave or as preparation for the new mission. I suppose you might want to reshuffle the engineering team..."

Shaking his head a little bit, “I noticed some damage on the top of the saucer so I’ll see to that. While I haven’t been on leave since graduation I’ve spent more time than I wanted in transit so I figured I better get to work. I’ll use this project to see if I want to make any changes to the engineering staff.”

Ghes looked him in the eye. "Anything else?"

“Not right now sir.” Walters returned the look, hoping that the slight uneasiness that was creeping into his resolve didn’t show. “Just that I want to say that it’s a pleasure to be here.

Once he was dismissed Will strode out of the captain’s ready room, sighed in relief, and took the turbolift back to his bag so that he could find his quarters.

[Gheskori]

"Excuse me... Excuse me!"

The dark confines of the bar were getting to Ghes which was slightly unusual for him. He squeezed himself between two people at the bar, and tried to get the bartender's attention one more time. "Excuse me."

He could not see the man's face very well, shadows and the general smog of the place obscuring his sight. "Have you had any other Starfleet officers in here recently? Two reasonably tall gentlemen?" he asked.

The man seemed to think for a moment before pointing back over Ghes's shoulder, out of the bar and left down the promenade. The Denobulan thanked him, leaving the bar by necessarily pushing through the large throng of people shuffling toward the bar area. He frowned upon making the exit, turning back somewhat mystified. He couldn't remember there being such a busy and suffocating establishment on the promenade, with no Starfleeters in sight.

He continued his search for Commanders Parsons and Matthew; they were sure to be here somewhere and could not be far ahead. He'd asked the computer their locations and received the answer, but that only narrowed it down to a particular hundred square metre area of the promenade. But there they were; they were obscured by the moving crowds but were clearly his officers, standing by a stall on the right hand side of the concourse.

"Sir. I beg your pardon, sir, are you Captain Gheskori."

Ghes sighed upon hearing his name; there was little peace to be had. He however turned gracefully and raised the common gregarious smile to his face. "Yes, indeed," he told the Starfleet aide who was now in front of him.

"You're wanted immediately by Admiral Hurtado, sir."

The aide handed him a PADD of orders which he looked over quickly. Upon the first written sentence he knew what it was about. Eyes stared off into the distance briefly, "Very well, Ensign." With a final look over his shoulder to his command crew he headed for the command department.

---

"Captain," the Admiral said; his slightly bulky frame rose from behid his desk, moving forward to shake Ghes's hand much as Ghes had done for William Walters earlier in the day.

"Admiral Hurtado," Ghes accepted the shake. "Are we leaving even sooner than expected?"

"Aye Captain." Sitting down again, the Latin American offered him the seat opposite and struck him a glance. "How are your new officers settling in?"

Ghes grinned widely, helping himself to the coffee flask on the desk. "Well enough sir, in one of their cases anyway. I've yet to make the acquaintance of my new tactical officer, but Ensign Walters has taken well to his engineering tasks. The Enzio needs some touching up and repair work before we head out again."

The sound of the Admiral tapping the edge of his desk filled the ensuing pause for silence. "Yes..." he said wistfully. "I'm afraid he'll have to do it while your ship's on the move, Captain. Jupiter will not wait."

OOC: Shore leave is soon ending, perhaps in a number of hours, so please get your posts in. I'll leave the thread open so that if you wish you may close off your shore leave while the new mission is starting.

[James T Matthew]

“Scene: USS ENZIO
“Commander James T Matthew Quarters Deck 2 “

“Computer Begin Personal LOG-------

(Star date 64556.4 )

(2nd Officer, Personal Log)

“After meeting up with The Captain And the Xo For a Quick Drink ‘I Made my way Back to the ship The Hallway and Corridors where mostly empty Except for base repair crews Most of the ship Department Heads where on shore Leave on the Base but being the ship Operations officer I was not one of them “

“Well it’s been several Days now’ sense; the Enzio had docked At S-B 47 and the Base, and Ship Yard Wasted no time they had repair Crews on board as soon as we Dock Most of the Major Repairs Have Been Repair “

Which sound great but being a old Line officer’ I Know better mark my words Shore leave will be a Short One ‘I work on Five Star Bases in my Career and at most Ship Yards These Repairs would take weeks not days unless a Admiral Name on the repair request Order“

“As he lean back in his chair. James sighed as he pored over the damage reports from the battle as well as the Departmental .request for new Personal and Supplies The xo would like Theses reports on his desk by 0930 hours Tomorrow “

“I see some good news we have to new department heads coming on Board a New Chief Engineering officer /Chief Security Tactical officer this should help with the Over all Ship work load James start to fill a little Tired ill better get some Sleep and Finish this in the morning computer Set wake up call for 0256 hours .


----Computer END LOG-------

, Tag Any One >

[Deleted]

ooc: I'm not sure if Ghes followed all the way to sickbay. I'm presuming he didn't.

"Did she do this to you, Savin?" he asked as the young vulcan gave him a sideways look. Savin seemed in Ghes's opinion, slightly weakened as he walked the corridor. "What happened, have you called for help??"

For a moment, the young Vulcan just stared at him, seemingly not comprehending what was being said to him. He seemed in a state of shock, his expression drawn, his eyes a little dull as opposed to showing their normal bright and curious spark. "Affirmative," he answered after a few more seconds of silence, almost as if he willed himself to respond.

He didn't stop walking, clutching the unconscious girl to him as though he feared the Denobulan might rip her from his grasp. "I was careless," he continued, equally flat, "she bit me. I have not called for assistance, I am taking her to sickbay." He turned his head away from Gheskori, fixing his gaze on the path ahead of him. He didn't seem to notice the blood on his face or on his clothes, or indeed the bloodspattered trail he was leaving behind.

By the time he reached sickbay, he no longer seemed to be aware of whether Gheskori was still following or not. He barely made it to a biobed upon which he gently and with the utmost care placed the little girl. Only then did he allow nurses to take him and help him upon another bed. And only then did he allow himself the luxury of unconsciousness.

"Doctor!" one of the attending nurses called, flagging for the CMO's attention, while she went to cut open the young man's tunic. Though she could see the source of the bleeding, she still needed to be sure it was just that. Plus, she knew it might just help him breathe. "Your son..."

Saryn walked out of his office, seeming in no hurry. "Explain."

The nurse indicated the two unconscious individuals. "I can't see anything wrong with your daughter, she almost seems to be just asleep. Your son carried her here, then passed out."

The older Vulcan approached the bed which held the girl and studied her for a moment, before simply touching her temple. She gasped and bolted upright, baring her fangs in defense. Then she subsided as she spotted her father and guilt crossed her pale features. She glanced sideways over at her brother's still form and she shrank back even further. Saryn's gaze never left her as he continued to study her; he appeared unconcerned for his son at the moment. "Speak," he told her simply.

Numike glanced up, eyes filled with tears. "I hurt him," she whispered, "I didn't mean to... he... I..." She faltered, not knowing where to start.

"Of course you did not," the Vulcan stated mildly, "you would never consciously harm him. As he would not harm you. What happened."

Between gasps for breath, the girl told him exactly what happened, giving him an exact account of the event. "He was down, I had beat him," she finished, "I don't know why, but I.." She looked away, unable to say it. She had been caught in a bloodlust, despite her medication, and she felt ashamed.

Saryn did something that surprised the attending nurse, as he gathered the girl in his arms and gently rocked her. "Sir, your son," she reminded him, knowing full well that the doctor tended to his own offspring rather than allowing a nurse to do it for him. In that aspect, he seemed both protective and possessive of both.

"Be quiet," the Vulcan told her, "you may return to your duties nurse." When the nurse had left, he eased his daughter back on the bed. "Rest here and remain quiet, while I attend to Savin. Do not come near." He patted her shoulder before turning his attention to his son. With a damp cloth he wiped away the blood from his face and neck to assess the extend of the damage. The wound had stopped bleeding but Saryn knew that Savin had lost a good deal by walking here rather than requesting site to site transport. Like him, however, Savin didn't trust transporter technology enough yet to completely confide in it. Reaching for a dermal regenerator - a very nifty and useful tool, Saryn found - the doctor set to closing the wound for the most part, then dressed it so that it wasn't too noticeable, and it wouldn't get infected while the skin did it's own further healing.

"Savin.." Saryn gently shook his son, though he knew the younger man couldn't hear him. Gently he placed the fingers of his left hand across the younger man's brow, sending his mind forth. Saryn knew that Savin was the stronger telepath, and encouraged him to develop his skill, despite being still a little skittish about acknowledging the fact that they were telepaths. He was just accepting that in this century it was common for Vulcans to display telepathic skills, and that it was accepted. Where he came from, the taboo was still there, despite the repercussions of it having been lifted. "Savin, wake up. The danger is past. You are safe."

Savin stirred and slowly opened his eyes, though he made no effort to get up. "Numike?" he asked, his voice a bare whisper.

"She is fine, she told me what happened. Rest for a moment."

"Captain Gheskori.." Savin hesitated. "He was walking with me, but then he was gone. He saw me..."

"Rest. I will summon the captain and speak with him. You will rest here, and we will not discuss this incident again. It is forgiven and it is past, agreed?"

Savin offered a small nod. He could not be anything but forgiving towards his young sibling; she lacked training and that was exactly what he had been attempting to provide. And children this young as she, they were prone to slipping up. He knew he had, many times, when he was but eight years old. Of course, he was mostly deaf so he did need to emote to get his point across. I cannot blame her, ever he signed covertly the mistake was mine to make. It will likely happen again, but I will not chastise her for it. She is young.

Agreed Saryn signaled back, before heading to his office. "Captain Gheskori, this is Saryn. Do you have a moment to speak?"

[Deleted]

The only normal sound Ensign William Walters could hear was the muted thump of his booted feet on the hull and the echo of his breathing. A good chunk of his class hated being in EVA suits, but he loved it. Granted, most of them didn’t grow up in a place where going outside into vacuum was a common pastime. He looked up and watched the local Sunlight creep across Starbase 47’s hull for a moment, but the comm chimed, a voice filling his helmet. =^=I’m in position Ensign, can you guide me in?=^=

Will looked back to the open hull and then up to the workbee hovering nearby, new hull plates in its grip. =^=Sure thing 04. Roll 20° starboard, pitch 15, then yaw 35 and you should have it.=^= The workbee moved in all 3 dimensions and Will nodded. =^=Ok, come forward slowly.=^= As the bee glided towards the Enzio’s hull he gave small corrections to its orientation and speed. Soon enough, the hull plates slid into place and Will and a few others saw to fusing them into place.

As he worked, Ensign Walters thought of the hull that had been damaged. Whatever weapon it was the Breen had fired at the ship passed close enough to flash-heat the metals, causing them to buckle from the sudden thermal expansion. It wasn’t a hit in any definition of the word, but the damage was appreciable. The breach on Deck 12 showed just how much more damage the Breen could do when they did score a hit. Will shuddered at the thought of being in that section at the time.

=^=Sickbay to Ensign Walters.=^=

The call caught him by surprise. =^=Walters here.=^=

=^=Ensign, report to Sickbay as soon as possible. We need to do your transfer physical.=^=

He sighed. =^=Yes ma’am. Walters out.=^= He went back to fusing the hull plates, wondering what the chances are that Sickbay would forget about him.

[Tiana Galwyn Cet]

"I'd advise getting some more rest, Tiana; we're on shore leave now for a week... Before command sees fit to send us out again."

Tiana managed a half smile at the Captain's words, her last shore leave hadn't gone all that well due to the explosions on base and trying to adjust to Cet. But that was in the past now.

"I shall do my best, sir. I just want to finish up here. I'm installing a few surprises in case anyone attempts anything like that again. My staff are all out of danger now. I don't know why I recovered first but ..." Tiana sighed unsure of where her sentence was heading and not particularly liking any of the options that occurred to her. She tapped the last few buttons locking her new emergency subroutines in place. She got to her feet and swayed slightly, yes she was tired.

She gestured for the Captain to proceed her and they both left the lab. "I shall return to my quarters now and make a start on that rest." She smiled, a genuine full smile this time. "Thank-you Captain... Ghes."

Tiana made it back her quarters and just about found the energy to pull off her boots before collapsing into bed.

Tag: anyone who wants to disturb Tiana