Mission 09: Silver Lining

[Crystal Rose]

Crystal had just cracked the first layer of security on the controls and she didn’t think it would take her too much longer to get through the rest. She heard the whine of a phaser being fired. She whirled round just in time to see the ceiling give way. Perhaps she should have been a little more specific about the use of brute force but she hadn’t thought any of the team would be crazy enough to use a phaser around power conduits. Obviously she had been wrong. Still, based on what the screen was telling her that crazy action had worked perfectly, at least so far as the power to the energy field was concerned.

Suddenly she was aware that at least two people had come down with the ceiling and one more was descending via a rope.

=/\=Helacaan to USS Olympia. I'm in the chamber.=/\=

Crystal was puzzled, she didn’t know anyone on the Oly called Helacaan. There might be a few names on the ship that she didn’t know but the face was unknown to her as well. It was puzzling that he hadn’t prefaced his name with a rank. There weren’t many civilians on the Oly and none of them should be on a rescue mission…

=/\=The Chief is dead sir...just glad communications seem functional sir. To a degree at least....now how about the generators to the weapons coils firing at your ship?=/\=

"Sir, is that you?" Lt Meshers said.

That was interesting… Crystal liked puzzles.

"You know this man?" said Martins.

"Let me guess" said Lenny, disbelief slowly draining out and comprehension flooding in. "You're our rescue party?"

Crystal’s eyebrows rose she walked over. Her boots clacking on the floor and causing everyone to glance in her direction.

“I’m Crystal Rose, the Olympia’s FO. The generators that were powering the shield and weapons are dead.”

She suspected that the Admiral could hear her over the open comm link.

“I think we’re all ready to go back up, Mr Helacaan.”

Crystal tagged into the comm link.

=/\= Olympia, we’ve got four to go to sickbay. Please be ready..=/\=

She glanced around at the party. “Any objections?”

Tag: All

Maxtus squeaked as the away team gathered together. “Please don’t leave me. I haven’t got anywhere else to go.”

Crystal sighed. =/\=Commander Rose to Olympia, One more to be brought aboard. Biopattern being transmitted now.=/\=

“Ready?” Crystal didn’t do things this slowly but with this many hurt….

=/\=Olympia, beam us up=/\=

Tag: All

[Deleted]

Steve was sat on the Bridge, awaiting for news from Seth, or in fact from anyone else. To say he was anxious to get his crew back and out of this place was an understatement.

It wasn't long however, that he got his wish, as an incoming comm signal alert him.

=/\= Olympia, we’ve got four to go to sickbay. Please be ready..=/\=

'Four??' Steve thought. A lot more than just four people went down. He wanted to know what had happened, but those answers could wait.

=/\=Commander Rose to Olympia, One more to be brought aboard. Biopattern being transmitted now.=/\=

Steve frowned. One more person coming up, and it was obvious it wasn't another of the Oly crew....why else would their biopattern need to be transmitted?

=/\=Olympia, beam us up=/\=

Steve nodded to the relief Tactical officer to begin the beaming process, before getting up out his chair and walking to the rear of the Bridge. "I'll be in Transporter Room 1." He called over his shoulder as he left.

The walk to the transporter room didn't take too long. Over the years, Steve had perfected that particular walk, and he was sure he could do it with his eyes closed.

The doors to the transporter room opened, and Steve walked in as the Away Team were getting off the pad and checking themselves out.

He approached Commander Rose. "I know you have only just got back, Commander. But please, report."

[Seth Helacaan]

"Meshers?" Seth frowned. He'd swung himself away from the black chasm and its walkway to land on the roughly circular surface surrounding it. He unlinked the rope from his belay, nodding up to the last guard and then espying Thompson lying on the other side of the chamber, a member of the Olympia's away team already hurrying over to him.

Seth strode through the smoke to find the gray silhouettes of the rest of the away team. "Sir, is that you?" the voice he thought belonged to his old crewmate called.

The man came within sight. Seth hid his surprise behind typical apathy. "Meshers. This is some coincidence. I see they've given you a promotion." Helacaan hadn't expected to see the Nevada's CNO again, nor any member of that ship's crew in its last state, nor any previous shipmates. His old goals were resurrected, the dusty ornaments polished and made new. Nevada and Starfleet were part of his past now. Nnahus was supposed to be his destination. The question was when would be the best time to make a break for it?

“I’m Crystal Rose, the Olympia’s FO. The generators that were powering the shield and weapons are dead.”

"So is the tactical chief," Seth said bluntly. He pointed to the walkway where the scarlet blood still dripped into the chasm. "So there is nothing preventing us beaming back to the ship?"

Seth noticed that Meshers was still giving him that strange, astonished look. "Caving." He explained, "I'm an expert back home. I convinced your new captain I could be a valualbe asset in a rescue mission." The two walked side by side for a moment, words on tips of tongues regarding the Nevada and all that had transpired since then.

“I think we’re all ready to go back up, Mr Helacaan.” Seth was, in this Starfleet environment, characteristically quiet when the first officer asked if there were any objections. He could think of a thousand but none that were appropriate.

They materialized on the pad, Seth standing next to the boy. He shied away from conversation with minors. Although all his siblings had children, he had little experience of them. Still, a few afternoons he'd spent with those nieces and nephew on Ascension, gray-sepia shining through the windows. He turned to the boy, speaking gruffly, "Maxtus?" The boy nodded sheepishly. "Seth," he shook the boy's hand, forcing a smile, before returning to a brooding state, palms rubbing together caught beneath worn eyes.

Maxtus was watching him intensely, "What will you do with me now sir?"

"Don't call me that," Seth snapped. They were sitting on the edge of the transporter pad, creating something of a scene, breaking shipboard etiquette, but then they were civilians. "We, or rather they, will locate your species' homeworld and return you there." Seth paused, hands ceasing their coarse rubbing. He turned to the boy, "Unless you wish to request asylum."

Then Admiral Smith arrived, seeing the away team in a state of disarray, and his unwanted - but Smith would have to admit essential - member of the rescue party slouching on the edge of the pad. Seth sat forward, "Mr Smith. Glad you could join us."

<tag All>

[David Tan]

To say he was disappointed at the turn of events was, in his humble opinion, an spectacular understatement ! ... He scoured his mind for what this should look like, and came up with nothing save a 'white light' which he decided quickly, was nowhere to be seen.

"So, this is dead then." he said or didn't, he wasn't too sure at this point what was vocal, and what had simply appeared in his head as a random train of thought, "Well, either way, there is a distinct lack of fanfare, none of the much expected angels easing his soul, or whatever they could salvage as a soul that was, before taking it up to the pearly gates, where Saint Peter himself would decide if he was indeed worthy of a place in Heaven .....

'Sod that !' his mind spluttered, coughing dust and grime from his throat !

He fought the urge to move, something inside his mind telling him to assess the situation before acting. This too he dismissed as addled ranting and tried to wipe the grime from his eyes. This, inevitably was a mistake, as the pain caused by him moving his hand less than two centimeters was excruciating to say the least ...

For long moments, or could that be seconds, or hours, he had no way of knowing, as he had no external time to refer to. He lay there motionless, fearing what may happen should he try to move. But he did 'explore' his surroundings, as much as he could by touch, and now, finally, by a dull, almost monochromatic view, he had some of his sight back. 'Though to be honest, that could be Saint Peter up there taking the proverbial' he thought.

Two hours fourteen minutes later:

After a singular monumental effort, he could now move the fingers on his left hand. Further effort allowed him to move the arm, within the constrains of what was actually holding him in place that was, and now he was working on his right ...... Finally, he knew he had feeling's, real or imagined, in both arms and leg's. Something told him he needed to check what was laying across his thighs, because it certainly wasn't rock !

With an effort, he brought one hand up slowly, until it touched the substance laying across his lower torso. Even in his current state, he couldn't mistake what his hand was in, and 'who' it was in ..........

[Seth Helacaan]

The shattered away team made its way from the transporter room, Seth wearily bringing up the rear with the boy Maxtus in tow. The urchin had clung itself on to Seth, finding in him perhaps another person who wasn't meant to be here. But Seth suspected he was projecting his own thoughts on to the boy. He suspected if he peered closely he'd find a dazed bewildered look in Maxtus's eyes, nothing dry and cold like he often found when looking at his own reflection.

Admiral Smith reluctantly allowed Seth to take up his temporary quarters, despite the latter's condescending attitude towards the flag officer when he had entered the transporter room. He shook off Maxtus who was guided away by security officers and a counselor type. The quarters weren't small, being standard sized for non-Starfleet guests. They were of comparable size to his first officer's quarters on the Nevada. Lifetimes seemed to span the gap between then and now.

"Mr. Helacaan, will you come to the bridge," a disembodied voice cut through the air. Seth had just settled on the bed, tentative thoughts surrounding him concerning the idea of escape.

He might enclose himself in an escape pod and eject himself towards the surface. But then be recaptured by the Olympia minutes later? Or abandoned and never found? He could force his way into one of the shuttlebays and commandeer one of the shuttles, see how far he could get before the starship's weapons blasted his errant vessel to pieces out of some petty sense for vengeance. He did not think himself capable of it though. He'd have to subdue at least three officers before he found his way into the shuttlebay. And then, the only conceivable way he could think of getting out was to destroy the bay doors. And from there, well, he wasn't the most brilliant pilot. Most importantly, he wasn't ready to become a recognized criminal, an enemy of Starfleet and the Federation.

"I'll be right there," he replied.

He stepped on to the bridge, surprised to find heads turning to him, nodding in respect. He gazed at them, nodding back and outlasting their appreciative stares. It was true he had played his part in the rescue mission. He was beckoned towards a station at the back of the bridge by a junior lieutenant.

"Mr Helacaan, my congratulations." The lieutenant was hesitant ashe pointed to the console. "It seems the power conduit explosion shorted out secondary connections, severing the link to the orbital network of reflectors that allowed whoever was down there to fire on us."

Seth folded his arms, studying the flickering display. "Any idea who it was?"

"We have people figuring that out now. We wanted to thank you for your help. When the Admiral and Commander Rose return to the bridge I'm sure they will echo that."

Seth was as still as a statue, "Hmmm... Well I'm sorry about your security chief." Something occurred to him. "Where is the operations officer? Commander Tan?"

"That's none of your business really Mr Helacaan." The lieutenant went back to work but then froze, eyes fixed on the console showing the wireframe of the planet, "But your point is valid."

<tag All>

[David Tan]

It had taken all of his willpower to move the remains of the body off his legs by feel alone. Thankfully, the fact that there was zero light inside his tomb, was for once a blessing he decided. After getting his breath back, he sat, feeling the ground around him, making a mental 'map' of his surroundings.

Then he got to his knees and began to inch forward. He had to rely on his own sense of direction to keep him going in a straight line, but he managed to reach the wall of the tomb without any problem, 'So, now you turn around and go back' he thought to himself, knowing he would likely have to crawl through the remains of his fellow Officer in the process. But he needed to know where he was, because the size of the area would directly determine the available oxygen he had to use, and how quickly carbon dioxide would build up. After an hour, he was satisfied he had the parameter's of the tomb ... Throwing stones up to hit the roof gave him an approximate height, so he could do a rough calculation in his head

"STOP calling it a tomb !'" he chastised himself.

While he now knew the area of the floor, he still had no idea of how high, or low, the ceiling was, and that would be a contributing factor in his survival, so, throwing stones up to hit the roof gave him an approximate height, seemed the way to guess the distance so he could do a rough calculation in his head ... he wasn't happy with the result, but frankly couldn't be bothered to redo the maths ... Out of shear curiosity he tapped the Comm badge on his chest, still attached even after everything he had cone through, but hardly surprisingly, it was dead.

"Much like you David." he said.

Everything depended on his physical location, and that of the Olympia, if indeed the ship was still out there. It would be difficult at best to locate one life-sign buried so deep in the ground even if they had stayed. Because for all he knew it was a mass of atoms in orbit, or could have resolved the mission, and logged both he and Francitti as 'Missing Presumed Dead !' before heading back to Star Base Forty Seven ..........

Laying in the complete darkness, his mind began to wonder ..... Firstly, about his impressions of the Academy, to his first ship, to his issues and concerns on the Olympia ... And in between those snippet's of recall, he pondered his love life, of the lack of it he conceded, knowing he had put Star Fleet first and had sacrificed everything in his eagerness to be successful and a credit to any vessel he was assigned to.

He wanted to rest now, but was that just from the effort he had put in trying to find out his situation, or was it of the whole situation. he couldn't answer that buried in some dark airless tomb. 'And there it is again' he thought, looking through eyes that could see nothing, only his mental image of his surroundings allowing him some modicum of sanity, he slipped from consciousness, allowing something in his subconscious mind to keep his body from giving up on life ..........

[Crystal Rose]

Crystal blinked as the Oly's transporter room appeared around her. Almost at once the Admiral was approaching her. "I know you have only just got back, Commander. But please, report."

"Yes, Sir." Crystal ran through the events in the caverns as well as she recalled them. Laying out each incident and how there always seemed to be one step ahead. She swallowed hard before reporting the injuries and deaths. The wounded had gone straight to sickbay and the dead had gone to the morgue. She had been there a few times as a science officer mid investigation and as an FO to identify the deceased, it never got easier. If it did she would leave Starfleet.

She wished David and Lenny well. She had done all she could.

She was not surprised to find that she was needed right away. She was quite surprised to find that Maxtus had latched on to Mr Helacaan. She would have to talk to both of them. Fortunately it did not take long to complete her report. The Admiral had insisted that she wash and change before carrying on. It did not take too long to make herself look presentable and down a very large mug or very strong coffee. She knew she really should sleep but right now there were too many questions. If another couple of hours did not show good progress towards the answers then she would rest. She promised herself that.

[David Tan]

The day after .....



At some point he had come round, his eyes adapting to the pitch black of the cavern in some way until he could actually make out hues rather than actual colour's. It was shades of black on black, but he had the means to find his way to the surface, or at least to somewhere where he would eventually be found and helped .....

He had long known that he was alone, his companion long dead at his feet, But David wasn't one to lay down and die !

Hours of crawling, clambering, falling back, had allowed him to reach a level where there was light, "Well, enough to see by at least." he said out loud, almost laughing at the fact he was now at the stage where 'speaking to yourself' was the mandatory thing to do. Suddenly, he heard something, voices ? .. he couldn't be sure, but whatever or whoever the newcomers were, they had light. He shuffled back until he was hidden under a small overhang in the cave tunnel as the others neared. He knew without doubt that it wasn't Federation Personnel, they would have called out to him, or anyone who they thought had survived the massive cave-in.

So ...

Hiding, he listened intently as they approached. He couldn't understand what was being said, so it was obvious that firstly, they weren't Human, and secondly, his universal translator built into the Comm badge was useless. He was confident he had not been seen as the Humanoids talked with what seemed increasing agitation until he was suddenly pulled by his ankles from his hiding place ! ..... The apparent leader screamed in his face for what seemed an eternity, as David tried to explain his predicament, but suddenly his world went completely black as one of his captors hit him, hard ....


~~~~~


"SPEAK !" .... He managed to open his eyes as the next blow made contact with his face. He spat darkened blood onto the deck plates beneath his shackled feet, "You 'WILL' give us the information me require, or your precious Federation will not see you again ... So ... SPEAK !" the last punctuated with yet another blow to his head.

"I ... I don't kno ........"

"You were on the Federation Vessel attempting to plunder the mineral we need ... Do you deny that !"

"Plun ...." Dan said, cautiously, as the mists of his confusion lifting rapidly.

"YOU DENY IT !" the man said, David suddenly realizing he recognized the species ... The G'NammII ... Profiteer's, trader's and dealer's in all things illegal. Mercenaries, Killer's for profit, they would sell their own mothers, then get into the camp and kill her so their opponent couldn't gain advantage. He looked at the Humanoid for a long moment, not to annoy the man, but to get his reply straight in his head before voicing it aloud.

"Yes. I was a member of a Federation Star Ship. I have no intentions of telling you anything more, save I am no longer a member of that Vessel. As to their whereabouts or intentions, I have no clue, so you know what, do with me as you please, because frankly, I could care less. You should keep in mind though ..." he hesitated, knowing he was about to say the Federation would hunt them down for killing one of their own, but frankly, he knew the Olympia had abandoned him, so they had no reason to return, "No, forget it ... Kill me if you like, to be honest, I'm on the fence as to whether it makes a difference. Dump me on some nearby outpost, or leave a beacon here for the next ship that comes along. Suit yourselves." he said, frankly happy to be rid of his shackles ..........

[Seth Helacaan]

Seth had half-formulated an escape plan. He would find his way to a shuttlebay, under the pretense of checking out a shuttle that would be transporting him to the Starbase once the Olympia made it back there. During LSO shift rotation he would lock down the bay, claiming a toxic leak in the bay's air. Then he would board the shuttle, release the supposedly contaminated atmosphere through lowering the forcefield and opening the bay doors. Then he'd made a break for freedom; maximum warp, any direction. The Olympia might go after him, but it would at least make his intentions clear.

Well, those had been his intentions. He wasn't sure on the idea anymore. The Olympia's crew didn't deserve the trouble, not with at least one of their personnel still missing on the planet's surface. He was also beginning to feel an unwelcome but familiar attraction regarding the homeliness of Starfleet vessels... Thus for the time being he had decided to ditch his ill-conceived escape plan.

Despite these thoughts of escape he found himself studying the framed picture of the Constellation class ship near his quarters' portal. No, surely he couldn't be being dragged back into Starfleet's web...?

He was stood at the back of the bridge again, given leave to in light of his assistance in rescuing the away team from the surface. Manning one of the aft stations, he twisted to the viewscreen when the command team ordered a new visual displayed. It showed a small ship, lazily orbiting the planet at a much lower altitude.

"Why didn't you detect them before?" he blurted. Smith and co turned around, giving him steely gazes. Seth held his hands up, turning back to the station, annoyed that not only was he assisting Starfleet again but he wasn't being acknowledged for it (well, not strictly true).

"Confirmed sir, reading a human lifesign aboard that vessel. Highly probable that it's one of the missing members of the away team," an officer reported to Admiral Smith.

With a lull in proceedings as the Olympia caught up to the mysterious craft, Seth sauntered down to the lower part of the bridge, standing next to Commander Rose. Smith stared daggers at his side while simultaneously coordinating the rescue of their officer, whoever he or she might be.

<tag Smith, Tan>

"Commander..." Helacaan murmured, "I was wondering if I might speak with you. The boy... Maxtus, has been following me around... all over the ship." Rose turned, raising an eyebrow, although it seemed she had already noticed this. Seth went on, "He's clingier than a Klingon. Maybe he's associated with those out there?" he gestured to the viewscreen. "Also, I'd like to discuss a more permanent arrangement. I'm not sure I want to disembark the Olympia when we get to a Starbase."

<tag Rose>

[David Tan]

"No, forget it ... Kill me if you like, to be honest, I'm on the fence as to whether it makes a difference. Dump me on some nearby outpost, or leave a beacon here for the next ship that comes along. Suit yourselves." he said, frankly happy to be rid of his shackles.

The G'NammII seemed to contemplate the options open to him, while eyeing the Federation Officer like something he wouldn't feed to his pet G'graav .. David in turn decided to adopt a blank look, or rather, he didn't adopt 'any' particular expression. He wasn't lying when he said what he'd said. Frankly, the Olympia could vanish as far as he was concerned, he didn't fit in there, that had been made more than obvious, but he 'WAS' a Star Fleet Officer, but was that enough ... So, where to go from here he mused.

"I am going to make use of you. Human. I will drain every speck of information from your weak, inferior, brain, then I will re-program you to do our bidding. You shall serve us until your eventual demise at the hands of the very people you have sworn to serve. You think I will search for information about your ship, your 'Star Fleet' ... NO, I shall attain that information in our first session together, and then ..."

"Excellence ...." one of the G'NammII said quietly, obviously fearing retribution for the interruption, "The Federation Vessel is adjusting her course. They seem to be scanning our ship."

The Commander gave the messenger a murderous glare, then turned and slammed a fist into Tan's face. David almost lost consciousness as a result of the blow, but something allowed him to defiantly face his captor.

"Prepare him ... NOW ... Move us behind the moon !" ..........

[Seth Helacaan]

By the blood of his family had he just said that?? That he would like to stay on the Olympia, a Federation starship, in fact live here if permitted? Well of course, he had said it, but he felt he didn't really mean it. He raised a hand, "Ahh, not so permanently Commander. If I... Uh..."

"It's not up to me or even the Admiral Mr Helacaan." Rose replied. "But should the option be available, take your time to make the decision. It's a difficult one to have to make." Seth shifted uncomfortably, feeling out of place on this bridge, this vessel, this organization still. He kept half an eye on the viewscreen as the Olympia tracked the small ship's passage around the other side of the planet.

"Aren't you going to follow them?" he asked. Smith was already distributing the orders, handing them down to his first officer.

They progressed round the planet, following the ship. "Admiral, the away team member aboard that ship is definitely human," someone reported. Seth believed that narrowed it down to one of two possibilities.

<tag All>

"Oww!" He doubled over slightly, wincing and holding his ribs.

"Are you alright sir?" security guards stepped up, and only now Seth was aware that they had been present since he had arrived on the bridge. Still keeping their eye on me, he thought, the rage building inside, After all I did for them down there. Commander Rose turned to him, concerned for his well-being.

"In the tunnel leading to the underground complex," he explained, "I collided heavily with one of your men, Thompson. It feels like I've fractured a rib, or worse."

"Report to sickbay Mr Helacaan."

Seth rolled his eyes, straightening with some discomfort, "Yes sir."

[David Tan]

The blow, landing hard on the left side of his face knocked him out of the chair and into the bulkhead wall. He was so surprised, he couldn't help but laugh out loud, spitting thick blood onto the floor between his hands. The kick broke at least one, maybe two of his ribs as he was hauled to his feet by the hair on his head. The next blow slammed into his ear, tearing almost a centimetre of the lobe away in the process. He laughed again, spitting more blood, but this time toward one of his attackers.

"You find this amusing Human ?" one asked

"Well ..." David said, realizing he was running on adrenalin now, "I .. Have to admit, your mode of questioning isn't what I was expec ... ting, and if I was asked my opinion. It's lea ... ving a lot to be desired."

"Well, let us see if we can 'improve' to your satisfaction." the second man said, sending a roundhouse punch into his face and almost breaking his neck in the process. It was quickly followed up by numerous blows, both to his head and chest. David laughed, with increasing difficulty as each blow landed, until finally he couldn't goad his companions any further.

"You're enthusiasm seems to be waning somewhat. So maybe it is time for us to begin asking questions ?" the first asked, holding Tan's head up by the hair, but there was so much pain now that David didn't even realize he was bleeding from both ears, his mouth, due to the fact that he had lost at least three teeth, and from most of his scalp as the roots of the hair on his head were ripped from the scalp.

"Yo ... people use spa ... ce ships." he said, coughing roughly from the fluid build-up in his left lung, "You couldn't fi .. nd a drug to do the jo ... etter."

"Oh, be patient Human. We will get to that in due course, but first, we need to ensure your obedience. Much like how we train or G'graav to be loyal. Beat them, beat them, and then, when they cower before your raised fist, you beat them once again. They are a vicious animal, capable of ripping a man open with their half meter fangs. So ..." the attacker said calmly. As he, slowly took David's left hand and placed it on the table. We break the fangs of the animal. Oh, you need not worry, the G'graav will replace the teeth within a few short weeks, but the lesson is learned ... The blow shattered several fingers and umpteen smaller bones, "Well now, shall we continue with the conditioning ..... Human."

The punch landed on his right temple, once again throwing him from the metal chair, but this time David didn't laugh. Blood was running into his eyes from ruptured vessels. He realized that he may well get his wish. The G'Naamii may well kill him, alas, he wasn't sure he gave a damn ! ...

~~~~~~

The beatings continued, on and off for the next three hours. Each time he became unconscious, they revived him and placed his broken body into the chair. His interrogator seemed more and more sympathetic with his situation, but it didn't prevent him from helping, or ordering the assault stopped. It crossed David's mind, during one of the lulls that he may well have answered question's if they hadn't beaten him so badly that he couldn't speak even if he had chosen to ...

"I will ask you again David ....... How did you find out about my operation on Drevva Nine ?"

Tan was sat in the chair, blind from the blood in his eyes, numb from the constant beating ... He could hear the interrogator speaking, as if from a long way away as something inside his head told him he wasn't going to feel any more pain. A surreal contentedness came over him as his head was rocked by yet another blow, but he felt nothing, heard nothing, couldn't feel the guards pulling him back upright as he again slumped to one side. Then his mind took complete control, be it for self-preservation, or a final way to end his ordeal, David didn't know ... Blackness fell inside his head as his brain systematically began to shut his body down completely.

"Pick him up !" the interrogator shouted, incensed that the guards had allowed him to fall to the floor.

"He has stopped breathing !" one of the guards reported, immediately trying to revive the Human, then, after long moments they stood and looked at the interrogator, fear in their eyes.

"Send for the Doctor. NOW." the interrogator shouted, then waited impatiently as the man examined then attempted to revive his Human prisoner.

"I am unable to revive him. He seems to have fallen into a deep comatose state. It is doubtful he will ever regain consciousness."

The interrogator's scream of frustration could be heard throughout the ship ..........

[Seth Helacaan]

He missed Hasak, he missed Dunowin, he missed Park, Nack, Dan Trek, Lucy Grey; strangely more than he missed his family, absurd thought though that was. In this moment, with these surroundings, Starfleet seemed a lot closer to his heart than the honor of his family and House did, like the objects of sentimentality that you attached yourself to as you progressed from day to day. He knew once he returned home, he'd find things as he'd left them, in all the comfortably familiar places. John and his two sisters, his aging father, his gray mother. Fragments of news from Ascension reached him about once a week: political unrest, new upstarts, diminishing status of the Helacaans, so on, but importantly a drive to integrate further with the Federation and not to push to become a truly unaligned world, not only not a Federation member world but not part of the Federation at all.

He entered sickbay, the over lit infirmary hurting his migraine-ridden retinas. "Doctor, I have suspected chest injuries." The CMO nodded and indicated a biobed. Seth swung himself on to it painfully, his ribs feeling as if they were scraping against his lungs.

"Hmmm... Interesting." After ten minutes of scans the Doctor slammed his tricorder shut. Seth looked up questioningly. "You have three broken ribs and some bruised lung tissue. I'll begin treatement immediately but want to keep you here for three hours afterward for observation." He shoved a padd of scan results in Seth's face. "You've seen these?"

Seth looked at the Doctor, then at the padd, knowing full well what the details were, then back at the Doctor. "Yes. What of it?"

"Injuries Mr Helacaan, sustained a long time ago. Previously broken ribs, fractured tibiae, extensive scar tissue, evidence of hastily repaired breaks to three limbs including both legs."

"Caving," Seth said impatiently, "I like caving. Accidents are common, just like the one today."

The Doctor leant in close, lowering his voice, "While you are not a Starfleet officer the rules regarding doctor-patient confidentiality still apply to anyone I treat: officer, friend, or foe." He looked about him rapidly, depositing the padd on the tray to Seth's side which also incidentally held a rack full of hypospray injectors. "It wouldn't hurt, no pun intended, to confide in me."

The deck shook beneath them, Seth feeling it reverberate through the biobed. The Doctor stepped back, steadying himself against the repulsor trolley carrying the hypospray injectors. Both of them knew what that type of vibration signified.

"The ship's under attack. Why?" the CMO looked at Seth, somehow thinking he might know the answer.

"I would guess your shipmates have caught up with the alien vessel," Seth pushed himself off the biobed, wincing while ensuring that the Doctor did not see. He marched towards the exit, ignoring the surly CMO's protests. Seth turned around before the exit, "We may have found your Commander Tan."

"I hope you're firing back?" Bridge officers turned to see who it was that had spoken. Smith gave Seth a look as if to say, 'Not you again'. Helacaan walked down towards the tactical station, "Is that your Operations officer aboard that vessel? What's the status of his biosignature?"

"Someone shut this man up," Smith said, swinging back to face the viewscreen. Security guards stepped forward but Seth brushed them off; not only to prevent his removal from the bridge, but to protect his injured ribs and delicate thorax.

"How are you planning to rescue him? Your most experienced security officer is dead. I'd put myself forward to head an away team if I wasn't myself incapacitated," he indicated his midriff. "Is there some way we can disable their vessel using the navigational deflector?" Seth thought back to a trick that had been exercised once on the Nevada, his mind too caught in these affairs to notice how much self-assurance he was showing aboard a Starfleet vessel, as much if not more so than he had on the Nevada.

<tag Smith, Rose, Meshers>

[Seth Helacaan]

The Olympia maintained a distance of one kilometer from the escaping ship. Its size - length - was approximately a third of the Olympia's, of a design the ship engineers aboard weren't entirely familiar with, although the ship was believed to belong to a sect or species, Seth understood, called the G'namII. He'd been unable to identify the species he'd seen in the cavern on the surface, not knowing what they had looked like and having barely had a chance to see them anyway. At that moment everything had become a confusion of dust and exploding metal.

He lowered himself on the biobed, preparing to undergo the curt CMO's surgical procedure. He hoped it was quick, painless; or at least a great deal less painful than those hashed jobs on Ascension when he and other notables of his House had been in conflict with the Naal, Caratavians and so on.

"Mr Helacaan? It is you isn't it?"

"Maureen. Maureen Caspar." He sighed, the exhalation not smooth; a wheeze had developed, a hoarse uneven emanation from his throat. He managed to reach a sitting position. He smiled upon sight of the forties-something planetary scientist; her red hair was still just as striking as he remembered when he had first seen her. Truth be told he'd nearly forgotten her, and scolded himself for how he could let such a thing happen.

"It's good to see you again. Are you hurt?"

Out of surprise for her concern he waved her hands away. "It's nothing." He winced. "Broken ribs from the rescue effort. I trust in the efficiency of this ship's doctor not to damage me further. How is your vulcan friend?"

<tag Maureen Caspar (Rose?)>

Twenty minutes back on the bridge, Seth was surveying the viewscreen from a vantage point at the back of the bridge, standing with back to the mission operations station he had basically appropriated from the actual bridge crew.

"We have the vessel in tractor beam range sir."

"Acknowledged. Activate beam." Smith was settled in his command chair now, the rescue they were attempting seeming like a virtual guaranteed success now. Seth watched all this in silence, letting these people do their work. While he was familiar with Prometheus specs from database and academy studies, he had never had to actually man one, and besides it was not his right, nor desire, to do so.

"Get a lock on our crewmember," a high up officer said. The bridge crew went about the task professionally, not letting on the secrets in their minds about who they wished it might be that they recovered from the G'namii ship. Commander Tan was the more valuable asset, in theory; but what possible reason could the value of a human life, or a member of any species' life, be seen to be more valuable than another's?

<tag Smith, Rose, Tan>

Seth weighed this up as the rescue operation got underway in earnest (transporter operators notified). No. The Naal had taken from him a part of his homeworld. They had kidnapped, murdered his kin, his people. He gritted his teeth. It would be an eye for an eye. Once he was in a position to exact that particular brand of justice.

[Crystal Rose]

It took a while for the report of Commander Tan’s absence to reach Crystal. She had assumed that once the shield had gone down he too would have been beamed out. She had passed on his last known coordinates after all. That he hadn’t been there was worrying and a scan of the cave system, eagerly watched by the members of the survey team who were allowed out of sickbay, had been conducted. Lieutenant Francitti’s body had been discovered and been beamed aboard, but after that the scan had revealed no remaining members of the Oly’s crew alive or dead in the caverns.

That was when the report had been passed to Crystal and roughly when she started to get angry. Generally she was a pretty easy going person but when her crew or ship were in danger, things changed.

She had changed and grabbed a coffee before learning that not all of the away team had been retrieved. She hurried to the bridge, all ready on the way when the Admiral summoned her.

"Why didn't you detect them before?" Mr Helacaan blurted. The Admiral glared at him. Crystal new that was not a good sign.

"Confirmed sir, reading a human lifesign aboard that vessel. Highly probable that it's one of the missing members of the away team," Ensign Hyel reported. He remember to leave off the precise numbers unless asked.

Crystal settled in to do what she could without getting in the way or leaning over other people’s shoulders. It was always tempting to do that but it didn’t help. It was better to wait but infinitely harder.

"Commander..." Helacaan murmured, Crystal hadn’t observed him coming to stand next to her "I was wondering if I might speak with you. The boy... Maxtus, has been following me around... all over the ship." Crystal turned with a slightly raised eyebrow and as much of a smile as she could manage under the circumstances, Mr Helacaan clearly had a gift for understatement. He went on, "He's clingier than a Klingon. Maybe he's associated with those out there?" he gestured to the viewscreen. "Also, I'd like to discuss a more permanent arrangement. I'm not sure I want to disembark the Olympia when we get to a Starbase."

“I guess it’s possible,” She noticed that Maxtus was avoiding looking at the viewscreen. “We should try to talk to him, he was pretty helpful down there. As for staying on the Olympia…” Crystal glanced over at the Admiral. Personally she felt Mr Helacaan could be an asset to the Oly, his actions planetside had showed that, but there was clearly some friction between him and the Admiral. “Obviously it would take some time and have to go through Command…” her words trailed off as he raised a hand.

"Ahh, not so permanently Commander. If I... Uh..."

"It's not up to me or even the Admiral, Mr Helacaan." Crystal replied. "But should the option be available, take your time to make the decision. It's a difficult one to have to make."

"Aren't you going to follow them?" he asked. The Admiral was already distributing the orders, handing them down to his first officer.

They progressed round the planet, following the ship. "Admiral, the away team member aboard that ship is definitely human," Hyel reported again.Crystal knew that meant there was a less than 0.05% chance that what was over there wasn't human.

Science Office Hyel took a moment longer to correlate with the list of the dead brought up. There was only one Olympia crew member missing and he was indeed human. However there was a chance that the human on that ship have been abducted somewhere else, a chance he estimated at approximately 1.2% maximum taking into account uncertainty in the ship’s speed and range. He announced the numbers to the bridge crew. That number it don account for the chance that Commander Tan was over there but not the currently living human…

Crystal was listening to Ensign Hyel’s analysis of the chances of the person over there not being Commander Tan. He was interrupted by Mr Helacaan doubling over and clutching his ribs

"Oww!"

"Are you alright sir?" security guards stepped up to try to assist. Crystal turned to him “What happened?”

"In the tunnel leading to the underground complex," he explained, "I collided heavily with one of your men, Thompson. It feels like I've fractured a rib, or worse."

"Report to sickbay Mr Helacaan." Crystal said. That was a high, and possibly a little stupid, amount of dedication to duty especially for someone who wasn’t and couldn’t currently be on duty… You could take the man out of Starfleet…

He rolled his eyes, straightened but was clearly still in pain, "Yes sir."

It was hard to follow the small ship as she tried to use the planet or a satellite or the orbiting debris for cover. The Oly had sustained earlier damage and Crystal knew that Ensign Evaristo would be fighting with everything to keep them shielded and manoeuvrable.

"I hope you're firing back?" Crystal was surprised to see Mr Helacaan back. Or perhaps not that surprised. She watched as he walked over to consult the tactical display he definitely looked at home on the bridge. "Is that your Operations officer aboard that vessel? What's the status of his biosignature?"


"Someone shut this man up," Smith said, he was clearly unhappy and Mr Helacaan’s presence on the bridge wasn’t helping. Crystal was worried about David too but she had to be the rational one as the Admiral was not holding on to his calm. Hardly a surprise given how long he and David had been friends.

"How are you planning to rescue him? Your most experienced security officer is dead. I'd put myself forward to head an away team if I wasn't myself incapacitated,"Mr Helacaan said, he indicated his midriff. "Is there some way we can disable their vessel using the navigational deflector?"

“Possibly although the deflector took some damage in the earlier exchange of fire. Engineering are working on it but we are limited at the moment.” Crystal responded. “We are trying to get closer but in this environment, with our shields vulnerable, the smaller ship has the advantage.”

She turned and looked squarely at him. “Please return to sickbay and get yourself fixed up.” Crystal phrased it politely but he tone indicated that it was an order. Mr Helacaan obeyed although he was clearly not thrilled about doing so. Clearly more Starfleet than civilian, at least at the moment.

Crystal went back to rescue plans, she hated waiting but while this game of cat and mouse continued that was all she could do. She knew how good the Oly’s crew was she just had to trust them.

*******************************************************************

Maureen was back in sickbay keeping and eye on her colleges, they had bee doing it in shifts. T’Sen was physically fine now but was in a monitored but self-induced coma to allow her mind to recover. Maureen had spoken to her briefly and could still recall the pain in the other woman’s eyes.

It had been a relief to see Sven again too. He had walked into sickbay and then collapsed. It had mostly been exhaustion with a dose of dehydration and a mild malnutrition on top. The malnutrion probably wasn’t far off of Sven’s standard state. He was infamous for forgetting to eat for, occasionally, days at a time. He was now in a medically induced sleep while his body adjusted to having everything it needed. The nurse had explained that sometimes, even with modern medical technology, time was still the best healer.

Maureen had debated going back to her assigned quarters but she really didn’t want to be alone. She didn’t want to let T’Sen or Sven out of her sight but she couldn’t bring herself to actually say that.

The doors to sickbay slid open and a young man walked in, Maureen thought she recognized him, he certainly looked a lot better than when she had last seen him. She got to her feet, finding that she was a bit stiff after sitting for so long
"Mr Helacaan? It is you isn't it?"

"Maureen. Maureen Caspar." He sighed, and the sigh turned in to a cough. That wasn’t good.

"It's good to see you again. Are you hurt?" She moved to offer him a hand

He waved her hands away. "It's nothing." He winced. "Broken ribs from the rescue effort. I trust in the efficiency of this ship's doctor not to damage me further. How is your Vulcan friend?"

Maureen gave a small smile although was rather worried about Seth as he was obviously in pain. “T’Sen is resting as is Sven Syrus. The doctors say both will recover. I heard you played quite a large part in his rescue. Thank you. I’m sorry you got hurt. He’s sleeping at the moment but I am sure he’ll thank you too when he wakes up.”

Tag: Seth

********************************************************************

"We have the vessel in tractor beam range sir." The Navigational Officer said.

"Acknowledged. Activate beam." Steven was settled in his command chair now, and Crystal had taken her seat next to him, one of the upgrades from the original Prometheus design. It wasn’t the most comfortable of seat or perhaps that was just her being impatient.

"Get a lock on the human lifesign," Crystal said. The strength of the lifesign had made it clear that the owner was hurt and they were beaming straight to sickbay with Nurse Jens standing by to confirm safe arrival, life status and, if possible, identity.

“Lock confirmed. Initiating Smith Zero Three” Ensign Hyel said.

=/\= Bridge, This is Nurse Jens, he’s here, alive and it appears to be Commander Tan=/\= Crystal could hear the medical team working in the background. Alive did not mean well. All the same her stomach started to unknot.

=/\=Thank you Nurse Jens, bridge out=/\= Crystal said formally closing the link as the Admiral moved to the next part of the plan.

[Lennard Meshers]

Lenny's recuperation in Sickbay had dragged on for what seemed a long number of hours. Doctor Thanis had constantly been advising him to rest as often as he could, and was quick to his bedside when the Lieutenant showed signs of lethargy, his feet often to be found swinging over the side.

Lenny couldn't help it. A healthy mind, a healthy body, he thought simply. Despite being told that he was still suffering from internal bleeding after his concussion, he certainly felt much better than he had down in the dark caverns of Vandia III. So when finally the Doctor did give him his discharge, ordering him to remain in his quarters for the next couple of days, he almost skipped out of the room, despite being aware of the current trouble the Olympia was in.

David Tan was missing.

Lenny was not overly fond of the Commander, having got off to a strange start with him, but nevertheless he had a grudging respect for his place on the ship and his influence and leadership to those officers beneath him. On his second day aboard the Olympia, after having been given a brief by Admiral Smith, Lenny was assigned to Commander Tan for a security 'refresher course'. Alongside the now-sadly gone Chief Security Officer Ramirez and a smattering of others, he had entered the holosuite to find the lean, grim face of the Commander gazing at him.

"So, you're the new helm" he muttered non-committally. "Pleasure to have you on board" he said, his voice and face expressing the exact opposite sentiment as far as Lenny could perceive. They were split into teams and put into the 'Survivor' scenario, a myriad of Starfleet vessel corridors and turbolifts; the ultimate aim to seize control of the ship's bridge which marked the centre of the program. Lenny thought it base and crude, and the Commander - leading the opposite team whilst Ramirez had led Lenny's - even more so in his ruthless actions. Upon entry to the bridge, Lenny had immediately been shot down before he could announce his team's 'unconditional surrender', from which he had planned on disrupting his adversaries' hold from a position of captive.

Tan was quick to point out that, in 99 cases out of 100, there could be no compromise in strategy. You had to think fast in these situations, striking first before the enemy whenever and wherever possible. There was no time for elaborate, complex plans with the hope that they may eventually bear fruit, because that was what it was: merely a hope. This wasn't a wistful cadet's holonovel, this was the real thing. Simple as that.

Lenny realised soon afterwards that this uncompromising style suited the position of the Commander well, as well as matching him to the fierce, tactile and utilitarian qualities of the Prometheus class. It also helped, he reflected somewhat cynically, if your commanding officer was an old friend of yours, but Tan had obviously not lent his attitude to a whole dependence on this friendship, which ambitious and manipulative officers may have easily propagated. No, Tan was well liked and respected by his immediate peers, but he could also stand on his own, staunch, brave and with - deep down - a sense of fairness and respect to all under his command. He led by example. And now, suddenly, a significant proportion of the Olympia's crew felt themselves strangely leaderless.

Lenny thought these things in the long hours spent inside his quarters, one hand often stretched out against the framing curve of his window as he gazed out at the starry void, without really seeing it. The ship, at his latest discovery via the internal reports, was pursuing that peculiar alien vessel carrying what they all hoped would be Tan. He only hoped that the situation would resolve itself sooner rather than later.

It was approaching 1900 hours when his door buzzed and Lenny, who had been crouching down to examine the decaying state of his pot plant on the table, almost jumped in surprise. He turned his head in slight curiosity towards the door of his quarters before speaking.

"Come in."

The door slid open and Ensign Martins entered, her hands pressed uncertainly together as she approached him. She smiled. "Hello, sir."

"Ensign, this is a pleasant surprise." Lenny straightened up. "The hopeless thing's dying" he said with a shrug, noticing Martins' glance towards the plant. "What's the latest on the chase for the Commander? Any news?"

Martins shook her head. "Nothing more yet, sir, but we're chasing down the other ship. It belongs to some species called the G'namII?"

"Never heard of them" said Lenny dismissively. "Is there anything else?"

"Yes sir-"

"Lenny, please."

"Ah...Lenny. I just thought I'd visit to check up on how you were doing. I wondered if you felt any better yet."

"Me?" Lenny almost laughed, but was strangely touched that Martins had remembered him. "I'm fine, I have no idea what Thanis is worrying about. If anything it was him giving me the headache rather than the actual concussion."

Martins laughed. "I see" she said musingly. The Ensign turned towards the window. "I'm still surprised at how you and this Mr Helacaan know each other. He seems a strange one, if I'm being honest."

Lenny felt another jolt at being reminded of Helacaan. His former commanding officer had been another source of reflection during his recent solitary hours. Having recovered from the surreal shock of seeing him abseil into the cavern on Vandia III - the most unlikely of guardian angels - he had now been remembering all their time together on the Nevada. He wasn't surprised to find, based on his initial impressions this time round, that Helacaan had changed little. In fact, his familiar character was even more accentuated. He seemed yet sterner than before, and naturally looked as though he had more to hide. The biggest mystery, Lenny had reckoned, was what his motivations were now he was on this ship...

"Lenny?" He turned with a start to see Martins smiling in a rather motherly fashion beside him, as if she suspected he was still very much a slave to his concussion. His train of thought interrupted, he gave a brief smile in response to the cartographer.

"Sorry, yes, I do agree" he said vaguely. "Nothing to worry about though, he's a good man." He saw Martins nod in agreement, whilst he took in the smooth contours of her face, her dark hair swept close to her scalp, sculpted somewhat like a helmet. He thought he saw a flicker of lingering concern lining her features, or was it something else?

Before he could speak again, there was a sudden shot of fluctuating light visible outside his window, and Lenny recognised it as a tractor beam. It appeared that they had cornered the escaping vessel. His heart lifted at the thought of what it could mean. He turned again to Martins.

"I'm going to find out what's going on" he said.

He turned away and made for the door, which slid open. Martins hurried after him, and this time he did feel her evident concern in the quickening of her pace behind him.

"Lenn...sir, where are you going?"

He held the turbolift open for her, he was about to announce to the computer to take him to the bridge when he changed his mind, realising that that wasn't the point of his sudden flight.

Instead he called for the deck a couple down from his own. The turbolift initiated and in no time the doors re-opened.

Lenny and Martins walked the few paces down the corridor to the transporter room, and were immediately surrounded by security personnel and medical staff alike. Lenny recognised Nurse Jens, who activated her comm-badge as they entered.

=/\=Bridge, This is Nurse Jens, he’s here, alive and it appears to be Commander Tan=/\=

=/\=Thank you Nurse Jens, bridge out=/\= came the voice of Commander Rose from over the comm.

Lenny stepped forward and looked over the shoulders of those in front of him. There he saw a battered body, lying solid and unmoving on the transporter room floor. He felt the breath drain from his lungs in short, sharp gasps at the sight. Tan had returned, but looked barely alive, spread-eagled like a dead thing amongst the frantic personnel swarming about him.

<tag All>

[Seth Helacaan]

“T’Sen is resting as is Sven Syrus. The doctors say both will recover. I heard you played quite a large part in his rescue. Thank you. I’m sorry you got hurt. He’s sleeping at the moment but I am sure he’ll thank you too when he wakes up.”

"I'm sorry too," Seth replied, feeling where the rib reparation job was still in process. "I didn't know about Mr Syrus." He shifted in his perch on the edge of the biobed, folding his arms, shutting himself down. "I'm glad you and your friends are safe."

Maureen turned away, looking towards the section of sickbay closed off by frosted glass containing the biobed on which Syrus coalesced, "Perhaps you would like to meet him. Dr Syrus."

Seth drew himself up, wincing with the pain, "It would be my pleasure. Ask the ship's doctor to contact me when he wakes?" Maureen nodded, gaze still on Syrus's biobed. Realizing her thoughts lay with her colleagues, Seth eased himself off the biobed and dismissed himself from her presence, his bleak look hopefully reassuring her that Syrus and T'sen would be fine.

Officers looked his way as he roamed the corridors, nodding in acknowledgment of his efforts on the surface. Nods were likely all he was going to get. Starfleet had turned his back on him, despite this latest and likely brief respite in their hostile attitude. Ever since he'd attacked that security lieutenant in fast track training he had held an enmity that couldn't be quashed by any manner of conciliatory gesture.

Entering his temporary quarters he started up his personnel console and began composing a letter to be sent home. It was likely he would be blamed for the death of the security chief. He was preparing to leave the ship. Somehow having made a mess out of his quarters in his first few hours aboard, he set about packing the storage pods provided for civilian guests. This done, he contacted ship stores and asked if there was a gold division uniform available. He intended to put himself forward for the role of temporary tactical officer until a new chief could be appointed. It was his hope the Admiral would have them speeding back to starbase very soon.

Recalling his promise to Dr Caspar, he made his way back to sickbay. Maureen and the Vulcan who he assumed was T'sen leant over Syrus's biobed. Seth, distracted momentarily by the manic activity around the main biobed where he noticed to his surprise, Meshers also standing, approached Syrus's bed stiffly. Syrus looked up in surprise, "So, this is the man I have to credit with saving my life. Thank you sir. Thank you." Syrus smiled, extending his hand.

"Glad to be of assistance Doctor," Seth said, taking the handshake. "Always a pleasure to assist a fellow explorer." This wasn't what he wanted to see, a smile of inducing guilt!

"We are all civilians, scientists." T'sen said, looking from person to person. Seth coughed. T'sen looked down at Syrus. "While these officers do their work perhaps this occasion calls for a drink in this vessel's mess hall."

The chief medical officer approached, taking Syrus's reading. "I'll be the judge of that. Hmm..." he said after moments. "You're free to go Doctor." Seth followed the trio out of sickbay. Perhaps he could find solace in the company of fellow civilians, although he was already starting to feel detached from them.

[Seth Helacaan]

Seth was granted use of the Olympia's holodeck facilities. He was wandering along passages carved by the presence of barren trees towards arid farmland on the far side. This was a recreation of his home, a large dwelling on the edge of a village some miles to the north of the capital of his home colony Ascension.

He saw the homestead through the dried spindly branches. Gray orange air permeated the place, dust caught in his eyes. He was unsurprised when he saw the state of his home. This program had clearly been created before the homestead suffered its terrorist attack. The computer had seemed to make use of geographical information gathered by the USS Nevada during its visit to the planet several years ago.

Seth's people had been suffering then as now, and he couldn't see it abating for as long as the Letoki-Yrjhkas were the ascendant power. While they were reformers and presented an agenda of wanting to accept the Federation, Seth and the others of the Helacaan House were moderates, doubtful of the Letoki's honesty in bringing Ascension closer to the Federation and doubtful of whether it could be attained in any case. They had however decided to follow the Letokis for now, knowing it to be the best way forward for Ascension especially given Seth's service in Starfleet, and his surprisingly ambivalent reports of how beneficial it had been for him. The Helacaans were also battling to quiet dissenting voices within their own ranks. There was a strain of discontent among the Helacaans and their House's associates as to the new ascendant House's direction, but Arnon Helacaan, Seth's father and colonial executive, was determined to support the Letoki-Yrjhkas and see where it might lead.

Previously having championed the idea of greater integration with the Federation when he had first heard it, Seth's recent resignation from Starfleet and his need to fulfill his mission for the Rectifiers (the one going into Naal Conglomerate territory) had put thoughts of Ascension politics aside. He was worried however that we becoming a lot less willing to follow the House's direction.

He wanted to go home now, something he could hope might come true presuming the Olympia was preparing to depart for Starbase, but this latest accident had forced yet another perspective on him. He had been rescued from an escape pod from the freighter Pollux two weeks after his resignation, on the verge of suffocation and being rushed to his saviors' sickbay. He had realized he was on a Starfleet vessel, had later helped to rescue Starfleet officers and Federation scientists, and had found himself in a position much as he'd been before on the Nevada. But somehow it felt right, felt good to be on a Starfleet vessel and having the routine off following orders and carrying them out. Helping other people. Was this, at last, the beginnings of a new comfort and familiarity with Starfleet?

Reaching the homestead, he circled it several times, seeing the distinct lack of damage. The recreation was good but not perfect, if it was depicting it in the time period he'd guessed. He sat in the dust of the forecourt, facing the wall that had caved in during the attack by the Helacaan family's enemies who'd thought the Helacaans had brought war back to the colony. This was too painful. He bowed his head, growing bitter at the memories of explosions of stone and dust he knew would come at some point in the future, if he remained here and if this was real.

He contacted the bridge, "Admiral Smith, Commander Rose. This is Seth Helacaan. Are we due to return to Starbase? I'm sorry sirs, but I'm growing impatient. I would like to return home."

<tag Smith, Rose>

[Lennard Meshers]

Lenny was in his quarters when he was summoned to sickbay at 19:00 hours. Almost a month had passed since Tan's arrival back on the Olympia, and the Commander had since stabilised, but was still being kept under observation by Doctor Thanis. The ship had ended up back orbiting Vandia III once more, whilst the expedition prepared to depart the ship to re-join the rest of their party. Lenny entered, nodding to Nurse Demoza who was alone with the patient at this hour.

"What can I help you with" he began, speaking abruptly.

Demoza came forward and nodded towards the empty bed on the other side of the room to Tan's. "They've left you something. I'm not entirely sure what it means, though..."

She trailed off, as Lenny nodded and walked to the console at the foot of the bed that had once been occupied by Sven Syrus. He had often visited sickbay, wishing to provide assistance alongside Doctor Caspar, rather than to stay in his own quarters. And so it had remained, even during the time when parts of the ship's crew were sweeping the caves on the planet's surface for any further hostiles.

Lenny picked up the trinket that had been left on the console, and smiled. It was the transmitter he had dropped whilst down in the cave on Vandia III. Maxtus had picked it up seconds before their transportation, wondering what this strange device, that Lenny had cast aside before helping Byron's ascent on the ledge, was exactly. He had been holding it when he first visited Syrus in sickbay, nervous and apologetic for the way the exobotanist had been kept and treated by his 'masters'.

"Don't be sorry" Syrus had replied, "You were following orders. Where are your people? Your family?"

"I don't know, sir. I haven't seen them since I was 10 years old. That's when I met...the others."

Syrus had looked much grieved at this revelation. "Well, come and visit me whenever you feel like doing so" he replied. "I expect you have a lot to talk about."

Lenny, whilst visiting Commander Tan at the time, had seen the transmitter and told Maxtus to keep it. It was of small use anyway; scratched and scraped by the harsh rock surface, it could only log simple messages, which normally would have been used as an aid to map interiors. Maxtus often stated that he would have liked to remain on the ship, having been strangely attached to Helacaan following the rescue attempt, but earlier he had been persuaded to return to the planet with Syrus, and had seemingly left the transmitter here as a farewell gift.

"What else is there?" Lenny asked. "Anything?"

Demoza shook her head. "No, sir. That was it."

Lenny looked at the screen, at the words on it: 'thanks for my new friends' it read simply, in small, dull-lit orange letters on the scratched black surface. Lenny nodded.

The sweeping finished, no more hostile activity had been found. The surface shields had been taken off-line for good, and the remainder of the expedition was currently retrieving the last of their equipment on the planet's surface below, before leaving it for the last time. Lenny hoped to be on the viewing deck to see them leave orbit. And Maxtus, it appeared, would be going with them.

Looking again at the screen, Lenny smiled again. "No problem" he muttered aloud. He took a last look around at sickbay, nodded at Demoza again, and exited the room, heading for his quarters.

[Deleted]

Steve had made many visits down to Sickbay since David had been beamed back on board. He was in pretty bad shape when he arrived, and over the course of his visits, there still wasn't much of an improvement. But he was stable, so that was something at least.

He finally decided to retire for the night, so left Sickbay in the capable hands of the medical staff and headed towards his quarters. Part way there he changed his mind and began to head for the Ready Room to pick up some left other paperwork and other bits & pieces.

Upon entering, he instinctively walked over to the replicator and ordered a cup of tea, which as soon as he realised what he had done, he rolled his eyes and shook his head before sitting down at his desk.

'May as well stay here to drink this then.' He thought, blowing on the cup and taking a sip, while picking up the PADD that he came in for.

Just as he was getting stuck into the report, the comms sounded.

=/\= "Admiral Smith, Commander Rose. This is Seth Helacaan. Are we due to return to Starbase? I'm sorry sirs, but I'm growing impatient. I would like to return home." =/\=

Steve sighed, and pressed his combadge to reply

=/\= "Your impatience is of no importantce to me Mr Helacaan. We will be heading home when I say we are. =/\= Was all Steve replied before cutting the link.

He drank the rest of his tea, put the cup in the reclamator and headed towards the door, still holding the PADD. As the door opened, Steve stopped, taking one last look inside the Ready Room to make sure he wasn't missing anything, and then exited.

Standing there for a few moments, looking out at the viewscreen, Steve finally said something. "Helm, plot a course for Starbase 47. Maximum warp......we're going home."

"Aye, sir." came the reply, as he headed into the turbolift and to his original destination.....his quarters.

[Crystal Rose]

Crystal had spend hours, actually days, probably weeks, trying to collate everything. It was clear that the underground facility had been in place for years, it was not however clear why it had been built. The Computer systems were been analysed but a lot of the information had been removed before the Olympia had gotten to it. The ship that had abducted David had escaped but The full signature was circulated throughout Starfleet they wouldn't be able to hide for long. Starfleet tended to react to an attack on one of their own. David was still recovering. Crystal had visited him regularly.

She was quite grateful when the Admiral gave the order to depart for starbase. She didn't exactly have happy memories of Vandia III.