Carl Torek
Command Staff ..
Site Executive Officer Ranks Officer
Fleet Admiral
"UTRINQUE PARATUS"
Registered: Jun 17, 2006 22:34:35 GMT
Posts: 6,160
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Post by Carl Torek on Jan 16, 2019 20:45:03 GMT
*** Disaster ~ Part Three ***Stardate:2405.03.0116Location:Omega Centauri 15,800 Light Years from Sol Systemooooo00000oooooIt had been almost two years since Starbase Forty Seven had been flung over fifteen thousand light years following the Betreka Disaster
In that time we have suffered greatly, almost beyond anything that could be tolerated by anyone But despite almost insurmountable odds, we have survived ... Not without losses, not by any means ... Family, Friends, Colleagues, have all lost their lives and will be remembered
In total, almost one third of a million souls were lost, most in the initial disaster, some, who held on to life finally succumbing to injuries, but still we hoped to endure Now, two years on, we are finally beginning to rebuild, to once more look ahead, and cling onto the hope that one day we will see our own Sun once again
We are beginning to once more explore, to venture out into the unknown. We are meeting new races. Some of which will become allies, while inevitably, some will want more than we can offer These like others will want to see our demise, but we will endure We will take small steps, we will put disaster behind us while never forgetting, but ultimately
We will strive to return home
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Carl Torek
Command Staff ..
Site Executive Officer Ranks Officer
Fleet Admiral
"UTRINQUE PARATUS"
Registered: Jun 17, 2006 22:34:35 GMT
Posts: 6,160
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Post by Carl Torek on Jan 16, 2019 21:16:41 GMT
~ STARBASE INFORMATION ~
~ SD: 2405.03.0116 ~Time Since Disaster: | - | 684 Days | Distance Travelled from Sol System: | - | 15,348 Light years | Current Velocity: | - | 0.001c [relative stationary position] | Operational Status: (%) | - | 84.62% | Location: | - | Constellation Omega Centauri | Approximate Distance at Complete Stop: | - | 15.8 ± 1.1 kly / 0.34 kpc
15,806.82 Light Years: * Final location confirmed Following passage through Dark Matter Cloud | Approximate Return Time to Sol System: | - | 20 years, Two Months |
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| -------------------------------------------------- | --- | -------------------------------------------------------- | Starships:
Operational > Undergoing repairs > | | USS El Salvador-C USS Enzio USS Raven-C USS Maracanda
USS El Alamein USS Oxford
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- | -------------------------------------------------------- | Power Reserves: | | Starbase:
12 Cores 10 Operational 02 Undergoing repair
Starships:
* All vessels with the exclusion of: USS El Alamein & USS Oxford have operational Warp Cores
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- | -------------------------------------------------------- | Food Reserves: | | The Starbase is capable of sustaining production of nutritional food supplies for maximum 8 Solar Years without replenishment
Other options will be explored prior to deadline | -------------------------------------------------- | --- | -------------------------------------------------------- | Casualties: | | 284,583 Men, Women, and Children
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- | -------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------- | --- | -------------------------------------------------------- | Starbase Current Compliment: |
| 186,249 Men, Women, and Children:
168,758 Civilian 17,491 Starfleet Personnel
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Simon Clark
Lt. Commander
Registered: Dec 1, 2016 22:21:10 GMT
Posts: 153
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Post by Simon Clark on Jan 17, 2019 11:44:13 GMT
Captain's Ready Room, Deck 1, USS Oxford, Docking Dome, Starbase 47
"Lieutenant Kempton. Come in."
"Thank you, Sir." Max sat down in the chair opposite the Andorian. Captain Tymoklis pushed away his display, and turned to him.
"A busy few weeks. I see you've made some recommendations in your closing report?"
"Improvements to the Oxford's Engineering function."
"Indeed. You've suggested Crewman Anita Patel for Officer training... may I ask why?"
"She's capable, she's got a good head for warp mechanics, and she takes charge when she needs to. I think she'd make a good engineering lead."
"She has been described by others as fiery, disregarding of authority, and difficult to work with," Tymoklis said.
"I had also heard that," Max replied, "I think... I see a lot of myself in her, in the way she works, and her drive. It has been said of me that I am difficult to work with and... I was given the opportunity to show what I could do. I think if she could be mentored, she'd make a good Ensign, and maybe even a good Chief."
"You've certainly shown your mettle as our acting Chief Engineer. I kept you from the Enzio for a few weeks longer than Gheskori and I first agreed, and he wants you back. Are you keen to get out there?" Tymoklis gestured to the star map on the display.
Max wasn't sure. Here on the Oxford he'd been chief engineer for three weeks, the role he'd always wanted. He'd learned a lot. He'd had the autonomy to decide what his team, and that's how he now thought of them, would do. The strategy was his, he had the captain's ear; he had responsibility, he'd been included in starship meetings and briefings. And it had been hard work. He'd spent much more time administering process, documentation, schedules and reports than he had tweaking the controls of the weapon systems and warp drives. The actual day to day work he was doing, a lot of it was teaching an inexperienced crew, and some of it was downright dull. And refitting a defensive starship was somewhat different to manning an active vessel.
"I have mixed views, sir. I have enjoyed leading your engineering team, I have gained an appreciation for the work that Lieutenant Clark does on the Enzio and the challenges he faces. I could learn a lot more here. I think... returning to the Enzio will be a different experience for me than it was before, sir."
"Well said. I will have a look through your report, and forward it to the Enzio's executive with a few comments of my own. I think you've got a few days leave before your resume your duties over there. Good work, Lieutenant, you deserve a break. I will arrange closing briefing of the senior staff this afternoon, please have Crewman Patel attend it with you, I want to spend more time with her before I make any firm decision."
"Understood, sir. I am sure she will."
"Good Luck. There's a lot of space out there. I hope you find it interesting. Dismissed."
<Tag: Aeryn Tavik>
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Simon Clark
Lt. Commander
Registered: Dec 1, 2016 22:21:10 GMT
Posts: 153
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Post by Simon Clark on Jan 19, 2019 21:40:40 GMT
O'Tooles Bar and Grill, Level 1551, Alpha Promenade, Commerce Ring, Starbase 47
"She did what?" Rory asked, "Man, Almir, that's tough. I'm sure I saw her as a soft touch."
"It's not funny. And he wasn't the only one taken in," Simon replied, frowning at Rory and Max's enthusiastic laughter. Almir made eye contact with the bottom of his glass, and drank a large sip of his beer.
"Not funny? You're kidding! You, all of you, Starfleet's finest officers, out on a team-building day at the Admiral's invitation - that's the Admiral of Starbase forty-seven, no less - trapped for hours at her whim. Mwv'mci had the lot of you. Locked out of holodeck controls, overridden security, somehow convincing you all not to bring your commbadges. And not one of you suspected anything? That's not funny. That's hilarious! That's the best practical joke I've heard for weeks! You all underestimated her."
"The Admiral had it worked out," Almir said.
"Eventually, you said. They are married, Almir. It's not like he doesn't know her."
"And we obviously don't," Simon told him, "I wonder if Gheskori knew how clever she is, you know, when they married."
"I wouldn't doubt it for a second," Almir replied, "I would expect that to be the reason why he married her. Or she him."
"Well, there's a question I'm not tempted to ask Gheskori." Simon said. They all sipped from the glass. A waitress pushed past behind them with a tray of cognac, brushing Simon's shoulder. O'Tooles was busy, even after all the turmoil on the promenade over the last few months. The invitations for the grand reopening that had been sent out had done their work. The Starfleet booth was populated, and though Simon recognised none of the officers, Sean and the bar manager had greeted them warmly when they came in. In some ways, Simon still felt very green on the Starbase, it was so much bigger than the Enzio.
"Two years," he said, feeling somehow the time was right. "That's how long it's been, since I rejoined Starbase 47. I raise my glass to you, my team. May we have many more adventures."
"To a wild ride," Max said, raising his own glass.
Simon nodded, it was apt enough. He repeated, "To a wild ride."
They all drank.
"Maybe not too wild." Almir suggested, draining the last of his glass, "Well, I'm out. Another round?" They nodded, and Almir traipsed back to the bar.
"Lieutenant Clark?" someone asked. One of the officers from the booth in the corner was making his way over to them.
"Yes?"
"You serve on the Enzio, with Admiral Gheskori. I hear I have you to thank for orchestrating the removal a quantum sphere from inside my abdomen."
"Oh... I... you're welcome." Simon hadn't really considered that part of the operation. He hoped M'Rell and the transporter chief had adjusted for in-body spheres. Presumably they had, "I'll be sure to pass on your thanks to the Enzio's team."
"Iorte Clancy," he said. The man stuck out his hand. Simon shook it.
"Nice to meet you, Iorte. Meet the Enzio's engineering team: Lieutenant Max Kempton, who knows his torpedoes from his beers, Ensign Rory Heath the best racquetball player on the ship, and my deputy, Lieutenant Almir Marin-" [OOC: all three are NPC's]
"-the bringer of more beer." Almir said, handing them over, "Would you like one?"
<Tag: Clancy / Anyone else who is in O'Tooles>
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Elena de Luca
Starfleet Intelligence
Registered: Dec 14, 2009 0:38:17 GMT
Posts: 265
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Post by Elena de Luca on Jan 20, 2019 0:28:54 GMT
Nineteen Forty Hours O'Tooles Bar & Grill Alpha Promenade :: 'It is official' she thought to herself as she exited the turbo lift on Alpha Promenade 'My neck is actually trying to kill me !' .... Elena had been rubbing the ache out of her neck for the last two days ... Anyone else would have gone to the nearest Med Center and got it sorted, but not her, not the ever-stubborn Elena, no, she had to suffer in silence ... Though that too wasn't exactly true, given she had practically bitten the head off anyone asking if she had a bad neck. People, she noticed, were now avoiding her like the proverbial plague ! "Drink the pain away girl." she said as she walked along. "Ma'am ?" she stopped and turned to see a young Ensign,so young in fact that she was convinced he was still at school playing Starfleet. "I don't remember addressing you, Ensign." she said dangerously "Yes Ma'am, erm no Ma'am." the man spluttered as the realisation that he was somehow in serious life-threatening danger dawned upon him, "Apologies Ma'am, I thou ....." "Call me Ma'am again ... I dare you ... I double dare you !" de Luca said, a weird sadistic streak within her somehow enjoying the mans discomfort. In turn, the young Ensign began to look for an escape route, maybe fate would produce a wormhole large enough for him to step through to Kansas, hopefully without the irate woman following. With no other option open to him he turned and walked away, grateful he escaped with his life. "Still got it." Elena said with a wry grin as she spotted her reason for coming down here in the first place ... O'Tooles had been one of the first establishments to open following the 'troubles' and the owner, Sean, was making sure he remained so ...... Entering she was happy to see the bar bustling with customers, both Civilian and Starfleet. there was a splattering of Marines too, thankfully keeping themselves to themselves, if they knew what was good for them as Sean O'Toole didn't take any truck with brawling, unless it was semi-clad women in a shallow mud bath as he always said before physically throwing any troublemaker out on his behind if he, or she, disrupted the harmonious ambience of his establishment. "Well, I'll go to kiss the ol'e Cloch na Blarnan, if it isn't my true love." Elena turned to see Sean O'Toole approaching, arms outstretched, she knew is was futile to try to fend the handsome Irishman off so she stood still allowing him to wrap his arms around her before lifting her off her feet. Rolling her eyes she waited while he showered her with his usual beguiling charm, finally returning her feet to the deck and almost releasing his hold, he leaned in, kissing her warmly. "Hello Sean. Still the charmer I see." she said when she could breath. "I till haven't given up ya know girl, we'll be married one day." Sean said grinning warmly. "Hmmm .... Lets me go ask Kara how she feels about that shall we ?" de Luca asked with a wry grin, Sean's flirtations were nothing new and she had 'hopefully' learned how to ignore them. "That girl would divorce me in a heartbeat so I could marry you, and ya both know it so you do." he said, then grabbed her arm as she began to wave at Kara across the room, "But we'll keep that snippet to ourselves for the time being shall we ... Now, lets get ya to the bar, I have a bottle sat waiting for someone to take a snifter. So .... hows the old man fairing ?" Sean O'Toole was the only person who could refer to Admiral Sato Tetsutaro, Elana's Stepfather, in such a way and get away with it. "He's tired." she replied without preamble. "Understandable." Sean said serious for the first time since she had come into the bar. He waved to one of his staff for drinks, "David's in, sat in your usual booth. I believe that friend of yours, Iorte, came in a short time ago, maybe he's joined David. Let's have a drink together then we'll go over and see whats happening, OK ?" Elena looked at her friend then nodded, it wasn't often than Sean wanted a moment, as such, when he hinted people usually obliged. "How was the wedding ?" she asked. "A quiet affair, but good nonetheless. I'd planned on taking her to Ireland and asking there, but, needs must." he shrugged. "We'll get home Sean, I'm sure of it, and when we do you'll re-do your vows in the summer sun in Ireland, with Family and friends around you. Besides, I need a chance to catch the bouquet." she finished, trying hard to keep a straight face. "YOU ! .... You'll never tie the knot, there's no-one insane enough to get caught, besides me of course." he said with that charming grin of his ... Elena punched him in the arm. "Serves you right you bloody rogue." Kara said as she came up, putting a tray of empty glasses on the bar for someone to deal with. She turned to Elena, hugging her warmly. "Sorry I couldn't be at the wedding." "It was something of a surprise." Kara said, hugging her friend once more, "Hardly shotgun but we just wanted to get it done. When he finally got the courage to ask that is. You understand, don't you ?" "I do, yes." Elena said warmly. "So ... What you up to now the troubles have been dealt with ?" Kara asked. "Well, we have some down time, as you probably know." she glanced at Sean who shrugged, the picture of innocence, "Don't know how long it will last. Most of Intel' have offered their services throughout the Starbase helping get things back up and running, while David, Iorte, myself, have been given leave that could end in a month or in the next twenty seconds." she shrugged. "Then we better get you over to the booth." Sean said, lifting the Intelligence Officer off her feet before she could protest, "MAKE WAY ... MAKE WAY THERE ..." he said loudly as he strode across the dance floor towards the booth ..........
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Gheskori
Command Staff ..
Commanding Officer Personnel Officer Trivia Officer
Section Admiral
USS Enzio
Registered: May 2, 2008 23:32:36 GMT
Posts: 1,538
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Post by Gheskori on Jan 20, 2019 15:32:03 GMT
It'd of course occurred to Ghes on numerous occasions that part of the reason for Phrixa's melancholy could well be that she no longer had the company of her other two husbands, still in Federation space. Mwv'mci had no such trouble, Gheskori being her first partner - an especial honour for a Denobulan male, to be the first chosen by a female as yet unwed.
He'd tried to convince Phrixa of the virtues of the holodeck: therein lay her best chances of finding at least the resemblance of a Denobulan male partner, but considering the recent debacle (amusingly, courtesy of the other wife) he decided against pushing Phrixa on the peculiar merits of the holodeck for at least a few days, until the pesky thing could be rendered tamper-resistant, as proof against certain mischievous persons.
"Phrixa! Phrixa!" his voice was muffled, she realised, as she lay back in a chair half-asleep, a copy of Klingon opera - in prose - resting on her lap (she'd just about got through the first scene after the prelude (the latter of which didn't have sung parts)). "Phrixa!!"
"Ah," she breathed and sprang up, unlocking the door to the quarters manually, "My - my apologies, Gheskori."
"Did you not hear the chime? Why did you lock it? And using my code!" he ceased banging on the door as it drew aside; he huffed and strode in, clapping PADDs down on the coffee table, "Just the other day I was trapped in my study after you chose to lock the place down before heading to Alpha Promenade. And now..." Her security consciousness - in one of the most tightly secured sections of the base - infuriated him, though he did his best to temper it as he continually reminded himself of her current malaise.
"I'm sorry," he said sharply and sat on the couch, pitching forward and resting his elbows on his legs, letting his face sink into his palms; he rubbed the epidermis, trying to wipe the bleariness away (a sleepless night in the holo-forest would do that), and looked up at his wife, "Did you visit Dr Valek?" She nodded and he looked at her questioningly.
"He insisted it was only neurological, or psychical."
"Really? But you are always complaining of it being so cold." He'd picked up a PADD but now cast down it again and sighed, "Why don't you come with us on the next Enzio assignment? I know you do not like to leave this place. But you're reclusing yourself, Phrixa, my beloved. This is what is making you ill, being sequestered in these quarters, with only the one over-used route between here and Alpha Promenade for variation in scenery. You hide away from everyone on the base because you don't know them, but you don't make an effort to know them; you pine for Federation space, but that will not make it come to you any faster. You must come with us, out into the unknown; the lack of it, that is what is embattling your mind, not the loneliness you assume it entails."
He looked away as she stared at him in silence; he picked up another of the PADDs and put it down again instantly - Klingon opera.
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Sean O'Toole
Civilian
The Luck O' the Irish
Registered: Aug 13, 2016 0:12:33 GMT
Posts: 59
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Post by Sean O'Toole on Jan 26, 2019 22:02:32 GMT
Twenty Two Hundred Hours O'Tooles Bar & Grill Alpha Promenade :: Sean had been stood at the bar ... The place was busy, busier than usual to be honest, and he had needed to go to his store room several times to restock the bar, not that he was complaining, obviously ... Despite the numbers in the bar, he had only had cause to ask one small group of people to leave: They had been in the bar since early evening and had clearly consumed more than they could handle. After beginning to annoy several other patrons Sean had ha enough and had told them to go. Despite being outnumbered six to one he stood firm, his jovial manner defusing the initial annoyance and the men left without incident. Alas, after frequenting another establishment, they chose to return, this time less than willing to go quietly ... "Here's a thought guys ....." he said as he stood barring their way into his bar, "We're kinda full at the moment, so maybe you could come back tomorrow, I'm sure there will be seating room then, and as a gesture I'll buy the first round." "Out of the way, Paddy." one of the men said, pushing past Sean. He didn't get far as the owner of O'Tooles punched him below the ribs, doubling the man over. He grabbed him by the arms and spun him towards the door into his companions. Kara had approached the fracas unseen, and as two of the mans friends reached for Sean she swung the old baseball bat in a tight arc, connecting with the first mans temple before continuing in a downward arc to the shoulder blade of the second. There was a satisfying snap as the impacted bone broke and he dropped to his knees clutching his fractured bones. "You were asked nicely to leave. I suggest you do so." she said, the business end of the weapon pointed squarely at the man in front of the remaining group. They began to back away, "Hey, take your friends with you, he needs a little medical assistance I think." Several of the patrons clapped and cheered as Kara and Sean walked back into the bar, Kara curtsied theatrically. "Did you need to break that mans shoulder blade ?" Sean asked quietly. "I wasn't aiming for his shoulder." Kara said, returning the bat to it's place behind the bar .... "Not lost you're touch Seany-boy." Sean turned to see who had spoken, though he already knew given only one person got away with calling him 'Seany-boy' without being put on his proverbial arse." "Tommy. Long time no see .... Thought you'd been killed off in some dispute over stolen hardware a while ago." O'Toole said disinterestedly. "Nah, ever resourceful me. Aren't you going to buy me a drink, for ol'e times sake ?" the man asked, not smiling. "Get the hell out of my bar Tommy. I told you last time that if you walked in here again you would be going out on a stretcher. Want me to make good on my promise ?" Sean asked. "Now is that any way to greet a fellow traveller from the Emerald Isle ?" "You are no more Irish than I am Klingon .... Turn around, walk out of here, or I'll drag you out scalp first and throw you on the promenade like the trash you are." Sean said dangerously. "OK OK ..... But you may well be missing out on some information that could be useful to you ....." the man said, still holding his ground. Sean turned casually then slammed three rigid fingers below Tommy's solar plexus, instantly winding him. He put his arm around him guiding the semiconscious man and walked him through the throng toward the doors. As he stepped onto the promenade he let him go. Tommy slid to the floor only now getting his breath. As Sean turned the man managed to gasp a warning, "You'll regret this Seany ... There are people in that 'bar' of yours that are less than honest. You will find yourself on the wrong end of a a lot of trouble if you don't listen to me." Sean turned, kneeling beside the stricken man still gasping for breath. "Do us both a favour ... When you manage to get to your feet, crawl back into that sewer you came up from. I'll handle myself and my business, OK !" he whispered. "They know you used to help Intelligence." Tommy said quietly. "Well they, like you, are talking through their behinds, go away Tommy." he said, rising then returning to the bar .... An Hour Later :: Elena de Luca came to the bar to order drinks, Kara was serving her as Sean walked up: "Hey sweetness, how's your night going, have ya been up on the stage for a sing yet ?" he asked, arms wrapped around her waist. "Your wife is going to get annoyed at your antics Mister O'Toole." Elena said trying feebly to escape his grasp, "As for singing, last time if you remember, i halved your clientele with my crooning." "Away with ya's your singing was always a highlight of our nights." Sean said, winking at his wife as his grip on Elena tightened. "I'll lend you Barry if ya need to fight the rogue off girl." Kara said, referring to the previously used baseball bat. "Alright, I give up. It's clear your feelings for me have not diminished, but I'm spoken for ..." Sean said, feigning hurt, "I'm a happily married man so away with your advances now." he said. Everyone close by laughed at his antics. As Elena picked up her tray of drinks he leaned forward kissing her on the cheek, "Back room five mins." he whispered. "No problem." "I said away with ya. Can't you see I'm taken." he said loudly for the benefit of those watching the scene playing out, grinning as Elena walked away. ~~~~~
"One of my former 'associates' came in earlier, mouthing off." Sean said as Elena entered the concealed room they had build years earlier, "He said something about 'people knowing' ..." "About what ?" she asked. "About my association with members of the Intelligence community." "So ? .... You 'associate' with all sorts, it's a given in your profession. He's talking through his back end, maybe he's trying to make you think he has something on you. For leverage maybe." de Luca said, already using the surveillance equipment in the hidden room to locate and identify the man Sean knows as 'Tommy' ..... "That's him, little scroat." Sean confirmed, "He used to give me snippets of information here and there, but he became more and more unreliable until I almost came a cropper after information he provided proved to be crap. In fact it was all I could do to deflect blame onto another informant, otherwise ..... There had been reports that he'd been killed during the dissension, but clearly not." "I could have him pulled in, wouldn't take much to ensure he was out of circulation for some time ?" "No, there may well be something in what he says, and if there is then there's not only me to consider, is there ..." Sean said, clearly worried there may well be merit to Tommy's comment. "OK, then all I can suggest is that you let us know if he comes back in. Try to keep him occupied while we get here, in fact I'll have someone keep an eye on Tommy, see who he chats to." Elena said, shutting down the equipment and standing, "You know how this works Sean, we've had people who think they know stuff before, ninety nine times out of a hundred they are out to make a quick profit before moving on to the next, the one percent have nothing but rumour to go on. Our advantage is that whatever he heard has come from here on the Starbase, and whoever is chatting is going nowhere fast. We'll contain this, don't worry yourself too much. You did the right thing letting me know, better safe than sorry, as the saying goes." she smiled, linking Sean as they left the room and walked along the corridor back to the bar ..........
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Iorte Clancy
Starfleet Intelligence
Registered: Mar 9, 2016 17:58:55 GMT
Posts: 246
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Post by Iorte Clancy on Jan 27, 2019 16:38:28 GMT
He visited the rundown hotel on Alpha Promenade once more, for nostalgia's sake more than anything, for here was where it had all started, here he'd been based when - on the way to meet what turned out to be an impostor of Tan, unseen by his victim - he'd been cracked over the cranium with a metallic club and had plummeted into unconsciousness.
"Ah, Mr Perkins, I'm so glad to see you have returned," the porter beamed his overly-white teeth, "Your room is ready, sir, as always... Mr Stirczki has vacated the premises..."
"Yes, indeed," Iorte muttered. Mr Stirczki was now in solitary confinement, having been one of the few of Serova's circle to escape cryogenic suspension in the wake of the veritable station-wide rebellion. "Please don't call me Mr Perkins, my name is Iorte Clancy."
The man's face fell as he escorted him to the lift, "Ah, Mr... Mr Clancy? But I don't understand."
Iorte disregarded him as they rode in the antiquated lift to the level of the penthouse. He dismissed the man and opened up his room; ah, yes, just as he'd left it, like returning to the same dream and finding all the items, the objects of REM perception in the same place. "I'll be staying for two nights," he called into the intercom down to reception.
"The delights of Alpha Promenade?" the porter teased, "O'Toole's? Ah, I know you, sir." Clancy closed his eyes and acknowledged, feeling instinctively for his damaged abdomen. Apparently there was a gathering there this evening, to be attended by amongst others members of the crew of the USS Enzio, those who'd been mainly responsible for the development of the plan to disable the quantum slipstream spheres. He wished to thank the officer in question for having saved not only his life, but of those who'd been in his vicinity for the whole op.
* * *
It was towards the end of the evening at O'Toole's. Iorte finished his drink and nodded to Tan, they both stood and made for the exit. Clancy nodded Lieutenant Clark's way once again - the officer was still there with his friends - acknowledging his debt to him for the removal of the sphere. Emerging, he inhaled sharply the air of the promenade - the place was near deserted, and he realised just how late it was. However he noticed then in his periphery two people standing off to the right, loitering by the entrance; the one addressed the other as 'Tommy' and then nodded, passing him a PADD and making off down the promenade. Tommy turned and made to enter the bar. Iorte shrugged and headed for the hotel.
Having checked his console and found he was requested to attend a further interrogation of Admiral Basirov, 1600 hours tomorrow, he now lay on the bed, drowsiness enveloping him - his thoughts took flight in the developing REM space, those of reality fading to the horizon, and he thought again of the procedure to insert the quantum sphere into his abdomen. It'd seemed those dissidents had been delving deeper, probing rather at his mind.
For the procedure had invoked the memory of his original expulsion from his homeworld. He'd been subject to the stern adjudication of his former colleagues, the multitude of faces looking down on him, some pitying him, others, their eyes gleaming, feeling vindicated.
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Elena de Luca
Starfleet Intelligence
Registered: Dec 14, 2009 0:38:17 GMT
Posts: 265
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Post by Elena de Luca on Jan 27, 2019 22:50:42 GMT
Next day, Elena had gone up to Level Eight where Starfleet Intelligence had their offices ... "Computer. Identify individual in image Alpha nine eight four." 'Working .. .. .. Male identified: Thomas James Gow Identification number 284 954-B-26 Current assignment .. Cargo handler Convictions: Theft Embellishment Blackmail Current restrictions - Curfew "Nice chap. OK computer that's enough." Elena said as she read the report more thoroughly, "What is his current location ?" 'Mister Gow is currently on Level one six six two - Cargo Bay Nine' She shut the terminal down and left the Command Center .... Ten minutes later she exited the turbo-lift on the same Level as Gow was supposedly working .... Dressed in Civilian garb she didn't stand out, but it would only be a matter of time before one of the Supervisors asked what she was doing down here. Picking a PADD off one of the crates she began to look for the first of the items listed, apparently lighting panels used in all the corridors and rooms throughout the Starbase ... As she moved through the Cargo Bay she tried to spot Gow without making it too obvious to anyone watching her. "You're new." She stopped in her tracks, spinning to face the man who had spoken. "Yes, I didn't realise the place was so big ..." she said with a smile, turning the PADD so he could see the screen, "I've been told to collect four of these panels for Beta Promenade, apparently the 'Tecks' couldn't be bothered coming down here themselves, lazy sods if you ask me." "That's a fact." he said, taking the PADD and looking past her, "Down to the bottom on the right, you'll need to sign them out. Bit of a pain but since those in the know fount out things were going walkies they have tightened up." "Walkies ?" she said, playing the dumb newbie. "Yeh, things have been going missing, but hey-ho ... Listen, fancy a drink after shift ?" he said, leaning in close as if the question may be overheard. "I'd love to but I have somewhere to be." she said, feigning sadness at the missed opportunity, "Anyway, thanks for the directions." she said breezily, walking away before he could suggest another day. She followed the directions and came across racks of lighting panels, she found a mag-bed and loaded four onto it. She turned to retrace her steps when she saw Gow talking to someone in the shadows. Leaving the mag-bed she slipped between two rows of towering racking until she was level with the two but concealed. "There's no way we can do anything, you're being paranoid."
"I'm telling you he was and likely still is working for the spooks." Gow whispered.
"Leave him be Tommy, I won't tell you twice."
"You don't tell me anything Warwick, get that straight. If I want to deal with the man who likely put most of us behind bars then I will. You or anyone else isn't going to stop me !"
"You're stupid Gow, you always have been. Why Serova even bothered with you is beyond me, though I suspect it was more for your usefulness as a scapegoat rather than your skills as a thie ....." A third man approached and Elena suddenly heard what could only have been a fist impacting with a jaw, then the man named as Warwick slumped to the deck apparently unconscious. "Get the hell out of here, I'll deal with him." the newcomer ordered. Without replying Gow strode away ..... She remained hidden as the unknown assailant grabbed one of Warwick's legs before dragging him unceremoniously along the aisle. She tracked their progress from her aisle and saw the assailant look up and down to make sure he wasn't being observed before dropping the man on one of the industrial transporter pads, she realised too late what he was doing and Warwick de-materialised before her eyes. It was a given he wouldn't turn up anytime soon ! The assailant strode away as if nothing had happened, she was about to follow when someone shouted: "Hey, is this yours ?" she spun, seeing someone in Starfleet uniform standing over the mag-bed laden with the light fittings, she walked toward him quickly, hoping the assailant hadn't took notice and turned back. "Yes, erm Lieutenant, sorry, I was looking for the erm ...." she said, feigning embarrassment. "Fine, but don't leave these things activated, it could have drifted off and caused no end of damage." the man said self-importantly. "Yes Sir, sorry." she said, grabbing the handles and walking away. Once out of sight she left the deactivated bed and headed for the nearest turbo-lift .... Starfleet Intelligence Offices Level Eight Command Center :: "Dropping onto a seat she spoke quickly. "Computer. Access surveillance. Level one six six two .... Cargo Bay nine, sections seventeen through twenty two .... Last thirty minutes." the screen showed nothing but static. "Go back two hours, same location." same result, "Go back twenty four hours." again the screen showed only static. frustrated she tried once more: "Go back seventy two hours, same location." unsurprisingly all she got was yet more static. "Great !" she said. 'Please rephrase question ...' the computer said annoyingly ... She tapped her Comm badge: =^= de Luca to David Tan =^= =^= Tan =^= =^= David .. Can you come up to the office .. Bring Clancy with you ? =^= =^= I'm in the turbo-lift on my way up there as we speak .. Not sure where Iorte is .. .. Problem ? =^= David asked. =^= I'll let you know when you get here .. .. .. =^= she closed the comm and sat back ..........
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Gheskori
Command Staff ..
Commanding Officer Personnel Officer Trivia Officer
Section Admiral
USS Enzio
Registered: May 2, 2008 23:32:36 GMT
Posts: 1,538
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Post by Gheskori on Jan 30, 2019 14:40:11 GMT
Sitting in his office watching the displays, Ghes considered how much easier it would be to keep on top of all these developments if they had a functioning long-range subspace comm array - this was true of all circumstances, but especially so in this case when half their active vessels were on assignment outside of the comm range of their short distance transceiver (without the use of nav/comm buoys and the like).
Adams and Lieutenant Squentin had nearly completed their presentation regarding the current disposition of their vessels, their positions, strategic situation and other data, including what was planned next by the station and what was probably in the minds of the staff officers of each ship. Both were beyond range of what comms the station did have available, thus the specifics of their situations were unknown but the base could at least approximately locate them.
"And the two negotiating vessels are still in the Raven's vicinity?" he asked.
"Yes, sir," Squentin said, "Last we knew, at any rate. And the Raven and Maracanda, again as far as we aware, are still just outside scanning and short range comm distance of the base, so as not to allow those Werim and Phorx-ku craft the ability to detect us - not to do so easily at any rate."
And what about the El Salvador, Ghes asked. Squentin and Adams' countenances became more serious. "Still out of contact, sir. It's not known whether they could even raise us; perhaps they cannot, as by now they well could've found a workaround to our mutual comms problems, dropping buoys, trying alternate subspace frequencies of the type not normally accessed, for instance."
As Adams picked up Squentin's line of thought, Ghes nodded, tapping his arched fingers at his lips and rotating slightly in his chair. The Enzio was due to go out soon, too, by the normal rotation program; the only thing that might've prevented its doing so was paradoxically the thing which made it necessary to do so: the El Salvador being presumably a fair distance away, the Enzio would normally have stayed until its return, but the lack of contact with the El Sal necessitated measures be taken to repair the ventral comm array of the base more rapidly, or possibly, even be given the chance to repair it at all. The Enzio would go in search of such materials as could assist this. Tavik, V'Maz and Clark were on the ship engaged in prep.
=/\=Admiral Gheskori, you better come to Ops.=/\=
Adams frowned at being interrupted and made an impatient gesture while Burr - seated at the table - tapped at the desk and looked sheepish. That sounded imperative, Ghes thought, =/\=On my way.=/\=
* * *
He entered Ops and asked for a report. "We're receiving a transmission from near the coordinates of the Raven's negotiations with the Phorx and the Werim, sir."
"Near the coordinates? Inside the radius for short-range comms presumably."
"Yes, Admiral..." The Ops controller then frowned, "It carries a Starfleet signature... Ah, it's from the Raven shuttle Concord." Ghes ordered the transmission be answered. "Not possible, sir, or rather it wouldn't be of much use. It's just white noise, nonsense data. Cursory long range scans suggest the shuttle is unmanned..."
"Sir," another controller alerted, "Detecting signs of a jump to warp from those coordinates, Starfleet signature again... Sovereign class. The Raven has left the site of the talks, it seems to be moving towards us... Now away, course uncertain."
Ghes mused over this information as Burr and Adams approached. Admiral Torek would have very good reasons for leaving the scene. The shuttle was a mysterious factor - perhaps a decoy... He decided to let the matter be, perhaps Torek was onto something, and having the Starbase acknowledge or probe into the matter in any way may alert people the Raven would prefer weren't alerted. The Maracanda was still in position - things were already moving to put into place measures to make contact with the Maracanda without either of the parties at enmity being aware of it.
* * *
Back in his office, this time without the wall displays and the talking, Ghes sat pitched back in his chair thinking of recent developments; he then sat up, rotated his personal console round and asked to be put through to the Personnel Office. He waited for his further instructions to be followed and then found himself facing on the screen the officer he'd requested contact with. "Ah, Lieutenant Tagert, I presume." Yes, Section Admiral, the man replied. "I've learnt your assignment has been approved and that you will be joining the USS Enzio for its next assignment. I'll be meeting you in person of course but I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome you aboard."
<Tag Thomas Tagert>
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Iorte Clancy
Starfleet Intelligence
Registered: Mar 9, 2016 17:58:55 GMT
Posts: 246
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Post by Iorte Clancy on Jan 30, 2019 14:46:27 GMT
Iorte awoke in a cold sweat. Shaking, he pushed back with a trembling hand the sheets and rose unsteadily to his feet. He found he had to sit. He bent over double, wincing as he did so at the pains shooting up through his abdomen; he squinted his eyes shut, tears escaping and joining the sweat, as he felt those bolts of electricity seem to strike across his torso, his neck, his nape. "Aaghh..." he exhaled sharply and collapsed off the bed. That sphere, that sphere, what has it left me with...
The lights were raised by the computer as it detected his movements and voice. A comm signal was chirping from somewhere. It recurred, again and again. He groaned on the floor and gradually - as the pain subsided - dragged himself to his feet, panting heavily and taking a moment with his hands on his knees, before standing up straight, sighing once more and rounding the bed with difficulty to the comm on the opposite bedside table.
=/\=Clancy here,=/\= he managed.
=/\=Iorte... finally... would you be able to spare a moment in the office up here?=/\= It was de Luca. =/\=David and I are working on a problem, involving someone perhaps connected with Sean O'Toole.=/\=
=/\=Agh,=/\= it was a vocalisation somewhere between annoyance and severe pain, =/\=Are you sure you can't... Ah, don't worry, I'll be there.=/\=
He entered level 8's Intel offices looking decidedly worse for wear. Ragged and unkempt, ashen faced, he collapsed in a seat at the table. The other two glanced at one another briefly, perhaps amused, perhaps concerned, or both in equal measure. "Iorte, I wouldn't normally say anything but you look like, well..."
The sentence fortunately did not need to be completed. "I'm fine. What do we have?" he leant forward and minimised the wince at the twinge of pain from his abdomen.
The visual footage from deck 1662 was replayed once more on the room's display. "Is that all there is?" he asked once the rapid playback was complete. They nodded. The three moved about the room, now Iorte and Tan consulting, then Iorte and de Luca and finally Tan and de Luca while Iorte went for coffee. He turned the issue over in his mind: so, if surveillance of sections 17 through 22 of the cargo bay were offline, what about section numbers either side? He didn't pretend that those responsible (if indeed the loss of surveillance for that sector was down to the perpetrators) would be stupid enough not to disable those devices also, but he did recall that sections 29-31 consisted of an access corridor of tight confines, adjacent to the area of assault in question and leading to cargo bay 10 - thus, away from the main space of cargo bay 9 and similarly secluded to the site of the attack.
He made the suggestion and the footage was dug up: he was surprised to find sections 29-31 were indeed available, and it showed nineteen hours ago a group - one of whom Iorte recognised as the Tommy Gow he'd seen outside of O'Toole's, whom Elena had since told him of - moving down the tight corridor towards bay 9. They had a mag gurney between them, carrying what Iorte agreed was a shrouded corpse.
"Can't be Warwick," Elena commented. Besides, the assault on Warwick had taken place only a couple hours ago. They froze the image. Carried by the woman next to Gow was a PADD which Iorte requested be magnified; a grainy image, they could just make out the lines of names thereon, the resolution and the dim corridor lighting just sufficient to show how some of the lines and names were greyed out while others were given in orange. A hit list?
"Let's get those names run through the computer."
"I recognise one of them already," Elena said quietly, she had the image magnified again at a certain spot and pointed, "Kara."
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Thomas Tagert
Lieutenant JG
Registered: Jan 19, 2019 8:46:37 GMT
Posts: 18
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Post by Thomas Tagert on Feb 1, 2019 21:10:03 GMT
An alarm blared as the display notification read off the static and differential pressures of the antimatter cooling systems. He though the temperature of the cabin had risen in the type 12 shuttle. He figured a antimatter hydrate had formed in the nozzle head on the matter side. He purged the antimatter from the gas flow separator, in hopes that it would give him time to zero the choke on the matter side and punch the hydrate through. The whine from the warp coils startled him as the surge retarded the inertial dampers for an instant and he fell back into his seat as the communication came on the screen. Computer accept communication.
=^="Ah, Lieutenant Tagert, I presume."=^=
Yes, Section Admiral, Tom replied trying not to let on that he was in the middle of something a hair stressful.
=^= "I've learnt your assignment has been approved and that you will be joining the USS Enzio for its next assignment. I'll be meeting you in person of course but I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome you aboard."=^=
"Thank you sir I'm looking forward to serving on the Enzio and getting back out there and off this station... It's nice don't get me wrong I just...I'm just ready." He emitted a brief chuckle.
Tag Gheskori
The intercooler was purged and reinitiated. He heard part of what the Admiral had started to say when he saw the fragment coming into his peripheral vision on the console. But it was too late. "Computer..." just as the words left his lips the fragment impacted on the starboard side of the hull ripping it open to space. For an instant Tom could smell the burnt emissions from the coolant tanks and see the console ripped from it's buttress as it was pulled through the opening in the force of the atmosphere blowing by him. He himself was pulled ups out of his chair towards the opening. Just as he felt the vacuum in his lungs and then the positive environment return instantly, the safty protocols overtode and paused his training program. Leaving him standing looking up at the console it was cracked and slightly folded but he could still see the Admiral on its screen.
"I apologize sir. I didn't quite catch that last part."
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Simon Clark
Lt. Commander
Registered: Dec 1, 2016 22:21:10 GMT
Posts: 153
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Post by Simon Clark on Feb 1, 2019 22:42:27 GMT
Recreational Holosuite Four, Level 29, Section D, Starbase 47
Simon glanced at the holosuite status board to the left of the entrance archway. The safeties had been activated, and the program had been paused. The door opened as he approached, revealing the battered interior of a type 12 shuttle, a gaping wound in it's exterior making visible the tiny pinpricks of light that were the stars of the galaxy. The distinctive scent of warp system plasma and fried electronics assaulted his nostrils, and he fought back the urge to rush in and see if anyone was hurt. A man stood with his back to him, both hands behind his back, looking up at a cracked display bearing the starfleet standby emblem.
"Uh... Lieutenant Tagart?" Simon asked.
"Yes?" the man responded, turning around to face him.
"I'm Lieutenant Simon Clark, Chief Engineer for the USS Enzio, I was in the area, and thought I'd introduce myself, uh..." Simon looked around at the carnage of metalwork on the cockpit floor. Consoles were ripped out of place, wires trailing from above. A small holographic fire was frozen in place. He could see a rupture in coolant conduit, the gaseous heat carrier locked stationary in the act of spilling out into the atmosphere. "...uh, is this a recreational program? It looks a little intense."
"It's a training program," Tagart replied.
"I see. What's the objective?" Simon asked.
<Tag: Tagart>
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Simon Clark
Lt. Commander
Registered: Dec 1, 2016 22:21:10 GMT
Posts: 153
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Post by Simon Clark on Feb 1, 2019 23:16:08 GMT
Primary Engineering Control, Main Operations, Level 9, Starbase 47
Commander Sasha Gordon stepped back from the console. The Admiral's Aides - Burr and Adams - flanked her, and had been pestering her with questions on the repair schedule for most of the afternoon.
"Mister Adams, I do appreciate the urgency to which the station requires the long range subspace communications to be online. The admiral and I are both extremely concerned as to the status of our flagship and their crews, and we are working to bring the system online as soon as we possibly can. When I said eight weeks to restore the functionality, I had not anticipated the level of containment that would be required to bring the Engineering and Communication rings to stability; at the time we were in the middle of the operation to remove the quantum spheres, and I did not have the information that I do now. That we are just two days beyond my original estimate is, in my opinion, a miracle produced by the engineers and technicians who have put so much time and effort into getting us to this point."
"But surely it would be possible to provide a time estimate for the completion of the work?" Aide Adams asked.
Internally, Sasha hated this man's approach, even though she felt she understood it. Adams was extremely focused, sometimes to the detriment of his relationship with the senior staff. He balanced his political goodwill extremely finely. "My estimate will be forthcoming just as soon as we have conducted these tests. The dorsal array on Level 6 was not designed to operate at the range we are requiring of it, and I will complete the dynamic power cycling and diagnostic tests to the operational protocol defined for temporary overloading of starbase systems. I will shutdown the project if there is any possibility of damage to facilities or personnel. I will not be responsible for further loss of life."
"But the indication from the Raven-"
"She has a good captain, a good crew, and the support of another vessel, and I am as anxious for contact as anyone is on this deck. Now, if you wouldn't mind..." Sasha stepped past him, and stood behind the three officers working at the consoles.
"Commander," the Engineering Controller said, "Penultimate power cycling trials have completed. Fluctuations in signal buffers and thermal management systems are well within parameters. We are ready to proceed with the first acceptance."
"Very well. Initiate a trial subspace channel with one of our remote vessels, and proceed to transmit the reconfigured test scripts once established."
"Aye, Sir."
Aide Adams came and stood next to her. "Well, that sounds extremely promising, Commander."
Sasha gave him a nod, "It is. You can have your estimate now. The scripting tests will take an hour or two to complete, and then there will be a scheduled six hour calibration window. While the testing is taking place, the antenna is operational, and the Admiralty may make use of it, though I cannot vouch for the quality of any transmission. Once calibration begins, the antenna will be unavailable until it is released back to Operations for general use."
"Long-range subspace connection channel has been established to USS Maracanda, Sir. It's a little shaky, but it's holding. We are beginning trial scripts."
"Excellent work. Excellent indeed, all of you." She could not keep the grin from her face as she turned back to the Admiral's Aide to send him on his way. "Will that be all, Mister Adams?"
<Tag: Gheskori>
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Thomas Tagert
Lieutenant JG
Registered: Jan 19, 2019 8:46:37 GMT
Posts: 18
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Post by Thomas Tagert on Feb 4, 2019 14:49:20 GMT
Recreational Holosuite Four, Level 29, Section D, Starbase 47
"..Lieutenant Tagart?" Simon asked.
"Yes?" the man responded, turning around to face him.
"I'm Lieutenant Simon Clark, Chief Engineer for the USS Enzio, I was in the area, and thought I'd introduce myself, uh..." Simon looked around at the carnage of metalwork on the cockpit floor. Consoles were ripped out of place, wires trailing from above. A small holographic fire was frozen in place. He could see a rupture in coolant conduit, the gaseous heat carrier locked stationary in the act of spilling out into the atmosphere. "...uh, is this a recreational program? It looks a little intense."
"It's a training program," Tagart replied.
"I see. What's the objective?" Simon asked.
Tom glanced around the photonicly generated disaster area and felt a little embarrassed that he'd been found amidst the results of his failed scenario, but he didn't let it show.
"Well, I have a basic knowledge of warp propulsion systems but, I have been trying to improve on my technical and diagnostic abilities." He had heard Lieutenant Clark announce his position as chief engineer but, what that title meant hadn't fully been realised until this moment. His words stumbled out of his mouth for an instant then he continued. "I uh... I designed this program to select at random, multiple components inside the reaction chamber and related systems, to fail with at most three basic symptoms and typically one major. I figured it would be easier" he said as he raised his brow and shrugged his shoulders. "to start out in a type 12 and work my way up to a full fledged starship engineering department. I'm a pretty good hand as a pilot but, I'd like to improve my wrenching skills. Double threat. If you know what I mean."
"I do. I've a basic shuttle certificate myself, though I've never flown anything bigger than 15 metric tonnes. Your simulation is interesting, sort of throwing yourself in there, are you, and seeing how you do?"
"Yes sir." Tom said "My old man taught me to be self reliant that way. Sink or swim. He helped me plenty, but when it came time for me to prove I knew how to do something, that sucker would disappear and let me figure it out on my own." His posture relaxed a bit as his mind turned a billion miles a second though his memory. "He'd always be somewhere near laughing when I'd messed up, or pat me on the back when I'd handled myself well. But he would always there to keep me from hurting myself. Tom caught himself daydreaming straightened up a hair and quickly turned back to the topic at hand. "Well you got any tips or tricks that might head me in the right direction?"
"He sounds like quite a character. My own father is a deep thinker, he would ask me questions, and expect me to think about them before I answered. In return, he always answered my questions, and always with truth when I could, and that's an important part of how I work. As for your challenge; in my opinion, the type-12 is more technical than a starship engine room. Some systems are impossible to access without a shuttlebay or an EVA suit, and there are some complicated integrated components the designers used to miniaturise the technology. To have four different parts fail at random would have consequences beyond their immediate connections. Most of my engineers specialise in one particular technology, so a team might beat your simulation, but probably not as individuals. It's an interesting idea though, may I join you on your next round?"
As Tom thought about it for the second and a half, he chewed the left side of his bottom lip, then replied "Sure thing Chief. You wanna make any changes to the program this go around? Or d'you think we've got 'er?"
"I'd like to try it as it is. Since we are both off-duty, call me Simon," he extended his hand to the Lieutenant. "You'll also find that Admiral Gheskori tends to blur the lines of formality, even while on duty. I've... gotten used to it, but I still find it a little unusual."
"Yes sir, Simon" Tom nodded and said with a smirk "That dose sound unusual for a captain."
"What made the hole in the front of the shuttle? That I am aware, there is no hardware in that section that would cause that level of damage."
As he looked up at the console Tom squinted trying to make out what the sensors readout. "Nickel, iron and rock...it was an asteroid. Had I been paying more attention I could have evaded it but it was just big enough to get through the deflector."
"Ah, there are piloting issues active as well? Well, this should be interesting, shall we give it a shot? I'll take the pilot's seat, and you the second console, that way we are both working out of our depth, and we can help each other through it."
"Computer restart program Daedalcarus level 2" and in the bat of an eye the damage was gone and the ship was whole. The klaxons rang as the ship lurched then pitched and rolled.
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Gheskori
Command Staff ..
Commanding Officer Personnel Officer Trivia Officer
Section Admiral
USS Enzio
Registered: May 2, 2008 23:32:36 GMT
Posts: 1,538
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Post by Gheskori on Feb 5, 2019 19:01:27 GMT
"Thank you sir I'm looking forward to serving on the Enzio and getting back out there and off this station... It's nice don't get me wrong I just...I'm just ready." He emitted a brief chuckle.
Ghes smiled and nodded his head, "We all are, Lieutenant. The Enzio has been at port for a long time, at least it feels that way." Something seemed to be the matter on the other end; static broke up the display briefly as the holodeck in which Tagert was located underwent a rapid reconfiguration of its light projections. "Are you alright, Lieutenant, the shuttle cabin does not seem entirely comfortable."
Coolant began to leak from one of the side-panels, Tagert was leaning in, speaking rapidly but his words no longer audible, the bulkhead on the starboard side was ripped open. Ghes was not entirely conscious of these developments, perhaps vaguely so, "You know, this reminds me of a conversation with one of my old mentors at the Denobulan Genetic Research Institute... I was a recent graduate and he was toasting the students, he seemed to think the cold season began a month early every seventeen Denobulan years, however I believed, and still believe, he was mistaken. I haven't seen the venerable fellow in so long, but then of course we are no longer in Federation space. He keeps active, though, as far as I am aware. Many people express surprise that he has published fully fifteen research papers in the last four years, but that is perhaps to be expected, considering he has published only one since stardate 2403.0701." The chaos seemed to have subsided.
"I apologize sir. I didn't quite catch that last part." Ghes was given pause and awkwardly waved a hand, "Ah, it was of little importance. Welcome aboard again, Lieutenant, I will be pleased to meet you aboard ship, I'm certain you'll be wishing to give the engines a work out."
<Tag Tagert> OOC: we'll move over to the Enzio board now for Mission 10: Entanglement
Aides Adams & Burr
"Excellent work. Excellent indeed, all of you." She could not keep the grin from her face as she turned back to the Admiral's Aide to send him on his way. "Will that be all, Mister Adams?"
Adams gritted his teeth but concealed it behind a tight-lipped smile, "Yes, that will be all, that will be quite enough." He spun on his heel and marched up the steps immediately behind the engineering stations, turning round briefly to regard the base engineering officer and nodding sharply, "I'm sure the Section Admiral will be satisfied with your efforts, Commander."
Glancing her way not quite sympathetically - in fact he was hardly to be differentiated from coolly impassive - Burr followed Adams up the steps and while his colleague stormed away to the right he turned to the left, regarding the panoramic Ops viewscreen which displayed alternately the system of comm vanes and pylons - still undergoing furious repair work -, a wide-angle fish-eye view of the Dome's exterior, an interior shot of the Dome, and a seemingly empty sector of space that in fact contained the USS Maracanda and the two negotiating vessels sent by the Werim and Phorx-ku (obviously completely invisible at this vast distance).
A brief communication with the Maracanda took place during the altered script test period - a transmission of outstandingly low quality - involving the Section Admiral's office and Admiral Kletchley (aboard the Maracanda). One of the Federation diplomats had absconded, whereabouts unknown. He was not on the Maracanda, nor on the Raven (as reported to Grant Manley by that vessel), and they had begun contemplating the unthinkable: that the missing diplomat had joined either of the negotiating parties.
Burr turned about, taking in the whole of the hive of activity that was Starbase Ops. Gheskori was departing in an hour, when that time came, he would no longer have the protection the Denobulan's presence offered and would be forced to deal - in a manner in which he'd be more accountable - directly and alone with the other Admirals and Commodores, department heads and civilian administrators and representatives. The balance of power would move back towards Tetsutaro and Reynolds. Burr would be representing a remote authority, and there would be no opportunity to use Ghes once more as a personal shock absorber (the quaint interpretation of his and Adams' status as being that of favourites never seemed so appropriate).
"We're supposed to take responsibility for his mistakes. That is what preserves us," he said quietly to himself, and headed below where he might hide from the unfettered fury of the unbound officials.
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Sean O'Toole
Civilian
The Luck O' the Irish
Registered: Aug 13, 2016 0:12:33 GMT
Posts: 59
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Post by Sean O'Toole on Feb 10, 2019 0:19:48 GMT
Command Center - Level Eight Starfleet Intelligence Offices :: "Can't be Warwick," Elena commented. Besides, the assault on Warwick had taken place only a couple hours ago. They froze the image. Carried by the woman next to Gow was a PADD which Iorte requested be magnified; a grainy image, they could just make out the lines of names thereon, the resolution and the dim corridor lighting just sufficient to show how some of the lines and names were greyed out while others were given in orange. A hit list?
"Let's get those names run through the computer."
"I recognise one of them already," Elena said quietly, she had the image magnified again at a certain spot and pointed, "Kara." O'Tooles Bar & Grill Alpha Promenade - Level One Five Five One Zero One Hundred Hours ::
"C'mon guys and gals, don't you have beds to go to ?" Sean asked as the last of the stragglers inched their way towards the doors ... Technically, O'Tooles didn't close, he had night staff to serve those coming off late shifts or those coming onto the Starbase at what was commonly known as 'unsociable hours' ... Given they no longer had arrivals, Sean had already decided to start closing for a few hours each day, reopening around ten in the morning to allow the early risers to have breakfast or coffee on the promenade tables outside the bar itself. Sean was hustling the last of the stragglers out when David Tan approached the door. He glanced past Sean into the bar then waited impatiently while the proprietor shoved the last man out and closed the door: "Is Kara still here Sean ?" David asked without preamble. "Kara ? .... No, I let her go early as it happens,we were a litt ...." Sean began, suddenly realising the query wasn't casual, "Why, what's up David ?" "Might be nothing." Tan replied, looking around the empty premises, "We have information that she may be in danger .... Don't worry, we've already sent someone to her apartment, she'll be just fine. How's about one of your famous nightcaps ?" Tan said lightly, a little 'too' lightly to fool the Irishman. "C'mon Davey'boy ....." Sean urged, suddenly concerned. "OK, we've had information that someone, possibly connected to Serova and her failed takeover bid, may have a grudge against you. Apparently he, or she, feels you were a little too forthcoming with information regarding the activit ....." "Someone thinks I'm a bloody snitch ?!" Sean snapped, "Well tell them to come see me, I'll give them any answ ....." "Sean, calm down, it could be something and nothing, some wannabe hard man you embarrassed by turfing him out on his heals ....." David said, trying to deflect from the real issue. Before he could continue his Comm badge chirped to life: =^= David .. Are you with Sean ? =^= is was Elena. =^= I am .. .. Any news ? =^= =^= They snatched her between the bar and her quarters .. .. .. We are combing through surveillance footage to see where they took her =^= =^= Keep me informed =^= Tan said, tapping the Comm badge to sever the comm. He looked at Sean then asked him to sit: "You remember a bloke you threw out, rough-looking, dock type, bit of a mouth on him ?" "Yeh yeh, but what's that got to do with someone snatching Kara ?" O'Toole asked, clearly frustrated and impatient. "He, and whoever he's got working for him may well think that the best way to get at you is by getting to those you care about." David said. Sean sat in silence for a long moment then shot to his feet, David followed him across the floor and past the bar to the concealed room that had been constructed so long ago. Before Tan could comment Sean had activated every console and screen in the small room: "Find her David ..... Use this stuff and find Kara ..... OK !" he said, clearly expecting the Intelligence Officer to flick a switch and have his friend appear." "Sean, it's not as simp ...." "Bull shi ... !" the Irishman spat, the frustration obvious, and David suddenly realised that Kara meant more to Sean than just his bar manager, "This stuff can do almost anything ... Wait, everyone coming onto the Starbase has their Identity Card scanned into the system that's a fact, so, scan for her card and you'll find her !" he said urgently, stepping aside then frowning when David didn't move. "It doesn't work that way and you know it, we're working on it Sean, have patien ...." Tan began, but Sean interrupted him: "FIND HER .... Or I will ...." he said dangerously, "You may well have all the technology David, but I know 'people' too, people you wouldn't want to associate with, but nonetheless, people who can get things done if the need arises." "Sean ...." David began, but the man simply wasn't listening. "Time for you to go." O'Toole said, moving to the door then opening it. "Look, we'll find her. There is no way she could be harmed, they are trying to get at you through those you care about. Killing Kara is going to do their cause no good." David said, trying to reason with his friend. "Twelve hours, then I do this myself !" Sean stated matter of factly, ".... and if they kill her .........." the silence was implication enough of the retribution Sean may well exact. David hugged his friend, who failed to reciprocate, then left the bar ... On the Promenade he contacted Elena who had no news. To all intents and purposes, Kara Boyle had vanished ! In the covert Intelligence room in O'Tooles, Sean watched on one of the screens as David left the bar. He observed him contacting someone, most likely Elena de Luca or Iorte Clancy, it mattered not, he wasn't going to wait on Starfleet Intelligence, not this time, this was a personal attack on him, and the cowards were using those he loved to get at him. Well, that was going to be their downfall ..... He activated one on the Comm channels, entered an encrypted code then waited, within two minutes the comm was answered:
=^= It's late .. What do you want ? =^=
=^= Shut your yap Wolfsen .. You owe me .. You owe me a 'LOT' so curb your tongue before I arrange to have it removed .. .. .. =^=
=^= Really ? =^= the man replied, clearly disturbed.
=^= Someone has taken Kara =^= Sean said, trying not to threaten the man on the other end of the comm more than he needed to.
=^= .. .. and ? =^= Wolfsen asked.
=^= I want to know who .. Where they are .. Who they work for =^=
=^= Sean .. You own a bar .. You are hardly the bloody Mafia .. Lets face it my friend .. Before our little mishap you had a lot of connections .. All those spirits didn't just drop into your lap as we well know .. Unfortunately .. Your 'leverage' has been somewhat diminished since we found ourselves twenty years from the nearest 'HIT-MAN' .. .. What on Earth makes you think I am going to leap out of my chair to help you ? =^= Wolfsen said, clearly attaining some nerve. Sean sat in silence for several seconds, then, fighting hard to hold his temper, he smiled.
=^= Please don't test me Wolfsen .. .. OK ? .. .. I know way too much about you and your friends .. I'm asking for a favour nothing more =^=
=^= Ah .. So that implies there will be a return .. What might that be ? =^=
=^= You get to keep your legs ! =^= Sean said, snapping the comm off before Wolfsen could reply ..........
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Simon Clark
Lt. Commander
Registered: Dec 1, 2016 22:21:10 GMT
Posts: 153
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Post by Simon Clark on Feb 10, 2019 10:05:53 GMT
Starfleet Intelligence Offices, Command Centre, Level Eight, Starbase 47 (OOC:Posting as Director Geoffrey Morton, Director of Logistics)
Director Geoffrey Morton entered the front office of Starfleet Intelligence. Normally, he wouldn't announce his entry, he believed his position within the hierarchical structure of the Operations function allowed him that priviledge, he was on a level with the highest echelons. Today, he was distracted, and he tapped the chime and stood outside the office door, feeling awkward. The door swished open.
"Director Morton. It's been a long time since we last crossed paths."
Geoffrey recognised the officer as Captain Nia Lemond, Aide to Admiral Tetsutaro. "Captain, I want to speak to Admiral Tetsutaro. Is he available."
Captain Lemond's expression remained neutral as she replied, "He is in a meeting at the present time, and has asked not to be disturbed. Is there anything I can help you with, Director? "
"It is a matter of some urgency, Captain."
"Any message you leave with me will be passed to the Admiral directly."
Geoffrey nodded. It was unfortunate that the Admiral was not available; speaking to Sata Tetsutaro in person would have been more appropriate for the director of logistics, but he understood that some meetings were important not to be disturbed in. He would accept it on this occation. "Captain, I want an update on the members of my team who have gone missing."
"Director Morton, missing persons is a function of the Operations department. Have you contacted Personnel?"
"Of course I have! I know the processes of my own department!" Geoffrey said, his voice rising at this insult to his ability and forethought. He tried to brush it aside, "It's been weeks, and they haven't found anything! I want to know what the Admiral is going to do about it."
Captain Lemond reached for a PADD, and opened her notes, "There have been a number of missing persons in the last few months. May I have the names?"
"Administrator Wilbert Arnold, my personal Aide, and Petty Officer Alice Marston, a Works Order Controller for Industrial Replication. Miss Marston has been missing for eleven weeks, since dissidents hacked their way into our order system and started changing deliveries. When I found out about it three weeks later, I sent Wilbert down to find out what was going on, with a couple of security guards. Useless department, Security. Wilbert was captured by Serova's cronies, they said, and noone has been able to locate him."
Captain Lemond made a few more notes on her PADD, and then looked up at him. "Anyone else, Director?"
"Not that I am aware of. Captain, these are valuable members of my team, and it is imperative that they are recovered as soon as possible. I expect you to bring it to the Admiral's attention as a priority."
"I will speak to the Admiral on this matter, Director."
Geoffrey was astounded at this woman, it didn't seem like she was taking anything he said seriously. Her neutral expression for anything he said, well, it was disrespectful, that's what it was. Next time he had the opportunity he would speak to Admiral Sato about how he had been treated. For now, he would let it slide. It was important that his team was brought back together. That was the priority. This disrespectfulness could be managed, later.
The outer office door opened quietly as he approached it. "I will be in touch, Captain," he said, walking through the portal.
<Tag: Intelligence>
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Sato Tetsutaro
Starfleet Intelligence
[Deceased]
Registered: Nov 30, 2013 2:01:59 GMT
Posts: 538
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Post by Sato Tetsutaro on Feb 10, 2019 20:21:02 GMT
Command Center Level Eight Intelligence Briefing Room 'A' :: "I believe we are through here gentlemen." Captain Moss said rising to his feet, unfortunately he was alone in his action as everyone else remained seated.
"Come now. There is no need to theatricals Captain ...." Sato said, his disarming smile in place, "We are fully aware of the situation, a situation might I add, of your own making."
"I have people openly defying my orders, they need to be disciplined in public. It is intollera ....."
"Oh sit down, Jeffor ...." another of the Ranking Officers said, clearly frustrated with the mans ego.
"FINE !" Moss said, throwing the Padd on the table and making his way out of the room. This time no-one tried to stop him.
"Holy hell that man is intolerable." Commander Fincher commented loud enough for everyone around the table to hear, several nodding in silent agreement.
"OK gentlemen, I believe we have covered everything for this week, we shall reconvene next week unless anything presents itself. Thank you." the aged Admiral said, allowing everyone to return to their assigned duties. Command Center Sato Tetsutaro's Office :: Entering his office he dropped into one of the plush chairs and sighed, Nia handed him a small cup of his favourite tea. "Rough meeting ?" she asked as she moved to his desk to put the more important reports to the front. Sato sipped the tea, his thoughts meandering back to his childhood home in Kobe, Japan, the picturesque villa on the shore of Osaka Bay ... It never failed to amaze him how this one memory was triggered every time he drank tea from this one cup, alas, he was brought from his memories by his Aide who spoke again, "Oh, Geoffrey Morton was here while you were in the meeting." "Ah, our self-professed saviour. What did 'Director' Morton want with me this time ?" "Now now ... He has an important role on the Starbase." Nia chastised. "Yes, apologies my dear." Tetsutaro said, suitably admonished. "He want's to know what we are doing about the missing persons list. Specifically two of his own people who have vanished." "He is certain they didn't abscond on their own accord ?" Sato asked, the look in Nia's face almost causing the octogenarian to blush, but not quite, "OK, do we have any information on either of them ?" "Nothing, they failed to report for their duty shifts on the days the Director said they went missing, neither reported to their Departments beforehand, so it was speculated that they were either abducted or were among those who went missing around the time Serova and her henchmen were in full swing. They are Wilbert Arnold, Morton's Aide, and a Petty Officer, Alice Marston." "Circulate their Bio's to all Intelligence teams currently operating, you never know, we may find them." Sato said, gratefully accepting the refilled tea cup. He was about to close his eyes when something occurred to him, "Wilbert Arnold, that name seems familiar ...." "He had several of our Security Officers running around like the proverbial headless chickens, practically demanding they kick down every door they came across while searching for Petty Officer Marston. He finally fell silent when one of them put him against the bulkhead and threatened to flush him out the nearest airlock. You had both Officers in here if you remember." "Ahh, yes, I remember now. Didn't I put commendations in for both men, above and beyond and all that ?" he said, a wicked grin forming. "Drink your tea." Nia Lemond said sternly, trying to hide the amusement on her own face, "Do you want them both bumped up in priority ?" "No, just make sure everyone is aware to keep an eye and ear out, you never know." Sato said, rising achingly from the much too comfortable leather chair, "Is there anything urgent Nia ?" "Nothing that cannot wait until morning, I'll get your Security detail." she said, tapping her comm badge, a moment later the door opened on two Officers who stood in wait of their charge. Sato hated having to be chaperoned when outside his office, but the security level was still high following Serova's failed coup. He decided he would need to revisit said level before too long. "Good evening Nia." "Good night Admiral." Lemond said, watching Sato leave before sitting at his desk to reorganise his diary for tomorrow ..........
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Sean O'Toole
Civilian
The Luck O' the Irish
Registered: Aug 13, 2016 0:12:33 GMT
Posts: 59
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Post by Sean O'Toole on Mar 11, 2019 11:54:27 GMT
"So when is she coming back did you say ?" Gail, one of his staff asked for the third time. "I've told you, she asked if she could have a couple of days, she's been working hard and given we're not that busy, I decided to let her take off, now, there are tables to be attended to my girl, how about earning some of those extortionate wages you demand ?" Sean said, adopting his usual cheeky grin hoping to dissuade Kara's friend from questioning him further. "She could have told me to be sure." the girl said with a shrug before walking away. Sean had been patient, but that patience was running dangerously thin .... Wolfsen had not only failed to return his call, the man had somewhat conveniently, disappeared ! .... It wouldn't deter him from looking for Kara on his own terms. Wolfsen was right to some extent, Sean wasn't able to summon one of his less 'legal' colleagues on a whim, but that didn't mean he didn't have a few friends who owed him for one reason or another. One of those woh know the whereabouts of Kara and who had taken her, if not, they may know where Wolfsen was holed up, for a price ... He had to be very careful ..... Since opening O'Tooles he had, as the saying goes, 'been on the straight and narrow' playing owner and host. Truth be told he had been happy to leave his former life behind. While he had never been one of those 'hardened' criminals, he had indulged in the odd bit of contraband reassignment in his time, not to mention his helping out some of the less welcome in his time, but again, this was all behind him and he was enjoying his new life. He got back to work, hoping the distraction would at least keep him from hunting Wolfsen down. A man entered the bar, asking for Sean he waited at the bar enjoying the music. "You asked to see me ?" O'Toole queried from behind the man. "I believe we have a confederate in common." the man said, somewhat cryptically. "I'm busy." Sean said. "Oh you have time for me, I'm sure." the man said with a grin Sean could have easily removed, "I believe you are after the whereabouts of someone, would that be correct ?" "I'm going to say this once more ... I'm busy ... Now, if you have information then feel free to divulge it before I decide to drag you onto the Promenade and hand you over to Security. I'm sure they will be very interested in what you have to say, they may even accommodate you for a while if you're lucky." O'Toole said dangerously. "OK, ok, no need to get shirty." the man said, licking his lips expectantly. Sean reached over the bar, retrieving a bottle and one glass. He poured one drink, handing it to the man, "Not joining me ?" "Thirty seconds." Sean said, glancing around the bar to make sure the informer didn't have anyone with him acting as back-up, happy he was alone he returned his attention to the man, "Fifteen seconds ....." the man drained his glass and held it out for a refill, Sean had no option but to comply: "You made some enemies in your previous profession. Some thought you have friends in high places, given the number of times you escaped or evaded scrutiny. 'Luck of the Irish' some said." the man downed the second drink but as he held out the glass Sean slapped it from his grasp, a hand locking around his throat as the other remover the glass. Sean looked around to make sure no-one had noticed anything untoward then moved to the far end of the bar, the man locked in his grip. Pushing the man forward into one of the booths Sean sat beside him. "I'm going to release my hold on you stranger. When I do so you had better begin speaking, failure to respond to my undeniable charms will be, dangerous. Understood ?" the man nodded. "You are looking for Wolfsen, am I right ?" Sean sat silently waiting, "OK, well, I heard you was looking for him. He is down in the bowels." "You know where he is I take it ?" "Down where the Engineers are working on the array's ... He's posing as one of the workers down there, doing a fair job of it too." "So how come you found him ?" Sean asked. "I was down there, I'm a technician by trade, had a small establishment outside San Franci ....." he stopped talking as Sean began to reach forward, then got back on topic quickly, "OK, I was helping out, they need people, Wolfsen was down there yesterday late. I have no idea what he's doing or where he's staying, but it's likely to be on the lower Levels." "That's it ?" Sean asked, the annoyance in his tone clear. "They converted one of the Modular Storage Bays, it was open to space after the explosion but sealed now, to temporary accommodation, to save people moving back and forth, Level Sixteen Eighty Seven. I swear." Sean thought for a few seconds ... The likelihood that is was a trap to get him down there was obvious, but then again, if Wolfsen 'was' down there hiding out, he needed to speak to him ! "OK .... Lets go." Sean said, rising from the booth. The man sat almost rigid, eyes wide with fear, "D'ya think I'm going to be going down there all alone now ?" "I came here to give you information, information you have yet to pay for." the man said, finally finding his voice. "You enjoyed two glasses of one of my finer Whiskey's, we'll call that payment enough, now, up with you." the man remained clamped to his seat, Sean walked to the bar, leaning over he retrieved something then came back and sat down. He pushed the business end of a Type One phaser into the mans side and grinned, "Now ...!" the man rose with O'Toole. "Gail, I'm going out for an hour or so, keep an eye on things here for me." Sean said, not waiting for an answer as he left the bar, the man two paces ahead. In the Intelligence Offices, David Tan was disguising Kara's disappearance with Iorte Clancy when Tan's comm chirped to life:
=^= Go ahead =^=
=^= He's leaving .. There's a man with him .. Clearly scared out of his wits .. Should I follow ? =^=
=^= Yes .. But keep out of sight .. We will meet you shortly .. Tan out =^= he tapped the concealed comm badge under his jacket to sever the link and turned to Iorte.
"I don't like using Sean like this."
"He's more than capable of looking after himself." Clancy said, pulling up the Promenade surveillance footage from moments earlier, "Besides, that man hardly looks like your atypical killing machine. Any idea who he is ?" he asked, Tan shook his head while putting the image through Starbase records, they would know soon enough he supposed.
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David Tan
Starfleet Intelligence
Suum Cuique ...
Registered: Dec 11, 2006 10:56:04 GMT
Posts: 790
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Post by David Tan on Mar 16, 2019 18:03:21 GMT
=^= Where are they now ? =^= David asked ... Moments earlier, after leaving Iorte to identify the unknown man, he had left the Command Center stepping into a turbo-lift dropping to Level sixteen and stepped onto the emergency transporter, which another intelligence Officer had activated the console in readiness for his arrival: =^= They are heading down to Level Sixteen Eighty Seven .. I've identified the male .. One of Serova's lackeys =^= =^= Finish up there and meet me on the Level above .. Same section =^= he tapped the concealed comm badge to close the link and nodded to the Officer at the console. Seconds later he materialised ..... As they dropped through hundreds of levels of the Starbase, Sean was tempted to beat information out of the man with him, but he knew he needed him once they reached the lower level. If there were any of the people guarding the passageways then he may well need a bargaining chip.
The turbo-lift halted and the doors slid almost silently open ... Cautiously, he peered around the door frame, left and right. Officially these levels were off limits, so by rights there should be no-one around, but he couldn't take the chance. he turned, grabbed the collar of the man and pushed him out of the turbo-lift. He staggered to the opposite bulkhead, arms raised over his face as if they would shield him from any phaser beam lancing his way. Satisfied the corridor was indeed empty, Sean stepped out and pulled the man along the corridor to the first open door.
"OK, where ?"
"Section Gamma Four, the modular Storage area's ... That's all i know, I swear."
"Hmm, well lets say I'm not inclined to give the the benefit of the doubt." Sean said, pushing the man ahead, "If our friend Wolfsen has got Kara down here I'd much prefer he shoot you first."
Five minutes later they were less then fifty meters from the first of the Mod' Storage area's and Sean was beginning to feel uneasy. Why had they not been challenged, why were no guards posted ? ..... Then it occurred to him that they didn't actually 'need' to actively secure any access, these levels were out-of-bounds, so the only people coming and going would be aligned with Wolfsen or whoever was running this show. He took out a tricorder and scanned ahead: Six people, two female, four male, all in two adjoining room next to Modular Storage Area Four, unfortunately he couldn't identify individuals, so it was going to be pot-luck as to who he came across first. He turned to the man, who was becoming increasingly agitated, sighing, Sean shot him point black and he fell unconscious to the deck. Stepping back into the corridor he closed then locked the door and began moving forward.
Five meters from an open doorway he stopped ! ... He could hear voices but couldn't discern exactly what was being said. he knew there were two people in this room and he was almost certain that the male speaking was Wolfsen himself ... Taking a breath he stepped forward into the doorway, Kara saw him first, her eyes widening, Wolfsen, somehow sensing something was amiss was already turning, his phaser coming to bare on O'Toole !
"Don't !" Sean said, his own weapon already aimed at the mans midriff. Wolfsen's movement halted and he glared at O'Toole.
"How did you find us ?" he spat.
"Doesn't really matter how." Sean replied, moving forward before taking the phaser from him, "Are you OK ?" he asked Kara.
"Yes, yes, he didn't hurt me." the frightened girl answered.
"Come over here .... It's OK, he won't try to grab you, will you Mister Wolfsen ?" Sean asked, the question clearly rhetorical. Kara rose from her seat, eyes locked on her former kidnapper as she skirted around the room towards O'Toole.
Wolfsen seemed to be amused by the sudden turn of events and it was suddenly making Sean nervous. He glanced at the door adjoining this room with the one holding the other four he'd scanned. He'd tried to keep the noise to a minimum, but if they had heard him then it was possible they were planning ingress at this very moment, and even he doubted he could shoot all four before one of them got him. He put an arm around Kara as she reached him, reassuring her all was going to be well while his gaze remained fixed on Wolfsen. Kara hugged him, he could feel the sobs as she fought to hold onto her nerve.
"Take this ...." he held out the phaser he'd taken from Wolfsen, but Kara shied away, Sean pushed the phaser forward, "It's OK, just keep it pointed in his direction, if he tries to run or shout without my instruction, apply pressure here, it will stun him that's all, but it will give us time to escape. C'mon Kara, take it."
Reluctantly she took the weapon, clearly uncomfortable with the device as she tentatively pointed it toward her former abductor.
"We're going up Wolfsen." Sean instructed quietly, eyes constantly flicking to the other doors, "Make a sound and you'll regret it, more so if I have to carry you ... Understand ?" the man nodded, glancing from O'Toole to Kara then back.
"I heard something." Kara whispered urgently, looking toward the open doorway to the corridor, Sean spun, fully expecting to see the others trying to rush him. What he didn't expect was what happened next:
"Drop it on the deck Sean .... Please." Kara said. He had stopped dead in his tracks as he felt the phaser he'd given her seconds earlier now pushed firmly into the base of his spine, "Please don't make me ask twice Sean, I'm kinda fond of you, and requiring Wolfsen here to beat the phaser from you is a little unsettling."
He held the phaser out to his side and Wolfsen took it from him, that sarcastic grin back in place.
"Kara ?" Sean said.
"You were a fool to pick the Federation Sean, you were on the wrong side all along."
"Wha ...." was all he could manage as the full realisation of what was happening finally dawned on him, "You're with Serova ?!" he asked, incredulously.
"From the start." the Irish girl said proudly.
"I've known you for twenty years, since you were a little gir ....."
"Indeed, and as I said, I've always liked you Sean, but you sided with them, and what's more you allow the bar, the 'BAR !' ... To be used for their clandestine activities." something suddenly dawned on him:
"So it had been you, feeding information to the Rebels !" he hadn't realised he had been stepping forward to grab her until Wolfsen slammed a fist into his temple, he dropped to the deck semi-conscious.
"Who knows he's here ?" Wolfsen was asking.
"Oh, no-one. He will have gone off like the proverbial knight in shining armour to rescue me."
"So we can kill him and be done with it." Wolfsen said, stepping forward before pacing the business end of his phaser against Sean's forehead, but Kara knocked it away angrily.
"No, we'll keep him down here, I'll go back to the bar and tell everyone he's been called away." Kara said quickly.
"Away .... Away where, Disneyland maybe !" Wolfsen shouted, causing the people in the other room to come in and investigate. Very slowly, Kara turned to fact the man, her phaser traversing a lazy arc until it was pointed into his face.
"Keep him here. He's not to be touched, is that understood ?" she instructed dangerously. After a few seconds of defiance, in which the newcomers fully expected to witness his demise, he capitulated, "I'm going back to the bar." Kara said without preamble. Once alone, Wolfsen turned to look down on the kneeling O'Toole, it was clear he wasn't going to comply with his instructions ......
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Sean O'Toole
Civilian
The Luck O' the Irish
Registered: Aug 13, 2016 0:12:33 GMT
Posts: 59
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Post by Sean O'Toole on Apr 27, 2019 12:51:51 GMT
"On your feet ....." Sean looked from the doorway and up to Wolfsen. It was clear the man was fighting his inner urge to kill him. "On your feet ... NOW !" Wolfsen repeated, kicking O'Toole in the ribs. "You think you are going to get away with all this ?" Sean asked through gritted teeth, wondering if one of his fibs had fractured. "Oh I wouldn't worry too much about what I think. Personally, once people higher than our little barmaid hear of her decision, I'm pretty certain they will allow me to get rid of you once and for all." Wolfsen sad, Sean could only grimace. He was taken along the corridor to a small room, the door slid shut behind him and he knew without trying that it had locked on closure ..... He looked around then sat on the small bed, still clutching his aching rib ..... Kara walked along the corridor, satisfied with proceeding thus far. The bar was now effectively hers, and with the added 'facilities' the dissidents could begin to rebuild. they would allow the Federation to believe they were done, the leaders either confined or under continuous surveillance, effectively nullified. But she would begin the uprising once more, this time more efficiently, more effectively, certainly more successfully ! ... Entering the turbo-lift she rose through two thirds of the four kilometer tall structure before alighting on Alpha Promenade. She walked to the bar, which at this time of day was pretty busy:
"Where have you been, we're rushed off our feet here !" one of the staff said.
"Well I'm here now, so slap a smile on your face and lets get on with it, OK." Kara replied with a grin ...... "She's leaving." "OK. How many are still in there ?" Tan asked. "Six ... Including Sean ..... Are we moving in ?" Elena asked. "Give me five minutes. I'm going to arrange for Kara to be covered. I'll contact you when we're in position.". Motioning to two of the others he stood in the center of the corridor and tapped his Comm badge. Seconds later the three de-materialised and Clancy stepped back into the darkened doorway. Fifty meters away he watched as O'Toole was moved into another room before the man holding the phaser returned to his confederates. "Get ready, and remember, try not to kill anyone, we want them alive." Clancy ordered, his team nodded and began readying their weapons. Materialising on the Promenade, David Tan had watched Kara enter O'Tooles Bar & Grill, she was clearly confident her plan was succeeding and got to work as if nothing of the last few hours had occurred. "Got to hand it to her." David muttered to the others. "O'Toole has been moved to a separate room." the woman informed Tan after speaking quietly into her Comm badge. "Good, tell them to move in on my mark." David said, glancing at one of the chronometers dotted around the Promenade, "Right, you two go in, get a drink, you're simply enjoying off duty time, you know the drill. Stay near the right hand side of the bar, I don't want her getting into the secure room." "Understood." the two said, leaving immediately. He gave them a further ten minutes then made his way to the bar himself .... "Wow, we don't often see you in here this early." one of the staff said, "Fancy picking up a tray and collecting a few glasses ?" "Hey, I have enough work to do without taking on more thanks very much. Where's that lazy Irishman, he owes me a cold drink ?" "Couldn't tell you lovie, He and Kara left a while ago, Kara's back but no sign of the boss ... Sure ya don't want to be helping ?" she asked with a pout. David kissed her on the cheek and headed for the bar, eyes casually scanning the room for the whereabouts of Kara Boyle. He tapped the Comm badge concealed under his jacket and whispered: =^= Go .. .. =^= *****Sean sat in the bed, he was trying to figure out how, if at all, he was going to get out of this room when he heard what was unmistakably phaser-fire ! ... He jumped up and put his ear to the door hoping to get some inkling as to what was going on, where the dissidents fighting among themselves, or more likely was Wolfsen ensuring there was no-one in his way to hinder him carrying out his threat to kill him ? "Try this one." he heard a muffled voice say from the other side of the door. He spun, trying to find something to defend himself with but the door opened too quickly. "He's in here." the man said, eyeing O'Toole for signs of injury. Two other entered the room. "Secure our captives, especially Mister Wolfsen. I'm sure Admiral Tetsutaro will want a conversation or two with him. Mister O'Toole." Sean smiled. "How did you fi ...." he began, grinning at Elena de Luca and Iorte Clancy. "We've been behind you since you left your bar." de Luca replied, taking out a tricorder and scanning the man before him, "Broken rib. you'll need to get that sorted out, Jankins, take him up to medi ....." "No, I'm going to the bar, I'd like to see Kara's face when I walk in there !" Sean said defiantly stepping past the other three. Iorte shrugged then followed the bar owner. Once in the turbo-lift they climbed to the Promenade, stepping out into the bright lights. Clancy held Sean back from approaching the bar as he contacted David ... Finally he turned to O'Toole: "David isn't happy at you going in there, we have no way of knowing how she will react on seeing you." "I'll take my chances." Sean said, stepping around the intelligence Officer before he could object. he got to the doors and took a breath before walking in as if he'd simply been out for a hair cut. "Ahh, and about bloody time too !" Jen said as she spotted him, Sean was looking around trying to locate Kara but it seemed she had seen him first. Their eyes met and for a second she remained motionless before beginning to walk quickly towards the right hand side or the bar. given how many people were enjoying the drinks and live entertainment she was clearly confident he couldn't reach her before she entered the covert room at the back. Alas she hadn't counted on their being others in there to assist. She came to a sudden stop as a woman bumped into her: "Can I get refills please ?" the woman asked, holding up two empty glasses. "I'm busy, one of the girls will see to you." Kara said with a smile as she began to move past, but the woman took her arm. "Oh, I think I would much prefer it if you refilled our glasses .... If that's not 'too' much trouble ?" she asked, smiling casually. Kara realised there was no way out, she stood at the bar, the woman's hand on her arm, not tightly but firm enough so she couldn't escape without possibly being injured. Sean walked up to her and stood in silence as Clancy, Tan and the other Intelligence Officers placed themselves in a loose cordon around them. "Why ?" Sean asked, but apart from one solitary tear rolling down Kara's cheek, there was no reply. "We can make this difficult, or you can walk into the storeroom as if nothing was amiss." Elena said with a smile. Resigning herself to the fact that she had failed, Kara walked to the storeroom and entered, Sean, David, Iorte and Elena followed, the remaining Intel' Officers remaining in and around the bar. Inside the room, Kara stood with her back against the wall as if frightened of what was going to happen, but Elena stepped forward and told her she was going to be alright if she co-operated. Kara was silent, eyes flicking to Sean the Elena and the others before moving back to Sean. She raised a hand and pulled her hair away from the nape of her neck and turned. Elena moved closer and suddenly spotted the small, almost invisible mound on her neck. Before she could speak Kara put a finger to Elena's lips her eyes betraying her fright. She looked around and finally found a PADD, the one used for stock-taking and ordering, she cleared the screen and began to tap, finally turning the device so everyone could read what she had put ... All four stood dumb-struck as they read: >>> Remote Micro-Explosive <<<
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David Tan
Starfleet Intelligence
Suum Cuique ...
Registered: Dec 11, 2006 10:56:04 GMT
Posts: 790
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Post by David Tan on May 7, 2019 17:17:13 GMT
>>> Remote Micro-Explosive <<< David was about to speak when Kara urgently put a finger to her lips ! ... She took the PADD and typed: * He can here via the sub-space link to the device * Tan looked around the room then sat at the console. activating the manual interface he typed: 'Computer, erect a dampening field around this room. Sound only. Confirm via this interface only' 'Dampening field erected' Tan sighed as he read the message, then retrieved a tricorder from one of the drawers before turning to the others. "OK .... We need to get this thing out of her neck immediately." he said, already scanning Kara's neck. "No, wait !" Elena said, moving David's hand away, "If someone is monitoring the device, there must be some way we can find out where the signals are being received. Get that information first, then take it out." David was about to object but Kara and Sean both agreed, "We can use the internal sensors to locate the receive location." she said, dropping into the seat at the console and getting to work .... It took a full forty minutes before they could confirm the location of the monitor, everyone was shocked at the readings: "The Command Center !" Tan said needlessly, "Can we get a specific station ?" Elena worked again, this time it took only seconds to locate where the signal was coming from, confirming it was located in the duty office right beside Intelligence. The small rooms were accessed by anyone with clearance to the Command Level. "Can you get this out of me now please ?" Kara asked, close to tears. "If we touch it our tampering may warn whoever is watching to our activity, I'd guess he, or she, would detonate it the instant our meddling was discovered. Nor can we report this to officials, if they see us coming it's a given Kara would be dead along with anyone close by before we could subdue them." Clancy said. David looked at Kara, then Sean. "You will nee to be a little patient Kara, I'm sorry. Elena, find a way to get that out of her on my signal. Iorte and I will go up to Command and hopefully catch whoever is up there by surprise ...." They both retrieved phasers from the cabinet and concealed them under their jackets, they were walking out when David turned to Elena, "You know what to do." he said, receiving a nod from de Luca. "What did he mean by that ?" Sean asked worriedly, Elena remained silent as she worked on removing the device ..... Level Nine : Primary Command Operations ::Stepping out of the turbo-lift, Clancy and Tan continued their conversation regarding the game they had been watching the night before. To all intents and purposes it was a normal day in Command, they attracted no attention other that the odd greeting or acknowledgement. Looking across the large floor they could see the duty offices. The door was closed, so whoever was in there wouldn't see them approaching, that would change the moment they tried to open the door. "We could beam them out." Clancy said casually, laughing as if he'd made some witty reply to Tan's comment. "He or she could detonate the second they felt the transport in progress." David said, the same wit evident. Portraying two men lightheartedly disagreeing over something in the previous nights game ... As they reached the door they continued past then stopped at the washrooms but didn't enter, "Now or never, we're going to get noticed." Clancy nodded and put his hand on the concealed phaser, David did likewise as they approached the frosted glass door, they could see the silhouette of someone at the console, their back to them. Without further comment both entered the room, Iorte had drawn his phaser and shot the man in the center of his back as he turned, David followed up firing into the mans neck as he reached out then fell unconscious to the carpeted deck. David hit the Comm on the panel: =^= Tan to de Luca .. .. .. Now =^= He turned as several Security Officers piled into the room covering Tan and Clancy with numerous phasers. Both confirmed their identities and asked for the room to be cleared of all but two Security. Pick him up, take him to .... he was pushed from his feet as the man burst past into the Command Center, one of the Security Officers fired, spinning the man around but not dropping him, Clancy spotted the devise he was holding and ordered every to cease firing. The man had moved to one of the large windows, placing his back he held out something ! "I want a shuttle or I'll activate this ... She dies, you die, WE ALL DIE !" "Not going to happen Commander." Tan answered as Admiral Tetsutaro approached from the Mezzanine. "You have thirty seconds." the man said, waving the device as if to strengthen his position. "Young man, if I may ask: Who were you working for, Miss Serova ?" Sato asked in his measured tone. "Where do you think the dissidents were getting their information from." the man replied sarcastically. "Commander, you must realise that we cannot allow you to go free, there are numerous phaser weapons trained upon you as we speak, it is doubtful you would survive should you fail to comply." Tetsutaro explained, taking several steps toward the man, but he just raised the device and laughed. "Go ahead, once I release this thing it goes off and we all exit stage right." Davids Comm chirped and he tapped it to receive: =^= We transported the device out of Kara .. It's currently ten thousand kilometers off the Station =^= =^= Understood =^= Tan said, closing the Comm, eyes still on the rogue Commander, "Kara is safe, so activating that is not going to hurt her. Give it up." The man seemed to be struggling with some inner demon, as if trying to decide a course of action. Several times he looked down at his hand, allowing Security to inch forward, but each time he raised the weapon, freezing them in place for fear he would carry out his threat. Sato had again moved closer, all the time talking calmly to the man. He was less than five meters away when David realised they were in trouble ... The mans eyes had glazed over almost as if he were in some semi-conscious trance, Tan called out to Admiral Tetsutaro but it was too late ! The man closed his eyes and released the device ..... The explosion threw everyone off their feet, the man once holding the bomb had vaporised the instant it detonated, decompression began blasting Officer through the rupture, It was taking all of David's strength to hold onto the console. He looked in the direction of the blast, trying beyond hope to locate Tetsutaro but it was clear he had suffered the same fate as the bomber. After what seemed an eternity but was in truth less than three seconds, force-fields snapped into place and everyone still on the Command Level and the Mezzanine fell to the deck battered and bruised, but alive. David staggered to his feet and walked over to where Sato had been stood seconds before. He looked at the deck then out the gaping maw caused by the blast ... Tetsutaro was gone. Taking a phaser from one of the injured Security Officers he ran to the nearest turbo-lift, Clancy was less than a meter behind as he reached the door which remained stubbornly closed. Tan slammed his fist into the doors several times demanding they open, but protocols had been set in place preventing any further decompression on the Station. "Going somewhere ?" Iorte asked quietly. "I'm going to throw that woman out the nearest airlock." Tan replied through clenched teeth. Clancy almost shrugged before replying. "She deserves no lass David, but that isn't going to help. We have lost people and need to face that before anything else." After several more punches into the still rigid doors, David turned, slumping to the deck. He dropped the phaser as Clancy crouched beside him. "I never thought I'd see the day ....." Tan said, tears welling in his eyes, "He was a Father to me." "I know." Iorte said, placing his arm around his friend as he too fell silent as everyone around then staggered around or began treating injuries ..........
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Elena de Luca
Starfleet Intelligence
Registered: Dec 14, 2009 0:38:17 GMT
Posts: 265
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Post by Elena de Luca on May 8, 2019 21:45:21 GMT
Level One Five Five One Alpha Promenade O'Tooles bar and Grill :: In the back room of O'Tooles, Sean and Elena sat patiently working on a means to remove the micro-explosive from Kara's neck .... "Could we cut it out ?" Sean asked. "It's going to be tamper-proof." Elena replied, smiling sympathetically at the young Bar Manager. She sat pondering options then realised there was only one real option open to them, she tapped her Comm badge: =^= de Luca to USS El Alamein =^= =^= Commander Lorok .. Duty Officer .. Go ahead =^= =^= I need options on beaming an explosive device off the Starbase =^= =^= Repeat that =^= =^= Can you scan my location ? .. .. .. =^= =^= Hold .. .. I have your location .. What's this abo .. .. .. =^= =^= I don't have time to explain Commander .. I have a situation here that requires the ships doctors' delicate touch .. Lock onto the three people in this room and transport aboard immediately =^= They all felt the tell-tall caress of the transport enveloping them, seconds later they reappeared in the El Alamein ... They ran from the Transporter Room and down to Sick-bay where Lieutenant Kirkham was waiting ... "Lieutenant, our friend here has a micro-explosive implanted into the back of her neck, I need it gone and off the ship in the next few moments or we will all be meeting our respective deities." "I don't have the skills for this, I'm a Medical Officer not a bloody Surgeon !" Kirkham said, already leading Kara to the Bio-bed and beginning to scan as Captain Komin entered. "Geez, how the hell did you manage to acquire this ?" she asked rhetorically. "Can you get it out ?" Elena asked, glancing at the chronometer over the bed. Nia studied the scan readouts frowning, "Well ?" "It's deep, nestled between her 'C5' and 'C6' vertebrae. There is one fibre extending from the device into the spinal column, likely monitoring her vital signs. Operating is out at least until it can be deactivated." the Medical Officer explained, I hate to even suggest this because, well, if that thing realises what we're up to then given the yield readings us and a good section of this room would be vaporised." "Suggest what ?" Elena said, clearly loosing patience as she pictured David and Iorte arriving in the Command Center. "Transport it." "WHAT !" Kara sputtered, "Didn't you say it would go off if messed with ?" "Well ... We could effectively put you in stasis, then lock onto the device, with luck it will only register the transport when it's out of your neck and away from the dampening field, it couldn't activate in mid-transport but would most likely detonate the millisecond it was fully re-materialised ... This is all guess work though." she finished apologetically. Elena felt her Comm badge vibrate three times, the prearranged signal that Tan and Clancy were in Command, they had only moments to decide, she turned to Kara: "I know this is hard, but it's now or never." "Beam the bloody thing out'a me will'ya !" Kara said defiantly. Nia contacted the Transporter Room and gave instructions ... "You need to realise, the transporters were not set up for something so delicate, I've sent co-ordinates which will take one micron of living cells around the device, they need to be programmed into the targeting array, it will take a moment to complete." she bit her lip as Elena watched the time running down, "Ready ..... It's done, it's off the Starbase, materialising now." Kirkham confirmed. Elena tapped her Comm badge and informed David: =^= We transported the device out of Kara .. It's currently ten thousand kilometers off the Station =^= =^= Understood =^= Tan replied, less that one minute later the whole Starbase shuddered, Elena and everyone else realised that the yield of the device must have been much higher than first scanned, then they received the news that an explosion had occurred in the Command Center ! "Sean, look after Kara." Elena said running for the doors ..... Command Center ::When the device held by the dissident Commander had exploded, it had vaporised him and fifteen meters of window instantly. Admiral Sato Tetsutaro, director of Intelligence and Head of Starbase Security, was stood less than two meter from the device, he too vanished from existence ... The resulting breach had begun voiding all the oxygen in the Command Center, anyone unfortunate enough to be stood within ten meters of the breach was instantly sucked into the black icy void. In the seconds it took emergency bulkheads to slam into place and force-fields to seal the massive opening, thirty two men and women had been lost ... Elena used her Command Codes to override the turbo-lift, which was stubbornly refusing to assent to Level Nine. Seconds later the computer released the 'lifts to allow Medical Staff and Engineers to flood into the Command Center. The main floor was in turmoil, people were staggering around injured, same on the Mezzanine Level from which several Officers had been sucked to their deaths. She found David and Iorte sat backs against the bulkhead beside the turbo-lift David had moments earlier been pummelling on. She crouched down before the two then dropped to her knees, reaching forward to put her arms around both. "We lost Admiral Tetsutaro." Clancy informed her quietly. Elena remained silent. There was nothing to say really ... After a few moments of silence, David began to get to his feet, Medic's approached the three but Elena waved them away. "We erm, We need to inform Gheskori and Carl." Tan said, moving towards the ramp up to the Mezzanine Level. "We'll get to that David, you need to si ....." "I'm OK, we need to let the Section Admiral know. Sato was Carl and Calli's Stepfather, they should hear it from me." Tan insisted. "Commander ..." Calli said, grabbing a passing Officer, "With me please .... I need you to set up a priority communication to both the Enzio and Raven." The man followed the three up to the Mezzanine and into Admiral Tetsutaro's office. David dropped into the seat, Elena and Iorte sitting opposite as the Officer set up the priority link .......... OOC : Hope you don't mind my writing for Iorte, please feel free to edit.< Tag : Section Admiral Gheskori / Fleet Admiral Torek >
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Simon Clark
Lt. Commander
Registered: Dec 1, 2016 22:21:10 GMT
Posts: 153
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Post by Simon Clark on May 16, 2019 18:34:41 GMT
Engineering Station, Command Floor, Level 9, Starbase 47Commander Sasha Gordon was seething. She trusted her team, and she wanted to trust her colleagues. She had vowed to herself that she would do everything in her power to prevent any more loss of life. And yet, three seconds, just three, had been enough to lose thirty-two lives. She had known Commander Bracken only a little from the occasional crossovers on their shifts, he had seemed a capable command officer, and a wit she had appreciated. Yet, he had released in the Duty Offices a terror that had shaken her, deeper than she had expected. "Commander, the damage report you asked for is ready." "Thank you Ensign, push it to my console. How's your wound?" "Aye, Sir. It's sore, Sir. The medics are dealing with the others who are... are..." She could see his distress, and it was not helping her own state of mind. Much more sharply than she intended, she gave him an order so he would leave. "Ensign, don't dwell on it. I want a full assessment of the emergency force-field system on this deck. I want to know exactly why it took so long for them to initialise. Be quick, I want your findings sent to me, personally, as you capture them. And get that cut seen to first, please." "Sir. Yes, Sir." The Ensign was uncertain of being snapped at, it was unusual for her. He turned to his business, but his confusion and concern were plain. This did not help her state of mind. She turned to her console, focusing on the screen to separate her thoughts from the activity around her. It didn't help. The schematic of the damage on her console was bewildering. A twenty five meter ring of damage surrounded the point of the blast, completely removing the exterior facing window from the Duty office. Internal bulkheads at both ends of the room had been ruptured, damaging and breaching the transparent aluminium in the break out areas on both sides of the offices. A group of dome control officers had been at lunch, and three had been using the duty officers break out area for a meeting. Admiral Gheskori's office, fortunately empty, had been breached through it's floor, and there was significant damage to the level ten offices directly beneath, where most lives had been lost. Her team were doing their best, and she was distantly proud of their professionalism. There was already a plan to patch the breach within the next six hours with two layers tritanium plating until the aluminium windows and interior decking and systems could be restored. She looked though it again, and tried to focus, her eyes blurred with the sting of tears. She was trying to think through fog. So many lives lost. She couldn't think. How? Why? It was too much. Objectively, she knew it was irrational. People were watching. She needed a quiet space, for a while. She stood. She found an empty meeting room alongside docking control. She sat. She cried. She was vaugely aware that another officer in amber had followed her. He sat down beside her, placing one hand on her shoulder. The pressure was comforting. She leaned into it, and cried all the more. When the sobs subsided, she felt drained, numb. "Lieutenant Gibson," she said. He was one of the most intelligent officers on her team, and probably the most socially awkward. She was surprised, and grateful, for his company." "Sir. If I may, Sir, you seem... not yourself." he said. "I'm sorry, I needed some space. Thank you for following me, I really appreciate it." "You are welcome, Sir. It is... a difficult situation. Would you like to be alone, Sir." He was always formal, she knew very little about him. Could she trust him? Was he like Carver? She hated that that question had come up in her mind. She hated that. It was terrorism, and it was genuinely terrifying. "No. I will return to my console. I want to support our team." "Understood Sir." He stood, and moved to the door. He glanced back at her. "Go on, I'll be a minute." "Yes, sir." He nodded. The door swished open. It swished closed. Sasha took a series of deep breaths while counting to sixty. She became aware of the tension in the back of her shoulders, and repeated the count twice more, trying to buzz it out. Then she stood, and went back to the chaos, determined to make it right.
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