Interim: The Loss Of Faith R&R

[Deleted]

The shuttle slowly made its final assent to Assailant. He had been cleared to dock a good few hours back but he just couldn't resist the oppurtunity to take the Shuttle out on a little ride.
The flight deck gave him clearance to dock anytime within the next 3 hours, so an hours worth of fun seemed worth it. He wasn't technically on duty for another few days, until his new Ship departed Assailant.

He docked the Shuttle smoothly, unable to resist a last minute of fun he flew in upside down...
He would get yet another caution about flight safety, nothing too serious.
With the Shuttle docked and his bags in had, the young man made for the docking clamp that held the Scavenger. Her Captain was about to receive a shock that he wasn't sure how it would be received...

[Deleted]

OFF:

Lieutenant, you can be promoted in simm before the start of the mission. Finding story lines that fit in with out of simm promotions is often difficult so sometimes we just allow them to happen without making too much of a big deal out of them lol


ON:

Luke sat near the window, looking out into the chaotic work environment that now surrounded the Scavenger. Other ships docking and departing, work being done to her hull. Shuttles scurrying back and forth. Normally this would bring him comfort, to see all as it should be, but since seeing her he couldn't shake his feelings of agitation.
Of course, as always on a Ship, he didn't have too long to dwell on this as Pride soon approached him.

"Sir, I will be leaving the ship for a while, it would seem I have been recalled to the home world to help decided on weather or not to join the Federation. I have a seat on the Council and must vote in person. This will leave you with out a pilot for a while. I hope that when this is done I might get to come back home. I wish you the best Sir and good luck."

Luke was a little taken aback by this. It had not been in the transfer logs and Pride was a damn good pilot, they were hard to find, especially one that Luke could actually trust.

"I must say I am slightly surprised by this Commander. I of course will be checking the new transfer files but I am sure what you say is as it is." He paused, taking time to stretch out his hand. "All the best Commander. I will find someone to keep your seat warm, nothing else."

Pride left without another word. Luke rolled his eyes, they were dropping like flies. He stood up and approached the remaining Senior Staff who all had also just been informed of Pride's abrupt deparute by the look on their faces.

"I would like everyone to be on the Bridge by 0800 in two days time. Until then do as you wish, I will of course be contactable but I will also be enjoying some free time." He paused, wondering if he should try and organise something for the crew to do together but he couldn't focuse and things such as relationship growth should never be forced.
"I would like to see you beforehand though Commander." He said, turning to Parsons. I am due to receive our mission orders later this evening. Are you free to meet in my Ready Room to look over them?"

<TAG Parsons>

"Very good, I will see you at 2100."

Luke turned to leave, smiling at his crew and thanking them for the get together. He chose not to say anything to Tras directly, there was plenty of time for that before they departed.
He left with no more words and headed to his on-ship quarters where he planned to enjoy reading a good book.

=^= Assailant Dock Control to Captain Drago =^=

Luke groaned, so tempted to ignore it. He didn't of course... The temptation was practically overwhelming however.

"Go ahead." He said, slightly forlorn.

=^= I have a Lieutenant Commander M. Bower here, he has files that say he is to be serving with you on your next tour of duty but I have no records of this =^=

"I'm sorry did you say Bower?" He asked, momentarily shocked.

=^= He sure did Cap'n =^= Came a loud voice through the channel. =^= Congrats by the way! Where was my invite to the celebratory party?! =^=

Luke groaned. WHY?! He exclaimed in his head. "Let him on Control, I'll review the files myself. Tell him to meet me at Airlock 3. Drago out."

And before Max or the Flight Control Officer could say anything else Luke began to stroll towards the Airlock, cutting the comm as he went.

[tintagel]

Despite getting a message instructing her to talk to Captain Tras, Illito had been unable to find free time in which to do so before his tribunal. It seemed like the Captain was surrounded by people and since Illito kind of viewed that as a good thing, she didn't want to interrupt anyone.

She was there at the tribunal verdict, and noticed that Tras seemed a little changed from the man he had been. Illito knew now that Tras wouldn't be commanding the Scavenger, which meant Drago probably would.

Things in sickbay were taken care of for the moment, so Illito had no problem going to the mess hall. She saw a few officers she didn't know there but arrived before whatever pronouncement was going to be made was made. She chose to ignore the new officers for a little bit though, instead walking over by Pride. “I'm sorry we couldn't reschedule dinner last night,” she told him.

“It's no problem,” he said, but he seemed quite distracted. Illito asked Pride what the problem was and he told her that he would be going to it his home world to help decided on joining the federation.

“Oh,” she said, rather disappointed. She understood that he had to go, but she didn't want to be separated from him for so long. On an impulse she hugged him quickly. “Will this be fun to go home, or just business?” she asked Pride, not quite sure she could express what she wanted to say.

His answer was unfortunately obscured by Commander Tras' pronouncement of Drago's promotion to captain. Captain Drago made a toast, and while Illito repeated back 'Her Family' with everyone else she was fairly certain the tone she used was more confused than others'.

After Captain Drago accepted some congratulations he made an announcement, saying people had two days worth of leave. A whole lot of good they did Illito, since Pride had to leave to pack and would be gone very soon. She wondered briefly if she should volunteer to help him pack, but he had already left the mess hall by that point. Illito glanced around at the officers, both those she recognized and those she didn't, not quite sure what she could then do during this leave friend. She didn't precisely have a ton of friends on the Scavenger, which was usually fine, but it left her without anyone to talk to now.

Illito would go to sickbay and work on work, but sickbay wasn't actually the most friendly of environments these days, not with her second in command being himself. Besides she didn't think that work would be a relaxing use of her time.

<Tag Anyone?>

[Deleted]

A few days after the trial and Drago's promotion and when Tras felt things finally had quieted down somewhat, the ex-captain strolled through Scavenger's corridors, following the ones that would lead him to sickbay. He still had something to settle with the chief medical officer, and he would do so before taking his leave.

"Doctor are you in?" he called, glancing about in search for the Cardassian woman. He spotted her leaning over a patient and waited until she was done before calling for her again. "Doctor I feel I owe you an apology," he started, looking somewhat embarassed. "You've been very kind to me considering what I've put you through." He held out a bouquet of orange and yellow roses out to her. "To show my appreciation of you," he stated, then turned and walked out of sickbay.

He still needed to talk to Drago and the longer he put it off, the less likely he would be to even start about it again. And since now was as good a time as any, Tras stepped onto the bridge after a several second turbolift ride. "Captain, could I have a word with you please?" When Drago turned, Tras smiled before continuing in the silent language of the deaf. "In private, we need to talk."

Tras followed Drago into the readyroom. "Firstly, congratulations on your new command. Treat her fairly captain, she's a fine vessel as you obviously are well aware of. Secondly, what is to become of me now? I am...out of a commission and fresh out of assignment. I have nowhere to go...my mother wishes to confront my father alone, though I offered to go with her. I might still go with her despite her wish to go alone, but I need assurances. I need to know where to go after all this is resolved. Would you..." He trailed off, looking directly at Drago. "I suppose it is unfair to ask you for any recommendations?"

[Deleted]

It had been a day since Max's unexplained arrival. Luke and he had spent very little time together, something that the Captain was making sure of.
If they had to serve together that was fair enough but Max reminded Luke of all that once was, and what wasn't now.
He had been informed that the Scavenger would be delayed in her departure for a few days which was fine in itself, it meant more time to check over systems and make necessary upgrades and repairs that may have avoided the first scans but Luke was beginning to get itchy feet. He disliked being docked for too long and with the political tension that could be cut with a knife being felt throughout Assailant because of the diplomatic talk Luke was extra keen to be on their way. A Starship was for flying, not to be caged.

Most of the crew were now back to staying in the quarters on the Scavenger, which meant that once again the corridors were filled with the bustling sound of people, coming and going, carrying out their duties to their best, as Luke had come to know they would.
As he made his way to the Bridge, the Captain wondered how long it would take for this to feel fully like home. He knew the crew were beginning to trust him more, and even accept him, but already the crew had participated in two potentially lethal missions because of his arrival. What did that mean for the rest of his term on the Scavenger?

Arriving on the Bridge he was greeted with a flurry of status reports and information stored on padds. Commander Parsons, he could see, was in the middle of a conversation with their new CTSO and Luke hoped that all was alright. He would make the time to sit down and talk to both new Officers properly soon but he had other things to attend to. Tras for one thing, and also a talk with Paikea. He hadn't had the chance to talk things through with him since Katie's departure and he knew they had been involved to some extent. It was his job, as his Captain and growing friend, to see how he was handling the situation. He would talk to him after he had spoken to Tras, that situation had to be resolved now.
As if he knew he was being thought about Tras stepped onto the Bridge and headed towards Luke.

"Captain, could I have a word with you please?" Luke nodded and watched Tras' hands move as he spoke and then continue to move after the words had stopped. Luke believed he had said; "In private, we need to talk." But he was still learning the language, the specifics might be wrong. Nonetheless Luke headed to his Ready Room and Tras followed suit.
Sitting down behind his desk he motioned for Tras to also take a seat and waited for the Commander to talk first. Luke did not want to say anything before he heard what Tras had to say.

"Firstly, congratulations on your new command. Treat her fairly Captain, she's a fine vessel as you obviously are well aware of. Secondly, what is to become of me now? I am...out of a commission and fresh out of assignment. I have nowhere to go...my mother wishes to confront my father alone, though I offered to go with her. I might still go with her despite her wish to go alone, but I need assurances. I need to know where to go after all this is resolved. Would you..." He trailed off, looking directly at Drago. "I suppose it is unfair to ask you for any recommendations?"

Luke shifted in his seat. "Thank you for your congratulations Commander." He said, getting the pleasantries out of the way. "In regards to recommendations I am sure I can provide you some but I had rather hoped that you would take some time off and then join us here on the Scavenger." He stopped, waiting for Tras to respond.

******

Hours after Tras had left Luke's Ready Room to pack his things for Assailant, the Captain found himself wasting time as to avoid the conversation with Commander Apirana. Personal issues were not exactly Luke's area of expertise and he really didn't want to put his foot in it.
Time to bite the bullet. He thought. It was ridiculous that these sort of conversations frightened him more than going into battle.

"Drago to Apirana, I would like to see you in my Ready Room now please." He said into the open comm channel.

<TAG Apirana>

[Paikea Apirana]

The last couple of days had been the hardest since he had joined Starfleet. Katie Anderson, his best friend and the women that he loved, had been transferred off the Scavenger. He had always known that it was a very real possibility, but he had told himself that it would of never happened. That all changed yesterday afternoon when Katie came into his quarters with tears in her eyes. He didn't even have to ask, he had been able to read her long ago.

For the first time in years Paikea cried. They both cried for a very long time knowing that they would no longer have eachother to reply on the everyday problems they both had. Pai realized that they would no longer spend endless hours in the holodeck on dates or just talk about the daily grind of working on a starship.

"Katie....I....." Paikea said looking at the one person who had been there for him through thick and thin.

"I know.... I love you too, Pai," Katie said as she kissed him. It was a soft kiss that meant more to him than anyother. "I have to go Pai, I'm leaving the shuttle here, I'll take the next transport out to Earth."

Paikea didn't feel like saying anything, he knew that it would be useless. He felt like telling her that he would quit his commission and follow her anywhere she went, but he knew that she would kill him if he did. They had long ago promised each other that they would work their tails off to exceed.

"Paikea, this isn't the end of us," Katie said hugging him," you never know, I might be transferred back to Section 47 in the future. By the way the Kittie better have the same name when I return."

With that thought, Paikea helped Katie leave the Scavenger. It was the hardest thing he had ever done and since then he hadn't eaten or spoken to anyone. He was locked away in his quarters trying to meditate and deal with his feelings of loss. He didn't even care about his responsibilities. Paikea had been running a few new experiments concerning gamma radiation treatment. Those were all but forgotten now. If it wasn't for Zach everything in the science department would be chaos.

"Drago to Apirana, I would like to see you in my Ready Room now please." He said into the open comm channel.

"Sir is that necessary, I'm feeling rather ill at the moment," Pai responded not wanting to talk to the Captain at the moment.

"Commander, like I said please meet me in my Ready room," Captain Drago once again said. Paikea still dressed in his civilian clothes walked out of his quarters and headed up to the ready room. Frankly at the moment he just didn't care about his career.

<Tag Drago>

[Deleted]

"I would like everyone to be on the Bridge by 0800 in two days time. Until then do as you wish, I will of course be contactable but I will also be enjoying some free time." He paused, wondering if he should try and organize something for the crew to do together but he couldn't focus and things such as relationship growth should never be forced.
"I would like to see you beforehand though Commander." He said, turning to Parsons. I am due to receive our mission orders later this evening. Are you free to meet in my Ready Room to look over them?"

"Yes, Sir, I'll be there," Parsons said with an eager smile. He was anxious to start his first mission as XO of this new ship.

"Very good, I will see you at 2100," responded the Captain.

Later on the bridge, Parsons was talking with the CTSO, when the Captain entered the room. Several officers mobbed him with reports and Adam decided a formal announcement of the Captain's arrival on the bridge would not be necessary. When Parsons finished his conversation with the Tactical Officer, he returned to his chair briefly to review status reports.

[Deleted]

As Paikea walked in to Luke's Ready Room in his civi's, he knew that this was not going to be an easy conversation.
Apirana was normally a very proud, confident and upstanding Officer, the thought of being called to a meeting with the Captain, whilst technically on duty, in civillian clothes would normally of disgusted him.
But not today.
Today, Paikea seemed to be oblivious to Starfleet in its entirity, including the fact that when the Captain called, you came, no 'ifs', no 'buts', you just came.

"Please take a seat Commander." Luke said, pouring himself a coffee and making extra note to use his rank, rather than his name to remind Paikea that although he may not feel like being an Officer in Starfleet right now, he still was.
"Would you like a drink?" He asked.
Paikea shook his head in response and Luke frowned.
"I know this must be particularly difficult for you Commander, someone we care for being transferred is never easy." He paused, hoping for some response. He received none, and so continued.
"Right now you want to mope about, forget that Starfleet exists, just so you can think on Miss. Anderson and remember the 'good times'. I am afraid, however Commander, that will not be possible. The Scavenger has received her mission orders and we will be departing soon. I need you on the Bridge. The Scavenger needs you at your Station."
He still received no response. Luke sighed.
"Paikea." Luke said, his tone changing to be less harsh and authoratative. "Katie has left the Scavenger, not your life. She may have been transferred but there has been no loss of life. Your relationship might prove to be more difficult now, in fact I am sure it will, but you will still talk to her, still see her. She is still alive."
Luke stopped himself from talking any further. He was beginning to use Paikea's pain as a way of talking about his own. He could not allow this.
"Can you take your Station? Continue to do the marvellous work I know you can do?" Luke finished, composing himself.

<TAG Paikea>

[Paikea Apirana]

Paikea arrived at the Captain's ready room like he had been told, but his mind wasn't there. He was vaguely aware of what the Captain was saying to him, but why should he care.

"Please take a seat Commander." Luke said.

~Why the hell is calling me Commander~ Paikea thought to himself. The Captain knew what he was going through at the moment and he didn't want to listen to a pep talk.


"Would you like a drink?" He asked.

~What do you think~ Paikea said trying not to walk on the man he had come to respect.

"I know this must be particularly difficult for you Commander, someone we care for being transferred is never easy."

~If this is all your going to say you're just wasting your time~ Paikea said as he put his attention on one of the Captain's personal artifacts.

"Right now you want to mope about, forget that Starfleet exists, just so you can think on Miss. Anderson and remember the 'good times'. I am afraid, however Commander, that will not be possible. The Scavenger has received her mission orders and we will be departing soon. I need you on the Bridge. The Scavenger needs you at your Station."

~Why, she is a great ship. She has lasted without me at science. In fact she did well when I was her acting captain~ Paikea thought which happened to bring a small smile to his face. Even though they were being battered and beaten by Sethe and her ship, they were all together. Commodore T'Mar and Semia were out of action, but the crew had never worked better.

"Paikea." Luke said, his tone changing to be less harsh and authoratative. "Katie has left the Scavenger, not your life. She may have been transferred but there has been no loss of life. Your relationship might prove to be more difficult now, in fact I am sure it will, but you will still talk to her, still see her. She is still alive."

~Alive, of course she is alive. If she wasn't I wouldn't be here right now. Have you even looked at our personal file?~ Paikea thought bitterly. Katie had personally faced death to save him. She had personally brought him from the brink of despair and showed him that he could be loved and that he could love as well.

For the first time since arriving in his office Pai looked at his captain. The last few words were not directed at him, they were meant for him. He was trying to hide it, but Luke Drago was showing emotions that he had been trying to keep quiet. Even though these words were aimed at himself, they also made Pai realize that Katie would never want him to be like this. Before they had been lovers, they had been friends.

"Can you take your Station? Continue to do the marvellous work I know you can do?" Luke finished, composing himself.

"Captain, I will take my station, but I will have to adjust," Paikea said," my tribe have always believed that we should be with the ones we love and I love her. The tattoo on my right shoulder signifies endless love and right now it feels like I have lost that and if I may be frank it seems that you have lost that as well."

Paikea was never afraid to say what he felt, but he regretted bringing up the Captain's feelings. There was still much he didn't know about the man that led him and his friends.

"Captain, who was she?" Paikea asked.

<Tag Drago>

[Deleted]

"Captain, I will take my station, but I will have to adjust," Paikea said," my tribe have always believed that we should be with the ones we love and I love her. The tattoo on my right shoulder signifies endless love and right now it feels like I have lost that and if I may be frank it seems that you have lost that as well."

Luke nodded, he knew little of Paikea's culture, but he understood where the man was coming from. Just as he thought the meeting was over Apirana added something.

"Captain, who was she?" Paikea asked.


Approximately 1 and a half years earlier, current timeline.

After Luke stopped the computer running a self-diagnostic he bought the sensors back online and set a course for the Bellicose.

He sighed. His career in Starfleet certainly was eventful and it seemed such a long time ago that he was in the academy and shortly afterwards considering his resignation because of his mother, but now he was here with Jeret, his new friend and the love of his life Amy...

"Amy!" He cried. With a few startled looks from the bridge officers he handed hem control over to an Ensign and ran to the turbolift ordering it to the deck where his quarters were.

=^= Luke to Amy. =^= He said tapping his comm. badge.

=^= Amy, are you there? =^=

"Computer locate Amy Krentuckva." Luke ordered the computer.

=^= Miss Krentuckva is in Lt. Jg Luke Dowding quarters on deck ... =^=

Luke began to panic. Why wasn’t she responding? What had his mirror done to her?

****5 mins later****

He ran to the door of his quarters and was devastated to see the security code had been changed, the work of the mirror no doubt.

"Amy!" He yelled banging on the door. "AMY!"

"COMPUTER OVERIDE DOOR LOCK. AUTHORISATION DOWDING 6716 THETA!" Luke cried.

The doors slowly hissed open and Luke walked in and slipped on something. Water he assumed, she must have spilt something he said in his mind. He walked a little further in and ordered the computer to turn on the lights.

He wished he hadn’t. The lights flickered on, it seemed, in slow motion. He spun round to where the 'water' had been and cried out in dismay when he saw it was blood. He slowly turned around and saw Amy lying peacefully on the floor, a wound to her head. The blood around her mad her look like she was in a bed of roses. Luke collapsed besides her, sobbing. He lifted her head and hugged her close. Her blood staining his uniform.

=^= Security and medical….” He stammered. =^= to my quarters…=^= He stopped. He couldn’t possibly speak any more instead he just hung on close to Amy, crying into her hair.

Some Time Later....

"Do you think we should go check on him?" J'Leera asked.

"I'm not sure" Tiffini replied. "He's been through a lot and maybe he just needs some alone time but I am concerned, he went ot change 15 minutes ago, maybe one of us should go see if he is alright."

J'Leera nodded and stood up. She walked over to the room where Luke was and tapped the door gently.

"Luke. Luke are you alright?" She asked but no answer came.

J'Leera pushed open the door and saw Luke lying there on the floor, hugging the now blood soaked uniform, a small puddle of the crimson liquid and formed around Luke and J'Leera thought he had done something unthinkable. She crouched next to his unmoving form and put her warm hands onto his pale, cold neck, she felt a pulse and she saw no wounds of any description. She slwoly rolled up the leg of his trousers to discover it was Lukes wound from the previous mission that was bleeding again.

She sighed deeply. Gald nothing stupid had happened.

"J'Leera! Is he alright?!" Tiffini called.

"I think we need to get him to sickbay. His leg wound has opened and begun to bleed again." J'Leera replied.

"Tiffini Savali to transporter room 2."

=^= Transporter room here. Go ahead Ma'am. =^=

"I need a site to site transport for three to sickbay."

=^= Aye transport initiating. =^=

The room turned into a blue haze and three of them appeared in sickbay.

Buster came strolling over, a hypo in hand and lots of bandages.

"I'll see to him." Buster said. "You two get ome rest."

"If its all the same to you Buster I think I'd rather stay here for a while, just in case Luke wakes up." J'Leera said.

"Very well. Tiffini will you be staying also?" Buster said.

"I will come back later today. I think I need a nice long sleep and batrh before Im of help to anyonu." She turned to J'Leera. "If he does wake you will contact me won't you."

"Yes. Yes of course I will" J'Leera said.

With Buster working on Luke's leg and Tiffini gone J'Leera was left alone to her thoughts and her mind began to drift, eventually she feel asleep on the chair she was sitting on and didnt wake until she head movement in a room to the left of where she was. She looked to Lukes bed and saw he had got up.

She walked to the room where she had heard the noise and saw Luke standing over a bed, she moved a little closer and saw a cold look in his eyes. J'Leera looked to where he was looking and saw Amy lying on the bed, as white as a sheet, her long hair covering her eyes.

"Luke. I think we shoudl leave here." J'Leera said.

"Yes. Yes I think we shoudl." Luke said quietly. He bent down and gave Amy a small kiss on the lips and brushed the hair away from her eyes. He looked lovingly down and smiled at her.

"We have had a lot of adventures you and I. Mine are to continue, but the best adventure of all awaits you. I love you." Luke said to Amy's lifeless form then looked up and J'Leera. "Can we go now?" Luke asked.

"Yes Luke, lets go." Was all she could say.

With one last look at Amy Luke left the room and with it he left all the times he and Amy had shared. The joyoius ones, the hard ones, the unbearable ones. All now just a distant memory. Luke hadn't forgot Amy, he never would but now he had closed that chapter of his life he could move on.

"Luke are you sure your O.K?" J'Leera asked.

"I don't know J'Leera" Luke said. "I still feel empty and almost betrayed by her death, but I understand that I am still alive and that I do have a lot to live for."

"Luke, were going to get through this together, o.k? You don't have to do anything by yourself." J'Leera said smiling warmly.

"I know, I know." Was all he could say before his throat got a lump in it and he began to weep. "I love her... I love her." He said in between sobs.

"Yes you do." J'Leera said "And you always will."

Luke snapped out of his thoughts, Paikea still looking at him. He wasn't ready.

"She was nobody Commander." He said, his normal stance coming back to him, normal tone of voice returning. "I believe you have a uniform to put on." He said. "Thank you for your time Commander. I will make sure that there will be some allowances for your time of change. Please report to the Bridge when you feel ready."

<TAG Paikea>

Luke sat alone at his desk after Paikea had left the room, staring blankly at the wall opposite him. Slowly wiping away a tear from his eye he opened his desk draw and looked down at a photo, taken long ago.
It was him, with a girl.
A beautiful girl.
A beautiful girl he had lost.

[tintagel]

Illito decided eventually to return to sickbay to work. Rather than working with him, she chose to grant Lt. Avel some extra shore leave time. She was checking over a patient when she heard the sickbay doors open. She didn't break off the check, hoping that since whoever it was that had entered wasn't calling desperately for medical aid then they could wait for a few more seconds. She finished what she had to do, then looked up. She was surprised to see that it was Commander Tras who had entered.

“Doctor I feel I owe you an apology. You've been very kind to me considering what I've put you through.” He handed Illito a bouquet of orange and yellow roses, which she accepted, too startled to say anything for the moment. “To show my appreciation of you.”

“Umm,” Illito said, for lack of anything better. She quickly realized what she should be saying though, and her instincts took over. “Thank you, sir. I wish you luck in your future ventures.”

Commander Tras left sickbay, and Illito wondered what she should do with the flowers. Probably put them in her office, in a vase, she thought. She wasn't sure, but she thought that was what people did with flowers. She had some, but not a ton, of experience. After all she had lived first on Cardassia, where there hadn't precisely been an overabundance of natural life. She had moved soon after that to a starship where even less things grew.

Illito replicated a vase and filled it with water. She set the vase on the edge of her desk, and placed the flowers inside it. She paused for a second, noticing the warm colors of the flowers. They looked very nice. She didn't pause from her work from long though, since there were things she had to do.

So Illito turned, as she always did when she didn't know what else to do, to her work, and to duty. Better not to think about the fact that she wouldn't be seeing Pride until he returned, that she was going to be effectively alone on the ship again. Better instead to think about those who were injured and under her care. Better to think about helping.

[tarapik]

After the toast, came time for the crew to get to the place, Tarapik wanted so badly to go to - the Bridge. While exiting the turbolift, the Vulcan did his best to show no emotions, but his was actually truly excited - the first assignment is the one you always remember, so he made sure to notice every little detail.

Well, it was time for duty. He quickly sat on the tactical console and began a level-5 diagnostic on battle systems. As the details were moving quickly on the display of the console, Tarapik was entering them into a PADD. When he was ready, he stood up and gave the PADD to commander Parsons, saying: "Commander, I have finished diagnostics, all tactical systems are fully functional. Here are the details." The two officers started a conversation for the ship's... "impressive" firepower, when the captain entered. Tarapik nodded at him and actually remembered that he is new on board. "If you would excuse me, commander?" - he said and, after excused, left the bridge, heading for his quarters.

When in his room, Tarapik got the PADD, where the results of his latest physical was and left, this time heading for sickbay. As a new officer, he had to present this data to the chief medical officer or to receive a new examination.

As he entered sickbay, Tarapik saw a cardasian woman, he knew was commander 1st class Illito Tintagel, the doctor of the ship. The Vulcan stood at attention, saying in a loud voice and: "Commander! I am lieutenant Tarapik, the chief tactical officer of the ship, as from now. These are the results from my last physical examination." And he gave her the PADD.

<tag Tintagel>

[tintagel]

Illito looked up when the unfamiliar face entered sickbay and walked over to greet him soon after. “Commander!” the yellow-uniformed Lieutenant said. “I am lieutenant Tarapik, the chief tactical officer of the ship, as from now. These are the results from my last physical examination.”

Illito accepted the PADD. “Welcome aboard. And thank you for coming down to sickbay right away, not very many people do that.” She glanced over the PADD, searching for any medical conditions she would have to ask about. But Lieutenant Tarapik was healthy, very much so in fact.

“If you want to just sit on a biobed, I'd like to do a quick update to your file and ask a few questions?” Illito asked.

“Thank you.” Illito activated the tricorder and while she was scanning she started asking questions. “Do you have any medical conditions or allergies not mentioned in your medical report?”

<Tag Tarapik>

“Have you recently been in contact with anyone infected by a contagious disease?”

<Tag Tarapik>

“Is there anything else you want to mention or any questions you want to ask about Scavenger?” Illito asked, picking up the tricorder to study it after it beeped softly.

<Tag Tarapik>

[tarapik]

tintagel said:

“If you want to just sit on a biobed, I'd like to do a quick update to your file and ask a few questions?” Illito asked.

For some reason, exams had always troubled Tarapik in some way, so he didn't quite enjoy the idea to sit in the biobed but in his head, he had no choice. The Vulcan took the word of every superior officer as an order, just as every young officer, actually. So he responded: "Aye, madam." - without adding anything, and sat on the bed.

tintagel said:

“Thank you.” Illito activated the tricorder and while she was scanning she started asking questions. “Do you have any medical conditions or allergies not mentioned in your medical report?”

Tarapik didn't think a lot. "As I recently had the chance to assure myself," - he said - "I feel instinctive fear of long travel via shuttle-craft, but I do not believe it can be considered as an allergy."

tintagel said:

“Have you recently been in contact with anyone infected by a contagious disease?”

"I do not believe so," - plainly responded Tarapik.

tintagel said:

“Is there anything else you want to mention or any questions you want to ask about Scavenger?” Illito asked, picking up the tricorder to study it after it beeped softly.

"Actually, yes, madam." - Tarapik answered. "In my years at the Academy I have learned that one should mostly trust two people - his first officer and his doctor. Although there is no logical ground for this, I would like to ask you this question. It is about captain Drago." Tarapik licked his lips and carried on: "I feel the crew feeds utmost respect toward him, but I also noticed that there is hesitation in them as to if they can trust him. Is there any reason for this wavering or is it simply due to this that he is new in command? I believe that as chief of security I should know this."

<tag Tintagel>

[Deleted]

Luke sat alone in his Officer. Paikea had left long before and the crew continued to work all around him, this small room acting as a barrier to the world.
It was not long until he realised that it soon must be time for Parsons to come for the their meeting. The mission looked simple enough, scan the anamoly, make sure there are no problematic issues arising for those who pass near it and that's about it... Something nice and easy for once. Perhaps they'd even be able to stop off at DS9 on the way back. Something that Luke had not done in many years.

Just as he pulled out the padd with the mission info on Parsons voice came over the comm and requested entrance. Luke unlocked the door (something he had done out of habit, a habit that he hoped he would lose eventually. It didn't exactly show signs of trust, but old habits do indeed die hard) and the Commander walked in.

"Thank you for your punctuality Commander." Luke said. "I am aware that you are settling into your new position and there is a lot of work to do, especially getting used to it in a new term." He stopped and noticed that Parsons had yet to sit. "Please, relax." He said, pointing to the seat opposite. "Would you like a drink?" He asked.

<TAG Parsons>

Luke busied himself with the request and then handed the padd and drink to his new FO.

"Doesn't seem to challenging does it?" Luke asked with a smile after he had allowed the Commander time to read the information.

<TAG Parsons>

[tintagel]

Illito felt obliged to be helpful, since Tarapik had been so good about coming down to sickbay on his own. But there was a limit to what she would say about her captain. So there were probably better people Lt. Tarapik could have gone to, if he had wanted to. But he had asked the Cardassian of the Scavenger, and was going to get the typical duty-first Cardassian answer. “Well, Commodore T'Mar, the previous Captain, had been around for quite a while, and she inspired a great deal of loyalty in her crew. She was Vulcan though, and had a very different leading style than Captain Drago.”

That was not the whole situation, and even Illito was aware of that. Captain Drago had called numerous drills whose main effect had seemed to be to antagonize the crew he had just been put in charge of.

Illito couldn't tell if Tarapik was satisfied with the answer or not, but she considered that Captain Drago had proven his desire to work for the good of the crew and didn't deserve to have any past baggage dropped on top of crew members who had just joined.

“Was that all then?” Illito asked.

<Tag Tarapik>

After Tarapik had left Illito checked on two patients, then went back to her office. She filed the paperwork for the CTSO's physical, then confirmed what her memory had told her: quite a few of the senior officers were due for their own physicals.

=/\=Commander Tintagel to Captain Drago, would you mind coming down to sickbay at your earliest convenience for a physical?=/\= Illito knew Drago was going to say no, but he probably couldn't withstand the sheer stubbornness of the Cardassian-born medical officer.

<Tag Drago>

And then, since it might be a while before Drago showed up, Illito called two more officers. =/\=Commander Tintagel to Lieutenant Gray=/\=

=/\=This is Aeryn, but it's not the best time right now doctor=/\=

=/\=Be that as it may, I'd like you to come down to sickbay for a physical when you have time.=/\=

=/\=When I have time=/\= Aeryn laughed gently. =/\=Will do, doctor. Don't hold your breath for me though, I've got quite a bit of work to do.=/\=

Illito was not overly pleased with the situation, but she hadn't really expected the situation to be any different. Time to call another person down.

=/\=Commander Tintagel to Commander Apirana, could you please come down to sickbay.=/\=

<Tag Pai>

[Paikea Apirana]

Pai had just had the most umcomfortable talk of his professional career. He had told his captain that he would be better, but he truly didn't feel like completeing on his word. For a moment he thought about staying on the bridge, but he quickly dismissed that as he wakled back to his quarters.

As he reached his quarters he realized that he didn't wish to be there either. In fact he needed to do something that would take his mind away from everything. Pai quickly changed into some workout clothes and headed towards the gym. When he arrived he saw that it was pratically empty, just the way he liked it.

He quickly picked his station and began the most strenous workout he had ever had. He first started with a five set repitition of twenty and increased as each cycle progressed. In a matter of minutes his workout shirt was drenched with sweat. His tribal tattoos looked like they were leaking water.

After a short break he activated the elliptical trainer and immediately set it to its maximun setting. It didn't take long for his body to burn in pain and extersion. His body was telling him to stop, but his will was still stronger. The only reason he stopped was because he heard Illito's voice.

=/\=Commander Tintagel to Commander Apirana, could you please come down to sickbay.=/\=

=^=What is it Illito? Right now I'm kind of busy with things.=^=

<Tag Illito>

OOC: Remember he is going through some things. This will be an ongoing theme for Pai right now.

[tarapik]

When he heard the evasive answer of the Cardassian doctor, Tarapik understood she was not completely honest. But she was probably right. If there was any reason for one not to trust captain Drago, it would've been better of for the Vulcan to find it out himself.

tintagel said:

“Was that all then?” Illito asked.

Tarapik left his thoughts aside and said: "Yes, doctor, thank you." As he left sickbay, he managed to stop thinking about the doctor's answer and entered the nearest turbolift with a clean head. "Deck o..." - the Vulcan said, but stopped himself, remembering that he actually has no duties to attend to on the bridge. So he changed his mind and said: "Deck 4!" Some more meditation in his quarters would probably do him good...

[Deleted]

"Thank you for your punctuality Commander." Luke said. "I am aware that you are settling into your new position and there is a lot of work to do, especially getting used to it in a new term." He stopped and noticed that Parsons had yet to sit. "Please, relax." He said, pointing to the seat opposite. "Would you like a drink?" He asked.

"Yes, Sir, a cool glass of water would be fine," Parsons responded.

Luke handed the padd and drink to his new FO. Adam read the mission briefing on the PADD carefully.

"Doesn't seem too challenging does it?" Luke asked with a smile after he had allowed the Commander time to read the information.

"No," Parsons said raising an eyebrow, "it actually looks pretty routine. I don't suppose there's much information on the anomaly, since we are being sent to scan it?"

<Tag Drago>

"Well it sounds like a good first mission to be broken in as first officer. Once we are underway, I would like to make rounds to the major departments, introduce myself, that type of thing. That is unless you need me on the bridge or elsewhere, while we are en route?" Adam said, handing the PADD back to the Captain.

<Tag Drago>

[tintagel]

=^=What is it Illito? Right now I'm kind of busy with things.=^=

=/\=It's the sickbay physical. Your last one was over six months ago.=/\= It was quite a bit more than six months, almost nine months. =/\=And I understand that you're busy, but you're going to be far more busy once we leave on our next mission. Which is why I'm giving you any time during the next hour to come down. And then this might be less pleasant.=/\=

Illito knew that Commander Apirana wasn't on the bridge now, which was why she had less patience for him than she did for certain other officers. She hadn't checked where he actually was, because she didn't want to actually spy on her colleagues. At least she didn't want to if she didn't have to.

<Tag Pai>

[Paikea Apirana]

=/\=It's the sickbay physical. Your last one was over six months ago.=/\= It was quite a bit more than six months, almost nine months. =/\=And I understand that you're busy, but you're going to be far more busy once we leave on our next mission. Which is why I'm giving you any time during the next hour to come down. And then this might be less pleasant.=/\=

=^=Look, I'm perfectly healthy. Never felt better, so I don't need the physical=^=

Paikea then ubrubtly ended the conversation by removing his commbadge and throwing it against the wall. He didn't have time or the paitence to undergo a physical. ~What a waste of time~ Pai said to himself as he once again began his workout routine. He knew that Illito would be down there in a matter of minutes, which would give him ample opportunity to come up with an apology.

The only problem, he wasn't in any mood to say sorry. ~Do your worst, Illito, do your worst~

<Tag Illito>

[williamhunter]

William had recieved the message from the personnel officer on the Starbase Assailant.
He had an assigment on the USS Scavenger. He left his room, and took a shuttle to the USS Scavenger.

William entered the bridge on the USS Scavenger, turbo lift door close behind him.


" Marine 1st Lt William reporting in for duty. Sir!." William said.

< Tag Captain Drago \Commander Adam. >

[tintagel]

=^=Look, I'm perfectly healthy. Never felt better, so I don't need the physical=^=

Illito sighed. Pai should know just as well as her that physicals were far better when they were taken when the patient actually was healthy. But Illito wasn't sure why Pai was resisting so much. Sure, they were a slight nuisance. But only a slight one, and in the long term they helped her treat people effectively. But before Illito could reply, Pai closed the channel. Now Illito knew something had to be seriously wrong. Which meant she obviously couldn't just wait an hour to show up.

“Computer, locate Commander Apirana,” Illito requested.

“Commander Apirana is in the gym.”

Illito nodded, and turned to a nearby nurse, since Lieutenant Avel was off duty. “Ensign Deenal, I have to go do something. If anything remotely resembling something urgent happens though, inform me immediately.”

“Yes doctor.”

Illito checked on all the patients and insured that they were doing fine, before heading down to the gym. “Pai?” she called out, standing in the doorway after it had opened.

[Deleted]

Once Parsons and Drago had finished their discussion in the Captain's Ready Room, the FO was dismissed and walked onto the bridge. As Adam took the FO's seat, a young marine officer entered the bridge.

"Marine 1st Lt William reporting in for duty. Sir!." William said.

Parsons turned and examined the officer as he stood up. "Very good, Lieutenant," the FO said. "I am Commander Parsons, First Officer of the Scavenger. Are you our new Senior Marine Officer?"

<Tag Hunter>

"Well then, Mr. Hunter, why don't you follow me to your office and then I can drop you off at your new quarters. Once you are squared away, I will see that you meet the Captain." Parsons gave the Conn to another bridge officer and the marine followed him onto the turbolift.

<Tag Hunter>

[williamhunter]

Parsons turned and examined the officer as he stood up. "Very good, Lieutenant," the FO said. "I am Commander Parsons, First Officer of the Scavenger. Are you our new Senior Marine Officer?"

"Yes, Sir. Iam the new Senior Marine Officer" said William Hunter.


"Well then, Mr. Hunter, why don't you follow me to your office and then I can drop you off at your new quarters. Once you are squared away, I will see that you meet the Captain." Parsons gave the Conn to another bridge officer and the marine followed him onto the turbolift.


William walk with the Commander to the Turbolift and enter the Turbolift.
"I will follow you Commander to my Office. Where can I find Captain Parson, and where can i find the Marines on this ship." said william Hunter.