An Errand of Mercy [Hepta Training Mission]

[jordan]

OFF: Just realized the pic for General Galen is the hunter from Predator. I watched that movie today. Pretty gory but still good.
Jordan didn't hear O'Connor address her as she wrapped up the last unconscious patient while trying to figure out how they found the medicine on the ship. Draco then got her attention and she turned around to see O'Connor looking at her.

Jordan: Sorry, what did ya say?

He laughed slightly.

O'Connor: I said, how are you doing over here doc?

Jordan: Physically I'm waitin' for my adrenaline high to abate and mentally I'm tryin' to figure out how they found the medicine and where they were taken. Now since you're here, I can ask ya some questions. I heard ya may have located the stolen medicine on the enemy ship. Is this true? If so, then I want to go on the shuttle that'll be gettin' them back. Next, you're goin' to tell me what is goin' on up there. I feel like the third wheel down here where I'm doin' somethin' but at the same time nothin'. I am almost the last person to find anythin' out about what's happenin' and it's startin' to grate on my nerves.

She crossed her arms and waited for O'Connor to tell her what she wanted to know.

[jamesoconnor]

James watched Doctor Mackler. He hesitated a second before replying. "We have indeed found evidence that the medicine has beeen beamed off the ship Doctor. At present, we're not exactly sure it has been beamed to the Warhammer, but we have a strong suspicion, the Warhammer being the only ship in the vicinity that we know of. Also, Science has discovered traces of it across their hull. You are the one who knows best what it is, what it is capable of and, most importantly, how it has to be transported. Please come with me to the Bridge to confer with Commander Chan on Security matters when you take the shuttle," James said.

<TAG: Doc.>

Thye had hardly finished speaking when the ship started rocking again and the computer's annoyingly calm voice came over the comm system. #Intruder alert, Intruder alert, intruder alert, sealing off Shuttlebay 1 with emergency forcefields. Intruder alert#

<TAG: Captain, Cadets, Other Instructors,>

"Ship Status" thread updated 30 June 2005

[jamesoconnor]

Posting as Commander Jessica Stephans who, unfortunately, could not join us on this mission. We are to use her as NPC until further notice.

Jessica emerged from the Chief Engineer's Office. She had just had a tough time figuring out a solution to fix the warp drive, but after three hours of ardent studying, she was still no closer to a solution then before she had locked herself in her office.

Jessica was not really in a good mood. Her ship was half in pieces and, being Chief Engineer, it was basically her job to patch the Hepta up and get her on her way in time to complete the mission.

Cadet Vicente was working on some plasma relays. Jessica walked up to him. The ruined warp drive would provide her with an excellent teaching case. "Cadet Vicente, could you come over here for a while?" Cadet Vicente looked up. "Certainly Ma'am." He walked over to where Jessica was standing and looked at her questioningly. "Cadet, I'd like you to study these schematics. The port warp nacelle has been torn to shrapnel in our recent encounter with the Warhammer. See what solutions you can come up with."

<TAG: Cadet Vicente>

Suddenly the ship rocked and the computer started wailing about intruders on the ship. Jessica looked up, an irritated expression on her face. "Now what?!"

[Deleted]

OOC...

Must do this as back post if I am to make Captain's and First Officer's posts to agree.

IC...

"Ms. Chan, lock phasers on t' th' nearest shuttle, an' prepare t' fire when I give th' word." He was confident that with Xin-Ling's lightning reflexes, she would be easily able to target the remaining two shuttles after the destruction of the first."

"Yes, sir," answered Xin-Ling as her hand moved to the pads that would pinpoint the target, then moved over the firing button.

"Phasers locked in and ready, sir."

It was but seconds before the command came from the captain.

"Fire!"

Xin-Ling pressed the button, and the first target erupted in a silent ball of flame. She quickly targeted the second, and the results were the same.

Unfortunately, by the time the coordinates for the third blast were set, the last shuttle's image vanished from the viewscreen.

"Target where it was, an' fire!", ordered the captain.

Xin-Ling complied, but no explosion appeared on the screen. Obviously the last shuttle had altered its course to avoid destruction.

Before further information could be gathered to locate the last enemy shuttle, the computer's voice sounded...

"Intruder alert, Intruder alert, intruder alert, sealing off Shuttlebay 1 with emergency forcefields. Intruder alert..."

The captain's attention went immediately to the warning.

"Ms. Chan, take a security team with ye an' see t' th' intruders. After th' situation is resolved, report t' me via comm, then take your team t' Sickbay. Take Dr. Mackler with ye, an' find that medication aboard th' Warhammer!"

"Yes, sir," the Asian Warrior responded, rising from her seat. She turned to Cadet Parsons, who was standing behind her station, and said, "Cadet, you come with me," then rushed out the door of the Bridge.

"Mr. Styles, take th' place o' Ms. Chain at Tactical."

A tall, lanky cadet sat where the girl had previously been.

Just outside the door in the corridor, Xin-Ling saw Lieutenant Bethany Hill, walking with four security cadets.

"Lieutenant Hill, you and these others, come with me. We deal with intruders, and then make away team to search for medications on enemy vessel. I go too, but you head away team."

Tag: Lt. Hill, Mr. Parsons...

[macheath]

MacHeath walked to the Bridge. It wasn't often he was pulled away from his beloved Marine Corps to return to Science. Science had been one of his many specialties before he had decided to join the Special Forces. After 10 years in the Special Forces, he decided it was time for a career change. In retrospect, the fact that he had knocked a superior out cold for a week because the General had suggested he leave his men behind had something to do with his sudden decision too. MacHeath had, after knocking the General to Sickbay, defied all orders and rescued his platoon on one of the many nameless Dominion occupied worlds. Needless to say the General was less then enthusiastic to keep MacHeath in his Special Forces and MacHeath decided to resign from the Special Forces before he would be forced out in a general court-martial. Come to think of it, becoming an Academy Marine Instructor was probably the best decision of his life. He really loved his job. Now, it was time he used his scientific skills to guide the Cadets in that area.

The turbolift doors slid open and Macheath enetered the Bridge. He walked straight over to the Science consoles. "Cadet Rosewall, Cadet Flywheel, I'm Lieutenant Colonel MacHeath, your temporary Science Instructor. I'll be your supervisor until Commander Penfold or Commander Ford are finished with their analysis of the radiation on our hull debris. The Cadets saluted. "Now, what I want you to do is analyse the transporter trail that our medicine left on the hull of the Warhammer. Try to pinpoint an exact location and then coordinate with the away team led by Doctor Mackler and Commander Chan. Any questions?"

<TAG: Cadets Rosewall and Flywheel. Make it creative, keep the ship in one piece.>

[jordan]

Jordan sighed when O'Connor didn't tell her what was going on but decided that it was enough for the time being. Draco nervously said to her through their mental link, I don't know about this idea. It could be dangerous. Jordan gave him a look and said in return, Not that I don't trust ya Draco to keep quiet, but I want ya to stay on the ship when I go to get the medicine. No arguments otherwise, am I clear?[/i] Draco reluctantly agreed and informed her that he would follow her at least to the bridge. Jordan had grabbed a small kit on her way out and a container to hold the medicines when they had retrieved them as O'Connor was finishing up. Jordan was about to respond when the ship rocked slightly and an alarm went off.

Computer: Intruder alert, intruder alert, intruder alert, sealing off Shuttlebay 1 with emergency forcefields. Intruder alert.

Jordan: I'll stay here until the team is ready to set out. With intruders on board, that means wounded and I'll be needed here. However, ya have the choice of stayin' and helpin' or goin' to help security or goin' to the bridge. That's a choice ya and only ya can make O'Connor.

Jordan didn't wait to hear his answer but set down her things and started preparing sickbay for incoming wounded and maybe even attackers, if they got this far.

[wolfflywheel]

The new Instructor has given some orders and he and Rosewall got down to the work.

The residue was was unusual as it was lead based, this could mean a few things, one lead was transported along with it, two the transporter that had carried it had a lead based system, or three that lead was used in the action. Cadet Flywheel scanned the type and amount of lead and it appeared that Lead played a large and prominent part in the transport, so it was certain that if he scanned the enemy ship, than the location would be quite easy to find.

He scanned the enemy vessel, looking especially for lead concentration, which might show where the transporter rooms were. Sadly there were lots, than he realized that either way the transported medicine would have been moved after it had been transported over. So when considering this point he than looked into specifically scanning for residue like that on the Heptas hull with residue of the same strength and type. He scanned and found a trail, it lead from a small cargo transport to a large store room. Unfortunately that storeroom was near to the main science rooms and the Medical unit. These areas were sure to be heavily guarded.

Flywheel: Colonel MacHeath, i think i have found the medicine.

MacHeath: Good, put it on the tactical display......

Flywheel: Yes sir, on the tactical screen now.

MacHeath: Oh, in a very central location.

Flywheel: Yes sir.

MacHeath: This may cause some problems...

Flywheel: Excuse me sir, we may be able to get near to the medicine without letting them know we are transporting in.

MacHeath: Explain Cadet.

Flywheel: Well as far as i can see there are a large number of transports in that area, however not on the same frequency as the medicine, thats how i know which was the medicine, anyway, if we clone the signal we may be able to transport near by on a if you like legal frequency, that would mean they wouldn't notice........ we would of course be hoping they hadn't looked into their transported lead frequencies as much as us.

MacHeath: Good idea, I will let the CO know.

[wford]

Finished with their analysis, Penfold and Ford headed back to the cadets. Just before they passed by shuttlebay one, a large explosion blew the force field emmiters apart, along with a large chunck of the corridor. The computer was still blaring the alert about intruders, which William didn't find too helpful.

The two science officers felt no need to stick around any longer. Both took off at top speed towards the nearest turbolift. The intruders began to fire at them as they got to the turbolift. Penfold made it in, but one of the intruders managed to hit William, even at the long range from which they shot.

It was incredibly painful. William had been shot in the left arm. The weapon had burned through his uniform and skin, stopping at the bone. It also made it hard to move or think. William lost conciousness.

Inside the tubolift, Penfold pressed himself against the wall. The intruders were firing into the turbolift constantly, Penfold could not help William. He could almost reach the other science officer, but not quite. Reluctantly, Penfold called out, "Emergency close! Bridge!" He couldn't help Commander Ford on his own; he'd need to get a security team down there, and warn the Captain of their attackers' position.

[Deleted]

Cadet Parsons was on his way to the bridge when the ship rocked from weapons fire. As the ship stablized, Parsons continued to the bridge. The cadet stumbled onto the bridge in the aftermath of the attack. Assigned to the Sec/Tac department he looked toward that station. Commander Chan was busy responding to the threat and the captain's orders.

Cadet Parsons positioned himself a safe distande behind Chan and tried to read the Tactical screen. Forward shields were holding at 70 percent, but aft shields were only at 15 percent. That didn't sound good. Parsons looked around the bridge noticing the busy captain and first officer and two science cadets manning the ship's science station. The cadet waited for orders and observed Chan as the Hepta returned fire.

[Deleted]

Having been ordered to follow Commander Chan was welcomed direction during this time of crisis. Parsons was still reeling from witnessing the skill with which Chan had made short work of the external enemy threat. Now the cadet followed his superior to shuttlebay 1. In route, they met up with Lt. Hill and other security cadets. The group headed to shuttlebay 1, stopping by an arms locker to equip for the firefight that was sure to ensue.

Parsons holstered a type II phaser pistol and readied the type III phaser rifle handed to him by Chan. The cadet felt at home with a weapon in his hands. He had always excelled at marksmanship, since his childhood hunting in the Iowa countryside. The one thing that kept coming back to Parsons was his lack of experience firing at humanoids and being fired at. He had little doubt he would soon find out what combat was really like.

[Deleted]

The security team, led by Xin-Ling, moved swiftly to the shuttlebay, where last reports indicated the enemy had boarded the Hepta. Every member of her party was now armed. Xin-Ling's weapons of choice were also ready.

As they came into view of the carnage and damage in shuttlebay, Xin-Ling caught sight of one of the invaders standing over the unconscious form of Mr. Ford, and leveling a hand-held weapon on the defenseless Starfleet officer.

In a blur faster than the eye could follow, Xin-Ling's right hand shot out from her side straight in front of her, and those standing closest to her heard a whoosh! as her hand release a six-inch dart, a missile of death that sped to its destination. In an instant, the alien who had been intent on finishing Mr. Ford clutched his chest and fell to his knees, his eyes closed tightly in pain, never to see his surroundings again.

Only for a moment were her companions taken aback by Xin-Ling's blinding speed. By the time the invader's corpse had hit the floor, they had identified their own targets and began firing.

One of the aliens who had seen his fellow fall lifeless to the deck of the Hepta screamed in anger, and advanced on Xin-Ling at a run. Though there was a lot of ground for him to cover before he could reach her, the alien was swift, and would be at the Asian's throat in seconds.

Xin-Ling stood still, her face expressionless and unreadable as she watched him advance toward her.

[romanvicente]

Frustration drove Vicente to throw the pen onto the paper on the table. Old-fashioned that pen and paper, yes, but still Roman wouldn’t have it any other way when even a sigh could not order his thoughts towards a solution at this time as repairing the nacelle was not a technical difficulty (after all, the ship was well prepared and well-stocked to deal with severe damage), yet the carrying out of the process posed some insolvable difficulties with it. Repairs would inevitable require a repair-crew to work on the outside which, staring into the weaponry of the enemy, would mean working under the threat of death. Galen disabled the Hepta for a reason and undoing their ability to move, surely Galen wouldn’t be greeting that option with arms opened wide.

Roman then closed his eyes, leaned back against the wall and let he his imagination walk the line of his thoughts freely when it slipped and he fell back to reality by the ship-wide alert yelling in his tired ears, warning for intruders. Oh concentration, concentration! How Roman lamented its absence, with the ever-continueing lack of options and solutions the result he could not stand.

“Nothing yet?” asked Stephens.

No answer from Vicente’s sealed lips, just a shaking head.

“Me neither.” Stephans equally aware of the danger to any repair crew presented by affairs as they were currently situated. “I was considering mabye using one of the shuttles warp nacelles, since it would be quicker to install, but that would limit us to what? Warp 3 or 4 maybe? We won’t be getting anywhere with that.”

“True sir. The best I could come up with was adapting the power relais inside so they can conduct enough power to jump to warp on one nacelle, but the subsequent moment that the skew- symmetry would create only lets us go in a curve to the right with no way to compensate.” He made the corresponding gestures with his hands before leaning over the table. Roman faced the warp-core now. It stared back cold and useless. He shook his heads while the corners of his mouth went down. “But that is also not an option I’m afraid, sir.”

Silence slowly overcame the engineering deck alike when the shadows of the day grew together to become one and the same, changing their calling, changing their name to become the full-grown night. The silence remained. And where the night would bring forth to ones eyes the fires that burned in the sky so distant yet so bright, the silence brought to the mind of Stephans a though so long sought after yet so simple.

“Sir?” inquired Vicente.

Stephens turned here head to face her cadet. “That is an option after all cadet! If we can jump to warp, it only has to be for a few seconds, we would a lot of time. They’re not expecting it at all and once were away it’ll take there scanners some time to find us again...”

“Time enough to repair the port nacelle, sir?”

A nod and a smile accompanied Stephens’s reply: “Yeah, possibly. I hope so at least.”

“If we build the new nacelle up in sections we might be able to reduce repair time to well within an hour!”

“Alright,” Stephens pointed at her assistant chief, “start working on the nacelle sections!” She turned to Roman. “Cadet, start making some rough calculations, limit maximum warp speed to warp 3. I don’t want to take too much chances with the remaining nacelle. Send the computations to navigation and ask them to find a star-system or nebule, somewhere we van hide roughly along that trajectory. They’ve got a maximum of five warp seconds. Now, I’ll quickly go inform the captain. Oh, Vicente, one more thing: good job, but don’t dismiss you’re own ideas too fast next time.”

A astute ‘Yes, sir’ filled the room, coming from all given orders. Following this, Roman hurried himself to the nearest computer to start making calculations: thrust equated to power available over velocity... moment around the centre of gravity became thrust times the perpendicular distance to the line throught he centre of mass... forward displacement as a function of thrust... displacement angle as a function of the moment... projected trajectory as a funtion of forward displacement and the angle... Quicker and quicker his hands commanded the computer to compute and compute as each cycle of computations brough him closer to a potential travel trajectory.

“Cadet Vicente to navigation.”

“Navigation here.”

“I’m sending you a trajectory and some computations and restrictions. Commander Stephens needs you to find a place on roughly on that trajectory to hide, a star system or a nebula... anything. It has to be within 5 warp seconds from here. You can vary the thrust slightly, but not too much, to alter the trajectory a little bit... warp 3 is the absolute maximum we can safely do.”

“Confirmed, navigation out.”

Breath in and breath out, Roman recalled the calmness in the song of the wind of October that seduced the leafs to fall from the tree and to be rocked in the arms of fair autumn, not to return until the warm voice of Zephyr, the breath of spring, could tempt the leafs to grow proud again. Realised then what he had to do next. Roman was off to alter what had to be altered: the power relais, for them to cope with significantly more than they had been designed to. In doing so, he took a well-considered risk: neglection of the common safety factor that accounted for inaccuracies in calculations and for additional loads under circumstances exceptionally rare though within the realm of possibilities. There was little choise given the time available anyway, that was a clear and real assessment. The margin for error: Vicente had just set it to zero. And he violently wished for fate not to come down on him for this.

[Deleted]

Parsons followed Commander Chan toward shuttlebay 1. On the way they ran into a group of the intruders. They were not an attractive or friendly looking race. Chan fired on one and he dropped. Another came running down the hallway as the cadets opened fire.

One cadet hit the running alien with a phaser burst, but he kept coming. Cadet Parsons switched his phaser rifle to maximum setting and shot from the hip. The cadet watched as the intruder was slowly vaporized a few yards from the group of cadets and their commander.

The cadet stood stunned for a few seconds staring at the spot where the alien had last been, now only a scortch mark on the carpet of the hallway. Commander Chan noticed him, turned and gave the order, "Keep firing!" Parsons turned his attention back to the group of intruders trying to find cover in the exposed hallway and trying to return fire while being fired upon by the Starfleet cadets and officers. Cadet Parsons took aim at one of the remaining intruders and fired.

[jamesoconnor]

James was tense as a guitar string that had been wound too tight. Intruders on the ship, no warp capability and the very reason why they came this way kidnapped from under their noses. One hell of a way to start off as XO, he thought. Security had been sent to Shuttlebay 1 and Xin-Ling had just reported in that the enemy had broken through the security force fields. One Science officer was down and Security had engaged the enemy. Behind James, Colonel MacHeath had taken the Tactical station and was barking orders at the small marine division to close in on the enemy. This being a teaching vessel, the marine complement on the Hepta was small. Their primary job was training Cadets. Now, all 15 Marine Instructors had to scatter all through the ship in pursuit of an as yet unknown number of even more unknown aliens.

There was one small dot of light at the end of the tunnel though. Cadet Flywheel had found the location of the missing medicine. James knew better than to get his hopes up too much, but at least it was a start. He walked over to the Science Cadets. "How would you two like a field trip?" The Cadets looked questioningly. "Sir?" Cadet Flywheel said, not sure what James meant. "Well, you have found the location of our missing supplies. I'd like you to tag along with Doctor Mackler and a Security team to retrieve them."

<TAG: Flywheel, Rosewall>

"Crew Complement" thread updated 3 July 2005

"Ship Status" thread updated 3 July 2005

[wolfflywheel]

The two science cadets had been given a shock by the proposal, however he had been on many an away mission and was ready for it.

Flywheel: Yes of course Commander.

O'Connor: Good Cadets please get ready and i have already ordered that the correct equipment is in sickbay, I think it wiser to keep people close together, with all these aliens about.

Flywheel: Agreed sir, should we go now?

O'Connor: Yes now will be fine, I have informed the Doctor of your coming..... Good luck.

Within a few minutes Flywheel and Rosewall were standing in sickbay, they saw Doctor Mackler and were feeling slightly nervous, the security team were armed with type III phaser rifles, but the 3 blue coated staff had the new updated type II hand phaser.

Mackler: Cadets, from your scans, did you see a lot of enemy activity in the area we will be visiting?

Flywheel: There were some traces, but they were low in number and were certainly not armed.

Mackler: We will have to deal with that.

Flywheel: Once we beam in, we may be able to disable quietly the communications from that section to the outside area, there bye making it easier to go around without unwanted visitors.

Mackler: Good idea, that will be our first task, I think we have what we need to go. Mackler to O'Connor.

O'Connor: Ready Doctor?

Mackler: Yes Commander.

O'Connor: I have directed the transporter to transport you right from sickbay, unfortunatly there is light shielding very close to the sport you need to be, so we are using the transporter they have to boost the signal, you will be beamed in their cargo transporter.

[Deleted]

Though he hadn't needed to (Xin-Ling was prepared for the attacking alien), the Asian Warrior was pleased with the team-like spirit displayed by Mr. Parsons. It would insure less casualties on the security teams later.

The security team at Shuttlebay I made quick work of the attacking aliens, and within moments, the small band of invaders was stopped.

Turning to Lt. JG Muncey and Cadet Ault, she said, "You two – take Mr. Ford to Sickbay quickly. We join you in a moment."

Muncey and Ault carefully picked up the unconscious officer and did as they were instructed.

"We go to Sickbay, too. Mr. O'Conner has tell us to gather there. We will be transport from Sickbay to enemy vessel. It is your duty to protect Dr. Mackler and cadets with her during our time on enemy vessel.

"Lieutenant," she said, looking directly at Bethany, "The instant we are aboard enemy ship, you will assume control of all security personnel on away team until we return to Hepta. Dr. Mackler will lead non-security personnel, and you will coordinate with her."

"Understood, Commander," acknowledged the Lieutenant.

Xin-Ling's gaze widened to take in the entire security team with her. "Good. Then let's get to Sickbay and report to Dr. Mackler."

As Xin-Ling and her team rounded the corner into Sickbay, Lt. JG Muncey and Cadet Ault brought Mr. Ford into the realm of Dr. Mackler.

Lt. Muncey caught Dr. Mackler's eye and asked, "Where do you want us to put him, doc?"

tag... anyone

[wford]

"On that biobed over there," instructed Dr. Mackler. "Nurse, please attend to Commander Ford."

"Yes, doctor."

"All right, everyone ready?" asked Commander Chan.

"Dr. Mackler, his arm has been destroyed," said the nurse. "Most of the skin on his arm is dead. We'll need to amputate his arm."

[wolfflywheel]

Mackler: Cadets I need to deal with this before we go, It shouldn't take long, Commander Xin-Ling Chan can you please secure sickbay, this needs to be one watertight area.

Xin-Ling Chan: Yes Doctor, secure each entrance, including all hatches.

Flywheel: Commander, do you need any help?

Xin-Ling Chan: Yes, if you can make sure nothing gets close to the Doctor and the nurse, last line of defense as it were.

Flywheel: Yes of course sir.

Flywheel walked to a secure place and was preparing for the next few minutes, he had set up a link which would set up a force field around sickbay if any intruders tried to get in. The field would be raisied if it appeared that the doors were being forced, the field was quite strong but due to ship damage there wer elimits to its strength, hopefully it would be enough time for help to arrive.

Commander Xin-Ling Chan was walking about listening and making sure nothing took the teams by surprise. The strolling reassured almost everyone as it made them feel someone was on top of the situation, the Doctor medically and Commander Xin-Ling Chan tactically and security wise. Flywheel was very keen to do well, this mission had gone in a very odd fashion but that was the nature of the job, very different from the Romulan forces they didn't know how to adapt to the situations, they were dumbfounded when they came across new situations, they always hoped others races would make the first move and than they could make an easy choice, but as soon as they had to make a choice. These differences were probably the reason Flywheel became a scientist to try and make decisions and have some knowledge of situations.

Mackler: Ok next stage nurse, can you please give him a stronger seditation, so that there is no chance of him waking, than would you be able to bring the bio scalpal.

Nurse: Yes Doctor.

[barb]

*The Psych Doc assists in the search and moving of wounded, while looking for the Captain. Shes slightly confused as to how all this came about. All she remembers is talking to someone on comms and then the ship shook. Theres bruising on her forehead and a small cut that trickled blood, dried some time ago. Barbaras paid no more attention to it than she would a splinter, though she will have to take herself to sickbay once this is all over. Knocked her out for a while and shes still got a whoppin headache*

*She moves through the crowding of people and sees one person she definatly recognizes* Ling! Xin Ling..*running over to her area, and taking as little time as she needs, waving off the gasp when Xin looks at her forehead* Dun worry bout me. Just point me in a good direction...fraid i was a lil MIA there fer a while. but then that aint nuthin new. If you see Tj...The Captain, send him on my way. Hell and anybody else that needs it after this mess o......*and her voice rumbles off to a griping quietness as she leaves the hallway again*

OFF: I managed to make it in TJ, and everyone. Finally got my net back this week. Hope ill be of some use before this mission is over.

[romanvicente]

Once stood in the firmament the fiery temperaments of the stars. Only to show themselves at night, their mystique and mystery was a beckoning to most. So down from the trees came man and stood up firm and tall, hands reaching for the stars and at last he flew! Though not with wings of feathers and powered by shear muscles yet with the laws of aerodynamics and the actuactor disc theory at first and with the equations of rocket motion and warp theory in times to follow. And the centuries that became the soil of the Earth, that had seen man cherish the dream of space travel, they vanished in the distant horizon as the circle became the dot became invisible as the starships sailed across the stellar ocean to new celestial shores, leading, finally, to where the Hepta was. Even if millions of years it took for the light of the nearby stars to reach the observer's eye on cradle Earth, they, travellers among stars and dreams, would be back to tell about those wonderous facts much sooner. Still, they had to be aware that life and death was not a matter of years in their millions but of seconds alone. With wonders and chasing dreams, came fear and haunting nightmares. Roman knew it was the nightmare that was coming along. This easily percepted. Through many before he had gone and lived so within him his confidence and belief remained intact. Thriving off the will to make it through this one too he spent his time, ensuring that would happen.

"Cadet Vicente to commander Stephens."

"Stephens here."

"I'm ready to start working on the power conduits."

"Good, go right ahead. I'll be in shuttle bay 2 working on a new nacelle. Using spare parts and shuttle components we should be able to build something that can hold out for about warp 6. Stephens out."

Increasing the pace, Stephens walked on to the turbolift where she activated her badge.

"Stephens to captain Edwards."

"Go ahead commander."

"Captain, I can probably give you warp capability again in an hour or two. We've come up with something that can give is a few warp-seconds to get away and hide long enough to install an improvised nacelle."

"How long until you can give me those warp-seconds?"

"Half an hour, 45 minutes... after that, another 45 minutes at least to install the nacelle."

"Better than nothing. Keep working on it, we may need it soon... Edwards out."

Driven by an uncurable haste, the phantom that would devour them as soon as they'd stop working, both Stephens and Vicente along all the other engineers perspired droplets of sweat, labouring as if their lives were at stake.

And indeed they were...

[jordan]

Jordan saw Ford brought in and she sighed but immediately started working on him. She began the surgery and shortly she had him stable for the moment and any problems that would come around would not hopefully come around until she was back. She looked at Draco, whose wings were spread in preparation to take off and then saw her and folded them back up. He said, "Come back safe." and Jordan nodded then looked at Bethany and the others that would be going on the away team. She had half-hoped, as naive as it was, that she and Xin-Ling would be the only ones going. She had seen Xin-Ling fight and knew that there was nothing that she couldn't handle and Jordan had been practicing and got become better and more brave when fighting. But she would have to deal with what she was given.

Jordan: Are we ready?

Everyone nodded and she caught the phaser tossed to her. She made sure that she had a container to carry the medicines when they got them back. She knew she would need to have a talk with O'Connor and TJ when she got back and things had calmed down for the most part again about what she had found pertaining to the medicine. She tapped her combadge.

Jordan: Away team ready for transport.

They disappeared from the sickbay of the Hepta and appeared on the enemy ship. Jordan pulled out her phaser and turned to Rosewall and Flywheel.

Jordan: Where do we go from here?

[rosewall]

Seeing Jordan pull out her phaser Keon readied his phaser while Wolf pulled out his padd and looked at the schematics.

"We head that way and then we take the second left." he reported pointing down the corridor.

The team headed out with Xin-Ling leading and a few security cadets bringing up the rear. As they were walking Wolf pulled out his phaser and looked a lot more comfortable holding it then most of the other cadets on this mission did. They had passed the first corridor on the left when alarms started blaring.

"Wolf can you send out a masking signal with your padd?" Keon asked as everyone started running.

[Deleted]

TJ watched the Warhammer as it hung there is space. Although they had hit it hard, the wide-spread damage was minimal.

He felt sick at heart. "To explore strange, new worlds...to seek out new life and new civilizations..." Had that not been the motto that had been drilled into him at the Academy? He had had to order the destruction of approximately 120 aliens by giving the command to blow up their attack shuttles, and several of the remaining aliens had fallen in battle on Hepta's decks, the first from the strike of Xin-Ling's dart. How could new members – new friends – of the Federation be won that way?

Things had settled down a little, and TJ needed to talk with someone about what was troubling him.

"Mr. O'Connor, might I get ye t' take th' command o' Hepta for th' next thirty minutes to an hour?"

Mr. O'Connor glanced back at him. "Sure thing, skipper."

With that, TJ stood to his feet and left the Bridge, heading for Dr. Johnson's office. It was a moment's trip via the turbolift before TJ stood, framed by the doorway to Dr. Johnson's office.

"Greetin's, doc. I'm wonderin' if I can be talkin' t' ye for a few minutes?"

Tag... Dr. Barb Johnson

[Deleted]

The cadet had no time to reflect on the firefight near shuttlebay 1. After returning the wounded science officer to sickbay, Parsons took up a position near one of the entrances. Once the sickbay was secured and the doctor had finished, the security team and medical/science team were beamed aboard the enemy ship.

Parsons glanced quickly around, phaser rifle ready. There were no aliens in their immediate location, but the cadet's heart had not stopped pounding since the first encounter with the intruders outside shuttlebay 1.

The doctor's team led the way and Parsons and the security team brought up the rear. It was only a matter of time before they would run into the enemy and hopefully the cadets and their commander would have the advantage of surprise once again.

[wolfflywheel]

Flywheel: Yes i will try.

Flywheel used his tricorder and scanned the local area, he found a conduit.

Flywheel: Please secure this position i will block our signals, please everyone get within 6 feet of this panel.

Every one surrounded Flywheel, he than used his tricorder to over-lode the local sensors, however within seconds the power had restored to the sensors, but all the members had been clocked at least to the sensors. As they traveled through various areas the same systems would take effect.

Flywheel: Commander we are safe, we had better just keep away from the enemy otherwise they could discover my trick.

Xin-Ling Chan: Understood Cadet.

The group walked further on, they went around a corner when they they saw various members of the enemy. Thye somehow had to divert their attention and than get into the main door opposite.