"Transfers"

Ilunya

USS Archer

...Ready Room...

...USS Hood....

"Echoes... echoes.... echoesss..."

Principal Characters:

Captain M'Kantu
Lieutenant Geluf
Lieutenant' Rex

****

USS Galaxy
Deck 1
Bridge Turbolift

Corran found that he was getting more and more impatient as the turbolift rode it's way up to the bridge. His hand tapped repeatedly at his thigh, drawing a stare from the Kerelian OPs officer, Curtis Geluf. "Sorry." he said quietly, and stopped the repetitive noise.

The door opened a heartbeat later, and the two Lieutenants strolled out onto the bridge. Commander Von Ernst was seated in the Command chair, kicking her not-quite-long-enough legs at the empty air. Savar, the Romulan exchange officer, was standing near the Tactical railing talking about something or other with Cass Henderson.

"Looks like the Captain's in the Ready Room, then." the Trill said to Geluf in a low tone.

Curtis nodded. "Looks like. Let's go." he replied, and rang the doorchime on the Ready Room a moment later.

"Enter." M'Kantu's voice sounded tired, and just distracted enough that it was audible. As the door slid aside, Curtis could see Von Ernst glance towards the door with a frown and realized that she must have heard it too. Corran wasn't entirely certain, but he was beginning to wonder if the Captain had had his own.. visions.

Inside, M'Kantu was standing at the long viewport that ran down the side of the room, a forgotten cup of coffee in his hand, the beverage cool enough that it no longer left a vapor trail on the tranparent metal of the viewport. He turned as Curtis and Corran entered the room, moving forward and setting the coffee on his desk. "Mr. Geluf, Mr. Rex, what seems to be the problem?"

"Captain..." the Trill began, looking a tad uncomfortable. "This is going to sound crazy, but...." he paused, and looked at the OPs Manager. "You explain."

"There's something.... not right.... er... or at least, we THINK something's not right.... but we don't know..." Curtis stammered, falling over his own words.

M'Kantu crossed his arms and looked back and forth between the two officers. "Perhaps you might need to wait until you *are* sure then, gentlemen?"

"We're remembering things...things that for all intents and purposes, didn't happen. At least, as far as we know." The Kerelian said, "I remember going down to the planet, it was a wasteland. Earthquakes all over, and some strange ruins. I went back up to the Galaxy with Savoie, but it wasn't there... it had been... destroyed."

"I.. remembered... actually, experienced is probably a better word, something corellary to that. Take it from someone who's used to hearing voices in their head, Captain. Something extremely ... strange is going on here. So far it's just the two of us - but we haven't asked anyone else yet. Plus," Corran replied, drawing the plasteel container with the shrapnel in it out of his flightsuit's pocket. "There's this. This is a piece of canopy. In my - my vision, or... whatever it was, my cockpit was shot open, and this was embedded in my arm. Exactly where the Doctor found it." Corran watched the elder - though that was a relative term, wasn't it? Since his joining with Rex, Corran now had the experiences of over five centuries of life - man as he listed to their explanations, and M'Kantu's own reply. "You know something, don't you, sir?" he asked quietly.

M'Kantu frowned and took the container from Corran, turning it over in his hands for a moment before he sighed. "Before we go any further, I have to tell you that I remember things too. Things that didn't happen - although I had no physical evidence to back it up. I'm going to need to record a statement to transmit to starfleet, it's reqiired in the case of a temporal incident." He reached over to turn on the cabin recorder from his desk. "Regulations stipulate I have to record this, gentlemen. Now, what, exactly, do you two think you remember. Be as precise as you can without taking an hour each."

"I remember the team beaming down, and Quentin's surface being destroyed in a firestorm. I remember Admiral Hoth arriving with three ships, - the Nimitz, the Hood, and the Pershing. One of Nimitz' squadrons - the White Knights, I beleive, I'm not sure, though - started a fight with ours. Reinforcement fighters from the Hood on the Kinght's side forced Galaxy into a fight with the other capital ships. Vanguard couldn't withdraw, because the Knights wouldn't back down. I remember the battle, I remember my canopy rupturing and slicing my arm before my suit sealed. And.. I remember seeing the Galaxy's secondary hull crashing into the Nimitz, and seeing the saucer head down to the planet in flames." Rex explained, a haunted expression clearly visible in his eyes, the day's oddness giving his thoughts and words and unaccustomed sureity. Rarely was it that he was able to think so structured. "I don't know what it is sir, but more and more of it is coming back to me. My.. condition.. may have some kind of unforseen reaction to temporal events."

Curtis simply shook his head. "I;m not as lucky, si. Things are a lot more vague for me. I was part of a team that went down to the planet. There were some ruins that we found - we found the saucer of the Galaxy, thirty years old."

M'Kantu nodded slowly. "I remember that - some of it anyway. I remember the saucer crashing..." He looked away for a moment. "And... other things." He looked at Corran and Curtis for a moment. "Is there anything else that stands out? Anything that you recall more vividly than the rest of it?"

Corran shook his head. Geluf nodded, though. "Wait - there was one more thing. A survivor. We'd brought her back with us in the shuttle, one the way back to the ship, when everything... changed."

The Captain nodded once again. "Thank you for bringing this to my attention, gentlemen. I was beginning to think I'd had some sort of particularly bad dream. Report to me if you remember anything else."

M'Kantu's tone was a clear dismissal, and both the Lieutenants recognized it as such. With simple "aye, sirs.", the nodded, and left the Ready Room. They'd done thier part, at least. What would come of it all.. well, perhaps no one really knew.

"Culture Shock"

by Stash

Introducing Ensign Zeke Wikkins from Security

Location: The living quarters of Ensign Simon Crumbley, Computer Specialist (NPC)

Simon sat behind his desk in complete darkness.

Waiting.

His perfectly manicured fingernails made tiny clacking noises as he rhythmically tapped his slender fingers on the hard surface of the desk top. Behind him were the apartments windows from where could be seen the millions of twinkling stars that hung in space.

Instead he ignored the view.

And continued waiting...until the door chime rang out.

~ Finally! ~ he thought with a slight smile. Since coming aboard, Simon had taken to amusing himself and passing the time by abusing the various roommates that had been assigned to him. When his last roommate, Ensign Roberts, had an "unfortunate" accident with industrial laxative, Simon had actually found himself missing his daily sport.

~ But the game is afoot once more.~ he thought, then promptly removed the smile on his face and steepled his fingers in front of him, though in the darkness it couldn't actually be seen.

"ENTER!" he ordered.

He watched with anticipation as the doors swished open and revealed a massive jumble of shadows. Simon leaned foreword, ever so slightly as the shadow made its way across the threshhold of the room.

~ And he brings with him a mountain of belongings! This will truly be enjoyable.~ the tiny technician thought. The doors swished shut and as he had preprogrammed, a light snapped on above him, bathing him in shadows and lending him a more sinister appearance - or so he believed.

His newest tennent, remained in the shadows, just out of the seated man's view.

"Where are your authorized crew quarters transfer papers?" Simon asked sharply.

"I don't reckon that I know what thou art talking about, fella." a voice rumbled.

Simon drew himself back in his chair. The voice was unlike any other he had heard, more of a strange drawl twisted into words.

Mentally recomposing himself, Simon continued. "Your papers. Present them to me."

"I ain't got no papers. And why are thee sittin in the dark? Would thou like me to light a few candles? I got a bunch in my bag."

"You shall do nothing until I am satisfied that you do indeed belong in this apartment. Is that understood?" Simon said slapping his palm across his desk with a loud thwack.

There was a deep growl that sounded similar to a rockslide. Simon could see the shadow moving towards his desk then in a sudden blur, a large hand came down across the desk missing Simon's own by only a few inches.

"Now sir, I done told thee already that I ain't got no papers. Now thy attitude is startin to really work on my patience. If thou hast issues, I suggest thee take them up elsewhere. Go ahead and sit in the dark if it pleases thee. I can mosey around with no light. Now if thou will pardon me, I best be settelin in." the shadow rumbled, then proceeded to move.

Simon paid him no heed. He was too busy examining his hand and making sure that he still had all his fingers. His head snapped sharply as he heard commotion followed by a loud crashing and the sound of splintering wood. Franticly he leapt out from behind his desk.

"Computer...Lights!" he called out.

The room suddenly was brought to full lighting and the technician nearly fell backwards over his chair, startled at what he was seeing.

There, in the middle of his living room, stood what looked like a mountain with legs in a Starfleet uniform. In his hands were a Starfleet duffle bag and a small cage. The lout was standing on top of his hand carved coffee table, or more accurately, what was left of it. Littered around his feet were broken statues and vases, their flowery contents squished under the man's massive boots.

Simon was appauled.

"What...What the hell are you... what are you doing destroying my personal property? My Gerrenials! My Gerrenials! Do you know how rare they are?! You lummox! Move, quickly!" he said kneeling down and picking up the damaged flowers.

"Now sir, if thou had consented to having a few candles lit, mayhap this current personal crisis of thine could have been avoided." the colossus in the Starfleet uniform said with a shrug or as best an imitation of a shrug as one with no apparent neck could muster.

"This is not the time for a debate! Hurry! Get me some water before it is too late! Run if you must!" Simon said cradling the flowers.

"I am Amish, sir. I do not run. I will fetch some water for thy tulips now. Just hold tight."

"They are not tulips, you cretin! They are Gerrenials! Found blooming only during the 2 week fall period on Risial 7, the only time that they may safely be plucked from the soil for transport." Simon said calling for a vase and water from the replicator and gingerly placing them inside, inspecting each petal for damage.

"I thank thee for information that I shall in all honesty never use in my life."

"If you allowed yourself some time to appreciate beauty and culture instead of honing your dullard's sarcastic wit, you would appreciate what you have nearly ruined here." Simon said drying off his hands on his tunic. "And you failed to answer my querry."

"Perhaps I couldn't hear thy queers through thy girlish squeeling."

"I do not squeal like a girl! And I asked you who you were. If your going to be dwelling here for a SHORT time, I will need to know at least that much." Simon said eyeing the large man suspiciously looking for any perceptible weaknesses he could exploit to his advantage.

"Ensign Zeke Wikkins. Security. And yes, thou did squeal."

"Did not!" Simon snipped.

"Did."

"Not!"

"Did."

"I do not care what you think." the technician said visibly frustrated. "If your going to be living here, there are a few rules and restrictions that you must aquaint yourself with."

"I ain't no longer in the mood for thy comedy. I'm gonna put Josiah down for the night and then speak with my lord, God." the Ensign said, turning to the cage he held.

"What..you have not heard the rules yet!"

"And upon hearing them, I reckon I'll still ignore them." he said placing his cage next to a slightly larger cage that appeared to be housing what looked like a small hommade clay cave.

"What do you think your doing?" Simon asked walking briskly over to the pair of cages.

"I am putting Josiah down. It is difficult to maintain Security while holding a turtle." Zeke rumbled.

"You can not place that there! Turtles and the like frighten Picard!" he said pointing to the cage with the cave inside.

"Picard? You have Captain Picard in a two foot cell?!?"

"Of coarse not, you imbecile. Picard is my pet Lynar, and he frightens easily. You can not have your turtle in such close proximity to him."

The much larger security officer looked at him in surprise "Thou named thy bat Picard?"

Simon looked offended. "I don't suppose you can comprehend the irony of it. Anyone who names their turtle 'Josiah' has an apparent lack of imagination...what..Gates be praised...what in the hell is that smell!" he asked placing his hand over his mouth. "I think I'm going to gag!!"

"That would be me. I beg thy pardon. I have gas."

Simon blinked back the water in his eyes. "You..you have gas?..(cough)... That putrid stench came from your body?"

"I had corn cobs for lunch. I always get gas after eating them. As much as I try I still give in to temptation - Father forgive me."

"You smell like the Ferengi septic pits! Why do you eat them if you .." he said unable to finish after feeling his own lunch trying to force its way up his throat.

"Fret not. The smell only lasts about twenty minutes. My father used to say that that was the smell of sin leaving the body. Thy shall be fine. If thy needs me, I shall be in our room resting. Please don't need me." Zeke said.

Simon was agitated. This wasn't how he envisioned their meeting to be. In fact, he had wagered with himself that he would be able to drive his newest roommate out without having even spent a full day there. Now here he was, trapped in his own apartment while the walking boulder violated his every personal space!

"I will have you reported to your superior! You cannot do this!" he said.

Again the big man shrugged. "Commander Corgan. And the last time I checked, passing gas is not against any Starfleet regulations unless it is done in a punchbowl at a comissioning ceremony. I must sleep now. The Lord be with you."

Simon watched Ensign Wikkins lumber into the bedroom. His rage was barely contained as he stomped his foot on the floor. He would pour over Ensign Wikkins' personnel files and psychological history. There was no way he was going to share his quarters with that giant...~ oh no! ~ he thought as he rushed to the bedroom doorway and shouted loudly.

"DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT TAKING THE TOP BUNK!!!!" he said defiantly then walked away and stared at his damaged table.

"Whatever thy say." the Ensign replied with a hint of sarcasm.

Simon growled loudly and kicked at the shattered pieces of the table.

Inside the bedroom, Zeke glanced at the top bunk and smiled.

~Reunion~

Marking the return of Chad Vicenik as Lt. Cutter Kara'nin

and introducing, Arkedi Nitel'rajek Zan Lanaka

Also with Lt. Curtis Geluf

OOC - Although this is kind of a small post, it took me a lot of work. Most of this post is written in Mika'kardi, the language I've created for the Fruna'lin. Translations are at the end of each line. A no-prize to anyone who thinks they can decipher any of it.

OOC2 - Some pronunciation notes. [^] is a glottal stop, like in the middle of 'uh-oh.' [!] is a click made with the tip of the tongue on the roof of your mouth. [|] is a click made with the tip of the tongue on the teeth. [R] in the middle of a sentence is a trill at the back of the mouth/throat, like a tiger growl or something. Everything else is spelled phonetically, as best as possible. Ekenarado! [Goodbye.]

"Come in," Cutter called out in response to the chiming door.

His neighbor, Curtis Geluf, entered the quarters and noticed Cutter lounged out on his black sofa, his feet propped up on the glass table in front of it. He was in his Starfleet uniform, but had taken his jacket off, the dark Starfleet science's blue matching the blue hair that almost covered Cutter's eyes. Curtis noted absorbed gaze towards the PADD in Cutter's hand. "Cutter?"

It took a moment before Cutter glanced up, he must have been finishing a paragraph, "Oh, tola, Curtis. Ento dwomdzi^el?"

"Myself? Just fine thanks." the OPS officer replied. He hadn't yet mastered enough of Cutter's language to attempt a response in it. "I'm just here to let you know you've got visitors on the way."

"Visitors?"

"Yeah." Curtis looked down at the PADD he was carrying with him, "Says here their names are Arkedi Nitel'rajek and Zan Lanaka. Friends of yours?"

"Wha...wait, visitors? Arkedi and Zan are visiting the Galaxy?"

"Not visiting it so much as living on it, these are transfer orders. They're becomming members of the crew. Arkedi in Linguistics and Zan in Anthropology." the Kerelian answered his baffled friend.

Cutter rose from the sofa, his white wings revealing themselves from behind the couch as they were lifted. "Joined the crew? They're not in starfleet. Let me see that?" he asked, approaching Curtis and reaching for the PADD.

"They're not commisioned officers if that's what you mean." Curtis replied. "Something about a Fruna'lin program, we're taking them on as advisors. Know anything about it?"

"Ah, sema, the FKS CSEP, er, uh, the Fruna-Kenaran/Starfleet Civilian Scientist and Engineering Program. I forgot about that. Its because the Fruna'lin don't like Starfleet. They've got it so that they are allowed to work on starships as scientists and engineers and not go through the Academy physical and combat training."

Curtis gave him an interested look, "Sounds like a pretty good program."

"Starfleet doesn't really think of it that way," he said matter of factly. Then he muttered to himself as he read the PADD, "I can understand Arkedi coming, he's always wanted to study alien languages in the field, but why's Zan coming?"

"Not a fan of the fleet?" asked Curtis.

Cutter looked up from the PADD, his face clenched slightly in thought. "Sorry, dwah?" He hadn't heard the question.

"You wondered why this Zan guy would want to come here." Curtis explained, "Does he have something against Starfleet?"

"She. Zan's a woman and sema, she's always sort of spoken against it in the past. But, she was part of the digs on Mlintire, I don't know why she would want to leave them?"

Curtis flushed a bit at his gender confusion, "Well, I don't know, but this looks pretty set in stone to me."

"Hmm...when are they coming aboard?" Cutter asked.

"As far as I know, ASAP." Curtis replied, "I'm expecting them by tommorow."

"When?"

"1300 hours." the Kerelian stated. "Well, just came by for that. Got to get going, I'm expected at home."

"Ah, ok. Thanks," Cutter said, still confused about his old friends coming aboard the Galaxy.

==========================================

The next day, Cutter still could not grasp the idea of his best friends living aboard the Galaxy with him. They weren't used to a starship, how would they cope without wing room? Why did Zan leave Mlintire, did she break the law again? He was lost in thought as he rounded a corner on his way to the transporter room, but something quickly woke him.

"Tola, Cutter. Ento dwomdzi^el?"

"Cutter!!" a woman screamed. Stunned, Cutter did not see her drop her bags and jump towards him. The next thing he knew, she was in his arms, her lips on his. "Cutter," she said again after breaking the kiss, "Nen dosaydeul ka usu!." [I've missed you so much!]

"Tola, Zan," he said finally, a broad smile on his face. "Rushylen menyel," he said, running his fingers through the short, green hair. She was a beautiful as she ever was, jade eyes set on either side of a long, thin nose. [I like your hair]

"I ruhetel?" The other Fruna'lin asked, rubbing his hand through the purple black hair that poked out of the navy blue headband. It was short and sort of spiked, pointing up and out like it defied gravity; natural for Fruna'lin hair. The face it was attached to was thin with a sharp, angled jaw; his smiling white teeth constrasted with his tanned, almond skin and his black eyes. [What about mine?]

Cutter laughed, "Tola, Arku." He set Zan down and Arkedi walked up and hugged him. "Zan lel asilmeuRim," he stated with false expectation. He tipped his head slightly to the side and slightly pursed his lips, before breaking into a grin and spitting out quick laugh. [Zan kissed me.]

"KaReng? Zan, kahilel a^o ye idzuratoidabilol tihimbi.," Arkedi said to the woman. His black wings shifted behind him slightly, causing the silver band jewelry near the joint to catch the flourescent light and flash in Cutter's eye. [Humor? Zan, I think he's happy to see us.]

"Sarabadra'delin iw atwu^oltoonum dwul?" Cutter asked as he took up Zan's hand in his and lightly rubbed his thumbs on her two middle fingers and the base of her palm. [Why did you two come to the Galaxy?]

"FKS CSEP. Tsuinyedryt dzuchiunku atwu^olteulum," Arkedi said, picking up his bag again and throwing the strap around his shoulder. [I've come to study linguistics.]

"Sema, Arku," Cutter said, glancing at Arkedi, "o atwu^olteunum, Zan?" [Yeah, Arku, but why did you come, Zan?]

"Arku zehereneul." [I followed Arkedi.]

"Arkedi zehereneun?" Cutter asked, not understanding what she meant. [Followed Arkedi?]

"Sarayem dwohmatuzi!eunim?" Arkedi asked, looked at Zan. [You didn't tell him?]

She jerked her head back towards the thin, violet-haired Fruna'lin, her green eyes flashed with annoyance. "Tell me what?" Cutter asked, in English.

Zan looked like she wanted to accuse Arkedi of something, but she refrained. She looked back at Cutter, "Arkedi i el ayelodrolor." [Arkedi and I are mating.]

"Ka ayelodronor!?" Cutter exclaimed, dropping Zan's hand.

"Minik kamil chyridol," Arkedi boasted. [We want to have a child.]

"What?! A child?! With him?!" Cutter shouted. His wings twitched behind him and opened out slightly.

"Dwah nilel u!achyridi?" Arkedi asked, his hands raised to his chest. He was having fun in this. To Arkedi, everything is fun. [What's wrong with me?]

"Ka, kahileul a^o rubokal tezokel. En dwohme^uimihambi?" Zan giggled, reaching out with her wing and stroking the bottom of Cutter's leg. [I thought I had the temper. Are you jealous, Cutter?]

"Dwah? Itu." [What? No.] Arkedi slapped Cutter's chest with the back of his hand, "Kahilel a^o deilhumanal atsenun shu, Cutter." [I think you've spent too much time with humans, Cutter.]

"Dwah?" Cutter asked again, with confusion this time, rather than anger.

"Deilhumanal atsenun shu." [You've spent too much time with humans.]

Cutter turned indignantly towards the slightly shorter Arkedi. "What does that mean?"

"Ayalisukenir ... ete zi|el dwy? Monogamous?" [You're acting ... how do they say it? Monogamous?]

"Monogamous lisi|ete a^o deilet le ayelortor," Cutter scoffed. [Monogamous means mating with only one person.]

"Sema, en monogamousi," Arkedi said again, with some triumph in his voice. [Right. You're monogamous.]

"En dwohnkundumiri ami deilet else ayelodrelor?" Zan asked before Cutter could argue further. [Are you upset that I'm mating with someone else?]

"Ka u! Sem. Ayelodronor dwul?" [No! Yes. Why are you two mating?]

"Unel, Cutter. Ayelodronor," Zan stated. She was beginning to get annoyed. [I don't know, Cutter. We're mating.]

Arkedi laughed loudly, fracturing the tension. "En okahe || lenebi, Cutter. Ol sararumeldonol yziyenen. Zi|ail nyawleul," Arkedi smiled, pushing one of Zan's bags into Cutter's hand and then leading him by the shoulder around the corner and down the corridor. [Its good to see you again, Cutter. Show us to our rooms, we'll talk later.]

He walked as Arkedi pushed him, more confused and upset than before they arrived. Eventually, he gave in and sighed, "De didiruhbi else." [They're in the other direction.]

Chad Vicenik
Lt. Cutter Kara'nin
Arkedi Nitel'rajek
Sciences
USS Galaxy

"Visions of Madness"

Erik Stiener, Shopkeeper

Location: Stiener's Inventions & Novelties.
First Level.(Hidden Advert. STOP BY ANYTIME!)

He came out of the vision as if from a dream, as if watching a camera spiral torward his head.

-Oww, my head.....- Erik looked at his hands......they were not distorted or strange as he thought would have seen them. He kept remembering irrational feelings, feelings of fear, suspicion, delusions. Some were completely unable to be understood by anyone with a sane state of mind.

-Visions of Madness?- Erik began to distinctly remember flashes, flashes of him running around in a world that wasn't real, a world where the sane could not dwell and remain sane.

-What is happening to my mind.....or what happened to my mind. I do not understand......

- "I think I'd better go to counselling. My pension should still be.....valid." He began to walk out of his shop. "God, I hope they didn't pull the pension on me..." He sped up and ran.

"Unknown Conflict "

Ethan Suder
Ella Grey

Ella shook her head and tried to focus. It was the last double day in a seven day stretch and she was starting to get a bit punchy. Just a shift and a half more to go, she told herself and looked back at the computer PADD. She couldn't wait for her shift to end. She was going to straight to bed.

She finished up the last of the report and then headed for the Chief's office. She knocked on the frame and then entered. She handed the computer PADD to him with a nod.

"Hi." Ethan said, clearly disturbed from his work. Piles of data padds lay scattered around on his desk. Each one containing old reports. He frowned and looked up at the Assistant Chief Engineer as she gave him the data padd. "How are things out there?"

She shrugged before getting out her own PADD to interface with his computer. *NOT BAD, SIR. JUST BUSY.* She bit back a yawn. *IS THERE ANYTHING YOU NEED HELP WITH, SIR?*

Ethan frowned again and stood up. "First thing you can help me with, don't call me Sir. Ethan is fine, Chief if you're not comfortable with a first name basis." He forced a smile and glanced between Ella and the data padds. "And how are you?" he asked looking into her eyes.

Ella made herself smile in return. She didn't want to be rude but she didn't want to be friendly with him either. *I'M FINE, ETHAN.*

"It's been hectic lately hasn't it?" he mentioned. "I appreciate all the shifts you've been working lately. You've done a good job keeping things together here."

*I'TS BEEN A LONG WEEK* Ella agreed.

"Too long for my liking." he replied.

*SO, WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE?* Ella asked, trying not to let her annoyance at this polite conversation show. It was harder to control her emotions when she was tired. And especially harder, when she knew the other person didn't really have to look hard to see it was a lie. Damn Betazoids, she thought sourly.

Ethan slowly raised his eyes and looked at Ella for a few seconds. She did look tired, anyone could see that. Her body language said it all. It also said something else. "Why don't you take the rest of the day off. Tomorrow too?" Ethan suggested. "You've worked really hard lately, and I have a couple of projects going on, so I'll be around a lot for the rest of today and over the next three or four days. Get some rest and just, enjoy yourself." he offered.

She smiled sweetly. *THAT'S ALLRIGHT, ETHAN. MY SHIFT IS ALMOST OVER ANYWAYS. I CAN STICK IT OUT.* She liked work. Too much free time and she started to get restless.

"Are you sure, it's not a problem?" he asked leaning back in his chair.

Ella tried to keep the tightness out of her eyes. *I REALLY DON'T MIND*

Ethan thought for a moment. "Lieutenant," he said standing up. "You've put a lot of effort into work lately. It's very much appreciated, but I want you take some time off. Just relax. You deserve it. We all need a break sometime, or our bodies just breakdown. And you'd be no good to me should you become tired, ill, exhausted, need I go on?"

She lifted her chin. *IS THAT AN ORDER, SIR?*

He half smiled and gave a nod. "Consider it so." he replied.

Ella couldn't help the flash that came to her eyes, nor the overwhelming emotions that came suddenly, frustration, annoyance, anger. She was sure that if her emotions were a wavelength, which she supposed they were to Betazoids, then he was catching the ride. Too bad her emotions weren't a mallet, she thought sourly. She didn't even bother to smile this time. *UNDERSTOOD, SIR.*

"Dismissed." Ethan said quietly rubbing his chin with his fingers. He frowned and half closed his eyes as Ella left. It didn't really take a Betazoid to pick up on the fact that she was troubled. Was it him, or did she just have a lot on her mind. She didn't seem to take kindly to being asked to take a break. But then neither did he when he was told to back in his earlier days as an Engineer! Still, her entire body language spoke volumes throughout the small conversation. He was getting the idea that maybe it had something to do with him. She seemed quite content when working and socializing with others he had noticed. But when it came down to him talking to her, there was trouble of some kind. He clenched his fist and continued to frown. He'd love to know what the problem was. Perhaps it was because he was Chief and she wasn't. Even though they had discussed that when he had first come onboard, maybe it was just one smaller fire of a larger disaster waiting to happen.

"That's all I need. Trouble amongst the ranks." he muttered to himself. He slammed his fist on his communicator and sighed. "Lieutenant McDowell, do you have a moment?" He couldn't help but sound frustrated.

"Orion, Romulan, Drinks: Part two"

By Jasmine and Omar

"I ran away." she said. "I stowed away on a federation vessel that had pulled in for repairs."

"That was very commendable of you."

She shrugged. "I guess." she had no real comment on her escape or her past. She did not like to bring up old memories.

“Who was your owner?” he asked of her. “I was friendly with a number of…” He paused and then he decided to resume with the sentence. “Both of my parents were actually friendly with a number of politicians from your planet.”

Jasmine stiffened. "The name is none of your concern" she said icily putting the glass down. She had barely touched it. She looked at the Romulan. "I know full well what Romulans do with information. And I am not about to give that to anyone. You want the information, Find out from someone else." The normally quiet and shy Orion had changed into a defensive ball of fire and brimstone, only crazy people crossed her over such issues.

For a second then the senator just looked at her with defiance. He was going to reply to her slightly racist remark when he decided that there was a better alternative. “I do apologise to you. I did not intend to cause offence to you.”

Jasmine looked at him. "If you had any idea about the workings of a person's mind who had lived in such conditions you would probably or should know and understand that such a topic is NOT a good one for discussion and it will cause offence." What she did not add was that she herself had a price on her head and the last thing she needed was this man knowing too much about her. She wanted to go back to being unnoticed. To being wallpaper.

Omar then laughed at her hostility to him. “You should just drink more of this alcohol for you are far too nervous.”

Jasmine ignored that comment. She did not drink much alcohol as a rule and she was not about to start for a Romulan who had burst into HER office and interupted HER sleep. "Now, if you will excuse me," she began. "I would like to get on with my work."

"I am very sorry." Omar apologised to her. He looked at a young human male who had just walked into the room. "Would you like to meet with my diplomatic Attaché? His Name" Omar asked of her. "He Is Michael Nicholas-Henderson." The young human male cadet smiled at her charmingly.

"No I would not. May I respectfully remind you all that YOU came in here. You were not invited into my lab so basically I can tell you to leave. Now please do so."

"Not Just Another Pretty Face"

by
Ens. Jasmine Heloi,
Pilot,
Vanguard Squadron

Location: Corridors of the Galaxy
Soundtrack: "Not Just Another Pretty Face" - Shania Twain

Jasmine Heloi closed her eyes and hoped for a miracle. She cracked open an eye to see that the reason for that wish was still there - all smiles, eight years old, and holding up a PADD.

"Ms. Heloi? Can I please have your autograph? Please, please, please?" The young object of her misery spoke up again, displaying that knack that all young children had of making their eyes appear larger and more pleading at a moment's notice. This one had brown eyes that she could drown in, just begging for her to make his dream come true.

'Sucker,' she told herself and she completely opened her eyes and looked at the boy. Not five minutes after her transfer from the Hood, and already the requests started. Sometimes, like now, she really wished she had never heard of Adora Starfire. "Just this once, son. Then I really need to get to my quarters and report for duty." She really hoped he didn't have any Starfire-loving friends...

"Thank you!" The boy bounced - yes, bounced - in place as he lifted the PADD higher, "Make it out to Jimmy Haskins."

'I'm never having kids,' she resolved as she picked up the PADD and signed it 'To Jimmy Haskins, my favorite fan - Jasmine Heloi (Adora Starfire).' "There you go, Jimmy."

Impulsively, the boy darted forward to hug her about her waist before scampering off down the corridor. Jasmine just hoped, really hoped, that she would be able to make it to her quarters without another such episode. How little Jimmy had discovered that she was transferring to the Galaxy and just when she was coming aboard was not as much of a mystery as it could have been. Thanks to the media's love of heroes, they kept an eye on her doings since her show, Starfire, had closed down and she had joined the 'fleet. She just hoped that the people here would realize that there was more to Jasmine Heloi than Adora Starfire. She didn't even like the character anymore.

Thankfully the rest of the trip to her quarters was uneventful. Jasmine dropped her bags just inside the door and decided to forgo unpacking until she had presented herself for duty. Unpacking would take a little while, and she preferred to put up a good appearance on her first day. Not many COs, that is the COs of her department, were willing to look past the whole vid series starlet aura that had surrounded her since Starfire was on the air. That she was actually well educated did not always fit into their preconceptions - the Dallas had been a prime example. It had taken six months for her CO to really understand that there was more to Jasmine Heloi than Adora Starfire. After that, her job had been a great deal easier and more enjoyable. Now, she feared she would have to face that again.

'Well, Jazz,' she thought to herself, 'No time like the present to find out if history does repeat itself.' Heloi brushed back an errant strand of hair and stepped out of her quarters. After asking for directions to Lt. Rex's office, she was on her way through the corridors of the Galaxy to report for duty...and hopefully without another autograph request.

"Aren't you? Hey, you're Adora Starfire! Can I have your autograph?"

Jasmine looked for the nearest bulkhead to start banging her head against.

"Target Practice"

Lieutenant JGs Corran Rex
and
Ahdjiia D'Tiinya

Ahdjiia looked at the notice on her screen and silently put away her prayerweb. She'd almost forgotten she'd had herself listed for additional assistance for those who needed phaser practice, and upon seeing the notice for a lessons request, she was curious to see who it was. Corran rang the doorbell outside of D'Tinya's quarters, waiting patiently for her to reply. Gods above, this was embarrassing, having to ask for this kind of help.

She opened the door, and if there was any surprise at seeing Corran as her appointment, there was no sign of it. "Come in.", she said as she moved aside, her Little Ones coming along the ceiling and walls to see who it was.

The Trill eyed the spiders suspiciously, but stayed firmly on the other side of the door. "Maybe.. ah.. maybe I should stay out here."

"Is there something wrong?", she asked, not quite understanding his reaction.

"I'm.. ah..." the Trill swallowed momentarily, glancing at all the spiders. "I'm an arachnophobe. Past life had a couple of really, really bad experiences with an arachnoid species. Literally"

She blinked at hearing such a thing. "There is nothing to fear from my Little Ones, save for one tipping over when they get too curious.", she said.

"Not poisonous?"

Only the Andorian Blood Spider, but she is molting at the moment and in her cocoon. She'll be quite happy to get out of there when she does next week."

"Right then. okay." he said, swallowing his fear - and the tennis-ball sized lump in his throat, and entering her quarters. "I heard you could help me with my marksmanship...difficulties. I'm a little out of practice with hand phasers."

"I'd be glad to help.", she said as she discreetly scooted back a fist sized tarantula that seemed fixated on looking closer at Corran's belt.

"Allright. When... " the Trill twitched his head to the side a moment, closed his eyes, and counted to five. When he opened them again, he felt comfortable - well, comfortable enough - to speak again, once again trusting his voice. "When, ah, would be a good time for you?"

"We could start now.", Ahdjiia said, "I am off duty."

"That sounds like a fantastic plan.' Corran replied, just a tad too eagerly. "After you, Lieutenant."

Ahdjiia led the way, pausing only to scoot her Talarian Hook spider back inside when it tried to follow. If it was possible for something with multiple multifaceted eyes and very visible fangs to look dejected, it did.

Corran merely fought down his shudders.

-------------------

They arrived at the holodeck, and Ahdjiia set up a simple target range program. She took a training phaser and handed the other to Corran. "When you're ready, we'll begin.", she said.

Several minutes later, the pair of officers were entering the Armory's phaser practice range, a small holodeck made to look like a black room with a standing circular pad in the center. When the program began, small lights would begin dancing around.

Corran turned to Ahdjiia with a small half-smile. "I await your instruction, Sensei."

"Let's begin with seeing how your aim is, so I know what we've got to work on.", she said as she took note of what lights were where.

The security officer started the first training sequence then. Corran found he could easily focus on the targets, his aim just drifted ever so slightly off. He was constantly only grazing targets, or being off by a matter of inches.

"I'm used to larger targets - and larger phasers, to boot. When you're in a starfighter, you've got much more allowance - a couple inches either direction, you've still hit your target." the Trill muttered in a frustrated voice.

Ahdjiia had to admit, he wasn't as bad as he let on, but Corran did have a point. "It's all a matter of envisioning I think in this case.", she said as she started with her phaser, hitting her targets, "To quote what a former crewmate of mine said when she first was transferred over to the fighter squadron was comparing it to being in a large phaser. Try envisioning the phaser in your hand as you are in your ship, but having to target with your eyes alone, no sensors."

Corran sighed, but nodded for her to start up the remotes again. The little lights began flashing, and The tall Trill tensed up, trying to rely only on what his eyes told him. That helped slightly - he was able hit a few more of them this time, though still not quite enough to score a pass on a progress evaluation.

It was an improvement, and only practice would help for the most part. Ahdjiia wracked her brain for something else that could help. "May I ask if you are familiar with the Terran hobby of fishing?"

"I can't help it - I keep wanting to verify with something else, and there's nothing to verify with. " he muttered, and his posture suddenly shifted. He had a more.. militaristic bearing now. "Five hundred years old, and this host can't even shoot a damned phaser right. Back in my days in the TDF, we'd have kicked his ass until he got it right. Fire that scenario up again, young lady. I'm going to show this kid how to do it."

"He will not learn if you are the dominant one.", Ahdjiia said as she noticed a distinct change in the Trill and guessed that his symbiont was stepping up. She'd never seen such a thing before, but that didn't mean it wasn't possible.

Not that Ahdjiia had any way of knowing it, but the brash and often irritable Mekaela, Rex's second host, was now fully in control of the joined body. Mekaela/Corran raised a cool eyebrow at the unflapped Security Officer. "You don't seem surprised at the sudden change in Young Corran Rex's bearing. I am Captain Mekaela Rex, of the Trill Defense Force, dead these three hundred years."

"I served on the K'Hotan under Hendershaw, I am used to things not the norm.", Ahdjiia said matter of factly, "Greetings Captain Mekaela Rex."

"Fair enough. Now, young lady, are you going to fire up that training routine, or not?" Mekaela replied.

"Of course.", Ahdjiia said as she restarted the program, this time altering the lights to resemble a spider shape. She was counting on Corran's unease around them to give him better incentive to aim. A silent mental prayer to her Revered One for resorting to such tactics and she stepped slightly back for the training to begin again.

She shouldn't have bothered, really. Under Mekaela's influence, Corran's hands squeezed off shot after shot, hitting every last target dead center.

"Was that him, or you?", Ahdjiia asked.

Abruptly, Corran's body language shifted again, and he dropped the phaser, placing both hands on the railing to balance himself. "Sorry... sorry you had to see that." Corran said, his voice returned to normal. "Mek's a bit of a showoff, I'm afraid."

"It is okay.", Ahdjiia said with a soft smile, "Considering her career, I can understand her exasperatedness. When you feel up to it, we can begin again."

"I'm sorry.. " he replied. "I.. I need to sit down for a second." the Trill said wearily. The sudden shifts when the symbiont forgot what personality was supposed to be in charge were becoming more and more wearying, especially after the temporal.. incident. Pulling on Esanza's memories, he expected to have to double his injections of isoboromine to twice a day. After a minute, he raised his eyes, looking up at the tall Security officer. "I'm surprised you haven't asked yet."

"As I informed your symbiont, I served on the K'Hotan under Hendershaw. If I can adapt to a Q materializing and demanding where the father of her hybrid child is hiding, I can adapt to much."

"Hendershaw." Corran said, closing his eyes again. " Not 'Fuck Me' Hendershaw?"

"The one and only.", Ahdjiia said with a chuckle, "And he is exactly as how they say he is."

"Oh, I'm well aware." Rex replied. "Two hosts back, my host was Baledra Rex, Chief Engineer of the Excelsior under Captain Sulu. She's got some... interesting memories about old Jeb."

Corran found it strangely comforting to be around someone who didn't find his .. condition something to be pitied - or laughed at. "I think I'm ready to try again, teach." he said, standing up.

"Spots & Jazz"

by
Lt. j.g. Corran Rex,
Vanguard Squadron CO

Ens. Jasmine Heloi,
Vanguard Squadron Pilot

Location: Lt. Rex's Office

Jasmine had managed to escape the clutches of another fan by a combination of some fancy footwork and the excuse of being called to duty. It had worked, but she was going to start screaming if she got another autograph request. She would give an autograph to a kid, but she drew the line at 20 years of age. After that, they needed to get a life.

She reached Rex's office a short time after her escape and she pressed the annunciator. While she waited, she straighted her uniform tunic with a twist and tried her best not to look like a former vid star.

Lieutenant' Corran Rex was, as per usual, sitting with his feet on his desk, reading a PADD. With a livelink to his terminal from the PADD, there was no real reason he needed to sit in the "normal", straight-backed starched officer Starfleet Approved Manner of Seating. And after a combined five centuries of life, Rex did very little without a reason.

Jasmine stepped inside the office, sparing it an automatic glance that categorized it per it's owner. It was a leftover from her Betazoid heritage and from her own years in stardom. Know the room, know the owner generally held true. She didn't know quite what to make of the owner of this particular room but she shook herself out of the moment's fancy to smile winningly at the Lieutenant. That it made her look too much like Adora Starfire did not even cross her mind.

"Lt. Rex? I'm Ens. Jasmine Heloi, your newest pilot," she stepped forward into the office, not caring a bit about the casual posture of the other officer. To each his or her own. Jasmine held her hand out towards him, waiting patiently for his reply.

"Ensign Heloi.. Heloi... Heloi..." Rex murmured, scanning further down the PADD on the day's business. "Oh yeah. The new girl." he finally finished, and leaned forward (feet still on desk) to shake the young Ensign's hand.

"Have a seat, Ensign." he said, pointing towards one of the pair of chairs on the other side of the desk.

She nodded and claimed the chair nearest to her. Jasmine settled into the chair with an ease that she didn't quite feel. 'So far, so good,' she consoled herself. "Thank you, sir," she replied. Heloi's voice had a soft lilt to it, indicative of her home region of Aduras.

"So, what's your Callsign, Heloi?" he asked first off - Starfleet biographical files didn't include that date. A remarkable oversight, in his estimation.

"Jazz, sir," Jasmine said without a moment's hesitation, "One of the pilots on the Big D was lazy and didn't say my full name and the callsign stuck." Heloi smiled at the memory, it was a good one especially since it was after the fiasco with her being *her, you know Adora Starfire* wore off.

"The Big D?" he asked, glancing over at the PADD. "Ah - right. The Dallas."

"Mine's 'Spots' - corny, I know, and a bit obvious, but..." Rex shrugged. "Flight Instructor back at the Academy gave it too me, and it seems to have stuck."

"Sorry, sir," she looked somewhat sheepish, "I got so used to calling the Dallas the 'Big D' that I forget that most people don't know what I'm talking about." Jasmine paused for a moment before continuing, "How many people are in the squadron, sir?"

"Even dozen," Corran replied, "Including yourself and two other pilots due to arrive today. Plus the assortment of techs and whatnot. I also serve jointly as the Department Head for Vanguard Squadron and Vanguard Division - that's Major McCormick's desk over there. She heads up the groundpounders. Vanguard Squadron itself is actually a mixed Fleet/Marine unit - something I like, because it lets us cull from the best of both services. Tell me something, Ensign.... do you think you're one of the best?"

She gave him her best cocky grin, "I wouldn't be here if I didn't, sir. Nor would I be here if the 'fleet didn't feel I was the best for the job." Jasmine shrugged slightly. A small ego was not something that she suffered from, though she knew that being too confident in her abilities would be the best way to get herself and her fellow pilots killed. "I'm a team player, sir, not a lone wolf. But if the rest of the squadron's as good as you say, we'll do just fine."

"I'll be honest. I haven't been commanding this squadron too terribly long. It's not there yet. But with you, and, I think our other two pilots, it will be."

He grinned - very nearly maniacally - then. "And with sim time. Lots and lots and lots of sim time."

Heloi couldn't prevent the groan from escaping her lists, "You're one of them, aren't you sir? Sim, sim, sim...oh and when you think you've hand enough, sim some more." She shook her head, amused.

"I subscribe to the policy of 'If you're going to fuck up, I want you to do it when it doesn't get you, your wingmate, or especially me, killed." Rex replied with a ready grin.

"Amen, sir," Jasmine replied with an echoing grin, "I couldn't argue with that logic before, and I'm certainly not going to start now."

"Excellent." he replied. "Take today off, then. Get settled. Report to the simulator room tomorrow morning at 0800. We fly Bonzais - you have any experience with those?"

"We had a few on the Big D. But I am more familiar with Hawk class and Peregrine class fighters," Heloi said after a moment's thought.

"Ah, the old birds." Rex said teasingly. "Bonzai's are superior to them in every way. They're the best Starfighters in the Federation Fleet, with the exception of the Rogue Class. I've tried to requisition some, but Starfighter Command's Quartermasters tell me that those are only for the high-profile units like Rogue Squadron or Wraith Squadron. Bastards."

Jasmine smirked, "They do get the attention, don't they. Well, fame doesn't mean everything," the last was more for herself than for Rex's benefit. "I'm looking forward to trying them out."

"Sounds like a plan." he replied, finally standing. "Enjoy your day off, Ensign. For tomorrow we sim. And sim. And sim."

"And sim..." she repeated with a smile, "Thank you, sir. I'll see you then." With another smile directed at the Lieutenant, she left the room feeling much better about her future on the Galaxy. He didn't even mention 'Starfire' once!

"Oh, Ensign, one other thing..." he said, just as she'd reached the door.

She turned back towards her superior just as she had stepped over the threshold of the door, "Sir?" 'Oh, God...here it comes...' she thought to herself and mentally cringed.

"You look familiar...." he started. "I'm sure we must have met somewhere before."

After she didn't reply for a second, Rex just kind of shook his head. "Never mind, Ensign. I'm sure it'll come to me later. Dismissed."

"I have one of those faces..." she said and quickly left the room, willing her thudding heart to stop pounding so hard in her chest.

"Must be. That, or I'm old and senile. Either way." Corran replied to himself as she departed.

"Bonding"

Maj Saladin Bolivar
Lt(jg) Ahdjiia D'Tinya

OOC: This happens after the moving in post and around the JP blitz Lisa has been on...
OOC2: There be nookie M/F

Ahdjiia had just finished one more check on her Little Ones as they all were settling into Saladin's quarters. There had been some squabbling from them nosing around the new place and picking out corners that they'd have as thier own. As it was, the Talarian hook spider was curled up having been pounced on by the Vulcan sand spider and was missing a patch of fur.

Saladin came in and looked around at the spiders, as usual he watched where he would step to avoid hitting one of her little ones. THen he saw Ahdjiia, "Hi..."

"I think they're settling down.", she said with a soft smile as she cradled the hook spider, it's forelegs wrapping around her like a child's hug.

"I see those two stil had a squabble." He stepped quickly to avoid a spider who had dashed underfoot.

"It's that spot near the replicator.", she said with a sigh, "In my old quarters it was a different area and the one's spot was near that while the other's spot was in that same area as it was bare in mine."

Saladin chuckled, "They are getting better I hope."

"They will sort it out, they always do."

"I would hope." He finally greeted her with a kiss and walked in to the kitchen. "The little ones will take some geting used to."

"They are good with being out from underfoot.", she said, "But this is so new to them, they can't help but want to explore."

"I was fearing that I would step on one of them. I am glad I did not."

"Once they have explored the floor, they will go back to the walls and ceiling."

He looked at her, "Have you thought more of when we could go face the matriarch?"

"I have listened to what you said I must be prepared for, and I am ready for when the time comes."

He looked at her and smiled, "I hope you are truely ready my love, to be judged by a Nietzchean Matriarch is not something that most can not fathom... It will include DNA testing to test your genetic worthiness."

"I guessed as much.", she said with a soft smile.

He looked at her and touched her cheek. "THen we shoudl bond before the ceremony..."

"I am ready.", she said as she leaned her face into his palm.

He kissed her and nuzzled her neck, "We will bond here."

Ahdjiia returned his kiss and let the hook spider out of her embrace. It crawled off, giving a momentary evil look at the sand spider as it moved.

"Is there any preparations I must do beforehand?"

"Change in to the ceremonial dress we had replicated for you, I will change in to my uniform and prepare the ceremony." Ahdjiia nodded and rose to change. He rose and changed to his uniform then began to replicate the ceremony. It was a simple Japanese style tea set with two sealed white china containuers.

He fixed his suit and strapped on a dagger, then walked out and laid them down on a table and waited for her.

She walked out of their bedroom in what could only be described as a lightly armoured dress. It seemed much like a klingon female's armour, but not as bulky and flowed more smoothy. Adding her own touch, Ahdjiia wore her spiderlace mantilla that draped over her head.

He rose to face her and smiled, then he approached her, "You look beautiful."

"You always say that.", she said with a soft smile.

He smiled, "I always mean it."

"I know."

He kissed her softly then said, "Are you ready?"

"I am."

He let his fingers interlace with hers and he smiled, then grew somber, "The great philosopher once said man is to woman a means in the end a child is born." His eyes met Ahdjiia's, "A true bondmate is one who can be trusted above all else, with your life your duty and your sacred honor. I ask you Ahdjiia D'tinya do you wish to enter in to this bond?"

"I enter freely and of my own will.", she said softly.

He paused and took a breath, "To all present and here, I Saladin Bolivar out of Bouddica by Charlamagne do take this woman to be mine.... I trust her above all others."

Then he walked to the tea set. "to seal this bond we will mix each other a cup of tea."

Some of the spiders had looked thier way, Ahdjiia concidered them fitting witnesses. She nodded and followed him to the tea set.

He handed her one of the sealed containers and then he took one for himself.
He began to make a cup of tea silently.

She watched what he did and prepared his cup with the container he handed her.

THen he slid her tea over to her and let her slide over. He picked up the cup and watched her, then togther they drank.

Ahdjiia handed him his cup and daintily lifted hers under her mantilla to sip. It was a bit bitter than what she was used to for tea, but she did drink the cup down to the dregs.

He set down his drink then laid down the cup and nodded, "It is finished..."
THen he lifter her mantilla to kiss her lips.

She returned his kiss, her arms wrapping around him.

He slipped his arms around her waist then broke the kiss with a smile, "We are bonded..."

"A simple, yet touching ceremony.", she said with a soft smile.

"And if you wanted to get out of it... you would jsut put poison in my tea."

"As you could have with mine.", she said, a bit surprised at the poison aspect, but rather half expecting it from his people.

"Now why would I do that?" His eyes sparkled.

"Last minute change of mind?", she teased.

"Since I am not a fool, I woudl not wish to hurt you."

"Do I have to be concerned about such things further on?"

"No.." He said honestly, "THis is a free marriage, if you wished to leave...you could leave. I would not harm you."

"I do not see myself leaving you.", she said as she kissed him.

He kissed her back. "I am easy to please.." He slid his hands down to her backside and drew her close, "The Matriarch is different."

"So you have intimated.", Ahdjiia said, "I will do my best to meet her approval."

He looked at her, "Tomorrow morning we will leave, give you time to let your little ones get used, we will not be gone long."

"I will leave ample food for them.", she said, "Though we might have some webbing to clear when we return."

He nodded, "It is acceptable. Do they know yuo are leaving?"

"I have spoken to them, explaining it as going to work a longer than usual shift."

"They are like cats in a way."

"I suppose so."

"We will take the niht for the little ones, and us..."

"I look forward to it."

"And how we must seal the bond..."

"I am ready.", she said with a soft smile and a glitter in her eyes.

He leaned in and kissed her gently.

Her hands roamed his back as they kissed and she pulled herself close to him.

He kissed her a bit more passionately, then he held her close as heb egan to kiss her neck softly.

Ahdjiia sighed softly, tilting her head to the side for Saladin to taste her neck better.

He continued to nibble on her neck his hands tracing her breasts gently as he kissed her jawline. Then he slid his hands down to her backside, "Perhaps we should get me out of this uniform?"

"As we should with me.", she smiled.

He smiled, Then he gently pushed her back to begin to undress himself, the high necked tunic was quick to be unfastenaed as he watched her.

Ahdjiia began to unfasten her dress. It slid to the floor with a soft jingle.

"Formal attire for my people is a bit too... revealing." He finished undressing then kissed her again, "The wedding will be different."

"I do not mind the attire.", she said with a soft smile, "My own people favour flowing robes with tight upper sleeves that flare."

"And the cleavage is most... pleasent." He kissed her softly and nuzzled her neck tenderly. "I like the look."

"It is a comfortable dress.", she smiled as she returned his nuzzle, "And it goes well with my mantilla."

He laughed, "it is also easy to fight in." Then he kissed her again, His kissed began to swell with the hunger, along with his.. excitment.

Ahdjiia wrapped her arms around him, feeling that familiar poke below. "Can we make it to the bed?", she teased.

He smiled, "Perhaps... or perhaps this table might be enough."

"It is sturdy to hold us both."

did we ever test that?" He picked her up and laid her on the oaken dinner table. "Perhaps we should."

"So we shall.", she smiled as she wrapped her legs around him.

He kissed her again and began to ease his boxers down, his hardness was now visible for her and he kissed her again as he moved foreward to suckle her fuill breasts in a way she liked.

Ahdjiia moaned softly, letting her hands roam his back. She pulled him a bit closer with her legs.

He moved down and guided himself in to her as he kissed her deeply.

She returned his kiss hungrily as she tightened her legs around him.

He moved his hips in to hers and he kissed her deeply, as they had done in their past lives together their bodies merged as if one.

Ahdjiia did all the little tricks that she knew Saladin enjoyed and hiked her legs up higher on his body.

He cried out as he moved in to her and kissed her deeply, his hips moved and he began to move his body in way she liked.

Her cries were soft in his ears as the pleasure built within, her nails began to dig into his back.

HE gasped quietly and thrust deeper in to her, then he kissed her chin as he felt his body begin to respond deeper to her.

A thin sheen of sweat covered her body as her back arched, reaching that point of no return and passing it.

He cried out as his own body exploded deep in to her. Sweat stuck his hair to his body and he kissed her tenderly as he shuddered.

She ran a hand through his sweat slicked hair, returning his kiss and savouring his scent as he laid atop her.

He smiled and nuzzled her neck, "our bond is sealed."

[Backpost]

“Coffee Break”

Lieutenant (Jg) Dhanishta Eshe
And
Assistant Chief Lieutenant Ella Grey

Ella Grey cursed, with her hands of course, as the tool kit slid away from her. She pushed the wall of the jeffries tube with her feet, her back sliding a couple of inches so that she could extend her arm to each it. She jerked her head as a few sparks flew from the broken interface and then returned to her work quickly so that she could outrun the next firework show.

Dhani could see the ‘fire works’ from the other end of the Jeffries tube, she tried to crawl faster to help out her superior but the mug in her hand prevented her from going as fast as she’d like.

It seemed that acting Chief Grey hadn’t noticed her arrival, yet. She didn’t want to startle her, but it looked like she was going to have to, to get the acting Chiefs attention. Setting the mug down she lightly gripped Greys leg and squeezed, just a little. But enough so that if she kicked out Dhani could prevent her nose from being broken.

She hadn’t worked with Grey before, not really even spoken to her before, and it was strange to do so under these conditions where everyone was stressed, shocked and way over worked. Dhani herself wasn’t supposed to be on duty, she had been singed off by medical and the counsellors but at a time like this everyone was needed at their posts, and Dhani wasn’t going to let anyone stand in the way of her and her job.

Ella frowned and looked over at the newcomer. She tilted her head in a way that asked "Yes?" and also to avoid another spark.

“Chief,” Dhani started, it felt unusual to call Grey ‘Chief’, but until Suder got back, if he got back, that’s what she was, “Beta shift finished One hour, twenty minutes and thirty one seconds ago.” Dhani said with startling accuracy, “I thought you could use this.” She held out the mug towards Ella.

Ella blinked. She knew she'd been on for awhile be she thought she was still on Alpha shift. She signed thank you and then shook her head and smiled. Ella pulled out her computer PADD. *THANK YOU, LT.* She took a sip of the drink and smiled at the welcome taste of coffee. *IM JUST GOING TO FINISH UP HERE.*

Dhani looked at around at the consoles Grey was working on. Looked like a nice and welcome change from hauling debris and dead bodies around like she had been doing for the last few shifts, “Want a hand?” she asked looking back at Grey.

Ella shrugged and then nodded.

Dhanishta gave Grey a nod and a smile and got stuck in.

[Backpost]

“Dead Cargo”

By
Lieutenant (Jg) Dhanishta Eshe
Engineer

Dhanishta hauled yet another dead body into the cargo bay that had become the ships morgue. She paused for a moment to wipe the sweat off her brow. It was funny to think that only a few weeks ago she and Suder had cleared this cargo bay out, just before she had…. She shook her head trying not to think about what had happened to her just a few weeks previous, but then standing in a room full of dead bodies didn’t help. She wasn’t sure weather to mourn for them or to be envious.

She turned back and walked out into the hall. The hall was buzzing with activity, several of the other cargo bays had been turned into treatment rooms. As the casualties mounted up sick bay had become too small and they had to branch out. Most of this deck had been cleared and she had salvage crews working all over the ship.

As she made her way back up to the section she was working on she skimmed over the damage report she was compiling for engineering. Her calculations projected that it would be weeks before this ship was back in its proper conditions. With any luck all ships systems would be restored and working within safety parameters within a few hours and back up to full specks within a week but as to the damage within the ship, well that would take longer. And the damage done to the crew, who knows how long it would take for people to get over their losses? Years probably.

As the turbo lift doors opened onto another seen from hell she gritted her teeth.

“Sir” someone shouted from across the rubble. Dhanishta looked over to the young man who approached her, “We have another two dead.” He said gesturing behind him, “Damage reports are being collated from this deck……” Dhani fazed out as he rambled off a list from the data padd he held. Her eyes locked on to the bodies behind him, one of which was no bigger than her forearm; a baby.

She moved past the ensign whose voice now merged into the background. Around her the medics moved from body to body as other officer’s hauled broken bulkheads, support beams and other debris aside. Ploughing their way through the mess to find the living.

Crouching down next to the dead Dhani hesitated before she pulled the blanket aside to see the burnt, charred, broken body of a baby. No more than six months old.

The ensign stood beside her, turning his attention from the data padd for a moment, “Mother and child, I’m guessing.” He stated, “Must have been trapped in their quarters. Probably died of smoke inhalation.” He said handing her the data padd.

He lingered for a few moments longer watching Dhani as she stared at the body.

It was a while before Dhani realised he’d gone. She re-covered the body and stood up slowly, her mind filling with all sorts of questions. She let it rage as she tuned into auto pilot and began to haul rubble with the rest.

The hours past and their objective changed, finding the living was no longer their objective. Only the dead remained to be uncovered.

[Backpost]

“Dead Cargo Continued”

By
Lieutenant (Jg) Dhanishta Eshe
Engineer

And
NPC Lieutenant Jiiles
Engineer (OOC – Note, thank you to Dane for writing the part of NPC Lt Jiiles.)

Again Dhani found herself in the cargo bay turned morgue. She was crouched over the body she had just placed down. Her eyes misted over as she scanned the room. Goose bumps raised across her arms as the hairs stood up. It was cold; the environmental controls had been adjusted in this room. She felt her body as it began to shiver. But she couldn’t move. She just sat there in the corner hugging herself.

The bodies kept mounting up, one after the other and her entire body was covered with blood, their blood. The lives of her crew mates was smeared across her shorts, her legs, arms, through her hair, in her eye lashes…… no amount of sonic showers would change that. And all she could do was sit there feeling helpless, watching as the doors opened and more dead were placed on the floor.

Silently a tear rolled down her cheek, and another, and….

She had tried to keep her feelings from showing, tried so hard to keep a lid on them but…. No matter how hard she tried they kept gnawing away at her, just waiting to strike out as soon as she had a minute to herself.

The doors opened again but this time no dead followed. She felt the air move as the person crouched down beside her.

“I remember when the Breen attacked Earth,” she started not caring who it was who listened, “I remember seeing the people I had worked with, trained with and studied with die.” She paused as the memory of Chang drifted through her mind. Watching him slip away as she cradled him in her arms, while around her the claxons bleared, the phasers fired and the rubble fell. “So many died that day. And the days that followed. But I didn’t mourn for them. I didn’t even cry. I just carried on, with the job. As was my duty. But here… everything is…” she paused trying to find the right words, “I don’t even know these people.” She stated exasperated, feeling the tears role down her face and splash onto the back of her hand.

~ Why does it bother me so much? ~ she wanted to ask, ~ Why cant I block these out like I did before? ~ but the words wouldn’t come out.

She felt the air change again as the person stood up. She felt his hands grab her shoulders and lift her up to her feet. “Lieutenant.” He said.

But Dhani continued to stare across the room her eyes glazed over.

“Dhanishta.” he said gently his hand brushing against her cheek, wiping the tears away.

His hand startled her into looking his direction, as her eyes focused she saw Jiiles.

He caught her gaze for a few seconds and turned away, deep in thought. He looked back at her, his head titled slightly. “The sight of death… The smell of blood… It never gets easier. No matter how many times you see it happen, or the aftermath, it’s always hard.” He explained, sharing with her that even for him, it was not an easy sight.

She nodded numbly. But even so she couldn’t understand why she couldn’t just flick the switch. Switch off the emotions that made her feel this way. Hell she’d watched her fiancé die. She had held him in her arms. And she shed no tear. Why were things so different here? Why was she different here? Why couldn’t she block them out, like she had done, like Sark taught her? Did Vulcan logic lessons come with an expiry date?

She rested her head on his shoulder as he escorted her out of the morgue, one foot after the other. A part of him longed to be Betazoid. To be able to sense what she was going through. The other part of him believed he already knew. She must be feeling what he was. The sadness of the disaster around them, the dread of moving from deck to deck, knowing what they were going to find. Still, he wanted to know more…

OOC: some repeated material here but interspersed also with new material, so hopefully not too tedious!

"Deja-vu: First First Contact" - Part One

Sub-Commander Savar ir-Aihai tr'Khellian

Personal Log.

"We have arrived at the planet Quentin, where we are to make what the Federation calls 'First Contact' with one of the races who inhabit this world. Apparently, they have recently developed warp technology, and it is Federation policy to approach them only when this milestone has been reached. I am puzzled by this restriction. The Romulan Empire has a long and illustrious history of expanding to include more primitive species and bringing them the benefit of our culture, civilisation and technological advancements. The Federation prefers to jealously gate-keep its knowledge and refinements, choosing only to contact other species when they become a significant threat, it seems. Of course, they claim that these policies are there to 'protect' the primitive species from 'contamination' - but, of course, as soon as First Contact is initiated, 'contamination' occurs immediately.. and.. exponentially.."

The Romulan trailed off from his dictation. Something was wrong about what he was saying - something was.. inappropriate about it. Dark, even. Contamination, such a destructive word, and destruction following meeting.. Savar shook his head, and prepared to resume. Perhaps he was more tired than he realised: there was no basis for his disquiet. Or for the sudden image in his mind's eye of threads of fire, like infected veins, spreading across a desert world.

"This is.. a weak excuse. The Federation cites cases in the past where entire cultures have been altered drastically by a few careless acts, as if this justifies their mean-spiritedness. The fact is, if they had chosen to instead make contact with the backwards races and enlighten them, their futures would have been bright instead of bleak. But no, the learned Federation knows best. Every planet must go through the same cycle of destruction and deprivation that worlds like Earth endured. Such nonsense."

Tr'Khellian went on purposefully, recording his work alongside Lt Geluf in performing a tactical assessment of Quentin's races, his unusual hesitation now forgotten. He left his seat on the couch and began to pace.

"Nevertheless," he concluded, "it is quite understandable that the Federation would wish to engage with these people before they begin arming their warp vessels with nuclear warheads. I made a full report to Captain M'Kantu - who remains taciturn in his dealings with me."

"Perhaps the most bizarre facet of this mission is its reliance on a Risian ambassador, who --"

An image of fire blazed suddenly and without warning into the Romulan's head, and an explosion of klaxons rang in his ears. The sensory overload was enough to stagger him physically. His heart pounding in his shocked ears, sweat prickling at his palms, tr'Khellian steadied himself, gasping as he turned towards the viewport. Quentin was there, blue, green, white, turning imperceptibly, serene, pacific. But still, Savar's heart thumped, adrenaline rushing through his coppery veins. His eyes flicked towards the lights by the door, expecting the urgent cereise of red alert. They were dull, and unlit. His hands trembling, the Romulan moved swiftly towards the door to his quarters, which hissed apart at his approach. He peered out into the corridor, looking up and down it. No thunder of boots running towards emergency stations. No flashing lights. No sirens. As he stood there, a young woman rounded the corner and walked past him, with a small boy in tow. The child gawked at the half-dressed Romulan, and Savar's keen hearing picked up the mother scolding him for staring as they passed out of his sight.

Frowning with confusion, he stepped back into his rooms. "Computer," he barked, "what is our alert status?"

"Condition Green," came the staccato reply.

"Has red alert been sounded within the last five minutes?" he demanded.

"Negative."

"Is there an emergency onboard?"

"Negative. All systems are functioning within normal parameters."

"Then why are my hands trembling?" he muttered in Rihannsu.

"Please restate the question," the computer droned.

"Iurret!" the Romulan snapped. ['Shut up']

Shaking his head, the patrician took off his boots, and padded over to his washstand, running cold water into the bowl before splashing his face, cleansing off the beads of sweat that had gathered on his upper lip. He peered at his own reflection, worried at what he had just experienced. He really felt no more weary than usual after an eight hour shift. Perhaps the strain of serving beneath others - and especially humans - was finally beginning to tell. He went back into the main living space, removed his uniform trousers and hung them over the back of a chair, then moved into his bedroom, slumping onto his bunk. He still felt out of sorts, as if he should really be somewhere else, and it took him a long time to drift off into a fitful sleep.

**

"None, Captain. No lifesigns at all. None whatsoever on the planet. It's dead. They're all dead."

Cassius Henderson was lying half-dead on the ground, the horrid stench of burned clothing and flesh drifting on the smoke-filled air. A frosty-faced woman was manning Tactical. Fires raged over Quentin, and klaxons howled in Savar's ears.

"Sensor logs indicate the epicentre was the beam-down co-ordinates for your delegation," the Romulan was saying. He looked up from his console to meet M'Kantu's gaze. "The damage sustained to the Galaxy and our subsequent trajectory confirm it."

The African's face was suddenly close to his, taunting, questioning, undermining, secretly mocking his disgrace. Savar wanted to flinch away from the dark-skinned man's hollow, accusatory eyes.

"Captain," Savar said, as M'Kantu's head began to turn away, "your ship has apparently just caused the extinction of an entire planet. Are you so willing to accept this that you refuse to investigate alternative causes?"

"If there are cloaked ships out there, Sub-Commander, we're in no shape to engage them right now."

And they really weren't: the ugly Galaxy-II class vessel had been battered badly by the explosion emanating from Quentin's surface. She hung there, barely retaining her intertial dampners, all her defences lost: and now he, Savar ir-Aihai tr'Khellian, was responsible. He glanced at the prone form of Lieutenant Commander Henderson, as a blue shimmer of particles descended and took him away, to Sickbay.

**

"Do you know of my situation?"

Savar felt himself nod, without knowing why. The doctor explained her need for Romulan blood, to operate on the Senator's heart.

"It would be an *honour* to save your life, Senator," tr'Khellian stated, with a small bow. With these words and this gestures he let Omar know a great debt was being created, one which would not be forgotten. He turned to Reynolds. "My duties are important at this time, please be swift."

**

The fires over Quentin raged still. "My apologies, Captain," Savar said, inclining his head respectfully. "I was needed in Sickbay for longer than anticipated." The African gave a short nod, and tr'Khellian took one of two remaining seats. He looked around at the assembled staff, sensing their hostility, their edginess, their suspicion, their bafflement. Endless discussion ensued, the room spinning with bureaucratic overload, with Savar's frustration, with M'Kantu's running of his ship by committee.

The Romulan leaned forwards, looking from M'Kantu towards the Chief Engineer. Prioritizing science sensors, indeed! How ridiculous! "I am sure I do not need to remind you that without shields and tactical sensors we are wholly defenseless," the Romulan warned, in dire tones. "We are currently easy prey for any foe - and limited in terms of our 'investigation'. Tactical systems must be the top priority. Only then will the full picture become available to us."

On and on the discussion went, now with added vitriol as the assembled crewmembers fought over who would take a trip to the holocaustal surface of Quentin. Sub-Commander tr'Khellian grunted significantly. He was amazed at the Starfleet Officers' lack of dignity and discipline, squabbling like children over who got to go on an outing. But he was more amazed at the Captain, sitting there in silence and letting this rabble blunder onwards, leaving it to the Chief Medical Officer to point out that precious time was being wasted. What a farce.

"Very well then," M'Kantu turned to Rebecca. "Number One, assemble your team."

**

A richly-accented voice crackled out across a damaged intercom.

"Prepare to deploy your fighters, Lieutenant. Galaxy is at... less than peak condition. You are required to screen us from whatever may be out there. I... recommend a spherical defensive screen with your sensors at maximum until we know more."

**

Tr'Khellian turned a sour expression onto the Starfleet Captain. "I *still* have no access to sensors. Repairs are taking far too long!"

"I am confident that Commander Suder's staff is working as fast as possible," M'Kantu remarked, turning back to face the viewscreen.

The Romulan grasped his console so hard that his olive-coloured hands grew pale, his eyes boring a hole into M'Kantu's back. As if the impotence of manning a station on someone else's bridge were not enough, there was the added disgrace of serving under an idle sloth like this African, his tone dismissive, abusive of the experienced veteran's cautions and advice.

By the Elements, he wished he were in command of this ship! How he missed surveying the whole operations of a warship from the vantage point of absolute power - how he missed ordering, rather than offering 'recommendations'! This was agony, subject to the whims of this slow-witted dunce - this was imprisonment, not an opportunity, further punishment for his defiance, forced to serve beneath a weak and impotent human.

"Captain," tr'Khellian said, looking up from his station, "another vessel is entering the far-reaches of the system."

"Elaborate," M'Kantu ordered, with a frown.

"It has no warp engines and is of primitive design. Maximum speed in the region of 80 per cent impulse. Equipped with several sensor arrays. It appears to be a very basic survey vessel." The Romulan looked down and tapped at his console, then raised an eyebrow. "It appears to be armed with a nuclear warhead."

"Lifeforms?"

"Seventeen." He tapped again at his console. "All Quentites." He looked towards the Captain, one dark eyebrow arched in an icy expression. "It looks as we have some explaining to do."

**

"Three ships entering the system in tight formation," Savar spoke up from the tactical console. "Dropping out of warp now. Sensors identify all three as Starfleet vessels: the Nimitz, the Pershing, and the Hood."

The three ships swung menancingly into the system, their rainbow warp trails sweeping behind them like wraith-cloaks: the Sovereign in the lead, powerful, intimidating, sleek and cold; the ancient Excelsior, an aged veteran of costlier errors than these; the Pershing, tiny and deadly, an equatorial mosquito ready to sting the Galaxy's exposed, fatty flesh.

"Fighters launching." Savar's hands worked the console. "Taking up picket position around the task force." He frowned. "Their weapons are hot, Captain. We should assume a more aggressive posture."

"No," Sub-Commander," Daren shook his head. "We're not here to start a shooting match with our own ships."

"Then at least let me scramble our remaining fighters," tr'Khellian snapped irritably.

"No, Sub-Commander, this isn't a war. They just want the same thing we do - the truth about what happened."

**

"They're here to find out what happened, Sub-Commander." Daren paused a moment, then went on with the rest of it. He'd never like holding things back from his subordinates. "There was some sort of a research facility - a Federation one, it seems; one unknown to the inhabitants - on the planet. Admiral Hoth couldn't confirm its exact nature, but he did confirm that something had been here. He also wouldn't confirm his orders, but I expect that he was sent to secure that facility, recover any and all surviving materials from it, and try to cover up its existence and possible culpability in the destruction of the planet."

"Deja-vu: First First Contact" - Part Two

Sub-Commander Savar ir-Aihai tr'Khellian

"It is folly," Savar said, simply.

Daren nodded and turned to look at the tactical plot for a moment. "Do you know what the one unifying characteristic that all sentient races have is Sub-Commander?" He looked up. "Culturally, I mean."

The answer 'foolish pride' sprang to mind, but tr'Khellian bit back the sour response. From the look on the African's face and the way his tone had changed, he could feel an attempt at profundity coming on. Quite when M'Kantu became the galaxial expert on anthropology eluded the Romulan. "I am quite sure you're going to tell me, Captain," he replied, drily.

"Every single sentient race that we've encountered among the stars, every one of them, Sub-Commander, possessed something that they were willing to die for. An ideal, a plot of land, money, their gods... something. That capacity to consciously surrender one's sense of self-preservation in defense of something else is what separates us from the animals." Daren met the Romulan's eyes. "Even if they know that their defense is doomed, even if they know that no one will ever know that they made their stand... they do so. I swore my oath to the Federation a lifetime ago, Sub-Commander, but I remember it still. What these men are doing is wrong - it violates the core beliefs that the Federation was founded on do violently, so criminally, that it must be opposed. Even if we can't win. Even if no one will ever know. Because to step aside makes us a part of their crime, makes us like them... and that's too high a price."

"Then you are willing to send hundreds to their deaths, and commit open mutiny. It is folly," he repeated. But he squared his shoulders again, and took his stance at the Tactical console, resigned to this mad fate, to wherever the Elements whimmed them all.

"Charge the weapons, Sub-Commander."

**

"One of Nimitz's fighters just fired on ours.  We've lost Vanguard 7. Shit....  It's a mess... They're all firing...  I..."  She paused and took a deep breath, looking down at Henderson, who'd just been hung up on by the Quentites.

"Sir," she said to M'Kantu, "I think it's begun."

"Maintain defensive posture, sub-Commander."

"Galaxy, this is Vanguard One. I really hope this is important, because we're kind of busy not dying out here." the Trill stated when the comm opened.

"Stand down your squadron," tr'Khellian's voice barked over the speakers. "Repeat: stand down."

"Well, see, I'd love to do that sir. But I've just had a little conversation with White Knights Lead -" Corran broke off as he had to put all his attention into evading another minitorp spread. "Sorry about that, Galaxy. Anyways, White Knights Leader doesn't seem inclined to stop shooting at us. If we stop, we're all dead. I'm more than willing to take an alternative to that."

A brief sigh from the Romulan punctuated a gap between incoming fire. "Lieutenant, this is a direct order from your Captain. STAND DOWN." Ice crystals would have formed on the words if they could have. Did no one in this Starfleet obey any orders at all?

"Sir, you didn't hear his voice. If we power down, they WILL kill us."

Tr'Khellian shot an exasperated, furious glare at M'Kantu, his hands twitching on his console with annoyance. "Stand by," he snapped, before cutting the comm. "Vanguard Squadron cannot extricate themselves from battle," he reported.

"We just lost Vanguard Nine," Pennington reported from the secondary tactical console.

The Romulan's head snapped back towards the African CO. "Battle is joined, Captain," he stated imperiously. "We either do, or die."

**

["Vanguard One to Galaxy. Reinforcement fighters coming from the Hood. Their weapons are trained on us. If you don't - or can't - come in and help us, we're dead, Captain."]

**

Outside the sleek grey form of the USS Nimitz seemed to suddenly veer off at a 90 degree angle and roll out on a new course that brought her directly parallel to the approaching Hood.

All attempts to warn off Captain DeSoto went unanswered, and it seemed as if Hoth's prediction of a cat-fight was soon to be in the offering. Multiple green-tractor beams lanced out of Nimitz's belly streaking across the vacuum to ensnare no less than eight of her recalcitrant fighters in one fell swoop. The tiny craft were no match for the limitless power of Starfleet's most advanced vessel.

A similar beam stabbed out from the dorsal emitter, and attempted to slow the approaching Hood which was closely following her own fighter screen. This proved to be a more difficult maneuver. The Hood had already built up a full head of steam, and her sheer mass was proving difficult for the single beam to slow. Unfortunately it also made it difficult for the Hood to swerve out of the way.

Desperately attempting to swerve, but unable to because of the tractor holding it in place, the USS Hood struck the Nimitz just Starboard of the saucer midline.

The force of the blow put the Nimitz into a nauseating spin, which as a result flung the fighters it held in its ventral tractors across space, scattering them to the four corners.

Hood's bow buckled impressively, and its aft end flipped end for end, sending the hundred year old starship tumbling through space.

Unfortunately the Hood's left nacelle broke loose form its mountings, and lanced forward like some 300 meter long javelin, aimed directly at the heart of the Galaxy.

"Hard to starboard!"

**

"I recommend an immediate strike on the Hood before they can recover. Their weapons and propulsion systems are still online and their fighter squadron is rallying for another strike-run... We must act *now*, before they recover."

"No, not the Hood, Sub-Commander." The Pershing it was.

"Target their propulsion systems only, Sub-Commander," frowned the Captain.

"Their weapons -"

"The propulsion systems," barked M'Kantu. "Ms. Pennington, I need those missiles now."

"Firing!"

On the main viewscreen, six flashes of light overwhelmed all sight, and the viewer darkened so as not to blind the bridge crew. When it returned, the Pershing was limping in space, it's shields overwhelmed by the energy of the blast. From his position across the bridge, Henderson nodded to Pennington. She'd played her part spectacularly, though