USS Galaxy: The Next Generation Sim Log
Stardate: 60709.09 - 607089.15

"Stardate: 64908.05"

Location: Unknown

Communication commences at 1802 hrs, text only:

Tag (Anonymous User): HELLO TRACER

Tag (Tracer): WHO IS THIS?

Tag (Anonymous User): YOU CAN CALL ME "ANON"

Tag (Tracer): I'LL CALL YOU WHATEVER I WANT, NOW SCRAG OFF OF MY NETWORK!

<Pause>

Tag (Anonymous User): I NEED YOU

Tag (Tracer): NOBODY NEEDS CITIZEN TRACER, IT'S THOSE WHO GET MY ATTENTION WHO SHOULD WORRY

Tag (Anonymous User): I WANT YOUR FULL ATTENTION

Tag (Tracer): YOU CAN START BY GIVING ME A REAL NAME, I FIND NAMES TO BE USEFUL

Tag (Anonymous User): I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SPEAKING TO YOU AGAIN VERY SOON CITIZEN TRACER

<Reconnecting: Tracer>

End of transmission

"The Kahs-wan" Part Two

Lieutenant Dhanishta Eshe
Chief Engineer
USS Galaxy

Lieutenant (Jg) Chandrakala Eshe
Engineering Officer
USS Galaxy

* Vulcana Regnar in the province of Raal, Vulcan. Day One*

When she takes over me, she controls me, she consumes me, my voice is but a mere whisper in her darkness.

"The problem is you Nish."

Dhanishta swallowed hard. She tried to hold her tongue, stop herself from lashing out, biting back. But it didn't work, first Kimberly, then Michael, then Brian and now her own bloody sister?!

"I'm the problem?" Dhani asked loudly, defensively, angrily.

"Yes." Kala replied flatly without hesitation.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?!" Dhani shouted throwing her bag to the ground with unabated anger.

Kala stepped back. On one level she had to admit she was slightly afraid, but at that moment it was anger that rained, seconded by pain.

"What do you think it's supposed to mean?" Kala shouted back, similarly throwing her bag to the floor for dramatic effect. She levelled her gaze at her sister testing her with a look of 'come on then'.

"Well if I knew that, then I wouldn't be asking, would I? Dumb ass!" Dhani sneered.

Kala's lips curled into a mocking ugly smile of early victory. "You have just made my point!" she stated with a look of contempt plastered across her face. Dhanishta said nothing, her annoyed expression and venomous eyes conveyed her anger and apparent lack of understanding.

Kala shook her head. Dhani knew what she was talking about; she just didn't want to admit it. She could sense a part of Dhanishta coiling up like a snake, retreating into a dark cave to escape the truth of the statement, everything else; the anger, the shouting the abusive tongue lashing - it was all a cover. Kala could see right through the act. She understood the act - scream and shout and make such a drama out of everything and eventually everyone will get fed up with the agro and leave you alone. It was a trick that had worked, that much was obvious. Some people were afraid of Nishta because her temper was unpredictable. But Kala knew that no mater what happened Nish would never strike out at her. They had a bond that was deeper than blood. That bond had saved both their lives on more than one occasion. That, and that alone, was all the ammunition she had in her arsenal.

"Since when did you scream at me?" Kala asked in a more even tone. "Since when did you scream at my Captain? Or beat up ambassadors, or your ex boyfriends, or the medical officers, or ."

Dhanishtas head rolled back as she let out a laugh of comprehension, "So that's what this is all about." she stated, "All of this is Kimberlys doing."

"Well thank you very fucking much." Dhani addressed the sky, her ship and the CMO within. "How many more ways can you fuck up my life you stupid fucking bitch?!" Dhani screamed so hard tears stung her eyes.

Kala looked on utterly disgusted. Looking down her nose at her twin she sneered, "And since when did you start cursing like a filthy _ common _Terran?" she asked pointedly stressing each space between words.

"You don't like it, you know where you can go!" Dhanishta retorted picking up her bag and slinging it over her shoulder.

Kala chuckled bitterly. Watching her sister storm off should be reminiscent of childhood arguments. But they had no such childhood. All their lives they had been close. They had never argued, never taken clothes out of the others wardrobe, never borrowed anything without asking, never hit on the others boyfriend.

Slowly Kala picked up her own bag. She wasn't going to run off after her sister, for that wasn't her sister. "Did the Hydrans clone you too?" she asked over the rising sand cloud caused by Dhanishtas quick getaway. The problem was that unless she called for an emergency beam out, she wasn't going to get far enough away to silence Kala. Even on the ship she would still be able to hear her. At times she forgot that herself. There had been so many occasions where she had heard Dhanishtas voice inside her mind, and many times that she had called out to Nishta. She smiled softly remembering the last time she had screamed for help. Dutifully Nish had come running. But that was before, before she had changed. She wondered if she would come running now as she had then.

Dhanishta heard the comment but kept on walking. Anger fuelled her pace, the faster she walked the more her head swam. She truly hated feeling this way, but it was becoming more and more frequent, so much so that she had a hard time defining any other feeling. Sometimes she liked the fact that she could feel more than she had. It meant that she could take pleasure in things that she simply couldn't before, things that she would never have noticed. But the anger clouded everything, tainted everything with a darkness that she couldn't escape. It emanated from within and exploded without warning.

"I remember a time when you saved violence for the enemy only. When you used your knowledge for defence *only*. Hell Nish you taught that in your classes! What was your moto." Kala trailed off trying to recall it.

Dhanishta paused in her steps, slowing as she thought. It was a life time ago, or at least it felt that way. Back in the academy in her later years she had taught a martial arts course, she had taken every style that she had ever learned, combined them to produce her own style and passed it on. Things had been so much clearer back then.

Kala shook the thought from her head; it made no difference now anyway. "You used to be so logical, so calm. I remember looking up to you. You were my big sister. You looked out for me. You helped me through the Academy; it was like you just absorbed knowledge. You have changed so much." Kala stopped walking and stared ahead. "I feel like I don't know who you are any more." she said slowly.

She closed her eyes against the emotion. She had held that in for so long. Never had the courage to say it. It felt like a huge weight had been lifted from her soul, yet a new pressure replaced the vacant spot. As the silence extended so did her anxiety.

Location; Cheleb-khor in the province of Shi'al, Vulcan

Dhanishta turned her face away from the east, from the source of pain and regret. Throughout her life she had been criticized time and time again for her lack of compassion, her fearlessness, her lack of humor and for conforming to Vulcan logic. She had been teased, labeled an 'ice queen', jeered and sneered at by some of her pears. She had risen above it; she never bit back, never got angry or sad. She had never minded for she was logical and rose above it.

She had made friends, some were closer than others. She had impressed her tutors and worked hard in all areas and soon the sneering passed, the jibes stopped. While she never really felt accepted she did feel included. People began to respect her for who she was and what she could do rather than what she found funny. It wasn't until years later, just before the Breen attacked Earth; she could remember the day clearly; the time, the location, the fragrance of the flowers on the breeze that flowed through the open window. the day was as clear in her mind as this moment. The day her fianc? left her *because* she was too *unemotional*.

She looked up to the sky, and drew in a long breath. It was beyond ironic that now, now she was emotional, that someone else would complain. She closed her eyes against the blazing sun and placed one foot in front of the other, let automatic pilot take over and prayed that the wind would carry her pain away as easily at it lifted the sand from the ground.

She had been abandoned because she lacked emotion. Her future dreams had been cast aside like an old shoe, tossed away without regret or remorse. She tried to push the pain away. Tried to recall every trick in the book; the book that had caused her so much misery she thought sardonically. So many techniques, so many words of wisdom from voices long forgotten, long dead, filled her mind. But she couldn't focus. Her teachings failed her time and again. She stared ahead through blurred vision and questioned why?

~If I scream out, if I cry, if I fall down and scratch the dirt, will they find me? Will they care?~

Already tears lined her cheeks, ~Perhaps I am the problem.~ she thought miserably as she walked on.

Her destination had been clear in her mind when she set out: take a trip down memory lane with Kala, visit the old haunts, their old house and school. But nothing was ever as simple as that.

TBC.

"A Changed Man" [Backpost]

(Takes place after "Red and Green")

2nd. Lieutenant Branwen London
Flight Officer Angelienia

****

USS Galaxy
Furies Flight Deck

"Oi! Angel, wait up!" Bran ran over to her while she came off duty after pulling another double shift. "Boy, are you a hard woman to track these days!"

Angelienia squinted at Bran as she ran up, shifting the flight helmet that dangled by its chin-strap from her right hand to her left so she could wave tiredly back at the approaching Marine. "Hi," she greeted Bran as the shorter woman caught up. "Everything okay with you and Man'darr?"

"Perfect! We are spending as much time as possible getting to know each other. But what about your boyfriend, I talked to him a few days ago and I could not believe what I saw. What happened to him?"

Angelienia blinked for a moment, trying to decide how to answer that. She knew what had changed Victor, what had happened to him during the katra possession, but she couldn't tell Branwen that. They'd take him away from her, study him and test him and wind up breaking him again, undoing everything he'd gained and making him into the man she'd first approached years ago. She wouldn't let that happen to him. Not again. No one should be shown how beautiful life was after living in the dark their whole lives and then have it taken from them again.

"Did you ask him?" She smiled wanly. "He knows what's happening inside his head better than anyone else."

"And he still can't talk about it. I love the way he has changed, but it is not normal you, nobody changes so much in such a short time. That aspect does worry me." Branwen admitted.

Angelienia's laugh was sudden and undeniably genuine. "Oh, Bran, really? Normal? My Victor?" She shook her head and smiled. "I think you all keep making the same mistake about him."

"Hmpf, I don't see him as so different. I don't get why everybody finds him so scary. What am I doing wrong?"

"I don't know why you can't tell why everyone reacts to him the way they do, but as for what you're doing wrong, you're making the same mistake that all the counselors that have met him do: you keep trying to judge him by human standards," the Ktarian explained.

"Well he IS human." She frowned. "At least last time I checked he was."

"I'm sure he is, biologically," Angelienia conceded. "But not here." She tapped herself on the side of the head. "Not inside his head. He doesn't think like anyone else, not really. So all your expectations and all your psychology, keep failing when you apply them to him, because they're all geared to work on human beings, not on Victor."

"So how does he think? And how come he can change his whole thinking pattern in just a few months?" She watched the other woman. "And how do you know his human brain can handle that without overloading?"

How Victor thought was a topic that Angelienia was uniquely qualified to talk about. "Well for starters... Do you remember all the things he said in the past that you thought were jokes? The ones you laughed over?"

"Yes of course." Bran said.

"He wasn't joking."

"That is what he says." She admitted. "I still doubt it. He has a very dry humor."

"No, he wasn't; he hasn't had a sense of humor at all until recently. Not one he thought anyone would want to see, anyway. He meant every literal word of the things he said. He always says exactly what he means, Bran. Always."

"But why aren't I scared of him then? He always says he scares people half to death, and he only makes me laugh."

"He says that because he does make people frightened, Bran. Try watching him walk down a corridor sometime, or see what happens when he goes to 10-Forward to get a cup of coffee. There's a reason that all those people move, or get up and leave." Angelienia paused to let a group of people exit the small ready room and lounge attached to the launch bay, and then moved inside before the door could close, Bran on her heels.

"As for why it doesn't affect you," she continued as she dropped into a chair with a sigh of relief, "I don't know. He tells me that there are more people on the Galaxy that aren't affected by his presence than all the other people that he's known in his life that weren't added together. Maybe you're too innocent in some way to see it. Maybe you don't have some chemical receptor gene, or your brainwave patterns aren't wired like everyone else's." The Ktarian shrugged. "Maybe it's because this is where the Thousand Gods decided his home would be, and they sent all of you people here to make it feel like one to him." She tilted her head to one side, a gesture that appeared to be unconsciously adopted from Victor's similar habit. "Does it matter why?"

"It still worries me that he has changed so much over such a short period of time. You know, pure professional."

"That's not what should worry you, professionally or personally" the pilot said softly. "What should worry you is if he suddenly goes back to the way he was before. That should scare everyone who knows him."

"But coming back to what you said about people being scared of him, have you ever been?" Bran asked the other woman curiously. She loved Dar and didn't think he would ever hurt her, but his rages were terrifying to watch.

"I... once. He scared me once," Angelienia admitted. "You have to understand, when I see him, when I'm near him... I don't feel what you feel, or what everyone else feels. I..." She closed her eyes and sighed. "I want him. I've always wanted him, from the first time I saw him. I'm not scared by him; I... want him. I thought it was just sex initially, that all I wanted and needed from him was to have sex with him for days on end, because no man has ever made me feel the way he does just by looking at me or speaking to me. But I was wrong."

She relaxed, as if telling Bran this was a relief for her. "I didn't know that until he scared me for the first and only time; until he made me think about why I was so attracted to him. I tried to seduce him in his quarters and failed. He was angry - so angry that he let me see the inner face that he hides from the world before he threw me out of his rooms. Afterwards... afterwards, once I started to think about what had happened and why, I realized that I wanted to be with him physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I want to touch him and hold him and give him children. I want to wake up next to him in the morning, and close my eyes at night next to him at night, and laugh with him and... do and be everything that you can do and be together."

"So yes," she smiled, "he's scared me. Once. I don't know if he knows it or not, but it was the right thing to do, the perfect thing to do. The one thing that would snap me out of my fixation and make me realize what we could really have together if I just was patient and reached him."

"Whoah!" Bran said quietly. "Thank you for sharing that, Angie. I had no idea. Maybe he will really scare me one day as well. He did pick a nickname." She looked at the other woman. "How do you feel about this large change inside him?"

"What do I think?" The Ktarian closed her eyes for a moment and thought about that. What did she think? What could she tell Bran without betraying Victor? She'd been jealous when he explained to her what had happened; jealous that someone else had had the life with her man that she wanted, that he'd held them and made love to them and had children with them - and not her. She'd even considered tracking down who Chulak's wife's katra had been held by and doing something spiteful to her for it.

But she hadn't. That was the old Angelienia thinking, the one she'd left behind to be the new Angelienia - the one that Victor cared for. And if she wanted to be with him, then her old self had to die and stay dead. So she'd done nothing but feel sick and jealous... until he'd told her something else. That... now *that* she could tell Bran.

"I'm happy," she admitted. "Because he... we...." She stopped and opened her eyes to look directly into Bran's. "He told me that he was glad he'd figured out how to change; because that meant that he could be the man I needed him to be. That if he hadn't changed, we would have... failed. And he was right, even if I didn't want to admit it. No matter how much we wanted it and how hard we tried, we ultimately couldn't have made things work, because he couldn't do and say the things that he needed to in order for us to be together.... But he can now. He can say them, and has said them. He can say "I love you" and I know that it's real, because he never lies."

She smiled, the expression changing her face, making it seem almost luminous. "He can tell me he loves me, Bran. How could I not be happy that he's changed?"

Suddenly Bran hugged the other woman. "That's beautiful, Angie. I am so happy for you, for both of you. You can make something of this. And I am glad he has changed so much." Then she gave the other woman a shrewder look. "You don't want me to find out what happened and how he did it, do you?" She asked.

Angelienia looked at her for a moment, her green cat's eyes serious. "Leave it alone, Bran. Please? If you push and you prod, then someone else will notice and then they'll do it, and then another and another. And finally, sooner or later, they'll undo everything. They'll make him like he was before... and I'll lose him. He's fine. He's happy. I'm fine, I'm happy. *We're* happy. So... please? Please let it be? For him, and for me, and for us?"

The counselor bit the inside of her lip. "He still isn't seeing a counselor is he? Commander Dallas seems to give him more leeway. Hmmmmmm, how about I write a report that I have done his yearly psyche talk? That should cover it. I am very curious to know what happened, but I even more want to keep him the way he is now."

Angelienia relaxed a little; maybe this was going to be okay, after all. "He's not seeing Counselor Dallas anymore, but he still always goes to his counseling appointments, Bran. Sometimes they don't have someone to talk to him because so many of them are Betazoids, or are just plain scared of him, though. I think... I think that if you asked them, they'd let you do his evaluations - they might even thank you."

"Okay I will." She said. "That way I can protect him." She hugged herfriend again. "And now you should go and get some rest, hon."

Tired, but infinitely relieved, the Ktarian pilot hugged Bran back. "Thank you," she whispered gratefully. "I don't know what I'd do if I lost him."

"I know the feeling." Branwen said softly. "Go and sleep, okay."

"Okay... and thank you."

~Cold Truth~

Thyago Carneiro
Sharzhevashi zh'Rin

"I've found what you requested," the Ferengi said, approaching Thyago and the giant rodent-like creature that had been following him around.

"Oooh!" the Brazilian squealed, "Awesome! Gimme!"

"Ah ah ah. Where is my payment?" the Ferengi asked.

One would have thought that the potential to live past the day would have been enough payment, but, apparently, that wasn't enough for a Ferengi. Thyago rolled his eyes and handed over the box. "Here. Two microwavable lasagna dinners and a sacky of teriyaki flavored pork jerky. That's, like, all my meals until Wednesday."

"I thought you said you were a dancer," the Ferengi replied as he ruffled through the food items. "Don't you dancers have to starve yourselves?"

"That doesn't mean I like to, sabe?

"What about my cheese crackers?"

"Oh, that was Mickey," Thyago said, pointing to the large hunch-backed mouse. One of its crossed eyes was staring at the small Ferengi cautiously. "I leave him alone for one second and he's raiding the cheesy snacks. I threw in a Jolly Rancher, can't we call it even?"

"I wanted those cheese crackers!"

"Come on! Its sour apple flavored."

"BAAAAAAAN!" Mickey added, suddenly.

The Ferengi grumbled. "Fine," he said, then threw down a large tube, nearly a meter long and 15 centimeters in diameter, "Here."

"What's this? I said I needed the station blueprints," Thyago said. "Gimme back my food."

The Ferengi gripped the lunch pail close to his chest, defensively. "Those are the blueprints. We can't access the computer, so I found you hard copies."

"Paper?!" Thyago said excitedly. "I love paper! Its so much better than PADDs all the time."

He quickly pulled out a sheet and unrolled it onto the floor. It was one square meter in size and showed the plans for the first three decks (which were quite small), including power conduits, air and water piping, gravity plating, and the computer hard lines. "Dude, this is so cool! How many sheets are there?"

"One hundred eighty-eight," the Ferengi replied, biting down on a piece of pork jerky.

"Wow! That's almost two hundred!"

The Ferengi paused a moment, shocked. "That was the most useless comment I think I've ever heard."

"BAAAAAAAN!" Mickey agreed.

Thyago looked up with narrowed eyes. "Seriously? You're going to say that beat out 'baaan?'"

"BAAAAAAAN!"

The Ferengi thought for a moment. "Yes."

"Dude, whatever. Oh, look," the Brazilian said, pointing to a group of lines on one of the sheets. "That's the biggest subprocesser on the station. It preprocesses all the incoming sensor data from the port side, and, like, the phasers and shields and things. Its only five decks up."

"BAAAAAAAN!"

"No, Mickey. Not bad. Good."

"Why," the Ferengi asked. He was not technically minded, nor really very interested, now that he had gotten his food.

"Well, I should be able to splice into the feeds and see outside. And/or there's a small chance I can supersede the software and pipe in data to the weapons systems. Although, Sparky would be better at that than I would, 'cause there's microprocessors on the phasers that translate the bitty things into actual electrical impulses, and I don't know how to fake that stuff."

"Okay," the Ferengi said, disinterested.

"Beleza! I'm gonna go play. Can you watch Mickey for me?" Thyago said, then ran off.

"What? I don't want---" the Ferengi started, but Thyago was already gone with his blueprints.

Mickey cried "BAAAAAAAAN!" at the departure of his friend, but then saddled up behind the Ferengi and very gently, and lovingly, rested his snout on his burnt orange head.

"Get off me," the Ferengi grumbled, pushing the large alien away.

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

The hatch snicked closed, sealing off the corridor from the Jeffries Tube. Behind the hatch, crouched against it with eyes closed, Sharzhevashi zh'Rin listened. The heavy thuds of footsteps receded away from her hiding place. That was a bad corridor. With that many aliens here, she suspected she needed to keep moving. Of course, she could have headed off in the wrong direction, and there were even more waiting for her further on. Or this side of the station was filled with them, and the other side would be where Starfleet was mounting a stand against them.

With a sigh, Shi crawled back to the ladder. With a deep breath, she took hold of the rungs and started down. It was a nice idea, to be sure. It would make sense there would be more of the aliens near the command centers, which meant up. If she'd focused more on security, perhaps she'd have a better idea. Whoever they were, she could probably fly their ships for them, but she could do very little else.

"You could just find a quiet corner and wait there if you're so useless," she told herself.

She wasn't quite sure when she'd begun talking to herself, but she suspected it was shortly after she'd almost been caught. Perhaps she'd need to see a counselor if she survived this ordeal.

"Just keep moving," she finally answered.

Down she climbed, wondering how far she'd need to go to find someone else who wasn't going to kill her at first glance. On the one hand, she was out of uniform, which would make easy recognition difficult. But at least the flowing gown she wore would appear less threatening than if she were wearing fifty kilos of alien battle armor. At least she had her communicator, though it was rather quiet.

Shi wasn't quite sure how many decks down she'd traveled. It felt like fifty, though she suspected it was closer to fifteen.

"Just a little further," she told herself. Thankfully, she wasn't inclined to answer.

It wasn't quite the time, she knew, but it was rather amazing that her Pacifican gown was still rather clean. A testament to Federation standards in cleanliness in their ships and stations, perhaps.

Just as she was about to place her foot on the next rung, she heard the sound.

Shi froze. She closed her eyes and focused on the sound. It was a boot on one of the rungs of the Jeffries Tube. Since she hadn't had time to put on a pair of boots before fleeing her quarters, she decided it wasn't an echo of her own progress. Plus, she was stopped, and it was still moving.

Was it the sound of a heavy, alien-in-battle-armor boot? As quickly and silently as possible, Shi went up. She slipped off the ladder and into the next junction. If it was an alien, could she fight him and win? Or was that her death marching up the ladder.

It was getting closer. Time for debate was quickly coming to an end.

A shadow fell across the wall.

Shi readied herself to strike. A sandy-haired head came into view. It was attached to a human body, not in uniform, but human. Overjoyed, the Andorian ensign let an elated squeak.

"You are human," she said as she quickly moved to the edge of the junction.

"Deus!" the man startled, jerking his body and knocking his head into the next rung of the ladder with a loud thwang. "Ah, caralho!"

"I am sorry," Shi said quickly. "I did not mean to startle you. I thought you were one of them, the aliens I mean."

"Oww, my head. That's gonna swell," the man said, "So, what? You thought I was an alien and you were planning to scare me to death?"

"Since the attack, I have been wandering the station trying to find someone who was not one of the alien attackers. You were the first one I saw who was not. I guess I got a little excited. I am sorry about your head."

"Oh. Ok, I forgive you," he said, letting his eyes quickly roam over the parts of her body that he could see. "I'm Thyago."

"I am Sharzhevashi zh'Rin," she answered. "I usually just go by Shi though. I have been trying to find anyone from Starfleet, but with the computers out and the aliens everywhere, I had to climb through the Jeffries Tubes just to hope to find anyone. I heard some of the fighting. Do you know if anyone else survived?"

"Oh, yeah. There're a bunch of people down a few decks. Like, several hundred. You can't miss them," he answered. "The internal sensors down there are broken for some reason, and the Hyphens tried to kill everyone by venting the air. We stopped them, right, but they don't know that. They think its all empty down there, so everyone is holing up down there until, you know, something happens."

"The Hyphens," Shi said. The name didn't sound familiar, but with all the various species spread through the quadrants, why couldn't their be one that was coincidentally named after Terran punctuation. "I am glad there are others. I was afraid it might just be the two of us." She was quiet for a moment as her antennae bowed toward her skull.

"No, that doesn't sound right," Thyago repeated quietly. "Hydrides? Hysons? I don't know. I'm not good with names."

Shi smiled. In her time at Starfleet Academy, she learned that humans find reassurance in smiles. She hoped hers worked. "It does not matter. They are enemies and will be defeated, no matter their names. I can tell you they are up this way, though I have not heard any for a few decks. It is probably safer down with the others, so if you do not mind my asking, if everyone else is down, why are you here?"

"Me? Oh, I'm climbing up. See, I just got all these blueprints," he said, pointing to the large tube that hung across his back, "and I want to see if I can splice into an external sensor signal. Figure out what's out there, entendeu?"

"Oh," Shi answered, though not quite sure if she understood. Though, after finally finding someone else alive on the station, she wasn't too sure if she wanted to separate just yet, even if there were supposed to be others down just a little further. "Did you need any help? I have felt fairly useless since this whole thing began."

"Oh, that's okay. People tell me I'm useless all the time," he said cheerfully. "Yeah, come on. Its up a few decks. I think."

In unison, one of Shi's eyebrows raised while the opposite antenna dipped. "You are not certain?"

"That's why I have the blueprints with me. I don't actually know this station. I'm sorta in between postings right now."

"Me as well," the Andorian answered. "I was supposed to transfer to my first posting here, but I am not so sure that will happen now. I was supposed to join the Galaxy as a flight controller." She gestured up the Jeffries Tube in the direction Thyago had been traveling. "If you will lead, I shall follow."

"It seems like there are a bunch of people waiting to transfer to the Galaxy," Thyago said as he climbed.

"Indeed," Shi asked, quite interested to hear there were more would-be shipmates on the station. It did make sense that there could be others. She was relieved that not all had perished in the attack. "I hope to be able to meet them."

"Yeah, there's Tex and Shorty. I don't know if the fox is going to the Galaxy or not. And I think Knifey the Medic is also gonna be posted there," he listed.

"So, you are not posted to the Galaxy as well?"

"No," he answered, "I don't really have a posting yet. Well, I do, but that ship doesn't exist, and no one's noticed that yet. Long story. So, I'm getting paid to do nothing, which is cool. Although, I guess I'm earning it now, which is less cool."

"Anything is better that sitting around and waiting for the next attack," Shi said. She'd been climbing through the innards of the station for hours, it seemed like. The strain in her muscles was beginning to take it's toll. That, and she was beginning to sweat.

He stopped and looked at the deck number of their current section, then proceeded to silently count on his fingers. Apparently still uncertain, he crawled up to the next ledge, where there was a flat space, and cracked open his large tube of blueprints. He pulled out a sheet, letting it crinkle loudly as he swished it through the air and onto the ground. Shi crawled up to his level and peered at the blueprint alongside him. He was glancing back and forth between the locative serial number on the wall of the Jeffries tube and the blueprint, trying to locate their position. He had good eyes, Shi noticed.

The printing on the paper was almost microscopic. While her eyesight was good, she had trouble making out the details on the sheets. Squinting to get a better look, she thought she recognized their location. "So, where are we going?"

"There's a subprocessor near here," Thyago explained, "It preprocesses all the incoming sensor data from the portside sensor suites before sending it to the main computer. You know, applies some of the basic filtering, does some calculations, rewrites the signal into a more useful form, stuff like that. Takes a load off the primary processors, sabe? It also serves as a relay and back up for the port side weapons and defensive systems if the main computer goes down, and things like that. I want to see if I can splice into the radar signal and see what's out there, 'cause it could be useful, entendeu?"

"Useful yes," said the Andorian with a smile.

"Also, I was getting tired of setting up tables and cots and welding cargo doors closed," he added. "The subprocessor is a couple more decks up, in the section of the station where the internal sensors still work. The sensors won't work in the subprocessor, 'cause of all the EM and the coolant, so we should be safe in there. Its just getting there, right? But, if we follow this tunnel fifty meters and turn up, we can come up through the bottom, totally shielded."

"I really did not dress for this," said Shi as she readied herself to climb some more. "But, I am ready to continue when you are. Though, is there a way through the flooring? I am afraid I am not carrying any welding equipment."

"Yeah, there's a hatch for repairs, if the coolant tanks spring a leak," Thyago explained.

One of Shi's eyebrows arched toward her hairline while both antennae seemed to go suddenly rigid. "It would seem that opening a hatch in the floor of the room where a coolant tank is leaking would prove to be quite disastrous. Unless there is a mechanism which will ensure the safety of the engineer attempting to enter through the hatch."

"There's a hatch up top, too," he laughed.

"Naturally," Shi answered. She couldn't help smiling as they continued toward their destination. Eventually, they reached the bottom hatch, which, according to Thyago, would lead them up into the subprocessing core. When he pressed the open button, it beeped and the hatch did not budge. "Its locked," he said, "We need a combination." Then he began to type at the numeric pad beneath, seemingly at random.

After each combination, the computer audibly frowned, indicating he had guessed incorrectly. Sharzhevashi frowned as well. "You do not have the proper access code?"

"No. See, well, all these hatches are supposed to be locked, right? Theoretically, you don't want kids or civilians or security officers, or invaders, I suppose, running around in through all these access tunnels e dando mole coisas e coisas por ai. But, -- I'll let you in on a secret -- engineers are lazy, ta ligado? They never lock them, which is why we've been able to crawl around so freely. And even when they do lock them, its usually some easy to remember code, like 1-2-3-4-5, or 5-5-5-5-5, or something."

Shi blinked as both antennae sagged. "I understand," she said. Contemplating the possibility of the engineers responsible for this particular hatch not being lazy as Thyago asserted was depressing. "How many permutations remain that still qualify as easy to remember?"

He hummed 'iono' as he continued to try different combinations. After two minutes of trying, Shi had a feeling their mission had reached an impasse. The engineered who maintained this equipment had obviously made their access code more difficult. Finally, the tone of the computer beep lifted, and Thyago started to giggle. "27777," he said, "B-R-R-R-R, 'cause its a coolant tank."

"Brr," Shi echoed. There was a twisted logic to the combination, to which she had to shake her head. For all the peril of having had the station invaded by aliens, at least the ordeal would be somewhat educational. He opened the door, and a block of cool air sank down heavily upon them. Thyago crawled up, and when he was firmly inside, turned to lend her hand. "The tanks are frosty," he said as she climbed up into the chamber. There were five large metal cylinders hanging from the ceiling, each about a foot in diameter. They were white with frozen condensation. "Don't lick them. I learned that the hard way."

"I will try to remember," said Shi as she shivered in her flimsy gown and bare feet. Next time she was forced to vacate her quarters, she would take the time to change her clothing into something more appropriate and warmer. It took several moments for her to become accustomed to the chill, but finally she was able to sit still without her teeth chattering.

Above them was another hatch, which was unlocked, as Thyago soon found out. Once more they climbed up, Thyago leading and then helping Shi up behind him, and then they were in the processing core. The five tanks which sunk down into the chamber beneath them were open, filled with clear liquid and covered with a thick white fog which flowed and swirled as they moved around. In the tanks were the computer processors, hanging from a tower, which not only held the computer equipment, but a host of wires and tubes that connected to the processor. On the wall was a screen with a monitor that listed the temperature and status of each unit. If it was cold in the chamber below, it was freezing in here, and it was because the liquid coolant kept the processors at a mere 220 K.

"Thank you," she said as she looked around the room. Perhaps this hadn't been the wisest course to follow. Her indigo complexion was dotted with tiny bumps due to the frigid air, and she had no doubt the cold was responsible for other physiological changes of which she did not want to think. "Next time the facility on which I am located is taken over, I will ensure that I dress more appropriately for the occasion, even if it puts me in danger." Thyago peshawed. "I'm only in a tee shirt," he said, in an exaggeratedly masculine way, tugging down on his chocolate colored tee, "Besides, isn't Andor supposed to be really cold?"

"Not the part I am from," answered Shi. "I will be fine though. It will just take a few minutes to acclimate to, that is all."

"Okay, help me look for the radar data," Thyago said, leaning over one of the tanks and looking through the wires that were bound to the tower, "It should be cable labeled with 'radar' or 'radio detection' or 'radio ranging' or 'low frequency EM imaging' or something like that. 'Wide angle,' if you have the option. Possibly only with initials."

"When we are rescued," said Shi as she poked around through the wiring, "I will personally draft a request to Utopia Planitia to properly label all access nodes for cases such as this one." At once, both antennae stood straight up atop her head. "Does variable frequency EM flux sensor sound like something useful?"

"Uh," he stalled, "I don't know, not really. Isn't flux flow rate? Like, photons per second?"

"I do not believe flux flows," said Shi. "Flux is more of a state than an object. I think this sensor detects changing variable frequency EM emissions. Wide angle EM imaging matrix? Please?"

"That one sounds more promising," Thyago said, moving over to the Andorian's position. He checked the label on the cable bundle that she indicated and nodded, then set down his large tube of blueprints. Once more, he opened it, but this time he did not pull out a large sheet of paper. Instead, he pulled out a medium sized tablet PC and a bundle of wire, which he immediately uncoiled and plugged into the small computer. On the other end of the wire was a 'C' shaped clamp with a sharp metal ridge on the inside. He traced the bundle Shi had found down until his hand approached the water. "Porra," he cursed.

"What is it," asked Shi.

"The processed sensor output ties into the main output bundle under the surface," he said, pointing to the coolant and the processing unit the EM imaging data fed into.

"So you have to stick your hand into that? Why do you not just bring the cables out and connect it here. There is no sense freezing more than we need to?"

"No, we can't raise it. That'll send off an alert. Po, nao ha nenhumas luvas," he said, looking around the room. Then he grabbed the bottom of his tee shirt and lifted up and over his head, and off his body.

Eyes going wide, Shi placed her hand on his arm. "What are you doing? It is cold enough in here as it is. It is not necessary for you to further illustrate your masculine prowess."

"There aren't any gloves," he translated, wrapping the shirt around his hand. "I have to connect it down there."

Then, with his bound hand, he grabbed the splicer and looked down into the sub-freezing liquid. "Oh, this is gonna be cold," he mumbled. In one quick motion, he shoved his arm into the coolant. It immediately began to boil around his arm as if it were made of lava, bubbling and splashing and roaring like a leviathan. And, just as quickly as it went under, his arm came flying back out, and a trail of liquid splashed across the floor. It slipped and rolled around like quicksilver until it boiled away. He flung off his shirt and shook his hand wildly, cursing, "Foda, foda, foda! Porra, ta frio p'ra caraca!"

Then he shoved his hand into his crotch.

Shi stepped closer, though he seemed to be managing the situation well enough. It was fortunate the liquid was not nitrogen. "Is there anything I might be able to do to assist you?"

"No, I'm fine," he squeaked. "Just a little cold."

"It does appear that way," said Shi. "Your armpit might also be a suitable source of warmth for your hand."

As Thyago tried to coax feeling back into his nearly-frozen hand and arm, Sharzhevashi took up the small computer. "The resolution appears to be substandard, but a data feed is coming through." Tapping some control options along the edge of the screen, she added filters that screened out some of the data that was unnecessary for their task. "Port side sensors are operational, it would seem. Thyago, this is strange. I would suspect, since the station was attacked, there should be ships present. I see none. Just a vast starfield." She tilted the tablet for him to see.

"Huh?" he said, peering at the screen. There were, in fact, no ships. Just the static blips of far off stars and the slowly moving signal of a nearby asteroid. "What about the ventral sensors?"

Shi tapped out a few commands onto the screen with long, blue fingers. The display shifted to reveal what could be seen by the ventral sensors. "I can see one, no two. Two ships."

"No, wait, that's weird," he said, "There should be overlap between the two resolution fields. This cara is almost off screen, the dorsal sensors should be detecting him, too."

Another few commands switched the display again. "Negative," Shi answered. "Could the sensor arrays have been taken out of standard alignment configurations?"

He shrugged. "Wouldn't the stars not match up in that case?" Chewing on her lower lip, Shi jumped between the various sensor feeds to compare them. "You are correct," she said. "There should be far more ships present on these feeds than we are seeing. So, assuming that is correct, the enemy has cloaking technology which we are unable to pierce or this data has been altered in some way."

Thyago squinted his eyes as he considered the problem. And he started to shiver, which reminded him he was still shirtless. So, he grabbed his shirt, which was dry (for all the coolant had boiled away) and slipped it back on. It was dry, but it was still cold, so it did little to help relieve his shivering. And it did absolutely nothing to help with the problem with the sensors.

With his eyes, he scanned the tower, following the sensor cable up to the hook in the ceiling from which it hung, and along the ceiling, to the port in the wall, from which it emerged. Thyago stood up and stepped towards the wall. "There's a screw missing," he said, examining the panel, "You have a screwdriver?"

Shi spread the skirt of the flimsy gown she wore. "No pockets," she said. "Oh," he blurted, patting his hips. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small multitool. "Leatherman. Never leave home without one."

"I suppose leaving a screw out isn't just a lazy engineer thing? You think we'll find something?" Shi asked, as Thyago began to take out the other screws in the panel.

"I don't know," he replied, "Hunch?" After a few moments, all but the last screw had been removed. As he loosened it, the panel fell out and swung to the side. Behind it lay the rubber-like insulation used by Starfleet, but at the top, there was a small shaft for all the data conduits.

Shi stepped closer to the panel to get a better look. "There," she said, pointing at a cluster of circuits. "I'm not an engineer, but I don't recognize those. The green ones."

Thyago followed her finger until he saw the small box attached to several of the wires. They went through the box and came out the other side. The device had no markings, only two lights, one red, off, and one green, on. "Yeah, I don't know what that is."

"What do you suppose it is," Shi asked.

"I don't know. I don't think its supposed to be there, but it looks official enough," he shrugged, "The blueprints I have aren't nearly detailed enough to show me that. I'd need the sensor systems and computer network hardware manuals to know for sure." He stepped back to the removed panel and examined the small device once more. There were screws holding down its cover, which were small, but if he was delicate, he could use his Leatherman to remove them. Unfortunately, he couldn't reach them, and neither could Shi. Not by herself.

Suddenly, he dropped down onto all fours. "Step up onto my shoulders." Both antennae flexed upright. "What do you want me to do?" "I want you to take the cover off that device so I can see what's inside and see if I can figure out what it is," he explained, holding up the small tool.

"That is reasonable," the Andorian said as she accepted the tool. She moved to his side to figure the best angle from which to stand on his back to reach inside.

"Ah-ah. Bare feet, please. They don't hurt as much, ta ligado?" Shi lifted her skirt to reveal her indigo feet. "When the aliens attacked, I was relaxing in my quarters. There was insufficient time to consider changing my attire or acquiring footware. May I proceed?" "Dude, aren't your feet cold?"

"My entire body is half frozen," Shi answered. "There is a distinct possibility that I may never be warm again in my life. It is not as bad as long as I do not think about it." Without waiting, she climbed onto his back. It took several minutes to remove the screws holding the panel in place. The final one would not come free. On the verge of just tearing the plate away, Shi let out a cheer as it came free.

"There," she said, gingerly stepping back down to the floor. Thyago climbed back up and looked at the innards of the device on the sensor data cables. "Well, there's your problem right here," he said in his best American accent (which wasn't really very good). Once it was open, it was clear to see that the cables ran from the sensor palettes into the device, but failed to go anywhere else. They were cut and capped. Cables still came out from the other side, but those cables originated from within the device. They were plugged into a small microchip assembly, which was most likely sending out nothing but empty starfield data.

"That chip must be providing an empty starfield," Shi said. "That must be how they were able to take over the station, essentially without effort." "Yeah, none of the data being processed from any of the dorsal port sensors is real," Thyago agreed, "Not the EM imagers we were looking at, nor anything else, it looks like."

"It is possible that this discovery is too late to be of much good," Shi said, "but I believe we should tell someone. I suspect one of the station personnel may be in league with the aliens."

"Um, okay," he agreed. He didn't have the heart to point out that most of the station's official personnel had all been slaughtered. He gathered up his blueprints and threw them over his shoulder. "In that case, shall we head back down?"

"And back somewhere warm," amended Shi. Following him back out the way they'd come, she found herself back in the corridor and hopping from foot to foot as feeling returned to most of her body. It was an entirely unpleasant experience as if she were being eaten alive by thousands of tiny insects. "If we survive this experience I believe I will arrange to have the hottest meal I am able to find. Though, still, I do not believe it would be sufficient to warm me completely."

"Really?" Thyago said, "I found it rather invigorating."

"Perhaps next time, if I am wearing boots, I will find it invigorating as well," Shi said as she followed Thyago down the Jeffries Tube hatch. "For now, I hope this information will prove useful to save the station and defeat the Hyphens."

"Strategic Society" - Part 2

Lieutenant Saul Bental
Chief Intelligence Officer

Lieutenant J.G. Zev Raynor
Assistant Chief Intelligence Officer

The intelligence department was gathered in the Intel. CIC's central conference hall. The briefing, following the course alteration, was coming to a close.

"Let's get busy." said Saul, who was standing in the front, hands placed authoritively on his thighs, "We need to examine every scenario. For each one, we need to assess what will the enemy's next moves be, which actions will prove the scenario unlikely, and how should the Galaxy prepare itself in case the scenario is true. Raynor takes 'Atlantis land grab', Novitz takes 'Federation attack', I take 'Corridor to the Klingon empire'. DarkSky and technical operations will come up with ways to enhance the Galaxy's intelligence gathering capabilities now that all the listenning posts in the sector are down, and adapt these capabilities to the current situation. The rest of you--"

* * *

After the meeting ended and everyone headed briskly to their duties, Saul and Zev retired to the department head's office.

"New replicator, you say?" Saul spoke, "I'll give them mine if that's the problem."

"Yours hasn't been newly rebuilt using the latest and most advanced Federation technology now has it?" Raynor retorted jokingly. "This is just speculation based on movements from the standpoint of the outsideobserver... we either need to send a new operative to retrieve new information or rely on one of the old ones who failed to warn us about an attack of this magnitude... Otherwise that's all we got... wild theories any one of which could be right at this point... or all them... and we'll be sending in our counterattack essentially blind... or with the line 'Intelligence believes...' which is never a good line to be sending people off to die with..."

"I don't like this either.", The Dutchman agreed, "And none of the members of the Triad is easy to infiltrate, since none of them are Humanoids and recruiting an agent from their members is extremely difficult. We won't be able to rely on Humint this time."

"Actually that's not entirely true..." Raynor argued. "Hydrans have human clone agents that go back to them after their discovered... we just don't know what happens after they return."

"I doubt they become contributing members of Hydran society. We'll just have to use whatever we have here on the Galaxy... and even that might not be readily available."

Saul proceeded to tell Raynor about his last encounter with Shaw and Forkel. "So he's denying all marines use of these devices?" Raynor asked, trying to hold back his surprise.

"He's denying any use of the marines as a mean to gather intelligence, actively or passively. The best I got out of him is 'give us an offer and we'll consider'. There's a saying where I come from: 'We'll consider it positively and respond negatively'. That's what the asshole is going to do."

"He insists that scouts be sent in first before the marines are called in... to do their job?"

"More or less."

"Does he realize that the Advance Recon Commandos are the scouts that we send in before the rest of the Marines?" Raynor asked. "And that unit is made up of Marines who are under his command? Hence denying one of his own units the exact devices needed to do their job... right?"

"Stupid, isn't it?" Saul replied, "Forkel will probably use them to gather Tactical data only. 'Go over that hill and see if the enemy is there'. What a waste of resources. Anyhow, we're going to regulate all the intelligence that is going to the marines. Unofficially, of course. The war won't make it easier, though, because in the end I don't want a single marine dead over dumb power games."

"Well the solution is obvious yet a pain in the ass for us..." Raynor said. "We send an operative or two or ten into the same area of operations to do the job that he refused to do... whether they tag along with his marines or operate separately is, of course, up to him but otherwise he really can't stop us from doing it. And we happen to slow him up for whatever... that's his problem... he can't force Intel officers to participate in marine exercises, that will be up to whatever intel officer that we send, if we send one... and he can't deny us sending our own guys to do the job he refuses to do..."

Saul chuckled. "I can see them right now, shouting at our boys to bugger off... but it's a bad idea to send classic operatives into a war zone, unless we're talking about a combat unit - in which case, we wouldn't need the marines' help anyhow. Aside from the ARCs, I don't see the Galaxy being assigned a specialized unit any time soon; We're just another ship of the line. It's simply frustrating that all that stood between us and a wealth of information on ch'Rihan is a handful of marines adding another device weighting 300 grams to their 40 KG backpacks."

He landed in his chair. "But screw them; The next time we'll really need something from them, I'll see to it that they get their orders from some General. Until then, we'll settle for the good working relationship I have with Jamson, Rex and Quatro. At least for the DS5 intrediction it should be sufficient."

"One more question about those two... why didn't you just shoot them?" Raynor asked grinning.

"There were witnesses." Saul replied.

"Witnesses to two unauthorized persons being warned they were entering a restricted space?" Raynor asked. "I'm pretty sure your allowed to shoot people after the warning... regardless of rank."

"I don't believe in stun setting. Stunned people just get up in a mood that isn't good for a working business relationship. Nonetheless, I instructed everyone not to open te main doors without clarifying with me first, except for Captain M'Kantu."

It seemed the the basic courtsey of sending an officer outside to check what the visitor wanted was too polite for the Galaxy.

Both Raynor and Saul's commbadges chirped in unison.

"Looks like everyone HAS gotten busy." The Dutchman smirked at Zev. "Let's get going; We have bigger things to shoot out of the skies than a couple of marine grunts."

"A smile in the Darkness"

Lt. JG Faylin McAlister
JAG

Lieutenant J.G. Zev Raynor
Assistant Chief Intelligence Officer

Location: Fay's personal Quarters

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

From all reports Raynor was standing outside the door of one highly disgruntled, pregnant, and injured Legal Diva. He was holding happy pills, hoping that would make up for the fact he had relieved himself in front of her door earlier that day.

~Here's hoping~ Raynor thought to himself as he pushed the buzzer.

"What?" She spat before looking at the glass of half empty tea beside her that rested on the table.

"Yea... my ass caught fire... I was hoping to use your face to put it out..." Raynor answered jokingly.

"Oh, in that case...come on in...." Looking up, Fay caught his gaze before equaling her stare against him. "Is there something I can do for you Ray?"

"Just coming by to say..." Raynor paused for a moment upon first seeing her condition before continuing, "Hello... brought a jar of happy pills so you wouldn't bite my head off... bringing all that holiday cheer and so forth...so hows the... back?"

"Holiday? What holiday is that?" She responded with a half smile.

"Labour day... I think..." Raynor said. "You know the Irish Union Holiday which doesn't necessarily involve large amounts of alcohol but somehow always leads there... because it's Irish..."

"Ohhhhh, I see. I forgot to mark that on my calendar...it is...a very important day indeed."

"Yeeeaaaa..." Raynor said sarcastically. "Not so free beer being offered everywhere that you would normally be able to go... for beer... which you can't go to since your doing the whole crazy cat lady isolation thing... you know... without the cats... so happy pills..."

"No...no pills. It would screw up the child...more so than it already is having myself and Baile as it's genetic donors."

"They are only placebos..." Raynor said. "And if you're planning on raising that child here... the kid to have to meet me... and so you might as well give in to the fact that your kid isn't going to normal anyhow... how I do have 72 hours worth parenting skills... if ever feel the need to draw upon that... for baby sitting or whatever..."

"Um..." Fay stated in utter awe at Raynor's proposition.

"Any god parents in mind?" Raynor asked.

"Well.....I hadn't thought about it much. Any suggestions?"

"The Captain?" Raynor asked. "I mean you don't know him... its a completely awkward question and but on the other hand... he looks like a guy who could play god... as well as someone Batman could rely on... or you know you could pick someone that you know who you would trust to take care of your child should the worst happen... to father and you... which has kind of already happened to you in sense... moving on... do you think my uniform makes me look fat?"

Her head tilted to the side, looking like a dog that was confused at it's masters command. "Your uniform doesn't make you look fat........but...." Her head continued to tilt to almost a ninety degree angle. "Never mind." Taking a sip of her tea, she swallowed, knitting her eyebrows and looking at him. "Thanks for the offer of the pills...that's really sweet...I think."

"I was also planning on bringing a copy of the 152 rules of being an evil overlord over but... somehow it slipped my mind. So what the official story behind... this. And what's the slightly ill-conceived revenge plot against the stairs that did this to you?" Raynor asked.

"How can you tell?"

"Telepath... can smell the brooding for revenge in the air from a mile away..."

"Oh, yes...that. Baile is in the brig now....and I sent my Dutchman henchman after him...so all is well so to speak."

"What do you know about Baile?" Raynor asked, his face suddenly turning serious.

"Why?" She stated dropping the humorous undertones to her voice. She did know a fair share about him, but also had her reasons for knowing so.

"Well first I hear a fair share of rumors and whispers..." Raynor explained. "And what I hear about things that might connect to him, make me uneasy... but more to the point... he's the man that broke you... and you are not without skill of your own... that makes me more inclined to listen to such rumors and advise against revenge..."

"Let's get one thing straight Raynor." Fay paused, her finger raised and wagging back and forth. "He broke my body, not my spirit. It just proves that I'm slacking in the defense department. Two, revenge is sweet yes....but he will get his eventually...that I have no doubt." She silenced herself before revealing too much.

"Fine... I'll let you do what you think you have to do..." Raynor said. "But don't think I won't be watching, waiting to play interference if things out of hand... anyways... got any names picked out? I was thinking Jesus... how about you?"

Rolling her eyes in true Fay fashion, the woman smirked as well. "I always have someone watching me...or else I woudn't be who I am. As far as names....." McAlister paused. "Jesus?"

"Why not..." Raynor said. "The dude's been dead for over two thousand years... hasn't had one kid named after him in all that time... but that's only if its a guy... or does your species even have genders?"

"We do indeed. However, we are capable of both genders....we just choose what sex. As you can gather from that statement we, as a species are asexual which means.........oh damn...." Fay muttered the last part before offering Raynor a slight embarrassed grin.

"Yes..." Raynor said knowingly. "I know your really a man Fay... that's why I never intend to do you... because you might decide to try out my holes. And that's just rude..."

"Oh give me a break......I chose to be female....." She inwardly breathed a sigh of relief at Raynor not picking up at the asexual comment. The fact was not known that she could reproduce on her own. But, having Baile think he was the father played into her plan wonderfully.

"Doesn't matter what you choose to be..." Raynor replied. "Humans will always refer to the a-sexual as male... I mean look at God. Clearly an a-sexual being... can appear as a freaking burning bush... but he's a man... and that's just the way it is."

"No use arguing with you. I'm not willing to argue anymore...with anyone." She sighed heavily before looking up at him. "Is there anything else?"

"Yes," Raynor kissed her on the forehead before she could protest. It was the first contact of lips of any kind between them. And yet... to Raynor at least... it was more of getting it in before she could fight back. "Get well soon... I plan on getting in a lot of trouble and I'll need a good lawyer..."

"You and me both honey....more than you know." She responded in kind, her hardened gaze softening at him for a mere second. "Bye Ray...and...thanks..."

"I'm thinking of volunteering as the hospital clown..." Raynor smiled as he left...

"Stardate: 64908.12"

Location: Unknown

Communication commences at 1802 hrs, text only:

Tag (Anonymous User): GOOD EVENING, I HOPE YOU ARE WELL

Tag (Tracer): HOW ABOUT YOU START BY TELLING ME HOW YOU ARE HACKING INTO THIS ENCRYPTED AND SECURE CHANNEL?

Tag (Anonymous User): NO, I WOULD RATHER START BY TELLING YOU HOW YOU WILL HELP ME

Tag (Tracer): ARE YOU TRYING TO TELL ME YOU ARE LOOKING TO BE A CLIENT? WHAT MAKES YOU THINK I WOULD WORK FOR YOU AFTER THESE LITTLE PERFORMANCES?

Tag (Anonymous User): I AM SURE YOU WILL DO THE RIGHT THING

Tag (Tracer): FROM WHERE I AM SITTING, SWEETHEART, THE RIGHT THING WOULD BE TO TERMINATE THIS COMMUNICATION AND/OR TRACK YOU DOWN AND MAKE YOU MY OWN LITTLE PROJECT

Tag (Anonymous User): TELL ME, HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF THE SORIEN FAMILY MURDERS?

Tag (Tracer): NO I HAVE NOT

Tag (Anonymous User): THE CASE IS COLD, MAYBE YOU COULD BREATHE SOME LIFE INTO IT

Tag (Tracer): MAYBE YOU COULD TALK ABOUT PAYMENT BEFORE YOU START FIRING RANDOM INFORMATION AT ME

<Pause>

Tag (Tracer): GIVEN YOU FOOD FOR THOUGHT HAVE I?

<Pause>

Tag (Tracer): STOP WASTING MY TIME AND GET OFF OF THIS LINE

<Pause>

Tag (Anonymous User): DO THESE THINGS FOR ME CITIZEN TRACER AND YOU WILL BE PAID IN FULL

<Working?>

<Reason: this computer can not reproduce, A-sexually or otherwise>

<Affirmative: Citizen Tracer programmed this computer>

<1097 records listed. Do you wish to view or save to view these files later?>

End of transmission

"Cyber-Subterfuge"

Jaal Jaxom
June M'Kantu
Aina Mason

"Aina," Jaal suddenly looked to the Bajoran cadet with a gleam in his eye. "What do you remember from your xeno-biology classes concerning the Hydrans' 'preferred' environment?"

Looking back at Jaal, "Ummm - Class F3c...ah...Methane and very cold. They would need environmental suits to survive Class M environments," Aina returned.

Jaal nodded, "They like it cold. Let's turn up the heat for 'em. Can we raise the temperature of the upper half of the station say, twenty or thirty degrees? Then fix it so they can't turn it down?"

"With some of those magic codes that Doctor M'Kantu has got, yes. But wouldn't the environmental suits just compensate?" asked Aina.

Jaal nodded again, "Probably, but they work extra hard to compensate. Plus, we'll get the added bonus of making the traitors uncomfortable."

Aina gave a small nod and a slight shrug, as she started working on the code to inject into the life support database. As she typed away, as June was setting the system up so the changes could take effect, Aina looked at Jaal, "What are we going to do about all the command and intelligence deebases on the upper deck. There is a lot of sensitive data up there." She looked up at the roof as she spoke.

Jaal was busy on another console trying to look up some information to plan for the next attack on the station's computer systems. "That's all gonna have to get wiped. Every bit of it... I'd really like to do that without self destructing the station though... we also need to keep the primary functions intact... like power generation and life support. If we can wipe the cores and keep those systems running, at least until we can get out of here... I'd also like to check the sensor logs and find out how the Hydrans got so close without the rest of the station being alerted..."

"The sensor logs are easy enough," June spoke up without looking away from the scrolling lines of code she was working with. "But if I had to do this, I would have had one of my evil minions place a hard-wired fix in the system when it was being repaired; that way it wouldn't show up on software scans." She paused to alter a line of code and then resumed. "As for the data we don't want them to have, we've got the proverbial good news/bad news on that."

"Oh?" Jaal asked curiously.

"Everyone always wants the bad news first," June observed. "Except for Daren; he never asked me for the bad news first. But I digress, the bad news is that I can't purge the data without erasing the core, and that would leave the station dead in space: no computer controls for anything, including life support. Not a problem for the Hydrans, since they aren't breathing the air anyway, but a big issue for us. Now I can do that - purge the cores and leave them empty - and I've already set something up to do that in case I need it done, but I'd rather wait until we don't have another choice."

"Hmm, me too," Jaal agreed. "How about that good news?"

"The good news?" June looked up from her code and smiled. "Well, that's actually pretty good, considering the situation. The traitors haven't transferred any secure data to the Hydrans yet, at least, not from either of the cores. They've almost certainly handed over smaller pieces of data that were copied to PADDS and isolinear chips and the like, but the bulk of the sensitive data is held in storage that is specifically designed to prevent anyone from simply mass copying from it or transmitting it as a unit. That's one of the reasons I think they took the station the way they did: so they could have the time needed to access the secure defense data."

Jaal's brow furrowed in thought. "They must have already had some defense data... somehow... otherwise the station would have fought back. I sure would like to get my hands on the mole... or moles responsible."

"They wouldn't need defense data if someone in the Admiral's staff was suborned." June frowned at the code as it scrolled, evidence that someone was trying to counter an earlier effort plain to her. "All they'd need to do was schedule a system diagnostic, or designate the ships as federation vessels in the computer and they weapons wouldn't lock onto them even if someone was manning them with a finger on the button."

Jaal nodded, "Or they somehow overrode the incoming sensor data with false signals or had the Hydran ships ignored completely." The Trills brow furrowed in disgust that someone could have betrayed so many people. "It's not that hard to do, honestly, all it takes is a real low life with the know-how to reprogram sensor arrays."

Aina looked at June and Jaal, "Don't even need to do that. Just adjust the trigger levels on the sensor identification parameters. Hey...this is uber strange..."

Jaal looked over to where Aina was working. "What's up?"

"I've been port cloning the data stream from command deck life-support -atmospheric, climate, gravitational and EM parameters have been changed, ain't no way they are for class M. Considering the level of methane and temperature gradients, I say the Hydrans have decided to make this a long term stay. Most of the command level is nice and comfy for a Hydran," reported Aina.

Jaal sneered. "Can you re-program the parameters to decrease the methane level over time? Say one percent an hour? We should find something poisonous to them that won't hurt the rest of the humanoids that might be on the station and pump the upper decks full of that."

"That's probably too steep a drop-off," June suggested. "It's likely going to trip some kind of environmental overwatch switch. Maybe if you made it smaller it would slip past?"

"Can't add anything into the atmospherics, can't get around the overrides," returned Aina.

Jaal's lips pursed in thought. "At any rate, Hydrans need methane to function properly," Jaal continued, "If we take that away gradually, they won't notice right away and before they notice they might make some bad decisions for themselves... much like us if we were deprived of oxygen. We get tired and don't think straight. See what I mean?"

"It's a good idea... but do we want to use all out good ideas up right now? And do we really want them to know the extent of our access? They're not stupid, sooner or later they'll figure out where we are and we'll lose access to the cores; and the more things we do, the faster that will be. Besides," June frowned as she checked a figure on her screen. "My root access passwords won't last forever - they're designed to only be used a set number of times and then they cancel out and have to be reissued - and I've only got... four more uses left - and I think I'm going to need those later...."

Jaal nodded slowly while digesting the information. "Aina, I want you to give it a try. This way we won't use June's access passwords. Like I said, I want them to get uncomfortable but at a slow, gradual rate as June said, we don't want to tip them off too soon."

Aina gave a slight nod, "That I can do. If I can get the sensors to report that the level of methane is too high, the life support will decrease the level of see-aitch-three." Tapping at the controls, Aina accessed the engineering sub-routines and was accessing the life support sub-protocols, when a flashing light appeared on her screen. Aina gave a slight gasp...

"What's wrong?" Jaal suspected what was wrong and was already mentally kicking himself for it.

Aina confirmed it.

Tapping frantically, calling out verbal commands to the system, Aina was very tense. Jaal watched as the young woman was obviously in a battle of computer hacker versus hacker. Finally, she seemed to relax and turned to Jaal and June. "I think they know that someone is messing with the computers. I was able to hide what I did to the atmospheric sensors. The trace was while I was in the main entertainment server as one of my bounce points, but they lost me. I think things are going to be more difficult. I'm going to have to recheck that any access logs don't trace back here. Who ever is up there, they sure ain't dumb."

"How much did they get? Do we have to move?" Jaal asked remaining outwardly calm.

Aina's nose wrinkles deepened as she shook her head, "Not if I get to the access logs."

"We should, even if they don't know where we are; a moving target is harder to find," June advised. "What do you think Aina?. Maybe I should use one of the remaining root access password uses to give us a remote log-in capacity that they can't lock out?"

"Moving targets are always harder to hit," agreed Aina. "But it will take a bit longer, but it will be safer, sure."

The Trill agreed, "Do that, then we get on the move again." Jaal's mouth was a thin, straight line as he considered his options. Aina seemed so young for such a big job in a life or death situation. He knew he would be all right. He's survived the Dominion War not to mention all the harrowing situations he'd taken part in on the Miranda. "How are you two holding up?" he asked the ladies as they worked at the console.

Aina shrugged, "I'm ok - but I wish the other group would find something to eat."

"We'll stop by the aid station to check on the others and see if they've found anything," Jaal told her.

"Patching Up, Part 2"

With:

PO2 "Max" Maxwell (PC)
Ensign Peter Pepper (NPC, Cliff)
Lt, jg. Huele, RN (NPC) (Bolian)

"As you wish maaaster," Peter replied in his best Igor imitation. For someone who had no tolerance for looking at real blood, he sure knew his horror movies.

Max spent enough effort to roll his eyes and moved on to a young woman, aMarine Corporal with every limb fractured from being slammed around during the rapid decompression/venting. She was one of the lucky ones "How're you feeling Corporal," Max asked. "You sure you don't want me to increase your analgesic therapy?" He motioned for the Bolian nurse, Lt jg. Huele to come over and monitor the Marine.

"I'm fine, Max," she replied. "No need to dope me up anymore. I wanna be alert for anything that comes our way." Max nodded, brushed some hair out of her face, then turned to Huele and mouthed the words, "Titrate to mild sedation," to her. He admired the Marine's spirit, but he had no desire for the young grunt to break herself anymore than she was now.

Two Crewmen were assisting ventilations on two civilians who suffered moderate superheated air injuries. Another nurse was administering the most basic but also most important of care to a child who was separated from her parents: a big hug and carefully worded assurances.

Peter watched while trying to hide a disgusted expression from the child. "Man, this just makes me sick... not nauseous like before...just sick," he looked to Max for a possible answer, "How could anyone want to hurt kids? Ya know?"

Now Max stopped and looked at the young Ensign. He does not need to be here, he thought sadly. Aloud he replied, "There are people out there who do not share the same moral compunctions that we do. There are those who would slaughter every living thing in their paths for the simple sake of conquest."

Taking a few steps to close the gap between them, Max looked Peter squarely in the eye. "You have to decide for yourself if this is what you signed up for. You're gonna meet all types out here, both from within and without. But what I can't have is an officer wiggin' out in front of a child, of all things."

Peter's expression softened a bit. He wasn't sure what to say. Usually the dangerous spots are on the starships that roamed the galaxy. Starbases weren't suppose to be getting attacked and taken over.

"I need a yes or no answer, Ensign," Max pressed. "I've got a lot of sick and hurting people who need competent and steady care. If you're not in, then hang out with supply or help count healthy civilians."

Peter's expression hardened. His brow furrowed in determination. "I won't Sir."

Max continued to stare straight into the young man's eyes before placing a hand on his shoulder. "Alright then. And don't call me 'Sir'. I work for a living. Call me Max."

Peter gave a curt, confident nod, "Let's get to work then, Maaaaaxter..." He followed Max dragging his leg like a good lab assistant.

"Oy vey," muttered Max. If they survived-no, WHEN they survived all of this, he would have to remember to subject that guy to some old school EMS prank or another. Maybe set his boots on fire...while he's in them? Max chuckled at the thought, remembering his mother telling him about one of his ancestors who had the exact same thing done to him. He personally thought that was just a legend.

One of the respiratory failures went into a full code. After the requisite two full breaths attempted, Huele ceased her efforts, as per the rules of field triage. The other respiratory was still holding on. You win some, you lose some. Max made eye contact with the RN, who nodded back in acknowledgment. Move on. Then Max (and his 'assistant' Igor) came upon a man who was jaundiced, but otherwise in no major distress. Possibly some kind of hepatic dysfunction, as the man was guarding the middle and lightly to the right of his upper abdomen. "I think this truly requires the skill of an MD, Chuck. You, eh...'Up' to it?" Max smiled as he left the Doctor with his new friend.

"Meet the Feebles" Part 2

Cmdr. Arel Smith
Lt. Nathan Everett
Ens. Artim Shivar
Lt. Vam'wa (formerly chief flight controller of Carthage)
J'sa, Orion freighter Captain - SS Noobs Pwn

***

DS5

A gorilla of an Orion, a child bodied Miran scientist, and a Klingon woman. What an eclectic mix. Smith and Everett had hidden themselves somewhere, but there were limited places J'sa could conceivably squeeze himself in to and still be able to make himself of use. He'd pulled the rifle from his back, surprising everyone with it's sheer muzzle size. He'd called it a "20-ought-ought" and had been mildly amused that no one had any clue what specifically that meant. "Ever heard of an old earth Elephant gun?" Someone nodded. "This is a Dinosaur gun. Overkill you say? No such thing I say." Breaking the breech, he popped a pair of cartridges into the double barrelled weapon and popped it back into place. "Like a deranged hippo with an M-60, I'm read to roll. Now, where to hide me?"

"We need a room or a doorway," Vam'wa mentioned checking her tricorder again. "They're getting closer... we don't have much time!" she said with a sense of urgency.

Artim glanced around looking for a proper nook to hide in and after a moment of his head darting around like a nervous bird his eyes settled on an alcove a few meters down the corridor. "There, that's our best spot." he said as he took off.

***

Arel regarded the knife, then slipped it back into the sheath in her boot and drew out the one from her other boot. The grip was better, not to mention the blade was a fraction sharper. She shot a look at Cowboy, hoping that he was ready.

Nathan noticed Arel staring at him and quickly resheathed the KA-BAR knife he was holding. He'd acquired it from a Marine who'd been too hurt to tag along on this glorious mission of stealth ass-kicking. The balance was different than the knives he'd been using in his sparring sessions with Arel, but it would do for now.

Besides, there was no way in Hell he was going to ask to use one of her knives. His instinct for self-preservation overruled that idea. "Ready to roll, Xena?" Cowboy asked, flashing Arel a cheeky smile.

Arel frowned. "What is a Xena?"

He shrugged. "Ah dunno, some Amazon warrior chick from old Earth fiction," he replied. "My old wingman on the Miranda had a couple'a holoprograms 'bout her." Nathan momentarily drifted off as he suddenly pictured the shapely Andorian in revealing leather armor.

"Focus, Cowboy," She smirked.

"Uh, sorry," Cowboy said, shaking his head as he tried to focus. "We should get movin'."

"Agreed."

***

In the end J'sa had somehow squeezed himself feet first into a Jeffries tube access hatch a few feet away from the scattered dead Hydran patrol. Shorty and Warrior Woman (he had yet to think up something for the other pair) were hiding in an alcove a meter or two away. The sounds of booted hydran feet and bleeping and blorping was growing closer.

Vam'wa tensed up readying herself for action. She gripped her phaser rifle tighter and switched off the safety. "This is it," she mentioned quietly to Artim. "Get ready... here they come."

"Always ready", Artim mouthed as he lined up a Hydran down the sights of one of their own rifles. The Miran gave it just enough time to twist its face into a contorted look of surprise before the rifle burst to life lancing a hole through one of its eye sockets.

***

Cowboy was crouched in a Jeffries tube on the far end of the hallway. He listened quietly, not even daring to breathe as the patrol began to tromp past. His KA-BAR was unsheathed and held in a reversed grip in his right hand, the flat of the blade resting against his inner forearm.

He thought for a moment about the other half of their group, somewhere on the other end of the corridor, hopefully waiting to surprise the approaching Hydrans.

"Hey, Arel," he suddenly whispered.

"What?"

"Y'know if Vam'wa's seein' anybody?"

She glared at him.

"What? She's hot!"

Arel would have rolled her eyes but they suddenly caught movement down the corridor. She gestured for him to be silent and was slightly surprised by the quick way he shifted into combat mode.

She shrugged slightly and tightened her grip on her weapon.

***

The Hydrans came clumping down the hallway. They seemed to be looking for something. They stopped at each door and forced it open if it didn't open automatically. Three went inside, searched around and came out to rejoin the other three that stood guard.

Once the Hydran team reached the designated point and after three of them disappeared into a room to search it Vam'wa lept out of her hiding place firing. She aimed for the only weak spot in their armor, the joints.

The Hydrans were understandably surprised when a rain of phaser fire hailed down on them from multiple directions. J'sa, hearing the shots ringing out punched open the access hatch for the tube he was hidden in, shouldered his piece, and pulled the trigger.

<BOOM>

The single projectile he fired ripped straight through two hydrans as they emerged from the room they were searching, spraying their compatriots with gristle and ichor. One found it's torso irreparably exanguinating and the other's helmeted head exploded. A third dropped by someone's phaser, he didn't see who's, nor cared so long as the beasty stayed down. Two more remained, taking cover in alcoves of their own.

Unfortunately for one of them, the alcove he tried to get into happened to be the one Cowboy and Arel were hiding within. Before the surprised Hydran could react, Nathan gave a shout and dived forward, slashing his knife at the commando's eyestalks.

Unfortunately for Nathan, he was a trained killer and Nathan was used to doing his killing in a starfighter. The Hydran rolled backwards, grasping the flying pilot with its three arms and using his natural momentum to send Cowboy flying into the bulkhead across from them.

The pilot's back slammed into the wall with a sharp thud, and he seemed to actually stick there for a moment, hanging upside down on the wall as the rest of the team slaughtered the remaining Hydrans.

"Ow," Cowboy mumbled as he finally slid down the wall and collapsed on the decking.

Meanwhile, the Hydran he'd tried to blind pushed itself back to its feet and faced Arel, one of its eyestalks whirling around in an attempt to find his dropped fusion rifle.

Quickly followed by an attempt to locate his missing arm.

And then just plain gurgling on the ground while Arel looked over her new weapon.

Nathan wasn't sure how long he'd been lying there, facedown on the deck. All he knew was his left shoulder and his back hurt like crazy. He winced as he used his legs to push himself away from the wall and rolled over, putting a hand to his forehead as he sat up.

"Did we get 'em?" he mumbled groggily, looking around.

"Looks that way." J'sa wriggled out from his hidey hole in the Jeffries tube. Cracking the breech of the rifle opened he inserted a fresh cartridge and snapped the weapon closed, then inserted it back into it's holster under his greatcoat. "What a mess. Glad I don't have to clean it up." Kneeling down he picked up an object. Wiping it off on one of the Hydran's uniforms, it was revealed to be one of the dead creature's beaks. He pocketed the item.

"Save one for me, I'd like a trophy as well," Vam'wa mentioned. "Shouldn't we check on Commander Smith?" She headed towards the doorway Smith had charged into. The Klingon woman rushed in to see Arel and her new toy. With a jealous expression on her face she commented, "I better start getting some trophies for this."

"Personally I don't think Hydrans look that good mounted on the wall. Splattered on it yes but not the best trophies." Artim said as he pulled a couple of spare powerpacks for the rifle he was 'borrowing' off the dead Hydrans. "Ok guys, so now what? I think it a good idea to not be here when their buddies show up."

"Let's go," Arel said.

"Warrior Woman!" J'sa called out as the party began moving off. Tearing the helmet off of one of the more or less intact bodies he ripped the beak from one of the bodies and tossed the thing, still attached to mustle and gristle. It plopped with a wet smack to the deck at Vam'wa's feet. "Your Trophy, my lady." he said with a nod of his head. Wiping his hands on the hydran's uniform he rejoined the group. "So, where to now Oh Fearless Leader?"

Vam'wa flittered her eyelashes at the Orion while grunting an appreciative thank you to him. She picked up the prize and put it in her pocket.

Cowboy stood and moved to join the group, wincing as he rolled his shoulder. Nothing was broken, but damn it stung. He watched the exchange between J'sa and Vam'wa and moved to Arel's side, walking along with her as the rest of the group started off.

"So much fer that idea," he muttered as he watched Vam'wa and J'sa walk together. "Oh well." He rolled his shoulder again, then gave Arel a lopsided grin. "She got a sister?"

"And So It Begins"

Colonel For'kel Arvelion, Furies CO
Major Peter Shaw, Furies XO

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

And there it was. For all his hope and prayers that nothing like this would ever come to pass, that somehow the elder sentients that made up the various diplomatic corps of those concerned would do their jobs so those of younger generations needn't die, it had come. It had come, and far earlier than For'kel had anticipated. His unit wasn't even at operating capacity yet, only about 2/3rds the way through the enhanced training regimen.

He'd left a message for Shaw to meet him in his office. With little time left, they had to cobble together a plan of some kind.

Pete walked into his office and sat down, "computer, messages?"

['There is one message from Colonel Arvelion. Text only,'] the computer said as it displayed the message.

"Oh crap," Pete replied as he stood back up and looked over at his assistance. "Send these orders to my platoon, training area, now." She simply nodded. She could tell that he was in one of his serious moods and wasn't going to crack a joke about it.

Pete left his office and made the short trek to For'kel office. Pete walked in and sealed the door. "So this is it?"

"Certainly seems that way." Arvelion waited for the door to close before going any further. "Computer, lock all entrance and egress points of this room and terminate security surveillance, voiceprint authorization."

There was a chirp before the machine responded. "All access points secure. Audio and video security recordings terminated until further notice."

That out of the way, For'kel punched up the message he'd received from the SFMC's Tac-Net, the method the Corps had for communicating with all of its forward deployed units, such as the 101st MEU or the 188th detachment. On it was what little information had been released. "As far as they know so far, Corvalis and Deep Space Five have been attacked. Communications with the Federation Embassy on Cardassia is also out."

"We can assume all are destroyed. Cardassia would be an easy target. They still haven't fully recovered from the last war. The Dominion made sure that Cardassia would be feeling their betrayal for many years. DS5 is lead by that dip shit Admiral, though Captain Jaxom is there, so there is hope. I know little about Corvalis."

"Can't say I know much about Corvalis either, and my understanding of Cardassia's situation is limited to my experiences with the occupation force, and that was 'way' too many years ago." For'kel chuckled, realizing how old that probably made him sound. "My understanding is we're heading to Deep Space Five. The ship's at Red Alert, and I'd like to give security as much help as possible, meaning posting Marine fire teams as security in critical areas of the ship. The Armory, Main Engineering if the Chief there approves, same with sickbay. I'd also like you to head to the bridge, provided Captain M'Kantu approves, to give us a 'birds-eye' view of things as it were."

"Agreed. I am sure he won't have a problem with it. I'd like a fireteam with me on the Bridge, to post as extra security. I also suggest we have roaming patrols alongside Security. Just in case."

"Put Jonas' platoon on it. Until I hear differently I'm going to presume that there are survivors on the Station, and some kind of boarding action, be it a rescue attempt or a fully fledged counter-attack will be taking place. To that end I'll keep McAllister's and Maivia's Platoons along with my own on ready. That'll leave you, Jonas, and London to organize any responses here in the event the Triad tries boarding Galaxy after we leave." Right now there was nothing they could do 'but' hypothesize on the impending operation they would be embarking upon. There was very little actual information provided by the General in his alert message. "If there's nobody to rescue or no station to take, you'll just have more company."

Pete nodded. "Sounds like a party," he replied. "May want to get our Pilots warmed up. They may go into action soon. And let's just hope there is someone on that station to rescue."

"I don't think they'll be needed as pilots this go around, I'm certainly not going to ask permission to launch hoppers into space with enemy ships nearby." For'kel sat back in his chair. "But see to it that they're up on their infantry combat skills, every rifleman is going to be invaluable."

"I would rather use the hoppers. With a fighter escort it should be fine. I don't want to have a chance of there being a dampening field or anything in place, and if the station is still there I would bet they have something in place to stop us from beaming in."

"If they've managed to set that up, they'd also likely be able to blow us to hell with the Station's weapons." For'kel smirked... but it was a greatly displeased smirk. There certainly wasn't an easy answer to how this would be accomplished if circumstances were stacked against them. "I think we need to know more about what's going on before we make any plans. Get the pilots prepared, and then maybe you should drop by your favorite 'spook's' office and see if he knows anything. Bring him what we have so far so we can at least make sure everyone's on the same generic page."

Pete cringed very visibly. "You know he and I don't get along. I would much rather send him into space without a space suite."

"Which is exactly why I'm sending you. Maybe it'll convince him we actually 'need' any information he has and it's not simple curiosity."

Pete sighed, "fine... though I am going to shoot him next time."

"So long as it's on stun." For'kel didn't miss a beat. "Murder charges bring out a whole bunch of paperwork, trust me on that."

"Take all my fun away."

"Let Down Your Golden Hair ... Oomph! - part two
from the Fairy Tale Chronicles

Samantha Widdlestein, npc
Cmdr. Arel Smith (holographic representation), apc

USS Galaxy
Holodeck Two

II.

Rapunzel had magnificent hair - fine, gold, and about four stories long which may have sounded pretty in fairy tales but in reality was a pain in the ass. Or so the holographic Arel Smith had declared as soon as the evil witch started her ascent - climbing up a braid of golden tresses attached to the wig on the hologram's head.

"Kahless, this bitch weighs a gorram ton," Arel grunted.

Sam crossed her arms. "Just because it's fantasy doesn't mean it can't have some realism."

There wasn't much for Samantha to do during war time. As always, her homework for the month was finished and she had done all of her tedious chores. She'd tried to volunteer her help at different departments but no one had taken her seriously. Some had even laughed.

They were going to be sorry come Christmas, Samantha thought evilly. She had a whole case of buttons just waiting to be made.

So Samantha had decided to work on the next part of Arel's holodeck program and was even running the simulation at minimum power to help the war effort. The end result was a cross sectioned tower and a yellow and black grid forest but she had made Arel, the Witch, and the golden hair accurate - down to the last follicle.

Holo Arel frowned. "She's *really* heavy, Sam. Did you make one of those hippos with tutu's the evil witch?"

"People think fantasies are all about swords and magic and talking frogs," The girl complained as she noted the hologram's reaction on a computer PADD. She made a note to keep the weight of the witch the same though - Arel always liked to have something to complain about.

"Fantasies are so much more than all that 'magic swords and talking frogs' crap," Sam continued as Arel continued to grunt and groan in the background. "There's the social and political dynamics, the moral themes, the ridiculous attempts at hair and fashion .."

Samantha suddenly stomped her foot. "My programs are not infantile nonsense!"

"Could you climb any faster?" Arel yelled down to the climbing woman.

"Not really," The old witch called back.

Arel growled and turned her attention back to Samantha. "Who said that about your programs?"

"This pthak in Engineering named Tae'ben," The holographic girl replied. "He came onboard at Romulus and thinks he's sooooooooo great because he gets to work in Engineering and when I mentioned my holodeck programs and how they're a help in providing morale for the crew, he got all snooty about what is essential in a time of war and what is infantile nonsense. As if I don't know what's essential! I wrote Captain M'Kantu a memo on designated shelter areas and I kept the color scheme notes down to one paragraph!"

Arel was fighting against the pull of the wig on her hair. "Really, Witch, anytime you'd like to join us."

"I'd like nothing more than to be in that tower, dearie," The witch huffed. "You'll just have to wait though."

"I hate waiting," The hologram replied.

"Tae'ben is such a snot-nosed, pointy eared ko'tal," Samantha replied. "I almost want to program him as the prince, just so I can watch him go blind when he falls into the thorns in act four. Gorram jerk."

"Geez, Sam," Arel said. "Sounds like you're giving Tae'ben a lot of thought."

"Oh, please," Sam scoffed.

"Sam and Tae'ben sitting in a tree," The officer sang. "K-I-S-S-I-N- OUCH!!! Damnit, woman! There's a head attached to all the hair you're climbing!"

"Sorry," the old woman said faintly. Samantha glared and made another note. The real Arel didn't sing or if she did it probably wasn't on key.

"I do NOT like Tae'ben," Sam retorted as the witch finally made it to the window ledge. "He's a twerp."

Arel grinned. "Do too!"

Sam scowled. "Do not!"

"Do too"

"Do not!"

"Do too"

"Do ... oh, smeg this," Sam snapped, storming over and pushing the entering witch back out the window. The witch shrieked, Arel gasped and braced for the tug if the old woman managed to get a hold of the hair ladder, and Samantha crossed her arms and glowered.

"Do not," Samantha said with finality.

(tbc)

"Medic's Diary, Part I"

By

Benedict "Max" Maxwell, Paramedic
Petty Officer 2nd Class
Current Status: Triage Officer & Field Hospital Coordinator

Section Q, Lower Decks, DS5

After all of the critical patients were dealt with, Max and the rest of the ragtag medical staff were left with the long term patients, minor injuries, and bodies to catalog. The body count could be done by a couple of volunteers. Max had enough for the day. At some point or another, he had found a PADD that didn't have an owner or any information on it. For some reason, he had taken to recording a voice only log, trying to get his thoughts organized, leaving a record for...who?

Personal Log

The year is 2384, and it's finally happened: The Hydrans hit us in an apparent sneak attack here at DS5. Numerous people's lives were lost, children left without parents, especially this one child. His name is Kenny Woods. His parents put him into an air duct and told him to crawl as far as he could, as fast as he could. He tells me that he heard a loud bang, and then what sounded like energy weapons (by the sound effects he tried to emulate). He had never seen his parents again after that.

So far, I know of about eighteen patients that have died since they came into the Field Hospital. What a joke. I'm on a Space Station, and working a Field Hospital. You don't have Field Hospitals in a station. But here we are, and the rules are the same: save who you can. So far we did. There are about forty patients here with a myriad of injuries, both 'Fleet and civilian. Then there are the mostly uninjured survivors, some from Engineering, others from Security and Ops, a couple from the station's science department. A decent number of civilians. I haven't made a count of them yet. I'll leave that to those that are already handling that.

We've found limited rations of food, and so far we're holding out. There are not enough medications to treat everyone who needs long term care, and I fear that I may be black tagging a few more before we get outta here. Which I hope is soon.

Max paused for a second and regarded little Kenny, who was fast asleep on a makeshift bed next to him. He stood up and tucked the little tyke in, then walked to an uninhabited corner to continue his recording.

Kenny reminds me of Connor, my son. I wonder how he's doing, if his grades are good, and if he's staying out of trouble. I wonder if I'll see him again...

Max choked on his last statement, and took several moments to gather himself. He had to maintain his composure in view of the people here. He couldn't break down, couldn't show weakness of any kind.

There are a few Marines here as well. They've already taken up guarding positions at the entryways without anyone even having to ask. Gotta love those guys. I feel sorry for one of their compatriots that we've been treating. She's probably going to lose one of her limbs to compartment syndrome. We missed the compressed tissue in her left leg. Hopefully they can graft a cybernetic leg on for her. I've read some promising reports on new Quad-Sensory responsive implants, better than the ones I have in my legs. But I'll pass on the upgrade. The physical therapy from the last surgery was hell enough.

But this brings me to another issue that I've been dodging. I only require one year of post baccalaureate study to obtain my graduate degree in Paramedicine, and thus allowing me to obtain my Paramedic Practitioner's license. It's not Med School like mom wanted, but it's definitely the next best thing and we'll both be happy. They'll try to promote me, but I'll fight to stay a striper. I'm not here for pips.

At that point, there was a commotion somewhere nearby. Two civilians were fighting over a pack of rations. Max sighed, paused the recording, and went to go show the two rabble rousers peace.

tbc..........

[Previous Week] [Next Week]

"Stardate: 64908.05"

Location: Unknown

Communication commences at 1802 hrs, text only:

"The Kahs-wan" Part Two

Lieutenant Dhanishta Eshe Chief Engineer USS Galaxy

Lieutenant (Jg) Chandrakala Eshe Engineering Officer USS Galaxy

*** Vulcana Regnar in the province of Raal, Vulcan. Day One***

***Location; Cheleb-khor in the province of Shi'al, Vulcan***

"A Changed Man" [Backpost]

2nd. Lieutenant Branwen London Flight Officer Angelienia

****

USS Galaxy Furies Flight Deck

~Cold Truth~

Thyago Carneiro Sharzhevashi zh'Rin

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

"Strategic Society" - Part 2

Lieutenant Saul Bental Chief Intelligence Officer

Lieutenant J.G. Zev Raynor Assistant Chief Intelligence Officer

* * *

"A smile in the Darkness"

Lt. JG Faylin McAlister JAG

Lieutenant J.G. Zev Raynor Assistant Chief Intelligence Officer

Location: Fay's personal Quarters

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

"Stardate: 64908.12"

Location: Unknown

Communication commences at 1802 hrs, text only:

"Cyber-Subterfuge"

Jaal Jaxom June M'Kantu Aina Mason

"Patching Up, Part 2"

With:

PO2 "Max" Maxwell (PC) Ensign Peter Pepper (NPC, Cliff) Lt, jg. Huele, RN (NPC) (Bolian)

"Meet the Feebles" Part 2

Cmdr. Arel Smith Lt. Nathan Everett Ens. Artim Shivar Lt. Vam'wa (formerly chief flight controller of Carthage) J'sa, Orion freighter Captain - SS Noobs Pwn

***

DS5

***

***

***

***

"And So It Begins"

Colonel For'kel Arvelion, Furies CO Major Peter Shaw, Furies XO

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

"Let Down Your Golden Hair ... Oomph! - part two from the Fairy Tale Chronicles

Samantha Widdlestein, npc Cmdr. Arel Smith (holographic representation), apc

USS Galaxy Holodeck Two

"Medic's Diary, Part I"

By

Benedict "Max" Maxwell, Paramedic Petty Officer 2nd Class Current Status: Triage Officer & Field Hospital Coordinator

Section Q, Lower Decks, DS5

Personal Log

Lieutenant Dhanishta Eshe
Chief Engineer
USS Galaxy

Lieutenant (Jg) Chandrakala Eshe
Engineering Officer
USS Galaxy

* Vulcana Regnar in the province of Raal, Vulcan. Day One*

Location; Cheleb-khor in the province of Shi'al, Vulcan

2nd. Lieutenant Branwen London
Flight Officer Angelienia

USS Galaxy
Furies Flight Deck

Thyago Carneiro
Sharzhevashi zh'Rin

Lieutenant Saul Bental
Chief Intelligence Officer

Lieutenant J.G. Zev Raynor
Assistant Chief Intelligence Officer

Lt. JG Faylin McAlister
JAG

Lieutenant J.G. Zev Raynor
Assistant Chief Intelligence Officer

Jaal Jaxom
June M'Kantu
Aina Mason

PO2 "Max" Maxwell (PC)
Ensign Peter Pepper (NPC, Cliff)
Lt, jg. Huele, RN (NPC) (Bolian)

Cmdr. Arel Smith
Lt. Nathan Everett
Ens. Artim Shivar
Lt. Vam'wa (formerly chief flight controller of Carthage)
J'sa, Orion freighter Captain - SS Noobs Pwn

Colonel For'kel Arvelion, Furies CO
Major Peter Shaw, Furies XO

"Let Down Your Golden Hair ... Oomph! - part two
from the Fairy Tale Chronicles

Samantha Widdlestein, npc
Cmdr. Arel Smith (holographic representation), apc

USS Galaxy
Holodeck Two

Benedict "Max" Maxwell, Paramedic
Petty Officer 2nd Class
Current Status: Triage Officer & Field Hospital Coordinator