Saturday, February 26, 2011

[USS Charon] SD241102.26 Science Report/Duty Log, CSci Commander Arcos Darye

ON:

[Botany Lab: Commander Arcos and Specialist Smith]

Arcos and Smith were in the lab together.  It was a casual training session without much going on.  The two were doing their best to keep up a conversation while Commander Arcos helped smith complete the daily lab responsibilities.  "Great, now the only thing you're going to need to worry about that's new to your responsibilities is doing the paper work.  It can be a bit boring at times, but with lab managing you're going to have to live with a bit of paper pushing."

"So which forms do I fill out?" Chris asked grabbing a pollinator.

"Right, well for botany you're not going to always need to put together a lab request form, but for daily responsibilities I'd say your pre-report should be compiled prior to entering the lab." Arcos said water one of the plants with its food-water mixture.  He watched the hydration meter as the soil levels went up to the correct moisture reading.  "But…" setting the water canister down, "I would expect that if you had any requests for studies such as a pollination of something requiring volunteers that you write it up a week ahead of time in a lab request so I can get the volunteer request out."

"I see… but what about after the lab?" She said after cross pollinating a few of the plants from the Risa planet.

"Well I have a template of post lab work that I can get you for your Personal assistant data device.  Anyways it's basically a data sheet with conclusions, request for additional study and limitations to be considered, but I would expect that personnel and accident reports be attached.  Since your working on volunteers the personnel evaluation is only needed if something a tad bit bad happened or if one of your volunteers has shown botany promise."  Arcos said filling the watering canister for the next plant adding the food mixture.

"I see.  Well is there anything else I'll be needed to do?"

"Yes.  As volunteers come in, you'll have to make sure everyone is on the same page.  If we get volunteers that haven't had botany training, you'll be needed to instruct them on proper lab duties.  Basically, you'll be given two shifts to work through that and lab duties including the requested reports.  Should someone be injured you'll need to do a write up on how it occurred."  Arcos said checking the food mixture reading with his plant probe.  "two Liters should do it with a hundred ml per a plant I guess…" he said beginning to water the next group of plants.

"It doesn't have to be perfect, but our harvest on these plants should get us a couple chef salads if its done right." She said filling the pollinator with the next dose of pollen.

"right, but I always thought these Bolian tomatoes were better with a bit more food then water."

"I agree… but two parts food mixes down to six or five in our supply chart." She said correcting him.

Arcos smiled. "You got it, I suppose the chef will thank you for your frugality.  So anyways you seem to have a knack for it, I don't see any reason why you wouldn't make petty officer once we've gotten you to train a bit for paper purposes.  Are you okay with sitting in on a biology lab?"

"Biology?"

"There's a lab experiment on the Gourranni herb we picked up on our last supply route."

"That's poisonous isn't it?"

"Yes but were extracting the toxin to see if chemistry can neutralize it.  If you want you can sit in on both labs, if you think you can handle back to back lab sessions."

"No thanks." She laughed.   "I might check in on the biology lab, but I can't possibly leave my plants alone for a day."

"That's fair.  Why not… if only we had a whole plant sample, unfortunately the team just got a sample of what was meant for tea."

"Hmm… that's tough.  Well I suppose we can wait for a live specimen later… the Gourranni Herb is said to have medicinal properties in small quantities… not sure how or what, but the Gourranni seem to claim it's a spiritual healing experience.  Of course they drink and eat the stuff on a regular basis from what I hear."

"I hadn't heard that, but… Anthropology might have a few reports for me next week.  I've got Ms. Yellin on it currently.  She is supposed to give a talk on the Gourranni tomorrow at the weekly science, coffee and science lecture."

"Ms. Yellin, is a personal friend of the family." Ms. Smith smiled.

Commander Arcos grinned.  "You two know each other?"

"Yes, My Father was engaged to her sister before she took ill… I guess it was quite something to have one healthy twin and one with a degenerative illness.  But then they probably were fraternal twins… I never saw her sister… but they from the stories were inseparable just like identical twins sometimes are.  Sad story… anyways I think that's all I had planned for today… in the lab anyways."

OFF                                                                                               

 

//Science Report – USS CHARON – Star Date:241102.26//

---------------------------------------
Index:
 
__________________________
I. Schedule of Science Command Staff
II. Lab summary Table
III. Lab projects summary
IV. Bridge Functions
V. Damage/repair/casualty Report
VI. Science Commanders Comments
----------------------------------------------------------

I.   Schedule(daily)
Name| position||rank| assignment|
-----------------------------------------
    |first shift |Second shift| third shift|
________________________________________
Arcos Darye| Chief Science Officer| Commander | Department head
    |1)Bridge|2)office hours|3)OFF|   
Y. Beindocoff| Stellar Cartography| Lieutenant J.G | Research/Lab Management | NPC
    1)Research/Office| 2)OFF| 3)Bridge
B. Roberts| Beindocoff's Assist| PO3|Research/office| NPC
    1)Research| 2)Office| 3)OFF
S. Vorn| Science Officer| Ensign | Admin Assistant| NPC
    1)OFF|2)Bridge|3)office hours
I. Castillo| Geo Science |Petty Officer 1st| Research/Lab Management| NPC
    1)office hours| 2)research| 3)OFF   
M. Blande| Bio Science| Ensign| Research/Lab Management| NPC
    1)Office hours| 2)OFF| 3)Research
T. Yin| Chem Science| Chief Petty Officer | Research/Lab Management| NPC
    1)Research| 2)office hours| 3)OFF
S. Ronsett| Phys Science| Lieutenant J.G | Research/Lab management| NPC
    1)OFF| 2)office hours| 3)Research
Ollanda| Cybernetics| Lieutenant J.G |Research/Lab Management| NPC
        1)OFF| 2)Research| 3)office hours
G. Yellin| Anthropology| Lieutenant J.G |Research/Lab Management| NPC
    1) Research|2) OFF| 3) office hours

C. Smith| Botany| Specialist| Plant Care and harvest|

1) OFF| 2) Plant Care| 3) Office/OFF
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Officers: 7|Enlisted: 16: 3 enlisted lab masters, 14 enlisted Lab assistants|
----------------------------------------------------------------

|Total Science Personnel: 24 (max 29/min 17/skeleton 3)|
-----------------------------------------------------------------           

II. Lab Summary Table

Labs | Lab master | Assigned assistants | Experiment
_____________________________________________
General Science | Department head charge | 1 | OPEN   
Biology | M. Blande | 2 |  Area Specifics
Chemistry | T. Yin | 2 | Area Specifics
Geo Science | I. Castillo | 2 | Area Specifics
Physics | S. Ronsett | 2 | Area Specifics
Cybernetics | Ollanda | 2 | Probes/maintenance
Anthropology| G. Yellin | 1 | Area Specifics
Botany| C. Smith |    0(+1) | Caretaking/harvest
Stellar Cartography| Y. Beindocoff/B. Roberts | 1 | Area Specifics
-----------------------------------------------------------------

III. Lab Project Summary
________________________________

A) Biology: Biology mixes with a lot of the other fields, but the lab is utilized for a majority of the ships biological research including microbe study, cellar study, animal and space creature study, the study of Life, how it works, and how it continues to function today and in yester year.

Biology Officer in-charge:  M. Blande |OFFICE HOURS: 1st shift

CURRENT STUDY SUMMARY: 

Lab 1:  Local Life Forms – threats, cautions and general study

Lab 2:  Edible plants identification (works with botany)

Lab 3: "Extract of Gouranni Herb for toxic identification"

Progress Update:  Team started a new lab this week.  The extract of the Gouranni Herb which has begun the process of finding a suitable dish to counter the Gouranni Herb for a diplomatic conference.

B) Chemistry: Chemistry studies the physical nature of life, the study of chemicals and elements how they react and work together with each other.  Chemistry often works with biology and physics to come to a closer understanding of what we explore on the ship.

Chemistry Officer in-Charge: T. Yin |OFFICE HOURS: 2nd Shift

CURRENT STUDY SUMMARY:

Lab 1: Toxins and Chemical benefactors of Local Area

Lab 2: local medicinal secrets (joined with medical)

Lab 3:  "Extract of Ka'al root"

Status update: Team has begun a series of extracts for toxin canceling for the Gourranni Herb.  Herb remains to be a toxin inconsumable for the Human Ambassadors who have been seen as dodging all of the Gourranni peace conferences.

C) Geo-sciences:  The Geo Sciences department works with anthropology, Stellar Cartography, biology and other fields of science to grab a basis of the physical relationship of ecosystems, glaciations, gravitational pulls, tectonics, and seismic behavior of planets, moons, asteroids, and planetoids.

Geo-Sciences Officer in-Charge: I. Castillo |OFFICE HOURS: 1st Shift

CURRENT STUDY SUMMARY:

Lab 1: Study of Ecosystems and Geological stability (localized area)

Lab 2: Development of celestial objects (localized area)

Status Update: Team continues to support the physics and stellar cartography department with geological stability reports and planetary development classification.

D) Physics: Physics assists in astrophysics, quantum physics, bio-physics, standard physics.  The Physics team answers question in gravitational effects, trajectory, and other physics challenges.  Often Physics will work with geology or stellar cartography.

Physics Officer in-Charge: S. Ronsett|OFFICE HOURS: 2nd Shift

SUMMATION OF CURRENT RESEARCH:

Lab 1: Trajectory/masses/make up of celestial objects in sensor range

Lab 2: Tri-Probe method

Status Update: Celestial object identification is still undergoing.  Team has already found the trajectory and speed of passing objects nearing the ship while in route to next destination.  In addition the team has begun a new lab with sensor identification with-in ionized regions.  The team hopes to use a tri-probe method of gathering sensor data.

E) Stellar Cartography: Stellar Cartography works with Astro-metrics to provide maps of the galaxy and studies the stars themselves mapping inner corona and outer solar system alike.

 

Stellar Cartography Officer in-Charge: Y. Beindocoff/B. Roberts |OFFICE HOURS: 1st shift/2nd shift

SUMMATION OF CURRENT RESEARCH:

Astro-metrics: Star chart review and update (works with helm/navigation)

Lab 2: (Partnered with physics) Study of Celestial objects

Status Update: Team continues to map and update star charts and equip navigation and helm with area maps of star systems, nebulas, and other celestial objects and phenomena.  Team is assisting geosciences and physics with celestial object study.

F) Cybernetics: The team plays a part in science cybernetics and robotics.  Together the team assists in probe assembly, repair, research, and equipment programming.  These guys play a major role in research set up, and develop new ways to keep us busy and tooling our research.

Cybernetics Officer in-charge: Ollanda |OFFICE HOURS: 3rd shift

SUMMATION OF CURRENT RESEARCH:

Lab 1: Probe repair/construction/re-programming

Additional task: Maintain science equipment (works with engineering)

Additional task: Tri-probe assembly.

Status Update: Team is assisting engineering with repairs to science equipment, station, performing pre-diagnostics and diagnostics, assisting with calibration of lab equipment and putting together probes for science teams study.  In addition the team is devising the probe assembly of the three probe method being devised by Physics.

G) Anthropology: Part of the anthropologies job is to find out what humanoid life is like in surrounding solar systems.  They are basically a historian, but also provide an in-depth analysis in to cultures, societies and the way people live now, then… and on many worlds flourishing, dying, or since perished.  A lot of the teams focus is providing a guide for officers to use when approaching a world on or off duty.

Anthropology in-charge: G. Yellin |OFFICE HOURS: 3rd shift

SUMMATION OF CURRENT RESEARCH:

Lab 1: study of local cultures, archeology, and developing peoples (works with ships counselor)

Lab 2: The study of the Gourrani

Status Update:  Team is analyzing record banks of all local civilizations and past civilization of passing inhabited or once inhabited celestial objects, natural or artificial.  In addition, team is helping to assist ships counselor with current peoples in area's customs, laws, and traditions, and economics. Team adds study of Gourranni for science teams enrichment.


H) Botany: The botany team, made up of volunteers and lab assistant Specialist Chris A. Smith are continuing to care for the planet current in the lab.  Since the team has no samples yet of Gamma quadrant plants, the focus have been on bordering sectors to the gamma quadrant.

SUMMATION OF CURRENT ASSIGNMENT:

Lab: Care of plant and fungi specimens/care of harvest of edible specimens

Status Update: Volunteer teams are maintaining the lab, Specialist Chris A. Smith is working on lab management training.  Upon completion rank grade of Petty Officer 3rd class will be issued.  Administrative team congratulates Specialist Smith.

I) General Science Lab: The General Science lab will be available at request, but is currently on standby for mission specific research.  The lab has holo-emitters for research and is shared with other departments as per request; departments can make use of the lab if unused by the science team.  The General Science lab is the ships state of the art science laboratory capable of housing six differing experimentations from any science department.  The lab assistant is charged with set up and preparing the lab for each team utilizing the lab.  Additional assistants can be utilized if necessary from other labs.

GENERAL LAB SCHEDULE: (CURRENT SCHEDULE – one shift open)

Shift 1: Morning coffee: Inner-Department Guest speaker (Science)

Shift 2: Lab prep/clean up

Shift 3:  -Open for study-

REQUESTEE|REQUEST DURATION|REQUEST SHIFT(s)|SUMATION OF REQUEST

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

IV.  Bridge Operations

______________________________
Science Bridge Crew:
RANK|NAME|POSITION|SCHEDULED SHIFT
----------------------------------

     Commander Arcos Darye| Chief Science Officer| 1st Shift
     Lieutenant J.G Yuri Beindocoff| Stellar Cartography|3rd shift
     Ensign Samuel Vorn| Administrative Assistant|2nd shift

NOTE: The Bridge team is charged with gathering scans for the science department, requesting launch of science probes, and monitoring data for bridge operations.  All scans and data can be made available to other departments and teams on request.   The science lab teams may also monitor their portion of the scans from the bridge at their request, but is limited to lab masters and the science department officers.
--------------------------------------------
V. Damage/repair/Personnel Report:
__________________________________
LAB/STATION STATUS:
----------------------------------
DAMAGE|EXPECTED DATE OF REPAIR|OPPERATIONAL STATUS
----------------------------------

 +Science Labs

All Labs Functioning

+Science Stations

     All Stations Functioning

     +Science sensors/Deflector

           Function in standard norm

STAFF STATUS:
----------------------------------
PERSONNEL|INJURY/LOA|EXPECTED RETURN
-----------------------------------

Officer injured:  0 (0 major – 0 minor – 0 Severe)

Enlisted injured: 0 (0 major – 0 minor – 0 Severe)

Promotion Request:
---------------------------------------
Personnel: Rank|PersonnelName|
à New Rank|Name
---------------------------------------

(approved) Tch Chris A Smith| -> |Spc Chris A Smith

 

Additions:
--------------------------------------

Addition: Rank|ADDITIONEE|POSITION
--------------------------------------

 

 

Training Requested:
---------------------------------------

Training: TRAINEE|POSITION (BYà) TRAINER|POSITION
---------------------------------------

Management Training:

Spc C. Smith| Botany | (BY->) | Cmdr Arcos Darye | CSci

 

Transfers:
--------------------------------------

Transfer: Rank|TRANSFEREE|POSITION(TO
à) POSITION
----------------------------------------



VI. Science Commanders comments
_________________________________________

+Lab Assignments: If you come up with a good research assignment, just begin the process in character by developing a Pre-Lab report. I have attached a request form, just fill it in, and write something in character above about your character putting the report together.

+Training:  If you are looking to advance in rank and you are a non-commissioned officer we will develop a role-play training month on in differing lab assistant positions.  Once completed you might be promoted to Technician, after you master a lab for another month we should be able to promote you to specialist… at which point you'd be specialized to an inner department.  As for leading a lab, we might be able to get you to work on your petty officer rank requirements and start training you on lab set up/and running the lab… not sure on the time requirement on that one, but we should be able to get you working on a story line in character.

+Attached Reports:

Lab study request form:

 Name and rank:
Position:
Department:

 

I.                    Pre Lab report

Purpose:

Materials:

Method/Procedure: 

Hypothesis of result:

 

II.                  Safety/Hazard Report

For seen Hazards during lab:

Hazard 1: 

Hazard 2:

Hazard X:

        General safety rules: 

1.       Wear eye protection

2.       Know location and operation of safety equipment in lab and emergency devices

3.       Never work in laboratory alone

4.       Do only the experiment approved for the lab

5.       Do not wear personal clothing that is not pre-approved for lab use

6.       Report all accidents to Lab Master.

7.       Do not make oral contact with objects in lab

8.       Be mindful of the appearance of strange odors

9.       Keep the Laboratory clean. Clean up spills immediately

10.   Check lab equipment prior to lab and only use equipment in good condition

11.   Check temperature reading on all objects in experiment before reaching. Avoid physical touch of hot objects.

12.   Read reagent listings on any known reactions for reagents used in experiment.

13.   Clean hands thoroughly prior to leaving lab to avoid oral contamination and optical damage.

 

 

III.                Authorization Request

 

Time/shift research is done:                                       Additional Days of study: 

 

Lab requested:                                                                 Personnel requested:

 

Estimated Set up time required:                                               Estimated take down time required:

 

Science team member requesting:

 

Comments: 

 


Thursday, February 24, 2011

[USS Charon] [USS Corsair] - SD241102.23 || Bad Cop / Good Cop? || Various NPCs

U.S.S. Corsair - NX-011979
Nebula II Prototype
 “Sic Parvis Magna”
(Greatness From Small Beginnings)

“Bad Cop / Good Cop ?”
________________________________

Notice:  This log contains adult language.  Reader discretion advised.

 

==  Conference Room, USS Corsair ==

 

Captain Zane Akina sat quietly as his prisoner was brought into the conference room.  Zane gave the man a quick glance before returning his attention to the officer’s records which were displayed on the padd in his hand.  Waving the guard out, Akina set his padd down and looked the Starfleet lieutenant.

 

“Lieutenant Leon Athalla.  Please have a seat.”

 

“What is the meaning of this”, Athalla shouted.  “I have been incarcerated without an explanation for hours and hounded by intelligence types like yourself.  What is going on?  Am I under some sort of suspicion?  If so I demand to know what the charges are!  If you have none then you have no authority to hold me.  I demand to be allowed to return to my ship!”

 

“You are in a position to demand nothing lieutenant!  Now sit down before I have security do it for you!”

 

Athalla angrily grabbed a chair and fell into it.  “Ok so I’m sitting.  Now can we cut the crap and get to the reason I’m being held wherever here is?”

 

“Blunt and to the point – I like that.  I’ve looked over your file Lt. Athalla.  You are by all accounts an accomplished fighter pilot though you are not without your faults.  I see here you led a raid on enemy ground targets but that you mistook the target and wiped out three platoons of Starfleet marines instead.  Quite the miscalculation?”

 

Athalla’s expression instantly changed from dissatisfaction to genuine anger.  “That lies in the past where it belongs.  We all make mistakes especially when you are given orders to attack the wrong location!  I don’t intend to sit and be lectured by a self righteous officer who likely has little to no actual combat experience!  Kill a few people!  Then we can talk!  Don’t you dare take the moral high ground!  I doubt very seriously that as a member of Starfleet intelligence you yourself are squeaky clean!”

 

“I’m not the one who was in the middle of the Vulcan desert and connected to certain persons and events of interest to the intelligence department!  How do you explain your presence there?  What is your connection to this Romulan mercenary, Aev Keirianh?”

 

“Go to hell”, Athalla blurted crossing his arms while displaying a defiant grin.  His eyes blazed with the arrogant confidence of a cavalier combat pilot.  He would not be shaken by this captain’s interrogation techniques.  He had done nothing overtly menacing.  Athalla had twisted a few rules, but had committed no heinous crime.  He knew it, perhaps the captain did as well.  The man was fishing for something to hang him with and Leon had no intention of handing this Captain Akina the noose to slip around his neck.

 

“Lieutenant do you have any idea how much trouble you are in?  The more you resist the more painful this will be for the both of us.”

 

“Save your scare tactics for Halloween and the kiddies, captain!  I’m not some child that you can frighten with threats.  Dredging up my past to irritate me into saying something you want to hear will not work!  I don’t intend on telling you anything and likewise you have nothing in which to hold me with otherwise we wouldn’t be having this lovely conversation!  I’m no fool Captain!   Now unless you intend to begin with a really sinister interrogation complete with torture implements I believe this little chat is concluded!”

Akina slammed his hands down on the conference table.  “Do you think you can dictate to me you insignificant little prick!  I can have you killed and no one would ever be the wiser!  You have no idea who you are dealing with!”

 

Leon laughed.  “I doubt you have the balls to pull the trigger yourself.  If you are so anxious to kill me then what is stopping you?  I’m a god damned fighter pilot!  Do you honestly believe some brass on your collar and tough talk will frighten me you self-righteous bastard!  If you are going to kill me then just get it over with already!  I’m sick of listening to you talk!”

 

Akina scowled silently grinding his teeth together as the two men glared at one other across the obsidian colored table.  “I own your balls lieutenant!  I don’t have to kill you!  I can make your life a miserable, living hell, for eternity if I so choose!  I can break you, own you, and even make you willing give me your soul if that’s what I wanted!  I will not warn you again!  I want to know your connection to Aev Keirianh now!”

 

“You can kiss my ass captain.  And if you so much as lay a finger on me I’ll return the favor with compounded interest.”

 

Akina grabbed his side arm and pointed it at the pilot’s face.  “Talk now or so help me I’ll put a hole through that arrogant head of yours!”

 

“CAPTAIN”, a voice called out from across the conference room.

 

Akina looked up to see Commander Alanis Novada standing at the doorway.

 

“Captain, what is going on in here?  Put away that weapon at once!”

 

“Commander, this is not your jurisdiction!  I am in the middle of a delicate interrogation and I…”

 

“I’ve heard of angels, but I’m not sure I’ve ever seen one until now”, Athalla said as the commander entered the room.

 

Novada looked at the lieutenant and back at Captain Akina.  Her gaze fell back to the lieutenant who in addition to wearing a grin had a pair of gold flight wings affixed to his uniform indicating he was a pilot. 

 

Novada’s expression soured as she turned toward the captain.  “Not my jurisdiction?  Captain, I happen to be the executive officer aboard this starship.  Furthermore, with the captain in sickbay, I am officially acting captain until he recovers.  Now what jurisdiction were you referring to because the last time I checked this was my ship.”  She folded her arms and waited for a response.

 

“Commander, I did not mean it that way.  What I meant to say was this individual has important information that is vital to ongoing investigations.”

 

Novada was not impressed with the answer.  “Well then, by all means captain, continue your interrogation minus the phaser.  I have full security clearance.”

 

“Commander, this isn’t…”

 

“Isn’t what captain?  I hope you are not insinuating that I shouldn’t be here because I am a woman!”

 

“NO!  I wouldn’t dare…”

 

“That is exactly what he is saying Commander….?  I am afraid I did not catch your name sir.  I am Lieutenant Leon Athalla.  Fighter Pilot, 1st Squadron, USS Charon.  It is a pleasure to meet someone aboard who seems to be logical, level headed – not to mention charming.”

 

“I am Commander Alanis Novada, lieutenant.”  Turning her attention back to Akina, Novada was far less accommodating.  “I’m not sure what it is you think you are doing here Captain, but it is at an end.  Captain Ramius would never behave in such a manner and I will not permit you to execute a personal witch hunt looking for clues to Ramius’s attacker!  I am quite sure the captain will want to retain that privilege for himself. 

 

If you want information from people you simply need to ask for it without waving a weapon in their face.”

 

She turned to the lieutenant.  “Lieutenant, would you mind telling us why you were on the surface and your relationship with the Romulan mercenary?  I assume this is what this is about?”

 

Leon smiled.  “I ran into the mercenary Aev Keirianh aboard the Charon during a recent mission where we were forcibly boarded by Romulan shock troops.”

 

“I am familiar with the incident lieutenant, please continue.”

 

“I had never met the mercenary until then.  I don’t even really know how he came to be aboard the Charon.  All I know is that he fought with us against his own people.  Can’t exactly speak to his motivations, but he saved my life and many others.  If it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be sitting here now.  After we fought off that Romulan madman, saved Vulcan, and retook the ship – I guess you could say we formed a friendship.  I took some shoreleave and dragged him along with me.  To make a long story short, someone on the Vulcan surface tried to kill him and me as well.  I do not know who they are or what they wanted.

 

We were separated.  I managed to pick up his trail and was able to follow him to that desert oasis where I assumed he had gone alone to confront his attackers.  Confront them he did.  He foolishly died going it alone.”  Leon paused for a moment.  “I..I guess that’s probably the way he would have wanted to go…one last blaze of glory or something like that.  I don’t really know who he was or much about his past, but whatever he may have been, in the time I knew him, he was a professional, tough fighter who used his talents to help a great many people when it would have been easy for him to simply join his fellow Romulans while they ransacked the Charon.  That is all that I know.”

 

Novada nodded.  “Thank you for your candor lieutenant.  It is appreciated.”  She turned to Captain Akina.

 

“You were saying something about a delicate interrogation?”

 

Akina fumed, but kept his resentment and embarrassment under control.  “He isn’t telling the truth!  He is just saying what we all want to hear!”

“The doctor can verify if he is telling the truth if you insist he is lying, but his story does appear to match reports filed by others on the Charon.”

 

“So you believe him?  He was there!  He knows more than he is telling!”

 

“And suppose he does not Captain?  What then?  We all want to locate Ramius’s attacker, but taking out your anger on this lieutenant is not a substitute for detective work.  I have already enlisted the help of the Vulcan Defense Ministry to assist us in triangulating the source of the attacker’s last transmission.  If we are successful we may be able to extrapolate a possible heading and that would give us a solid lead, not a false confession beaten from an innocent man.”

 

Akina grabbed his padds from the table.  “Believe what you will!  I still retain the operational control over our mission in Ramius’s absence.  This pilot cannot leave the Corsair until I am through with him Commander!”  The captain stormed out leaving the pair alone in the ship’s main conference room.

 

“I apologize Lieutenant Athalla.  Captain Akina has been under a great deal of stress.  He is quite dedicated and passionate about his duties.  I hope you have not been mistreated.”

 

“I can handle a verbal lashing ma’m.  You too seem to be able to handle yourself around irate captains.  I am most impressed.”

 

“I get a lot of practice aboard this ship.”  She winked ever so slightly.  “Lieutenant, would you care to share some coffee or tea?  I would like to hear more about your relationship with the Romulan mercenary and your experiences below on Vulcan.  We are investigating those events and attempting to locate those responsible for a great tragedy below.  Your accounts may aid us in locating these criminals and bringing them to justice. “

 

“Well that offer beats a phaser pointed at me any day.  I accept.”

 

Novada nodded.  “If you’ll follow me.  Perhaps you can tell me something about you?  I once dated a maverick pilot back in my academy days.  He was a legend in his own mind.  You remind me somewhat of him.”

 

“Really”, Athalla quietly replied flashing a toothy smile.  He was beginning to like this Commander Novada and he feared it was for all the ‘wrong’ reasons.  “I happen to be a legend, both in my own mind and elsewhere as well…”

 

The two chuckled as they left the conference room.

 

 

== FIN ==

________________________________

Captain Zane Akina

Starfleet Intelligence

 

Lieutenant Leon Athalla

Fighter Pilot, USS Charon

 

Commander Alanis Novada

Executive Officer, USS Corsair

 

[USS Charon] [USS Corsair] SD241102.23 || Backlog || "Doctor's Prognosis" - Cpt Zane Akina & Dr. Keith Durandal

U.S.S. Corsair - NX-011979
Nebula II Prototype
 “Sic Parvis Magna”
(Greatness From Small Beginnings)

“Doctor’s Prognosis”
________________________________

Captain Zane Akina shivered as he paced the uncomfortably cold confines of sickbay.  It was delta shift and the ship’s infirmary was dark and empty with the exception of a lone nurse who was quietly working at a computer.  It had been two hours since Captain Ramius had been miraculously pulled from the jaws of death on the Vulcan surface.  Transported immediately to sickbay the captain had been in surgery for the last hour.  There had been no word on his condition or extent of his injuries.  Akina prayed the captain would pull through.  He had too. 

 

NeoDyne was again on the move.  They appeared to have succeeded in creating a being using similar techniques that had saved Ramius’s life as a child and imbued him with alien abilities.  This Gabriel claimed to be better than Ramius and from all accounts his claims appeared to be accurate.  If he was to be believed then the galaxy had violently lurched ever closer to war and ruin.  The only thing preventing NeoDyne from manufacturing a vast army of supermen was that the process of creating a single augmented being appeared to be vastly expensive, time consuming, and took dozens of attempts to produce a viable candidate.  They could slowly amass a small unit of these powerful individuals, but would never have enough of them to wage war or drastically alter the balance of power.  Perhaps the process could never be perfected, but NeoDyne had come this far.  Working out the final genetic and production problems was not beyond their grasp.  They had proven they could manufacture a superior humanoid and in doing so threatened peace everywhere by unlocking the door to forbidden technology and techniques that had been sealed away long ago in Earth’s own past. 

 

The Eugenics Wars turned Earth into a planetary warzone.  Governments fell, peace was lost, and chaos reigned.  Genetically modified humans struggled for dominance against their unmodified creators.  The result was decades of total war which damaged the planet as badly as it did its human populations.  The end result of the war saw the destruction or banishment of genetically altered humans to the far reaches of space.  Genetic research for the purpose of augmenting and improving human capabilities was forever banned.  Existing research and information was destroyed.  Humanity sealed away that part of its dark history and struggled for generations to forget it.  And now…NeoDyne threatened to break the seals on the forbidden knowledge and throw open the doors once again for all to see.  Doing so would plunge the galaxy into war and chaos.  Once the demons were again released from their prison it might be impossible to stop them this time.

 

A noise broke Akina’s thoughts as he turned to see Doctor Keith Durandal appear from the operating room.  The doctor released his face mask and pulled off his gloves placing them into a refuse receptacle.  Akina made his way over to the doctor who pulled off his bloody gown and hat tossing them away as a replication system destroyed them.

 

“Well doctor?”

 

Durandal moved to a nearby sink and washed his hands.  “That damn fool cost me the better part of a good night’s sleep.  I have no idea what happened to him, but I can only guess by the wounds inflicted upon him.  Anyway, he’ll make it.  This time.”

 

Drying his hands, Durandal ran them through his sandy blond hair.  “No doubt you are down here waiting for an update?   If you’ll excuse me, I require a cup of coffee.  Given the late hour I sincerely hope I didn’t leave my wrist watch inside of the captain.”

 

Akina looked horrified.

 

The doctor put his hand up.  “A little medical humor captain.  It helps keep us all sane down here.”

 

Durandal found himself a cup of coffee and fell into his office chair behind his desk.  Akina stepped inside the doctor’s office waiting to hear the details.

 

“Ramius’s injuries were treatable.  He had a compound fracture of his right arm, three fractured ribs, and multiple cuts and bruises.  There was trauma to internal organs which I repaired.  Besides having all the hallmarks of a brawl he lost badly, he should be fine with a few days of rest.  His injuries however are not my immediate concern.”  Durandal sipped on his coffee carefully watching the captain’s reactions.

 

“And that is”, Akina asked annoyed at the doctor’s reluctance to talk.

 

“Patient confidentiality captain.  I apologize, but I cannot speak of the matter.”

 

“You cannot what?”

 

“Ramius’s immediate wounds will heal.  With rest I suspect he will be back to his usual headstrong and difficult self in two days.  His long term health is another matter and that is all I can disclose.”

 

“Doctor, I have the utmost respect for Captain Ramius and consider him a close and trusted friend.  Furthermore, I will stipulate that doctor patient confidentiality is a sacred trust and responsibility, but we both know Ramius is no ordinary man.  He is of vital importance to Starfleet Intelligence.  If you have further information I must insist you disclose it.”

 

“I appreciate your words and position Captain Akina, however my duties in this matter are crystal clear.  I will not betray my patient’s trust.  Ramius is not an ordinary person but that does not give you or Starfleet Intelligence an automatic right to his medical records.  Listen to yourself.  If you seized his records and forcibly went about acquiring his medical status you would be no different than the NeoDyne personnel you seek to stop.  I am sure Ramius will disclose what he feels is pertinent to the mission.”

 

Akina could not argue with the doctor’s rock solid logic and had no desire to pick a fight with the ship’s top physician.  “Very well doctor.  Please inform me when Ramius is awake and able to receive visitors.  I need to debrief him as soon as possible.”

 

Durandal nodded sipping his coffee.  “You will be the first one I call sir.”

 

Akina politely nodded but stopped and turned on his way out.  “How is our other patient doctor?”

 

“Doing well now that you ask.  I expect he too will be up and about soon as well.”

 

“Thank you doctor.”

 

Akina left sickbay and headed for security.  If he couldn’t talk to Ramius there was another he had a great many questions for.”

 

 

________________________________

Captain Zane Akina

Starfleet Intelligence

 

Commander Keith Durandal

Chief Medical Officer, USS Corsair

 

Sunday, February 20, 2011

[USS Charon] SD241102.20 || Joint Log || Ens. Dwelon & Amb. Lamont - "A Knight In Shining Armor"

== Lounge – USS Charon ==

 

Vae's red eyes skimmed the room once she finally built the courage to actually walk into the room. There seemed to be nothing really special about the Lounge, but for the abundance of Crew who decided to grace the place with their presence. Something Vae could have surely done without, you mix so many different bodies together, and add the effects of alcohol, it never ends well.

 

Still, she was determined to mingle with the crew, she has been your hermit type for far too long. It was about time she broke out of the shell she called her quarters and emerged into the public eye. Even if the public's eye was not accustomed to someone like her.

 

The uncertainty of the current situation made the normally calm and collected Ensign, uneasy.

 

Taking an empty seat at the bar she ordered a water and kept to herself. However, her ears listening to the random conversations around her, her senses picking up on the multitude of different emotions and stray thoughts which filled the atmosphere. It was interesting listening to what they had to say, yet they all thought something different. It was hard to believe that there were so many liars in such a close proximity to each other. She found herself wishing that just once she could meet someone who did not lie.

 

There was a sudden rise in anger in the room, which concerned her and made her turn in her stool and skim the room for the source. How surprising. Two Marines seemed to be in a argument over a simple game. 'Why must people always resort to violence?' She thought to herself before slipping from the stool and made her way over to the escalating situation. If no one else was going to try to defuse the situation, she might as well give it a try. She just can't stand how violence is the first thing everyone on this ship seems to resort too. Perhaps not everyone, she's still waiting for someone to change that view.

 

When the taller of the two men swung his pool cue towards the shorter was when she stepped between the two, wincing as the stick broke over her forearm. Used to harsher punishment, it still hurt her, the man was stronger then she expected. "Please calm down before you both end up in the brig..." Her red eyes settled on the larger man and she could feel his anger rise as his attempt was foiled.

 

He stalled a moment, perhaps surprised by her appearance, or by the fact that someone of her frame would try to get in the way. But, it did not stop him from calling her a 'bitch' of sorts and perhaps more forcefully then needed shoving her to the ground, causing her to hit her eyebrow on the corner of the table leg. The man was indeed stronger then she had thought.

 

Ambassador Lamont quietly sat in a far corner of the lounge sipping a decidedly average glass of what the barkeep had said was scotch.  It wasn’t quite swill, but it was far from something Lamont would ever serve patrons.  Of course few aboard save perhaps the captain had a palate refined enough to appreciate a fine wine or other spirits.  The ice cubes in his glass, watering down his beverage, was its only redeeming quality as he took another sip enveloped in reading several new diplomatic cables on the current state of affairs.  Diplomatic efforts with Romulan envoys were not progressing well.  Starfleet, despite direct orders, was quietly posturing itself for action.  They claimed it was in response to recent events and to enhance security, however no one in the diplomatic corps was buying the excuses.

 

Setting down a padd and grabbing another, Lamont sipped his scotch when a disturbance in the corner of the lounge caught his attention.  A female whom he couldn’t identify in the distance appeared to be engaged with some rough looking marine apes.  Some words were exchanged and Lamont witnessed the woman knocked to her knees as her head impacted the corner of a table.

 

“Is there no chivalry remaining in this universe”, Lamont cursed dropping his padd and drink to his table.  He cared little for violence or involving himself in the petty affairs of others, however he could not sit by as a gentleman as Marine gorillas assaulted a female officer who had attempted to keep the peace.

 

He walked toward the scene of the crime as the Marines laughed at the misfortune of the woman as if her injury was somehow comical.  Had these men no sense of honor?  Of course not – Marines were just blunt instruments incapable of rational thought outside of killing, maiming, or destroying.

 

Lamont quietly drew a pool cue from a nearby rack spinning it slightly to judge its balance and weight.  It was a poor substitute for a long sword, rapier, or foil, but it would do given the cicumstances.  “Excuse me”, Lamont said firmly tapping the marine who had caused the woman’s misfortune on the back.

 

The tall man turned and raised a brow towards the Ambassador, " What do -you- want 'Pretty Boy'?" Him and his drunken companion chuckled, " Come to the little freaks rescue?"

 

“I find it quite remarkable that you would find pleasure in the misfortune and injury of another.  Well, I’m actually not all that surprised given that the typical marine has the intellectual capability of an ant and destroys almost everything it comes into contact with.  Why don’t you leave the good lady out of this and try taking up your grievances with me?  I believe you men need a lesson in something called self-control, followed up with a refresher in respect.”

 

The two men looked to each other, and then back to the man who'd take it upon himself the 'teach them a lesson'. Laughing historically this time. " I'd like to see you try pretty boy..." So they've seemed to have dubbed him.

 

Vae was dazed from the injury on her forehead, taking the back of her hand, she used it to wipe the line of blood from her eye before turning to see who'd distracted the Marines. Her eyes widening when she recognized the man as Ambassador Lamont, the man who seemed to easily effect her the last time they met.

 

Biting her lip, she moved out of harm’s way and stood on the other side of the table, keeping a close eye on the Marines and Lamont, waiting for the perfect time to step in again. They were bigger then her, and even with her added strength could easily take her if they were not distracted. The Ambassador offered a distraction and she just hoped he would not suffer too much bodily harm on her account... No one had ever stood up for her before.

 

Lamont stood quietly holding the pool stick evaluating the marines as he considered his strategy.  Provoking them was and had been easy.  Countering their advances was his main objective while waiting for small windows of opportunity to counterstrike.  While skilled with a sword and technically proficient with his fists he was not fool enough to take on a group of marines without a carefully considered plan.

 

“You men had no difficulty assaulting the woman”, Lamont stated carefully shifting the weight on his feet.  “So why then do you hesitate with me?  Surely you aren’t afraid?  Or are you?”  Clutching the pool stick with both hands Ian waited for his carefully chosen words to take effect.

 

A scowl came to the big marine as he looked at the testing man, " You know what? You annoy me pretty boy...." He growled before he balled his hands into fists and launched himself towards the man, counting on his size to take the man down so that he could pummel him with his fists.

 

Lamont deftly sidestepped the lunging marine and brought the handle of the pool stick against the man’s back with a loud crack.  The marine fell forward and crashed into a nearby table and chairs ending up in a heap of limbs, spilled drinks, and overturned furniture.  Pivoting on his feet, Lamont turned to face the other marine stick at the ready.  He estimated he had about twenty seconds to deal with this oaf before the other one regained his footing emboldened by wounded pride and robust anger.

 

Vae had watched everything unfold, the marine lunging, the Ambassador beating him down into a heap. That was her chance, she could not let the man get up and have a second chance while Lamont was busy with his companion. She moved towards the marine who had been knocked down, and out of the corner of her eye she saw the second one attack Lamont.

 

" You Bastard...." The smaller of the two marines growled before he too took his chance at the Ambassador. Managing to land a punch on that pretty face of his, a satisfied smile on his face as he shook out his hand. Then followed that by lifting his knee towards him.

The stars cleared from Lamont’s vision as he found himself on the floor having been on the receiving end of a marine’s iron fist.  

 

Reaching up Lamont touched the corner of his lips.  Glancing at his finger tips he noticed they were smeared with tiny droplets of his own blood.  The marine had landed a lucky punch and for that he would exact justice.  Pulling himself back to his feet, Lamont balanced his weight on the balls of his feet taking care to remain agile.  This marine was dangerous, but he would be unable to strike what he could not catch.  He didn’t have time to worry about the other marine he had recently sent crashing into a nearby table.  For the moment the man was otherwise occupied which left Lamont free to focus upon only one adversary.

 

Vae had her hand positioned perfectly to pinch the marine's neck, almost applying the pressure before she felt a big hand wrap around her wrist and squeeze. She bit her lip as the big man stood, looking down into her red eyes with rage.

 

"You trying to knock me out you Vulcan freak?" He squeezed the woman's wrist as he twisted her arm behind her back and placed his arm around her neck, squeezing. " You can watch as my buddy there slaughters your pretty knight..."

Lamont dodged a swift jab, followed by another…and another.

 

“Stand still and fight pretty boy”, the marine bellowed.  Lamont remained silent content to duck and weave between flurries of powerful attacks.  Throwing a powerful hook, Lamont dodged the attack and saw his opening to counter.  Gripping the pool stick in both hands, Ian drove it like a bat into the marine’s exposed upper body.  The force of the blow sent the marine flying backwards as the pool cue snapped and splintered in Lamont’s hands.

 

Ian gazed at the shattered wooden stump in his grasp his advantage all but gone now that his weapon had failed him.  He was a skilled fencing champion and was deadly with a sword, but without his weapon he was decidedly average to poor in hand-to-hand combat.  He typically left fist fighting to those with more pedestrian sensibilities.

 

He needed a plan B and quickly before the angry marine regained his footing.  If he didn’t come up with a plan in the next five seconds there was a high probability that creamed Ambassador would soon be on the galley menu as the daily special.

 

The grip around her tightened as the marine holding her felt concern for his friend, it was a mistake because it gave her the room she needed to bring her head forward and then back with a forceful hit to the man's nose. As he reeled in pain, she growled and using the agility her Betazoid side offered, brought up her leg and gave him a swift kick to the side of the head. Knocking the man to the ground where she was finally able to subdue him with the -oh so reliable- neck pinch.

 

One down, one to go.

 

Gently she checked the cut on her brow before turned her attention to Lamont, he seemed to have the situation with the second marine handled. Though she was skilled in hand to hand combat, she would only step into his fight when, or if, he needed it.

 

The marine slowly staggered to his feet and looked to the Ambassador, his hand nursing the wound left by the broken pool cue. " That all you--- Got-- Pretty boy?!" He growled, his posture wavering as he was starting to lose. Yet, his marine pride left him too stubborn to back down.

 

“I happen to be a Federation ambassador, a Starfleet commander, and am most certainly older and more respectful than the likes of you”, Lamont fired back.  “If anyone is a boy here it is most certainly you and your childish and immature behavior.  After I am done cleaning your chronometer, I’ll decide whether or not to have you and your friend the gorilla, court-martialed.  That is unless you care to concede now?”

 

Vae watched helplessly as she was unable to prevent the marine from charging the Ambassador and taking him down to a table, the marines fists pounding into him.

 

Lamont was unable to sidestep the charging marine who caught the ambassador by the torso picking him up as the two crashed into a nearby table and chairs whose seats were still occupied by lounge patrons.  Attempting to regain his breath that had been knocked from him the ambassador was subjected to the phenomenon known as ‘ground and pound’.  As he was being beaten senseless, Lamont realized things had escalated somewhat beyond a gentlemen’s dual.  Unable to defend himself from the onslaught above him, Lamont altered his tactics opting to abandon any pretense of gentlemen’s conduct for the moment.  With a swift and precise attack, Lamont went for the Marine’s crown jewels which immediately and abruptly halted the pummeling that was turning him into a bloody pulp.  He tried to free himself, but the heavy marine sitting on his chest could not be moved with what strength the ambassador had remaining.  Lamont fumbled around on heap of debris and furniture for something to use when his fingers touched something cool, solid, and decidedly perfect.

 

Wrapping his fingers around the top of a spilled wine bottle, Lamont quickly brought it up and smashed it against the howling marine’s head.  Thousands of green splinters exploded above him followed by a heavy, unconscious marine collapsing on top of him.  It wasn’t quite as elegant or as subtle as a Vulcan nerve pinch, but it would do.  Worse still it would be quite ironic if the marine managed to suffocate or crush him in his unconscious state.

 

“SOMEONE HELP GET HIM OFF ME”, Lamont managed to shout as hands pulled the marine off of him.  Fresh air suddenly hit him and his face, already burning and pulsing with pain, stung at the sudden coolness.  It was highly likely he wouldn’t be winning any beauty contests any time soon.  Someone helped Lamont into a chair as the lounge spun around him.

 

“Someone should call sickbay”, he managed to mutter.  “Oh waiter…check please.”  The lounge went dark as the ambassador slumped forward in the chair.

 

Using as much strength as she could muster she pulled the marine off Lamont and carelessly dropped him to the side, motioning to the newly arriving security guards to take them to the brig. Her attention more on the Ambassador as she slowly wrapped her arms around his chest and lifted him into a nearby chair.

 

Running to get the medkit she frowned as she returned to him unconscious, a gentle hand placed against his bruised cheek, " Why on Betazed would you bother to help me?" She whispered though he could not hear. " Now look at you..." Her frown deepened as her eyes skimmed over his swollen face, she felt responsible for his current state, and she was not sure if she would forgive herself. She should be the one broken and bloodied, not him. It would not be the first time she suffered a beating like that, ' Why get into it? No one has done that for me before... Why now?' her minds was a fury of questions.

 

Once the dermal regenerator had worked to heal the cuts, she asked a waiter for a nice cool cloth. When he handed her one, she slowly, and carefully started to gently wash away the blood from his face. " Ambassador? Do you hear me?" She asked lightly, no response.

 

" Ambassador?" She shook him, still no answer.

 

" Ambassador!?" She winced as she did the next best thing and gently slapped his cheek. Seeing a bit of reaction she continued with questions, " Ambassador... Do you know where you are? Whats your name? What ship are you on?" And more.

 

Lamont opened his eyes to someone slapping him in the face and demanding that he answer silly questions about the date, year, name, rank, what ship he was on.  For a moment he thought he was dreaming.  After several moments his head slowly cleared and reality again took hold.

 

“Charon, Lamont, Ambassador”, he stopped for a moment.  “Did I get him?”  He looked up with a weak smile only to see a pair of red eyes staring back at him.

 

“YOU”, he blurted recognizing the face of the ship’s new counselor who he had already become acquainted with.  “What are YOU doing here”, he asked sitting up as his senses slowly regained their acuity and the pain of the recent fight reasserted itself.  “Now is not the time for an anger management session counselor!  Ask anyone around.  I didn’t start this and in fact came to the aid of an innocent female officer who was viciously assaulted by two marines.  I hope she is alright.  Have you seen her?”

 

Raising a brow she looked into his eyes at his questions about the supposed -other- female officer. Suddenly she understood that he never even knew it was her who was in the middle of it. Using the back of her hand she wiped some sweat from her forehead where he could now notice the bruise and cut on her brow.

 

"Surely I have as much right as anyone else to be in here Ambassador..." Gently she raised the cloth to blot more blood away from his face, he would also notice the nasty looking welt on her forearm from the cue the marine had hit her with. She did not answer his questions about the officer, instead she waited for him to notice.  He was a smart man.

 

Lamont was about to say more, but bit his tongue and said nothing further.  She was treating his injuries.  He could trade barbed comments with her at a later time.  As she tended to his swelling face, Ian noticed a large wound on her own arm.  Funny that she should be…

 

“Turn to the right Ambassador”, she said gently pushing his head to the side so she could further blot his cheek.  Lamont looked up and noticed a gash above her eye that was still caked with dried blood.  His eyes suddenly widened.  “You?  That was you the marines struck?”  He asked in disbelief only wanting her words to confirm what he already knew.  Would he have intervened if he had known it was her?

 

She paused from gently dabbing his face with the cloth, looking into his swollen face a moment before she shook her head and grabbed another cloth, this one wrapped around some ice. Hoping it would reduce the swelling that was currently plaguing that handsome face of his. " I supose that is what happens when someone tries to keep the peace around here...."

 

“I..I am glad to see you are not badly injured counselor.  Those marine ruffians had it coming to them treating a woman, or anyone for that matter, in such a way.  I will insist the scoundrels receive a harsh punishment for their behavior and will further demand they present you a full apology.  If they refuse I will demand court-martial proceedings be held.  Drunk or not, those men should be ashamed of themselves and their behavior.  Perhaps you and your department can offer them counseling on dealing with anger and aggression?”

 

Moving the ice away she placed her hand on his skin to warm it, ice can start to hurt instead of sooth should it be on the skin too long, then, once again she placed the ice on the wound. " I'm not sure... People like them never change... They are trained to attack and kill things that are alien to them..."

 

Her hand shook as she moved the ice to the other side of his face, but she did not shake because she was cold. More because of the flood of emotion she was holding back at the moment. " I have been beaten and bloodied so many times before.... Never once has anyone come to help me..."

 

Lamont had no idea how to respond to such a personal admission.  It was quite obvious the counselor had very openly exposed a vulnerable area to him, but why?  Was it simply any accident brought about by the recent fight?  Lamont swallowed.  He hoped that was all it was, but something told him it was not.  While his own, newfound, telepathic abilities were decidedly weak and horribly undisciplined he thought he could feel something from her though with his own senses in overdirve after being pummeled into the deck perhaps he was only imagining things…

 

Once again she moved the ice and replaced it with the warmth of her hand, " Look at me Ambassador... I am a monster to most people... A freak of society that no one has ever taken a moment to understand..." The ice was placed on his face again.

 

“Monster?  Well after our last encounter I might be somewhat inclined to agree, however, I highly doubt anyone aboard considers you a monster, myself included.  A tad forward perhaps, but nothing so decidedly frightening.  I am by no means qualified to counsel a counselor, but for what it is worth, you could use some confidence and self-esteem.  I believe you handled that marine rather well given the circumstances.  My face and body thank you.  If you hadn’t dispatched angry marine number one I think I would be much better acquainted with the carpeting about now, which is a decidedly average color I might add.  I have no idea what you’ve been through, but give yourself some credit.  I might even be interested in learning that Vulcan neck trick from you." 

 " And I would be more than willing to teach it to you... Along with any other Vulcan tricks you may want to learn in relation to the Vulcan nerve pinch... There is also the Death grip...Many other different things in relation to pressure points... Even a massage referred to as Neuropressure... I just hope you will have the time to master them... It will take more than simply showing you..." She bit her lip.

Lamont’s eyebrow arched.  Was she flirting with him?  He hadn’t realized he had made such an impression, or had he?  His entire body hurt from being pounded and he couldn’t be sure his powers of perception were giving him the right signals or if he was interpreting them correctly.  “Perhaps I’ll take you up on that offer”, he replied.

 A frown graced her lips as she moved the ice to his forehead next, " I am thankful for you bothering to come to help... But forgive me if I am not used it... I hardly know how to thank someone properly..." A sigh left her as she moved the ice to his chin and took his hand to hold it himself.

"Part of me feels responsible for the state you are in now... Broken and bloodied when I should be the one who is in your state..." She asked the barkeep for a glass of what the Ambassador was drinking and held it out to him in her delicate hands. " But, a majority of my being feeling I should give thanks..."

 

Lamont took the glass and took a long sip of the alcohol.  The warm tingle of the poor scotch was welcome even if the quality was not.  “Only the majority is thankful”, Lamont asked.  “Not all?”  He put a hand up and flashed a weak smile.  “You are responsible for nothing more than your own actions.  I made the decision to intervene and assumed the risk of doing so.  I suspected things might become tense, but I couldn’t allow those scoundrels to walk away after such behavior.  You are not responsible for my injuries.  As for the face I’m sure sickbay can repair the damage.  It isn’t the first time I’ve been hit you know.  Won’t be the last, I’m sure”, he jokingly stated trying to lighten the counselor’s subdued almost depressed demeanor.

A genuine smile came to her lips as she listened to him, brightening her features before she looked at his face again. "It is still a shame that they focused so much on that face of yours... The first time or not... It is still unfortunate..." Yes, she just complimented him.

He was quite positive that he had not been reading too much into her words.  She had just complimented him.

 

What had he gotten himself into?  As a gentleman he and his family aspired to the ancient practice of chivalry.  Upon seeing the marines strike another out of malice he had to intervene.  He had anticipated the possibility of cuts, bruises, possibly a broken nose – but he had not accounted for affection.  It was his internal code that had driven his actions…not misguided attempts at finding romance.  He wasn’t sure how to proceed.  He didn’t want to offend her by saying nothing.

“It was a small price to pay.  Cuts, bruises, and black eyes look better on me anyway.  The crew will have plenty of fresh scuttlebutt for weeks because of this incident, I’m sure.  I’m sure most people aboard would much rather see a politician like myself with a black eye rather than their counselor.”

 

Lamont reached up and wiped some of the dried blood from the counselor’s temple where she had been cut.  “I can’t speak from experience, but you look much better unruffled than..ruffled.  In any case, chivalry isn’t dead just yet Ensign.  Well at least not until I die anyway.”

 

She looked into his eyes a moment, flinching when he went to touch her brow, almost as if she anticipated he would strike her. Stopping just in time to feel his gentle brush instead of a harsh hit. Her eyes widening in surprise as he did so, almost left unsure of what to say about not only that, but his compliment.

 

" Thank the four Deities that you are not dead yet... For you are the only one I know who has bothered even for an instant to come to my aid..." There was a silence as she nodded to him. " I will await a message from you signaling when you would be interested in your first lesson... Taking into account your injuries... I would hope it is sooner rather than later... It could very well help with some of the pain you could be in later."

 

Lamont, his swollen cheeks turning an even darker shade of red, smiled softly.  “I have a busy schedule given the serious intergalactic troubles with the Romulans, but I’ll see if I can break away sometime soon.”

 

Standing again she looked down at him, offering him another smile, "I thank you once again Ambassador..."

 

“It was my honor ma’m”, Lamont replied with a curt nod.  “I should probably get myself to sickbay to have this looked after.  No doubt I’ll be required to file a full report documenting this evening’s events.  Though I cannot imagine how, I’m sure the captain will find a way to blame this on me.”

 

Standing, Lamont softly bowed, before turning and heading toward the exit.

 

Only a few moments ago he wouldn’t have bothered to give the time to the counselor and he assumed she would reciprocate in kind and yet now she wanted to see him again after recent events.  He very much questioned her professional motivations for wanting to see him and worse he was himself somewhat tempted to pay her another visit.

To Be Continued….???

 

______________________________

Ambassador Ian Lamont

Diplomatic Advisor

 

&

 

Ensign Vae Dwellon

Chief Counselor