Notes

Flashback- Dominic and Kallen on USS Athena

afindora — Wed, 15 May 2013 09:29:46 -0400

: Posted by Lieut (j.g.) Kallen Reese (Jr. CNS) in Flashback- Dominic and Kallen
: : Posted by Lieutenant Dominic Hertz (Intelligence Officer) in Flashback- Dominic and Kallen
: : : Posted by Lieut (j.g.) Kallen Reese (Jr. CNS) in Flashback- Dominic and Kallen
: : : : Posted by Lieutenant Dominic Hertz (Intelligence Officer) in Flashback- Dominic and Kallen
: : : : : Posted by Lieut (j.g.) Kallen Reese (Jr. CNS) in Flashback- Dominic and Kallen
: : : (snip)
: : : : : "It's open," Kallen's voice called out, crisp yet friendly. She didn't have a soft voice, and yet it could be gentle when needed. The office was laid out as mostly a sitting area with a long couch and two chairs, in an L-shape with a small work area at the back. in front of the seats was a long coffee table. Their ships was small and there wasn't much in the way of luxuries, but the counselling space did seem to convey a warm and welcoming space that had an air of seriousness to it as well.
: : : : :
: : : : : Seeing the civilian scientist enter, she half nodded, half bowed her head. "Good day Dominic," she said warmly, watching him almost intently. "Please have a seat and make yourself comfortable."
: : : : :
: : : : : ~Kallen Reese, Jr. CNS
: : : :
: : : : Dominic grinned with a warm grin to match her own, as he eyed her. "Don't mind if I do," he replied as he took a seat on the couch, and propped his feet up on the table. He then looked up at the junior counselor and patted the seat next to him on the couch. "Take a load off. I don't want to be the only person in here who's comfortable." he said with a grin.
: : : :
: : : : -Lt. Dominic Hertz, Int
: : :
: : : Kallen chuckled. "Don't mind if I do." She had been sitting on the sofa, but since he chose that seat, she opted for one of the arm chairs, while Veracruz decided to sit at the desk unobtrusively and let Kallen do her thing. Leaning forward slightly, she was relaxed. "So... Dominic Johnson, one of our civilians. What made you join a Starfleet run mission?" she asked curiously, her green eyes keen with intelligence.
: : :
: : : ~Kallen Reese, Jr. CNS
: :
: : Dominic kept his eyes on her. "I happened to hear about the mission at hand and actually volunteered to help out. I have some experience with deep space missions, though they were mostly civilian. I think it would help me in any case. I get to see more about starfleet, and get to know you types pretty well through it. Besides, when I had also heard that you counselors were having your 'experiments' of sorts, I grew a bit interested." He left that latter of his statement open ended, curious if she would want him to expound on his thoughts on it.
: :
: : He kept his eyes on her, trying to not get lost in her wonderful green eyes. *Focus!* he thought to himself.
: :
: : -Lt. Dominic Hertz, int.
:
: The corners of her mouth curled slightly upwards as she mused over that. "Really? Most people go running for the hills when they hear about counsellors being around, much less having to converse with us. What makes you different?" Reese asked pointedly. She was quite serious in her question, clearly at ease playing the fine line between banter and the skillful retrieval of information. All good counsellors had that talent, for how else could they get at the root of things that people often wanted to ignore?
:
: ~Kallen Reese, Jr. CNS

Dominic gave a grin at her statement. "I've always been interested in psychology. I almost naturally understood how people thought, or that it almost seemed appropriate for people to come to certain conclusions. I studied it in my spare time and ended up obtaining a minor psychology while in college." Dominic gazed over her, almost as if trying to gleam what should way say. It was that knowing grin that a counselor would exude every now and then to their patient.

-Lt. Dominic Hertz, Int

USS Athena

Deck 6 - The Brig on USS Athena

Emalene — Wed, 15 May 2013 12:53:03 -0400

<snip>
: : She watched as Ghubari nodded and moved past her to sit on the bench. A small bit of the weight she held on her shoulders moved off as she realized Ghubari was not angry, at least not knock-down drag-out angry. Lyra felt she still had a lot to answer to Ghubari for, but at least she was talking. Considering her friend's words she bit her lip. "I don't think it was as simple as all that Ghubari. You hurt him. That is true enough. And he was lonely and slightly desperate... that is true too. For someone who feels emotions, he was dealing with mine too. I can tell you, I was a bloody mess."
: :
: : She paused, looking and feeling heat come to her cheeks. "I don't think I have ever been that emotional. He was dealing with his own emotions and mine too. It really was my fault. I wanted comfort and he was there. He was being a good friend and I put that in jeopardy by kissing him for that comfort. It was the wrong way to get it. I have never been that kind of person before and I hate that I am that now."
: :
: : Lyra, CE
:
: Ghubari was quiet, trying to figure out what to say. It wasn't like she had had a plan when she had come down here. She finally spoke, though looked straight ahead, avoiding looking at the CE. "I was so afraid that I couldn't be what he needed. That I needed to be too many other things and had to define myself more strictly with him if he was going to serve as my Chief of Security. I wasn't wrong entirely about that, but I think we've found a balance. When he told me about the kiss though, my first thought was 'huh, I guess I was right'. I couldn't be what he needed and he could find it elsewhere. I don't give my heart easily Lyra. I had this same problem before, and that..." She took a deep breath and sighed. "I ended it after I lost my leg. Because I was dating the man who had to cut it off. Stuart..." Ghubari clenched her right fist, digging her nail into her palm. "He couldn't look at me the way he used to. Couldn't touch me without revulsion, though he tried to hide it." Though it was pointless with her being an empath. "It destroyed whatever was between us. When Konral and I did our experiment back home Lyra, it was my accident all over again, both in my recollection and the way it fractured me from someone else I cared about. I don't talk about my recovery days to people. It was too hard, too... I felt like I had lost /everything/."
:
: Koraia paused. "I was so lucky to be alive Lyra. Had we had no doctor there, I would have, and I would have ordered them to safety regardless of my condition. But with Stuart there, I had hope, a lifeline. Afterwards though, he wanted his old 'Ri' back. But she was gone. She died on that planet, pinned under the beam that half severed her leg. And the person who made it back was so vastly different. I've seen bits and pieces of my old self these days, but I'm glad for the new me. I like her. She's tough and strong and humble. But she's scared too now. More gun-shy than she'd care to admit. And the reality of having her lover witness those horrific moments unshielded, unprotected shattered something inside back in a hut in Tanzania. That feeling is still there too and I'm doing the best I can to just.... fight through. But that moment in my ready room, when he told me that he had kissed you back? I felt like I had lost him in some way for good, that despite the time we had just spent together feeling the same easiness once again, I was lost again. My anger then wasn't because you kissed him, but because in kissing you back I knew deep down that I had failed him. And that maybe that was how it was supposed to be. That I was just meant to go at this alone. I never saw the next part coming though. He took such a risk! If I had ordered him out after he stormed back in, we would have never been alright. Something about that bold action though stunned me, made me feel like that little girl back in the village who was so terrified of this strange world she found herself in and just wanted someone to see her safely through it."
:
: Captain Koraia, CO

For a long time, it was Lyra's turn to be speechless. What do you say to such an outpouring of information on what went on inside someone's head? Was she supposed to comment on the new Ghubari having not ever known the old one? Was she to comment on Stuart and his inability to love a woman who went through a traumatic experience? It all came down to Konral though.

"When you pulled away from him, he was devastated. I think he loved you completely for a long time and you pulling away just broke his heart. But despite that, or perhaps because of it, he felt he needed to fight for you so that eventually, he could stand by your side and fight with you. I think the major difference between Konral and Stuart is that Stuart didn't love you enough to work through his own pain and come out of it stronger with you. Whereas, Konral will see that challenge as an obstacle to obliterate if it meant being with you. When he kissed me, it wasn't me he wanted. When I kissed him, it wasn't him I wanted. He doesn't /need/ anything but you. I think if he hadn't have stormed back in, he would have felt dead inside, giving up something that means the world to him. Rather than face the slow death of seeing you everyday without being able to love you actively, he chose the option that could have had him transferred or even discharged without honors from Star Fleet."

Lyra, CE

USS Athena

Six Forward - Visitng a Friend on USS Athena

Emalene — Wed, 15 May 2013 12:58:36 -0400

: Posted by Lieutenant Konral Vander (Chief of Security) in Six Forward - Visitng a Friend
: : Posted by Lieutenant Konral Vander (Chief of Security) in Six Forward - Visitng a Friend
: : : Posted by Lieut (j.g.) Sito Lyra (Chief Engineer) in Six Forward - Visitng a Friend
: : : <snip>
: : : : : She blinked at him confused by the question. The food came and was placed before them. Before she dug in, she asked. "I dont understand what that means? Because I am Bajoran? Because I am small? Because I am quiet?"
: : : : :
: : : : : Lyra, CE
: : : :
: : : : "Well yes, no... I highly doubt being Bajoran makes anyone treat you differently, plenty of Bajoran officers and crewmen in Starfleet. Anyone thought that Starfleet was the wrong fit, maybe you went down a path you weren't meant for? I used to hear that a lot..." he said quietly as if contemplating the idea.
: : : :
: : : : CE
: : :
: : : "I have never been anything or anyone but who I am." She said, thinking about it too. She had always tinkered with things, always engineered. She was proficient.... even excelled at all forms of machine modification and computer coding in the academy. Lyra even had the privilege of being called to do a special presentation on warp cores for the Federation Headquarters before her assignment to the Athena. "I don't think anyone has ever said that I was meant to be anything or anyone else. It's a foreign concept to me."
: : :
: : : Lyra, CE
: :
: : "I am the only son in my family, doesn't mean as much in other societies... I find the emphasis on a son much more extreme elsewhere but... there still was always expectations. Family name is still very very important to an extent, a name can mean something in many regards. Though I think my parents worried, the war devastated Betazed, so many died and when I decided to switch to Security they felt it was even more of a danger than Engineering. I mean Starfleet is always hazardous but I know was in the line of work with more casualty reports. It wasn't just them, friends... lovers... co-workers they all seemed to question me, it was something I felt I needed to do... I am a great Engineer and I love to still tinker, help you from time to time and be a tech junkie from time to time, but I felt more at peace working to protect people than fix machines."
: :
: : COS

And that was the answer. Lyra had no family to worry for her safety. No one had ever had been close enough to her to try to persuade her from reaching her dreams. She had found her love for Engineering, found her first real home in that department within the academy and had been sticking with it ever since. Did the neglect of others, the lack of family and friends, make it so easy or was it more difficult, not having that love and kinship in her life?

"At least you have people who love you enough to care out there." For a moment she sounded bitter but then it just transitioned into a kind of acceptance.

Lyra, CE

USS Athena

Ghubari's Quarters on USS Athena

ssigle — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:24:04 -0400

: Posted by Captain Ghubari Koraia (CO) in Ghubari's Quarters
: : Posted by Lieutenant Konral Vander (Chief of Security) in Ghubari's Quarters
: : : Posted by Captain Ghubari Koraia (CO) in Ghubari's Quarters
: : : : Posted by Lieutenant Konral Vander (Chief of Security) in Ghubari's Quarters
: : : : : Posted by Captain Ghubari Koraia (CO) in Ghubari's Quarters
: : : (snip)
: : : : : Flashing her own grin, Ghubari gazed at him, still resting her chin on her hands. "Then I look forward to trying it," she said, waiting for him to hand her a glass. "You and your uttaberries though. I'm starting to think I might need to craft a special fusion dish from back home that has uttaberries in it. I'm sure my people would be perfectly horrified, but would likely be an adventure all on it's own.
: : : : :
: : : : : Captain Koraia, CO
: : : :
: : : : "Well I do like sweet things, always one of my favorite items to have... why I spend so much time around you." he said teasingly her as he took a sip, the bubbles tickling his lip.
: : : :
: : : : COS
: : :
: : : "Lies..." she replied coolly taking a sip of the sweet bubbly drink. It was a bit sweeter than she expected, but not unpleasant. "I'm not sweet, at least not in the way people like Lyra and Kaylee are. /They/ are sweet. Me, well, I can be charming if I choose to, but surely you know that I enjoy being the enigma. It suits me and I gravitate towards keeping things close and not showing too much. Partly cultural, partly training. The rest is just me."
: : :
: : : Captain Koraia, CO
: :
: : "I call bull crap on that, you are sweet... just in a way that may not be obvious. Did you know on Betazed a type of uttaberries called nog berries are far sweeter than uttaberries, they are even deeper purple, almost black in their color... but they have to be eaten in the right time of day, when the sun hits them at high noon, they create a toxin the leaks into the veins of the stems, any creatures foraging at that time would be killed if they ate them, at midnight... they are able to be plucked and eaten... and create some dishes that are beyond sweet." as he said this he took a sip of his drink then looked back at he, smiling softly.
: :
: That Konral could counter her so easily didn't phase her. In fact, it was one of the things she loved about their relationship. But was he playing her? It was a convenient little anecdote. But Ghubari considered it for a moment and decided that even if it was, it was okay.
:
: : "To me that is you, you don't show it in everyday life your sweetness, you don't parade with sugar smiles and friendship bracelets, but you let people get to know you... let them learn who you are at your pace... at your time and you can open a side few see, that is sweeter than any nog berries. Just cause you don't let your heart on your sleeve doesn't mean you don't have the ability to let it show."
: :
: : COS
:
: And that made her smile. How easily he summed her complex nature up. From her position of her chin propped on her hand, she chuckled a little. "Alright, I'll give. It's a pretty darn accurate description there Ral. Not bad..."
:
: Sitting up, she reached for the fizzy drink and sipped lightly as she eyed the mystery wine. "Are we going to risk it? Still up for being adventurous?"
:
: Captain Koraia, CO

"You pour that and I will see what the computer decided for dinner." he said as he pulled back the lid, revealing a wide variety meals, Vulcan soup, earth lamb and Trill fresh greens. It was truly a random selection one he couldn't have predicted. "Well looks like have a wide variety for sure." he said smiling, curious as to what to try first. Desert was lacking like he asked, he would grab that last for her.

COS

USS Athena

Six Forward - Visitng a Friend on USS Athena

ssigle — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:30:38 -0400

: Posted by Lieut (j.g.) Sito Lyra (Chief Engineer) in Six Forward - Visitng a Friend
: : Posted by Lieutenant Konral Vander (Chief of Security) in Six Forward - Visitng a Friend
: : : Posted by Lieutenant Konral Vander (Chief of Security) in Six Forward - Visitng a Friend
: : : : Posted by Lieut (j.g.) Sito Lyra (Chief Engineer) in Six Forward - Visitng a Friend
: : : : <snip>
: : : : : : She blinked at him confused by the question. The food came and was placed before them. Before she dug in, she asked. "I dont understand what that means? Because I am Bajoran? Because I am small? Because I am quiet?"
: : : : : :
: : : : : : Lyra, CE
: : : : :
: : : : : "Well yes, no... I highly doubt being Bajoran makes anyone treat you differently, plenty of Bajoran officers and crewmen in Starfleet. Anyone thought that Starfleet was the wrong fit, maybe you went down a path you weren't meant for? I used to hear that a lot..." he said quietly as if contemplating the idea.
: : : : :
: : : : : CE
: : : :
: : : : "I have never been anything or anyone but who I am." She said, thinking about it too. She had always tinkered with things, always engineered. She was proficient.... even excelled at all forms of machine modification and computer coding in the academy. Lyra even had the privilege of being called to do a special presentation on warp cores for the Federation Headquarters before her assignment to the Athena. "I don't think anyone has ever said that I was meant to be anything or anyone else. It's a foreign concept to me."
: : : :
: : : : Lyra, CE
: : :
: : : "I am the only son in my family, doesn't mean as much in other societies... I find the emphasis on a son much more extreme elsewhere but... there still was always expectations. Family name is still very very important to an extent, a name can mean something in many regards. Though I think my parents worried, the war devastated Betazed, so many died and when I decided to switch to Security they felt it was even more of a danger than Engineering. I mean Starfleet is always hazardous but I know was in the line of work with more casualty reports. It wasn't just them, friends... lovers... co-workers they all seemed to question me, it was something I felt I needed to do... I am a great Engineer and I love to still tinker, help you from time to time and be a tech junkie from time to time, but I felt more at peace working to protect people than fix machines."
: : :
: : : COS
:
: And that was the answer. Lyra had no family to worry for her safety. No one had ever had been close enough to her to try to persuade her from reaching her dreams. She had found her love for Engineering, found her first real home in that department within the academy and had been sticking with it ever since. Did the neglect of others, the lack of family and friends, make it so easy or was it more difficult, not having that love and kinship in her life?
:
: "At least you have people who love you enough to care out there." For a moment she sounded bitter but then it just transitioned into a kind of acceptance.
:
: Lyra, CE

"Hey, you have people to you know? I would do anything to get you to smile, and I do love and care for you as well. Perhaps that is the beauty of Starfleet, if you want you can find anything you need... even if it's someone to cling on to, someone to find comradeship and deep friendship with. You are right, we may not be shipmates three days from now, or months... years... but no matter how little or long you have to be able to find those people you connect with and make that leap of friendship." he said as he ate some of his meal, looking at her with a soft and caring look.

"It took me awhile to realize that again, you know my story but... I thought I should be an island, all to myself no one but me. It failed, I didn't succeed in being all by myself, I usually ended up being miserable and angry. It may work for some the island, but not me. I always felt too much for my own good, even as a Betazoid."

COS

USS Athena

Six Forward - Visitng a Friend on USS Athena

Emalene — Wed, 15 May 2013 14:12:42 -0400

<snip>
: : And that was the answer. Lyra had no family to worry for her safety. No one had ever had been close enough to her to try to persuade her from reaching her dreams. She had found her love for Engineering, found her first real home in that department within the academy and had been sticking with it ever since. Did the neglect of others, the lack of family and friends, make it so easy or was it more difficult, not having that love and kinship in her life?
: :
: : "At least you have people who love you enough to care out there." For a moment she sounded bitter but then it just transitioned into a kind of acceptance.
: :
: : Lyra, CE
:
: "Hey, you have people to you know? I would do anything to get you to smile, and I do love and care for you as well. Perhaps that is the beauty of Starfleet, if you want you can find anything you need... even if it's someone to cling on to, someone to find comradeship and deep friendship with. You are right, we may not be shipmates three days from now, or months... years... but no matter how little or long you have to be able to find those people you connect with and make that leap of friendship." he said as he ate some of his meal, looking at her with a soft and caring look.

Somehow she never counted Konral as someone that close to her. It wasn't that she didn't feel the same, but that she had simply only ever been close to one person and he kept himself at a distance because of who he was. She had had friends in the academy and throughout her several years in service to Star Fleet before they stationed her here, but she was not really close to any of them like she was to Konral. She finally had a real and true friend.
:
: "It took me awhile to realize that again, you know my story but... I thought I should be an island, all to myself no one but me. It failed, I didn't succeed in being all by myself, I usually ended up being miserable and angry. It may work for some the island, but not me. I always felt too much for my own good, even as a Betazoid."
:
: COS

In addition to that, she also had a real and true relationship, fledgling as it was. This epiphany had her eating without thought to what she was eating. It was very odd to Lyra to now have these things that orphans just didnt have at least until their adult lives. She had to smile at this.

"I have always been alone. I never thought I needed anyone else because I never thought about it at all. The way of my world was to be alone, depend on my brain, and get myself where I wanted to be."

Lyra, CE

USS Athena

Six Forward - Visitng a Friend on USS Athena

ssigle — Wed, 15 May 2013 14:33:15 -0400

: Posted by Lieut (j.g.) Sito Lyra (Chief Engineer) in Six Forward - Visitng a Friend
: <snip>
: : : And that was the answer. Lyra had no family to worry for her safety. No one had ever had been close enough to her to try to persuade her from reaching her dreams. She had found her love for Engineering, found her first real home in that department within the academy and had been sticking with it ever since. Did the neglect of others, the lack of family and friends, make it so easy or was it more difficult, not having that love and kinship in her life?
: : :
: : : "At least you have people who love you enough to care out there." For a moment she sounded bitter but then it just transitioned into a kind of acceptance.
: : :
: : : Lyra, CE
: :
: : "Hey, you have people to you know? I would do anything to get you to smile, and I do love and care for you as well. Perhaps that is the beauty of Starfleet, if you want you can find anything you need... even if it's someone to cling on to, someone to find comradeship and deep friendship with. You are right, we may not be shipmates three days from now, or months... years... but no matter how little or long you have to be able to find those people you connect with and make that leap of friendship." he said as he ate some of his meal, looking at her with a soft and caring look.
:
: Somehow she never counted Konral as someone that close to her. It wasn't that she didn't feel the same, but that she had simply only ever been close to one person and he kept himself at a distance because of who he was. She had had friends in the academy and throughout her several years in service to Star Fleet before they stationed her here, but she was not really close to any of them like she was to Konral. She finally had a real and true friend.
: :
: : "It took me awhile to realize that again, you know my story but... I thought I should be an island, all to myself no one but me. It failed, I didn't succeed in being all by myself, I usually ended up being miserable and angry. It may work for some the island, but not me. I always felt too much for my own good, even as a Betazoid."
: :
: : COS
:
: In addition to that, she also had a real and true relationship, fledgling as it was. This epiphany had her eating without thought to what she was eating. It was very odd to Lyra to now have these things that orphans just didnt have at least until their adult lives. She had to smile at this.
:
: "I have always been alone. I never thought I needed anyone else because I never thought about it at all. The way of my world was to be alone, depend on my brain, and get myself where I wanted to be."
:
: Lyra, CE

"You have so many know... you have me... you found Antin in a most wonderful it seems, you even have Ghubari.... I think." he said, that was a slight sour note and he regretted mentioning it. "She does care, she really does... maybe why she is still hurt... I have avoided the topic, I don't want to open wounds when we are healing ours but... you both mean so much to me, I don't really want there to be a rift between either of you."

COS

USS Athena

Captain's Ready Room - Aullar Arrival, Pre-sim on USS Athena

lindsayb — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:33:00 -0400

: Posted by Lieutenant Gren Aullar (Chief Science Officer) in Captain's Ready Room - Aullar Arrival, Pre-sim
: : Posted by Captain Ghubari Koraia (CO) in Captain's Ready Room - Aullar Arrival, Pre-sim
(snip)
: : If there was any question that the two women were playing a game, it was answered now. For Ghubari seemed not at all fussed by Gren's counter. Whatever her motives for going about the conversation at this angle, the half-Napean seemed quite willing to to play it out as long as it suited her to. "I'm sure you can," Koraia replied with her own weightiness conferred on her words. "But I want to be very clear about something Lieutenant. This isn't the Lady Dune. I run a tight ship and regulations /do/ matter. I am not a slave to them, but I have a healthy respect for them. And I expect that not only will my senior officers follow suit, but that they will convey that to their subordinates. We see far too much action for anything less."
: :
: : Captain Koraia, CO
:
: That storm whirling and churning within Gren filled the air. Coy eyes turned piercing and it was evident exactly how she had clawed her way into being the second-in-command of a ship full of miscreants and thieves at such a young age. Even on heavy suppressants, there was something that seemed to suck the rooms attention towards her.
:
: "Cap-tain..." Her head tilted. "Ghubari, is it?" she smiled, "Your Starfleet sounds so loudly. Do not worry, I am Starfleet's to have. You won't be given failure. But, I will not bend over frivolities. I will do as I will." Gren spoke serious; her words not an offer nor were they a demand, only a statement of fact.
:
: Aullar, CSO

"Koraia," the CO replied. "Koraia is my surname and that is how you will address me," she said cooly.

Leaning back, Ghubari considered her new CSO. "Here's the thing Lieutenant. /I/ decide what it frivolous or not. My orders or orders. Simple. If you don't think you can follow them, regardless fo how you feel about them, I wil find you somewhere else to serve. Is that understood?" she said sternly, her pale amber eyes intent.

Captain Koraia, CO

USS Athena

Captain's Ready Room - Aullar Arrival, Pre-sim on USS Athena

Steamcry — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:54:26 -0400

Gren tilted her head the other way as she listened; the fingers of one hand stroked the arm of the chair as if she were petting it. "Mmmm," she seemed to relish the lecture, eyes fluttering shut for a short moment. "Here's the thing Cap-tain. It wasn't your order who brought me here. Those much, much higher are giving you a gift and I'm non-refundable. Don't waste your presents, darling. You haven't even seen everything yet."

Aullar, CSO

USS Athena

Six Forward - Visitng a Friend on USS Athena

Emalene — Wed, 15 May 2013 21:08:32 -0400

: Posted by Lieutenant Konral Vander (Chief of Security) in Six Forward - Visitng a Friend
: : Posted by Lieut (j.g.) Sito Lyra (Chief Engineer) in Six Forward - Visitng a Friend
: : <snip>
: : : : And that was the answer. Lyra had no family to worry for her safety. No one had ever had been close enough to her to try to persuade her from reaching her dreams. She had found her love for Engineering, found her first real home in that department within the academy and had been sticking with it ever since. Did the neglect of others, the lack of family and friends, make it so easy or was it more difficult, not having that love and kinship in her life?
: : : :
: : : : "At least you have people who love you enough to care out there." For a moment she sounded bitter but then it just transitioned into a kind of acceptance.
: : : :
: : : : Lyra, CE
: : :
: : : "Hey, you have people to you know? I would do anything to get you to smile, and I do love and care for you as well. Perhaps that is the beauty of Starfleet, if you want you can find anything you need... even if it's someone to cling on to, someone to find comradeship and deep friendship with. You are right, we may not be shipmates three days from now, or months... years... but no matter how little or long you have to be able to find those people you connect with and make that leap of friendship." he said as he ate some of his meal, looking at her with a soft and caring look.
: :
: : Somehow she never counted Konral as someone that close to her. It wasn't that she didn't feel the same, but that she had simply only ever been close to one person and he kept himself at a distance because of who he was. She had had friends in the academy and throughout her several years in service to Star Fleet before they stationed her here, but she was not really close to any of them like she was to Konral. She finally had a real and true friend.
: : :
: : : "It took me awhile to realize that again, you know my story but... I thought I should be an island, all to myself no one but me. It failed, I didn't succeed in being all by myself, I usually ended up being miserable and angry. It may work for some the island, but not me. I always felt too much for my own good, even as a Betazoid."
: : :
: : : COS
: :
: : In addition to that, she also had a real and true relationship, fledgling as it was. This epiphany had her eating without thought to what she was eating. It was very odd to Lyra to now have these things that orphans just didnt have at least until their adult lives. She had to smile at this.
: :
: : "I have always been alone. I never thought I needed anyone else because I never thought about it at all. The way of my world was to be alone, depend on my brain, and get myself where I wanted to be."
: :
: : Lyra, CE
:
: "You have so many know... you have me... you found Antin in a most wonderful it seems, you even have Ghubari.... I think." he said, that was a slight sour note and he regretted mentioning it. "She does care, she really does... maybe why she is still hurt... I have avoided the topic, I don't want to open wounds when we are healing ours but... you both mean so much to me, I don't really want there to be a rift between either of you."
:
: COS

"It certainly is a wonder. I am surrounded by people who I enjoy spending time around. I really haven't thought about the change it has had on my life. I do care for you. Antin is a surprise and a frustrating joy I never thought I would have. Ghubari... There is damage there. I don't know how we will handle it yet."

Lyra, CE

USS Athena

Flashback- Dominic and Kallen on USS Athena

lindsayb — Thu, 16 May 2013 03:36:38 -0400

: Posted by Lieutenant Dominic Hertz (Intelligence Officer) in Flashback- Dominic and Kallen
: : Posted by Lieut (j.g.) Kallen Reese (Jr. CNS) in Flashback- Dominic and Kallen
(snip)
: : The corners of her mouth curled slightly upwards as she mused over that. "Really? Most people go running for the hills when they hear about counsellors being around, much less having to converse with us. What makes you different?" Reese asked pointedly. She was quite serious in her question, clearly at ease playing the fine line between banter and the skillful retrieval of information. All good counsellors had that talent, for how else could they get at the root of things that people often wanted to ignore?
: :
: : ~Kallen Reese, Jr. CNS
:
: Dominic gave a grin at her statement. "I've always been interested in psychology. I almost naturally understood how people thought, or that it almost seemed appropriate for people to come to certain conclusions. I studied it in my spare time and ended up obtaining a minor psychology while in college." Dominic gazed over her, almost as if trying to gleam what should way say. It was that knowing grin that a counselor would exude every now and then to their patient.
:
: -Lt. Dominic Hertz, Int

Her green eyes looked him over, not at all fazed by his mentioning that he studied psychology. In a way it meant they were on somewhat level ground, though she imagined he might be tougher than some others to get talking. "What is it about Science that fascinates you the most?" she asked, crossing her legs and resting her arms on a knee.

~Kallen Reese, Jr. CNS

USS Athena

Deck 6 - The Brig on USS Athena

lindsayb — Thu, 16 May 2013 03:57:32 -0400

: Posted by Lieut (j.g.) Sito Lyra (Chief Engineer) in Deck 6 - The Brig
: <snip>
: : : She watched as Ghubari nodded and moved past her to sit on the bench. A small bit of the weight she held on her shoulders moved off as she realized Ghubari was not angry, at least not knock-down drag-out angry. Lyra felt she still had a lot to answer to Ghubari for, but at least she was talking. Considering her friend's words she bit her lip. "I don't think it was as simple as all that Ghubari. You hurt him. That is true enough. And he was lonely and slightly desperate... that is true too. For someone who feels emotions, he was dealing with mine too. I can tell you, I was a bloody mess."
: : :
: : : She paused, looking and feeling heat come to her cheeks. "I don't think I have ever been that emotional. He was dealing with his own emotions and mine too. It really was my fault. I wanted comfort and he was there. He was being a good friend and I put that in jeopardy by kissing him for that comfort. It was the wrong way to get it. I have never been that kind of person before and I hate that I am that now."
: : :
: : : Lyra, CE
: :
: : Ghubari was quiet, trying to figure out what to say. It wasn't like she had had a plan when she had come down here. She finally spoke, though looked straight ahead, avoiding looking at the CE. "I was so afraid that I couldn't be what he needed. That I needed to be too many other things and had to define myself more strictly with him if he was going to serve as my Chief of Security. I wasn't wrong entirely about that, but I think we've found a balance. When he told me about the kiss though, my first thought was 'huh, I guess I was right'. I couldn't be what he needed and he could find it elsewhere. I don't give my heart easily Lyra. I had this same problem before, and that..." She took a deep breath and sighed. "I ended it after I lost my leg. Because I was dating the man who had to cut it off. Stuart..." Ghubari clenched her right fist, digging her nail into her palm. "He couldn't look at me the way he used to. Couldn't touch me without revulsion, though he tried to hide it." Though it was pointless with her being an empath. "It destroyed whatever was between us. When Konral and I did our experiment back home Lyra, it was my accident all over again, both in my recollection and the way it fractured me from someone else I cared about. I don't talk about my recovery days to people. It was too hard, too... I felt like I had lost /everything/."
: :
: : Koraia paused. "I was so lucky to be alive Lyra. Had we had no doctor there, I would have, and I would have ordered them to safety regardless of my condition. But with Stuart there, I had hope, a lifeline. Afterwards though, he wanted his old 'Ri' back. But she was gone. She died on that planet, pinned under the beam that half severed her leg. And the person who made it back was so vastly different. I've seen bits and pieces of my old self these days, but I'm glad for the new me. I like her. She's tough and strong and humble. But she's scared too now. More gun-shy than she'd care to admit. And the reality of having her lover witness those horrific moments unshielded, unprotected shattered something inside back in a hut in Tanzania. That feeling is still there too and I'm doing the best I can to just.... fight through. But that moment in my ready room, when he told me that he had kissed you back? I felt like I had lost him in some way for good, that despite the time we had just spent together feeling the same easiness once again, I was lost again. My anger then wasn't because you kissed him, but because in kissing you back I knew deep down that I had failed him. And that maybe that was how it was supposed to be. That I was just meant to go at this alone. I never saw the next part coming though. He took such a risk! If I had ordered him out after he stormed back in, we would have never been alright. Something about that bold action though stunned me, made me feel like that little girl back in the village who was so terrified of this strange world she found herself in and just wanted someone to see her safely through it."
: :
: : Captain Koraia, CO
:
: For a long time, it was Lyra's turn to be speechless. What do you say to such an outpouring of information on what went on inside someone's head? Was she supposed to comment on the new Ghubari having not ever known the old one? Was she to comment on Stuart and his inability to love a woman who went through a traumatic experience? It all came down to Konral though.
:
The silence didn't bother Ghubari, though it made her own words echo in her head, making them weighty. She wasn't even sure what compelled her to speak that way, to Lyra especially, but maybe that was the point. Maybe she needed to tell someone who wasn't so knee deep in the mess of it all and who hadn't seen her through fight after fight.

: "When you pulled away from him, he was devastated. I think he loved you completely for a long time and you pulling away just broke his heart. But despite that, or perhaps because of it, he felt he needed to fight for you so that eventually, he could stand by your side and fight with you. I think the major difference between Konral and Stuart is that Stuart didn't love you enough to work through his own pain and come out of it stronger with you. Whereas, Konral will see that challenge as an obstacle to obliterate if it meant being with you. When he kissed me, it wasn't me he wanted. When I kissed him, it wasn't him I wanted. He doesn't /need/ anything but you. I think if he hadn't have stormed back in, he would have felt dead inside, giving up something that means the world to him. Rather than face the slow death of seeing you everyday without being able to love you actively, he chose the option that could have had him transferred or even discharged without honors from Star Fleet."
:
: Lyra, CE

Koraia nodded slowly. "The person who's life I saved that day on Kendor IV... her name was Dalera. Dalera Vander." She turned her head and finally looked at Lyra. "Konral's sister. She was a junior scientist on the Cheyenne. I knew of her, talked to her the odd time, but she was never more than just a scientist on the ship who sometimes came to the music nights I'd host for the crew. I was different then, as an XO. A little more free, but still just as serious. I never took life for granted but the war seemed so long ago that I had forgotten how messy life and death could be. Dalera..." Ghubari rubbed her face with her hands. "There are things I can't tell Konral. Though I'm sure he knows at least hints of it. Like, that I see her face in my dreams all the time. It's always some twisted version of what happened. Memories mixing into each other. You see, Konral and I were connected to each other before we ever met. The memory regression we did..." She shook her head. "It's bad enough to have to have gone through the event for real yourself, but to have someone like Konral witness it. With two women he cares so deeply about. Well, there was a point I think I knew just how big a mistake it was. It shattered us. And now we're trying to pick up the pieces." She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her thighs, looking forward again. She was a strong person, but so much of this had been weighing down on her. Though being together with Konral again had lightened the load considerably.

Captain Koraia, CO

USS Athena

Ready Room- Main Sim on USS Athena

ikerby — Thu, 16 May 2013 08:27:59 -0400

: Posted by Gamemaster Chiasm (Gamemaster) in Ready Room- Main Sim
: : Posted by Lt. Cmdr. Stark Nightstalker (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Ready Room- Main Sim
: : : Posted by Captain Ghubari Koraia (CO) in Ready Room- Main Sim
: : : : Posted by Gamemaster Chiasm (Gamemaster) in Ready Room- Main Sim
: : : : : Posted by Lt. Cmdr. Stark Nightstalker (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Ready Room- Main Sim
: : : : : : Posted by Gamemaster Mischief Maker (Gamemaster) in Ready Room- Main Sim
: : : : : : : Posted by Lt. Cmdr. Stark Nightstalker (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Ready Room- Main Sim
: : : : : : : : Posted by Lieutenant Konral Vander (Chief of Security) in Ready Room- Main Sim
: : : : : : : : : Posted by Gamemaster Mischief Maker (Gamemaster) in Ready Room- Main Sim
: : : : : : : : : : Posted by Lt. Cmdr. Stark Nightstalker (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Ready Room- Main Sim
: : : : : : (snips)
: : : : : : : : : : Stark dropped the pretense and looked at Varis directly. "Give us a reason to unlock our weapons then or we're all going to die of old age before we get beyond this pleasant exchange of absolutely nothing, which is achieving absolutely nothing.
: : : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : : Stark turned to Ghubari. "I'm assuming that backup is on it's way Captain, especially considering that the checks we did on this area raised flags in the Starfleet Intelligence office. Considering the length of time that this debris field has been drifting and the fact that it is on our side of the zone leads me to quote a Ferengi friend of mine and declare this debris ours by rights of salvage.
: : : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : "I would imagine so Commander. Someone in Starfleet knows we are here and I doubt they'll take very long to check thins out," Koraia said cooly.
: : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : : He spun to look at Varis "Unless of course you'd like to give us a reason NOT to take that course of action beyond the obvious reply of "if you do we'll blow you into atoms" which of course would be oh so predictable and disappointing. It would be soooo much more interesting if you replied with "Well actually we've been here for ages and really would like to rebel against all our directives and tell you everything we know because we're becoming such good friends." Stark took a breath and let his exasperation show.
: : : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : : Stark Nightstalker CIO
: : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : Varis looked completely calm against Stark's little tirade. "My, my Starfleet Intelligence officers have gotten rather jumpy lately." She rose to her feet. "As you have pointed out, this is achieving nothing. And I'm afraid I can't /give/ you the information you're looking for."
: : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : ~Mischief Maker
: : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : Stark grinned "Oh well, the petulant spoiled brat routine has always been a weapon of last resort but it was worth a try. I bow to a superior opponent" Stark gave a small bow.
: : : : : : :
: : : : : : The corners of the Romulan's mouth seemed to twitch but never seemed to actually slip into a smile or smirk or whatever she might have been inclined to show.
: : : : : :
: : : : : : : : Konral had been saying little but feeling here, he titled his head as she said that. "Then trade it. Surely we have something you want, what's that human term... tit for tat? You have a chip we need, what do we got to acquire it?" he said, it may have been shocking hearing him speak... but he had a feeling he was on the right track with what the Romulan was hinting at.
: : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : COS
: : : : : : :
: : : : : : : Stark Nightstalker CIO
: : : : : :
: : : : : : "Who said I had a chip?" Varis replied cooly, her eyebrows lifting slightly.
: : : : : :
: : : : : : "I think Lieutenant Vander was implying that you had information and it would be one way to conveying it," Koraia chimed in, feeling like the situation was slipping out of their grasp a little. And it made Ghubari slightly nervous since she was convinced they were missing something big here. She rose to her feet as well, gazing intently at Varis.
: : : : : :
: : : : : : The Romulan met her gaze and seemed to be considering something. "What could we possibly want from you?" she asked dryly.
: : : : : :
: : : : : : ~Mischief Maker
: : : : :
: : : : : Stark cocked his head to one side "Things Romulan's have wanted from us in the past...hmm a market for Romulan ale, resources to save a dying planet or two, help in the oh lets not talk about the fact that Romulans and Remans don't get on so well debacle, political asylum either from the Tal Shiar or because one used to be part of the Tal Shiar, healing the timeline, locating or inserting Vulcan spies, stopping microsingularities from going bang or stars from destroying the homeworldhelp in perfecting a recipe for a Romulan dish called viinerine and my personal favourite... the occasional interjection of some good old fashioned humour... take your pick". He raised his eyebrows suggestively waiting for a reply.
: : : : :
: : : : : Stark Nightstalker CIO
: : : :
: : : : There was a noticeable change in Varis's demeanor. Perhaps it was the mention of a 'dying planet or two', or maybe it was the list of everything the Romulan Empire had asked of the Federation over the past century. She opened her mouth to respond, only to close it again, reworking over the words in her head, thinking about courses to take forward with the Star-Fleet people in front of her. "Your Federation is sending convoys of desperately needed food and fuel for industrial replicators on outlier worlds. The... event, did not just strike down our home. It is starving millions. You have what we want, but you are giving it to us, anyway," she said. Her voice remained steeled, even if her words could be construed to impart a measure of gratitude - but her point was made. The Federation was already helping her people.
: : : :
: : : : "I am satisfied that you know nothing of what led to the graveyard we are investigating. If you want information... we must remain here to complete our scans. You will permit us to do this." Varis reached into her uniform. Instead of pulling out a weapon, she pulled out a small computing device, a Romulan PaDD. She set it down on the table in front of her. It showed the face of a Romulan, an adulterated one. The male had only one eye, the other was what was obviously a Borg implant, the metallic traces of which covered almost an entire side of his face. His skin was pale, but, had more colour than a drone. While his expression was cold and still, there was humanity in the one eye that remained. He was no drone. "Commander Kars. Liberated from damaged Borg sphere seven years ago," she explained. "He was in command of a convoy leading refugees - the hungry, sick, poor - away from a dying colony to one of our more sustainable worlds."
: : : :
: : : Ghubari couldn't help the tiny shudder that ran through her, recalling all too well her very intimiate encounter with the Borg Queen. The simple gesture of the 'being's' hand running along her shoulders as the Queen explained what they needed from the Federation. Similar and yet different in this case. there had been Romulans involved then too and Koraia briefly wondered if there was some truth to Varis' declaration that Ghubari was getting a reputation about her dealings with Romulans.
: : :
: : Stark saw the shudder and suppressed one of his own. Their dealings with the Borg were the stuff of nightmare. He looked at Varis with a new understanding. This was an enemy they both hated.
: :
: : : : "The attack obliterated almost any organic matter. We haven't been able to recover any bodies of our dead from this debris field. We have, however, recovered all emergency recorders, heavily protected devices meant to record the fate of any fallen ship. Commander Kars had been a high level drone when with the collective. His neural subspace transceiver, we know, was encased in neutronium - virtually indestructible. We have scoured every inch of space from the attack site to where the debris field is now, there are no signs of neutronium. Therefore, Commander Kars was not present on his ship when it suffered destruction," she explained.
: : : :
: : : A frown wrinkled Koraia's ridged forehead as she looked up to gaze directly at the Romulan.
: : :
: : : : "This is the seventh obliteration of a Romulan civilian target within the past two months, Captain," Varis explained. "Kars leaving his ship, or being taken, is the only lead my people have to go on. On that device is a profile of Kars and reports summarizing the attacks we have suffered. That is what information I have to give to you," Varis said. It was incredibly unusual for a Romulan to give away information first - Varis was taking a huge gamble here, and she hoped that it would pay off. She hoped that these Federation officers would be reasonable. "I do not care about our politics with your government. I do not care about your ship, or you, or what happens to my crew. I care about stopping this calculated slaughter." Her voice had given way now, a deep anger seethed through.
: : : :
: : : : "What I want in return is your resources. Your people have far more experience dealing with Borg communications than we do. Conflict between us can be avoided if you help us locate the Commander's neural transceiver. Once I return safely to my ship, I will transmit its frequency. You will use every means at your disposal to give us his location," she explained, as if it was an order being given to the Captain. "Or, will you refuse, proving once again your people are gifted with words instead of resolve to act?"
: : : :
: : : : Gamemaster
: : :
: : : Whatever Ghubari expected the Romulan's game to be, it was not this. But damn Varis! She had effectively thrown them in a corner and forced their hand. They couldn't say no, but there were better ways to go about it perhaps. But those dozen Romulan ships... how many people had been aboard? Ghubari thought back briefly to the day during the Dominion War. It wasn't a secret that her ship had been a part of the Seventh Fleet, the same fleet where the Venture was among 13 other ships to survive the battle in the Tyra Sector that claimed 98 ships. She understood Varis' anger, and so, entended her hand palm up so the Ro ulan could place the PADD in her hand. "It's not the first time our people have cooperated Commander, and in truth, I think many had hoped it wouldn't be the last. I'm not a diplomat, I'm trained in security. I'm used to action. We'll do what we can to find him," Koraia vowed. There were things she didn't like about the whole situation, but they were in desperate need of more information as well. Besides, as an empath, she knew that Varia was about as honest as a Romulan could get. And that was something.
: : :
: : : Captain Koraia, CO
:
: "It will not be an easy task," Varis warned. "The Borg do not hide in shadows like this enemy does. The only people capable of being so undetected to the Romulan authorities are Romulans themselves," she explained. There was no need to say that her people were fractured at the moment. She, herself, was part of a faction still loyal to the current praetor and empress. "If they learn of our cooperation on this, it may lead to the Federation becoming a target as well. You do realize this? The danger it puts you in?" Varis's questions weren't exactly for the Athena's benefit, she was concerned to get her own conscience cleared if their help did not... result positively.
: :
: : Stark was oblivious for once to the politics of the situation. Anything Borg must be destroyed at all costs not just because of their mindless raping of the universe but because in the wrong hands Borg tech could tip the balance of power in favour of shadowy elements bent on the subjugation of all he held dear.
: :
: : "We will do all we can to assist you Commander" he said with uncharacteristic heat. "Thank you for trusting us with this, we will endeavor not to disappoint that trust". In the back of his mind he was also saying to himself "but I won't forget who and what you are for one second".
: :
: : Stark Nightstalker CIO
:

OOC Think you might have missed that the last statement wasn't said out loud :)

: Varis glared at Nightstalker, looking the male up and down. She made less attempt to hide her utter disdain for the insulting officer. "'What' I am?" she demanded. Her eyes went back to Koraia. "Another difference between us," she said, "is that we do not invite our pets to such functions, Captain," she said. "I will return to my ship and have the relevant data transmitted to you, Captain. We will see ourselves to your transporter room," she said. An implication that they didn't want an escort - did they want a chance to be alone on board the ship for a hidden purpose, or, were they testing the commitment of some trust?

Stark Nightstalker CIO
:
: Gamemaster

USS Athena

Deck 6 - The Brig on USS Athena

Emalene — Thu, 16 May 2013 09:19:33 -0400

: Posted by Captain Ghubari Koraia (CO) in Deck 6 - The Brig
: : Posted by Lieut (j.g.) Sito Lyra (Chief Engineer) in Deck 6 - The Brig
: : <snip>
: : : : She watched as Ghubari nodded and moved past her to sit on the bench. A small bit of the weight she held on her shoulders moved off as she realized Ghubari was not angry, at least not knock-down drag-out angry. Lyra felt she still had a lot to answer to Ghubari for, but at least she was talking. Considering her friend's words she bit her lip. "I don't think it was as simple as all that Ghubari. You hurt him. That is true enough. And he was lonely and slightly desperate... that is true too. For someone who feels emotions, he was dealing with mine too. I can tell you, I was a bloody mess."
: : : :
: : : : She paused, looking and feeling heat come to her cheeks. "I don't think I have ever been that emotional. He was dealing with his own emotions and mine too. It really was my fault. I wanted comfort and he was there. He was being a good friend and I put that in jeopardy by kissing him for that comfort. It was the wrong way to get it. I have never been that kind of person before and I hate that I am that now."
: : : :
: : : : Lyra, CE
: : :
: : : Ghubari was quiet, trying to figure out what to say. It wasn't like she had had a plan when she had come down here. She finally spoke, though looked straight ahead, avoiding looking at the CE. "I was so afraid that I couldn't be what he needed. That I needed to be too many other things and had to define myself more strictly with him if he was going to serve as my Chief of Security. I wasn't wrong entirely about that, but I think we've found a balance. When he told me about the kiss though, my first thought was 'huh, I guess I was right'. I couldn't be what he needed and he could find it elsewhere. I don't give my heart easily Lyra. I had this same problem before, and that..." She took a deep breath and sighed. "I ended it after I lost my leg. Because I was dating the man who had to cut it off. Stuart..." Ghubari clenched her right fist, digging her nail into her palm. "He couldn't look at me the way he used to. Couldn't touch me without revulsion, though he tried to hide it." Though it was pointless with her being an empath. "It destroyed whatever was between us. When Konral and I did our experiment back home Lyra, it was my accident all over again, both in my recollection and the way it fractured me from someone else I cared about. I don't talk about my recovery days to people. It was too hard, too... I felt like I had lost /everything/."
: : :
: : : Koraia paused. "I was so lucky to be alive Lyra. Had we had no doctor there, I would have, and I would have ordered them to safety regardless of my condition. But with Stuart there, I had hope, a lifeline. Afterwards though, he wanted his old 'Ri' back. But she was gone. She died on that planet, pinned under the beam that half severed her leg. And the person who made it back was so vastly different. I've seen bits and pieces of my old self these days, but I'm glad for the new me. I like her. She's tough and strong and humble. But she's scared too now. More gun-shy than she'd care to admit. And the reality of having her lover witness those horrific moments unshielded, unprotected shattered something inside back in a hut in Tanzania. That feeling is still there too and I'm doing the best I can to just.... fight through. But that moment in my ready room, when he told me that he had kissed you back? I felt like I had lost him in some way for good, that despite the time we had just spent together feeling the same easiness once again, I was lost again. My anger then wasn't because you kissed him, but because in kissing you back I knew deep down that I had failed him. And that maybe that was how it was supposed to be. That I was just meant to go at this alone. I never saw the next part coming though. He took such a risk! If I had ordered him out after he stormed back in, we would have never been alright. Something about that bold action though stunned me, made me feel like that little girl back in the village who was so terrified of this strange world she found herself in and just wanted someone to see her safely through it."
: : :
: : : Captain Koraia, CO
: :
: : For a long time, it was Lyra's turn to be speechless. What do you say to such an outpouring of information on what went on inside someone's head? Was she supposed to comment on the new Ghubari having not ever known the old one? Was she to comment on Stuart and his inability to love a woman who went through a traumatic experience? It all came down to Konral though.
: :
: The silence didn't bother Ghubari, though it made her own words echo in her head, making them weighty. She wasn't even sure what compelled her to speak that way, to Lyra especially, but maybe that was the point. Maybe she needed to tell someone who wasn't so knee deep in the mess of it all and who hadn't seen her through fight after fight.
:
: : "When you pulled away from him, he was devastated. I think he loved you completely for a long time and you pulling away just broke his heart. But despite that, or perhaps because of it, he felt he needed to fight for you so that eventually, he could stand by your side and fight with you. I think the major difference between Konral and Stuart is that Stuart didn't love you enough to work through his own pain and come out of it stronger with you. Whereas, Konral will see that challenge as an obstacle to obliterate if it meant being with you. When he kissed me, it wasn't me he wanted. When I kissed him, it wasn't him I wanted. He doesn't /need/ anything but you. I think if he hadn't have stormed back in, he would have felt dead inside, giving up something that means the world to him. Rather than face the slow death of seeing you everyday without being able to love you actively, he chose the option that could have had him transferred or even discharged without honors from Star Fleet."
: :
: : Lyra, CE
:
: Koraia nodded slowly. "The person who's life I saved that day on Kendor IV... her name was Dalera. Dalera Vander." She turned her head and finally looked at Lyra. "Konral's sister. She was a junior scientist on the Cheyenne. I knew of her, talked to her the odd time, but she was never more than just a scientist on the ship who sometimes came to the music nights I'd host for the crew. I was different then, as an XO. A little more free, but still just as serious. I never took life for granted but the war seemed so long ago that I had forgotten how messy life and death could be. Dalera..." Ghubari rubbed her face with her hands. "There are things I can't tell Konral. Though I'm sure he knows at least hints of it. Like, that I see her face in my dreams all the time. It's always some twisted version of what happened. Memories mixing into each other. You see, Konral and I were connected to each other before we ever met. The memory regression we did..." She shook her head. "It's bad enough to have to have gone through the event for real yourself, but to have someone like Konral witness it. With two women he cares so deeply about. Well, there was a point I think I knew just how big a mistake it was. It shattered us. And now we're trying to pick up the pieces." She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her thighs, looking forward again. She was a strong person, but so much of this had been weighing down on her. Though being together with Konral again had lightened the load considerably.
:
: Captain Koraia, CO

"That would be traumatizing to anyone. What is important is how you act afterwards when everything is in pieces." Lyra paused and turned to Ghubari. "You keep hiding small bits of yourself and expect that Konral must accept that and love you fully or run for the hills. I think that's unfair. I also think that you highly underestimate your lover." She paused realizing she is, in her gentle way, berating her friend but she felt it needed to be said.

"Because you cant deal with it, you expect that he can't or won't. And as a preemptive attempt to keep yourself from hurting, you push him away. You are scared of him turning into the sort of man Stuart was and you don't give him credit for the actions he has given to you to prove that thus far, he isn't and isn't likely to be."

Sadly, she waited for the blow up, knowing Ghubari did not like to be called scared and knowing she was already on tenuous ground.

Lyra, CE

USS Athena

OOC: Welcome back a familiar face on USS Athena

lindsayb — Thu, 16 May 2013 09:27:59 -0400

For those who have been on the Athena a little while, you'll probably remember this returning member. He's been a CMO and a doctor, and this time he's joining us as a scientist.

Please all welcome Steve Sims back to the Athena! All I can say is that the science department is getting quirkier and quirkier (more so than usual :P).

Welcome Steve!

Linds

USS Athena

OOC: Welcome back a familiar face on USS Athena

LogicalLeprechaun — Thu, 16 May 2013 09:42:22 -0400

: Posted by Captain Ghubari Koraia (CO) in OOC: Welcome back a familiar face
: For those who have been on the Athena a little while, you'll probably remember this returning member. He's been a CMO and a doctor, and this time he's joining us as a scientist.
:
: Please all welcome Steve Sims back to the Athena! All I can say is that the science department is getting quirkier and quirkier (more so than usual :P).
:
: Welcome Steve!
:
: Linds

Woo hoo! Glad to be back guys. Looking forward to driving Linds crazy and causing mayhem. ;)

Steve O

USS Athena

Two Years Ago - USS Hadfield on USS Athena

LogicalLeprechaun — Thu, 16 May 2013 09:44:53 -0400

Fire. No, not fire. Not exactly. She knew she was burning up. She could see the flesh bubbling on her arm. But she was certain that there wasn't any fire in the lab. If there were, the fire suppression system would have activated. It was when she noticed the taste of metal in her mouth that she put it together. And that's when the shock wore off and the pain hit. Hard.

She unleashed a scream that could probably be heard three decks down. She hadn't even noticed that she'd been beamed to Sickbay. She didn't hear the doctors and nurses working frantically around her. She couldn't see the Captain rush through the doors to see her. But she could feel. And feel she did.

Mercifully, they got her sedated. And the pain stopped. When she awoke, her other senses returned. She heard the Doctor and the Captain speaking in the corner. Her Vulcan heritage allowed for excellent hearing. "...going to recover. But with her unique physiology, the scarring will be difficult to treat." The Captain heard her stirring and walked over to her bed.

He was smiling. That was never a good sign. "Welcome back, Ensign. We were worried about you for a while there." L'sscha still hadn't pieced together the whole chain of events so she asked the Captain to fill in the blanks for her.

He took a deep breath and began. L'sscha and Ensign Taylor were working in the Radiation Lab. Taylor had a theory regarding gamma bursts from dying stars and wanted to test it. "It appears, she miscalculated and, as a result, a release of gamma radiation occurred. You threw her out of the way and absorbed some of it. From our estimates, about 5200 rads." She couldn't believe it. 5200 rads?! That petaQ Taylor would have much to answer for.

The Captain continued. "The computer reacted quickly and contained the radiation, venting it out safely." He read the expression on her face. "You saved Taylor's life. A human likely would have been killed absorbing that much radiation. Thankfully, both your Vulcan half /and/ your Klingon half seemed to work together in your favor."

She let the information settle for a moment. She still felt weak. Finally, she said "Sir, I...heard the Doctor mention...scarring. What did she mean?" Anticipating the question, the Doctor made her way to L'sscha's bed. "I'm afraid, Ensign, that, due to your physiology, skin grafts aren't possible at the moment. There are some severe burns to your upper body and face." She handed the, now very frightened, young woman a mirror.

Her hair was gone. The burn scars on the left side of her face went from her neck to her temple. Her left arm seemed to be burned Targ hide. The pain was managed. Her anger was another story.

L'sscha

USS Athena

Sickbay - Boarding Physical (Pre-sim) on USS Athena

LogicalLeprechaun — Thu, 16 May 2013 09:51:38 -0400

She looked at her wounded arm. Physical therapy had done much to improve her range of motion, but the scars still remained. Inside, as well as on the surface. Every time she looked at her arm or saw her face in the mirror, she was taken back to that day. Her skin felt like it was plunged into a star.

She snapped out of her daydream when she felt the shuttlecraft touch down on the deck. She gave the pilot a quick thank you nod, gathered her things, and disembarked. After tossing her bags in her quarters, she made her way to Sickbay.

Entering, the memories returned. Would she ever be completely over what had happened to her? Would she feel like she was normal again? She was still lost in her thoughts while she waited for a doctor to become free.

L'sscha

USS Athena

Counselor's Quarters - Boarding Psych Eval (Pre-sim) on USS Athena

LogicalLeprechaun — Thu, 16 May 2013 09:53:56 -0400

Now that her physical was out of the way, she decided to go ahead and kill the second bird. She made her way through the halls until she found the Counselor's quarters. She rang the chime and waited for a response.

L'sscha

USS Athena

OOC: Welcome back a familiar face on USS Athena

Steamcry — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:33:27 -0400

: Posted by Steve Sims in OOC: Welcome back a familiar face
: : Posted by Captain Ghubari Koraia (CO) in OOC: Welcome back a familiar face
: : For those who have been on the Athena a little while, you'll probably remember this returning member. He's been a CMO and a doctor, and this time he's joining us as a scientist.
: :
: : Please all welcome Steve Sims back to the Athena! All I can say is that the science department is getting quirkier and quirkier (more so than usual :P).
: :
: : Welcome Steve!
: :
: : Linds
:
: Woo hoo! Glad to be back guys. Looking forward to driving Linds crazy and causing mayhem. ;)
:
: Steve O

Steeeeevvveee! (We can drive her nuts together /cackles)

Crissy

USS Athena

OOC: Welcome back a familiar face on USS Athena

Emalene — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:06:46 -0400

: Posted by Lieutenant Gren Aullar (Chief Science Officer) in OOC: Welcome back a familiar face
: : Posted by Steve Sims in OOC: Welcome back a familiar face
: : : Posted by Captain Ghubari Koraia (CO) in OOC: Welcome back a familiar face
: : : For those who have been on the Athena a little while, you'll probably remember this returning member. He's been a CMO and a doctor, and this time he's joining us as a scientist.
: : :
: : : Please all welcome Steve Sims back to the Athena! All I can say is that the science department is getting quirkier and quirkier (more so than usual :P).
: : :
: : : Welcome Steve!
: : :
: : : Linds
: :
: : Woo hoo! Glad to be back guys. Looking forward to driving Linds crazy and causing mayhem. ;)
: :
: : Steve O
:
: Steeeeevvveee! (We can drive her nuts together /cackles)
:
: Crissy

Sweet!

Amber

USS Athena

Six Forward - Visitng a Friend on USS Athena

ssigle — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:34:05 -0400

: Posted by Lieut (j.g.) Sito Lyra (Chief Engineer) in Six Forward - Visitng a Friend
: : Posted by Lieutenant Konral Vander (Chief of Security) in Six Forward - Visitng a Friend
: : : Posted by Lieut (j.g.) Sito Lyra (Chief Engineer) in Six Forward - Visitng a Friend
: : : <snip>
: : : : : And that was the answer. Lyra had no family to worry for her safety. No one had ever had been close enough to her to try to persuade her from reaching her dreams. She had found her love for Engineering, found her first real home in that department within the academy and had been sticking with it ever since. Did the neglect of others, the lack of family and friends, make it so easy or was it more difficult, not having that love and kinship in her life?
: : : : :
: : : : : "At least you have people who love you enough to care out there." For a moment she sounded bitter but then it just transitioned into a kind of acceptance.
: : : : :
: : : : : Lyra, CE
: : : :
: : : : "Hey, you have people to you know? I would do anything to get you to smile, and I do love and care for you as well. Perhaps that is the beauty of Starfleet, if you want you can find anything you need... even if it's someone to cling on to, someone to find comradeship and deep friendship with. You are right, we may not be shipmates three days from now, or months... years... but no matter how little or long you have to be able to find those people you connect with and make that leap of friendship." he said as he ate some of his meal, looking at her with a soft and caring look.
: : :
: : : Somehow she never counted Konral as someone that close to her. It wasn't that she didn't feel the same, but that she had simply only ever been close to one person and he kept himself at a distance because of who he was. She had had friends in the academy and throughout her several years in service to Star Fleet before they stationed her here, but she was not really close to any of them like she was to Konral. She finally had a real and true friend.
: : : :
: : : : "It took me awhile to realize that again, you know my story but... I thought I should be an island, all to myself no one but me. It failed, I didn't succeed in being all by myself, I usually ended up being miserable and angry. It may work for some the island, but not me. I always felt too much for my own good, even as a Betazoid."
: : : :
: : : : COS
: : :
: : : In addition to that, she also had a real and true relationship, fledgling as it was. This epiphany had her eating without thought to what she was eating. It was very odd to Lyra to now have these things that orphans just didnt have at least until their adult lives. She had to smile at this.
: : :
: : : "I have always been alone. I never thought I needed anyone else because I never thought about it at all. The way of my world was to be alone, depend on my brain, and get myself where I wanted to be."
: : :
: : : Lyra, CE
: :
: : "You have so many know... you have me... you found Antin in a most wonderful it seems, you even have Ghubari.... I think." he said, that was a slight sour note and he regretted mentioning it. "She does care, she really does... maybe why she is still hurt... I have avoided the topic, I don't want to open wounds when we are healing ours but... you both mean so much to me, I don't really want there to be a rift between either of you."
: :
: : COS
:
: "It certainly is a wonder. I am surrounded by people who I enjoy spending time around. I really haven't thought about the change it has had on my life. I do care for you. Antin is a surprise and a frustrating joy I never thought I would have. Ghubari... There is damage there. I don't know how we will handle it yet."
:
: Lyra, CE

"At the end of the day, she's scared... just remember that. She is strong in so many areas... but moments of the heart terrifies her, if you tell her this I will deny it... but I think she knows it is true if she is honest with herself."

COS

USS Athena

OOC: Welcome back a familiar face on USS Athena

afindora — Fri, 17 May 2013 07:57:17 -0400

: Posted by Lieut (j.g.) Sito Lyra (Chief Engineer) in OOC: Welcome back a familiar face
: : Posted by Lieutenant Gren Aullar (Chief Science Officer) in OOC: Welcome back a familiar face
: : : Posted by Steve Sims in OOC: Welcome back a familiar face
: : : : Posted by Captain Ghubari Koraia (CO) in OOC: Welcome back a familiar face
: : : : For those who have been on the Athena a little while, you'll probably remember this returning member. He's been a CMO and a doctor, and this time he's joining us as a scientist.
: : : :
: : : : Please all welcome Steve Sims back to the Athena! All I can say is that the science department is getting quirkier and quirkier (more so than usual :P).
: : : :
: : : : Welcome Steve!
: : : :
: : : : Linds
: : :
: : : Woo hoo! Glad to be back guys. Looking forward to driving Linds crazy and causing mayhem. ;)
: : :
: : : Steve O
: :
: : Steeeeevvveee! (We can drive her nuts together /cackles)
: :
: : Crissy
:
: Sweet!
:
: Amber

Welcome back Steve!!! :)

-Tony

USS Athena

OOC: Welcome back a familiar face on USS Athena

ikerby — Fri, 17 May 2013 09:39:06 -0400

: Posted by Lieutenant Dominic Hertz (Intelligence Officer) in OOC: Welcome back a familiar face
: : Posted by Lieut (j.g.) Sito Lyra (Chief Engineer) in OOC: Welcome back a familiar face
: : : Posted by Lieutenant Gren Aullar (Chief Science Officer) in OOC: Welcome back a familiar face
: : : : Posted by Steve Sims in OOC: Welcome back a familiar face
: : : : : Posted by Captain Ghubari Koraia (CO) in OOC: Welcome back a familiar face
: : : : : For those who have been on the Athena a little while, you'll probably remember this returning member. He's been a CMO and a doctor, and this time he's joining us as a scientist.
: : : : :
: : : : : Please all welcome Steve Sims back to the Athena! All I can say is that the science department is getting quirkier and quirkier (more so than usual :P).
: : : : :
: : : : : Welcome Steve!
: : : : :
: : : : : Linds
: : : :
: : : : Woo hoo! Glad to be back guys. Looking forward to driving Linds crazy and causing mayhem. ;)
: : : :
: : : : Steve O
: : :
: : : Steeeeevvveee! (We can drive her nuts together /cackles)
: : :
: : : Crissy
: :
: : Sweet!
: :
: : Amber
:
: Welcome back Steve!!! :)
:
: -Tony

Awesome :) Welcome back!
Ian

USS Athena

Two Years Ago - USS Hadfield on USS Athena

LogicalLeprechaun — Fri, 17 May 2013 09:47:08 -0400

: Posted by Ensign L'sscha (Scientist) in Two Years Ago - USS Hadfield
: Fire. No, not fire. Not exactly. She knew she was burning up. She could see the flesh bubbling on her arm. But she was certain that there wasn't any fire in the lab. If there were, the fire suppression system would have activated. It was when she noticed the taste of metal in her mouth that she put it together. And that's when the shock wore off and the pain hit. Hard.
:
: She unleashed a scream that could probably be heard three decks down. She hadn't even noticed that she'd been beamed to Sickbay. She didn't hear the doctors and nurses working frantically around her. She couldn't see the Captain rush through the doors to see her. But she could feel. And feel she did.
:
: Mercifully, they got her sedated. And the pain stopped. When she awoke, her other senses returned. She heard the Doctor and the Captain speaking in the corner. Her Vulcan heritage allowed for excellent hearing. "...going to recover. But with her unique physiology, the scarring will be difficult to treat." The Captain heard her stirring and walked over to her bed.
:
: He was smiling. That was never a good sign. "Welcome back, Ensign. We were worried about you for a while there." L'sscha still hadn't pieced together the whole chain of events so she asked the Captain to fill in the blanks for her.
:
: He took a deep breath and began. L'sscha and Ensign Taylor were working in the Radiation Lab. Taylor had a theory regarding gamma bursts from dying stars and wanted to test it. "It appears, she miscalculated and, as a result, a release of gamma radiation occurred. You threw her out of the way and absorbed some of it. From our estimates, about 520 rads." She couldn't believe it. 520 rads?! That petaQ Taylor would have much to answer for.
:
: The Captain continued. "The computer reacted quickly and contained the radiation, venting it out safely." He read the expression on her face. "You saved Taylor's life. A human likely would have been killed absorbing that much radiation. Thankfully, both your Vulcan half /and/ your Klingon half seemed to work together in your favor."
:
: She let the information settle for a moment. She still felt weak. Finally, she said "Sir, I...heard the Doctor mention...scarring. What did she mean?" Anticipating the question, the Doctor made her way to L'sscha's bed. "I'm afraid, Ensign, that, due to your physiology, skin grafts aren't possible at the moment. There are some severe burns to your upper body and face." She handed the, now very frightened, young woman a mirror.
:
: Her hair was gone. The burn scars on the left side of her face went from her neck to her temple. Her left arm seemed to be burned Targ hide. The pain was managed. Her anger was another story.
:
: L'sscha

Edit

USS Athena

Sickbay - Boarding Physical (Pre-sim) on USS Athena

ikerby — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:01:48 -0400

: Posted by Ensign L'sscha (Scientist) in Sickbay - Boarding Physical (Pre-sim)
: She looked at her wounded arm. Physical therapy had done much to improve her range of motion, but the scars still remained. Inside, as well as on the surface. Every time she looked at her arm or saw her face in the mirror, she was taken back to that day. Her skin felt like it was plunged into a star.
:
: She snapped out of her daydream when she felt the shuttlecraft touch down on the deck. She gave the pilot a quick thank you nod, gathered her things, and disembarked. After tossing her bags in her quarters, she made her way to Sickbay.
:
: Entering, the memories returned. Would she ever be completely over what had happened to her? Would she feel like she was normal again? She was still lost in her thoughts while she waited for a doctor to become free.
:
: L'sscha

A young man saw her from across the room and nodded heading into the CMO's office. She would have clearly heard his voice saying "Boss, Ensign L'sscha is here for her physical."

A light and musical voice replied "Thank you Stephen... by the way, why aren't you on break?".

The young man laughed and replied "Just going boss".

"See that you do" the musical voice replied and then seconds later S'Raal appeared through the door. In reality he had just been reviewing the Ensign's medical files which were somewhat longer than he was used to. He'd seen the effects of gamma ray damage before when treating patients damaged by Borg weaponry so he had at least some idea of what the ensign was dealing with. What he didn't know was what her state of mind would be, especially dealing with a hybrid Vulcan/Klingon nature. "Never a dull moment" he thought to himself as he approached, his golden eyes speaking welcome and his usual half smile firmly in place.

"Welcome to the Athena" he said as he approached. "I am S'Raal the CMO here. Please come with me".

He led her to a relatively secluded biobed near the back of sickbay. He'd already cleared the area earlier. He wanted to make sure that L'sscha had the ability to speak her mind without feeling she was being overheard by anyone else.

"I'm not one to waste time on small talk when there is a professional issue to be discussed. Could you please tell me in your own words the therapy you've received so far and your current state of function and level of pain. I hope you don't mind my bluntness but I think we can help each other much more by dealing with the obvious wouldn't you agree?".

S'Raal Cran Moonshadow CMO.

USS Athena

Sickbay - Boarding Physical (Pre-sim) on USS Athena

LogicalLeprechaun — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:31:40 -0400

: Posted by Lt. Cmdr. Stark Nightstalker (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Sickbay - Boarding Physical (Pre-sim)
: : Posted by Ensign L'sscha (Scientist) in Sickbay - Boarding Physical (Pre-sim)
: : She looked at her wounded arm. Physical therapy had done much to improve her range of motion, but the scars still remained. Inside, as well as on the surface. Every time she looked at her arm or saw her face in the mirror, she was taken back to that day. Her skin felt like it was plunged into a star.
: :
: : She snapped out of her daydream when she felt the shuttlecraft touch down on the deck. She gave the pilot a quick thank you nod, gathered her things, and disembarked. After tossing her bags in her quarters, she made her way to Sickbay.
: :
: : Entering, the memories returned. Would she ever be completely over what had happened to her? Would she feel like she was normal again? She was still lost in her thoughts while she waited for a doctor to become free.
: :
: : L'sscha
:
: A young man saw her from across the room and nodded heading into the CMO's office. She would have clearly heard his voice saying "Boss, Ensign L'sscha is here for her physical."
:
: A light and musical voice replied "Thank you Stephen... by the way, why aren't you on break?".
:
: The young man laughed and replied "Just going boss".
:
: "See that you do" the musical voice replied and then seconds later S'Raal appeared through the door. In reality he had just been reviewing the Ensign's medical files which were somewhat longer than he was used to. He'd seen the effects of gamma ray damage before when treating patients damaged by Borg weaponry so he had at least some idea of what the ensign was dealing with. What he didn't know was what her state of mind would be, especially dealing with a hybrid Vulcan/Klingon nature. "Never a dull moment" he thought to himself as he approached, his golden eyes speaking welcome and his usual half smile firmly in place.
:
: "Welcome to the Athena" he said as he approached. "I am S'Raal the CMO here. Please come with me".

She simply nodded and followed the doctor.

: He led her to a relatively secluded biobed near the back of sickbay. He'd already cleared the area earlier. He wanted to make sure that L'sscha had the ability to speak her mind without feeling she was being overheard by anyone else.
:
: "I'm not one to waste time on small talk when there is a professional issue to be discussed. Could you please tell me in your own words the therapy you've received so far and your current state of function and level of pain. I hope you don't mind my bluntness but I think we can help each other much more by dealing with the obvious wouldn't you agree?".

"Of course," she said. "I was treated for Acute Radiation Sickness immediately after the accident. There was some internal damage, but that was repaired easily enough." She looked at her arm again. "But when it came time for the skin grafts...the doctors at Starfleet Medical did the best they could, which, due to some faulty genetic sequence buried in my DNA, caused my body to reject the transplantation process."

She was still so angry about the whole situation. Angry at Taylor for screwing up. Angry at her parents for creating her with those flaws. And angry at herself.

: S'Raal Cran Moonshadow CMO.

L'sscha

USS Athena

Six Forward - Visitng a Friend on USS Athena

Emalene — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:45:22 -0400

<snip>
: : : "You have so many know... you have me... you found Antin in a most wonderful it seems, you even have Ghubari.... I think." he said, that was a slight sour note and he regretted mentioning it. "She does care, she really does... maybe why she is still hurt... I have avoided the topic, I don't want to open wounds when we are healing ours but... you both mean so much to me, I don't really want there to be a rift between either of you."
: : :
: : : COS
: :
: : "It certainly is a wonder. I am surrounded by people who I enjoy spending time around. I really haven't thought about the change it has had on my life. I do care for you. Antin is a surprise and a frustrating joy I never thought I would have. Ghubari... There is damage there. I don't know how we will handle it yet."
: :
: : Lyra, CE
:
: "At the end of the day, she's scared... just remember that. She is strong in so many areas... but moments of the heart terrifies her, if you tell her this I will deny it... but I think she knows it is true if she is honest with herself."
:
: COS

"I know she has a lot to deal with and my actions did not help matters. They made them worse." Sighing heavily she turned to look out at the stars as they passed by. She seemed to curl in on herself. And though she didn't have her usual gigantic sweater on, the effect was immediate. "I am sure we will figure it out eventually."

Lyra, CE

USS Athena

Sickbay - Boarding Physical (Pre-sim) on USS Athena

ikerby — Sat, 18 May 2013 00:17:01 -0400

: Posted by Ensign L'sscha (Scientist) in Sickbay - Boarding Physical (Pre-sim)
: : Posted by Lt. Cmdr. Stark Nightstalker (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Sickbay - Boarding Physical (Pre-sim)
: : : Posted by Ensign L'sscha (Scientist) in Sickbay - Boarding Physical (Pre-sim)
: : : She looked at her wounded arm. Physical therapy had done much to improve her range of motion, but the scars still remained. Inside, as well as on the surface. Every time she looked at her arm or saw her face in the mirror, she was taken back to that day. Her skin felt like it was plunged into a star.
: : :
: : : She snapped out of her daydream when she felt the shuttlecraft touch down on the deck. She gave the pilot a quick thank you nod, gathered her things, and disembarked. After tossing her bags in her quarters, she made her way to Sickbay.
: : :
: : : Entering, the memories returned. Would she ever be completely over what had happened to her? Would she feel like she was normal again? She was still lost in her thoughts while she waited for a doctor to become free.
: : :
: : : L'sscha
: :
: : A young man saw her from across the room and nodded heading into the CMO's office. She would have clearly heard his voice saying "Boss, Ensign L'sscha is here for her physical."
: :
: : A light and musical voice replied "Thank you Stephen... by the way, why aren't you on break?".
: :
: : The young man laughed and replied "Just going boss".
: :
: : "See that you do" the musical voice replied and then seconds later S'Raal appeared through the door. In reality he had just been reviewing the Ensign's medical files which were somewhat longer than he was used to. He'd seen the effects of gamma ray damage before when treating patients damaged by Borg weaponry so he had at least some idea of what the ensign was dealing with. What he didn't know was what her state of mind would be, especially dealing with a hybrid Vulcan/Klingon nature. "Never a dull moment" he thought to himself as he approached, his golden eyes speaking welcome and his usual half smile firmly in place.
: :
: : "Welcome to the Athena" he said as he approached. "I am S'Raal the CMO here. Please come with me".
:
: She simply nodded and followed the doctor.
:
: : He led her to a relatively secluded biobed near the back of sickbay. He'd already cleared the area earlier. He wanted to make sure that L'sscha had the ability to speak her mind without feeling she was being overheard by anyone else.
: :
: : "I'm not one to waste time on small talk when there is a professional issue to be discussed. Could you please tell me in your own words the therapy you've received so far and your current state of function and level of pain. I hope you don't mind my bluntness but I think we can help each other much more by dealing with the obvious wouldn't you agree?".
:
: "Of course," she said. "I was treated for Acute Radiation Sickness immediately after the accident. There was some internal damage, but that was repaired easily enough." She looked at her arm again. "But when it came time for the skin grafts...the doctors at Starfleet Medical did the best they could, which, due to some faulty genetic sequence buried in my DNA, caused my body to reject the transplantation process."
:
: She was still so angry about the whole situation. Angry at Taylor for screwing up. Angry at her parents for creating her with those flaws. And angry at herself.
:
: : S'Raal Cran Moonshadow CMO.
:
: L'sscha

S'Raal nodded and paused while he took it all in. He looked up into her eyes "Serious question L'sscha. What lengths would you go to for a chance to be healed? Would you consider experimental techniques including nanotechnology and gene re-sequencing?" He held up a finger to hold off an answer for a second. "I'm not offering a sure fire cure and we'd have to sail very close to ethical boundaries but I have some theories that might yield results but it would be a lengthy process and not without dangers to your health or even potentially your life."

He stood back to give her a chance to respond.

S'Raal Cran Moonshadow

USS Athena

Sickbay - Boarding Physical (Pre-sim) on USS Athena

LogicalLeprechaun — Sat, 18 May 2013 01:59:11 -0400

: Posted by Lieut (j.g.) S’Raal Cran Moonshadow (Chief Medical Officer) in Sickbay - Boarding Physical (Pre-sim)
: : Posted by Ensign L'sscha (Scientist) in Sickbay - Boarding Physical (Pre-sim)
: : : Posted by Lt. Cmdr. Stark Nightstalker (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Sickbay - Boarding Physical (Pre-sim)
: : : : Posted by Ensign L'sscha (Scientist) in Sickbay - Boarding Physical (Pre-sim)
: : : : She looked at her wounded arm. Physical therapy had done much to improve her range of motion, but the scars still remained. Inside, as well as on the surface. Every time she looked at her arm or saw her face in the mirror, she was taken back to that day. Her skin felt like it was plunged into a star.
: : : :
: : : : She snapped out of her daydream when she felt the shuttlecraft touch down on the deck. She gave the pilot a quick thank you nod, gathered her things, and disembarked. After tossing her bags in her quarters, she made her way to Sickbay.
: : : :
: : : : Entering, the memories returned. Would she ever be completely over what had happened to her? Would she feel like she was normal again? She was still lost in her thoughts while she waited for a doctor to become free.
: : : :
: : : : L'sscha
: : :
: : : A young man saw her from across the room and nodded heading into the CMO's office. She would have clearly heard his voice saying "Boss, Ensign L'sscha is here for her physical."
: : :
: : : A light and musical voice replied "Thank you Stephen... by the way, why aren't you on break?".
: : :
: : : The young man laughed and replied "Just going boss".
: : :
: : : "See that you do" the musical voice replied and then seconds later S'Raal appeared through the door. In reality he had just been reviewing the Ensign's medical files which were somewhat longer than he was used to. He'd seen the effects of gamma ray damage before when treating patients damaged by Borg weaponry so he had at least some idea of what the ensign was dealing with. What he didn't know was what her state of mind would be, especially dealing with a hybrid Vulcan/Klingon nature. "Never a dull moment" he thought to himself as he approached, his golden eyes speaking welcome and his usual half smile firmly in place.
: : :
: : : "Welcome to the Athena" he said as he approached. "I am S'Raal the CMO here. Please come with me".
: :
: : She simply nodded and followed the doctor.
: :
: : : He led her to a relatively secluded biobed near the back of sickbay. He'd already cleared the area earlier. He wanted to make sure that L'sscha had the ability to speak her mind without feeling she was being overheard by anyone else.
: : :
: : : "I'm not one to waste time on small talk when there is a professional issue to be discussed. Could you please tell me in your own words the therapy you've received so far and your current state of function and level of pain. I hope you don't mind my bluntness but I think we can help each other much more by dealing with the obvious wouldn't you agree?".
: :
: : "Of course," she said. "I was treated for Acute Radiation Sickness immediately after the accident. There was some internal damage, but that was repaired easily enough." She looked at her arm again. "But when it came time for the skin grafts...the doctors at Starfleet Medical did the best they could, which, due to some faulty genetic sequence buried in my DNA, caused my body to reject the transplantation process."
: :
: : She was still so angry about the whole situation. Angry at Taylor for screwing up. Angry at her parents for creating her with those flaws. And angry at herself.
: :
: : : S'Raal Cran Moonshadow CMO.
: :
: : L'sscha
:
: S'Raal nodded and paused while he took it all in. He looked up into her eyes "Serious question L'sscha. What lengths would you go to for a chance to be healed? Would you consider experimental techniques including nanotechnology and gene re-sequencing?" He held up a finger to hold off an answer for a second. "I'm not offering a sure fire cure and we'd have to sail very close to ethical boundaries but I have some theories that might yield results but it would be a lengthy process and not without dangers to your health or even potentially your life."
:
: He stood back to give her a chance to respond.
:
: S'Raal Cran Moonshadow

She leaned back and took a deep breath. She'd wrestled with that very question since the day of the accident. She was raised on Vulcan and knew of the path of logic. But she was also part Klingon, a highly volatile and emotional people. And here, her two halves were clashing.

Her Vulcan side told her that the risks outweighed the benefits. Other than the occasional pain, there wasn't anything about the burns that interfered with the performance of her duties. Her brain didn't suffer any ill effects. But tampering with her genes could have potentially fatal consequences.

On the other hand, her Klingon half was screaming to do it and consequences be damned. Why should she suffer any more because of Taylor's idiocy? Like the Klingons of old who suffered with the Augment Virus, she would never be whole unless she took the risk.

"If I may, sir, I would request time to consider your proposal in more detail. If at all possible, I would like to discuss your theories at length when you have the time." She looked at her arm again. "I have dealt with the physical pain for two years now. In a way, I feel like I've gotten accustomed to looking like..." she started to say "a monster," but restrained herself. "...this."

L'sscha

USS Athena

Six Forward - Visitng a Friend on USS Athena

ssigle — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:03:27 -0400

: Posted by Lieut (j.g.) Sito Lyra (Chief Engineer) in Six Forward - Visitng a Friend
: <snip>
: : : : "You have so many know... you have me... you found Antin in a most wonderful it seems, you even have Ghubari.... I think." he said, that was a slight sour note and he regretted mentioning it. "She does care, she really does... maybe why she is still hurt... I have avoided the topic, I don't want to open wounds when we are healing ours but... you both mean so much to me, I don't really want there to be a rift between either of you."
: : : :
: : : : COS
: : :
: : : "It certainly is a wonder. I am surrounded by people who I enjoy spending time around. I really haven't thought about the change it has had on my life. I do care for you. Antin is a surprise and a frustrating joy I never thought I would have. Ghubari... There is damage there. I don't know how we will handle it yet."
: : :
: : : Lyra, CE
: :
: : "At the end of the day, she's scared... just remember that. She is strong in so many areas... but moments of the heart terrifies her, if you tell her this I will deny it... but I think she knows it is true if she is honest with herself."
: :
: : COS
:
: "I know she has a lot to deal with and my actions did not help matters. They made them worse." Sighing heavily she turned to look out at the stars as they passed by. She seemed to curl in on herself. And though she didn't have her usual gigantic sweater on, the effect was immediate. "I am sure we will figure it out eventually."
:
: Lyra, CE

"Hey." he said as he reached grabbing her hand in a clearly affectionate way. "She will, and I know I can't make you forgive yourself... I try and it doesn't work... just know you are my friend and hers too, even if it's strained. Perhaps that is why it hurts the most but, I don't want you to feel like it is all your fault either, I shouldn't have let it get that far when I could tell how hurt you were... I just wanted to make you feel better that's all."

COS

USS Athena

L'sscha's Quarters - Call From Home on USS Athena

LogicalLeprechaun — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:37:07 -0400

L'sscha had just returned from the hologym when her communicator chirped.

==/\== Ensign, you have a call from your boyfriend. Shall I put it through? ==/\==

She took a deep breath and tapped the communicator. ==/\== Go ahead. ==/\==

The screen on her desk made a couple of brief noises and a young man's face appeared on the screen. "Hey, there sweetheart." She smiled for the first time in what seemed like a while. "Hey yourself. How's it going out there?"

He looked around his room, which appeared spartan in nature. "Oh you know me. Just living the high life on this backwater moon." They exchanged small talk for a while. He talked about his time as a medic with the Marines. She talked about arriving on the Athena. "The Athena? Well, you're in for some interesting times. A buddy of mine was there for a while and he loved it."

She nodded. "There's something I want to discuss with you. One of the doctors here thinks he can help me with the burns. He's thinking about some genetic re-sequencing that would allow my body to accept skin grafting."

Danny leaned back in his seat and let out a long sigh. "Well, what do you think? Is it something you'd want to try?" She shrugged her shoulders. "Honestly, I'm conflicted. I don't know if I'd survive the process. Which is bad, of course." He chuckled to himself a bit. "I agree. Kinda want to keep you around for a while."

Suddenly, she heard another voice. "O'Donnell! Get your butt out here! We're moving out!" He shook his head, obviously disappointed their conversation was cut short. "Well, damn. I'll call you again when I can, babe. I love you." He kissed his hand and pressed it against the screen and she did the same. "I love you too. Be careful out there." She closed her monitor screen and headed off for a shower.

L'sscha

USS Athena

Two Years Ago - USS Hadfield on USS Athena

lindsayb — Sun, 19 May 2013 07:19:42 -0400

: Posted by Ensign L'sscha (Scientist) in Two Years Ago - USS Hadfield
: : Posted by Ensign L'sscha (Scientist) in Two Years Ago - USS Hadfield
: : Fire. No, not fire. Not exactly. She knew she was burning up. She could see the flesh bubbling on her arm. But she was certain that there wasn't any fire in the lab. If there were, the fire suppression system would have activated. It was when she noticed the taste of metal in her mouth that she put it together. And that's when the shock wore off and the pain hit. Hard.
: :
: : She unleashed a scream that could probably be heard three decks down. She hadn't even noticed that she'd been beamed to Sickbay. She didn't hear the doctors and nurses working frantically around her. She couldn't see the Captain rush through the doors to see her. But she could feel. And feel she did.
: :
: : Mercifully, they got her sedated. And the pain stopped. When she awoke, her other senses returned. She heard the Doctor and the Captain speaking in the corner. Her Vulcan heritage allowed for excellent hearing. "...going to recover. But with her unique physiology, the scarring will be difficult to treat." The Captain heard her stirring and walked over to her bed.
: :
: : He was smiling. That was never a good sign. "Welcome back, Ensign. We were worried about you for a while there." L'sscha still hadn't pieced together the whole chain of events so she asked the Captain to fill in the blanks for her.
: :
: : He took a deep breath and began. L'sscha and Ensign Taylor were working in the Radiation Lab. Taylor had a theory regarding gamma bursts from dying stars and wanted to test it. "It appears, she miscalculated and, as a result, a release of gamma radiation occurred. You threw her out of the way and absorbed some of it. From our estimates, about 520 rads." She couldn't believe it. 520 rads?! That petaQ Taylor would have much to answer for.
: :
: : The Captain continued. "The computer reacted quickly and contained the radiation, venting it out safely." He read the expression on her face. "You saved Taylor's life. A human likely would have been killed absorbing that much radiation. Thankfully, both your Vulcan half /and/ your Klingon half seemed to work together in your favor."
: :
: : She let the information settle for a moment. She still felt weak. Finally, she said "Sir, I...heard the Doctor mention...scarring. What did she mean?" Anticipating the question, the Doctor made her way to L'sscha's bed. "I'm afraid, Ensign, that, due to your physiology, skin grafts aren't possible at the moment. There are some severe burns to your upper body and face." She handed the, now very frightened, young woman a mirror.
: :
: : Her hair was gone. The burn scars on the left side of her face went from her neck to her temple. Her left arm seemed to be burned Targ hide. The pain was managed. Her anger was another story.
: :
: : L'sscha
:
: Edit

OOC: Wonderful post! :) ~Linds

USS Athena

Counselor's Quarters - Boarding Psych Eval (Pre-sim) on USS Athena

lindsayb — Sun, 19 May 2013 07:28:42 -0400

: Posted by Ensign L'sscha (Scientist) in Counselor's Quarters - Boarding Psych Eval (Pre-sim)
: Now that her physical was out of the way, she decided to go ahead and kill the second bird. She made her way through the halls until she found the Counselor's quarters. She rang the chime and waited for a response.
:
: L'sscha

OOC: If you want Kallen to step in for now until James is back, may I suggest we do this at the Counselling Offices? ~Linds

USS Athena

Counselor's Quarters - Boarding Psych Eval (Pre-sim) on USS Athena

LogicalLeprechaun — Sun, 19 May 2013 07:38:48 -0400

: Posted by Lieut (j.g.) Kallen Reese (Jr. CNS) in Counselor's Quarters - Boarding Psych Eval (Pre-sim)
: : Posted by Ensign L'sscha (Scientist) in Counselor's Quarters - Boarding Psych Eval (Pre-sim)
: : Now that her physical was out of the way, she decided to go ahead and kill the second bird. She made her way through the halls until she found the Counselor's quarters. She rang the chime and waited for a response.
: :
: : L'sscha
:
: OOC: If you want Kallen to step in for now until James is back, may I suggest we do this at the Counselling Offices? ~Linds

OOC: Works for me.

Steve

USS Athena

Sickbay - Boarding Physical (Pre-sim) on USS Athena

ikerby — Sun, 19 May 2013 08:11:51 -0400

: Posted by Ensign L'sscha (Scientist) in Sickbay - Boarding Physical (Pre-sim)
: : Posted by Lieut (j.g.) S’Raal Cran Moonshadow (Chief Medical Officer) in Sickbay - Boarding Physical (Pre-sim)
: : : Posted by Ensign L'sscha (Scientist) in Sickbay - Boarding Physical (Pre-sim)
: : : : Posted by Lt. Cmdr. Stark Nightstalker (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Sickbay - Boarding Physical (Pre-sim)
: : : : : Posted by Ensign L'sscha (Scientist) in Sickbay - Boarding Physical (Pre-sim)
: : : : : She looked at her wounded arm. Physical therapy had done much to improve her range of motion, but the scars still remained. Inside, as well as on the surface. Every time she looked at her arm or saw her face in the mirror, she was taken back to that day. Her skin felt like it was plunged into a star.
: : : : :
: : : : : She snapped out of her daydream when she felt the shuttlecraft touch down on the deck. She gave the pilot a quick thank you nod, gathered her things, and disembarked. After tossing her bags in her quarters, she made her way to Sickbay.
: : : : :
: : : : : Entering, the memories returned. Would she ever be completely over what had happened to her? Would she feel like she was normal again? She was still lost in her thoughts while she waited for a doctor to become free.
: : : : :
: : : : : L'sscha
: : : :
: : : : A young man saw her from across the room and nodded heading into the CMO's office. She would have clearly heard his voice saying "Boss, Ensign L'sscha is here for her physical."
: : : :
: : : : A light and musical voice replied "Thank you Stephen... by the way, why aren't you on break?".
: : : :
: : : : The young man laughed and replied "Just going boss".
: : : :
: : : : "See that you do" the musical voice replied and then seconds later S'Raal appeared through the door. In reality he had just been reviewing the Ensign's medical files which were somewhat longer than he was used to. He'd seen the effects of gamma ray damage before when treating patients damaged by Borg weaponry so he had at least some idea of what the ensign was dealing with. What he didn't know was what her state of mind would be, especially dealing with a hybrid Vulcan/Klingon nature. "Never a dull moment" he thought to himself as he approached, his golden eyes speaking welcome and his usual half smile firmly in place.
: : : :
: : : : "Welcome to the Athena" he said as he approached. "I am S'Raal the CMO here. Please come with me".
: : :
: : : She simply nodded and followed the doctor.
: : :
: : : : He led her to a relatively secluded biobed near the back of sickbay. He'd already cleared the area earlier. He wanted to make sure that L'sscha had the ability to speak her mind without feeling she was being overheard by anyone else.
: : : :
: : : : "I'm not one to waste time on small talk when there is a professional issue to be discussed. Could you please tell me in your own words the therapy you've received so far and your current state of function and level of pain. I hope you don't mind my bluntness but I think we can help each other much more by dealing with the obvious wouldn't you agree?".
: : :
: : : "Of course," she said. "I was treated for Acute Radiation Sickness immediately after the accident. There was some internal damage, but that was repaired easily enough." She looked at her arm again. "But when it came time for the skin grafts...the doctors at Starfleet Medical did the best they could, which, due to some faulty genetic sequence buried in my DNA, caused my body to reject the transplantation process."
: : :
: : : She was still so angry about the whole situation. Angry at Taylor for screwing up. Angry at her parents for creating her with those flaws. And angry at herself.
: : :
: : : : S'Raal Cran Moonshadow CMO.
: : :
: : : L'sscha
: :
: : S'Raal nodded and paused while he took it all in. He looked up into her eyes "Serious question L'sscha. What lengths would you go to for a chance to be healed? Would you consider experimental techniques including nanotechnology and gene re-sequencing?" He held up a finger to hold off an answer for a second. "I'm not offering a sure fire cure and we'd have to sail very close to ethical boundaries but I have some theories that might yield results but it would be a lengthy process and not without dangers to your health or even potentially your life."
: :
: : He stood back to give her a chance to respond.
: :
: : S'Raal Cran Moonshadow
:
: She leaned back and took a deep breath. She'd wrestled with that very question since the day of the accident. She was raised on Vulcan and knew of the path of logic. But she was also part Klingon, a highly volatile and emotional people. And here, her two halves were clashing.
:
: Her Vulcan side told her that the risks outweighed the benefits. Other than the occasional pain, there wasn't anything about the burns that interfered with the performance of her duties. Her brain didn't suffer any ill effects. But tampering with her genes could have potentially fatal consequences.
:
: On the other hand, her Klingon half was screaming to do it and consequences be damned. Why should she suffer any more because of Taylor's idiocy? Like the Klingons of old who suffered with the Augment Virus, she would never be whole unless she took the risk.
:
: "If I may, sir, I would request time to consider your proposal in more detail. If at all possible, I would like to discuss your theories at length when you have the time." She looked at her arm again. "I have dealt with the physical pain for two years now. In a way, I feel like I've gotten accustomed to looking like..." she started to say "a monster," but restrained herself. "...this."
:
: L'sscha

S'Raal looked deep within himself to the part of himself that only two people were aware of and found empathy for this woman. He quite deliberately placed his paw gently on her ruined flesh and looked her in the eye.

"Take all the time you need" he said and then removed his paw on the off chance that her vulcan half found the contact uncomfortable. "All I have right now is theories and all of them are experimental". He looked at the scars professionally. "What are you taking for the pain? How much and how often?"

S'Raal Cran Moonshadow CMO

USS Athena

Balcony: Six Forward - Alt Time OPEN TO ALL on USS Athena

ikerby — Sun, 19 May 2013 08:21:47 -0400

: Posted by Lt. Cmdr. Stark Nightstalker (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Balcony: Six Forward - Alt Time OPEN TO ALL
: : Posted by Lieut (j.g.) Kallen Reese (Jr. CNS) in Balcony: Six Forward - Alt Time OPEN TO ALL
: : : Posted by Ensign Pua (Scientist) in Balcony: Six Forward - Alt Time OPEN TO ALL
: : : : Posted by Lieut (j.g.) Kallen Reese (Jr. CNS) in Balcony: Six Forward - Alt Time OPEN TO ALL
: : : : : Posted by Ensign Pua (Scientist) in Balcony: Six Forward - Alt Time OPEN TO ALL
: : : : : : Posted by Lieut (j.g.) Kallen Reese (Jr. CNS) in Balcony: Six Forward - Alt Time OPEN TO ALL
: : : : (snip)
: : : : : : Leaning back in her seat, Reese thought over this question and was actually rather glad for Pua's thought provoking conversation. It was something she had always quite enjoyed. "I'd say for the most part, yes. Being a ship geared for combat there is a more serious feel to the Athena, which is created and maintained by the Captain who demands a great deal from everyone and prefers things disciplined. But I've also noticed that the crew for the most part cares and looks out for each other. There are lots of deep friendships and they definitely add to the ship's character. So I guess, yes, pretty typical then," she said with a smile. "Though we have certainly had our fair share of interesting elements."
: : : : : :
: : : : : : Kallen Reese, Jr. CNS
: : : : :
: : : : : Pua quirked an eyebrow at the reply. She was not sure what answer she would have preferred, that the Athena was typical or atypical. So far the crew had appeared as a mixed bag to her; some exemplary and others troubling. She supposed that if that was typical of Starfleet she would not be altogether disappointed with her career choice.
: : : : :
: : : : : "You'll forgive me counselor, but could you expound on 'interesting elements'? I am not sure what that phrase means to you."
: : : : :
: : : : : Ensign Pua, Science
: : : :
: : : : The red haired woman blinked and froze in surprise, as if she had been caught at something. Kallen wasn't a gossipy person really, though she was well tapped into the grapevine of the ship. And that was beyond anything she learned in sessions too! News travelled fast on a small ship like this. But whether it was alright to say anything or not, remained to be seen. She opened her mouth to speak but shut it for a moment before coming to a decision. "Overall, the crew is fantastic, but with any group of people, you have a wide range of personalities. Some clash, some don't settle well into this particular environment and then we have had the occasional individual who really wasn't meant for Starfleet. Even with the crew who have their roles on the ship figured out there can be some interesting interpersonal dynamics that create some rather dramatic situations. And no, I can't give details, but suffice to say, it's really the same on any ship, but being so small, we feel it perhaps a bit more on the Athena."
: : : :
: : : : Kallen Reese, Jr. CNS
: : :
: : : "That" Pua said with a courteous nod, "was a rather diplomatic reply. I will respect your decision to not discuss the particulars and not inquire further on this matter. Without clear examples though I do not believe we can come to a shared understanding on what 'interesting elements' means."
: : :
: : : If the Vulcan was disappointed by Kallen's reticence to gossip she did not show it. Pua had enough confidence in her own observational skills that she would eventually discover these elements herself over time. Pua wondered if those individuals who were not meant for star fleet were disproportionately located in the science department. Whoever the mystery tribble geneticist was certainly fell under that category and the diminutive Vulcan had her doubts about lieutenant Hwang too.
: : :
: : : "As we cannot address it directly, let us say that there is a certain element on any crew that is prone to creating social disturbances. Your claim is that as Athena is a smaller ship this disturbed element is felt to a greater degree. Would it then be your claim that any ship regardless of size has the same sample size of this disturbing elemental, or would it not be based on a proportionality of any crew; thus a larger ship would have the same proportional amount of disturbing elements? If that is the case would not a larger crew 'feel' the disturbances an equal amount?"
: : :
: : : It was a very long winded way to ask, 'why would a smaller ship feel it more?' but to Pua this was the height to satisfactory conversation.
: : :
: : : Ensign Pua, Science
: :
: : "If we were talking straight statistics, it would probably be equal," Kallen conceded. "However, rarely is perception so logical. The grapevine on a ship can move quickly, but the Athena is small, so news reaches one end to the other and through a majority of the crew quite quickly. A day at most if it's particularly interesting gossip. And these elements tend to draw attention one way or another and people talk, so there may be the /perception/ of it these elements being greater on a ship like the Athena, simply because news travels quick and everyone ends up knowing everything, whether it's true or not."
: :
: : Kallen Reese, Jr. CNS
:
: From a corner Michail watched as Kallen continued to talk to the small vulcan science officer. Preternaturally he watched Kallen and the door at the same time. The intensity of his gaze was matched only by the darkness of his Greek good looks.
:
: "Not yet" he chanted to himself as a mantra, "Not yet". The vulcan could be a problem, logical, good memory. That's why he had placed himself out of her immediate line of sight before either of them had arrived. Like a tiger he had sat motionless moving one muscle at a time to reduce the risk of cramp. He allowed himself a small arrogant smile, he was good at his job, some would say the best. He glanced quickly at the mini-padd on his wrist. All clear for the moment, no one coming in the turbo-lifts that could compromise his mission and there were only three of them on the entire ship. "Not yet" he told himself "but soon...".
:
: Michail

Michail continued to turn his head away in time with each passing glance from those who came in and out of the door. Remaining seen but completely forgettable was second nature to him now after all the years of training he had received. He had eventually risen above them all and written the book on covert surveillance. His eyes continued to take in Kallen's features and the conflict within him rose. He wasn't used to being unsure of himself but then she was the only link to a past that he had systematically crucified. He waited patiently for her to finish the conversation and leave.

Michail

USS Athena

Ghubari's Quarters on USS Athena

lindsayb — Sun, 19 May 2013 08:46:34 -0400

: Posted by Lieutenant Konral Vander (Chief of Security) in Ghubari's Quarters
: : Posted by Captain Ghubari Koraia (CO) in Ghubari's Quarters
: : : Posted by Lieutenant Konral Vander (Chief of Security) in Ghubari's Quarters
: : : : Posted by Captain Ghubari Koraia (CO) in Ghubari's Quarters
: : : : : Posted by Lieutenant Konral Vander (Chief of Security) in Ghubari's Quarters
: : : : : : Posted by Captain Ghubari Koraia (CO) in Ghubari's Quarters
: : : : (snip)
: : : : : : Flashing her own grin, Ghubari gazed at him, still resting her chin on her hands. "Then I look forward to trying it," she said, waiting for him to hand her a glass. "You and your uttaberries though. I'm starting to think I might need to craft a special fusion dish from back home that has uttaberries in it. I'm sure my people would be perfectly horrified, but would likely be an adventure all on it's own.
: : : : : :
: : : : : : Captain Koraia, CO
: : : : :
: : : : : "Well I do like sweet things, always one of my favorite items to have... why I spend so much time around you." he said teasingly her as he took a sip, the bubbles tickling his lip.
: : : : :
: : : : : COS
: : : :
: : : : "Lies..." she replied coolly taking a sip of the sweet bubbly drink. It was a bit sweeter than she expected, but not unpleasant. "I'm not sweet, at least not in the way people like Lyra and Kaylee are. /They/ are sweet. Me, well, I can be charming if I choose to, but surely you know that I enjoy being the enigma. It suits me and I gravitate towards keeping things close and not showing too much. Partly cultural, partly training. The rest is just me."
: : : :
: : : : Captain Koraia, CO
: : :
: : : "I call bull crap on that, you are sweet... just in a way that may not be obvious. Did you know on Betazed a type of uttaberries called nog berries are far sweeter than uttaberries, they are even deeper purple, almost black in their color... but they have to be eaten in the right time of day, when the sun hits them at high noon, they create a toxin the leaks into the veins of the stems, any creatures foraging at that time would be killed if they ate them, at midnight... they are able to be plucked and eaten... and create some dishes that are beyond sweet." as he said this he took a sip of his drink then looked back at he, smiling softly.
: : :
: : That Konral could counter her so easily didn't phase her. In fact, it was one of the things she loved about their relationship. But was he playing her? It was a convenient little anecdote. But Ghubari considered it for a moment and decided that even if it was, it was okay.
: :
: : : "To me that is you, you don't show it in everyday life your sweetness, you don't parade with sugar smiles and friendship bracelets, but you let people get to know you... let them learn who you are at your pace... at your time and you can open a side few see, that is sweeter than any nog berries. Just cause you don't let your heart on your sleeve doesn't mean you don't have the ability to let it show."
: : :
: : : COS
: :
: : And that made her smile. How easily he summed her complex nature up. From her position of her chin propped on her hand, she chuckled a little. "Alright, I'll give. It's a pretty darn accurate description there Ral. Not bad..."
: :
: : Sitting up, she reached for the fizzy drink and sipped lightly as she eyed the mystery wine. "Are we going to risk it? Still up for being adventurous?"
: :
: : Captain Koraia, CO
:
: "You pour that and I will see what the computer decided for dinner." he said as he pulled back the lid, revealing a wide variety meals, Vulcan soup, earth lamb and Trill fresh greens. It was truly a random selection one he couldn't have predicted. "Well looks like have a wide variety for sure." he said smiling, curious as to what to try first. Desert was lacking like he asked, he would grab that last for her.
:
: COS

Ghubari poured the dark red wine, it's depths looking intriguing. Taking a tentative sip she grimaced a little and set her glass down as Konral brought over the food. "Wow! That's peppery! Not unpleasant exactly, but it definitely needs to breath a little. Give it a few minutes at least."

Looking at the food, she smiled. "Well, I'm game to start with the lamb. Something familiar," she said with a chuckle.

Captain Koraia, CO

USS Athena

Ready Room- Main Sim on USS Athena

lindsayb — Sun, 19 May 2013 08:57:58 -0400

: Posted by Lt. Cmdr. Stark Nightstalker (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Ready Room- Main Sim
: : Posted by Gamemaster Chiasm (Gamemaster) in Ready Room- Main Sim
: : : Posted by Lt. Cmdr. Stark Nightstalker (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Ready Room- Main Sim
: : : : Posted by Captain Ghubari Koraia (CO) in Ready Room- Main Sim
(snio)
: : : : Whatever Ghubari expected the Romulan's game to be, it was not this. But damn Varis! She had effectively thrown them in a corner and forced their hand. They couldn't say no, but there were better ways to go about it perhaps. But those dozen Romulan ships... how many people had been aboard? Ghubari thought back briefly to the day during the Dominion War. It wasn't a secret that her ship had been a part of the Seventh Fleet, the same fleet where the Venture was among 13 other ships to survive the battle in the Tyra Sector that claimed 98 ships. She understood Varis' anger, and so, entended her hand palm up so the Ro ulan could place the PADD in her hand. "It's not the first time our people have cooperated Commander, and in truth, I think many had hoped it wouldn't be the last. I'm not a diplomat, I'm trained in security. I'm used to action. We'll do what we can to find him," Koraia vowed. There were things she didn't like about the whole situation, but they were in desperate need of more information as well. Besides, as an empath, she knew that Varia was about as honest as a Romulan could get. And that was something.
: : : :
: : : : Captain Koraia, CO
: :
: : "It will not be an easy task," Varis warned. "The Borg do not hide in shadows like this enemy does. The only people capable of being so undetected to the Romulan authorities are Romulans themselves," she explained. There was no need to say that her people were fractured at the moment. She, herself, was part of a faction still loyal to the current praetor and empress. "If they learn of our cooperation on this, it may lead to the Federation becoming a target as well. You do realize this? The danger it puts you in?" Varis's questions weren't exactly for the Athena's benefit, she was concerned to get her own conscience cleared if their help did not... result positively.
: : :
: : : Stark was oblivious for once to the politics of the situation. Anything Borg must be destroyed at all costs not just because of their mindless raping of the universe but because in the wrong hands Borg tech could tip the balance of power in favour of shadowy elements bent on the subjugation of all he held dear.
: : :
: : : "We will do all we can to assist you Commander" he said with uncharacteristic heat. "Thank you for trusting us with this, we will endeavor not to disappoint that trust". In the back of his mind he was also saying to himself "but I won't forget who and what you are for one second".
: : :
: : : Stark Nightstalker CIO
: :
:
: OOC Think you might have missed that the last statement wasn't said out loud :)
:
: : Varis glared at Nightstalker, looking the male up and down. She made less attempt to hide her utter disdain for the insulting officer. "'What' I am?" she demanded. Her eyes went back to Koraia. "Another difference between us," she said, "is that we do not invite our pets to such functions, Captain," she said. "I will return to my ship and have the relevant data transmitted to you, Captain. We will see ourselves to your transporter room," she said. An implication that they didn't want an escort - did they want a chance to be alone on board the ship for a hidden purpose, or, were they testing the commitment of some trust?
:
: Stark Nightstalker CIO
: :
: : Gamemaster

OOC: Going to leave room for Kev to change the response as needed. And sorry for the delay!
IC:
Koraia wanted to trust Varis, and perhaps on a surface level she did, but she wasn't stupid. She was too much a tactician to be so blinded. "Our Chief Tactical Officer will escort you," Ghubari said simply, but in a firm tone. It wasn't a security detail, but R'han was na ideal person for this task, even if he resented it. But they had already agreed he should take any opportunity to see what else was going on. They had some of it, but she still felt like something was missing. Without waiting for Varis to reply, Koraia tapped her commbadge. =/\=Koraia to R'han. Commander, our guests will be leaving us momentarily. Please escort them t the transporter room." That she was willing to do the transporter rather than their original shuttle set up was a big enough measure of trust.

Captain Koraia, CO

USS Athena

Ghubari's Quarters on USS Athena

ssigle — Sun, 19 May 2013 09:06:38 -0400

: Posted by Captain Ghubari Koraia (CO) in Ghubari's Quarters
: : Posted by Lieutenant Konral Vander (Chief of Security) in Ghubari's Quarters
: : : Posted by Captain Ghubari Koraia (CO) in Ghubari's Quarters
: : : : Posted by Lieutenant Konral Vander (Chief of Security) in Ghubari's Quarters
: : : : : Posted by Captain Ghubari Koraia (CO) in Ghubari's Quarters
: : : : : : Posted by Lieutenant Konral Vander (Chief of Security) in Ghubari's Quarters
: : : : : : : Posted by Captain Ghubari Koraia (CO) in Ghubari's Quarters
: : : : : (snip)
: : : : : : : Flashing her own grin, Ghubari gazed at him, still resting her chin on her hands. "Then I look forward to trying it," she said, waiting for him to hand her a glass. "You and your uttaberries though. I'm starting to think I might need to craft a special fusion dish from back home that has uttaberries in it. I'm sure my people would be perfectly horrified, but would likely be an adventure all on it's own.
: : : : : : :
: : : : : : : Captain Koraia, CO
: : : : : :
: : : : : : "Well I do like sweet things, always one of my favorite items to have... why I spend so much time around you." he said teasingly her as he took a sip, the bubbles tickling his lip.
: : : : : :
: : : : : : COS
: : : : :
: : : : : "Lies..." she replied coolly taking a sip of the sweet bubbly drink. It was a bit sweeter than she expected, but not unpleasant. "I'm not sweet, at least not in the way people like Lyra and Kaylee are. /They/ are sweet. Me, well, I can be charming if I choose to, but surely you know that I enjoy being the enigma. It suits me and I gravitate towards keeping things close and not showing too much. Partly cultural, partly training. The rest is just me."
: : : : :
: : : : : Captain Koraia, CO
: : : :
: : : : "I call bull crap on that, you are sweet... just in a way that may not be obvious. Did you know on Betazed a type of uttaberries called nog berries are far sweeter than uttaberries, they are even deeper purple, almost black in their color... but they have to be eaten in the right time of day, when the sun hits them at high noon, they create a toxin the leaks into the veins of the stems, any creatures foraging at that time would be killed if they ate them, at midnight... they are able to be plucked and eaten... and create some dishes that are beyond sweet." as he said this he took a sip of his drink then looked back at he, smiling softly.
: : : :
: : : That Konral could counter her so easily didn't phase her. In fact, it was one of the things she loved about their relationship. But was he playing her? It was a convenient little anecdote. But Ghubari considered it for a moment and decided that even if it was, it was okay.
: : :
: : : : "To me that is you, you don't show it in everyday life your sweetness, you don't parade with sugar smiles and friendship bracelets, but you let people get to know you... let them learn who you are at your pace... at your time and you can open a side few see, that is sweeter than any nog berries. Just cause you don't let your heart on your sleeve doesn't mean you don't have the ability to let it show."
: : : :
: : : : COS
: : :
: : : And that made her smile. How easily he summed her complex nature up. From her position of her chin propped on her hand, she chuckled a little. "Alright, I'll give. It's a pretty darn accurate description there Ral. Not bad..."
: : :
: : : Sitting up, she reached for the fizzy drink and sipped lightly as she eyed the mystery wine. "Are we going to risk it? Still up for being adventurous?"
: : :
: : : Captain Koraia, CO
: :
: : "You pour that and I will see what the computer decided for dinner." he said as he pulled back the lid, revealing a wide variety meals, Vulcan soup, earth lamb and Trill fresh greens. It was truly a random selection one he couldn't have predicted. "Well looks like have a wide variety for sure." he said smiling, curious as to what to try first. Desert was lacking like he asked, he would grab that last for her.
: :
: : COS
:
: Ghubari poured the dark red wine, it's depths looking intriguing. Taking a tentative sip she grimaced a little and set her glass down as Konral brought over the food. "Wow! That's peppery! Not unpleasant exactly, but it definitely needs to breath a little. Give it a few minutes at least."
:
: Looking at the food, she smiled. "Well, I'm game to start with the lamb. Something familiar," she said with a chuckle.
:
: Captain Koraia, CO

"You gave me lamb once before right?" he asked her, jogging his memory for all the foods from her people she had giving him.

COS

USS Athena

Deck 6 - The Brig on USS Athena

lindsayb — Sun, 19 May 2013 11:07:41 -0400

: Posted by Lieut (j.g.) Sito Lyra (Chief Engineer) in Deck 6 - The Brig
: : Posted by Captain Ghubari Koraia (CO) in Deck 6 - The Brig
: : : Posted by Lieut (j.g.) Sito Lyra (Chief Engineer) in Deck 6 - The Brig
: : : <snip>
: : : : : She watched as Ghubari nodded and moved past her to sit on the bench. A small bit of the weight she held on her shoulders moved off as she realized Ghubari was not angry, at least not knock-down drag-out angry. Lyra felt she still had a lot to answer to Ghubari for, but at least she was talking. Considering her friend's words she bit her lip. "I don't think it was as simple as all that Ghubari. You hurt him. That is true enough. And he was lonely and slightly desperate... that is true too. For someone who feels emotions, he was dealing with mine too. I can tell you, I was a bloody mess."
: : : : :
: : : : : She paused, looking and feeling heat come to her cheeks. "I don't think I have ever been that emotional. He was dealing with his own emotions and mine too. It really was my fault. I wanted comfort and he was there. He was being a good friend and I put that in jeopardy by kissing him for that comfort. It was the wrong way to get it. I have never been that kind of person before and I hate that I am that now."
: : : : :
: : : : : Lyra, CE
: : : :
: : : : Ghubari was quiet, trying to figure out what to say. It wasn't like she had had a plan when she had come down here. She finally spoke, though looked straight ahead, avoiding looking at the CE. "I was so afraid that I couldn't be what he needed. That I needed to be too many other things and had to define myself more strictly with him if he was going to serve as my Chief of Security. I wasn't wrong entirely about that, but I think we've found a balance. When he told me about the kiss though, my first thought was 'huh, I guess I was right'. I couldn't be what he needed and he could find it elsewhere. I don't give my heart easily Lyra. I had this same problem before, and that..." She took a deep breath and sighed. "I ended it after I lost my leg. Because I was dating the man who had to cut it off. Stuart..." Ghubari clenched her right fist, digging her nail into her palm. "He couldn't look at me the way he used to. Couldn't touch me without revulsion, though he tried to hide it." Though it was pointless with her being an empath. "It destroyed whatever was between us. When Konral and I did our experiment back home Lyra, it was my accident all over again, both in my recollection and the way it fractured me from someone else I cared about. I don't talk about my recovery days to people. It was too hard, too... I felt like I had lost /everything/."
: : : :
: : : : Koraia paused. "I was so lucky to be alive Lyra. Had we had no doctor there, I would have, and I would have ordered them to safety regardless of my condition. But with Stuart there, I had hope, a lifeline. Afterwards though, he wanted his old 'Ri' back. But she was gone. She died on that planet, pinned under the beam that half severed her leg. And the person who made it back was so vastly different. I've seen bits and pieces of my old self these days, but I'm glad for the new me. I like her. She's tough and strong and humble. But she's scared too now. More gun-shy than she'd care to admit. And the reality of having her lover witness those horrific moments unshielded, unprotected shattered something inside back in a hut in Tanzania. That feeling is still there too and I'm doing the best I can to just.... fight through. But that moment in my ready room, when he told me that he had kissed you back? I felt like I had lost him in some way for good, that despite the time we had just spent together feeling the same easiness once again, I was lost again. My anger then wasn't because you kissed him, but because in kissing you back I knew deep down that I had failed him. And that maybe that was how it was supposed to be. That I was just meant to go at this alone. I never saw the next part coming though. He took such a risk! If I had ordered him out after he stormed back in, we would have never been alright. Something about that bold action though stunned me, made me feel like that little girl back in the village who was so terrified of this strange world she found herself in and just wanted someone to see her safely through it."
: : : :
: : : : Captain Koraia, CO
: : :
: : : For a long time, it was Lyra's turn to be speechless. What do you say to such an outpouring of information on what went on inside someone's head? Was she supposed to comment on the new Ghubari having not ever known the old one? Was she to comment on Stuart and his inability to love a woman who went through a traumatic experience? It all came down to Konral though.
: : :
: : The silence didn't bother Ghubari, though it made her own words echo in her head, making them weighty. She wasn't even sure what compelled her to speak that way, to Lyra especially, but maybe that was the point. Maybe she needed to tell someone who wasn't so knee deep in the mess of it all and who hadn't seen her through fight after fight.
: :
: : : "When you pulled away from him, he was devastated. I think he loved you completely for a long time and you pulling away just broke his heart. But despite that, or perhaps because of it, he felt he needed to fight for you so that eventually, he could stand by your side and fight with you. I think the major difference between Konral and Stuart is that Stuart didn't love you enough to work through his own pain and come out of it stronger with you. Whereas, Konral will see that challenge as an obstacle to obliterate if it meant being with you. When he kissed me, it wasn't me he wanted. When I kissed him, it wasn't him I wanted. He doesn't /need/ anything but you. I think if he hadn't have stormed back in, he would have felt dead inside, giving up something that means the world to him. Rather than face the slow death of seeing you everyday without being able to love you actively, he chose the option that could have had him transferred or even discharged without honors from Star Fleet."
: : :
: : : Lyra, CE
: :
: : Koraia nodded slowly. "The person who's life I saved that day on Kendor IV... her name was Dalera. Dalera Vander." She turned her head and finally looked at Lyra. "Konral's sister. She was a junior scientist on the Cheyenne. I knew of her, talked to her the odd time, but she was never more than just a scientist on the ship who sometimes came to the music nights I'd host for the crew. I was different then, as an XO. A little more free, but still just as serious. I never took life for granted but the war seemed so long ago that I had forgotten how messy life and death could be. Dalera..." Ghubari rubbed her face with her hands. "There are things I can't tell Konral. Though I'm sure he knows at least hints of it. Like, that I see her face in my dreams all the time. It's always some twisted version of what happened. Memories mixing into each other. You see, Konral and I were connected to each other before we ever met. The memory regression we did..." She shook her head. "It's bad enough to have to have gone through the event for real yourself, but to have someone like Konral witness it. With two women he cares so deeply about. Well, there was a point I think I knew just how big a mistake it was. It shattered us. And now we're trying to pick up the pieces." She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her thighs, looking forward again. She was a strong person, but so much of this had been weighing down on her. Though being together with Konral again had lightened the load considerably.
: :
: : Captain Koraia, CO
:
: "That would be traumatizing to anyone. What is important is how you act afterwards when everything is in pieces." Lyra paused and turned to Ghubari. "You keep hiding small bits of yourself and expect that Konral must accept that and love you fully or run for the hills. I think that's unfair. I also think that you highly underestimate your lover." She paused realizing she is, in her gentle way, berating her friend but she felt it needed to be said.
:
That was perhaps true, and leaning forward Ghubari thought on it as Lyra continued.

: "Because you cant deal with it, you expect that he can't or won't. And as a preemptive attempt to keep yourself from hurting, you push him away. You are scared of him turning into the sort of man Stuart was and you don't give him credit for the actions he has given to you to prove that thus far, he isn't and isn't likely to be."
:
: Sadly, she waited for the blow up, knowing Ghubari did not like to be called scared and knowing she was already on tenuous ground.
:
: Lyra, CE

The half-Napean sensed Lyra's tentativeness and sat up, leaning back against the wall of the brig. She closed her eyes and a deep sigh escaped her ample lips. "Konral gets it, probably better than you think he does. Because he is a security officer. Just like I was for nine years after the Academy and before I made the switch to Command." She opened her eyes and looked straight ahead. "We all have the knowledge in the back of our minds that our lives could end at any time. A life in Starfleet is a risky one. But I've served on combat ships my entire career Lyra. Every single day I come on duty knowing full well that the probability is high that I won't be alive by the end of the day. It's not a morbid thing and certain not something I want to happen. It's just a fact. I was trained to throw myself in the line of fire and though I have to resist it now, because my crew depends on me, I can't shake that feeling, and I'm not sure I really want to." She patted her right leg. "I lost the majority of this leg because of that instinct. It's all a part of me and I can't change who I am. If I thought for a second Konral expected me to be someone other than who I am, we'd never have been together. You say I don't give him credit and that I am afraid. There is truth to that. But until you have had to surrender your life countless times for others until it becomes a normal part of everyday life, do /not/ presume to judge me." Her tone throughout had been simply conversational until that last line, where her own fierceness was evident. Not quite angry, but carefully controlled so that Lyra would know that she was very serious.

Captain Koraia, CO

USS Athena

OOC: Welcome back a familiar face on USS Athena

ksawyer — Sun, 19 May 2013 13:30:46 -0400

: Posted by Lt. Cmdr. Stark Nightstalker (Chief Intelligence Officer) in OOC: Welcome back a familiar face
: : Posted by Lieutenant Dominic Hertz (Intelligence Officer) in OOC: Welcome back a familiar face
: : : Posted by Lieut (j.g.) Sito Lyra (Chief Engineer) in OOC: Welcome back a familiar face
: : : : Posted by Lieutenant Gren Aullar (Chief Science Officer) in OOC: Welcome back a familiar face
: : : : : Posted by Steve Sims in OOC: Welcome back a familiar face
: : : : : : Posted by Captain Ghubari Koraia (CO) in OOC: Welcome back a familiar face
: : : : : : For those who have been on the Athena a little while, you'll probably remember this returning member. He's been a CMO and a doctor, and this time he's joining us as a scientist.
: : : : : :
: : : : : : Please all welcome Steve Sims back to the Athena! All I can say is that the science department is getting quirkier and quirkier (more so than usual :P).
: : : : : :
: : : : : : Welcome Steve!
: : : : : :
: : : : : : Linds
: : : : :
: : : : : Woo hoo! Glad to be back guys. Looking forward to driving Linds crazy and causing mayhem. ;)
: : : : :
: : : : : Steve O
: : : :
: : : : Steeeeevvveee! (We can drive her nuts together /cackles)
: : : :
: : : : Crissy
: : :
: : : Sweet!
: : :
: : : Amber
: :
: : Welcome back Steve!!! :)
: :
: : -Tony
:
: Awesome :) Welcome back!
: Ian

Welcome back :)

Kevin

USS Athena

Bridge- Sim on USS Athena

ksawyer — Sun, 19 May 2013 13:38:50 -0400

: Posted by Commander Antin A'ustere (XO) in Bridge- Sim
: : Posted by Gamemaster Chiasm (Gamemaster) in Bridge- Sim
: : : : A message came back quickly from Stark. "Can't help you with which one to look into first. I was playing a hunch based on what's being said in here and I have to admit to being a little surprised I was right. My money's on time travel paradox".
: : : :
: : : : Stark Nightstalker CIO
: : :
: : : Chronoton particles were notoriously uninformative. The easiest thing to eliminate would be chonoton weapons as there would be multiple descrete chonoton bursts. Time travel would require some sort of generator or a type of massive interstellar power devent. Which the destruction of so many ships could be if they happened within very close proximity. R'han would do a temporal anaysis of when the ships were destroyed and if that destruction occurred simultaniously. Along with a power scan of the Romulan's drive. A chonoton drive or a ship that had been designed for time travel would be powered atypically.
: : :
: : : R'han
: :
: : R'Han's review of the records showed that there was no evidence of chroniton bursts indicate of chroniton weapons. The drives on the Romulans ships out there were standard for Romulan ships - singularity driven. The drives of the ships destroyed could not be determined. All of those ships had indeed been destroyed simultaneously, or, near it - as close as their sensors could determine, at least, placing them to within half a minute of each other in destruction.
: :
: : Gamemaster
:
: Antin scanned over the information delivered by Rhan. He arrived at several conclusions, he personally had discard chroniton weapons, they were energy intensive and inefficent. That left a experimental drive, or other experimental systems. He knew the Federation had been considering testing new Chroniton shields. He had heard that rumor coming out of second fleet. He felt sorry for what ever Sod had that command. the most logical source was time travel, but where they coming here or leaving here. And where where they going? he considered beating the information out of one the body gaurds, but that only last long enough for him to blink. He needed refined data. From the command chair, he began to query sensors to run sweeps only to find they were actively doing so at the request of Commander R'han.
:
: The X

Long-range sensors detected a patch of high concentration of chroniton particles at about the same co-ordinates as the extrapolated site of the fleet's destruction. There were no unusual sub-space readings of the system, but, sensors did pick up a particularly large asteroid near the chroniton field. It easily showed up on long-range sensors due to its size, and, unique composition. The asteroid was roughly 2/3 the size of the Earth's moon and was composed of titanium and platinum, elements that were not readily detected in asteroids in any system within five light-years. It was showing high concentrations of chroniton traces, indicating it was around at the time of the chroniton event.

Gamemaster

USS Athena

Ready Room- Main Sim on USS Athena

ksawyer — Sun, 19 May 2013 13:49:06 -0400

: Posted by Captain Ghubari Koraia (CO) in Ready Room- Main Sim
: : Posted by Lt. Cmdr. Stark Nightstalker (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Ready Room- Main Sim
: : : Posted by Gamemaster Chiasm (Gamemaster) in Ready Room- Main Sim
: : : : Posted by Lt. Cmdr. Stark Nightstalker (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Ready Room- Main Sim
: : : : : Posted by Captain Ghubari Koraia (CO) in Ready Room- Main Sim
: (snio)
: : : : : Whatever Ghubari expected the Romulan's game to be, it was not this. But damn Varis! She had effectively thrown them in a corner and forced their hand. They couldn't say no, but there were better ways to go about it perhaps. But those dozen Romulan ships... how many people had been aboard? Ghubari thought back briefly to the day during the Dominion War. It wasn't a secret that her ship had been a part of the Seventh Fleet, the same fleet where the Venture was among 13 other ships to survive the battle in the Tyra Sector that claimed 98 ships. She understood Varis' anger, and so, entended her hand palm up so the Ro ulan could place the PADD in her hand. "It's not the first time our people have cooperated Commander, and in truth, I think many had hoped it wouldn't be the last. I'm not a diplomat, I'm trained in security. I'm used to action. We'll do what we can to find him," Koraia vowed. There were things she didn't like about the whole situation, but they were in desperate need of more information as well. Besides, as an empath, she knew that Varia was about as honest as a Romulan could get. And that was something.
: : : : :
: : : : : Captain Koraia, CO
: : :
: : : "It will not be an easy task," Varis warned. "The Borg do not hide in shadows like this enemy does. The only people capable of being so undetected to the Romulan authorities are Romulans themselves," she explained. There was no need to say that her people were fractured at the moment. She, herself, was part of a faction still loyal to the current praetor and empress. "If they learn of our cooperation on this, it may lead to the Federation becoming a target as well. You do realize this? The danger it puts you in?" Varis's questions weren't exactly for the Athena's benefit, she was concerned to get her own conscience cleared if their help did not... result positively.
: : : :
: : : : Stark was oblivious for once to the politics of the situation. Anything Borg must be destroyed at all costs not just because of their mindless raping of the universe but because in the wrong hands Borg tech could tip the balance of power in favour of shadowy elements bent on the subjugation of all he held dear.
: : : :
: : : : "We will do all we can to assist you Commander" he said with uncharacteristic heat. "Thank you for trusting us with this, we will endeavor not to disappoint that trust". In the back of his mind he was also saying to himself "but I won't forget who and what you are for one second".
: : : :
: : : : Stark Nightstalker CIO
: : :
: :
: : OOC Think you might have missed that the last statement wasn't said out loud :)
: :
: : Stark Nightstalker CIO

OOC: Ack, sorry! My apologies :(

IC: Varis looked at Nightstalker, looking the male up and down. Usually Caitians made her... uncomfortable, but she found Nightstalker's words trustworthy enough. She nodded in tacit gratitude. Returning her attention to the Captain, the Romulan Commander continued. "I will return to my ship and have the relevant data transmitted to you, Captain. We will see ourselves to your transporter room," she said. An implication that they didn't want an escort - did they want a chance to be alone on board the ship for a hidden purpose, or, were they testing the commitment of some trust?

<Snip>
:
: OOC: Going to leave room for Kev to change the response as needed. And sorry for the delay!
: IC:
: Koraia wanted to trust Varis, and perhaps on a surface level she did, but she wasn't stupid. She was too much a tactician to be so blinded. "Our Chief Tactical Officer will escort you," Ghubari said simply, but in a firm tone. It wasn't a security detail, but R'han was na ideal person for this task, even if he resented it. But they had already agreed he should take any opportunity to see what else was going on. They had some of it, but she still felt like something was missing. Without waiting for Varis to reply, Koraia tapped her commbadge. =/\=Koraia to R'han. Commander, our guests will be leaving us momentarily. Please escort them t the transporter room." That she was willing to do the transporter rather than their original shuttle set up was a big enough measure of trust.
:
: Captain Koraia, CO

Varis nodded, she did expected as much. "Of course, Captain." she said, waiting for this R'han to come. She was curious about the Romulan - it wasn't every day one saw a defector outside of assassination reports. Central authorities only promoted successes to regular military officers like Varis, not failures.

Gamemaster

USS Athena

Bridge- Sim on USS Athena

lindsayb — Sun, 19 May 2013 18:17:28 -0400

: Posted by Gamemaster Chiasm (Gamemaster) in Bridge- Sim
: : Posted by Commander Antin A'ustere (XO) in Bridge- Sim
: : : Posted by Gamemaster Chiasm (Gamemaster) in Bridge- Sim
: : : : : A message came back quickly from Stark. "Can't help you with which one to look into first. I was playing a hunch based on what's being said in here and I have to admit to being a little surprised I was right. My money's on time travel paradox".
: : : : :
: : : : : Stark Nightstalker CIO
: : : :
: : : : Chronoton particles were notoriously uninformative. The easiest thing to eliminate would be chonoton weapons as there would be multiple descrete chonoton bursts. Time travel would require some sort of generator or a type of massive interstellar power devent. Which the destruction of so many ships could be if they happened within very close proximity. R'han would do a temporal anaysis of when the ships were destroyed and if that destruction occurred simultaniously. Along with a power scan of the Romulan's drive. A chonoton drive or a ship that had been designed for time travel would be powered atypically.
: : : :
: : : : R'han
: : :
: : : R'Han's review of the records showed that there was no evidence of chroniton bursts indicate of chroniton weapons. The drives on the Romulans ships out there were standard for Romulan ships - singularity driven. The drives of the ships destroyed could not be determined. All of those ships had indeed been destroyed simultaneously, or, near it - as close as their sensors could determine, at least, placing them to within half a minute of each other in destruction.
: : :
: : : Gamemaster
: :
: : Antin scanned over the information delivered by Rhan. He arrived at several conclusions, he personally had discard chroniton weapons, they were energy intensive and inefficent. That left a experimental drive, or other experimental systems. He knew the Federation had been considering testing new Chroniton shields. He had heard that rumor coming out of second fleet. He felt sorry for what ever Sod had that command. the most logical source was time travel, but where they coming here or leaving here. And where where they going? he considered beating the information out of one the body gaurds, but that only last long enough for him to blink. He needed refined data. From the command chair, he began to query sensors to run sweeps only to find they were actively doing so at the request of Commander R'han.
: :
: : The X
:
: Long-range sensors detected a patch of high concentration of chroniton particles at about the same co-ordinates as the extrapolated site of the fleet's destruction. There were no unusual sub-space readings of the system, but, sensors did pick up a particularly large asteroid near the chroniton field. It easily showed up on long-range sensors due to its size, and, unique composition. The asteroid was roughly 2/3 the size of the Earth's moon and was composed of titanium and platinum, elements that were not readily detected in asteroids in any system within five light-years. It was showing high concentrations of chroniton traces, indicating it was around at the time of the chroniton event.
:
: Gamemaster

OOC Cross-posting myself. :)
IC:
=/\=Koraia to R'han. Commander, our guests will be leaving us momentarily. Please escort them to the transporter room." She hoped he understood exactly what she was asking of him, but given their conversation just before Varis arrived, she thought it was clear that he was to find out what he could and report back.

Captain Koraia, CO

USS Athena

Sickbay - Boarding Physical (Pre-sim) on USS Athena

LogicalLeprechaun — Sun, 19 May 2013 20:41:58 -0400

<snip>
: : : S'Raal nodded and paused while he took it all in. He looked up into her eyes "Serious question L'sscha. What lengths would you go to for a chance to be healed? Would you consider experimental techniques including nanotechnology and gene re-sequencing?" He held up a finger to hold off an answer for a second. "I'm not offering a sure fire cure and we'd have to sail very close to ethical boundaries but I have some theories that might yield results but it would be a lengthy process and not without dangers to your health or even potentially your life."
: : :
: : : He stood back to give her a chance to respond.
: : :
: : : S'Raal Cran Moonshadow
: :
: : She leaned back and took a deep breath. She'd wrestled with that very question since the day of the accident. She was raised on Vulcan and knew of the path of logic. But she was also part Klingon, a highly volatile and emotional people. And here, her two halves were clashing.
: :
: : Her Vulcan side told her that the risks outweighed the benefits. Other than the occasional pain, there wasn't anything about the burns that interfered with the performance of her duties. Her brain didn't suffer any ill effects. But tampering with her genes could have potentially fatal consequences.
: :
: : On the other hand, her Klingon half was screaming to do it and consequences be damned. Why should she suffer any more because of Taylor's idiocy? Like the Klingons of old who suffered with the Augment Virus, she would never be whole unless she took the risk.
: :
: : "If I may, sir, I would request time to consider your proposal in more detail. If at all possible, I would like to discuss your theories at length when you have the time." She looked at her arm again. "I have dealt with the physical pain for two years now. In a way, I feel like I've gotten accustomed to looking like..." she started to say "a monster," but restrained herself. "...this."
: :
: : L'sscha
:
: S'Raal looked deep within himself to the part of himself that only two people were aware of and found empathy for this woman. He quite deliberately placed his paw gently on her ruined flesh and looked her in the eye.
:
: "Take all the time you need" he said and then removed his paw on the off chance that her vulcan half found the contact uncomfortable. "All I have right now is theories and all of them are experimental". He looked at the scars professionally. "What are you taking for the pain? How much and how often?"
:
: S'Raal Cran Moonshadow CMO

"Nothing major. Just some anti-inflammatory medicine when it flares up on me." She'd understated the pain she often felt, but she dealt with it. She wasn't going to take anything stronger. She didn't want her mind fogged by medication.

"As for your theories, I'm also a scientist. Perhaps we could go over them when you have the time. I will admit that the idea intrigues me, but I'm concerned about the risks."

L'sscha

USS Athena

Reporting In - Science Lab on USS Athena

LogicalLeprechaun — Sun, 19 May 2013 22:31:10 -0400

She made her way through the halls quickly. It seemed like people were staring at her again. She didn't blame them. Being half Vulcan and half Klingon made her appearance strange enough. Through severe radiation burns on top of it, well...

She found the CSO's office in the Science Lab and rang the chime.

L'sscha

USS Athena

Captain's Ready Room - Aullar Arrival, Pre-sim on USS Athena

lindsayb — Mon, 20 May 2013 03:39:52 -0400

: Posted by Lieutenant Gren Aullar (Chief Science Officer) in Captain's Ready Room - Aullar Arrival, Pre-sim
: : Posted by Captain Ghubari Koraia (CO) in Captain's Ready Room - Aullar Arrival, Pre-sim
: : : Posted by Lieutenant Gren Aullar (Chief Science Officer) in Captain's Ready Room - Aullar Arrival, Pre-sim
: : : : Posted by Captain Ghubari Koraia (CO) in Captain's Ready Room - Aullar Arrival, Pre-sim
: : (snip)
: : : : If there was any question that the two women were playing a game, it was answered now. For Ghubari seemed not at all fussed by Gren's counter. Whatever her motives for going about the conversation at this angle, the half-Napean seemed quite willing to to play it out as long as it suited her to. "I'm sure you can," Koraia replied with her own weightiness conferred on her words. "But I want to be very clear about something Lieutenant. This isn't the Lady Dune. I run a tight ship and regulations /do/ matter. I am not a slave to them, but I have a healthy respect for them. And I expect that not only will my senior officers follow suit, but that they will convey that to their subordinates. We see far too much action for anything less."
: : : :
: : : : Captain Koraia, CO
: : :
: : : That storm whirling and churning within Gren filled the air. Coy eyes turned piercing and it was evident exactly how she had clawed her way into being the second-in-command of a ship full of miscreants and thieves at such a young age. Even on heavy suppressants, there was something that seemed to suck the rooms attention towards her.
: : :
: : : "Cap-tain..." Her head tilted. "Ghubari, is it?" she smiled, "Your Starfleet sounds so loudly. Do not worry, I am Starfleet's to have. You won't be given failure. But, I will not bend over frivolities. I will do as I will." Gren spoke serious; her words not an offer nor were they a demand, only a statement of fact.
: : :
: : : Aullar, CSO
: :
: : "Koraia," the CO replied. "Koraia is my surname and that is how you will address me," she said cooly.
: :
: : Leaning back, Ghubari considered her new CSO. "Here's the thing Lieutenant. /I/ decide what it frivolous or not. My orders are orders. Simple. If you don't think you can follow them, regardless of how you feel about them, I wil find you somewhere else to serve. Is that understood?" she said sternly, her pale amber eyes intent.
: :
: : Captain Koraia, CO
:
: Gren tilted her head the other way as she listened; the fingers of one hand stroked the arm of the chair as if she were petting it. "Mmmm," she seemed to relish the lecture, eyes fluttering shut for a short moment. "Here's the thing Cap-tain. It wasn't your order who brought me here. Those much, much higher are giving you a gift and I'm non-refundable. Don't waste your presents, darling. You haven't even seen everything yet."
:
: Aullar, CSO

Koraia's pale amber eyes flashed and she rose to her feet. "I don't care if your were ordered to serve here by the President of the Federation themselves. The moment you set foot on the Athena, you came under /my/ purview. I'm a patient person but I will /not/ tolerate disrespect and insubordination. I suggest you leave right now and the next words I expect to hear from you are , "Yes, Sir!" Though her words were calm on the surface it was easy to tell that Ghubari was angry and that that Gren was in a precarious position.

Captain Koraia, CO

USS Athena

Counselor's Offices- Boarding Psych Eval (Pre-sim) on USS Athena

lindsayb — Mon, 20 May 2013 04:18:57 -0400

: Posted by Ensign L'sscha (Scientist) in Counselor's Quarters - Boarding Psych Eval (Pre-sim)
: : Posted by Lieut (j.g.) Kallen Reese (Jr. CNS) in Counselor's Quarters - Boarding Psych Eval (Pre-sim)
: : : Posted by Ensign L'sscha (Scientist) in Counselor's Quarters - Boarding Psych Eval (Pre-sim)
: : : Now that her physical was out of the way, she decided to go ahead and kill the second bird. She made her way through the halls until she found the Counselor's quarters. She rang the chime and waited for a response.
: : :
: : : L'sscha
: :
: : OOC: If you want Kallen to step in for now until James is back, may I suggest we do this at the Counselling Offices? ~Linds
:
: OOC: Works for me.
:
: Steve

With Kaylee fully booked with things today, including some meetings, Kallen was taking the drop-ins and handling anything critical that came up. Not that that happened often, but she was used to that about her position, that it was variable. In fact, she liked it and it was a reason she really had grown to love this small ship. When the chime went off, she looked up from her reading and smiled. "Enter," she called out.

Sitting in one corner was a Human woman who was slightly taller than average but not by much. She had vibrant red curls to her chin that emphasized the strong angles of her face and jaw. Striking clear green eyes looked up at the newcomer and the genuine smile didn't leave her face. "Hello!" she said in a friendly tone, not recognizing the Ensign before her. "I'm Kallen Reese, the Junior Counsellor. What can I do for you today?"

~Kallen Reese, Jr. CNS

USS Athena

Counselor's Offices- Boarding Psych Eval (Pre-sim) on USS Athena

LogicalLeprechaun — Mon, 20 May 2013 04:25:41 -0400

: Posted by Lieut (j.g.) Kallen Reese (Jr. CNS) in Counselor's Offices- Boarding Psych Eval (Pre-sim)
: : Posted by Ensign L'sscha (Scientist) in Counselor's Quarters - Boarding Psych Eval (Pre-sim)
: : : Posted by Lieut (j.g.) Kallen Reese (Jr. CNS) in Counselor's Quarters - Boarding Psych Eval (Pre-sim)
: : : : Posted by Ensign L'sscha (Scientist) in Counselor's Quarters - Boarding Psych Eval (Pre-sim)
: : : : Now that her physical was out of the way, she decided to go ahead and kill the second bird. She made her way through the halls until she found the Counselor's quarters. She rang the chime and waited for a response.
: : : :
: : : : L'sscha
: : :
: : : OOC: If you want Kallen to step in for now until James is back, may I suggest we do this at the Counselling Offices? ~Linds
: :
: : OOC: Works for me.
: :
: : Steve
:
: With Kaylee fully booked with things today, including some meetings, Kallen was taking the drop-ins and handling anything critical that came up. Not that that happened often, but she was used to that about her position, that it was variable. In fact, she liked it and it was a reason she really had grown to love this small ship. When the chime went off, she looked up from her reading and smiled. "Enter," she called out.

L'sscha poked her head in, looking for the body that went with the voice.

: Sitting in one corner was a Human woman who was slightly taller than average but not by much. She had vibrant red curls to her chin that emphasized the strong angles of her face and jaw. Striking clear green eyes looked up at the newcomer and the genuine smile didn't leave her face. "Hello!" she said in a friendly tone, not recognizing the Ensign before her. "I'm Kallen Reese, the Junior Counsellor. What can I do for you today?"
:
: ~Kallen Reese, Jr. CNS

L'sscha looked around, briefly, in an attempt to hide her nervousness. She'd always /hated/ the psychological aspects of science and medicine. Not to mention the mandatory meetings she had after her accident. "I am Ensign L'sscha. I'm new on board and was hoping to get my boarding evaluation out of the way."

L'sscha

USS Athena

Counselor's Offices- Boarding Psych Eval (Pre-sim) on USS Athena

lindsayb — Mon, 20 May 2013 04:37:29 -0400

: Posted by Ensign L'sscha (Scientist) in Counselor's Offices- Boarding Psych Eval (Pre-sim)
: : Posted by Lieut (j.g.) Kallen Reese (Jr. CNS) in Counselor's Offices- Boarding Psych Eval (Pre-sim)
: : : Posted by Ensign L'sscha (Scientist) in Counselor's Quarters - Boarding Psych Eval (Pre-sim)
: : : : Posted by Lieut (j.g.) Kallen Reese (Jr. CNS) in Counselor's Quarters - Boarding Psych Eval (Pre-sim)
: : : : : Posted by Ensign L'sscha (Scientist) in Counselor's Quarters - Boarding Psych Eval (Pre-sim)
: : : : : Now that her physical was out of the way, she decided to go ahead and kill the second bird. She made her way through the halls until she found the Counselor's quarters. She rang the chime and waited for a response.
: : : : :
: : : : : L'sscha
: : : :
: : : : OOC: If you want Kallen to step in for now until James is back, may I suggest we do this at the Counselling Offices? ~Linds
: : :
: : : OOC: Works for me.
: : :
: : : Steve
: :
: : With Kaylee fully booked with things today, including some meetings, Kallen was taking the drop-ins and handling anything critical that came up. Not that that happened often, but she was used to that about her position, that it was variable. In fact, she liked it and it was a reason she really had grown to love this small ship. When the chime went off, she looked up from her reading and smiled. "Enter," she called out.
:
: L'sscha poked her head in, looking for the body that went with the voice.
:
: : Sitting in one corner was a Human woman who was slightly taller than average but not by much. She had vibrant red curls to her chin that emphasized the strong angles of her face and jaw. Striking clear green eyes looked up at the newcomer and the genuine smile didn't leave her face. "Hello!" she said in a friendly tone, not recognizing the Ensign before her. "I'm Kallen Reese, the Junior Counsellor. What can I do for you today?"
: :
: : ~Kallen Reese, Jr. CNS
:
: L'sscha looked around, briefly, in an attempt to hide her nervousness. She'd always /hated/ the psychological aspects of science and medicine. Not to mention the mandatory meetings she had after her accident. "I am Ensign L'sscha. I'm new on board and was hoping to get my boarding evaluation out of the way."
:
: L'sscha

L'sscha was hardly the first nervous person she had had before her and took it in stride. Her quick visual assessment as the woman had entered gave her a few clues as to the possible source of the nervousness. Kallen saw no reason to change how she was doing anything and proceeded, gesturing to the sofa that sat to her right and the single chair across from her on the other side of the small square table she set her padd on. "Please come on in and have a seat. Anything I can get for you? I was pondering a cup of coffee myself," she said as she rose to her feet.

~Kallen Reese, Jr. CNS

USS Athena

Counselor's Offices- Boarding Psych Eval (Pre-sim) on USS Athena

LogicalLeprechaun — Mon, 20 May 2013 04:42:20 -0400

: Posted by Lieut (j.g.) Kallen Reese (Jr. CNS) in Counselor's Offices- Boarding Psych Eval (Pre-sim)
: : Posted by Ensign L'sscha (Scientist) in Counselor's Offices- Boarding Psych Eval (Pre-sim)
: : : Posted by Lieut (j.g.) Kallen Reese (Jr. CNS) in Counselor's Offices- Boarding Psych Eval (Pre-sim)
: : : : Posted by Ensign L'sscha (Scientist) in Counselor's Quarters - Boarding Psych Eval (Pre-sim)
: : : : : Posted by Lieut (j.g.) Kallen Reese (Jr. CNS) in Counselor's Quarters - Boarding Psych Eval (Pre-sim)
: : : : : : Posted by Ensign L'sscha (Scientist) in Counselor's Quarters - Boarding Psych Eval (Pre-sim)
: : : : : : Now that her physical was out of the way, she decided to go ahead and kill the second bird. She made her way through the halls until she found the Counselor's quarters. She rang the chime and waited for a response.
: : : : : :
: : : : : : L'sscha
: : : : :
: : : : : OOC: If you want Kallen to step in for now until James is back, may I suggest we do this at the Counselling Offices? ~Linds
: : : :
: : : : OOC: Works for me.
: : : :
: : : : Steve
: : :
: : : With Kaylee fully booked with things today, including some meetings, Kallen was taking the drop-ins and handling anything critical that came up. Not that that happened often, but she was used to that about her position, that it was variable. In fact, she liked it and it was a reason she really had grown to love this small ship. When the chime went off, she looked up from her reading and smiled. "Enter," she called out.
: :
: : L'sscha poked her head in, looking for the body that went with the voice.
: :
: : : Sitting in one corner was a Human woman who was slightly taller than average but not by much. She had vibrant red curls to her chin that emphasized the strong angles of her face and jaw. Striking clear green eyes looked up at the newcomer and the genuine smile didn't leave her face. "Hello!" she said in a friendly tone, not recognizing the Ensign before her. "I'm Kallen Reese, the Junior Counsellor. What can I do for you today?"
: : :
: : : ~Kallen Reese, Jr. CNS
: :
: : L'sscha looked around, briefly, in an attempt to hide her nervousness. She'd always /hated/ the psychological aspects of science and medicine. Not to mention the mandatory meetings she had after her accident. "I am Ensign L'sscha. I'm new on board and was hoping to get my boarding evaluation out of the way."
: :
: : L'sscha
:
: L'sscha was hardly the first nervous person she had had before her and took it in stride. Her quick visual assessment as the woman had entered gave her a few clues as to the possible source of the nervousness. Kallen saw no reason to change how she was doing anything and proceeded, gesturing to the sofa that sat to her right and the single chair across from her on the other side of the small square table she set her padd on. "Please come on in and have a seat. Anything I can get for you? I was pondering a cup of coffee myself," she said as she rose to her feet.
:
: ~Kallen Reese, Jr. CNS

She sat down on the chair and shook her head. "Thank you, no." She realized she may be coming off as rude, so she took a deep breath. "I apologize for my abruptness. As you can imagine, I've seen my fair share of Starfleet counselors," she said, gesturing to her face.

L'sscha

USS Athena

Captain's Ready Room - Aullar Arrival, Pre-sim on USS Athena

ssigle — Mon, 20 May 2013 10:51:21 -0400

: Posted by Captain Ghubari Koraia (CO) in Captain's Ready Room - Aullar Arrival, Pre-sim
: : Posted by Lieutenant Gren Aullar (Chief Science Officer) in Captain's Ready Room - Aullar Arrival, Pre-sim
: : : Posted by Captain Ghubari Koraia (CO) in Captain's Ready Room - Aullar Arrival, Pre-sim
: : : : Posted by Lieutenant Gren Aullar (Chief Science Officer) in Captain's Ready Room - Aullar Arrival, Pre-sim
: : : : : Posted by Captain Ghubari Koraia (CO) in Captain's Ready Room - Aullar Arrival, Pre-sim
: : : (snip)
: : : : : If there was any question that the two women were playing a game, it was answered now. For Ghubari seemed not at all fussed by Gren's counter. Whatever her motives for going about the conversation at this angle, the half-Napean seemed quite willing to to play it out as long as it suited her to. "I'm sure you can," Koraia replied with her own weightiness conferred on her words. "But I want to be very clear about something Lieutenant. This isn't the Lady Dune. I run a tight ship and regulations /do/ matter. I am not a slave to them, but I have a healthy respect for them. And I expect that not only will my senior officers follow suit, but that they will convey that to their subordinates. We see far too much action for anything less."
: : : : :
: : : : : Captain Koraia, CO
: : : :
: : : : That storm whirling and churning within Gren filled the air. Coy eyes turned piercing and it was evident exactly how she had clawed her way into being the second-in-command of a ship full of miscreants and thieves at such a young age. Even on heavy suppressants, there was something that seemed to suck the rooms attention towards her.
: : : :
: : : : "Cap-tain..." Her head tilted. "Ghubari, is it?" she smiled, "Your Starfleet sounds so loudly. Do not worry, I am Starfleet's to have. You won't be given failure. But, I will not bend over frivolities. I will do as I will." Gren spoke serious; her words not an offer nor were they a demand, only a statement of fact.
: : : :
: : : : Aullar, CSO
: : :
: : : "Koraia," the CO replied. "Koraia is my surname and that is how you will address me," she said cooly.
: : :
: : : Leaning back, Ghubari considered her new CSO. "Here's the thing Lieutenant. /I/ decide what it frivolous or not. My orders are orders. Simple. If you don't think you can follow them, regardless of how you feel about them, I wil find you somewhere else to serve. Is that understood?" she said sternly, her pale amber eyes intent.
: : :
: : : Captain Koraia, CO
: :
: : Gren tilted her head the other way as she listened; the fingers of one hand stroked the arm of the chair as if she were petting it. "Mmmm," she seemed to relish the lecture, eyes fluttering shut for a short moment. "Here's the thing Cap-tain. It wasn't your order who brought me here. Those much, much higher are giving you a gift and I'm non-refundable. Don't waste your presents, darling. You haven't even seen everything yet."
: :
: : Aullar, CSO
:
: Koraia's pale amber eyes flashed and she rose to her feet. "I don't care if your were ordered to serve here by the President of the Federation themselves. The moment you set foot on the Athena, you came under /my/ purview. I'm a patient person but I will /not/ tolerate disrespect and insubordination. I suggest you leave right now and the next words I expect to hear from you are , "Yes, Sir!" Though her words were calm on the surface it was easy to tell that Ghubari was angry and that that Gren was in a precarious position.
:
: Captain Koraia, CO

OOC: Is it bad of me I want Gren to push it one more time just so I can throw her in the brig for Koraia?

~Steven

USS Athena

Bridge- Sim on USS Athena

lhung — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:06:14 -0400

: Posted by Captain Ghubari Koraia (CO) in Bridge- Sim
: : Posted by Gamemaster Chiasm (Gamemaster) in Bridge- Sim
: : : Posted by Commander Antin A'ustere (XO) in Bridge- Sim
: : : : Posted by Gamemaster Chiasm (Gamemaster) in Bridge- Sim
: : : : : : A message came back quickly from Stark. "Can't help you with which one to look into first. I was playing a hunch based on what's being said in here and I have to admit to being a little surprised I was right. My money's on time travel paradox".
: : : : : :
: : : : : : Stark Nightstalker CIO
: : : : :
: : : : : Chronoton particles were notoriously uninformative. The easiest thing to eliminate would be chonoton weapons as there would be multiple descrete chonoton bursts. Time travel would require some sort of generator or a type of massive interstellar power devent. Which the destruction of so many ships could be if they happened within very close proximity. R'han would do a temporal anaysis of when the ships were destroyed and if that destruction occurred simultaniously. Along with a power scan of the Romulan's drive. A chonoton drive or a ship that had been designed for time travel would be powered atypically.
: : : : :
: : : : : R'han
: : : :
: : : : R'Han's review of the records showed that there was no evidence of chroniton bursts indicate of chroniton weapons. The drives on the Romulans ships out there were standard for Romulan ships - singularity driven. The drives of the ships destroyed could not be determined. All of those ships had indeed been destroyed simultaneously, or, near it - as close as their sensors could determine, at least, placing them to within half a minute of each other in destruction.
: : : :
: : : : Gamemaster
: : :
: : : Antin scanned over the information delivered by Rhan. He arrived at several conclusions, he personally had discard chroniton weapons, they were energy intensive and inefficent. That left a experimental drive, or other experimental systems. He knew the Federation had been considering testing new Chroniton shields. He had heard that rumor coming out of second fleet. He felt sorry for what ever Sod had that command. the most logical source was time travel, but where they coming here or leaving here. And where where they going? he considered beating the information out of one the body gaurds, but that only last long enough for him to blink. He needed refined data. From the command chair, he began to query sensors to run sweeps only to find they were actively doing so at the request of Commander R'han.
: : :
: : : The X
: :
: : Long-range sensors detected a patch of high concentration of chroniton particles at about the same co-ordinates as the extrapolated site of the fleet's destruction. There were no unusual sub-space readings of the system, but, sensors did pick up a particularly large asteroid near the chroniton field. It easily showed up on long-range sensors due to its size, and, unique composition. The asteroid was roughly 2/3 the size of the Earth's moon and was composed of titanium and platinum, elements that were not readily detected in asteroids in any system within five light-years. It was showing high concentrations of chroniton traces, indicating it was around at the time of the chroniton event.
: :
: : Gamemaster
:
: OOC Cross-posting myself. :)
: IC:
: =/\=Koraia to R'han. Commander, our guests will be leaving us momentarily. Please escort them to the transporter room." She hoped he understood exactly what she was asking of him, but given their conversation just before Varis arrived, she thought it was clear that he was to find out what he could and report back.
:
: Captain Koraia, CO

=^=Acknowledged.=^= R'han turned to the XO and shrugged. He wasn't a science officer anyway and found the asteroid very curious ether at a point of evidence of a causal factor. He started a scan of the item and forwarded the initation to the XO.

.R'han

USS Athena

Ready Room- Main Sim on USS Athena

lhung — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:34:44 -0400

: Posted by Gamemaster Chiasm (Gamemaster) in Ready Room- Main Sim
: : Posted by Captain Ghubari Koraia (CO) in Ready Room- Main Sim
: : : Posted by Lt. Cmdr. Stark Nightstalker (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Ready Room- Main Sim
: : : : Posted by Gamemaster Chiasm (Gamemaster) in Ready Room- Main Sim
: : : : : Posted by Lt. Cmdr. Stark Nightstalker (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Ready Room- Main Sim
: : : : : : Posted by Captain Ghubari Koraia (CO) in Ready Room- Main Sim
: : (snio)
: : : : : : Whatever Ghubari expected the Romulan's game to be, it was not this. But damn Varis! She had effectively thrown them in a corner and forced their hand. They couldn't say no, but there were better ways to go about it perhaps. But those dozen Romulan ships... how many people had been aboard? Ghubari thought back briefly to the day during the Dominion War. It wasn't a secret that her ship had been a part of the Seventh Fleet, the same fleet where the Venture was among 13 other ships to survive the battle in the Tyra Sector that claimed 98 ships. She understood Varis' anger, and so, entended her hand palm up so the Ro ulan could place the PADD in her hand. "It's not the first time our people have cooperated Commander, and in truth, I think many had hoped it wouldn't be the last. I'm not a diplomat, I'm trained in security. I'm used to action. We'll do what we can to find him," Koraia vowed. There were things she didn't like about the whole situation, but they were in desperate need of more information as well. Besides, as an empath, she knew that Varia was about as honest as a Romulan could get. And that was something.
: : : : : :
: : : : : : Captain Koraia, CO
: : : :
: : : : "It will not be an easy task," Varis warned. "The Borg do not hide in shadows like this enemy does. The only people capable of being so undetected to the Romulan authorities are Romulans themselves," she explained. There was no need to say that her people were fractured at the moment. She, herself, was part of a faction still loyal to the current praetor and empress. "If they learn of our cooperation on this, it may lead to the Federation becoming a target as well. You do realize this? The danger it puts you in?" Varis's questions weren't exactly for the Athena's benefit, she was concerned to get her own conscience cleared if their help did not... result positively.
: : : : :
: : : : : Stark was oblivious for once to the politics of the situation. Anything Borg must be destroyed at all costs not just because of their mindless raping of the universe but because in the wrong hands Borg tech could tip the balance of power in favour of shadowy elements bent on the subjugation of all he held dear.
: : : : :
: : : : : "We will do all we can to assist you Commander" he said with uncharacteristic heat. "Thank you for trusting us with this, we will endeavor not to disappoint that trust". In the back of his mind he was also saying to himself "but I won't forget who and what you are for one second".
: : : : :
: : : : : Stark Nightstalker CIO
: : : :
: : :
: : : OOC Think you might have missed that the last statement wasn't said out loud :)
: : :
: : : Stark Nightstalker CIO
:
: OOC: Ack, sorry! My apologies :(
:
: IC: Varis looked at Nightstalker, looking the male up and down. Usually Caitians made her... uncomfortable, but she found Nightstalker's words trustworthy enough. She nodded in tacit gratitude. Returning her attention to the Captain, the Romulan Commander continued. "I will return to my ship and have the relevant data transmitted to you, Captain. We will see ourselves to your transporter room," she said. An implication that they didn't want an escort - did they want a chance to be alone on board the ship for a hidden purpose, or, were they testing the commitment of some trust?
:
: <Snip>
: :
: : OOC: Going to leave room for Kev to change the response as needed. And sorry for the delay!
: : IC:
: : Koraia wanted to trust Varis, and perhaps on a surface level she did, but she wasn't stupid. She was too much a tactician to be so blinded. "Our Chief Tactical Officer will escort you," Ghubari said simply, but in a firm tone. It wasn't a security detail, but R'han was na ideal person for this task, even if he resented it. But they had already agreed he should take any opportunity to see what else was going on. They had some of it, but she still felt like something was missing. Without waiting for Varis to reply, Koraia tapped her commbadge. =/\=Koraia to R'han. Commander, our guests will be leaving us momentarily. Please escort them t the transporter room." That she was willing to do the transporter rather than their original shuttle set up was a big enough measure of trust.
: :
: : Captain Koraia, CO
:
=^=Acknowledged=^= Came the quick response.

: Varis nodded, she did expected as much. "Of course, Captain." she said, waiting for this R'han to come. She was curious about the Romulan - it wasn't every day one saw a defector outside of assassination reports. Central authorities only promoted successes to regular military officers like Varis, not failures.
:
: Gamemaster

A few moments later, a little longer than what was strictly necessary for the short walk from tactical to the ready room, came the sound of the chime ringing. And following that the entrance of the Romulan Tactical officer. "Reporting as ordered." He managed an uncomfortable nod towards the Romulans. It was a reminder that he was not 'federation standard." Although one might say the trust he was offered by some alone time with the Romulans was a counter balance to that.

Rhan

USS Athena

Sickbay - Physical Evaluation - Ensign Tyler P on USS Athena

humanoidfemale — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:52:10 -0400

: Posted by Lieut (j.g.) S’Raal Cran Moonshadow (Chief Medical Officer) in Sickbay - Physical Evaluation - Ensign Tyler P
: : Posted by Ensign Tyler Penaluna (Engineer) in Sickbay - Physical Evaluation - Ensign Tyler P
: : : Posted by Lieut (j.g.) S’Raal Cran Moonshadow (Chief Medical Officer) in Sickbay - Physical Evaluation - Ensign Tyler P
: : : snip
: : : : : : : : : : : : : : Upon reaching the door to sickbay, Tyler noticed his hand start to shake and quickly held it with his other. He slowly, silently, walked into sickbay wanting not to be noticed. He started to look at the shelves of different medicines, but then realized it wasn't helping so he leaned against the nearest wall to wait for the doctor.
: : : : : : : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : : : : : : ~Tyler P, Engineer
: : : : : : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : : : : : S'Raal as always was acutely aware of all that went in and out of sickbay but he took the time to surreptitiously observe Tyler's behaviour for a moment. He wasn't sure what the newcomer was up to but he had some suspicions as he'd seen this kind of avoidance before.
: : : : : : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : : : : : He walked towards Tyler's position putting on his usual half smile.
: : : : : : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : : : : : "My name is S'Raal and you I presume are Ensign Tyler" he said simply. "Here for a checkup no doubt". S'Raal waited for the reply to see if his suspicions would be confirmed.
: : : : : : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : : : : : S'Raal Cran Moonshadow CMO
: : : : : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : : : : Tyler quickly shot around, startled. He looked at the doctor, desperately wanting to say 'No, I just thought I'd explore the ship a bit and then pop down to my quarters to get a quick cup of tea.' But Tyler knew better than to avoid the inevitable. He calmed and stood up in a more proper position, "Y-yes," his voice cracked, "that's right. I'm here for my physical."
: : : : : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : : : : ~Tyler P, Engineer
: : : : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : : : S'Raal smiled at him "Pardon me for saying it Ensign but your face looks more like someone who has presented themselves for court martial".
: : : : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : : : S'Raal put a hand on his shoulder in the hopes it might take some tension out of him.
: : : : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : : : "Is this a generalized anxiety regarding sickbay or have you had a bad experience in the past?".
: : : : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : : : S'Raal Cran Moonshadow CMO
: : : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : : Tyler tensed a bit, "I've never really thought too much about it. It could have been something that happened when I was a kid, I just don't remember anything that could cause it. All I know is that, to be blunt, I am terrified of doctors." Tyler didn't know why he was telling this man about his phobia so easily. Tyler didn't try to think to much about it, just letting himself talk.
: : : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : : ~Tyler P, Engineer
: : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : S'Raal put his head to one side and smiled his usual half smile. "Would it help if you thought of me not as a doctor but as a large talking cat? Perhaps the ridicularity of that thought might circumvent the weld you have created between doctor and danger?"
: : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : S'Raal continued to smile at Tyler hoping his inane comments and made up words were helping him turn a corner, or at least to remember what might have happened when he was young.
: : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : S'Raal Cran Moonshadow CMO
: : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : Once S'Raal mentioned the word cat, Tyler thought of his sister's cat. The idea of her cat giving him a physical made him laugh. "I think that might help."
: : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : ~Tyler P, Engineer
: : : : : : :
: : : : : : : S'Raal laughed along with him. "Alright then, let's get this done Tyler. Jump on the biobed here and we'll have a look at you. Anything in the way of old injuries, difficulties that you'd like me to be aware of before we start?
: : : : : : :
: : : : : : : S'Raal Cran Moonshadow CMO
: : : : : :
: : : : : : "Nothing out of the ordinary." He sat on a biobed, his feet a dangling few centimeters from the floor.
: : : : : :
: : : : : : ~Tyler P, Engineer
: : : : :
: : : : : S'Raal was concentrating on his readouts and suddenly his face screwed up into a very deep frown. He looked at Tyler with a worried look on his face. "I'm sorry but I have some very bad news for you".
: : : : :
: : : : : S'Raal Cran Moonshadow CMO
: : : :
: : : : Tyler's heart began to beat furiously. "W-what is it?" He stammered. Tyler surely didn't want to know, but asking seemed like the sort of thing someone would do when faced with bad news.
: : : :
: : : : ~Tyler P, Engineer
: : :
: : : S'Raal's face was solemn. "I had hoped that we might in time become friends but I can see now that it will be impossible".
: : :
: : : S'Raal put his paw on Tyler's shoulder and looked him square in the eye "You see to develop a friendship one needs to spend time with each other and as I spend most of my day in sickbay we won't be seeing much of each other. The problem is Tyler that you are just too healthy to need my services again in the near future and I mourn the loss of your company here."
: : :
: : : S'Raal's half smile returned as he gave a short laugh "Gotcha". S"Raal backed up a little "It's considered very bad to hit a superior officer Tyler but under the circumstances if you feel like thumping me in the arm, I won't report you". S'Raal's smile broadened.
: : :
: : : S'Raal Cran Moonshadow CMO
: :
: : Tyler looked at S'Raal in confusion, then thumped his arm.
: :
: : Tyler cracked a smile, "You almost had me there, doc," and began to laugh. Tyler felt a lot less anxious now than he was prior to his visit. "You have a good sense of humor," He said between laughs.
: :
: : ~Tyler P, Engineer
:
: S'Raal gave a short bow complete with flourish. "It is so nice to have one's talents appreciated Tyler". He smiled again and looked towards the door. "You are free to leave but don't be a stranger. You might feel less stressed in sickbay of you make the occasional visit that doesn't have to do with death and disease. I do puppet shows on Thursdays... or at least I might start sometime soon if I had an audience".
:
: S'Raal Cran Moonshadow CMO

Tyler hopped off the biobed and smiled. "I'll be sure to do that." He said walking towards the door.

Out of all the times Tyler has needed to go to sickbay, this was the least stressful and least anxiety educing. He did in fact feel much more comfortable with S'Raal and, for some strange reason, didn't seem the least bit terrified of the idea of coming back. It was certainly a big step, for Tyler at least.

Tyler took a last look around before stepping into the corridor.

~Tyler P, Engineer

USS Athena

Ready Room- Main Sim on USS Athena

ikerby — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:05:07 -0400

: Posted by Lt. Cmdr. R'han (Chief Tactical Officer) in Ready Room- Main Sim
: : Posted by Gamemaster Chiasm (Gamemaster) in Ready Room- Main Sim
: : : Posted by Captain Ghubari Koraia (CO) in Ready Room- Main Sim
: : : : Posted by Lt. Cmdr. Stark Nightstalker (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Ready Room- Main Sim
: : : : : Posted by Gamemaster Chiasm (Gamemaster) in Ready Room- Main Sim
: : : : : : Posted by Lt. Cmdr. Stark Nightstalker (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Ready Room- Main Sim
: : : : : : : Posted by Captain Ghubari Koraia (CO) in Ready Room- Main Sim
: : : (snio)
: : : : : : : Whatever Ghubari expected the Romulan's game to be, it was not this. But damn Varis! She had effectively thrown them in a corner and forced their hand. They couldn't say no, but there were better ways to go about it perhaps. But those dozen Romulan ships... how many people had been aboard? Ghubari thought back briefly to the day during the Dominion War. It wasn't a secret that her ship had been a part of the Seventh Fleet, the same fleet where the Venture was among 13 other ships to survive the battle in the Tyra Sector that claimed 98 ships. She understood Varis' anger, and so, entended her hand palm up so the Ro ulan could place the PADD in her hand. "It's not the first time our people have cooperated Commander, and in truth, I think many had hoped it wouldn't be the last. I'm not a diplomat, I'm trained in security. I'm used to action. We'll do what we can to find him," Koraia vowed. There were things she didn't like about the whole situation, but they were in desperate need of more information as well. Besides, as an empath, she knew that Varia was about as honest as a Romulan could get. And that was something.
: : : : : : :
: : : : : : : Captain Koraia, CO
: : : : :
: : : : : "It will not be an easy task," Varis warned. "The Borg do not hide in shadows like this enemy does. The only people capable of being so undetected to the Romulan authorities are Romulans themselves," she explained. There was no need to say that her people were fractured at the moment. She, herself, was part of a faction still loyal to the current praetor and empress. "If they learn of our cooperation on this, it may lead to the Federation becoming a target as well. You do realize this? The danger it puts you in?" Varis's questions weren't exactly for the Athena's benefit, she was concerned to get her own conscience cleared if their help did not... result positively.
: : : : : :
: : : : : : Stark was oblivious for once to the politics of the situation. Anything Borg must be destroyed at all costs not just because of their mindless raping of the universe but because in the wrong hands Borg tech could tip the balance of power in favour of shadowy elements bent on the subjugation of all he held dear.
: : : : : :
: : : : : : "We will do all we can to assist you Commander" he said with uncharacteristic heat. "Thank you for trusting us with this, we will endeavor not to disappoint that trust". In the back of his mind he was also saying to himself "but I won't forget who and what you are for one second".
: : : : : :
: : : : : : Stark Nightstalker CIO
: : : : :
: : : :
: : : : OOC Think you might have missed that the last statement wasn't said out loud :)
: : : :
: : : : Stark Nightstalker CIO
: :
: : OOC: Ack, sorry! My apologies :(
: :
OOC No problem :)

: : IC: Varis looked at Nightstalker, looking the male up and down. Usually Caitians made her... uncomfortable, but she found Nightstalker's words trustworthy enough. She nodded in tacit gratitude. Returning her attention to the Captain, the Romulan Commander continued. "I will return to my ship and have the relevant data transmitted to you, Captain. We will see ourselves to your transporter room," she said. An implication that they didn't want an escort - did they want a chance to be alone on board the ship for a hidden purpose, or, were they testing the commitment of some trust?
: :
: : <Snip>
: : :
: : : OOC: Going to leave room for Kev to change the response as needed. And sorry for the delay!
: : : IC:
: : : Koraia wanted to trust Varis, and perhaps on a surface level she did, but she wasn't stupid. She was too much a tactician to be so blinded. "Our Chief Tactical Officer will escort you," Ghubari said simply, but in a firm tone. It wasn't a security detail, but R'han was na ideal person for this task, even if he resented it. But they had already agreed he should take any opportunity to see what else was going on. They had some of it, but she still felt like something was missing. Without waiting for Varis to reply, Koraia tapped her commbadge. =/\=Koraia to R'han. Commander, our guests will be leaving us momentarily. Please escort them t the transporter room." That she was willing to do the transporter rather than their original shuttle set up was a big enough measure of trust.
: : :
: : : Captain Koraia, CO
: :
: =^=Acknowledged=^= Came the quick response.
:
: : Varis nodded, she did expected as much. "Of course, Captain." she said, waiting for this R'han to come. She was curious about the Romulan - it wasn't every day one saw a defector outside of assassination reports. Central authorities only promoted successes to regular military officers like Varis, not failures.
: :
: : Gamemaster
:
: A few moments later, a little longer than what was strictly necessary for the short walk from tactical to the ready room, came the sound of the chime ringing. And following that the entrance of the Romulan Tactical officer. "Reporting as ordered." He managed an uncomfortable nod towards the Romulans. It was a reminder that he was not 'federation standard." Although one might say the trust he was offered by some alone time with the Romulans was a counter balance to that.
:
: Rhan

IC
Stark watched quietly reading body language and everything else between the lines that he could get his paws on. The idea of Varis and R'han alone together without his being able to listen was something akin to pain for him. He made an inner resolution to complain to the Captain later that this was a subtle but effective form of abuse she was using on her poor tortured Chief Intelligence Officer.

He ran through several surveillance scenarios that could enable him to be a "fly on the wall" but discarded them all as being unable to trick these two effectively. He sighed a little under his breath and did his best not to pout visibly. he would have to fall back on that very human word "trust"... he shuddered slightly.

Stark Nightstalker CIO

USS Athena

Sickbay - Boarding Physical (Pre-sim) on USS Athena

ikerby — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:23:42 -0400

: Posted by Ensign L'sscha (Scientist) in Sickbay - Boarding Physical (Pre-sim)
: <snip>
: : : : S'Raal nodded and paused while he took it all in. He looked up into her eyes "Serious question L'sscha. What lengths would you go to for a chance to be healed? Would you consider experimental techniques including nanotechnology and gene re-sequencing?" He held up a finger to hold off an answer for a second. "I'm not offering a sure fire cure and we'd have to sail very close to ethical boundaries but I have some theories that might yield results but it would be a lengthy process and not without dangers to your health or even potentially your life."
: : : :
: : : : He stood back to give her a chance to respond.
: : : :
: : : : S'Raal Cran Moonshadow
: : :
: : : She leaned back and took a deep breath. She'd wrestled with that very question since the day of the accident. She was raised on Vulcan and knew of the path of logic. But she was also part Klingon, a highly volatile and emotional people. And here, her two halves were clashing.
: : :
: : : Her Vulcan side told her that the risks outweighed the benefits. Other than the occasional pain, there wasn't anything about the burns that interfered with the performance of her duties. Her brain didn't suffer any ill effects. But tampering with her genes could have potentially fatal consequences.
: : :
: : : On the other hand, her Klingon half was screaming to do it and consequences be damned. Why should she suffer any more because of Taylor's idiocy? Like the Klingons of old who suffered with the Augment Virus, she would never be whole unless she took the risk.
: : :
: : : "If I may, sir, I would request time to consider your proposal in more detail. If at all possible, I would like to discuss your theories at length when you have the time." She looked at her arm again. "I have dealt with the physical pain for two years now. In a way, I feel like I've gotten accustomed to looking like..." she started to say "a monster," but restrained herself. "...this."
: : :
: : : L'sscha
: :
: : S'Raal looked deep within himself to the part of himself that only two people were aware of and found empathy for this woman. He quite deliberately placed his paw gently on her ruined flesh and looked her in the eye.
: :
: : "Take all the time you need" he said and then removed his paw on the off chance that her vulcan half found the contact uncomfortable. "All I have right now is theories and all of them are experimental". He looked at the scars professionally. "What are you taking for the pain? How much and how often?"
: :
: : S'Raal Cran Moonshadow CMO
:
: "Nothing major. Just some anti-inflammatory medicine when it flares up on me." She'd understated the pain she often felt, but she dealt with it. She wasn't going to take anything stronger. She didn't want her mind fogged by medication.
:
: "As for your theories, I'm also a scientist. Perhaps we could go over them when you have the time. I will admit that the idea intrigues me, but I'm concerned about the risks."
:
: L'sscha

"As you should be" S'Raal intoned seriously starting a scan to see how much residual gamma radiation was still present in the bones.

"Gene manipulation is roulette of the most dangerous kind and with your mixed heritage the odds go up significantly that side effects could occur. I have another string to my bow though in that I'm working with nanite technology as well. They have the potential to retrain nerve endings to stop firing as frequently which would lower your pain messages significantly. There's a trade off in that, as your body would also heal less efficiently because of it. First prize would be to use them to stimulate your bodies own healing abilities and mechanisms so that it would repair the damage naturally. First however we'd have to clear any residual radiation".

S'Raal stopped and took a breath "Sorry. I have this issue in that I refuse to accept that there's a challenge that can't be overcome. I get a little carried away sometimes and lose sight of the fact that I'm dealing with people. Forgive me."

S'Raal Cran Moonshadow CMO

USS Athena

Sickbay - Physical Evaluation - Ensign Tyler P on USS Athena

ikerby — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:30:39 -0400

: Posted by Ensign Tyler Penaluna (Engineer) in Sickbay - Physical Evaluation - Ensign Tyler P
: : Posted by Lieut (j.g.) S’Raal Cran Moonshadow (Chief Medical Officer) in Sickbay - Physical Evaluation - Ensign Tyler P
: : : Posted by Ensign Tyler Penaluna (Engineer) in Sickbay - Physical Evaluation - Ensign Tyler P
: : : : Posted by Lieut (j.g.) S’Raal Cran Moonshadow (Chief Medical Officer) in Sickbay - Physical Evaluation - Ensign Tyler P
: : : : snip
: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Upon reaching the door to sickbay, Tyler noticed his hand start to shake and quickly held it with his other. He slowly, silently, walked into sickbay wanting not to be noticed. He started to look at the shelves of different medicines, but then realized it wasn't helping so he leaned against the nearest wall to wait for the doctor.
: : : : : : : : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : ~Tyler P, Engineer
: : : : : : : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : : : : : : S'Raal as always was acutely aware of all that went in and out of sickbay but he took the time to surreptitiously observe Tyler's behaviour for a moment. He wasn't sure what the newcomer was up to but he had some suspicions as he'd seen this kind of avoidance before.
: : : : : : : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : : : : : : He walked towards Tyler's position putting on his usual half smile.
: : : : : : : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : : : : : : "My name is S'Raal and you I presume are Ensign Tyler" he said simply. "Here for a checkup no doubt". S'Raal waited for the reply to see if his suspicions would be confirmed.
: : : : : : : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : : : : : : S'Raal Cran Moonshadow CMO
: : : : : : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : : : : : Tyler quickly shot around, startled. He looked at the doctor, desperately wanting to say 'No, I just thought I'd explore the ship a bit and then pop down to my quarters to get a quick cup of tea.' But Tyler knew better than to avoid the inevitable. He calmed and stood up in a more proper position, "Y-yes," his voice cracked, "that's right. I'm here for my physical."
: : : : : : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : : : : : ~Tyler P, Engineer
: : : : : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : : : : S'Raal smiled at him "Pardon me for saying it Ensign but your face looks more like someone who has presented themselves for court martial".
: : : : : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : : : : S'Raal put a hand on his shoulder in the hopes it might take some tension out of him.
: : : : : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : : : : "Is this a generalized anxiety regarding sickbay or have you had a bad experience in the past?".
: : : : : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : : : : S'Raal Cran Moonshadow CMO
: : : : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : : : Tyler tensed a bit, "I've never really thought too much about it. It could have been something that happened when I was a kid, I just don't remember anything that could cause it. All I know is that, to be blunt, I am terrified of doctors." Tyler didn't know why he was telling this man about his phobia so easily. Tyler didn't try to think to much about it, just letting himself talk.
: : : : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : : : ~Tyler P, Engineer
: : : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : : S'Raal put his head to one side and smiled his usual half smile. "Would it help if you thought of me not as a doctor but as a large talking cat? Perhaps the ridicularity of that thought might circumvent the weld you have created between doctor and danger?"
: : : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : : S'Raal continued to smile at Tyler hoping his inane comments and made up words were helping him turn a corner, or at least to remember what might have happened when he was young.
: : : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : : S'Raal Cran Moonshadow CMO
: : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : Once S'Raal mentioned the word cat, Tyler thought of his sister's cat. The idea of her cat giving him a physical made him laugh. "I think that might help."
: : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : ~Tyler P, Engineer
: : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : S'Raal laughed along with him. "Alright then, let's get this done Tyler. Jump on the biobed here and we'll have a look at you. Anything in the way of old injuries, difficulties that you'd like me to be aware of before we start?
: : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : S'Raal Cran Moonshadow CMO
: : : : : : :
: : : : : : : "Nothing out of the ordinary." He sat on a biobed, his feet a dangling few centimeters from the floor.
: : : : : : :
: : : : : : : ~Tyler P, Engineer
: : : : : :
: : : : : : S'Raal was concentrating on his readouts and suddenly his face screwed up into a very deep frown. He looked at Tyler with a worried look on his face. "I'm sorry but I have some very bad news for you".
: : : : : :
: : : : : : S'Raal Cran Moonshadow CMO
: : : : :
: : : : : Tyler's heart began to beat furiously. "W-what is it?" He stammered. Tyler surely didn't want to know, but asking seemed like the sort of thing someone would do when faced with bad news.
: : : : :
: : : : : ~Tyler P, Engineer
: : : :
: : : : S'Raal's face was solemn. "I had hoped that we might in time become friends but I can see now that it will be impossible".
: : : :
: : : : S'Raal put his paw on Tyler's shoulder and looked him square in the eye "You see to develop a friendship one needs to spend time with each other and as I spend most of my day in sickbay we won't be seeing much of each other. The problem is Tyler that you are just too healthy to need my services again in the near future and I mourn the loss of your company here."
: : : :
: : : : S'Raal's half smile returned as he gave a short laugh "Gotcha". S"Raal backed up a little "It's considered very bad to hit a superior officer Tyler but under the circumstances if you feel like thumping me in the arm, I won't report you". S'Raal's smile broadened.
: : : :
: : : : S'Raal Cran Moonshadow CMO
: : :
: : : Tyler looked at S'Raal in confusion, then thumped his arm.
: : :
: : : Tyler cracked a smile, "You almost had me there, doc," and began to laugh. Tyler felt a lot less anxious now than he was prior to his visit. "You have a good sense of humor," He said between laughs.
: : :
: : : ~Tyler P, Engineer
: :
: : S'Raal gave a short bow complete with flourish. "It is so nice to have one's talents appreciated Tyler". He smiled again and looked towards the door. "You are free to leave but don't be a stranger. You might feel less stressed in sickbay of you make the occasional visit that doesn't have to do with death and disease. I do puppet shows on Thursdays... or at least I might start sometime soon if I had an audience".
: :
: : S'Raal Cran Moonshadow CMO
:
: Tyler hopped off the biobed and smiled. "I'll be sure to do that." He said walking towards the door.
:
: Out of all the times Tyler has needed to go to sickbay, this was the least stressful and least anxiety educing. He did in fact feel much more comfortable with S'Raal and, for some strange reason, didn't seem the least bit terrified of the idea of coming back. It was certainly a big step, for Tyler at least.
:
: Tyler took a last look around before stepping into the corridor.
:
: ~Tyler P, Engineer

S'Raal smiled to himself. It was always satisfying to see someone shedding those things that held them back from their full potential. If he was honest S'Raal knew that his own sense of self-worth came from feeling useful and effective not just in healing the body, but the spirit as well. He hoped Tyler would take him up on his offer to return under less stressful circumstances.

Stephen came out from the storeroom. "Puppet shows boss?" he said laughing. "I'm not letting that one die".

S'Raal looked at him and put on a mock scowl "Speak of this to no one or you yourself will find a sock with painted eyes adorning your hand before the day is past..."

They looked at each other and then burst out laughing...

S'Raal Cran Moonshadow CMO

USS Athena

Flashback squared on USS Athena

ikerby — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:47:33 -0400

: Posted by Lt. Cmdr. Stark Nightstalker (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Flashback squared
: snip
: : : : S'Raal shook his head and wondered at it all. "We can't move just yet, there are pieces of the puzzle in others lives that need to fall into place before the picture is clear enough for us to be able to move together as one and remove everyone from danger's path. For now I will focus on getting Stark free of this implant and nanites".
: : : :
: : : : "And I will retreat into the shadows again" T'Pon said stepping back from S'Raal "Look after Stephen S'Raal, he is a good man caught in something he never asked for".
: : : :
: : : : S'Raal nodded "I will".
: : : :
: : : : T'Pon raised her hand in the Vulcan salute and prepared to take her leave by activating a personal transporter... then they heard a low voice...
: : : :
: : : : "Leaving so soon?"
: : : :
: : : : OOC To be continued
: : : :
: : : : S'Raal Cran Moonshadow CMO
: : :
: : : Faster than thought S'Raal's paw flashed out and activated the personal transporter on his beloved's wrist. Her eyes locked with his as she de-materialized. Those eyes showed understanding of his actions and the deep love she had for him and deeper still a wild hope, a hope that they would see each other again.
: : :
: : : S'Raal turned slowly caught between rage and fear. Part of him realized that what he had just done had reduced his chances of survival markedly, but then there was also the wild card that he hoped only he knew existed.
: : :
: : : His golden eyes came to rest on the source of the voice and into those eyes he poured all the hatred and malice he felt in the vain hopes that somehow supernaturally he could obliterate that presence from ever having existed.
: : :
: : : OOC to be continued
: : :
: : : S'Raal Cran Moonshadow CMO
: :
: : A shadowy figure stepped out from behind a screen having finished deleting the program that had hidden him all this time. His voice was deep and sonorous with a hint of sardonic humour. He was dressed in dull nondescript clothes and had a face that seemed eminently forgetable.
: :
: : "Well S'Raal" he said with a touch of a sneer, "Shall we dance, or do you prefer the company of your Vulcan playmate?"
: :
: : S'Raal wanted to slash that face so much that he deliberately injected his claws into his own flesh and used the pain to restrain himself. Instead he smiled and replied pleasantly "Archimedes, so good of you to drop in, what in the name of all that is unholy can I do to... I mean do for you".
: :
: : Archimedes deliberately turned his back on S'Raal as he continued to talk. "A little birdie told me that you have been researching into some of my favourite experiments S'Raal. I can't abide interference... especially from the lesser species such as yourself".
: :
: : S'Raal couldn't help himself this time, he laughed out loud. "If you mean Uncle Stark, I'm afraid you're too late, we "lesser" species fixed that little problem over a week ago". S'Raal continued to laugh.
: :
: : Archimedes grimaced slightly which brought a whole world of joy into S'Raal's being. "I see" he said "Perhaps I underestimated you... slightly. However what was done once can of course be done again".
: :
: : As Archimedes turned back to look at S'Raal a black shape detached from the ceiling as Stark hurtled claws outstretched from where he had attached himself hours earlier, intent on dealing the death blow that would rid their family of Archimedes once and for all.
: :
: : Archimedes saw S'Raal's exultant face and looked up, but too late as Stark's claws finally found their mark in his neck and ripped his throat out in one fluid move leaving Stark crouched on the floor snarling. Archimedes clutched his ruined larynx and slowly toppled face first onto the floor...
: :
: : OOC to be continued...
: :
: : Stark Nightstalker CIO and S'Raal Cran Moonshadow CMO
:
: Stark rose slowly and looked into S'Raal's face. S'Raal did not like what he saw there. "What's wrong?" he said his eyes boring into Stark's twin orbs of darkness.
:
: Stark sighed "It was too easy..."
:
: At that point the corpse at their feet rose from the ground a zombie caricature of Archimedes. The holodeck resounded with a deep ghostly laugh coming from those dead pale lips before them.
:
: S'Raal realised what had happened... "Another hologram" he said bitterly.
:
: The bloodied corpse slowly clapped it's hands together looking at them both insolently. "In what universe could you two have ever beaten me" and then it promptly disappeared.
:
: A disembodied voice spoke from the gloom "See you both... very soon" then the ghostly laughter came again at a pitch that rose higher and higher until they both clapped their hands over their ears in pain. Just as quickly as it started it stopped again.
:
: S'Raal was wild with anger and fear. Looking in all directions at once he started chanting "I've got to save T'Pon, I've got to save..." Stark's paw came down hard on his shoulder and S'Raal spun to face him snarling in repressed anxiety.
:
: Stark's eyes bored into his "T'Pon is safer than we are S'Raal and will be for the foreseeable future you have to take my word on that".
:
: "How do you know?" S'Raal demanded.
:
: Stark smiled "The walls have ears nephew but you must trust me. I'm not ready to reveal what I know yet, the last domino must fall". Stark put his other paw on S'Raal's shoulder and made S'Raal look deeply into his eyes. "We will win this chess match, but we must be patient".
:
: S'Raal nodded, looked at the floor and then looked up again into his Uncle's face. "Knights" he said with conviction.
:
: Stark smiled "They come from the shadows in unexpected directions..."
:
: OOC To be continued
:
: Stark Nightstalker CIO and S'Raal Cran Moonshadow CMO

Stark looked at his nephew with a serious look in his eyes. "How is your inner battle S'Raal?".

S'Raal looked down at his paws and for in instant it seemed they were covered in blood. He shuddered and looked up with a troubled face. "I have come close to succumbing three times in the last three months. Once in Africa and twice here on the ship".

Stark knew there was more, he stayed silent but tilted his head to one side, waiting.

S'Raal sighed and continued "It's so hard Uncle, the temptation is almost more than I can bear. I fear I will fall to it and the meditation sometimes feels like a stitch in a gaping wound trying to break and gush out my life for all to see".

Stark nodded "It is a wise cub who knows his weaknesses and plans for all eventualities. Our family curse must remain a secret for a while yet..."

S'Raal interrupted "But you have beaten it Uncle! Teach me how!".

Stark gazed intently into his nephews eyes, dark into light, light into dark. "This cannot be taught, it is different for all and can only be discovered from within and from without."

"You speak in riddles, don't mock me!" S'Raal said heatedly.

Stark's gaze hardened until S'Raal lowered his eyes. "I am Nightstalker and the day I earned that name I found what came from within and without. Moonshadow you have not yet traveled my path... but you will, I have seen it..."

OOC To be continued

Stark Nightstalker CIO and S'Raal Cran Moonshadow CMO

USS Athena

Reporting In - Science Lab on USS Athena

Steamcry — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:54:28 -0400

: Posted by Ensign L'sscha (Scientist) in Reporting In - Science Lab
: She made her way through the halls quickly. It seemed like people were staring at her again. She didn't blame them. Being half Vulcan and half Klingon made her appearance strange enough. Through severe radiation burns on top of it, well...
:
: She found the CSO's office in the Science Lab and rang the chime.
:
: L'sscha

OOC: I'm going to be sending you an email soon. I meant to catch it sooner, excuse me. I live in Oklahoma and the past few days have been a bit of a whirlwind to say the least, so I'm a bit behind.

Crissy

USS Athena

Captain's Ready Room - Aullar Arrival, Pre-sim on USS Athena

Steamcry — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:02:59 -0400

: Posted by Lieutenant Konral Vander (Chief of Security) in Captain's Ready Room - Aullar Arrival, Pre-sim
: : Posted by Captain Ghubari Koraia (CO) in Captain's Ready Room - Aullar Arrival, Pre-sim
: : : Posted by Lieutenant Gren Aullar (Chief Science Officer) in Captain's Ready Room - Aullar Arrival, Pre-sim
: : : : Posted by Captain Ghubari Koraia (CO) in Captain's Ready Room - Aullar Arrival, Pre-sim
: : : : : Posted by Lieutenant Gren Aullar (Chief Science Officer) in Captain's Ready Room - Aullar
<snip>
: : : : :
: : : : : "Cap-tain..." Her head tilted. "Ghubari, is it?" she smiled, "Your Starfleet sounds so loudly. Do not worry, I am Starfleet's to have. You won't be given failure. But, I will not bend over frivolities. I will do as I will." Gren spoke serious; her words not an offer nor were they a demand, only a statement of fact.
: : : : :
: : : : : Aullar, CSO
: : : :
: : : : "Koraia," the CO replied. "Koraia is my surname and that is how you will address me," she said cooly.
: : : :
: : : : Leaning back, Ghubari considered her new CSO. "Here's the thing Lieutenant. /I/ decide what it frivolous or not. My orders are orders. Simple. If you don't think you can follow them, regardless of how you feel about them, I wil find you somewhere else to serve. Is that understood?" she said sternly, her pale amber eyes intent.
: : : :
: : : : Captain Koraia, CO
: : :
: : : Gren tilted her head the other way as she listened; the fingers of one hand stroked the arm of the chair as if she were petting it. "Mmmm," she seemed to relish the lecture, eyes fluttering shut for a short moment. "Here's the thing Cap-tain. It wasn't your order who brought me here. Those much, much higher are giving you a gift and I'm non-refundable. Don't waste your presents, darling. You haven't even seen everything yet."
: : :
: : : Aullar, CSO
: :
: : Koraia's pale amber eyes flashed and she rose to her feet. "I don't care if your were ordered to serve here by the President of the Federation themselves. The moment you set foot on the Athena, you came under /my/ purview. I'm a patient person but I will /not/ tolerate disrespect and insubordination. I suggest you leave right now and the next words I expect to hear from you are , "Yes, Sir!" Though her words were calm on the surface it was easy to tell that Ghubari was angry and that that Gren was in a precarious position.
: :
: : Captain Koraia, CO
:
: OOC: Is it bad of me I want Gren to push it one more time just so I can throw her in the brig for Koraia?
:
: ~Steven

Gren pressed her lips together, fluttering her eyes in an innocent pout. She stood and, with a smooth moment, picked up the bag by her feet and placed it on the middle of the desk between them. The cover was tugged off, revealing a mesh carrier underneath-- able to be seen through without the contents spilling out.

Inside sat a puddle of gelatine, colors shimmering between pinks, purples, and blues. A dark mass within stirred, rising up in the goo. It seemed to twist and black eyes blinked open to stare at Ghubari for a short moment, before it let out a baby's warbling coo of delight.

Gren remained silent, almost daring the Captain to send her away.

Aullar, CSO

USS Athena

Bridge- Sim on USS Athena

DeSpainJE — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:26:02 -0400

: Posted by Lt. Cmdr. R'han (Chief Tactical Officer) in Bridge- Sim
: : Posted by Captain Ghubari Koraia (CO) in Bridge- Sim
: : : Posted by Gamemaster Chiasm (Gamemaster) in Bridge- Sim
: : : : Posted by Commander Antin A'ustere (XO) in Bridge- Sim
: : : : : Posted by Gamemaster Chiasm (Gamemaster) in Bridge- Sim
: : : : : : : A message came back quickly from Stark. "Can't help you with which one to look into first. I was playing a hunch based on what's being said in here and I have to admit to being a little surprised I was right. My money's on time travel paradox".
: : : : : : :
: : : : : : : Stark Nightstalker CIO
: : : : : :
: : : : : : Chronoton particles were notoriously uninformative. The easiest thing to eliminate would be chonoton weapons as there would be multiple descrete chonoton bursts. Time travel would require some sort of generator or a type of massive interstellar power devent. Which the destruction of so many ships could be if they happened within very close proximity. R'han would do a temporal anaysis of when the ships were destroyed and if that destruction occurred simultaniously. Along with a power scan of the Romulan's drive. A chonoton drive or a ship that had been designed for time travel would be powered atypically.
: : : : : :
: : : : : : R'han
: : : : :
: : : : : R'Han's review of the records showed that there was no evidence of chroniton bursts indicate of chroniton weapons. The drives on the Romulans ships out there were standard for Romulan ships - singularity driven. The drives of the ships destroyed could not be determined. All of those ships had indeed been destroyed simultaneously, or, near it - as close as their sensors could determine, at least, placing them to within half a minute of each other in destruction.
: : : : :
: : : : : Gamemaster
: : : :
: : : : Antin scanned over the information delivered by Rhan. He arrived at several conclusions, he personally had discard chroniton weapons, they were energy intensive and inefficent. That left a experimental drive, or other experimental systems. He knew the Federation had been considering testing new Chroniton shields. He had heard that rumor coming out of second fleet. He felt sorry for what ever Sod had that command. the most logical source was time travel, but where they coming here or leaving here. And where where they going? he considered beating the information out of one the body gaurds, but that only last long enough for him to blink. He needed refined data. From the command chair, he began to query sensors to run sweeps only to find they were actively doing so at the request of Commander R'han.
: : : :
: : : : The X
: : :
: : : Long-range sensors detected a patch of high concentration of chroniton particles at about the same co-ordinates as the extrapolated site of the fleet's destruction. There were no unusual sub-space readings of the system, but, sensors did pick up a particularly large asteroid near the chroniton field. It easily showed up on long-range sensors due to its size, and, unique composition. The asteroid was roughly 2/3 the size of the Earth's moon and was composed of titanium and platinum, elements that were not readily detected in asteroids in any system within five light-years. It was showing high concentrations of chroniton traces, indicating it was around at the time of the chroniton event.
: : :
: : : Gamemaster
: :
: : OOC Cross-posting myself. :)
: : IC:
: : =/\=Koraia to R'han. Commander, our guests will be leaving us momentarily. Please escort them to the transporter room." She hoped he understood exactly what she was asking of him, but given their conversation just before Varis arrived, she thought it was clear that he was to find out what he could and report back.
: :
: : Captain Koraia, CO
:
: =^=Acknowledged.=^= R'han turned to the XO and shrugged. He wasn't a science officer anyway and found the asteroid very curious ether at a point of evidence of a causal factor. He started a scan of the item and forwarded the initation to the XO.
:
: .R'han

Antin nodded in thanks for the intiated scan and waited for the results. "Ensign..." Antin trailed off finding the science department currently lack representation on the bridge. He continued to monitor the results of the scan himself, lounging indolently in the command chair, projecting the air of casual indifference and partial incompetence to the gaurds, and hopefully the Commander Varis when she recrossed the bridge.

The X

USS Athena

Reporting In - Science Lab on USS Athena

LogicalLeprechaun — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:19:53 -0400

: Posted by Lieutenant Gren Aullar (Chief Science Officer) in Reporting In - Science Lab
: : Posted by Ensign L'sscha (Scientist) in Reporting In - Science Lab
: : She made her way through the halls quickly. It seemed like people were staring at her again. She didn't blame them. Being half Vulcan and half Klingon made her appearance strange enough. Through severe radiation burns on top of it, well...
: :
: : She found the CSO's office in the Science Lab and rang the chime.
: :
: : L'sscha
:
: OOC: I'm going to be sending you an email soon. I meant to catch it sooner, excuse me. I live in Oklahoma and the past few days have been a bit of a whirlwind to say the least, so I'm a bit behind.
:
: Crissy

OOC: Don't even sweat it. I hope you and your family are ok.

Steve

USS Athena

Sickbay - Boarding Physical (Pre-sim) on USS Athena

LogicalLeprechaun — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:44:25 -0400

<snip>
: : : S'Raal looked deep within himself to the part of himself that only two people were aware of and found empathy for this woman. He quite deliberately placed his paw gently on her ruined flesh and looked her in the eye.
: : :
: : : "Take all the time you need" he said and then removed his paw on the off chance that her vulcan half found the contact uncomfortable. "All I have right now is theories and all of them are experimental". He looked at the scars professionally. "What are you taking for the pain? How much and how often?"
: : :
: : : S'Raal Cran Moonshadow CMO
: :
: : "Nothing major. Just some anti-inflammatory medicine when it flares up on me." She'd understated the pain she often felt, but she dealt with it. She wasn't going to take anything stronger. She didn't want her mind fogged by medication.
: :
: : "As for your theories, I'm also a scientist. Perhaps we could go over them when you have the time. I will admit that the idea intrigues me, but I'm concerned about the risks."
: :
: : L'sscha
:
: "As you should be" S'Raal intoned seriously starting a scan to see how much residual gamma radiation was still present in the bones.

The scan would reveal trace elements that could, in time, split and produce gamma radiation, but nothing major.

: "Gene manipulation is roulette of the most dangerous kind and with your mixed heritage the odds go up significantly that side effects could occur. I have another string to my bow though in that I'm working with nanite technology as well. They have the potential to retrain nerve endings to stop firing as frequently which would lower your pain messages significantly. There's a trade off in that, as your body would also heal less efficiently because of it. First prize would be to use them to stimulate your bodies own healing abilities and mechanisms so that it would repair the damage naturally. First however we'd have to clear any residual radiation".

She considered the presented options. "Well, I wouldn't want my natural healing abilities impaired. But I am interested in some of your data on nanite technology. Apparently the radiation re-sequenced my DNA once already. Perhaps there is a way they could re-sequence the re-sequencing."

: S'Raal stopped and took a breath "Sorry. I have this issue in that I refuse to accept that there's a challenge that can't be overcome. I get a little carried away sometimes and lose sight of the fact that I'm dealing with people. Forgive me."
:
: S'Raal Cran Moonshadow CMO

She nodded and gave a faint smile. "Nothing to forgive, Doctor. I get like that myself on occasion."

Despite the burns and residual trace elements, the scans would reveal nothing that would interfere in the course of L'sscha performing her duties.

L'sscha

USS Athena

Deck 6 - The Brig on USS Athena

Emalene — Tue, 21 May 2013 22:36:44 -0400

<snip>
: : : Koraia nodded slowly. "The person who's life I saved that day on Kendor IV... her name was Dalera. Dalera Vander." She turned her head and finally looked at Lyra. "Konral's sister. She was a junior scientist on the Cheyenne. I knew of her, talked to her the odd time, but she was never more than just a scientist on the ship who sometimes came to the music nights I'd host for the crew. I was different then, as an XO. A little more free, but still just as serious. I never took life for granted but the war seemed so long ago that I had forgotten how messy life and death could be. Dalera..." Ghubari rubbed her face with her hands. "There are things I can't tell Konral. Though I'm sure he knows at least hints of it. Like, that I see her face in my dreams all the time. It's always some twisted version of what happened. Memories mixing into each other. You see, Konral and I were connected to each other before we ever met. The memory regression we did..." She shook her head. "It's bad enough to have to have gone through the event for real yourself, but to have someone like Konral witness it. With two women he cares so deeply about. Well, there was a point I think I knew just how big a mistake it was. It shattered us. And now we're trying to pick up the pieces." She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her thighs, looking forward again. She was a strong person, but so much of this had been weighing down on her. Though being together with Konral again had lightened the load considerably.
: : :
: : : Captain Koraia, CO
: :
: : "That would be traumatizing to anyone. What is important is how you act afterwards when everything is in pieces." Lyra paused and turned to Ghubari. "You keep hiding small bits of yourself and expect that Konral must accept that and love you fully or run for the hills. I think that's unfair. I also think that you highly underestimate your lover." She paused realizing she is, in her gentle way, berating her friend but she felt it needed to be said.
: :
: That was perhaps true, and leaning forward Ghubari thought on it as Lyra continued.
:
: : "Because you cant deal with it, you expect that he can't or won't. And as a preemptive attempt to keep yourself from hurting, you push him away. You are scared of him turning into the sort of man Stuart was and you don't give him credit for the actions he has given to you to prove that thus far, he isn't and isn't likely to be."
: :
: : Sadly, she waited for the blow up, knowing Ghubari did not like to be called scared and knowing she was already on tenuous ground.
: :
: : Lyra, CE
:
: The half-Napean sensed Lyra's tentativeness and sat up, leaning back against the wall of the brig. She closed her eyes and a deep sigh escaped her ample lips. "Konral gets it, probably better than you think he does. Because he is a security officer. Just like I was for nine years after the Academy and before I made the switch to Command." She opened her eyes and looked straight ahead. "We all have the knowledge in the back of our minds that our lives could end at any time. A life in Starfleet is a risky one. But I've served on combat ships my entire career Lyra. Every single day I come on duty knowing full well that the probability is high that I won't be alive by the end of the day. It's not a morbid thing and certain not something I want to happen. It's just a fact. I was trained to throw myself in the line of fire and though I have to resist it now, because my crew depends on me, I can't shake that feeling, and I'm not sure I really want to." She patted her right leg. "I lost the majority of this leg because of that instinct. It's all a part of me and I can't change who I am. If I thought for a second Konral expected me to be someone other than who I am, we'd never have been together. You say I don't give him credit and that I am afraid. There is truth to that. But until you have had to surrender your life countless times for others until it becomes a normal part of everyday life, do /not/ presume to judge me." Her tone throughout had been simply conversational until that last line, where her own fierceness was evident. Not quite angry, but carefully controlled so that Lyra would know that she was very serious.
:
: Captain Koraia, CO

Lyra listened and nodded, knowing this was the way security entrenched people thought. She never really considered her way of thinking to be less than theirs. It was obvious that Ghubari had. She stood, a moment of anger flashing through her. There were so many ways to respond to that insult and yet should she allow herself to do so? It was already a tenuous situation. Ghubari didn't like the thought of others thinking less of her. She made assumptions about Lyra's opinion of her. Turning, she rested her back against the wall of the Brig Cell and sighed looking at Ghubari. "Actively putting your life on the line everyday does not make you more than me. You came in here and out of friendship, opened up. Yet when I say something you don't like you tell me I am less than you and I have no right to render an opinion on the situation or you. I think I have every right to do so. Who says Fear is a horrible thing? I think its pretty damned normal and pretty damned important. I don't like getting my throat jumped down just because you don't like what I say... even or maybe especially if it is true." Lyra had never shown this strong side of herself, not to anyone but Antin. She really rarely ever felt the need to put this much emphasis on anything. Here she was passionate about how much she cared for and respected Ghubari but was not about to let the woman walk all over her due to some perceived negative judgement.

Lyra, CE

USS Athena