The QulTuq Times "
By: Rita Marx , Roving Reporter , [NPC]

Stardate: 58202.28 0430

Excellent. said Hunter, Ill be in my ready room, alert me if anything shows up on the scans. Wright entered the bridge, Hunter turned, and both men entered the ready room. At 0815 Riaan detected on her long-range scanners a blip she wasn't sure if that was the lost ship the Captain was looking for or not. She continued monitoring the scanners hoping that maybe she would be able to tell if that was the long lost ship or not or just another ship passing through. Riaan decided to page the Captain in the ready room just as a precaution. Captain Hunter this is Riaan I have got a blip on long range sensors not sure if this is the lost ship you are looking for or not or just another ship passing through we are to far away at the present to know for sure. Hunter and Wright stepped onto the bridge and looked over Riaan's shoulder. Helm lay in a course for the so-called blip said Hunter, Warp 5. Aye sir

Her hull glided straight and true, on course through the emptiness of space. With a few commands tapped into the Helm's console the huge starship veered to her port side. Her nacell's momentarily glowed brighter as her warp cores powered up. Gracefully the USS Zion accelerated to Warp 5 and was gone in a blink of distant light.

Annihilated "
By: Ian Hunter, Commanding Officer, [PC]
Jonathan Wright, Executive Officer, [PC]
Jeff Westfall, Tactical Officer, [PST]

Stardate: 58202.28 0845

=Bridge - USS ZION=

Wright sat down at his station and tapped a few keys on his console. This was more than a blip he thought. Sir, this appears to be a debris field. He said with a sick feeling in his stomach.

"Helm, all stop." said Hunter

"All Stop Sir." came the reply

Hunter didn't need confirmation, a large piece of the Kittyhawk's saucer section was ablaze from plasma fires. From the view screen her registry could be read. He got up from the command chair and turned to Westfall, "Now is a good time Mr. Westfall, sheilds up, go to yellow."

"Aye Aye Captain Hunter", Westfall said, acknowledging the order. The claxxons sounded, and the visual warning system flashed, to alert all aboard the USS Zion of the change in operational status to Yellow Alert.

"Shield Status is maximum strength, Weapons systems armed and ready, Sir; Damage Control Teams report ready, Sick Bay is prepared to receive casualties".

Wright looked at the massive debris field and noticed that there were several escape pods. "There are escape pods out there. Scan for life signs. Beam any survivors directly to sick bay." Wright then remembered that the ships doctor was on the kitty hawk. Turning to the Captain he said, "Sir, our doctor was on the kitty hawk. I think under the circumstances I should take over down in sick bay."

Hunter nodded, "Go ahead,"

Wright nodded his head and quickly left the bridge for sickbay.

Hunter turned to Westfall, "There won't be any survivors on the ship, scan the area for escapepods with life signs."

"Aye Aye, Sir," Jeff Westfall said.

After several eternal minutes, Westfall spoke:

Captain Hunter, Sir, I have one escape pod bearing Two-One-Eight Mark Three Two Seven Degrees at 25,000 Meters, showing positive, but faint life signs. Engaging Tractor Beam to stabilize the pod... Positive Lock on the life signs...energizing... They're in Sick Bay now, Sir. No other life signs found within 60,000 Meters, Sir.

Shall I continue with sensor readings?

Hunter nodded, "Very good Westfall, widen search area and continue to search for survivors."

No other artificial energy signatures within four light years, no ion trail, no tachyon emissions, no particle beam residual traces. no tetrion emissions either, Sir.

No communications traffic on *any* Starfleet/Maquis Alliance Frequency or channel either, Sir...*Everything* here is DEAD.

Sarik and Atwood arrived on the bridge at the same time. They walked to the front of the bridge where Hunter was standing in from of the main viewer. He turned and updated them on the current situation.

"Gentleman, I need you two to investigate and find out what you can. I'd like to know if this is the work of 1 ship and who's registry she wears.

Giuseppi "
By: Ian Hunter, Commanding Officer, [PC]
Jonathan Wright, Executive Officer, [PC]

Stardate: 58202.28 0900

Wright entered sick bay to find the staff was already getting prepared. To Wrights great annoyance the EMH had been activated. Wright did not care much for the EMH system, he felt that there was nothing that could replace a well trained medical doctor. He looked at the EMH has more of a "first aid kit" than a doctor.

"Can I have your attention. Shouted Wright." When the room was quiet he continued, "The USS Kitty Hawn has been destroyed by some unknown force. The incoming Chief Medical Officer was on that ship. I will be taking over until we can get a replacement. There were several escape pods in the wreckage. Casualties will be coming in shortly."

Wright looked around the room. Everyone was waiting for his direction. He split the staff up into three teams. He assigned the head nurse to be in charge of triage team. And to keep the EMH out if his way he put it in charge of the non-life threatening team. Wright him self took charge of the critical care team.

They had just finished getting organized when the first wave of survivors were beamed into sickbay. For the most part the injuries were light. Mostly bumps and bruises obtained while trying to escape. Their story was consistent the Kitty Hawk was attacked by a Cardassian ship that came from out of nowhere.

Suddenly there was a horrified gasp from the back of the room. The EMH and the head nurse were assisting a man onto a bio-bed. Wright began in initial examination and noted that his once gold uniform was now red with blood, his face was beaten so bad that he was not recognizable. Wright scanned the man with a medical tricorder and then watched the mans vital signs display on the wall above the bed.

Wright could hardly believe the readings he was getting. This man should not be alive he thought to himself. He was covered in wounds that were strategically placed. He was very close to multiple organ failure. Wright grabbed a hypospray and injected the man with a compound that would boost the oxygen levels in the blood he had left and also help him to generate new blood to replace the blood he had lost.

"Computer activate surgical field." Said Wright as he prepared to repair the damage some to his internal organs. "EHM" Said Wright reluctantly, "I will need you to help me. This man is in serious trouble."

"Yes Sir!" replied the EMH as he picked up a tissue regenerator and began assisting with the operations. "It sure looks like this man had been tortured." Observed the EMH. Wright found that he agreed with "the first aid kit" but did not reply as he continued to repair the damage to this man.

After what seems like an eternity to Wright they were done. The patient was stable and resting comfortably.

Computer identify patient. Said Wright

"The Patient is Lieutenant junior grade Giuseppe Silvio", came the reply

"Wright to Captain Hunter. When you get a moment could you come down to sickbay?"

"I'm on my way Number One" promptly came the reply. Moments later Ian entered Sickbay and found Wright and the EMH attending their patient. Hunter took a closer look. "Giuseppe," said Hunter under his breath. "Status Number One?" asked Hunter with a pensive look as he glanced around sickbay.

"He was in an escape pod. It is in very bad shape. We have done what we can the rest is up to him now Captain." Said Wright

"Has he been able talk?" asked Hunter.

"He has not regained consciousness so he has not been able to tell us what happened." Wright paused noticing the concern on the Captains face. "His injuries are not consistent with the destruction of a starship."

Hunter looked up at Wright, "Then...?"

"I believe he has been tortured Captain." Said Wright.

A dark scowl crossed Hunter's face. He turned away, deep in thought. Hunter knew Giuseppi from the Hood. He was a rambunctious, youthful and energetic man. They had served together for several years.

Suddenly Giuseppe let out a loud scream and sat upright. Wright could see the look of extreme terror in his eyes as he moved to calm him down.

As wright approached the bed Giuseppe got to his feet. Wright grabbed a hypospray with a mild tranquilizer in it and attempted to administer it.

"No, li ottiene quello assenti da me lucertola ripugnante!" Shouted Giuseppe as he slapped the hypo out of Wrights hand.

"Take it easy Lieutenant." Said Wright trying to calm him down. "You are on the USS Zion."

"Muoiali schiuma ripugnante di Cardassian", he replied as he charged at Wright Wright easliy avoided the weak Engineer's attack and took him down to the floor and held him there. The EMH already had another hypo in hand and pressed it against Giuseppe's upper arm.

Hunter leaned over the biobed, "Giuseppe! can you hear me? Its me, Hunter." Hunter looked into Silvio's terrified eyes. As they began to thaw from the effects of the hypo.

"Giuseppe? what happened?" Hunter asked again.

"Hunter...Captain..." studdered Guiseppe now beginning to realize that he was no longer with the Cardassians. He was safe. He took a deep breath and tried to relax. "It was terrible sir. They are so evil."

"Lieutentant... can you tell me what happened?" asked Hunter with a subdued voice.

"Sir, they came from nowhere..." Guiseppe coughed and then passed out.

Wright scanned him again with the medical tricorder. "He is very weak Captain. We shold let him rest."

Hunter padded Wright on the shoulder, "Okay, good job Number One, or..Doctor. Let me know if there is any change in his condition."

Hunter turned and left Sickbay.

Shakedown #85"
By: Sarik, Chief Science Officer, [PST]
Ian Hunter, Commanding Officer, [PC]
Jonathan Wright, Executive Officer, [PC]
Jeff Westfall, Tactical Officer, [PST]
Charles Atwood, Chief Intelligence Officer, [PST]

Stardate: 58202.28 1300

Sarik and Lt. Atwood entered the bridge. They arrived to report their findings. "Captain, we have been studying the pod. We have found interesting information." said Sarik.

The Captain stood up from the command chair and followed Sarik and Atwood over to the bridge science station. "What did you find?" asked Hunter inquisitively

"You will find the data rather interesting, captain." He brought up his findings and showed it to the captain. "We have determined that the pod is created by a Cardassian replicator."

Hunter looked at the readout with a perplexed expression.

"Speculate Sarik, why would the Cardassians replicate a Maquis escape pod and put our tortured engineer in it?" asked Hunter.

"That hypothesis is rather unorthodox, captain." Sarik thought a while. "My estimation will be that are giving us a warning. It is a tactic often used to scare the enemy."

Hunter nodded, "anything else to report?"

"Captain, we have discovered nothing but one decoded message from the pod. I believe that Mr Atwood is already working on it."

Hunter looked over at Lt. Atwood who was seated at Science Station 2, busy with the task at hand.

"Report Lieutenant?" ask Hunter of Atwood.

"Sir, First of all It was a very low level encription code it only took 5 Minutes and a code one desipher program to decode it, It looks as if our Cardassians friends wanted us to hear it really bad", Stated Atwood Waiting for Confirmation.

Hunter was troubled by that speculation, if true, this was more than a strike and run tactic.

"Fascinating, Can i take a closer look captain?" Hunter nodded affirmatively as he stepped aside.

The Vulcan looked at the encryption codes and ran a couple of computer programs. "Interesting, the data has been encrypted via algorythmns, and then loosely transformed into standard Cardassian code. The algorythm looks very familiar, but i can not speculate at it." Sarik was working rather fast at the moment. He made several calculations and looked again at the data. "Captain, according to my analysis this message has been recorded on a cardassian ship, then copied into the pods computer. It has been deliberately placed there. " Sarik looked at Atwood who had been working on this for quite some time while they were underway. "I believe Atwood may have found a key to decode the message."

"Well Yes Lt. As you said they use a very simple code in the process and then they made sure we found it I suggest we play the message in an isolated computer out of the mainfraim just in case they had put a surprise in the data we where unable to find in the preliminar analysis", Said Charles with a smile.

"Excellent work Lieutenant, go ahead and play the message" said Hunter.

Charles transferred the data to his tricorder Isolated it and prepare to play the message with a "Ready when you are Sir"

A moment later a message appeared on the tricorder viewer.

A gray haired man dressed in a federation uniform smiled. "Hello again Ian. Sorry to ruin your big day." He sneered.

"Jenkins!" said Hunter under his breath.

"I am very displeased with you for joining up with that Maquis rifraf. I thought I had taught you better, but I see more lessons are required. I have most of your previous command crew" he sneered again, "Well those that are still alive. You see Cardassians are hard to stop when they set their mind to their task. Anyway, my point is I have them and you want them. Come and get them. Just to show what a nice guy I am I saved this one for you. I do hope he made it. He was not in very good shape when we put him in the pod. ...And do hurry Ian. My new Cardassian friends really enjoy their work. I can really make no guarantees as to their safety" he laughed "Come fine me. If you looked close enough at the pod it should not be too hard. Unless you have sub standard staff that is. Jenkins out."

Hunter frowned.

"Highly illogical." Sarik added. Hunter turned to Sarik, "did you see anything else on the pod to indicate where he is? ´ ´The most logical probability will be that he is located on a Cardassian ship." said Sarik with a shrug. Hunter was about to restate his question when suddenly an alert signal sounded at that tactical station.

Hunter turned and looked at Westfall.

´Gentlemen, we have a *present* from Mister Jenkins, rogue that he is, he's just activated a homing beacon on the escape pod. To coin a phrase, 'We can follow him straight down the yellow brick road, right to the Emerald Castle.'"

Hunter looked gravely concerned, "Is the pod emitting any signals?" "I am reading signals emanating from the pod, Captain," said Westfall, "but the containment field is preventing it from broadcasting beyond deck 11."

"A containment field?" said Hunter looking at Sarik and Atwood. "Good thinking gentlemen, you may have just given us a tactical advantage."

Hunter turned and looked at Wright, "Number One, will you arrange a staff meeting in 10 minutes, I want some options." With an approving nod, Hunter said, ´Good job gentlemen, I'll be in my ready room if anything else comes up."

=Readyroom=

Hunter held his hands against his face for several minutes as he collected his thoughts. Then he pushed a button on the console.

Captain's log supplimental: "Following the destruction of the Kittyhawk, we've discovered that Captain Jenkins is behind this massacre. He is relentless in finishing what he as started. I'm afraid he is determined to erase what he considers his mistake, he won't stop until one of us is dead."

"
By: 
Stardate: 58202.28 1320

Commander Wright stepped into the ready room at the Captain's request. Hunter stood up and came to greet him at the door. "The staff are ready for a meeting in 10 minutes?" asked Hunter.

"Yes Sir." said Wright

"Good." said Hunter nodding, "good." Hunter turned towards his view port and was about to say something when a call came from sickbay.

"Captain, Lieutenant Silvio is awake and asking for you Sir," said a nurse.

"I'm on my way" he replied.

Hunter turned to Wright, "Will you join me Number One?"

"Yes Sir."

As they left the ready room, Hunter crossed to the science station where Sarik and Atwood were still working, "You have the bridge Sarik," said Hunter. "We'll be in Sickbay."

A few moments later they were at Giuseppe's side, he was resting with his eyes closed. "Silvio, its me, Hunter."

"Captain, I can't believe I am safe. It is over. Did you kill those blood thirsy Cardassians?" asked Giuseppe.

"No, not yet, we just got here..." replied Hunter ruefully.

"It was terrible Sir. They defeated the Kittyhawk and boarded her." Giuseppe paused his mind clearly reliving the past. "They took us back to their ship and right away the killed the doctor and the counselor. In cold blood Sir! Right in front of all of us. They laughed about it. They said they did not like the color blue." Giuseppe began to sob quietly.

Hunter, who was on one knee beside Silvio, looked up at Wright and shook his head. He put his hand on Giuseppe's shoulder, "Its alright, Lieutenant, continue..." he said quietly.

"They separated us...they took me into a room." His eyes opened wide, "The Cardassians...Over and over again they tortured me. They did not even ask me any questions. This was just fun for them."

"You're gonna be fine kid," assured Hunter.

"That is all I can remember Sir. I passed out and woke up here." replied Giuseppe.

"Ok, get some rest." said Hunter, "Thanks for the report."

"Sir!" said Giuseppe looking around. "This is really a sovereign class ship?"

"yeah....Giuseppe," said Hunter with a smile, "It sure is."

"Can I get a look at Engineering?" he asked.

Commander Wright chuckled and said "All in good time lieutenant. You need to get your strength back first. Let's give it a couple of days and see how you are doing."

"Yes Commander." He said somewhat disappointed. He was not too disappointed though. Looking around the room he did notice a very cute nurse. He thought that perhaps being in sickbay was not all bad.

Hunter looked over and saw what caught Giuseppie's gaze. 'He hasn't changed a bit,' Hunter thought to himself.

"Well Number One, we have a staffing to get to." said Hunter.

"I'll check on you later Lieutenant. Keep yourself out of trouble." He said as Wright and Hunter walked through the door.

Shakedown #15"
By: Charles Atwood, Chief Intelligence Officer, [PST]
Sarik, Chief Science Officer, [PST]

Stardate: 58202.28 1326

"Understood, Mister Hunter." Sarik left his station and sat down in the command chair. He transferred his research with Atwood to the command console. "Mr Atwood, how do we proceed now, according to you?"

"Well Lt the next logic curse is to track that beacon device to it's homming i think we could take the advantage we have with the contention field and prepare a little surprise for our federation friend Capt. Jenkins", Said Charles with a sarcastic look in his eyes

"A little surprise, what is the logic in that, mr Atwood?", Asked Sarik

"Well, You Might say that 'Eye for an eye' is logic enough for me", Answered Charles

"I am not sure i understand that, I believe you are trying to tell me you want to take revenge? That is a highly illogical response, mr Atwood." He frowned his eyebrow. However i believe we should be preparing for another encounter with him. Logic dictates he will use violence as he did before.

"that's exactly what i was thinking of... That's Why we could made that special operation. I can fit a squad in the pod and then...", answered Atwood

"I dont think that is a sensible idea. he has already proven to use violance on several occasions, and the use of violence to counter violence does not result in a solution to the problem." Stated Sarik "We must however defend ourselves instead of seeking the violence. The most logical solution is to search for the homing device and try to trace its path. Then we can scan for the originating point and disable the transmitter."

"I concurr in that but i will take a stronger solution to the problem...Any ways that's for our Capt to decide don't you think Mr Sarik?", Answered Charles with a smile in his face

"That is correct. We should leave that up to the captain.", replied Sarik

Yes, Permission to leave the Bridge Lt... I'll go to prepare a solution for the Captain", Said Charles

"Granted." THe vulcan nodded and looked at the viewscreen. He was trying to work on an advice as well, since they had a staff meeting in about 10 minutes from now.

Charles Left the bridge and went straight to his office to prepare the solution he had in mind

Shakedown #115"
By: Jonathan Wright, Executive Officer, [PC]
Jeff Westfall, Tactical Officer, [PST]
Riaan, Operations Manager, [PST]
Charles Atwood, Chief Intelligence Officer, [PST]
Ian Hunter, Commanding Officer, [PC]

Stardate: 58202.28 1330

=Bridge=

The Captain and XO entered the bridge. They were followed by En Forrester.The three of them were talking quietly as they entered the bridge.

Ensign Riaan,Sarik, Westfall, join us in the conference room please.

Hunter looked around, "Atwood, please report to the observation lounge please."

Hunter looked over at Forrester, "Ensign, you have the bridge."

As Riaan approached the Captain, he leaned and said, "since this happened on your watch, I want your input." =TAG Riaan=

Hunter waited until the staff were all present.

"Before we get started," said Hunter, you should all know who we're up against. Jenkings was the XO when I served on the Renegade. He taught me a great deal of things...he was my mentor. He took it personally that I defected. Unfortunately, this is somewhat personal. But he is a dangerous man. "

Sarik and Atwood located this message in an escape pod, Hunter replayed the message.

"I'm looking for options people. Do we think the Zion is combat ready, can we go up against his galor class ship? Hunter looked around. "Tactical analysis Westfall?"

"Tactical analysis would be inconclusive at best Sir, they seem to have some new systems previously unknown to our databases." Said Westfall.

"Your thoughts Mr. Atwood?"

"Sir I think we could use the Tactical advantage we gain by putting the containment field by tracking the source of the homing beacon and I would like to lead an Away team to rescue the kidnapped crew and also leave a surprise gift to them...If you take a look of the squemathics here you'll see what surprise gift I'm talking about" Charles continued talking while a smart electromagnetic bomb appeared on the screen, he added "This bomb will knock out any ship computer for at least 30 min giving us the window we need to rescue our crew"

Hunter studied the plan. "Interesting contingency. Of course we would have to locate them and eliminate their shields."

Hunter looked at Sarik and asked for his recommendations.

"Well captain, I could be brief on the matter. We have thoroughly scanned the pod and found nothing but the message mr Atwood has come to decipher. My

analysis is that logically this was the work of a federation captain operating from a cardassian ship who has the intention of bringing as much harm to us as possible. His motivation is yet unclear. Unfortunately his intentions are not stroking with those generally accepted by humans which makes him an unknown factor. Captain my analysis would be to avoid this man if possible. Yet we have to deal with our crew, i believe that we can try and search for them, but caution is needed."

Riaan, Operations report?

According to reports we have plenty of supplies on hand I am still awaiting confirmation from sickbay as to what we have on hand. I am not sure if you have read the report to the inventory of what we have onboard as of yet but according to the database we are more then well equipped and ready as far as I can tell, sir replied Riaan to the Captain. Also Engineering still are having some minor problems but stated that they will be fixed shortly regarding drainage of power on certain parts of the ship but should not hurt overall operations and are on top of things. In general from what I have learned we are basically at peek operations and should be at full peek in a couple of days once engineering has resolved the issue as to why we are having a loss of power on certain parts of the ship but they feel it should not interfere with any of our sensors nor our weaponry.

Hunter turned to Wright at last and said, "Your thoughts on the matter Number One?"

"Sir, it would appear to me that this is an obvious trap. We have a hostile message made my your former mentor and suddenly we are able to track him right to his location? I think we would be foolish to play by his game plan and follow that homing beacon." Wright paused, "We have an untested ship and a very new crew. This is a dangerous game Jenkins wants us to play. I urge utmost caution. I have not heard any plans so far that I am confortable with."

Hunter sat back and rubbed his eyes. He was hoping for more options. After a moment he leaned forward and asked Sarik to display the stellar cartography data. When it was up he studied it for several minutes. The course of the homing device would take the ship through an area where a dense asteroid belts lay on all sides. "I'm certain this is where he has set the trap. " said Hunter.

Flight control, Please come to the observation deck."

"Yes sir

A few minutes later Brittany entered the conference area.

"Please, have a seat." said Hunter.

"Ok. What do you want to talk about?"

Hunter displayed the course of the homing device. "Lt Lindsey, you are the most experienced pilot on this ship. Can you navigate this asteroid field in a cloaked Runabout? Push some small asteroids around, make it look like we're trying to get a sovereign class ship through it? Create a little diversion?"

"The field is roughly 4 million Kilometers will take about 20 hours to navigate at quarter to half impulse. It's on a heading of 090 mark 2, distance to the field: 1.2 light years and we'd be well within his sensor range. But I believe I can try.

"Ok people, here's what we'll do," said Hunter. "We'll move directly along the path of the homing signal, jettison the forged pod and cloak 1 light year from this field. We'll change heading to 091 mark 3. At the edge of the field Lt. Lindsey and and a volunteer will pilot the runabout Osirus through the field to create a diversion. The Zion will slip into the unobstructed space and attempt to locate the Cardassian ship. With luck we'll be able to get our crew back safely"

Any Questions?" Hunter looked around. No one responded, "Very good," said Hunter "Let's go get them."

Teilani Dane "
By: Teilani Dane, Chief Medical Officer, [PC]
En Kelly Forrester (NPC), Ops Officer, [NPC]
EMH, Emergency Medical Hologram, [NPC]
Jonathan Wright, Executive Officer, [PC]
Ian Hunter, Commanding Officer, [PC]

Stardate: 58202.28 1430

Capt Hunter sat down in the command chair. He looked over at Wright and said, "Lets hope for the best." Then, Hunter ordered the conn to set a new course and engage.

The huge 680 meter ship veered to her new heading at 090.2. Her warp nacelles powered up and she slipped away into the darkness of space. As she glided smoothly between the stellar bodies her hull shimmered and faded and disappeared leaving only a counterfeited escape pod to drift away.

As the cloaked ship stealthily changed her course again, her Captain was apprehensive about the upcoming confrontation with a seasoned enemy. His crew was new and the she had nothing of a shakedown.

Hunter winced as pressed the comm button. "Attention, this is the Captain. Battle stations will sound in 18 hours as we attempt to rescue the surviving crewmembers of the USS Kittyhawk. Hunter out."

He leaned back. "Number One, I think I'd like to check on Silvo, will you accompany me?"

"Certainly Captain." said Wright.

"Very good, Riaan, you have the bridge."

=SICKBAY=

"How's he doing?" asked Hunter.

"He is very weak and in a good deal of pain." Said Wright as the entered sickbay. Silvio was on the bio-bed. Wright picked up a PADD and frowned. "It looks like he has been put into a chemical induced coma to reduce his pain and give his body time to heal."

Wright picked up a medical tricorder and scanned Silvio. Wright shook his head as we reviewd the injuried that were inflicted upon Silvio. Anger welled up inside him. "Those blasted Cardassians really did a number on him."

Hunter didn't respond to Wright's comments. He just starred blankly at the biomonitor over Silvo's bed.

"He is beginning to mend. He just needs time. He is young and I am sure he will pull through." Said Wright.

Hunter drew in a slow breath. He empathized with Silvo and shook his head. Hunter knew full well that who ever was taken prisoner off of the Kittyhawk would probably suffer the same, or worse.

It certainly was true that the years had changed Hunter. He wasn't the rank and file soldier, drilled to take commands without question, he used to be. 'Always Question Authority' seemed to be his motto in the past few years.

For as much as Hunter had changed, so had Jenkins.

"Okay." said Hunter, turning towards Wright. He turned to go. As the men headed towards the doorway, the EMH materialized in front of them. Hunter stepped backwards, an annoyed expression crossed Hunter's face.

"Sir, thanks for coming down to see me. I have sent a number of messages with numererous lists of concern about..." Hunter held his hand up and interrupted the EMH, "I don't have time for endless prattlings." said Hunter, "I've read your lists, is there something urgent Doctor?"

The EHM cocked his head back, no doubt finding the Captain's attitude to be rude. "Yes Sir, I think this warrants your attention, over here..." said the EHM gesturing towards a two patients asleep on bio beds at the far end of Sickbay.

As they walked toward it, the EMH explained, "...This is Doctor Wilkes. His condition is guarded. It is uncertain whether he'll survive or not. He was assigned as an incoming medical officer on our ship. He's still in a coma. The other patient is Teilani Dane, one of the Kittyhawk's medical staff."

She has recovered from her injuries and has requested assignment aboard the Zion." Hunter nodded, "I see."

"I must tell you she's a tenacious creature!" exclaimed the EMH. "What do you mean?" asked Hunter. "Well..." said the EMH grandstanding the conversation, "when we beamed her aboard, she was covered in dirt and blood, treating a second occupant of the escape pod who was severely. She refused to allow me to treat her until she had done all she could for her patient." Hunter nodded. The EMH continued, "...I'm afraid he didn't make it."

"Okay" said Hunter, "Let's visit with her."

Hunter and Wright followed the EMH to her bedside. Hunter nodded at the EHM, "Ensign," said the EMH waking her, "the Captain is here to see you."

Hunter watched the fiery red-head stir from her deep sleep. Her green eyes blinked awake as she took a moment to gain her bearing.

Energetically she began to speak, "First all the woman said my name is Teilani Dane, Doctor Teilani Dane. Permission to come on board Captain." Hunter smiled and nodded, "Yes Doctor, you are already aboard, Permission granted."

"Can you tell us what happened back there?" asked Hunter.

"I was on route to attend a medical conference on Qul Tuq when we got attacked, by Cardassians, there was no warning.. .It all happened so quickly., .Captain we must go after them, they took lots of crewmembers prisoner, who knows what they will do to them. she said.

"Easy Doctor," said Hunter re-assuringly. "We're on an intercept course. We're going to do everything we can."

Teilani continued, .After we got boarded, we were ordered to abandon ship, it was complete chaos, I got injured when a plasma conduit exploded on my way to an escape pod. I managed to pull Lieutenant X in the pod with me, after this ... I do not know I must have blacked out; the last thing I remember is ending here on the floor.

A moment of silence passed.

"I'm informed that you have requested a transfer to the Zion...you are in a hurry to get back to work." smiled Hunter.

Teilani nodded.

"She is tenacious" though Hunter to himself, "dedicated."

"Your request is granted, pending approval from headquarters." said Hunter.

"You are free to leave Sickbay." said the EMH, "but I prescribe at least 24 more hours of rest before returning to active duty."

She just nodded. Hunter smiled and tapped his combadge, Ensign Forrester, please report to sickbay."

"I'll be right there," Forrester replied.

"When you are feeling better, please make a full report regarding the Kittyhawk." said Hunter. "If you need anything...don't hesitate to let me know. If you need any help coping with this disaster feel free to visit the ship's counselor. Welcome aboard Doctor."

Moments later Forrester entered. "Ensign, please escort our new Doctor to her quarters." said Hunter. The EMH passed Forrester a PADD with her personnel information, service record and transfer request. Forrester took the PADD and looked it over a moment and turned to Teilani, "Welcome aboard Doctor, follow me and I will show you to your quarters."

Teilani followed Forrester while Hunter and Wright headed back to the bridge.

They didn't have to go far, several spacious Doctor's quarters were located right on Deck 8 near Sickbay.

"I'm sure you know your way around, please, make yourself comfortable, recreational facilities are located on Deck 10.Also, we are on yellow alert. If you need anything just let me know..." Forrester politely excused herself and left Teilani to get acquainted with her quarters.

Teilani entered her room and sat down on the bed, she felt exhausted, she lied down and closed her eyes. It will all look better in the morning, finally she fell asleep.

Shakedown #75"
By: Brittany Lindsey, Chief Flight Officer, [PST]
Ian Hunter, Commanding Officer, [PC]

Stardate: 58202.28 1500

After the staff meeting Lt Lindsey Went to the Security to find a volunteer for to go with her on the runabout.

"Can I help you Lt?," said Bethal

"Actually yes. I need a volunteer for a mission do you want to come?"

"What type of mission?"

"I cant tell you unless you volunteer."

"I'll go on the mission but I'll need to be brought. Can I come to your office?"

"Come to my office later."

"I'll see you later."

Brittany left the security office and preceded to the Bridge where she found Captain Hunter sitting in the command chair.

Can I see you in your office?

Hunter nodded and got up and gestured "after you."

=Ready room=

Hunter sat at his desk, "What can I do for you Lieutenant?" he asked.

"I found a volenteer for the mission. Bethal from security. I Reviewed her record and she seems like a capable crewman. I think the mission will go will sir."

Hunter pulled up Be'thal's personnel records and reviewed them. He recognized her face as one the Klingons who were being disorderly in Quark's bar the night he met Riaan. He frowned a little bit. "If you are sure you want to." he said, "It looks fine to me." said Hunter.

"I'm going to the holodeck to her familiar with the runabout.

Shakedown #95"
By: Riaan, Operations Manager, [PST]

Stardate: 58202.28 1600

==Riaan's Quarter's==

After doing a complete list of the weapons stored onboard Riaan headed back to her quarters to compile a report for the Captain. She was determined to prove herself worthy as an Operation's Officer.

Before beginning the report Riaan went to the replicator and got a coffee and soup and sandwich. She picked up her coffee and plate and headed to the chair to start the report while she ate.

Riaan: "Computer begin logging Report"

Computer: "Beginning to log report"

Personnel:

Type I Phaser - 200 Type II Phaser - 900 Type III Phaser - 300 Power Cell Belts - 600 Plasma Grenades Body Armour

Ship:

Type XII Phaser Arrays

Tri cobalt torpedos- 30 Quantum torpedoes 100 Photon torpedoes 205 100 antimatter mines

Shuttles:

12 Type-10 shuttles Field replicatable 10 Type-11 shuttles Fast courier 12 Type-18 shuttle pod Advanced all purpose

Runabouts:

1 War Hammer class runabouts - USS Thor

According to the computer medical supplies are well stocked but will check in with Sick Bay to get a complete listing of inventory on hand. According to the database we have the following on hand:

Medical Equipment:

Anabolic Protoplasers Bandages Cardiostimulators Hyposprays Medical Tricorders Nanosurgeons Neuralstimulators Neurolinks Osteotractors Physician's Medikit Laser scalpels Monomolecular blades Nanotech scalpels Stasis Field Generator Bio Beds Surgical Support Frames Alpha Wave Inducer Autosuture Bioregenerative Field Cortical Stimulators Exoscalpel Microtome Motor Assist Bands Neural Transducer Neural Stimulators Physiostimulators Plasma Infusion Unit Protodynoplasers Psychotricorders Somnetic Inducers Sonic Separators

Medicines:

Anesthezine Benjisidrine Chloromydride Cordrazine Corophizine Crediline Delactovine Dexalin Dylamadon Formazine Genericillin Hypercoagulin Hyronalyn Inaprovaline Kayolane Leporazine Lexorin Melorazine Memory Blockers Memory-Beta Metrazine Morathial Morphazine Mylar II Purge Rage Rexlin Shaker Stokaline Suspend Tricordrazine Tri-Ox Compound Tryptophan-Lysine distillates Vertrazine

Miscellaneous Equipment:

Communicators - 900 Magnetic Boots - 60 PADDs 1000 Tricorders 200 Universal Translators 20

Probes:

Class I Sensor Probes: 20 Class II Sensor Probes: 90 Class III Planetary Probes :40 Class IV Stellar Encounter Probe 60 Class V Medium-Range Reconnaissance Probes - 20 Class VI Communication Relay / Emergency Beacons - 20 Class VII Remote Culture Study Probes - 100 Class VIII Medium-Range Multimission Warp Probes -100 Class IX Long-Range Multimission Warp Probes -100

Riaan: "Computer end report and save as Inventory of Supplies onboard the USS Zion."

Computer: "Report saved and ended.

Riaan couldn't believe how long it took to compile a listing of supplies onboard and this was just the beginning. She still needed to verify that everything needed to survive in space for several months would get them through.

Riaan picked up her plate and cup and replaced them in the replicator before calling it quits for the night. She didn't realize it was going to take that long.

Riaan: "Computer send report to Captain Hunter."

Computer: "Report sent to Captain Hunter.

Now was time for some sleep morning came fairly early and it took several hours to compile the report. She was hoping that the captain was going to be happy with the report that she just finished compiling. She wanted to prove she could be a good Operations Officer.

Riaan walked to her bed and pulled the cover back and crawled in and pulled the covers over her.

Riaan: "Computer lights out."

Riaan rolled over and went to sleep.

Shakedown #126"
By: Kelly Forrester, Assistant Chief Operations Officer, [RNPC]
Jeff Westfall, Tactical Officer, [PST]
Ian Hunter, Commanding Officer, [PC]
Jonathan Wright, Executive Officer, [PC]

Stardate: 58202.28 1600

Helmsman Gimley turned and announced "We've arrived at the first waypoint Captain." Hunter nodded "Westfall, is the escape pod ready to be jettisoned?¡ Aye Aye Captain, ´ he said. "Mister Westfall. Lock onto the life pod and beam it out into space" said Wright

´Acknowledged, Commander. The pod has been beamed intact 2500 m to the Starboard side and is clear of the ship, No damage sustained, Sir. Do you want to me send it on a course away from our current heading?¡ ´Good idea Westfall, send it on a course of 098 mark 3.¡ ´I've used the tractor beam to give it a shove-off in that direction Sir.¡ "Is the hoaming beakon operation?" asked Wright. ´Affirmative, Commander.¡ "very good Ensign" said Wright. Hunter nodded his approval and turned towards the conn. "Gimley, make your heading 090 mark 3 warp 3...engage.¡ Hunter sat back. ´Report Westfall?¡

´Long range sensors show no manufactured energy signatures, Sir. Signal is strong from the pod. ´ he said. ´Thank you Mister Westfall,¡ said Hunter.

Lt Lindsey, we'll at your waypoint in approximately 30 minutes prepare for departure

Hunter looked at Wright and then said, ´Steady as she goes helm.¡ A moment later, Hunter's console beeped as Lindsey signaled her acknowledgement.

"Ensign Forrester turned to the captain "Sir, Engineering reports that the cloaking device is operating at 5% above expected power usage"

Hunter leaned forward ´Ensign,¡ he said ´will the excess power use cause any problems for the duration of this mission?¡

"Negative sir, we will have sufficient power levels to all systems." said Ensign Forrester

Hunter stood up, ´Number One, you have the bridge, I'll be in my quarters.¡

Shakedown #154"
By: Favor, Medic / Morale Officer, [PST]

Stardate: 58202.28 1600

To: Zion crew

From: Ensign Favor

Subject: Welcome To The Jungle

Good afternoon. I am Ensign Favor, your new MWR (Morale, Welfare and Recreation) Officer.

Ma always worried that I wouldn't find my niche. She said, "Favor, all you want to do is goof off," and since I'm at least half Raisan, Ma was absolutely right.

But believe it or not, someone at High Command actually gave me a job that entails... goofing out! I couldn't believe it myself, yet it seems that's what's happened! That's what they put on my orders: MWR Officer/Medic.

What were they thinking at Starfleet Command? Who's in charge of these wacky decisions, anyway? It's not my fault. Don't blame me, I voted for Bev Peabody! (I actually saw that on a bumper sticker on the back of a Moon Cruiser in downtown DC. It made me laugh out loud).

My goal as MWR Officer is to inject a little levity into the dynamic of the crew, and to give you people something to take your minds off the present, serious situation. Think of me as a comic strip. Think of me as your martini at the end of the day. We MWR officers do far more than just hand out dodgeballs and swab the showers.

But I digress.

My primary duty is that of your Ship Medic. In absence of a Ship Doctor, I've been FAPPED into Sick Bay.

It's a fun place, Sick Bay is. It's a happening billet, let me tell you. No sick people, but lots of neat little gadgets and doo-dads. Don't ask me what half of them are. I accidentally lobotomized the Ship Mascot by pushing the wrong button on something the other day. (Just kidding, we don't really have a Ship Mascot! What do you people think this is, an Earth football team for God's sake?)

When they gave me this assignment, they explained that at present, there is no Doctor aboard the Zion. They took me to the Medical Supply Depot on Earth, and the Quartermaster told me to select whichever medical instruments I thought I'd require. Well let me tell you, the warehouse was crammed full of everything you could think of, and some things you couldn't imagine. My jaw gaped! My eyes boggled! Have you ever seen someone's eyes actually boggle? Mine did.

So I walked around, and looked at all the neat little things they had. And I kept saying, "You're kidding, right? You mean I can have anything I want?"

For some reason, the Quartermaster asked at that time to see my Medical Levels paperwork. Then he went and punched a bunch of things into a computer and compared his screen with my authorization forms. He said, "Hmm, well, it all seems to be in order here..." and his voice trailed off, and he looked a little puzzled. Then he wanted my StarFleet ID card, and kept scanning and scanning. Every time, it scanned green--authorization approved.

"I don't understand why this doesn't scan red," I heard him mutter to one of his lackeys, and their faces sort of bunched up around their noses. Sour pickles, I thought!

Well, anyway, I just ignored them and went shopping in that fabulous StarFleet Supply Depot warehouse, and I finally selected an instrument that was the shiniest, and that had the most buttons.

That was seriously my first thought when I saw it: "Wow! Look at all the buttons on this thing! That *must* mean it's good."

It also has this little Velcro strap so I can attach it to my belt and carry it with me wherever I go. I couldn't resist it. You wouldn't have been able to, either.

So I have this particular instrument, and I like to carry it around on my belt. I don't like others touching it, so don't do that. I'll get hostile. I may slap your hand, and it may hurt. I don't think it's a violation of my Hippocratic Oath to slap your hand if you're richly deserving of it. So just take this warning as a gift--do not touch my instrument.

My instrument makes me feel authoritative and important. I practice looking in the holo-mirror in my quarters, and dispensing stern, doctorly advice: "You need to lose a few pounds, Crewman," I say, brandishing my lovely new tool of the medical trade.

Or, "You can't imagine what all that glint you inhaled on Planet Raisa did to your innards, Bo'sun. Next time you're on leave, lay off the glint." Things like that. Just in case someone on the Zion ever gets sick, my bedside manner needs to be sharp. It's good to keep in practice when you're in garrison, so that when you're in the fleet, you'll know what to do.

I also practice saying, "Tut tut," and clucking my tongue in a disapproving fashion, and shaking my head in a sorrowful way. "Tsk tsk."

Isn't that what doctors do? That's what mine did at my final physical. "Tut tut", he said. "What the hell did you do to yourself, Favor?" He peered into my bloodshot eyes. He examined the mystery bruises on my shins. "Tsk tsk," and he pinched his nose and shook his head at me.

"Just give me the painkiller," I moaned. (I drank too much the night before--it was my going away party before they transferred me aboard this ship. The party was a blast, even if I did bogart the hooch and run naked through a bingo parlor.)

Since I like to think of myself as a medical professional, if you come to see me, you can expect a lecture about how you need to take better care of yourself, and a lot of tsking and tutting.

Now the pamphlet and directions that came with my instrument are written in Japanese congi, an Earth language that I don't speak. But that's OK. I like to point my gadget up at the ceiling at night, and watch the colors spin, just before I go to sleep.

Don't get sick, is what I'm saying here, people. For the love of God, DON'T GET SICK. If you come down to see me, I can do my best. I can point my little gadget at you and try to figure out what's ailing you. But I make no guarantees, and I carry no malpractice insurance.

In any event, I'm just getting settled into my quarters, and I was reviewing the Ship Roster, and noticed that the Personnel Officer hasn't yet added my profile. So you people may well think that I'm just some nut who has hijacked Sick Bay. I assure you that nothing could be further from the truth. Honest!

Ensign Favor

PS: I'm seriously your medic, and your MWR officer. All joking aside, I'm fully trained and qualified to conduct medical procedures ranging from pregnancy tests on Vulcans to neurosurgery on Betazoids. I have at my disposal, instant trans-universal consultations available for every species and known disease associated with said species, currently in the Federation of Planets. But don't touch the instrument. I wasn't joking about that. I keep it strapped to my belt and I want you to keep your grubby mitts off. Seriously. I'm not afraid to slap.

From the wisdom of the Peking Noodle Company, I give you my motto: A little madness, a little kindness, makes for happiness.

End Transmission

Shakedown #136"
By: Petty Officer Johnson, Kittyhawk Crewman, [NPC]
Brittany Lindsey, Chief Flight Officer, [PST]
Ens.Bethal, Security, [NPC]

Stardate: 58202.28 1610

==Fight Deck--

Lt Lindsey and Bethal were about to launch the Osiruis for the Mission

"All systems are ready.

Lindsey to Bridge. Are we clear for launch.

Activating prelaunch sequence

When the doors were fully open Lt engaged at qaurter impulse untill she was clear of the ship.

"Engaging at Warp 8.2. Calculated time is 2 hours twenty minutes. I want you to activate the cloak now."

"Yes ma'am."

Two hours later.

"Were aproaching the border. Twenty kilometers and closing. Reducing Speed to half-impulse. Satus of the cloak?"

"Cloak is stable. Awaiting your orders."

"Scan for ships."

"No ships out there. But there might be one cloaked."

"All right. Start finding me astroids and stuff to move for our diversion.

"Yes ma'am"

"You can call me Brittany. There aren't any other officers and we are going to be here for a while. "

"Ok Brittany. Astriod at heading 20 mark 1 that's might be where we should start."

"Good idea. We are going to be bumping a lot more like these. "I want you to get some sleep for now. I'll wake you up in a while."

"I'll work up here form about two hours first before I go to sleep. 9 Hours later.

Brittany Brought the shuttle to full stop and went to get Bethal Some food.

"Bethal wake up. I want you to eat some food. before you start your shift."

"How long have I been sleeping?"

"About seven Hours. We are more than halfway through the feild. I'm going to show you how to move the feild."

After they finidshed eating they went back into the cockpit and Bethal Took the controls.

"Ok I'll take tactical for an hour and then you should have the hang of it."

"Ok Brittany. Thank you for your help," said Bethal and hour later.

"Ok I'l be back here if you need me. If you see any ships by all means wake me up."

Brittany went back to get herself some sleep and dozed off sometime later. 7 hours later the red alert beacon was flaring.

"Report!"

Some one is sending out a Polaron burst."

"Sensors?"

" An escape pod twenty kilometers away from our current position."

"Plotting an intercept Course. Charge phaserbanks and forward torpedoes."

"Yes ma'am."

They intercepted the shuttlecraft in two minutes.

"Scan for life signs."

"One weak life sign in the forward compartment."

"Can we transport through the cloak."

"We can only transport out."

"Ok We are going to send out a message."

"Wait. I am receiving a distress call."

"On-screen."

"This is Petty Officer Johnson of the Uss Kitty Hawk. I reqiure assistance."

"Lower the cloak and beam him over."

"Yes. He's aboard and the cloak is stable. I don't think we were detected."

"I'll be in the back"

Brittany put Officer Johnson on the bio-bed.

"Hello I'm Lt Lindsey of the Uss Zion Can you tll me what happened?"

"We've got to get away,tell your ship this is a trap."

"We know about the trap you're on a cloaked vessel. We will rundevous with the ship later. Now you have to tell me what happened."

"We over powered a gaurd and stole a ship."

Bethal to Lindsey. We are coming on the edge of the feild. Awaiting your orders?

How far untill the edge of the feild.

One Hour thirty minutes.

Keep a contant scan of all ships in the area. and make a heading of 090 mark 3. I'll be back here with Johnson.

Aye ma'am.

Shakedown #87"
By: Patia Zoei, Chief Counselor, [PC]
Favor, Medic / Morale Officer, [PST]

Stardate: 58202.28 1700

=Ensign Zoie’s office=

The door chimed. Zoie glanced at the chronometer on her desk. 1700, it must be the MWR officer, reporting to her office for their introductory meeting.

Ensign Favor walked in, looking like ten miles of hard road. "What's up, Cookie?" she asked the Counselor. Favor's military bearing was lacking. Zoie sensed trouble with the captain down the road.

"Not at all, Toots,” Zoie returned in kind.

They both laughed.

"What's shakin', bacon?" Favor countered.

Zoie sensed this would be the beginning of a solid working relationship. Most people, upon meeting the counselor, were automatically on guard. Favor evidently didn't have that concern. As a matter of fact, Favor evidently didn't care.

"I can see why you were selected as the MWR officer, Ensign," Zoie stated, with a smile.

"Did you like my logo, Ensign? It looks like a butter flied radish being worn by a five-point star with his hands on his hips, getting ready to draw a weapon."

"What are you talking about, Ensign?" asked Zoie.

"I am talking about the logo that's next to my profile on the Ship Roster, of course," Favor replied. "Pretty cool, no?"

Favor tended to use negatives in the wrong place, so as to sound more worldly than she really was. She was trying to fake out the Counselor and make her think she was either Jewish or from Vulcan.

Zoie shook her head and chuckled. It was evident Ensign Favor was trying to impress the counselor, or maybe it was nerves she was trying to cover up. Zoie had read Favor's jacket earlier. She came from an unusual background and may be feeling slightly over her head as she begins her new duties on board the USS Zion

"Before we get started with the ship analysis, why don't you tell me about yourself and how you came to be on board with us," Zoie asked.

"Well, whoever said Earth Girls are easy, never met my mother," Favor replied.

"How do you feel about that, Ensign", Zoie asked.

"How would you feel if your mother was the town tramp, Counselor?" Favor replied. Favor threw back her head and laughed hysterically. "Just kidding, I loved my mother, even if she was a strumpet."

"Ah, that would be an interesting question to answer, Ensign, but let's focus on how you feel about that," Zoie replied

"I figured everyone already knew, since I only have a single name," Favor replied. "Since my parentage can't be verified, the government in Raisa (sp) classified me as part of the Ka-Leem." Favor twiddled her fingers. "You know, the Lesser Tribe. So I have no voting rights there. And I have no last name." Favor smiled at the Counselor.

"You know, Cookie, what they say."

"What is it that they say? Do tell." Zoie replied.

"They say that if you talk to a person about her, she'll listen all night long and think you're the most fascinating person she ever met."

"Is that how you feel about your mother?"

"No, that's what I'm saying about YOU, Counselor. You're asking me about myself, and I'm thinking you're the most fascinating person I ever met."

Zoie nodded and smiled. "You didn't remark upon my logo. The butter flied radish? The five point star that looks like a 19th century sheriff from the Western United States?"

“I think it matches mine, Ensign. Tell me, Ensign Favor, what brought you to the Marquis Alliance?” Zoie asked.

"You're the mind reader, Counselor. You tell me."

"Ensign, you are giving me credit that is not necessarily earned. It appears, however, that you are striving to improve yourself over your beginnings."

Favor sighed. Cookie was beginning to sound like a schoolteacher.

"Schoolteachers sometimes have value to share, Toots," Zoie winked as she spoke to Favor.

"Aha! I knew you could read my mind." Favor wore her heart on her sleeve, and her radish on her star.

"OK Counselor, enough of this jaunty banter," Favor said. Her face became quite serious.

"When I was a child, and I'm sure you know this already, I was not granted the same opportunities as the others."

"Yes, Ensign, go on," Favor encouraged.

"I did not have equal rights. I would never have been elevated beyond Bartender Third Class in the resort at Ming. However, a recruiter came one day, and gave a presentation. They were looking for people who wanted a way out of town by serving the Marquis Alliance. Honey, I caught the first train smoking out of town and never looked back. Everything I have, I owe to the Alliance. If it weren't for them, I'd be back on Raisa, working for an escort service. So that's why I'm here.

Zoie nodded her understanding. This was not the first time she had heard stories of the classes, and their treatment, on Raisa.

"So you got my memo, did you?"

"I did. It was nice to see someone who is going to bring a ray of sunshine to the ship at this desperate time. Since you work in sickbay, I need not tell you about the physical casualties already. I can tell you, the stress on board is tangible. I am looking forward to working with you on the morale of the crew" Zoie said.

"Yes, that Silvio is one hot piece of work, isn't it?" Favor leered at the Counselor. "Just kidding, I think shipboard romances border on the incestuous."

Zoie shook her head at Favor, smiling slightly.

"Sorry, Counselor, I guess that it's in my blood, quite literally, to respond to stress with jokes."

"You can take a person out of Raisa, but you cannot take Raisa out of the person," Zoie thought.

"I mean no disrespect to Lt. JG Silvio. He's hooked up to life support now. I have my robot assistant doing all the work since I have no clue how to run those machines."

"I understand," replied Zoie. "It is a quite natural response."

"You know, Counselor. There's no mystery to medicine any more," Favor said. "You just point a tool at someone and automatically, it will tell you what is wrong with them. No art of diagnostics these days, here let me show you."

"Do you find that beneficial? Or do you miss the challenge?” Zoie questioned

Favor unsnapped the velcro of her medical instrument. "Since I'm only 24 years old, Counselor, I don't miss much of anything," Favor laughed.

She pointed her tool at the Counselor. "Here, let me see what this has to say about you."

"It will tell you all is within normal limits, Ensign", Zoie answered.

"It says you need a beer, Counselor." Favor strapped the thing back to her hip. "Tell me, Counselor. What did you think of my memo?"

"That is quite the amazing instrument, Ensign Favor," Zoie replied, with a glint of humor in her eye.

"You had better not touch it either. It's booby trapped," Favor smiled. If the Counselor hadn't been a Betazid, she wouldn't have known whether or not Favor was joking.

"Ensign, I think it is wonderful you have been able to reach out to the entire crew. Do you have a plan for the upkeep of the morale on the ship?"

Favor steepled her fingers together and thought for a moment.

"Would you like something to drink, Ensign," Zoie asked?

As Favor contemplated her plan, Zoie crossed to the replicator.

Favor smelled the Counselor's perfume and lowered her head. She tasted the salt of two unexpected tears.

"Raspberry Ice tea, with two fresh raspberries", Zoie requested

"Thank you, Counselor," Favor said, and brushed her face with her hand. "The morale of the ship, yes, I did have rather a plan."

"Ensign," Zoie questioned. She felt a wave of emotion emanating from Ensign Zoie.

"Don't," Favor said. "Just don't."

Zoie respected the Ensign’s request. It was not the time to probe further.

"The morale of the ship, Counselor, I'd like to break the ice a bit first, and I hope that my current plan of a daily or thereabouts bit of fluff doesn't offend anyone. I'd like it to become interactive, though," Favor said. "I don't want this to be one-sided. I'd like the others to become involved in an exchange of sorts, in their off time."

Zoie crossed back to her desk and settled into her chair. She tucked her foot up under her leg and leaned in toward Ensign Favor. She cradled her glass in her hands. The ice clinked against the edge as she shifted forward.

"How do you propose to make it interactive, Ensign? Will you be sending out responsorial games? or what is your plan?" Zoie asked.

"I was thinking of silly things," Favor said, and suddenly felt shy. The Counselor seemed so much older, and Favor felt a little foolish, but she pressed on. "You know, I claim that I lobotomized the Ship Mascot," she said. "But of course we have no ship mascot. I was thinking I could offer a prize to the one who thinks up the best name for our poor, lobotomized Ship Mascot, who doesn't even exist."

"I think that would an interesting way to get the crew involved." Zoie answered, with a smile.

"And also, I think I'd like to write some poetry," Favor went on, "something to single out each crew member. I'd write something for each crew member. I think you'll be the first."

Zoie sipped from her glass. "That would be an interesting thought. Will you approach the crew member ahead of time? or surprise them"?

"Maybe that could be a special recognition program you could implement?” Zoie suggested.

Favor pondered the question. "I'm not sure," she said. "I'd hate to offend anyone. But that's part of the wackiness of it all, isn't it?" She winked at the Counselor

Zoie glanced at the chronometer. 1830 already, the time had flown by in this session. Her stomach rumbled. Dinner time had arrived.

“I think we have made significant progress for one evening, Ensign,” Zoie stated. “Let’s set up another time. I would like to work with your to incorporate some support groups for the crew. They will need extra assistance as the war progresses. Are you available tomorrow, at the same time?”

"Unless someone else staggers into my surgery," Favor said. She was fresh out of witty comebacks, and the haunting scent of the Counselor's perfume fogged her mind.

“Thank you for coming, Ensign. I will look forward to meeting again tomorrow. Do you have plans for supper? I was planning on going to Miranda’s for a bite to eat tonight. If you would like, you are welcome to join me,” Zoie invited.

Favor studied the Counselor's smile. She seemed so genuine, didn't she? So kind. You've been down this road before, Favor. Don't do this to yourself again.

Favor stepped back and shook her head. "No, I'm sorry. I'm suddenly not feeling well," she said. A weak smile wandered across her face. "I'll see you another time, Counselor." She hurried across the room and out the door, and then she broke into a run down the hallway.

Shakedown #92"
By: Favor, Medic / Morale Officer, [PST]
Giuseppe Silvio, Chief Engineer, [RNPC]

Stardate: 58202.28 1800

Sick Bay

Ensign Favor hurried through the Sick Bay hatch. "Computer: Seal the doors," she ordered, and leaned against the wall, catching her breath in hitching sobs. That had been close. A little too close. She had felt the Counselor's thoughts like fingers, lifting mental stones, peering at ugliness. "Damn," she whispered.

Favor looked around the surgery, at the supplies neatly stacked, the instruments of her trade dark and empty, waiting for a sick or damaged person to come along so she could heal them. "They can make technological devices to fix any physical thing wrong with me, but they can't make a cloaking device that'll keep a Betazoid from doing the five-finger fandango through my head," she said aloud.

She rinsed her face and hands, and blew her nose, and turned towards the man asleep beneath the Kriko-shield. When they first hustled Silvio into her surgery, he had reminded her of a broken bird. A little broken bird that flew into the ship on wings of steel, and landed in Sick Bay.

She hadn't actually spoken with Silvio herself. Some crewman who'd been there at the pod's landing had administered emergency pain meds. Silvio had been worked over, and his head was crumpled, his bones snapped. Catastrophic injuries. Favor ticked them off like she was counting spare change--the bleeding in the cranium, the ruptured eardrums, the scalded flesh.

And--oh yes--the missing fingernails.

By the time they hustled him into her surgery, the meds were taking effect. He had looked at her and made a few mewling noises in the back of his damaged throat, and then the Chem-coma carried him away. She'd brought him out of it only once, so the captain could de-brief him.

She examined the clear panel on the side of the Kriko-shield. "Your wing is healing, Bird," she said. If she stared through the panel long enough, she could actually see the re-calcification of his bone as it knit itself back together. "It's healing quite nicely."

There was no reply from Silvio, only the wooshing sound of the respirator, and the quiet hum of the pseudo-feeder/catheter. Good, Favor thought. Let the man rest. The Chem-coma was doing its job.

In spite of all the advances in medical science, the best remedy for healing was the oldest---simple sleep. Give it enough rest, let the machines do the work that the injured body can't do for itself, and the body will mend.

"The dead do not inhabit their graves, Silvio. Do you know this?"

She imagined that he did. She imagined that the carnage he'd witnessed, the smells of burning flesh, the things he'd seen in the past weeks, would stay with him for a lifetime, and she thought of the Counselor's perfume. "It was familiar," she said to Silvio. "It reminded me of someone I used to know."

The dead do not inhabit their graves. No indeed, Favor thought. The dead do not inhabit their graves at all. They come back when you least expect it, at the most inconvenient of times, in ways that you cannot possibly imagine, to remind you of what you've lost.

Even when you think you've stored them safely away in the past, they'll come back to remind you. And remind you. And remind you. And remind you.

"And believe me, Silvio, they'll find you. Even if you're a million light years away from them, in places and planets where they never were. They'll find you."

Maybe her dead mother could entertain Silvio's dead shipmates from the Kittyhawk, Favor thought wildly. Maybe all those dead people could get together here aboard the Zion and have one big party, like the ones she remembered from her childhood, her mother and her mother's friends and all those dashing Star Fleet officers. "At least they'll leave the two of us alone," she said, and laughed bitterly.

She studied the sleeping man. He looked like every human tourist she'd ever seen, on holiday in Ming, white from their months in deep space. They'd stumble out of the Transport Center, lugging their bags, their ridiculous skin as pale as the moon. They'd wade out into the Sea of Tieran, bobbing in the green surf, and then drag themselves up onto the sand and lay about like gufa seals, turning pink in the tropical sun.

Tourists, Favor thought. Stupid tourists! They flicked on their white smiles, hitting on the local women, flashing huge expense accounts around, and dazzling simple people like Favor's own mother, who never had more than two fengo in her monetary account at any given time.

Oh, yes, those tourists, having a ball on vacation, and then leaving as seamlessly as they had arrived, one melting into the other, they all looked alike anyway, and never giving a thought in the world to what they left behind in their rooms back on Raisa.

Never giving a thought that they might have left behind something a little more important than a lost bathing suit.

Where did they think the Lesser Tribe came from, anyway?

She looked at Silvio again. He really was quite pale, wasn't he?

"Yes, as pale and empty as a human's promises," she said bitterly. With her endo-scanner, she pressed deeply into his arm, checking his platelets. In his sleep, Silvio moaned, and Favor softened. She chided herself for her unprofessionalism. She couldn't blame an innocent man for what a guilty man had done.

His platelet count scanned low; he'd lost a lot of blood, and now it was seeping. "Not good, Bird," Favor said. "Not good at all. Computer: Two units human O Positive."

The machines hummed, and she watched as Silvio's veins plumped with fresh plasma, and his skin glowed pink. He shifted again, and Favor quickly adjusted the Chem-coma levels, increasing the meds, until he was still, his breathing deep and even.

Where did people go when Chem-comas carried them aloft? Favor had heard different stories from other doctors and medics, and even patients themselves. Sometimes they went backwards to the past, becoming children again. Sometimes they went to planets that didn't exist, and saw fantastic beasts conjured from their sleeping imaginations.

When she'd interned, Favor saw a patient arrive out from a Chem-coma in tears. "She was there," he'd pleaded, clutching Favor's arm. "Send me back. Oh, please, send me back to her!"

It had been his dead wife, Favor read on his medical chart, and they'd had to ship him to readjustment therapy. In the week that he'd been gone, drifting in his Chem-coma, he'd spent a lifetime with his long-dead wife, raising children, turning old and gray, and then he'd been yanked into reality and had to learn to live without her all over again.

Medicine could be cruel at times.

She rinsed her face and hands once more, and set the alarm on the Kriko-shield. She'd catch a cat nap; if anything went wrong with Silvio, the alarm would page her from her quarters.

"I'm leaving now, Bird," she said. "I need to think up some something for my next MWR memo to the crew. Got any ideas?"

Silvio didn't answer.

Favor hadn't really expected one, anyway.

Shakedown #155"
By: Giuseppe Silvio, Chief Engineer, [RNPC]

Stardate: 58202.28 1800

Giuseppe Silvio felt as if he were floating. Everything was foggy but peaceful. He wondered if this was what it was like to be dead. It was not a bad feeling but he was so alone. There was nothing here. What made matters worse was the he had no desire to be dead. He had his whole life ahead of him and did not want it to be over.

Then, off in the distance, he saw a brief flicker. Straining hard he was able to make out the figure of a woman…no it was an angel, Silvio was sure he was seeing an angel. A beautiful figure shrouded in the white mist. Surely this must be an angel, thought Silvio. He tried to call out to her but he could not. He tried to reach out to her but he could not move.

She talked about birds and broken wings. Silvio imagined that a broken wing was something that caused angels great pain and sorrow. He felt sad, he could see this angel was not happy. He wondered if her wing was broken.

Then the angel looked right at him and said, “The dead do not inhabit their graves, Silvio. Do you know this?"

What a strange thing for her to say, he thought. He wanted so badly to respond, to ask her what she was saying. The inability to do so frustrated Silvio. Firthering his frustration was the fact that he could not even scream in frustration. Surely being dead was not supposed to be this bad. His angel continued to talk but Silvio could not quite make out what she was saying. She was beginning to fade

“I’m leaving now…” she said as she continued to fade until she was gone. Silvio decided that he could not be dead. His angel would not have left him if he were. Silvio settled into a comfortable sleep, feeling protected by his angel.

Shakedown #141"
By: Patia Zoei, Chief Counselor, [PC]

Stardate: 58202.28 1835

Counselor’s office

Zoei watched the doors slide closed behind Ensign Favor. She rested her chin in the palm of her hand and closed her eyes. She reached for her glass with the other hand. The cool of the glass was oddly comforting to her as she wrapped her fingers around her drink. Her eyes popped open as she took a drink.

“Ensign Favor will be an interesting person to work with,” she thought. The way the Ensign left her office at the end of the meeting peaked her interest. Something had happened in the course of the meeting. As intuitive as Zoei was, she had a hard part pinning down exactly what the issue was for Ensign Favor. She thought it might be because there were so many emotions emanating from Favor, it was hard to identify which one was playing the dominant role.

Her stomach rumbled again, this time loud enough that she not only felt it, but heard it. “Definitely time to head to Miranda’s,” Zoie said.

She shut down her computer system and casually glanced around the office. She crossed to the seating area and straightened some chairs. The coffee table had been pushed from its place earlier in the day, when someone had brushed past it. That was also put back in place. Zoei felt the seating area had returned to its standard placement.

Zoei walked back to her desk. She touched the glass of the picture of the graduate and the child. She smiled. It was past time to send a missive home. She would add that to her list of things for tomorrow. Zoei picked up her PADD and pushed in her chair.

As Zoei walked to the door, she said “Computer, lights off”. As the room grew dark, the doors whooshed open. Zoei stepped out the door, turned toward Miranda’s, and walked away. She did not glance back as the doors slid shut.

Shakedown #142"
By: Patia Zoei, Chief Counselor, [PC]
Miranda, Lounge Manager, [RNPC]

Stardate: 58202.28 1900

Miranda’s

Ensign Zoei walked into Miranda’s. This was her first time to come to the bar. As she entered, she noticed the place was relatively quiet tonight. She must have arrived during the period of time when the supper rush is over and before the crew comes in that is more concerned about unwinding than eating.

Miranda, herself, was standing behind the bar. Zoei chose a seat near the end of the row of barstools. She settled herself comfortably on the stool and smiled at Miranda.

“Good evening, Ensign, how may I help you?” Miranda asked.

“Considering the yellow alert, I suppose I should stick with my staple, raspberry iced tea. Are you still serving food, or am I too late?” she asked.

“It’s never too late for food,” Miranda replied. “I am Miranda, by the way, what would you like to eat?”

“It is very nice to meet you, Miranda. I am Ensign Patia Zoei. Please, call me Patia. What do you recommend?” Zoie asked. “This is the first time I have been here.”

“I have just the thing for you,” Miranda turns and walks to the replicator. A few minutes later, she returns with a tall raspberry iced tea, with two fresh raspberries, and a bowl of Chicken and Broccoli soup. She sets it down in front of Zoei. “Try this, it is my favorite.”

“Thank you, Miranda. I haven’t had soup like this since I lived at home.” Zoei sampled her first bite of the soup. It was better than her mother had ever made. She would be sure not to mention that in tomorrow’s letter home.

Miranda noticed Patia seemed to be enjoying the soup. “Long day today?”, she asked.

Patia smiled. “Considering we are at yellow alert, it wasn’t that bad. Is this your first voyage on a sovereign class ship?”

“Yes, this is my first trip on a sovereign class ship. However, I have been on many similar types of ships,” Miranda replied. “How about you?”

“This is my first journey on such a large ship. My last deployment had been on a cargo transporter. Definitely not the same type of operation, I have to say,” Patia chuckled. “Are you enjoying running this lounge?”

“Oh, yes! How couldn’t I? It is a very well equipped facility.” Miranda added.

Patia glanced at her bowl. Surprisingly, it was already empty. “Thank you for the wonderful soup. It was like a trip down memory lane. My mother used to make this for us on cool, winter days while my father was located on Earth. I hadn’t realized how much I had missed it.”

“You are certainly welcome, Patia. I am glad you enjoyed it,” Miranda replied.

“I must be getting on to my quarters, Miranda. Work will come early in the morning. Thank you, again.” Patia rose from her stool, grabbed her PADD from the bar, and smiled again at Miranda.

“Have a good night, Patia,” said Miranda.

Patia smiled and nodded, then walked to the door. It had been a productive day, but it was definitely time to rest.

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