The shuttle Yosemite arrived at the planet just in timefor Mohler to unpack and run to warm-ups. In the qualifying run, Andreas made exceptional speed, even while adding a few flips to excitethe crowd. The semifinals were different, however, and Mohler finished at the fourth and final qualifying spot.

"I didn't come here to get my butt whipped. In fact, I figured I'd do some butt whipping of my own. Gotta hit those turns." Andreas was visibly upset. It was timefor the finals, and he had the worst spot of all the challengers. Withsome well placed turns and a load of determination, Mohler won second place by a hair. "There's always next year."

Ensign Mohler still had time to kill before the shuttle left. He watched Lt.jg Ti snowboard down the slopes, noticing more than once that the outfit she wore fit nicely. he also noticed Lt.jg Hutchcraft pulling pranks on poor, defenseless skiers, and considered joining him, but decided against it. He then spent the rest of the vacation in his room,sulking over the second-place trophy. A man with a steel hand can only stay out in the cold so long before his fingers get cold.

Jonathan Hanover
Ensign Andreas Mohler
ae238@seorf.ohiou.edu
E-mail me, or die a slow and painful death

The area near Sickbay was almost silent, aside from the hum of the ship's engine. Something bizarre was obviously going on.

Opening the door was an easy enough task. Solving what was behind it was not. Lying on the floor was a dead Ensign. No one Lieutenant Hutchcraft recognized. It was time to call upon someone superior to him.

"Lieutenant Junior-Grade Hutchcraft to Chief Medical Officer" The Assistant Chief of Security tapped his comm-badge while he spoke into it.

[Commander Rousseau here. Have you been playing in the holodeck again, Lieutenant?]

Rousseau sounded like she had just woken up. Lieutenant Hutchcraft felt quite guilty "No, ma'am. You've got a dead Ensign in your Sickbay ...." he spoke in a very serious tone. Not something Hutchcraft liked to do.

Ensign Sobra had been looking through records to identify the victim. "It appears to be Ensign Tailor, sir" he commented to Hutchcraft. Rousseau could hear clearly ....

[Damn! Hold on, Lieutenant, I'll be there soon .... keep talking]

The Chief Medical Officer quickly got ready to make her way towards Sickbay. Whilst this was happening, Ensign Paran entered the main area of sickbay and screamed and fell back.

The others ran in to see a smoking husk of a body lying on the floor. What had happened was completely insane and sick. Another person had been killed, what by, they didn't know, but Hutchcraft tapped his comm badge again.

"Hutchcraft to Rousseau. Looks like we have another murder here. We'll try and identify the body."

[Is it Lieutenant Chiron?]

The team swung round and looked at the biobed behind. They hadn't realised they weren't alone.

"No, it looks like whoever did this ignored him. Very strange."

"We should have checked for lifesigns first." observed Ensign Paran.

Hutchcraft tapped the comm badge again.

"Looks like he's still here. We'll need you down here for a full investigation Doctor."

[I'm already on my way.]

Hutchcraft looked at Ensign Paran. Gamma shift was almost over. Both Lieutenant Hutchcraft and Ensign Sobra were due for shore leave.

"Ensign, most of security will be on shoreleave soon. I'm ordering you to stay here until the doctor arrives and assist her in anyway possible. Finding out who that body belongs to would be a good place to start."

With that, Sobra and Hutchcraft made their way to Ten Forward for some serious relaxation.

Ensign Paran looked round and started checking the second dead body, however mutilation was so intense, it would require a doctor to examine the body properly. He hoped someone would get here soon, he didn't want the murderer to come back, even if he was a security officer. Whoever, did this was very, very good.

Finally, he realised that the next shift was being run by Ensign Mark Mulich, as the other officers where on shore leave. He waited for the doctor to arrive ...

Lt. Hutchcraft and Ensign Paran

Ensign Paran was almost silent. Were Bajorans always this quiet? The thought was something Andrew considered. Most could tell a human many a tell of Cardassian occupation. However, Hutchcraft knew that would be something most would be reluctant to do.

Lieutenant Hutchcraft decided that an early night was required. He quickly parted company with his fellow officers, and went to his quarters.

On route, he ran into Lt. Sterner, fresh from shoreleave. "Hey Joe ..." Hutchcraft greeted the Lieutenant. He was not sure if that line was the suitable greeting to a superior officer, but Lt. Sterner did not seem to mind ...

"Hi Andy, how was gamma shift?" pleasantly continued Lt.Sterner.

"Not bad, well, actually kinda boring ....." he continued. He wasn't too sure if that was an appropriate thing to say to a superior officer either, but again the Lieutenant was in a leniant mood.

"Well, everyone has a bad day. Well I'm off to Ten Forward. I'll see you after Gamma Shift, Lieutenant, for the Skiing Trip" Lt. Sterner continued on his way.

Skiing was new to Lieutenant Hutchcraft. A bit like authority, or respecting it. It would certainly be a time to get to know his superior better as a person, and also get to know the newer Ensigns. And since many other of Andrew's 'friends' were going he might as well.

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

Sleep was long, trouble-free and enjoyable. Dreams were not full of evil, nor were any mysterious alien presences present. Lt. Hutchcraft was, obviously, one of the lucky members of the crew.

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

Andrew woke up with about an hour until Gamma Shift. 'Time to work on those songs' Hutchcraft thought to himself. He got himself ready, making sure to shave any small hairs on his face, and dress neatly.

Hutchcraft was in an experimental mood. He picked up his home-made blue guitar. It was an odd creation - mainly because blue was not a natural colour for an acoustic guitar. It also didn't sound like a normal acoustic guitar. The sound was a lot more .... different. Hutchcraft knew that if he got kicked out of Starfleet one day, he would go on to create music professionally.

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

Both Ensign Sobra and Lieutenant Hutchcraft were in need of some serious relaxation. Things weren't good on the USS Galaxy. The Lieutenant had left Ensign Paran to deal with the two murders, knowing the bajoran was capable of solving the puzzle.

Lieutenant Hutchcraft found himself sharing the familiar USS Yosemite with several officers. Some he was familiar with, others not. It certainly brought make some interesting memories. Actually most of the memories were less interesting, and more life-threatening. He wondered if any of the people in the shuttle would even remember the expereince. Lieutenant Ti, obviously did ...

"Hey, Hutchcraft! Going to watch your mouth this time? Remember what you were told; 'Do not make the pilot mad'" she smirked at him. He wasn't sure if the bajoran was serious or not. He decided to simply grin at her mischeivously, thinking of his next move. Hutchcraft decided, from that point on, to make sure that the bajoran would run into some embarassing situations. 'yeah' Hutchcraft thought 'hehe, that will teach her to not tell me what to do on a holiday trip'. He began giggling to himself, which got Ti's attention.

"Something funny, Hutchcraft?" she looked at him in a half-serious way. Hutchcraft simply looked back, expressionless. It was the kind of look that only a betazoid could make out. This trip was going to be fun ....

Hutchcraft had noticed two new security guards. One was a cadet. Ahhh, cadets. How innocent they were. Dreaming of the day when they'll fly upon a starship. Hutchcraft decided to not tell the cadet about the horrid paperwork involved in the job.

The other wa a foot bigger than himself. It felt like being seated next to a Naucassian - you want to speak but your absolutely scared to death about what it could do to you. However, Hutchcraft took a brave stance, and began to talk.

"Hi, I'm Andrew" he introduced himself to the giant. The tall man looked towards him, and smiled.

"Andreas, pleased to meet you" the two officers quickly shook hands. Hutchcraft noticed that what he was shaking was not flesh, but steel. He was too curious to not ask ...

"Andreas, what happened to your hand?" he asked, firmly. He suddenly felt nervous. The man was gigantic, what if it was something the man didn't like talking about?

"I'd rather not talk about it ...." came the reply. Hutchcraft decided to keep quiet after that.

The USS Yosemite soon landed on it's destination. Hutchcraft got out, and met up with some other security officers .....

She went over and checked the sleep tank. The water was at the perfect temperature. The tank itself was even etched with sea scapes from different planets. "Cool!" she said out loud.

Ronni went across the hall and knocked on K'arta's door. As K'arta opened the door, they saw Troy leaving his room. He had the most mischievious look on his face that they had ever seen. He looked like a 185.4cm tall six year old. Ronni quickly entered the room to get out of his way.

K'arta said, "Troy Blair is a prankster. I was at the academy at the same time as him, and he was ALWAYS pulling stuff. He reprogrammed the showers in our dorm to spray baby oil. Then when the female cadets ran out of the shower, he had the air blowers shoot out talcum powder. "

"Then let's get him first. We're on vacation." Ronni sat down at the terminal in K'arta's room. Using the PADD she had brought down from the Galaxy, she did a 'little' hacking and got Troy's general access code. She then entered the hotel's system as Troy and asked for the sweet fragrance of campher and sulphur to be sprayed lightly in his room, every hour on the hour, until the new access code, that she put in, was given. She then erased the access path so that the command couldn't be traced to this room. She then put in a fake computer code trail to the men's ski trail outhouse cleaning computer, 8.4km away.

"There's my treat for the little boy. He won't be able to buy much or leave his room without the new access code. What would you like to do?" she said with her evil grin.

The flight down to the planet was smooth and seemingly effortless. Quall noted the skill of the pilot. There was an exicted aura within the shuttle; the passengers had a radiant glow. There was a quiet buzz of anxious chattering as the crew waited to arrive. The shuttle touchdown was barely noticable. Several skiers, however, were already rising and halfway out the door as the pilot cheerfully announced their successful landing.

Quall tossed his pack over his left shoulder, and carelessly tossed his skis over the other. His thin, albeit insulating jacket was nearly suffocating before he half-ran, half-jumped out of the shuttle. This spontaneous act caused a brief moment of breathlessness, partially due to the fact that he sunk up to his waist in snow. The crisp temperatures brought back fond memories of home as he attempted to remove the snow that had leaked into his boots.

Once the frigid air once again returned to his lungs, he took a long moment to glance at his surroundings. He had never seen this portion of Earth: The geography was breathtaking. Snow enveloped the pointed caps and precipes of the enormous mountains, and flowed across the voluminous ranges, creating a frozen, snowy haven.

A snow ball hit Quall in the back, bringing him immediately back to reality. The aggressor remained unknown, as the rest of the crew had proceeded some fifteen metres away, and were engaged in a snow fight. Ryan followed them, as they were abviously proceeding to their shelter, and picked up a handful of snow, intent on nothing but mischief.

Lt. Jg. Quall
Assistant Chief of Security
USS Galaxy

The place was chaos. Complete and utter chaos. People were yelling, whilst trying to move tall ski's into the waiting shuttlecrafts. Coe moved around the room. Trying to coordinate everybodys equiptment at once.

" Where is Commander Jamson?" Coe said to Lt Ti who was helping him with the coordination process.

" I think Deiran went to get him."

" Okay." Coe nodded.

" Lt. Your taking the Yosemite along with Commander Jamson and myself. Here is the list of who will be on which shuttklecraft. I want to be out of here by 08:00 hours so we can get a full day of skiing in by the time we get there."

" Yes Sir." Coe looked around to face Ti directly.

" Oh and Ti.."

" Yes Sir."

"I really dont mind if you call me JT.Okay" Ti smiled.

" Okay.... JT."

" Well lets get to work." With that Lt Ti headed of to complete the systems checks on the two shuttlecrafts and Coe tried to organize the team which turned out to be a logistical nightmare.

**** 25 mins later ****

Ti reported back to Coe and informed him that the shuttles where ready for departure. The sound of the room where still loud as people made last minute checks that their gear was ready. Preceedings looked complete and so Coe, in and effort to get everyones attention stood up on a small crate box and yelled.

" EVERYONE COULD I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE!!!!" This quietened the room somewhat.

" Thankyou. Now, it looks as though we are ready to depart. Liam is on his way back from earth and Commander Jamson is currently getting final clearence from the Captain. Now, these are the following rules for the trip......" Coe smiled a beaming smile as he heard the response........

**** 10 mins later Shuttlecraft Yosemite ****

Coe stood at the door to the yosemite, everybody was onboard except Commander Jamson. Coe could hear the annoyed chatter in the background as the passengers egally waited for their chance on the slopes. He kept his eyes on the entrance and was relieved to see Jamson round the corner and enter the shuttlebay in a red ski suit. Only now did Coe realise that he was still wearing his starfleet unifrom. He had had no time to change. Jamson made a final dash to the yosemite and came in a little bit puffed.

" Take us out Commander." He said to Coe as he took a seat toward the front of the shuttlecraft and got engrossed in a conversation with Lt Casey. Coe walked toward the front and sat in the vacant seat next to Lt Ti at the helms of the shuttlecraft.

" We all ready?" Coe inquired to Lt Ti.

"Yes Sir." She nodded.

" Okay." Coe pushed a few buttons on his console.

" Galaxy this is the USS Yosemite, requesting permisson for departure." Coe heared the friendly voice of Captain Price come back.

" Yosemite, this is the Galaxy. Your authorisation has been cleared. You are free for departure. Oh.... and have fun guys." The communications ended at Coe smiled briefly, still punching the controls on his console.

"Lt. Ti, realise docking clamps, reverse one-third impulse. Bring us about to heading 146 mark 221. And hold position there." Coe checked to see that the Cynthia was clear before giving the order to depart.

" Lt. set course for the moudini sector, warp factor 6.......engage!"

And the two shuttlecrafts sped toward their destination where the crew would spend the next week having fun. Or so they thought..............

Ensign Thomas Enquist had a good time, having had a workout on the holodeck with the Medieval program that Lt Joerg Sterner had produced. "We have to do this, some other time soon!" Thomas was really looking forward to the continuation of the 100 years war scenario. "Yes, Enquist, but first I have to go on a skiing trip with Liam Sketcher, you know, the bartender at ten-forward. Are you coming too?"

Thomas had gotten the invitation, just moments after leaving "the Shadow" on the holodeck. It was very handy. Maybe this was the invitation to open up the avenues of inside information, that Thomas felt must exist, down below. He could not say no, not to a skiing trip! He was practically born with ski's on his feet! He was a Nordic Viking after all.

"Yes, sir. I have decided to go on this trip. It can be very fun and good for the department to meet under less formal circumstances. When are we leaving?" Lt. Sterner looked genuinely glad to have Thomas along on this trip. "Ohh, I don't know really, but soon. Do not worry! See you later then? And I expect you to show this new Cadet the ropes, we will begin with ship orientation. You can take that mission, right? Good, I knew I could trust you." With those words, he strode away in his outlandish costume.

Thomas stood there, musing. A Cadet, now he was baby-sitting a Cadet! Hopefully he will be a quick learner, for this ship is BIG. Thomas went back to his quarters, to catch some sleep, and to ponder about the message he got from the Shadow........

Lieutenant Commander Teshir Bajoul, Chief Counselor, USS Sovereign
Lieutenant Svetlana Andropova, Chief Counselor, USS Crusader
Lieutenant JG Jack Straker, Computer Engineer, Station Beta 2
Ensign Thomas Enquist, Security Officer, USS Galaxy
Beta 2 Engineering http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/3335/B2_Eng.htm

Using a portable holo-system from the resort, (Normally used to teach skiing) Troy had his prank set. He put the system in a remote forest and reprogrammed it- the burly ski instructor wouldn't go along with his plan- the only thing left was to lure his prey. Using Ti's name, Troy sent a message to Deiran asking him to meet "Ti" in the remote forest. After the message was sent Troy took his place behind a patch of bushes, awaiting his unaware victim.

*** 5 minutes later ***

Deiran came walking into the forest with a big smile on his face, his head held high . Troy had to bite his lip to keep from laughing, he had no idea what was about to happen to him. Deiran walked a little further, then began to call for Ti, which was Troy's cue to start the holo-system.

Instantly some bushes off the distance began to shake, Deiran walked closer to them.

"Miran? Is that you?" Deiran projected.

When Deiran got within 5 feet of the bushes, an enormous Polar Bear leaped from out of them. The "bear" let out an atrocious roar and lunged toward Deiran.

"AHH!" Deiran howled. Turning around, he scurried as fast as he could to put some distance between him and the "bear". Then, he stopped dead in his tracks.

"Wait a minute...Polar Bears aren't on this planet" He muttered while turning to face the bear. He caught on faster than Troy expected, but there was no need to worry phase two was ready.

Rearing back, Troy fired a snowball in Deiran's direction. >POW< Direct hit to the head! Troy was able to fire another snowball before Deiran became unbewildered. >POW!< Another great hit! On his knees, upper body covered in snow, Deiran was able to regain his senses and dodge the third snowball.

"Alright..Alright..Who's the wise guy" Deiran asked.

Laughing his brains out, Troy stood on his feet.

"Troy..I should have known." Deiran stated while brushing snow off.

"Heh Heh..You should have seen...Heh heh heh... polar bear..Heh heh heh ... screaming and running...heh heh heh heh!" Troy was laughing so hard he couldn't speak straight, he also didn't see the snowball racing towards his head. [POW]

"Oh you wanna play huh!?!?" Troy blurted out.

"Ya!" Deiran shot back.

Snow began to fly, howls filled the air, an intense snowball fight had broken out. The fight lasted a few minutes and ended with a showdown that involved both men shoving snow down each others ski suits. Then they both stopped, looked around and busted out laughing.

*** Later ***

Deiran and Troy made it back to the resort, soaked from the snow; still laughing. They walked into the lounge, had a drink and talked about some of the pranks the pulled in their academy days.

After a few minutes, Troy excused himself to return to his room. Once he entered, he was immediately hit with a vile odor. Clasping his nose, Troy sprinted for the door. He pushed the open button but nothing happened, he tried again and still nothing happened. Out of frustration, he began to pound and kick at the door. He was afraid no one would hear him and he would be stuck in the stinch for days. But finally the door slid open and Troy lunged out of his room, gasping for air.

"You alright?" a voice said.

Troy turned around to see Deiran standing by his door.

"Man you act fast." Troy replied.

"What this? I didn't do this." The look on Deiran's face told Troy that he was telling the truth.

"I'm going to get whoever did this." Troy stated.

"Ok, but first why don't you stop by my room to shower. Anyone could smell you from a mile away"

Troy followed Deiran to his room.

"Towels are in there, and here are some clean clothes for you. While you're in there, I'm going to stop by the front desk to see if I can get your room back to normal"

*** Later ***

Once Troy finished his shower he took a seat in a chair, as Deiran came back.

"Your room should be back to normal in 20 minutes."

"Ok, thanks. Now it's time to find who did this."

"That shouldn't be too hard" Deiran said.

"What? do you know who did this?"

"Well..whoever it is covered their tracks well in the computer, but that didn't stop them from bragging."

"Bragging, eh? Rookie mistake. So, whom am I looking for?" the evil grin had retaken Troy's face.

"K'arta and Ronni, Ronni was the mastermind behind it" an evil grin had also taken Deiran's face.

"Well Mr. Casey, I know you're plotting your revenge against me right now, but I could use your help."

"What ya need?"

"Find K'arta and Ronni and keep them busy for about an hour and a half."

"Will do Troy."

They exited the room, going different directions.

Lieutenant JG Troy Blair
Tactical Officer, USS Galaxy

The USS Galaxy neared the Moudini sector at precisely the scheduled time. Captain Price was in his ready room reviewing Starfleet records from over a hundred years ago in an attempt to provide Mr. Shtik with the information about Commodore Saavik as he had requested.

["Captain, we are approaching the Moudini sector. Lieutenant Ti and Ensign Shanika are standing by in the main shuttle bay. They are requesting permission to depart, Sir."] Ensign Freeman said in his deep, commanding voice.

"Right 'mate. Take us out of warp Ensign and give them my best wishes for a pleasant holiday."

["Aye Sir. Ensign Freeman out."]

The channel closed and Captain Price smiled at the though of his crew mates enjoying themselves skiing for the week. Lee quickly shook off the thought as his attention returned to the view padd in front of him. He was logged onto the Starfleet command's central computer databanks.

Saavik, Commodore, Starfleet records. Lee watched as reams of information about the Commodore's distinguished career flashed onto his terminal. "She's quite an accomplished woman." Lee thought as he read on. With all of the detail, and valuable information that was presented in Commodore Saavik's file, there were many areas that simply listed as {Classified Information}. The Captain let out an audible sigh as he reached the part of the record Mr. Shtik was requesting details on. It too was classified.

After poking around for several minutes, Captain Price was able to learn two things. First, that this classified thread on the Commodore's record was placed there by someone with much greater access than his own. He was also able to extract one other bit of information, though he wasn't too sure how useful it would be. It seemed that Commodore Saavik's record for this period was classified in connection with some sort of scientific project simply named "Genesis". Trying that name in the Scientific database predictable returned another "Classified Information" road block, but Lee was also surprised to find it listed in the weapon's database as well. Naturally, that entry was classified as well, however, cross referencing the two entries, Captain Price was able to get a list of names of officers involved in the project. Compiling the list, Lee downloaded them onto his padd so he could give them to Lieutenant Shtik. He knew it wasn't much, but at least that would give the Vulcan a starting point.

"Vulcan." The Captain said out loud. Then formed his thoughts into a command, "Computer, list the names on this list that are also of Vulcan heritage."

Familiar computer tones were heard as the list narrowed to a very few names. Lee looked over the list. Only two jumped out at him. The first was of course Saavik's. The other one belonged to Spock from the USS Enterprise-A. Making a note, Captain Price again saved the information which he later presented to Mr. Shtik.

**********

Several hours had past since the two shore leave shuttles had left the Galaxy. The Science department was busy setting up the sensors for the week long mapping of the gaseous Moudini nebula. While Science and Engineering and Operations were all busy working together to coordinate their efforts, Security and Medical each had their own emergencies to worry about.

"Captain, this is Doctor Rousseau in Sickbay."

["Go ahead Doctor."] came the Captain's reply over the comm channel.

"Captain, I am afraid to report there has been an odd sort of accident on board. Ensign Tailor is dead sir... he appears to have instantaneously combusted."

["My God Doctor... how could that have happened?"] the Captain asked in amazement.

"I'm not sure Sir, but I am still conducting tests on the remains of the Ensign's body... what little of what's left."

["Understood Doctor. Please keep me informed of your findings. Captain Price out."]

Lee sat there and thought about Ensign Tailor. He was such an eager young officer, always wanting to please those around him. His death was a tragic loss.

It was less than four hours later when Captain Price was hailed again. This time by Ensign Paran. ["Captain, I am afraid there has been another unexplained death on board sir."]

Lee shifted his weight in his chair slightly as he sat upright. "Not another "instantaneous combustion' is it Ensign?"

["No Sir. It appears Nurse DuMont was killed in a freak force field accident Captain. She was in medical, which is no where near where Ensign Tailor ignited."]

"I see Ensign. Something doesn't sound right to me. The Galaxy is too soon out of dry dock to be experiencing so many 'accidents'. I take it you are the acting Chief of Security while Lieutenant Sterner is away on leave Ensign?"

["Well Sir..., I was supposed to be, but Lieutenant HutchCraft decided to stay at the last minute. So actually, he is the senior ranking officer..."]

Captain Price suppressed a half way grin. "Understood Ensign, I would like a full investigation into both of these unexplained murders. See to it Ensign. Tell Lieutenant HutchCraft that I'll expect a full report by 20 hundred hours."

["I Sir, I'll tell the Lieutenant, but I doubt he's going to like it."]

"That's all right 'mate, just tell him I ordered it. Maybe next time he'll go skiing when he has the chance. Price out."

Lee closed the channel and gazed out the observation window. This second death bothered him even more than the last. Both unexplained. Both senseless. As he peered out at the Bluish colors of the forming nebula, he could only hope that no more unexplained accidents would plague the ship.

'Computer, launch Pod 311-A, and pilot it to Main ShuttleBay.'

There was a momentary hiss as the escape pod jettisoned, then redirected its engines to bring it around to the rear of the saucer section. The Bajoran then checked his PADD, and confirming that the pod was proceeding fine, turn to go down the corridor.

Suddenly, Cavl's senses detected a sound behind him. He swung around, only to see a shadow pass across the far wall. He shivered, then turned down the corridor again.

Then he felt the force of a body hitting his and opening the Pod Airlock.

He felt himself being pushed into the airlock, and the door closing behind him. He tried to turn around to see his attacker, but as he did, he was shot out into space.

The last thing he saw before his body exploded from lack of outside pressure, was a grinning face standing at the airlock.

--Don't judge me by what I do, think, or say, but from what's in my heart.--
The Schizoid Man

Liam had called a meeting in the large lounge whre he stood up and called out "Hey everyone" shortly the talking calmed down and he could be heard "Welcome to our lodge for the next while, everyone has been assigned their own rooms unless the requested otherwise" he threw a glance in Deiran and Ti's direction "We've got some staff to help us so I'll introduce them first we've got Nick he'll be helping out those of you needing some ski lessons" a tall guy with longish hair stood forward and waved "Then we've got Tim" a shorter but better looking man stood forward "who'll be helping me out in the kitchen, yes thats right your getting some decent food for once in a while, and last but certainly not least, Kristen" the blonde girl who was there when they arrived moved forward and put her arm around Liam's back "who is the local guide, oh and yes the much delayed poker tournament will go ahead and anyone who didn't come with us will play from the Galaxy, you may now go back to your regularly scheduled programming.

*** Casey’s quarters ***

Casey put on his ski suit, his snow boots then checked his hair in the mirror. He wanted to look perfect, not only did he want to dazzle everyone with his skiing and snowboarding ability he also wanted to show off his style and keen fashion sense. His black ski suit, black boots and the black goggles he had packed in his suitcase would do the trick.

He left his quarters and went to the shuttle bay, where he found the love of his life Miran. She was in her ski suit, and looked positively vivacious. He went up to her, kissed her long on the lips and asked if he could help with anything.

"I need to find Commander Jamson. I can’t reach him on the comm," Miran replied somewhat distracted as she filed the flight plan.

"Okay, I’ll go to his quarters and see if I can find him."

Casey did find him soon after that. As Deiran and the Commander walked to the shuttle bay, the Commander referred to him as Deiran as they talked on the way to the shuttle bay. It was the first time the Commander ever spoke to him as a friend and not an XO. Casey was proud of that, his XO was beginning to like him.

*** Two hours later ***

Deiran was now sitting next to Miran as she piloted the Yosemite. She was good, one of the best pilots he’d ever flown with, of course he was partial, but that was beside the point.

"Do you need me to act as co-pilot?" Deiran asked with a grin on his face. Miran smiled back at him,"What do you think?" Deiran could feel the sarcasm in her voice.

He changed the subject real quick, he knew she was kidding too. But, the Moudini nebula was more romantic. "Isn’t the blue beautiful?" he asked, more a statement than a question.

"It is, bright and strong, like your eyes." Miran? Deiran wondered who this was. It had to be her pilot persona. This was going to be a fun trip. The first real vacation Casey had taken in two years. Well, you can’t count two days on Risa a vacation, more of a long, exhausting excursion of fun. Miran would make Moudini even more fun.

Deiran could feel all the eyes in the Yosemite staring at him as he sat next to Miran. Everyone was talking about the Chief helmsman and the Assistant Ops Officer, they were becoming quite an item. Everyone tried to act as if they weren’t interested, but their stares gave them away. Deiran tried to ignore it. He also tried to ignore all the guys drooling over his girlfriend but that was much harder to do than ignore gossip.

*** Moudini Ski Resort ***

Deiran was jazzed when he found out that there was a snowboarding comp and he just had enough time to enter. He also found out that the 7 foot security officer was also going to enter. This should be fun.

"Miran, do you mind if we wait until after this snowboarding comp to check into our rooms? I can’t do both. I would appreciate it if you’d come and cheer me on?" Deiran used his best pleading technique: puppy dog eyes, that few women could resist.

"Sure, it sounds fun, lets go." It worked.

Ensign Mohler was really good, he had some hot moves and earned a place in the semi finals. But, Moudini wasn’t prepared for Deiran Casey.

Deiran went to the top of the entrance hill and slid down with his back to the first jump that led into the icy half-pipe. He did a backward flip, twisted his body and landed perfectly to do an inverted pose right in front of the judges. He was furious. Flips, summer-saults, perfect air, extreme poses that the greats of the late twentieth century mastered. His black ski suit and jet black goggles and his silver snowboard made him look even more like his nickname, "Iceman." For his last move he got some huge air and did three complete flips and then twisted on the end of his board on the edge of the pipe. For improv it impressed the judges. Needless to say Deiran earned his place into the semi finals. He impressed the judges enough in the qualification round that all he had to do in the championship round was stay upright. But, of course he wowed the crowd again.

He won first place.

For the rest of the vacation everyone at the resort would look at him in awe. Noone had seen moves like his in a century. But, he was a Starfleet officer and devoted his life to the UFP not to snowboarding, but he could’ve been one of the best. Deiran would cherish the trophy always.

After the competition, Deiran was having trouble finding Miran. He decided to just wait where he had left her, knowing she would be back sooner or later. As he waited, three girls approached, all human, all gorgeous: two blondes and a brunette. And they didn’t look anything like Starfleet. Deiran became real nervous.

"You won the Snowboard comp!" one of the girls shrilled. "Can I have your autograph," another asked.

"Well ladies, I’m sorry but I don’t have a pen, I’m waiting for my—" he was interrupted by one of the girls.

"You would deny your biggest fans?" she smiled at him, flirting with every wink.

"That was my first competition, you don’t even know me," Deiran was getting concerned that Miran might find him with these girls. Even the girls were noticing how nervous he was becoming.

The brunette walked up to Deiran, put her arms on his shoulder and looked him straight in the eye,"Your gorgeous!"

"Thank you, but I must be going now." As Deiran said that the brunette backed off, not because of Deiran’s refusal but something else was occupying her attention. The brunette wasn’t touching Casey now. Casey felt two hands and a warm body snuggle up behind him. His eyes practically popped out of his head. "Oh, man, I hope Miran is far away. How do I get out of this," he thought to himself. He didn’t want to hurt Miran, but these girls were not getting the hint.

"Hi Champ, ya miss me?" the sound of that voice was music to Casey’s ears.

"Ladies, I’d like you to meet my girlfriend, Ti Miran from Bajor." When the girls saw how stunningly beautiful Miran was, with her long blonde hair and bright eyes they knew they didn’t have a chance.

They mumbled,"nice to meet you" and said goodbye.

"Thank you Miran. I tried to get rid of them but they just weren’t taking the hint." Miran could see Deiran’s sincerity and his nerves still on edge.

"I know. I watched and heard the whole thing. You couldn’t have shown your love for me in a better way. You looked like a fish caught in a net." Miran laughed and so did Deiran after a few seconds. And they started for the lodge.

Through some twist of fate or an intense lucky streak, Casey’s room was right next door to Miran’s. "Oh, man is this going to be a fun vacation," he thought to himself.

Deiran and Miran decided to rest, take a shower or nice hot bath and meet on the slopes in the afternoon.

*** Remote forest ***

Deiran had received a message from Miran, asking him to meet her at this spot. This intrigued Casey. Miran was becoming a total flirt and he liked it. She was really warming up to him, not just with her heart but with her personality.

Ten minutes later Deiran was soaked with melted snow. He’d been ambushed by a holographic polar bear and a certain tactical officer named Blair. Deiran took it all as good clean fun.

"I guarantee you I’ll get you back. You’ll never suspect when it’ll happen, but oh, will you be sorry you ever played a prank on me Troy." Deiran and Troy just sat in the cold snow laughing like a couple of grade school boys.

*** The Ice Lounge ***

Miran and Casey were sipping their cups of hot Apple cider with a cinnamon stick and were sitting across from Ronni and K’arta. Miran didn’t know why they’d come here, but Deiran knew exactly what he was doing. Get three girls together, girls who are good friends and you have a nice, long conversation. Deiran just sat and listened as Troy prepared his next prank.

After about an hour of listening to girl chat, Deiran thought it was about time to get Troy back himself. The girls wanted to spend some time together anyway. Deiran laughed to himself. He was helping Troy one hour and setting up his own prank on Troy the next hour. Boy this was fun. This was turning out to be a great vacation. Deiran couldn’t wait for his nice, romantic dinner around the fire place with Miran that he had planned for later in the evening. But, for now Troy was about to get the biggest shock of his life.

*** Lt.(JG) Troy Blair’s room ***

(Late in the evening.)

It took Deiran an hour to set the whole prank up but boy would it be worth it. Casey had a hidden camera set up in Troy’s room, he didn’t want to miss this, besides he wanted to save it so he could charge admission to all the people who had been pranked by Troy in the past.

Troy had been night skiing. He was cold and couldn’t wait to get some sleep in a nice warm bed. The door that earlier in the day he couldn’t open now worked. When the door opened and Troy entered the room a nice hot bowl of water came crashing on his head. Deiran used laser beams to tell the computer to dump the water at the precise moment, when the laser beams detected the door opening and a body passing through the invisible beam whalah! Troy just stood there, now he was warm. He was standing in a soaked ski suit in a room that still smelled, but it was at least bearable(HA HA).

Troy shrugged it off and undressed into his sleeping attire. He pulled back the covers, set his alarm and sat on the bed. He laid his head on the pillow, covered himself up in the nice warm bed. And then a few seconds later the bed disappeared and Troy fell into a nice pool of ice cold water.

Deiran used the same holograph technique that Troy used with him to make Troy think he still had a bed, when in fact it was a pool. Deiran transported Troy’s real bed to the basement. The camera got a close-up of Troy screaming as his warm body hit the ice cold water. Deiran was in his room, he could hardly breath he was laughing so hard. This tape was one for the ages.

One second Troy was sitting in a shallow pool of ice water and the next he was sitting in his real bed. Casey had it transported as the pool disappeared. He also transported some clean sheets because Troy was still wet. "Well, buddy, I told you I’d get you back. And a Casey always keeps his word. Now we’re even my friend. Pleasant dreams!" Deiran laughed, making sure his comm was still on so Troy could hear him laugh. Troy wasn’t laughing. Troy would never know about the video tape. Considering all the people Troy got at the academy, Deiran stood to make a nice profit.

[Hey, Chanor, shift's over. Get to bed hey?] he said jokingly.

"No, shift is not over, there's been a murder."

That got Mulich's attention quickly and he turned to Paran.

[Who?]

"Two people. Ensign Tailor and Nurse DuMont. Where is Lt. Hutchcraft?"

[I've no idea. Why?]

"Well, the Captain wants him to investigate the murders. But I thought he was going on this ski trip? Anyway, I can't worry about that now. I'm going to see Dr. Rousseau."

[Right, I'll start gathering information on this end.]

"Oh, Mark, is Dr. Rousseau on duty now?"

Ensign Mulich checks the roster. [Yeah, she is.]

"Good, I'll go and see her."

Ensign Paran walks out of security and heads down to Medical. He taps his badge on the way.

"Ensign Paran to Dr. Rousseau."

[Rousseau here Ensign, what can I do for you?]

"I'm trying to investigate the murders in Medical. Can you help me? Have you run autopsy's on the bodies yet?"

[Whooh, one thing at a time. Yes, I can help you, and I'm doing the second autopsy right now.]

"And can I question Lt. Chiron about the murders? He may have heard or seen something."

[Of course, once he's woke up. He's still sleep........]

"Doctor, what's wrong?"

[It's Chiron, he's not here.]

"I'm on my way"

Paran picks up his pace to a sprint and heads for sickbay at a very fast speed.

Ensign Paran
Heading for Sickbay
Steven

On the following day Joerg was sitting at his desk in the security office when Cadet Campbell entered.

"Cadet Campbell reporting for duty sir." he announced.

Joerg stood up and approached the young cadet.

"Very well Cadet. I hope you already have inspected some parts of the ship already, especially the security department area?" Joerg asked him.

"No sir." the straight reply came.

"Well in that case I'll show you around a bit." Joerg, knowing that nothing of real importance was waiting for him, gestured the cadet to follow him.

He started with the holding cells. It always reminded him of a middle age prison of some kind, except for the modern equipment, like panels and forcefields, and the fact that the ancient prisons were much dirtier.

"These are the holding cells for suspects and criminals. Each of those cells has a type 4 forcefield to prevent the 'guest' from getting out." Joerg explained like a tourist guide.

"This way ..." he continued while walking toward another door.

"... is the interrogation chamber, where suspects are being questioned by at least two security officers, to prevent illegal methods of questioning. But I think you already knew that, don't you?"

"Yes sir." Campbell replied.

"Well then I'll show you some other portions of the ship, Cadet."

And the two went off to take a little tour of the ship.

*************** About an hour later, back in Security ***************

"Now we have come back right where we started. Did you enjoy this exploration of a Galaxy class starship?" Joerg asked.

"Yes sir. I really liked it very much. Thank you for your time sir." Campbell answered.

"And one other thing, would you like to join me on a skiing trip with some other officers of the ship? We would start with two shuttles tonight and it should really be some fun."

"Yes, I really would like to go skiing." the cadet said, really bright smiling for the first time this day.

"Ok, we all will meet in Ten Forward tonight. So prepare yourself for the trip and meet us there." Joerg said when suddenly Ensign Mulich entered the security office.

"Sir, you wanted to see me?" he asked.

"Yes Ensign. This is Cadet Campbell, and he is doing his cadet training aboard the Galaxy. I want you to take him to the weapon storage and show him how to adjust and check the weapons that are stored there." Joerg ordered the ensign.

"Is there anything else?" Mulich asked.

"Yes, in fact there is. Cadet Campbell, myself and some other officers from security will be on a skiing trip for the next week. For this week Lieutenant Hutchcraft is Chief of Security. Understood?"

"Yes sir." Mulich just replied.

"Good, then you both are dismissed."

After they left his office, Joerg started to make preparations for the upcoming week, so that Lieutenant Hutchcraft will have no unnecessary troubles.

*************** In the evening, Ten Forward ***************

Joerg, packed with his skiing equipment in one hand and a box in his other, entered the bar. The whole establishment looked like some kind of skiing resort, with the exception that there was no snow at all. He was a little early, so he started to talk to some of his fellow skiing colleagues.

Some time later everyone except Liam was present and ready for the trip. So they decided to begin their way to the shuttles. After everyone was packed into the shuttles, the pilots waited for the clearance and after that their trip for fun began. The flight was uneventful but not boring, as some of the crew members in the shuttle started singing songs and telling skiing jokes.

When they arrived at the planet's surface, it was late afternoon local time. Before they went to their hotel to store the luggage, someone started a snow fight. Joerg also took some snow to form a ball and look for a target. He saw Lieutenant Quall standing and gazing around, so he choose him as first target.

His snow ball hit Ryan in the back and distracted him from his gaze. He too liked a good snow fight and joined the others. After a long snow fight, in which all acted like they were still children, it was time for them to bring their things to their rooms.

Joerg stayed in his room for the rest of the evening and studied a map of the surrounding mountains and runs. He decided to try one of the expert runs, the 'Broken Neck', first thing after the next day's breakfast. He only hoped that this run wasn't too difficult, because he hasn't been skiing for some time, but if that's a problem would turn out sooner or later.

*************** The next day, breakfast time ***************

Joerg joined his fellow security officers at their breakfast table. The breakfast itself looked quite tasty and actually was very good. He then started to talk to his people.

"Well, what are your plans for today?" he asked.

"We would like to try on of the easier runs today, just to test our abilities before trying harder ones, sir." Quall answered him, with the same tone as he answered him while on board the Galaxy.

"Look, we are on shore leave now. As far as I'm concerned there is no need to call me 'sir' or 'Lieutenant' now. I would even suggest that we use a first name basis during this trip. Is that ok with everyone?" Joerg asked the security officers.

All of them agreed with him.

"Ok that's fine. I myself will try the 'Broken Neck' today." Joerg said with a evil grin on his face.

"I hope you know what you are doing." Ryan commented.

"Of course I know. Back on Earth I was a quite good skier. Perhaps one of you want to join me some other day. But I wish you all good luck on your runs." Joerg said while standing up and walking over to the table where Commander Jamson, Lieutenant Commander Coe and some other officers were eating their breakfast.

There he also asked the question about skiing down the 'Broken Neck'. Only Jamson and Coe were willing to join him on this trip, but Joerg was pleased he hasn't to go up all alone. They decided to meet outside the hotel in half an hour.

*************** Half an hour later ***************

Jamson, Coe and Sterner, all packed with their skiing equipment, were on their way to the transport pad, that would bring them on top of the 'Broken Neck'. Joerg just hoped that he won't make a fool of himself, when the look on the other two faces expressed them same feelings as he had.

After some minutes of walking they arrived at the transport pad. Each of them stepped onto it and soon rematerialized on top of the 'Broken Neck' run.

They soon discovered that they aren't the only ones trying this run, as they had to wait in line, before they could start to race down. While waiting for their turn Coe gestured to Jamson and Sterner to take a look at a woman, who was about thirty yards away from them.

Joerg was caught by her sight, as she was the most incredibly gorgeous woman he had ever seen. She was wearing a skin tight ski suit, which revealed every curve of her perfect body, and she was looking directly at the skiers who waited in the line. While Coe and Sterner were still occupied staring at her, Jamson had noticed something else. He tapped them both on the shoulder to get their attention.

"Be careful, or your eyes will fall out of your head." he said.

"Have you noticed the two bundles of winter gear next to that woman?" he asked them.

Only now Coe and Sterner noticed them. These two 'bundles' were actually two Ferengi skiers. That could easily be found out, because of the big and most ridiculous looking ear muffs, they have ever seen. Joerg was just about to wonder what this perfect woman would have to do with those Ferengi skiers, when it was his turn to run down.

"Good luck, and always remember, the last one down buys drinks for the other two." Coe said smiling, while padding Joerg on the back.

This really was not the kind of encouragement he wanted to hear, but it was better that nothing at all. With the hope of survival and the possibility of meeting that woman once he arrived down in one piece, Joerg gives himself a push and started to race down the hill.

Lieutenant Joerg Sterner
Chief of Security - USS Galaxy NCC-70637

20 minutes had passed and Mitchell was still staring at the mysterious rock that Lt. Shtik had left him. By all appearances, the meteorite had the appearance of any other rock that had been floating in space, but the feeling it had left him when he touched it remained.

James' mind was running at full capacity over the idea of what this object was. Leaning over, he activated the stasis field. The pop of the field could be heard, followed by the bluish wall of sparkling energy encircling the meteorite.

"Computer, run a breakdown of materials within the meteorite. I want to see what its made of." He leaned back in his chair and awaited the answer.

A long time it seemed had passed, but it was actually only a few moments before the results appeared on the console. James watched the data scroll up in anticipation.

"Meteorite composition complete."

[Organic Minerals 93%]
[Unknown 7%]

"That doesn't explain it. Computer, give me a compostion of the Organic minerals." The computer whirred and brought the results onscreen.

[The organic material contains Protomatter.]

"Protomatter?! What the hell...Computer, is that it? What is the unknown substance?" Again the computer whirred.

[The remaining materials on the Meteorite have been deemed Classified under order of Starfleet Command.]

James was in shock. How can a simple rock in space be classified? And protomatter? No one used that. It was too unstable and volatile.

"Computer, what is the approximate age of the meteorite?" A slat of light played over the surface of the rock.

"The meteorite is approximately 100 years old. The unstability of the Protomatter prevents an accurate age. Cross-referencing the history of protomatter use in the Starfleet database was how it was determined."

"How did you come to this conclusion?"

"Classified." James punched his seat.

"Computer, can you tell me anything about where you got this information?"

"Yes." James gripped his chair. "What can you tell me?"

"Genesis." James fell back in his chair.

"What is Genesis?"

"Classified."

James tapped his commbadge.

"Mitchell to Shtik, I think you'd better get down here...I have some info for you. Mitchell out"

Genesis....I've heard that somewhere......James sat staring at the rock and pondered.....

Lt. James Mitchell
Asst. Chief of Science
Uss Galaxy

After Deiran left to stall Ronni and K'arta, Troy waited around in the hallway to make sure he found them. After a few minutes the coast was still clear, Deiran obviously succeeded in stalling the two victims.

Troy walked over to Ronni's room and using an access code the maids use (which he was able to obtain by sweet talking one of the female desk clerks, when he first arrived), he was able to enter her quarters without setting off the security system. Once inside, he looked around the room to locate the replicator, which he walked up to once he found it. The prank he had in mind for Ronni was by far one of the best, in his opinion, he ever pulled.

"Computer!" Troy pronounced.

The computer made it's normal acknowledgment chirp.

"Please replicate 800 MILLION glass marbles." The evil grin could not be controlled now.

{Warning! The specified amount can fill up living quarters if left unattended. Continue?} The computer voice softly remarked.

"Yes, by all means continue." Troy replied.

{Working.... Replication will be complete in 45 minutes}

As Troy exited Ronni's quarters he could hear the replicator humming as it went to work. "Now for K'arta" Troy thought to himself. Using the same access code, Troy entered K'arta's room. He walked over to the maintenance computer console and pulled up the file containing the computer commands -both voice and manual- for K'arta's room. (Troy did not know that much about operations, but a cousin of his taught him enough to know how to do what he's about to do) Once he was in the command file Troy began to switch commands with other commands. Once he finished the last switch, he tested a command to see if it worked.

"Computer, lights!" Troy exclaimed. A smile came over his face as he heard the shower come to life.

"Computer, lights!" the shower turned off.

An evil laugh was let loose form Troy's mouth, once he saw he succeeded. He quickly put everything back into place and exited K'arta's room.

Troy waited around the hallway for about 45 minutes, to make sure Ronni or K'arta didn't unexpectedly come back early, which they did not. He then headed out to the slopes to get as far away from the crime scene as possible. But the whole time he was out there he couldn't help but picture the looks on Ronni's and K'arta's faces.

After a few hours on the slopes Troy decided to head back to his room. "Hopefully this time I can get in and out" Troy thought to himself. Once he opened the door to his room he was instantly hit with a rush of warm water.

"Oldest trick in the book" Troy said to himself as he shrugged off the water, but atleast now he was warm.

He quickly undressed and headed straight for his nice, warm, comfortable bed. He sat up for a minute, imagining what Ronni's reaction was to the marbles in her room. Once he had a good laugh, he laid down on his pillow to get some shut eye. He was at the point between being awake an asleep when he felt his bed disappear and his body drop. SPLASH! Right into ice cold water!

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Troy screamed at the top of his lungs as he thrashed at the water, in hopes of getting out of the pool quickly. Then in seconds his bed reappeared and he sat there wet as a dog, freezing. He quickly jumped off of it and began to jump around trying to warm up.

Then he heard a familiar voice, "Well, buddy, I told you I’d get you back. And a Casey always keeps his word. Now we’re even my friend. Pleasant dreams!"

Troy stood there for a second before he changed out of his wet clothes, again. Before getting back in his bed, he made a thorough inspection to make sure it was real, which it was. He crawled into bed and before he fell asleep, he let out a small laugh.

"He got me good" Troy thought as dozed off.

Lieutenant JG Troy Blair,
Tactical Officer, USS Galaxy

She wandered around a bit to see what was going on. She found a sign pointing towards an ice rink. The ice rink bought back memories of her first winter. Snow was a wonder that she hadn't experienced until she arrived on Earth. She would have to get Deiran to go skating with her.

Ti knew she should head back, Deiran would be looking for her. She stopped when see saw Deiran surrounded by beautiful women. The look of terror on his face made her smile. She wrapped her arms around him. He went tense in her embrace.

"Hey, champ! Miss me?" He relaxed as quick as he went tense. He put his arm around her and kissed her on the top of the head. He introduced her to the ladies. They were visibly disappointed. They went about their own business.

"Boy, Am I glad to see you."

"If you could have seen the look on your face..." Miran laughed.

**Later**

After skiing and taking a hot shower to warm up, Deiran took her to have a drink with Ronni and K'arta. She didn't know K'arta so it was interesting. Deiran handed her a steaming mug with something sticking up from the liquid. He explained it was hot apple cider with a cinnamon stick. Robert's parents made apple cider and she loved it.

She took a hearty drink of it. She fought the urge to spit it back out. She managed to swallow it, eyes watering. She didn't like hot apple cider.

"It is aweful. Sorry Deiran, I do not like it. Would you get me some Hot chocolate Please?" She batted her eyelashes at him. It was fun flirting with Deiran- he always seemed to melt. Ronni and K'arta tried to hold back snickers.

It was a pleasant evening. Deiran excused himself early and left the three ladies alone. She let the other two do all the talking. Her mind was more on Deiran than anything else.

Couple of hours later she excused herself to head back to her room. She heard laughter coming from Deiran's room as she passed. She shook her headed and entered into the room. It had been a long day and she was tired. She was looking forward to what tomorrow would bring. It would be great whatever it was because Deiran was there.

*******Later that evening************

There were a few people sitting around the fireplace when someone knocked on the door,"Come in", no response they just kept on knocking so eventually somebody got up and walked to the door were they found Liam standing there with a body in is arms and blood running down his face "She got shot" he said rushing in and placing the body of Kristen on the couch "I'll get some help!", some medical staff hurried in and taking a quick scan sighed and said "It's too late, let's have a look at your wound though" "I'm O.K." "What happened" "We'd just finished building our kicker when Kristen was fixing her bindings when a shot came from the tree's and then they shot at me, they just grazed me though" That'll need a little bit of work" "I just want to go to my room" "O.K I'll check that out in the morning.

The autopsy had revealed nothing new. The poor nurse had died in a freak forcefield accident. It just seemed impossible for the forcefield to malfunction with all the safety protocols she had personally installed...

She rose from behind her desk, the sudden need to stand overwhelming her. She paced for a few seconds before giving up and walking into the main observation ward. She looked around the relatively quiet room brfore her eyes settled on the area where teh unfortunate Lt. Chiron resided. She crossed the room to look in on her patient.

When Alpha shift was over, Shtik immediately retrieved the meteor in it's case and proceeded on the next, logical course of action. He approached the door of Councellor Shivok.

Shivok greeted Shtik warmly and invited him to a chair. Shtik had always felt that the councellor was somewhat of a kindred spirit. Neither was a typical Vulcan. Shtiks upbringing and Shivoks Betazoid influence gave both a rare grasp of humor.

"What can I do for you, Lieutenant?" Shivok asked.

"I need your experience with mental techniques." Shtik said "My own mental skills have always been slightly below average for a vulcan and I wish the assistance of one with a stronger grasp to back me up."

"What is it you plan on doing?" Shivok asked.

"I need to perform a mind meld." Shtik said.

"Who do you intend to perform this on?" Shtik produced the box, opening it to reveal the meteoroid. Shivok paused.

"You plan on mind melding with a rock?" Shtik paused.

"I believe it to be a family member." Both paused for a long time. Shivok examined Shtik closely.

"And how long have you thought that this rock is a family matter, Lieutenant?"

"I'm sorry, most of the background into my assumption is classified. I mearly need your assistance in the event of unforseen events. Will you assist me?" Shtik asked.

After a pleasant day in the slopes Christopher came back to his room. He took a shower and got dressed. Then he laid down on his bed. He had spent the day skiing with some of the other security officers in the slopes that weren't to hard. Although he hadn't been left out in any way, Christopher felt like he hadn't been one in the gang. Just these small things like jokes referring to things that had happened before he had joined the crew on the Galaxy, or like when one of the ensigns had offered to get the others skies he had accidentally forgotten to bring Christopher's. The Cadet lay on his bed trying to shake his feelings of loneliness and his memories of his old friends back at the Academy off.

He sighed.

"Computer," he said, "run Cadet Campbell's personal program two."

He had installed a few personal programs on the computer at the ski-resort. Classical music started flowing through the room. "Mmmm," he mumbled. "Who cares about having friends and things like that anyway?" he said to himself.

Thinking over what he just had said he instantly sat up. "Computer, end program!" He jumped out of bed. "I'm going to the lounge and see if anyone else is there. And... Yeah, that's what I'll do!" He left the room and one thought crossed his mind: a stranger is just a friend you haven't met yet.

"Something funny, Hutchcraft?" she looked at him in a half-serious way. Hutchcraft simply looked back, expressionless. It was the kind of look that only a betazoid could make out. This trip was going to be fun ....

.... sadly any ideas of a holiday were erased as Lt. Sterner entered the shuttle. He looked at Lt. Hutchcraft briefly, before beginning to talk.

"Lieutenant, I thought you were staying?" Sterner asked curiously "With the current crisis, I'd rather have an experienced officer staying on the USS Galaxy."

Hutchcraft cringed. He wasn't going to miss much - he never really liked skiing holidays, or holidays that involved cold climates. Or for that matter, holidays that involved warm climates. When someone spoke to him about Risa, he was very disappointed by it all.

He looked up at Sterner, before happily agreeing to stay on the Galaxy. Maybe he could get a break on his own, away from the now over-familiar faces of the USS Galaxy.

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

Hutchcraft thought over all the possible solutions to the puzzle. There were hundreds of explanations for the two incidents. They could be connected, he thought, but then again it could be just a coincidence. He walked towards Security, and immediately headed for the replicator.

"Didn't like the idea of snow, sir?" came the over-familiar voice of Ensign O'Lindey. Lieutenant Hutchcraft looked at him, coffee in hand.

"Ensign, I'm very tired. Lets just get to work ...." he walked towards his desk, gripping on to the mug, exhausted. He consumed to deep, dark brown liquid rather quickly, before sitting down. He began to write his first report as Chief Security Officer, even if it was temporary.

Security Report

For this week, Lieutenant Sterner will be away on holiday. As the highest ranking security officer remaining on the USS Galaxy, I shall be fulfilling the role of Chief of Security until Lieutenant Sterner returns.

Two incidents have occured in Sickbay in the last 10 hours. The first, estimated to of happened at around 0030hours. A medical officer, Ensign Tailor, instantaneously combusted. Reasons have yet to be discovered, though Commander Rousseau is working on it.

The second occurred at approx. 0730hours, and involved another medical officer, this time Lieutenant DuMont. The Lieutenant was killed in a freak forcefield accident. Lt Kane has been contacted about this. I'm questioning a Security Officer who left Sickbay after Lieutenant DuMont ordered him to do so. Another possible witness, Lieutenant Chiron, is yet to be questioned.

Lieutenant Hutchcraft began to look heavy. He had been complaining to himself, and his fellow officers, about the mundanity of the work. Now that something interesting was happening, he had become quite scared. Were these occurances, just occurances? Or was something going on? Were systems on the ship malfunctioning? Was there a murderer roaming the ship?

Hutchcraft's thought was stopped when a terrorified Ensign Mulich entered the room.

"Lieutenant, there's been another occurance ....."

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

There wasn't a trace of evidence around the escape-pod tubes. Lt Hutchcraft still was not convinced.

"So your saying that Lieutenant Cval managed to get outside the Galaxy, through the airlock" he began. Ensign Mulich nodded, and then continued to speak.

"Ops detected that one of the airlocks had been re-opened, after the escape-pod had left. Lieutenant Cval was inspecting them at the time, but they couldn't find him anywhere near the airlock. They checked on Cval's whereabouts just in case - his commbadge was swimming in the remains human organs"

Ensign Mulich certainly wasn't shy abour his report. Hutchcraft pictured the commbadge floating in a pool of blood outside. The thought wasn't a happy one. Each death on the station was getting more sicker.

Mulich continued "They couldn't find any life signs in the area, so the only conclusion we could make is that there was either a engineering error, or the Lieutenant commited suicide.

"I think we can eliminate the possibility of Suicide. Lieutenant Cval had a lot to live for from what I know. And besides that there are plenty more ways of commiting suicide, shooting yourself unprotected into space ranks as one of the least likely." Hutchcraft looked at the Ensign seriously. He still couldn't get the though of Cval exploding out of his head.

"So basically it must be an engineering error..." concluded Mulich. Lieutenant Hutchcraft's experience with the engineering department seemed to always concern errors. He tapped his comm-badge, cringing as he did.

[Lt Kane here]

"Lieutenant, this is Lieutenant Hutchcraft. Lieutenant Cval has .... had an accident. We need you to go over the airlock. We think there may be some severe engineering problems here"

[I'll send someone over right away Lieutenant]

Hutchcraft could feel the sadness in Kane's voice. Three deaths in a row, each one more disturbing than the last. There had to be a connection.

"Ensign, contact Lt.Rouseau, Lt.Kane and any Security guards that have been involved in the last three death cases. Tell them to meet me in my office at 1800hours" he ordered the Ensign firmly. The Ensign returned to his duties, while the Lieutenant waited for one of Kane's men.

Lt. T'Lein was strangely silent as they rode up the mountain. Shanika wondered if he was always this way around women. Grasping for a point of reference, she ventured, "Are all the crew like what we saw down there?"

T'Lein nodded. "For the most part, yes."

Another long silence. Finally they reached the top. Shanika pulled the map out of her pocket. "Shall we take this trail?" She pointed to a long winding line which finally ended up further down the mountain.

"Okay." said T'Lein.

They started down and were soon quite far away. At a flat spot, Shanika stopped and looked around. "The view is nice here." she noted, looking far out over the mountain.

Coe, Jamson and Sterner all stood at the top of the Broken neck ski slope, waiting in line talking. Coe noticed an attractive women and pointed her out to the other two.

" Hey guys, look at her!" Both of them turned and looked at the women. Only then did Coe notice her company. Two small ferengi's. This puzzled Coe. Surely a woman of such......attributes could find more....suitable company. Coe smiled at the thought. Perhaps he might introduce himself down the bottom. He looked over at Commander Jamson, noticing the nervous smile on his face.

" I thought you said you'd never skied before?" Coe asked.

" I haven't." His smile beamed at this point. Coe got the idea and smiled back.

" You just be careful."

Coe himself was an excellent skier. Growing up in the Austrian Alps with the ability to ski everyday helped. He had watched Lt. Casey in the snowboarding competition earlier that day and made a mental note to challenge Casey down a slope.

" OKAY NEXT." The skiing guard shouted and Lt. Sterner stepped forward.

" See you guys at the bottom." With that he took at slight push off and began to ski down the steep and dangerous slope. Coe allowed Jamson to go next.

" In the interest of public safety." Coe joked to Jamson.

" I will follow you down."

" Okay." Jamson nodded and smiled. He took a slow, shaky push off and began down the mountain. Coe now stepped up to the starting point and when the guard concluded that there was a safe distance between Coe and Jamson, he let him go. Coe took a slight push off and began his way down the mountain, starting with a few wide turns before gathering some speed and soon he was jumping like his old self. He was coming up to a large jump and decided to give the people down the bottom watching a brief show. He shooted himself off the jump and preceded with a backward flip. A trade he had learnt whilst ariel skiing in Austria. He landed well and took the sharp turn necessary unless one wished to fall of the cliff face nearly running over Commander Jamson at the same time. He stopped quickly and turned to see Jamson some ten metres away laughing hysterically.

" Man, THIS IS FUN." It was obvious to Coe that Jamson had taken quite a bad fall. He unclipped his ski's and walked over to Jamson to help him up.

" Come on you old man, get up" He pulled Jamson up in the process. Jamson was still laughing but soon stopped.

" Damm, I think I pulled a muscle." Jamson added, hardly in pain although quite immobilising.

" Dont say I didn't warn you!"

" Yeah Yeah, enough already. Just get me down to the nurse to get this damm thing fixed up. Coe pulled the emergency ski badge out of his pocket and activated the com system on it.

" Two to beam out..... Please." He was not used to adding that last word. Especially on the Galaxy. Soon he felt that warm, familiar feel of his body being broken down into billions of molecules.

**** Medical Station ****

" That should do it." The nurse remarked after the simple procedure was performed on Jamson.

" Just so you dont do it again, stay off it for the next 3-4 hours." Jamson jumped of the table with a bounce.

" Hey! I said be careful." Jamson just smiled into her face and turned on the charm. Somewhat.

" I will honey." With that Jamson headed out the door, with Coe trailing, thanking the nurse politely for taking care of Jamson.

They walked down the hallway of the complex, headed for the bar.

" You really are..." Coe searched for the word. " ......daring aren't you."

" Yep. Say, I might head into town for a brief while, check out the local scenery. Want to join me?" Jamson asked the question and Coe thought for a while.

" No, I dont think so, I might fill up what little daylight is left skiing, Ive really got to catch up with the rest of the group and see whats happening."

" Okay, well I will see you later." Jamson took the corridor leading of to the right that was marked with " Transport area " and Coe continued out of the complex, being smacked with the cold air instantly. He looked around and stared up at the slopes that stood before him. Noticing the runs and the people on them. He picked up his ski's from the rack where he left them and headed for the lifts (an old earthly tradition that was preferred over direct transport to the site, Great view!) on the way he ran across quite a few members of the group. Deiran and Ti looked quite snug and so he decided to leave the challenge to Deiran for later. Next was Troy Blair, who tried to mumble something to Coe about a prank on Casey, but could not get it out very well due to laughter. Coe just nodded politely and walked off, leaving Blair to his giggling. It was good to see that everyone was enjoying themselves. Coe just hoped that wouldn't end. He caught up with Ensign Enquist and Lt Morris and decided to spend the remaining hour skiing with them.

**** 4 hours later, Coe's room at the Lodge ****

He heard the banging on the door long before he bothered to reply. This was supposed to be a holiday. The banging continued and Coe got up and quickly got into some civilian clothing, only enough to barely cover himself. The banging continued and Coe wondered why they didn't use the doorbell, then he remembered he had left it on "Do not disturb." He rubbed his eyes, not really caring about his personnel appearance at the time. He walked over and pushed the button next to the door. It opened and in front of him stood Ensign K'arta , a tear running down her cheek, despite obvious efforts to hold them back. The Ensign stopped her soft sobs and took notice of what Coe was wearing, giggling at the same time. Coe, remembering that he was dressed only in underclothes, moved back into his room, inviting the Ensign in at the same time and began to put some cloths on. Trying to comprehend what K'arta was saying at the same time.

" Sir, where is Commander Jamson?" She asked and Coe continued to get dressed whilst he answered.

" I hope your not upset about him, he has only gone into town, I was not expecting him back until late anyway?" Coe asked, fully dressed by now and he adjusted his attire to perfection as he stood opposite K'arta.

" No Sir. There has been a.........murder." Coe laughed out loud.

" I expected more of you Ensign, now you tell Lt Blair, that Im not a sucker to his infamous pranks and that if he ever wakes me up again I will personally depromote him. And I dont want you taking any more part in his ideals." Coe thought that he sounded like a school teacher, but didn't worry nonetheless.

" No Sir, Im serious, this is no joke. Kristen has been shot whilst with Liam." Coe could tell by the look on her face that she was serious. He paused for a moment digesting what had just been said.

" Damm! What the hells going on!! How could there be a murder here? We're on Holidays!"

" Okay." Coe calmed down somewhat.

" Sir, everyone is in the fire room, we are not sure what to do. We couldn't find Commander Jamson so we got you."

" Well then, lets head to the fire room.....

**** Fire Room ****

Coe entered the door with K'arta by his side. The room quietened and eyes turned on Coe.

" Okay what happened." Liam stepped forward, a slight pinkish mark on his head showed wear he had bled.

" We were up on the mountain and someone shot at us both, I was lucky enough to escape... I brought Kristens body back...with the hope that........" Liam broke down somewhat and was comforted by Ti. Coe nodded solemnly.

" Has anyone tried to contact Jamson?

" Yes Sir but he went into town and left his communicator in his room."

" Ensign....." Coe looked at the available faces " Mohler, I want you to find Jamson and get him back here. Use whatever means you deem necessary."

" Yes Sir." The ensign said this whilst he walked out the door.

" Lt Sterner." Coe scanned the area for the face.

" Sir."

" I want you to seal off that area and find out what happened. initiate a full investigation if necessary. Organise the security force accordingly."

" Yes Sir."

" Lt Dassaut. I want you to perform and autopsy on Kristen and find out what killed her."

" Yes Sir."

" Then..." Coe said sadly " Im putting you in charge of having her remains beamed back to the Galaxy."

"okay." Lt Dassaut walked out of the room with a long look on his face.

" Right people. We are all upset. But we can grieve Kristens death later. Now we need to put our emotions aside and find out who did this to her and why. Then we can all rest knowing, we bought these people to justice. Now, I want everyone to change back into starfleet uniform. It is going to be very hard for people here to accept us heading a criminal investigation in civilian clothing. Im sorry to break the news but is seems our holiday has just ended. Okay, get to work. Dismissed."

Everyone left the room. But Coe stopped Lt Ti and Lt Blair on the way out.

" Im going to need your help guys. I need to contact the Galaxy, inform them of our situation." The two officers nodded.

" There is a secure communications link in the registry room." Lt Ti added.

" Show me the way." Ti, followed by Coe and Blair, headed out the door toward the registry room. Whilst walking down the hallway, the group passed the lounge where Coe notice the new security Cadet sitting at the bar. Coe told Ti to wait and headed into the bar where Cadet Campell sat lonely and upset and he stared at his drink whilst he sat alone in the bar. Coe moved in.

" Cadet Campell." At the mention of his name, he looked up and seemed enlightened by Coe's presence.

" There has been a murder, I dont have time to explain, get the relevant details from Lt Blair. Now, you are eager to prove yourself. Well here is your first assignment. After learning of our position. I want you to find out who, here at the resort, would have such a motive. I want a list drawn up and given to me by 22:00 hours. Understood?"

" Yes Commander." He hurried out the door, eagerness in his every stride.

Coe and Ti continued down the hallway where they came across the registry room. Coe entered and sat down at the empty terminal. Punching in his required starfleet authorisation codes he sat and waited for the link to be established. Lt Ti leaned over his shoulder to get a view of the screen, her long blonde hair falling in his face as she did it. Coe moved her hair so he could see. After a moment the screen flickered and the face of Captain Price and the rest of the bridge lit up the screen.

" Ah, Commander Coe, Lt Ti. I hope your enjoying your holiday." Although he smiled Coe could tell that something was upsetting the Captain greatly.

" Captain, There has been a murder." The Captain looked dumbstruck. Finally gathering himself, the Captain looked like he was ready to cry. Instead he just softly spoke.

" Well..... It seems your not the only ones........."

Ryan still had the memories in his mind... the memories of being told of another murder. The entire crew that was on at the lodge was there... He thought of Liam and his friend Kristen, up on this very mountain. Just walking along, having a good time, and then having someone shoot at the both of them.

His emotions ran hot and cold. He wanted to find the person responsable for the murder, and bring them in. But also, Ryan wondered who could of possibly attacked a group of unarmed civilians?!

That was why he was where he was. On this snowy, windy mountain with half a dozen other security officers, searching for information. Lt. Sterner had put him in charge of the scene up here. He had followed orders, and helped seal up the area.

Now, a number of Ensigns and himself were crawling over every inch of the scene with their tricorders.

Somewhere in the back of his mind, he was thinking that this was a needle in a hay-stack deal. Not even footprints would have remained on this snowy peak.

The sun began to set...In and out of the brush the security team moved... all seemed hopeless. They had been searching for over three hours, and the early stages of hypothermia were settling in on some of the younger officers.

Quall made the decision that it was time to get back to the lodge for today. It was not worth risking more lives. There was always tomorrow.

He tapped his communicator: "Ok team. Head back. All of you stay in at least a group of four for safety." Some of the security officers that were in Quall's sight turned and nodded their acknowledgement.

Quall sighed, as he turned to leave. It was then that he noticed something... something that set of all the alarm bells in his mind. Quall recorded it with his tricorder. He had to get this information back to Lt. Sterner... fast!

Quall turned and headed back at a fast jogging pace. "Quall to Lt. Sterner.", he said, tapping his com badge. "I have got something you have to see..."

Lt. Jg. Quall
Assistant Cheif of Security
USS Galaxy

Punching in his required Starfleet authorization codes he sat and waited for the link to be established. Lieutenant Ti leaned over his shoulder to get a view of the screen, her long blonde hair falling in his face as she did it. Coe moved her hair so he could see. After a moment the screen flickered and the face of Captain Price and the rest of the bridge lit up the screen.

" Ah, Commander Coe, Lieutenant Ti. I hope your enjoying your holiday." Although he smiled Coe could tell that something was upsetting the Captain greatly.

" Captain, There has been a murder." The Captain looked dumb struck. Finally gathering himself, the Captain looked like he was ready to cry. Instead he just softly spoke.

" Well..... It seems your not the only ones, there have been three unexplained deaths on board the Galaxy since you left. Who was murdered Commander?"

"Three deaths? My god! What's going on here?" Coe was stunned when he heard the news.

"It's under control Commander." The Captain lied. "Now tell me, who was murdered?"

"Sorry Sir. A Civilian. A woman named Kristen Snow. She was our tour guide Captain. She was shot with a phaser. Liam was too, but he's going to be all right."

"I see Commander. Be sure to notify the local authorities. They have jurisdiction there. I expect you will cooperate fully with the local government in resolving this... situation. No heroics Commander. Understood?"

Commander Coe nodded. He knew the Captain had to state the obvious, but he also knew the man who was his commanding officer. He'd not expect them to do nothing. But in Starfleet, it's sometimes necessary to cover all bases. Besides, right now the Captain had his own crisis to deal with. "I understand Captain. I will keep you informed. Coe out."

The end trans logo popped up on the monitor as the transmission ended.

Lieutenant Ti brushed back her hair, tucking it behind her ear as she looked at Commander Coe. "What now sir?"

K'arta finally got the lights and showers working, but all of her clothes and bedding were soaked. House keeping was learning to hate the Galaxy crew.

Ronni decided to go back skiing again. while K'arta dried her clothes, both plotting revenge on Troy. She caught up with Ensign Enquist and then Commander Coe joined them. They made three runs. On the third pass, Commander Coe pointed out two Ferengis with a beautiful human female. One of the Ferengis had a little box in his hands. The Ferengis looked so comical in their giant ear muffs, and the woman was wearing clothes almost too light for this cold climate. The trio was staring at the three Starfleet officers.

Commander Coe said, "I wonder what she sees in them?"

Ronni nudged him and said, "Why? Do you want her to come over and snuggle up to you?"

They all laughed and headed for the transporter lift. When they got to the top, Ensign Enquist turned to Commander Coe and said "Where's Lt. Morris?"

Commander Coe looked around "She was the first to beam up here. Maybe she wants a race!"

"Well then let's give her one!" and with a laugh, Ensign Enquist swooshed down the hill.

*******

Twenty minutes later, Ronni woke up in a holding cell. From the low ceilings and sweeping arches, she deduced that she was aboard a Ferengi Maurader.

The two Ferengis from the mountain stood next to the beautiful human female. "Welcome Delphinian. Make yourself comfortable, you're going to be here a while." the first Ferengi said with a sneer. The human female walked up and tilted her head first one direction and then the other. She said, "If you need anything, just ask. My name is Alice 296." From behind her, two more women walked up. They looked identical to the first woman. Around their necks, they wore little necklaces. The first necklace said "171" and the second said "23".

Ronni sat back on the bunk with a thud. "I think I'm in trouble" she thought.

"What can you tell me about the deaths so far Doctor?"

[Well, first of all, only the causes. Ensign Tailor was killed when his body spontaneous combustion. Nurse DuMont was killed as a result of a forcefield accident. In the latter, the forcefield simply collapsed, until it burnt her flesh off.]

Ensign Paran cringed slightly at this, but went on, "Aren't the forcefields not meant to do that, if there is a lifeform inside?"

[I'm not sure, but I'd say not. After all, the forcefields in sickbay are meant to restrain someone, not burn all their skin away.]

"Thank you Doctor. Where is Lieutenant Chiron?"

[I have no idea. It seems he has left without telling anyone. I'm concerned. His condition is.. well... I don't know about his condition. The tests we've been running haven't revealed anything so far, and now he's gone missing.]

"Dr, who was in sickbay at the time of both deaths?"

[Well, in the first case, no one other than Lieutenant Chiron, as far as I am aware, but in the second, there was a security officer here, just before Nurse DuMont was killed.]

"Thank you doctor. You've been most helpful."

Ensign Paran headed from sickbay to security to continue working. He found Ensign Mulich gone, and no one on duty at the moment. He got to work on the computer. His search revealed that sickbay's forcefields had to be overridden to hurt anyone, and then only with access codes, which could be traced. Therefore, he reached one of two conclusions. Either the forcefields in sickbay where malfunctioning, or else someone overrode the forcefield. ~Time to start a search for these access codes~ he thought. ~However, I should not overlook the possibility of a forcefield malfunction.~ He taped his commbadge.

"Ensign Paran to Lt. Kane. Could you send someone to inspect the forcefields in Sickbay. They may be malfunctioning. If so, then take them off line for repairs please."

[Okay, I'll get that done. Why didn't Lt. Hutchcraft ask for it to be done?]

"I didn't know he was here?"

[Yes, he's just paged me.]

"Right, thank you very much. I'll speak to him later if I can."

Paran then rose and looked over to Hutchcraft's office. Sure enough, he was in there, looking at a screen. He'd missed him in there when he came in. He went over to the door and knocked. Hutchcraft shouted come in and he entered.

[Ahh, Ensign Paran. What can I do for you?]

"Well sir. About these deaths. I may be getting somewhere with them. I've found out a fair bit about the second death, of Nurse DuMont. The forcefield that killed her cannot ordinarily be used in that way, without access codes. However, there could be a malfunction with the forcefield generator, so I'm having Lt. Kane look that over."

[Good work. He's told you about the third death then?]

"No?"

Hutchcraft goes on to outline the third death of Lieutenant Cval outside the ship. Then he told him about the meeting at 18.00 hours for all officers involved in the deaths. Finally, he asked if Lt. Chiron had been questioned yet.

"No sir, you see, he's gone missing as well. I think we should put out a search for him. I'm a bit worried that we may find he's number 4?"

[Ok Ensign, here's what I want you to do, first get some rest. You've been on since Gamma shift, so relax. Next, come back at 18.00 hours for this meeting. I'll deal with searching for any false play with the forcefields. Now, get lost.]

"Yes sir."

Ensign Paran headed out of security to rest for the remaining of the time to get some sleep in his quarters. He didn't like the way things where going, and he was sure another body would turn up soon. Perhaps Lt. Chiron's.

Steven

"Yes Sir." The ensign said this whilst he walked out the door.

"'Use whatever means you deem necessary.' I haven't killed something in about a month. I just might have to now." thought Ensign Mohler. He walked the streets and walked into the only building of interest: a bar. When he entered, he found Commander Jamson sitting a the far table. "Commander, you are to come with me."

"Why don't you have a drink before we go back, Ensign..." Jamson didn't recognize the ensign. Probably because Jamson only came up to Mohler's chest.

"I don't drink. Besides, it's urgent. You need to come with me now." Jamson could see the urgency in the Ensign's voice. He put down his drink and got up to leave. Just as they reached the door, a pair of Naussagans stepped in front of them.

"Going somewhere, human? I don't want you to leave before I have a chance to get to know you." The leader of the pair addressed Commander Jamson, obviously not noticing Mohler.

Mohler wasn't going to allow a stranger stand there and insult his commanding officer. Call it warrior's pride. "Look, bud, unless you want to get intimate with the floor, move aside." The entire bar burst out laughing. Just as Andreas was enjoying his sudden popularity with the locals, he saw a fist strike the face of his Commander.

Mohler grabbed the two naussagans by the throat and lifted them off the floor. "Look, guys, I warned you. Normally, I would shatter every bone in your puny little bodies, but since I'm in a hurry. I'll go easy on you." Mohler threw the two against the wall. He helped Jamson to his feet and walked out the door, making sure he stepped on the naussagans on his way out. Just as he was leaving, he noticed a Ferengi in the corner of the bar that looked disappointedover something. Mohler and Jamson returned to the resort and started searching for Lt. Commander Coe.

Jonathan Hanover
Ensign Andreas Mohler
ae238@seorf.ohiou.edu
E-mail me, or die a slow and painful death

"Kristen has been murdered. We all meeting in the Fire Room."

"Oh no. Let me go get changed. You stay here." She went back into the sleeping chambers and changed into some clothes. She didn't bother taking the time to pull her hair up. She rejoined Deiran, took Deiran's arm, and they headed towards the Fire Room.

They walked in just a moment ahead of Coe. He started barking orders. Even though the thought was unappropiate she couldn't help thinking how much good the autopsy was going to do; it was obvious that she had been shot and that caused her death. Coe ordered everybody to go and change into uniform. Everybody got up to leave. Coe stopped her and Blair.

"I'm going to need your help guys, I need to contact the Galaxy, inform them of our situation." Ti nodded.

"There is a secure communications link in the registry office," she responded.

"Show me" Ti lead the two men toward the registry office. As they walked past the bar Coe spotted the new cadet.

"Wait up, I want to get Cadet Campbell." Soon they were on their way again. Coe sat down at the terminal. She leaned over him to get a better view. He grabbed a lock of her hair that had fallen into his face and pushed it back over her shoulder.

The situation on the galaxy was far worse than their situation. Captain Price tried to hide his emotions but he couldn't hide them well enough so that Ti couldn't pick up on them. She tucked her hair behind her ear. This was not good at all. The conversation was short. Nobody really wanted to talk about it.

"Commander, we all should get some sleep. We are not good for anything if we are exhusted. A night sleep will help us think clearly. Right now everybody is stricken with the murder. We can begin at first light. Besides what can we do now?" Ti could tell Coe wanted to start right now and work non-stop until the murder was solved but that he saw the wisdom in what she had said. He thought it over a few minutes.

"Okay Lieutenant. First light at the very latest." They headed back to the Fire room.

K'arta looked up at Coe when they entered the room. "Sir, have you seen Ronni? None of us has since this afternoon and she wasn't at her room." Ti's heart sunk. The situation had just gotten worse.

Everyone was pondering over what was said when there was a knock on the door.

Commander Jamson looked at Coe, who looked at Sterner. "You guys..." Sterner said as he got up and opened the door.

Everyone was surprised to see two Ferengi and a gorgeous blond woman standing there. Sterner, Coe and Jamson immediately recognized them from the ski slopes.

"Hello hue-mon. May we come inside?" The first Ferengi said as he adjusted his thermal jacket to keep the cold out.

"Yes. We have some information for you hue-mons. IMPORTANT information..." the second Ferengi's voice trailed off as he waited for Sterner's response.

Joerg looked skeptically at the two Ferengi and the expressionless woman wearing a skin tight ski suit and a smile. With the events of the day so far, he didn't want to take any chances.

"What information? You can tell me now, right here." His voice was firm, commanding, that of the Chief of Security of a Starship.

The first Ferengi shook his head. "It's far too involved to discuss in public hue-mon. If you don't want to learn what we know, then we will go elsewhere..."

As the first Ferengi begins to leave, the second one adds, "You tell him Thom. We won't wait in the cold for any hue-mon."

Both Ferengi turn to leave. One grabbing the arm of the beautiful blonde who just stood there smiling the whole time. Lieutenant Sterner had to find out what they knew.

"Wait. Okay, you can come in." he finally conceded.

With a victorious smile, the Ferengi and the woman strode into the lodge as Sterner closed the door.

"What is this all about?" Jamson asked.

The Ferengi proceeded to walk over to the fireplace and rub their hands together near the flames, warming them. The blonde just stood there motionless, smiling at everyone in the room like some kind of beauty queen contestant.

"Ah a fire, good! I don't understand what pleasure you hue-mons get out of such a cold place as this." Thom commented.

"We understand you hue-mons have lost something." The second Ferengi said with a smirk on his face.

Coe and Sterner both looked at each other, then back at Jamson. Everyone in the room had figured out what the Ferengi had meant, but not what Jamson was going to do.

He let out a scream as he jumped to his feet and grabbed the smirking Ferengi. The big eared alien's eyes grew wide with fright as Jamson picked him up off his feet and slammed him into the wall.

"What do you mean!? What have you done with Lieutenant Morris!? Where is she!?" Jamson was shaking and slamming him back into the wall with each question.

The other Ferengi objected. "Unhand him hue-mon! The Delphinian woman is unharmed,... so far hue-mon, but if..."

The other Ferengi never finished his sentence before Sterner and Coe grabbed him as well.

"..what are you doing? You can't..." his legs were kicking back and forth while each of them held him up by one of his arms. "Alice help!"

Only now did the gorgeous blond with the beauty queen like smile move. She casually walked over to where Coe and Sterner were struggling with the Ferengi and, with a smile, wound up and smacked Lieutenant Sterner with the back of her hand.

Everyone's eyes grew wide as the Chief of Security went flying across the room, flipping head over heals as he cleared the couch.

Commander Coe released the Ferengi while he grabbed for the woman, but she was too quick, easily counter grabbing his wrist with one hand and his throat with the other. Still smiling like a beauty queen, she slowly picks the Commander up off of his feet with the one hand. As Coe struggles against the incredible strength of the woman, he gasps for air as he notices the illuminated badge affixed to her neck. "102".

It was an impressive sight, this woman holding the Lieutenant Commander in one hand, but Ensign Mohler wasn't going to let her get away with it. He approached her while making a fist with his metallic hand, winding up and letting loose to her mid section.

It was a solid blow, but it didn't even seem to phase the woman as she tilted her head slightly, still smiling that mannequin grin as she turned and threw Coe's coughing body at him. Mohler struggled to catch the Commander, but the momentum toppled them both to the ground.

On the other side of the couch, Lieutenant Sterner shook off the android's blow, wiping a trickle of blood from his busted lip. Reaching into his pant leg, he pulls out an old, antique type I phaser he keeps as a backup. Leveling it, he fires, striking the woman's mid section.

Sparks fly as she falls backwards, sitting on the floor like a broken marionette. Eyes glassy and still smiling. Her head twitching in a very mechanical motion every so often.

"No! you've ruined her!" Yells the second Ferengi as he scurries to his feet and makes his way to the sparking Alice unit.

Jamson glances over his shoulder, and smiles a twisted grin as his attention returns to Thom whom he still is holding. "We'll be ruining more than that if you two don't start talking NOW!"

A deep, masculine voice booms out from the Alice unit, her mouth now gaping open. "ENOUGH! Unhand the Ferengi or Lieutenant Rr'lonii Morris dies."

A look of hesitation crosses Commander Jamson's face. He thinks how easy it would be to break this Ferengi's neck. Snap it like a stick. Its' what he wants to do. He feels Joerg's hand rest on his shoulder.

"Let him go sir. This may be Ronni's only chance."

Jamson looks at Sterner, and finally releases the Ferengi, allowing him to drop to the floor.

As everyone turns around to face the sitting Alice unit, her eyes begin to glow. Soon a holographic image appears in the center of the room. Both Ferengi grovel on the floor, bowing to the figure.

It is a man standing proudly. He's wearing shinny black boots which rise up to billowy tan trousers. The trousers are held up by a thick, shinny black belt with brass looking fasteners. Further up, a flowing shirt covered in ruffles of white fabric offset by a shinny dark vest. He looks to be a muscular man, maybe in his late twenties or early thirties. He wears a giant black mustache, and on top of his head, an Australian style cowboy hat, one side pinned up flat and secured by a decorative band.

Jamson turned and looked at the image of the man from toe to head. Still mad over the abduction of Lieutenant Morris, "Who the hell are you?"

Placing his hands on his hips in a defiant, "Superman" pose, he grinned. "The name is Mudd. Harcort Fenton Mudd. And if you ever want to see Ronni alive again, you'll do exactly as I say."

'Hello, Ensign Leary. Is there a problem?'

Tesik Leary had always had a problem with the way that Vulcans always seemed to jump right to the point... [But I guess they make good Counselors...]

'No, sir, just working on installing this new ODN line... Almost done, as a matter of fact.'

'Good.' And with that one word, the Vulcan disappeared into his quarters.

Leary shook his head... 'Vulcans.' Then he closed up the access port, picked up his tools, and headed for the Turbolift.

As he turned the corner to the Turbolift hallway, he thought he saw a figure hunched over the controls. When he saw who it was, he smiled.

'Hello, sir, glad to see ya!'

'Greetings, Ensign. Would you like to see some modifications I have made to the Turbolift?'

'Sure.'

The doors opened, and the Ensign found himself looking at an empty tube. 'Where's the Turbolift, sir?'

'It's there, you just need a closer look.'

The Ensign put down his tools, and leaned in.

With one swift gesture, the officer knocked the other off balance, and Leary fell screaming to the bottom of the tube.

********

'Daddy, can I get a stuffed animal from the Repil.... repiluh....'

'Replimat?'

'Yeah... the Rep... luh... mat!'

'Sure, just as soon as we get to Deck...'

Suddenly, a large thudding sound came from the roof of the lift, then the Turbolift screeched to a halt.

'Daddy, what was that?'

'I don't know, honey, I'll take a look. Computer, open the hatch.'

The hatch opened, the Burly human climbed up to the access hatch and pulled himself into the shaft. To his left, he saw the remains of a man wedged in between the wall and the lift.

'Whaddaya see, whaddaya see?'

Murphy groaned. This was going to be hard to explain. He climbed back into the lift, closed the hatch, and ordered the computer to go down to the next level. He heard the repetitive thumps of the body being released, then caught again, then finally they emerged from the Turbolift.

Murphy knelt down and looked his daughter in the eye. 'Carrie, honey, you go on to the Replimat and choose what toy you want, I'll be right there.'

'OK.' She gave him a big hug around the neck, and ran off.

As soon as he was out of earshot, he tapped his comm pin.

'Lt. Murphy to Captain Price...'

[Price here, go ahead]

'I think you'd better see this... It seems that someone got stuck in the shaft.'

--Family is the greatest thing a man can have--
-The Schizoid Man

The members of the vacationing Galaxy crew looked at each other as the hologram image spoke. All were thinking the same thing, "Mudd? Who is he and why has he taken Ronni?" They wouldn't have to wait very long before getting an answer.

"Lord Mudd, we have done as you have asked. These are the Federation hue-mons that are friends with the blue woman." One of the bowing Ferengi pleaded with the image.

"Silence fool! I will deal with you two later." Harry snapped, silencing his groveling Ferengi servants.

"What have you done with Lieutenant Morris? Why have you taken her? What gives you the right?" It was K'arta. She was upset and angry that her friend had been taken against her will. Her Klingon temper was beginning to bubble to the surface. Lieutenant Ti placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to calm her down a bit.

Harry brushed his hand over his mustache before answering the question. "Your friend is safe. For now. She will remain that way as long as you all cooperate and do exactly what is expected of you."

Stepping forward, Commander Jamson crosses his arms and angrily says, "And what exactly are you expecting us to do Mudd?"

Harry tosses Jamson a look before answering. "There is a planet near by called Draxor III, are you familiar with it?"

Jamson was too angry to think straight. He still wanted to beat the information out of the puny Ferengi bodies. He glanced around the room.

"It's in the Draxor system in the Moudini sector I believe." Lieutenant Ti stated.

Mudd nodded. "That's the place. There is a small refinement facility on that planet called the Tyrell Complex. All you need to do is go there and retrieve two one kilogram containers and return them here. Once my Ferengi associates are in possession of the merchandise, I will see that Lieutenant Rr'lonii Morris is returned to you unharmed."

"That seems like an awfully lot of trouble to go through to get two containers mister... What's inside them? Liquid latinum?" Mohler was purposely being sarcastic as he stood there next to Lieutenant Coe.

"No. It would be processed Trilithium resin if I'm not mistaken." Everyone's attention turned back to the Romulan woman, Ensign Shanika. As she noticed everyone looking at her she quickly added, "The Tyrell Complex is a Federation run refinement facility. A lot of the toxic Trilithium resin residue from Federation Starships is sent to the facility for processing and refinement. I wrote an article on it while at Starfleet Academy. It's a high security facility..."

"Trilithium resin? My god, that stuff is highly unstable. As far as I know, it's only practical use is as an explosive." Sterner said in a concerned tone as he looked back at the projection of Mudd.

"Never you mind about what it will be used for. Your job is simply to get 2 kilograms of the processed compound and deliver it to the Ferengi within 36 hours. If you fail...." Harry drew out the sentence with a long, dramatic pause to emphasize his point. "...You'll never see miss Morris again."

Everyone glanced at each other in the room. They were unsure of what to do.

"How do we know Ronni is still alive? How do we know you haven't all ready harmed her?" Again K'arta's Klingon side started poking through as she struggled to maintain her composure.

"How dare you question Lord Mudd's word hue-mon!" Thom retorts as he's kneeling on the floor next to the other Ferengi. "If Lord Mudd says your blue friend will not be harmed, he means it!"

Harry smiles, again playing with his mustache. "A loyal lot, these Ferengi... and so easily pleased once you know what they are after... Thirty six hours, no more. Thom and Queg will contact you once you have the merchandise. And don't get any ideas about contacting Starfleet for assistance or your blue friend will pay the price for your mistake!"

The hologram projection faded as the transmission ended. The sparking Alice 102 unit still sat there with it's mouth wide open and it's limbs twitching involuntarily every so often.

The two Ferengi got up to their feet as they rubbed their hands together, as if anticipating the receipt of some huge profit.

"So hue-mons, you now know what is expected from you. After you have successfully retrieved the merchandise from the Tyrell Complex on Draxor III, you will return here, to this lodge." Thom said with a 'Cheshire cat' grin.

"Yes... we will be watching. We will know when you have returned. You have 36 hours. Until then..." Queg added as he and the other Ferengi moved near the disabled Alice 102 unit Sterner shot earlier. Before anything else could be said, all three of them dematerialized in a transporter beam. They were gone.

"So, have you decided how you are going to get Troy Blair?" Ronni asked mischeviously.

"I think I'm going to mess with the teleporter. The next time he tries to transport from the foot of the mountain to any run, he will be with out one of the most important things." K'arta grinned as she told her plan.

"Really? What? His clothes?" Ronni asked with an evil look on her face.

"No--although that would be very interesting--" K'arta's eyes were dancing, "I think he'll arrive at the top with out his left ski."

"How are you going to do that?" Ronni asked, her brows furrowed.

"Well, just plant a bug on the ski and program the 'porter not to take anything containg that. It's pretty simple." K'arta ended, smiling.

"Nice. I'm impressed, Ms. Security Officer. When are you going to do this?" Ronni asked.

"I already did." K'arta said laughing.

"Awesome. Well, I think I'm going on one more run before I turn in, wanna join me?" Ronni asked.

"Sounds good. I need to change first." K'arta answered standing.

"All right. Meet you here in 15 minutes?" Ronni asked as they left.

"You bet!" Ronni and K'arta parted in front of their rooms.

Just as K'arta was calling for the lights she heard Ronni scream. She ran out of the room not noticing that her shower had turned on instead of the lights.

"Ronni! What's wrong?" K'arta wanted to know.

"He's DEAD!" She exlaimed to the perplexed Klingon.

"What do you mean?" K'arta said, then she saw the marbles. "Oh, my..." her voice trailed off. Just then it clicked in her mind that her lights hadn't come on when she asked for them. She ran back to her room to find water spilling out of her shower.

"ARRGGHHH!!!" K'arta exclaimed. "He's going to get it! Computer! Turn the shower off!" The lights came on instead and K'arta growled. Ronni laughed at her and returned to her room to clean out the marbles. Almost two hours later Ronni had gotten her room clean and K'arta had straightened out most of the commands. Ronni was going to go ahead and go skiing, but K'arta decided to stay and try to dry her clothes. After a while she got bored and returned to the lounge. There she found Cadet Christopher Campbell.

"Hello. I'm K'arta." she introduced herself to the young man.

"Hi. Chris Campbell." He returned.

"You're in security aren't you?" she thought she'd seen him with Sterner earlier.

"Yes. I'm a cadet." he smiled sheepishly.

"Ah, yes. I remember now. I'm security also. I'm usually on Beta shift though." K'arta spoke.

"Really? That's neat." Before they could talk further Liam entered carrying the body of Kristen Snow. A medical staff quickly closed in around the pair, but K'arta tried to get close to hear what was said. She heard that Kristen was shot and so was Liam. This made her angry. She was a security officer. She should have been there to protect him. Then she remembered she was on vacation, but it still made her angry. She ran to find someone to help. She ended up pounding on Coe's door. He had turned his doorbell off and she was almost to the point of demanding security clearance to enter when he answered the door. It slid open to reveal him clad in only a pair of briefs. Very brief briefs. K'arta saw him and had to laugh a little.

"Sir, where is Commander Jamson?" She asked as Coe dressed.

"I hope you're not upset about him, he has only gone into town, I was not expecting him back until late anyway?" Coe replied. K'arta narrowed her eyes at him.

"No, sir. There has been a. . . Murder." K'arta informed him of the earlier event. He just laughed.

"I expected more of you, Ensign. Now you tell Lt. Blair that I'm not a sucker to his infamous pranks and that if he ever wakes me up again I will personally demote him. And I don't want you taking any more part in his ordeals." Coe lectured her as she got angrier with that speech.

"No, Sir, I'm serious. This is no joke. Kristen has been shot while with Liam." Her face was deadly serious. Coe then seemed to realize this.

"Damn! What the hell's going on? How could there be a murder here? We're on holidays!" He said. "Okay" he said as he calmed down.

"Sir, every one is in the fire room..." K'arta said as he got up and led the way out.

Coe quickly took charge. Ti showed him to a secure com link where he contacted the captain. K'arta didn't see Ronni there, so she went to her room. She pressed the doorbell but no one answered. She pressed it again and then tried to contact her on the com system. She had no luck. K'arta then started to worry about her friend. She pressed in the security override and entered Ronni's room. Her blue-skinned friend had not been back from skiing. There were even a few stray marbles. Panicing, K'arta tried to contact her again with no luck. She returned to the fire room and asked a few people if they had seen Ronni. No one had.

K'arta looked up at Coe when they entered the room. "Sir, have you seen Ronni? None of us has since this afternoon and she wasn't at her room."

Just then two Ferengi and a tall blond woman enter. They claim that they know where Ronni is. Commander Jamson returned about that time also. He and Sterner manhandled the two Ferengi before K'arta could get to them. She was very angry that they claimed to have kidnapped her friend. Then the blond woman that was with them attacked the two officers. Sterner was thrown across the room then someone fired a phaser at the android female.

As everyone turns around to face the sitting Alice unit, her eyes begin to glow. Soon a holographic image appears in the center of the room. Both Ferengi grovel on the floor, bowing to the figure.

It is a man standing proudly. He's wearing shinny black boots which rise up to billowy tan trousers. The trousers are held up by a thick, shinny black belt with brass looking fasteners. Further up, a flowing shirt covered in ruffles of white fabric offset by a shinny dark vest. He looks to be a muscular man, maybe in his late twenties or early thirties. He wears a giant black mustache, and on top of his head, an Australian style cowboy hat, one side pinned up flat and secured by a decorative band.

"Who the hell are you?" Commander Jamson exclaimed.

Placing his hands on his hips in a defiant, "Superman" pose, he grinned. "The name is Mudd. Harcort Fenton Mudd. And if you ever want to see Ronni alive again, you'll do exactly as I say." The members of the vacationing Galaxy crew looked at each other as the hologram image spoke. All were thinking the same thing, "Mudd? Who is he and why has he taken Ronni?" They wouldn't have to wait very long before getting an answer.

"Lord Mudd, we have done as you have asked. These are the Federation hue-mons that are friends with the blue woman." One of the bowing Ferengi pleaded with the image.

"Silence fool! I will deal with you two later." Harry snapped, silencing his groveling Ferengi servants.

"What have you done with Lieutenant Morris? Why have you taken her? What gives you the right?" It was K'arta. She was upset and angry that her friend had been taken against her will. Her Klingon temper was beginning to bubble to the surface. Lieutenant Ti placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to calm her down a bit.

K'arta did not want to be calmed down. She wanted her friend back. If it was one thing she valued most in the universe it was friendship. She had never really had any true friends that she would risk life and limb for until now. Ronni was one of the few K'arta was willing to kill or die for. She didn't hear much of the conversation through her rage. Somehow she controlled her Klingon temper and managed not to rip the Ferengi's heads from their short little bodies. Eventually she noticed the blood dripping from her palms from her fingernails. She did not go to a medic because if she did it would be the same as admitting that she was weak. Instead she bandaged her own hands in order to remember the vow she made to herself that Ronni would not be harmed.

Erin
AKA
Ensign K'arta-Security Officer-USS Galaxy
Ensign Sonayan Kel-Security Officer-USS Crusader
Lt.Commander Shea Lorran-Head of Security/Tactical-USS Freedom