Liam

"Well, O.K. If you think so." K'arta said hesitantly.

Ronni gave her a friendly shove and said, "Go on!" She then returned to her room and dropped off her bag. She took a good long drink and an even longer bath. She then changed into a baggy outfit that she had picked up on Earth and went over to K'arta's room.

The two of them went down to the restaurant in the hotel and sat and talked over everything that happened since the vacation began. Several times people came over and Ronni explained what happened to her and the with the androids, and she happily told everyone who asked.

K'arta and Ronni talked until sunrise and laughed and cried about everything.

After their successful mission, they concluded the 'Operation Ronni' by handing over the trilithium to the Ferengi. In return Ronni was set free and everything seemed well, accept for the murder of Kristen Snow. She was shot by a phaser just before the events with this Lord Mudd started. Joerg was still wondering if there was a connection between these two incidents. Joerg turned to Liam.

"Have you heard anything from the local authorities yet?" he asked Liam.

"No, nothing at all. It looks like they haven't found anything." Liam answered.

"Well, I'll try contacting them anyway." Joerg said and walked away to the nearest comm-terminal.

He pressed some buttons and shortly after the image of Brian Spencer, the local constable, appeared on the screen.

"Yes, want can I do for you?" he asked, not sounding very friendly.

"My name is Lieutenant Sterner, chief of security on the USS Galaxy. I'm member of a group, who wanted to take their vacation on this planet. Unfortunately our holiday was interrupted by the murder of a certain Kristen Snow. Now I was wondering if there is any clue of the murderer yet." Joerg told him.

"Well Lieutenant, for now we only have a suspect and no prove at all. But .."

"But perhaps you could use a hand in helping you find the missing evidence?" Joerg asked knowing that murder is not very common in such a resort.

"Ok chief, perhaps you find that clue we were looking for days. Meet me at my office in ten minutes. Spencer out." and with that he closed the connection.

Joerg returned to the rest of the crew and gathered his security team around him.

"The local authorities were unable to find some hard evidence that would lead to the murderer of Kristen. I therefore will meet with Constable Spencer and discuss this matter. Cadet Campbell will accomplish me on this one. Lieutenant Quall will take the rest of the team and return to the crime scene. Search every tree, scan every bit of snow, anything could hide the clue we are looking for. After the meeting with the constable I'll meet you there. Ok let's move."

After that Joerg and Christopher left for the constable's office.

********************* Five minutes later *********************

They found the office rather easily and were already expected by the constable.

"Lieutenant, come in and take a seat." he nearly friendly greeted them.

Joerg and Christopher did as he said and started talking about the case.

"What are your conclusions so far, Constable?" Joerg started to ask.

"As I already told you, we have a suspect but no evidence that could prove him to be the murderer." Spencer repeated.

"And who is this suspect?" Joerg asked.

"A certain Mr. Henry Bates, his claims he was Ms. Snow's fiance."

"Where is he now?" Cadet Campbell asked.

"He is still in one of our holding cells, do you want to talk to him?" Spencer asked them both.

"If that's possible." Joerg replied.

Without answering Constable Spencer stood up and gestured them to follow. They shortly arrived at the complex's holding area and Spencer typed his security code into one of the consoles to open the door. They all entered and Spencer pointed towards one of the cells.

"That's him, over there."

"Do you mind if I ask him some questions?" Joerg asked politely.

"No prob, just go ahead Lieutenant."

Joerg and Christopher approached the cell. While Joerg posed some questions about his relationship with Ms. Snow and his alibi, Christopher noticed something strange. On Mr. Bates red jacket one of his lower buttons was missing. He thought that this could mean nothing at all and decided not to tell Lieutenant Sterner about it for now. After he asked all his questions and having not found a single clue to Mr. Bates guilt or innocence, Joerg decided they should visit the crime scene.

"We'll now go to the crime scene. Do you come with us?" Joerg asked the Constable.

"No, I can't, but I'll send you two of my men there so that you can keep looking for the evidence without being disturbed by the locals. Good hunting." Spencer added ironically.

After that Joerg and Christopher left the office and headed for the crime scene.

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

Ensign Thomas Enquist was back in his skiing outfit. The whole dirty business with the Kidnapping of Ronni, and the theft of the trilithium, was over. And so, it seems, the ‘relaxing vacation’. Thomas just had to go for another ski tour down the slope before being transported up again.

"Anybody feeling up to a little trip to the slopes tomorrow? I really need to try these pair of skis out, and, after all, we are here for the snow, right? We just have to find the murderer first, and that should be simple, in comparison to what we have been through!"

Several weary heads turned, some even sighed. "Ok, don’t all of you volunteer at once, we might be having more than one day left of the vacation." Thomas saw some smiles on the faces but most of them just nodded. "Ok, I will try again tomorrow, if anybody is interested, ask me, we Swedes love the snow, and I just don’t want to go all by myself."

Thomas picked up a piece of sharpened stick, stabbed a fat sausage with it, and held it out into the faltering fire, to make himself a vacationers meal.

"Computer begin recording personal log." the computer beeped giving Harris the 'green light' to speak.

"Ensign Harris, Personal Log."

" I have finished my personal touches aboard ship. I have spend all last night reviewing the logs... ::smiles:: I wish I had one more day to prepare....this is the FIRST galaxy class starship. The only predesecor before the Enterprise. When I was looking at the PADD last night I almost swore I saw Andreas face in it ::looks down:: ever since that fire aboard Deep Space 12, I have never been the same. I know I have to go on...and I am, however the pressures are somewhat increasing...I hope I can get my mind off of it once I start duty in two hours. All these things happening have been one huge rush. It's just now coming to me where I am, my fellow officers, just...everything. if I had more time I would see the counselor on board. I am sure dad is out there on his frieghter having a field day. teasing all the crew how is is going to retire, he's in there for life, he knows it, and I know it, so do most of he people on the ARMADA. I wish mom was here to see this ::looks extremly uncomfortable:: "

Harris tapped a button, leaned back and rubbed his temples.

"Better get to work.."Harris saidGetting up and putting on the rest of his uniform and heading out the door to the Turbolift.

Harris was walking down the corridor as he saw many other crew with thier hussling and bustling. He got somewhat nervous, eventhough he knew he shouldn't. As he walkied into Engieering he couldn't spot the Chief Engineer. Harris frowned and checked the file he had on his PADD. Suddenly he saw him. He straigtend slightly and headed over to him.

"Ensign Harris reporting for duty sir!" Harris said as he came almost to a full attention.

He watched as the CE turned and looked him over.

Captain Price and Lieutenant Mitchell walked into transporter room two. Chief Jensen was standing by at his station. He had just taken a big bite out of some kind of sandwich when the Captain walked in. Clumsily, he struggled to chew and swallow as he snapped to attention.

"Coptin!" Jensen bowed his head as his jaw started working double time, trying to munch down what he had just eaten.

Lieutenant Mitchell glanced over at the Captain who gave a slight grin as he reached for the Chief Transporter officer's drink, handing it to him.

"Thank you sir." Was Jensen's coy reply as he drank down some of the lemon aid, washing down the hastily eaten sandwich.

"Sorry Captain. I had to eat here at my post to make sure no one rematerialized Chiron until you were ready sir."

"That's okay Chief. What do we have here?" Captain Price motioned to Mitchell to come closer so Jensen could brief him as well.

Captain Price, Mitchell, and Jensen just looked at each other, then at the buffer where Chiron and this 'entity' were being held.

"Well sir, this is a graphic representation of Chiron's energy pattern that is presently stored in the transporter buffer. If we look at it compared to this previously recorded pattern, you can see the variations."

Price nodded. "Can you enhance the variations only and put them on screen?"

"Aye sir, that's already programmed." Jensen smiled as he tapped the controls to display the unexplained patterns only.

Mitchell leaned closer, "That looks like a complete pattern all right. It doesn't appear to be a corporal entity though. More like a gaseous one."

"Fascinating." The Captain commented. He then turned to Chief Jensen. "The previous pattern you used to compare Chiron's pattern to, can we use that to separate these two patterns and get Chiron back?"

"That was what I was thinking Captain, but it isn't quite that simple. Because the second creature, or whatever it is, is gaseous based, it will be difficult to distinguish between Chiron's energy patterns and the rest of them."

Mitchell was looking over the side of the controls and nodded as the Chief answered the Captain. "Maybe we could increase the scan resolution of the pattern differenciators. That, along with the established 'template' pattern, might be enough to let the transporter resolve the Lieutenant's pattern?"

Jensen's face lit up slightly. "That might work... if we can get enough resolution. But if not, Chiron's pattern might not be 100 percent accurate."

"Which means?" The Captain asked.

"Which means there might be side effects from the separation. Anything from a heavy case of shock to... a lot worse sir." Jensen's tone trailed of.

Captain Price looked at Jensen then at Mitchell for a second. He could remember when Chiron first stepped on board his Starship. The Tamarian was so eager to please the Captain and carry out his duty. "Do you think you can make this work gentlemen?"

Lieutenant Mitchell nodded. "Yes sir. It's Chiron's only hope."

Lee closed his eyes and nodded. "Then do it 'mate."

"Aye sir. It shouldn't take us very long to reconfigure the transporter.. maybe thirty minutes." Jensen said as he began removing the access panels.

"Very well, I'll be on the Bridge. Hail me when you are ready to proceed."

Captain Price turned and exited just as Jensen asked Lieutenant Mitchell to help him with one of the larger panels.

The ride in the turbolift was short and quiet. Captain Price relaxed momentarily as he listened to the hum of the turbolift's motor carrying the lift to it's destination. He hoped that Chiron would be all right when this was over. That there would be no side effects from the separation. But something had to be done. And being the Captain, the burden of deciding fell upon his shoulders.

As the turbolift doors swooshed open, the Captain's attentions returned to the situation at hand. It appeared that the pursuing Moudini nebula had somehow managed to gain on the Galaxy, as it now filled the entire view screen. It's gaseous tentacles reaching out for the Starship.

"What the blazes is going on here 'mate?!"

Suddenly, something within the nebula began to take shape. Within the swirl of color, a clear green globe began to gather. Shtik snapped to his feet.

"Ensign, create an orbital path around the nebula at bearing 105.62 and engage at one quarter impulse."

"Aye, sir." Shtik approached the viewscreen and ran his fingers over the image.

"Shtik." The vulcan turned at the sound of his name.

"Yes." The bridge crew stared back. "Did someone want me?"

"I acknowledged your course correction, sir." Helms said clearly puzzled.

"Thank you, Ensign." Shtik said, raising an eyebrow and returning to the science station and checking the most recent data. The Alpha waves seemed to be unifying and strengthening within the nebula.

"Help Me!" Shtik turned and rushed to the upper railing, scanning the bridge for the source of the soft call for help. Once again the bridge crew looked back at him calmly.

"Are you all right, sir?" Ensign Harris had finally stopped the photon torpedo bombardment and was stretching his fingers in relaxation.

"Did anyone else just hear a call for help?" Shtik asked the crew.

"Sir, with all due respect." Ensign Harris whispered to the Science Officer, "I know this is one of your first times in command and... well, sir..." Shtik held up a hand to stop him.

"A logical precaution, Ensign. But not yet necessary. I'm mearly testing a hypothesis." Shtik turned back to the science console to scan the new development within the nebula.

"The torpedoes, Son. They're distracting them..."

"Ensign Harris, resume photon torpedo detinations near the nebula, random dispersal" Ensign Harris raised his own eyebrow at the strange order before following it.

"Perhaps we should call the captain, sir." Ensign Helms said as Shtik returned to the command chair.

"No. It is imparative that he and Mr. Mitchell find a way to deal with the beings within Lt. Chiron.." Lt. Shtik stated.

"Captain, it is imparative that I personally enter the nebula." Shtik said.

"Impossible, I already have one officer dangerously infected with those things. I can't risk another. What are we doing so close to the nebula?"

"The communication I received was from Admiral McCoy of Starfleet Medical. Against regulations he gave me information regarding the effect genesis had in resurrecting Ambassador Spock."

"Ambassador Spock was dead?"

"Yes, sir. But the Genesis planet revived his body while, Dr. McCoy held his conciousness."

"Mr. Shtik, did you move us closer to the nebula?"

"I have gathered additional information on the anomilous energy outputs" Shtik lead the captain to the science station. "I am now certain that my fathers conciousness was held dormant by the protomatter within the genesis fragment. I believe the energy of the transporter, in addition to the energy nature of the beings within the nebula acted as a catalyst to revive his mental activity."

"Ensign Harris, are you still firing torpedos?" Price turned to the tactical officer.

"Yes, sir. Lt. Shtik..." Harris began.

"Captain." Shtik interupted. "If you'll notice from this display, the alpha waves have become more organized and stronger. It seems as though my father has been fighting the native entities and our threatening posture has created a diversion enabling him to gain a foothold."

"Coming to 180 degrees of original position." the Ensign Helms called from conn.

"We're orbiting the nebula!" Price exclaimed.

"Magnifying view to 900%." Shtik said adjusting the viewscreen from his station. The aggressive entities had tried to impose themselves between the starship and the vulcan conciousness. But as the Galaxy circled the nebula, the small green sphere came clearly into view.

"Is that him?" Captain Price circled down toward the viewscreen.

"I have color coded the sensors to indicate the collection of alpha waves. The green portion represents his present location. However, I don't believe he will be able to maintain his current state for very long. It's only because of our activity the entities have been distracted enough for him to collect himself at all."

"But you said the Genesis effect resurected Spocks body, not his mind." Price turned back to Shtik.

"Yes sir. In that way this situation does seem to differ. But I am convinced he is there." Shtik stated.

"So even if you do recover him mentally, he won't have a body to go back into." Price softened his tone.

"I am aware of that, Captain. It is the vulcan tradition that his mental patterns be transfered to the hall of thought on Vulcan."

"But if you're infected by those alien entities... We're not even sure if we can seperate them from Chiron."

"I understand the difficulty. It would be even more complex with me due to the presence of my fathers energy. But it is very important to me that I get him away from them." Shtik was on the verge of pleading.

"I'm not sure I dare trust you with another command, Lieutenant." Price quiped with a small smile, "Even if it is only a shuttlecraft."

"Actually, sir, a shuttle will prove inadequate." Price regarded Shtik suspiciously. "I will require direct physical contact. I would have to enter the nebula with a space suit and booster pack, sir."

Captain Price stared back at his science offier as he contemplated the request.

Troy sat next to the roaring fire, after the two Ferengi left. Ronni was back safe and there had been no signs that Tyrell was on to them. The mission seemed to be a success. Troy continued to sit at the fire for a while, when Deiran approached him.

"Man this was an odd mission." Deiran said.

"I'll say. Those masks were starting to get to me, I felt like I had some kind of slime plastered on my face."

"You can say that again. Good thing we didn't have to spend days in them!" Deiran replied as Troy laughed.

"One things for sure, this will be one vacation I won't forget!" Troy stated. Deiran nodded his head. Ti then walked into the room and Deiran quickly excused himself.

Troy watched the fire pop and spit out sparks, which he quickly got bored with and left the fire room. He walked around the resort for a while, before he found Ronni and K'arta sitting in the lounge.

"Mind if I join you?" Troy asked as he approached the table.

"Sir, what do you think Starfleet will do?" The huge Ensign already seemed to know the answer, but this question needed to be asked.

"Nothing, they'll never find out what we did. But, what a vacation!" At this Casey smiled. Maybe it was because he saw the irony in all this.

"Well, at least we didn't lose our luggage. I hate it when that happens!" Lt. Casey laughed. One oculd only be optimistic at times like these. "Look, sir, I know we haven't talked much before. In fact, I feel like I just met you, but if you play basketball, I'd be honored to dunk over you when we get back to the ship."

"I'm not intimidated by the fact that you happen to be a little bigger than I am."

"Then I'll see you there."

Jonathan Hanover
Ensign Andreas Mohler

Captain Price's brow furrowed. He didn't like the idea of anyone entering the nebula in a shuttle craft or otherwise. What was thought of as an inert spatial phenomenon had now demonstrated signs of sentience in it's pursuit of the Starship and it's altering of course to avoid the 'danger' from the photon torpedo blasts.

The Captain looked at Lieutenant Shtik as he stood there waiting for his answer. The Vulcan was determined, almost passionate in his belief that somehow, his father's spirit was still alive inside that nebula. Considering the very mission of the Starship, and knowing how stubborn Vulcans can be from his experience with the former commander of the USS Galaxy, Captain Shoak, Lee decided to concede to his Chief Science Officer's wishes.

"Very well Lieutenant. See what you can find out about the nebula. Get suited up down in shuttle bay two. The main shuttle bay is still damaged."

Mr. Shtik nodded as he turned to exit the bridge.

"And Lieutenant," The Captain added, "If you get into trouble out there, the safety of the ship comes first 'mate."

"As it should be Captain." The Lieutenant replied with an assuring nod as he exited the bridge.

Captain Price sat back into the command chair and peered out the view screen at the expanding nebula. The glowing green mass at it's center could now clearly be seen.

Lee fidgeted slightly as he had second thoughts about letting Lieutenant Shtik go out into the nebula. He already had Chiron to worry about. Lieutenant Mitchell and Chief Jensen were busy reconfiguring the transporter in an attempt to separate the Tamarian's energy patterns from the alien entity that was caught in the buffer with him. Their efforts should just about be complete just as Shtik is ready to exit the Galaxy, leaving the Captain torn between two crises at once.

[What's the status Chief?]

[Well Chiron is being held in the pattern buffer. I'm trying to resolve the differences between the two patterns in the buffer. It should take another 25 minutes or so. The Captain is on the bridge at the moment. I'm to page him when we're ready.]

[Need a hand then? I'd like to be here when he's rematerialised, just in case.]

Ensign Paran then added softly, "So would I."

Hutchcraft looked at Paran oddly, thinking that this was the first time the Ensign had said anything without being prompted.

Jensen replied,

[Well, you can help Lt. Mitchell with the panel over there. Ensign, you can help me at the controls here.]

The four officer set to work on the controls and panels, and after 25 minutes everything looked set. Jensen said,

[Hopefully that should do. I've managed to isolate Chiron's form from the gaseous being. I should be able to bring him in.] He touched his communicator. [Jensen to Captain Price. We're ready down here in transporter room two for you sir.]

Ensign Paran moved off to one side, drew his side arm, and waited for the Captain's arrival.

Captain Price watched the expanding Moudini nebula on the main view screen as he wondered who would be ready first. Lieutenant Mitchell and Chief Jensen as they reconfigure Transporter two to attempt to separate Chiron'' pattern from the alien entity, or Lieutenant Shtik who was suiting up for a space walk into the 'living' green swirl of cloud particles and alpha waves in front of the ship.

He wouldn't have to wait very long to get his answer.

["Jensen to Captain Price. We're ready down here in transporter room two for you sir."]

Lee cursed under his breath. He knew Lieutenant Shtik would be ready shortly to jet out into the nebula in his space suit. The Captain pressed the comm channel control with his thumb.

"Understood Jensen. Is security standing by?"

["Yes Captain. Lieutenant HutchCraft and Ensign Paran are here now."]

Silently the Captain nodded. He was hoping to stall by waiting for security to arrive, but once again his efficient crew had performed flawlessly.

"All right Chief I am on my way. Price out."

Lee lifted his thumb as he sat back in his chair, glancing around at the available bridge crew. Most of his senior staff had taken leave to go on a week long ski trip.

"Lieutenant Harris, you have the Conn. Inform me when Lieutenant Shtik is ready to begin his space walk."

The Ops officer began to get up from his duty station and he replied, "Aye Sir."

The Captain entered the turbolift and ordered it to proceed to transporter room 2.

As the Captain walked into the transporter room, he could see Ensign Paran and Lieutenant HutchCraft standing by either side of the transporter with their weapons drawn. Lieutenant Mitchell and Chief Transport operator Jensen were standing at the controls.

"We are ready to begin Captain." Jensen said proudly.

"Are the filters in place Lieutenant?"

"Yes Sir." Mitchell began. "We have made all the required adjustments. Using Lieutenant Chiron's previously stored transporter trace, we should have a good chance of recovering and separating his pattern."

Captain Price stood next to Lieutenant Mitchell and Chief Jensen near the transporter controls. "Do it 'mate."

"Energizing Captain...." Jensen said as he activated the controls.

Everyone watched as an extended transport began to rematerialize on the transporter pad. The center mass, still unrecognizable began to solidify in the shimmering lights. Slowly the features began to resemble Lieutenant Chiron. The transport began to flicker and fade in an out momentarily as the computer struggled to sort through the billions of pieces of information and compare it to Chiron's established pattern from previous transports. Jensen made some minor adjustments to the controls as Mitchell helped to monitor the filtering process.

"That should have it Chief." Mitchell said. "Begin final rematerialization sequence."

Adjusting the transporter again, Chief Jensen is able to get Lieutenant Chiron fully materialized on the transporter pad. Everyone looks as the Tamarian officer appears standing on the pad. As the transport ends, the containment field is dropped and Chiron falls to the ground, unconscious.

HutchCraft and Paran train their weapons on the fallen officer, not wanting to take any chances with the person believed to have murdered at least five members of the crew. Jensen, Mitchell and Captain Price were more concerned with the Lieutenant's welfare. Instinctively, Captain Price went to where Chiron had landed.

"Is he alive Captain?" Jensen asked painfully as he stood unable to move from the transporter controls. Memories of past transporter accidents racing through his mind.

Lee reaches for the Tamarian's neck, feeling for a pulse through his thick skin. A troubled look crosses his face as he moves his hand to in front of Chiron's mouth and nose. Lee's expression relaxes as he feels the warm flow of Chiron's breath on the back of his hand. "He's breathing." Lee slid one of his eyelids open with his thumb. A glassy, distant eye stared back at him. "He appears to be in one piece."

Lieutenant Mitchell tapped his comm badge as he kneeled down near the Captain. HutchCraft gave the Science officer a dirty look as he stepped into his line of fire, placing himself between the security officer and the fallen Chiron.

"Medical emergency in Transporter room two. Send a team immediately."

Captain Price nodded to Mitchell. Keeping Chiron in the transporter room was a good idea. Transporting him again could be dangerous, and in spite of the Tamarian's present condition, the Captain hadn't forgotten that Chiron had murdered several members of the crew because of the alien entity. Lee's head popped up.

"Chief, what has been done with the remainder of the transport pattern? The Alien entity?"

Jensen looked relieved that Chiron was still alive. He was silent in some sort of meditation or prayer when the Captain questioned him. "What? Oh, it's still in the transporter buffer sir. I need to know what you want me to do with it?"

Captain Price stood up and straightened his duty jacket as he glanced down at Chiron, then at Lieutenant HutchCraft and Ensign Paran who where still standing guard with their phasers.

"Transport it out into space Chief. It seemed to want to get to the nebula... perhaps that is it's home. Send it there."

"Aye sir." Jensen adjusted the controls.

As the Chief was preparing to send the alien entity off the ship and into the Moudini nebula, Doctor Rousseau and two medical assistants came into the transporter room.

"What happened?" Doctor Rousseau asked as she took out her tricorder and began to scan Chiron.

"We just rematerialized the Lieutenant after an extended stay in the transporter's buffer. We had to separate his pattern from that of an alien entity that was caught in the beam with him." Mitchell explained, still kneeling near Chiron.

"Molecular shock seems to have set in. We need to get him to Sickbay immediately. We best not transport him again in his present condition." Jacqueline motioned to her two aides who began setting up the stretcher they had brought.

Captain Price watched as they prepared to place Chiron onto the stretcher. His eyes glanced over to Lieutenant HutchCraft.

"Lieutenant. I want an armed escort for the medical team. In Sickbay, I want a posted guard the entire time Chiron is under the Doctor's care."

HutchCraft nodded. His expression indicating he was in complete agreement with the Captain's orders. "Aye Sir."

Jacqueline didn't like the idea of armed security personnel in her Sickbay. Her expression gave her away. Just as she was about to protest, Captain Price cut her off.

"No arguments Doctor. Chiron is already suspected of murdering at least five of our crew already. I don't want to take any unnecessary risks... for the crew's sake."

Doctor Rousseau's mouth closed as she just nodded.

"Ready to transport Sir." Jensen said from the controls.

"Do it 'mate. Send it out into space."

"Energizing... It's gone sir. Transported successfully."

Taking one more look around the transporter room, Captain Price took a deep breath and slowly released it.

"Lieutenant Mitchell, you're with me. Doctor, I'll be on the Bridge. Keep me informed of Lieutenant Chiron's condition. Lieutenant HutchCraft... keep an eye on him. I don't want him hurting anyone else."

Lieutenant Mitchell got to his feet and stood near the Captain as the rest of the officers indicated their acknowledgment of his orders. With a slight nod, Lee turns to exit the transporter room. "G'day 'mates." Lieutenant Mitchell follows as the two make their way back to the Bridge.

Ensign Paran was quiet too, as usual. Perhaps he thought he had crossed the boundaries too much as well. Shyness restricted Paran. It was the one thing Hutchcraft certainly didn't have. Hutchcraft could be loud, abusive and annoying. As they entered the Transporter Bay, Chief Jensen smiled. Hutchcraft took out his phasar, and nodded to Ensign Paran. Paran too rose his phasar, and both officers prepared for what was to happen

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

Captain Price entered the room. Hutchcraft suddenly realised that this was the first time he had seen the big man. The General, they called him. Hutchcraft took in a long, hard, breath. He could feel his hangover grow powerful. As Hutchcraft swallowed the alcohol-filled flem in his mouth, he concentrated heavily on the transporter pads, trying to appear all well. For once, it seemed to work.

Hutchcraft looked towards Paran, and they exchanged glares. Hutchcraft could remember the first time he had met the young bajoran Ensign. He remembered accidentally calling him Ensign Chanor. He remembered the first time they had trained in the holodeck. It was almost as if the Lieutenant had a real friend, for once. The hang-over seemed to take second place to the transporter pad. He could hear the Captain talk to the Transporter Chief in the background, and to Lieutenant Mitchell next to him.

"Do it 'mate" ordered the captain. Hutchcraft pointed the phasar above the transporter pad. He took in another breath. 'If this man escapes me' he thought 'We'll have a murderer let loose again. I can't let that happen. I have a responsibility to make sure that doesn't happen'

As the transporter beam flickered in front of his eyes, the officers behind him made adjustments to the controls and gave each other orders. Hutchcraft couldn't pay much attention to them. His mind was on the transporter beam, his life, and his hangover.

Finally, the familiar Tamarian appeared. Hutchcraft focused his phasar on the Tamarian, as he collapsed to the ground. Both Hutchcraft and Paran moved their phasars to Chiron's level, just in case.

The officers spoke some more. The Captain inspected the fallen Engineer, as did the Science Officer. Hutchcraft gave Lt. Mitchell a bad look. He was glad that Paran had a clear shot, otherwise all five of them could of been in deep trouble.

Hutchcraft hadn't heard all of the officers comments to each other, but another familiar face entered the room. Doctor Rousseau probably hated the sight of Hutchcraft by now. Always trouble, that was probably the opinion Rousseau had of Hutchcraft. Hutchcraft didn't like that thought at all.

The Captain looked up at Hutchcraft "Lieutenant, I want an armed escort for the medical team. In Sickbay, I want a posted guard the entire time Chiron is under the Doctor's care"

Hutchcraft nodded "Aye Sir" That was all the Lieutenant had to say on the matter.

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

Ensign Paran and Lieutenant Hutchcraft were joined by Ensign Ry'kath. Lieutenant simply nodded to the Ensign. He had instructed him to join them before leaving the transporter bay. The team then moved off to Sickbay.

Rousseau looked at Hutchcraft "No sarcasm? No infamous Hutchcraft wit?" she inquired from the Lieutenant.

Hutchcraft simply shoke his head "Not today, maybe not even tomorrow"

This was a tough time for Lieutenant Hutchcraft. So many deaths had led up to this. Hutchcraft had failed, and as a result got heavily drunk. That wasn't what a man of his responsibility should of been doing.

Ever since he had been appointed Assistant Chief, Hutchcraft had been changing. He was becoming a better person from all these experiences. Finally, he gave the Doctor a decent reply "Time to move on to somewhere better"

The Doctor looked at him for a brief moment, before they entered the Sickbay. Hutchcraft nodded to Paran and Ry'kath, and both officers went back to Security.

Hutchcraft stood guard of Chiron. He pointed his phasar at him at all times. His phasar was set to stun. Hutchcraft decided that it was time to look over his hung over observations, and decide what he was going to do.