As the Sovereign crept closer and closer to the Galaxy the more anxious John became about meeting the members of the crew when he arrived. John had read most of the crews bios and found something in one of them that was totally unexpected. Apparently Ensign Chris Campbell has a interest in hockey. "It will be great to have somebody on board that has actually heard of the 20th century sport," he said. In the midst of all of these thoughts John's com badge chirped.

"Bridge to Ensign Burns," an unrecognized voice said. I responded, "Ensign Burns here sir." "Ensign report to Transporter Room 1 as we have rendezvoused with the Galaxy." "Acknowledged sir," I replied cheerfully. Finally I will be going to my new home, the USS Galaxy, thought John as he headed to Transporter Room 1.

John entered the Transporter Room with a big smile on his face. The Transporter officer on duty asked in a joking manner, "Glad to be leaving the Sovereign Ensign?" We both chuckled and he said, "the Galaxy is all ready for you to beam over, so just hop on up to the pad. I stepped up onto the pad with my ice skates in my right hand. "Ready sir," I said. "Ok, Energizing."

As I began to materialize I saw the Galaxy's Transporter Room and two people. When everything came into focus I recognized the officer standing in front of the console but not who was manning the console. John stepped off the pad and a officer greeted, "Welcome aboard the USS Galaxy Ensign Burns." I recognized him as Lt.(jg) Mckenzie, Tactical Officer, from the bios. "Thank you sir," I said. "I am Lt(jg) Mckenzie, and behind the console is our Asst. Transporter Chief Mark Rigney." He continued, "Ensign if you will now follow me I will escort you to your quarters."

As I followed Lt.(jg) Mckenzie to my quarters not a word was spoken except for "Deck 2," when we were in the turbolift. "Here we are," he said and we stepped into my quarters. "If there is anything I can help you with just notify me." With that he stepped out of the room.

"Sort a rude and a really serious person he is," I thought to myself. "Oh well I guess everybody can't be friendly." I looked around at my quarters and realized that I received a one bedroom junior officer quarters due to it having a sloped wall which cut out a lot of space in the room. Even though I wouldn't have to share the quarters with someone they still were extremely small. A bed, some wardrobes, a small desk and table, and three chairs; two for the table and one for relaxation was all that was in the room.

I spotted my belongings, which had been beamed over before the Galaxy left Earth, next to my bed. I began to unpack my belongings putting everything in its necessary place. Halfway through unpacking I decided to get something to drink. "Computer, Cold Lemonade please." A tall glass of Lemonade appeared and I took a deep sip. I sat down for a moment and noticed a small light flashing on my console on the desk. "Computer, how many messages are their?" "There are five messages." "Play message one."

"Welcome Ensign Burns to the Tactical department on board the USS Galaxy. I am your commanding officer Lt.Blair. I wish to meet with you to talk about duties and other dept. activities as soon as you've arrived and are settled in.

Chief Tactical Officer Lt. Troy Blair

"End of Message"

"Play Message Two"

This is Chief Counselor Salshyar. I would like you to come and either talk to me or one of my counselors at your earliest convenience. Thank you and welcome aboard!

Chief Counselor Devlynn Salshyar

"End of message"

"Play Message Three"

Hello, Ensign Burns and welcome aboard! I am informing you of a new holodeck program based on a movie theater. It is located on holodeck three. If you have any questions just come talk with me.

Lt. Casey Ti Miran

"End of message"

"Play message four"

Please report to Sickbay for a physical as soon as possible.

USS Galaxy Medical Staff

"End of message"

"Play message five"

Welcome aboard Ensign Burns. I have read your bio and seen that you like card games. I invite you to come to the Holodeck as I have programmed a game with some of the other officers. If you wish to join just come and contact me.

Lt(jg) G. Erikson

"Wow, that was a lot of messages," I said out loud to myself. I decided to look into both the poker game and the movie theater. John also decided that he would finish unpacking and then go speak with Lt. Blair. John really wanted to go see if Lt. Blair had any jobs for him to do but, he decided against until he was done unpacking.

Ensign John Burns
Tactical Department
aka Pat Burns

"A Penny..."
by Lt. (jg) Alan Hewson

The air rushed through his hair as Alan sped down a deserted highway. Since driving a motorcycle was a new experience for him, Alan had all the holodeck safeties on to make sure he couldn't fall off. The stars twinkled above him, accompanied by the moon.

He pushed the engine to the max as the drive-in came into view. The movie had already started, but that didn't bother him too much. He parked the bike with the backside facing the movie screen. Lying back on the handlebars, he relaxed and watched the rest of the film.

***** An hour and a half later *****

After the movie, Alan decided to get a quick drink at Ten-Forward before turning in. When he entered, he saw Lt. Erickson sitting all alone at a table.

Greer had the look that Alan had seen many, many times on others as well as himself. It was the look of sadness, of grief, of sorrow, of anger, of love. Greer had become a good friend of AC's when they met on Sigma II, and it troubled Alan to see his friend in such distress.

"A penny for your thoughts?" Alan asked as he came up behind his fellow officer. Greer just sat there for a few seconds before turning his head to look at AC.

"What?" He knew he had heard Alan say something, but he hadn't understood a word of it.

"You know. A penny for you thoughts." Greer's reaction told Alan all he needed to know. This was indeed a bad case. The eyes of his friend seemed empty, almost as if he didn't even see Alan standing there.

"I could use a couple…" Greer buried his face in his hands and sighed.

"I am sure the replicator could make a few." Alan had learned that a well-placed joke could do more good than anything else a person could say or do. The results were positive as his friend cracked a smile. However, that was the only response he got out of the depressed scientist until he got up.

"AC, you'll have to excuse me. There is something I really have to do". And with that, Greer walked quickly out of Ten-Forward, leaving Alan still standing in the same spot. There he stood for a few minutes before walking over to one of the large windows that lined the wall.

To those not born on it, it is referred to as Terra. Others call it Earth. Alan simply called it home. Even though he'd spent many years growing up on the Mars Colony, he stilled considered Earth his homeplanet. It had been a long time since he had even been close to the Sol System. The notion of beaming down to the planet to visit some friends popped into his mind. "No," he thought, "No, perhaps next time..." He let out a sigh as he continued to stare at the swirling mixture of blue and green below him.

"Cards, Meows and Daggers"
by Lt jg. K'Eytyanna Samara

K'Eytyanna barged into her quarters and went straight to the replicator.

"Computer, rolled gauze bandage." A few seconds later, the bandage appeared and she wrapped it around her injured hand, cursing at whichever sick diving being thought the common Terran feline was a good idea.

Finishing, she flopped down on her couch, "Computer, activate personal log recording." A light flashed on the console signalling it was ready before she continued,

"Personal Log of Lt jg Samara, Stardate 970810. After a poker game in Lt jg Greer Erikson's quarters, his cat decided unwisely to take a piece out of my arm. Computer, remind me to apologize to Lts. Casey and Blair before my next shift, for needing to be restrained. If I hadn't been, I'm sure that Lt Erikson's cat would be lying in the moturary. That blasted feline is definitly not a weak creature, and directly challenged me.

However, since I am Klingon, I will have to answer its challenge or lose honor. Computer, end log."

Her Human side quickly stepped in, 'Klingon, whatever you are thinking of, forget it. We just got promoted and taking revenge on felines isn't what officers normally do.'

Her Klingon snarled, 'Shut up Human and you too Bajoran. I'm not going to kill Jasey, just give it positive reinforcement not to attack again.'

K'Eytyanna walked over to the computer terminal and connected to the Galaxy's Medical Databases. A few minutes later, she smiled before grabbing her dagger. Walking to the replicator, she ordered a list of parts from it.

****************************

After an hour of delicate circuitry work, K'Eytyanna picked up the small electronic fur-removing device she had built. Leaving, she slipped into Sickbay quietly about ten minutes later and was glad that the Medical staff were busy enough not to notice her. Slowly, she pick-pocketed a medical tricorder when no one was looking before leaving as quickly as she had entered. At the nearest replicator, she replicated the specific chemicals she had found before setting the tricorder to scan for feline life-signs only. A signal flickered on the screen and she headed into the Jefferies tubes after removing a Type-I phaser from a cabinet, which she set to light stun.

****************************

Jasey crept through the Jefferies Tube and stopped suddenly, as her sensitive nose picked up the smell of some one and her ears picked up the sound of someone crawling through the tubes. Jasey took off like a rocket and reached a door just as an orange beam hit her on the tail, causing her to screech in surprise as she suddenly found her back legs were not performing as they should. She skittered around on the metal until the door she had exited opened again. The woman she had slashed at was crawling out and Jasey backed into a corner. Suddenly, a loud noise went off and she screeched again. Another orange beam from the device hit her and she blacked out.

****************************

Lt jg Erikson walked into his quarters hours later to the sound of screeching. Walking in further, he looked around before calling out,

"Jasey, what's wrong?" Suddenly, Jasey ran out of the bedroom and Greer looked in surprise. Jasey jumped into his arms as he examined her body, which was missing large patches of fur. He held Jasey close, who was purring, as he thought about what could have happened.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Lt jg. K'Eytyanna Samara,
USS Galaxy NCC-70637 Engineering Department

"The Fur Has Flown"
(aka "Cards, Meows and Daggers: Part II")
by Lt. J.G. Greer Erikson, Science Department

Greer had reached his quarters after what seemed to be an unusually long Gamma shift. It wasn't more than a second after he entered his quarters that he heard a loud and unpleasant grumbling coming from his bedroom. He knew exactly who it was.

"Jasey, what's wrong" he called out walking over to the bedroom entrance. Immediately at the sound of his voice the little pest rushed towards him springing into his arms.

"What the..." Greer said with disbelief on his face as his trusty feline attempted to press herself as hard as she could against his chest. Holding Jasey, he noticed her body had large patches of black fur missing. She looked absolutely terrible and apparently in shock.

"What have you been up to you silly cat" he said as he continued to contemplate the mysterious loss of fur. "Have you been running around the ship again. Getting into places you aren't supposed to be again?." he continued.

Jasey began meowing back as if she was attempting to communicate with him. "Yes I know you are never at fault" he replied as if to answer her "I hope this teaches you to stay in these quarters."

Greer placed Jasey on the chair as he got her some food from the replicator. "Feline supplement 73" he said. Almost instantaneously a small bowl of cat food materialised. Although apparently sore Jasey made her way off of the chair and eagerly sat ready for her food.

As she ate Greer thought more intensely about where Jasey could have gotten to. Engineering was a possibility but it was more than fifteen decks down. Possibly she had managed to find herself near an exposed EPS conduit.

"Erikson to Engineering" he said as he tapped his communicator.

[Mercury here]

"David, has there been any indications or reports of exposed EPS conduits?"

[Not that I am aware of Greer. We did detected some unusual energy discharges in one of the Jeffries tubes. I've got someone looking onto right now.]

"Thanks David. Erikson out" he said as he tapped his communicator once again. Unusual energy discharge? Jasey's loss of hair could have been caused by an energy disruption which weakened the skin. Perhaps this unusual occurance was what had caused this uncomfortable situation.

Greer picked Jasey, who had just finished her food, up from the ground and looked into her face. "Hopefully this will teach you to stay in here cat" he said as if to make the best out of an unfortunate situation.

"I guess..." before he could finish saying what he had been thinking he had a sudeen intense thought "Samara!". As it eneterd his head he realised what had happened. Samara being Klingon may have taken Jasey's actions earlier as a challenge of sorts. "I told you to behave yourself. Now look what you have precipitated."

Greer picked Jasey up and took her to Sickbay. He wasn't exactly sure what they could do for her but he thought it would be worth a try. He figured he may as well see Samara while he was making his way there.

-----------Sickbay--------------

"What can we do for you Lieutenant?" the nurse on duty asked

"Not me actually" he said as he revealed his furless friend.

The nurse looked at him with some suprise "We'll see what we can do" she said taking Jasey out of his arms.

"Thank you"

---------Corridor---------------

"Computer, locate K'Eytyanna Samara" Greer said as he entered the turbolift.

[Lieutenant JG Samara is in her quarters]

Greer left Jasey on the bed as he left to see Samara. He was angry at her for doing this act but he understood the motive behind, afterall, it was Jasey who initiated the incident and in HIS quarters. Greer made his way to Samara's quarters as quickly as he could.

----------Samara's quarters-------------

Reaching her quarters he pressed the summons button on the small electric panel next to the door but didn't get a response.

"Computer, locate .........." but before he could finish his request the door quickly slide open to reveal Samara standing directly infront of him.

"K'Eytyenna, I assume you were the cause of my cat's furlessness?" he asked her directly. She would be somewhat insulted by an indirect inquisition - 'beating-around-the-bush' as it has been called.

"I was. I was personally challenged by her and I answered that challenge" she replied back as if everything was completely normal.

"It was a little rash don't you think. Why didn't you see me about it. Afterall you were my guest and she is my cat. Jasey just gets into moods. It wasn't personal" he said in one big attempt to convince her.

Samara invited Erikson into her quarters to explain to him a thing or two about Klingon honour. He wasn't aware that she had spent a number of years living as a Klingon eventhough he appeared more like a Bajoran than she did a Klingon. She didn't have to explain Klingon honour to Greer because honour to a Klingon is not a concept it is a fact and he would simply have to understand.

"batlh qelDI' tlhIngan, lumbe' - was one of the first things I was taught" she explained as he looked at her blankly not understanding enough Klingon. "It means that a Klingon does not postpone a matter of honor."

"Surely living on the Galaxy should have also taught you that diplomacy can solve a variety of situations as well?" he said putting this idea forward.

"I am Klingon. Despite my appearance and the environment I am in, I AM a Klingon"

"Here I thought the Vulcan mentality took a little getting used to. Logic, logic, logic. That's pretty much I ever heard about when I was at the Vulcan Science Acadmey and I had been accussed of being highly illogical a few times. I guess how I perceived what you did was similar to how they viewed my behaviour on Vulcan." he said trying to draw some parallel between them and in an attempt to understand how she felt "But I still would have prefered that you saw me K'Eytyenna".

Greer continued to talk to K'Eytyenna. They had managed to resolve the their opinions on the incidents which lead up to Greer's arrival. K'Eytyenna had no ill-will towards him or even Jasey because the challenge had been met and the incident was, as far as she was concenred, a closed matter. However, she would be cautious of his cat although she was sure that the creature had learnt her leason they hard way.

------------Sickbay-------------------------

Greer returned to Sickbay to see if there had been anything the medical staff could do to help Jasey.

"And?" he asked as he approached to nurse who had taken Jasey.

"Have a look" she said ushering him to one of the biobeds.

"She is in reasonibly good condition, however, you may want to use this" she said handing him a hypospray.

"What is it?" he replied taking the medical instrument from her.

"It is a concentrated growth hormone. If you inject it subsutaneously it should help stimulate her fur regrowth" she explained.

"I should send some of this to my father" he said laughing to himself. The nurse saw the humour in his joke and also laughed. Greer was aware that in his father's case it was where hair had stopped growing in particular areas of the scalp - a genetic predisposition that he hoped to avoid.

"She should have recovered her fur entirely within a few days" the nurse added.

"Good. She doesn't look very happy the way she is."

" The Realms of Command "
By Commander Coe

**** XO's quarters ****

He was not sure what woke him. But now, Coe lay awake on his bed. Ho got up and walked out of his bedroom. Only wearing boxer shorts, Coe began to feel the cold. He liked that. It reminded him of home.

" Vodka. Straight up." Coe spoke softly to the replicator. The lights still out, Coe, with the drink in his hands, walked across his large living room to the couch right next to the huge window, the size of a wall which gave Coe a glimpse into space.

He sat down and pondered the last few days. They had been tough on all. Coe had thought for a while that Captain Price and the rest of the others were gone. Forever. Luckily, they were not.

Quickly, in one go, Coe swallowed the contents of his cup. Feeling the warmth engulf him. He placed the cup on the coffe table and sat still, watching the stars pass as the Galaxy speed toward sector 001 at warp 8.

**** Main Bridge ****

The doors of the turbolift swung open and Coe stepped out onto the bridge. He was early. Captain Price looked grateful to be relieved and the two exchanged a joke as the captain, looking tired, left the bridge.

Coe picked up the PADD that Captain Price had left and scanned it briefly. Nothing unusual. Except that the primary deuterium tanks central temperature was fluctuating. He contacted engineering to have the problem fixed.

" Bridge to engineering."

[" Engineering here, what can I do for you Commander?"]

" Apparantly overnight, fluctuations in the primary deuterium tanks were observed. We dont wanted that stuff heating up. Replace the coolant system if necessary. Coe out."

[" Understood Commander. We'll get on it right away."]

Coe was also pleased to note that an old shipmate of his had finally come home. Lt Kane had made it back. Coe noted with satisfaction, that Kane's active duty shift was beta. The shift Coe commanded. Which meant that the young Lt would be present on the bridge in about 5 minutes. Coe waited with anticipation. Eager to see how his old buddy was.

---------------------------
Commander Coe
chrisn@cia.com.au

"Thy Pride"
by Captain Robert Edward Lee Price

Captain's Log: Stardate 49709.13

The USS Galaxy is presently on route to Exaltus were we are to pick up a Federation Mediator, Ambassador Lorn, and escort him to the Rhomboid-Drone sector to establish peace talks between the two worlds in that system. Evidently, the centuries long interplanetary war between these two technological, but primitive worlds has taken a turn for the worst, prompting the Dronegar to contact the Federation and request that a mediator be dispatched to help negotiate a peaceful ending to the hostilities between the two factions. Ambassador Lorn, a skilled negotiator of strong character, is the Federation's leading expert on the Rhomboid / Dronegar conflict, having spent several years on both worlds studying their religious practices. The Galaxy should enter orbit around the planet Exaltus within the hour. I look forward to meeting Ambassador Lorn personally.

*****

Captain Price sat in his command chair on the main bridge. Alpha shift was currently on duty, many officers returning from their normally scheduled lunch break interval.

"'ave you done anything different with your hair Yeoman?" Captain Price asked as he reviewed the inventory manifest and applied his thumb print signature to the padd."

"Yes sir." Yeoman York said shyly, touching her head, "It was taking up too much of my time when it was longer. Do you like it?"

Lee smiled as he handed back the padd. "Yes, it's quite attractive Yeoman. But you changed the color too?"

Blushing, Jaime lowered her head. She was surprised that the Captain had even noticed. "Yes. I thought it was time for something different Captain."

Lee could tell the Yeoman was feeling a bit awkward standing on the bridge with the Captain while the entire Alpha shift looked at her new hairdo. "Well it looks very nice Yeoman York. I like it. Dismissed."

Taking the padd, Jaime said, "Thank you Captain." She smiled and turned to leave.

Pivoting in his chair, Captain Price called out just as the Yeoman started walking up the ramp from the command well, "You know what they say Yeoman?..."

Yeoman York stopped. She tensed up a bit and turned to face the Captain and the rest of the bridge crew. "Sir?" she asked in a confused tone.

"They say that Blondes have more fun 'mate." Captain Price said with a grin.

Jaime turned a flustered shade of bright red as she lowered her eyes. "Yes Captain. They do sir." She said with a smile before exiting.

Captain Price was smiling, as was the rest of the bridge crew. Things were getting back to normal after the last couple of routine missions.

"You seem in good spirits Captain." Commander Coe observed.

"Aye 'mate, I am."

Raising an eyebrow, JT asks, "Is there any particular reason for your joviality sir?... I haven't forgotten your birthday have I Captain?" Coe added with a grin.

Shaking his head, "Heavens no Commander. Let's not talk about birthdays. I stopped counting when my hair went white 'mate."

JT smiled. "All right then. I will remember to add that to my book of things not to discuss... Then why are you in such good spirits sir?.. If I might ask?"

"I suppose it has to do with this mission 'mate. It is a pleasant change to be asked to help negotiate a peaceful ending of hostilities between two worlds that have been constantly at war for centuries."

"That's true Captain." JT agreed, "Much more uplifting than patrolling the Neutral Zone."

"Exactly number one!" Captain Price said pointing a finger at Coe as an indication that he hit the nail right on the head. "Here we get a chance to really show these people what the Federation and Starfleet are all about. In a way, that is a very uplifting feeling."

"Captain..." Counselor Salshyar commented with a smile, "I had no idea you were such a romantic."

"Really Counselor? That's surprising." Lee said almost in a shocked tone that helped to peak Dev's curiosity further.

"Surprising Sir? How so Captain?" Dev probed.

"To be the Captain of a starship requires a romantic personality Counselor. That is a large part of the attraction to the job. A person has got to want to make a difference, be able to guide and influence the lives of those around them, fight the good fight, help those in need..."

"I see Captain." Dev said in her clinical tone, as if she were taking notes or something before adding, "I never really considered that, (being a romantic), as being one of the requirements of your position as Commanding Officer."

Lee smiled. "Just take a look at the personalities of the best Captain's in the fleet Counselor. I think you will find that 'romantic' is one of the commonly shared traits that makes for a good leader..." Lee paused for a moment, realizing Dev was simply giving him a hard time. He decided to turn the tables, "Maybe a case study would be in order?... You could cross reference the Starfleet database of say fifty Commanding Officers and put together a chart outlining their personality trait breakdowns for our edification..."

Counselor Salshyar winced at the thought. It sounded like similar course assignments she'd completed at Starfleet Academy many years ago. "No thank you Captain. I believe I will take your word on this one if that is okay with you?" Dev said in a somewhat patronizing tone.

"Suit yourself 'mate. Who am I to argue with anyone who says I'm right?" Lee said with a grin.

"Right Captain. Now, if you will excuse me, I have a few appointments I need to keep... before I get shang-highed into doing more case studies on the personality traits of Commanding Officers..." Dev said with a mischievous smile as she walked off the bridge.

"Captain, we are entering the Exaltii System sir." Lieutenant Casey-Ti Miran called out from her station at the helm.

"Take us out of Warp Lieutenant and establish a standard planetary orbit around Exaltus." Captain Price replied.

"Aye Captain."

The Galaxy's warp shell deactivated, bringing the ship out of warp as she headed towards the planet Exaltus.

"Time to arrival Lieutenant?" Commander Coe inquired.

Adjusting her console, Miran replied, "Approximately ten minutes Commander."

"Lieutenant Blair, open a channel to the Consulate on Exaltus. See if Ambassador Lorn is almost ready to beam up to the Galaxy." Captain Price ordered.

"Yes Sir." Troy replied as he brought up the Consulate. "Captain, I am told the Ambassador and his personal body guard are ready and standing by. I have been given their coordinates."

"Very good. Have them transferred to Chief Jensen in the transporter room. We will beam the Ambassador aboard once we establish orbit about Exaltus."

"Will do Captain." Blair called out enthusiastically. Evidently the Captain's good spirits were rubbing off on some of the crew members present on the bridge.

Looking around, Captain Price's eyes found Deiran's. "Lieutenant Casey, have arrangements been made for guest quarters for the Ambassador and his companion?"

"Yes sir. I have prepared one of the senior officer's suites for Ambassador Lorn. I assumed that his companion would want to either be in the same apartment, or located next to it, so I've arranged it so either contingency is covered depending on the Ambassador's wishes." Deiran explained.

"Excellent 'mate. I want you, Chief of Security Sterner, and Commander Coe to accompany me to the Transporter room to greet the Ambassador when he beams on board. You can show our guests to their quarters and take care of any special arrangements at that time." Captain Price informed Lieutenant Casey before turning to face Lieutenant Commander Sterner, "Did you get that 'mate? I expect the Ambassador and his 'personal body guard' will have some security issues they would like discussed as well."

"I understand Captain. I would be happy to accompany you to greet the Ambassador." Joerg replied.

"Well then, we had best get going. If you three will follow me gentlemen... Lieutenant Casey-Ti, inform transporter room two when we have established orbit around Exaltus. Lieutenant Blair... you have the con 'mate."

Both Lieutenants acknowledged the Captain as he motioned towards the turbolift. Lieutenant Commander Sterner, Commander Coe and Lieutenant Casey stepped into the lift followed by the Captain.

"Transporter room two." Captain Price called out as the turbolift doors slid shut in a hiss.

"First Assignment"
Ensign John Prescott Engineer,USS Galaxy

John had was sitting in his quarters, thinking. He had been invited to the 'movie' what ever that was. Since he was new, and didn't know anyone, he decided to go, but go alone.

His car of choice was a red Ford Mustang. The Mustang from 1997. His father used to own one. John had drove it once. Since he was a little rusty at it, he kept the safties on, and drove down the road.

When he arrived the 'movie' was just starting. John setteled in, and enjoyed the movie.

***A Few Hours Later***

The movies where over. John left the holo-deck, and returned to his quarters. He had shift in a few hours. He decided to get some sleep.

When shift started, alot of Engineers where leaving, and the same amount where showing up. John was assigned to work, on the air ducts, in Cargo Bay 2. They had been acting up.

***End Of Shift***

John had done it. The Air Ducts in Cargo Bay 2, where finished. It had only taken him eight hours, but they kept on breaking down. He finaly found the problem, the connection to the EPS power grid, was bad. He needed a drink.

***Ten Forward***

John sat in Ten Forward, sipping on his drink. He whished he knew some people on board. After the drink, he just sat at the table, watching the stars. His future looked good, and he was happy to be in space.

"First Impression"
Lt.jg. Mercury Chief of Engineering

David's shift started in ten minutes he gathered his things that he needed from his room and processed to Engineering. The doors openned and David slowly walk into Engineering. The Gamma shift just had ended and he spotted Melissa finishing up.

"Any thing to report Melissa," David said as he walked over.

"Nothing to report, everything is working normally, sir," Melissa said.

"How was your first day in charge?"

"Sir, uh. . David sorry, I have to say that I was a little nervous walking in here for the first time knowing that I was in charge but I feel very comfortable now," Melissa said.

"Good, I am glad it is my turn now, oh Melissa this next mission seems to be uneventful on our end but still being that we had a major change in crew here I would like to keep everyone down here on their toes just to prove to the Captain that he hasn't lost anything with the new crew now in command."

"Consider it done, sir, speak to you later." Melissa walked away.

David waited a couple of minutes for the rest of the Alpha shift to arrive. "O.K. can I have everyones attention please. I have a couple of things to say. I am going to be honest with everyone here. I have just been promoted to Chief of Engineering on one of the most promient ships in Starfleet and frankly I am a little nervous. I am going to count on everyone of you not only perform you job to the best you can but step up and do above and beyond what is expected of you. Let's get it done, THE HIGHER THE FEWER." David dismissed the crew and walked over to Lt.jg Hewson. "A.C. can speak to you for a secon. I am going to count on you to be my eyes and ears of this shift. I don't want anything to

happen down here without me knowing about it."

"Yes sir, consider it done," A.C. said as he walked back to work.

After speaking with A.C. David made it a point to find Ensign Prescott. He found the Ensign working by the warp core. "Ensign, I don't we have formally been introduced yet. I just wanted to welcome you onto the ship."

"Thanks you sir," Ensign Prescott said.

David finally was done with the formalities it was time for him to start being Chief of Engineering. He had a list of things he need to get done and first on the list was to research everything he could about this next mission. He sat down in from of the console and start to read.

*********************
Lt.Jg Mercury
Chief of Engineering
USS Galaxy
Dan Josephs
*********************

"Paperwork"
By Jurelle Tash

"Computer, begin personal log. I have been promoted to Lieutenant junior grade and the position of Chief Medical Officer. I was pretty excited and did all the regular stuff, sending messages to friends and so on. I even sent a message to my mother, although she hasn't replied yet. I was looking forward to the excitement and glamour of the position but I guess I had a pretty romantic ideals about it all. I thought 'this is the reason I joined starfleet.' Or so I thought.

Now I find myself digging spliters out of secuity officers arms, mixing up ointment for balding cats and still the Padds sit, piled up on my desk, waiting for my attention.

It has been a hectic number of weeks. Most of the crew needed ongoing medical treatment after their trips back in time and the retaking of the Galaxy. Broken limbs, exposure, infections and diseases not heard of for centuries needed to be treated quickly, and I can only imagine how busy the counselling staff must be. I still don't quite understand how something that hasn't really happened could have created such havok. How could our minds begin to think up such things let alone make our bodies believe in them so strongly it can effect our health? I get confused each time I think of all the possible horrible things that could have happened.

Dr Rousseau made it safely to Starfleet medical on Earth. I accompanied her to the facility to hand over her care to the Neurologist who will be in charge of her case. I am really pleased that the doctors condition hadn't deteriorated while in stasis on the Galaxy and credit is due to my staff for her care. The neuro team is confident the doctor will make a full recovery in time.

Now we are on our way to Exaltus to collect an Embassador and escort him to some peace talks. It will be nice to be doing something seemingly simple for a change. It will give me a chance to get sick-bay in order. It will be nice to see starfleet diplomacy in action and hopefully see two warring species at peace with each other. I haven't been near this sector for many years, it will be good to catch up with some old friends. End Log"

Jurelle sighed. She hated logs, she always sounded so fake to herself, saying her thoughts out loud. She supposed she would have to get used to it now that she was CMO.

But now she had a movie to go to. The paperwork could wait until tomorrow. The celebration of Ti and Dierans baby was an opportunity not to be missed and Jurelle had taken far too little time to herself lately. It was certainly a novel concept and Jurelle was looking forward to spending some time with her friends.

Lt JG Jurelle Tash, CMO, USS Galaxy.

"Research"
By Ensign John Prescott
Engineer,USS Galaxy

"Computer begin personal log: I have slowly started to adjust to life in space. It is fun, but I miss earth, and the holodeck just can't get it right. I am enjoying my time on board. The Galaxy is a great ship, and all of the people in engineering are nice, and I enjoy working around them.

John shut down the log, and turned back to his computer terminal. He had been resarching ways to make the Galaxy's warp engines, have less stress on space.

From the specs he had put together, he had only been able to decrease the stress on sub-space, by 2%. Once he got it up to 5% which was what he was aiming for, he would present the infromation to Chief Engineer Mercury.

For the rest of the night he tried at it, but got no where. Finally he had to get some sleep.

***The Next Day***

John arose early. He had let the computer run at night, doing the resarch for him. He had got the levels of stress on sub-space where now down to 4% of what they had where right now. *Just 1%* John thought to himself. "Then I take it to Lieuteanant Mercury" John said aloud.

After a shower and breakfest, he headed to main engineering.

Chiron had responded quickly to Dev's request for the tutoring. He would be helpful in developing Colby's mental awareness. Colby would be good for Chiron as well. It would help him with his social skills. Being struck mute was not easy on the Lieutenant.

She tapped her finger against her desk as she thought of the episode with Mitchell in Ten Foreward. He was distracted by something. Something that was burried so deep within this psyche that she couldn't even touch it. But you didn't need to be a telepath to sense it.

'He's a member of the Senior Crew' she rationalized with herself. 'He can't be staring out of portholes for 6 hours at a time.' This bothered her. She didn't like reporting officers, especially Senior Officers, to the captain, but this time, it may be necessary.

Chris came in as Dev was thinking, he startled her actually. "Chris. Welcome." She said cheerily. "I received your message and a copy of Ambassador Troi's message as well." She paused. "I have two Lieutenants working with Colby to move his things for your quarters to mine as we speak."

Chris gaped for a second. "You authorized that move without my consent?" He asked.

"No, I authorized it with Colby's consent." She stated flatly. "By now everything should be moved. The Captain has allowed for you to stay in your current quarters, despite Colby's move. You don't have to return to standard quarters. Congratulations on the promotion by the way." She smiled.

"Thank you." Chris was still slightly stunned.

"How were things on Vulcan?" She asked. Chris related the tale. Before the two knew it, they were into a counselling session.

"Well, Chris. I have two more appointments before I'm off this evening. I'll talk to you later then?" She smiled.

Chris nodded. "Dev, may I ask, where is Colby now?"

"He's with Lt. Chiron in Engineering. He really seems interested with Engineering. I think it's all the moving parts." She laughed slightly. Chris nodded. They said goodbye and he parted.

Dev completed her appointments for the day and retired to her quarters. Colby wasn't there. "Computer, please locate Colby Torwyn."

"Colby Torwyn is in Main Engineering." The computer responded.

"Thank you." She couldn't help but say that. It never made sense after the fact.

She left for Main Engineering.

She found Colby and Chiron standing in front of the Matter/Anti-Matter chamber. "Hey you two." She said in their heads.

Colby turned quickly and Chiron afterward. "Dev!" Colby called out, audibly, to her.

"Greetings Counselor Salshyar" Chiron intoned her in head.

"Greetings Lt. But, if you please, it's Devlynn when we're outside my office." She grinned slightly as she projected. "And you are getting much better at regulating the strength of your telepathy."

Colby looked back and forth at the two of them, facing each other by not being heard. He released his grip on Devlynn and looked at Chiron. "Hey! Don't leave me out!" He said to both.

They all laughed. "Colby, we have to get to Ten Foreward quickly. We have to be in the holodeck shortly. The Mirans are having a party. Lt. would you like to join us?" She projected.

"Ah, but I cannot Counselor. I have duties here to attend to." He sighed.

"I understand. Another time then. We really must get to know each other better if you are going to be tutoring Colby." Colby shot a look at Dev. She smiled at him with a look in her eyes that said 'later'.

"Agreed." The Tamarian Engineer nodded.

"Wonderful. Colby, shall we?" She reached for his hand. He walked off down the hallway ahead of her. Without her hand. She frowned slightly until he looked back at her with a playful look in his eye. "Colby Torwyn," she said with a warning tone in her voice. He was gone. She shook her head and looked back at Chiron with a grin, "Children," she projected.

He laughed.

Dev arrived in Ten Foreword only a few minutes after Colby. He was a very resourceful child. And, she believed, Chiron had provided him with a layout of the ship.

"Well, we meet again, Sir." She said to the young child seated at the table in front of her. He only grinned.

"Colby. You are a little rascal." She smiled.

"Yup!" He said. More colloquialism.

"Are you ready to eat?" She asked. He nodded. "Did you have anything while you were in Engineering?"

"No." He lied.

"Colby?" She asked again. He confessed, he had had a chocolate sundae, but only because Chiron had had one too, of course. She laughed despite herself.

They ordered and their meals were brought. They began to eat as Dev picked up a fleeting thought from across the room. Ensign Prescott, one of the new doctors. She excused herself from her plate and crossed Ten Foreward.

"John?" She enquired politely.

"Yes?" The young man answered as he turned to look at her.

"I'm Counselor Devlynn Salshyar," she could sense him groan inside. "Don't worry, I'm not here to analyze you. I'm here off duty. It's just Dev now, okay? Hell, it's only Dev anytime!" She grinned. "Engisn, I couldn't help but notice that you were sitting by yourself over here."

He quickly jumped to defense. "It's not like I'm the only..." His voice trailed off as he looked around the room. There wasn't anyother table that only contained one person in the whole place. Save of course for a talbe that held a young boy. Even the people at the bar seemed to be in pairs. He felt himself turn red.

"It's okay." She said. "It's actually quite natural. You are new to the ship, and therefore, the chance that you would know others on board is very slim." He nodded. "Are you busy this evening?" She asked. He cocked an eyebrow. She finished. "There is a celebration for the Miran's this evening, in the holodeck. I would be happy if you would join me and my son, she gestured at the child sitting at the table.

She could sense the young officers apprehension. "It's alright to say no. I would understand. I was new to the ship too you realize." She smiled at him.

He straightened slightly and stood. "Thank you. I think that I would like to join you, Counse... Dev, wasn't it?" He smiled sheepishly.

"That's right. Come on over here, you can finish your drink with us." She smiled. He followed Dev to their table.

Colby leapt back from the plate opposite him at the two approached. Devlynn sat and gazed at her dinner. It was gone, as was the one formerly in front of the young boy. He only grinned. She shook his head. "I thought you ate?" She said.

He nodded his head vigorously. "He's got a quantum singularity for a stomach." She commented to the Ensign sitting beside her. They chuckled.

Colby glanced at the Ensign, and back to Dev. She got the message. "Colby, this is Ensign John Prescott, he's the Galaxy's newest medical doctor." She smiled. "John, this is Colby Torwyn. My kid." She shot him a smile. He grinned again in that way only young boys can. "John, if you ever get lost on the ship, just as Colby. He doesn't only eat food. He's a human computer. He knows his way around this ship better than the designers do." She smiled and stood.

"Since dinner seems to be finished," she grinned at Colby. "How about we head to the holodeck." John and Colby stood. Dev could see that Colby wasn't going anywhere dressed the way he was. "Colby, now I see what you do with that food." She smiled. "Did you slow down enough to taste it?" She sighed.

"John, if you want to change out of the uniform, you can meet us at the holodeck in a few minutes, if you wish." She took Colby by the hand. "We've gotta get this boy changed. We'll be only a minute."

The Ensign moved toward the door ahead of Dev and Colby and turned back, "what's the time period?"

"The late 1990's," she said.

"Right. See you in a few!" With that he headed off for his quarters. And Colby broke free of Devlynn's grasp.

"Come back here you little devil!" She called after him.

Liam looked at her from behind the bar and laughed. She only shook her head as she headed out the door.

Lt. Devlynn Salshyar (Dev) Chief Counselor, USS Galaxy - NCC-70637

"The Return"
By Lt. Thomas
(approved by Colby Camaron Torwyn and Lieutenant Devlynn E. Salshyar [Counselor Dev])

Personal log:

Chris returned to the Galaxy after finishing his business on Vulcan. He had gotten some answers to Gwyen's death, which made him feel better, though not all of the questions were resolved. He had really only read the first two pages of the information which were extremely complicated riddled with codes and other such restrictions. The codes where easy to bypass and answer with the correct codes, but time consuming as all get out. He sometimes wished that he'd spent more time paying attention to what he was begin told.

End Log.

He entered his quarters and tossed his bag off to one side as he sat down at the small desk. He hadn't heard from Dev, which could mean only a few things.

'Computer are there any messages?' Chris asked wearily.

'There are three messages.' responded the computer.

'Any from Ambassador Tori?'

'One'

'Play the message'

"Dear, Chris

I have read your request and I have also received messages form Dev and Colby, both feel that it would be best at this present time if Dev was named sole guardian of Colby. They have my blessing to proceed. As I see now allowing you custodian was a mistake on my part, I should have realized that you weren't ready to be a parent or something. I request the you expedite this matter and make the transference of guardianship your top priority.

Ambassador Tori.

[end msg.]

Chris looked around and consider what she had said and what he knew would be best for Colby. He decided that transferring guardianship of Colby to Dev was the right thing to, oh yes he could contest and fight and everything, but in the end it would come down to what was in the best interest of Colby.

Perhaps the loss of Gwyen and effected in him in more ways than he had realized or every was willing to admit to anyone, including Dev. He sat down and drew up the documents for the change to be legal and all that.

["I Lt. (jg) Christopher Kell Thomas hereby grant and approve immediate transfer guardianship of Colby Camaron Torwyn to Counselor Lt. Devlynn Erskaal Salshyar USS Galaxy.

Additional notes and documentation that finalizes the transfer.

Signed, Lt.(jg) Christopher Kell Thomas"]

'Computer send the following document to the following people; Lt. Devlynn Salshyar, Ambassador Tori of Betazed, Captain Price - USS Galaxy, Betazed governing body and Starfleet Command, Earth' Chris paused to make sure that he had listed everyone that needed notification. 'Send'

He thought about it after the document went out and considered what they might have said in there messages to the ambassador though none of it was his concern anymore. He complicated his next move. He picked up the padd with the information on Gwyen's or at least what he had learned and decided that he should take up a new interest that had been generated.

'Computer access JAG database on all current Starfleet Laws and download, also comp

ress the data.' He didn't want or need the information taking up to much space. Then he started narrowing his request on the data requested so that it would take up much space in the computers.

He started cross referencing the information against what was talked about on the padd. He used this to narrow the search even further, but still it would take him weeks to review the data. He thought about Colby and then consider the matter closed and proceed to move on with his life. He and Colby never really did seem to hit off and he was now even more focused on his career and his research. He did care for the boy, but his time was open again and that left him free to achieve his goal.

"Untitled"
(I'm out of names for the moment) Lt Casey Ti Miran

"Captain, we are entering the Exaltii System sir," Miran called out to inform the captain. Never having been to this system Miran wondered what the world they would be arriving at would look like from space.

"Take us out of Warp Lieutenant and establish a standard planetary orbit around Exaltus." Captain Price replied.

"Yes, Captain." Miran adjusted the helm to slow them down. A touch here, a snneze there and she had the ship adjusted to bring their trajectory into the proper alignment to establish the proper planetary orbit.

"Time to arrival Lieutenant?" Commander Coe inquired.

"Approximately ten minutes Commander," Miran answered after checking her instruments.

"Well then, we had best get going. If you three will follow me gentlemen... Lieutenant Casey Ti, inform transporter room two when we have established orbit around Exaltus. Lieutenant Blair... you have the con 'mate."

Miran sighed as Deiran left the bridge. She cherished each moment she was with him even if it was infront of the rest of the bridge crew. She pressed a hand to her stomach. The baby was at a stage that she could just start to feel it trying to kick. Since she wouldn't let the doctor tell her what it was to be, she didn't know how to refer it as.

She also wondered how Bobbie would react to having another person to compete with for attention. Bobbie and Deiran still didn't get along great. Bobbie usually ignored Deiran and in turn Deiran left Bobbie alone. Deiran didn't really appeciate her wishes to sleep with them either. Bobbie was used to sleeping curled up with Miran, which is what Deiran wanted, minus a ferret. It was funny.

She turned her mind back onto the task in front of her. It was an easy enough job to put the ship into a standard orbit and she did it with easy.

"The Graveyard Shift"
By Ensign Chan and
Lt.Jr Greer Erikson Ops officer, Science Officer U.S.S Galaxy

Gamma shift.

It was hard not to get bored when working in the gamma shift. The prospect of remaining on the same chair for 8 hours doing sensor sweeps wasn’t very exciting. Although Chan did get some comfort in knowing that he was in the nerve center of the ship, he was in a position of great power and prestige. A false touch of the panel could cause a whole deck to go on battle alert. Which considering the current time, would be very inappropriate. Of course, he must still comport himself like a federation officer and face the challenging task of scanning the sector for abnormal electrostatic residue. Work that demands hours of Chan’s attention, work that the captain would probably glance at, nod then put away.

It’s stimulating, Chan thought to himself sarcastically. He and Janus were constantly thinking of dramatic scenarios, where they would rise up and save the ship from certain doom. Fantasizing about them has become quite a topic of conversation in their daily breakfasts. The two buddy’s uncontrollable desire for heroics had eventually lead to their war games on the holodeck.

The schematic of the sensor readout appeared on the console. A cluster of ionized particles near the system’s fifth planet. A Tellarite cargo freighter, a Vulcan science vessel… 4 comets skidding through the rather large system… Stimulating work indeed.

Greer was in his usual post at Science I, he had become quite a popular topic of talk around the ship lately. Either because of his unconventional solutions to the medical situation on Sigma II or because of his cat Jasey, Chan wasn’t sure. Now that was something Chan had dreamed of, proving yourself in front of the captain and saving the life of another officer. Luckily, his recent promotion for his deed made him no more difficult to get along with than when he was an ensign. But he was no longer an ensign. He was now a lieutenant. Junior grade perhaps, but still a lieutenant.

Greer turned around to face Lt. Sterner, Chan couldn’t help but overhearing. " Sir, I’ll be in the biophysics lab if I am needed. Lt. Mitchell has asked me to do experiments on some bacterial samples..." Chan saw his commander nod, then Lt. J.G. Erikson walked off.

Ensign Barker was usually handling the helm controls, but ever since he left the ship, his replacement has been on duty. The replacement had short black hair, cut thin and neat around the front. His pointy ears stuck out of his head like the blossom of a flower. His composure straight forward and steady. He was a Vulcan by all sense of the word. Chan has gotten into a habit of talking with Barker when a large amount of boredom is about to overwhelm him… He has yet to try his luck with the vulcan.

" So… " Chan said, " Everything alright at helm ?"

" Yes." He replied. A long pause as Chan grimaced to denounce the lack of enthusiasm in his reply.

" I heard the secondary starboard impulse engine reactors on are off-line. And engineering can’t figure out what’s wrong with them… " Chan waited for a response… And waited….And waited some more.

"As a helmsman I am obliged to know the status of all systems affecting navigation."

Better to end the conversation now and keep your dignity than to pursue this ! His vulcan side screamed . Be kind and try to win him over ! His human side teased. The smarter way would have been to keep your dignity and finish the report. But Chan wasn’t known for his smarts.

" Who do you think is going to win Wimbledon this year ? Macenroe the 17th or Frentzen ? " Chan asked, not sure if he would get an answer.

" I don’t like tennis, " he replied.

Chan felt extremely stupid, for it was lieutenant Bilgreed, who enjoyed tennis, the other vulcan helmsman ! His memory wasn’t serving him well. He wished he had more of that Vulcan logic. He could sure use it now. Chan’s controls chirped. He gladly shifted his attention to the panel.

" Uh oh… " He said.

The command officer, Lieutenant Sterner got up. A small crack from his knee could be heard as his muscles tensed unexpectedly . "What is it ?" He asked.

" Major plasma leak on deck 14… I’m trying to contain with a force field it but we’ll have to evacuate the engineering offices first. "

Sterner nodded and tapped his comm badge "Sterner to all engineers on deck 14, please evacuate the deck ." " Not enough time, the leak has spread to deck 13 and 12, if it reaches one of our torpedo storage magazines we will all be doomed." Reported Chan." I need to de-pressurize the entire upper stardrive hull."

" Alright, " Sterner sought the faster solution. " Bridge to transporter room 3 and 4. I need you to beam out all officers in the upper stardrive hull immediately.". A couple of ‘Aye’s came out of Joerg Sterner’s comm badge.

A few moments later, the engineers were all beamed to safety.

" De-pressurize all infested decks." Sterner ordered. Kamin had the honor of accomplishing the task. Her vulcan fingers moved swiftly across the tactical panel. A barely audible hiss was heard as the plasma was vented out. Once the cycle was complete, everyone let out a silent sigh of relief. It was a close call.

" Good work, I’m sure the captain wouldn’t have appreciated waking up in the morning and finding out half the ship was missing." Sterner said, relieved that the situation hadn’t gotten worse.

This reminded Chan of something Janus once said when he first came aboard. 'Anything this big couldn’t stay in once piece for long.' . Indeed, the Galaxy has experienced an abnormally great amount of systems defects since Sigma II. Chan guessed that flying in low orbit for such an extended amount of time might have caused some unexpected strains in the ship’s systems. Hopefully the engineering teams would have this problem fixed before too long. He would hate to see a plasma conduit going off in the saucer section. Where evacuating the decks would prove to be significantly more difficult…

Chan decided not to think about that anymore , he turned his focus back on his report.

******************************

Up until now it had been a fairly good day. Lt. J.G. Erikson had happily been conducting some tests on a bacteria samples in the biophysics lab that the Chief Science Officer had requested. When a whole slew of engineers poured into his room ‘looking for exposed Plasma conduits’ they said, as they literally kicked Greer out of the lab. Evicted, Erikson walked to the nearest turbolift carrying the microorganisms in little dishes loaded onto a tray.

****Turbolift*******

"Deck 6 " Said the science officer.

" Unable to process command, please restate your request."

" Deck 6…" He repeated again. The computer chirped then started driving the turbolift upward convincing Erikson that the computer was being somewhat vindictive.

The turbolift stopped, deck 12. Ensign Chan walked in. " Bridge." He said.

Erikson mustered a welcoming smile. They both work in the Gamma shift, both hardly talk to each other. Greer's experiment was almost over when the engineers barged into his room. A Bolian rudely pushed him aside, claiming that it if of vital importance that the room be certified.

So Greer was preparing for a nice quiet evening. Listening to some music and perhaps reading a book. He couldn’t help but yawn upon thinking of that, it felt unusually good. He had been on the Gamma shift for several weeks but still found it difficult to adjust.

" Tired ?" Asked the ensign. Greer was startled, he had not expected to talk. " Yeah…an intense day. " Not really, but he had to say something and that seemed to roll out of his mouth.

" Oh, I’ve had my share of those." Not really, but he had to say something and that seemed to roll out of his mouth also. Greer’s muscles loosened, the lenghty yawn might have helped him relax.

" Everything went alright on the bridge ?" Erikson asked.

" Certainly, " Chan replied, hiding the incident in which the whole upper stardrive had to be evacuated. " I heard your cat had to shed some fur recently. A practice not usually done this time of year."

Erikson caught the humor in Chan’s tone. " I know, Jasey should learn to behave himself a bit more. "

" She has a habit of being moody… " Chan said. " … and I should know."

Erikson drew a puzzling expression on his face.

" Me and an angry Bolian engineer found her on Sigma II. She had been transported down to the planet. Oh the Bolian was jumpy that day, and your cat sensed it in him. Grabbed him by the leg and clawed his pants. By god it was a valiant struggle…" Erikson smiled, that’s Jasey alright. Perhaps a little melodramatic but it definitely sounded like Jasey. Chan’s mind seems to be drifting, Erikson had to pull him back to the proverbial earth.

" I assume that you know that some other officers and I are organizing Poker games on the holodeck." The answer was obvious, Chan was known for creating/following/spreading rumors and facts about everything.

" Of course." Chan replied, curving his lips slightly to accept it as a compliment. Yes, there were indeed two central nervous systems aboard this ship. One being the computer, the other being Chan and Janus. No one can escape from the duo’s merciless hunger for information. Their rumor spreading has worked on more than one occasion. There’s a saying in the ship, if you ever wish to pass on information to the whole crew, don’t use the computer ! Just slip the word with these two and in less than 48 hours everyone and everything would know about it. They were a sleuth team whose power is feared far and wide.

" We have this really amazing simulation of an ancient Earth showboat. Delivers a real big band era mood. You’ll have to see it to believe it."

" Sounds excellent. " Chan answered enthusiastically. " If I’m correct the ship is called the Royale and it runs along the Mississippi River."

" Yeah… you're not kidding when you say you find out about everything. " Erikson said, smirking in the process.

" The Vulcan side of me kinda naturally absorb all the information and my Human side spit it out. You see a typical Vulcan usually knows about everything, but hardly ever divulge it in such an open manner. " Chan said, uncovering one of the most reveled secrets of the vulcan psyche.

Erikson took time to contemplate his new found knowledge. " We play every usually once a week. Usually on Thursdays. Feel free to bring friends along."

Chan smiled in agreement as the turbolift door swished open. He was about to say ‘good night’ (Or good morning, after all , it’s 800 hours) when he stopped in mid walk.

"Just one problem… How do we play Poker ?" he thought to himself.

Ensign Burns had pretty much put all of his belongings into their rightful places and was ready to report to Lt. Blair.

"Computer what is the location of Lt. Blair?"

'Lt. Blair is on the Bridge.'

"Darn, now I have to wait for his shift to end before I can find out my duties."

"Computer record message."

Lt. Blair,

Whenever you have the time to fit me into your hectic schedule to talk to me about my duties just contact me and I will come and speak with you.

Ensign John Burns

"Computer end message and send to Lt. Blair."

"Computer what is the first available appointment for me in the counseling department."

'First appointment available is with Ensign Leslie Wilson at 19:00 hours.'

"Log and make appointment."

John noticed his ice skates and roller blades sitting on his table which triggered a thought in his mind. "Computer, is Holodeck programs Burns hockey one through three on board."

'Affirmative.'

"Thank goodness, I wouldn't want to have to rebuild them again," he said aloud to himself. John then sent a message to Lt.(jg) Erikson, informing the Lt. of John's desire to join the poker club on the Holodeck. After John completed that he headed off to Sickbay for his physical.

********Sickbay********

"Well," Doctor Cote Frisk, said after giving John a full physical, "you're as healthy as a horse."

"Thank you Doctor," I replied.

"I'm curious though," Doctor Frisk questioned, "what have you done to break your left arm four times?"

I chuckled slightly and while smiling I said, "when I was about six I fell out of a tree and fractured it and the other three times was from hockey."

"Hock....What?"

"Hockey, its a 20th century sport played on ice or on a street."

Doctor Frisk said confusingly, "Well what are you supposed to do in Hokey?"

"In Hockey their are two nets and you are supposed to shoot either a ball or a puck into the net."

"Interesting," said the Doctor.

"Perhaps you can join me on the holodeck one time and play a game with me," I offered.

"Perhaps," he said. Doctor Frisk continued on, "I have finished examining you and your now free to go."

"Thank you Doctor," I said as I walked out of Sickbay.

John not knowing what to do now, decided he would head to ten-forward as his appointment with the Counselor Wilson was not for a few hours.

*****Ten-Forward*****

John sat down at a table near a window. A waitress immediately came up to him and asked if John if he would would care for something to drink or eat. John told her a glass of cherry juice would be nice and she went off to get some. When she returned with it their were two cherries

floating at the top. The waitress went off to serve someone else and John took a sip of the cherry juice. It was pretty good, in fact it wasn't even replicated. John was pleased with the fact that it was fresh cherries as it reminded him of home. John was sitting there holding his juice, feeling a little lonely while staring out the window at the stars flying by. Suddenly someone came up from behind him and said, "hi." Startled John turned around to see who was talking to him. It was.................

Ensign J.A.Burns/Tactical Officer aka Pat Burns

"Getting Ready for the Movies"
by Colby Torwyn

Devlynn walked into her quarters as the door slid open. She smiled as she saw Colby standing by the replicator with a glass of water. He was still huffing and puffing from his little run to the quarters.

"So, here you are," Devlynn said with a smile.

Colby just stood nodding, still drinking what was left of the water.

She looked over him again and remembered that he needed to change. "Colby, the movie is just in a short while. I had some clothes replicated for you earlier. I figured that if we were going to watch movies in the past, we might as well fit in." She smiled. He didn't.

"What kind of clothes?" he asked warily.

"Oh, don't worry," Devlynn said. "They're in the closet." She walked over to the door of the closet and opened it up. She grabbed a small pile of clothes and handed it to Colby. "Go to the bathroom and change. Clean up while you're at it too." She was feeling more like a real mother with every passing moment.

Colby moaned and reluctantly walked into the bathroom.

* * *

A little while later, after a quick sonic shower, Colby stepped out of the bathroom. Devlynn smiled as she saw him in his new attire. He wore a red tank top, a pair of blue jean shorts, and a pair of sandals without any socks on. He smiled when as he walked towards Dev. "I could get used to these clothes," he said with a broad grin.

"You could?" Devlynn said suprised. "Well, I'm glad that you like them." She placed a black hat on top of his head. She stepped back for a moment and then turned the hat around backwards. "There," she said with satisfaction, "You look like a kid straight from the twentieth century."

Colby looked down at himself. "I do?" He liked the feel of the open air without the usual itchy, long sleeves on his arms. The tank top was comfortable. The entire outfit was comfortable. "I like it too." Colby smiled shyly.

Dev had to stiffle a laugh. Colby was just too cute. "In just a few minutes, I'll get dressed and we'll be ready to go, ok hon?"

"Ok." He stood there, rocking back and forth slightly, getting the feel of the sandals against his feet. He liked not having to wear socks. His cheeks were red and rosey, perfectly accenting his shy smile.

Tonight, Colby planned on having a good time. It isn't every day that he's allowed to dress comfortably, y'know...

"Blades of steel"
by Ensign Christopher I. Campbell

Sitting on his bed, Chris looked down at them. They were made of black leather. Nothing spectacular. Chris could feel they were sharp. His hockey-skates.

His time in the Holodeck was coming up in just half an hour. Chris usualy went playing hockey when he got some holodeck-time. But he never replicated skates. The holodeck always provided everything he needed, but he'd always use his own skates.

*'**Twenty minutes later***

Chris made his way to the Holodeck through the corridors. He passed several fellow crew-members and nodded or said his hello's. As he passed one Ensign, somebody he didn't know, the Ensign stopped him.

"You must be Ensign Campbell, right?"

"How did you know?" Chris was a little surprised.

The other smiled. "Your skates... I recognized them as icehockey-skates. I read the bios and..."

"...And read that I like hockey?" Chris smiled to. "I'm going to the holodeck now, to play some." Campbell hesitated. He wasn't very open or out-going usually, but there seemed to be so many new faces around, Chris figured he might as well get to know some of them. He took a quick breath. "I didn't catch your name."

"Ensign John Burns."

"So, do you want to come along and play a game or something?"

"Ambassador beam in"
by Captain Robert Edward Lee Price

Chief Jensen adjusted the controls on the transporter console as Captain Price, Commander Coe, Lieutenant Commander Sterner and Lieutenant Casey stood by awaiting the arrival of the Deltan Ambassador and his body guard.

"I have their coordinates entered Captain." Jensen informed.

"Do it 'mate. Beam the Ambassador and his companion on up." Captain Price said with out looking back.

The shimmering sound of the transporter coils charging could be heard as the blue and white beams materialized on the transporter pad of the Galaxy. Two figures appeared, a tall, white robed Deltan, and a shorter, but bulkier humanoid with dark hair.

"Ambassador Lorn," Captain Price greeted, "Welcome on board the Galaxy. It is a pleasure having you with us Ambassador."

The Deltan took a step forward. His complexion was fair, his features sharp and well defined. Completely hairless as all Deltans are, the Ambassador held his hands together inside of his opposing sleeves, just in front of his torso, similar to how ancient monks from Earth's Orient used to.

Lorn glanced at Price, noting the pips on his collar. "Thank you Captain. I am sure our stay on this magnificent Starship should be a pleasurable one."

Lorn's voice was calm and charming, a trademark characteristic of the seductive Deltan species.

"Allow me to introduce some of my staff Ambassador." Lee started, "This is Commander Johnathan Thomas Coe, my Executive Officer. He will be accompanying you to Dronegar during the peace talks with the Rhomboid."

JT took a small step forward as the Captain introduced him. "It is a pleasure meeting you Ambassador Lorn. I've been reading about some of your past accomplishments. You've had quite an interesting career if I might say sir."

Looking down from the transporter pad, Lorn nodded his head slowly. "Perhaps if time permits, we can discuss some of the details that were not written in the databanks Commander." Lorn smiled slightly, "That could be quite an entertaining endeavor."

"I would like that Ambassador." JT said warmly. Ambassador Lorn definitely seemed like a friendly sort.

Captain Price nodded to JT who quickly took a small step back, allowing the Captain to continue on. "This is Lieutenant Commander Joerg Sterner the Galaxy's Chief Security Officer."

Ambassador Lorn turned his head to look at Joerg with a friendly smile. "Chief of Security Sterner. A pleasure to meet you sir. I am sure you and my official Exaltian body guard, J'naii will have much to discuss in the coming days." Lorn removed one of his hands from his sleeve, making an open palmed gesture to the dark hared gentleman standing besides him on the transporter pad.

J'naii took a small shuffle step forward as the Ambassador motioned towards him. He was a big man. Shorter than the lean Ambassador, however J'naii was of a powerful build. Glancing at the Exaltian, Joerg thought to himself he was glad the body guard was on their side.

"Thank you Ambassador," J'naii began in a deep, throaty voice that some how suited his powerful frame, "I would like to review the Chief of Security's records. Particularly this vessels current crew manifest."

Lieutenant Commander Sterner took a small step forward when Captain Price introduced him, just as Commander Coe had done a moment earlier. Joerg gave Captain Price a quick glance, but when the Captain offered nothing other than a poker face, he decided to just answer J'naii's query on the spot.

"You are more than welcome to review an of my records mister J'naii. I assure you, they are completely in order. The Ambassador is safe while on board the Galaxy." Sterner reassured.

J'naii's eyes narrowed slightly, an almost scowl like expression forming on his forehead. "That may be very true, but if you do not mind, I will check the records for myself. Any of a number of the Ambassador's enemies could have arranged passage on a ship of this size. I shall scan the manifest to be certain none are to be of any concern to the Ambassador's well being while on board."

"Suit yourself mister J'naii." Joerg replied with a slight nod as he stepped back to allow the Captain to continue.

"I am sure your companion will find everything in order Ambassador. In the mean time, allow me to introduce you to Lieutenant Deiran Casey. Lieutenant Casey is the Galaxy's Chief Operations Officer. He has made arrangements for your living quarters while you are our guests."

Deiran stepped forward and smiled. "Pleased to meet you Ambassador, and you too mister J'naii."

Lorn returned Deiran's smile in a diplomatic fashion. "Ah yes, our quarters. That is something I had forgotten to arrange with your Captain."

"I believe I have made all the necessary arrangements Ambassador." Deiran explained, "Will you and mister J'naii be sharing quarters, or would you prefer separate but adjacent suites?"

Ambassador Lorn regarded Lieutenant Casey for a moment. It seemed that this Operations Officer had planed for every possible contingency. "Separate quarters in the same proximity would be acceptable Lieutenant. Thank you."

Deiran's smile widened. "I have arranged for two adjoining suites Ambassador, and I believe you and mister J'naii will be most pleased with the facilities."

"I am sure we will be Lieutenant Casey, thank you." Lorn nodded.

"Ambassador, I suppose you and mister J'naii will want to settle into your quarters. Lieutenant Casey would be more than happy to show you to them so you may rest. If you feel up to it, I would be honored to have you as my guests tonight at supper." Captain Price offered.

Ambassador Lorn smiled at Captain Price. "That sounds wonderful Captain. I would be happy to attend your evening meal." Glancing over to J'naii, the Ambassador added, "Providing J'naii does not object?"

The dark hared Exaltian shook his head. "That should be fine Ambassador, assuming that this ship's security protocols and crew manifest are in order. With your permission, I would like to begin reviewing the records at once."

Lorn nodded at J'naii and smiled slightly as he faced Price. "My body guard is quite thorough at his job Captain. He will not let me rest until he has verified that your Chief of Security's records are in order. If it wouldn't be too much of an imposition, could you please arrange to review your records with J'naii or he will pester me until you do."

Lee nodded. "Our records are open for all inspection Ambassador. Lieutenant Commander Sterner will review the ship's security protocols and show mister J'naii any security files or manifest that he deems necessary."

"Thank you Captain. You have been most hospitable. I look forward to this evening's get together."

"As do I Ambassador." Captain Price responded, "I will have the ship set course for the Dronegar-Rhomboid sector and see you this evening Ambassador. And you too mister J'naii. Lieutenant Casey will show you to your quarters Ambassador. Lieutenant Commander Sterner will escort you to his Security officer mister J'naii, if you would care to accompany him to review the ship's records."

"Yes Captain. I would. Thank you." J'naii said in his deep voice as he and Ambassador Lorn stepped off the transporter pad.

"Very good." Captain Price said as he tapped his comm badge. "Captain Price to Bridge."

["Lieutenant Blair here Captain."]

"Lieutenant, Ambassador Lorn and mister J'naii have safely beamed on board. Set course for the Dronegar-Rhomboid sector. Warp factor seven. Engage when ready Lieutenant. Captain Price out."

["Aye Captain."] came Troy's reply before the channel closed.

"Ambassador, if you will follow me, I will show you to your quarters." Deiran offered motioning towards the corridor exit.

Ambassador Lorn gave Lieutenant Casey a slight smile as he blinked his eyes and placed his hands back into his sleeves before walking towards the exit.

"Mister J'naii, if you will come with me, I can show you the security files you wish to review in my office." Chief of Security Sterner offered.

The large Exaltian stepped nearer to Lieutenant Commander Sterner. He was a good half a foot shorter than Joerg, but his arms were as big around as Sterner's thighs. "That would be appreciated sir."

"This way." Joerg said as he began leading the Exaltian body guard out of the transporter room in route for his office in main security.

"History Passed"
by Lt. J.G. Greer Erikson (Science Officer)
& Dr. Jurelle Tash (Chief Medical Officer)

--------Holodeck 4---------

Mèlissa lunged and twirled her foil at Greer. The motion of the metal against metal flung his foil out of his hand and allowed it to freefall to the ground.

"I told you should have guarded you foil" Mèlissa said explaining to Greer his fault. He had never fenced before but was willing to try. After several attempts he began to understand that it was more difficult than he first thought.

"I have to stop doing this" Greer said clutching his wrist.

"Don't tell me you sprained it, again?" she asked him.

"I hope not" Greer looked at Mèlissa who was feeling a little sorry for the 'wounded' science officer.

---------Sickbay-----------

"This, Lieutenant, is not the first, nor the second, but the third time you have been in Sickbay with a sprained wrist. What, may I ask, have you been doing?" Tash inquired.

"I was fencing with Lt. J.G. Boudreau in the holodeck again. Mèlissia is . . " he found himself searching for the most appropriate adjective to describe this vivacious young woman ". . a formiddable opponent."

Greer sat there on the biobed whilst Dr. Tash whisked the medical tricorder over his right wrist. He face was slightly taught from the pain but he managed to prevent himself from complaining about it.

"Nurse, get me a metorapan series please" she said turning to a nurse.

"Metorapan? I didn't need that the last time" Greer said sensing a difference to what had become a regular occurance this week.

"This time you fractured the wrist Lieutenant" she replied with a serious tone "I am getting sick of seeing you in Sickbay with a sprained wrist. Now you have managed to fractured it. When I say rest it, Lieutenant, I mean rest it."

"Yes ma'am" Greer replied in playful tone. "Anyway someone has to keep you in business. Don't they? I thought you might want a bit of variety" he added. Dr. Tash simply looked at him and smiled. Ofcourse he would have prefered not to hurt his wrist at all.

The nurse returned with the metorapan series so that Tash could repair the fracture. Gently lifting his hand she began the treatment. Greer felt the intensity of the pain progress into discomfort and then the senstaion disappeared.

"All done" Tash said with satisfaction of a job well done.

"Thank you Doctor" Greer said "now I have to find Mèlissa and ask her for a rematch."

Tash looked at him. "Erikson, I was serious before. Take it easy."

"Understood" he replied seriously as he made his way to leave Sickbay.

----------Several hours later, Ten Forward---------

"Nice to see that you are here instead of Sickbay" Tash said walking towards Greer after catching his attention.

"I wasn't able to get Mèlissa to accept. She said she didn't want to hurt me again. I tried to convince her but she refused" he replied.

"Please Doctor, take a seat"

"Why, thank you" she said accepting the seat across from him "At least now I won't have to see you wrist in any other condition but strong and healthy"

"Well I don't think you'll see me in there for a long time." he said back reassuredly. "I hear we are taking on some interesting passengers."

"Yes. We are escorting Ambassador Lorn and his

assistant to the Dronegar-Rhomboid sector for a diplomatic negotiation. Hopefully a relief after the Sigma II mission." she replied. Afterall she had 'lossed' her departmental head in that mission and replaced her as Chief Medical Officer.

They sat briefly in a silence. Greer had met Trill before but for the first time he found himself speechless.

"Forgive me for asking Doctor, but . . . how old are you?" Greer had managed to just came out with it. The question could have been described as being a little rude to Human female but in his experience Trill never seemed minded that question. Jurelle appeared to be no exception. As a Trill, she had found it quite common after living as a joined species was interesting to those other humanoid species. He was simply curious and she wasn't offended by the inquiry.

"I, Jurelle, am only 27 years old. The Tash symbiont is, however, almost two hundred years old" she said answering his question "I am the fourth host."

"That's a long time. You must remember some interesting changes and have met interesting people in that time."

"I have been a poet, a medical scientist, a linguist, and now a medical doctor" she said "well at least the past Tash hosts have been. Their experiences and memories are all apart of me now. As will my experiences and memories be in the next host that follows."

"Infact, come to think of it, I once met a scientist by the name of Erikson once" she included "actually he was a friend and collegue of Coradan Tash, the second host."

"Do you remember his name? Perhaps I'm related." he asked her jokingly "Really though. My family have been doctors and scientists for several generations. Actually both sides of my family have been scientists or doctors" he continued "Except for my sister. She decided to become a diplomat."

"His name was Adriaan Erikson. Yes Professor Adriaan Erikson. That's right, I met him at a biomedical seminar on Earth" Tash reminisced.

"Professor Adriaan Erikson" Greer thought to himself "Adriaan Erikson". Tash lokoed at him pondering the name over and over again in his head. He had heard the name before but just couldn't place it.

"He was extremely curious about the Trill. I was, or rather Coradan, was the first one he had ever met" she added.

"He wasn't from Cambridge University was he?" Greer said building on a thought. "I am sure we had someone at Cambridge once."

"Well, yes. Yes, I believe he was" Jurelle became curious with that particular question. "Why?"

"I can remember my father telling me before I entered the Acadmey that I was continuing a proud tradition of scientists in our family. I seem to remember him rattling off a list of names as well." Greer told her "I am sure that that was the name of my great-grandfather."

"He was the Professor of Biology at Cambridge University" she added continuing to remember a life long gone.

"That's incredible" Greer said in amazement. Despite the fact that his great-grandfather lived a very old age didn't mean that he had had the chance to meet him.

"Come with me" Jurelle said grabbing Greer by the hand.

----------------Tash's quarters------------------

For the sake of confirming their suspicions Jurelle and Greer consulted the LCRAS system as to all references to one Adriaan Erikson. From all appearences it seemed that it was indeed young Greer's great-grandfather. Although his great-grandfather had lived to an old age, Greer had never had the pleasure of meeting him.

"Found it" she yelled out of her room.

Jurelle came out of her bedroom with a small box. Opening it she revealed several old photographs selecting specifically one photograph and handing it over to Greer.

"That is Professor Adriaan Erikson and Dr. Coradan Tash at a biomedical seminar" she stated "they spent a lot of time together and managed to keep in contact until Coradan's death. The new host was given these photographs by Coradan's widow."

"I thought Trill usually don't keep relationships with those from past hosts."

"Usually not. It is extremely difficult for the family and friends of the old host. The Tash hosts have all been men but some of them have also been fathers and husbands. They have often left wives and children behind" Jurelle began with a subtle look of pain "These photographs were given to the last host and then to me. Coradan's wife didn't want the new host to be without some physical link to his past as Coradan Tash."

"Did the last host ever met her?"

"No. It would have been all too stressful. . . too many emotions involved. One minute she has a husband and now he is apart of another host. Superficially another person but with all the memories of her husband. But still not quite her husband." Greer attempted to understand the unique situation but he had never had a situation to comprehend like this one.

"That's incredible" Greer said looking at Jurelle with amazement.

"Funny. I never really looked at these photographs" Jurelle said with a little astonishment. "I have had these photographs since I was joined and I never really took the time to study them until now."

"So" Greer said breaking the silence which loomed as Jurelle became lost in thought "do I look like my great-grandfather at all?."

"Come to think of it" she said looking at his face "I think I can say it looks as if you have his eyes."

The nostaglia of the moment hit them both. Jurelle had found a link with a part of her history which occured some century or so before Jurelle had even been born. She still had the memories and found that they had regained a new life. Greer, on the other hand, had found a link with the history of his family that his parents had encouraged him to take pride in and had influenced the person he became. Greer spent the next few hours hearin more about Jurelle's history. He heard some stories which could only be described as amazing. She told him more about his great-grandfather and Coradan Tash, including the little boy who eventually became the old man Greer remembered as his grandfather, and even began to tell him about some of the amazing adventures her first host had on his travels.

"Dinner arrangements for the Senior Staff"
by Captain Robert Edward Lee Price

Captain Price returned to the Bridge after greeting Ambassador Lorn and his body guard, mister J'naii in transporter room two. The Deltan Ambassador seemed like a genuinely pleasant fellow. Captain Price looked forward to having dinner with his guests this evening.

"Lieutenant Casey-Ti, what is our ETA to the Dronegar-Rhomboid sector 'mate?" the Captain inquired.

"At present speed sir, the Galaxy should arrive in 47 hours, 16 minutes Captain." Miran read off her console.

Lee nodded. "Very good. That will give us plenty of time to get to know the Ambassador before we arrive at the planet Dronegar."

Glancing around the bridge, the Captain watched the routine activities of his crew members on duty. Things were indeed back to normal on the Starship, something for which the Captain was glad. Pressing the button on his command chair, Lee activated the communications channel.

"Captain Price to Ten Forward."

["Electra here Captain..."] the startled Orion lounge manager stated as she responded to the hail, ["What can I do for you sir?"]

"Electra, we have Ambassador Lorn and his companion, Mister J'naii on board for the next several days. I was wondering if I could arrange to have a banquet set up in Ten Forward to entertain our guests. Something Deltan would be appropriate if possible. Myself and the Galaxy's senior staff along with our distinguished guests would be attending. Do you think that would be possible 'mate?"

Electra thought for a moment as she looked around the Ten Forward lounge. It was definitely large enough. Though with this short notice, she and her staff would have to get started right away to get everything prepared. ["Yes Captain. I think we can handle that with out too much difficulty. Shall we plan for 18:00 sir?"]

"That would be fine Electra. My senior staff and I will escort the Ambassador and mister J'naii to Ten Forward at that time. Thank you for handling this for me, I realize it is short notice 'mate."

["My pleasure Captain. See you this evening then sir. Electra out."]

The comm channel closed and Captain Price glanced at his ease dropping senior officers around the bridge.

"Aye 'mates. All senior officers are invited to dinner to meet the Ambassador and mister J'naii. And since I'm feeling generous for this informal get together, I won't require full dress uniforms. Standard attire will do 'mates."

The Captain could almost sense a wave of relief wash over the room as everyone seemed to relax slightly. Smiles crept out on the faces of many of the officers.

Glancing over to the turbolift, several members of the Galaxy crew began reporting in for duty. Alpha shift was just preparing to end and Beta shift had arrived to take over. Lee's eye caught Commander Coe as he stepped off the lift, a full thirty minutes early for his shift.

"Captain?" JT greeted noting the look on Lee's face meant he had need to speak with him.

The Captain smiled. "Commander, the senior staff and I are having dinner with the Ambassador and mister J'naii this evening in Ten Forward at 18:00. I want you to attend as well. I realize you are scheduled for Command duty during that time."

JT nodded. "Yes Captain, but I am sure Lieutenant Morris can handle the con for a few hours while I attend. She's the senior ranking officer during Beta shift in my absence."

"Very good Commander. Please inform Lieutenant Morris when she reports for duty. Now if you don't mind starting your shift early 'mate, I'll turn the con over to you. I'd like to return to my quarters and review a few things before our get together with Ambassador Lorn in a couple hours."

"Not a problem Captain. I'll see you this evening in Ten Forward..." JT suddenly tensed up as a thought struck him.

"What is it Commander?" Captain Price asked, concerned at his first officer's reaction.

"We, are dress uniforms being worn tonight Captain?"

Lee smiled broadly. "Are all of my senior officers allergic to dress uniforms on this ship?"

JT stared blankly at the Captain, a little embarrassed at his reaction.

"No Commander, not this evening. This is an informal 'get to know the Ambassador' get together. Standard duty uniforms will do nicely."

The Commander let out an audible sigh. Exaggerating the point a little, and trying to interject a touch of humor, JT rubbed some imaginary sweat off of his forehead with his hand. "That's a relief Captain. In that case I'll look forward to it sir."

The Captain held his gaze on the Commander for a moment. He then gave him a quick wink and smiled, much as the rest of the bridge crew were already doing.

"See you tonight Commander, along with the rest of the senior staff." Captain Price said as he walked up the ramp from the command well and exited the bridge on route to his quarters.

"Dinner Tonight"
Lt.Jg. Mercury Chief of Engineering

[Coe to Mercury]

"Go ahead Commander"

[Mercury the captain has invited all of the senior staff to a dinner tonight in order to welcome the Ambassador. It will convene at 1800h in Ten-Forward.]

"Sir, (with a little hesitation) what is the dress tonight."

[Funny you asked, dress is normal attire tonight, we all lucked out the Captain was feel a little generous tonight.]

"Yes sir, see you tonight Commander," David said with a smirk on his face.

David's shift was almost over. Lt. Chiron will be arriving shortly and he will need a report status of Engineering. David take the PADD and began to type out his daily report to Chiron. David had recently noticed that Chiron has been very quiet, even for him. He hoped everything was alright and then Chiron would feel comfortable coming to him if he needed help. David had finished his report just as Chiron walked through the door. He handed Chiron the PADD and gave him a pat on the back. David continued on and exited Engineering. David had a couple of hours before he needed to get ready for tonight so he decided to exercise a little. David enter the turbolift, "Deck 12", the lift began to move. It had been a long time since David last did something athletic. Maybe a some basketball would do the trick. He hoped that the gymnasium had the facilities so he didn't have to schedule holodeck time. The doors opened and the corridor was pack. People walkin in and out and some just standing and talking. It appears to be the place to be on this ship to work out. He threaded his way through the crowd and finally arrived in the gym. It was just as packed as it was in the corridor. The gym was huge just like everything else on this ship. It was going to be hard to locate the court if they had one. David looked for about ten minutes until finally he found it. All the way on the otherside of the gym. David had got a little more then he expected. There was already a game in progress and he noticed a couple people gathered around waiting to play. "You guys next?"

"Yes sir but we need another, would you care to play?" one of the guys asked.

"Thought you would never ask, let me just get out of this uniform."

****************One Hour Later ****************************

"Thanks for letting me play I really appreciate it," David said as he walked off the court.

"No problem, Lieutanent (jg) we play all the time, please come anytime."

It was time for David to get back to his quarters and get ready for dinner.

Dan Josephs

"Holodeck Run"
By Ensign Leslie Wilson Counselor, USS Galaxy

Leslie was sweating. She was in her third mile, on the holodeck. The rockey surface made the run really hard. She was panting, but pushed forward making her way up a large mound, of rocks and dirt.

Her knees began to feel like a million pounds. She finaly made it over the mound, and started downhill. She had reached the point where she couldn't stop, no matter how hard she tried. She was in a rythem.

She had checked the time, not to long ago, she still had an hour before she had an appointment with someone.

Her first appointment in an hour was with Ensign Burns. She would run for fifteen more minuets, and then head back to her quarters.

Leslie had four appointments in the next three hours. She would be tired before the day was over.

She was enjoying her time on-board. She had made a friend or two, and it looked like she would be here for awhile. She hoped so. She knew how fast you could get transfered.

The sweat was pouring down her face now. It was a good thing it was time to quit.

=/\=Half An Hour Later=/\=

Leslie ran the brush through her black hair. The shower had felt good. She dressed, and headed out the door. Her appointment with Ensign Burns was soon.

She arrived at her office and sat down, waiting.

"Histories"
by Lt. Ronni Morris
Asst. Chief of Science, USS Galaxy

Ronni laid in her tank looking up at the ceiling. She felt sick to her stomach. She had really enjoyed the 'moovy' at the drive-in last night, but she was regretting all of the popped corn "with extra butter" and "Milk Duds" she ate last night.

Climbing out of the tank she took a sonic shower and got ready for her shift. She decided today to wear a black cloth head band to pull her hair out of her face. When she looked in the mirror, she was surprised to see how different it made her look. She looked more like she had when she was a teenager.

She thought back to her childhood, her first years on Delphi, exploring the warm currents and deep cave systems. When she was 12 years old, her father, and therefore the entire family, moved to Earth. It had been strange to see her father without a wetsuit and breathing apparatus, and it had been strange to see her mother in a comparable outfit.

Since only half Delphinians can breathe out of water, her mother then became the 'handicapped one.'

Fortunately they had lived near her grandparents on the Oregon coast. Her father made a cottage not far off shore for her mother, and a little for us kids, so we could be reminded of home.

Scanning through her messages for the day, she saw a ship-wide notice that there was a Deltan ambassador, Ambassador Lorn, was visiting the ship. "Just great!" she said with frustration.

About 40 years ago, there had been a brief, but bloody, conflict between the Delphinians and the Deltans. Since the Delphinians were still new to space technology, the skirmish had been short lived. Two of Delphi's three colonies had been turned over to the Deltans. Ronni's uncle had apparently been killed on the raid at New Delphi. "Well, I'll just stay away from the Ambassador and his entourage, and avoid any problems either way! Besides, we'll be passing by the Temak Nebula and I want to get some scans of the area."

Ronni headed for the bridge still thinking about Delphi and how much things had changed in the last 80 years. Until the Ferengi contacted the Delphinians, they had been a mostly peaceful, mostly low-tech people, with a world wide tribal council government. The Ferengi, in their desire to reach a 'new market' and with no Prime Directive, had contacted some of the Delphinian scientists whom had built a research center on one of the few archipelios islands on the planet. The Ferengi then 'sold ' technology until Delphi was at the level of most of the Federation planets. The Federation almost didn't let Delphi in, but under the clause that said that they would have been admitted at a future date, Delphi was admitted into the Federation of Planets.

Arriving on the bridge for her normal Beta shift, Commander Coe stopped her from going to her normal station.

"Lieutenant Morris, I'll be attending the banquet tonight in honor of Ambassador Lorn. Since you're the ranking Shift officer, you'll take the conn." he said matter of factly.

Ronni's jaw dropped. She had put in the requisite hours of training on the holodeck and had recently passed her Command exams, but she didn't expect this so soon.

Trying not to stammer, she said, "Of course Sir."

"Very good. I'll be going now to get ready." he said as he headed for the turbolift. "And Lieutenant, " he said as he entered the lift, with a twinkle in his eye "try not to run into anything or start any wars . . . . . ."

"Using The Research"
By Ensign John Prescott
Engineer,USS Galaxy

"Go for it ensign," Lieuteanant Mercury replied. John was ready to jump for joy, but contained himself. He got all of his data PADD and set to work. He was doing what he had dreamed about, for almost his whole life, fixing things and making things that worked, better.

It was five hours into Alpha shift. John was at the computer terminal, programing the specs into the main engineering computer. All of the specs where loaded, he grabed his engineering kit, the several dat PADD that he would need, and crawled into the jeffries tube.

John grabbed the laser wielder, and began to connect the wires to the proper outlits. The going was slow, but it was getting done.

He checked the time, and was surprised. Beta shift had started an hour ago. He was almost finished, all he needed was the coil spanner, and then he would be done.

With this part. He would still have to do work directly to the warp core. That would have to wait until the ship droped out of warp. He sighed.

He had heard that a Deltan ambassodor was on the Galaxy. He had always liked the Deltans, he thought they had real class, unlike some species. The word Ferengi poped into his head.

*Oh well* he thought to himself. He gathered all of his things, and crawled out of the jeffries tube. He needed a drink in ten-forward.

"Research Part II"
By Ensign John Prescott Engineer,USS Galaxy

John had done it! He had come up with specs to reduce the stress on sub-space by 5% which was caused by the warp engines of the Galaxy. Grabing several data PADD from his desk, he ran out the door, on his way to main engineering.

"Your a little early," Lieuteanant (jg) Boudreau greeted him. John checked the time, he was fifteen minuets early. "Then can I get to work early?" he asked. "Sure, find something to do," she responded.

John headed over to the warp core. He glanced up at it. Its hulking mass, the shineing blue lights. Soon he would have his modfications added to it, he hoped.

He set to work, helping another ensign.

When alpha shift arrived, he approched Lieuteanant (jg) Mercury. "Sir I have some things I would like to show you," John began. "Go ahead," "Well sir, I have come up with a way to reduce the stress on sub-space, caused by the Galaxy;s warp drive, with your premission, I would like to put my specs to use," He waited for the chief engineer to reply.

"Information"
By Lt. (jg) Thomas

Lt. (jg) Christopher Thomas's Personal Log, Stardate 49709.16. We have taken on some ambassador, that wishes to hitch a ride to somewhere. I really haven't paid attention to subjects that don't involve me directly at the moment. I have spent my free time working on decoding the information the Suvak left to me after his death. I had considered asking for help with the decoding process, however upon reading the third page and an insert left behind by Suvak I reconsidered that option.

The process is slow going, it is like decrypting the ancient languages, time consuming and bothersome. I know why it is coded, some parts he coded himself. Which have allowed me to decode parts that he didn't code. The real threat is that I will hold information in my hand that could be the down fall of my career. This is another reason why he chose to leave everyone out of this process.

'end log'

'Save log' Chris said as he encrypted his personal log, and then sent another message out to Gwyen's parents. He had to be sure that nothing happened to the information, nor that anything was transmitted that could be useful to anyone. He used his old codes, which of course where no longer valid with S.I. and likely the codes were destroyed once he left. Which meant that the information he was sending was secure and nobody would be the wiser and even if they were nothing made sense without knowing an additional piece of information.

** 20 minutes later **

Chris was preparing to go on duty, as he had Beta shift watch at ops. He missed Colby, but he knew that Colby would be happier living with Dev than with him. He then remembered something that he had forgotten about.

'Computer are there any messages for me?'

'There are 2 messages'

"Display them.' Chris ordered as he sat down to read them, since he still had a few minutes before he was due on the bridge for his shift. He quickly read through them one was an advertisement from some Frengi Bar that he had visited once and won some money. The other was a thank you message from Suvak's family. He left for the bridge as he had a job to perform.

Chris Patton

Colby flopped down on the bed as they arrived back in their quarters. It was a late night for him tonight, Dev thought to herself. "Colby, are you ready to get some sleep honey? You've got school tomorrow." She heard him groan.

Ensign Prescott had been wonderful company. He had had to leave somewhat early to complete some research for Engineering, but other than that, the eveing was wonderful.

When she returned to the room from the washroom, Colby was asleep. He was sprawled out on the bed where he fell. She had to smile. He was just too cute in his tank top and cut-offs. She walked over to him and pulled the sandles from his feet, tossing them onto the floor.

She turned the young boy around in the bed, so that he was facing the right way and rolled him under the covers. She pulled the tank top from over his head. She kissed him lightly on the forehead before the beckoned the computer to dim the lights.

She walked from the bedroom with a smile on her face. She loved that kid. It was hard for her to think of him as anything other than her own. They had bonded over the past few months. She walked across the room and fed the bird. It sat silently, knowing that the child was asleep in the other room, it looked at her, it's head cocked sideways as if to ask a question. She answered anyway. "I love him like my own son. He is my own son." She smiled.

---- The Next Morning ----

"Wake Up!" The white bird sang to the world. "Time for work." Devlynn rolled off the couch and rubbed her neck. The Captain had allowed her a transfer of quarters, but she had turned it down. Instead she had another bed ordered and was going to have it placed in the anti-chamber to the main bedroom. It would serve as her room. Not that she spent too much time sleeping anyhow.

Colby flew from the bedroom and aimed his fingers at the avian telepath. "Zap!" He squeeled.

"Awk!" The bird squawked as it flew across the room and lit on Dev's shoulder.

She had to laugh. "He means no harm you know." She said to the bird. It's 'awked' again as Colby drew his finger-gun up again and took aim.

"Computer, time." Dev said to the wall.

"It is now 07h00." It replied harshly.

"When is my first appointment this morning?" She queried.

"09h00"

She sighed. She hated early mornings. "Colby you've gotta get ready for school." She smiled at the young boy as he chased the bird from landing place to landing place. He stopped dead, dropped to the floor and clutched his stomach.

"I don't feel well." He proclaimed.

"Don't bother young man. School hasn't been that bad, now has it?" She looked at him. He nodded his head yes, but his thoughts said otherwise. "Don't give me that. Now you get ready!" She giggled as she tried to play the stern mother role. He shot her with a 'don't wanna' look until they both laughed.

He began to prepare for school. She got ready for work.

Colby was ready first. He had taken the liberty of dressing himself. Apparently, as Dev noticed. He was paying attention at the movie, because he was totally decked out in 90's period clothing. She laughed. "Are you going to school dressed like that?" She asked.

"Yep!" He said.

"Well, it's up to you. You are old enough to dress yourself now. I won't say anything. I feel that expression is important... BUT. You make sure that everyone know WHO picked those clothes!!" She grinned at him and he rolled his eyes. "Come on!" She said as she slapped her hip. He mockingly barked like a dog. She laughed again.

They arrived at the school and Colby went in. He wasn't having that bad a time, Dev thought to herself. Which is definately good. She smiled as he ran across the room to the rest of the students. They all stepped back for a moment, trying to figure out who the hell was amongst them. Colby was beaming with pride in his 'new clothes'. She was happy for him.

But, she had to work.

---- Later On ----

"Coe to Salshyar"

"Go ahead Commander." She replied while sitting at her terminal.

"The Captain has requested that the senior crew report for dinner in ten-foreward at 18h00."

"Understood Commander. Uh... Is it dress protocol?" She said, having heard that the Ambassador was on board, she assumed the that dinner was in his honour.

"No, thankfully." She could sense the relief in the other officers voice.

"No kidding! See you as dinner. Salshyar out!" She concluded.

Her first thoughts were of Colby. What was she going to do with him. Great. Second day as a full time mother and she's already stumped for a babysitter. I could leave him alone, she mused. Ah, but he's probably have the poor bird driven to destraction. She smiled at the recollection of Colby chasing the poor creature.

"Devlynn to Captain Price." She said after a moment.

"Price here, go ahead Counselor."

"Captain, I was wondering. Would it be okay if Colby accompanied my to the banquet in ten foreward?" She waited for his response.

Lt. Devlynn Salshyar (Dev) Chief Counselor, USS Galaxy - NCC-70637

"Banquet Preparations"
By Electra

Her first attempt to really get involved with the crew and Electra had done little to improve her position.

As she walked into the riverboat casino atmosphere, the eyes of the holopeople as well as those of the crew turned toward her in surprise, but she didn't make the impression she had intended at all. The group seemed quite willing to accept her and her notion of being the centre of attention gradually waned as she began to converse and play with eloquence and style.

Several weeks of these poker games and her attempts to mix with the crew in Ten forward and she began to feel as a full fledged member of the crew, though maintaining an alough distance. She discovered that the crew must have all encountered Orion women before, because there was barely a reaction among those she had been in contact with. However, she had not turned on the magnetic aromas, nor had she made full use of her charms.

The ship was a buzz with news of the ambassadors arrival and Electra, not remiss in her preparations, had spent hours at the computer reading every detail she could about this arriving delegate, his taste in food, and drink, hobbies and most of all women. Here would be a chance an opportunity to gain in her stature aboard this vast ship. And just when she had managed to decide on a course of action...

"Captain Price to Ten Forward."

["Electra here Captain..."] the startled Orion lounge manager stated as she responded to the hail, ["What can I do for you sir?"]

"Electra, we have Ambassador Lorn and his companion, Mister J'naii on board for the next several days. I was wondering if I could arrange to have a banquet set up in Ten Forward to entertain our guests. Something Deltan would be appropriate if possible. Myself and the Galaxy's senior staff along with our distinguished guests would be attending. Do you think that would be possible 'mate?"

Electra thought for a moment as she looked around the Ten Forward lounge. It was definitely large enough. Though with this short notice, she and her staff would have to get started right away to get everything prepared. ["Yes Captain. I think we can handle that with out too much difficulty. Shall we plan for 18:00 sir?"]

"That would be fine Electra. My senior staff and I will escort the Ambassador and mister J'naii to Ten Forward at that time. Thank you for handling this for me, I realize it is short notice 'mate."

["My pleasure Captain. See you this evening then sir. Electra out."]

"Hmmm, I think the Deltan delicacy ferunpicci would be an appropriate starter" said Electra talking to the chef Hargen. "And maybe Pareclene, with a good rack of Lamb to give the Ambassador a taste of the Captains homeland." Hargen was smiling, recognizing her need to create a perfect banquet for the visiting dignitary but also to make an impression on the Senior Staff.

(She is quite a different manager for this place) Thought Hargen. (It seems that she is trying too hard, but not trying hard enough to get to know the crew. The crew have been working together for a while now, and this girl is trying to bulldoze her way into the midst of things instead of slowly working toward befriending individuals. Perhaps that's it... she doesn't want to befriend them but wants to be included.)

For all his speculation Hargen knew Electra no better than anyone else on board. He had tried to talk with her, and as long as it was about business or her ideas for improvement in Ten Forward, she would talk, but her distance in conversation was clear and this would not be very good for business.

"There must be a way of breaking through that barrier she holds like a shield." He said to himself as he walked back to the kichens to prepare the menu she had laid out for the banquet.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Meanwhile Electra supervised

the preparations. Checking her "to do list" on her padd as she firmly called out directions to the staff of the lounge to create a banquet facility. Waiters and bartenders alike hussled around to do her bidding... grumbling slightly under their breath at her method of direction.

"She better learn to be more courteous in the way she asks us to do things." said one waiter as he collected glasses from the bartender.

"Yes, I honestly wonder if the Captain interviewed her at all before accepting HER as hostess?" The bartender was clearly unhappy with her haughty attitude.

Electra carried on completely ignorant to the near mutinous conversations of her lounge staff.

"Will Old Terrors Ever Cease? Chapter One"
by James Mitchell

***Mitchell's Personal Quarters***

James didn't say a word as he was escorted to his quarters. The guards followed him, one to each side and a little behind, keeping a close eye on the science officer as he glumly exited the turbolift and rounded a corner to his establishment. He punched in his code and strode in.

"Lights. 20 percent capacity." The room glowed dimly as he mouthed the words in a volume no higher than a loud whisper. The guards took up station to each side of his door outside. He glanced back at the two young men and closed the door behind him. The short whistle of the door being locked from the outside reached his ears.

"Well, that's it. I'm now a prisoner of my own ship compliments of the local counselor." He snarled out the words.

He stared at his sparse quarters. The exotic food and spices that he had bought at Station Beta 2 still sat in preservation capsules, waiting for use. He had no appetite. His depression robbed him of that. He glanced to his bed, the blankets and linen splayed all over. He had been having a horrible time sleeping. Every time he closed his eyes, a nightmare would anoint itself on him, robbing him of any sense of a recuperative rest.

He moved to the replicator on the far side of his dining area.

"Computer, one glass warm milk, 12 Degrees Celsius, and anything that will knock me out for a few hours."

The computer whirred and a glass of milk appeared.

[Cannot process secondary command. Please be more specific.]

James sighed. "Computer, I need sleeping medication. Strongest stuff available to my species and size."

Again it whirred and a pair of tablets appeared, the size of horsepills. He reached over to grab the yellowish capsules with one hand while the other grasped his milk. Clenching them in his hand, he walked back to his disheveled cot and sat down.

"These better work this time. I can't deal with these nightmares anymore." He popped the foul-tasting pills in his mouth and downed it with his milk. He had to gulp them down forcibly. They were sticking in his throat.

Placing the empty glass of milk on his desk, James turned around, fluffed up his pillow, and lay down on his back. Crossing his arms, he closed his eyes, the pills taking effect almost immediately....and dreamed.

His eyes opened in darkness, taking time to adjust to the faintly lit room. He saw lights and beams flickering off walls in the distance, then heard voices clamoring. Curiousity took hold of him as he approached the voices. Silhouettes reflected off walls as the beams passed over them, stretching and expanding the shapes as the voices got louder.

He inched closer and began to make out the faces and voices as he came within a few feet of them.

There was Hutchcraft, leaning over Professor Hallmark and another figure. Sterner and Currie nearby. Enquist and the other security officer were a few feet away, glancing at something.

James moved closer to the people as he watched Andrew speak to the other figure. He was disguised by the lithe figure of Fitzpatrick as he paced around. The other figure came into view as he turned to speak to Currie.

James saw himself there. He looked at his hands. They were transparent. He waved them in front of his face as he stood up and snuck closer to the group of figures. He saw Enquist lean against the console.....

"No! Not again!!" Ghost-James ran to the Security Officer as he was being enveloped by the red mist. Just before the young ensign disappeared, Ghost-James ran 'into' Enquist, and through him, but not out.

He was gone.....the mist swallowed back in on itself, leaving no trace that anyone ever existed before its entrance.

*********

James awoke in dirty alleyway. It was raining and tall, grey buildings stretched above him. The ground shook with tremors. Debris was scattered everywhere and cascaded down on him. He heard cries of children in the distance.

He ran to the street intersecting the alleyway. Rain poured off the eaves of the buildings in the ghost town. Garbage was strewn everywhere as bodies of people lay scattered about the street in various states of decomposition. A hovercraft chased a family as they ran. It fired great streams of death, completely vaporizing a large female as she ran with her child through the street.

He heard heavy-trodden booted feet echo nearby him. He melted into the piles of garbage tossed up against an alleyway wall. He pushed himself deeper into the pile of garbage, feeling resistance all the way.

He squatted down and pulled the first thing he grabbed above him as the echo of boots rounded the corner of his alley.

A body, stuffed into the garbage by some unknown person or object, dropped down and onto James. Suppressing a scream of terror at the face staring back at him, he bit his lip until it drew blood. The stench was intense, mixed with the rain pouring over them. A rat squealed as it's home was displaced in a cavity of the body's stomach area, where a large hole could be seen from what looked like a cannon had gone off through the person.

As the marching footfalls passed with nary a word, James threw the body off, brushed himself off as he stood up...and came face-to-face with a Cardassian, who promptly smashed him across the nose with his plasma rifle.

When James Mitchell awoke, he was in a Cardassian Labor Camp. And he was surrounded by Bajorans.

~To Be Continued,

James Mitchell, Chief of Science USS Galaxy AES

"Deltans, Holodecks and Brikars"
by Lt jg. K'Eytyanna Samara
---------------------------

Finishing her Beta shift duties a few hours late, due to an annoying irregularity in one of the subspace communications transcievers that eventually turned out to be easy to fix, K'Eytyanna entered her quarters and went over to her computer terminal.

"Computer, list all messages."

[ Two messages - both from Captain Price. ] The computer played the messages, which informed her that a Deltan Ambassador was on board and that Ten Forward was being used for a diplomatic function. She sat up suddenly and her Klingon side's intense reaction of anger caused her to grumble,

"Just great. More damn telepaths aboard. If any of those Deltans try to get in my head, I'll show them exactly what they can stick their 'mind invasion' techniques, diplomatic immunity or not." Her Bajoran side stepped in to calm her Klingon side down,

[Calm down, Klingon. If we stay away from them, they will ignore us.] Leaning back in the chair, she closed her eyes before speaking,

"Computer, access Holodeck computer systems and create a new and very challenging combat program based on my previous use. When finished, describe program."

A few moments later, it reported back,

[Program created. Setting - Brikar Homeworld. Descripton - Hand to hand or melee combat between user and a Brikar warrior. Program rates between Level 3 and Level 11.]

"I said challenging, not easy. Might as well check out the Brikar. Computer, access Federation Anthroplogical Database and describe Brikar race."

[Brikars are typically classed as very strong, heavy and cautious. Most are bronze-skinned. Brikar have large three-fingered hands, squared off heads, small earholes and two vertical parallel slits for a nose. Brikar can withstand phaser blasts that would kill humans, due to their tough skin. The Brikar homeworld is a heavy-gravity world.]

"Hmmm.. that sounds like an acceptable program. Computer, save program as K'Eytyanna-Brikar. Are there any free holodecks at this moment?"

[Program saved into Holodeck systems, K'Eytyanna-Brikar. One of the smaller holodecks on Deck 11 is not in use.]

"Good. Book it." Moving into the bedroom section, she changed into exercise clothing before leaving her quarters, her bat'leth strapped on her back and her d'k tahg in its waist sheath.

****************************

K'Eytyanna walked into the booked holodeck and spoke,

"Computer, load program K'Eytyanna-Brikar. Disengage safety mechanisms and enable actual gravity."

[Program loaded. Safeties disabled.] The room changed from the standard black and yellow to a rocky world as she felt a strong force pull down on her body. Neaby, a Brikar was standing frozen in place.

Picking up a small rock, she threw it to test the gravity before putting her bat'leth down on the ground near the holodeck door and crouched in a defense pose,

"Computer, set hologram to ignore my weapons near the door until I pick them up. Start program, Level 5." The Brikar moved towards her as she snarled.

The Brikar swung its fist, which collided with her right cheek. She was spun around by the force and shifted behind a rock.

"Damn you!! That'll leave a large bruise, and now I'm really annoyed." As the Brikar moved forwards, she launched herself towards him and landed a kick to the middle of his chest. Burning pain ran through her leg as the large creature fell backwards, crashing to the ground.

She landed on her feet, ignoring the pain as she drew her d'k tahg and quickly buried it to the hilt in the Brikar's face before twisting. The creature's body struggled underneath her and finally stopped.

Rolling off the creature, she lay on her back and waited until she got her breath back. Getting up, she headed over to her bat'leth before ordering,

"Computer, create mirror." The mirror appeared and she examined her face, now sporting a large bruise, and shrugged before she ordered the computer to remove the mirror and to restart at Level 6, determined to reach at least Level 9 before going back to her quarters.

****************************

Next duty shift, she walked into Main Engineering half an hour early, hoping that nobody would notice her bruises and small gashes on her arms, where the Brikar had scratched in its struggles, and get her to head to Sickbay.

As she walked in, Lt.Jg Mercury gasped in surprise as he walked by her and stopped suddenly before saying,

"Lt, what on Earth caused those injuries?" She groaned mentally before replying,

"I had a disagreement with a Brikar on the holodeck. The end score was four/nil against the Brikar."

"K'Eytyanna, go to Sickbay first before you get to work. Consider it an order, seeing you probably wouldn't do it otherwise." She growled in disgust before leaving.

Heading into a turbolift, she angrily ordered it to take her to Sickbay. As it did, she started thinking of what to do to get out it.

[ Human, Bajoran, there must be some way so that we don't have to have one of those doctors running their disgusting probes without disobeying an order. ]

[ Klingon, there are times to follow the spirit of an order, and times to follow the exact letter of the order. All we have to do is step inside Sickbay and then leave as quick as possible. ]

She smiled cunningly as the turbolift arrived.

****************************

Five minutes later, she slipped back into Main Engineering after checking to make sure Lt.Jg Mercury or anyone else who could order her back to Sickbay wasn't watching during her next shift.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Lt jg. K'Eytyanna Samara,
USS Galaxy NCC-70637
Engineering Department

"Friends Reunited"
by: Ensign Tebrianne and Ensign Prescott

*** Tebrianne stepped into the Galaxy's Ten Forward. She looked around in the sea of faces of which she recognized none. She walked over to the bar, a green-skinned woman stood there.

"Can I get you something?"

"Uh, a beer, please." Tebrianne said to her.

"One beer coming up," the green-skinned woman said. "I'm Electra, by the way."

"Oh, I'm Tebrianne," the young ensign said, taking the beer she was handed. She noticed a face in the corner that she knew. There had been a Bolian blocking her view before, but she saw one of her friends from the academy.

It didn't look like he'd seen her yet.

Tebrianne skirted the outside of Ten Forward moving towards the man in the corner. She quietly set her drink on the table behind his. She snuck up behind him, and clapped her hands across his eyes.

"Guess who?" she said, making her voice sound lower.

Surprise shot through John. He hated surprises, but enjoyed this one.

"Tebrianne Bancroft," he said, trying to turn his head.

She pulled her hands back, and smiled. "Take a seat," he said.

"Hey John, I didn't know you where on board" she said.

"Yeah, I tried to find you after the graduation party, but couldn't find you."

Tebrianne ran her hand through her hair, all of the colors, and replied. "I know, I went right home after the party. My parents had flown all the way out from London, so I had to spend time with them before I shipped off to outer space."

"So you got on board as a Helmsmen, congratulations,"

"Thanks," she replied. "So, are you still an engineer?"

"Yeah, but I considered switching to security, when I blew the scinece lab up at the academy, last year."

She let out a laugh. "I remember that. Your eyebrows grew back fine I see."

"It wasn't that bad, just a little singed," John said with a grin.

"So, what shift are you on?" Tebrianne asked. "I get to bum around this place for awhile. I haven't even been scheduled, yet."

"No kidding," he said. "Well, I'm on Alpha shift. You can join me if you'd like. I've always needed someone to carry around my spanners while I'm working."

"Good laugh, that," she said. "You won't catch me in Engineering. The warp core makes my hair look green and yellow. Those were last year's colors." She laughed, and John joined in.

"So do they let you wear all that jewelry when you're on-duty?"

"Well," she said, "I've got to take the nose stud out and probably a couple sets out of my ears, but other than that, I don't think they have any problems."

"Ahh," John grinned. "You going to the drive-in?"

"I don't know," she said. "Lieutenant Casey seemed pretty distant when I met her. I don't think she likes me all that much. Probably thinks I'm too punk to be in Starfleet."