"Bynars Beaming"
by Lt K'Eytyanna Samara

K'Eytyanna burst out of the turbolift at running speed. Before she could stop, she realised two ensigns were in the way and collided full on with them, knocking both to the ground. As she ran on, she blushed and called,

"Sorry.. In a hurry."

Skidding to a halt, she walked into the transporter room and snapped to the operator as she handed a padd over,

"Ensign, scan these coordinates and bring up any non-human lifesigns, specifically a pair of Bynars."

The operator hit some buttons, and spoke, "Aye aye, sir. Targeting scanners are reading two Bynars and four humans."

K'Eyt grinned,

"Bring up the Bynars now. Energise."

Five seconds later, a pair of surprised Bynars appeared on the platform.

The small speakers carried by the Bynars alternated out,

"Ensigns 1000101 & 1000110 reporting for duty, Sir."

K'Eytyanna moved to them and spoke,

"Give a list of who was with you."

"Lt Hunter MacKenzie, Ensigns Davros, McGuire and Jennings, Sir."

K'Eyt pushed the pair off the padd as she snapped,

"Get them up here now."

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

Hunter wiped his forehead in relief after he appeared on the transporter platform. Just a second after the beam finished, a quick moving shape pushed him upto the wall and he felt feminine lips kiss him passionatly.

A split second later, he realised it was K'Eytyanna. After she broke the kiss, he smiled and put an arm around her as they walked off the pad.

Tapping his badge, he spoke, "Hunter to Bridge, I'm back aboard. Hunter out. K'Ey, what's been goint on since I left?"

She grinned as she rested her head on his shoulder, "Nothing much.. just got promoted temporarily to Chief Engineer then Second Officer. And the cap wants us to find someway to disarm a bunch of nuke-carrying orbital platforms. Piece of cake, but I really missed you."

Lt K'Eytyanna Samara USS Galaxy Engineer/Shuttle Pilot
D'Akana T'Mok (NPC) USS Galaxy Targ

By Dr. Felicia Khatroweena, Lieutenant (Assistant Chief Medical Officer),
USS Galaxy NCC-70637
w/ Ensign Mike Marc

***** New Chicago General Hospital *****

Matthew had left awhile ago, he had gone off to report to the others. Finding Doctor Harper was a bit of a surprise, but now, Cat's main worry was Astrid. She was sleeping soundly and in the last few hours, Astrid's condition had shown improvement. She moved over to head of the bed, looked over the 'primitive' monitors and was satisfied in what she saw.

As she was reaching forward, to adjust the 'drip' in Astrid's arm, her eye caught the movement of the door to the corridor opening. She quickly replaced the cloth mask and grabbed her tail to hide it under the dress. She started to hate the long dress, it started to feel so uncomfortable on her tail. She flicked the dress and patted it down, trying to hide her tail.

She faced the opening door to see Mike backing through the door holding two steaming Styrofoam cups, with plastic tops. "Cat, I've some 'Coffee' from the 'Canteen.' Everybody seems to be drinking it." He moved over, offering one of the cups to Cat. As Cat took the proffered cup, Mike took the top of his cup and sniffed. "What ever it is, it smells strong!"

Cat took the top off her cup and looked at the swirling dark brown liquid, she took a sniff herself and agreed with Mike. "Corrosive is more like it." She looked at Mike, who was looking at her the same way. Cat smiled behind the cup, "You gonna drink some?"

"After you," returned Mike.

"I suppose, I'm going to have to be the one to take the risks." Cat took a sip from the cup. Her face screwed up in distaste. "Eeeew, yuck!" She stuck her tongue, "That was awful, YUK! People drink this."

Mike placed his untasted cup on the small table next to the wall. "Considering the number of people who were drinking it, I thought it be ok. Watching your reaction, I don't think so."

"You not getting out that easy!" Cat took another sip, "Eeeew, it's awful, but it's the closest we've got to a stimulant. Drink up. We just don't know how long we'll be here."

Mike looked over the wounded security officer; he looked up at the monitors. 'It is amazing,' he thought, "I can watch the readouts on one of the most sophisticated ships in StarFleet and know what it all means. I look at these things and I've got no idea.' He took a sip and was pleasantly surprised, he called out to Cat, "I thought you said this was awful." He eagerly took a larger gulp of the hot liquid.

Cat looked over at him, "It is!"

Mike gave a small shake of his head, "I like it, tastes like Raktijino, a little weak, but hey. Never had a decent Raktijino since... Gee, been a long time, since I've had a really good cup."

"You like that stuff! I could never get my tastebuds around it, yuk. I want something bit more refined. Caitian Silver Milk, now that is a drink. Pure pleasure. That and Denebian Chocolate Mousse, pure pleasure."

Mike gave a small chuckle, "Denebian Chocolate Mousse. Know what you mean, I like that a lot as well." He looked at Cat, he caught her face fall, a look of sadness washed across her face, she rubbed her eyes. "What is it? Are you all right Cat?" Mike asked concernedly.

Cat looked over at Marc, "I'm ok. Just feeling a little out of it, more like a lot out of it. Been nearly thirty hours since I got some sleep." Thoughts of Ursa run through her mind, that and her three children she met for the first time only hours before. A wish granted by Q, but could that be even considered a balance to the 'fun' that all had now.

"It's been a hectic time, since Q came along and ruined the party. It was going well." Mike looked over at Astrid. "She's had the worst of it, not a great Christmas for her. How is she?"

Cat looked at the monitors, she sighed, "She is steady, it's too soon. But if nothing unexpected happens, she should be fine." Cat paused, "Anybody important in your life?"

"Yep, my mother and my little sister Olga. Oops, I promised to mother to write her a letter, but as you know Q made some problems and I haven't written her back. I will write to them as soon as I get back to the ship," said Mike and took from his pocket some pocket family photos and showed them to Cat.

Cat took the photos, they showed a distinguished elderly woman and a much younger woman. Cat could see the family resemblance to Mike. "You are very lucky to have a wonderful family. They are just as lucky to have you." Cat handed the photos back, longing in her eyes.

"You don't have a family?" Mike asked a bit surprised.

Cat looked down at the floor, "No. I was an orphan. That was true, until a few hours ago. When Q granted me my wish, I have now a mother and three most wonderful children. I'm worried now that I have a family, I'll never see them."

"We'll get back to the Galaxy! You can be sure about that. And what about you, Cat? Is there anyone special?" Mike took a sip of the coffee. Cat smiled and Mike saw the embarrassment. "So there is someone?"

Cat gave a small shake of her head, she didn't want to lie but Ursa was right. It was best to keep it quiet until the time was right. "Nobody. Don't have the time. Looking after the thousand plus people on the Galaxy keeps me real busy, far too busy."

"So what do you think about dinner? When we get back to the Galaxy. I hope it will be soon!"

"Sure Mike, I'd like that. Gives a real incentive in getting back to the ship, hey? I be happy to." Cat smiled at Mike and turned back to her watch of Astrid. "I think she'll be a lot happier as soon as we get back."

Mike could only nod in agreement. Soon the only things to break the silence were the pings and beeps that came from the monitors.

"A Sort of Homecoming"
by Lt. Tebrianne Bancroft"

*** ***

Tebrianne Bancroft sprinted down the narrow, snow-covered street. Her bare feet sunk deep into the white as she pushed forward. She needed to concentrate on getting back to the rest of the Galaxy Away Team. She had to forget out freezing to death on the streets of this backward gangster's paradise. She had to forget about running half naked through the freezing cold with a gang of criminal businessmen chasing after her.

It was three blocks after she left Michael Verner that they picked up her trail and started pursuing her. She'd gotten away three times, ducking through side alleys and backstreets. She'd even managed to fend off one of them with a pipe she'd found discarded in a pile of rubbish.

Tebrianne bolted down a side street--her heart pounding like a pair of tom-tom's in her chest. To stop would mean certain death. But, would it be freezing to death or the business mob that did it? She didn't have time to ponder the possibilities. Her body was freezing--she could barely feel her feet anymore. With her mind on the possibility of turning into some poor mobster's snowman, Teb didn't even see the chainlink fence she ran headlong into.

"Crap," Teb rasped, her breathing coming in gulps and gasps. The cold air stung her lungs as she sucked in deep breaths.

A quick look around told her that the only way she was going to get to the other side was to scale the fence and climb down the other side. Great, Teb thought. And, I didn't even bring my climbing shoes. She reached up and found a decent handhold. Here goes nothing, she thought as she placed a foot into one of the lower holes and pushed herself upward. Pain shot through her feet as the metal bit into her flesh, but she kept going.

With considerable effort, Teb made it to the top of the fence. She swung one leg over then the other, and started down the other side. Almost there, she thought, looking down to the snow-covered ground. The pain was excruciating.

She was about halfway down when she felt a tug. She tried to keep moving but found herself stuck. A quick glance at the top of the fence told her what the problem was. The damn dress she was wearing had snagged itself on the top of the fence. She gave it a tug. No luck.

"Bloody hell," she said under her breath. "Why me?"

She gave the dress another yank and felt it rip a little. Just a little more, she thought.

"Down here," a voice called.

Teb looked up and saw two men in business suits running down the alley. They were waving large guns and splashing through puddles of snow and slush.

Teb looked around in a panic and knew she had to get moving. She grabbed the dress and tugged at it. No good.

"Stop," one of the men shouted. He pointed his gun at Teb.

Teb jumped off the fence and heard the fabric rip even more. She didn't even bother to look back to see how much of her dress she left hanging on the fence. At this point, she didn't care. She ran for the end of the alley. Freedom would be just around that corner. Her lungs felt like they were on fire. She couldn't feel her feet and her legs felt like they were made of lead.

Teb rounded the corner at a full sprint. She didn't see the man with the taser standing in front of her until it was too late. The twin wires snaked out and hit her in the midsection. Teb's body jerked violently as the taser discharged. With a boneless thump, she landed in a large pile of snow and ice.

***

"She's coming around, Mr. Johnson."

Teb opened her eyes and found herself looking into a pair of puffy, bloodshot eyes that nearly made her call out in alarm. She stayed quiet.

"Well, well, well," Mr. Johnson said, removing a thin cigar from his mouth. "Back to the land of the living, I see. My dear Miss Bancroft, it looks like you've made a mess of that nice little dress I had Mr. Verner give you. Running around the city like that in little more than a summer frock. Either you Federationers are very stupid or you don't know much about inclement weather."

Tebrianne just stared back at him.

"Based on what I have seen so far," he said, leaning in close. "I think you are all just real stupid." Mr. Johnson let out a long, foul-smelling stream of smoke into Tebrianne's face.

Teb closed her eyes and tried to not cough, but failed. Her nose twitched and her lungs filled with the smoke and she couldn't stop the reaction. When she opened her eyes, Mr. Johnson was smiling.

"What the bloody hell do you want with me," Teb snapped.

"Information," he said flatly.

"I don't have any information. I don't know anything. I told you that already."

"Somehow," Johnson said. "I don't believe you."

"What can I do to prove to you that I don't know anything?"

"Let Dr. Akagi perform his operation on you," Johnson said with a sickly smile. "Then we will find out exactly what you do know."

"Please don't," Teb said softly.

Johnson took a long drag on his cigar and stared at Tebrianne. He held the thing out to her and smiled. "Would you care for one? They're very relaxing."

"No thank you," Teb said. "I don't smoke."

"Ahh," he said. "Taking the moral high ground. So very like the rest of the Federationers."

"What? I just don't like to smoke, you dolt. It has nothing to do with morality."

"Very well," Johnson said, taking another drag. "Your loss. This is some of the best stuff on the planet. Even better than that diluted crap that Jacko sells. And this doesn't alter your mind."

"Look, Mr. Johnson, I really don't care."

"And, that is your other problem," Johnson said. "You Federationers don't care about us. Just leave us all to fend for ourselves. You made us, but you aren't willing to help us. Just give us the information we need to stop Jacko, and everything will be fine."

"I can't help you," Teb said, her tone becoming more of a plea.

"So, Miss Bancroft," Johnson said turning and looking directly into Tebrianne's eyes. "What did you think of Mr. Verner?"

"He was a lot nicer than you, mate," Teb said. "If that's what you're asking." Teb didn't want to tell them about how Verner helped her escape. He may have turned out to be a sleaze like the rest of the men Mr. Johnson had working for him, but he didn't deserve to be turned in.

"I see," Johnson said. "Well, it seems he took quite a fancy to you too. Helping you to escape. It wasn't long before we picked up your trail that we were able to capture him. Just sitting there in that warehouse with that gun in his hand. He was waiting for us to come. He took off Bobby's face, poor bastard. Those tasers work wonders don't they. We've had plenty of time to question him. Would you like to see him? Bring in Verner, Max."

Teb watched was Michael Verner was dragged into the room. He looked like he had been beaten up pretty bad. One of his eyes was swollen shut and the way he moved looked like he was nursing several broken ribs. When he saw Teb, he visibly winced.

"Are you okay," he asked. "I thought I'd given you enough time to get away."

"I almost did," Teb said. "Dress got caught on a fence."

He nodded and sucked in a sharp breath as a pained look shot across his face. "Don't worry about me," Michael said. "I've been through worse than this before."

"How very touching," Johnson said. "Max?"

Max moved next to Michael and pulled out a large pistol. He placed the end of the gun up to Michael's temple and looked at Teb.

"Now," Mr. Johnson said. "I want the schematics for advanced weaponry design. Something that will wipe Jacko off the map. And, space rockets--to go to the stars, like you Federationers. I want the schemetics for those."

"I can't do that," Teb said. "I don't know any of those things."

"Max."

Max pulled the hammer back on the pistol. His finger moved to the trigger and a wild gleam glinted in his eyes

.

"Okay," Teb shouted. "I'll tell you what you want to know. I'll give you everything you need. Just don't hurt him."

"Now that's a reasonable girl," Mr. Johnson said. He nodded to Max who moved away from Verner. "Start talking."

"There is too much for me to be able to tell you," she said. "There is another form of communication that my species is capable of that is more applicable in this type of situation. I would be able to directly transfer the knowledge to you."

"Very good," Johnson said. "How does it work?"

"To do it, I will need to have my hands untied."

"I'm sorry, I can't--"

"I need to be able to touch you to make this happen," Teb said. "No touch, no transfer. It's that simple."

"Alright," Johnson said. "Watch her, Max. She makes any funny moves, shoot her."

Max nodded from the corner of the room. He waved his gun menacingly at Teb and took a seat with a good vantage point.

Johnson untied Tebrianne's hands and took a seat in his chair. "What now," he asked.

"Just relax," Teb said. She moved her chair until it was directly in front of Mr. Johnson. "This will feel a little strange at first, but it'll all be okay." With a slight smile, Teb reached out and plucked the cigar from Johnson's lips. "You won't want this while we do this," she said. She gave him a wink and took a drag off the cigar before dropping it into the ceramic tray on the table next to them.

Teb reached up and allowed her hands to caress Mr. Johnson's temples briefly. She let the mouthful of smoke go and firmly placed her fingertips on Mr. Johnson's temples.

Teb's mind filled with Mr. Johnson's thoughts and memories. His wants and needs rushed at her in a torrent. His lecherous and lustful desires assaulted her like a hurricane raging against a battered coastline. Images of herself and Mr. Johnson engaged in sexual activities that Teb had never even thought about flashed through her consciousness. Teb reeled as her senses were assaulted by Mr. Johnson's uncontrolled urges.

The mind-meld was risky, but it was the only way Tebrianne could see of getting out of this mess. She knew that she risked opening herself up to a primitive mind that couldn't control the mildest of its wants. She had to reassert control. She had to reign in Mr. Johnson's mind.

With the equivalent of a mental shout, Tebrianne halted Mr. Johnson long enough to regain control. Once she had his attention, she opened the floodgates and let him have what he wanted.

Mr. Johnson's head snapped back as his mind was flooded with all of the knowledge and experiences of Tebrianne Bancroft. All of his primitive mental defenses crumbled against the talent of a trained telepath. Images and thoughts foreign to him rushed through his defenseless psyche.

Teb broke contact with Mr. Johnson. Her hands were shaking and sweat poured from her forehead. Her braids, what was left of them, were matted against her skin. Her dress clung to her sweat-soaked body. She looked at Mr. Johnson, who stared into the distance with unfocused eyes. His mouth moved, forming soundless words of gibberish and nonsense.

Teb had only a moment to react as Max brought his gun up and fired. She ducked in toward Mr. Johnson as the bullets ripped through the chair she'd been sitting in. Max was on his feet and moving forward, trying to track Teb as she moved. Teb ducked into a doorway with stairs leading upwards. She felt the bullets getting closer, chewing through the walls as she ran higher up the stairs.

She raced upwards, not knowing where the stares would lead her. Higher and higher she climbed, the sounds of her pursuer getting louder behind her. Teb's heart thundered in her chest.

She rounded the last flight of stairs and found herself at a closed door. She tried the handle and it wouldn't open. She pushed harder and it still wouldn't budge. Panic started to rise as the sound of pounding feet got closer. Teb closed her eyes and threw everything she had against the door.

The sudden blast of cold air was a good sign. She opened her eyes and found herself on the roof of the building. It was covered with snow and a whole lot more inviting that the inside of the stare well. Teb ran toward the edge of the building.

A gunshot split the air and Teb turned to see Max advancing slowly toward her.

"What did you do to Mr. Johnson," he shouted over the wind.

"I gave him the information he wanted," Teb shouted back, backing further away. "His mind couldn't handle the way I gave it to him though. I didn't know that would happen."

"Bullshit," he shouted. "You knew what you were doing. Stop moving or I'll shoot you. You don't have anywhere to go up here. You might as well give up. Do you want to die?"

"No," she said, softly. Her words barely audible above the wind. "I don't want to die."

"Come back inside and we'll talk about this, okay?" he held out a hand to her. "You'll learn to like it here. A girl like you will do really well here."

"What do you mean?" Teb asked.

"They boys are under a lot of stress, you see," he said. "It's chicks like you that help relieve that stress. Now, you understand?"

"I think I understand," Teb said. "Are you under a lot of stress, Max?"

"Of course," he said with a vicious grin. "My job is a very stressful one. I need to get stress relief quite often."

Teb took a step closer to Max and started unbuttoning the front of the dress. She fought off shivering as the cold wind whipped across her exposed breasts. "Do you need stress relief right now, Max?"

Max smiled another evil smile and reached out toward Tebrianne's breast. His thoughts quickly turned to sucking on those tits and balling her brains out in the snow. As his hand brushed against her breast, Max gasped in pain as a hand shot out and deftly twisted his arm behind his back. The next thing Max knew, he was crashing to the snow-covered roof and his wrist was quickly growing numb. He looked up at Tebrianne as her bare foot kicked his gun toward the edge of the roof.

Max kicked upward and sent Tebrianne toppling into the snow. He rolled toward her and pinned her to the ground.

"Not so fast, bitch," he spat. "You offered yourself to me, and you're going to get what you deserve." He reached down and started yanking on his belt.

Teb struggled to get herself free. The front of her dress was still open and snow was quickly accumulating on her exposed flesh. Max was on top of her, trying to force Teb's legs open so he could shove himself inside of her. With her arms pinned to her sides, there wasn't much she could do. Teb tried to bring up her knee, but she couldn't manage it with Max there.

She felt a sudden coldness down in her crotch and figured Max had gotten her underwear off. She didn't have much time left...she had to get free. She was starting to lose the fight.

"Just give it up, bitch," Max snarled. "Just let me in and you'll see what sex to the max is like."

"Crikey, mate," Teb managed to say. "That is one of the most pathetic things I've ever heard. You have a serious ego problem."

"Shut up, bitch!"

Teb heard a snapping sound and she was suddenly able to move. Max was no longer on top of her. She looked up and saw Michael Verner standing with a splintered piece of the door she'd broken down.

"I couldn't let him do that," Michael said. "You've got a boyfriend to get back to." Michael gave her a smile and offered her a hand up. He pulled her to her feet and moved toward the side of the building. "This ladder will take you to the street level. I'll keep them stalled as long as I can--"

A thunderclap rung out and Michael collapsed toward the ladder. Teb looked around. Max was on his feet and moving toward them with gun in hand.

Michael reached up with a blood-soaked hand. "Get out of here," he rasped. "Go!"

"I can't go without you, Michael," she said. "You're the only good person on this planet. I can't let you die. Not so people like Max can run this place."

"No time," he rasped. Another gunshot rung out, ripping out a chunk of the wall. "Leave me."

"I'm sorry," Teb said. She pulled the dress closed and started over the ladder. Michael Verner sunk down against the wall. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Max raise the gun and fire. She knew this was it. There was no escaping this one.

In a final burst of cyber-enhanced speed, Michael Verner stood in front of Tebrianne as the bullet ripped through his spinal column. He toppled toward Teb as his eyes rolled back in his head.

Teb lost her hold on the ladder as she fell backward. The ground zoomed up at her as she plummeted. Her last thoughts were of Benedict spending Christmas along.

***

"I have Lieutenant Bancroft, sir," the transporter operator said. "Energizing now."

The spinning world was replaced with the inside of a Federation transporter room. Teb looked around and realized she wasn't on the planet anymore. She was back on the Galaxy. Ben!

There was a sudden presence on the pad next to her. She looked up into a pair of violet eyes and her heart melted. She flung her arms around his neck and buried her face in his chest.

After a moment, Teb looked up at Ben and smiled. "Merry Christmas."

Lt. Tebrianne, USS Galaxy, Chief Helmsman
tebrianne@elsinore.net
UIN# 2172851

Merry Christmas
Lt. (jg) Benedict T'Kal
Tactical Officer
USS Galaxy

Benedict stood behind the Transporter Technician and watched his hands play across the console. He was getting data relayed from the Science station on the Bridge as they scanned the terrain of the planet below.

The sensors were zeroing in on non-terran life signs - and in particular Romulan/Vulcan physiology at this moment in time. Benedict hardly breathed - the sensors were locking on to a target - but it had a high rate of movement and was therefore hard to 'grab'. The readouts were flickering quickly - but Benedict knew what they were all about - the scan beam was focussing on an object moving at 9.768 m/sec in a vertical motion. Both Benedict and the transporter tech realized the significance of the trace at the same time - and the mans hands blurred into motion overriding the two second caution lock.

Benedict saw the scan lock signify a genetic pattern imprint as positive identification - Tebrianne Bancroft. He involuntarily took a step closer to the console as the technician activated the beam out. "I have Lieutenant Bancroft, sir," the transporter operator said. "Energizing now."

The blue haze appearing in the centre of the transporter pad signified that the lock was successful and both the Technician and Benedict started to breath again. The five seconds it took to materialize seemed like an eternity to Benedict.

He watched as she formed before his eyes. She was prone - arms outstretched at her sides and body slightly hunched, in the same attitude as her descent. She had been caught as she fell, and now as the transporter released her body she slumped to the pad. She was wide eyed and gasping involuntarily.

Benedict saw her from the foot of the pad, the confinement beam preventing him from getting to her until the process was complete. He took in the shredded white dress, most of her body exposed and completely white - frozen. Her feet were bloodied and her hair matted and splayed out around her head like a halo. His breath caught in his throat as saw her condition. He moved to her as soon as he could and dropped to his knees - lifting her into his chest and holding her. She looked into his eyes and in that momentary contact the full realization of almost losing her was too much. He couldn't say a word, and she flung her arms around his neck and buried her face in his chest.

After a moment, Teb looked up at him and smiled. "Merry Christmas." She said. Her words were weak, but they were the best words Benedict had heard in his life. He brushed a strand of wet hair away from her face and looked into those wonderful chocolate eyes and felt a tear burn his face. He smiled at her and lifted her in his arms. She seemed light - and as he turned one of the medics thrust a thermal blanket over her. Benedict wrapped it under her and carried her off the pad.

He felt such a relief to have her in his arms that he didn't want to let her go. One look into the eyes of the medical orderly communicated that sentiment quite effectively - she administered a shot quickly, cast him a smile and then she backed off. Benedict nodded his gratitude to the Transporter Tech and the man smiled and winked at him.

Tebrianne was freezing - the cold was seeping into his chest and his arms and for the first time his brain actually acknowledged the state of her - the torn dress - the lack of any undergarments - he'd seen enough to begin to feel a simmering rage. Someone had done this to her. She had been falling - from a high place.

She was safe now. That thought came to him like a bolt and his arms tightened around her. He still hadn't said a word to her. Tebs face was buried in his neck and her arms were tightly clenched around him. She was shivering. He found his voice at last.

"I love you." He said in a quiet voice.

"Message Received."
by Lieutenant Commander Greer Erikson, CSO

The snow was still falling in New Chicago but the chill from the early morning wind was waning as the sun began to rise. Lieutenant Commander Erikson, having delivered his report to Commander Sterner at the warehouse, began the return walk to KWD Broadcasting Incorporated even though he was not due to start for another hour. On his way he dropped in to the news agency where Mary worked and bought a newspaper to see if there was any mention of the shoot-out at the warehouse or any of the Galaxy officers in New Chicago.

Reaching the bar on the steps, near the ventilation duct he had crawled out the night before, he pulled open the door to find the receptionist already at work and security handing her some papers. "Good morning." Greer said as he presented his building pass and walked in the main corridor which led to the offices.

Placing the paper down on his desk, he delivered the files he completed the night before and made his way to the elevator, to get to the fifth floor. Looking around the fifth floor he nodded to the janitor, who was replacing his cleaning equipment back in the small storage closet near the communications room. The janitor nodded back, thinking nothing of Erikson walking in to the room which recorded satellite information.

Typing in the command to access the circuit he had put together, the display screen issued a prompt for a password to activate the bypass an enable the Federation algorithm. The processor worked for a few moments and displayed a reply. The Lieutenant Commander smiled as he saw the screen, which read [Galaxy to Erikson. Captain Price is safe. Send coordinates for transport as soon as possible. Galaxy out.]

"The Captain is on the USS Galaxy?" he thought out aloud. "And how am I supposed to get accurate coordinates without a tricorder?" he added, looking for something which might give him longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates for the city of New Chicago. He searched for a few minutes before deciding to return to his office and see what he might be able to do from there.

Although he had been able to avert detection in the communications room he did not want to spend more time than he could in there. As he walked to the elevator he considered the contents of the message. Returning to the main office on the first floor, which was adjacent to Charlie Maccinato's, he could hear his boss' voice bellow, "Where the hell is that file Erikson!" Greer quickly walked in there after Tony gave him an uneasy glance. "There you are. Where is the research file on yesterday's east coast explosion?"

Greer looked at the desk until he found what was already in front of his employer's face. "It's there Mister Maccinato." he said as he pointed to it.

Maccinato's face relaxed as he grabbed the file and opened it. Erikson returned to the desk he had been seated at and continued to look through the the newspaper. With no further reaction of comments from Maccinato he considered his presence was not required.

Guillone casually walked over to the new guy who was working quietly. "He does that sometimes." he remarked as he leaned against the end of the desk.

Greer peered over the top of the newspaper and returned to the passage he had just been reading. "A person in that position must have to deal with stress the best way they know how." he said, rationalizing the man's change in attitude from yesterday.

"Right." Tony Guillone somewhat suprised. "Well you know what they say . . . stress is the confusion created when the mind controls the overwhelming desire of the body to strangle the life from someone."

Greer put down the paper and smiled. "I've never heard it put like that before." he said a little more relaxed. Thinking about his inability to determine coordinates he might be able to send back to the ship, the perplexed scientist considered using a defined point in the city that the sensors on board the Galaxy-class vessel might be able to lock on to. "Hey Tony. Do you know of any 'stand out' places here in New Chicago? I've got family coming from out of the city and I want to take them to see the sites. Somewhere a little quiet, but nice."

Tony tapped his finger on the surface of the desk a few times before he stood up and scratched his head. "I suppose you might wanna take them to the old memorial park, but that might not be such a good idea anymore. You see it is on the border between two factions and well, you and your visitors might get caught in the crossfire, if you know what I mean."

"Like the old warehouse down near the news agency Mister Maccinato's cousin owns?" Greer said as he considered that this might have been the reason why Charlie Maccinato was in such a negative mood.

"Yeah. I hear that place got shot up good." Tony said as he shook his head.

"Thanks Tony." Greer said as he stood up. Walking over to Maccinato's office he peered and saw his boss brooding over the research file he had been complaining earlier. "Excuse me Mister Maccinato."

The producer looked up and scowled a little at the Starfleet officer. "What?" he asked with irritation in his voice.

"I'm almost ready to run those errands you left on my desk. I was wondering if you wanted me to pass by Mary's news agency and check on her for you. I heard about the shooting near her place yesterday . . ."

Charlie's face changed to something that resembled his mood a day earlier, that of the same guy who had hired the stranded Lieutenant Commander. "That would be appreciated. And . . ," he added before Erikson had the chance to turn and leave his office, "tell Mary her cousin Charlie said if she needs to get out of that neighborhood that she only needs to ask. She'll know what it means."

"Understood Mister Maccinato."

*****

". . . that's what he asked me to tell you Mary." Greer said as he leaned against the counter.

Mary put her hands on her hips and stared at Erikson. "And you tell my cousin Charlie that I ain't leaving this store. He might of made it in the world but I gotta make my living. If you mean the shooting at the old warehouse," Mary said nonchalantly, "I'm used to that kind of rubbish happening every week. I think you and Charlie just have forgotten what it is like in the real world, living there in your broadcasting world. You guys seem to forget that people have to make a living."

"Hey," the Human said as he raised his hands, "don't shoot the messenger. I was just delivering the message and seeing whether or not you where all right."

"You gotta a girlfriend Mister Erikson or are you a loner?"

"Ah . . . I have a girlfriend." Greer said, a little uneasy about the personal nature of the question. "Actually, she's coming to town soon and I was wondering if you knew of any places where I might be able to show the New Chicago sites."

"Another out-of-towner . . . well I guess you could consider taking her see the old museum. Not many people go there any more but it does contain some very impressive exhibits. There's 'The Book' and some other things that an out-of-towner wouldn't see unless they came to New Chicago."

"Thanks Mary. I'll make sure I take a look at it this afternoon."

By Ensign Suder
Engineer
"Secretive"

Suder strolled along a brightly lit corridor passing a lot of quarters. He straightened his uniform and came to a halt outside someone's quarters. He placed a wrapped up box of chocolates on the floor in front of the door and pressed a button on the door panel. He double checked the name on the door.

"Ensign Adrianna"

. He heard the chime ring and then made his way down the corridor and turned right into a turbolift.

Nukes and Stuff
By Lt. jg T'Zaq
and Lt. jg Mendenhall

Anthony sighed and rubbed his aching head. If things kept going this way, he was going to have to see a counselor to keep his mind straight. To add to his emotional stress, his cat now gained two legs. Not that it was a bad thing, just a bit shocking. He looked over the files on Nuclear Devices and Orbital platforms, and summarized it out loud.

"There are two types of Nuclear Bombs. Fission and Fusion. Chances are they are using a Fusion drived Thermonuclear Warhead comprised of Lithium deuteride, U-238, and some kind of fission device. The only way for a crude device like that to get temperatures to obtain fusion is to use a fission explosion. A Nuclear Arms platform would contain some kind of radioactive material, fission or fusion. The platform itself would consist of a housing unit, a reciever/transmitter device, solar panel array, targeting equipment, manuvering thrusters, and maybe even a self destruct device."

Until they actually scanned the platforms themselves, they wouldn't know exactly what they were dealing with, but it was a pretty safe bet to predict what Jocko had.

His plan was pretty simple. He needed someone to review it, and he thought that Lt. jg T'Zaq could help him wih the rest of the bugs before he submitted it to Cmdr Mercury.

It called for them to do a passive sweep of the platforms. They'd have to modify the deflector a little, but it could be done. After that, they would have to lock on, and beam abaord the ship various components of platforms, reciever/transmitter device, the targeting device, the nuclear warhead's propellant, the nuclear warhead's casing, and the guidance systems. First the reciever/transmitter device, then the propellant, then the casing. From there the nukes would be mostly harmless.

They would have to use all 10 transporters, boosting their range. Either by modifying a shuttle to lengthen the matter stream, or try boosting the power possibly overloading the systems. It would be hard, and they would have to do it fast, but it might just work.

After proof reading it, he walked down to engineering and found T'Zaq, sitting at the farthest aft station, as she usually was.

"Hey Lieutenant, I've got an idea of how we can get the nukes off those orbital platforms." He handed her the PADD with the entire schematic, illustrated charmingly in blue, amber, and light green. He smield at his multicolored masterpeice.

T'Zaq perused it for a moment, then stared forward into space for several minutes.

"Yes..." she finally said. "I estimate, with our present knowledge, that you have a 93.8% chance of succeeding. However, one small problem..." She paused for dramatic effect. "We've *got* to have someone ready to disarm the nukes as soon as you beam them aboard, cause if Papa Jocko decides to detonate that little surprise, and the transmitter is still operational... well, we'll all be glowing in the dark for the next 50,000 years."

Anthony grinned. "No, you see, I doubt that we'll be able to transport the actual warhead, because of how radioactive the warhead is. We'll just have to transport everything but the warhead. Without those key systems, the warheads will be useless. They'll plumit into the atmosphere, and burn up."

"I understand now." stated T'Zaq. She quickly returned to her normal professional demeanor. "I'll get this programmed into the simulator so we can test it. Want to help?"

He smiled. "Sure, that's what I'm here for." He strexhed out his fingers, popping them, and looked around for a chair.

Anthony pulled up a chair next to the console and the two began programming variance factors into the simulation program. The two officers worked together for what seemed like hours.

Finally T'Zaq stood up from the console and stretched. "I think that should about do it." Anthony confirmed. "Let's send this over to the holodeck and see what happens." He yawned and took a deep breath through his nose.

They walked over to the turbolift and made their way towards the Holodeck. As the doors closed, Anthony decided to try to start up a conversation. Technical discussion seemed to be rotting his brain.

"So where you from?" He tried to make it sound impressive.

T'Zaq thought about this pensively for a moment. "Well... that question has a rather complicated answer. I was born on a starship, raised on Earth mostly, and I live here on the Galaxy right now. So, where are you from, Lieutenant'?"

Mendenhall shrugged as they walked down the corridor. "A little place on earth called Utah. Pretty nice place. Grew up there all my life. Gets really cold sometimes."

"Really?" T'Zaq was cut off by the swooshing of the holodeck doors. Anthony inserted the program, and watched as a simulation of the bridge appeared.

=/\= "The Oksmyx Legacy" =/\=
by Lt Matthew Albrecht

The aftermath of Matthew' and James' fight with the Cantinii thugs was grizzly. James sped off on his motorcycle to find Lex, despite a terrible leg wound that would soon have him totally debilitated. Matthew remained behind to pick up the pieces. When he went outside the building he took a good look at the damage caused by the overloading phaser weapon he had stolen from one of the bodies inside, he discovered a twenty-meter swath of snow-free street. The face of the warehouse was scarred and blackened by the explosion, and two automobiles were likewise rendered useless. Over the steering wheel of the farthest car hung a limp body. Another casualty lay on the ground next to the car, a tommygun gripped in it's hand. Thankfully, the other bodies appeared to have disintegrated.

For a moment, Matthew absorbed the scene. How many more people died here, testament to an advanced civilization's failure to uphold the Prime Directive for yet a third time. Geoffrey Harper's words echoed through his mind, "This planet is in a continual war. A war of all the gangs and families against each other. If something isn't done soon, then it will destroy itself." And all Matthew could think of was that all he could provide was more death and destruction. How could he and the others stranded on this planet hope to help mend the errors made by the Horizon, the Enterprise, the Discovery and now even the Galaxy? And, if they could mend the errors, should they even try?

The security officer looked down at his pinstriped suit, running his cold, numb hands over the coat. He reached inside and took out Lefty Cassini's wallet. *He was a person,* killed no doubt in the terrible fighting that raged unchecked through the city. The driver's license bore a two-dimensional image of the man named Lefty. He was a skinny fellow with brown hair and a heavy, shadowed brow. The small plastic document listed his birthdate, but Matthew didn't understand the local dating system well enough to know how old the man was--he looked to be about thirty. The wallet also contained family photos. Lefty apparently had a lovely wife and three young children; a boy and two daughters. In one photograph, Lefty and his family were all gathered together with big grins on their faces in front of what appeared to be a gaily decorated Christmas tree. He removed the keycard with the letters OKSMYX printed on it, and slipped it into his left trouser pocket. Then, he slapped the wallet shut and put it away. Reaching into his coat again, he withdrew a piece of very personal jewelry; Lefty's wedding ring. It was gold, smooth and rounded, and thin along a portion of its arc from years of wear.

**** Later ****

Jacko's boys had driven to the warehouse in an automobile, best described as long, low and black. In silvery script letters across the control panel was the word CADDY. The foremost part of the hood, and the first couple of feet of the passenger side of the 'Caddy' were blackened from the exploding phaser, but the vehicle appeared to be quite operational. Matthew had driven two blocks before stopping to try to puzzle out the details of operating the machine, and had not even determined how to turn on the road illumination system.

"Let's see, this one is the..." he chatted to himself while attempting to avoid turning on the wrong features. He had already succeeded in wiping the dry viewport with three strokes of some long flexible rods. After discovering how to turn them off, the transparent port was drenched with a flood of bluish water. He twisted a knob, and a locker of some kind opened, revealing several small books and a pistol. He stared at the pistol for a moment before slamming the locker shut with a snort. Leaning back, his elbow bumped into a small PADD-looking device that winked to life in response. It bleeped, and said, "Please enter destination." The Iotian PADD sounded eerily similar to the Galaxy's computer's voice.

"What??" exclaimed the security officer. "What did you say? Computer, what did you say?" he repeated. The bleeping, speaking computer did not reply, however. He looked at it more closely, and noticed that it had a full keyboard. The display was active, and when he looked at it from a particular angle it appeared to be showing a map of some sort. A blinking dot was located at an intersection and the words 'Battery' and '5th' hovered above the map. The device was labeled with the name 'GPS Navigator 3000.' Matthew nodded, "Okay, I think I get this."

Soon he was on his way.

**** Still later ****

GPS Navigator 3000 spoke again, "Turn left at Sycamore."

Sycamore was the street name he had entered into the GPS Navigator 3000. He was almost to the house. The neighborhood was nice, with big tall (leafless) trees and wide, snow-swept sidewalks. Picturesque. *Lefty Cassini was no pauper,* he decided. The houses were all two-story, with wood siding and brick chimneys. He spotted his destination, a blue and white home with a large front porch. The address number was nailed to the eaves above the patio. In the driveway were two black sedans, of the sort Cantinii's men liked to drive. Matthew drove past, doing his best to drive casually. He decided to drive around the block and park the car, since it stood out in this quiet neighborhood.

No sooner had he thought about it and turned the corner, than a sharp wailing sound came from behind his 'Caddy' and a red light glowed at him from the top of another vehicle that was following him. The other automobile was a sedan like the ones parked in front of 2331 Sycamore, except that this one was painted black and white, and had lights on its top. The pursuer turned on some kind of voice amplification system and shouted, "Pull over. Motorist, you will pull over!" He did as he was ordered, nervously checking himself in the mirror to see if he looked out-of-place. *That was a silly thought,* he chided himself.

A uniformed man emerged from the black-and-white, with his hand on a firearm carried at his hip in plain sight. "He must be a constable!" Matthew said aloud. *Great! A light at the end of the tunnel, some sanity at last!*

The policeman rapped at the 'Caddy's driver's side window with his free hand. Matthew tried to work the controls mounted to the door, but only succeeded in locking and unlocking the doors several times. The officer rapped again, and leaned down to look inside. Still trying to puzzle out the car's controls, Matthew leaned over to the passenger side, and heard the policeman yell "FREEZE!" and "OUTTA THE CAR, PUNK!"

Moving slowly, the security officer emerged from the 'car' with his hands raised. He forced his face into a calm, cooperative expression. He stood straight, and moved from the open door out into the street. Oddly, the constable lowered his pistol, his jaw hanging wide open, and stammered, "Oh, I-I'm sorry, buster! I thought you were-were, one of Jacko's thugs..."

Lieutenant Albrecht lowered his arms, and glanced down at his suit (to which he had added a heavy coat from the backseat of the 'Caddy'). He looked at the officer again, who was holstering his pistol and rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "You gotta admit, it's mighty strange seein' one of those Caddy cars around these parts. Why, I imagine your own gang'd be likely to plug that thing fulla bulletholes if they'd seen ya in it..." he blurted out without looking up from the asphalt.

Matthew's hopes were dashed. This local law-enforcement agent was obviously in league with the Cantinii gang. How did the average citizen of New Chicago hope to get fair treatment if even the agencys sworn to protect them could be bought? *Well,* he thought, *at least I can take advantage of this situation to get rid of this guy.* For a moment, he debated how to best pull off an imitation of a Cantinii family gangster. *Over the top, it's gotta be over the top.*

The officer looked up from the asphalt and furrowed his brow. He appeared to be realizing something was not quite right. Matthew snapped into character--he had to take control of the situation. Matthew moved toward the officer aggressively. "Listen up, flat-foot!" he growled, doing a corny imitation of a dime novel crook, "if you EVER pull a gun on me again, you'll be wearing duraplast shoes in a specific gravity chamber!" The threat didn't come out quite right, but the policeman was sufficiently cowed by it. He made apologetic sounds and headed back to his patrol car.

The policeman drove away without wasting time, leaving Albrecht standing at the curb with a frigid breeze whipping his coat about his ankles. Deciding to avoid driving around the neighborhood in the 'Caddy' car, the Starfleet officer reached into the cabin and pulled out his hat. After a momentary internal debate, he took the pistol from the little compartment as well. After putting himself all together, he buttoned his coat and began walking back to his destination. He passed two dozen homes, and caught the scents of breakfast foods floating on the air. It was Christmas Eve morning, and people were no doubt entertaining out-of-town guests with elaborate meals. He experienced a renewed sense of sadness for the Cassini family, whose paternal member would not be joining them for another holiday, would not be posing for any more photographs in front of any more Christmas Trees.

Within minutes, he was in front of the Cassini household. The two ominous- looking dark sedans were gone. A fedora-wearing snowperson waved a tree- branch arm at him in greeting. Matthew approached the door. He inhaled deeply, his fist hovering at eye level an inch from the door. Steeling himself, he rapped three times, hard. There was no immediate answer, and Matthew considered leaving but didn’t. He felt that he had to see this through. The security officer was driven by his curiosity and concern for Lefty’s family, but mostly, he needed to assure himself that this planet’s people were not beyond help. He had to prove to himself that the descendants of the Discovery’s crew were not the only members of Iotia’s society that worked for something more. Somehow, he believed that he would find the proof here, in the home of the late Lefty Cassini.

The white-painted door swung inward to reveal a carpeted foyer with tasteful wooden furniture, draped in white lace and adorned with crystal and glass. Matthew was reminded of a decorative style his mother had called ‘Old world.’ In the doorway was a woman in a shawl, with silvery gray hair. Her eyes were red with the remnants of tears, and she clutched a handkerchief in her left hand. She spoke in a raspy voice, while staring directly into Matthew’s eyes. "Stella, you’ve got another _guest_," she said, seeming displeased. "Won’t you come in and enjoy our hospitality?" Matthew didn’t have to be a Betazoid to know that the old woman disliked him on sight.

Matthew removed his hat and nodded to the woman. "Thank you, ma’am." He entered the house, and moved into the front sitting area as the old woman directed him with gestures. She offered him a seat and he took it, after shedding his coat and setting it down beside himself. He was terribly uncomfortable under the lady’s cold regard. Mrs. Cassini soon arrived in the sitting room, wearing her nightclothes and wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. Matthew stood at once in deference to the newly widowed woman.

Stella Cassini sniffed deeply and said, "Mother, did you offer the gentleman a cup of coffee?" The old woman grumped and left the room, moving with a slow shuffle and casting daggers with her eyes at the Starfleet officer. Stella Cassini looked at her visitor, "My mother is very upset. Please forgive her. You knew my husband?" she asked, mechanically, in an obvious attempt to get Matthew to get to the business at hand.

He didn’t know how to proceed, how to learn what he wanted to learn. All his studying and practicing in holographic courtrooms interrogating witnesses, and he had no idea how to get this distraught woman to prove to him what he wanted proven. Stalling for time, Matthew reached into his coat and withdrew the wallet. "Mrs. Cassini, I have some of your husband’s things." He put the wallet on the table. Then he reached for Stella’s hand, and turned it palm up. She looked at her hand, waiting for the item he was dropping into it. When the gold circle landed in her palm, she gripped it fiercely and closed her eyes.

Matthew broke the silence. "No, Mrs. Cassini. I did not know your husband," he said. He didn’t know where he was going, but he wasn’t getting any information from her when she was silent. He cringed a little at the sound of his own voice, nearly echoing in the quiet room.

Her eyes snapped open, and she adopted an angry expression. "None of you knew my husband!" she declared. "Lawrence was a good man! He wasn’t just some ordinary ‘Good Guy,’ he had ideas! Lawrence was more of a man than any of you; he was going to change the world. Fifteen years with ‘the family’ and already a trusted lieutenant. He had ideas!" She put her hands to her face and sobbed, falling into an easy chair.

Stella’s mother entered the room with a silver tray, bearing a coffee pot and several mugs. "Oh, Stella, dear!" she said, putting the tray down and giving Matthew another good glare. "There there, child. We’re going to make it through this," she assured her daughter. The younger woman patted her mother’s arm in thanks for the comfort.

The older woman turned to Albrecht again. "You had better go now, young man. You’re upsetting her, and you’ve done enough harm for one day." Matthew reached for his coat and hat, feeling terrible. Stella’s mother added, "Lawrence had a surprise for you, boy. He was going to turn this city around! There are good people out there, you murderer, and you can't kill them all. You just wait, you’ll get yours and then look around to see who’s laughing, eh?" She made a spitting noise at the lieutenant.

He took all this abuse, and nodded. Perhaps there was hope here, he decided. He let himself out through the door, ignored by Stella and her mother crying together in the sitting room. On the porch, he stopped to watch the morning sky. Three children ran around from the side of the large house, obliviously, happily playing on the snowy lawn. The boy and one of the girls were chasing the third child, all of them making little guns with their fingers. The pursuers yelled in their children’s voices, "Freeze, crook! You can’t escape justice!"

The smallest child, the bad guy, spun around and waved her ‘pistol’ at the other two. "You’ll never take me alive, coppers!" she challenged.

The larger girl moved quickly in to ‘disarm’ her sister, and declared, "no one escapes detective Cassini, crook; and he always takes his crooks alive!" The boy pantomimed holstering his weapon. His ‘partner’ added, "Still haven’t fired that thing, big brother?"

"Nope, and I never will, either!" he declared in a heroic voice.

The smaller girl pouted. In a whiney voice she muttered, "I always have to be the bad guy!"

Matthew smiled, and walked away from the house. The world around him seemed to come alive, with the sound of chirping birds and wind chimes on the breeze. He headed out to the street, to walk downtown and hail a cab to the hospital.

Lieutenant Matthew Albrecht
Security Officer
USS Galaxy NCC 70637

by: Lieutenant Samara
and Ensign Adrianna

The doors to the turbolift shot open with an abruptness that caught Adrianna off guard. Perhaps she had just been daydreaming. So much had happened in such a short time on the surface of Sigma Losha II that she was still reeling from it all. Forcing herself to smile, she lifted her head and took a deep breath. Before her the vastness of main Engineering greeted her, as all about people seemed to be busy.

The pleasant hum of the primary warp core was a welcome sound after her recent adventure's. Moving quickly inside, she looked around for the reporting officer and saw Lieutenant Samara working at one of the nearby LCAR's stations.

Approaching her, she waited until she had the lieutenants attention. "Ensign Adrianna reporting."

K'Eytyanna looked up from the console before turning back to it.

"The micro specialist.. at the moment, we are working on a way to knock ut some orbital platforms. I assume you have some ideas on how to work in the big world. All your species did was run and hide."

Flicking some buttons, K'Eytyanna started a few tests of some possible ways to disable the platforms using various techniques. After she started the tests, K'Eytyanna slammed her d'k tahg down on the bench nearby.

Adrianna waited patiently at the display of emotion, analyzing the Lieutenant before speaking.

"Actually Lieutenant, I already did disable them, at least for a while. Infested the satellite network with an old style computer virus from one of their own ground computers. Lieutenant Commander Sunder should have the report of our activities on the surface finished by now."

Adrianna waited a second before adding, "one of those micro things, I guess. Are you sure I can't help you with a few of those calculation's, math is a strong point...of my people?" She offered a half-smile as she let her copper- red eyes meet those of the Lieutenant.

K'Eytyanna spoke without looking,

"If they have any sense, they will have a backup of the operating system. A shutdown, reinstall and reboot should fix that."

K'Eytyanna's human side mentally growled in annoyance,

{Hey, Klingon.. Get a grip. She's trying to help and all you have done so far since she came in was snap and insult her.}

Punching the console in annoyance, K'Eytyanna turned to Adrianna,

"Listen, I'm sorry. I was brought up in a bad situation, and it tends to make me snap first, think after. Your idea was a very good one though. It will give us some neccessary time to find a more permanent solution. I've been thinking that if we can somehow manage to either disable the inner workings or even better render the atomic fuels into inert substances, they can fire whatever they want and it will just do nothing. I doubt that having atomic fuels spread over your backyard would be bad, so I would prefer the inert substances. Got any ideas?"

Adrianna considered for moment, moving over to stand with K'Eytyanna at the LCARS console. "I see what you mean. As of now we just don't have anything capable of destabilizing the atomic bonds without causing a cascade reaction that would result in an explosion even worse than the warhead is capable of."

Adrianna let a puzzled look come over her face.

"What we need is something that could restructure on the sub-atomic level from the point of contact." Adrianna did'nt look at K'Eytyanna as she spoke, instead letting her hands run down the displayed data on the console.

"Something like a self-distructing modified Borg nano-probe." Adrianna said after a moment, letting her voice trail off to a whisper at the last....

K'Eytyanna smiled,

"That's an excellent idea. If we provide them with the ability to eat through the metal casings and also withstand a vaccumn, we can release them in front of the deflector dish, aim and then use a graviton pulse or tractor beam to send them flying through space to the platforms on inertia alone. Could those probes convert uranium and plutonium into inert water? That way, there isn't any chance of people being hit by scattered molecules as it will just boil away as steam."

"Thats easy anough to program in." Adrianna replied. "We can also make sure that the probes have a very short lifespan, just long anough to get the job done. We don't want any unforseen problems later."

Adrianna paused for a second to consider. "I guess we should run this by the Captain and get his approval to proceed. Would you like to do the honors Lieutenant?" Adrianna smiled.

K'Eytyanna grinned, "I've got a better idea.. K'Eytyanna to Captain Price, Ensign Adrianna and myself have come up with a possible way to fix this problem. Are you free at the moment so we can discuss it with you and Lt Commander Casey?"

"Hungry as a horse" By security officer Ensign Neil Bolitho

Bolitho sighed ' Well that wasn't so bad ', he thought to himself as the door to sickbay closed behind him. Bolitho was grateful that sickbay was busy it seemed a quite a number of the missing crew had been returned to the ship including "The General". The medstaff had needed the bed he was occupying and Bolitho made it quite clear he was not going to spend another minute in sickbay unless they restrained him.

Shaking his head to himself 'Here I am a trained security officer and I still can not stand the sight of needles' Bolithio shivered at the mere mention of the dreaded "WORD." Bolitho was also extremely happy that sickbay was very busy in that they the medstaff had not checked his file otherwise they would find one absent medical record, the one he should have done after boarding the Galaxy. 'Maybe I should go and visit the ships councillor?, nah Im fine, just gotta get over my phobia with "that word!!"

Entering a turbolift ,Bolitho said" Deck 20", the computer chirped its reply and Bolitho felt the slight initial movement as the turbolift buzzed towards its destination.Bolitho absently mindly rubbed his stomach as it growled at him Neil realised he had not eaten in almost 9 hours, what had I decided to eat before Q decided to pay a visit? of course A full continental breakfast with Eggs, bacon, toast ,pork sausage, toast and tee. Just thinking of food made Bolitho even more hungrier

Taking his mind of food as the turbolift buzzed Neil thought back to his time in sickbay when Lt Chen and Ens Rel were brought into sickbay with a rather attractive nurse. Its was great news that they were back on the Galaxy, They both however looked as if they had been through a meat grinder, 'I heard the medstaff chatter about a gunshot wound, poison and blunt trauma to the head!' This world Sigma Lotia 2 must be barbaric(Hmm sounds good coming from me after my encounter with my ancestor), everytime the Federation comes anywhere near this world we get into trouble! I personally think the federation should slap a quarantine around this world!!!' Anyway I hope they will both be able to return to duty soon as the Galaxy is very big for one security officer on Gamma shift!'

The Turbolift comes to a stop and Bolitho heads for his quarters, arriving outside he enters his access code and the doors swish open , entering Bolitho looks around his sparsely furnitured environment, sighs and heads for the replicator ' a few minutes under the skin regenerator and I am hungry enough to eat a horse. ' "Computer continental Breakfast, eggs sunnyside up, Bacon grilled, tea no milk"Bolitho takes the laden tray of food and sits down at his table and begins to eat.

Trouble near Hospital.
By Ensign Mike Marc

Mike was in room with Cat they watch of Astrid. He stood up and sad to Cat that he will go to take some food and that he need fresh air. Mike opened door and went out from the room. He went to the main building of Hospital, but he decided walk to the street first because he need to be alone and also he want to watch the city.

When he went form the building, he sow that two guys beat at the young women. “Hey, stop it immediately ” – screamed Mike when he run to the guys. When they sow him them turned they head on him and after it runs to the nearest house.

“You, Ok? ” – asked Mike

“Yes, I think so. God send you ” – replied woman

“What is you name? Moreover, why them beat you? ”

“My name is Vanessa and them wanted my money. You must to go now because them will come back soon with more people. Moreover, what are you name? ”

“ I’m Mike and don’t worry about me. When them will come back, I will be in safe place, and what about you. ”

“I’m live on the next street, do you want to escort me to my home? ”

“Why not? In addition, where is nearest food store? ”

“Today you lucky. On the ground flour of my house, there is one. You can bought in it all you want.”

“Ok thanks and let’s go ”

Mike and Vanessa went to Vanessa home.When them came to her house. Vanessa went home and Mike to store but before Mike took her telephone number. Maybe in future he would me need it. In store, he bought milk and some sort of cookies. After it, he went to hospital.

When he was near hospital some guys came to him. One from them Mike knew, that was men who make trouble with Vanessa. That man sad something to other guys and after one from them came to Mike and want to hit Mike, but Mike in time stooped and man missed. After it Mike kicked first guy he sow but it was late someone from them kicked Mike with stick and he fall…

Gobs of Jobs
by Lt Endris Gakor, Acting CMO, USS Galaxy

*** Sickbay ***

As if there wasn't enough to do. Endris processed another report on a PADD, and felt like sneaking out of Medical for a snack.

But there wasn't time. Now that Q had released them, the ship had approached the planet, and had started to locate and beam up the crew. But not all the officers had shown up. This left a significant shortage, and Endris had been rotated into the schedule for bridge watch.

Plus, she had the CMO's task of ordering new medical supplies, tending to leave applications, and checkups for the health of all the crew that had been abducted. With more and more people straggling in, there were not enough hours in the day to complete all the work.

"Snacks!", she said dramatically. So far, no one who had been stranded on Sigma Ioshia by Q showed any weird health oddities, but Gakor did not want to take any risks. After all, the pest had selected most of the senior officers to victimize with his prank.

A pudgy Tellarite yeoman came in with a load of Padds. "Good Evening", he said in a Yorkshire accent he picked up on Earth. His rotund silhouette lumbered around like an old fashioned movie camera that knew a bunch of trick shots. At least the strange parade of cats had stopped. But Gakor heard a rumor that they had been replaced by something even stranger. Evil flocks of birds, which for some reason targeted attractive blondes. Or perhaps it was a practical joke on someone's part....

"Snacks, Hitch!", Endris screamed at the new man, startling Fatso out of the 'director' type chair he had replicated. "Please hold this box of sonic scalpels while I slip into the shower! I only have 5 minutes before Ensign Bates comes in for his appendectomy. Oh and stop fussing, you know you only get a cameo appearance....."

"Please Advise."
by Lieutenant Commander Greer Erikson, CSO

Mary had been more than accurate when she said that very few people actually visited the old museum on the corner of Third and West Avenues. After walking around the building for an hour Greer had seen only two people, the museum curator and one of the cleaners employed to maintain the exhibits. Although he had been looking for a convenient place for the Galaxy to set transporter coordinated, he had also paid some attention to the actual exhibits, including the basis for the focus of Iotian society. An ancient copy of the book from Earth which had 'Chicago Mobs of the Twenties' written clearly on the cover and which had been carefully encased in a protective material which resembled perspex.

Erikson walked around it as it had been placed in the center of one of the main museum chambers which led off in other direction to the other exhibits which featured more paraphernalia important to Iotian culture. As much as life on Sigma Iotia II resembled Greer's recollections of his own holodeck programs, this strange world had some major differences, especially after some development passed that of the pre-Depression era of 1920's Earth.

"It is a mighty fine piece of literature, wouldn't you agree stranger?" a voice said from behind the curious scientist. Greer turned around to see the museum curator standing there, his hands behind him and looking at the curious expression in the face of the Federationer, confusing it with genuine admiration of the exhibit itself. "You see mister, this is the only true copy of 'The Book' that exists and we are proud to have. It is a shame that more young people like yourself don't take an interest in it anymore."

Erikson straightened up and looked at the elderly Iotian. "It would have to be extraordinary for an entire culture to revolve around it. I think some times people simply forgot about their roots and overlook the importance of their own history." he said in way that cryptically refered to his own culture on Earth.

The curator smiled and nodded ever so slightly. "Well then," he said as he brought his hands to either side of him, "I will let you continue to admire 'The Book' in peace and without the ramblings of an old man."

"Excuse me," Greer said as the much older man turned away, "I would be more interested in hearing about your own perceptions of history as you understand. Let me introduce myself, Greer Erikson, assistant to Mister Charlie Maccinato at KWD Broadcasting Incorporated." he said as he extended his hand in friendship. Although he had no idea whether or not Maccinato would find the story interesting or not, as a scientist, he could not let the opportunity pass him by to study this unique if disturbing culture.

The curator received the Human's hand and shook it, pleased that some was actually making the time to listen to him. "You'll have to excuse me Mister Erikson, I cannot help but feel like I am becoming a part of the exhibits I maintain." The remark made Greer smile. "Where to begin . . . oh yes, when I was a young man . . . "

*****

The office was busy and as soon as Greer walked in, Guillone walked immediately over to him with a concerned expression on his face. "You better hope that Mister Maccinato does not see you for the next . . ."

"Mister Erikson!" he heard bellow from the producer's office. Something which was, at least since the beginning of that day, becoming customary with his arrival in the office. Greer walked over as quickly as possible and stood in front of Charlie's desk. "You better of been kidnapped Mister Erikson or you are going to quickly find out what it feels like to be unemployed once again."

At that moment he realized that his only current means of communication with the ship was jeopardized by his own curiosity as a scientist. "Understood sir."

"Well?" Maccinato said as he leaned back in his chair and glanced over the stunned assistant.

"I'm not sure I understand you Mister Maccinato."

The expression of Maccinato's face worsened and a vein in the middle of his forehead looked as if it were about to cause the middle-aged man to have a stroke. "I want an explanation."

Greer though about it quickly and moved closer to the desk. "I found a story for you sir." he said as he tried to look excited, as if he had found something by taking the same initiative that Maccinato had found intriguing when he first met the Human.

"Would you care you explain yourself. I did not hire you to be a journalist." Charlie said as he was not sure whether or not he was angry or was impressed. "Now what was it you found so interesting that you had to arrive an hour late back to the office?"

"I was running an errand down near Mary's news agency," he said as he ended by lowering his voice, "and she is all right I should tell you too sir, and not too impressed that you are still urging her to leave her shop. Anyway, I was talking to Mary about some relatives coming to visit here in New Chicago and she suggested the old museum. Since I was going passed it on my way back to the office I though . . ."

"Fascinating Mister Erikson but please get to the point." Charlie interrupted, uninterested with the finer details of the story which he was hearing.

"Well at the museum I saw 'The Book' and ended up talking to the museum curator. It appears that he was involved somehow in some of the interesting historic events here in New Chicago. It's all here on these sheets of paper. I took the liberty of organizing them chronologically for you so you could look them over."

Maccinato looked at his assistant. Still deciding whether or not he should fire him or promote him he simply shook his head. A little calmer now, he looked at Erikson and opened his mouth without saying a word. Instead he looked at the sheets of paper he had just been handed. After the first two pages, the vein in his forehead had settled and he actually looked much more relaxed. "Jeanne, get me editing . . ." he said as he picked up the phone. ". . . this is Maccinato. You said you wanted an interest story for this evening. Well it seems that we have one. I'm sending up Erikson now with them so you may want to talk to him about it since he got the story."

Charlie placed the telephone receiver down again and Greer was just left looking at him, still unsure of his fate and whether or not he had jeopardized the instructions Captain Price had given him. Standing up he received the sheets of paper his boss had handed him and prepared to walk out of the office. "You did all right Erikson, but next time, please leave the reporting to the people paid to be journalists."

Greer nodded without any disagreement. "Understood Mister Maccinato."

*****

It was going to be another late night as Greer worked on the paper work Charlie Maccinato had left for him during the day. Once again the office was practically empty but he considered that the fifth floor would be all but abandoned, those who worked there already having returned to their homes until the next day. Typing in the appropriate command to access the bypass circuit in the control panel he brought up the display screen, typing in a message.

[Lieutenant Commander Erikson to USS Galaxy. Unable to determine exact coordinates. Look for a large building in approximately three five hundred square meters of parkland near the middle of New Chicago. It is the oldest surviving building in that part of the city. Scan for a large room approximately two hundred meters north of the street entrance and near the center of the museum itself. The chamber also contains 'The Book'. Please advise. Erikson out.]

Running the message through the Federation algorithm the message was converted into binary code. Due to the size of the message it took longer than usual for the message to be sent but he was sure that the Galaxy would receive it, if not the satellite system would repeat it approximately once every hour. Entering in the 'end' command, the display screen resumed the tracking display of the high orbit satellites.

He only hoped that they would cross-reference the mention of 'The Book' in the hope that identifying the four centuries old book from Earth might give them another means of identifying the coordinates for possible transport. He just hoped that this was going to work.

"Inspiration"
by Captain Robert Edward Lee Price

Captain's Log: Stardate 49812.24

I've been returned to the Galaxy by Q and have resumed command. The ship is currently in orbit about Sigma Iosha 2 while the remaining members of the Galaxy crew are located and beamed on board. 'Commander Casey informs me that a message has been received and decoded from Lieutenant Commander Erikson on the planet surface. It sounds like Greer is going to round up the remaining Galaxy crew members in a large museum building for transport back up to the ship. I have Lieutenant' Taurean scanning now for the building so we can get a transporter lock and wait for the others to gather at the beam up site.

Lieutenant Samara is presently working on a solution to disarm the sub-orbital nuclear warhead platforms that Boss Jocko is threatening to launch against his enemies in New Chicago unless the USS Galaxy is handed over to his control. I believe teams of shuttle craft are being prepared and equipt with EVA certified technicians to carry out the delicate operation and space walk. Most of the Ioshan technology is copied from our own, but there is still no way of knowing how well they have designed these atomic weapons. The risk of radiation poisoning is a possibility that will have to be dealt with if the mission is to succeed. The 'mates have just over 30 hours to completely disarm all the warheads before Jocko presses the trigger.

Captain Price thumbed the button on the command chair, deactivating the recorder before glancing out the main view screen with concerned eyes. He had every confidence that the crew of the Galaxy would succeed at thwarting Boss Jocko's plan to devastate New Chicago with nuclear warheads, but what Q said had lingered in his mind. Even if they do avoid this confrontation, what will prevent it from happening later once the Galaxy leaves? The Ioshans already posses the knowledge how to build more nuclear weapons. It's just a matter of time before another faction gains enough power to create a new arsenal of destruction and threatens to extort compliance from rival gangs. If not Jocko, then Tito, or Cantinii, or Kraco, or Oksmyx or some other gang. Lee needed to find a way to put them all back on track and away from the criminal form of government that they had modeled for the last two hundred years.

"This all started when the Horizon visited the Ioshans and left that Mobster's book two hundred years ago..." Lee thought out loud.

"Sir?" Ensign Elaithin asked from the Ops station.

"Oh, sorry 'mate. I was just thinking out loud. The Ioshans got started on this backward form of criminal government two hundred years ago because of a Mobster book the SS Horizon left behind." Lee explained.

"I see sir. So they copied the information in that book and based their society around it?" Jii asked.

"You got it. That's why they have so many gangs fighting and killing each other over territory and power. Now with further contact, their technology has escalated beyond their ability to cope with it. They are at a point that we ourselves barely made it past with a more normal form of governmental system." The Captain explained.

"Sounds like a very volatile situation sir. At least if we disarm the warheads before they have a chance to launch them, we can buy them more time to settle down."

"Aye. But it's only a temporary fix 'mate. The underlying problem is in their upbringing. For two hundred years these people have been raised with this culture of crime and violence. Converting them to a more traditional form of government is not going to be easy."

"I guess not. After two hundred years of living the life of a gangster, it would be pretty hard to switch to another form of government." Jii nodded.

"Exactly. Plus the books they have modeled their society around all glamorize the gangster life style. I'm afraid disarming these warheads is going to be as effective at changing the Ioshans as putting a 'band-aid' on an open heart wound 'mate." the Captain gave as an example.

"A difficult problem sir." the Bajoran Operations Officer agreed. "It seems like the only thing these people understand is violence. Until someone knocks some sense into them, it's unlikely that they will ever change."

Captain Price's eyes lit up at Jii's words. "Bonzer idea 'mate!" he declared in a jovial tone.

"Sir?" Elaithin asked not understanding what he'd said to get the Captain so high spirited.

Lee smiled. "Knocking their heads together to get them to see reason. That is just the thing that might do the trick 'mate."

"Sir," Elaithin began, "I don't think knocking the snot out of twenty billion people is a very realistic idea. It was more of an expression..."

"Relax Ensign." The General elaborated, "That is exactly the way I took it. There is more than one way to skin a cat 'mate. Or in this case... scare the 'Dickens' out of some Ioshan gang lords."

Jii watched as Captain Price moved from the command chair to Science Station One. Numa was busy scanning the planet for signs of Galaxy crew members. She was having a hard time locating Ensign Kalln, which was odd giving his unique reptilian physiology.

"Any luck Lieutenant'?" Lee asked.

"Still searching sir. Of the hundred crew members that Q abducted, nearly a quarter have been recovered. Still no sign of Ensign Kalln though, which is strange giving his unique reptilian form." Numa explained.

"I'm sure you'll locate him Lieutenant'. He may be in a part of the city our sensors have a hard time penetrating. He'll turn up. Do you have the surface of the planet mapped out Lieutenant'?" Lee asked.

"Yes sir. You can punch up a three dimensional model on Science Station two." The Benzite pointed.

The Captain stepped over to the science station and tapped a few of the controls while Numa watched. Sliding a finger across the LCARS bar, it appeared the Captain was searching for something in particular.

"Looking for something sir?" Numa asked in a curious tone.

"I 'ave it Lieutenant'. While we were in Mister Jocko's company, he showed us a map of Sigma Iosha 2... here it is. See this small continent?"

"Yes sir. It's on the opposite side of Iosha 2. Does it have some sort of significance Captain?"

"Yes actually. Jocko has a secret retreat on that continent. He intends to go there before he launches the nuclear assault on New Chicago. Can you set up the ship's sensors to track any ships or air planes that appear to be heading from New Chicago to this region Lieutenant'?"

"Yes sir. That will be easy." Numa nodded. "You are trying to locate this Mister Jocko's plane?"

"That's right 'mate. Let me know when the sensors detect any likely candidates. The deadline is in 30 hours, so I would expect Jocko will be leaving in time to arrive at his safe haven before he drops the sub-orbital bombs on his enemies." Lee rubbed a hand across his chin. "Now we just need to figure out how to locate the other major bosses in New Chicago."

"You are planning on having a heart to heart to the leaders of Sigma Iosha sir?" Numa asked.

"Well, yes and no. Let's just say that I'd like to get them together to use what we 'ave at our disposal to show them the error of their ways."

"What exactly is that if I might ask Captain?" Numa inquired.

Lee smiled. "The holodeck and a writer named Charles Dickens Lieutenant'." Turning on his heal, the Captain glanced over to Lieutenant' T'Zaq at the Engineering station who had been listening to the Captain's conversation with her sensitive Vulcan ears. "Lieutenant' T'Zaq, the bridge is yours 'mate. I'll be in holodeck number two preparing a special program for our gangland guests."

Giving the Captain a sideways glance and the typical raised eyebrow, T'Zaq inquired, "You intend to program a holodeck simulation to show the Ioshans what can happen if they do not change their ways?"

The General nodded, "That's correct Lieutenant'. I didn't realize Dickens was common reading on Vulcan."

"It is not sir. I just like to keep myself well read on all topics including Terran folklore." She commented while straightening her posture and making her way towards the command well.

"Fair dinkum 'mate. At any rate, I doubt the Ioshans have seen holodeck technology before. It should make it fairly easy to convince them that they are having an 'out of body' experience." Lee elaborated.

"The ghost of Christmas future Captain?" T'Zaq commented in a dead pan Vulcan tone while pausing at the command chair.

"That's the spirit Lieutenant'. With a bit of luck and some clever holo-programming on our part, we may be able to convince the Ioshans that nuclear annihilation is not the way their society should evolve." Lee explained.

"You do realize sir that this sort of action is a clear violation of the prime directive?" T'Zaq pointed out.

"Aye. But it seems in this case, if we do not act, the Ioshans will use the technology they obtained from the Federation's earlier mistakes to destroy themselves. Since they couldn't possibly do that had we not interfered, it seems only right that we should interfere again to prevent them from destroying themselves and try to set them back on the right track and a productive government system 'mate."

"I hope that Starfleet Command agrees with your analysis Captain."

Lee nodded, "As do I Lieutenant'. The Bridge is yours 'mate. Hail me if anything major pops up."

"Will do Captain." T'Zaq answered watching the Captain exit the bridge before returning her attention to the forward view screen and sitting in the Captain's chair. "Status report Ensign Elaithin." T'Zaq requested patently waiting for a quick briefing from the on duty Operations Officer.

Ever Read a Chrismas Carol
By Lt. jg Anthony Mendenhall

The small shuttle started to bounce in space. SIF feilds started to disinigrate, and the transporter beam it was lengthing wasn't working right. The Transporter Buffer was overloading, and at this rate they would be workin too slow. The clcok ticked down, and the orbital platforms launched the nukes on the giant green and blue planet.

"Darn!" Anthony sighed. "Let's go back to frame 1737203.45 again. Boost the power on the buffer." He knew it probably wouldn't work, but it was worth a try.

"Let's see if I can concentrate the beam to .05, that might give the buffer enough time." Just then the the holodeck doors opened. He turned around to find the Captain walking in. He snapped to attention.

"Hello sir."

The captain smiled. "At ease 'mate. I'm going to have to take over this holodeck if you don't mind. Seems we've found a way to fix the Sigma Iosha 2 problem."

"We have sir?" He gulped.

"Yep, Lieutenant Samara is presently working on a solution to disarm the sub- orbital nuclear warhead platforms that Boss Jocko is threatening to launch against his enemies in New Chicago unless the USS Galaxy is handed over to his control. I believe teams of shuttle craft are being prepared and equipt with EVA certified technicians to carry out the delicate operation and space walk."

Yep, hours oh work just went down the drain.

"You alright 'mate?" asked the Captain at the paling Mendenhall.

"Yes. Er, you need any help with the programming. I did some for my sister a while back, and until Lieutenant Samara gets the plan ironed out, I really don't have much to do." At least, now he didn't.

"Sure 'mate. Ever read, "A Christmas Carol?"

Passing the Time
Civilian Tal'yana Lan -- Entertainer

** Intership Message To: General Announcements **
** From: Civilain: Tal'yana Lan, USS Galaxy **
** Re: Upcoming Concert in Holodeck 3-C **

To all who are interested, I will be giving a semi-formal concert in holodeck 3-C, focusing on music of classical Terran compositions, primarily those pre- 20th-century in origin. Any and all interested parties are invited. Formal dress is requested for this occasion. Those interested in joining me in this concert are encouraged to contact me over the next few days.

Tal'yana Lan -- Civilian - USS Galaxy

"Home Again Home Again Jiggity Jig"
by Lt. Cmdr. Ronni Morris
ACSO, USS Galaxy

Ronni had sat at the radio transmitter for about three hours when suddenly she found herself being transported. The Transporter Chief said, "We got your message Commander. Welcome back aboard the USS Galaxy!"

The Delphinian jumped off of the transporter pad and gave the Chief a huge hug with her good arm. As he gasped for breath, she said, "Thanks!"

Ronni headed down to sickbay. A nurse looked at her arm and quickly had it fixed up, good as new. She thanked him and then headed for her quarters. After a good long soak in her sleep tank and a quick nap, she got up and ate a snack. She checked that Greer wasn't back yet, so she changed into a clean uniform and headed for the bridge.

As the doors opened, Ronni stepped out and said, "Hello Commander Casey!"

"Lieutenant Commander Morris. How nice of one of our senior science officers to join us on the bridge!"

Ronni stuck her tongue out at him and logged into the Science Station. Deiran came up and said, "The Captain is working on a plan to stop the Iotians from committing nuclear homicide."

"How much of the crew are back on board.? she said.

"All of the non-human crew members are back on board and some of the human." he said.

Pulling up a sensor screen, she pulled in some information for one of her personal files. Suddenly a red dot appeared on the screen. Looking up at Deiran, she said with an embarrassed smile, "That's Greer, err . . Lieutenant Commander Erikson." Whispering, she said, "I had his DNA sample in my personal files. I had been running a genetic compatibility scan between him and myself."

Deiran elbowed her and said, "Give the coordinates to the Transporter Chief and get him back up here."

Ronni smiled and said, "Aye, Sir."

After Midnight
Lt. Tebrianne Bancroft
Chief Helm Officer

Lt. (jg) Benedict T’Kal
Tactical Officer
USS Galaxy

"I love you." He said. The voice was soft and distant, but it was the most beautiful sound Teb had heard in a long time. She tightened her hold around his neck. She was in his arms - safe.

Benedict felt her arms tighten in response to his words – he’d finally said them! It was all he could think of – the near panic of not having said them at all before she had gone had made him realize the folly of his tight rein on his emotions. He felt a little light-headed with relief. She was curled in his arms and holding him as if he might disappear at any moment – the same way he was holding her.

He held her against his chest protectively and knew that she had to be taken to Sickbay. She was hurt – he could see the bloodied toes and bluish skin of her feet peeking from the thermal blanket, and he also knew that she had suffered some kind of ordeal of a physical nature. The thought that she had suffered and he had been safe on the Galaxy appalled him. She had needed him and he hadn’t been there!

He started walking out of the Transporter Room – heading to Sickbay. He felt angry. Angry at himself. If only he’d known! Damn Q – damn his wishes! If he’d known that Teb had been missing he’d have used his wish to be with her! It was clearly his responsibility – his failure! Tebrianne had been abused – he feared in the depths of his heart the extent of it. The torn clothing – her nakedness – had she jumped to get away from what-ever it was? Had it been so bad that she’d do that? Had she been pushed? The thoughts circled in his head like angry hornets stinging his conscience all the way to Sickbay.

They were moving. Teb could only guess that they were going to Sickbay. She realized she must look a fright. She was cold. Getting warmer though. Teb couldn't tell if it was the shot or being so close to Ben. Benedict T'Kal. She felt so safe in his arms.

She rolled her head back and looked up at him. Teb managed a weak smile and looked into his eyes - those deep violet eyes that kept her going during her ordeal on Sigma Iotia. She tried to reach up to touch his face with a numb hand, but realized both of her hands were still locked behind Benedict's head. They were in a turbo lift. She let her face nuzzle into his shirt while they rode in the car. There must have been something else in that hypo-spray that the doctor gave her in the transporter room, Teb realized. She was feeling pretty funny.

The doors opened and Ben carried her out into the corridor. It was only a few paces down the hall and they were entering Sickbay. Suddenly nurses were circling like a pack of vultures. Teb didn't want to leave Ben. She wanted to stay in his arms. As one of the nurses extracted Tebrianne from Benedict, fighting to get her arms unlocked from around his neck, Teb reached out toward him and smiled. "I love you," she whispered softly.

Benedict took her outstretched hand in his and stood beside the bio-bed. He looked into her eyes and gave her a reassuring smile. He wasn’t going anywhere. Her hand felt cold still and he tried to warm it with both hands. He raised her fingers to his lips and kissed them and held her hand against his chest as he smoothed the hair away from her brow. He was oblivious of everything going on around them.

Two nurses removed the tattered remnants of her dress and managed to cover her with a blanket at the same time. Benedict didn’t even notice – all he could see were the dark eyes in the center of his universe. He bent down and kissed her forehead.

One of the nurses left the bed and went to confer with the doctor. They talked in low voices and the nurse showed the doctor the ripped dress and nodded toward Tebrianne. The doctors’ face grew more serious and nodded.

The remaining nurse ran a medical tricorder over Tebrianne and examined the read-out. She smiled and said, “Nothing serious. Cuts, contusions, bruises and slight hypothermia. Nothing to worry about.” She used a dermal regenerator on Tebriannes’ feet for a few moments. She applied another injection and said, “You should feel your body temperature rise in a few moments – it’s just to get your metabolism going.” She smiled and patted Benedict on the arm to gain his attention.

He looked at her and she said, “Can I speak to you for a second?” Benedict nodded. The other nurse had brought the doctor – she smiled reassuringly at Benedict and said, “I’m Taleen - I’d like to talk to Lt. Bancroft for a few moments.” Benedict cast a glance between the two women. He really didn’t want to leave Tebrianne and she seemed to grip his hand even tighter.

He looked down at Tebrianne and met her eyes.

"I'll - I'll be alright," Tebrianne said softly - her voice barely above a whisper. Benedict nodded – the concern in his eyes evident. He kissed her fingers again and let go of her hand.

The nurse led Benedict a few meters away. He knew the questions that they wanted to ask. At that moment he didn’t know whether he really wanted to know the answer. A part of him didn’t care – he had her back, she was safe, and…and – a part of him was a barely controlled rage. He was lost in his own contemplation’s as the nurse led him by the arm. He had seen the look in the nurses’ eyes – knew what she was thinking. He was being taken out of earshot not just because he was a man – but because they could all see how much he cared for the young woman laying on the medical bed. He couldn’t bring himself to look at Teb while she conferred with the doctor.

He looked at the nurse and said, “It’s okay. I’m sure you’ve got better things to do than nursemaid me.” He tried to smile at her but it was insincere and he knew it. She just patted his arm and smiled reassuringly. “That’s okay Lieutenant.” She replied, “I’m sure that she’s okay.”

It wasn't until the doctor had repeated her name several times that Teb was able to turn her attention from Ben.

"I'm sorry," she said. "It's been a rough day."

"I'll bet," said Dr. Taleen. "I have some questions I need to ask you, Lieutenant." She ran the probe from the tricorder over Tebrianne as she spoke. "I noticed the state of your dress. Lieutenant...Tebrianne, were you sexually assaulted while you were on the planet?"

Tebrianne shook her head gently. "No," she said. "He tried, but another person helped me get away."

"That's good," Taleen said. "I have a couple other questions I'd like to ask you, if you don't mind."

"Not at all," Teb said.

Dr. Taleen asked about Tebrianne's ordeal on the planet and how she came to be in her current condition. Teb answered as best as she could remember.

While Tebrianne was answering Dr Taleen, Benedict stood silently near the doors to sickbay. The nurse had been called away by Dr Gakor as another pair was brought in with complaints of severe cold, or the odd cut and bruise. His mind was caught in a turmoil – he drew upon his mental training and began a calming routine of meditation. His state of agitation would be no good for Teb – he had to be calm and respond to her need right now – not his!

After a few more minutes of questioning, Dr. Taleen motioned to Benedict to come back over. He walked up to the bed, looking directly into Tebs face as he did so. She smiled at him, and he returned it. He took her outstretched hand once again. It felt warm this time – the drugs were working.

"Everything looks okay from what we can see," Taleen said. "Your metabolism is adjusting well to the Galaxy's environmental conditions and the injuries you've suffered are almost healed. You are free to go, but take things slowly for a day or two. You should be okay to return to your full duties within a few hours." Taleen checked a PADD and nodded. "I'll release her into your care, Lieutenant." She said turning to Benedict. He nodded to her, but still hadn’t taken his gaze away from Tebs’ face.

As Taleen left, Teb turned her eyes toward Benedict. "Hi, you," She said with a grin. "I want to get out of here."

Benedict felt relief at her warm smile – the doctor hadn’t been tense, her body language had been relaxed – different from when she had approached Tebrianne in the first few moments. Benedict took that as a good sign and put his questions aside. He grinned at her. “Not dressed like that you’re not.” He said. “I’ll get you something.” He turned to a nurse and asked her for a medical garment for her – the nurse took a few moments before she returned with a one-piece white gown – then dragged Benedict away while she erected a privacy screen.

It only took a moment more before Tebrianne emerged – bare foot in the loose smock. Benedict reached out and lifted her into his arms. “No arguments.” He said. She didn’t seem to want to offer any – and he walked out of Sickbay with several nurses smiling at his back. Tebrianne curled up in his arms and nestled her head into the crook of his neck.

Once in the turbo lift he gave instructions to reach Tebs’ quarters. He held her tightly, protectively – all the way there he thought about how he had failed her. He hadn’t been there when she had needed him. Well – he resolved that that would never happen again. He could feel her heartbeat against his chest, her warm breath against his neck – her arms wrapped about him. He was conscious of every moment that she was in his arms. He’d thought that he would never feel that again.

When they reached her quarters she opened the door and he carried her in. He gently laid her on her bed and sat beside her. He took her hands in his and stared into her beautiful eyes. She was propped up on a couple of pillows. They looked at each other for a few moments just enjoying the closeness.

“It’s after midnight.” Said Benedict in a quiet voice. “Merry Christmas.” He smiled and leaned close to her. Their lips met in a soft kiss - it stretched into a few breaths – he knew without any doubt that he loved her. He broke the kiss to look deeply into her eyes, and he cupped her cheek in his palm. “I love you.” He said. “I’ll never leave you again. I’m sorry about leaving you – if I’d been with you, maybe all this wouldn’t have happened!” His guilt burned in his eyes as he smoothed her cheek with his thumb. “I’m so sorry…” He whispered.

"No," Teb said, sitting up. "Please don't blame yourself for what happened to me, Benedict. I should have been paying more attention. Everything is fine now. And we're going to have a wonderful Christmas." Teb looked into Benedict's eyes and smiled. "I love you too, Benedict T'Kal," she said softly. "And despite Q and that bloody planet, this is going to be the best Christmas ever."

“The Return”
by Lt. Hunter McKenzie
Chief Tactical Officer
USS Galaxy

Exiting his quarters Mac once again rubbed his jaw where K’yet's fist had landed.

“I guess the comment about screwing like a rabbit wasn’t very smart, He thought as he stepped into the TL, “I think she loosened a tooth?”

Seconds later Mac stepped on to the bridge which was, as usual, a buzz of activity. He had reviewed the current SitRep reports and had made himself aware of the current train of thought that the Crew was working on regarding the Ioshian nukes. Relieving Lt. Hermedhie, he assumed his accustomed spot behind the Tactical arch.

“Computer, access code McKenzie 5 beta 43.” Mac waited while the computer accepted his on-duty access code “Working” came the generic voice.

“Transfer program, McKenzie 774, to my station.”

“Transfer completed,” answered the ships computer again.

Turning to Commander Sterner, “Commander. I have the current projections on radioactive yield, warhead size and fallout radius standing by. Also have current trajectories programmed into the targeting computer.”

Commander Sterner nodded his head in acknowledgement and Mac did what most Starfleet personell do best, he waited.

Lt. Hunter McKenzie, Chief Tactical Officer, USS GALAXY
ICQ # 6728583

"Revising Dickens"
by Captain Robert Edward Lee Price

Captain Price glanced at Lieutenant' Mendenhall after he'd offered to help Lee to program the holodeck. "Sure 'mate. Ever read, "A Christmas Carol?""

Anthony shook his head. "No sir, I can't say that I have. I've seen the holo-novel before though. I think everybody has. It's in the Galaxy's holo-library." Mendenhall pointed at the black and yellow grid of the empty holodeck with his thumb over his shoulder.

"Computer, programmer's arch." The Captain called out. In an instant, the large computer interface archway appeared and the Captain and Mendenhall stepped over to the controls.

"Computer, load holo-novel, "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens." Lee ordered.

The computer made an acknowledgment tone before replying ["Program loaded. Ready to begin."] in a familiar feminine voice.

"Computer, switch to program edit mode." Anthony called out. Captain Price glanced at the Lieutenant' and gave a slight nod.

["Program mode enabled."] the computer replied dispassionately.

"Right. Okay, Computer tie in to the ships sensory logs for the planet Sigma Iosha 2 which we are presently orbiting. Using said recorded data, extrapolate the observed building architecture, technology levels, wardrobe for this time period and modify the loaded holo-program to match."

For several seconds various computer tones sounded out as the computer compiled the requested changes. ["Working. Modifications complete."]

"All right, now we are getting somewhere." Lee said rubbing his hands together.

"We should probably delete some of the characters to free up programming space in the holo-matrix sir." Mendenhall suggested.

The Captain agreed. "Good point 'mate. Computer, display a list of characters contained in the holo-novel and their descriptions."

["Working."] the computer responded before flashing up a cast list on the arch' monitor.

Captain Price glanced at the list. "Scrooge. That's a good place to start."

Anthony turned and looked at the Captain. "You're going to delete Scrooge from "A Christmas Carol"? That seems like sacrilege." Mendenhall commented.

"Bah humbug!" Lee spat back with a twisted grin, then pointed to the rectangular indicator on the arch control panel. Anthony glanced at it and watched.

"Computer, delete character Scrooge from program." Captain Price ordered.

Anthony watched as the indicator dropped by nearly fifty percent.

["Character has been deleted."] the computer replied.

"Wow, that made a big difference sir." Mendenhall pointed out.

"Aye. Being the central character, most of the program was written around Scrooge. Get rid of the old wind bag and we have plenty of room to program our own version for our mobster friends on the planet surface." Lee explained.

"Are there any more characters you want deleted Captain?" Anthony asked.

"No 'mate, that's good for now. If we start running low on available holo-matrix we can purge a few more like Tiny Tim, or the Cratchit couple." The Captain explained.

"Your going to delete Tiny Tim too? Sir, you are ruthless. Charles Dickens would be taken aback by these actions." Anthony jibed.

"Maybe. But if it helps us turn the Ioshans around, it's well worth it. Now, how well do you know the story Mendenhall?" Lee asked.

"Well sir, like I said I remember seeing the holo-novel. Really sir, you should have Lieutenant Commander Erikson help you with this. He's directing a version of "A Christmas Carol" for the crew's drama club." Mendenhall explained.

"Humm, I didn't know that. Maybe you are right 'mate. Tell you what, why don't you work on programming a few gangster types for the holo-program while I go see if 'Commander Erikson or one of the crew mates participating in the play can lend a hand."

"Sounds easy enough. What kind of gangsters are you talking about sir?" Mendenhall asked.

"Have the computer tie into the ships sensor data banks and extrapolate that from observed inhabitants of the planet below. You might also want to add some of the weak and homeless. We can pull parts from other holo-programs to save time. At one point I want to show our guests what a post nuclear planet looks like with nuclear winter, shattered buildings, lingering radiation everywhere. Something from Earth's third world war era should do the trick." The Captain explained.

"I'll get right on it sir." Anthony agreed accessing the controls on the holodeck archway.

"Fair dinkum. I'll be back in a jiffy 'mate. G'day." Lee said while exiting the holodeck to find out if 'Commander Erikson had been recovered from the planet yet.

****

** On the planet in New Chicago ***

A dark suited Papa Jocko adjusts his matching gold cufflinks that compliment the reeds of gold chain around his neck. Taking a fresh blue bandanna, he ties it over his completely bald black head and carefully tucks the corner knots under to give a smooth, seamless appearance to his make shift hat.

"The jet is all tanked up and ready to go Papa." One of his flunkies eagerly informed.

With a wide smile Jocko showed his pearly white teeth. They seemed to give him an evil, nearly demonic quality as he laughed.

"Marvelous. Ha, ha, ha. We shall enjoy cool refreshments while heading to Jocko island to the east. The Federation bitch has been taken care of I take it?" Jocko asked.

"Yes,... yes Papa." The flunky said with a lowered head while twisting his blue bandanna between his hands that he'd removed from his head out of respect. "She's being held at Madame D'Aglio's. I'm told she's not being any trouble at all."

"Of course she isn't. She knows that she will be killed if she offers any sort of resistance to Madame D'Aglio's generous hospitality." Jocko grinned. Then his expression went blank. "Come, we must board the plane. It is a long trip to Jocko Island and I am famished." Papa Jocko said rubbing one of his massive hands over his stomach.

"Right this way Papa. Watch your step..." the flunky said as he assisted the most powerful gang lord on the planet onto the private jet plane.

****

*** Bridge of the USS Galaxy, Science Station One ***

Lieutenant' Numa Taurean sat at her station monitoring the ship's sensors searching for the Galaxy crew members that still remained on the planet. While the Benzite scientist was busy with that, a sub-routine she'd programmed to monitor all traffic heading towards the small continent Captain Price had pointed out was also running and it just began to beep.

Rising her head from what she was doing, Numa glanced over at the secondary display. "Humm, what have we here?..." she said quietly as she moved to check it out.

"Steel and Flesh"
by, Lt. (j.g.) Raesene Hermedhie

When the attack on the warehouse came, Lt. Hermedhie was walking down an alleyway, trying to find weapons and clothing for the adrift StarFleet officers. Raesene prefered blades and bows to these unusual projectile weapons that the Ioshians carried. Covering his uniform was a large white cloak that he had found in one of the warehouse's rooms. It was slightly ratty, but it was usable for its purpose of hiding his uniform from view.

He scanned both sides of the narrow path, trying to discern what the stores contained. As he walked, he cmae upon one store that caught his eye. The sign said, "Antiques." This alone would not have interested him, except that as he gazed in the mysteriously open door, he noticed a suit of armor, and of more interest still, two strange swords sitting on the armor's left side. Intrigued, Raesene made his way into the store, which was surprisingly empty. It was the middle of the day, and the store should have been bussling. He thought little of it at the time.

Raesene walked up to the armor, as quietly as he could, and began to examine it. The armor was lavishly decorated, almost too colorful to be useable. the armor was topped by an open-faced helm. The protection for the face consisted of a ugly-looking mask of steel, that was seperate piece from the helm. Then, he turned his attention to the swords. They had a strange curve to them, and the hilt and sheath were made of some sort of white material. The hilt itself had gold diamonds etched in the leather. When he unsheathed one to examine it, he noticed it was extrememly sharp, and that the tip was made as if it were used to punch through aarmor and flesh. ~Quite a dangerous weapon,~ thought Raesene. ~I like it.~

Quickly deciding what he would do, Raesene took the armor off its stand and went into a dark corner of the establishment where he replaced his uiform with it. It was a perfect fit. Then looking around, Raesene noticed a set of rather large European clothing. Large enough to even cover the armor very effectively. He then put that on, placed the sowrds on his left hip, and a bag containing his uniform, the helm, and the mask on his right hip. He then glanced around the establishment. Feeling a little tedious about stealing the armor and clothes, he took out his lucky bag of Anuirean coins, and placed four gold coins on the counter. He then left the building, and continued down the alleyway. In the span of the next thirty minutes, he collected more in the way of clothing for the Federationers, before turning back to the warehouse. The armor was surprisingly silent as he walked down the alley.

It was only when he reached the warehouse, that Raesene realized why all the stores had been vacant. they had been alerted to some sort of strike on the StarFleet compound in the warehouse. For it was vacant when he arrived, and the doors were torn off their hinges. Raesene became quite angry. He quickly went through the warehouse, searching for clues. Finding none, he then decided to make his way down some of the alleys and streets, trying to find someone who would be willing to... provide him with the information he required.

Three blocks down the alleyway he had chosen, he heard a noise of men talking inside a small shop. It sounded like something, he recalled the more corrupt guilds on his world using. Something the Terrans called the "protection racket," and called a shake-down by the Anuireans. Raesene considered his options on what to do in this situation. Then, he heard the voices approaching the doorway. He quietly unsheathed the long curved sword, and ducked out of the line of sight from the doorway. As the two members of the local gang walked out of the shop, Raesene struck. He deftly moved behind the two thugs, and placed the sword one the leader's neck. He then spoke, "If you wish to live, I suggest that you both put down your weapons, and raise your hands."

The man who did nto have the sowrd at his neck, began to swing around to get his projectile thrower into position. Raensene moved the sword quickly, and precisely, cutting the man's left arm off at the elbow. Blood splashed over the ground, staining the snow all around it bright pink. Raesene then coldcocked him in the back of his head with the sowrd, and he crumbled to the ground, he then put the now red blade back against the other's neck. "You want to test me?" Raesene said. The man shook his head, put down his weapon and raised his hands. "Good..." Raesene then knocked him cold. He picked up the two sets of projectile throwing weapons, one hand-held sized, and one rifle or sub-machine weapon. He then continued on down the path. He travelled like this for half a day, collecting more of these weapons at every turn. Then, suddenly as he continued to try and find ways to find the others, when he managed to run into a radio station... overflowing with Federationers.

"Nano probes"
by Lt K'Eytyanna Samara
reviewed by Captain Price and Ensign Adrianna

Lee tapped his badge, [K'Eytyanna to Captain Price, Ensign Adrianna and myself have come up with a possible way to fix this problem. Are you free at the moment so we can discuss it with you and Lt. Commander Casey?]

"Lt, meet me on Holodeck Two. T'Zaq is in charge of the bridge until Deiran returns, so you can let her know after if this idea sounds good. Price out."

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

K'Eytyanna and Adrianna stepped into the holodeck, heading over to the Captain.

"Sir, we have come up with a possible idea to disable these platforms without any danger to the crew. I came up with an idea that if we can render the atomic fuels in those missiles into an inert substance like water, they couldn't hurt anyone."

K'Eytyanna nudged Adrianna forward to give her idea, "I came up with the idea of using modified Borg nano-probes, which I know how to build. They can be made to have a short lifespan and self destruct in a way the Ioshians can never fix or work out how they work."

K'Eytyanna quickly, added,

"Once they are made, we can dump them in front of the deflector dish and use a graviton pulse to start them on the way, letting them coast on inertia once aimed. "

The pair waited for Captain Price's reply.

Lee glanced at each of the officers. "Nano-probes? Sounds rather complicated. Can you have enough created to do the job in the time we have?"

Adrianna nodded, "Yes sir. Once I program the pattern into the replicator, we should be able to produce thousands of them."

"I see. Still I'm not very comfortable depending on thousands or millions of nano-probes to render the radioactive payload of these orbital weapons platforms to harmless substances. What if they can't do the job, or don't act quick enough?" the Captain pointed out.

K'Eytyanna quickly piped up, "Well sir, how about if we also placed anti-matter charges on each of the sub-orbital platforms as a back up plan? That way if there is a problem with the nano-probes rendering the warheads harmless, we can blow the platforms all at once. That would be less risky than relying on the ship's phaser banks to target hundreds of nuclear warheads all launched simultaneously."

Adrianna gave Keyt an appreciative glance before they both looked at the Captain. He seemed to be considering it.

"Very well Lieutenant. You and Specialist Adrianna can proceed with this plan. Keep me updated on your progress. I want all of those platforms mined with explosives and set to be detonated if the nano probes are unable to render the warheads harmless." Captain Price agreed.

"Thank you Captain. I'll get a team right on it. The shuttles are already standing by." K'Eytyanna responded.

"Fair dinkum 'mate. Let's do it." Captain Price declared dismissing the Engineers from the meeting so they could go about their work.

"Awakenings" By:
Cadet- IV Rhys
Science Officer
U.S.S. Galaxy

Viara woke in her bed alone. Hali working in sickbay with Lieutenant Chen. She rose out of her warm bed and threw her night gown into a pile.

*Somethings never change.* Thought Viara with a smile. *7 life times and I'm still a slob.* Continued Viara as she started her shower.

*******A Few Minutes Later*******

Viara walked out of her quarters and headed to Astrometrics to meet with her new instructor, a Lieutenant Sullax.

Viara walked into Astrometrics and looked around. She noted the high frequency scan relays and large screen. Viara saw a man working on a conduit, hunched over as she proceeded to enter the lab.

"Excuse me Lieutenant, I'm Cadet Rhys. I'm supposed to train with you for my Astrometrics Competency Test. I was wondering if I could help out in some way?" Said Viara leaning against the main console.

USS Galaxy "Objects in Movent and Rest"
Written By Lt. Kahn Nilani
Chief Medical Officer

I walked out of the hospital and walked across the street, I remembered passing a hotel a couple of blocks down the street. I passed people laying in the streets, as I made my way to the hotel. As I saw the sign I climbed the stairs and entered the building, there was a large desk and a female sitting at it.

"Excuse me Ma'am, I would like a room for 4 people?"

["$5.00 a night plus $10.00 security deposit!"]

I realised right then that I didn't have any money but I still had a watch on me that I had been given as a present. I thought to my self as I handed the watch over that Lieutenant Commander was not going to be to happy.

"This is all I have!"

The lady took the watch and looked at it

["This must have cost you a fortune, for this watch you can stay here for as long as you need. Here let me show you to your room!"]

the lady walked out from behind the desk pulling a key off a rack, I followed her and started to climb a staircase. Only walking up to the 1st floor we stopped and headed down a corridor. We finally reached a room with the number 17C written on it, she placed the key in the lock and turned it. The door opened up and the lady handed me the key.

["If you have any problems please let me know!"]

"This is more than suitable, I appreciate this thank you."

The lady smiled and walked off, I walked further into the room. Checking things out when I remembered that I needed to get back to the hospital. I walked out of the room and locked the door, It was only a manner of seconds before I had left the building with the key in my pocket. I looked across the street and looked around for cars, there was none. I started to cross when a car came flying around the corner. As tried to dodge the car It's right front hand side hit my body, I hit the car with a thud and landed on the side of the road. I watched as the door to the hotel opened and the lady exited. She looked at me and ran to where I was laying. Blackness started to fill my vision as I fought to regain consiousness.

***** Hospital, 1 day later *****

I opened my eyes to see Cat, I looked down at my body. My hip area and my arm were in a cast my right leg was being held up by wires.

["Hey.... So did you find us a room?"]

I tried to laugh but it hurt I talked but it came out as a whisper.

"Yeah... the key is..... I'm not sure!"

Cat smiled and held it up

["What this one!"]

I looked and nodded

"Any word from the Captain?"

["No...... hey look get some rest once Q stops playing his games we will fix you up without a problem!"]

I looked at Cat and smiled, Cat turned and left my room.

Sunder scrolled through the list of missing crew-members and compared it to another list of returnees, looking for one specific name. He had no idea Flipping through both lists a fourth and fifth time didn't seem to help any, she still wasn't there.

Worry wrapped itself around Sunder's guts, twisting them inside and out. This was a new experience for him: he'd always accompanied Kengar or Harken or anyone else he cared about on away missions. He'd boarded Tholian freighters without worrying too much about their safety, because he was right there alongside them.

But Cat was still down on the planet, without him and he was powerless to to stop anything from happening to her. Being cooped up in his quarters on forced medical stay was no help either. A prescription of rest was useless. He felt fine - physically and otherwise, but medical regulations had forced his hand.

For all his efforts to get back to the GALAXY, now all he wanted to do was return to the planet! He needed to see the captain - find out what was being done to retrieve the missing members and see if there was anything he could do.

Dropping the PADDs on his bed he quickly dressed in his uniform and headed for the bridge.

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

A few officers looked up as Ursa walked on the bridge. The captain had shed his odd costume of leather and animal furs that he had brought up with him from the planet previously. It was strangely relieving to see him in his regular uniform.

" Captain. " Ursa began. " Jeorg. " He said, acknowledging his old classmate.

" Ursa. " Sterner replied, looking at Sunder curiously.

" Commander Sunder. Wotcher mate... thought you had agreed to take a spell of rest there for a bit? " The captain asked.

" Agreed wouldn't be the word for it, sir. " Sunder growled. " Cutting to the chase sir, I can have a security team ready to extract the missing personell as soon as you have their locations pinpointed. "

" Handy to know, Mr. Sunder, but I think that won't be necessary. "

" The captain has another, less forceful method of dealing with the Iotians, Ursa. " Sterner interjected. " Starfleet has done enough damage to this culture. We need to get our people out without doing any more. A security team doesn't fit into that criteria. "

The captain stood up from his chair.

" You'll have to excuse me now, mates. Mr. Mendenhall is waiting for me in the holodeck. I have a story to write, and I'm sure you all understand the imperativeness to write when the muse is upon you. "

Sunder's puzzled expression hid his concern for Cat on the surface. " Muse? Captain, I don't understand. "

" Why don't you tag along Mr. Sunder? Maybe we can find a use for you. "

The two men entered the turbo-lift together and headed down to the holodeck.

“The Shadows Of The Heart”
USS GALAXY
Lt. Commander Deiran Casey & Lt. Commander Casey Ti Miran

Deiran was surprised to see the Captain appear out of nowhere. No one enjoyed the big chair more than Casey, but if he had a choice between Command and the well being of his friends, he'd pick their well being every time. Casey wasn't as heartless and obnoxious as people believed. He just didn't let people see who he really was. He was a man of masks and theatre. He didn't apologize for his secretive nature.

He did let one person in. And she saw everything he was and knew everything he longed to be. Miran was his life. She was the one person Deiran allowed inside. And when she saw all that he was, she fell in love with the man and not the persona. Deiran really was a beautiful person when the masks were removed. Of course that fact would be heavily debated by some. But they had not seen Deiran's soul.

He had taken leave of the Bridge, moved his coffee cup out of the Captain's Ready Room, put the thoughts of engineering and shuttles out of his mind and headed back to his quarters. Miran walking with him, side by side.

“You look beautiful!” he complimented Miran.

She blushed and looked down, wringing her hands. Deiran took her chin in his hand and lifted it to meet his eyes.

"I mean it Miran, you are the most beautiful woman on this ship and don't let anyone ever tell you different."

The couple was standing in the TL, on their way to Deck 11. Both of them couldn't keep their eyes off the other. It was a short trip. And a few minutes later they were walking to Miran's quarters, she wanted to check on Lara. Deiran couldn't help but reach out for his wife's soft, delicate hand. Miran took his hand, and he intertwined his fingers in hers and continued down the corridor.

They were happy for the first time in months.

Miran felt the glow of his happiness and was comforted. She was so afraid to say the wrong thing and she would find it was all a dream, that she really was just in her quarters alone.

*** Ti Quarters ***

They walked inside Miran's tiny quarters. She walked to Lara's bed to check on her and noticed Lara was nowhere to be found.

“Deiran! Lara is gone!” Miran said, her voice tense with worry.

Deiran walked over to her. Put his arms around her waist, leaned his forehead against hers and smiled, “She's with Aunt D’tarna for a few hours. We're all alone.” Deiran flashed a cheeky smile. He pulled her closer to him. She laid her head against his chest. His arms held her close and expressed his love.

He then pulled her away, a gentle pull as he put his hand against her soft cheek and moved in to kiss her rose petal lips. Chills went through her at his touch. The couple melted in each other's arms. Their kiss was long, passionate. Everything Deiran felt deep in his heart he put into that kiss. His hands held her waist gently. Then he moved them to her soft cheeks, ran his hands through her hair. It was all slow, meditated and loving.

*** Holodeck three ***

Deiran and Miran walked inside the holodeck, the swoosh of the doors closing was heard behind them. Deiran ran a program he designed of a presidential suite he had seen on Risa. It was a huge room, elaborately decorated and set the right mood for the evening. The floors were white marble, the entire room was decorated with a modern 24th century décor. There was a large window which was open. It was dark outside, but waves crashing against the shore was distinct in the distance.

Deiran walked over to the holodeck archway, calling up a display he needed. He gave his command authorization codes. The door was locked. No one would interrupt.

He walked back to Miran, “Wait here,” he whispered. His heart was racing, he could feel it pounding like an earthquake against his chest.

He went to the replicator and replicated the things he'd need to decorate the bathroom. Miran watched but couldn't see what he had replicated.

“Stay right there honey, I'll be right back,” he told her and gave her a playful wink.

Deiran replicated fifty candles, enough lavender incense for more than three hours, pre-selected hours worth of 22nd Century soft jazz, perfumed body oil and lilac scented bubble bath. All the things Miran appreciated for a sensuous evening of pleasure. She had no idea what he was doing, at least that's what he thought.

The bathroom was large, in fact it was the size of a Captain's quarters on a Galaxy class vessel but laid out in a rectangle. It's motif was gold and white. The most prominent feature in the room was the expansive Jacuzzi tub. It was big enough for six people to comfortably fit inside. It was made for two.

Deiran lit each of the candles and placed them all over the bathroom. After the candles were lit and adorning the bathroom, he set the perfumed body oil next to the tub and started the incense machine. A minute later the room was filled with the soothing aroma of lavender. He ran water in the tub, making sure it was a comfortable temperature and poured the lilac bubble bath into the warm water. The room smelled wonderful. The bubbles were just right. He was ready.

“Computer begin playing the pre-selected jazz for this program,” Deiran told the computer.

Everything was set. ‘I hope she's ready for this.’ Deiran put his hands behind his back. On both hands he crossed his fingers, hoping against hope she would want to be with him tonight.

Deiran exited the bathroom, as he was walking he glanced at the bed. ‘Rose petals on the bed!’ He walked over to the bedroom replicator, “one quart bowl of rose petals, and one bouquet of white carnations.” Seconds later he was spreading the red rose petals all over the turned down bed. He laid the bouquet on her side of the bed. Everything was set.

Deiran turned around from facing the canopied bed and walked through the entryway into the living area. He was completely surprised when he returned to find Miran's slight hourglass figure in all its glory, clothes shed and thrown in a corner. She looked so erotic and beautiful. The only thing missing was her exquisitely long tresses settling against her back. But it didn't matter to him anymore. All he saw was the sexiest woman he had ever known and had the honor of loving.

Miran's breath became short. She was so afraid that he would no longer like what he saw, but that fear was short lived. Deiran approached her. Their lips met in a long moment of undeniable passion. Miran stopped and began removing Deiran's uniform. Minutes later, he too was without clothes.

They stood there for a moment, kissing and holding each other. They were comfortable with each other, the past was gone. Deiran picked Miran up into his arms and carried her to the bathroom.

"Please do not let this be a dream," Miran whispered. For the first time in what seemed to be ages, she felt safe and happy. Deiran really did love her. That last little bit of resentment and anger was forgotten. They were together.

“You're my dream,” Deiran lovingly whispered back.

Deiran lowered her into the water, the fragrance wafting up and tickling the senses. She smiled seductively at him. She had missed him, missed his hands gently caressing her body, his playful smile, everything about him and their love.

Deiran waited as Miran sat in the tub. She was so beautiful. Every movement was like poetry to him. Her soft skin felt like satin against his own skin. Her low sigh as the water, bubbles and scent enveloped her; flooded his ears with contentment. He gazed at her, almost in a trance. He was so in tune with her that he could hear her subtle breathing. He saw that she was comfortable and released her wrist and hand and followed her into the Jacuzzi.

He sat behind her and she sat in front of him. He wrapped his arms around her waist. “I have been dreaming of this moment.” He didn't say anything else. He just wanted her to know how important she was to him, how important their relationship was to him.

He retrieved the shampoo. “Miran, how do I get your hair wet?” he was blushing. He didn't want to dunk her in a romantic situation. His head was on her shoulder as he asked, he hadn't moved from his position, his arms held her tight.

Miran undid his embrace and slowly slid down until she disappeared under the bubbles. A few seconds later she popped up, bubbles covering her hair and face.

Deiran laughed and kissed her through the bubbles. He wanted her. But, he wasn't about to make this cheap. He wanted to express himself to her. Express his love to her the best he could.

He wiped the bubbles from her face, she smiled at him. He cupped some of the water and poured it over her hair. He then took the lilac shampoo in his hand and applied it to her hair. He rubbed the liquid in gently, letting his fingers massage her scalp. This was just the beginning. If he could get through washing the hair, he could move on to the rest of her body. He had it all planned. He smiled. She couldn't see his face. He stopped for a second and kissed Miran on the neck and then her left shoulder, then her right. He continued kissing her all the way down her back to where the bubbles began.

He was surprised to find that he actually liked this. It was strangely sensuous. He never would've guessed that washing her hair would be such a turn on. It was a few minutes of gentle rubbing and massaging, but it sent tingles up and down his body starting at his fingertips and cascading down to his toes. It was so good that he could be satisfied with just being close to her.

He cupped some water into his hands and gently let it fall onto her hair. He was careful to rinse thoroughly. Repeating the process until her hair was clean. He then returned to kissing her neck and back, resting his hands on her hips and stomach as he kissed her. He was determined to take foreplay to it's limit. The freedom he felt with her was unimaginable. In the past, he had always wondered if he married to quick, wasted his youth. That was so foolish. He knew now that Miran was his soul mate, his very soul. He needed, nor wanted, no one else but her. He wished to manifest to her on this night that amorous sincerity.

He took the fragrant soap, a clear liquid he had imported from Bajor. ‘I wonder if she notices this is Bajoran soap?’ he thought as he washed her back. Each touch, every motion was gentle and slow. He was teasing her, tantalizing her. He wasn't taking any chances she would fall out of the ‘mood.’

“Your back is all clean, my queen,” Deiran smiled. He moved to the other end of the Jacuzzi. Now he faced her. He started rubbing the liquid all over her feet. His hands were strong and firm, but he made sure he didn't move fast. He was hoping she knew that he was expressing his love with each move of his hand. He took great care in washing her legs and continued to her thighs. He didn't go all the way up. No, more tantalizing, more foreplay. He had to control himself.

As he continued, he would glance at her. Smiling at her. Whispering, ”I love you.” But mostly he showed her with every gesture and action. He finally was getting to the best parts. He took it slow, controlled his urges. But, he was enjoying this immensely. The closeness he felt with her was indescribable. He had never done this quite this way before. It was a new experience for both of them.

He took more of the cleansing liquid in his hand. And began applying it to her chest, then her stomach, her hips and down to her inner thighs. He didn’ t miss anything. But each movement was gentle, it wasn't full of lust, but true passion. This was his chance to show her his love in a very sensuous way.

He had washed her entire body. ‘Now will she wash me I wonder?’ He wasn't sure if she would or not.

Taking the sponge, Miran traced the muscles of his chest. She lifted his hand to her lips and kissed each finger tip as she washed down his arms. Her eyes rarely left his. She loved his eyes, they were so beautiful. She could see the passion, the love shining from them.

She washed his legs and finishing with his toes. Miran moved up ready to wash his hair. Smiling seductively, she wrapped her lithe legs around his chest. She kissed him again, passionately but kept it short. She started to rub in the soap, being careful not to let it get into his beautiful eyes. She gently rinsed the lather as he had done.

After they were finished, Deiran got out of the Jacuzzi bath and retrieved a towel to dry Miran off. He helped her out of the tub. One hand holding hers, his other hand holding her arm. The last thing he wanted was for either one of them to slip and end up in sickbay.

The bathroom was warm when they stepped out of the bath. But Deiran was looking forward to drying his wife off. He let the towel move gently across her skin, he could feel her body underneath the towel. The whole sensation was driving him crazy. ‘Hold on Deiran, remember to express, passion, all of your love. That is what's important.’ His thoughts steadied him, he was careful to make sure she was completely dry everywhere.

Miran could feel Deiran's body responding to her as she dried him off and took pleasure in it. She knew that he was hers for all eternity and their bond wouldn’t be broken by anything ever again.

Deiran picked up the body oil and led Miran to the bed. His heart was racing with each step.

She laid on the bed, giving him a seductive smile. She was good at playing with him and seducing him with just a look in her eye. It drove him wild. Both of them applied oil to their hands and rubbed each other. Every part of their body, the touch, the sensations were extraordinary. There was a newness to it all. They had fallen in love all over again.

Miran could feel the rose petals beneath her. “Those rose petals match your lips, have I ever told you how beautiful your lips are? So soft, sexy…” he didn't finish the rest, Miran silenced him with a kiss.

“Here lay back,” he asked her.

Deiran began to trace the outline of her body, his fingers just barely touching her alabaster skin, so soft to his touch. His fingers traced her forehead then her cheeks, he couldn't help himself and he kissed her again. But he quickly continued tracing her body with his hands, stealing a kiss in discrete places. From her shoulders to her breasts, her stomach and waist. Gentle strokes gliding across skin. Deiran's strong hands moved with grace along her body until he reached her toes.

Shivers raced through her body at his gentle caress. Her breath came in short pants as the desire reached its breaking point. Miran leaned up and guided Deiran on top of her. He could feel her body pulsating, her skin was like fire. She was whispering love to him, passion, she was sighing in pleasure.

Deiran wanted to express his undying love to her. It was the whole reason he orchestrated this night for them. To reassure her of his boundless devotion. Every single movement he made from the time he swept her up into his arms to this moment, was Deiran speaking to her with his heart, his soul. The real Deiran Casey, no masks, no acting. Just the real man.

Their lips were drawn together again. And as the kiss grew in intensity, their bodies melted into one being. They were one soul again. Not just in spirit, but in body and thought and every action. Two eternal lovers together again.

They took joy in pleasuring one another. They would take turns, doing all the things the other enjoyed.

Hours passed and they found themselves wrapped in each other's arms, settling down from their euphoric bliss. Their bodies were sensitive. Deiran could feel Miran’s hands against his chest. Just feeling her touch in this way gave him contentment. She was laying on her side and up against him and resting her head on his shoulder. They held each other, knowing that they would never let go again.

"The Big Chair"
Lt.JG T'Zaq

T'Zaq stood unobtrusively at the aft engineering station, keeping an eye on the system readouts as well as keeping her ears tuned for any interesting conversation on the bridge. There usually wasn't much to note - just routine reports of status on various projects.

"...The holodeck and a writer named Charles Dickens, Lieutenant'."

Her attention perked up a little bit. Here was something rather different! Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the captain turning to face her station.

"Lieutenant' T'Zaq, the bridge is yours 'mate. I'll be in holodeck number two preparing a special program for our gangland guests."

Furiously suppressing an excited grin, she merely stood up from her seat and glanced sideways at the captain, raising an eyebrow. "You intend to program a holodeck simulation to show the Iotians what can happen if they do not change their ways?"

The General nodded, "That's correct Lieutenant'. I didn't realize Dickens was common reading on Vulcan."

"It is not sir. I just like to keep myself well read on all topics including Terran folklore."

"Fair dinkum 'mate. At any rate, I doubt the Iotians have seen holodeck technology before. It should make it fairly easy to convince them that they are having an 'out of body' experience." Lee elaborated.

"The ghost of Christmas future, Captain?" T'Zaq said dryly, pausing at the command chair.

"That's the spirit Lieutenant'. With a bit of luck and some clever holo-programming on our part, we may be able to convince the Iotians that nuclear annihilation is not the way their society should evolve." Lee explained.

"You do realize sir that this sort of action is a clear violation of the prime directive?" T'Zaq pointed out. Of course, given the situation she would have chosen a similar course of action without hesitation, but Starfleet protocol did require mention of the Prime Directive to be made.

"Aye. But it seems in this case, if we do not act, the Iotians will use the technology they obtained from the Federation's earlier mistakes to destroy themselves. Since they couldn't possibly do that had we not interfered, it seems only right that we should interfere again to prevent them from destroying themselves and try to set them back on the right track and a productive government system 'mate."

"I hope that Starfleet Command agrees with your analysis, Captain."

Lee nodded, "As do I Lieutenant'. The Bridge is yours 'mate. Hail me if anything major pops up."

"Will do Captain." T'Zaq answered, watching the Captain exit the bridge before returning her attention to the forward view screen and sitting in the Captain's chair. "Status report Ensign Elaithin." She straightened her uniform and leaned back in the chair comfortably. She'd always wanted to say that.

The hours passed quickly, with few interruptions in the normal pattern. T'Zaq sincerely hoped she was doing a good job. It was an honor to be chosen to sit in the center seat, even if it was only for a little while and during the late shift. As the chronometer above the viewscreen passed the zero-hour mark, everyone on the bridge was silent for a few minutes. It was officially Christmas now...

Although it still remained to be seen whether the holiday would bring the glad tidings that the Iotian society had undergone a change of heart, the overall feeling on the bridge seemed to be optimistic. T'Zaq shifted comfortably in the chair; whatever others might think, she felt that she had been given the best gift of all.

=/\=
Lt.JG T'Zaq, Engineer USS Galaxy

=/\= "Ducky Boys" =/\=
by Lt Matthew Albrecht

**** Mid morning, Christmas Eve ****

The long placard hanging above the platform read, among other things, "New Chicago General Hospital: A Train." Matthew had followed the advice of a passably polite man on the city street above, and walked down a flight of stairs into a cavernous underground train station of sorts. The signs proclaimed it to be a 'Subway.' The terminal was brightly lit and sparsely decorated--its primary distinction was a large quantity of lime-colored ceramic tile. Graffiti adorned the tile walls, and various odors fought for his attention against advertisements for cigarettes and firearms posted on every large, square column that held up the enormous ceiling. Wrinkling his nose, Matthew walked across the deck, his footsteps echoing, to reach the A Train gate. On the other side of the turnstiles, a passenger train arrived, disgorging a large number of people onto the painted concrete surface. *This must be my train to the hospital,* he surmised.

Out of a door near the end of the subway train, a gaggle of young men piled out, laughing and making excited hooting noises. The group all dressed similarly, in black leather, white shirts and blue workpants, with slicked- back hair with a short tail at the neck. One of them held a small flower- patterned bag on a strap. They treated the bag as a trophy or prize, and it didn't take long for Matthew to realize the nature of the situation. Almost as he became aware of them, one of them spotted him. The young punk who first spotted the Starfleet lieutenant nudged a friend, and both of them calmed down immediately. Soon enough the entire gang was solemn and staring at Matthew appraisingly. The one with the purse tossed it to a smaller leather-clad punk, and slapped his palms together. The septet of hoodlums began walking towards the security officer. All the other debarking passengers from the train were fast abandoning the subway station, leaving the pinstriped man alone thirty feet from the advancing thugs.

Realizing his train was leaving and wishing to avoid unnecessary physical combat while separated from his comrades, Matthew hopped over the nearest turnstile and slipped onto the waiting train only a moment before a chime signalled the closing of the doors. He was in a compartment near the front of the train, nearly empty with only two other passengers; an old man with sharp wrinkles and a cane, and a middle-aged working woman seated on a bench with several shopping bags. He clung to a strap from the ceiling, and looked around more carefully. He thought, *Could I have retrieved that stolen purse from those gangsters? They looked awfully young to be in organized crime...*

The train came out of a curve onto a straight length of track, and Matthew was finally able to see through the glass panels between train compartments. He wasn't terribly surprised to see through the window that the seven greasy- haired toughs had gotten aboard the train as well, and were heading forward on the train to find him. The leader came through the compartment's door first, followed by the rest of the group who filled up the entire width of the car, with eager expressions on their faces.

The sneering, black-haired leader snarled, "Allright, Cantinii, you picked a bad time to come into our world alone. But you have a small chance of leavin' alive if you say the magic words," he offered insincerely. When he spoke he tilted his head forward and looked at Matthew from under his heavy brow. His right hand was tucked away in his coat pocket, as were one hand of each of his followers. The other punks leaned and hung around their alpha-type in exaggeratedly casual poses; one of them was actually draped across several seats with his head perched upon one hand as if lounging in the sun on Risa.

"I'm afraid I don't know what you are talking about, fella," answered Matthew in a poor imitation of local speach. He deliberately kept his hand away from his not-particularly concealed pistol. "I don't know you and you don't know me. Why don't we forget this ever happened," he suggested while employing some of the tone that cowed the police officer earlier that same morning.

This apparently angered the working-class gangster. "YOU don't know ME? Oh, that's boss! This is OUR territory, you Cantinii piece of S%$t," spat the hoodlum. Then, he withdrew his concealed hand and it gripped a small device. He altered his grip, and a shiny, narrow blade popped out from the tip of it with a 'snik' sound. "Dino," he said. "Why don't you give this mobster an introduction to our club?"

The shorter youth to his right moved forward and grinned angrily at Matthew. He gestured around himself, "We are the Ducky Boys. This is our neighborhood, and this is our train. We take what we want, and we DON'T like mobsters. This is our leader, Lucky, and he doesn't like mobsters more than any of us does. Any questions?" Dino emphasized his point by taking a cigarrette from behind his ear and putting it into his mouth, though he didn't light it. 'Snik' sounds from five other knives reinforced the 'Ducky Boy's' points.

Matthew's right hand slipped into his coat reflexively, while he looked around himself to take in the tactical details. Two innocents were nearby, even now at risk from the dangerous hoods. His mind raced to find a potential non- violent solution to the problem, but none came immediately to mind. Meanwhile, his hand in coat action had not escaped the attention of the Duckies. The whole pack moved forward, and one particularly fast punk was at the side of the old man before Matthew could get there--though he tried.

"Mister Pinstripe!" spat Lucky. "You weren't moving over there to PROTECT that old fart, were you?" The gang was eyeing Matthew suspiciously. "Puccelli, give the old man a little cut, okay? We're gonna see what kind of mobster this one is."

The skinny hood swung his blade closer to the old man, and Matthew replied, "Do it, and you're losing the top of your head, punk!" The starfleet officer had his pistol out and leveled in a two-handed grip three feet from Puccelli's head. The blade stopped inches from the elderly person's neck. "What's your name, old man?" he asked. The old man's name was Vernon, and Albrecht grabbed one of Vernon's arms and tried to help him slide away from the blade while he held Pucelli at bay.

Lucky wasn't going to let him off that easy. "Hold on their Pinstripe!!" he hollered. Matthew turned his head for a quick look, and found Lucky had a knife to the throat of the middle-aged woman with the groceries. The security officer stood between them, unable to cover them both at once, and fear struck him like a brick. He had one weapon, against seven punks with knives and hostages.

The one named Dino moved up to Matthew Albrecht with his hand extended. Lucky spoke from behind, "Hand over the heat, and we'll let them off at the next stop. But you stay with us. Got it, 'daddy-o'?"

What else could he do?

Lt Matthew Albrecht
Security Officer
USS Galaxy NCC-70637

***** Back to where I belong. *****
By Dr. Felicia Khatroweena, Lieutenant (Assistant Chief Medical Officer),
USS Galaxy NCC-70637

***** Astrid’s IC Room *****

Cat sat and watched Astrid’s condition. She was ok, her condition wasn’t deteriorating, but it still wasn’t as good as Cat would’ve liked. She cursed Q for not letting at least one First Kit be transported with them. A simple thing as a laser scalpel and a dermal regenerator would have made her feel a lot happier. Nilani was resting in another bed, she was sleeping soundly.

Geoffry Harper had already come and looked in on Astrid, he was just as concerned as Cat to Astrid’s condition. All she could do was sit and watch, infuriating her to her helplessness.

Suddenly a tingle ran through her body and before her brain could interpret the sensation, the hospital room scene changed to one of the Galaxy’s Transporter Rooms.

Cat looked around, the import of the situation slow percolating through her neurons. “Reeeeow,” suddenly she realised she was back on the Galaxy and her excitement made her lose her control on her accent. She looked around and rushed over to the Transporter Chief. “Chief, cawl sssickbay. Weee haaave ay eemerrrrgencee. I want it prrreparrred forrrr ay lung and harrt woend. Sennd meee baaack dowwwn nowwww. Yuuse meee ays the tarrrget. Too moore too beeem uppp.”

It took a few seconds for him to translate the words mixed with the growls and purrs. “Yes doctor, as soon as you’re down, I’ll contact Sickbay. I’ll transport you directly to Sickbay on the return.” He returned to his console and began adjusting the controls. Cat rushed back to the pad and waited impatiently for the beam out.

Soon the scene changed again, the familiar hospital room was around her. Cat rushed to Nilani and woke her, "The Galaxcee is back, weee willl be home soon."

Cat started rushing around, removing needles and probes from Astrid in preparation of the beam out. Moving around, shutting down the monitors, the door opened as Geoffry walked in.

“What are you doing? She needs...” began Geoffry as he moved over the stop Cat.

“Nooo, the Galaxcee isss baaack. Preeeparing herrr for trrransporrt.” Cat quickly blurted out.

The familiar tingle ran through her body again and soon she and Astrid were in the Galaxy’s Sickbay. The nurses and other staff moved Astrid to the main bio-bed. Some were using the hypos to inject the necessary drugs in to Astrid to make sure of her recovery. Cat wasn’t sure, one hundred percent sure of the success of their emergency care on the surface. She wasn’t going to allow anything to go wrong. She studied scans and computer screens to fully check out Astrid’s condition. Nilani was transferred to one of the other beds. She was annoyed being stuck with her casts.

Cat was too busy to notice that four had been transported to the Sickbay. Dr Geoffry Harper looked at the medical wonders of the 25th Century. He stood back, staying out of people’s way. A dream finally had come true; he was on a starship. A ship much like his parents had arrived on when they came to Sigma Iotia.

"Making New Memories"
by Lt. Thomas

Lt. Thomas walked through the ship's arboretum, he needed the break. His mind was running in a thousand different directions as he consider the possibilities. Q was granting Christmas wishes, could it be that easy to just ask for Gwyen to be returned to his life, whole. He was trying to find answers, where the laws that humans understood where not applicable to them. At least that was the understanding that were currently prevalent, by Starfleet's encounters with the entity known as Q.

He was facing some very difficult choices, but he that if he spent enough time working though the complicated possibilities, he just might come up with an answer. He knew that it would take him time really come up with a solution about what to do. Where Q was concerned, he knew the being wouldn't just give up so easily. The one factor that had town everything off, was the ghostly appearance of Gwyen. He wasn't sure why, but he suspected it had to do with the fact he could see her. Which meant a lot, he wasn't crazy she did exist in some form or fashion. That was the next question that came to mind was what was Gwyen then, could she be another Q or Q-like being that was lonely or perhaps playing a joke on him.

One thing he knew for sure, Q wasn't behind Gwyen's appearance in his life. Which answered one question, but still left many to be answered.

Chris walked around the room, thinking mulling over calculations, but how could you possibly take into account all of the possible random occurrences. He just couldn't take into account of the potential problems that could arise from making a decision. His heart was telling him to through logic to the wind and go with what he missed and need, love. How could he just toss logic, the very nature by which his mentor has based his training on to the wind. No he had to find a balance, between his heart and logic.

He walked around in daze for several more minutes, before deciding that the arboretum wasn't were he was going to find the answers he was seeking.

* Quarters *

Chris entered his quarters, they were empty and lonely as usual, nothing had changed. Which meant Q hadn't tired something yet, but that didn't mean he couldn't try something to annoy him. Q loved playing jokes and announcing people, while from a distance what he did was funny. Being the subject of his attention even for a short span was dangerous.

The best he could do right now, was to try and put everything he'd been working aside and just relax. He'd spent to much to going over this problem and it was just driving him nuts. He need to relax, but first he decided to grab a quick bite to eat.

** Later **

Chris entered to take a sonic shower, he was just plain worn down by everything that had happened in the past few days. He wasn't sure anymore about anything in his life, the only two things that he was sure about, was how much he missed his wife Gwyen and how lonely he was in life. It was the first time since her death that he felt so lost and alone in life.

He activated the sonic shower, he hoped that a good shower would help relieve some of his tension. Just as the shower came alive, he felt something touch his back. He quickly turned his head to see who or what had touched his back, to his surprise it was none other than Gwyen. She almost seemed to appear when he was at his most weakest. He wasn't sure why this occurred, but it did and this time he'd been prepared. The room had been configured to monitor for unusual sensor readings. He'd also setup a tricorder to scan his quarters at regular intervals.

"Gwyen" Chris said, happily. Though he was reluctant to allow to much emotion to show. He was more curious about who this person was now, then every. He truly wanted, needed to believe that the person behind him was his wife Gwyen. There were however some questions, concerns that been recently revived.

"Yes Dear it's me." Gwyen said, with a small cute smile.

Chris realized why she was smiling, he'd been alone for so long that he forget where they were. They were both standing in the sonic shower, nude. He knew he shouldn't be concerned, but for some odd reason he was and that wasn't logical.

Chris finished his shower.

They both exited the shower and entered the bedroom. Chris changed into some nice relaxing clothes, but could only help but look around. "I think I am going to need something to wear." Gwyen stated the obvious.

This was a puzzling turn of events, every time she'd appeared she'd always been able to exit the shower and have clothes on. Now it was completely different, but why, what had changed. Perhaps she'd become more human with each passing visit to him. Which wouldn't be completely out of the ordinary.

"Yes of course, the computer can replicate some clothes for you, dear." Chris said, walking over to the replicator.

"Thank you dear, now if you'll excuse me I would like to change."

"Sure." Chris said, exiting the bedroom. He needed to think about things and a different room would work. While she was in there, he'd check the sensor and tricorder readings to see if they'd come up with anything to explain her presence.

He studying the readings closely and double checked them more than once, because they came back identifying her as being human. He just couldn't believe that the sensor readings were right, but then he'd double checked them against other readings. She was very much real and alive, as she was when he last saw her alive. Which brought up a very good question, was Q behind and if so why.

He would have to wait and see, what happened next. He very much wanted to believe that his Gwyen in the bedroom getting dressed, but he couldn't, not yet anyway.

Christopher Patton

'Shuttle Exodus'
By Lieutenant jg Aaron Sharp

Aaron looked around the vast expanse that was Shuttle Bay One. Everything was going very well indeed. Crewmen scuttled everywhere bringing as many shuttles to operational readiness as possible. It was time to inform the Captain. Aaron tapped his communicator.

"Lieutenant' Sharp to Captain Price." He stated clearly.

=/\= Price here, mate. Go ahead.=/\=

"Sir, I have an update on the shuttle craft status. We currently have 13 shuttles at a launch readiness of five minutes. That includes 4 shuttle pods, 3 type 6 personnel shuttle, 3 type 7 personnel shuttle, 2 type 9 cargo shuttle and 1 runabout. We can have another four shuttles ready in 3 hours, and the last 7 shuttles ready in 8 hours. That doesn't include the Sphinx workpods or the Captains Yacht. All are crewed with two and three man teams with at least one crewman with EVA certification. Sir, we're ready to go on your order. You just have to give the word." He waited for the Captain's reply.

Lieutenant jg Aaron Sharp
Helmsman, USS Galaxy

"Jiggity Jig Again"
by Lt. Cmdr. Ronni Morris
Asst. Chief Science Officer, USS Galaxy

With a couple of key strokes, Ronni had sent Greer's coordinates to the Transporter Chief along with instructions not to beam him up unless his life signs were in distress. As soon as he was alone within an hour after her shift, he was to be beamed aboard. She wanted the Chief to wait until Ronni was done with her shift and she had a chance to arrange things.

At the end of her shift, Ronni rushed down to Greer's quarters. She quickly worked and set up her plan. Within 30 minutes, she had his quarters draped in orange, rust, and brown colored fabric with a Vulcan theme. Vulcan Lyre music filled the room. She set candles and incense around the room and set out a meal of Vulcan T'ubra root, Chakt filets ( a Vulcan lizard that is toxic if not prepared correctly, but very tasty. Replicated here, but tasty), and a rather rare selection of Botin bread.

The Transporter Chief indicated that Greer was on board and was headed for his quarters. Ronni quickly replicated an Orion Veil dress, changed into it, and laid out on the couch in front of the door. When the door opened, a very weary Greer came in. Fortunately, the fatigue seemed to lift when he saw the room and Ronni.

"Hello lover! Hard day at work?"

Hostage No More
Chief Counselor Dallas

Get in and be quiet." Said Michael in a harsh whisper. "I don't want any trouble, you understand me? Just do what I've asked and nobody gets hurt." Karyn and Leslie quickly complied, not wanting to anger him further. From the very beginning, Karyn knew Michael didn't really want to be doing this. He kept looking over his shoulder as if someone was watching his every move. Karyn and Leslie were sitting on two small beds, each with a tattered pillow and blanket. Broken furniture lie all around the room. In the center, there was a small table and chairs that looked as though it had seen better days. On the table there was what appeared to be leftover food. Someone, presumably Mr. Charming terrorist, lived here. Despite the coolness of the room, sweat was pouring off the young man's forehead. It was clear this guy had really no idea what he was doing. He was pacing back and forth, seemingly contemplating his next move, although never letting his gun waver. The situation was almost comical. Here they were the "victims" acting completely composed when their captor was acting like a child about to get caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Both women watched him pace for a few moments and then Karyn said with as much sarcasm as she could muster,

"Look, if you wanted us here so we could watch you pace, we could have just stayed at the warehouse. We don't have time to sit around waiting for you to decide what the hell you want to do with us. If you're going to do something, be a man and do it." Leslie gave Karyn a look that showed pure surprise. What was she trying to do, get them both killed? Karyn saw the look and quickly mouthed the words Trust me. Michael was stalling for time. It was clear he had no intention of shooting them, he needed them for something.

"Just who do you think you're dealing with, huh lady? I've killed dozens of people for looking at me funny so don't think I'm going to sit here and take crap from you. You're just as expendable as the rest. You come here, preaching morality to us, appalled at all the violence in our primitive culture, and yet we're in charge of our own lives and you're being led by your noses."

It was easy to see how angry Michael was. It was also easy to see the pain and hurt in his eyes. Karyn could understand what he was going through. At the Academy, she had studied all about the gangs of 20th century earth. Gangs served as families to those who didn't have role models in their home lives. Some were fleeing from abuse and others were looking for love and acceptance. Unfortunately many didn't realize what they were getting into until it was too late. By the time he had finished his outburst, he had ended up seated on the bed across from Karyn, his head in his hands.

Seeing this made Karyn's heart soften a little more. He really wasn't much younger than herself. When he looked at her next, his expression was one of sorrow. Softly, she replied "Do you think you're in charge of your own life? Is this what you want?" The look on Michael's face said it all.

"There are people who can help you. You can take charge of your own life and stop being bullied." This from Leslie who up until this point hadn't said too much to her captor. In some respects she envied her fellow counselor because she appeared calm and collected. Karyn, on the other hand, had had just about enough of this little adventure. The uncertainty and helplessness she felt was beginning to wear on her last nerve. "You broads don't know nothin about my problems or what I want to do with my life. I suggest you keep yourselves quiet before you regret ever opening your m-"

Suddenly the door whooshed open and in stepped a short sleazy looking man in a cheap suit. Gold chains hung around his neck. He appeared too puny to be a thug like Michael but from the looks of him, he seemed to be quite a con man. "Hey Michael, he said in a high pitched whine, "Mr. Johnson's been lookin all over for you. He seems real mad."

Michael cursed under his breath. This was definitely not his day. Promising himself they would all get what they deserved in the end, Michael set out to find his boss but before leaving he advised, "Ronnie, you do anything to screw this up and I promise I'll cut out your tongue."

The man known as Ronnie gave an innocent shrug. "I want out of the miserable SOB's control as much as you do." Michael slowly nodded and left to see what his tormentor wanted. The minute the door closed Karyn and Leslie both knew they were in trouble. Ronnie sauntered up to both beds, licking his lips and leering at the women.

"Well..well..well, he drawled,"what have we got here?" He sat next to Karyn and put his arm around her shoulder. He had begun stroking her cheek as his grip tightened around her. She tried to pull it off, but his hold was much too strong. He began to stroke her thigh but didn't see Leslie approach from behind and sink her teeth into the young man's arm. Karyn used his surprise to elbow him in the chest, knocking him backwards. This was the last straw. She was tired of these games. With a large clump of Ronnie's hair in her grip, she said,

"Look you Ferengi wanna be, I'm cranky, cold and hungry. You try that again and you'll find more than just a clump of your hair has been removed. Now let go before I- Before she knew it a tingling sensation overcame her as the room began to disappear. The last thing she saw was the surprise on the sleazy man's face as she disappeared before his eyes. She took special pleasure in seeing his expression.

When she reappeared, she was in the transporter room of the Galaxy. The chief gave a sigh of relief as she reported that she had recovered both officers. Then she noticed the small clump of hair in Karyn's hand. Karyn simply shrugged and replied, "I got a little stressed." The transporter chief just nodded as if nothing could surprise her anymore. Karyn, back in her chair, didn't waste any time. "You go ahead and get changed Leslie. I'll see you in a little bit. I'm going to head to the bridge and find out what's going on."

With that Karyn headed to the TL. "No rest for the weary....

"A nick of time"
by Lieutenant Commander Greer Erikson,
Chief Science Officer - USS Galaxy
additions by Captain Price

It was in the late evening by the time Erikson walked out of the main entrance of KWD Broadcasting Incorporated and the only place where he knew he would be most likely to reach his fellow officers was the abandoned warehouse. Although it did not resemble the accommodation on board a Galaxy-class starship it was at least warm. During the rest of the day there had been no indication from the Galaxy that they had received the last message about using the museum coordinates. Infact there had been, according to the meteorological department, some atmospheric disturbances which may have explained the delay.

It had stopped snowing for the last few hours but the air was still chilly at that time of the night. Reaching the corner of Lincoln and Third the distant sound of footfalls scattered behind him, only to be followed by the sounds of doors slamming shut. Erikson turned around to see if there was anyone further down the road but could not see clearly enough to be sure. Facing the direction of the warehouse he continued to walk, only to hear the sounds of a combustion-driven engine of an automobile start. Growing a little suspicious of the timing of these events he began to increase the pace of his stride but the sound of the vehicle began to grow louder.

Convinced that this was not some random even, Erikson stopped and turned around again, only to see a vehicle speeding towards him at a dangerous speed and forcing him in to a nearby alley. The automobile stopped and a small group of men emanated from the car as the headlights shone directly on the trapped Human. Three of the men walked slowly towards Greer who was backed in to a brick wall. As he reached the wall one of them slowly removing a sidearm from under his jacket.

"I am sorry gentlemen but I think you have the wrong man." he said, trying to maintain some control over the situation. It had been his understanding that the people of this planet simply thought he was employed by a television company in New Chicago. "I was returning home from work and have little wealth on me."

One of the men lifted his hat up a little so he could look at the man they had cornered in a dark New Chicago alley. Looking at Greer he tapped the tip of the hat again so it cast a shadow on his eyes. "I don't think so mister. You're the one we were looking for and if you don't give us what we need . . . well you better just give us what we need."

Greer looked either side of him to see whether or not there was even the slightest chance of making a run for it if the situation arose. "And what would that be?"

"You have access to the building and we want in."

Greer though for a few moments as he tried to understand their interest with the broadcasting station. To him it was his only means of contacting the ship. As he considered several possibilities he also remembered the fate of the last assistant employed by Charlie Maccinato and wondered whether or not the men in front of him were the cause. "I don't have access . . ."

Before he could complete his sentence his field of view began to shimmer with a blue matter stream. The three gangsters who had cornered Erikson in the alley became frightened as their 'captive' began to disappear in the blue field. Dropping their weapons and abandoning their automobile, they ran as fast as they could.

Within a few moments the Chief Science Officer rematerialized on the transporter pad of Transporter Room Three. A little bewildered, 'Commander Erikson looked around the familiar scene and tried to work out how the USS Galaxy had managed to locate him on the planet surface.

["Morris to McNally. Do you have him?"] the sound of Lieutenant Commander Morris' voice said over the ship's communication system. Greer, still a little confused, looked at the transporter chief gave him a nod of gratitude.

Chief McNally smiled as he tapped his comm badge. "Yes ma'am. Lieutenant Commander Erikson is on board."

["Great job Chief."]

"Just doing my job 'Commander. McNally out." he said as he adjusted some controls on the transporter console.

*****

". . . and so we used a DNA sample from a strand of hair I found in my quarters." Ronni said as she sat on the couch and watched Greer get something to drink. "Since the ship's sensors are incapable of distinguishing between Human and Iotian life signs, it was the only way I was able to manage a transporter lock."

Taking a sip of his macchiato he took a moment to smell the aroma produced by the synthesized caffeine. Walking over near Ronni, he joined her on the couch as the two of them looked out of the observation windows. "I guess the DNA patterns stored in the transporter records and medical scans wouldn't be accurate enough since in many cases the individual had aged during that time, making the DNA patterns slightly inaccurate enough for the sensors to have trouble distinguishing specific life forms."

"Exactly. Since the follicular sample I used could only have been a day or two old, it was likely that it would give enough current information to use for a sensor lock."

"Sometimes I don't know how you think of these things Ronni," he said as he took her hand in his, "but I'm glad you do." he added with a smile.

"Well if you feel like making it up to me you could get around to doing that holomessage for my parents." she suggested with a devilish smile as she leaned against his shoulder.

Greer quickly turned to her and gave the Delphinian an incredulous glance. "I don't believe you Ronni. I only got back and you're already starting about that damn message again." Ronni's seized up a little as the pair of them sat there silently. "If it means that much to you," he finally said as he turned to her again, "well . . . I will do the holomessage to your parents since it means that much to you."

Ronni leaned over and kissed him. "You're a sweety." she said in a teasing way, knowing he did not like being referred to as 'sweet' or any other overly affectionate term.

As the two of them began to get a little more comfortable, the door chime to Greer's quarters sounded. "Come." he said as he and Ronni continued to simply sit there.

"Good to see you could join us 'Commander." the sound of Captain Price's voice said from the entrance to his quarters.

The two Lieutenant Commanders looked and immediately got up from the couch as their commanding officer walked in. "Not exactly regulation uniform is it 'mate?" he said as he looked at the Chief Science Officer, still clad in the suit he had been wearing planet side.

Greer looked down at himself before he looked back at Price. "Aye sir. It seems that 'Commander Morris here got me out in the nick of time but I can explain that later if you're interested sir."

"Understood 'mate." Lee smiled. Clearing his throat momentarily while Ronni pulled at the frock she was wearing for Greer's benefit no doubt, the Captain turned to his side looking directly at Erikson. "I was hoping after you've had a chance to clean up, if you could lend Lieutenant' Mendenhall and I a hand down in holodeck two?"

"I'd be happy to sir. What are you working on there if I might ask?" Greer inquired.

"Something I think you should find interesting. We are reprogramming 'A Christmas Carol' with a few modifications of our own that will hopefully teach the Ioshans a lesson." Lee grinned.

"I see. The old ghost of Christmas future trick." Greer smiled.

Lee rocked his head slightly back and forth, "Why does everyone keep saying that? At any rate, holodeck two when your ready 'Commander. G'day." the Captain said to both Ronni and Greer before turning to leave Erikson's quarters.