USS Galaxy Sim Log Stardate: 50104.15

Peterson reached his quarters fifteen minutes after leaving the Bajoran science officer, Lieutenant Ty, in Stellar Cartography. The Human had found their conversation interesting, to say the least, and left him with something to think about. Since it's discovery he had never really occurred to him how special the Bajoran wormhole was to the people on the planet below. As he put away the PADD he had taken from Stellar Cartography, his thought about something closer to him. Perhaps it was the same to visitors on Earth when they saw the statue of Zephram Cochrane in Montana. To those people without any concept of who he was, or what he did, it was just another statue gracing the landscape. To the Humans and Vulcans, however, it was the site of First Contact.

The chief science officer stopped in front of his quarters and pressed the small button panel to his right. The doors opened with a 'swish' and he took several steps in to his darkened living area. Only the light reflected from Bajor seemed to penetrate through the observations on the far side of the room.

"Lights," he called as he passed through the opened doors and placed the PADD he had brought from Stellar Cartography on his desk. The computer complied and his quarters were lit almost immediately.

Taking several steps away he stopped by the replicator wall unit. "Vulcan mocha, hot." Once again the computer systems replied and within moments the area around the replicator had the strong smell of the Vulcan coffee beverage. Peterson moved back to his desk and activated the terminal. Sitting down he placed his coffee to one side and began the rapid process of transferring information from the display device to his workstation.

Taking a deep breath the lieutenant commander began going through the departmental records yet another time. It had been the third time since he had gone through them since finding out that he had been accepted as chief science officer on the Galaxy-class vessel. The first was to familiarize him with the staff and reports, as to make certain he did not jump in to the position without having some idea of what was going on. The second time was to bring him up to speed, extending the reports to empirical work being conducted by the various science officers. And now, thirdly, he was trying to find a suitable candidate for the position of assistant chief science officer.

Although he had a dim view of Commander Chris Thomas, the first officer had issued a direct order to have someone to assume that position within the next few days. 'By missions end' was the actual terminology, but everything Peterson had heard during his time on the Bridge didn't indicate exactly how long that would be. After all, diplomats could take several hours to several years to discuss, resolve, and bargain. It was better to be prepared rather than have another argument with the second in charge.

"Computer, musical selection Peterson-three-alpha," the native of Colorado said as he leaned back in to his chair. Within moments his quarters were filled with the mellow tones of Andorian blues.

As Kent listened to the music he began going through the various records. There were your standard Starfleet records, personality profiles from Starfleet Academy and the latest by Counselor Dallas and her capable staff, departmental evaluations by former Chief Science Officer Sullax, remarks made by Captain Price and Commander Thomas on particular officers conduct - the list went on.

Slightly distracted the chief science officer glanced over at the bag containing his hockey gear and the alloy stick leaning against the wall. He often found that many of his most inspired moments were skating around the ice, generally just having a good old fashioned shoot out, but there was no chance of that any more. With Holodeck Three out of action in the interim, there was no way he could get a reservation on the remaining Holodecks with the demands placed by his fellow crewmembers.

As his mind slowly drifted back to the task at hand he did began to get the semblance of an idea. It was not particularly original, having worked in that structure on the Enteprise-D, but it seemed to be the best possible option.

One thing that seemed to trouble the chief science officer was the lack of experienced officers under his command. It was not meant as a slur on their abilities since all were exception scientists, they'd have to be to have received a position on the Starship Galaxy, but so few had even been on an away mission in their entire Starfleet career. Perhaps it was a sign of the times, maybe it was a problem with the way in which the science departments they had functioned under were organized, perhaps it was because they did not make the effort to stand out - there was no way to be sure. There was one thing that Peterson valued above many things and that was teamwork. At least by reorganizing the department he could get the scientist on this ship to work more together as a team.

It was a problem that seemed to be unique to the science department. Unlike security or operations, the scientists on the ship were much more heavily specialized. Security seemed from an outsiders point of view to have a fairly generalized melding of officers with their own specializations, however, how much did one person need to know about operating a type-II or type-III phaser device? Operations on the other hand required officers to have too much general knowledge about many systems and fields. To the outsider it appeared as though they did not require a high level of specialization. Of course, Peterson, having served as operations manager on the Yeager, knew it to be so. Although he came from science background, the position required him to have a general idea of engineering and weapon systems without really needing to know them in any great detail.

Science on the other hand required officers to have anywhere from one to several specializations, usually within the same area of knowledge. Someone with a specialization in exobiology may have a general knowledge or understanding of subspace morphology, but unless they were specialized in that position too, their expertise were not as great. After all, you needed to have more than just a few equations or principles to remember. The only department that came close to this level of diversity was the medical department. Obviously a cardiovascular specialist had a better understand of the cardiovascular system then a neurosurgeon, although they would have a basic understanding of many of the same principles.

The other benefit of instituting this new structure to the department would to give all science officers a better chance to get experience. At present the current system really limited that to the chief science officer and an assistant chief science officer. Whilst that works well in less specialized departments, sometimes the most experience officer for a mission is someone floating around in the background. It was this that Peterson felt would help make the science department more efficient in providing him and the other senior staff with more expert information.

Kent tapped a button on the button of the terminal to switch it off. The way the computer was cycling through the names of the science officers was beginning to distract him as he formulated a way to approach the whole restructuring idea. First he needed to organize a feasibility study for Commander Thomas and Captain Price. Hopefully he could access the starship records left over from the USS Enterprise-D and any other ships in the Fleet, which had used the structure he was going to suggest. The second was to go through the list of available science officers and begin working out a list of potential sub-department heads.

After that had been done there was the matter of discussing the situation with the science department as a whole. Obviously they had already been through enough chances with his arrival several weeks earlier. He definitely wanted to know what they thought before implementing such a big change. After all, it would affect every single one of them.

"Computer," Peterson said as he leaned forward and tapped the terminal button once again, this time turning it back on, "search through the personnel records of the USS Galaxy science department. Show officers listed by primary and secondary specialization."

The computer beeped and whaled several times as it compiled the list that the lieutenant commander had requested. Reaching over the man picked up his mug of coffee and raised it to his mouth to drink.

["Analysis complete,"] the female voice of the Galaxy's computer said as it displayed the list on the screen, as requested.

Kent began cycling through the list of names. At first glance the list did not seem to really solve any problems, just making sure that he had more people to select for various positions, but he saw the bigger picture. On one hand he is able to present Commander Thomas with a report before the due date, and on the other, he was able to fix a few problems he saw in the science department. It was an amicable marriage between these two issues that had presented themselves over the last week.

"Computer, where is the first officer?" the scientist asked. Although it was late in the evening he was not sure if Thomas was still awake, let alone in a position where he could be disturbed.

"Peterson to Commander Thomas," Kent said as he reached across his chest and tapped his communicator, "if have some time tomorrow, sir, I'd appreciate a chance to speak with you about my decision for an assistant chief science officer."

["I'll get back to you on that one, Mister Peterson. It all depends on what our Decilian guest has planned for tomorrow on the planet, or whether they take an early recess and return to the ship."]

Tapping his communicator again he closed the channel. Although restructuring the department seemed like a good idea, and they were not particularly busy right now, it would be one of those projects that would be better done after both guests had left the Galaxy-class vessel. Peterson did not see the sense in adding confusion and leaving his department open to potentially looking bad whilst they had guests.

Although the Human scientist had seen the Decilian prophetess, Madam Kiye, he had done his best to avoid being in a position where he had to actually talk to her unless absolutely necessary. In the entire time since she joined the crew at her home world, he had spoken a total of five words to her and that was exactly how he liked it. There was just felt uncomfortable Peterson found unsettling about some of the things he had heard about the ship. It wasn't that she was a bad person, or she trigged a gut instinct, he simply did not feel comfortable about how she was apparently able to prophecize the future and look deep within a person's soul.

Maybe he was afraid of something she could tell him, or perhaps this form of supernatural activity did not have any place in his sphere of science. Even Kent did not know the answer to that one.

As for Professor Ganod, as a visiting scientist, he had made the effort to meet the man after being notified by Commander Thomas of his presence. Although he was a Cardassian, Ganod was not particularly objectionable, possibly even someone that Peterson would not mind working with. Although the Cardassians had done enough damage to the Alpha Quadrant, including the planet below, they did make thorough scientists. Still, he understood why the professor had been so secretive about his presence on the Federation vessel - his people were not exactly welcomed with open arms where ever they went.

Rose started to look over some reports about her friends Elizabeth Spencer's death, she still can't belive about her own best friend killing herself over a man. She sits down thinking about what was on Elizabeth mind when she was about to kill herself then the computer stoped her thinking for her.

Good maybe some answers findly,"Computer download the message code MacAllen 3221."

Scott Macfarland, an old friend from the Acdemy looked at Rose with puzzled eyes, "You won't believe what I found Rose it looks like Elizabeth didn't kill herself, I belive she was murdered.

"There some reports from the USS Victoria about a civil war going on between powers, I think Elizabeth got caught in the crossfire."

Rose sits down in shock, *A Civil War been powers over the ship, this wasn't the way I wanted you to died my friend but it I vow on the holy powers of the Betazoid gods I will get to the bottom of this.*

"Go to them, Savat" The Prophetess of Decilia VII had suggested to him. And out of curiosity and a sense of obligation and regret, he had come. Across Bajor to the rural Dakhur Province to a small farmhouse where he had found Kael Ilzia, the aunt of a woman Savat had known, loved and then arrested nearly a decade earlier. Kael Ryanna, former resistance fighter, former Maquis cell leader, had been reported killed during her transfer for trial.

Was it possible, that in some way, Madame Kiye had known what would transpire if Savat heeded her advice? Was it precognition or simply well chosen words by an expert manipulator?

The analysis, Savat realized, would have to wait. His attention was completely fixed on the woman standing before him. Her auburn hair showed the lightest touch of gray, but it still flowed wild and free around her shoulders, highlighting a face that remained soft and unlined. Her eyes were as piercing and expressive as he remembered as they bore into him with an intense stare.

And above all, her reflexes were as honed as ever. He marveled at the economy of motion with which Ryanna pulled the small phaser from her belt and aimed it between his eyes.

"I knew you would come for me some day." She said, her voice a mix of weary disdain and anger. "You simply couldn't leave it alone, could you. In spite of the war in spite of the deaths of nearly everyone in the Maquis, Special Investigator Savat had to get his quarry!"

"I have not used the title of Special Investigator for some time." Savat replied calmly. "You are looking well, Ryanna."

"Don't change the subject!" She ordered. "I only need to know one thing, Savat. "Are you going to let me turn around quietly and leave, or am I going to have to kill you?"

"If I may suggest an alternative." The elder Vulcan stated. "You could put away the phaser and join your aunt and I for some home cooked Hasperat. It's quite adequately seasoned and still warm."

"He's right dear." The sliver haired woman replied. "I've more than enough for three, and it's always better served fresh."

"Are you certain?" Ilzia said, a smirk on her face. "You could ask him you know."

Ryanna glared at Savat, who continued to sit quietly at the table, his posture perfect, his hands folded nonchalantly in his lap.

"Well, what do you have to say for yourself?" She demanded. "I see you are still pretending to be someone else."

"A cosmetic alteration necessitated by my current assignment. Which, I might add, has nothing to do with you."

"That depends." Savat replied. "Are you intending to take any actions which would compel me to place you under arrest? I assure you that attempting to kill me with that phaser would qualify."

She looked at the weapon in her hand and then back at Savat. With a flick of her thumb, she powered it down and tucked it back in her belt. She stooped over and scooped up the basket of groceries she had dropped on the floor and handed them over to her aunt, never taking her eyes off of her unexpected visitor. She pulled up a chair across from Savat and folded her arms on the table.

"So, why are you here then? What did you want to see me for, if not to arrest me?"

"I came to return your heirloom to your family." He said, indicating the ornately decorated earring sitting on the table in its small wood box. "It had also occurred to me that your next of kin might still be unaware of the circumstances of your death. I felt they were owed that explanation."

For the first time since the encounter began, Ryanna allowed a hint of a smile to cross her face. "All these years, you thought I was dead?"

"Then you must have been more surprised than I was when I walked through the door!"

"That's a big admission from you, Savat." Ryanna chided. "You who plan everything so carefully, even the way your made up identity makes love to a woman."

Ilzia coughed out loud. "I think I'll go boil the Jumja sap now. Back in the kitchen."

Finding themselves alone, the two stared at each other, uncertain what to say next. Savat was the first to break the uneasy silence.

"Those sorts of things usually are." Ryanna said with a soft chuckle, trying to force herself to relax.

"Yes, I know. Every seven years. But that only means it becomes a biological imperative for you during those times. The rest of your lives, you can do as you please, correct?"

"Usually, we choose other less chaotic pursuits." He said, nibbling at his rapidly cooling Hasperat. Reproduction was a touchy subject with Savat, even more so than with most Vulcans. Had his wife T'Pal lived, he would have likely been a grandfather many times over by now.

They walked up into the hills, passing through golden fields of Mazo stalks as they talked. Ryanna related the details of her life since her escape from incarceration, courtesy of the Klingons. The runabout on which she was being transported had been attacked by a bird of prey during the height of the short lived Federation/Klingon conflict. The Maquis had allied themselves with the Klingon Empire the previous year, since both groups shared the same love for exterminating Cardassians. So Ryanna managed to avoid the fate that befell the Starfleet personnel on board and stayed with the bird of prey for a few months before returning to Bajor after the Klingons re-aligned themselves with the Federation in time for the Dominion War.

"What Maquis?" She responded with a heavy sigh. "My own cell was decimated, thanks to you. And the rest of the organization. Well, with the Dominion backing the Cardassians, they didn't last long. Almost everyone I knew who stuck with it was slain."

"So, in a manner of speaking, my interference spared your life, and the lives of your other cell mates who were arrested." Savat pointed out.

Of course, how foolish of me." She said, tossing back her hair as the evening breeze began to pick up. "And so, how goes your career in Starfleet?"

They stopped as they reached the crest of one of the larger hills. "I used to come here in my youth, whenever I could find a moment free from the fighting or the hiding from patrols. Sometimes I'd sit for hours, just watching the sun slowly set and listing to the breeze." She sat down on the hill and pulled her knees up close to her chest. Savat sat down next to her, so that they were shoulder to shoulder.

She reached over and squeezed his hand tightly. "You don't know how much I wanted to hate you." She said. "And I told myself that I hated you even more for not letting my feelings die. Does that make any sense?"

"Then the outcome would likely have been different as well, and just as unpredictable. Infinite diversity in infinite combinations. Nowhere does this hold true more than in the field of temporal science." Savat said. "We can not begin to predict what might have been."

"Then forget about the past. What is going on right here, right now at this moment?" She urged.

"Arrgh! Prophets spare me from Vulcans!" She said, tossing up her hands and rolling her eyes. She looked back at him and held his gaze. "Do you want."

"Yes." He said, his voice just above a whisper. He gently cupped her face in his hand and started to draw her closer.

"My appearance must remain in its current form for the rest of the diplomatic proceedings."

Ryanna smiled and began to stroll down the hill, back towards her home. "Well, my handsome chameleon. When you are ready to show your true self, you know where to find me."

Savat watched her in silence until she was little more than a silhouette in the fading light.

Lieutenant Commander Savat
Chief Security Officer, USS Galaxy
AKA
David Friedland
ICQ# 5805168

"Never Shuts Up"
Lt. Michala Lynn
Lt. Maxwell Shinta

Shinta rang the bell to Michala's appartment. She was nervous, but this
waswhat she had to do.

"Hi" she said when the door was opened. "I want to ask you a big favor. I
want to go down to Bajor and I don't want to go alone. I haven't been back
since..." Her voice trailed off.

Michala understood immediately.� "Ummm, Okay.. let me rearrange my schedule.
Give me about ten minutes"� She stepped asside so Shinta could enter.� She
then sent a message that she couldn't meet John because of a pressing
engagement and then arranged with Andree for some leave time.� Sickbay was
slow right now anyways.� She didn't look at the questioning look on Shinta's face that she
knew would be there from her message to John.� As she predicted, ten minutes
later, she was ready to go."

Shinta was so very nervous, she remembered Bajor, but she had indeed not been
back since her youth.� at� the shuttle port she turned to her friend. "I
don't know if I can do this. Maybe we should just go back."

Michala grabbed her arm.� "Oh No you don't.� I gave up a date with a gorgeous
hunk to go with you.� You are going."� Her tone was light and teasing.

Shinta swallowed. "You are right. I am going to hire us a flyer and then I
will take you to the region were I grew up. I must warn you that it will be
very hot there."

"I can handle heat.� LIke you, it is cold I have a hard time with."� Michala
took her hand reassuringly and led her into the shuttle.

Shinta flew the shuttle, she was a qualified pilot, Barely, though she could
handle runs like this. Half an hour later they were over the desert.
"This is where I lived. " She pointed to some hills on the right. "That is
where we had our camp , our group of resistance fighters." She kept looking
at it, not sure the that was where she wanted to go.

Michala looked around. "It is so strange, this is my greatest heritage and
yet if feels alien."

"I had forgotten about your Bajoran history. Do you want to talk about it? Is
there anything you would want to see?" She finally set the shuttle down,
making the decision. Then she opened it, and climbed out. Shinta took a deep
breath, taking in the delicious hot air. "how I have missed this." There were
tears in her eyes.

Michala stepped out in awe.� This was the closest she would come to roots.��
She looked around.� The air was a little heavier and heated then she had
expected despite the warning, but somehow it felt right.� "Where was your
camp?" Asked Michala.

"Out there." She said. And then began to walk in the direction of some caves.
"I came here as a 12-year-old girl, and here I learned everything about
killing." She looked around, not noticing anything, until the slight noises
above her instantly alerted her. "Get down, and stay down!" She said to
Michala, and got ready to investigate herself.

Michala trusted Shinta's instincts and did as she directed.� She was not
armed and had not thought it might be a necessity.

Shinta went up the mountain quick as a cat. Her training took over. She
felt in her element here in the heat of home, yet she was not fast enough.
before she knew what happened to her, she lay flat on her stomach, somebody
immobilizing her expertly.

Michala did not have Miran's memories of Bajor and her other donor memories
were mostly medical. She could feel her heart pounding as she tried
to pull up any starfleet training that she actually DID have.� She stayed
low and followed in the direction that Shinta had went

Shinta still lay immobilized, and very angry that she had let herself be
trapped. She would have to get her body in to better shape than this.
"you are getting sloppy, little girl." A deep voice said. "Star fleet has
made you soft." The pressure left. Shinta came to her feet, recognizing her
old teacher, Arav Van.

"Van, it is good to see you after all these years, you have not changed."

Michala worked her way close enough to see Shinta talking to a man of
Bajorian decent.� She stayed where she was just quietly watching.

"Shinta." The man said. "You look different, but only older, but more
content, I am glad for you."

Shinta smiled. "Thank you van. I am married now, I have children, and I feel
safe. I have found a home in Star fleet, they made me an officer." She turned
around towards michala. "come out, I want you to meet a very special friend
of mine."

Michala approached and warily moved to Shinta's side.� "You have a strange
way of greeting on your world."� She pointed out cauitouly.

The man looked at her. He was older then his swift movements indicated. His
hair was jetblack but his face was wrinkled. "My planet, young lady?" He said
in a deep melodious voice. "Don't you mean our planet? Arav Van at your
service."

"Michala Lynn and this is my first time on this world.� In fact, this is only
my third time on any world."� Michala said quietly.� She liked the look of
this man.

"You have the look� of Bajor all over you. Are sure that not one of your
parents came from here." He was now focusing on this young woman, whom he
found fascinating.

"You had better tell him all about yourself." Shinta said, "He will give
you no rest otherwise. Don't worry, Van was one of my mentors"

Michala smiled then.� She told the man of her "birth" and short life thus
far.�� She smiled at the look of incredubility on his face.

"I see." he said, " so you know very little about your own culture then."
He shot a short fond look at Shinta. "I don't think our security officer
here is the type to take the time to talk to people."

Shinta burst out in a fit of gigles.

"You were a security officer? But you are counselor.. how did...?" She
looked at both of them in confusion. "All she does is talk, she never shuts up???"

Michala was furious. She had just learned that Nilani had been assigned to attend the Prophetess as her medical officer. Michala should have gotten that duty. She was bajoran too, or at least appeared so. She was the one who believed the prophetess' teachings, not Nilani. Nilani was to caught up in her own world of problems to be a faithful attendant to the honored one. She rang the chime, pacing furiously outside his door.

She descended on John's quarters immediately after her shift was over. She didn't want to go to Shin.

The door slid open a moment after the chime sounded. John stood there, out of breath, holding a short blade in his hand. He saw Michala there and was washed with a mixture of embarrassment and elation. He quickly hid the blade behind him and beckoned her inside with a breathless greeting.

"What are you doing with that?" She asked curtly but with a touch of concern. Especially since he had hid it, it was most suspicious. She moved into the room waiting for an answer. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes seemed almost to sparkle.

John brought the sword out, looked at it, and laughed. "I was just going through some forms," he said. "I fenced a little at the Academy, and I walked in a holodeck session that Rose MacAllen was running. She was doing some gladiator type thing and challenged me to a swordfight. I lost. But, I was just practicing a little. I'm not very good with a sword." He set the sword aside aside. "What's up?"

"I am just... furious." She said and flounced down on the couch. "They assigned Nilani to the prophetess. That should have been my assignment."

John sat next to her and tried to piece things together on his own. He didn't have enough pieces. "Assigned Nilani to--? For what? What happened?"

"Her medical attendant. She has some health concerns, and I should have been the one going to Bajor with her." Michala looked up, her eyes feverish. "Nilani doesn't even understand the teachings of the Word."

John shook his head. "She's not even a doctor," he said. "At least, not any more. You are a doctor, you should have been assigned. Is there anything I can do to help?"

"NO.. just let me pout." Michala looked at him and frowned. "Maybe I haven't studied hard enough, maybe that was it. She didn't find me worthy?"

John frowned back to her. "From what I can tell, you've been studying very hard. Maybe you should talk to her. Maybe she accepted Nilani as her attendant so that she could help her understand more. What better way to help a troubled student learn than to bring them closer? Maybe she just wants to give Nilani a chance to understand the teachings."

Michala paused, she had not thought of that. She smiled slightly, "I suppose that is possible." She looked up at his gaze. "I am sorry. I didn't mean to blow like that. I guess I am just tired."

He smiled. "Don't worry about blowing up," he said. "It happens. Now, if you are tired, I think snuggling into my arms is a good remedy."

"I would like that." She admitted. She undid the bun that held her hair up for duty and shook it loose. "I guess, I guess I jus

t psyched myself out. I .. I am not sure what is wrong with me lately. Maybe it is being pregnant or something. I don't have much time before any decision I make is irrevocable. Or at least, in my eyes it will be."

John smiled as he pulled her into his arms. "I don't really know anything about being pregnant," he said. "I've never been, and I was too young when my mother was pregnant with my brother. And, I am quite certain that I have not fathered any children. So, being with you while you go through this will be a new thing for me. Are you still not sure what to do?"

"No, yes.. I don't know. I know I want to have the child. But I think it is more because I don't believe in destruction then because I want a child?" Michala snuggled into him.

John kissed the top of her head. "It sounds like you have an idea what you would like to do, but aren't ready to commit to that just yet. You still have time before aborting the pregnancy's no longer an option. And, if you do carry the child all the way, you still have time for that too. And, I'll be here with you. Whatever you need from me, I'll do what I can."

"Hmm hide me away from the universe?" She asked half teasing, half serious. "I . .. sometimes lately I don't know why I say or do things. It is really worrisome and then.. other times I feel so calm. It doesn't make sense."

John smiled. "Maybe it's the pregnancy," he said. "Your body is going through a lot of changes right now. I'm sure the physiological changes are going to have a psychological impact as well. In any case, I still love you whether calm or not."

Michala looked at him and smiled. "You say the most perfect things." She kissed him passionately, her lips expressing both her gratitude and her attraction.

John pulled her close as he returned her passionate kiss. His arms held her tight against his chest, their kiss lingering to the point where his head felt light. If he never had to breathe again, he would have been a very happy man. When at last the kiss broke, he was breathing heavy and staring into her eyes with a loving need. He smiled and brushed a hand along her cheek. "Have I told you how beautiful you are," he asked. "You have to be the most beautiful woman I've ever met. What are you doing with me?" He grinned and kissed her gently.

"Corrupting you, can't you tell?" She teased. "The holodecks are down so we can't go swimming. What do you want to do before you go on shift?"

"Hmmm yes, I am stealing your heart so you are susceptible to my womanly whims. But you didn't answer my question." She teased.

He grinned. "Want to go up to the observation lounge and watch Bajor slip by below us. I think we'll be able to just see a moonrise from orbit."

"That sounds wonderful. By the way, I brought you something." She gave him a PADD with the word on it.

He glanced at the PADD and smiled. "Thank you," he said. He skimmed through the beginning and nodded. "This is the Word, isn't it?"

"Yes, I.. I just thought I would give you a copy of what has fascinated me so." She shifted nervously. "Yesterday, when I was on Bajor, I realized that I .. I don't know a lot of things you learn in the academy about ... well anything. Momentarily, Shinta and I were perceived to be in a dangerous situation and I didn't know what to do. My memories of such academy trainings are sketchy at best. Can you teach me?"

John nodded. "Of course," he said. "I'll gladly do that. I'm not a trained security officer, but I did take the basic Academy training. We can start, whenever you'd like. Without the holodecks, it will be difficult but we can manage. I'll pull up some of the texts we used, and you should start with those. Some of it's kind of dry, but all the material is good. When the holodecks are back online, we can schedule regular training exercises. If you want, we can go through any of the places you feel lacking in your training." He kissed her gently. "Would you like to head up to the observation lounge, or stay here for a bit?"

She stood up and held out a hand. "To the observation lounge, I can study your texts later."

Starring the fearless yet grouchy Lt. (jg) Raven Darkstar, Security and the man, the myth, the legend, the way of life, the grand pubah of the printed word, the supreme ayotollah of journalistic rock and rolla, the guy who makes the women swoon and....{AHEM! GET TO THE POINT LEO! JUST SAY YOUR NAME!) ..Yeah right..ok, ok, ok. The one. The Only...Leonard T. Streely!

A grim look of determination was etched across his rugged yet handsome brow. It was a look that could freeze hordes of attacking Ferengi dead in thier tracks. A look that plainly said no quarter asked, no quarter given. His keen eyes scanned his surrounding like the majestic soaring eagle. His ears, like the cunning wolf, scanned the air for the most minute sounds.

Confident and secure in his surroundings, he moved with a careful silent grace that most wouldnt expect of someone of his stature. He crouched next to the Doorway to Nowhere. Beyond them, an infinate number of dasterdly threats lurking behind in the darkness, but our hero showed no sign of being phased by immenent danger and death. He was focused on only one thing. The Mission.

The fate of the free universe rested on his muscular shoulders. It was a burden he welcomed like the mythical atlas that he is.

With a steady hand, a hand both iron hard and yet velvety soft he reached out...

"Leo, for the Gods sake! What the hell are you babbling about now ?! Did you hit your head or forget your medication?" Raven cried out.

Leo put down the micro recorder he was holding to his lips while he crouched down beside the standing Darkstar.

"No, no, no. I'm just recording the moment. We're embarking on something big here. Bigger than you and me. I want to make sure i get every detail down as i see it so later I can put this all down on official record. How 2 men saved the universe and repelled an invasion! Just think of the awards! The money! The fame! " He said, then pointed a finger and winked at Raven while nodding his head in a silly fashion, " We're making history here partner. We'll be in Acadamy history books detailing this very moment!"

"What moment?! I'm just going into my own quarters!" Raven said , his brow knitted with confusion and irritation.

"Yes but they could be dripping with vile shape shifting aliens. Creatures poised to take over this ship! We could be making first contact with the enemy! To coin a phrase, we're boldly going where no man has gone before....unless you make a habit of entertaining men in here, not that theres anything wrong with that, to each his own. Like i always say...."

"Leo, Shut Up!" Raven yelled while trying to rerstrain himself. "Sorry...Its..the ...adrenaline from the mission talking."

"Hey, I understand. I'll omit your moment of weakness from the chronical of our odyssy. Your only human." Leo stated putting a hand on Ravens bicep. He was aiming for his shoulder but it was a bit out of reach for the tiny man.

"Hey don't mention it. We're partners. We watch out for each other. Crocket and Tubbs, remember?! So...how do you want to enter the premisis?"

"Yeah, Yeah, ok, ok, ok! The door. A dynamic and direct aproach. Catch 'em off guard. I read you. I'm ready!" he said brandishing the recording device and taking up a position directly behind the big man.

Raven just shook his head again and rubbed his temples. The minor pounding in his head had begun to intensify. He turned to the left then to his right then back to his left again.

"Sorry, I was just watching your back, making sure that they dont sneak up on us."

"Yes...right. Before we enter, there are two rules you have to keep in mind. First is please dont touch anything other than the razor."

Leo nodded his head rapidly. " Gotcha. Dont play with your toys. Just check out the Razor. Ok. Next rule? What is it? If a firefight breaks out seek cover? Don't get involved in fisticuffs with changelings? If your terminally hurt you want me to end it quickly for you?"

"Hey you only have to tell me once, ok? Sheesh! I promise i wont touch anything in your place. On my honor as a journalist!" He said placing the recorder over his heart and saluting with his free hand.

Somehow Raven felt less than convinced. "Remeber, record all you want but no broadcasting. You dont want anyone to get the scoop before you do. You'd loose all the prestige and fortune."

Leo smiled broadly. "Crocket and Tubbs! Good looking out for me! Ok, ok, ok! Let's do this." He stated returning to his position directly behind Raven, who just sighed and activated his door opener.

They swished open to reveal darkness within. Raven thought for a moment that he felt Leo's tiny hand on the back of his tunic. I'll omit that moment of personal weakness - he thought then called for the lights.

The dark was instantly replaced with the bright interior lights of Raven's quarters. Leo lept out from his position behind Darkstar in the poorest martial arts stance that Raven had seen a lifeform strike. He made a note to ask Leo later what form he was using. Crippled flamingo? Urinating beaver? Surely something exotic.

"HIYAEEEYA!" Leo called out! He flattened his palm and rotated on his heels and aimed his slightly twitching hand around the room then stood straight and said " The place is clear."

"Hey, Your not the only one with ancestors, ok? I got a bag of tricks too, see?"

As Raven wondered if he had asperine in his place, Leo looked around the room. It was typical of most Starfleet quaters. Sofa and chair. A few endtables. Spartan and modest. Leo wandered to the kitchette and back into the living room.

"Ya know? Somehow I expected a bit more. Maybe some...things on the walls and I donno...It looks too Vulcan. Are we in the right place?"

"DONT!" Raven yelled freezing Leo in his tracks. " Do not open that door. Were here for just the razor, remember?"

Leo had lept back literally a few feet with a wild look on his face. " Christ! Give a guy a coronary why dont ya! I'll stay away from the room. Probibly filled with trapeezes and mirrors if the rest of the crew is any indication. Where's the head. You rattled me a bit i gotta go relieve myself, ok?"

Raven pointed to the other doorway and said: " Dont touch anything. Do your thing and get the razor while your there. Nothing else. You have 3 nimutes."

'Geez! yes drill sergent, sir. " he muttered closing the bathroom door behind him. he ponied up to the toilet and while attending to his bodily needs, looked around to small room. Much like the living room it was barely decorated. Any toiletries were in thier proper place. He noticed the razor or what could more correctly be described as a large hand crafted hunting knife.

"Im hurrying ok? Geez." he zipped up and still mesmerized my the large knife and what exactly one would shave with it he reached up to find he couldnt quite reach it.

"Hey, partner? Those cardassians. Why were they here again?" he said while carefully placing his foot on the edge of the porcelin toilet.

Leo was now on the toilet with one leg dangling in the air. He streatched out and touched his fingertips to the knifes handle. Why did he have to put it on the top shelf? " I just know that I've seen that one before. I cant put my finger on it but im great with faces ya.......AAAAAHHHHH! " leo cried out as his foot slipped and lodged itself into the toilet.

Raven winced outside and listened to Leos grunts and moans followed by occasional cursing. Poor guy needs more fiber in his diet. He thought. He went off to get a bag to carry the razor in not really wanting to hear leo struggling anymore.

Streely meanwhile was rapidly becoming wet. He had flushed twice hoping that he could loosen up his foot only to have dirty water rush up his shirt. "Goddamn thing!" he yelled spitting water from his mouth. He began to kick at the pot only to slip and fall.

With more curses he got up and kicked at the toilet in frustration. This time the bowl cracked. He halfheartedly grabbed the it with both hands while hopping on one foot. The bowl shattered and water sprayed everywhere.

"Oh, im just washing my hands!" Leo said stuffing another towl into the toilet to stop the water. He squeeqied off his face and slicked back his hair then satisfied that Raven wouldnt know what happened, he put the broken pieces of the toilet into the shower and closed the door.

He shut off the lights and exited rapidly, dripping water onto the living room rug as he stood before Raven. Who could only look with wide eyed wonder at the soaked little man.

"Hey pal, I dont go into your happy room over there, you dont ask me about how i go to the bathroom. Why would you want to know that anyway? Sheesh. Look here. I got your razor. What is this the Norelco model one or something? Kinda crude isnt it?"

Raven feeling throbbing behind his eyes just opened the nylon black bag for Leo to deposit the knife in. "Crude but effective, Leo."

The wet reporter dropped the knife in the black pack. " Thats the bag huh? I kinda expected more than a starfleet bag from you. Maybe something leather with tassles or something."

"Of coarse not. What was i thinking? Ok, ok, ok. Mission accomplished. next Item." He said with his hands on his hips.

"I'll air dry. Besides we cant waste time on our wardrobe!! We have an investigation to finish! Lets go!" he said breaking for the door.

Raven was a bit puzzled by the man's behavior. He felt almost as if Leo were trying to drag him away from something. What trouble could he possibly get into using the toilet? Clearly he was a bit too stressed out.

"Ok, Leo. Lets go." he said adding as they exited, " Did you tighten the sink faucet? I'd hate to have it overfill while we're gone."

"Misgivings"
by Lt. Elaithin Jii, and Madame Kiye (as written by Ed)

Lieutenant Elaithin Jii sat on the planet of his birth, unable to truly enjoy
it. Here he was, finally home, and he had mission to accomplish. For all the
good it does me, he thought. I haven't spoken to Malil since I left for
Starfleet. Now, here I am, and my own people don't even recognize me.

Although, truth to be told, it wasn't entirely his fault.

It might have had something to do with the fact that he was disguised as a
Decilian and in civilain clothing. Truth to tell, the civilian clothing itself made Elaithin uncomfortable.

And that damnable twitch was still there. The Doctor had assured him it would
go away.

The Doctor had been wrong.

There was more though. This Madama Kiye....sure, she was her world's
spiritual leader. That gave her some credence. But she....Elaithin couldn't
put it into words exactly. Something about her just made his hair stand on
end.

Speak of the pah wraith, he thought, as he saw the elderly woman approaching
through the Garden.

Her repulsor chair cruised between the great leafy plants that occupied the
'tropical' portion of the Gardens. �She absently brushed a few low-hanging
branches aside. �Spotting the lieutenant, she maneuvered to a stop beside
him. �"Lieutenant Elaithin Jii. �What a pleasure!" she said with evident
sincerity.

"Madame Kiye," he said respectfully. "It is a pleasure to see you as well. I
trust the negotiations go well?"

"Well enough, child. But what of you? With all your travels, you must be
ecstatic to be on the planet of your birth."

"To be honest, ma'am, the disguise takes away from that a bit." the young
Lieutenant replied.

She absently fingered the chain at her throat. �"I think it's oddly
comforting to be surrounded by faces that remind me of home. �Even if those
faces are surgically created over the faces of aliens." �She regarded Jii
closely. �"I know the disguise is uncomfortable for you, but that's not
really what's on your mind, exactly, is it?"

Maybe he didn't need to be wary of her. It was the oddest thing. Half of
Elaithin's instinct was to run, the other - especially when he looked in her
eyes - was to absolutely trust her.

"No, ma'am. It's not. It's.....my brother. He's here, on Bajor, but we
haven't spoken in quite some time."

Madame Kiye pursed her lips thoughtfully. �"Did you have a fight? Are you
upset with your brother? �Or have you simply drifted away from each other?"
she asked. �When he didn't answer immediately, she offered a quotation, "One
of my favorites from the Book of the Word is, 'A family's love flows from the
well of creation. �When thirsty, draw deeply of it.'"

"I do not doubt the sincerity of your words, Madame." the young man replied.
" My brother and I have simply not spoken. He is a Vedek - one of the highest
callings of our own religous order. We were very similar. He always thought
that I, too, would join the ranks of the Vedeks. However, the stars simply
called too strongly. There's so much" he started, looking up at the stars
that were just beginning to show in the twilight sky " up there, that I could
do nothing else but be among them. My brother did not understand this. He
does by now, I am sure."

"Why are you so certain of that, child? Is your faith that strong?" she
asked, subtly casting doubt on the Bajoran's faith.

"Not at all, ma'am." Jii replied with a warm smile. "My friends would say my
faith is one of the strongest things about me. The Prophets guide us, and
when the time is right, by brother and I shall cross paths again."

She said, "It's good to hear such certainty of belief. �I think all sentient
beings can benefit from a greater focus on theology."

The lieutenant didn't want to argue with his guest, but he sensed that she
was interested in theological debate. �He said, "Maybe so. �But, I have met a
few people who focused a bit too much on their religion. �Fanatacism is
dangerous."

Her eyes lit up. �She seemed excited about the conversation. �While she
spoke, her arms moved about agitatedly. �"Perhaps. �But it's been proven that
large organizations, like StarFleet, that are not governed by the tenets of a
religious code develop in such a way that they ONLY function when the
individual members act with blind obediance. �The system cannot tolerate
agents who analyze the ethics and propriety of every order before acting.
�But, you must know of a dozen situations where blind obediance has lead to
tragic errors!"

Realizing her excited state, she dropped her hands to her lap. �"I'm sorry,
lieutenant Elaithin. �It's just that I've studied these concepts for years
and I get rather excited about them."

"It's all right, ma'am. There's a lot of truth to what you say. Throughout
the history of every species, there have been bad situations made worse by
people "just following orders. On Earth, it was the Holocaust. Here on Bajor,
the Occupation by the Cardassians. On Xenex, during the Danteri occupation.
There's dozens of other I could cite, but you get my drift." he stated.

"All too well, child." she replied simply.

"Well, Madame, I'm afraid the evening draws late, and I have a brother to
see." Jii stated. "Prophets keep you and guide you, Madame Kiye."

"And may the light of the Word brighten your way, Lieutenant Elaithin
Jii."she said, bidding her own farewell.

As he walked away, Jii kept his thoughts to himself. I definately do not
trust that woman, he thought.

Ensign (doc) Danok Enginering
NPC: Ensign Expendable (I didn't want to use someones character)

Danok had finished his coffee and as usual nobody was sitting with him. He tought a minute and realised his duty shift had started. Vulcans allways had this strange thing about knowing the time without looking at a clock.

He stood up, put his empty cup away and walked to the turbo lift. "Deck 36" Danok spoke and the lift whirled away. Arriving at engineering he got some work to do from his superior officer. He looked at the list of things and figured testing the field-straights of the life support was the most logical to start with so he proceeded to deck 13.

At deck 13 he opened a jeffries tube and crawled in. After a few meters he lay down on his back and opened one of the panels. "Computer, reroute power from this conduit to secondairy system." The computer beeped. "Power rerouted, waring. Life support for this deck is now running on backup systems only." After creating a few pathways and testing with his tricorder, he could start testing. "Computer. Start a level one diagnostic on this conduit." Yet again the computer beeped. "Diagnostic in progress. Time to complete 12 min and 30 seconds."

Danok was still laying on his back. He grabbed his own padd and started reading in the works of Docter Tzitkr'an. After ten minutes he heard a voice. "My god man, how can you stay in that uncomfortable position for so long ? You are going to break in half." Danok turned his head to the exit. There was an ensign at the opening looking at him. "You have been in that strange position for almost ten minutes now. I know, couz I saw you from across the hall." The ensign continued.

Danok raised an eyebrow. "As a Vulcan I am cabable of standing for several hours so laying on the floor is no real efford." Then Danok remembered the previous chapter about ways of thanking people. "However, thank you for your concern." The ensign scrathed his chin. "Yeah. What ever you say pal. Say what are you reading there ?" Before Danok could answer the ensign got called away. Then Danok realised he just had a normal social conversation with someone. Again he raised an eyebrow, looked at the padd with Docter Tzitkr'an-s work and mumbled : "Fascenating."

After the diagnostic was finished he reversed the process of disassembly. He rebuilt the original pathways and rerouted the power again. While Danok closed the panel the computer beeped. "All lifesupport systems on this deck are operating within established parameters. Then he crawled to the next panel and started all over again... and again... and again...

Peter sat in his quarters, presently alone. He'd pulled up a chair in front of his computer terminal and had pulled out a keyboard to type on. He preferred it when writing letters. It allowed him to type what he really thought before deleting it and typing what he was supposed to write.

Peter presently sat in front of his screen which merely said, "OI! Richeson, yer big fat jessie" when his door chime went. He quickly deleted that section in case it was really Lieutenant Richeson come to pay a flying visit before calling out 'Enter'.

Peter was pleasantly surprised to see Annalise Haldan enter his quarters and he turned to face her. "Hiya. I wasn't expecting you for another couple of hours."

"Well, I had nothing better to do, and thought I'd pay a visit to my favourite officer on the ship." she replied.

"I believe the Captain's quarters are on deck 8...... you're in the wrong place." he deadpanned, looking back at his screen.

"SILLY!" she said, before slumping down on the couch. "What are you up to?" she added.

"I'm writing a note to Lieutenant Richeson. I want him to install quantum torpedoes on the Galaxy, so I'm going to write to him and ask him if we can do that next time we're in dry dock." Peter said, typing some more.

"Because last time I did that, I got hauled up before the Captain. I'm trying a different approach at the moment, though it'll probably have the same outcome. I'll be before the Captain and he'll be saying...." at this point Peter put on his poor Australian accent.

"'Why do you think it's necessary to have quantum torpedoes 'mate? This isn't a ship of war.' and I'll reply, 'Cos photon torpedoes are CRAP and the enemy won't lighten their blows merely because we haven't got quantum torpedoes.' and then he'll reply 'Well 'mate, it sounds convincing enough but the overhaul will have to be supervised by someone, and you sound like the volunteer we need.' and then I'll say, 'Fuck that for a game of soldiers. Von Ernst can do it.... I'll be in Ten Forward drink.. err I mean waiting for the test firing.....'" Peter said, altering back and forth between his impression of the Captain and his normal voice.

Annalise was laughing behind him, before she managed to deadpan, "I think you need to work on your accent."

Annalise noticed Peter typing away and then hitting the delete key some more. "Why do you keep deleting large chunks of your note?"

"Because I don't think Lieutenant Richeson would appreciate 'If you don't upgrade to quantum torpedoes, I'll blow you out a photon torpedo tube just to prove they're rubbish.'" Peter said.

"Owwww..... One-nil to you." Peter said, before continuing to delete and retype various sections of his note.

"Have you heard any of Madame Kiye's speeches in the messhall recently? Her talk on "The Word" is quite informative. I reckon you'd like her ideas." Annalise said suddenly, changing the subject.

"No. They're crap. The only religion I subscribe to is Association Football and Peterborough United." Peter said.

"Well, why don't you see for yourself? She's giving another talk in about half an hour. Why don't we both attend?" Annalise persisted.

"I don't wanna." Peter said half-heartdly. He was losing this battle and he knew it however.

"What else is there to do here? Write notes to Lieutenant Richeson about quantum torpedoes that take you four hours to write because you have to get your days humour in as you type..... come on. It's not going to be fun, but it's better than that.... besides, we can go to Ten Forward afterwards like we planned." Annalise argued convincingly.

"Jeez..... how can I fight that....? And stop reading my mind. This note would only take THREE hours. I don't have that much to write and I can only insult Richeson so many ways in a note before it gets tiring." Peter said. "Computer, save note to Lieutenant Richeson. Don't send it. Store it for later completion."

"Don't send it? Have you left something incriminating on that note?" Annalise asked.

"No, but I know this crew..... bust in on anyone's quarters. Have you noticed that Lieutenant' Darkstar is presently prowling the corridors with some idiot from a newspaper or something? I wouldn't trust them at all. I'm going to wire my doorway with grenades before I go......" Peter squawked.

"COME ON!" Annalise suddenly demanded, grabbing his arm. "We'll be late....." she added, dragging him out the door.

"Well I know who wears the trousers in this relationship." Peter said, getting the last crack in just as the pair left his quarters.

Mike had gotten permission for a day vacation for his family, Bajor had some lovely beaches and Nikki loved the sand, and to be totally honest he loved to see his beautiful wife in bikinis anyway. He had sent her a message telling her about his vacation plans and then he got her a gift. Something she could wear and they both would like.

Rayna got the message and came home to get Nikki ready for the beach. Nikki was excited and was already in her bathing suit with towel, sand bucket and shovel in hand. Rayna laughed, "I see you're already to go." Nikki nodded, "I can't wait. Can we go now?" Rayna smiled at her, stooping to her level, "We need to wait for daddy." She sat on the couch with all her stuff still in hand, patiently waiting.

Nikki sat very still and pretty. She smiled, "Mommy says that we had to wait for you so that's what I am doing."

"Well good for you. Now Mommy needs to get ready." Mike hands Rayna a wrapped package.

Nikki stayed seated, sitting very still, waiting eagerly to go. She was determined to sit there like a statue and not move. Rayna decided to play the gift up, "Oh boy, for me?" She laughs, "It's not my birthday or anniversary. Hmm." She shakes it, "It doesn't rattle and it isn't heavy." Nikki tried to look like she wasn't interested but Rayna could tell the suspense was killing her. "Well, I guess I'll open this later." She put it down and walked away from it. Nikki couldn't take it so she ran to Rayna and pulled on her uniform, "Mommy, you gotta open it." She looks over at Mike, "Or daddy will be hurt." Nikki had a habit of always trying to open up her presents before she could and was always scolded for it. Rayna played it up, "Well, we can't have daddy's feelings hurt." So she opened it up very slowly, on purpose. She wanted to see if Nikki had learned her lesson.

Mike leaned against a chair and watched her face, it was just a swimsuit but he made her one something more, suited to her athletic figure.

Rayna put her hand in the box and started to yell, "Oh no, it's got me!" Nikki didn't get fooled, "What did he get you?" Rayna just shook her head, "You are getting just too old to fool. Ah, it's a bathing suit." She gives Mike a kiss, "Thanks but what's wrong with the one I have?"

"I thought you'd want a change of look." He raised an eyebrow, "Trust me it will look good on you."

"Mommy, put it on so we can go." Rayna smiled, "Yes Nikki, I will put it on while daddy gets ready." She walked into the bedroom, putting it on, modeled it for Nikki and Mike. "Mommy, you look pretty." Rayna smiled, "You think?" Nikki was always her biggest fan.

Mike nodded, "Very nice." He had changed in to swim trunks and a t shirt before they

Rayna covered up her bathing suit and carried a tote bag with towels, suntan lotion/sunblock and sunglasses. Nikki raised her hands, "Finally." Rayna tried not to laugh at her adult like gestures.

Mike however got chuckle out of how grown up his daughter was. They walked to the turboift and were soon transported down to the surface of Bajor, on to the beach they walked to a spot of sand where Mike laid out a towel and took off his shirt to get some sun.

Rayna took off her cover and Nikki's and put sunblock on her, then let her loose on the beach, "And be careful." She then laid out her towel, put on her sunglasses and laid out, always keeping one eye out for Nikki.

Reaching over Mike took her hand in his as they laid there, "So, tonight how about we get dinner out before we head up to the ship?"

"Sure, sounds okay. Look at Nikki, you'd think that she has never been to a beach."

"She likes the beach." Nikki ran in to the water up to her ankles then back up. Stopping to scoop up sand and begin to fasten a crude castle.

"This is going to be interesting when the baby is old enough to enjoy the beach. I can see Nikki mothering the child."

"Me too, she is already the protector of the flock, she mothers you from time to time." He looked over at her and smiled. "I know I do."

"Should I object?" She looked at him, almost as if she was challenging him to a duel.

She broke out in a slight laugh, "I really don't mind. I'm just giving you a hard time." She seemed to be developing a weird type of humor. He chuckled, "Glad you're laughing, yesterday you were not happy."

She stopped laughing, "I would rather not get started on that again. I think I've ranted and raved enough about it."

"Yeah, besides if you were stuck in some stuffy function I couldn't see you in a bikini."

"Yeah, well, enjoy it while you can." She got up and walked down to where Nikki was making a sandcastle.

Mike joined her in a bit resting his hand on her back, gently tracing the curve of her spine. "Looks like you got a good castle going Nikki."

"Well that's what the water does." Mike knelt down and began to assist her, but letting her do all the big work.

Rayna stood up, leaving them to build the sandcastle. She waded in the water, just looking where the sky meets the water.

Mike caught her looking out and walked in after her, "Hey hon, penny for your thoughts?"

"I was just looking. I wasn't really thinking about anything in particular. It's just nice to breath fresh air and enjoy the breeze."

"Yeah, you just looked in thought." Mike slipped his arms around her waist and rested them on her belly.

She put her hands on his, still staring out, "This was a good idea. Nikki seems to be really enjoying herself."

"She's gonna be an engineer I can feel it." Gently he caressed her midsection, it was flat now, but soon it would expand carrying their child. A symbol of how they felt about each other.

"I guess that wouldn't be so bad. It's better than a security guard. Don't get me wrong, I love it but it is a dangerous job. I guess I am a little overprotective of her."

"To be like her mother, I couldn't think of anything better." Mike smiled, "Besides, she's only six, shouldn't we wait at least 10 years before picking her career for her?"

"I think you're right. Besides, I have enough things to worry about than Nikki's career."

"Yeah." Mike smiled and kissed her gently. "Like where you want to eat dinner...."

"Thoughts of a soldier" Part II
By Lieutenant Commander Michael Jamson, Tactical Ops
USS Galaxy

The sealed brig cellar caused Jamson to feel uneasy, it's walls were pure white with shades of grey. The entrance to the small cell looked as if he could just cross to the other side, but a deadly force field was there to make sure he won't. On the floor, a tray with replicated rations of food was waiting for him.

Bruised and beaten, Michael touched his lower lip carefully and nose for a couple of times. Fresh blood from his wounds and cuts on his face was still there and tasted like sweet nectar. It has been a couple of hours since the incident at the Holodeck and the tough yet defeated officer was now caged like an animal.

Outside of the cell were two security officers standing at attention, and watching every one of Jamsons' moves. He barely moved, as his muscles and bones were now resting from his previous encounter with lieutenant Sanchez. He simply didn't have the desire to get up, not even to eat. He was waiting to see who would come visit him, he knew the captain and the commander would bother themselves to get down to the brig area and have a talk with him, it was just a matter of time.

The Counselor and Chief Medical officer would have to pay a visit as well, making psychiatric evaluations and analyzing him like a mental case, everything for the record. He knew Dallas would care, but what of Doctor Maas? he haven't had the chance to meet him before, would he just give his evaluations? was he trust worthy? he must be, otherwise he wouldn't be among the senior staff.

So many things were on Jamson's mind while he was staring the walls of his new home. Time seemed to stop as he thought of what just happened, the message, the Holodeck and the series of uppercuts he received from the lieutenant...which left a big part of his honor back at the Holodeck, but she fought well, like a Centurion Tiger, something that brought him comfort.

Holding his head and closing his eyes, Michael could hear himself reading the message he had received earlier. The high priority message which required his own personal confirmation was not an ordinary report. Apparently, Jamson's grandfather died when his shuttle was destroyed in Klingon space. The report did not reveal lots of details, just the course the ship was heading in, the destination, time of departure from the last outpost, the cargo manifest, passengers and equipment, nothing unusual, but Michael knew better. His grandfather must have been involved in something quite dangerous, 'Business as usual' his grandfather used to tell him whenever he tried to prevent him from taking risky missions and jobs.

Since his parents died at an early stage of his life, Jamson was soon pushed to reality and to the arms of his grandfather, a Merchant carrying illegal goods from the Federation to the Klingon Empire and to the outer rims as well as neutral zones. His parents and grandfather were both wanted by the Federation, for various crimes, after all, they were considered to be members of the Orion Syndicate, so drugs, weapons, mechanical parts, food, slaves, animals....it was all the same for them, they loved the risk, the rush, and of course the pay.

They all lived in a dusty old rogue outpost somewhere in an uncharted area of Romulan space near the Klingon border. This area was never charted because of the dangers it was holding. Pirates, assassins and all sorts of characters were hiding there from the eyes of the cruel Romulans. Fortunately, the Romulans didn't really care, this area, so close to the border was once a mighty front against the Klingon Empire, but now it was now deserted. Other than that, it provided the Romulans with information and goods from other sectors, so officially, they objected, but unofficially...

For the majority of the rides, Jamson was there to accompany his grandfather and assist him in any way he could. He didn't like it, but he had to. He couldn't leave his only relative alone knowing he could never see him again. Evading armed patrols and pirates through the sectors of unknown and uncharted space was nothing out of the ordinary. Only when Jamson turned 16 he had decided it was enough for him. He joined a traveller ship and explored a little bit of the universe on his own before he joined Starfleet.

And now it was all over, his family was gone, his career was ruined, he was a soldier without a mission to carry. Leaving Starfleet crossed his mind many times, but this time...he almost killed a person. Jamson always knew what he was going to do in the future, he kept planning all the time, he never did anything unplanned and now his future was uncertain. He would have plenty of time to think while staying under arrest in his cell, plenty of time.

NRPG: Occurs prior to our current mission.. During Thomas's inquisition of officers.

"Reviewing: Third Meeting"
by Commander Thomas
First Officer
&
Lt. Commander Michael Jamson
Operations Officer
USS Galaxy

Commander Thomas had two down and five to go. Now Lt. Commander Jamson was on his target list, he would have speak with him. Chris was hoping that he would successfully get through this process without suffering exhaustion before he finished.

Jamson was at the mess hall, sipping a tasty El-Aurian ale as a replacement for his usual Klingon Warnog. He's shift was over by now, and so he decided to spend the rest of the day by relaxing at some of the more 'interesting' facilities on the ship, "Jamson here, what is it Commander?"

"Certainly Commander, I'm on my way" Jamson said and grouched quietly. Finally he had some time to himself, but now the Holodeck and the Gymnasium would have to wait because the First Officer wanted to chit chat with him. As much as Jamson was annoyed by this invitation, he knew the executive officer wouldn't contact him for nothing, there had to be a good reason.

Exiting the turbolift, Michael instantly recognized the Commander's quarters. Approaching the doors, he remembered the days when he was the First Officer on the Galaxy. That glorious ship was young back then, but still carried it's name with pride. 'Look what have become of her now....nothing but praise' Jamson thought chiming the doors.

"Come in." Commander Thomas said. He was wondering if he should get that recorded for the future.

The doors opened and Michael entered the big luxurious room, one of the benefits of being the first officer. "Sir? you wanted to see me" Jamson said as if he was annoyed.

"I assume you haven't contacted me just to talk things over, sir?" Jamson stood at attention.

"Please have a seat, 'commander." Chris said. "Is there anything I can get for you?"

Chris wanted everyone who visited him to have the chance to be made comfortable if possible. "Certainly." Thomas said.

"I wanted to talk with you about the operations department and a few other things." Chris said as he handed the 'commander his lemonade.

The Operations Department was one of Jamson's favorite topics, he often discussed with rare passion about his plans and futuristic goals for the department with Lucas. He haven't had the chance to speak to Surok yet, but he knew it wouldn't be the same since the new department head was Vulcan, and Vulcans listened to that thing....logic. "By all means Commander" Jamson looked surprised.

"What do you think could be done to improve the operations department?" Commander Thomas asked his first question. One related to the department he worked in right now.

"Well, I haven't met Lieutenant Commander Surok and talked to him about the changes and how his new position should affect the department, but I'm sure he'll do just fine...from what I've seen in his record, he's the one".

"Yes his service record would indicate he's the one to take command of the department, but don't you feel that it should've been you getting the command?" Chris asked.

Jamson suddenly grinned "I've started in operations and advanced through the ranks, I know my job commander and especially when it comes to ops management. I would also accept any promotion at the moment, but I would lie to you if I'd say I deserve the position of Department Head".

"Well sir, Surok is a Vulcan..." Jamson said and watched Commander Thomas looking at him with a puzzled expression. "I don't have anything against Vulcans commander, I believe they do their duties better than other species, and I admire and honor them for following their beliefs such as logic and sense...but in a way, being commanded by a Vulcan is a new experience to me".

"I can imagine 'commander, it's always a new experience especially when you've gone from one situation to another." Chris said.

"Can you imagine being demoted sir? with all due respect, I don't think many officers are forced to re-live past experiences" Jamson said bitterly, he always refused to believe someone could truly sympathize with him.

"Mr. Jamson where would you like to be in two years?" Chris asked as he took notes when needed.

"Where I belong commander, in the captain's chair...not here of course" Jamson looked around him, "The Galaxy is one of the best ships in the fleet, but if and when I receive a command, I'd like a small 'boat' for a change..."

"In the captain's chair, of course not here." Chris said. "There are many ships looking for good first officers and captain's these days. I am sure it's only a matter of time before you're offered another command."

"There were times, not so long ago, when I was stationed in the front...and faced incredible odds, and what did I get in return? demotion sir. I'd like some peace and quiet..."

"What happened?" Commander Thomas asked. He'd read the man's record which told one side of the story, but never could tell every side of the story. This worked both ways with promotions, demotions, court-marital's, awards and so.

"Commander, the report speaks for itself, all I can add is this...certain individuals within Starfleet Command did not agree with my actions and the truth surprisingly disappeared that day...but we're not here to speak about my record and past incidents, are we?"

"No we're here to speak about the future, but you past does reflect upon you." Chris said. "I do understand the feeling about being lied to and seeing the truth covered with a bunch of lies. Unbuiring something like that can take a life time, or you can chose to move forward. I moved forward, but ultimately I had to unbury the past to move ahead."

"Starfleet did not leave me much choice, I had to move on, and agree to terms I was given...luckily, captain Price agreed to re-assign me back to the Galaxy. Without him, I would have probably stayed at the Academy or at some...remote Outpost" Jamson looked into the Commanders' eyes.

"I see. I guess I'm not the only one being invited to a personal conversation, there are others I presume?"

Since this was going to be the Commander's second mission as the executive officer, Jamson knew he was reviewing almost all the senior staff onboard the ship. He had to get to know everyone, and then make adjustments and give his impressions to the captain. "Surely not everyone sir?" Jamson asked.

"Well not everyone, yet. Right now just those in command or holding a rank of interest." Chris said. "As I am trying to asses the skills of each person I have to work with as first officer."

"It is also my goal to get to know these same people. Now let's move on, shall we? what would you do if I placed you in command of the Galaxy?" Chris asked.

Jamson looked puzzled, he didn't expect such a tricky question "I have to be honest, Commander. I have no idea, it depends on the situation and of course my instincts...I rely on them most of the time".

"Ok, let's try something a little more specific then." Chris said. "What if I put you in command of the ship, and you found another Federation ship attacking Cadrassian ships."

Jamsons' eyes grew larger when he heard Cardassian ships "I would assume the Cardassians were to blame, like the majority of Starfleet, and probably join the party...but from past experience and beliefs, I would first defend the crew and the ship. They come first, only then I'll start asking questions".

"Ok" Chris said and paused a moment then decided to flip the tables again. "You would proceed to attack the Cardassian ship." he asked for clarification.

Jamson thought for a moment before answering "I am obligated to help my fellow officers and other Starfleet vessels when they're under threat. Besides, I don't believe Federation ships would attack other crafts for no reason".

"And what if you found out the Federation wasn't control by Starfleet, but by the new Maquis, then what?" Chris said.

"Under laws and regulations given by Starfleet Command, I would have to assist the Cardassian vessels. As much as I don't like the Cardassians, and admire the Maquis for their courage and continuous wars against the Cardassian Empire and the politicians back at the Federation council on Earth, I am a Starfleet officer after all" Michael said swiftly.

"Quite a quandary you have yourself." Chris said. "Rushing head long into a situation without seeking clarification of the events can be fraught with untold dangers."

"That's a part of the job, it comes with the comfortable seat and golden pips. You have to take the risk"

"The job of being captain or the commanding officer is more then just some perks like the chair and more pips. It's responsibility, you have to be willing to accept the consequences of your actions at all times, knowing they could lead to someone's death or the loss of your ship." Chris said. "I know you've been in command before, but maybe what happened was that you got too comfortable with that position."

"As I've stated earlier commander, it comes with the job. Being in charge of people's lives isn't easy. Just as you have to decide who will be on the away teams, the captain have to decide on a larger scale for both the men and women, as well as the ship".

"I think I've learned everything I need to know." Chris said. "And I don't have any more questions for you at the moment."

Commander Thomas watched as Lt. Commander Jamson exited his office. That was a very interesting meeting Chris thought to himself.

"Fighting Boredom"
by, Ens. Wilhem Quevvenson,
Science Officer
--------------------------------

This mission was boring. Wilhem was not getting anything interesting to scan on the sensors, and this ferrying of a Prophetess was really tedious. He would not talk ot this Prophetess, since he did not have the knowledge to speak with a dignitary.

Of course, she was a religious leader, and Wilhem did not trust those any more. They always seemed to bring trouble with them, whereever they went. Wars and rumors of wars, and stuff like that.

The volcanos ont he surface, had already ceased action, leaving a pall of data tthat needed to be explored. Since he was a Planetary Geologist, he would be the one going over most of it.

Since he had nothing better to do, he guessed he would start as soon as he could. Which meant, after his bridge shift was over. He did not know what he would find. But it probably was nothing different from any of the other volcanic events the Galaxy had been over in the past.

"Time out"

By Ensign Autumn Jamieson Medical officer

A loud bang, something smashed to the floor, a loud groan and a couple of muffed "Oh S&*T!"'s were heard in the vacinity of the medbays.

"OWWWW!" came from medbay 2 and another voice yelled back

"For the lords sake Autumn get out of here before you break something else!"

" yes sir" Autumn slunk out of the medical bay rubing her head, man it hurt.

"Bloody bio bed shouldn't have been that low in the first place" She grumbled as she sat down against the wall.

What a day! first the medkits that had gone flying when she had entered the medical bays. it wasn't her fualt... but it hadn't helped that the people had laughed and glared at her. She had picked them all up quite easily until one of the nurses had banged into her. And because off that she had hit one of the EMH's buttons turning it on and earing a serve from it. Bloody grouch. It had been an accident and if the EMH didn't understamd that then there was something worng with its programming! And she didn't want to be the one reprograming it.

Then she had tripped over a cord and had landed flat on her face. Then when she had tried to get she had hit her head on a BIO bed. And to top it all off she had been sent out of her place of work for the rest of her shift.! All she wanted to do was curl up in bed with a good book and get some sleep. but she knew that most likely wouldn't happen anytime soon. She decided that it would most likely be for the best if she went to the holodeck for some time out.

"Computer is there a holodeck free at this point in time?"

Computer: All holodecks are free.

"Good" She got to her feet and walked down the hall to the turbolift. Stepping inside it she spoke.

"Deck 11" She relaxed against the wall as the lift went up.

"Kelly's Tale pt. 2"
Withdrawal - Starring Ensign James Kelly, NPC Science with appearences by
Ensign Kathleen Sierra, NPC Medical and some friends.

Location: Hallways of the Uss Galaxy

Ensign Kathleen Sierra walked down the hallways of the Galaxy. She had showered and changed into her uniform after giving Raven and Leo " The List". A smile spread across her face as she imagined Raven chuckling inside while reading the items she selected as possible canadates for being ficticious changelings.

She entered the turbolift and was about to callout for deck 12, when she heard: " Hold the door Kat!"

As she did she saw Dexter and Dee Dee Green, a couple that her , Kelly and Maria often liked to enjoy kareokee night on the holodecks with. Apparently they too were a bit late for thier shift.

"Hey you two! Another few seconds and you'd have missed me." she kidded.

"Talk to her about that. "Ms. Does-this--uniform-make-me-look-fat." The uniforms are all the same. What else exactly would you change into?" Dexter asked, recieving a playful slap for his efforts as the elevator began its descent.

"Whens the next kareokee night?" Sierra asked, " I'll have to tell Jimmy and Maria."

Dee Dee blushed a bit. " Oh my, haven't you heard? Maria and Jimmy split up. Word is that she left him. That could just be rumor now, but its what i hear."

The turbolift stopped and they all walked out.

" I didnt know. My god. No wonder he looked so bad when i last saw him." Sierra said. " Maybe i should go check on him after my shift."

Dexter shook his head. " Bad idea. Guys dont like that stuff. Just send him a message and give him his space. He'll get over it. He'll be fine."

"He's right," Dee Dee agreed," If he's taking this hard, give him time to digest it all. I'll call you later and catch up. I gotta run or we'll be late. Chiao!" She said as the couple jogged down the hallway.

Sierra felt as though she had the wind knocked out of her. Kelly and Maria were so good together. She had to let him know that he still had people thinking about him. She made a note to do so immediatly after her shift, if not sooner.

*****Later ******

BEEP BEEP " Ensign Kelly, this is Ensign Cooper calling to tell you that you missed your scheduled visit today. Please call the sickbay to schedule another appointment.

BEEP BEEP " Ensign Kelly, This is Lt. Commander Peterson. You missed your scheduled shift today. If you are ill, let us know. Otherwise, do be at work tomorrow, ok?"

BEEP BEEP " JImmy, Its Sierra. I heard about you and Maria. I'm sorry. If there's anything you need just ask me. I'm here for you Jimmy. Just wanted you to know that. I'll try again later, bye bye."

BEEP BEEP "END OF MESSAGES." the computer called out. The soft glow from its screen was the only light in the entire apartment. It washed across James Kelly's face with an eerie blue glow. He didn't even notice. His head was swimming in a cloudy haze. His hands no longer shook. He couldn't feel much of anything and that was exactly what he wanted.

No pain. No memories. Nothing.

He closed his eyes and the framed picture of Maria fell from his hands and clattered against the two empty hypospray vials on the floor.

He didnt care. He felt nothing.

To be continued sooner or later...................

"More Training"
Lt. Timothy Richeson
Chief Tactical Officer, USS Galaxy

NRPG: I borrowed Cmd Suder.

*** Lt. Richeson Office, Tac Ops Center***

Tim Richeson peered out the view point behind his desk. He could sit there for hours and just watch the stars fly by while at warp. It was always a good distraction from doing work. Many times he had caught himself staring out into space while there were piles of PADDs on his desk.

"Aright...enough of that." he mumbled to himself. He swiveled his chair around to face his marble desk. His computer interface flashed, showing he had a message. "Computer, play new messages. Authorization, Richeson, Romeo, gamma two gamma."

Commander Sunder's dark figure appeared on the screen. His deep voice boomed through the computers speakers. "Lieutenant, most of the tactical department still has not taken the training required to carry a side arm while on duty. Let me know when you can report to us."

Tim rolled his eyes. He was gonna shoot Lockhart. "God damnit..." he stood up and grabbed onto his uniform jacket which was hung on the back of the chair. If he was going to be forced to take extra training, Tim figured he might as well do it right. He opened his top drawer and pulled out the type II phaser he had been issued.

***10 minutes later. Phaser firing range.***

TEEEP TEEEP TEEEP

Half a dozen small circles flew across the pitch black background. Aiming so far wasn't a problem, finding the yellow circles he was supposed to be shooting at. The red dots seemed to always distract him. Tim aimed and fired, barely hitting his target.

As much as he hated to admit it, he could understand why Security had demanded the extra training. They were going to be caring a weapon. And it wasn't like this phaser range was too painstaking. "Computer, end program." The colored circles flashed off as the room went totally dark except for the game area. "Computer also send a memo to all Tactical department members. All Tac Officers are required to put in 4 hours of phaser range time before official training with security starts.

"What your Commander needs is the peace and tranquillity of the Word"
by Captain Robert Edward Lee Price

Captain Price was not very pleased when he got the report from Commander Thomas. He had just left the Cardassian, Professor Ganod, and his small aid in their guest suite and was heading back to the bridge when Chris had hailed him about the malfunction on holodeck three. *Malfunction,* Lee thought, *now that is an interesting word for what had happened.* Lieutenant Commander Jamson had intentionally destroyed the controls to the holodeck theater, forcing the shutdown of the entire holodeck system in order to repair the damage. Perhaps even more disturbing is that when Lieutenant Commander Jamson was discovered in the holodeck after vandalizing it, he refused to be arrested and attacked an unarmed, off duty security officer, Heather Sanchez. First Professor Ganod's warnings of the wide spread growth of 'The Word' and now Jamson going off the deep end and taking out his aggressions on the holodeck and one of the ship's security officers. Today was turning out to be a real humdinger for the Captain.

Stepping off the turbolift on deck 38, Lee started walking towards the brig. Lieutenant Commander Michael Jamson had always been hot headed. It was part of his character being raised with Klingons. Earlier in his career his aggressive nature served him well in the lower ranks. It had gotten him promoted, and even on the Galaxy he once served as First Officer before moving on to his own command. But Michael was now dealing with the reality that being in Command requires some tact and diplomacy as well as aggressive tendencies. A Federation starship was not a Klingon bird of prey. One couldn't get angry at a fellow officer and simply attack and kill them to settle a dispute. Such behavior had cost Michael his command and more. Now Lee knew Jamson was standing at a cross roads. Which path he chose to take was anyone's guess.

"Captain." The duty watchman, Ensign Salt, greeted.

"G'day 'mate. I'm here to see 'Commander Jamson." Lee stated evenly. He wasn't smiling his typical boyish grin. It was obvious from his serious expression and professional, no-nonsense dialog that he wasn't pleased with being here.

Astrid picked up on the Captain's mood immediately. Like the other Security officers that had heard about Jamson's attack of a security officer on the holodeck, they all had a dim view of the 'Commander's actions. Attacking anyone was considered unacceptable behavior, but to attack an unarmed security officer with a bat'leth was downright cowardly. It was also a court marshal offense.

"Of course sir. I'll buzz you in." Ensign Salt stated allowing the Captain to walk past the force field that contained the corridor to the brig cells.

A short walk later, Captain Price found himself in front of Jamson's cell. There were two security officers standing guard in the outer corridor. Lee nodded to them and asked to be let inside. Lowering the force field, the Captain entered, gaining Jamson's attention. Once inside the cell, the shimmering blue force field was reactivated again.

Jamson looked up at the Captain from where he was sitting. He made no attempt to get up or even move other then to look up at the General and then lower his head again. "You might not want to be in here Captain. I might attack you like I did Sanchez."

Lee took a couple of steps closer and then stopped, crossing his arms. "I'll take my chances 'mate." After a bit of a pause, the Captain asked, "So I've heard the other's version of what happened on holodeck three. Now I want to hear yours 'Commander."

Michael rolled his tongue around the inside of his mouth, tasting the blood from his busted lip. With a long breath, he finally stated with a sigh, "I lost my temper. That's pretty much it."

Lee regarded Jamson. In many ways he was the ideal officer to have on board the ship during a time of war. Fearless, fiercely loyal, aggressive, relentless. But much like the Soldiers of Angosia III, Jamson found it difficult to assimilate into the peacetime culture now that the war had past. Officers such as these would be ideal to place behind a sheet of glass that read, break at time of war only. But things were not that easy.

"I think you own me a better explanation then that 'mate. My understanding is that you destroyed Holodeck three so extensively that the entire holomatrix for all theaters had to be taken off-line to repair. You also resisted arrest and attacked an unarmed security officer. I know I don't have to remind you that these are serious charges 'Commander."

Jamson didn't seem to care. He still was looking down at the steel grating of the floor, wallowing in his own self induced plight. "What happens happens Captain. It doesn't matter anymore."

Lee was growing angry. He cared for Jamson, he was one of his oldest crew members. Seeing him disregard his duty and Starfleet responsibilities so casually was really pissing him off. Attacking a fellow officer was a court marshal offense. Jamson's career with Starfleet would be finished. All the General had to do was send in the report to Starfleet Command. But the General wanted to know why Jamson had gone off the deep end. He didn't want to ruin him over this, but Michael was giving him little choice.

"THAT'S NOT BLOODY GOOD ENOUGH COMMANDER!" Lee burst out. "Get on your feet mister Jamson!... I will have an explanation of your recent actions and I will have it now!"

Michael looked up at the Captain and with cold, cool contempt stated, "Go fuck yourself sir."

The Captain couldn't believe his ears. He wouldn't have thought it possible that Jamson would show such disrespect for his commanding officer. Particularly now, when his entire career and freedom hung in the balance. "Excuse me? I don't think I heard you right mister..."

Jamson stood up now and stood a good 5 inches taller then the Captain. He was covered in nicks and bruises from his holodeck trashing, but the 'Commander still made an imposing looking adversary. "You heard me all right Captain. Now I suggest you leave before things get ugly."

"I'll leave once I have some answers 'mate and not a moment before. What the hell happened to cause you to thrash the holodeck and attack Sanchez? I want to know so I can understand what's going on in that head of yours 'Commander." Lee stated back strongly, showing no signs of being easily intimidated by the towering officer.

"It's none of your damned business why I did it." Jamson shot back.

"TO HELL IT ISN'T MISTER!" Lee yelled back. "ON BOARD THIS SHIP, EVERYTHING IS MY BUSINESS!"

Jamson considered his options. He knew he sat a crossroads. Unlike the holodeck where he was taking out his adrenaline, and messing with the security chick, now he was in front of the Captain of the ship. One right cross and his career, and hopes of getting his own command again one day would be gone. Looking down deep inside, Michael knew that wasn't what he wanted to do. It was why he hadn't really hurt Sanchez. Had he wanted to, he could have cleaved her in half. But something had held him back. It was just really hard to hear that part of him right now with all the pain and loss he'd recently experienced.

"Maybe this ship isn't the right place for me anymore." Jamson managed.

Lee stepped closer, peering up into Jamson's eyes. "Is that what you want 'mate? Out of Starfleet? Because right now you are doing everything you can to make that reality easy to fulfill..."

Michael felt a pang in the pit of his stomach. He knew he didn't want to give up Starfleet. Despite it all, he still felt the Federation meant something and took pride in calling himself a Starfleet Officer. "No sir." Jamson finally admitted.

Lee shoved his hands against the 'Commander's shoulders, pushing him backwards and down onto the bunk with a sharp slapping sound. "Then talk 'Commander, because I have a hard time making decisions about one of my officers future based on reports from others. I want to hear your version of what happened." The General explained in a more sincere tone.

Jamson looked at the Captain and considered his words. For all the trouble he'd recently caused, Michael realized for the first time the General was trying to give him a break. It took courage to want to learn the truth about what happened. Most Starship COs wouldn't even bother, simply ordering a court marshal and being done with the break in Starfleet Protocol. But Lee was different; he was trying to give Michael every chance possible to explain his actions before making his decision.

Michael decided that he owed the Captain an explanation, even if he himself was unsure what it was going to be, or exactly why he had assaulted the holodeck or Lieutenant Sanchez. Over the next forty minutes, he began talking to the General about his recent disappointments. About loosing his command. About growing up around the Orion Syndicate. About his grandfather... all of it. By the time he was done, Jamson still didn't know if he had actually answered the Captain's question or not of why he had gone ballistic on Holodeck three.

Lee listened closely. He let Jamson do most of the talking and didn't seem to be judging him, only listening. When Michael had finished, he finally stood up and gave a nod. "Well, thank you 'mate for sharing that with me. I will certainly take that into consideration before making any sort of decision about what will come of all this. For now you should sit tight. I'm sure both Medical and Counseling will be sending someone over for evaluations. When I have all the data I'll make my decision."

Michael nodded, "I understand sir." he stated laying back on his bunk.

Lee gave a nod and then looked over to the security guards expectantly. They quickly deactivated the force field and allowed the Captain to exit, reactivating it once he stepped through.

***

Captain Price entered the banquette room a bit late because of his unexpected detour to the security deck. Fortunately the conversation was light and friendly; an indication that the Prophetess and her aid were having a good time visiting with the Senior staff and other invited officers of the Galaxy.

Lee smiled when he saw all was going well, but his thoughts were still of Jamson and what he should do about his recent behavior. "G'Day Madame Kiye. Sorry I'm late. I was detained on ship's business."

"That is quite all right Captain." Madame Kiye stated, "We have been having a wonderful time with your crew members here, discussing the Word and the peace it brings all that choose to study it's teachings."

Seated near the Prophetess was Lieutenant' Kahn Nilani, whom had been requested as her personal medical aid since the Inherent Mother was unable to assist the elderly Matriarch constantly. To the other side of Madame Kiye, Doctor Michala Lynn was seated. It struck Lee how peaceful and at ease the officers looked. It was a sharp contrast to the anger and pain he'd just experienced in Lieutenant Commander Jamson's brig cell.

"That sound's wonderful 'mate. I'm sure I could use some tranquillity right about now."

Picking up on the Captain's mood, the Prophetess' gaze seemed to sharpen slightly, "You seemed troubled my child. Tell Madame Kiye what troubles you Captain. Perhaps I can help."

Taking his seat, Lee smiled politely. "Oh, no worries 'mate. It's nothing."

The wizened elderly Prophetess knew better then that. "Come now Captain. Your words say one thing, but your expression gives you away. Something troubles you. Tell me, so I can be of help in cleansing your soul of this burden..."

"It's nothing really Madame Kiye." Lee stated pouring himself a glass of Cavaroot juice. "Just a spot of trouble with one of my officers. Nothing to concern yourself with."

"It is your Lieutenant Commander Jamson of which you speak." Madame Kiye declared.

Lee's jaw practically dropped. "That is correct Madame. How did you know 'mate?"

Smiling widely, Madame Kiye replied, "Today we visited this wonderful place Captain. I believe it was called Ten Forward. It seems that there one can learn all sorts of things that happen on board a starship such as this."

Lee smiled, "That certainly is one of the gossip centers of the ship. I'll admit to that Madame."

"From what I understand a lot of people are upset with this Commander for breaking one of the fantasy rooms and causing your crews entertainment to go off-line." Madame Kiye explained.

"Aye. The control console was damaged and Engineering had to take the whole system down in order to repair the damage. Unfortunately the repairs will be quite extensive, so for now they have just bypassed holodeck three which remains off-line. The other theaters are once again operational however." Captain Price explained.

"I would like to meet this Commander Jamson Captain. Might you be able to arrange it?" Madame Kiye asked.

Lee shook his head, "I don't think that would be a good idea 'mate. Lieutenant Commander Jamson is not himself. He's rather angry and upset at loosing a close friend. I think he just needs some time in the brig to cool off right now to get his head together."

"Rubbish." Madame Kiye declared. "What your Commander needs is the peace and tranquillity of the Word Captain. If you will allow me to visit with this Jamson, I tell you I can relieve his pain and make him a new man through the wisdom of the word."

"Thank you Madame Kiye, but I insist it's a bad idea 'mate."

"Oh come now Captain Price. Consider it a just test of the powers of the Word. For it is easy for the Word to bring happiness to those who are already so prosperous, but to relieve those suffering a loss and carrying a burden like your Commander over his friend, that is a true test of the powers of the Word. The demonstration would be a welcome one. For I know I may help this man."

"I still don't think it's a good idea Madame. Jamson was rather abusive when I talked to him, and he did attack a fellow crew member. I wouldn't want for him to offend you in his present state."

"It is impossible to offend a bringer of the Word Captain. This officer carries a great burden. Please allow me to share his pain and thus through the power of the word vanquish it forever from his spirit."

The Captain was impressed with the Prophetess' diplomatic and negotiating prowess. She was certainly a difficult woman to say no to. But he wasn't expecting what came next.

"Come on Captain, let her give it a try. What can it hurt?" Nilani asked.

"Yes sir, let her try. If you are concerned, you can have security maintain the force field in Commander Jamson's cell. And as the teachings of Exclamations 45:10 states, 'Words are but weapons of thought. Only if one allows them to pierce the protection of the Word may they harm one.'" Michala recited from memory.

Soon several of the officers at the banquette found themselves supporting the Prophetess, and wanting to see a demonstration of the powers of the Word. It was quite an impressive outlay of support for a religion that few of them had ever heard of until a few days ago.

"Very well, if you insist Madame Kiye. I just hope you know what you are doing." Lee reluctantly agreed. Having spent over an hour talking to Jamson, he knew how much pain Michael was in over recent events and the death of his friend, which served as the straw that broke the camels back. If there was a chance the Prophetess could help, even though he didn't believe that she could, Lee was willing to give it a try. He also wanted to see exactly how Madame Kiye was going to pull off this minor miracle. Lee had to resort to shouting at the top of his lungs just to get Michael to open up a little and explain what lead up to his emotional outbreak on the holodeck. It would be interesting to see if Madame Kiye would use different tactics, or if the amulet she wore around her neck truly was the artifact Ganod said was the Stone of Tears.

"I have known what I was doing for many years Captain. Come we can go at once. There is no need for this Jamson to carry his burden any longer when there is the Word to lift his spirits." Madame Kiye declared maneuvering her repulsor chair away from the table.

Patting his mouth with the white linen napkin, the Captain put it aside and began to get up. "Come 'mate, I'll show you the way."

Many of the officers around the banquette table began to rise, wanting to come and see the Prophetess work her miracles. But Madame Kiye soon called out, "My children, please sit and enjoy your meals. I will return soon, for it would be best if I saw this Jamson with few disciples present. I'm sure that Nilani and Michala will be sufficient in assisting me. The Inherent Mother will remain here and continue sharing the wisdom of the Word with you during the gracious supper Captain Price has arranged for our behalf." Madame Kiye declared.

Looking at Tarie, who was sitting next to the cosmetically altered Lieutenant' Drake Tarsonis, the Inherent Mother quickly spoke, "Yes, I can share with you the story from Facilitations of the wonders of giving to others and the rewards it brings..."

Like a loyal flock, the other officers became fascinated with Tarie and willingly retook their seats. The sudden reversal made the hairs on the back of Captain Price' neck tingle. Perhaps the Cardassian Archeologist, Ganod, had been correct about his ascertains that the Word had an unnatural power because of the Stone of Tears.

"Come Captain, take us to allow the peace of the Word to relieve Commander Jamson of his pain." Madame Kiye called out with Lieutenant' Kahn Nilani and Doctor Michala Lynn standing beside her.

"Fair dinkum 'mate, this way..." Lee finally stated, giving the rim of his dress uniform a tug as he stood from the table and began walking towards the exit with the Prophetess and her aids.

"And so it continues."
By Lt. Commander Peterson & Commander Thomas

Peterson stood quietly as Chris finally wrapped up a report he had been working on over the last few days. During his various interviews with some of the other department heads he had been given a considerable amount of information to consider. He had notes about their strengths and weakenesses, command experience, career outlooks, psychological profiles, their views on other candidates - all which he took in to consideration while continuing the process of selecting someone for the position of second officer on the USS Galaxy.

It was a similiar reason that brought Lieutenant Commander Peterson to the office of the first officer. He too had gone through a similar, yet less grueling process, to find a suitable officer to take the role of assistant chief science officer.

Commander Thomas tapped the console on his desk and leaned back in his chair. The two men exchanged a glance without saying so much as muttering a word between them. Thomas grew tedious of where to go next and broke the tension by extending his hand towards the chair opposite him. The chief science officer responded by taking the seat he had been offered and sat down.

"So, I understand from what you said yesterday, you have a solution to the little problem of no assistant chief science officer," Chris began, allowing Peterson to take the initiative. "I'm all ears 'Commander."

Kent folded his arms. Taking a moment to think he unfolded his arms again and leaned a little forward. "Actually, sir, I have and I haven't," he said, waiting to see Thomas' reaction. "What I have done is gone through the personnel records and come up with several problems in the way that the science department is functioning."

"I'm listening," Chris remarked.

"It's easier if I explain this by example. You may recall that Lieutenant Commander Olson is a keen botanist. Well, say we are in a mission where botany is the most required skill," he said as he was met with an unusual look from the first officer. "Okay, its not the best example, but should it be the case, wouldn't it be better for Captain or yourself to have him there when I am not on the Bridge?" Kent said rhetorically. "For me too. Look, I'll be honest, I don't have all the answers all the time, no scientist can genuinely say that. I know that I would prefer to have someone there to back up me up when we're in a situation this is requires a more specialist knowledge."

Peterson waited a few moments to allow Thomas time to take in what he said.

Commander Thomas glanced at him for a moment. Then raised an eyebrow, "'Commander Peterson, I think that 'Commander Olson isn't a very good choice to use an example." Chris said, pulling up a recent activity list, which went on to show that the Mr. Olson had missed several appointments and a few of his shifts.

Kent shrugged his shoulders. "No, I understand what you mean, sir."

"I have removed Mister Olson from consideration." Chris said simply.

"Understood, Commander," Kent said, somewhat justified in his original remarks made when he and Thomas had come to heads in Ten Forward a few nights ago.

"Back to your plan." Chris said moving the subject back to the real issue at hand. The position of assistant chief science officer. "Your plan I guess would be to make sure the right officer is on the bridge for the right mission. Well that's great, it would give us the chance to ask the right man, the questions so we might get some correct answers." Commander Thomas said in a very mocking tone. "However it still doesn't solve what I asked you to review and determine who'd be best for the job of assistant chief!"

Peterson squinted his eyes ever so slightly. He wasn't certain if Chris Thomas was simply playing hard-assed or just a down right an ass. Whatever it was, it struck a chord in the chief science officer that made him have to restrain himself from responding. At that moment he felt like rubbing in Thomas' error in judgement about Jake Olson - had he listened to the first officer's strongly experssed opinions a few nights earlier, he would have appointed someone who the commander was now calling incompetent.

Taking a moment to let the ascerbic remark on his tounge subside, Peterson was ready to begin. "Let's say that we were involved in a mission that required stellar cartography as a primary mission requirement, then, as an example, Lieutenant MacAllen would step in as assistant science chief. Then, as another example, the next mission we have involves astrophysics as a primary mission requirement, then I would give Mister Re'Cannto a shot. The point I am trying to make is that I want to maximize the oppurtunity for the science officers on this vessel to excel, while providing us with the most qualified person to stand in while I'm not on the Bridge."

"Alright then, please enlightment me to your plan."

Kent smiled but not because of a sense of relief. If it was not a court-marshall offence to strike a fellow officer, especially one of a higher rank, then it was something he might have actually entertained. Still, he was getting his way so there was no need to push it by returning the mocking or sarcastic tones coming from the ship's executive officer.

"My pleasure, sir," Kent responded as sincerely as he could muster, "I'll begin the process of putting together a plan to reorganize the department and those whom I consider to be most qualified to take the various sub-departments."

Now the chief's plan was making more sense to him. "Ok so by dividing up the science department into subdepartments you hope to find the best qualified officer to serve as assistant when the mission calls for a certain talent or level of knowledge." Commander Thomas said. It was an interesting plan, but operations, engineering, helm control, etc. were also divided up by various subdepartments. Which then of course brought a question, "Why wasn't the science department already divided up into subdepartments?"

"It is and it isn't, sir," Peterson said, "whilst there are obvious divisions in the scientific fields, and obviously the facilities on this ship, there has been no formal declaration saying the science officer A is actually responsible for sub-department A, though there are generally officers assigned to particular areas. These officers, or whomever appeared to be on duty, generally reported to the assistant chief science officer, when there actually was one on the ship, and this officer reported to the chief science officer. What I am planning is to remove the 'middle man' so to speak."

"It just seems odd 'commander that the department wouldn't have divisions already." Commander Thomas stated. "The idea is a good plan, don't get me wrong. I am just wondering why it wasn't already in place."

Kent shrugged his shoulders. "Beats me. You've been on the ship longer than I have, and your the first officer. I thought perhaps you could enlighten me," he added, reflecting the question back to Thomas.

"Well then proceed with your plan to divide the science department into subdepartments as you've suggested." Chris said with a grin. He still wanted the chief to name a full time assistant as per his orders. However, for the moment he would give the 'Commander's suggestion, his plan a chance to play out.

"Will do."

"Lt. Commander Peterson, do understand one thing I still strongly believe the science department should have a full time regular assistant chief for the department. However, I am not an unreasonable man and I am willing to give your idea a chance to develop and show it's value." Chris said. He would normally continue with a but, instead he didn't.

The chief science officer nodded. "That's rather sporting of you, sir. Thanks."

"Sporting of me?" Chris said with a smile. "I've never heard that term used with my orders."

"Figuratively speaking only, Commander," Peterson remarked. Of course he was refering to the fact that while he had come up with something different, Chris was allowing him to at least try out his alternative.

"You provided me with a suitable plan to what I asked for, now I expect to see it carried out and work. If not then we're back to square one with you needing to officially name a assistant for the department." Chris said.

"Fair enough."

"Alright then keep me apprised of your progress and I will of course be monitoring as well." Chris said.

Kent began to smile. It was one of those smiles as though he were planning to get up to something. He wasn't, but it was his way of dealing with the first officer. "I wouldn't expect anything less."

"Dismissed 'commander." Chris said.

Lieutenant Commander Peterson stood up and straightened his uniform. Giving the ship's executive officer a nod he turned and walked out of the door while Commander Thomas returned to his reading material.

Life's a beach Pt 2

Lt Mike O'Grady
Lt Rayna O'Grady
Nikki O'Grady

It was getting late and Nikki was getting tired of the beach. Everyone was hungry now, "Come on Nikki, I think that we should go eat." Nikki ran back and Rayna brushed off the sand. Rayna looked out onto the ocean one more time, "It's really beautiful. It's true what they say that Bajor's oceans are so much greener than Earth's." She took one more breath of fresh air.

Mike smiled and slipped his arms back around her waist and gently kissed her lips one time, "We'll have to come back before the shoreleave ends."

"Yeah. I hear that at night, several of Bajor's moon's shine brightly at night and that the beach looks spectacular at night." Nikki had to put her two cents in, "Earth only has one moon." Rayna smiled, "Very good Nikki, yes, it does."

Mike smiled then touseled her hair real quickly before he shrugged on his shirt, "So, where too for dinner?"

"I heard of a place that serves good Bajoran shrimp fresh out of this ocean and you sit cross-legged on the floor, kind of like Japanese style." She had read up on Bajor.

Mike raised an eyebrow, "nice idea, do we have to go back up to the ship and change?"

"No, it's quite casual." They heard someone say hi. It was one of Nikki's friend's mom, "Hey you two. I'm surprised we bumped into you. We were on our way from shopping and now we're back to the ship for dinner. I promised Sarah here hot dogs. Want to join us?" Rayna declined but Nikki really didn't like shrimp and vocalized it. Satah' mom shrugged, "She can join us, that's fine. It'll give them a chance to play." Rayna looked at Mike, seeing that he approved, turned back to Sarah's mom, "Sure, that's fine. What time should we pick her up?" Sarah's mom didn't care, "I figure that they'll be good for about four hours." Rayna smiled again, "Great. Thanks, we'll see you then." With that, Nikki was off and it was just them two.

Mike smiled, "Well, it looks like a private dinnre for two tonight."

"Look that way. We have four hours, we'd better not waste it here just talking, let's go eat."

"Hey maybe it could be an overnight, we could check in to a hotel and spend an evening together?" He grinned and kissed her lips softly.

Rayna playfully elbowed him, "Stop. I don't think it would be right to dump Nikki on her like that. Next time, we'll just have to plan it better, that's all."

"Not dump, we can ask, if she says she can't then she can't, if she can then we have an evening." Gently he ran his fingers along her back.

"Let's just play it by ear, okay?" Rayna put a sundress over her baithing suit, "My stomach is growling, can we go eat now?"

"Most definately." He took her hand and they walked along the path. Stopping along the way to window shop.

Rayna was hungry but couldn't resist going inside. She was a sucker for a bargain.

Mike of course being a good husband followed dutifly behind her and helped her search through clothing. Maybe even his favorite area, lingere.

She managed to walk out with very little merchandise. She found something but didn't let Mike see what it was, "I think the restaurant is this way."

Mike was curious, but he repressed his curiosity as they walked along, "So, tonight, we enjoy a nice dinner and relax."

"So far." They found the restaurant and entered. It was quite an intersting place. Different from what they were used to but sat down on the floor. Rayna ordered what else but the shrimp and a glass of iced tea..

Mike ordered a glass of iced tea and shripm with the local spices. Reaching over he took her hand.

She smiled at Mike then glanced around the place, "This is nice so far."

"yeah it is" He squeezed her hand as the waiter brought out their tea and two large plates of shrimp for the both of them.

All through dinner, they looked at each other like love struck puppies, holding hands, etc. They started to talk about the baby. Something that they had only touched on, "Nikki has been asking if the new baby could sleep in her room. I had to explain some things to her."

Mike looked at her and smiled, "She hasn't asked where the baby came from has she?"

"Not yet but I think once I start showing and the baby starts moving, I'm sure there will be questions. I'm ready for it though." She had gotten advice from several counselors.

"Well she's curious always." Mike smiled, "But she's a good kid."

She returned his smile, "That she is. I was like that when I was her age...curious that is."

"Lotsa questions?" Mike ran his thumb along her knuckles as they finished dinner.

"Yeah, she used to tell me that curiosity killed the cat and one day it was going to get me in trouble. Curiosity wasn't what got me in trouble, ignorance got me in more trouble."

"It always does." Mike said, their four hours was ticking away and he looked at her, "So should we get ready to head up to the ship?"

Before the conversation headed down a path she didn't want to take, she nodded, "Yes, might be a good idea."

He looked at her and gave a sly smile, "Well actually I spoke to Nikki when I went to use the restroom, she wanted to stay overnight at Sarah's, I spoke to her mom she said it was fine. Nikki was being good so she can stay overnight So I said she could stay overnight."

She raised an eyebrow, "Oh you did, did you?" She shook her head, " I have to hand it to you, you're a sneaky little devil."

"Well she also said the kids were having a great time and who was I to interrupt a good time by two 6 year old girls." He raised an eyebrow to match hers.

She stood up, "I'm not going to argue. Let's go then and take that moonlight walk on the beach."

"Sounds good to me." HE took her hand and stood up after paying the bill they walked out to the beach, he was still holding her hand, and she was holding her package she had picked up.

She was impressed, "They were right. It is really beautiful at night."

"Yeah, it is." He slipped his arm around her shoulder, "well I think it's the company that makes it more beautiful."

She looked at him, looking quite serious, "You're doing it again."

"What?"

She broke into a smile, "You always know how to make me feel good about myself." She kissed him, "I really love you. You know that?""

He kissed her back and caressed her cheek, "I do, because I love you too."

After putting her stuff down, she leaned against him slightly, just enjoying the view, "Makes you want to stay, doesn't it?"

"It does, jsust move here and set up shop."

She chuckled a little, "Oh well, we could dream."

"Yeah we could." He smiled slyly, "Or we could move here."

"No that's okay." She joked, "I like Starfleet and where else could we get such great benefits and a retirement plan?"

"That's true."

They stayed there for awhile, holding each other in the moonlight, "Let's say we go home."

"Like that hotel overthere?" He pointed to a hotel in the distance, "Or should we go back to the ship?"

"We don't exactly have anything to change into, well, at least you don't." She grinned.

He grinned back, "I think I could pick something up if you wanted." Then the second part of her comment kicked in, "Oh what do you have to change in to?"

"That's for me to know and you to find out." She was loving this.

"Why don't we head up to the ship?"

She picked up her stuff, taking his hand, she pulled him along, "Come on then."

He teasingly pulled her in to his arms for a deep and tender kiss. "Ok now let's go."

She looked at him with a big grin on her face, "I hope that there is more from where that came from."

Leaning in he whispered softly, "Much much more where that came from."

She seemed to hasten her steps, "I can't wait to show you what I got." She figured while she still had her figure, why not buy something...special.

He noticed this. "Will it be something that might not be worn long?" Mike grinned and slipped his arms around her waist as they headed for the designated beamup point.

She thought for a moment, "With our record...no."

"You say that like it's a bad thing." He teased her a bit. as they were waiting for transport.

She smiled, "No, not a bad thing but you have to admit, most of my negligees usually stay on for less than 5 minutes."

"Well perhaps we can try and break that record tonight." He chuckled and they took their positions to be transported back up.

She laughed, "You are so bad...I love it."

Stepping off the transporter pad Mike could tell the Transporter chief was studiously ignoring their conversation. Walking out of the transporter room Mike smiled, "So you think that transporter crewman was checking you out or what? Maybe I should go kick his butt for you." He loved to tease her like that, obvously he wasn't jealous or insecure.

"Oooh, that wouldn't be smart. I'd have to arrest you and then all of that paperwork, it would just kill the mood."

"Does that mean you'd have to use the handcuffs?" He raised an eyebrow teasingly, flirting with her a bit more.

She teased back, "Probably and don't forget the leg irons. I have to make sure my prisoner doesn't get away."

"Honey, cuff me to the bed and I ain't going anywhere." Then slipped his arms around her waist and gave her a hug.

By the time they got back to their quarters, they were both in a very good mood. Rayna walked into the bedroom and Mike followed but she pushed him out, "Not yet. Stay there, I'll call you when I'm ready."

"Ok." Mike walked to the replicator and brought up two glasses of sparkling white wine, with synthehol which was safe for the baby.

Rayna walked out in a low cut lace negligee set that was latched in the middle, exposing her midriff. "Like I said, enjoy this while you can."

"Oh belive me I do." He handed her the glass of wine and a soft kiss.

She took the drink, sat on the couch and patted the area next to her, signaling him to join her.

He walked over and sat next to her and kissed her again. "When did you pick that up?"

She spoke in a teasing tone, "Oh...while you were busy checking up on that baby item you saw."

"Well I'm glad I checked it out then." He leaned in for another kiss."

She kissed him back and decided that it was just too light for the mood, so she ordered the computer to dim the lights and throw on some soft, romantic music.

Mike smiled, "well isn't this how we ended up expecting a baby in the first place?" He loved to tease her slightly as he caressed her cheek softly.

"Well, you don''t have to worry about that now, do you?" She started to act like she was going to get up, "Of course, if you would rather me change into something less provocative."

"Most definately not." he leaned in to her neck planting a small kiss.

He knew how much she like it when he kissed her neck. At this rate, they were going to beat their record, "I didn't think so."

"Not a chance." Finding that one spot that turned her to jelly for sure.

Conversation became less as things began to get hot and heavy. She, by this time, had gotten his shirt off and working her way down. It was time to move it to the bedroom.

Mike helped her stand up and reached for the front catch on her top and opened it. "We beat our old record."

She smiled, "The record isn't beat until the last piece of clothing is removed." With that, she went towards the bedroom.

He walked in to the bedroom, stopping only to pick his shirt off the floor and drape it over a chair. Then he slipped her top off gently caressing her breasts as they were revealed. "Have I told you how lucky I am today to have you in my life?"

She put her arms around his neck, kissing him in between words, "No...why don't you...tell me...all...about it."

Kissing her back, his hands caressing her body, he began to tell her how special she was to him. He moved his hands down her body/

Her body reacted with each touch of his and they soon moved to the bed where they expressed their undying love for each other as they did many times before.

Afterwords Mike held her close as they laid together, "you know every time we do that is like the first time for me."

"I know what you mean. I think what we have together is so wonderful. I don't ever want to lose this."

"We never will." He gently nuzzled her neck.

"I know." She turned and faced him, "I know because we won't let it."

"Nope not a chance of that happening." Leaning in he kissed her again, his hands softly caressign her one more time.

He laid her hand on his chest, her head resting on him, unconsciously making circles with her finger, "You know, we have all night. Care to go maybe...for another round?"

He lifted his head, "You know me, always ready for another round."

She got this big grin on her face and in no time, was going at it again like newlyweds. It was obvious that they would always be a couple and grow old together.

Afterwords he held her hand and kissed her lips again, "They do say second time is the charm."

Slightly panting, she chuckled, "I agree." They laid together a little longer, "I don't know about you but think that I could use a shower."

"I definately agree." He kissed her lips again, "Let's go conserve water."

She climbed out of bed, into the bathroom and began the shower, waiting for him to join her.

Mike followed, stepping in behind her and begin to wash her hair as they had done before.

She rinsed her hair and she began to wash him...as they always did. It was quite exciting and pleasurable for both of them as they in turn washed each other.

Stepping out of the shower Mike snuck in a kiss as he dried her off, "So, What else can we do this evening?" Looking in to her eyes he kissed her again to punctuate his question.

"I'm not sure." She went into the bedroom to straighten up the bed, "I'm a little tired. I guess being pregnant has it's downfalls."

"Yeah it's not like our honeymoon, there was a day we didn't leave the bedroom." He chuckled, "tell ya what, why don't we pop in a movie and watch it, just enjoy this time together, hey we can even watch one that isn't a disney production."

"Is that a promise? I couldn't sit through one more of those." She teased, "Rosemary's Baby, now that is a good ole movie to see when you're pregnant."

"Yeah, a classic." He teased her, "So, what did you want to see?

"I don't care as long as it isn't about gladiators."

"No arguement there." Mike flipped through the movie selections before deciding on a comedy.

She dressed into a regular nightgown and joined Mike to watch the movie, "Any more of that wine left?"

"I could get you another glass, I checked with the doctor two glasses a night should be ok for the baby."

"I see you've been busy. Just remember, this isn't the first time I've been pregnant."

"I know, I did come to visit you the last time."

"Yes you did. I was an emotional mess too." The memories were still all too fresh for her.

"Yeah. you were upset, we stayed up to talk as much as I could." He took her hand and kissed her tenderly.

Him taking her hand sparked a memory of that visit. He had put his hand on hers and she remembered jerking it away. She found herself staring at her hand in his.

"Everything ok dear?" he asked.

A small shiver went up her spine, "Um, yeah. I'm fine. Let's watch this movie"

He leaned in and kissed her one more time, "we can talk to Cmdr Dallas later if you want, but right now let's watch the movie."

She shook her head, "It's not necessary, really. I just hadn't thought about those days in years."

"Ok." He flipped on the movie and the images washed over them, it was a silly comedic movie. Soon they were laughing and forgettign their troubles.....

Lieutenant Commander Ethan Suder Chief Engineer

"Rising Problem"

"All right, where do we stand?" Ethan asked the Junior Engineers standing around the main terminal in Engineering.

"Main power systems don't appear to be effected." Murdoc answered.

"From what I understand there's a lot of complaints going around about the shutting down of all the Holodecks. Can't say I blame anyone, 'Commander Jamson should be-" Carter was cut off by Ethan quickly.

"The issue does not concern any of you." he snapped. "If you have a problem, I expect you to be civil about it. Either discuss it with myself or another Senior Officer or keep it to yourself. I don't care if the other departments go around with gossip, but that's not what we do, understood?" he asked. After a few nods from the Junior Engineers, Ethan continued. "What about secondary systems?"

"There appear to be a few glitches. Only minor ones, sonic shows, a couple of replicators, turbolifts, the list goes on." Lieutenant Jackson replied.

"I want repair teams Alpha and Beta to begin repairs on all secondary systems. Everyone else, begin work on the primary systems." Ethan ordered.

The Engineers began their work and moved away from the main computer. Ethan stood there for several seconds thinking about what was going to happen about with Commander Jamson. He remembered when Samara used to damage and destroy equipment too. All three officers were very much alike. It was then that his head began hurting again.

*** He seemed to be seeing things in his head. He had no control over what he was seeing, but the images continued. An explosion in the Jeffries tube. The flames engulfing a single Engineer. The console in Engineering shattering as an Engineers fist slammed into it. An Excelsior class ship drifting through space as torpedoes continued to breach the hull and explode from the inside out. The Captain being injured, First Officer being killed and the Chief of Tactical and Engineering both being critically wounded. Two middle aged people being attacked by the Borg. Countless cities destroyed, millions killed and wounded on what Ethan called home. ***

"Chief?" a voice called out.

Ethan focused on the voice and the pain in his head drifted away as if retreating. He opened his eyes and looked up to see Lieutenant Carter standing in front of him. "Yes?" he asked.

"What do you think?" Carter asked.

"About what?" Ethan asked.

"My ideas on the warp core diagnostic?" he asked holding up a data padd.

"I'll look into it." Ethan said taking the data padd wondering what the hell Carter was on about.

"Are you all right?" he asked. "You seemed to be far away?"

"Just thinking about a few things. Anything else?" Ethan replied.

"I just wanted to say sorry about voicing my thoughts of Commander Jamson. I thought you shared the same opinions."

"I don't. I know what Commander Jamson is like, but you have to understand he's been through a lot." Ethan explained.

Carter gave a nod and then walked away leaving Ethan with his thoughts. Ethan clenched his fists. He was tired of having these headaches. He turned to walk into his office and noticed several Engineers looking at him as if concerned. When Ethan noticed more officers looking at him, he just sighed and walked into his office. The problems were only beginning, but Ethan thought that by decreasing his work load, maybe the stress would stop. He thought so anyway, but the problem was deeper in his head...

To Be Continued...

�Fair Warnings�
By Ensign James Lionel Corgan
Security Officer, USS Galaxy

Ensign Corgan�s quarters reverberated in the sound of music. He played his old Fender Strat with deft fingers, while singing softly. Stereo music played on his speakers, connected and intertwined to the rhythm of his guitar. He sang soothingly, like a sedate man trying to calm himself. He needed to loose himself in the music, after enduring another one of Madam Kiye�s sermons on �The Word�. He played a song called �Sariya�, because it always calmed him down whenever he listened to it.

By the words of the song, he sang, keeping up with the rest of the music that his guitar couldn�t make.

�My heart�s can be as black as coal.�
�It�s not as shaded as my soul.�
�I could have crushed you, but mercy is what I see.�
�I must have gone weak.�

�Love this, for your pride I do spare.�
�I might just leave you be, for me.�
�So lost, could you even find the way.�
�Pastel skies, black flies, contradictory!�

�Do care, for my resistance is shot.�
�Can you, see how far I have rot.�
�You are so pure, I just hope you are the cure.�
�I could just fight when I have you in my sights�

�It�s not a phase, it�s a fear.�
�I always thought that love was queer.�
�All that I can say, I wish that love would go away.� �I should� have escaped�.�

�I thought, love was my enemy.�
�I can feel so sad, melancholy.�
�Let me draw deep into your well.�
�So I can get up from where I fell.�

�It�s not a phase, it�s a fear.�
�I always thought that love was queer.�
�All that I can say, I wish that love would go away.� �I should� have escaped�. I had fair warning��

�Newsflash, dear psycho,� Yelled his conscience, �I know you want a girlfriend, so quit bitching about it and get one!�

�In that case, dear mind,� Ensign Corgan snapped at himself, �How about you piss off, then I can go along my normal business and run into someone that all the sudden sparks my interest, then I try to ask her out. And since I�ve seen almost ever eligible woman on the ship give me dirty looks, and the fact that nothing clicked in me, then I�ll have to go dateless for a little while longer. GOT IT?!?�

�Yea, yea. I got it, you pussy.� His conscience grumbled, then added, �You know what also could help?�

�What?� James asked himself.

�The Word. SURRENDER TO THE DARKSIDE!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!�

�No� f**king way.�

�You know you want to�.�

�I know she�s bad news.�

�What? Scared of a little old lady in a repulsor chair? You ninny� she�s offering me the chance at true peace. How about you just take it. It�s right there, and it�s so easy��

Ensign Corgan banished his thoughts for a second to think clearly. �The Word� was so tempting. It was a problem solver for all of his problems, all rolled into one book, or one sermon, or just being in the presence of Madam Kiye. It seemed so easy, which was the reason why he has so far rejected it. Nothing is too easy, not even in Christianity, which he has the most exposure to.

He somehow got the feeling that �The Word� was poison, but what could he do about it?

�I must talk to Savat or the Captain about this.� He said, �I�m scared for the crew.�

He walked over to his computer console and activated the voice command. He immediately started typing out the words on the LCARS pad. Then, he stopped.

�Wait a second,� Ensign Corgan thought, �I have to back all this stuff up. Let�s see� gather info� got it. I have noticed significant increases in the attendance of Madam Kiye�s sermons, especially from crewmembers of the ship. I have first hand experience, because I�m an honor guard. What else� I have to think of some sermon quotes� it�s all a bunch of mushy crap, that�s it. What else do we have? Maybe I can tell them by the rapid rate of growth of �The Word� on this ship, and the rapid results, I could say that this �Word� is the equivalent of a cult movement using brainwashing methods and it�s rapidly assimilating the crew of the ship! THAT�S IT!�

�Wait� how is she brainwashing people?�

At this, Ensign Corgan was stuck. He decided to wait until tomorrow, when his new shift starts. He�ll have to keep a closer eye on Madam Kiye and find some indication of a clue to how she�s �converting� so many people.

�I�ll have to do this alone for awhile. Who knows how much of the security crew bought this bullsh!t� Ensign Corgan thought.

*****A few days later*****

It was security duty once again for the wary and paranoid Ensign Corgan. He watched Madam Kiye like a hawk, for a reason that wasn�t for protection. Ok, it was protection, but for himself against the virulent �Word�.

He listened in on the sermon for an hour. He was getting quite restless and he was anxious to end the ceremony with a phaser if he had to, but he couldn�t. He was just an Ensign�.

�and Ensigns don�t get demoted. They get their asses fired on the spot.

After the sermon ended, his shift also concluded. He was relieved by an attractive young woman.

�Now�s your chance� His brain told him.

�Not now. I�m busy.� Ensign Corgan told himself.

The new honor guard walked out of the room, surrounding Madam Kiye in a ring of protection. It was then that Ensign Corgan started his work. He walked over to a corner of the room and pulled out a stashed PADD. He typed in some information.

�Day One, observation. 10 people.� Ensign Corgan recited,

�Day Two, observation, 25 people.� He continued, punching buttons on the PADD.

�Day Three, observation, 40 people.� He recited.

�Day Four, 69.�

�Day Five, 78�

�Day Six, 95.�

�Day Seven, today,� He paused, trying to recall the number of people showing up at the gymnasium, �126 people attended Madam Kiye�s sermon. Oh my god. In one week, the attendance has grown exponentially.�

*****NEXT DAY*****

One again, after being relieved of duty by the same attractive security officer, Ensign Corgan got to work. This time, he pulled out his usual personal PADD and recorded the day�s attendance.

�Day Eight, Observation, 176 people have attended Madam Kiye�s sermon. That�s a big jump!� He gasped.

Then, he pulled something out of the belt of his uniform. Every officer was equipped with the standard Tricorder. He detached the sensor attachment from the tricorder and started to scan the room. After ten minutes of scanning everything but the stage, he found nothing, but he always saved the best part for last.

Ensign Corgan scanned the surface of the makeshift altar, where Madam Kiye walked to in order to deliver her message of hope. He examined the altar, nothing! There was nothing out of the ordinary inside of it.

Then, the tricorder beeped, indicating that it has sniffed out something suspicious. He thoroughly scanned the area, getting a stronger beep. It wasn�t the altar, but it was a slight bit above it.

�Computer! Download the scans from my tricorder into my personal computer files for further examination.� He commanded.

�Downloading...� The computer answered, then a warning beep sounded, �Warning, downloaded file corrupted.�

�Shit!� Ensign Corgan swore, �Delete file then. It�s useless to me.�

�Deleting file.�

�Now, download my tricorder reading to my personal computer file. You should be able to find it. Like everybody elses, it�s in the computer core!� He snapped, feeling the impatience rise in him.

�Downloading� Warning! Downloaded file corrupted.�

�Delete file.�

�Deleting file.�

�Ok, computer� you want a challenge? Then scan that area where my tricorder has scanned with your sensors.�

�Acknowledged. Please wait��

�Thank you, computer. That is all.� Ensign Corgan said politely.

The computer had other plans. If it had a real AI, it would have been downright rude. �Reading unknown. They are not similar to any other reading on the Galaxy�s files.�

�Well then, scan for elevated levels of radiation, any type of radiation.�

�There are no changes in gamma, epsilon, alpha��

�Never mind that. Scan for elevated neutrino reading.�

�Negative.�

�Throw me a freaking bone!!!�

�Unfamiliar with current command.�

�Gahhh!!!!� Ensign Corgan screamed. He felt like ripping apart the computer and destroying it a positronic circuit and isolinear chip at a time. He couldn�t think of anything else that could affect the people�s minds.

�Ok, how about brainwave patterns. Could those reading suggest that they can change brainwave patterns?� Ensign Corgan strained politely.

�Negative.� The computer smugly replied.

�What about hypnotic patterns?�

�Negative.�

�Psycho-manipulative energy fields?�

�Negative�

�Psycho active chemicals?�

�Negative.�

For another ten minutes, Ensign Corgan listed off anything he could think of that could screw over a person�s mind, and coming up with nothing.

�Never mind that. Computer, what the hell is it we have?� He yelled.

�Unknown. Would you like to save the file to the ship�s computer?� The computer asked.

�Finally, baby. We are getting along.� Ensign Corgan spoke to the computer, �Sure. Save the file to my personal folder and send a copy of the sensor reading to the science lab computers for further analysis.�

�Acknowledged.�

�Thank you!�

It took only a minute to send the file to the science lab, but then�

�Sensor reading send to Ensign Corgan�s personal file have been corrupted. Delete?�

�Yes. Delete. Did the file make it to the science lab�s computer?�

�Positive.�

�Good,� Ensign Corgan thought, �I hope they can make heads and tails of it. I sure can�t.�

"Letters and Logs"
By Ensign Electra Reece
Operations Officer

Electra sighed as she sat down at the small desk in her quarters. She had free time and she knew what she had to do. "Computer, record message to Mister and Mrs. Benjamin Reece, Boston, Massachusetts, Earth."

[ Recording. ]

Electra looked into the monitor with its Starfleet logo and pictured her paternal grandparents. She began, "Hello. I haven't sent a communication in a while so I decided to send one now. I am doing well here on the Galaxy. My job is challenging and rewarding. My crewmates and I helped to save the planet Ursid from destruction a few weeks ago and we are now on some kind of diplomatic mission. I hope you are both well. I look forward to hearing from you."

"End message and begin new one, to Lt. Amanda Coleman, Tactical Officer, USS Ransom."

[ Recording. ]

Electra looked at the monitor and put a big smile on her face for her maternal grandparents. "Hi Gram, hi Pop Pop. How are you doing? I know I promised to be a better writer. And I know that two months is not an improvement. I'm sorry but you know how life on a starship is and you are the ones who got me into Starfleet, so you have only yourselves to blame. I am doing well. I love being an operations officer. It is very challenging. And during the situation with Ursid, which I am sure you are aware of, I gave a suggestion that really pleased my superiors, even though it didn't pan out. I am trying to make friends. I know you worry about that. But everyone is so busy lately. We're on a diplomatic mission. I can't say more. You understand. Maybe our ships will be near each other soon and we can see each other. I do miss you two. Stay out of trouble and I'll try to contact you more often. I love you guys. Bye."

"End recording and send messages, keeping a copy on file."

[Acknowledged. Messages sent.]

"Open Electra Reece, personal log."

[ Ready. ]

"Well, we've been orbiting Bajor for a while now. It makes for a fairly routine duty shift. But I suppose routine and dull is better than dangerous and exciting. I have to remember that even synthehol gives a hangover if you have too much and don't shake it off. I had six triple scotches in Ten Forward to relieve the tension that that jerk Marx is creating. He sent me those messages and then that rose. He is evil! I truly hate him but there isn't anything I can do. There is no proof. I can't report him. I can't tell anyone. Maybe I should confront him. But, I hate confrontations. I hope that he gets bored with the harassment soon. But I won't count on it. And there was some kind of turbolift malfunction. I kept ending up at cargo bay 2. But the scotches have made it kind of fuzzy. For all I know, I told the lift to go there. Oh well. End log."

[ Acknowledged. ]

"Open duty log, Ensign Electra Reece and record."

[ Ready. ]

"Duty was normal. There was a slight shift in power do to the science department wanting more sensor time to study the volcanic activity. There was also the rerouting of power around holodeck three following the damage it recently sustained. Engineering required that the majority of the power be routed elsewhere during the repairs. End log and save."

[ Acknowledged. ]

Electra sighed at the completion of the task and got out a PADD and accessed the book, "And Then There Were None" by Agatha Christie.

"Harassing other officers."
By Ensign Peter Lockhart

"Okay, okay.... I admit it isn't all a load of pap that I thought it might've been." Peter said, reluctantly.

"See!" Annalise said, before kissing him. "I knew you thought that way, I just wanted to hear you say it."

"You and your damn mind reading." Peter muttered, meaning it for the first time ever. Annalise looked at him slowly, unsure what to do. "I'm sorry I said that." Peter finally added on.

"You meant it. It's as much my fault." she replied. "Well, we've had our first little disagreement. Let's hope it's our last for a long time yet." Annalise kissed him again before adding on, "I'm going to be late for my shift. You're going to...... stay here and get absolutely drunk?" she looked questioningly at him as she read his intentions.

"Yep." Peter said looking around at the crowd in Ten Forward. "I'm sure I'll find someone to get plastered with."

"Well... I'll see you later. I've got a copy of "The Word" we scan later. I'm finding it more and more useful after Madame Kiye's teachings." Annalise said, before heading off.

"See ya later." Peter said quietly as she left. He didn't quite understand it, but listening to Madame Kiye earlier had made a lot of sense to him. He was previously a fanatic about atheism, but now, he wasn't sure and certainly thought that what she said had uses in everyday life. "Like getting horribly drunk now." he added as an afterthough. "Lockhart 18:17: Thou shalt get absolutely wankered as often as possible."

Peter pulled himself up from the now empty table and looked around Ten Forward. Off in a corner, he spotted Lieutenant' Duneson sitting reading something in a corner. Peter picked up his drink and wandered over. "Want company?" he asked.

Scott looked startled at the sudden appearance of another officer. He'd hoped he was going to get to a quiet evening in and now this idiot Lockhart had turned up. "What do you want Ensign?" he asked.

"Just some company. Mind if I sit down." Peter said, pulling up a chair. "What you reading? Porn?" he added bluntly.

"Some science manual." Scott answered quickly, placing the PADD face down on the table.

"Uh huh." Peter said. "And I've just spent five hours working out in the gym."

Scott glowered at him, unsure how to respond to the obvious insult. Peter decided to continue, "What's up Lieutenant'? It's clear you're not a very good officer. Want to talk about it?"

"Fuck off." Scott answered as eloquently as ever when faced with a problem. "You Brits are all assholes. We should've nuked your country four hundred years ago and turned it into one giant carpark."

"It's arsehole." Peter corrected before handing him a PADD. "You know, I think you should have a read of this. It's "The Word", the main religion of Decilia VII. Why don't you attend one of Madame Kiye's talks sometime? It might help you sort out this severe attitude problem you have." Peter finished, and got up whilst Scott was still gaping at how things had just turned out.

Peter left Ten Forward before he could hear Scott's reply (potentially containing various swearwords) and headed for the phaser range. He had to get some practice in.......

"Musing"
by Ensign John Drake
Operations Officer, USS Galaxy

***

John sat alone in the lounge. He looked at the glass in front of him and pushed it further away on the table. He hadn't been as thirsty as he'd originally thought. And, the half of the tea he had finished was sitting like a bucket of ice in his stomach.

He sighed. The holodecks were still down. His shift on the bridge had come and gone. And, now he sat alone in Ten Forward because there weren't many other forms of entertainment on the ship. He would have been spending time with Michala, but Michala was busy spending time with Madame Tiye, the Prophetess. He was happy for her because she seemed so enthusiastic and excited to be helping the old woman.

He had to shake his head at how the crowd surrounding the Prophetess seemed to grow with each passing hour. He had to be happy for Michala because it was something she wanted.

Even if it meant that she had no time for him any longer.

It was what she wanted, and he would respect that. She'd been pushed enough. She didn't need him pushing her too. She needed someone to support her. She needed to do what she wanted to do, not what everyone else thought she should do. He wasn't going to try to possess her. She'd experienced too much of that. How could anyone ever treat another being in that manner?

John glanced around the lounge and realized it was empty, save himself and only a few others. He pushed away from the table and walked to the three dimensional chess set in the corner. He'd only ever played a couple times.

He sat in one of the two chairs and arranged the board for the start of a game. He looked over the pieces. What did he think he was doing? John moved a pawn on the third tier.

A hand appeared out of nowhere and moved a black pawn.

John glanced up and saw a Vulcan standing over him. Oh great, he thought. The Vulcan sat and indicated it was John's move.

John moved another pawn. The Vulcan followed with a move of a first tier pawn. John smiled and moved a knight. The Vulcan raised an eyebrow, then moved a bishop.

John moved a pawn. "My name's John Drake," he said.

The Vulcan moved his knight. "I am Sevak," he said. "You are an inexperienced player."

John laughed. "You could say that."

The eyebrow rose again. "I believe once is sufficient."

John laughed again. "I don't usually play. I saw the set here, and wandered over. I don't even know why I did." He moved a pawn.

Sevak nodded and moved his other knight. "Your moves are inefficient. Though you are familiar with the rules of this game, I would surmise that you lack the tactical skills to excel based on your moves so far."

John moved his queen to the third tier. Sevak raised an eyebrow and countered with a pawn to the first. He raised his eyes to meet John's. It was like staring at a wall. John took one of Sevak's knights with a pawn and quickly lost one of his rooks.

He moved his queen again, taking the other knight. Sevak moved his queen and John's mouth dropped open.

"Checkmate," the Vulcan said.

John would have sworn he caught the edge of amusement in the way the Vulcan said it. Perhaps his eyes showed a glimmering of it as well.

"Your skill at this game is admirable," Sevak announced. "Not near the level of play to which I am accustomed. You could become a master with practice."

It was John's turn to raise an eyebrow. "But you just said--"

Was that a smile?

"It was a tactical ploy that worked to my advantage," Sevak said. "My taunts broke your concentration. Your moves were hasty and rushed. You erred in your judgement. If you had held your focus in the game, and not given in to frustration, you would have faired better. By my calculation, it will take me an additional seven moves to achieve a victory if we were to play a second game."

John smiled. "You're on," he said. "Set it up."

"Final Chapters"
Lt. Michala Lynn, Doctor
Captain Deiran Casey, APC

Deiran was so excited that he had a call from Michala.
They had wedding plans to talk about, he was even looking
at baby cribs for the child Michala would be having. He had
decided to accept the baby as his own, and care for Michala in
every way. He did not hesitate in calling her, he sat down in his
ready room chair, had the computer put the transmission through
and waited for that gorgeous face to appear before him on his control
monitor.

Michala looked up from her studies to see an incoming message,
she moved to the screen and sat down in front of it. She took a
deep breath and prepared herself to face Deiran. "Hello Deiran, I
see you are well." She began calmly. Her face was impassive.

"I am very well, especially now that I have seen you and heard
your voice. How are you doing beautiful? I've missed you," He smiled
at her, his voice practically cooing at her with flirty tones.

"I apologize for the delay, we were on radio silence." She said quietly.
"I am glad that you are well. And the children?" She asked.

"The kids are excellent they miss their beautiful mother," Dee smiled. He was
very happy to see her, he had missed her.

A strange look passed over her face when he called her the children's
mother but it was replaced by the serene look. "That is to be regretted."
She admitted gently.

"So, what has been going on? I wanted to show you these cribs I've been
looking at for the baby. Do you like blue or red?" he asked kindly.
The joy on his face was unmistakable. Casey may not have been for it at
first, but a chance to have a baby with Michala, whether he impregnated
her or not was a chance not to be missed. He needed her, and he'd be
there for her every step of the way. He had surrendered to his own gushy
heart.
He did have one, despite popular belief to the contrary.

Michala braced herself and looked up at the screen. "I have decided to walk
a different path, Deiran."

"Really? I'm interested. What sort of path Darling?" Deiran inquired

"In a short while, I will be leaving Starfleet." She said firmly, her face
never showed an ounce of what she was feeling.

"What? Really? When did you make this decision? Wow, you really are devoting
yourself to this whole Captain's wife idea eh?" Deiran was beaming with
delight. He'd see her always.

"No, I will not. You will have to find another to fulfill your desires for
wife and mother. I cannot pursue the Word on the Constitution." She said
slowly but distinctly.

"What the hell? What in God's name are you talking about? Word? Fulfill what
word?" Deiran asked, clearly the light and joy of a minute ago was now gone.

"The Word is the spiritual guide to all who seek enlightenment. I will be
going to the main temple to train with my mentor." She said quietly. "My
child will be raised in the light of the Word."

"Okay, this is funny Michala. What a great joke. Hardee-har-har," Deiran said
sarcastically.

Deiran sat at his ready room desk, completely mystified by this woman's word.
She sounded like some Buddhist monk to him.

"I am not joking. You are a captain, another will gladly fill the role of
mother for you. I was just a convenient choice. My life is mine to choose
and I choose to follow the Word." Michala's eyes glistened with a zealous
fervor.

"You're just going to abandon your children like that?" Deiran asked, his
heart was breaking and it showed on his face and deep within his eyes. All he
could think of was his children not having a mother anymore.

"They are not mine." She pointed out.

"Like hell they are not! What is going on with you? You sound like some
crazed fanatic Kala, snap out of this," Dee replied. His voice was beginning
to raise and he could no longer hide his hurt and anger. She was abandoning
her own children.

"You MADE your disregard for my personal choices quite clear the day before I
left. You are concerned only with you and yours and I AM NOT yours. I was
created for a special purpose and being obedient wife is not it. You would
have had me give away or give up my child. That you would even think this
shows you are not meant to join me in my quest for enlightenment." Michala
said all this without losing an ounce of control. No emotions crossed her
face.

"That is a load of shit Michala Lynn!" Deiran screamed. he disappeared from
the monitor and returned a few seconds later. "You see these holograms of
baby cribs? I was picking one out to give you as a present! I was a cad for
saying what I did, I was just hurt that it happened. I want to be the father,
to be with you, love you. You don't
even have to obedient. Your sounding like you need a straight jacket Kala,
you're really off the wall and spewing crap like the Exorcist," Deiran
replied, clearly the man was pissed.

Michala had no idea what half of what he had said meant. She had expected
anger and so did not react. "I am sorry, but it is not meant to be." She
moved her hand to end the transmission.

"Like hell it isn't, it is meant to be. We were created to be together, our
love was strong. And you knew it! I am the only family you have Michala,
don't do this, at least think of Lara, Alex and Jade?" he asked her, it was
as if steam billowed out his ears, his face was crimson, and he labored to
breathe. The man was as upset than he'd ever been in his entire life.

Michala paused her hand. She thought for a long moment. "They will adapt,
they are young. Perhaps their actual mother will get well? As for family, I
have a much larger family now. I will never be alone no matter where I
walk." She looked at him tenderly, empathy shown on her face for his pain.

"You know damn well Miran is dead!" Casey shot back. "they will have no
mother if you turn your back on them! Don't do this Michala, please!"

"I have sent your ring back by courier. I am sorry to have hurt you so, but
it is unavoidable. Your father will be most pleased, however." She pointed
out.

"What does he gave to do with this?" Deiran asked, his teeth gnawing at the
bit, his veins in his forehead bulging so tremendously that anyone would have
thought the vessel would burst. Deiran was so enraged that he could not even
speak further. He sat there, with the meanest, most intensely furious look
in his eyes she'd ever seen from him.

"He told me to stay away, this will please him. See, even your father sees
we were not meant to be. It was only a matter time, I have the prophetess to
thank for helping me to find another." She said warmly.

"Wait just one damn minute!" Deiran roared.

"First of all, my father has no right to tell me who I can be with. I'll take
care of that shortly. If he spoke to you, he's just ended our relationship,
I'll never speak to the full of it blowhard ever again," he paused.
"Secondly, found another? Who the hell have you found? Whoever he is, he's a
crap-for-brains soothsayer who has no idea what he's doing. You're
brainwashed Michala. Does this have anything to do with Michael? Who else are
you talking too? So help me God their careers are finished," Deiran bellowed.
What was really bad is now he had the power and means to destroy careers?

"Who is Michael?" She asked, totally sidetracked by the question.

"Isn't that his name? That blowhard counselor who told you not to date me
anymore when I was still on the Galaxy. He was a real jerk. If he has
anything to do with this, his career and reputation as a counselor is
finished!" Casey roared again. His voice was deep now, intense, the bass full
of terrorizing anger. He was acting more like a Klingon, than a Terran.

"Actually, I am seeing Karyn now, but she does not know of my decision.
Yelling solves nothing, Deiran and it will not cower me into your arms as
before." She pointed out.

"I never did that! Don't you dare accuse me of that!" He growled at her. She
was infuriating him. What had he done? How could Karyn support this decision?
How could she let Kala screw up her life and turn her back on her own
children?

"I have accused you of nothing. Have a great Career, Deiran, may your God
watch over you?" She said peacefully.

"You are making the biggest mistake of your life Michala Lynn. You're
unstable and not even fit to raise the child within you. You'll never see my
kids again," he replied and shut off the monitor.

Michala shrugged, curled back up on the couch and went back to studying the
word.

USS Galaxy "The More things change"
Written by Lt. jg. Kahn Nilani
Engineering Officer, USS Galaxy

Nilani walked into the engineering section and moved straight to the shield modulation control panel. She looked over the frequency settings and then to the modulation and spectrum settings, she looked over the figures and placed a mental note into her head.

She moved over to the main control panel and pulled up the structural and systems blueprints, she looked over them, making mental notes as to the location of weak points and other systems that can cause normal and cascade feedbacks into vital and essential control systems.

She turned the console off and walked over to the jeffries tube access hatch she opened the door and moved in, taking her time she crawled through the small space making notes on a data padd. She reached the warp core ejection systems, and pulled up the LCARS display. Nilani made a number of notes and then shut down the small LCARS display, she moved back out the hatch and left engineering.

Nilani walked down the corridors of the USS Galaxy and reached the hatch for the ships turbolift. "Deck 3" the lift made a quick assent and stopped at the specified deck. She stepped out and moved to Kayrn's quarters entering and picking up small bag and placing the data padd in it. She then moved to her small desk and picked up another padd and pressed the touch button.

'Uplink loaded to primary and secondary computer systems, encryption sequence matched, command codes accepted, systems ready'

Nilani nodded and placed the second padd into the bag, picking up some of her old stuff that survived the transport over to the Galaxy. Her knife which she had taken back at the start of this mission was placed into it's proper sheath and then stuffed back into the bag. She slid the bag over her shoulder, took the copy of the word and headed off to Michala's quarters.

USS Galaxy "Strange Relationships"
Written by Lt. jg Kahn Nilani and
Dr. Michala Lynn

Michala was not surprised when the chime rang. She called open the door and smiled when she saw Nilani. "You are up late, the prophetess is abed?"

Nilani smiled and placed the bag down "Yes... I know, she is getting more tired by the day. I fear for her health and I can only do so much these days." She took Michala in her arms and gave her a big hug like she was an old friend "We have much to discuss and plan - I don't know the Madame's plans but I know she will need to return home soon... And I am planning to leave the Galaxy and help her at the temple"

"As am I, I am pregnant and want to have my child on her world. I think it would be a wonderful place for it to call home." Michala said with a smile. She pulled Nilani down on the couch. John was on shift so she had yet to tell him about cutting ties to the Caseys. This would be just as good. A conversation with someone who understood her passion.

Nilani smiled and hugged Michala again "Congratulations... I am so... happy for you, this is joyious news and I know I will never be able to have children. So this makes it even more joyious, you are blessed with this new child, she will grow up knowing the word and the peace it brings to the world." she placed her hand on Michala's stomach.

"Could I have the honor of looking after you? I am trained and it's only been 7 months since my last delivery" she smiled remembering the Klingon mother.

"I would like that. I haven't told Dr. Maas yet, but then if we leave the Galaxy, I suppose that will not matter." Michala said thoughtfully. "We must persuade John to go too?" She did not like the idea of leaving without him for some reason.

"Thank you Michala, I most deeply honored by your trust... Yes, it is a shame to leave the father of the child here on the ship. Prehaps we need to introduce him to the Madame?"

Michala paused, "Umm he isn't the father." She admitted. "But I would rather he was. Eric.. doesn't seem interested."

"A father is someone who looks after us, loves us and helps us without hesitation. It dosn't matter about the birth... parents are those who are without question the ones that look after us. The Madame is in my mind the only Mother I have ever had" Nilani smiled "So... now we wait till the Madame wakes? Is there anything you want to do?"

"I suppose I should sleep, but I have felt so alive the last few days. Why do you say the Madame is the only mother you have had? I mean, I literally have no parents but you...?" Michala was curious.

Nilani shrugged "My birth parents were both killed by the cardassians a long time ago, I grew up myself, I lived life by my rules. And then Madame came along.... showed me what it meant to love, what it meant to cry. I felt for the first time in my life.... the feeling of love and that

someone loved me in return. It's something so..... unknown to me... that I imagine that's what parents are meant to feel like." Nilani stood up.

"I am going to the VIP quarters, I must make sure that Madame is okay. She is sick and needs our help... I will not loose my mother"

Michala pulled her down. "She is old and needs her rest. You will do naught but disturb her. As a physician myself, let the woman sleep."

"Your right.... I am just so alive at the moment, I feel like I could run a lightyear. I don't know, she is old and that worries me...." Nilani felt her body get exhausted all of the sudden. "Actually I am tired myself... I havn't slept in days!" She rested her head back on the couch as Michala continued talking.....

Michala noticed Nilani falling asleep but kept taking till she was truly asleep. She got up and fetched a blanket for her and covered her up.

Nilani felt herself drift off to sleep and found herself dreaming a nice dream for the first time in a long time.

Michala went to bed and soon joine Nilani in nothing but pleasant dreams.

"Fried Isolinear Optical Chips Anyone?"

Lt. Commander Michael McDowell
Asst. Chief Engineer

Lieutenant (jg) Charles Knight, NPC
Engineer
USS Galaxy

*** Deck 11, Holodeck 3 ***

"Smashed, smashed,...and smashed. Ah, this one's fried." Michael said mockingly as he pulled out a for 90% roasted Isolinear Optical Chip out of the control console that used to control Holodeck 3. "What a nice surprise."

Lieutenant (jg) Knight watched as he saw the Assistant Chief Engineer remove the destroyed circuitry. He wondered how long it would take before Holodeck 3 would be up and running again. "What a mess. This is going take a while to repair." he said and shook his head slightly. "What happened here anyway? Do you know more about it, sir?"

Michael briefly looked up at Charles before he continued with taking out another unidentifiable object. It could've been a sub processor. That was Michael's guess anyway when inspected the black/brownish material. "To be honest, I don't exactly know how or why this happened. Of course, I do know what took out this panel. I got that from Operations. But if you waiting for me to give you a full explanation than you're in for a disappoint."

"Strange. Usually Operations is quite elaborate in their report when something has broken down. Especially with failures as drastic is this one." Charles replied a bit confused. "Sir, you're the third person who's is tightlipped about this incident. Why this mystery?"

Michael sighed. Charles was the fourth Engineer who worked in Beta Shift who asked him if he knew more about this situation. Well, he couldn't really blame them. He would do the same if his superiors kept information to themselves about what seemed to be nothing more then a rare technical failure.

"Charles, believe me, there's nothing mysterious about it. It's just this 'incident', as you call it, must be handled discreetly."

The friendly sounds of a Tricorder processing data could be heard when Michael scanned the interior of the console to see if he was done removing the destroyed components. "But, for what it's worth,...I can tell you that this was not just an ordinary system failure."

"Not a system failure? Sir, are you implying...?" Charles said at near excitement. It finally seemed that he, and therefore many others with him, was a step closer in discovering what actually caused the malfunction of Holodeck 3.

But Charles was cut short by Michael. This conversation took a turn into the wrong direction. "I'm not implying Lieutenant! No speculations. There are too much rumors already. I don't want to create more. Remember what I said about handling it discreetly? Now, lets concentrate on the job at hand, shall we?"

Charles only nodded but said nothing. It was not the response Michael expected of the Engineer. It gave him the feeling that his last answer had been too harsh. After some more thought he came to the conclusion that it was partly his own fault that the conversation was drawn to the foggy area of rumors.

"I'm sorry. I was wrong of me to correct you." Michael said. "In fact, I gave you a reason to start speculating so I am as much to blame as you."

Charles looked at the 'Commander and smiled slightly. "It's alright sir. It's just... Well, I was a bit surprised by your reaction."

"You're right. Does sleep deprivation sound familiar?" The question was rhetorically meant. Although the reason Michael gave was a plausible one he knew that it wasn't true for him. "But that will pass so don't worry."

Michael had already returned to the console, or what was left of it, when he noticed two small completely black rectangular strips. It could only have been Isolinear Optical Chips. He'd missed those two when taking every damaged part out. With some difficulty he pulled out the now 'crispy' sticks.

"Fried Isolinear Optical Chips anyone?"

Written by Kahn Nilani and Michala Lynn