LtCmdr Alexander Richards

Welcome to the fleet

Hello, welcome and other such greetings and salutations

Nice one Captains Herrera and Nicholotti.

I always thought of it as a combination of the two. Of course the fact remains unless you cheat, if you cross the border into the neutral zone, the ship will be destroyed and they then mark you on how you deal with that situation.

General Order 12: On the approach of any vessel, when communications have not been established... (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan) *Memory Alpha* - I think I know where you got that from and I don't think it's a canon source, more for their group

Interesting sollution Major, but can you justify your mission as one of mercy if you go in shields up and weapons hot? I know if I were an oposing faction and I saw a ship cross the border on a 'war' footing i would see it as an act of war. Of course, that does sound like exactly what Parker would do. See my original post for an edit clarifying the point you make.

Before you even think about it, you Can't pull a James Tiberius Kirk on this one. - It's no longer original thinking So as the topic says, how would you treat (beat?!?) the Kobayashi Maru? How would you justify your decision? I'll start. Sollution: Refuse to break the treaty by crossing the Neutral Zone border. Make a note of the inccident in the ships log and contact Starfleet Command about it. Justification: As the Vulcan race is so fond of saying, 'The needs of the many out weigh the needs of the few or the one.' Crossing into the Neutral Zone for any reason is considered at best a hostile action, and at worst a declaration of war. I can not justify risking the ship and the lives of my crew to save one civilan ship nor can I justify risking all out war with the (Insert time period specific race of your choice here) for the same reason. I would allow members of my crew to object on moral grounds, and their objections to be noted in the log and message to Starfleet Command before resuming the ships previous course and speed. Now over to you. Edit to answer Major Parker. My understanding of Federation law and Starfleet regulations is that the treaty must be obeyed, even if it means disobeying a Starfleet directive. I'm not saying I wouldn't get court martialed in a real situation, however I would probably be aquitted at any such trial based on the justification. As I see it, the treaty over rides any and all Starfleet regulations and directives.

Welcome to the fleet

“Questions and answers from the past.” “Captains log, Star date 239006.08. We have completed our sensor sweep of the southern plasma storms in the badlands and are now preparing for the trip to Deep Space 9 to take on supplies and get some well deserved R&R on both the station and Bajor. Life as a Captain certainly differs from how I envisioned it all those years ago but I have a good crew and a good ship.” “If I am honest, the crew was a little disappointed that mission went so routinely. When you speak of the badlands, it conjures up an idea of turmoil and strife. And why shouldn't it. After all, this is where the USS Voyager disappeared and where the Maquis made their stand against both the Federation and the Cardassians. Of course, that was long ago.” “I for one look forward to partaking in a few games of Dabo in Quark's bar and maybe using one of the holosuites. I hear they just took delivery of several programs based on various vacation spots on Risa. Maybe I might be able to strike a deal to obtain some of those programs for the ships own holosuites. Computer, end log.” The computer chirped it's acknowledgment of the command as Captain Barnabus put his feet up on his desk. He was short for a Terran male, around 5 feet 2 inches and quite stocky as well. His jet black hair was trimmed and well groomed. It shone in the dim light of his ready room. He took a sip of his orange juice and let out a heavy sigh. For most of his career he had dreamed of commanding a top ship of the line like a Sovereign class or an Intrepid. However, with his history in the sciences, Starfleet had decided that his talents would be best suited to the USS Hawking, a Nova class vessel that had been designed for short range research missions. At first he had detested the idea, but over the months he had come to love the ship and her crew. They had been through some grand times together, and the odd unfortunate mishap. But as his former commanding officer Alison Rowe had once taught him, “The good times bring happiness, the bad times bring you all together.” He took deep comfort in those words. Only two weeks prior the ship had lost an ensign to a transporter malfunction caused by a previously unknown subspace distortion near Gamma Hirolis. Although the transporter officer managed to abort the transport saving three other members of the crew, the ensigns pattern had been damaged beyond recovery. ============================================================================== Barnabus had been amazed at how fast the crew rallied around each other to provide comfort, support and empathy. They gave Ensign Theras one hell of a send off before her body was transferred to the Kyoto to be returned to her family. It was moments like the funeral and wake that helped him realize just how fortunate he was to have received this post. As he went to take the final few sips of his orange juice his thought process was broken by an announcement from the bridge. He was of course used to such announcements when he was in his ready room but what he heard piqued his interests as a scientist. “Captain, the ships sensors are picking up a massive spike in neutrinos approximately 2 light years from our current position. Of note is the fact that the area of space they have been detected in is unusually benign with no stellar phenomenon of any interest known to exist there.” It was the voice of Commander Tolath, a tall stick like member of the Vulcan race approximately 6 feet 7 inches in stature and weighing only 12 and ½ stone. There was of course no emotion in his voice as he spoke but Barnabus knew that the Vulcan was just as interested in these new readings as he was. He spoke calmly into the communications line. “Understood commander. Lay in a course at warp six. Please notify Deep Space 9 that we will be delayed and inform the crew that shore leave has been postponed for a short while. I shall join you on the bridge momentarily. Barnabus out. “ He closed the line and stretched out in his chair letting out a short yawn while he did so. Sleep could wait, it wasn't everyday that your ship detected a massive spike in neutrinos in a relatively benign area of space as the Vulcan first officer had so eloquently put it. Deciding that there was no rest for the wicked, the 53 year old man stood from his chair and walked from his ready room onto the bridge. Where the bridge had been silent maybe 5 minutes ago, it was now a hive of activity. Every station was manned and all personnel were going about their tasks without needing any input from their commanding officer. This brought a smile to Barnabus' face. They knew him well enough to understand their roles. Lieutenant Bathor, a Bolian sat a science. He was the chief science officer on board the Hawking and proud of his job. He relayed information regarding the neutrino levels as more became available. Lieutenant commander Holmes sat at the helm constantly making minor adjustments to the vessels trajectory to ensure as smooth a ride as possible. Barnabus always thought his skill as a pilot was wasted as the chief of operations on the ship, but he was glad to have him and to count him as one of his close friends. Barnabus took his seat in the center chair and looked out at the view screen. It would be a while before they arrived at their destination and Barnabus hoped this little detour would be well worth their while. ============================================================================== The journey to their destination was uneventful. Barnabus could understand why Tolath had described this area of space as benign, especially when compared to the plasma storms in the Badlands which they had only just finished studying. The bridge was still a hive of activity when the Vulcan first officer spoke up. “Sir, we are approaching visual range. Bathor has informed me that the sensors are detecting matter/antimatter signature, possibly Federation in origin.” Barnabus took a few moments to process the information in his mind before speaking up. An increased neutrino level was one thing, but a Federation matter/antimatter signature. There were no Federation ships, civilian or other wise scheduled to be passing through this sector. “Put it on the screen commander.” Nothing could have prepared them for what appeared on the screen. In the left corner was a wormhole. This of course being what they were expecting. However, in the center left was what appeared to be the remains of an Oberth class starship. Barnabus broke the almost deathly hush on the bridge. “Can we magnify the image on the center right of the screen.” “Negative at this range Captain.” Tolath replied in his normal emotionless tone. “However we should be able to increase magnification in approximately 5 minutes.” Commander Holmes spoke up almost immediately. “If we increase speed to maximum rated, I can have us in the general vicinity In the same amount of time Captain.” He looked back to Bathor at science. “Are the neutrinos likely to cause any problems with navigation?” Barnabus listened to his officers with intent. They really were a well oiled machine, making the right suggestions and asking the right questions at the right time. If the situation weren't so serious, he might have actually taken pleasure in it. Bathor spoke up. “Unlikely, however, there seems to be some sort of temporal distortion emanating from the wormhole. I do advise caution and suggest we maintain a distance of at least 250 thousand kilometers from the anomaly.” “Understood.” Barnabus replied. “Make it so. I want a constant sensor lock maintained on both the wormhole and the ship at all times.” As estimated, five minutes later the vessel dropped out of warp at the site of the wormhole. It was a beautiful sight to behold. Flashes of amber, crimson magenta and violet intermixed with radiant blues, reds and yellows. Sitting 300 thousand kilometers from what appeared to be the mouth of the incredible phenomenon were the battered bruised and broken hull pieces of an unfortunate Starfleet vessel. Only partial identification markings remained on what had once been a fine ship of the line. Barnabus and the crew sprung into action. “Tolath. I want you and Holmes to work on establishing which unfortunate ship this was. See if the computer can't piece together a complete registry number and name from what we have.” The acknowledged as he turned his head to face Bathor. “Mister Bathor, I would like you to ascertain where and indeed when that wormhole leads, how stable it is and if it poses any threat to shipping in the area. The rest of you monitor the ships systems. The moment anything changes, notify your superiors immediately. Am I clear?” There was a brief pause before a unanimous “Yes sir” was spoken. Barnabus retired to his ready room and prepared to write a supplemental Captain's log. ============================================================================== For three hours the ship had remained at it's position near the edge of the previously unmapped anomaly. It had felt like an eternity. Progress was slow on all fronts through no fault of the crew. The computer was having a hard time deciphering and matching the markings on the vessel whilst the sensors were unable to penetrate to the other side of the wormhole. The science department had proposed sending a probe to the other side but the idea was quickly mooted owing to the gravitational sheer being read inside the anomaly and the presence of various temporal distortions. The last thing the ship needed was 'Temporal Investigations' poking their noses in on them. As if on cue Bathor spoke up from his console with a slightly agitated tone to his voice. Normally this wouldn't phase the Captain however with what was beginning to transpire on the viewscreen and the groaning coming from the hull he could only imagine it was bade news. “The Wormhole is collapsing violently and at an alarming rate Captain. It is sending out massive pulses of neutrinos and deuterium particles. Shields are holding but at this rate, the ship will be torn apart by the shock waves in less than 7 minutes.” Barnabus didn't even need to think about his next response. “Helm, move us away from the wormhole at full impulse, yellow alert” He tapped his comm badge. “Commander Tolath and mister Holmes to the bridge immediately please.” The ship shook again as the ship turned to fly away from the anomaly. All eyes on the bridge were glued to the screen as the wormhole continued it's demise. Bathor continued to scan the anomaly. It was highly unusual for a wormhole to collapse in such a violent manner but then, by the looks of the wreckage they had found and the temporal signatures, this was no ordinary wormhole. Tolath and Holmes arrived on the bridge to witness the wormhole in it's dying moments. They had been held up by a power issue in the turbolift which nearly left them stranded 3 decks down. Fortunately the auxiliary backup systems had kicked in before full power to the lift was resumed. Holmes relieved the ensign at helm, much to her obvious relief. She had no experience outside of a holodeck of maneuvering a ship in such conditions. The view screen flashed a brilliant white as the wormhole finally collapsed sending out a final wave of neutrinos that buffeted the ship causing minor damage to the sensors. The shields had held and engineering was reporting no damage to the primary systems. “All stop.” came the order from Barnabus. “Tolath, Holmes, Bathor. I would like to meet you in my ready room in five minutes. Commander Tolath, you have the bridge.” With that, Barnabus took his leave from the bridge and retired to his ready room. He walked straight to the replicator ordering a tall glass of orange juice and a slice of melon, still unsure as to what exactly they had just witnessed. Oh sure, they knew it was a wormhole, but where had it led? Why had it never been discovered before? Had it collapsed or just shifted to another point in time and space. Hopefully his senior staff would have some of the answers. ============================================================================== Tolath, Holmes and Bathor entered the ready room as requested. The looks on their faces told Barnabus that they probably had more questions than answers. No matter, Starfleet would be interested in the information they had managed to gather and would more than likely investigate the matter thoroughly. Bathor was the first to speak up. “Captain. As you are well aware, wormholes can be conduits through time as well as space. From the information we managed to gather from this particular anomaly before it collapsed, and the age of the hull fragments we found drifting, I postulate that this wormhole originated at a point some 30 to 50 years in the past.” Barnabus and the other officers mulled over this information for a few moments before Tolath chimed in. “The computer has finished analyzing the data we were able to retrieve from the hull of the vessel. It seems we may have stumbled across the answer to a long standing mystery.” He paused for effect, gauging the reactions of the gathered officers. “The ship remains we encountered appear to belong to the USS Tycho, NCC -1977 listed as missing presumed destroyed in 2357 during the Cardassian war. Her Captain at the time was Martin Richards, a Starfleet scientist. They were mapping anomalies along the border.” Barnabus took a long drink from his orange juice whilst contemplating the information he had just received. The USS Tycho. Starfleet had all but given up on ever finding the vessel or any signs or clues as to what had happened. At least now, closure could be brought to the families of the souls lost on the vessel. Holmes broke up, breaking his train of thought. “If I may Captain. Although we don't have the proper equipment on this this vessel to perform a full analysis of the debris, we could store it in our cargo bay and transfer it to a ship or facility that does. I am sure Starfleet will perform an in depth investigation based on what we have found and perhaps find the answers we can't.” “A wise course of action Holmes. Make it so.” Replied Barnabus. “Once the debris is in our cargo hold, lay in a course for Deep Space 9 at warp 6. I will join you on the bridge shortly. Dismissed.” The gathered officers departed the ready room leaving Barnabus to quietly contemplate the recent events and think of his family. What would they do if anything happened to him in the line of duty? How would they cope if a similar fate befell his ship and crew? He wiped those thoughts from his mind and prepared to send a message to Starfleet command. ============================================================================== “Captain's log supplemental. Following the discovery of a massive neutrino outburst a few light years from our course to Deep Space 9, I ordered my ship to investigate. Nothing could have prepared us for what we encountered. I have sent a detailed report to Starfleet Command regarding the discovery of the remains of the USS Tycho, NCC – 1977, an Oberth class starship that went missing some 33 years ago on a routine science mission during the Cardassian conflict.” “Our brief investigation has left us with more questions than answers although myself and the crew have chosen to take comfort in the fact that a lot of families will finally be receiving an answer as to what happened to their loved ones. This chance occurrence has left me questioning life in Starfleet. What would my family do if something happened to me? How would they feel if I went missing? How would they cope without knowing my fate? I have chosen to put these thoughts to the back of my mind. My first duty is as a Starfleet Captain is the safety of my ship and and that means always focusing on the task at hand, rather than the meaning of life.” “Now, more than ever, I plan to use my upcoming downtime to enjoy myself and explore facets of my life away from the pressures of the Captain's chair. Do I regret ever having joined Starfleet rather than becoming a family man? Not for one moment, though I do sometimes find myself wondering, when I am alone, what if? Computer, End log.” END. Lieutenant (JG) Richards Chief of science USS Mercury (at time of submission)

At least what happened to 118 was out of your hands once the hackers found that exploit Wolf. You just became a passenger until it got fixed. (Besides, everything is running nicely enough it seems now

Disappointing. It's a good summer blockbuster but it, imho, was no where near as good script wise as 09. Technically though (filming, post production etc) it was far superior - especially with 99% less lens flares. Case in point on the script, haven't we already seen this movie twice before.

Prof. Cowens & Lt (JG) Alexander Richards - Initial observations ((Corridor, USS Mercury)) COWENS: Young man, are you falling behind? I'd have expected a fresh graduate would still be in shape. ::Ensign Cardosa quickly tried to catch up to the older professor, who walked briskly through the corridors of the Oracle class vessel. It seemed his cane was more for show than anything else. Or at the very least, a tool for him to smack the floor with emphasis when he wanted to.:: CARDOSA: Sorry, sir. ::He adjusted his grip on the professor's luggage before everything was about to fall apart.:: It's, uh... certainly a lot of equipment you've got here. COWENS: ::chuckles:: And this is only what the institute would let me take. Be thankful they denied my request to move my entire lab aboard. ::The ensign gave a nervous smile as they continued along. Finally, once they had arrived at the professor's new office, Cowens excused himself to let the ensign finish setting things up.:: ::He made his way over to his new neighbor's office, that of the Mercury's chief science officer, and rang the chime.:: ((Chief science officer's office, USS Mercury)) :: The day had been a washout. Alexander had intended to meet with both the Captain and Doctor Velana however, the captain was away from the ship and he had neglected to contact the good doctor. He hadn't wasted his time however. He used the time that had dropped on his lap to finally sign off on Crewman T'Lex's report on the previous mission and deliver it via subspace to the Starfleet Science Institution. He hoped that the admiralty and their team might be able to make more sense of it. His thought process was interrupted by a chime on his door. :: COWENS: Lieutenant Richards? RICHARDS: Yes that's me. Please enter. Forgive me for not standing up to greet you but as you can see, my current predicament makes that a bit of a problem. Please take a seat Mr? COWENS: Professor J. Cowens, of the Orion Institute of Cosmology, and your newest neighbor. RICHARDS: Ah Professor. Please forgive my assumption that you were a mister. I'm not used to seeing civilian professors this far out. What can I do for you today? COWENS: I just wanted to make your acquaintance. I'll also be working along with the five other department heads within the civilian research contingent, and I figured I should meet you first when I don't have to relay any requests or complaints yet! :: Richards was a little taken aback by the laugh. This gentleman already seemed a lot less aloof than Captain Harku Kvitova. :: RICHARDS: ::smiling:: Well, it is an absolute pleasure to make your acquaintance Professor. I've heard a lot about the O.I.C. You are the tops of your field. ::The old man chuckled and waved off the compliment with his right hand.:: RICHARDS: With the field of cosmology being so vast this is going to be a bit of a long shot but, have you ever read any papers by Harriet Richards of the Lunar Scientific Institute? COWENS: Richards? Who hasn't? ...wait, are you saying there's some relation? RICHARDS: Yes, she is my mother. My father and her are the lead researchers at the institute. I know most of the researchers under them as if they were brothers, sisters, uncles and aunts. It came with being raised in and around the lab. I might have joined them but for an accident during my later teenage years. ::The professor let out a wide grin.:: COWENS: Well then I find myself sitting with academic royalty! How fortunate! And I see you did follow the family trade then. RICHARDS: I do have a tendency to waffle on from time to time. Anything you need once you are settled in professor just give my office a call. If I'm not there to facilitate the request, my assistant should be. You will also be pleased to know that the ship has a highly competent stellar cartographer who I'm sure will be able to assist you. Crewman T'lex is a graduate of the Vulcan Science Academy and well verse in stellar phenomenon. COWENS: I'm sure the crewman's talents will be invaluable for our work. Thank you so much for your enthusiasm, Lieutenant. Sometimes there are... how shall we say? ...unnecessary friction among Starfleet and civilian collaborative projects, which is quite sad really. We're all in this together after all! ::He tapped the deck with his cane twice for emphasis. The lieutenant seemed pleased.:: RICHARDS: Well, I won't keep you from settling in any longer Professor. No doubt you would like to meet the other department heads and familiarize yourself with the ship, and the science module in particular. Unfortunately, I have a previous arrangement I must keep however, I'm sure we will be able to arrange a proper tour for you at some point in the future. Again, welcome aboard Professor. COWENS: Oh, of course, lieutenant! I shan't keep you from your business, no doubt quite a handful running such a mammoth department. I look forward to the work ahead, and again, thank you. ::Once the professor got up and left the lieutenant's office, he made his way back to his new office and lab to see that Ensign Cardosa was still setting things up, now with the help of one of the professor's own research assistants, a young and eager mind named Renia Lenai. Cowens called out to the Haliian.:: COWENS: Miss Lenai? If you could join me please? I'm sure, the ensign can handle himself for a moment. ::The ensign wiped some sweat off his brow before nodding to Renia.:: CARDOSA: Of course, professor... ::The woman followed the professor to his office.:: LENAI: So how did the meeting go? COWENS: Excellent. ::He sat down in his chair, one of the few things to have been already installed in his office and took out a PADD.:: COWENS: Lieutenant Richards has promised his department's full cooperation, and he seems like a genuinely nice man. ::He tapped a few buttons on the PADD, retrieving a few files after performing a search.:: LENAI: That's good. So everything should be smooth sailing then. COWENS: My dear, I see you still have much to learn about the scientific process... ::He handed her the PADD.:: COWENS: Your reading material for tonight. Find out a little more about our new host, including his esteemed parents at the Lunar Scientific Institute. The man himself though seems to have quite an interesting record. ::The young woman returned a puzzled glance.:: LENAI: Am I looking for possible collaborative research interests? ::The professor grinned at her naivety.:: COWENS: Insurance. TBC... Professor J. Cowens Astrophysicist Orion Institute of Cosmology as played by Lieutenant Commander Rahman Chief Engineer USS Mercury with Lieutenant (JG) Alexander Richards Chief of science USS Mercury

((Bridge, USS Mercury, moments after Alexanders meeting with Professor Cowens.)) ::Alexander exited the turbolift with ease. He had become used to wheeling himself around, although he missed being able to walk dearly. His reason for being here today was not to 'work' but rather to familiarize himself with the helm controls once again. Although he was the chief of science, it never hurt to keep skills learned fresh. After all, he had unexpectedly found himself at the helm again during the last mission to JB-437.:: ::He rolled down to the helm console and nodded to the rather surprised helmsman who left his post with a little bit of hesitation. It was rather odd for a blue shirt to take the helm, even in a period of downtime.:: ::Isaac stood beside the center chair on the bridge. He wasn't nervous about taking the seat, he was simply far too tense to sit anywhere. He was currently in command of the Mercury by default, and he was feeling the weight of that circumstance now. Captain Kells couldn't get back aboard fast enough as far as Isaac was concerned. After what seemed like an eternity standing there, Isaac heard the turbolift doors open behind him. He turned to see Lt. Richards wheel himself onto the bridge, and the young man wasted no time in heading down to helm control. He probably wanted to make himself useful, and Isaac could only admire his determination. Losing a leg was no small thing, and Isaac appreciated the Lieutenant's desire to overcome that obstacle. With a nod from Isaac toward the current helmsman giving his permission, Richards took up the station.:: RICHARDS: Congratulations on the promotion Commander. That's two since I came aboard the ship. It seems the captain has a lot of faith in you. ::Isaac gave a small sigh before answering. He'd never been one for small talk, but given his past experiences with Lt. Richards, the Intel officer could appreciate the gesture and play nice.:: BALE: ::nodding:: Thank you, Mr. Richards. You should be proud of your own accomplishments as well. Becoming chief of science on a science vessel is no small feat. You are making the most of shore leave, I hope? RICHARDS: Me, just thought I'd use the down time to familiarize myself with the helm controls again. The last mission taught me a thing or two about life in Starfleet. Things I had all but forgotten. ::Isaac couldn't help thinking of Velana then, and how she in particular had managed to remind him of who he really was... who he was meant to be.:: BALE: ::smiling:: Amazing how this life we lead can do that, isn't it? ::Alex couldn't help but crack a smile back to the Commander. They may have had their issues in the past, but as Starfleet officers, they could both look past that. Alex still couldn't consider the commander a friend. That would take longer but he knew enough now and had seen enough to respect him. Intelligence couldn't be an easy job at the best of times, let alone with the pressures of that chair added on. :: RICHARDS: I can't help but notice you are standing rather than sat in the chair Commander. Any particular reason for that? BALE: ::sighing:: It's not my chair. I suppose I don't feel that I've earned the right to sit in it, even temporarily. RICHARDS: That's understandable Commander. I'm glad to be rid of it if I'm honest. The Mercury's little jaunt to JB-437 reaffirmed in me why I'm not ready for the command track yet. It is difficult to make decisions when you know the fate of the entire crew rests on your shoulders. Thankfully, the team left behind whilst you were all away were exemplary in their duties. ::Isaac glanced at Lt. Richards thoughtfully. He was either being modest, or being in command had truly rattled him.:: BALE: I've read the reports, Lieutenant. You made the right call at every step, but I get the feeling you still doubt yourself. Was command really so heavy a burden? ::grinning:: Or was the office not to your liking? RICHARDS: OK, you got me., It's also the fact my office down on deck 26 is more intimate than the Captain's ready room. Sometimes less is more. :: He let out a hearty laugh. :: ::Isaac chuckled a moment before becoming serious again. He still wore a black collar, but he was a command officer now. As such, morale would be as much a part of his duties as anything else. Wonderful. Perhaps he could ask Captain Reynolds for tips on being cheery and optimistic. That thought elicited Isaac's own deep, full-bellied laugh before he turned back to Richards shaking his head. The young man needed some reassurance.:: BALE: Have you studied much of your own people's history, Mr. Richards? Late 20th, early 21st century to be exact? ::Alexander paused for a second. The Commander had just given him a reassuring compliment and was now making small talk. He almost had to do a double take. This certainly wasn't the man he encountered when he first arrived on the Mercury. :: RICHARDS: As an Oxford graduate Commander, I have. Quite a lot actually. It was required reading on any course there. BALE: There was an author on Earth during that time who went by the pen name of Robert Jordan. He wrote a series of fictional works collectively called the Wheel of Time. It was a fascinating read... a new twist on the classic tale of good versus evil. RICHARDS: Ah yes. I know of that series of books My father has a vintage hard back collection that dates from the late 20th century. They are quite worn but considering what they've been through, quite fascinating. :: Alexander recalled in his mind a moment in his childhood where his father was reading to him from book number one. :: BALE: I found something quite profound in one of his books, though I can't recall which one it was at the moment. Jordan, through one of his fictional characters, said that you can never know everything. And part of what you know is always wrong. Perhaps the most important part. A portion of wisdom lies in knowing that. A portion of courage lies in going on anyway. :: Alexander had never thought of life like that but it did make a lot of sense to him. Especially given his history. :: RICHARDS: That makes a lot of sense now you mention it Commander. In my field, and that of my parents knowledge is tantamount to everything. The field of science is about the quest for knowledge and from that aspect, the sentiment rings true as you never really can know everything. Science continues to move forward at an astronomical pace. There is always something new to learn everyday and theories become outdated or irrelevant with each new discovery. :: He took a deep pause. :: RICHARDS: Unfortunately none of that prepared me for the demands of that chair. :: He motioned to the captain's chair with his right arm. :: BALE: Well... as an Intelligence officer, I make it a point to know as much as possible. Jordan was right, though. All any of us can do is take the information at hand and make the most of it. Trust me, Lieutenant, you did just fine. RICHARDS: Thank you Commander. :: He looked at his body. :: I'm hoping this is only a temporary set back. I'll need to check in with the doctors and the Captain regarding future treatments at some point. :: He pressed a button on the helm console, adjusting the yaw of the ship by 0.2% to prevent her listing. :: ::Isaac took a few moments to consider Richards. Since they were playing nice and opening up, another opinion on a personal matter couldn't hurt.:: BALE: You're a married man, are you not? RICHARDS: Happily for many years sir. My wife means the world to me. BALE: Any children? RICHARDS: Just John. The little tyke managed to break his leg trying to emulate my love for rock climbing. Now he sees my current condition as trying to be like him. :: He let out a smile. Sometimes the innocence of youth still managed to astound him. :: BALE: What's it like? RICHARDS: Being a parent? Being Married? (Beat.) Both are hard to describe Commander simply because there are no situations that can prepare you for either. :: He paused before continuing. :: RICHARDS: With regards to marriage, it's the ultimate expression of love for your partner. It's a sign of commitment and of courage and not something entered into lightly. If you find yourself wanting to spend every waking moment with someone, and can't bear it when you are apart the maybe marriage is the next logical step. :: He took another pause to allow the Commander to assimilate the knowledge. :: RICHARDS: With regards to being a parent, that is different again. To bring a child into this universe requires both parties to know it is what they really want. The child becomes your everything. All you do is for him or her. They can bring you great joy, but also a lot of fear and trepidation. Above all though, they are your future, they grow with the wisdom and strength of both parents and as they learn, so they develop their own personalities. But if you care for and nurture them, they grow to be quite possibly one of the greatest things in the Universe, a unique sentient being born of yourself. ::Years of practice allowed Isaac to keep a neutral face as he listened to the wisdom offered by the young Lieutenant. He was right, but that only led Isaac to doubt himself. It raised the same questions that he was already struggling with. Could he be a good husband? A good father?:: BALE: ::nodding:: Thank you, Lieutenant, for your insight. You've given me more to consider. For now, though, let's get our attention back on that Runabout, shall we? -END- A JP by: Lt. Cmdr Issac Bale Intel Officer/2nd Officer USS Mercury & Lieutenant (JG) Alexander Richards Chief of science USS Mercury

Welcome to the fleet

It wont be sold. These guys have a plan, the investors via kickstarter etc bought into that plan. The celebrities who endorsed this endeavor bought into that plan. He wants to use it as a classroom above all else and that is what it will be used for - Excellent imho.

Ok that is just awesome