Sal Taybrim

Congratulations Ensign and welcome to the fleet!

I'm going with Majel Barett-Roddenberry, but I could also vote for LD. LD does references *right* - they're funny, they fit with the story, and often they're things that you only pick up on the second or third watch. I prefer that over the direct 'here's nostalgia on a plate!' references

I keep waiting for someone to pop up saying "A likely story...." in a mustache twisting villain voice... and that someone would probably be Q

You beat me to it! Freakin’ hilarious.

And now @Toryn Raga (Lystra) gets a cookie...

Oh so relatable!

Bugs? Bugs! FAAAAANCY BUGS! I am loving this scene @Yael and @Alora DeVeau! ((First Officer DeVeau’s Office - Starbase 118 Ops)) Sometimes there were some big downsides to being a first officer. Disciplining another officer was one of them . While she had finally over the course of the year and three months gotten settled into the roll, that didn’t mean that particular aspect was easy. Tito wasn’t a *bad* officer, but he had some unpleasant qualities that affected his job. And when those affected his job, they needed to be changed. Would they? Only time would tell, and it was all up to him. She could order him to do certain things, attend counselling, dole out punishments, but ultimately, he decided where he went from there. She sincerely hoped he had an epiphany and breakthrough that would enable him to be an even better officer. The unpleasantness had barely ended when the doors parted again, but that time, someone completely different entered. This someone was the cyborg that she had met only recently. While Tito’s situation hadn’t been the greatest, she wouldn’t take it out on the new arrival, and she managed a sincere smile as he stepped in, but didn’t get to say a word before he himself proclaimed - Y’zyr: I come bearing gifts! That was not what she expected! DeVeau: Gifts? Pardon me, I know we were on the Rahuba together, but we haven’t been formally introduced! He crossed over the room and gazed down at her, and then Alora popped up to her feet, her smile had faded, not out of concern, but because curiosity had replaced it. Brow furrowed, she turned her green eyed gaze toward the object in his hand. Y’zyr: Sorry. Ma’am. Ensign Ozai Y’zyr. With… bugs. I have bugs. *Fancy* bugs. For you. Was he new to the station? Or just new to her? While a lot came across her desk, Alora didn’t know *everyone*. She might have even focused on the fact that he was new to her, but she was distracted. Bugs? Did he really say bugs? Alora’s eyes lit up. Did he really bring her bugs? She laughed, partially because, in truth, it was rather funny that someone brought her insects. The rest of it was delight at the prospect. Bugs! DeVeau: You said you have…bugs? Y’zyr: If this isn’t a good time, I can come back? She wrenched her eyes away from the package and he lifted it higher as if to keep her attention on it. Leaning forward, she peered into the unit but…there were plants. Plants were great too! But he had said bugs… DeVeau: There are…bugs? Oh she didn’t mind bugs. Not at all! Alora loved bugs, but the problem was, there weren’t any. Y’zyr: I promise I’m not mad. They’re in here. You need a scanner or a phase stabilising view-screen to see them. Now her eyes lit up even further at that little tidbit. Bugs that phased? Or something similar? What sort of beast were they? DeVeau: Wait, so the bugs can’t be seen…and I need a phase stabiliser? Okay, he had just said that, but it was intriguing. Alora hurried around her desk and clasped the containment unit in her hand. She stared. And stared. And stared. But there were no bugs. Just plants. Was it a joke? No..he had just told her what it would take to see them. Y’zyr: ? DeVeau: Where did you find these? Y’zyr: ? Alora might have recognised the plants if she’d had the opportunity to explore the Si’laan further. Well, she *would*, but not before that very moment. After her return to the Rahuba’, she’d not set foot on the Risuan vessel, though she hoped they would allow her to visit it again now they were docked at the Starbase. And bugs! New bugs! New to her bugs! The smile returned and shifted into a full out grin. Then she made a beeline for the door, though she called back to the man - DeVeau: Come on! Y’zyr: ? Alora didn’t answer right away. Her pace was quick as she set a course for the nearest turbolift, container firmly and safely in her hands. Stepping inside, she beckoned the cyborg to join her, then commanded the computer to take them to one of the decks in the science department, then turned that grin to Y’zyr. DeVeau: We’re going to go take a look at some bugs! Y’zyr: ? -- Lt. Cmdr. Alora DeVeau First Officer Starbase 118 Ops alora@blar.net M239008AD0

I absolutely need to hear these stories... Thank for you the curiosity @Prudence "Rue" Blackwell

I can *hear* the dialogue in my head, great writing! 😂

Lovely character work in this one, bringing a fascinating point of view to events! bravo! (( MedBay, Ra'khoi )) Who knew blood loss was such an easy way to force someone into sleeping? Okay, so it wasn’t really sleep as it was loss of consciousness but regardless, Lystra wasn’t cognizant much. Talia had patched up her hand well, staunched the bleeding and she had done her damnedest to keep awake. Eyes fixed on the biobed with Jalana. To the frantic fight with Cade leading the charge and using all of his grumpy, get off my lawn but listen to what I have to say, old man energy to stubbornly keep Jalana alive while trying to put the symbiont back inside her. She blacked out again and only awoke when the ship abruptly lurched. She had nearly rolled off her own biobed. While she had no idea how she had gotten here, she had been on the floor by a bulkhead. That felt like an impact. Were they fighting? She needed to be on the bridge at Tactical! The Boslic attempted a meager roll off the bed to get moving but the room started spinning and gravity almost assisted her before she just ended face first into the pillow. She noticed that Ed was laying on the floor then. Odd. He must be tired. When her eyes opened again she heard a familiar voice over the internal comms. T'Aven: =/\= Bridge to Sick Bay. The Constitution is here, get ready to beam the whole lot over. You're first. =/\= She blinked and shook her head. The Constitution? How long had she been out? She looked over at Jalana, she was still in rough shape and it didn’t look like Cade was done with his surgery. Just what the hell did those Syndicate bastards do to her beyond cutting her up? Right…poison. If she ever met another Syndicate member, her fists would have a lot of communication to do. Hands. Right. She looked at where her right one had been as the blue shimmer of a transporter beam enveloped her body. For a brief moment, she could swear she saw the shimmer highlight the shape of her former limb. ((Main Sickbay – USS Constitution-B)) When the shimmer faded she felt herself on the floor and staring up at the bright lights of the Constitution’s Sickbay. A nurse or orderly came over and helped her up off the floor where they’d all been beamed in and she groaned slightly while climbing into the biobed. The pain wasn’t unbearable thanks to the painkillers floating in her system, but the throbbing in her wrist was getting annoying. She watched Jalana being lifted onto a bed. She better pull through. If she didn’t Lystra know what she would do. Probably resign. Stars, even if she pulled through and the Commodore made a complete recovery she would likely be feeling the trauma from what happened to her for the rest of her life and every Trill ever who would end up with Rajel. Foster: Suck it, Sweetheart, you’re getting a shower, a meal and some sleep. You can thank me later. The comment caught her attention and she raised a brow. Sounded like Cade was talking to Talia. Though, she couldn’t tell if it was Cade’s normal humor or if he had a thing for the much younger doctor. Either way, good on him. She liked Cade. She hoped he could find someone to fall in love with the way she had for Sarah. Though, with his disposition she’d probably have to be a Klingon, or like Sherana. Sarah. Stars, she missed her. But oh was she not looking forward to explaining why she had one fewer hand to hold her with. It then dawned on her that with the loss of her right hand the Boslic wouldn’t be able to greet the wonderful redhead in her usual manner. Scooping her up and spinning around. Lystra started sobbing a little in her bed. Mark Two: response The familiar voice caused her to look up but the Boslic was instantly confused. She could have sworn she had heard Mark Two. Cade’s grandkid. But the person standing in front of her looked nothing like the childlike hologram. Lystra: I..uh. Hello. Who’re you? Mark Two: response She blinked. Wait, this was Mark? Lystra: You don’t look anything like Mark. Mark Two: response Lystra slowly ruminated on that. So, not only did they have a pair of Bynars on board now but they had helped Mark to change his appearance. It made sense. He had been ‘born’ with someone else’s face. That was something she could at least imagine a little, having had to take on personas for SFI. Put on another person’s face. But that was by choice, or necessity. Mark’s hadn’t been either. She smiled at him, it was a weak, barely filled with emotion, smile. Lystra: You look great, Mark. Mark Two: response She looked down at her hand and shook her head. Lystra: Don’t be. I’m glad it’s gone. Mark Two: response Lystra: ::She looked at the hologram:: Because someone horrible branded a mark of ownership into that hand. That same horrible person is responsible for what happened to Jalana. Because they wanted to get me..their property back. I asked Akeelah to cut off my hand. ::She sobbed a moment then looked back at Mark:: It was something I had no say or choice in. Like your original appearance. I’m glad it’s gone. Mark Two/Anyone: response ================== Lieutenant JG Lystra Tactical Officer USS Constitution-B NCC-9012-B SB118 Podcast Team Writer ID: A239410TR0 https://wiki.starbase118.net/wiki/index.php?title=Lystra

Awesome way to start strong and give us a great look into your character @Julan Voleer bravo!!

We've all been there, Rustyy ❤️

Indeed it was, Sherana

whoop whoop! Welcome to the fleet @Julan Voleer and welcome back to the fleet @Valin Dermont!

Beautifully written! 😍

Clearly Alora has never met Tito before. I could actually expand this to be "Clearly Alora has never met a Silveira/Tito character before" 😂

Medical emergency work at its finest... 😂

Never change, Tito. Never change ❤️

Loved this bit of insight from Blackwell:

Just a really lovely bit of description ❤️

pa-rum-pa-pum-pum indeed.

Good strategy, though!

That just sounds like you're asking for trouble... not that we've ever actually had exploding kittens mind you. But there was that exploding tribble incident...

Just like leeches... >.>

((Yael’s Studio Quarters - Starbase 118 Ops)) Wading into the realm of his memory, suddenly there was Syrsi in her fiery and expositional wardrobe, looming over him with an almost spider-like, predatory expression, her black eyes piercing through him, a delicate finger pushing his hair back from his forehead in a familiar maneuver as she began one of her sessions. There was an awkwardness… he hadn’t meant to summon this either, and it somehow seemed offensive, what with Kherys doing a telepathic assist now. The direction he was taking was clearly unfocused, and he could feel Kherys gently nudging them in another direction… away from the very sexy alternative telepathic practitioner and the motherly guidance of the awe-striking elephants. He let the memories fizzle away, as if drops of rain washed them out drop by drop until they washed completely past their feet. He tried to feel where she wanted him to go, so that he could go there, and not resist the process. Above all, he wanted this to go *seamlessly.* He trusted Kherys implicitly to do her part… and felt it would be *his* incapacity that would sink the proverbial boat. Yael: ::quietly, without opening his eye, thinking:: ~ Sorry… I’ll try to stop "helping" so much… ~ With his eye shut he didn’t see the small smile that graced his friends features before leading him with more direction. Her presence alone was soothing… comforting… well in control, and safely so. He felt her confidence sweeping through him. It wasn’t his own, he knew, but he liked that she should fill him for a moment with hers. Harper: ~Think of the mission.~ Yael: ~ The mission… ::trying to focus gently:: Miranda… ~ The first memory that came to fruition now was the first that rose to the surface. He, Sheila, and Alora were gathered together, going over their approach. Conversing abuot hot to hide their non-Human features,.. And how to keep safe the Human hybrid on the team. Memory Yael gave Alora a look that could only be described as uncertainty, but the stern streak of self reliance and confidence and “guts” he’d been trying to listen to more won it out. He said nothing. The obvious danger didn’t need discussion. The memory fizzled somewhat, and they were at an unwelcoming bar. There was trepidation now, deeply so, so much that it might indicate a lack of trust in the plan. But they went with it.. Ashley in disguise, looking very much the rough but fancy guy of the group, taking a place at the bar next to their mark, and taking in a very hearty alcoholic drink in the short span of time it took for her to find him utterly obnoxious and unlikeable. Bailey leapt in to save the day, making a connection. There they were, the images of DeVeau, Doctor Bailey, and Ashley. Gathered around, they discussed the matter of Terra Prime. The scene shifted around the present players, and they were joined by some no-name rebels, now all talking tactics in a secreted away apartment. They had thought they found allies. A wave of gratefulness, short lived as DeVeua’s plan took shape. The air seemed to turn dimmer, as if the color was somehow draining from the memory. The words seemed a bit odd when spoken, then faded out into silence even as the memory members continued speaking within the confines of that memory. Harper: ~What happened next?~ Yael: ~ We agreed… to the plan. We agreed to get ourselves captured. On purpose. He was speaking as if he was having trouble recalling the details, but they did come to him. Yael: It was to get us to the leader. Malefic. When he said that name, the imagery around them bathed in black light, sharp gold accents beautiful on the dim pallor. He’d drawn up the memory of Malefic by focusing on her, quite by accident. They were sitting at the long table with the ridiculous feast upon it, legs and hands tied to their chairs. The disjointed memory threw Ashley for a moment, and he tried to turn in his chair to find Kherys. Yael: ::confused:: ~This isn’t what came next… ~ Harper: ~One step at a time. Slow, steady. Let it just run its course~ Taking it as it came, he watched Malefic, her augmented voice droning out in that commanding, domineering tone. Complimenting the hybrid steaks on their plates. He couldn’t help the wave of disgust that ran through him… he could still *taste* it now. If this wasn’t a telepathic field, he might have wretched from the memory. Malefic stood next to him, speaking to DeVeau and Sheila from across the table. He heard them attempt deflection, distraction, negotiation. Even a little begging. Before Malefic took hold of the back of his head and yanked it backward. It *hurt*... but he kept reminding himself this was *his* mind. Malefic couldn’t hurt him here. He pushed that feeling above the sense of helplessness and moarning that had overwhelmed him when it actually happened. The glowing blue and pink orb of viral death held above his face, forcefully dropped into his open mouth. Malefic posturing some more. Excising his mind from what was happening, he leaned forward calmly and spit out the glowing bead… the memory continued as if he hadn’t though. Alora ordered him to spit it out. But at the time, he knew he couldn’t take the chance of it breaking on the floor. Then came more begging and deflections. Yael: ~ We should have been escaping. Gathering data to help us defeat them. Instead… this. Ashley smiled sadly at Alora didn’t move as Malefics gauntlet swung for his head. He just closed his inner eyes to it, and the gauntlet passed through him like smoke. He stood from the seat calmly as his memories body sprawled on the floor, bleeding, face broken in, his crewmates screaming for various reasons. He felt a wave of the helplessness he’d felt then… complete and utter powerlessness, and the targeted one, knowing that he would face the violence first. He’d given in to it, in that last moment. Smiling encouragingly over at Amanda just before the fist hit his head. Yael: ~ I didn’t remember this. Is this… going easily? ~ He was confused why it had come so easily to him. And how calm he was seeing it now. It was almost as if… this wasn’t the part causing the problem. Sure, it was violent, and awful, and he’d been injured terribly. But he was filled with confusion as to how all this couldn’t be the problem Yael: ~ This isn’t it. ~ Harper: ~? Yael: ~ I don’t know, this was supposed to be *it.* But… this isn’t it? ~ The thing he hadn’t remembered before? The trauma? The source of his vicious dreams and insomnia and injuries still yet to heal? He was frustrated to get here and still not have an answer… his emotional state flustered. He lost focus. The dinner party disappeared, bits of each person and thing melting away this time like heated plastic, deforming and falling until it disappeared. Yael: ~ I don’t understand… ~ The voice of a child echoed his mental statement, this time with a lot more fear. Child Yael: I don’t understand!! The blond Human woman carried seven year old Ashley down the street. Just one more street and they were there. The Earth Embassy was their only hope. She quickly offered her credentials and passes. The gate slowly opened, but only just so before an angry voice scrawled up past them from behind. Deneve: What do you think you’re doing, Lina?! Lina: I’m taking him to Earth, where you can’t get to him! His mother tucked them through the skinny open door, pulling harshly against her bag, and the child Ashley nearly lost his grip on Feazle the Lemur. He gripped it close, and gripped tight to his mom much like a lemur might, flinching at his fathers angry voice as the guards stopped him entering as well… a Denobulan needed the proper paperwork to enter the Earth Embassy. Deneve: Get back out here. You can’t be serious about this. Lina: ::with fiery conviction:: I’m not going to let you cut him open! He could live for *decades* without that hack and slash surgery! While the parents bickered, young Ashley looked up at Kherys’ Ashley, amethyst eyes looking up at them with wide confusion mixed with curiosity. Child Yael: I don’t understand. Yael: ::unsure if he wanted the answer:: ~ What don’t you understand? ~ Child Yael: I don’t understand why I ~~~ Unfortunately the childs words fizzled out, having no sound even as he spoke, along with the memory as it began to melt away, this time like wine spilling down, splashing round their feet till it was all gone. Ashley chuffed loudly in his mind as it was filled with confusion and frustration. Focus! Focus on the mission. Go back He was actively trying to guide the process himself now, but Kherys remained in the drivers seat. Around them the open road of Miranda began to form, before both he and Kherys were unceremoniously thrown into the back of a prison transport, the door slamming shut and cutting off all light. The internal of the truck was no truck. Utterly flat, featureless, no windows, no anything. Even the door melted into the box of walls encasing them. It was white, pure white, nowhere near the color of the dirty, dank, stinking truck his team had been thrown into on Miranda. His team wasn’t even here, it was just him and Kherys. And when the door behind them disappeared, so too did all sound. It’s absence was unnerving, and Ashley looked to Kherys with the question clear in his mind. Yael ~ What is going on?! ~ Harper: ~? He set his hands against the walls. They were strong and had no “give.” There were no edges or seams, no handles, to catches, no imperfections. It was bright white, featureless, and they were apparently *stuck* here. Yael: ~ This *isn’t* how it’s supposed to go! ~ He yelled it out as if someone on the outside would be able to hear him, and his mounting frustration, annoyance, and… fear… compounded as there was no response from outside. Not one sound Harper: ~? ~*~ Lieutenant JG Ashley Yael Counselor Starbase 118 Ops C238211TZ0