Alieth

No!!!! Poor Corliss! 🤣

Writing a relationship between two characters from two different writers always has a tricky element, as much as it involves compromise, reaching agreements and an important understanding of what it means to write collaboratively. Maybe that's why I love to read relationships when they are well written, and here we have a wonderful example of that, playing with themes that translate to our present, such as long distance relationships. Well done, very well done @Lephi and @Elizabeth Snow , I'm not crying at all with this whole arc. No, not at all. ((Psss Keep on writing!!!) ((Lephi's Quarters, ???, USS Gorkon)) The doors opened, and Lephi wasted little time striding through them. She was eager to see what the place she would be calling home for the duration of her stay looked like. As she entered, she was momentarily left speechless, and instinctively she turned to tell Elizabeth about it. Sadness pulled at her heart for a brief moment, so she decided to call her fiancée while she unpacked. The mess that she arrived during had prevented most communication beyond a quick "hey I made it alive" message, and she was eager to see Elizabeth's face again. She positioned herself at the desk in the roomy abode and dialed Elizabeth's contact. (( Liz’s Quarters, Deck 14, USS Chin’toka )) After a long strenuous workout, Elizabeth made her way into the shower where she stood under the hot water for what felt like an eternity before she worked up the strength to actually move to wash her hair and herself. Her mind went over all the things she needed to do once she returned to Sickbay. She reached out for her washcloth realizing she forgot to grab one before entering. She went to call out to Lephi out of habit and sighed, she would be fine without it. She rinsed off and as she turned off the shower, the computer’s voice rang through her quiet quarters. Computer: Incoming transmission from Lephi. Her heart soared as she heard Lephi’s name. She jumped out of the shower, grabbing a robe as she went. She threw it over her soaking wet skin and plopped down in front of the screen. Accepting the transmission with a great big smile on her face. Snow: Hi, Imzadi! Lephi’s face lit up radiantly when Elizabeth's face popped up on her monitor. It had been hectic when she arrived, being whisked away by another shuttle to the planet's surface before she'd even had so much as a chance to shower. She longed to hold Liz in her arms, to feel the warmth of the woman's skin on her own. Lephi: ::excitedly:: Hello, gorgeous! How are you doing? Elizabeth bit her lower lip as she took in the sight of her beloved’s beautiful self. She wished she could pull her through the screen and hug her tightly. Snow: Better now that I’m looking at and talking to you. How about you? How’s the Gorkon? Lephi exhaled deeply, pondering where to start. She didn't want to worry her with too many details about the mission, and how dangerous it had gotten, but she also didn't want to keep any secrets. Lephi: It's been hectic to say the least. This is actually the first time I'm seeing my quarters, or even sitting down on the ship anywhere that isn't the shuttlebay. Elizabeth stood up as she listened to Lephi speak. Her wet hair was starting to bother her. She flipped her hair over, bending at the waist, and grabbed the towel she had brought with her. In a few quick moves, she had it wrapped around her hair tightly. She sat back down in the chair, looking back at the screen. Snow: That sounds awful. I take it you came in during a mission? Lephi was quietly nibbling on her bottom lip, watching as Elizabeth worked her magic with the hair towel. That had always impressed the engineer, who had never needed a hair towel for any reason before. As far as Lephi was concerned, it was as breath-taking as watching a unicorn graze in a meadow. So lost was she in her thoughts, that she didn't hear the question at first and had to focus on the words to decipher their meaning for several long moments afterwards. Lephi: Oh yes. I'm not sure how much I can say over this unsecure line, but it was very eventful, and I survived! Nothing to worry about here. And look! She pushed herself out of the way of the camera to show off her spacious new abode. Lephi: See how roomy it is! Plenty of room for when you come to visit. Elizabeth smiled as she looked at as much of the room as the screen would allow. Snow: It looks amazing, Imzadi. Could use some decorating. ::teasing:: Lephi regarded the room at the same time. Elizabeth's words rang true, though that was mostly because she hadn't had a chance to unpack yet. Lephi: It'll look better once I get a chance to unbox my things. Actually ::brief pause:: would you mind terribly if I unpacked while we chatted? I need to see and hear from you, but this is my only downtime for a little bit as I still have an agenda to put together for tomorrow's engineering staff meeting. She breathed heavily, showing signs of exertion from the run on sentences she had just used, but she felt better for having expressed her needs. Snow: Of course not, Imzadi. Go ahead. ::smiles:: Lephi hadn't expected her beloved to acquiesce so easily, but she didn't have time to analyze it too deeply and she jumped at the opportunity. She made her way to the first box she found, which turned out to contain most of her trinkets and odds and ends. Lephi: Hey since you're here, maybe you could help me figure out where to put things! Elizabeth smiled. She would be honored to help her beloved set up her quarters. Though she wished she could be there in person to help, she would take what she could get. Snow: I would love to! The pair spent the next little while with Lephi pulling things out of boxes and bags, and Elizabeth weighing in on their placement. Eventually it came time to organize her closet. She approached the terminal and transferred her Imzadi to a nearby PADD, and carried her into the bedroom where the ops crew had offloaded her boxes of clothes, and she began to hang them up. When she opened one of the boxes, the familiar scent of Elizabeth's perfume wafted upwards and Lephi’s stomach did a few flips. She hadn't realized just how much she longed for any real connection with her wife-to-be, despite it not being that long since she left her side. Lephi: ::slight laugh, covering a twinge of sadness:: This box smells like you, Imzadi. I almost don't want to unpack it. Keep it the way it is for as long as possible. It almost feels like you're here with me. Elizabeth smiled, her heart twinging slightly. How she wished she were there. She remembered the shirt she tucked inside of it with her handwritten letter. She was actually happy to be on call with her to see her face when she discovered them. She watched as her Engineer sat with the box before she spoke. Snow: Well you do need the clothes from inside the box, Silly. Lephi now sat next to the box on her bed, staring at it in contemplation of what to do next. Lephi: Not true, I could always just replicate replacement clothes and then put this box next to my pillow at… She trailed off. Lephi: Okay, that makes it weird, you win. She began pulling items out of the box and separating them into piles on the bed; tops, bottoms, underoos, socks. Neat and orderly since Elizabeth was watching. Lephi stole a furtive glance at the PADD and her heart raced. As she pulled out another shirt, she noticed it was one of Elizabeth's. Lephi: Imzadi, you accidentally packed me one of your shirts. I'm not sure how, or when, I'll be able to get this back to you. ::laughs sheepishly:: Frankly I'm not sure I want to. Elizabeth watched as Lephi began unpacking the box. Her heart skipped a beat as she waited in suspense. She watched the woman’s beautiful face as she discovered the shirt and held her breath as she waited for the letter to fall out. A laugh escaped her as Lephi spoke. Snow: It wasn’t by accident, Imzadi. I packed it for you on purpose. So you would have a piece of me with you. I know that one is your favorite. ::smiling:: Lephi's smile grew wide as she regarded the shirt sitting on her lap. She picked it up and held it to her face, feeling the familiar soft fabric and inhaling the scent of her beloved’s perfume. She had found the source of the smell. When the shirt shifted in her hands, an envelope fell into Lephi's lap and she looked at it puzzled. Lephi: Imzadi…? The question died on her lips, unasked. She picked up the envelope and examined its contents. Elizabeth watched as Lephi discovered the letter she had written. She didn’t bother speaking to address the unsaid question. She knew what she was going to ask. Instead, she remained silent as her beloved opened the envelope, followed by the letter, and began reading over it. She recalled the day she wrote the letter. Lephi was working late. As she wrote, all the memories they shared together, both the good and the bad, flooded her mind as she poured her heart into it. Just in case one day, one of them was transferred. Something Lephi could look back to if she ever felt lonely or had moments of doubts of Elizabeth’s love for her. She wanted Lephi to know that no matter how far apart they were or how long time had passed before they were able to see each other in person, that her love would never falter. And, of course, to remind Lephi of just how much the Engineer meant to her. // My dearest Lephi, You came into my life when I wasn't looking and you brought a special kind of light into it that I had never experienced before. You won me over with your kindness, your beautiful smile, and your selflessness. I was afraid. I was afraid of the way I fell for you so quickly. For the way you made me care so deeply. That something so wonderful couldn't be real. That fear was quickly replaced as my feelings for you flourished. Since then, they have only continued to do so. You're my calm during the storm. My strength when I have none. My best friend and the one I can always trust with my secrets and my life. I can't help, but to fall more in love with your beautiful soul and self everyday. I know the universe has thrown many obstacles in our paths, but every time we prevail. Our love is strong. It can weather any storm and it knows no boundaries. Our life together is the greatest journey I've ever been on and I thank you for choosing me to do this life thing with. Having you next to me and seeing your beautiful face everyday are just a few of the things I miss the most. I miss you beyond words and I hope you're taking care of yourself because, as I hope you can see, you're the most important person to me. I know our current situation isn't ideal, but it isn't permanent. We'll be together again, but until that time. Be safe and take care of yourself, Imzadi. Remember that a piece of me is always with you and I love you more than words could ever say and even with the vast distance between us and the uncertainties that the future holds, I always will. Thanks for turning my world upside down for the better, Mon Chéri. You have my heart. Always and forever. With all my love, Elizabeth // Lephi fell completely silent as she started to read the letter. Tears welled in her eyes and she silently mouthed the words as she went. When she finished, she held the letter with both hands close to her chest. Her eyes closed and for a moment she was back in bed with her soulmate, and could almost feel her touch. A chill ran down her spine and she shivered. When she opened her eyes again, she noticed Elizabeth watching her keenly and her cheeks reddened. Lephi: I'm ::long pause:: speechless. She sat in silence for a long moment. Her gaze flitted from the beautifully written words to the breathtaking beauty on the screen in front of her. When she spoke again, her voice quivered with emotion. Lephi: I am so beyond lucky to have you in my life. You are my light in the darkness, my Northern Star, and my guiding light. She brushed away a tear. Elizabeth had a special way of making thousands of light-years seem miniscule through the strength of her love, and Lephi's heart warmed a little. They would make it through this. Lephi: You really know how to make a girl feel loved ::blushes::. How have you been holding up? Snow: Now when in doubt and when those voices get the better of you. You have that to reflect back on. She really didn’t want to answer that question. She had been doing the best she could, but she was a bit of an emotional wreck when she was alone. Also not to mention the nightmares that had manifested from her worry. Thankfully, she was surrounded by amazing friends that were helping her through it. Snow: I’m hanging in there and in great hands, Imzadi. How about yourself? The engineer paused to consider the question. Elizabeth had too much heart, and enough to worry about as it was, yet she couldn't bring herself to lie to her soulmate either. Lephi: I'd be doing better if I were there with you, but everyone here has been very nice to me so far. The Gorkon has a Quantum Slip Drive which has been fun to figure out. She sighed lightly as she spoke. Her words were positive as she tried to focus on the upside of this mess, but her tone betrayed a deeper hurt. Lephi: At least I think I should be able to get back there for Lael’s wedding. I already miss you so much. Snow: I know how you feel, Imzadi. Lephi began to tear up. It was sinking in for her that there was no going back now, and with no set date for a happily ever after, she was feeling it. She didn't want the call to end, but she didn't want Elizabeth to see her struggle either. She wiped a tear from her eye. Lephi: One day we'll be together again, but even now we aren't alone. ::fighting back tears:: I should uh.. I should finish unpacking. Elizabeth’s heart sank into her stomach. She wasn’t ready to say goodbye. She wanted to reach through the screen and embrace Lephi. To bring her back home. She sighed and tried to be on her best face. For Lephi. As she looked down into her lap, she realized she was still in her robe with a towel on her head. So she still had to finish her after shower routine. She looked back to the screen with an ache in her heart. Snow: Alright, Imzadi. I won’t keep you. Take care of yourself and I hope to talk to you again soon. I love you. With one more half smile, Lephi blew a kiss at the monitor before shutting it off and slumping down in her seat quietly sobbing at all the love she felt emanating from her beloved. ========================= Lieutenant Elizabeth Snow Chief Medical Officer USS Chin'toka NCC-97187 Veterans Affairs Team Wiki Team D238803EH0 & Lieutenant Lephi Chief Engineering Officer USS Gorkon NCC-82293 Community History Team Member Chat Team Member Wiki Team Member A239706L10

welcome (back) to the fleet! It has been a fun week with you guys As Samira said, always here if you need help of whatever, enjoy your new positions!

Woho! Such a Big class! Congratulations to all you for passing and a warm welcome to the fleet!

Welcome to the Fleet, ensign!

here to serve!

An open ending, an antagonist who is revealed as recurrent from now on, the tip of the iceberg of what is happening and DEEP TREK LORE laying all around the SIM.... WOW @Jo Marshall, you scare the hell out of me Good job ((Unfinished Hospital, Darime Colony)) Voice: Wake up, Priest. The world around him spun in strange currents; tidal waves breaking on bedrock, a hundred blades clashing behind his eyes. Valdran sat straight on the biobed, pressing the heel of his hand to his head as another wave of anguish crested on the surging vertebrae. At the confluence of his neck, he felt a little device push, a hiss of release, and a rapid rush of stimulant stream coarsely through his capillaries like hardened shards of grit. He opened his eyes as his palm sought the depression site as if he could rub away the sensation that was now coursing through his Vulcanised veins, reaching every fibre with every stroke of his heart muscle. Tokkra: Darime IV is lost. For now. I trust you have a method of escape? Valdran: Cloaked in the Garden. The Garden, the Garden. How guarded the Pelians had been over the location, and how oblivious they had been to anybody within. They prayed to their divinity, worshipped in the dirt, and perished amid the leaves and trees, unable to see the true path forward. Valdran stretched like a sehlat under the morning sun; his spine elongating for the length of a breath as he sat up to full height. Tokka: The Brotherhood has sent word of a meeting. Your attendance in person is, ::he paused for a second,:: required. In an un-Vulcan manner, Valdran grunted. Valdran: I am sure they do. Tokkra: Indeed. Thoughts and muses wandered around in his mind until Valdran slipped off the biobed and back onto his feet. He recovered his equilibrium, wobbling slightly, and clasped his hands behind his back. Delicate dances were required in order to reclaim the favour he had so recklessly lost there. Words murmured into the appropriate ears would win the day. Darime IV, however, must be surrendered for the time being. Valdran: A minor trifle within comprehensive stratagems. ::He straightened, ironing the kinks out of a ramrod back.:: Vorta Vor has not yet laid claim to me. Tokkra: The Old Mother in the Womb of Fire beckons us all. The acolytes' youngest darted a quick glance about the tent, as if expecting others to notice their presence. Only the body of another Romulan lay comatose on the ground, with bruises outlining the trapezius nerve bundle. Tokkra: The one known as Alieth. She is intriguing. Valdran: Agreed. She may yet be of use. As would the one they called Loxley. Tokkra: I will continue operations here and report back within the week. Valdran retrieved his serrated and curved knife and tucked it back into the folds of his cloak. Once again, it would be hidden until it was required once more; undoubtedly, it would be sooner than thought. In close combat, energy weapons signalled dishonour, and nothing could surpass the sensation of sliding the curved blade between the ribs of the hybrid doctor. Tokkra: For we lived as slaves until we made ourselves free. Valdran: We will remember, we will avenge; we will walk the desert free. Valdran reached for the acolyte's shoulder and softly squeezed his hand, with little else to say and the pockets of escape time quickly soaking into the soil. He squeezed the bundle of nerves with his fingers and thumb hard enough, and Tokkra collapsed senseless on the floor. The priest adjusted his robes as he clasped his hands behind his back, donned the ancients' mask, and slipped out of the tent unobserved by the rushed Starfleet medical officers on duty. They needed more disciples to swell their numbers for the Brotherhood to rise again. His methods had worked. They had viable prospects. Perhaps he dreamed too small, expected results too diminutive for what his genius was thoroughly capable of. After all, how does one truly mitigate the acts of a monster? -- Warrior Priest N’Valdran te-Vikram Brotherhood As simmed by Lt. Commander Jo Marshall First Officer USS Gorkon, NCC-82293 G239304JM0

welcome to the fleet!

I always love these perspectives, these space-time dilations that take us a little bit away from the main scene and focus us on the small (or big) dramas of a character. And Lox does it here in a magnificent way, intermingling the current mission, the past and the character's background. Wonderful work! ((Unfinished Hospital, Darime Colony)) Someone punched him in the back. Hard. So hard in fact that it knocked the wind out of him and Loxley grunted as the air left his lungs. That had been stupid – just because they were in a mortuary didn’t mean that all the bodies were actually bodies, and a simple scan would have revealed that. It was an obvious place for someone to hide. Lox staggered as the unseen assailant pushed him forward and drew in a deep breath. Or tried to. The air wouldn’t come, and his legs felt weak and then buckled. Someone caught him as he fell and he heard his name shouted as everything faded to darkness around him. ???: So, you’ve been stabbed. Nasty. Lox looked up. A Bajoran woman stood over him, wearing a tattered, much-patched jumpsuit, filthy with streaks of black oil. Her once-blonde hair carried the same grime and her body had the slimness of starvation rather than of a healthy diet and exercise. Loxley: It’s you! ::Lox gave a surprised gasp:: The one from the Skarbeck, the Borhyas woman. Boryhas: Yes, the one you murdered. Lox lowered his gaze in shame. He had been directly responsible for her death, he knew. Suggesting they leave her besides an explosive they were due to set off merely as a diversion. Such a waste of life. If she had even been alive at all – the whole thing had been a mass hallucination hadn’t it? Loxley: But… you’re not real, are you? Boryhas: Does that matter? I was real to you at the time and you killed me anyway. Lox nodded sadly to himself. It was true. Logic had dictated the deed, and Sylvek had always been more logical than Loxley. And yet he still felt the emotion of the act, he’d even cried at the time from what he could remember. The Human and Vulcan sides at war with one another, always. Loxley: Why are you here? Boryhas: I’m here because you’re dying, Loxley. Puncturing stab wound, deep penetration. Lower back, left side, just below the twelfth rib, probably severed the iliohypogastric nerve. At an upward angle, likely perforating the bottom of the left lung… Lox blinked at the Bajoran’s words as his medical training took over part of his subconscious in order to run through an injury assessment. Loxley: Ah. Well that explains why I’m struggling to breathe I guess. And cold, too. ::he shivered:: I assume I’m going into shock? Boryhas: ::nodding:: Seems that way, doesn’t it? ::she tilted her head to one side as she regarded him:: You’re surprisingly calm, Doctor. Serrated blade, will make it harder to close up the wound with standard dermal regenerator. Possible laceration to the left kidney given the amount of blood loss internally… Loxley: I know, it’s a surprise to me, too. That’s shock for you, though. The body is designed to protect the important bits, the heart and brain, for as long as possible. It’s fascinating to see it in action. Boryhas: Even though you know what the eventual outcome will be? Hemorrhagic shock symptoms present – fast heart rate, blood flow redirected from extremities and non-essential organs, rapid drop in blood pressure…. Loxley: Certain death. Massive organ failure as blood stops delivering oxygen, or maybe hypothermia? I wonder which way I’ll go? I’ve seen people die before, plenty of them in fact. It’s a hazard of the job. And I’ve always wondered what goes through their minds as the light fades from their eyes. Boryhas: And that’s what you want, is it? Lox looked at the Bajoran. He remembered, while he had been giving her unconscious body an overdose of painkillers, how much she had put him in mind of Corliss Fortune. Similar age and build and, under the oil and dirt, similar hair. Loxley: Corliss… ::he swallowed hard and blinked:: No. No, actually, I think I want to live today. Boryhas: Well, then, what are you going to do about it, Doctor? Prioritise damage control – stop the bleeding, replace lost fluids. Blood plasma transfer required to stabilise blood pressure and prevent further complications… Loxley: I… He paused – he wanted to live, but he didn’t know where he was or how he could get back to the ‘real’ him. There was no pain to focus on (his medical training helpful informed him that was likely due to the blade severing his nerve) and only a serene calm, a cold white emptiness that seemed to be expanding around him. It was as comforting as it was deadly. Loxley: I don’t know… ::fear crept into his voice:: What can I do? Boryhas: Don’t ask me. I’m dead, if I ever existed at all. ::she shrugged:: Ask them. Loxley: Them? ::he frowned:: Who? Marshall: Stay with me, Doc. The sound of Jo’s voice echoed around the empty void. Four words, nothing more, but they were enough to give Lox focus, something to hold onto. He reached out, mentally, his nascent empathic powers picking up on Jo Marshall’s feelings – concern, fear, exhaustion, an undercurrent of bitter-tasting anger, the faint lingering scents of memories of Erin Reynolds. Lox grabbed them all, clawing his way back to consciousness. He opened his eyes. Loxley: Blood… ::he croaked:: Stop the blood. Need plasma. Lox weakly gestured towards Valdran. Loxley: His… Lt (jg) Loxley Medical USS Gorkon R238401JT0

Not funny, but beautiful ❤️

That intro is just priceless ((Street, Sabyk, Pelios III)) Lynas' floated on a gentle breeze, a feather that flitted from cobblestone to cobblestone down the bustling streets of Pelios. His advance was hindered only by the occasional raindrop that weighed him down for a second until he possessed enough lift to be pushed further along his endless journey to nowhere. Being a lifeless object had its advantages. Gone were the worries and troubles of his former life as a FedSec agent. No more policing the minor offenders, handing out endless warnings for improper transport licensure and failure to yield to pedestrian traffic. No more enduring the eyerolls from the likes of the up-and-coming junior agents - Poro specifically - who were jealous of his comfortable spot in the precinct. And no more dreadful murder investigation. Still, his life as a feather meant he had to leave behind the things he did enjoy about his life. His beautiful Sylan. His respected peers - Vilchis and Anvos. It was a shame he would miss out on Anvos' retirement party. The man deserved a great sendoff for his decades of dutiful service and Lynas would have loved to join in on the bash. Alas, his new life as a feather would make that impossible. His new life was decided and there wasn't anything he or anyone else could do about it. Better to simply accept his fate and float on the breeze. A loud bang caused the Pelian FedSec agent to stir and he slowly regained consciousness. ((Pelian house, New Sabyk, Darime Colony)) Lephi: We're out of time! Lynas: oO Why is there shouting? Oo His hearing faded in and out as he caught brief snippets of the action. After a few seconds of trying to get the room to stop swaying around him, he was able to discern that he was seated in a chair. As the Pelian's eyes adjusted to the darkness, he realized he was not alone in the room. Figures moved about and there was some kind of struggle across the room. The chiseled Stoyer was grappling with a gray cloaked figure while his own captor, a blue-cloaked figure, stood apart looking for an opportunity to intercede. Mr. Stoyer received a punch to the face for his trouble but seemed to take it in stride. Stoyer: ... trying not to hurt you. Neathler/Lephi/Tahna: Response The gray-hooded figure thrust backward and slammed their head into the bridge of the Starfleet officer's nose, leaving a trail of bright red blood running down his cheek. Stoyer: OK, that is enough….. Neathler/Lephi/Tahna: Response It was a pandemonium of action. The situation was out of control and Lynas reached into his repertoire of skills that he'd worked to build over the course of his career. One of the best skills he had developed was the Voice of Authority. It wasn't something he often had to rely on, most situations were defused long before they reached the manic-panic-no-holds-barred fray. Lynas: ::shouting:: Everyone, FREEZE! The room fell silent as he struggled to his feet. His back twinged badly and his head throbbed - possibly from being knocked out twice in a day's time. The blue and gray frocked figures separated and the Starfleet officers showed admirable restraint as all eyes fell on him. Lynas: I trust you are okay, Lieutenant Stoyer? Stoyer: Response Lynas: Perhaps it's time we got some answers, Bisul. He gestured to the blue-cloaked Pelian and the lady in gray standing at his shoulder. The not-so-deceased Chief Sakerark removed his blue hood and smiled. The recent surgery around his eye left garish stitches and mismatched eyes but his identity was unmistakable. Someone gasped in the dim lighting as he was recognized by at least one of the Starfleet visitors. Neathler/Lephi/Tahna/Stoyer: Response Bisul/Lady in Gray: Response -- Lt. Commander Jona ch'Ranni Chief of Operations USS Gorkon (NCC-82293) C239510JC0 Poll of the Month Team, Co-Facilitator

I'm a little behind on these things but this SIM has been on my to-do list for days because it deserves a lot of praise and fanfare. It's an excellent action scene by @Piravao sh'Qynallahr, with a great pace and a just the right mix of humour and drama. But here the compliments are not only for our andorian friend, as the scene setting and the previous tags left by his colleagues have made everything flow and work surprisingly well. Good job Pira and team! ((Field Hospital, Darime Colony)) sh’Qynallahr: I really hope this is a mistake. Facedown on the floor was one of the Gorkon’s security officers. As the rest of the group joined them, Piravao crouched and rolled the unconscious man over. He was young, clearly Vulcanoid, but an unfamiliar face . sh’Qynallahr: I don’t recognise this man. I’m familiar with the Gorkon’s security personnel, but not this man. Loxley: A Starfleet uniform makes a good disguise. The medical staff down here will assume he came down on the shuttle, I’d imagine. Sevo: I probably would have, too. I don’t know everyone on the ship. Does anyone recall him coming off the shuttle? She pulled the commbadge off his shirt and placed it on a nearby crate. From another crate she pulled a length of rope and began binding the unconscious man’s hands. sh’Qynallahr: Can someone run the ID on the commbadge for me? Once we have a little more information we’ll wake him up and ask some questions. Marshall: Ayiana, can you handle that, please? You should be able to link into the shuttlecraft database. Loxley: Odd. Heart rate and blood pressure are unusually high for someone unconscious. What stun setting did you use? sh’Qynallahr: Level three, the highest before a phaser starts causing physical damage. Sevo: Well, the badge is registered to a Lieutenant Adan, Bajoran. :: She looked at the ears. :: He’s clearly not a Bajoran. That name was familiar, Piravao knew Lieutenant Adan. He was a rather new transfer, with a clean record. This Vulcanoid looked nothing like him, even accounting for the obvious species difference. Loxley: He should be out cold, but… ::The hybrid trailed off as he adjusted his scan.:: I’m picking up high levels of cryptobiolin, a combat enhancer. Piravao’s antennae flicked in surprise. Combat enhancers were difficult to obtain legally, even Starfleet was hesitant to use them. She wasn’t familiar with the exact effects of cryptobiolin, but any combat enhancer was a cause for concern. Marshall: What would a Vulcan need combat enhancers for? Maybe expecting to find someone in here and take them out... Sevo: Seeing as how we pushed back the attackers, and received reinforcements, maybe he wanted to be more prepared. sh’Qynallahr: I don’t like it. He was prepared for a fight. Loxley: Wait, there’s more. Cervaline? That’s strange. Sevo: And for those of us who don’t know what that is? Loxley: It’s only used to prevent the rejection of transplanted tissues. And… ah, crap. Piravao’s antennae curled toward the doctor. There was more? How many drugs were in this man’s system? It was a wonder the phaser blast had taken him down...or perhaps the sheer number of drugs had made it that much easier to take him out. Loxley: He’s infected. A quiet stream of Andorian curses left Piravao’s lips. Just when the situation seemed bad, there was always another piece of news to darken the mood. Marshall: Well. ::She hooked an eyebrow.:: [...]. sh’Qynallahr: That seems an apt description of the situation. Loxley: Exactly, so either he’s a Pelian in a very impressive disguise, or he encountered the same thing they did. Marshall: What does that mean for us? We’ve been exposed now. Lox, you’re half Vulcan. Sevo: Could mean the disease is adapting to multiple species, which throws my “one-species-at-a-time programming” hypothesis out the window. Or it’s smarter than we thought and realized it’s dealing with multiple species and adapted accordingly. sh’Qynallahr: And unless I am mistaken Doctor, your other half is human. If it can infect you, it wouldn’t take much for it to jump to the other human present. ::Her antennae flicked to Jo:: Before that thought could go much further, their Vulcan prisoner began struggling in his bindings. A level three stun should have taken him out for much longer than it had. Those had to be some potent drugs. Loxley: I should have mentioned that cryptobiolin is also pretty good for counteracting the effects of a phaser stun. Piravao’s hand drifted to her phaser, ready to blast the Vulcanoid again should he become a cause for alarm. Her antennae flicked to check on her teammates while her eyes remained focused on the Vulcanoid. Everyone else seemed as concerned and cautious as she was, that was a good way to be. Sevo: Um... With a roar the Vulcanoid stood, snapping the rope binding his hands. Piravao leaped back, moving swiftly out of his reach, phaser now drawn and at the ready. Her antennae flicked forward and relaxed. It took mere seconds for her to analyse the man before her. The uniform was too small for him, based on the false ID on the commbadge, it was most likely stolen. His eyes, they bulged, rage clear in his gaze. Not a Vulcan? Or possibly one who had allowed his emotions to rule him. With the rage, combat drugs, and the natural advantages of Vulcanoid physiology, this man would be a tough opponent, she would have to be quick in the event actions turned hostile Marshall: Ohhhkay, let’s not do anything hasty right now. Just back up slowly. Loxley: Response They hadn’t gone very far when the man’s arm snapped out and hauled Sevo into the air. Damn he was quick, and now with Sevo in his grasp Piravao’s phaser was useless, hitting her colleague was too big a risk. As the Vulcanoid examined his catch, Piravao slowly holstered her weapon. She would have to fight him hand to hand, she now had no doubt that this would end with violence. Sevo: *hurk* Marshall: Or backup quickly. That’s a better option. Drop her! Bad Vulcan! Sevo: N-no! D- *hack* -don’t drop! Bad choice- *hurk* -of words! Sevo fought, attacking the arm that held her, but to no avail. Even though it was having no effect, and Sevo was clearly struggling to breathe, this was good. It gave Piravao more information about the condition of the assailant. Resistant to Sevo’s attack on his arm, it implied he was tough, either naturally resistant to her blows, or chemically enhanced enough to ignore them.. This meant softer areas would have to be her target, and she would have to hit them hard. Loxley: Response Sevo: N-no! *hurk* Don’t shoot him! :: The blast might spread from him to Ayiana. That would not be fun. :: sh’Qynallahr: ::Quietly:: The one time I leave my Ushaan-tor behind... Marshall/Loxley: Response The Vulcan roared again and hauled Ayiana higher into the air, then putting his shoulder and hip into the movement, he hurled the Trill across the room. Even as he began the motion Piravao leaped forward. He fists would likely be ineffective against him, so she would need a weapon, like the boom conveniently leaning against a nearby crate. As she snatched it up she heard Ayiana crashing to the floor behind her. Marshall/Loxley: Response Wielding the broom like one might an axe, Piravao slammed the head into the Vulcanoid’s knee, causing him to stagger. It was a good blow, but alone it would not be enough. Reversing her swing Piravao struck at his other side, catching him square on the ear with enough force to break the head of the broom off the shaft. Still the Vuicanoid did not go down, and if anything he looked more angry than before. With a howl of rage he swung at her with a clawed grip, trying to snag her clothing. He was fast, but Piravao was faster. Spinning out of his way she adjusted her grip on the boom handle, moving from axe to quarterstaff. Keeping up her momentum Piravao struck again, a flurry of blows with both ends of the pole, striking at the backs of knees, and the insides of elbows. Sevo: D-did anyone get the registry number of that starship?! Marshall/Loxley: Response The Vulcanoid, enraged and (hopefully) injured now, roared again, picking up a crate and hurling it at Piravao. With Ayiana clearly not mentally present and objects flying around the tent, this was not a good place for anyone to be right now. Piravao ducked the crate and jabbed at the man with the splintered end of the pole. Impressively, he avoided her latest strike. She was forced to roll to the side as another crate sailed through the air. sh’Qynallahr: Watch out! Marshall/Loxley/Sevo: Response As her colleagues moved about behind her, Piravao struck again, catching the Vulcanoid on the same ear as before. Dimily she noted the trail of green blood leaking from the ear as she was forced to avoid another wild swing. A very wild swing which left the Vulcanoid overbalanced for a moment, perhaps her repeated blows were taking their toll on him. Her antennae perked up as she noted this. Balancing lightly on the balls of her feet, Piravao waited for her opponent to move again. Rage against serenity, wild swings against calculated strikes. sh’Qynallahr: Someone grab a phaser and get ready! Marshall/Loxley/Sevo: Response The Vulcanoid swung at her again, and Piravao ducked under his blow. As she came up, she jabbed at him again, catching him in the throat. He stumbled backwards with a stangled grunt, one hand moving to cup his throat. Pressing her advantage Piravao struck again, catching him in the gut and causing him to double over. Slipping behind him Piravao jabbed the back of his knee, forcing him to crash heavily to the ground. To his credit, the Vulcanoid started to rise, slowly and gasping for air. In a formal duel, or even a training spar, the bout would be over. To strike again would be seen as dishonourable, and it was something Piravao would never consider. But this was not a duel, nor was she sparring. This was life and death. Dueling rules went out the window, sparring was not relevant here. In a real fight, you fought dirty, you aimed for soft spots, you went for the eyes and you performed moves which would be considered illegal in a ruled duel. In a real fight, kicking a man while he was down was the best way to ensure he did not get back up. Piravao lowered the boom handle and bowed her head. He had been a dangerous foe, and while she could have given him an honourable fight, now was not the time for that. The fight needed to end. Piravao: Stun him. Marshall/Loxley/Sevo: Response ----- Lieutenant Piravao sh’Qynallahr Security Officer USS Gorkon G239311TM0

welcome back to the fleet!

blame @Alleran Tan

Not all heroes have capes and not all painful and dramatic scenes are as beautifully crafted as this one. ((Hidden City Outskirts, Darime IV)) Ico was in serious danger, running through a pipe with a killer drone in hot pursuit. No cover. No weapons. All she had was a tricorder, which Jack suggested throwing as a last resort; it had absolutely no effect. In fact, it only seemed to make the thing, the hunter, angry. If an artificial construct could be describe as such. She wasn't going to make it. Unless she jumped... but Jack's prey instincts had taught him something and taught him well; the drone only killed its second target. Ressan: ::Hoarsely,:: Come on, Ena! Isaacs, she's going to jump out, so get ready! Isaacs: What— Obviously the question didn't land, but there was no time to give it again. Ena burst into view at the mouth of the tunnel, reaching for Jack. Her body was hot, her legs pumping, going as fast as she could, striving to survive. He reached back, their hands meeting near the lip, her feet pushed at the lip of the pipe, and Jack gave her as far a throw as he could manage, trusting in Isaacs to catch her. Or... make sure she didn't shatter her skull in the fall. Ico: IEEEEEEEEE!!!! Isaacs: Let go! Jack can— Watching in mute horror as Ico flew through the air, his heart in his throat, fear soaked into every pore of his body; the distance was not too far for a Kelpien, but for a Bajoran, she was likely to be seriously injured if she landed wrong, or Isaacs misjudged his effort to catch her... Far. Ena had fallen too far. She was going to be hurt; a broken leg at this distance was a death sentence. A serious concussion, a death sentence. Any number of injuries, certain doom. The two collided with a sickening thump, no doubt sore and injured, sprawling out on the ground like ragdolls. But both were moving. Both were alive. Success. Jack stood in the pipe basking in the joy of seeing Ico survive, and in doing so, violated the first rule of survival: Never turn your back on a predator. The briefest, brightest flash of ultraviolet light behind him. A light which struck him in the back, a scintillating shower of every hue perceptible, ranging from deep infrareds through every shade of the visible spectrum, ending in bright, twinkling ultraviolets. The glow of the weapon's heat surrounded him as the energy cut deep into his body; so bright to his eyes that it cast a giant shadow out into the surroundings, a garish Kelpien-shaped scarecrow projected onto the massive tree trunks and the walls behind it, warped and distorted by the curves of the trunks and the jagged rocks of the shining, reflecting stone beyond... but recognisable. An outline of his body. An outline with a fist-sized hole in the chest, light shining through like some kind of central eye. Pain. His legs no longer worked. Jack slumped forward gracelessly like a puppet with its strings cut, pitching forward and tumbling out of the pipe, by sheer luck landing in the nearby moss, face-first on the soft surface. At least he missed the water. Some part of him was aware of the buzzing of the drone above, the predator inspecting the fresh kill, and then it departed. Isaacs: It’s gone. You okay? Nothing broken? Ico: Response They were okay. They were both okay. Feebily, Jack tried to stand, but all he could manage was a flop. His legs didn't respond to his call; the injury to his back felt cold instead of hot, and there was nothing below his lower back. No feeling of pain, no wet and cold of the water, no pain from his fall... just a void, a detachment that he could not adequately explain. Isaacs: Jack? He tried to speak, but nothing came out. Isaacs: ...Jack? Slowly, slowly, air came into his lungs. He croaked out a couple of words. Ressan: ::Croaking,:: I swear I had something for this. Ico: Response Isaacs: No. No, no no— The others ran over. He felt himself moved onto his back; the weapon, whatever it was, had cut right through him, but the only injury was visible on his chest. The same one that had struck down Gilbert. Now he got a look at it, a decent look, it didn't look good. It didn't look good at all. Isaacs: Come on, Jack. Please. Stay with us. Ico: Response He wanted to give another one liner, another stupid joke to reassure them that everything was going to be okay, but he couldn't think of one. Everything was distant and muddled, foggy, like he'd had too many drinks at the Academy bar. Slowly, inexorably, he felt it. He felt Death's cold hands around his throat, the cold chill of her icy breath washing over him, getting ready to send him off, her chilly hands sliding around his throat... But She did not choke the life out of him. It was no violent, painful struggle against the end; his multitudinous senses could feel the damage to him, smell the ozone in the air, the singed flesh, the rich scent of blood. Ressan: It's my time. I can feel it. I have to... go now. But don't worry. ::His eyes drifted toward Ico.:: Isaacs... can get you out of here. You'll be okay. Ico/Isaacs: Response Ressan: ::He smiled fondly and reached up, touching Ico's cheek, leaving behind a bloody handprint.:: We... will see each other again. His pupils dilated, letting in as much of the light as possible, a bright, hopeful, comforting feeling spreading up from his toes and up his legs, over his body like a warm blanket on a cool autumn night; he could smell the saltwater of his home, feel the sand under his bare feet, and the sweet scent of incoming rain on the clouds as they drifted in toward him. There was no fear. No pain. Nothing but a gentle joy that permitted down to his bones; the passing of one state to the other, a falling star drifting into the atmosphere and burning up, providing light and joy for just a moment before slipping away, consumed by endless tranquil night. Ressan: It's... beautiful. And then he died. -- J'ryn "Jack" Ressan 4th Year Cadet simmed by Lt (j.g) Serren Tan Security/Tactical USS Gorkon O238704AT0

Welcome to the fleet!

The ability to evoke unique, alien, yet relatable moments and paint them with emotion and imagery so clear and pure in our mind's eye is a mark of a gifted writer. Just one more of the many notorious talents of @Jo Marshall Well done, girl! ((N’amiu’s Garden, Darime IV)) The garden, sloping gently down to the divine mountain steam, was usually lovely in the evening. Lines of vacca shrubs ran down the centre, while a tangled yucca copse surrounded the meadow on either side. As the seasons changed, the leaves took on a blazing brightness, with dancing reds, bruising purples, and oranges that made the mouth wet. Silence reigned supreme throughout the fall months as leaves dropped from the trees to be renewed by buds in the spring. The opulent verdure of the meadow delicately balanced against the encroaching darkness of the distant stars in the indigo sky as the small Pelian woman trudged through the waist-high growing grass. Long strands of the misty evening brushed against the inside of her hand as she swished it back and forth. Geosmin aroma rose from the sodden earth after the storm. Prayers wandered from her lips as she whispered the tenets of their faith to the moons shining above. Tomorrow, the dawn would rise. That night, the stars were a scornful, silver reminder of the beautiful and the scattered Pelian people. She coughed into her palm. Red spittle, the tangy taste of life-giving fluids. Age was the eternal equaliser. Kinless and kith less, the Garden was all she had left. Family long since moved on. Diaphanous mist rolled in over the meadows and arches, dewdrops of the rain long since seeped into the ground. Intertwined trees simmered thoughts of her partner, long since committed to their religious practices for the route of the dead, and how he would welcome her with open arms into the next life. She moved as if she were a spirit, cane in hand, swaddled in graveclothes. Eerie quiet shrouded the garden, imparting an otherworldly sense to the natural beauty all about, swathed in its miasmal patina. A divine magnificence entrusted to their care. A gift given by the gods of past and present. In dreamscapes, a marvel of everlastingness. Slabs of polished stones lay in the thicket of a clearing beside a wizened eethrolia tree. Sitting down to rest her withered limbs and weary legs, she looked into the distance. Rolling mountains emerged like the spined back of a young tasita. Spring would breathe new life into the valley. Leaves would become a flourishing green once more. Animals would frolic in the pastures. Pelians would still make their pilgrimages to the sacred site for centuries to come. Closing her eyes, the old woman conceded the spiritual plane to seep into her old bones and frail, wrinkled flesh. She drifted away into an infinite sleep as a somnolent smile played across her lips. The garden, sloping gently down to the divine mountain steam, was unusually lovely on the evening Rybi Trantim passed into eternity. -- Rybi Trantim Old, Sick Pelian As simmed by Lt. Commander Jo Marshall First Officer USS Gorkon, NCC-82293 G239304JM0

"He burned down half the city just to prove he was right and burned the other half just for fun." - Information entry about Johnny Silverhand.

Welcome to the fleet! It has been a pleasure to share this week with you, as Wolf said, my door is open for whatever you need!

welcome to the fleet ensigns

Ah my poor summer child

Now i've a new fear

Archaeology digs are chill places, damn't!

Bear, the romantic

@Alleran Tan Holding hands? SCANDAL!