Alieth

Welcomento the fleet!!!! Have fun around ;D

I HATE I've been reading this with EXACTLY that expression XD

I've been resisting putting this SIM here for a few days now because I think it's too self-indulgent as this scene revolves around my character and one crazyof my own crazy ideas. However, today, when I have re-read it to write a reply, I couldn't help but appreciate how WELL written it is, the perfect mix between letting some space so that others can add to the scene and an absolutely delicious description and development of the scenario as well as the great prose, full of humour and subtleties to which @Geoffrey Tellerhas accustomed us to. So I have no choice but to put it here, because it is well worth reading. A call out, again, to @Roshanara Rahmanand @Quen Deenabecause without them it wouldn't have been possible, and my absolute and sincere thanks to them too. I hope I can live up to your standards one day. _______________________________________________________________________________________ ((CMO's Office, Main Sickbay, USS Thor)) Alieth: I’m fine. ::She frowned deeply and reworded the statement:: I am fine. Geoff managed to sit up largely because Cheesecake had a firm grip on the front of his uniform. With limited dignity and no small amount of slobber on his torso, Geoff found himself propped up against the wall of Alieth's office. The pain in his skull was diminishing, but in its place was a strange ringing. Somehow, he recognized it as the sound of Vulcan bells, although he'd never heard them before. They rang across a blistering, sandswept ceremonial battleground. He saw two fighters, wielding the lirpa with desperate, deadly intent. Geoff realized he was watching a fight he'd seen before, but that time it had been from Serns eyes. As the fatal blow was struck, Geoff felt a wave of anguish like nothing he'd ever experienced before. He felt Alieth's pain like it was his own. The memory faded but the emotions stayed sharp and clear. Teller: But...what about Sern? What the hell was all that? Alieth: That is rather more complicated, I… Alieth had managed to keep her seat and most of her dignity, so when she struggled to rise and stand without toppling over Geoff's concern for her was renewed. She steadied herself eventually then came to his aide, displacing Cheesecake to one side with a few friendly pats and then hauling Geoff to his feet. Geoff could've been imagining it, but somehow Alieth seemed...different to him. Her body language had changed, and along with it her tone. He couldn't be sure what this would mean, but he doubted it was good. Alieth: Sern needs help, expert guidance. Assistance that I can only find in Vulcan. Geoff found his strength and balance returning, but he still felt profoundly drained from the experience. He kept having phantom sensations, like the certainty he had sand in his boots or that his non-existent beard was itchy. Other sensations, like the thrill of driving a nearly out of control ground vehicle and joyfully fleeing trouble with a sister, were not his own. The taste of chocolate on his tongue and in his nose, far richer and more potent than anything a human had ever experienced. Voices that sounded like shouting Klingons. It was a distracting collision of memories and experiences, something his brain was apparently having trouble sorting through. Teller: We're in trouble, aren't we? ::Geoff tapped his temple:: Both of us. Geoff met Alieth's gaze and crossed his arms. Alieth: I cannot answer that, Geoff, not now, but whatever it takes, I will sort it out, he can count on me :: She gazed into his eyes earnestly, her concern well hidden behind her impassive mask :: And so will you. Geoff looked to Alieth, and saw many things all at once. Like looking at light split through a crystal, Geoff saw many shades of Alieth. The officer he'd come to know and respect. The woman Sern had loved. Even Alieth's perspective mingled in, her self-doubt and struggles with her family, her grief, her love of this ship and its crew. Geoff had to blink it away and focus hard to keep from getting distracted. Distantly, he wondered how joined Trill kept it all sorted out. Teller: I'm not sure how many sets of memories I have in my head at this point, but all of them tell me to trust you Alieth. ::Geoff forced a grin, if for himself if nothing else:: We'll sort this out, together. Sern's kinda like family to me at this point, and I'd hate...well, you two have been through enough. So, now what? ::Geoff held his hands up defensively:: If you say another mind meld I'm getting a phaser. And a helmet. Alieth: We shall see, but for the time being I think you should have some rest. And in the next few weeks just... make sure you stay out of trouble. And for once play it safe, troublemaker. Geoff snorted, glad to see Alieth loosening up fractionally. oO...troublemaker...Oo Geoff looked back to Alieth's desk, almost forgetting the small package he'd dropped off when he arrived. Teller: That reminds me....you should really open that. Alieth: Response Teller: Well, you can call it whatever you want, I mostly consider this a warning for others. Alieth: Response Alieth took the heavy parcel in hand and unwrapped it deftly, exposing the contents Geoff had put together in one of the ships machine shops. Made from a piece of duranium salvaged from the front engine cowling of his demolished SAG, Teller had worked the metal until it was smooth and flat, with only slightly jagged edges as a reminder of its origin. On the front, etched into the metal in both Federation Standard and Vulcan were eight words: Chief Medical Officer Alieth Professional Troublemaker USS Thor Teller: I figure you can leave that on the desk, at least give your patients a heads up. Alieth: Response Teller: If that was a thank you, you're welcome. ::Geoff rose, finally confident he could make it to the turbolift without hitting the ground:: I think I'm going to head back to my quarters and sleep for a week. You need anything else from me? Alieth: Response Teller: I'm not sure what worries me more...that you know to ask that question, or that you're not even sure about the answer. I'll try to explain...Silas...another time. Alieth: Response Geoff smiled weakly and beat a hasty retreat out of sickbay. As confusing as the meld had been, he felt a strange vitality returning to him. For a few moments, he had again been himself as a younger man. He remembered the passion and drive that had gotten him to the Thor, and more importantly the people who had been part of his journey. As much as he wanted to sleep on his return to his quarters, Geoff instead sat in front of the computer console and opened a new message. // TO: RAHMAN, R., USSVERITAS, CO FROM: TELLER, G.J., USSTHOR, XO Skipper, Thought you should know you saved my life, again, today. Appreciate it. Separately, you guys ever get the starboard plasma manifold alignment issues under control? You know how the core gets. I owe you one, Geoffrey John Teller // Geoff smiled and sent the message off, then collapsed into bed with his boots still on. [Tags/End for Teller!] ((OOC: Special thanks to Fleet Captain Rahman of the Veritas for taking the time to join us for this arc! I think this turned into something really special.)) =============================== Commander Geoffrey Teller Executive Officer USS Thor - NCC 82607 Commodore A. Kells, Commanding V239509GT0

@Quen Deena has made such an AWESOME work developing Sern with just a super sketchy draft that she has just blown my mind and I'm super THANKFUL of having handed her this WORK. 100% a PERFECT display that why collaborative writing rocks and how hand key character of your character background/past to other writers it's not only a GOOD idea but a GREAT one Thank you so much May!

I can't really describe what an honour it was to have @Geoffrey Teller agree to take part in this insane scene, but to have him do it with such an amazing quality of writing is a gift in itself. This sim, heading to the wrap up of the mind meld scene is a real treasure where he demonstrates his amazing knack to weave drama, humour and action together, even more so to leave us with the message that creativity can take you everywhere and that is just top notch. Thank you so much for jumping into this madness and a well deserved call out to @Quen Deena and @Roshanara Rahman for having jumped in and delivered up and better than I could have ever dared to imagine. _________________________________________________________________________________ ((Purplewhitehaven Beach, Limbo, within Geoff Teller's mind)) Geoff knew what he was 'seeing' was somewhere between a ghost and a memory, but that didn't matter. She felt deeply real to him even as her appearance rippled and changed. For a moment, Geoff caught a glimpse of something behind the mask. Something sad. Something hiding. It was gone a moment later and the Skipper returned to the form he had always known. Rahman: But *this* is the woman you still remember. The woman returned a playful smirk as she reached down and lifted her right pant leg slightly, revealing some Trill-like spots that ran down the side of her leg. Rahman: She told you that was inaccurate. Geoff felt himself blushing in slight embarrassment. Teller: You know how it is, Skipper. You get an idea in your head it can be tough to dislodge it. ::Geoff turned back, wagging a finger accusingly:: Wait a minute, what the hell am I embarrassed about. You're just in my head, you're not the real Rahman. This Roshanara shrugged before looking down at her chest. Rahman: Well, I suppose it could be worse. Geoff paled deeply, forced to recall the entire embarrassing situation with his ill chosen tattoo. He gasped, the full force of the memory hitting him all at once, unfiltered and in too perfect clarity. It was as if all the emotions of the original experience were back with him at once, magnified and distorted. Rahman: Now... I'm hungry! Let's get something to eat. ((Campfire, Purplewhitehaven Beach - Day)) The "New Risa resort" that Teller had helped construct with the other Veritas survivors in the real world no longer existed in this iteration of Limbo. So instead, Teller and Roshanara had set up a small campfire near the escape pod. Rahman: ::to narrator:: A campfire in the day? No, that won't do... ((Campfire, Purplewhitehaven Beach - Night)) Geoff's head whipped around, trying to process the sudden changes as the terrain shifted and reformed. The memorial stone was again in the distance and he was back at the escape pod, standing before a large stone encircled fire pit he could not remember ever building in the real world. The brutal tropical sun above made the fire pointless but in another moment, night had fallen and along with it the temperature. The woman in his mind was looking to the sky, and Geoff's eyes followed. With the sun gone, the brightest star in the sky had become the Veritas herself, suspended in time like a fly in amber. It had infuriated Teller ever single day he was trapped on this moon to be within sight of the ship but completely cut off. Roshanara cut a piece of fish they'd caught earlier in the day that had been cooking over the fire before handing it over to Teller. Rahman: You look like you could have a bite. Geoff looked down, accepting the stick with a deep scowl. Among the things which had competed for his most hated experience on Limbo had been the food. Fish. Fish stew. Baked. They were lucky to have had it and lived on it, and almost exclusively it, for months. Geoff no longer ate fish. Ever. Teller: I think I'll pass if it's all the same to you. Rahman: I promise it'll be even better than you remember. She sat up a little straighter, clearly proud. Rahman: I added some berry juice I found earlier. Geoff shook his head at the sudden warmth and eagerness to please. It made the Skipper seem vulnerable in a way Geoff had never consciously imagined. She'd never once acted this way in person, he was certain of that. Whatever it was, it compelled him to take a few hesitant bites. His eyes widened in surprise. Teller: That's actually..not..bad. Thank you...I guess. Geoff slumped down on the sand, suddenly tired of standing. He chewed through another mouthful of fictitious fish before leaning back against the escape pod in exhaustion. He was warm from the fire and considered closing his eyes for a moment, the lapping of the nearby waves calming him more than it ever had on the actual planet. Captain Rahman's voice sounded far away, but it kept Geoff anchored. Rahman: What we need to figure out, Mister Teller, is how you're going to get us back up there! Geoff shook his head, confused again. Teller: I...we did already. This was almost two years ago. We got off that world, all of us. ::Geoff thought again of the memorial stone:: Most of us. Rahman: Well how did you do it last time? Teller: What, you're going to make me explain it to you like I did last time? That took all night, and I don't have Wil here to draw the diagrams. Geoff tried to stand but his exhaustion was growing deeper the longer he sat around the fire. Some part of him knew the truth, that the meld had gone wrong. If he didn't find Alieth, or more likely if Alieth didn't find him, they'd both end up trapped within their own minds, slowly going mad as their bodies failed. Rahman: Then let's think outside the proverbial box. I don't care how red that shirt gets, you'll always be a Starfleet engineer. Something in the Captain's voice connected with the earliest moments in his Starfleet career. Stepping off the shuttle that had delivered him from Starbase 118. His orders, partially garbled by the subspace interference of the Shoals, had led him to believe he'd be a helmsman. He'd met the Captain minutes later, already deeply embroiled in a crisis. She had immediately overawed Geoff in those first moments, and he'd spent the rest of his career trying to live up to that titanic memory. Geoff struggled up unsteadily but managed to come to his feet. He felt calmer and more focused. Teller: You know, I had a whole plan for mass producing hydrazine on this planet...::Geoff imagined the little cave workshop he had built, far from camp for safety reasons. He'd never had the time to get much beyond the experimental phase before he'd figured out a different path home for the crew.::...and I was planning to launch a rocket. Unmanned, of course. Thought we might be able to get a transporter relay into orbit... The beach shimmered again but what now stood there had never existed in reality. Beginning at the treeline, a launch ramp made of lashed together logs pointed towards the sky. It had been planed down to create a smooth slide, and the surface had been coated by something that looked like petroleum oil. At the head of the ramp, a small vessel of equally improvised construction sat with bamboo door wedged open, a single seat inside. Geoff thought about it and his thinking became more clear. He was trapped within his own mind, and his creativity had always been his greatest strength. Here, it could be unbounded by the laws of physics or material science. Here, Geoff could make any ridiculous contraption he'd ever dreamed of. Right now, he was dreaming of a bamboo rocketship that would take him to the Veritas so he could rescue his friend and get the hell out of this place. The rocket motor of the bamboo ship sputtered to life, a small stream of smoke and fire from the rear. Geoff took a step towards it. Rahman: Response Teller: Skipper, you're right. You're always right. The minute I start forgetting what I'm doing, you remind me I'm here to build things. Mad, wonderful, fantastic things. ::Geoff took the wicker seat in the center of the improbable craft. The controls were all coconut halves and bamboo levers. Geoff tugged at a few confidentally, certain now this would work.:: You want to come with me? ::Geoff nodded, and suddenly a second seat appeared in the small craft.:: Rahman: Response Teller: Well, it's up to you, but in about ten seconds I'm pressing the big red coconut so either get in and hang on or get out and wish me luck, because I swore I wasn't going to die on this beach once and I'll be damned if it beats me now. And that's a God Damn Good Job Guarantee, Skipper. Rahman: Response Geoff smiled and winked, pulling the door closed and settling back in the chair. Teller: Thanks, Roshanara. For everything. Geoff fixed his eyes on the falling Veritas out his seaglass viewport and smacked the launch control. As his imaginary ship rocketed down the launchway, bits and pieces collapsed off the sides and top while the ground behind it vanished into nothingness. The beach and the island and the whole of the world vanished away as Geoff took flight, all the elements of the fantasy falling away around him as he grew closer towards his goal. His eyes stayed fixed on the point of light that had been the Veritas, but Geoff realized now it was something more. He leaned forward, calling a name out into the dark. Teller: Alieth! He flew like an arrow towards that point of light within his mind. It was the only thing left in a space that had gone pitch black. This was his last chance. He called out again. They'd escape this place together, or not at all. He felt himself growing closer to something familiar and shouted again. Teller: Alieth! We have to go! Now! Alieth: Response Teller: It won't matter if we don't get out of here. You have to break the meld! Alieth: Response Geoff felt himself tumbling again, spinning out of control as Alieth's voice became large in his mind. Then, a light. And a very large dog. ((CMO's Office, Main Sickbay, USS Thor)) Geoff pitched backwards in his chair but could not catch himself in time and ended up sprawled on the floor of Alieth's office, a monumentally bad headache throbbing behind his eyes. Before he could move or speak a single word, Cheesecake was hovering over him, the dogs huge face upside down to Geoff's perspective. Cheesecake then very helpful provided resuscitation services by licking the entirety of Geoff's face and at least one of his eyeballs. Teller groaned and tried to stand without success. Teller: Doc...Alieth...are you... Alieth: Response Teller: But...what about Sern? What the hell was all that? Alieth: Response [Tags/TBC!] =============================== Commander Geoffrey Teller Executive Officer USS Thor - NCC 82607 Commodore A. Kells, Commanding V239509GT0

@Sirok dropping vulcan bombs

welcome to the fleet! enjoy

i've had a hard time between Inner Light and the Visitor. But...

A bit of context because this sim deserves it. This series of sims are based on the premise that "Teller has a Vulcan katra (Sern) in his head and it's not where it should be". Obviously, that leads to problems, so the inevitable "let's see if we can find that katra and get it out of his head" is compulsory. What does that give us? A mind-melt, a guided tour through little vignettes of the character's career and previous life, intermingled and confused and at the same time delightful and amusing. My perception may be a little biased in this matter, but I think it's a great representation of something we've seen in several star trek series, and it's always a fascinating story. thanks for this @Geoffrey Teller I can't wait to see where we go next. ((Chief Engineers Office, USS Veritas, 2396)) Teller: What do you mean, my fault? Why is it always my fault? Alieth: Usually a meld can be guided into the core of someone else's mind. It often takes the form of a library, or a household and one only has to look for the correct book or unlock the required door to find out what is sought. Geoff considered the idea and looked around with fresh eyes, somehow no longer surprised. The Veritas had been a home for him, and one that had nurtured him in ways he was still discovering. He'd made lifelong friends and celebrated their successes. He'd seen the officer he wanted to be in the people around him. Alieth: But since you are a calamity incarnate, your brain is not wired as a small house but as a whole engineering deck full of Jefferies tubes in which everything is interconnected.:: She let out a small sigh:: This is going to take a while. Geoff laughed, a little bit too delighted at the prospect. Teller: Are you kidding, this is great! I haven't gotten to crawl around in the jefferies tubes for months, and I could take you through the ones on this ship blindfolded. I should've let you go wandering around in my brain earl...::Geoff stopped midsentence, his hand going to his temples. The stabbing pain behind his eyes was getting worse.:: ...alright maybe we'll skip the grand tour this time. Alieth crossed to his old desk, lifting a Brew Continuum mug and inspecting the coffee ring left behind on his desk. Otherwise, his desk was unusually clean, not covered in the routine assortment of PADDs and reports that typically accumulated on the real one. Alieth: Are you aware that the fact that even the core of your mind has some sort of caffeine shrine speaks very poorly of your restraint with these brews? We are going to have to deal with that when we get out of here. Geoff snorted, but the look Alieth gave him was grave. As his wonder at their surroundings passed, a feeling of wrongness had begun seeping in around the edges of his perception. The lack of crew had been jarring, but there was a strange unnatural stillness to everything. Teller: When we get out of here, after we find Sern, right? Which we're going to do....how, exactly? Alieth: I do not know, even though you belong to a telepathically null species, you are like a kind of telepathic sponge, and I have little control over all this. Geoff held up his hands defensively, fairly certain he'd been insulted. Again. Alieth: The plan is to go out there, open a door and see where it leads, and hopefully we will find some indication of where Sern's katra might be, maybe something misplaced, or not as you remember. But I have no way of where to start on…. ::waving her hands around::: ...this, so you are the one who should lead us. Teller: I just want to be sure I've got this straight. We are going to wander around in the hope we accidentally trip over Sern? Is that about the size of it? She gave a very, very slow nod. Alieth: Trial and error is an apt description. Geoff shrugged and turned to face the office doors that would lead out to Main Engineering. The Warp core would be on his right, the main workstation table to his left, and the Engineering lab off to the side behind reenforced doors. He knew every jefferies tube access point on both floors, and exactly how to get anywhere on the ship from here. Teller: Well, fine, so how do we get started? Alieth: You just need to get out of the office. Geoff stepped forward, the doorway parting silently. His foot stepped down but the deck was gone. ((First Landing Park, Tuckerberg, Archer IV, 2376)) His foot found soil and grass, and the sky opened above them to just the right shade of blue. Flowers he hadn't smelled in years tickled his nose, and it was a struggle to keep his eyes from watering. The wind came down from mountains, as it always had, cool and pleasant on the warm spring day. A day that had passed almost twenty years earlier. Alieth: Does this place look familiar? Geoff fought to keep the lump out of his throat. He could feel his memories of the day, his emotions. The love and simple delight of childhood. It was nearly overwhelming. Teller: Yes...this is First Landing Park. It was near our house...we came here all the time. Alieth: Makes sense. ::Her gaze fell into the small group:: So they are...? Teller: Mom and Dad, and my older sister Sarah. We'd go to an old tree, down near the south end of the park. There's an urban legend that it was the first tree Porthos ever peed on, it's supposed to be good luck. My parents thought that made it a good spot to picnic. ::Geoff could feel tears at the corners of his eyes, and his voice grew quiet:: They were right. Geoff stepped forward, lost in the moment, longing to join his family in the distance. He would've been gone forever if a strong hand hadn't closed around his wrist and stopped him cold, breaking the dangerous trance Teller had fallen into. Her voice helped to pull him back and ground him. The pain behind his eyes had become an almost blinding pressure. Alieth: We will not find Sern here, Geoff, so we should leave. :: She then made a pause and glanced at the plain expression on his face.:: But I can help you to come back later, when we get all this sorted out... Geoff shook his head. This moment was best left to the past, a halcyon day that would stay forever green in his rememberings. Teller: Lets get out of here. Alieth nodded and they stepped forward in unison, the hiss of a starship door closing behind them. Immediately, the hairs on the back of Ensign Geoffrey Teller's neck stood on end. oO No. Oo ((U.S.S. Artemis, 2395)) The endless corridors yawned before him once again, and Geoffrey Teller was standing inside a dreaded memory. He'd been newly assigned to the Veritas, on his first mission as Acting Chief Engineer, and it was as close to death as he'd ever come. Computer: =/\= All Hands, Prepare for Slipstream in t-minus Six Minutes. Warning. Slipstream corridor instability detected. Warning. Do not engage Slipstream drive. Warning. Automatic Safety Interlocks Non-Responsive. Warning. Do not engage Slipstream drive. Warning. Slipstream jump in t-minus five minutes and fifty seconds. Warning.... =/\= The lighting and the drone of the computer voice were all exactly as they had been, and Teller felt a dangerous panic creeping into his thoughts. Alieth: What...? Is this the Veritas again? Teller: No..no...we're...we're aboard the Artemis...we have to...::the pain behind his eyes magnified tenfold, collapsing him to his knees.:: We have to get to the shuttlebay...the ship is going to explode... Geoff felt a new pain, a sudden horrible jarring in his chest. The first time, he'd broken a rib trying to escape this ship, and it had punctured his lung. Before Taz Shandres strapped him into the only flyable thing left aboard, he'd begun coughing up blood. As he was now. Geoff looked at the crimson splatter in his palm and began pulling himself forward, desperate to escape. Teller: We have to get to the shuttlebay Taz! Come on! It's our only hope! Alieth: Response Geoff was jogging down the hall, picking up momentum even as his head felt like bursting. He was lost in the memory, his mind solely focused on flight. He had to get out. Computer: =/\= All Hands, Prepare for Slipstream in t-minus Six Minutes. Warning. Slipstream corridor instability detected. Warning. Do not engage Slipstream drive. Warning. Automatic Safety Interlocks Non-Responsive. Warning. Do not engage Slipstream drive. Warning. Slipstream jump in t-minus five minutes. Warning.... =/\= Teller: You can't give me an order, now come on...::Geoff lurched to his feet, moving as quickly as he could.::...we have to... Alieth: Response A strong hand was on his shoulder, keeping him from moving forward, impeding his escape. Teller: Dammit Taz! Don't have time for... Alieth: Response Geoff felt himself falling, tumbling away from the deckplates and hallways of the Artemis. He landed somewhere worse. ((New Risa Resort and Spa, Limbo, ~2395)) Lt. Jg. Geoffrey Teller looked around in horror at the sunbaked survivors encampment that had come to be jokingly called the New Risa Resort and Spa. An agency from the far future had tried to remove the Veritas from the timeline, and had arranged for the crew to be marooned here, on this tropical moon where time moved more quickly than the outside universe. The crew experienced months of relative time while only moments passed in the outside universe. It had been a special hell for a Chief Engineer, where little technology worked and he was focused on digging ditches and building an irrigation system. They had been some of the most difficult months in his life, and they had passed in an eyeblink. But his uniform was tattered, and his face felt itchy with the thin scraggly beard he'd accumulated. Geoff lost his temper and began yelling at the air. Teller: Sern! If you want a slideshow of all my personal traumas, subscribe to Taz Shandres's channel on Fednet like everyone else. Enough of this! Come out you irritating son of a b... Alieth: Response Geoff tried to focus but found it impossible. Teller: I can't...it's...I can barely think. It's not...it's not going away. Alieth: Response [[Tag! & TBC]] =============================== Commander Geoffrey Teller Executive Officer USS Thor - NCC 82607 Commodore A. Kells, Commanding V239509GT0

Thank you so much for enjoy this! But i really want to point out that scenes like this grow and nurture in an awesome and cooperative writing partner and @Brutus is an awesome one (and a hell of a good writer!) Thank you too, Bru

welcome to the fleet! I'm sure you'll have a great time here

There are times when reality and fiction intermingle a little bit and our characters allow us to articulate and cope with things we otherwise wouldn't be able to. Today I saw a little piece of @Alora DeVeau's soul here and, as I expected, it is deliciously beautiful, like her prose, despite the sorrowfulness that permeates these words. Here for you my friend ((USS Thor - Alieth’s and Peri’s Quarters)) Everything was fine. The computer sounded the alarm and again and again until the dark eyes of the one occupant finally opened and Peri pushed herself up to rub at her eyes. A moment later, her soft command hushed the continual noise and silence descended. With the absence of her roommate, there was no one to worry about waking, but Peri made little sound as she shifted from under the covers and swung her feet over the side of her bed. Only the soft hush of fabric, the gentle hum of the sonic shower, the tinkling flow of the water as she brushed her teeth followed her as she moved about her quarters and proceeded to prepare for the day. Making her way back to her bed, Peri dropped to her knees and began to pull out something stored beneath. Another chirp from the computer made her stop and she straightened as she turned her gaze to check the time. Then she did a double take. It was almost time for her shift to start! How had she lost track of time? Had it slipped so quickly by that she’d simply mistaken the amount she had for opportunity? Whatever the reason, it did not matter, for she could not spare a moment to do what she most wanted lest she be derelict in her duty. Jumping to her feet, Peri almost rammed into her doors she was so quick to rush from her quarters and run down the hall. With the lift doors firmly shut, she had no choice but to stop and wait, her teeth worrying her lip, hands playing at one another, until they finally parted and she darted inside. When she arrived on the proper deck, Peri made a beeline for her lab where she found others already at work. Cheeks aflame, she quickly made her way to the console. No one remarked about her tardiness. No one hardly looked at her to admonish her. Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, she set about looking through the latest data that had been gathered by the sensors. It was all right. Everything was fine. Looking to the console, she switched to a different pane. There, in between the lines of information, marked by an alternating array of curves and straight lines, Peri caught her reflection. Black hair had been pulled back into a standard bun, one of her usual ways of wearing it while working. In her haste, a few strands had wriggled free and played over her cheeks, but she ignored them. Her face was muted and blurred by the screen, her visage more like a shadow than a reflection. Glancing down, she input another series of parameters. When she lifted her gaze, another reflective figure stood to the side just behind her. The red curly hair was kept at bay with a hairband, the sweet heart-shaped face displayed with a smile. In the dusk of the monitor, the eyes were shadows, the warmth of their hazel left only to the imagination. With a gasp, Peri whirled around, only to find herself alone. It had been a shadow, a bare whisper of a memory come to the mind’s eye upon that day of all days, when the eyes yearned to see and the heart ached to remember. Taking a deep breath, Peri turned and peered at the screen, but all that was left was her own face marred by the contents that poured over it. Only her thoughts, only her imagination, projecting something that wasn’t there. That presence that she missed so dearly, that face that had greeted her with a smile almost every day since their first meeting, it was just a memory, a wish that would never be granted. But it was okay. It would be okay. The chirp of the computer seemed so cheerful in comparison to the thoughts that pervaded the young scientist’s attention. Attempts were made to focus, and eventually waves of reflection and contemplation were swept into a corner, not to be disposed of, but simply placed upon a shelf for further introspection, but later, when the demands of her duty could be set aside, properly attended to and well done. She kept them at bay, those unwanted recollections that seemed so intent to haunt her. They thrust out into the forefront at her meal time, for her mind had been left to wander, no longer distracted by the intrinsic luminosity of stars or extragalactic distance of galaxies beyond their own. Peri’s own turmoil reared its head, unwilling to be silenced in the stillness of her brief respite, and it’s unpleasant attendance spurred her to rush through an otherwise pleasant fare, left half eaten in the wake of the unrest the objectionable visitor had stirred. Her own internal galaxy had been invaded, a recurring reminder printed upon every data stamped with the date, every mention made of time. Time had come to a stop for some, but for others, it continued, and those left behind could only reflect upon the ravages of the past. And yet, as much as time could plunder, it could also heal. The sting was still present, perhaps more so on that particular day, but the retrospection was, perhaps, a little easier than before, not quite so overwhelming, not so consuming. To be sure it remained, ever present, little things bringing to mind, more obvious than on other days, but the deep breaths cooled the flames of unrest and sorrow. They still existed, still habited the heart, but the power they held over it had lessened. The ability to move through the veil they threw over the might thinned, and life could seem almost normal. Normality continued through the rest of the afternoon. Her attention thus occupied by the calculations of the mass of stars, the distance and chemical makeup of nebulous matter, the gravitational force of a nearby black hole, all these tasks took up room, leaving little chance for those memories to distract from the course of her obligations. Time continued as it always did, passing by until she was left with a reminder and her shift had come to an end. Usually, Peri would linger, too intrigued by the prospects and information that the Thor’s powerful sensors collected and displayed, but she had a task to perform. One she would have completed had she not lost track earlier that morning. She would not allow herself to renege in the ritual, and so allowing herself only a few moments extra to make up for what she’d lost in the morning, Peri excused herself and returned to her room. Upon arrival, her roommate had still not returned, a fortuitous opportunity that would allow her time, time alone to focus upon what she had to do. What she wished to do. Returning to the small space beneath her bed, she tugged from it a box a couple of feet wide, and of a similar length, it’s depth about half that. From within, she pulled out a small candelabra with five positions, each allowing a single candle - those residing inside the container as well - but only one was chosen. The holder was arched, the middle setting the highest, and it was upon this one that particular candle was placed. Breathing in, then out several times, Peri clasped the lighter and brought a spark to life, then used it to light the wick. The fire took to its new residence quite gleefully, dancing despite the lack of a breeze. A candle lit, a flame dancing in place of the one that had been snuffed out, the warmth of its glow filled the dimness of her room, cutting through the shadows and adding a cheerful disposition. With a small smile, Peri bowed her head, her words moving, her voice soft as she uttered familiar words. Katsim: Raka-ja ut shala morala... ema bo roo kana... uranak... ralanon Ayna... propeh va nara ehsuk shala-kan vunek… She had spoken those words upon the death of her closest friend, and then again a year later. Now, two years had past, yet she expressed them once more, though time had put more distance between the past and present. Though the pain had dulled, or perhaps she had become better at wearing it, she had promised she would say them, again and again, every year, on that very day. A reminder of what had happened. A reminder of what she had. A reminder of what she’d lost. Settled upon her knees, Peri stared into that flickering light, so gleeful on its perch. Alive, much like the soul that was lit for had been. Since their meeting, Ayna had taken it upon herself to be a shelter for her, a child of two worlds, trapped between them, uncertain of where she should place her feet. For Ayna, it hadn’t mattered, and her place had been at her side, friends, close as sisters. With Ayna, things had gotten better. She had made them better. And now? And now she was gone. Two years gone. Another shaky breath followed and her eyes shut, cutting out the light that tried so desperately to shine in that darkness. In her mind's eye, she could see it, see the flame in its gentle brilliance, a reflection of the brilliance of the life Ayna had led and so willingly shared with her friend. Yet, in the hollows of that distance, in the darkness that followed, her presence was still there, a part of the universe, dancing with the Prophets among the stars. Peri could almost hear her laughter, her gleeful countenance forming in the foremost parts of her thoughts. And though the ache painfully clenched about her heart, and tears trickled down her cheeks, she knew it would be all right. Everything was fine. Everything would be fine. Because Ayna had always known it would be. So she had believed. So Peri believed. It would be fine. She would be fine. ~~*~~ In memory of Kirsti Andrea Anderson, June 02, 1964-March 3, 2019 -- Ensign Katsim Science Officer USS Thor M239008AD0

welcome on board @Dr. Cassie Mason! hope to write with you and see your adventures soon!

BOI🔥 @Ben Garcia

As much as Teller is guiding one of the scenes of this mission to a adrenaline filled and high paced scene, @Tony, aka Kells Here shows us the other side of the Coín with a cold, restrained and Intelligent scene with a slow by highly dramatic pace, a challege of linda with our main antagonist. GORGEOUS (( Anroc's Private Villa, Level 801, Saldanian Corpate Hegemony HQ )) Kells: (deadpan) You mentioned something special. What would be special, Aron thought, was a straight answer, and a quick exit. But he listened to what Anroc had to say. Anroc, however, didn't have anything to say in the moment. Instead, he led Aron to another room, through a door Aron would have sworn wasn't, and into a long, narrow room, framed with frozen Zet and capped at the far end with what Aron could only describe as a throne. Anroc: Welcome to my gallery, Aron. These (gesture to the frozen Zet) as my private advisors. They'll be participating in our discussion, but I'm sure you won't find them a bother. They don't say much. Was it some sort of stasis? As off-balance as he was, and though he felt that he was walking ever more deeply into a trap, Aron couldn't help the itch he felt for his tricorder. It must have been some kind of stasis, but he'd never seen stasis accomplished like this, without any sign of how the suspended animation was accomplished. He was so focused in that moment that he jumped in the next, as Anroc gestured in a way that controlled some stasis mechanism and many of the Zet came to life, mid-scream. It lasted only for a moment, and the Zet froze again, but their screams echoed. Anroc: But they mean so much to me. You see, each of these husks formerly belonged to competitors of mine. Kells: These (beat) husks. As with Anroc's earlier references to eternity and immortality and the like, Aron saw that there was something more there, something to do with this biotech the Zet possessed. But what did he mean, husks of his competitors? Anroc: One of the lesser known uses of the technology that allows for my immortality. But that's a triviality. You're here because you want Eternity, and I'm the one who can deliver it to you. Kells: (coolly) That remains a bold claim. And this (gesture around) display notwithstanding, I haven't seen much that gives me faith in the greatness of Zet biotechnology. Anroc: Very well, it will be good to relay the history without the propaganda we feed the masses. I was there at the beginning and I'm among the last of the First Eternals. You may recognize this chair (gesture to the throne) You saw one aboard my ship. With it, and a small bioware implant here (a finger on the back of his neck) The mind, the unique being, is never duplicated, they can only exist in one husk at a time. That is the miracle of the active particle refractor matrix. The puzzle came together, and Aron saw clearly for the first time. Kells: You possess -- you have possessed -- multiple bodies. You, and these Eternals, the ones who have chased Eternity, migrate your consciousness between bodies. It wasn't absolutely unheard of. He'd read reports of such things happening, though it was generally the sorts of ghost-story-esque outliers that invoked events like possession by energy beings or inexplicable encounters with godlike entities. To find a prewarp civilization capable of such a thing -- if Aron hadn't been repulsed by Anroc's excesses, he would've been impressed. He was, however, still very curious, and wished again that he had a tricorder. Anroc: Quite simply, Eternity was an accident. Scientists were trying to come up with a way of exploring our star system or, perhaps, beyond the Edge, by setting up a series of relay stations and data networks, plus the necessary bioprinters to create biologically viable husks. Kells: (with a slight smile) You lodged your consciousness in your network routers. (beat) And then an accident led to (beat, looking around) this? How? How did you get from there to here? (another beat, then with narrowed eyes) And why have you hoarded it? Anroc: Quite simply, it was too expensive. Our society could not support the cost of immortality. When the civilian authorities abandoned the project, a group of private corporations stepped in and carried on the research. Except now, the clones wouldn't be going to distant moons or beyond the Edge. We were reborn then...no longer shackled by mortality, the Presidents of the original twelve corporations became the First Eternals. Kells: (quietly) Your plutocrats became gods. Anroc: Can you imagine it, Aron? To stand at the yoke of your whole species, guiding them with a benevolent hand over the centuries. All that has happened has been by my hand, my will. That is the strength of Eternity. With another gesture, Anroc forced the Zet -- still silent, but no longer frozen -- to bow and scrape. They made no sound whatsoever. The control, Aron noted, was absolute. He felt nauseous. Kells: This is disgusting. Anroc: Response Instead of acting or sounding angry, however, Aron retreated into the cool tone he'd used earlier. His voice was now downright frigid, though as he couldn't read Anroc's face, he doubted Anroc could read his intonation. But never mind: he felt what he felt. Kells: You're a repugnant slaver who has confused longevity with worth. You're a sad accident, and I hope and I suspect that your species and your culture hold you in contempt. No, I don't want this heinous technology, and I'll work to make sure that you answer for the violence and inequality you've visited on your people. Which was all very much what Aron felt, and he also felt better for saying. But, as soon as he had, he was reminded of his position -- not just as a Starfleet captain, but in space and time. Specifically, in Anroc's hidden gallery, surrounded by Zet husks that he controlled. Anroc: Response Kells: You've confused power and authority. I threatened you before with matter/antimatter weapons, but, no, I think you deserve something far worse: the destruction of your markets and the judgment of your people. Anroc: Response Tags! and TBC! --- Fleet Captain Aron Kells Commanding Officer USS Thor V238208LV0 he/him/his (character & player)

This sim is a roller coaster of adrenaline with a perfect pace, increasing the urgence of the scene slow and steady till the cliffhanger-y end. @Geoffrey Teller Delivers again? Oh yeah he does ((Damaged Yacht, the Skies above the Zet Homeworld)) Katsim: Are...are you sure this is going to work? The craft rocked, another near miss marring the deckplate near Nenni's skull. Geoff felt that made a more convincing argument than anything he could say, stepping back from the console and working his way towards everyone else. Alieth: ::Trying to impose her voice over the wind:: It will work, Peri. ::She glanced back at the sleek, swiftly moving vehicle that was closing the distance between them::: And in any case, we will run out of alternatives pretty soon. Nozku: Now or never! We're going to be out of there sight for only a dozen seconds or so once we round the next skyscraper! They were gaining altitude rapidly before arcing back on a parabolic course that would see the craft hurtling towards one of the enormous Anroc statues that dotted the landscape. It was a small, pithy gesture, but Geoff had promised to wipe the smug sneer off Anroc's face, and he made good on his promises. Teller: We jump at the same time, we can't risk getting separated in that soup down there. Geoff could see the dense smog layer hanging over the city and clustered in close, on hand steading himself against the ships edge. With a hop, he'd be over and into the open air. He looked ahead, their 'camouflage' nearly in place. It would be a matter of seconds now. Then it would be in the hands of Teller's oldest nemesis. Physics. Quen: Response Katsim: Sure there's something else we can do? Quen: Response Geoff shook his head and put an arm on Peri's shoulder, trying to reassure the visibly frightened young woman. This mission had been unexpectedly grueling for his team and Peri had seemed hardest hit by the horrible conditions and general hopelessness. He'd find time to talk to her when this was all over, but for the moment, they had to act. The yacht shuddered from another glancing hit astern. Teller: If it makes you feel any better about it Ensign, I'm ordering you to abandon this ship. ::Geoff leaned in, lowering his voice as much as he could:: I trust this crew. That how I know it'll be ok. Geoff winked, as if he let Peri in on a secret, before setting himself firmly against the rail, hand outstretched. Alieth: While I always encourage a vigorous debate about the virtues and the innumerable deficiencies of Geoff's plans, we need to jump. NOW. Something about Alieth's voice cut through the breeze and caught Teller's ear unexpectedly. He hadn't noticed earlier, but the spritely Vulcan was almost vibrating with anticipation, eagerly looking over the side of the craft and pantomiming her dismount, subtly shifting her weight from one leg to the other. Where Peri, Quen and Nenni were all looking over the gunwale with a mixture of apprehension and dread, Alieth was visibly excited. Geoff laughed, the tension of the moment broken for him, and looked to Quen. Teller: Doc, the CMO is showing an unhealthy excitement about all this, don't you think? Quen: Response Their moment came, the tops of towers aligning to give them a few seconds of obscurity from the eyes of their pursuers. The incoming fire mercifully ceased and Geoff could feel himself going light, the craft at the very top of its arc before plummeting back downwards and away from them. If they had plotted the course right, they were at nearly 2000m now. It would take them nearly a minute to fall all the way to the ground, but Geoff hoped that would give them time to spare. Nozku: We're out of time for this! Katsim: Sir, I officially go on record that I don't like this plan. Geoff nodded and in reply, stepped to the rail, the first to jump. It had been his plan, after all. The instant updraft made Teller's eyes water before he managed to roll over, watching the rest of his team leave the yacht in a tight string behind him. Even Nenni floated freely and for a moment, everything was oddly peaceful. There was no sense of relative motion, no sensation of velocity because everything he could see was moving at the same speed. Then an Zet interceptor streaked towards the yacht, peppering it with weapons fire, still trying to force it down. Geoff smiled at that a bit, their distraction working. Clumsily he rolled, trying to flair out as he'd been trained to do long ago in an Academy drill. At the time, he had struggled to see the point of it. Now he regretted not paying closer attention. From somewhere to his left, nearly lost in the roar of the wind, a Zet voice called out. Nenni had composed herself almost immediately and seemed in confient control as she gently glided towards Geoff. Nokzu: (Shouting) Together! We need to get closer! Geoff swam, flapped, kicked and dolphined his way through the air, making a graceless spectacle and very little progress. Seconds passed but he got a hand around Nenni's forearm, just as he felt another hand grasping at the back of his uniform. Slightly above him, Doctor Quen had caught up with their small constellation. With his free hand, Geoff swatted at his combadge. The roar of the wind was so loud he couldn't tell if it was working but that didn't stop him. He figured they had forty five seconds now. Teller: =/\= Teller to Thor, Teller to Thor, Emergency Transport, Team Plus One, Expedite, Expedite =/\= Quen: Response Worryingly, nothing happened. They continued to sail through the increasingly polluted Zet air, low enough now to see light shining through windows. Geoff ground his teeth, repeatedly slapping at his comm badge, still unsure if he was even getting through. Nozku: (Shouting) Alright, you Federation aliens! Nows the part where you save us all! The hurtled down, each crewman calling for emergency transport and receiving no reply. Below them, the ground had become visible below the cloud layer. It was reaching up towards them quite uncomfortably. Katsim: =/\=Katsim to Thor….Get me out of here!=/\= With successful contact made, Ensign Katsim was the first to shimmer out of existence. Her sudden disappearance shattered their tenuous formation and Geoff found himself tumbling away from Nenni, his hold lost, as Alieth shouted in alarm. Alieth: GEOFF!!!!...NOZKU….!!! Geoff's eyes widened, the implications clear to him. When they had been in physical contact, the ship would have no problem tracking Nenni along with the rest of the away team. But falling on her own without a comm badge to lock on to, the ship wouldn't see her. He slapped at his combadge frantically. Teller: =/\= Teller to Thor Abor.... It was too late, and Geoff felt the tingle of the annular confinement beam snatching him away. The last thing he saw was Nenni's terrified look of betrayal. Time froze. In the three seconds it would take Teller to cycle through the pattern buffer, he had a lot to think about. The first was that Nenni, still alive and falling to her death, would have about 20 seconds left before coming to an abrupt halt. Geoff didn't know how yet, but he had that much time to find a solution and implement it or he'd feel the shame of that woman's gaze in his soul for the rest of his life. The second thing he considered was how the modern transporter worked, and it's numerous safeguards and redundancies. For example, inertial compensation as part of the dematerialization process meant they wouldn't slam into the transporter pad at terminal velocity, only falling a small distance since they hadn't exactly been on level ground to begin with. Unfortunately, nothing in the transporters safety system could compensate for the orientation of someone spinning out of control. That meant Geoff rematerialized an arms length above the transporter pad with his boots facing towards the ceiling. ((Transporter Room One, Deck One, USS Thor)) The beam released its hold and Teller fell face first into the transporter pad with a bone breaking crunch. Dark red spots filling his vision, Geoff struggled to his feet and towards the transporter console. A visibly startled Chief Larell was already calling for medical assistance, but Geoff held up a hand and slid behind the console, riding the adrenaline for all it was worth. In his mind, Geoff was still falling with Nenni, still struggling to reach out to her, to grab on. Now, he was doing it with the ships targeting sensors. Greaves: =/\= Captain Greaves to Commander Teller. Sir, I've got a nice warm seat here on the bridge with your name on it. =/\= The voice sounded far away, his hearing ringing badly from the wind or the earlier explosion. Teller: =/\= Standby Bridge, forgot somebody. Retargeting transporters now. =/\= The room fell away and the whole of the universe was reduced to the transporter controls. Greaves: =/\= What do you mean we forgot one? =/\= Geoff's fingers were moving fast, disabling some of the very transporter safety systems he'd just been thinking about. He'd never be able to pick Nenni out of that soup, not without something to target first. So he wouldn't try. On one display, he had the computer plotting the descent vectors of the away team it had taken from the transporter logs. On the other, he was increasing the radius of the annular confinement beam well beyond the safety limits. Fifteen seconds. Teller: Clear the pad, now! Quen/Alieth/Katsim: Response So he'd beam up a huge volume of atmosphere, air included, and would hopefully capture Nenni in the process. The trajectory plot computed and safety systems began flashing urgent red. He was pulling power from all over the ship and channeling it, only one chance left for him to make good on his word. His vision was beginning to blur. Something tasted bitter. Ten seconds. Teller: =/\= Volumetric lock established, standby bridge, energizing... =/\= With deft fingers Teller's hands slid up the triple sequence initiators, the transporter humming to life. The system strained and Teller made a myriad of small adjustments, narrowly averting overload and calamity. Finally, a solitary form materialized in the very center of the transporter pad, curled in and clutching into herself. There was a blast of residual air with the scent of the city that dispersed and filled the room, but the ships filters had it gone in moments. He managed to set her down with surprising grace before leaning heavily against the console, his frantic rush having peaked. Blood dripped unnoticed onto his uniform jacket and console. The transporter, similarly spent, went offline with a sad electronic whine. Geoff knew it would need extensive repairs. Teller: Doctors, if you're alright, please check on Ensign Katsim and Nenni. I need to...get to the..bri.. Geoff felt his legs buckling but caught himself before hitting the deck entirely. It was suddenly a struggle to remain conscious at all, adrenaline rush entirely spent. He wanted nothing more than to lay down and get just a few moments of rest, and his eyelids were getting convincingly heavy. Greaves: =/\= Response =/\= Nozku/Quen/Alieth/Katsim: Response Geoff coughed into his hand, leaving dark streaks on his palm. Teller: =/\= Bridge...Transport..Successful. Red...Alert.... =/\= Greaves: =/\= Response =/\= Nozku/Quen/Alieth/Katsim: Response Tags/TBC =============================== Commander Geoffrey Teller Executive Officer USS Thor - NCC 82607 Commodore A. Kells, Commanding V239509GT0

And Bob the Blop. BTW i need Err as a sb118 canon specie for REASONS

Amanda is a really talented person and I love that she has been willing to embrace the scene even though it' s completely out of character comfort zone, she also has dared to let her speak a bit and even retort to her First Officer. Of course it's a bad idea my dear Peri, it's Teller's idea. I love seeing your little scientist taking part in the action, I can't wait to see what else she dares to do next!

Welcome to the Fleet! Hope you have a BLAST here

@Brutus as Saja Jehe: radical napping when a chance arise

@Wes Greaves has a delightful style and wonderful prose in which he is able to slip in little personal details, leaving room for the scene to unfold around him, while at the same time he is able to mix touches of humour with a beautifully described serious scene. And, for the record, after this mission Greaves-fly-in-the-wall is canon. ____________________________________ Capt Wes Greaves - Old Words, New Meanings ((Transporter Room 1, Deck 1, USS Thor)) Wes had expected to find the skipper on the bridge. As soon as the away team was back aboard he had high tailed it to the turbolift to debrief the man only to find the Captain's Chair manned by a Lieutenant JG and the ready room empty. With a frown and a query of the computer he discovered the Fleet Captain's true location. With Ensign Jehe in tow, they made their way to the transporter room to try and catch the man before he beamed down to the surface. Fleet Captain Kells and Counselor Brodie were climbing the steps to the transporter pad as the double doors hissed open. Wes could see a strained, concentrated look on the skippers face as the pair turned to greet him and Saja. Kells: Captain, Ensign? Greaves: Fleet Captain, I didn't expect you to be heading down so quickly. And… so absent any security element. I strongly suggest you consider taking Ensign Jehe with you, sir. The Marine frowned. He hoped he wasn't being too direct, but beating around the bush would just waste the skipper's time. Their relationship had been purely professional, and they really only brushed against each other every so often. It was hard to get a read on the man living and working like that. In the moment, he vowed to try and get to know the man a little better next shore leave. Wes caught a frown cross Aron's face and worried a little at its origins. Brodie / Jehe: Responses Kells: Very well. Glad to have you with me, Ensign. He tried to avoid any outward sign of relief, and instead folded his hands back behind him in a respectful and professional stance. In his mind's eye, Wes was the epitome of the professional Marine. Were he a fly on the wall, he'd be able to see himself looking suspiciously like his Vulcan friends he so often joked at. Brodie / Jehe: Responses Greaves: Perfect. Kells: Any last pieces of advice, Captain? Greaves: Just one thing. Don't underestimate Anroc. He's dangerous sir. I can feel it. Brodie / Jehe: Responses Kells: Try your best to bring Commander Teller and his team back to the ship, and recall Commander Garcia as well. If anything should happen to us, get the Thor away and return to the Alpha Quadrant. A frown crossed the Marine's face again, and Wes made an effort to replace it with one of his more reassuring smiles. The implications of the command were something he didn't want to consider. For a moment he didn't. Greaves: Understood, but I'm sure it won't come to that. Brodie / Jehe: Responses Kells: Very well. Energize. As the trio faded away the room became oddly quiet, just Wes and the transporter chief. A realization came over him. He and Sirok now had command of one of Starfleet's most advanced vessels. More specifically, he had been left in charge, and the Fleet Captain just gave him orders to run away if things went sideways. A memory flashed through his mind from the academy's command school. At the time he had found it strange, and even borderline inappropriate. Now, Wes understood the weight behind that lesson. He could almost hear his professor's voice… ((Flashback: 2394, Starfleet Academy, Command School, Classroom 2244B)) Professor: This classroom holds nearly 100 cadets, eager to lead within Starfleet. The man paced slowly back and forth in front of the class; the lecture notes projected on the monitors forgotten for the moment. Cadet Greaves idly wondered where this was going. It hadn't been in the pre-class readings. Professor: Of you, nearly all will likely sit on the bridge of a starship. At least half of you will, at some point, find yourself the ranking officer on the bridge. Maybe a third of you will be the ranking officer on an entire Starship at some point. The bearded professor paused his pacing and looked across the classroom. He had an eerie way of seeming to look every single cadet in the eye, all at once. Professor: All of you. Each and every one, will serve some self-sacrificing Captain who will, at some point, give an order to abandon them in the name of the greater good. Sometimes it’s the right call. Sometimes its not. No matter, they are the Captain, and they gave a lawful order. You have to follow it. The man swept his gaze back across the class again, this time more slowly. The entire class seemed to lean in to hear what he had to say next. Professor: There is more than one way to interpret an order. Just be sure as hell you're right about how you interpret it. [End Scene for Greaves]

Congratulations! Welcome to the fleet

Antagonist you love to hate. Setting the bar high here @Geoffrey Teller! (just.... THAT signature) ________________________ ((Anroc's private villa, level 801, Saldanian Corporate Hegemony Headquarters)) Sher’ok Borac had somehow survived the last few hours without being summarily liquidated by staying as invisible as possible. Anything at all that could've brought the wrath of Anroc down on him had been handed off or deferred until a slightly less lethal time could be found. Sher'ok had been lucky so far, but his luck had come to an end with this new alien horror. They expected President Pitorian Tolo’Sal’Lat’Ut’Kel’Tras Anroc, First Eternal, Most Exalted Administrator to do the unthinkable. They had the gaul to ask Anroc to contact them. It was a violation of every corporate protocol and Hostile Takeovers, with an emphasis on the Hostile, had been fought over smaller insults between Eternals. Sher'ok had run the words around in his mind a multitude of times, trying to find a way to deliver the message that wouldn't immediately cause Anroc to have him thrown off the side of the building, or worse. The staff had all heard rumors of something called the Silent Gallery, a space whose location and purpose was known only to Anroc himself. Sher'ok tried to push the rumors out of his mind as he stepped into Anroc's majestic presence his stomachs rumbling in distress. Borac: Wonderous President Pitorian Tolo’Sal’Lat’Ut’Kel’Tras Anroc, First Eternal, Beloved & Benevolent, Ever.... Pitorian Anroc had been diverting himself, watching some of the Starfleet things scrabbling around his holdings like clumsy interns. It was already clear to Anroc who the real superior beings were in this situation, and the answer was the same to him as it had been yesterday, and the day before, and a thousand days before that. He was Superior. He was Eternal. He'd take the aliens for all they had and when he was done, he'd use what he'd gained to take more. Soon, all that was would know his magnificence. His pleasant megalomaniacal musings were interrupted by one of the interminable swarm of Ephemerals in his personal staff. With a dour scowl, Anroc lazily extended a single digit. Sniffing the air with an exaggerated gesture, Anroc settled his gaze on the half-bowing Borac. Anroc: Why have you brought such a foul odor into my presence? Borac: My...President. The aliens...yes they...they wish to do as you have commanded, of course, and will put you in direct contact with their leader. We have a biographical file based on exit interviews performed on the returning crew of the Endless Golden Penetrator. There is a full psychological analysis included and I'm sure you'll be pleased to... Anroc's scowl deepened dangerously. Anroc: Do not presume to guess what will and will not please me. So? Where is he? Where is this Kells? Borac gulped uncomfortably, stomachs threatening to rebel on the spot. Borac: Mr. President, sir, the aliens...they have asked you to contact them. To arrange the meeting. ::Borac could feel himself sweating:: We tried to explain to them that this simply wasn't done, and that they were flying in the face of all civilized business, but they.. For the second time today, Borac heard the wretched sound of an Eternals laughter. Chancing to glance up, Borac caught a flash of murderous glee in Anroc's eyes before hastily turning his face back to the floor. Anroc: These aliens have finally realized how badly they have misjudged me and they're trying to appear strong. ::Anroc's laughter was cold and sharp, like a winter chill that penetrated the bone and lingered long after:: Pathetic. I shall show them the strength of Eternity. Anroc summoned an attendant with a strong beverage which he slowly consumed over the next few minutes, wordlessly studying the report on Fleet Captain Aron Kells. Borac didn't dare move or twitch. He was as frozen as the ephemerals who were assigned to 'biological ornamentation' duties around the villa, holding curtains and wearing next to nothing. By the time Anroc was done skimming the file, his smile had grown horrifyingly predatory. Anroc: Yes, it amuses me to speak with someone these people consider a leader. Contact them. I will grace them with my presence...now. Borac tapped a few controls into a device on his wrist and the connection was made. The familiar SalComm Logo pulsed briefly and then he was face to face with his prey. Anroc wasted no time. Anroc: Have you finally decided to meet with me yourself, Aron, or do you have a few more underlings to waste my time with? To the aliens credit, his shock was momentary and quickly disguised. Anroc focused ever so slightly more, sensing at least some mettel in this being. Kells: I would be happy to, Shipmaster. My officers did come with my full support and authority, however. Anroc rolled his eyes expansively and took a long sip of yet another narcotic tonic. Anroc: For a moment I thought you were serious about meeting. I see it's clear you don't even comprehend to whom you are speaking. ::Anroc stood, resplendid and magnificent:: I am Pitorian Tolo’Sal’Lat’Ut’Kel’Tras Anroc. President of the Saldanian Corporate Hegemony. My role as Shipmaster was only a small and trifling affair compared to the enormity of my domain. Had you not dragged the Penetrator back here in shame I doubt I ever would have thought of it again. Kells: Well, as you say. Anroc: Yes, good, get used to that. I will tell you what is, and you will agree. That is the backbone of our corporate structure, and it has held firm for centuries. Brodie: Responses Anroc: Oh, you do more underlings. Perhaps this one has your authority as well? Brodie/Kells: Response Anroc: I have offered your people Eternity and you would waste my time with formalities? You will meet with me, of that I am certain. Brodie/Kells: Response Anroc: I see you can be sensible when properly motivated and focused. I will be looking forward to our negotiations. I'm certain they'll be fruitful. Brodie/Kells: Response Pitorian Anroc's smile pressed into a lethal line. Anroc: Before we begin, I'd like to clarify something. ::Anroc beckoned for an attendant at random. The exquisitely beautiful Zet who kneeled in front of him a moment later couldn't have been more than a few years into her internship, and she trembled under his gaze. Anroc felt a pleasant warmth:: Run at that wall as fast as you can. Without hesitation, the young girl took off at a full sprint towards the nearest wall, gaining more speed with each long stride until she struck the wall with a sickening crack of bone and muscle. Leaving a long dark stain on the otherwise perfect wall the body slid to the floor, twitching only once before going still. Anroc: That is how I define authority. Pitorian basked in their horror for a long moment before cutting the connection, searching for his drink. The exquisite young girls body had vanished and the wall was already being cleaned by the time he found it. [Tags/End Act 2 for Anroc!] ========== Pitorian Tolo’Sal’Lat’Ut’Kel’Tras Anroc Owner & Guildmaster Extraordinary, First Eternal, President for Life of the Saldanian Corporate Hegemony, Beloved & Benevolent, Everlasting & Magnificent, Supreme Conqueror of the Void, Venerated By Children, Arbiter of Contractual Justice, First Contacted Among Corporations, Supreme Managerial Authority V239509GT0

If i recall well, Jo made it in some former polls, so there is still a chance!

Even if every one of this are fascinating, i'll go with other and vote for the First Federation-Cardassian War. It's something that has been left as some important part of Picard or O'Brien history, yet we know barely a thing about them. I'm here to see more cardassians being themselves