Trinity Universe: Dreams of Dragons

[Archer21]

The Chief dives away from the initial attack, but the creature's on him again, lightning fast, even as he comes out of his roll! The black claws flash out - Randall dodges back - the claws rip through his suit & the armour beneath but, by the narrowest of margins, avoid shredding the all too human flesh beyond  . The Legionnaire runs...

*F_ck me!! Too close that time!* Taking advantage of the VARG's covering fire, Randall sprints his way back to the pile of vac suits, dressing himself as quickly as possible, and keeping a wary eye out for any new attacks.

[Asbjørn]

... And nothing happens ::blink ! Well, something happens - there's a bleep from the bay controls as a diagnostic message flashes across a holo-display. Sean quickly joins Ran, swears as only a true Irishman can, & informs the acting Captain that the system won't allow the bay doors to be opened when the internal doors are... well, thanks to the aberrant's entrance into the bay... missing! He could over-ride the system, if Ran wants, but it'll take a moment...

"Do it."

Leaving Sean to get the doors open, Ran sprints to the hallway outside the ruptured internal doors, making sure the doors beyond are sealed so the entire ship won't be depressurized.

[ProfPotts]

Randall manages to locate another emergency suit & clambers in. Ran quickly seals the corridor bulkheads beyond the damaged bay door. As he steps back into the hanger, there's a flash of sparks from the panel that Vinge has pried open, & a red light starts flashing on the wall - with a sigh & a hiss the main hanger doors start to slide upwards.

The rush of escaping atmosphere is worse than Ran predicted - there's no way the gravity grids alone could hold anyone in place against it's force. However, it appears that the security officers & Foxley, at least, have all followed orders & found something to hold on to. There's a brief pause in the VARG's volley of fire across the shadows of the hanger ceiling, & small patterns of electrical arcs can briefly be seen around the feet of each of the machines as the pilots activate their electromagnetic clamps.

Hiro's voice can again be heard over the comm', barking orders in Nihonjin as her giant robot follows her movements & gives hand signals to the others in her squad. As the VARGs move into position their heavy footfalls are accompanied by brief arcs from the electromagnets, & are the only sounds that can be clearly heard - as the vibrations pass through the deck plating. All else is an eerie quiet as vacuum seizes the room.

Through the open hanger door can be seen a distant deep-red sun & a backdrop of stars - they don't seem at all familiar. If there are any planets in this solar system, then they're not in a position to be seen by the naked eye.

Spotlights from the VARGs begin to scan the ceiling, but fail to find the aberrant. No-one saw it flush out with the air, & the way it was walking along the walls & ceiling with it's claws would suggest that it shouldn't have had any problems holding on...

Tense moments pass. Suddenly Simon feels a surge of Taint nearby. Glancing towards the noetic void he looks up - to see the aberrant scampering down the wall towards him ::nervous !

[Umoja]

((I'm assuming you meant Mendez))

((This edit is very important))

Two choices suddenly arrise in Simon's mind. Risk tearing a hole in his suit to grab onto the surface, or continuing to hold on for dear life. Neither of these options seem practicurally good, so Simon prepares to dig deep. He quickly does one final evaluation before he starts to plan a move. In an instant Simon leaps up, expecting the resultant pull of the vaccum. His psionical enchanced muscles react in turn, and with the extra power boosted into his agility he hopefully grabs onto another object, albiet one closer to the hanger bay doors.

((Wasn't reading enough "Transhuman Space" I forgot what atmosphere was.))

[ProfPotts]

The aberrant's claws lash out, just as Simon lets go of his handhold, & leaps away - letting the last of the escaping atmosphere carry him rapidly across the hanger. The creature's claw slashes deck plating where the biokinetic was moments before. Flying across the hanger, heading for open space, Simon's body twists in an acrobatic maneuvre that'd make an Olypic gymnast green with envy ::blink - for a moment it looks like the man can't possible have a backbone as he arches, tucks, folds, & rolls, directing his movement precisely. With a dull thud that only he can hear through the soles of his suit, the reporter's feet slam into the wall next to the open hanger door, his legs folding under him to absorb the impact. Moments later & the interior atmosphere is entirely evacuated, the pressure dropping off to nothing - as it does so, Simon gracefully rolls down the wall & dismounts onto the floor with a final flip. Dispite the agility with which he executed the complex move, the biokinetic feels a surge of pain through his tortured muscles as his rushed psychic effect wears off & they shift under his skin into their more usual configuration - he recalls well why his kind usually take a few minutes to shift their forms.

Meanwhile, the others also regain their feet after the surge of escaping atmosphere abates - Randall is on his feet & alert almost as quickly as Mendez was, & the others soon follow suit. Several bright beams of energy from the VARGs slam into the wall above where Simon was attacked, but the aberrant has already moved - it's speed, when it wants it to be, is blinding.

Suddenly there's a scream over the suit comm's - it's Foxley. The clairsentient points into the shadows near the hanger ceiling above her, moments before the abberant drops from that postion - straight towards the ship's remaining Navigator! The VARGs surge into action, but move too slowly to be able to do anything in time. The remaining security officers fumble for their guns, & Foxley cowers, throwing her arms above her head in a futile attempt to ward the creature off...

[Asbjørn]

Suddenly there's a scream over the suit comm's - it's Foxley. The clairsentient points into the shadows near the hanger ceiling above her, moments before the abberant drops from that postion - straight towards the ship's remaining Navigator! The VARGs surge into action, but move too slowly to be able to do anything in time. The remaining security officers fumble for their guns, & Foxley cowers, throwing her arms above her head in a futile attempt to ward the creature off...

Seeing that no physical action of his can possibly be fast enough, Ran's mind lashes out in a desperate attempt to save the young navigator. As quickly and brutally as possible, he pushes his psionic skills to the limit to alter the aberrant's perceptions.

[if it works...]

In Barb's mind Foxley throws herself out of the way of the attack, leaping towards the hangar doors. The perceived movement happens early enough for Barb to have time to react and twist in the air to follow her target (missing her real target), but too late. The panickstricken girl continues to run towards open space.

[Putting willpower and as much extra psi as needed into this...]

[Archer21]

*Oh, no...* Knowing with a sickening certainty that even he isn't fast enough to save her, Randall sprints forward anyways, diving for the girl to tackle her out the way. As he runs, he screams for the VARG pilots to lash their whips onto the creature and drag it out into open space.

[ProfPotts]

Ran focuses as much as he can, but spent all his reserves on his earlier psychic assault, & has nothing left - he sinks to his knees with the fruitless effort.

Randall - as always, the fastest to react - leaps for Foxley, heedless of his own safety, barking orders to the VARG pilots as he goes. His dive reaches the Navigator at the same second as the aberrant's claws - for a moment time seems to slow for the security chief, his own body sliding through the air, between the black claws of the monster & the cowering girl - then white light explodes behind his eyes as pain beyond any he's imagined floods through his body ::crazy .

The others watch as the aberrant's dive is blocked by Randall's body - it's claws ripping easily through his back, out his chest, & on to impale Foxley beneath, followed by a spray of blood, bone & tissue as the thing rips it's hand free of it's victims. But the brief time it takes to do that is enough - the Flame Cloud VARGs lash out with ionic whips, the aberrant leaps, twisting in the air to avoid one, then another of the electrically charged lines - but the third catches the monster's leg. Throwing it's entire multi-ton weight into the swing, the Flame Cloud spins the aberrant through the airless hanger, ejecting the entire whip assembly at the last moment to send Barb spinning off into space beyond the open doors. Hiro barks a command, & the Dragon steps forward, missile pods shifting, locking into place, & arming all along it's back. Silent flashes of light from the missiles' backblasts are followed moments later by the blossoming spherical explosions that are unique to micro-gravity as volley after volley of smart missiles find their target. The other VARGs line-up, adding more fire to the carnage as the last of the Dragon's fifty missiles are spent. Eventually Hiro calls a cease-fire, the glow of high-energy weapons fire fading, leaving nothing but fragments drifting where the aberrant used to be.

There's a pause, then the Hellfire turns, glancing towards the prone & bloody forms of Randall & Foxley. In a subdued voice, Hiro reports,

"Target destroyed, sir."

Rushing to the aberrant's last two victims, the group discover Foxley injured badly - the claws having punctured through her suit to cut deeply into her chest & abdomen, but still conscious. Randall is far worse - with a jagged hole through his back & out of his rib cage, internal organs a scrambled mess - he's clinically dead. However, with the level of medical technology available on the ship (& a good doctor) there may be a slight chance to revive him, if it's acted upon quickly. Vinge, still over by the hanger controls, activates the emergency close system on the space doors - which slam shut. Moments later atmosphere starts to hiss back into the room, pressure & breathable air are soon re-established.

[Asbjørn]

Gritting his teeth, Ran pushes himself to his feet and runs towards the two wounded officers. As he reaches them and sees how bad the injuries are he taps his comm and contacts the security personnel on duty guarding the civilian guests.

"This is acting Captain Ran. There's a doctor Anton Flesch among the guests. I need him in the hangar right now. This is an emergency. Get him up here on the double!!"

"You!", he says to one of the security officers, "Get the best medkit you can from the sick bay and bring it here. Move!!"

Then he grabs a nearby first aid or med kit and goes about doing his best to patch Randall's body together and bring him back to life.

[Willpower on the medicine roll here, I think...]

[ProfPotts]

Within seconds Ran has the hanger emergency medical kit ripped open & is grabbing impliments & drugs he'd hoped he'd never need to handle outside of a classroom. The kit is a good one by most standards - as are all those in the more dangerous areas of the ship (where accidents are more likely to be severe).

The acting Captain starts by pumping stimulants & blood-oxygenating compounds into Chief Simon's body, then applies the small disc-shaped cardio- & neural-stimulators to his patient's chest & temple. The damage to Randall's internal organs is immense - there's no-way the remains of his heart are going to work on their own - so Ran leaves the stimulators in place & injects another dose of oxygenating drugs. Hands getting slick with blood & bile he almost drops the micro-pump as he forces the tubules into the Chief's ragged lung-tissue. The other organ damage he ignores - if Randall isn't brought back from flat-line in the next few seconds, he's hardly going to miss his spleen or kidneys... Finally, the acting Captain takes out the medical pack's canister of trauma stabilization foam & fills the huge wound with the fast-hardening substance. Ran recalls his medical instructor telling him that such a use of trauma foam was an absolute last resort - the stuff really being designed for external use. Looking at Randall's shattered form, the telepath concludes that the aberrant-caused wound definitely counts as a 'last resort' sort of a situation, & that the wound needs to be sealed. Taking a moment to wipe blood from the display on the kit's handheld medical computer, he checks the Chief's brainwave vitals - still flat. With nothing left to loose, the officer cranks up the micro-volts on the neural-stimulator & tries to jump-start Randall's cortex. The body twitches, the electrical charge causing the medicomp' display to dance for a second, then...

... Beep...

... Beep...

... Beep...

... the cortical signal is very faint, but holds!

A firm hand rests on Ran's shoulder. Standing behind the kneeling officer is a tall & guant man, with a startling shock of white hair topping his head, & an expensive looking, but ruffled, tuxedo covering his thin body. A large case with a caduceus symbol on the side is grasped in his other hand. Gently but firmly moving Ran away from Randall's form, the man kneels & examines the patient,

"This must be the worst excuse for medical work I've ever had the misfortune to be witness to", he states flatly, a slight trace of Scandinavian accent in his voice, "but I guess he is alive..."

The doctor opens his medical case & begins to administer to the fallen Legionaire, injecting more (& more varied) drugs & compounds, replacing the stimulators with more advanced (& specialised) equipment, adding specialist sensors to various parts of the body, & inserting various tubes & wires. Soon he calls the two security officers who escorted him to the hanger to bring a stretcher, & organises the careful moving of Randall to the sick bay.

Whilst Dr Flesch is treating Randall, Ran has a chance to examine Foxley's wounds. They're deep, & will require surgical attention, but at least the sort of paramedic attention needed to stabilise the Navigator's condition is more familiar to him. Foxley soon follows the Security Chief to the sick bay.

Randall is in surgery for several hours, as Dr Flesch & a couple of crewmembers (who've had basic battlefield medic training) he drafts to his service, work on him. As the surgery progresses in the hastily straightened-out sick bay, Sean returns to his own engineering emergencies & drafted personnel. Ran gets no breaks himself, being required to organise all the various efforts to save the ship & it's crew.

Eventually, Ran is contacted by the good doctor. Randall has been stabilised & revived (to a 'living state' - he's still in a coma), & is now in a 'liquidcare' tank - a life support intensive-care tank flooded with nutritive cell-matrix tissue-regenerative solutions. Without much emotion, Flesch reports that the Chief's more undifferentiated organs (such as the liver & intestines) will regenerate with time & care, although he needed to perform multiple transplants to replace all the lost organs (having found an abundance of 'donors' lying around ::devil ), & will need to perform further surgery at a later date to repair the man's shattered spine & rib-cage. He estimates that, providing he continues to receive expert medical care, & barring further 'incidents', Randall will make a more-or-less full recovery in four months. He also notes that he doubts that the Chief could have been revived at all if his biology hadn't been considerably augmented by his immersion in the Prometheus tank.

*****

It takes Vinge & his teams ten full days working around the clock, & cannibalizing most of the other vehicles on-board, to repair the various breaches in the ship. Another six days are needed to get most of the systems close to their usual levels of efficiency, but in the end, the Leviathan is back in working order. She has no spare parts left, & little in the way of back-up systems, but she works. With Ran's help both crew & guests are drafted into the various clean-up & repair efforts - not least of which involves removing the bodies of the fallen from the corridors of the mighty vessel.

When she regains consciousness, with Sean's help, Foxley purges the Tainted toxins from the ARES & pronounces the system repaired. The only ship system that isn't working in the end is Tess. A full hard- & bio-ware check reveals no outstanding damage remains, but the living computer just doesn't seem willing, or capable, of responding...

In her (limited) spare time, Foxley can be found sitting vigil by Randall's liquidcare tank, acutely aware of the sacrifice he made to save her life. She also explains to Ran that, even augmented by a MARS & ARES, her training isn't advanced enough to allow her to 'see' the great distances required for space-travel. In fact her maximum sensing range is no more than a couple of thousand kilometers. She'll keep up her practice as best she can, & strive to achieve the powers she was training towards, but can't guarantee any swift results. Still, she's a fully qualified doctor of astrophysics & supplies what data she can once the ship's senses are repaired. The local deep-red sun does have several planets orbiting it, as well as an asteroid belt. Only one planet seems likely to be capable of supporting life - it'd take the Leviathan the best part of six weeks to reach that planet.

[phoenix]

During the interim, Sean can usually be found working doggedly on the ship for the first ten days, then in Engineering trying tack after tack, most of them hopeless and some a bit ridiculous, to contact Tess.

In his spare time, he'll be in whatever can pass for a gym, training with his inherited sword and getting used to it.

Sean glares at the jury-rigged punching bag in front of him, and his sweat-covered tattoos seem to gleam as he rocks it with hit after hit. (As many points as possible with a single roll over maybe 10 minutes transferred to Strength from Dexterity). After letting loose with volley after volley, he pauses for a second to marshall his forces.

His eyes tighten and twitch, and he begins to move, both agitatingly slowly and with impressive force at once..

Then his arm reshapes itself in midswing, a bony spur thrusting out of his hand to bury itself deeply in the tough fabric!

Sean gives a satisfied grin to the bag, then pulls a shirt on, the spur vanishing like a strange dream, and goes back to Engineering to work some more.

[Umoja]

Simon, after some asking around, manages to catch Sean as he heads to work in engineering. Simon speaks in Portugese with heavy usage of Spanish words, he adjust it accordingly depending on how much Spanish he notes Sean understanding. "Sorry to catch you at such a bad moment, but I've heard rumors circulating that your a member of the New National Force. If you ever need anything from me, your Irmao would gladly oblige."

[phoenix]

"Sorry to catch you at such a bad moment-"

Sean replies in quite respectable Spanish. "Not at all - how can I help you?"

"-but I've heard rumors circulating that your a member of the New National Force. If you ever need anything from me, your Irmao would gladly oblige."

Sean nods. "Yes, I am. Thank you, and please understand that the same applies in return. There is no rank among us, only total loyalty.

"I am hoping to set up a training program soon with other remaining leaders in order to allow passengers to learn skills, and to allow already skilled personnel to perform double duty. I'm sure you're not alone among the passengers in wanting to be able to assist."

Sean also presents the idea to the standing chief of security (do we have a new one?) and the chief pilot.

[Asbjørn]

>>>Captain's Log, Entry R-1<<<

Attached:

• [1]Technical Status Report, Senior Engineer Sean Vinge

[2]Medical / Casualties Report, Dr Anton Flesch, Acting Captain Ran Ao-Xiong

Acting Captain Ran Ao-Xiong reports.

Captain Getui and most of the command crew are dead. During the reception prior to the Kai Xing's first mission, we were attacked by two aberrants who caused extensive damage to the ship, forced an unplanned jump, and killed many crewmembers, including navigator Tobias. Refer to attachments 1 and 2 for details.

Our situation is critical. We do not know our current location, and have so far been unable to get the ship's Tesser back in line. Navigator Trainee Foxley and myself will continue our efforts to establish contact with Luna or other human outposts, but so far our only potential lead to finding out where we are is the solar system we've jumped to. One of the planets seems capable of supporting life, and I do not believe it is a coincidence that we were brought here. We will find out more when we reach it in about 6 weeks time.

Efforts have been made to incorporate useful skills and contributions the guests aboard the ship have, and all things considered morale is high. I have established an acting command crew and a working shift structure, partly by shifting personell around and partly by utilizing civilian contributions.

As ordered, there is an acting chief of each department of the ship. In addition, the civilians have been asked to elect from among themselves a representative to speak for them and attend the officers' meetings. The Qin Ambassador has also received an open invitation to be present at these meetings.

>>>Entry ends<<<

Ran looked his first log entry over before he gave his final voiceprint approval. It was a bit short, granted, but there really wasn't much to say. Checking the time, he got out of bed and dressed in the traditional, centuries old clothes of T'ai Chi practitioners.

"Window Transparency: 100%"

Looking out at the dark, empty space gradually revealed as the wall turned transparent in front of him his body started the age-old slow, meditative dance while his eyes sought out the two small points of hope out there, a red sun, and somewhere in the darkness a life-supporting planet. The serenity of the image was almost as complete as the training field at the Ministry school back home.

Half an hour or so later he was pulled out of his meditation by the repeated chiming of his minicomp comm unit.

"*Pling!* 0900: Officers' meeting. You have two minutes, Captain."

Hurriedly changing to his uniform, Ran checked his appearance once in the mirror before walking briskly down the corridor and taking the elevator down to the briefing room. Arriving precisely on time, he sits down in the Captain's seat at the head of the oval table and waits for everyone to turn their attention to him.

"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen."

"As you're all aware, we're lost. The attack left us for the time being unaware of our own location, and at the moment the only area we know anything about is this solar system. Therefore, and because it is standard procedure to map potentially inhabitable planets and systems, we're at the moment headed for this planet."

The holo projector above the table shows an image of the solar system, zooming in on the planet in question.

"It will take some time before we reach this destination, since we're running on conventional propulsion systems and not our tesser engine, and this will no doubt not be the last of these meetings during that time. The purpose of these meetings is to keep up to date on the workings and challenges of a job we didn't sign up for, as well as handling whatever problems and questions arise on the way."

"In addition to our mostly field-promoted command crew and section leaders, we also have here the Qin ambassador, and a representative for our civilian population. You'll be working closely together the next months, so you need to get to know each other."

"Questions?"

[i know there's not going to happen much until we reach the planet, but I figured this would be as good a setting for discussing matters as anything else. Besides, if Knave (or anyone else) is joining up, this might be a good way to introduce them and let them catch up with the situation. Timewise, I figure this first meeting takes place when all repairs are made and Foxley is back on her feet.]

[phoenix]

Sean stands up, only slightly self-conscious, and addresses the group.

"Mornin', all. I'll take the opportunity to give a status report - the repairs we made to the ship seem to be holding, even the ones made on the fly out of chewing gum and chicken wire. In fact, every system but Tess is, well, shipshape.

"What I'd really like to say is this. We've suddenly got a shortage of workers on our hands, and while the situation's not dire, it could be if our headcount takes another hit. What I propose is this: during the period o' waitin' before we hit planetside, I'd like to see the civilian passengers and the other personnel get some training in basic, practical engineering in case our numbers get hit again. I'm sure the other remaining departments also could use a bid for more manpower, especially security and medical, so my proposal is this: during our spare time, we open Jack of All Trades 101. A rotatin' group o' skilled personnel teaching classes composed of unskilled or limitedly skilled passengers.

"Just in case."

[ProfPotts]

Sitting near the head of the table, next to Captain Ran, is a large middle-aged, bald, African man clothed in the colourful flowing robes that are popular in the United African Nations. The leader of the diplomatic arm of the Kai Xing's maiden mission (that never was), all present recognise him as Ambassador M'Benga, special envoy for the United Nations, former foreign minister for the UAN, former member of the intertribal forum. He doesn't stand, but replies to the Chief Engineer's comments, his voice deep & clear,

"Thanks to the efforts of Captain Ran & his crew, we passengers suffered comparatively little during the aberrant attack. In addition to my own diplomatic team, Dr Flesch," he nods to the guant man sitting further down the table - now drafted (under mild protest) into the position of ship's Chief Medical Officer, "was to lead the scientific team. The remainder of the passengers are those who were not to accompany us on the Kai Xing's first mission - men & woman of business or political influence, their staffs, & a handful of reporters. My own staff consists of a dozen diplomats, anthropologists, linguists, & an equal number of administration personnel. We are, naturally, at your disposal to help in any way we can - although few have any background in engineering or medicine. Dr Flesch's team is smaller - ten scientists who are experts in various fields - xenobiology, genetics, & so forth. These people are researchers & theoreticians for the most part - they will, I'm sure, do what they can to help - as will we all - but they are far from being engineers & medics. Of the others, their skills are mostly in the fields of finance & debate I'm afraid to say - not too much use on a starship. I've requested that they submit reports on the skills which they & their staffs can offer - there have been a few rumblings of discontent, but the inescapable reality of the situation we all find ourselves in has served to cut such complaints to a minimum. At the very least there are numerous bodyguards on board who should be able to serve as reinforcments for our heroic security personnel."

As the Ambassador finishes, Dr Flesch adds a few comments of his own,

"The various injuries sustained in the attack have been treated, mostly incidental cuts & bruised from being thrown about - Chief Simon being our only long-term resident in sick bay. Some of my scientific colleagues can be of help in Medical, but, as the Ambassador pointed out, they aren't medical doctors. As our Chief Engineer has suggested, I can instruct the crew in the basics of first aid, but I don't hold high hopes for the results - I'm accustomed to teaching the créme de la créme of the world's doctors, not intellect-challenged grease-monkeys. Still, maybe I can find a few candidates who show a little promise..."

Navigator Foxley stands, looking nervous, then fumbles with the controls for the conferance table's built-in holo-display. A translucent three-dimensional representation of the star system the Kai Xing is currently in snaps into life a few centremetres above the middle of the table, slowly rotating. The young British woman begins her report in her upper-class accent,

"We've... we... we've gathered some data about where we are, sirs. The... er... the star is an N0 III... um... that is to say, a Red Giant towards the hotter end of it's spectral class."

As she continues, & get's into her subject, the young woman's nerves appear to be forgotten,

"The star is roughly five hundred times the size of Sol, but only three times the mass, with a gravity well of around two-hundred & eighty thousand, five-hundred million kilometres. It has three planets & an asteroid belt in it's system."

"The first is a rock planet roughly thirty-thousand two-hundred & fifty kilometers in circumference, orbiting the primary at a distance of four-hundred & fifty million kilometers. It's axial rotation is just under thirteen Terran hours long, & it's orbital path takes three Terran years to complete. There are irregularities in it's orbit that suggest it's a captured planet - one from outside the star system - which will eventually fall into the local star. There's no evidence of an atmosphere."

"The second planet is our destination - a rock planet with a circumference of around thirty-two thousand seven-hundred & fifty kilometers that orbits the primary at an average distance of eight-hundred & seventy-eight million kilometers. It's within the primary's stellar ecosphere - just - & appears to have an atmosphere. The local day is ten & a half hours long, & the orbital path takes just over eight years."

"The third planetary orbit is occupied by an asteroid belt composed of roughly eight-thousand significant bodies at a distance of one-thousand, seven-hundred & eleven million kilometers from the star. This belt is at an angle to the orbital plane, so must also be composed of captured matter."

"The final planet in the system is a gas giant with a circumference of around three-hundred & sixty-two thousand, five-hundred kilometers, orbiting the primary at about three-thousand, three-hundred & thirty-seven million kilometers. It has an axial rotation of just under seventy-five hours, & takes over sixty years to orbit the primary. There are seven distinct moons, as well as a ring system, orbiting the planet. It's quite beautiful..."

Foxley smiles at the image that now fills the holo-display, of a multi-coloured planet surrounded by a rainbow of rings. Suddenly she notices the silence since she's stopped talking, & snaps-back to the hear & now, again somewhat flustered & embarrassed by her lapse in concentration ::blush ,

"Um... We... we, er... We arrived some distance off the orbital plane, & shouldn't approach any of the other planets on our way to our destination."

She starts to sit, then remembers something & adds,

"Oh... By the local stellar density - the number of stars we can detect - we're hub-ward of home - that is, closer to the centre of the galaxy than Sol... That's if we're still in the same galaxy at all."

The Qin ambassador takes a turn, his bodyguard standing just behind the seated diplomat,

"I would offer my own protector's services to the security of this vessel, but her oath is to protect, rather than to obey, so she will stay by my side."

"I would like to inquire as to the status of the Tesser - why does it not function? Is there a biological problem? That would not seem likely, since we did arrive at this location via it's computational abilities."

[knave]

Deep within the ship's system access tubes crewman Lila Grace Crenshaw pours over the Tesser's exposed nerve-maps, whilst half listening to the caricature heads of the various attendees of the command meet bleating out their little ideas live, curtesy of her tortoise mini-comp's holo-projection unit.

I'd like to see the civilian passengers and the other personnel get some training in basic, practical engineering in case our numbers get hit again.

"Oh, f*ck. Mephistopheles, make sure to rotate my shifts so that I don't end up teaching civilians how to hold a screwdriver."

A rabbit with demonic horns and a pointed tail appears on the holo display and starts nibbling a carrot and scribbling in a small holo notebook. "Done, oh mistress of evil."

The caricatures continue their assanine dance.

"I would like to inquire as to the status of the Tesser - why does it not function? Is there a biological problem? That would not seem likely, since we did arrive at this location via it's computational abilities."

"Look, tw*t features, I'm working on it already, alright?"

[phoenix]

As our Chief Engineer has suggested, I can instruct the crew in the basics of first aid, but I don't hold high hopes for the results - I'm accustomed to teaching the créme de la créme of the world's doctors, not intellect-challenged grease-monkeys. Still, maybe I can find a few candidates who show a little promise..."

Sean gives the doctor a look that plainly says, "spare me the arrogance", but answers seriously and without hostility - he really isn't familiar with how a sickbay is run.

"Most of them already know first aid - I was thinking more that ye might like some assistance running sickbay. But if you think one well-trained doctor would be more effective than one doctor and however many grease monkeys, ye're welcome to try that."

Foxley smiles at the image that now fills the holo-display, of a multi-coloured planet surrounded by a rainbow of rings.

Sean, not disturbed by the sudden stop in the flow of the meeting, pauses with her to observe the beauty of the gas giant for a second, then asks a question to prompt her.

"So, what is the planet like? Is there life on it?"

"I would like to inquire as to the status of the Tesser - why does it not function? Is there a biological problem? That would not seem likely, since we did arrive at this location via it's computational abilities."

The Irishman smiles ruefully. "I don't know. She won't talk to me. I don't even know how she can do that. I think one of the aberrants probably got to her systems, which isn't an optimistic thought.. If you or yer bodyguard know anything about the system or others like it, I'd welcome your help - I'm at a loss for a next step meself, to be perfectly honest, though one of my crewmembers still has some ideas."

[ProfPotts]

"Most of them already know first aid - I was thinking more that ye might like some assistance running sickbay. But if you think one well-trained doctor would be more effective than one doctor and however many grease monkeys, ye're welcome to try that."

"Ah - an assistant. That could be workable, Chief. In that case I'll take Lila Crenshaw - her profile rates her as highly intelligent - or the closest thing you have available in any case..."

"So, what is the planet like? Is there life on it?"

"Um... We're too far away to tell at the moment."

"I don't know. She won't talk to me. I don't even know how she can do that. I think one of the aberrants probably got to her systems, which isn't an optimistic thought.. If you or yer bodyguard know anything about the system or others like it, I'd welcome your help - I'm at a loss for a next step meself, to be perfectly honest, though one of my crewmembers still has some ideas."

The Qin shakes his head slowly,

"No. Engineering problems - even bio-engineering problems - are beyond my or my companion's areas of expertise."

Foxley, nervously, volunteers a suggestion,

"We checked the systems repeatedly - it's not a mechanical or biological failure. Maybe it's psychological?"

[knave]

"Ah - an assistant. That could be workable, Chief. In that case I'll take Lila Crenshaw - her profile rates her as highly intelligent - or the closest thing you have available in any case..."

"Divis on a f*cking moped. Meph, you need to tell me when someone gets their hands on my file."

"Two can play that game. Get me everything in the ship's database on the doctor, please. Perhaps fortune will smile and he'll have been a bed wetter or something."

She sighs and closes the access panel. "You know, Tess, you really are a complete b*tch."

[phoenix]

"Ah - an assistant. That could be workable, Chief. In that case I'll take Lila Crenshaw - her profile rates her as highly intelligent - or the closest thing you have available in any case..."

Sean nods. "Done. But not immediately. Ms. Crenshaw is the engineer who best understands the Tesser. I can't spare her until we've ascertained that there's no hope for the system. After that, you can begin grooming her."

His relaxed outer smile hides an interior that is disturbingly close to a maniacal laugh. The idea of the eccentric engineer working with the dignified medical officer strikes his more sadistic side as strangely hilarious.

"We checked the systems repeatedly - it's not a mechanical or biological failure. Maybe it's psychological?"

Sean smiles. "Exactly. The Tesser is capable of incredibly complex calculations because it in itself is incredibly complex. It's modeled after a biological brain, which means that the same kind of problems could crop up as with a human brain. I'm not thinking psychological problems per se, but if you'll remember, there were aberrants who were capable of controlling conscious thought.. If we do decide there's no hope for the Tesser system, we'll probably end up shutting it down in order to make sure that it's not under some kind of delayed-reaction orders from the same aberrant that, theoretically, messed it up in the first place."

[Asbjørn]

Ran listens intently to the conversation. Not yet used to being the ranking officer he easily falls into his old habits of watching and taking mental notes while studying each and every one of the people around the table and judging their reactions to the situation and each other.

"We checked the systems repeatedly - it's not a mechanical or biological failure. Maybe it's psychological?"

Sean smiles. "Exactly. The Tesser is capable of incredibly complex calculations because it in itself is incredibly complex. It's modeled after a biological brain, which means that the same kind of problems could crop up as with a human brain. I'm not thinking psychological problems per se, but if you'll remember, there were aberrants who were capable of controlling conscious thought.. If we do decide there's no hope for the Tesser system, we'll probably end up shutting it down in order to make sure that it's not under some kind of delayed-reaction orders from the same aberrant that, theoretically, messed it up in the first place."

Ran leans forward, a subtle movement that nonetheless catches attention.

"Quite right, Vinge. She is a biological brain, and consequently has consciousness, thoughts and a will, all of which can be affected by a skilled individual. I am not familiar with the biological technicalities of tesser construction and maintenance, but I do know that she has a mind and that it's possible to communicate with her without technical interfaces."

The young captain pauses briefly, looking from the Qin ambassador to Vinge.

"My belief is that one of the aberrants that attacked us had telepathic abilities, and used those to control both Tess and Navigator Tobias's minds. I have not yet had the opportunity to look further into what traumas or psychological blocks they have left in her mind, but it is at the top of my list. Vinge, I would of course like to have a word with Crenshaw about that matter as soon as her schedule allows."

[ProfPotts]

System Access Tube Beta-Nine:

"Divis on a f*cking moped. Meph, you need to tell me when someone gets their hands on my file."

The cartoon rabbit prostrates itself several times, chanting,

"We're not worthy, we're not worthy..."

"Two can play that game. Get me everything in the ship's database on the doctor, please. Perhaps fortune will smile and he'll have been a bed wetter or something."

The demonic bunny vanishes in a puff of holographic brimstone, only to appear again, seconds later, in a similar manner, now clutching a huge leather-bound book, & wearing a pair of steel-rimmed glasses. Opening the weighty tome, it peers over the top of it's glasses, & traces the tip of it's carrot along the lines in the book,

"Dr Anton Flesch - Nobel laureate in medicine for pioneering work in genetic engineering; head surgeon at McCoy memorial research hospital, Cambridge, England; holds chair of medicine at Cambridge university; best-known works include, 'Taint disease - a genetic basis', 'Regrowth & rebirth - practical cloning for scientific purposes', & 'Mitochondria - a study of the physical basis for aberrancy'; fifty-four years old; single; noted authority on felines; citizenship of Switzerland, Germany, Great Britain, the UAN, Brazil, & Australia; sponsered by the Aeon Trinity; no living relations."

The rabbit slams the book shut with a dull thud & a cloud of dust,

"Sorry, oh mistress of evil, no bed-wetting found."

Briefing Room:

The Qin ambassador turns towards the Captain,

"Your own gifts are far more developed than my basic communication skills, Captain; although might I suggest it may be simplest if you could coax the Tesser into talking to a select few individuals, rather than relying on, & taxing, your own reserves exclusively?"

Foxley adds,

"She may have been affected by an aberrant ability - in fact, I'd say it's highly likely, considering the Taint damage we had to clear up - but I'm sure her system is clear of any such influence now. As you suggest, Captain, she's probably reacting to the trauma of that influence."

Looking towards Sean she asks,

"If the Captain could get Tess to talk to us, the main holo-system in engineering would be the best place, wouldn't you say? I don't think the ARES would be a good idea until we've resolved this issue."

[phoenix]

"If the Captain could get Tess to talk to us, the main holo-system in engineering would be the best place, wouldn't you say? I don't think the ARES would be a good idea until we've resolved this issue."

Sean shrugs and nods. "Yeah, plus 'e's not clear, so the ARES wouldn't help him much, would it?"

[knave]

System Access Tube Beta-Nine:

The cartoon rabbit prostrates itself several times, chanting,

"We're not worthy, we're not worthy..."

::biggrin

"You're so right!"

The demonic bunny vanishes in a puff of holographic brimstone, only to appear again, seconds later, in a similar manner, now clutching a huge leather-bound book, & wearing a pair of steel-rimmed glasses. Opening the weighty tome, it peers over the top of it's glasses, & traces the tip of it's carrot along the lines in the book,

"Dr Anton Flesch - Nobel laureate in medicine for pioneering work in genetic engineering; head surgeon at McCoy memorial research hospital, Cambridge, England; holds chair of medicine at Cambridge university; best-known works include, 'Taint disease - a genetic basis', 'Regrowth & rebirth - practical cloning for scientific purposes', & 'Mitochondria - a study of the physical basis for aberrancy'; fifty-four years old; single; noted authority on felines; citizenship of Switzerland, Germany, Great Britain, the UAN, Brazil, & Australia; sponsered by the Aeon Trinity; no living relations."

The rabbit slams the book shut with a dull thud & a cloud of dust,

"Sorry, oh mistress of evil, no bed-wetting found."

"Hmmm... Rich, likes cats and cloning and single... and European... Don't be sorry, Meph. You've just handed me a Gynophobic on a silver platter."

"F*ck. Do you remember where I put my make-up kit?" ::devilangel

Scheduled Meeting with the Captain and Chief Engineer

Crewman Lila-Grace Crenshaw ambles into the briefing room looking distracted and running a delicate looking hand over her recent #1 cut. The twenty-one year old woman has bio-fluid stains on the shapeless blue coverall that she is wearing, which goes a little way to hide a killer figure (think Milla Jovovich). She straightens up as if she has just realised the Captain is present. "Crewman Crenshaw reporting, Sir."

"May I speak freely, sir?"

[once she is told to speak freely or to stand at ease]

Lila stands at ease, cataloguing the room as she speaks. "I've traced the nerve bundles back as far as they go, sir. There's absolutely nothing wrong with the stroppy cow. I'm guessing she wants some chocs and a cuddle. So I recommend we up her nutrient supplement and get Foxly formatted to the ARES and have her spend some time just being there for her. Start on half an hour and up it a bit every day. No jump attempts, just plain hand holding. That'll hopefully build up some trust, or that's what my therapist used to say anyway."

"Also, I think we should be running some astronomy sessions. If we start cataloguing the local stars with instruments, Tess might take an interest. I'm guessing that the key here is not to be too forceful or trying to jump. Foxly should know when Tess is coming back to us. If she does."

[Asbjørn]

"Your own gifts are far more developed than my basic communication skills, Captain; although might I suggest it may be simplest if you could coax the Tesser into talking to a select few individuals, rather than relying on, & taxing, your own reserves exclusively?"

"If the Captain could get Tess to talk to us, the main holo-system in engineering would be the best place, wouldn't you say? I don't think the ARES would be a good idea until we've resolved this issue."

"That's an excellent idea, ambassador. And Foxley. Thank you."

To the room in general he declares "Access to communication with Tess will be restricted in the beginning, until we get her back to her old self."

The meeting continues with various practical, routine details...

[...Later...]

"May I speak freely, sir?"

The young asian - apparently not much older than Lila - smiles.

"Go right ahead, Crenshaw"

Lila stands at ease, cataloguing the room as she speaks. "I've traced the nerve bundles back as far as they go, sir. There's absolutely nothing wrong with the stroppy cow. I'm guessing she wants some chocs and a cuddle. So I recommend we up her nutrient supplement and get Foxly formatted to the ARES and have her spend some time just being there for her. Start on half an hour and up it a bit every day. No jump attempts, just plain hand holding. That'll hopefully build up some trust, or that's what my therapist used to say anyway."

"Also, I think we should be running some astronomy sessions. If we start cataloguing the local stars with instruments, Tess might take an interest. I'm guessing that the key here is not to be too forceful or trying to jump. Foxly should know when Tess is coming back to us. If she does."

"Those are good suggestions, Crenshaw. Unless Vinge has any objections I think we'll go with that. I would like your opinion on another approach, though."

"As you know, I'm a telepath. And Tess, like any other sentient and semisentient being, responds to telepathy. I intend to establish mental contact wth her, and do my best to... persuade her to talk to us. It's been suggested that we establish a communication area using the holo-system in engineering, and let a few of us have access to her. What do you think about that?"

[knave]

"As you know, I'm a telepath. And Tess, like any other sentient and semisentient being, responds to telepathy. I intend to establish mental contact wth her, and do my best to... persuade her to talk to us. It's been suggested that we establish a communication area using the holo-system in engineering, and let a few of us have access to her. What do you think about that?"

Crenshaw blinks, as if waking up from another train of thought. She gives the Captain an appraising look.

"I'm sure you know more about that than me, Captain. ::halo I'm just an Engineer, not a Psychotherapist. I recommend that, however you do it, you woo her gently and leave the rough lovin for a few weeks down the line. If she dumps us we're all going to have to pay for dinner."

[Asbjørn]

Smiling a little at Lila's metaphors, Ran replies

"I'm far from a therapist myself, Crenshaw, and prior to this assignment I've never been in contact with a mind like this vessel's. I ask your opinion on the matter because Vinge here tells me that you are the closest we have to an expert."

"And trust me, I will not even try to kiss her. Not on the first date."

[knave]

"I'm far from a therapist myself, Crenshaw, and prior to this assignment I've never been in contact with a mind like this vessel's. I ask your opinion on the matter because Vinge here tells me that you are the closest we have to an expert."

"And trust me, I will not even try to kiss her. Not on the first date."

"Kisses don't have to be passionate you know. She may just want a cuddle and peck on the cheek." ::wink

"And yeah, I know some stuff about biotech, but when it comes to linking with intelligences all I have to go on is linking with a biocomputer, but biocomputers are not truly sentient, so I can't really give you a true technical answer."

"Personally, I think you're better off thinking of Tess as a young child in shock. But that's just a guess."

[ProfPotts]

"Yeah, plus 'e's not clear, so the ARES wouldn't help him much, would it?"

Foxley looks confused ::confused , then realises what the Chief Engineer is saying, & explains further,

"No, no, no - I wasn't suggesting that the Captain use the ARES. In any case, it's only formatted to me &... & Tobias... The system can only be formatted to two users at once, it'd need to be wiped to replace either one of us, & I'm not sure we have the equipment on-board to do that; do we Chief? I was just mentioning that it doesn't seem a good idea to me to use the system too much until the problems with Tess have been sorted out, that's all."

The meeting continues with various practical, routine details...

One of which is a point raised by Ambassador M'Benga,

"Will there be a memorial service for those who died in the attack? Such a gesture would, I believe, help us all to deal with the emotions & stresses caused by such a traumatic event - not to mention helping put to rest the souls of those who died. It is tradition, is it not, for a ship's Captain to lead such services?"

... So I recommend we up her nutrient supplement and get Foxly formatted to the ARES and have her spend some time just being there for her. Start on half an hour and up it a bit every day...

Foxley shakes her head,

"The ARES was formatted to me before the mission began - & I have used it a couple of times since we purged the system of tainted toxins - but I really don't think it's a good idea to keep using it until we know what's happening with Tess."

...Also, I think we should be running some astronomy sessions. If we start cataloguing the local stars with instruments, Tess might take an interest...

The Navigator again comments, replying to Lila, but directing her comments to the Captain,

"We've been doing that as well - trying to locate our position in the galaxy, & gaining information about the local system. Tess hasn't shown any signs of interest or recovery."

Listening to the suggestions & comments, Dr Flesch speaks up,

"This may be a good time to test an experimental proceedure I've been working on. It's based on ideas from the pre-Æsculapian days for dealing with long-term recovery & coma cases. We link the patient up to a VR system to allow them to interact whilst incapacitated, & to prevent psychological trauma that such long-term inactivity can cause."

Seeing confusion amongst the others as to the relevance of his comments the Doctor holds up a hand & continues,

"With some of the Nihonjin neural-interface technology from the VARGs we have on-board I believe I can implant our comatose Security Chief with an advanced VR link which would enable him to interact with simulated envronments & therefore - here's where it get's interesting - holographic environments."

Flesch pauses, but soon realises there are still blank looks. Rolling his eyes ::rolleyes , he tries his best to explain in even more layman's terms,

"Look - it's an experimental procedure, so there is some risk involved, but we have a golden opportunity to try it out with Chief Simon. If it works he can join in talking to our holographic Tesser & possibly even interact with her in her own environment. If the procedure is successful, then I'm sure it can be adapted for non-comatose persons as well."

[phoenix]

"No, no, no - I wasn't suggesting that the Captain use the ARES."

Sean nods, understanding. "My mistake."

"The system can only be formatted to two users at once, it'd need to be wiped to replace either one of us, & I'm not sure we have the equipment on-board to do that; do we Chief?"

Sean shrugs. "I could give it a crack, if you'd like. I'm not sure how much of that equipment got used for spare parts."

"Look - it's an experimental procedure, so there is some risk involved, but we have a golden opportunity to try it out with Chief Simon. If it works he can join in talking to our holographic Tesser & possibly even interact with her in her own environment. If the procedure is successful, then I'm sure it can be adapted for non-comatose persons as well."

Sean gives the doctor a smile with a furrowed brow accompanying it. Laughing briefly at his own stupidity, he asks, "Wait, sorry if I'm a bit slow, but how is that an advantage? Tess has got hologram terminals all over the ship."

[ProfPotts]

"I could give it a crack, if you'd like. I'm not sure how much of that equipment got used for spare parts."

Foxley shakes her head,

"Unless we've got another Clairsentient on-board of whom I'm unaware, then I really can't see the point of wiping the formatting - as I said, it's already formatted to me."

"Wait, sorry if I'm a bit slow, but how is that an advantage? Tess has got hologram terminals all over the ship."

The Doctor sighs,

"It's an advantage because I'm at the stage when this procedure requires human testing... Oh, & it'll stop the Chief going insane. As for the Tesser," he shrugs, "it just seemed to me to be an interesting opportunity to test just how well the procedure will work. There are some rather... 'complex'... neurological / information interactions involved which it's obvious would be a waste of my time trying to explain. In simple terms the idea is to use the information which enables the hologram to be formed - such as the X, Y, Z co-ordinates of the laser interactions - to supply the subject with neurological data. In other words the subject would be able to 'feel' & otherwise sense things through the hologram. If Miss Crenshaw thinks that the Tesser will benefit from a 'cuddle', then perhaps this is a way to literally alow that to happen? Perhaps not... As I said, it's an interesting experimental opportunity - & the Chief's hardly in a position to complain, now, is he?"

[phoenix]

"Unless we've got another Clairsentient on-board of whom I'm unaware, then I really can't see the point of wiping the formatting - as I said, it's already formatted to me."

Sean leans back and puts his hands behind his head, grinning. "No point. Just correcting the point that I could do it."

"Perhaps not... As I said, it's an interesting experimental opportunity - & the Chief's hardly in a position to complain, now, is he?"

Sean looks thoughtful as the Doctor speaks, then snickers at this. Then, shrugging, "Well, I'm sold. Best o' luck to you, then."

[knave]

The Doctor sighs,

"It's an advantage because I'm at the stage when this procedure requires human testing... Oh, & it'll stop the Chief going insane. As for the Tesser," he shrugs, "it just seemed to me to be an interesting opportunity to test just how well the procedure will work. There are some rather... 'complex'... neurological / information interactions involved which it's obvious would be a waste of my time trying to explain. In simple terms the idea is to use the information which enables the hologram to be formed - such as the X, Y, Z co-ordinates of the laser interactions - to supply the subject with neurological data. In other words the subject would be able to 'feel' & otherwise sense things through the hologram. If Miss Crenshaw thinks that the Tesser will benefit from a 'cuddle', then perhaps this is a way to literally alow that to happen? Perhaps not... As I said, it's an interesting experimental opportunity - & the Chief's hardly in a position to complain, now, is he?"

Crenshaw brightens and gives the doctor a stunning smile. ::biggrin

*You are SO going to be under my thumb before the week is out, whipping boy.*

"Your suggestion sounds excellent to me, Doctor. Perhaps you could explain the procedure to me. I'm just an engineer, but I may be able to help with the adaption of the VARG gear. In fact, it may be easier to use bioVARG interfaces and biocomp holographic projections since those can be formatted and possibly even allow closer connections to be formed."

[Lila will use her electromanipulation ability and the 'Processor' effect to raise her intelligence to help her to comprehend what the soon to be very whipped doctor is trying to pass along. She hangs on the doctor's every word, laughs at his jokes and generally makes the poor bastard as uncomfortable as possible by being incredibly nice...]

[ProfPotts]

"Your suggestion sounds excellent to me, Doctor. Perhaps you could explain the procedure to me. I'm just an engineer, but I may be able to help with the adaption of the VARG gear. In fact, it may be easier to use bioVARG interfaces and biocomp holographic projections since those can be formatted and possibly even allow closer connections to be formed."

"If you were 'just' an engineer, young lady, I wouldn't have requested you as an assistant - & yes, I will be requiring your help in this procedure. BioVARG components aren't going to be much help though - for one, we don't have the equipment on-board to grow new applications, & attempting to reconfiguring bioware isn't usually such a good idea, as I'm sure you know. For another, the VARG components I was refering to are new neural-interface implants developed by the Nihonjin - I noticed their pilots were equiped with them when they reported for their medical exams. The bioVARGs don't use the same systems, even if we had enough spare parts lying around. The Nihonjin, on the other hand, came on-board with a full tech' support team & plenty of spare parts. Convincing them to part with that technology may be an issue - although I have complete faith in our Captain's command potential."

The Doctor flashes a micro-smile towards Ran, before continuing,

"In the future - if the procedure works, & if we get back to civilisation - I'm sure that bioware applications could be developed to serve such a purpose, but right now we need to stick to what we have & technology that's been proven."

The Doctor continues on in more technical detail, eventually allowing himself to drop all pretense of layman's talk as he realises that Crenshaw actually appears to be following what he has to say. To be honest, she isn't convinced that the procedure would be any help in dealing with Tess at all - but the Doctor seems keen to test it out anyway... ::lookaround

[knave]

"If you were 'just' an engineer, young lady, I wouldn't have requested you as an assistant

"You did? Oh my goodness." ::blush

& yes, I will be requiring your help in this procedure. BioVARG components aren't going to be much help though - for one, we don't have the equipment on-board to grow new applications, & attempting to reconfiguring bioware isn't usually such a good idea, as I'm sure you know.

Lila shrugs and nods contritely - all the while thinking *Turing theory states that any computer can simulate any other computer of equal or lesser power. We do have bioVarg interfaces that are replaceable just like any other component (albeit gooily) and we do have some biocomps on board. We don't operate equipment that we can't fix... aside from Tess. But then I'm sure you know best, sweetiepookins. Sigh. Now if we only had biotech built from adaptive bionanites as I outlined in my thesis...*

"In the future - if the procedure works, & if we get back to civilisation - I'm sure that bioware applications could be developed to serve such a purpose, but right now we need to stick to what we have & technology that's been proven."

*Ahhh, so that's your beef. Remind me to screw you for the rights.* ::biggrin

The Doctor continues on in more technical detail, eventually allowing himself to drop all pretense of layman's talk as he realises that Crenshaw actually appears to be following what he has to say. To be honest, she isn't convinced that the procedure would be any help in dealing with Tess at all - but the Doctor seems keen to test it out anyway... ::lookaround

With no other theories of her own, Lila is forced to admit that the procedure will at very worst help the chief - and that it feels better to actually be doing something than not. She gets to work.

[ProfPotts]

Meanwhile...

Alexander Yi scanned his gaze across the corridor, taking in all the best angles & ways to capture the light & shade, as he strolled towards the ship's gym, just a little behind his boss, Simon. The view was captured on his vidspecs - which he wore as a matter of course - a pretty mundane shot, to be sure, but the media-tech' had gotten into the habit of wearing his 'specs at all times, & spending his time-off sorting, editing, & cataloguing the images he recorded. In the back of his mind he had some vague notions that he could work the recordings into a fine documentary - maybe even a short series - after they got back to Earth, but mostly it was to keep his hand in whilst his days were spent running routine diagnostics & repairs for 'Irish'. It wasn't as if he resented 'doing his bit' to help out the ship's Engineering department - no, it was more that he was loath to give up the art he so loved. Of course, the young Asian man pondered humourlessly, chances are they'd never make it back to Earth alive, but still - may as well make the best of things.

The question as to what exactly his boss had been up to recently crossed the young tech's mind as the pair entered the gym - it wasn't Engineering, that was for sure, although Simon had spoken to Irish about something. Maybe the Captain had given the reporter specific duties? Or, just as likely, ordered him to stay out of the way, after that whole 'weapons smuggling' issue...

Yi's pondering was cut short by the rhythmic 'thump!', 'thump!', 'thumpety-thump-thump!' of an exercise bag being rapidly punched & kicked. Looking over he reflexively sub-vocalised a couple of commands to his 'specs & stepped slightly to his left to frame the shot better - working out on the bag was the young Nihonjin VARG officer, Hiro Hiromi. The attractive young woman was rather petite & lithe, considering the twelve tons of killing-machine she piloted, & Alex rapidly decided that her build could be described as that of a gynmast. Her dark hair was cropped short - with bands of dyed pink at the sideburns. The media-tech' made a mental note to brush-up on the latest Nihonjin fashions. Noticing something unusual, he zoomed-in on the young woman's face - a mask of concentration - then captured an image of her neck as she spun a wheel-kick at the bag. A small disc-shaped device appeared to be implanted at the base of the pilot's skull - metal-trimmed plastic which looked very hi-tech. Panning a shot down her body, he noted more of the discs at her bare shoulders, elbows, & wrists. The figure-hugging black leotard she wore covered the rest of her body, but a quick cycle through the 'specs optics package revealed discs implanted on the outside of her thighs, knees, & ankles, as well as several running down her spine. The techno-fetishist in Alex bubbled with excitment, as the more rational reporter in him noted the evidence of secret Nihonjin military-tech'.

Yi was still sifting through this new information when he suddenly noticed that the young woman had stopped in her work-out & was looking straight at him. With a twinge of embarrasment, the young Asian man realised that he'd been staring at the VARG officer for quite some time... ::blush In a rather futile effort to cover his rudness, Alex dumped his own sports bag, unfastened his light jacket, & began to limber-up for his sparing practice with Simon. When he again glanced up, Hiro had walked over, towel around her neck, & was sipping water from a bottle as she looked the two media-men over. Glancing between Alex & Simon she grinned & asked,

"So - which one of you guys wants to try me first?"

As colour again flushed Yi's face, the VARG pilot turned towards the exercise mat,

"You did come here to spar - right?"

[Asbjørn]

"Will there be a memorial service for those who died in the attack? Such a gesture would, I believe, help us all to deal with the emotions & stresses caused by such a traumatic event - not to mention helping put to rest the souls of those who died. It is tradition, is it not, for a ship's Captain to lead such services?"

Ran nods solemnly at the ambassador's words.

"In all human naval and spacefaring traditions, the Captain's job is as a spiritual leader as well as a tactical commander. There will be a memorial service, and we will commit their bodies to the deep. Included will of course be a memorial service in honor of Captain Getui and the crew who were present on the bridge at the time of the hull breach."

He seems to sit in quiet thought for a moment, then he looks at M'Benga.

"I apologize for not informing you of this, but the reason for the delay is as simple as it is tragic. We did not have enough coffins."

Ran looks down, sadness filling his voice as he concludes

"We are making new ones, and as far as I am aware, they will be finished shortly."

"This may be a good time to test an experimental proceedure I've been working on. It's based on ideas from the pre-Æsculapian days for dealing with long-term recovery & coma cases. We link the patient up to a VR system to allow them to interact whilst incapacitated, & to prevent psychological trauma that such long-term inactivity can cause."

Ran listens in silence to the technical discussion regarding Tess, Chief Simon and holographic interfaces, but cuts the discussion short when it becomes evident that nobody but Lila and the doctor understand what's being said.

Leaning forward again he raises his voice slightly.

"Ahem. Crenshaw, Dr Flesch... I'm sure this procedure is of great scientific interest, but I will not allow any technical additions to Tess before I've convinced her to communicate with us. As for setting up a system that will help in Chief Simon's recovery and allow us the advantage of his expertise despite his injuries, the sooner the better. Do you have the resources you need?"

[ProfPotts]

"... Do you have the resources you need?"

Flesch looks over to the Captain whilst leaning back in his chair & steepling his fingers. A micro-smile flashes across his face for just a moment as he replies,

"We will have... Presuming your talk with the Nihonjin goes well... Sir." ::sly

[knave]

Lila flashes Dr Flesch a 10, 000 ExaWatt grin ::biggrin and turns to the Captain. "Perhaps you should try the telepathic approach at least once before we try the experimental method?"