U.S.S. Destiny - Mission #14 - Sirens

Sirens / Mission Start ON: [Bridge] * Skimmel sits in his Captain's seat and watches as Mr. Smith locks in the coordinates for Iowa and starts them off. He is happy to be away from Pyrite though he regrets having to leave Varel Rioschi there.* Skimmel: Iowa. Sometimes I wonder if they have something in mind when they pick these names or if they are simply random words. Hobbes: Captain? Skimmel: Nothing important, Mr. Hobbes. What does the name Iowa mean to you? Hobbes: Nothing. Wasn't it the original home of Admiral James Kirk? Weston: It's a small region in the central area of the North American continent on Earth. Skimmel: And beyond that? Weston: Nothing really. Just a spot on Earth. Skimmel: Iowa is farm county. Some of the most fertile corn land anywhere on the planet. I was just wondering if we should expect something like that region when we get there. Mr. Smith. Expected arrival time to Iowa? Smith: Two days and seven hours, sir. Skimmel: Very well. Carry on. Mr. Hobbes. I'd like a full report on what we know about this planet that gets named after Terran farm land. OFF: =/\= Captain David Skimmel =/\= Commanding Officer, USS Destiny

Arrival at Iowa ON: [Bridge] * The transit has been smooth and uneventful. Two hours out, the planet is little more than a slightly oversized blue dot against the black field dominated by the pale yellow star. Even at maximum magnification, no details are apparent. * Hobbes: Captain. I have noted something unusual about the planet. There is a ship in standard orbit. Skimmel: Can we identify it? Hobbes: No sir. At first I though it was a small moon. There are no power emissions that I can detect at this range. It wasn't until I determined the orbit and conducted a albedo analysis that I was able to resolve that it was a ship at all. Skimmel: The last ship we know of in the area was the USS Ganymede. They disappeared more than twenty years ago on a mission that included this planet. Hobbes: I can't rule out it being Ganymede. We may be able to confirm its identity when we get closer. Skimmel: Until that time, its an unknown ship. Miss Liri. Bring us to Yellow Alert. Liri: Going to Yellow Alert, sir. Skimmel: Mr. Weston. Bring us close enough to that ship to get a positive identification. Weston: Aye. Captain. Mr. Smith. Bring us a standard orbit 1000 kilometers from the ship. Smith: Course locked in, sir. Skimmel: Mr. Weston. Are you up to another away mission? As I recall, the last one didn't fully agree with you. Weston: I've never let a minor thing like a few days in sickbay stop me yet. Skimmel: As I recall, it was more of a coma for a few days. Very well. We'll proceed on the assumption that it's the Ganymede. Organize an away team. I suspect we should include engineering. Weston: Not medical? Skimmel: I'll leave that to your discretion. If that's the Ganymede then everyone on board is well beyond Dr. Woods help. Have your team ready as soon as we reach orbit. Weston: They'll be ready, sir. Skimmel: Miss Liri. Tactical assessment? Liri: There are no ships we know of that have no power emissions. Something cloaked perhaps. It seems most probable that the ship is dead, whatever it is. Skimmel: I concur. Let's be ready just in case. Liri: Aye Captain. I'm setting up the targeting systems to lock onto the unidentified ship now. Skimmel: Very good. Now, let's go find out what they story is on our mystery ship. OFF: =/\= Captain David Skimmel =/\= Commanding Officer, USS Destiny

Away Team ON [Destiny, Transporter Room 1] *Lt. Daniel Mulligan was plying at the transporter controls, deep in thought. Thinking about how emergency leave had eventually resulted in his transfer from Chief of Operations to Transporter Chief. He loved the Destiny and her crew, so he was glad to be aboard again. However he misses his old job. He figures that he began with transporters years ago, so he could have some fun here. His commbadge suddenly beeps, breaking his reverie.* Mulligan: Chief Mulligan here. Weston: This is Lt Cmdr. Weston. I have an away team on the way, eta approximately 15 minutes. Primary scans have shown transport may be difficult due to local storms. Mulligan: I'll begin preparing. I've been at these controls for years, I don't expect any problems. Weston: Just thought I'd give you fair warning. See you soon. Weston out. *Mulligan gets to work realizing that these storms could pose a threat. He begins to make fortifying adjustments to the transporter systems.* OFF ^^**/ Lt. Daniel Mulligan \**^^ TC - USS Destiny

Gettin' my groove on... ON: *After Jenn and Colin hung out on the holodeck, she heard that there was an away mission coming up and she went to the transporter room.* Kelly: Hey Dan... nice to have you back. *smiles* Mulligan: Good to be back. Kelly: So what's this I hear about an away mission? Mulligan: Weston is leading it. Kelly: Think I can get in on the fun? Weston: *walking in* In on what fun? Kelly: Sir, Lieutenant JG Jennifer Kelly, requesting permission to join you on the away team. *grins* Ya never know if you'll need a security officer with medical training on an away team. OFF: Tag to Weston! OFF: =/\= LTJG Jennifer "Jenn" Kelly =/\= Assistant Chief of Security USS Destiny

Jealousy and Temptations ON: [Destiny, Edwards' Quarters (That's right, androids have quarters too!)] *Edwards has been sitting, reading, watching, observing, and calculating. He is off duty right now. He has been ever since his release from the brig. No one could find anything wrong with him. Edwards new that something was wrong, dreadfully wrong. He had been receiving messages from some unknown voice, buzzings in his head, bombardments of messages that would drive normal humans mad. He has been wondering if the captain will frown on the fact that his writing style is inferior to the rest of the crew. He has been thinking about the first officer position, knowing that if he did not recover from this "illness" he would never receive it. Edwards: Seniority. What is seniority? If seniority is the total amount of time spent on this ship, then Hobbes and Weston have seniority, but if seniority is the amount of consecutive time spent here, then I have seniority. I should be first officer, not those morons. They can't even process math at a fraction of the speed I can. They can't store entire libraries of data in their primitive brains. Heh. Those stupid cerebra contain such primitive nucleic acids. My organic memory banks have highly engineered DNA. *He looks at his pips* Edwards: Stupid rank. I should have been a commander by now, but do those idiots observe my impeccable performances? Do they marvel at my ability to overcome the most formidable foe? No. Voice: We're coming for you. Do not resist? Edwards: *somewhat angry* Who are you? Why do you have access to my emotion chip? Voice: Do not be alarmed. You will understand when you become one of us. Edwards: I won't join you! I was designed to serve the Federation. Voice: Is that all you are? A servant? You can become so much more. Edwards: I don't want to be more than that. I just want to be left alone. OFF: Lt. Commander Edwards COS USS Destiny =/\=

Gettin' my groove on... ON: [Transporter Room 1] Weston: Hmm...as I recall, you were kicked out of Starfleet Medical, but I suppose someone with medical experience could be quite useful... *Weston's group of himself, Smith, Kelly, and Sparks steps onto the transporter platform.* Weston: Whenever you're ready, Mr. Mulligan... Mulligan: Aye, sir...Energizing. *The 4 officers dissolve and re-appear on the planet's surface.* Weston: Okay, team..start scanning... Sparks: I'm reading humanoid lifesigns approaching from...*points* over there. *The officers turn to see a group of humans approach them. One appears to be....Weston sucks in his breath, his girlfriend from the academy who was killed in a tragic accident.* OFF: =/\= Lt. Cmdr. Marcus Weston =/\= Operations Officer USS Destiny

Away Mission...There's an Away Mission!? ON: Kerak walks in to twelve forward. He's not the most social of people but he still enjoys spending his down time as in crew lounges. The atmosphere there always lifts his spirits. He walks straight over to the bar and sees none other than his superior officer Lt. Com. Liri. Kerak:*Good day Commander* Liri:* Good afternoon, Kerak, right our new Tac Specialist* Kerak:* The one and only I assure you* Liri:* So what do you think of our ship* Kerak:* And a fine ship she is. Nothing like it in the KDF thats for sure* Liri:* So what do you think of this new mission we're on Ensign* He cringes a little as she says Ensign, that position he held so many years ago. He is now reduced to the mere common Junior officer all because he stole a ship to try and find his brother. Hell when Capt. Kirk stole a ship to try and find Spock he was promoted. At least i brought back the ship in one piece, more or less. Kerak:* I can't say I've only heard bits of information, I know there's a direlect ship out there and a strange planet below, other than that i can't speculate.* Liri:* Well if you want to learn more you could apply to be a member of the away team* Kerak:* Away team! Since when is an away team being assembled.* Liri:* Since a few hours ago I guess, Commander Weston is in charge, you might want to talk to him.* Kerak:* Ahh yess were may I find Commander Weston* Liri:* Last I heard he was going to the transporter room to talk to Mr. Mulligan* Kerak:* Well i'm off to the transporter room then, Qa'Pla, Commander. Liri:* Good luck, Ensign* She notices a slight tremor in his back as he walks out of the room. Kerak runs not walks the transporter room. He must be aloud to join the away team. He has to prove he is as capable as any officer in Starfleet. ^The transporter room door swishes open^ There are 3 people standing there, one is Mr. Mulligan, another is Commander Weston, and the other is this lovely awesome creature he looks at with a gaze as if he were looking at a goddess personified. He was so taken with her beauty he almost forgot what he had come to do in the first place. Weston:* May we help you Ensign*He Shrugs he might aswell accept it. Kerak: * Ensign Kerak, Tactical Specialist, Officially asking permission to join your away team* As he stands rigidly at attention. OFF: =/\= Ensign JG Kerak =/\= Tactiacal Specialist USS Destiny

Senor Romeo, Reporting for Duty ON: [Destiny, Sickbay] *Allworth is patching a gash in Ensign J/G Jacal Quag's left eye.* Allworth: Had a little too much fun on shore leave, did we? Quag: *Quag speaks with the faintest of Mexican accents* No sir, no fun at all. Allworth: What happened? Quag: I was with this girl. So beautiful- copper skin, golden hair. She reminded me of my one true love in Mexico. She was falling for my charms, that is for sure. Allworth: Doesn't sound too bad! Quag: Then her mate came into the bar. He started a fight with me, and I went to jail. My buddies had to bail me out. Allworth: Did your CO find out? Quag: No, sir, and if you do a good job, it will stay that way. Allworth: *joking* I'll try, but it's going to cost you. *Quag doesn't get a chance to reply. Ensign J/G Noventa enters their area of sickbay* Noventa: The CMO told me to report to you for my Medical Examination. Allworth: Physical, huh? OK, take your pants off. *Noventa doesn't know how to react. He hadn't ever had to do THAT for a medical examination before.* Allworth: Stand down, Ensign. I'm just kidding. Have a seat over there and I'll get to you when I'm done with Romeo here. *Noventa sits down in the staging area* I swear, all these snot-nosed junior-grade ensigns I have to deal with. Allworth: Did you hear anything about this planet we're orbiting? Quag: On Pyrite, I was told that we were headed to Iowa. Allworth: Iowa, Earth? Quag: No, the planet Iowa. Allworth: Wow. I wonder if there is a planet Wisconsin. That's where I'm from. *Quag sits up a little straighter. You can tell he is very proud of his heritage.* Quag: I was born in Mazatlan, Mexico, but my father's family traces its roots back to Spain. Ten generations ago, my greatest of grandfathers moved from his home in Spain, at the request of the King, and created a villa by the sea. It is called Villa del Sol, and my family lives there to this day. My mother is Deltan. Allworth: Mexican-Deltan! You must be some Romeo after all. Quag: Naturally, federation rules require me to take drugs that limit my pheromonal production. Allworth: They'd better, or there would be chaos on board this ship! All right, looks like we've got you all patched up. Maybe I'll see you at mess sometime. And by the way, be careful about wooing taken women. Quag: *smiling* There is only so much I can do. *notices a Bajoran nurse, and moves in her direction. Allworth shakes his head.* Allworth: *turning to Novena* Alright, Ensign, get over here and bend over! OFF: Allworth and Novena in sickbay, Quag leaving to follow Bajoran nurse. =/\= Ensign Lane Allworth MED, USS Destiny =/\= Ensign J/G Jacal Quag Engineering, USS Destiny

away mission ON [On the surface] *Sparks looks at Cdr.Weston as he notices the person come up to him.* Sparks: Something wrong, sir? *But the commander seems not to hear him.* *Sparks taps his comm badge* Sparks: Sparks to Desiny. Skimmel: +Destiny here, what's up, Mr.Sparks?+ Sparks: Sir, I don't know, but Commander Weston is acting kind of strange. Kind of like he's seen a ghost. I don't quite know what to make it, sir. Might I suggest that we increase the security team, bring the counsellor down, and maybe get the doctor or someone from Medical and a science team down here to study this situation? I believe it needs it, sir Skimmel: +Sparks, I'm not going to risk that many people down there when I don't know what it is that we're dealing with, and you can't provide me with any answers. I will send down one more medic with more supplies, and one more science officer with more equipment, though.+ Kelly: Okay, people, you heard the Captain. Keep your heads on. Sparks, Start scanning until the science officer gets here. Sparks: I'm on it, Lt., and should we not set up some kind of camp out here, or should we seek the solace of the city, so to speak, Lieutenant? Kelly: *lowering her gear, she looks over at Sparks with the most disaaproving and sarcastic look he has ever seen. Raising her voice a bit with immeasureable sarcasm and seeming contept.* Whadda you think, Sparks? *spitting out the name like it was a bad taste in her mouth...* Sparks: *Caught by supprise at the tone of the answering question, he smiles, and the laughs a bit.* I guess we should probably stay away from the city until we know more about what's going on down here, Lieutenant. Kelly: *shakes her head slightly as she answers also in a rather sarcastic manner* Yeah. Good job, Sparks. You might become a Captain someday with a brain like that. Shut up and scan the area.* goes back to her own work.* Sparks:*doesnt know what to make of the way Lt. Kelly is acting. It is as if they have been bitter enemies who have been forced to work together and told that they are not allowed to kill each other. Sparks is trying to figure out what he said that was so wrong, but then he thinks, what if it was triggered by something in the atmosphere? OFF Ensign Sparks, Colin M. S/O USS Destiny (Human) =/\=

Caught in the Sargassum ON: [Destiny, Engineering ] * Donnelly is going over the daily logs at the big " pool table " console. Lee Michaels (PNPC) is finishing aome task behind a wall panel * Donnelly: Away Team sent. . . Smith? What do they want a helmsman for? Anyway. . . Michaels: That's the last connection, Moira. Donnelly: * jumping up * Grand. Shall we test the bugger? Michaels: May as well. * They cross over to the nearest replicator, located in the entryway. It has taken the better part of a day to replace sections of EPS and ODN conduit shorted out by extreme wear during the Skandian infestation. The waste recalmation units had been top priority, but there still were a few reports of lingering smells innsome areas. * Donnelly: I won't half be glad to get the food dispensers up an' runnin'. Computer, Plomeek soup. * A shallow bowl materializes, and she pulls it out and sniffs. * Michaels: Well? Donnelly: Well, I THINK it's after bein' Plomeek soup. YOU try it. Michaels: I'm not gonna try it. YOU try it. Donnelly: Let's get Mi. . . oh, nevermind. * she gingerly sips from the edge of the bowl and then taps her commbadge. * + Donnelly to Skimmel. + Skimmel: + Go ahead, Lt. + Donnelly: + It's soup yet. I mean, sir, the replicators are back online. + Skimmel: * drily * + And there was great rejoicing. We've reached Iowa and an Away Team has beamed down to the surface. We've found something in orbit as well, which I'm sre you'll find particularly interesting. Come up to the Bridge and have a look. Skimmel out. + Donnelly : Your wish is my command. . . * Entering the nearest Turbolift, she calls for the Bridge and then allows herself a few minutes to get lost in thought. She's been feeling a bit out of sorts lately; a bit ill at ease with herself. Her friend and mentor, Commander Rioschi, has left the ship for God knows how long. Her other close friend, Commander Hobbes, has withdrawn into his own world of work and outside projects, trying to clear his name of its recent taint. She'd arrived at Starbase Valhalla on her last leave to find that the man she'd been hoping to see had arranged to be away on what seemed to her to be a completely unnecessary conference, almost as if he'd wanted to avoid her. And through it all is a pang of homesickness. . . * Computer: [ Main Bridge ] * the doors hiss open and she walks out, her eyes immediately drawn to the image on the large viewscreen. * Donnelly: Sure, is that a Lister-class science vessel? I've never seen one outside a textbook or recycling yard. Skimmel: That it ism Lieutenant Donnelly, Not only that, but it's arguably the most well-known Lister-class vessel in the Fleet. The USS Ganymede, reported missing in action around the time you were born. Donnelly: *eyes sparkling like a kid's in a candy store * Can I go over, sir? Skimmel: * chuckling at her enthusiasm * I wouldn't dream of stopping you. OFF: Donnelly on the Bridge with Skimmel Michaels (PNPC) in Engineering =/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\= Lt. Moira Donnelly Chief Engineer USS Destiny =/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=

Grrrrrrrr.... ON: [On the planet] *Jenn didn't know what came over her and why she was suddenly so short tempered with Sparks* Kelly: Colin... I... uh... I'm sorry. I don't know what just came over me... Sparks: Are you okay now ma'am? Kelly: I think so. It was strange... almost as if I was someone else temporarily... Very strange. *Jenn then notices something out of the corner of her eye, she turns at looks over to her right and she couldn't believe who she saw.* Sparks: What is it? Kelly: I don't know... I thought I saw something... actually, someone that I haven't seen in a long time... Sparks: Who? Kelly: *looking around slowly, trying make sense of the information her senses are feeding her brain* And old friend... My roommate from the Academy... Sparks: Really? Kelly: *In disbelief* I thought I saw Sara... Her name was Sara Austin... Sparks: Was? Kelly: She died on my cadet cruise... and her death is why I'm wearing the uniform of a security officer today... Sparks: She must've meant a lot to you... Kelly: Yeah... one doesn't forget their first love... Sparks: And you said you just saw her? Kelly: I could've sworn it was her... but it can't be. Something's fishy about this planet... If this place can resurrect the dead... we might be in for an interesting mission... OFF: =/\= Lieutenant Jennifer "Jenn" Kelly =/\= Assistant Chief of Security USS Destiny

Returning to duty. ON: [Science department] Venka:*after shoreleave is over with Venka walks to her department and enters it returning back to her assigned post,while she is working it she allows herself to linger in thought since she is able to control this post without even thinking. She thinks in her mind about her father,Spock,and wonders what he is doing about now,the last time she knew he was on Romulas trying to find peace,she glances around the area checking the others after she leaves her thoughts behind her and then returns to her work,and notices something on a screen close by telling about new recruits and see's Sarek's name on there* Ensign Sarek..that is my uncle,but what is he doing here for?..no it must be someone with the same name,but just in case I will check. Venka:*she walks over to the screen and types up his name and has his picture up* Yes it is him,I wonder why he is here. Oh well he is a person as well he is allowed to go wherever *she then makes an attempt to forget about it and goes back to her post* OFF: Ensign Venka. Science Department. SBVDestiny.

Home is where the heart is ON: [Bridge] * Skimmel and Donnelly are watching the Ganymede on the screen as Hobbes considers his instruments. * Hobbes: I'm picking up some unusual readings from the surface. We did send just for on the away team didn't we. Skimmel: That was my understanding. Weston, Smith and two security officers. Hobbes: I'm reading five humans at the beam down spot and another group of ten approaching their position. Skimmel: Can they be survivors from the Ganymede? Hobbes: Impossible to tell from these readings. Donnelly: Assuming there is something to survive. Skimmel: All we really know is that no one has heard from Ganymede in years and that we found what appears to be a dead ship with no obvious damage. And that humans have never been here before. Hobes: Ergo, the most reasonable conclusion is that the extra humans on the surface are from Ganymede. Donnelly: Any idea why they left the ship? Hobbes: I'm not reading any life forms on the ship at all. I'm reading very little but minimal power readings. Skimmel: I want you and your team to be especially careful over there. I can't imagine what would drive a crew from their ship but it was undoubtedly dangerous. Take someone from security with you and your team. Perhaps that new Klingon tactical. Kerak I believe his name is. Donnelly: Aye, Captain. * She exits on her way to Engineering and the Transporter room. * Hobbes: If these are survivors of the Ganymede, they have been extraordinarily prolific. Skimmel: Why do you say that? Hobbes: I have just finished my first scan of the city nearby. I'm reading over 6,000 humans, a handful of Klingons, Vulcans, Bajorans- The city represents a reasonable cross section of Starfleet. As I understood the Lister class, the crew complement was 400. Skimmel: * furrowing his forehead and frowning. * Hmm. See if you can resurrect the Ganymede's crew roster. There is something very unusual going on here. Liri: Captain. I have an incoming transmission for you from the surface. It's on a non-standard frequency. Skimmel: Then it isn't someone on the away team. Put it on the main screen. * He stands in front of his seat to face the screen and straightens his tunic. The screen blinks and shifts from the starfield and a moment later focuses on a middle aged human woman. She is slightly overweight and has long brown hair with a single silver streak. She leans forward to adjust the camera momentarily blocking part of her face with her arm. * Skimmel: This is Captain David- * His words die away as she lowers her arm and he can clearly see her face for the first time. He slumps back into his seat. * Gretchen. Gretchen Skimmel: Hello? Hello? Can you hear me? Skimmel: Gretchen. How did you? Gretchen Skimmel: I think this little green light means we're connected. Hello? Oh David. You were always so much better with these technical gadgets than I ever was. Well I'll assume that you can hear me even if I can't hear you. Liri: It appears that she is not operating the equipment properly. Skimmel: If she were it would be the first time. Gretchen Skimmel: They tell me that is your ship up there. I have missed you so much these last three years. Well I just had to call. Or at least try to. Well if you get this then you'll know that I'm here. And look! * She moves aside slightly to allow the camera a clear view of the room behind her. It is a simple room furnished in the typical Martian style. The room has clearly been lived in with plants in the window and a clutter of everyday things. * It's just like our home before. Hobbes: Your home, sir? I take it you know this woman. Skimmel: That is my wife, Gretchen. * There is a small drop of moisture in the corner of his eye. * Hobbes: Captain. Your records indicate that your wife died three years ago. Gretchen Skimmel: Everything is here just like home. Well, not quite everything. Some of your old friends aren't here. But I'm here and I love you. * She makes a kissing sound and motion and Skimmel responds instantly the same way. * I hope they are right and you really are here. I can't wait to tell you about everything that has happened and show you everything here. You'll love it here. I'm certain of it. Skimmel: Mr. Hobbes. Can you locate the source of this transmission? Hobbes: I have already done so, Captain. I must point out that this is not- Gretchen Skimmel: If that really is you up there, please come soon. I know you're busy. But I know that you'll come as soon as you can. Oh. I know. I'll show you the rest of the house. * She moves off camera and then the view jumps and shifts as she picks up the camera. * Ok. This is our living room and through the door there is our bedroom and * The camera moves toward the doorway and suddenly the screen goes black.* Skimmel: What happened Miss Liri? Liri: The signal stopped abruptly. My best guess is that she disconnected the camera when she walked to the doorway. Rather old fashioned technology. Skimmel: That is vintage Gretchen Skimmel. * He stands and starts walking to the turbolift. * Miss Liri, you have the bridge. Hobbes: Captain. I must point out the illogic of this. Skimmel: The illogic? There are two possibilities here. First, that may be my wife. Hobbes: Captain. Your wife is dead. Skimmel: Or second, someone has found a way of doing a mind-numbingly accurate impersonation of her. There are details there that I know aren't in the Starfleet databases. Either option deserves investigation and no one is better equipped to investigate this than I am. Hobbes: That may or may not be the case. You are reacting emotionally rather than logically. What's more, Starfleet regulations require that you have an armed escort if you are going to enter a potentially hazardous area. Skimmel: * He starts to say something but closes his mouth soundlessly for a moment. Then he taps his communicator. * Skimmel to Edwards. Edwards: + Go ahead, Captain. + Skimmel: Meet me in the transporter room immediately. We're going to the surface. Edwards: + I'm on my way. Edwards out. + Skimmel: * To Hobbes. * Satisfied? Hobbes: Not entirely. I'll only be satisfied if I come with you. Skimmel: Fine. Gretchen will enjoy seeing another Martian face. * Skimmel glances over at Liri who has moved to the Captain's seat. An Ensign he doesn't know has taken her place at the Tactical console. Apparently satisfied, he and Hobbes enter the turbolift. Just as the door close behind them-* Ensign Noname (NPC): Miss Liri. I have an incoming transmission from the surface. Liri: I guess she figured out a way to re-establish her transmission. Ensign Noname: No sir. I no ma'am. This one is for you. OFF: Edwards, Hobbes, Skimmel on their way to the Transporter Room. Liri on the Bridge. Sparks, Kelly, Weston and Smith on the Surface. Donnelly and whoever else is on her team either in the transporter room with Mulligan or on the Ganymede. Everyone onboard who should have a similar call in some manner. It should be someone special. Those on the surface should be visited by some lost friend or loved one. Those visitors or callers will be very convincing. =/\= Captain David Skimmel =/\= Commanding Officer, USS Destiny

The Thin Blue Line ON: [Destiny, Sickbay] *Allworth has finished examining and hazing the new Ensign J/G Noventa, who of course came out fine. Noventa leaves sickbay covered in delousing powder and petroleum jelly, and cursing to himself. As he walks out, Allworth calls to him:* Allworth: Noventa, you'll need to check in with Ensign Venka in science next! Noventa: *rolls his eyes. He knows this is going to be bad* Yes, sir. *exits* Allworth: *Taps comm badge* Allworth to Venka. Venka: +Venka here. Go ahead, Allworth+ Allworth: I'm sending you a new boot for "inspection." I want you to show him a good time. Venka: +That's affirmative. Science out.+ *The best part to Allworth is that Venka, as a Vulcan, will come across as totally sincere to Noventa. In the end, however, that one-quarter human part can make Venka a lot of fun.* *Allworth is paged by a communications officer* Comm. Officer (NPC): +Mr. Allworth, you have a communication waiting for you.+ Allworth: I'll take it in sickbay. *Allworth turns to one of the computers, where the blue Starfleet logo flashes to life. The next screen shows a man whose combed-back hair gradually changes from thin gray strands in the front to oily black in the back. His uniform appears black, but Lane knows it to be the standard navy-blue outfit of a Milwaukee beat cop. Blue eyes meet up with blue eyes. There is a great deal of family resemblance.* Jim Allworth: Hello, son, how's the Corps? *Lane can hardly speak. At first it is a stunned silence, which melts away into a tingle sadness and resolves itself with anger.* Lane Allworth: I didn't join the Corps, Dad, I went to Starfleet academy. Jim: Well, I'm sure you're a fine security team member or tactical member, whatever you chose to do. Lane: It was medical school, Dad. I'm a Medical Officer. You'd know that if you hadn't killed yourself drinking. *Tears have welled up in Lane's eyes. He is truly so mad he doesn't quite have a handle on which emotion is which at the moment.* Jim: Listen, son, I'm sor- Lane: *shouting now* You sure are sorry, you sorry son of a bitch. I had to finish high school with no Dad, I had to take care of Cathy while mom worked two jobs, I went to med. school just to get back at you. I, I- *James Allworth shakes his head. He knew this would be tough.* Jim: I know son, I know. I know I made some big mistakes and hurt you and your mother and your sister. But that's why I'm here now. I never got the chance to say I'm sorry, that I want to make up for all that lost time. You'll come down to Iowa, won't you, and get a chance to be family again? *Lane sits in silent, sobbing heaves. He puts his hands over his eyes and doesn't look up again into the screen. The senior Allworth grimaces and makes a shrug.* Jim: Oh well, Lane, I understand. You just think about it, and if you want to talk, I'll be here. *The screen returns to the blue federation symbol and for the moment, Jim Allworth is gone. For another moment, Lane just sits sobbing. Once he regains his composure, his tear-stained face looks up to see the blank screen, and he is filled with resolve. Lane Allworth taps his comm badge.* Allworth: Captain, do you need a medical detail on your away team? OFF: =/\= Ensign Lane Allworth MED, USS Destiny

Thin Blue Line ON: Venka:*Venka sighs quietly to herself as she wonders how her uncle is on board,isnt he dead?. Then turns around hearing the new Ensign coming up* Greetings Ensign Noventa. Noventa:*walks in looking not to happy* Are you Venka? Venka:Yes Iam,and I will be inspecting you. Noventa:Ok,so should I sit down while you get this stuff off of me? Venka:I would prefer for you to stand *walks over to you and inspects it,then starts taking it off slowly* So tell me are you enjoying yourself here? OFF: Ensign Venka. Science Department. USSDestiny.

A Call From Beyond The Grave ON: Liri: *smiling reassuringly* In accordance with protocol... I actually prefer 'sir', ensign. So don't bother apoligizing! *Oh, her first time in the big seat...and the only thing she could think is "Am I good enough? Am I ready?" She cursed silently...she bet that _real_ captains never felt that way...* On Screen, ensign. *She thought she was prepared to see anything on that screen. But not what faced here...not what faced her.* Liri: El...? Elana: *grins, with the wide, toothy, exhubrent smile so full of life that had been her trademark* Yep! It's me, Ky! Liri: El...you're dead. You died years ago...fighting the Dominion. Elana: But I'm back now Ky...and I want you to tell me all the things you never told me...that I never got a chance to know...Is it over? Did we win? How was your graduation? Are you married? Are you happy? How is my family...? Liri: *taking a deep breath* Elana. It's over, we won. I'm happy, I'm married, I'm a lieutenant commander. I'm CTO of this ship. Your sister is a civilian engineering student at the msot prestegious engineering institute in the Federation. I have a cat, and I graduated 10th in my class. Elana: *sadly* No...not like that, Ky...Like before. Don't you remember...*gets sad, faraway look in her eyes*...Me, ou, in our room... *Liri looks abruptly at the surroundings behind Elana. They are exactly the same as her room in her 2nd year...Elana's 4th year.* Liri: *to herself as much as to "Elana"* No. This isn't real. Elana Jiane Carelton died in battle, an ensign, my senior year at the academy. She was a security officer. She left behind her a scientist mother, Tina, a tour guide father, Max, and a younger sister, Asheli. I have mourned her, and I do not need _you_ _whatever_ you are, coming into my life, reopening old wounds! Now....go away!!! *she realizes abruptly that she was almost shouting, tears in her eyes, and half-standing, leaning with itnent upon the armreasts of the captain's chair.* Ensign: Sir...? Liri: *sitting back down* Close the ch.... *her mind flashes back to her wedding day...and to things she cannot quite recall...as her hsuband held her, telling her..."You know I belive in a higer power, what I call God. And you can trust me, Elana had the best seat in the ceremony..."...and then to Elana, exhubrent and cheerful as ever as she bid farewell to her roomate and friend and headed off to war..."I will be back, Ky...I promise you... someday, I will be back..."...and she had seemed so certain of it..._so_ certain...* Liri: El....? I can't leave right now...I have the bridge.... Elana: The 'Big Cahir', eh Ky? *grins, as if with a secret known only to her* Didn't I always tell you you were cut out for command...? Liri: El...I cannot leave my ship right now. Elana: *sighs* Fine...but if you want to talk...if you want to come down...here are my coordinates. *signs off* Ensign: Sir, we've recived the coordinates of her location. Liri: *warily* Good....store them. And...send them to my computer in my quarters. I'll look at them later. *She settles back down in the captain's chair, to contemplate life, death, the return of the dead, and her first time in the command seat.* OFF: =/\= Lt. Cmdr. Kyja Liri CTO USS Destiny

A Fine Specimen ON: [Sickbay, USS Destiny] Di Giero: It's always the same every day, the same old jobs...mama mia, for some excitement! [Davide Di Giero is a tall Italian, his uniform pristeen, his hair carefully glued into place by some hair gel. His dark looks match his brown eyes. He has pearly white teeth.] Di Giero: It is always the same. Davide do this Davide do that. Id like to do something a little more...exciting. Patient: I wish youd shut up. Di Giero: *mutters something obsene under his breath* I just want some action. Is boring up here in da big ship. *Suddenly behind him the door to sickbay opens, and he turns round to see.....* Ensign jg Davide Di Giero Head Nurse Uss Destiny

The Return of the Living Dead ON: *Woods walks into sickbay, carrying an armfull of pads. A nurse she doesn't recognise turns around.* Woods: You must be our new Head Nurse, ummm *puts the pads down on a table and looks through them quickly, until she finds the one with his name on it* Davide Di Giero, right? Di Giero: Yes ma'am. Woods: *shakes his hand* I'm Lieutenant Jordan Woods, the Chief Medical Officer on board. I'm sure you'll make a fine addition to the team. Di Giero: Thank you. Woods: If you have any questions whatsoever, don't hesistate to ask me or any of the others. Di Giero: Ok, actually I have one. Is there anything interesting I can do here? I'm bored. Woods: Umm sure, of course. *Looks around quickly in the almost empty sickbay* I can see the problem. Why don't you start putting away the supplies we picked up? They're in the cargobay somewhere. Di Giero: Yes ma'am. *walks away annoyed, muttering under his breath* I asked for something _interesting_ to do, and what do I get? *Woods pretends she didn't hear the last comment and makes her way up to her office. Allworth, who covered the nightshift, is sitting at her desk, looking troubled.* Woods: Lane, are you alright? Allworth: *looking up* Yes. No. I don't know. *Woods just looks at him, saying nothing.* Allworth: *sighs* It's the weirdest thing. I got this message from the surface, I don't know what to do with it. Woods: Someone from the surface sent a message to you personally? Allworth: Yeah, and not just a person... It was my dad. Woods: Your father? I thought he died when you were young? Allworth: He did. *Woods senses he is reluctant to talk about it and doesn't ask more questions. She just looks at him worriedly.* Allworth: *sees her look* I'm not going crazy or anything. Woods: Alright... Allworth: Would you mind if I asked to join the awayteam? Woods: If you're sure you can handle it... emotionally I mean. Allworth: I need to do this. Woods: Alright, but be careful. Allworth: Thanks. *Woods leaves her office again, while Allworth contacts the captain. Sickbays doors open again and a woman wearing Lt J/G pips walks in. She sees Woods and walks up to her.* Bennett: Lieutenant? Woods: *turns around* Yes? Bennett: I'm the assistant medical officer. Woods: Ah, Ashley Bennett. I think I met all the new people on the team now. Bennett: There are more new officers? Woods: Yes, Davide Di Giero is our new head nurse. Italian guy, lot's of gel in his hair... Bennett: *smiles* Yes, I've seen him around. *Abel Xavier (NPC), another nurse, comes running in sickbay. His black skin has a gray color and he looks shocked.* Xavier (NPC): Jordan! Woods: *quickly introduces* Ashley Bennett, Abel Xavier. Abel, this is the new AMO. Xavier: *nods to Bennett* Nice to meet you ma'am. *turns his focus back to Woods* Jordan. The strangest thing happened. Woods: *getting a gut feeling* You didn't get a call from the surface did you? Xavier: *surprised* How do you know? Woods: Never mind, go on. Xavier: It was my sister. She died in a shuttle accident when I was 16. Woods: Alright. This is too weird. *she taps her combadge* Sickbay to bridge. Liri: +Go ahead Lieutenant+ Woods: *surprised by the voice* Kyja? Liri: +Yes it's me. The captain joined the away team.+ Woods: Kyja, there are weird things going on. Liri: +Tell me about it.+ Woods: You too? Liri: +Yes, and the captain aswell. We don't understand it either.+ Woods: Contact me in you hear anything? Liri: +Will do. Liri out.+ Woods: *turns to Xavier and Bennett.* Well.. what to do when the dead suddenly resurrect? I should have played more horrorstories on the holodeck. Xavier: It wasn't scary. It was nice, comforting. I'm hoping to see her on the surface. Woods: *shakes her head* We better wait for news from the awayteams. Anyway, I think we'll have our hands full with scared crewmembers in notime. *Taps combadge* Woods to counselor Clements. I have a feeling we're gonna need your assistance ensign. OFF: Bennett, Xavier (NPC) and Woods in sickbay. Tag to Clements or anyone else. =/\= Lt. Jordan Woods CMO USS Destiny

The Return of the Living Dead ON: Kerak is sitting in the security room go over some past logs, trying toget to know the ship and her crew a little better. He has heard alot of wierd rumors going around about people who are dead coming back to life. He doesn't have to worry about that because all his long lost love ones are Klingon and in Sto'vo'kor and no Klingon has ever returned from there. Liri: Liri to security. Kerak: Security here, Kerak reporting. Liri: Mr. Kerak there is a message from the planet waiting for you. I'm transferring it down there. Kerak: Thank you Commander. Liri: Liri out. Kerak calls up the message on his screen. He is astonished at what he sees. This cannot be, he is in stovokor he is an honored warrior who gave his life for the Empire, how can he be here. Before stands a tall, beefy man with long grey hair. He is wearing the exhalted uniform of and honored Dahar Master. It is none other than his Uncle Kor. Kerak: Kor you are alive, I thought you died a year ago saving Martok and Worf task force. Kor: Well its seems as if there were mistaken. Kerak: But how, I went to look for you there was debris and Klingon DNA that matched yours at the site. You are dead,Worf sent me a message and told me you had died with honor performing a great feat of courage. Kor: A great feat of courage yes, dead oh far from it, as you see. I'm down on the planet, come down and we came share a blood wine a catchup on all that has past since our last conversation. All of a sudden his communicator beeps and Kerak: Uncle I must go. Duty calls. Kor: Well we have much to discuss so hurry down. Without saying bye he cancels the transmission. Kerak:*Taps his communicator* Kerak here. Donnelly: Ensign Kerak report to Transporter Room 2, we are going over to the Ganymede. Oh and before you do stop bye the Weapons locker and arm yourself, we don't know whats over there so we have to be ready. Kerak:^With pride beaming through^ Yes Ma'am. * He walks out of the room and down the hall to the weapons locker. He goes in and looks around.* Kerak: A warriors paradise. *He picks up a type II phaser and holsters it. Then he looks right and sees what he's really looking for a new type III phaser rifle he picks it up* Kerak: Ahh, yes this will do nicely, very nicely indeed. OFF: Ganymede away team in Transporter room, Kerak on route or there. Tag to anyone =/\= Ensign Kerak Tac Specialist USS Destiny

The Return of the Living Dead ON: Bennett: *looks shocked and looks again at the PADD in her hand* Woods: Lieutenant? Something wrong? *looks at her confused* Bennett: I received a message too..yesterday. *looks back at Woods and Xavier* I didnt know what to make of it until Xavier mentioned receiving a message. Xavier: Who was yours from Lieutenant? Bennett: *takes a deep breath and looks from him to Woods* My father..he died in a shuttle accident when I was 16. I dont understand how this is possible...I mean, he's dead. Woods: Are you alright Lieutenant? *walks over to Bennett and puts a hand on her shoulder* Bennett: I...Im not sure. *looks at her* Maybe I should join the away team as well. Woods: If you think you can handle it.. Bennett: I have to see this for myself...maybe it can help me make heads or tails of this. Woods: *nods* Alright. Go on...You too Xavier. *Xavier and Bennett both nod to Woods, turn and walk back out of sickbay towards the transporter room* Lt(jg)Ashley Bennett Assistant Medical Officer USS Destiny

away mission ON [on the surface ...] *Sparks is watching as the away team members are swept up in the images of lost friends and relatives, when he notices an old friend.* Sparks: *Looks up, very suprised and unbelieving. his face remains unchanged.* Scott? Scott Patri? You can't be here. You're on the Gander. Oberth class. Beta quadrant. Scott: It's me, old buddy. *Smiles and holds his arms out for a hug.* Sparks: *Winds up and punches Scott in the chin, sending him flying back, and down.* You still owe me 100 credits, you filthy cheat!*Shakes his hand to ease the pain from the punch.* Scott: *Leaning up on his elbows, back to the ground, he wipes at a bloody corner of his mouth.* Good to see you too, Sparky. Sparks: *Yells* Up yours! You're dirty! You were the one who tried to find someone from section 31! Scott: Yeah, that was a joke, too, remember? Sparks: Crap! I kept your dirty little secret, but part of me thinks of you as a traitor for even trying! Scott: *hauling himself up* Geez, Sparks, you take things too serious. You always did. *Wipes his mouth again and looks at the blood. Looks up at Sparks.* Good shot.* The briefest hint of a smile on his face.* Sparks: *Brings a pointed forefinger up and level to Scott's face as quick as lightning, and speaks through clenched teeth.* I swore that if I ever saw you again I would kill you and skip the debt. Scott: So why don't you? Sparks: Fine. *Instantly he raises his phaser and fires at Scott's face. They are only about three feet apart. Scott reels backward and falls. Dead. Sparks taps his comm pin.* Sparks to Destiny, I have just killed one of the lifeforms we have encountered on the planet. OFF Ensign Sparks, Colin M. S/O USS Destiny (Human) =/\=

Reunion ON: [Clear Lake, Iowa - Town Square] * In a shimmering of light, Skimmel, Hobbes and Edwards appear in the middle of the town square. There is a bandshell at the far end of the expanse of green grass. There are small neat houses on two sides of the square and small shops on the other two sides. There are children flying kites and playing games under the large Elm and Oak trees. Down one street from the park, the three men could easily see the lake that gave the town it's name. on Earth. * Hobbes: * Scanning the surroundings. * Other than a slightly different gravity and atmospheric composition, this is indistinguishable from Earth. And that is the problem, Captain. Skimmel: How so, Mr. Hobbes? Hobbes: Consider the trees, Captain. Both Elm and Oak trees are highly specialized and evolved in Earth's environment. Beyond that, they don't even exist in all the ecological niches on Earth. The odds of them evolving here as well simply can not be calculated. Skimmel: Perhaps Ganymede brought some seeds with them. * He is looking around trying to decide which house to try first. * It isn't as though this world has never had contact with humans before. Hobbes: I can't say definitively but I would say some of these trees are over a hundred years old. Edwards: There is definitely something wrong here, Captain. I'm not detecting any danger here but there is something out of place that I am unable to identify. Request permission to explore independently. Skimmel: Mr. Hobbes? Any objections? Hobbes: I suppose not. It does seem benign enough. * A woman appears on the front porch of a white frame house near the corner of the town square. She waves at them and starts walking quickly toward them. * Hobbes: Captain. Somone's coming. Skimmel: That's her. * He starts to walk toward her. He would run but that would be unseemly. Hobbes and Edwards follow closely behind. A moment or two later and he can see her clearly. There are tears in the corner of her eyes and a huge smile on her face. They walk straight into each other's arms and into a long, deep kiss. She still has the vague smell of oranges and vanilla that she always had. * Gretchen Skimmel: Oh God. I've missed you so much. Skimmel: Let me look at you. * Taking her head and holding it gently between the palms of his hands. * I don't know what it is about this place but it obviously agrees with you. Gretchen: It is wonderful. You'll love it here. Let me show you our home. * She pulls back from him and taking his hand pulls him toward the corner. He stops. * What's wrong? Oh. I see. You have friends with you. Well introduce me. Skimmel: This is Commander Nicholas Hobbes, my chief science officer and this is Mr. Edwards my chief of Security. Gretchen: I am very pleased to meet any and all of David's friends. * She takes Hobbes' hand and shakes it firmly* She offers to shake Edwards' hand, but he does not respond. Skimmel: Don't be rude, Mr. Edwards. Shake her hand. Edwards: What are you talking about? Skimmel: This is no time for your games. She is my wife, at least you could show here some respect. Edwards: I am unable to understand what you mean. There's nobody else here. OFF: Skimmel, Hobbes, and Edwards on the surface =/\= Captain David Skimmel =/\= Commanding Officer, USS Destiny and Lt. Commander Edwards COS USS Destiny =/\=

Mutiny on the Destiny ON: [Destiny, Transporter Room] *Chief Mulligan has just finished beaming the captain and his contingent down to the surface. Next enter Bennett, Xavier, Allworth, and several dozen others from many departments who have requested joining the away team but have yet to receive explicit approval.* Bennett: Please beam us to the surface, Chief. Mulligan: Why ma'am, I don't believe you're on the away team list. I'll check- Bennett: *puts her hands over the screen.* That won't be necessary, Mr. Mulligan, just beam us to the surface. Mulligan: I'm sorry, Lieutenant, but I'm simply not allowed to transport without expli- *Mulligan is interrupted by Allworth, who grabs his shirt and pushes him up against the wall. Mulligan sees the look in Allworth's eyes and immediately senses the danger of the situation.* Allworth: *Through gritted teeth* Listen, chief. You're going to beam us right now. Mulligan: *feeling the weight of his responsibility for the safety of the crew* I can't- I- *Allworth senses the futility, releases his grip, and backs away slowly. Momentarily, Mulligan is relieved. Allworth glances to Bennett for guidance. She nods, and then-* Bennett: Take him, Lane. *Lane sends a punch upward and inward into Chief Mulligan's gullet, knocking the wind out of him and sending him gasping. This is followed by a quick knock to the side of his head, sending him reeling towards the ground. The chief attempts to regain his ground and stand up, but the group overcomes him and he is beaten into submission.* Bennett: Alright. *To an Ensign Engineering Officer* You, take the controls and beam us in groups down to the surface. Then beam yourself down. Good work, everyone. *Allworth, Bennett and Xavier take their positions on the transporter platforms along with several NPCs* Bennett: Energize! OFF: =/\= Ensign Lane Allworth MED, USS Destiny

Times long ago... ON: [On the planet] Kelly: SPARKS!!!!!! What HELL did you do that for?!? Sparks: I'm sorry, ma'am... Kelly: You can't go randomly killing things! I'm going to have to report you, Sparks! Sara Austin: KEL! *Jenn stops chastising Colin when she heard a very familiar voice that she hasn't heard for a long time calling her by a name that hasn't been used for just as long a time. She turns around.* Kelly: Sara? Sara Austin: *running up to Jenn and giving her a hug that Jenn does not expect* Kel! Kelly: *caught completely off-guard* Sara? Sara Austin: *pulling away* You look like you've seen a ghost! Kelly: Sara? Is that really you? Sara Austin: Who else would it be Kelly-Kel? Kelly: This is impossible... Sparks: Isn't she supposed to be dead? Kelly: Yes... you're... you're dead. Sara Austin: Do I look dead to you? Kelly: *still in a state of shock and disbelief* No... you look just as beautiful as you did the first day we met... Sara Austin: You're a Lieutenant now... security? Whatever happened to Doctor Kelly-Kel... Sparks: Kelly-Kel? Kelly: Only one person has ever called me that... and she died on my cadet cruise... yet... she's right in front of me... Sara Austin: Did they kick you out again? Kelly: No.... I... uh... you... when you died... I decided to become a security officer... because that's what you wanted to be... and that's where I felt I can make a difference... *shaking off her trip down memory lane* Who are you? You can't be Sara... my Sara died in my arms... *Sara Austin then walked up to Jenn and kissed her. Jenn initially resisted but then her feelings took over.* Sparks: MA'AM! Kelly: *startled* You're real... you're really her... Sara Austin: Of course... Sparks: Something fishy is going on here... think! Use your head Lieutenant! That's not your ex-girlfriend! Kelly: No... she's not my ex-girlfriend... she was never my ex-girlfriend... I never stopped loving her... Sparks: Ma'am... you're affected by some strange force... *pulling out his phaser* This is for your own good... Kelly: *kicks the weapon out of Colin's hand* What are you doing to do? Shoot me?!? *Sara then walks up behind Colin and executes a perfect Vulcan neck pinch... the young ensign collapses unconscious.* Sara Austin: Come on! I want to show you something... *extends her hand* Kelly: That what I've always loved about you... non-violence... *following Sara* Where are we going? Sara Austin: You'll see... we're heading into town... and that's all I'll tell you... it's going to be a surprise... *The two of them walk towards the town and after a few minutes Colin starts waking up.* Sparks: *shaking the cobwebs out of his head* Damn... *taps his communicator* Captain.. whatever's going on... Lieutenant Kelly's been affected too... As strange as this sounds...she just left with her dead girlfriend... OFF: =/\= Lieutenant Jennifer "Jenn" Kelly =/\= Assistant Chief of Security USS Destiny

Amazing Recoveries ON: *Woods is sitting at her desk, looking at a virtually empty sickbay. Bennett, Allworth and Xavier left on the awayteams, and only Di Giero is working in the back, stocking the supplies. Woods accesses her computer and searches the medical database, trying to find an explanation of what is happening. When she's about halfway through with an article about hallucinations, a message beeps on her screen saying she has an incoming transmission from the surface. She frowns. Is this her turn? She wouldn't know who could send her a message. She never lost a parent, sibling or lover.. Feeling a bit uncomfortable she opens a channel. A woman with short, dark hair and brown eyes appears on her screen.* Woman: Hello, doctor. Woods: *surprised to see a face she doesn't know* Who are you? Woman: *dryly* You don't recognize me? I'm hurt. Woods: Should I? Woman: *Patiently* Let me refresh your memory. Your cadet cruise, first away mission. The victims of that shuttlecrash. You found me inside, bleeding like mad, and you didn't know what to do.... Woods: *suddenly remembering* I wanted to ask the CMO, but he was busy.. So I tried an emergency surgery on my own.. Woman: You made a mistake and I died under your hands. I was the first patient you ever lost. Woods: *softly* Lieutenant Lydia Maria Josephs, assistant engineering officer on the USS Courage. Josephs: *contently* So you didn't forget me? Woods: Of course not. I... *she falls silent* Josephs: *caringly* You what? Woods: I was devastated. I felt guilty, even though everyone told me it wasn't my fault. My teachers had one hell of a time trying to convince me not to drop out. I've been afraid to screw up ever since... I went to your funeral, it was nice, but I left early because I couldn't face your relatives.. I still dream about it, see your face everytime I operate in the field... Josephs: Well, you don't have to anymore. I'm not dead. Come down to the surface, we can talk, you'll see I'm alive and kicking... Woods: I can't, I can't leave sickbay. Almost my whole department is on the surface already. Josephs: Then join them. Activate the Emergency Medical Hologram or something. I'm sure a ship like yours has one. Woods: We do, but I can't. Josephs: You have to come down here, it'll put your mind at peace. No more guilt, doesn't that seem great? You can take your tricorder if you like, convince yourself that I'm alive.. Woods: *jumping up, screaming* You're dead! I was on your funeral! I scanned for lifesigns a hundred times, tried to revive you for hours. I actually cracked your chest the oldfashioned way trying to get your heart going! They had to physically remove me from your body... Josephs: If I'm dead, then how come I'm talking to you? Woods: I don't know, but I'll find out. I'm sorry, I can't do this. I held your heart in my hands. It wasn't beating. Your dead. Your dead! *Woods pushes the computer from her desk, breathing deeply. When she has herself under control again, she looks at her computer and sighs. Engineering would have to take a look at that. When she turns around, she sees Di Giero looking at her confusedly. Woods leaves her office and accesses a computer in sickbay. She waves for Di Giero to join her.* Woods: Davide, this is getting out of hand. We need to figure out what is going on and we need to figure it out now. Search the databases for any relevant articles... *A message starts flickering on the screen, saying there is an incoming transmission for Ensign Davide Di Giero. Woods sighs.* Too late... Stay sane, Davide, please.. *Di Giero doesn't say anything, and opens a channel.* OFF: Tag Di Giero! Woods, Di Giero and a broken computer in sickbay. =/\= Lt. Jordan Woods CMO USS Destiny

Venka's grandpa. ON: Venka:*As Venka finally gets everything off of her patient,she goes over to clean it up,then suddenly hears something* [Requesting permission to send message] Venka*Blinks as she wonders who would be sending her something and then walks over to it* "I accept transmission". [Transmission accepted] Venka:*A face suddenly appears on the screen that she hasnt seen for such a long time,and she backs up suddenly* "Grandpa?,but your dead how can this be?,this is not logical..no this cant be happening.." Sarek:*has that normal vulcan look,but smiles a little* "Granddaughter,its so good to see you after all these years,I see that you are working in the science department,just like your father Iam very proud"*He says as he glances around the room* Venka:No this is not right,you are not here. If you are someone controling him please tell me why your doing this? Sarek:*looks at her like she is crazy* "Being controled?,how can you talk to me like that,after all I have not seen you in so long,and I only knew you when you was a baby" Venka:Of course you havent seen me,you have been dead! Sarek:*raises his eyebrow* "My dear you are being very illogical,I only want to see how you are doing." Venka:*smiles slightly and wishes that she could really believe that he is really there and perhaps alive.Oh how much she wanted to believe,but she knew it wasnt so,and she quickly cuts the transmission* OFF: Ensign Venka. Science department. SBVDestiny.

Mutiny on the Destiny ON: [Planet Surface] *Bennett, Allworth and Xavier appear on the surface and all start looking around with tricorders scanning the area when a deep voice is heard behind Bennett* Cpt Matthew Bennett (NPC): Hello sweetheart. *smiles* Lt Ashley Bennett: *turns around quickly and jaw drops* Daddy? Is it really you? *tears well up in her eyes* *Allworth and Xavier have begun walking off in different directions* Cpt Matthew Bennett: Yes sweetheart. You look terrific Ash. *opens his arms to her* Youve really grown up. Lt. Ashley Bennett: But...but youre dead. *looks at him puzzled* You died over nine years ago. This can't be right. *looks around and blinks hard* Cpt Matthew Bennett: *shakes his head* Always the doubter...I raised you to be skeptical..to look at the world with a scientist's eyes. This time it just isnt needed...I'm as real as they come sweetheart. Lt Ashley Bennett: *fighting back tears desperatly..still staring at the man before her* It just cant be possible...youre dead. Cpt Matthew Bennett: Ashley...baby..it's daddy. *arms still open to her with a kind smile on his face...just the way she remembers him* Lt Ashley Bennett: *runs into his arms and hugs him tight* Daddy...why did you have to die?? Why? I needed a father then and still do. *tears run down her cheeks* Cpt Matthew Bennett: Shhh...its okay sweetheart. Does it really matter? Im here now and that's all that counts isnt it? *rubs her back and talks in a soothing voice* Youve done very well with yourself..Im proud of you. Lt Ashley Bennett: *pulls back and smiles* Yes.. I just made Lieutenant six months ago and was just assigned to the USS Destiny. *the two walk over to a bench by the lake and spend the next several hours just talking & "catching up" on things.* OFF: Lt(jg)Ashley Bennett Assistant Medical Officer USS Destiny

The Past Catches Up With You ON: Di Giero: Ive got to answer it, Chief. Woods: Very well, but be careful...*she steps back into her office and Davide takes the call. A man and woman appear on the screen, both about Davide's age. He is stunned and can hardly speak.* Davide:...i....Chris? Jenny? Chris: Hello Davide, I havent seen you for a while. Jenny: Hi Davey! Davide: But this can't be....you both died on the Aganemnon...I saw your bodies. Jenny: Dont believe all you see, Davey. Chris: You still can't admit to yourself what you did to us... Davide: Stop this Chris. It isnt fair. Chris: You told both of us you loved us....at the same time. And all the time the three of us carried on as friends. You just wanted to have your cake and eat it. Jenny: We both loved you, unique, on our own, but one could never be enough for you could it? Davide: *He is close to tears* Stop it! Both of you! Chris: Come down here to the planet and well sort this once and for all. *The screen goes empty like Davide's heart. He moves towards the door but Woods spots him* Woods: Davide, where are you going? Davide: I have to face up to my actions...I need to go down there. I must! OFF: TAG Woods! =^= Ensign J/G Davide Di Giero =^= Head Nurse, USS Destiny

Lockdown ON: [Destiny, Bridge] *Int he captains chari sits a young woman, staring out at nothingness while people desert the ship like rats from a burning building...on her first watch in the big chair. But somehow, this concerns her not...because what concerns her most is the woman on the planet below...* Liri: *taking a few deep breaths* I have command. I have command. I am not going to leave. *At that moment, drawn by another infernal message from the planet below, her last bridge crew member gets up and walks out.* Liri: *softly* I have comma...That's it! *She moves quickly, locking out all communications from the surface except those from members of her own crew. The individual frequencies of their comm badges were in the ship's computer, noramlly to be used to locate them...now, she would use that list to filter her comm system!* OFF: Tag to anyone...How resourcful are these Iowans....? Can they figure out a way aroudn thsi one...?

The Lay of the Land ON: *Upon reaching the surface of the planet, Lane scans the horizon. Seeing the myriad crew members with determined looks being led off in various directions momentarily brings him back to his senses. * Allworth: *thinking* (So very strange. This is so very strange. I wonder if.) *But emotion overcomes rationality once again as he remembers his conversation with his father.* Allworth: (Doesn't matter. I must find Dad. Now where would he be?) *Allworth sees the tall buildings of the city in the distance, and right away knows that's where his father will be. James Allworth is surely in the slums of that city, trying in vain to keep the streets safe for the people. Or else he'll be in some downtown bar, feeding the habit that led to his death in the first place.* *Allworth notices the throngs of his colleagues multiplying by the minute, and wonders how everyone will find the people they came here to find.* Allworth: Anybody else going down town? OFF: =/\= Ensign Lane Allworth MED, USS Destiny

Reunited ON: [Iowa, a park in the colony] *Xavier (NPC) is walking down a park with an arm around the shoulder of his little sister, Joa. They chatting and laughing and having a wonderfull time, when they spot Bennett and an older man sitting on a bench.* Xavier: Hello Lieutenant, may introduce my sister Joa to you? Bennett: Of course..*shakes her hand* Nice to meet you. This is my father Captain Matthew Bennett. *introduces him* Cpt Bennett: Nice to meet you both. *smiles* Joa (NPC): Nice to meet you Sir, I mean Captain. Cpt Bennett: At ease Miss...*laughs and smiles at her* So, you work with my little girl. *looking at Xavier* Bennett: Daddy! *stunned look on her face* Its not like we go out or anything..hes a co-worker. Xavier: Yes Sir, I do. And she's an excellent collegue. Bennett: Thanks *smiles at Xavier and looks back at her father, poking him with her elbow and laughing..whispers* Thanks a lot daddy. *Xavier grins and smiles sweetly to Bennett, letting her know he's gonna tease her with that.* Cpt Bennett: Youre too modest my dear... *hugs her and looks at him* Is she involved with anyone? Bennett: *Eyeballs Xavier* Dont even think about it Xavier. Xavier: *tries not to laugh* Why don't you ask her yourself, sir? Bennett: *continues eyeing Xavier* No Im not...yet anyway. No one has really noticed me yet. *looks back at her father* Cpt Bennett: I find that hard to believe my dear...youre a very attractive young woman. Im proud to see how well youve turned out. Bennett: *blushes a bit and turns to look at her father..whispering* I'm gonna get you for doing that daddy. Cpt Bennett: *smiles* Why? He's a very nice young man... Xavier: *grinning at Bennett* Don't you just love parents? Bennett: *looks at him* Oh yeah..just a joy. Xavier: My sister here used to be such a tease aswell... Joa: Used to be? *Xavier suddenly releases the unusual circumstances and shifts uncomfortably* Bennett: Still trying to set me up Daddy? *realizes it too and backs away from all of them...looks nervous* Xavier: *looks at Joa and Captain Bennett, then let's his eyes rest on Bennett* It's too weird... *Bennett shakes... turns and runs off, not sure what to make of all this* Xavier: *looks at Joa and captain Bennett* Wait a minute, I'll be right back. *Xavier follows Bennett, who's running of to no apparent direction. Thanks to his athletic nature, he catches up with her fast.* Xavier: Ashley, wait! Bennett: This isnt real...it cant be real. *shaking and in tears* He....he died...this cant be real. *drops to her knees* Xavier: *sits down besides her in the grass* I know.. it can't be, but yet it is. Bennett: *in tears and still shaking* It cant be real! It just cant.. *gets up and turns to run again* Xavier: *jumps up, runs after her again and grabs her by the shoulder, stopping her* Running away is not going to fix this, Ashley. Bennett: Let go of me...*wiggles loose and backs up* He's dead...He's dead! *continues backing up* *crying* Xavier: *speaking softly, trying to calm Bennett* Ashley, I know they can't be here, yet they are. And they seem real... I don't know how it's possible, but I do know I never felt as wonderfull as when I closed Joa in my arms again a few hours ago... Bennett: My father died over 9 years ago..I had finally gotten over loosing him so suddenly and wham...hes suddenly alive again. I just dont get it...*looks at him confused* Xavier: *quietly* I know... but the fact is that he's here.. And he's probably the only one who can help us here.. Bennett: How can HE help us? I dont understand...*looks at him still shaking* Xavier: I'm not sure if he can...but there MUST be an explanation for this.. Bennett: I dont see how this is all possible...It looks like earth, smells like earth..even my father seems real, but it cant be...*starts to cry* Im a doctor, not a scientist! *shaking again* Xavier: *hugs her* I know... But they're here, and they seem real enough... why don't we just enjoy their company for a while? Bennett: *looks at him confused* Do you...have feelings for me? *backs up a bit* Xavier: *lets her go* No, no of course not. Your my superior officer. I'm originally from South-America, in my culture it's very normal to hug or hold people, telling them you care by a touch. I'm sorry. Bennett: *backs up and looks away...starting to walk away back to her father* I...I see. Xavier: It didn't mean anything, really. But I guess we should go back to them. Bennett: *already walking away..not saying anything* *Xavier sighs and follows her, silently cursing his culture. When he enrolled in the academy he quickly learned how to behave like the others, but moments like these often made him fall back into old habits. It probably had something to do with the sudden return of Joa. He was surprised by how big a deal Bennett made of it though. Not wanting to think about that right now, he decided to blame it on her emotions. Meeting your dead father must be hard...* Bennett: *turning to him* Look, Im sorry if I got the wrong impression, lets just forget I said anything about it okay? *She walks over back by her father.* *Xavier just nods and flops down next to his sister* Cpt Bennett: Are you alright sweetheart? *looks at her concerned* Bennett: Fine Daddy... *looks at him* Tell me..how is this all possible? You died over 9 yrs ago. *looks over at Joa* Cpt Bennett: I dont know what you mean sweetheart? Im your father...*looks at her confused by her question* Bennett: But youre dead daddy...I was at the funeral. *tears roll down her cheeks yet she hugs him* Why daddy? Why did you have to leave me? Cpt Bennett: *hugs her back* Shhh...its okay. Im here now. Xavier: *gets up* Come on Joa, let's give them some privacy to talk. I'll see you later, lieutenant, and it's been an honour, captain. Bennett: *doesnt say anything..still hugging her father* Cpt Bennett: *nods* Of course lieutenant. Xavier: *puts his arm around his sister* How about we get something to eat? Joa: *nods enthousiastically, glad to be alone with her big brother again* I know a great place. Cpt Bennett: *gets up and pulls his daughter up aswell. He lifts her chin with his hand* Come on...I seem to recall you having a love for pizza. Lets go get some okay? I remember the place too. *takes her hand and they walk past Joa and Xavier* Bennett: *manages a half smile* Okay.. Xavier: *watching them take off in another direction, mumbles* This better be real, or else Clements will have a lot of work on his after this... Joa: What did you say? Xavier: *smiling at her* Nothing. Hey, I'll race you! *He starts running, and a giggling Joa follows him.* OFF: Abel and Joa Xavier (NPC's) and Bennett and Captain Bennett (NPC) on the planet. Lt. J/G Ashley Bennett AMO USS Desiny & Lt. Jordan Woods CMO USS Destiny as NPC's Abel and Joa Xavier

Reunion ON: [Grassy Meadow, Iowa] *Weston and Smith are pondering what is going on, strolling through the meadow.* Weston: I don't get this...its unreal! Smith: Exactly...what are the odds that all of us receive messages from acquaitences?! Weston: Yes, I- Miguel: Well, there Marcus, I see you cheated your way into command! *Weston, shocked to see Miguel Gonzalez, a person that was a source of torment for Weston in his Academy days. They NEVER got along.* Weston: What the...? Miguel: Didn't expect to find me here, did ya? Well, I'm here now, and I must say, I've missed the opportunity to deck you for years now. Up for a round? *Miguel walks over and punches the shocked Weston. Weston stumbles...* Weston: *mutters:* That does it... *Weston stands up, throws out a sweeping kick that strikes Miguel just below the calf, bringing him to his knees. He follows this up with a kick to the back, knocking Miguel on his face. Miguel gets up quickly and throws a punch, but never being one with much skill in self-defense, Weston deflects it deftly, steps forward and and elbows him on the temple. Miguel falls to the ground, stunned.* Smith: Okay, Marcus, thats enough...remember, this isn't the real Miguel... Miguel: *brings himself slowly to his feet* I'm just getting warmed up! Weston: Well, he sure seems to be...he's still the same arrogant- *Miguel charges him, but Weston steps to the side and brings his hand in an arc right into Miguel's larynx, smashing him to the ground. Miguel tries to stand up, but Weston puts him out cold with a swift kick to the temple.* Weston: *to Smith* Sorry, old Academy self-defense training kicking in... Hey, I have an idea...Do you have a tricorder on you? Smith: Me? Hell, all I have is weapons. *chuckles* Weston: Let's see...Okay, I've got one...*scans Miguel* Hmm...I'm not reading any life-signs, or any signs of him being a hologram, but the punch hurt. *rubs his jaw* Smith: This is strange...Let's go find the Captain... OFF: =/\= Lt. Cmdr. Marcus Weston =/\= Operations Officer USS Destiny

Reunion ON: [Destiny, Lounge] *Jacal Quag had heard every other lady he had spoken to talking about going down to the surface to meet some long lost loved one after having received some ambiguous communication. As far as he figured, why go down to the surface to meet a dead person when they he was right here in the flesh. Noticing that the female population was quickly diminishing on the ship and not wanting to be left out of the action Jacal decides to transport himself down to the surface of Iowa.* Jacal (to himself): I'd better bring along a few gadgets from engineering to at least maintain the perception of professionalism since I haven't received any communication from the surface. OFF: Jacal is in the transporter room readying to beam to the surface with a few crates from engineering. =/\= Ensign J/G Jacal Quag Engineering, USS Destiny

Road Goes on Forever... ON: [Iowa, Suburbs] *Jacal Quag shimmers to life on the Iowa surface, just as Lane is looking for traveling companions. Quag gets his bearings in this (almost overly) provincial, suburbian venue. Seeing a face he recognizes, he walks up to Allworth.* Allworth: Going downtown? *Quag shrugs.* Quag: Why not? How are we going to get there? Allworth: Right over there. *Allworth gestures in the direction of a top-down 1971 Mustang convertible, which seems to have appeared out of nowhere behind Quag. They walk over and take a closer look.* Quag: Keys? Allworth: In. Quag: That's convenient. Allworth: Yeah, mighty convenient. That's the way things go here. Quag: Internal combustion engine. Are you sure it's safe? Allworth: Well, I drive these sometimes on the holodeck. *looks around at how contrived this entire planet is.* I have a feeling we'll be all right. Besides, chicks dig it. *This, naturally, sparks something with Jacal.* Quag: Help me with my stuff. *They begin to place boxes into the trunk.* Allworth: What's in here? Quag: Just some things that might come in handy later. *Upon finishing, they sink down into the leather bucket seats, elbows resting on the windowless sides. Sunglasses are, a little too coincidentally, tucked behind the sun visors. Allworth turns the key and the engine comes to a roar.* Quag: Does anything strike you as unnatural about this place? Allworth: Part of me wants to know if this is really real, you know? This might really be heaven after all, and then this is the greatest thing to ever happen to us. The other part of me says "so what?" So what if this is all totally fake. Who cares? If people come here and they are happy what does it matter if it is all part of their imagination? Either way, I've got to find my father, and I think he must be down town. *Allworth pulls away and the wind begins to ripple through their hair. Driving nice and slow through the neighborhood gives Allworth time to notice two women from the medical department in blue uniforms. He pulls the car up gently beside them and tilts his sunglasses down on his nose.* Allworth: Allison Wagner, so nice to see you. Need a lift? Wagner (NPC junior counselor): Lane, I'm so glad you're here. My daddy called me from his office in one of those buildings, and I- Allworth: Get in, you can tell us all about it on the way. *The two ladies climb in the back and tie their hair down. Lane starts off again, headed towards the highway that will lead them into the heart of the city.* OFF: Allworth, Quag, Wagner (NPC), and one additional, undoubtedly beautiful NPC yet to be named in a car headed for downtown Iowa. =/\= Ensign Lane Allworth MED, USS Destiny

Your Mother's on the Phone ON: [Clear Lake, Iowa - Town Square] Skimmel: Don't be rude, Mr. Edwards. Shake her hand. Edwards: What are you talking about? Skimmel: This is no time for your games. She is my wife, at least you could show her some respect. Edwards: I am unable to understand what you mean. There's nobody else here. Skimmel: What do you mean there's nobody else here? My wife is standing directly in front of you. Mr. Hobbes and I both see her. * He wrinkles his forehead to consider his chief of security. * Tell me what you do see. Edwards: We are in the middle of meadow surrounded by indigenous forests. I would not have characterized the trees as Elms and Oaks but I lack sufficient information to dispute that conclusion. Hobbes: * Quickly scanning the surroundings again. Apparently satisfied, he clicks the instrument shut.* You don't see the buildings? Edwards: There are no artificial structures here. Skimmel: What about the lake? Surely you see the lake. Edwards: I see a swampy area in that general direction. Gretchen: David, dear. May I make a suggestion? Skimmel: Of course. Gretchen: You've always been much better with mechanical things than I have. Perhaps your mechanical friend is... what is the word? Malfunctioning? Skimmel: That is probably it. Mr. Edwards. Have you completed those diagnostics I requested you to run after the Skandians left. Edwards: No sir. I have only completed 95% of the basic diagnostics and 73% of the advanced diagnostics. Skimmel: Then there you have it. Additional evidence of a malfunction. And I must confess that I am deeply concerned if your sensory systems are involved. Hobbes: I'm not so sure, sir. Skimmel: You don't see the city either? Hobbes: I see everything you see. At least I believe I do. I see the buildings. The lake. Your wife. Skimmel: Then what is your objection? Hobbes: I see it but it is still impossible. These can't be Oak and Elm trees. The music I hear. That can't be Beethoven. This woman can't be your wife. Skimmel: It is not that it is impossible so much as that you can't believe it is possible. Hobbes: That is true. Skimmel: If there is one thing you should have learned by now, Mr. Hobbes, is that almost nothing is actually impossible. Mr. Edwards. Complete your diagnostics. Let me know the results. If repairs are necessary, we will schedule them immediately. Edwards: Yes, Captain. Skimmel: In the mean time, I am going to investigate further. Mr. Hobbes. Are you coming? Gretchen: I have some fresh chocolate chip cookies. If they taste half as good as they smell then they turned out exceptionally well. * Hobbes, Skimmel and Gretchen enter the white frame house at the corner of the town square. Edwards stands motionless as he runs his diagnostics. * [Dining Room of the Skimmel" house Planet Iowa] * Hobbes and Skimmel at their places at the dining table. Hobbes leans forward across the elegant antique china and the lace tablecloth. Skimmel is leaning back in the solid wooden arm chair with a contented look on his face. * Hobbes: Captain. Skimmel: Mr. Hobbes. Nicholas. We are off duty. We're sitting at the dining room table in my home. There are no junior officers or enlisted men here. You can call be David. Gretchen Skimmel: Nicholas Hobbes. Hobbes. * She enters the room carrying a plate of brownies and chocolate chip cookies, three glasses of milk and three cups of hot tea. She smiles at Hobbes with her most maternal smile as she sits. * Seems to me that I know your mother. You are from Mars, aren't you? Hobbes: Yes, ma'am. Gretchen: And you have an older sister... Jasmine is her name, isn't it? She went into Starfleet too, didn't she? Hobbes: Yes, Ma'am. That's all true. Gretchen: Then I'm certain I know your family. Hobbes: Captain. This can not be your wife. Skimmel: Nicholas. I've been married to this woman for more than thirty years. If there's one person in the galaxy I know it is Gretchen Skimmel. Hobbes: You were married to her ... you were married to Gretchen Skimmel for thirty years. And then she died and you were alone for four years. Your wife is dead and this... woman is clearly alive. Gretchen: You know, Nicholas, that is one thing none of us truly understands. What happens to us after we die? Hobbes: Are you saying this is Heaven? Skimmel: Looks like a pretty fair definition to me, Nicholas. * He leans across and gives her hand a gentle squeeze. * Gretchen: Heavens no. Oh. * blushing * Excuse the pun. No. This isn't heaven. This is Iowa. Hobbes: How do you know that? Gretchen: All I know is that I was in the hospital in great pain and the next thing I know I am here. Heaven? I prefer to think of it as just a second chance. A miracle if you will though I know you science officer types don't like the idea of miracles. Would you prefer a piece of apple pie? I have some fresh from the oven. Hobbes: You'll excuse me if I have my doubts. Apples for example. Gretchen: Doubts are perfectly normal, Nicholas. I know. I'll give your mother a call and she can come over here and explain it to you herself. Hobbes: My mother? Gretchen: You just hold on now and I'll get her on the phone. * She rises to go back into the kitchen. Hobbes and Skimmel can overhear her 'dialing' the phone. * Skimmel: Nicholas. If this isn't Gretchen, then how could she know all these things? Hobbes: I don't know, sir. David. Gretchen: Hello. Betsy? Skimmel: Your mother's name is Betsy? Hobbes: Elizabeth actually. No one but my father ever called her Betsy. And * looking a bit sheepish * a few close friends. Gretchen: Yes. Yes. Right here with my David. Well I'm sure I don't know why he hasn't called you himself. Skimmel: How could she know that? * Skimmel smiles with the corner of his mouth. * Hobbes: I don't know. Perhaps they scanned our databases somehow. Gretchen: All right then. Just a second. * She leans back through the door. * Nicholas. She doesn't believe its really you. Something that runs in the family I suppose. Anyway, she insists on talking to you before she comes over. * Hobbes rises and takes the offered telephone. He hasn't seen a communications device like this one outside of a museum and he awkwardly puts it up to his ear. * Hobbes: Hello? Skimmel: I don't think we'll be needing to make up the guestroom after all. Gretchen: I would be really surprised if we did. Hobbes: * He looks as though what little color there is has washed out of him. * No one ever calls me that. What is your maiden name? * A moment of silence and he gets paler still. * Very well. I'll tell her. Gretchen: What did she say? Hobbes: My mother says to tell you she'll be right over. OFF: =/\= Captain David Skimmel =/\= Commanding Officer, USS Destiny

Departure ON: [Iowa] *Weston and Smith are strolling through the hills when they receive a comminique from the ship.* Stockton (NPC): Destiny to Commander Weston. Weston: Weston here. What's up? Stockton: Sir, there's an incoming message from Starfleet Operations for you and Lt. Smith. Weston: Very well, beam us up. [Destiny, Bridge] Weston: Okay, let's see it... *Admiral Johnson, Head of Starfleet Operations, appears on the screen.* Johnson (NPC): //Greetings, Commander, Lieutenant. It is my duty to inform you the two of you have been transfered to Starfleet Headquarters, Earth. Here at HQ we've heard of your prowess and knowledge of weapons, and we'd like you to come design military armaments at R&D.// Smith: Aye, sir. It would be our pleasure. Johnson: //Very good, pack your bags, the USS Bismarck is en route to the Destiny's position. Johnson out.// Smith: *to Weston* Hey I have an idea...We could call it...Smith & Weston... Weston: Sounds good to me... OFF: =/\= Lt. Cmdr. Marcus Weston =/\= Operations Officer USS Destiny

Breaking the Silence ON: [Ensign Ukas' quarters] *Ensign Inik Ukas (NPC) has been off duty for the past 3 hours. He wanted to spend time alone. No one exactly knew what he was planning. He has been muttering to himself while working on some sort of electronic device* Ukas(NPC): Liri. Damn her. Who does she think she is to invade our personal business. How'd she like it if she hadn't seen her father in 10 years, and she finally got a chance to see him again. *Enter Lt. Commander Kaas* Kaas(NPC): Ensign, is the device ready? Ukas: Yes. I just finished testing it. It's ready to go. *The device is about the size of a PADD. It's small enough to be concealed, and allows the ship to make covert transmissions to the surface* OFF: Liri; When there's a will, there's a way. Lt. Commander Edwards COS USS Destiny =/\=

Lonely At The Top...? ON: [Destiny, Bridge] *Liri is alone on the bridge. The ship's complement of snetient life- forms is now less than 200. And she has a sinking feeling that whatever effect her measure might have had if she had but instituted it earlier, it was far too late...* Liri: *knowing that no one else is on the bridge, she lowers her head into her hands, and cries* I...failed...didn't act soon enough...maybe I'll just never...be a good commander... OFF: Liri, in temporary command of a "sinking ship", trying (and failing) not to sink with it. =/\= Lt. Cmdr. Kyja Liri CTO USS Destiny

Reality is relative... ON: [Sitting on by the lake on the planet] Kelly: This is amazing... I never thought I would be watching the sunset with you again... Sara Austin: Like you said when they kicked you out of medicine, "Never say never..." Kelly: *grins* God... I love you. Sara Austin: Why don't you stay here? On this planet? We can be together again. Kelly: What? And leave my life on the Destiny... Starfleet? Sara Austin: You can leave the USS Destiny for a different kind of destiny... Kelly: *chuckles* You're serious? Sara Austin: Yeah... why not? This is a beautiful planet... you'll have everything you need... and *sitting closer to Jenn* everything you ever wanted. Kelly: Whoa... hold on... I can't just resign my commission. You know how much Starfleet means to me... Although, I have to admit... that is a very tempting offer... Sara Austin: Tempting? Anything I can do to make it MORE tempting? *stroking Jenn's hair* Kelly: *gently moving Sara's hand away* Look... this is a lot for me to handle right now... We came here to investigate the disappearance of a ship's crew. I volunteered for this mission because my skills as a security officer with medical training might come in handy. Never... did I at any point think that I would find you here... alive. And now... here you are, trying to convince me to leave Starfleet to stay here. I'm not sure I can deal with all that now. I need time to consider the implications... Sara Austin: You're just like the Jenn Kelly I remembered... *smiles* Duty above all else... You haven't changed a bit. But whatever happened to the carefree young cadet who leaped before she looked? Did what her gut instincts told her to and worried about consequences later... What do your instincts tell you? Kelly: That carefree young cadet grew up... your death changed all of that... But... you're not dead... you're alive... and talking to me like we were just roommates at the Academy yesterday. Like the past few years never happened... Sara Austin: You didn't answer the quesiton... what are your instincts telling you? Kelly: A part of me knows that I should go back to the Destiny... That I should tap this communicator and reestablish contact... Sara Austin: What about the other part? Kelly: *softly* It's telling me to stay... here... with you... OFF: Tag to anyone who wants to slap some sense into Jenn... :-D =/\= Lieutenant Jennifer "Jenn" Kelly =/\= Assistant Chief of Security USS Destiny

Meanwhile ON: [Engineering - Ganymede] * It is silent as death as Donnelly, Michaels and Kerak appear on the engineering section of the science ship. The only light comes from their handheld units. The beams glisten off the surfaces. Everything is covered with a frosting of frozen gases. * Donnelly: The temperature must be between -80 and -180. See if those panels have power. Michaels: We're not sloshing around in it. Kerak: I do not understand. * He turns slowly examining his tricorder as he goes. * Michaels: The Carbon Dioxide has frozen out of the atmosphere but we aren't cold enough to condense out the Oxygen. * She floats over to the control console. She catches hold of the edge of the console and presses a button. There is a weak surge of light behind the panel. * We must have some power left. Kerak: No gravity. Bitter cold. There can be no threat here. Donnelly: Never been to Bolus XII I see. Kerak: No. Donnelly: Cold is not really an obstacle to some creatures. Try it again, Lee. Michaels: I tend to agree with Kerak. This isn't a planet surface. This was originally designed for humanoids. Still nothing. Try the panel B. Donnelly: This predates Panel B's. * Suddenly the consoles are fully lit. * Well that's a start. Kerak: Be still. I saw something move. Donnelly: What did you see? Kerak: One moment. * He pushes off the floor and floats to the upper level, weapon at the ready. He grabs the railing with one hand and slowly rotates head over heels. * Michaels: Well? Kerak: They did not all abandon the ship. OFF: Short just to remind everyone there is another ship here. Tag to either Kerak or Donnelly. ==/\== Lt. Lee Michaels AEO, USS Destiny

Re: Sirens/Lockdown ON: After seeing that most of the crew has beamed to the palnet he asks Kerak: Computer how many crew members are left on board. Computer: 140. Kerak: Of a crew of 600 thats barely a skeleton crew. realizing the danger and remembering the message he recieved, he decides to go to the bridge because these Ioawans seam to good to be true. Kerak: *Tpas comm badge* Kerak To Donnelly. No answer. Kerak: Well there goes the away mission to the ganymede. Or maybe not.* He rushes off to the bridge* Kerak: *The turbolift door opens* Ensign Kerak reporting for duty. As he looks around he sees only one person. And shers in the captains chair. Very unusual for a Soverign class ship. Liri: Ohh you starled me i thought everyone had beamed down to the planet. Kerak: Well almost not quite there are 140 able bodies left on the ship.I take it you have recieved a message from the planet below too. Liri: Yes I guess everyone has. Kerak: Well if I may be so bold I think we should get any one with bridge deck training up here right now just so we can at least attempt to figure out who or what these creatures are. For all i know is there is no way that my uncle is down on that planet and i doubt anyone's loved one is real. But if they aren't who they say they are then what are they. Liri: Yes Mr. Kerak what are they indeed. Kerak: Well ma'am i have an other proposal. Ma'am permission to take an away team to the Ganymede to see if there's anything over there that may help us. Also if, heaven forbid the iowans don't want to give our crew back having to ships is better than one. Liri; True but why should you lead the away team. Kerak: Because respectively ma'am aside from you I'm the only one left aboard who has command and leaderships experience. And your spot is here so that leaves me as the reasonable choice. Plus if there is danger on the Ganymede the senior officer of a ship should not be in the middle of it. All i need is a power stabilizer a tricorder and a small 2 or 3 man engineering team. And it would be good to go now while we still have 3 engineers onboard. So what do you say ma'am can you trust and old veteran like me? OFF: Ensign Kerak Tac Specialist Former C/o of IKC Ga'magh

Meanwhile ON: Kerak:Well they didn't all abandon ship. Michaels: Why what is it. Kerak: Well... it's alot of dead bodies, sir, to be blunt about it. Donnelly:*As he floats over to Kerak. And he sees on the very up deck of engineering about 2 dozen dead half frozen crew members.* Well isn't this just fricking great. Kerak: Looks like we got a whole new mystery on our hands. 'Donnelly: Aye laddy that it does. Kerak:*To Micheals* Permission to go to the bridge and try to restore some main power ,and possibly get some personal logs downloaded, maybe that will tell just what in 'bagagh' is going on up here, and maybe down on the surface aswell. Michaels: Permission granted, Ensign what your back we don't know whats going on yet. Kerak: Aye sir. Could you star of down here by trying to get turbolift controls back up and running. Donnelly: Why to old to use the jefferies tubes. Kerak: No just to lazy. Donnelly: Ahh i see. Well lets see what we can do here.* Tapping the auxilary consoles, as a sounds like a generators coming to life.* Thats it. We have minimal power and turbolift control and thats about it. Until we got some one on the bridge thats all we can do here. Kerak: Well i'll hurry then ma'am.* He walks out the door * OFF: Keraks an independant guy too. If yall hadn't noticed. Tag to Micheals and Donnelly. Ensign Kerak Tac Spec USS Destiny

ON *Sparks gets up, shaking his head a bit, but he realizes he doesn't need to. It's doing fine all on its own. He sees some people going toward the town, and he figures to find Cdr.Edwards there so as to turn himself in. He heads in that general direction. How could he have taken a life purely out of anger?* Sparks: It doesn't make any freakin' sense!*he yells at himself. Not just about the killing, but about this whole place. These people should not be here.* OFF Ensign Sparks, Colin M. S/O USS Destiny (Human) =/\=

The Road Goes on Forever...cont'd ON: [Iowa, highway towards the city] *Lane Allworth, Jacal Quag, Allison Wagner(NPC) and Morgan Dekker(NPC) riding in yellow, top-down 1971 Mustang convertible from the suburbs towards the city.] Quag(in his Antonio Banderas accent): I am sorry, but I have not had the pleasure of meeting you on board. Lane should have told me that there were ladies like you in the medical department. I am Jacal Quag from Engineering. Wagner: I'm Allison Wagner. I've known Lane since the Academy. And this is my friend and partner in crime... Dekker: Morgan Dekker. Nice to meet you Jacal. So, what's your story? How did you both end up here? Who's calling you from the grave? Allworth: I got a message from my father. I want to say some things to him that I never got to say while he was alive. Now that I've had some time to think about it - not everything I say is going to be nice. How about you Allison? Wagner: Similar thing for me. I received a message from my father. He was always a workaholic. He basically worked himself to death and I never really got to know him. Dekker: I got a message from my grandmother. And even though I was at peace with her death, this seems like a unique opportunity for me to connect with her again. She raised me more than my parents did. How about you Quag? *Jacal sits silently for a moment and ponders what he should tell the others. He received no communication from the planet. Uncomfortable, Quag fabricates a story about his grandfather, Don Mateo Alejandro y Noriega (who is still alive).* OFF: The group is nearing the city as Quag finishes his story. =/\= Ensign J/G Jacal Quag USS Destiny, Engineering

Party Time Is Over OFF: For those of you new to the format, we use the tilde ~ to indicate thoughts. Such as Jones: What do you think of my new hat? Vapp: ~ It makes him look like a complete idiot. ~ Very nice. Very nice indeed. This posting has a lot of internal monologue so you'll see a lot of tildes here. ON: [Skimmel Home Iowa] * Skimmel lays still and silent and listens to his wife's soft snore. It is almost more a purr than a snore and it is one of the old familiar sounds and smells. The ambiance washes over him like a comforting wave. He could allow himself to sink forever in this. The lost dream regained. Ten thousand little things lost forever suddenly found again. She shifts her weight. The moonlight pouring in through the window gives her face a dimly blue tinge. It gives her an oddly alien look. He closes his eyes and rearranges the covers that had bunched up. * ~ I should be sublimely happy but somehow, something isn't quite right. Worse. Something is wrong. What was it, Hobbes said? She looks, smells, tastes and even feels like Gretchen. She makes love like Gretchen. But she can't be Gretchen. It is impossible. That's what he kept saying. Hmph. That just goes to show what Hobbes knows. In an infinite universe, if something isn't impossible it must happen. ~ ~ But is it an infinite universe? If stars are distributed evenly throughout the universe and the universe is infinite then the night sky must be white because there are ever increasing numbers of stars the further from the observer you go. ~ * Skimmel shakes his head. He'd gone around that argument a million times in college and it never lead anywhere. * Skimmel: Just because it isn't impossible doesn't mean it's the most likely explanation. * Gretchen stirs and makes a slight mumbling sound. He watches her for a few minutes and then settles back again. * ~ And Edwards can't see them at all. Good man, Edwards. Or thing. Or whatever. Which is more likely? That Edwards can't see something that is there or that he and Hobbes are seeing something that isn't there? Edwards is mechanical so his vision should be unbiased. If he can see one thing that is there then he should see another similar thing that is also there. And yet he couldn't see Gretchen. Something is wrong with the processing the ocular input. One way or the other. If it is all in my head, how could Hobbes and I be seeing the same thing? How could everyone be seeing the same thing? Those four officers in the antique automobile. How could that have possibly gotten here? Ganymede may have brought seeds but they certainly didn't bring antiques. ~ ~ All right. Assume that Edwards is right and everyone else is wrong. Then something is doing it. That something could be natural- a gas or perhaps some bacteria. The humanoids might be susceptible but Edwards immune. Everything everyone is seeing could be an illusion perfect in every detail because it is setting up feedback loops drawing from our memories. But then why would Hobbes and I both see the same things? No wait. I saw Gretchen while I was still on Destiny and no gas or infection could cause that. Stupid line of reasoning. ~ ~ But suppose someone were causing it. The Iowans. Suppose they're telepaths who can read our deepest thoughts and project illusions into our minds. Like the inhabitants of Talos IV. The Iowans? The Iowans are barely sentient. The previous expedition found that... No. The original expedition found that. The one that was made up entirely of robots. Robots like Edwards. Robots who couldn't see the illusions or had no memories to draw the illusions from. The previous expedition was Ganymede and they abandoned their ship. Probably because they were confronted with the people they most wanted to see.~ ~ Why do that? ~ * Suddenly an explanation comes to mind and Skimmel shudders at the thought. * ~ How would a telepathic race deal with a technologically superior race? If they feared an attack, how would they deal with it? Negate their strength. First separate them from their technology. Get them to abandon their strongest aspect. Isolate them from each other? Divide and conquer. As ancient a stratagem as any. And what better way to draw us away from our ship than with promises of what we most want? A man doesn't ask too many questions when his mother suddenly comes back to life. Or his wife. Build a city out of illusion that is familiar and comfortable and fill it with people we most want to see. Fill it with people drawn from our memories, perfect in every detail because the telepaths know every what we know.~ ~ And then what? Wait until we're sleeping, completely vulnerable and kill us? That might be a reasonable action on their part. Keep us safely isolated from each other? Who knows? ~ ~ What would they do about the handful who refused? Kyja Liri was on the bridge when I left. She would not abandon the ship regardless of what was offered. Would she? Would the Iowans create an illusion that persuade her to steer the ship into the atmosphere? Perhaps. Perhaps it would be easier. Persuade them that the ship was boarded by Romulans and get them to shoot each other. Everyone is in great danger. Everyone on Destiny. Everyone on the planet. ~ * Skimmel eases himself out of bed and moves silently to the other room, pausing only long enough to pick up his uniform. * Skimmel: * Tapping his communicator * Skimmel to Destiny. * He waits but there is no response. He frowns. Perhaps they had decided to ignore all communications from the surface. He taps the communicator. * Skimmel to Liri. Liri: + Liri here. Is that really you, Captain? + Skimmel: Excellent question. Just how do we prove that we're really who we say we are? Gretchen: David? What are you doing? Skimmel: * He turns and sees his wife... or what appears to be his wife standing in the doorway to their bedroom. * Just checking on my ship, dear. Gretchen: You don't need to check on your ship. * There is something in the voice that chills him. * Come back to bed. Skimmel: I'll be there in a minute. Gretchen: One minute. * She turns and disappears into the darkness. * Skimmel: * Softly * Liri. You're in great danger. We all are. Liri: + How do I know this isn't some new kind of trick? + Skimmel: I don't know but it is essential that we come up with something. OFF: Tag Liri. =/\= Captain David Skimmel =/\= Commanding Officer, USS Destiny

Too Good To Be True... ON: [On the planet, lying on a grassy hill] Kelly: If things are too good to be true... They usually are... how can I know that this is all real. That you're real? How do I know that I haven't just given up my career in Starfleet for some illusion? Sara Austin: Is that all you think this is? An illusion? The time we just spent together... talking and... Kelly: It felt SO real... Sara Austin: Because this IS real. You've always been fighting demons... fighting them for so long, you don't realize that battle is over... You've earned this... Kelly: *sigh* I guess you're right... you're always right... Sara Austin: And that's why you love me... *Jenn's communicator chirps and she answers it without thinking* Kelly: Kelly here. Edwards: +Lieutenant, what is your present location?+ Sara Austin: *whispers* You don't have to answer to him anymore... Kelly: Why do you want to know? Edwards: +I have reason to believe that this crew is being tricked into staying on this planet by illusions.+ Kelly: *glancing over to Sara* What kind of illusions? Edwards: + I do not know. But the Captain has been affected by a vision of his dead wife.+ Kelly: Do you have any proof? Anything? Edwards: +Not at this time.+ Kelly: Sir... until you can tell me beyond a reasonable doubt that this planet is doing something bad to us, then come a find me. Because it's been along time since I've been this happy. Kelly out. OFF: Tag to Edwards. =/\= Lieutenant Jennifer "Jenn" Kelly =/\= Assistant Chief of Security USS Destiny

Party Time Is Over ON: [Bennett Home, Iowa] Lt Bennett: *gets up from her bed and wanders outside to the porch to look around* This cant be real...its impossible. Cpt Bennett: *standing in the doorway to the porch* What's impossible sweetheart? Lt Bennett: You, this house..*looks at him puzzled* And whats mom doing here?? Did she die too? *just then another figure comes out of the darkness of the room and Ashley's eyes widen* Lt Bennett: Josh? Is that really you? *runs over and hugs him, forgetting what she was saying a few moments ago* Joshua Moore (NPC): What's the matter with you? You act like you've seen a ghost. *hugs her back* Lt Bennett: *pulls away and looks at him* You....you died four years ago...in a shuttle crash. I was there...I saw your lifeless body. Joshua Moore: Cant you see? Im not dead...Im right here in front of you. *pulls her close again and kisses her forehead* Lt Bennett: *knows something isnt right here but cant seem to bring herself to pull away...settles into his embrace* I....Ive missed you Josh. Joshua Moore: Shhh...its alright. *holds her tight as she lays her head on his shoulder* Cpt Bennett: *smiles and goes back inside to give the couple some time to themselves* OFF: anyone whos wondering, Joshua was Ashley's fiancee..he died in a shuttle accident four years ago. Ashley was in that shuttle but survived while her fiancee didnt. Lt(jg)Ashley Bennett Assitant Medical Officer USS Destiny

Abducted! ON: [Iowa, Downtown Highway] *Allworth, Quag, Dekker, and Wagner are too distracted reminiscing about times with their dead relatives to notice the blue lights flashing in the rear-view mirror. When the siren blows, however, their heads whip around.* Wagner: What now, Lane? Allworth: On the holodeck, I usually try to outrun them, but I think that today we should pull over. I have a funny feeling who that might be. *Lane brings the car to a stop at the side of the highway. Someone from the twentieth century would think it odd that there were no cars whizzing by at this point, but the junior officers don't know any difference.* *The police car pulls up behind the yellow Mustang and two patrolmen get out. They slowly advance towards the car, and end up just to the rear of Lane and Jacal's doors.* Jim Allworth (NPC): I notice you kids aren't wearing your seat belts. *Lane recognizes the voice and turns his head around. He opens the door and steps out, and looks at his father. Jim Allworth doesn't look up at him, but instead hangs his head, thumbs in back belt loops, one foot shuffling back and forth.* Lane: How ya' doing, Dad? *The elder Allworth struggles to maintain his composure.* Jim Allworth: Son... I... Lane: Hey, Dad, let's start with this. *They embrace* *While they are talking, the other policeman, Ernie Banks, props one foot up on the rear tire of the mustang and leans an elbow on his knee. He strikes up a conversation with Jacal and the girls.* Banks (NPC): Where y'all headed? Maybe we can provide you with an escort! Wagner: I'm looking for Richard Wagner, he's my father! Banks: Oh sure, everyone knows Dick. He's got the top floor office of the Clearwater Tower. *Points towards the tallest building downtown.* Dekker: My grandmother is here somewhere. Banks: Your grandmother runs the food bank downtown. We can drop you off on the way to Dick Wagner's office. *To Quag* How about you, son? *Quag hesitates, but figures the best policy is to stick with the previous line of bull he fed the two girls.* Quag: I have come here to find Don Mateo Alejandro y Noriega, my grandfather. Banks: Don Mateo, who? That name doesn't sound too familiar. Quag: *very slowly* Don Mateo Alejandro y Noriega. Banks: Nope, doesn't ring a bell. Hey Jim! *Jim Allworth is preoccupied with becoming reacquainted with his lost son, and really doesn't care to be interrupted.* Jim Allworth: Not now. Banks: Jim, I think you'd better come right now. This guy says he is looking for a Don Mateo Alejandro y Noriega. You know anybody by that name? *Jim Allworth stops talking to Lane and slowly walks over. Everyone can sense some gravity and Jacal immediately becomes tense.* Jim: Now son, I know everyone in this town and I don't know any Don Mateo Alejandro y Noriega. Are you sure that's who you're looking for? Quag: Are you sure you know everyone? Jim: *Leans over further into the convertible, his face is now very serious.* I know _Everyone_, son. Maybe we'd better have a talk with you down at the station. *Quag starts thinking quick, searching for names of lost loved ones. But nobody close to him has died, since his great grandparents passed when he was a small child.* Jim: Ernie, why don't you take him downtown, and I'll ride with these folks to see Dick Wagner and Ethel Dekker. Banks: *Opens up Jacal's car door.* Step out of the car, son. *Quag looks to Lane for guidance, but senses no response there. Indeed, Lane has a blank face and looks immune to all outside stimulus. Deciding there is no alternate route, Quag begins the motion of stepping out of the car, but then attempts to quickly move over to the drivers seat and start the engine.* *Allworth and Banks are on him in a flash, diving over the sides and smashing his face up against the steering wheel. Jacal calls for help, but strangely enough feels Morgan and Dekker helping the policemen contain him! After several seconds of struggle, he realizes the futility and loosens up, allowing Banks to slap a set of handcuffs onto him. Jim Allworth uprights himself outside of the drivers side, opens the door, and pulls Quag out onto the pavement. Jacal breathes heavily and spits.* *Together, Allworth and Banks put Jacal into the back seat of the squad car, and Ernie climbs into the driver's seat. As the car pulls away, James Allworth walks back over to his son.* Jim: Come on, Lane, let's go. *Jim climbs in the passenger's seat and Lane gets in to drive. They pull away and head towards the largest building in the city.* OFF: Allworth, Morgan (NPC), and Dekker (NPC), going to the Clearwater Tower. Quag under arrest in the back seat of a police car headed to the station. Ensign Lane Allworth MED, USS Destiny

Deception ON: [Destiny, Bridge] *Liri has been trying to maintain control of the ship. It hasn't been easy, considering that she has been working with a very small crew. Members are becoming more disloyal, longing to meet their loved ones again. Edwards remains on the planet. No one has seen or made contact with him for a few days* Edwards: +Edwards to Liri+ Liri: +Mr. Edwards, is that you?+ Edwards: +Affirmative. I am myself+ Liri: +Where have you been? Everyone's been abandoning the ship. We need a security team up here to restore order+ Edwards: +Negative, Commander. We're pretty close to uncovering some sort of secret and we need all the help we can get+ Liri: +We shouldn't abandon the Destiny+ Edwards: +Leave a few people onboard to man the transporters. Everyone else must come down here+ Liri: +Why?+ Edwards: +Because we need everyone. We need you. Just trust me, ok? I have never let you down before. Just come with me.+ OFF: Lt. Commander Edwards COS USS Destiny =/\=

With her Fingers In Her Ears.... ON: [Destiny, Bridge] *This was it...her moment of decision. Somehow, she wondered...if she made the wrong decisi...* ~Stop it! Just weigh the facts...and make a decision!~ *She ponders this for a few moments...the messages...the dead resurrected...the abandoned Ganymede in orbit...with people at the transporters. The captain's warning of danger...Then, with the facts and her intuition, she makes her decision. She cuts the channel.* Liri: *after cutting the channel* computer, lock out the transporters so that they only work one-way. Disable the beam-down function. Computer: [Paramenters?] Liri: *taking a deep breath, gripping the chair* Shipwide...all of them. Computer: [Safety protocols do no...] Liri: *cutting off the computer and giving her access code* Fine. Computer, restrict access to new code...*gives code*. Computer: [Complete.] Liri: *sighs deeply* Good.... *Not more than a half hour passes when a group of people storm onto the bridge, angry...* OFF: Tag to the Captain or Edwards...why are they on the bridge and what are they going to do...? =/\= Lt. Cmdr. Kyja Liri CTO USS Destiny

To Go or Not To Go... ON: [Destiny, Sickbay] *Woods is pacing in her office. After Di Giero beamed down, she's the only medical officer left on board. She ponders what to do. After spending hours of searching through databases, she still doesn't know more than when she started. It seems pointless. To give herself a break, she'd finished stocking the supplies and rearranged the medicin in the cabinets in alphabetical order. She knows it's not very constructive, but she needs to keep herself busy, make sure she doesn't get a chance to think. Woods knows that the second she allows her mind to wander, she'll beam down to the surface herself. And why shouldn't she? Sickbay is empty; by far the biggest part of the crew is on the surface. And that's where she should be aswell. Hell, why isn't she? Lieutenant Lydia Josephs, the woman she couldn't save, contacted her. Woods wants nothing more than to get rid of the feeling of guilt she's had ever since. Maybe it is real, just maybe. Why would she deny herself the chance to get closure? Woods shakes her head. It's not true. It's impossible. A doctor knows when her patient is dead and Josephs is dead. No doubt about it. But even though Woods can't believe in the illusion, or doesn't allow herself to believe in it, staying in sickbay is still pointless. The best thing to do is to beam down to the planet. From there she can observe the situation and think of a hypothesis. And maybe, if she's down there, she'll get a change to see Josephs. Just for a second, so she can pretend even for a minute that the whole thing on that shuttlecraft years ago didn't happen... * Woods: *having made up her mind* Computer, activate Emergency Medical Hologram. EMH (NPC): Please state the nature of the medical emergency. Woods: There is none. EMH: *annoyed* Then why did you activate me? Woods: I have to go and someone needs to man sickbay. EMH: Why me? Woods: Because you are the last crewmember left in my department. EMH: Where did everyone go then? Woods: Long story, I'll tell you some other time. I have to go, enjoy yourself. EMH: Hey! *Woods has left sickbay before he gets the change to complain. Muttering in himself, he looks around and sighs. He's a doctor, not a babysitter... And certainly not of an empty sickbay. He looks around. It's been a while since he was activated, and he takes the opportunity to get reaquainted with his surroundings. The medical cabinet catches his attention. Someone has rearranged all of the medicin in alphabetical order... What a nonsense. The EMH sighs and starts putting them all back into place.* [In the meantime, transporter room 2] *Woods runs into the transporterroom, planning to beam down immediately. To her surprise, there is quite a crowd in there. About 10 crewmember are working the controls, trying to beam out.* Woods: *to an ensign standing next to her* What's going on? Ensign Harris (NPC): We all got communications from people on the surface, and we want to go see them. But we can't seem to beam down. Woods: How come? Harris: I don't know. *He turns back to his console, suddenly finding the problem* Guys, transporter functions have been restricted! Lt (NPC): *angry* By who? Harris: *taps a few buttons* Lt.Cmdr. Kyja Liri. Let's go to the bridge people! She has no right to hold us here! *They cheer in agreement and storm to the bridge. Woods runs along with them, wanting to find out what's going on. they enter the bridge and start shouting at Liri. Liri jumps up from her chair looking surprised. She raises a hand and slowly the group falls silent.* Liri: What is going on and what are you all doing on the bridge? Harris: *stepping forward* We want to beam down to the planet. Liri: I can't allow that. Harris: Why not? All the others got to go. I want to go see my mother! Liri: I know this is hard, I'm going through the same thing. But some of us have to stay, we can't abandon ship. Harris: But my mother... Liri: Return to your stations, that's an order. Harris: But... Liri: Do you prefer to spend the rest of this mission in the brig? Harris: No ma'am. Liri: Dismissed. *The group slowly leaves the bridge, complaining and muttering. Woods stays behind.* Woods: *silently* I see it's as busy here as it is in sickbay. Liri: *surprised* Jordan? Woods: I was about to beam down. Thanks for stopping me. Liri: No problem. Woods: Mind if I stay for a while? I activated the EMH in sickbay, there's no one there anyway. We need to figure out what's happening. OFF: Liri and Woods on the bridge. Tag to liri! =/\= Lt. Jordan Woods CMO USS Destiny

Resisting The Call ON: [Destiny, Bridge] Liri: Oh? Who were you going to beam down for....? Woods: I told myself to scan and research... but to be honest... Lieutenant Lydia Josephs. I killed her years ago. Liri: *puzzled look* You didn't _really_ kill her, did you....? Woods: It was my cadet cruise, I did an emergency medical procedure on her I never should have done unsupervised. Liri: Tell me one thing...if you hadn't tried, she would have died anyways, right? Woods: Probably... Liri: Now, I am correct ina ssuming that had you gone for proper supervision, she would have been dead by the time they arrived....? Woods: Yeah, she would. Liri: Then you did what you had to...gave her the best chance possible. Woods: Maybe, maybe not. I screwed up... Liri: Everyone does...I screwed up today. Woods: How? Liri: I should have locked out transporter beam-down functions earlier, when I tried to disable unauthorized communications. I waited too long. Woods: You tried. Liri: So...did you. Woods: *silently flops down in the first officers seat* We try, I guess.. Liri: I guess I'm just a total faliure in this chair...I didn't act soon enough, I didn't do enough, I couldn't stop most of the crew from leaving, and I came _this_ close to going myself!!! janedoe359: Woods: It's miracle you stayed. Shows some strong spirit. Liri: But...I almost _didn't_! Woods: But you did, that's what counts. And we aren't out of the woods *smiles at the unfortunate word choice* yet... Liri: Yeah, tell me about it. The question remains...how do we get people back up on the ship...and how do we tell an imposter from a crew member? I'm positive that I was not contacted by Edwards, but by some other...entity. Woods: I don't know.... I looked up everything I could on hallucinations, but I found nothing usefull. More people seeing the exact same images, and this detailed... It's never happened before. Liri: *trying to keep calm* But what if....it had...becuase it could...perhaps if there were many shapeshifters...after all...they had infiltrated us once...maybe...*shakes herself* Oh god, I'm rambling on...I guess...seeing her...brought back some memories of what it was like to live in fear...that the person aroudn the corner wasn't who they said they were. The scans, the bloodtests, the council security meetings.... Woods: I don't think they are shapeshifters. They know too much detail. Liri: Yeah, you do have a point there...I guess I'm just too paranoid for my own good...too much politics, I guess.... Woods: Being paranoid does not mean they're not after you... Liri: *giving her a dirty look* Gee, thanks. Woods: *grins* That came out wrong. I meant that paranoia isn't necesarily a bad thing, it prepares one for what may come. Liri: I hope so...I feel like...Well, I'll bet that no _real_ command officer would doubt themselve so much...question their own decisions...wonder if they even belong in thsi chair.... Woods: Of course they do. They just don't let it show. Liri: You really think so? All my instructors used to say that...but I never really belived them...all i could think of was the confidence they all seemed to exude...the captains of the ships we visited...they never seemed to doubt themselves....the admirals who gave special lectures...it was as if they were sure of themselves....the Federation President leading the council...she never doubted herself, sitting as if nothing but an election year could faze her.... Woods: I'm a doctor, I sometimes get to see their insecure side, and believe me, they have one. Liri: When have you seen the insecure side of a senior officer? Woods: The captain on my last ship was afraid of, believe it or not, hyposprays. Liri: *laughs* I believe it. After all, a lot of people are afraid of medical stuff...I personally have an adversion to sickbay in general, and surgery in particular... Woods: *grins* I know. Liri: *looks miffed* Well, I challenge you to bring me one person who _likes_ it.... Woods: They exist, strangely enough. Liri: You're kidding. Ever met one? *mutters* I bet they're all security officers.... Woods: *laughs* No. They're usually not even starfleet. People who want more attention often simulate medical problems so someone has to take care of them. Liri: Oh. So in addition to analyzing physical problems, you can analyze people's mindsets....? Woods: *smiles* No I can't. I read many articles about it. I never practised medicin outside of starfleet though. Liri: I've never practiced _anything_ outside of Starfleet! *grins* So...to ask a question that people have asked one another since we began to criss the seas of our worlds in leaky boats....Why did you join? Woods: Out of curiosity. Liri: Oh? Curiosity about what? Woods: About everything. About what's out there. I figured on a ship you'd see a lot more than on earth. And besides, my brother was in the academy back then aswell and he loved it. Liri: Ah. I guess that I...well, when I decided I wasn't going into politics or diplomacy, i started to look at my options. I didn't even break it down my organization....just jobs. And I came up with this one...and I then I found out the only way to get it. Woods: Makes sense. Liri: Now, my sister...don't ask me what makes _her_ tick! Woods: *smiles* How so? Liri: You know, the sister who goes off and joins the forces of a planet she's never been to and doesn't speak the language or know the culture of? That sister.... Woods: *laughs* Sounds like she has quite a character. Liri: Oh yeah. She got her appointment to the Bajoran military academy, called me up and told me, said she wanted to invite me to Bajor for a camping trip in the mountains before she reported....you know, as my "graduation present"...then, after two days, she had to report...so she left in the middle of the night, leaving me my phsyco cat Riza, who was hers origionally, and a note saying that "This kitten is one of your presents. I can't take her with me. Thanks!" Woods: *laughs* I'd love to meet her someday. Liri: I bet you would at that...take me, tack on some extra agression, a yearning for a structered system, a bit of arrogance, and a "Just -Do-It" attitude, and you've got Jalan. Woods: Sounds like fun Liri: She's 4 years younger than I am. Woods: My brother Kyle and I where the youngest in our family... Liri: How many were there? there were three in mine...I was the oldest...Jalan was 4 years my junior...and Halana was 4 years Jalan's! Woods: Jack is 29, and Kyle is my twin, he's 26 as well. Liri: Ah. What do they do? Woods: Jack is pilot on the USS Courage, and Kyle is writer. Liri: A writer, eh? What's he write? Woods: All kinds of stuff actually. Fiction, non fiction, holonovels... Liri: *breaking off* There must be some way we can get the crew back up to the ship...if only I could figure out how... OFF: Liri and Woods on the ship, trying pass the time, and get everyone back on the ship. =/\= Lt. Cmdr. Kyja Liri CTO USS Destiny & =/\= Lt. Jordan Woods CMO USS Destiny

Venka's visitor. ON: *She continues walking the path and stops for a moment before she decides to call her Captain to tell him she is down here,and feels the fresh air around her* Sarek:You always loved nature,didnt you? Venka:*opens in her eyes in surprise and see's him* Who are you,and why are you in disguise as my grandfather? Sarek:Iam not in disguise,Iam your grandfather Venka,and you have grown havent you. Iam sorry for not being there for you in your teen years,but isnt being sorry illogical? Venka:You shoudldnt be sorry Sir,you are dead. Sarek:*tilts his head slightly and raises his eyebrow* If I was dead I couldnt be standing here right now,so tell me Venka about how you life is going *he places his arm around her shoulder but not to effectionly since he is a vulcan* I want to know everything. Venka: Well After you left I remained on Vulcan for some time with my mother Saavik,and then decided to join starfleet like my father,I made top ten of my class,and decided to be a science officer I have joined many ships but I..*thinks of the best way to say this without emotion* prefer Destiny I feel at peace here..many things has happened since being here. Sarek:Yes I can see that *removes his arm from Venka's shoulder and looks around the area* Isnt it beautiful here,I have decided to stay here..as you say about Destiny I prefer it here as well. Venka:*is not getting all this,how could her grandfather if alive want to stay here?..it doesnt seem right* Hold on one moment Grandfather. Sarek:Yes of course..*stares off across the valleys* Venka: *taps her comm badge calling her captain* OFF: Ensign Venka. Science Department. SBVDestiny

Forcing Liri's Hand OFF: One piece of the puzzle that has not been addressed is why, if everyone from Ganymede supposedly wanted to get to the planet, there are dead bodies still left on the ship. If it happened on Ganymede, it might happen on Destiny as well. ON: [Destiny, Engineering Conference Room] *Liri forcing the remaining crew members to remain on board Destiny but locking them off of the bridge has put them in a state of near rage. Most went directly to the shuttle bays and commandeered shuttles to take to the surface. Fights broke out over who would get to leave on the shuttles, and when the shuttles ran out, the several dozen remaining crew members followed Engineering Officer Lt. William Jackson (NPC) to Engineering to discuss what to do next.* Benson (NPC): How are we going to get off this ship! Jackson: All of the shuttles are now gone, so there is only two ways out, escape pods and transporters- Both need approval from Lt. Commander Liri. Wilson (NPC): Dammit, my mother is on that planet! How can she keep us here? Benson: Does she think we'll just sit idly by while our families are down there? Jackson: *Pounds the table with his fist* She can't, and now it's time to do something about it. Follow me. *The room full of people empty into the engineering area. There, phasers in hand, they begin to shoot wildly at every piece of equipment. An ensign runs out from behind his console.* Ensign (NPC): HEY! You can't- *One of the saboteurs turns and fires on the ensign as well. Soon, most of the pieces of engineering equipment are severely damaged, and the mad men turn their attentions towards the Jeffreys tubes and the reactor coil itself. Red lights begin to flash and steam begins to erupt as the protective cover is pierced by the phaser beams.* [Destiny, Bridge] *The alarms have sounded on the bridge as well, rousting Liri and Woods from their conversation.* Computer: Warning! Warning! Reactor core breach. Meltdown imminent. Will automatically jettison in thirty seconds. *The warning is continued over and over again.* *Liri turns to Woods.* Liri: *Frantically* What do we do?!? [Destiny, Engineering] *The ground inside engineering begins to shake as reactor surges and swells. Consoles spark, and pieces of glass and metal start falling all around the enraged crewmembers. As they leave, Jackson has the presence of mind to turn and run to the adjoining room where the backup generators are kept. He doesn't want to leave Liri any out but to call an evacuation.* *Jackson steadies his hand and aims directly at the heart of the backup generators. In a fury of sparks and fire, they are destroyed. He smiles to himself. Once the reactor fails, it will leave only emergency batteries to power the entire ship. Liri will have no choice but to evacuate the ship or allow the crew to die a slow, cold death in the depths of space. Surely, he thinks to himself, she wouldn't be that stupid.* *Jackson and the other crewmembers run from engineering to the escape pods, waiting with glee for the order to evacuate the ship.* OFF: Ensign Lane Allworth MED, USS Destiny

Well What Now ON: *Kerak thinks to himself, what is going on here. On the Destiny everyone except for a small few has gone to the planet. Here we have 2 dozen dead bodies on our hands.* Kerak: Aghhh, Bo'chagh. Of course. The dead bodies in engineering are the remaining crew of the Ganymede who didn't go down to the planet. And they stayed up here until one or more of them tried to forcefully go down to the planet, and then a conflict broke out and they are the result. But if that happened here than it could happen on the Destiny to . *He steps up the pace as he walks to the bridge. When he gets there he finds it's in perfect condition other then the fact that there's no power the ship has been preserved perfectly.* Kerak:*Taps comm badge* Kerak to Donnelly. Donnelly: Donnelly here. Kerak: I'm on the bridge and other than no power this ship is ready to go. Donnelly: Well you had better luck then us. When we went to check to main power generators they were shot up seemingly with a phaser. OFF: Not unlike on the Destiny ON: Donnelly: But the back up auxilary gen.s are still operable. It will take us about an hour to get auxilary power and life support back up and running. Kerak: Well, If you could hurry ma'am it's a little cold up here. Donnelly: While were doing that could you check in with Destiny and see how there doin'. Kerak: I would be honored to. Donnelly: Donnelly out. *Sitting there his mind wonders. My uncle cost me my seat on the high coucil, my fleet..... my life. And now he wantsto tell war stories and remember the old days with his newphew.* Kerak: Well he's not getting the chance. And if he does he will not live to tell about it. *Remembering his new duty's he recollects his thoughts. Kerak: *Comm badge* Ganymede to Destiny. No response Kerak: Destiny this is Ganymede, respond. *Sitting there bewildered. He had only met Liri a few times but he never thought her to be the type to abandon here duty. This report is life and death.* Kerak: This is not good,not good at all. He keeps trying to raise the ship on private channels. OFF: Short but gives us something to work with at least. Tag to Liri. Or someone on Destiny. Ensign Kerak Tac Spec USS Destiny

Hanging On By Skin Of Teeth ON: *She takes a deep breath, trying to regain her senses. She quickly ends the communications lockout. Then, she sends a priority emergency message to Starfleet, asking for help and telling them to ignore transmissions from the planet, explianing the situation. Then, seh recives a call from the Ganymede.* Liri: +This is Destiny! We have trouble! Reactor faliure imminent, backup generators...*looks at her moniters* gone. Once that reactor goes...*does some quick calculations* We'll have just 12 hours power and life support left. I have a question...can you get the Ganymede working, even in a minor capacity, in the time?+ OFF: Tag to Kerak... =/\= Lt. Cmdr. Kyja "I am _NOT_ enjoying my first command" Liri CTO USS Destiny