OFF: OK, I have to play catchup a little... A big welcome to Ensigns
McCoy and 
Montgomery!

ON:

Location: Astrometrics

Time: When Excalibur is still at Starbase 17.

:: For the last couple of days, Ensign Koptuka has had her wrist
treated by a 
Sick Bay professional (instead of leaving it self-treated with the
supplies from 
the Ready Room's Med Kit), and she has spent the rest of her time 
reorganizing the Astrometrics Lab, doing whatever computer repairs
she was 
capable of, and calling Engineering when she had a list of problems
she 
couldn't handle. The conflict with the Gor'Gons did much damage to 
Astrometrics' systems, but much of the hurt is fairly easy to
fix--it's just 
tedious work. Her repair work is nearly complete. ::

KOPTUKA: Koptuka to Commander Tolbin.

TOLBIN: Tolbin here.

KOPTUKA: Commander, I'd like to ask for some shore leave.

TOLBIN: You are granted off-duty leave-- just don't leave the ship
without 
your combadge, OK?

KOPTUKA: Oh, of course not!

TOLBIN: Just kidding, Ensign. I know you'll want to know when we're
ready to 
disembark.

KOPTUKA: Oh! :: chuckles:: Thank you, Commander. Koptuka out. <to 
Computer> Computer, begin letter to be delivered to Konn at Roku
House in 
Kimm, Roku Province, Kimtonnah. :: Computer bleeps :: Hi Konn, my
son. Hello 
to Noki and Shing and Kintu. Hope you all are well. How is your work,
and 
how are Noki's studies going at Roku Mage? We have just completed our
first 
mission, and we are in for a refit. We had a really interesting
mission! Some 
truly scary situations, but we're all fine now. I know you, Konn,
were skeptical 
of my joining Starfleet, but just know that I wouldn't want to be
anywhere 
else right now. Don't worry about me, please. You know I can take
care of 
myself. Please let me know how all of you are doing. I really want to
hear 
from each and every one of you. End transmission. Computer, send
message.

COMPUTER: The message has been sent.

Location: Docking Bay

:: On crossing the threshold of the Docking Bay, Koptuka's first
encounter is 
with Starbase 17 Security... she passes the usual retinal scan,
and... ::

KOPTUKA: <to Security officer> I understand there's a lecture on
recently 
charted astrophysical phenomena today.

SECURITY OFFICER: That would be straight ahead at the end of the
lobby. In 
the Lecture Hall.

:: Koptuka smiles a little at the obviousness of the answer ::

KOPTUKA: Thank you Lieutenant.

:: Koptuka attends the lecture, adding notes to her pad. She will do
research 
on the lecture material when she returns to Excalibur. The lecturer
is Dr. Mark 
Hollings. After the lecture the explores the lecture hall and
discovers a quaint 
little art gallery, where she recognizes some old favorites. Seeing
the work on 
display here reminds her how little time she's had lately for
painting, and how 
much she enjoys it. Starfleet Officers aren't supposed to profit from 
moonlighting work, but she doesn't create art for the money, but for
sheer 
enjoyment. As she admires a new Vulcan piece she's not seen before,
her 
combadge beeps. ::

TOLBIN <over comm> : All who went ashore, we need you back aboard 
immediately.

:: As Koptuka heads quickly for the Excalibur docking bay, her badge
beeps 
again. ::

TOLBIN: Tolbin to Koptuka.

:: Still walking quickly, Koptuka taps her combadge. ::

KOPTUKA: Koptuka here.

TOLBIN: When you're back aboard, we'll need you on the bridge.

KOPTUKA: Yes sir. On my way. Out.

Location: Bridge

:: Two hours later, they are ready to leave. The ship heads to the
Ocalma 
Nebula at maximum warp.::

Redroi: "We are approaching the Nebula sir."

McCloud: "Take us out of warp, Lt. Sensors at maximum."

Redroi: "Aye, sir."

Tolbin: "The readings are the same as the Vortex we encountered with
the 
Gor'Gons Sir."

McCloud: "Stay on your toes people." 

Koptuka: "Sir, something is coming out of the Nebula."

Tolbin: "It's a small ship. It's too small ships. The second is
firing on the first."

Montgomery: "Sir, we're being hailed, audio only. It's the first
ship."

McCloud: "Let's hear it Ensign."

First ship: "Excalibur? Is that you Captain McCloud?"

Mccloud: "This _is_ McCloud. Who are you and how do you know who we 
are?"

First ship: "Sir, it's me. Commander Ford."