ORIGINS: USS Hood July 2010: Difference between revisions

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STAR FLEET: ORIGINS
STAR FLEET: ORIGINS
==[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones, But Your I==
===by Harry Iha===
SD: 2261.209
SCENE: Bridge
After suddenly being transported away from a pleasant rugby game in
San Francisco and receiving an uncomfortable grilling by the XO,
Tamura and all the bridge officers returned to their stations.
Mind control? It seemed unreal to the young officer. But then
again, until 20 minutes ago he would have sworn on any number of
affidavits that he was on leave on Earth. It was all very
confusing.
There was talk about a theta field, and how it was protecting them
from the thought control process...and how it was scrambling their
brains. Biology was never Tamura's strong point, and he had a
growing headache to contend with.
One thing for sure, there was definite tension between the XO and
LT ARr'Rhiana. Although they kept it short of outright insults,
even a geek with zero social skills like Tamura noticed it.
His headache was getting worse.
A comm signal from a Star Fleet communicator hailed the ship, but
Tamura's mind was beyond effective processing, courtesy of the
theta field. The comm officer stared blankly at the panel while he
tried to remember what all the dials and gauges meant.
Fortunately, the computer recognized the incoming hail and
automatically terminated a connection. While Tamura stared, the
computer took the captain and CMO's orders and began executing
them.
The barbs between Merrick and ARr'Rhiana grew heated and louder,
pulling Tamura out of his stupor. The two were practically
shouting at each other. "Shut up!" roared Tamura. "Damn, I can't
think with you two bitching at each other."
The XO's attention shifted to the comm officer. "You shut your
mouth, Mister, before I come over there and shut it for you."
Tamura pulled the Feinberger from his ear, slammed it on his
console, and jumped to his feet. Merrick responded in kind. "You
and what army, you..." Tamura racked his brain for the worst
insult he could find. "...you...End User!"
"End user?" LCDR Merrick had had many insults hurled his way
throughout his career, but that was a new one. He paused a moment
to consider its implications. That pause was long enough for his
temper to subside and for him to regain his composure. Were he and
Tamura just about to have a brawl on the bridge? "What the frak?"
Appalled by his behavior, Tamura stepped back. "I'm terribly
sorry, Commander. I don't know what just came over me." Tamura
dove back into his chair. He still had a headache, but the little
episode cleared his head enough for him to function again.
"Commander, we have a transmission from the captain. He's accessed
the computer using his ALPHA code."
The XO stepped up to the comm console and looked over Tamura's
shoulder. "What's he doing?"
The feedback from the XO was helping his thought processes and
focus; too bad it was not helping with the headache. "I can't
tell, Sir. Just that he's given the computer instructions which
are executing now."
"What if the captain's under mind control and they're tricking him
into taking control of the ship?" asked ARr'Rhiana, joining Merrick
behind Tamura.
"Just like my rugby game," confirmed Tamura. "I had no idea I was
flying the ship. Should I close the channel?" Tamura's hand
reached over to the switch that would break the circuit with the
captain's communicator.
"Can we talk to him?"
Tamura shook his head. "Not until he disengages the computer."
Merrick made a snap decision. "If the captain's under mind
control, we're already too late. We've got to hope that he's
holding up okay and trying to help us. Leave the channel open."
"Aye aye, Sir."
With their fate resting squarely in the captain's hands, the XO
took another moment to ponder Tamura's unusual insult. "End user?"
he asked again.
Tamura shrugged. "That was the worst thing I could think of at the
time."
"I don't get it."
About a minute had passed since the two men had just about come to
blows.
The comm officer laughed at his own strange humor. "There are two
types of beings in this universe, Commander: techs...and end users."
Instead of laughing, the XO's face grew dark with rage. "Why you
insubordinate piece of...."
NRPG:
No, it's not bipolar disease. It's Corbett's alternating tones.
Brian: Here's Sean's chance for payback.
All: Sorry, not much in the way of plot advancement.
Respectfully Submitted,
ENS Yoshi Tamura
Communications Department Head
USS HOOD NCC-1703
http://boi.alt-starfleet-rpg.org/ORIGINS:_USS_Hood
Harry I. Iha
hiha_asr@...