ORIGINS: USS Hood May 2010: Difference between revisions

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==[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Captain's Log==
===by Andy Catterick===
SD: 2261.137
Scene: Ready Room, USS HOOD
“Captain’s log stardate 2261.137.  I am more pleased then I would have imagined to report that HOOD is underway and leaving the Celes System behind her.  The meeting with our doppelganger from the multiverse was an eye opening experience to the say the least but, in the end, it ended well enough.  Command has clamped a security blanket down on the whole mission which given the relatively few numbers of crew members who actually saw anything, or saw enough of anything important, the secrecy might even last.  For awhile at least.  And with the destruction of the TSS HOOD we were able to complete the milk run portion of our ‘official’ mission which, happily, included several days of shore leave for the crew.
As far as the crew goes we have had the usual round of comings and goings with two notable exceptions.  First, Lieutenant Kim Steering was poached out from under us while she was on a mission to take the prize ship in.  Apparently LEXINGTON’s new captain pulled some strings and command approved the transfer.  I don’t know Captain Octavian or why it was so important he steal my helmsman but I’m less then pleased to lose such a fine officer, especially one we had invested so much in.  This leaves a big hole at the helm and I will be meeting with Commander Merrick later in the day to discuss options for doing so. 
Next, Chief of Security John DeSimms was transferred back to Special Ops.  It was probably the best move for all.  I had concerns when he initially requested a fleet berth that someone with his skills and mission experience would have a hard time adjusting to life in the ‘real’ navy.  I can’t say if that’s why he opted to transfer back but I was certainly surprised at how fast the actual assignment was approved after he requested transfer.  Fortunately we were able to acquire a replacement officer in the form of Lieutenant Commander Rick Payne.  I haven’t been able to spend much time with him since he came aboard but his record certainly speaks for itself.  As does some of the changes he has already implemented.
In terms of  our current mission, well as far as  I’m concerned we haven’t really received one yet.  Officially we are enroute to sector 7GY2 where we are to begin a standard patrol.  I’m don’t think it likely that ‘Fleet will leave a CONSTITUTION class starship stooging around examining space dust overly long.  I just hope out next mission is a bit different then the past few.  I’ve had my fill of political intrigue and fights to the death. 
End Log.”
Respectfully,
Andy
CAPT Jack Steele
CO, USS HOOD NCC 1703
STARFLEET: ORIGINS




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STARFLEET: ORIGINS
STARFLEET: ORIGINS


==[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Running the Gauntlet==
==[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Running the Gauntlet==

Revision as of 16:18, 17 June 2010


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ORIGINS: USS Hood Story Posts
Last Updated: 2262.059



Total Posts: 420+





[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Captain's Log

by Andy Catterick

SD: 2261.137


Scene: Ready Room, USS HOOD

“Captain’s log stardate 2261.137. I am more pleased then I would have imagined to report that HOOD is underway and leaving the Celes System behind her. The meeting with our doppelganger from the multiverse was an eye opening experience to the say the least but, in the end, it ended well enough. Command has clamped a security blanket down on the whole mission which given the relatively few numbers of crew members who actually saw anything, or saw enough of anything important, the secrecy might even last. For awhile at least. And with the destruction of the TSS HOOD we were able to complete the milk run portion of our ‘official’ mission which, happily, included several days of shore leave for the crew.

As far as the crew goes we have had the usual round of comings and goings with two notable exceptions. First, Lieutenant Kim Steering was poached out from under us while she was on a mission to take the prize ship in. Apparently LEXINGTON’s new captain pulled some strings and command approved the transfer. I don’t know Captain Octavian or why it was so important he steal my helmsman but I’m less then pleased to lose such a fine officer, especially one we had invested so much in. This leaves a big hole at the helm and I will be meeting with Commander Merrick later in the day to discuss options for doing so.

Next, Chief of Security John DeSimms was transferred back to Special Ops. It was probably the best move for all. I had concerns when he initially requested a fleet berth that someone with his skills and mission experience would have a hard time adjusting to life in the ‘real’ navy. I can’t say if that’s why he opted to transfer back but I was certainly surprised at how fast the actual assignment was approved after he requested transfer. Fortunately we were able to acquire a replacement officer in the form of Lieutenant Commander Rick Payne. I haven’t been able to spend much time with him since he came aboard but his record certainly speaks for itself. As does some of the changes he has already implemented.

In terms of our current mission, well as far as I’m concerned we haven’t really received one yet. Officially we are enroute to sector 7GY2 where we are to begin a standard patrol. I’m don’t think it likely that ‘Fleet will leave a CONSTITUTION class starship stooging around examining space dust overly long. I just hope out next mission is a bit different then the past few. I’ve had my fill of political intrigue and fights to the death.

End Log.”


Respectfully,

Andy

CAPT Jack Steele

CO, USS HOOD NCC 1703

STARFLEET: ORIGINS




[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Discoveries

by Andy Catterick

SD: 2261.137


Scene: Engineering

Jack waved to a small repair team who looked up from their console that was in several dozen parts on the deck as he strode in to main engineering. “Where’s the boss?” He asked and nodded his thanks at the chief who appeared to be watching her juniors repair the console pointed over to the Chief Engineer’s office. He paused to take a look at the mayhem on the deck and then looked back at the chief. “Good luck.” He said with a grim.

“Thanks captain. I think I need it.” Shsaid with resignation.

Zane tapped on the door frame as he paused at the entrance to Commander Gar’s office. “Is this a private party?”

Gar and Commander Merrick looked up the Andorian’s desk terminal where they had been engrossed. “Afternoon captain.” Gar said and gestured to a seat.

“We’re just looking over the fleet update.” Sean added. “Do you know Admiral Corrigan?”

Jack dropped into the seat a look of surprise at his first officer’s question. “Admiral Corrigan, from the Academy,Admiral Corrigan? I know him by reputation, but never met him why?”

“You haven’t seen the update?”

“No, I’ve spent most of the day surveying the kingdom.” He replied. Jack liked nothing better to periodically roam the decks of his command stopping into the various departments and crew hotspots whenever he could spare the time. He felt it was good for morale and even more to the point he enjoyed interacting with the crew.

“He’s just been appointed Fleet Commander.”

“What about Admiral Carstairs?” Jack asked completely surprised.

“Transferred to BuPers.”

Jack winced at the news. Carstairs couldn’t be too happy about that. He knew the admiral had caught a lot of flak about how Jack and Hood had handled the emergency mission to Velorum IV, to say nothing of their public destruction of the space port on Arcturus. He’d hoped that hadn’t been the cause for Carstairs removal.

“You hadn’t heard sir?” Merrick asked surprised. “I’ll have a talk with Ensign Tamura.”

Jack nodded his thanks. It wasn’t a huge crisis. But news like that should have had the new comm. officer contacting the captain directly rather then just forwarding it to all the senior staff. Fortunately he found out fairly quickly and from his first officer. That was much less embarrassing then one of the crew mentioning it to him and him having to look back with a blank stare. Still he’d been an overwhelmed ensign once. “Well make sure the message gets delivered, but go easy.”

“I’ll try.” Sean grinned.

He looked at Gar and pointed to the terminal. “May I?”

“Of course.”

“Computer?”

“Working.” Came back the metallic voice.

“Display image Steele Two Seven.”

“Acknowledged.” The computer replied.

“What do you think of that?” Jack asked as both men looked at the image that appeared.

Finally Sean spoke. “It looks like a lamp my Aunt Bertha had in her parlour, with less dust.”

Jack chuckled. “It does have the family heirloom feel doesn’t it? That gentlemen is the First Federation Ship FESARIUS.”

“Its frakkin ugly.” Gar replied as he gave it a second, more appraising look.

“I agree. It was a first contact with one of our sister ships a few months back. I just got the report this morning. Oh and it’s highly classified so it doesn’t leave this room. But I thought as engineers you’d both be interested.”

“Why?” Gar answered plainly unimpressed.

“ Computer superimpose an image of USS HOOD on to the image displayed. Make it to scale.”

“Working.”

Sean whistled as the image changed. “Its massive.”

Jack nodded. “Just short of two kilometers in diameter.”

“That’s quite a first contact. Friendly I hope.” Gar said.

“Hope so. The report doesn’t say too much. But what a chance for that captain and crew to make.” He added wistfully. “That’s why we’re out here!”


<<<NRPG>>>

Harry: Sorry, I hope Sean isn’t too hard on Tamura!  ;-)


Respectfully,

Andy

CAPT Jack Steele

CO, USS HOOD NCC 1703

STARFLEET: ORIGINS

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Running the Gauntlet

by Andy Catterick

SD: 2261.138

Scene: Sickbay


“Afternoon Mother. Is the good doctor in?”

“I don’t know anything about ‘good’ doctor but if you are looking for lazy doctor yes he’s in.” Jack grinned not knowing exactly what to say in reply to that. His dilemma was solved as Mother, shaking her head in disapproval of a captain who couldn’t make snap decisions took charge and added. “He’s in his office pretending to write his report for Starfleet Medical.”

“Thanks.” Jack replied hastily and retreated to the safety of Dr. Corbett’s office.

“Afternoon cap’n.” Stile said without taking the cigar from his mouth as his fingers flew across the keyboard. “I see you survive the gauntlet.”

Jack pretended to shudder. “She scares me. How do you manage with her?”

“Not a problem sar. I just understand where she is coming from.”

“Where is she coming from?” Jack asked trying not to chuckle at the gleam in the doctor’s eye.

“Well you have to understand she is an excellent nurse but even with all that skill she is a bit daunted by working with an exceptional healer such as myself. Its really just a defence mechanism.”

“Careful cowboy I can hear you out here.” Mother called from the other room.

“That’s as it should be my dear, my deepest wish is for you to understand the nature of our relationship and learn from it.”

“Keep it up cowboy and they’ll never find the body.”

Stile grinned at Jack. “See its working already!”

“You’re a braver man then I.”

Stile shrugged as he poured the captain a drink. “You get used to it. So what brings you down to my humble abode.”

“Just making my tour. So, what’s new?”


Respectfully,

Andy

CAPT Jack Steele

CO, USS HOOD NCC 1703

STARFLEET: ORIGINS

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Genetic or Environment?

by Andy Catterick

SD: 2261.139


Scene: Sickbay

<old>

“Ah huh,” Steele said reluctantly sitting back down. “How the hell did you get through the academy?”

“Simple sar, I used brains, style and of course blackmail. However, I sense that is not the purpose of your visit. So come clean, are you blowing off steam in which case I prescribe copious amounts of alcohol until we can no longer speak, or are you seeking council.”

<new>

"Just was touring the ship and thought I'd make a brief stop in here to see if all is well." There was a long pause as neither man spoke. "So how'd you like meeting your evil twin?" The captain finally said.

"Well now," Stile blew a willowy smoke ring up towards the ceiling extractor. "I can't say the man was evil, anyone with good lucks such as his can't really be all that nefarious. I sense the man was the product of his environment more than anything else. He seemed decent enough under it all."

Jack nodded. "I got that sense too." He took another sip of his tequila. "Same too for Sean and Gar."

"Perhaps you should review the Great Brig Escape. They seemed to take great glee in gunning their captain down."

"I did." Jack agreed. "But I don't think I'd call it ruthless or over the top. They saw an opportunity and they took it. Oh sure I think they enjoyed it but, they only stunned him. They could easily have killed the man."

"How's the report going cowboy?" Mother called out. "I am NOT going to write another one for you just so you can sit in all there all day and spin out your folksy wisdom."

"She exaggerates." Stile smiled. "So Jack what did you think of your doppleganger?"

"Well if we say that the doctor, Sean and Gar weren't necessaryily evil more the product of their environment, I'd have to say that the captain created the environment that made them evil. Or made them have to do evil things."

"He was quite the piece of work." The doctor agreed. "And I see that worries you."

"Worries me? Why would you say that?"


<<<NRPG>>>

Psychobabble 101 :-)



Respectfully,

Andy

CAPT Jack Steele

CO, USS HOOD NCC 1703

STARFLEET: ORIGINS

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Nature Verses Nurture

by Steve Apple

SD: 2261.139

Scene: Sickbay


<<Snip from Andy’s post “Genetic or Environment”

"Well if we say that the doctor, Sean and Gar weren't necessarily evil more the product of their environment, I'd have to say that the captain created the environment that made them evil. Or made them have to do evil things."

"He was quite the piece of work." The doctor agreed. "And I see that worries you."

“Worries me? Why would you say that?"

>>End Snip

“Well sar I had a chance to review the bioscans from the security holding cell.” Corbett said taking a long puff on his cigar. “And well both of you are identical down to the molecule. There were slight chemical variations, but they can be accounted for by the stress of the situation. What I’m getting at is that in the nature verses nurture argument there were no genetic abnormalities that could account for Black Jack’s psychotic personality.”

Jack took a long sip from his glass. “So you think what?”

“It’s not me that’s doing the thinking it’s you.” Corbett answered. “It’s not often that a man is confronted with the evil he could have become. I suspect you’re concerned that with the right push you might take the fall into madness like your counterpart.”

“I didn’t no psychiatry was a specialty of yours.” Jack said taking a puff on his own cigar.

“Every doctor has to dabble in it when the voodoo beads and rattles fail. I think you wonder how easy is it to fall victim to the power and terror your other self wielded. It’s natural, but I think given that you even question the motivation behind his actions makes you the man you are and keeps you on the safe side of humanity. There are questions you need to ask yourself, could you kill a man in cold blood and not feel remorse, or worse yet not feel pleasure at doing so.”

Jack looked over at his friend and frowned. “Of course not, I’ve spent the better part of my adult life trying to live up to the ideals set forth by Star Fleet.”

“Then there is your answer sar. Somewhere along the way Black Jack lost the ability to keep his baser self in check and let it consume him. You on the other hand temper yours with restraint and good ole humanity. So my final argument is just because his pile of chemicals and water are identical to yours do not make you the same man. However I think somewhere you already knew that and are just looking for confirmation.”

Respectfully Submitted,

Steve Apple

Stile Corbett, MD

CMO, USS HOOD NCC 1703

ASR: ORIGINS

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: The Tour Continues

by Andy Catterick

SD: 2261.138


Scene: Science Lab One

Jack strode into Science Lab One only to find Lieutenant Hemux bent over some sort of equipment and peering intently into it. He didn't want to disturb her so instead leaned against the wall and surveyed the large lab. Some of the equipment he could probably name, and of that small group he could likely explain the function of a much smaller handful. If he really put his mind to it. In all reality, however, this part of the ship was alien to him. He had never had a mind for science and it had been a real struggle through the Academy. He had spent many a sleepless night trying to understand what for many seemed basic scientific concepts while his friends did their best to drum the answers into him. If he had not excelled so highly in other areas of the curriculum he likely would have washed out.

"Excuse me captain I hope I didn't leave you standing there too long. I'm afraid I was engrossed in my work."

Jack knew the polite thing was to ask what she had been working on but to be honest he didn't want to stare blankly at the explanation, and Hemux, like most scientists enjoyed her work immensely and had a tendency to make rather indepth explanations. "Its I who should apologize for interrupting you. But I wanted to thank you."

"Thank me captain?" She asked in confusion. "For what?"

"You're discovery of a way to track the TSS HOOD quite probably saved a lot of lives, lieutenant."

Hemux waved him off. "I was just part of the team captain. Cedria was in command she is the one that deserves the thanks."

"Absolutely." Jack agreed. "But you were an important part of the team and your efforts as part of that team made the mission a success. I've included that in my report to Command and I've had a commendation placed on your record. That was some damn fine work lieutenant."

"Thank you sir." The Denoublean grinned.

"So," Jack asked hoping he wouldn't regret it. "what re you working on?"


Respectfully,

Andy

CAPT Jack Steele

CO, USS HOOD NCC 1703

STARFLEET: ORIGINS

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Carry the News I

by Dave Kiel

SD 2261.140

<snip from `Where the Action Is'> "One moment." LT Hemux's hands danced around the scanner controls. "One shuttle, bearing 114 mark 13. All systems are down, but I still read seven life signs aboard."

Finally, some good news. "All right!" exclaimed Zade. "Helm maneuver us into transporter range."

The good news was cut short by a beep on Tamura's board. "Uh, Lieutenant. USS HALIFAX is hailing us. They're sending a command challenge." A command challenge was a set of personal recognition codes uniquely chosen by the captain and first officer. It was used by Star Fleet captains to help identify personnel in the event the officers' identifies were in question. A proper response theoretically identified the proper person; a special improper response indicated the person was under duress; and of course an improper response meant the person was an imposter.

"And they're coming in with shields up and weapons hot," noted Hemux.

<end snip>

Cedria looked to Tamura. "Send the request to the Captains console." She walked over to the chair and leaned over to tap in the required codes. They would identify her as acting CO while letting Halifax know the ship was at least presumably under federation control.

"Hail them."

"On screen, lieutenant." Tamura indicated.

Cedria turned and looked, a smile of recognition on her face at the sight of the middle aged captain of the Halifax. "Little Stevie, how long has it been?"

The flustered CO of the Halifax looked positively nonplussed by the strange young woman in command of Hood. He assumed his hearing was faulty and tried to assert control of the situation. "Ahm, yes, this is Captain Steven Morris of the USS Halifax,…"

"Lieutenant Cedria Zade, acting CO, USS Hood. You knew me as Prime Minister Devan Zade, I worked with your father on Federation matter on Trill. You stole a tongfruit from my desk."

She saw a snicker from one of his officers in the background as he stared bewildered at her and attempted once more to alter the tone of the conversation to one more suited to the aftermath of a battle. "I, uh, where is Captain Steele."

"We aren't sure yet." She stepped down to the nav console and looked over the readings. "Your sensors should detect a shuttle warp signature at one six eight five two by aught four four six four. That shuttle could be carrying Federation crew under duress, Im sending you logs and sensor info now so you know what you might be dealing with. The enemy looks a lot like us, more so than you would expect. We will handle rescue efforts here if you can find that shuttle, sir." She added that last part as deference to his obviously rattled sense of decorum.

He looked to his con, Cedria heard the phrase `confirmed the warp signature' as Captain Morris looked back. "Very well, we'll fetch your shuttle for you."

The screen resolved back to the dying alternate Hood and the Halifax, turning its single nacelle powering to life and launching it out after the shuttle. Cedria looked over at Hemux, see if you can get a lock on the people in that shuttle.

The science officer tapped her display and muttered and then looked up for a moment. "Transporting now—hold, Im showing a massive power,…." A blinding white light flashed and new klaxons sounded as TSS Hood obliterated herself.

<snip from `Into the Fire'>

Suddenly, Gar felt a tingly sensation come over him, one with which he was imminently familiar. However, instead of the normal brief moment of discontinuity followed by re-integration, nothing happened.

"Someone's trying to beam us off the shuttle," Gar said.

"So what's the problem?" Merrick asked.

"I don't know," Gar said, as he felt the tell-tale tingle again. This time, however, he noticed that everyone seemed to shimmer for a moment.

"That was a wide-beam attempt," he said. He looked down at his console, and his blue hue paled about his face. "Captain, the HOOD's about to blow!

At that moment, the shuttle lurched again; for a brief moment, the force of the lurch overwhelmed the weakened inertial compensators, working now on only emergency power, and every person on board were slung sideways over their seats, with only their belts saving them from being tossed around like so much flotsam and jetsam.

As they began to right themselves, another impact slammed into the unprotected shuttle, and threw them forward. This impact was not so gentle as the last one, and all of the repairs Gar had just finished making seemed to come apart in a half-dozen explosions and small fires within the craft's cabin.

What consoles had been working were no longer.

More importantly, what power there had been was no longer either...which meant no lighting, no engines...and no environmental systems.

But they were still alive.

Gar quickly unstrapped himself once the ship had settled some, and climbed under his console; opening the access panel simply produced another arc of electromagnetic plasma, barely missing his exposed hands.

"That's it, captain- I can't do a thing with her," he groused.

Gar got up, and coughed as he waved away some of the smoke from his face. "So why are we still here?" he asked, eyes towards the Captain. "Where's OUR HOOD- you know, with transporters, the whole 'cavalry over the hill' thing you pinkskins are so fond of making movies about?"

Steele coughed a couple of times himself. "I don't know, Gar," he said, glancing at the dead viewscreen in front of him.

"Wherever they are, I hope they get here soon."

Stile waved away more smoke. "Truer words were never said, sar," he said.

<end snip>

The little shimmering beads of transport energy returned, curling around their bodies at that moment. After a bit-parcel of cold oblivion they rematerialized in transporter room four on the USS Hood.

Respectfully submitted;

David Kiel

Lt Cedria Zade,

NAV, USS HOOD NCC-1703

ASR: ORIGINS

Cedria Quall

Trill Assassin, The Resistance

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Carry the News II

by Dave Kiel

SD 2261.140

Cedria met the harried new Security chief on her way down to the transport pad.

"We've found the escapees, sir. They took you up on your surrender offer."

"Excellent." She said, looking at him as he fell into stride next to her. "I think we've found our crew members and I had this vision of one of them getting into a wrestling match with their twin and all of a sudden we wouldn't know which one of them to shoot. I hate it when that happens."

They walked into the transporter room to see Steele and the Doctor she was sure had been poisoned to death by a killer bunny. "Are you fit to return to command, Captain?"

He looked at her. "Any damage to my ship, lieutenant?"

"Not so much as a scratch, sir." She turned hearing a very oddly familiar voice.

"I'm the one who kicked Zade's ass?" Cedria Quall walked up to where Cedria Zade stood, both women dressed in skirted gold uniforms. Cedria Zade noted the midriff baring design of her counterparts outfit and the lack of the telltale `X' shaped scar that marked a Trill as joined. She looked into matching blue eyes and marveled at the exactness of the other universes duplication; the same eyes, same smooth skin, same light auburn hair, same tiny little scar from that tree when she was nine, and the same coppery shade of lip gloss she had chosen that morning. It made all the bewildering differences almost hard to believe. Then Cedria remembered that this was technically a first contact mission and there were decorum's and protocols that were to be followed.

Zade however was a corrupting influence, and the corners of her coppery lips turned in a wry bit of mischief. "You're kinda hot."


  • * *** * *

It was only seventy-five minutes later when the crewman from the alternate universe settled into a borrowed shuttlecraft for the journey home. Jeri, Cedria and Cedria had worked out settings to get them back using the Tholian device that would also short out the connection between universes. Knocking the two Branes reeling away from each other.

The settings they had to input had the side effect of overloading any nearby warp core to the point of a sudden and spectacular breach. Gar stood by ready to shut down the shuttles core at the right moment to spare them a frightening and sparkly death.

Captain Steele of the other universe had been remanded into the custody of alternate Commander Merrick with the caveat that he was not to be executed in Federation space. Steele was still shackled in arm and leg irons after his daring three feet of escape earlier that day.

It was agreed that Hemux was the likeliest candidate to be the occupant of the missing shuttle, but Halifax had not found a trace of her after losing the trail a mere parsec away. As each minute in this universe was degrading their molecular cohesion even further the decision was made to launch then. After all if anyone could find a way to prevent their cells from turning into goo, it was the molecular exobiologist.

Jeri said a final goodbye to this universes version of her husband and climbed aboard. The shuttle doors closed and the bay doors opened. Cedria lifted off and glided smoothly out and away from USS Hood. She settled into the vector of their return course and waited until they were safely away from Hood.

"We should make sure we don't emerge near any other ships, away from star lanes lest the surge destroys any passing ships. A light year should be sufficient." Gar offered.

Cedria looked over her course and smiled as she engaged the warp engines. "I'm sorry sir, but that is not the plan."

Dr. Corbett chuckled and drawled. "Welcome to the resistance, folks."

The shuttle hit warp and the Tholian device thrummed to life for the final time, it surged and Gar hit the emergency shutdown of the shuttles power core. A blazing blue light enfolded them and their stomachs twisted as the shuttle bridged the dimensions and shot back into its crews original universe,… right between the nacelles of the TSS Constitution.

"Emergency power to engines."

"Im already reading a warp core breach."

"Aft shields, lets get the hell out of here."

Captain Steele looked out the rear viewport at the shuddering ship of his archrival. "Ha ha ha ha! Suck that, Veld!" A hammer to the right of his jaw sent him into a blissful slumber.

Commander Merrick returned to his seat next to Jeri, rubbing his fist. "That's still fun the second time around."


NRPG: A proper sendoff to the survivors of TSS Hood and a tying up of a few loose ends.

Respectfully submitted;

David Kiel

Lt Cedria Zade,

NAV, USS HOOD NCC-1703

ASR: ORIGINS


Cedria Quall

Trill Assassin, The Resistance

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Pushing Mother to the Edge

by Andy Catterick

<thought I sent this out yesterday but found it in my drafts...in terms of timelines it should come in line with the sickbay posts and before Jack's visit to Hemux>

SD: 2261.138

Scene: Sickbay

<old>

Jack looked over at his friend and frowned. "Of course not, I've spent the better part of my adult life trying to live up to the ideals set forth by Star Fleet."

"Then there is your answer sar. Somewhere along the way Black Jack lost the ability to keep his baser self in check and let it consume him. You on the other hand temper yours with restraint and good ole humanity. So my final argument is just because his pile of chemicals and water are identical to yours do not make you the same man. However I think somewhere you already knew that and are just looking for confirmation."

<new>

"I suppose I was." Jack sighed. "Its just a hard thing to see. And it gets you to wondering, what would push a man, would push me, to turn in to that." He shook his head at the thought not wanting to really think about it but being unable to stop.

"Like I said, it would be unnatural not to consider it."

Jack nodded. "Fair enough. But look there was an official reason I came to see you and as unpleasant as it will be for some I'm afraid its something that I can't neglect."

Stile frowned at the captain unsure what he meant. "Ok, go on."

"I'm going to let the Maxwell thing slide, I mean I can't really reprimand you, after I've, uh, sampled the wares as it were. Doctor you've become a good friend and a trusted advisor over these last months, you've made the job of being captain of this circus that much easier and I want you to know I appreciate that. But I do have to worry about crew morale and military correctness." He paused to wave down the remark that was about to spring forth from Corbett. "I know you're a doctor and in large degree separate from the military aspect of this ship. But you still are a commissioned officer in Starfleet and must adhere to the rules and regulations of the military code. As must I. So, like I've said I'm going to let the contraband slide but I can't allow you to wander the ship and perform your duties when you are not fully compliant with the regs on uniform."

Stile looked back at the captain with a combination of bewilderment and rising anger. "Surely Sar you can not mean my hat. I thought we had agreed when I arrived here it was not to be a problem."

"No, no the hat is fine. Actually its so much a part of you I forget its even there."

"Then what may I ask is this transgression that can no longer be tolerated. I assure you I wash and deodorize when ever needed."

Jack pointed. "Its the sleeves. You can't be expected to be afforded the courtesy of lieutenant commander when you're still sporting lieutenant stripes. If you don't rectify that by the end of the watch I'm going to have to put you on report."

Stile stared back in shock until Mother's voice rang out from the other room. "Oh my God they've promoted him. Saxman get me a phaser I think I'd rather shoot myself then call that man commander!


<<<NRPG>>

Congrats Lieutenant Commander Corbett!


Respectfully,

Andy

CAPT Jack Steele

CO, USS HOOD NCC 1703

STARFLEET: ORIGINS

[ORIGINS] USS HOO: Off to see the NAV

by Andy Catterick

SD: 2261.139

Scene: Navigation Office


Jack always liked walking into the Navigation Offices. This was one of the few places on the ship that really gave him the explorer spirit. The main room was filled with large screen monitors on the walls where new courses were plotted and improved upon. Inevitably someone's desk would have an old fashioned telescope, another would have an ancient sextant. On one of Jack's first ships they actually had dozens of star charts rolled up on paper! Decades of course changes still marked on them by hand. He remembered the joyful fascination he had when the chief navigator had made him actually roll one out and solve a tricky route through some gravitational anomalies without the aid of a computer. It has taken the better part of the day but he had enjoyed it immensely. And it had given him a better insight into the true strengths of a good navigator.

"Can I help you captain?" A junior non comm said with a smile.

"Looking for Lieutenant Zade."

"She's in her office looking over the new downloads."

Jack nodded his thanks and made his way over to Cedria's officer and found her scrutinizing the newest starcharts on her own wall sized monitor. "Anything interesting?" He asked from the door way.

"Good morning captain." Cedria replied as she invited him in to the office. "Unfortunately no. Well not in terms of is there a clue to our next mission. They're just general upgrades of database information."

Jack nodded. The new Starship Program has certainly done a great deal in pushing back the Federation frontier into uncharted space. Star charts were updated on an almost daily basis. Which didn't stop them both from hoping that the latest download would contain some specific information on a particular area of the quadrant. Special downloads were generally the first step in new mission orders. He still couldn't believe that command would leave HOOD floating around a quiet sector in explored space. "Lieutenant I get the sense that you're not someone who generally likes to stand on a lot of ceremony. Am I right?"

"Well captain I adhere to military protocol as proscribed in the code, but no I can't say I'm for all the pomp and ceremony."

"Good." He tossed her a small black box.

Her eyes widened slightly as she opened it up and examined the contents. "Thats the Bronze Star Medal."

"So it is. Congratulations lieutenant."

"I'm not sure I understand sir."

"All I had to do is append your action after report, and those of the bridge officers under your command, along with my own recommendation and Command signed off on the medal. You didn an outstanding job juggling several important balls while I and the other senior officers were off the ship. That medal is well deserved."


<<<NRPG>>>


Congrats David! I tried writing more but it started to sound overly cliche...so I quit while I was (somewhat) ahead. And I hope I played your character ok.


Now just gotta write something for the new SEC


Respectfully,


Andy

CAPT Jack Steele

CO, USS HOOD NCC 1703

STARFLEET: ORIGINS

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: You Got Me There...

by Andy Catterick

SD: 2261.139


Scene: Security Central

"Hiya Rick!"

"Captain! Come on in." Lieutenant Commander Rick Payne said with a grin. "Good to see you again sir." Ensign Rick Payne had served under Security Squad Leader Lieutenant Jack Steele back on USS DAUNTLESS. "I knew they'd eventually put us back together. Someone has to keep an eye on you." Payne had saved his commander's life on two separate landing parties.

"I'm glad you're here Rick I'm only sorry I couldn't snag you earlier. I tried to nab you when I was XO but Captain Sinclair had his own ideas. Tried again when they gave me HOOD but Admiral Palmer denied it. Said you were needed where you were."

Rick nodded. "I was, at the time. We were in the middle of some things and there was no way Captain Reynolds would have let me, or any of her other officers for that matter go. And to be honest there was no way I would have left. I couldn't have."

"I understand how it works Rick. But you're here now."

"And not soon enough!"

"Meaning?" Jack asked with a slight frown.

"Well let me first ask you for your autograph." He smiled innocently.

"My autograph?"

"Well I see you made yourself a vid star after that a debacle on Arcturus."

Jack just shook his head and sighed. "That could have gone better."

"Lets see you've had a brig breakout and my personal favourite escaped killer bunnies. Jack you came up in security I can't see this happening. What the frak is going on here!"

Jack rubbed his forehead. "Look the responsibilities all stop with me and no excuses but there more then a few extenuating circumstances." He paused as Rick made a 'go on' gesture. "Arcturus was a disaster before we ever even left, yes the withdrawal was not exactly text book but we salvaged what we had. The brig break, well given the individuals involved and the special knowledge they had, it was probably inevitable."

"And the killer bunnies?"

There was a long pause. "Ya, you got me there."


Respectfully,


Andy

CAPT Jack Steele

CO, USS HOOD NCC 1703

STARFLEET: ORIGINS

USS HOOD: Since you're asking...

by David Martens

SD: 2261.138

Scene: Science Lab One

<Snip from andy>

Hemux waved him off. "I was just part of the team captain. Cedria was in command she is the one that deserves the thanks."

"Absolutely." Jack agreed. "But you were an important part of the team and your efforts as part of that team made the mission a success. I've included that in my report to Command and I've had a commendation placed on your record. That was some damn fine work lieutenant."

"Thank you sir." The Denoublean grinned.

"So," Jack asked hoping he wouldn't regret it. "what re you working on?"

<End of Snip>


Arr'Rhiana's face brightened up and she turned to the device she was working on. "Since you ask, Sir, This is something I am working on since we discovered where out counterpart was coming from." She turned to him with twinkling eyes from excitement. "We knew their shields and weapons where more powerful and versatile then ours. I have been studying their gaseaous trails and emitions from their impulse engines and the energysignatures from their shields. Also we where able to salvage some of the debris after the destruction of the TSS HOOD. I was able to analyse someof it and my preliminary research has given me some clues."

Hemux strode to a table, searching through a pile of papers, notes and PADDs untill she dreww a small bundle of papers out waving it to the Captain.

"Here, you see, this equation shows it clearly. It seemed the differences in physical laws, certainly on the subatomic levels and the Heisenbergh uncertainties made an unusual and remarkable situation possible where the anti-matter from their universe, mixed up with the matter from our universe created a higher energy yield then the normal matter - anti-matter reactions. Thus given them the advantage of a higher powerboost, higher energy-weapons, more power to shields, better range in sensors and so on."

Taking a deep breath and ignoring the rather stupidious look in Steele's eyes she continued "And now it get's really exiting, Sir. Take a look at this formula, the equation here and here, and this diagram. You see it?"

Steele only nodded and wanted to interupt but, caried on by the baility to vent her enthousiasm to public, Hemuw already kept talking. "The real interesting part is that I was able to determine the exact compositioin of the matter from their universe, down to the subatomic level, down to the Heisenbergh uncertenties!"

Hemux spun around to Steele, staring him in the eyes for a few long seconds... Then she sihghed "You don't get it, right? Iam sorry, Sir, Do you understand it... Sir?" she repeated a bit more polite and with some more respect. Looking to Steele as if he was a litle boy in first grade taking in his first math lessons.

"Maybe if you try me without all that physical crap, doctor?" Steele sighed also, rubbing his temple, really regretting he had ever asked...

Hemux shriugged her shoulders and nodded "To put it simple: with some luck and better equipment we might be able to replicate matter with the composition from the alternate universe. If we then would use that type of matter in our matter - anti-matter chambers, we could increase our energy output with about 20 to 25 %."

Steele nodded "That sounds amazing, any drawbacks?"

Hemux grinned "Ofcourse, the created matter would be highly unstable, it could not be stored from longer then hours, maybe days. And we have no idea what it would do to our engines or the warp signature it would create. It could turn out that if we use that new mixture for our warpenige, we create an instant black hole, launch our ship into some other dimension or just blow up the ship."

Turning back to her notes for a moment she then smiled to Steel "But the possibilities are amazing, I am sure that with more research it will bring up some great possibilities for engines and who knows what. And if not that, then it just might be good enough to get me into the StarFleets Science magazines"

Steele nodded "uhmm,... Yes weell, Keep up the good work, doctor. I am sure it will be usefull for someone, one day. I have to check in on some others, if you don't mind..."

Hemux blinked her eyes to the Captain "Oh, no ... Ofcourse not, Ia lready have taken enough of your time, Sir. And there is so much more I need to checkin before I even can think about writing that paper."

She turned back to her tools and PADD's and notes and kept mumbling to her self.

Steele ruhsed out the lab, scatching his head as soon as he was out and looking up to the skies making a promise to himself not to ask Hemux ever again about what she was doing..., he just would send Stile to her next time he wanted to know what she was doing... With that idea in his mind and a smile on his face he went on to check on his next visit.


<<<NRPG>>>


Andy, nice to have Steele visit the poor doctor. I sure hope he doesn't regrets it to much...


Respectfully,

David Martens

Lt ARr'Rhiana Hemux

CSciO

Sovereignty Fleet

USS HOOD NCC 1703

ASR ORIGINS

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Subspace Streams

by Dave Kiel

SD 2261.143

<Snip from "Off to see the NAV" with the addition of one word `mostly'>

Jack nodded. The new Starship Program has certainly done a great deal in pushing back the Federation frontier into uncharted space. Star charts were updated on an almost daily basis. Which didn't stop them both from hoping that the latest download would contain some specific information on a particular area of the quadrant. Special downloads were generally the first step in new mission orders. He still couldn't believe that command would leave HOOD floating around a quiet sector in explored space. "Lieutenant I get the sense that you're not someone who generally likes to stand on a lot of ceremony. Am I right?"

"Well captain I adhere to military protocol as proscribed in the code, mostly, but no I can't say I'm for all the pomp and ceremony."

"Good." He tossed her a small black box.

Her eyes widened slightly as she opened it up and examined the contents. "Thats the Bronze Star Medal."

"So it is. Congratulations lieutenant."

"I'm not sure I understand sir."

"All I had to do is append your action after report, and those of the bridge officers under your command, along with my own recommendation and Command signed off on the medal. You did an outstanding job juggling several important balls while I and the other senior officers were off the ship. That medal is well deserved."

<end snip>

"Awww, that's so sweet."

The Captain looked taken aback slightly by the not so protocolish response, but recovered seamlessly. "Well, I appreciate knowing the ship is in good hands when I'm not around."

He looked around the office she'd only just had time to start decorating, stepping over to a display where she had a pair of subspace stream maps of core Federation space side by side. He turned back and smirked. "Really? Sweet?"

"Sorry, sir. I meant to say something like `It is an honor to have ones accomplishments, no matter how trivial they may have been recognized and I'm glad to have had the opportunity to serve this ship and through it the good citizens of the Federation, sir." She snapped her hands behind her back and clicked her boot heels together at attention, for a moment.

"Much better." He turned and examined the first map. "Subspace streams?"

"Yes," Cedria stepped over to the wall display. "Flows of subspace that can amplify warp signatures by anywhere from a factor of two to a couple orders of magnitude. That's sector zero zero one there."

"I recognize it." He stepped to the second display. "I haven't seen this one to my recollection."

"It's from the data you collected. The same sector in the other universe, sir." Cedria pointed out the major systems. "The subspace streams are like old time dirt paths. If not used they flow and change. In Captain Archers day there was a naturally occurring stream from Earth to Qo'noS, allowing travel to the Klingon homeworld in four days at warp 4.5. With the relations between the Federation and Klingons what they are that stream dissipated completely twenty years ago. The stream from Earth to Vulcan was even stronger. That trip could be made in four minutes, but the new singularity and lack of travel is already causing it to degrade."

She moved to the second display. "In our counterparts universe, no real exchange of culture between Earth and Vulcan happened. Theres no travel stream at all. It would take them five days pushing their engines to get to Vulcan. In some ways the similarities between universes were staggering. In other ways it's the differences that are staggering."

The Captain looked back and forth between the two. "So tactically speaking this information is,…?"

"Absolutely worthless, sir."

"Excellent work then, Lieutenant." He smirked again and she joined him.

"Thank you, sir."


Respectfully submitted;

David Kiel

Lt Cedria Zade,

NAV, USS HOOD NCC-1703

ASR: ORIGINS

[ORIGINS] USS HODD: "Trouble Behind, Trouble Ahead"

by Scott Lusby

SD: 2261.144

MD: Between missions

Setting: Chief Engineer's Office, USS HOOD


<<snip- from Andy's post "Discoveries">>

"Computer?"

"Working." Came back the metallic voice.

"Display image Steele Two Seven."

"Acknowledged." The computer replied.

"What do you think of that?" Jack asked as both men looked at the image that appeared.

Finally Sean spoke. "It looks like a lamp my Aunt Bertha had in her parlour, with less dust."

Jack chuckled. "It does have the family heirloom feel doesn't it? That gentlemen is the First Federation Ship FESARIUS."

"Its frakkin ugly." Gar replied as he gave it a second, more appraising look.

"I agree. It was a first contact with one of our sister ships a few months back. I just got the report this morning. Oh and it's highly classified so it doesn't leave this room. But I thought as engineers you'd both be interested."

"Why?" Gar answered plainly unimpressed.

"Computer superimpose an image of USS HOOD on to the image displayed. Make it to scale."

"Working."

Sean whistled as the image changed. "It's massive."

Jack nodded. "Just short of two kilometers in diameter."

"That's quite a first contact. Friendly I hope." Gar said.

"Hope so. The report doesn't say too much. But what a chance for that captain and crew to make." He added wistfully. "That's why we're out here!"

<<end snip>>


Gar leaned back in his chair. "Why don't I know who the First Federation is?"

Steele shrugged. "No one seems to; in fact, had the RUTLEDGE not run across one of their marker buoys a few days ago, we might not be going to meet them now."

Merrick glanced at Steele with a raised eyebrow. "Something up?"

Steele nodded. "Seems RUTLEDGE destroyed the marker buoy, and they sent FESARIUS to investigate. A short skirmish ensued, and RUTLEDGE is now being 'held' by the FESARIUS- literally: they've got RUTLEDGE in a tractor beam, and she can't break free with the damage she's sustained. And so Starfleet is sending us."

Gar pursed his lips. "Figures- once again, we're going in to clean up someone else's mess."

"That's why we get paid the big bucks," Steele quipped.

"How long until we arrive?" Merrick asked.

"Two days- if Gar's engines can sustain warp 6," the Captain replied, eying the Andorian engineer out of the corner of his eye.

"I'll get you there- you just worry about getting the RUTLEDGE out of trouble." Gar paused, then added, "I'll get a emergency response team together to help out, assuming you DO manage to secure RUTLEDGE's release."

Merrick sighed, then, afterwards, allowed a thin smile to cross his lips. "Well, I suppose it wouldn't be Starfleet if we had any idea of what we're about to face."

Steele returned the cynical grin. "Truer words were never spoken, Commander."


<<NRPG>>

This is the best I could come up with. Sorry if I threw in some details you hadn't been planning on...but I wanted to give us a little extra to do, make the stakes a bit higher. ;)


Respectfully Submitted,

-- Scott Lusby

/\ LCDR Gar Th'elenth

Chief Engineer

USS HODD NCC-1703

Task Force 6

STAR FLEET: ORIGINS

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Every Ship Needs a Trill Girl - JP

by David Kiel and Brian V. Mansur

SD 2261.141

MD Post Mission

Scene: NAV's Office, USS HOOD

Sean felt better than he had in years. Though the bittersweet taste of saying goodbye to the mirror Jeri lingered, she had given him an unexpected blessing with her kind words. He felt at peace. Finally, he knew he could move forward with his life.

It didn't take Sean long to realize that he had not had found the time to acquaint himself with either their new NAV or their COMM officer. Cedria, being the decidedly more attractive of the two, earned her the first stop.

Walking into the NAV's office unannounced, he was surprised to see the Captain just leaving.

"Ah Sean, come pass on congrats to Zade?"

"Huh? Oh did you get her the Bronze Star then?"

"Yes indeed."

"Well good for her," Sean said genuinely pleased. "Which reminds me. I'll have to stop by sickbay sometime here and say hola to the new Commander. You know it really is going to suck that I can't pull rank on him anymore."

"Like you could before?"

"Whenever he's wasn't acting under the direct orders of my senior rater." Sean eyed his old friend severely. Steele slapped him on the shoulder and laughed.

"You'll make O-5 sooner or later Sean. Then you'll get to see how little respect you really get."

"If I ever make Commander, *I'll* bring the tequila and cigars."

"Bribery will get you no where."

"Bribery? Hardly. More like tempting fate. They have a tendency to make XO's into CO's eventually. If that ever happens, I'm really screwed."

Steele nodded warmly. "Good to see you turned around Sean. I was worried."

"You should be. I found religion again."

Shaking his head and smiling, the Captain left for his next stop.

Sean stepped into Zade's office to see Cedria reading through the certificate of award that accompanied her Bronze Star.

"Congratulations Lieutenant. Well deserved."

Cedria looked somber. Mixed emotions played over her face. "Thanks Commander. Umpteen lifetimes and there are still things to take my breath away." She turned to face the newcomer and her expression switched to one of amusement. "You should read about how heroic I am. It says `heroic and/or meritorious' right there on a certificate no less. I'm thinking of developing a Napoleon complex. I've never had one of those before. It should be a hoot." She flipped her hair back and faced him, hands on her hips smirking.

Commander Merrick smiled at her offsetting sense of humor. "I didn't get the chance to meet you or Mister Tamura before the latest mission so I decided to pay a visit to your respective departments." He stepped forward and offered his hand. "Sean Merrick."

"Cedria Zade." She shook his hand.

He noticed a glossy folder on her desk and picked it up. He was surprised to find an old fashioned wall calendar. "The Women of the Constitution Class?"

"Yes, yes." She said, thoroughly embarrassed that she had left it on her desk the whole time the Captain had been in her office. "A friend shipped one from the Academy. A cadet joke I'm assuming. Apparently I'm July." She looked oddly proud of the last part.

"Oh my freaking gosh," he laughed, then sobered. "You want me to get to the bottom of this?"

"No need, really." She snatched her copy from him and paged to July. "Just cadets being cadets. Besides I look good, don't you think?" She lifted her picture up, it showed her in the skirted version of the academy instructors uniform in Starpoint Park at sunset, hands running through long flowing brown hair.

Now it was Commander Merrick's turn to blush. How had he lost complete control of this situation? He'd only been in the room a minute or two. "Um." He searched for a response that didn't violate any codes of conduct.

She let him off the hook, tossing the Calendar back to her desk with various star charts and duty reports. "After all, you're only twenty eight a couple dozen times, tops. I'd offer you a chair but I haven't requisitioned any yet."

Sean chuckled, glad the calendar portion of the conversation was over. He seized the opportunity to move the conversation in a safer direction. "Now your counterpart was named Quall, right? So Zade is the symbiont and your name pre-joining name was Quall?"

"Quall? Never heard of it." She shook her head, weird universe that other one they had found. "My name was Cedria Vylex when I first started the academy. I was Zade a year later."

"And you aren't an assassin?"

"No, I'm a pilot, and a navigator, and a gymnast. And a bunch of other things by association but not any of them involve killing people."

"Well that's good to know." This Trill did seem friendlier and somewhat less violent than the version he had met on board the TSS HOOD. "I thought perhaps an informal get to know each other session might be worthwhile. After all we may be back to back on some alien world in a fight for our lives against predatory insects someday." He chuckled at the notion until he realized she was staring openly at him.

"That's not our mission is it?" Cedria said genuinely concerned. "I don't like bugs, and alien bugs, they are way worse."

"Um, no, no bugs, I promise." She could be a little bewildering this one. "I was just making conversation…"

"We should make a detailed tactical plan for this possible alien bug invasion. Come on," She grabbed her hand comp slipping it into her skirt pocket and leading him out of her office. "You can buy me some fruit juice at the commissary."

"Hmm," Sean commented. "I didn't know I was expected to buy you things."

She smirked pointing to the bronze star on her desk. "The Captain got me jewelry. You don't want to fall too far behind the curve here."


NRPG: Commissary scene to follow.

Girls of the Constitution class was lifted from a Rob Meier post on the Defiant. I was surprised to hear my character in it so I embraced the idea and worked it into this post.


Respectfully Submitted Jointly,

David Kiel

LT Cedria Zade

NAV, USS HOOD, NCC-1703

ASR ORIGINS

&

Brian V. Mansur

LCDR Sean Merrick

FO, USS HOOD, NCC-1703

ASR ORIGINS

USS HOOD: Hood sweet Hood...

by David Martens

SD: 2261.140


Scene: personal quarters Dr Hemux

Arr'Rhiana took a deep breath of her pipe, the smell of wood, herbs and a strange sweetness filled the air as Hemux smoked her Mushrooms again. A big smile was upon her face as she had the nicest visions of her homeworld, the plains, the flowering meadows and the homelands where she was born, now almost a hundred standard years ago.

Things where going good for her now. She had found a new home on the USS HOOD, a strong, fast vessel that brought her to new worlds and new civilisations. Places no Denobulan, probabaly no member of the Federation, had ever been. She had already made such remarkable discoveries; she had added a few very nice specimens to her insect collectioin and there was so much new data to study.

Arr'Rhiana also felt pleased she had found some new friends on board of the HOOD. Although the men were ... typical men; rough, big mouthed, fast with their mouth and loving the booze, they also had shown to be loyal and friendly and, well, understanding about her little bad habits. She giggled as she lifted the pipe again and took another taste of the smoke. Yes, it had been good decision to accept this assignment.

Hemux blinked her eyes as she remembered some drawbacks on her assignment also. She shivered as she remembered the assault on the security station, where they barely escaped. And more recent, the meeting with her evil counterpart and the TSS HOOD; The cruelty the Evil-Hemux hd shown towards her `pets', the madness to gain new information and new data, how she spied on her crewmembers... It all was so wicked and sick. Hemux had checked the data from the destruction of the TSS HOOD and she was almost certain there where possibilities where her counterpart might have escaped.

She grabbed another bag of mushrooms, she needed something stronger to forget the almost destruction of the HOOD. Aha, yes, the Alterean orange brain fungi, that was a long time ago... She too a breath as the sparks lightened the dried mushrooms, this time a different smell filled the air: stronger, more salty, she nodded and closed her eyes.

She drifted away and noticed Corbet being chased by numerous females and dangerous looking rabbits while he called out for `mother'. She grinned as she turned the corner bumping into Steele who swing a bottle of liquid to her, offering her a glass that floated to her through the air. Taking a sip she walked on and passed a dozen or more duplicates of that Trill woman, Dax? Or something like it dressed up in all kind of outfits, from StarFleet officer over doctor, teacher, barmaid, male, female, but all with the same face.

She turned anther corner and came into a corridor with only one door, a big sign said "Dr Hemux, Alternate Lab". She frowned her brows, but stepped inside. She came in a lab, looking exactly the same as hers, no..., wait a minute, it WAS hers... from out her office came... Herself...

Hemux blinked her eyes looking at her duplicate. Alternate-her tapped a key and a tri-D holo showed up, a newsflash.

[Dr Hemux, the famous StarFleet scientist, assigned on the USS HOOD, has today activated the first multi-dimensional powerplant. Thanks to her continuous investigations and remarkable discoveries this new type of powerplants will give a unlimited supply of power and energy to our worlds. This will start a new Era with unknown possibilities and opportunities.]

Hemux blinked her eyes, a dream? A newsflash from the future? She turned to look again and saw a other alternate, with a more evil grin looking to the same newsflash

[Dr Hemux, the feared and remarkable Sovereignty scientist, assigned on the TSS HOOD, has today activated the first multi-dimensional powerplant. Thanks to her continuous investigations and, although some think questionable ways of investigations this new type of powerplants will give a unlimited supply of power and energy to our glorious army and fleets. This will start a new Era of expansion and unknown possibilities to crush our enemies.]

Hemux shivered as she blinked her eyes; was this what would have happened if the TSS Hood had succeeded in defeating the USS Hood? Would her evil counterpart had managed to use the multi-dimensional powers for the cruel intentions of the Sovereignty?

She faced her alternate self again and saw... A ravaged, old female, sitting in a corner of a lab, heavily guarded by soldiers.

[Dr Hemux, the infamous StarFleet scientist, formerly assigned to the USS HOOD, has today activated the first multi-dimensional powerplant. We now are witnessing the unexpected effects of this event as StarFleet is struggling to survive the forces unleashed by this experiment. Rifts and wormholes seemed to have opened to the multi-universes where Dr Hemux wanted to tape energy from. Already several colonies have been swallowed by such wormholes, outburst of uncontrollably energy-storms are reported and some ships has reported invasions from unknown races from other dimensions. It seems that Dr Hemux has called destruction and havoc upon our head with these questionable experiments.]

Hemux rushed out the lab, tears burning in her eyes and bumped into the wall. Dizzy she dropped down shaking her head. Slowly she stood up and stumbled back to her quarters. She knew that she had to think. What she had seen in the Dreamworld was a warning, maybe even a prophesy. Would her research into the multi-versum be a good thing? Or would it turn out for the worse? Was Starfleet ready to face the possibility of an enemy as cruel and vicious as the Sovereignty?

She reached her quarters and dropped on her bed. She needed sleep, the last mission had worn her out, maybe she was getting to old for his all, who knows. A night rest might give her the answers.

<<<NRPG>>>


some character development, and looking forward to the new mission.


Respectfully,

David Martens

Lt ARr'Rhiana Hemux

CSciO

Sovereignty Fleet

USS HOOD NCC 1703

ASR ORIGINS