ORIGINS: USS Hood April 2010

ORIGINS: USS Hood Story Posts
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[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Sorting Out Problems Part I

by Brian V. Mansur

SD 2261.091

MD 2.1130

Scene: Engineering, USS HOOD

"What did you mean, Zade?" Cedria said in confusion.

Merrick wanted to slap his forehead, but knew he could cover quickly for this mistake. "Word had it you were secretly going by that. More false trails it seems. Now get the frak up before I decide to shoot you here and take an ass kicking by the Captain for depriving him of his pleasures. Pike. Kindly don't let her do knock your toys out of your hands again. Get her up to the bridge and we'll see what it is she's been doing."

With that, several red shirts moved in and proceeded to frog march Cedria off to give Steele a new headache. Sean didn't envy the Captain's almost certain necessity to execute this mirror Cedria. They absolutely had to keep up appearances if they were to succeed. Knowing that didn't make it any easier though. Kinda made him think being a Captain wasn't all it was cracked up to be.

He turned back to Gar. "What have we got."

"See for yourself. Does that make sense to you?"

Merrick looked at the display Gar was reading. He frowned. "She's trying to leave the ship maybe? Sabotage and run?"

"I can't think of any other reason right now," Gar said.

"What the hell is going on in this crazy ass hellhole of a ship," Sean commented in disgust. He popped open his communicator again. He thought about how they might be overheard there in the open so he looked for an office Locking himself in conference lounge, he set the communicator to scramble. "Captain, it's Merrick. Scramble protocol. Are you secure?"

[Go ahead Sean.] came Steele's voice.

"Holy crap John. Seems Cedria has a switch rigged to kill the shields. It is like everyone on this ship is trying to kill each other. Whatever is happening in their universe seems to be coming to some sort of head if things are this bad."

[Or maybe the stakes are just higher. Either way, it may come in handy.]

Sean took a breath. "What are you going to do with Cedria."

[Don't worry about it. Let me know about the transdimensional device as soon as you can. Everything depends on locking out their universe with it. We have to get this thing done fast. Things are growing more complicated by the minute.]

"Anything I should know about?"

There was a thoughtful pause. [Well, you might want to congratulate Stile on his wedding. Seems he married that Orion you saw last mission.]

Sean wanted to laugh. "I'll bet the shock of it has already driven him to drink." He heard a snort in the background. "I'm right aren't ... " The color suddenly drained out of his face and the last syllable died in his instantly dry mouth.

[Sean?]

Merrick's heart was suddenly pounding. "Captain," he said in suppressed desperation. "Captain she's not here is she?"

[Who? You don't mean? Aw frak! Why the hell didn't we think of that earlier. Look, even if she is, you know it doesn't change our mission Sean.]

To hell with the mission he thought icily. "Sir, if there is even a chance I can save her."

[God damn it Sean, don't lose it now. You don't even know ...] Steele's voice trailed off. Sean guessed he was doing exactly the same thing. Looking up the dossier for a one Jeri Merrick.

And she was there. Alive. Still the wife of Sean Merrick.

"She's one of the chief scientists John."

[Yeah I see the file too.]

Sean was in a cold sweat and pacing the little room. What was he going to do?

[Alright look Sean. Look at what our counterparts are capable of doing. What they have done.]

"She worth saving John. I don't care if she's committed genocide. This isn't some coincidence." He could practically hear Steele banging his head into a wall.

[Alright damn it. We'll find a way to get her off. Just for everyone's sake, get that device sorted out first. We're all dead if you can't rig it to block out the mirror dimension.] There was ping on the Captain's end. [Seems Cedria is here. Good hunting. Steele out.]

The moment the line went dead, Sean opened another. "Computer locate Jeri Merrick."

[Lieutenant Jeri Merrick is in her quarters.]

"Is she alone?"

[Affirmative.]

"Open a channel."

NRPG: Part II coming up in a few hours

Respectfully Submitted,

Brian V. Mansur

LCDR Sean Merrick

FO, USS HOOD, NCC-1703

ASR ORIGINS

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Sorting Out Problems Part II

by Brian V. Mansur

SD 2261.091

MD 2.1135

Scene: Engineering, USS HOOD

"Jeri are you there?"

And a voice that made every hair on the back of his neck stand on end replied, [Sean? What's wrong?]

"Get down to engineering right away. Meet me at the device. We need to discuss a few things."

[Okay. I was about to come down to get back to work anyway. Do you need me to bring you something?]

Jeri had always been thoughtful that way. Something he'd never learned to be. He realized then what a trap it would be to say yes. This was not *her* and he knew it. When she saw him, he had no right to take her into his arms and kiss her. She was in fact another man's woman. But for his soul's sake, he would find a way to get her away from this place. He didn't know anything about his own counterpart. But he guessed that if the mirror Sean had married Jeri, then there was still something decent left in that man.

"Just come down here," he answered, then added, "But thank you."

He closed the line and tried to breathe. Was "thank you" the right thing to say? He didn't know. What was their relationship supposed to be like here? It took several seconds, but he finally pulled something of himself together. Before leaving he had presence of mind to check Gar's file. No mention of a spouse. That didn't mean the Andorian didn't have a woman or two stashed away somewhere though. He'd have to clue him in.

What a mess.

He walked up to Gar. "Come on let's get to wherever that thing is being housed. Steele has things well in hand so I'm sure the crystals will be sent down straight away."

Gar nodded. "You don't look so good."

"Jeri is here."

Gar shook his head in resignation "Sean, you'd have no luck if you didn't have crap luck. Wait a minute. I'm not married am I?"

"Not that I know of."

"Hmm. Well, at least I'm consistent too then."

....

As the pair wound their way through the bowels of the Engineering deck. More than once Sean felt like they were being watched. But it wasn't anything he didn't expect at this point. In fact, if Jesus himself showed up right there and said to him "Buenos Dias" it would be par for the course.

When they got to the transdimensional device, it was being tinkered with by no less than two scientists and an engineer with another few standing at a console puttering away at some specs. About twelve guards were stationed at the entrances looking bored. The dilithium crystals were in their case beside the device. It was too easy.

Sean thought about how to best clear the room. Suddenly it came to him: a wicked thought from his academy days about a certain windbag professor with no couth and a noisy ass.

He let out a long ripping fart that got everyone's attention instantly.

"Get the frak out of this room before you all die. I want some peace and quiet while the commander and I work. Oh and Lieutenant Merrick will be here shortly. Do let her in."

As they left, Gar made a show of holding his hand up to his nose. "Dear heaven."

"Shut up and let's get this thing figured out."

They started with a visual walk around. Cooling pumps, electrical hook ups, braces, field dampeners, logic circuit relays. It was a mess. But both of them could make out at a glance what most of it did. The schematics would be even more telling.

They pulled them up at the console. A few keyboard strokes later, Gar said, "It is ready to go as far as I can tell. We load the crystals and fire it up. Simple as that. It may take a few minutes for me to sort out the wavelength pattern and plasma flow parameters to get the job done. But I think we can have this wrapped up in ten minutes."

A knock came at the door. "Come!" Sean shouted, practically on his toes. And in walked Jeri. Followed by a weapon. Followed by Hemux."

NRPG: Part II complete. Couldn't be that easy now could it.

Respectfully Submitted,

Brian V. Mansur

LCDR Sean Merrick

FO, USS HOOD, NCC-1703

ASR ORIGINS

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Quantum Spin

by David Kiel

SD 2261.091

MD 2.1050

USS Hood Cargo Bay 4

Cargo bay four was filled with twisted and blackened metal. It had taken more than an hour to tractor it inside through randomly programmed and extremely temporary shield windows. Hemux surveyed the gathered data pouring in from a dozen each of science and engineering specialists. The room flowed with blue and gold uniforms.

She had another group of scientists burning spare hull plating with phasers and plasma to try and analyze any sort of subtle differences in the way the two ships burned. She sifted through the data as it flowed in from dozens of tricorders comparing it to the data from the last hour looking for minuscule shadows of differences, trying to find tiny patters in a jumble of otherwise meaningless mathematics.

She tapped keys and fed the data through predesigned filters. Metallic stress, plasma fatigue, power echoes, phaser etching patterns. Nothing stood out as usefully different. The hull materials on TSS Hood were somewhat different, they would be interesting to analyze metalurgically when time permitted but they possessed much the same tensile, crystalline and compressive properties.

She switched to a spectrum analysis. TSS Hood's plating was noticeably different in that it reflected less energy spectrum wide than similar plating from USS Hood. It was a difference, but not a useful one. It helped make TSS Hood harder to find, not easier. Sighing she switched once more to the quantum analysis, watched the lines scroll rapidly across a pair of displays side by side. Page after page after dozen pages and then again it scrolled and scrolled and scrolled and,…

Hemux's hand twitched and both displays stopped. To anyone else it was half a thousand meaningless digits splayed over twin displays. But the science officers eyes widened, one massively useful difference. A radiative particle given off in heat exchange and a quadrillion other common subatomic processes. But in this one exchange in this one so very common exchange, heat transfer, there was a subtle difference.

TSS Hood had the opposite spin, every particle when observed. Up, always up. USS Hood down, every time, down. Everything in her universe would radiate in this manner when heat was exchanged, planets, stars, moons, her ship herself, even the background radiation in the vaccum of space. All down, always down. Except for one thing. The TSS Hood, her hull, her shields, her crew and the very field cloaking them. One particle given off in one so very common condition would spin so very tellingly up.

"Hemux to Zade."

"Zade here."

"I'm sending you some deflector array settings. Input them and run a passive scan."

"Have we found something?"

"I believe so, I'm on my way to the bridge."

/ / /

Five minutes later Hemux was on the bridge, standing next to Zade as she tapped mathematical sequences into the sensor display with entirely unfair speed and precision. Zade eyes widened as she began to recognize the numbers and their intent.

"It's a completely passive scan, we don't even have to direct sensors at them?"

"They wont even know we've found them, if it works."

Zade finished and within five seconds a blue outline appeared in the distance on the port display. "Nice." The Trill whistled. "Put that on the main screen and magnify."

The main screen changed and resolved and suddenly they were looking at an incredibly detailed blue relief map of the TSS Hoods hull, down to the twisted and shattered nacelle they had salvaged remains from. The entire thing was encased in an elliptical blue cloud, the outline of the cloaking field.

Cedria walked a little closer to the display and stood next to Captain Steele's chair, twisting one lock of long brown hair around her index finger. "Keep that on the display, but continue our search pattern. We don't want to have to break them in half until the Captains found his way off that ship."

Respectfully submitted;

David Kiel

Lt Cedria Zade,

NAV, USS HOOD NCC-1703

ASR: ORIGINS

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Big Problem - JP

by Brian Mansur, David Martens and Scott Lusby

SD 2261.091

MD 2.1135

Scene: Engineering, TSS HOOD

Hemux pointed a finger to Gar and Merrick while pushing her gun a bit rougher into Jeri's back. "Don't even think about trying to load the crystals. It's sabotaged. Check the power conduits and the plasma conduits. If you load the crystal their energy will set off the thing and destroy half of the ship's systems." Hemux grinned menacingly. "Probably ripping half of the hull off too."

Jeri, Sean saw, looked every bit as beautiful as the last time he had seen her. And she was both defiant and calm. As though this sort of thing had happened to her before. And that somehow he'd come through for her those times past.

Gar was the one to speak first, "You silly old bitch. Just what do you think you're going to accomplish here?"

Hemux snapped at Gar, "Just step away, I am not your good old lady Denobulan." Hemux grinned as she noticed the surprised looks on both their faces. "Oh, yes I know exactly who... and what... you both are." She pushed Jeri roughly to Merrick. "Our Captain's favorite toy here on the other hand has no idea why we are having this little talk." Again she grinned at the doubly shocked look on Sean's face.

Gar held his composure at the Denobulan's revelations. He hadn't expected the ruse to last; they were just too different, though he figured he should have played the savage a bit more convincingly. But the comment about jeri surprised him, though it shouldn't have- anything, after, was obviously possible in the other universe...

"She's lying Sean," Jeri protested. "He's never taken me."

Sean knew he shouldn't feel jealous but this demon of a Hemux obviously knew how to play Merrick for all he was worth. It took every ounce of strength he had not to go for his phaser. Instead, he wrestled his insides into submission and took a deep breath. After all, he reminded himself, it didn't matter what the truth was about Jeri and the mirror Captain. She wasn't his wife anyway. It could be sorted out later.

"Be quiet Jeri," he said gently, putting her behind him.

Hemux shrugged her shoulders. "Believe it or not I am on your side, if I was not then you would already be dead." He paused for a moment. "I am just here to see that you don't do anything stupid AND that I make it back to my universe alive."

"Your universe?" Jeri said, bewildered. But this Jeri was as quick as Sean's own had been. She got it in 2 seconds flat. Sean could feel her edging back in true terror now.

Sean acted quickly. "Jeri, I'm here to save you. You have to believe that or we're all dead."

"What happened to Sean- MY Sean?" she demanded coldly.

"He's fine. He's in our brig. Stay behind me in case this crazy woman decides to shoot you after all." It took Jeri a moment to calculate the odds. She'd rather have run from the room, he was sure. "Its gonna be okay this time," he whispered lovingly.

The look in her eyes softened. It was something he hadn't seen for more than two years. It was that look she had only ever given him. She moved back behind him.

Hemux shrugged again. "Thick as thieves."

"So just what are you proposing, Hemux?" Gar demanded.

The mirror Denobulan grinned wickedly. "I want to go home- MY home- where I can do my research in peace. That can't happen if we're invading YOUR universe. You see the problem, don't you?"

Jeri stepped out slightly to Sean's side. "You want to go back and destroy the device afterwards so that you can't come back."

"Exactly," Hemux said.

They all turned to Gar.

The Andorian shrugged. "I don't know the science behind it," he said. "If Dr. Merrick, however, can set up a feedback loop that will destroy the unit after you return, I can see that no one in Engineering can stop it from happening."

Hemux grunted. "There's already a feedback loop set up to destroy the crystals- shouldn't be too hard."

Gar countered. "It is if you don't want to take half the ship with it, as you so delicately pointed out."

"What do I care if half the ship is destroyed- as long as it's not the half I'm in," she said. Then, she added, "I can make sure of that part at least."

"Enough!" Commander Merrick said. Then, he turned to Jeri. "Can you do that?"

Jeri didn't think for long. "I can," she said.

Gar nodded. "I'll get to work on my end," he said, turning from the group.

Hemux, however, cut them all off. "Make sure you do it right," he said, ointing his gun back at Jeri. "It'd be a shame to have to kill you, doctor, and deprive you of such a promising and fulfilling life together with your husband."

NRPG: Kill her or don't kill her. Hmmm. Now this is a dilemma.

Respectfully Submitted Jointly,

David Martens

Lt ARr'Rhiana Hemux

CSciO

Sovereignty Fleet

USS HOOD NCC 1703

and

Brian V. Mansur

LCDR Sean Merrick

FO, USS HOOD, NCC-1703

and

Scott Lusby

LCDR Gar Th'elenth

Chief Engineer

USS HOOD NCC-1703

United Federation of Planets Star Fleet Navy

STAR FLEET: ORIGINS

COMORIGINS: Falling on One's Sword

by Scott Lusby

SD: 2261.092 MD: Current Setting: CO's Office, Starbase 6

Vice Admiral Joseph Carstairs leaned back in his chair, and tried very hard not to curse.

Things were getting complicated...some of which was by his own hand.

"That's what you get for trying to play the hero, Joe," he told himself.

And he knew, deep down, that he deserved what had just happened. He thought he was doing right: everything that CONSTELLATION had uncovered at Mirra Bella spoke of conspiracy within the ranks; the business with the lowly Petty Officer Ballantine- like a Starfleet Admiral should be thinking about petty officers- seemed to confirm it.

And that's where it began: the sniff of conspiracy made him keep his cards close to his chest, and not send anything upstairs. He didn't know who he could trust within the fleet...

The capture of Commodore Berlen seemed a godsend- if he could find out who she was working for, who was directing her, he could bring down the conspiracy himself...

And so he issued an order- an order that was an illegal one, he knew: he ordered Captain Veld to have Lieutenant Sefal get the necessary information by forced mind meld. He thought the end result- the uncovering of the conspiracy within Starfleet- would justify the means he used to get the information.

It was only when he found himself covering his tracks- destroying the records of the issued order by deleting the communications logs and then writing over them- that he started to realize his mistake.

If he was justified in what he was doing, why was he committing crimes to cover his supposedly justified actions?

And then, finally, was Veld's call. How Jack had uncovered what he had done wasn't important; he was pretty sure the science officer was involved, but Carstairs had no desire to take on a Brooks right now. And while Veld certainly didn't have the connections of a Brooks, Jack himself was well-known enough on his own, with a solid reputation that was growing seemingly by the day.

And, of course, the evidence was irrefutable. So, in the end, Veld had him-and if Veld wanted to ruin his career, he could.

The worst part, Joe finally realized, was that he would absolutely deserve it.

He leaned forward in his char, and depressed the secure comm link button.

"Get me Admiral Kommack," he said, his tone soft, defeated.

He leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled in front of him, as he waited.

Suddenly, the graying, wizened visage of Admiral James Komack popped up on the screen. [[[What can I do for you, Joe?]]]

"I have something I need to go over with you, Admiral," he began, "and you're not going to like it."

<<NRPG>>

This is an outgrowth of a CONSTELLATION plotline that actually came about by complete accident; everyone's getting it because, as Carstairs is effectively COMORIGINS (though we obviously wouldn't call him that), this might affect some of the background stuff for your units.

I don't know where I am going to take this; I may end up switching to a new COMORIGINS character, or let Joe survive it. But he's coming clean as to what he did to his boss. We'll see where this goes. :)

Respectfully Submitted,

-- Scott Lusby

/\ VADM Joseph Carstairs

Commander, Starbase 6

(COMORIGINS)

STAR FLEET: ORIGINS

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Revelations - JP

by Andy Catterick and Steve Apple

SD 2261.093

MD 2.1130

Scene: Captain’s Cabin, TSS HOOD

<<Snip from Brian’s “Sorting Out Problems Part I”

Merrick's heart was suddenly pounding. "Captain," he said in suppressed desperation. "Captain she's not here is she?"

[Who? You don't mean? Aw frak! Why the hell didn't we think of that earlier. Look, even if she is, you know it doesn't change our mission Sean.]

To hell with the mission he thought icily. "Sir, if there is even a chance I can save her."

[God damn it Sean, don't lose it now. You don't even know ...] Steele's voice trailed off. Sean guessed he was doing exactly the same thing. Looking up the dossier for a one Jeri Merrick.

And she was there. Alive. Still the wife of Sean Merrick.

"She's one of the chief scientists Jack."

[Yeah I see the file too.]

Sean was in a cold sweat and pacing the little room. What was he going to do?

[Alright look Sean. Look at what our counterparts are capable of doing. What they have done.]

"She worth saving Jack. I don't care if she's committed genocide. This isn't some coincidence." He could practically hear Steele banging his head into a wall.

[Alright damn it. We'll find a way to get her off. Just for everyone's sake, get that device sorted out first. We're all dead if you can't rig it to block out the mirror dimension.] There was ping on the Captain's end. [Seems Cedria is here. Good hunting. Steele out.]

End Snip>>

Corbett pushed his hat to the back of his head and appraised Steele for a moment. “If Jerri is here and alive this certainly complicates things.”

“He’s going to bring her back, or die trying.” Steele said pacing. “Damn it Stile he could risk the fate of two universes.”

Corbett looked down at the Captains desk and his voice, a sad whisper, was almost inaudible. “Don’t worry Jack he can’t bring her back, or she’ll die for a second time.”

Steele stopped pacing and looked at his chief surgeon. “Just what the hell does that mean?”

“It means that she’ll be dead in a week maybe two at the most.”

“Do you want to tell me what you know?” Steele asked coldly.

“In this universe my chief rival and sworn enemy is the security chief. He has tried to have my office and cabin monitored and has me shadowed by his men at every turn. Hell he’s even tried to have me assassinated on a few occasions.”

“Are you going somewhere with this doctor because it’s not making sense.”

Corbett ignored his Captain and continued. “Since I got on this ship his activities have been conspicuously absent. So I had Mother do some investigation. It turns out that our security chief is hold up in his quarters dying from massive cellular disruption.”

“How the hell did she find that out?”

“She like her counterpart runs the nurses and all physician activity reports flow through her when nursing personnel are required. The security chief has one of my staff doctors on his payroll and has been using him for treatment. That physician in turn has requested nursing care for the chief.”

“That still doesn’t tell me why Jerri is going to die.”

“I told you that they are physically the same as us, but that their DNA structure is in an opposite configuration. At the quantum level they are in a counter spin to us, which means that given enough exposure to an opposite force they begin to experience cellular breakdown.”

“Then why isn’t everyone else on this ship getting sick?”

“Because the security chief has been here longer, he was used as a spy when the first ship entered our universe. Eventually everyone aboard this ship is going to fall ill and die.” Corbett said with finality.

“That would solve our problem wouldn’t it.” Steele said musing over the possibilities.

“Given the nefarious nature of these people I doubt it. They would just send another ship here to scout us out. Also I don’t think your conscience would let you sentence everyone of them to death. So I still think our original plan is the best one.”

“In that case we may need to neutralize both Cedria and ARr'Rhiana.” Steele said.

“It might be better to use them.” Corbett countered. “I’ve been thinking that we might also need to do a complete wipe on the computer storage banks and totally destroy any information about our universe.”

“Did you forget that our counterparts are on our HOOD as we speak and will still have that knowledge?”

“No I did not Captain, but I think only one of them will be the problem.”

“Let me guess Black Jack.”

“The others from what my investigation and operatives tell me…”

“Operatives?” Steele interrupted.

“It’s a story best saved for another time.”

Steele nodded. “Alright what have you so unscrupulously uncovered?”

“Gar in their universe comes from a slave world and some of the energy wounds his Stile treated coincide with ship systems failure. So I don’t think Cedria is the only saboteur aboard.

“What about Sean and you, I mean the other you?”

“My other self seems to be quite the genuine healer and from what I gather from his wife a bit disenchanted with the establishment. As for their Sean his psych profile is similar to our boy’s. I looked over his service record and he seems to have been passed over for promotion a couple of times because the command staff thought him weak and lacking in the necessary aggressiveness to command.”

“So that leaves me.” Steele said.

“Jack not to be the harbinger of doom but my counterpart has many hours of recordings he took of private conversations between himself and Black Jack.”

“And,” Steele said knowing the results without being told.

“He is at best psychotically insane and at worst a monster. I can’t count how many atrocities their Stile has talked him out of committing.”

Jack looked back at Stile as he thought through the options. Kill his counterpart in cold blood. How could he do that? Just walk up to the brig and phaser him down? He knew Blackjack would do it to him without thought, but he was Jack Steele and assassination was not something he could do. But what then, return the four officers to their ship and let them return to their universe? If what Stile said was true it wouldn’t matter, their counterparts could never return with their invasion fleets and survive. But they could do much damage in the two weeks they would be here. And there was always the possibility their scientists could find a solution. With that much at stake they would surely try.

No, the doctor was correct. They had to send TSS HOOD back, but with the original goal of sealing the rupture behind them so they could never return. They would destroy the computer banks in the hopes that the loss of readings would hamper any efforts their scientist’s may attempt to return. Surely it would be easier to open a gateway to some other door in the multiverse. And if they were truly lucky TSS HOOD would return to her own domain only to explode from all the damage she had sustained in the battle with USS HOOD and the instability of the dimenensional transit. He gave a mental sigh. He could not gun down one psychotic killer, but he had no problem longing for an entire crew to die. Perhaps he wasn’t so far from Black Jack than he thought.

With a nod of decision he moved towards the door. “Let’s join up with the others.”

The door slid open and 4 red jacketed security men had Cedria in the corridor on her knees hands resting on her head. “Commander Merrick had us bring this traitorous trill here to you sir.”

Jack looked out at the small group and hoped he didn’t appear as surprised as he felt. He recognized the lead security officer as Gene Lowl and hoped to hell these officers were loyal to the captain and not someone else. Finally an evil grin broke out across his face. “Gene why don’t you bring her in here and we have a little fun with her before we carry out her punishment?”

“Yes sir!”

Jack moved aside as the four red shirts dragged the Trill into the cabin. They were clearly intent on their prey and did not notice as Stile pulled a hypo from his pouch. Suddenly the hypo hissed and the first red shirt went down followed closely by the second. The remained two lurched up in surprise turning on the doctor. It was a move based solely on instinct and one that allowed Jack to send one crashing into the wall as Cedria easily, and viciously disabled the last. “Stile make sure the other two are out for a long time.”

“Done sar.” He answered as the hypo hissed twice more.

“Good.” Jack looked up at the trill. “I hope you have a plan.”

Respectfully,

Andy

CAPT Jack Steele

CO, USS HOOD NCC 1703

STARFLEET: ORIGINS

Steve

Stile Corbett, MD

CMO, USS HOOD NCC 1703

STARFLEET: ORIGINS

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Time To Shine

by Andy Catterick

SD: 2261.94

MD: 2.1050

Scene: Bridge, USS HOOD

<<<From David’s post: Quantum Spin>>>

Five minutes later Hemux was on the bridge, standing next to Zade as she tapped mathematical sequences into the sensor display with entirely unfair speed and precision. Zade eyes widened as she began to recognize the numbers and their intent.

"It's a completely passive scan, we don't even have to direct sensors at them?"

"They wont even know we've found them, if it works."

Zade finished and within five seconds a blue outline appeared in the distance on the port display. "Nice." The Trill whistled. "Put that on the main screen and magnify."

The main screen changed and resolved and suddenly they were looking at an incredibly detailed blue relief map of the TSS Hoods hull, down to the twisted and shattered nacelle they had salvaged remains from. The entire thing was encased in an elliptical blue cloud, the outline of the cloaking field.

Cedria walked a little closer to the display and stood next to Captain Steele's chair, twisting one lock of long brown hair around her index finger. "Keep that on the display, but continue our search pattern. We don't want to have to break them in half until the Captains found his way off that ship."

<<</snip>>>

Lieutenant junior grade Hal Baker pressed the glowing buttons on his panel that reminded him of neon jelly beans and brought USS HOOD around in a sweeping arc to port. He smiled as he pictured what the maneuver would look like in space if he had had the god like ability to look down upon the cosmos. It was an idiosyncrasy of his that he pictured all of HOOD’s movements this way. It was something that he had always done since he piloted his first flitter as a teen. As far as he was concerned it was what made him such an outstanding pilot and now, acting Chief Helmsman of the beast that was the CONSTITUTION class cruiser HOOD.

Acting. He grimaced at the title as he watched HOOD settle down into the next leg of the predetermined search grid. The orders had come through earlier that Lieutenant Kim Steering had been transferred. As deputy helmsman he of course had been bumped up until a new department head could be found. Not that they had to look too hard, he complained silently to himself. Here he was after all, there was no way they were going to find a better pilot then he was. No way. But no, Starfleet like any stagnant bureaucracy had its rules and procedure and regulations. And the rules clearly, albeit unofficially, stated that he had not served long enough to be a department head. Of course there were always ways around it but so far he had not saved any ships from sudden destruction, brokered peace between mortal enemies or discovered the cure for the common cold. All he had to go on were three fitness reports that said he was a competent officer with leadership potential. He sighed to himself, like any of those bozos knew anything about leadership potential.

No, this was his chance to shine. They wouldn’t leave such an important post open long. Once the new department head was here his prime bridge time would drop as would any landing party duties. He’d be forced to play the bureaucracies merit game and he just didn’t have time for that.

Looking around the bridge he frowned. There wasn’t really anyone here he knew enough to talk to. Something big was obviously going on but he couldn’t seem to find out what. They were playing cat and mouse with what for all intents and purposes was another starship and not a senior officer to be found. Zade had just said the captain was over on that ship but he’d already heard rumours that the senior officers had returned from the mining facility and been put in the brig. That didn’t seem to be true but when he had tried to take the turbo lift to that deck he had met with a wall of red shirts when the doors had parted. He hadn’t been able to breathe before they had ordered him to remain in the lift and proceed to a different deck. So something weird was obviously going on down there.

He might not know what was going on but one thing was clear. Now would be his time to shine.

<<<NRPG>>>

Just some minor fluff to put an acting helmsman in place now that Kim is gone.

Respectfully,

Andy

CAPT Jack Steele

CO, USS HOOD NCC 1703

STARFLEET: ORIGINS

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Getting Home

by Andy Catterick

SD: 2261.096

Scene: Fleet Base, Aldeberan

"What do you mean she’s gone?” CPO Hillroy asked in exasperation before remembering to add a hasty sir and a barely noticeable pretense of respect for the young stuttering ensign in front of her.

“That all I know chief.” Ensign Rivers replied bordering on a whine. “She received new orders and took off on the first shuttle out of here.”

“I guess that means you are in charge sir.” The chief replied in a tone that spoke of confidence and trust as if Komack himself stood before the small group of HOOD crewman who had joined Lieutenant Steering when she had brought the captured Nauscian ship back to Aldeberan. The display fooled no one, least of all Ensign Charlie Rivers. “I’m glad that you’re here sir, Lieutenant Steering had ordered me to meet her here and then accompany her down to the dockmaster to see about transport. Did the Ensign have a similar plan?”

“Uh yes I did chief.” Rivers replied. “I was about to head down there and I would certainly appreciate your expertise so no grizzled old vet tries to pull a fast one on me.”

“I don’t think they’d be slick enough to do that sir.” Hillroy had been breaking in new officers for so long the lies just rolled off her tongue. But at least this youngster had no illusions that being an officer granted any sort of infallibility. She really was tired of giving the ‘this is the way it is’ speech, and even more weary of provided pointed lessons to those few newly minted ensigns who didn’t heed the ‘this is the way it is’ speech the first time round. She gestured towards the main corridor.

“Think we’ll have any problems finding passage chief?” Rivers asked as they moved out into the crowded corridors. It was still dawning on him that he was in command of the 10 person detail and it was his responsibility to get them all back on HOOD as expeditiously as possible.

“Well sir I imagine you’ve already gone over the two possibilities.” She had little doubt as to the answer. The ensign still appeared to be channeling all his efforts into not wetting himself.

Surprisingly Rivers answered immediately. “Well the way I see it we can either wait here for HOOD to pick us up. Or we could see if we can requisition a shuttle craft and a pilot and rendezvous with her ourselves. I guess the other possibility is to hitch a ride on any Starfleet ship heading that way but I don’t expect there will be any.” She chuckled at Hillroy’s look of surprise. “Look chief, the Academy instructors made it perfectly clear to us that if we want to learn our jobs and become real officers the most important first step was to find a CPO whose wing we could nest under. I have every intention of doing that because I know how painfully inexperienced I am. But I’m not an idiot either.”

It was Hillroy’s turn to chuckle. “As the ensign says.”

<<<NRPG>>>

Just a quick one to close that loop.

Respectfully,

Andy

CAPT Jack Steele

CO, USS HOOD NCC 1703

STARFLEET: ORIGINS

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: A Simple Plan

by David Kiel

SD: 2261.095

MD: 2.1140

Captains Cabin TSS Hood

<snip from Revelations by Andy and Steve> The door slid open and 4 red jacketed security men had Cedria in the corridor on her knees hands resting on her head. "Commander Merrick had us bring this traitorous trill here to you sir."

Jack looked out at the small group and hoped he didn't appear as surprised as he felt. He recognized the lead security officer as Gene Lowl and hoped to hell these officers were loyal to the captain and not someone else. Finally an evil grin broke out across his face. "Gene why don't you bring her in here and we have a little fun with her before we carry out her punishment?"

"Yes sir!"

Jack moved aside as the four red shirts dragged the Trill into the cabin. They were clearly intent on their prey and did not notice as Stile pulled a hypo from his pouch. Suddenly the hypo hissed and the first red shirt went down followed closely by the second. The remained two lurched up in surprise turning on the doctor. It was a move based solely on instinct and one that allowed Jack to send one crashing into the wall as Cedria easily, and viciously disabled the last. "Stile make sure the other two are out for a long time."

"Done sar." He answered as the hypo hissed twice more.

"Good." Jack looked up at the trill. "I hope you have a plan."

She looked at the Captain and the doctor, she was a lowly ensign and had never seen them this close. If she had they would have been dead already.

Cedria had waited, once she had been led out under arms from the Flight Deck she had been pretty much decided. Officially out of time, she had to go to plan B, pretty much the same as plan A only with an explosion to bring them out of cloak. The sight of her led away under arms would bring too much attention, she couldn't squirm far enough away from that attention anymore. Talk, bargain, seduce, none of it would leave her with anything but a giant crosshairs on her everywhere she went.

So everything got simple.

The loneliest corridor they dragged her through was to be their end. But they didn't. They were smart enough to keep her ten deep in guards the whole way. They were smart enough to keep her kneeling once they arrived. The first opportunity was in the Captains quarters, with their libidos working in overdrive already parceling up her favors. That's when she moved and in a flash one was bleeding and unconscious.

And the others were already down.

So she looked at the Captain and the doctor, she was a lowly ensign and had never seen them this close. But she wasn't exactly as dim as Starfleet liked its crewmen. She looked from one to the other and everything started to make sense. The engineers inability to hang on to his weapon, the first officer calling her Zade. The Captain letting Arcturus turn the ship into armed camps. The Doctor, well, taking a break from examining female crewman. If these mirror folk were as different as advertised this Doctor must live like a Priest.

"Your, plan?" The good doctor prodded her.

What lie to tell, how to twist them to her purposes. A little lost girl who needed help? `oh please brave federation officers, save helpless little me.' Or a play on their sympathies. `We just want to live quiet live, free from oppression..' Hmmmm. She could ask for water and stab them when they turned their backs? What to do.

And the answer came to her in a little burst of symmetry and simplicity. How to get them to cooperate? Cedria Quall told the truth, the plain and simple truth. "I am with the Resistance. I mean for this ship to die, especially its Captain. In our universe the twelve Constitution ships are the power in space, and after this journey there will only be eleven…."

And she continued, she explained about the complicated cross wiring that turned every juncture of the shield grid into its own happy little flash bomb. How the next time TSS Hood raised its shields they would be helpless, dead in space without any protection as every power junction from level two to the working nacelle blossomed into oh so much fiery ash. She hadn't been able to get close to main power but all the little flows, the junctures the capillaries if you would, all cross wired to flash when the shields engaged.

She told them about the shuttle that shed engineered to obey her and not any of its safety protocols. How she had been caught altering her back up shuttle, but that the prime one was ready to go. She was about to explain the small explosive lattice on one of the port cloaking generators that would let her reveal her ship to the USS version when the security officer she had immobilized groaned and something in his chest detonated, silencing him rather abruptly.

"What was that?" Captain Other-Steele asked.

"Sorry," she said, showing the small dagger she had used and had been hiding in her palm. "In my universe, Trills are kinda, a race of assassins and general opportunists. I'm both. That was a toxin, it settles in the spleen and liver, which harden, warm up and eventually, explode in a sorta fatal way." She smiled, trying to look friendly.

"We need you to take a few people with you in your escape shuttle. Hemux, Jeri Merrick,…" Other-Steele turned to Other-Doctor.

"Their Sean, and their Stile from what I've seen. And mother, I'm not killing her in any universe." The Doctor added.

"I want to live too." Lowl said from the floor, raising his free hand while clutching his broken nose.

"Him, too." Steele motioned turning to Cedria.

Cedria tried very, very hard not to look like she was completely convinced that she was having a conversation with escaped mental convicts. "Um, yeah, that's just a great idea, anything else?"

Steele looked at Doctor Corbett. "The Tholian device."

Doctor Corbett explained how the Tholian device needed to be overloaded just so to seal the bridge between the universes. Cedria considered all of it carefully and decided on a plan of action. Kill these two and go ahead with her original plan B.

Corbett was sufficiently clever enough unfortunately to realize she might have something of that nature in mind. "No, little assassin. Drop the blade."

She let the small blade clatter to the Captains desk. "Fine then. We will do it your way, but it would be a frackload simpler if everybody dies."

NRPG: Now how to get Merrick and Corbett back to their TSS ship bundled in the escape shuttle and then beam the real Captain away before it switches universes. Should be easy really.

Respectfully submitted;

David Kiel

Lt Cedria Zade,

NAV, USS HOOD NCC-1703

ASR: ORIGINS

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Time to Go

by Andy Catterick

SD: 2261.103

Scene: Brig, USS HOOD

BlackJack Steele stood arms clasped across his chest as he stared at the humming forcefield ahead of him. Incompetent fools. He was surrounded by incompetent, pathetic fools. HOOD had the reputation of being the best ship in the fleet. A reputation that he had fought long and hard to maintain. A reputation that would be maintained as long as he was captain. A reputation that, would be extended by whichever lucky bastard he rewarded her too as he moved on to bigger and better things. A reputation that was currently on the verge of being seriously tarnished as he sat here considering his options.

If only they could get out of this cell. He had no doubt that they could take this luxury liner. Wouldn’t that make things more interesting? He was sure that the lower ranks would flock to his leadership. Hungry for adventure and the profits that came with it. They could upgrade the ship’s armaments and turn it into a real warship. His engineers could then take the obviously superior computer power of this ship and upgrade his own HOOD. From there it would be almost too easy to knock off the rest of this universe’s Starfleet. There would be no need to go home. If he chose to do so he would return in force, master of two universes.

But he was surrounded by incompetent fools.

“Alright Jack, lets have it.” The doctor broke into his reverie.

He turned and merely raised an eyebrow.

“I don’t need my instruments to see your stress and anger levels rising. If you don’t let it out soon you’re going to have a stroke. So let it go, we already know we’re worthless and weak. Why don’t you just tell us, it’ll make you feel better.”

Jack just shook his head as he contemplated which one of the fools he should kill first. “Well now that you mention it.” He began quietly as he turned to face Merrick and Gar. “Would one of you two useless pieces of crap explain to me why the FRAK! I am still locked in here like some petty criminal.” “You!” He jabbed a finger at the first officer, “I guess I have no need to blame you. I mean I know you once where an engineer but you were so frakkin pathetic at it I had to find a position where you didn’t actually have to do anything. But you.” He turned to face Gar. “You are an engineer. You’re supposed to be a good one, while else would an inferior race be allowed to be an officer on my ship? So start acting like one of your betters and get me the frak out of here.”

“I’ll grant that wish right now pink skin!” Gar screamed as he charged Steele. Seconds later the forcefield was down and the two security officers charged in. Seconds after that they were disarmed and unconscious on the deck.

“Good work Gar.” Jack said as he grinned at the Andorian. “I knew you’d follow along. Now let’s get out of here.”

<<<NRPG>>>

C’mon guys lets keep the story rolling, lots going on on noth ships.

Respectfully,

Andy

CAPT BlackJack Steele

CO, TSS HOOD NCC 1703

STARFLEET: ORIGINS

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: The Right Moment

by Scott Lusby

SD: 2261.108 Setting: Brig, USS HOOD

<<snip- from Andy's post, entitled "Time To Go">>

Jack just shook his head as he contemplated which one of the fools he should kill first. "Well now that you mention it." He began quietly as he turned to face Merrick and Gar. "Would one of you two useless pieces of crap explain to me why the FRAK! I am still locked in here like some petty criminal." "You!" He jabbed a finger at the first officer, "I guess I have no need to blame you. I mean I know you once where an engineer but you were so frakkin pathetic at it I had to find a position where you didn't actually have to do anything. But you." He turned to face Gar. "You are an engineer. You're supposed to be a good one, while else would an inferior race be allowed to be an officer on my ship? So start acting like one of your betters and get me the frak out of here."

"I'll grant that wish right now pink skin!" Gar screamed as he charged Steele. Seconds later the forcefield was down and the two security officers charged in. Seconds after that they were disarmed and unconscious on the deck.

"Good work Gar." Jack said as he grinned at the Andorian. "I knew you'd follow along. Now let's get out of here."

<<end snip>>

Anti-Gar realized that, at this moment, BlackJack was perhaps at his most vulnerable; if he waited until he got back aboard THEIR HOOD...

...he might never get another opportunity.

As soon as BlackJack turned towards the cell doors, Anti-Gar fired.

BlackJack crumpled to the floor.

Immediately, the Andorian's phaser panned across both Anti-Merrick and Anti-Stile. "Make up your minds quickly," Anti-Gar said.

"Did you kill him?" Anti-Merrick asked, not without a trace of hope in his tone.

"No," Anti-Gar grumbled. "I may be a slave, but I am a better man than him," he spat. "He deserves to die, but it won't be by my hand; I've seen enough killing for one lifetime."

As he spoke, Anti-Stile moved to BlackJack's side, and checked his pulse. Then, quietly, he drew his phaser.

Anti-Gar's grip tightened on the phaser, and his finger brushed the firing stud. "That doesn't mean I won't kill to protect myself," he warned, changing the setting from stun to kill with a touch of the thumb.

Anti-Stile stood up, and, suddenly, turning his aim to BlackJack, he fired his weapon into the prone body.

"He'll have a hell of a headache, but he'll live," the doctor growled. "But now he won't awaken for a couple of hours."

Anti-Stile glanced at Anti-Merrick, then back at Anti-Gar, and re-holstered his phaser.

"What's the plan now- Captain?"

Anti-Gar shook his head. "No way- I don't want it- I have a target on my back already being a member of a slave race." He paused, and looked at Anti-Merrick. "Looks like you're in charge now- CAPTAIN Merrick."

<<NRPG>>

Thought I'd throw another twist into things...

BlackJack's not dead, just stunned...though Anti-Stile could have done anything to him. It really depends on what side of things Anti-Stile is on- if he's on the Captain's side, he could have fired a shot into him that did nothing, and BlackJack will just wake up as if after a normal stun. But if he DID double-stun BlakcJack...well, that's different. And no one checked BlackJack AFTER Anti-Stile shot him...

Now we have an open cell- where to?

Respectfully Submitted,

-- Scott Lusby

LCDR Gar Th'elenth

Chief Engineer

TSS HOOD NCC-1703

STAR FLEET: ORIGINS

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Decision Point

by Brian V. Mansur

SD 2261.108

Scene: Brig, USS HOOD

Captain Merrick regarded Gar for a long while and came to a decision.

"Gar, do you want to leave all this behind? The Sovereignty I mean. I know about your compatriots and your plans to destroy the HOOD when we jump back. Stile and I have known all along. And at first we were in agreement that your plan might be necessary if we couldn't wrest control from Jack and his thugs. But I didn't know what kind of man you were until just now. So, I have a proposal for you."

Gar stood there quietly, not certain if he should raise his weapon or not. He should have guessed he supposed that the XO had been on to them from the start. That he had been secretly covering for them suddenly made a few lucky breaks in the last few weeks make sense. Only why hadn't he seen it before?

"I'm listening."

"The Sovereignty is doomed. Neither Stile nor I wish to be a part of it. Stile and Alia want to stay and fight it. Perhaps reform it. Jeri and I originally planned to be a part of that. But I know history and I see the signs. A bloody revolution is coming and it will leave our hated alliance vulnerable to a retributional conquest of biblical proportions.

"We might still succeed," Stile insisted turning to his friend.

"And I hope you do, but listen. Gar ... Stile. Jeri is pregnant. We aren't going to be a part of this. If what I believe is coming is going to be as bad as I fear, then *someone* has to escape it. There may be nothing left by the time the fighting is done. And I do not want my son to grow up in it. Nor do I want my wife to see it. I sure don't want to see it."

"You're going to run away?"

"The HOOD can always return and join the fight. I doubt a matter of months ... whatever you agree to really, would make that much difference. You could be the cavalry riding to the rescue after the others have exhausted themselves in butchery."

Gar considered it. "Not all of the crew will want to go with you. How do you plan to get them off?"

"A biological evacuation is the most straight forward," Stile said. "There are sixty or so in our little circle who would suddenly develop *symptoms*. That would make it very easy to convince the rest to get the frak off."

"You would trust me not to simply take the ship?" Gar said frankly.

"Gar, the only people in the universe that I trust are Jeri, Stile and Alia. Your demolitions can be triggered by anyone who knows how to use them. And you can't know that we don't have our own means of taking out the ship already. But I saw you spare a demon's life for the sake of decency. That gives me hope that we can both accomplish our goals here."

"Reform is not what I had in mind. Our goals are not quite aligned as you think."

"The enemy of my enemy rule can apply for as long as you wish. I'll leave that to you and Stile. All I ask is that the two of you take Jeri and I as far as you can."

"Again, why would you trust me to do that?"

"Because you haven't shot us yet. You've had every opportunity. Because deep down you know that the crapsack of a universe we belong to already has enough suffering in it. Because there should be *someone* in it that can carve out a little refuge of peace and tranquility while the rest of it goes mad. Because after all of the fighting is over, we may be all that is left of it."

NRPG: Well Gar ... Stile ... what do you say?

Respectfully Submitted,

Brian V. Mansur

CAPT Sean Merrick

TSS HOOD

ASR ORIGINS

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Damn Incompetant Security

by David Kiel

SD: SD 2261.110

Main Security: Brig

Cedria looked down at the still profoundly stunned Captain Other-Steele. "So, explain this again. They escaped and then at least two of them shot him?"

The security chief looked every bit as baffled as she did. "That's what internal sensors show, plain as day."

She nodded, "And the whole recapturing them plan, how's that going so far?"

The security chief got sullen and silently cursed DeSimms for leaving all of this on his shoulders. "We haven't been able to locate them thus far. There are 1000 people aboard and, well, internal sensors don't distinguish specific dna patterns."

"Understood." Cedria thought for a moment. "Extra security on the bridge and main engineering. Lock down the flight deck, and power off all transporter rooms except for number four. Extra security there." She knelt and prodded the profoundly unconscious other-Steele with a long finger. "As this one has kinda escaped once already, lock him in irons. Hand and ankle cuffs and return him to his cell."

"Yes, lieutenant." The chief motioned for a pair of guards to begin doing just that.

She stood and smoothed her skirt. "This time no rushing into the cell, I don't care what sort of wrenching screaming stomach disorder hes faking. For every guard that goes inside, another two have stun rifles aimed at the cell. He tries anything, stun everyone."

Cedria walked over to the wall panel and tapped in her command override. The ship intercom sprang to life with an audible whistle ship wide for all to hear. "Crew of the Hood, this is acting Captain Zade. Pay close attention to the following as it is a fairly unusual announcement. Genetically identical alternate universe replica's of Doctor Stile, Chief Engineer Gar and First Officer Merrick are loose on this ship. These individuals are armed and dangerous, if spotted please inform security immediately." Cedria thought for a moment and added. "If the alternate universe replica officers would like to turn themselves in, please report to the nearest security officer and I will be happy to listen to whatever concerns you might have. Cedria Zade, out."

They do not teach this in any of the command simulation at the academy, Cedria thought as she turned to the security chief. "Ill be on the bridge, if they do turn themselves in. Bring them to me."

NRPG: Escaping on my watch!! Grrrrrrr!!

Respectfully submitted,

David Kiel

Lt Cedria Zade,

NAV, USS HOOD NCC-1703

ASR: ORIGINS

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Changing Sides

by Andy Catterick

SD: 2261.114

MD: 2.1130

Scene: Brig, USS HOOD

“Stile you frakkin bastard!” Jack Steele screamed in a mixture of rage and frustration as he tugged uselessly on the restraint that had been clamped around his wrists. He could almost accept been betrayed by the subhuman and his spineless first officer. They had clearly been out for themselves since the second they stepped aboard his warship. He had suffered Gar because alien or not he was a passable engineer who instilled enough fear in his subordinates they got the job done. He respected that. As for Merrick there wasn’t much good you could find. He was an empty uniform but still had his occasional uses. Mostly as Steele’s whipping boy. It was always good to have someone to blame unfavourable policies and general failures on. Just as it was good to have a first officer you knew didn’t have the stomach to try and take your command. He chuckled darkly at the irony of that thought.

But Stile was different. He was a friend and a true Starfleet officer. He had always shown his loyalty to Steele. There friendship and been a long and mutually beneficial one. If there had been one person he knew he could rely on, an officer and friend who had his back it had been Stile Corbett.

Apparently not.

No matter. He always came out on top and he was sure he would this time. Granted it would not be the lofty goals he had originally planned for but there was no frakkin way he was going to step in front of a firing squad or a wallow away in some penal colony. The rules of the game may have changed for him but that didn’t mean he had to suffer.

“Gene!” Steele said pleasantly. Lowl turned around to face BlackJack Steele not that he had any interest in what the parallel captain had to say but more so to make sure there were no more tricks. Steele shook his head. “Don’t worry Gene I know when I’m beaten and I’ll sit here and be a good boy. I just want you to pass a message to your captain when he gets back.”

“If Captain Steele wants to hear from you he‘ll be down.”

“No doubt but in the meantime can you let him no that I’d like to request asylum.” He answered matter-of-factly.

“You what?” Lowl asked incredulously.

“Short version of the story for your captain is that I can’t go home a failure, I’d be killed. If I’m going to stay here I want to be loyal to the uniform.”

“Meaning?”

“I have lots of information I can offer Starfleet.” He concluded with a predatory grin.

<<<NRPG>>>

Just a quick one.

Respectfully,

Andy

CAPT Jack Steele

CO, USS HOOD NCC 1703

STARFLEET: ORIGINS

COMORIGINS: Fade to Black

by Scott Lusby

SD: 2261.117 Setting: CO's Office, Starbase 6

Vice Admiral Joseph Carstairs looked at the face of Admiral James Komack on his screen. He got nothing from the man's expression; he pretty well knew he wouldn't, as Komack's poker skills were legendary around the fleet. What was unsettling Joe was that Komack had rarely felt it necessary to use his poker face in conversations past.

[[[We have a situation in the R-597 system.]]]

Carstairs paused for a second as his mind shifted gears, and furrowed his brow. "Where the hell's R-597?"

[[[Not surprised you don't know, Joe. R-597 is on the edges of explored space, beyond Mizar.]]]

"Mizar's pretty far out there- hard to get support that far out." Joe paused; something tugged at the back of his mind. "Don't we have a couple of colonies out that way?"

Komack nodded. [[[Only one now,]]] he said. [[[This morning, one of our survey ships out that way, the BERNOULLI, detected a massive explosion of Farnsworth radiation from the star in the neighboring system, R-598.]]] He paused, letting that sink in. [[[By the time the BERNOULLI got to our colony in R-598, there was nothing left- only a couple hundred corpses.]]]

"And the colony in 597?"

Komack nodded. [[[So far, fine- the radiation has dissipated enough by the time it got to our colony at R-597 to blunt its effects, though I imagine there were some cases of minor Farnsworth poisoning.]]]

Carstairs nodded his head slowly. "You said, 'so far'- I take it there's more to this?"

Komack nodded again. [[[The BERNOULLI is detecting signs that this event may not be over; the start in R-598 has destabilized terribly since the first ejection of Farnsworth radiation. Every model Captain Burton's science teams have run on the situation suggests that R-598's going to do it again- this time with perhaps several HUNDRED times as much radiation emission--]]]

"--which would wipe out the colony on R-597," Carstairs finished. He paused, and ran his hair through his hair. "CONSTELLATION's the closest, Admiral- she's still at Mirra Bella, but could be underway within a couple of hours and get to R-597 in a couple of days. Aside from a few smaller surveyors, the only other ship I have is ENDEAVOR, and she's not fully staffed yet."

[[[I'm going to send them both, Joe,]]] Komack said. [[[We may need them both on-site if things get bad.]]]

There was a pause; this time, Komack's expression slipped, and Joe instantly caught the apprehension in his superior's face.

[[[Joe,]]] he began, [[[I'm transferring you.]]]

Carstairs froze; he had been half-expecting something like this since the Mirra Bella situation imploded a couple of weeks ago. "Where to?"

Komack paused- not a good sign. [[[You're coming home, Joe- you're moving to BUPERS.]]]

Carstairs felt his stomach leap as the words came across space and through his monitor speakers. "Personnel? I'm being beached?"

Komack nodded. [[[I'm sorry, Joe,]]] he began. [[[But you screwed up- royally. You infringed on the rights of a prisoner and browbeat a captain into following your orders- orders you knew were, at best, against regulations and, at worst, a crime against another sentient being. That's not what the Admiralty wants in its representatives.]]]

Joe dipped his head; he had no argument. In fact, he had decided a while ago that, should it come to this, he'd take his punishment without a fight. "Effective when?"

[[[Now,]]] Komack said. [[[Your replacement should be on his way- you're to report to your new post at BUPERS in 3 days, but as of now, you're relieved of your command.]]]

Carstairs nodded his head slowly, and then lifted it to meet Komack's gaze. "I'm sorry," he said softly.

Komack's expression slipped a second time, this time revealing a slight tug at the corners of his mouth. [[[So am I, Joe- so am I.]]]

[[[Komack out.]]]

Joe watched the screen fade to black, and couldn't help but feel as if the same thing was happening to his career.

<<NRPG>>

Well, this moves Carstairs out and leaves room for Andy to introduce his new character. Andy- she's all yours; I left the keys to the wet bar in the top drawer of the desk. ;)

This also introduces the upcoming joint-mission between CONSTELLATION and ENDEAVOR, though not many details were given here. More details surely to follow in a CONNIE-specific post.

It's been a fun ride being your COMORIGINS...but I'm never far away. :)

Respectfully Submitted,

-- Scott Lusby

/\ VADM Joseph Carstairs

Outgoing CO, Starbase 6 STAR FLEET: ORIGINS

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: A New Way Home

by Andy Catterick

SD: 2261.115

Scene: Fleet Base, Aldeberan

<old>

“Well sir I imagine you’ve already gone over the two possibilities.” She had little doubt as to the answer. The ensign still appeared to be channeling all his efforts into not wetting himself.

Surprisingly Rivers answered immediately. “Well the way I see it we can either wait here for HOOD to pick us up. Or we could see if we can requisition a shuttle craft and a pilot and rendezvous with her ourselves. I guess the other possibility is to hitch a ride on any Starfleet ship heading that way but I don’t expect there will be any.” She chuckled at Hillroy’s look of surprise. “Look chief, the Academy instructors made it perfectly clear to us that if we want to learn our jobs and become real officers the most important first step was to find a CPO whose wing we could nest under. I have every intention of doing that because I know how painfully inexperienced I am. But I’m not an idiot either.”

It was Hillroy’s turn to chuckle. “As the ensign says.”

<new>

“Now then.” Rivers began as he broke into a matching chuckle. “Where do we go?”

The chief gave a brief glance heavenward before gesturing down the corridor. “Follow the crowds sir and ye shall find what you seek.”

As the two HOOD officers set out into the crowd Rivers turned to Hillroy. “So how long have you been chief?”

“Coming up on 20 years now. Still a long way to go though.”

“Been aboard ships the whole time?”

“I have sir. Been on the HOOD since she was commissioned, before that ten years on KIROV. Started off on FEYNMAN.”

Rivers whistled. “Those are some good ships to have served on chief!”

“That they were.”

“Excuse me ensign.” A new voice joined the conversation.

Rivers turned to address the voice and came to attention as his eyes noticed the lieutenant commander braid on the red sleeve. “Ensign Rivers sir.”

“At ease ensign. I’m Lieutenant Commander Rick Payne, BuPers said you might be heading this way, I’m glad I tracked you down.”

“Yes sir.” Rivers answered not knowing who this commander was or why he’d be someone looking for a lowly ensign.

“I’ve been assigned to HOOD so I’ll be taking command of the detail you have with you. I gather you’re trying to get back to your ship.”

“We are sir, the chief and I,” Rivers gestured to Hillroy, “were on our way to see if we could either find passage on a ship or a place to put up til HOOD came to pick us up.”

“Well I believe I can help with that. My old ship is still in orbit and Commander Hutcheson has offered to provide ferry service. How soon can you and your team be ready to go?”

“The rest of the crew is back on the flightdeck, all we need to do is pick them up and we are ready to go.”

“Outstanding.” Payne said as he turned and began to walk towards the flightdeck with Rivers and Hillroy in tow.

“Um Commander, if you don’t mind me asking sir, what are you being assigned to HOOD as?”

“Don’t mind at all ensign. For my sins I have been assigned as HOOD’s new chief of security. I believe you are in my department.”

“Yes sir, I am sir.”

“Outstanding!”

<<<NRPG>>>

I figure the best way to get a new SEC is to post a NPC one…altho’ that cunning plan hasn’t got us a new HELM yet.

Respectfully,

Andy

CAPT Jack Steele

CO, USS HOOD NCC 1703

STARFLEET: ORIGINS

COMORIGINS: No More Papers, No More Books...

by Andy Catterick

SD: 2261.115

Scene: Admiral Mitchell Corrigan’s Office, Starfleet Academy

Mitch did his best not to smile as the young cadet pleaded his case as if he had discovered some new theory all on his own. When the youngster began to repeat himself he decided it was time to tread in. “Cadet, let me stop you there. The objective of this paper is to present your conclusions, which you did, and which I happen to agree with more importantly you were to present well thought out, reasoned and cited arguments that support your conclusions, which you did not.” He held up a hand to forestall any further debate. “Look cadet, you and I both know you sped through this and in doing so did a half assed job. It was a particularly tough topic to delve in to but I know you have the intelligence to tackle it. Unfortunately,” He tossed the datachip back to the young student, “you’ did a piss poor job and thought you’d just sail on by. Not going to happen. I know ancient history is not as exciting as your other courses but I can assure you that it is in fact one of the most important courses you can take. For example the Battle of Jutland can be,” Mitch chose not to notice the look of anguish flash across the cadet’s face as he began to launch into one of his long winded lectures, fortunately, for the cadet at least, the lecture came to an abrupt halt as the door chime went. “See who that is will you cadet?” Corrigan walked over to his credenza to pour himself a coffee as he prepared to pepper the cadet with questions about Admiral Jellico’s strategy. He turned back towards the door, the carafe still in mid pour, at the sharp intake of breath form the cadet who had suddenly gone ridged.

“At ease cadet.” Came the voice of Admiral James Komack as he walked into the office. “Get you at a bad time admiral?”

“Of course not sir. You just saved Mr. Roberts a diatribe on the Battle of Jutland.”

“I wish I had time to hear it.” Komack replied.

“That will be all for now cadet.” Corrigan nodded.

“Yes sir!”

“Were we ever that young Mitch?”

“Rumour has it I was. But I can’t remember that far back. Coffee?”

“No thanks, I’m actually in a hurry and have orders for you. It was easier to drop by as I was in the neighbourhood rather then summoning you to the inner sanctum.”

Mitch nodded gesturing for the admiral to sit down. His mind was already churning over the possibilities of Komack’s unannounced visit and all outcomes pointed to bad news. “You could have commed.”

“Could have.” Komack agreed. “Better this way.”

Crap! Mitch thought. Definitly bad news. For the past three years he had been assigned to Starfleet Operations reporting directly to Komack as his troubleshooter. If there was something dicey going on in the Federation Komack would send Corrigan in. The rest of the time he maintained a light course load at the Academy trying to remind new officers that many of the answers for the future were buried in the past. In all that time Komack had never paid him a visit.

“I need you out at Starbase 6, ASAP.”

Corrigan leaned back in his chair. He’d reviewed all the intel reports this morning on his way in. He couldn’t remember there being anything of note going on out there. Certainly nothing that required his attention. Perhaps it would be a quick trip. That would be convenient as mid-terms were on the horizon. “I can be on my way in two hours. Gives me some time to grade papers on the way out.”

“You won’t be needing to grade those papers Mitch, you won’t be coming back. At least not anytime soon. I’m assigning you there.”

“Assigning me to where?”

“Starbase 6.” Komack confirmed. “You’ll be the new Fleet Commander.”

Mitch blinked in surprise. “Jim what the hell are you talking about?” He leaned forward. “That’s Joe Carstairs post, he crowed about getting all those new starships for months. He’s ok isn’t he?”

“He’s fine he just decided to accept promotion to BuPers.”

“BuPers!” Corrigan exclaimed leaning back in his chair again. No one accepted promotion to BuPers, not willingly anyway, it was like getting assigned to purgatory. He was dying to ask how that had come about but he knew Komack wouldn’t tell him. “That’s a big jump admiral, do I have time to think about it?”

“No. It’s not a question admiral. It’s an order and you leave in two hours.”

“Oh God, you’re not sticking me with Vicky are you?” Mitch deflected.

This time Komack almost smiled. “Yes, I do believe Admiral Palmer is stationed there.”

“Damn. You’ve told her that I’m her boss?” He and the ice queen had a long history best described as combustive.

“That’s what the orders say.” Komack confirmed. “Look Mitch I have places to be so can we skip the whole tough decision part of this discussion and get to the part where you say yes sir, thank you sir and I leave.”

Mitch chuckled and rose from his seat. “Yes sir. Thank you sir.”

“Try not to screw it up.” Komack said before he rose and headed for the door. “Maybe next time you can tell me about Jutland.”

<<<NRPG>>>

Just a quick one to RP Corrigan on his way out.

As I have already told ORIGINS COs/XOs as happy as I am to see Scott taking on the thankless job of CSFO I really hate to see him leave COMORIGINS. He’s leaving very big shoes for me to fill but I will certainly try. Luckily we have a lot of talented people and some excellent command crews to help make me look good! ;-)

Vice Admiral Mitch Corrigan

COMORIGINS, Starbase 6

STARFLEET: ORIGINS

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Take Us In

by Andy Catterick

SD: 2261.116

Scene: Bridge, USS HOOD

Acting helmsman Baker sat at his console drumming his fingers. He had spent the better part of the shift trying to come up with ways to distinguish himself. So far he had failed miserable. It was hard to stand out when nothing of any great importance was happening. HOOD had kept up with the ruse that they were carrying out a standard search pattern looking for their cloaked quarry while remaining close enough to the ship that they could pounce on it at a moments notice. The navigator had set up the search pattern and his helm console was dutifully, and automatically, following the proscribed course.

Conversation on the bridge was at a minimum. Even when Lieutenant Zade had made her strange announcement about imposters on board conversation had remained virtually nonexistence. All that meant was that his Plan B of injecting lofty and well thought out arguments into any discussions that erupted amongst the normally talkative bridge crew was impossible to carry out. So much for demonstrating his brilliance.

It was the automatic red alert that snapped his, and everyone else’s, attention up to the viewscreen.

“Reading several explosions in the vicinity of the cloaked vessel.”

“Its not cloaked anymore.” Someone added unnecessarily.

On the screen TSS HOOD faded back into existence as it bucked from whatever turmoil was raging in side her.

“Shields to full.” Zade ordered. “Helm take us in.”

<<<NRPG>>>

Anybody out there?

Andy Catterick

CAPT Jack Steele

CO, USS HOOD NCC 1703

STARFLEET: ORIGINS

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Battle

by David Kiel

SD: SD 2261.116

USS Hood: Bridge

"Target their weapon systems and fire!"

Cedria shouted and sprinted to the sensor station. "Hemux, get to transporter room one. I will send you the best sensor data we can get. Find our people and beam them back here."

The gulf between the two ships erupted quickly with beam fire. The TSS Hoods fire was sporadic and badly targeted. USS Hoods fire was well targeted and fully powered. Of the two ships only the Federation Crusier had shields. Cedria finished relaying the sensor sweep and was shocked by the pattern of power disruptions she saw.

Their shield grid had burned itself out, spectacularly. The Captain they were holding in their brig had even fewer friends than she had estimated. The USS Hoods shields flashed as incoming fire battered against the shimmering barrier. The main hull of TSS hood erupted with flame as the paser batteries erupted one after the next until no further fire came from her.

"Target their impulse engines and fire." Cedria said and the Helm smiled deviously swinging the Federation ship around to hit them full on. The TSS ship shuddered as the impulse drives shattered under the assault from multiple batteries.

"Hold fire." Cedria walked over to stand next to the Captains chair and looked at the screen still showing the shimmering blue overlay of the enhanced sensors on the ship burning before them. "We still have people aboard that ship."

NRPG: One here.

Respectfully submitted;

David Kiel

Lt Cedria Zade,

NAV, USS HOOD NCC-1703

ASR: ORIGINS

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Finally Some Action!

by Andy Catterick

SD: SD 2261.116

USS Hood: Bridge

"Target their weapon systems and fire!" Cedria shouted.

Acting Helmsman Hal Baker let out a whoop of joy as he savagely jabbed at the fire control system. It was the first time he had ever fired the ships main weapons in anything other then target practice and he enjoyed every second of it. The procedure was the same as it always had been but this time the ship shuddered as it sent forth the deadly fire. The bridge reverberated with the sound of the awesome discharge and most spectacularly he could see the damage that HOOD’s main weapons, that he himself, had inflicted on the enemy vessel. As far as Baker was concerned there was no better moment then this.

"Order the torpedoes, order the torpedoes!" He prayed silently as he pictured them ripping the enemy cruiser apart. Enemy cruiser! He was taking apart a CONSITUTION class heavy cruiser. How many people could say that?

The order for phasers came again and this time it was while he was taking HOOD into a steep bank for an optimal spread of the forward batteries. Just like the Book said to. This was it; this was his chance! He jabbed the fire button again as he peered into the targeting computer. Another devastating hit.

Finally who ever was in command of TSS HOOD pulled themselves together enough to return fire. Hal held onto his console, his euphoria begin to fade as he watched the return phaser fire streak towards….with little effect. Another whoop of joy.

Zade gave the fire order again. "Target their impulse engines and fire."

With a predatory grin Hal swung HOOD about to allow both fore and aft port phaser batteries to fire. A full broadshide smashed through TSS HOOD’s impulse drive.

And then it was all over. “Hold fire.” Came the order. Hal wanted to object still in the heat of the moment. Fortunately Cedria’s cooler head prevailed. "We still have people aboard that ship."

<<<NRPG>>>

Just getting in the HELM’s POV…man, I think we need to get this slot filled. This guy has issues!

Respectfully,

Andy

CAPT Jack Steele

CO, USS HOOD NCC 1703

STARFLEET: ORIGINS

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Making Another Deal

by Andy Catterick

SD: SD 2261.117

Scene: Brig, USS HOOD

BlackJack Steele fell to the deck as the first volley of fire struck USS HOOD. He had a grin on his face by the time the second barrage shook the great ship. As the ship shuddered he jumped up to his feet.

“Gene I told you they would come. It’s all over.”

“Get back from the shield.” Gene ordered as he took the phaser off his belt and pointed it at Steele.

Steele actually laughed in response. “Gene, we’ve been waging war our entire history. Our civilization is based on, steeping in it. We’re taught to be soldiers before we’re taught to walk. It’s in our blood. There is no way your Starfleet can stand before us.”

“I thought you’d switched sides. Asked for asylum no less.” Gene countered.

“Gene, if you’re going to be a good officer you have to learn to adapt. You look at what you’re presented with and you make sure it works for you. If I have to stay in this universe I’m going to do what ever it takes to succeed. But when my crew crack open the hull of this ship to get me back you can be damn sure that’s where I’m going. My first act will be to execute your captain and his senior officers. My second act will be to reward those of your crew who willingly join my crew.” Steele leaned closer to the forcefield. “You’ll be surprised how many will join us. Some out of self interest, some out of fear, but they will join us. Finally I will have my engineer teams rip this ship apart and take what we need to improve our own. Then I will begin my ascendancy as Sovereign of this domain. I told you before I needed you Gene, I still do. All you have to do is lower the forcefield and release these wrist restraints.”

“I thought your crew was coming. They can do it when they get here.”

“They can, and they will. But if you are to join me I need to know you’re loyal to me. Willingly loyal. If you wait until my men are pointing a phaser at you it isn’t quite the same. You can still join me at that point Gene, I really do need you. But you do it then and you’ll stay at your current rank and you’ll not be trusted. Join me now and you’re instantly a commander and first officer. It’s that easy. All you need to do is lower the shield.”

<<<NRPG>>>

Poor BlackJack he doesn’t realize his ship is getting pounded…

Respectfully,

Andy

CAPT Jack Steele

CO, USS HOOD NCC 1703

STARFLEET: ORIGINS

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Eavesdropping

by Harry Iha

SD: 2261.118

SCENE: Bridge

MD: ?

<snip>

And then it was all over. "Hold fire." Came the order. Hal wanted to object still in the heat of the moment. Fortunately Cedriaâ€™s cooler head prevailed. "We still have people aboard that ship."

"Ensign, hail that ship," ordered LT Zade.

Already anticipating the command, ENS Yoshi Tamura made a final adjustment to the antenna and terminated the comm circuit. "Hailing frequencies open, Ma'am."

While Zade bantered with the alternate universe's acting captain, Tamura kept a close watch on his panel. The other HOOD's antenna assembly had been destroyed during one of the battles, and he had to keep the directional signal aimed at the crippled ship in order to keep the communications line open.

In addition to keeping the circuit open, Tamura monitored the carrier signal and conversation. Hiding signals in the carrier wave was not an easy trick, but one with the potential to cripple HOOD. The computer automatically guarded against such potential threats, but the young ensign did not fully trust it, so he manually monitored the signal as well. Fortunately, neither the computer nor the human discovered any sign of duplicity coming from TSS HOOD.

When the other HOOD suddenly closed the connection, Tamura left the channels open in case the other ship wanted to reestablish communications. "Signal terminated at the other end, Captain," he reported automatically.

"Very well," acknowledged Zade, with just a hint of annoyance at being cut off.

That is when Tamura noticed some strange signals coming from TSS HOOD. He quickly reconfigured the antenna to optimize the gain at the new frequencies and was rewarded by weak, but clear signals. It took just under 10 seconds for him to identify the signals.

"Shit!" he blurted. "Captain!"

"What is it?"

"I'm picking up internal comms from the other ship. The 1MC and other circuits are piping an abandon ship order. Sounds like they activated the self destruct circuit." Tamura pushed the Feinberger deeper into his ear and subconsciously frowned in concentration. "Confirmed, Ma'am. Detonation in nine minutes, 30 seconds."

NRPG:

All: Sorry for my long silence. Call me "Short attention span." Also, I have moved, which explains much of my short attention. Please note my new e-mail address below. I will likely eventually phase out the accesscom address.

Andy: cc'ing you as well in case this one does not get posted either. Hopefully coming from a new address will solve that problem. Thanks.

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@...

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Battle Aftermath / Knives an Assassins Best Friend

by Steve Apple

Previously on the HOOD:

The USS HOOD was sent on a secret mission to find out about a rogue starship (TSS HOOD) which turned out to be her twin from an evil parallel universe bent on wanton destruction and mayhem, oh yeah and to steal our Sham Wows. The senior officers Steele, Merrick, Gar, and Corbett along with a couple of expendable redshirts beam down to a mining facility and find their counterparts. They uncover the parallel universes plot to destroy them and generally behave badly while in federation space. Not wanting to let Kirk and company have all the glory in Starfleet textbooks the senior staff led by coffee aficionado Steele take their place and beam aboard the TSS HOOD for the good of us all.

Meanwhile aboard the USS HOOD Cedria Zade and ARr’Rhiana Hemux figure out how to make a mean cosmopolitan and track the cloaked evil TSS HOOD. As you can imagine a battle ensues, but since it was early in our story nothing really happened.

Back on the TSS evil Hemux ate some bugs and blackmailed Steele. Corbett was distressed at being married and Merrick tried to hit on his counterparts wife, mostly because his was dead and he wasn’t into necrophilia even though Mother said he had a psychosexual problem. Everyone came together and sang Kumbaya and hatched a plan for escape.

Finally in the back chapters there was another battle and this time the TSS HOOD went from a Cadillac to a Hugo in 3 easy phaser barrages. Unfortunately as always happens some parasite got pissed off and started an auto destruct sequence. Well that or he was timing the Dominos pizza delivery guy.

And that’s what you missed.

The Following takes place between 7 minutes and 29 seconds and 3 minutes and 59 seconds…

SD: 2261.118

TSS Hood: Corridor R-Deck Section C7

The ship was listing to the left its metal groaning under the strain and fatigue it had suffered in battle with its multiverse twin. The sirens and flashing of emergency lights only served to punctuate the computer’s cold metallic voice.

[Auto-destruct in 7 minutes 29 seconds.]

The corridor was empty except for the three of them. Two standing and one face down.

“You will be even easier to kill, than she was.”

“Why don’t we test your theory, you pathetic excuse for an ex-monarch.” He shouted as he stepped across her unmoving body.

Zade looked at the doctor and laughed. He would not waste his rage on such an inferior as this human. The doctor was soft; he drank too much and hid most of the time behind the psychotic Steele. Well if it was a lesson he wanted then it would be the last he ever got. Taking two knives from his belt he dropped one on the floor and kicked it across the deck to the doctor.

Corbett saw the glistening sheen of the poison that coated the 7 inch blade as it slid across the deck, stopped by the toe of his left boot. Keeping his eyes glued to Zade’s he crouched and picked up the knife. “Now throw down the photon pistol and fight me like a man.”

A smirk passed across Zade’s face at the doctor’s comment. “I am not a man, but I need no pistol to fight a soft undisciplined human such as you.” Throwing the pistol behind him he gripped his knife in the first form assassin’s pose that he had learned so long ago.

[Auto-destruct in 6 minutes 59 seconds.]

Corbett let out a deep breath, but maintained his crouched position. His eyes kept Zade in check as he mentally judged the Ma-ai, or distance between him and his opponent. “Your move,” he said.

Zade covered the distance between them in less than the blink of an eye, his knife plunging toward Corbett’s chest.

Corbett pushed himself upright from the balls of his feet, his knife moving upward blocking Zade’s thrust causing the Trill’s blade to slide harmlessly to one side. Turning his body to the side out of Zade’s line of attack he counterattacked with an overhead diagonal cut.

Zade threw himself backward and Corbett’s blade missed him by only millimeters. The doctor has training he thought and that surprised him. By all rights he should have killed the human by now. Smiling he stepped back and assumed the third form assassin’s pose. Maybe the doctor would provide him sport after all. “Your training is not superior enough to hold me off forever doctor. Eventually I will push my poisoned blade deep into your belly and laugh while your liver and spleen explode.”

Corbett’s breathing was very rhythmic and even as he assumed the tachi-iai position. Zade rushed him with a forward downward cut. Pivoting to the right Corbett could feel the burning of the poison on his skin. Zade had slashed through his uniform tunic, but thankfully had not broken the skin underneath. In a counterattack he sliced out in a diagonal rising cut aiming for Zade’s left armpit.

Zade blocked the blow and moved back out of Corbett’s range. He was more wary of the doctor now and would not let himself get careless. Slowly they circled each other. “This toying with you is fun; however, I could make this easy on you and end it quickly.”

[Auto-destruct in 4 minutes 59 seconds.]

“You heard the lady I have 4 minutes and 59 seconds.” Corbett adjusted his stance sliding a little to the left forcing Zade to move his position as well. Just a few more feet, Corbett thought to himself.

The movements between them were slow and to a non-practitioner of the martial arts almost imperceptible. Corbett had him almost where he wanted him.

“I am the most superior fighter on this ship and will make your death as painful as possible.” Zade said his voice arrogant and condescending.

“You think too much of yourself Zade. While I admit eventually you will kill me there is one who is better than you.” Corbett said forcing Zade to move the last foot or so he needed.

“Pah, there is no one better than me.” Zade shouted in prideful boast.

“Except me.” Cedria Quall shouted as she grabbed Zade’s ankle from where she lay and pulled him off his feet.

Immediately she scrambled and wrapped her legs around his and her knife pressed against his throat, the poison burning his skin.

“Cedria no we need him alive to stop the autodestruct.” Corbett shouted at her before she slit her enemy’s throat.

“You were dead; I shot you with the photon pistol.” Zade screamed.

“It passed cleanly between the doctor and me. You better get eyes checked old man that is of course if you live. Now shut down the auto destruct.”

“Peasant, unworthy pariah.” Zade spat at her.

[Auto-destruct in 4 minutes 29 seconds.]

“Cedria.” Corbett implored.

“Go,” She shouted at the doctor. “Preflight the shuttle, just in case I can’t make him do what I want.”

“I won’t leave without you.”

“Don’t be stupid. A lot of people are counting on that shuttle being ready.” She snapped back at him. “Beside this is between Trills and not for outsiders to see.”

Corbett nodded reluctantly and moved over to the comm. unit. “Alia grab Mother and Saxman and meet me at the shuttle in 2 minutes.”

Turning he watched her pull the blade tighter into Zade’s throat. “Go,” She mouthed at him.

Flipping open his communicator he said. “Jack it’s now or never. Sean and Gar have to move the Tholian device to the shuttle now or it’ll be too late.”

[We’re on our way now] Steel said.

“I’ll be there in one minute to preflight the shuttle, Corbett out.”

[Auto-destruct in 3 minutes 59 seconds.]

<<NRPG>> Hope this somewhat makes up for my silence. Brian/ Sean you know I love ya, but the necrophilia/psychosexual thing was too hard to pass up. Dave I didn’t want to completely steal your thunder in case you wanted to have Cedria kill Zade herself. Harry enjoyed your post and glad you’re with us.

Respectfully

Steve Apple

Stile Corbett, MD

CMO, USS HOOD NCC-1703

ASR: ORIGINS

Anonymous

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ORIGINS: USS Hood April 2010

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Sorting Out Problems Part I

by Brian V. Mansur

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Sorting Out Problems Part II

by Brian V. Mansur

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Quantum Spin

by David Kiel

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Big Problem - JP

by Brian Mansur, David Martens and Scott Lusby

COMORIGINS: Falling on One's Sword

by Scott Lusby

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Revelations - JP

by Andy Catterick and Steve Apple

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Time To Shine

by Andy Catterick

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Getting Home

by Andy Catterick

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: A Simple Plan

by David Kiel

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Time to Go

by Andy Catterick

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: The Right Moment

by Scott Lusby

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Decision Point

by Brian V. Mansur

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Damn Incompetant Security

by David Kiel

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Changing Sides

by Andy Catterick

COMORIGINS: Fade to Black

by Scott Lusby

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: A New Way Home

by Andy Catterick

COMORIGINS: No More Papers, No More Books...

by Andy Catterick

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Take Us In

by Andy Catterick

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Battle

by David Kiel

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Finally Some Action!

by Andy Catterick

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Making Another Deal

by Andy Catterick

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Eavesdropping

by Harry Iha

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Battle Aftermath / Knives an Assassins Best Friend

by Steve Apple

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