Home Again

[Alex Chadwick]

Bridge
USS Cario

Alex stood and walked to the front of the bridge.The ship looked small against the backdrop of the large starbase.He smiled as he saw all the working going on around the ship.Workbees buzzed around performing tasks and men in spacesuits walked slowly along her hull.

"Nice piloting."He said laying a hand on jackies shoulder.He looked back up and saw that the repair works had turned horizons exterior lights on for them.She was beaten and banged up......but her name stood out proudly in the darkness.Hopefully the crew that had stayed behind hadn't gone stir crazy with all the chaos going on fixing the ship.

Alex turned and sat back down in the command chair.Captain fernandez had allowed the horizon crew to staff the bridge for the return trip.Alex supposed he was going to have to get used to sitting in the center seat.

He smiled again as he said.

"Take us in helm......let's go say hi to an old friend."

OFF:And there we are horizon crew us torunament peeps are back home!You all may start posting finding your way back to the ship telling stories of your tournament adventures to those that didn't go.letting the rumor mill run full throttle on what happened there..Remember Horizons pretty beaten up from the last mission but theres been ongoing work the few days we've been gone.{I'm going to say it's been close to a week with travel time to and from khitomer.}So the ship is crawling with repair workers.So stow your gear grab a bite to eat and lets all get back to work having some awesome fun on the craziest ship in the fleet!

[Bettina Cash]

//Mess Hall
//USS Horizon

While there was a heavy place in her heart at leaving friends behind, particularly QaDghab, Bettina was still glad to be back on the Horizon. It had been good to see her cat again, and to sleep in her own bed...well, their own bed! She was thoroughly enjoying being Mrs. Bryan Cash, and it amazed her that their love just continued to grow.

Smiling to herself, her step light, Bettina walked toward the mess hall, contemplating her options. It was time to eat something that didn't try to escape on the way down! Maybe some apple pie a la mode would be good. Or pizza...Didn't matter, it would be good!

TAG
ANY

[Kurt Barnes]

After cleaning up for a few hours, there was little to do but sit around. Barned wanted to help with shipwide repairs, but it seemed whenever he drew near, the room suddenly became crowded, so he retreated to the solitude of his quarters, with Mark and Jen next door. It was just then that Kurt realized how hungry he was. He once again departed his room into the scarred-and-charred corridor. The Turbolift was slow to answer the call, no doubt an effect of either the damage, or over use at the behest of the many crewmen darting about the vessel in response to its needs during the repair process.

Somehow Kurt knew that the mess hall would be in good shape; somehow that's the way that fate worked. All the critical components of a home or starship could be destroyed, but the bathroom and the holodeck would work fine.

Kurt turned to enter the room, and almost bumped into someone wearing a teal uniform.....

<Tag Davies>

[Bettina Cash]

//Mess Hall

Somehow Kurt knew that the mess hall would be in good shape; somehow that's the way that fateworked. All the critical components of a home or starship could be destroyed, but the bathroomand the holodeck would work fine.

Kurt turned to enter the room, and almost bumped into someone wearing a teal uniform...

"Oh! Are you all right?" Bettina had been day dreaming again, and just barely managed to sidestep the man, doing a little sort of pirouette around him. She stopped in front of him, smiling, then stuck out her hand. "Bettina Cash...PO2. You want to join
me?"

TAG
KURT

[Kurt Barnes]

Somehow Kurt knew that the mess hall would be in good shape; somehow that's the way that fateworked. All the critical components of a home or starship could be destroyed, but the bathroomand the holodeck would work fine.

Kurt turned to enter the room, and almost bumped into someone wearing a teal uniform...

"Oh! Are you all right?" Bettina had been day dreaming again, and just barely managed to sidestep the man, doing a little sort of pirouette around him. She stopped in front of him, smiling, then stuck out her hand. "Bettina Cash...PO2. You want to join
me?"

Kurt didn't know what to make of this individual; he was unsure what profession she followed.... medical or science. He hoped and prayed it was medical, as though Kurt admired the devotion scientists had to their work, he often found them quirky, and their work, a little pointless at times. But, he had no reason to be rude. So, despite having some reservations, Kurt gladly accepted the offer for some company.

"I'd love to. I'm Kurt Barnes, I'm an Federation News Network reporter on loan to the Fleet's Federation News Service... but don't let that scare ya, I hate interviews just as much as you folks do..... He said, smiling widely. So, what on the *menu* is good around here?"

He said, extending his hand in an "After you" motion......

<Tags>


OFF: Perhaps we should continue this in the JP Section?

[Kiara Krezek]

[Kiara Krezek's Quarters]
[USS Horizon]
[Time: Immediately after arriving from the Tournament]

Kiara sighed as she heaved herself onto the bed, exhausted. She didn't really know why, but the place just was a lot more homely than the Cairo's guest quarters that she had been assigned...

Maybe it was the bedspread.

Shrugging mentally, she just lay down and thought of what she had experienced over the past weeks. A reunion with her twin brother - and a surprise visit from her older brother Lokal, whom looked like he was on a mission as usual - was good, and the event had given her hints on how to fight a Klingon. She would have to practice in the holodeck later. She made a mental note to book a few hours for proper implementation.

"Well, Kiara, back at your old stomping grounds..." she muttered to herself as she lay there. "Might as well see what everyone's doing."

And with that, mostly because she didn't want to unpack just yet, she got up from her bed and left her quarters, headed for the Mess Hall. The Mess Hall would be the way to get the heartbeat of the ship, and she didn't forget it.

[Alex Chadwick]

Chadwick's Quarters
USS Horizon

Alex stood looking out the viewports in his quarters.The ship was still a long way from being operational again.He had just finished going through a stack of reports with jackie and she excused herself to go take a shower.He looked over at his uniform top lying on the chair.He still wasn't used to wearing it again.

K'Tec was due to arrive soon with his wife......alex shuddered at the thought of meeting her again.She hated him with a passion and didn't hold back about expressing that at every opportunity.She didn't think a terran deserved to be in the house of a dahar master.....he wondered what she would think about K'Tec making him the heir apparent to the entire house and holdings.

He rubbed the back of his neck with his hand and picked up another padd.A report of events happening in the system.A interesting report by the Bozeman....

"A planet they never discovered?"He said aloud and shook his head and set the padd down on the desk.He turned and started to walk towards the bathroom as he heard the shower shut off.

[Bryan_Cash]

Cash Quarters
USS Horizon

Bryan turned from the viewscreen.He didn't like what the doctors at fleet command had to say.He tried to reach for his coffee on the table and felt a twinge of pain in his shoulder.Age related arthritis cash had told him.It was getting worse as was the pain in his chest at times.

The effects had lessened a bit once the got back to the horizon.Slower but not stopped.Like something was slowly draining the energy from his cells.He sighed and slowly stood and walked to the bed.He was tired again and needed a rest.After he would get up and go find bettina....

[Jackie Clawson]

Chadwick's Quarters, USS Horizon.

Jackie glanced at the reflection in the mirror as she fiddled with her hair. The image staring back at her seemed different. She was different for a long time now. the events at the tournament had just highlighted things that much more. She won the year, but the Caitian knew the real reason for her win, it wasn't her training, her skill, it was her drive , her rage, her anger that drove her to fight harder this year.

"in the hopes of someone driving a blade through you" she mumbled the truth. She was surprised she hadn't actually killed anyone and suspected she would've if it weren't for Alex. She would've done a lot of extreme things if it weren't for Alex. If she hadn't realised how she felt...for the first time in more than a decade Jackie was truly happy again, he'd managed to fill a void in her heart that she didn't think anyone would fill ever again, not since Jack. She could never get Jack and Jenny back, that was the truth the Caitian had faced a long tme ago. What she hadn't counted on is to get involved with anyone again in a serious fashion such as this.

Jackie reached out towards her reflection tracing the contours of her own face on the mirror; the last few months have been extremely difficult for the Caitian, but the events of the days at the tournament will change her life forever she knew. If her resigning was any indication of change.....for a moment she wondered how Mark'd react once he found out. HOw'd he react to everything...Jackie made a note to contact him later. She knew she made the right decision. Alex'd make a good Commanding Officer, and Jackie wasn't about to make the same mistake twice by remaining in Starfleet whilst being involved with someone; she knew it was a huge step to take, but she felt it was right; ever since he stopped her from going overboard with her betleH vefore the matches started and protected her the way he had...he understood...listened...and cared, she knew that much; his eyes told everything, much like hers she suspected.

Jackie knew it'd take some time to adjust to being on the Horizon not as its commanding officer. it's a hell of a change for the crew as well, and she and Alex still had things to go over and brush up on; Jackie wasn't sure how the crew'd take the news, she suspected most of them knew by now.

This would be a new era for the Horizon as well...plenty of changes for the people aboard and the ship. But something told her that she didn't have long with Alex either..Jackie chased that thought away as she wrapped a towel around her slim figure and slipped out of the bathroom, the unsetlling thought still fresh in her mind. She'd have to see about replicating some wardrobe for herself that wasnt a uniform or a training suit. Jackie tried to focus on that and forget the gnawing feeling she felt deep inside...She didn't want to lose hm too....

"There...nothing gets me relaxed and refreshed as much after going through some PADDs and reports." she spoke softly with a slight smile as she caught sight of Alex, she hid the worry from her features as she spoke. "or so I thought, until a couple of days ago." the smile grew as she recalled their special dinners and lunches and breakfasts they'd had, she reached out to touch his cheek hiding the slight tremble she felt. "So what's the plan?" she asked.

[M'karll]

[Mess Hall - M'karll/S'leyvas]

"Beastly, absolutely beastly, and you found this fun," S'leyvas asked as he dug into his salad greens. He made a face as M'karll related back to him the tale of his exploits from the betleh tournament. Part of the joy in doing so, from M'karll's perspective was the looks that his brother got on his face as he talked about violence. The black furred Caitian had stayed back on the Horizon to fiddle with his plants and experiements.

"Ya-har, matey, I be findin' it ta be mos' enjoyable indeed," M'karll replied as he sliced a hunk out of the huge steak in front of him that had been cooked rare. Part of the enjoyment in eating something with blood was also in watching his brother's face as he ate it. "I always wonder'd why ye were never one fer the fun o' bloodsport! Not like anyone be gettin' hurt no how."

"It's more civilized to talk out your problems and learn for learning's sake than to engage in violence," S'leyvas replied.

"Ye on'y say that because we always picked on ye when ye were a kit," M'karll replied, slapping his brother heartily on the back.

(open tag)

[Main Sickbay - I'zzad]

I'zzad stood next to a tray of surgical implements. While the tools were clean, Izzy was checking that they were properly clibrated and ready at a moment's notice. If there was one thing he had learned in his breif stay on the Horizon already it was that one in the medicla profession could never be too prepared. Most of this he blamed on his brother M'karll as he was certain that it was likely his brother's fault for most of the michief that had come their way.

(open tag)

[Grenn]

Horizon
Mess Hall

J’al entered the Mess Hall to find both of his cousins sitting at the table. S'leyvas and M’Karl were having a bite to eat and discussing something.

Earlier, J’al had come back onboard from the Cairo and reacquainted himself with both his quarters and his office. An idea struck him, and he wouldn’t even have to bother with all the approvals that normally went with such a function. Well…. Maybe one. He’d talk to Chadwick about it in a bit.

A bit ago, he had sent out a shipwide message to all crew inviting them to a warp engine cookout in the Main Shuttlebay at 1600 HRS. There would be games in the vast open area, and the grill would be a shuttlecraft’s exposed warp nacelle with the top panels taken off and a makeshift rack installed. Radiation shields were in place internally, but all you needed to cook was heat, and they generated plenty of clean heat at idle.

“Hey guys. Did you get my message?” he asked, walking up.

Seeing them look at one another briefly, he went right past it. “Never mind. I need a hand setting some stuff up in the cargo bay at 1600. We’re doing a cookout to raise spirits after this time in drydock. You guys going to help?” he asked both of them.

"Yar-har, ye kin count on me thar, fair cuz," M'karll roared, eyeing S'leyvas.

"I guess you can count me in for this, is there anything in particular I need to know about regarding dress or bringing something," the black-furred Caitian asked.

"Nah, just be there at 1430 to help me set up. M'Karll, I need you to help me rig a shuttle's nacelle to cook food. Thanks guys!" J’al said, on his way out. After all, he had a lot of people to check up with.

Next on the list was Chadwick. After all, he may as well make sure that the most senior officer onboard at the moment knew about it. As it was, he knew nothing about Clawson’s career decisions she was making, and only knew for sure that Chadwick was here at the moment. Not knowing where Clawson was, he was the person to go to.

As he walked down the Corridor from the Mess Hall, J’al hit his commbadge. “Computer, locate Commander Chadwick.”

“Commander Chadwick is in his quarters.” The computer voice came back.

“Perfect.” J’al thought as he headed over there. Luckily the XOs quarters were also on Deck 2 along with several senior officers. He on the other hand was on Deck 4, but it wasn’t a big deal to him.

Walking up to the door with “Commander Chadwick, Executive Officer” on the small LCARS style metal piece on the door, he rang the chime and waited.

OFF: Tag to Chadwick! I donno Jackie's there either. Heh heh. :p

[Alex Chadwick]

Chadwick's Quarters,
USS Horizon.

"So what's the plan?" she asked.

Alex smiled and shook his head and shrugged."No idea,I was hoping you would think of something."He said with a chuckle.He smiled as jackie was about to speak when the door chime to his quarters rang.Raising an eyebrow he turned and walked thru the bedroom and main living area to the door.He hit the open button and was surprised to see J’al standing there.

He offered a smiled and inquired.

"Nice to see you Lt.Something you needed?"He said offering the caitian entry into his quarters.

[Grenn]

"Yeah, this'll just take a minute. Thanks." he said as he stepped inside holding a PADD between his hands.

After Chadwick walked into the main area after J'al, he turned and handed him the PADD.

"We're hoping to have a bit of a party in the Main Shuttlebay at 1600 tonight. Food, games, that kind of thing. I just need your approval on that since we'll.... well.... use one of the shuttles to do the grilling. We were going to kind of.... cook on a warp nacelle as kind of a gag. I need M'Karll's help to remove the hull plating on it and rig up a grill over the engine's heating duct." he said, as it was outlined on the PADD. HE realized he must sound somewhat crazy.

"And if you approved it, I wanted to invite you down. Jackie too, if she's around."

OFF: :)

[Roman Dagara]

ON -- Private Quarters

Roman sat at his desk reading his most up to date Medical text books. He had been studying hard when all of the staff had went to the tournament. He used quite a bit of the peace and quiet as a way to study up. He knew that if he wanted to become a Doctor in any reasonable time he would need to go through everything.

He turned his head slightly thinking of a very pretty Bajoran Science officer. She was currently on Bajor and he really did miss her a lot. He hadn't had a lot of chance to really talk to her since she left Bajor and he could see her beautiful eyes in his mind when he closed his eyes.

Roman realized that this was getting him nowhere fast. He tried to focus but they kept going back to Jalovel. The picture in his mind was very vivid, he wished he had gotten the chance to wish her well on her trip home and to talk to her about his feelings. He focused his mind as well as he could and began to study. He was looking over Xenobiology right now.

Roman closed his eyes briefly thinking about the crew wide party that was scheduled to begin tonight

TBC

[Alex Chadwick]

Chadwick's Quarters,
USS Horizon.

Alex looked over the padd and smiled.He liked this crew,there was always some new way they found to enjoy themselves.He handed the padd back to the LT.

"Sure thing it's approved."He smiled and nodded his head.He didn't know if jackie wanted anyone to know she was here or not so he decided to err on the side of caution.

"I'll make every effort to show up.Not like were going anywhere anytime soon so it sounds like fun."He said patting the lt on the shoulder.

[Amina Jalovel]

[Bajor - Telnor Province]

"Jalovel?"

A woman's voice interrupted Jalovel's lunch and she turned toward the sound of the voice. Her father's nurse came into view, one foot raised as if she was ready to turn around and flee down the hallway at any moment.

"Yes, did you need something?" Jalovel asked the woman.

"Your father. He's asking for you, dear." The nurse turned without waiting for Jalovel's response and headed back down the hallway.

Jalovel dropped her fork in her plate and pushed away from the table. Suddenly her heart was beating quickly. The look on the woman's face told her that something was terribly wrong. And for her father to be asking for her now when he had been sleeping almost constantly for the last two days was quite unnerving.

Padding down the hallway, Jalovel reached the door to the room her father was in. The chase lounge had been tidied and her blanket folded neatly at the end. Her father sat up in his bed with several pillows propped beneath him for support. Obviously he'd asked the nurse to do that favor for him. His eyes seemed sunken into his face and the skin was pale and white. But he still managed to smile when he saw her.

"Jalovel, my lovely daughter. Come, here child." He weakly raised his hand for her to come to his side. It was then that she really took note of how much this disease had taken from him. The hand was almost skeletal. The once strong fingers felt featherlight when she took his hand in hers. She was afraid to hold onto his hand too tightly because he seemed so frail to her.

Bending over him, Jalovel placed a small kiss on his forehead. His skin was cold and clammy to the touch. Instinctively she knew that this was the last day that she would see her father alive.

"I never got to tell you just how proud you have made me all of these years. My daughter, a Starfleet Officer." He smiled at her, his voice barely more than a rough whisper. But Jalovel drank in every word. She blinked back tears that threatened to spill from her eyes. "I know things have been hard for you, growing up without your mother. But I know that she would have been just as proud of you as I am." He paused to catch his breath, as if those few sentences spoken had taken so much out of him.

"I know you miss her very much, father," Jalovel said softly. She wasn't sure what exactly to say to her father at that moment. Part of her wanted to ask him why he never told her he was proud of her and another part didn't want to ruin this moment she had with him. If he was going to die tonight she wanted him to leave this world believing that his daughter had always known he loved her.

"I will see her soon enough," he replied. "And I will tell her how proud you have made me. I am glad you came."

"Of course I came father. I love you very much." Jalovel was crying now but her father didn't see the tears.

"I love you too child. I will miss you. And I will miss not being able to see the children that you will someday have. May they grow up to be just as stubborn as you are." The last few words were spoken at barely above a whisper. Her father closed his eyes as if keeping them open was taking too much of a toll on him. Jalovel kissed him once again.

"The drug has put him back to sleep, Jalovel. I'll leave you alone with him. I doubt that he will awaken again before..." the woman trailed off and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Thank you Maddie, for everything," Jalovel said without turning away from her father. She still held his hand as he slept. Maddie pulled a chair over for Jalovel to sit in and then left the room. Taking her seat, Jalovel waited for her father to die.

TBC

[K'Tec]

IKS P'agh
enroute to
USS Horizon

K'Tec sat in the command seat and watched as the stars warped by on the viewscreen.They had been cloaked up until this point.It wasn't for any reason other than K'Tec disliked being watched as he came and went from his home.His wife hated it.......much like she hated many other things.

The news of his decision to choose alex as his heir and not there own son enraged her for a time.Until he explained what would happen if she tried to move against him or alex...

She would rather die than see alex named heir to the house and holdings so he was prepared to kill his own mate if she tried to stop any of this or worse.
Some things were larger and more important than keeping up appearances to the council and home world.He could care less of the goings on back on Quonos.He thought even less of the council.....

It was his house his holdings and if he wanted it all to be under the control of a terran then they would be!

[Grenn]

Shuttlebay
USS Horizon

After getting Chadwick's approval, J'al headed out to get things set up. M'Karll would be assisting soon, but now he wanted to get the shuttlebay closed off and things in place.

With the bay locked and his commbadge set to go off if anybody tried to enter, he chose the shuttle Sultana. As a type 6, it had warp engines at ground level and provided a nice flat surface on top of said nacelle to cook on.

He started it up and flew it gently to the side of the bay's main area, landing it on an angle out. Turning it off and powering it down for now, he looked it over and decided that most of the hull plating on top of the nacelle would have to be removed to expose the heat transfer cmoponents. They should give off a nice red hot glow with a grill placed over them and heat foil below to catch anything dripping from the cooking food.

Now if M'karll would only get here they could start removing plating.

OFF: :)

[M'karll]

The Sultana had not been landed in her new spot for too long when the doors to the shuttle bay opened and admitted a trio of Caitians, one black, one white, and one tiger striped. The black one, S'leyvas, was pushing a hover cart on which had been piled bags of sand, a mesh bag of volleyballs, and a volleyball net set-up. All three were clad in Hawaiian-style swim trunks that hung down to their knees and open button up Hawaiian style shirts, though M'karll had still tied a teal bandana around his head pirate style. "Ahoy thar me 'earty cousin," M'karll roared across the shuttle bay at J'al.

(tag J'al)

"Cleaning up the sand is a snap," S'leyvas said, holding up a paw. "It can be vacuumed up, or at worst sucked into space by opening the shuttle bay doors and dropping the shield for a couple of seconds."

"Yeah, the real question is whether or not the pass-ee-fest is even going to play," I'zzad said, slapping his brother on the back.

"Of course I'll play," S'leyvas replied. "This is recreational playing, there is no conflict in recreational playing."

"That be what ye think, me brother," M'karll replied. "What assistance be ye needin' from me whilest tweedle dumb and tweedle dumber set up fer volleyball?"

(tag J'al)

[Grenn]

-----Insert this into the first tag------
"Hey guys. Glad you're helping. Um.... what's with the sand? We could have just played on the deck. And who's going to clean it up?" he asked the three, but M'Karll more then the others.
-------------------------------------

"Help me remove the hull plates off the top of the nacelle and set them on the other side by the wall out of site. We're trying to expose the heat transfer plates. They should give off a good hot glow. Then we can rig up a grill of some sort on top of it based on where the supports are."

OFF: :) Inpost Tagging. Bad! :D

[M'karll]

[Shuttle Bay]

M'karll nodded and moved to help remove the indicated plates while his two brothers busied themselves setting up a beach volleyball playing area on the deck and getting the net up. "Be ye sure this will be workin' me cousin," M'karll asked. "An' who be providin' the meat fer cookin'?"

"And did you bring anything for those of us that don't eat meat," S'leyvas asked as he dumped a bag of sand on the deck. No sooner had he finished speaking than I'zzad bonked him on the back of the head.

"Not eating meat, when did this abomination start," I'zzad asked. "You know from a medical standpoint you need to eat meat to stay healthy, right?"

"That's what substitues are for," S'leyvas replied.

"That's not natural, and there's meat by products in most of them, and you know both of those facts as a Science Officer," I'zzad shot back, chuckling as he dumped a bag of sand on the deck.

"Still, it holds truer to my beliefs than not."

M'karll looked at his cousin and held a finger up next to his head, waving it in small circles in the universally accepted crazy sign. "An' ye be sayin' I be the one with a losse lanyard, yar-har," he said, chuckling.

[K'Tec]

IKS P'agh
enroute to
USS Horizon

K'Tec rolled over on his slab and tried to reach for the tankard of bloodwine he had left sitting on the floor.He detested space travel and only did so when necessary.He preferred to face his enemies on the ground face to face.Besides...being on a starship for to long gave him indigestion.......much like his wife's cooking often did.The only klingon female he had ever met that preferred gagh roasted to a burnt crisp...The thought of it turned his stomache again.Food should be alive and willing to put up a fight as you tried to eat it!

"Never will i understand females."He said grasping his tankard and bringing it to his lips drinking heartily.He swallowed the last drop and let the large mug fall to the deck with a heavy thud.He slapped the communicator on his chest piece and waited for a response.

-\/-Yes my lord! The warrior on the other end cried out surprised.K'Tec grinned .He liked to keep his warriors on there guard at all times........it meant a faster response time if something surprising ever did occur.

-\/-How long until we reach the Horizon?"He said trying to sound as annoyed as possible.He grunted once and the warrior barked out the requested information.They would be to the horizons port of call within the hour.that was good it would give him time to prepare a few things........and to stun his wife so she wouldn't kill alex on sight........not that the boy couldn't take care of himself.....K'Tec just hated the thought of having to kill his wife outright to soon.

[Bryan_Cash]

Corridor
USS Horizon

Bryan walked slowly down the corridor.He scanned the ruined passage and deduced it had suffered it's damaged late in the conflict with the pirates.It had been neglected so far in the ongoing repairs.

He shook his head and tried to focus his mind again.It had started wandering lately like cash had said it would.What ever was happening to him was increasing in speed.So far the only solution SF medical had proposed was to be put in suspended animation....or as cash suggested get in a runabout and head towards alpha centauri at somewhere around lightspeed and hope that in the hundred or so years it would take to get there that medical science will have figured out some sort of cure.

"Not acceptable." he said suddenly out loud.He stopped in the corridor and rubbed the back of his neck.He had already cheated time and survived a whole lot of years he shouldn't have.Time traveling to the distant future again wasn't an option.

Sighing bryan continued walking again hoping he would run into bettina in the madness on the ship.....he couldn't remember where the computer had said she was.....and the access points on this deck were all offline.

[Alex Chadwick]

Admiral's readyroom
or whats left of it.
USS Horizon

Alex stood holding the padd jackie had just handed to him in his hand.It was the official orders from fleet command.He had been given command of Horizon and a promotion to full commander.He sighed as he stared out the large windows in the room.He hadn't ever wanted a command of his own......and certainly not this command.

Jackie sat behind the desk they had both worked to turn back upright.She looked more at peace than alex had ever seen her before.She was even trying to glue her coffee mug back together the handle had broken off during the conflict with the pirates.

Alex was about to speak when the yellow alert klakon began to sound.He sighed and tapped his comm badge.It must be malfunctioning again...it and the blue alert had been sounding all afternoon....there was no way you could have a yellow alert in a repair dock.

=/\=Chadwick to bridge.....can somebody shut that alarm off?

He waited for a response...the comm system was a little slow with only a few of the shipboard repeaters fully operational.He raised an eyebrow when a worried ensign chimed in.

=/\=Sir it's not a false alarm.....a ship just decloaked off our port side.The repair dock is at alert to sir!.

Alex turned and looked at jackie and the both of them bolted out the door to the bridge.There was a skeleton crew there basically just working at cleaning up the debris.Alex took up the security spot and tried to get the sensors working.

"It's an old klingon B'rel class."Alex said working the partially working console.He watched as jackie hovered near the command seats.......not sitting down but he could tell she wanted to.Some habits were hard to break.

The comm beeped as an incoming signal was being received.Alex raised an eyebrow.

"Were being hailed."He hit the onscreen button and the viewscreen flipped to life.It worked but barely..a static filled image came on the screen.Alex squinted as a figure in the command chair on the klingon ship rose and walked forward.Alex let a smile creep across his face as he recognized the klingon on the screen.

"Drop the yellow alert.......and alert the repair dock to stand down to." Alex turned to the view screen and smiled.

"You could have told me you were coming K'Tec!"Alex said with a laugh.

[Grenn]

[Shuttle Bay]

"That still stands." J'al said in response to M'Karll. "Also I've never used the word "lanyard" in a conversation with you."

The two lifted off a panel about 6 feet long and placed it inside the craft. The interior of the nacelle was now exposed.

"Lessee. We'll need some metal bars here. You make a grill pattern about this size and I'll fashon some mounts to hold it up." he said to M'Karll as Izzy and the pacifist kept laying sand out.

[M'karll]

[Shuttlebay]

"Yar, make da pattern out o' what, me face," M'karll asked, looking around for a moment before he spied the other supplies. "Never ye mind ye fuzzy space barnacle."

"I think he was dropped on his head as a child," I'zzad said to S'leyvas as he dumped another bag of sand.

"Likely," S'leyvas replied as he dumped his bag of sand. They were almost done with operation volleyball pit. In response M'karll sent a burger flipper winging towards his two brothers with a threat about something involving a full broadside. The other two merely looked at each other and shrugged.

[Grenn]

[Shuttlebay]

J'al was measuring a few dimensions as M'Karll tossed his flipper over to his brothers.

"Hey S'leyvas, Izzy, I think M'Karll needs a family hug to calm down." J'al said

He always loved a chance to provoke a response from him.

[M'karll]

[Shuttlebay]

"Yar, on'y if'n ye be meanin' 'orizon family, an' even then on'y if'n they be the female members of said family," M'karll threatened, waggling a steak knife threateningly in the direction of his two brothers as he laid out a grate structure on the opened nacelle.

"I abhor violence, you know this," S'leyvas said, looking balefully at his tiger-striped brother by the shuttle as he finished dumping the sand.

"Because you're a wuss and Ressi, Krash, and K'ndry always beat you," I'zzad replied before M'karll could.

[Grenn]

[Shuttlebay]

"Bah, you just want an excuse to hug Jackie. Somebody has a crush." J'al said with a chuckle. "You'll have to stand in line. K'Vok may not like that too much. Neither would Chadwick. I'd worry about him more then K'Vok."

They began to spot weld some parts to get a rough shape as they continued to talk.

"Yeah, rumors have been flying about all of 'em. Hard to tell what's true or not. Word is, and the evidence seems to support it that Jackie and Chadwick are together now." J'al said for everyone to hear.

OFF: Ooh, lower decks gossip and rumor. :)

[M'karll]

[Shuttlebay]

"Yar, I be 'earin' the same rumor's me own self. Still, there be many a fine lass on the 'orizon other n' the fairest maiden. She merely be the onliest Caitian maiden... yar, who be that pretty nurse in Sickback? The Trill," M'karll asked, directing the question to I'zzad who was setting up the volleyball net with S'leyvas.

"Delaney Orion," I'zzad answered. "And she's not a nurse, she's the counselor's assistant. She finds us kitties fascinating, by the way."

"Yar, really," M'karll asked. I'zzad nodded.

"She was non-stop questions on the shuttle ride to the Horizon when I came aboard."

[Grenn]

[Shuttlebay]

As the group prepared, the yellow alert alarm went off. Seeing as blue alert sounded earlier, it didn't seem that important.

"Can't they fix these systems?" J'al said, looking around to see the panels flashing the yellow alert signal as the warning sounded.

After a few moments it shut off though. Nobody even bothered to contact the bridge. Not that they should under normal circumstances if the alert went off. Just get to station.

After about a half hour of construction between M'Karll and J'al, the shuttle was about ready. All that was left was to install the grill, and they did that fairly fast.

"Alright, let's fire up the warp drive and see how this works." J"al said to M'Karll indicating he should jump in and fire it up.

OFF: :) Almost ready. The other guys are setting up some more stuff to do. What that is is up to anyone that posts. I think its time that people can start posting about arriving and whatnot. Just assume you get there about an hour from this last post.

[Amina Jalovel]

[Bajor - Telnor Province]

Jalovel wasn't sure how long she'd been sitting in the chair next to her father's bed before she had finally fallen asleep. It had been her plan to remain awake at her father's side until he passed on. But the human body could only remain awake for so many hours before it needed sleep. And since she wasn't even eating much of anything, her body was even more tired than normal.

Telling herself she would only close her eyes for a few minutes, Jalovel fell into a deep sleep. In her dream she was still sitting by her father's bedside, holding his hand, waiting for him to die. The slow and steady rising and falling of his chest was her only reassurance that he was still with her.

"You do know he loves you very much, don't you Jalovel?" A woman asked.

Jalovel turned to the direction of the voice and saw a lovely woman standing before her. She looked so much like Jalovel she gasped wondering what kind of vision she was having. Her mother was dead and had been since she was a little girl. Jalovel had tried on many occasions to conjure up her mother's image but the only thing she could ever see was the holocube image that sat on her father's desk.

"Mother?" Jalovel asked the smiling woman.

"Yes and no," the woman replied as she walked closer to Jalovel. "I'm more like the memory you have of me, that you keep inside your heart."

"No, you died when I was little. The only thing I can remember about you is the image on the holocube on dad's desk," Jalovel protested softly.

"You mean this one?" her mother said and the image shifted to the smiling one from the holocube before shimmering back to the previous image. "Doesn't exactly look the same, does it? I was very ill when your father took those holo images. I wished he hadn't because I didn't want my daughters to remember me that way."

"Why are you here, now?" Jalovel asked. She brushed the tears from her eyes.

"I thought maybe you shouldn't be alone when your father passes and it will be I who guides him into the next life." Her mother smiled as she looked down at Jalovel's father. "He really was proud of you, you know. You were too hard on yourself. He didn't want a son, he wanted you to be happy. But he didn't know anything about raising daughters. That's why he treated you and your sister as if you were boys. I thought perhaps you should know that because some part of yourself understands the truth of what I'm saying. You just have a hard time believing it."

"All these years we could have spent more time together if I'd only realized he did love me for who I am. I thought he blamed me for your death. I thougth he blamed me because I wasn't the son he always acted like he wanted. But it makes so much sense to me now. I just wish we had more time," Jalovel said softly as her heart was breaking over what could never be.

"So does your father, Jalovel. It won't be long now. I will stay here with you, but now you should sleep, my child." The womans' face began to fade from view. Jalovel wanted to tell her that she didn't want her to go yet, she wanted to spend more time with her mother. But she couldn't fight the darkness that was slowly enveloping her.

TBC

[Roman Dagara]

ON -- Quarters

Roman set down his book with a sigh of contentment. He finally had managed to finish the reading on Xenobiology. It was a very long textbook that he had got from his instructors. It was hard taking these courses at such great distance from Star Fleet Medical. Though he had received some praise from his instructors stating that they were glad he was sticking to his guns and trying to become a Dr. There weren't enough Doctors to spare and every ship could definitely use more doctors or even more field medics.

He was pleased that he had finally managed to finish the PADD about the Xenobiology and he certainly missed the help of that lovely Bajoran science officer. When she returned from Bajor he hoped he could surprise her. He had been spending time trying to learn the difficult linguistics of her language. He wanted to do a proper Bajoran greeting. Maybe that would impress her and that he wouldn't feel very silly for asking her out on some dates. He was falling head over heels for her. He wasn't exactly sure how she felt about him , but a little time apart certainly wouldn't hurt them any and maybe it would make a difference in there lives.

He stood up and went to find something to wear for this get together that the Chief Intelligence Officer had planned. Roman really wasn't feeling much like partying that much what he wanted to do is go back down to Sick Bay and then start getting more of his personell profiles done on the Nurses.

He reached into his closet and pulled out a pair of the camoflage pants that he liked. Tonight he was going to the party in fatiques. They were comfortable and he could have a lot more fun in them since they were usually what he wore when excercising

Roman left his quarters and slowly went to the shuttlebay where the party was to be starting.

TBC or Tags to any who might run into Roman on the way to the party

[Alex Chadwick]

Transporter room one
USS Horizon.

Alex strode into the transporter room behind jackie.His first sight of thing was depressing.Most of it was still in a shambles.The padd itself was barely functional and the walls were blackened by fire.

Sighing to himself alex turned to the transporter chief. "Energize."

He turned back to the padd and notices more than just K'Tec was beaming over.He walked and stood next to jackie.He felt a hurt burning in his chest when he could make out who one of three people beaming over where.
It was K'Tec's wife.Lurksa.....the last time alex had seen her she had tried to strangle the life from him in a fit of rage.

She hated him and she hated K'Tec's affection for him....the lowly terran boy.Not worth of the training from a Dahar master.....let alone being in his house.So all of this must really be getting the old goats hair up.

He lightly elbowed jackie in the side."Be carefull of the female.."he whispered so she could hear.Before she could respond to that the sequence finished and three older klingons stood looking around.K'Tec locked eyes with alex immediately.Lurksa stood looking around the destroyed transporter room with an obvious look of distrust.

"Alex!"K'Tec bellowed as he stepped off the transporter padd.He clapped alex hard on the shoulder and then turned and did the same to jackie.

"You both look well!"He laughed and motioned for his companions to come forward.

"My mate Lurksa and her body guard Kuod."K'Tec said with not much other acknowledgement.Lurksa only sneered at alex offering nothing to jackie.

[M'karll]

[Shuttlebay]

"Ya-ha-har," M'karll cried, boarding the shuttlecraft and running the basic preflight check which would power the warp core on the shuttle up to only 25% of normal. If he left the power guage there it would be more than enough to cook anything they threw on their makeshift grill and completely safe. "Yar, thar be power me cousin!"

"About time," I'zzad yelled, chucking a volleyball into the open shuttlecraft. "Let's get this party started! Where're the women you promised us, J'al?" S'leyvas groaned and shot his white brother a look that said it all.

[Bettina Cash]

~ Cash Quarters

Loud purring covered the sound of Bryan's steady breathing, but Bettina could see the rise and fall of his chest as he slept. So peaceful in sleep, and yet she knew the tormented soul within, one she was trying to heal, for it was a good soul, despite the sins of his past.

Idly stroking Buster's smooth fur, Bettina sat curled in a plush chair just a few feet from the bed, regarding her husband. Something was changing, and not just the soul that was finding its true nature. The man himself was changing, aging before her eyes, gaining subtle lines, losing some definition...

It was no mystery to her, his true age, and that was what terrified her. What if his body was finally giving in and catching up? What if, in the time of his redemption, his body was losing?

"Don't leave us," she whispered, her hand going to her belly. The nausea had awakened her. "There's too much to live for...and I'm not ready yet. We need you, Bryan Cash..."

TAG
BRYAN

[Kiara Krezek]

The Mess Hall was pretty abandoned, which surprised Kiara. No one eating.

"Hmph," Kiara said as she walked out of the Mess Hall, walking about the ship. She just about tripped over an engineer, elbow-deep in wall panel circuitry. They blew up a lot of stuff on the last mission, she realized.

And the tournament just served as a way to forget about it for a while.

She headed for a turbolift, trying to decide where the next place to go for her rounds was going to be...

OFF

Okay, Kiara's just wandering around aimlessly. Have no direction for her right now.

[Grenn]

(Well, why don't you have her come to the party? I did send out invites into everyone's personal message centers in one of my posts back there. ;))

[Shuttlebay]

Everythign looked good to the 4 Caitians. The shuttlebay had successfully been converted into a makeshift party area. There was the vollyball court complete with sand strewn over the appropriate sized area, the shuttlecraft was in place with grill on the warp engine ready to cook up some food, a self serve setup was ready to go complete with drinks, and all with 5 minutes to spare.

"The women will be here, Izzy. Now we just wait. I know Chadwick's going to be here. Donno about everyone else. They better come though." J'al sad, folding his arms.

OFF: :)

[Roman Dagara]

ON -- Outside Bay

Roman was standing outside of the shuttle bay. He wasn't really sure he wanted to enter into the party. He wasn't in a partying mood really. He was busy trying to help with the medical wing and getting things repaired and prepped. Roman was used to being more of a workaholic then a person who plays.

He took a deep breath and opened the door and walk in. Roman was in loose clothing and nothing like his normal military or nurse self

TAGS any in the bay

[Alex Chadwick]

[Shuttlebay]

Alex walked into the bay with jackie close to his side.They had left K'Tec and his wife to get settled.He smiled as he saw how many of the crew had already arrived.They were both dressed casually alex had decided to ditch his uniform for something a bit more comfortable.

He noticed a volleyball area set up.....they had gone all out for this one.He spotted J'al and waved as they found a place near the volleyball area and had a seat.

TAG:anyone!

[M'karll]

[Shuttlebay]

M'karll looked up as the doors to the shuttlebay opened and people began to arrive for the party in the shuttlebay. Jackie and Chadwick had just come in, and one of I'zzad's fellow medical practicioners had arrived as well. Standing in the middle of the volleyball court, M'karll spun a volleyball on one of his fingers on his right paw. "So, be any o' ye brave enough to take on yonder combined might o' meself an' me whitey brother, I'zzad?"

(tag)

[Roman Dagara]

Roman looked at the volleyball court. He knew this was an ancient eart game. He had never yet played the game and it looked to difficult for him to master with no chance to study.

"Sorry never played it. I know it's an older game they played on earth. Didn't know it was still popular. But I will watch you guys play"

Roman smiled and went to where he could sit and watch easily in anticipation of what would be coming. Roman was athletic, he just didn't have it shoved down his throat all the time like those new Marines did. He thankfully wasn't a recruit in the Marines anymore he had more then earned his position with a ship and was glad since he had always been hooked on Space.

Roman watched as the Caitians all seemed to be here and were all fairly close. Heck he could even see the Admiral already here

TBC

[Alex Chadwick]

[Shuttlebay]

Alex sat with his back against jackies.They were both munching on hotdogs as a volleyball game was evidently getting organized across from them.He wanted to keep his mind in the moment but something was keeping him distracted.He wasn't sure what it was, but he did know or at least he believed he was going to find out what it was very soon.

He swallowed the last of his hotdog and glanced around the bay.It looked like half the crew was already there.He had expected as much.He had granted R&R to most of them.He could feel the occasional glance of eyes on them both as they sat there.

He didn't care they weren't doing anything that seriously broke regs.Well at least anything that thousands of others had done before them.StarFleet was rather lack in interfering in the lives of those that served.

He was about to say something again when this time the red alert klakons began to sound all over the ship.He sighed and was about to punch his communicator when the bridge called down to him.

=/\=Bridge to commander chadwick!

The young man on duty up there sounded panicked.Not surprised panicked but real terror panicked.

=/\=This is Chadwick..go ahead bridge alex said calmly.

=/\=Sir this is ensign Johnan sir.Another klingon ship just decloaked in front of us.

Alex sighed.He had asked K'Tec if anyone else would be following along.He made no mention of a second ship.

=/\=Have they done anything son?Alex asked trying to calm the young man.

He could hear the crew on the bridge struggling to bring systems online that either didn't work fully or were not installed new yet.

=/\=Yee..yes sir....they sent a audio only hail.They want you on the bridge talking to them in two minutes or there going to open fire and destroy us.

Alex sat upward his eyes wide.He suddenly realized who was sitting out side with hot weapons trained on the crippled horizon.The repair facility would be no help....they didn't even have a starship assigned for defence.Who would attack a construction and repair facility.

Alex knew one person who hated him enough....

=/\=Bridge i'm on my way.

OFF:SUPRISE!

[Kiara Krezek]

[Turbolift]

The lift was headed down when the comm system chirped.

=/\= "Bridge to Krezek." =/\=

Kiara Krezek sighed and said, "Krezek here."

=/\= "Ma'am, we've got a tactical situation: a Klingon vessel decloaked off the bow, and are agressing towards us with weapons hot."

"On my way," she said. "Computer, cancel destination." The lift stopped. "Reroute to main bridge." The turbolift resumed, shooting straight up and back into the ship...


[Bridge]

Kiara stepped out, beating any other senior officer onto the bridge. "Report!" she ordered.

"Klingons are still there. Gave us an ultimatum of two minutes until they started fire unless the XO comes up and talks to them," the acting tactical officer said as he stepped away from the console.

She stepped up to the console in quite a hurry, scanning the ship. The repair crews had taken waht little functional phaser arrays they had offline for repairs; they were in no condition to defend themselves. "Flutz," she cursed softly, illiciting a few stares from several bridge crew and repairmen. "As you were," she barked.

"Now, where is that XO," she muttered as she heard the doors to the turbolift open, hand over the button call a Red Alert...

OFF

TAG: Chadwick!

[Alex Chadwick]

[Bridge]

Alex strode off the bridge with jackie following close behind.He walked down to the command deck and turned towards Kiara.

"Put me on........audio only."He said to her before turning back around to the viewscreen.He clenched his fists a few times and then started to speak.

=/\="This is Commander chadwick."

He waited for a response and watched the BoP on the viewscreen it's torpedo tube hot and ready to fire.One shot and they would all be toast.

He was about to speak again when the booming voice of a klingon male came through the comm system.

"Ahhh so the coward does show up!"The klingon said with a cackle.A sad somewhat sick sounding laugh....

"I did not think you would speak to me."He said breathing heavily.

"I was prepared to kill you as you ran!"He said again with another disturbing laugh.

Alex gritted his teeth and spoke again.He knew what this was all about.He didn't think he would be so bold as to do it like this.

"What do you want?"Alex spat out angrily.Behind him he heard the turbolift doors swoosh open again and could hear the distinct foot falls of K'Tec behind him.Alex raised a hand to keep K'Tec from speaking.

"What do i want??!! What do i want!"He growled.....

"I want you dead you filth coward petaq!You would dare to steal my birthright!"The son of K'Tec was mad....

Alex tried to speak again but was cut off.

"Beam aboard my ship or i will destroy you all."Alex could almost see the toothy smile of the one making the demands.

"you have two minutes."then the comm went dead.Alex sighed and turned to jackie and K'Tec.

"He is so much like his mother."K'Tec said with a great deal of displeasure in his voice.

"He does mean to kill you."K'Tec said matter of factly.....if he did know anything he knew how unbalanced his son could be at times.The result of his mothers corrupting influence.

[Kiara Krezek]

[Turbolift]

The lift was headed down when the comm system chirped.

=/\= "Bridge to Krezek." =/\=

Kiara Krezek sighed and said, "Krezek here."

=/\= "Ma'am, we've got a tactical situation: a Klingon vessel decloaked off the bow, and are agressing towards us with weapons hot."

"On my way," she said. "Computer, cancel destination." The lift stopped. "Reroute to main bridge." The turbolift resumed, shooting straight up and back into the ship...


[Bridge]

Kiara stepped out, beating any other senior officer onto the bridge. "Report!" she ordered.

"Klingons are still there. Gave us an ultimatum of two minutes until they started fire unless the XO comes up and talks to them," the acting tactical officer said as he stepped away from the console.

She stepped up to the console in quite a hurry, scanning the ship. The repair crews had taken waht little functional phaser arrays they had offline for repairs; they were in no condition to defend themselves. "Flutz," she cursed softly, illiciting a few stares from several bridge crew and repairmen. "As you were," she barked.

"Now, where is that XO," she muttered as she heard the doors to the turbolift open. She turned to see the XO step out, along with Clason and a Klingon. Chadwick was handsome, she thought, but then pushed that thought out of her head as she looked on.

She observed the dealings in between the two on the comm system, and then piped up, "Does everyone want to kill all the senior officers aboard this tug? Maybe I should update my will and watch my own back a little more carefully."

OFF

TAG: Chadwick!

[Jackie Clawson]

Jackie smirked at Kiara's observation.

"Might be a safer bet there" she told the Chief of Security. "Looks like you got your work cut out for you just making sure the CO's safe" she said her glance wavering back at Alex and K'Tec.

The Caitian had remained mostly quiet after K'Tec's arrival, There was a lot on her mind; K'Tec's wife and her clear dislike of Alex doubled up with what just had developed by the arrival of K'Tec's son was just one obstacle. Jackie didn't even want to think of her own involvement and how she played into all of this just yet. The whole situation was potentially a huge mess; Jackie had a lot of questions that were still left unanswered and she wasn't sure how soon if ever she could get answers.

Jackie shook her head, "I can see why she needs a bodyguard" she spoke finally.

"Perhaps I should have a word with her," Jackie pondered out loud, "with a blade in hand" she added. "*that* of course could aggravate the situation even more, but I'm not going to sit around waiting to see who else she'll sic on Alex"

[Kiara Krezek]

Kiara Krezek checked the status of the weapons that they had available. "We have about enough offensive power to defend the station from an attacking swarm of Tribbles. A fully armed and operational Bird of Prey is out of the question." She glanced up. "And need I remind the senior officers of this vessel that having any Away mission on a hostile ship requires you to take security. I volunteer myself."

Truth be told, Kiara was bored. She really wanted to have to take the entire ship of Klingons with her Security contingent, but a Klingon transporter room would suffice...

[Alex Chadwick]

[Bridge]

Alex glanced around the bridge at the faces of the crew assembled.The clock was ticking but what to do?They couldn't defend themselves....

"Let's hope it doesn't come to anyone beaming over there."Alex said walking away from Kiara.

"open the channel back up."Alex said turning toward the viewscreen.He straightened his shirt and steeled his face.Time to play the cold commander...

"Audio and visual communications."He said looking at the screen.He narrowed his eyes when the smirking visual of the son of K'Tec appeared.Alex placed his hands on his hips and didn't speak for a moment.He wanted the animal on the other end to make the wrong assumption.......like he so often did.

"I'm not beaming over there."Alex said plainly with just a touch of annoyance in his voice.He waited again for the klingon to respond.

"You dare to defy me!"He said with a growl.He had stood from his command chair and was as close as he could get to the view screen.As if he could reach through and strangle alex.

"I'm not beaming over there.You can destory us and then have half of starfleet hunting you down for the rest of your days."Alex paused and waited for the klingon to start speaking again.....he interupted him.

"OR!....you and i can settle this....once and for all ourselves...in combat."Alex said with half a smirk.

"Beam over here with a betleh and whatever men you want....and we can finish this."Alex turned from the viewscreen and sat in the command chair.

"YOU....have two minutes to decide."He motioned for Kiara to cut the transmission.And the view screen went blank.

[Jackie Clawson]

Jackie cocked her head to the side smirking as she stood on the platform above and directly behind Alex.

"Yep, the Horizon's gonna be in good hands" she spoke in a soft tone so only he could hear her.

It was always good to lure your opponent off their turf and onto your own, especially if the opponent was a Klingon. Challenging one to combat was a great step; if anything it'd put him in his place. Jackie just hoped there weren't any more 'tricks' coming in. Very briefly Jackie wondered what she'd gotten into but the thought was dismissed as fast as it came into her mind.

[Alex Chadwick]

[Bridge]


Alex smiled at jackie's words.He looked to K'Tec and asked.

"How many aboard?"He knew of course but he needed the others to hear it.This entire plan was crazy.....but on the horizon crazy had a way of working.

"A dozen...maybe more maybe less."He crossed his arms and stared at the ship on the viewscreen.

"He will bring guards with him...not many but some."He looked back to alex and grinned.The boy always seemed to have a plan.Alex turned and looked at jackie.

"Admiral i think you and the Major need to get a team ready."He looked at the major and smiled.

"Time to pull out the big guns."He said as the tell tale whine of a transporter made them all turn to the front of the bridge.K'Tec's son had materialized with four guards.In his hand he carried a betleh.

"Time for you to finally die terran."He said coldly he waved his hand and his guards holstered the weapons they had drawn.He walked to alex who was now standing and poked a finger hard into his chest.

"Shall i kill you here on the bridge of your pathetic ship?"He snarled....and looked towards jackie.

"Or do you not wish your mate to see you begging me for mercy."He clanged the tip of his weapon to the deck cutting into the fresh laid carpet.

Alex smiled like he always did and motioned toward the turbolift.

"I have an area all set up for this."He turned to the major again and asked.

"Contact the shuttlebay......have them clear the volleyball court....I have some business to attend to."and with that he turned and walked up to the lift pausing before entering.

"You coming?"He said to K'Tec's son and entered waiting.

[Kiara Krezek]

Kiara sighed. "Klingons..." she muttered as she kept her hand on her phaser as she opened a channel to the shuttlebay. "Bridge to Main Shuttlebay. Clear the deck; we've got some rather bumpy-headed company." She made no attempt to cover the contempt in her voice for the Klingons that would threaten an unarmed enemy. "I repeat, clear the shuttlebay deck NOW. Security detail to the shuttlebay on the double."

She ducked over to the other lift, wanting to go get her sword. If there was going to be a blade battle onboard, she had t be ready to intervene. There was no way that she was going to let her superior officer get stabbed by anything, damn her orders.

[Grenn]

J'al heard the communication, but before the people all left the Shuttlebay, he stood up on the engine of the shuttle and called out to everyone.

"Hang on a minute! Listen up!" he shouted across the bay as everone turned to look at him.

"We've got to clear the deck..... but we can watch the fight from holodeck 2! I'll get the video feed routed over there and we can watch this thing." he said, jumping down from the engine and landing gracefully.

"Come on guys." he said to all 3 of his cousins who were around him. "Let's get the fight piped into holodeck 2." he said, having more fun in this situation then should be allowed.

About 10 minutes later, most of the attendees were huddled in the holodeck, watching a live 2D video feed from the shuttlebay, as Chadwick, K'Tec, and their entourage entered.

The crew applauded like they were watching a boxing match and were cheering for Chadwick, though he couldn't hear them.

OFF: You've got fans! :)

[Jackie Clawson]

Jackie smirked as Alex stepped inside the turbolift and called out to K'Tec's son. As much as she wanted to do something drastic to the Klingon here herself, she caught onto Alex's plan fairly quickly and her mind quickly put together her next move. She caught Alex's eyes for a moment and gave off a curt nod to him before the doors slid shut.

"Ms Krezek. With me. " Jackie spoke as she ducked into the other lift with the Chief of Security, "Alex can take care of himself, meanwhilst, we're going to teach our guest a thing or two about threatening folk on the 'rizon." "Family matters or not" she added the turbolift began moving.

"According to K'Tec there's a total of twelve bumpy heads on that ship, maybe more, five of 'em are here, which leaves at least 7 there." Jackie paused, "I doubt they're expecting any trouble from us, so they shouldn't be on heavy guard over there." she observed outloud. "Taking control of that bird shouldn't be all that hard, wouldn't you say, Major?" Jackie grinned, her tail swishing from side to side in anticipation of the task ahead.

Kiara smiled. It wasn’t a regular smile, it was more sadistic than anything. “I am liking the way you’re thinking, Admiral,” she said. Truth be told, she was feeling quite bored ever since the Tournament, and she was going to take the chance to practice on the Holodeck, but this was even better. “Just you and me?”

"Mmm.. tempting" Jackie spoke, "but given the circumstances. Let's take a small team together to even out the numbers a little in case there are more than twelve aboard." Jackie spoke. This wasn't a moment to be hotheaded as much as she wanted to rush in and kick ass. "Let's try to keep the surprise and advantage on our side"

Her mind flashed back to last year's tournament and how effectively she and Chadwick had taken down a number of Klingons causing trouble on Serenity base. This time around the odds were greater, this time it was more personal. "I gotta grab my betleH" she spoke; she wasn't exactly dressed for combat, but the clothes she wore would have to do, the symbol of K'Tec's House stood out firmly on her black top, and the dagger K'Tec had given her was clipped to her belt on her jeans.

"And try not to kill anyone, as much as I'd like to. It's worse for their kind if we leave 'em alive when we actually accomplish this." Jackie's grin grew wider as her eyes gave off a feral glint with a hint of something else beneath the surface. If K'tec's wife and their son wanted to play hardball with Chadwick and the Caitian; the two are going to fight back...and how!

“Fine... but next time, I choose the target that we take over together,” Kiara allowed. She hit her comm. badge. “Krezek to Security team Beta. Report to Transporter Room. Come armed.”

She turned to the Admiral. “And I’m not dressed for this either, but I wanted to have a little blade practice, the same stuff that I didn’t get at the tournament. They wouldn’t let me fight with a human sword.” Kiara showed her teeth. She didn’t care that she was talking to an Admiral or not. She was still just going to kick some ass.

Jackie smirked slightly, "Just be careful where you point that thing in all that frenzy" she spoke, she'd hate a repeat of the events last time there was a sword near her. "We don't have much time, Alex can't stall forever. Get whatever you need, we'll Meet in the transporter room in three minutes." Jackie spoke; with that the Caitian slipped out the turbolift doors and headed for the quarters to pick up her blade.


OFF:
Open tag to anyone who isn't watching Alex fight and wants to join us.

JP by Kiara Krezek and Jackie

[M'karll]

[Holodeck]

"Yar, I got three slips o' latinum on the Klingon," M'karll muttered under his breath to J'al. Personally, the pilot was hoping Alex got beat, maybe then Jackie would give him a second look. Probably not though, after all, he had run her through with a cutlass. 'Probably best to be puttin' the fair maiden behind me,' the pilot thought to himself. He turned his gaze on his cousin, waiting on his response.

[Alex Chadwick]

[ShuttleBay]

The shuttlebay was quiet when alex stepped from the turbolift and walked out into the expansive space.His Betleth felt heavy in his hand,this had been the last thing he expected to do today.He smirked as he saw the security officers standing along the sidewall of the bay phaser at there sides watching the klingons.There would be no cheating today.

Alex walked out into the middle of the volleyball court.He unzipped his tunic and quickly removed it.He tossed it to the side and raised his weapon as he saw S'rla approaching.

"You don't have to do this you know."Alex said trying to stall the fight as long as he could.He needed to give them team time to act.

"Oh i do indeed have to do this terran!"S'rla said raising his betleth and surging toward alex.Both blades met and alex had to push back with all his might to keep from being toppled over.S'rla had more strength than at the tournament.He could feel the klingons hot smelly breath against his face.The hate in his eyes was incredible.

"You think you deserve anything?"He pulled back and watched amused as alex stumbled slightly forward.He attacked again cutting a slice quickly across his chest.Alex slapped his blade away and took a few steps back.He wipped the blood away and looked back up into the crazed eyes of S'rla.

He didn't want to do it like this.......but maybe somethings had to be done differently if this was ever going to end.Alex spun the blade around his body and brought it up and over his head running at S'rla.There blades met and alex pulled back and struck again.

The fight of his life was on....

[Kiara Krezek]

[Transporter Room One]

Kiara Krezek was ready for combat as she was site-to-site transported into the transporter room.

Of what kind was the question on the security officers' minds.

She was dressed in what amounted to light combat armor on her torso, but it was of a configuration unfamiliar to them. It was a high-density armor dark green and black bodysuit, designed for flexibility of arm movements. The monocle from all the armor of the Marines was still there, along with her CQB rifle strapped to her back and spare Type 2 phaser and combat knife, but another piece of armament stood out: a curved sword in its scabbard, hung off the belt of her armor.

To her, it felt good to use this custom armor. Very liberating, free of movement... she would have to give the designer compliments via subspace next time she saw him. He had delivered it a few days ago via courier, and she had been itching for an excuse to practice with it on the Holodeck. She had had just enough time to put it on before having to

To the others, it was a little... distracting. It was a little skin-fitting, but Kiara didn't mind. Besides, she was single. It gave her a chance to flirt every once in a while.

But no mating with Klingons, she thought. That was a little too... rough for her tastes.

"You gonna stand around and gawk all day, or are we going to raid a Klingon Bird of Prey?" she barked. "MOVE!" She had realized earlier that body armor or no, she wasn't going to make the time deadline that the Admiral had laid out for her, but with a transport, she had had enough time to dress appropriately.

And she had still beaten the Admiral.

Go figure.

(OFF: Think a slightly modified version of Seven of Nine's outfits. Just for a fun little change of pace... besides, Marine combat armor doesn't work well with blades. And yes, I will be bringing up flaws in the design. ;) )

TAG: Clawson

[TanisHeavenway]

ON: USS HORIZON

Quarters of Chief Medical Officer; Lt. Tanis Heavenway


Tanis sat in his quarters, He had spent most of his time there, during the repairs, and the crews vacation to the Bat’leth Tournament.

He didn’t know much about Klingons, their rituals or beliefs, and the Tournament just didn’t seem to peak his interest any. He decided to stay, Tend to his sickbay, and Relax in his quarters.

Bones sat on his lap, the silver furred feline, her tail wagging back and fourth enjoying the attention Tanis was giving her. After all the weeks Tanis has been on Horizon, he still couldn’t figure the little creature out, The creature that appeared to him on Risa, when he was Stranded for days. Bones saved his life then, Back when he served on USS Nimitz.

The creature had some sort of abilities. Abilities that he has not yet figured out, or even able to scan for. Some days Bones would be no where in site, he would go to bed and when he woke up she would be there lying next to him. Whenever he had a visitor, Bones would just be gone, as if cloaked, and no sort of sensor scans would be able to detect her.

Bones had only once shown herself to one visitor, Delaney, and that was a few weeks back.

Tanis hadn’t yet told the CO of his new pet, and figured it could wait a little longer.

“Your such a Strange friend you are” Tanis said to Bones. The Feline looked into his eyes, its ears twitched in excitement.

Over the past few days Tanis had spent days in sickbay, retrofitting systems, and watching over the upgrades being installed by space dock. He was eager to test them out, he read over each manual and made sure he knew the new systems inside and out.

Every now and again crewmembers came to sickbay with minor injuries, mostly cuts, and falls during the activity of Repairing Horizon.

After hours of sitting in his quarters with Bones, Tanis remembered the Invitations he got on his computer. To a BBQ in the Shuttlebay. The whole idea of having a BBQ in the Shuttlebay was strange to him, Considering the Ideal spot for any such group activity was the Holodeck.

Regardless Tanis decided he would have to check it out for himself.

“Well Bones…” He said and picked up his little friend and set her on the ground. “I should get going…I will see you later” He said, not expecting any reply from Bones.

He left his quarters and next thing he knew the ship went to Red Alert. The corridor turned red as the lights flashed and the siren seemed to reverberate down the corridors.

Quickly he changed his direction and headed for sickbay.

“Might actually get to test out my new equipment today…”

[Delaney Orion]

ON: Assistant Councilors Office

Delaney sat across from Melissa; An ensign in the science department. She had been counseling her for the last few days, her Boyfriend recently injured in the last mission decided to leave the Horizon and Starfleet itself.

“Weather you choose to believe it now or later…Things will work itself out” Delaney Said. “It takes time to recover from such a loss”

“Your Right” She said. Melissa was short, long blonde hair and had served aboard the Horizon for a few years. “I just don’t understand sometimes, just when you think you have people figured out, they do something completely off the wall.”

Delaney looked at her. “Stress does strange things to different people, everyone handles it in their own way, people never know how there going to handle stress, no matter how well they think they can, until the time comes that the stress is upon them.”

“Thank you Councilor, I should get going, I’m running past my appointment time” She chuckled.

“See you tomorrow” Delaney said and watched her leave.

Delaney input a few notes into her computer and turned it off. Her shift was over and she wanted to attend the BBQ Izzy was putting on in the Shuttlebay. She hadn’t spent quality time with him in a few weeks, and she regretted it a lot. He was such a cutie…Tho she never could get over the fact that he reminded her of her grandmothers house kitten.

She headed down the corridor and seen a few people scrambling. She overheard them say something about fight, and holodeck.

“Anyone know if the BBQ is still going?” She asked someone as they ran Past.

Delaney was worried she was going to be late, the BBQ starting midway though her shift.

She over heard someone say that they had to evacuate the Shuttlebay, Something about Izzy catching a shuttle on fire, and Alex getting into a fight; Tho the crewman ran past her so fast she wasn’t sure she heard him correctly.

Delaney was almost disappointed, She was really looking forward to seeing Izzy this evening, but decided to see what the commotion was about in the Holodeck.

Moments later she arrived and over a dozen crewmen were in watching some sort of screen.

Some people cheered and others waved hands in excitement.

“What’s going on?” She asked.

Someone waved her over and explained that Alex Chadwick was in a fight for his life. Delaney looked up in time to see a burly Klingon Slice open Alex Chadwick’s Chest.

“OH MY GOD!” Delaney Cried! “SOMEONE CALL SECURITY!” Instinctively Delaney hit her commbadge, “Sickbay, Medical Teams to the Shuttlebay!”

[Grenn]

Woah, woah.... =/\= Lieutenant Grenn to Sickbay, belay that. =/\= J'al said into his commbadge as he hit it and stepped over by the Ensign.

"They can't get to him right now, anyway. He sealed the doors." he said to her. "Besides, he has to fight to the death to settle this." he said to her, echoing her concerns.

"I don't like it either, but just watch. He'll win. Here, grab a seat up front. Izzy's here, and was wondering where you were." J'al said, escorting her up front to where his cousins were.

OFF: :)

[Delaney Orion]

Ensign Delaney looked Horrified, "WATCH?! WHAT DO YOU MEAN WATCH!" Delaney felt tears well up in her eyes... "he's Hurt!...How can you just sit here and Watch!? WERE STARFLEET! WE CANT JUST LEAVE HIM THERE!"

Delaney got up and began to move to the door...."Someone has to help him!"

[Jackie Clawson]

OFF: Quickie from SAE whilst i got a spare moment.

ON:

The transporter room doors parted allowing Jackie in. She wore her black bodysuit that she usually had for training with the blade and at last year's tournament; she figured her current attire wasn't the best fit, but it still took her only two minutes to make the change. her belteH hung strapped behind her back within easy reach for the Caitian, the blade K'tec had given her was on her belt. She chose not to bring along any non bladed weapons; between her betleH, the blade K'tec had given her and her claws she was pretty well armed

She surveyed the people present and nodded as she strapped the symbol of K'tec's house onto her chest. it was very likely those aboard the klingon ship would be from the same house or at least would know the house, Jackie was half curious to find out what their reaction would be when they find out they're being boarded by a soon to be member of that same house.

"Okay," she spoke, "we don't have much time; so I'll make it quick" the Caitian announced laying out her plan in a few seconds and briefly told the team where they'll be beaming in. "Lets keep the element of surprise on our side." she spoke. "Work fast, neutralize anything that moves before they can alert anyone aboard the Horizon and remember, don't kill, this will work better if they're left alive. " She spoke as they stood on the transporter pads.

"I want 'em all on the bridge and awake when I contact the bozo who challeneged Alex from the bridge of his own ship." Jackie added with a slight smirk as she whipped the betleH out from behind her and gave a short nod to the transporter chief. "Energize" she snapped. As her hands settled on her blade the four members of the Horizon crew were taken away by the transporter beams and deposited aboard the Klingon ship a short distance away.

OFF:
Tag: BoP Bumpy heads. C'mon gimme all ya gots

[M'karll]

[Holodeck]

M'karll looked around for his cousin. Where had that blasted spook snuck off to, anyway? Ah, there he was. Waving his paw in the air to get J'al's attention he called above the din. "Yar, will ye be takin' me wager 'er not thar, cousin," he demanded in a jovial tone.

[Grenn]

[Holodeck]

"Hang on." J'al called to M'Karl. "Alex ordered us not to help him." J'al said to Delany. "Security won't let you in either. Alex's orders. So try if you want, or just watch him win with the rest of us. Your call." he said, turning back towards his cousin.

"I'll take it." J'al called out to M'Karl.

OFF: :)

[Alex Chadwick]

[Shuttlebay]

Alex ducked under a slice from S'rla's blade.He countered knocking the larger klingon off balance for a moment.He took advantage of the momentum and locked his blade with his opponents.Both men strained to try and wrench the weapon from the others hands.

Alex could feel every muscle in his arms screaming out in pain.Feeling his grip start to loosen he pulled back and away from S'rla unlocking there blades.He tumbled backward and lept back to his feet.The klingon cursing and taking a moment to catch his breath.

Alex smirked and spun the blade in his hands motioning for S'rla to advance.He knew how to get the hard heads goat that was for sure.

"Come on i know you can do better than that."He grinned as the klingon charged.Alex sidestepped the swipe of his blade and tripped S'rla with the tip of his boot.The big klingon rolled forward and came up slowly to his feet.The rage was evident....the opportunity prime to win.

"I thought you said you were going to kill me?"Alex said rolling the betleth lazily in his hands.He grinned and motioned for S'rla to attack again.

"Come on ugly let's go...."

[Alex Chadwick]

[Shuttlebay]

Alex stumbled backward.The tip of S'rla's betleth had pierced his shoulder and caused the arm to go dead.He held on to the weapon with one good hand and blocked a series of blows away.

The deck started to get fuzzy in front of his eyes and he could feel a hot warm flow of blood pouring down his arm.He tried to move the injured arm again but all it would do was twitch at his side.Nerves had been severed.....possibly tendon....

Through his fuzzy vision he could see S'rla smirking...actually smirking.He pulled away and spun his weapon in his hands staring into alex's eyes.

"Did you really think you could beat me again terran?"S'rla said with not so subtle venom in his voice.He stopped moving and just stared and alex who was breathing heavy and trying not to pass out from the pain.He still held his blade in one hand and held it high.

"You got lucky and cheated at the tournament....i should have killed you there."He said almost laughing...

"I decided it would be better to kill you here in front of those your serve with.
To show them how much of a coward you are!"He raised his weapon again..

Alex chuckled hoarsely and motioned for S'rla to attack again.He let his trademark smirk play across his face.

"Well then come and "try" to kill me." He said and spun the weapon in his good hand and pointed it tip first at S'rla.

"If you think you can."He said with a cough.He steadied himself for the coming attack....and hoped everything was going to plan on the bop.

[BoP]

The bird of prey was unusually quiet when the strike team beamed aboard.The only sound was the unsteady thrum of the poorly maintained warp drive.And the distant growl of two targ's in the ships holding pen.

Grok ne' was standing guard outside the armory waiting for the others to arrive.They were to beam aboard at S'rla's signal to finish the terran's crew.....Then they would tow the hulk of the ugly silver ship back to the colony world.A prize claimed a prize that would bring much respect to S'rla and his new house.The feds would protest and S'rla would offer them the pitiful ship back in the spirt of fostering friendship....

It would make a wonderful show of power.

Much like the 20 or so warriors aboard the ship ready to strike.....

[Kiara Krezek]

Kiara's first thought was the smell as soon as she beamed aboard.

She made a slight face as her nose rematerialized. It smelled like someone hadn't washed the place in a while, and rotted of targh droppings that were weeks old. Disgusting... she thought. If we wanted to attack these guys and really hit them hard, I would have sent a cleaning crew.

But there was a Klingon manning the transporter room, and she along with two others stunned him before he could draw a weapon or react in any way.

"Clear," she said in a low tone, then gave hand signals to advance to the door and left one person to cover the Admiral. To Hell if she was going to lose a flag officer on this little dance number.

<TAG: Boss-Kitty>

[Roman Dagara]

Roman watched the fight with interest. He was a Marine and he loved the combat even if he didn't use his combat skills much at all. He knew that while the damage would be easily repaired.

It wasn't that Roman was a violent man but he did enjoy the art of the fight. This however was a fight to the death. He could see the poor counsellor not really in her right mind and wanting to get in there. Knowing that the Klingons would take even a worse notion of it then the crew had.

Roman also knew to trust in his crew as it was never smart to cast doubts on anyone that is part of the crew

[Bryan_Cash]

Cash Quarters
The previous night

"Don't leave us," she whispered, her hand going to her belly. The nausea had awakened her. "There's too much to live for...and I'm not ready yet. We need you, Bryan Cash..."


Bryan stirred at a sound.He slowly opened his eyes and could tell that bett wasn't lying beside him in bed.He turned over and saw that she was sitting in a chair....Watching him.He propped himself up on his elbows and raised an eyebrow.

"Can't sleep?"

Bettina smiled softly as he spoke, but remained where she was. "I was dreaming," she commented, her smile widening. "Then I woke up and it was real..." Finally, she rose and walked over to him, sliding into the bed beside him. "Besides, your son was keeping me awake..." Reaching to caress his cheek, she smiled, knowing he would be happy to find out that she was pregnant...

Bryan blinked silently for a moment processing what she just said.Did she say my son was keeping her awake?He let a smile play across his face as he held her hand with his.

"Did you just say my son?"He said with a bit of anxious energy in his voice.He couldn't believe this.....he always thought he was incapable of fathering children.Considering how things had been going lately he shouldn't be so surprised!

"Yes." She snuggled against him and kissed the corner of his mouth. "I haven't looked at the results of the tests yet, but I don't need to..." She wrapped her little hand around one of his and placed it on her belly. "I know it's a son, who will grow to be as good a man as his father." Smiling, she ran her hand over his chest, then kissed him again, looking into his eyes. "I love you so much...I can't even say."

"I love you to..."He said marveling at what the future held.He could feel an energy beneath his hand on her belly and was shocked at what he could see in his mind.There were possibilities now.The family name would go on....he never thought it would.He just assumed ...He looked into her eyes and kissed her gently.

He pulled away from her and looked down at her stomach.The life growing inside have all the opportunities he never had.A chance to live a good honest full life with the love and warmth of his mother and............his father?
Hopefully he would.

He stared at bett's stomach for the longest time not saying anything just gently rubbing with his hand.

Bettina smiled, watching him as he caressed her belly. She loved the expressions playing across his features, loved the tenderness in him. Gently, she combed her fingers through his hair, then she leaned down to kiss him. "Bryan," she whispered, "are you all right? Please don't lie to me..." Although she wasn't certain she wanted to know the truth.

He had been waiting for this to come.She seemed to have an almost sixth sense when it came to him and his well being.He didn't know how to answer that question yet.....hell they weren't even sure what was totally wrong with him yet.

But still she deserved an answer.The cellular degeneration was occurring faster with each passing day.Within a month maybe two he would look and feel all of his almost 200 years.

If he lived that long...

He gazed into her eyes and took hold of her hand again.He didn't want to hurt her or cause her worry.....there were still options available.

"I do have a problem..."He said with half a smile trying his best not to lose control in front of her.

"You remember what i told you about the serum that's kept me young for the last 100 or so years?"The serum that was created by the butchering of hundreds of Baku.....the one part of the whole thing he never went into detail about with her.....he just couldn't....Sometimes he still awoke in the night hearing the screams....

"Yes." Looking into his eyes, she braced herself, already knowing that what he had to say wasn't what she wanted to hear. But as he drew a breath to speak, she laid her finger over his lips. "It doesn't matter," she whispered, replacing her fingers with a soft kiss. "I'm sorry. What matters is that I have you. What matters is every second I have to hold you and be loved by you, Bryan. I would never go back, not one step." Snuggling closer, she turned so that he was 'spooning' her, with his hands over her belly. "I have this..." Sighing, she rested her hand over his. "That's what matters. If we have two minutes, or two hundred years, we have each other..."

Bryan stared off into the darkness.His hand resting over the new life growing inside the woman he loved so much.Whatever happened next he knew he could die finally at peace.

Unknown to both of them a ship as famous as any that had served in starfleet before was on it's way to try and prevent anything like that from happening.
In a few days life for the crew of the USS Horizon was going to be turned into chaos.....

[Bryan_Cash]

[Holodeck]

Bryan stood watching the scene unfold with bett.It was obvious that she was as concerned as he was at the injuries alex had taken.He was holding his weapon with his last good arm and was defending himself well against the crazed looking klingon trying to kill him.

He wanted to burst in there with the security stationed outside and put an end to this.He sighed remembering the commander and clawson ordering everyone to stand down.

As always orders were orders....

He put his arm around betts waist and pulled her closer giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.

[Bettina Cash]

[Holodeck]

Bryan stood watching the scene unfold with bett.It was obvious that she was as concerned as he was at the injuries alex had taken. He was holding his weapon with his last good arm and was defending himself well against the crazed looking klingon trying to kill him. He wanted to burst in there with the security stationed outside and put an end to this. He sighed remembering the commander and clawson ordering everyone to stand down.

As always orders were orders....

He put his arm around betts waist and pulled her closer giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.

Leaning against Bryan, Bettina smiled softly at the kiss, then hid her face against his shoulder. She didn't want anything to do with this. She hated fighting, and even though there was some sort of odd purpose to this, she didn't see the point, when someone could just shoot the bastard that was trying to kill Alex and be done with it!

"Why doesn't someone stop this?" she asked, her hand resting on her stomach. She didn't feel well, but it was likely just morning sickness.

TAG
BRYAN

[Bryan_Cash]

[Holodeck]

"Why doesn't someone stop this?" she asked, her hand resting on her stomach. She didn't feel well, but it was likely just morning sickness.


Bryan sighed and gave his wife a quick hug.He knew there was something at stake here.They broke up the fight....the BoP would destroy horizon.He suspected there was a team either getting ready or on the BoP stopping all this.
He leaned in to whisper into his wifes ear.

"I think this fight is just a diversion."He smirked as he watched alex fight bravely with one arm.

"The commander knows what he's doing.Hopefully he can keep it up for a little bit longer."

[K'Tec]

[Guest quarters
USS Horizon]

K'Tec growled into the snarling face of his mate.He had her pinned to the bulkhead with both hands.she struggled but could not free herself.He had left the bridge after alex and his son had departed and found her on an open comm giving instructions to the crew on the BoP.

To find such treachery in his own house.His own mate plotting against him.His own warriors being used against other members of his house.He could not believe it......he was about to speak again when he heard the familiar sound of a transporter beam take hold of them both.

His eyes went fuzzy with the sickly yellow of the klingon transporter.When they materialized they were on the bridge of the BoP.Half a dozen warriors all pointing weapons at his head.

He released the grip on her throat and took a step backwards.He could feel the rage starting to spill over in his head.

"You would all dishonor me in such a way?"He looked around at all the warriors.

"Did i not teach you better than that?"He said fixing his gaze to Lurksa's

[Jackie Clawson]

'Too quiet' Jackie thought as she focused her senses as they made their way through the BoP taking out any unfortunate Klingons who stood in their way as they made their way to the bridge of the Klingon vessel.

Jackie put her betleH away behind her back as she moved along the hallways stealthily well aware that Kiara and others following her lead not far behind.

'way too quiet for a Klingon vessel' she thought again after some time, if anything her time with Ta'pez before the tournament had taught her it was that Klingon vessels weren't usually so....empty and relatively quiet especially when their leader was aboard the so-called enemy ship.

Jackie had no trouble finding the bridge, slipping the blade into her hands again and giving a signal to the rest of the team she rushed onto the Klingon ship's bridge ready for battle.

Whatever she was expecting to see, half a dozen Klingons pointing their weapons at K'tec even as he seemed to be fixated on his wife, wasn't it....the tension hung in the air as much as the smell that came with being aboard a Klingon vessel....

"Private party?" Jackie queried with a slight smirk as she leveled her betleH, "I suggest you folk drop your weapons and surrender if you know what's good for ya." she noted in a curt tone throwing a nod in Kiara's and the other two team members' direction who all stood with their own weapons raised. Course she didn't expect 'em to follow her suggestion, but that was part of the reason why she brought the betleH, as well as the blade K'tec had given her earlier.

OFF:
tag BoP bridge party (away team and assorted bumpy heads)

[Kiara Krezek]

Kiara stared at the Klingons as the Admiral delivered her ultimatum. She added in, "Of course, you know, we're all for a fight if you guys want. I've got a real itchy trigger finger, and I figure you people probably have about as much honor in you as a targh dropping. You almost fired upon an unarmed vessel. Where is the honor in that?"

[K'Tec]

[Bop Bridge]

K'Tec was startled by the sudden sound of another voice.When he turned he was not surprised to see clawson and an assortment of starfleet security with her.He turned back to his mate and bared his teeth.

"Answer them woman!"He growled while clenching his fists tightly together.If he could have reached out and killed her with his thoughts she would have been obliterated with the hatred in them.

Lurksa sneered and pulled the knife from her belt and flicked it open.She hated all of these creatures with every ounce of her being.

"Because things such as these filthy petaQ do not deserve honor!"She threw the knife down in front of jackie and watched as it stuck in a soft part of the decking between her feet.A clear and present challenge to her.

"This one i hate almost as much as that mongrel you want to leave all of our holdings to!"She growled more loudly than she probably should have.To have her son denied by his own father.....and for a terran dog of all beings!It was unforgivable!

This was the dog's mate and first she would have her son kill the mongrel and then she would gut the filthy feline and watch the life flow from her belly onto the deck.Then she would take the life and the honor from her mate.....who obviously did not have any left.

[James Caruso]

ON:
EN ROUTE, 2 HOURS FROM THE USS HORIZON

Victor James Caruso, (although he never used Victor, only his mother called him that) watched the stars move past the view window. He was en route to his next duty station. And he felt like crap. He couldn’t remember how he ended up on this ship, nor could he remember much of the last two weeks. What he did remember was getting a no hold bared rip roaring I-am-going-to-rip-off-your-head-and-spit-down-your-neck ass chewing from Admiral Glenn. He had never seen someone so mad and be able to articulate such creative cursing. He remembered that. And he also remembered getting demoted and re-assigned. That had hurt, but was expected. Snorting, but what he hadn’t expected was getting the letter from Elizabeth.

Swallowing some water from a container he had with him, he sighed. He hadn’t even seen THAT coming. But guessed it was expected. She wasn’t Fleet. She could never understand what he did. And, in the end, when she had said that his head was in the stars but her feet were firmly on the ground and in reality; that was as good an epitaph as he was going to get from her. Ok, so he remembered getting her letter and then he remembered taking a drink…no wait. That was a bottle he started with. Slowly shaking his head like from a bad dream he took another long drink of water. He still couldn’t remember much after that. But he wished he could remember how he ended up on this ship, on this side of the galaxy.

And to make matters worse, it was a Gorn heavy cruiser. One of four ships that had been invited to take part in some exercises with the Federation. Hanging his head he remembered the short, clipped words that the Admiral had used when explaining to him how much trouble he was in. How difficult it was to convince the Gorn ship commander that he wasn’t a spy-wasn’t a saboteur or anything nefarious like that. Just a dumb, stupid, drunken human, and would they be so kind as to return him so he could be properly disciplined. Words like ‘penal colony’ and ‘hard labor’ had been brought up. But in the end it was very simple; instead of taking the time and effort to give him a proper trial, Caruso had voluntarily waved his rights and accepted punishment: reduced in rank two grades and reassignment far away from the Gorns. And that happened to be aboard the Horizon. Another swig of water. Talk about salt in the wounds.

He sat back in the chair. The Gorn ships, for all their bulk, were actually a little crowded. He learned about that as a side comment he had made, that the majority of the ship was taken up by engines, propulsions and power. Their philosophy is push it until it moved. No matter how big. And the place he was at was one of the few empty rooms around. It was normally a seating place for the crew of the ship to watch the stars. He had it to himself for the duration. Besides the temperature being a bit warm, it was pleasant enough. It was a good place to think. And he did.

Caruso thought there could have been any number of ships, why did it have to be the Horizon? He had served aboard her almost 5 years ago and had enjoyed that duty, except for their last time out. He remembered that they were sent to Xeata IV, which was a possible planet for colonization. They had encountered pockets of anti-matter as they got close to it, and then….that was it. He still couldn’t remember what happened. All he knew was that his next memory was of coming out of warp near the base they had left 3 weeks earlier. Half the crew was gone, nothing was in the memory banks and none of the remaining crew had any memory of what had happened to Captain Kadel or any other senior officer. As Caruso was the most senior, he had the dubious duty of trying to report what had happened when he himself didn’t know.

After that he was transferred to the USS Samurai. He did well there and got a promotion and assigned, besides Chief of the Conn, as Exec. Things seemed to be going his way. Then they ran into, what could only be described (or that was how he had described it to Starfleet) as space zombies. After a pitched battle aboard the Sam, with most of the crew dead along with the captain, they limped back to base.

He again had to make a report to less than fully comprehending brass of what had happened. He was assigned duty planet side until they could figure what to do with him. He had been on planet for almost three years and had meet Elizabeth. Things were going well, but he still made trips, in system, in regards to his duty as Public Relations.

Pinching the bridge of his nose-him! In public relations! Hell, when he was aboard the Sam, the surviving members of the Marines made him an honorary one, and he had even gotten reserve status as a Marine. He was a man of action, taking chances, exploring. But, Fleet wanted an honest to God, living human with decorations to show the public the great career they could have in Starfleet. He was warned not to even talk, breath or think about space zombies or disappearing crew.

Anyway, he thought things were going well, but guessed that Elizabeth could never fully come to terms with what he had done in the past and where his future may take him. He had seen more things and done more stuff than she would ever know; as he couldn’t really talk about it. She seemed happy to stay in her part of the galaxy, on her world. He couldn’t fault her for that. She had her friends and family close.

He on the other hand, had two ships ‘shot out’ from under him. He had hundreds of people who had his back and he theirs and had proven it time and time again. Maybe, he thought, he could never fully have just one person’s back like that; in a romantic way at least, he thought.

What approximated a cough came from one of his two ‘escorts’ behind him. He turned and saw that ‘Laurel’ and ‘Hardy’ were still there. He could never pronounce their names so he just thought of them like that. Hardy was coming over to him, the universal translator looking like a toy in his huge clawed hand, “The captain wissssshes you on the bridge, now.”

Standing up, and with one last look at the stars, followed Hardy, with Laurel bringing up the rear. There were some things that he wished he could forget and some that he never wanted to forget; like the times with Elizabeth. In his pocket he fumbled with a rock that he had found while on a hike on earth with her. He smiled at that. And then there were things he really wished he could remember, like: how did he ended up on a Gorn ship? But more importantly: why was he dyed green?

ON THE GORN BRIDGE, 30 MINUTES FROM HORIZON
(DURING THE CURRENT EVENTS)

Caruso walked onto the bridge and stopped, waiting for the captain to acknowledge him. Gorn bridges were different that Federation ships, in that, everything was bigger. The center chair where the captain sat in the center, was more like a couch. But only the captain sat there. Even when another officer had the bridge, they never sat there. They commanded from their station, or they stood. The captain nodded and Caruso went over to stand next to him.

Nodding to the view screen the Gorn captain, whose name sounds like ‘Hacksaw’, spoke loud enough so the bridge’s internal universal communicator would work, “What do you make of that?”

On the view screen, at extended magnification, was a dry dock, with a Federation vessel in it. Close-too close, thought Caruso, was a Bird of Prey.

Turning back to Captain Hacksaw, “I have no idea sir. Have you established communications yet?”

Hissing he said, “I do not like my sssshipssss being usssed to bring a way ward ssssscrag back to the nessssssst. Thisss could be sssome elaborate trap.”

Caruso hung his head. He had been through this before, “Fleet Captain….” He thought about saying Hacksaw to see what it would translate to, but thought this is not the time or place, “what would we gain from this? I am not anything but someone who screwed up. My government and yours both agreed to allow you to return me. I have been punished and am dishonored.”

He knew his words made no impact at all on the Captain. Minutes of silence went by them as they got closer. An idea struck Caruso, “Sir, I am sure that no matter what, four of your vessels are more than a match for anything out there.”

That seemed to make the Gorn relax a bit. “Besides, I am sure you are scanning and taking the appropriate action to defend yourself.” Caruso could tell that they were getting closer as the magnification kept changing.

Fleet Captain Hacksaw twisted his clawed hand, and then he gave orders in Gorn without any translations. Twisting his hand again, “You are correct. We will not do anything that issss not to protect oursssself. We have orderssss too. No fighting with you.” He paused and those large, bulbous eyes took in the small human standing before him, “Not now.”

Suddenly, on the screen, two beams of green grabbed the Bird of Prey from two other Gorn ships, and Caruso could see that two beams had grabbed the dry dock and the ship in there, which Caruso could see from the hull markings, was the Horizon. Both ships seem to rock a bit as the beams grabbed hold.

“What are you doing? I though no attacks?!”

Grinning the perpetual grin that all Gorns seem to have, “We have done no ssssuch thing. For Gornsss, coming up on two unknownsss, we grab and hold the neck until we know what isssss going on. We were told that only one sssship would be here, and we sssee two. There issss no harm, just ressstraining beamsss. Once we know what isss going on, we ssshall releassssse the beamsssss and then you are off my sssship.”

Caruso closed his eyes. He had the dull bass drum throb of a hangover. But now someone added bongos and a bass guitar to the band playing in his head. They had turned the music up full. Caruso didn’t like heavy metal music, especially when it was playing in his head. Ahh, he could tell they added a tuba just now. And they just kicked it into high gear.

Sighing, he thought, 'what a way to make a first impression on my new ship.'


OFF:
Lt. (j.g.) James Caruso
Flight Control Officer
USS Horizon

[Jackie Clawson]

[BoP Bridge - shortly before the latest arrival outside]


"K'Tec I'm surprised at your choice of a mate, really. I'd thought you could do way better." Jackie smirked, the sly smirk turned into one of her trademark smirks when faced with a challenge such as this, her ever so feisty and defiant nature coming out as she bared her fangs at Lurksa's words.

"And humans say some of their mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationships are quite strenuous" Jackie murmured swinging the betleH back and sheathing it behind her back she retrieved the knife that Lurksa had thrown her way thus accepting the challenge the Klingon be' tossed her way. Okay so this wasn't the best way to get introduced into a House, but what the hey....

"Wanna fight? C'mon then, let's see what you're made of, or are you going to get your bodyguards to fight me as well?" Jackie shot back gesturing at Lurksa with the knife. "I don't know what you have against Alex or I; but it ends today" the Caitian spoke her eyes flashing anger, a low growl rising up from her throat as her eyes locked onto Lurksa's as Jackie watched the Klingon's reaction.

OFF:

[Roman Dagara]

Roman was enthralled with watching the battle between the XO and the Klingon. This was something he would remember for a long time. Watching an interhouse battle was certainly interesting. He was worried that the wounds that Alex had sustained would leave him weak and unable to defend himself. He hoped that the XO had kept enough in reserves to still stay with the fight.

Roman looked around and wondered where the other Marine the one he hadn't really talked to and the Commanding Officer were. What did they have planned. He started to pace slowly. He already had ideas and could get to the would be arena quick enough if need be to try and save a life if necessary. He knew that a Klingon would rather die in honour then be saved by medicine. He didn't think that the CO woudl appreciate if her XO was killed.

[Grenn]

In the holodeck, the entire staff assembled was chanting "GO GO GO GO GO" in unison to Chadwick's assault on the Klingon. It was a regular party. Much more entertaining then the cookout that had been interrupted by the fight.

"Wooo! Cut 'em open!" J'al called at the screen, standing between a few of his cousins including M'Karll.

OFF: Just showing where we all are :D

[TanisHeavenway]

ON: Sickbay

Tanis had sickbay prepped in no time. He sat in his office going over reports, he had recalled half a dozen nurses to sickbay on standby for any medical emergency that may come up during the Red Alert.

“Sickbay, Medical Teams to the Shuttlebay!”

Tanis looked up, The call came from over his commbadge.

A few nurses looked at him through the window to his office.

He pointed at 2 of them and nodded for them to head out. Immediately they headed out. Tanis smiled at the well trained nurses he had under his belt.

He then thought of the voice that called for the med teams. Sounded like it was from Delaney. She was a very attractive young lady. Tanis smiled at the thought.

=/\= Lieutenant Grenn to Sickbay, belay that. =/\=

Tanis didn’t bother to call off the nurses, he knew right away the nurses would have picked up the message. It was only moments later they came in and set there equipment back where they got it from.

~Too Bad~ He thought, Maybe he will get to try out his new equipment at a later date.

OFF:

[Delaney Orion]

ON: Holodeck

Delaney Orion watched in horror as the 2 fought in the Shuttlebay. She so badly wanted to help out the XO, she could no longer hold back the tears in her eyes. She hated Fighting, and a fight to the death was almost to unbearable to watch.

J'al had recently escorted her up to where Izzy was standing, he greeted her with a smile, and she turned away. Everyone around her was cheering. They all seemed to look at her confused as to why she wasn’t cheering on their XO.

She wiped the tears off her face and looked at Izzy. She didn’t say anything, and grabbed his furry hand.

OFF:

[James Caruso]

ON:
ABOARD THE GORN SHIP
(WHILE EVERYTHING IS GOING ABOARD THE HORIZON & BOP)

“Captain, you need to let them know you are here and what your intentions. I can not be responsible for anything that may happen if you don't!” Lt. (j.g.) James Caruso voiced as he watched the Gorn ships maneuver to keep the ships held within their tractor beams.

Twisting his claws and speaking in Gorn, which Caruso know realized that he was having the universal translator turned off for these orders, he then turned backed to Caruso, and with the U.I. back on said, “I am attempting to raissssse either vessel. At this time, neither is communicating. Sssscans of both ships reveal that there are Klingon life sssssigns on the Federation ssship and human sssigns on the Klingon vessssel.”

That took Caruso back a bit. “Then it is very important that we need to know what is going on.”

The Gorn captain looked at him, “You mean it isss important that YOU know. We are merely watching.”

Slamming a fist against his leg, Caruso never felt more helpless.


OFF:
Lt. (j.g.) James Caruso
Flight Control Officer
USS Horizon

<TAG Any Communication Officer on either ship to respond>

[Alex Chadwick]

[Holodeck]

Alex fell backwards to the deck.His right knee screaming in pain.The kick to it had not broken anything but it sure must have cracked something pretty good.
He gritted his teeth and raised his weapon to block a blow meant to kill from S'rla Alex hooked the tip of his blade into the curve of S'rla's.It was amazing his arm was still able to move.Fighting with one arm for so long was something alex had never heard of before.

S'rla glared at him with the eyes of a man unhinged.He would kill alex or be killed either way it was obvious he wanted to finish this.Alex struggled to keep the tip of S'rla's blade from getting any closer.He tried to push the weapon away but his strength was failing him.

He had a way out of all of this but he wouldn't use it until jackie had sent word that there end of the operation had went well.Inhaling deeply alex let go of his own weapon and rolled quickly to the right.S'rla lunged forward and lost the grip on his own weapon trying to stay upright.

Alex got to his feet and did the only thing he could think of to make the fight last longer.He hurridly and with as much force as he could muster kicked the weapons hard.He watched them skid across the bayt and through the forcefield the was up while the shuttlebay door was being repaired.He watched with a grin as the inanimate objects easily passed through and drifted out into open space.

He turned again and faced the enraged S'rla.He raised his clenched fist and motioned for the lunatic to attack again.

"Lets really finish this like we should."He said taking up a defensive posture.
S'rla looked from the forcefield at his weapon floating slowly away and back to alex.The honor less fool! He would have the dogs life either way.Even if he had to throttle the life from the idiot!

"Either way you will still die fool!"

[Roman Dagara]

Roman watched the fight and knew that the damage to the knee felt like. He had at one point felt the pain of a knee injury and knew that the XO would be in trouble if the knee was damaged. You couldn't fight well if you couldn't move.

Roman moved closer to where Grenn was "Thanks for taking care of the Medical situation."

TAGS

[Kiara Krezek]

[BoP]

Kiara watched in horror as Jackie kept challenging the Klingon, taunting her as she spoke. She kept her eyes on the rest of the crew, whom were inching around the way, using the distraction of the taunting to try to get to a tactically sound striking advantage.

The nearest one was getting too close to Kiara for comfort, so she turned and just said, "Would you like to go to Gre'thor early with that dishonorable action you were just about to undertake?"

The Klingon male growled, and looked like he was going to pounce. Kiara checked with one eye what her phaser was set to, then thumbed the safety off, ready to fire at the now enraged Klingon...

[Alex Chadwick]

[Bridge USS Horizon]

A young Ensign almost alone on the bridge watches the fight in the shuttlebay.He notices the blinking incoming message light.He looks up from his security station as he lowers his hand to acknowledge the message.A gorn ship sits silently in space several hundred kilometers from the bop.

"holy cow!How the heck didn't that show up on...."He glances down and the proximity alarm had been set to silent with the closeness of the BoP.Someone didn't want to listen to it anymore.shaking his head he hits the comm button and listens to the message.

A hissy gorn voice flows from the comm system.

=/\=We have a bit of a situation going on here right now.We request that you hold position with shields raised for your own safety.=/\=

He took his finger from the send button and wiped the sweat from his brow.This was madness! Everything on this damn ship was madness!How the hell did he ever get assigned here!He sighed and shook his head as he watched his commander being slowly killed in the shuttlebay.

[K'Tec]

[Bop Bridge]

The situation was tense and at any moment K'Tec expected disruptor fire to erupt.His wife had gone mad sometime in the past.For the most part he had kept her in check now it seemed she had been doing things without his knowledge and had spread her madness to there son.

Things had been set on course for alex for the better part of a decade.The Man K'Tec had encountered all those years ago had told him about this happening.How when why where and what he should do.

It all had a purpose and a reason and for the time being K'Tec would just have to go along with the "plan" that had been explained to him.He looked from clawson to his mate and understood what was going to happen next.

His wife had just opened herself up for an easy strike.Her emotions had allowed her to drop her guard for the first time in a long time.K'Tec motioned with his eyes to the knife jackie wore on her belt.It wouldn't be suspected if while she was holding that betleth.All it would require is a quick move from her and some fancy shooting from her security contingent.the look of the lead female a marine K'Tec guess was that she could get the job done and remove the threat of the warriors surrounding them.

Unknown to them all the distraction that was needed was being set into motion in the engine room.

An older terran dressed in a warriors armor was busy disabling the power systems of the BoP.He appeared from the darkness and dispatched the guards.......and he would vanish just as quickly.

Just like he always had.....

K'Tec smiled as the lights flashed off and warning sirens began to sound all over the ship.Hopefully Clawson and her marine would react.

And hopefully Alex was fulfilling his part of the plan.

[KVok]

K'Vok watched the fight in the holodeck. He was torn between feelings. He wanted Chadwick to lose, then Kitty would be his. At the same time, Chadwick was an honourable warrior and Kitty would be heartbroken if he did die. On the other hand, if Kitty was heartbroken, he could always offer an armoured shoulder to cry on. Except, what if she didn't want it? Or what if she did? What if she did something unreasonable? Would his death make her go further away from Starfleet? Or come back to it? Infinite combinations with infinite diversity, it didn't make logical sense.

(Sorry I haven't been posting, had lost my password...)

[James Caruso]

ON:
ABOARD THE GORN SHIP
(WHILE EVERYTHING IS GOING ABOARD THE HORIZON & BOP)

“It appears you will remain with usss a little longer,” the Gorn captain said. We received instruction to keep shields up and not interefer, with whatever issss going on over there.”

“But captain,” Caruso started.

The Gorn glared at him, “ We will wait. My orders.” He leaned closer so that Caruso could smell him, “Is this how your SSStttarfleet handles itssself? I give an order. You are a guest aboard my ship, and you were told to obey all commands until you reached new post.” Leaning back, “I know seee we had nothing to worry from you. You are jussst one who does not obey orderssss.”

That stopped Caruso in his tracks better than a phaser blast. “Sir, I have never disobeyed an order. Yes I did go AWOL and get drunk. I am sorry I stowed away and threw up on your executive Officer. But I have never disobeyed a superior officer.”

Getting comfortable in his chair the Gorn replied, “ We shall see soft skin. Why don’t you go somewhere….. and wait.”

Snapping to attention and giving him one of the best salutes, Caruso turned on his heels and proceeded to leave. The Gorn’s voiced stopped him before he could leave the bridge, “And do you know yet why you paint your self green?”

Over his shoulder Caruso said, “I guess I was just trying to fit in.” And left with Laurel & Hardy right behind him.


OFF:
Lt. (j.g.) James Caruso
Flight Control Officer
USS Horizon

[Alex Chadwick]

[Holodeck]

Alex raised his fist and brought it down on the klingons shoulder once again.He smirked as S'rla stumbled forward and dropped to his knees.He took a step backward and kicked the lunatic klingon square in the jaw sneding a spray of blood flying and the klingons head snapping backward.

He gurgled once and the klingon toppled over backward presumably knocked unconcious.Alex turned and picked up his comm badge from the deck.It had been ripped off with most of his tunic when S'rla had grabbed him and spun him around hard by the shirt.

He was about to tap it when a sudden blow to his mid section sent him flying forward and skidding across the deck.He hit the lower nacel of a shuttle hard and felt his head go fuzzy.Black spots dance in front of his eyes and he would have passed out if not for the strong hands grabbing him and tossing back into the center of the deck again.

S'rla wasn't as throttled as he had made out alex reasoned as he watched slightly stunned as the klingon charged at him again.S'rla had a hyperspanner in his hand and meant to drive it through his skull.

alex rolled at the last second and the spanner struck the deck sending a dull thud running up the klingons arm.Alex stumbled to his feet and raised what wa sleft of his good hand.It was broken and drenched in blood He let the thought that jackie and her team had failed flash through his mind for an instant.....

[Alex Chadwick]

[BoP Bridge]


Kiara watched the two duel over... something, Kiara didn't understand, really. Maybe Lurksa was secretly attracted to Chadwick or something, she didn't know.

But what she did see was one of the other bridge crew move with their hand, about five feet away from her. The glint of metal hit Kiara's eye as he moved and was about to pull out his personal knife... Kiara Krezek growled. Not a low growl, a fairly loud growl, of something not exactly humanoid ready to pounce, louder than a Klingon and almost as loud as a Caitian. "I wouldn't do that, if I were you," she cautioned, ready to pounce herself with the Marine knife at her hip, if necessary.

"Today is a good day to die," he retorted.

"Perhaps it is... but is there honor in interrupting two women battle and getting stabbed by both parties before I ventilate that thick skull of yours?" she asked the Klingon.


K'Tec smiled as the lights flashed off and warning sirens began to sound all over the ship.Hopefully Clawson and her marine would react.

And hopefully Alex was fulfilling his part of the plan on the horizon.

K'Tec smashed his elbow Backward and caught the chin of the nearest warrior behind him.A disruptor shot sizzled passed his head.And he dropped to the ground and swept the warriors feet.He feel to the deck with a hard thud and K'Tec wrenched the beam weapon from his hands.He fired once and the warrior vanished in a haze of yellow energy.

More shots started to be fired and K'Tec ducked behind the flight control console and waited for what was to come next.

Lurksa reached for her weapon but felt that it was already gone.that was right she had removed it earlier to kill the caitian with her bare hands and cold steel.shots sailed by her head but she did not move.she tried to adjust to the lack of light and find clawson.....she had to die.

Jackie's ears flickered as the lights went out and the sirens began ringing, it didn't take long for her eyes to adjust to the darkness. Okay so things didn't exactly go according to plan, even better....Jackie smiled somewhat fiercely remembering the look K'Tec had given her shortly before the lights went out.

"Kiara, Take 'em out; Lurksa's mine" the Caitian snapped at Kiara without losing sight of Lurksa. the Caitian was almost in full predator mode now as she faced her future mother-in-law, if Klingons had that sort of thing....

Kiara smiled as the rifle all of a sudden glowed and fired, hitting the Klingon squarely in the chest with a few megawatts of power. She rolled behind a console to steady herself and get cover for the return volley. "Be sure not to hit the Admiral!" she yelled at her security force.

Jackie flipped the knife Lurksa had thrown at her over in her hand and tossed it at the woman.

"What is it you have against Alex and now me?" Jackie asked folding her arms on her chest as the knife sailed past Lurksa's head slightly grazing her cheek.

Lurska followed the trajectory of the knife and could make out a faint shape in the darkness.It crouched low to the deck and move like a feline.she balled her hands into fists and lunged at the creature.Her right connected with soft fur and what was obviously a midsection.She had found the vile feline.

Kiara Krezek smiled as she aimed again, this time at someone who was laying down indiscriminate fire. It was dark on the Bird of Prey's bridge, ad a headshot on stun would guarantee that when he woke up, he would beg to be sent to Gre'thor.

One orange beam and he was on the ground...

All around them blasts of phaser and disruptor fire sizzled.She wrapped her hand around the caitians neck and drug her to the deck plating below.Sharp claws dug into the flesh of her side.she clamped down her teeth and tightened the death grip she had on the caitians throat.

Lurska was strong, stronger than Jackie gave her credit for, but perhaps it was the rage that fueled the Klingon woman that gave her the extra strength. the Caitian didn't have time to think about any of that as Jackie lashed out allowing her instincts to take over in the instant Lurska had attacked.

As she fought the oncoming darkness as Lurksa had her in a tight grip, Jackie felt her own claws dig into flesh again and again as she fought back; then her hand brushed against something on her side and her mind flashed back to the betleH tournament and Alex's quarters.

For an instant the shots and commotion all around them didn't register as clear as K'Tec's words and actions did more than a week ago. Jackie's hand grasped at the dagger on her belt. Her lungs screaming for air and the darkness threatening to overtake her, Jackie mustered up as much strength as she could and with a swift motion and a grunt she plunged the dagger K'Tec had presented her with during the tournament, into Lurksa.

The klingon female felt the cold knife pass into her chest.she jerked forward once and tried to move again but her body began to grow limp.The filthy caitian had pierced one of her hearts. She knocked clawson aside and tried to pull the weapon from her chest.It would not move and as she struggled the wound opened wider and more blood began to pour from her chest.

She looked up at the hilt of the weapon.Her eyes grew wide,it belonged to her mate she knew the knife well.She had poisoned it herself.......K'Tec had always cut himself slightly when he would finish sharpening his blade.an offering of blood to a weapon of war...

She could feel her arms and legs growing cold and dead as the poison raced through her system.Oh how she had wanted to kill them all......her stepson for his arrogance in thinking he could lead such a great house......the caitian because it would hurt the terran bastard.....and most of all her mate.

For believing in a filthy terran patagh.........

Her final thought floated off into the ether as the neurotoxin finished it's horrible task....Lurska was dead...

Jackie was thankful for the ability to breathe again, she winced as pain shot through her neck from where Lurksa had held her. As she recollected herself and it hit her what just happened, Jackie regarded the scene before her. At least most of the blood that was on her wasn't her own this time...

"Told you this is gonna end today" she rasped as she knelt by Lurksa's body and with a swift motion yanked the blade out of the woman's chest. Jackie stood and resheathed the knife once again.

The lights on the bridge snapped on again.They were not steady and flickered wildly.K'Tec was the first to speak.The warriors that had been on the bridge all lay on the deck incapacitated or dead...

"You both must leave now!"He picked up a batleth from the deck and placed it in jackie's hands.She would need it in the future.She looked at him confused but accepted the weapon.The marine took up a position next to her admiral and K'Tec placed a hand on both of there shoulders.

"What you have did here today was of a great service to someone i hope you'll get a chance to meet someday."He turned and looked at Kiara.

"Your aim is true and your blade is steady.It has been an honor to fight along side a warrior such as yourself."He took a step back and was about to speak again when a disruptor shot whizzed past his head.It struck a warrior who had raised his weapon one last time to try and shoot K'Tec.

They all turned and saw the person who had fired.He was standing in the bridge entrance and was silhouetted with the light behind him.He was not klingon but was wearing the arrmor of a warrior, and when he spoke it was obvious he was an older male.possibly terran.

"You both have to leave right now."An alarm klaxon started to sound.The ships warp core was overloading.He directed his gaze at jackie and if they could have seen it, a familiar smirk played across his face.

"He needs your help one last time.......If you leave now you can still help him..."He reached on his armor and pulled something off it was a very old house symbol....He tossed it to Kiara and turned to a console.He tapped a command and started a transporter sequence.

"That's for looking after our girl there so well."He hit the control again and a transporter effect enveloped the two,K'Tec was staying behind......there was more important work to be done.

"Your beaming to the shuttlebay!Your going to have to act fast!"He smiled again as K'Tec walked to stand next to him.He placed his hand on the shoulder of the man he called son....

[horizon shuttlebay]

Jackie and Kiara materialized on the horizon shuttlebay as the BoP turned away from horizon and headed away at maximum warp. S'rla was standing over a battered Alex and was holding a broken piece of metal in his hands.

Jackie let out a low growl, her grip tightening on the betleH blade K'Tec had given her; her own betleH was still strapped safely to her back. But the Caitian herself was far from 'safe' as she allowed her rage, anger, aggression and more to fuel her. The predator in her was only more alert by the smell of the Klingon blood on her and in the shuttlebay; yet another part of her, the one that smelled the human blood, wanted so much to protect her mate.

"How about you join your mother in Gre'Thor?" the Caitian spoke in a low tone as she stood behind the Klingon, the sharp end of the blade aimed directly at S'rla's neck; if he moved, she'd strike; Jackie wasn't going to lose Alex now.

Kiara was confused by the events that had happened, as she suspected that she was supposed to be, but she didn't show it. Quickly she had unsheathed her sword, and was ready to take on the guards that had been around S'rla. One came at her, but she just lifted her sword, and in one clang and another downward strike, she had blocked the attack and came down on the back of the Klingon's knee, slicing the leg clean off of his body. He stumbled and fell to the deck, sans a leg from the knee down, only letting out one small grunt as the wind was knocked out of him from the fall.

"Anyone else want some?!?" she challenged the others, expecting a fight to the death. She had an eye on her CO, whom seemed to have some dangerous look in her eye as she had that knife to her opponent's neck...

Alex smirked at S'rla when he saw jackie and Kiara standing behind them.It was obvious that they had completed there end of the job.He kicked out with his foot striking S'rla in the knee unguarded.Alex rolled quickly to the side and onto his feet.S'rla whirled around the jagged piece of metal in his hands raised high above his head.He roared with anger and started to bring the weapon down towards jackie's batleth.

His arm started to vanish below the metal and his eyes grew wide when he realized what was happening.He spun back around and saw alex holding one of his warriors weapons in his hand.A flash of hatred and then he was gone.......vaporized.....
Alex dropped the weapon to the deck and collapsed to his knees.the plan had worked and the ship was safe once again.

"I think i need a vacation....."Alex said with a sigh as he watched kiara herding the rest of S'rla's warriors towards the shuttlebay exit and her waiting security guards outside.

[KVok]

K'Vok sighed as he watched in the holodeck. Oh well, better luck next time. Maybe he'd get to see Chadwick disappear yet, but then, you never know. He could work on forcing Chadwick to disappear, but the kitty would get mad at him, and then his evil plan to get into her furry arms would never come to fruition. Must pray harder to the goddess of chaos and discord.

[Roman Dagara]

Roman slowly backed away moving quietly as much as possible. He wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible he had a few plans. As he moved out of the holodeck he quickly formulated what he wanted. He had a full PADD that would be able to be patched into what was happening.

Roman rushed towards the bay where Alex and the Klingon were fighting. He quickly patched into his PADD and quickly opened it to the frequency so that he could see the battle. Some of his talents that he had gained as a marine might pay off. He also had a medical kit as well that would be required if need be.

Roman wasn't averse to killing but he didn't like to deal out death uneccessarily.

TBC

[Jackie Clawson]

Jackie knelt by Alex, relieved that it was finally over, she held him up gently.

"Vacation? You think?" she smiled slightly. "Gonna have to settle for a trip to sickbay for now" she spoke. "Then we'll see about some time off" she said gently running a hand over his cheek, clearly relieved he was okay; Jackie leaned over and gently brushed her lips against Alex's whispering something in his ear after the quick kiss.

[TanisHeavenway]

ON: Main Sickbay

It wasnt long before Tanis found out the outcome of the battle and heard there was injuries. He was also Informed that His head nurse was headed down to the shuttlebay.

"Heavenway to Dagara, Get me a Triage Report as soon as you can, and Ill have sickbay prepped for anything you may need. Out."

Tanis quickly prepped all his equipment he may need.

OFF

[Delaney Orion]

ON: Holodeck

Delaney Squeezed Izzy's hand and suddenly the battle was over. She let out a sigh of releif and wiped away the last of her Tears.

Izzy had not said much during the battle but now it was over. People began piling out of the holodeck to resume whatever duties they were doing before this all had taken place.

She left Izzy and headed to her office.

OFF

[Kiara Krezek]

OFF:we seem to have lost some posts between now and last night.Reposting this for Kiara.

[Brig]

Kiara put on the last force field to contain the Klingons, then hefted her rifle and rested in on her shoulder. "While you enjoy your stay in our luxurious facilities that are sure to offend every Klingon sensibility that you have, please be sure to enjoy our complimentary fluffy towel and soap on a rope."

Kiara was about to leave, but then she had a thought. "Computer, play sound file from my personal database, file Krezek-Beta-One-Seven-Tango. Loop file and play in all occupied cells only."

The computer beeped in response, and then a bunch of Tribble cooing sounds started to pour out of the speakers. The Klingons began to howl in protest as they heard what was being played.

"Enjoy, ladies and gentlemen," she said as she walked out of the brig area to get changed out of the uniform. And that was for leering at me, she thought as she rushed to her quarters to get changed. The bodysuit might have been good for combat, but it basically sucked when you wanted to break the spirit of Klingons whom were turned on by abuse and strength...

[Alex Chadwick]

[Sickbay USS Horizon one day later]

Alex lay on his biobed a thousand thoughts drifting through his mind.Hid injuries had been fairly extensive and he was going to wear a brace on his leg for a week or so.The efforts of the medical staff on his account had been remarkable.He made a mental note to recomend them for commendation when he got back on duty.

Back on duty...He still was not going to get used to being in command of the horizon.It was jackie's ship and most likely always would feel like that.She had made her decision and alex knew there was no changing that.He hoped Mark would be able to talk her out of it when he got here but he doubted it.

He had read jackie's report about what had happened on the BoP.It was unusual to say the least.He hoped he would see K'Tec again.Somewhere deep down inside he believed they both would meet again.Everything had played out almost like it had been planned from day one.Maybe in someway it had.

Alex knew there was something close to happening....something important.He had a sense that K'Tec knew to and had helped push things along in his own way.He closed his eyes and smiled.He was going to enjoy this for as long as he could.

Because tomorrow it all could change......

[Bryan_Cash]

[Ready Room USS Horizon the next day early afternoon.]

Bryan sat in one of the chairs in the ready room going over the damaged that had been repaired.He was only doing it as a favor to Commander Chadwick and no other reason.He hated to leave bett especially now but she was busy in sickbay looking after chadwick as a favor to clawson.

He was almost as bad a patient as Clawson was.At least he had been trained enough by some woman in the past to listen at the right times.The horizon was still in a bad way,she wouldn't be space worthy for another half a month..if that.Bryan slid another finished padd across the desk and joined the dozen others for chadwicks signature later.

He was getting hungry and wondered what bett had planned for later.He reached in his pocket and pulled his communicator out and flipped it open.
Cash to PO davies....

TAG:Bettina. :D

[Alex Chadwick]

[Sickbay USS Horizon]

Alex stared at the ceiling.He knew he should try and rest but there was a lot of things eating at him.Things he had seen things he had experienced in the last few weeks.Something was even closer to happening than before.He could feel a connection to ....to.....something.He didn't know what.He closed his eyes again and tried to sleep.

[StarShip Bozeman half a day out from Avalon Fleetyards.]

The bridge of the Bozeman was quiet.the second shift was due on in a few minutes and captain Bateson was tired.They were due at avalon for some needed repairs on the sensor system and warp drive.He yawned and rubbed his eyes with the plan of his hands.

He was about to stand and head to his readyroom for a quick drink before heading to his quarters and some much needed sleep.The alarm klakons for a collision began to sound and the ship suddenly dropped out of warp.He grabed the arm of his chair and called out to his flight control officer.

"Report collision alert.."He looked at the view screen which showed something in the distance.It looked like a planet.Couldn't have been a planet they were all charted in the system they were passing through.

"Sir the computer activated the anti collision system and dropped us out of warp."The young man at the helm was looking over the information report as it scrolled across the screen on his console.

"The sensors detected a planet in our flight path.It doesn't appear on any known star charts."

Morgan stood and walked closer to the viewscreen the image of the planet was closer know and it could be made out.the information from the sensors scrolled across the bottom of the viewscreen.An unknown class M planet on the outside of the local system.

"This was never charted before?Is it possible it's a rouge planet or something similar?"He turned and walked back to his chair.this time his science officer spoke up.

"That is a possibility sir.A planet caught in the gravitational pull of the system.Could explain why it hasn't been charted here before."

Morgan sighed and looked at the time on the chronometer.They were due at avalon and in no shape to conduct a survey of the new planet.

"Science drop a marker and send word to fleet command of what we found.We don't have time to check this out on our own.They cans end another boat out to give it the once over."Morgan sat back in his command chair and watched the new planet slowly spinning on the viewscreen.there was something different about it and he did wish they had time to check it out.

"There's a mystery afoot here..."He said aloud to nobody in particular.

Twenety minutes later the Bozeman was back on her way to avalon.The undiscovered planet would wait for destiny to catch up to it......

[Roman Dagara]

OOC -- I guess I must have missed posts of the outcome sorry all. I will get to the tag as a backpost in a bit just not sure what all is happening

Sickbay

Roman was on duty and was going over what files he could on the injuries of Alexander Chadwick. He saw some damage on the leg and he would have to ensure that he got into some sort of physio so that he could get more use back for the leg.

He walked over to the bio bed where Alexander Chadwick was. "Sir do you require anything?"

TAGS Chadwick

[Roman Dagara]

ON: Main Sickbay

It wasnt long before Tanis found out the outcome of the battle and heard there was injuries. He was also Informed that His head nurse was headed down to the shuttlebay.

"Heavenway to Dagara, Get me a Triage Report as soon as you can, and Ill have sickbay prepped for anything you may need. Out."

Tanis quickly prepped all his equipment he may need.

OFF



Roman heard the call "Sir I am in shuttle bay now. He is injured quite thoroughly. I need your authorization for a medical emergency Transport to sickback"

Roman rushed over by the CO and XO and quickly saw how badly the XO was. It definitely wasn't good. He was right to suggest the Medical Transport to Sickbay. He quickly grabbed his medical tricorder and began recording seeing how intense the injuries were. He spoke to Admiral Clawson "Ma'am we need to do a Medical Emergency Transport. "

TAgs JACKIE

[Grenn]

Sickbay

J'al was kind of lingering around the ship after the events in the shuttlebay had concluded. Figuring Chadwick was in sickbay, he thought to go ahead and pay him a visit.

After Lt. Dagara conferred with Chadwick, J'al headed up to the bed. "Hey boss. How are you doing? I hate to bring this up, but Intel's going to want some kind of report on this from me."

OFF: :D

[Alex Chadwick]

Sickbay

After Lt. Dagara conferred with Chadwick, J'al headed up to the bed. "Hey boss. How are you doing? I hate to bring this up, but Intel's going to want some kind of report on this from me."


Chadwick smiled as he saw Grenn approach.That was a hard report to write.He still hadn't written his own to fleet command about the events.

"A very difficult task Lieutenant."Chadwick said with a grin.He sat up a little wincing as he did so.

"I still haven't wrote my own report about everything.Let's say we get together later and compare notes?"He pointed to the stack of padds on the table behind grenn.

"I've got a lot of them myself to go over."

[Jackie Clawson]

<Sickbay>

Jackie took a moment to look up from several PADDs she's been going over to help ease the workload on Alex; she watched Alex interact with Grenn through a window in the doctor's office. She's barely left sickbay herself over the past few days, insisting on staying close by, but trying not to interfere with the work of the medical teams.

Jackie smiled, only too relieved to see Alex awake and sort of active for now. She stood up making her way closer to the window. Jackie ignored the onset of the slight ringing in her ears as she kept her focus on her mate for several minutes.

She placed a hand on the window to steady herself even as a nurse came to her side.


"Ma'am are you okay?" the nurse asked tricorder in hand.

"Yes, just a bit lightheaded again" Jackie admitted reaching up to rub one of her ears, "don't worry about it." she added for what seemed to have been the tenth time in the last few days since the ordeal with Lurksa and her son was over, when Jackie would visibly look a little unsettled on her own feet, but so far nothing's serious happened. She could use more proper rest and food the nurses and doctors kept telling her based on their findings, but Jackie was far too restless and worried about Alex's health, not to mention an uneasy feeling growing somewhere in the back of her mind to get rest anywhere outside of sickbay.

The nurse guided Jackie back to the desk so the Caitian could take a seat and brought some water over. Jackie smiled. "Thank You." she said with a nod.

As the nurse left, Jackie emptied the glass of water and rubbed at her face with her hands and waited until the headache and the ringing in her ears that came with the lightheadedness subsided; but the feeling of uneasiness, the feeling of something bad coming their way and soon had remained...Jackie wasn't sure who to tell about it or how to get rid of that one...

OFF:
Open tag

[Roman Dagara]

Roman walked out and glared at Admiral Clawson. His nurse had come in and told me of the issue and that he had seen the Admiral wasn't well. He thrust out a glass of water to Jackie with two small pills to her "Take these Ma'am. It will help with the headache."

He glared again this time with anger in his eyes and he didn't care if it wasn't concealed. Both CO and XO were in no shape to even command really at this point. They were taking on to much "Why have you not been checked out immediately when you get one of these headaches."

Roman was hiding the hypospray as well since he knew that it wouldn't be easy to get Jackie Clawson to do anything that could take her out of the game for even a few hours

TAGS Jackie

[Jackie Clawson]

"It's just stress" Jackie noted, "that's what the nurses told me last night anyway; check their findings" she said with a light shrug, "I'll be okay once everything settles down some" she added stealing a glance Alex's way. Maybe they were right, some rest and more proper food would do her fine and deal away with the symptoms.

She closed her eyes for a moment before reopening them and glancing over at the head nurse, "I'll go back to my quarters to get some rest in a while." she stated. 'or at least try to...' she thought to herself, last time she tried it, she came right back to sickbay not an hour later and had been there ever since.


OFF:
Tag back at'cha Roman

[Kiara Krezek]

[Krezek's Quarters]
[USS Horizon]

It was a long time since she was able to sit down and just... relax.

She had gotten the morning off, since she was involved in repairs with the ship. She would have rather not been in the same predicament twice as the Bird of Prey, and had done her damnest at restoring at least one of the torpedo tubes back to functioning order. Indeed, they had done better than that: she had helped repair both of the forward tubes. Tactical was looking more and more green by the day.

Right now, though, she was busy engrossed in a book.

She might have been engrossed in a technical manual, the way she was furrowing her brow, but she was reading something completely different from that. There was these two hobbits and they were headed towards this mountain to destroy something called the Ring of Power... it was the third book out of four, though the publisher claimed that it was a trilogy, they keep omitting the fact that there was a book before all of this that she had read before on a recommendation from her best friend, B'Elanna O'Connor.

It had been a while since she had seen B'Elanna, she had realized while she was reading about something called a "Gollum" following the hobbits. Probably was on her last day on 99, when they did their last shopping spree in Canterra City. That still drained her credits out of her account, and she still hadn't worn all the new apparel that she had gotten that day... but it was fun, she had to admit.

Lounging about in a very comfortable catsuit-like clothing, completely red - it was her favorite clothes to wear, so comforting, form-fitting and felt like another layer of skin - she continued to read and remember times past...

[Roman Dagara]

"It's just stress" Jackie noted, "that's what the nurses told me last night anyway; check their findings" she said with a light shrug, "I'll be okay once everything settles down some" she added stealing a glance Alex's way. Maybe they were right, some rest and more proper food would do her fine and deal away with the symptoms.

She closed her eyes for a moment before reopening them and glancing over at the head nurse, "I'll go back to my quarters to get some rest in a while." she stated. 'or at least try to...' she thought to herself, last time she tried it, she came right back to sickbay not an hour later and had been there ever since.


OFF:
Tag back at'cha Roman



Roman looked again at the Caitian. He knew how much she loved the Dr's and any medical personell by the plain fact that she avoided Sick bay like the plague. He knew that his being a Marine may make it easier for her to deal with him since he wasn't quite as bad as most medical personell. Heck he didn't go to Sickbay other then to work unless something was seriously wrong.

"Ma'am you need your rest. And if I find that you aren't taking at least some sort of rest I will have to put a tranq in you. I don't want to do that since I know you are equal and a good fighter. Mr Chadwick will be fine and you staying here isn't going to make your headache go away."

Roman kept his eyes on Clawson not really knowing how she would react to being told off by a nurse. He was used to that since he used more authority at times then what he truly had. He knew that only the Chief Medical OFficer could order her on a vacation or to rest but he would definitely need to speak to him sooner or later in regards to that.

He also needed to check what the Nurses had found before and to be sure to keep an eye on the CO just in case this came back later on had she not taken care of herself.

[Bettina Cash]

[Ready Room USS Horizon the next day early afternoon.]

Bryan was getting hungry and wondered what bett had planned for later. He reached in his pocket and pulled his communicator out and flipped it open.
Cash to PO davies....

=^=Bryan?=^= Bettina had been off duty for a short while and had changed from her uniform to more comfortable civvies, and was laying down for a quick nap. She seemed so exhausted lately, but there was so much going on, and she was especially worried about Bryan. =^=What can I do for you, sexy man?=^= Sitting up, she combed her fingers through her hair.

TAG
Bryan

=^=Eat? Sure, I don't mind. When and where?=^= She was anxious to see him, they hadn't had much time lately and she missed cuddling...

TAG
BRYAN

[Bryan_Cash]

[Ready Room USS Horizon the next day early afternoon.]

Bryan was getting hungry and wondered what bett had planned for later. He reached in his pocket and pulled his communicator out and flipped it open.
Cash to PO davies....

=^=Bryan?=^= Bettina had been off duty for a short while and had changed from her uniform to more comfortable civvies, and was laying down for a quick nap. She seemed so exhausted lately, but there was so much going on, and she was especially worried about Bryan. =^=What can I do for you, sexy man?=^= Sitting up, she combed her fingers through her hair.

Bryan smiled at the sound of her voice.It had been to long since they all had just rested and enjoyed themselves.He set his communicator down on the desk and finished the last few padds.

=/\="I'm up here on the bridge finishing some work for Mr.Chadwick,I was getting hungry and thought you might like to grab a bite to eat beautiful."He stood and stretched his sore back.He had gotten pretty tired sitting.

=^=Eat? Sure, I don't mind. When and where?=^= She was anxious to see him, they hadn't had much time lately and she missed cuddling...

=/\="They just got the mess hall up and running again.How about i meet you down there in ten minutes?"

He could feel something draining on his energy again.A slow subtle steady drain.Suddenly all he wanted was his wife and a quiet place to rest.

TAG:Bett.

[Bettina Cash]

~Mess Hall

=/\="They just got the mess hall up and running again. How about i meet you down there in ten minutes?"

He could feel something draining on his energy again. A slow subtle steady drain. Suddenly all he wanted was his wife and a quiet place to rest.

=^=I'll be there.=^= Having more energy now, she hopped out of bed and quickly cleaned up, then dressed in a green loose-fitting Oriental cut dress. Scooping up Buster, she gave the cat a hug. "I'll be back in a bit." She set the animal down, then hurried to the mess hall, smiling brightly. She was always thrilled to see him, and tended to forget that his health was failing...

TAG
BRYAN

[Jackie Clawson]

<Sickbay>

"I might take you up on that offer, Lieutenant" she said with a light smirk. She stood up and carefully walked over to the window again, positioning herself so that she could see Alex better. This was more or less as near as she could get to him under the circumstances.

She had to suppress the urge to hold him and never to let go. She lost Jack because she wasn't there and they didn't spend a lot of time together; she didn't want to even lose sight of Alex now. especially since a feeling of something dreary coming their way; maybe it was the recent events with K'Tec, maybe it was something more, Jackie wasn't sure; she might mention it to Alex later when the two could get some personal time for a while. That thought joined the numerous other thoughts that ran through her mind.

Jackie wasn't sure how much time has passed since she's been looking out of the window, gently resting her weight on an outstretched hand touching the glass; Roman's voice broke through to her causing her to snap out of her trance like state.

She shook her head before answering.

"Tell you what" she spoke turning to look at Dagara, "come back in a half hour, if i'm still here and not in our quarters sleeping; i won't hold it against you if you shoot me up with a tranquilizer." she said with a brief nod.

[Roman Dagara]

Roman nodded slowly "Deal"

Roman wandered off knowing that the Commanding Officer would need some quiet time to contemplate. He also didn't want to be hovering over her watching to make sure that she actually did go and rest.

She wasn't stupid and she knew she would need rest to feel better but as a Nurse while it wasn't really his job to make sure she felt good he did take it as such. The chief medical officer was the only one who could really order the Commanding Officer around. Roman made a note in his calander to find time to speak to the Doctor in regards to the crew situation. There were altogether way to many injuries that could be avoided if they could just get the crazy command staff to actually not go out of it's way to fight.

Roman shook his head, he was of two minds about the fight that the XO had to fight. He was a Marine and knew that at times things such as this were common place especially with a Klingon. He also was a Nurse and knew that Starfleet would never condone such actions that would lead to death.

He sat down at his desk and put his head into his hands. He could feel a slight headache creasing across his forehead. It was probably something to do with the command staff being as crazy as they were. Then again he shouldn't be surprised he had heard about this particular Commanding Officer prior to accepting this transfer. As it was he was told that he was insane to even go to Horizon for the purpose of becoming a Nurse.

He sighed and went back to his studying and his work. He didn't really know why the XO and CO were so adamant about doing all the fighting normally Security or Marines would be involved in the fighting and not just the command staff.

OFF