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41
Interregnum 01-02 S2 / Re: Day 09 [2055 hrs.] Girl Talk
Last post by Brutus -
[Cmdr. Natalie Stark | Quarters of the Executive Officer  | Deck 10 | Vector 02 | USS Theurgy ]Attn: @Griff 
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Stark resisted the urge to pout at Lillee's reaction to her revelation that she'd had - for a brief moment before becoming distracted by Vanya - considered exploring a relationship with Lt. Commander Cross. They were of similar rank at the time, and while Natalie had nominal seniority by her position as 2XO there wasn't any serious concern with the chain of command. Something that she was well aware could be an issue now that she was a full Commander, and the First Officer. But Ives had not deigned to call her out on her relationship with the ship's Science Officer (yet) so Natalie took that as an implicit blessing.

Or that she was being discreet enough not to draw too much attention. Six one way, half a dozen the other, she mused as she listened to Lillee's suggestions, or 'guesses' incorrect as they were. When she had first joined the ship there had been a certain mystique about Captain Ives, but between their rank and...certain events during the Niga crisis, Natalie wasn't going to consider the Captain an option. Besides, they needed an objective first officer, not someone they were sleeping with.

But then the conversation took an unexpected turn. Or perhaps, in truth, it should have been expected. Because Lillee began to speculate. And her words were...descriptive. Enough that Natalie began to speculate, turning over thoughts that had been rather distant until the conversation on hand and...oh yes, she was as red as her uniform shirt usually was, she was certain at this point. She could feel the heat on her cheeks, and it seemed to outshine the green mirrored ever so slightly in the Romulans.

"I am not intoxicated enough," Natalie declared, hopping up and padding across the room at a swift pace, ignoring almost everything that Lillee had said, instead waving the romulan woman back down. She moved to a cabinet along the far wall and punched in a code, unlocking it and pulling out one of a few bottles of a red wine from a planet she couldn't remember, that had been something that the aforementioned deceased Mr. Callahan had introduced her to. He'd had a small stash, and after his passing, that had ended up in Natalie's care.

Quickly replicating 2 glasses she marched back over to where she had been sitting, placed them down on the low table in the 'lounge' area of her quarters and promptly extracted the cork from the bottle. "Supposed to let this decant or something like that. Never had much of a head for wine. I just remembered that this tasted good and is the only real thing I have in here and if I am going to be contemplating just what it would be like to have Cross bending me over a desk, I'm going to damn well have a glass of wine so I have an excuse. And so will you."

And with that, Natalie filled both glasses, and promptly swallowed half of hers. Nothing work related was getting done that night.
42
Episode 02: Cosmic Imperative / Re: Ch 4: S [D01 |1830] Second Station from the right and straight on till its over
Last post by Tae -
[Ens Victor "Corsair" vanVinter]  Erudite crew quarters | Hobus system ATTN: @RyeTanker @Eden @ob2lander961

   Victor sighed heavily as all of the mission details ran through his head. This wasn't a cakewalk, and it was a hell of a mission for his first combat mission as a pilot. However, Victor's love of history and aircraft had scratched an itch somewhere in the back of his mind. It was a high-threat mission with very few craft; this wasn't a standard mission. Going in, taking down a Savi station, and recovering data had special operations all over it. And after a moment, it finally clicked, and he didn't like where this was going, but it was similar in levels of ballsiness.

"Yeah, a few thoughts, Lieutenant, this is a 'Dam Buster' operation. Something From Earth's Second and Third World Wars: the first time The British tried it against the Germans, and how it played out for them wasn't great. The aircraft came in low and fast and used an ineffective ordinance, disrupting operations and drawing attention. The second time the Americans tried, it was more effective; if I remember correctly, it involved the use of a stealth aircraft loaded up with fuel and nuclear warheads against the Three Gorges Dam. It was effective then due to shoddy construction, the dam being on a fault line, and overwhelming firepower. But it was still a distraction for the more significant push of the airborne landings in Beijing. This is a mix of the two operations, Sir. Our part as pilots for this is to disrupt and attract attention; we're bait."

"So we must make a fast insertion, drop our payload, and keep burning thrust to draw attention. The goal is to buy as much time for the shuttle to get in and out. We don't have exact real-time positioning data for our targets, so we must come in fast and keep going. We must divert full power to engines and target whatever explosives we carry with us. After getting their attention, we have to engage and keep them covered until they can escape. Attacking the facility isn't likely to be a minor operation; this will get very bloody exceptionally quickly. If I have permission, Lieutenant, I know how to override the safeties on the engines and make the inertial dampeners more efficient; the engines are going to get hot, and we'll need every ounce of power we can get so we don't turn to jelly on the initial attack run. Spaceframe And Structure was my field with these, but I worked closely with engines and even helped write the specs. I know what I'm doing."

Victor sighed heavily at that, already thinking about what he'd have to do to give them every edge possible. The Valkyries weren't even in the same ballpark as Savi Fighters, so every small advantage that they had would add up. And even then, it wasn't about providing an advantage; it was about drawing attention. The look on his face was thoughtful, even as fingers danced with the necessary calculations and rewiring he'd have to do to hack their fighters. After a moment of muttering equations and technical details to himself, she shrugged.

"I can overcharge the engines by fifteen percent past safety margins, and Structural integrity to eight percent. We'll actually feel some pretty heavy G forces even then, But it's that or shields, and we can't stand up against that kind of power even with a few extra gigawatts going to them. Your choice Sir."

Victor was in his own element but still nodded to Thanalda, giving her a polite smile and doing his best to look reassuring. However, with his mangled visage, it wasn't liable to come across properly. When a ghoul grinned at you, it wasn't comforting. "Ensign vanVinter callsign Corsair, Formerly Chief of Spaceframe and Structure for our birds. I know this sounds scary, Lieutenant, but I helped give the Valkyries their final shakedown before they went into service." That last bit was directed to both Callax and Thanalda; the truth, though, is Victor only expected the shuttle to make it out, and even that was a hell of a risk.
43
Episode 02: Cosmic Imperative / Re: PRO: S [D01 | 1130] Back to reality
Last post by Relatively Insane -
[Ens. Caitlyn Murphy | Recovery Ward | Main Sickbay | Deck 11 | Vector 2 | USS Theurgy] Attn: @Dumedion @rae @Galaxymind 
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Surprised to find her call answered so quickly, Cait studied the Trill as he first entered, raising an eyebrow at his change in expression. I don't look that bad, do I? She wondered, her query answered when the doctor finally spoke again, confusing her with some other engineer. Unable to voice a response, Caitlyn instead gave the Trill a bemused look. Though she vaguely remembered Azrin, at least from when they had worked together, she found some difficulty in recalling anything else about the woman.

The male doctor seemed to be expecting an answer of some sort, though Caitlyn was saved by a second Trill entering the ward; another medical officer, by her uniform at least. Seeing the first man backpedal a bit, she briefly wondered how long he'd been stuck on duty before realizing the woman had asked her... wait what had she said? Finding her voice still absent, Caitlyn instead gave the woman a simple nod, accepting a cup of water a moment later. She tried a tentative sip at first, almost moaning from the relief it provided. Draining the cup all too quickly, she blushed and wiped the residual moisture from her mouth.

Clearing her throat, Caitlyn tried again to speak and found her voice willing. "Thank you, that- that really hit the spot." She sighed, already feeling a bit better. Looking between the other two, she tried to limit her mind to a few basic questions. "Who are you two? Am I still on the Thea? And just erm.. what the hell happened exactly?"
44
Interregnum 01-02 S2 / Re: Day 16 [2200hrs] A shore for shore leave
Last post by Brutus -
[ Lt (jg) Sarresh Morali | Turbolift | Various Decks | Vector 02 | USS Theurgy] Attn:
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"I have noticed that human flesh can burn pretty bad as well, but it's a different kind of thing than what I had before. Still uncomfortable, but it's good to know that at least in the holodeck I don't have to worry about that,". Small mercies were still mercies and Sarresh wasn't going to thumb his nose at them. Certainly not after everything he had suffered through to this point. Not getting sunburnt? An absolute plus. "All the fun and none of the risk. No wonder Holodecks are so popular."

He had just taken off his under shirt that he'd worn beneath the wet suit and was going to peel the standard issue boxer-briefs down when he heard and felt the approach of the Betazoid and he turned to look over his shoulder. His eyes swept up and down - unable to help himself - and he could admit that the form was quite pleasing, even in standard undergarments. That was a surprise he'd found, after his transformation. He still had no idea of what had happened on a mental level, how the Vulcan Dr. Maya had assisted Dr. Nicander in mapping neural paths and helping settle his mind into his new form. Including finding similar forms appealing. 

Pondering her offer, Sarresh rotated one arm and then the other, feeling what and where things pulled. He glanced over to her again in a half stretch, with one arm pulled across his chest, in time to see her straighten back up, having stepped out of her regulation panties. Again, he took in her form, and found himself distracted by what he saw. No nudity taboo did not mean a lack of appreciation for a good show, and that was what the caramel skinned security officer was inadvertently giving. Blinking he gave a little shrug as he stepped out of the stretch and shook his arms.

"If it would not be too much trouble, I would appreciate it. Most of these feel like bruises I can't see, let alone easily reach." As he spoke, he shucked the last of his clothing and folded it up along with the rest - well, with the undershirt. The wet suit he was just going to recycle into something less annoying to pad around the ship in when they were done. Naked as the day he was reborn (and certainly not lacking in the physique department, above or below the hips) Sarresh looked back up and smiled at the Betazoid. "Ready as I'll ever be."

With practiced ease, the security specialist changed everything around Sarresh. The ground under his feet shifted and he went from standing on comfortable tile to warm sand, feeling his feet sink down slightly. That moist heat still clung to his body, but the warmth of the sun beat down on him from above and he gave a pleased little shiver, closing his eyes for a moment. The former Ash'reem took a deep breath in through his nose, smelling the salt in the air, and let it out just as slowly, his chest inflating and deflating with ease.

Opening his eyes again, he let his gaze sweep along the shoreline and he smiled, nodding his head. He settled on his companion, who had been kind enough to let him intrude on her time off. "Beautiful. All of it," he swept his hand out, "You have a breathtakingly beautiful home, Kythalie. Much nicer than the last few breaches I visited."

Which was perfectly true. Qo'noS had some beaches lining the river he had been rafting down, at the start at least. Mostly rocky affairs. And the less said about Aldea the better, though the temporal affairs officer understood that his view of that planet had been colored by his monstrous encounter. This though..."Our oceans are a slightly different hue, the water tending more towards indigo than blue but...there is enough about this that it reminds me of some of the larger landmasses on Ash'kara."

As he spoke, he padded over across the sand to stand next to the petty officer, one hand resting on his hip, the other shading his eyes for a moment as he swept his gaze up and down the beach again. Facing her, he felt a smile settle onto his face, a gesture not wholly alien to the usually dour time traveler, but not commonplace either. "So, what would you like to do first, since I'm the one piggybacking on your downtime."
45
Episode 02: Cosmic Imperative / Re: CH 2: S [Day 01 | 1435 hrs] When Trolls Dance, Vulcans Growl
Last post by EnigmaTales -
[ Lt. JG V'lana | Sickbay Lobby  | D. 21 | V. 2 ] Attn: @Ellen Fitz  

Pub crawl. V'lana had never heard of it, but she found the idea of discounted drinks rather tempting. She banished these thoughts for the time being, and concentrated on Cross instead. His comments regarding transfers from the Versant or the Endeavour made her thoughtful, and she could only imagine how hard it had been to replace those who had been lost. For everyone involved.

"It's very much like a holodeck program.", V'lana nodded. "I read reports, and all I can think is 'well this doesn't exactly make narrative sense, I should contact the author and complain'. It doesn't really get through to me that this is real life, and that those... characters... were real people. A good few still are around, and I worry meeting them will feel... weird. Because frankly, seeing it as a holodeck adventure without emotional impact keeps me afloat right now. I concentrate on the medical reports. Someone got boiled alive while swimming in a body of water during a volcano erruption. That's... "

She didn't know what to say, and took a deep breath. It was horrible to read about, but again, there was no emotional impact just yet. She hadn't known these people, or if she had, not well.

"I haven't really reconnected with anyone yet. Trying to take it slow, focus on work.", she shrugged. "And yes, I will be seeing a counsellor. It should be mandatory after stasis anyway, and I have zero interest in a mental breakdown somewhere along the line. I wouldn't be working if I thought that was bound to happen, though." She quickly assured him, realising that she had a tendency to overshare things as means of connecting to someone. She had always done that, and it had gotten her into trouble more than once. And yet, it felt like the best approach to things.

"Either way. If you're up for it, I would like to try the sound-therapy I spoke about. You can try .... anything else in the meanwhile, but if the headache picks up again, I'd like to see you back here. And perhaps keep track of what it is you're trying, how it affects mood and headache, and so on. There's a lot you have to figure out, and I find keeping track of new things you try can help with that."

She smirked.

"So yes, keep a diary." 
46
Interregnum 01-02 S2 / Re: Day 17 [2200 hrs.] Aftermath's Embrace
Last post by EnigmaTales -
[Lieutenant J.G. V'lana | Arboretum | Deck 22 | Vector 03 | USS Theurgy] Attn: @Dumedion

Self reflection. V'lana hated it, but she was quite obviously decent at instilling it in others. Arven's confession regarding his renewed self-awareness as social creature didn't surprise her - they all were - but it did remind her that she would have to rebuild her social circle eventually. Just not right now. Or maybe right now. The doctor was certainly a good start, and thus far she imagined him to be one of those people you could claim to be your "friend" but actually only spoke to once or twice a year. Just the right level of social interaction (aside, well, her actual job) she was looking for.

"Food?", she asked, apparently having forgotten that nutrients, too, were a base need for her species. "You tell me. Can I even digest any of that at the moment?"

She usually got a supplement that helped her body digest nutrients that weren't in the form her biology was made for. Back home, most dishes were based on specific strains of fungus. V'lana found those meals comforting and delicious, but very few other people found that thought appealing. "I will say I crave what we cook at home. My mother used to make a soup I got when I was sick, and although I don't feel sick as such, I think I can get away with the 'look at me, I was in stasis' card a few more days."

Making fun of it certainly took the edge off. Perhaps Arven was a bad influence on her.

"What is it you usually eat when you feel... not-sick, but a little worse for wear? I am happy to take recommendations."
47
Episode 02: Cosmic Imperative / Re: Ch 5 S [ D02 | 0600 hrs.] Old Friends Die Hard
Last post by Ellen Fitz -
[ Hirk tr’Aimne | Wet Market | Avra Trel | Romulus ] @rae  @Pierce

His heart had been beating like the tiny, venomous nei'rrh since they passed into his home planet’s atmosphere. But not out of fear. No, Hirek was not afraid. Regardless of what happened to the Starfleet crew, he now considered colleagues, and regardless of what happened on these missions, Hirek did not feel fear. Ihir'aenha; he’d been destined to be here like this. His family had survived numerous terrors from the Tal’Shiar for him to be here at this time and in this place. So, if Hirek felt anything, it was a combination of elation and determination.

The entire time he’d piloted the flitter to Avra Tel, Hirek had fought against the temptation to lean back and fill the vehicle with his laughter. He doubted either the Andorian or the human would understand his mirth, not when so very much could go so very wrong and so very quickly. Every molecule of his body reveled in being once more under the Romulun sun, his senses filled with the sights and sounds and smells of the familiar. Just as he fought the temptation to laugh like a child playing in the surf of Uulma, Hirek similarly found the desire to turn the flitter northeast, touching down on the cliffside closest his ancestral home. To once more hear his father’s voice, feel his mother’s grip as she took hold of his hand, feel the warm sand of his home beneath bare feet…these were things he desperately craved but knew he could not partake of, not yet.

If they successfully connected with this reunification network, they could have more allies against the Tal’Shiar. And they would need as many allies as possible to take down the tyrants.

With these thoughts in mind, Hirek’s features were forcibly neutral as he led Nysari and Alana through the wet market area of Avra Trel toward their meeting point. It’d taken him the entirety of their flight to the city for Hirek to remember where he’d heard the name Belas tr'Rehu before.

He’d been a brief colleague of his mother’s before she’d been ousted from her position at the Imperial War College. As an assistant professor in the Reman affairs department, the two had rarely crossed paths; the only reason Vaed'rehai t’Aimne shared stories with her family regarding tr’Rehu was that he’d gotten himself removed from the college, most notably. After a public disagreement with one of the department lead’s decisions on the Reman curriculum, tr’Rehu had gone to the lead’s office and doused the man in Reman blood gathered from a Reman blood bank on campus.

Hirek had conveyed this history to his mission mates as soon as they’d landed at an out-of-the-way docking port. He’d had to use his cousin’s credentials to obtain the flitter and process the landing procedures and hoped that by the time his cousin took notice of this fact, their mission would be over, and there would be no risk in explaining to the man in person his reasons for doing so.

Pausing in their journey to study the wares of one of the stalls, Hirek spoke with the older woman manning the stall, seeking to haggle a price for the fish. He pretended to be dissatisfied with her ending price and dismissed the deal, leading Alana and Nysari further into the wet market. It’d be too obvious if they moved through the market without stopping here and there to haggle and study the wares. He was thankful the market wasn’t terribly full at this hour when Alana spoke. Hirek dropped his voice to a whisper when he responded to Alana’s question.

“The less talking, the better when we aren’t with tr’Rehu. Neither of you speaks fluently enough to pass as locals or visitors from another continent. At best, you could maybe pass as a colonist, but that presumption would go away mighty fast the longer the conversation took place.”

He again led them to a booth, this one with a number of different fishing hooks and other such paraphernalia on display. Hirek haggled again and, this time, purchased three items, passing the traditional hook dangling from a chain to Alana and the miniature bone dirk to Nysari. He kept the fishing line for himself.

“The area we’re meeting tr’Rehu in is a unique geographical feature for this area. It’s known as yy'a dochaisam cove, or dead speech cove. The materials of the rocks and the formation of the cove kill echoes, making it the perfect place to scheme.” Hirek smirked, tossing Alana a wink. “And fish in the tide pools.”
48
Interregnum 01-02 S2 / Re: Day 6 [ 1300hrs. ] Let's Get Physical
Last post by Ellen Fitz -
[Hirek tr’Aimne | Personal Quarters |  D. 17 |  USS Theurgy ] Attn: @Sqweloookle

The doctor’s clearly stated interest in physical intimacy surprised Hirek but not at all in a negative way. Hirek supposed it was naïve of him to presume that all Starfleet personnel would respond to his audacious overtures with the same resigned and collected manners as his handler and the captain had been, as well as those on Madsen’s team who had been among the first he’d met during his defection. It was a welcome difference from his expectations and carried with it the potential for a more pleasurable experience while onboard than what he’d expected.

Letting a hum of satisfaction rumble from his chest as Elro’s fingers traveled the length of Hirek’s ears, he angled a lopsided smile at the man. “Vulcans are not the only ones with sensitive noses, dear doctor. And some species carry a certain ‘under’ scent even if they try to disguise their natural smell with perfumes and colognes. I have not met enough Betazoids to know if your scent correlates with your ‘under’ scent, but yes, you DO smell…delicious.”

Hirek didn’t move as Elro began to close the gap between them, enjoying the moment for what it was, but he did crack a mirthful smile when he heard Elro’s stomach grumble before they could press their lips together. Hirek accepted Elro’s hand and used the momentum of gaining his feet to finish what Elro had started. Stepping into the doctor’s personal space until they were chest-to-chest, hip-to-hip, Hirek lightly brushed his lips over Elro’s lips.

“As I thought,” Hirek licked his lips as he abruptly removed himself from Elro’s warmth, “delicious.” A playful smile played at the muscles of his face. Hirek continued to the replicator, where he stopped and stood staring at it, hands clasped behind his back. “My home is the largest producer of jumbo mollusks on Romulus. If you like seafood, I know a recipe with these mollusks, but I doubt your replicator would know the terms or precise spices. I suppose it will take time to train it, but if there is a way to pair what the replicator knows of mollusks with aromatic herbs and tangy zest over a bed of sweet and sour rice, that could be a close equivalent.” Turning to look over his shoulder at Elro, Hirek cocked another smile. “Perhaps some Romulan ale to go with it?”
49
Episode 02: Cosmic Imperative / Re: CH 2: S [Day 01 | 1435 hrs] When Trolls Dance, Vulcans Growl
Last post by Ellen Fitz -
[ Lt. Cmdr. Cross | Sickbay | D. 21 | V. 3 | “Ranger” of USS Theurgy] Attn: @EnigmaTales

Chuckling at her comments on voices and his cursing, Cross sighed. “I had some friends back at the Academy who took me on what they called a ‘pub crawl’ in Edinburgh. There was singing and dancing at every pub we went to, and if THAT was the kind of singing expected of me, I could hold my own. It was basically whoever was loudest or could hold the note the longest got the discount drinks.” His lips pulled upward in a sly smile. “I managed to get a few free drinks that night.”

As V’lana shared some of her experience of being in stasis and waking up again, Cross found himself picturing Blue and a number of others who’d been on the Versant or the Endeavour.

“There were a few of us who survived multiple fuck-ups and transferred in after the Versant incident,” Cross spoke after a moment of silence following V’lana’s sharing. “I can’t say anyone particularly resented our being here and integrating into the crew in positions former friends had been in, but there was certainly a period of time that it was difficult on all sides. And I can understand what you’re saying, looking back on recent events and feeling like it's some fictional storyline to a holodeck horror program. I’ve not been in stasis yet, and I feel like that sometimes.”

Cross let his gaze wander around the nearly empty room before asking, “Have you reconnected with friends onboard?” Wincing, he sighed. “Sorry, didn’t take into consideration that your friends may have been killed during stasis.”
50
Episode 02: Cosmic Imperative / Re: CH 2: S [Day 01 | 1857 hrs] Expectations
Last post by Ellen Fitz -
[ Lt. Cmdr. Cross | Arboretum Cafe | D. 20 | V. 3 | “Ranger” of USS Theurgy] Attn: @joshs1000

“When you get a chance, I highly recommend you take a look at the Reaver. Especially as an engine connoisseur.” Cross was silent for a few moments, enjoying the first bites of food to take the edge off his hunger. Patel shifted her singing from love ballads to a more upbeat blues style, and Cross inwardly sighed. Much more preferred in these circumstances. Wiping his mouth with the napkin, Cross paused in the meal to continue the conversation. “If you can, what are the primary elements that must be present in an engine to make it particularly ‘good’ or noteworthy?”

After taking a lengthy sip of his drink, Cross expanded further from his position. “Let’s take guns. A tool I have to have ready or employ often from my position. Granted, I’m sure it’s the same with an engine as it is with a gun; not one gun suits all circumstances, so context for purpose and use comes into play. But some basics would be a good weight of the weapon to the carrier, the ergonomics of shape and ease of use, which is connected to overall size, the trigger mechanisms, sights, slide manipulation if it is present, rate of fire, and type of fire. But all that aside, the materials used to make the components and materials of the gun also impact all that.” Cross gave a half shrug. “I’m picky on the barrel finish, the sights, the lock time, and slide if it has one.” Cross drew an intricate pattern in the condensation on the outside of his glass. “I used a gun once that had this barrel finish and firing that thing,” his lips pulled back in a smile of feigned physical pleasure, “It was one of the most pleasurable experiences I’ve ever had with a gun. As odd as that might sound.”

Leaning forward again to tuck back into the remainder of his meal, Cross nodded toward Lok’s plate, “I can take the unwanted bits if you like.” He indicated the discarded vegetables.
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