The Federation Tribune - October 2003
Clare Bradley
clarerose at yahoo.com
Fri Oct 17 07:09:58 CEST 2003
==== The Federation Tribune ====
==== October 2003 ====
Got a question? Visit the Newspaper FAQ!
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USS CALHOUN / DELTA ONE STATUS REPORT by Adrian Rodd
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Current Stardate: 2391.03.16
Current Mission:
No sooner had Captain Sarin returned to command than the unexpected
occurred, in the form of a small, unidentified alien ship approaching
the station and demanding shelter. The aliens proved extremely
agitated, and kidnapped two members of the crew, no doubt to get what
they wanted in return. To everyone’s surprise, a Cardassian
Galor-class warship promptly dropped out of warp, disabled the ship’s
shields, beamed the Starfleet crewmembers to safety, and destroyed
the alien vessel.
Upon opening communications, the Calhoun crew learned that the
Cardassians had been in the Delta Quadrant for the past twenty-two
years, after having been pulled there by the Caretaker. They had
colonised a part of a nearby planet, and begun to "civilise" its
inhabitants, Cardassian-style. Having vaguely admitted the destroyed
ship was from a species that had once attempted to colonise the same
planet, the elderly Gul invited the Calhoun’s senior staff to visit
their new world, Darennia.
Meanwhile, the crew wonder how to retrieve their missing First
Officer, who was kidnapped by a drone-like creature several days
earlier. . .
=====================================================================
Academy Status Report by Rob Verlinden
=====================================================================
Current Stardate 2386.9.14 and 2388.10.10
==================
Lost Cadets (6):
Cadet Gareth J Dunsford, played by Gareth J Dunsford
Cadet Seth Knight, played by Luis Oyola
Cadet Malcolm Walker, played by Danny Ward
Cadet Ariz Paxton, played by Mateo Fabijanovic
Cadet Karina Vestilla, played by Jessica Lynn
Cadet Sean Dempsey, played by Sean Dempsey
Standby (2):
Cadet Lily Barns, played by Garrett M. (Sci/Med/Ship)
Cadet Todd Marshall, played by John Rodriguez (Eng/Helm/Ship)
==================
New Signups (11):
9 useless, leaves 2
Individual Cadets (2):
Cadet Bryan Lewis, played by Paul Clark (Mike)
Cadet John James Carter, played by John McGinty (Marvin)
Soon in List Training (3):
Cadet Kicent K'meric Quisar, played by Eric Hess (Sec/Eng/Ship)
Cadet Giskard Reventlov, played by Giskard Reventlov (Sec/Eng/Dont)
Cadet Ryhlix, played by David Wilson (Ops/Sec/Base)
Graduations (3):
Cadet Lorvok, played by Jake Hanlon => ASTC Calhoun
Cadet Jamie Davison, played by Jamie Davison => ACOUNS Valkyrie
Cadet Arta, played by Desmond Grier => ACOUNS Pandora
==================
End of Status Report
==================
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STATUS REPORT: USS Odyssey by Dennis Church
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Stardate 2391.03.02
After helping the Valkyrie at the New Amsterdam Colony, the Odyssey
was recalled to Earth to pick up their new Second Officer and
Security/Tactical Chief, Natasha Hart. They were then assigned to
answer a distress call from a Klingon vessel apparently caught in the
Delphic Expanse, but en route to its destination it encountered an
unknown alien probe, who attached itself to the Odyssey's hull, and
is draining power from the ship. All systems except life support are
offline, and if a way is not found to remove the probe,there will
eventually be no power for life support....
=====================================================================
USS Valkyrie Status Report by Clare Bradley
=====================================================================
USS VALKYRIE STATUS REPORT - 2391.01.24:
Martin Miller's condition has worsened, and the one person who can
help him, his criminal cousin Paul Miller, has been captured by
Betazoid security forces. The USS Valkyrie has travelled to the
planet, so that Drs. Ambria and Mackenzie can use Paul Miller and the
sophisticated planetside Medical facility to save Martin's life.
Jamie, Martin's boyfriend, who recently graduated from Starfleet
Academy has travelled to be at the bedside of his beloved. Also at
the medical facility, former Captain Rylie Tir recovers from a
mission gone bad.
Meanwhile, the rest of the crew is either occupied with repairs to
the heavily damaged USS Valkyrie, or are enjoying well-deserved shore
leave.
=====================================================================
Pandora Station Mission Summary by Rob Versteegt
=====================================================================
After being transported about 260 kilometers, by an alien
transporter, to an area which he didn't recognise, the Captain had
contacted the Solstice, and beamed back to the location he was
before. While studying a wall, the Captain, lt. Ryaanax, and Ens.
Ja'al found out it was actually some kind of map. They discovered a
symbol on the wall, which indicated the city, in which they were. The
symbol looked like an 'H', so the away team named this
city "city 'H'".
While trying to figure out some more about this city, Ensign Kerris,
who had previously helped Dr.Vok on the Solstice with his musical
crisis in sickbay, beamed down, to assist the away team. Ensign
Jalando requested Ensign Kerris' help, in figuring out how the alien
transporter worked. Together, the 2 ensigns discovered the
transporter was running on emergency power only.
Another away team had been beamed down to the planet surface, a few
kilometers away from the place the Captain had first been ransported
to by the alien transporter. As Commander Essar, Ensign Murdock,
Ensign Brannagh and a security detail tried to make their way to the
alien transporter site, on of the security crewman, crewman
Robertson, accidentally activated some sort of defence mechanism,
which detonated a grenade. Crewman Robertson was seriously injured,
and had to be beamed back to the Solstice, where Dr. Vok, together
with Ensign Braff, performed surgery on him.
Since he had been transported back, the Captain started seeing things
others didn't, like a man, who called himself "Elkor". Elkor told the
Captain he (the captain) didn't want to go, and that he had to find
the capital city. Somehow, just after Elkor had said this, the
Captain informed Ja'al that he didn't want to leave. Ensign Ja'al
contacted the Solstice, and asked for an immediate transport, to
sickbay. When they arrived in sickbay, the captain started to calm
down. Doctor Vok didn't find anything unusual, except for some high
brain activity.
On the Solstice, crewman Krewmann, who had been seeing pink bunnies,
was put in the brig. However, he tricked Ensign Worrell, a security
officer, to lower the force field, thereby knocking the brig officer
unconscious. The crewman, still in a straight jacket, escaped from
the brig, but fell down, unconscious, in a corridor, not far from the
brig. He was later found by Ensign Worrell.
In Engineering, Ensign Bill Janssens called Lt.cmdr Holmes and Ensign
Delari down, to let them see that the planet was somehow draining
energy from the ship. With the prospect of energy drain, Lt.Cmdr
Holmes decided to shut down the transporters for a while. So
Commander Essar ordered the away teams to be transported up to the
Solstice. There, he and Jalando, who has had a vision, walked to
sickbay, to find out how the captain was doing. When they arrived in
sickbay, counsellor Mishbano came in. She was ordered by Lt.Cmdr
Holmes to have a look at the captain.
**** Current Situation ****
Stardate 2391.03.06
The Pandora crew is on the USS Solstice, trying to find out what has
happened to the Captain on the surface of Tollaxana and what is
causing the mysterious power drain.
=====================================================================
20 Uses For a Hyperspanner by Rob Versteegt
=====================================================================
We all know the famous hyperspanner. Every engineer in Starfleet has
used one, once in a while. But what does it do? After you’ve read
this article, you will never have to think of something to do with
that piece of equipment. You can just use it, in one of the 20 ways,
discribed below. (A hyperspanner is, at least, in my opinion, an
instrument, which has a handle at one hand, and if you activate it,
it has a short laserbeam at the other end.)
1. Use it as a torch. Very handy in case some probe drains all the
power from your ship, and the emergency lights don’t respond.
2. Use it as a lighter. If your replicator is broken, just activate
the hyperspanner, and you can cook on a homemade fire. (Be careful,
you might set of the fire alarm)
3. Use it as an energy source. When you are all alone on a planet,
and you have an engineering kit with you, but the beacon doens’t seem
to be working, you can convert the hyperspanner in an energy source,
so that the beacon starts sending signals again. (Ok, you’re an
engineer, not a miracle worker, but this wouldn’t be a problem, would
it?)
4.Trade it with an alien culture, who have never seen a hyperspanner,
(but they do have warpdrive :P) for something valuable.
5. Use it as a sabre, that’s made out of light. (Hey, copyright… ;P)
It could come in very handy when you’re facing pink bunnies, who also
have those sabres. ;-)
6. Use it as a hammer. If you are building a treehouse for some kids,
but you forgot to bring an old fashioned hammer with you…
7. Use it as a diversion. When aliens are invading your ship, throw
the hyperspanner at them, then, when they look to see what that is,
you open the nearest airlock! Muahahahaha!!!
8. You can hit someone with a hyperspanner. If you hit someone in the
right spot, he might faint. Then again, he might also become very
angry with you… Use this as a last resort! <G>
9. Roast marshmallows with it!
10. Put it in your quarters, as a decorative object.
11. Tie it to the side of your head, and pretend you’re a borg!
12. Tired of work? Pretend that you’re crazy. Talking to a
hyperspanner helps!
13. If you really hate someone, replace his lollypop with a
hyperspanner, and run away, as fast as you can!
14. Use your hyperspanner as a saw. With it’s laserbeam, it will cut
through anything!
15. You can drop it, so that someone can fall over it.
16. You can place it in the captain’s chair, and pretend it is the
captain. “Yessir Captain Hyperspanner Sir!”
17. The same as 16, but then for the First officer. <G>
18. Use it as a nightlight, if you’re afraid to sleep in the dark.
19. You can cut some wires with it. (so that the whole deck goes
dark, and you can use it like described at nr 1.)
20. And finally, you can use it as an engineering tool used in the
calibration of plasma injectors. (That’s what it’s for, you know?)
Well, I hope you all know what you can do with a hyperspanner.
Rob Versteegt.
(ACSO Jalando, ACMO Vok, Pandora station.)
=====================================================================
The Frontierfleet Song by Rob Versteegt
=====================================================================
Next to the famous Val Karna song, we have another FF song! And here
it is!
The Frontierfleet song! (By Rob Versteegt)
(On the tune of “Wild Rover”)
I’ve been in Frontierfleet for many’s a year.
And I’ll tell you my story, if you want to hear.
It’s brave, it’s courageous, and funny no doubt!
So let me explain what Frontierfleet’s about!
Refrain
There’s the starship Calhoun,
And the Odyssey too!
And the Valk, and Pandora,
They all need more crew!
Ten thousands of lightyears, the Calhoun’s away,
The quadrant named Delta, is where they will stay.
Their home is a station, that’s called Delta One,
To which they retreat if the Borg make them run. <G>
Refrain
The Odyssey’s mission is simple, yet short.
Exploring new regions, you’ll never get bored.
The captain is bluish, his uniform red.
We all think the colours just don’t match with that! ( ;-) )
Refrain
A state of the art ship, the Valkyrie is.
It’s too bad the crew doesn’t resemble this.
They’re misfits, they’re losers, but yet they are kind.
If you are in trouble, you know who to find. <EG>
Refrain
Pandora the station is simply the best
Their well armed torpedo’s defeat all the rest.
Too bad that the station is stuck on it’s place.
The crew has to move now, to meet a new race. (:P)
Refrain
If you think you’d like this, then know what to do!
Just join us, and post some, we’re ready for you!
And as for the members, you know what is wrong?
You ought to be posting, not singing this song!
Refrain.
=====================================================================
Science Facts by Bram Peeters
=====================================================================
=================================
Europe's lunar adventure begins
=================================
Ariane Trifecta: moon probe, two other craft launched
-----------------------------------------------------
Relying upon an experimental ion engine and miniaturized instruments,
Europe's first robotic lunar orbiter has launched to study the Moon's
history while serving as a technology testbed for future missions.
The SMART 1 spacecraft shared the ride into space Saturday [26
September] with two communications satellites aboard a European
Ariane 5 rocket.
http://spaceflightnow.com/ariane/v162/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3136004.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3146124.stm
http://www.esa.int/export/SPECIALS/SMART-1/index.html
Smart 1 fires up its ion engine for first time
----------------------------------------------
The ion engine aboard the European Space Agency's newly-launched
SMART 1 lunar probe was successfully ignited high above Earth on
Tuesday [30 September].
http://spaceflightnow.com/ariane/v162/031001ionengine.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3150718.stm
http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/SEM2OU0P4HD_index_0.html
SMART-1's ion engine tuned
--------------------------
After more than 32 hours of accumulated thrust, the electric
propulsion system aboard the European Space Agency's newly-launched
SMART-1 satellite is now fully tuned for nominal operations under
space conditions.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0310/07smart1/
=================
Goodbye Galileo
=================
After 14 years in space, NASA's Galileo spacecraft will plunge into
Jupiter's crushing atmosphere Sunday [28 September] to conclude its
productive and successful mission. With its fuel supply nearly gone,
the craft is on a collision course with Jupiter to eliminate any
chance of an unwanted impact with the Jovian moon Europa, which is
likely to have a subsurface ocean and possibly life.
http://spaceflightnow.com/galileo/030920preview.html
http://galileo.jpl.nasa.gov/
Sunday's entry timeline:
http://spaceflightnow.com/galileo/030920eomsequence.html
Top 10 science achievements:
http://spaceflightnow.com/galileo/030920top10science.html
Galileo spacecraft crashes into Jupiter
---------------------------------------
One of the enduring and exciting episodes of the planetary
exploration came to an abrupt end Sunday afternoon when NASA's
battered Galileo spacecraft was crushed, melted and then assimilated
into the planet Jupiter's all-embracing atmosphere. However, the
14-year mission leaves behind a rich legacy.
http://spaceflightnow.com/galileo/030921galileogone.html
The Galileo trials
------------------
If it were possible to label one day as "the worst" of spaceprobe
Galileo's career, most scientists would choose Thursday, April 11,
1991. Ben Evans tells Galileo's chequered story.
http://spaceflightnow.com/galileo/030921galileohistory.html
Future Jupiter exploration on the drawing boards
------------------------------------------------
The next mission to Jupiter will be revolutionary - a nuclear powered
monster, a hundred times more capable than Galileo. Never before in
space exploration has such a dramatic improvement in capability been
encountered.
http://spaceflightnow.com/galileo/030921jimo.html
===================
Shenzhou 5 Launch
===================
China makes history with manned launch
--------------------------------------
Over a decade in the making and four decades behind the Soviet Union
and United States, China became only the third nation on the planet
to mount a manned space mission Wednesday when a single crewman
vaulted into space inside a capsule for a one-day flight.
http://spaceflightnow.com/shenzhou/031015launch.html
China's first man in space stops for lunch
------------------------------------------
In Earth orbit, Yang Liwei, China's first space traveller, has taken
a
rest and eaten a traditional Chinese meal. And back on Earth, China's
President Hu Jintao has hailed the success of the Shenzhou 5 launch.
Check our status center for updates on the mission.
http://spaceflightnow.com/shenzhou/status.html
China's first manned spaceflight safely returns to Earth
--------------------------------------------------------
Wrapping up a historic day in space, the Shenzhou 5 return capsule
parachuted to a soft touchdown late Wednesday, bringing to an end
China's first manned voyage into space and opening the door for a
wide variety of future plans in the final frontier.
http://spaceflightnow.com/shenzhou/031015landing.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3194892.stm
============
Other News
============
First laser-powered aircraft successfully flies
-----------------------------------------------
Ever since the dawn of powered flight, it has been necessary for all
aircraft to carry onboard fuel -- whether in the form of batteries,
fuel, solar cells, or even a human "engine" -- in order to stay
aloft.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0310/09laseraircraft/
Odyssey orbiter continues to share Mars adventure
-------------------------------------------------
NASA's Mars Odyssey team has released another significant installment
of science data for the public and science community to review and
analyze.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0310/04odyssey/
Asteroid in near miss
---------------------
Last week a small asteroid became the closest natural celestial
object to pass by the Earth. It was found by astronomers at the
Lowell Observatory in Arizona, which conducts a sky survey for
so-called Near Earth Objects.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3160352.stm
Evidence for hydrocarbon lakes on Titan found
---------------------------------------------
The smog-shrouded atmosphere of Titan, Saturn's largest moon, has
been parted by Earth-based radar to reveal the first evidence of
liquid hydrocarbon lakes on its surface.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0310/02titan/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3158496.stm
Saturn-bound spacecraft tests Einstein's theory
-----------------------------------------------
An experiment by Italian scientists using data from NASA's Cassini
spacecraft, currently en route to Saturn, confirms Einstein's theory
of general relativity with a precision that is 50 times greater than
previous measurements.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0310/02cassini/
A galaxy far, far away eyed by Hawaiian telescopes
--------------------------------------------------
A galaxy far beyond our own Milky Way, with a monstrous, churning
black hole in its center, has been observed by two optical telescopes
working in unison as an interferometer. These observations reveal the
finest level of detail in a galaxy ever produced at infrared
wavelengths.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0310/01galaxy/
Hubble uncovers Uranus' smallest moons yet seen
-----------------------------------------------
Astronomers have discovered two of the smallest moons yet found
around Uranus. The new moons, uncovered by NASA's Hubble Space
Telescope, are about 8 to 10 miles across -- about the size of San
Francisco.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0309/25uranus/
http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solarsystem/hubble_uranus_moons.html
(one line)
'Transparent' galaxy discovered
-------------------------------
Astronomers have announced the discovery of a new galaxy, termed
Andromeda VIII. The new galaxy is so widespread and transparent that
astronomers did not suspect its existence until they mapped the
velocity of stars thought to belong to the well-known and nearby
large Andromeda spiral galaxy and found them to move independently of
Andromeda.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0309/18transparent/
=====================================================================
The Alpha Centauri Mystery - Part 5 By Ben Versteegt
=====================================================================
Summary: On a planet in the Alpha Centauri system, after the Dominion
War, a Cardassian with a phaser threatens to kill the Ferengi
bartender Zaag, if he doesn't help him. He wants Zaag to steal some
samples. The next day, Starfleet Ensign Sandra Burke has to examine
these strange, unknown samples. Zaag then asks Sandra to steal those
samples for him. She decides to set up a trap for the Cardassian,
using Zaag and the samples as bait. The plan seems to fail, though,
as the Cardassian takes Zaag hostage and threatens to kill him. Just
as it looks like he's going to get away with the Ferengi and the
samples, he lets Zaag go and runs away, after a signal from his
ship's computer. Sandra then stuns him; the Cardassian is
apprehended. Just as they begin to relax, they are startled by a huge
explosion: the Starfleet compound is destroyed, by a yet unknown
foe...
And now the continuation...
"What... what just happened?" Zaag asked. All this commotion just
couldn't be good for business.
"Our base has just been blown up, that's what happened." Sandra
answered softly. She turned to the security officers. "Keep our
Cardassian friend here under constant surveillance. I'll go to the
compound and see what I can do." She grabbed the case containing the
samples. "And I'm taking these with me." She started to run, but then
stopped again, and turned around to Zaag. "You coming?"
After running for a while, the two arrived at the compound, or what
was left of it. Small fires consumed whatever they could, and huge
pillars of smoke filled the sky above them. Starfleet personnel was
running everywhere, trying to stop the fires from spreading, or to
get the wounded outside of the building. Medical personnel were
working hard to save all the wounded.
Sandra looked around for a while, taking in all that happened here.
The blood on the wounded, the damage to the structure, the panic...
it was all becoming too much for Sandra to look at. She took a deep
breath and started looking for someone she knew. There, on a biobed,
in an area outside the structure that had to be an improvised
sickbay, she saw Lieutenant Graves. The entire left part of his face
was covered with plasma burns, as well as his right leg and parts of
his arms. Sandra walked towards him with lead in her boots.
She cleared her throat. "Sir? Are you all right?"
"No Ensign, I am not all right." the Lieutenant said with great
difficulty. "I'm sure you can see that."
"What happened?"
"We were..." He closed his eyes, as if he was trying to hide the
excruciating pain he was in. It didn't work very well. "We were
attacked."
This came as a shock to Sandra. This hadn't been an accident. A
Starfleet base had been attacked, on a planet in the middle of
Federation space. She swallowed. "Attacked? By who?"
"We didn't know." Graves said. "There were no warnings, no
indications that they were going to attack..."
"That who was going to attack? Who, Sir?"
"We didn't get a clear look at them at first, but the weapons they
used... According to the sensors, they were... Romulan."
"The Romulans?" Sandra said surprised. "Why would they be attacking
us?"
"They knocked out our main power generator with a single shot." the
Lieutenant continued. "Then they started to fire at the Science
Labs... There were plasma fires everywhere." Graves paused, as he
struggled to ignore the pain. "Romulans then started to beam in, and
shot everyone in the labs. They tore the place apart, literally. They
were looking for something, but when they didn't find it, they beamed
back."
"What... are you suggesting?"
"The samples... It's the only thing that wasn't in the labs at the
time of the attack. That must have been what they were looking for."
Sandra was stunned. She realized she hold the case containing the
samples more tightly, as if she was afraid somebody would take it
from her. "The samples?" she asked. "Why would anybody..."
A doctor interrupted her. "This patient needs to rest." she said. "I
must ask you to leave."
Sandra nodded. "Get well soon, Sir." she said and started to move
away.
"Don't let those samples out of your sight!" he yelled after her.
After walking around the compound for a while, she and Zaag decided
there was nothing either of them could do to help. They had asked
those in charge of the rescue operations if they could be of any
assistance, but they told them they were just in the way. The human
and the Ferengi now sat down in the shade of a tree.
"It looks like the Romulans - or whoever it was that attacked us -
were after these samples." Sandra told Zaag."
"Then those samples are very popular." Zaag replied. "That Cardassian
also wanted them. He was even willing to kill me for that!" He paused
to think. "Maybe we can sell them to the highest bidder. We could
split the profit. 50-50?"
"Zaag..."
"Okay, okay, have it your way. 60 - 40?"
"No, Zaag. I'm not interested in selling the samples. I want to find
out why the Cardassian and the Romulans want to get their hands on
them."
"Humans..." Zaag sighed. "Why don't you ask the Cardassian himself?
You have him in custody."
"Good idea, Zaag. I will." She stood up.
"Where are you going?" the Ferengi asked.
"To interrogate the Cardassian of course, as you suggested."
Zaag didn't feel very comfortable about that. He sighed and looked
away.
"Why?" Sandra asked. "What's up, Zaag?"
"Well..." Zaag replied, a little nervous. "I just thought... why
leave? This is such a romantic place, under this tree, the sun in my
face..." he looked Sandra in the eyes. "a beautiful woman besides
me..."
"A burnt-out Starfleet complex only a hundred or so meters from
here..." Sandra added with a bit of irony in her voice.
"Okay, so the view could be better." Zaag said. "It doesn't matter.
As long as you're here, everything's perfect."
"Why do I get the distinct feeling that you're trying to come on to
me?"
"Because I am." Zaag said with utmost conviction. "I am, Sandra. You
are the most lovely, most beautiful female I have ever seen. I...
What I'm trying to say is..." he paused for a moment, at a loss for
words. "I love you, Sandra."
Sandra, who wasn't used to this at all, took a step back. "Zaag...
You're scaring me." she was used to the greedy, ruthless (when it
comes to money) Zaag, not to a poetic, lovesick one.
"But it's true!" Zaag shouted. "I love you, Sandra. I know it sounds
silly, and it goes against everything I know to be right, but... I do
love you."
"Do you?" Sandra said skeptically. The devious Ferengi might just as
easily fool her to accomplish some other plan he had. He may have
even wanted to seduce her, and then take the samples to sell them to
the highest bidder, as he had suggested. "I'll give you a strip of
latinum if you stop this and just come with me." she said finally.
Zaag looked shocked. "Sandra!" he said. "I'm serious! I really am in
love with..."
"Two strips."
"Make it three and it's a deal." Zaag had said it before he realized
it. "Stupid stupid stupid!" he thought. He wished he could recall
those words he had said, but his Ferengi business instinct was
apparently stronger than his love for Sandra. At least for now. But
he knew his love for the hew-mon was real, and eventually, it would
even be stronger than his instinct for business.
"I thought so." Sandra said briskly. "Now let's get going."
After a while, they arrived at the place where they had left the
security team. The team was still there, as was the Cardassian. He
was awake now, and restrained by some members of the security team.
He looked Sandra in the eyes. Sandra had the urge to look in another
direction; anywhere but to the Cardassian. However, she forced
herself to keep looking at her near-killer.
"I have a few questions for you." She said.
"I thought you might." was the reply.
"Did you know anything about this attack?"
"No.
"You're sure?"
"Positive." He came as close to Sandra as the security officers
allowed him to. "If I wanted to blow up the Starfleet-compound to get
those samples, I would have done it already. Why would I blow up your
precious base if I had already arranged for the samples to be
delivered to me?" He looked at Zaag. "I didn't expect treachery from
a cowardly Ferengi, though." He turned his look at Sandra again.
"Besides, blowing up your compound would attract a lot of attention.
That's exactly what I don't want."
"Well, you got it anyway." Sandra replied. "Fine. I believe you have
nothing to do with the attack on our base... for now, at least. Now,
what do you know about those samples, and why do you want them so
badly?"
"You really think I'd tell you?"
"I suppose not... Not now anyway. But you'll talk. Eventually."
"Are you threatening me?" His eyes were flaming; a burning rage
directed at Sandra, who had the guts to threaten him... Him, of all
people! "If you only knew who you are up against..." he warned
Sandra.
"Care to elaborate?"
He didn't answer, but his eyes said enough. The pure hatred that was
being directed at Sandra terrified the Starfleet Ensign.
"I didn't think so." She said, only a slight hint of fear in her
voice. It was enough for the Cardassian to pick up.
"You're afraid of me, aren't you?" The Cardassian yelled, as if it
was a revelation to him. "Yes, I can see it. You are absolutely
terrified!" He laughed out loud. It was a horrific laugh, one that
gave Sandra the creeps. She felt it through her whole body. "You are
afraid of my power, aren't you?"
"This is pointless." she sighed. "I'm not getting anywhere here."
She was about to turn to some other methods of interrogating, but was
interrupted by a familiar voice through her comm badge.
"USS Aquinas to Ensign Burke."
Astounded, she tapped her comm badge. "Uncle Pete? Is that you?"
There was some giggling on the other end of the channel. The person
who was talking to Sandra scraped his throat. "Sandra, I thought I
told you not to call me that."
"I'm sorry Captain. My apologies..." There was a pause. "Why are you
calling me, Sir?"
"Listen carefully, Sandra. You are not safe on Alpha Centauri. Not
while you have the samples."
"Sir?"
"I can't explain right now, but it is imperative that we get you on
board the Aquinas immediately."
"What... why?"
"I told you, I don't have time to explain."
"But Captain, if I want to find out what happened here and why, I'm
going to have to stay here."
The Captain sighed. "You don't have a choice here, Ensign. I'm giving
you a direct order: stand by for transport."
Now it was Sandra who sighed. "Uncle Pete, if you're going to beam me
up, could you at least transport the Ferengi Zaag and a Cardassian
prisoner to the Aquinas too? Zaag has been very helpful, and the
prisoner might have some vital information."
"Very well. We're transporting the prisoner to the brig."
The Cardassian cursed in colourful Cardassian as he was beamed
aboard.
"Now, prepare for transport."
Sandra took one final look at what had been her home for a while. Now
it was destroyed. "I Only wish they could transport my belongings to
the Aquinas too..." she murmured. She looked at Zaag.
"I'm ready." he said. "I'll go anywhere you go. I'll never leave you,
Sandra. Besides, you owe me three strips of gold-pressed latinum..."
With a smile, Sandra tapped her comm badge again. "Burke to
Aquinas..." She took a deep breath, for the last time breathing in
the fresh air of the planet.
"Energize."
The two disappeared in a blue haze, leaving behind the destroyed
Starfleet-compound; the damaged and burnt-out gray structure seeming
out of place, amidst the lush green valleys of Alpha Centauri III...
To be continued.
=====================================================================
Top Ten Posters in September by Clare Bradley
=====================================================================
#10. Kelley MacKinnon, 11 posts.
(CAL: 11)
#9. Bram Peeters, 13 posts. (TIE)
(ODY: 4, PS: 9)
#8. Adrian Rodd, 13 posts. (TIE)
(CAL: 13)
#7. Martin Miller, 14 posts. (TIE)
(ODY: 11, VALK: 3)
#6. Dennis Church, 14 posts. (TIE)
(ODY: 14)
#5. Rob Versteegt, 15 posts. (TIE)
(PS: 15)
#4. Ben Versteegt, 15 posts. (TIE)
(ODY: 15)
#3. Laura Elliott, 15 posts. (TIE)
(CAL: 15)
#2. Werner Kay, 16 posts.
(CAL: 3, ODY: 13)
AND THE NUMBER ONE POSTER IN SEPTEMBER IS....
#1. David Susman, 21 posts!!!
(ODY: 14, PS: 7)
Top Three Posters of the USS Calhoun:
#3. Kelley MacKinnon, 11 posts.
#2. Adrian Rodd, 13 posts.
#1. Laura Elliot, 15 posts.
Top Three Posters of the USS Odyssey:
#3. Dennis Church, 14 posts. (TIE)
#2. David Susman, 14 posts. (TIE)
#1. Ben Versteegt, 15 posts.
Top Three Posters of the USS Valkyrie:
#2-3. Clare Bradley, Mark van der Laan, Linia Saddington, Martin
Miller, and Ann Montage, 3 posts each.
#1. John Wenerowicz, 6 posts.
Top Three Posters of Pandora Station:
#3. Bram Peeters, 9 posts.
#2. Merijn Donders, 11 posts.
#1. Rob Versteegt, 15 posts.
DutyStation Rankings:
USS Odyssey: 100 posts total.
USS Calhoun: 71 posts total.
Pandora Station: 59 posts total.
USS Valkyrie: 28 posts total.
Fleet Wide Rankings:
1. David Susman, 21. (ODY: 14, PS: 7)
2. Werner Kay, 16. (CAL: 3, ODY: 13)
3. Laura Elliott, 15. (CAL: 15)
4. Ben Versteegt, 15. (ODY: 15)
5. Rob Versteegt, 15. (PS: 15)
6. Dennis Church, 14. (ODY: 14)
7. Martin Miller, 14. (ODY: 11, VALK: 3)
8. Adrian Rodd, 13. (CAL: 13)
9. Bram Peeters, 13. (ODY: 4, PS: 9)
10. Kelley MacKinnon, 11. (CAL: 11)
11. Merijn Donders, 11. (PS: 11)
12. Jake Hanlon, 10. (CAL: 10)
13. Rob Verlinden, 10. (ODY: 10)
14. Aaron Delay, 9. (CAL: 9)
15. Jonathan Hardy, 8. (ODY: 8)
16. Dave Church, 6. (ODY: 6)
17. John Wenerowicz, 6. (VALK: 6)
18. Wes Buchanan, 6. (VALK: 6)
19. Cody Ferro, 5. (CAL: 5)
20. Joshua Simants, 5. (CAL: 5)
21. Katy Crockett, 5. (PS: 5)
22. Sandy Alexander, 3. (CAL: 3)
23. Clare Bradley, 3. (VALK: 3)
24. Mark van der Laan, 3. (VALK: 3)
25. Linia Saddington, 3. (VALK: 3)
26. Jed Cohen, 3. (VALK: 3)
27. Ann Montague, 3. (VALK: 3)
28. Phillip Billington, 3. (PS: 3)
29. Vedran Marinic, 2. (ODY: 2)
30. Shannon O'Dain, 2. (ODY: 2)
31. Brandon Allard, 2. (VALK: 2)
32. Tom Shilakes, 2. (VALK: 2)
33. Grant Lile, 2. (PS: 2)
34. Michael Smith, 2. (PS: 2)
35. Jonas Ljungberg, 1. (CAL: 1)
36. Guido Dorssers, 1. (ODY: 1)
37. Dreamer Jopnes, 1. (VALK: 1)
=====================================================================
Promotions by Clare Bradley
=====================================================================
>From Cadet to Ensign:
ASTC Lorvok, USS Calhoun, played by Jake Hanlon
ACOUNS Jamie Davison, USS Valkyrie, played by Jamie Davison
ACOUNS Arta, Pandora Station, played by Desmond Grier
>From Ensign to Lieutenant junior grade:
CEO Paul Velden, USS Odyssey, played by Ben Versteegt
CONN Travian Enar, USS Odyssey, played by Dave Church
ACONN Andrusia, USS Odyssey, played by Martin Miller
CONN Greg "Goose" Champlin, USS Valkyrie, played by Tom Shilakes
ACONN Martin Miller, USS Valkyrie, played by Martin Miller
CEO Corin Dumai, USS Valkyrie, played by Jed Cohen
>From Lieutenant junior grade to Full Lieutenant:
COUNS Talia Morgan, USS Valkyrie, played by Linia Saddington
>From Lieutenant to Lieutenant Commander:
CMO/2O Darluzian Ambria, USS Valkyrie, played by John Wenerowicz
STC Guiel al'Evering, USS Valkyrie, played by Dreamer Jopnes
>From Lt. Commander to Commander:
FO Matuga Denebris, USS Odyssey, played by Dennis Church
CSO Giellun Maiek, USS Valkyrie, played by Brandon Allard
>From Commander to Captain:
CO S'mon ch'Nel Bennek, USS Odyssey, played by Rob Verlinden
=====
clarerose at yahoo.com
ICQ# 58898832
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