DrDMatthews

Realizing that it wouldn't look appropriate to show up in Medical wearing a dress and carrying a long stemmed rose, Anna stopped by her quarters after eating dinner with Will and changed into a fresh uniform. Not too long after she arrived in front of the doors to Sickbay and entered, glancing around on her way to Debbie's office. Everything seemed quiet and she saw no sign of either Captain McQueen or Captain Michaels. From what she'd been given to understand at the meeting in the conference room, those who had disappeared from the Reaent had come back to it seemingly no worse for wear. Reaching the CMO's office, Anna rapped lightly on the door frame since it was open, directing a warm smile to the woman seated at the desk. "Hello, Debbie, do you have a few moments?" Deb Matthews had finally managed to locate her office. She'd been lounging at her desk for at least half an hour while the pounding in her head continued unabated. In spite of that, she was trying to mentally review the data provided during the meeting. One thing was absolutely certain, the away team had gone through an awful ordeal. Her revelry was interrupted by a knock on the door. The CMO was pleased to find Annabelle O'Halloran standing there. She was one of the people Deb really wanted to talk to. "Ahhh," replied the physician. "A friendly face. Of course I have time. Come in and make yourself at home." "Friendly but confused," Anna responded with a smile as she took a seat in one of the two chairs that fronted Deb's desk, exactly sure of just where to begin. "At the meeting, the Commander requested that Science and Medical work together to consolidate information we already have with an eye towards figuring out what sort of threat the Observatory represents and what might be the best way of neutralizing it." Anna met Debbie's gaze for a moment and then shrugged, adding, "Engineering will be going over current scans to ascertain structural integrity but after spending a little time over there, I have to say that I can't have any real confidence in the readings they'll be using from our sensors. And for that matter, I have to wonder how accurate what we experienced was." She leaned forward and set a PADD on Deb's desk. "That contains the uploaded tricorder scans taken by members of the away team while on the Observatory. It does show that temperature readings fluctuated radically with no apparent reason. We often felt like we were experiencing an effect without seeing any cause." Debbie glanced at the PADD and then focused in on Anna. For someone who had just been on a lulu of a mission, the scientist looked quite fit. A momentary tinge of jealousy stabbed at the CMO. She hadn't gone on the AT but she appeared to feel a lot worse than Anna did. Then again..... "From the sound of it," she began slowly, leaning forward and resting her elbows on the desk. "You all went through hell and back. Kat Schawnsee was very adamant about that. And Merina mentioned something about a burn. Did you sustain a burn?" "No," Anna shook her head, "I didn't. Caroline Curtis did and she's the only member of the team who sustained an injury. I don't count the part when Lieutenant Tayjer was ripped apart and then pulled through a hull breach along with the rest of us because...there was a rewind and we ended up back where we started." She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees, trying to think of how best to describe the experience. "It was very frustrating and at times, extremely frightening," Anna said quietly. "Commander Swan isn't overselling it, but there was such a feeling of unreality to the whole thing that the real danger at the end almost took us by surprise. Lieutenant Tayjer's quick reaction in changing a set of coordinates on a console may have actually saved the Earth from attack--some twenty-five years ago." Debbie frowned as she rubbed her aching temples. "Sorry, Anna," she grumbled. "The First Marines are marching through my head." She again leaned back in her chair and studied the woman sitting across from her. "I wish I had an explanation for what happened to you. Unfortunately, I'm just as confused as you are. The only thing I know for certain is that station is extremely dangerous. I'm not sure how to rid the galaxy of that malignancy but we need to come up with something. We can't just leave it sitting there." She paused a moment and found a slight smile tugging at her lips. "You don't seem any worse for the wear. I'm wondering why. Did you find a secret antidote or can you share your good fortune with the rest of us?" "Actually, I felt so tired upon returning from the observatory that I almost fell asleep during the meeting. It may have been three hours in real time but it felt more like two days of constantly getting nowhere or suddenly finding ourselves in a different time." Anna smiled wryly, leaning back in the chair, her eyes on Debbie. "I guess my secret antidote is the shower I took after the meeting and then eating dinner with Will Tomlinson, As second winds go though, I think I'm about at the end of it." "I heard something about you and Will," mused Deb with a knowing grin. "It appears he suits you." She stifled a yawn and shook her head slightly. "I'll review your data and see if I come up with something. But I seemed to have missed a lot of what happened. Then again, maybe I didn't." She shrugged her shoulders. "I'm not sure what I remember after I disappeared from the ship but I keep seeing flashes of...." She shook her head again. "I'm not sure. It may all be my imagination." Anna had stood up, not wanting to take any more of Deb's time. The CMO had a bad headache and she had a feeling the other woman felt as tired as she did. But if Debbie actually was starting to remember where she might have gone while off the ship, it could go a long way to answering some important questions about whatever was happening on the observatory. "I think I was on that station," mumbled Deb. "I'm just not sure. If only I could think straight." "Commander Ridire doesn't remember where he went, and neither of the two captains has been heard from on this yet. Whatever you might be remembering could be the key to what we're dealing with." Anna watched her hopefully for a moment. "Maybe if you get some rest it'll come clearer." Debbie frowned again as she stood up. "You're probably right. At the moment, sleep sounds awfully good to me." She stepped around the desk and walked with Anna into Sickbay. "I think we've all earned a good night's sleep." As Anna made her way toward the exit, Deb searched the Sickbay for Merina. Locating her, she headed in that direction. The analgesic she'd been given for her headache wasn't working. And the last thing she needed was for her pounding head to keep her awake tonight.

Hope you had a wonderful birtheay, TKar. And I hope there was a lot of CAKE!!!

Happy Birthday to You! Happy Birthday to You! Happy Birthday Merina....... Okay, I'll stop singing now. Hope you had a great one! Extra Lollipops for you!!

The Reaent's XO and CMO paid an unannounced visit to the Reaent just three days after she arrived at McKinley Station. That morning, they'd visited Grace Allen at her brother's home in Charleston, SC. Gracie happily returned their cat, Nephyts, whom she'd been caring for while Aidan and Deb were on "vacation." Those two weeks on Pacifica had turned into a month, half of which was spent on Earth waiting for the Reaent. Needless to say, Aidan and Deb were curious as to why they were unable to meet the ship as they had originally planned. Their inquiries were met with stony silence. Debbie had her Grandfather look into it but even with his extensive network of contacts, he was unable to find out exactly what caused the delay. Then they talked to Gracie. Her report on Reaent's last mission was downright unbelievable. The ship's Chief Nurse didn't pretend to know all the details. That, and her tendency to exaggerate, left the XO and CMO somewhat skeptical. But even if only a quarter of Gracie's story was true, it appeared Aidan and Debbie had missed out on a truly unique experience. After picking up their cat, they had originally planned on returning to Aidan's family home in Ireland. Those plans abruptly changed after listening to Gracie's tale of time travel, space battles and a visit from James Kirk and Spock. Instead of going home, Aidan and Deb headed for Starbase One with Nephyts in tow. The cat, a beautiful seal point Siamese, protested loudly as her owners stood in the nearly deserted corridor looking out over the space dock. Nephyts' insistent cries echoed up and down the hallway but Aidan and Deb ignored her. Their focus was on the Reaent, floating peacefully just outside the enormous windows like a humongous balloon tethered to the station by a generous gangway. They remained silent as they took notice of the scorch marks and blemishes scattered across the hull. Obviously Gracie's reports of a space battle were not an exaggeration. The evidence of a skirmish were clearly evident. Aidan and Deb looked at each other wordlessly then promptly headed for the nearby gangway. They were met by an attractive female lieutenant and an even younger ensign, neither of whom they'd ever seen before. It wasn't as though Deb knew everyone on the ship but she'd seen them all as they came through Sickbay. These two were very new faces. She surmised they were just assigned. It took several minutes for them to determine that Aidan and Deb were who they claimed to be...some unexplained problem with the ship's billet. Once aboard, the CMO was struck by how quiet it was. The ship was practically unoccupied. The crew certainly didn't hang around long after they docked. Aidan didn't seem to notice. He was concentrating on something else.....another piece of the puzzle so to speak. They went directly to their quarters where they found more evidence of turmoil. Everything that wasn't bolted down had been tossed about like toys in a playroom. Debbie had already started picking up when Aidan sat the cat carrier down with a soft thump. "I'm going to look for the Captain," he stated flatly. "Try to get some insight into what happened here." "I'll stay here," replied Deb, her tone resigned. "But I'm really not in the mood to do this right now." About twenty minutes later, Aidan returned but had no information to share. Captain McQueen was off ship....so was just about everyone else who had been aboard during the last mission. Nephyts remained in her crate, still complaining loudly. "Let's go home," suggested Deb, her head starting to pound. She'd thought about stopping by Sickbay but now, all she wanted to do was get off the ship. "We'll find out what happened sooner or later." Her husband nodded his agreement, picked up the cat and led the way back to the gantry. They hesitated a few seconds in the station's corridor, examining the Reaent once more before heading for the shuttle bay and their trip back to Earth. Once they were comfortably settled on the shuttle, Debbie pondered all she'd heard and seen that day. As outlandish as Gracie's tale had been, there may have been some truth to it. The question was, how much truth. As the shuttle sped away from Starbase One, Debbie leaned over to her husband and whispered in his ear. "Do you think it's possible they really met James T. KIrk?" He shrugs and says quietly "Well, the question really is if they weren't telling the truth why would they say that? I don't see any reason for Gracie and the others to lie to us or to embellish the truth. At the moment I'm just glad they're back safe and sound. Was getting more then a little worried. And I am a bit concerned on where everyone is. Even while in dock there should be more people onboard then there is. Though I guess if I had gone through what they apparently did I'd want some leave badly." He brushes the back of his hand against the side of her face and murmurs "Let's just enjoy our last few days of leave. And at least we're not the ones that have to deal with Department of Temporal Investigations." His smile brightens a bit, "And between meeting James Kirk and Spock or spending time alone with you that's still a easy choice to me." Deb laughed aloud at Aidan's comment. She had little, if any, experience with Temporal Investigations but their reputation was known far and wide. Nobody wanted to deal with that group. She looked up at him with a mischievous grin. "Hmm.....the legendary James Kirk and the equally legendary Spock....those are awfully big names. I think I'm... honored that you would rather spend time with someone as inconsequential as me." He arches an eyebrow, "Inconsequential? You're the most important person in the universe to me." He smiles and presses a finger gently against her nose as he says that. "I think perhaps when we get back planet side I'll have to see about figuring out a way to remind my wife of that fact. Hmm, wonder what to do...." His tone takes on a mischievous tone as he adds, "Besides, I'm not sure it wasn't a good thing that my wife didn't get to meet Captain Kirk. He did rather have a...fondness for women. I'm afraid I might not have measured up, as it were." "James Kirk doesn't have a thing on you," quipped Deb with a grin. She picked up the crate with its howling Siamese and handed it to Aidan. "Come on," she continued heading toward the door. "I'm anxious to find out how your going to prove how important I am to you. Besides, I have a feeling everyone left of this ship can hear our darling Nephyts. They probably think we're killing her and would like us to finish the job somewhere else." He reaches for Nephtys' pet carrier and takes it from Deb. Slipping his free arm around Deb's waist he guides her down the corridor. "I'm not entirely sure what I have planned to remind you how important you are to me." He sighs dramatically "One would think that marrying you and other personal intimate things would be proof enough." He smiles wryly and asks "Don't suppose you have any suggestions? I do have a few faint ideas but if you have something in mind?" Debbie smiled gamely as they passed yet another new face on their way to the turbolift. She wasn't the least bit concerned about this particular lieutenant seeing the XO and CMO walking down the corridor, his arm wrapped securely around her waist. The truth was, she enjoyed it. Such public displays of affection rarely occurred in the common areas of the ship. But Nephtys was another story altogether. It seemed impossible but her howling was growing even louder. To make matters worse, it echoed up and down the hall. Now it sounded like there a dozen irate Siamese prowling Deck 4. She quickened their pace a bit as they approached the lift. "I have no clue what you can do to prove my worth to you. I'll leave that up to you," she said over the yodeling of the highly annoyed feline. "You always come up with the perfect idea. But right now, all I want to do is get this cat off the ship. She's really ticked off with us for leaving her." With great relief, they stepped into the lift. Once the doors closed, Nephyts' howling was nearly deafening. Deb looked at Aidan and sighed. "Next time, we're gonna have to take her with us." He glances at Deb as she says that then raises the pet carrier to his face so he's looking at the yowling Siamese. WIth a little ice in his voice he says "That is enough of that, Nephtys. You missed us, and we missed you. Now knock it off. Or you will not be let out of this little cage even when we get back home." The "knock it off" and the rest of the words that followed are given in an annoyed clipped tone. The threat, as it is, seems to be enough and Nephtys stops her yowling other then a few quieter meows. Aidan leans back against the wall of the turbolift and says dryly "I wonder if this is what having kids are like. And we really do need to get Gracie an appropriate thank you for dealing with little Miss Loud Beyond Her Size. I doubt Gracie will agree to catsit ever again." "And while I'm thinking of our plans for tonight perhaps you can let me know what you think of an idea I had earlier today. That being perhaps we should take a day trip to Hawaii? If only to further our one discussion that we had on the beach back at Pacifica?" "I would love to visit Hawaii!," replied Deb dryly. "But if we can barely handle a cat, I don't want to think about kids." Neither spoke again until the lift opened and the two headed for the nearby gangway. Deb glanced at Aidan with a mischievous grin. "About Hawaii....do you think your sister would catsit for us?"

There was no doubt in her mind why Ireland was called the Emerald Isle. From her vantage point on the second floor balcony, Debbie surveyed the generous grounds surrounding her father-in-law's home. A sea of omnifarious shades of green smiled back at her, engendering all who viewed it with a pastoral sense of calm. She was no exception. Since arriving here, Deb had spent an inordinate amount of time on this balcony as well as the copious patio located at the rear of the house. The views were amazing. One couldn't help succumbing to their placid charm. Aidan was lucky to have grown up in such a beautiful environment. It was no wonder his eyes were the same color as the landscape. A soft beeping of her comm disrupted her revelry. She glanced back toward the french doors leading into the bedroom trying to resist the urge to ignore the comm. But she didn't dare. Perusing the countryside one last time, she reluctantly walked through the open doors into the sizable bedroom. A moment later, she sat down at the antique desk and activated the monitor. She was met by her Grandfather's smiling countenance.. "Hey, little girl," he quipped . His voice was strong in-spite of his advanced age. "Thought you'd like to know.....they're back." Deb smiled broadly. "Really?" she asked, pulling the chair a bit closer. "When? Better yet, where? "McKinley," came the quick reply. "They docked about two hours ago." Virgil Matthews shook his head slightly while a small frown coalesced. "Sorry for the delay. My man at McKinley was at lunch when they pulled in." "No apologies necessary," laughed Debbie. "I'm just grateful for the information." She hesitated a moment, quietly dreading her next question. "Did your contact say....how they looked?" Her Granddad's bright smile returned immediately. "Oh yes," he answered quickly. "They appear to be just fine. He said the Reaent looked good....real good." She was surprised at how relieved she was at the news. Grinning at Virgil, she leaned back in the small chair. "Then I guess all that's left for us to do is go home." "They're all on leave," retorted Virgil. "You and Aidan probably won't have to report for another couple of weeks." Debbie nodded, her grin broadening. "We've been on vacation for over a month." She looked at him sheepishly. "I'm a little anxious to get back. I think Aidan is too." Her revelation was met with a hearty laugh from the elderly man on her view screen. "I know how that is, little one. Believe me, I know how that is." He rubbed his chin as though deep in thought. "I'm willing to bet you're already packed." How did he know that? she wondered silently, deciding she would never admit to it. "Maybe," she replied. "Maybe not." "In case it's the latter, I'll let you go so you can get started," said Virgil. "And thanks again for the visit. It was good to see you two again. "It was great seeing you too," whispered Deb, leaning forward and placing her hand on the screen, wishing she could actually touch him. "We had a wonderful time. Hopefully, we'll be back in the neighborhood around Christmas. I'm looking forward to some of the cookies Grandma bakes every year." "We'll count on it," he replied. "In the meantime, take care of yourself...and Aidan too." "I promise," answered Debbie. "I promise. You take care as well" "Don't worry about us," retorted Virgil. "We'll be fine. Talk to you later." With that, the screen returned to the standard civilian blue field. Deb stayed where she was for a long moment, her hand still pressed against the cold view screen. He told her not to worry about them but that was impossible. They were quite elderly now. Although they were both in good health, anything could happen. Every time she went home for a visit, she left wondering if she would ever see them again. Snap out of it, she scolded herself silently. Quit worrying about something happening to them. If anything goes bad, it will probably be you or Aidan who ends up on the short end of the stick. Pushing back the chair, she stood up and walked toward the bedroom door. She casually glanced out the window at the magnificent scenery and caught a glimpse of their luggage stacked neatly in one corner of the room. Her Granddad had been right. They had never really unpacked after arriving here from Pacifica. They'd been living out of their suitcases for weeks, impatiently waiting for the call that she had just received. Now it was time to pass the word to Aidan. They could finally return to the Reaent....the could finally go home.

Wonderful log! Read just like the real McCoy.....errrr.....Kirk. ;)

Welcome back TKAR! We missed you on Reaent!

It was peculiar.....damned peculiar. Tim Trawets had been captain of the USS Valkyrie since before the Excalibur class starship's keel was laid. He'd been a constant presence during the design stage, the construction and later, after the shakedown, the four months it took to tweek out the gremlins. Valkyrie was commissioned only two years ago. She was one of the most advanced ships in the fleet. Yet, as fast as she was, she couldn't keep up with this unwelcome intruder. The Captain studied the forward view screen as though there was something to look at, all the while, willing his ship onward at a faster pace. But he knew it was futile. They were already traveling at breakneck speed. They simply couldn't catch the intruder and a part of Trawets was actually relieved. He hadn't discussed his concerns with anyone including his first officer, Doug Nioz. He knew this intruder had spooked some of his bridge crew. They'd fired everything in their arsenal while practically sitting on top of the intruder. Some how....some way, they hadn't been able to penetrate the interloper's shields. And now, Valkyrie was falling further and further behind as the trespasser sped on toward Wolf 359. It was peculiar.....damned peculiar. Trawets leaned back in the center seat and rubbed his chin with his left hand. They had been so close. They could clearly see the intruder and that's what really puzzled him. It also unnerved him just as it did his crew. This unknown vessel looked so familiar...so Starfleet. It wasn't a class he had ever seen before but it seemed to be a close relative....the cylindrical nacelles and the saucer like hull. The weary captain put the thought out of his mind....again. He was under orders to intercept and, if necessary, destroy that ship. The experts were already with the Guardian trying to figure out what had happened. It didn't matter who it was or where it came from. Nobody went near the Guardian without permission. Of course, such authorization was virtually impossible to get. Obviously, that was why this unknown vessel sneaked in and almost got away without anyone knowing it had ever been there. Whoever was in that ship had violated the law. Now, they had to deal with the consequences. Trawets knew Valkyrie wouldn't be able to stop the intruder. Nor would any of the ships in his task force. The Adelphi and Bellephron were closer to Wolf 359. They would arrive well before the unknown guest. But they were older ships, Mirandas to be exact. They were no match for the trespasser. But Tim didn't fear for his Starfleet counterparts. He couldn't explain why but he felt confident they would be okay when they confronted the interloper. Why would this futuristic ship waste weapons on two old starships when they could simply out run them. Futuristic....there was that word again....the word most of the bridge crew had been whispering since they first got a look at the ship. He would never admit it to anyone, but he thought the word was rather appropriate. He pushed the thought aside and tried to focus on the mission. Futuristic or not, he was determined to fulfill his orders....capture that ship or destroy it. But it was peculiar....damned peculiar.

One informed me of the same thing this morning. <_<

We met the new Kirk when he was a bit younger than the original version and he's very raw....not quite as polished as Shatner's personification was. I'm looking forward to seeing how he changes now that he has the weight of the Enterprise squarely on his shoulders. Also, did anyone notice how Kirk manages to rile up Spock? In both TOS and the new movie, his mother is the vehicle used to melt down the stoic Vulcan. Say whatever you want about his father but don't question his devotion to his mother.

I agree. Maybe some of us "old" folks should start paying attention and vote for our favorites!

Squaring her shoulders, A'raigf stepped off the lift and onto the Mek'Vhar's bridge. It had been two hours since she'd left for a brief respite....a respite that had proven most invigorating. Pausing for a moment, she took pleasure in the minimal lighting and again wondered why the ships of many other species were often so brightly lit. Mek'Vahr had adequate illumination. There was no need to turn on spotlights. This was the bridge of battlecruiser, not an opera stage. She strode toward her station, energized by the biting stings from the new lacerations on her back. She was sure K'mras would feel the same way about the wounds she had inflicted on him during their brief time together in his quarters. Her replacement vacated the seat a few seconds ahead of her and stood by, waiting for dismissal. A'raigf's attention was already focused on the console where the Federation ship called Enterprise was only slightly ahead of them. Soon, very soon, they would be in range to engage and put an end to the legendary James Kirk. She slipped into the chair casually noting that K'mras had just arrived on the bridge. She also noticed her young replacement was still hovering nearby. Glancing up at him, she raised a brow, silently asking why he was still on the bridge. "I request the honor of remaining on the bridge to witness the extermination of the verengan Ha'DIGraH," replied in a loud whisper while straightening to his full height. A'raigf stared at him coldly. He was a bit arrogant but quite good at his job. She liked this young upstart and would recruit him to join her on her new ship....the ship she was sure to be offered once this mission was successfully completed. "You may stay," she huffed, turning back to the screen. And that's when she saw it....or did she? She was sure she had seen something aft of their formation. It definitely wasn't one of the Birds of Prey accompanying them. But, it disappeared in the blink of an eye. "Look here," she ordered the grateful underling hanging over her shoulder. "Here," she quickly added pointing to a particular area."Did you see that?" He leaned closer while closely studying the screen. "I see nothing," he answered crisply. A moment late, the anomaly blipped to life once again then promptly disappeared. "Wait! he shouted. "Yes....yes....I saw that." She glanced up at him as he straightened. "But what was it? he asked curiously. A'raigf looked beyond him to K'mras, sitting proudly in the center seat. "H'oD K'mras," she called, her voice calm. "I think we are being followed."

It's probably 29......again! Happy Birthday Admiral!!! Hope it was the best 29th Birthday ever!

Oh geeze....I'm SO glad I'm not the only one around here who remembers the TOS episodes when they first ran on TV.

It was the opportunity of a lifetime.....one she could never have dreamed possible...and it was totally unexpected. Those were the challenges she preferred most....the ones that suddenly appeared without warning....the more dangerous the better. For those were the battles that brought the most honor and glory, not to mention accolades from the Council. She craved all of those....honor and glory as well as accolades. A'ragif had scratched and clawed her way up the chain of command from the very beginning of her career. She was from the House of Molar, a minor house at best....one without a distinguished history. It was only through a few well placed bribes that she was able to join the military. But it was her cunning and aptitude that gained her rank and status. A'ragif was well suited for her position. Unfortunately, competence was not enough. Klingon society was highly politicized and that bled over into the military. Those from the major houses frequently took command positions with little emphasis on training and experience. It was one of the dirty little secrets the generals were forced to accept. But not all of them were willing to capitulate to incompetence. Thus, A'ragif was recognized by her H'oD and quietly promoted. It was practically unheard of for a Klingon female to hold such a rank, much less a female from a minor house. Not only did A'ragif benefit from the rewards of victory, so did her family. Thanks to her success, the House of Molar was slowly gaining recognition. Life was already much easier for her parents and younger siblings. Two of her brothers were already in military training. They were eagerly accepted...no bribes required. And there would be much glory for A'ragif and her family when their current mission was completed. The IKS Mek'Vhar was the lead vessel in pursuit of a Federation starship. Not just any ship but none other than the notorious Enterprise. Her jaghla', the one called KIrk and his physician sidekick, had managed to escape imprisonment on Rura Penthe. A'ragif shook her head solemnly. She pitied the poor fool who'd allowed this to happen. The punishment for his incompetence would be severe. If she was in his place, she would do the honorable thing and end her life immediately. Then again, she would never have allowed the Federation renegades to escape in the first place. Breathing deeply, A'ragif savored the pungent aroma permeating the bridge. The crew was at high alert, anxiously anticipating the upcoming confrontation. She dared a glance at K'mras, the battlecruiser's H'oD. He had been in command of the Mek'Vhar for as long as she had been on the ship. She owed him much. He had offered her opportunities and she had taken advantage of them. It was because of K'mras that she had this rank and position. His lips curled into a formidable snarl as he met her gaze. She understood his unspoken message. There would be much celebrating tonight. Protocol would be suspended for awhile as the bloodwine flowed freely. K'mras would lead the revelry for a time. Then he and A'ragif would retire for a more private celebration. She returned her attention to the console in front of her. The Enterprise was dead ahead. Soon, the Mek'Vhar would take its first shot. Then there would be much glory for the Mek'Vhar and her H'oD. And that glory would shine on the entire crew as well. There would be promotions and bonuses and gifts for the families back home. A'ragif found it difficult to control her excitement. After this, she was sure to get her own command. It truly was the opportunity of a lifetime.

I would like to echo those sentiments. Many thanks to all of our veterans. There is a good chance we wouldn't have the freedom to enjoy something like STSF if it wasn't for all of those men and women who served their country in the armed forces. A special thanks to the Marines....all Marines but especially my husband and my dad. Thank you and God bless all of you.

There was no reason to be awake at 4:00 AM. It had been a busy day for them...a couple of hours on the beach during the morning followed by lunch at one of the nearby resort communities. After that, they'd wandered through the shops until dinner time. They'd chosen to eat at a quaint waterfront restaurant known for its cuisine rather than its ambiance. That was followed by a visit to a nearby club where they danced until the late hours of the evening. By the time they returned to their secluded bungalow Deb felt like she'd run a marathon. All she wanted to do was take a shower and sleep. So why was she wide awake just two hours later? Through the open windows, Deb could hear the muted sound of the waves as they rippled ashore while the simple muslin curtains danced leisurely in the gentle breeze. The temperature was perfect as was the setting. Beside her, Aidan slept soundly which was precisely what she should be doing. But sleep alluded her and she wasn't sure why. She finally decided to get up. Perhaps if she read for awhile she would grow weary enough to fall asleep. Carefully maneuvering out of the bed, she crossed the room in her bare feet, quietly closing the bedroom door behind her. For a minute or two, she stood in the middle of the main room of their small beach house unsure of what to do next. Then she found herself moving toward the door leading to the back porch. It was quite dark outside. She wouldn't be able to read out there but now she wasn't sure that was what she wanted to do. A moment later, she was sitting on the steps leading down to the beach, her arms wrapped around her knees. The waves continued their steady beat while a multitude of night creatures sang their various songs. It was a beautiful place....so quiet....so peaceful....so different from what she was accustomed to. Life on Reaent was rarely so peaceful and quiet.....things were never quiet. She wondered how Gracie was managing with Nephyts. She grinned at the thought of her friend dealing with the spoiled Siamese and doubted Gracie would ever volunteer to cat sit again. Speaking of cats, she hoped things were going well for Merina. Deb didn't expect the Caitian to have any problems with the medical staff but one never knew what might come through the door. Deb couldn't recall what the Reaent's current mission was. She wasn't sure she'd ever known. Not that it mattered. She was pretty sure it was something mundane. Hopefully, it would be as uneventful as the last one.The mission would undoubtedly be over before she and Aidan returned and if it wasn't....they'd find the ship one way or another. In a way, it would be good to see everyone again and to sleep in her own bed. That was when she figured it out. As wonderful as this place was, she missed the Reaent. She wasn't quite ready to return but it was comforting to know her "home" was out there, waiting for her. Or at least, she hoped it was. Her lips formed a slight frown and a little voice from deep within suggested they call "home" tomorrow....just in case. It was probably nothing and she was sure Aidan would laugh at her for even thinking about it. Even she had to admit it seemed ridiculous. Still, she would feel better if she knew how Gracie was making out with Nephyts. That was as good an excuse as any to contact the ship. Yes, that was it. She needed to make sure all was well with Nephyts....and that "home" was still out there waiting for them to return.

Yes....*We* are here. TOS shall live forever. And I agree with you on those burgundy uniforms. They were and still are the very best!

It had been a quite ride....to Pacifica. Debbie was grateful the Captain allowed them to use one of the ship's runabouts. Not only did that save them money, it allowed them to spend a little more cash on their much needed vacation. It also granted them a couple of extra days they would have lost had they been forced to use "public transportation." Once on autopilot, both she and Aidan were able to relax after their harried departure. It still amazed and annoyed her that she'd forgotten about their holiday. She'd personally spent hours planning it, making reservations and discussing the details with her husband. But that had been weeks ago, shortly after their return from that notorious mission to the Romulan Neutral Zone. So much had happened since then...... They'd been on Pacifica for three days now. On this particular afternoon, they were lounging on the beach in a couple of delightful chaises, protected from the sun by a massive umbrella. The soft melody of the tropical foliage fluttering in the gentle breeze intermingled with the muted rumbles of the waves washing ashore a few meters away. It was a gorgeous day in a magnificent place...a place she'd looked forward to visiting for eons. So how was it she allowed her brain to misplace their plans to come here? Aidan had gone inside for a couple of drinks. He'd promised her something "special." She expected him back anytime but for now, her only companions were the sea, sand and numerous trees that resembled coconut palms.....only the fronds looked more like ferns. She tried to clear her mind but found her thoughts drifting back to Reaent and her crew mates. So much had happened since their return from the Neutral Zone..... For one thing, half the crew had been replaced. And that included the Captain. Debbie found Patrick McQueen efficient and a lot more engaging than his predecessor. At the same time, she felt heavy hearted whenever she thought of Fred Michaels. He'd been CO of the Reaent for ages and she'd been through hell and back again with him. She couldn't help wondering why Command kept sending him and his ship on impossible mission....something that happened over and over again throughout the years. And why was he eventually relieved of duty under such unusual circumstances. Was he alright or was he suffering another flare up of Denton's Syndrome? She and Aidan considered him a friend yet, in spite of numerous attempts, they hadn't heard a word from him since he disappeared into that conference room on the starbase following their return from the Proxima mission. No one had heard from him. He might as well have been swallowed up by a black hole. Debbie sat up a bit straighter and gazed absently at the greenish blue horizon. She wasn't a superstitious person but she sometimes felt like Reaent was cursed....and her crew with her. Or maybe it was Captain Michaels who was bedeviled. Was that why their last assignment had gone so smoothly? Michaels had been replaced and McQueen insisted it would be a routine mission. Deb, for one, hadn't believed it for a minute. Their missions were never routine. But the new Captain had called it right. Nothing disastrous happened or even came close to happening. In fact, the exact opposite was true. The mission was strictly routine. That, and the new counselor, allowed time for a good number of the surviving crew to regain some sense of balance. By the time they returned to the starbase, the general atmosphere on the ship was calm and confident. Things felt...normal and Debbie liked that....a lot. She couldn't shake the feeling Captain McQueen had somehow arranged for a mission like that and fate had granted him his wish because even fate knew how badly this ship and her crew needed "routine." Maybe that's why she forgot about her vacation. She was so enamored by the mundane she felt like she'd already left the Reaent...or, at least, the Reaent she'd become accustomed to. This new ship under her new CO was quite different. There was an air of normalcy about her and her crew. It was almost exhilarating to those who'd survived the previous two or three missions. Yes, mused the CMO with a slight grin, that's probably what happened. That's why we both forgot about our vacation. We were in shock over a routine mission. She heard the sound of footsteps coming down the path from the bungalow they'd rented. Aidan was returning with his "special" drinks. Debbie closed her eyes as he approached, satisfied with her new found excuse for her absentmindedness. Perhaps they'd grow accustomed to "routine missions." Maybe they'd become the norm rather than something that occurred once every ten years or so......

Happy Birthday STSF!!! And a hearty thanks to that merry band of rebels who had the guts to risk it all and make this dream a reality! I bet real money there are others who chose not to jump on the band wagon and now regret it. Congratulations to all of you, our fearless leaders...or is that fearsome leaders..... Anyway, thanks again for making it happen and keeping it going.

Hard to believe it's been 7 years! I remember the first sim we held in the new forum. Only a handful of us were left on the Reaent's roster. There were a couple of non-players in the room when we started. Withing a few minutes, they were siting quietly watching us play. Sure doesn't feel like 7 years.....seems like last month or so.

Debbie Matthews kept her concerns to herself. The procedure to remove hundreds of nano-probes from Jon Shamor's body was proceeding at a snails pace but it was proceeding. They'd attempted to allow Jon to remain awake and aware but the pain proved more than he could tolerate. He probably could have survived it if absolutely necessary but his constant twitching was hindering the surgical team's efforts to collect the probes and extract them. Shamor's groans and moans didn't help any either. He was now peacefully sleeping through the process. They were already half way through the process. They used tiny magnetic fields to corral the probes into several different areas of the body. Then a medical device similar to a transporter was used to extract them. They were removing approximately thirty to fifty of the little devils at a time. Unfortunately, there was no way to completely separate the probes from bodily fluids so Jon was loosing a little blood as well. It was probable Shamor could withstand the blood loss but the team was preparing to replace it to minimize any stress to the Zemun's body. He'd already suffered a heart attack. They didn't want to risk anything else going wrong. It would take longer than she'd hoped but Deb was confident all of the probes would be removed. She wasn't too concerned about that aspect of this puzzle. What did bother her was how these microscopic nano-probes avoided detection until now. It wasn't like Jon had never undergone an extensive biologic scan. He had routine physicals every six months. And in his case, there were interim scans performed due to his heart condition. Add to that the automatic scans used during transporter usage and Jon Shamor had been thoroughly viewed from the inside out more times than one could count. Yet, through it all, the mysterious nano-probes had never been detected. Why now? she wondered silently. And where did they come from? Jon insisted he had no idea who seeded his body with nano-probes. Nor could he come up with a time line for when it might have happened. He was ancient and he'd spent his protracted lifetime around highly sophisticated civilizations. These critters could have been planted in him at any time during the past two thousand years. One step at a time. Deb reminded herself to focus on the task at hand. Don't allow curiosity to distract her during the middle of tedious and delicate procedure. There would be time enough to examine the probes after Jon was in recovery. They had copious samples, enough to provide both science and medical with ample subjects for research and testing. She was pretty sure security would want to know about them as well. The CMO sighed as another batch of the nano-probes disappeared from under one of Jon Shamor's two hearts and reappeared in a secure container a few meters away. They still had a long way to go. Deb estimated there were more than four hundred of the tiny devices wandering around the Zemun's abdominal area, his arms and hands as well as his neck and skull. Eventually, he would be free of all of them. Then Deb would have to deal with the paperwork.....and there was sure to be a ton of it surrounding this mess.

Debbie hadn't slept very well but she awakened when Aidan went into the bathroom. For a moment, she debated with herself about whether or not she should get up and talk to him now. But she was so tired, she decided to wait until he came out of the bathroom. When she finally opened her eyes again, an hour had passed and the only sounds she heard came from Nephyts, crying out from the other room. It was well past the cat's breakfast time. Tossing back the covers, Deb slowly sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed. Nephyts heard the ruffling of the sheets and raced into the room, bounding up onto the bed, meowing ever more insistently. Debbie gave the feline a quick pat on the head and then stumbled toward the kitchen area. A few minutes later, Nephyts was quietly munching on her breakfast while Debbie leaned against the small counter wondering what to do next. The answer came to her without much thought. On her way back to the bedroom, she accessed the computer on their desk and located her husband. He was already in his office. She reasoned he'd opted to have breakfast there. It was probably....safer. Proceeding on into the bedroom, she opened the top drawer of her dresser to fetch clean under garments. There, tucked in a corner of the drawer, was a small gold box. She drew a deep breath as she picked it up and carefully removed the top. Inside, resting on a cushion of satin, were the emerald earrings Aidan had given her a few weeks earlier. There were just as stunning now as they had been when she first saw them. She placed the top back on the box and clutched it to her heart, making no attempt to stop the tears now trailing down her cheeks. But there was no point standing in the bedroom crying. Wiping away the tears, she returned the box to the safety of the drawer, grabbed what she needed and headed for the bathroom. Thirty minutes later, she was ready. She'd spent extra time on the makeup....adding a bit to what she usually wore on regular work days. She'd also made sure her hair was perfect. While she made the bed, she rehearsed what she was planning to say to Aidan. And now, as she stood at the door to their quarters, she straightened to her full height and prepared herself to....eat crow....a huge dish of crow. Five minutes later, she was outside Aidan's office. She'd confirmed he was still there before stepping off the turbolift. Ringing the chime, she waited for him to respond and suddenly realized she'd forgotten just about everything she wanted to say other than.....I'm sorry.

Too proud....too stubborn.....too embarrassed to go home. She'd sarcastically suggested Aidan work a double shift....a less than subtle hint she'd rather not be around him tonight. It appeared she would be the one hanging around in her office until the wee hours of the morning....perhaps even pull an all nighter. Beta shift was well underway but they'd seen precious little of the CMO. She was holed up in her office hoping they'd forget she was still around. She'd picked a lousy day to pull a stunt like this. Ordinarily, there would have been plenty of work to keep her busy. But today, Sickbay had been quiet and she caught up on her paperwork about two hours earlier. She had a catalog of articles from various medical journals she wanted to read. She'd picked a out a couple and tried focusing on them four or five times but she couldn't concentrate. Her thoughts kept finding their way back to her argument with Aidan. She still wasn't sure why she'd snapped like that. Even worse, she wasn't ready to apologize. She seemed content to hide out in her little office and pout. This was so unlike her. She found it disturbing. Could she have suffered some type of brain circuitry disruption similar to what Kat was dealing with? A part of her wanted to find out while another part wanted to run and hide. For the moment, run and hide was winning this internal battle. The sound of the door chime startled her out of her reverie. She glared at the closed portal, annoyed that someone had dared to disturb her. Before she could say anything, the door opened with its customary swish and Grace Allen stepped inside. She didn't say a word until the door closed behind her but it was apparent she was....agitated. Why else would she be standing there with her fists planted on her hips glaring at Debbie the way a parent stares at a petulant child. "What do you want, Gracie?" "Why are you still here. You hiding from something...or someone?" "I have work to do." "It's quiet out there and your desk is clean. Whatever it is keeping you here, it isn't work." The chief nurse strolled across the room and sat down in one of the two chairs facing Deb's desk. "Why don't you just admit it? You had a fight with your husband." "What makes you think that?" "Maybe the look on the XO's face when he left this office around lunch time. He could have bored a hole through the hull with the glare he was wearing."Gracie shrugged her shoulders as she leaned back in the chair and crossed her legs. "It happens. It's not the end of the world," she added casually. "It feels like it," groaned Debbie. She leaned forward, crossed her arms on her desk and woefully stared at her guest. "It was my fault, Gracie," she added. "I blew up at him over something so stupid.....I can't believe I lost it like that." "What was it that set you off?" "He said I had to choose where we would go on our vacation?" Lieutenant Allen stared at her boss like the CMO had lobsters crawling out of ears. She remained silent for several seconds before shaking her head. "That wouldn't have bothered you before," she remarked evenly. "But you already know that, don't you? Debbie lifted her head and met Gracie's gaze. "I'm not sure about anything anymore," she answered, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why don't you go home....and apologize. Five will get you ten he'll accept your apology and forget all about this." "That's what I should do.....but.....I'm.....I'm still so.....angry. I need to calm down before I speak to him again or else he might tell me " Now it was Gracie's turn to lean forward and cross her arms on the desk. "Angry about what?" she asked bluntly, fixing Deb with a penetrating stare. "About what happened during our last mission? About thinking we were all dead only to have us show up alive and well?" She jutted her head forward slightly and raised a brow. "Or is something else you're feeling.....like betrayal?" "Betrayal" Debbie repeated the word as though she'd never heard it before. Something about the term resonated within her striking more than a couple of nerves. "Why would I feel like I'd been betrayed? Especially by Aidan. He's been nothing but supportive." "He didn't protect you either." "What? How can you say that!" Now she was on her feet, glaring at the older woman sitting across from her. "This wasn't his fault!" she snapped. "And in this line of work, there's no way he can protect me." "I know that," replied Gracie calmly. She paused but never broke eye contact. "The question is, do you?" "Of course I know that! I've known it all along." For the second time within 24 hours, Deb was livid and her tone clearly reflected her mood. "It's one of the many issues we discussed at length before we got married. This has nothing to do with Aidan and I won't listen to you imply otherwise." Gracie remained completely tranquil. "If he has nothing to do with it, why did you take out your....whatever you want to call it.....on your husband?" She wasn't taken by surprise. She knew that question was coming. Heck, she'd already thought of herself. "I don't know," she finally admitted, slowly setting back into her chair. "I honestly don't know." The two women sat in silence for a couple of minutes before Gracie got to her feet. "Think about it," she said, her tone serious but caring. "You've been married for awhile now. You've both talked about a family. It takes two for that." She moved slowly toward the door as she continued. "But every time you turn around, something happens to put that dream at risk. Your husband can't protect the dream. Neither can you. But subconsciously, you may have decided he's betrayed you because he's unable to do the impossible." Debbie stared at the wall across from her desk, listening attentively as the chief nurse spoke her mind. Right or wrong, she'd never considered the scenario Gracie was describing. "It's just a thought," added Gracie as the office door swished open. "One way or the other, the two of you need to talk. And that won't happen as long you're hiding out down here." The CMO finally glanced toward the door, just in time to see her chief nurse and friend walk out into main Sickbay. She looked at the chrono on her desk. It was already 0220. Another shift had come and gone. It took Debbie thirty minutes to work up the nerve to go home. Once she'd packed her things and ordered the lights off, she stepped into the brightly lit medical facility and quickly surveyed the expansive room. She couldn't help noticing that everyone appeared very busy even though there were no patients to tend to. Obviously, the entire staff knew something was amiss. That only added to Deb's lousy mood. She casually walked to the exit, her calm demeanor belying the turmoil raging within. As she left the quiet of Sickbay, she pondered the irony of it all. Her quarters had always been her sanctuary from the chaos of her job. Tonight, exact opposite was true. She entered the lift and ordered it to Deck 4, quietly wondering how to deal with the mess she'd created.

OMG....5th grade.....you are but a.....'kitten'...... Yes, you certainly are!! Hope you had a great day to go along with all of those mostly great memories. Here's to many more years of making memories!!