Star Trek: Season 10

[X]

Joint post by Jen and Just X

Sevryll pulled a blanket over Murynn and methodically tucked it around the girl. They had just completed the third chapter of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and the children had drawn remarkable similarities between Huck and the counselor's son, Brex. To their delight the comparisons were numerous. The Vulcan woman seated herself on the edge of Murynn's bed, patiently listening and engaging the children in their rambling dialogue. She relished the time she spent with them and often allowed their conversations to stretch until one or more had fallen asleep—sometimes mid-sentence.

As it had on many occasions, the topic naturally shifted to the lack of children aboard the ship. "Are their any Romulan boys and girls to play with?" Nevaul asked.

"There are," said Sevryll, turning to look at the boy resting in a bed beside Murynn's; his rumpled hair covering the tips of his pointed ears. "Perhaps I will take you to meet them when they have settled in."

"Are there any our age?" Asked Murynn as she played with the tattered nose of her stuffed bear.

"I am certain of it," replied her mother, the smile in her voice never reaching the surface to touch her face.

"Do they like dogs?" Her son was trying to get comfortable, kicking at the sheets his mother had pulled tightly around him.

"You may ask them yourself, when you meet them."

"Do they know what dogs are?" Murynn interjected.

"It is likely they do not," Sevryll patiently replied.

Nevaul brought his eyes, much like his father's, from his sibling's face back to his mother, "Will they want to be friends with us?"

He and his sister could sense the sudden mood change on the ship with the new arrivals. Aria did her best as the eldest to shelter them from the confusing emotions, but she could not provide the answers to the questions their curiosity created. Even before his first question was answered, he had a second, "Why is everyone worried?"

Sevryll carefully considered a response that would suit a child his age. The twins were quiet as they waited for her to reply, fidgeting amongst their bed linens and watching her intently. "There was a time when the Romulans were not our friends," she began slowly. "Their ideals were contrary to our own and we often disagreed with one another. But they require our help now and we have put aside our differences in order to provide the assistance they need. It is sometimes difficult for adults to forget that they have disliked one another, and it may take time for them to move beyond their uneasiness." She studied their faces for some sign of understanding, "I am uncertain whether they will accept your offer of friendship, Nevaul, but I believe the attempt is worth the effort. You will not know, until you try."

The questions continued until all inquiries were satisfied and no more could be made without the interruption of yawns. Sevryll remained in their room, watching them for some time as they slept. What they learned during this mission would shape their lives...hopefully for the good.

Maintaining silence for the sake of the sleeping children, Aeric leaned in the doorway watching. His thoughts reached out to his wife and allowed love to color his thoughts, It's moments like these that remind me why we do this. They deserve a peaceful universe.

[Meds]

JOINT POST BY JEN, JUSTX & MEDS


The flicker of a meditation lamp bathed the room in a warm light. Gespar scented incense filled the area with a sweet overtone, meant to enhance the Vulcan's nightly ritual. Sevryll sat with her legs crossed, before the lamp at the foot of a large bed. Her hands were clasped, thumbs pointing toward her chest, index fingers together and directed upward. Her dark eyes were focused on the flame before her— a chaotic, destructive force which served as a metaphor for emotional control. The ancient mental process was a part of Surak's doctrine of Logic and enabled the Captain to manage her tumultuous emotions.

Bare-chested, Aeric reclined in the bed behind her turning the gilded pages of a leather-bound tome. Before them, starlight stretched past the the sleek bow of the Arabella and the space beyond. The generous vista of the view port afforded them a luxury that many aboard would never share. It was one of the perks that truly lessened the burden of command—the room was a place where relaxing came easily... most nights.

Sevryll arched a brow as a deep chuckle escaped Aeric's lips—briefly disturbing the silence of the room. It had been a long day and he felt a little 'off' from his time aboard the Romulan vessel—denying the sleep he desperately needed. His irises were still the soft green they had acquired while aboard the Romulan transport, and their color had yet to return to their usual prismatic tint. They were eyes that he inherited from his father and passed to Murynn and Nevaul, the only true legacy of his Nacine father's metamorphic abilities.

His wife shifted as he chuckled again. "Sorry," he whispered. While reading in bed was his second favorite means of winding down, meditation was Sevryll's and he hated interrupting her. Aeric glanced to the book-filled shelves before allowing his eyes to settle on his wife's back, "Maybe I should have picked something less comedic..."

The Vulcan did not move a muscle, lest she loose the progress made thus far, "Perhaps." Sevryll paused a moment before continuing, "I have offered to teach you to meditate...but you have always declined. If nothing else, it will help you relax."

Aeric smiled to his wife, "I might have to take you up on that soon. I just can't shake the feeling that something is off."

"What do you sense?" She asked. Abandoning her meditation she extinguished the lamp with a quick breath and moved to the bed.

"Something Romulan is ..." He started to reply before being cut off by a alarm klaxon and the voice of the ship's computer.


"Warning: Unauthorized transport detected. Deck 1: Briefing room."


Joseph D'Callan awoke to the sound of the alert, he jumped up and grabbed his night clothes, picking up his PADD and looking again at the message that came through several hours earlier from Cardassian Command. He shook his head slightly.

Grabbing his com badge, belt, phaser and pulling on his clothes he ran out of his quarters and headed to the turbo lift, clipping his badge onto his shirt he tapped it quickly "D'Callan to Daelen and Shane meet me outside the briefing room. Load up, intruder alert. D'Callan to Captain Sevryll..."

The Captain spoke to the intercom as she donned a robe, "Sevryll here."

"Security alert, ma'am. Unauthorized transport has been detected in the briefing room. I suggest a force field lock down on all access points to the briefing room."

Sevryll suppressed the desire to sigh in frustration. Had one of the evacuees somehow slipped into the room? Had she given them too much freedom? No one but the crew should have access to the briefing room. What significance did the observation lounge hold?  Of all the places aboard Arabella to breach, that room would be the last place she expected an intruder to seek. "Agreed... The commander and I are on our way."

Aeric quickly pulled on a black undershirt from the side of the bed. "Computer activate Rory and inform her of the current situation."

He pushed himself over the top of the bed and quickly slid to the other side. Touching his hand to the biometric safe, it opened and allowed him to retrieve his weapon and holster.


Joseph skidded in front of the turbolift door and impatiently waited for it to arrive. The door opened to reveal Commander James and Captain Sevryll still wearing their sleep wear.

The Security Chief entered and turned to face the door. As it started to descend he glanced at Aeric and suddenly remembered the PADD in his  hand,  "Oh look at this. It came early this morning—text only—no surprise there."

Aeric studied it and the looked up, "You're kidding me right? "

Joseph shook his head, "Nope.. he's not a Legate."

D'Callan leaned over and pointed to the bottom of the screen, Aeric and Sevryll read the detail the security officer highlighted.

The captain arched a brow, "He is a barber?"

Commander James handed the PADD back to D'Callan, "it says he was banished from Cardassia. I wonder why."

Joseph released a deep sigh as he took his phaser out of his belt and checked the setting.  "Can't be much call for new hair styles in Cardassia," he sniggered as the doors opened and the three officers strode towards the briefing room. As they rounded the bend in the corridor, they encountered Shelby, Darius and two other armed security officers..

[Bryancd]

Joint post by Shelby Dalaen and Bryancd

The PADD in Shelby's hand included all the information from the files that Zremm  had discovered. There was still a lot to decode but the ensign was more than patient enough for the task. The lift stopped and as the doors parted she nearly ran into a Romulan woman. "Excuse me.I'm sorry." She offered honestly.

The woman at first seemed willing to accept the apology when she gazed at the half Romulan ensign. A 'cooling occured and the dark haired refugee entered the lift and ordered it to another deck quickly. As the door hissed shut Shelby shrugged it off.

Taking the few turns on deck three, Daelen arrived at Nalah's doorway shortly afterwards. Seeing Dunn she tucked the PADD behind her back and she approached her colleague. "Lieutenant." she said with a nod. "I expect that all went well. "

"Quiet as a sleeping tribble," Dunn replied to the Ensign with a smile. "Surprising considering the circumstances under which she was brought over here. I understand you acquitted yourself very well indeed!" He had heard about Nalah's apprehension from the away team security officers and was impressed. "Who is our little trouble maker?" he said glancing towards the closed door.

"Nalah Jarok and she isn't a troublemaker she's is just misguided." Shelby said with a even gaze.

The name didn't seem to have any meaning for Dunn. "Well, regardless she seems to have settled down. It's a shame we have to keep her isolated from the rest of her kind...," Dunn said and then realized his comment might seem offensive to Shelby as she was, after all, half Romulan. He quickly changed tact. "maybe the Captain will see clear to let her out."

"She can wander as she pleases she simply must be accompanied by security to ensure her safety and others." Seeing that there was some discomfort on the Lieutenant's part Shelby gave a half smile. "It has been a while since we talked." small talk was never a strong point for the  woman but she was going to give it a try. "How have you been Chris"

"Very well", he responded, the awkward moment having passed. "The Chief has been keeping us busy and he speaks very highly of you."

Hearing this remark, the woman's brow lifted. "He does? Do tell..." Her tone was laced with a piqued interest which she realized upon saying the words; might be seen as borderline inappropriate. 

"Well, yes, he...", for some unknown reason, Dunn had the impression they were talking about two different things for a brief moment,"...he says you not only have top notch combat skills but are a whiz with computers. A skill I am lacking, somewhat."

"Oh," Her eyes changed, became more guarded. That was all she needed, people on the ship gossiping about an unfounded interest in the chief. There was nothing between them and why would there be? She she toyed with him but he did the same in return; on purpose she suspected. She knew she only did it to keep in practice, nothing more. Inwardly scoffing as her thoughts traversed off the main path the half Romulan brought herself back to the here and now.

While Dunn was staring at her a bit closer, "Are you going to the Afterburner later?" She said to deflect the tone of the conversation. "I know things are tense around here but I hear some of the regulars are headed there."

"Oh no you don't...you're not getting off that easy." Smirked Dunn; he hadn't missed the Chief and the woman horribly taunting each other from time to time.

Just than the alert Klaxon wailed. Both Security officers looked at eachother in suprise. D'Callan's voice came from Shelby's comm. badge. ""D'Callan to Daelen and Shane meet me outside the briefing room. Load up, intruder alert." Shelby sprinted toward the turbo lift.

[wraith1701]

K'Tan always found the quiet murmur of the crowded Afterburner to be soothing. The casual, relaxed conversations and occasional muted laughter were like a poultice, leeching away the day's stress.  

As Tara chatted on about something involving the ship's Parrises squares tournament, the former Tactical Officer casually glanced around the room.  You could take the man out of the job, but you couldn't take the job out of the man.  Although security and tactical were longer his area of responsibility, K'Tan couldn't get out of the habit of maintaining an awareness of what was going on around him.  At a distant table, he noticed Dr. Drett chatting with a crewman who's name he couldn't recall.  K'Tan grimaced as Ryla's companion emitted a laugh that sounded like someone walking on a sack full of kittens. What does she see in him?, he wondered absently.

"Are you even listening to me?" Tara said.

"Of course," K'Tan lied.  Based on many, many past conversations on the topic, he took a gamble on his next statement-

"You were saying that the folks here can't hold a candle to real Parrises squares players."  K'Tan layed a large, callused hand over hers, and gazed into her eyes with what he hoped was a charming smile.  "Don't worry, Tare; I know you'll get them whipped into shape eventually."

Stass placed her free hand atop K'Tan's, and returned  both his gaze and his smile.  "Don't think you're fooling anyone, Romeo; you can't play a player. I know that was just a lucky guess.  Fortunately for you, you have other qualities that make up for it."  

She gave him a wink.  " Just don't let it get to your head."

The moment was broken by the chime of K'Tan's commbadge.  "One moment," he said, tapping the device.  "K'Tan here.  Go ahead."

A familiar voice answered.  "This is Lt. Otak.  Sorry to disturb you commander, but while running a diagnostic, I detected a glitch in our shields. For just a fraction of a second, they seemed to be drawing more power than usual.  I thought it was just a micro-meteor or dust particle at first.  The weird thing is, tactical has detected no signs of an impact to account for the increase.  Now I'm wondering if there might be an issue with the power regulating systems."

"That's odd," K'Tan said.  "It's probably nothing, but backtrack to see if there have been any other spikes like this-- I want to know if there's a pattern.  Best to head off any system irregularities before they get the chance to turn into an emergency situation."

K'Tan grinned.  "Like the Klingon saying goes; 'forewarned is forearmed.'  Keep me posted."

After hearing his subordinates acknowledgement, K'Tan closed the channel. He turned to his companions, and a smile bloomed on his face.  Stass and the Romulan child, both reaching for the last remaining piece of klat'chee, were now engaged in a playfull tug-of-war.  After a brief struggle, the child wrested the stiff Klingon confection from Tara's hand, and giggled with glee.  

"All right, all right; you win this round, squirt," Stass chuckled.  She reached over and ruffled the child's hair; surprisingly, he didn't flinch from the contact.

He may not speak much, but at least he's opening up, K'Tan thought.  Definitely a good sign.

The sudden, piercing blare of the alarm klaxon instantly silenced the room. Two more pulses, and the siren ceased.  Seconds later, the Afterburner's background noise returned, only now tinged by a sense of forboding. As most patrons tried to carry on with their meals, scattered officers and noncoms calmly but quickly headed for their duty stations.   As K'Tan stood, he felt Stass' hand on his arm.  "We're off duty," she said.  "Sit back down."  

K'Tan stared at her, incredulous.  "Are you joking?  I'm part of the command staff."  His eyes flicked from Tara to the child; she nodded in acknowledgment of his unspoken plea.

"Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on the squirt," she said.  "But sometime soon, you and I are gonna have to discuss your priorities."

"Of course," he replied as he headed for the exit.  "But right now, the captain might need me."

As K'Tan vanished into the corridor, Stass silently shook her head.  She's not the only one.

[Meds]

Captain Sevryll walked towards the briefing room door and listened, she cocked her head slightly and then stood away in the corridor next to Commander James, she nodded to D'callan. Joseph waved Shelby and Darius to be by his side, he looked at the other two officers who moved in front of the Captain and the XO phasers unholstered. Nodding to his two main officers he took a breath.

"Computer, disengage the force fiield around the briefing room door, keep subsiquent fields in place"

A quick blue blast of light shot around the door and Joseph looked round to Sevryll for the order.

[wraith1701]

As the turbolift doors closed, K'Tan called out "bridge", then tapped his commbadge.  "K'Tan to Otak.  Report!"

"Yes sir," the Lt. replied.  "Unauthorized transporter activity triggered the alarm-- someone or something has beamed into the briefing room.  Lt. commander D'Callan has sealed the area off, and security is on the scene as we speak."

K'Tan nodded silently.  As always, his friend Joseph had reacted quickly and with impeccable judgement. Well done, he thought.  I couldn't have handled it better myself.

A thought occurred to him.  "Did the transport originate within the Arabella?"

"According to transporter logs, negative, Sir."

The pieces were starting to fall into place, and K'Tan didn't like the picture that was forming.  "The shield-glitch you detected earlier..."

"Funny you should mention that, Sir.  Our warp-field experienced a slight hiccup at the exact same time.  The variance fell into the 'acceptable' range, but the occurrence of the two glitches at the exact same moment..."

"Way ahead of you, Lt.  It looks like we've got a hitchhiker.  Scan the hull for any magnetic anomalies.  I'll be there shortly."

The lift began to slow as it neared deck one.  K'Tan reactivated his commbadge.  "K'Tan to Commander James.  I know it may sound strange, Sir, but I think the Arabella's picked up a lamprey."

K'Tan's hand rested on his holstered phaser, and his expression fell into the old, comfortable scowl as he thought, How the hell did a ship slip through our shields while we're at warp?

[Jen]

Ryla turned as Lieutenant Commander K'Tan rose from his table—it was the first time she noticed him. She let her eye roam the behemoth woman he was with, what does he see in her? she thought. She's a giant! The Trill watched as K'tan left the lounge; he was more than likely on his way to the bridge in response to the intruder alert. There was little the Chief Medical Officer could do with regards to intruders, but she would check with the bridge and with Sickbay before she turned in for the evening. She flicked her eyes back to Galdar and Jared Olson, "I have to go... thank you for the conversation."

"What are you doing tomorrow night?" Jared asked with a loopy grin.

Ryla gave him a tight smile "I have a lot of work to do...we'll see."

His grin shrank to a half smile as she turned to the Ferengi,  "I'll talk to you later, Galdi." With that she strode with purpose toward the exit.

[Feathers]

As he strode calmly into the Engineering section, Lieutenant Commander Tolok's presence was immediately noted by at least three engineers, their eyes surveying their surroundings almost as often as they examined their consoles. Tolok in his turn noted the phasers worn by his people as the modified alert procedures they'd put in place for their mission in Romulan space were enacted. Nodding approval, he pushed further in towards the throbbing, whirling light show that was the APD-02 class warp core of these Intrepid class ships.

As the Lieutenant Commander reached the guard rail control console, the Beta shift watch officer stepped from the ascender platform to his right and approached the Vulcan.

"Sir", he acknowledged his commander, "Warp core and Zero Point power generation systems are secure and protective shields erected. Engineering access from decks ten and eleven has been restricted to on-duty personnel and senior staff only. No attempt to breach any of the engineering spaces has been detected."

Tolok simply nodded. "Very good, Lieutenant", he stated.

While not expecting trouble from any refugees they might pick up, it had been agreed before they left New Vulcan that certain areas of the ship would remain out-of-bounds to non-starfleet personnel at all times. This was not a problem that the Intrepid class normally had to contend with, so Tolok and D'Callan had come to their own accommodation about who would and would not be allowed in the Engineering section and how that would be controlled. Once the Captain had signed off on the plans, they had been rolled out across the seventh fleet as standard operating procedure.

Weapons were not normally carried by engineers but this far from home it had been deemed prudent, under certain alert conditions, to take this extra precaution. Given that none of their 'guests' were supposed to be in here, it had been deemed unlikely that the precautionary arming of the duty engineering team would cause any concern or upset.

What their visitors didn't know couldn't hurt them and if a visitor found out...then he or she was more than likely engaged in something that would probably justify these procedures.

This one thought prompted another. "Ensign Frida", Tolok called across to the other officer in the room, "please ensure that Shuttle Bay Two has been secured from future security alerts. As it is effectively a civilian area, it is only logical that we relieve them of the interruptions of standard Starfleet operations about which they can do nothing. I am sure they would not wish their children to be disturbed by such events." Pausing, he caught the Lieutenant's eye, "Please also ensure that any Starfleet personnel present in the bay are alerted via their communicators."

Frida nodded, returning to his console while, dismissing the watch officer, Tolok moved towards his office.

[X]

JOINT POST BY JUSTX, JEN, MEDS & CRYSTAL


With a glass of ale in one hand and a Romulan PADD in the other, Oryn gazed out of the windows of the conference room as the warning of his presence disrupted the previous quiet of the ship. The window not only reflected a handsome face with a smooth forehead and piercing blue eyes, it gave him sight of the door without having to turn around. Two disruptors sat on the large table near an ancient sword housed in a transparent aluminium case. Also on the table rested an open bottle and two glasses filled with ale. One could not begin to call his arrival standard or normal, but then again, neither was commander Oryn. His black clothing, shoulder length black hair, and loose fitting leather coat were yet another reminder of the Romulan's atypical nature. He was a man of passions and duty, one that found more value in action than the illusion of cooperation that uniforms provided.

Looking to his captain, D'Callan held his phaser tight, his eyes locked on hers. She nodded— that was all he needed. Putting his thumb on the panel by the door, Shelby dropped to his left while Shane moved to his right.  "On my mark, three, two, one...mark," he whispered. The door swished open and Joseph rolled in whilst Shelby and Darius spun in behind him.

D'Callan found his target straight away and aimed his phaser at the stranger's head. In unison, and with perfect timing, both Daelen and Shane had Joseph covered and the intruder in their sights. Lieutenant Commander D'Callan scanned the area in less than two seconds. Standing, he took a few steps forward,"Do not move...don't even wink at me in the reflection."

Joe cautiously moved forward, "Ensign Daelen, check the rest of the room. Ensign Shane, keep your phaser locked on our 'peeping Tom' here".
The half Romulan began her inspection of the briefing room.

Moving towards the visitor, D'callan noticed the aluminium case and the two glasses on the table. As he moved closer, he pressed the phaser to the back of the intruder's head and moved the chair away.

D'Callan smiled when he realized the man carried no weapons on his person.

"A beer and a PADD...what do you think this is? An invitation to review our restaurant? Name and purpose, if you'd be so kind."

The romulan turned slowly to meet the man's eyes, "Were you securing the room or performing a ballet?"

[Jen]

JOINT POST BY JUSTX, JEN, MEDS & CRYSTAL

Finding nothing of consequence during her search of the room, Shelby moved across the table from the Romulan and watched the man. As the intruder spoke, she narrowed her eyes—his arrogance was obvious.

Pausing to take a sip of his drink, he continued, "The name is Oryn. I'm expected. If you don't know the name, I'll assume that it is because it is above your pay grade. I'll wait until you find someone I can speak freely to."

D'Callan smiled, he was too experienced and thick skinned to let a quip like that bother him. "Expected, really? It was stupid of you not to use the front door. Only friends and family use the backdoor...you're hardly that."

From her position in the corridor, Captain Sevryll over heard the man give his name and moved to the entry. "Stand down," she ordered. The utter calm of her voice was at odds with her disapproving eyes. "You're early...and unannounced," she said to the Romulan standing before the view port.

Although Daelen obeyed the Captain, she wasn't about to allow her attention leave the Romulan. She could see it in his eyes, he had little regard for anyone on this ship. He wasn't to be trusted, in her opinion.

"My apologies Captain, but it was necessary," Oryn said with a polite half nod of his head. He allowed himself to look over the gathered faces before speaking again. "As much as I enjoy the beautiful views your ship has thus far provided, this isn't merely a social visit. I've risked my life and my craft to inform you that you are being followed by at least one cloaked vessel. Informing you of this issue, falls under the duties that I have been assigned. Would you and your executive officer care to join me for a drink while I get you caught up?"

His blue eyes openly took in the beauty of the Vulcanoid women that currently stood in the room. As far as forced assignments went, his unwanted task was far more manageable when he enjoyed the scenery. His eyes shifted from the captain and then to the half Romulan ensign, "I hope my sudden visit didn't drag you out of bed as well."

The stone cold glare that she displayed for the Romulan did nothing to welcome him—she spoke in a low tone, "Ryak'na."  Shelby's eyes flickered towards the Captain then to D'Callan and she stepped back. It had been a challenge to keep her temper while the Romulan's were on the ship. She had been shunned many times in the past and she knew this wasn't going to help. Shelby was sorry, but she would not be sorry in front of this one.  The gray orbs returned to the smug alien before them and she held any more remarks for the time being. She would not trust him no matter who he was.

Oryn raised a glass to the insult spoken in his native tongue. It was a clever enough attack and one that was not far from the truth. He was an orphan, found on the streets and raised in a common life. He rose to his position, not because of title or birthright, but because he earned it. "I would hope that you would get to know me before you call me garbage. Insults don't usually come until well into the relationship."

[Meds]

JOINT POST BY JUSTX, JEN, MEDS & CRYSTAL

Oryn shook his head, "I'm sorry if my words or arrival offended anyone present. Perhaps I've forgotten the finer points of civility in my isolation."     

His words were ashes to Shelby, but none of her feelings registered in her expression. There was little he could say that would sway her. Romulans were a hard people and while some had a softer side, a good number were vicious at the core. Later she would take her frustrations out in the gym where no one would see them. She turned her stormy attentions to Lieutenant Commander D'Callan then back to the intruder.

"Sevryll to bridge,"

"Bridge here."

"Go to Yellow Alert, we have a cloaked vessel in our wake."

"Aye... Captain," came a surprised voice.

Sevryll turned to the Chief of Security,  "I believe the Commander and I can manage from here—Commander Oryn is our Romulan liaison," said the Captain. "Thank you, Mr. D'Callan...you are dismissed," she said with a calm presence that dominated the gathering.

Lieutenant Commander D'Callan motioned to Shelby and Darius and then immediately left the room, nodding to the Captain and First Officer as they moved into the corridor. Joseph paused in the entry with his eyes on Oryn. He turned back to the Captain, "Ma'am," he quietly uttered and proceeded into the corridor.

Aeric finally entered and tilted his head to study the man. In a room full of rampant emotions, it was odd that he could not easily sense those of the stranger. "Welcome aboard the Arabella," the First Officer offered in civil tones. He had his own questions about the man, but it wasn't his place to voice them so freely.

Sevryll absently tightened her belted robe and moved to the briefing table once the security team had vacated the room. The Romulan man gestured to the glasses of ale but the Captain shook her head in response, "I do not drink."

Aeric calmly took the other glass and sipped it's contents. It wasn't his style to drink so late in the day, but he offered the action as a sign of trust to the man.

[Shelby D]

JOINT POST BY MEDS & CRYSTAL

As the door of the briefing room whispered closed behind him, D'Callan stood there a moment staring at it. He pointed at the security officers. Then his sharp gaze went back to the door.
 
Shelby could tell by his manner that the incident had bothered the Chief.
 
Joseph took a breath and finally spoke to the armed security officers, "You two, keep guard." He directed his remark towards two of the men who had arrived as back up. "Notify me immediately if anything happens."  
 
Clearly the Captain seemed to trust the smug Romulan intruder, but that did not mean he had to. Furthermore Joe didn't like how this had gone down; he'd like a bit more information on this visitor. He walked away from the men with Ensigns Daelen and Shane. "That was interesting," his tone did not expose his true opinion on the matter. "Make your reports. Darius, I want to ensure we don't have any more 'suprise' individuals casually beaming onto this ship." The stress he placed on the one word was the only obvious indication of curiosity.
 
As he watched Shane depart, he strode to the half Romulan. "Shelby, walk with me." With the woman in tow, Joseph kept a quick pace as he headed down the corridor. Reaching up he tapped his badge, "D'Callan to K'Tan. We've had an unauthorized visitor. He has informed us that we are being followed and he's currently with the Captain and Commander Aeric in the briefing room, keep your eyes peeled. D'Callan out."
 
Joseph and Shelby continued towards the turbo lift in silence. Finally, as they hit the doors he turned to the woman and released a slight sigh, "I'll meet you in the holo suite for some training Ensign." As the doors hissed opened, he didn't wait for a reply, he just disappeared into the lift.
 
Shelby stared a moment at the closed doors, her eyes narrowed again and she clasped her hands behind her back before heading down the corridor to the briefing room where the Captain and the First Officer now sat with Oryn.

[Feathers]

As the alert indicators flicked to yellow, Tolok put the PADD he'd been reading down on his desk and stood. Duty had held him in Engineering while the possibility of an intruder was current but with the return to normal operations, even at the heightened alert state, his presence in his department was no longer required.

Leaving his office, he was in time to see the warp core containment field drop and the first team check in the weapons they'd been carrying. Nodding in acknowledgement of the Lieutenant on duty, he walked through the centre of his domain toward the protective blast door which parted just before he reached them, admitting a pair of additional technicians, called to duty by the increased alert status.

In the corridor, Tolok turned left as the doors closed behind him and walked quickly to the turbo lift, his quarters and the chance to meditate.

[wraith1701]

As the turbolift opened on deck one, K'Tan's commbadge pinged for his attention.

"D'Callan to K'Tan. We've had an unauthorized visitor. He has informed us that we are being followed and he's currently with the Captain and Commander Aeric in the briefing room, keep your eyes peeled. D'Callan out."

"Thanks for the update, Chief."  He tapped his commbadge.  "K'Tan to ops. Lt. Otak; it appears as though our theory on the anomalous readings is correct.  Fortunately, the Captain is on top of the situation."

"Understood Sir."

"And Mr. Otak-  I want you to work with tactical and see what you can do about refining the shield and warp-field monitoring routines.  We need to redefine what constitutes an 'acceptable' spike in power usage. Have the new parameters tied into our warning protocols.  I want us to be alerted the moment there is the slightest fluctuation in shield or warp field integrity." 

K'Tan sighed, and thought to himself, We got lucky this time.  I'd hate to think what kind of havoc a hostile intruder could cause if he slipped through our shields.

After giving a nod to the men guarding the door to the briefing room, K'Tan turned and stepped back into the lift.  "Afterburner."

[X]

Joint post by Crystal and Juxt X

Commander Oryn, the newly arrived liaison officer to the Seventh Fleet, stood at the berth once reserved for the Presidio but now assigned to house his vessel. The greenish black craft, a little under thirty meters in length looked decided out of place in the shine and sparkle of the well lit bay. He moved his fingers over the wrist mounted romulan PADD and authorized the security features of the craft. He found it far easier to land the dagger-like craft in the Federation landing bay than he did on the skin of the ship. While the new home of his vessel wasn't a Warbird and didn't contain the spare parts that he might need to mount future repairs, the database aboard had ship had the schematics. It would only be a matter of using Federation replicators to create the needed parts.

Oryn found himself oddly at home on the Federation vessel. For a good portion of the last decade, he had found himself spending more time in Federation space than the space of the Imperial State. He was not a diplomat by any stretch of the imagination, but followed the will of the Empress Donatra and did not question her direction of his career. She had trusted him to carry and deliver the honor of the empire to whatever new home they found. It was his task to give that honor to a worthy leader that might rise from the ashes of recent tragedy.

Oryn ignored the eyes that drifted towards him and his craft. He knew first hand on how prejudice the Federation could be despite their pretense at harmony. They had worked long to paint his people as a heartless enemy and he could not fault the citizens for believing the propaganda. He however did not have the luxury to believe in the propaganda his own people once fostered about their now allies. He had no choice but to judge a person on their individual merits and not the rumors of their species.

"Begin full diagnostic of all systems," Oryn said into the air after tapping his wrist to activate his ship's communications system.

"Complying with Order," the comuter replied in a more common version of the romulan tongue.

Oryn ran his fingers through his hair and glanced to the small display of the wrist device. He had not found any problems with his ship, but deeper diagnostics would be used confirm that.

Were he to wear robes instead of blacks and leather, Oryn could almost pass for a vulcan. Almost. He made no attempts to hide, suppress, or displace his emotion and it often showed on his face.


Shelby had hit a wall in her information which she had been studying on Nalah. With this supposedly 'friendly' romulan liaison on the ship and with a computer on said ship, the gears had started moving in her head. So here she stood outside the Shuttle bay doors, considering if this was such a good idea after all, she had called him garbage after all. Still, she rationalized a chance was a chance. So she had gotten into her uniform after doing her morning routine in the gym, braided her long dark hair back as was her standard and here she was walking into the shuttle bay and now gazing at his ship from the doorway.

She was still having those misgivings crawling at the back of her mind, there was no doubt about that, she hadn't even told D'Callan she was coming to see the man. This was a bad idea, she told herself, she pivoted on her heel and started walking away. She would take this through proper channels and leave it at that. About to hit the door a voice called out to her.

"Ensign Daelen." She froze, her fingers curling slightly as she waited.

Sighing heavily, but not visibly she turned, "Commander Oryn." walking back towards the man as if nothing mattered to her. She purposely didn't answer him.

His head slightly tilted in thought before he spoke again, this time in fluent Federation standard as to avoid translator issues, "Is there something that I can help you with ensign?"

Her gray gaze never wavered from his eyes, she was trying to read him, see what he was about; to find the deception that she suspected he hid. "Why are you here? I know what the Captain said...now what do you say? You after all are in a perfect position of power..." Her tone was even and calm.

Oryn smiled as he studied the woman then allowed it to abruptly vanish. "Why are you here? I mean in the grand scheme of things? It's clear that both of your parents aren't romulan, yet you seem to take offense at the sight of one. Did your romulan parent force the other against their wishes? I couldn't imagine another reason for the closed-minded venom you offer."

"I assure you, the sight of a Romulan does not offend me and my parentage is none of your concern. What is my concern is this ship and the security of it. What you may see as venom and offense is only mis-trust in someone who sneaks onto the Arabella while we are in the middle of a crisis." Gray eyes watched him carefully.

Oryn chuckled. "Do you take me for a fool ensign? There was never any danger to you or your ship. I left my arms on the table and your commanding officer placed a phaser to the back of my head. A fatal gesture regardless of the discharge setting a weapon is set on. As for my purpose here, I was expected. I arrived in a means that would not put either ship in danger from an enemy that you could not see for yourself. Perhaps I should have uncloaked to allow another of your  ... trigger happy cowboys ... to fire first and cover up any questions."

A smile spread along her lips and she spoke ever so softly as Shelby strode past him to look at his ship. "There has been much distrust between our people Oryn. My experience with both has taught me the dangers and hazards of each half of my heritage. It is a hurdle both races will need to address before we can move forward. The question is who will make the first move?"  She turned to stare into the man's face, to read his expression.   

Oryn moved to make clear eye contact with the woman, "If you want some explanation, I'm sorry that's not going to happen. I am not here to give answers to everyone on the ship with doubts. I'm here for the twin empires. I'm here to make sure that the people are treated fairly by, from what I have seen, a crew that seems to have a good deal of prejudice to work out regarding the people they are here to help. I believe that you have serious misconceptions about half of your heritage."

Lifting a brow at the man Shelby felt the ache of the rejections in her life, the pent up rage from her time on the colony washing back over her. She had been cast out from both races more than once and now he was accusing her of the very vile thing she hated about those people. Staring at the man she felt her fingers trembling. He had hit her core and stung her with it. "You are mistaken....I called both of them that. Once again though that was not my question. You have given me flowery, innocent answers to why you are here and that is all well and good but why wouldn't you want to take advantage of this crisis to grab a piece of power for yourself in an empire that is no more?"

"Honestly darling, how is that any of your damned concern?" Oryn asked bluntly but smoothly. "Do you believe that you should some how have a hand in selecting the future direction of the Empire? I'll grant that I'm new to this ship, but I'm quite  familiar with a chain of command. Why is an ensign confronting a superior about motives that her higher ups are already well aware of?"

"Call it morbid curiosity." Shelby looked at the man evenly.

Oryn studied the young woman, "I'm here because it is the right thing to do. I'm here because a duty needs to be performed and we don't always have the option of choosing where our paths take us."

"There are a lot of my people," he paused to point out towards the stars. "out there and on this ship that lost everything. Their entire life, their families, their homes are all gone. I didn't have any of that to worry about. I'm here because someone needs to be here. Someone needs to stand up for the people and sometimes fate decides to make it the person with the least deepest wounds. Fate or a certain Empress, but that's neither here nor there ..."

"Someone is of the belief that there are people in this group that cannot do that?" She asked with interest.   

"Someone is always of that belief," Oryn answered. "That doesn't mean that the effort stops. I'm here because I believe that my people are better than that. I'm here because I believe my people can be better than they were. It doesn't hurt that there are Orions on the ship or at least one Orion. I'm not too clear on that yet, but I've always enjoyed the greener things in life."

Giving a half smile Shelby looked downwards. Then she looked back up at the man saying nothing for the time being. She just studied him.

"Have I sufficiently sated your curiosity or is your imagination running away from you?" Oryn asked. "Usually when someone stares that long, it's to imagine what someone's clothing is hiding."

The sudden, unexpected and uncharacteristic laugh which came from Shelby filled the shuttle bay and she eventually stopped to look at the Romulan with a pleasant smile for a moment; before she hesitantly returned to her calm demeanor. Gazing at the man with mirth still in her gray orbs she shook her head. "You have a wit about you which is uncommon."
   
"Not as uncommon as you think. Our people pride themselves on their emotions and passions. What is humor if not another fine emotion?" Oryn mused between reading the display on his wrist that contained the progress of the ship's diagnostic.

Walking around the ship Daelen spoke. "I know about the Romulan people...I grew up on a border colony...of course it wouldn't rival the homeworlds...still it was..." her gaze flickered back to the man. "...enough of a taste to know." Her eyes returned to their admiring of his ship. "She is very...pleasing...for a ship...what is her name?" Reaching out she just touched the hull with her fingertips, almost caressing the metallic skin.

"She was named The Sword of S'task by Empress Donatra," Oryn said in between observing her.

Speaking the name in Romulan, Shelby seemed enticed by it and then she sighed and dropped her hand and turned to the Romulan. "I should go..."

Oryn watched her a little more closely, "I can understand that. There are far too many things aboard my vessel to cause temptations to one not so fluent with our society."

Her gaze shifted to the man, almost rebelliously, yet she said nothing.

"I would invite you to tour the vessel, but at this point, I'm not sure that I should be placing you in such a compromising position," he added.

Almost jumping at the chance, Shelby stopped herself, the lure of a tour was difficult to turn down. "You do tempt me... but you are correct...without the proper approval it might be seen as ...something it is not." Giving a nod to the man she moved away; she would need to talk to D'Callan first. Now wasn't the time to ask him for access to his computer; later.   

Oryn examined her as she left and moved to his wrist to pull up the location of a place to grab a drink with someone other than himself. Letting the diagnostic continue, the commander moved towards the lift and the short ride to the ship's bar.