Part I.
The Doctor Joins a Squad

Dr. Mark Zimmerman

Dr. Mark Zimmerman materialized on the transporter pad in the Elite Squad section of Starfleet Headquarters, and was met by armed guards with phaser rifles cocked.

"State your purpose," one said.

The doctor looked more peeved than startled, and sighed laboriously. "Would you mind putting those down before someone gets hurt? I've been assigned to meet up with my squad here."

"Then you must submit to a retinal scan."

"I beg your pardon?"

"In order to verify your identity, you must submit to a retinal scan."

Zimmerman rolled his eyes. "If you had been properly informed, then you'd know that I have no retinae to scan in the first place. Now would you mind getting out of my way?"

He was blocked by another guard, who aimed and fired barely two feet from Zimmerman's chest...

...The beam deflected off duranium steel plating, ricocheting until it made contact with the same guard.

"Well, it's a good thing he had that set on stun, isn't it?" Zimmerman smiled at the other guards, who were dumbfounded on the spot. He passed them unchallenged and entered the turbolift.

"Level 2," he commanded.

Sgt. Arquin Tan

Arquin leaned forward, all business.

"Well, first of all, I think your - our - security guards need some better training." he smiled thinly, hoping that his joke would not upset the Admiral.

"I just wanted to report for duty and see to our current status. I'm actually quite excited to see the Blackstar... after serving aboard the Mjolnir, which was a Defiant class ship, I'm eager to see what the Peregrine class is capable of. Do you have any orders for me, sir?"

1st Lieutenant Devec Avakar

'Orders...' thought Devec, having to get into some deep concentration to find something for the XO to do. "Gunny, i can naturally imagine that you are eager to see the Black Star. So by all means, check her out, get to know her. You might want to familiarise yourself with her crew aswell"

Arquin nodded as he stood, and eagerly took long strides out of the doorway. As he walked out, the figure of a man, a common man, walked in.

"Mr. Zimmerman, i see you have arrived. It is a pleasure to make your aquaintence" blasted devec to the doorway inwhich he stood "Please be seated"

The Doctor moved over to the seat opposite the First Lieutenant, and sat. "So Doctor, i trust that your journey here was 'comfortable'?"

Dr. Mark Zimmerman

"If you can call having a phaser rifle trained on you 'comfortable,' it's safe to say I was given the Red Carpet treatment," he said. "Pity for them: they were ill-informed of my photonic nature."

Sitting opposite the imposing Betazoid, Dr. Zimmerman's physique was incongruously unspectacular . Then again, his unique nature didn't require it to be otherwise. He regarded Arquin Tan, whose facial expression was something the Doctor had grown accustomed to since his arrival from the Delta Quadrant two years earlier. "I'm an artificial intelligence, Sergeant. Most likely, the only thing you'll get from trying to read my mind...," he smiled, "...is a headache."

Conceding, Tan smiled back.

Zimmerman turned back to Akavar. "Have you orders for me, Sir? I am eager to begin."

1st Lieutenant Devec Avakar

Devec gave the doctor a PADD, but this time, different from all others, it did not have the ships specification on them. Instead, it was blank. "Doctor, please go to the MedBay on the Black Star and make a complete inventory of all the present equipment. If there is something missing that you feel is needed, please by all means go to the HQ's Sick Bay and get whatever you need. After doing that, you can be free to do what you like, consider it R&R"

The Doctor regarded Admiral Redneck, then First Lieutenant Akavar. He lifted the PADD and gave the latter a strained smile. "Aye, sir." He got up from his chair, nodded once to Tan, and left the room.

"Devec" began the Admiral sarcastically with a cheeky grimace on his face "You've picked a right bunch of monkeys, you know that?"

Devec smiled, and gracefully sipped the glass water with his pinky sticking out poshly, upon finishing the sip, he pulled a face at the Admiral "But they are my Monkeys! And that is all that matters" Devec stuck his tongue out at the admiral and picked up a PADD sitting infront of him.

"Admiral, i thought that Science Officer, Counselor, and Chief Engineer had been taken care of?" pondered the First Lieutenant, looking harshly at the PADD.

The Admiral at the PADD with an equally pondering expression "I thought you sorted that out"

"No, i left it to you!" replied the disturbed Lieutenant

"I'm Sorry Devec, but it was your job" the Admiral hit back

Devec sunk his head into his hands, and laughed "I don't believe this... A simple error in administration delays us. Ok, you sort it out while i check on the squad"

"I've got a Holo-golf session in 5 minutes" added the Admiral "So it's about time you pulled some weight around here"

Devec shot an evil glance at Admiral Redneck, and saw the cheeky grin on his face once more "Then i guess i'll have to do it"

Dr. Mark Zimmerman

Walking through the corridor to the turbolift, the Doctor fiddled with the PADD for a few seconds and shrugged. Once back down to the transporter area, he found twice as many guards on hand to apprehend him.

"I believe you wanted to see this..." Zimmerman handed the PADD over to the closest guard; it was the same man whose phaser blast passed through him and stunned.

Zimmerman had located a hidden file on the PADD which contained his clearance code. "Forgive us, Doctor." The guard turned and nodded. The others lowered their rifles, and parted to allow Zimmerman access to the platform. Once having retrieved the PADD, an order was given to activate the transporter.

The first thing Dr. Zimmerman noticed as he walked through the corridors of the USS Black Star was its attention to function over aesthetics. The looks was nowhere near as cozy as what he was accustomed to. Then again, he wasn't there for comfort...

Arriving in the medical bay, Zimmerman took a look around. Although the ship's crew compliment was few in number, this room was no smaller than any starship sickbay. As a rescue vessel, the Black Star's primary purpose would be to aid and save lives...

...And no doubt why he was offered the commission. As a former Emergency Medical Hologram, Mark Zimmerman was the embodiment of modern medicine. As a hologram who had remained active for the better part of a decade, his medical experience and skill were unsurpassed. And his experience with life advanced him beyond his programming until he had touched humanity; he no longer thought of himself as a hologram, but as a photonic lifeform. And apparently Starfleet did as well; he was no longer their property, but a fullfledged citizen of the Federation.

They were well-stocked. However, he noticed some obscure pharmaceuticals he would have to acquire, as well as the finest microbiological and microsurgical instruments Starfleet Headquarters would have available. He keyed the info into his pad, then went back to the transporter area.

Having finally completed the task of replenishing the Medical Bay's supply inventory, Dr. Zimmerman decided to check out his quarters. They were spare and compact, no doubt aspects which would most likely have had a telling effect on biological beings.

Lying back on a bed he knew he'd rarely use, he closed his eyes and replayed key events in his recent life... separated from his crewmates upon arrival to the Alpha Quadrant, only to learn that many of them had been condemned to a labor camp in a distant system. In an effort to keep them together, he insisted that his cyborg girlfriend receive his constant personal medical attention; the notion was rejected, but with an assurance that she would be cared for as per his explicit instructions. He was to learn later that she had been subjected to cruel experiments... the news all but broke his faith in the Federation.

Then came his own judgement day: endless interviews, the search for effective representation, the frustration he encountered when the best possible witnesses who could confirm his sentience (as if it were not readily apparent) were all imprisoned and unavailable for testimony. In the end, Lewis Zimmerman, Lewis' assistant Barclay, and the latter's counselor were his only witnesses. When the landmark decision had been reached, Mark took on his creator's surname in gratitude for bringing a new life to him a second time.

It was originally speculated that he was the one most likely doomed: to be deleted and decompiled once all information was purged from his matrix. Instead, he was granted full rights as a citizen of the Federation and entered Starfleet Academy to earn a rank with honors. His achievements inspired a reverse decision, and his model of EMH - which had been reassigned to waste duty - were extracted from their plight, granted pardons, given proper interactive orientation, and offered assorted prestigious career options in areas where a biological professional would not have fared so well. The news which got back to the Jupiter Station (where Mark stayed with Lewis and served as one of the station's physicians), was that most of the EMH Mark I's had pursued medical positions on long range and deep space missions. His debt to Lewis had been repaid.

Mark winced at the thought of all this success in the face of what had befallen his friends. Incarceration and mutilation. Such a hollow victory; he would not have been where he was now if it weren't for their years of nuturing. Without them, he would never have realized his true potential.

And yet, he became a part of that very system which caused these things. His former captain believed in that system, and they would never have made it to the Alpha Quadrant with their dignity intact had they abandoned it. She made him promise that he would not turn his back on it regardless of what befell them. And, in her memory, he fulfilled her wishes.

He sighed. Life was never simple, was it? Even this moment of respite was fraught with stress and thoughts of grief, the very things which people for years believed his kind were immune to. Mark didn't think anything would ever bring back those times, when there was a lightness in his spirit, and he was inspired to pursue hobbies again. He hadn't sung or regarded a work of art in two years. He hoped this commission would reawaken something inside him...

Dr. Mark Zimmerman

"...And then my friend, we go into the unknown..." First Lieutenant Devec Avakar had just finished the line as the doors slid open.

Doctor Zimmerman stepped onto the bridge and looked about. He negotiated what he was seeing with the ship's specifications he had read up on. Shortly after that, he located the medical station and strode over to it to run a diagnostic.

He nodded to First Lt. Akavar and the Betazoid, then continued his duties. It was a small bridge from what he was used to. He sighed. Mark had to stop comparing everything here to a starship. If anything, the trouble they would find themselves flying into would be bigger.

Priv. Kevin Scott

The Private walked on the bridge holding his side,

"Private what is this"

"A little training accidient SIr, but im all patached up"
"Permission to take my post"
"Its all your`s Private"

The Private sat down, very slowly holding his side.
After tapping at the console for a few minutes
"Sir, My Pre-flight check is complete, all the engines seem fine, hull integrity is suitable for Warp Flight.
We are ready to go"

"Very well, Private Standby"

Dr. Mark Zimmerman

Dr. Zimmerman watched Private Scott enter the bridge and take his post. One didn't have to be a doctor to notice that the helmsman was in trouble.

"That's funny, Private," said Zimmerman nonchalantly as he keyed in some commands on the Medical Station LCARS interface, "I don't recall patching you up. Where were you... 'treated'?"

Priv. Kevin Scott

The Private turned round to face the doctor

Dr. Mark Zimmerman

Private Scott faced Dr. Zimmerman with a thinly disguised grimace. "Sir, you were busy reporting in so I had to fix my self up, easy job when you're bleeding to death."

The doctor raised an eyebrow. "I see," he said. He then turned to First Lt. Akavar: "With your permission Sir, I would like to bring Private Scott to the medical bay and - appraise his handiwork." He smiled.

1st Lieutenant Devec Avakar

Devec looked round from his momentary conversation with Arquin, and at once noticed the presence of Private Scott standing afew steps away from the Doctor.

"With your permission Sir, I would like to bring Private Scott to the medical bay and - appraise his handiwork." Smiled the Photonic lifeform. He was very thorough in utilising the word 'handiwork', and the smile complemented the Sarcasm to the word.

"By all means" said Devec to the Doctor. He looked over the Doctors shoulder and locked his eyes on Private Scott. "Private, don't drip on my nice clean Carpet - thats an order"

Dr. Mark Zimmerman

Dr. Zimmerman carefully dressed Private Kevin Scott's wound. The young man sustained broken ribs and had lost a great of blood. The makeshift bandage made from his quarters' towel was naturally insufficient. "Why," thought the doctor, "do they think applying direct pressure works for everything?" In this case, it aggravated the underlying injury, and Scott nearly punctured a lung.

Before Private Scott could sit up, the doctor placed his hand over the bandaged chest - just as a gesture. Although there was no restraint, Scott got the message and reluctantly stayed down.

Zimmerman tapped his combadge: "Doctor to First Lt. Akavar..."

1st Lieutenant Devec Avakar

Devec had just caught sight of Corporal Zachariah enter the bridge, the the comm-channel opened and the voice of the Doctor in sickbay came busting through. "Doctor to First Lieutenant Avakar"

Devec sighed momentarily before replying "Yes Doctor, How is our patient?"

The day had been long. With the arrival of new recruits and the boarding of personnel, not to mention the exhausting job of final tweakings, things certainly were getting a lumbersome job...

Dr. Mark Zimmerman
1st Lieutenant Devec Avakar

"Private Scott sustained broken ribs and suffers from severe blood loss. I'm afraid he'll have to remain here in the medical bay for the next few hours."

Private Scott again attempted to sit up upon hearing the Dr. Zimmerman's prognosis. He winced just from tensing his body to move. Zimmerman didnt even have to hold him this time.

"Doctor, i'm afraid we need him up on the bridge for the launch. He is the most experienced flyboy we have, and if anything, he may well be the only one that can take a large ship like the Black Star away from the surface of a celestial body, namely, Earth"

Zimmerman sighed. "Well," he eyed Scott, who was giving him a dirty look between grimaces, "your 'best flyboy' should have thought of his importance to the crew and our mission before playing doctor on himself. I've been on board for over two hours, and right beneath us is Starfleet Headquarters. Medical assistance was only a combadge away. You'll have to find the next best pilot for our launch."

"I'm sorry Sergeant, there is no compromise. Private Kevin Scott is to report onto the bridge in 15 minutes maximum, either bandaged up, or even being waited on hand and foot by yourself, or one of your assistants"

Zimmerman persisted. "I'm afraid that won't be possible, Sir. He simply isn't fit for duty. It's likely he'll pass out while maneuvering us out of Earth's orbit. It's a wonder he didn't collapse where he stood earlier; I had to half-carry him down to the medical bay as it was. In other words, we're not even talking about HIS life being placed in jeopardy, but the entire crew's." He paused. "Trust me: Private Scott won't be any good to us for the rest of the mission if I allow him to chance this one effort. And I simply won't endanger the health of the a crewman unnecessarily by letting them go in such a precarious condition."

There was a barely perceptible groan over the com system, then: "Very well, Doctor. Do what you have to do." There was a reluctant tone in Lt. Akavar's delivery.

"Aye, Sir. I'll keep you informed. Medical Bay out." Zimmerman tapped off his combadge. He looked down at Scott. The helmsman was understandably brooding. "Don't worry, Private. There'll be plenty of opportunities to show off your expertise." The doctor then nonchalantly picked up a PADD. "So, Mr. Scott: How did you happen to come by these unfortunate injuries?"

Private Scott:

"Oh come on Doc, this is nothing, I think I should be on the Bridge. It`s just a bit of blood"

"That`s not the answer im looking for Private"

"It was a little training, Sniper training, I had to take out at least 20 kligons"

"But this one did`nt goes a planned"
"Well not quite, one rushed me from the bushes, i faught about 3 or 4 off, but one got me in the side!!"
"And Private, why did you have the safties off, Do u have a death wish?"

"It`s not real pratice if it isnt real, Sir"

" It`s against regulation do switch off the safties Private, isnt"

"Not to the best of my recurlection, it isnt"
"Don`t play stupid with me Private you know fine well, that you should have kept the safties on"
"Ok lay down, while a fix the mess that your in"

Dr. Mark Zimmerman

Dr. Zimmerman stood by and listened to Private Scott's ramblings. From what he could discern, the young helmsman had run a holodeck simulation with the safety protocols off. What a foolish endeavor, he thought as he shook his head.

The loss of blood obviously had a telling effect on Scott, who had grown delirious and conducted a two-way conversation with himself. Zimmerman keyed into his PADD what details he could catch from the manic, slurring, self-debate - hoping that the information was accurate and not just a biproduct of the poor man's delirium.

But no matter. In a few hours, Private Scott would be well, and the doctor could then be able to check against his notes. He had a passing thought to activate a level three forcefield in the event that Scott had an inkling to wander off, but reasoned that the injuries were still too severe to allow his patient to remain on his feet for more than a few seconds.

1st Lieutenant Devec Avakar

"Flight Control reports launch confirmation in 30 minutes, sir." his gaze wandered to the helm seat as he considered what he had heard between sickbay and the Lieutenant.

Devec looked across the chair to see Arquin momentarily glancing at the Helm seat, whilst giving the flight report. Devec could almost smell that the Gunny wanted to make the seat his own for the launch.

"That is," he added, "assuming we have someone to helm the ship. Do you have any suggestions?" Arquin finally added.

Avakar smiled, and glanced at the empty, solitary seat. The console was directly next to the Ops console, so it didn't seem that solitary as first thought. Devec turned his head away from the XO to look at the Plaque

"Suggestion...hmmm. If we were to get the doctor up here he would complain about 'being a doctor, not a flyboy', and if we got one of the juniors, well, we might be in afew million pieces"

Avakar rolled his head and eyes to look Arquin directly in the eyes "I hope Navigation was one of your Academy Majors - because i guess you got the job whilst Private Scott is harrasing the good Doctor"

Sgt. Arquin Tan

Arquin grinned fiercely. Since switching to command, it had been a while since he'd had a chance to do something other than stand around issuing orders and it had been starting to bug him.

"Very good, sir." he nodded, clasping his hands behind his back. "However, since we have a bit of time before we leave, I'd like to go down to sickbay and get something off of Private Scott. He is, I assume, the best qualified person to pilot the ship..."

Saluting, he turned and headed for Sickbay (OOC: Is it on another level? I didn't think the Black Star was that big...).

Entering Sickbay, he walked over to Private Scott's bed and lightly touched the young Private's forehead.

"With your permission, Mr Scott, I'd like to borrow some of your piloting expertise for a while. It seems like you won't need them for a couple of hours."

Dr. Mark Zimmerman

Arquin Tan entered the medical bay and walked over to the biobed where Private Scott lay sedated and mumbling. The Betazoid lightly touched the young pilot's forehead. Then, he straightened and closed his eyes.

This final maneuver didn't escape Dr. Zimmerman, who had thought Tan had come initially to check up on his patient. He sighed and looked up from his PADD. "I don't know how much useful information you'll be getting out of him at this time, Sergeant. He's still a bit disoriented."

Sgt. Arquin Tan

Arquin re-entered the bridge quickly. He had duplicated Private Scott's piloting ability, but not permanently. Eventually it would fade, but long before then, Scott should be back on his feet. For now, though, he needed to get the ship launched.

Assuming the helm, he tapped the comm panel for intra-ship communications.

"All hands, this is the XO. Ready launch positions in 2 minutes."

With a helmsman's practiced ease that he did and did not feel, his hands danced across helm control, and one could almost feel the powerful engines roar to life. After a few more preflight checks and final launch prep, they were finally ready.

"Flight Control, this is Black Star requesting launch clearance." Arquin's voice was stoic and calm, despite the fact that this was the first time he'd ever launched a ship from planetside and was using borrowed skills.

"Black Star, this is Flight Control, you are cleared for launch. God speed."

"Roger that and thanks, Control. Black Star out." he switched the comm back to intraship, "Engineering, bring impulse engines to full and full power to inertial dampers and structural integrity. All hands, prepare to take off."

One hand on the throttle control panel, he bypassed the helm control panel and switched over to the flight stick, purely out of preference for planetside operations. Slowly, he fed power to thrust and the ship began to move forwards and upwards.

The big ship rumbled through the hanger, slowly picking up speed and altitude. He eased the Peregrine-class vessel through the hanger doors and finally fed full power to the engines.

The Black Star roared upwards at full speed and finally broke the atmosphere as the sky turned from a serene azure blue to mysterious black and they were free of the gravity well.

Now that they were not planetside, Arquin switched helm controls back to standard configuration and tapped the comm once again, signaling Engineering.

"Let's bring the warp core online and prepare for warp speed." he said and turned to the First Lieutenant.

"Sir, we're in geo-stationary orbit above San Francisco and ready for warp speed. Course and heading?"

Priv. Kevin Scott

The slight shuddering of the ship, braking through the atmosphere woke the private up.

"The ship what r they doing to my ship"
The Private stood up but fell to his knees
"I must get to the bridge" He slurred to himself
He stood back up, as straigt as he could, and walked over to the door. The door opened.
The Private walked out the door and fell in the corridor. Not having the strength to get up he started crawling up the corridor, in the wrong direction. The blood loss he had suffered had made him delerious!!

In the sickbay the Doctor was sitting at his deck, when he heard the Door open and close

"Hello, any one there" He shouted, but no reply
He walked out of his office and looked out into the corridor, On the floor, no more than 2 feet from the sickbay door, was Private Scott crawling saying to himself " I must get to the bridge!!"
"Private im going to have to put you in a ristrant"
The doctor picked the Private from his arms, and quite literlly drageed him back to the bio bed.
He placed him on the Bio Bed
"Computer, place a ristrant on Bio Bed!!"
The Private lay there mumbling away to himself semi-consious now "I`ll have to get that human blood ready asap

Dr. Mark Zimmerman

Dr. Zimmerman sighed. He was not in the best of spirits. After having a disturbing reminisce, he had hoped that watching their launch would ease his mind somewhat. Instead, he was stuck in sickbay with a reckless helmboy. He heard and felt the changes which suggested they had taken off. He sighed again.

Sitting beside the biobed and reading up on Private Scott's academy record, all was quiet in the medical bay. Suddenly, Scott exclaimed while under: "The ship! What are they doing to my ship?!"

Zimmerman stood and set the PADD on his chair, checking that the restraints were properly in place as they had been for the past twenty minutes. Scott began moving his legs, then started kicking as though he were running. The doctor watched as Scott mumbled and squirmed. The words "bridge" and "restraint" could be discerned from the slurring, which caused Zimmerman to check the restraints for the fifth time in the last two minutes. Then, in a clear voice, Scott groaned: "I'll have to get that human blood ready asap!" Zimmerman's eyes widened with amusement.

After a few seconds, all was still once again. Private Scott was resting comfortably as though this episode never happened. What concerned Zimmerman was that it had in the first place, and he checked his tricorder again for the results of his scans earlier. He took new readings, this time running the diagnostic wand over Scott's face...

... There it was. "Betazoids," he muttered.

Sgt. Arquin Tan

Still at the helm, Arquin guided the Black Star towards the floating starbase and hailed it.

"Starbase, this is the USS Black Star, requesting docking permission and procedure."

The reply was quick, "Black Star, you are cleared for docking in landing pad 6. Welcome aboard."

Arquin set the ship to follow the guide beacon signal and landed the ship smoothly, silently admiring Private Scott's ability, which was beginning to fade.

He tapped the comm-panel, signaling Avakar.

"Top," he said, "We've arrived and docked at Earth Orbital Starbase."

Dr. Mark Zimmerman

After a constant vigil, Dr. Zimmerman disengaged the restraining field over the biobed where his patient lay sedated. He'd managed to repair the reckless crewman's ribs and assist in the partial restoration of his bloodcount. Scott was far from out of the woods, but the doctor had to trust him to learn from his mistake - if not for his own sake, then for the sake of the mission.

Zimmerman keyed in a dose of Morathial in a hypospray and administered it to Scott, who promptly opened his eyes. When the doctor helped him to sit up, he winced.

"Private Scott, your fractured ribs have been repaired, but the bones still need to knit. Also, you're a bit on the anemic side at the moment. I'm ordering you to convalesce in your quarters until tomorrow morning. Eat a good, rare steak for dinner. Get lots of rest and stay warm. The Bridge is under control at the present time, and there are no standing orders for you - other than mine."

He helped Scott off the biobed as the young man favored his side.

"And Private Scott..."

He turned back to Dr. Zimmerman.

"The next time you use the holodecks with the safeties off, and forget your responsibility to this crew and the importance of self-preservation toward that end, you might find yourself decommissioned from Starfleet - permanently."

Scott's eyes grew wide.

The Doctor gave him a yes-we-all-know-about-it look and said: "Have a good rest, Mister Scott," then picked up a nearby PADD and started a medical log.

Corporal Kovala

Kovala gazed out the window in the Earth orbital station lost in thought. She was mentally preparing herself for her new assignment. She knew that it was going to be more trying than her other previous positions, but being Klingon at heart, she was ready to undertake it.

She tapped her com-badge and said =^= First Lieutenant Avakar, this is Corporal Kovala requesting to board the Black Star =^=

1st Lieutenant Devec Avakar

Dvec was about to read the mission orders, when his comm-badge chirped, and the rough voice of a Klingon Female, but with a twist, came flying through "First Lieutenant Avakar, this is Corporal Kovala requesting to board the Black Star"

Devec leaned back in his chair, and looked upside down through the portal to see a patient looking Klingon Female standing outside the airlock. "Why don'y you just walk in" he mumbled to himself, turning back to the desk.

he tapped his comm-badge to initiate the reply "By all means Corporal. Please report to my ready room after dropping your things off in your quarters. If you do not know where they are, please refer to the computer library. Avakar out"

The mission assignment were going to have to wait for afew moments whilst Devec checked out the Black Star's new Engineeer. This would ultimately be an invaluable time for a Klingon/Human Hybrid and a Romulan/Human Hybrid to find a way to co-exist...

Dr. Mark Zimmerman

Finishing off his log entry, Dr. Zimmerman sat back in his seat and looked around his desk. Other than a few PADDs, its surface was bare. There was a time when he'd accumulated assorted prized possessions in his office for wont of a better place to keep them. A lull such as this one might have been spent looking at an acquired cultural artifact, or singing to any number of music programs. Instead, he just stared at the cold surface and blinked

1st Lieutenant Devec Avakar

Devec sat in the black leather Captains chair, stairing at the viewscreen. Nothing had happened for hours, not even a minute sub-space distortion or an out of place Proton. Life aboard the Black Star was very boring indeed.

"Sir, We are receiving a distress call - it's the Federation Cargoship Uhria. Sensors show no life signs aboard" reported Corporal Julie Watts at the Science console. She was overviewing the job of Ops at present whilst the Current Ops officer had been 'temporarily' releaved.

"helm, slow to impulse and set an intercept course, maximum speed" ordered the First Lieutenant, grateful of some action at last. "ETA?"

The Duty helm officer ran his fingers over the console, and turned around in his chair "ETA 2 minutes sir" he reported soundly.

"Go to Yellow Alert. Inform all senior officers to report to the bridge immediately."

This was going to prove an interesting moment for the Black Star - not even out of Federation Space and they have already come across something dark and mysterious. Something was wrong, and Devec sure as hell was going to find out...

Dr. Mark Zimmerman
Sgt. Arquin Tan

The sound of Sickbay's doors sliding open broke the silence and jolted Dr. Mark Zimmerman alert. It was his First Officer - the Betazoid - come for inspection. Mark got up from his seat in the office and walked out to the main area, then stood at attention. "Sir."

"At ease, Doctor. Just taking a look at your Sickbay."

"I believe you two have met," Zimmerman remarked with a grin.

"Well, yes, " Arquin said, sweeping his gaze around the room, "But the last time, I was concentrating on borrowing our helmsman's piloting ability. I... didn't have a chance to admire the decor."

The doctor walked with Tan, hands behind his back, a wistful expression on his face. "It looks very medical, don't you think? By the way: that was a very interesting technique you used. It isn't a common Betazoid practice. When we have the time, I'd like to run a full neural scan on you."

"Certainly, Doctor, but I'll tell you right off the bat that my telepathic and empathic abilities far exceed what's normal for a Betazoid."

Zimmerman raised an eyebrow. " *THAT* I could have guessed..." he remarked.

"It's something that was... bequeathed to me... by my family." his brow furrowed slighly as an unpleasant memory flitted through his head. But in a flicker of an eyeblink, the Betazoid was smiling genially again. "Is there anything you might need here that you can forsee?"

"Nothing at the moment. I supplemented Sickbay with additional supplies from Starfleet Medical personally before we left, and- "

=/\= All senior officers: please report to the bridge =/\=

Arquin glanced up, and then back at the Doctor. "Well, so much for pleasantries, Doctor. Let's get to the bridge. Something tells me it's wild-blue-yonder time."

"And not a moment too soon." The Doctor tapped his combadge and ordered a medic to Sickbay. The two officers left as the private arrived.

Dr. Zimmerman and Gunnery Sgt. Tan arrived on the bridge and were greeted by their Commanding Officer Avakar, Corporal Julie Watts at Science, a new face at the helm, an unknown woman working OPS, and someone bearing her resemblance wearing medical blue (counselor perhaps?).

Another woman - who appeared to be part Klingon - was staring at the Mark as though she'd seen a ghost. It struck him as odd. Maybe she'd worked with one EMH too many eight or nine years ago?

1st Lieutenant Devec Avakar

ALL the senior officers were either seated at their stations, or in the case of Doctor Mark Zimmerman, standing at the side of the the Command platform, next to the small Medical Panel on the wall.

"Ok, we have a situation" he began, tapping a button on his Console, bringing up a Computer Generated image of the CargoShip Uhria.

"This is the Cargoship Uhria, on it's way to the Betazoid System with depleted Trilithium Isotopes. Our sensors have shown that she is currently uninhabited, which is naturally unusual for a Cargoship of her tactical importance and sheer size. I have recently spoke with SFHQ, and they have agreed in my decision to investigate the matter, and they also sent me this..." Devec tapped another button, zooming out slightly to a sectorwide view. 5 Red-Dots flashed on the screen labeled with time period and other details.

"These read dots are sensor masks - SF had noticed these roughly a week ago in this Sector, and saw that the high amount of Ions was probably due to an unknown spacial anomoly. Two Days ago, the Science Vessel USS Ganges went to investigate, and noticed that the distortions had stopped after afew hours. Therefore, they were recalled away back to Sol for a refit that was interupted due to this incident." Devec stood and took a breather. Making a speech was a hard thing to do, and it was even harder in such a small place. With moments left to arrival, there was no time to cenveine in the Cenference Room.

"However, another one was spotted, but it's magnitued was intensely larger, and a Chronoton surge was detected. This information was recently relayed to us after being sorted through a Subspace Transceiver, and Ms.Watts here has duely relayed the findings onto the Viewscreen for you to see. Upon arrival at the Cargoship, we are to beam over, stop the ship from moving, and investiage. Gunnery Sergeant Tan, your expertise telepathic expertise will be invaluable if my hunch proves correct."

Devec walked down from the centre stage, and looked at the XO of the ship "You will lead the away team commander. Select your people and report to the Transporter room for immediate transport."

Sgt. Arquin Tan

"I'll ask for volunteers, but I'm going to need tactical and medical personnel, of course. I'll also need a science specialist first off as we investigate the ship."

He turned, looking at the specs of the Uhria.

"Eventually, we'll need an engineer, but not just yet."

He turned back to the staff. "So, who's interested?"

Dr. Mark Zimmerman

Hands clasped behind him, Dr. Zimmerman looked around the bridge, then to Arquin Tan. He raised an eyebrow. "Well, for medical, I might just fit that job description."

Corporal Kovala

After getting over the initial shock of seeing the doctor's familiar face, Kovala took the time to listen to Arquin.

"I'm the engineer, Sir, so I'll be here when you need me!" she announced, hoping to make herself useful.

1st Lieutenant Devec Avakar

"Then it's more or less settled" announced Avakar from his standing position infront of the command chair "Arquin, make arrangements for armament on the way to the transporter room. Casey, stay aboard the Black Star and monitor the Away teams progress: Guide them through the ship if needs be. From all i know of it, it is like a maze in there"

Devec sat back in his char, and looked forward to the viewscreen. "Dismissed, and goodluck..."

Dr. Mark Zimmerman

Mark left the bridge with a couple of other officers and headed for the privacy of his quarters.

As per regulation, the away team was to don a special uniform. Although his method of wardrobe change was rather unconventional, he'd developed a degree of modesty from living with organic beings for so many years.

Once inside, he partially removed his uniform jacket, careful to leave it on one arm, lest it dematerialize. On the sleeve of his blue shirt, there was attached a special device. It was a piece of 29th century technology, one which allowed him the freedom to exit out of range of any holoemitters. He made carefully adjustments to its interface, and his uniform metamorphosized. He put the jacket back on and looked in the mirror. He was dressed entirely in black with the exception of his rank pips and combadge. Mark scrutinized his appearance, then smiled.

Then on to the Medical Bay for his kit...

Marishka Cair:

*Cair standing at the Tactical station listens as Arquin calls for volunteers for the the away mission.. Returning her attention to the console, her screen is picking up something on long range scans..*

Cair: " Sir, I'm picking up a ship on long range sensors."

Avakar: " Can you tell me what it is?.."

Cair:" Adjusting sensors now sir, Sir it's a Talarian vessle.. Their shields are up and weapons armed.. I had thought we were at peace with them sir.."