[USS Chimera] SD 240908.27 || BRAVO || Personal Joint Log || Major Cortez + Commander Summers

=/-\= USS CHIMERA =/-\=

Cortez slumped into the soft cushion of the large chair next to his bed. There were still a few hours left till he would be leaving for the away mission and everything he could think of doing to prepare his team he had done. Now with only a little time left he ordered them all to get some rest before departure, partly because Cortez himself felt tired and could use a nap, but mainly because he wanted the away team to be rested as well.

Leaning his head back he caught glimpse of the light flashing on the computer in front of him. Pressing the button revealed a communication from Lieutenant Jayson King, a lab junkie he had met back on Starbase Unity. The message read as follows:

Richard,

It turns out your suspicions were correct, that sample you gave me was full of a substance called Lysergic Acid Diethylamide. Not sure how you got it but I'd be extra careful what you do with it.

Attached is a data file with more info.

- King

Richard shook his head, trying to get the nightmare out of his head......

(A few days ago, before the ship left Unity)

Cortez stepped into his office, it was the end of the day and a few hours since he'd had his chance meeting with Summers. For some reason or another she always had the ability to make Cortez desire a couple glasses of alcohol. Sitting at his desk he reached underneath to the secret compartment containing a small bottle of dark green liquid and a tumbler. It was a little trick he'd picked up from his old CO Jack Walsh, it seemed all Security Chiefs kept there stash in the same place.

The bottle was green but had no label.  Popping open the lid he poured himself a good sized dose and immediately gulped it down. It tasted disgusting, of course most good alcohol did. He blinked a second then immediately refilled his glass, "Down the hatch", he gasped as he swallowed that as well.  He guessed that it was some sort of strange alien alcohol he had never heard of before.  Its smell was very medicinal and thick.

Suddenly his eyes became heavy. A couple seconds later he closed his eyes and fell into a sleep...

"Get your feet of the desk!"

Her voice woke him from his dreams at the same moment as she gave his boots a hefty shove that caused his feet to fall off the end of the desk. "What do you think you're doing anyway?" she asked eyeing him as he righted himself from the almost toppled chair. " Sleeping on duty are we?"

Startled, Richard jumped up, in doing so his leg caught the side of the chair he was sitting in and knocked him off balance and onto the floor. "What the-", he managed to say as he pushed himself onto his feet. It took a second for his vision to clear enough to realize that Rangi Summers was standing in front of his desk. He wanted to scream at her, but all that seemed to come out was "How?.

"How what?" she asked looking down at him as he struggled to stand up. " Ohhh...you mean how did I get here?...through the door of course." She pointed to the closed door and the lowered shades at the windows. " Very cosy in here isn't it?" she asked giving him a sweet smile. " Aren't you going to ask me to sit down?"

"Uhh, yah", Richard said straightening his shirt and running his hand through his hair, "I should sit down", why the hell didn't someone warn me she was here, moving his chair to its spot he sat back down. As he looked up he noticed the bottle of alcohol still sitting in front of him, with en empty glass. "Excuse me", he said quickly as he fumbled for the items and slipped them away into the desk. "So, what can I do for you, Commander", he said as his attention was drawn to the window behind Rangi.

Rangi looked around for another chair. There was one pushed back against the wall but Cortez hadn't seemed to notice it so she looked back at him then perched herself on the edge of the desk.

" Just visiting." she said and at his astounded expression added " No..not really. I came to give you this." She laid a padd down in front of him.

At that point the giant stingray floating through space right outside his office window had flown off, along with the disbelief that permeated Richards face.  Shaking his head he grabbed the PADD and let his eyes adjust, after a few seconds he could make out the words. "THAT'S INSANE", his voice boomed. "You can't be Captain of the Chimera", he dropped the PADD, "You'll get us all killed!".

Rangi laughed as though amused by an extremely funny joke then suddenly she was silent and her eyes were hard as she stared at him. " I don't think that's the way to talk to your CO do you?" she asked then changed her mood again just as suddenly.

" Actually, Rojac thinks I'll be an excellent CO. He was quite keen for me to do it once he's had a little chat with Shane. They soon came to an agreement. He's packing even as we speak." She smiled to Cortez then frowned.

"Are you feeling ok?" she said "... you look very pale. Hang on." she hopped off the desk and bent down. " Now where do you keep it?" her muffled voice came then: " Aha...'here' it is!" She emerged a moment later holding the bottle. " I thought you'd have a little supply of...medication?" She grinned at him " Where did you get it from this time?" She undid the top and sniffed the contents jerking her head back suddenly and exclaiming " Oh!!" as she did so. She re screwed the top and dangled the bottle in front of him. " I think I'd better keep this don't you?" she asked and before he could answer, dropped the bottle into her bag. He hadn't noticed it before.

Richard's vision was going blurry again.  He shook his head and rubbed his eyes.  Was that a mouse running across the floor? No, it was a cat!.  What is a cat doing here?  Focus.  "No", he said.  "You've poisoned me!", he gasped at his throat, "And now your taking the evidence!",  he lunged towards the woman but only managed to find air as he came crashing into the wall.  He twisted around on the ground and looked up, she was still in the same place as before, except now it seemed she was laughing at him.

" I remember you when you were in ODA." she said " You've certainly slowed up since then. Its a good thing that the Admiral has given me personal charge of your teams don't you think?"  She tilted her head on one side and observed him for a moment.  " Yes...I think you need toughening up a bit." she continued "...so one hundred press ups and another hundred situps... fifty laps of the outer deck...with full battle gear of course...then down to the pool and say....one hundred lengths just to cool off." She smiled sweetly then walked around the desk until she was standing close to him. Next moment her face was within an inch of his own. " GO!!!" she yelled.

"NO!", Richard yelled as he jumped up from his seat at the desk.  He looked around real quick, no Summers...no rats..no giant stingray.  "It was a dream",  he sighed to himself as he slumped back into his chair.

(Back to the present)

Cortez pushed another button and saved all the info on the drug that had been in the alcohol, he then went to his dresser where the rest of it was located.  Pulling out the top drawer he lifted the bottle, slid it into a box and sealed the lid.  He then wrote the name, "Jack Walsh", and made a mental note to have it shipped to him once he got back to Starbase Unity.  He grinned wishing he could be there when he tried it.

Then, after placing the box back into the drawer and closing it he fell onto his bed and into a light, but much needed sleep.


=/-\= END LOG =/-\=

Major Richard Cortez
CSEC
USS Chimera

+

Commander Rangi Summers

(Played by Rangi)

[USS Chimera] SD 240908.27 | Joint Personal Log | Richard Sharpe & Chloe Merau

=/\= Begin Log =/\=

 

Chloe woke up at 0530, normal for her on a day she had duty. She didn't want to leave the warm bed but she did anyway. Richard was still asleep so she left him there. He could still sleep for a few more moments and she didn't want to bother him since he had been staying up lately. Going into the bathroom she tossed her shorts and t-shirt she slept in on the floor getting into the shower.

 

Spending a good amount of time in there, she grabed a towel wraping it around her before she got out. Leaving the bathroom, and her clothes on the floor too mind, she went into the bedroom. Keeping the towel around her with one hand she kneeled down and with the other started to shuffle about in her duffle for a clean pilot's uniform.

 

Richard sat up in bed. He’d been in that state where he was no longer asleep, but not really awake, and as a consequence, hadn’t wanted to get up. However, he was awake enough now to slink down the bed towards Chloe, and pull the back of the towel off, to let it fall open. He chuckled mischievously.

 

"Hey, it's cold!" She said somewhat upset with him, but not really. Grabbing her towel back she wrapped herself more securely this time then grabbed the uniform from her duffle. "What was that for?" She asked as she tossed her clean uniform on the bed, pulling her hair to one side over her shoulder. Her blonde hair was growing much longer than she normally kept it, which was very short. Now it was growing way past her shoulders.

 

“Fun?” He replied innocently.

 

Starting to braid her hair tightly in a complicated weave. She didn't want it to get tangled while she had her helmet during duty. She couldn't help being too mad at him. "If it wasn't so cold in here I wouldn't mind so much." She grumbled some. During the night she had woken up several times and told the computer to turn the temp up, but there seemed to be something wrong with it, because it still stayed the same cold temp.

 

Chloe had always hated being cold.

 

“Its not my fault its cold. They haven’t cracked the environmental control systems yet.” Richard grumped on the bed.

 

Sitting on the bed with her back twoard him as she finished with her hair she gave a sigh. "You should start getting ready. Duty shift starts soon for you too." She mentioned. Earlier her back hadn't been turned to him but now it was noticeable that there were black marks starting on the back of her neck going down her spine and was hidden farther under the towel around her. "They better get to fixing the enviromental controls soon or Im going to have to replicate another blanket.”

 

“Nag nag nag.” Richard said, getting off the bed and walking to the bathroom. “You’d think we were being selfish focusing our efforts on getting the tactical systems upgraded.”

 

"I didn't say that, Richard." She said calmly. It was a very good thing that she had a very mild temper and was almost always calm. It she wasn't they would always be playing off eachother. Standing up she let her towel fall to the ground, then started to get dressed into the uniform she had pulled out.

 

“Then replicate another blanket then.” He said, tossing his clothing off and stepped into the shower. “I have enough demands from everyone on this station, the Klingons and the Erassains, without you adding to them”

 

She didn't say anything after he got into the shower. She wasn't hurt by his words, she knew how much stress he was under at the moment. Finishing getting dressed she went to the replicator getting a cup of coffee and making it how he liked it. She set in the bathroom for him with out saying anything before heading back into the main living area. She got some breakfast, having too. If she flew on an empty stomach she got sick.

 

Richard stepped out of the shower, and after drying himself off, noticed the mug of coffee. He sipped at it gladly, feeling the warmth of the java seep into his sleepy muscles and sluggish brain. He threw on a duty uniform and walked into the living area. “Thanks for the coffee.” He said.

 

 

"No problem." She said from the couch eating a bowl of oatmeal, which she had ordered hotter than normal. "Do you know where the pilots are going to be working on?" She asked currious. She was currious what she would have to do here, and she was tring to bring some conversation to the room rather than silence.::

 

“I’m detaching a combat wing to support Easy Company during their assault on Norris Eight.” Richard said. “They may need air support, and I want it on hand for when they do.”

 

"That will deffently give me something to do." She liked the idea, it would give her more than her fair share of action, and would allow her to do something she loved to do- fly.

"I've felt useless too long." She said finishing her breakfast and putting away her bowl.

 

Richard nodded. “Major Nolan will brief you when you arrive on the deck.” He said.

 

"I expect Nolan will." She said, watching him oddly. "Is there something wrong, Richard?"

 

“I just don’t like the thought of sending you into harms way.” He said, honestly. “I knew it would have to happen eventually, but doesn’t mean I have to like it any.”

 

"I can't have you saying that, Richard." Her voice was soft. She knew his late wife had been a Marine too, and had died that way. "Im a pilot, and I love it almost as much as I love you." She said watching him closely. She didn't like it when he had to leave and go in harms way when he was on duty but she knew it was what he did.

 

“I know, and I would never ask you to be anything else.” He said. “Just know that I do this with bitterness in my heart.”

 

"Im one of the best pilots around, Richard. Im not braging, Im just good." She said as she walked next to him. "Im going to be fine out there."

 

“I know.” He said, a weak smile on his face. “Amanda was the best damn marine under my command, and she still got herself killed. I consider myself one of the very best, and I still get shot up, slashed, blown up and usually chewed out by Harper on every mission I go on. Don’t expect me to like putting you in danger, but I’ll do it because it is my job and it is your job to do it.”

 

He put a hand on her arm. “In here, you’re just Chloe, my love and my desire. Out there, you’re Lieutenant Merau and I’m General Sharpe. Once I step out of this office, I won’t be allowed to focus on your plight directly, so let me have my moment with Chloe, instead of with Lieutenant Merau.”

 

Her arms slid over his shoulders, hugging him tightly. "I love you, Richard. Know that, and don't forget it." She said quietly, whispering it into his ear.

 

“I won’t.” He said, putting his arms around his fiancée, and planting a kiss on her lips. “Don’t you forget that I love you too.”

 

She kissed him, then pulled slightly away. "It's 0630, Richard." She had to be on duty in several moments. Moving toward the door, she gave a smile, "I will never forget."

 

=/\= End Log =/\=

 

MGen. Richard Sharpe

CO

1^st MEF

 

2d Lt. Chloe Merau

Pilot

501^st Air Group, 1^st MEF

 

 

[USS Chimera] SD 240908.27 || BRAVO || JL || Capt Rojac & Cmdr Wellington ||

[Ready Room - Deck One - USS Chimera-C]

Athena walked up to the Ready Room door and hit the chime.  She had a copy of her report on the padd in her hand as she awaited a response.

 

The response came as Rojac looked up toward the door, away from the reports he had been perusing through following his departmental inspections. He saw the elegant form of Commander Wellington pass through the threshold, and smiled as he reclined back into the soft leather of his office chair.

"Commander," He nodded, "It is good to see you. Please have a seat." He waved a free hand toward one of the pair of black leather chairs in front of his desk.

 

Athena walked in and took a seat as requested.  She waited patiently while the captain finished up the task he was working on. The Captain signed out of his terminal, and the desktop went blank - reverting back to a reflective black surface. "I suppose you are here to hand-in your report?"

"It would be the most likely action," she said as she handed him the padd.  "My department is working well but frustrated with delays even if they understand them.  Overall morale is only fair but acceptable with the work we are doing at least so far."

 

"Only acceptable?" Rojac's face showed his obvious concern. "I knew they wouldn't be too happy about heading behind enemy lines, but this is the SSF." He shook his head. "Are any particular crew causing any trouble?"

 

{Just Richard Cortez causing some ruffled feathers} She thought with a small sigh.  She had a debate with herself with how much more to bother the captain with.  "I guess I might have to question Major Cortez a bit."

"Cortez?" This peeked the Captain's interest. He scooted his chair closer to the desk and rested his arms atop the desk top. Cortez was about to embark on a highly sensitive demolitions mission on an unknown base. And he had just stolen an order of munitions from UNITY before their departure. "What about him, Commander?"

"Well, although its true he's been to see me he really hasn't completed his phsyc eval.  Mimi indicated that their session was to brief for her to make a recommendation and his visit with me seemed..."  {Don't say it was a big joke.  It would serve Richard right if he caught a little heat over wasting my time.}

 

"Seemed what?" Rojac asked. He was even more concerned now that Athena seemed to have difficultly describing the problem. When it came to her duties, the Commander was usually very straight forward and decisive.

 

"Well... he indicated an attachment to a fellow crew member in a high position," She finally decided on.

 

Rojac was taken aback. "An attachment? Already?" The Captain was puzzled. "He's only been back aboard for about a week? How could he develop an attachment so quickly?" His mind drifted, going over possibilities. "Unless it is an attachment to a crew member aboard that he used to work with..." He looked up at Athena and a sense of dawning understanding came over him. He remembered during his time under a Captain Guzman on the Chimera that Wellington and Cortez had been close - up until the crash on the LOST planet in the Spinward Marsh where brain damage caused Cortez to hold the Counselor and Commander Summers hostage for some time in a cave. Rojac was on the team that had rescued them. Was Cortez feeling some sort of guilt toward the Counselor for the incident and trying to make up for it?

"I think I understand now, Commander." Rojac said. "I give you permission to pass on his evaluation and forward it to a Junior Counselor."

Sensing that Cropa thought it was her she relied, "His attachment isn't with me...."

 

"It's not?" Rojac said, leaning back in his chair. "Who is it then?"

 

"He came to me wanting to talk about some disturbing dreams.... according to him they were ..."

 

Rojac was growing impatient now. "Commander. Stop stalling. If something is wrong with my CSec I need to know."

 

With a sigh she finally spit out, " He said that he was dreaming of you... as a lover and with his past.." her words fell off as she shrugged her shoulders.  She watched as the captain took the information in and waited until she sensed discomfort.

 

"What!?" Rojac sounded surprised. His eyes widened. "Are you serious?"

 

"Of course he did finally laugh hilariously making it a big joke and wasting my time."

At that, the Captain chuckled. "You had me going there for a while, Athena." He allowed himself a small smile. "So he wasn't cooperative in the session? Is that the major problem?"

"only that he hasn't been particularly cooperative in any session if he's made it to them."

Rojac was no eager to change the subject. "What about the other senior staff members? Are they ready for the mission - in your opinion?"

"Yes, they will all give their best and then some if they can or its the impression they're giving."

 

"Good." Rojac picked up the padd. "I will give this report a good reading. Thank you for dropping it off, Commander. Dismissed."

[End Log]

Captain Cropa Rojac
Commanding Officer

and

Commander Athena Wellington
Chief Counselor

USS Chimera NCC 96899-C

[USS Chimera] SD 240908.27 || DELTA || JL || MSarg Angel & Corp Nihlus || Deneva ||

[Lakan City - Deneva]

Corporal Nihlus was not your typical Vulcan non-com officer. Perhaps it was because he wasn't a full Vulcan, but half human as well. His genetic make-up was becoming increasingly more common in the centuries after first contact. But unlike the famous President Spock of the same genetic inheritance, Nihlus did not embrace his Vulcan heritage. Perhaps it was because his father used that famous Vulcan logic to justify his escape from a family life. No, that was more than likely the case.

Nihlus saw his father as a coward - a man, or Vulcan who used his job at the Vulcan science academy to get away from the responsibilities manifested in the form of himself and his mother. He didn't how up again until Nihlus was an adult, and expressed an interest in joining the Starfleet Corp. His father tried to convince him otherwise. Nihlus didn't listen.

Nihlus had spent the last ten years in the service. He'd worked under many young inexperienced Second and First Lieutenants that were in charge of his platoon. Sometimes he respected them, but most of the time he didn't. It was hard for the half-Vulcan to trust anyone who was stupider than he was. Yet, whenever he was offered a commissioned position he'd turn it down saying he didn't want the responsibilities.

His ten years of service earned him this sabbatical he was on now. He decide to spend the year on Deneva, one of the most pristine Federation worlds that wasn't as cliché as Risa. He found it hard to settle down after years in an SSF platoon, he was always looking over his shoulder, always planning a means of escape. And he was always armed.

It was because of this ingrained vigilance that he noticed the middle aged, six foot tall human with brown hair, brown eyes, and a militaristic demeanour two blocks behind him.

Nicholas watched with interest as the Vulcan Corporal moved along the busy street constantly looking around at all the best routes for a quick exit and also over his shoulder. He knew his demeanour had given him away when their eyes met and he smiled to himself realising that Nihlus would know he would know all the exits just as well. He stood and watched the man with interest; he wondered if he would be a suitable tactician for his team and just how he was going to convince him that undercover, classified, unsanctioned operations was the best step forward for his career.

He moved closer and tossed down the news PADD he had been pretending to read. Moving closer he could see that Nihlus was onto him, he knew Nicholas was after him. Nicholas didn't however know what was going to happen next. Nicholas was now just some feet away from the Corporal and decided to make an initial move to test him. "Corporal Nihlus… ATEN-SHUN!" he ordered as the crowds parted and watched the strange scene on this bustling high street.

Nihlus cast an annoyed glance over his shoulder at the proclamation. How does he know my name? He thought. Starfleet. He answered.

Not wanting his sabbatical to end early he darted to the left, through the parting crowds, and into the supermarket. Without looking back, Nihlus pushed past a line at a register and headed down the hygiene aisle. He looked to the left, and headed for the door marked "Employees Only" next to the dairy case.

Nicholas sighed, the Vulcan was going to make him run for no reason… he watched as the man darted into the shop. He wondered for a moment the likely route and broke out into a sprint chasing down the Vulcan flashing his Starfleet ID when the local security officers in the shop looked like they were going to stop him entering the restricted area. He arrived in the freight and packing area and looked around, obviously the Vulcan with his head start had moved on but where?

The Vulcan passed through the freight door, and hoped down the drop-off to the ramp below. It was here in this secluded alley, not in the middle of a busy street, where he decided to confront his stalker. He faced the door and crossed his arms.

Scanning the area Nicholas spotted several routes and then chose the one that a SSF operator would take; back out onto the street. Heading through the freight door he saw the Vulcan standing and waiting.

"Who are you?" Nihlus asked, cutting to the chase.

"You know, running from a senior officer is a court-martial offence Corporal. I know a lot about you, what you've done, what you want to do with your life. Tell me, what is so bad about responsibility that makes you run away from it?" he asked not answering the Vulcan's question directly.

Nihlus' eyes stared with intent at the man. "I'm not running from responsibility, I'm trying to enjoy my time off... sir." He tagged on the last bit with a healthy dose of sarcasm - highly unusual coming from someone who looked like a vulcan. "Forgive me if I'm not too keen on following the orders of a green L-T again. And how do you know what I want to do with my life, Mr. ---- "

"First mistake Corporal; you think I'm some fresh-faced Lieutenant here to draft you back to some waste-of-space platoon. My name is Nicholas Angel; I'm a Master Sergeant who; like you rejected the commissions time and time again to stay in the field and do something worthwhile. I've been doing that for the past twenty-six years so forgive me if I'm not too keen running after Corporals that think holiday is more important than service" he replied coldly. "I have a job offer for you" he said tossing a PADD over which simply read 'Do you want to make a real difference in Special Forces?' and then gave the options of 'yes' or 'no'. "Think long and hard Corporal, your decision will shape your future" he added.

Nihlus looked at the PADD and laughed "Is this a joke?" He asked. The smirk looked unsettling nest to the pointy ears. "You hand me this padd with the vaguest expression known to the galaxy and expect me to make what you say is a career changing decision?" The smirk disappeared; replaced again by a more conventional no-nonsense expression. "Sorry if I seem a bit sceptical, Master Sergeant what's-your-face, but it would be illogical to make a decision with so little information."

"That's why I'm hoping your human side will take over and you will make a decision. Yes and your future changes dramatically and your career reaches new heights… you say no and your holiday continues, you go back to serving in those same-old platoons with fresh-faced lieutenants and never really make anything of yourself… your choice… yes or no" he said simply.

"Excuse me!" The Supermarket manager appeared at the backdoor. "I don't know what the hell you guys are doing, but I'm going to have to ask you to leave the premises before I call the police." The balding man held his hands on his hips in an attempt to look authoritative. 

Nicholas turned on his heel to face the Supermarket manager. "It's fine, we're from Starfleet Security and we were running surprise security control tests on business premises most likely to be targeted by Romulan assault teams… our report indicates that if they are likely to attack it will be hard, fast and most likely premises that provide necessary services to populations like your own… you failed" he lied.

The balding man's hands fell to the side, in unison with his jaw. He stammered, "Uh... Uh... I did?"

"Yes." Nihlus said, adopting a more monotone vulcan cadence. "We will require copies of your latest security inspection by Lakan City Police. Will you please retrieve it for us?"

"Yeah. Sure." The man nervously rubbed the top of his shiny cranium. "One minute," he called back as he waddled off.

Once he was out of sight Nihlus turned back to the Sergeant. The emotion was back in his voice, "If this turns out to be a boring desk job I'm out. And if I have to babysit some commissioned greenie fresh out of Quantico I'm putting him in orbit without an EVA."

Nicholas chuckled. "I run a team called Division Delta, undercover and officially non-existent. We're an SSFI team attached to the 1^st Task Force that deal with all black operations that Special Forces Intelligence feels we need to undertake – we go where Starfleet cant be seen to act using the latest technology. We have bases on the colony world below Starbase Unity and one masked base on the Starbase itself. Only the 1^st Task Force Command Team and the SSFI Liaison Officer know of our true purpose, and on the records we're an SSFI Training Division… we also have a shop on the Starbase…" he said smiling "This is far from a desk job" he said. "Oh… there are no officers involved. It's my team, there's a Sergeant and four Corporals" he added.

"Good." Nihlus smirked. "But I must warn you... I'm difficult to handle."

[End Log]

Master Sargeant Nicholas Angel

Commanding Officer

and

Corporal Nihlus

Tactician

Division Delta