"Mr Westfall, I don't want to disturp you, but it looks like we lost = controll over the ship's computer"Highwaij said as he walked to another station

Highwaij reported to Westfall since it was Westfalls watch, at the same time he reached for his weapon, there was something he didn't like even = as a Ferengi.

Verrader #153"
By: Patia Zoei, Chief Counselor, [PC]
Teilani Dane, Chief Medical Officer, [PC]

Stardate: 58204.24 0400

=Deck 10, corridor = in front of Dr Dane’s quarters

Teilani squatted down. Stroking Chesters fur. It made her relax. Something was not right. It was too quiet. She placed her hand on the wall and fell the little vibrations passing through it. Good they were still flying.

“What you think Chester, she said looking at him. Chester looked at the female, his tail swaying from left to right. “Shall we go for a walk?” Maybe we can get something to nibble at the lounge.” Teilani stood up and began walking with Chester on her heels.

=counselor's quarters=

Patia's attempts to open her door had failed. She glanced around her office. One of her pictures from her time on Earth was mounted on a heavy metal frame. Quickly, she unbolted the frame edges. The sharp edges of the screw bit into her fingers, pinching the skin. The pain spurred her on, twisting more quickly. One, two, three, all four screws were undone. After more than 20 years in one position, it took some wiggling to wrench the metal bar out, even after the screws have been removed. Once it was free, Patia crawled to the door. She laid flat on the floor and eyed the spacing of the door frame. There was a slight gap at the very bottom of the door and it extended slightly up between the two door plates. With a chuckle, Patia thought once this situation was resolved, someone in maintenance should take a look at the door. It wasn't very secure as it stood.

The metal bar cold and heavy in her hands, she wedged it into the opening. Bracing herself, she heaved upward and heard the door frame give, but the the gain was marginal. She thrust the bar through the wider opening. This time, she laid flat on the floor and shoved the bar up and away from herself. There was now a solid inch of space separating the two halves of the door. Patia angled the bar through the opening, bracing it on the corridor floor just outside the door. With another shove, she gained five more inches of space. If she could get just three more inches, she should be able to squeeze through the door way. Calmly, she replaced the bar on the floor. She shoved again. This time, the bar slipped. Patia crashed, shoulder first, into the door. Very slowly, Patia shook herself off. It hurt like no other pain, but now was not the time to deal with it. With a new resolve, Patia thrust the bar back into place. With a mighty heave, she leaned into the bar. The door grated open four more inches.

Patia grabbed her PADD and stuffed it into her pocket. She crossed back to the doorway. She felt the bruise from her earlier accident already forming along her shoulder. A noise from the hallway caught her attention. She pulled an old fashioned pocket mirror from her pack. She angled it around the doorway and saw Dr. Dane in the hall.

Patia turned sideways, bracing the back of her shoulder against the edge of the door. She sucked in her breath, to make herself as small as possible, and slid out the door.

"Hey, Red, what has you out and about this early? And did you have as much trouble getting out of your quarters as I did?" Patia gestured at the skewed door frame.

"Hey Patia. Goodmorning. Teilani said with a smile. "Chester went all nutty and decided he wanted to go for a walk. Yes I had to use my tricorder to get out of the door. I tried to reach engineering but there was no response." Teilani looked at the mangled door. She chuckled. "I hope that the Zion has insurance for that." "Have you any idea what is going on. It is too darn quiet."

"I hope they have insurance, too. I don't know what is happening here. The computer tells me 'Access Denied', the replicator won't give me tea, and my door wouldn't open. I think we need to reach someone on the bridge to find out what is happening, but we may have to get creative if everything computer related is locked down as tight as it appears to be."

" I concur," Teilani replied. "What's wrong with your shoulder. Let me look at it." as she saw Patia making a painful twitch.

"I had a little run in with the door, and the door won." Patia hitched her shoulder up. The muscles were starting to stiffen. "What do you think is our best plan of action?"

"I agree with you we need to get to the bridge or engineering to find out what is going on." My guess is that the turbo lifts wont work either." Teilani started to laugh outloud. "You know what I do soo hope that the replicators are working once we get to either the bridge or engineering. I must have a cup of coffee."

"So your up for a long walk?" she asked questionably.

"Before we start walking, I heard from Lieutenant Atwood this morning. It appears that all communication is locked down. The only way we were able to communicate was telepathically. He is working on getting out of his quarters. He stated the replicator and computers are not working there either. Also, I had the strangest dream last night. It was very vivid, very real. I dreamt Commander Wright was attacked by a shark. His hand was bitten off. If it wasn't for the fact that the injury would be impossible to have happen to him on board the Zion, I would be really worried. I do have to say, though, that dream isn't making me feel any more settled about what is happening now."

"Hmm, Teilani's mind was working like crazy. Putting all the little puzzle pieces together. "You know Patia, now that the computer is not working, no replicators, no comm system. How about the safeties on the holodeck. What if they were turned off because of this? So your dream could be real. If only we could find out where everybody is."

"Right but lets be positive, it might just be a computer glitch."

TBC

Out on the Open Sea Part II "
By: Giuseppe Silvio, Chief Engineer, [RNPC]
Jonathan Wright, Executive Officer, [PC]

Stardate: 58204.24 0400

Wright breathed air thoguht his regulator as he adjusted his boyancy compensator. He gave Silvio the thumbs up sign and together they swam through the beautiful oceam. Wright marveled at the detail. Several curious angel fish swam up to him and he stopped and watched them as they swam around him. He tried to reach out and touch one of them be it darted away from him.

Wright left the angel fish behind and caught up with Silvio. Together they swam into a huge coral reaf. It was amazing. The animal life was abundant. To Wright it seemed to provide almost a circus like atmosphere. Wright swam over the coral being careful not to touch it. A beautify parrot fish swam by. Wright had completly forgotten about the Zion and was lost in this wonderful adventure. Certianly, Silvio was a talent holodeck programmer.

Wright's thought were suddenly shattered as a dark shadow swam over them. Looking up he saw a very large great white shark. He looked to Silvio who appeared to be confused. Wright and Silvio began swimming back to the boat. He figured that as long as they left the shark alone they would be ok. The reef was full of other food sources for him. Wright figured wrong.

The shark came right at him. It grabbed his right arm in it;s mouth and began tearing it apart. The pain was incredible. Wright was so shocked he lost his air regulator. He began hitting the shark with his left hand. Silvio joined him and togehter they managed to beat the shark off for the moment.

Wright reach down to pick up his regulator but when he brought his hand up to his face he found that it was gone. He was in shock. He could not believe it. Silvio replaced his air regulator in his mount and the two of them went to the surface Silvio spit out his regulator and said "Computer, end program."

There was no response.

Silvio tried again. "Computer, arch."

Nothing.

Silvio was not sure what was wrong but he could see the Commander was losing blood. He took out his dive knife and cut a net he had brought along. He tried to use the net as a tournaquet and together they swam back toards the boat.

Silvio helped Wright onto the boat and took him below decks and set him on a bed.. He tore a sheet to make a better tourniquet and used part of a fishing fod to crank it down. Satisfied that the bleeding was stopped he covered the commander with a blanket and went topside. He tried several more times to get the computer to end the program but all went unanswered. Something was really wrong.

To make matteres worse Silvio noted that the sea was starting to get heavy. If he was right there was a storm coming. He had not programmed these things, someone else must have. Silvio fired up the boat and headed back to the harbor.. Once he was there he would try to figure our what was going on.

On the Open Sea Part III "
By: Giuseppe Silvio, Chief Engineer, [RNPC]
Jonathan Wright, Executive Officer, [PC]
Brikhoff, Hologram, [NPC]

Stardate: 58204.24 0500

Silvio looked at the rolling sea. "This cannot be happening", he thought. "It was right here." He looked out at the spot where a busy harbor had once been. It was gone. This was some vacation. Commander Wright had been hurt by a holographic shark, the seas were becoming violent, and now the harbor was gone. This was no longer his program. Someone had altered it.

Silvio checked to make sure the ships bilge pumps were functioning and then retuned below deck to check on the Commander. Commander Wright had come around. He was locoing at his missing limb and the tourniquet that Silvio had applied.

"Glad you are back," said Silvio

Wright grimaced as he moved his stump. "Most of me anyway. What is happening Silvio?"

"It seems that someone has re-written my program. I did not include violent sharks or stormy seas." Silvio gritted his teeth in frustration. "They have also removed standard safety protocols and removed our command authorizations. We are stuck in here."

"We had better get to dry land then." Wright noticed a red and white first aid kit hanging on the wall. He reached for the kit figuring that it would at least have bandages he could use.

"I wish we could Sir. Whoever altered my program has removed all reference to dry land." Silvio slammed his hand against the wall.

"Wonderful," said Wright. Opening the kit he was surprised to find a standard Maquis med kit. "Silvio, you have written this program to great detail I am surprised you included a maquis kit." He paused as he read the hypo spray vials. "Not that I am complaining."

Silvio Shrugged. "My research into the period could not find what was supposed to be in there so I just programmed the computer to replicate a standard med kit."

"Lucky for me," said Wright. He took out the medical tricorder and scanned himself. He had lost a great deal of blood but with the help of the kit he would survive. He handed the hypo spray to Silvio, "Here hold this," he said.

Silvio stepped forward and took it. He watched as Wright selected a vial and inserted it. He then took the hypo spray back and pressed it to his neck. The hypo spray hissed as it administered the medication. "Good thing you are a doctor Sir."

Wright took another device out of the kit and pointed it over his injured arm. When he activated it a blue light was emitted from it. He ran the light over his arm and then turned it off. "Help me take this tourniquet off Silvio."

Silvio slowly began to remove the tourniquet. "There," he said as he took it off completely.

"Thanks."

Silvio picked up the medical tricorder. "Sir, are you done with this?" He held out the tricroder.

"Yes, Why?

"I think I can configure this to filter out the holoimages and find the access panel. I can shut down the holodeck from there."

"By all means, do it," said Wright.

Silvio began re-configuring the tricorder. When all of a sudden it de-materialized right find his hands. "What the-"

"I am afraid I cannot let you do that," said a young man who had just appeared from nowhere.

"Who are you," asked Wright.

The man smiled at Wright. "The name is Birkhoff. How did you like my shark?"

The Raging Seas "
By: Giuseppe Silvio, Chief Engineer, [RNPC]
Jonathan Wright, Executive Officer, [PC]

Stardate: 58204.24 0545

The holoimage of Birkhoff had faded It was a surprise that explained a lot of things. "What do you made of this Commander," asked Silvio.

"Well, now we know why your holodeck program is not working right." Wright folded a shet he had taken off the bed and used it to make a sling for his arm. "Did you happen to notice what he was wearing?"

"Yes, he was wearing standard brig issued uniforms. He is one of the prisoners," offered Silvio.

"Yes, that coupled with the fact that we are stuck in here means that the inmates have taken over the asylum." Wright noticed that the boat was rocking more as the time went by, "What is the status topside?"

"We have a nasty storm coming in. Which I assume is the creation of this Birkhoff fellow," said Silvio. Silvio opened a closet door. He pulled out a orange life jacket and a yellow rain slicker. He handed them to Wright. "Here put these on." Silvio also donned his life jacket and rain coat. "I know you are hurt Sir but if we are going to get through this I am going to need your help."

"You are the Captain of this ship." Wright took the life jacket and rain coat and put them on with a little help from Silvio. "How can I help?"

"The sea is getting rough and as the waves swell water will come over the sides." Silvio paused; Wright took no comfort in the grim expression on his face. "I need you to keep the engine compartment from flooding. There are several pumps in there, keep them from getting plugged."

They made their way topside. The sky was dark and lightning flashed brightly in the sky. Wright had never before imagined such natural fury. The dark sea was rolling. Silvio tapped him on the shoulder. He was trying to shout something to him but Wright could not hear him over the roar of the ocean. Silvio was holding onto a railing and pointing at his hand. Wright figured that he was being told to hang on. "No problem there," thought Wright as he grabbed a hold of the railing with his remaining hand.

Carefully, Wright made his way to the engine compartment. He closed the hatch but even that could not keep the water from seeping in. Wright started all the pumps. It was not easy. The ship began pitching about on the ocean. Twice, Wright thought as if he was going to be sick. Wright worked as fast as he cold keeping the pumps clear.

As the boat rocked with the stormy waves the water began to fill the engine compartment at a faster rate. Wright was starting to become worried that the pumps would not be able to keep up with flood rate. The ship gave a shudder and began rocking furiously as if it were out of control. Water began gushing into the compartment. It was no use. Wright had to abandon his post.

***

Silvo watched to make sure Wright made it into the engine room and then made his way to the helm control. He grasped the wheel and began guiding the boat against the tall waves.

The Waves lashed out at the little fishing boat. Some of them two to three times its size washed over the boat. Silvio fought the waves working hard to keep the boat from turning over in the water. The deafening roar of the sea filled his ears and violent streaks of lightning plowed though the sky. The wind, rain and waves assaulted Silvio for what seemed to him like en eternity. Just when Silvio thought the worse of the storm was behind him its intensity increased.

Finally the battered boat could take it no more and gave a shudder. Silvio suddenly no longer had helm control. They were out of control.

Tighten The Grip "
By: Capt. Fred Rogers, Federation Prisoner, [NPC]
Birkoff, Evil Bad Guy, [NPC]

Stardate: 58204.24 0555

As Birkoff waited for Rogers to return, he studied the ship in great detail. He continued making additional modifications to his tactics as he went. "A cloak!" he said with a feigned enthusiasm as he activated it upon discovering this amenity.

So far the computer had denied 1679 requests. Birkoff grinned as he imagined the confused looks on people's faces.

"Hmm... what have we here? A marine contingency? Marines bad for Birkoff." He raised a containment field around deck 11 as best he could. There was at least 1 hole in the field where the plasma fed through to the warp nacelles. It didn't matter much, crispy marines couldn't fight so good.

Birkoff reinforced the containment field around the primary and secondary computer core, as well as auxiliary control and main engineering. When he was finished he slowed the ship and it dropped out of warp and computed a new course

Flying a maquis ship from auxiliary control wasn't his forte. Once the course was laid in he re-engaged the engines at warp 8.

Captain Rogers entered auxiliary control. "My men have taken control of Engineering. We not have control of Deck's 4-5 and 15-17."

Birkoff smiled, and activated the shipwide comm system.

"Good morning Zion, This is your new captain speaking. If you look out your starboard window, you will see we are passing by no where, in fact, we are heading into Cardassian space. Once we arrive at my employer's location, you will all become his slaves and the Zion will be his. As you can see, we're are in control and you are not. I suggest if you are uncomfortable with this new arrangement, feel free to whine and cry about it."

Birkoff sat back and smiled.

Verrader #99"
By: Indy Jones, Cadet, [NPC]
Samantha Carter, Security Officer, [RNPC]

Stardate: 58204.24 0600

=Deck 8=

Sam removed the access hatched and dropped herself onto the corridor floor of deck 8. She rose to her full height and arched her back. Her back and knees were hurting her, it had taken almost 2 hours to get from deck 10 to deck 8. She felt dirty and smelly.

Deck 8 was the location of sickbay and the doctors office so Sam decided to check out if perhaps Doctor Dane or any other members of the medical staff were locked in. She started walking, stretching the calves of her lowerlegs to get rid of the prickling bits. As she reached sickbay she noticed that the area was dark. Conclusion there was nobody locked in. Sam stopped and rubbed her knees. Not only did her knees hurt but she was also hungry. Sam wished that she had eaten a bit more than just the soup of last night.

As she turned a corner she heard some one calling at her. “Lieutenant, Lieutenant Carter please wait up.” She turned around and saw 2 young cadets come running up to her. They looked nervous and a bit panicked.

“Sorry Lt, one of them said, trying to catch his breath. “Have you any idea what is going on. We had to clime all the way down from deck 7. None of the turbolifts are working.”

“Calm down cadet,” Sam said with a calm and soothing voice. “Calm down.”

“Also the comm. Systems are down, the other cadet continued. Sam nodded. “Yes we are aware of it. Just relax. It will probably be a computer glitch.”

“Now tell me when you were climbing down have you seen any of the other crew members or anything which you might think was out of the ordinary?” she asked.

Both cadets shook their heads. “No Ma’am, nothing of the sort.”

“O.k. now listen as long as we do not know what the problem is, I want you to report to your duty stations or go to your quarters. Remain calm, there will be a logical explanation for this.”

“Lieutenant, one of the cadet said hesitantly. My duty station is on deck 4.”

“I understand,” Sam said. I’m going to Security on deck 5 so you come with me. Your name is?”

“Jones, Ma’am. But everybody calls me Indy, he said with a smile.

“And as for you, Sam turned to the other young man. “Go to your quarters and stay there until this problem is fixed. The cadet nodded and turned towards the access hatch. “Hey Indy, he said. You still owe me a bar of latinum.”

“O.k. Indy, Sam said. “Follow me.” They walked several corridors not saying a word until Indy pointed at a new access hatch. Both he and Sam managed to pull away the hatch and revealed the darkness of the tunnel. Sam wriggled into it, followed closely by Indy. They crawled for what seemed like hours through the black tunnel, guided only by the small lights highlighting the floor, before finally stopping.

Indy gasped for breath. “I’m a just an cadet, not a miner” he declared angrily.

Sam chuckled. “I thought Cadets liked the Jeffries tubes, she said. The tunnel terminated at a junction; corridors branched left and right, while a ladder led up. The ladder was blocked by an emergency hatch.

Unless we’re completely turned around, Sam said. That ladder leads up to deck 7 and the cargo bays 5-10. When she reached for the hatch, she said, “Security override, Samantha Carter, Verify. Access denied, came the response. “Blast, I forgot the computer does not react anymore.” she said.

Sam looked at the little console besides the hatch and typed in her private access code, then pressed the emergency open relay. As the hatch slowly rolled back, she looked at the young Cadet.

Sam reached for his shoulder. “It is going to be alright Mr Jones, she said with a reassuring voice.

Indy looked down at the ladder at the junction below. “Lieutenant, maybe you should go up and I will –“ “Don’t even think of it,” said Sam. “There are hundred twists and turns in these conduits and access tubes. It would be like trying to follow a rabbit down a rabbit hole.” The hatch finished opening.

TBC

Verrader #118"
By: Riaan, Operations Manager, [PST]
Sarik, Chief Science Officer, [PST]
Highwaij, Crewman, [PST]
Damien, Federation Prisoner, [NPC]

Stardate: 58204.24 0615

=Deck Two En Route to the Bridge==

As, Sarik and Riaan proceeded to the bridge Riaan thought that she heard something up ahead, she placed her fingers to her lips indicating that she just heard something, and wanted Sarik to please be quiet; with her other hand she pointed down back to the direction that they just came from, which wasn’t far from the ladder. Riaan felt the tension and was thinking someone was lurking or checking things up ahead making sure no one could gain access to the bridge.

She had heard the vibration with the force field in place around her. The air was thick with tension and Riaan's muscles were tight with tension and apprehension it reminded her of by-gone days. She was completely alert to all the sounds around her, as her body kicked into survival mode.

Sarik listened carefully. He heard someone, but the force fields humming made it unclear what it was exactly. He looked around and whispered to Riaan, “You by-pass the force field? I think I can disable the person ahead or wherever they are coming from."

“I am not an engineer nor do I have the tools I will see if I can use the PADD or the tricorder not sure if it will work or not,� as Riaan pulled them out from under her shirt. “I will use my combadge as a screw driver.�

Sarik arched an eyebrow. "We can also find another way to there," he whispered.

“Do you know where there is a junction box that I can possibly tap into,� asked Riaan as she whispered back to Sarik?

Sarik looked around. "The EPS conduit there, but I doubt it will work." He climbed down to let Riaan do her job. He remembered his engineering training. While he was thinking he climbed further down. "I will see if I can get some more equipment, I will be right back." There must be some emergency engineering kit somewhere in these tubes.

Riaan pulled off her combadge and used that to pry the side panel off trying not to make to much noise. After a few minutes which seemed an eternity Riaan finally got the panel off. She had beads of sweat running down her. She still heard something but was far enough away she hoped that she could temporarily disrupt the force field.

Riaan was trying to figure how she could cut two of the wires to connect to the wiring in her tricorder. She also looked at the isolinear chips and not being an engineer never helped that’s for sure Riaan thought to herself. Not just that she thought she had no clue where these wires lead to and was connected to what. If she cut the wrong wire this could be her last or extremely fatal to the ship. It was going to take time to sort the wiring out and hopeful Sarik wasn’t going to be long. Riaan was contemplating what if she pulled the isolinear chips and replaced them in different spots it could theoretically temporarily disrupt the force field long enough to get to the bridge. She realized it was risky and decided to run this idea by Sarik first, she realized that whomever was out there would be by afterwards to find the cause of the shortage, but it did give Sarik and Riaan a slight advantage by allowing them to get to the bridge.

Sarik arrived back just in time with a small emergency engineering kit Riaan motioned to Sarik, the force fields are down; lets head to the bridge I’ll distract the prisoner at the Jeffery tubes and you sneak up behind and use the Vulcan nerve pinch to knock him out we can enter the bridge with no one aware. There was that deathly quiet tone in the Jeffery tubes no humming from the force field whatsoever.

If Riaan would come from down she would have to make a pretty good impression for Sarik to climb up without being noticed by the prisoner. He hoped Riaan had a good plan to distract him. "Riaan, what will you do to get passed the prisoner," he whispered?

That’s easy as Riaan tore the front of her uniform making it appear as if she was just attacked by one of the other prisoners who tried to rape her. “I’ll pretend to be hysterical and upset and pretend to be running to escape,� replied Riaan, “perfect scenario seeming I bet these guys haven’t been around a female for sometime. Perfect trap, he’ll be completely taken off guard and I’ll have him face the opposite of where you are coming from pleading with him don’t make them hurt me please,� as she smiled at Sarik.

“I need you to deck me now,� replied Riaan I need to appear as if I have fought to escape the prisoner.

“I see no logic in that,� replied Sarik.

To have the prisoner believe that I was attacked besides my shirt torn I need to appear as if I have put up a fight.

I see but still illogical as Sarik decked Riaan giving her a black eye.

“Riaan bit her tongue and just replied, “thank you for making this story believable.

“Still illogical,� replied Sarik.

“Sounds sufficient,� he looked at the force field it was deactivated, he nodded and she climbed up.

Riaan and Sarik made their move Riaan bolted running making it appear as if she was trying to get away suddenly she ran into a prisoner at the Jeffery Tubes standing watch to prevent access to the bridge.

Please don’t make them hurt me as Riaan started sobbing hysterical no women should be put through this as Riaan tried to cover herself the best she could. She grabbed the prisoner standing watch at the Jeffery tubes and with her other hand trying to cover herself pleading with him mercifully, sobbing and begging, “please don’t let him hurt me, please,� as she clutched on to him in fear of her life, feeling completely vulnerable in her state, hoping she prayed silently to herself that he would be kind, understanding, merciful and not willing to contact anyone, but to only console and comfort her giving Sarik the time to sneak up and use the Vulcan Nerve Pinch and render the prisoner unconscious.

Damien contemplated that maybe if he helped this officer maybe they would be lenient on him and by showing some co-operation they just might accept him as part of the Maqui Fleet, besides he hated Birkoff, he was cold, heartless and to boot the worst cold blooded person alive that he could think of and that made his blood curdle. He couldn’t help look though she was beautiful, but what would the others think if they learned he had helped a Maqui Officer.

A few seconds later he replied, “Its okay no one will hurt you I will see to that he stated,� in a soothing reassure tone. He felt awkward not knowing what to do in such a predicament as this, seeming he was supposed to be guarding the Jeffery tubes to the bridge and make sure no one could enter, but this female she was defenseless and he did have a phaser and there was no way she was going to get by him.

Sarik stepped carefully through the Jefferies tube to avoid making any noise. His footsteps were gentle and soft as he moved straight to his victim. He looked at Riaan who saw him coming and put some more weight in her acting by pushing her body to the prisoner. Sarik hoped that she removed her arm from his shoulder in order to let Sarik give him the nerve pinch. Luckily she got to it soon enough and wrapped that arm around his waist so that Sarik had a good opportunity. His arm rose to the shoulder of the prisoner and he grabbed the nerves in the man’s neck. He pushed hard to make sure that the men was unconscious. The prisoner’s body went weak and fell in the arms of Riaan. Sarik just nodded and moved forward, leaving Riaan with the prisoner. "I will scout ahead. You should equip yourself with that phaser."

Riaan waiting a few seconds for Sarik to get out of site as she quickly removed the prisoner’s shirt and took hers off and placed the prisoner’s shirt on. She finished tearing her shirt and tied the prisoner’s hands and feet together rather tightly then stuffed another into the man’s mouth to prevent him from calling for help. To make sure he wasn’t going to wake up for sometime she placed the phaser on stun and aimed the phaser and shooting it at the prisoner.

A few minutes later Sarik arrived back and Riaan had popped the covering off leading into the ready room and slowly entered phaser in hand making sure no one was near. Sarik followed behind her so far all clear. Sarik turned and grabbed the prisoner and dragged him into the ready room. Riaan quietly replaced the cover, concealing that anyone had entered the bridge.

Riaan turned and whispered to Sarik, “let’s see if we can see what is happening and access what is occurring on the bridge, who knows there maybe more prisoners who have taken over the bridge.�

Sarik observed that Riaan was wearing a brig shirt now, male shirt instead of a woman’s size. It made her look sloppy, "New shirt?"

“I am afraid after having to tear mine I needed something to wear couldn't go around exposing myself,� as Riaan smiled at Sarik.

"Exposing, hmmm, human females aren’t that much interesting for a Vulcan. I fail to see the logic in exposure of the body to get someone excited, it is merely a shell in which your mind is housed, a tool which one uses to accomplish tasks the mind can’t do on its own."

“Male humans get turned on very easily,� whispered Riaan. “I suggest we leave that for a topic of discussion later for now lets see what can be done to regain control of this ship,� as Riaan blushed slightly.

"I agree there is no need for us to discuss this topic in this current situation." He looked in front of him. "We are almost there he whispered."

Riaan used her combadge and popped the panel to the junction box next to the door as quietly as possible then rewired the access panel to the PADD and over rode the locking mechanism. Slowly Sarik eased the door open as quietly as he could.

Sarik pointed Riaan in the direction of the turbo lift which had some crewmembers inside that were being heavily guarded by prisoners and being removed from the bridge, a phaser was aimed at them. Seeming there were very few left of the bridge crew Sarik and Riaan could only rescue Highwaij and still make a clean get away back into the Jefferies tube. There were only two crewmembers left on the bridge, the one was already entering the turbo lift; it was now or never.

Sarik and Riaan bolted onto the bridge. Sarik placed his hand on the first prisoner that was just a few steps behind the second prisoner guarding Highwaij, Sarik's arm rose to the shoulder of the prisoner and he grabbed the nerves in the man’s neck. He pushed hard to make sure that the men was unconscious. The prisoner’s body went weak and fell in the arms of Sarik and he laid the prisoner down on the floor.

Riaan jumped at the second prisoner knocking him off balance and not giving him time to contact anyone or use the phaser. Riaan was hoping that Highwaij could grab the prisoner’s phaser as she was off balance after bolting at the prisoner knocking him and herself completely off balance.

Highwaij saw from the corner of his eyes and by the loosened grip the enemy had him he knew that something was going on, he didn't know what was going on he quickly turned around and saw the phaser in the hand of the prisoner. He grabbed it from his hand, but Highwaij didn't do it very well as the phaser fell on the ground a few feet away. Somehow Highwaij managed to dive on it and grabbed it, he smiled as he got it "I got it, I got it" he said as he showed his teeth. He raised it and used it, than he walked to Riaan "Need a hand," Highwaij was glad he was able to help, he had returned from the turbo lift shaft when he was grabbed by a few of the prisoners. Now he was free again he was glad for the help, but also it felt weird he was the security officer and now he needed help to get free. Highwiaj was glad to be free and was nice about it, they didn't know if they where heard or not and he hoped that they weren’t. "Thank you," he said to Riaan and Sarik then he looked at Riaan "Like you're new outfit" he said as he smiled "You like brig clothing? Also nice shiner, replied Highwaij.�

Almost simultaneously Sarik and Riaan replied, “You’re welcome.�

“Long story Highwaij had to devise away to gain access to the bridge from the Jeffery tubes not my style of wear I prefer the Maqui shirt,� as she smiled at him. Riaan imagined herself in a sloppy brig shirt three times her size and figured she looked pretty funny right about now. “Maybe when this is over we can grab a drink or something in the mess hall and I will tell you all about it.�

Highwiaj replied, “That sounds great can’t wait to hear this,� as he snickered smiling and showing off his teeth as he was grinning from ear to ear looking at Riaan.

There wasn’t anything Sarik or Riaan could do with the others heavily guarded on the turbo lift, the doors closed just leaving the two prisoners on the bridge guarding Highwaij and now locking all of them on the bridge in order to prevent Sarik, Highwaij and Riaan from escaping. It would be a matter of a few seconds before reinforcements showed.

The prisoners were out cold on the bridge stunned, so far three down and many more lose and controlling the ship, not good thought Riaan to herself at least they now had three phasers, an emergency engineering kit, a tricorder and a PADD now they needed to devise a plan to reclaim the bridge. She realized that the prisoners could beam onto the bridge not good and there weren’t many places to hide, what was the best defense here as the three had to figure out a way to prevent the bridge from being taken over by the prisoners.

To Be Continued…

Verrader #181"
By: Sarik, Chief Science Officer, [PST]
Highwaij, Crewman, [PST]
Riaan, Operations Manager, [PST]

Stardate: 58204.24 0645

=Bridge=

After tying up the two prisoners and hauling them into the ready room with the other unconscious prisoner it was now time to secure the bridge and there was no leeway for error or time. Riaan looked at Sarik and Highwaiij okay we need a way to secure the bridge we may have unexpected company and who knows they could use the transporter so we need to be ready for anything.

Do you have any suggestions on securing the bridge and stop the prisoners from taking over as she looked at Sarik and Highwaij.

"We should first try to gain access to all computer systems from there one we can operate other parts of the ship and try and find out what has happened then we should seal the bridge."

“Under you're great leadership I'm sure it won't be a problem," Highwaij said smiling showing his teeth as he grabbed the phaser and walked to the bridge doors. He activated his phaser using it as a torch on the TL doors. "Now let them try to get in, and if you want I can use a Subspace Transceiver to a short duration, low power force field, or as a jamming device"

Good idea Highwaij start working on that, as she smiled at him.

Riaan walked to the Observation Lounge and did the same with her phaser sealing off that point of entrance and left the ready room unsealed and being a way of escape if needed through the Jeffery tubes.

Sarik and Highwaij any further ideas like booby traps etc. as Riaan Continued sealing off the door to the observation lounge. I want no way for these prisoners to gain access to the bridge other then the transporters then we will have the upper hand.

"We should be cautious and prepared for an intrusion at any time. Let’s create a force field."

"Smart thinking I wished I could come up with these ideas," Highwaij said as he started to work on the low power force field using his combadge then he looked at Riaan "Can I have you're combadge," he asked as he reached out his hand.

A few seconds later she had given her combadge to him as he used it to create a jamming device then he gave it back.

"Both our combadges still work, only mine can create the force field," Highwaij said as he put his combadge on while a few wires where coming out of it," and your combadge will create a jamming signal tap on it twice quickly and it will activate, and will disturb their weapons and other computer controlled devices, I've adjusted our weapons so they won't be jammed"

I will pull the isolinear chips from the consoles on the bridge which will slow them down a bit. Anything that can be removed safely we will do but we want nothing destroyed on this bridge and that it can be reassembled quickly afterwards.

I was thinking Sarik could you search for a booby trap at helm, engineering, and operations if the prisoners did manage for unforeseeable reason to gain control of the bridge. If they did try to use helm or anything else on the bridge to enable their escape or whatever is up their sleeve I want that prevented.

"I have already run a scan indications show that they have not been able to gain full control of the command systems. There are no booby traps. We should try to gain control of the systems." He worked as fast as possible and after a while the light in the bridge was restored. "I managed to gain control over life support and internal sensors."

We also need a way to prevent them from gaining control of weapons any idea you two as Riaan looked at the two of them. Highwaij looked at Sarik then back to Riaan, "Well we can't do much, but perhaps we can create an overload on the guidance system or a power failure when they activate it, but I'm not that good with the ships weapons perhaps Sarik can do that," Highwaij said as he looked helpless around him

"I doubt that we need it, take a look at the scanners, there are fights and skirmish throughout the ship, but the prisoners are out numbered and are barely resisting."

It appears we have a shot to gain control. Just as Riaan spoke four prisoners transported onto the bridge and Riaan yelled look out over there as the four materialized.

Riaan rolled and grabbed her phaser and fired taking out one of the prisoners as he collapsed onto the floor barely getting out of the way in time.

Highwaij and Sarek also returned fire. Eliminating the opposition.

"Let’s see if we can contact other parts of the ship." He tried to establish communication, but it failed. "We should let the crew know that the bridge is under control, it might boost their morale."

Riaan pulled the cover off the panel to engineering and began working on getting a message to the crew some how. Using her combadge and stripping back some wiring she began tapping a message by using the old Morse Code through the lights onboard throughout the ship hoping that someone would pick up her message, bridge secure and sealed as she sent the message several times.

"Okay I have accessed the computer, initiating yellow alert."

tag

Verrader #109"
By: Mr Becker, Engineer, [NPC]
Samantha Carter, Security Officer, [RNPC]

Stardate: 58204.24 0655.

After the hatch was fully opened Sam and Indy continued to crawl further into the bowels of the Zion. They continued to climb hardly saying a word. Sam was thinking of Birkhoff, how had he managed to escape, and taking controle of the Zion. She looked back, who knows what Indy was thinking, his face as pale and dirty. They went up the ladders, opening emergency hatches, passing deck 7, turning corners left and right until suddenly. “Lt, Indy said with a shaky voice, I hear something.” They stopped, somewhere in front of them there were the distinctive sounds of others crawling around in the J-tubes.

Sam nodded and placed her index finger on her mouth. “Shhhht”. Sam gestured to Indy that he should retreat in one of the sub junctions. Sam placed herself at the corner of the junction where deck 7 changed to deck 6. She bald her fist, luck might be on her side. The adrenaline rushed through her veins. Then she heard the noised coming closer, and saw the shadow on the wall, then a face. She swung her fist, hitting the face as it came around the corner.

“AUCH, ” a muttered voice spoke. “Geez Lieutenant, you nearly broke my noise.” Sam took a closer look at the person she had hit. It was Mr Becker one of the Zion’s engineers.

Sam chuckled. “I’m sorry I hit you Mr Becker, she said with a sigh of relief. “I had no idea who was coming around the corner. I hope I did not hurt you too badly.?” He shook his head and rubbed his jaw.

Looking behind Mr Becker Sam noticed several other crewmembers. The tubes were getting crowded.

“Which way are you headed,” Sam asked. “Actually a bunch of us are on our way to engineering deck 16 and the computer core access on deck 7, Becker answered. An you?” Deck 5, Sam answered.

“We just came back from Deck 5, Lieutenant,” one of the other crewmembers said from behind Becker. “Its no use there is a security field surrounding it and what we could gather from looking through the ventilation shafts, the prisoners occupied the entire deck and blockaded the turbo lift shafts. We were lucky they did not spot us so now we are on our way back again.”

Sam sighed. “Damn she said, what can we do?” She slapped her fist into the wall out of frustration. Becker shifted his position a little. “Well Ma ‘am he said, we could try to by pass the security grid? There is a auxiliary power conduit on junction 514 section J. Maybe we can try to shut it down. If only it was disabled for a second for a few of us to slip through, I have my tools right here.

Sam was not very happy about this suggestion but at least they had to try something, thus she nodded. “Well if we do not try anything Mr Becker, we will never know do we?”

“Indy, Sam said. I want you to go back with the others. Mr Becker and I will continue to deck 5.”

But Lieutenant…… he said with a whiny voice. “Mr Jones that is an order and besides you know the way back, so you lead them. Have I made myself clear?”

“Yes Lieutenant,” he said. After some shifting and wriggling the group split up and made their way back to deck 7 and beyond.

“So Mr Becker, Sam said, shall we continue?” After climbing for another 20 minutes they reached an exit hatch. They needed to cross the hallway to continue to deck 5. As Becker was leading this time he kicked at the hatch, with a thumb it fell to the ground. He exited and Sam followed closely. He ran to a small door set a meter off the deck; place his palm against a control pad. After a moment, the door slowly slided open, revealing a downward sloping tube. Becker cautiously poked his head into the tube. “Looks clear, he said. “After you Lt. Carter.

“Don’t you want to go first? She asked, feeling oddly reluctant to climb into the tube again.

“I have to shut the hatch again,” he explained.

“Hm . All right.” Swallowing her unexplained fear. Sam hoisted herself into the tube, face first, and wriggled along it far enough that Becker could join her, but no farther. He did so, then picked up the hatch and pulled it shut again.

“Where are we, Sam whispered. Normal talking seemed a bit blasphemous in the slippery, sloping tube. “Hub-shaft maintenance,” answered Becker, as softly as she. It runs adjacent the normal J-tubes. You will not like this. It’s well – you’ll see.

“What?” but Becker did not seem disposed to elaborate, so Sam crawled on.

“Is this shaft narrowing, she asked suspiciously. “Huh? No, not so far as I can tell,” said Becker. Sam stopped suddenly. Becker softly called out, “What’s the matter Lieutenant.?

“Nothing, I’m – just give me a moment.” she breathed deeply for several seconds. The walls are not closing in, the walls are not closing in, she repeated to herself.

Painfully, she resumed her crawl. The downward slope was only a few degrees, but she felt as though she were suspended by her feet over an abyss. “I hope I never have to do this again,” she whispered. They crawled for minutes at a time, going up ladders, taking corners until finally the numbers on the last emergency hatch said that they had reached Deck 5. Time was 0650.

Buying Time "
By: Charles Atwood, Chief Intelligence Officer, [PST]
Ensign Dawson (npc), secuirty officer , [NPC]

Stardate: 58204.24 0700

Security officer Dawson, who had been on duty when the ship was hijacked, watched Atwood working inside an access panel near the holodeck. Having hearing Birkoff's announcement The ensign became suspicious of Atwood's activities. Especially since he wasn't wearing a maquis uniform. He drew his phaser and motioned the science officer standing next to him to follow. As he neared Atwood, he recognized the chief Intel officer and holstered his phaser. "Sir!" said Dawson, "can I give you a hand?"

"Well, Actually No!, I'm Lt. Charles Atwood Chief Intelligence Officer and I'm trying to rescue Cdr Wright and Lt. Silvio From Inside this Holodeck but this Damn Forcefield wouldn't disappear", Said Charles angrily. "Name Position And Rank... Please"

"Understood sir, I'm ensign Dawson, security," "..And I'm Steven Louis, Stellar Cartography. Glad to meet you."

"Permission to speak freely Sir?!" said Louis,

"Granted", said Charles.

"With all due respect Sir, I was thinking that if the hijackers are correct, we are heading to their base at high warp and will be there soon. I think we should try and find some engineers to disable the main deflector dish, that way we can't travel faster than warp 1. "

"Good Thinking Ensign, and if I may say this Is your Lucky Day I'm an Engineer too. Before I came here I served as Chief Engineer on Qul Tuq", He said Charles.

"An engineer? you sir?" The ensign was relieved. "What do you think sir? would this work?"

"I think It might be a great Idea, there's only one problem they have put a forcefield around Deck 11 so How is your 0G Training?", Asked Charles with a smile

"Pretty good sir, but I just came from deck 13, I've heard reports that engineering has been commandeered, I was trying to work my way up to find an off duty engineer. If there was a force field in place, its gone now.

After climbing down to deck 12, they came across another security officer, Ensign Robertson. After describing the situation he accompanied them. Once they reached deck 13 they opened an access hatch and entered the upper defector dish compartment. They stepped out onto the deflector system's mammoth gantry, it was 6 decks high, below them four decks down hung the 4 redundant graviton polarity source generators. Each cluster consisted of 6 128 MW graviton polarity sources feeding a pair of of 550 millicochrane subspace field distortion amplifiers. The flux energy output of these generators are directed and focused by a series of powerful subspace field coils attached to the emitter array.

Suddenly Dawson, who was leading the way held up his hand and pointed down with the other. Below stood two sentries. It couldn't be determined whether they were friend of foe. "What do we do now?" asked Louis.

Atwood took charge. "Ok, hand me your phaser... We'll tie them up and you Dawson will stand guard here, Robertson, take the entry, Ensign Louis and I disable 3 clusters so that they won't have be able to go faster than warp 1 and we could buy some time", Said Charles while he adjusted the phaser, after that he carefully took aim and shot the two guards in rapid succession. They slumped own to the ground. "Good shooting Sir!" said Dawson.

They descended from the overhead catwalks down to where the guards where. Dawson took their phasers and found something suitable in a utility locker to bind them. "Ok,...you two go ahead." he said, handing the extra phaser to Louis. As he dragged the prisoners out of plain view Louis and Atwood left and began to climb a ladder down 2 more decks.

As soon as they reached there Charles realized that this wouldn't be easy, he told Louis "Ok Ensign, My life is in your hands... they will know something is wrong as soon as I disconnect the second cluster, so pick a defense position and prepare to defend the perimeter"

"Aye-aye Sir." Louis motioned to Robertson high above and then to Dawson. He climbed up a mounting point and crouched down low.

After leaving Louis Charles Picked his Tool Kit and shunted the main EPS feed and then began to disable the first of the 3 clusters... After 10 Minutes he succeeded and proceeded to the next one 12 Minutes later he deactivated the 2nd unit. The yellow alert klaxon flashed and alarms went off and his thoughts went up to Ens Louis and hurried to the next cluster.

The computer announced, "Warning automatic safety override has been initiated."

The ship's inertial dampening field couldn't completely quiet the rapid deceleration.

"Warning warp drive disengaged automatic safety protocols initiated."

Within just a few minutes 3 security guards appeared. They spotted Atwood and began firing on his position. Robinson and Dawson quickly drop the shooters with their phasers.

"There's going to be more Sir!" shouted Louis from his perch. "What are your orders Sir? defend the Navigational deflector or get out and hope they can't fix it soon?"

"Ok, Gentlemen I'll Fuse Several Reactors and then we can go somewhere else... I got a couple Ideas of where we should go", Said Charles while he manually overload a couple of them and prepared to exit the area.

Taking Action "
By: Highwaij, Crewman, [PST]

Bridge USS Zion

Highwaij was still standing on the bridge trying to get the computers = back online, he opened one of the panels and disconnected a few of the systems then = reconnected them. But it didn't work he sat down for a few moments then he knew he had to = get to engineering, he dindn't have the right skills but perhaps from = there he could do something.

Highwaij got up and walked to the doors, but they didn't open, he was on = the bridge, but everysystem was dead or couldn't be activated, there was = nothing he could do. Highwaij walked back to the security station = grapped a phaser from there and a dagger he once got from a Klingon he = had done a favour.

Since the doorce didn't open Highwaij used the dagger to open the doors = and entered the TL shaft, he noticed that the TL wasn't there but a few = floors down Highwaij entered ther shaft and climbed down, it whould take a little = time but atleast he was doing something and if he did it right he might = get a reward, or if it failed he could alway's tried to find out what = happened, then he remembered the prisoners what if they got out, yes = that should be it, If they had taken over the ship, perhaps he could = join them even on there site profit could be made.

Slowly he climbed down as he reached the to pof the TL which stood at = the fourth floor, he couldn't get further down, what should he do get = out here or get back to the bridge it was his post at the moment, could = he leave his post. Highwaij found himself in a dilemma as he sat down on = to pof the TL.

Information Gathering"
By: Warrant Officer Alyssa Northrop Ph.D, Intelligence Officer, [NPC]
Jonathan Wright, Executive Officer, [PC]

Stardate: 58204.24 0730

Grunting slightly, she went over to the shelf that contained the items that she normally took with her when she went to negotiate deals. There were of course the phaser pistols....and several other gadgets in their cases. None of them were particularly useful at the moment, given that the door apparently had no power beyond that which it took to lock it initially. Picking the scanner off the shelf, she went over to the door...and looked for the lock. Perhaps she would have to just burn through the door. If she could just take the lock out of the equation, then she'd be able to shut the door behind her and hopefully preserver the element of surprise....if indeed there even was any left.

Once the location of the lock was determined, she retiieved the contents of the wooden box and went to the door. Setting the pistol correctly, she took aim and fired....the crimson beam making a thin line in the metal of the door. A few moments later, she holstered the weapon and dug her fingers into the crack of the doorway....pulling as hard as she could. Luck was on her side....and the door popped open slightly. Grabbing the nearest heavy object, Northrop wedged the door open....retrieved a few items she could probably use, such as her hand held scanner, a few extra batteries for her pistols, and her second pistol.

Once outside the door, she kicked the chair out from the opening in the door and proceeded quietly down the hallway. Alyssa knew that the ship had been taken....but beyond that she was clueless. So that made the first order of business recon. At the first jeffries tube hatch she found, she pulled it free and climbed in.

Moving as quickly as she could, Alyssa made her way towards the computer core...knowing that this fellow had to have control of that piece of Zion real estate if he was locking things down this effectivly.

Once she got close, she exited the jeffries tube and made her way down the hall, pistol drawn. Alyssa made nearly no sound as she made her way, pausing as a few sounds caught her attention in the near silence. All she could hear was the thrum of the engines. Based upon that she could tell that they weren't moving all that fast. That was curious...why hijack a starship then take your sweet time getting to where you were going?

As she pondered this, she almost missed the tell tale sound of someone walking down the hallway. Moving quickly, she pressed herself into a recessed area and waited. Sure enough...the lone man made his way past her position. Northrop waited a few seconds more to see if he had a trailing partner. Apparently he did not. Checking the setting on her phaser, she left her hiding spot and went off after the man....betting that he'd know something about what was going on. Not wanting to risk others hearing a phaser shot, she snuck up behind the man and pressed the muzzle into his back. "One sound and it'll be the last one you ever make."

Suddenly Alyssa spotted two federation prisoners as they walked around the jefferies tube. They were engaged in a conversation between themselves and didn't notice Alyssa.

She worked quickly, first relieving the man of his weapon...then grabbing him and dragging him into the nearest open room. Once inside she hit him on the head with the butt of her pistol to keep him quiet a moment while the Federation people passed by. While he was out, she secured him to a chair....and searched him, finding a communicator that wasn't tied into the ship's systems. Northrop pocketed it.

When the man started to come around again, Alyssa pulled her pistol again and placed it to his forehead, right between his eyes. "Ok......time for you to spill your guts. Tell me what I want to know....or you die. You get me?"

The young ensign shook off his confusion, "uhm, what...what do you want to know?"

"Well...for starters....where the Hell are we going?"

The ensign looked geniunly puzzled, "I don't really know.. Captain Rodgers cut a deal with this guy who used to be on of our crew. He's taking the ship somewhere, I-I really don't know..don't kill me."

Alyssa nodded, but didn't take the weapon from his forehead. She wouldn't kill him....but he didn't need to know that right now. "Where can I find the leader of your merry little band of Fleeters?" There was obvious disgust in her voice.

"Captain Rodgers is securing the battlebridge bridge on deck 15 and Mr. Birkoff is in Auxiliary control on deck 4." he answered quickly.

She kept her face neutral, wondering if somehow this kid was telling her lies. He really was young. It made her wonder what the Federation was thinking, manning their starships with children. "You wouldn't be lying to me now would you?"

"No ma'am."

She smiled, "Good Boy." Giving him a pat on the head, she pulled the pistol away from his head. "I'm sorry that I have to do this to you...but you understand." Before he could answer, she shot him in the chest. It was set to heavy stun. Quickly gagging the young man, she moved him and his chair into the closet of the quarters they were in and locked him in. When he woke up later, he'd be stuck and thus neutralized.

Alyssa moved towards the door and stopped before it triggered. Pulling out her hand scanner, she checked to see if anyone was outside. There was no one, so she left the room. What the Ensign had told her was most likely the truth....but it wasn't terribly helpful over all. She'd need to question someone else....soon. Northrop wondered if there were any higher ranking guards out and about. Turned out there was. She heard the woman's voice down the corridor. It was obvious that the woman was checking in with their boss. Alyssa hung back and waited a moment.....listening for footsteps. Pulling out her scanner, she saw that there was another person with her. She cursed.....waiting for one to break from the other. She wasn't stupid....going up against two armed Fleeters never had been and never would be a good idea. So she stood pat a little while.

Holding his padd out in front of him, he nodded. "this is the junction. EPS411-2 should be down that way. I'll take EPS424-1 in the next section. Remember, you I can't divert the plamsa flow until you have completed your modifications." "Unders stood sir," replied the female ensign. She watched as the Lt climbed up the ladder leading to the deck above. She turned around and began walking down the service tube.

'Modifications?'It was odd that they would be modifying the ship in transit. What could it get them?' Alyssa made her way down a side hallway......then rounded another corner, looking back to see if she could see the woman. She knew that the woman would be passing any moment.....so she quickly pulled a hatch free.....and dropped it.

Startled the woman dropped her padd and reached for her phaser

There was no more sound to follow the dropped panel......Alyssa simply hoped it would be enough for the woman to come investigate. She thummed the setting on her phaser down a pair of notches....not wanting the woman to be out long. 'C'mon......come see what the noise was about.'

Carefully the woman picked up her padd, not taking her eyes off of the corridore up ahead. She slowly moved forward to see what was there.

Alyssa's free hand clenched, then unclenched as she listened to the footsteps coming slowly down the hallway. Northrop tensed as the female fleeter approached....coming to a stop just before the corner of the hallway. Then unexpectedly, she turned and began to walk back the way she'd come. Alyssa stepped out and shot her in the back....causing her to drop to the deck plating. Moving quickly, she pulled the mostly unconcious woman into a nearby room...this one a science lab....and secured her. Once that was done...she relieved her of her phaser...and slapped her across the face. "Wake up," she hissed.

"Don't hit me," she said

"Well...had you not hijacked my ship....I wouldn't have to." The venom dripped from her voice. "Now.....what the hell were you about to Modify?"

The woman paused. "We're...We're trying to reroute more power to the secondary navigational deflector." she said.

"Why would you need to do that?"

"It doesn't matter, if I tell you, there is nothing you can do." she said as if to assure herself. "The main deflectors are only putting out 15%"

"Who said I wanted to do anything about it? Now tell me why the main dish is only putting out that much that small amount of power?"

"We believe your crew disabled it," she looked at Alyssa with contempt.

That made sense....slow the ship down by damaging the main deflector dish. "Where is Rodgers taking the ship?"

"He hasn't told us." she said looking away from Alyssa.

Pulling her phaser, she waved it in front of the young woman, "You wouldn't be telling me a story would you?"

"There is nothing you can do to stop us. Killing me will do nothing."

Alyssa laughed in her face. "Oh....but I can make what's left of your life very painful. Wanna know what it's like to be missing a limb? Or maybe know what it's like to breathe vaccum?"

The ensign looked away.

"I thought not. So drop the attitude and tell me what I want to know."

"I don't know where we are going. Rumor is we help this Birkoff guy and when we get where we are going we are free."

The brunnette growled a bit......then turned her back to the fleeter. No one knew where they were going. Turning back, "How many of you are there?"

"I don't know, I was in a holding cell with 10 people. Rodger's came and got us and gave us assignments."

tbc

Breakfast "
By: Gordon Birkoff, Prisoner, [NPC]
Cpt Rodgers, Prison, [NPC]

Stardate: 58204.24 0745

deck 5, j-tub beta45

Despite his cubby frame Hughes shimmied up the ladder so fast that he outdistanced Sam. He opened an access panel, then waited long enough that Sam could watch as he crawled through the opening.

Inside was a narrow white tunnel. Running down the middle was a roughly cylindrical lattice of ferrotile bars, the magnetic containment grid that channelled and directed the flow of microwaves that powered the ship. Even outside the grid in the narrow space between bulkhead and the conduit itself, Hughes could feel the surge of the microwaves, which according to Maqui regulation could not be felt by humans. They caused the hair on his hands and neck to flutter.

There they could see the flickering of the forcefield. He pulled a spanner from his tool belt. There is one way to avoid the security fields, we could try to shut down the power couplings, he explained to Sam.

Would it fry us if we stepped inside, Sam asked. Probably , so dont touch the grid. He took a deep breath, I can re-route the power flow but ---- If I transfer power there is going to be a loos of a couple of seconds while the couplings retune and aline to the next flow it might be enough for the field to shut down, and enough for you to pass it but I can not guarantee anything Lieutenant.

Hughes cracked the panel cover and removed it, careful not to touch the hot grid, he inserted the spanner into the upper isolinear deck, snagged the outing packet junction node. He thumbed the contact on his spanner, reversing the node. Almost immediately, he felt the power slack, die.

A few moments later they could hear shouting in the distance. A group of Feds came running down the corridor.

They spotted us, Lieutenant, Hughes called to Sam. Crawl back, go fast. Go to deck 6 use the turbolifts. The bad guys are using them too. From now your on your own again.

Sam crawled backwards to the junction, there she shimmied up the ladder again to deck 6. Crawling backing to section H again Sam found an exit hatch. She took a deep breath, Well here goes nothing, she mumbled as she kicked the hatch to the ground. Thoughts kept racing through her mind, if she ever get her hands on.. She stuck her head out of the opening and checked the corridor there was nobody there. She exited the tube completely and stretched her body. Quickly she made her way to the nearest turbolift and pressed the button.

Suddenly, she felt the strange paralysis which she quickly recognized as a transporter beam.

When the room around her materialized she saw Birkoff, standing in front of her. He held his hands behind his back and held his head in an arrogant posture. "Well, well, my dear... how are you this morning?

Sam met Birkhoffs gaze and she could not help it showing a little smile. "Hungry and thirsty Mr Birkhoff," she replied. "It was not really fair, shutting down the replicators now was it?"

"Fair!?" Birkoff smiled swaggering toward Carter, "Fair? who said life was fair?"

He stood in front of Carter, "Besides my dear, 'All's fair in love and war.' Birkoff smiled as nicely as he could.

Sam only arched her eyebrow as she heard this remark.

"If you are hungry perhaps I can entice you to join me for breakfast?"

Sam didnt back off as Birkhoff stood right in front off her. She had a hard time not to smack the arrogant smile of his face. But for now she would decide to play along, perhaps she could persuade him to change his mind or find out what else he was planning.

Giving Birkhoff the biggest smile she had. Well dont mind if I do Mr Birkhoff, she said softly. Would you lead the way Sir.

Birkhoff turned and led Carter out of the door where to armed guards stood. The guards followed Carter and Birkhoff to the turbolift. They took the lift to deck 4 and walked to one of the officer lounges. The guards waited at the door as Carter and Birkhoff entered.

"Please, order what you would like," smiled Birkhoff with a gesture towards the lounge replicator.

During there short ride, Sam had eagerly looked around the place she had counted only 2 guards outside and 2 guards inside the room. Birkhoff found him self very secure here. Sam walked over to the replicator A bowl of honeyflavoured fruit loops, 1 orange juice and a bowl of fresh fruit.

They sat at the table and began to eat. "Enjoy, your meal," said Birkhoff, "I can't guarantee you will get another one as good as this."

He wiped his face with his napkin and placed it back on his lap, "However," he said with pause, "...if you convince me that you would join our cause, I would spare you the agony of life slavery."

Sam slowly place her spoon back at the table and leant back in her chair. She brushed a strand of hair back behind her left ear. So, and what would I need to do to convince you Mr Birkhoff, she said calmly. I surely dont want to end up as a slave girl, but let me remind you Sir, she continued, I will not endanger the lives of this crew.

Birkhoff pointed his eating utensil at Sam coldly and said, "That doesn't sound very convincing. I don't think you understand your predicament." Birkhoff took another bite of food and studied Carter's reaction.

Sams face remained emotionless, she leant forward and whispered. "I understand my predicament all too well. If you can show me why you think I should join your cause, I might reconsider."

Sam took a drink of her orange juice before she continued, carefully weighing her words. "The whole slave girl thing does not appeal to me at all, but I m not going sit on my knees and beg, unless that is what you really want, but don't forget i'm not one of your puppets. She paused for a second, you know I have certain information which is not in the computer, so its up to you Mr Birkhoff, convince me." Sam said coldly as she met Birkhoff's gaze and their eyes locked for a second. This was a great bluff but it was worth a try.

Sam leant back in her chair again, drinking her orange juice, she was nervous as a monkey trying to open a coconut, but she refused to let it show. If he wanted to play cat and mouse.... fine.

Birkoff sipped a cup of coffee with both hands and set the cup down, "So, do you love him?"

Sam was surprised by this question. "Love who?" she asked.

"You know, that Atwood guy."

"Well he keeps me warm at night, why you ask." Sam curiously looked at Birkoff. Especially after her last encounter with Charles, Sam wasnt to sure of her love for him.

"I could have him killed."

Sam could hardly hide her smile, "True," she said, but what would you gain by it.?"

The doors slid open and Captain Rodgers entered the room. "This is it Birkoff. I am tired of your playing around." Rodgers glared at Birkoff. "My men are dying to defend whatever your cause is while you are sitting in here eating breakfast with the enemy." He turned his glare towards Sam and then back to Birkoff.

"I demand that you give us access to the shuttle bays so that we can get out of here. I see nothing productive that will come of your foolish games here."

Birkoff glared at Carter as he set his napkin on the table, "Excuse me ma'am" he said standing up. He turned to confront Rodgers, "We had a deal Captain, you and your men can leave when we get to the rendezvous point. And, need I remind you, we'd been their by now if your men eliminated the saboteurs to took out the main deflector dish. Now, if you see no point of continuing, why don't I just drop the containment fields and let the 2000 marines in the ship's aft section annihilate your men."

Birkoff was a little nervous, he wasn't accustom to standing up to charasmatic men like Rodgers. He gulped a little as he tried to maintain his poker face.

Before Rogers could respond Birkoff grabbed Carter by the arm and escorted her to the door. "I'm sorry to interrupt breakfast, I'll talk to you later," when the door opened he ordered the two guards to escort her to the brig."

He turned back to Rodgers with a glare.

Set-back "
By: Gordon Birkoff, Prison, [NPC]
Capt Rodgers, Prisoner, [NPC]
Dr. Alyssa Caitlin Northrop, Intel Officer, [PST]

Stardate: 58204.24 0840

"We've not arrived at the coordinates, if your men had not let them sabatoga the navigational array we'd been there by now. Your men are incompetent." Said Birkoff definantly. Suddenly the ship lurched as it dropped suddenly from warp speed. "Now what?!" exclaimed Birkoff as he stepped over to the console. His fingers danced across the board. "Damn-it!" he shouted pounding his fist on the ground, He glared up at Rodgers, "and thanks to your men's incompentency someone has just jettisoned the antimatter pods." He scanned the deck and located a human figure moving away from the area. "Computer, identify crewmen on deck 20, engineering section 5. The compute responded, "Bio scans match Warrant Officer Alyssa Northrop." Birkoff nodded at Rodgers who turned and stepped toward the door. As it opened he motioned for two guards to enter. Birkoff ordered the computer, "Beam Warrant Officer Northrop to this location." As she materialized Rodgers stepped up behind her and hit her on the back of her head with the butt of a phaser rifle hard enough to drop her to her knees. Spotting the phasers Rodgers pulled them from her, handing them to Birkoff. As Northrop recovered herself, he studied the phasers, "nice" he said setting them down. Alyssa sat on her knees...dazed a bit from the hit to the back of her head. She would have fought back...but she knew she'd been disarmed and thus that meant that her captors now had her weapons.

Rodgers and the three guards drew their phasers and trained them on her. "You move you're dead ." he stated bluntly. She looked around and picked out the one that would be in charge of these phaser-toting fleeters. "Yeah, Yeah....I'm still as a statue, got it?"

Birkoff stepped up to Northrop, "You wench, you will pay dearly for what you have done."

A smaller man, much younger too began to speak. "Well....as if that wasn't directly out of some cheesy 20th Century Science Fiction. Though the addition of wench....very 16th century. Anyway....let me take a few wild stabs here. You, my be-spectacled friend, must be Mr. Birkhoff...and the man with the rifle and my pistols over there....I'd venture to say that he's none other than Captain Rogers." "My you are a mouthy one. I guess we can fore go the formal introductions since you seem to know so much." Birkoff punched a few things into a PADD. "Intellegence Officer Hmm...? Obviously you are working in a concerted effort to bring the Zion to a halt. First the deflector dish and now the Antimatter tankage. What is your next target?"

Alyssa shook her head and her tone shifted to that of an airheaded bimbo, "As a matter of fact....I haven't even seen another one of my crew mates since yesterday. And as for dumping the antimatter, I came up with that all by my lonesome." She smiled sweetly at her new captor, "As for my next target....I hadn't worked it out yet...but I'd been considering coming after you two."

As she finished speaking, her tone became decidedly more serious and business like....her features very dark.

Birkoff backhanded Alyssa across the face, "tell the truth...the next target!" he said with raised voice.

The brunnette spat out a little bit of bloody. It landed on Birkoff's left foot. "I told you....I'm on my own. And even if I did know.....I wouldn't tell you."

Birkoff snarled. He picked up a set of magnetic binders and handed them to one of the prisoners who quickly bound Alyssa to a bulk head. Birkoff contemplated her fate as she stood with her hands fastened around the support structure. "I'm going to keep my eyes on you all the same," he said wiping the bloody spittle off on the back of Alyssa's leg.

Birkoff turned to Rodgers, "Lets see..." he said, his fingers traced across a PADD. "Craig Whitmore, cell 2 and Nate Smith, cell 7. Engineers... assign 4 of your men to supervise the reinstallation of the antimatterpod.

Rodgers looked at Birkoff with cruel eyes. He said nothing and turned to leave. As he was leaving he said, "We are not finished with this Birkoff. We will have another discussion about your agenda. Soon!" Without waiting for Birkoff to respond Rodgers left the room.

Birkoff breathed a sigh of relief as Rodgers left the room.

Goodbye Mason"
By: Matthew Mason, Prisoner, [RNPC]
Patia Zoei, Chief Counselor, [PC]

Stardate: 58204.24 1145

==Sickbay== This was turning out to the worst day of his life. First he turned on his own allies and killed that cardassian and now he nearly killed a Maquis officer. He did not feel all that bad about the Maquis guy because we was a jerk. A typical Maquis barbarian. Mason smirked and sat down on an unused bio bed.

Zoei glanced at the prisoner sitting on the bio bed. He had an odd look on his face. It was as if he knew a secret joke. She hitched herself up onto the bio bed across from him. She was so tiny, her legs dangled over the edge. Zoei crossed her ankles and swung her feet gently back and forth. The palms of her hand were planted firmly on the bio bed. They braced her in position, so she didn't slide off the edge of the bed. "It's been a long day, hasn't it?"

Mason grunted and said, "Yes it has. Quite a mess I have gotten myself into." He looked at the counselor. She was an attractive woman. Mason figured she was probably Betazoid. They always seemed to carry themselves like they knew what is going to happen next. "I suppose I will be tortured and executed once this is all over huh?"

Zoei chuckled nervously. "I think it might depend on which side comes out on top. I can promise you that I will advocate for you for all of you have done to assist us through this. We wouldn't have made it this far without you."

Mason laughed, "I just about killed that one over there," Mason jabbed his thumb in the direction of Atwood's biobed. "I am afraid my days are numbered." Mason was a bit surprised. Everything he had been told about the Maquis was that they were barbaric, traitors, yet this woman would advocate for him after what he had nearly done. Mason was surely puzzled by this. "I am sure that you will end up on top when this is done. Birkoff is in charge and he is a crazy man. Crazy men make mistakes."

"Very true, crazy people make mistakes, and usually big ones. And the key is, you didn't kill that one over there. Why did you help us?" Zoei's legs continued to swing. Her elbows felt stiff. Her freshly healed shoulder ached from the tension in her muscles. She pushed herself back on the biobed and folder her legs on themselves. She braced her elbow on her thigh and propped her chin on the palm of her hand. This man reminded her somewhat of Silvio. There was something in his bearing and manner, she couldn't quite pin it down, but she was sure it would come to her.

Mason did not say anything at first, he just looked at Zoei. She was very pretty, he wondered if deep down that had anything to do with it. The thought of what that cardassian had on his mind made Mason sick. "Like I said, I do not like cardassians." He frowned. "I am not sure that I trust this Birkoff fellow and while I respect my captain I think he has made a mistake. You and the doctor came along at the right moment." He sighed, "I was pondering all these things when I ran into you." He smiled, "Listen, do you maquis really torture your prisoners and murder innocent people? That is what we have been told. That is what we are fighting against."

"I don't doubt your feelings toward the Cardassians, but I think there is more to it than that." Zoei didn't like to push at people when they were speaking, but there was something about this situation that begged for more information. Mason looked to be about her age and seemed to be genuinely nice. It was hard to reconcile that he was an active, involved member of the Federation. "Torture and murder? Some of that may be subjective to each person's opinion. I am sure you were held in the brig with people who felt they were being tortured. I am sure innocent people have been killed during battles. As for actively seeking to torture people, or to murder innocents, if I were aware of that being a remote possibility, I wouldn't be a party to it. I would be back home, having breakfast with my parents."

Mason had expected to be tortured when he was captured and so far that had not happened. This also added to his confusion. It seems that the things he had thought were true were not. He was a soldier who was not supposed to question his superiors but now he was doing just that. Could it be that this whole civil war has been fueled by ignorance? Could his own Federation be telling lies? Mason was just not sure anymore. "The real reason I helped you is because it was you. For some reason that I cannot explain I felt that you were a good person. I could not let that cardassian harm you." Mason was not sure he was making any sense.

Zoei's head snapped up. She looked intently at the man sitting across from her. "I don't know what to say other than I appreciate what you did more than I can explain with words. I appreciate you taking the time to view me as a person and not just the enemy." Zoei was unsure how she felt about this development. She was grateful to him, but she had never had anyone state they had done something just because of how she was perceived. As unsettling as this whole situation had already been, it was a little disconcerting to have heard this, too.

Mason looked at her and then realized that she was probably hungry and thirsty. "You must he hungry. Let me see if I can still make this replicator work." Mason got up and walked to the replicator in sickbay. "What would you like?"

"Just some water, please." Zoei unfolded her legs and scooted to the edge of the seat. She slid off the edge of the biobed, until her feet finally reached the floor. She followed Mason to the replicator.

He turned to the replicator, "Water. Cold." As the replicator began processing his request his comm badge chirped.

Oh Mason. Time for us to have a little talk.

Mason's hand went to his comm badge. A look of horror came across his face and he tried to remove his badge. It was too late the transporter cycle had already started and soon he was gone. Sitting on the replicator was one glass of cold water.

J-Tube Chat "
By: Patia Zoei, Chief Counselor, [PC]
Giuseppe Silvio, Chief Engineer, [RNPC]

Stardate: 58204.24 1300

Zoei followed Silvio out into the corridor. She knew she hadn't fooled him with the short version of the events leading up to her arrival, along with Dr. Dane, in Sick Bay. Knowing his inquisitive nature, she also didn't think it would be long before he at least asked what had happened. They had two decks of Jeffries tubes to discuss it in, too.

Silvio lead the way out of sickbay ond over to the jefferies tube. He was not sure why the Commander has wanted the counselor to go with him but he was pleased. "Here we are," he said as he opend the j-tube hatch. "After you counselor."

"Thank you." Patia entered the tube with a little trepidation. The last time she had been crawling through these, they had run into a forcefield, then a Cardassian. Neither of these were experiences she hopes to repeat. She calmed herself. It took a moment, but she centered her thoughts on the area ahead of them. She could feel nothing, just empty space.

Silvio watched appreciativly as the counselor entered the tube and then he followed her. They did not have a long clib ahead of them but SIlvio thought there would be time for a little conversation. "So Counselor, what really happened to you today," he asked, "I got the impression that you were not giving the COmmander the whole story."

"Sir, are you suggesting I would lie to my superior officer," Patia asked. Although she had expected it, the question still surprised her. Something in Silvio's tone had her immediately on guard.

"Not at all, I am just curious what happened that's all."

"Which part are you more curious about, when we met up with Mason or Mason and Atwood's encounter?"

Silvio laughed, "Well tell me about this Mason guy? How did you manage to get him to help you?"

Patia paused and glanced back at Silvio. She shook her head slightly. Slowly she turned back and resumed crawling. Her voice low, she said, "He told me we came along at the right time. He has some concerns about some prisoner by the name of Birkhoff. He is apparently leading this rebellion, and Mason doesn't trust him." She glanced back again, "He really did do far more for us than either of us could ever have expected." With her eyes forward, she continued, "There was a run in with a Cardassian as we entered the turbolift. He was a vile, disgusting creature, with no good intentions. He shot Dr. Dane with his phaser and Mason killed him. Mason could quite easily have agreed to his plan and I can tell you that if Dr. Dane or I had survived the experience, neither of us would have ever been the same again." A shudder ran up her spine, and she crawled faster.

Silvio understood what she meant. He suffered much at the hands of the cardassians. He very briefly allowed him mind to wander back to his time in their captivity. They were truly a vile people. He held no love for them. Surpressing a shudder he simply said, "I would have killed the Cardassian too."

"To be quite frank, I would have, too."

A few moments passed as the went past deck nine and continued towards deck ten. "So what about Atwood. He sure got his clock cleaned. I bet he had it coming didn't he." Silvio knew he was right.

"Atwood made many insinuations regarding Dr. Dane and Mason. He refused to wait for any responses but continued pushing, pushing, pushing. Mason was already on edge because of what he had done to the Cardassian. Regardless of your or my feelings about Cardassians as a whole, he had killed one of his comrades. He was in a no win situation. He was with the "enemy", and had killed an "ally". It really didn't matter who he wound up with in the end, he had reason to expect dire consequences from both parties. I think Atwood validated all of his negative feelings about the Maquis and he snapped. Dr. Dane called him off and he helped her get Atwood settled on a biobed. Again, to be frank, Atwood is my superior, and I will acknowledge he is quite adept at dictating, but I am not so sure he can lead people effectively. He is most concerned with being front and center, being an authority figure. I often feel very cornered when I have my chance meetings with him."

Silvio shook his head. "Atwood still has not figured out that there is more to being a leader than giving orders. I forsee a very lonely life in his future if he does not change his attitude"

Patia shrugged her right shoulder. This wasn't a subject she cared to broach, especially not in a such an open area.

They reached the hatch for deck ten. Silvio opened it and crawled out of the Jefferies Tube.

Patia crawled out after him. She straightened slowly. With swift movements, she brushed the palms of her hands down her thighs. She looked to Silvio. He was in charge of this mission, she waited for his direction.

They walked down the hallway and stopped at the turbolift. He used the manual override to open the doors and carefully dropped the communicators down the shaft. He lead the way down the hallway into Miranda's.

As they entered Miranda's they noticed that several of the crew had gathered here. Silvio turned to Patia "Well, I will get the replicators working again while you update them on what is happeneing." Silvio noticed that there were some injured crewmembers. "If any of them are injured too badly we will go back to sickbay and get the doctor to send them some help." Silvio really wished the comm system was up.

Verrader #167"
By: Prisoner Rogers, Prisoner, [NPC]
Various Bad Guys, Prisoners, [NPC]
CPO Johnson, Verrader, [NPC]

Stardate: 58204.24 1300

==Security==

Johnson could sense the discontent from Rogers men. He decided that it was time to build up a trump hand. There were about 20 prisoners who were cardassian. He knew very well that they would take the side of the winner. Approaching their leader Johnson began to put his plan together.

"Rogers seems to be coming unglued," he observed.

"He is a human," the Cardassian looked at Johnson and gave him an evil grin. "They lose their heads in crisis situations."

"Perhaps it is time for a new leader to emerge."

"Indeed," replied the cardassian.

"My employer has been working closely with the Cardassians. You might have heard of him. He is called Jenkins."

The cardassian smiled, "Indeed, I have. He wants this ship? Why?"

"He has not disclosed that to me." Johnson paused. I do know that he would be most grateful of you and your fellow Cardassians were to assist him should the need arise."

The Cardassian smiled, "I will confer with them. I see no reason why a deal cannot be reached."

***

== 13:45 Outside Security==

Yarblek looked at the 20 Cardassians around him. "I have spoken with the traitor Johnson. He says their employer is a man named Jenkins."

Several of the Cardassians murmured their recognition of the name.

"He suggested that Rogers is about to come unglued. He also suggested that should we side him and Birkoff we would be rewarded by his employer."

"Do you believe him," asked a cardassian.

"No not really," replied Yarblek. "They are in charge however, and I do have to agree with his assessment of Rogers and his men."

"What do you want to do Yarblek?"

"I think we should stay aligned to Birkoff for the time being. If we can neutralize Rogers and his men and then get rid of Johnson and Birkoff-"

"Then we have a new ship," interrupted another cardassian.

"That was exactly my thought," said Yarblek.

"Excellent." The whole group of them nodded in agreement.

"Then we are agreed." Yarbek said.

==14:00 Main Engineering==

Rogers looked at those of his men who had made it. The tension was high. He could tell they were no longer happy about the situation. They stood all gathered around him outside main engineering. "I am convinced that Birkoff is out of control."

The men around him chimed their agreement with this statement. "Sir, I do not think he has any intention of letting us go."

"I agree," said Rogers. "I believe we will need to make our own escape from this."

"But how? He has full control of this ship," asked a blonde prisoner.

"I think it is time for us to take Birkoff down. We need him alive so that we can force him to give us access tot he ship."

The men around him nodded their agreement.

Rogers grabbed the blonde by the collar, "James, you take 20 men down to Security and capture the traitor Johnson."

"Aye Sir," James quickly picked 20 men.

"The rest of us will take care of Birkoff." He paused, "Let's go."

"What about the two engineers working on the pods?"

"They do not matter anymore."

Verrader #162"
By: Gordon Birkoff, Bad Guy, [NPC]
Craig Witmore, Engineer, [RNPC]
Dr. Alyssa Caitlin Northrop, Intel Officer, [PST]
Captain Rogers, Bad Guy, [NPC]

Stardate: 58204.24 1318

When they entered, he said, "we're taking this b*** to the brig. If she spits, kill her. I hate spitting." said Birkoff releasing the magnetic restraints

"Prick....," Alyssa muttered....rubbing her wrists a bit now that the binders were off. She looked at Birkoff, "You're going to get it, Birkoff.....one way or the other...you're going to get what's coming to you."

The guards roughed up Alyssa and pushed her out into the hallway.

She whimpered a little as she hit the wall outside of the Aux Control Room. 'Damn guards...'

Before she could get to her feet herself....Northrop was yanked upwards by her two captors.....receiving a forearm in the back for her trouble. Alyssa grit her teeth, trying to stifle the cry of pain that tried to escape her.

By the time they got to the brig, she was covered in bruises.....whimpering as she hit the back wall. She heard the forcefield snap back into place as she slid to the deck plating. Laying there a few moments, she began trying to move again.....but could only manage to get herself turned so that her back was against the wall. Opening her eyes a bit, she saw Sam Carter and Craig Whitmore. She opened her mouth to speak..but no sound came out. Closing her mouth and hanging her head, she cleared her throat then looked back at them. "Pardon my abrupt and sudden entrance."

Her voice was cracked and hoarse sounding. It was evident that she'd been worked over quite a bit on the way down. When she tried to move again, all she was rewarded with was a sharp, stabbing pain. This time, a full out whimper did escape....and she fell back to the deck.

Rogers entered the brig and walked over to Johnson who was sitting at the master control station. "I need prisoners Witmore, and Smith. They need to repair the warp system." Rogers glared at Johnson.

"What are you looking at," said Johnson. He did not like or trust Rogers.

"You! I am waiting for my prisoners," Rogers snarled.

"Cells 2 and 7, Get them yourself."

Rogers turned around and entered the cell block. Stopping in font of cell 2

he said "Whitmore on your feet. You need to reinstall the anti-matter pods that were just jettisoned."

Craig, who was completely briefed by Sam, slowly looked up from his bunk where he was lying. " I have not intention to help you with that. You lost them, you do it yourself." he said.

Rogers fixes Whitmore with a menacing look. "You have a smart mouth. Perhaps you need to be educated on how things work around here." Rogers did not really have time for this but he gestured towards three of the prisoners who were acting as guards, motioning them over.

"Teach him some manners," he said.

"Yes Sir," they said in unison with a gleam in their eye.

Rogers reached out and grabbed one of them as they started to walk away and looked him in the eye. "Don't kill him and don't break anything. You understand."

"Yes sir."

The three prisoners entered the cell, roughly grabbed Whitmore and drug him from the cell into an unoccupied cell. There they began to beat and taunt him unrelentingly.

Rogers watched them in silence as his men worked Whitmore over. It was a painful thing to watch. Before the war Rogers would have thought this was barbaric and beneath him but after almost 10 years of war Rogers was willing to do whatever it took to rid the universe of the Maquis. When he decided that Whitmore had been through enough he stepped into the cell and put a stop to the beating.

"Now, *mister* Whitmore, you can see I am not a patient man. Get on your feet and get to work."

"Ok ok, I'm getting up. Geez." Craig said, wiping the blood from his split lip. Reluctantly Craig stepped in front of the cell, looking at Rodgers. "And how do you suppose to think i m going to get the pods installed. I have no tools what so ever."

"All the tools you will need are waiting for you." Rogers paused. "These men," she said gesturing to the prisoners who had just beat him, "Will be supervising you and Crewman Smith in re-installing the pods. I will warn you now. I will tolerate no more problems from you."

Craig wisely kept his mouth shut. There were other ways to create problems, after all he was an engineer. Protecting his busted ribs he walked towards holding cell 2 where Smith was waiting.

"Craig, that was stupid man, Smith whispered. "You want to end up dead."

"Hey, at least I tried," Craig responded. Besides...........

"Shut up," said Rogers. Turning to the guards, "Get them to work."

It Begins "
By: Samantha Carter, Security Officer, [RNPC]
A Cardassian Guard, Prisoner, [NPC]

Stardate: 58204.24 1400

Sam was annoyed and felt like a caged animal. After Alyssa had been thrown in with her, Sam had managed to get her on the bunk. Judging from her appearance she had been worked over pretty good.

Sam knew basic first aid but what she really need was an emergency medkit. There was only one way Sam thought. Lets try some sweettalking.

Sam walked over to the entrance, the humming of the forcefield buzzed in her ears. " Excuse me, hello is anybody there."

A Cardassian walked over to Sam's cell. "Would you be quiet. You are hurting my ears."

"Please I need your help. My collegue is really injured and she might die."

He looked thought the security field at the injured person. "You think I am going to open this cell so you can attack poor stupid me?" He sneered at her, "I do not think so."

"Look all I am asking is a emergency medkit and a helping hand, I can not do it all alone. Please"

"Sit down and be quiet."

"Look the only crime you have against you know is kidnapping, if she dies it will be murder. Please, I can make it up to you. I do what ever you want. Help me with her."

"How pathetic you humans are. He began to mimic Sam in a mocking voice, "I will make it up to you. I will do whatever you want." He laughed, "Pathetic! You do not know the half of my crimes. If she dies, it matters little to me," The Cardassian fixed Sam with a evil look, "Now be quiet or I will be forced to add another crime to my list."

"Dont be such a fool, you green eyed lizard, Sam cursed. Just give me a medkit!!

The Cardassian was about to respond when a large group of Rogers men entered the room. The leader of the mob pointed a phaser at Johnson who was sitting at the master control station. The Cardassian took cover. This little insuurection had just gotten exciting. Readying his own phaser he waited to see what would happen next.

Sam noticed that the Cardassian suddenly shifted his attention to the front of the room and that he had drawn his phaser. She pressed herself to the wall, trying to see what was going on. Could it be the Mariines?

The Cardassian watched as several of Rogers men entered security. They pointed a gun at Johnson and told him they were taking over. The Cardassian took careful aim, shouted "I don't think so." He then fired at the man leading the fight.

Jail Break "
By: Dr. Alyssa Caitlin Northrop, Intel Officer, [PST]
Samantha Carter, Security Officer, [RNPC]

Stardate: 58204.24 1410

==Security==

With low-power emergency lights providing the only illumination, Sam looked around. Her eyes adjusted, she realized that the fire fight between the Cardassian and the prisoners had momentarily halted. She saw two prisoners laying on the floor near a mesh fence, the others seemed to have retreated.

Sparing a glance to Alyssa, she could see that her face revealed the same combination of fear and excitement she felt herself. Then there was a sound, Sam place the sound a few meters to her right, somewhere between the large security consoles. There were two consoles, which were spaced less then two meters apart. On the ground another prisoner lay unconscious.

“Are you alright to come,?” Sam asked Alyssa. She still looked terrible and moved slowly.

Northrop forced herself to get up, "Yeah....I've felt worse."

She smiled....then began to move forward gingerly. Her breathing was shallow...and there was a pain in her side. Idely, she wondered if it was a broken rib or simply a bad bruise. Due to the sharpness of the pain, it was probably a broken one...or maybe two. She couldn't say for sure.

When they moved in unison, they could catch the Cardassian between them. Using the dark as a cover Sam crawled on the floor reaching the first console, she crept alongside it for just two strides until she was able to peer around the corner, down the small corridor that separated it form the other one. Taking the phasers from the stunned prisoners she gestured to Alyssa.

Keeping low, Alyssa moved over to where Carter currently was. She took one of the phasers from the woman and began to take note of the surroundings. It was dark...and that would definitly be an advantage. She quickly thumbed the phaser to check the charge. It was mostly full...which was good.

Listing carefully, she could hear a soft rustle. The Cardie was close, but that was all she could tell. Suddenly a blinding flash of blue light discharged between them. A console at Sam’s elbow exploded into shards and drove her sideways. She reached for Alyssa and pulled her out of the blast area. Another weapon blast struck even closer.

Sam pointed to the far corner of the console where she guessed the cardassian was now hiding.

Being shot at made the adrenaline take over...and Alyssa's pain went away. Whipping around after being pulled to the side quickly, she returned fire, sending the Cardassian to the deck before he could fire for a third time.

Slowly moving forward Sam advanced the trapped Cardassian. Then she saw her chance, she took a big jump, and fired her phaser as she landed on her feet. Allowing herself only a moment to recover, Sam re-aimed the phaser and fired again, this time at the Cardassian's face.

The Cardassian reared up, looming over her for a moment, then shuddered when Alyssa’s phaser beam slammed into his body from the side. Incredibly, it did not disintegrate under the steady barrage of dual phaser fire. It simply lay on the deck.

It was over, Sam looked at Alyssa, and judging from what she looked like she guessed she wasn’t looking any better. “Was it good for you?’ she said with a smile “it was certainly good for me”. Sam burst out into a loud laughter all the excitement and stress where released.

Sam took her breath in heaving gasps and still felt her heart pounding in her chest and blood heating her face.

The Archeologist smirked at her erstwhile comrade. "Anyway....we need to get out of here."

“Shall we continue, Ms Northrop," Sam said, “it is about time we get this ship back into our hands.”

"Yes....let's. And for the record.....if you're doing to address me by my title....it's Doctor Northrop." Alyssa smiled briefly, then limped her way towards the entrance to the brig to check out the corridor.

“Judging from the fighting it seems that they have turned on each other," Sam said as she investigated the Cardassian and the stunned prisoners. “Lets get them tied up and place them in one of the cells, we also need to see if we can get some power up here.”

Northrop's eyes narrowed a bit as she looked back at Carter. "I need to get to sickbay.....I've got at least two broken ribs....and Gods know what else wrong with me. Then I intend to find Birkoff and Rodgers. They have something that belongs to me...and I intend to get it back."

Her statement made, she over to where Sam was and helped her finish trussing up the fallen enemies. Once that was done, the two women dragged the men into the cells just so that when power was returned they'd be in there rather than outside.

"Ok Sam.....I'm not thinking it's such a good idea for us to try to get power online at this moment. The lack of Main Power can only help us take back the ship right now. I suggest that we get the heck out of here." Alyssa looked very pale...and was feeling very weak. Moving slowly, "I'm going to Sickbay. Even if the Doctor isn't in there.....the EMH should still operate without power."

Take Down "
By: CPO Johnson, Fugitive, [NPC]
Gordon Birkoff, Fugitive, [NPC]

Stardate: 58204.24 1430

James lead his men into security. Johnson was sitting at the master control station. James leveled his phaser rifle at Johnson. "Do not move." Johnson knew this was going to happen sooner or later. He knew it was a bad idea to get these prisoners involved in this. "Well, well, well, restless are we?" "Shut up," said James. "We are taking over now." He looked at one of his men. "Put him in a cell." "I don't think so," said someone. Suddenly a phaser blast struck James and he collapsed on the floor. Several cardassians entered the room and began firing at the revolting prisoners. Johnson sat down behind a console. "Time to get out of here," he thought. He entered in a few commands and then picked up a phaser. He only had a few seconds. Slowly he worked his way towards the door. A phaser blast arched above his ear. Taking careful aim he dropped one of Rogers men. As Johnson reached the door he looked back and fired several more times. His timing had to be just right. "Now," he thought as he exited security. Just ast the doors closed behind him the room was plunged into total darkness. Johnson continued down the corridor and got on the turbolift. After s short rige he got off and made his way towards auxillary control. That was where his luck ran out. Turning a corner he ran right in to Rogers and his men. "Well, it looks like we have caught a rat," Rogers said to his men and they quickly disarmed Johnson. "We were just about to call a meeting with Birkoff. You can attend as well." As they approached Auxiliary control one of Rogers own men was standing guard outside the door. He looked at Rogers, "Sir, What is going on?" "Stand aside Ensign," said Rogers. "We are taking over." The young ensign smiled, "Yes Sir!" He drew his own phaser and joined the mob. The doors slid open and the mob was met with instand phaser fire. The Cardsssians had been warned of the attack. Rogers dove behind a strucutural support beam. He looked around but could not see Birkoff. The Cardassians in the room had most of his men pinned down outside the room with heavy phaser fire at the door. Johnson, who had been pushed by Rogers into the room carefully made his way along the wall. Take a phaser off the body of one of Rogers men he began exchangin fire with Rogers. He slowly moved toward the control station where Birkoff had now taken cover. "I think it is time for us to leave Birkoff." Birkoff looked around and summed up the situation. There was nothing left to salvage.

Birk off dived to the console nearby and reached up from underneath, his fingers fumbled until they found his PADD. He crawled back to where Johnson was cruched down. "If Rogers or the cardassians assume control of the Zion, we'll never have another chance. I'm going to release the containment fields. That should create enough distraction for Rogers. Me and you are going to the shuttle bay." Birkoff keyed the PADD. A transporter beam engulfed them. When they materialized they were in transporter room 3 on deck 4. Birkoff unsealed the door and looked out into the hallway. Zion crew members where out there, he ducked back in and sealed the door.

Birkoff tapped into a console and programmed a number of sequences. After about 10 minutes he nodded to Johnson, We're ready.

Keying in one of the sequences he decompressed the shuttle bay, two shuttles were sucked out into space. He then disabled the shuttle bay and all the tractor beams.

"Ok, I hate doing it this way, but..." he stepped to the transporter control, "We're going to beam on to a shuttle and get out of here."

Birkoff configured the transporter control and stepped on to the pad.

They materialized a moment later on a shuttle that was adrift in space next to the Zion.

"You fly" said Birkoff gesturing to the pilot seat.

Johnson sat down in the pilots chair and engaged the warp drive. In seconds their getaway was complete.

Thud "
By: Giuseppe Silvio, Chief Engineer, [RNPC]
Cardassian Prisoner, Bad Guy, [NPC]

Stardate: 58204.24 1500

Silvio knew he was falling he guessed that the doors opened and there was no car there. He did not care. He looked the shocked cardassian in the eyes as they fell. He felt nothing but pure hatred. Silvio figured that his death was what greeted him at the bottom of the shaft. He knew one thing the cardassian would go with him.

Silvio gripped the Cardassian. The two of them struggled with each other as they fell. The Cardassian was trying to break free of Silvio’s hold. Silvio would have none of it. All Silvio cared about was removing this vile torturer from the universe.

Their flight ended abruptly as they landed on the top of the turbolift car. The cardassian landed first and Silvio on top of him. Silvio heard the sickening crunch as the cardassian’s back broke.

Pain coursed though Silvio’s body. Every nerve ending in his body seemed to be on fire. Silvio struggled to lift his head. He looked over at the dead cardassian and felt a moment of satisfaction. Then his body went limp.

Silvio was motionless. His mind was fuzzy he knew that something was wrong and that he needed to do something but he struggled to decide what he should do. He was in trouble, but why?

“Falling,” he thought as his mind was grasping at the fog. “Crash…Shaft…” It was getting clearer. He lifted his head again and this time recognized where he was. He spotted the maintenance ladder in the side of the shaft. He could not feel his feet and he was having touble breathing. Climbing was not an option.

“I need to get out of here,” he thought. He looked around for something, anthing that would help him. He spotted the roof access hatch for the turbolift. Reaching out with a blood-covered hand he fumbled with the locking mechanism. He tried to open the lock but his damaged fingers made it a challenge. Finally on his third attempt the lock opened and the hatch fell into the turbolift. Silvio shifted his weight just enough so that his battered body fell into the turbolift. He landed with a loud thud and a new wave of pain assaulted his body. Silvio screamed out in agony and then lost all consciousness.

Hand me another hypospray "
By: Teilani Dane, Chief Medical Officer, [PC]
patia zoie, counselor, [NPC]

Stardate: 58204.24 1500

=Location Sickbay (makeshift commandcenter)=

Teilani was playing with the marble and the pebble on her desk, trying to pass the time. A half filed cold mug of coffee was standing in front of her. There were crewmembers dropping in but it was not worth mentioning and Xioa was more then capable to handle them.

She had changed the dressing on Commander Wrights arm once and barely spoke a word with him. Either she had done or said something wrong or he was elsewhere with his thoughts. Ah well she would deal with it later.

Her hand hurted a little and Teilani had wrapped a small bandaid over it, not bothering to use the regenerator to heal the cut. Back and forth the marble rolled over her desk when she heard a noise behind her.

A hatch popped down on the floor and not a minute later Teilan saw the head Patia appearing.

" Welcome home Patia, Teilani said softly with a little smile around the corner of her lips.

"Thank you, Teilani. I hope you don't mind, but I brought company."

Teilani helped Patia out of the tube and soon other crewmembers Patia had brought along followed.

They quickly assisted the crew members out of the tube. Each person was assessed and treated. Few even required bandages. A lull in the activity found Teilani and Patia next to each other. "Teilani, there are probably 50 more crew members left at Miranda's. They were injured enough that I did not feel it was right to risk them crawling through the tubes when we could send someone back to care for them. I did not notice any severe injuries, such as head traumas or broken bones, but there were some strained muscles, large contusions and a few dislocated shoulders. I understood from a few of them there was a tricky spot on the Jeffries tube to pass and more than one slipped. No one fell too far, but shoulders did get wrenched."

" I understand, well lets go back and help them. Your up to it?

"Of course."

"Get something to eat and drink Patia, Teilani more or less ordered. "I will get the necessary gear ready.

"Yes, ma'am," Zoei gave a mock salute and a wink. She turned to the replicator and requested a coffee and a piece of toast, dry. She nibbled at it while she waited for Teilani to be ready to leave.

Teilani walked over to the main sick bay and filled a med kit with additional hyposprays, bandaids. ampuls with painkillers, autosuture, neural interfaces everything medical you could think of etc. She took an additional medical tricorder and placed it in her pocket. Last but not least she took a phaser with her. With a last Look at the crew assembled in the main sickbay, she walked back to Patia.

Patia set her cup down. "Let's go." She strode to the Jeffries tube, slid the cover out of the way, and crawled in.

Not many words were spoken between the two women. Both knew the danger and the urgency. Not for long they reached Miranda's were a large group of crewmen were waiting.

"Doctor over here!!, a voice cried out. Teilani looked around and saw a young woman lying on the ground, stirring slightly and groaned. She was young, it looked like one of the civilians. Teilani had seen her once or twice in the lounge.

It seemed that she was being hit by a piece of metal, how that happened was of no concern, but the piece had struck the woman's neck, a puddle of blood was collecting beside her head.

She sighed and opened dark, frightened eyes, to stare up into Teilani's face.

"It's all right, she reassured her gently. "You're going to be all right. The young woman parted her lips as if to speak, but Teilani could only hear the sound of her rapid breathing. Her eyes remained entirely blank and uncomprehending for an instant, then slowly closed. Teilani narrowed her eyes at the tricorder readout, set the tricorder aside and without warning grabbed Patia's hand.

Teilani's fingers bit into her wrist. She was sure there would be bruises later. The woman was distant, she was fading as they watched.

Teilani guided Patia's finger to a precise spot on the woman's neck. "Press there," Teilani said brusquely. "Hard."

Patia pressed deeply against the carotid artery. She could feel the pulse throbbing through her fingers as it slowly weakened.

Teilani grasped Patia's hand again an said in a tone so commanding it would have rendered even Captain Hunter docile: "Hold it there."

Patia slid her fingers down slightly, pressed again.

The bleeding stopped, giving Teilani time to retrieve a surgical laser from the medikit and cradle the woman's head firmly in her free hand. She leaned over her patient and with an intensity of concentration Patia had never seen and began to wield the laser.

Patia shifted so she was out of Teilani's way.

After this Patia and Teilani shifted the present crew members, comforting them, handing out pain killers, fixing dislocated shoulders and bruises.

Patia glanced around the room. Fifty people had been fed and given basic medical treatment. Everyone seemed to have been treated. The people were clustered in groups of four or five, except for one person. A female Vulcan sat off by herself.

Verrader #170"
By: Samantha Carter, Security Officer, [RNPC]
Ryan-Steven ‘Rusty Ryan’ Madriani, Marine CO, [PST]

Stardate: 58204.24 1520

deck 5 – Security

Ryan and his marines finally arrived at Security. "Hello everyone, sorry we are late,” he said sounding quite sincere. “Have I missed much?” he said as he looked around and noticed the bodies of the Cardassian and some prisoners. He looked around “Well hello Lt Carter."

“ You took your time in getting here Major," Sam said with a chuckle. "As you can see we have cleaned house some what. What took you so long?”

“Well the bastard that took over did a damm good job, We couldn’t get out. One of the marines had severe injuries trying it. But what’s done is done and now I am here, ready to shoot some rats.”

“ Well I’m glad Sir, I was wondering if you could spare on of your men and help Doctor Northrop to sickbay?”

”Certainly, Private Cox please escort Dr. Northrop.” Sam watched as Alyssa was helped away off to sickbay.

“Also not all the power is up, so I presume some of your men could stay and protect security just in case?

Ryan nodded, he pointed out 4 men and ordered them to take positions.

“We need to let the others know that we are slowly gaining control over the ship Major and we need to secure this deck and round up any prisoners. So I would appreciate it if your team would accompany us to make this happen,” Sam asked firmly.

Ryan took a PADD with a ship's layout. “The auxiliary control room is on deck 4.” He mumbled to himself. He plotted there path. “the quickest route to there is by the secondary turbo shaft to section 23 on this deck and from there via Jeffries tube 12 gamma to Jeffries 16 gamma, that’s brings us straight into the auxiliary room.” Ryan looked at Lt Carter “Do you agree Lieutenant?”

Sam check the route on his padd. “Sounds fine to me Major.”

“Ok lets get going” He said.

The marines, without even a look from Ryan, spread out into a standard two by two formation, covering each other as they made their way through the corridors. Ryan walked alongside Carter, occasionally watching the PADD, and silently guiding his men. Finally, almost as a surprise, he spoke to her. "So, Lt, how many more do we expect?"

There were 122 prisoners when we started we have detained 5, I don’t know with all the fighting that has been going on how many there are left. here is 1 person we need to find and that this their "boss” captain Rodgers if he isn’t killed of course.

"Not bad. We should be able to clear things out pretty quickly. That is, of course, if there aren't any more nasty surprises. As if someone was listening to him speak, there was a hiss ahead of them, and one of the men started waving frantically. The two of them worked their way up.

Around the corner came the sound of furious fighting. Mostly hand to hand, but someone obviously had broken into a weapons locker, because a blinding disrupter blast stopped Sam and Ryan in their path. It ricocheted off the bulkhead, leaving behind the smell of scorched metal. At the far end of the corridor, the only exit being security stood the intruders, perhaps a dozen, cardassians and federation prisoners fighting each other.

Ryan backed around the corner. "I don't think they actually saw us - it was a stray shot. We could just let them kill each other off. Or we could stop them. Your choice, ma'am." He shot her a look that told her which he preferred.

Sam chuckled, “Well Major we need to get some of them to Rura Penthe, so just kill a few and round up the others?”

He shrugged his shoulders, and then made a few quick hand gestures. Two of his marines stepped up, and pulled out small devices. They tossed the items into the corridor, immediately filling the space with clouds of smoke. The two marines stepped into the corridor, and started firing their phasers enthusiastically.

A few shots came out from the smoke, but after about ten seconds of phaser fire, all sound stopped. Ryan tapped his PADD, and the smoke vanished as quickly as it had formed. In a pile at the end of the hall were the prisoners, one or two of them dead from their in-fighting, but the rest stunned from the phaser fire. "Well, there's your first course, Ms. Carter. Where do you want them?"

Carelessly Sam kicked one Cardassian in the ribs. “Secure them and put them in the brig. It took them only a few minutes to get the stunned prisoners where they belonged.

Two of Madriani’s men took point and the team followed their way. Slowly but surely they cleaned deck 5 until they reached Jeffries tube 12.

So where is the nearest crossover, Sam asked. Cant we take a turboshaft from here, it might be quicker. We don’t know when power will be restored Madriani replied. Would not want to be in the shaft then. Besides we are nearly there.

Auxilliary Room 1600hrs

After an exhausting clime, entering the auxiliary room Sam noticed some dead prisoners. Carefully she looked at them while Madriani’s men made sure that no surprises were laying ahead.

As Sam turned over the last body, she flinched, it was Capt. Rodgers, Sam sighed and cursed. She had so hoped that he was alive.

Sam walked over to the console where Birkhoff had been sitting as she first met him. Tapping some commands it appeared that only communications could be operated from here, there was no way for her to restore the other ship systems.

Sam crossed her fingers and hoped that everybody would hear it. “All hands, this is Lt Samantha Carter, Deck 5 and deck 4 are now under Marine control. Attention all non Zion personnel, Capt. Rodgers has been killed in action, throw down your weapons and surrender to Zion security forces!!

TBC

Verrader #166"
By: Teilani Dane, Chief Medical Officer, [PC]
Patia Zoei, Chief Counselor, [PC]
Dr. Alyssa Caitlin Northrop, Intel Officer, [PST]

Stardate: 58204.24 1615

Once Mason was settled as comfortably as possible in the mess hall, Patia and Teilani began walking down the corridor again. Patia glanced at her walking companion as they strode down the hall. "I feel someone is in some pain. My ribs ache, like they are broken. It feels like I am have to labour to breathe. Someone around here needs some help."

Despite the seriousness of the remark, Teilani giggled. "You should change your name to Sherlock Holmes Patia."

"Sherlock Holmes?" Patia quirked an eyebrow.

"Sherlock Holmes was an old earth detective I believe, I read some holonovel about it. He also managed to get the feel that someone was in trouble.

"Ah, I might have to look into that, once we can use a holodeck of course. It might be interesting to see a novel like that from the inside out. To be quite frank, though, this is a bit unsettling. As a Betazoid, you get used to feeling what others feel. As much turmoil as the ship has been under, though, it gets wearing."

"I can imagine, Teilani replied. "Isn’t it difficult to keep these feelings and emotions separated, i mean how do you know when someone is in real distress or not?"

"It really depends on several variables. Right now is a little more wearing because of the intensity of the feelings. What I feel is based on what they feel, not the reality of the situation. For example, if you thought you were in serious danger and reacted as if you were in serious danger, I would feel you were in serious danger regardless of if you are really are or not. Does that make sense or did I confuse the situation?"

Teilani shook her head. "I understand what you mean. You should practise

meditation once, to clear and clean the body mind and soul. there are techniques which are really refreshing"

"I agree meditation is a wonderful release. Once we are past this crisis, you can believe I will be meditating. Until there is time, though, I will get by just fine." Patia smiled slightly, the ends of her lips barely curving upward.

Walking silently, as good friends did not necessarily need to speak, Teilani and Patia checked out every corner of deck 10.

"You know I think it might be better if we head back to Sickbay. Once we get there we can let Commander Wright know that we covered all the injured and that a bunch of them are still at Miranda's

"Agreed. Hopefully they will get the turbolifts back before too long and we will be able to move those casualties to Sick Bay where they belong."

As the turbolifts were still out of order both women crawled down the Jeffries tube again.

"When ever things are getting back to normal, Patia, I am never going to get into a Jeffries tube again, Teilani muttered.

"You and me both, Teilani." Patia gritted her teeth as she spoke. Her hands were sore and her knees were bruised.

Having reached deck 8 Teilani kicked at an exit hatch and lowered herself in the corridor section 8H.

Patia turned slowly in a circle as she gazed around herself. Her breathing tightened again.

Then suddenly Teilani froze, there was a noise up ahead.

=== On Down the Corridor===

Alyssa staggered a bit, then leaned against the wall. The marine guy who had escorted her from deck 5 release his grip on her, and walked a bit forward to scout head.

Alyssa's breathing was getting shallower and the pain in her side had returned with a vengeance. The Adrenaline high she'd been on previous was obviously wearing off. 'How very inconvenient,' Alyssa complained to herself. As she stood there, the other bruises and injuries she'd sustained decided to take this opportunity to make themselves known. Deciding that sitting here for her body to stiffen up wasn't the best idea, she began to move.....which caused her to whimper loudly....then collapse to the floor from the white hot, ultra-sharp pain in her side. Maybe if she took a quick rest here on the floor....she'd be able to gain her strength back enough to get to Sickbay.

The marine walked back to her. "Hey come on Doc, its not that far.

"Did you hear that, Teilani? This way," Patia touched the back of Teilani's elbow as she turned and strode down the corridor.

I hear, lets be careful we don’t know what is around the corner," Teilani whispered. Softly both Patia and Teilani walked forward and peered around it

Northrop huffed, "I'm not that kind of Doctor."

Using the wall as leverage, she pushed herself up and got to her feet. The winced again....crying out just a little as she felt the stabbing pain in her side again. "God damn jerks...if I ever get a hold of them....I'm going to remove them from history," she muttered to herself.

Carefully Private Giotto grabbed Alyssa’s arm and placed his hand around her waist. Slowly they began walking.

Looking around the corner Teilani and Patia noticed Private Giotto and Alyssa walking towards them. Teilani ran over to them.

“What happened.” She asked Giotto.

“I don’t know Ma ám he answered I was told by Lt Carter and Major Madriani to get her to sickbay and here I am.”

“Carter and Madriani you said, Teilani responded. You mean the marines are on their way? Teilani took the tricorder from her pocket and ran it over Alyssa’s body. The injuries were severe but not fatal. Some broken ribs and bruises all over. Taking a hypospray, she gave her some inaprovaline, and painkiller.

“Alright she ordered. Private Giotto you assisted her on the left, I on the right. Patia would you please carry this pack.?”

The four of them walked slowly towards sickbay where the rest of the crew still waited for some more news.

Broken Bird "
By: Patia Zoei, Chief Counselor, [PC]

Stardate: 58204.24 1700

Patia watched Teilani and the Marine escort Dr. Northup into Sick Bay. In a matter on minutes, Alyssa would be feeling better. Since the turbo lift was back on line, it would be easier to bring up a few of the less severely injured personnel at Miranda's. She could bring them back for treatment and release. She approached the lift and the doors slid open.

Patia was blindsided by the pain she felt. She swayed and caught the edge of the door frame. Slowly, she righted herself and looked down. Crumpled on the floor was Silvio. She fell to her knees beside him. She brushed the hair back from his forehead before she slid her hand down the side of his bruised and battered face to his neck. She felt for his carotid pulse. Faintly, it fluttered beneath her fingers. His chest slowly and painstakingly rose with each breath. It was so shallow, it was barely discernible.

Quickly, Patia visually scanned him for injuries. He was a bloody mess from head to toe, although, from the various colors, not all of the blood was his. One arm and one leg were laying bent at odd angles and his uniform was ripped. The tear revealed a long, deep gash on his hip. She had not seen him when he first came to Sick Bay from the Kitty Hawk, but she now understood why Ensign Favor had referred to him as Bird. He certainly looked like a broken bird would after it had fallen from its nest.

She quickly realized she would not be able to move him on her own. She stood abruptly. Her hand was braced on the door frame. She turned toward Sick Bay. She yelled, "Help! I need some help!"

Bird is Back "
By: Patia Zoei, Chief Counselor, [PC]
Favor, Medic / Morale Officer, [PST]