Return of the Worm"
By: Ian Hunter, Commanding Officer, [PC]

Stardate: 58209.23 0800

She acknowledged the alert and studied the information for a few seconds.

"Captain?"

"Yes Lieutenant?"

"Its a coded signal from Lieutenancy Tappert's computer worm."

"Already?"

"Yes Sir."

"She said it could take months to even begin infiltrating the Federation network. How is this possible?"

"I don't know Sir."

Hunter shifted in his chair, some what amused. "Very well, alert Tappert."

"Yes Sir," replied Forrester over the sound of her console's chirps as she signaled Tappert.

"Lieutenant Tappert, please report to the bridge."

There was a long moment of silence.

"Lieutenant Tappert, please report to the bridge. Acknowledge."

Hunter tapped his combadge, "Computer, locate Lieutenant Maxine Tappert please."

The computer immediately chimed back, "Maxine Tappert is in her quarters."

The Captain tapped his combadge again, "Miss Tappert, this is the Captain, please acknowledge."

She did not answer.

"Lieutenant Forrester, please send security to Tappert's quarters."

"Right away, Sir."

Within a matter of a few minutes security answered back. "Tappert was found unconsious in her quarters Sir. She's on her way to sickbay."

"Understood."

Homefire #70"
By: Dr. McIntyre , Medical Officer , [NPC]
Teilani Dane, Chief Medical Officer, [PC]

Stardate: 58209.23 0805

====Sickbay====

McIntyre watched as Lieutenant Tappert materialized on the biobed. He pulled out his tricorder and did a quick scan. She appeared to be in some sort of neuro-shock.

He tapped his combadge, Dr. Dane, medical emergency, please report to Sickbay.

"Dang.. " Teilani muttered, "When can a woman simply enjoy her chocolate mouse!." She grabbed her coat and hurried down the corridors.

"Doctor coming through... to the side!!" she shouted as she started to run the last few yards. Coming to a screeching halt, she tugged her coat..

"Ok so where is the emergency?" she said grabbing one of the medical tricorders from the shelf.

"Its Lieutenant Tappert, she was found unconscious in her quarters."

"Hmmm... where there indications of it being an accident?"

"No Ma'am, we found her all hooked up to her system."

Teilani ran the tricoder along Max's body.. then she frowned. "That's not good..Can you hand me the neurocortical monitor?"

This little device was used to to record a complete encephalographic profile. Carefully Teilani placed it on the parietal bone and programmed it so that the readout was displayed on one of the sickbay's main computer consoles.

Doctor McIntyre watched as the screen began to spill out its information. He bit down on his lip pensively.

"You know she should stop using those neural implants, they are hyper active." said Dane.

"You'll never convince her of that," replied McIntyre not taking his eyes off the monitor.

The medic glanced from the monitor back to the doctors, "What does it mean?"

"It means that her own mind can not keep up, resulting in a shut down.. Frankly it's a sort of rebooting of the system. It's similar like a coma."

The medic took a step back from the biobed. "Can you help her?"

"We can not do much, only make her comfortable and see to it that her mind comes to rest..

The medic dismissed himself.

McIntyre looked at Tellani from across the bed, "it doesn't look as bad as the last time she was here, but...."

He drew a deep breath, "well, what do you want to do? She'll be devastated if we remove the implants, if we don't she may never recover."

Teilani nodded. "True if we could only .. she paused. "What if we modify them in such a way that if she exceeds their program or use that they some how stop working.

McIntyre nodded, what if we used nanites to manage and repair those connections?

Do you know of a Doctor Beverly Crusher?

Teilani shook her head. "Heard of her but never really met her."

"Seems her son, uhm... Will I believe published some remarkable designs. Perhaps we have access to some of that information."

"We must do it quickly," Teilani said. "I don't know how long we can keep her on neural support.

"I'll get right to it," said McIntyre excusing himself.

Homefire #71"
By: Ian Hunter, Commanding Officer, [PC]
Mressha KaTira , Science Offcier , [NPC]
Simon Zent, Chief Science Officer, [PC]

Stardate: 58209.23 1050

Lietuenant Zent entered the Science lab and approached the work station manned by Sahril. Watching over her shoulder were the other two science officers, Ensign Dewey and Ensign M'ressha.

"Status report?"

Sahril's fingers lifted from the LCARs input screen as she pushed herself back a little ways and turned her chair toward Zent.

"No Sir, the code that Ms. Tappert used, its a very high level encryption."

Zent ruffled the hair on the back of his head and sighed in frustration, "Will you be able to crack it any time soon?"

"No Sir, I estimate that if all the ship's computational resources were allocated to the task it would take 4,097.3 days."

He turned toward Dewey, "well?"

Dewey looked down at his shoes nerviously. "I checked with OPS and Engineering, no one else has access to Tappert's code."

Zent lectured, "This data could contain vital information. We need to figure this out."

"I have an idea Sir," said M'ressha.

Zent nodded, "okay."

"Ms. Tappert used an avatar, almost as an extension of herself. It may have assimilated that information."

"Its possible, okay see what you can do."

Ka'Tira sat down at the large holomatrix work station in the center of the lab and began locating files. It didn't take her too long.

"I think I found it. Its a level 3 file though."

"I hate to do this," said Zent tapping his combadge, "Captain Hunter to science lab 1 please."

After the captain arrived, Zent updated him on their progress.

The Captain agreed with his recommendation. "Computer, command override, authorization sidney bravo 9."

The computer chirped.

Seconds later, Tappert's avatar appeared on the holopad in the center of the worktable.

Hunter rolled his eyes as Zent moved hurriedly around the table to where Ka'Tira was.

The Captain addressed her, "Krystal."

She turned and blinked at him innocently.

"Krystal, why are you naked?"

She looked down and covered herself and started screaming in a shrill little pitch.

Zent shook his head and reached down to the LCARs and froze her program.

"I'll fix it."

A moment later Krystal disappeared and re-materialized as the standard emergency medical hologram.

Krystal's voice began to eminate from the holographic doctor, "Please state the natur.... Hey!"

"Just another moment Captain, I've substituted the personality extensions, the program is still assimilating."

Krystal continued to protest the change in her appearance and then suddenly stopped and looked forward with blank expression.

"Do you know who I am?" inquired Hunter.

"Yes. Captain Ian Hunter, commanding officer of the USS Zion, serial number..."

Hunter lifted his hand, "that's fine."

He circled the hologram, "What is your name?"

"Krystal."

Hunter nodded, "Krystal, Maxine is unable to assist me in a very important matter, so I need you to take over for her."

"Aye-aye Sir."

"Good. I need you to help Mr. Zent here access some important stuff Maxine was doing for me. Do you understand?"

"Yes Sir!"

Hunter nodded toward Zent, "She's all yours."

Data began to fill a holograph screen directly in front of the holographic avatar, "Do you recognize this?"

"Yes, It's Maxine's data-mining worm."

"Yes it is, now, the Captain and I need the decryption key. Do you know it?"

"Of Course."

"Go ahead then," said Hunter.

With blazing speed the hologram manipulated a 3-dimensional array comprising of more than a thousand symbols which represented the code. Suddenly the screen changed, flashing to a bright green color.

"Done."

Zent nodded, "It worked Captain."

"Thank you Krystal. You are dismissed." Said Hunter.

"You are welcome Captain."

Zent turned off the hologram.

"Get that data up to intel and get it analysed."

"Yes Sir."

Homefire #72"
By: Keighlee Alexi, Crewman, [NPC]

Stardate: 58209.23 1130

=== Starbase 1 ===

"Where am I?" said Keighlee in a slow mumble.

"You are in sickbay," answered the nurse.

"What happened?"

The nurse cleared her throat producing a sound almost like a snarl and looked over at a man standing near by.

"Well," she continued, "you were drugged by the Commodore. I'm afraid ..."

The nurse was interrupted by a man near by, "But don't worry, the Commodore is in the brig."

She felt her stomach turn.

The man stepped forward, "I need to ask you a few questions."

The nurse interceded on Keighlee's behalf, "she's been through a lot, it can wait until tomorrow."

The man continued anyway, "The Commodore is being investigated for treason," he scrutinized Keighlee's reaction but resigned to the fact that she was just too lethargic.

"Hang 'em."

The officer was poised with smugness, "We believe he was trying to set you up to take the blame if he were caught. Fortunately for you we caught him before he could do that."

"mmm... thanks."

"Now, I'm afraid though, I have some other bad news," the officer informed her.

The nurse muttered something under her breath.

"eh hem," he continued, "The doctor has cleared you for active duty. You are to report immediately to TR-35."

"Right now?"

"Yes," insisted the officer. "DefNet has ordered all hands to their stations. We are on high alert."

Keighlee sighed and closed her eyes.

"Miss?"

Keighlee's brain mustered the power to think things through as the nurse and the officer bickered about her condition.

She had the dawning realization that TR-35 was where she started this nightmare from. Maybe there'd still be someone from the Zion looking for her. Maybe she could get home.

She sat up on the sickbed. She felt woozy as she swung her legs over the side. The nurse held out her arms to steady her. "I'm good," she insisted, "I'm...good."

"You see?" said the officer, "now there's a real soldier."

====================

Before she knew it, she was dressed and onboard a type 6 shuttle craft at full impulse.

Facade "
By: Quint Freedman, Executive Officer, [NPC]
M'Ressha Mikaht, Fighter Pilot, [RNPC]

Stardate: 58209.23 1300

Burner yawned as they continued their surveillance on the Federation ship yard. So far not much was happening. "This has been a rather boring assignment. I thought we could have blown something up by now."

Blitzer stretch in his chair, "yeah,"

"So," began Burner, "Did you ever go down to Engineering and talk to our engineer?"

"I did indeed."

"How did that go for you?"

"Well, let's just say our new engineer, is a man of few words."

"That's the truth," muttered Burner as he touched his control panel. " I wonder if he would say anything if we were about to toss him out the air lock"

Blitzer grinned, "I wonder if RAWR could get anything from him?"

Burner clapped his hands together. "Let's find out. Oh RAWR, where are you," Burner almost sang her name.

The holographic beauty started to materialize on the bridge. Burner noticed a look of distress on her face, but before he could ask her about it she sputtered and disappeared with a audible pop.

Burner looked at Blitzer, then back to the spot where RAWR had been, "What happened? RAWR?"

Blitzer studied his console, "I'm no systems analyst but there seems to be a fluctuation in the ODN network."

"Let's get that engineer up...", Burner's words were cut off by the opening of the bridge door. Their reclusive engineer entered with a look of concern on his face.

"We've got a problem", he said. "Yes we do", said Burner. "RAWR is broken." "I suppose that makes sense", said TJ as he stepped over to a nearby console.

Blitzer raised an eyebrow toward Burner.

TJ pulled up a display of the Federation station outside. "The energy output is all wrong. It's way too high and does not have the right signature.". The energy signature swirled on the display.

Blitzer, "What does that mean?"

"it means that we are looking at a very large hologram", said TJ

"Its a ruse?"

"Yes," said TJ.

Blitzer turned to Burner, "Does that mean we don't get to blow it up?

Suppressing his own disappointment, Burner said, I'm afraid so Big Cat. We don't want them to know we are here. Plot us a course out of here. We need to hook up with the Zion.

The LCARs panel beeped in response to the catian's touch. "Laid in."

Burner touched his console and the state of the art engines of the Pegasus throbbed to life. "We're outta here," said Burner.

TJ quietly left the bridge and returned to engineering.

The News "
By: Ian Hunter, Commanding Officer, [PC]
Jonathan Wright, Executive Officer, [PC]
Max Fischer , Intellegence Officer , [NPC]

Stardate: 58209.23 1305

Lieutenant Max Fisher was working a double shift. The whole intel department was. It's not every day that you get handed active Federation security access codes. This could not believe his luck. This was every intel analyst's dream come true.

Max was monitoring several Federation transmutations. High on his priority list was the safety of their mission. Max could see that the Feds had not detected their occupation of the tachyon sub-station. He was concerned about their under cover engineer who was removed from the sub-station.

So far, she seemed safe. Max had the computer flag transmutations so that he would be notified of any change in her status.

The Pegasus was monitoring a shipyard that was reported to building a new class of ship. "That's interesting," murmured Max. The stations status report read more like a intel report than a shipyard. He pulled up their supply requisitions and was surprised to see a very lean supply list.

Max forwarded this information to command. This smelled more like a trap than a shipyard.

Max continued sifting through the data until he came across information about his former boss, Alyssa Northrup. She has been killed early in their mission. It seems that someone had determined her true identity and was aggressively investigating her. This concerned Max s it might force an early end to their mission if the Feds connected her to the Maquis.

He flagged this as well and included this information in his report tonthe captain.

Max also found a treasure trove of troop strength and movements. Max flagged these as well and saved them for military review. Max then turned his attention to a rather odd note about the Federation president meeting with a diplomatic delegation from the Romulan Star Empire. Try as he might, Max was unable to find out any details of this meeting. He flagged as well.

Max paused to rub his eyes. Then his eyes landed on a startling piece of intel. At first, it was just a name. It was a name familiar to him so he decoded the message. As he read the message his heart fell.

"Computer, what is the location of Lieutenant Silvio?"

"Lieutenant Silvio is in main engineering."

Max hated to be the bearer of bad news, but he couldn't just ignore this one. He was supposed to report his findings to the commander, but Max decided to waiver a bit non protocol. Silvio was his friend. "Fisher to Silvio"

"Go ahead Max"

"I've found some startling intel. I think you should see it. Can you come to my office?"

"I'm on my way."

Max picked a PADD up off his desk and transferred his report to it. When Silvio arrived he simply handed him the PADD.

Max watched the color drain from His friend's face as he read the report.

Silvio's jaw set. "Thank you," he said as he spun on his heal and left.

Out in the corridor Silvio slapped his communicator badge, " Silvio to Captain Hunter."

He swiftly walked down the corridor and boarded the turbo lift while he waited for a reply.

After several moments passed, Hunter answered his hail.

"I need to speak with you Captain. It's important."

"I'm in holodeck 3. Mr. Silvio, if it is urgent, you can meet me here, or I will be in my ready room at 1350"

Silvio appeared to enter on to a 3 foot ledge of a large large rock structure, not unlike something out of Earth's Mayan history. Below him was a sprawling alien jungle steeped in humidity.

Hunter slung a knapsack from his shoulder onto a rock ledge and pulled a gym towel from it, wiping the sweat from his forehead. He sat down next to the knapsack as Silvio approached.

"Sorry to bother you sir," said Silvio

"Have a seat," invited Hunter.

Silvio did not feel much like sitting, but he needed Hunter's help. Silvio sat down after handing Hunter the pad. "Intel came across this information. They are going to execute my father for crimes against the Federation."

Hunter reviewed the intel and handed it back to Silvio.

"What do you want me to do?" he said baiting him.

Silvio did not know how to put it so he just blurted it out. "Can we go to Earth and rescue him?"

Hunter shook his head, as he handed back the PAD, "Sorry. Its not that easy."

Silvio's heart rate quickened. "I request a leave of absence."

Hunter shook his head again, "You can't succeed in busting your father out of deathrow. Sorry, no..."

Silvio's jaw clenched. "Thank you for your time." He spun on his heel and left the holodeck. He boarded the nearest turbolift. As the doors closed he slammed his fist into the wall.

In the holodeck, the arch had disappeared and Hunter was still sitting on the pyramid.

"Computer," said Hunter. The computer chimed a response. "Load personal program, 'Colorado.' he said.

The scene changed and Hunter was now sitting on a ledge of a mountain.

Homefire #76"
By: Ian Hunter, Commanding Officer, [PC]
Jonathan Wright, Executive Officer, [PC]
Jax , Information Broker , [NPC]
Melissa Jarvis, Chief Security Officer, [RNPC]

Stardate: 58209.23 1644

"Hello Captain"

Hunter set the napkin with Jax's note down and with a slight flick of the wrist the napkin floated across his desk until it came to rest in front of Wright.

"What's this?" Wright's bow curled in confusion.

"You recall my niece, Jax?"

"Yes sir."

Hunter slid his feet off the desk desk and leaned forward, steepling his fingers.

"Based on previous experiences, she probably has some very important intel...but,"

"...but always with a hitch."

"It is an interesting message. It would seem we are on a mission without an objective at the moment," said Wright. "We have time to see what she has to say."

"I intend to find out what she is up to."

Wright stood up, "I'll start making arrangements."

Hunter stood up, "Nothing elaborate, 30 minutes."

He nodded as Wright dismissed himself.

A moment later he entered the bridge himself,

"Helm, set a course for the Saturn moon, Titan."

"Aye-aye."

The Captain crossed the bridge to the ops station.

"Forrester, what is the status of the Pegasus?"

She turned slightly, "the Pegasus has resumed surveillance detail."

"Very good, keep a close tab on them, I'm leading an away team to Titan. you have the bridge

He walked up to the tubolift and turned, "let me know when we arrive, I will be in transporter room 3"

"Yes Sir."

After stopping at his quarters to change into civilian clothing, he stepped back onto the turbolift and tapped his combadge. "Commander Wright, who's coming with me?"

"lieutenant Jarvis and myself," said Wright.

"Good. Meet me in Transporter Room 3. I'm there now," he said as the doors whizzed close.

"Yes sir."

With the tap of his pad, Hunter sent the coordinates given him by Jax to the transporter officer's console. "What can you tell me?"

The transporter officer had already initiated a scan, It's in an area one kilometer beneath the surface, no security fields in place. It appears to be adjacent to a mining complex... One strong lifesign for sure, hard to tell for certain with the atmosphere."

"Three to beam down," said Hunter as the rest of the landing party arrived.

He acknowledged them with nod as he stepped on to the transporter pad.

"Phasers on stun."

Wright and Jarvis adjusted their weapon settings and stood waiting for transport.

"Energize."

Wright felt the pull of the transporter effect. He watched as the transporter room faded away. When it was done Wright found himself standing in a small control room.

Jarvis looked around the room, drew her phaser and left the room.

Sitting at the main console was Hunter's niece Jax. Wright's eyes darted around the room and found three bodies on the floor. They were dressed in civilian clothes. Wright looked at Jax, his eyes narrowed.

Jax sighed and rolled her eyes. Directing her attention to Wright she said, "They are still alive."

Wright nodded his head, but said nothing.

"Welcome to the main operations of the Titan Mining Center," said Jax. "I was starting to think you did not understand my message."

"Well, you know me kiddo. Everything by the book."

There was a brief pause, "What's going on?" asked Hunter.

"This is an automated mining facility," she said. "There are six staff members on site." she gestured at the three sleeping miners. "These three and three more off duty miners. They are all sleeping."

Jarvis entered the room. "The compound is secure sir. There are three more like these guys in the barracks."

Hunter nodded at Jarvis as he rubbed his chin, "Okay, so why are we here?" he asked slowly.

"I was on Earth gathering intel for my father. My cover was blown so I was making my way out of federation territory. I saw you on Mars and thought I'd ask you for a ride home."

Hunter regarded her, squinting slightly. Obviously there was more to her request, otherwise she would have asked to come with when she was on the shuttle.

"Is that all?"

Jax laughed softly. "What a silly question uncle. I wouldn't expect you to give me a ride for free."

"Of course not, you learned that from Rex."

"Like I said, I was on Earth. My father has been concerned about odd communications between Remus and the Federation. He sent me to earth to keep an eye on things."

Hunter cleared his throat. Remus was rumoured to be a mining planet operated by a population the Romulans considered second class citizens. He searched his thoughts but drew a blank at how it could have any significance.

"Remus? What?"

Jax nodded. "something is happening in Romulan Star empire. I'm not sure what it is, but it's big. The Romulans have sent a delegation to Earth."

Hunter glanced at Wright who was listening intently. Fischer had mentioned a Romulan delegation coming to Earth also. Jax's intel seemed to be corroborate.

Rex Tull had taught Jax well, fish some more, he thought to himself, he kept his poker face and shrugged, "Is that all you got?"

Jax laughed again. "That's not enough? I saved the best for last Uncle Ian. The Federation is planning to impress their Romulan guests by executing a few high profile prisoners. A couple names that you might know."

Hunter smirked slightly, "I'm listening."

"A former university professor turned underground rebellion leader with a last name of Silvio." Jax paused. "Don't you have a crew member with that name?"

"Perhaps."

"The second execution is the one that will pay for my ticket. A certain Federation traitor named "William Riker. Know him?"

"I think you bought yourself a ticket, You got the details?" asked Hunter holding out his hand.

Jax stood and placed on slender leg on her chair, reached into her boot and pulled out a nasty looking dagger. She noted with much amusement that both Wright and Jarvis visibly tensed up. "Relax," she told them as she popped the handle of the knife open, retrieved a isochip and handed it to Hunter."

Hunter took the isochip from her and handed it to Wright. "Is that your stuff?" asked Hunter gesturing to a dufflebag on the floor.

"Yes. I'm ready to get off this ice cube."

Hunter nodded as he tapped his combadge, "Hunter to Enterprise, 4 to beam up."

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