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Post by Vice Admiral Nyoko Honda on Mar 12, 2010 4:43:19 GMT -5
Nyoko finally arrived in Earth Spacedock four days after Lt Commander Hart and his wounded of the Europa had arrived. The two Nova class starships toed the remains of the USS Europa into one of the drydock yards once that was done docked them selves.
Nyoko sat in her chair watching the processered being carried out on the view screen. Her mind blown to the amount of damage, her heart dreaded to what the report would look like, her body ached to what had become of her dear friend Karl Hart. She couldn’t get off the bridge of the Yoshimoto fast enough. During the entire procedure she kept asking her Shelana. Are done yet? How much longer? Then finally the Yoshimoto was drydocked for repairs itself.
Once docked, Nyoko ran off to the transporter room. Jogging down the narrow of halls of her starship she passed several crewmen that immediately stopped and made way for with a salute. She ignored them, and finally she reached the transporter room, she jumped on to the pad and ordered the chief to energize.
She materialized in the man lobby where all the teleporters were instructed to aim for. Once there she made her way to the turbo lift, and took it upwards to the hospital section. Once the turbolift doors open up she moved out into it’s main lobby and threw the automatic double glass doors that had the Starfleet medical symbol etched into the glass.
Once inside and medical ensign stopped the asian woman in her tracks. “Can I help you Lt Commander,” she asked?
Nyoko looked at her right away and answered, “Lt Commadner Karl Hart? Where’s be being treated?”
“He is in ICU, Lt Commander, although his situation has become stab-” and Nyoko was off running down towards the ICU.
She breezed past several other ensigns who looked at them selves confused. After a series of rights, and left she arrived to a room where one nurse was checking vital signs and updating the chart. Nyoko could see this threw an observation window. She went to the door and despite the sign saying “Personnel Only” she pressed on the door handle and unlocked the ICU door, and pressed her way in.
When she finally arrived to see Karl in the hospital bed with horrific burn, and advance medical devices pluged into him keeping him alive. She placed her hand on her mouth and a wave of painful emotion washed over her. Shock threw her Asian eyes into almost tears.
Threw all the overwhelming emotion she could only utter one thing before the station security barged in on her, “karl…”
Two Starfleet security officers came in moments behind Nyoko they had phasers strapped to there belts though they weren’t drawn. Behind them was a doctor yelling out, “This is a restricted zone! Lt Commander you are in violation!” Scowled the doctor.
One of the guards came behind Nyoko seeing the emotional state she was in and pulled her away from the view and into an embrace. The other security officer walked the doctor out and without a fuse Nyoko was removed from the ICU room. After all was explained to why the excitement, the doctor made little more of Nyoko’s impulsive actions. He patted the captain on the shoulder promising her he was going to be alright, and that she could come back in the morning when he was moved out of the intensive care.
Nyoko wandered space dock for a long while alone, and depressed. She understood the nature of war and how those who answered her orders could face death. But no matter how she tried to sell the explanation to herself, she still felt awful. So awful that she thanked whatever god there was that Yoshimoto was grounded for repairs and that she wouldn’t have plunty of down time to get over seriousness of the situation. She found a comfortable spot in one of the corridors of the space dock that featured giant space windows over looking the eastern seaboard of North America. She climbed up into the large windows by having to sand on the sitting bench that was placed right below the windows. Pressing her shoulder agienst the transparent-alimumnium she could feel the coldness of the window. She watched a the earth slowly turn for a good long while. To the point where California was now up and the east coast was fading into the dark side of the earth.
She didn’t sob. She couldn’t she was an officer with such important responsibilities, that letting out her cries the way she so desperately needed to would bring her command ability into question. But there was nothing she could do from the tears leaking out due to guilt and grief. She whipped them away and continued using the earth’s view as some kind of therapeutic therapy. After a good long time of being alone and in the silence of her own head, she was able to get a grip over herself and nodded. “Discipline, Nyoko, remember your military training… Discipline, everyone will look to you for the answers now. What comes next is what you will decide.” She spoke to herself, and drawing strength from habits that were drilled into her at a young age. She regained her composure and went off to the exchange to access the Fleet Interface, to view the latest Europa log.
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Post by Vice Admiral Nyoko Honda on Mar 12, 2010 4:44:13 GMT -5
The next day Nyoko was up early making appropriate perpations that the fleet administrator was obligated to do. She had a lot to do. She spent the morning writing the letter that would be addressed to families of all the crewmen lost at war under her command, and scheduled there memorials by division, as regulations demanded. She was also orginaizing the same for crewmen who also died on the Europa.
It was about noontime when Karl’s first officer posted the log to how serious the damage was and as Nyoko read the log, her sank. One of his bridge officers was killed and Nyoko could only shake her head. She closed her eyes in pain and hated the week to come. A week filled with memorial services that she would have to speak at. Spending time with Laurel in the afternoon brought comfort to Nyoko’s heart, she really felt better in her dearest of friend’s company. Together they also silently moared the losses from the observation deck, as time went on she too had work to do.
During there parting Nyoko went off to find a replicate tape that would materialize a wounderful pot of lowers. She took that to the hospital deck and after checking in with the authorities she entered the observation room where Karl was still unconsciousness. She placed the gaint vase of flowers next to his bed so when he would awake it would be among the things he would see first. She over looked his face and the doctors had done a great job of healing the burns. He looked just fine as if nothing ever happen, though he was still was asleep.
She turned to the nurse again who was taking survey of his vital signs, “how is he?” she asked.
The nurse gave a slight shrug, “the mezzodyatramine treatments take time to work. He suffered bad plasma burns, and head truma. It’s still just too early to tell.” Nurse explained.
Nyoko’s medical training had already clued her into that once she hared the treatment they where giving him. She knew he was in good hands whatever the outcome was to be Starfleet was doing there best. She had no objections and so she left the flowers there for Karl hopping they’d be the first thing he’d see when he regained consciousness.
Still the fleet needed to move on. One,Zero had arrived from Deep Space Nine. He was reporting for an interview, along with several other canadates to fill in some of the gaps those resignations that had occurred the week before. So Nyoko had her work cut out for her. She had so many people to meet, so many reports to fill out, so many officers to manage, and to make matters all the worst she had so many memorial services she had to conduct.
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Post by Vice Admiral Nyoko Honda on Mar 12, 2010 14:16:12 GMT -5
Lieutenant Shel this is the fleet corps of engineering reporting in, Captain Bex speaking. I'll be overseeing the rebuild of the Europa.
First of my condolences to all of those you lost, and hope for a speedy recovery for your captain. In the interest of integrating recovery with your rebuild may I suggest that Captain Hart's care be facilitated with a new medical holographic officer? I have all the latest models -shuffles through some data rods- One of them is an Orion with a rather dazzling bedside manner...er maybe that can wait for later. Perhaps Doctor Orkney for now?
As for the ship itself! -gets a gleam in his eyes and cracks his knuckles- I have some great ideas. Is there a class you prefer? We have tons of the old Constitution parts laying around, but why bother with that muck eh? The Vesper's a classic. Great lines and design. I could probably get my hands on some Excalibur components, though I may have to bribe that greedy little Ferenghi at requisitions with some of that noxious beetle snuff or... -snaps fingers- what about a mix of the three?!?! We could maximize warp core output and Transwarp hub interface ability! How about some ablative armor to beef her up for future encounters? I've got so many ideas. Darnit I need a data pad like Nyoko.
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Karl
Commander
SE-531-463-C / BR-W-UK-H-394
Posts: 126
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Post by Karl on Mar 12, 2010 16:23:42 GMT -5
Karl looked up into the blue. "Beautiful.." was the word that came to his mind.
The sky he was looking at was a dazzling blue. No clouds at all to taint the brightness of the sky, just a blue that really seemed too good to be true. He realised that he was stodd on a soft sandy beach. How he'd got there was puzzling him, and also why there were no other footprints in the sand was also confusing. There were no sounds at all, utter silence. This seemed to go on for moments, until he noticed the surf rolling in, and then he heard the gentle noise of the waves breaking on the beach. It was a peaceful sound. The sea, like the sky, was flawless. The waves rolled without losing their smooth glassy texture, which gave them a surreal appearance. Karl felt very relaxed here.. wherever 'here' was. It could have been Risa, but the beaches were populated with various scantily clad people enjoying the constant good weather on the planet. People laughing, and loving and enjoying life. Here, he was totally alone, or so it seemed.
These peaceful moments continued un-interrupted, until he wanted to walk along the beach and explore. WHen he tried to move his legs he found he couldn't. His feet remained planted on the sand. They weren't buried at all, his boots were on the surface, but the refused to move. His relaxed demeanour started to fade after several moments he couldn't move his legs. "What the.... " he croaked. He was startled at his raspy voice. "H... hellooo..." he rasped. His throat seemed like it was choked. It was then as he looked up to try to cough, he noticed somthing floating in the surf, just off shore. He blinked, trying to focus on the object. His eyes felt like they had grit in them, but he tried to rub his eyes, which didn't help at all. He wiped his brow as he coughed, and saw another shape bob to the surface. He looked at his dirty hands as he wiped away his persperation, shich strangely had just sprung up from nowhere. He still couldn't move his legs, so he couldn't get to the water to wash his face and see what the objects were. He thought he recognised the shape and color of the gently bobbing forms, when a third came to the surface a bit closer. Then he realised what he was looking at. The objects seemed to be wearing Starfleet uniforms.
The first pangs of fear started to clutch him. As is on that signal, more shapes floated to the surface, all seemingly dressed in uniforms, but some were burned. He gagged, seeing some shapes still smoldering and causing steam to rise from the water. He looked around, getting frantic now, wanting to get to the water and pull them out. "G... hel..... help.... thn...." his clogged throat wouldn't allow him to call out to anyone near to help. Now the sea started to seem like a carpet of uniforms, and bodies. "Oh God... no ....no ...NO!!! " his mind was free to voice the terror gripping him. Seemingly on cue, bodies popped up to the surface that WERE STILL ALIVE!
They were still burning, still writhing in what seemed like a green fire, broiling in the water, thrashing to put the glowing fire out. But the water wasn't doing anything. And Karl couldn't do a damn thing to help, his feet being firmly stuck on the beach. His frantic rocking to get his feet free was getting him no-where, when he noticed green spots in the sky. The streaked from left to right, right to left over his head and away out to sea. It look perversly beautiful, but the streaks were accompanied by a screaming sound that filled him with terror. The pulses of green whining across the sky where somehow getting closer. As this continued, more bodies floated in the water, the sea now choked with them. He was filled with anger and fear that he could almost taste. "R.... runn. RUNNNN!" he half screamed half coughed.
The green pulses began hitting the water, igniting the floating corpses and incinerating them. Thos that were still alive were unable to get clear and were killed. A strange occurence happened where he saw some of the people simply and suddenly shoot upwards and not stop, headed for the skies and beyond. He tried to bend down and claw at the sand holding his feet when he noticed he was closer to the sand than he was before... his brain not registering at first.... then his mind clicked... "My legs... MY LEGS WHERE ARE MY LEGS!!!??!?!" A blood curdling scream from behind him made him turn around sharply. Shapes were running towards him.. not human shapes.. Klingons... screaming a bloodcurdling battlecry as they ran towards him.. some holding knives and Bat'leths and all wanting to still attack the maimed people in the water, their unrestrained glee as they tore into the helpess people in the water, now stained with blood.... some holding rocks .... some holding limbs of the dead.... "NOOOO...." Karl tried to cry.... "NOOOO NOOOOOOOOO" Then the sky darknened as the lunging shape of one Klingon stood over him with a rictus grin... then suddenly him and Karl and the triumphant throng of Klingons looked into the sky as the Europa... now wrecked and burning and spinning came falling towards the sea.. falling toward them...... "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO"
His eyes opened slightly as he screamed. The nurse, who'd been monitoring him had come into the room and was preparing a hypospray. She knew what was happening. This had happened twice now. His fitfull sleep always ending in a terrified rasping scream. The nurse placed the spray on his neck and pressed the activator, and a hiss meant the drug had been administered. Almost immediately he began to relax, and his body sank into the bed.
"That was a bad one that time Karl." said nurse Rand. Her blue eyes seemed to smile as she patted his hand. "You had a visitor today, and yesterday. Your friend... the asian lady came to see you. I know she's a Doctor.. but we can't let her tend to you. Not yet." She glanced at the large flowerpot and smiled. "She brought you flowers."
Nurse Rand turned away to put her hypospray on the small table when a raspy, wheezy voice said, " co..... color...... w.. what..... color.... a... they...".
She turned to the bed and smiled a warm smile. "Well, they change color.. you see. I suppose she couldn't decide what color.. so she got some of those that change color.. I forget what they're called now.. hmm.. " she said.
"...s... she... didn't .... get... choc... chocolate? .... " rasped the Lt Cmdt lying in the bed, drousy from the medication.
"Oh.. is she your sweetheart? She's pretty." Nurse Rand replied.
".... h... h... .sh... she wi... wishes.... " Karl croked with a slight grin.
Nurse Rand left the room in the ICU department, it now bathed in the soft glow of the night light and the changing color of the flowers. His peace was guarranteed, for now. He was awake, barely.. but his mind was thankfully blocked off from the terrifying images that haunted him. For the moment, his battle was over.
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Post by lorkney on Mar 13, 2010 8:46:05 GMT -5
"What is our purpose here?"
Laurel blinked.
"Sorry?"
Zrohasa gave into her Betazoid side and let out a bit of an exasperated sigh.
"Why are we inspecting USS Europa? We aren't engineers. We can't make recommendations. I don't understand why you wanted to do this fly by."
"I felt that your shuttle piloting skills could use a refresher."
Zrohasa, sat back from the controls of USS Mercy (NCC-93951/2) and regarded her friend, former room mate and current commanding officer in the copilot's seat beside her. Sometimes Laurel's off colored sense of humor caught her off guard.
But Laurel had moved on and she was looking out of the craft's windows as badly damaged Europa floated by. She was deep in thought.
"Can you steer over more towards the stern of the right nacelle?"
Zrohasa complied. putting the compact Type 6 through a sweeping arc.
"Look at that," Laurel said almost to herself, "The Bussard Collector was completely destroyed. No wonder we had to tow her home."
"Permission to speak freely, sir."
Zrohasa's sudden formality surprised Laurel. Her attention snapped back on her friend.
"You never have to ask that." At Zrohasa's lack of response, "granted."
"I have known you for a while now and I think I understand the rythms of your Katra. You are one to be... how do you humans put it, melancholy."
"Well it's true. We had a tough fight and though Varina made it out with the least damage, we could very well be looking at our own ship right now in a Swiss cheese like condition."
"I will pretend to know what 'siss cheese' is for the sake of our conversation. Let me share with you one of Surak's teachings. There is no room for anything else until you cast out fear."
Laurel did a double blink.
"Let me share a saying from the great philosopher also known as my mother. Don't act above your raisin."
"The fruit?"
Laurel visibly sighed.
"It means don't be a snob. You're half Betazoid. You have emotions. You should understand this better. My emotion is not fear. It is concern. My friends are important to me. So too are their crews. Did you see Nyoko's face at the memorial. She has emotional scars that will never heal from each letter to some poor ensign's parents she has to write. The captain is responsible for every man, women and self sealing bolt on their ship. Each loss is a personal one.
And to think of what's happened to Karl.... Lying there like that. His shop in tatters, lost the majority of his crew some fine officers... people he was very close to.
Yes, I have the failings of not always being logical all the time like you. Some times humans just feel the need to... I don't know... wallow in it, perhaps?"
"Totally illogical," Zrohasa had a hard time grasping all of these concepts at once.
"I guess you are correct, please take us back," Laurel surrendered.
After a few moments in silence, Laurel decided to have the last word.
"You remind me of another common saying you might want to look up as it seems to really apply here. It's like talking to a fence post. "
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Karl
Commander
SE-531-463-C / BR-W-UK-H-394
Posts: 126
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Post by Karl on Mar 13, 2010 13:07:52 GMT -5
The Europa, what was left, was being slowly taken apart. There was no point in salvaging the wreckage and rebuilding, she was too far gone. A service shuttle was hovering nearby, watching as the engineering crews were busy working along side drones which were controlled by a AI sub-system, which in turn was being directed from the station nearby. Captain Bex was overseeing the de-construction of the Europa, as he had promised. His teams of engineers kept him appraised of their progress.
His attention was also divided on a second dry dock. Here, almost completed was the new Europa NCC 93557 A. He had worked hard to make sure the registry was kept. The hull was a Vesper class, and he had chosen the color scheme and design, along with recommendations from the surviving crew. Every time he looked at the ship, he murmured.. "He's gonna love this.."
Over in the medibay, Lt Cmdr Hart was out of ICU and in a private room. He was awake but still fragile. The get well cards and flowers threatened to overwhelm him. He realised that is certainly wasn't his rank that had been the reason for the concern his fellow colleagues had shown. He was part of a family which showed its gratitude to any member, of whatever race or rank. He looked out into space and still remembered the nightmares he'd had. Still they sometimes plagued him, sometimes his close friends; Nyoko and Laurel were among those fighting in the water.
He was scarred, physically and mentally, but he would recover. He'd asked about the Europa, and been told again and again that the vessel was being taken care of. His thoughts of a re-spray of pink and lilac, commissioned by Miss Honda and Miss Orkney gave him the shivers. He'd put in for a desk job at the academy if that particular fate were to befall him.
His thoughts turned to his brother, Marcus. He was aboard a ship, probably being a brash Senior Ensign. He'd done well for himself, Karl was proud of him. But there would always be tension. "I wonder if he's heard of my situation?" he thought to himself.
He shook his head and lay back. Nurse Rand had said his recovery was going very well, and in a few days would probably see him leaving the Medibay. Flight status would not be granted yet, he'd have to undergo a fitness and psyc evaluation first.
His last thoughts, before drifting off to sleep, were two things: standing on the bridge of a pink ship, and the second was.. "I should call my brother...."
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Karl
Commander
SE-531-463-C / BR-W-UK-H-394
Posts: 126
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Post by Karl on Mar 14, 2010 14:48:17 GMT -5
Several days passed, and Lt Cmdr Hart was out of medibay and had been transferred from the support station to Spacedock. He had had various meetings with the Flight Surgeons, Coucellors and Admiral Quinn. His flight status was in the process of being returned, but the Europa A would need to replace the crew lost. The personnel officer assigned to Spacedock was conducting commissioning of enlisted crew, but final choice of replaceent science officer would be left to Karl.
Lt Siro was recovering from her injuries too, her flight status wasn't granted yet, but her determination to prove her readiness was helping, or driving the assessment team crazy, either of the two.
Karl had not made much fuss about returning to Spacedock. He'd spent some time on Earth, checking in on family as his rehab continued. He had to prepare for the harrowing memorials coming up of the crew lost in action. He'd sent his condolences to Lt Cmdr Honda for her losses aboard her vessel. He wanted to get back to service with a minimum of fuss. A drink in Club 47 would be a nice idea.
The Europa A was practically complete, her systems undergoing final checks. Her warp core and main reactors were still cold, but the next few hours would see her running lights come to life under her own power. The modularization had made construction and refits quicker, but the checks and careful calibration still took time and was never rushed.
Lt Hart was eager to get aboard her and tour the ship. And eager to return to flight. The taste of losing a ship under his command, and losing people under his watch was bitter.
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