"All Too Human... Anger"
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Stardate: 60341.0915
The Vulcan Ensign stared at the viewscreen, his face a mask of anger. He had run the run-in with the probe, now known to be some type of one person scout, over and over, and still could not find what irratated him. But he knew something was not right. He heard the door whoose open behind him.
"Ahh my friend, why did I know you would be here?" The large SEC/TAC
Ensign said to his friend. "Something troubles you about your actions?"
Derek turned to look upon this unlikely of friends. "I do not understand Uxtar. That thing should never have been able to close on us like it did. I used every official defensive tactic and it answered move for move. Almost like it knew what I would do. If the XO/CEO had not fired the pulse when he did... well."
The Hirogen looked down upon his fellow pilot. "You did what you had to do.
We are still here, and the ANUBIS is even now studying the object, it will
tell much. You are too hard upon yourself my friend. You aquitted yourself in
true hunter tradition, even without the knowledge of your prey. I do not think
you need to feel the failure you do."
Derek looked up and at first glared at his friend but a slow dawning began
to show upon his face. "Thats it!
Uxtar looked at his friend wondering if he should call the sickbay. "I am
sorry... what is... it as you say."
The half human FCO spun back to the console and his fingers virtually flew
across the keys. "You said it my friend... Knowledge... Having the knowledge of your prey. Why did I not see it before?" The view screen lit up with a representation of the recent battle. "That object did know what I was going to do...watch it react to my manuvers. See how the standard tactics are countered, but when at the last second I spun the ship and rolled it hesitated and thats when we hit it."
The large hunter watched the battle. "Yes I see... you are right but what
does it mean?"
"You are a hunter, what is the first thing you do before a hunt?" not waiting for a reply Stormwind went on. "You find out what you can about the prey, and you do that by study... or in the case of the Borg by assimulation. The Imperians unlike the Borg are totally non-organic... humanoid computers. They currently have access to Cardassian Military information... so they know our basic defensive moves. But they are still machines so any non-conforming incident gives them a need to re-evaluate. Thats why we managed to take out the probe."
Uxtar stood silently as he thought about this. "How than does this help us."
Derek stood holding a PADD in his hand. "I honestly don't know if it will,
but that is for the Captain to decide." Holding out the PADD to his Hirogen buddy, "Will you pass this on to her for me? I want to continue working this line of thought... just in case."
Taking the PADD from Derek, the SEC/TAC gently shook his head. "You must get
over your fear of her my friend. She will not bite you, as the women of your species do. Turning he left the holodeck.
The half Vulcan stared at the door, realising that his friend had just made
his first real joke. He did not fear Captain Serenna, in fact his respect had risen during the last few days for the way she handled the various siuations and her ease dealing with the many different crew personalities. No it wasn't her he feared... but there were two Captains on this mission. Two sets of hands on his future in Starfleet. Vulcan he maybe... but his human half said keep a low profile... and that he planned to do if at all possible.
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The Vulcan Ensign left the holodeck heading toward his quarters. It took him a
moment to realize that there was more crew movement than would be considered
normal for a regular duty shift. Not having heard any general announcement he tapped the security crewman who was apparently on station at the junction.
"Excuse me" he said.
The Security man turned to the half human Ensign. "Sir" he answered with respect.
"Can you tell me what is going on?" Stormwind asked.
The crewman looked at the Vulcan. Thinking he was being tested he snapped to
attention and gave a formal report. "Sir! The HATHOR has set Security Condition One. Due to the incident aboard the ANUBIS full internal security is to remain in effect. Sir!"
Derek showed no change in expression, but inside he was seething with dread.
Taking his cue from the Security officer he asked. "Explain, the incident."
The man started to explain. "Sir at 0915 crew members of the ANUBIS were attacked by what has been described as an Imperian coming out of the Probe that recently..." He trailed off as the Vulcan Ensign spun and headed quickly down the corrider using a hand to apparently hold himself up. Shaking his head... **Officers where do they find some of them.**
Derek's mind was a blaze of pain. The Vulcan in him told him it was illogical to blame himself, there was little he could have done. Yet his human half was taking a strong hold. Anger swelled in him and disgust...more importantly failure...for he had failed to see the danger in the probe. He rushed for his quarters, he could not allow himself to be seen when his human half held control. He was sure that even his friend Uxtar woud not understand.
----- 2006 post #057
Setting: USS HATHOR, Holodeck
Stardate:60341.0930
Setting: USS HATHOR, Corridor outside of the holodeck
Brian Matthews (dragonsslayer@excite.com)
as
Ensign Derek Stormwind
FCO
USS HATHOR, NCC 74211
