spake759
Literotica Guru
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- Dec 1, 2009
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"A Blast from the Past" (Spake759 & NaughtyInJax)
Earth Year 2380AD
Shortly after the Eugenics Wars, it was realized that the dictator who had started the entire thing had disappeared when the Central Asian Republics had finally fell to the allied states. The search for Khan Noonien Singh started almost immediately. Hundreds of DY-100 deep space colonial transports had been built and launched before, during and after the war. And when it was realized that the possibility that Khan and his inner circle had chosen to exile themselves into the great unknown of space instead of allowing themselves to be captured, many clamored to get someone to find and capture him and his followers instead of allowing them the chance to set up somewhere else. And be a threat to their grandchildren at some point in the future. Among the volunteers were many of the military personnel whom had been augmented to fight for their countries, and had already seen that they would face severe ostracism by those who they had allowed themselves to be altered when they went home. So they too chose to except exile from the world they had fought so hard to protect.
One of these ships, tasked with hunting down Khan, was the SS Bonhomme Richard. It had been crewed almost entirely by personnel that had been drawn from the United States Navy Submarine Service. But it also carried a team of US Navy SEALS. One of them had been SO1 Jethro Ethan Thaddeus 'Jet' Spaight. A man whom became a famous writer and philosopher when several members of his family had decided to publish all his personal journals, various stories and letters home in a series of books. It was in the writings on politics and religion that had caused the most interest.
But it was his words about how governments that are allowed to grow so large and do too much, just become so large that it becomes so difficult for the ‘right hand, to know what the left hand is doing’ that they will become rife with corruption just as natural as those with power wanting even more power. As was his belief that the only way to be in the presence of God in the afterlife, was to have love in your heart. And that to love life was to have love in your heart. But to love death, was to have hate in your heart. And it was this belief more than any other… That had changed the world.
His simple style of writing, of describing how he loved and accepted those he met in his travels. How he never hated those he had to fight… That changed many who had read his words. When it was learned that he wore an Orthodox Christian Cross, a Star of David and a Star & Crescent on his dogtags around his neck, had brought peace between the children of the God of Abraham. It was his words on love, and acceptance that there just might be more than one way to find a path to God and his Grace. That each of these three faiths had something to teach and share with the others. But it was his words of Love that had the greatest effect. That God was Love. And that Love is what connects everyone to God. His writings inspired many Christians, Jews and Muslims to find common ground and end the power of fundamental extremists from hijacking their religious ideals. And thus brought all of the Children of the Lord God together thanks to his simple belief that the only way to be allowed in the presence of God in the afterlife, is to have Love in your Heart. And to Love life, is to have a heart full of Love. And to love death, is to have a heart full of hate. And thus it was seen that to kill in the name of God, is an act of Hate.
Only in his apparent death did he become famous.
But he never died. No, he had been aboard the Bonhomme Richard hunting for Khan. But no one knew the names of the men and women who volunteered for what had appeared to be a one-way-ticket into the unknown.
The Sovereign-class USS Independence (NCC-1776-C) discovered the Bonhomme Richard floating in orbit around a small rogue planetoid, broadcasting a distress beacon. The Stars and Stripes emblazoned upon its sizes declaring for all that it had been an American starship for anyone to see. Its name was engraved at the stern in five-foot tall golden letters standing out against the ships silver-gray hull.
Captain Josephine Kennedy, the commanding officer of the Indy sat at her desk in her ready room just off the main bridge and listened to her first officer, the Australian Commander Max Cooke give her a report on what they had found. She just could not help but stare in amazement at something that really shouldn't have been so far away from Earth that floated just outside the viewport of her ready room.
"When we got close," CDR Max Cooke said, informing his Captain. "Sensors had picked up an increase in activity onboard the ship… But Shran says that he has only been able to detect one life sign during the past hour that we have been studying it."
"Only one?" CPT Jo Kennedy asked.
"Yes ma'am," CDR Cooke said nodding. "We are waiting your permission to send over an away team Captain."
"You have my permission commander," CPT Kennedy said smiling. "Have Lieutenant Commander Povron head up the away team… She needs the command experience if she ever decides to advance in Starfleet."
"Of course Captain," CDR Cooke said nodding. "I will have her assemble her away team to head over immediately. Shran said that the Bonhomme Richard should have close to two hundred onboard… And if he is only able to detect only one…"
"They might have had a major problem and their hibernation chambers malfunctioned…" CPT Kennedy said thoughtfully.
"That is what I am thinking," CDR Cooke said as he held up his PADD and showed it to CPT Kennedy. "I was going to suggest the away team have at least two engineering officers, a science officer, and medical officer."
"I agree," CPT Kennedy said smiling. "Allow Povron to pick most of her away team personnel… But send over a team of engineers and science officers to provide support. That thing if nothing else, it an archeological gold mind."
"Yes Ma’am," CDR Cooke said as he turned and left the ready room and looked over at LCDR Addie Povron. "Commander can you please come with me, the Captain and I have a job for you…"
Half Hour Later…
"Good luck commander," CDR Max Cooke told LCDR Addie Povron and the other five members of her away team. "After you arrive over there… We will send over a team of engineers to start going over the ship, and make sure it will be able to be towed back to Earth. If you find the lone survivor, be careful. The last time a Starfleet found one of these things… It was full of eugenic supermen."
"The name Bonhomme Richard and the United States flag on the side gives us hope that its possibly one of the ships sent out hunting Khan and his followers," CDR Cooke told her. "But I do not want you to take any chances."
As the six forms started to materialize in the command center of the Bonhomme Richard, they were greeted by blinking red lights. The science officer pulled out his tricorder and started to scan the area.
"The ships automated systems activated as soon as they detected us Commander," LT Tolvon said in a clipped and tight tone that sounded so much like the Andorian Chief Science Officer back on the USS Independence. "From what I am able to get from the computer… The hibernation chambers have been failing for the past three years. The last chambers were activated when we arrived. Unfortunately, only one has survived the awakening process."
"We already knew that Tolvon," LT Tann said chuckling as he drew his phaser and double-checked that it was still set on stun.
"Some of us want to ensure that data can be double-checked," Tolvon said dryly. "Just like you have done with your phaser, just as a security officer would need to do."
"Boys please," LT Vance MD said shaking her head. "There is a lone survivor somewhere on this vessel, and they need our help…"
"Spread out," LCDR Addie Povron ordered, she was use to the good natured prodding between the three friends that had been together since they had attended Starfleet Academy. It had been the medical officer whose level head, that would always pull them back on track. She received word that the engineering team had been transported directly to the ships engine and machinery spaces where they were expected to perform an extensive exam of the ships superstructure and its systems to see if it would indeed be able to be towed back to Earth.
But there the first question that was on the minds of many of the crew of the Independence. How the hell did it get out this far… Its engines and drives just did not have the power to get it out this far. Already Tolvon was accessing the ships computer, trying to find its navigational recordings that would tell them just that… But the second question needed to be answered, and that was concerning the lone survivor that was somewhere onboard this vessel.
She reached out with her Betaziod senses and started to search for a human mind. But she was stunned when all she could sense was the other members of the two away teams that had been transported onboard. But there was something on the edge of her senses… A shadow that was moving around, watching not just the members of her away team, but she could tell that this person was watching her.
She passed by a locker that was partially opened, it had been closed by a strange looking device that she recognized from the historical Human holonovels… it was called a combination padlock. And inside she saw something she recognized very quickly. It was full of projectile weapons, combat vests and grenades. Still inside were several assault rifles, submachineguns and automatic pistols. And she could see that some of the weapons were missing. Among them was a combat vest, a pistol, and a rifle.
"Oh this is not good," LT Tann said when he saw the opened weapons locker. "Whoever is alive on here is armed and dangerous…"
"The initial scans indicated we are looking for a human male," LT Tolvon stated informing them of who they where searching for. "And the computer is stating that the lone survivor is Special Operator First Class Jethero Spaight. A United States Navy SEAL, who had been one of the members of the away team detachment."
"A US Navy SEAL?" LT Tann asked looking at Tolvon. "Why didn’t you tell us that sooner?"
"Does that mean something special?" LT Tolvon asked.
"Dude you really need to read some more information on some of the greatest military forces in Earths history," LT Tann said shaking his head. "The SEALS are some of the best combatants ever. They are a lot like the ninjas of ancient Japan. They could do the most impossible missions…"
"They where good," LT Vance said shaking her head. "But they were not that good… They completed their missions, and they never left anyone behind. My grandfather was a US Navy SEAL… and my youngest brother is in the US Navy. So you could say that US Navy history has always been a major part of my family growing up."
"The United States Navy is still in existence?" LT Tolvon asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Of course," LT Vance replied laughing. "Why wouldn't the Navy still exist. The Vulcan Confederacy still has several military forces from their past in existence to this day used for internal security and ceremonial purposes…"
"I see," LT Tolvon said nodding. "I just did not realize that the United Earth Republic had not completely absorbed the various military forces into a single organization."
"There is a single overall high command," LT Tann said thoughtfully. "But it is just a single command authority, because each member state has maintained its own historic military forces mostly due to tradition. But it has allowed the United Earth Defense Forces to maintain a small, but dedicated defense force with an extremely strong sense of duty."
"We really don’t have time for the cultural lesson," LTJG Pavoon stated shaking his head. The Andorian Security Officer had been examining the various weapons that had been stored in the weapons locker. He was holding one of the assault rifle, and comparing it with the other weapons. "We have to find this Spaight person. And as Lieutenant Tann has stated, he is currently armed and dangerous. And it would appear that he has armed himself with an FN SCAR-L Mk.16 5.56mm CQB assault rifle that is also equipped with a FN EGLM 40mm single-shot grenade launcher… A very deadly combination."
"And possibly suffering from hibernation sickness," LT Vance said thoughtfully.
"Hibernation Sickness?" LT Tolvon asked. "What is that?"
"Hibernation Sickness is a medical term that describes a great deal of problems that people suffer from when they awake from an extended period of hibernation," LT Vance said as she was reading the data on the screen of her medical tricorder. "It can be a combination of many symptoms. Such as severe muscle weakness, visual blindness, audio deftness, hallucinations, paranoia, or muscle spasms."
"Okay people," LCDR Addie Porvan ordered as he pulled out her phaser and double-checked that it was still on the stun setting. "Now that we know that our lone survivor is armed & dangerous, and could be suffering from hibernation sickness we need to stay on our toes. And find him."
"Now lets spread out," she ordered. "We need to be very careful, and if you think you see or hear something call of backup. I don't want anyone taking any chances. I have already reported in with Commander Cooke, and told him that the survivor is armed and could be dangerous. I also told him that I think we can find him and bring him back in without an incident. But Major Baker has already stated that he has an excursion team of Marines that will be transported over."
"Are they coming over now or later?" LT Tann asked as he looked at the compact bull-pup IMI Tavor TAR-21 5.56mm assault rifle that had impressed him. He realized that it had been prepped for someone to use it. And the fact that it hadn’t been stowed caused him to look around.
"Now," LCDR Addie Porvan said shaking her head. "MAJ Baker doesn't want to risk our lives. So we have to find him ASAP."
"Understood," LTJG Pavoon stated with a nod, his antenna was twitching as he started looking around with his phaser in one hand, and a spot-light torch in the other in a cross hand hold as he started looking into the shadows.
"Commander, this one was ready for someone to use." LT Tann said as he held the rifle out for LT Addie Porvan to study it. He showed her how it had been locked, loaded, and cocked. It was more than ready to 'rock and roll' as soldiers throughout time had referred to their weapons being ready for combat.
"He’s really close...."
"You heard the man people," Addie said looking around the vestibule just off of the command and control center as the distinctive sounds of transporters depositing six heavily armed & armored Starfleet marines. She turned back to look over her shoulder before looking back at her team. "There is another group of marines downstairs with the engineering team. And a third team is standing by if something happens."
"But we are not going to let anything happen now are we?" Addie asked her away team.
"No ma’am!" was the unanimous answer from the men and women of her away team.
"Good," she said with a stern nod. "Let's move out!"
The away team had moved out and started searching for the man they where trying to find. After almost twenty minutes, they hadn't turned anything up. But they had remained in near constant contact with the two teams of Marines that was helping them in their search of the Bonhomme Richard. LT Addoe Porvon had been moving through the living quarters of the crew, they had been located on the outer edges of the centerline of the ships near the areas where the hibernation chambers had been located.
She was 'hunting' the illusive shadow that was skirting the edge of her telepathic senses. She had stopped and squatted down to bend over to pick-up a small stuffed toy of what appeared to be an old little stuffed lamb that had a cute little bib with embroidered letters declaring that it belonged to someone named 'Jet'. She could feel that who ever owned this stuffed little toy had loved it a great deal. Even without having been touched by its owner in centuries that love was still present.
"Freeze," a hoarse voice said as the sound of a bolt being pulled back to chamber a round. She finally was able to sense him. He was a cold man, but also a man of great compassion and love.
"First I want you to put my lambkins right there on my rack with your weapon right beside her," SO1 Jethro Ethan Thaddeus Spaight said stepping out of the darkness and keeping the rifle leveled in her general direction.
He was a tall Human Caucasian male with broad shoulders, narrow hips and was exceptionally well defined muscle structure that was not overly bulky. He was wearing a black combat vest over a black tee-shirt with the symbol of the US Navy SEALS and a pair of black boxer-briefs. She could see he was wearing a pair of black sock-like booties on his feet, and a pair of ancient silver wire-rimmed eyeglasses on his face. His reddish brown hair was kept cut short on the back and sides, but had been allowed to grow long on the top, and he had a well-groomed red goa-tee.
"And second," He said as he walked over to Addie and looked her over, examining everything he could see. She was wearing the optional female variant of the Class-A duty uniform that consisted of a black jacket with quilted gray shoulders, worn over a command red shirt, a black skirt with command red piping, a pair of black stockings, and a pair of knee-high black boots. She could feel that he was attracted to her, but his attraction was tempered with his own self-deprecation that he did not really know what to do with her, if she would actually want him. Shaking his head to get his thoughts back on track he continued.
"I want you to identify yourself," he said taking his stuffed animal from Addies hand and putting it in the pocket of his combat vest, before he started searching for a communications device. When he didn’t find one he looked at her like she was crazy. He saw her combadge and when he touched it, it had came off in his hand. Completely stunning him.
"And for you to tell me why the hell you are on this vessel," he said looking at the combage and trying to figure how it had been attached to her jacket and not seeing any pins or hooks that had held it on. "And third… Just how the hell did this stay on your jacket..."
Addie looked at the man standing before her. Now that she was able to see him she was able to read him more clearly. He was indeed suffering from hibernation sickness. Looking at him she answered his questions first.
"First, I'm sorry for touching your lambkins. I did not realize it was yours, but I did know whoever owned it cherished it very much. Second, I'm Lieutenant Commander Addisyn Povron of the Federation vessel, USS Independence. Third, a weak magnet keeps it attached to my jacket. Now I suggest you sit down Jethro Spaight. You are suffering from something known as hibernation sickness. You've been asleep for far longer than you think."
"Hibernation sickness?" he said as his eyes narrowed as he studied her, with an angry shake of his head. "I have never heard of it... But I do know that you are onboard my vessel... And the rest of my crew is... Dead. But somehow you have been able to come aboard my vessel, without docking with it."
"That's..." he said walking around her. "Not suppose to be possible commander. How did you get onboard my vessel, and why are you here. The communs are still functioning, and the distress beacon has been broadcasting."
"You're armed with a dustbuster looking thing," he said looking at the phaser that was now laying on his bunk.
"You said your ship is the USS Independence," he said leaning back against the table in the small communal crew lounge. "And I have no idea who, or what this 'Federation' you speak of is. But that's an American shipname... One with a long history with the United States Navy."
"Now tell me commander," he said looking at her and smiling as she could feel that he was on the edge of loosing conciousness. "The how, where and why of my questions before I get upset."
Earth Year 2380AD
Shortly after the Eugenics Wars, it was realized that the dictator who had started the entire thing had disappeared when the Central Asian Republics had finally fell to the allied states. The search for Khan Noonien Singh started almost immediately. Hundreds of DY-100 deep space colonial transports had been built and launched before, during and after the war. And when it was realized that the possibility that Khan and his inner circle had chosen to exile themselves into the great unknown of space instead of allowing themselves to be captured, many clamored to get someone to find and capture him and his followers instead of allowing them the chance to set up somewhere else. And be a threat to their grandchildren at some point in the future. Among the volunteers were many of the military personnel whom had been augmented to fight for their countries, and had already seen that they would face severe ostracism by those who they had allowed themselves to be altered when they went home. So they too chose to except exile from the world they had fought so hard to protect.
One of these ships, tasked with hunting down Khan, was the SS Bonhomme Richard. It had been crewed almost entirely by personnel that had been drawn from the United States Navy Submarine Service. But it also carried a team of US Navy SEALS. One of them had been SO1 Jethro Ethan Thaddeus 'Jet' Spaight. A man whom became a famous writer and philosopher when several members of his family had decided to publish all his personal journals, various stories and letters home in a series of books. It was in the writings on politics and religion that had caused the most interest.
But it was his words about how governments that are allowed to grow so large and do too much, just become so large that it becomes so difficult for the ‘right hand, to know what the left hand is doing’ that they will become rife with corruption just as natural as those with power wanting even more power. As was his belief that the only way to be in the presence of God in the afterlife, was to have love in your heart. And that to love life was to have love in your heart. But to love death, was to have hate in your heart. And it was this belief more than any other… That had changed the world.
His simple style of writing, of describing how he loved and accepted those he met in his travels. How he never hated those he had to fight… That changed many who had read his words. When it was learned that he wore an Orthodox Christian Cross, a Star of David and a Star & Crescent on his dogtags around his neck, had brought peace between the children of the God of Abraham. It was his words on love, and acceptance that there just might be more than one way to find a path to God and his Grace. That each of these three faiths had something to teach and share with the others. But it was his words of Love that had the greatest effect. That God was Love. And that Love is what connects everyone to God. His writings inspired many Christians, Jews and Muslims to find common ground and end the power of fundamental extremists from hijacking their religious ideals. And thus brought all of the Children of the Lord God together thanks to his simple belief that the only way to be allowed in the presence of God in the afterlife, is to have Love in your Heart. And to Love life, is to have a heart full of Love. And to love death, is to have a heart full of hate. And thus it was seen that to kill in the name of God, is an act of Hate.
Only in his apparent death did he become famous.
But he never died. No, he had been aboard the Bonhomme Richard hunting for Khan. But no one knew the names of the men and women who volunteered for what had appeared to be a one-way-ticket into the unknown.
The Sovereign-class USS Independence (NCC-1776-C) discovered the Bonhomme Richard floating in orbit around a small rogue planetoid, broadcasting a distress beacon. The Stars and Stripes emblazoned upon its sizes declaring for all that it had been an American starship for anyone to see. Its name was engraved at the stern in five-foot tall golden letters standing out against the ships silver-gray hull.
Captain Josephine Kennedy, the commanding officer of the Indy sat at her desk in her ready room just off the main bridge and listened to her first officer, the Australian Commander Max Cooke give her a report on what they had found. She just could not help but stare in amazement at something that really shouldn't have been so far away from Earth that floated just outside the viewport of her ready room.
"When we got close," CDR Max Cooke said, informing his Captain. "Sensors had picked up an increase in activity onboard the ship… But Shran says that he has only been able to detect one life sign during the past hour that we have been studying it."
"Only one?" CPT Jo Kennedy asked.
"Yes ma'am," CDR Cooke said nodding. "We are waiting your permission to send over an away team Captain."
"You have my permission commander," CPT Kennedy said smiling. "Have Lieutenant Commander Povron head up the away team… She needs the command experience if she ever decides to advance in Starfleet."
"Of course Captain," CDR Cooke said nodding. "I will have her assemble her away team to head over immediately. Shran said that the Bonhomme Richard should have close to two hundred onboard… And if he is only able to detect only one…"
"They might have had a major problem and their hibernation chambers malfunctioned…" CPT Kennedy said thoughtfully.
"That is what I am thinking," CDR Cooke said as he held up his PADD and showed it to CPT Kennedy. "I was going to suggest the away team have at least two engineering officers, a science officer, and medical officer."
"I agree," CPT Kennedy said smiling. "Allow Povron to pick most of her away team personnel… But send over a team of engineers and science officers to provide support. That thing if nothing else, it an archeological gold mind."
"Yes Ma’am," CDR Cooke said as he turned and left the ready room and looked over at LCDR Addie Povron. "Commander can you please come with me, the Captain and I have a job for you…"
Half Hour Later…
"Good luck commander," CDR Max Cooke told LCDR Addie Povron and the other five members of her away team. "After you arrive over there… We will send over a team of engineers to start going over the ship, and make sure it will be able to be towed back to Earth. If you find the lone survivor, be careful. The last time a Starfleet found one of these things… It was full of eugenic supermen."
"The name Bonhomme Richard and the United States flag on the side gives us hope that its possibly one of the ships sent out hunting Khan and his followers," CDR Cooke told her. "But I do not want you to take any chances."
As the six forms started to materialize in the command center of the Bonhomme Richard, they were greeted by blinking red lights. The science officer pulled out his tricorder and started to scan the area.
"The ships automated systems activated as soon as they detected us Commander," LT Tolvon said in a clipped and tight tone that sounded so much like the Andorian Chief Science Officer back on the USS Independence. "From what I am able to get from the computer… The hibernation chambers have been failing for the past three years. The last chambers were activated when we arrived. Unfortunately, only one has survived the awakening process."
"We already knew that Tolvon," LT Tann said chuckling as he drew his phaser and double-checked that it was still set on stun.
"Some of us want to ensure that data can be double-checked," Tolvon said dryly. "Just like you have done with your phaser, just as a security officer would need to do."
"Boys please," LT Vance MD said shaking her head. "There is a lone survivor somewhere on this vessel, and they need our help…"
"Spread out," LCDR Addie Povron ordered, she was use to the good natured prodding between the three friends that had been together since they had attended Starfleet Academy. It had been the medical officer whose level head, that would always pull them back on track. She received word that the engineering team had been transported directly to the ships engine and machinery spaces where they were expected to perform an extensive exam of the ships superstructure and its systems to see if it would indeed be able to be towed back to Earth.
But there the first question that was on the minds of many of the crew of the Independence. How the hell did it get out this far… Its engines and drives just did not have the power to get it out this far. Already Tolvon was accessing the ships computer, trying to find its navigational recordings that would tell them just that… But the second question needed to be answered, and that was concerning the lone survivor that was somewhere onboard this vessel.
She reached out with her Betaziod senses and started to search for a human mind. But she was stunned when all she could sense was the other members of the two away teams that had been transported onboard. But there was something on the edge of her senses… A shadow that was moving around, watching not just the members of her away team, but she could tell that this person was watching her.
She passed by a locker that was partially opened, it had been closed by a strange looking device that she recognized from the historical Human holonovels… it was called a combination padlock. And inside she saw something she recognized very quickly. It was full of projectile weapons, combat vests and grenades. Still inside were several assault rifles, submachineguns and automatic pistols. And she could see that some of the weapons were missing. Among them was a combat vest, a pistol, and a rifle.
"Oh this is not good," LT Tann said when he saw the opened weapons locker. "Whoever is alive on here is armed and dangerous…"
"The initial scans indicated we are looking for a human male," LT Tolvon stated informing them of who they where searching for. "And the computer is stating that the lone survivor is Special Operator First Class Jethero Spaight. A United States Navy SEAL, who had been one of the members of the away team detachment."
"A US Navy SEAL?" LT Tann asked looking at Tolvon. "Why didn’t you tell us that sooner?"
"Does that mean something special?" LT Tolvon asked.
"Dude you really need to read some more information on some of the greatest military forces in Earths history," LT Tann said shaking his head. "The SEALS are some of the best combatants ever. They are a lot like the ninjas of ancient Japan. They could do the most impossible missions…"
"They where good," LT Vance said shaking her head. "But they were not that good… They completed their missions, and they never left anyone behind. My grandfather was a US Navy SEAL… and my youngest brother is in the US Navy. So you could say that US Navy history has always been a major part of my family growing up."
"The United States Navy is still in existence?" LT Tolvon asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Of course," LT Vance replied laughing. "Why wouldn't the Navy still exist. The Vulcan Confederacy still has several military forces from their past in existence to this day used for internal security and ceremonial purposes…"
"I see," LT Tolvon said nodding. "I just did not realize that the United Earth Republic had not completely absorbed the various military forces into a single organization."
"There is a single overall high command," LT Tann said thoughtfully. "But it is just a single command authority, because each member state has maintained its own historic military forces mostly due to tradition. But it has allowed the United Earth Defense Forces to maintain a small, but dedicated defense force with an extremely strong sense of duty."
"We really don’t have time for the cultural lesson," LTJG Pavoon stated shaking his head. The Andorian Security Officer had been examining the various weapons that had been stored in the weapons locker. He was holding one of the assault rifle, and comparing it with the other weapons. "We have to find this Spaight person. And as Lieutenant Tann has stated, he is currently armed and dangerous. And it would appear that he has armed himself with an FN SCAR-L Mk.16 5.56mm CQB assault rifle that is also equipped with a FN EGLM 40mm single-shot grenade launcher… A very deadly combination."
"And possibly suffering from hibernation sickness," LT Vance said thoughtfully.
"Hibernation Sickness?" LT Tolvon asked. "What is that?"
"Hibernation Sickness is a medical term that describes a great deal of problems that people suffer from when they awake from an extended period of hibernation," LT Vance said as she was reading the data on the screen of her medical tricorder. "It can be a combination of many symptoms. Such as severe muscle weakness, visual blindness, audio deftness, hallucinations, paranoia, or muscle spasms."
"Okay people," LCDR Addie Porvan ordered as he pulled out her phaser and double-checked that it was still on the stun setting. "Now that we know that our lone survivor is armed & dangerous, and could be suffering from hibernation sickness we need to stay on our toes. And find him."
"Now lets spread out," she ordered. "We need to be very careful, and if you think you see or hear something call of backup. I don't want anyone taking any chances. I have already reported in with Commander Cooke, and told him that the survivor is armed and could be dangerous. I also told him that I think we can find him and bring him back in without an incident. But Major Baker has already stated that he has an excursion team of Marines that will be transported over."
"Are they coming over now or later?" LT Tann asked as he looked at the compact bull-pup IMI Tavor TAR-21 5.56mm assault rifle that had impressed him. He realized that it had been prepped for someone to use it. And the fact that it hadn’t been stowed caused him to look around.
"Now," LCDR Addie Porvan said shaking her head. "MAJ Baker doesn't want to risk our lives. So we have to find him ASAP."
"Understood," LTJG Pavoon stated with a nod, his antenna was twitching as he started looking around with his phaser in one hand, and a spot-light torch in the other in a cross hand hold as he started looking into the shadows.
"Commander, this one was ready for someone to use." LT Tann said as he held the rifle out for LT Addie Porvan to study it. He showed her how it had been locked, loaded, and cocked. It was more than ready to 'rock and roll' as soldiers throughout time had referred to their weapons being ready for combat.
"He’s really close...."
"You heard the man people," Addie said looking around the vestibule just off of the command and control center as the distinctive sounds of transporters depositing six heavily armed & armored Starfleet marines. She turned back to look over her shoulder before looking back at her team. "There is another group of marines downstairs with the engineering team. And a third team is standing by if something happens."
"But we are not going to let anything happen now are we?" Addie asked her away team.
"No ma’am!" was the unanimous answer from the men and women of her away team.
"Good," she said with a stern nod. "Let's move out!"
The away team had moved out and started searching for the man they where trying to find. After almost twenty minutes, they hadn't turned anything up. But they had remained in near constant contact with the two teams of Marines that was helping them in their search of the Bonhomme Richard. LT Addoe Porvon had been moving through the living quarters of the crew, they had been located on the outer edges of the centerline of the ships near the areas where the hibernation chambers had been located.
She was 'hunting' the illusive shadow that was skirting the edge of her telepathic senses. She had stopped and squatted down to bend over to pick-up a small stuffed toy of what appeared to be an old little stuffed lamb that had a cute little bib with embroidered letters declaring that it belonged to someone named 'Jet'. She could feel that who ever owned this stuffed little toy had loved it a great deal. Even without having been touched by its owner in centuries that love was still present.
"Freeze," a hoarse voice said as the sound of a bolt being pulled back to chamber a round. She finally was able to sense him. He was a cold man, but also a man of great compassion and love.
"First I want you to put my lambkins right there on my rack with your weapon right beside her," SO1 Jethro Ethan Thaddeus Spaight said stepping out of the darkness and keeping the rifle leveled in her general direction.
He was a tall Human Caucasian male with broad shoulders, narrow hips and was exceptionally well defined muscle structure that was not overly bulky. He was wearing a black combat vest over a black tee-shirt with the symbol of the US Navy SEALS and a pair of black boxer-briefs. She could see he was wearing a pair of black sock-like booties on his feet, and a pair of ancient silver wire-rimmed eyeglasses on his face. His reddish brown hair was kept cut short on the back and sides, but had been allowed to grow long on the top, and he had a well-groomed red goa-tee.
"And second," He said as he walked over to Addie and looked her over, examining everything he could see. She was wearing the optional female variant of the Class-A duty uniform that consisted of a black jacket with quilted gray shoulders, worn over a command red shirt, a black skirt with command red piping, a pair of black stockings, and a pair of knee-high black boots. She could feel that he was attracted to her, but his attraction was tempered with his own self-deprecation that he did not really know what to do with her, if she would actually want him. Shaking his head to get his thoughts back on track he continued.
"I want you to identify yourself," he said taking his stuffed animal from Addies hand and putting it in the pocket of his combat vest, before he started searching for a communications device. When he didn’t find one he looked at her like she was crazy. He saw her combadge and when he touched it, it had came off in his hand. Completely stunning him.
"And for you to tell me why the hell you are on this vessel," he said looking at the combage and trying to figure how it had been attached to her jacket and not seeing any pins or hooks that had held it on. "And third… Just how the hell did this stay on your jacket..."
Addie looked at the man standing before her. Now that she was able to see him she was able to read him more clearly. He was indeed suffering from hibernation sickness. Looking at him she answered his questions first.
"First, I'm sorry for touching your lambkins. I did not realize it was yours, but I did know whoever owned it cherished it very much. Second, I'm Lieutenant Commander Addisyn Povron of the Federation vessel, USS Independence. Third, a weak magnet keeps it attached to my jacket. Now I suggest you sit down Jethro Spaight. You are suffering from something known as hibernation sickness. You've been asleep for far longer than you think."
"Hibernation sickness?" he said as his eyes narrowed as he studied her, with an angry shake of his head. "I have never heard of it... But I do know that you are onboard my vessel... And the rest of my crew is... Dead. But somehow you have been able to come aboard my vessel, without docking with it."
"That's..." he said walking around her. "Not suppose to be possible commander. How did you get onboard my vessel, and why are you here. The communs are still functioning, and the distress beacon has been broadcasting."
"You're armed with a dustbuster looking thing," he said looking at the phaser that was now laying on his bunk.
"You said your ship is the USS Independence," he said leaning back against the table in the small communal crew lounge. "And I have no idea who, or what this 'Federation' you speak of is. But that's an American shipname... One with a long history with the United States Navy."
"Now tell me commander," he said looking at her and smiling as she could feel that he was on the edge of loosing conciousness. "The how, where and why of my questions before I get upset."
