Lt Commander Samantha Palmer Mission Specialist USS Chimera NCC 96899 - Lieutenant Athena Wellington Ship's Counselor USS Chimera NCC 96899 =/\= Begin Log =/\= Athena awoke with a feeling of great loss and to the message of LtCmdr. Palmer's. The counselor knew that things were very wrong in a second. She needed to find out what was going on and soon. Fortunately, she had fallen asleep on the sofa in her clothes. Not caring that she looked more than just a bit rumpled, Athena quickly moved to the door which seemed to hesitate before actually opening. Athena moved as quickly as she could through the crew that was moving around the corridors. She sensed the dip in morale and now she could see it as well. It took her longer than expected, but she finally made it to the bridge. She walked through the doors hoping to see Shane, the XO was no where to be seen. It was also apparent that Athena was not who they were expecting to show up either. Samantha still rather silently in the Command chair, staring out at the images on the viewscreen before her. She seemed almost lifeless, solely focused on the temporal anomaly that had now become very imposing. Other than acknowledging the occasional report, she didn't say a word; waiting was not her strong point, but she resigned herself to it knowing there was nothing else she could do. Lost in her thoughts, Samantha didn't hear the turbolift doors open as Athena entered. Athena took a quick look around the bridge and finally asked the ensign sitting at the OPS station what was going on. She noted the look that Harker, the helmsman, gave her as she waited for the ensign's reply. When she heard the Counselor's voice, Samantha stood up from the chair and answered her question. =93The Chimera is temporarily under my command, Lieutenant Wellington. I am waiting for the Executive Officer to arrive, but he seems to have been delayed. I don't suppose you know where he is? I've dispatched some officers to search for him, but have received no reports yet.=94 She raised her eyebrow as she turned away from the ensign and answered Samantha's question, "I haven't seen or heard anything from the XO since I was here last." As the Counselor was a member of the senior staff, Samantha decided she might as well begin to inform her of what was going on. She had wanted to wait for the XO, but since that wait might prove to be too long, she saw no reason to delay any longer. Doctor Summers had requested to stay in Sickbay to tend to the wounded for the moment, and Samantha had agreed with it, knowing that was where she was most needed. =93Lieutenant, please follow me to the Conference Room so that we can talk in private. Nicolas, you have the Bridge.=94 When Samantha spoke his name, she realized it was probably a mistake to address him so informally. Although anyone who dug deep enough would be able to learn of their former involvement, it was not really common knowledge (despite some ship rumours) and caused several thoughts of him to surface in her mind. Trying hard to keep from thinking of them around the Counselor, she quickly moved from the Bridge and tried to think of the matters at hand. Athena wasn't sure she like this set up, but decided to follow and gain what information she could. It was her duty; especially with the confused and torn state of the crew. She looked at the view screen and thought briefly of the crew members that were there. A brief flicker of interest passed over Athena's face when the LtCmdr. called the helmsman Nicolas, but she said nothing. As the conference doors closed behind her, Athena studied the woman before her openly and intently. Samantha took a seat in one of the chairs and Athena did the same. =93I'm sure, Counselor, that you've been wondering to yourself what is happening. Unfortunately, I have not been completely forthcoming about my presence on the Chimera.=94 Athena could tell she was making the other woman a bit uncomfortable, but her own curiosity was screaming for answers. "What's really going on?" Letting out a sigh that seemed to have been pent up for ages, she began. =93Starfleet Intelligence is not so much interested in recovering the Gott's research as they are of letting it fall into the hands of the X!Chi. My mission is two-fold: firstly, to help prepare and assist the Chimera with the mission to find the Gott, and secondly to ensure that the X!Chi do not meddle with the timeline. I was not to reveal any of this until I was absolutely certain that the X!Chi were indeed planning what Starfleet suspected.=94 =94I'm not sure I follow,=94 Athena replied. =94The anomaly that is lying dead ahead of us is not naturally occurring. It was once, perhaps, but it has been altered and done so by the X!Chi using the technology of the Gott. Starfleet Intelligence expected they would do as much, and as such the modifications and prototypes installed on the Chimera have hidden features that offer additional protection to the ship. Like I have said, it is my duty to insure that the X!Chi do not meddle in the timeline. Article 24 of the Temporal Directive states that at the occurrence of a major temporal event, an officer officiated with Temporal Mechanics Department is empowered to assume command if the Commanding Officer of the vessel is not present. Since I am officiated with the Department and since the General is not here, that is exactly what I have done.=94 A couple of Athena's vague first impressions were beginning to make a lot of sense. "Don't you think the crew might have prepared differently perhaps even better had they had all the facts," She questioned. "And what do you have planned for the teams that are on the Gott already?" =94Please understand, Lieutenant,=94 Samantha explained, her voice almost pleading. =93This is a very grave situation. I am also just following my orders given to me at Bragg. I do not have any intention to bring harm to this crew and I will do everything I can to ensure everyone's safety. I don't plan to destroy the Gott with the ODA teams onboard; we will extract them if necessary. They may very well succeed in disarming the X!Chi, but they have already altered the anomaly and we must assess and repair the damage if we can before-=93 =94Commander, you're needed on the Bridge,=94 Nicolas' voice said over her commbadge, interrupting her conversation. =93I think you might want to see this.=94 Unfortunately Athena did understand all too well. At the sound of the voice calling Samantha back to the bridge, Athena sighed as if the weight of a world or two rested upon their shoulders. She raised her eyebrow and rose indicating that she would follow. Athena's only comment was barely audible, "I wonder what his part is in this." {Maybe she wasn't brought aboard to do the killing, but he could.} Both woman came back out to the bridge and looked at the view screen. Athena remained silent as she watched. She vaguely even registered the LtCmdr.'s soft orders. =94Report,=94 Samantha said as they entered the Bridge. Looking at the viewscreen, she could see things have taken a turn for the worse. The anomaly was starting to look like a deadly whirlpool, its centre pure bright blue, receding into purple and finally deep red at the event horizon. =93Commander Palmer! The Gott. She is gone!=94 Ensign Dexter said anxiously from Tactical. =94Where?=94 Samantah replied, walking towards Nicolas who had stood up. =94Ma'am, it looks like the Gott has entered the anomaly. What should we do?=94 From the Ops station, Ensign Harris said, =93Ma'am? I have lost the federation beacon at Delta Vega. It was there a minute ago when I was trying to synchronize the ships clock, but now it is gone. I tried to find another beacon, but I can't seem to find anything. It is just like they disappeared.=94 There was a moment of silence as everyone waited for Samantha to respond. Through the swirling mist of the anomaly's whirlpool, dark, threatening shapes began to appear, shapes that looked like giant spiders floating in space. "What are those things," Athena asked with intense curiosity. =94It's the X!Chi,=94 Samantha responded with absolute certainty. =93They've gone into the past and changed the timeline.=94 There was not a moment to lose, but once again another interrupted disturbed the Mission Specialist's concentration. =93Ma'am, I have reports coming in from Engineering of temporal disturbances. Decks 5 and 6 have reported them too,=94 Harris said. =94What? I thought all temporal anomalies on the ship had been purged when the shields reset. Why wasn't this reported sooner?=94 =94The internal sensors must have missed them, Ma'am,=94 Harris replied nervously, taken aback by her angry tone. Samantha turned around to look at Nicolas. In cargo bay, among the equipment that had been brought on board, were temporal inhibitors, designed to flush out temporal bubbles. When the shields reset, Samantha had not thought it necessary to use them, but now there was no other way. They could not reset the shields again with risking their existence within the rapidly destabilising timestream. The only two people with the access codes to the containers were she and Nicolas. She could not leave the Bridge; Nicolas' experience with temporal phenomena was not extensive enough to anticipate any side-effects. The only option was to send him down to do it, which would effectively blow his cover and leave her to pilot the ship. A silent nod from Nicolas indicated that he knew what she was going to do. Taking a deep breath, she said, =93Go down to cargo bay one. Get the temporal inhibitors and set them up as quickly as you can. I'll try to keep the ship in the temporal wake as long as possible. If we pass through that portal with these disturbances still inside the ship=85 there's no telling what might happen. Take Alex Quinn with you. I'll send another science officer.=94 =94Aye, Ma'am,=94 Nicolas nodded, turning around and heading off the Bridge with Ensign Quinn short on his heels. =94Bridge to Lt Oriana. Please send a science officer down to Cargo Bay One immediately,=94 she said tapping her commbadge. When Oriana acknowledged, she turned to Athena. She was sure the woman had a lot of questions, but there was no time to answer them now. =93Counselor, please take the XO's chair. I need you to monitor the alert status and ship comms.=94 With that Samantha moved to the helm and sat down in the chair. Taking a deep breath, she indicated for Athena to open the ship wide comm. =93All hands to alert stations. Repeat, all hands to alert station. Standby for temporal incursion. Sickbay, prepare for casualties.=94 =