Commander Shane Guzman Executive Officer USS Chimera NCC 98699 - Marine Captain Nicolas Harker Acting Helmsman USS Chimera NCC 98699 = Bridge, USS Chimera Shane's mind was runnig wild, he knew he was tired to death and even more scarred. The horrors he experienced the past two days in the alternate universe asked slowly for their toll. {So much death, so much pain ... } went through his head. He was ethernal thankfull to those few crewmembers on the 'alternate' Chimera who sacrified their lives to send him back to his own time ... and his task here was prevent that horrors to happen again. The initial step was already done. He assumed Command on the Chimera once again and arrested Palmer. The Chimera was now about to enter the artifical temporal anomaly and begin to search for the USS Gott and the X!Chi thread. Shane knew he was now treating everyone around him badly, he was rude and harsh, demanding and unthankfull ... but he knew the goal was good. {To save their lives}. Finnaly seemed the ship ready to enter the anomaly, the only think they've lacked was a skilled helmsmann. Not that Shane expected the trip through the anomaly to require an elite Helmsmann, but it was like always ... better safe then sorry. Despite the total untrust towards Harker and his real mission on the Chimera, he was still the man with most experience in piloting a ship in the march and that was the reason why he had to bring him to the bridge first ... and not directly to the brig. And now the man was staning in front of him, two marine security officers just behind him. He knew that Harker was not a mere Marine Captain, but he knew not his real rank. Anyway ... even if he would be field marshal of the Marine Corps, Shane wouldnt care. Insanity was not that different from paranoia. Shane stood up from his seat and piercing Harker with a coldy stare he said: "Harker, Commander Palmer refused to obey my commands and I have her arrested." He wanted him to know that he knows ... "I know about your Black Ops identity and that you think higher of your Intel orders then of the safety of this ship and the crew. I wont repeat my mistake again and I wont ask you if you will obey my commands ... no, you WILL be escorted to the brig as soon as I dont need you. But now I need a skilled officer at helm." {I must be insane asking this traitor of an favour, it was him first who suggested abandoning the General!} "You can eighter pilot this ship now or join Commander Palmer in the brig. Choose now and swiftly!" Nicolas hardly seemed to think before he responded. "I'll fly the ship, by your order, Commander." The thought processes behind the response had been drilled into him countless times over during all those years of Black Ops training and missions. At first, the prospect of becoming a Black Ops agent was the most intriguing thing his young mind could imagine. Now, ten years later, he was cold, calculated and embittered by everything he had seen and experienced. He had been consumed by Intelligence and their hidden agendas; it was second nature to him. He was content to forego any desire of a life beyond that. Yet now, seeing Samantha again... The mission came first, and that was the way it always would be. The mission was always at the forefront of any operative's mind, the only thing you allowed yourself to focus on. By disobeying Guzman's order, he would put the mission in jeopardy. Saluting to the XO, he moved to front of the Bridge and took his place at the helm. Shane was a bit at doubt what to do. Honestly, he wasnt expecting Haker to obey his commands and he 'sensed' that it was not all right with the guy. But the time was pressing and he needed a skilled helmsman. But then ... Shane was drilled in the SSF training as well ... "Captain" he said towards Harker "is there anything I should know about the helm station? Do you have some more 'surprised' in sleeve or will you fly the ship just by hand?" All right, not the most clever question, but in the present state ... Shane's mind was not able to supply a better way. Nicolas turned around in his chair to fix the XO with a steely gaze. If he wanted, he could override Shane's command with his Intel command codes, but that would be foolish... even if he really wanted to do it. Quickly he realised that urge had come from resentment towards Guzman for arresting Samantha; she was only doing her job, obeying the orders of a brass who did not care what happened to her, only that the mission was a success. "I have no tricks up my sleeve, I assure you." Shane glanced back at the two marines who were now standing watch in the back area of the bridge. Harker was still technically under arrest and both man watched him closely. For an another moment Shane thought if Harker had REALLY no 'cheat code' to take control of the ship or something. The prototype device from SSF works could be programmed to do everything ... deleting Shane's codes, destroying the ship ... spying in his bathroom ... Shane pierced Harker's back with his glance, half expecting the Black Ops jumping from his seat and shooting around wildly. The last two days of horror and death in the alternate tine line made Shane VERY paranoid, in some black corner of his mind was even a thought if SSF wasnt in alliance with the X!Chi trying to alternate the timeline for some ultra secret reason ... in the Intelligence branch ... everything was possible. =