Commander Rangi Summers Executive Officer USS Chimera NCC 96899-A - Lt Commander Samantha Palmer CONN Officer USS Chimera NCC 96899-A = Bridge Samantha felt somewhat out of sorts after her conversation with the command team. It wasn't a good idea in her opinion to continue the mission or get themselves further involved in matters that were best left alone. Though the final decision was obviously in Guzman's hands, which she respected, she couldn't help but think his decision was putting the crew in further danger. Perhaps she was just being over cautious because of her previous experience with Intelligence. Looking up at the screen, she took in the view of Sidos. It looked much like any other Class M planet from space: a bright blue sphere, its surface dotted with the green of various continents and islands; white streaks and specs as clouds drifted by, light reflecting off the polar icecaps. It reminded her much of Earth, though Sidos perhaps had less land masses. "Rangi, please go to Sickbay and try to get the situation under control," she heard Guzman say behind her. "Miss Palmer, please assist Commander Summers." That came as a surprise. How would she be able to assist in Sickbay? Perhaps the situation was worse than she was aware of. "Sir" Rangi replied, aknowledging Shanes order but looking round in Samanthas direction and registering the _expression of surprise on the womans face.She said nothing as Samantha hurried to follow her across the Bridge. The two blonde commanders stepped into the turbolift, and Rangi announced their destination. Both were quiet while the lift sped off, but the silent tension between seemed to rise with each deck they descended. "Apparantly Ens Okrin has detected some pathogen in sickbay." Rangi said, her attention on the illuminated deck numbers. " That ties in with information LtTerek sent. He's been checking the data from the shuttle and found an incomplete reference to a virus." She glanced at Samantha. " Okrin's set a quarantine field around sickbay.We need to know exactly what he's found and act from there." She regarded Samantha for a second or so then asked "Do you have any medical background?" "Nothing more beyond basic field training and xeniobiology," Samantha admitted. "Though I have worked with biological pathogens before." Rangi watched the light indicate passing deck four and was about to ask Samantha a second question when the lift began to slow.She frowned with annoyance. "I should have asked for direct route." she said and sighed at the delay that could have been avoided. The lift came to a smooth stop, the doors slid open and one man stepped inside. "Deck Six" Rangi repeated as the doors began to close. She stepped back to make room for him and the lift hummed into movement. Samantha watched the man as he got into the lift. He was wearing a pilot's uniform, but his rank pips were missing from his collar. She recalled seeing him in the shuttlebay when they were inspecting one of the captured shuttles. His commbadge was also not on his uniform, and he looked decidedly miserable. "Deck Five!" he said loudly."I'm going to deck five." "We need to get to sickbay." Rangi said wondering at his tone. He glared at her. "You can let me off at deck five" he stated, interrupting her explanation "...Its on the way." Not prepared to discuss it further, Rangi looked away and said firmly "Computer...Priority deck six..Sickbay" and checking the light above the door, saw the approach of deck five and noticed the lift did not slow. "Deck Five! Dont you hear what I'm saying woman?" the man yelled stepping towards Rangi. He saw her eyes dart to Samantha and spun round. "What are 'you' looking at!" he shouted. "Crewman, you are out of line!" Samantha responded, adding volume to her voice. She was amazed at the outright disrespect he was showing for senior officers. "You will address your Executive Officer with respect, is that understood?" He looked from one to the other as though seeing them for the first time, perhaps regretting his words, took a step back and looked decidedly uneasy. The thought flashed through Rangis mind that he might have been drinking and she gave Samantha a look that said as much. "I'm not interested in your excuses...you women....you talk for the sake of it..I'm sick of it d'you hear?" His voice was now quiet but with a warning tone to it and beads of perspiration lined his forehead. "You're not telling me what to do or where I get off." he growled. The man pushed the emergency stop button and the turbolift came to a sudden halt between decks five and six. He placed his body in front of the controls so that neither Rangi nor Samantha could get to it. When Rangi tried to make a move to push him away, he suddenly drew a phaser seemingly from out of nowhere and pressed it against Samantha's chest. Grabbing Rangi by the throat, he pushed her against the wall. "You...call Guzman on that thing." he nodded at the communicator."Tell him ...tell him I want to talk to him and he better make time or else this little lady wont be around to smile at him...." Something in his eyes told Samantha he wasn't kidding. "Commander Palmer to the Bridge," she said, tapping her commbadge. "We have a... situation on Turbolift One. A man is insisting that Commander Guzman come down to talk to him... urgently." A few long seconds later, the response came. "Acknowledged, Commander. Please stand by." "You were on a shuttle weren't you?" Rangi asked, knowing what the answer would be. "I piloted one." he replied. "Then you have to return to sickbay." "I dont 'need' to return anywhere." he said squeezing his hand against her throat so that her head pressed hard against the wall. "..Do I?" "No.." Rangi croaked watching Samantha from the corner of her eye.He released the pressure slightly "No you dont" Rangi said and forced herself to swallow. "Then we'll have a little talk to the good commander and tell him that shall we?" As he glared into Rangi's eyes, his attention was divided for a moment and he pointed his phaser at her as well. Samantha saw this as her opportunity and she kicked upward with her right leg, catching the hand he held the phaser in by the wrist. The phaser was knocked out of his hand, flying upwards and Samantha reached upward to catch it. The man looked at her in genuine surprise, obviously not expecting this; Rangi took the gap and grabbed the arm that held her to the wall, "You stupid bitches, you won't get away with this!" he howled, lunging towards Samantha and trying to break free of Rangi's grasp. She hung on to him, trying to pull him backwards and succeeding in slowing him. He turned to her angrily shaking his arm and pushing her back. Samantha butted him against the head with the hilt of the phaser, and they caught him as he fell unconscious, easing him down to the floor. "That's for calling us bitches," she said, huffing as she stood up and brushed the stray her from her face. "And saying we talk too much." Rangi too stood catching her breath, looking down at the crumpled figure."Thats the bit that annoyed me too!" she said and caught Samantha's _expression. The tension was broken with a brief grin. +Taps+ Summers here..send a security team to deck six...+ +Taps+ Do you require help ma'am+ LtFosters voice replied. +Taps No..its all under control now. One of the crew from a shuttle is with us. + +Taps+ Ma'am..sickbay just put out an alert recalling all shuttles crews to sickbay+ +Taps+ I see. "I hope we don't encounter any more of these people. If the virus has become active, we may have a problem," Samantha mused. "Let's get some phasers first, then continue on to Sickbay. It's best that we don't take any chances." "Right," Rangi nodded and tapped the controls, setting the turbolift back on its course again. = -- ___________________________________________________ Play 100s of games for FREE! http://games.mail.com/