====== Bridge, USS Chimera ===== Shane sat in the CO's seat and stared mind absently at the main screen in front of him. The colorfull games the transwarp tunnels played in the surrounding space were spectacular, but Shane was not watching them. He was deep in thought and paid only very little attention to the work-noise on the bridge. This was Shane's (even if he was not aware of) usual habit when he needed to think about something. Physically, he was on the bridge, so there was no need for an other watch officer there to be present and still his mind was more then absent to the day-to-day bridge operations. This had a double effect ... the CONN was nanned and SHane could think undisturbed, unless an emergency. Just several minutes ago Athena ran away from him and mumbled something about Rob and an another aliens and since he left Private Rose and her team searching for the alien they've discovered on deck two. Slowly Shane's cup of patience towards the aliens was running over ... the aliens were spotted too often and too often they have cause trobles and even casualities ... Shane was quite not ready to tolerate that. One good news was Athena's return and her abilities. SHane knew that if there was a way for her to find a way how to comunicate, she will find it. With some luck, they might be able to communicate with the aliens and maybe ... maybe pledge truce. Till now they knew little to none about the reasons the aliens were appearing in our space and what goals they have here ... maybe Athena will be of a great asset here. Shane was quite not happy about the event's line. This was a first contacts with a new species, they, as SF officers, were supposed to do everything possible to assure the aliens will be greeted with peace and respect ... and what they do? {We shoot} Shane thought darkly. He was almost sure that some high-up from Starfleet COMM will hold them a speech about friendly first-contacts regulations. {Despite all the casualities on our side of course} he thought sourly. Sometime, the beaurocrates at SF COMM were like an needle in the ass ... Shane's flood of thought was interruped by Ens. Tripper, the OPS officer. "Commander, Commander Guzman" he called out quietly. Shane blinked once or twice and returned to reality: "What? What is going on?" he asked a bit confused. "Sir" Guy said, "there is a report comming in ... 2LT. Richards and an another ODA team member were killed by the Aliens" Silence. Shane immediately thought about Rangi ... and then about Athena. {Poor girl!} Shane and Rob were never on good terms, more like always in frozen proffesionalism, but Shane never wanted him dead ... {She was with him?!} "What happened there?" he barked. Seeing the XO so disturbed, Guy looked immediately down on the report and with several sentences described the last encounter between ODA members and the aliens. He mentioned the two casualities and the fact the the aliens have dissapeared again. Guy looked up from his console at the XO. Shane was touched by the death of Rob Richards ... he knew him more then just a firmly and even more cause Rangi and Athena ... he was sure that neighter of the two ladies will be happy about his death. He needed to look after Athena, that was sure ... not only cause she was teh ship's counselor, but for the cause that they were friends ... and Shane could very well imagine how she will feel soon ... His thoughts flew ower to Rangi ... to his missing Rangi and the fears he held for her in his heart. But again ... this was not the right time for his personal feelings ... But this was the last drop in Shane's cup ... and he raised from his seat. Till now the ship was on yellow alert with security alert added. But now, the crew received too many casualities ... and Shane had to make them an END. "Red alert!" he called out. Immediately the surrounding lights dimmed and the red alert lights created an reddish emergency atmoshpere on the bridge. "From now on, every crew member not in duty is restricted to his own quarters and I want security to double their patroulling teams again. Noone will be allowed to walk without an ecsort freely across the ship. If there will be an alien spotted again, I want it enclosed in an level 7 force field and noone will shoot at them unless in direct attack!" He looked over at Tripper and continued: "All systems not required for enviromental control, external and internal sensors and transporters will be suspended. I want this ship to play a dead fly ..." ===== End of log ===== LtCmdr. Shane Guzman XO USS Chimera