=/\= Conference Lounge =/\= Athena walked into the lounge and Shane handed her a pie. She raised an eyebrow and gave a slight nod as she sat down. She had been one of the firs= t to enter the room. It wasn't long before the rest had arrived and Shane began.= Thankfully it was with the promotion and Athena wouldn't be required to hide= the tasty pastry on her lap for long. Nathan had almost sat in his chair when Athena had her best shot and let the= pie fly **smack** right into the side of his face. Athena was a bit surpris= e that The general had left the ship but knew he would only do so if it were terribly important. She listen quietly thinking some of the questions asked= were silly. She knew that Keylor would never ask for help and he liked to keep personal things just that personal. As the meeting went on Athena learned with all the rest of the 20 children that would becoming aboard. She heard what her assignment was but felt it m= eant much more to the Acting CO. She actually had a feeling that working with children was less than thrilling for most of the male crew members. She sat= in thought as others began to leave the lounge. Finally rising she walked towa= rd the door but stopped short at Rangi's chair. "I guess I know what to do wit= h all those left over cookies, now," she said with a smile. "Indeed!" Rangi smiled too and watched the conference room begin to empty. Shane was talking to Lt. Walsh. Turning to look at Athena Rangi said: "So...twenty children...this will be fun I think...for some of us at least!" Athena thought about that statement for a minute thinking it was a good thin= g that she had just had a nice relaxing bath. She slid into the empty chair beside Rangi as ideas began to click in her head. her ideas flashed in fr= ont of her in snapshot type form. A Santa Claus. Candy canes. A pi=F1ata. Chaos... a sea of children. "We need to arrange quarters for them....probably some will be brothers and sisters. Lt. Walsh didn't look too keen on the idea of our 'guests' did he?"= Rangi asked, glancing again at the man in question. "No, he didn't," Athena mused. "do your or Shane have a list of the childre= n coming aboard and who might be siblings," Athena asked in an all business manner, "we could have operations check for available quarters and put them there." Her gaze followed Rangi's and she looked the Lt. over. "I'm sure Shane has one." Rangi replied "..and if the age range is as we are= told, I cant foresee too many problems...can you?" Athena smiled but replied, "I can imagine plenty." She rose from her seat and walked over two the two talking men who immediately stopped speaking as= she approached. Athena broke the silence, "Manifesto of guests, please." Shane= only smiled and handed her a padd. She walked away and the two began talking again. Rangi felt a wave of ill feeling tingle along her spine. She sat frowning, head bent, confused as to these sudden feelings that surfaced without warnin= g. She looked across at Shane and glanced at Athena. Taking a deep breath, she stood up. "What problems do you envisage then?" she asked, trying to maintain a level tone. "let see children eating too much and tossing their cookies," Athena snap off. "Teenagers testing their limitations," She quipped. "Crying for paren= ts, refusing to sleep, defiance for being put in an unfamiliar surrounding," she= added without too much thought. She asked, "Is that enough or should I real= ly give it some thought?" Athena knew her tones were slightly clipped but she couldn't help it. She was reacting to something she sensed. "I prefer to look on the bright side." Rangi replied, bristling slightly at the counselors tone." An interesting environment for the older ones...a chan= ce to learn something...an exciting adventure that they can relate to their parents...having their own 'grown up' quarters shall enjoy having them stay= here. Its Christmas soon, no doubt they will be eager to spend time making gifts..things like that..there's an endless range of things we can do." Athena took a deep breath, "I agree .... there are plenty of thing to plan for them. Further more I think we should plan for them to have a party befo= re the winter ball I was thinking about. That way we would only have to decora= te once but have both parties and the teenager say 16 and over could come to th= e winter ball instead of going to the kid party in the afternoon," she rushed on. Rangi took a moment to reply. {What is 'wrong' with me!} she thought.{Shane smiles at her?...and I want to= snap at the least thing she says?...} Rangi closed her eyes and a moment later looked at Athena with a weak smile. "That's a great idea," she said brightly. "They would enjoy that and I'm sur= e Scott and...well...alot of the other men would help out with children's party. In fact...we could have a Santa Claus..." Athena smiled and responded, "I was thinking the same thing." She paused for= a moment and one could almost see the ideas pouring from her mind. "I was ev= en thinking we could hang Candy canes from the ceiling for the kids to sort of bob for in the opposite direction... thought that would be a new twist perhaps," she continued as she looked down at the padd. "A sort of ariel Apple Bobbing you mean?...yes...that would be fun. I think they'll enjoy their time with us. We can arrange their party then for the sa= me afternoon as the winter ball....have a visit from Santa Claus..we must find= a willing volunteer for that!...have games and entertainment. If we tire them out..they'll be bound to sleep." Rangi smiled and looked across at Shane, gl= ad that things seemed to be working out. "Shall we go and meet them then?" she asked turning her attention back to Athena."I'll contact sickbay and put the= m in the picture." "I think I'll give Lt. Foster this so he can arrange quarters for them and then we shall meet them," Athena replied with a smile. "Ok..." Rangi nodded." Once they're settled in we can work out who is going to do what and with whom." The two women moved towards the door."This is different kind of mission for an SSF ship isn't it?" Rangi remarked Athena nodded as she headed out the door. "Very," was her single word reply. =/\= End Log =/\= LtCmdr. Rangi Summers CMO/ AXO USS chimera & Lt. Athena Wellington Counselor USS Chimera