===== Conference longue, USS Chimera ===== Shane watched the reports of the senior interest with interest. Even if noone reported anything beyond standart, Shane was glad to learn that the ship and the crew were ready to for a new mission. The issue with the sabotage was still in his mind but according Gaalen the warp core was now fully functional and no other technical issues were brought to his attention. As the last of the reports were presented, Shane noded and said: "Thank you for the reports. I think we will all agree that both the ship and the crew are ready for a new mision" he looked at the assembled officers and his brother, "and a new mission is what we are heading to" He stood up from the chair and went over to the wall screen. It was Shane's custom to present as many as possible infomrations visually. At least for him it was always better to see something then only to read or hear about it. He tapped few buttons and a large scale map of federation's nothern borders appeared on the screen. He turned half around to face the senior crew and said: "What we see here is the federation's border region around Deep Space 6." He pointed to a small dot on teh map with a little inscribtion 'DS6'. "Regions in that sector are all cartographed but not thoroughly explored. The nearest starfleet instalation is Deep Space Europa located here" he pointed almost in the upper area of the map. "Between DS6 and DS Europa are at least 50 planetal systems with inteligent lifeforms." "We" he looked again at his officers, "are heading towards the Kzenti System. All of you have became a PADD with all informations about the Kzenti System and the Kzenti culture SSF has." He paused a bit, "You will notice that the informations are more then lacking. SSF knows only little about the Kzenti." Shane pushed two buttons and a plastic model of the Kzinti System appeared on the wall screen. "As you see there are 10 planets in the Kzinti System, 4 of those are inhabitable by humans. Intel knows about 3 populated planets. If the fourth one is populated as well is not know by now. The Kzenti themselves are an unknown. From the very limited contact the federation had with the Kzenti we learned that the Kzenti are an isolationists race. Noone is alowed to enter their system under the pain of death. The Kzenti disregard material wealth" Shane chuckled and added for fun, "Its good that we have no ferengi on board" Receiving several smiled from the senior crew Shane went on: "What they value is knowledge and technolgy. Intel believes that the Kzenti are quite advanced in certain branches of science including organical matter, genetics and kybernetics. The Kzenti's appearance is slightly similat to those of the Borg" Shane paused to allow the officers to express their surprise and then went on: "They use limited number of artifical impants on their bodies and thus gaining enormous strenght and agility. Rumours from Intel investigation say that an average Kzenti soldier is able to kill a dozen of tiger like animals barehanded." Shane noded towards his publicum: "Aye, they could prove to be formidable enemies" Shifting his weight to another leg Shane continued: "Our mission is not to engage the Kzenti in battle, but teh oposite. Recently the Kzenti goverment invited a the Federation and the Romulan empire to a diplomatical conference. Official reason is to know their neighboars better. Unofficial its said that the Kzenti think about affiliating with a major power .... that beeing us or the Romulan Empire. Needless to say that our mission is to make a damn good impression and to persuade the Kzenti to affiliate with the federation". Shane pushed a button and the screen went black. Walking over to his seat he continued: "You might ask yourselves why is a SSF ship send there and I asked the same question SSF Ops. They believe that the Romulan ship that is heading towards Kzenti as we speak is in fact a Tal Shiar ship and that the romulans are willing to try any possible way how to win Allies like the Kzenti. So ... we have to expect anything from Sabotage" Shane looked at Gaalen and Walsh, "through diplomatic byrocracy over to an armed confrontation. Shane now looked at Martin and said: "SSF Command with cooperation of Diplomatic Corps decided to assign us diplomatic aid. This is my brother Martin Guzman, who holds again the rank of consul and is here to help us with negotiotions. We have an invitation for a banquet upon our arrival and that's the place were the negotiations will be hold." Shane looked at Oriana and then back to Walsh. "But aside from diplomatics, we have to count with troubles with the Romulans and i dont want to be catched with the pants down, so I ask you Captain Walsh to keep your ODA guys on alert while in the Kzenti System." He turned to Gaalen and said:"Lieutenant, you must ensure that our warp core and other vital system's will be full operational during our stay in the Kzenti System. Assign double shifts or whatever, but if we will need warp or shield, I dont want to learn about a technical problem somewhere. "Captain Acheson" he said turning to Nathan, "I want tactical to keep not one but both eyes on the Romulans, I want to know not only what their ship does all the time, but even how many lights are on that ship. All the time ..." Turning to Oriana Shane said: "For Science I have a special task. SSF Ops believes that the Kzenti might posses advanced ship's technology. I need you and your staff to look for any traces of that technology. I dont know how, but if there will be any piece of a Kzenti ship in an radius of half a milion kilometer around us, I want to know about it. Ensign," he kept looking at Oriana, "please regard this task as a high priority" "I'll take Rangi, Athena and Martin with on the negotiations, so i need that you three wit together and learn every detail of the Kzinti culture and nature prior to our arrival there. If there is any advance we might have while negotiating, we have to use it" Shane looked at the senior crew and ended his monologue with a question: "Any questions?" <<OOC ... Ask and Ill reply ... ;))) >> Shane noded finally. If that's all, then there is one more issue before we call it a day. turnig to Oriana he said: "Ensign Oriana, front and center!" Oriana kept her emotionsless face when she slowly stood up from her chair and stepped towards Shane, but he noticed the slight traces of surprise. He was sure he catched Oriana unexpected ... and he knew why. Looking at the vulan woman standing at attention he waited several seconds before finally saying: "Ensign, you serve on this ship for quite a long time by now. Recently it came to my attention that your rank isnt corresponding with your performance as department head and Chief Scientist on the ship." He revealed a small blue velvet box he was hidding in his hand and what he took from teh little draver prior to calling Oriana to attention. "You and the academy keep battling as far i've been informed and that is the reason why are you still an ensign. I suppose you avoid beeing promoted or something ..." He grinned, "but i grow taller then you and you cant escape a promotion now." Shane turned to Rangi ans asked her: "Commander, could you please do the honours?" Rangi smiled back at Shane, stood from her own chair and went over to Shane. "Certainly Sir" she replied and took the velvet box from his hand. She opened it and went over to Oriana to change her collar designia. When she finished it, she stepped aside and gave Shane the room to finish. "Hereby I am promoting you to the rank of Acting Lieutenant Jurion grade with all the priviledges and responsibilities that come with this rank." He did a step closer to Oriana and offered his hand: "Congratulations Lieutenant!" Before Oriana could say anything he added: "I save the pie for a promotion to proper Lieutenant Jurion grade, I suggest you hurry up with the academy and then you'll invite us all for a party" Now were gratulation's in order and everyone in the room did. Martin smiled sweetly at his love and kissed her slightly (as the only one) when it was his turn to congratulate. When the gratulations were over Shane said: "Thats all for today. Dismissed!" Turning to Athena he said: "Please stay a minute longer counselor", looking at Rangi : "you too please Commander". ===== End of log ===== Cmdr. Shane Guzman XO/ACO USS Chimera <<OOC ... Congratulations Oriana ... ;))) >>