*** Bridge * USS Chimera *** Rangi watched the door slide shut behind Athena Martin and Shane. Although a near silent action, in her mind, it clanged shut like a heavy iron door of a dungeon...she could almost hear the grinding of a key. Taking a deep breath she turned back and looked the Bridge.Most signs of damage had been removed and the crew were working industriously at their consoles. Rangi moved to the captains chair... somehow larger than she remembered it... sat down and released her breath. "I place you in charge of the ship in my absence. Please have engineering reporting to you about the progress every hour and dont forget to watch the Romulans." Shane had said. She knew he had expected her to make some gesture of persuading him to stay. She had wanted to certainly, but had said nothing, concious of the fact that it would have sounded like a personal plea. Although her relationship with the ACO was more or less common knowledge on the ship, she would do nothing to add any fuel to the fire of gossip that regularly fanned into flame with each innocent comment. She was also acutely aware that she had challenged him once, in her own department, when he had given orders, an incident that had led to their first argument. The Bridge was his ground..he was ACO...there was a diplomatic meeting which he had no option other than to attend. So Rangi had nodded, glancing at Athena, then at Shanes brother and then back at Shane, obedience personnified. The three had left the bridge a moment later, Athena in the lead, Martin attentively close to her and then Shane. He had turned and looked back at her but there were no hidden smiles, nothing that could be construed as a message from him to her, just a moments steady gaze which she had returned. Now she sat in the captains chair,moved position slightly and tapped on the arm console. A steady stream of data appeared on the tiny screen. She selected each department in turn, trying to decipher what engineering was telling her in their typical technical way. Astrometrics repairs were steady, yet slow. The ODA were running drill routines, with increased gravity effect.and their part in repairing the ship was curtailed. With a flicker of surprise, she read the report that Jack Walsh was Shanes choice for the fourth away team member. {Lets hope he can cope!} she thought wryly. Her own department was repaired and the reports from there she already knew, having made many of them herself. She read on, stopping now and then to re check something that she didnt understand at first read. {"Don't forget to watch the Romulans"} Shanes parting word echoed into her mind. Slightly raising her head, she looked up at the main screen. It was an apprehensive look, much as one gives when discovering there is spider on the wall nearby....the sort of spider with body sunken between long athletic legs that are bent ready to run straight at you. The Warbird, hanging motionless in space, had the same effect of making her want to be somewhere else, though loathe to leave incase the 'spider' ran in her absense and she would have to find it later, hidden in some dark place, lest 'it' find 'her' first. Rangi raised her head and looked at the vessel, unconsciously raising a hand and fingering the pips on her collar as she studied the Romulan ship. "Guzman to Summers" The sudden communication startled her. She tapped her commbadge. TAPS+ Summers here, Commander + she replied, speaking formally. "Commander I've forwarded a promotion order to you. Its our CSCiO. Please do the promotion ceremony as soon as possible. Please extend my thanks to the Lieutenant" Rangi smiled. +TAPS+ I will gladly do that sir. but...dont you wish to do it yourself? "No" Shane replied, "I dont know how long the meeting will take and you know about orders ... they have to be carried out." It was the nearest he came to sounding amused.She looked down at the arm console and saw a forwarded waiting message there via ACO Guzman from SSF Command.Omega System. +TAPS+ Of course they have to. I'll prepare everything necessary for the promotion. "Thank you Rangi" This time she detected more than the simple words said. She stood from the command chair and moved towrds the captains ready room saying to Lt Foster as she passed him, "I'm in the ready room...if I'm needed." He gave a brief nod in acknowledgement and returned to the detailed scans he was running. Once inside the ready room, Rangi headed over towards a small inbuilt drawer system. She knew where to look, having been present once before when General Bretam had retrieved new ensignia for promotions. She quickly found the ones she wanted and returned to the Bridge, immediately turning her attention to the main screen and the Romulan vessel. It remained as before, threating in its immobility. Rangi regained her seat. "Lt York? Have the Away team left yet?" The OPs officer turned to face her. "Yes ma'am" he replied."They transported to the given co ordinates three minutes ago." He hesitated and added " Transporter chief reports that one of the away team was carrying weapons...." Rangi frowned. "....and they were removed before transport." "Who had them?" she asked, knowing what the answer would be, for neither Shane, Martin or Athena would take them. York replied: "Marine Captain Walsh Ma'am" and turned back to his console. A moment or two passed. "Lieutenant?" All the lieutenants on the Bridge turned to her but seeing she looked at Foster, all but one went back to work. "Ma'am?" he said. "Any results from the detailed scan yet?" *** End Log *** LtCmdr Summers CMO/AXO USS Chimera