===== SSF Command area, SB Bragg ===== Shane stood in front of an office on which door the following inscription was imprinted: "Colonel Andrew Thomas, SSF Operations". This was the very door Shane was ordered to report in ::checks the time at the wall computer panel:: less then 30 seconds. To be honest, Shane wasnt too keen about this meeting and he felt a bit uneasy. Afterall ... it was not common for him to have meetings with SSF big ups. Pressing the door chime he waited for a voice asking him inside. Instead of that, the door opened and THEN a low voice said: "Come in Commander". Steping inside the large office, Shane was a bit eager to see the man who 'knew' that he would appear at the exact time ... Shane's eyes found the colonel easily, cause the large desk he was sitting behind was almost the only furniture in the office. The office itself seemed to be twice that big as a senior crew quarters on the Chimera and with the desk and two little containers as furniture it looked quite empty and strange. It couldnt be accounted only to the fact that the Colonel was a marine, Bretam was a marine as well, and his ready room was quite the oposite of this spartan room. The Colonel himself was looking down at a padd he held in his arms, reading. Even when sitting in a large chair, Shane realised that the Colonel was of an musculous constitution and of an remarkable height. Guessing from his face, Shane would say that the Colonel's age was some between 50 and 55. If Shane should guess, he would say that the Colonel was an hardened veteran who's experience and knowledge granted him a at last a desk job in Command. "Commander Guzman reporting as ordered sir!" Shane reported. "Pray sit down Commander" the Colonel said, "let me just finish this PADD, then I am with you". "Thank you sir" Shane replied and seated himself in a soft wooden chair. If it was an original or an replica, Shane couldnt tell but the cracking sounds it gave when Shane was seating himself suggested an original. For a moment Shane though that the chair will break under his weight, but like a real 'SSF' chair, it was more then it looked like. It endured ... In the two or three minutes that the Colonel kept reading his PADD Shane tried to guess the reason why was he here. He's got an 'order' to report to the Colonel from SSF Operations and that in 26 hours since the Chimera docked on Bragg. Shane hoped that he will be asked to supply some details to his report about the mission, but something on the unemotional appearance of the SSF Colonel made him even more uneasy. For a moment he regreted that he have had the hair cutted BEFORE this meeting, now he imagined to feel the little hair cuts in all of his uniform ... Shane felt like ants crawling on him. In a loud 'clap' (at least it was loud to Shane) the Colonel dropped the PADD and looked with his cold blue eyes on Shane. "Commander, I understand that you have had an interesting mission shortly" he started. It was obvious that the Colonel expected Shane to answer and Shane didnt wanted to dissapoint him: "I could hardy say interesting sir, dangerous springs more in my mind". Moving not a single muscle on his face the marine Colonel continued: "I hope you havent expected an beginner mission." Shane wasnt that good in keeping an iron face and it took him two or three seconds to reply: "I was expecting an diplomatic mission sir". Keeping his cold appearance the Colonel continued: "That was the original mission Commander. I am sure you understand that a Commanding officer cant expect anything besides the unexpected. Afterall we are Special Forces." Still not sure what was the point of the SSF Colonel Shane replied: "I am aware of that Sir." The Colonel noded: "So, then I am surprised about the outcome of the mission. Why is then the Chimera docked on Bragg and not in orbit above the Kzenti homeworld?" Shane couldnt hide his surprise: "Excuse me sir?" Without any trace of impatience teh Colonel continued: "Your mission was to achive a treaty between the Kzenti and the Federation. You havent brought the treaty have you? So why are you here?" To admit the truth, Shane was quite taken by the absurdity of the question. This man really asked him 'why' the Chimera returned from a prooved hostile enviroment. "Sir, the Kzenti attacked us first upon our entering of their solar system, then on the research station and then after their fleet was cleared of the Chameleon technology. The Kzenti were clearly hostile to us." Like expecting this answer The Colonel replied: "And what about the fact that you entered an installation of the Kzenti empire without a permission and shoot at their soldiers?" the Colonel asked, "wasnt the Kzenti reaction an adequate one?" "We have had evidence that the beam emited from the installation was not an act of friendship from the Kzenti and we prooved it by disclosing their Chameleon technology and their hidden fleet." said Shane. "And where IS the technology now Commander?" the Colonel asked coldly. "We damaged the installation with explosives and the Romulans finished it with their fleet" Shane said according his report and the truth. The Colonel noded like expecting this answer again. Well, till now it was all in the report! "You are in the Special forces Commander, I hope you noticed that already. Your first thought SHOULD be to get the technology for the Forces. This would be quite an tactical advantage for the federation." "Sir, there was an away team on the Installation with the same orders. To get that technology. But the resistance from the Kzenti was just too great, I doubt that any other ODA team could do much better." "With an non ODA memebr like your Chief Science?" the colonel asked sharply. Shane shrugged slightly: "We didnt knew what to expect on the installation. An science officer was an logical implication. We didnt knew that we were about to enter an hot area." "And you failed to get the technology Commander. What you've got are mere frangments, I doubt that they will be of much use to us. Wouldnt logic imply to remain there and try to get the technology elsewhere?" Shane thought a bit. Well, the Colonels words werent pointless. Really, the technology would be of an immense value for the federation. And truth was that the Chimera didnt brought the technology with. The Colonel waited for his reply. In some way, Shane had teh feeling that it was some sort of a trial, to see his reactions ... to see how he fits into SSF Command structures ... or just an simple negative evaluation. "No sir, not to me. I was not ready to rish the ship and the crew for a little chance to find the technoligy elsewhere. I believe that the installation that was destroyed was an prototype research station and i doubt that the technology could be found elsewhere then on some blueprints hidden some deep. For me it was important to inform SSF about our findings and bring the Chimera back as i've received her ... safe and sound." Looking at the Colonel he continued: "From this point i believe its work for some other branch of SSF not the Chimera." The Colonel took up the PADD from his deck and said while typing something inside: "Commander, your actions will be noted in your records. Dismissed" ===== End of log ===== Cmdr. Shane Guzman XO USS Chimera