*** XO s Quarters * USS Chimera *** "Wassamatter?" Shanes voice had asked sleepily when Rangi disengaged herself from his arms. "Nothing...go back to sleep" she whispered sitting on the edge of the bed and peering into the gloom of the darkened room at a pile of clothes on the chair. "Milaciiiiiik......" "Sshhhhh...go to sleep." she said and standing up, picked her way around the bed. "Is Bretam.....there?" he asked from the half world he was drifting in and out of. Rangi glanced at him over her shoulder amused at his question. "No, no..he isnt. I just thought of something I need to check thats all...go to sleep." The body in the bed turned over. All was quiet save for the rustle of clothes as someone dressed hastily. {Hmmm!} Rangi thought {I'm losing weight!} and pulled her T-shirt straight. A moment later she crossed back to the motionless figure, bent down and kissed his unshaven cheek. "Enjoy your run...dont forget the meeting." she whispered and got a total of zero reaction. * Frowning down at herself in the light of the corridor as she headed towards her own quarters, she realized she was wearing Shanes T-shirt and not her own.She reached her door but paused, hearing the sound of pounding feet approaching. "Doctor" The General raised a hand in greeting as he ran past and Rangi, stumbling into her room, leaned on the door when it slid shut, closing her eyes and thinking {So much for keeping up appearances...he knows I've come from Shanes quarters!} * Rangi arrived in good time for the senior officers meeting, pleased to see Shane already there. "Good morning Sir." she said brightly to the General as she skirted his chair to take her place opposite the XO.She met Shanes eye and looked meaningfully at the flask set in front of him on the table before remeeting his gaze with a small grin which he returned. She knew the flask held the 'evil' green brew that he was so fond of and only the previous evening, had teased him about his new habit of taking it everywhere with him.She had, as a joke, dared him to take it to the officers meeting and now saw the glint of humour in his eye when he looked at her. The room filled quickly. Lt Foster, Lt Oriana, McTaggart and Major Walsh. Rangi watched the ODA Commander take his place, wearing his usual slightly self satisfied expression. Her own expression grew serious as she thought over the recent events in sickbay and the appalling repercussions his thoughtless 'joke' had caused.He leaned back in his chair adopting an almost lazy attitude and looked straight at the General. Rangis attention moved to the person sitting next to her, a striking blonde woman who gave her a polite glimmer of a smile. The door closed as Athena walked into the room and took her seat. She nodded a greeting to Rangi and looked towards the head of the table where Keylor sat patiently waiting for his officers to assemble. Rangi looked in the same direction and for a moment her attention 'glued' to the Generals face. She had rarely seen him smile like that, wondered at it and followed his gaze which led back to Athena. A quick glance back at the General found him studying his padd with a just a little 'too' much concentration.Rangis expression turned thoughtful. The door of the conference room opened again and Keylor smiled as V'lek Sameron pushed forward a loaded trolley. "Well as the chef is setting out your meal," Keylor began, watching V'lek set the first of many plates on the table,"Let me begin by introducing some of the new faces to our crew." Keylor motioned to the person on rangis right side. " This is LtCmdr Samantha Palmer. She is a specialist in Temporal Mechanics. She will be joining us on our next mission. " He then motioned to the Marine Captain. "And that is Marine Captain Harker. He is filling in as Helm officer while our venerable Lt York is on temporary assignment." Murmurs of greeting flowed across and around the table. "Thankyou." Rangi gave a small smile up at the chef as he set a full plate in front of her. "You're welcome" he said and stepped back to lift another from the trolley which he placed before Samantha. Keylor began his briefing outline, explaining they were to search for a science vessel, USS Gott, in the Spinwood Marsh, an area where temporal anomalies occurred. The ship had been overrun by a race called X'chi and the Chimeras mission was to recover data from the Gotts computer then destroy her and the X'chi on board. The briefing continued and Rangi listened carefully, beginning to pick absently at the food in front of her. When the General announced his intention of piloting one of three shuttles, she raised her head quickly and saw Shanes look of concern, knowing that he would protest when the meeting was done...probably fruitlessly. Orders were given, suggestions proposed and the briefing moved along. " Why don’t we go around the table and have everyone give a department status. And if you have any questions about the mission please ask." He pointed at Samantha. "After wards LtCmdr Palmer, could you give a little more detail on the Marsh and the research the Gott was conducting while we eat our lunch?" he asked and turned to McTaggart requesting he begin. When Rangis turn came she stood up, glanced around the table and reported that sickbay, despite the damage done by the leakages was now fully operational. All equipment had been repaired and 'made clinically safe' she added with a cool glance at Major Walsh. She resumed her place and listened to the other reports waiting to know, as she ate a slice of peach,why a specialist in Temporal Mechanics had been assigned to the ship and feeling a slight inexplicable unease that all was not 'quite' what it seemed. *** End Log *** LtCmdr Rangi Summers CMO/2XO USS Chimera + text from BGen Bretams log