Jon's combadge chirps and Carson's voice repeats, "Thames, this is the Bras d'Or, Carson speaking. Your reply was unintelligible—I say again, Sitrep please!"

[OOC: Just to speed things along, I'll assume Jon repeats his earlier message.]
"We had an incursion of 3 Borg on the Thames. All have been disabled. We have no serious injuries, but have no power and our atmosphere is contaminated. Request immediate beam out of all crew and taking the Thames in tow until we can get some more engineers on board to fix her up."

The air around the Thames crew shimmers and the crew materialises in the same transporter room they'd left mere minutes ago. Kat Carson stands in the centre of the room, her face smudged with smoke. She has a bruise on her left cheek and a trickle of blood running down her chin from a bitten lip. She sees Nathan frantically treating Zed and snaps, "Kylie, beam Lieutenants Sloane and Pierce to Sickbay 3. Now!"

They beam out and the speaker sounds, "XO, Ops here. We've taken the Thames into tow and are opening their aft hatch so we can tractor the retrieval crew and the stasis tube into the hangar bay. We're preparing to programme in a autopilot course to Dyson Station."

Nathan and Zed materialise in Sickbay 3. A Bolian doctor introduces himself, "LCdr Zofgen, Doctor. What's the patient's status?"

A pair of nurses begin to cut Zed's uniform away. He had a broken nose and a concussion that Nathan can see, and they handle him carefully in case of cervical or spinal trauma. Nathan and Zofgren study the life-size 3-D diagnostic image on the wall screen to diagnose further problems.

The doors to the corridor swish open and the two Techs who'd been securing the Thames hustle in, towing Dovan's stasis tube in on antigrav. Swiftly, they plug the stasis tube into the ship's power supply and secure it.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:32, Mon 07 Nov 2022.

In reply to Relic GM (msg # 70):

Back in the transporter room, Jon takes a tally of his remaining crew. Once he is satisfied that all are safe and accounted for, he turns to Carson.

"Thanks for the rescue, Commander! What's the status of the Bras d'Or? Have the Borg been completely neutralized?" he asks.

"Well, we have good news and bad news. On the one hand, we think we're Borg free. We'll know more once we've done a full sensor sweep. On the other hand, we've lost the starboard Impulse Drive and our shields on that side are intermittent to say the best."

She puffs her breath upwards, blowing at her bangs. "Capt Taliaferro is going to take the Bras d'Or back to Starbase 21 for repairs. They'll take several months. Capt Samson has requested that my secondment to Dyson Base be extended in order to deal with my clone-sisters.

And the really, really bad news is that Zed will be out of action for at least a month, so Bras d'Or will be ferrying him to the starbase for intensive care."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:01, Fri 11 Nov 2022.

In reply to LCdr. Katrina Carson (msg # 72):

"Damn!" says Jon. "I am going to have to apologize to Zed. I thought he had just bashed his nose!"

Jon ponders for a moment. "What about the Thames, and her crew?" he asks. "With the Thames in pieces, I'd better check in with Samson myself—unless there's something you haven't mentioned yet." Jon is torn between wanting to accompany Zed to Starbase 21, and staying in Dyson Base and helping to get the Thames back together (and also getting to know the Lintillas better).

"Your crew's fine, Jon. Tony has some minor burns and irritation of his bronchial tubes, but Talja's doing enough worrying for both of you. The Thames is reasonably intact and en route to Dyson Station for repairs. A few blown conduits in engineering, a complete decontamination and some TLC for the phaser array and everything will be hoopy." She grips his shoulder and gives a reassuring squeeze. "You did fine, Lieutenant."

In reply to LCdr. Katrina Carson (msg # 74):

Jon gives a visible shudder as a lot of pent up stress leaves his body. He feels he should exhausted but is too wired to rest.

"There are 3 things I need to do," says Jon to Kat. "Check in on Tony—if his throat is sore enough maybe I can get some words in edgewise. Make sure Talja has things well in hand. And ask you to join me for a drink. Which should do first?"

Kat smiles at Jon. "Well, I'd say you better see to your crew first. Meet me in the O-Club in an hour. Shower first, though—it's been a long, stressful day." She nudges him toward the doorway.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:08, Sat 03 Dec 2022.

In reply to LCdr. Katrina Carson (msg # 76):

Jon head off towards sick bay, to see Tony. While on the way, he contacts Talja.

"Talja! Carson says you've been worrying over the Thames! How is she looking?"

"What the hell are you talking about?" She replies. "The damned ship will be fine with a few repairs and some decontamination! It's Zed you should be worrying about!"

Jon arrives at the sickbay and the doors swoosh open just as she delivers the last sentence. The comm system detects the feedback and squelches his commbadge. She's sitting by Tony's bedside holding his hand. Tony's face looks red, and not from blushing. A mask and airhose obscure the lower half of his face. Tony begins to laugh at the look on Jon's face, causing him to cough into the mask. Talja, on the other hand, does blush a matching red.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 03:28, Tue 13 Dec 2022.

In reply to Lt (jg) Talja Groen (msg # 78):

"Glad to see you both in one piece, " says Jon to the two of them. "Tony, you seem to be in good hands!" He then waggles his finger at the coughing patient. "But no laughing until you are completely healed!"

Jon flags down the closest passing doctor or nurse. "Zed, I mean Lt Sloane. How is he? Can I see him?"

Zed is laid up on a bed in the sickbay with his head and shoulders in a restraint system, sipping orange juice through a straw. He looks like he's wearing a domino mask from the bruising around his eyes, and he has a plastic shield over his broken nose. "Seems I got a crushed disc when my head hit the viewport. Guess it's not as hard as transparent aluminum after all. Take care of the ship, Jon."

In reply to Lt Zedrick Sloane (msg # 80):

"We'll keep her spic and span until you get back to her!" promises Jon.

Assured that Zen and Tony are stable or improving, Jon heads off to find a shower and a change of clothes. Afterwards, if he has time before meeting Kat at the O-club, he checks in on the Thames. He wants to at least see with his own eyes that she is in one piece. He is still on an adrenaline high, and beginning to wonder how long it will last.

Jon beams aboard the Thames where he encounters an engineering team doing a decontamination of the runabout. Another engineer is replacing a conduit in the engineering room. He looks up and says, "Good day, Lieutenant. Just another couple of hours and she'll be good as new... Say, I noticed an EPS junction that was on its last legs and replaced it. Good thing it didn't blow during combat or it would'a been a lot worse for your engineer. Plasma burns instead of just mild chemical exposure. Doesn't bear thinking about."

As Jon is walking to Dyson Station's O Club, his commbadge chirps. "Samson to Clare. Please stop by my ready room on your way to your date."

The Captain's Ready Room is on Deck 15, the large array of discs beneath the main hangar hub of the station, as is the main Sick Bay. The O Club is on Deck 17 in the circular "greenhouse" above the external tanks.

Jon taps the door chime and Samson responds, "Come!" The door swooshes open and the Captain is seated, with Buran in a side chair. "Jon, please have a seat," she says, pointing to the seat beside Buran's, separated by a triangular coffee table.

"I've been reviewing your actions today with Lt. Buran and LCdr. Carson. They both agree that you acted in the finest tradition of Starfleet under extreme pressure. Therefore, I'd like you to have this." She tosses him a tiny white pasteboard box, about a 2.5 cm cube. Opening it, he finds a single gold pip. "To go with the one you've got. Please turn in the hollow one, full Lieutenant Clare. The Thames is yours until Dr. Adonidas lets Zed out of physio.

"Now shoo! Tell Kat the first round's on me."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:13, Thu 22 Dec 2022.

In reply to Capt. Delilah Samson (msg # 83):

Jon exchanges his hollow pip for the gold one. He leaves Samson's ready room feeling like he is 10 feet tall. He's a got a promotion, a ship, a good crew, and a date. He enters the O Club and looks around for Kat.

All four Lintillas, including LCdr Carson, are waiting at a table under the greenhouse dome overlooking the Northern Portal into the Sphere. Kat, the one in uniform, raises a glass, "To Lieutenant Jon Clare!" The others raise their glasses and say, "Hear, hear!"

Jon feels his cheeks blazing red as he fumbles for his seat and picks up his glass.

In reply to LCdr. Katrina Carson (msg # 85):

Whereas before Jon felt like he was 10 feet tall, he now feels like he has shrunk to half his size. Spending time with all four Lintillas would usually be like a dream for Jon, but he was really looking forward to some quiet time with just Kat.

"Thank you!" he stammers, he words embarrassingly coming out like a squeak. Jon then squares his shoulders and sits up straight. He's just been promoted. This is his day. He should be having a party!

"Thank you all!" he says again, sounding calmer this time around and breaks out in a big grin. "I'd say something humble like it's no big deal, or I don't really deserve it, but I'd be lying. It is great to see you all!"

"So," Jon continues. "I know what Kat has been doing lately. What about the rest of you?"

One of the Lintillas (Jon can't tell them apart except Kat, who's in uniform) says with a sigh, "Well, nothing much at all." "We've been confined to unclassified areas..." says the next. "...of the station. Professor Lake is going nuts!" finishes the third.

Jon had forgotten the Lintillas habit of continuing and finishing each others' sentences.

"Anyway," says one, "We'll all..." "Toddle off and leave you two..." picks up the next. "...alone. See you later!" finishes a third. Jon's not certain they spoke in the same order.

"Byeee, gals!" says Kat, "So, Jon, whatever shall we do this fine evening?"

In reply to Lintilla (msg # 87):

"I can tell you what I don't want to do," says Jon. "And that is talk about anything related to ship repairs, Borg, and space battles. Nothing work related, random congratulations about my promotion excepted!"

"Normally for a first date I'd invite a gal surfing," continues Jon with a grin. "But seeing as waves will probably be hard to find around here, I am open to suggestions. What do you like to do when you are not on duty?"

"Surfing?" asks Kat, raising an eyebrow. "Well, I am the XO of the Bras d'Or, and rank hath its privilege. I can always requisition a shuttlepod for two and we can hit Freeman's Island. That is your assigned post, isn't it? And I seem to remember there are some rather nice beaches there..."

In reply to LCdr. Katrina Carson (msg # 89):

"Yep, surfing!" Jon says brightly. "Though, if you have a holodeck here I could show you the beaches of Tofino, on Earth, where I grew up. Actually, a walk on the beach may be better. Last time I took people surfing on Freeman's Island, somebody ended up in sick bay." Jon grimaces at the memory.

"Well, Dyson Station doesn't have a holodeck, but if I recall, Freeman's Island does," she replies. "That way we can do it for real, or you can take the safe way out," she continues coyly. "And, of course, your quarters are there for later."
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:53, Thu 26 Jan 2023.

In reply to Relic GM (msg # 91):

Jon blushes, and then on impulse he says "And, of course, we have quarters we could go to right now!" He quickly leans in and gives Kat a kiss, and then leans back, looking her in the eyes to gauge her reaction.

...Well, he tries to lean back, but her hand snakes around the back of his head and she leans into the kiss... Fade to black.

To be continued in the thread Much Ado About, Well, Nearly Everything!