The Storm Came and the Dragons Danced Part 1.

Posted on Wed Dec 10th, 2025 @ 6:37pm by Commander Milani & Lieutenant Commander Dex & Commodore Finchley Kerr & Captain Kevin, Lord Kilbane of Sanquhar & Lieutenant Commander Shr'Nesh Karadis

Mission: Delivering on the undeliverable.
Location: USS Thall - Planet 351 gamma.
Timeline: Current

"He never did !?" Shon exclaimed at a whisper as she looked at Milani. The bridge of the Thall was calm, bathed in the dim light of approximated night and the atmosphere was somewhat relaxed. Milani sat, her shift just beginning when Shon crept in. It had been several weeks since the Orion affair and they had not yet had a chance to talk to each other.

Milani smiled looking over the orders the Commodore had left her. "I thought you would be in your quarters by now, having an evening with...." she stopped when she saw Shon's face.

"I was just on my way, sickbay finally quietened down after upgrading the shielding in the new duotronic mass dexameter healing chamber and, I thought, on my way I would come see you."

Milani raised an eyebrow, "I would hardly have through the double distance from sickbay to here was quick er to your quarters?"

"Finchley is sleeping, he needs it so badly. So, what did the Orion do next after he did that?" Shon asked waiting with baited breath for the denouement of the story.

"He asked for the...what the...!" the ship rocked, "What's happening Milani asked.

Commander we appear to have been surrounded by...something, looks like a cloud, doesn't appear on sensors and I am getting no readings from it, we're loosing speed." The ship rocked again as the helm officer was unseated. She quickly stood back up and sat down....as the Thall dropped out of warp.

"Engineering, we seems to be loosing speed?" Milani asked tapping her comm pad as the ship rocked once again. "Shields" she ordered.

"No Commander," the comm officer pressed her panel desperately, "nothing is working, life support is dropping"

"Engineering?" Milani asked again the nodded to the ensign on communication, "Get to engineering."

"Someone go wake the Commodore NOW."

Shon nodded, "I'll go get him although I am sure he will be on his way, damn turbolifts seem to be out as well I'll have to take the jeffries tubes. Shon disappeared behind a bulkhead.

"We are now at a dead stop sir." Helm announced.

In their quarters, Finchley had been fast asleep, exhaustion from the last few months having now caught up with him. He'd known for quite a while he needed complete rest and that's what he'd had planned for the next few days as the ship was on a shake down run having had an engineering overhaul and the computing core upgraded with new systems installed. In the middle of a dream about kayaking across a mill pond flat loch, he found himself being thrown from the bed and being unceremoniously dumped on the floor.

"...but the loch water was still, where did that wav come from...?" he said groggily. "Computer, what just happened?" he asked, now more awake and realising he was no longer in his bed but on the floor. Silence was the reply, "Computer, what jus happened!!?" he asked, again there was just silence. "COMPUTER, ANSWER ME, WHAT JUST HAPPENED!!!!!?" he asked, now very annoyed, but there was just the same eery silence. Getting up off the floor, he reached his COMM badge and slammed his hand on it, "Kerr to the bridge, what's the ships status?", but there was still nothing. "Sod this for a game of soldiers!" he said to himself and decided to go up and find out for himself what was going on. Reaching the doors, he expected them to automatically open and when they didn't, he just walked straight into them, banging his forehead, nose and chin. A string of verbal shouted curses were given along with threats to whoever had caused the doors not to open for him. Gaining a semblance of calm, he removed the panel on the wall next to the door and opened the doors using the manual release. Once they were open wide enough to squeeze through, he did so and was soon running along the corridor towards the turbolift.
Crew were running back and forth, orders were being issued and curses and threats were being shouted, some of those doing the shouting stopped as their CO ran past them in his underwear, Finchley having forgotten to dress in his desire to find out what was wrong. As he ran towards the 'lift, a jeffries tube panel on the wall opened and Shon's head appeared from it. He stopped suddenly, and even though he couldn't quite understand why she had been in there he asked, "What's happening Shon, I couldn't get anything from the computer and the doors to our quarters wouldn't open?"

Shon breathed a sigh of relief to see him, even in his underwear. "There was a sudden devastating loss of all power. Helm reported seeing some sort of cloud but neither Milani or I saw it. We have no engines, as you can see nothing works. There is no communication either. I had to travel by Jeffries tube and have not seen anyone yet. Even life support is slowly fading." Shon laughed a little half laugh. "Someone needs to get out and push and...we need to find you a replicator."

"Find me a replicator?" Finchley asked, then suddenly realised the reason for the odd stares he'd been getting as he slowly looked down at himself...he was just wearing his boxers. "Ah, yes, that would be a good idea...only the replicators probably won't be working right now with us having the power outage. Tell you what, I'll go back and find something to wear, you head to Engineering, speak to McCrudden, see if he's any idea why this cloud has suddenly caused the power loss and if he can fix it."

Shon could not help but laugh. "I had completely forgotten seeing you like that." She nodded, "I'll check in on sickbay after engineering then I will return to the Bridge....." the ship rocked once again throwing her against the bulkhead. She turned to re enter the jeffries tube but had to think which way to go. She disliked confined spaces most of the time and avoided them but, she sighed as she watched him disappear. Taking up her courage she began the long ups and down of finding her way to engineering by way of the galley and the brig. It took time also because other crew members were also using this way of moving around the ship. Grabbing one of her nurses she asked what was happening in sickbay, smiling gratefully hearing that they had been overrun by small injuries only and that her office had lost it's artificial gravity. "We have no idea what is happening yet. Tell everyone to keep going, they're doing great. I am going to engineering and then the bridge, send for me if you need me. Gather the other physicians together just in case okay?" the nurse nodded and Shon gave her a pat on the back.

Eventually after what seemed a long hot journey Shon exited just outside engineering. Someone had placed median openers on each door so, after a few moments of pushing they opened onto what looked like hell. She held on as the ship rocked once again and grabbed an engineer, "Where is McCrudden?" she asked loudly. As the ship rocked once again she stumbled and tasted blood , then she saw the Chief Engineer and grabbed him, "The Commodore sent me to find out what is going on down here, we've lost all power and ships systems have all gone down, please tell me you have a handle on this?"

"Oh yes, we've got a handle on it, we just thought that having a bit of a roller coaster feeling would make the crew feel like they're at a fun fair!" McCrudden answered acidly, "of course we don't have a handle on it, everything's gone to buggery, main powers down, back up's are down...just as well I had the idea to put in an old style failsafe....battery power. Tell the Commodore he'll have about ten minutes of power once we can get the generators up and running, they have to be manually operated and maintained. Ten minutes mind, not a second more."

Shon had to break into a smile, she loved crusty old McCrudden, reminded her of her father. "Well thank you," she said. I am sure the Commodore will appreciate ten minutes of battery power....woah" she exclaimed as the Thall lurched once again and, for a minute it was as though there was no gravity as Shon flew through the air hitting a console. For a moment she lay there winded wondering why no one was helping her then realised everyone else was floating and the artificial gravity had failed. for a second it was quiet, then as the gravity returned and everyone fell hard cries of pain began. Shon grunted and stood the physician in her taking over as she checked on the engineering crew. No terrible injuries noted she directed them to sickbay to be seen when able and left for the bridge.

Her back ached interminably and she could feel her right eye swelling. Having said that it took her longer than she wanted to return to the bridge. The doors had been forced open and, as the Thall lurched she fell again. Finchley was in the chair gripping the sides so hard she could see the whiteness of his hands. " Commodore," she said breathlessly now looking at him through one eye. "Artificial gravity appears to be failing momentarily all over the ship, McCrudden says the only thing he can do is give you ten minutes of battery power." She looked past Milani and followed her gaze through the view screen at the blue planet ahead of them as the Thall lurched once more..

Even in the current situation, Finchley had a rather crooked smile on his face as he replied, "Trust Jock to come up with something as old fashioned as battery power. Ten minutes is better than nothing I suppose."

At that moment, slowly but surely, the systems on the bridge began kicking back into life as consoles sputtered and flickered on. "Oh, well done Jock...as good as your word."

He looked around, "Ok people, we have ten minutes to try and salvage this situation, Commander Milani, ships status!"

Milani had been wandering around the bridge collecting and collating the information now available with the battery power. "Life support stabilising, no shields, minimal engine capability, no capability to maintain a warp field, no weapons ability, internal communication still on the fritz. She looked over the science Lieutenant's shoulders said a few words to him, "Something appears to be scattering our scanning ability and...." the Thall rocked again although not as hard. She pulled herself up and looked at Shon. Medical reports one death, twelve light injuries."

Shon hung her head. "Commander do we know who?"

"Medical reports nurse Sogee."

Shon made her way to a chair and sat down. "We only talked yesterday, she was so happy to be rotated to the Thall and was getting married next year." she said suddenly quiet.

"I'm sorry Shon," Milani said but there will be time to grieve you know this but right now we have to concentrate on...."

"I know Commander" snapped Shon as the Thall was rocked once more.

"Sir, the ship seems to be caught in some kind of..." said helm.

The lieutenant at science replied, "as far as I can see it is some kind of field connected to the planet and it is pulling us down." his voice shook slightly.

Milani looked around and spoke in a firm voice. "We are all scared but all we can do is concentrate on what we do best, what we know to be real, this ship the Thall will get us through whatever this is."

"Can we get anything on the planet, any sensor reading at all?"

The lieutenant at science had pulled himself together, "sensors are failing but the planet appears to be Minshara class, mostly water but approximately forty per cent land deeply forested, no..wait...sensors failing sir. Showing an oxygen nitrogen atmosphere suitable for human life, sensors gone."

Shon stood, "Mr McCrudden can you give us any more power?" she said.

In Main Engineering Jock McCrudden, for all his age, was running around trying to coax as much as he could out of the batteries, even though the allotted ten minutes he'd given had come and gone. There was nothing left to give the bridge in the way of more power...or was there. "Parks, what's the status of the genny?" he asked his Second.

"The genny, you can't be serious Sir, it's a museum piece?" Parks replied.

"When I want a smart arse reply from you, I'll give you it to tell me" McCrudden replied, "What is it?"

Parks ran across the room and opened one of the large lockers and looked inside, "It's half full, maybe a little less."

"That's enough" McCrudden replied, "Hook up a main line into it, prepare to start her up!"

"But it's just a project...as I said just now, a museum piece" Parks shouted back.

"Many's a time when such a thing has still done it's job, that genny might be a couple of hundred years old, a project, an antique and belong in a museum, but if it affords us even a few minutes of power, it could be the difference between us making it or not, start her up once the main lines hooked up in it!"

It took Parks all of thirty seconds to hook up the main line, and pulling out the starting handle he began to crank it for all he was worth. Slowly, very slowly, the genny began to cough and splutter and finally burst into life.

"Ya beauty, they were built to last!" McCrudden cried out, fist pumping the air, "Keep checking the pressure gauge, if it falls below fifty Psi, let me know" he added, looking at Parks.

Tapping his COMM badge, he called back to the bridge. "McCrudden here, we can perhaps give you a couple of more minutes, no guarantees, but we'll try our best. After that, we have nothing, and I mean nothing, use what he have wisely."

Milani and Shon spoke together, "Commodore we are going to have to set down before we fall down!"

Finchley set his jaw in a grim firm line as he looked at the Helmsman, "Have you ever glided a Starship son?"

The Helmsman shook his head, the fear in his eyes very obvious. Finchley moved from his Command chair to the Operations seat next to him, "Don't worry, it's going to be a piece of cake. Think of this as learning on the job. We're going to head down into the upper atmosphere and once we're through it, we'll try and find some eddies that'll hopefully take us on a glide path. The tricky part is going to be when to ask McCru...our Chief Engineer to kick in what power we have left to try and get us a means to guide us and also find a place to land."

The Helmsman gulped and nodded, then turned back to his console. "Ok, by the looks of it, we're just about to enter the upper atmosphere, everyone put your head between your legs and kiss your arse goodbye because this might not work!" Finchley called out.

In the meantime Shon had sent and Ensign to run and warn the rest of the ship to brace and sickbay to prepare for casualties.

The Thall began it's descent into the upper atmosphere and wildly bucked then dropped...bucked again and dropped. On the bridge, Finchley tried to calculate in his head when to call on Jock to give them the remaining power. As the Thall dropped for the third time, he slapped his COMM badge and said, "Ok Jock, you crusty old son of a bitch, give us everything you've got!"

In Main Engineering, McCrudden nodded to Parks, "Right...open up the genny to full power and try to keep the power flow steady!"

Parks nodded and opened the genny up to full power as ordered, praying it wouldn't give out. The genny began rocking and the gauges flicked back and forth wildly then steadied themselves, showing full power. Turning one of the switches to 'open', the main power cable snaked from side to side as power flowed through it.

"IT'S WORKING!!" Parks yelled above the noise. McCrudden nodded and hit his COMM badge, "You should be getting power now ya wee ferret" he called through to Finchley.

On the bridge, the Helm and Operations console began to flicker into life again, "Lateral thrusters to full, keep her steady, try to keep the bow up!" Finchley yelled. The Helmsman's hands flew across his console as the Thall rocked and bucked in another Eddy.

"Milani, work with Shon, try and find us a landing site!" Finchley called out.

Milani nodded and joined Shon, "the limited scans we can take give us the option of water or forest, or, at least...."

Shon nudged Milani and pointed to something on the screen. The Thall shook again and a grinding sound, whispering at first but getting louder pervaded the bridge.

"WE'RE COMING APART!" someone shouted as Shon turned to see someone from the galley pushing the doors onto the bridge apart. Obviously looking for Shon they shouted. "Sickbay reports as ready as they ever will be and have two serious injuries already."

Shon had already turned back to the screen as she nodded. Milani shouted over the increasing sounds of the Thall in distress. "If we continue on this same course it looks as though there is a place on the Southern continent between the ocean and the mountains 51.5N latitude, 0.1 Longitude" Shon called.

Milani took over the Conn. "We will have to be very careful as there is a forested area to the north of the beach, we will have to drop down over the mountains and put her down directly after the forest ends onto the beach." Her hands flew over the conn relishing the chance to use her skills once learnt never lost.

A scream came from the science station as the Bolian Ensign was thrown from his chair, hit his head and lay still. Milani nodded at Shon and Shon rushed over producing a medical tricorder from the pocket of her voluminous coat. Running it over him she wasted no time pulling out a hypo and injecting him. "Come one" she whispered as she poured more critylin into him. Her shoulders sagged as she pulled herself up from the rolling of the Thall. "Ensign Trylio is dead," she said feeling helpless.

She set herself in the science chair and studied the fast approaching planet. "It appears there is some sort of weather satellite in an upper orbit. All I can see is that there is some sort of storm front on the surface, there seems to be rain and...DAMN, sensors are now down." She stood and moved over to the seat next to Finchley's. For a moment her hand closed over his as the Thall bucked and shook like a drunken rodeo horse.

Milani nodded, "same here" she said as plexiglass shattered and sparks flew from the science console where Shon had been a few seconds ago sending thin shards around the bridge . "Entering the upper atmosphere!" Milani called as the star field disappeared replaced by grey nebulous swirls.

Shon tried the comm hoping there was just enough juice to get a message out. "To all crew, the ship is landing planet side in a few minutes. Brace for impact." Her face showed an animation and excitement that had not been there a few minutes ago but now, if they lived, the prospect of another adventure elated her.

"McCrudden to the bridge, the genny's almost out of juice, you have about ninety seconds before we're all out" Jock messaged from Main Engineering.

Finchley looked at Milani, "Ninety seconds is all you have to get us down Commander, it's all on you now."

Milani relaxed as she took the helm reassured as to her skill and sheer bravado. The lives of everyone and the Thall hung on her expertise. All sound went away as she felt light a part, yet not of everything that held the universe together. From that moment until they landed she was the Thall, a pairing of strength, intelligence and love for her place in the universe. Her fingers flew lightly over the console not feeling the throes of the ship as she strained and rocked into the upper atmosphere of the planet before them. She used the last of the power McCrudden had given them to gain the atmosphere of the planet. She felt the power of the nacelles leaving her as though all passion had left leaving the bare metal power of the Thall. The ship brushed the top of the trees producing a tearing sound like thunder as the ship began it's descent onto the rocky shore. Suddenly the sound and ferocity of the wounded ship came back to her. "We're going down, everyone hold on.

The Thall hit the rocks bucking as the left nacelle ripped. They hit the sand hard and Shon was thrown from her seat and lay still her leg in an unnatural position bleeding from a head wound. Milani did not see her however as she guided the Thall along the soft sand protecting the soft underbelly of the ship. The metal screaming the Thall thundered to a halt feet from the rocky outcrop that pronounced the end of the beach, then, all was still.

When the Thall hit the rocks, crew, instrument panels and anything not secured down flew up in the air and came down with a thump. After thirty or so seconds passed, Finchley opened his eyes, his sight adjusting to the near darkness, save that from the emergency red lighting, that was now around the bridge. He slowly moved himself, testing to make sure nothing was broken, and pulled himself to his feet. He looked around at the carnage that was once the pristine Thall main bridge. Seeing Shon lying not far from him, he hurried over to her and knelt down, "Shon..." he said quietly, gently shaking her, "...Shon, are you ok?"

Shon's eyes opened slowly seeing Finchley she said "are we there yet?" and laughed, then the laugh died as she looked around at the destruction and the sight of Milani at the helm just sitting there. "Bloody hell!" she exclaimed and attempted to stand.

"We're down if that's what you mean" Finchley replied, "and yes, I think we may have to a little bit of a 'spring clean' to get things back to normal." He gently helped Shon to her feet and then looked at Milani, "Commander Milani, well done on getting us down, but I need you to snap out of your reverie and begin checking on the bridge crew along with Shon here."

Milani nodded and, saying nothing as Shon joined her. Surprisingly there were no other injuries amongst the bridge crew and the consoles appeared to be in good order. "Commodore I think the Commander and myself should check on the rest of the ship, get an idea of repairs?" Shon saw Karadis enter the bridge and, by her body language, knew there was something up

Karadis had a few cuts and bruises and sweat glistened on her skin as she stood up and looked around. Seeing Finchley, she walked across to him and stood side on to him with her back to the rest of the crew, "I need you to come with me now! she whispered.

Finchley looked at her, "Why?" he asked.

"I need you to see someone Bird, this can't wait!" she hissed.

Hearing the ferocity in her tone, and seeing the look on her face, he realised this wasn't Karadis asking really, it was her 'telling' him and she wasn't taking no for an answer.

Finchley turned to Milani and said, "I need you to take the CONN Commander, Dex can check on the rest of the crew and report on repairs that take priority..." and he then looked round at Karadis, "...I need to go with Karadis just now."

"Yes Commodore." Milani said her moment of glory over. Shon saw the interaction between Karadis and Finchley, for some reason she decided to follow and quietly slipped into the Jeffries tube behind the pair.

As Karadis moved off, Finchley followed on behind her, squeezing into the hatch she'd first come though moments earlier. As they traversed through the Jeffries tubes he asked, "Who is it you want me to see Karadis, why all the secrecy?"

"If I told you, you wouldn't have come straight away" Karadis replied, "This way you have come and you will see them."

Finchley resigned himself to the fact that Karadis wouldn't give him the answer he was looking to get, so remained quiet for the rest of the journey through the tubes and crawl spaces. Eventually, they both exited the final Jeffries tube and were in the corridor just outside the shuttle bay. Finchley looked around, there was a lot of damage, conduits blown out, the corridor ceiling was down in some sections and they emergency lighting was flickering.

"Where to now?" Finchley asked.

Karadis moved off and reached the partially opened doors that lead to the shuttle bay, "In here" she said, moving through the doors. Finchley followed her through them and into the shuttle bay main area. He saw Karadis some ten feet in front of her moving round one of the shuttles and out of sight so he hurried to catch up with her. As he rounded the shuttle himself, he saw Karadis crouched down over a body, all Finchley could see were the persons legs.

"You best hurry Bird, they don't have much time" Karadis said. Finchley moved forward and round Karadis, then saw who Karadis was talking about...it was Kilbane and he was in a bad way, a piece of metal strut sticking out of his chest like a harpoon. Karadis shuffled forward slightly and lifted Kilbane's head up and placed it on her lap gently, then she beaconed for Finchley to come forward. He did so, and as he knelt down he could hear the course breathing, almost rasping, coming from Kilbane.

Karadis leaned forward and whispered, "Kilbane...Kilbane, it's Karadis."

Kilbane's eyes flickered open and he looked up at Karadis and gave a weak bloodied smile, "You're whispering...Karadis...it must...be bad."

Karadis, for all her hardness being Klingon, wept silently, her tears causing rivulets through her soot blackened face, "I've seen you in better shape you big ape" she managed to get out, "and look, I've brought someone to see you."

Kilbane's eyes moved sideways and he saw Finchley crouched beside him, "What...are you do...doing...here...haven't you taken...enough...from me...can't I die...in peace?"

Finchley was at a loss for words, he'd seen Kilbane get some serious injuries from the missions they'd been on together, but this time it was looking like it would be fatal. The strut was deep into Kilbane's chest, the blood loss was severe and it was still oozing out, but despite all of that, he was still drawing breath.

"What were you doing here in the shuttle bay?" Finchley asked him. Karadis looked at Finchley in disbelief, and slapped him on the arm, "What does that matter now?" she asked loudly.

Kilbane raised a wavering arm to shush Karadis, "No...a good question...Karadis...as always...the Commodore is...in Command...mode. I thought...that...I...could syphon off...power...from the shu...shuttles to...give McCrudden...a chance...to keep the...main...computer going. The bulkhead...blew and...I copped the...blast."

"That was a good idea Kilbane" Finchley replied.

"It would have...been had...I managed...it" Kilbane said, coughing up more blood.

"Well you just rest here with Karadis, I'll go and get some of the medical team down here to patch you up" Finchley said, beginning to rise up.

Kilbane grabbed his arm, "Don't pretend...you...care now...you bas...tard! You...took the...one person I've...ever cared...about...away from...me...I don't want...your help...just fuck off...and let me die in...peace. And tell...Dex I hope...you both...roast...in hell!!!"

With that final piece of vehemence, his head fell back slowly and his eyes closed.

Karadis looked round helplessly at Finchley, "DO SOMETHING BIRD!!!"

Finchley looked at the man he'd once called his best friend, "There's nothing to be done" he said coldly, "you heard him, he wanted me to fuck off and let him die in peace, and that's what I'll do."

He looked at the prone body of Kilbane, "Shon and I, we may roast in hell for what we did to you Kilbane, but you'll be there first...and that's all the consolation I need."

Shon finally gained the cargo bay and took in the scene before her. She laughed, "Okay right, everybody the joke is over." No one moved and as Karadis moved out of the way Shon saw the whole scene in front of her. She screamed and moved over to the prone
Kilbane. "WHY ARE YOU ALL JUST STANDING THERE!" she screamed as she withdrew her med scanner, "Someone get to sickbay bring a team here...." the monotone sound of her scanner seemed to resonate round the room confirming what they all knew. "No, no, no, no, no." Shon intoned as she touched the large spar through Kilbane's chest. She then began to shake him as if he was just pretending. "No Kilbane no please, no." she bent over smoothed his hair and kissed him. "Don't die," she whispered, "I am so sorry, so very sorry, I loved you I really did, just...not enough." Shon looked up tears in her eyes pouring down her face. Looking at Finchley she said "We killed him, we killed him" as she wiped the blood that had begun to seep through his closed lips.

"No Shon, the metal spar through his chest killed him" Finchley said in a practical tone, "we had nothing to do with it, he was in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Karadis stood up, "The wrong place at the wrong time?" she repeated almost sarcastically, "are you fucking kidding me, he was trying to save the ship and everyone on it, your sorry arse included!!!" she then shouted.

"I realise that this is a difficult time for all of us Karadis" Finchley began, "but he knew the risks of the job and he accepted them, yes, he was in the wro...", but he didn't get to finish what he was saying as Karadis withdrew her D'k' Tagh, roared in rage and attacked him with all out fury. Instinct kicked in as Finchley deflected the stabbing gestures Karadis made, but he wasn't quite quick enough to stop her from kicking his legs out from under him. As he hit the floor, Finchley rolled to one side to avoid a strike as Karadis brought the dagger down, then he rolled to the other as she tried to stab at him again.

"Karadis, get a grip on yourself!" he shouted at her, but to no avail. There was blood fury in her eyes, she was now out of control, grief taking over her actions. She stood over him, having now withdrawn her phaser as well, "Kilbane was the best friend you ever had, God knows how few you did have over the years, yet your cold to him dying because he blamed you for what you did to him with HER!" and she pointed back to Shon.

"I knew you could be a bastard at times Kerr, but this...this is a whole new level even for you" she spat at him. "Get up!, Get up now, I won't kill you lying down, you'll die like a man!" she kicked him.

Finchley slowly got to his feet, his hands held out defensively, "I was being practical Karadis, you saw how he'd become, withdrawn, cold himself and he didn't care what happened to him anymore."

"That's because of what you and her did to him, how did you think he'd react...send you both flowers?" Karadis replied.

"No, but he also knew that Shon and I had been together before and that we still had feelings for one another" Finchley said.

"You also knew that they were seeing each other and that it was getting serious" Karadis answered, "So what...you got jealous, was that it, was that what made you want that harlot back...so you could spite him, show him that you could take her back any time you wanted?"

"NOOOOOO!" Finchley shouted, "I couldn't stop my feelings for Shon, even if I wanted to, he knew that, it just...happened."

"Not good enough Kerr, just not good enough!" Karadis hissed. "Commodore Kerr, you're here by summarily tried, found guilty and convicted of the death of Captain Kevin, Lord Kilbane of Sanquhar, the sentence of the court is death!" and she fired into his chest, watching as a surprised look came over his face and he crumpled down to his knees slowly.

He reached out with one hand as he said, "Karadis...", and pitched forward onto the deck.

Shon did not believe what was happening but unable to process what was happening, which, at that current moment was a good thing. "I hope for all our sakes that phaser was on stun Karadis?"

"No, it wasn't!" Karadis replied, turning round to face Shon and backing up out of reach of her, "Lieutenant Commander Dex, you're also hereby summarily tried, found guilty, and convicted of the death of Captain Kevin, Lord Kilbane of Sanquhar, the sentence of the court is death, have you any last words?"

"Yes, I have Karadis." Shon stayed where she was, on the floor next to Finchley, " I hope you find a way out of this, save the crew get them home or make a life here, remember you and Milani are the ones that can get this done. I don't remember being tried and found guilty in any court. You are also guilty of the murder of your Captain and friend." Shon took Finchley's hand and closed her eyes.

Karadis aimed the phaser at the back of Shon's head, and as her finger moved forward to press fire...

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Finchley yelled as he sat upright and looked around wildly. His breathing was laboured and came in short gasps. It was then that hand was laid on his shoulder and a voice said, "Commodore Kerr, who are you shouting at?"

He looked up and saw an Ensign standing over him, "Karadis just killed me and she was about to kill Sho...I mean, Commander Dex! Where is she, where's Karadis?"

"I have no idea Sir, she hasn't been on the bridge since we encountered the cloud and began our descent onto the planet" the Ensign replied.

"But she was here, she came onto the bridge through the access point over there" Finchley pointed, "she told me she needed to take me to see someone and we went to the shuttle bay."

"Sir, nobody has come onto the bridge since we crashed, you've been out cold for the last ten minutes, all we could do was make you comfortable till the medics were brought up here."

"But...no...I saw Kilbane, he was dying...Karadis blamed me..." Finchley babbled.

"Sir, I can assure you, you've been here the whole time, and as I said, you've been out cold the whole time since we crashed" the Ensign replied.

"I don't unders...why did I...it was so real..." Finchley said, relaxing a little after being so tensed up, "Where's Commander Dex?"

"She said she was going to sickbay to retrieve some sort of med kit to help you she should be back any minute sir." The Ensign stumbled for something to say and then a lightbulb moment came to him. "Commander Milani went to find Captain Kilbane and Lieutenant Commander Karadis. She said that if any officers came to the bridge to keep them here for a meeting."

Finchley was still at odds with what he thought he'd seen and what was happening right there and then, "Yes, officers...a meeting...good idea." He stood up slowly and looked around, it all came back to him, the loss of power, getting some back, loosing it again, getting some kind of power back then loosing that, then Milani bringing the ship down somehow...and the incident with Karadis. "We, eh, we need to establish some kind of communication link with Main Engineering, runners...for want of a better phrase, though they'll be crawling through Jeffries tubes...will need to be set up. See to it Ensign please, there's a good man."

Shon was pleased to see sickbay was working well despite the loss of all power, none of their diagnostic pads were working but they had begun to work the old way. "Report?" she asked her second Doctor Bl'h or "B" for short. The Bolian looked up from bandaging a wrist. "Three deaths one in engineering, one on the bridge and chef. All were caused by the rapid deceleration of the ship.

" Thank you B, I can see you have everything in order here. I have to go, the Commodore is injured. Send someone for me if you need to and I will relay any orders." Shon picked up a wound pack a pinpoint torch and left hurrying back to the bridge reassuring crew members on he way.

She backed out of the walkway onto the bridge and was happy to see Finchley standing there however looking sickly and pale. "Commodore, please sit, let me have a look at you?"

"Ah, Shon, good, you're here, Karadis didn't kill you in the end then" Finchley replied, smiling in relief. He sat down in the command chair, still smiling at her, but also looking rather puzzled.

"What?" Shon said rather worryingly as she began her medical check. "This is the old fashioned way of doing things, back in the early 20th century they had none of the diagnostic machines and procedures but," she looked at him and smiled" as I am not giving an Academy lecture I'll just shine my light in your eyes, just look straight ahead. Following that she took his pulse and checked his ears for bleeding. "Okay so why did you think Karadis was killing me?"

"Well, she took me to the shuttle bay, then Kilbane was there, fatally wounded, she blamed me for that, he blamed me for 'us' getting back together again and robbing him of his chance at happiness. He then died, Karadis blamed me for that, summarily tried and killed me, said you were complicit summarily tried and killed you, then I was back here" Finchley replied.

"Oh my, that's awful, maybe everything is on your unconscious mind, or it may just have been a side effect of hitting your head. Now we do still have a large stock of meds in hypospray form so I can give you a delozin shot if you have a headache?"

Just then Milani walked in and, behind her a gaggle of senior officers including the engineering chief, Kilbane and Karadis. "I managed to round up the senior officers and Lieutenant Delaney who is not in charge of the galley and all food. I thought we could find out from him how much food we have" she led the way to the ready room, "Commodore?"

Finchley watched as the Senior Officers walked across the bridge, it was slightly unnerving to see Karadis and Kilbane sharing something that they both found amusing and they laughed. He was suddenly aware that Milani had spoken to him, so he nodded silently to her then he turned to Shon, "No, I don't have a headache, but thank you for suggesting the delozin, I'll let you know if anything changes. We best get to the Ready Room to hear what the report on the ships status is."

He stood up and began walking behind Shon as she took the lead, and as he stepped up onto the upper level of the bridge, a report was handed to him by a Science Officer. He looked at the PaDD, scanning the essence of what was in the report, then looked and nodded to the officer saying, "Thank you Ensign Trylio, I'll speak with you about this after the briefing."

He began to walk away, and three steps later he stopped and burled round as he realised what he'd just said and to who, but there was nobody there. He looked down at his hands, sure that they would have the PaDD he'd been handed, but they were empty, holding nothing. "This is insane..." he said to himself, "...you're seeing things that haven't happened and talking to people who are dead!"

Shon turned making sure she sat down beside him, she had heard his verbal with Ensign Trylio now even more convinced he was suffering a head injury. Milani who sat opposite began. "We have not looked at the condition of the whole ship but it looks bad. First of all we have three dead," she looked at McCrudden. "One of the engineers, a bridge Ensign Trylio, and our head chef" this caused another glance from Shon which Milani saw. "Mr McCrudden can you give us an update on engineering?"

"Everything's fucked...main computer, warp drive, impulse engines, shields, weapons, life support, sensors, astrometrics, replicators and all our backup systems to aforementioned main systems" McCrudden replied, then sat back.

"Very detailed report as always Jock" Kilbane said.

"Up yours ya scrawny wee git!" McCrudden answered him back.

Shon tried to suppress a laugh as a cough and looked serious. "What's medical like Commander?" Milani asked looking at Shon.

"Obviously we have nothing we can use no diagnostic, treatment or surgical beds. Fortunately we carry reserves for basic first aid, setting of fracture, medications, just old fashioned medicine. I would advise we do not let anyone go outside until we have checked the situation. I know the scans of the planet we designated 351 gamma has an oxygen nitrogen atmosphere but, what else we do not know."

Milani nodded, any questions for the doctor before we proceed?"

"Aye, ah've got one fir her" McCrudden piped up, and turning to Shon he asked, "in this basic first aid reserve, dae yae huv a medication that'll stop Kilbane fae bein' a dick?"

Shon looked at Kilbane. "Mr McCrudden I really do not think this is the time to be talking about anyone like that, but I do have a special hypo for anyone who needs it," she said looking at the old man.

Milani continued "Commodore the Thall has structural breaches on decks seven and eight so personal quarters may have to be shared, I suggest Sir that we gather the crew in cargo bay two tomorrow and let them know what is happening, for tonight I think we should post security at the breaches?" Milani sat back anxious for input.

Kilbane looked at McCrudden, "Ha ha...you got told off by the school nurse!"

McCrudden in turn gave Kilbane the finger but said nothing.

"All right, knock it off you two" Finchley said, now seemingly back to being himself again. He looked at Milani, "Life support is offline, but I recon we have about eight hours of oxygen in the ship before it becomes a problem, would that be right McCrudden?"

"Aye, there or there abouts" Jock replied.

Finchley nodded, and turned back to the officers again, "The Commanders suggestion of posting security guards at the breaches is a sound one, it's so ordered. I was sad to hear that our chef has died, but, I'm sure if we ask for volunteers some of the crew will step up to make basic meals with what we have in store, however, I'd like foraging parties to go out and scout around to see what local edible plants and such is nearby. We also need to get working on a plan to get some power for the ship, Commander Milani, you and Kilbane work with McCrudden on this. Are there any other points that need to be raised right now?"

"Commodore I suggest I lead a foraging party tomorrow, but for tonight I think we should all bed down and eat. We can all draw rations from the galley and tomorrow we should speak to the crew and most of all keep them busy?" Shon said looking at Finchley willing him to suggest they all get some rest.

"So long as your medical team are in good shape, I don't see a problem with you doing that" Finchley replied to Shon, "and yes, organising the drawing of rations for the crew and seeing to shared sleeping arrangements can be your responsibility Commander Milani. Now, I suggest we get on with it, we have to keep the crews moral up, dismissed" he finished.

Milani nodded and withdrew to perform her tasks. Most of the crew were now in their quarters with extra blankets torches and food. All crew members now had another person to be with, she especially wanted to make sure no one was alone. Security was fed and stationed by the breaches and, as darkness fell the Thall was quiet. Milani, wandering the corridors not wanting to be on her own, found herself outside Karadis quarters. She looked for the chime but then remembered and knocked on the door.

Karadis walked over to the doors of her quarters and grabbed hold of the suction cups on either side and pulled them apart. Slightly surprised to see Milani there, "Milani...this is a surprise, come in" she said, standing back. Once she was, Karadis closed the doors back together again and turned to face Milani, "What brings you here?" she asked.

"Shon said we should not be alone, but that was my feeble excuse. My real one is that I wanted to be with you, I'm scared, I'm lonely and I love you Karadis, here we are on this strange planet, I don't know if we will ever leave here......" Milani petered out not really knowing what to say next.

Karadis nodded her understanding, "Fear can do strange things to you, especially when you're alone, but when you're not it can be conquered" she replied, and stood aside, showing Milani she could enter. When the doors closed behind them, Karadis took the items Milani held in her hands and placed them on the floor. Taking Milani by the hands, she brought her in close and hugged her tightly, "You've no need to be scared, you're with me now, I won't let anything happen to you."

Milani felt much better enclosed in Karadis' arms and immediately hoped the Klingon had not heard her protestations of love. She pushed away not really knowing why. "I'm sorry about that and I feel stupid and weak, I'm the FO for god's sake.

"Being First Officer doesn't mean you're not allowed to be scared" Karadis replied, somewhat surprised at Milani pushing herself off of her as she'd done. "I would be very surprised if you weren't, it doesn't mean your weak or stupid, it shows you have concerns about our situation, and with good reason. We have no idea what's caused us to have to make an emergency landing, and we've no idea who or what's on this planet. The only way we'll find out is by going out there and seeing for ourselves and try to remedy the situation."

Milani smiled and nodded, " there have been many times I have been out of my comfort zone but this, is not one of them. I want to be in your arms, be a part of you so you miss every day when I am not with you. Karadis you fill my mind and my body with thoughts of being with you."

Karadis moved over to Milani and put her hands on Milani's shoulders, rubbing them gently, "And though it took time for me to admit it to myself, I feel the same way about you Milani."

She half laughed and chuckled at the same time, "I mean, there I was, trying to be the tough 'soldier type', not wanting to make my feelings show themselves, but every time we spoke, argued even, all I wanted to do was take you in my arms and kiss you, but I was frightened you didn't feel the same way about me, hence me holding back. Now though...now...we both know how we feel about each other so we can move forward safe in the knowledge we have that bond. Now, how about I make us a hot drink eh? Kerr let me try this wonderful drink he called 'hot chocolate', it's like a warm hug in a cup."

Milani moved into the pulse of Karadis' hands on her shoulders, stretching and relaxing her tendons and muscles." Mmm sounds wonderful, whatever the day brings, however many challenges we face having tonight, this, with you, makes me feel I can face anything. That drink sounds wonderful"

Karadis smiled and moved over to the replicator and ordered two hot chocolates and returned to Milani and handed her a cup, "One warm hug in a cup."

Shon walked into their quarters happy to find Finchley tucking into his rations, using a torch to see what he was doing. She tut tutted, went into their bedroom, rummaged through a storage bin and came out with an oil lamp. "This" she announced "belonged to my great grandparents. We used to light it on stormy nights and tell spooky stories around the fire, the way the light cast shadows on the wall was particularly evocative." She struck a match and lit the wick adjusting it to throw light around. "Of course when I run out of oil maybe there will be something on the planet that I can use." Shon shivered. "how are you feeling?" she asked kissing him on the top of his head.

Finchley smiled when he saw the oil lamp, he hadn't seen one in so long. "It's lovely" he said pointing to the lamp, "and I bet it was a very spooky atmosphere when used to tell the stories. As for how I feel, rather odd to be honest, not odd in a sickly way, more...it's kind of hard to describe. It's like that feeling you get when someone's in the room and you haven't noticed they're there, but you suddenly do. I mean, the vision of Kilbane dying and Karadis killing me then going to kill you...it was so realistic. There's something else, and before I tell you, I don't think this has anything to do with the ship crashing, or me bumping my head because I know what concussion feels like, and I don't feel that way, this is something completely different. When I was coming to the Ready Room for the meeting with the Senior Officers, a Science Officer gave me a report PaDD to look at, which I did, when I looked back to say something to them, it was Ensign Trylio. I didn't think much of it right there and then, but when I began walking away, I suddenly remembered he had died, so when I turned back to look at him, he wasn't there, and when I looked down for the PaDD I had, it wasn't in my hands either. There's a difference between those two incidents, one when I was out cold and one when I was awake, but in both instances, that same feeling of not noticing when someone's in the room, but then realising they are was there."

Shon took the quilt from their bed and sat wrapping it round them. "As a doctor I could say that some of it was due to the head injury but your dream, Finchley do you feel guilty about what we did to Kilbane? I do, he really loved me probably still does and it is eating him up to the extent that his mood is leaching out to others. Your experience with Ensign Trylio could be something to do with this place, extreme stress, any number of things or, maybe what you saw was just unexplainable."

Finchley smiled tiredly at Shon, "That's the thing Shon, I don't believe anything's unexplainable, there's an explanation for everything, you just need to dig deep enough to find it. Dreams are one thing, hallucinations are another, I think when it's daybreak, we should start sending out the away teams early. There is one thing I'd like to show you before then though, so long as you're up for something...unusual."

Shon nodded staying close to him. The quilt creating warmth defending them from the cold that now encased the quietly creaking Thall. She laughed, "so you are telling me that there is something more unusual than our current situation?"

"In a manner of speaking, yes" Finchley replied, laughing himself, "but you've got to promise me you won't take the mickey when I do" he added, reaching for a paper pad next to him. He passed the pad over to Shon, "I know I'm no Van Gogh, but ever since coming to from being knocked out on the bridge, I keep remembering the same image...but it's not anywhere I've ever been or anything I've seen."

On the top half of the page on the pad was a very rough sketching of the view of a valley with what looked like a cave entrance in the distance. On the bottom half was the sketching of a shaped metal pillar with symbols on it. "As I said, I've never been anywhere like that, and I've never seen a metal pillar like that, and I've no idea what the symbols mean."

Shon took it from him and screwed her eyes up in the soft light. "the pillar is remarkably detailed and some of the symbols remind me of something I have seen before....a long time ago, I think some of them remind me of a long dead language." Shon frowned, but I just cannot remember." She shrugged. "I didn't find anything wrong when I examined you but this is certainly something triggered by your head injury." She sat quietly with him feeling his chest expanding and retracting as he breathed. Then she moaned softly.

"What's wrong?" Finchley asked, hearing Shon moan.

"Nothing is wrong Finchley, it's just that with everything going on I wonder when we will get to just...be together like this again. In the dark like this, without the sounds of the Thall around us the only light we have beside the torches is this oil lamp, technology from centuries ago. It's all rather romantic don't you think?"

Holding Shon closer, he leaned his head into hers and said, "Technology be damned, if this is what it was like for our ancestors, I'd say they had it better than us. How about this, once we're back at base, you and me take some R'n'R and get away from it all. I know this...rogue...a cheeky chap, owes me a couple of favours, he also happens to own a moon that he tells me is unlike anything I've ever seen. No technology there, just basic accommodation and we have to hunt for our food. It would be a kind of rough living experience, but then again, it could be sort of fun?"

"That actually sounds wonderful, but, I wonder if we will ever get off this planet. I know Milani asked McCrudden for a complete survey of the ship, what is needed, what we can and cannot do. We may have to think of making a home for ourselves here whilst we wait for rescue, if indeed it ever comes."

Finchley's face now had a look of hapless loss on it, "That's the thing, what if the rescue ship, if one comes, ends up having the same fate as us?"

He looked up at the ceiling as if inspiration would come from there, "The best possible plan that I can think of is that we send out the away teams to see what they can find out, and those left here on the ship begin to make preparations for a possible long term stay here, two birds, one stone and all that. I'm not being defeatist, but better to plan for both than rely on the fact we think we'll get out of this place sooner rather than later. Anyway, that's for the morning, right here and right now, I want to spend my time with you...and the lamp of course."

"I always want to spend my time with you," she said softly as she kissed him moving her body next to his as her hands moved over him, "all my time."

She woke sometime when she did not know but a faint light had appeared in the window. Shon looked at Finchley who appeared to be asleep. She shivered and disentangled herself from Finchley." Walking to the closet she found another blanket which she put over him.

"Shon"

She jumped and looked at him thinking he was awake but he appeared to be asleep still. She shook her head thinking her imagination was getting the better of her."

"SHON" The voice was louder, more persistent and, for a moment she thought she recognised it."

"Shon, come out here you don't want to miss this." The voice spoke again.

She shook her head and turned away from the light when she felt a breath of air on her skin. She turned back and found the window gone and her way outside free. "I'm definitely dreaming, she thought. The air felt good, fresh on her face unlike the air on the ship. A small stand of trees on the left attracted her as the voice spoke again.

"Shon it's me."

"Dad?" she breathed as the figure of her father emerged from the trees with his arms open. For some reason the whole scenario seemed quite as it should be, he was meant to be there, on this strange planet when the broken shell of the Thall lay behind her, she smiled and walked to him. Inside the ship in their quarters Finchley lay asleep, Shon asleep in his arms her eyes wide open.

Kilbane opened his eyes and stretched his arms, yawning loudly at the same time. Rising from his bed, he showered quickly and put on a fresh spare uniform he had hanging in his cupboard. With the main power being down, he decided he would look to see if there were any emergency rations still in the storage room at the brig. The trip there was slightly unusual as he didn't pass anyone in the corridors, and even after clambering through the Jeffries tubes to get to the brig, he didn't see a single crewman. On reaching his destination, he opened the doors using the sucker cups attached to them and walked in, expecting to see some of the duty Security staff there. Instead, he found himself looking at the back of what he assumed to be grey haired forty something soldier wearing tactical gear and in greens, "And who might you be?" he asked.

The soldier turned and looked at Kilbane, "I know it's been a little while Kev, but surely you're memory's not that bad!" he laughed.

"Pickton...Andy Pickton...as I live and breathe...is it really you...what are you doing here" Kilbane almost yelled, grinning like a Cheshire cat, "you were posted missing on Jengis Prime. What the hell happened, were you rescued after we pulled out, did you transfer in before we left base?"

"Oh Kev...you really do need to blow off the cobwebs mate" Pickton replied smiling, "Of course I did, but there's a time and place for answering questions, let's have a drink eh!"

Back in his quarters, Kilbane sat in his chair, arms along the chair rests, a drink in one hand, eyes wide open but staring into nothingness.

T'lera was sitting looking out of her window at the light coming up over the mountains, for once she was not sure what the day would bring. The Vulcan helm officer knew for certain that would not be her job today. Hearing a noise she turned to see her husband standing there. "It is agreeable to see you my wife," the handsome Vulcan male said as he moved towards her. T'lera raised her fingers in the usual affectionate way. He looked the same but she had to try to process the fact that he had been dead for ten years. The Vulcan helm officer continued to stare out of the window her eyes wide open.

A prolonged banging on the door to the Commodore's and Shon's quarters echoed into the space. "Commodore! sir, we need Doctor Dex, it's an emergency sir!" the female voice shouted.

Finchley came to with a start, "Wha..where...", then heard the hammering on the door again and the shouting for the requirement of Shon for an emergency. He looked at Shon and, seeing her eyes open he said, "Time to go to work dearest", but there was no response from her, she just sat there with her eyes open. "Shon...Shon..." Finchley said, gently laying his hand on her shoulder and shaking her lightly, but there was no response. Now very much concerned, he shook her a little more harder, "Shon, what are you doing, we need to go, there's an emergency in Sickbay", but still nothing. Now frantic with concern, Finchley rose and dashed to the door, pulling them open by the handles. Seeing three nurses outside, he called them inside, "Something's wrong with Doctor Dex, her eyes are open but I can't get any response from her!"

They ran to Dex and looked at each other. "Just like the others?" one of them said. Commodore this is happening to other crew members as well. They just brought in Captain Kilbane. It's about twenty crew members at the moment, all were found like this at the end of the night. The ACMO is running tests right now."

Though scared for Shon's wellbeing, Finchley had to think first as the Commanding Officer of the ship. "Right, carefully take Doctor Dex to Sickbay, I need to try and find out what's causing this to happen."

They nodded and took her between them. Looking at each other they were wondering what they were going to do without an medical technology.

Now that Shon was in the best hands of the medical team, Finchley paced back and forth thinking about what was the best way to find out about what had caused the situation. He stopped mid step and clicked his fingers, "YES!" he shouted and ran to wall safe and quickly entered his personal code and removed a box and placed it on his desk.

"I hope this works" he muttered to himself as he clicked the only button and stood back. "Ok, let's see if this is all it's cracked up to be...open SHIT!" he commanded. There was a click and the box lit up, then holographic figure stood before him, "Please state your requirement."

At first, Finchley wasn't quite sure what to say, "Uhmmmmm..." he began.

"Uhmmmmm is not a requirement, it is a verbal noise" the hologram said.

"Ok, ok, don't get smart" Finchley replied, "My crew are in an awake, kind of sleeping...mode...what can I do about it?"

"An awake kind of sleeping mode, I need more data" the hologram answered. Finchley went back to his desk and slammed his hand down on the button and the holographic image disappeared. Grabbing the box, he made his way to Sickbay and on entering he put the box on a desk, clicked the button and said, "Open SHIT."

Again the hologram appeared, "Please state your requirement."

Finchley looked at the ACMO, "Your up Doctor, tell SHIT what you think's happening to the crew."

"Err, ah!" Doctor Delaney said, then she realised that this was her Commanding officer. "I didn't think we had any technology Sir. Well we have twenty two members of the crew, male and female and of several different species. They all went to bed normally," she gave a small laugh as she thought the situation very far from normal. "This morning they are all unresponsive their eyes open, as if they are in waking comas. I am unable to find out anything apart from there seems to be no apparent injury, their eyes are functioning and they are responsive to pain."

"SHIT has it's own power source so doesn't currently rely on the Thall's own power systems" Finchley replied to Delaney, "it's a prototype that I was given by SFIHQ to work on with Chief McCrudden to integrate it into the Thall's main frame but I hadn't gotten round to it. The power source it has can last several weeks on it's own, hence us being able to use it just now."

He looked round at the hologram, "SHIT, given the fact that several crew members of the USS Thall are basically in a 'living zombie' like state, awake but unresponsive, when was the last known recording of that situation in your database?"

The hologram was silent for a few moments then replied, "The last known cases based on the parameters you have just described were on the USS Kilimanjaro, two years ago. Ten crew were affected with the same symptoms after visiting the Justinear sector. The medical prognosis was that a vegetative state was caused by oxygen deprivation to certain areas on the ship."

"Thank you" Finchley said as he looked round at everyone. "Now, we know that most of the main systems of the ship went down on this ship when we crashed, but life support wasn't one of them. If what's happened to our crewmates is oxygen deprivation, it wasn't life support breaking down, because to me, the people who have been affected by this 'zombie state' are particular...heads of specific departments like Medical, Operations, Security. We need to find a way to check to see if someone or something came onboard and did they tamper with life support."

Milani walked in to sickbay looking for him and stood waiting to hear anything. she nodded after listening carefully.

Doctor Delaney nodded. "I know we do haver some bottled oxygen we were taking to Radvia Two the next time we are out that way. I can use the old masks and see if the oxygen makes a difference." She wandered off to try out the old oxygen...."Frontier medicine," she chuffed.

"Commodore," Milani said, "I am sorry about Shon but I feel she will be alright. I wanted to know if you still wanted to deploy the exploration teams? I feel it is important to explore and give the crew something to do." she sighed, "now, this may sound strange but...I seem to have forgotten where engineering is. I had some ideas about making light and was on my way but, each time I seem to get there, another corridor appears, or I round a corner and it's just not there so, engineering appears to be cut off, at least to me."

Finchley looked at the person who had spoken to him, "Who are you, you're not one of my crew, what are doing on my ship?" he demanded.

The ACMO looked at Milani and Milani looked at the ACMO. "Commodore, you know me, I am your First Officer Commander Milani, we have been together for a couple of years now. I was just giving you my report?"

Doctor Delaney said, "Are you feeling alright Sir?"

Finchley looked at Doctor Delaney and replied, "Yes Doctor, of course, I'm feeling fine."

He then saw Milani and smiled, "Commander Milani, glad to see you, can you give me your report please...oh, and we really must send out the two away teams, get the lay of the land near and far, see what's what and all that, can you see to it please."

Milani was looking at her commanding officer but not seeing him. The way he was acting was completely out of character for him. Just for a moment she was reminded of a book from her childhood. Alice in Wonderland was a splendid read that had prepared her for this life full of rabbit holes. "Yes Commodore," she said, "The teams are ready to move out, I intend to head up the exploration team, the beta team will be trying to discover if there is anything we can forage, especially in the way of firewood for warmth, light and cooking. The temporary Head Chef has a lot of food in storage that will need cooking before it is unusable. He will be also looking for food, edible plants, herbs and useful potable water. I was just talking to Doctor Delaney, the ACMO, and he is going to be looking into anything medicinal we can use on the planet. Engineering have given up the throwing their hands up to putting their fingers in their ears and la la ing. Who will you be with Sir?"

"Well..." Finchley began, "We can't have Engineering just throwing the towel in 'just like that', there has to be a way of getting power back to the ship somehow, I mean, McCrudden built in back up after back up, surely there has to be something he can do to harness the suns power to get energy into the batteries he's got onboard, even if it's just for a short while. As for which team I'll head out with, I think I can safely say that this reminds me of the times I went camping with my father, and we'd explore every nook and cranny we could find in order to get information on our surroundings. It's amazing what you can find out from local animal life, where their trails lead you, what they eat...and where their trails lead you...did I mention that? Anyway, there has to be something here to explain what affected our ships so badly, I mean, it can't be just pure coincidence that a cloud appears and we're now stranded here. I think it would be a good idea if you were to lead the exploration team and we have a second team...lead by Karadis if she's up to it...to see if there's anyone else around" he finished, a simple smile on his face.

Milani smiled, "Yes Sir, sounds good." she said still not sure if there was not something wrong with him. She touched his arm lightly. "Shon will be all right Sir, we have been in tough spots before. I have an idea we can use my collection of old timepieces, most are in working condition and work by winding. If the team leaders have one each then we can arrange to return at a certain time. Although our conventional weapons will not work I know Karadis has a hidden stack and, I know where I can get my hands on some medieval swords," she had the grace to blush. "Shon and I enjoy the occasional Knights and maidens, jaunt on the holodeck and replicated some which we kept. If you agree I will collect them now and we can get started?" She looked at him questioningly." what will you be doing Sir, not going 'lone ranger' I hope.

"Oh no, I'll tag along with you, should be a jolly outing I say say" Finchley replied, now sounding for all the world like an Etonian toff. He turned and looked at Shon, "I'm sure she'll be fine, when she comes out of her slumber, I dare say she'll be full of vim and vigour, ready for the hunt!"

He moved towards the doors and as he did he said, "I'm pretty sure I have a catty and some steelies, that will be a hoot to use, haven't done that since old 'Boxy Brown' and me went on the school trip...'Boxy' wanted to see how far we could fire them, I beat him by a good twenty yards as well, he was so annoyed he wouldn't let me copy his homework for a week. Still, best laid plans and all that, got to keep them in check you know, show them who's on the up and up and who's just the ordinary plebs. Do you think I should take my pea shooter as well, short range I know, but we could get lucky, bag one for the pot, Chef will be pleased if we can get something for him to stick in the pot for brunch."

Milani was now quite sure the man before her was the Commodore but not her Commodore, at that moment she wished Shon was here then, she had a light bulb moment. Take some of the main players out the ships doctor for one. She gathered herself. "Very well sir, whatever you need to do. I am going to find Karadis and her group so we can start out from the same place." She nodded and left to talk to her and inform her of what she was thinking. As she stumbled through some more of the rubble she wondered if they would ever get home, but her home was now the Thall in whatever poor condition she was in. After picking up the watches and her sword which she strapped to her belt she finally entering the armoury, her heart gave a leap as she saw her surrounded by six other crew men. "Lieutenant Commander may I have a word?" she said.

Karadis looked round as Milani spoke, "Of course Commander, what can I do for you?"

"I need a private word?" she said as she drew her to the other side of the room. "I don't know if you have had a conversation with the Commodore during the last few hours but....he's not himself, the way he is acting, things he is saying....." then for a horrified few seconds she realised Karadis might be affected as well and she had just given the game away. She handed her the timepiece set to six am.

"I've not had the opportunity to speak with him for a while, but it's not good if he's going off the rails" Karadis replied, "in what way is he not himself, what kind of thing is he saying?"

She gave a sigh of relief. "He is taking everything so lightly, talking about his 'pea shooter,' and 'bagging one for the pot.' going on about his schooldays and someone named 'Boxy Brown'. It's not him at all. I mention Shon and there was nothing, no sign of recognition. I thought maybe whatever was happening to some of the crew was, in some way affecting him. Unless he is having a breakdown...then we really are in trouble. Goddess you smell good." she added her cheeks flaming for a moment.

"Wow, 'Boxy Brown', I haven't heard him mention that name in a very long time, he was Kerr's best friend in his school years, they got up to all sorts apparently" Karadis answered, "but I have an idea. He may be suffering from what the rest of the crew are, but what if we used his memories from back then to help with what's happening now, what if we brought 'Boxy Brown' back...using Kilbane? I mean, if he hallucinating already, then the chances are that he would see Kilbane as his old school friend anyway, we just need to get Kilbane to go along with it, what do you think?"

"You think that would be easy?" Milani asked incredulously. "I mean it's a brilliant idea Karadis but I need, we need to get our teams out onto the planet." Milani turned and tapped a crew member proudly wearing a tattered uniform. "Ensign can you find Captain Kilbane and ask him if he will grace us with his presence?" she nodded and left at a run.

"Well we are all fucked now."

Milani turned back to face Karadis. "what did you say?" she asked.

"I didn't say anything" Karadis replied, "Did you hear something?" she asked Milani.

Milani shook her head, "No, no, nothing, I just thought....."

It was at that point that Kilbane sauntered in, the Ensign just slightly behind him. "What do you want?" he asked Karadis and Milani.

"Well you can start by thanking the Ensign for finding you and bringing you here" Karadis replied.

"Yeeeeeaaaahhh right, thank them for just doing their job...nice one Karadis, I didn't think you had a sense of humour" Kilbane answered. Karadis slapped him hard over the right cheek on his face with the back of her hand, "I said thank the Ensign!!!" she shouted. Kilbane put his hand on his burning cheek as he stared daggers at the Klingon, but then turned to the Ensign and said, "Thank you Ensign, you performed your task admirably."

The Ensign was slightly shocked by what had just happened, and swallowing hard nodded her appreciation to Kilbane then hurriedly left. Karadis stepped forward and looked Kilbane squarely in the face, "I have no idea what your problem is Kilbane, but I suggest you store it away in the back of your muddled brain right now because we're up shit creek and there's no paddle and won't be so you're needed. Frankly, I couldn't give a fuck what it's about , but store it away you will otherwise I'll kill you where you stand and won't look back when I step over your body. The ships in pieces, we have no power and very limited food. Something's happened to Kerr and I'm telling you what you're going to do to help out."

"You do realise I outrank you" Kilbane said, "and if the Commodore is incapacitated and unable to carry out his duties then he needs to be relieved of his duties by the CMO, I then take over as the next ranking Officer....no offense" he added looking at Milani.

"You'd do fuck all of the kind, you've been AWOL from your duties lately, Milani would take over and I'd back her all the way" Karadis replied, stepping even closer to Kilbane.

"Then if you're soooooooo convinced I'm of no use seeing as I've been AWOL, then I'll be on my way" Kilbane answered, turning to walk away.

"Take one step and I'll run you through" Karadis said, taking one of the long swords Milani had with her. Kilbane stopped and turned back, and looking at Karadis, saw the intent in her eyes. "What is it you want?" he asked again.

"Dex is unable to relieve the Commodore of his duties because she's been affected by whatever's happening to the crew, she's like some kind of living dead" Karadis replied.

"Then get the ACMO, what's his name...Delusion or Delungi..." Kilbane answered.

"It's Delany" Karadis said.

"Well get this Delaney to relieve him of his duties" Kilbane went on.

"It's not that easy, Kerr's in and out of being himself, and if we're honest, we're not sure if he's been affected or not as well, so we...I...have an idea" Karadis went on. "Kerr is slipping back into what we think is his school days, he's talking about his best friend from back then, a boy called 'Boxy Brown', I want you to go to the Commodore and pretend to be 'Boxy Brown' and try to convince him that we need to get the away teams out and about and find what we need to begin our survival on this planet, and possibly what caused us to crash here in the first place!"

"Oh, is that all" Kilbane replied, "pretend to be a guy I've never met or know anything about and convince Kerr I'm his best friend from twenty odd years ago?"

"Yes!" Karadis replied, she then looked at Milani, "Do you want to add anything Commander?"

Milani could never get enough of this back and forth between the two of them.

"Well why the hell don't you clap them then you fool?" someone said in her ear.

She closed her eyes and blinked as she thought she saw the shadow of Braxton passing the opening in the doorway. She blinked again then pulled herself together. "You don't have to remember anything just let yourself be led by him. Try to find out what is going on and, by the way Captain Kilbane," she said strongly. Dr Delany is a woman and a seasoned officer. The problem with you is that you do not respect anyone. This is going to be tough enough for all of us, especially the crew. They need to be able to feel supported and guided by the senior staff, now will you or won't you help us?" Milani hadn't noted her voice becoming higher and increasing in volume.

"Woman, man, I don't give a fuck if they're a flee bitten cat crossed with a mongoose, what the hell does it matter what they are, they're the ACMO and if you 'think' they're compromised then they to should be relieved of duty and you find someone who isn't and then get the Commodore relieved!" Kilbane said, turning his ire on Milani.

He turned back to Karadis, drew his arm back and thundered it right into the middle of her face, forcing the Klingon back two steps, "That's for the unwarranted slap, fairs fair and all that Lieutenant Commander, but yes, I'll help get the mad professor through whatever it is that's currently going on with his addled brain."

Karadis grinned a bloody grin, wiping around her mouth with the back of her gloved hand, "Good to see you can still act like a Senior Officer, even if you're and arse about it. I would suggest you leave now and go see the Commodore in Sickbay, and remember, you're his school friend 'Boxy Brown', not you."

Kilbane smirked at Karadis, "What's happened to you Karadis, a year ago if I'd just punched you like that you'd have come for me and tried to kill me even if I was only getting my own back on you for your action in the first place, you've become soft and do you know why...because you're no longer just a soldier, and SFI agent...you're a lover of that", and he thumbed at Milani, "You're weak and you're vulnerable now, I pity you, I pity you both."

He turned to Milani once again, "And as for you Commander, you don't have what it takes to be Second in Command of this ship. Oh, you're brave, fearless even, but you don't have the instinct for it otherwise you wouldn't be 'asking' me if I'd help, you'd be telling me I'd help otherwise you'd make sure I was incarcerated in the brig or my quarters or some other hole. You're in love with Karadis and you seek her approval on everything like a little puppy dog trailing after it's owner, it makes you as weak as her, you're both pathetic. You best leave it to the big boys to sort out this mess, show you how it should be done by a proper SFI Officer."

With that, he turned around and walked away from Karadis and Milani, making his way to Sickbay.

There was a stunned silence in the room and then a sob could be heard from a crewman in the back of the room. Milani wiped the blood off Karadis lip with her sleeve. "You probably need to have that stitched in sickbay." Milani looked at her hoping she would take the bait and they could follow him to sickbay. "Rest of my team collect your water rations we should not get out of sight of the Thall on our first jaunt, the Lieutenant Commander and myself will return soon.

Out in the corridor she stopped Karadis. "What are we going to do about him? I don't care what junk he gives to me but the crew, they do not deserve that. This Shon and him thing has been going on for months now and now he starts on you. Are you sure he will follow this through with the Commodore?"

"Of course he won't you stupid woman, you're going to get what you deserve." said a nasty voice in her ear.

"Don't you worry about Kilbane, I'll fix him" Karadis assured Milani, putting her arm on hers, "and as for him following through with Bird, he may be upset over the whole Shon and him situation, but deep deep down, he's still loyal...and besides...if he doesn't follow through with the Commodore, Kilbane will never leave this planet alive, I'll see to that" she ended, making for the Jeffries tube that would lead them towards Sickbay."

"I'll hold you to that Karadis, believe you me." Milani laughed as they began their climb. "At least this is keeping us fit.." Milani growled with the exertion. Suddenly what felt like a hand grabbed her ankle and pulled just as she was stepping up, she screamed as she would have fallen had her hands not been on the bracket of the step. "Something pulled me!" she gasped.

"There's more yet to come bitch."

Milani looked down into the darkness. "Helloo!" she called. As she looked up she said "let's hurry I'm imagining things here in the darkness. As an aside just as they exited the jeffries tube she said "by the way have you been hearing anything....strange, voices of people you have known, or anybody really" she laughed shakily.

"No, I've not heard anything or seen anyone" Karadis replied, "are you sure you're ok to go outside the ship, I can lead the away teams if you're not?" she then asked.

"No, no I'm fine, probably just have the jitters, not used to the ship being this way."

On entering sickbay Milani expected to find it busy but she was pleased to see the medical and nursing staff had placed portable lights over some of the biobeds. she went over to Shon who lay on one her eyes wide open. Milani wondered what was happening to her friend. She placed her hand over Shons. "don't worry we are managing, the docs will find out what is wrong and you will soon be back in harness." Milani laughed and, as she turned noted another body lying there. She stepped over to try and lend a little comfort and pep talk to the crew member. There was no light over the bio bed and, for a moment she could not see the face. Then...she screamed and slipped backwards onto the floor as his cold, fish like eyes opened. "BRAXTON HE'S HERE!!!"

Kilbane, Karadis and Finchley all turned on hearing Milani shout out about Braxton being there in Sickbay. Kilbane was the first to reach her and dived passed her, grabbing the person she was trying to get away from. A look of relief came over his face as he saw it was just one of the bridge crew who had nasty looking cut on their head. He immediately turned to Milani and yelled, "IT'S NOT BRAXTON, IT'S LIEUTENANT FAIRWEATHER!!!!"

Finchley was now alongside him, "What's this all about, why is there yelling?"

Kilbane was about to use some colourful language to tell him that Milani was seeing things when he remembered why he was there. "It's ok Bird, it was just someone playing a prank."

Finchley looked at Kilbane and replied, "Bit of an odd time to be playing a prank when we're all here to see the nurse for our flu jab isn't it?"

Kilbane stood up and dusted himself down, "That's very true Bird, that's very true, now, how about we take a seat and eh...wait till it's our turn for the uhmmm...jab. By the way, where are we again?"

Finchley cocked his head and then straightened it, "Your tugging my chain Boxy, you know exactly where we are" he grinned, "you're just trying to catch me out aren't you."

"Humour me Bird, where are we?" Kilbane asked again.

"Alright, I'll play along with you, we're in the nurses room in St Aloysius' College" Finchley replied, the grin still on his face, "did I pass your test?"

"Yes...yes...you did Bird, very good...very good" Kilbane answered, looking over at Karadis and motioning her to step over to them. She walked over and stood next to Finchley, "Is everything alright gentlemen, can I be of assistance?"

Finchley looked at Karadis and said, "No nurse, we're both fine, my friend here was just testing me on where we are...weren't you Boxy."

"I was indeed, but you know what Bird, I think the nurse here can take you in for your flu jab first, I'll wait" Kilbane replied.

"That's jolly decent of you Boxy, thanks" Finchley smiled, and moved away to sit in one of the seats nearest the Doctors office. Kilbane looked at Karadis, "He believes he's in St Aloysius' College, that happened to him between the ages of five and eighteen...I think he's regressed some twenty five years into his past. Now I know this could be something or nothing, but he's often spoken of the times he and his best friend from school used to go bird watching, what if we used that idea to get him off of the ship and outside, perhaps being in the open might help him come out of this...whatever's happened to him, what do you think?"

"I can't see it doing any more harm to him than what's already happened, why not" Karadis replied. She looked at Milani and helped her up off the floor, "Kilbane thinks we should take the Commodore outside the ship, see if it helps him regain his proper senses, do you agree?"

"Sounds fine to me so long as security goes with him . I am sure Captain Kilbane would rather not be in my team." she looked around, "right, sickbay looks to be working as well as it can be given the circumstances, well done Doctor Delaney," she said. "Lets get out of here we have wasted enough daylight already.

Kilbane had persuaded Doctor Delaney to 'pretend' to give Finchley a flu jab, then seen to it Security placed two of their officers with them and he'd taken Finchley outside under the pretext of going back to their dorm. Once outside the ship, he walked slowly beside the Commodore and noticed he was holding the sides of his head. "Is everything ok Bird?" he asked.

Finchley stopped a moment and rubbed his temples, his eyes now tightly shut, "Just a bit of a sore head" he answered. After a few moments he opened his eyes again, blinking several times in the sunshine, then he seemed to have a start, and looked at Kilbane, "Kilbane, where are we?" he asked.

Kevin grabbed his arm, "You know who I am Commodore?"

Finchley took his arm back slowly, "Yes, of course I know who you are, the biggest pain in my arse next to Karadis!"

"So you don't think I'm 'Boxy Brown' then?" Kilbane carried on.

"'Boxy Brown', good heavens no, I haven't heard that name in donkeys years, besides, you look nothing like him, what made you ask that?" Finchley asked.

"When we were back in the Thall, in Sickbay, you thought you were back at St Aloysius' College with him...in the nurses room, getting a flu jab" Kilbane replied.

"I did?" Finchley countered, looking confused.

"Yes, but you remember everything that happened recently, to the ship and the crew now, don't you" Kilbane said.

"Yes, we crash landed, some of the crew died, some people started hallucinating about people and situations, I went to Sickbay with Sho....oh, wait a minute, I take it this was when all this thing with 'Boxy Brown' began with me then?" Finchley asked.

Kilbane nodded his head, "But that seems to have passed now that you're outside the ship." He turned and looked at the battered hull of the Thall, "I wonder if this has happened with any of the others...the hallucinations I mean. We need to find Commander Milani and Karadis, quickly!"

The team led by Milani walked slowly and carefully. Without working tricorders it was difficult to see what plants might be useful so she had handed out lab bags. "Use gloves when you pick up anything. Jones," she said pointing to a lieutenant from engineering. "Try to make a rough map of the area from around the ship to where we end up, let's make for that ridge, there might be a viewp....."

!!!!!! WHAM !!!!!

The ground shook so badly most of the team could not stand including Milani but she stood as soon as she could and looked around. All appeared to be quiet so they walked on gathering what looked like flowers and herbs, halfway up to the ridge they stopped to look at what appeared to be some sort of mushroom. Milani looked up to the sky and shaded her forehead with her hand then she screamed, "GET DOWN" as she saw what looked like a photon torpedo entered the atmosphere heading towards them.

WHAM. It hit the ground between them and the ship exploding in plumes of flame showering them in clouds of dust. Milani had little time to think about what was happening just that she had to get the team to safety. "LOOKS LIKE A CAVE UP THERE, SECURITY ENSURE THERE ARE NO STRAGGLERS, COME ON LETS GO! she ran showing the way up through the red grass and up through the thinning trees. The entrance to the cave was small and Milani had them wait outside as she looked around. Coming out she said "it looks safe, everyone in." She said as she counted them then she saw the last security guard carrying something...no someone, over his shoulder.

"Crewman Etra, he's dead." said the guard. "He must have broken his neck when he fell."

Milani's heart fell, another one on my watch, she thought. Her team looked uncertain. "Right, get a fire going, let's get some warmth in here and break out the rations." The team got busy as Etra was laid out in a hidden corner of the rocks. Milani looked down towards the explosion which now obscured the Thall. Just as she turned something caught her eye, high in the sky, now obscuring the sun. It looked like another photon torpedo and then, she could hardly believe it, could hardly believe her eyes. It was no torpedo but an enormous green, fanged scaly fire breathing dragon. "It's beautiful." she breathed.

Back near the Thall, as Kilbane and Finchley began to search for Milani and her group, Finchley was regaling to Kilbane a story of when he and Boxy had glued the head mistresses door lock so the key couldn't go in, "It was all his idea, but I thought it was so funny, we'd just gotten the glue in the lock when..." and that was as far as he managed to get before Kilbane pointed and grabbed him, throwing him to the ground.

There was an explosion, some two hundred meters away, and the after blast covered them in dust and small rocks. "What the hell was that?" Finchley asked when he finally managed to look up.

"I only caught a brief glimpse, but it looked like a photon torpedo" Kilbane replied.

"Who's firing those...and at the surface????" Finchley asked yet another question.

"Let me see, oh, how many different species do we know who has that kind of technology, well there's us, the Klingons, the Romulans, the Cardassians, the Bolians....how the hell should I know, it didn't exactly hang about in mid air so I could get a look at it did it!!!!" Kilbane replied angrily.

"Being a trifle touchy aren't we?" Finchley replied, "it was a rhetorical question."

"It was a bloody stupid question" Kilbane answered him.

"Yes, well, perhaps it was, it was instinctual though" Finchley huffed.

At that point, Kilbane looked up and saw someone whom he thought was Milani heading up towards a ridge, followed by others. "Let's make for the higher ground" he said as another explosion erupted on the surface, but further away than the first one. It took Finchley and Kilbane about ten minutes to make their way up towards the ridge, then saw a cave, outside of which was one of the Security team. A quick talk with him revealed that Milani was inside and as they made for the entrance, Milani came out then looked skywards and began saying something about 'it' being beautiful. Kilbane looked up but saw nothing, Finchley looked up and saw...he couldn't believe it...he saw a winged horse. "Pegasus..." he whispered.