(Untitled)

[captainchakotay]

::circles console to check lieutenantkim's readings one more time::

::sighs with restrained satisfaction...nothing worse, but nothing better either::

::moves to slap comm badge and open a channel to engineering, arresting gesture when turbolift doors open, revealing ltcmdrtomparis and miral_paris::

Any updates?

Comments

[ltcmdrtomparis]

::catches annikahansen's eye, unable to even wrest up amusement at her look of pointed forbearance::

Well, do you want the good news or the bad news first?

::cracks a thin smile at look of warning from Indian::

Guess I'll give you the good.

Vorik finally got the shields up. I'd say we give him a cookie, but...

[miralparis]

...they aren't exactly going to do much good against the Krenim's chroniton weapons. You'd may as well call a spacewalk and put up tarps.

::levels a look at the Captain, determined to get annoyance across...if he'd even entertain a more creative approach...::

Make them white, if you really want a chance.

[captainchakotay]

When it looks like we'll be in the vicinity for any length of time, I'll consider having you lead a team, Ensign.

::turns eyes to XO::

What about the inoculations?

[ltcmdrtomparis]

::puts on own look of forbearance...checking on that was wading into a whole other battlefield::

They're about halfway through. Doc isn't sure about effectiveness, though...you remember the result with Kes after her exposure to the biotemporal chamber.

::reflexively turns head from annikahansen at unbidden lump in throat resulting from even brief thought of her predecessor::

Which actually introduces a whole new concern. We don't know how a slipstream jaunt would affect our telepaths...hell, anyone...after the shots.

[captainchakotay]

::grits teeth...should have thought of that on own::

Good point.

We'll hold off on the inoculations, but it won't hurt to at least have them ready.

::twists head to address Ops officer::

Do we have an ETA on the shuttles yet?

[lieutenantkim]

::lifts head from readings, struggling to keep rapidly climbing levels of anxiety from voice::

Sacagawea is nearly ready, maybe fifteen more minutes. The Baxial is taking a little longer...she was rusty from lack of use, and we didn't have the right parts just laying around.

[captainchakotay]

::nods...normally, such news would be an open invitation to belly-ache over the difficulties of non-Starfleet craft, but this could be one of those times a sore thumb like Neelix's vessel will save the day::

::sighs...thank Tom for the pessimism::

::puts a little forcible optimism into voice, making eye contact around bridge::

We haven't seen any indication of further meddling from the Krenim, so it's entirely possible that previous blip was just an unintended side effect of their activity elsewhere and we're still off their sensor grid. If we can keep it that way for another hour or so, we'll be clear to go.

::glances back to Ops station::

Harry, stop burning holes into the carpeting and go get me some visual status updates.

[lieutenantkim]

Huh?

::flashes another look to most recent arrivals::

But they just...

::gives self a mental slap, picking up on thin excusal::

Right. Yes, sir.

[ltcmdrtomparis]

::shakes head at his embarrassed but admirably hasty departure, following annikahansen to Ops::

Someday he's going to stop being so green and I'm going to drop dead of heart failure.

Actually, I might do it today because he is so green.

[annikahansen]

Poorly timed jest, Commander.

::interrupts systems survey to examine him, lips pursing with disapproval::

Exceptionally.

Your heart rate is irregular. You appear to be having difficulty breathing and there are tell-tale signs of perspiration.

[ltcmdrtomparis]

Are you sniffing?

::won't even comment on the super-human powers of observation::

I'm fine.

...

::snorts at her dubious look, reaching out to squeezer a shoulder::

'Fine' is an acceptable variant of 'scared stiff' in these types of situations, Seven.

Linnis didn't tie me to a biobed, so I assume I'll make it.

[annikahansen]

::attempts to hide further doubt, returning attention to work::

You do not appear to be suffering prolonged muscle rigidity.

[ltcmdrtomparis]

::risks permanent well-being and chuckles despite awareness that she probably isn't joking::

Yeah, well, your hands are shaking, so I guess our bodies are both traitors.

::lowers voice to offer trite, broad reaching mutual reassurance::

We'll make it through this, sweetheart.

[ba_neelix]

::trundles past lieutenantkim on way into bridge, surveying::

::wisely leaves command center and its quietly but clearly arguing occupants for later, taking coffee to side first::

Ahem!

::looks between pilot and former done anxiously::

And how are we?

[annikahansen]

::lifts head again, staring::

Fine.

[ltcmdrtomparis]

::just pulls up another smile, taking proffered mug...hell, these days it's rare to be offered mild poison as opposed to major::