NationStates Jolt Archive

Weddings, usually they’re big affairs where family, friends and distant relations all get together to celebrate. Some weddings are just miraculous others are full of tension. However all weddings have thing in common. The individuals that are married care for each other and want to share their lives with each other.

However imagine a wedding where the couple that is getting married are leaders from two very different but large nations (for want of a better word). In this case Empress Dominique Evangeline Alexandra Ryder of the Phoenix Empire of Tanara and Trevor Desorté the owner and CEO of The Garbage Men, essentially a nation in its own right.

This is what the couple had to face, many hundreds of guests well wishes, friends, diplomatic representatives, family, the list went on and on, but that didn’t matter as at the end of the wedding ceremony. The two were wedded, and in many ways became one. Trevor who up until this point had been a bachelor had to learn what it meant, to be married, loving and caring were important but not the only parts of being a descent husband let alone a good husband and Dominique had to juggle the competing demands of being married, spending time with her new husband and with her Imperial duties.

For now though, all that was to come as the two of them was their honeymoon, to a private and secure resort where they can do all the things that newly wedded couples usually do. The place they were headed to was called The Private Paradise Spa and Luxury Resort. It was a resort tailored to high-end customers those that need their privacy and yet need security. It cost a lot but it was worth it, their private bungalow was on a small Tropical Island that was a part of a long strip of small tropical Islands forming an archipelago.

Security constantly patrolled the area, but never to interfere with whatever its guests were doing. Privacy and security as well as an idyllic locale are what the resort is most known for and sort after. This is why Dominique and Trevor chose to have their honeymoon here. They had the money; there was no doubt about it, it was the perfect place for their honeymoon.

Though as anything they weren’t completely alone, TGM had a small craft in orbit to take them away should anything untoward happening and emergency teleports to beam them on board should they be required but for now the two newly wed lovers. Trevor had surprisingly little baggage of his own as they approached their Bungalow for the first time.

“I know it may seem stupid. But I want to carry you over the Threshold. Put your bags down, I’ll bring them in a bit later.” He put down his own luggage and continued to look into Dominique’s eyes this would be something that neither of them would ever forget.

The planet truly deserved the appelation Paradise. It was beautiful in a way that made the soul take flight. But then again Dominique found that looking at her two days old husband did much the same thing.

Put your bags down, I’ll bring them in a bit later.”

Dominique chortled and threw her arms about Trevor's neck with a warm kiss. The luggage could wait. This she'd been waiting for!

He'd tucked a flower behind her ear earlier and she had almost swooned. He was full of tender little gestures that made her heart beat erratically. And at her age she had never thought any one - or anything - could make that happen.

While she and her government had planned for months for this, she and Trevor had had to delay leaving for their honeymoon for two full days - not that hadn't had the utmost privacy during that time, but still...

She was so looking forward to this time with just him. Well, she knew that iron clad security - courtesy of the resort - would be about but she was utterly determined to ignore them. They had been promised to have the utmost discretion anyway.

Dominique had to laugh though.

Just yesterday she had found out that her old friend and War Mistress, M. Meredith Hexx and her new fiancee Adam Smith the Ambassador from Alversia to the Phoenix Empire of Tanara, were going to be here as well.

Meredith's parents, delighted that their youngest daughter had found the man of her dreams had gifted the pair with a two week stay at the ultra luxury resort.

For all of Dominique's daily contact with relative strangers, she was still a little shy and having people she knew - other than her wonderful and beloved Trevor would be fun. When she and Trevor felt like mingling - which might not be that much, but one never knew.

"I love it when you sweep me off my feet, darling"

Adam placed the bags down in his appartment and sighed contentedly, pleased to have finally made it to the resort and looking forward to spending two weeks in privacy with his Fiance, the beautiful Merideth Hexx. It had taken a while for this to be arranged. The duties of both had ensured that they could not spend much time together in the time leading up to their arrival. Though that was changing. Merideth had already accepted the post as Head of the Tanaran Military Academy and he had requested permission to step aside as Alversia's Primary Ambassador. The People's Republic had not been happy about the arrangement but they had agreed to send out a replacement so long as Adam remained as the Specialist Advisor to the Newcomer. This had been more than acceptable and allowed the Alversian to spend much more time with the woman of his dreams.

So, for the moment, he looked around, admiring the luxury in which he was to spend the next couple of weeks, relax and wait for his Beloved to catch up.

Merry and Adam

Meredith had laughed when her parents had presented her and Adam the vacation package. The lovely dinner at the candle light restaurant - one of Nova Terranis's finest had been her parents chance to meet Adam, but they had come with the gift already in hand.

"I guess you do trust my judgment" She'd laughed.

"Oh Merry, of course." Her three moms - Honor, Caroline and Peridot had group hugged her as her fathers - Justin and Fargo - waited smiling for their turn to 'tickle their littlest girl'. There had been two other husbands as part of the marriage when Merry was small, but they, Dad Anton and Dad Zane, had died in the nova bombing of Helevorn.

Adam had been an immediate hit with her family, and they had indeed been very pleased with the man Merry had fallen so thoroughly for.

She had spent the next day frantically shopping for a suitable wardrobe while also trying to find some one to house and pet sit. She'd managed though and the day after that she and Adam had boarded - transported up to really - her personal starcraft the Go Forth and headed to the planet were The Private Paradise Spa and Luxury Resort was located.

They were to have a tiny island all to themselves, but with excellent security and the main section of the resort close at hand.

On the Shuttle, orbiting the planet in a roughly geosynchronous fashion with a good view of the Archipelago below. There were quite a few people wondering what to do with themselves.

"Why don't you run a check, see if our sensors can locate them." John said, he was the Best man at the Wedding. Though despite looking like a man. underneath his skin. He was entirely mechanical. Technically called a Terminator, though once he had been recovered by TGM technologists he had hardly taken that responsibility.

"Scan Running... Scanners reporting Error... Pulling up Diagnostic Report. Scanners reporting planetary interference. Scanners cannot detect anything on the planet."

"Makes sense they are big on security which is why this place was chosen to begin with."

"I don't like it." A member of Trevor's personal security force commented his name was Emmanuel, "How are we going to get him up in an emergency."

"That's fine we can lock on him if we can get a visual ID... anyway. You wouldn't be happy unless you were down with him. But this is their honeymoon. We're not going to interupt it. Is that clear."

"Yes, Sir, but how do you know that the Teleport beam will work the planetary shield will prevent it." Emmanuel raised the issue again.

"Just stop it, for now, he's not your responsibility. Just relax, We're going to be here for a while so go and do something constructive." John though while a Terminator had what was commonly called a Soul. It had been developed using the help of the New Borg and a choice that he made, just before he first met Trevor.


*meanwhile - Back on the Planet*


"I love it when you sweep me off my feet, darling"

"Get used to it." he smiled as he reached over for a kiss and started to caress her hair, but only for a moment.

Trevor squated down placing one of his arms just behind her kness and the other reached up behind her back. And in one single movement started to take her feet out from underneath her while supporting and controlling her back while standing up in full position. Through itit al Trevor made smooth and graceful movements in a rather controlled fashion. He made it look like he was almost picking up the morning paper.

And there she was held firmly in with a hand supporting her legs and back. Shifting to the side he entered the door sideways careful making sure nothing happened to his own beloved wife.

The room was lovely, there were a lot of small minor touches that made it feel homely. Trevor knew the importance of the small things to the overall ascetic. And obviously the people of the Resort wanted you to feel comfortable, they had done a wonderful job, interesting pieces of art hung on the wall and there was everything that they could desire in using.

They indeed had though of everything. There was one large magnificent bed with all sort of linen, stained wood posts. It looked magnificent and certainly not the boring norm of many normal modern beds. He entered the bedroom once again taking care going sideways and gently laying her down on the bed. He sat on the edge of their bed as Dominique lay there.

"I'm reminded of the situation when I proposed."

Trevor smiled as he returned to caressing her hair.

Once he had lifted her, she had gently wrapped her arms about his neck, though careful not to tighten her hold too much. Trevor had carried her with care and assurance and she had felt completely safe in his arms. Every moment they had together was special, his warm and loving presence soothing to her soul.

"I'm reminded of the situation when I proposed."

"Oh? Even here doesn't compare to the utter absolute privacy there" She teased lightly as she cuddled in close to him, reveling in her husbands touch. Her hands moved to stroke him lightly returning the caresses, and encourageing him on. Their postponed passions had made the loving even sweeter.

"Isn't the island lovely" Merry exclaimed as she trailed Adam into the bungalo. She had lagged behind to admire some particularly brightly hued birds, as well as ordering a surprize snack to be delivered in an hour or so. They had reservations for dinner tonight on the Main Island at the five star restraunt it boasted.

A water taxi would meet then at their islands little dock just at sunset. But that was hours away.

"Want to go swimming or just explore the island a little bit?" She had also arranged for a smal two person sail boat to be available for them - she wasn't much of a water sailor, but she could manage one of the two person size boats

"Oh, I am very much looking forward to swimming," Adam laughed, "Actually, I'm not. I'm looking forward to watching you swimming," He laughed, "I hear that you're very good at it." He, too, was looking forward to Dinner tonight and he would attempt to sail later on, though he had never done it before. It would be an adventure.

Trevor was looking lovingly down at Dominique, however they were disturbed by a soft beeping. Trevor knew what it was.

"One final check up call, and the rest of the Honeymoon is ours to do with as we so choose."

It beeped again... he leant down kissed her on the lips for a short moment before returning upright and pulling the beeping device out and raising it to his head.

He waited for a moment a puzzled look came across before he took it down. He took a proper look at it's screen before taking the power source out and rebooting the device. Still nothing...

"Thats.... unusual. I'm not getting a signal."

"I'll check with reception..." Trevor's voice was calm and steady, there was for the most part no noticeable change in his demeanour nor voice. There were small minor things, things only someone as close as Dominique could determine.

He found a communication device in the Bungalow's hallway.... there was nothing there either.

*** Meanwhile in Space ****

"It's time for the last check in... he's usually right on time." John pondered allowed as he waited for that call

"Uh, sir... I've just lost connection to the nearest IGDCN* Relay... I can't find any of them." The communications officer was just about to send in the latest security status update into HQ but found that he couldn't.

"Do a communications Scan... see if you can find anything working at all..." John ordered... something wasn't right but it should be just a local issue.

"Running sir.... Scan is underway..... Completed.... Nope report says that it can't find a stable connection anywhere... indicates strong interference."

"Run a diagnostics... I want to make sure hat this is not our problem..."

"Yes, Sir... checking Dianostic routines... Routines are reporting all green."

There was a problem, John was not only just a Terminator with a soul, he was enjoined to the New Borg. In this case... he knew he was still connected with them.

Falsus, something's not right... communication's down with no errors being reported. I can't get onto any TGM crew. Do you mind coming and helping us out?

*Inter-Galactic Distributed Communications Network. A communication and relay network used by TGM.

"I'll check with reception..."

Dominique had sat up cross-legged on the bed as Trevor pulled away. She twitched her nose at the interruption, but was pleased to hear it was the last for the rest of their honeymoon. Back in the Empire Michiko had taken over helming the government and wouldn't call unless war was being declared.

However when Trevor left to go check in with the resorts main offices she climbed lithely off the bed, now frowning slightly. She knew full well that TGM was as efficient as the Phoenix Empire and for communications to suddenly go dead.

With soft footsteps she followed him into the hall, looking out through the bungalows still open front door. The sky was a vivid cerulean blue, clear save for a few pluffy white clouds scattered about. One looked amazingly like a floating castle.


An island away...

"I hear that you're very good at it."

Merry laughed at his change in what he wanted. She wasn't all that great a swimmer.

"I'm no Olympic quality. But I am more than a bit in love with oceans." Merry laughed. She guessed it was due to growing up mostly far inland on her family's vast Megabison ranch. She had gotten to see Midgard's deep oceans only on a few vacations, though she had learned to swim as a child, as every one on Midgard did - then she had ended up at the Academy and learned to sail.

"The resort has so many activities available." She commented as she began changing into her one piece swimsuit. She favored it over a bikini as she was still as curvy as she had been in school. The War Mistress did not look her age one bit, but then again she had the benefit of a technology where in every one could receive Prolong treatments if they chose.

"Want to go rock climbing, or hang gliding?" She asked with a smile. "Or would you prefer to play croquet and take high tea" It was a tease, she enjoyed all four pastimes.

Adam saw her change and his eyes widened slightly, lips curving upwards into a smile. He had never seen Merideth wear anything other than her uniform and that ballgown that he had strewn to the floor on that night when they had admitted their love for each other. Oh how he had wanted to see her like this. He thought for a moment as he slipped his own swimming trunks on, thinking of what he wanted to do most of all.
"I think I would like to go for a swim," He laughed, "It's been so long since I've been in the water for any length of time and the sea here looks so inviting. Care to join me?" he offered his arm, eyes subconciously roaming up and down. Merideth was too modest with herself. Her body, a perfect hourglass shape, deserved to be shown. Not that it was nothing he'd seen before.

Whack! The Bat'leth came down against a shrub in what amounted to Falsus' office in Prophet's Hope, the Borg Tactical Cube that he skippered by virtue of his position in the Borg High Council. Whack! Whack! Whack!

He lowered his weapon, and there in front of him was a small shrub--pruned to perfectly resemble a bust of Trevor, the Chief Executive of the Garbage Men.

Falsus: There, folks, what do you think?

Instantly, the collective began rendering their opinions. Though they saw it only through the eyes (or, in this case, occular implants) of Falsus himself, the opinions nonetheless had quite a variance.

Dominique: Oh, cute! I didn't know you did statues!

Gizmo: Bo-ring! You should SERIOUSLY get into modern art, chiefo! You're wasting your talent!

Criticus: An exhibition of superior skill, but somewhat limited in its effort toward realism over artistic expression. On the whole, thumbs up, Criticus voting 'yes.'

Shrevel: Gee, Falsus, I didn't know you gave such good head.

Chorus of Voices: Shut up, Shrevel!

John: Falsus, something's not right... communication's down with no errors being reported. I can't get onto any TGM crew. Do you mind coming and helping us out?

Falsus: Eh? Methinks that matters of import may have erupted. Perhaps we should take a look at this. Tervor is, after all, a friend of the Collective.

Ver: Well, your ship is still slacking in orbit from the planet of his wedding. I think the rest of us can afford to be rid of you, I mean do without you, for a short time.

Falsus: Thank you for the endorsement, Ver. I take it that there is no objection to us diverting to investigate the goings-on, then?

Hugh: No. You're right. We should look into this.

Falsus: Alright, I'll go--but I reserve the right to give my crew a few days of shore leave if things turn out not to be a problem.

Ver: Oh, what could be more in character?

Within seconds, Prophet's Hope broke orbit and headed for the planet.

Falsus: John, we're on our way.

"Nothing... I can't get onto Reception at all. All communication has been blocked." Trevor spoke calmly and yet there was a tone of concern. It was clear something was very not right.

He looked out the window for a moment before heading to the front door. "Something strange is happening." as he looked out over the picturesque landscape with a path that lead out over the ocean.

There was a faint rumbling sound coming in from somewhere out in the distance as the ground started to gently vibrate. After about 10 seconds something could be seen poking above the tree line from his vantage point. It was like a rocket or space vehicle launching into space from the ground. Only very few civilisations did things like that anymore. A trail of condensed water vapour was left in it's wake as it broke out of the atmosphere and into space.

Trevor remained quiet as he watched... was their an invasion on the resort? or was something much more sinister happening?

*Meanwhile In Space*

Receive, see you soon.

"We can't leave Trevor and Dominique alone, so the New Borg are coming to help us along. It shouldn't be long." John announced to the small crew assembled on what was effectively the bridge of the vessel.

They still hadn't received any word from Trevor but with what's happening with the communication it wasn't that suprising. They were unable to find communications to the planet and so it was clear that something really strange was going on there... but without any communication or detailed knowledge of exactly where he has. What could they do?

However it seemed the decision would soon be made for them...

"Sir... detecing some sort of high-level atmospheric disturbance.. cloud formation and movement follows the pattern of a space rocket launch.... and we're detecting the rocket now... Seems a fairly standard rocket space vehicle... It's not on a collision course. Wait, it's seperatiing.... scans detect a missile with a small anti-matter warhead. Shields are failing.... unless we can get the shields back up the Anti-matter warhead will tear us apart. FTL Interdiction detected... we can't leave...."

"Get to the Escape pods Everyone!" John ordered, as

"but we can..." a crew member started before being interupted and over spoken John.

"No we can't... this was planned... somehow. We don't have to time to talk about this... GO!"

John started to herd the last of the crew out and towards the number of the escape pods dotted around.

We're underfire... we can't jump, we can't communicate we can't do anything apart from getting to the Escape pods... I don't know if we'll be able to communicate on the ground but... get here ASAP!

The escape pods were designed so that they'd be ejected at the same time as a major blow so they'd look like debris blown of the ship before getig drawn into the gravity well of the planet and falling to the ground, which would be lessened on impact by concealed thrusters.

The miissile impacted and all the escape pods activated as designed... being easily mistaken for chunks of debris... Everyone was for now floating in space... waiting for the gravity to bring them down to earth once more.

"Something strange is happening."

Dominique was hard on Trevor’s heels and she took his hand as she used the other to shade her eyes as she followed the launch.

"That is a very primitive design. I wouldn't want to try and reach orbit in that, though..." She watched it vanish into the deep blue bowl of the heaven "Obviously it can."

She switched on her implants, and attempted to contact her newly retired War Mistress. Dominique knew that Meredith and Adam had arrived, but she didn't know where in the resort they were staying. But her implants would reach into ships in orbit, so she certainly should be able to reach Meredith. She'd apologize later. But she had the sour feeling that she wasn't going to need to, that this might well be the beginnings of a war.

An island away...

"It's been so long since I've been in the water for any length of time and the sea here looks so inviting. Care to join me?"

"I meant later silly" Merry teased, then she frowned as a faint vibration reached her thought the ground. "Adam, this place doesn't have earthquakes does it?" Then she was grabbing his hand and towing him to the nearest doorway.

For several tense seconds she waited then her head whipped around in the direction of the ocean, as her ears took in a sound she'd heard only a few times.

"Come on!" Still holding Adams hand she raced out of the bungalow down to the beach just a short distance away. "Look!" She pointed, as in the distance a tiny object, with a classic vapor trail vanished into the heavens.

"Well I haven't seen the likes of that save in demonstrations" But Merry was still frowning, and filled with a discomfort she couldn't put a finger on.

Adam saw the vapour trail at the same time as Merry did and he didn't mind admitting that he was concerned. Such things were ancient history, used for breaking into orbit and perhaps travelling to a nearby moon but no more. They certainly weren't for space travel and he doubted very much that one would hold up long against a Modern Warship. Nevertheless, if the former Warmistress of the Phoenix Empire was concerned, then he knew his own suspicions could be well grounded,
"Neither have I," he admitted, wondering for a moment at the old technology on show, or at least modern technology in an old shell. He wondered for a moment if it were a weapon, for he knew that the People's Navy was developing 'Smart' Weapons, with AI's able to pilot their way to a target, fight through it's defences and hit the target with near perfect accuracy. He wondered why a holiday resort would have such things.

"Perhaps we should leave it up to Security Merry," he offered his opinion. They had no real authourity here and it was up to the Resort's hidden Security to investigate such instances. He tried the vox, using the frequency he had been given upon arrival, but found only static as his reward.

"No signal," he frowned. In his bag, he had packed two pistols, just in the long shot that things turned sour and he needed to defend himself. He prayed fervently that they would not be needed.

Falsus: Ladies, Gentlemen and Others, we have a confirmed military strike against our allies the Garbage Men. I request additional help to meet at the planet and get to the bottom of things. We may need to go into combat for this.

Hugh: You're certain that war is the only way?

Falsus: I'm not certain that it will be necessary at all! I just know that we've lost contact with a member of the Collective--and that the readings we got just before that indicate that an antimatter bomb was used against him and his compatriots.

Voice of the Many: The probability matrix indicates that the planet's security has been compromised. Those on the planet--

Falsus: --and this includes that selfsame member of our collective!--

Voice of the Many: --are in danger.

Falsus: You know our creed. We protect our own, and stand up for our friends.

Hugh: Alright. Emperor's Choice, Friendship and Valor, please join Prophet's Hope in its duties, making best time.

Zell: I was wondering when you'd finally get around to saying that. We're already underway. We'll meet you there, Falsus.

Ver: We're leaving now. We'll see you there.

With deliberate ease, two more New Borg tactical cubes moved out to join Falsus and his crew.

"Primitive, maybe, but it serves it's job as a vehicle very well, and, yes, there are alot of better ways for people to get into space and that is why I'm much more concerned what was inside it."

He paused for a moment looking at the Vapour Trail before turning back to Dominique. His hand in hers... "Looks like we'll have to make new plans."

Dominique would find that her Implants worked, and Meredith would find that Dominique was getting in contact with her. Whatever was going on it seemed that the communication system for the resort was down, but there was no active blocking of communications on the planet itself.

For now the two couples were alone but not for long as Trevor spotted someone with a uniform walking towards him and Dominique, they were presumably security for the resort. There was no one however for Meredith and Adam.

----

John and the remaining crew of the TGM shuttle had gone into the planet enough that all communication, even the Borg implants could not connect to the collective. John had felt strange he had gotten used to the inane.. I mean.. constant chatter of the collective and now. He was waiting unable to contribute anything until finally the pods landed.

"No signal,"

Merry held up her hand, as she replied to Dominique, speaking aloud so that Adam could overhear...

"Yes Dominique I saw the last of it, and the Go Forth reports that it was an antimatter warheaded missile which homed in and destroyed the TGM ship. He reports that he is tracting a number of life pods descending on the planet.

One of the abilities any high officer in the Tanaran Military had to have was the ability to multi task, to follow tactical displays, conversations and read reports all simultaneously without losing a drop of information.

Merry looked over at Adam with a raised eyebrow, as Dominique let the connection drop after advising the War Mistress that a man in uniform was approaching the honeymooning couple

"Keep the link open Dominique." Merry advised as she turned back to the bungalow to retrieve her own personal weapons.


After repeating to Trevor what Merry had been apprised of,Dominique nodded to herself at Merrys sound advice. She didn't trust the appearance of security all of a sudden, it felt wrong.

"TrevoR, I'm going to go get some things out of my valise." The one she had set down just outside the door to the cottage, when he had wished to carry her over the threshhold.

Thusly the bag was much closer than it could have been. With her long legged atheletic stride she headed back up the path to the bag, it was less than a dozen steps from where they had watched the launch.

Adam frowned. It seemed that the Resort was having a little trouble and the fact that the Empress of the Phoenix Empire was here could not only be a coincidence.
Adam pulled out his pistol, some Alversian make that was standard issue. He made sure that it was loaded and ready, then joined Merideth in the main part of the island,
"How is the Empress?" he asked, concerned.

Falsus: Well, we're here.

Ver: Anything out of the ordinary?

Falsus: There's a debris field where there should be a TGM starship, but we knew that was going to be here. There's some kind of force field around the planet that's preventing communications. We can't raise our member yet.

Zell: So what are you going to do, drain the shield?

Falsus: No. It's keeping things in. Maybe we WANT it to keep things in. We're going to send a probe into the planet's upper atmosphere. Hopefully, it will be able to break through the shielding and act as a relay.

Ver: Good thinking.

Zell: Keep us in the loop.

Of those in the life pods they were finally coming down to what looked like was going to be a crash landing. The trajectory was consistent with with falling debris and it wasn't until close to the ground a Low opening parachute combined with thrusters slowing their descent made the landing somewhat descent.

John's pod, as the situation had it arrived fairly close to Adam and Meredith around 50kms to the north east on one of the smaller Islands on the periphery of the archipelago, others had been dotted around almost randomly mostly in the general area of the large archipelago.

They would find themselves in various situations though for John, the only one of any particular note. As he got out... the area was almost totally deserted. He would find out why very soon.

----

As for the probe there was the briefest of moments as the probe straddled the proverbial fence keeping the communications from the planet on the planet and those from space in space. As soon as the probe passed onto the otherside of the fence the Borg could not pick up any signal at all from the probe. It for all intensive purposes was lost.

---

Trevor looked at the man as he was making his way towards them. "Excuse me sir, Madam." he yelled still a bit away from comfortable conversation. He turned to Dominique... "We'll need some form of Transport... See what you can organise between you and Meredith and Adam... I'll take care of the security, don't worry... I'll be careful with him. Showtime..." He smiled as he joked and with his other hand clasped hers for a second before making off towards the security man. The smile on his face stayed as raised his arm in greeting.. "Hey... That display? That was pretty spectacular!" Trevor spoke with the friendly tones of someone who was at awed at what he'd seen. The conversation soon got quieter and it was hard for Dominique to hear but it seemed Trevor had quickly taken control of the conversation and had managed to get it so the guard had to shift to face away from Dominique, and yet it was done so naturally as to not arose any suspicion from the guard.

The single guard didn't know it yet but he was going to get first hand experience at Trevor's advanced people skills. There was a reason Trevor was so good at his job and the guard would be in for an interesting lesson.

As long as Dominique didn't make an active effort to distract what was going on between the guard and Trevor. She'd be free to do whatever she needed to.

Her hand tightened around his as she nodded at his request. Once he left her to take on the security guard Dominique did her best to move in a manner that would not attract any of the man's attention. She quietly, casually strolled to where their bags lay. Leisurely she collected them and carried them inside.

Once out of sight of the stranger Dominique quickly changed clothes into ones more suitable for ‘roughing it’. Thick Khaki slacks, hiking boots, a tee shirt and a photographers vest under an unbuttoned, comfortable big shirt. Which would very effectively conceal the small but formidable pair of blasters she carried. And the photographers vest carried more than her camera – that had been her habit for years rather than carry any sort of purse or backpack.

Once that was done she glanced out the window to see how Trevor was fareing.

"Merry, Trevor and I are going to need to join up with you and Adam I think. This is too suspicious after the warning that Trevor recieved." Without going into detail she explained simply that Trevor had recieved a warning from an old and trusted source the night of the wedding.

"How is the Empress?"

Merry held up a hand a second as she listened to Dominique.

'"I see. Adam and I will get there as quickly as possible. I'm going to have the Go..." She flinched as a rising whine from her communications implant jarred though her. Her connection with her starship had been severed. "I've just lost contact with the Go Forth. However I had arranged for a sailboat, I just don't know if they delivered it yet. Don't break contact. I'm going to check it out she advised Doninique.

She turned to Adam. "The TGM ship has been destroyed by that missile, and we can't raise the resort. I need to see if the sail boat has been brought and we ought to get some of our rough activities gear ready too. Then take the sail boat over to where Trevor and Dominique are."

She was already moving to thow on some of the clothes she had brought in anticipation of rock climbing.

"Right," Adam was worried now but he couldn't let that cloud his judgement now. He was concerned and worried for his new Fiance, if she got caught up in fighting of some kind and...he couldn't bear to even think about it. He found that his military training had kicked in again and he regretted deeply not bringing a rifle of some kind, for it would have been useful but unnecessary. The irony.

He changed into a pair of hiking boots with comfortable climbing trousers with a shirt and jacket combo over the top. He also took the Climber's utility belt, packed with all sorts of medicines and emergency communicators for an emergency. This was certainly one of these. He was ready for what might come. He tucked one blaster into his belt and went to find Merry,
"Is it there?" He called.

Falsus: Well, that was a learning experience.

Gizmo: NOT!

Shrevel: So what are we going to do, send in another probe?

Falsus: Not exactly. We've already got a probe in there. We can see it on sensors. It's not communicating with us, but it appears to be fully functional.

Shrevel: Well, what good is it if we can't get to it?

Falsus: That's the trick. We need to get to it.

Gizmo: I get it! We're going to send in another probe!

Falsus: Right--and I don't care if we have to tether the two of them together with high-strength carbonized alloy data cables, we're going to show whoever put that thing in there that the New Borg are not to be toyed with!

Gizmo: Uh, Chiefo? Don't grok this one. Why go the testosterone-poisoning route when we can just send someone down there and then bring 'em back up?

Falsus: Because whoever's down there will probably try to toy with them, too. Do we want to risk what might happen to one of us if we're cut off from the Collective?

Legion: Speaking as the best commando in the fleet, I'm willing to take that risk for one who's already out there.

Falsus: Alright, then. We can do that, too. Who wants to sync up with the existing probe?

Q-bert: That would $@#)(in' be me! I'm the only one who can @!$($in' link with a mech because I'm the only full @$*(#$in' mech in the collective.

Falsus: I believe we have a volunteer.

It didn't take the New Borg five minutes to get a scouting cube with Legion in it launched and to get Q-Bert, in cube ship mode, out of the landing bay and into orbit, lining up with the probe as he moved along. Q-Bert didn't have the greatest natural intelligence of the individuals who made up the Collective, but he was capable of astounding feats of rote calculation. Thus, it was no surprise that he all but instantly came up with a solution to the orbital mechanics problems that had beset his mission when he was launched.

In the meantime, Legion sat stoically with two hand-picked commandos in his tactical cube as it hit the planet's upper atmosphere. There would be almost no way to cloak the cube as the atmosphere ignited around its shields, but the prospect of an unknown enemy knowing his exact position did not frighten him. He was trained for situations like this. They, he told himself, should be afraid of him. Very afraid.

Meredith and Adam/
Normally with most of the rougher crafts there would be someone there to go through some of the safety aspects, ensuring their visitors knew the risks of the activities and how to minimise them before they'd be allowed to go off.

Some exploration found all their gear laid out as if ready for the induction, but there was no one there... The sail boat was tied by a rope to a small jetty. Everything seemed to be there ready for them.

Dominique & Trevor

The guard was walking away from Trevor and almost had disappeared to where he came from as Dominique peered through the window. Trevor was making his way towards the door not far away from Dominique at all.

Trevor opened the door and entered taking in the sight of his newly changed wife

"We've got time... He came to make sure that one, we were on the Island and 2 that we stayed. He was going to make himself an annoying pest but he's had a sudden change of heart and will man our small jetty.Oh, and is there anything that you don't look simply amazing in?

As long as Meredith and Adam come around the back of the Island we'll be fine."

The New Borg

4 small atmospheric fighters were launched as the Borg Cubes were detected in space, Legion and his 2 colleagues in their cube would be hounded by 2 of them, and the other 2 would go after Q-bert and the communications probe. The threat was one that could result in the destruction of property and/or life this was now no longer just games this was deadly serious business.

John

He had a rather rough time with the landing though internal and external air cushions were there to prevent most injury not that he was as fragile as the standard humanoid. After exiting, he noticed the tall mountains he also noticed some minor rumbling underneath the sand. Unlike The when the launch did occur this was a genuine earthquake the mountain was a volcano dormant for about 30 years allowing lots of vegetation to grow in the rich volcanic soil. The quake was about a 4 on the Richter scale and was just barely noticeable at most as if large truck drove right past their front door for Adam and Meredith and for Trevor and Dominique.... but for John it signaled that he'd need to make his way off the Island fairly quickly before a pyroclastic cloud gets in his way.

And so he started running into the ocean and starting to swim to a nearby Island that he managed to see as the pod fell to the ground.

4 small atmospheric fighters were launched as the Borg Cubes were detected in space, Legion and his 2 colleagues in their cube would be hounded by 2 of them, and the other 2 would go after Q-bert and the communications probe. The threat was one that could result in the destruction of property and/or life this was now no longer just games this was deadly serious business.

They were breaking standard protocol. Those controlling the fighters should have identified themselves and attempted to instruct the descending ship in what it should do to avoid starting a war. Legion computed the probability as high that these ships were under the control of hostile, non-government forces and should be neutralized. Nonetheless, there was too great a probability that whoever was piloting them had their communications disabled by whatever was preventing him from reaching the main collective. Therefor, he chose a course of action that would allow for the two parties to stand down in the event that this engagement was the result of a tactical error.

Having made it completely into the planet's atmosphere, the little cube ship cloaked.

It also reached out its collective contact, hoping to find John again.

Q-Bert did not have that luxury, but he was in contact with the Collective--and they gave him tactical support.

Q-Bert: @#$$!!! Those little @$#s launched $@#$ fighters at me! What should I do, pulverize the @$$@#?

Falsus: Not yet. Those are atmospheric craft, and you're still above the atmosphere. Stay there. Neutralize any enemy ordinance directed at you. We're going to send help.

Q-Bert: What about that #(*&%& probe?

Falsus: Maintain position, try to establish communications, but do not attempt to physically interface with it. If you tether yourself to it, you'll be a sitting duck.

Q-Bert: Yeah, I know. Little $@##ers.

Falsus: Zell, Ver, how much longer until you get here?

Ver: We'll be arriving in an hour or so.

Zell: We'll be there in a matter of minutes.

Falsus: I recommend that you prep foraging cubes for battle and prepare point defense. Things are getting hot around here.

Prophet's Hope launched ten foraging cubes, weapons ready, to reinforce Q-Bert, and went to Yellow Alert status, powering up but not activating shields and weapons.

A tiny Island and an dock with a sail boat....

"Is it there?"



"Yes but the staffer who looks like they should have been, is not"

Merry felt the faint tremblor and spun about looking at that next island over. And recognised that the lovely cone shape was that of a volcano.

"Adam dear, do the Alversians have a saying like 'it never rains but it pours'? That's a volcano and what just jounced us gently was not a second rocket launch."

She knew she could set the sails on the sailboat by herself with ease, it was a seventeen footer that looked much like a Vanguard Nomad.

"Why don't you go get all the bottled water you can and the contents of that fruit basket and sandwich tray. We will need them I think."

There were four capacious, water tight storage lockers built into the daysailer and it would be best to get all the supplies they could.

"As long as Meredith and Adam come around the back of the Island we'll be fine."

"You have such a way with people Dominique smiled and gave her huband a hug at his compliment. Then she took a moment to pass along the information he'd imparted to Merry.

She froze, her eyes going wide at the second tremmor. "Trevor you don't think they are launching another?" Then she recognised the difference in faint feeling, the longer, more rolling sensation. She looked at Trevor with a dismayed expression "Earthquakes too?"

Taking in the cottage at a glance. "I think we had better try to pack up as big a stockpile of food and water as possible. You get changed Trevor, while I start doing that."

"Alright," Adam turned and headed into the appartment, noting with concern the new volcano and Merry's words. He knew that such events were not the norm for a calm resort like this...
'Calm, my arse' He snorted as he scooped out the contents of the fridge, taking all the food and water that he could find. He cursed his luck that such a thing would occur when he was here, but then he supposed that it was fool's luck. He headed back outside with a number of water bottles and a variety of storable, lasting foods in tins and packets,
"Here we are," He looked up at the volcano, "And yes," he smiled, "It never rains but it does hammer down."

Trevor & Dominique
"It's is a molten core planet some level of earthquakes to be expected. Though suspect it was the launch that set it off... Rather unusual placement of a launch pad near a volcano." Trevor pondered out loud as he smiled back at Dominique "See you in a sec."

It was unusual for Trevor to be receiving a command, but it was from Dominique and he knew she wouldn't just be a wall-flower in their relationship. She was strong in her own right which was part of the reason why Trevor was attracted to her in the first place. She could hold her own, and with Trevor there wasn't very many that could do so.

So Trevor went and started to get changed, he decided to go for long, durable pants in a sort of creamy grey colour (with belt) and a green short sleeved polo-shirt. Having got dressed he grabbed some lotion for his skin (he did have sensitive skin that need re-application of the lotion every few hours in direct sunlight) and started to finish helping Dominique, if indeed there was anything left to help with.
John

John was 'swimming', well, to be honest more like walking on the bottom of the ocean, it was close as to swimming as he thought he'd ever get and was almost to the new Island as the Volcano exploded and started erupting. The cloud would of expelled a 2 km radius (including a John with a relatively close miss) with heavy debris almost immediately before ash would start to fall in an area roughly around 5 kms towards Adam and Meredith.

Though as they were roughly 50kms away (the volcano would roughly be around 1.5 degrees 'high') there was no chance that the cloud would reach them it only served to block their view.

For now the interference generated by the explosion would shield but it wouldn't be long (OOC:Read when Legion's already landed) for the situation to resolve.

Legion

He couldn't for now get in contact with John but the Atmospheric fighters did finally make contact

Unknown Vessel, you are violating the Airspace of the Private Paradise Spa and Luxury resort. Please state intentions or you will be shot down.


QBert
The fighters that were near Q-Bert flew around and started circling around the area. Watching and waiting for Q-Bert to do what he was going to do next.

Private Paradise Spa Defense Forces: I am Legion of Borg. I have been sent to
investigate an attack against the starship of our allies, the Garbage Men,
originating on this planet, and to recover a member of our Collective who has
lost contact. The Collective has noted a loss of communication between this
planet and all outside factors, and is attempting to reestablish said contact. I
will cooperate with any governmental agency, but must insist upon the return
of my Brother. I will remain cloaked until you can provide the Official State
Code of the Private Paradise Spa and Luxury Resort, but I will not engage your
craft in combat unless fired upon first.

If you fail to provide the Official State Code within a reasonable length of time,
I will assume that your management has been taken over by hostile forces and
report this fact to the Collective. I will not engage in combat unless fired upon.

If you engage our operative who is attempting to establish contact with you,
the Collective will assume that your management has been taken over by
hostile forces, secure the sector and report their findings to The Garbage Men.



Thrasher: You think they're going to buy that?

Legion: I don't care. It's the truth.

OOC @TGM:

Ain't you been watchin' the Sarah Connor Chronicles, dude? Terminators can't swim. They're so heavy that they sink to the bottom. They don't need to breathe, though, so they just walk along until they're back on dry land again.

Legion

Legion of Borg, Authentication is pending...

This is a matter for our security forces to deal with, you have no jurisdiction over our territory. If you do not immediately turn back you will be destroyed as a hostile invader.

###AUTHENTICATION###
NAME:PRIVATE PARADISE SPA AND LUXURY RESORT
LOCATION: PARADISE II
CHECKSUM: [hidden]
ANALYSING... ANALYSIS COMPLETE

LIMITED AUTHENTICATION ACCEPTED - CANNOT VERIFY WITH EXTERNAL SOURCE

OOC: Meaning that as far as the system thinks, it's accepted because it fits within the mathematical constraints of the Authentication yet can't connect to an external source to verify the details... and uh, no, I haven't been Watching Sarah Connor Chronicles. I'll fix up the swimming thing...

"I look good in anything?" She looked Trevor up and down with a loving smile "You look devestatingly handsome in everything I can imagine you in."

She waved a hand at the two dozen bottles of water, the basket of fruit and small pile of other relatively shelf stable goods, nuts, crackers and potted cheeses. "These should be a start, but I think we might ought to eat heartily now of these others as I don't know about them being unrefridgerated long," as she indicated a pile of finger sandwiches and some cream pastries.

The rolling thunder of the eruption, had her gasping as she looked out and saw the fireworks and towering cloud of ash and debris.

"Trevor, I think when Merry and Adam get here we ought to head for the main resort. I just don't feel comfortable out here on this island, and I find it disconcerting that a supposedly reputable resort would build on an active volcano chain." The fact that the TGM space ship had bedn attacker and destroyed, and Merry loosing contact with her ship. She didn't need to add those in.

Once is an accident, twice is a co-inkydink, three things are enemy action.

But she most definitely wanted her husband's thoughts and advice how they should handle things. They were partners and would work out things together.

"It never rains but it does hammer down."

Merry grinned at that as he came back with supplies. But the grin faded as the miles distant volcano erupted. She had just finished setting the sails, and hurried to show him where the storage lockers were.

"That ash isn't going to be good to try and breathe." She mutttered unhappily as she thought about the problems it could cause, and what might be useful to solve that problem. She didn't know if it would reach themn but better to be prepared. "Adam, do you think we ought to make up a small pack of spare clothes, maybe bring a bedsheet to tear up and use as makeshift breathing masks?"

She knew she had sunglasses and they would be useful as well.

"Hmmm..." Adam saw the eruption at the same time that Merry mentioned it and he nodded in approval of her suggestion, "I'll get to work Ma'am," he grinned then looked over to the volcano and sighed, rummaging in one of the bags,
"I thought I saw them somewhere," he muttered to himself before laughing in triumph and pulling out two breathing masks complete with gastanks,
"I think they're for diving of some kind," he laughed again, "They'll do for our purpose anyway" He offered her one.

Trevor chucked... "Your spoiling me with compliments... I might start expecting them."

He nodded as Dominique spoke about the resort. It made sense, it seemed they wanted them on the Island so off the Island seemed the best thing to do. Unless it was all some big elaborate plan, to get them to where they wanted them. But it would be just as easy to get them on the island where they were than anywhere else on the planet.

"It could of been a great spectacle with a properly designed viewing platform, Raw awesome power of nature, though I'd guess with the timing that the launch may have triggered it prematurely."

Trevor started loading up as many of the items Dominique had collected in his arms as he started to take them to the beach on the other side of the island to the Jetty

"It could of been a great spectacle with a properly designed viewing platform, Raw awesome power of nature, though I'd guess with the timing that the launch may have triggered it prematurely."

"Yes it would have been worth seeing close but protected. But I don't think launches of chemical powered rockets, even ones as powerful as that one was, would trigger a volcano." Dominique found the oddity in timing disconcerting. With her own armful she strode along beside him, not enjoying the view as much as she would have under other circumstances, though the island was lovely.

"Though I think I remember a proposal on Tyannia" That was one of the more newly settled planets of the Empire - the colony had been there only two centuries "To deliberately make a volcano explode, and thus get the whole thing 'over and done with' but that was...oh many decades ago and I never followed the debate raging over it. I was too busy prepping for my doctorate."

She was pleased to note that beach over on the far side was shoaling and sandy, so that the sailboat could come close to shore without fear of losing the ballast board to rocks.

“Okay, we’re here” she advised Merry. Then she looked over at Trevor “Do you think this is enough Dear, or should we try to bring some more clothes and such?

"They'll do for our purpose anyway"

Merry looked them over carefully and agreed. "It's been years since I had to qualify with breathing apparatus, but yes they certainly will." She looked at what they had, wondering if there was more that they should bring with them. They had a small first aid kit, their personal weapons, some food and water.

She sighed, it had been years since she had had to think in anything like 'survival mode' and she felt rather disconcerted by the whole series of events.

"Adam is there anything else you can think of that we might need?"

Adam looked over their equipment as well, chewing over Merry's question. Aside from the obvious things they could do with. He could name several ones...an Infantry Battalion for a start and, apart from that, grenades, rifles and body armour. Failing those, he supposed that they had all they needed. He was glad that he was in the company of the former Warmistress for such an event. Though an ex-Soldier himself, he had never really been in a situation such as this.
"I think we have all we need," he looked over them again, "with the resources we have"

Legion of Borg to Paradise Spa Defense Forces:

Your ID checks out. I will therefor assume that you are friendly
and decloak.

I call attention to the unarmed probe that sits just within your
atmosphere. Analysis will confirm that this device is incapable
of aggression against your people, and that it is a medium of
communication. You will also notice one of our technical
analysts--also not primarily military--in orbit above this device.
They are attempting to establish contact with you. Please
allow this. If you do, you will be able to verify my authentication
through an external source.

Their purposes intersect with yours.


Legion's cube decloaked and immediately began to scan at full power for John's signal in the collective, and to search for debris from his escape pod, whose transponder ID the collective had noted as he ejected from the ship he was in.

In orbit, the scavenger cubes reached Q-Bert and formed a defensive perimeter, but did not enter the planet's atmosphere and did not make any attempt to engage the planet's defensive forces.

Trevor looked over the pile, in great detail, there weren't any additional clothes but he didn't really matter about that. Apart from some basic water and food stuffs he noticed some his special red wine... Accompanied by some more traditional variants.

"Don't think so, with everything that Meredith and Adam will be bringing... if we get cold we can always snuggle a bit tighter together."
---


You are a foreign force operating without approval in our territory, with an Authenticated ID or not it does not matter. This an act of war, and we will defend ourselves and our clientele from your aggressions. Turn back immediately or we will engage and destroy you. We have given fair warning,turn back NOW!

As for the Scans, John was detected the interference had been reduced to the point where John could join this miniature collective.
John breathed a sigh of relief as he finally felt Legion and the other two commandos

As the situation dawned on him John wondered why they hadn't fired earlier...

Legion they're going to shoot you down... get out of there. Get out of there NOW!

"I think we have all we need, with the resources we have"

Merry sighed, there were too many unknowns, and they had packed for a vacation at a supposedly height of civilized, height of luxury resort, not a warzone. She wished momentarily that the Hexx, her personal psimech was here but he wasn't.

She forced a smile, that became real as she looked at Adam. They'd be all right, they had each other.

"Then lets shove off. If you'll get the ropes" She nodded to the hawser that was wrapped and knoted around a bollard on the pier. She went and took the tiller as he moved to cast them off.

There was a good breeze, mostly raised by the volcanic activity, but it hadn't made the waters too choppy, yet.

"Don't think so, with everything that Meredith and Adam will be bringing... if we get cold we can always snuggle a bit tighter together."

Setting her arm load down Dominique found a patch of shaded sand and sat, patting the place beside her. "We could do some of that snuggleing right now."

She was very worried about the situation and the many unknowns. "I wonder how that man got here. Did you see a boat at the docks?"

"Wha...?" Adam was momentarily confused by her order and by the reassuring smile she had given him. He knew that he could trust her with their safety. One did not become the head of the Phoenix Military without first displaying, at some point, an above average military ability. So he knew that he was safe and grinned in reply. However, he had never sailed a moment in his life and it took several seconds for him to locate the referred ropes. Once he had untied them, with considerable difficulty, he nodded to her,

"All ready to head off Skipper," He smiled at her. By god she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen and his heart ached for the time they had lost with this bloody attack.

Legion: Roger that, John. The Collective does not leave brothers behind, but, if you're safe, we're not needed.

Legion's cube immediately changed course and headed toward orbit, informing the defense forces that he was doing so and indicating to John all the information that was deemed relevant, including the presence of Prophet's Hope in orbit and the pending arrival of her two sister ships.

-----------------------

Q-Bert: Alright, I'm dropping the tethered signal booster. She's heading down toward the probe now. When she gets close enough, I'll try to make contact.

Falsus: Good. Be careful, though. We don't want to lose you. If those fighters start firing on you, drop that tether and get out. Don't risk yourself for a dumb satellite.

Trevor & Dominique

Trevor followed and sat down next to Dominique, he reached over wrapping his arm around her and leant in, trying to comfort her in the unusual situation.

"no, I didn't at the docks no... but neither are there any signs of a permanent presence on the Island, apart from our accommodations, we would of seen something if there were. He was probably dropped off. I very much doubt that there is anyone else on the Island apart from the three of us. I would of known."

He reached over with his other hand and pulled her into him, hugging her in the process. "There is nothing I wouldn't do for you, I will keep you safe. If we trust in each other we'll get through this... I'm sure." His voice was clear emotional and determined, as if he'd make the statement true.

He held her tightly to his body as he kissed her, just being with her was enough to make Trevor believe he could overcome anything, this latest adventure was nothing to the challenge of finding someone that loved him for who and what he was, not for his wealth position or titles. They would get through this not matter what he needed to do... not for himself, but for her.

John

That was enough, the cubes were here, no way they could destroy all of them without letting at least one escape, which would only bring more pain down upon them. He knew that and so must those that were responsible for this, so for now they were safe but who knows what might happen if they got desperate enough.

So that was it. John's misson, locating co-ordinates of the atmospheric anomalies that were detected before destruction of his ship, he set off again to the site of the Launch preferring to walk along the bottom of the Ocean to be as difficult to locate as possible. He would make sure that no launch could happen again, just so that there was no chance of any more of those anti-matter warheads destroying anything else again.

Legion and Compatriots

The atmospheric fighters acknowledged the response and did not open fire, though they did start to escort legion and the other commandos back out of the atmosphere peeling off once they were back in space and headed back to base.

Q-bert

The two fighters making concern for Q-bert shifted but their did open fire on the probe, Maser beams striking the probe, all of the shots were directed at the probe but left the Borg alone all being angled so that there was no chance that Q-bert would be hit. After the few shots assuming that the probe had been destroyed or at least significantly disabled also started returning to base.

"There is nothing I wouldn't do for you, I will keep you safe. If we trust in each other we'll get through this... I'm sure."

"And I you. We will keep one another safe." Dominique replied with complete confidence, returning Trevors kisses with interest. She loverd snuggling up with him even under these circumstances

"I just wish this wwsn't interupting our honeymoon!" She said mournfully, then her eyes twinkles and a teasing mockery entered her tone. "This is so inconsiderate. Whom ever is doing this has no sensibility, no sense of romance! They have no idea how much trouble setting all this up was!" She sniffed distainfully. She hoped he'd join her in her attempt at light heartedness.

"All ready to head off Skipper,"

Merry grinned, her heart lightening as she looked at his earnest, trusting face. "Duck then cause the boom is about to come about!" She called out as the wind caught the sail and she headed them in the direction of the outer island.

Once Adam had fully settled himself in the thwart she let the mainsail belle full and water rose in a thin white line behind the, the breeze keeping the sheet stiff.

"Do what because of who?" Adam repeated in confusion, not used at all to the sailing lingo that Merry had suddenly decided to confront and baffle him with. He found out soon enough as the boom swung around and hit him in the forehead. He let out a muffled curse then a sheepish grin as he rubbed his head,
"Oh." he said, "That."

He was from the northern continent of Alversia, a land of mountains and snow. The closest he got to water there was when it rained or when the snow melted. Neither time, he had felt the need to sail upon it.
Even in Illesia, where he had lived recently, there was little in the way of sailing facilities near his home.

"Where exactly are we heading Captain Hexx?" He asked, grinning.

OOC: by your TG, I take it that your inviting me to this thread. it says invite only so i don't want to interupt if I'm mistaken. before i post however, I need to know much time has past scince our thread and this new one. if it's a short time, then it's ok. if it's a long time, then I need a convinient excuse as to why they never left the general area.

----------------------------------------------------------edit

ok, the borg seem to be willing to continue our other thread. it would be easier for me to join in with future threads if we tied it up. if not, then I WILL be forced to BS stuff to make things make sense. interested, or should we call it quits with that one after all? your call.

OOC: @WH: I'll discuss this more with you over TG

@Everyone else... please continue

Merry had flinched when the boom had cracked Adam in the temple. She remembered how that had hurt her first time sailing.

"Where exactly are we heading Captain Hexx?"

"First to get Dominique and Trevor, then back to the main resort and the Go Forth. And find out what is going on here." Merry said firmly as she hauled the sail in closer and bringing another knot or two of sped to the little sailboat.

"There is more afoot here than meets the eye. A planet like this is usually wired to the gills, wouldn't want the guests in the wrong place at the wrong time and have a volcano hiccup on them. We should have been, at the very least, apprised of the impending eruption."

Despite her concerns, part of her could not help but enjoy the swift skimming passage across the azure waters beneath a sky, save for where the roiling mass of debris and ash fouled it, that was a match.

Dominique let her head rest on Trevor's shoulder, watching the lightening and flashes of color deep in the cloud of ash and smoke billowing forth from the mouth of the distant volcano. She enjoyed every thing while she could as she had the certain feeling it was going to get worse sooner.

Trevor was unusually quiet, especially taking into note that he didn't respond immediately to Dominique's prompt...

"oh, uh, Yes, the least they could do was ask. It's not like people are on their honeymoons everyday."

He kissed her gently on the forhead. "Sorry, I was thinking about this whole situation, and who might be behind it.

=---=

Meredith and Adam would find practically no interference with their attempts to locate Dominique and Trevor, there was no boats to intercept them, everything seemed quiet. It wouldn't be hard to go around the Island so as not to draw the attention of the lone man on the dock.

"So something foul is going on," Adam sighed, so much going on for what was supposed to be a peaceful resort. He would have one or two things to say to Merry's parents once they got back to Tanara. Imagine sending him to a planet that was being attacked by some sort of force that no one had ever seen. And where the hell was Resort Security? Weren't they supposed to deal with this so that holidaying Empresses and Ambassadors and Soldiers did not have to?

Not exactly the holiday he had in mind.

"Uhhh..." Adam looked out at the muddy water, "Anything I do Skipper? Apart from gather bruises that is." He smiled sheepishly.

With the arrival of the other two tactical cubes, things were getting a bit excited. There was quite a discussion going on.

Falsus: No! We can't do it! It's the first step down the slippery slope that lead us into ruin!

Ver: Although I dislike my brother's reasoning, I concur with his conclusion. This would be the ultimate loss of discipline for us.

Falsus: It strikes at the core of what we ARE!

Bromus: You speak as if we're taking away someone's choice. Those are mindless drone fighters! They have no choices.

Falsus: No, but their owners do. At some level, we are removing the choice of something sentient somewhere.

Bromus: How can you be sure? They've been out of contact for hours now! Who's to say that they haven't been taken over--aren't being taken over while we stand by like whining children! We MUST find a way to break this stalemate! Temporary absorption is the only way! JUST DO IT!

Hugh: Would it be acceptable, brother Bromus, if we found some other way to break the stalemate?

Bromus: I don't know what you have in mind, but, to be blunt, I really don't care as long as we get out of this misbegotten holding pattern!

Hugh: I have nothing in mind, but the best minds of the New Borg Collective are sitting with us in this meeting. Certainly, we can think of something.

Shrevel: Excuse me, but can Q-Bert contact those fighters? I mean, we gave him special signal boosters and such, right? Can't he get through the planet's ionosphere just enough to contact them?

Ver: Why...yes, he should be able to.

Shrevel: Well, then, maybe the punch line for this joke can write itself.

Falsus: It's worth a try. What say you, Bromus?

Bromus: YES, ALREADY!

Shrevel: And now we get to watch Q-Bert make an official governmental statement for the Borg Government. This I have GOT TO listen in on!

Falsus: Shut up, Shrevel.

Bromus: And we can temporarily absorb them if they don't respond?

Falsus: I suppose that all options should remain on the table, but we should resort to this only if it becomes absolutely necessary.


Attention Paradise Spa fighter craft. We, the New Borg, have not
been in contact with your people for some time. We have a report
of an attack against a ship in orbit. What the...is there some problem?
We need to speak to someone in charge.

"Anything I do Skipper? Apart from gather bruises that is."

Merry smiled fondly at him, relieved that the tap on his temple hadn't been too bad. Fortuantely they were running with the wind and would not need to tack.

She looked down at the water and frowned when she noticed that the clear aqua hue had been obscured by a long arm ling extrusion of muddy water. The reaction to ash falling from the voclanic eruption could not have reached the area so fast.

Something else had disturbed the seas and clouded it's normally crystal clear waters.

But nothing else unusual occured and smartly the small sailboat rounded the island, heading wide to the back side so as to avoid the docks and the man posted there.

Shortly she was pointing to the couple. "There they are Adam!" and coasting to the beach, careful though not to damage the runnerboard.

Dominique waved to her friend and stood "They're read Trevor. They made good time to. Lets just hope that getting back to the main resort is as easy" She began gathering her armload of supplies.

Adam understood, rubbing his head where he had been attacked by the sail. He smiled back at Merideth, watching as she skillfully sailed the vessel towards the waiting couple on the beach. He stood to attention on the boat,
"Standing ready to receive the Empress and CEO," He stated in the manner of an old fashioned naval man, "Sorry I can't pipe you aboard but I lost the whistle." He smiled sheepishly,
"Where are we heading next?" He looked back to Merry.

Trevor, Dominique, Adam and Meredith

Trevor smiled at Dominique from behind, he just wanted to take her and make her his and give himself back in return, doing all the things that a couple should be doing on their honeymoon. Then again he had waited so long, to find someone whom he could spend the rest of his days with that passions could be postponed until a more suitable time.

Trevor stood up with an inherit grace and dignity about him as he started to move over towards the boat "It's the main complex, if it is a base for something you can bet there's going to be some kind of security." Trevor made the comment as he picked up whatever remaining and started to climb on board before looking to help Dominique with her stuff.

As CEO he never dealt with anyone without doing research on them before, the people he'd be dealing with, their likes, their personality. Their main goal everything and anything that could colour their perceptions, reactions and anything he could use as to manipulate the situation.

This was walking into the unknown, he didn't like it but it had to be done. He looked at Meredith looking deeply seeing how was she reacting to the lack of information. She was after all a former WarMistress.

The Borg

The message didn't get through the atmospheric fighters were already too far away for the signal to get through to them. However there was a small launch an object about a quarter of the size of the atmospheric fighters, comparatively stronger, strong enough to reach escape velocity. It broke through out of the atmosphere with none of the show or spectacle of the 2-stage missile.

Once have gone through the communications shield the object started to broadcast to each of the Borg Ships seperately.


Trans-atmospheric Communications Drone v1.26257
Initiating Authentication Protocols
Processing...
Process Complete
Authentication Verified
Messsage from Ms. Elliza Kent. Proprietor of Private Paradise Spa and Luxury Resort.
Message Follows:

Apologies for the Harsh welcome, we recently had an incident that needed the attention of our security personnel. The incident has been resolved. What can we do for you?

Message Ends:

Response Expected - Waiting for reply

From: New Borg Tactical Cube, Prophet's Hope,
Chief Command Officer, Falsus
To: Ms. Elliza Kent. Proprietor of Private Paradise Spa
and Luxury Resort
Message:

Regarding your recent communication, a member of our collective
was aboard a Garbage Man craft shortly before it was destroyed
in what is beginning to appear to be an accident. While we have
confirmed that he is physically unharmed, that he and most of his
compatriots survived the accident and are now on your planet,
his contact with our Collective has been severed. We take our
Collective very seriously. It is one of the things that gives the
New Borg their distinctiveness. We feel it deeply when we are
forced to lose contact with any of our Members.

Therefor, we must humbly request your aid in reestablishing
contact between our Collective and this individual. Is this
acceptable?

Message ends

Response Expected - Waiting for Reply

Dominique had given Adam a brief smile at his attempted levity, but had been more concernted with working with Merry to get the supplies packed carefully into the watertight compartments.

"It's the main complex, if it is a base for something you can bet there's going to be some kind of security."

Where are we heading next?"

Merry looked at the three others and replied "Yes that is most likely where the greatest danger is as well." Refering to Trevors comment about the main complex of the Spa "But it is also the most likely place for answers to be found. The Go Forth is also not responding and I landed at the Starport there." Merry mentioned her small personal starcraft.

"Just sailing around aimlessly in this boat, or worse waiting here for some one to try and contact us is counter productive I think" Dominique added "I feel we should attempt to reach the 'Go Forth'. If his comm's can't punch through what ever this jamming is - natural caused by the volcano or artificial by the hand of an enemy -we can launch and try to get off planet."

Merry nodded. "My thinking exactly."

The women looked at the men, waiting for their thoughts on the subject.

"Well," Adam looked around, "I am a Diplomat, I don't contradict, I nod my agreement to anything you say" He smiled, "and I'm even less of a military man. If you think that that is what we should do then let us set sail. Hopefully we can be there before something drasti...more drastic happens" He clapped his hands together, "Directions Skipper?" He asked Merry.

Trevor, Dominique, Adam and Meredith

"Then off we go..." Trevor gave his assent, it was after all the only plan that they had and despite the security, their best option.

He sat down on a seat out of the way of Captain Meredith as she did whatever she did.

"We should keep a look out for any trouble, just in case." he was really speaking to Dominique but did speak loud enough to make it clear to Meredith and Adam what they were doing, with the option for them to step in and provide an alternate suggestion should be forth coming.

He smiled at Dominique obviously wanting her to be by his side.

The Borg

The craft sent an acknowledgement that it had received the message with an attached "Please Wait..."

It flew back down into the atmosphere of the Planet and circled for a few minutes before returning back to the Borg.


Re-establishing contact... Established
Message From: Ms. Elizza Kent, Proprietor of Private Paradise Spa and Luxury Resort
Attention: Falsus, Chief Command Officer

Message:

Thank you for this information, I understand how difficult be to lose your one of your people. I have asked our security forces to locate this member of the collective so we can restore him to you as soon as possible. Thank you.

The Communications droid will now enter a cycle, which it will automatically fly into and out of the atmosphere to provide reliable communications.

Possible Reply: Wait before instituting flight plan delta

Ver: Well, now all we can do is wait.

Falsus: Huh! Not on my watch! We've still got another card left to play, and I'm going to play it!

Zell: If you're talking about John's friends from the Garbage Man ship, then I doubt that there's any advantage to be gained from them.

Falsus: There is if we rebuild that ship of theirs! Let's put it back in orbit for them!

Ver: Do you have any idea what you're asking?

Zell: Falsus, that was a thermonuclear bomb that hit that ship. There's nothing left but a debris field. Repairs are out of the question.

Falsus: Who's talking about repairs? We have scans of Garbage Man ships from when we aided them on their home planet. We can scoop up the debris field and use it as source energy to fabricate a new vessel.

Zell: That will take months if not years!

Falsus: Not if we do it all in one piece. We can use our scans as a transporter pattern and materialize the whole thing in one huge piece.

Ver: Impossible. None of us has the computing resources to hold a pattern that large.

Falsus: Now you're thinking as an individual! We're borg! We can collectivize our computing resources just as we do our intelligence!

Ver: We still don't have enough.

Zell: Wait a moment. Let's bring the geeks in on this.

Falsus: Gizmo, Hal, Omigott--can you help us with something?

Gizmo: Copasetic, Chiefo!

Hal: Certainly. What do you have in mind?

Omigott: I vote 'no.'

Zell: No?

Omigott: I hate unanimous votes. Something about it seems anti-democratic to me.

Falsus: Well, you're out-voted. Get in here!

Omigott: Certainly. You were discussing cojoining the computers on our ships and using them to generate a transporter pattern.

Gizmo: Ohhhh, this is KEWL!

Hal: While it is indeed a novel suggestion, the pattern buffers of the ships alone will not be sufficient for this purpose, nor will the computer core memories.

Omigott: Perhaps, but those aren't the only resources at our disposal. Specifically, there is also the local Omnimatrix.

Gizmo: Wow! Yeah! The Omnimatrix! It's a giant VR anyway! It's just bitchin' perfect for a job like this!

Hal: I concur; however, we will have to take special care that no one else is trying to use it when we are, or it could cause...distress.

Falsus: There. We've found the mean. How long will this all take?

Omigott: Let's see...getting everyone out of the Omnimatrix...reconfiguring the equipment to work together...gathering the source matter...you're looking at about one planetary rotation--mostly to get the debris.

Falsus: And if we commit Q-Bert and Legion to that task?

Gizmo: You're having a sharp one today, aren't you, Chiefo?

Falsus: Answer the question, please.

Omigott: Should chop the job about in half. We won't have a complete ship when we're done, though. There are some components that we simply can't fabricate in a single piece.

Falsus: How long?

Omigott: If we really put our noses to the grindstone...four days.

Ver: If the people on the planet are as good as I think they are, we've got about two.

Falsus: You heard the man. Now get going.

Zell: Yes, please. This will be...interesting.

Omigott: You do realize that, if we're successful, we're going to utterly demolish the record for fastest time to build a starship.

Zell: Some things need to be done. While we're waiting, I'm going to let the...tactical implications...of all this stew in my mind.

"Directions Skipper?"

"We should keep a look out for any trouble, just in case"

Merry directed Trevor and Dominique to sit on one side "You two will be our look outs to the starboard side" Which was natural as they were sitting in the left side of the sail boat with perfect views out the starboard side. Then she had Adam sit across from them.

"There and you are responsible as the port side look out" She had them duck as she swung the boom of the sail about and in moments they were back in open water.

"This is going to be slower, given that we're going to be tacking against the winds. I'll call out at each tack so you can safely duck the boom." She advised - and moments later had to make the first of the many tacks.

"Tack!"

While the trip to the island were Dominique and Trevor had been had only taken an hour, this trip would take far longer unless the winds changed, which they were unlikely to do until almost sunset. Luckily the volcano was far to the side of the direction they had to sail.

"Sure thing," Adam obediently ducked as the boom swung around the first time, cutting Merry off in mid sentence. He was getting used to this strange sensation of sailing including the wonderfully named 'tacking' as his Fiance had called it. However just as he was drifting away in his own thoughts of sailing the high seas forever with his beautiful Wife when a call came,

"Tack!"

"What?"

CRACK

'Well, at least I have a pair now' He thought as he rubbed his newly bruised head, 'sailing is painful work.'

Planetside

Trevor ducked the boom with his characteristic grace and style taking note of Dominique's response to the instruction.

Though it was too late to really do anything should she not duck with the instruction. After the boom passed Trevor transitioned from his sitting position to kneeling on the floor next to Adam. "Pretend your picking up a coin off the floor next time, alright? and then we won't have to pick you up off the floor" Trevor had a mischievous smile as he stood up and reached down to help Adam off the ground.

Half of the journey was done and apart from boom mishaps everything was going smoothly... perhaps a bit too smoothly.

New Borg

The collection of the debris and attempting to reform the ship was infact going slightly ahead of schedule for the Borg. The communications drone had fell of and entered it's flight pattern couple of minutes in the atmosphere inside the dome unable to be reached by the Borg and a couple of minutes outside unable to be reached by the Planet.

"What?"

"Pretend your picking up a coin off the floor next time, alright? and then we won't have to pick you up off the floor"

Dominique had ducked the boom, perhaps not as smartly as Trevor had that first time, but those that had come later were handled with greater ease.

Merry had winced in sympathy for Adam, smiling at Trevor's easy to understand directions for ducking. The trip was proceeding smoothly, much to her satisfaction, but she was also pleased to note that the others didn't seem to be taking that as a sign to relax too much.

It was all too easy and she and Dominique shared a look between them. The day was progressing rapidly and soon twilight would be making seeing anything at any real distance problematic. It would also bring the winds around to behind them, making their speed better, but it would be an uncomfortable trade off.

"Alright," Adam rubbed his head, "I get it, a bouncing head I mean coin," He shook his head, "Perhaps a little concussion to go with my bruises," he smiled and looked up, the sun was starting to go down and the sky changing from a deep blue to a lighter and more golden orange colour.
"Are we going to camp under the stars or are we going to find a camp on the shore?"

"Are we going to camp under the stars or are we going to find a camp on the shore?"

"Given everything we shouldn't stay at sea when true night falls. We don't have the navigational aides to do that what with communications down, and I don't know these stars." Merry said before taking a sip of water "But there isn't any place to land within sight. We'll just have to keep going and hope that we don't lose out bearings with out the sun's movement to guide us."

She had been keeping the sun just behind her left shoulder after each 'return' tack - and while the wind change made tacking unnecessary, without the sun as a guide the oceans current might take them dangerously off course.

She was hopeing that the low haze of the mainland would appear before true night fell. They had as much as an hour of twilight left and they were picking up speed - she just hoped that that was enough of a bonus.

"Sailors of old did use the Stars to Navigate... though as we've never been here before, that's useless, and even if we did manage to locate the main Island we'll have to rest for the night anyway. It's safer to do it now on a random Island."

Trevor stepped in adding his few cents to the discussion, reaching over and hugging her, giving a light kiss while doing so. There was nothing of particular interest but there was an Island nearby, which should have a Jetty.

It was as good as any other Island there was another Island could choose but that was further away. Despite the distance, however, taking wind and tacking into consideration either option would take as long.

The Alversian Ambassador looked over at the other three Occupants of the small boat. He knew nothing about this Island and he was inclined to trust the highest ranking people here. They were of course, the CEO, the Empress and the Warmistress. He was only an Ambassador. He would follow their requests. Besides, he quite enjoyed their company and the bumping of the boat in the waves was making him...uncomfortable.

"I don't mind camping," He said quietly to himself, looking up at the stars.

Omigott: There's not enough left of the old ship. We're going to need more energy.

Falsus: No problem! Q-Bert, please station yourself as close as you can to this system's sun and soak up as much energy as you can without damaging the planets.

Q-Bert: #@$#~~!!! I want a shot at these @#()#$*s when they mess up! They @#(( me off!

Falsus: IF there's a problem, we will need your help to solve it, then as now.

Q-Bert: @@($) good enough--for now. But just one thing: how am I supposed to absorb that kind of $#@*() energy? I don't have the !$#)(@# equipment.

Falsus: Transform to Butterfly Mode. We'll fit your wings with solar panels from here.

Q-Bert: Ohhh, THIS I've gotta !@#$@#$ see.

Q-Bert flew to a point directly "under" the sun (on an axis perpendicular to the plane of the solar system's rotation) and spread out his wings. When this was done, long-range transport beams from Prophet's Hope and Friendship and Valor hung solar panels off of them. The entire construction stretched five kilometers.

Falsus: Don't forget to recycle the solar panels during the final energy build-up.

Q-Bert: @*#$in' A! I didn't think this could be done! No problem!

"It's safer to do it now on a random Island."

Dominique agreed and returned his kiss.

"It is probably far better to beach now than to let it get any darker." Dominique agreed, and Merry turned the sail boat to the nearer islett. Both this one and the other were little more than spits of land, but as they neared she did see a very small pier running out into the water.

I don't mind camping,"

"I don't mind camping either darling" Merry overheard his low voiced words, and reached over to hold his hand for a second.

After just a few more minutes of sailing Merry nudged the small sail boat up to the pier and asked Adam to climb out and tie the sail boat off, as it had been at the pier on 'their' island.

"Once you do that Adam, I'll bring in the sail completely and raise the free board. Trevor, Dominiqe could you take a quick look around the island, see if there's any one here, or even an unoccupied cottage?"

The island was very small from the look of it, and it shouldn't take Trevor and Dominique but a few minutes, even in the low light of late twilight.

"Sure thing." Trevor responded to Merry with a nod though it was getting harder to see, at least that, he turned to Dominique, "Do you want to go first? beauty before age." There was a slight Jovial tone as if he was sharing a private joke with her, though to be honest it didn't really matter which was first they were both going to go down and look, the sky didn't seem right. No moons on this planet meant no moonlight, which meant that as soon as night was in full force it would be dark, and by dark... Pitch Black.

Though in the twilight, they still had time, time that was made less rushed by the discovery of a relatively small 'rustic' looking cabin. Nothing like the villas that they were originally in but there was candles ready to be lit. It could of been a lovely romantic close environment... should the situation of been different.

The Borg

The drone kept doing its thing and a long silence was only just disrupted with another communication from the surface though this one didn't really say much.

Re-establishing contact... Established
Message From: Ms. Elizza Kent, Proprietor of Private Paradise Spa and Luxury Resort
Attention: Falsus, Chief Command Officer

Message:

We are having trouble locating this member of the collective, as you described. We have looked at a number of debris sites but it seems that he has vacated the area. We are in the process of trying to track his movements but it will take some time. We apologise for this delay but we are still working to remedy the current situation

Message Ends

Continuing to execute flight plan delta

"Sure thing," Adam reluctantly let go of Merry's hand and completed the task she had set for him, using the experience he had gained from casting off to securely tie the boat in place. Once he was sure that the boat was not about to drift off into the sunset, he looked to Merry and sighed,
"Shall I unload the provisions?" He asked, wanting to make himself useful.

"Do you want to go first? beauty before age."

Dominique laughed softly at his teasing and held hands with him as they headed off to look over the island. The cabin that they found eased her thoughts some what-while it wasn't a fortress, the doors were barricadeable and with candles there was the prospect of light.

"Why don't you look too see if they have anything to light those candles with before it get too dark. I'll check out the kitchen and see what supplies there are there." Dominique suggested.

"Shall I unload the provisions?"


"Only part of them I think" Merry paused a moment as she slid the freeboard loose and considered for a second. "I'd say only what we'd need tonight. I'm going beach the boat rather than leave it tied here. I'll need your help with that."

Ver: Should we tell them where to look? Legion gave us a complete report.

Zell: No. Leave them to their own devices for now.

Ver: OK. Why?

Falsus: Because something fishy is going on in that planet, and I'm not referring to its oceans.

Ver: And how does this help us?

Zell: It keeps them busy. John is very resourceful, but we can't expect him to investigate his situation if he has to resist the planet's security forces.

Falsus: And they, it appears, believe that their security isn't broken--so let's not fix it. They won't mind.

Ver: Well, we should reply to their communication.

Zell: Why? Their previous communication said "response expected." This one didn't.

Ver: Because, with all the communications problems they've been having, we should let them know that we got the last one.

Falsus: Sounds reasonable.


From: Falsus, CCO, Prophet's Hope
To: Ms. Elizza Kent, Proprietor of Private Paradise Spa and Luxury Resort

Message:

Acknowledged.

Message Ends

"Sure thing," Adam walked around to the other side of the boat and began to haul it in, helping Merry onto the soft tropical sand. The Alversian was deceptively strong despite his build and it wasn' long before the small boat was settld nicely in the grainy sand. Adam leant inside and began to slip the various things that would be needed for the night. He looked at Merry,
"I assume we don't need to light a fire old style?" he asked hopefully.

OOC: Basically, the only reason I'm not zapping up a starship hull is because I want my characters' tasks to track with the timeline of the other characters. With all due respect, I've been twiddling my thumbs for about a week and a half now. This is getting BO-RING.

OOC: Yeah, I know... I have been thinking about that recently, but coming up with a way that makes sense for you to get on the ground and be involved... well until now at least... has been an interesting endeavour. But this will be remedied in the following post. Apologies. It's my fault.

IC:
Dominique & Trevor

There were some cupboards and drawers scattered around the place, checking a drawer nearest the door they entered Trevor found some phosphorous matches. "I haven't seen these for... well ... a very long time." the packet read 'Redheads' and looked as new. The packet and the matches inside were long, much longer and thicker than normal about 2 times the size in all dimensions.

"These should do it...." There were about 20 matches left in the box, less than the 50 supposedly in there but well and truly enough for all their needs.

Trevor stroke the first match and started lighting a candle.

The Borg

It took another 20 minutes, but the Borg did receive another message from the ground via the Drone.


Re-establishing contact... Established
Message From: Ms. Elizza Kent, Proprietor of Private Paradise Spa and Luxury Resort
Attention: Falsus, Chief Command Officer

Message:

We are still having trouble finding the member of your collective, our searching team would like to ask some questions about him but due to the nature of our security measures such communication is horribly inefficient at this current time.

As such we would like to invite a portion of your command crew down to the surface for liaison and to help ensure an immediate and safe recovery of your personnel. This is my personal invitation to you. I look forward to hearing from you.

Message Ends

Reply: Expected

"These should do it...."

Dominique looked at the matches and laughed. "The last time I saw something like that was back when I was a child and my great grandparents would take all us kids camping. That was over a century ago." She laughed and took one of the lit candles with her into the tiny kitchen. She was pleased to find bottled water and a very small stock of self heating canned goods. "The menu might be extrmemly limited, but we don't have to get into our other supplies." She considered for a moment then changed her mind. "Actually we need to ear our fruits and such first, and take these along instead."

"I assume we don't need to light a fire old style?"

Merry looked about, determining that yes she and Adam had managed to move the boat well above the high tide line, and noted to flickering light from the barely visible cottage. A nearby palm provided a good stancion to tie the boat off as additional security.

"Oh it looks as if they have found shelter and something for light. Lets go see what they've found exactly." She scooped up an armfull of their supplies and headed in the direction of the glimmer of warm amber light, moving slowly though so as to not stumble over something she couldn't see.

"Oh good," Adam sounded pleased, yet disappointed at the same time, "No camping then?" He asked airly as he picked up the rest of the night's supplies, trusting the rest to be safe under lock and key within the boat itself. He walked next to Merry, proceeding slowly like her, in case he found himself taking a quick trip to the floor. Not only would that hurt but, in all likelyhood, he would scatter their supplies to the four corners of the island and never see the majority again. He glanced over at his Fiance and badly wanted to hold her hand, but he knew that to do so would only scatter more items everywhere. So he consoled himself that they were nearly in the cottage and followed her as always.

From: Falsus of Borg, Chief Command Officer, New Borg Tactical Cube Prophet's Hope
To: Ms. Elizza Kent, Proprietor of Private Paradise Spa and Luxury Resort

We would be honored to accept your invitation; however, we must insist that our people
remain in contact with our Collective at all times. Will you be able to accomplish this?

Message ends



Falsus: How much more time do we need?

Omigott: We're still about eight hours out.

apart from the reasonable sized kitchen/dining room there was a single bed room with only one bed, but there was a sort of lounge room as well, easily large enough for people to sleep in but without any furniture what so ever, as well as a toilet/shower in the bathroom.

"Keep the non-perishables for later..." Trevor nodded in agreement "I guess we'll have to choose who gets the bed." it wasn't extremely narrow but could just barely fit 2 people and there being only one bed, something would have to be done for the other 2 anyway.

"I'll check if they need help in bringing things in..." it was a statement more than anything. It was getting really dark now, the last few remanants of light could be seen enough to provide obstacle recognition but not much more as Trevor headed out slowly making his way out to meet up with Adam and Merry.

Borg

Re-establishing contact... Established
Message From: Ms. Elizza Kent, Proprietor of Private Paradise Spa and Luxury Resort
Attention: Falsus, Chief Command Officer

Message:

We can certainly supply the use of our Drone to help facilitate communication between your ships and your away team but our customers expect privacy which means no communication from outside sources, so we cannot as a matter of principle shut down our communications shield. As a result unfortunately this means that anything that is not communicated via our Drone cannot cross out of the atmosphere and into space nor vie versa.

We apologise for this but we have our current customers to think of.

Message Ends

Reply: Expected

"No camping then?"

"I think a cottage might be preferable to sand fleas...though I don't know if this world has them, or worse" Merry laughed softly making sure that her shoulder bumped his lightly as they walked, since they were unable to hold hands.

She spied Trevor emerging from the cottage and called out to him "We're almost there, glad you all found some light."

"I'll check if they need help in bringing things in..."

"We're going to claim the bed tonight. If tomorrow night comes and there is only one bed, they can have that one. But we're the older couple" Dominique tried to put some laughter into her voice. She was still concerned that things were simply going too easily.

"They can have the shower first tonight" She called as Trevor left the cottage.

Adam sighed as he brushed shoulders and walked idly alongside his fiance, the light of his life. He had so badly wanted to spend some time with her, as their jobs demanded almost all of their own, yet now this was happening, it was if someone somewhere was conspiring against them.

Falsus: How much longer do we have to keep them busy?

Omigott: Seven hours, fifty-two minutes, one minute less than the last time you asked.

Shrevel: You could always just tell 'em we're having an orgy.

<<Too Many to Name>>: Shut up, Shrevel!

Falsus: We can also use the opening that they're giving us.


From: Falsus of Borg, Chief Command Officer, New Borg Tactical Cube Prophet's Hope
To: Ms. Elizza Kent, Proprietor of Private Paradise Spa and Luxury Resort

Message:

Our experience is that others' hardware adapts poorly to our needs. We
would need to be allowed to modify your drone to make it conform to our
standard. Given that we could not use our own equipment, we would
also require that certain security concerns be met...

Message Ends

Reply: Expected

With everyone together, or at least almost there. First thing was to organise some dinner, with the only bed already having been claimed by Dominique and Trevor that meant Adam and Merry were to "camp out" in the living room.

Time passed as they got themselves set up... the only thing that was left now, was to see if there was going to be a watch rotation, now that it was pitch black out there it was going to be very difficult to be able to see anything, though perhaps they might be able to hear something go bump in the night.

Borg

The Drone returned back into the atmosphere as it waited for a response time ticked over 1, 2 ,3 minutes passed nothing. It took almost 20 minutes for the drone to finally come back.


Re-establishing contact... Established
Message From: Ms. Elizza Kent, Proprietor of Private Paradise Spa and Luxury Resort
Attention: Falsus, Chief Command Officer

Message:
That is certainly an unusual request, security is one of our major selling points as a resort and so this request would normally have been rejected outright, however considering the situation. I have decided to allow this on a specific condition. That the actual installation of any equipment be handled by our trained professionals but you are welcome to have a representative their to support in such an installation. We will be sending up a shuttle shortly containing the our Head Communications Engineer so that this can be accomplished shortly.


They didn't like it but for various reasons must of thought they had little option, what they were could of been anyone's guess.

OOC: I'll be away for about a week with little to no net access.

Of course, modifying the drone would involve the use of New Borg Nanoprobes. This fact was not acceptable to the Head Communications Engineer. He and Omigott argued back and forth for six hours before another technology was oh-so-conveniently rolled out. The new device replaced the drone's main communication processor with one that was about five times faster, but was designed to take the same space and to plug right into the drone itself. Of course, there were other modifications that had to be made, most notably to the main antenna. When all was said and done, it took another hour and a half for everybody to get on the same page.

Then, the work started. The Head Communications Engineer was transported into the drone with a small New Borg Engineering team. The work kept him busy for about an hour.

In the mean time...

Falsus: Alright, Q-Bert, sock it to us!

Q-Bert: Look out below, here it @$#@#() comes!

Streams of energy erupted simultaneously from Q-Bert, Emperor's Choice and Friendship and Valor. Each fed into a receptacle on a different face of Prophet's Hope. As the reaction built, a beam shot out of the central cube ship, and something began to take shape.

Slowly, as Q-Bert's solar panels spiraled in and were converted back to energy, the Garbage Man star ship solidified. All in all, the process took about four minutes.

Omigott: Brothers, we have a new record!

A cheer shot through the entire collective. In the drone, the engineering team shot each other high fives. When the Head Communications Engineer asked them what it was about, they turned on a view screen and showed him.

He feinted.

Ver: Alright, now. Phase I is complete, but we're not even nearly finished. Let's get ready to board and finish that ship!

Zell: Tractor beams NOW! Bring that ship into a proper orbit!

And New Borg Engineers swarmed over the new ship, polishing the hull plating and making final preparations on the power, propulsion and life support systems.

By the time the Head Communications Engineer came back around, the ship was already lit and holding station in orbit.


From: Falsus of Borg, Chief Command Officer, New Borg Tactical Cube Prophet's Hope
To: Ms. Elizza Kent, Proprietor of Private Paradise Spa and Luxury Resort

Message:

There appears to be an operational Garbage Man ship in orbit now with
no one to operate it. We would appreciate it if, while you're looking for
our comrade, you could also find the crew of the original Garbage Man
vessel and return them to the new ship so that they may operate it.
We will, of course, aid you in any way that we can.

Can you help them?

Message Ends.

Reply: Expected



OOC:

Hope you hung around for one last post...

Making dinner was easy enough. Fruits and any foods that seamed very perishable were laid out. Dominique and Merry both ate with what looked like real appetites, and probably were.

"Might I suggest we set up watches thusly. One of you" Merry nodded to Dominique and Trevor. "awake at all times and covering the rear, since the window in the bedroom looks out that direction. Adam and I will split the front watch." She looked over at Adam to see what he thought of that.

Adam nodded,
"Seems sound advice," He said airly looking around their new home, "I guess I shall take the first watch at the front door," He smiled to Merry, noting how she'd fallen into her old ways and taken command of the ragtag group and was leading them with her experience and training. He slipped his hand into hers, squeezing gently,
"Is there any food on the go first or shall I take my post immediately?" He asked with a laugh.

Trevor allowed himself a brief chuckle before looking over Dominique, with consideration. "I'd rather the early shift, though I can just as easily do the late one."

This was good, they were a cohesive group, everyone was contributiing to the group and everyone was fallingin behind the person with experience in these things. And this was good, a good CEO is one that makes good business decisions but the truly great ones know who to put in charge of what. And this was the perfect situation of Merry to call on her vast experience.

Whoever took the first watch would notice little, a single powered boat with a red flashing light on top flew by the Island very fast, causing stir but that was it, it passed without slowing down and never deviating from it's course. Once it had passed there was no sign of anything even remotely interesting happening afterwards... Once again it seemed they were safe.

Borg

"Ahhh.... &#%^" the Head Communications Engineer excalimed rather colourfully. "The Drone isn't designed to carry people with it... As the drone passes through the atmosphere it will heat up and fry us all! Get us all out now!" he continued almost trying to get the words out of his mouth as fast as he can. Due to the current situation that a response had been sent via the drone without anyone actually having left it.

Though they still had a few minutes before it entered the atmosphere the Head Communications Engineer was rather rattled with the Drone's movement as it started heading back towards the planet.

Whatever happened to the small team of Borg Engineer's and the Head Communications Engineer the Drone would enter the atmosphere and return with a message from the Proprietor, also however it also contained a message from John.


Re-establishing contact... Established
Message From: Ms. Elizza Kent, Proprietor of Private Paradise Spa and Luxury Resort
Attention: Falsus, Chief Command Officer

We are currently searching for all individuals which may of arrived on the planet's surface, and will be able to restore them to the ship once we have figured out exactly what happened to their ship. I see that the upgrade has gone well. I understand that now with the drone upgrade that you will be able to communicate in buffered manner with the member of the collective on the ground. What can you give us as to his location so that we can fully restore him to the collective.

Message Ends
Reply: Expected


Hello? Anyone there? It's a collective but no one's here. Strange... Anyway. If Anyone can hear please talk to me.


OOC: This is probably my last post for a week.

Three of the four members of the Engineering Team took positions around the humanoid from the planet. In a moment, they were using their Borg Shielding to keep him safe from the heat. When the message arrived, he was standing with them and chatting, his sheepish grin having long since vanished as he came to realize that looking out for each other was something that the Borg just do.

"Is there any food on the go first or shall I take my post immediately?"

“You are certainly going to eat first.” Merry handed him a plate of fruit and sandwiches. We get to spend a little time together. “ Her tone was adamant, as she took her own place and headed out the front door – having taken Adams free had with hers so he had no choice but to follow her. “Here a romantic meal under the stars.” She smiled up at his as she sat with her back against the wall of the rustic cottage.

Dominique watched Merry and Adam leave with a small smile on her face. She felt very sorry for them. This all was about the last thing she had expected to have happen on the supposedly idyllic planet.

"I'd rather the early shift, though I can just as easily do the late one."

“Okay love, the first one is yours.” She said as she offered him a piece of fruit. She, like Merry and the vast majority of Tanaarans could easily get by on four hours of sleep due to the nano-pacs that continually scavenged the waste products from their bodies.

“Though I am beginning to hope that we have worried for nothing…but still…” She shook her head, “This has all the earmarks of ‘sooner rather than later’ and I just hope that this is not the lull before the storm.”

Omigott: Hello, John. We apologize for the lack of traffic. We've been forced to use a carrier drone for communications. It sends messages in batches, so the throughput is a little slow. You're not going to BELIEVE what we've done while you were gone! We've fabricated an entire Garbage Man ship to replace the one you lost! If you can find your former crewmates, let them know that we'll be spearheading their safe return. We have a diplomatic/investigative team heading for the planet.

----------------------------------

Falsus: Me, Ver, Zell, Sherlock, Shrevel, Legion. Is there anyone whose name I missed?

Zell: You should leave either Ver or me up here in case something goes wrong down there, and you should take Hal with you for technical support.

Falsus: Hal? But there are ten of him!

Zell: What's a few bodies? We easily have the resources to transport them.

Falsus: Alright, then. In that case, I'll need an engineer as well.

Omigott: I volunteer.

Falsus: Not you, old friend. Zell was right. We need to leave someone behind to pick up the pieces if something goes wrong.

Ver: I recommend Eifel.

Falsus: Yes. A good choice, especially with Hal on the team. What does that make the list, then?

Ver: Falsus (diplomatic and tactical), Zell (tactical), Sherlock (investigative), Shrevel (psychological), Legion (defense), Hal (technical) and Eifel (technical).

Falsus: Sounds like a team.

Shrevel: Ahhhh, opportunity awaits!

Falsus: We're going to want you on your absolute best behavior, Shrevel.

Shrevel: Ohhhh, I will be. I will be.

"Oh, I would like that very much," Adam grinned and followed his Fiance out into the open air, watching up at the stars as he accepted his food, glad to have this little time to himself,
"What do you think has caused all this?" He asked, taking a little food, "Do you think they'll give your folks their money back?" He grinned, lightening the mood.

"Do you think they'll give your folks their money back?"

“I don’t care at this point. No one knows who my folks specifically bought the vacation for, and it’s not like I, or you, are that important.” She ate a bit of sandwich and looked at the moonless night sky. “I don’t think it’s directed at us, you and I - that missile took out Trevor’s starcraft. But there is also the mystery of why ‘they’ – whoever ‘they’ are – used such a primitive method.”

Merry leant her head against Adam’s shoulder and sighed to herself. Too many unanswered questions.

"I guess so," Adam was enjoying the contact more than the conversation. However, he tried to sum up the situation for them, hoping he had got it correctly,
"So it's a case of 'Wrong place, wrong time?'" He asked cautiously, tapping into the experience of his Fiance, "What do they want with Travor then? And why haven't they followed up?"

"What do they want with Trevor then? And why haven't they followed up?"

“That’s one thing that’s been bothering me.” Merry said slowly, putting down the piece of fruit she had been going to eat, to stare out in the darkness. There weren’t any insect’s droning, just the quiet slough of breeze off of the ocean through the trees.

“They should have hit us almost simultaneously with destroying the starcraft. Hit us while we were off balance. But instead they have given us time to not only recover but we joined forces and have left where we were expected to be.”

"I'm sure it'll all become clear later on," He wrapped his arms around Merry, pulling her close in a gentle embrace, more for the comfort of them both. He kissed her on top of the head as they just sat together, delighted to have this peace to themselves, this quiet time alone. This was what the Holiday was meant to be about, not running for their lives from an unknown threat, but just being together.

The Head Engineer was sitting safely aboard Prophet's Hope, whisked away from the drone craft when it returned over the atmosphere. When three of the Borg Engineering Team had formed a shield around him, Dory had stood inside of it, a communications liason, to explain to him what was going on and to allay his fears, pointing out that it was all for his, for lack of a better term, convenience.

He had taken a liking to her, and they had got to chatting. Through this, the New Borg had found out that the man had noticed nothing unusual, and was completely unaware of the thermonuclear bomb that had destroyed the Garbage Man ship. They had been careful to skirt the issue with him, claiming that an errant meteor had scored a chance hit--if he knew the truth, it would not be very safe for him to return whence he came.

And a message was sent to John:


John, we are sending a team to the planet's surface. We would
like to know where you are and what you're doing, so that we can
assist you. Also, the planet's ownership has asked for your
whereabouts so that they can restore you to full contact with
our collective. Can you help us?

Also, we have reconstituted the Garbage Man ship in orbit, as best
we were able. If you know the whereabouts of her crew, please
let us know so that they can be taken to their new ship.


On the other hand, while they did this, there was a second message,
scrambled, on the carrier wave. It would be easy for John, a
member of the collective, to decipher, but almost impossible for
anyone else.


We do not trust the planet's government. We will relay false coordinates
as to your location, altering them so that it will appear to be a data
transmission error. Whatever you're doing, do it quickly--you're running
out of time. And, if you find Trevor, please let us know where he is as
clandestinely as possible. We suspect that he's going to need our help.

[/code]

OOC: I'm back... YAY!!!

IC:

Trevor smiled to himself as he noticed Adam and Merry leave, the stars were out in full force with only really the light of a number candle noticeable anywhere near them, and no moon. There was a very small amount of light to disrupt the view. On a clear night such as this they got a wonderful view up above them.

Trevor took a bite into his piece of fruit after doing any necessary peeling, and then using his other hand, huddled closer. "What is most annoying is that we have no idea what's going, no scenario I can think of can properly explain what's going without requiring things that just can't happen, or are totally out of character." He was certainly uncomfortable with the current situation having no idea what you were getting into was something that cause Trevor much concern. He was careful, precise, planned everything he had to but this was a situation where improvisation was king, You just had to hope you had a weapon you could use to make it through the next stage.

Normally he would hide these uncertainties very well, he was adept at the cool, calm exterior he could hold it in the most extremes, but was there a point now. It was just him and Dominique, so he let them come through. At least whatever would happen they would face it together, and if it wasn't the lull before the storm then all the better and they could go back to the calm before the storm.

At least it was just them now, Trevor pulled out some small containers of red wine, that he had somehow hidden on his person. "Here, at least we can share a wonderful meal together." He opened one container and presented it to Dominique. The opened up the other one for himself "To Love, having someone to care for and be cared by being together and becoming one." he toasted quietly raising the toast.

Borg

Ah, I'm glad to hear your voice, I've managed to start infiltrating an underground silo where they launched a space shuttle / missile monstrosity at us though I'm a bit stuck. Security has me surrounded, though don't know it. I can't get back the way I came and, well I need help. There's a console here but I haven't seen anything like it before... It's soo... old. I think the other employee's may have been rounded up but I don't know. I haven't been able to find them.((OOC: Think like a RL desktop computer))

Ah, good to hear your voice. I'm somewhere around the Volcano that erupted. I can't access any global positioning system so I can't give you an exact location. I have not seen or heard from any other employee of The Garbage Men but I am trying without luck so far to locate them. They may be nearby but I have nothing to go by. Though once I'm found I'm sure we'll be able to locate the rest. That was an amazing job you guys did on the ship. I can't wait to get everything back to Normal.

Do you guys know what is happening to Trevor and his wife? I haven't been able to get in contact with them for some time.


As for the Head Communications Engineer, he kept happily chatting away with Dory before he started to apologise to her. "I'm sorry for all this, I know how difficult it is when you aren't able to properly communicate with someone you communicate and work closely with all the time. If I had my way it would be totally different."

OOC: Dude! It was Big Garbage Day here in Western New York last Saturday...so...last Friday, half the town was putting stuff on the curb and the other half was taking it back OFF the curb. I was part of the latter. Hauled in six old computers, of which I got four working within 24 hours. AT power supply gone bad? ::Reaches over to shelf:: **Spare!** (Just remember to line up the plugs so the black wires are together and you won't fry the motherboard...) The funny thing was that somebody took the CPU fans off two of those old systems. (**spare** **spare**) So...anybody want a 266 MHz Pentium box running Windows 95? <<Cackle!>> I'm going to install Linux on it and use it as a network firewall.

What's this about desktop computers? :) :) :)

IC:

Zell: How long do you estimate before they crack our encryption?

Gizmo: Like, forever, Power Babe. That one's an original Gizmo! Does 'forever' sound good to you?

::Gizmo felt the Romulan Ice that ran through Zell's veins. The contempt was almost frightening--but something was holding it back.::

Zell: That's what we need. How long do you estimate until they discover that we're sending clandestine messages?

Gizmo: Moot point. They can't decipher 'em, and they can't stop 'em even if they do find 'em.

Zell: Let us hope that your surmise is correct. I would not care to be you if they start threatening us.

Falsus: All of this is irrelevant. John needs our help. He could be found at any time. And listen to that Chief Engineer talking! He's been out of touch with his own people! This whole thing stinks.

Zell: There is nothing we can do for John. He's isolated--and technically not in danger in his current situation.

Falsus: Is that how we take care of our own these days? Hah! Why did I join this circus?

Zell: You were compelled, just like the rest of us.

Falsus: Oh! That's right! Well, there's still something that we can do for John. We can include a cloaked security force with the Away Team, and detach it from the main force after we get through the planet's ionosphere. When that silo goes hot, I want to have us in it to cool it down again.

Ver: Actually, it's a reasonable proposal. More subterfuge than I'm used to from Falsus, but the basic plan is sound.

Zell: Oh, alright. I'll grant that this is possible--but it means using Q-Bert for the transport. None of our Scavenger Cubes are equipped with power fittings to allow for an in-atmosphere docking.

Ver: Then we will do what we have to do.


From: Falsus of Borg, Chief Command Officer, New Borg Tactical Cube Prophet's Hope
To: Ms. Elizza Kent, Proprietor of Private Paradise Spa and Luxury Resort

Message:

We have prepared an Away Team to meet with you and open
a dialogue. We would like to begin as soon as possible. We
also have your Head of Engineering, and it would save fuel if
he came with us. I give you my personal assurance that he
has been well-treated, and that he has enjoyed his stay among
us.

When can we begin?

Message Ends
Reply: Expected

To Love, having someone to care for and be cared by being together and becoming one."

"To Love, darling you, me, us, and our long long life together yet to come." Dominique clinked her container with his, ignoring the fact that the clink certainly didn't sound anything like that made by pairs of fine crystal tapping against one another.

"This really doesn't make any sense. I imagine that Merry is fretting over that. That missile wasn't anything in the way of modern. Trevor...She frowned and moved closer to him so her voice could be low enough that the night breezes would blot it out to any other than him "Could this be a left over from your rather more distant past? Have you ever been here before or left some 'really' old enemy behind? Say one from before you founded TGM?"

"I'm sure it'll all become clear later on"

Mercy nodded, just enjoying for the moment her time alone with Adam.

But as much as she might wish to, she could not relax comepletely, she had nearly a century of training and experience to overcome and given the circumstances it would not be a prudent or wise thing to do. But she could regulate the 'alert status' to passive status - always there but ignored until changing circumstances brought it active.

"I've been thinking about that too, " Trevor whispers just loud enough so that Dominique could comfortably hear it but little more. "There is only one person from the past that it could be, but she's dead and there's no coming back from that. You know I told about her before, but it can't be her I saw her."

"I have to assume that it's Sigma, but this is not his style. We should be surrounded by minions until he gets fed up and faces us directly, but this is just wrong."

He wished he knew what was going on he should damn well know, he couldn't help thinking that he missed something but what, where and when? He usually knew and was confident in everything he did but this feeling of uncertainty made him feel something similar to nausea.

----
The Drone went away and did it's thing, returning back to the Borg with a reply from the surface.


Re-establishing contact... Established
Message From: Ms. Elizza Kent, Proprietor of Private Paradise Spa and Luxury Resort
Attention: Falsus, Chief Command Officer

Thank you for the offer, I'm sure the Head Engineer will be grateful, but there is still the matter of shuttle that sent him to meet with you. It will still have to return anyway leaving matters of fuel of no concern. The shuttle has an auto-return function which the Engineer can activate if he so desires. Whether he is physically in one or the other does not matter.

Reply: Not expected; continue flight plan delta

Adam was also enjoying his time with Merry, cuddling up to her, feeling the warmth of her against his skin. He sighed in happiness and looked up at the nightsky. He did not understand why these things had suddenly happened but he supposed that, while he was with the former War Mistress, then it was alright.

"I have to assume that it's Sigma, but this is not his style. We should be surrounded by minions until he gets fed up and faces us directly, but this is just wrong."

"Tell me more about this Sigma? Who is he and what occured between you to make you enemies?" Dominique asked, not only curious, but is she could get a 'feel' of this Sigma, perhaps something might present itself to her. You have to have the basics of a box to think outside of it.

Outside...

Merry let herself doze as she cuddled up to Adam, her nanos kept her from needing much sleep and resting in his arms was a pleasure in and of itself.

OOC: Sorry for the Delay... I would like to get past this bit fairly quickly... the pacing is starting to lag.

IC:

"He was hungry for power, the corporation was a way to get power, and I was in the way. It started as simply as that. Sigma was backed up by an external source but it was his battle and he failed. When the last curtain call for the battle came. Sigma fled rather than taking a stand, which means he's still smarting over the defeat and humiliation. Getting back at me and the corporation during our honeymoon would be a perfect time." Trevor paused, just keeping a hold of Dominique. "I just wish that you and our friends weren't dragged into this, anyway."

"Anyway, you should get some sleep, tomorrow's going to be a big day. "

OOC: Generally, as GM, the pacing is up to you ;)

Anyway, you should get some sleep, tomorrow's going to be a big day. "

Dominique nodded and with a last kiss retired to the bed. "Beloved, don't let me sleep the night through, I want to take my turn at watch!" And in seconds she was fast asleep.

When Trevor woke her she stretched as she climbed out of the bed, loosening muscles that had stiffened slightly. Even as a just a passenger in as small sail boat one's muscles got a work out.


In the outer room Merry and Adam changed places as well.

The night passed uneventfully and dawn found the two couples eating the last of the fresh fruit.

"We should arrive at the main resort within a couple of hours at the most." Merry commented, "And then we can get this all sorted out. Cuase if this communications black out is something planned by the the resort, I wish they would have mentioned it in their litterature."

Dominique had made sure to help Trevor put on his allergy blocking cream as they got ready to leave.

Adam was gratefully eating on the fruit that morning, trying to block out the pounding in his head that had resulted from his little meeting with the sail yesterday. He was not looking forward to the couple of hours ducking and dodging about but he supposed that if he managed to miss it at least half the time, then it wouldn't be too bad.
"We're certain this was a Security procedure?" he asked Merry, interested in the conversation, "Shouldn't they have at least told us first? Or sent a message ot Guards or something?"

OOC: I lost control when I left, I did try and push the sleep forward but yeah...anyway. I did say the following earlier but I'll re-post this bit since it's been a while.

IC:

The first watch went past, a single lone boat, presumably security ran past with a red light oscillating on top, lighting the ocean around in a red glow. It was 800m away and so while noticable the light was too far away to reveal the location of their boat. the boat was coming from the direction they were heading and was presumably heading to where they came from. The boat didn't seem to realise that there was anything amiss at all. It simply sped past, much faster than the sail boat that brought them here.

Everything else was dead silent apart from the odd movement of wind in the trees and the lapping of the water on the shore. Trevor in the dim light looked down at Dominique, she was so peaceful. he thought for a moment about taking her watch as well. However this was soon overridden as she specifically had said that she wanted to do her watch. He would never substitute his own judgement for hers when she knows the facts also of consideration was what would Adam and Meredith think.

And so he did, he woke her up, the same boat that had gone past in the first shift came back the other way in the night shift, and once again. It never looked like they saw anything out of the ordinary.

Morning came with the sun, gleaming in through the windows and Trees. Trevor was up just before the sun as light started to grow in the eastern sky. He grabbed a lotion bottle and started to apply it to his skin. Asking for Dominique to help him get to the regions that it was hard to get to. All this was done before the sun even peaked over the horizon.

It was time for everyone to pack up what they bought and re-load the yacht.

Dominique was only too happy to help him spread the lotion...after first getting in a few kisses.

They had brought little from the sail boat and it was easy to reload. Shortly after breakfast they were on their way.

"No Adam, I don't think this is some sort of proper security proceedure. Otherwise they should have notified us ahead of time, before we landed as far as I'm concerned" Merry looked at Adam with concerned eyes. He'd been knocked about a bit yesterday and looked thoroughly tired of having to duck the boom.

Fortuantely the morning breeze headed toawards the main resort, so not more tacking and a shorter sail over all. She refused to let him help unmoor the boat, asking him insted to slide the centerboard in instead. Once they were untied she pulled herself out of the water and into the boat.

Once the other three were settled off they went. An hour and a touch later they were insight of the docks and beaches of the resort.

"Trevor, how do you want to handle this? It is your ship that was destroyed." Dominique asked as they approached.

The Chief Engineer was underway in his shuttle. The Contact Team was underway in their cube ship. In their wake, a cloaked Forrager Cube followed. When it was deep enough into the planet's atmosphere, it would go to John's location and its occupants would do what they could to help him--as clandestinely as possible.

OOC: Sorry for the Delay had sudden onset internet go bye-bye, It's back now obviously.

IC:
On the Water

"Well, first we've got to deal with those security people. They'd certainly have pistols of some kind. We're not going to be able to engage them"
It was hard to see but from around the other side of a small peninsula and from a dock on land powered boats were on their way.

"Do you have any ideas, Ambassador Adam?"

Borg Contact Team

The Engineer was directed to land and then the Borg followed in soon afterwards. As they disembarked a georgeous woman, that looked in her mids thirties.

"Welcome to the Private Paradise Spa and Luxury Resort, I'm Elizza Kent. Though seeing as we're finally meeting face to face, you can call me Liz. Do you have any questions or do you all want to come to the security office so we can help find your missing member?"

She smiled effortlessly, she exuded confidence and charm with an aftertaste of calming. followed it up with a bow and then offered her hand to be shaken you could never be too sure about what is expected

Borg Cloaked Away Team

It wasn't hard to find the silo, all of it was underground, and while the actual silo was open, getting inside to where John is was going to be another kettle of fish all together after an initial survey.

They found 3 main entrances on the ground from the North, east and west, there were some passages in the silo, mainly provided for maintenaince access but they were electronically locked and the source of the power was in the silo itself. Protected.

There wasn't anyone physically there all the protections were electronic.

Dominique looked concernedly at the boats approaching as she waited for Adam to answer Trevors question.

"Both Merry and I have our personal weapons with us" That ws just a reminder - she had her pair of small but powerful blasters and she knew Merry had hers.

Merry was putting most of her attention to the sailing of the sailboat but she too was interested in what Adam would suggest.

Adam looked at the others who were interested in his opinion and he thought for a moment. He decided to answer honestly on the subject,
"I am only a Diplomat, CEO, this already surpasses my knowledge of Diplomatic or military matters," He smiled apologetically, "I could advise nothing that my Darling, as the former Commander of an entire Nation's Military could not. I am sorry." He sighed and eyed the boats warily, "On the other hand, perhaps reacting to immediate events would be advisable, other than jumping to conclusions?" He suggested, he had no idea who the boats belonged to and the last thing he wanted to do was shoot their rescuers or fellows. Well, not him of course, as an Ambassador, he was unarmed.

"Trevor please, we're not working. We have to leave violence open as an avenue, but here in the open starting a firefight is not going to be good.

If we pretend to be totally hammered by alcohol then the chances are they'll help us land, either way, or the ruse might give us the military advantage if we no other choice but to attack. What do you guys think, we better do this quickly."

Trevor bent down and picked a bottle of wine up, offering it to Dominique.

What do you guys think, we better do this quickly."

Dominique gave him a wide eyes look but took the bottle with but a small hesitation. She took just enough to give her breath a tinge of alcohol and handed it Adam.

Merry hid her disapproval behind a blank face. She did not thing it was a good idea, but she had abrogated command of the incident to Dominique and Trevor. She hid it further by taking one hand off the tiller - she didn't need both hands for easy sailing like this - and waved vigorously at the approaching boats, while trying to plaster a wide smile on a stiff face.

She now wanted nothing more than to get her and the others off this planet safely.

"Yes, Liz, we've got questions," Falsus said. He was strange even for a Borg. Small by human standards, he nonetheless carried himself with a very regal bearing--in fact, there was a special sort of grace with which he moved. He more glided than walked, and everything about him seemed to happen almost effortlessly. "We're interested in the incident that you reported to us before we came here. Specifically, before we put ourselves entirely in your hands, we need...certain assurances."

A rather thin, female humanoid Borg stepped up and produced a list of needs. She had no name. She was part of the compound individual who went by the name of Gizmo. And the device that held the list of needs doubled as a bioscanner--the closest thing to a lie detector the Borg could improvise, while different enough for them to plausibly claim that it was for a health inspection.

Bureaucrats
Usually
Mumble
Past.

Trevor glared at Merry for a moment before 'drunkenly' stumbling with the wine bottle in his hand while taking a swig. It looked like he had something to say but now wasn't the time especially considering the guards were coming closer.

He was a good physical actor, he was able to pretend to be drunk very well. They still had minutes before the boarding crew arrived but it was prudent to guess that they'd have things like binoculars to get a closer and more detailed look at their target before they could see them in detail.

----- Borg -----

"A Strange request seeing that you're already here." she replied as she looked over the list of components "If I had wanted to harm you, would I have allowed you to bypass the communication's black out? or would I have not already have you all arrested or killed? I have trusted you enough to allow modifications to our equipment bypassing crucial security measures. Is it too much to ask that you trust me in return?" She paused a bit still reading the list, she barely even looked up while saying all that she did.

Though now, she did... "Oh, a medical scanner, If your worried about viruses or other infections don't worry. We frequently do thourough medical checks on all personnel. Don't want our clients to catch anything now do we? I give you my personal assurance that I will be personally be here with you the entire time. Anything that will affect you will affect me as well."

"We were under the impression that the communications black-out was an abnormal phenomenon," Falsus replied, "and an entire Collective is a difficult thing to arrest--or kill. And being here is an act of trust.

"You must forgive us our caution. The destruction of a star ship on a peaceful mission is a disconcerting mishap. Until we are fully aware of the events surrounding this mishap, we're going to have to be on our guard."

The Stealth Team couldn't get to John directly, but that didn't mean they were powerless.

Slowly, carefully, they sneaked into the silo and, taking great care to be unnoticed, began releasing their nanoprobes on the silo's information technology. This allowed them to hold true to their pledge not to absorb anything sentient while allowing them to monitor and to some extent control the operations of the silo.

Adam took the bottle and quickly slipped out of sight with a sigh. He half emptied the bottle as soon as he could, relying on the Alversian's naturally high tolerance of alcohol to ensure his soberness. Sure enough, the wine left a sour taste in the back of his throat but he was no more tipsy than he had been initially. In his younger days, he had been forced to drink much more than this to get himself smashed, but even now, this much did not phase him. He remained in the bottom of the boat, not trusting his dubious acting skills to pursuade the guards of his own drunkeness.

Adam took the bottle and quickly slipped out of sight with a sigh. He half emptied the bottle as soon as he could, relying on the Alversian's naturally high tolerance of alcohol to ensure his soberness. Sure enough, the wine left a sour taste in the back of his throat but he was no more tipsy than he had been initially. In his younger days, he had been forced to drink much more than this to get himself smashed, but even now, this much did not phase him. He remained in the bottom of the boat, not trusting his dubious acting skills to pursuade the guards of his own drunkeness.
It wasn't long until the security personnel arrived on their two boats which came either side of the yacht. "Sir, Ma'ams... excuse me... Resort Security... This area..." she trailed off "Are you drunk?" was added with a strong heap of uncertainty in her voice. For the moment the two boats either side still had their full contingent of officers but it was only a matter of time till they boarded.

Trevor drunkenly stumbled over and half laughed while he said "Yeeaah." he pulled out the bottle of wine and presented it to the security officers on one side of the yacht.
Dastardly Stench;14833129']"We were under the impression that the communications black-out was an abnormal phenomenon," Falsus replied, "and an entire Collective is a difficult thing to arrest--or kill. And being here is an act of trust.

"You must forgive us our caution. The destruction of a star ship on a peaceful mission is a disconcerting mishap. Until we are fully aware of the events surrounding this mishap, we're going to have to be on our guard."

"Of course, I understand perfectly, It's quite a strange time for us too. Blocking all communications is rather unusual step that we've had to take. I can brief you on the circumstances in full once we get security office where we can show you what happened. I'm sure once we can all get over this initial skepticism and mistrust everything will go smoothly. Please, Falsus, will you and your team walk with me to the security office?"


Dastardly Stench;14833133']The Stealth Team couldn't get to John directly, but that didn't mean they were powerless.

Slowly, carefully, they sneaked into the silo and, taking great care to be unnoticed, began releasing their nanoprobes on the silo's information technology. This allowed them to hold true to their pledge not to absorb anything sentient while allowing them to monitor and to some extent control the operations of the silo.

The probes did their job intergrating into the data flow of the communication infrastructure within the base, they had hooked into to one of the many security circuits which at least allows them to see what's going on inside around the silo, which also allows them to open doors. Though the status of the doors and such are being monitored by a central security station somewhere deep in the heart of the facility. Further more.. it seems some work is being done on some kind of rocket can't see exactly what's happening but something is.

OOC: Do we want to move this thread to the new forums?

OOC: Although I've found a kludge that lets me post on these forums, I would rather move the thread.

IC:

Main Office

"Certainly," Falsus replied. The group moved--albeit cautiously--with him.

Meanwhile, outside the compound, Q-Bert, the New Borg's attempt at a cybertonian-style transformer, shifted into robot mode. Though he stood three meters tall, he could still interact better with the ground crew in that mode. Of course, for him, this meant swearing a blue streak, but it was a friendly blue streak.

-----------------------------

Silo

In a certain pattern, the silo doors opened, then closed. It was as if something was moving through them...but nothing could be seen.

OOC: Yes I think we should, as getting here now is a pother and a half!

Dominique smilled with apparent owl eyed dazedness. "Why yes, yes my fine officer we are. You would be too if you had been out in this ...this bathtub"

"Hey I told you I know how to sail perfectly well thank you" Merry said with a pronounced sniff, and busied herself tieing a perfet knott, with intense concentration.

The day sailer was only eighteen feet long and really was not designed to hold more than maybe one, maybe two, more persons in any sort of reasonable uncrowding.

"And if you will let us be on our way, I need to win my bet!" She exclaimed once the knott was to her satisfaction.

This thread has been completely transfered over to the new forums...

This thread is now officially closed and this is to continue on the new thread.

The thread can be found Here (http://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=2650&p=72160#p71140)