Pouring Water On The Rose

Captain's Log: Stardate 60140.

The repairs on the Leviathan are almost complete. The chief says that there was extensive damage to the neural gel packs and to be safe, all of them have to be replaced. That is what seems to be taking the most time. The new Lieutenants Shaka and Hansen seem to be working well together. I am pleased that this is the case considering that we are going to be out of contact with Starfleet for quite a long time and the crew of the Leviathan will become family. I just hope that it will continue.

Lieutenant Harris is proving to be a good first officer. However he is really hard on some of the crew to include my first warrant officer, Mr. Ambrose. Ensign Goory who was my helmsman has been given a transfer to the *Ticondaroga* currently on a goodwill mission to the Lorean Homeworld. Fortunately the *Ticondaroga* has an excellent officer at the helm and a small contingent of Yeager and Nebula starships as escorts just in case. I for one would not like to see them any time soon unless I was blasting them to high heavens.

Lieutenant Toran didn't like the idea of someone else fixing his station, so he has put in double and on many occasion triple shifts to repair his station. It is now running at peak efficiency. The 'old man' has proven to be an asset and a friend. Ensign Chu Barker, my junior science officer, may just might be my senior science officer. I don't have one, but I must wait till I see how he is and what he does. My first impressions of him are one of great expectations. We will see.

End Captain's Log

Captain Devore walked around the Bridge and saw that as the repair teams fixed the damaged systems, they also added a few enhancements to the already advanced starship. According to the manifest that Devore had been looking over, they also wanted to install a new shielding modulation- refractive shielding. Looking over the PADD, the refractive shielding acted like stealth technology of the 20th century. At distances of 10000 km - 2500 km , the engaged shielding will deflect or scatter the sensor sweeps of any ship or object, scatter light beams and minute levels radioactive isotopes to provide a virtually invisible ship. At distance of 2500 km - 1000 km, the shielding distorts the actual visual perception making the ship virtually invisible except for a slightly distorted foreground apparition. The shielding has no benefit for any ship within 1000 km. This refractive technology is very similar to a cloaking device except for the obvious ranges. The Leviathan is to experiment with the shields and report it back to Starfleet at the earliest opportunity. Starfleet would like to see this work and apply it to a bunch of larger Sovereign or Ambassador Class Starships.

The ship was practically abandoned. Devore had authorised shore leave for the crew so that they can say final good byes to their families. He himself was to go to San Francisco and talk to Fleet Admiral Ross. His orders never really came in as to what the Leviathan was to do, so he was going to go there and get them personally. Devore walked down the halls of deck 5 and noticed that sick bay had noises coming from it. He entered it and saw Dr. Clairidge trying to arrange a large table that contained a few test tubes and petri dishes. "May I help you Barbara?"

Startled she jumped up and put her hand on her chest trying to push it back down. She had been slightly frightened, "Captain I wish you wouldn't sneak up on me like that," Clairidge said with a smile.

"Please, call me Mark." Something seem to be budding, but he acknowledged it as friendship, but that beautiful smile, the long, blonde hair, and even that gorgeous body of hers, it was hard to keep his mind on the straight and narrow. Occasionally, certain remarks were made from Clairidge that would get Devore to think, think of what could happen, can happen, even for those strong of will, WILL happen. But the command structure and where each of them rested in the ladder held him back from just openly admitting he wanted her. *The one time I really want someone, I have protocol and etiquette to stand in my way.*

"Captain. That isn't proper or even protocol," Clairidge said with a smile.

"The hell with protocol. When we are alone please call me Mark," He said with an equal smile. "Don't make me give you an order doctor."

"Please." Barbara finally placed the table where she wanted it then like an imaginary light bulb going off in her head faced Devore. "Captain.... Mark, can you have Lieutenant Hansen check the replicators her in sick bay. I tried to replicate a cup of coffee and got a cup of tea. I think there might be something with the recognition circuitry."

"Well, I can take a look at it, which reminds me why I am here. I am on my way to Starfleet Command to see Admiral Ross and was wondering if you would like to join me. After my meeting, I know this place a few blocks from the academy that serves the best cappuccino."

"I would love to, but I have a lot of work to do here. Ever since the EMH was taken off line, I have been busy trying to put my things where I want them."

"Oh," Devore said disappointedly. "Maybe some other time."

Captain Devore walked over the to replicator and took off the access panel. He tinkered with a few isolinear chips then stepped back. He said something to the computer that caused Clairidge to respond. She thought he was talking to her. "No Barbara. I was testing the replicator. It seems to be working fine. I had better get a move on. The Admiral is expecting me."

"Okay. Thanks," Clairidge said with a smile watching Devore walk out the doors. Something didn't seem right, so she walked over to the replicator and noticed in the dispensing tray, sat a beautiful red rose surrounded with babies breath. A note was attached that said, "The beauty of a rose loses its luster, as the brilliance of your own beauty surrounds it. -Mark." She was caught off guard. Quickly grabbing the rose she inhaled it deeply, the rich aroma tickling her senses. Barbara ran out the door and down the hall searching for Devore. "Captain!" She yelled catching up to Devore.

"Yes?" Devore said turning around now face-to-face with the object of his desire.

"You know something. I think that the work in sick bay can wait. After all, we don't know when we will be back here again. I will take you up on that offer." She said smiling.

He smiled and put out his arm. Clairidge hooked his arm and walked with him to transporter room 2.