LtJg Lera Michaels - Dreams of Treats

[steve...@yahoo.com]

((Deck 5, Holodeck 2 - Starfleet Testing Facility Simulation))

Semara: Okay. Good work. Take a few minutes, but I expect the cap'n'll have more for us to do shortly.

Ezra nodded. Surely there would be more work between now and their arrival.

Michaels: I might go into shock if Captain Shayne does not want something more.

Semara exited the Holodeck. Ezra stopped and paused looking back at Lera. He was ready to go, but she hesitated.

Lera turned to Ezra. Prior to the simulated firing of the emitter, prior to the thought, prior to any of this mess, she would have taken the opportunity to get closer to him. She still wanted to but she was so drained at the moment. What would she have given for a quiet evening close to him, free of these nagging thoughts and relentless speculations? But there was still work to be done here on the holodeck.

Zerva: Lera? Is everything—

Michaels: Computer. Store program in an encrypted file. Access limited to Lieutenants Semara, Zerva and Michaels and Bridge officers Shayne, Hobart and Connor Dewitt.

Computer: Program file stored.

Zerva: ::nodding:: Good idea encrypting the program, but is there something else you wanted to talk about?

Michaels: Ezra. Do those files say anything about the Federation staff at the prison? Temporary staffing or are there families as well? How many people? What kind of structures are there? How many prisoners? Anything like that?

Zerva: ::checks his PADD:: I do not see any indication of families living there, as I can only imagine why anyone would bring their children to such a place. But it is not out of the realm of possibility. As for the numbers they are a bit vague, but I would summarize there was the standard complement of staff to keep the camp safe, secure and in working order. It doesn’t not specify the exact number of POWs at the facility. ::swiping up at a file:: It does mention the Chief Warden by name, but not much is written under the file about them. I did find a blue print of the prison camp. I can send you the files if you’d like? I’m sure the Captain and XO have looked into it by now. If we want additional information we could do some digging of our own in the ship's computer data base. See what we can find? Certainly it would help in our decision making process to know those numbers. Especially if we are trying to avoid as little death as possible.

Michaels: I agree with you. We would rather not kill anyone. But to sow suspicion among the Lattice Alliance, what they find would have to be convincing. Destroyed Federation buildings might be enough even if there were no bodies. If they found no Sheliak bodies and the Tholian housing completely destroyed as well ... :: the words trailed off.:: Would it be feasible to evacuate the Sheliak and the Federation staff using just Khitomer?

Zerva: Not unless we increase Khitomer’s security by a factor of at least three times that much and even without the extra security, we’d be rather cramped. Besides, we don’t have nearly as much room in the brig as the camp does.

Semara: =/\= Semara to Michaels and Zerva. We're meeting up with Commander Dewitt in Cargo Bay 2. I'll join you there. =/\=

Well that didn’t take long. Semara wasn’t kidding when she said a few minutes. Was it even five?

Michaels: :: holding up an inviting hand to Ezra:: It appears the jury may be done with their deliberations.

Zerva: ::nods over to Lera as he spoke:: =/\= We’ll join you shortly. =/\=

Semara: =/\= Great. Semara out. =/\=

Ezra took her by the hand as the call ended, with his PADD in the other hand.

Zevra: I was thinking? We should stop along the way to cargo bay 2 and grab some food. I haven’t eaten all day since before the conference room. What do you think?

Michaels: That sounds like the best idea I have heard in at least the last fifteen minutes.

Zevra: I’ll let you decide. Officers mess, replicator or MREs?

Lera scrunched up her face and frowned.

Michaels: You really know how to plan a romantic dinner. :: she smiled and squeezed his hand. :: The officer's mess would be fine but we really do not have time. That leaves MREs... probably Chili Mac with Jalapeno Cheese... hm hm hmmm... The last time I had one of those it came with a pink beverage that someone called Pepto Dismal. I have no idea what they meant by that but it was vile. Or something from a replicator. My joy at that option is unbounded. Black bean quesadillas shouldn't be too bad.

The doors to the Holodeck opened. Ezra smiled as they exited into the waiting corridor.

Zevra: ::smiling:: You know, I could really go for some cake right about now. Preferably chocolate, with sprinkles.

Michaels: Chocolate cake with butter cream icing. Now I know with certainty what Pavlov's dogs were going through. :: sigh :: But I can not go that route now. The last thing I want to be is a tipsy when the Captain summons us.

Zevra: Okay fine. ::pouts:: Meal first, cake as desert later.

Michaels: Now that you got me thinking along those lines, after all this we will have "pan de muerto relleno con crema chocolate." You will love. I will even get Amelia to help me with it so that it turns out perfectly.

No Tags/END

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LtJg Lera Michaels

Engineering Officer
USS Khitomer
K240106LM2