ST:TTV501 | "Q Be, or Not Q Be..."

Stardate 97004.1

With the Valley Forge settling once more into a comfortable routine and the crew taking time to enjoy personal endeavours, Captain Keelah finds her own plans rudely interrupted by an enigmatic arrival...

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Keelah@crystyll | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjaejG-LDAQ&feature=emb_logo Keelah@crystyll FX | Keelah strolls casually through the halls of the VF after finishing a duty shift on the bridge. Spirits are high, and many crew are met with welcome greetings as she passes by Keelah@crystyll: "Captain's log supplemental: As relieved as I am to be clear of the Regulators territory, and with it their judgement... a part of me found comfort in the sense of travelling through known territory+ Keelah@crystyll: + a sense ever present now that we once again entered the unknown, with the QanwI' far ahead on it's scouting" Keelah@crystyll: ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3OpppJvbSs ) Keelah@crystyll pauses for a passing smile to Rianni as she hurries to class T'Emp@anncarise | Trenick gives Keelah a nod as he passes through the hall in a long, non-uniform jacket, "Captain." Keelah@crystyll: "Lieutenant" she smiles, "Enjoying some downtime?" T'Emp@anncarise | Trenick: "Just on my way to the holodeck. We're running through an old lecture by Dr. Pulaski in our databanks." Keelah@crystyll: "Indeed? Well don't let me keep you" she smiles again T'Emp@anncarise | Trenick smiles back and heads on his way. Keelah@crystyll: also continues as she resumes her log Keelah@crystyll: "Now several months into our voyage, I'm please to acknowledge that both ship and crew continue to perform admirably. Indeed, one of my prouder duties as Captain came after clearing Regulated space + Keelah@crystyll: + re-establishing communications with Command; the honour of presenting of recognition awards to some of the crew. As proud as I always am to receive such recognitions, it is always far more + Keelah@crystyll: + satisfying to bestow them" Keelah@crystyll pauses again as Lennie approaches, also out of uniform, "Lendaria, off to the Pulaski lecture?" Keelah@crystyll | Lennie beams happily and gives a surprised doubletake, "Didn't think that'd be on ya radar Cap'n, y'all goin' too?" Keelah@crystyll chuckles, "No, I think I'm just going to go enjoy an evening with my daughter" Keelah@crystyll | Lennie smiles, "Sounds perfect. Well ya enjoy now!" she strolls off with a little wave Keelah@crystyll continues strolling along, quiet smiles and greetings with her log update done for now. The PADD tucked softly under one arm T'Emp@anncarise | Nishaa passes by Keelah at an intersection, "Captain. Heading off duty too?" Keelah@crystyll: "Hello Nishaa, and yes thank you. Zee has the late the shift so I plan to enjoy a nice dinner and an evening in with T'Pia. You?" T'Emp@anncarise | Nishaa: "Finished my shift as well. Heading down to the mess to catch a game with the other listers." Keelah@crystyll: "Aah, there is no substitute in the universe for the improvised games found among listers. I always did enjoy joining in those back in my engineering days" T'Emp@anncarise | Nishaa chuckles: "No there isn't. You're welcome to join if you like, Captain. Might spook some of the others who don't run into you often though..." Keelah@crystyll smirks a little, "That's half the fun of dropping in. Call it Captain's privilege! But, perhaps another night yes? Enjoy yourself now, and a word of advice... don't get into a game of strip poker + Keelah@crystyll: + with Essex. He gets handsy" T'Emp@anncarise | Nishaa grins, "I'll keep that in mind! Not exactly a fair game seeing he usually just wears a combadge..." Keelah@crystyll: "That certainly doesn't help" she laughs T'Emp@anncarise | Nishaa: "You have fun too, Captain!" she waves as she heads off down the intersection. Keelah@crystyll returns the wave with a smiles as she continues her walk back to her quarters Keelah@crystyll wanders through the door, looking around for TP T'Emp@anncarise lounges on the sofa, reading from a PADD. She lowers it as she hears the door slide open, "Hi mum!" Keelah@crystyll smiles, walking over to greet her with a kiss on the head, "Hello sweetheart, anything interesting?" she looks to the PADD while finally releasing her jacket some to sit loose T'Emp@anncarise swings her legs over to sit properly on the sofa, "The latest ship design journals from back home!" Keelah@crystyll: "Oh? So are we set to be mothballed on our return yet?" she chuckles, taking a seat next to TP with an arm around her T'Emp@anncarise chuckles, "Nah, if anything they might be converting more old Sentinels. No news for sure yet, but there was an article a few issues back about how much the refits improve older ships." Keelah@crystyll: "Well good to know we're still paving the way there at least" she smiles, "Anyway, did you have any plans for this evening?" T'Emp@anncarise: "Nothing yet! You have any ideas?" Keelah@crystyll stretches out a little, "Oh I don't know, I thought perhaps a nice dinner then just a little quality time while we can enjoy it" T'Emp@anncarise smiles, "That sounds nice. There's been some pretty busy moments on this trip so good to have some quiet relaxing time!" Keelah@crystyll: "Indeed..." she leans in, "...don't let on, but I'm quietly watching the long range scans for a suitable planet where we can take some proper shore leave" T'Emp@anncarise: "Oooh, I'm sure a lot of the crew would like that. Hopefully there won't be any surprises on nice planets this far out..." Keelah@crystyll: "Or at least, only nice surprises" she chuckles, getting back to her feet Keelah@crystyll: "But for now, I shall be quite content with a pleasant evening, just us. Once I've showered I can see to dinner, time to decide if there's anything you're in the mood for" T'Emp@anncarise: "Hmm...now that you mentioned shore leave I kind of want Risian food..." T'Emp@anncarise: "Had some of that at one of the celebrations we held on board! Can't remember which one..." Keelah@crystyll: "Sounds good to me! I'll be back as quick as I can" she smiles, turning and leaving for her bedroom Keelah@crystyll FX | A short time later, Keelah stands relaxing in the sonic shower. The tension and stresses of a day's command drifting away Keelah@crystyll FX | Her serenity is interrupted by the rising of a most unusual sound however, as it grows in volume it sounds almost like a tribal drum beating... Keelah@crystyll peers around the glass confusedly, to see nothing there. But the music continues Keelah@crystyll: "Computer, cease playback..." Keelah@crystyll FX | The computer beeps an error, but the music disappears. She shrugs and returns to her shower Keelah@crystyll FX | ...and the drums rise once more Keelah@crystyll jumps out the shower more perturbed this time, sensing a practical joke Keelah@crystyll goes wide eyed and almost panicked to see a strange figure now standing before her. Modesty instinct drives her to quickly grab a towel and cover herself Keelah@crystyll FX | The figure - humanoid looking - stands wearing what looks like a black & white suit, sunglasses and is wielding an electric guitar... Keelah@crystyll FX | The figure plays rhythmically, ignorant of Keelah it seems. Also somehow playing a full score, not just a solo guitar... Keelah@crystyll: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huLaUR8Hx5c Keelah@crystyll: "Computer, intruder alert!" Keelah@crystyll FX | The computer does not respond Keelah@crystyll: "Whoever you are, I demand you get off my ship! At least out of my room..." Keelah@crystyll FX | The figure continues to play, though the face is obscured a smirk seems apparent at her response... Keelah@crystyll reaches for the combadge lay on top of her jacket to one side, but almost loses her towel and has to readjust Keelah@crystyll scowls, "Would you mind...?" Keelah@crystyll FX | The figure concludes it's retro song and looks up with a bright and cheeky smile, "But of course, mon Capitaine!" and snaps his fingers... Keelah@crystyll suddenly finds the combadge laying in her hand in flash. Her gaze turning slowly back to the figure, "...Q!" Keelah@crystyll: -/\- To be continued... -/\- Keelah@crystyll glares at Q, still holding the towel around herself Keelah@crystyll | Q: grins, "Nice to know my reputation precedes me. Has Jean Luc been telling tales of our wonderful adventures together? Be honest, he misses me, doesn't he" Keelah@crystyll: "I know who you are, as does every Starfleet officer since you became standard reading at the academy. Ever since you proclaimed to put Humanity on trial" Keelah@crystyll | Q: vanishes in a flash and reappears at Keelah's side, now wearing a Captain's uniform, "And there is that wonderfully dull Vulcan memory recall" he appears to make a suggestive glance down her Keelah@crystyll flushes and readjusts her towel, "Q!" Keelah@crystyll | Q steps away with a flamboyant stride and snaps his fingers, "Have it your way. Vulcans... never any fun" Keelah@crystyll blinks with a flash and finds herself again fully clothed, she relaxes her arms and again taps her combadge, "Security to Captains quarters" Keelah@crystyll | Q: tuts, "Dear Captain, why so eager to part ways? Besides, if you remember your academy reading so well you know they won't hear you until I want them to" Keelah@crystyll sighs, "Whatever you want Q, I'm not interested. And I'm even less interested in discussing it with you in my bathroom!" Keelah@crystyll | Q grins mischievously, "You know, you're absolutely right! Let us talk in a much more fitting environment!" Keelah@crystyll: "Q...!" reaches out to stop him, but it's too late. There's a flash... Keelah@crystyll blinks, adjusting to her surroundings, and her brow furrows with unfamiliarity. Though she sees Q sitting back in a chair at the head of a conferenc table with his feet up on it Keelah@crystyll: "Where are we?" Keelah@crystyll | Q: "A place fit for the most serious of conversations!" Keelah@crystyll looks around some more, "This looks like the interior of a Galaxy class starship..." she slowly turns a glare back to his cheeky smile Keelah@crystyll FX | The door hisses open and Picard walks in, sipping a mug of tea. He freezes and glares at the figure in his seat, "Q! What are you doing on my ship? We had an agreement!" Keelah@crystyll | Q waves his hand nonchalantly, "Not now Jean Luc, can't you see we're busy" Keelah@crystyll | Picard turns a puzzled glance towards Keelah for a brief moment before he disappears in a flash Keelah@crystyll: "Q, what you did you do to him... is this...?" she looks around Keelah@crystyll | Q rolls his eyes, "Don't be so uptight mon Capitaine, he will be right back where and when he needs to be" he leans in with a grin, "He doesn't know, but I often like to borrow his meeting room" Keelah@crystyll | Q pushes out a chair and pats it, "Come. Sit! We have much to discuss, you and I..." Keelah@crystyll is not impressed. Keelah@crystyll folds her arms and stands her ground Keelah@crystyll | Q sighs, "Stubborn as the rest of them, aren't you..." he flashes to her side, "Are you sure you're not related to Tuvok, a pasty anorexic cousin, perhaps?" Keelah@crystyll perks a brow, refusing to give in to the insults Keelah@crystyll | Q: "Oh, fine. Ask your questions. I shall attempt to confine the facts to your primitive understanding" Keelah@crystyll: "I suppose that's about as cordial as I can expect from you, isn't it. Quite simply; what do you want with me?" Keelah@crystyll | Q: "You know this already. You read about it like a good little cadet" Keelah@crystyll: "I read about you and your kind. Be specific" Keelah@crystyll | Q: "You already know that Humanity was put on trial. Their expansion throughout this galaxy was cause for great concern to the Continuum" Keelah@crystyll: "And as I recall, Captain Picard satisfied your trial" Keelah@crystyll | Q tuts again, waggling his finger, "Do Starfleet not teach you anything correctly these days? Honestly..." Keelah@crystyll | Q: "Jean Luc was well informed at our last meeting that the trial was not over, nor would it ever be" Keelah@crystyll: "Well if you plan to make me stand trial for Humanity, you might be missing something here..." Keelah@crystyll | Q: "Oh please, you're as Human as your husband. Ears notwithstanding, and they are rather cute by the way. Why if Kathy hadn't already stolen my heart..." Keelah@crystyll: "Q!" Keelah@crystyll | Q ahems, "Yes, well. Do you know /why/ Jean Luc became the subject of that trial?" Keelah@crystyll: "Because the Enterprise was venturing beyond Federation space. It was the focal point of your attention for the Federation's exploration" Keelah@crystyll | Q: "And look where you are now, mon Capitaine!" Keelah@crystyll moves to the window, "I appear to be standing in the conference room of the Enterprise, if the hull markings down there are anything to go by..." Keelah@crystyll | Q: flashes to again loom over her shoulder, "Sass does not become you, mon Capitaine" he snaps his fingers again and they are back in Keelah's ready room... Keelah@crystyll now stands before her desk, while Q sits in her chair, with his feet up on her desk. She does not look amused... Keelah@crystyll FX | Another flash and they swap places. She doubletakes and lowers her feet from the desk to sit more comfortably on the chair Keelah@crystyll | Q: "And here I always thought Jean Luc was stuffy..." Keelah@crystyll rolls her eyes, "So you are saying you are here now because the Valley Forge is travelling so far" Keelah@crystyll | Q applauds dramatically, but then leans in with a super serious tone, "And the trial continues. You have scurried far beyond any part of the galaxy you have any right to scurry into; you plunge + Keelah@crystyll: + head on towards dangers the likes of which you have yet dare to imagine..." Keelah@crystyll raises a hand, "Isn't this the speech you gave to Captain Picard before hurling the Enterprise into the path of a Borg ship..." Keelah@crystyll | Q recoils a little, "Damn, I guess they do teach you details after all. I'll have to rewrite that one..." Keelah@crystyll: "An incident which cost the lives of more than a dozen members of his crew as I recall" Keelah@crystyll rises, hands rested firmly on her desk as she glares at him, "I may not have the power to stop you doing something like that now. But I promise you one thing Q, if you do anything... /anything/ to + Keelah@crystyll: + bring harm to a member of my crew and you will find that Captain Sisko's touch is far gentler than mine..." Keelah@crystyll | Q absently rubs his jaw, "Quite the aggressive little Vulcan aren't you.. maybe it's a size thing..." he prances back, "But you need not worry mon Capitaine, I am not about to do the same here" Keelah@crystyll: "Then back to my initial query; what are you doing here?" Keelah@crystyll | Q: "Quite simply, I am here to judge if you are worthy of being out here. Since you lack the years of Jean Luc, the... punch of Sisko, and quite frankly Kathy was far more sultry..." Keelah@crystyll rolls her eyes and glares back Keelah@crystyll | Q: "And as each of those has faced continued judgement as the ones ever scurrying out around this galaxy, so now... are you" he smirks, "And I know you compare yourself to them" Keelah@crystyll: "I am /not/ so vain, Q" Keelah@crystyll | Q: Oh really... so you did not daydream about your Starfleet heroes standing on your bridge when you embarked on this grand voyage?" Keelah@crystyll: "I had a dream. Not a conscious fantasy!" Keelah@crystyll | Q snaps: "So you don't deny it! You measure yourself against your own heroes, oh the vanity!" he looks down on her, "To think you could ever live up to my Jean Luc..." Keelah@crystyll: "Of course I don't deny it! I was embarking on a new mission, it was only logical to read up on the experiences of those who had done similarly in the past" Keelah@crystyll | Q leans in with a grin, "Aah... so the little Vulcan doesn't see herself in the same light, only aspires to it!" Keelah@crystyll: "I aspire to the same level of success, yes. There is nothing egotistical about it, more than I can say for you..." Keelah@crystyll | Q grabs his chest with feigned hurt, "Well now, let us see if you do indeed measure up..." he snaps his fingers again Keelah@crystyll FX | In a flash, the pair are now standing in the engineering section of a Sovereign class starship, amid a buzz of activity Keelah@crystyll looks around, "Wait... this is the Legacy!" Keelah@crystyll FX | looks around at hearing a familiar voice calling her name Keelah@crystyll | JR: "Keelah, Keelah!" Keelah@crystyll turns in shock at the sound of her young love, looking back the other way in greater shock as he jogs right past her to embrace a young Vulcan across the room Keelah@crystyll | JR: "Keelah, there you are!" he sweeps her off her feet with a loving embrace T'Emp@anncarise | Young Keelah embraces him back, "Been looking for me?" Keelah@crystyll | JR grins: "When am I never /not/ looking for you!" Keelah@crystyll looks to Q, "Why are we here. I have no desire to see this again..." T'Emp@anncarise | Young Keelah grins back, "Probably should've looked down here sooner!" Keelah@crystyll | Q: "But mon Capitaine, we must determine if you are indeed fit for purpose, as it were. A Captain is shaped by their history, if you don't like yours? Change it" T'Emp@anncarise | Young Keelah: "But yes, I'm just waiting for these diagnostics to finish. I'll be off duty soon, promise!" Keelah@crystyll | JR holds young Keelah: "I know, and I know I promised you a romantic picnic on the holodeck. But I have to cover a shift..." he pouts Keelah@crystyll slooowly turns to Q: "You aren't suggesting I change my past..." Keelah@crystyll | Q shrugs, "Would you if you could?" Keelah@crystyll: "If I could weigh the outcomes with absolute certainty, perhaps. But no! I won't play your games" T'Emp@anncarise | Young Keelah smiles, "Don't worry, I'm sure we'll have plenty of time to make up for it later." T'Emp@anncarise | Young Keelah: "Who knows, maybe we'll even get to go on a proper picnic planetside soon..." Keelah@crystyll | JR kisses her on the cheek, "On that, you have my promise! Now, gotta run!" Keelah@crystyll sighs, "We never did get that picnic..." Keelah@crystyll | Q grins mischievously, "Well now's your chance!" and snaps his fingers Keelah@crystyll FX | Another flash and they are back in her old quarters on the Legacy Keelah@crystyll FX | The room is dark, heavily damaged and filled with smoke. The red alert light flashes through the sparks and debris Keelah@crystyll FX | "Repeat, all hands abandon ship. This is not a drill..." Keelah@crystyll clasps a hand to her mouth, "Please Q, not this..." Keelah@crystyll FX | Young Keelah is thrown from her bed, first seeing the disarray as she climbs back to her feet and hears the evac warning Keelah@crystyll | Q: "It is as I said, shaped by the events of your pitiful little existence. So what will it be mon Capitaine? Given the second chance, will you do as you did before and stop to help struggling + Keelah@crystyll: + crew into their escape pods, leading yourself to get pinned and injured, unable to reach..." he grimaces, "...him" Keelah@crystyll | Q leans in with a whisper, "Or will you leave them to their fate, knowing if you are fast enough, you can save him instead..." T'Emp@anncarise | Young Keelah grabs her combadge before she steps out of her room, tapping it to contact JR, "Can you hear me?" Keelah@crystyll FX | No response T'Emp@anncarise | Young Keelah slaps on her combadge before stopping for a moment to think on where JR would be right now. Keelah@crystyll | She would recall him saying he had to cover a shift in cancelling their date. So would be in main engineering T'Emp@anncarise | Young Keelah rushes to engineering. T'Emp@anncarise | She checks if the turbolift is still working. Keelah@crystyll FX | She barely gets a few steps down the hall before losing her balance the ship suffers another heavy explosion T'Emp@anncarise | She quickly climbs back to her feet and continues forward to the turbolift. Keelah@crystyll FX | Sections of superstructure collapse around her. Distant sounds of screaming and pleas for help can be heard over violent fire T'Emp@anncarise | Young Keelah continues making for the turbolift, tapping her combadge again to see if she can reach anyone. Keelah@crystyll FX | The lack of responses suggest internal comms are either not working or suffering heavy interference T'Emp@anncarise | She checks to see if the turbolift panel is still working. Keelah@crystyll FX | The turbolift is functional and ready to depart T'Emp@anncarise | Young Keelah takes the lift to engineering. Keelah@crystyll FX | As the turbolift doors close, the distant sound of screaming and panic fades Keelah@crystyll FX | Main engineering is nothing short of mayhem. plasma leaks, overloading EPS relays, failed environmental systems all exasperated by the constant thrum of the red alert and repeating evac message Keelah@crystyll FX | Exiting the turbolift, she comes face to face with a young engineer under her command (As Chief Eng). His face is grossly disfigured from plasma burns and he is running/screaming straight into Keelah@crystyll: ...her Keelah@crystyll FX | JR can be heard in the distance, "Coolant leak, there's a coolant leak. Everyone out! No... you go, I'll hold the override until you're clear. 60 seconds!" T'Emp@anncarise | Young Keelah grabs the engineer and swiftly nerve pinches him, knocking him unconscious for his own good before dragging him close to the way they need to go for the escape pod. T'Emp@anncarise | She dumps him in an area most clear of environmental hazards before continuing to JR. Keelah@crystyll FX | JR is next to the core, barely visibly through the violent jets of coolant flooding the room. The emergency partition is already lowering into place as the last of their staff stumbles out T'Emp@anncarise | Young Keelah looks to the last crewmember out to see if they're physically capable still. Keelah@crystyll FX | They barely even register Keelah as they stumble around in a daze. Through the smoke she can see JR slumped over a console. 30secs to core isolation T'Emp@anncarise | Young Keelah rushes over to JR, "We have to go!" Keelah@crystyll FX | He is dazed but stumbling T'Emp@anncarise | She tries to help him to his feet and get him to the escape pod. Keelah@crystyll FX | She succeeds, but with seconds to spare as they get into the pod Keelah@crystyll | Q looks to Keelah with a smirk, "Aww isn't that sweet. I bet you two lived happily ever after! Let's find out shall we..." Keelah@crystyll looks around, "I don't recognize this setting..." Keelah@crystyll | Q: "Look closer" Keelah@crystyll moves to the window and sees the distant sight of Mars beneath them, "We're at the shipyards?" to which Q nods with a grin Keelah@crystyll looks around to see herself sat quietly at a table in the corner. She wears the overall of a technician and is much closer to her current age by the looks of it Keelah@crystyll: "What is this, Q?" Keelah@crystyll | Q leans into her and grins, "The future you chose" Keelah@crystyll: "I did not choose anything, you are steering this... whatever it is..." Keelah@crystyll FX | T'Quila walks in, exchanging pleasantries with many of the other patrons before looking to alt-Keelah with a frown. She moves over Keelah@crystyll | TQ: Moping again, Specialist?" T'Emp@anncarise | Alt-Keelah looks up to TQ: "Hey Tee. I'm alright, you don't have to worry." Keelah@crystyll | TQ eyerolls and sits across from her, "After all these years, you're still no better at lying, you know" Keelah@crystyll | TQ: "I know it's the anniversary of the divorce..." T'Emp@anncarise | Alt-Keelah: "And you're still good at reading me like an open book." T'Emp@anncarise | She sighs, "You're right..." Keelah@crystyll | TQ: "Honestly, Kee? I know you've always overly emotional, but you really need to move beyond this. Forget Humans, find yourself a nice Vulcan mind to keep you stable. Better yet, find yourself a + Keelah@crystyll: + nice Orion one to go wild with!" she grins T'Emp@anncarise | Alt-Keelah chuckles, "Now you're just saying that to cheer me up. You know I don't get along with Vulcans, and I'm not sure Orions would be the best to keep me stable...no offense." Keelah@crystyll | TQ: "Pfft! Who needs stable anyway? Unstable works just fine for me! It's not like you've got to be on ceremony like them or anything. We're just simple techs, it's our right to enjoy life without+ Keelah@crystyll: + the responsibility!" she indicates a group of officers at another table as 'them' T'Emp@anncarise | Alt-Keelah: "We still have /some/ responsibilities...besides, I have a feeling my chance to enjoy life has already gone by..." Keelah@crystyll | TQ shakes her head, "Why so negative? You've got a nice long Vulcan lifespan ahead of you still! Hell, I bet if you put your mind to it you could even make officer training one day! I know you're + Keelah@crystyll: + not stupid, just need the focus. Just imagine it... 'Ensign Keelah' has quite the ring!" T'Emp@anncarise | Alt-Keelah nods, "I guess it does. But if I make officer, wouldn't that mean I have too many responsibilities to enjoy life anyways?" T'Emp@anncarise | She sighs again, "I just...don't know which way to go is best anymore." Keelah@crystyll | TQ laughs, "I never said there wouldn't be hard choices! But hey, maybe you could find a balance. I mean, they mostly look happy..." Keelah@crystyll FX | A tannoy announcement plays across the room, "Duty repair crews report to airlocks 4,5 & 6. Starship coming into dock" Keelah@crystyll TQ looks up, "Hey, that's us! Come on!" But she pauses looking out the window, "Goddess..." T'Emp@anncarise | Alt-Keelah: "I told you we still had responsibilities." T'Emp@anncarise | She stands and looks out the window as well. Keelah@crystyll: looks out the window, following alt-TQ's gaze Keelah@crystyll FX | The damaged shell of a starship coasts by the window. Heavily battle-scarred and completely missing it's forward saucer, including the bridge Keelah@crystyll FX | It's nacelle pylons are buckled, and one nacelle is completely destroyed. Through the scarring though the name can be seen as Valley Forge Keelah@crystyll looks to Q: "What happened to my ship?!" Keelah@crystyll | Q: "/your/ ship? nonono mon Capitaine, this is someone else's command now. But watch" he upnods to the window Keelah@crystyll turns again to watch as it locks into the dock and repair personnel start pouring in through the airlocks Keelah@crystyll FX | The hull appears to deform before their eyes, a glossy black skin forming across it which slowly seeps across the airlock. Moments later a red alert klaxon sounds... Keelah@crystyll FX | The alert is soon followed by an intruder alarm and the distant sound of weapons fire Keelah@crystyll watches in horror, "The Senn..." Keelah@crystyll | Q nods: "So the past has a profound effect on the present, but what of your future now..." Keelah@crystyll: "Enough Q! Why are you doing this?" Keelah@crystyll | Q tuts, "You should familiarize yourself more with the parables of your beloved Humans. Some of these ancient tales are quite entertaining!" Keelah@crystyll: "Past, present... future visions... I swear Q, if you liken me to Ebenezer Scrooge, I will slap you into the next century" Keelah@crystyll | Q grins: "And to the next century, we go!" promptly snapping his fingers and vanishing the pair in a flash Keelah@crystyll suddenly finds herself adjusting to bright outdoor lighting and squints Keelah@crystyll soon recognizes her location though through the distant vista of Starfleet HQ & famous Golden Gate bridge Keelah@crystyll looks around some and realizes she is on the balcony of an apartment building of sorts. She turns at hearing a door open, going wide eyed at the sight of her elderly self hobbling out Keelah@crystyll watches curiously as old-keelah seems to settle at a table by the railing, looking out over the cityscape Keelah@crystyll: "Well, I suppose a comfortable retirement is the worst outcome..." doesn't sound close to convinced by the lonely and miserable visage Keelah@crystyll | Q: "As you already noted, I have been known to share wise words with your predecessors, and why rewrite them when they say it all so well" Keelah@crystyll | Q smirks and looks to Keelah, "All good things must come to an end..." and points to the sky Keelah@crystyll looks up to see the sky darken unnaturally Keelah@crystyll FX | One by one, colossal dark spots appear through the clouds. Glowing red tips unleashing deadly antiproton bursts that obliterate everything on the ground Keelah@crystyll FX | More and more Nuhar Constructs descend with extreme prejudice, Starfleet vessels dropping like flies around them as more and more vessels of countless variety descend and lay waste Keelah@crystyll: ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLY6UHLVQXs ) Keelah@crystyll | Looks to old-Keelah to see a single tear roll down her cheek before she closes her eyes. Another blinding flash engulfs them, but this one is not Q. The red hue tells her what it is... Keelah@crystyll 's eyes flicker open to find herself in a white void of some sort Keelah@crystyll FX | Q appears before her, on his famous floating judges chair and wearing that same garb we all know Keelah@crystyll: "Q, you can't seriously expect me to believe that one decision in my personal past had such a profound impact as to lead to the destruction of Earth" Keelah@crystyll | Q: "Please... such vanity. In actual fact your selfishness led to the Valley Forge having a different commander when it faced the Senn. After they failed to send the Senn away, your beloved ship + Keelah@crystyll: + fell into their fleet and joined their march across Federation space. They were halted after destroying the shipyards, but your Starfleet lost it's backbone with that defeat" Keelah@crystyll: "And with no focus on the threat you know is coming, Earth fell. As did Vulcan, Andoria, and everywhere else" Keelah@crystyll shakes her head, "That can't all be the result of that incident. I refuse to accept your alternate telling of events!" Keelah@crystyll | Q smirks: "/My/ version of things? I don't know... life would be quite dull after all without you funny little bipedals scurrying around..." Keelah@crystyll | Q: "No, one possible outcome... perhaps. A likely one, or favoured even? Perhaps not" Keelah@crystyll: "So what now then?" Keelah@crystyll | Q: "Now... this court deems your Federation... on probation. We are in recess mon Capitaine, return to your little life. But remember, we'll be watching..." he laughs, backing away slowly, fading Keelah@crystyll FX | Another flash and she is back in her bathroom on the Valley Forge. She looks around, uncertain to believe anything for a moment Keelah@crystyll quickly refocuses and runs out to the main room, "Pia... Pia?!" T'Emp@anncarise looks up from her reading on the sofa, "Mum? What's wrong?" Keelah@crystyll hurries over and pulls her into a tight hug, "Oh sweetheart, thank the stars you're ok!" T'Emp@anncarise: "Did...something happen? I didn't hear any alert signals..." Keelah@crystyll slowly begins to laugh, "Perhaps... perhaps not" T'Emp@anncarise: "Is everything okay Mum?" Keelah@crystyll: "It is now sweetheart" she shakes herself out of it and smiles, "Now, how about that dinner, Risian was it?" T'Emp@anncarise: "Yeah!" Keelah@crystyll: "Alright then! Now, tell me more about this latest issue of your shipyards publication..." Keelah@crystyll FX | Fin

View Log Entry

Stardate 97004.1

Captain's log, stardate 97004.1: As relieved as I am to be clear of the Regulators territory, and with it their judgement... a part of me found comfort in the sense of travelling through known territory a sense ever present now that we once again entered the unknown, with the QanwI' far ahead on it's scouting. Now several months into our voyage, I'm please to acknowledge that both ship and crew continue to perform admirably. Indeed, one of my prouder duties as Captain came after clearing Regulated space re-establishing communications with Command; the honour of presenting of recognition awards to some of the crew. As proud as I always am to receive such accolades, it is always far more satisfying to bestow them.

Supplemental: I always knew it was a possibility, given the nature of our mission. I always told myself that my academy training had me sufficiently prepared for this eventuality, in some small way perhaps it was. But that does little to reconcile the feeling of utter inadequacy I experienced when I found myself confronted by that most notorious of adversaries; the Q Continuum. Since learning that they had previously shown interest in the Chlasi, I had been anticipating their interjection in our mission. However I failed to anticipate the nature of it. From my observations of this particular Q's demeanor and conduct I must conclude that it is the same representative of the Continuum as is most known to frequent Starfleet interactions; perhaps the Continuum operates their own equivalent to our Federation Ambassadors, with nominated representatives focusing their observations on different species or factions, but I digress.

This encounter was entirely personal and focused wholly on myself, as Captain. This Q's insistence on it's attempts at subtle manipulations to unbalance those it's commune with suggest a much deeper insecurity in itself. I find this assessment further bolstered by the revelation that we have been identified as continuing Starfleet's exploration into "regions of the galaxy we have no business scurrying into yet". This conclusion is drawn from Q's revelation that the faux trial he once subjected the crew of the Enterprise (D) to, based on similar accusations, was never concluded and only ever in recess. I remain uncertain to his (choosing a singular vernacular given the equivalent singular representation of the Continuum) motives behind his actions here, and can only surmise that it was to serve more as an introduction to the fact that his attention is on us.

Though I am unable to verify the actuality of the experiences he subjected me to (if they were actual alternate realities playing out, or simply implied visions thereof), I can only comment on the impact and surmise the intention. Given the singular focus on myself and the overall context of the encounter, I would have to surmise that this was an attempt to increase my own awareness regarding cause and effect. I find the experiences far too wide spanning to truly believe that the events played out indicate - as suggested - such a drastically impactful role of my personal involvement in history.

Fascinating as this encounter was, I can not consider it to have any tangible bearing on our mission at this time and so confine my thoughts and feelings of it to this log entry. If my suspicions are correct, this is not the last we will be seeing of the Continuum, so for now I will settle for raising the awareness of my senior staff to these events in the hopes that foreknowledge will help them prepare for his eventual return.