Bridge - Deck 1

As Dr. Jovic and LtCmdr Little left the Bridge to return to their previous duties, the Admiral asked Lt. Centares on an estimated time of arrival for SB34. He really wanted to get back there and get his list of promotions ready for the celebration that was to come.

Adm Arayuss: Lieutenant Centares, what's our ETA to Starbase 34?

As Aeryck waited on the information from Lt. Centares, he looked over at Cmdr Kee and cracked a smile.

Adm Arayuss: Well, I won't be retreating to the Ready Room to do any planning for the celebration anytime soon. I'll just have to do it here while we wait to get back.

The CinC grabbed a PADD and began making notes on who he was planning on promoting in the fleet, along with any recommendations Como Carpathia may have to add. They would be announced at the celebration once they've had time to clean up and attend the ceremony on SB34.
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Admiral Aeryck M. Arayuss
Commanding Officer, USS Sutherland
Commander in Chief, Gamma Fleet
Starfleet, United Federation of Planets

James smiled back at Adm Arayuss as he replied to the CinC seated in the Captain's Chair. The XO was very pleased the Admiral was able to take command of Oriskany when Capt Reich went unconscious. James enjoyed being the XO and needed more time being the in the position before he felt he could ever take command permanently.

Cmdr Kee: You got that right, Sir. I wouldn't want to be in there either, for any reason.

The First Officer thought for a moment and then spoke what was on his mind.

Cmdr Kee: Admiral? Do you already have somebody in mind to take over command of Oriskany when we get back? I'm just wondering if it's somebody I know or worked with before.

As the XO waited on a response from Adm Arayuss, he hoped he didn't overstep his boundaries by asking the question so bluntly. But he was really curious who would be his next Captain. James knew the rest of the crew would like to know too, but if the Admiral trusted him enough to tell him, he wouldn't share it with anyone.
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Commander James L. Kee
Executive Officer, USS Oriskany

Aeryck smiled and shook his head from side to side for a moment as he spoke to Cmdr Kee regarding the next Commanding Officer.

Adm Arayuss: I can't really say Commander. Commodore Carpathia and I still need to discuss Captain Reich's replacement. It will be revealed at the ceremony on Starbase 34 since he and I will have a chance to talk in person then.

The Admiral hoped that was sufficient enough for the Executive Officer. Otherwise there was nothing else he could tell him at this time. He could sense the curiosity within the XO and knew that could never be extinguished. Cmdr Kee would just have to wait till the ceremony soon to come.
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Admiral Aeryck M. Arayuss
Commanding Officer, USS Sutherland
Commander in Chief, Gamma Fleet
Starfleet, United Federation of Planets

The Lieutenant looked at his console where the ETA chronometer was displayed and saw they were now under 30 minutes from SB34! Ajay immediately answered the Admiral loud enough for all on the Bridge to hear.

Lt. Centares: We're twenty seven minutes out, Sir! We're almost there!

The Flight Control Officer could hardly contain his excitement, he was really looking forward to taking his son on a vacation back on Earth where his parents would take him to visit his grandparents in India.
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Lt. Commander Ajay K. Centares
Chief Flight Control Officer, USS Oriskany

Aeryck was very pleased with the amount of time they had left before they arrived at SB34. He continued working on his PADD on the promotions to be given at the ceremony as he thanked Lt. Centares for replying quickly with their ETA.

Adm Arayuss: Thank you, Lieutenant.

Occasionally the Admiral looked up from the PADD to see the anticipation on the faces of the officers on the Bridge. He too was excited to see this chapter in their lives come to a close. It was just a shame so many lives were lost along the way.
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Admiral Aeryck M. Arayuss
Commanding Officer, USS Sutherland
Commander in Chief, Gamma Fleet
Starfleet, United Federation of Planets

Deck 16

The Chief bid farewell to the Doctor as the lift hurdled to it's stop and they both egressed, turning different directions.

Lt. Commander Little: My condolences, Doctor. He will be missed by everyone...

Not what he wanted to tell her but it was what she needed to hear. The Captain's outcome was all but a certainty now and everyone, everyone that is but Dr. Jovic, could see that.

He smiled warningly as he turned away to Engineering. Somehow he could feel that things were not quite over for the Good Doctor and they would need to rally around her at Starbase 34 when the time came...
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Mr. McCloud

Dragana smiled back, kind of knowing what LtCmdr Little was implying but wasn't ready to accept it yet. As he walked off towards Main Engineering, she made her way to Auxiliary Sickbay to find the boy still standing by Capt Reich.

Lt. Commander Jovic: Has there been any changes, Alexander?

The Doctor looked over the monitors by the BioBed and saw that the Captain's condition had not improved. She hoped young Mr. Windsor may have noticed any small changes, even if they were just for a moment. But still, Dragana was haunted by how LtCmdr Little expressed his condolences.
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Commander Dragana Jovic
Chief Medical Officer, USS Oriskany

Auxiliary Sickbay - Deck 16

Alex looked up at Dr. Jovic and wiped tears from his face. There were no changes at all, the Captain's coma seemed to be without end and he felt that he would never get to talk to Capt Reich again.

Alexander Windsor: No changes, Doctor. I don't think he's going to wake up. I don't know why this happened to him, if we could find a medical reason I know you would be able to fix him...

The young boy's eyes welled up with tears again. Alex had already lost his parents on the SS Mariposa when the Deltaurans took over the ship. Now he was losing the man who saved him from having to remain the sole survivor, alone on the ship.
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Alexander Windsor
Mission Specialist, USS Oriskany

Dragana went over to Alexander and hugged the boy, she understood how he was feeling about Capt Reich and not wanting to lose him either. She comforted the young child as best she knew how.

Lt. Commander Jovic: We can hope that his brain will repair itself and the Captain will awaken. I know he was very happy that we found you on the Mariposa, so is Michaelangelo. You two were becoming fast friends on the Holodeck. Perhaps when we get back to Starbase 34 you both can go on more Holographic adventures.

The Doctor dropped down on one knee and continued by tapping Alexander's chest with her index finger.

Lt. Commander Jovic: Don't feel guilty about going to have some fun, the Captain will be with you in here...always.

Dr. Jovic stood back up, but remained close to the boy as they watched over Capt Reich together. Hoping for any sign of mental activity from the Captain to show that he would be waking up from his vegetative state sometime soon.
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Commander Dragana Jovic
Chief Medical Officer, USS Oriskany

Main Engineering - Deck 16

After returning to Engineering, the Chief took the PADD from Ensign Deveraux, ready to begin the lock down procedure once they had arrived back at Starbase 34. But Lewis could not take his mind off all the death and destruction that happened around them all, not a few hours ago.

But the Chief Engineer just could not work with all this stress, he put down the PADD and walked over to the Replicator and tapped a few buttons. There was one other person on this ship that would be under the same amount of pressure, although for a completely different reason.

Once the bottle and receptacles had materialized on the receiving pad, he picked them up and headed for Auxiliary Sickbay, leaving Ensign Deveraux in charge once more.

Upon entering, he first went over towards the bed where Captain Reich now lay, comatose, and placed one of the glasses there, opening it with a loud POP . He filled the Captain's glass before filling the remaining two. He turned to see Dr. Jovic with a rather depressive expression upon her face.

Lt. Commander Little: I thought you could do with a little...pick-me-up, Doctor.

The Chief handed her one of the glasses, now filled with some rather smoky blue liquid.

Lt. Commander Little: I'm afraid it's replicated for now... At least whilst the Treaty is still active.

Lewis chuckled slightly, placing a hand warmly on her shoulder.

Lt. Commander Little: Drink, you'll feel a lot better, I promise you that much...

The Chief Engineer waited on the Romulan Doctor to take a drink from her glass before taking a drink from his own. He did not want to be impolite and swallow his drink in one shot like he usually did. After all, Lewis had been the winner of a great many drinking games in his time.
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Mr. McCloud