~\\_               
          \\\\_             
          `\\\\\            -----------------------------------------
           |\\\\\           Starfleet Command, Eighth Fleet (OOC)    
            \\\\\|__.-~~\   
         _--~         ~~/   Defenders Task Group 85.3, "Whitestone"  
       /~         _-~~~'    Embarked on U.S.S. Coronado, NCC-97901   
      ('-//////-//          Rear Admiral Tebrun Lora Kor, Commanding 
       ////// }}-)          -----------------------------------------
     /////~                 Simulation Teaser                        
  _///~                     Stardate 240305.05                       
 `                          
 _______________________________________________________________________ 
/ Simulation Teaser                                                     |
/ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ 

 They went part and parcel with insomnia: truly intense dreams. 
 Tebrun Lora Kor convinced himself almost instantly that this must
 be a dream.  After all... how could it be real?

 Vice Admiral Aldur was here, as was General Ironside.  Both of them
 wore ancient armor of a type known now only to Camelynians, though
 of different types.  Aldur wore a silver chain mail shirt and coif,
 covered by a talberd.  The device on the talberd was indistinct,
 like an impressionist drawing.  Lora Kor thought it might be a
 bull.  Ironside's armor was elaborate full plate that covered him
 from neck to toe in brushed blue-grey steel.  Ironside's armor
 showed signs of recent damage: two dents and a slashing blow that
 had clearly struck one greave.  The General carried a full face
 helmet under one arm.

 Both men also carried ancient weapons.  Aldur's, Lora Kor saw with
 no surprise, was a broadsword of Camelynian make, heavy and
 sharpened only enough to dent and slash steel.  Ironside's weapon
 was heavy and blunt -- Lora Kor could see that much -- but it seemed
 indistinct... maybe a heavy mace or a flail.

 Yes, this must be a dream.  The images were too indistinct... too
 surreal.  The two men were fitting Lora Kor with armor, but unlike
 themselves, the armor that they fit to Lora Kor was hardened leather
 with small rings and plates woven into it in key areas.  Unlike
 their own large, heavy weapons, the weapons that Ironside offered
 him were a pair of daggers.  One was heavy, thick, and wide --
 without knowing how he had come by the information, Lora Kor knew
 that one was called a cinquedea.  The other was slim, thin, a
 stiletto... wickedly sharp.

 Aldur smiled a thin, ghostly smile at Lora Kor's unspoken question.
 Somehow, without hearing the older man with his ears, he heard Aldur
 with his mind.

 ||You fight the Adversary in your own way,|| Aldur seemed to say,
 ||which is not my way or his.||  He indicated the image of General
 Ironside.  Lora Kor accepted the weapons.  Yes, this must be a
 dream.

 Lora Kor turned and was unsurprised to see a combat circle in the
 Camelynian style.  It was only visible for a few seconds, before
 what little light there was went out.  Aldur spoke again, without
 speaking.

 ||The Adversary cannot be fought under the sun, but only by the
 light of the stars and the moon,|| he said.  Lora Kor looked up, and
 saw that the stars were indeed shining.  ||On the Spindle, it has
 always been thus,|| Aldur added.

 Yes, this must be a dream.  But at least it wasn't necessarily a bad
 dream.  Lora Kor could remember falling asleep in the trees not far
 inside the Fourth Chamber.  It wasn't his first choice to sleep in
 the Fourth Chamber...

 But it was the first place in ten or twelve weeks that Lora Kor
 could remember sleeping where he didn't have a constant headache.
 
\_______________________________________________________________________ 
\ End Simulation Teaser                                                 |
 ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ 

 Defenders Task Group 85.3, "Whitestone" Staff:
    Commanding, TG 85.3:       RADM Tebrun Lora Kor      (Jester)
    S-1, Group Adjutant:       Cmdr. Sieven Drexler      (Brad)
    S-2, Group Intelligence:   Cmdr. Kariasa Ma'Aru      (Kari)
    S-3, Group Logistics:      Cmdr. Savant              (Savant)
    Commanding, M64 Ground:    Brig. Jeremy Ironside     (Fraser)

 U.S.S. Coronado Crew Roster:
    Commanding Officer:        Capt. William Daren       (Daren)
    Executive Officer:         Cmdr. Velorna Tal         (Aggie)
    Chief of Operations:       Cmdr. Olme Tlaloco        (rev)
    Chief Flight Operations:   Lt. (JG) Maiko D'Rall     (Farrell)
    Command Yeoman:            Spec. Miranda Forester    (Fox)
    Chief Tactical Officer:    LCdr. Kyle Marcy          (Marcy)
    Raptors Squadron Leader:   LCol. Thomas Wayne        (Masters)
    Battalion Commander:       Maj. Jacob Prescot        (Shadow-FjP)
    Flight Leader:             LMaj. Thirishar ch'Thane  (Alffred)
    Flight Leader:             1Lt. Natalia Petrovna     (Phishie)
    Chief Engineer:            Cmdr. Zunite Oswald       (Sonya)
    Assistant Engineer:        LCdr. Jack C. Farley      (CCC)
    Chief Science Officer:     LCdr. Isamu Dyson         (Isamu)
    Chief Medical Officer:     Cmdr. Alec Reed           (McC)
    Assistant Medical:         LCdr. Lauren Dyson        (Natty)

 On Extended Leave of Absence:
    Bartender:                 PO/1 Bridget Bordeux      (Dolin)

 Positions Available:
    Assistant Tactical                                   (---)
    Assistant Engineer                                   (---)

------
Jester

Rear Admiral Tebrun Lora Kor
Commanding, Defenders Task Group 85.3, "Whitestone"
embarked on U.S.S. Coronado, NCC-97901
http://www.jestertrek.com/coro2400/