~\\_               
          \\\\_             
          `\\\\\            -----------------------------------------
           |\\\\\           Starfleet Command, Eighth Fleet (OOC)    
            \\\\\|__.-~~\   
         _--~         ~~/   Defenders Task Group 85.3, "Whitestone"  
       /~         _-~~~'    Embarked on U.S.S. Coronado, NCC-97901   
      ('-//////-//          Vice Admiral Tebrun Lora Kor, Commanding 
       ////// }}-)          -----------------------------------------
     /////~                 Simulation Teaser                        
  _///~                     Stardate 240307.26                       
 `                          
 _______________________________________________________________________ 
/ Simulation Teaser                                                     |
/ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ 

 Dr. Patricia Luisa Lopez sat cross-legged on a hillside overlooking
 Alexandria.  Her eyes were closed, and her palms rested on her knees.
 If she heard Olmy Ap Sennon approach from behind, she gave no sign.

 For a few minutes, Olmy studied this distant ancestor... this tiny
 woman who had given his society so much.  The Architect had spoken
 fondly of her, but it had been as Olmy himself might speak of
 Alexander or Ceaser or Khan Singh... a kindred spirit separated by a
 vast ocean of time.

 Olmy stood in her presence and could not say with certainty which of
 the two of them belonged in this place more.

 Well, it was of no import.  He had never been one given to such
 thoughts.  Let Suli or one of the Hexamon debate and explore the
 deeper meanings of life and existence.  Olmy was content to guard them
 so they could do it.

 Finally, she spoke over her shoulder at him, without looking over,
 quite possibly without opening her eyes.  "Your people have agreed to
 unlink the corridor?" she asked.

 "The Way," he said.  "Yes."

 "Do not concern yourself about it, Olmy Ap Sennon," she said.  "Xanadu
 is as a pebble caught in the branches of a tree.  The wind can carry
 the pebble away from the tree, but the tree remains.  You did not
 build The Way.  It has always been there."  She paused.  "Your
 Architect merely... lodged his pebble in the tree for a few moments. 
 It is a temporary thing, not meant to endure."

 Olmy took a step nearer the woman.  "How do you know this?"

 Lopez made a sound of amusement, or perhaps exasperation.  "Do I ask
 you how you know your weapon works?" she asked.  "I know.  This
 place... this place has changed me."

 The tall man made a face.  "Knowing something is possible... seeing it
 done... that makes proving the thing possible easier," Olmy said.  His
 pictor flashed, but Lopez didn't see it: a caveman, looking up at the
 sun, then drawing a picture of the sun on the cave wall.

 "Yes," Lopez said.  "But it is more than that."  She exhaled, opened
 her eyes, finally turned to look at him over her left shoulder,
 planting her right hand on the grass to do so.  "I look at the Third
 Chamber Machinery... the test Gates... I see the possibilities.  My
 mind is filled with them."  She sighed.  "It's making it impossible
 for me to do my work."

 Olmy took another few steps toward the smaller woman, his hand
 outstretched, obviously unsure of how to comfort Lopez, but she waved
 it away.  "It's not something you can help with," she said.  "A child
 who plays with blocks seeing a skyscraper is inspired.  I look at the
 works of your people..."  She closed her mouth, abrupt, almost angry.

 Finally, Olmy understood.  "They are intimidating," he said.  The
 pictor flashed again: the humans of the mid-21st century looking on
 the infinitely more advanced Vulcan technology of the time and
 becoming jealous and awed... and stubborn and resentful.

 She nodded.  For a long while, neither of them spoke.  Lopez turned
 back around, set her right hand back on her knee, closed her eyes. 
 Olmy's hand dropped.  The breeze through the Second Chamber blew over
 them both.  Finally, Olmy spoke.

 "You would not need remain here, Doctor Lopez.  When Xanadu is cut
 from The Way, I will return to my people.  You could return with me."

\_______________________________________________________________________ 
\ End Simulation Teaser                                                 |
 ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ 

 *Former* Defenders Task Group 85.3, "Whitestone" Staff:
    Civilian, Retired Admiral: Tebrun Lora Kor           (Jester)
    S-1, Group Adjutant:       Capt. Sieven Drexler      (Brad)
    Commander, RSS Blackrazor: Capt. Jarod Bentall       (Alffred)
    ????????:                  Capt. Savant              (Savant)
    ????????:                  Brig. Jeremy Ironside     (Fraser)

 U.S.S. Coronado Crew Roster:
    Commanding Officer:        Como. William Daren       (Chris)
    Executive Officer:         Cmdr. Velorna Tal         (Aggie)
    Chief Flight Operations:   LCdr. Maiko D'Rall        (Farrell)
    Command Yeoman:            CPO Zachery Prentiss      (Cloaked)
    Civilian Liaison:          Zunite Oswald             (Sonya)
    Flight Leader:             2Lt. Wolf                 (Wolf)
    Chief Tactical Officer:    Lt. Derek Canterbury      (Spuzzum)
    Chief Engineer:            Cmdr. Jack C. Farley      (CCC)
    Assistant Engineer:        LCdr. Aramis Skylooker    (LewisSharp)
    Assistant Engineer:        Lt. Brandon Gannsen       (Lefty)
    Chief Science Officer:     Lt. Anna Brooks           (Kari)
    Chief Medical Officer:     LCdr. Rachel Kennedy      (Santiago)

 On Extended Leave of Absence:
    Battalion Commander:       LCol. Jacob Prescot       (Prescot)

 Positions Available:
    Watch Tactical Officer:                              (---)
    Flight Leader:                                       (---)

------
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/