~\\_               
          \\\\_             
          `\\\\\            -----------------------------------------
           |\\\\\           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 240311.10                      
 `                          
 _______________________________________________________________________ 
/ Simulation Teaser                                                     |
/ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ 

 When the comm signal sounded, Lt. Commander Jim Owens reached out
 without thinking and stabbed it off, activating the monitor at the
 same time.

 That was how Dr. Patricia Luisa Lopez caught sight of a deeply
 sleepy Jim Owens, hair spiking out in a half-dozen different
 directions, eyes gummy and glazed over, shirt-less and bundled under
 layers of blankets.  He wasn't exactly caught at his best.  Running
 one hand over his eyes and his hair, trying to wake up, he caught
 sight of the bedside clock.

 "Doctor Lopez... do you realize what time it is?" Owens asked.

 Lopez looked to her left, then smiled sheepishly at the monitor. 
 "0237, Commander.  I'm sorry.  I couldn't sleep and I was working...
 I didn't relize it was so late."  Lopez blushed when she realized
 that Owens was not only in bed, he apparently he wasn't alone.  She
 caught sight of blonde hair behind him.  "I'll let you get back to
 sleep.  This can wait until morning."

 Owens, meanwhile, caught sight of the look on Lopez's face.  He'd
 only rarely seen that look -- excited, almost crazed.  It certainly
 meant something important.  Wiping the last of the sleep out of his
 eyes and smoothing his hair as best he could, he leaned toward the
 screen.  "No, it's all right, Doctor.  I can at least hear what has
 you up so late."

 An arm apparently belonging to the owner of the blonde hair reached
 out and slapped Owens in the back of the head, and Lopez caught a
 look of amused annoyance on his face as Owens looked over his
 shoulder.  That, if nothing else, convinced Lopez that she should be
 brief.

 "We can talk tomorrow, Commander Owens.  It's just that I've gone
 over the math, and I know what the Gates are that Alicia talks about
 from time to time," she said.  "They're doorways, portals, call them
 what you want.  The important thing is that gates from the Fourth
 Chamber could lead anywhere... and anywhen -- anywhere in the
 universe... and to any time period.  All you have to do is find the
 right place to open a Gate.  As long as you open it in the right
 place, it will lead wherever you want."

 Owens blinked.  The briefing between Olmy and Coronado's command
 crew was now common knowledge among the Defender senior staff.  When
 he spoke, his voice was barely over a whisper.  "No wonder Olmy said
 the Fourth Chamber is worth defending... who needs to..."  The
 implications hit Owens, and his voice faded as they occurred to him
 one by one.

 Lopez smiled, nodding happily.  "Who needs starships if you can open
 a door and go anywhere and anywhen you want?"

\_______________________________________________________________________ 
\ End Simulation Teaser                                                 |
 ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ 

 Defenders Task Group 85.3, "Whitestone" Staff:
    Commanding, TG 85.3:       RADM Tebrun Lora Kor      (Jester)
    S-1, Group Adjutant:       Capt. Sieven Drexler      (Brad)
    S-2, Group Intelligence:   Cmdr. Kyle Marcy          (Marcy)
    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       (Chris)
    Executive Officer:         Cmdr. Velorna Tal         (Aggie)
    Chief of Operations:       Cmdr. Olme Tlaloco        (rev)
    Chief Flight Operations:   Lt. Maiko D'Rall          (Farrell)
    Command Yeoman:            PO/1 Zachery Prentiss     (Prill)
    Battalion Commander:       Maj. Jacob Prescot        (Prescot)
    Flight Leader:             2Lt. Ferres Mors          (FerresMors)
    Chief Tactical Officer:    Lt. Thirishar ch'Thane    (Alffred)
    Watch Tactical Officer:    PO/1 Derek Canterbury     (Spuzzum)
    Chief Engineer:            Cmdr. Jack C. Farley      (CCC)
    Assistant Engineer:        LCdr. Aramis Skylooker    (LewisSharp)
    Chief Science Officer:     Lt. Anna Brooks           (Kari)
    Chief Medical Officer:     Cmdr. Alec Reed           (McC)
    Assistant Medical:         LCdr. Lauren Dyson        (Natty)

 On Extended Leave of Absence:
    Watch Tactical Officer:    Lt. Ariana Marist         (Dolin)

 Positions Available:
    Marine Flight Leader:                                (---)
    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/