Episode 7
Outcasts
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Back to the story
Chapter 1
Griffin - Holodeck}
The rain beat down in torrents as Rinali sat motionless in the
middle of the
room. It was a spare setting, empty except for a low bare table and
two tall
iron candleholders, their lights doused. The only light came from
outside and
that was very little on such a stormy night. The room's rice paper
windows
showed only hints of the deep purple sky outside and the twisting
trees that
were thrown into stark relief as lightning crackled across the sky.
Rinali had been using this scenario since her Academy days. She had
based it on
a particularly lucid dream. Though she had entered this world many
times
before, Rinali had used it only for meditation and had never left the room. As
an experiment, she had allowed several of her academy classmates to program
different versions of the rest of the house and what was outside beyond the
view of the window. Then she had added a randomizing program that would switch
the different versions every time the scenario was used until someone actually
entered another area. So far, Rinali had not chosen to explore the rest of
this place. Someday, perhaps, but not now.
"Bridge to Travin."
Rinali brought herself slowly out of her meditative state as Trosk had taught
her to when a distraction came up.
"End Program," she murmured. As the room gave way to the familiar holodeck
grid, she tapped her combadge.
"Travin here."
"The captain has requested that all senior staff report for a meeting," Ivanof
responded. "It seems we have our new orders from Starfleet."
"I shall be there in a moment. Travin out."
{Conference Room}
Try as she might, Rinali couldn't help but notice the empty place that had been
O'Roarke's seat. True, it had often been empty before while the doctor was off
tending to some medical emergency. But it was a very different sort of
emptiness now. Rinali shifted her focus over to the new face, Lieutenant
Freeman. She didn't know very much about him yet; the war games had prevented
much socializing and his personnel file hadn't been forwarded over yet. But
Rinali's guilt feelings over not getting to know O'Roarke better made her
resolved to get to know the new operations officer.
The group turned as Captain Myst entered the room. She wasted little time in
getting to the head of the table and beginning.
"Before I brief you on our new mission, I wanted to update you on the status of
the engines. The repairs should be finished within the hour and we shall be
departing shortly after. I trust that you've inspected the work, Lt. McInnis?"
"It'll do," McInnis said shortly. Even Rinali's dampened telepathy could
easily sense that McInnis was still not in the best of spirits after the nanite
incident.
"Fine," the captain said. "I just finished speaking with Admiral Bullock.
Some of you may have heard about the experimental Olimbar torpedoes which
Starfleet has been working on. They were recently completed and were supposed
to be transported to Starfleet for testing. However, while the torpedoes were
in transit, the ship carrying them was attacked. The torpedoes were stolen."
The captain paused briefly to let the murmuring die down.
"Starfleet hasn't been able to identify the culprits yet. But they suspect
whoever stole the torpedoes is planning to sell them. Our mission is to track
down the thieves and recover the Olimbar torpedoes.
"To start off, Starfleet wants us to check various trade routes for any signs
of suspicious activity. We shall be assisted by a merchant ship, captained by
a Klingon known as B'ros."
Captain Myst looked up as her chief of security let out a startled grunt.
"Is there a problem, Lt. Travin?" she asked.
Rinali hesitated, trying to collect her thoughts.
"Possibly," she replied at last. "B'ros... he was my brother."
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Chapter 2
{Griffin - Chief Engineer's Quarters}
Scott repeatedly banged his PADD on the table in his room. He just
couldn't get
his mind straight on what had happened with all of the pent up
anger he had
about the Nanites, and then the engine core breech.
(Things like this are not supposed to happen, and they need to stop
happening,)
Scott thought to himself. In a fit of anger he hurled the PADD
across his
quarters and into the wall across from him, shattering it into a
few pieces,
then he sat down on his bed and lay back..
"Why can't this just work. I want to be here, but it's hypocrisy.
'Get the job
done, but do it this way, or that way,' not 'Get the job done, thank you for
getting it done right.' Then they have the audacity to tell me what to do with
the Nanites, like they are a pet dog or cat. If Data could keep a cat why can't
I keep Nanites. They wanted to stay, I wanted to keep them..."
Scott growled a bit before talking out loud again.
"I love my Uncle, and my parents to Starfleet. Our family has been apart of
this fleet before it was a bloody fleet. We treat these ships like ladies and
they bring us home every time, but if I keep having to treat this ship like a
machine... one of these times she won't bring us home. Then we had to go and
push the engines... Why not send the print to Starfleet and let their Engineers
reprove what I already knew, that the Griffin couldn't handle them without the
Nanites. For godsakes I know they didn't kill anyone, I have
staunch proof, and now I have to wait for Starfleet to review it to see if it
is admissible evidence. How damn long do you have to look at birth certificates
to see that they were not even born yet. I guess we are all guilty for the sins
of our fathers, and in my case Uncles."
Scott pulled another PADD from next to his bed. He looked at it blankly before
sighing and hurling this one to meet it's companion in a shattered heap on the
floor. As the first PADD shorted for the last time a photo of Montgomery Scott
faded, and the second PADD next to it did the same, as the resignation joined
the picture. Lost in a sea of memories.
And with that, Scott cried himself to sleep...
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Chapter 3
{Captain's Quarters}
"Bridge to Captain Myst," the comm announced throughout the cabin,
"We've
arrived."
Priscilla slowly pulled her wandering mind from the view beyond her
window.
"Acknowledged," she finally responded.
Sliea Station. One of the numerous trading ports along the expanse
that
comprised the borders of Federation space. Like many others, Sliea
evolved
from just a stop for the local star system on one or two trade
routes a dozen
or so decades ago, into a major trading port since the arrival of
the
Federation border, as it is the closest port to the Federation in this and
the neighboring sectors. Ideal for anyone with any business with the
Federation.
The not so sleek bulkheads of the station revealed that it had seen its share
of troubles. But the gracefulness of the local architecture was still
vibrantly apparent as the light from the local star was bounced around and
scattered through precisely placed crystals. Occasionally, as the station
rotated, glimpses of the older areas of the station could be seen poking
through from underneath newer areas. Clearly, Priscilla had thought, as the
trade flow had increased Sliea had simply built layers upon itself. A not
only cost effective way of expanding, but it also provided the possibility of
a tremendously well protected inner core station. An old inner core station,
true, but also well protected.
All around Sliea ships were carefully navigating past each other. Some were
entering bays designed to hold shuttles and smaller ships, some were
departing the station, and some were aligning to dock at outcroppings meant
for large ships. It was to one of these Priscilla had watched the Griffin
slowly approach while her mind wandered Sliea's unseen corridors. She
imagined she could feel the ship rock ever so slightly as the Griffin docked
with Sliea, joining ship and station in a visible mismatch of technological
styles.
She had been wondering what this mission had in store for her ship and crew.
The last time they had left Federation space, albeit that time it wasn't by
choice, both ship and crew had suffered casualties. This mission wasn't
starting out nearly as dangerous as a couple others the Griffin had been on
since its re-launch, but Priscilla knew how quickly things could turn around,
and without warning. Especially when stolen weapons were involved. She
hoped it wouldn't come down to anything that bad. She hated losing people.
She still wasn't over the two most recent losses to the Griffin's population.
Somehow she didn't ever think she would be. And as much as she desperately
hoped they would be the only two she lost as a Captain, she knew the
realities of space life made that a long shot.
The notification from the Bridge had jarred her thoughts, pushing them back
to the present. Now that they had arrived at Sliea, she and some of her crew
would be overseeing and partaking in trades for the Federation. It was their
cover while the rest of her staff received help from B'ros. Starfleet had
thoughtfully arranged for the Griffin to transfer and receive several
different shipments at Sliea over the next five days. While all that would
be taking place, and after Lt. Cmdr. Daem and Lt. Travin had met with B'ros
to determine how many people would be traveling with his crew and who they
were, B'ros' ship would be traveling the local shipping lanes looking for
Starfleet's weapon thieves. To help detract attention from the merchant
ship, she and Commander Ivanof would be making discrete inquires on the
station on behalf of the Federation. Starfleet did not believe the thieves
would bring the weapons to Sliea, therefore it was also believed minimal
damage to the investigation could be made there since no real information
would be found. Plus it might scare the thieves into a detectable mistake if
they did discover Starfleet was so close...
"Sorry to wake you, Captain," Sable's voice spoke again. "But you asked to
be informed when we arrived."
Her attention now fully back in the present, Priscilla half-smiled to herself
at the irony. She hadn't been sleeping. Between Marina, Tyl-Rowh-Brawr,
Scott, the others still in mourning, her sister having gone missing, and everything else from the past month
invading her dreams recently, she hadn't been able to get good sleep for a
week now. And the lack of sleep was starting to take it's toll. She was
sure she sounded like she had just woken up, even though it had been hours
since she woke. It was just a matter of time, she knew, before she'd find
herself seeking out Dr. Moyer for a sedative just so she'd be sure she had
enough sleep to still be fit for command.
"That I did," Priscilla replied. "Thank you, Commander. Myst out."
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Chapter 4
Jaquelle sat in her quarters studying her part of the new mission.
As she
did she partially kept attuned to the emotions aboard ship. She
always felt
that it was important to report to the Captain if there was anxiety
building
among the crew over a new mission. It was something that she had
never
discussed with the Captain but had been influenced by a long past
reading of
one of the plays of Shakespeare. A reminder that a captain cannot
move
unnoticed among his troops to sense their emotions the night before
battle, but
how important that would be if he could. Jaquelle always made sure
that in
sensing she did not sort of ease drop. People always had fights with loved
ones, or feelings of annoyances between superiors and subordinates. She never
wanted to know those things because it might interfere with how she reacted to
a crew member on any given day.
What Jaquelle was mostly thinking was the opportunity she would have after
meeting with B'ros to do some shopping on Sliea. All as part of the mission,
of course. Jaquelle loved to shop. When she would travel with her mother to
strange and exotic places they would always try to disguise themselves as
locals and sneak away to the marketplace to look, and more often than not buy.
Suddenly Jaquelle felt a searing emotion right in the front of her brain
underneath her forehead. The pain was reminiscent of those times when she was
young and was given a drink filled with shaved ice and flavored syrup and
couldn't help but drink too fast. The emotion was that of anger, deep sorrow,
and loneliness. She immediately knew who the emotion came from: Lt. McInnis.
Jaquelle knew that someday this time would come. Sometimes she could just
sense that McInnis was tormented. She knew from his record that he had never
endeared himself to many people. In fact many considered him too reclusive and
too addicted to the job. Most of the crew from the Michigan only dared call
him by his last name, many didn't even know his first name. He had left that
ship with no fan fare, no send off by any crew but the official letter from the
Captain and his second, thanking him for his
professionalism, and his exemplary work on the Michigan.
Jaquelle didn't want his departure to be like that from the Griffin. In
fact she didn't want him to depart at all. What McInnis needed was counseling.
But she knew that he could never be counseled. She wouldn't even try because
that in and of itself could drive him from the Griffin. But she knew she had
to do something.
{Ten Forward, 0600 hours}
Jaquelle walked in to Ten forward, she had not slept much all night. All
she could think about was what to do about McInnis, and still she had no
answers. Ten forward was very quiet. Despite the ship having around the clock
duty, they still adhered to a day/night schedule. Not many people would be
about if they were not on duty.
The steward quickly came over.
"What can I get you, Counselor?" he said. Jaquelle didn't even have to think.
"Hot cider with a cinnamon stick," she said and then, "no, wait, can you
make a glass full of shaved ice and then pour a sweet strawberry syrup over the
ice?"
The steward looked at her strangely then took it as a welcome challenge on
a slow night.
"Let me see what I can come up with," he said.
Jaquelle knew she must have been tired because without even realizing it
McInnis had walked into Ten Forward. She saw him just as he passed to go sit
in a corner table near the window. She got up immediately and followed, she
had no idea what she was going to say to him.
"May I sit?" Jaquelle asked. She could sense his anguish, his wish to say
no. So she sat before he could say anything.
"I have been dreading this day as much as you have. You need counseling,
but you just can't stand for it." Jaquelle started. "I could have the Captain
order it but that would just make matters worse. You know what your problem
is? You can't get over your Uncle. The "BIG LEGEND." Well, guess what ...
you know more about warp engines than he will ever know, just as he knew more
then Zefram Cochrane ever did. You were born to be a chief engineer and not
just because of your uncle. You made chief engineer even younger than your
famous uncle because you are that good. And someday you will be the legend,
but not if you leave the Griffin."
"So you can't have the Nanites, get over it. That's what all good officers
do when things don't go their way. They go on to the next day. You can't be a
miracle worker everyday and your uncle wasn't one either. But what you can
learn from him is to make friends with some people aboard ship. And I hope
that I am one of them."
Jaquelle sat back and saw the astonished look on McInnis' face. She
realized that she must have been more tired than she had imagined to go off on
him like that. Just then the steward came with her drink. Jaquelle pick it
up, downed it in one gulp, stood, left Ten Forward and waited for the pain.
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Chapter 5
{Silea Marketplace -West Side}
Even as a child, Rinali had disliked crowds. The large numbers of
constantly
moving people and the constantly shifting noise of their minds was
irritating
at best and completely overwhelming at the worst. Even now, crowds
stretched
Rinali's control over her telepathic abilities to their limits. She
couldn't
help catching little bits of emotions as busy shoppers rushed past
her.
Jaquelle didn't seem to mind the throngs of people. She appeared
happy to
weave through the masses, trying not to disrupt the flow of
shoppers.
Jaquelle had mentioned that she hoped to do a little shopping once
their first
meeting with B'ros was over. But Rinali had been perfectly happy to let the
other woman take her time window shopping, if only to delay their mission for a
few more minutes.
B'ros. The almost ridiculous coincience made Rinali wonder if Starfleet had
something against her. First they sent her mother to the ship in an effort to
boost her spirits. And now they expected her to work alongside a man who had
been shunned by her Klingon family. As if things with B'ros weren't difficult
enough. She had barely seen him once he was turned away from Trosk's
household. That had made things easy; it wasn't hard to shun someone you never
saw. But what now? Her ship was depending on her to cooperate with B'ros.
But what of her loyalty to her chosen family?
Rinali sensed him before she could see him. No amount of attempting to stifle
her mental abilities could stop Rinali from being aware of someone she had
known for so long. She was surprised by the calm she felt from him, that laid
back attitude that hadn't changed a bit since she has last seen him. And
though he did look different when she saw him at last - taller, long dark hair
pulled back from his face, dressed in the worn garb of a minor trading vessel's
captain - his walk still betrayed that unmistakable confidence.
Rinali didn't know what to do. Perhaps by losing herself in the crowd, she
could buy herself a little more time before meeting B'ros. But that was
absurd. She knew for certain that neither Starfleet nor Trosk would smile on
her fleeing in fear of the ally chosen for her. It was time to confront the
family's oucast.
"B'ros," she called, waving her hand. Despite the uncomfortable
situation, Rinali was pleased to slip back into the familiarity of the Klingon
language.
B'ros looked up and smiled, striding easily to where Rinali stood. Jaquelle
would be back from her shopping errand soon, but for now, it was just the two
of them.
"Hello, sister." B'ros grinned. Rinali wasn't certain if she should be
offended by the famailiarity with which he greeted her. She forced herself to
remain calm, if slightly disapproving.
"Hello, B'ros."
Back to Top
Chapter 6
Freeman yawned, rolling out of his bunk for the tenth time that
night. For
some odd reason he was having trouble sleeping. All the reports he
read pointed
at an outside influence stealing the new torpedoes, but the idea
occurred to
him that it might be somebody on the inside.
"But who?" He asked himself aloud, walking to the window and
looking out at the
station they were moored to.
It just didn't add up. He was also very hesitant about the
merchantman they had
assisting their investigation.
"Apple Cider, hot." He ordered the replicator. It hummed for a
second, and
there was a steaming cup of cider in front of him. He remembered when he was
young, doing his homework and working over a particularly nasty homework
problem when his father would pull him aside for a cup of hot cider. It
comforted him and allowed his mind to clear, and as a habit, he carried the
tradition on to this day.
He sat down on his bed, lying back and covering himself with the blankets once
more, mind working over the problem. No solutions came as of yet, but he
relaxed some, wondering why he waited so long for the soothing relief of the
drink.
He thanked his lucky stars he had decided to go to sleep early and try to get
sixteen hours in. If he hadn't, it would have been a long duty shift the next
day.
"It has to be something we don't expect....it's the only way it would work...."
he said softly a while later, the long since empty cup sitting on the
nightstand beside his bed. Ever so slowly he began drifting off to sleep, until
he dozed peacefully.
Twelve hours later Lieutenant Gordon Freeman was sitting on his station on the
bridge, reading over the reports for the millionth time. In the corner of his
mind, he had a tugging desire to scan a newly arrived Andorian freighter.
Doing so, his jaw dropped when he saw what was aboard.
"Sir! Olimbar torpedo casing on board the Andorian freighter!"
Behind him, Captain Myst wasted no time, seeing the ship was about to depart.
"Hail them, and order them to stand down. Lock on a tractor beam! DO NOT LET
THAT SHIP ESCAPE!"
Quickly Freeman's hands flew over his now familiar controls, the order to stand
down arriving a short time before the blue tendril of energy that locked the
freighter in place.
A moment later the Andorian captains face appeared on the view screen.
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Chapter 7
{Observation Lounge, Griffin}
Rinali and Jaquelle's meeting with B'ros had gone very well. They
were just
finishing up their briefing with Yuri when Priscilla walked in.
Despite the
smile on her face, the other three could see how worn she was.
"Sorry I'm late," Priscilla said as she moved to her chair. She
noticed the
others standing up and getting ready to leave, so instead of
sitting down she
just rested her arm on the back of the chair. "I take it all went well?"
"Yes, Captain," Jaquelle replied.
"How did it go with the Andorians?" Yuri asked.
"They were livid, as expected, it took a few hours to placate them. The
worse part turned out to be negotiating with the station's Commander to let
us stay..."
"What about the casing?" Rinali asked, looking for the best, but hoping there
was a new issue that would require her attention over working with B'ros. It
had been nice to see him again, but she couldn't help feeling a little guilty
over enjoying the conversation with him. At this point she would much prefer
to deal with things here than face wrestling with her loyalties and emotions.
"Ah yes," Priscilla said, turning the chair and finally sitting. The other
officers followed suit. "Lieutenant McInnis verified they are in fact our
Olimbar torpedo casings. The two are going to be transported into cargo bay
2. Lieutenant Freeman is dealing with all that as we speak. I assume you
all realize the possible implications of the torpedoes having been
dismantled?" Everyone nodded.
"They could be trying to get the pieces out through various safer routes to
be reassembled later," Yuri commented.
"Or they could be selling them off for parts for more than they could make
selling them whole," Jaquelle added.
"Or they could just have hustled the Andorians, sold them the torpedoes but
only turned over the casings," Rinali finished.
"There are a lot of possibilities," Priscilla agreed with a nod. "I want a
senior staff meeting in two hours to go over what our new game plan is going
to be. Lieutenant Travin, exactly how many torpedoes do we have to track
down?"
"Four," she responded immediately.
"Alright, I'd like you to-" Priscilla began.
"Captain Myst, you have an incoming communication," Sable's voice interrupted
from the bridge.
Priscilla and Yuri exchanged a questioning look. "From?" Priscilla asked as
she stood.
"Your sister," Sable's voice responded.
Something inside of Priscilla that must have been keep tight for a long while
seemed to relax at the sound of those words. Priscilla briefly looked to the
other officers in the room as she said: "I have to take this." Then she
quickly headed out the door. "I'll take in it my ready room," she informed
Sable on her way across the Bridge.
{Ready Room, 5 minutes later}
"I just so glad to see you again," Priscilla reiterated for the fifth time.
"You sure you're okay?"
"Yes, Cila, I'm sure," Victoria replied with a roll of her eyes. "But *you*
look like you could use some rest."
"And I'm sure I'll get it tonight," Priscilla assured her with a smile.
After a moment of happy silence, a thought popped into Priscilla's head.
"Torya, there is someone else's week you might be able to make better with a
communication."
"I already plan to contact Scott right after I'm done talking with you,"
Victoria said. Then she thought about her sister's comment, and her face
darkened a bit. "Why? What's happened?"
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Chapter 8
{Bridge}
Ivanof strode onto the Bridge. Below, the
crystals of Sliea Station shone brightly. The
Griffin had been successful in acquiring the
casings of 2 of the 4 torpedoes. Now they had to
find the internals of 2 and the other 2 whole (at
least he hoped they were whole) torpedoes.
“Lt. Travin, have we heard anything from B’ros?”
Ivanof asked.
“Not since we met him on Sliea. He is willing
to help us locate them but his inquiries have not
garnered the leads we were hoping for.”
“And every moment we wait, those torpedoes could
fall into Romulan, Ferengi, or worse, Pakled
hands.”
{Lt McInnis’ quarters}
McInnis was just cleaning up the mess that was
his quarters. His bout with depression had taken
a toll in the form of a pile of dishes, bottles
and broken PADDs. He had found some reassurance
in the abrupt and fairly abrasive conversation he
had with counselor Daem. It had been a “Snap out
of it... Pull yourself up by your bootstraps” kind
of speech, but she had made some valid points.
He couldn’t compete with the legend that was
Montgomery Scott. But he had always proven
himself an excellent engineer. The fact that he
hadn’t been court marshaled and that Captian Myst
had actually rejected his resignation proved what
she and the rest of the crew thought of his
abilities. She said wait a week, it had nearly
been a month. He must feel like he belonged here
if he had not resubmitted his resignation by now.
He was still mad at Starfleet but he also knew
the crew wanted him around. After the
conversation with the councilor he felt like
maybe he had a clearer picture of his career.
Time would tell.
He had just placed the last of the dishes in the
replicator and cued the recycle sequence when his
terminal chimed. He had a communication coming
in. He authorized himself and was rewarded with
a near carbon copy of Captain Myst. But she
wouldn’t be using subspace to contact him so it
must be...
“Victoria. How are you?” Scott asked.
“Good Scott. I haven’t heard from you in a few
months. So I figured I’d see how you were. So?
How are you?”
“Great,” Scott said non-enthusiastically. “Were
on the hunt for some stolen torpedoes and have
been orbiting Sliea station for a couple of days
now. You?”
“Oh I just got in from 300 years in the past and
boy are my arms tired. It’s a really long story.
The Goldeneye got into a battle with an unknown
assailant and the engineering section gets hit
and the next thing we know were in 2160 or so. I
wasn’t sure. Well, our assailants board the Goldeneye
and start trying to take her with their advanced
weaponry. We are lent aid by a collection of old
Starfleet officers who, in rescuing me, decide to
bring me back to their ship. But not before I
grabbed one of the alien personal time transporters.
The old Starfleeters gave me a shuttle and I hooked the black box
into it’s deflector array and
transported myself back here. I was nearly dead when I pulled
that stunt, and passed out during the trip. But for the grace of
Starfleet Medical, I survived. Though I had to escape from
Sickbay, it's just so boring in there. So I’ve just spent 2
days with Temporal affairs, and Starfleet
Command, all of them wondering where the
Goldeneye is and one half blaming me for the
corruption of the time stream and the other
blaming me for the loss of the Goldeneye. It’s
been a week and still no Goldeneye, so Starfleet
has put me on suspension, and told me
not to go outside of federation space, so since
this is the first vacation I’ve taken in 6 years-
Do you want to go to Risa with me?”
Scott felt like he had just taken a disruptor
blast at point blank range. He sat back in his
desk chair. For some reason there was this
thrumming in his ears and for once it wasn’t the
engines. The thrumming seemed to pass through
him.
“Hey you alive over there?” Victoria asked.
“Yeah. I’m here. I’m ok,” said Scott still
looking kinda dazed.
“Forget what I said. It’s okay. Tell me about
these torpedoes,” Victoria said, figuring better
to bow out and hope he didn’t notice. She hadn’t
meant to invite him, just to talk to him.
“Wait. I haven’t made up my mind. Let me look
at my schedule.” He paused hoping for a reprieve
from an already uncomfortable situation for the
both of them. He knew she hadn’t meant to invite
him, but there it was hanging there in front of
him. He knew the main deflector dish’s annual
level one diagnostic was coming up. But when he
looked at his schedule it was still three months
away. It was a job that could take 3 men 2 days
and one man 2 weeks to accomplish. He had
planned to get to it this week, but now he looked
and it had been postponed. What was he going
to say?
“I’ll have to check with the captain but I don’t
think this will be a problem. My schedule has
mysteriously opened up.” What was he doing?!?!?!
“Good,” Victoria said. “And we don’t have to do
any of that touristy stuff. You know sun
bathing, swimming, dancing. We can just sit on
the beach. Sip Tamarian sunrises and talk shop,”
Victoria covered.
“Fine,” Scott said still wondering why when
words in his head were being countermanded by the
words coming out of his mouth. He was starting
to sweat. “Anything you want me to bring?”
“Just you. I, ah mean, whatever you, uh, want,”
she answered.
“Okay.” Scott said.
“Okay.” Victoria said.
Scott swore he could almost hear crickets in his
room from the uncomfortable silence. And he
thrumming was still in his ears.
“Okay. I’m going to go and try to get us a shuttle
or something. Contact me here at Starbase 10
when you get done with that mission. Ok? Bye!”
she said as she closed the channel.
Scott was nervous. He was going to be going to
the romantic capital of the Alpha quadrant with
his Captain’s sister! There had to be a
regulation against that. Had to be. He opened
up the Starfleet Regulation manual and read it
cover to cover. For some reason the regulation
he was thinking of was missing. He checked to
see if this was the most recent update to find
that it was. Then he had a thought... Sabotage. He
stayed up the whole night checking the program to
try to determine if it had been tampered with.
Nothing. When he found no signs of tampering he
grabbed his toolkit and began a level one
diagnostic of his desk terminal. Nothing. Then
after putting his terminal back together, he
brought his schedule up again. He could have
sworn that he had scheduled that deflector
diagnostic for next week. Nope it was still 3
months away on the date of the last annual
inspection.
Well before he could leave he’d have to see to it
that the Griffin would be alright while he was
gone. After the issues with the former engines
he could leave nothing to chance. He wanted to
make sure that their near destruction hadn’t
caused any other problems. He’d have to perform
a level three diagnostic on the dilithium
chamber, the matter/antimatter injectors, the
warp field generators, the bussard ramscoops, the
nacelles. Know what? To make sure, better bring
the entire engines offline and perform level one
diagnostics across the board. Then he sat back
and decided he had NO TIME to go to Risa.
He looked at the time and realized he had a half
hour to be in engineering. He quickly showered
dressed and just as he was getting to the door he
heard it.
His comm badge.
“Myst to Lt. McInnis.”
“McInnis here,” he said hoping this was something
engineering related.
“Before you go to Engineering, would you mind
stopping by my ready room?” she asked. This was
not something engineering related.
“Aye sir,” he said as he headed for the
turbolift.
{Ready Room}
Captain Myst was smiling out the window at the
stars as the door chimed.
“Come in,” she said. The doors opened to admit
a very nervous Lieutenant McInnis.
“You wished to see me Captain?” he asked.
“Yes McInnis. Sit down,” she said gesturing as
she took her seat. “I wanted to discuss one of
your engineering staff.”
“Let me guess sir. It’s me,” McInnis said,
trying to hold back the tide of sarcasm he felt
welling in him.
“I guess that speech has been used too many
times,” Myst said smiling.
“I’ve heard it a few times myself. What did I do
sir??” McInnis asked biting his tongue.
“Nothing. Or better yet. Everything. Since
this ship left space dock and after the
replacement of her engines, her efficiency
is rivaling if not surpassing the Enterprise-D’s
records before she was lost. But frankly
counselor Daem and myself are concerned that you
have been throwing yourself so hard into your
work, especially since the Nanite incident, that
we are afraid you’re heading for a burnout. Once
this mission is over, you’re being placed on
medical shore leave for the period of one month.”
She handed a PADD to him. On it was the
standard leave form signed by Myst, Ivanof, Daem
and Moyer.
“This wouldn’t have anything to do with a
conversation I had with your sister would it
Captain?” He asked... feeling schnookered.
“I’m sorry Lieutenant. That’s Classified,” Myst
said with a slight smirk.
McInnis Let out an exasperated sigh, stood and
when Myst nodded to him for dismissal he headed
for the door. Then one question popped into his
head.
“Captain. The Level one diagnostic on the main
deflector, that WAS scheduled for next week
wasn’t it?”
“It still is. Mcalister, Rawlins, and Dexter are
handling it. Your level one diagnostic of the
main deflector has been postponed for a few
months. Commander Ivanof has final say on duty
assignments. Nice try Lieutenant.”
“Thanks sir.” McInnis said as he walked out.
{Bridge}
“Commander, we are being hailed. It’s B’ros.”
“Stand by,” Ivanof said as he tapped his comm.
badge. “Captain Myst to the bridge.”
Moments later Pricilla stepped onto the bridge
and smoothed her uniform.
“On Screen,” said Ivanof.
The view screen blinked to reveal the disheveled,
bruised and slightly bloody visage of B’ros.
“Greetings Captain,” he said.
“B’ros, are you alright?” Myst asked.
“Fine captain. I’ve received worse at the hands
of your tactical officer,” he replied grinning.
Travin blushed and tried to fight the smile and
fond memories that came to mind of her days in
Trosk’s house.
“What happened?” Myst asked.
“A Ferengi arms dealer, with whom I’ve been
discussing the item, betrayed me with a few of
his minions. I had them until one of them pulled
a phaser. The blast should have killed me but as
Travin will attest, I have a very thick hide.”
“Very thick,” Travin confirmed.
“My first officer was nearby and saw what
happened and came firing. But it seems that my
cover has been compromised.”
“Possibly B’ros. We thank you for your efforts,
but he may just have thought you were trying to
swindle him, not that you were working for us.
Did you happen to get his name?”
“He claimed it was Damon Vong. But I have checked
with station control, and they have no Ferengi
by the name of Vong, on board. He may be a
smuggler. I wish I could be of more assistance.”
“Nonsense B’ros you’ve been a great assistance.
We will continue the search.”
“If I can be of further help, my services are
still at your disposal. Qa’Plah!” B’ros said,
but his eyes shifted from Myst to Travin as he
said it and Travin was having trouble maintaining
her demeanor. Luckily the screen returned to the
view of the station immediately as the channel
closed.
Back to Top
Chapter 9
{Office Of Counselor Jaquelle Daem}
(Door chime)
"Come," said Jaquelle. She knew exactly who it would be and indeed
in came
Commander Ivanof with a padd in his hand.
It had almost been a year since the Griffin had been newly
refitted.
Jaquelle knew that crew reviews would have to be done and submitted
to the
Captain by that year date. She had remembered as a junior crew
member how the
anxiety started to rise around the time of yearly reviews and each
day they
were late was almost pure agony for those with ambitions as well as
those who
were unsure of what the higher ups thought of them. Jaquelle promised herself
that if she ever made it to this position, she would make it a priority that
reviews were out in time.
However, her anticipation about doing the reviews had turned into
trepidation. W hat if she had miss judged someone? (I guess that is why
Starfleet protocol always has the Counselor and the First Officer make
recommendations, and the Captain have the final call,) she thought.
Ivanof sat down across the desk from Jaquelle.
"I thought we could fill the open positions first, make those promotions
and then look over each of our lists as to whom else deserved promotions, then
review all who are left," Ivanof suggested.
"That seems a very reasonable way to do it," responded Jaquelle.
"I also thought that we have two important positions to fill. Chief
Medical Officer and Chief Science Officer. I believe that without a doubt Anna
Krasinski should be Chief Science Officer. She has more than proved herself in
several of our missions," Ivanof stated.
Jaquelle beamed inside. She, too, thought Anna should be given the promotion,
but she did not want it to look as if her friendship with Anna gave her any
unfair advantages. She was happy that Ivanof made the suggestion.
"To that end," Ivanof continued, "I suggest that we promote her to Lt. J.G."
"Agreed," said Jaquelle.
"Now Chief Medical officer is more in your purview," Ivanof said.
"Well, that's an easy one also, Dr. Moyer has the experience, keeps up on
all the latest medical research, has the right bed side manner and is an
excellent surgeon," Jaquelle responded.
"Good, that would have been my choice, also. He will need a promotion to
Lieutenant," Ivanof added. "But we still have a medical doctor vacancy."
"Dr. Moyer has also helped take care of that for us," Jaquelle noted.
"Nurse Yari Leonid had finished her medical degree just before we left dry dock
last year. Dr. Moyer supervised her through her internship while on board. I
just received notice from Starfleet that she has been conferred all privileges
of a doctor."
"Fine, that takes care of that," said Ivanof. "I also have a
recommendation from Lt. Travin for a promotion for Ensign Zosin K'amast to
Lieutenant J.G. I looked over the information Travin gave me and I believe it
is a good choice."
The next few hours Daem and Ivanof went through every position on the ship.
By the end, they had agreed on a full set of recommendations and reviews for
Captain Myst.
{The Next Day, Sliea Station Market Pace}
Jaquelle wandered the marketplace alone this time. Now, while bartering for
goods she made it clear that she was Starfleet and that she was looking for
something else. Jaquelle was also keeping her senses open, trying to see if
any one was specifically uncomfortable with her presence. Her mission was to
make it look like Starfleet was conducting their own search and had no
connection with B'ros. But if someone had made the connection, they wanted to
find out who.
As she moved along, Jaquelle could sense that she was being followed. She
intentionally kept her eyes away from the area where she sensed the person.
Jaquelle maneuvered her way to a booth, picked up a specific scarf and glanced
at Lt. Zosin, who had for the past few days worked for the owner. She stared
at Zosin and deflected her eyes to the left. She offered him a price
signifying the degrees and distance behind her the person was. Seemingly,
without looking in the direction, Zosin saw the person. He then declared that
he was insulted, and would not barter with her.
Jaquelle left the scarf and moved towards the next booth. While never
diverting his eyes from Jaquelle, Zosin punched in some directions on a padd
hidden by his right hand. From seemingly out of nowhere, two Griffin security
officers out of uniform appeared, hyposprayed the man, held him as he slumped,
and maneuvered away from the market place.
Back to Top
Chapter 10
{Griffin - Corridor near Security Office}
(Editor's Note: The following section is all spoken in Klingon)
"Good evening, Lieutenant."
Rinali tensed as she glanced behind her to see B'ros grinning at
her back.
If he had expected Rinali to return the smile, he was disappointed.
Rinali
greeted him with a practiced stoicism.
"Good evening" she replied, as if to someone she barely knew. If
B'ros was
disappointed with her reaction, he didn't show it. The grin
remained.
"Unless the old taskmaster's prowling around the ship somewhere,
you can
relax a little," he said teasingly. "I promise I won't tell the family you
acted like you knew who I was."
Rinali sighed.
"I had some information I needed to pass on to your captain. Once I was
done, I thought I would come and see you and fll you in on what I've learned.
Over dinner maybe?"
"I have work to get to." Despite her intentions to leave it at that, Rinali
wasn't having an easy time resisting the idea.
"All right," she grumbled. "Meet me in Ten Forward in half an hour and we'll
talk."
"I'll be there." B'ros strode off down the corridor, leaving Rinali to her
business. Half an hour would be more than enough time to get her few reports
in order. The rest of the time she would need to work up the nerve to talk
to B'ros again.
{Ten Forward - approximately 47 minutes later}
In Klingon: "...so we had made nearly triple the profit we expected and the Ferengis were
more than happy to pay for a one-of-a-kind ship that couldn't have made a
half planet orbit without crashing. "Valuable colectable", they called it."
Rinali surprised herself by laughing heartily. The conversation had gone
from awkward to easy in a remarkably short time. B'ros was tactfully
steering away from any talk of the past or the family and instead told tales
of his adventures with his crew. Rinali found herself relaxing as she hadn't
in quite some time. There was still that twinge of guilt at the thought of
what Trosk would be saying if he could overhear them now. But it was much
less than the overwhelming shame she had felt before at feeling any pleasure
at seeing B'ros again.
"Lieutenant Travin?"
Rinali looked up to see Counselor Daem standing at her side. A slight smile
was playing around the woman's lips and after pondering several alternative
theories, Rinali realized that the other woman was probably pleased to see
Rinali enjoying herself. She managed to smiled back at the counselor.
"Good evening, Counselor." Rinali very nearly answered in Klingon. "Would
you care to join us?"
The question was a surprise to Rinali even as it came out of her mouth. She
seldom sought out the company of her fellow officers for anything other than
business. And things were going well with B'ros; she had no need for another
person to keep up conversation. Perhaps she didn't want to seem impolite.
The question turned out to be moot as Lt. Commander Daem shook her head.
"I'm afraid I can't. I'm going to meet with McInnis in a little while. But
I was hoping to find you before that. I've just been talking to the captain.
The official announcement hasn't been made yet, but she's a greed with your
suggestion to promote Enisgn Zosin."
Rinali smiled. In her mind, the promotion was long overdue, though of course
she didn't say that. Zosin had been her reliable second almost since the
first day she set foot on the Griffin. She didn't know what she would have
done without him.
"Thank you," she said. Jaquelle nodded to Rinali and B'ros, who gave a cocky
salute in return. She miled at the Klingon as she left the lounge.
(Editor's Note: The following is all spoken in Klingon)
"Ensign Zosin?" asked B'ros after Daem had left.
"My second," Rinali replied. "He's been indispensible to me with everything
that's happened on the ship."
"Ah," Br'os nodded, rubbing his chin. "I think I recall seeing him mentioned
in the ship's records. Cardassian?"
"Yes, he is."
"That doesn't bother you?"
For the first time that night, Rinali felt a surge of anger.
"You know it doesn't," she growled. "That's past and done and I'm not about
to let the actions of a few individuals in my childhood keep me from
recognizing a talented officer today."
The two fell silent after that. Rinali allowed herself a moment to cool
down. It wasn't really anything that Br'os had done. But she hated it when
anyone assumed that she held a grudge against the enitre Cardassian race when
she had worked so hard to make certain that didn't happen. She tried to
think of some way to restart the conversation, but it was B'ros who spoke
next.
"I heard about the old man making you the next in line," he said quietly.
Rinali said nothing at first. She had figured that they would stay away from
family matters. And it bothered her that B'ros never refered to Trosk by
name or evn as "father". He seemed casual enough, but she wondered if his
outcast status really suited him so well.
"How did you find out?" she asked.
B'ros waved his hand vaguely. "I hear things."
"I'm sorry." Rinali looked down at her empty plate. B'ros laughed, though it
sounded slightly hollow.
"Don't be," he said. "I had no expectation of being welcomed back into the
family and I wouldn't want to be."
He looked at Rinali, his eyes meeting her and holding them in a way that made
her feel uncomfortable.
"I think that may be why we used to get along as well as we did," B'ros
murmured. "Both of us feeling trapped in our own skins and by everyone's
expectations of what we should be, desperately wanting to become something
else. And yet..."
B'ros trailed off and looked away.
"How's your work?" he asked after a moment.
"Slow going, I'm afaid." she answered with a sigh. "The Andorians were
stubborn, but from what I can tell they didn't intend to purchase the torpedo
casings, or even the whole torpedos. They had a deal for some kind of
merchandise, won't say what, that they were supposed to pick up at some
prearranged location, so they never actually met the seller. When they got
there, al they found was the casings. They were furious, of course, but they
figured they'd cut their losses and take what they got.
"So we're getting nowhere with that. And the human who was following Lt.
Commander Daem hasn't regained consciousness yet."
"A human?" B'ros looked at her. "Blonde? Mustache and beard? Greay eyes?
Scar on the back of his right hand?"
"Yes," Rinali said with surprise. "You know him?"
"Damn!" B'ros cursed. "Eli Korros., one of my men. Either he had no clue
who your counselor was and thought someone else was asking around about the
torpedos or he was just trying to keep an eye on her."
Rinali groaned. "So he's no use to us. Wonderful."
"Let me take him off your hands then. You have more important things to
attend to."
Rinali frowned. "I've got to fill out paperwork on him; it'll take a day at
least."
"Rinali, it's not in my best interests for Starfeelt to have paperwork on one
of my men."
He leaned in closer.
"You always said you owed me a favor after the tournament. Remeber...?"
Rinali held up a hand to stop him from going further.
"Go. Take him. Just don't say a thing to anyone."
B'ros grinned toothily.
"Of course not."
Back to Top
Chapter 11
{B'ros Ship}
B'ros stepped down off the transporter pad. Directly behind him was
Eli
Korros. Before B'ros got to the door he struck a quick back handed
blow to the
face of Korros with his left hand. He then turned with his right
hand and
threw a hard, solid fist into Korros' mid section. Then as Korros
bent over,
B'ros pounded the back of his neck with a two-handed blow.
Bros left the transporter room. He figured that if Korros didn't die
from the pounding, then at least he should learn a lesson.
{On board the Griffin}
Jaquelle walked into the secure lock up area. Ens. Lysa was on duty.
"Hello Ensign Lysa," she said with a smile, "Has our guess wakened yet?"
Lysa looked at her puzzled for a second and then realized that she did not
know.
"Lt. Travin released the prisoner two hours ago," he said.
"What?" Jaquelle could hear the cross between astonishment and annoyance in
her voice.
"Lt. Travin just said there had been some type of mistake," he responded to
her.
Jaquelle calmed herself.
"Oh, all right," she said. But she knew it was not alright. She left the
locked area into the corridor.
"Computer, where is Lt. Travin?"
"Lt. Travin is in the Security Office," came the cool voice of the computer.
{Security Office}
"Come," responded Lt. Travin to the chime of the door.
Jaquelle walked in and laid a padd on the desk in front of Travin. Jaquelle
said nothing.
As Travin read the padd her blank look turn to an icy glare.
"You released a known smuggler wanted by the federation as well as a
half-dozen other planets before his security record was transmitted, and
without proper paperwork. Why?" said Jaquelle.
Before Travin could answer through the intercom came the captain's voice.
"Lt. Travin."
"Yes, Captain?" responded Travin.
"My ready room immediately please," Myst replied.
"Right away Sir," Travin replied and then looked up at Daem. "The Captain
knows, too?"
Jaquelle's manner softened a bit.
"I don't know, I did not talk to the Captain, I wouldn't do that," responded
Daem, "I like to deal face to face first to resolve things."
Back to Top
Chapter 12
{Captain's Ready Room}
From the other side of her desk, Priscilla motioned for Rinali to
sit as she
entered. Rinali moved directly to the chair opposite the Captain
and sat.
Priscilla picked up one PADD and looked at it.
"Why is it, Lieutenant," she began slowly, "That in one hand I have
a rather
lengthy smuggling record belonging to an Eli Korros..."
Priscilla picked up another PADD. "And in my other hand I have
transfer
orders for a criminal I told Starfleet we have in custody..."
She looked down at her desk, and then around before her eyes landed
on
Rinali. "But no where do I see any sort of paperwork or permission to
release the prisoner we had been holding, who, I am told by sickbay, is
indeed Eli Korros?"
Rinali resisted the urge to figit. She thought quickly, trying to decide if
she should tell Myst the whole truth now. "Eli Korros is a member of B'ros's
crew," Rinali explained. "He called in a favor I owed him."
Priscilla's face visibly darkened. "Let me get this straight," she said,
placing the PADDs back on the desk with an audible in unison Thwack! "You
released a wanted criminal, a man who up until yesterday had eluded seven
governments for nearly as many years, in seemingly complete disregard for
your job as a Starfleet Security Officer, to repay a personal favor without
knowing or caring who that man was?!"
Rinali waited for Priscilla to breath again before replying. Then her reply
was simple: "I knew."
Priscilla blinked. That clearly wasn't anything she had expected to hear.
"You knew?" she asked Rinali with a slightly confused expression. She closed
her eyes and placed a hand against her forehead. "I think for both our sakes
you'd better explain everything," Priscilla informed her.
Rinali pursed lips and nodded just once. She took a deep breath, then began.
"While working undercover Zosin discovered that the Andorians' contact for
the torpedo casings was a Trilant Endowen. Sliea's rosters show a person
with that name having arrived a week ago on a large transport ship. When the
crew was questioned they gave varying descriptions of that person, each of
which partially fit Eli Korros."
Priscilla was looking directly at Rinali now, absorbing every word. She
continued.
"The one thing about Ferengi, for good or ill, is that they can be bought.
The right mixture of bullying and bribing managed to get them to reveal that
the Ferengi arms dealer B'ros had that incident with had been tipped off by
one of B'ros' own crew that he was working with us. Hence why that Ferengi
turned on him."
"Why would one of his own crew do that?" Priscilla wondered aloud.
"There could be many reasons," Rinali commented.
"But you have a theory," Priscilla realized. "Which is?"
"Which is that Eli Korros knew exactly who he was following when tracking
Commander Daem. She was being, as instructed, too obvious about being from
Starfleet and poking around to try and get information about smugglers. I
believe he is one of, or is at least working with, the smugglers who stole
the torpedoes. There were a couple other almost insignificant incidents that
lead me to believe he has been trying to divert us from finding the
torpedoes. I had not given them a second thought until B'ros told me Eli
Korros was part of his crew."
"So you just gave him back-?" Priscilla began to ask in disbelief, then shook
her head at herself. (Rinali wouldn't do something like that, even to repay
a favor,) she assured herself.
"No, sir," Rinali confirmed. "I placed a tracer in him while he was
unconscious before B'ros picked him up."
Priscilla let out her frustration in a sigh, then looked much more pleased.
"I have been tracking him with low intensity sensors ever since. Wherever he
goes, if he sends or receives any transmissions, or if he comes within ten
meters of any parts of the Olimbar torpedoes, I will know."
When Rinali had finished, Priscilla nodded. "Good thinking." Then she had
another thought. "Does B'ros know?"
"I do not know what B'ros knows," Rinali replied. "Though I highly doubt he
thinks one of his own crew is working against us and him."
"Very well, Lieutenant," Priscilla said, then steepled her fingers. After a
moment of silence she spoke again. "In the future, I'd like to be made aware
of such things at your earliest convenience. That way when Starfleet
Command, or anyone else, comes knocking I can stall them for as long as you
need."
Before Rinali could respond, Priscilla leaned back in her chair and said:
"Carry on."
{Bridge, 3 hours later}
"B'ros's ship is moving off," Freeman announced.
Ivanof tapped his communicator. "Bridge to Captain, you wanted to know when
he left."
"Yes, Commander. Thank you," was Priscilla's reply.
{Security Office}
Minutes later Priscilla emerged entered. Rinali looked up as Priscilla
walked over and stopped by her side.
"How's it working?" Priscilla asked.
"Perfectly," Rinali replied.
"How far can they get before we have to follow?"
"We will be able to track him up to ten light years away, but we will only be
able to get sensor readings within the limit of the short range sensors,"
Rinali explained.
Priscilla tapped her communicator. "Myst to McInnis."
"McInnis here," came the immediate reply.
"What's the stats of the TCD?"
"Fully operational," he said.
"Good. Standby to engage it," she informed him. "Myst out."
"Myst to Bridge, lay in a course back to Federation space and engage at Warp
One."
"Yes, Captain," Ivanof replied.
"Lieutenant, transfer those controls and join me on the Bridge," Priscilla
said to Rinali. "We'll fill the Senior Staff in when we get there."
{Bridge, several hours later}
Things had been quiet enough in the last hour that you could hear a pin drop
on the carpet, ever since they had followed Eli Korros into Breen disputed
territory. B'ros's ship had dropped Korros off fours hours before, and he
had made two transfers since. Every moment seemed to indicate more and more
that he would lead them where they wanted to be.
Finally Freeman's voice broke the silence. "I'm detecting Olimbar power
signatures."
"Direction and distance?" Ivanof asked.
"Number?" Priscilla asked.
"All four," he replied, deliberately answering the Captain first. "Bearing
012, Mark 334. Range, one quarter light year."
"Lieutenant Travin?" Priscilla inquired.
"He's heading relatively in that direction, but not directly. It looks like
he's heading to a small outpost on a nearby moon."
"The power signatures are on a cargo ship being escorted by three very small
fighter ships," Freeman added.
Ivanof turned to Myst. "Do we go after the torpedoes or the smugglers?"
"Taking one will certainly alert the others to run, most likely before we
could reach them," Sable noted.
Myst thought for only a moment. Then she stepped in front of her chair and
turned towards the view screen. "Our mission is to recover the torpedoes,
it's more important to Starfleet that they be recovered. If we can catch up
with the rest of the smugglers afterwards... well, we will at least try."
Ivanof moved to stand in front of his chair. "Commander Sable, bring us
within transporter range of the Olimbar power signatures. Lieutenant
McInnis, keep a close eye on the TCD," he ordered.
"Lieutenant Travin, target the cargo ship's shield generators, and if they
start to run, their engines," Priscilla ordered. "Sable, keep the fighter
ships on the side of our strongest shields in case they manage to locate us."
Priscilla and Yuri then sat down at the same time. "I know I don't need to
remind anyone about the danger of setting off the torpedoes," Priscilla said.
"Let's make this quick and painless, people."
{Captain's Ready Room, The Next Day}
"The tracer is still active," Rinali reported. "As soon as Starfleet can get
a ship out there to follow it, whether that's us after we deliver the
torpedoes or another ship, they will have finally Eli Korros. Again."
"Good work," Priscilla said to Rinali with a smile. "Starfleet is impressed,
Lieutenant." Then she stood and walked around her desk to Rinali.
"Rinali, you've done an excellent job as Chief of Security this past year.
I'm very happy you're part of my crew. You have all the talent and instincts
to be the best Security Chief I've ever worked with. And I don't think it's
going to take very long for you to get there. In the meantime, I've
recommended you for Special Commendation. I'm sure it will come through.
And perhaps it will help you to trust in yourself as much as we trust in you."
Rinali's eyes grew large in surprise at the mention of a special
commendation. She blinked several times and rubbed her chin with one finger,
obviously quite startled.
"Captain, are you certain this is...? After I acted without....?"
Rinali trailed off, shut her eyes for a moment, and inhaled deeply. When she
opened her eyes again, the surprised look and been replaced by Rinali's
customary steely gaze.
"I understand, Captain. Thank you, Captain."
Priscilla inwardly sighed heavily. "You're welcome," she replied with a soft
smile, "You deserve it." While she was thinking to herself: (I almost got
through to her...) She then headed back around her desk.
"That's all for now," Priscilla said to Rinali. "Could you please send
Commander Daem in?"
"Yes, sir," Rinali replied, and headed out.
{Minutes later}
"Come in, Commander," Myst said in response to the door chime. Jaquelle
entered and took the seat Priscilla offered.
"Jaquelle, you've come a long way since we first met," Priscilla began. She
sat down in her chair with a smile. "You've shown talent in medicine as well
as being a wonderful Counselor."
"Thank you, Captain," Jaquelle replied with a smile of her own.
"You're welcome," Priscilla answered. Then she continued. "You've also
shown an aptitude for Command. I don't know of anyone in the crew who
doesn't like or respect you, which is one quality of a good leader. And you
exceeded expectations as my XO during the war games; coming up with creative
solutions, bringing crew together on a project based on your knowledge of
their talents, and knowing how and when to assert your authority."
Jaquelle wasn't quite sure where this was headed. Despite it sounding
promising, as she did have ambitions for Command one day, she didn't allow
herself to get excited just yet.
"Therefore, Commander Ivanof and I have decided to promote you to Second
Officer," Priscilla said with a large smile.
Jaquelle's eyes went wide. "Captain, I- I-"
Priscilla waved off her needing to reply. "You've earned this chance. You
will still also retain your position as Counselor. But I'm sure you can
handle it."
Jaquelle nodded in understanding. "Yes, Captain. Thank you!"
"You're very welcome," Priscilla replied. "Now, I have your first assignment
as Second Officer..."
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