Briefing

Posted on Tue Oct 13th, 2020 @ 7:56am by Captain Dean House & Commodore Mardel Shayron-Connor
Edited on on Tue Oct 13th, 2020 @ 7:56am

2,296 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Refit and Restock
Location: Starfleet Headquarters

Mardel sat in the small room with the two people and waited for Dean to arrive. They had offered her something to drink, so she took some ice water. Both men wore Admiral pips and uniforms and spoke quietly to each other. Then in walked a familiar woman with blue black hair and almost black eyes. She also wore an admiral’s uniform and pips. She gave Mardel a smile and then sat down, sipping on a glass of chilled pineapple juice.

Dean wasn’t really that far behind, just having to weave through the crowd was all. Coming in and looking to Mardel. His clothes still had a bit of smudge to it from earlier. “Well isn’t this just fun.” Giving a look to the Admirals. “Admirals.” Going ahead to sit down.

Admiral Sylver looked at the two command officers and nodded to the other two men. “I’ve got this, gentlemen.” The other two men nodded and sat down without saying anything else. Killian stood and walked to the view screen and turned it on. “Commander, if you wish something to drink, now would be the time to get it. I would suggest something strong.”

Mardel took a drink of her water and gave Dean a nod and look that promised more to come privately. But she smiled at the smudge on the clothing and the hint of perfume that wasn’t something Dean normally had about his person.

There was a curious look given to Killian a moment. “Really? I could do with some real whiskey then, Ma’am,” not entirely sure if he was supposed to go find a bottle and a glass or if they would be provided.

Killian nodded to Dean. “Yes, I really mean it. You are, technically, on vacation. This little interruption shouldn’t detract from your time off. The replicator is programmed for the real stuff, not the synthol. I actually gave a sample of a very good twenty year old single malt whiskey from Ireland to the replicators when it was programmed so it would be real.” She waited for Dean to get his drink.

“I suppose I shall try that, then, Admiral.” Getting up real quick to get that and a glass. He was fine without ice. Sitting down and filling it. That down, filling the glass again. That one was not for as quick a consumption. Or was it. At least he wasn’t just using the bottle.

Mardel looked at Dean and shrugged and then looked back to Admiral Sylver. “Sir, I was informed of the attack on the Aldrin. Does this have anything to do with that?”

Killian put the first image on the viewer. It showed the Aldrin in drydock being worked on. Then two ships decloaked and fired on the ship and then quickly cloaked again and moved away from the shipyards. It appeared as if the Aldrin had been almost completely destroyed along with half of the Mars facility. “This is what happened at 10:30 hundred hours today, San Francisco time. Yes, you were informed Captain Connor. You would have been informed Commander House, but you didn’t put in an itinerary, so we weren’t sure where to contact you and you didn’t have your combadge on you.” Killian’s voice was brisk and non-judgemental, just stating unemotional facts, much like a Vulcan would.

She then turned on another image on the view screen. It showed the same two ships decloaking and firing on the Earth and then being destroyed by Starbase 001 in near orbit. “This is what happened at 12:00 hundred hours today, San Francisco time. Currently, the debris from the destroyed ships has been collected and is being analyzed on Starbase 001.” Killian then stepped to the table and leaned over it, looking at both Mardel and Dean in all seriousness. “You were the focus of both of these attacks.”

Dean turned his attention to the viewer and let it run. Without interrupting until the Admiral was finished. While watching, and listening, there were probably...three more glasses consumed. Which wasn’t going to affect him that much, and he knew his limits to still keep his wits about him. “Wait..run that back to time index 234. The second the ships decloak, please.” Waiting for that to be done while he got up and looked closer. Moving to sit down again.

“I wasn’t sure where I would be actually, I just knew it would be a cabin. I could have sworn I packed my communicator though,” Dean gave a shrug. “Those are Galor-Class Cardassian Warships. They were equipped with Romulan cloaking devices during the Dominion War when they were allied. I would have thought those would have been stripped off long since then, but it seems they weren’t on all of them. More than likely the Obsidian Order then.”

Killian nodded. “I’m glad you recognized them. We received intelligence two days ago that a price had been put on the Aldrin and her crew by the Cardassians. After we looked through your logs and the ship recordings, we did a little investigation on our own on the Cardassians. This isn’t the first temporal foray they have attempted. We sent agents back to correct the timeline and I must say, that the Cardassians are not happy with the Federation at the moment and the Aldrin in particular. Especially as you found and foiled their attempts to change history and brought it to our attention so we can keep a very close watch on them.”

Killian walked over to the replicator and got another bottle for Dean and set it next to him and then sat down for a moment. “The Cardassians have sent assassins after your crew here on Earth. Each of your crewmembers are being given special sensor devices that will scan all those within a ten meter radius of them at all times. Those near them will be checked against records and if they check out, will be eliminated as possible suspects. We knew who some of the assassins were and had tails on them. However, after the attack, all oft those assassins have vanished. We do not believe we have seen the last of these agents. The devices we gave your crew also has transport lock on, so that if any of them are in danger, they will be beamed to safety. You two, will have the devices implanted into you, as you two are primary targets. We have not told your crew why they must wear the devices, only that they must at all times.”

Mardel sat forward at this. “These devices, they won’t interfere with anything, will they?” She asked, suddenly concerned with how the device will work with her pregnancy. “I have a very sensitive system.” She said simply.

Killian nodded. “We know, Captain Connor, and the device will not harm you or your unborn child.” She assured the captain.

He didn’t need the second bottle, but why the hell not. Was only about a third on the first. If nothing else Dean could take it with him. “Well, that is lovely. I guess the locators are for the best for now.” Giving a bit of a sigh, “This would be easier if we were able to handle it ourselves to be honest.”

Killian nodded. “Which is why we will leave it up to you to do just that. Do either of you have any questions?”

“Yes, I do, Admiral Sylver. What is to happen with our shore leave?” Mardel asked. She had several ideals running through her mind.

“For now, it is still on, Captain. Your crew will go out and enjoy themselves, and we will watch them all closely through the devices, and hopefully we catch the assassins before they strike.” Admiral Sylver stated.

Mardel looked at Dean and frowned. “So we are to be bait, but not know it?”

“When you put it that way, it doesn’t sound as good as the way I put it. Go and enjoy some down time, Captain, you have earned it. Let us worry about the assassins.” Killian said with a faint smile.

Dean glanced to Mardel and reached to pat her hand, “I’ll be fine. Also, yes, we’re bait. I’d rather do it a different way to be honest.” Taking a breath, another drink. Giving a thought a moment, “A little more proactive. We are the ones in danger. Those chips aren’t going to work if they know about them. Transport inhibitors are way to easy to move around. Then what? We get blind sided, other than some of us that might be able to notice them before they attack and deal with it ourselves.”

The two male admirals looked at Killian but didn’t say anything with the almost bland look on Killian’s face. “Actually, Commander, if you can find and trap anyone after you, we would be grateful. So far, they are proving very elusive, beaming away when they’ve been made and we haven’t yet been able to trace the transport beam they use. All we know is that it’s based on Earth somewhere and is in or near a major transport hub to be able to mask the signal.”

“We do have a Kryptonian after all…” Said in hindsight. Or..after thought maybe. That was all of now, it wasn’t quite interrupting but in a manner, ‘out of turn.’

Killian shook her head. “Yes, we know about Lieutenant Danvers. We prefer not to announce her to the Cardassians, if you get my meaning.”

“How do we know, they don’t already know about her? We are fully aware about her remarkable restraint. That doesn’t, however, say their intel hasn’t already pegged her.”

“Commander House, we are trying to give your crew some time off and that includes Miss Danvers. If you want to inform your crew of what is happening and have them all go on alert, that is up to you. We, however, would prefer you to keep it quiet and allow your crew to have their shore leave.” Admiral Sylver said. She then motioned and had the two admirals inject the implants into Mardel and Dean. Then the two men left. “Are there any other questions?”

“No, I think you have made your position very clear, Admiral Sylver. May Dean and I have some time to discuss this ourselves?”

Killian nodded. “I have made myself available to both of you for the duration. Just call me when you need me.” She then left the room, leaving Mardel and Dean alone.

Dean didn’t have any more questions, not really ones that the Admiral was probably going to like. Thus, he left them to himself. Reaching for the glass again. Getting up to go to the monitor and run over all of the footage as slow as he possibly could get it. Without it being frame by frame unless he saw something. That included the attacks on the planet. “What do you think?”

Mardel sighed and took her glass to the replicator. “I’m of two minds in this, Dean. The crew do deserve some vacation time. But if the crew were aware, then we could probably catch those trying to kill us all the faster. The problem is, we don’t have any resources, and Starfleet Intelligence does. We have our brains and wits, and that’s about it.”

“The other problem is, that if they know, not all of them mind you. Some will not be able to go about what they are doing without giving something away. Even inadvertently. So it still goes to a decision. As far as resources, we have more than they think, as well as contacts.”

She thought about it. “Okay, here is what we will do. We don’t tell the crew as a whole. We will select a few, who can be counted on to keep their cool in any situation, and let them know and see what they can do. I would say, Kara, Flower, Morgan, and Teayana, and that’s about it. Nightwing and Langley would be okay, but they need some serious alone time. Are you okay with this?”

“I guess we can go with them. It should be alright after all.” Finally turning from the monitor. Moving to look for an Iso chip to transfer the data to. “Teaya will be with me, so that’s covered.’

Mardel nodded. “Okay. I will tell the others then. I should also tell Daniel. He will worry, but at least I can keep him distracted enough that he won’t give anything away. Enjoy your vacation, Dean. I’m really happy that you and Teaya are together. She’s been alone for a long time and has needed a good man to be with.”

“Technically, so have I, since I haven’t been with anyone since the death of my wife and unborn child.” Taking the Isolinear chip out once it was done and pocketing it. “I’m sure you can and Daniel is all good to know.”

Mardel nodded. “Okay then. Keep in touch. I think that Daniel and I will be spending a little more time in London and then we will move on to Greece and spend some time among mythology.”

“We’ll probably just go back to the cabin. I’ll make sure to grab a combadge this time though, for both of us. Same secure channel as before if necessary?”

Taking a deep breath and then slowly letting it back out. “Yes. Enjoy the time off.” She sighed again and then left the room, to do her part before going back to London with Daniel.

 

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