Post 147: Man Down

Posted on Wed Oct 23rd, 2024 @ 9:56pm by Admiral Michael Tabolt & First Star Admiral Dakota Olvera & Admiral Christopher Bradley & Major General Talo Jackson
Edited on on Wed Oct 23rd, 2024 @ 11:35pm

1,735 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Secrets

On:

It had been weeks. Every night, he had a dream. Each was worse than the one prior. The haunting, the paranoia was getting worse. He kept looking around him as if someone was there watching every move he made. Chris would wake up each night from his nightmares with a yell, waking up Dakota as she slept next to him. They were getting more frequent. He tried to not sleep, but his body always won. He would work at their table and sometimes fall asleep there, only to wake up after having another one.
Every morning he would be up before Dakota and go for a run. Regardless of how much sleep he got. It was the same thing every day. And when he got back he would get a cup of coffee and read the intelligence briefings. That was then. Now his runs take a bit longer because he is always afraid someone is watching him. And he would come back in a panic each time and then stare out the view port. This became the new norm and it was starting to effect his work.

Michael was drinking a cup of coffee, reading a report about the destruction on the Klingon Homeward when he received a message from Dakota. He quickly switched over to it, and read it, his concern growing. Quickly he downed the last of his beverage, and deposited it back onto the replicator before exiting his office. It only took a few moments to walk the short distance from his office to Olvera's, and when he arrived, he noticed that besides himself and Olvera, a bedraggled Bradley sat, looking out the viewport, beside a recovering Talo Jackson.

Chris looked up as Michael walked into the office. He nodded towards the man and looked at Dakota to start.

Michael took a seat, looking at the three people in front of him.

"Let's get down to it," he said.

Dakota looked at everyone. "I've called this meeting because I have some concerns. I've gotten several reports of some unusual behavior about you Chris," she said looking at her husband. "And I've seen it to, and I'm worried. And I feel like I've tried to get you to deal with it and you haven't done anything yet, so I'm hoping this meeting will light a fire under you."

Chris snapped his head at Dakota. "I'm ok. I'm handling it. I'm doing the best I can."

Dakota shook her head. "It's not helping. I know what you went through. We all do. But you need help. More help than I can give."

"What do you mean, unusual behavior," Talo asked. "I know I was gone for a bit but how much did I miss?"

Chris started to talk and Dakota held up her hand. "He's been having horrible nightmares, not sleeping, and I've gotten reports of him snapping at people thinking they were after him." Michael sighed.

"Chris...come on. You know how you would have handled this if this was a report about one of your subordinates."

Chris looked at Michael. "Mike, they are making it sound worse than it is..." Talo shook his head.

"I've known Dakota a long time, and she's not prone to overreacting. What the hell is going on?" He was more deeply concerned than he let on, but he hoped for more answers before getting truly worried.

"I...I don't know. " Chris sighed. "Nightmares, feelings of being watched. They've been happening for a while and they keep getting worse and worse. I don't know what's in my head causing this. I know being back here has brought it's share of memories. But nothing like this."

Dakota looked at Michael and Talo. "It's my recommendation that he speak to counseling and potentially medical, however because of the secrecy of what happened here previously, I wanted the two of you in on the decision. I know they have their code to not say anything to anyone, but can we trust them?"

"We spoke some about this a few weeks ago," Michael said, "and you mentioned some things from your past. Do you think that has something to do with that?"

"I don't know. I really don't know. I don't know why this is happening. You've all read the reports of what happened. Could it be related to them?" Chris asked. Talo looked confused... again.

"I am still catching up, apparently being kidnapped does not excuse you from paperwork. Fill me in."

Dakota looked at Chris who said nothing. "Eight years ago Chris was on a secret mission here to work on a cloaking project that would take any ships and bases and give them the ability to shield, cloak, warp and fire weapons. They were attacked by an unknown enemy at the time, which have been identified as the Synthulans. They basically murdered and destroyed the outpost. They held Chris hostage and killed crew in front of him trying to get him to give up the secrets of the project. He held out long enough and then the fleet was able to rescue him and what was left of the station crew."

"That story I know," Talo said, remembering as Chris was Dakota was speaking, "That was what destroyed this base in the first place. Wait..." he paused, "are you thinking that this unknown enemy is somehow related to your dreams?"

Chris nodded. "Yes. " Dakota nodded. "It's the only thing we can think of. It has something to do with this place." Michael cleared his throat.

"Okay... let's say, for arguments sake, that that's true. What is so important about this base, or you- no offense, that would account for all of this?"

Chris sighed. "The project. We came back here to restart the project and finish what we started. And I'm the only one who knows all the plans. I'm the key to getting this all done. The new team is working on it, but they only know what to build. The rest of it is me." Tabolt frowned.

"That seems...ill-advised. You having all the details alone is dangerous. At least share it with us."

"Ill advised or not, as director and head of intelligence, it's my job to handle the stuff you all shouldn't know til after we are done." Chris said. "You know we do this - to avoid the possibility of it getting out to the wrong people. There are many intelligence things happening now that you can't know. And this is one of them, well you know about the project itself but not the details behind it." Chris shook his head. "If I have to be locked in a padded cell, then so be it."

Dakota smiled. "That's not what we are asking. I'm just asking for everyone's opinion on what to do. Why is this happening now? Is it trauma related memories you have to deal with? Is it something else?" Michael held up a hand.

"I understand, as an Admiral in charge of Intelligence, that there are things that you keep to yourself, for operational purposes. I am simply stating that in this particular case, when there seems to be active threats against that information, that you should not be the only one holding the information. If.... the worst were to happen, then we would be without the ability to complete... whatever it is. For gods sake at least write it down somewhere." Talo interrupted him.

"I think that would be wise, but either way we need to deal with the situation at hand. You need a full medical and physiological examination. We need to alert the Marines and Security teams of potential issues, and we need to get to the bottom of this. With what happened to Qo'noS, we cannot take any risks."

Dakota nodded. "May I suggest that this information be kept not just in your head but somewhere on a secured pad that we can access if something happens with the proper code. And you put the code somewhere we will find it. "

"Can we trust the medical department here? Are we sure they are safe and not working for anyone?" Chris said letting his paranoia get him. "What about the code? Can someone hack into it?"

"Lieutenant V'Lar is an excellent Intelligence officer, and would be trusted for certain," Tabolt said. "Captain Pontmercy is not one to trifle with, he would have vetted his people. The medical department is excellent as well. You have nothing to fear."

"What about you, how do I know you are who you say you are?" Chris said suddenly standing. "Why are you trying to get me to tell other people about this?"

Dakota stood. "Chris calm down"

"Why tell me to calm down? you should calm down." Chris replied. Talo stood.

"We are all friends here, Chris. You are safe and we are not going to hurt you."

"How do I really know? You've been gone for a while. It could be anyone trying to get this out of me." Chris said moving away from them in the office. "Stay away from me"

Dakota looked at Michael and nodded her head. Michael sighed, and stood.

"Hey, hey-" he said as he approached Chris, "take it easy... we are not here to hurt you," he said. When the man hesitated, Michael pulled out a hypospray, and quickly pressed it to the mans neck, and within seconds he was out. "I'm glad you had me prepare that," he said softly to Olvera.

Dakota sighed. "I had hoped we wouldn't have to use it. But this is the worst I've seen him." She looked at her husband who was now asleep in Michael's arms with a worried look on her face. "Take him to sickbay. Warn them they might need restraints. Have a full medical eval done on him, and get Psych in there too." Tabolt nodded, and tapped his comm badge.

"We need a medical team to my location please, and bring restraints," he ordered. "I am not sure I can carry him through the corridors myself, but I am hoping we can get to the bottom of this."


Off:

Fleet Admiral Dakota Olvera
Commander in Chief
Starbase Obsidian Station

General Talo Jackson
Marine Commandant
Starbase Obsidian Station

Admiral Michael A. Tabolt
Director of Fleet Operations
Starbase Obsidian Station

Admiral Christopher P. Bradley
Director of Research & Development / Director of Intelligence
Starbase Obsidian Station

 

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