Post #137 Nothing is simple
Posted on Wed Oct 23rd, 2024 @ 9:45pm by Lieutenant JG Celine Quinn & Commander Jordan Haines & Lieutenant Commander Michael McMahon & Lieutenant Charles Andrews & Lieutenant Marty Stokes & Lieutenant T'Shas Cruz & Major Charlotte Thrace
Edited on on Wed Oct 23rd, 2024 @ 11:31pm
1,725 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission: Obsidian
ON:
Jordan called the away team to conference room two, since Jude and V’Lar were speaking with the general. He wanted to do a wrap up of the rescue and get some feed back from the others. He also felt like it was good to talk when a mission was over while things were fresh in the mind.
He sat down, holding a cup of caramel mocha with an extra shot and extra whipped cream. He had forgotten the machine he had in his quarters on the Arcadia and it was just what he needed.
Celine dragged herself through the door, feeling the exhaustion from the mission dragging her down. She ordered herself a black coffee, and turned, cup in hand, and headed to the table. Taking a seat, she nodded at Jordan and took a sip of her coffee.
Marty walked in to the briefing room now back in her uniform but still keyed up from the rescue. Taking a seat, she sighed as she waited for everyone else to get there.
T'Shas entered the conference room, back in her uniform and grabbed a Vulcan hot tea before sitting down.
Charlotte stepped into the room, she walked over to the window and looked out of the window to get her head in the game, there was something soothing about staring out at the ocean of stars they sailed their ship in.
Jordan was glad he served among these people. They were the kind you could count on when you needed them, even if it was something they weren’t thrilled about doing. He wondered where the rest of the crew had gotten to.
Andrews shuffled in, looking none too pleased with himself, but sat down anyway.
Mike walked in tired. He had been helping in sickbay with the general and when he was released he helped cleaning up.
“This meeting is to help each other deal with the aftermath of the mission and to discuss any concerns or questions you may have.” Jordan said as he looked around. “I want to say first off that I am proud of all of you. We succeeded without any bloodshed on either side.” Celine took another sip of her coffee as the Commander spoke.
"I for one do not think that we have seen the last of those...pirates," she said. "I was pretty clear that I was against the way we handled the rescue, but I am very glad that no one was hurt, and that the General was rescued. In the future I would advise more caution, personally."
T'Shas nodded, "I agree with Lieutenant Quinn."
Jordan looked around. “Well?” His eyes went to those left in the room. “You have nothing to say?”
"Keeping my powder dry." Charlotte said, given this had been her op she preferred to wait until she had everyone's opinion.
“McMahon? Stokes? Andrews? Chambers?” Jordan growled. He hated the way they all sat like they were playing some game like they were shy. “I’m not pulling punches you damn well need to speak up.”
Mike shook his head indicating he had nothing to say. He hadn't liked the way the mission went. He had tried to object previously and was shot down. His only job had been to watch what was happening which was not normally what he did. The events that happened on the planet interested him as the pirates never fired but there was a lot of confusion and he saw one of the away team fire. But he didn't want to get shot down so he chose to remain quiet and put it in his report.
Jordan saw the shake of his head and sighed. He waited to see what the rest of them would say or do. There was going to be a meeting when they got back to the station. He was more than irritated now.
“Under the circumstances, I personally thought it went well,” Marty said. “Professionally speaking, everyone did what was necessary with what we had to work with. Sure, mistakes were made but we learn from them and move on, nothing is gained from rehashing it over and over again. Nothings ever going to go according to plan, commander.” Celine nodded.
"That is true, we worked well together," she stated.
"In light of the context it went about as well could have been expected." Charlotte said "There's no such thing as a perfect operation, it was risky regardless of how we approached it, there was always a strong likelihood that shots would be fired, we got the General and got out with no casualties or wounded, in my book that's a successful mission."
“Agreed.” Jordan nodded. “We will officially put all actions of this mission to rest as of this moment. Is everyone in agreement?”
"Aye," Celine murmured.
“Agreed,” Marty said with a nod.
T'Shas nodded, "Agreed. "
Mike nodded. “Yes”
"Yep." Charlotte said.
Jordan grinned he had outfoxed the fox. Charlotte just agreed the mission was behind him and that included what he had done.
“I would like….” He began when Jude came in the room and spoke. “I apologize for the interruption but we have a situation I need to speak with you about.”
Jordan was irritated but he also knew Jude would not interrupt unless it was important. “What is the situation?”
“In speaking to the General we have discovered a much bigger plot going on.” Jude said seriously. “We are going to have to go back after those who kidnapped him.” Celine blinked in confusion.
"I'm sorry...what?!"
Jude looked over to Celine. “We have to go back.” Jude replied. “They extracted the general’s DNA.” His eyes went to Charlotte. “Given your scenerio of how a war will go, I am certain you agree with the assessment.”
Charlotte hadn't missed Jordan's grin, even if it was misplaced no the Commander wasn't off the hook 'officially' simply meant what was filed in reports, unofficially was a whole different matter so he still owed her dinner and dancing as far as she was concerned. Jude's arrival had surprised the whole room by the look of it. "Are you..." Charlotte said thinking "Are you talking about interference with Klingons?"
Jude looked at him. “Yes.” He knew what the marine commander was talking about. “We went straight to the captain and he said we need to get moving. Also he had better get better updates this time.”
"I'm sorry, hold on," Celine said, holding her hands out as if to halt the speed of the conversation. "I know time is fleeting, but can you please explain what is going on? We are going back, sure, fine... but what is the plan? What is the background? Where is the DNA? Who exactly has it?"
"Lieutenant." Charlotte said looking at Jude "Every detail now please."
Mike nodded. Taking DNA sounded serious.
“We believe the DNA is either on the USS Restitution or still on the planet. . The plan is to go and retrieve that DNA quickly. If we are right, they plan to use it in some way to implicate the Federation in an act against the Klingon Empire. V’Lar will be here shortly she is collecting some data.”
"It would have to be one heck of an act." Charlotte said slowly "Ok really quickly, I have a list of reasons why the Federation won't lose this war according to the current state of the Quadrant and circumstances, the third reason is the Federation and the Klingons being allies so if the Romulans and Cardassians got to the point of presenting a significant threat the Klingons would step in and support the Federation. If you could break that alliance either by turning the Klingons against the Federation or at least making it an indifferent relationship you would change the Quadrant state. That's all theory though."
“It is more than theory, Lieutenant.” Jude said seriously. “General Jackson,
Lieutenant V’Lar and myself believe that is exactly what they are up to. The general is close friends with Sa’ K’Rath. He is well respected among his people and is supposed to be at a Comference with the Federation next month that General Jackson will be attending. If they can get that DNA away from our reach, it will be too late.”
“Where the hell is V’Lar.” Jordan demanded. “We need to go.”
"Instead of waiting - I suggest Andrews change course now and we head back. And then we come up with a plan to get the DNA back. Don't forget now the pirate know what you all look like, so if we are going down there you all would be picked out immnediately. And there is no time to change what you look like because that takes longer than we have." Mike said.
"I suggest we don't put all our eggs in one basket." V'Lar said stepping inside the room "The DNA was extracted weeks ago, it is probably not even on that planet at this point, added to which the lead pirate we ran into said 'report this to command' it is safe to assume that they have reported that they no longer have the General and that means that whatever timetable this plot is on has been accelerated. Let me phrase it differently, getting the DNA, going after the pirates will likely prevent further malicious action provided we get them all, but there's a high probability that whatever this plot is is already in motion."
“They will expect us to come back right now.” Jordan agreed with a nod. “Going to the station will give me time to get a couple non fleet ships there to use. We are more than likely going to have to check out several places.” He looked to Andrews. “Get us to the station. Dismissed.”
OFF:
Commander Jordan Haines
Executive Officer
Starbase Obsidian
Lieutenant Commander Mike McMahon
Chief Operations Officer
USS Arcadia/Starbase Obsidian
Lieutenant Jude Haines
Security Chief
Starbase Obsidian
First Lieutenant Charlotte Thrace
Marine CO
Starbase Obsidian
Lieutenant Junior Grade V'Lar
Chief Intelligence Officer
Starbase Obsidian
Lieutenant Junior Grade Celine Quinn
Chief Diplomatic Officer
USS Arcadia/Starbase Obsidian
Lieutenant jg T'Shas Cruz
Chief Science Officer
USS Arcadia/Starbase Obsidian
Lieutenant Junior Grade Charles Andrews
Chief Flight Officer
USS Arcadia/Starbase Obsidian
Lieutenant Junior Grade Marty Stokes
Chief Counselor
USS Arcadia/Starbase Obsidian
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