Previous Next

Filling in the XO

Posted on Sun Nov 6th, 2022 @ 6:19pm by Lieutenant Is'san & Commander Lillian Carter

672 words; about a 3 minute read

Mission: Episode 5 - Objects In Motion
Location: USS Cerberus ready room
Timeline: Mission Day 6 @ 0900 Hours

ON:

"Commander Is'san, would you please join me in the ready room," Lillian said as she got up and got two cups of coffee from the replicator and placed one on the table for the XO.

Within seconds the door to the ready room slipped part, Is'san ducking under the shoulder height door frame as he entered.
"Captain... You asked for me!"

Lillian smiled. "Yes Lieutenant, please have a seat. coffee?" She gestured to the cup that was closest to his side of the table.

"If I may sir, I would prefer some tea... Coffee seems to disagree with us Kelpians!" gently tapping his stomach with both hands but rather than having her move again, he found his way to the replicator to order his drink.

She continued "I wanted to fill you in on our mission. Besides me and you and the officers directly involved, no one knows the full details of this mission, including the Commodore and that's how it's going to stay, understood?"

"That seems rather unorthodox sir!" already putting some of the pieces together. He knew that the Commodore would have ordered the mission yet he was being kept out of the loop on the specifics. Then it hit him.

"Plausible deniability... We become the scapegoats if anything... goes awry!" he added as he returned with the tea in hand, taking a seat across from Carter.

"Starfleet has received intelligence that a Romulan faction is messing around with some biologic agents that could be used as a weapon against the Federation and we believe the local Cartels are involved."

"I see!" and it was a worrying prospect without any more details. "I assume we are to find out what we can about this supposed biological agent... specifics on what it could be and how it will be used?"

Lillian nodded. "Quite right Lieutenant. A small team headed by Lieutenants Tobru and Lyras will be going in, undercover. We will be waiting at our designated coordinates for their return. Now officially, they have 72 hours to get in, get the information and get out as at that time, the Cerberus has to report back to Deep Space 21. Just so you understand, I don't intend on leaving any man behind. When the time comes, can I count on your support?"

"You lead and I shall follow sir!" he said with something of a smile. "I never did very well in my Kobiashi Maru test because I could not bring myself to leave anyone behind either!"

Lillian smiled. "Very good. Hopefully, it won't come to that but while we're waiting I don't see any harm in running some battle drills. I want you to oversee that."

"Agreed sir... I shall run two drills per shift for the next twenty four hours unless you would prefer more? I will make the result of each drill available to you as well!"
He was about to stand but something stopped him, the thought was dark and he could feel his ganglia twitch just from the mental image he had. "If I may sir... How badly could this end for Starfleet... or more specifically, us?"

Lillian nodded. "That sounds fine." She took a sip of her coffee. "As for worse case scenario, Federation colonies being wiped out from a biological weapon we have no defence against. I don't think it could get any worse than that."

"Indeed" the Kelpian stated, once again feeling his ganglia twitch at the thought. "Well... It looks like we have a pending apocalypse to prepare for... Perhaps a might forgo a calming tea this evening in favour of some Saurian brandy!"

Lillian smiled. "Sounds like a plan Lieutenant, just as long as your duty shift is over. The shuttle will be departing as soon as the team is ready." She finished her coffee and stood, heading back to the door that led to the bridge.

"Acknowledged. I will begin the drills shortly!"
Is'san stood and followed Carter from the ready room, his objectives set in the face of bleak prospects.

OFF:

 

Previous Next

RSS Feed RSS Feed