The Department of Operational Analysis
Posted on Tue Oct 29th, 2024 @ 6:09pm by Commander Rhupert Tyree & Commander Daynah Ral & Lieutenant Katya Davi & Lieutenant Jayden Meran & Lieutenant Amy Gordon
1,615 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
The Foragers
Location: VOQ, Empok Nor
Timeline: Two days after Get the Party Started
Alone in his cabin, Rhu activated the bug stomper, sealed the hatch and brought out the data crystal Tesh had given him. He’d showered (cold) and changed into a uniform even though he didn’t plan to be aboard long. He fiddled with a reader from his luggage and began to go through the intel packet.
An hour later he shut down the reader and rubbed at his eyes. Clandestine affairs took their toll and he had kinda wanted to not be doing this again. The occupation had been enough.
Sighing, he put the reader away and ordered up a pot of coffee from the replicator and began making mental notes.
He needed to brief his officers. And it probably wasn’t a good idea to do it aboard Valiant. That meant the station. His VOQ was the best bet. Rhu would need to sweep it for snoopers.
Or rather, he would get Amy to do that. She’d be up on the latest methodology and likely techniques. At this stage, he doubted they were being watched but he also wouldn’t be surprised if the Pirates they’d tangled with sent someone sooner or later.
Sipping at the coffee he momentarily took in the bone china, cup that was part of the settings provided by Betezoid for Valiant and he frowned. He was seeing two distinct tasks that would need immediate handling, which would require Valiant’s crew to split up.
He expected her orders to one yard or the other day after tomorrow. Valiant would have to make her way there, without him or Dayna.
Checking the time to make sure he didn’t miss his dinner date, Rhu closed his eyes and thought.
Rhu had ordered in food from various vendors and had coffee, tea, and various juices decanted and waiting his officers as he read the daily mail packet that came with the job of being a Starship Captain. At least in StarFleet. Looking up as the last of his guests sat themselves with a plate and beverage of choice, he put down the reader and said.
“I hope you all have been enjoying this Port Call. Things are going to get interesting and I have some updates.
Taking a sip of his coffee (he’d had the Valiant’s china brought in for this) he swallowed and said, “First. Our Chief Engineer will be leaving us. Has left us, actually. She’s take up a posting closer to Commander Thibideaux."
Glancing around Rhu continued, "Valiant has been ordered into the Yard at Antares for a small refit. Shield upgrade and hull work as well as more miniaturization of some systems to give us extra room. I believe the Ambassador’s shuttle is going to remain with us as is."
Meeting his officer's eyes, Rhu said, “We, however will not be accompanying her.”
That got their attention and Rhu checked the hush field generator, encouraged by the green indicators and he continued. "For the record, we all are being asked to put our lives and careers on the line. Officially, Valiant has been reassigned to Federation Intelligence and in that role, we will be asked to play two roles. That of Star Fleet officers assigned to Valiant, undertaking various missions within the scope that BuIntel would expect: hunting pirates and the like.
However we are being asked to do more than that. To also assume Non-Official cover identities as needed and go on clandestine, non-sanctioned missions. At least not sanctioned by Fleet or Federation Intel directly. Does that bother anyone? Do any of you feel that that is something you don't want to do? If so, there's no harm or foul. You'll simply stay with Valiant and keep to normal duties as expected."
Katya set her sweet roll on her plate, wanting to give this her full attention. "I understand the need for such assignments and I'll help however I can." She wanted to ask more, but decided to wait and see what the captain had to say first.
Jayden looked at his food that he had barely touched and was taken a bit off guard by this revelation. He was quiet for a moment. The he looked up from his plate back to the captain and then said, "I am not bothered, I too understand the need for assignments like this. I will try to put my best effort forward as to what is required of me."
Daynah sat and found that her mind wandered to the events of two day ago. She was not quite sure what affected them all at the club. To make matters worse Ral wanted to solve this mystery as well. She managed to focus her mind on what Rhu said and the details of the mission ahead.
Daynah put the thoughts about the events of two days ago off to the side. What the Commander had just said struck a chord not only with Daynah but with the symbiote Ral as well. "I would hate to be the one who goes against the grain but I am horribly bothered by this idea. Clandestine missions go against everything that the Federation stands for. If the option is there I will remain to my normal duties as expected."
Rhu pursed his lips for a moment and said, "That is your prerogative, Commander. I won't lie that it'll make it harder without you. What you're talking about is an ideal and I won't argue to that. All I can do is show you all this."
Taking an flimsy from an archaic file folder he slid it in front of his assembled officers.
Copy 2 of 2. Further Duplication Forbidden.
To: USS Valiant, NCC 75416, Commander Rhupert Tyree Commanding.
Commander, you've already been informed by BuShips that Valiant has been reassigned to Federation Intelligence, Tour of Duty Yonder (TDY) along with her crew.
Which means me. Going along with that, you will be contacted on Empok Nor by agent or agents known to you and issued marching orders. Officially, Valiant is being further assigned to the Department of Operational Analysis under the command of Director Teshna Froyce, (Captain, StarFleet retired.).
For the President, Vice Admiral Koratt Th’keliss
Top Secret - Presidential / Top Secret - Llama
Rhu let them have a look and said, "Seems there's a job that needs doing and we've been chosen to get it done. I could really use you for this Dayna, but if you don't want to be part of it I'll have to ask you leave us. Feel free to go about your shore leave and you and I will talk soon to define how Valiant will operate going forward."
Amy wondered if Daynah would be coming with, she didn't know much about Daynah, only the mere scraps of interaction she had when first meeting her on that awful hunk of rock. She will have to make certain to correct that omission of hers.
Daynah could feel the eyes of all the officers on her, the least of which was the Captain. She remained silent as the internal discussion raged. Ral was angered by this... After all it was Intelligence operatives who dropped the ball and allowed Betazed to be taken during the Dominion War. This in turn led to Jazra's death. It was for this reason more than any others that Daynah did not want to do this. She stared at the envelope as the anger took her. Daynah Ral had the experience and memories of a Starfleet Captain, and it was those memories, those of Alaryc that brought the anger under control and allowed her to speak confidently and politely.
"Sir, with all due respect to the Admiral and President and my fellow officers present. This missive is a load of crap. It smells of something the Tal Shiar would do, or even the Obsidian Order. Two organizations that many have died to see destroyed. Starfleet is here to protect the borders of the Federation but to mainly explore the unknown. I have lived five previous lives before this one, and in each and every one I have seen what covert operations, and clandestine meetings can do. I have even died because of one." Daynah had spoken passionately, well within the scope that her rank and position allowed. But it was filled with emotion. It was at this time that she stood and came to attention. "With all that said sir. I am a Starfleet Officer and will go where I am ordered. If you order me to my station and my duty I will do it without question." The part of Daynah that was Alaryc Ral swelled with pride.
Rhu let his XO spout and he'd almost been expecting it at some point. When he'd first looked at Valiant table of Organization an Equipment, he'd wondered why an escort ship had much of it's senior staff coming from the Science branch. First O'Donnaghue as CO and Ral as third officer, stepping up to XO. He met Dayna's eyes evenly and said, "I am more than well aware of what happened on Betazed. And the sheer fact that those organizations exist is why some things have to get done, Commander. Consider yourself so ordered. As the old saying goes, Bitch if you have to, but go you must. We'll have another conversation on this soon."
Glancing around at the four assembled, Rhu changed gears. "RIght. So we have here's what our current orders read."
To be continued.
RSS Feed