Zuub

Posted on Fri May 23rd, 2025 @ 2:02am by Commander Rhupert Tyree & Lieutenant Commander Zuub

1,564 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: On the Trail
Location: Medical Bay, USS Valiant
Timeline: Day one, On the Trail.

Leaving Jayden to his news, Rhu retraced his steps to the galley where he freshened his caf’ and picked up another round of the cream doughnuts before making his way to the medical bay.

Well, it was more a closet, but it sounded better. Seeing the hatch open, he stepped through and noted Valiant's new CMO busy at…something.

Learning his throat, he said. “Dr. Zuub, I presume. Welcome aboard the Valiant. I’m Rupert Tyree. How are you finding our ship?

Zuub definitely had been busy, though it was on nothing medical related. She was inspecting her office and looking at all of the new and interesting gadgets, wondering how much fun half of them would be to play with. When her antennae picked up that the Commander was arriving, she put away one of them surreptitiously and the tall Andorian turned to face the Commander.

She looked down on him and her antennae politely leaned forward towards the Commander. He was a handsome man but there seemed to be something else behind his eyes. She was curious as to what it might be; however, if it did not affect his job, that would be something for a counselor to deal with, if they were so inclined. Answering the Commander in a soft, wispy voice, "I am finding it to my liking so far. I seem to have sufficient supplies at this time. I presume that you would like to, pardon the pun, size me up, and vice versa?"

"Got it in one, Doctor," Rhu confirmed, eyeing the Andorian. "I also bring gifts, though I'm unsure if you enjoy coffee and doughnuts. Both are non-replicated, gifts from the Betazoid government. Valiant was adopted by the planet several months ago since there are a few Betazoids among the crew. Anytime we put into a Federation colony, station or friendly world the BDF makes sure we get some goodies. They also equip our canteen; we just need to find a regular cook again."

Setting the spare coffee and doughnut on a nearby table, Rhu leaned a shoulder against a door frame and said, "There's also some other things you need to know about Valiant and it'll effect your job. Taking a sip of the hot coffee, he decided it was still too hot and continued. "First off, what not many know is that Valiant and by extension her crew have been seconded to Federaton Intelligence. Not to be confused with Fleet intelligence. They are two different animals. Setting his own cup down, he pulled a flimsy from a pocket and set it next to the coffee cups. "That's an eyes only, duplication restricted document from the President of the Federation. What it boils down to is that we work for the President and he's directed us to find out and stop some bad actors that are stirring up trouble within the Federation and our neighbors."

Rhu let that settle in and said, "With your current security clearances, that's all I can tell you except that this job requires us to go undercover, not what is expected of a normal Star Fleet vessel, officers and crew. So, I need to know if you're willing to do that kind of work? I can answer some of the questions you probably have but unfortunately, time is short. One way or another, the Valiant and crew will be leaving the station in less than a day's time."

"I assume, then, that you will be requiring me to genetically modify individuals to go undercover," Zuub replied simply, her antennae standing straight up and twittering with excitement. "And I assume that said bad actors will have all varieties of illegal and unsavory substances. Perhaps these will assist me with my research." She paused for a moment as the wispy voice answered unhesitantly. "I accept."

She moved to the donut and experimented with it by putting a finger and then two where the hole was. She then started to rotate the donut on her fingers as if it was a hula hoop for them. "What else will you require in my position, Captain? I assume that I have only touched the fringes of what will be expected."

"Oh, it's going to be fun and games, Doctor," Rhu assured her. "I'll be adjusting your clearance to Top Secret, compartmentalized under the Llama protocol. If someone on a very short list tries to talk to you about what we're doing, tell them they don't have the need to know. I don't care who it is. That being said, yes, there may be instances where we need some modifications and you can help get your own and everyone else's NOC, or Non-Official Cover a bit more customized."

Taking a drink from his coffee cup he glanced about the cubby, he said, "As long as you keep us healthy, your research shouldn't be a problem unless it gets overly exotic. For right now, get the Valiant's medical bay squared away then I need you aboard the SS Adelaide to get what little is currently there sorted. I need a list post haste and we'll try to get it filled. But, I'm no doctor and won't pretend to be."

There were a hundred things running through Rhu's mind and he rubbed at his face. "I need to wrap up here and get back to the Adelaide. We have twenty hours or so. I promise to get you fully briefed once we're at warp aboard Adelaide and have a bit more time. For the moment, do you have any questions or is there anything I can help with right now?"

Zuub's antennae were twittering excitedly, while her face remained impassive. This sounded like a lot of fun and the Captain just gave her nearly carte blanche to do as she pleased. "I look forward to the briefing. Do you know what equipment the Adelaide has or how much room that I will have to work there? Would it be possible to beam there for a personal tour before I select from here?" Then, very much off business, Zuub continued, "And what should I know about the beings that are coming with us? Their relationship statuses and preferences?"

Eyeing his CMO, Rhu wondered exactly what the Admiral had saddled him with. He'd have to monitor her. "We can go to the Adelaide now and you can get me a list. We'll be going through a few intermediaries, but the Department of Operational Analysis has a big budget. Adelaide doesn't have an industrial replicator. The current med bay is maybe six meters square. That's it. You'll have separate quarters, but no office. Not even a closet sized one. Adelaide is a tramp freighter so we'll have to make do. Try not to get overly exotic in case we get boarded. I thought your cover might be a doctor trading their skills for free transit."

"As far as crew goes, right now there will be seven including us. Chief Engineer, XO, me, Chief Counselor, Chief Ops, Chief Intel, and you. You have access to their official files."

Zuub's antennae swayed unsteadily. Was there a reason that the Commander did not want to discuss his crew? With only seven of them, she knew she would have to account for a great deal of sensitivities in the crew makeup. One thing was certain with a larger crew, there were a lot more beings to play with and greater room for experimentation. Well, nothing prevented her from any interesting objects to play with, or potentially beings they bumped into. That thought caused her antennae to shiver with delight for a noticeable moment.

However, the Andorian regained her composure quickly, pushing those thoughts to the side. "Not a lot of room to work with," Zuub commented. "If our cover is as a freighter, I will have to disguise and hide anything that might be required to assist with any potential unique problems that we face. Do we have any information on the environments or beings that we may encounter, or should I review those files as well?"

"Nope," Rhu said, handling the last question first. "All we know is that some bad actors have been hired by worse actors to precipitate bad actions within the Federation. Who, What, Why and How are slowly being revealed but we'll figure it out." He'd picked up a buzzing from Zuub's mental state, though she was mostly shielded and he was no great shakes as a telepath.Zuub was exuberant her work and that's what was making him wonder. "Get your kit and meet me at the boarding hatch. It's not that far a walk and I don't want to leave any transporter traces between Valiant and Adelaide."

"Oh, I had no idea we were both docked. That does make things convenient." Zuub gathered a medkit and fell into pace just behind Rhu, though towering above him.

"Right," he said, "If your shop is ready for Valiant's transit, then change into civilian clothes and I'll meet you at the tube." Parting from his new CMO, Ru decided he would need to re-read her file.

"Oh," Zuub replied, her antennae wilting. "I see. I need to take as much as I want now and order the rest." Her antennae wilted further. "Well, if that's the case, I may have to pack another bag or two."
END

 

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