Richard

Posted on Sun May 25th, 2025 @ 3:32am by Commander Rhupert Tyree & Lieutenant Commander Richard Dalziel

1,341 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: On the Trail
Location: Main Engineering, USS Valiant
Timeline: Day one, On the Trail.

Full and slightly bewildered after the meeting with Valiant’s new CMO, Rhu wound his way through Valiant’s handful of decks into engineering. The plant was powered up and personnel were busy. The familiar smells of ozone, industrial components and cleaning compounds comforting to him. Even at rest, he could feel the ship buzzing through her hull decking and he liked to think that she wanted to be free of these tethers.

Rhu was slightly apprehensive about letting her go to the yards without him. The yard birds could get into a lot of trouble without a captain to keep an eye on their ship, even though the ship would technically be signed over to the yard he was still responsible for her until removed from command. And if you didn’t keep a charry eye on the techs and builders, they were prone to cut corners. He was glad Harriet was going and Tesha had promised him she’d have eyes on the Valiant.

But still.

Blinking away those thoughts, he looked around for the CEO and spotted the man. Walking up, Rhu said Commander Dalziel? I’m Rupert Tyree. Welcome aboard Valiant.

"Yes, thank you, sir." Richard said. "May I say you have quite a ship here."

"Yes we do, Commander," Rhu said with a smile. He set the coffee, danish balanced atop the cup, on a workstation and then glanced at the two other crew members. "Fresh beverages and pastries in the galley from the Betezoid mission. Go help yourselves and give us the compartment for an hour." As the crewers scurried off, Rhu turned back to Richard. "Valiant has been adopted by the Betezoid Defense Forces and as such, we benefit from the BDF mission's generosity. Anytime we put into a Federation world, port, colony or station, we get treats and food stuffs delivered to the galley. Other things too so it's a bit of a bonus for the crew. In exchange we stop in at Betezoid anytime we're in the neighborhood and will likely be taking part in training with the BDF annually. Part of the legacy from the Dominion occupation is Star Fleet and Federation member worlds that want to take part in such a program. I helped develope the idea while seconded to the BDF and we're the pilot program."

Chuckling, Rhu sipped at his half full cup of coffee which was at a decent, drinkable temperature.

His doughnut was gone, sadly.

"Then there's other matters. You know the Valiant is going to the yards tomorrow. The Command crew will not be joining her. What I'm about to tell you is not for public knowledge. Valiant has been seconded to Federation Intelligence for the duration. Deeper than that," he pulled a flimsy from within his tunic and sat it next to the danish and coffee he'd brought for Richard. "That is a directive from the Office of the President of the Federation. It goes through a few things, but it boils down that we work for him. He has concerns that huge bureaucracies like Fleet intelligence, Star Fleet itself and even Federatioin Intelligence might be dropping the ball in regards to some things that he wants looked into."

"Some things I can't go deeper into just now. First I need to tell you that this requires the crew, specifically the department heads of the USS Valiant and possibly a few others to take on shadow identities and do covert work to accomplish the goals of the President. Which specifically are to find bad actors who are looking to disrupt the Federation and hurt people. We're to be a shaper tool than the Fleet. What I need to know from you is, can you in good faith take on a shadow identity from time to time and help conduct missions that are not sanctioned by, acknowledged by or even known about by Star Fleet. And these missions can't be discussed with anyone who doesn't have the clearance. This includes loved ones and pretty much anyone not aboard this ship who's been read in." Smiling he said, "And I hate to rush you but one way or another, Valiant and her crew will be departing Empok Nor within twenty four hours."

"That's a lot to process, but I'm willing to give it a try." Richard said. "Bare in mind, sir, I've had no formal intelligence training." He added.

"Only Lieutenant Gordon has formal training. The rest of us will pick what we need up as we go, Richard. Then something occurred to Rhu and he asked, "Do you prefer Richard? I've heard some Richards go by Dick too...was never sure why."

"I do prefer Richard." Richard said. "I've always thought 'Dick' sounds like an insult."

"Well it can," Rhu agreed with a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth, "But it's a name and it just depends on how you wear it and what you do with it." "Alright Commander...Richard. You are now being read into this project. I run a fairly loose ship with Valiant being small and the crew being as experienced as it is. This is a Top Secret, Code word classified project. Officially, the code word is Llama, so even other people with Top Secret clearances who aren't cleared for Llama, don't have the need to know about what we're doing. If someone pushes you and you don't feel right telling them to thraggle off, then send them to me and I will."

Looking around, Rhu said "Ok Get whatever you're doing her wrapped up and I'll get you over to the SS Adelaide. She's a freighter we just liberated to give us a deeper cover while we seek out these Ashen Hand people and whoever is behind them. We'll get you filled in more as we go. I really need an Engineer to get her systems running at a hundred percent. There's only going to be seven of us for now. Basically Valiant's officer corps to do the grunt work. Priority for you is to get a handle on her and tell me what you need before we leave the station."

"I'll give the Adelaide a look over, see what I can do." Richard said. "I'm sure I can give her a few surprises."

"Right now, I'll be happy not to be surprised. Adelaide's an old girl and going to need some TLC. I've ordered what I think is adequate stores of replacement units and parts. As a civilian ship, she doesn't have an industrial replicator so we'll have to lay in what we think or know we need before we shove off. Then put a shopping list together as we move and I'll route it through FI sources, though we'll buy some things as we go and disguise it as cargo. Get me to reliable before we get fancy, Mr. Dalziel."

"Right, function over form, understood, sir." Richard said. "Once the old lass is functioning, then I can teach her few tricks." He added with a smile.

"Exactly," Rhu said, patting his CEO on the shoulder. "You've a lot of work, Commander so get yourself sorted and over to the Adelaide. And don't break either of my girls or I'll call you Dick full time."

"Aye, sir." Richard said. "That's fair." added with a smile. "I'll grab my gear, and get acquainted with the old lass."

"Alright Commander, finish your pastry and get after it," Rhu said good naturedly. "I've more rat kililng to get after. I'll be aboard Adelaide within two hours. Come find me after that with a wish list. A projects list and a an absolutely must be done first list. And remember, this is all super secret hush-hush."

And with that, Rhu turned and headed for the hatch.

"My lips are sealed, sir." Richard said. "Well after I finish this danish and coffee, they will be."


Lt. Commander Richard Dalziel
CEO
USS Valiant

Rhupert Tyree
Master and Commander
USS Valiant

 

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