Double meanings

Posted on Sat Jan 12th, 2019 @ 3:24pm by MERCHANT RANKS Kas Shar’zhen (NPC) & Second Mate Simon Starr & Master Steward Othor Jaxz Ghost of the Second Star
Edited on on Tue Jan 22nd, 2019 @ 6:41am

4,204 words; about a 21 minute read

Mission: From Within...
Location: Second Star

-Start-

{Agora- still under construction}

He loved to work with his hands. his fathers before him had all made it a point to encourage manual labor, to seek the prize of the patient persistent art. Work is the only path to greatness, and work comes in all forms. The Agora was an ugly gouge missing from the Saucer Section, work was slowly transforming it into an Arboretum with a stellar view.

He heard her approach. She hadn't spoken to him since Dure's death. He wondered what brought her here.

Kas was appreciative of the overlook provided by the multiple floored promenade, there was even to be a space walk event ride company. Her eyes trailed the dark ravine, in the calm before the storm. The official grand opening was later tonight, when they would cheer and clap like the young souls they were. She saw the ship mystic himself, working on his hands and knees amidst the others. A humble man, nobody would have thought him one of the most trusted members of the Command staff on his knees such as he was.

"This is amazing Othor, I cannot believe the transformation." She really couldn't, so much of this ship had been gutted, what wasn't burned or wrecked, cobbled. He had taken the time to etch patterns into the metal gratings along the floor, it looked nice, even.

A warm smile and he tried to rise to his feet. Age, and a kneeling posture the last hour, made him hold his back and rise slowly, carefully.
"It's the little things that endear people. Plus I had to laser strip the rust, might as well create a mandala pattern in the process."

It was true, she looked at the big picture, and he had made a mosaic out of the tiles that formed a Mandala. They stood at one gate, and with perfect radial symmetry she could see the others. So minor a detail, so much work, and just so beautiful.

Kas felt the window for a graceful continuance slipping by, "So... Talloc being gone is a problem on paper.. We need a real person to fall back on to run the department.

"I suppose so... and this Marine outfit doesn't have a leader among them."

"...and makes a piss poor security force."

With a knowing tone, as if he had already considered this hours ago, Othor was prepared. "I have observed one of the deputies on board, Simon Starr. Among the first we hired, passed vetting, I dont know his record offhand, but he was the one who arrested Talloc. Helped the Captain hold off the vipers, a reputation for fairness, punctual, tips well. He has been the go-to for talking to Starfleet workers who overstep as well so I can tell you he speaks Fleet. If you'd like we can talk to him now, setup crews won't be in here for another hour?"

He was always ready, always had the answer. He really was magic, of course they should select Simon, the man had stepped up and done the deed when they asked him. Doing the job before you got the title was an endearing quality to her.

"I'll leave you to it then, if you need help with filigree, Ina has quite the eye."

Othor considered that Kas and Ina were arguing, and for Kas to offer Ina's help a ploy to involve himself in the dispute. It was as close as Kas came to asking for help.

"Would you like to have a family therapy session Kas, I can only imagine the strain you've been under?"

"No, maybe soon. Thanks. ... We actually had a moment when Kordan attacked Inia at the school, the three of us held each other, but Avor.... Avor left us saying it was to secure the hall... But I think he forgot how he hated her and left once the shock of the moment passed.."

Avor had really left because he couldn't breathe out of panic and guilt. What he felt so strongly was a mystery to him, but Inia made him feel guilty-

"I'd love to have her help, I will reach out in time. I think I have pies in the cooler to tempt the little ones with as well."
His interruption was timely, as thoughts of her family often forced her into a dark well of self-doubt and guilty reminiscence.

"Kora berry?" Kas felt a flicker of joy, the flavor was unique, nothing else would satisfy if that was your favorite. Of course it was her childs favorite and only obsession.

Othor nodded, "and Chocolate Fudge brownies for picky picky Zala of course."

Kas smiled, she couldn't help it. The thought of her family filled her with pride, but it was also tainted by shame and self doubt. She had abandoned her familial obligations chasing a dream of vaguery and freedom. Chasing after her had killed Dure, and the reckoning on that was still to come. The violence last night had chipped at the rocky edges of the wall between them, but there was so much more to do.

"Business at hand..." a silent plea to herself for strength was all she said to bring focus back. Time for feelings later.

She tapped her badge,
=0= Kas Shar'Zhen to Deputy Starr, report to Agora Frank-3 on the double.

=0=I'm on my way, sir=0=

Being called to the Chief's office? Simon was thinking about things he had possibly done wrong. This wasn't the first time he had to be called. It happened in the fleet one too many times.

Kas looked at the eye level and saw holo-emitters. "Those working, Judah?"

Othor shook his head, "Installed, not powered. He can hear you well enough, just not reply."

Her badge chirped as if to confirm. Kas didn't miss a beat, "Judah I need to knows everything on Simon Starr you can gather in one minute."

Judah responds "I have managed to gather all Data on Simon Starr, at least what records we have access to. Human, Male, 32 years old.

"Simon Starr reached Lieutenant in Star fleet, he took longer than most to reach there. He was discharged when, well that is interesting" Judah said with his usual almost-human like tone

"Discharged as physically unfit for duty." Simon had been on the ship for some time, and apart from the Medical staff, he seemed to be as fit as the rest of the crew.

"Accessing medical records for him. It seems that during a combat scenario, his leg was torn right off. Doesn't mention against whom this other party was, but that would explain the discharge. Since then, his had operations and an artificial leg installed, but Starfleet decided that he would no longer be able to serve.

"There is also a note on his file... seems his chiefs weren't always fond of him, a few reprimands for disrespecting senior officers" Judah continued "Noted as direct, blunt and one note here of the rudest officer they have ever worked with." All those notes made by one person. A Lt. Commander Silver, Chief of Security on board the USS Fortune.

As Judah finishes, there was the sound of a turbolift door announcing Simon's arrival.

"Over here." She waved him over to her. The dim light made the deck and surrounding area more dark than she would have liked. Then again, she didn't plan on making this a long talk, it was up to Quinton and Fala really. She was a glorified Triage for candidates, and this guy was getting the offer no matter what, provided he didnt blow the interview. The nearby Concierge den offered a sensible place to discuss matters

Starr entered. "Hi, you wanted to see me?" he asked, glancing around the half built office a little, analysing the surroundings, as he stood just inside the entrance to the door.

"Good to meet you, please take a seat, or if you prefer to stand... I got a summary of your situation, you didn't pass the physical bar for Starfleet Security, but there is far less running and jumping on a ship like this. We would like to consider you for department head for ships security. You would need to exercise civility in the face of rude behavior, restraint over tactical completion of objectives, a beat cop in a friendly neighborhood is what the Captain said he wanted. If that makes sense to you?

"Well, Starfleet didn't really fit...at least after this happened anyway" he tapped on his leg, which was obviously more artificial, though the technology on prosthetics is now much improved, there is still the slight metallic knock of the systems connected to his nerves in the leg.

"It does make sense, sir. Keeping people safe in a way the people think it's a benefit, rather than someone getting in the way" he said. "As any good security officer should be." he added, as he began walking towards the desk to sit.

She appreciated the answer, "A light touch, yes. The Captain will need to brief you on other matters should you accept an offer from him, but we have vetted many candidates, you are the right choice we feel. It is of course, the Captain's decision. I needed to ask a few things before we went in though, to save us all time."

Simon knew that questions would start. His background made some of the crew question his true loyalty at first, until the day in engineering. Being the one to arrest Talloc showed that he didn’t let the past interfere with the crew he was currently serving. Kicking some ass had a way of bringing a group together to respect you as well. Starfleet had effectively kicked him aside anyway so this here was the chance he had worked so hard for. The looks from a number of the crew stopped after that day, there was a home here.

He nodded and replied “Of course, sir. Ask away,” anticipating the first question.

She wasn't used to military decorum, it was nice to have sometimes. "I shall, ask anything as it occurs to you."

Kas smirked, she liked to keep people guessing so she started with a joke, "We don't plan on making last nights activities a regular affair. Do you understand that this job will likely kill you from a lack of sleep or sheer monotony, that nine out of ten days will be spent on patrol?"

Simon looked Kas square in the eye and replied coldly “guard duty on Starbase One didn’t kill me, so if I didn’t die of boredom there that shouldn’t be an issue,” he began. “I don’t expect to have to arrest my direct commanding officer all the time,” and for the very first time since he got onto the ship, he loosened up a small amount after a pause “I don’t think I’ll get my next reference from Talloc,” suggesting that he knew she was attempting humour.

Her smile persisted, his small joke was the light touch she was looking for, the man could do the job, and be classy. Points to him.

"Talloc will likely find his career in need of a good reference, sucks he won't find it at the bottom of a bottle, which is the last image I had of him over at the officers commissary on Base. How long did you see yourself staying here?"

"I intend to be here for the long haul" Starr replied, continuing his more professional decorum. "I don't intend on leaving, that is for sure. And I also don't intend on facing the same fate as my predecessor, so I will be around for some time" he added.

"Anything from your past that might prove dangerous to the crew?"

"I'm ex-Starfleet. They have enemies, so if one comes looking then that would be the only danger that could come from my end. Also, I've been making sure the crew stay out of danger as much as possible, it's better to prevent it than deal with it from my experience," Starr replied. He knew his previous experience may bring some attention, but he never reached Captain, so he didn't think it too big an issue more than worth mentioning.

"Compensation, amenities, special requests?"

"Well, it goes without saying I get Talloc's office. Apart from that, everything else has been provided since I started on the ship, the crew have been rather accommodating thus far," Simon answered the question. "I'm a man of few needs, just what is needed to get the job done" he said matter-of-factly.

Kas appreciated the forthright nature of the man, so she made her mind up. "Safe to say I think you're a good fit, I'll pass the word to the Captain and Fala who may offer to meet with you. We got the Agora opening up tonight, should be a show, you'll need to take over coordination from the idio.... fellow who has it now. We can arrange backpay one the title transfer is complete, but effective now and pending captains approval, you got the job... Chief."

"Sounds good, I'll go and see the crewman now in regards to that, and get a progress report from him. I look forward to serving in the new position," Starr replied, and for a moment out of habit waited to be dismissed, then remembering things were more casual here, departed and headed to the office to sort out that meeting.

{Brig}

Quinton stared in equal hatred, nothing to say that was constructive could come to his mind. Sheila had been howling for her Lawyer, a dozen intelligence contacts had tried in various ways to communicate with her, and she nearly disabled the forcefields on her cell. Fortunately, they had recently added a new member to the Brig security detail, Richard Noxley. It had been his grand idea, to spray a fast binding polymer over a series of strings. The result was a solid barrier you would need a phaser to burn through. Afterwards she settled down, apparently putting her faith in her invisible partners.

Eventually, they all settled down, awaiting their arrest by Starfleet. Rowland and Toriza had done research on these three, between their contacts and tenacity, no secret was buried. Rowland was a very useful contact, and had a network of informants she found to be larger than her own. He lacked her access and privileges though, a small candle to hold. Those two arrived with Quinton, the cards ready to play.

Quinton didn't give Poison any satisfaction as she was trying to appear flippant and relaxed. She smiled at him, and ran a finger over her throat as if to threaten him from behind a jail cell wall. He only shook his head slightly in disapproval. He spoke to all three of them,
"Sheila, evil bitch, Ice, I need to tell you how this will work out."

Poison laughed at that, not meaning to. She had been called worse, but Quinton had a tone to his voice that made it sound funny.

Quinton continued, "My intelligence team found you. All of you, and all of your secrets. Evil Bitch, you have so many contracts on you from so many worlds. We tracked most of them to a former Tal Shiar member so if we wanted to, we could send all our new data to him. You'll enjoy a few years I am sure, before an assassin poisons you because they have a flair for irony."

She wasn't smiling anymore. Rolsjv Kano controlled the fallen remnants of the Tal Shiar, his reach was legendary. Poison had only escaped him by being undercover with Sheila, and even there was no guarantee. She already spent her life, one eye behind her, for decades.

Seeing her reaction was a soothing balm to his rage.

"Ilyce, you lost fourteen members of a strike team hired to recover items stolen from Cardassian vaults. Several of those items not recovered are linked to you in a bill of sale through Klingon, Rigelian, Ferengi, Denobulan, the list goes on, but you kept those items. Collectors like yourself need to be careful, so I'm sure you won't want us to share that level of detail. Fourteen casualties means fourteen families who'd hate to find out why their baby died.

Ilyce was furious to hear her greatest sins laid out. She had lost them when she made her escape, cargo hold full of valuables, crew left behind holding an empty bag facing the gallows. Several of those left behind had been tortured for years to try and find her. Perhaps, some still were, though the value of what she stole wasn't enough to warrant the lifetime of fear she would have. So she too, remained very still and silent.

Quinton looked to Rowland, who took his cue.

The young man had gone to great lengths for this piece of information. Quinton let him have this moment, it had been well earned. Rowland was impressive, Cyborg technology was not encouraged in many civilized governments, the societal implications were too far reaching at least the biologically inclined would argue.

"Sheila, I had to pay off a contact who was from the 29th century to find something on you, but tell me when you are familiar with what I am saying."

Clearly reciting from memory a statement he had read, "Why bother? Millions die every day, it's a statistic. You know where the real hurt comes in? Being there, doing the deed. They stop being a statistic, start living in your memory. I followed orders yes, but there is no therapy that can take that back, make it ok. I'm a monster, and if Section 31 wants me, they need to be ready. I've crossed the line, so now I can't go back. Ever."

Rowland wore no emotions on his face, Sheila was a match to him. He continued, knowing what came next would send her into a tumult.

"Sheila, that was overheard by an agent following you. You killed him, and nearly destroyed the recordings, but a small fragment of his DNA survived the acid bath, and this sound clip exists in a dark place in the archives on Pluto, Sol. Those archives contained the works behind Rudellian Brain Fever, otherwise known to Cardassians as the "Water Blight." You were part of the team to implement the pathogen into the water supply. The piece of evidence you will find most damning, is that this mission was not sanctioned. So, you and several others went off books to deploy a bio agent responsible for the deaths of 1.5 million Cardassian civilians, and Starfleet also calculated the lives of approximately 1800 Cardassian Union officers. It seems Starfleet Intelligence does not realize you were a part of that team, and you enjoy a life free of that burden."

Quinton stepped forward, "I don't want to talk about this. We all know what the deal is. We can start shooting, sling mud, and all of us will be dead or broke in a week. You shut your mouths, and I'll swallow the bile and shut mine. You are evil, no doubt, and I will kill you soon as look at you we ever meet again. You've conspired in my home to take what we have blead and died to make real. We are not pawns to your agenda, and you tell everyone, I mean everyone, what they can expect if they try to interfere with out operations. Toriza, Rowland, all yours."

Quinton stalked to the back of the room, focused on his padd. Fala was engaged right now with the Base Magistrate, and doing well. Carson would be arrested, Talloc as well. These three would face internal scrutiny and dismissal, but publicly get set free. For all the trouble, he did gain a fully stocked armory, and of the few hundred Sheila brought on board, many passed muster and signed on under a new charter.

Toriza, the princess of crime had recently had this blackmail and indentured servant treatment at Sheilas hands. Extortion worked two ways often enough, with the antagonist hiding secrets of their own. "This information is being held in a data brokerage, anything happens to me or mine, it gets put on the Subspace networks. When Starfleet gets here, you will find that the ability to speak in full sentences is lost to you. Fala will be providing you with a legal defense, and we will commute any charges so long as you stick to this deal."

Judah spoke up,
=0= Admiral and Captain on deck!

Admiral Ferrell, and Captain Douglas entered the brig. Quinton dismissed his two officers right away before they could be pressed and questioned.

"Admiral. Captain." Quinton dipped his head in mock deference, Captain Douglas ignored it.

Admiral Ferrell only shook his head in bemused disbelief. He stared at all three of them, who had found various things to look at that weren't the Admiral or Captains.

"Silence huh, see most people think buttoning up will save them, but you should know that we don't need testimony from you to have it entered on your behalf. Captain, remand these women to Security." He looked to Douglas who spoke into his comm,

=/\= Douglas to Starbase security, T1-T3 Site to Site local, Gx 4, Dx 2, Mm 7."

The three women took a look at each other in stoic solidarity before they dissolved. Judah picked up Sheila's communications, she was tapping her finger, they all were. He didn't know what they were saying yet, but this video would be looked at again and again until they did.

Admiral Ferrell looked at Crewman Noxley, "Can you give us a moment?"

Noxley looked to Beck who nodded affirmation. "Take a lap by the commissary, Brigs empty so nobody will mind."

Once they were alone, his uncle and the local sector Admiralty in one man turned his full countenance to bear. Quinton knew this was the moment he had to separate, make it clear they were not some off books Starfleet venture. The last battle of a long war and it mattered who won, it mattered to everything.

"Well, Starfleet Security has a cell waiting for you too, while we sort this. You and me will talk later Quinton no doubt."

Quinton didn't move, "No, I'm not leaving this ship."

Captain Douglas scoffed, looking to the Admiral in anticipation, hoping he could arrest Quinton with force.

"It's not a choice Quinton."

"Oh but it is. You will find those three women will corroborate what Fala is saying, so this is all formality. My ship is trapped inside your starbase, so I am as much a prisoner here as anywhere. I'm not leaving my home."

Captain Douglas returned to his truest form, indignant and shouted, "You are under arrest Captain, you will follow our orders!"

Quinton still hadn't budged from his leaning spot near the control console for the cells. "I'd sooner be stunned and dragged by my feet through the decks of this ship then submit to your arrest. You will have to fight me, tooth and nail, and my people will come after me in force. We kept our mess contained and dealt with it internally, for you to maintain our deal. So I am sticking to the arrangement, what does arresting me do for your end of it?

"I have to insist."

"I'll have to fight. Those cuffs hit my wrist and our deal is broken. Was this your goal? To put me up against so many spies and insurgents knowing I'd try to bend the law or have to stretch the truth... why all this effort?"

Captian Douglas moved, as if tired of listening to the debate, "Enough, turn around or-"

Judah broadcast the most beautiful screeching sound, and the image, was, instead of Judahs lanky self, Fala Gaz. Judah chose for a touch of embellishment on her clothing, giving her the choir masters flowing robes he had seen long ago when his family took him to church. A different life altogether.

"Starfleet has no authority to arrest, see the decision for yourself you red-suited beards."

Fala Gaz was mid stride in her litany against the panel. The decision to let them go came quickly, realizing it was definitely time. Having their pound of flesh, they practically banished Fala from the chamber. She had one final declarative, and her lawyers had to shout over the chaos, " We have a contract, it will be enforced!"

Judah spoke over the video, "That was an hour ago sir, while this was going down she went over there-"

=/\= Starbase 214, Ops to Admiral Ferrell?
=/\= I'm here, go ahead.
=/\= Updated orders from Brass, "Second Star is released as of the last item on the present work docket."

Quinton couldnt help but smile, Ferrell couldnt help seethe.

"Just get out. You are only biting the hand and all so I'll just wait for that call when you need help."

Both men left, the last and most sinister of the invaders who had tired to take this prize. Rest assured, Quinton would never allow his ship inside a Starbase like this again, the toll had been steep. Another problem for another day.

For now... All was quiet again.

-End-

Austen
Ben

 

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