Mission Advisor Boards

Posted on Thu Dec 31, 2020 @ 10:50am by Lieutenant JG T'Prynn & Commander Ajani Carter

Mission: Episode 1: On Stranger Tides
Location: Ready Room
Timeline: MD 03 (Before we entered warp)
1408 words - 2.8 OF Standard Post Measure

With the expertise of their Vulcan visitor having been put to good use, the Starship Devils Brew had managed to make its rendezvous with the USS Eagle - and thus, allow the Vulcan to depart - much to the relief of many aboard the vessel. Whilst she had proved to be incredibly helpful in a variety of situations during her short stay aboard, Lieutenant T’Prynn had ruffled more than a few feathers. Her Vulcan nature and the stinging barbs that accompanied it were never used to intentionally scold or upset any individual, but a mere reflection of the truth as she saw it. Despite the lack of intent in upsetting people, the crew of the Devils Brew were happy to wave goodbye to their visitor once the ship got underway again.

For the Lieutenant, her next task was simple; navigate the ship and make contact with the commanding officer. A Saber class ship, the Eagle provided her with the opportunity to unintentionally offend even more people, an opportunity she would take on a daily basis if the emotional humanoids on Devils Brew were anything to go by.

Following the rematerialization process on the Saber class ship, the Lieutenant had suffered through the round of security clearances until she had been permitted entrance to the many halls and corridors of the Eagle. She had opted against a tour guide to lead her to her private abode, instead choosing to use her superior intellect to guide herself through the brightly lit hallways. When she had dumped her belongings, her next objective would be to locate the Captain and make her presence known. Efficient to say the least.

"Commander Carter is in her ready room, deck 1"

Carter was once again sat at her desk trying to go through all the daily reports from ships and stations across the Cardassian border. She needed to keep up to date with everything going on, her mission wasn't nearly as simple as a patrol. The deep intel nature of their true mission meant she had to keep up to date. She had access to information that might make a mundane report have a deeper meaning. This said, she was still expecting a few more officers to come aboard from the Devils Brew.

Willing to oblige as ever, it wasn't long before the chime of the ready room signalled the arrival of the newcomer, who stood patiently at the entrance to the Captain's private office.

"Come in T’Prynn" Ajani said looking up at the door, she had taken to putting a holoscreen over the door to show her who was waiting. Her new mission advisor, like all others she had meant, was a jack of all trades. This wasn't a a bad thing and it was often the view that someone who wasn't a specialist was able to see the bigger picture. Same kind of idea as with a good department head. Ajani collapsed most of her screens, leaving only a handful of none classified reports remaining.

Soon enough, the doors parted to reveal the Vulcan who marched across the threshold and stood motionless and silent before the Captain.

"Please" Ajani started "Take a seat, would you like a drink?" she was nearing the point of needing another coffee her self.

"No tea is required Captain," the Vulcan responded, "thank you." Taking her seat, she waited to be addressed, observing the Captain closely. As her advisor, she would need to know her likely course of action in events and to do that, she would have to observe her very closely.

Carter nodded her understanding and placed her own mug onto her desk. "Computer, refill please" a small square under her mug pulsed with a warm light and fresh hot coffee was deposited within. "You understand our mission out here" she asked the Vulcan sitting before her. "Our full mission profile that is. The public profile is that we are here to support the Cardassians, patrolling their space and making sure the pirates don't make so much of a problem. The classified part is that someone is funding the pirates, supplying them with weapons, ships and political protection."

"I am aware that a patrol through Cardassian space would not require a mission advisor of my expertise Captain," the Vulcan responded bluntly, "but given the clandestine nature of our actual assignment, and the relatively inexperienced crew assembled here, my presence here is most logical," she continued. Of couse, she didn't intend to come across as obnoxious, she just couldn't help it.

Carter smiled, it was a classical Vulcan response she thought. "That's more or less the situation" She took no offence in this, while she had been in the fleet for two decades now much of her crew were still young, with only a few years of service under their belts. "I am told you have experience with the Cardassian's and the Typhon Pact, I feel that your skill and knowledge will serve us more than I would like."

T'Prynn was confused. More than she would like? Did the Captain not want her aboard? "I apologise if my presence here causes you any discomfort Captain. I am merely here to advise until such a time as you, or Starfleet, feel that is no longer necessary."

"Its not you T’Prynn" she said "My working theory is the Typhon Pact is involved in funding the Pirates, and I think that someone in the Cardassian government is helping to funnel the money into the correct locations and to the right people so as to allow the Pirates to operate freely. I do think that it can't be anyone high up as us being here was Central Commands request," she shrugged and took a sip of her coffee, "So it was more that we need you here rather than you being here" she offered a smile.

"In my many years of experience Captain, I have learnt one thing," the Advisor sat forward on her chair, "expect the unexpected." She paused for a moment to consider her next words carefully before elaborating further. "Never rule anything out because invariably, what you least expect as an outcome often comes to fruition. You say you don't think it can be anyone high up, but these are the same people who joined with the Dominion and plunged the Alpha Quadrant into conflict. Whilst decades have passed, and times have changed, we cannot rule out the fact that some Cardassians have clearly not," she advised. It was her job after all.

"I agree, but a people do change. Some Cardassian Captain's have proven to be good friends" but she considered her words. "I feel this mission is either going to be over quickly, or take years to dig out all those involved. There has been a lot of leg work that ended with the Eagle being assigned. We will soon be heading out to a world several hours from here. A former colony which suffered a viral out break and was then abandoned. Given it was the Obsidian Order that was involved in the evacuation, it is likely there was a lab somewhere in the colony. That and SFI found no real trace of any survivors from the outbreak."

"Where the Obsidian Order was involved, they will be again. They never truly disappear from ventures of their making," the Vulcan nodded slowly. "What would you like me to do whilst I am here Captain? It is not my intention to... step on any toes," she asked, borrowing a phrase from one of her old commanding officers.

"Work where you are needed" she said "We can use all the help we can get. You will find your place on the Eagle with time, and we are still missing a number of key officers so, where you can help."

"I have a wide variety of experience Captain," the Vulcan revealed, not intending to sound smug, "but I would advise you not ask me to support in sickbay." Not if she wanted anyone left alive. Medical treatments were not something the Vulcan had ever paid attention to.

Ajani knew it wasn't a joke, but the Vulcan had made her smile "Noted." she glanced at yet another incoming message demanding her attention "Always working" she said "Dismissed Lieutenant, Go get yourself settled in.

“Very well Captain,” the Lieutenant nodded, rising to her feet and heading for the door and leaving the commanding officer to her tasks.