Ten Different Ways to Say the Same Thing

Posted on Sun Jun 20, 2021 @ 6:01pm by Commander Ajani Carter & Lieutenant JG Jessica Kelli MD & Lieutenant Commander Dr. Elisabet Intarrah Ph.D MD

Mission: Episode 4: Infiltration
Location: Conference Room
Timeline: MD 01
1164 words - 2.3 OF Standard Post Measure

Lise smirked as she sipped on a cup of coffee. This had lasted for five grueling hours. She had the leading members of Starfleet Command and the Trill Symbiosis Commission on subspace. "Are you sure you did not make your diagnosis in err?" Lise shook her head. "I have my diagnosis, and even Dr. Kelli's diagnosis. Intarrah was dying of neurological trauma as a complication of being killed by a Lissepian Disruptor."

"And how do you know it was a lissepian disruptor?!?" Lise shook her head. "God ALmighty, are we going to go in circles over that?"

"We'll go in circles until we're satisfied. Dr. Granger." One of the Commission heads noted.

Lise spoke. "With all due respect, Councilor Dar. The only outcome that would please you is if Intarrah was cut out of me."

Joras Dar snarled. "How dare you make those accusations Lieutenant. You would assume that I'd order you to be murdered because I did not approve of your joining."

"Yes, You would, Joras... You've been knee deep in the Inquisition movement for years. What is it? The unworthy shall have their symbionts removed?"

"These are ridiculous accusations from one of your subordinates, Admiral Kendall. And I demand that you order her to apologize immediately." Joras Dar. Lise stood. "As usual. Getting other people to do your dirty work. Like you have for two hundred years. What's wrong Joras? Don't have enough spine for a good fight? So you rope Admiral Kendall into your problems? Let me reiterate the point. I volunteered myself to save Intarrah's life.

"Intarrah's life was not yours to save." Joras snarled. "You were not the Eagle's Chief Medical Officer!!"

"Enough!!!" The head of the Symbiosis Commission noted. "Councilor Dar... You have served the Commission loyaly for many years. Lieutenant Granger took a extraordinary risk of rejection and death to save the knowledge of the Intarrah Symbiont."

"Knowledge of the Intarrah Symbiont. A Legacy of insubordination and blatant disregard for the Commissison's authority."

"Dar!! I see no reason why Dr. Granger should not be Intarrah's next host. They seem to have joined quite well." The High Commissioner noted.

"That is not your decision to make. I demand that Lieutenant Granger submit to the same evaluation that all prospective hosts take for Symbiosis."

"Are you blind Dar. Look at Dr. Granger's achievements." Counselor Rel noted. "She has excelled in her life, despite the challenges she's had to face. I am growing tired of your antagonnisim Councilor Dar." Rell turned to the High Commissioner. "Madame High Commissioner. This council feels we should allow Elisabet to become Intarrah's next host. We can't remove Intarrah without damaging the host. I also suggest Councelor Dar be removed from this council for his outbursts."

"Remove me, and I'll return with my followers in force!!"

Lise pounded the conference room table. The Commotion was heard from the bridge, and Dar didn't even give enough time for Admiral Kendall to say anything. "That's it you insufferable fools. Always debating and arguing over what is a good host!!! Four hundred years watching you fools, and I'm done with this bickering. Contact me again when you're ready to have a civil conversation>" Lise terminated the signal and left the conference room. Five hours of this back and forth from the commission was tiring. Also she just hung up on a group call with an Admiral.

Carter had been there the entire time, she had stood out of the field of vision and just listened. She was most displeased with what she had heard. "Well, that went well" she deadpanned.

"They were not happy about it, but they've decided to go along with it." Lise noted. "The Traditionalist faction is angrier than a starved Denebian Slime Devil. And they threatened a reprisal by force. Which they cannot do. The Traditionalists are not as powerful as they think they are, and they have a seat on the council to placate them."

"Well, on the off chance that they do manage to strike You're not to leave the ship without an escort while we are at Illiran. Once we are in space it will be much harder for them to get to you."

"Ajani, Dar is a coward. He barks like that because the other counselors are intimidated by him. I wish they wouldn't cave to his threats." Lise noted. "But he is very capable of bringing Trill to civil war over this. This is not peace.. this is feeding the wolves while hoping they will eat us last." Lise concluded. "Now you know why I didn't want to talk to them."

Carter still wasn't happy, but Lise wasn't a child and the addition of the symbiotic she had just gained life times of experience and memories. "Be careful Doctor" she warned "Now, I have a mission for you. Illiran internal police have reported that bodies have started turning up. Not something we would concern ourselves with normally, but these bodies are full of Borg technology, they all seem to have died when their external implant erupted through the skin. A normal process as you know, these seem to have been defective and caused so much pain and damage that the hosts died of neural shock. Take Max and go find out what the Illiran can't find, or wont tell us."

"Unusual... That's not the MO of the borg." Lise noted. "Why would the Borg quietly assimilate people, and then program their implants to kill them? In fact, I may need more than that escort." Lise mentioned. "But there's one thing I suggest; get a hold of Starfleet Command and tell them we may need the fleet."

"The Borg task force is on its way, but take the marines of beta team with you." she smiled "I do not think they are being programmed to kill, it think it is more about their interaction with the Illiran Nanite cores. As you might remember everyone down there has a small ninite factory that is used to promote healing and and in creating anti-bodies to help with sicknesses. While i can not say for use i think the Borg are having problems overcoming that piece of technology."

"What the Borg cannot assimilate." Lise noted. "They will destroy. I'm afraid our friends down on Illaran are in grave danger, and danger they themselves may not appreciate yet."

"Take a team and go discover what the dead have to say, we need to know what is happening. Any clues you can find as to where they were taken."

Lise nodded. "One more thing Ajani... Be careful.." She noted. "Do not lose your individuality to the Borg. It would be the greatest travesty of the century for a woman like you to be hollowed out." She smiled warmly.

"Oh, I don't plan on it" she returned the smile and left her friend to her work. If they were to hold the Borg back from taking this very fine world they would have plenty to do.