Cloak and Dagger

Posted on Wed Feb 14th, 2018 @ 7:47am by

1,443 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: The Emerald Road
Location: Ready Room, U.S.S. Indefatigable

Will was still in shock, Vash had been taken and while he'd been ordered to effect a rescue who ever it was had to know something about her past to make her a target. The waiting however was killing him, even as transporters and shuttles ferried crew and family alike to the ship the delay gnawed at him. As he waited he considered what he could tell his First Officer because sooner or later he'd have to brief her.

Stepping out of her transport, with Ediras at her side Anika took a deep breath of the air on Utopia Planetia. It had a particular scent that stirred something in her to adventure. Immediately the emergency alert went off on her comm badge. The smile faded from her lovely face, and she kissed Ediras on the cheek "Duty calls."

"I'll set up our quarters while you are gone." Ediras replied as he watched her leave. He managed to only bring a few of the things he needed for his profession and he'd informed his employer as to what happened. They were understanding of the situation and gave him some time to get back on his feet.

She wondered what he would draw when he was done with the setting up of their quarters which wouldn't take long. It would be a good trial for them, to see if they were compatible more than just in the bedroom. Once he was out of earshot, she tapped her comm badge and spoke "Commander Yashui acknowledging emergency status- report or orders?"

Will in his ready room was glad to hear her voice. "Could you report to my Ready Room. I have our mission tasking." Will spoke not sure how she'd take to the orders once she was aware of the details.

"Agknowledged. Be there shortly." Tapping the badge to turn it off, she turned to manage her baggage. She saw that Ediras had taken her bag and had it over his shoulder as he walked away and she sighed gratefully whispering "Thanks Ediras."

It took her all of 3 minutes to get up to the Bridge and then the readyroom. Noone was on the bridge at the moment, and the viewscreen was dark- like a tomb.

Will didn't wait for the door chime and opened the door. "Come in Commander, please take a seat." The tone of his voice made it clear the news was grave, at least to him .

She settled in and tucked one foot under her buttocks in the fashion she normally sat. I wish you'd call me Anika, you're supposed to trust me. "Whats our status Commodore?"

"One of our crew has been abducted, Vashkele. We have been tasked with her rescue." Will straight away knew how that might be perceived. "I understand how it must look given with my relationship but all I can say is that her past has played we believe a significant element to her abduction."

"That requires explanation" was all she said as her dark eyes flickered over the man she was only just getting to know. His eyes were dark circled, and there were creases to his brow that hadn't been there before. His distress was genuine, and deep.

"She has a...colourful past. One which she shared with Starfleet in exchange for protection." Will felt this was a very sugar coated overview of it. "Her information was valuable and what happened as a result of that information I can't say because honestly I've not been read into it. What is believed is that the abduction was targeted, her past has caught up to her. Starfleet wants her back before any current information is extracted from her consider she used to be on board an Admiral's Flagship."

"May i speak freely Commodore?" She asked as she gazed frankly at him. She tried to organize her words respectfully so he wouldn't bust her to ensign for being a bitch.

"Please." This was the kind of working relationship he wanted with his First Officer, they had not worked much together as well as most other command crews of starships so he welcomed the opportunity.

"You might as well hand me a lollypop and pat me on the head like a little girl if that is all the information you're allowing me to know. " she hoped that wasn't too much for him to handle right now..

"I only know because Im the Captain of the ship she was assigned to. That club of hers, The Pink Kitty. That was Starfleets way of helping make ends meet in what ever agreement they had. Admiral S'iraa filled in some blanks but otherwise I wouldn't have known myself. You have to understand that much about her past is still classified, I don't even know the full story and I'm not sure I want to." Considering what he did know, terrible things must have taken place.

"You cant keep me in the dark and expect me to be effective in helping you find her before they kill her. " Anika said softly, countering his argument.

"Vashkele used to be a very important and influential member of the Orion Syndicate." Will spoke, leaving out exactly what and where she stood in the pyramid of power. "Starfleet had been wanting to crack down on operations the syndicate had been conducting in Federation space. In exchange for safety she revealed much and in return arrests, assets confiscated, trade products seized." Will paused. "All of this was gleamed from her position, when she switched sides what had happened all, obviously, pointed to her so its understandable to think some would have a bit of a grudge."

"Interesting, I wonder what their motivations are exactly. I also wonder what makes a high-ranking member of the Orion Syndicate want to come over to the enemy." One delicate eyebrow raised a little bit as of questioning him to see if he would fill in the gaps to the story.

"As to motivations, if you had betrayed those your worked with to the enemy many being imprisoned or killed, wouldn't you want a little payback if the opportunity came?" Will answered. "As for her own reasons..." He shrugged. "One of the many things I've not been read into, I was only told on a need to know basis. I can ask, but cant be certain I'd get an answer that would help."

She fixed him with a long stony look and then quietly said "What aren't you telling me?"

"Only what you are not cleared or authorised to know." Will replied, while his answer was the honest truth he felt he'd already skirted the bounds a little too closely by what he'd already said.

"Forgive me sir, but how can they trust you to be objective in this particular situation? She's your lover, and you are emotionally invested in getting her back. I can't tell if you're being reckless or acting appropriate to the situation, if I don't know all the facts." Annika's dark eyes flashed with ire, as she thought of the last time a captain had been reckless with her around, it had almost cost them both their lives.

"While I appreciate your candor Commander, Starfleet Command have obviously considered the situation, my involvement and what is at stake and still tasked me with the rescue operation. I can only tell you what I am cleared to do so. I understand your position and I respect the concerns you have, but if you can not function under the given situation in your current role then if you like you can remain at the yards while someone else fills in your duties for this mission." Not the option Will wanted but he also couldn't have a First Officer that was constantly on his back from the get go because there were things she couldn't know.

Anger hardened both her jaw and her eyes and she fixed him with a stare that had many a lesser man quailing in his boots. She didn't expect him to be phased by it, so she raised her gaze to just above his head. Clearly he did not respect her concerns, if merely voicing them had him threatening her career. Remain at the shipyards, while you chase your Orion lover across the galaxy? Not a snowballs chance in hell. "That will not be necessary Commodore."

"Very well, I'd like to depart as soon as humanly possible, check with the yard master that all supplies and munitions are loaded." Will knew and could easily tell the Commander didn't approve of his last option but she had elected to stay, so he'd make use of her.

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