New Position

Posted on Sun Jan 30th, 2022 @ 4:37am by Captain Maia Sterling & Lieutenant Commander Ryan Blake & Lieutenant Kasey Tanger

Mission: The Riixian Insurection
Location: Captain's Ready Room

=/\= Commander Blake Please report to the Captain's office=/\=

Ryan was in his office at the Strategic Operations Center when the summons came. He was reviewing the summary report he had put together following debriefing the prisoners. He tapped his commbadge. "Acknowledged Captain. I'm on my way."

Maia was in her office, Sheena was having serious family issues and it was starting to affect her health. Her efficiency was down 37 percent all ready.

Ryan was at the door to Maia's Ready Room in under two minutes. He activated the door door chime to announce his arrival.

"Enter"

Ryan stepped inside and posted himself a meter from Maia's desk. "Lieutenant Commander Blake reporting as ordered Captain."

"Ah.. Mr Blake I may be sending Commander Toran on a mission to find her parents, So I will need you to step up to the executive officer's post until she returns."

Ryan gave a single nod of his head. "Of course Captain." He gave a sigh. "We are being stretched pretty thin though."

"Let's see about rounding up some officers on the Hood. There may be one or two we could use but you are right our ranks are thinning." Maia said.

Ryan made a note on his PADD. "The Hood will be heading to Starbase 19 once repairs to their warp drive are complete. They could probably make do with a skeleton crew for the trip there. I will talk to their Acting First Officer and find out how many officers and crew they can spare."

"Thank you Ryan". Maia replied.

Ryan tapped a finger on his PADD for a moment. What was supposed to be a simple diplomatic mission was turning into a major convoluted ordeal. "I guess, as Acting First Officer, I should give you my evaluations on our current situation and recommendations on how to proceed."

"That would be helpful." Maia replied.

Ryan tapped his PADD and swiped from the PADD to the air over Maia's desk. A holographic report appeared. "The Caliphate sent three ships to take out the Hood and Leto. Probably due to the Leto being assigned to the mission to Betazed and the Hood carrying my mother and father to rendezvous with us. We know that all three ships were outfitted with psionic technology to incapacitate key officers and crew on both ships and that the Caliphate had at least a few agents in the crew of the Hood. There may be agents aboard Leto, but without any evidence, that's just speculation right now. It is when we get to Betazed we're going to get spread pretty thin real quick. Sheena will be leaving the ship in search of her parents, Lieutenant Brannon will have to go to the Capitol for the Council session as will my mother who will want to address the Council before they vote. We have McMahon, Dougherty and my sister analyzing the recovered technology. My father is coordinating for additional ships and resource allocation from Starfleet command. Lieutenant Somers has the Marines on standby as a reactionary force. I would recommend sending Lieutenant Tanger with my mother to act as Liaison Officer. Then we have Lieutenant Monroe."

=/\=Lt Tanger please report to the Captain's ready room=/\=

=/\= Tanger here, and I am on my way, Captain. =/\=

"What is your evaluation of Lieutenant Monroe"? Maia asked Mr Blake?

Ryan took a long breath and let it out slowly before answering. His expression was one of concern. "She has been a deep cover agent for the last four years. She has had a child by the man she was sent to find and bring to justice and...I just don't know if she is on our side or his."

"What does your gut tell you"? Maia asked trusting his instincts.

Ryan thought about the question for a moment. He wanted to say she was sincerely with them, but he had to be skeptical considering his position. "I...." Tanger arrived before he could answer.

Tanger arrived at the ready room and stepped to the door to make it chime to notify the captain of his arrival. And he was summoned inside.

"Ah.. Mr Tanger Mr. Blake has a new assignment for you." Maia said.

"I am up to the challenge of a new task." Tanger replied.

Ryan turned to Kasey. "Lieutenant Brannon has to attend the Council Assembly for the vote on secession from the Federation. My mother is being allowed to address the Assembly to speak on behalf of the Federation, that part of the mission is going to require an officer who can function as an aide to my mother and is a Betazed citizen who can address the assembly in support of remaining with the Federation."

Maia nodded.

"I am curious." Tanger replied. "I am Betazoid and still technically have family land on Betazed which in essence makes me a citizen. I gather that I am the chosen one to be aide and then also the officer to speak to the Council. I am shell shocked. I have never been to a Council Assembly and it would be and extreme honor to do this assignment."

"If you might recall, I told you that being my Chief Diplomatic Officer was perhaps the most important job on this ship. A ship of diplomacy. Now you have the chance to help bring matters of galactic importance to fruition. I believe in you, I trust you. Be honored and be smart. This isn't some dog and pony detail I'm sending you on Lieutenant. This is the real deal. You have the skills and training I need to deal with the politicians. Find common ground and try to convince them that staying in the Federation is to their extreme benefit as it is to ours." Maia said.

Ryan pondered for a moment. There was still an unanswered question of Maia's and the only person who could really provide an insight was the man who had arrived just after the question had been asked. "Lieutenant Tanger. One more question. Is Marina on our side?"

"Sir, I do believe Marina is on our side. She wants to correct the path in front of her by making amends for all the harm and trouble she caused in her past. She is eager to get back in the flow of Starfleet. I know she is eager to keep me happy so that I will be a new constant in her life. I do feel she is with us until the end." Tanger replied.

Sterling looked over at Mr. Blake.

"Perhaps Marina feels she has a lot to answer for. I however think that right now she is in a lot of pain." Maia said.

"She is in pain, and not just from the physical trauma she has undergone recently but also from the uncertainty of a new life and hoping to get her daughter back with her." Tanger replied.

"Thank you Mr. Tanger. Does she know who has her daughter?"

"My niece is named Aurora, she is the daughter of my sister and the leader of the Caliphate and he keeps the children well guarded and under constant supervision. He feels they are the future of the cause and he will do what it takes to protect his offspring. He apparently has multiple children from the females that serve the cause. Aurora is only six or seven months old from what I was told and from what I could see in my sister's mind." Tanger replied.

"Your niece is the leader of the Caliphate?" Maia asked

"The leader of the Caliphate is Aurora's father." Ryan spoke quietly. "Marina...Lieutenant Monroe was taken into this leader's harem so he could produce progeny with exceptionally strong psionic abilities as far as we can determine."

"I see. So what does Marina want to do about this?" Maia asked.

Ryan knew that Marina wanted one thing above all else. "She wants to find her daughter."

"She is committed to getting a normal life back in progress but she would really like to rescue her daughter and I know she will fight for us to help her get her daughter to freedom with the Federation." Tanger added on behalf of his sister. He was still linked to her and would speak up for her in this matter but his diplomatic and necessary Starfleet duties would come first.

"Do you have any other concerns Mr. Blake?" Maia asked.

"None at this time Captain." Ryan still had an uneasy feeling. He hoped it was just pre deployment jitters.

[End]

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A post by:

Captain Maia A Sterling
Commanding Officer
USS Leto NCC-80916

&

Lieutenant Kasey Tanger
Chief Diplomatic Officer
USS Leto, NCC-80916

&

Lieutenant Commander Ryan Blake
Acting First Officer
USS Leto, NCC-80916