The inevitable

Posted on Wed Dec 29th, 2021 @ 12:42am by Captain Maia Sterling & Lieutenant Commander Ryan Blake & Lieutenant Commander Robert Hendon & Lieutenant JG Marina Tanger & Captain David Blake

Mission: The Riixian Insurection
Location: Ready Room

OOC: figures this conversation has to happen eventually, it can come after the current posts we’re all writing :)

{ON}

With all the necessary people pulled together, Marina stood in Maia’s ready room in front of the Captain, Ryan, Doctor Hendon, and Ryan’s father. “Captain I have to go back to the Caliphate, it’s the only way to stop Andreas. I want to prove myself worthy to be back in Starfleet, and if possible remain aboard the Leto.” She looked at Ryan’s father, before looking back at Maia.

"I can certainly understand your concerns, Marina, but what would your plan be? Andreas has proved his capability to use people for his own ends including you. Besides where would you look"? Maia asked.

Marina paused. “Caliphate members have a rendezvous point to go to. From there we receive instructions where to go to from there. Andreas is extremely cautious, none of us know where he’ll be from one day to the next.”

"A rendezvous point, how do you know that hasn't already been compromised, there is a very good chance the caliphate already knows what happened. Chances are they are already planning an ambush for us."

Maia turned to Dr Hendon.

"Doctor how is she health wise if I did let her go is she well enough to travel on her own?"

Marina looked at Hendon, she could only hope he’d approve her to go.

Robert knew what he should say. But then he would have to say why and Marina had told him not to say anything.

“ Yes she is.” He said

Maia turned to Mr. Blake.

"Commander Blake what current strategic situation will star fleet be sending any backup?" Maia asked.

Ryan nodded. He consulted his PADD for a moment. "The Galaxy and the Venture are due to make orbit of Betazed 2 and 4 hours after us. All of their nonessential personnel and dependents have been disembarked in case the situation calls for an evacuation." He looked from Maia to Marina and back again. "Lieutenant Monroe will need to have back up. She can't go back into the lion's den without some means for extraction."

David also nodded in agreement. "I concur. Even a small team would be sufficient to at least make it to her and call for a beam out."

"Perhaps we can send a small team out with Commander Toran, and a few marines, I think the chances are good that Sheena's parents and the biogenic weapon are at the same place same place or at least general area. they must keep it close under tight security". Maia said.

“Agreed” Marina nodded. “But I’ll warn you all now, Andreas doesn’t mess around. The guards are all trained to use their abilities with leathal force, every one of us is subject to a mental scan every time we’re in Andreas’ presence. He’s extremely cautious and he doesn’t mess about. He wouldn’t think twice about killing any of us, myself included.”

Ryan knew that they were stretched to the breaking point as it was, but this was a chance to cut off the head of the snake. The mission already called for numerous tasking. Protection of the Betazed Ruling Council, find and neutralize the reported WMD, rescuing Sheena's parents, development of a defense to the psionic weapon already in use and maintaining command and coordination for all the above. "I should be the one to back up Lieutenant Monroe. It's the most logical choice.

"ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!" David's face flushed red as he turned on Ryan. "I will not allow it!"

Ryan looked at his father calmly. "The decision is Captain Sterling's. You Sir, are an advisor on this mission, as is Mom."

Marina looked towards David, she found it amusing that Ryan was putting his father in his place, not that she let it show. “I’ll need one more thing, I need my abilities back at full strength, I’ll need them if I have to face off against Andreas.”

"Mr. Blake, I tend to agree with your father, you are not a Betazoid and would stick out like a sore thumb. Even in disguise you would be picked up whenever you were in range of one of their telepaths. You would be found out before you even got within striking distance. Besides I have yet to hear any plausible plan." Maia stated.

Maia turned to Marina.

"As for you the implant has already been removed but since you were obviously a captive your powers have been temporarily diminished. I will talk to Dr Hendon about removing your inhibitor. You are probably feeling the effects of the dampening system we are using to augment the shields. You have not been given the psilosynine inhibitor that we gave the prisoners. We don't do that to friends." Maia said.

“Of course, thank you Captain” Marina nodded. “I don’t even know if Andreas will trust me anymore, there’s only one way to find out.”

Robert knew Marina was going to need her full powers. If she and her unborn child were to survive.

“ Captain we can remove the inhibitor now. It won’t take me five minutes. Plus without it she may have a better chance of survival.” He said being very careful not to mention her condition.

"Okay remove the inhibitor just keep a close eye on her" Maia said.

Robert nodded and took out a tricorder. He played with the controls. Then pressed a control and ran it over the device on her forehead.

“ This may tingle a little.” Hendon warned her.

The inhibitor gave a bleep and fell off Marina’s forehead. Robert caught it in his hand. He checked the skin on her forehead for any cuts.

“ There all done.” He said.

Marina gasped massaging her temples. The sudden rush of so many minds reconnecting to hers was a momentary shock. It took a few minutes longer before she ramped up her mental defenses to block out the voices and emotions. She nodded to Robert as she looked up. “Thank you Doctor.”

Had Robert done the correct thing? True anything that gave her the extra edge against what she was about to go up against. Was a good thing wasn’t it? Would it make her more wreckless?

"Can you hear my thought Lieutenant?" Maia asked.

Marina looked towards Maia. “I can hear everyone’s thoughts Captain, they’re a permanent hum in the back of my mind. Unless there’s something specific you wish me to read? I will not read your thoughts without permission.”

"Good" Maia said.

“ That’s good to hear. But if you can hear all these thoughts. How do you pick out an individual who wishes you harm. Is it like a pain you get warning you there is something wrong , with your body?” Robert asked

“It’s kind of hard to explain Doctor” Marina offered a smile. “Suffice to say negative emotions are much more powerful, they’re easier to pick up on even in a crowd. When I want to sense something I lower my mental defenses just enough to get a residual sense, if it’s safe to do so I can open my mind fully, but that can lead to the risk of being overwhelmed.”

Robert did not want the others to hear this. So he thought his next sentence.

oO What about the unborn child you are carrying? Can you sense what it’s feeling?” Oo he thought

Even though she wasn’t reading his mind Marina picked up on the thought directed towards her. She responded telepathically.
~ Yes, I can sense my child doctor. I will defend him, or her with my life ~

Robert nodded.

"Did I miss something"? Maia asked.

“No ma’am“ Marina shook her head.

"Hmm" Maia looked skeptical.

[End]

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A post by:

Captain Maia A. Sterling
Commanding Officer
USS Leto NCC-80916

&

Lieutenant JG Marina Monroe
Infiltration Officer
USS Leto NCC-80916

&

Lieutenant Commander Dr Robert Hendon
Chief Medical Officer
USS Leto NCC-80916

&

Lieutenant Commander Ryan Blake
Chief of Strategic Operations
USS Leto NCC-80916