Two Minds Think Alike

Posted on Wed Mar 18th, 2009 @ 11:02am by Captain Elsie Halliwell

1,124 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: In The Dark
Location: Lane's Ready Room
Timeline: Current

:ON:

As Commander Lane sat pressed against the back of his Captain's chair, shifting his weight from beneath him, he sighed. Looking out towards the viewscreen, the marble that was suspended in space before him captivated his attention; not least because his First Officer and away team were down on its surface.

Behind him from the Ops terminal, Chief Warrant Officer Jackson hammered at the control panel as it began to beep.

"Captain, we're receiving a transmission from the surface. It's Commander Arkham."

Twisting his body around, he nodded. "Route it to my Ready Room, Mr. Jackson," he said, lifting himself up out of his chair. He made the short walk from the Bridge to his office and the doors breathed open before him. Taking his chair by the back, he swivelled it around and planted himself heavily into its comfort, tucking himself under his desk. Activating the console, the image of his First Officer appeared on the screen.

"Commander, how are you? And how are things down there?"

Arkham sighed, leaning back in her chair within a small chamber of the Citadel Tower. She'd been given a small room from which she could operate unnoticed and unbothered -- the Turian Hierarchy was quite familiar with the exploits of the Archimedes First Officer. She rasped, "They're good. 'Five by five,' as the Nagasaki's CIC Commander would say. And that's the problem."

"Problem, Rowena?"

Arkham sipped at a glass of water in front of her, smirking slightly. "Sir, we've been told that the sector is under raid by pirates. We've been told that the Nagasaki's Marines came under attack. We've been told that there was an assassination attempt upon the Diplomatic team following a conference. But it's been all quiet on the Western Front. Now, I will be the first to say that Intelligence often isn't, but...I don't know. Something about this just...doesn't sit right with me."

"Agreed, Commander. I have Ensign Turoc searching this ship deck-by-deck just on a hunch, a feeling that something is askew. But, I can't for the life of me place my finger on what's bothering me. I just assumed that I was becoming paranoid." Lane smiled a little, relieved that the heavy weight of suspicion had been lifted from his shoulders and shared with his First Officer.

"I am going to schedule a subspace conference with Captain Sheppard expressing similar views. What does the Nagasaki camp say of this, or does this feeling of unease sit with you alone?"

"I haven't spoken with either about it," Arkham said quietly. "Total waste of time. Hughes is worried about my safety of course, and I've already denied the security team he wanted to stick with me. But I refuse to give these people the impression that I am afraid of them."

"I understand. But, be careful, Commander. Despite the little resistance we have happened upon ourselves, the sector is still a very dangerous place. For instance, just after your shuttle launched, the vessel experienced a ship-wide power failure. I have Jackson and Sheedy performing diagnostics on what the cause could be, but, it's not shedding much light on the situation. I just have this horrible feeling that something is amiss."

Arkham raised an eyebrow at this, giving her a look of great gravity. She'd not yet heard this. Perhaps everything was not quite as quiet as she suspected. "Do we suspect foul play, Mr. Lane?"

"We?" he asked widening his eyes. "No, Commander." The Trill paused slightly, and looked away from the screen to the window outside. "But I do, unfortunately." He turned back to face his First Officer. "Not officially, mind, but I cannot shake this feeling of dread I have about the ship. And the worst part? I have nothing to go on besides this internal feeling of unease." He sighed heavily. "We both know how new ships handle when they are first commissioned; riddled with teething problems. It's the natural conclusion since we have only been afloat several weeks. So why do I not agree with that?"

Arkham wracked her brain for a moment. "I have been on several new ships, and this is not teething problems, Mr. Lane. I...I know what that feels like. This is...very different from that."

"I'm glad that you said that, Commander."

Arkham sighed, looking down into her glass as if it held the answer she so desperately sought. Finally, she looked back up, rasping simply. "I...well, Commander, I think that we should be wary. Heighten security, search the ship, continue monitoring functions. I'll be busy down here, but if you need me you know how to reach me."

"That I do, Rowena," Lane replied with a smile. "And I appreciate that sentiment. I have Ensign Turoc searching the ship as we speak and, as I have said, I have Mr. Jackson, as seasoned as he is, running the diagnostics. I can only sit here and wait, and that is why I am so anxious."

Arkham smirked a little, and said quietly. "I'm not...overly worried. I'm going to try to keep security minimal on my end -- this isn't a takover, I'm not a dictator, and I don't want these people to think that I fear them. But if something should happen...take good care of Catherine for me."

Lane simply nodded, not wanting to pacify the opinion the Commander expressed. "She'll be fine, Rowena. As will you be. We're both covered on all points so I'm not about to go to go to red-alert just yet.

The emotional side of Arkham that had appeared moments before disappeared as quickly as it had come, her features becoming hard and cold once more. "Anything else, Commander?"

"No, Rowena, thank you. But, I'd like you to keep in contact with the ship. I think we should both be readied for any eventuality. Is there anything you ask of the Archimedes? Additional supplies? Crew? Anything you need?"

Arkham nodded. "Yes. We're going to be tied up with the Council -- I'm going to be doing some digging following the meeting. And I need additional people to work with the CIC. I have a bad feeling about this, Coltan. I think I'm going to need all the help I can get."

"No problem, Rowena," Lane replied, sighing. "Speak with Mr. Jackson and acquire all the resources you need. We need this to work but I share the ill feeling, too. Keep in touch, Commander. Lane out."

The vision of Commander Arkham faded from the console and was replaced by the UFP logo. The Trill sighed heavily once more as the gravity of the situation weighed upon them both.

:OFF:


Commander Coltan Lane
Commanding Officer

AND

Commander Rowena Arkham
Executive Officer

 

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