No Merciful God

Posted on Fri Oct 16th, 2009 @ 3:52am by Lieutenant JG Drew O'Connell & Lieutenant Commander Kaylis Kirana

1,761 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Shoreleave - Welcoming Old Friends and New
Location: Shalie Montgomery's Personal Quarters, San Francisco, Earth
Timeline: Current

Corella Lange moved about the standard Starfleet quarters like a cat. Silent and with just a hint of threat. It was difficult for her to glean any personal information about Shalie Montgomery from the place. No personal decorations and no artistic changes had been made to the standard grey on grey motif supported by Starfleet. Really it was quite depressing. However records showed that Montgomery had spent little time here in the past year. Her first trip back to Earth after the incident concerning the USS Rook and now a brief shoreleave from the were her only two trips to Earth...and she hadn't even shown up to her 'home' yet.

Still, recent transporter activity indicated she was back in San Francisco, transported by her own vessel. Corella moved to the window and surveyed the darkening city, wondering where the Orion might have gone. Shalie Montgomery was lucky in that she had a lovely view of the city and the bay just beyond it. With twinkling lights and bustling city movement, one could almost lose oneself in the veil of false security. Captain Corella Lange knew that whatever the people thought about their safety, far below her in the streets of the city, they were very mistaken.

Crossing to the grey couch, Corella sat down and crossed her legs, one over the other, before pulling out the padd she'd already studied a hundred times. The personnel record of Shalie Montgomery was checkered and brilliant. What interested her more, though, was the personal information. The line stating that she and Andrew O'Connell were more than just former shipmates and had recently become lovers. That was the reason she had come to Montgomery's quarters. She still had unfinished business with Lieutenant Junior Grade Andrew O'Connell and whatever else was said of Corella Lange, she always got her man.

Shalie wondered around the city until she was just too tired to walk anymore. With a sigh she changed her direction to head for her quarters. As she entered the building she would help but think of all the places she had been. Of them all Earth seemed the least like home. Easily entering her code the door opened, she paused before entering. Shaking her head she walked inside.

As she entered her quarters Shalie's eyes quickly fell on to a famliar face. She was no friend to her and one would bet that her intentions with this meeting were far from pure. Shalie set her stuff down on the floor by the door before moving closer to the woman. "Yes Captain...what can I do for you?"

Corella Lange inclined her head. She could sense the frustration in the woman before her, no doubt emanating from the same source as the one she was currently tracking. "Upon seeing you, Lieutenant, perhaps this meeting should be more about what I can do for you."

Shalie moved cautiously forward. "What exactly do you think I want?"

"I should be clear in my meaning, Lieutenant. I can see in you the frustration I see in myself. A frustration which comes from the single most annoying person I have ever met. His name, as you've no doubt guessed by now, is Lieutenant Junior Grade Andrew O'Connell. I could do one of two things for you, Lieutenant Montgomery."

"I should have known," Shalie said under her breath with a shake of her head.

"First, and most preferably, I would like to see Andrew O'Connell cashiered from the fleet. The reasons are my own, but are also quite evident. He's rogue, not a team player, and he's likely to cause problems being such. Why the results of the Rook's rescue of its crew, and your own, are evidence of his inability to follow orders and protocol. That's a dangerous game, Lieutenant, I'm sure you can see."

It took all of Shalie's remaining self-control to keep from going off on the superior officer, but she was kind of intrigued as to where this was going. Although the idea of O'Connell being out of the picture was amusing, she wasn't sure how she truly felt.

"Second, though less personally pleasing, would be to offer you a transfer to a ship of your choice. A shining star like you should not be eclipsed by the supernova that will be O'Connell when he finally flames out. I have several ships in mind requiring credible officers in the Operations department, and not a few of which need a good Chief of Operations. No doubt these opportunities would lead to a command level position and a promotion would not be far in the future." Lange uncrossed her legs and motioned for the Orion to sit opposite her. "Please don't reject me out of hand. You've been on the Archimedes a mere few weeks, you've no loyalty to her captain or crew established yet. It would be an easy transition."

Shalie took the offered seat. There was more to this conversation then this women's good will towards Shalie and her career. Officer's like her always had an agenda and normally a self-serving one. "I am not rejecting you....yet...but respectfully, sir...you have no idea where my loyalties lie." Her tone was merely informative. "Sir, I have a hard time believing that you would break into my quarters to merely inform me that you would like O'Connell out of Starfleet or to offer me a transfer....so what is in it for you?" She kept her eyes on the Captain as she awaited her answer.

"What is in it for me?" Lange wondered aloud, as if she had never considered the question. After a good deal of thought, she turned to Shalie with her answer. "Two things, Lieutenant. I am allowed to watch you grow, unimpeded by the time bomb O'Connell represents. The other is a personal satisfaction that I've removed that maverick from a position where he will likely do more harm than good. I am thinking of the lives we will save together." The statement was bold but true, if just a little misleading.

Shalie cocked an eyebrow at the Captain. Other then having basically convinced the world has she wasn't worth saving, Shalie had had no contact with Lange and now here she was...wanting to help her.

Shale couldn't ignore the nagging feeling that something wasn't adding up. "So for all of these gifts...what do you want from me?"

Lange smiled as one would imagine a spider smiles when another insect becomes caught in its web. "Nothing more than you already do, Lieutenant Montgomery. Keep an eye on the prize and be the first to let me know when he slips up. Even minor things which might seem inconsequential add to the overall picture of inadequacy. For this, I will see Andrew O'Connell removed from his position, freeing you from his burden. Of course, should you choose a transfer, I will move other players into place to do that very job."

Shalie merely kept her gaze on the Captain. Her elation about this situation was unsettling. When she finally did look away she lowered her gaze to her hands. The conversations over the last few weeks with Drew each played quickly though her mind. Did she really want him gone? Why not, other then some recreational fun he was nothing to her, right? She never responded to Lange's request before the Captain began talking again.

"Your first task would be to tell me where he is. Oh, I could go through the records and uncover that information myself, but wouldn't it be easier if you just told me?"

Shalie didn't respond as first, she smoothly stood up and walked over to the door. Opening it she motioned for her guest to leave. "With all due respect, sir...I will tell you the same thing today that I told you a month ago...I will not betray the man who saved my life....you may go." Her tone although stern had a bit of a tremble in it. Her brain was yelling at her 'What the hell are you doing?...you are nothing to him....she is going to make your life hell!' Despite all of her thoughts she stood by her decision. "As you said, Captain....you are able to uncover the information on your own...although O'Connell would believe that I told you....I won't."

"As you wish, Lieutenant. You should be aware that I have a reputation. It is said that I always get my man. Siding against me is unwise, Miss Montgomery. You have made neither an enemy or a friend today and you may find that to your detriment." Corella Lange held up her hand to silence Shalie. "It was no threat, merely an observation. I have some clout, and I am guessing you may need a friend in high places eventually."

"In my experiance...even friends cannot always help you...in the end I can only rely on myself," Shalie kept her tone level. The more she spoke the more confident she became. Selling out Drew was selling out herself. There were so few things that Shalie believed in and loyalty was one of them.

"I can respect that...believe it or not, relying on myself is one reason I am where I am today. Good luck to you, Lieutenant." Stepping through the door , Lange offered one last bit. "You should know that had you told me O'Connell was at his family home in Ireland, I would have used you as a means to an end and I would have transferred you to a starship that wouldn't see Terran space before my death. I like to think I have a few decades left."

"Well that would have been an empty punishment." Shalie said with a chuckle. She motioned to her room. "As you can see I am never here..."

"Good day, Lieutenant Montgomery." With that Corella Lange turned and left.

Shalie didn't say anything merely closed her door. With a heavy sigh she walked over to the couch. She couldn't help but wonder if Drew has even noticed she was gone and here she was protecting him. She sank into the couch, allowing herself to fall across the cushions. "What the hell have you gotten into Shalie..." She said to out loud, her voice reverberating off the empty walls. Humans can't be trusted

OFF:

Lieutenant jg Shalie Montgomery
Chief Operations Officer

and

Captain Corella Lange
JAG
(NPCed by Andrew O'Connell)

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