Personnel Transfer (Part Three)

Posted on Sat Dec 19th, 2009 @ 1:04am by Lieutenant JG Drew O'Connell

1,458 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Balowlli System
Location: Chief Intelligence Officer's Office
Timeline: Current

Drew looked up as the door to his office chimed, announcing the arrival of his guest. Drew stood, retrieving his uniform jacket and donning it before opening the door himself. Just beyond his domain, Drew saw the eager and somewhat confused look on the face of his newest subordinate, Markus Ramsey. Drew placed a hand on the younger man's shoulder, leading him into the realm of the Chief Intelligence Officer. "Come in," he started, "We have much to discuss."

The slightly confused look marring Petty Officer Ramsey's face was replaced by a brilliant smile which drew attention to his brilliant blue eyes. He stepped through the door and into Drew O'Connell's domain. Taking the chair across from Drew, he adjusted himself and ran a hand through his dark brown spikey hair. "I take it the transfer is complete, Lieutenant."

Drew smiled sadistically, it had the intended effect as Ramsey shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "It has indeed. As I see it we have two problems; one, you're desperately in need of training and two, we don't have much time to get you up to speed. This is about to become the hardest week of your life, Markus."

"I'm ready, Lieutenant," the engineer replied a little too eagerly. He fidgeted in the standard Starfleet gray chair.

"I sincerely hope so because I have a training regimen in mind which will be grueling, to say the least." Removing the ovoid device he always carried from his pocket, Drew depressed the button which activated it. He placed the device on his desk and watched it carefully as the four quadrants turned from red to green. Ramsey leaned forward in his chair, clearly unsure of what to expect. When the cycle completed, Drew continued, "We have a mission departing the ship in three days time which will take us to a planet called Kashak, are you familiar?"

Drew waited as Ramsey shook his head. "No sir," was his simple response.

Drew smiled a little. "No reason you should be, Markus. I was just curious about your knowledge of the upcoming mission. On a second note, we're part of a team now," Drew paused to allow that thought to sink in. "You should call me Drew and when you meet her, Devanani Ral prefers to be called Devan."

Again Drew waited for Markus to process and nod, he liked that the kid didn't repeat his every word, just accepted, processed and moved forward. It would be an early asset. Drew continued, "The Archimedes has been tasked with the testing of a technology new to Starfleet, the polaron torpedo. Starfleet's choice of testgrounds is questionable, as it is inhabited by at least two sentient races of pre-warp capability. One, the Malgor, are very early in their development with no spaceflight capabilities. The second, the Kal'Tashnar inhabit the third planet, known to them as Kashak. They're a reptiloid species with militaristic and expansionist tendencies. Their technology is early twenty-first century Terran equivalent and we need to keep it that way."

"So our advance mission is to make sure the Archimedes is not detected," Markus said, making the obvious leap.

Again Drew smiled, the kid from engineering was maybe sharper than he anticipated. "Officially, we'll be serving on Archimedes in an advisory capacity. I'll have the computer create false movements during our absence which will give the Captain culpability, but yes, we'll be a forward team on Kal'Tashnar. I've already indicated two plans to Lieutenants Warner and Marting, but as is my wont in Intelligence, a healthy dose of paranoia and mistrust has forced me to make a second proposal to the Captain to ensure this ship's safety. A proposal he has accepted."

"What are the details?" Markus asked.

Just as the question finished sounding, the doors to the office opened and Devanani Ral walked in. She had that perpetually amused look on her face as she hovered over both men. Taking up residence in the chair opposite Drew, she motioned to the new arrival in their department. "This him?"

Drew nodded. "Ensign Devanani Ral, Petty Officer Third Class Markus Ramsey," Drew introduced them. Devan took his proffered hand and shook it firmly. Drew motioned to the chair next to Markus. "I'm glad you just got here, we were just about to go over the mission details for the upcoming diversionary tactic on Kashak in the Balowlli system."

"There's just one more person missing," Devan said, her eyes twinkling with mirth. "Computer, activate Creman Yates holographic intelligence program delta one. Authorization Ral omega seven seven charlie."

The air beside her shimmered as the hologram, usually silently listening to the rest of the ship's details, flared into existence. His plain features had been perfectly designed to have the hologram blend into his environments without drawing any attention. "So, Balowlli mission, go..."

Devan smiled, her eyes twinkling with humor. Drew shook his head and Markus stared, dumbfounded. "Kashak is home to the Kal'Tashnar, an aggressive, militaristic and expansionist reptiloid species. I've got the tactical and CONN on board with a few ideas to keep the Archimedes safely out of their relatively long view. However, me being me, I've also gone to the Captain with a second plan to keep the ship safer. one he wasn't perticularly excited about either. Our mission will be a forward one, two days advanced from Archimedes' arrival in the system. Using a modification of a proposed plan to tactical, we'll create a small solar flare which will hide our arrival both in the system and on the planet.

From there, Markus will beam into their central power and communications hub. Using his vast experience in engineering, he'll sabotage both systems so that they will be out of commission for the entirety of the Archimedes' mission in the Balowlli system."

Drew looked at the newest member of his intelligence team. Under his gaze and his suggestions, Markus shifted uncomfortably. Noting this, Drew pressed on, "Don't worry, Makus, we'll begin your intelligence career with some intense mission specific training before we move on to the other advanced stuff you'll need to know.

Devan, you and I will begin a second mission of misinformation and distraction. We know the Kal'Tashnar are a militaristic and expansionist race with a penchant for paranoia. Our mission will be to distract their ground forces with projected 'alien' activity. We'll be using a page from ancient Earth by creating light shows and ground effects which will keep their attention diverted from the . If we keep their eyes to the ground, maybe we can hide the fact that we're weapons testing in their skies. Questions?"

"What's my function during all of this?" Yates asked, crossing his arms and leaning back against the wall.

Drew pointed at the hologram. "Good question,"Drew responded. "You'll be running non-stop in our absence. I want a full status update upon our return. If need be, you may need to fill in as interim intelligence officer to Captain Kerr." Drew watched the hologram nod as he kicked his foot up against the wall. "Other questions?"

"Who else is invited?" Devan asked.

"Lieutenant LaFaal, possibly Lieutenant Warner and a small company of Security personnel yet to be arranged. I've a meeting with Lieutenant Martin this afternoon." When Devan nodded her consent, Drew asked, "What else?"

"What's not being said?" Markus asked.

The question took Drew aback for a moment, he knew he had chosen the engineer for his aptitude in the department, but he hadn't been aware of the raw intelligence and intuition the kid brought to the table.

"Another good question. Recent fleet intelligence indicates that the Kal'Tashnar have begun advancing their space program in an effort to make contact with their nearby neightbors, the Malgor. Based on knowledge of their species and similar cultures like the Gorn and the Saurians, we can assume that their intentions are hostile. It's likely they'll take the same stance as the Gorn Hegemony and move to enslave the 'weaker' race of mammalians."

Devan whistled low and exchanged a concerned look with Markus. "That adds a new dimension to what we're doing," she commented.

"Makes it all a little more important, doesn't it?" Drew asked, not expecting an answer. "Anything else?" he asked. When no further questions were forthcoming, Drew nodded. "Let's consider it done then. Markus and Devan, we'll meet in holodeck two at 1500 hours for mission training. Markus, you'll meet me there before that for initial Intelligence department training. 1300 hours, sharp."

When the others had nodded their consent and departed, Drew deactivated the hologram and collapsed into his chair. Whatever he had just gotten them into, they were in the thick of it now.

 

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