Breaking it Down

Posted on Mon Feb 16th, 2009 @ 11:02pm by Captain Elsie Halliwell

1,175 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Citadel Prime
Location: Lane's Ready Room
Timeline: Current

Commander Lane stood up and slid the chair from underneath him, allowing his boots to take the full weight of his frame. Sighing and placing down the PADD in front of him onto the desk, he looked over at Commander Arkham and broke into a little smile.

“I think another caffeine drenched beverage is in order… I swear if there was an enjoyable way for the new CMO to drip coffee into me, I would do it.� As he rounded the desk, and the back of his First Officer he continued, “Can I get you anything, Ms Arkham? Tea? Coffee? – Scotch…?�

Burning the candle at both ends had really started taking its toll on the Trill. And the relationship with his daughter, although he did manage to snatch pockets of time with her, was straining beyond his control. However, he was aware when he took the commission what becoming a Commanding Officer would entail, and with that in mind, he silently soldiered on with the work load.

"Scotch, please," Arkham said, borderline collapsing into the chair opposite the commander's desk. She was exhausted, and she still had yet to resolve things with Catherine, and that was clearly beginning to take a toll on her mind. She needed this scotch very badly, she realized, rubbing her right eye tiredly.

He looked back at Commander Arkham with an almost conspirator’s wink. “Scotch it is then. Turning to face the replicator he uttered, “Scotch, two glasses and a bowl of ice…� Thinking quickly, he said, “Computer: Belay that.�

Turning back to Arkham he whispered, “I have a bottle of single malt back in my quarters. Proper stuff, if you fancy; none of that blended crap. It’s pure, straight through. Two minutes.�

He quickly stepped out onto the Bridge, boarded the turbolift, seized hold of the warm bottle in his quarters and was back in the Ready Room within minutes. Taking two thickly based and heavy tumblers from a silver tray that carried an untouched and frosted jug of water, he sat back down and poured out two healthy measures of the golden-orange liquid.

“Ice?� he offered. “I take it neat. I don’t much like it watered down,� he said with a smile.

Arkham smirked a little. "No, no ice."

Taking a sip and savouring the flavour, the two officers fell silent. Placing the glass back down, he picked up the PADD again and scrolled down.

“So, let’s see if we have what Sheppard sent us right…� Reading from the PADD, he started to paraphrase the text.

“Uh, the Citadel Sectors, once ruled by the Citadel Council, now disbanded, has broken into racial factions. The council stayed neutral to the Dominion War, which, as it turned out, was not something that the three main races actually agreed upon and they have since erupted into civil war… With the Citadel Sectors encompassing so many races, peace to this area is vital for the Federation; as well as an asset with regard to trade, resources, military assistance and whatnot.�

Arkham nodded. "Right. I believe that their ruling body, the Citadel council has been temporarily reconvened thanks to recent talks with the Nagasaki's Diplomatic Detachment."

“Ah, right,� he nodded. “Looks like there was a lot of bad blood, doesn't it? And I guess it helps with an Intelligence Officer with me on this," he said, nodding to Arkham.

Reading further, his eyes widened a little and then he glared up with his blues eyes at her. “The Nagasaki is at Citadel Prime as we speak. They are due to leave orbit in the next day or so but it’ll be at least three before the Arch arrives…� Trailing off, he struck up a new fire as his eyes read on. “It seems that they have experienced certain resistances already. There isn’t much detail, but something about a covert attack on their ground troops has already transpired… Uh, Commander, do you have the names of who our contacts will be once we arrive?�

Arkham nodded a little, looking over a PADD. "On Citadel Prime we'll have contact with a LT Gerard Hughes -- he's the ranking officer down there and their Chief Diplomatic Officer, and is staying on Citadel Prime to watch the situation with the Citadel Council --with him is his assistant, Ensign Wolfe. One attempt has been made on his life already. And word on the street is, he's an arrogant prick."

“Naturally,� he interjected.

Arkham continued on, saying, "Secondly, we'll have Ambassador Nihlus Kryik, a Turian Ambassador who has worked closely with the Nagasaki during there mission. Thirdly, and finally, we'll have Warrant Officer Second Class Casey Andrews -- she's taken over the CIC down there."

“Good stuff, then, eh?� he said, smiling. “At least we know that we’re not alone over there.� Pausing, he fixed his eyes on his First Officer and then said, “Commander, is there anything else that you can tell me that isn’t in these files that Sheppard sent over to us? Details… anything that will give us the edge a little? I’m sure that you must have a contact or two in that Sector.�

"I know a couple of the crew aboard the Nagasaki," Arkham said quietly. "Their Intelligence Officer, Brent Amherst, I'm sure could provide me a bit of information. Worst comes to worst, I hear one of the doctors who did my initial surgery ten years ago is still there. Otherwise, I have a few contacts with the Asari Republic -- the Matriarch Benezia may be willing to have an audience with me, and I know a Turian general who may speak with us. But considering my activities on Cardassia before the war, the Salarians will not welcome me with open arms, I'm afraid. I'll see what I can find out."

“Well, I appreciate that, Commander. I suppose we’re better best prepared than not…� He smiled, and then continued, “What was that line I came across once? It was in some old mission logs I had to review while I was XO myself… ‘Intelligence isn’t’. I can’t say that I agreed with the sentiment then.�

He sighed deeply and took another sip of scotch. “Well, I think that’s about it, Commander for tonight. We’re both tired and I don’t suppose there’s much else that needs discussing at this present moment.�

Arkham conceded that point, nodding slightly. She was exhausted, and looked forward to nothing more except the warm oblivion of sleep in her own bed, however, she knew full well her work was not yet done. "Sir, we should most likely assemble our senior staff as well -- inform them of the situation."

“You’re absolutely right, Ms. Arkham. I’ll leave it to you to assemble the senior staff and we’ll brief them in the morning.�

Arkham nodded, smirking a little, and sighing. "Of course, sir. And now, with your permission, I'm going to attempt to catch a bit of sleep."

“Goodnight, then,� he uttered.

 

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