Briefing the Senior Staff

Posted on Mon Feb 23rd, 2009 @ 4:01pm by Lieutenant Commander Wesley Kemmer & Lieutenant Jack Parsons & Lieutenant JG Ador Shran & Lieutenant Cress Maven & Master Warrant Officer Sam Jackson & Captain Elsie Halliwell & Lieutenant JG Lucy Carter

3,393 words; about a 17 minute read

Mission: Citadel Prime
Location: Main Conference Room, USS Archimedes
Timeline: Current

ON:

[Conference Room]

Commander Rowena Arkham smirked wryly, as she made her way from her office to the conference room -- it had been an interesting couple of days; between their arrival in Citadel Space and her sudden promotion to full Commander, she was fairly certain that at this point she could find the Loch Ness Monster in her shower when she got back tonight and not even bat an eyelash over it. Settling down in the conference room in the hair assigned to her by centuries of Naval tradition, Arkham settled down, organizing her PADDs and her thoughts before finally tapping the commbadge on her shirt.

=A= All Senior Staff to the Main Conference Room, please. =A=

Mabren had just finished getting ready for what would no doubt be another interesting day. Walking over to the replicator, he called out, "Café au Lait, double, hot." After a whirl of golden sparkles, a cup with the hot espresso appeared inside and he took a deep breath of the rich coffee aroma. Heading out of his quarters, Mabren allowed his mind to wonder back into the past to his time in Paris. Smiling about that time, his thoughts ended up being interrupted by the comm system. After he had stepped into the lift, he called out his destination.

Walking into the conference room, he realized that he was the first member of the staff to arrive. "Good morning, Commander," he greeted, "And congratulations." Mabren took a seat a few seats down on the left side of the table.

Arkham nodded simply -- nothing needed to be said at this point. She didn't want to let this latest turn of events go to her "already massive ego" as Catherine was fond of saying.

Sam paused a moment before entering. He still felt a little weird when he had to attend these, an enlisted man's prerogative he guessed. Stepping through the door he spoke "Morning sir, Lieutenant"

Mabren nodded at the Warrant after his greeting, "Morning, Warrant."

Ador made his way from his office to the Conference room. He had still been working through the night getting his training schedule completed. His men hated him right now but when they needed this training they would love him. He drank his black coffee out of a MSOG issue mug. He entered the ready room and stood to attention and gave the Commander a smart salute. "Morning Commander Arkham, Lieutenant Mabren, and Mister Jackson."

Sam grinned and then nodded at the Lieutenant "Nice mug" he'd met a fairly nutty bunch of Marines when the Bellerophon had inserted them into a Dominion planet during the war. Completely insane but very very skilled.

Ador nodded an acknowledgment that he hoped was not disconcerting considering his scarred visage and eerie blue eyes. "Only the best for the old warhorses of the fleet like myself. They like to keep the mutts happy." He added with a mischievous scarred an painful looking smile.

Skanda Sheedy had been called forth from the bowels of the ship to attend a staff meeting. This was nearly as bad as calling forth a demon. The green-skinned woman was in bad temper for several reasons. One of the foremost was that she had discovered that her current engineering staff couldn't stand her. Another was the fact that Skanda hated meetings. She breezed through the doors and took a seat without looking at or speaking to anyone in the room. When she was seated, Sheedy nodded respectfully at the commander and gave everyone else a silent look of acknowledgment.

Larkin entered the conference room with one PADD under his arm and another one held at a good reading distance. He walked through the door slowly, seemingly engrossed in whatever he was reading. About midway to his seat, he pulled himself away from the PADD for a moment, and he looked up at the others. "Morning, everyone." With that quick pleasantry out of the way, he took a seat between Jackson and Sheedy, and returned to reading whatever was on the PADD that had him so engaged.

The dreaded moment had arrived for the briefing for the senior staff. In fact the time had almost come and gone by the time that Wesley Kemmer decided to hobble off to the briefing room. He never really tried to get to these things early, and thought that to arrive fashionably late was, well, fashionable. He was sure that others didn’t really share his stance on the opinion but if there was one silver lining to the ominous cloud that Kemmer often kept with him, is that he was never, ever late – at least not recently…

Wes arrived at the doors just a few moments before the meeting was due to begin, and as the doors opened, PADD in hand, he scanned the room to see if everyone had arrived yet. They hadn’t and while he didn’t plan to be the last in attendance, he was almost disappointed; not that anyone would have noticed, their eyes mainly elsewhere, glued to their own PADDs, glancing at each other, their first meeting on this mission and many with each other, stealing looks at the hideous scar on Rowena Arkham’s face. He then had to correct his thoughts; there was something different about the old war horse, the full third pip on her collar signalling her promotion. “Congratulations, Commander.� He said in an almost blank tone as he headed for the replication unit giving brief nods to the people he had yet to meet. “Coffee, double strong and sweet,� he ordered but instead of taking a seat, he just stood to the side, placed his mug of steaming liquid on the small shelf type top beside the main briefing monitor, and leant against the wall awaiting the other stragglers to arrive.

Ship's Counsellor Ensign Carter received the summons for the meeting just as she had finished a downhill skiing session on the holodeck. "Computer, end programme" she said to the air in front of her and the snow, mountains and trees faded to nothingness. However many times she went on here, she would always marvel at the magic of it all. She all but ran to her quarters to change back into her uniform then arrived 10 minutes later at the Main Conference Room out of breath and with her blonde hair damp and sticking to her face. She smiled broadly at everyone in the room and said to Commander Arkham " I am so sorry I am late" before taking her seat.

Jack stepped into the conference room, after sitting in his quarters and looking over his flight personnel. He looked up at Arkham, "Sorry I'm late", he said as he took one of the last remaining seats.


[Lane’s Ready Room]

Commander Lane tapped several commands into his console and then picked up the data PADDs that were clattered about on the surface of his desk. Thumbing through them quickly, he selected the appropriate one and struck the base button with his index finger, clasping the cool casing behind with his free hand.

“Computer:� he announced into the air before him, “access the secured data-file ‘Citadel-One’ and transfer it to the Conference room main display. Authorisation: Lane-9-7-4-Alpha-3.�

[Authorisation confirmed,] the computer replied in its monotonous, yet familiar voice. A few beeps sounded and then [Transfer complete.]


[Conference Room]

Kemmer almost jumped as the screen he was standing by came to life for a moment and then shut down almost immediately. He was pleased that no-one else noted it as he was usually not paranoid in his demeanor. He wasn't sure about why he was so jumpy at this moment, perhaps it was the setting, perhaps the uncertainty of the meeting and the mission in general, his analysis not complete, perhaps it was the amount of people in the room, Kemmer usually preferring the company of himself, or at least very few people. Or perhaps it was the unorthodox choice of briefing beverage on that Arkham had chose.


[Lane’s Ready Room]

Lane looked to the desk once more before he left his Ready Room, picked up the remains of his cup of coffee and drained its dregs. Replacing the empty beaker into the replicator, he walked over towards the door as they breathed open to reveal the bustling Bridge before him. Making the short walk over to conference room, the Commander dragged the sharp, golden edges of his combadge over the pads of his fingers; a habit he executed before every intense moment he was about to endure.


[Conference Room]

The doors opened into the conference room with his entire senior staff peppered around the large, reflective table. A table intended for greatness, he thought to himself as he walked in. A map of the Citadel Sectors was displayed, as he requested on the main screen.

“Afternoon,� he said as he nodded to them all, “Commander…� He took a seat at the table along with his crew and smiled. “Everyone here?� he asked to a reply of a series of nods. “Good. Then I’ll begin. The quicker we get though this information, the quicker we can get on with this mission.�

“Commander?� he asked. “If you’ll start.�

"Of course, sir," Arkham rasped, passing a pile of PADDs around the table to the staff. "The Citadel Sectors, as you may know, is a region of space occupied by a conglomerate of twenty or so races, governed by a council featuring representatives from the three largest groups --the Asari, the Salarians and the Turian Hierarchy. The Dominion War deeply fragmented relations between the three main races -- the Turians tried to remain neutral while the Asari and Salarians sided with the Dominion and the Federation respectively. Until recently, the council had been dissolved, and the region bordered on civil war."

Arkham smirked a little, adding, "Thanks to a diplomatic team aboard the USS Nagasaki, the council has been reconvened --however, a rogue group has made an attempt on their lives, and the Nagasaki's Marine parties were attacked upon arrival. The Nagasaki has departed for Feros -- and it is our job to take control of Citadel Prime, and to rendezvous with the diplomatic team and the CIC that's already been established. We are to help maintain order and to assist as we can -- providing medical aid if necessary. Any questions so far?"

Jack shook his head, "No questions".

Kemmer stepped out of the shadows so to speak and added a few comments into the spotlight, "Is there to be any planned crossover with the Nagasaki, and if not, how long will the gap of time be when there is no Starfleet presence at Citadel Prime?"

Arkham shook her head. "There is no plan to cross over -- however, the Nagasaki has established a CIC, has several Marine teams down and has a diplomatic team in the Citadel Tower. There will be no gap in the Starfleet presence there."

Arkham nodded. "All right then -- now, we've crossed the border into Citadel Space, and I trust that you all are prepared. I'll get around to everybody in a minute. Let's start with the Chief Medical Officer and the Counselor. How are things looking?"

"The medical staff are standing ready," Mabren said, beginning his explanation, "And we have extra medical supplies in one of the cargo bays. They'll be ready to be sent down to the surface once we reach orbit. And with the crew, barring another incident;" Mabren let the word hang in the air before he continued, "Everyone is healthy and ready."

Carter looked up and said "The crew psych evaluations are nearing completion and I am sure will be finished before very long. Apart from that, everything is prepared." She noticed Commander Arkham drinking something that did not look appropriate for such a meeting and frowned, very slightly.

Arkham nodded, taking a sip from a glass of scotch on the table. Arkham was the sort who had figured out the truth to life long ago -- it was never too early for a proper drink. "Excellent. All right, Mr. Kemmer, prove your worth to me. How are we looking in the Intel department? Got anything interesting for me?"

Kemmer didn't know how Arkham would react when he told her what he was going to tell her, or the other staff assembled for that matter. He glanced at his PADD that he had brought with him, but it may have been a crossword puzzle for all the good it was to the briefing at hand, he mainly brought it to make it seem like he was still doing his research on the situation and working more than he was working. In truth, he did have something on his PADD, but he'd made the mistake of giving misleading information before and it cost him, and many other people, dearly; and he was not eager to repeat the same mistake. "Interesting, yes..." he said with an almost fake smile, "whether I can share it at this briefing or not is another matter entirely." He didn't know who let loose the disapproving exhale from their mouth, but he was used to such a response from people who didn't really understand Intelligence ways or procedures, and let it slide for now. "Barring anything that you have already laid out so far or what you will bring up, I've no doubt got the same information and reports you have, and I've never been one to be the centre of attention, so please be my guest and carry on."

Arkham smirked a little -- anything left in Intel that she would feel necessary to share she would discuss with Kemmer later. Arkham was determined to stay out of the Intel office if she could -- let him find the information on his own. "All right. Mr. Jackson, Ms. Sheedy, Mr. Parsons. You're up to the block. How's my ship looking?"

"I'm sure we'll find one or two little more items that aren't quite working right but so far it looks good sir."

Skanda leaned forward slightly, her lips twisted into an exasperated smirk. "Th' ship's runnin' wonde'fully, sir. Jus' a few li'l bugs, like 'e says. Be nice if'n m' crew would TELL me when the'e's bugs, but we're workin' it out." She shrugged as finish to her report. "Tha's all."

"She's still moving like a beaut", Jack said with a smile.

Arkham nodded once more, taking another sip of her drink. "All right -- excellent. Where do we stand with Security and Tactical, Mr. Shran? How are things with your...rather interesting assistant?"

"I have him squared away Commander. I am having the entire department retrained. They are a good crew as a whole." He said with a guarded scarred smile. "However, I want them to be the best. I have them re-qualifying physically, with all standard Starfleet weaponry and hand to hand combat." He said with a painful looking scarred smile. "They may cry for mercy now, but from my experience they will be prepared when the time comes. We will be ready Commander."

Arkham nodded, making a note or two on a PADD and finally turned to Ensign Larkin, her eyes narrowing a little, suspicion crossing her ruined features only for a brief fleeting second. "Least but not least, eh, Mr. Larkin? How is my Science department?"

Larkin was forced to pull himself way from the PADD that was being passed around. He was finding the history of Citadel Space utterly fascinating, and yet it was strangely familiar. "Well, I think we're ready for just about anything that could come our way. All of our equipment has been tested and calibrated, and I've organized my staff in to the best possible teams that I can construct."

Commander Lane smiled and sighed with satisfaction. “Well, Ms. Arkham,� he chirped in with, placing down his cup of Harmony back on to the table top, “it looks as if we have our crew organised and prepared for this mission.� He stood up from his chair and walked over to the window to look out at the pin-pricked blackness beyond.

“We’re not entirely sure what we will happen upon once we arrive at Citadel Prime, but I expect each and every one of you to be prepared for any eventuality. Drill your teams within an inch of their life. I want nothing going wrong.�

He sighed as he turned around to look upon his people and a grave look flooded across his face.

“The Nagasaki has already lost crew during this mission and I will not have the same happen on this ship. Am I understood?�

A series of nods glared back at him.

“You each have the PADDs containing all of the information that you need. Study it. But, now to the order of business...

“Mr. Parsons. I want you to navigate an almost direct course to Citadel Prime, limiting our contact with any inhabited planets en-route. We may very well be a Science vessel, but we do not have the time to stop and smell the roses this time around.

“Now, Mr. Shran: I want you to conduct continuous scans en-route and for your department to liaise with Lieutenant Parsons. Any sign of suspicious activity in our path and we simply alter course. Clusters of pirate raiders are known to operate in these sectors and we do not have the time or resources to play a cat and mouse game with any unwanted attention. It is best that we just avoid it all together. For this, I would like you to work side-by-side with Mr. Larkin. We have some of the most advanced sensors in the Fleet. We’re certainly not going in blind. But see if we can push them to their limits, Kevin. Okay?

“Ms. Sheedy. I would like all of the ship’s systems to be operating at peak efficiency. Sort that communication problem of yours out in your department. We cannot have man-power fail us should anything go awry. Work closely with Mr. Jackson. As you said, I’m sure a few kinks in our armour will become apparent when we least expect it, and, in that circumstance, I want your team on it before I can blink. Understood?

“Mr. Mabren. The Nagasaki’s CIC is planet-side, and as Ms. Arkham has informed us all, their Marines have already been attacked once. I want you to prepare the Medical Bay for the same eventuality with us. We just do not know what may happen once we arrive.

“Ms. Carter. I would like you and Mr. Kemmer to accompany Commander Arkham when liaising with the Nagasaki’s Diplomatic team. We’ll get the lay of the land from them once we arrive and we will need every ounce of Intelligence from you, Mr. Kemmer, and all of your Psychological training, Ensign, if this is to succeed.�

Commander Lane stopped for a brief pause and inhaled deeply. Holding the air in his lungs until he could feel it burn. He then expelled the spent oxygen out with a sigh, and fractured into an almost proud smile.

“The Council has temporarily reconvened as you know. But, underneath the surface of it all, we can only hope that the tension is not similar to that of a tightly wound spring. As Federation Ambassadors, we can only do so much to bring about peace here. But we need this to work. We need this to succeed. And I’ll be damned if our first mission isn’t text-book.

“Now, I don’t know you as I would like, but your service records and previous Commanding Officers’ recommendations speak for themselves. You are a wildly capable crew and, like this vessel that carries us, destined for greatness. That is not so much a promise, but a simple truth… Under my command, we will take this forward. Understood?

“Any questions or anything to add, Number One?�

"No sir," Arkham said stiffly, sipping at her scotch. "I do believe we've said everything that needed to be said here. You're all dismissed -- congratulations on getting through the easiest part of your jobs, gentlemen and ladies. It only gets harder from here."

OFF:



A Post by the Senior Staff of the USS Archimedes.

 

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