Need to Know

Posted on Tue Oct 2nd, 2012 @ 10:42pm by Lieutenant Cedric Shepherd & Lieutenant JG Marcus Augusta PHD

1,021 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Sowing the Seeds
Location: USS Ranger, Deck 9, Security Office
Timeline: Mission Day 3, 1635 hrs (slight backpost)

"Yes, sir," Fletcher said crisply as he rose. He and S'teis left together, talking amongst themselves about their assigned task. As they filed out of the room leaving Marc and Cedric alone, Marc was slightly concerned that the Chief seemed so certain he could access that kind of material. He had the clearance as an intelligence officer, but Shepard would have had to have done some major digging in order to have gained access to his classified service record. Marc decided to call the chief's bluff.

"Lieutenant. Without alpha clearance it will make it rather difficult for me to gain access to those records unnoticed."

"True, if you didn't have it, the job would be tough," replied Shepherd. "Fortunately we both know that's not a problem."

Marc knew what was coming, the gig was up. Nevertheless, He stuck to his established line. "With respect sir, I don't understand."

"I've spent time on both sides of the law, Marc," said Shepherd, his tone shifting to the 'just between us' timbre common to private meetings among team leaders. "And I've learned a couple of hard lessons. One of those lessons is that you should never answer an unasked question, even if you know full well what the other guy wants to know. I'm going to break that rule, since it's just us, and there's a point to be made in doing it.

"Two days ago," Shepherd continued, "you walked into a holodeck, interrupting Captain Kendrick. In the ensuing conversation she suggested that your security clearance may not match your rank or position. Working back through the command logs of the holodeck door, I discovered that her suggestion was accurate. But then, Kendrick's a formidable officer, so it shouldn't have surprised me.

"It intrigues me to get transfers on board with pieces of their service jacket sealed. I'm prepared to take this kind of thing on faith, and I did so with you." Shepherd straightened from his position leaning against the front of the desk, and stepped around it. "It's my rule, after all. Never answer an unasked question." He sat and leaned back slightly in his chair, meeting Marc's eyes calmly. "I never asked, so you never told me, and I certainly can't hold it against you. Now that a piece of it's fallen into my lap, though, I'll ask. Is there anything else in the sealed part of your service jacket I should know about?"

Marc knew he had to tell the truth, but how much of it? His past was chequered and stained with the remains of many cases and operations he was forbidden to ever speak of. His life partitioned between before and after his service with starfleet. His clearance matched and in some cases exceeded a Commodore and yet here he was, a lieutenant junior grade. He, as a starfleet officer, bucked every established rule, and Shepard had a right to know why.

"Yes." Marc stated the obvious before moving to greater detail after what must have seemed like an age.

"I have a history working for starfleet intelligence I'm sure you already know. But my security clearance allows me access to anything up to intelligence level 4 and systems clearance alpha two. I cant tell you anything about my past assignments or postings. Suffice it to say that my clearance reflects the sensitivity of my former assignments."

Marc looked Cedric directly in the eyes, judging his response. The man seemed attentive but cautious. The standard shock that was accompanied by such revelations in Marc experience wasn't present, much to his relief.

"I'm sorry I can't tell you more. Given time, I hope I will. For now though sir, I would request that you keep this information to ourselves, including from the other senior staff."

Aware that he still hadn't given much information away he gave the chief an opportunity to learn what he could.

"If you have any questions I can answer I will. I'm sorry but that's the best I can do right now."

"I've asked my question," Shepherd replied. "This isn't an interrogation. I've got no right to your life history. As to spreading the information, the Captain needs to be informed, if she hasn't been already. Where it goes from there is her call. And going forward, if there's something I should know, don't hold out on me."

Marc nodded, no doubt there would be more he needed to know at some point. But not right now.

"So now that we're on the same page regarding your accesses, have you got a problem with what I'm asking of you?" Shepherd asked.

"None in practice Sir. My main question was how much, if anything, did you want the Dubai to know about it?"

Shepherd thought a moment. "Whatever happens, we still have to work with these people, so we can't afford to burn bridges. I suggest you ask the department for their blotter details from the past four months, and take what they give you. Alongside it, however, just pick up an unauthorized copy of your own. If we get called on it, we can brush it off as a bureaucratic mistake."

Marc gave the most miniscule grin before quickly snapping back to his regular plain expression. Shepherd would make a fine intelligence officer.

"That way we can look over the two copies and compare... should there be any differences we will know if we have been deliberately deceived.

"Well, I'm hoping there's nothing to compare," Shepherd mused. "If there is, that's bad on levels I don't want to consider yet."

Marc nodded gravely.

"Indeed sir. But one way or another, i think its important to find out as quickly as possible."

Shepherd returned the nod. "I'll make arrangements to get you onto the Dubai while I'm doing this dinner meeting this evening. There's a big data transfer getting ready to happen, so a few intercrew visits for briefings and questions are to be expected. I'd say be ready to go aboard as early as Beta shift tomorrow. Sound good?"

Marc grinned enthusiastically. "Yes sir, That will be all the time I'll need."

 

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