Abstaining from Loops

Posted on Tue Nov 6th, 2012 @ 1:29am by Captain Elsie Halliwell & Lieutenant Cedric Shepherd & Lieutenant JG Marcus Augusta PHD

648 words; about a 3 minute read

Mission: Sowing the Seeds
Location: USS Ranger, Deck 9, Security Office
Timeline: Mission Day 3, 2100 hrs (slight backpost)
Tags: covert, conspiracy, security

ON:

With the air of unease still clinging to Elsie like a bad smell after her return from the Dubai, she couldn't quite shake off the unnerving atmosphere that had now seemed to leach and follow her to the Ranger. She took a breath to calm her nerves and quash her nervous stomach, and then walked into Shepherd's office where he was in conversation with Augusta.

"Gentlemen," she said, a curt nod as she crossed the threshold and walked up to the desk. She then turned to Augusta to make polite conversation. "Lieutenant, how have you settled in with us?"

Marc turned quickly on the spot and began to salute the captain before stopping himself at the last moment. The salute had been a habit from his marine days he had spent years trying to break, and he was on the verge of achieving that goal.

"Yes, Ma'am, quite well thank you." His response was for the most part true, save his unfortunate encounter with Captain Kendrick. He kept his answer deliberately short and sweet.

"Good," she replied with a curt nod and a faint smile. "Anything to report?"

"Nothing as yet, Captain," replied Shepherd. "Mister Augusta and I were discussing a visit with Dubai's security department. I thought we'd extend a hand of fellowship and see if we could get an intership activity in while the data transfer gets digested."

Elsie remained silent for a moment and cocked her head as if to turn over the opportunities this would lead to. "Oh?" she questioned with a smile.

Shepherd nodded, and paused for just long enough for things to get awkward before he spoke again. "I admit, Captain, I'm concerned about that dinner. Not dinner specifically, but the behavior on board the Dubai. I don't know if the Dubai is just a more casual sort of assignment, but the place certainly felt different."

Elsie sighed and then rubbed the crick of her neck to ease a tension that just hadn't left her since her return from the fated vessel. She fixed her gaze on Shepherd and then flitted it to Augusta. "I've already had this conversation with Captain Kendrick and Commander Michaels," she trailed, taking in another wasp of air. But then she conceded and moved in a little closer to draw them both into conspiracy. Pointing her finger and lowering her voice she added, "Under the radar. Am I understood?" She then shot a pregnant glance to Augusta and cocked her head with a loaded thought and continued. "Not that that should be an issue with your team, Lieutenant." She then shot both officers another look.

Marc couldn't help but wonder where he had gone wrong. Although he consoled himself with the knowledge that only the Chief and CO knew of his past service at the moment, it was still too many in his eyes.

Shepherd and Augusta glanced at one another, both clearly catching Halliwell's drift. Shepherd nodded. "We'll keep you in the loop, of course."

Halliwell turned on her heel and presented a brief smile to the two as she whipped her head around to leave the office. "Not in the loop, Lieutenant," she called out over her shoulder as the doors to Shepherd's officer glided open. " I want no part of any loopage during your own endeavours. Just apprise me of the outcome." And with that, the captain disappeared to the right and down the corridor.

Marc paid the chief another telling glance. The captain clearly had been on the same track as both himself and the chief without either knowing it. As both men poured over his findings he knew there was no point in reporting simple raw data without analysis. Either way the captain would be receiving a report much sooner than she expected.

OFF

 

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