In his Ready Room, Josh tried to play it cool. "What can I do for you?" he asked T'Katha as casually as he could manage.
T'Katha cocked her head slightly, a habitual gesture Josh knew signified that she considered what she was about to say important. "I have made certain…discoveries in the Pemra ruins that I am reluctant to abandon at this time," she began.
Josh considered this for a moment. His initial reaction was so what? What discoveries could be important enough to risk life and limb to be wasting precious time with this conversation. If it had been anyone else, someone who Josh didn't know very well, he would have dismissed this out of hand. He simply had too much else to think about.
T'Katha though...that was another story. They had a history, the two of them, and he knew her well; intimately well. He knew that she would not bring this to his, or any other captain's attention under the circumstances, unless it truly was important enough to warrant it.
He also knew that this woman was the most tenacious, stubborn person he had ever met in his entire life. If he attempted to ignore something she felt to be of importance, she would simply persist at, well, nagging him until he saw things from her point of view. No, it was far better all the way around to hear her out from the beginning, and get to the point as quickly as possible.
Aloud, he said, "I see." He kept his tone studiously neutral. "Can I inquire as to the nature of these 'discoveries'?"
He already knew the answer before he asked the question. "I would prefer not to discuss that over an open channel, Joshua. Perhaps you would be able to find the time to beam to the planet's surface and see for yourself."
Josh noticed that this was not phrased in the form of a question. "I can, but we're on a pretty tight schedule. I'm not sure what would be accomplished by me coming down to the surface for a closer look."
"I assure you, it will not be a waste of time. I would not ask if it were not truly important," she insisted.
Josh sighed. There was little point in trying to argue with a Vulcan who had made their mind up. Especially this Vulcan! "Fine," he replied, "I'll be down in five minutes. "Where should I meet you?"
She transmitted a set of transporter coordinates; looking them over, Josh noticed they were underground. "I will meet you here then," she answered.
Almost as an afterthought, she added, "It is agreeable to see you again, Joshua." Before he could reply, the screen went blank.
Josh let out a deep breath and rubbed his temples. Murphy's Law had struck again.
And T'Katha had gotten the last word in – again.