Chapter 4
Admiral Trevor Iannone stepped off of the shuttle onto the grounds of Starfleet Command. The trees and grasses waved gently in the nighttime breeze, but the simple beauty of the scene was lost on him as the nameless shuttle pilot showed him into the building. His uniform was clean and crisp, but he looked vaguely uncomfortable in it, as if he were more used to civilian clothes. His brown hair was graying at the temples, the same color as his steel eyes. He looked neither left nor right, simply following the pilot until he reached the secured area. He absent-mindedly thanked the ensign and continued on his own down a number of maze-like corridors, twisting and turning in disprienting directions, until he arrived at an unmarked turbolift. He stepped inside.
"Security Clearance?" the turbolift computer asked.
"SECLAR Eight. Admiral Iannone, Trevor. Starfleet Command, currently assigned to Starfleet Headquarters. Access code Beta Theta Five."
"Access granted. You are expected, Admiral Iannone." The turbolift lights started to move, but Iannone knew they were a disorientation technique so that no one knew exactly where the meeting room was. For years he tried to determine from the subtle changes in pressure where the turbolift went, but he never followed up on his estimates, since he knew the price of exposing Intelligence secrets. He simply waited for the turbolift to stop, holding his PADD at his side.
Soon, the door opened. The room beyond was dimly lit. It contains a semi-circular desk, curving around a single chair illuminated by a spot light. The three figures seated at the desk were barely visible. Iannone knew them only as Admiral Adams, Admiral Baker, and Admiral Caine. Iannone knew were pseudonyms, since Admiral Baker went from a male to a female voice over the years, and Admiral Caine was obviously now an Andorian, whereas Iannone first met a Terran in that seat. These were the Assistant Chiefs of Starfleet Intelligence, their identities kept secret from all personnel except the Chief of SFI and the President of the Federation himself. Iannone walked into the room, and sat in the chair.
"Hello, Trevor," Admiral Adams said, his voice bouncing over the nearly empty room. "Status report."
"As ordered, I have assembled the special operations cell. Captain Sara Takashi has taken command of the U.S.S. Doyle. The cell is codenamed Gamma One. Project: Josephine is underway."
"Good," Admiral Baker replied. "Have you placed your agent inside Gamma One?"
Iannone nodded. "The information is in the file, codenamed Manchuria." He handed the PADD towards the table, and a blue hand was briefly illuminated as Admiral Caine reached into the light to take it from him. A few soft sounds issued from the PADD as he looked over the information. "Excellent," Caine said.
Iannone raised his voice. "Can I ask why we're putting an agent inside of a supposedly trsutworthy cell, especially an agent like this who is unaware of his nature?"
"Captain Takashi is a bitter woman," Adams replied. "The Psych department says there is a small chance that she may join certain... terrorist organizations. If the intelligence information she has access to gets into Maquis hands, they could become a sizable threat in the future."
Iannone laughed. "I've heard that before... Then why was she assigned to Gamma One?"
"She is the best choice for the job," Baker responded. "The inside agent is merely a precaution. Her family has a history of loyalty to Starfleet, and we expect her to continue in that tradition."
"I know she's tough, but I didn't see anything extraordinary on her file."
"She has a vendetta against the enemies of the Federation," Caine said. "The Cardassians, the Borg and the Romulans have taken away everyone she has cared about. That makes her more useful than any other highly-skilled agent. Plus, she is no ordinary starship captain. She has a diverse background."
"You are referring to her time in the Starfleet Marines."
"Correct," Adams said. "She has experience with military operations. Although she was only assigned to them for two years after the Wolf 359 massacre, her unit distinguished itself during that time."
"Hm. I noticed you classified that little escapade at SECLAR Nine."
Admiral Baker chuckled. "Yes. Technically, she doesn't even have the clearance for her own knowledge. One of the perils of intelligence work."
"Understood. Is there anything else?"
"Yes," Caine said. "You are to transfer to Starbase 29. You are replacing Admiral Tolvak as administrator for Gamma One. You will be assigned to him officially, but in reality you report to us."
"Don't you think Takashi and Tolvak are going to have a fit, since I used to be a Maquis agent?"
"You have been pardoned," Adams commented. "Orders are orders."
"Understood. Then I guess I'm off."
"One more thing, Iannone," Admiral Baker said. "This meeting never occured. Our cover is that Gamma One is simply a new crew testing out an experimental ship."
Iannone smiled, and offered a formal salute. "Of course. No meetings ever occur in this room."
* * * * *
The turbolift doors opened, and Takashi looked out at her bridge for the first time. It was designed in the traditional circular shape. In the center of the floor stood on a gentle dais, which spread out into a wedge behind it. On the wedge were the weapons and communications consoles facing front, and the engineering display behind. Bradley was hunched over the console, making minor organizational adjustments for his benefit. On the right side of the wedge were the turbolift doors Takashi stood in, and on the left side was the entrance to the officer's lounge and meeting room. In front of the chair was the navigation and operations console, with two chairs in front for the two duty officers. One of the chairs was occupied by Tee-eye-you, slowly piloting the ship out of dock at one-quarter impulse. On the left side was the science station and the door to her Ready Room, and another chair for a counselor or second officer, and on the right was a tactical display and the first officer's chair. Wren's chair.
In the center, on the dais like a throne, was the captain's chair. Takashi stepped up to the chair and slowly eased herself into it, feeling it give and contour itself around her body. Her hands gently stroked over the displays on the chair arms, and she looked ahead at the three dimensional viewscreen, which was showing the last of the shipyards as they prepared to go to warp. She simply sat for a few moments, feeling the throb of the engines under her, the sounds of the consoles gently beeping and chirping. She nearly missed what Tee-eye-you said.
"What was that, Lieutenant?"
Tee-eye-you made a small electronic noise, which could have been a sigh. "I said we're ready to go to warp at your command, sir."
"Very well." She held her breath as she made her first command decision. "Eng..."
"Captain," Wren interrupted. "Aren't you forgetting something?"
Takashi looked at him. "Like what, Commander?'
"Well... This is our offical launch, so you have to give a launch speech."
Takashi inwardly groaned. The launch speech was a tradition of all Starfleet captains, a shirt little speech given over the ship's intercom to raise morale and act as a record of the captain's first words. She had completely forgotten about it. She quickly glanced at Lorano, who shrugged.
"Of course you're right, Commander," she slowly commented. "A speech..." She pushed the intercom button, and heard the three tone whistle of the ship's intercom. She sighed, and looked out at the starfield, trying to think of something encouraging.
"Attention all hands," she said. "This is your captain, Sara Takashi, speaking. We are on a five-year tour to test out this experimental ship. We're also going to be partaking in some missions of a secret nature. This means that there will be a lot of times when you'll be operating in the dark, and I ask you to bear with me when that happens."
Sara started to warm to her topic. "Our main job, though, is to seek mystery, and protect our families from those who hide in the shadows. Like our namesake, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, once wrote, 'After you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.' And this ship, I feel, will take us on many improbable journeys. Have faith in each other, as I have faith in you, and we'll all return home."
She paused for a moment, wondering if she should say more, then decided against it. "Takashi out." She turned to Wren, who smiled and offered a polite clapping of his hands. She nodded and turned back to Tee-eye-you. "Engage."
The starfield streaked by, and she felt the ship's throbbing increase. She watched as the ship approached warp 4, when suddenly the floor lurched and everyone was forced to hold on to their seats to keep from falling to the floor. "What the hell was that?"
"Engineering to Bridge." Maron's voice filled the bridge as they heard other voices muttering in the background. "Sorry about that, Captain. We're having a little problem with the inertial damping system. Should have it sorted out in a few minutes."
"What happened Maron?"
"Some kind of weird reaction with the Chameleon and the warp field dampners, sir. Someone probably cross-hatched when they should've patched. Nothing major."
"Keep me posted, Engineering." She looked back at the screen, and laughed. "That was not the most graceful of launches." She stood up and crossed the floor to Wren, stealing a brief glance at Tee-eye-you. She thought she could see him punching at the display in front of him a little harder than usual. "Lt. Bradley, inform our escort of our current situation, just in case. Lt. Tee-eye-you, open a level 4 LCARS link with the Norway, and let them monitor our readings until we reach Starbase 29."
Tee-eye-you turned and faced Takashi, his yellow eyes seeming to burn into her. "I can't do that, Captain."
Takashi took a step closer to him, invading his personal space. "That's an order, mister."
Wren stepped closer as well, facing Takashi. "Frank's right, Captain. The Norway's captain only has a SECLAR of Five, which isn't enough for an unrestricited computer link to the Doyle's computers." He turned to Tee-eye-you. "Give them a LCARS link, but keep their access to engine output and open ship communications. Everything else is to be cleared only by myself or the captain."
Tee-eye-you looked at Takashi for a moment longer, and then glanced at Wren before going back to the console. "Aye sir," he practically spat.
Wren turned back and motioned towards her Ready Room. "That briefing?"
She started to walk towards the door, and stopped. She was damned if she would allow any officer to speak to their Captain that way. Ryan wouldn't have allowed that outburst, even at the most relaxed of times. She strode back to the other side of the console, facing him, and slammed her fist down.
"Mr. Tee-eye-you, as long as I command this ship and this cell, you will do as I say. I don't care if you don't like my race, my gender, or even the color of my hair, but as long as I have these," she said as she pointed to the pips on her collar, "you will cut the attitude, and cut it now. Do I make myself clear?"
Tee-eye-you sat for a moment, and then spoke evenly, the modulations in his voice almost absent. "Permission to speak freely, sir?"
She considered for a second, and then decided, What the hell? Let's get it over with now. "Granted."
"You're out of your element. Wren and I have been in Intel for years. We don't need some upstart Captain screwing things up. As long as you sit in that chair and keep your mouth shut, we should do fine."
She glanced over at Wren, who gave a half-hearted shrug, as if to say Good luck, I can't control him. She turned back to the cyborg, and smiled. "I may not have been in Intel for years like you have, but I've been involved in starship tactics and military operations since I was born. My family comes from a line of warriors and generals thousands of years long. I've survived Wolf 359, and damaged one of the Borg ships in the process. I've lost my last ship to three Romulan warships, and it was my quick thinking that saved the lives of some of this crew, including your Security officer." She leaned forward, her nose almost touching the cyborg's. "The Federation needs a pro-active measure to keep our families safe from invaders. They need a ninja, a thief in the night, an invisible sword to silence its enemies. The Doyle is that sword."
She stood back up and straightened her tunic. "So, Lieutenant, just sit there, keep quiet, and do what you're told, and watch me wield this sword against those who would slay us. It's kill or be killed, and I've made my choice. Have you made yours?"
Tee-eye-you stared for a moment, and then his gaze dropped to the console. "Estimated arrival at Starbase 29 in 48 minutes, Captain."
She let her breath out in a sigh. "Thank you, Lieutenant. Inform me when we are within five minutes of the starbase." She stepped back to her Ready Room, aware that all eyes were on her. She felt Bradley's voice in her mind, congratulating her. She smiled to herself, and then turned to Wren. "That briefing?"
Wren looked at her, dumbfounded. "Aye sir."
* * * * *
Takashi sat behind the Ready Room desk, trying not to think of ways of decorating the room to her liking. Wren spun the built-in PADD towards him. "Computer, access file Josephine 1. Access code Wren 6. Verify."
"Access code for Commander Elayth Wren confirmed. Voice or text?"
"Text. Display on this terminal only."
Takashi looked at Wren. "So, after that little scene out there, I take it I have a lot to learn about Intel work?"
Wren leaned back. "Yes and no. You do have a lot to learn, but it's my job to inform you of SFI protocol, not Frank's. He takes some getting used to, but he's a good man, under it all."
Takashi put her hands on the desk, spinning the terminal towards her. "I'm sure he is, otherwise he wouldn't have been assigned to the Doyle."
Wren nodded and stood up. "We are officially a scientific crew, testing out a new ship on a two-year shakedown voyage. In actuality, this cell and the Doyle are part of an SFI project code named Josephine. As a result, our cell also officially carries the name Josephine, although Lt. Coffey likes to call it 'Joe's Cell'." He stopped and appreciated the smile on Takashi's lips. "I've already seen your personnel record, and I'm sure you know it, so I'll only say that your Security Clearance is now at Above Top Secret, SECLAR Seven."
"What is your SECLAR?"
"For this briefing, I am also Seven, but afterwards I will resume my normal SECLAR of Six, or Top Secret." He sat down and punched up the first picture onthe terminal. "As I mentioned before, I'm your Second Cell Leader. I was in the Starfleet Marines for two years before transferring to SFI for over five years, doing field agent work. I've been involved in Klingon, Romulan, and Vulcan covert operations. My symbiote has memories of three previous joinings, which posses medical skills, historical data, and stellar cartography knowledge which has been helpful in the past. My major job, besides the usual duties of an XO, is to brief you on Intelligence procedures and to assist you as necessary. However, your SECLAR is higher than mine, and there are some things I won't be able to advise you on."
"Wait a minute. Can I give you the clearance if I need your advice."
"Technically yes, but you must report any deviancies to a crewmember's SECLAR to SFI,and they're REAL picky." Wren leaned forward and smiled. "Trust me, it's a real pain to work in the dark occasionally, but that's one of the hazards of Intelligence work."
"So I'm noticing. Who's my Second XO?"
"Interestingly enough, it's Commander Maron." Maron's picture appreared in the terminal. Even in a picture, he still looks huge, Takashi thought. "Since his theories helped the Doyle to fly in the first place, he seemed the logical choice. That, and he has spent a time involved in 'questionable' activites in the Resistance."
Takashi stared. "Maron was in the Resistance?"
"Actually, it was SFI that got him out of Bajor. Rumor had it at the time that he was developing a personal claking device. Starfleet wanted it for their starships. Turns out that Maron never got it beyond the theoretical stage, but his work helped lay the groundwork for the Chameleon Device."
Takashi got up and walked over to the replicator. "Ginseng tea, hot." She turned back to Wren as the machine purred. "Interesting. How about Security? Do you know about Bradley?"
Wren spun the terminal back towards him. Obviously he hadn't memorized this part yet. "I was surprised at your choice of a Betazoid as a Security officer, but his skills will be invaluable in the cell."
Takashi chuckled and sat back down, the tea steaming in her hands. "Not exactly. He doesn't like to use his abiltities."
"What? Why not?"
"He has a habit of broadcasting as well as receiving thoughts. he can do it sometimes, and he's pretty good at sensing strong emotion, but that's about it."
Wren sighed. "Well, at least he will use it in a pinch. Luckily his SECLAR is Five. We don't need him broadcasting SFI secrets to the Cardassians."
Takashi set down the mug on the desk, hard. "Bradley's a good man, Betazoid or no. His service record is exemplary..."
Wren put up his hands in defense. "Whoa! I'm not criticizing him, Captain! I'm simply pointing out, as my duty as XO, any threats to Federation security..."
Takashi sipped at the tea. "I know. I'm ust not used to the cloak-and-dagger routine."
"Trust me," Wren smiled, "being a little paranoid helps in this business."
Takashi set the tea down. "Speaking of paranoid, tell me about your friend, Tee-eye-you."
"Frank? Oh, that's another whole can of worms in a duranium frame." Wren punched up a picture on the terminal. The face was entirely black, with no mouth, ears, or hair, covered in a grid of thin yellow lines. The only facial feature visible was a pair of yellow eyes.
"What's that?"
"That's what he looks like normally. Frank is part of another project called Tactical Infiltration. Frank is the first Cybernetic Tactical Infiltration Unit, or TIU for short. His real name was Francis McCarber, but he was nearly killed in an undercover operation two years ago. They managed to save his brain, and it was implanted into the TIU shell."
"That's amazing! What are his capabilities now?"
"The shell is a modified Soongian-type android body, similar to Commander Data. The positronic net interacts with the chemicals in Frank's brain, giving him a phenominal reaction and processing time. He's not as fast or as accurate as Commander Data, but he's a damn sight faster than anyone else in Starfleet."
"What about the lines over his face?"
"That's a close contact hologrid, similar to a holodeck wall. It's used to allow Frank to mask himself as anything of comperable size and shape - in other words, as any humanoid. He usually walks around in his old body when on duty."
"What about his voice, and his eyes? Surely those would be noticed in infiltration?"
Wren laughed. "He can modulate any color eyes and voice pattern as well as physical features. Frank just likes to conserve power by using the default settings on those features. In fact, when he sleeps, he reverts fully, taking on the black hologrid appearance."
"So he has a time limit on infiltration?"
"As long as he stays up, he's fine. Luckily, Frank's always been a bit of an insomniac, but it's done nothing for his temper."
Takashi absorbed all of Wren's information. Imagine being trapped in a metal body, unable to sleep, she thought. No wonder he has the attitude he does.
"Okay, what about my CMO? Isn't he a little young?"
"Lt. Junior Grade Brian Coffey. He's young all right, but brilliant. He's an expert on First Contact medical procedures. He has a knack of guessing the right thing to do in each case."
"Guessing medical procedures? I'm sure Starfleet Medical doesn't like that!"
"That's why he's still Lt. jg. He's been demoted two times for unlicensed and untested medical practices. The damn thing is, though, they always work. With unknown alien physiology, he literally has a 100% recovery rate."
"What about known races?"
Wren looked sheepish for a minute. "Well, lets just say that we're trying to direct his gifts in the right direction."
Takashi drank the rest of her tea. "Remind me never to get sick."
Wren laughed. "It's really not that bad. He's actually quite good at reconstructive surgery in relation to disguise - in fact, his doctoral thesis was on just that, and it's now a standard at Starfleet Medical."
"Interesting. I'll have to read it..."
"Bridge to Captain Takashi." Bradley's voice cut through the room.
"Takashi here."
"Captain you have a coded message from Admiral Iannone. It listed as SECLAR Seven."
Wren got up. "Looks like our first mission has arrived. The most important thing to remember is need-to-know. Only tell us what is necessary to complete our assignment."
Takashi stood up. "Commander... I appreciate you candor, and your help."
Wren smiled. "Good luck, Captain." He turned and walked out of the Ready Room.
Takashi sat down and looked at her mug. She flicked her ponytail over her shoulder and looked at the terminal screen. "Put it through, Lt."
End of Chapter 4
Author's Note: First off is SECLARs. They're a little confusing, since they've never been used in the shows. It clears up some security inconsistancies I've seen. It's a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being unclassified and 10 being "for the President's eyes only". SFI agents have about two SECLARs higher than their Starfleet counterparts (so, if the average starship captain's SECLAR is 5, Takashi's is 7). Sometimes SECLARs are artificially increased or decreased in certain situations. Examples of SECLARs being increased was Wren getting temporarily boosted to SECLAR 7 for Takashi's briefing, and Riker's knowledge of the Pegasus mission, which is around SECLAR 8. There are conditions for "field promotions" of SECLARs, but all instances most be explained in full to the Assistant Chiefs of SFI (the creepy Admirals in the empty room).
