Chapter Twenty Four
Star Field, bridge
"Ma'am, we are being hailed by the Liberty." Captain Nomo Morgan nodded at Ensign Ganner. "Put them through." The young ensign pushed some buttons, and Captain Gatton Zifra's small holographic form appeared on the right arm of Morgan's command chair and said: "What a surprise to meet you here, Nomo." Morgan nodded and tried to ban the scowl from her face and stay her usual cold calm as she answered: "Yes, long time, no see, Gatton. However, we are not here for chit-chat. We are here for business." For a second there was sheer panic flitting over Zifra's face. Guilty as charged., Morgan thought grimly. She shot a short look at her XO who only bared his teeth. He'd seen it, too, no doubt.
"And what… business might that be?" Zifra still hadn't got a grip on himself again. Somewhat satisfied Morgan leaned her chin on her right hand. "Orders from the Council. I'll have them sent to you in an instant." She nodded at Ganner. "Send the Captain the orders, Ensign." The young woman looked slightly distressed, but did as ordered. Maybe it was a mistake to introduce her as well., Captain Morgan thought a bit worried and took a look at Zifra's small holo projected image, that was bent over a data pad. After a minute of silence Zifra cleared his throats and looked at her, the discomfort showing through even more clearer now. "I… am happy that the Council decided to send us some more reinforcements. I understand it that you will take the Diamonds back on board?" She smirked. "Actually, no, you must have misread some of the data. We are already carrying a fighter squadron, and several squads of troopers. Our capacities are packed to the maximum. They'll have to stay at the Liberty for the time being." It had been one of the toughest points of her plan, and she had debated over it for at least an hour with Growl, Ganner and Captain T'Inbre, the commander of the Y-Wing squadron the Star Field was carrying at the moment. Growl had argued that it would be better to order Rannan's squadron back to the Star Field, because from the point they were back on the ship they wouldn't have to think about opportunities to speak to them anymore, but Ganner had pointed out – and here Morgan had seen herself proven true in her initial opinion of the Ensign – that they would most probably need the Diamonds on the Liberty as a support to the Grays. The more people, the more power that had.
Morgan could see the wheels working behind Zifra's forehead and patiently waited for him to digest the information. Then, finally, he said: "All right, although I'm not really happy with this. Rannan can be such a pain in the ass." This was one point where she absolutely had to agree with Zifra. He is, however, not such a pathetic little traitor as yourself. Which kind of makes up for the whole being a pain in the ass thing. Morgan cleared her throat. Time for the final stage of this small exchange. "As much as it pains me to say it: Yes, you're absolutely right. I do, however, have to meet him for clearing up some things from before he and his squadron left. Therefore I request a meeting with him, his XO and two of his flight officers. Is that possible?" She could see the question marks plastered all over Zifra's face. Come on, you're stupid enough to take that bait, Zifra. After a second of him looking down to check something his head came up again and he said: "All right. I'll send them over to you in one hour. How's that?" Morgan had to work hard to conceal the smug grin that threatened to spread all over her face. "Fine. Oh, and I'd like to have you and your XO over for a strategy meeting in two hours. Is that possible?" Come on, we're almost through. Don't spoil that now by actually using that brain of yours., she thought and actually found herself holding her breath while waiting for his answer. "Well… yes. See you then, Nomo. Zifra out." With that his holograph disappeared and Ganner broke the connection to the Liberty. With a relieved sigh Morgan turned to Growl and muttered: "That went well.", under her breath.
Predator, sick bay
All right, Kardian thought, this is it. Don't mess this up, now. She took a deep breath and then turned back to Tellik who sat on the bunk before her. His monthly physical was due, and this time she would have to do more than just try to escape his attempts at casual conversation. She actually had to pretend to being actively interested in it.
"Sir… may I ask you a question?" Tellik straightened up while she ran her scanner over his naked torso – no need to get undressed, you stupid show off, scanners are able to work through clothes - and nodded his head in a rather patronizing way. "Of course, doctor." Kardian cleared her throat and tried to look fully concentrat on the blood sample she was taking. "When 2301 is transferred down to Windermere III, what is to become of the other prisoners?" Tellik raised an eyebrow. "Why do you want to know, Lieutenant?" Darn it, I knew this would happen. "Scientific interest, sir. Some of them are really fascinating objects. And I heard they have excellent laboratories for all kinds of xenobiotic research on Windermere base. I'd… sir, can I ask you favor?" She hated to be talking like this, like a gawky scientist. And she hated cheating on a superior, even if this superior was a conceited over ambitious brick. Over five years of Imperial service hadn't just passed her by.
Tellik, however, wasn't the least bit intimidated with her inferior behavior. "Sure, Lieutenant, just ask away." Don't mess this up, don't mess this up, don't mess this up… "Sir… I'd… I'd love to be able to do a bit more in-depth studies with all of the prisoners, you know, some comparing analysis between humans and non-humans and stuff like that. And I wondered whether… it would be possible to get them all down to Windermere base and let me run some tests with them in the facilities there. I am sure, Admiral Chesfer would be very interested in the results." There, it was out, and even not sounding half as rushed as she feared. In fact, it sounded really professional. And she hated herself for it as she saw the gleam in Tellik's eyes when talking of performing inhumane experiments on sentient beings. "I cannot promise you anything yet but I will talk to the Admiral and try to persuade him. What tests do you actually have in mind?" She swallowed lightly, and hoped that he attributed it to some girlish excitement or shyness, not nervousness at the danger of being found out. "Mostly some in-depth analysis on the effects of certain methods of questioning on humans and non-humans. I'm sure the results will be worth having a look for the Admiral to give him some hints as to how to perfect his own methods." The Predator's captain made a thoughtful face. "Well, as you know our dear admiral is already an expert on the field of… questioning."
"Yes, he is. But there's still too much… outward damage done which needs time for fixing. If I remember it correctly one of the specialties of the Windermere researchers are to find methods to cause more pain and less… mess, if you get my meaning. I'd love to have the opportunity to make use of their facilities to do some studies on my own." And then she hated herself. For actually lowering herself to a pout. For working in the same profession as these lunatics on Windermere base. You're just pretending. You'll be fast enough to get away with the prisoners before you actually have to perform what you are suggesting. You stay calm now., she reminded herself over and over again while Tellik took on his uniform again and seemed to contemplate her request. Then, finally, he said: "All right, I see your point. And I might actually be able to persuade the Admiral. You'll get word from me in two standard days when we'll be discussing the results of my physicals." She nodded. "Very well, sir. Thank you very much, sir. I already look forward to it, sir." Tellik nodded, again with a gleam in his eyes and muttered a "Certainly not more than me, Lieutenant.", shortly before leaving sick bay finally.
Star Field, ship officers' briefing room
Captain Nomo Morgan was having a good look at the four pilots before her. There were Commander Rannan and his XO, Lieutenant Rua, him smug as ever and her calm as ever. The woman could have been a younger version of Morgan, with her dark skin and sharp looks and short stature, if her hair had been shorter and she had had the same air of dignified, yet cold calm around her as Morgan had.
And there were Lieutenant Lochlin, de-facto commander of Gray Squadron, a young man with a slightly haunted and fatigued appearance, and his XO, Lieutenant Kenzy, a woman with rugged features who was radiating off skepticism and a kind of wariness. Both of them had come to the Star Field under the pretense of being two of Rannan's pilots.
When Morgan was done with her quick survey of the four pilots from the Liberty, she finally ordered them to sit and took a seat herself. Besides her there were three other members of the Star Field's staff present: Her XO, Ganner and T'Inbre. Sitting around a large table, each one of them had a stack of data cards and a data pad lying before them. Morgan cleared her throat and then said: "All right people, all of you know why we're sitting here. And I assume all of you have read the suggestions I've sent you?" They nodded. "Now, any additions, comments new suggestions? Questions?" She looked around. After a second of silence Rannan was the first one to speak. "You do realize that you want us to stage a full-grown mutiny, right?" Morgan just smirked and said: "Actually, it's not a mutiny. I didn't lie to Zifra because we are here under orders from the Council. Just not under the orders I sent him. There's a data card labeled "Council". Please slip that one into your data pads, and you'll be surprised. I promise." Looking at her skeptically, the Liberty's pilots did as ordered. Seconds later, surprise did color their faces. "Whoa… you could have told us earlier, you know?", Rannan exclaimed but Morgan hold out a hand. "No, I couldn't. I received them just two hours ago."
"So… basically these orders mean that we have free hand in disposing of Zifra, right?", Lochlin threw into the debate. Morgan nodded. "Yes. And even more: We are ordered to do it. As you can see, the Council knew of my plan and approves of it. I say we start putting our money where our mouth is and get started at the actual details." A nod came from all of them, and with that they finally got to work.
A/N: Wheeeeeee, 'nother chapter! All right, so I promised some action three chapters or something like that ago, and we're still in the planing stage but we'll get there, people, I promise!
And of course thanks to Bjrn again.
Anyway, it's way into the night again so I better head for my bed (hey, that rhymes!) and say "Nightynight, folks!"