Another makeshift office, another dim planet full of shady characters, another payoff and Luther Sloan was once again set up to do business. This time the office he received didn't afford him the luxury of a view of the dingy streets below. For this Sloan was grateful, additional security. Sloan had yet to unpack most of the little equipment he carried because he needed to check in with Nero Blackwell at Starfleet and his henchmen on Likon IV. The only things set up was the long-range communication unit, a bottle of bourbon and a tumbler. Sloan turned on the communications array and poured himself a double shot of bourbon. Once the unit was activated Sloan opened a secure channel to his sources on Likon IV. The image on the computer monitor was quickly replaced with Sloan's henchman. He had pale skin, gaunt features, and many deep lines chiseled across his face. "The job is done," the henchman reported to Sloan. "Very good. Any way it could be traced back to us" Sloan asked. "None, a very clean efficient job" replied the henchman. "Good, now get yourself out of there before you're found," Sloan ordered. "I've got passage on a cargo transport tomorrow. You look tired," the henchman replied. Sloan knocked back a swallow of his bourbon and said, "I'm fine, just worry about getting yourself out of there. Contact me once you're safely hidden." The shady henchman gave a quick nod and cut the communication. Sloan knocked back another big gulp of bourbon and leaned back in the cheap chair he acquired for the office. He in fact was tired. He wasn't as young as he used to be. Five hours of sleep per night didn't last as long as it did when he first got into the business of covert operations.
Sloan sighed, refilled his glass of bourbon, and opened another channel on the communications unit. This time the blank monitor was replaced with the face of Nero Blackwell. Sloan looked at the lavish surroundings of Blackwell's office and silently sighed in disgust. Blackwell got to work out of his giant office at Starfleet Intelligence and he was working in the field on some unknown backwater planet filed with shady characters. Sloan hated Blackwell and yet he admired him. Sloan envied the fact that Blackwell could work directly for Starfleet and still work for Section 31. Sloan couldn't imagine himself working so long for Starfleet without getting caught. Starfleet Intelligence was to far in the open to remain hidden to long for him.
"Picard and the Enterprise have been notified of the change of power in the Likonian Trade Counsel," Blackwell told Sloan. "Good, my men on Likon are moving out tomorrow. By tomorrow night nobody will ever know we were there." "Excellent, everything is moving as planned," Blackwell said. After that the communication was cut. Sloan took out the computer chip recording the conversations and destroyed it. Then he finished his glass of bourbon and laid down for a few hours of much needed sleep. Tomorrow was another day. Another day to get more done for the Federation.