NX-35 Vigilant
Jupiter Station
Ensign Jennifer West had completed her portion of the "super-secret project" and was dressing to depart her quarters, having turned the computer desk over to a very eager young Nikki. With a quick brush of her hair she was ready to go make her way around to the Biological Science Labs and check up on her new recruit there. After that, Alpha shift bridge duty. And hopefully then they'd finally be getting orders for deployment.
The last thing she had heard was that Ensign Summers, the Communications Officer, was inbound from Earth and due to arrive any minute. Which, according to Commander McArthur, was a good indication orders were coming down the pipe, considering the psych department had finally cut her loose. They didn't like to cut anyone loose until they absolutely had to, apparently. She tried not to worry excessively about what effect the inevitable notation on Summers' jacket would have on her career. She was an exceptional comm officer, after all. With any luck she'd be able to overcome the stigma…eventually. That thought did not make her very happy, though. It could have happened to any of them back at Widow's Well. She'd come close more than once to haring out.
Just one of the billion little instances in which the universe proved that it didn't care much about playing fair, she supposed.
"Okay, Nikki honey. I'm going to work." She called, leaning around the short wall dividing her bathroom area from her main quarters. Nikki, she saw, was at the computer, completely engrossed.
"Be good, stay out of trouble and all that, alright?"
"Uh huh." Said Nikki, distractedly.
"I don't see an 'uh huh' in here anywhere." She said, coming around.
"Yes, ma'am." Nikki said, correcting herself.
Jenny grinned. "Good girl." Sliding her arm around for half-hug from behind, she planted a few smooches atop Nikki cute, little blonde head while she played.
"What are you playing, honey?" She asked. All she could see was some weird, cartoonish creature cavorting about in a field of…was that corn?
"Kitty Cat Clover's Colonial Adventure." Nikki replied, already focused again. Over Nikki's shoulder Jenny could see her big, pink…cat?…running about, extremely busy planting precise rows of…something before the…whatever else could steal them all.
"That's a multi-player game, isn't it Nikki?" She observed.
"Uh huh…I mean, yes, ma'am." Nikki said.
"You know once we break dock and get out to space again you won't be able to play, right?"
"I can. I downloaded it." Said Nikki, brightly. "'Cause then you can still play when you're at warp and then you can play with other people again when you get somewhere."
"Is this just a Solar thing or is it intersystem?" Jenny asked.
"No, ma'am. It's all over."
"Huh. Okay, then. Have fun and see you about 1300." With that one last smooch on the head before she made for the door.
"'Kay." Nikki mumbled, already lost in her adventure again. Jenny smiled and shook her head as she left.
Outside, Jenny headed to Biological. It was actually quicker cutting through the shuttle bay rather than the maze of crew corridors to the fore, so she naturally headed in that direction. And so she came up on Lieutenant Commander McArthur and none other than Ensign Summers herself coming from the bay.
"Hey!" She cried. "Summers!"
She bounded over immediately to greet the communications officer, who already had both arms and a big grin out to receive her. The two hugged tightly for a moment.
"When did you get back?" Jenny grinned, before stepping back a bit.
"I just stepped off the shuttle. Just in time for duty, of course." Summers said, smiling back, still holding Jenny's arm with one hand. Jenny noticed then that Summers did have her duffel in the other, after all.
"Oh, wow. We missed you!" Jenny gushed. "I'm so glad you're back!"
"Alright now, ladies." Said McArthur, interrupted gruffly. "This ain't a damned social gatherin'. Let's get the gabbin' done."
"Right. Yes, sir." Jenny said quickly, letting go of the comm officer and putting on a somewhat more professional air. Summers did the same, though she rolled her eyes in the process…out of sight of McArthur, of course.
"West." McArthur grumped. "You got that little project up and ready yet?"
"Oh. Yes, sir." She said, with a mischievous grin. "We're ready. Oh! And I need to fill Summers in on that. She'll be taking it from here, right, sir?"
"That's right." McArthur nodded. "But it can wait until Alpha shift. In fact, I'll want you on the deck one quarter early to get Summers caught up."
"What project?" Summers asked, curiously.
"'Project Bird'." McArthur answered, heading Jenny off before she could spill the beans. "And that's all you need to know right now. Let's get you squared away and up on the bridge." He jerked one thumb down the corridor.
"Well." Jenny said, with a shrug. "You heard him. So I guess we'll go over it on Alpha." Turning to McArthur she said. "I'm heading to Biological, sir. Check on the new…"
"Nope." He interrupted. "You're heading to deck F Main Weapons Locker and signing yourself out a pistol and rifle."
Jenny blinked. "Uh, sir?"
"Then you're off for Recreation to qualify on both with Ensign Rexas."
"Oh, sir. I'm already qualified…"
"Well, not with him you ain't." McArthur grumbled. "He's evaluating all crew this week and since I don't have issue with that, that's what you're doin'. Now get to it. You're last on the list and I want that done before we have to roll out."
**********
In the Recreation Area, off the Gymnasium, Jenny found P'Trell making notations on a PADD. Ensign Carrols was hefting a phase rifle past her to leave. Apparently she'd arrived just in time for her own evaluation. Along the port wall she couldn't help but notice a large, grey partition of some sort had been hung tightly, with a head-sized emitter on a tripod next to P'Trell.
"Rexas, what's going on?" She asked.
"Personal weapons evaluations." He replied shortly, still making notes.
Well, obviously.
"I mean, why are we being evaluated." She said, with just a bit of grump added. "We should all be up to date already."
That brought Rexas' head up at least. "As Security Chief, I need to see what this crew can do." He said. "With my own antennae." He added with a slight smile.
Huh. Well, let's show off a bit then.
"So can you really perceive to a twentieth of a gravity with those?" She smiled.
P'Trell chuckled quickly. "Ha! I thought that was an Andorian biology text I saw on your screen on the bridge."
Crap. Oops.
"No." He continued. "Some few can, most can't. And the Aenar have some kind of telepathic reception through theirs, as I understand. With my particular ethnicity, as with most, they more or less function like your inner ear."
Jenny placed her weapons on the table set up nearby while Rexas watched. She really wanted to deflect to some other topic, though. But…
"More or less?" She asked.
Me and my big dumb mouth.
"We'll start with the phase pistol." He said, ignoring the question. "Let me see you break it down, then check the cell and replace it as well."
Jenny immediately got to work. Old hands at that, nothing new. She had the weapon disassembled quickly, checking the charge and so forth. She didn't try to hurry especially. She done it a thousand times before. But it did present her the opportunity to change the subject while she worked.
"So why are we being checked out on the plasma pulse rifle?" She asked, her hands still busy. "Not a requirement for anyone who isn't cross-trained to security."
"You are cross-trained for security." Rexas pointed out. "All the bridge crew are."
"Carrols isn't." She pointed out right back.
Done. She had the pistol offered for inspection.
"Nine seconds." Said Rexas, impressed. "That's very good."
Handing the weapon back to her once he'd finished with it, he continued. "Not surprising, though. I've read your jackets, of course. Both of them. Plasma pulse rifle now."
Jenny had the weapon in hand quickly, breaking it down as well. This time she concentrated a bit. Let's see if we can top nine seconds on the rifle. Not that she was trying to impress him or anything.
"So why are you wasting away in Science, West?" Rexas asked. "You should be under me."
Wow. Okay. Let's not get distracted by that visual image just now.
"Uh…" Jenny replied, fumbling briefly. "Always had an interest in science. MACO runs in the family, though. But when my father died, well, I'm not really sure. I guess it just didn't interest me anymore. No offense but killing things for a living never really caught on with me."
With that she had the rifle reassembled and up for inspection. Rexas took the weapon in hand, examining it closely.
"Twelve seconds." He said, inspecting the rifle. "So. No plans to assassinate me and take over my department? Your sudden interest in Andorian biology had me concerned."
Handing the rifle back with a grin, he added. "I suppose I can sleep safe tonight."
No, not quite what we're planning there, blue boy.
"Uh, no. Just curious." She said, smiling lightly.
"Now weapons handling, stance and target discrimination." He said, gesturing at the emitter elevated off floor to his right.
"This will project a simple image on the screen." He explained. "The colored circles are your targets. Black and white circles are not. Colored circles will appear one at a time, a random color each time, sometimes alternating in the process. Several other circles will appear as well, either black, white or both. All will move randomly and interpose randomly. Demerits to your score for strikes on either black or white."
"Set your weapon to stun or Commander McArthur may regret authorizing this evaluation. We'll begin when you're ready."
After several minutes, with both pistol and rifle, Jenny was almost beginning to sweat. Rexas' little targeting practice set up was a real monster. She'd made twelve strikes on white and black in total already. And she was good.
"Time." Rexas announced at last.
"Whew." Said Jenny, lowering the rifle.
"A challenge, Ensign West?" He was grinning again, dammit.
"I would say so." She replied, almost out of breath. "Where'd you get this? I assumed we'd be practicing on the MACO targets."
"I brought it with me." He replied. "It's the system we used on the Sharev. Not quite as…'state of the art' as the MACO system. But I find it superior nonetheless."
"I'd say." Jenny agreed. "So they just let you bring that with you? I would assume…"
"No." He snorted. "I stole it, of course."
Jenny waited for a moment…then gawked when she realized he was serious.
"You stole it?" She asked, disbelieving.
"As you were about to suggest, they wouldn't simply allow me to have it." Rexas turned to deactivate the display, unconcerned.
"But…" Jenny rushed. "Aren't you going to get into some kind of trouble or something?"
At that Rexas grinned back at her for a moment. "Only if you tell."
Ooooh, like that, huh?
"And how do you know I won't?"
"Because you now have leverage, Ensign West." Rexas said, turning from the emitter with a smile.
Jenny regarded him at that, grinning right back. "And what am I supposed to do with leverage, Ensign P'Trell?"
"Why, what one does with leverage." Rexas, replied, as if it were perfectly obvious. "Whatever you desire." And with that he leaned casually on the table.
Ho-lee crap. Is he flirting with me?
Before she could recover, he had moved on smoothly. "Your score with the phase pistol was eighty-two. With the pulse rifle, eighty-eight. You might be interested to know, Ensign West, that you outscored me with the phase pistol."
Jenny was taken aback at that. "Really?"
"You did. And my own score with the rifle was superior by only nine points." Rexas nodded fully. "I am very impressed. You must have trained with these weapons quite often at your West Point Academy."
Whoa. 'Only' nine points? That would be ninety-seven.
"Uh, some." Jenny answered, shaking her head. "We only had to qualify but I followed up with it a little. Mostly shooting was just something of a hobby in my family. I suppose it stuck with me."
"And I am very gratified that it has." He said. "I wish the rest of the crew was as skilled. They are not terrible, of course. But I will have to institute a training regimen to make them sharp."
Jenny smirked. "Well, that's probably not going to be popular. Most of our crew are science geeks like me."
"Unfortunately, I have found the enemies one encounters in space don't often discriminate." Rexas said with regret.
Jenny nodded. Yes, she'd kind of noticed that.
"So. I believe our shift begins in eighteen minutes." Rexas said abruptly. "I will have to stow this equipment first. You, I believe, have some form of secret project that no one will explain to me. Commander McArthur asked that I remind you of that when you finished here."
Jenny nodded again. "Right. I have to get Summers caught up on that. I had better go."
Rexas nodded, offering her the two weapons. "Be sure you sign them back in. As you know, our captain is particular about that."
Jenny grinned at that and hiked for the exit. She's was going to be a bit late, considering McArthur's orders, but figured she had an excuse. It wasn't her idea to get evaluated just now, after all.
"Oh. Ensign West." Called Rexas.
Jenny stopped at the door to look back.
Loading his training equipment, he called out casually. "If you have any further curiosity about Andorian biology, you need only ask." Looking over at her, with that damned wicked grin of his. "After all, you have leverage now. So of course I must comply."
"Right." She called back, as suggestively as she could manage. "I'll do just that."
But she barely made it through the hatch without stumbling a bit.
**********
In her quarters T'Pril moved through her normal morning ritual, preparing for Alpha shift command on the bridge. A quick check in the bathroom mirror confirmed a subtle overall appearance, attractive enough to command peripheral attention but no so much as to prove distracting. Her uniform tucked and fastened in accordance with Starfleet dress regulation, she was prepared. With a quick left face and step she entered her main quarters to retrieve the current ship status data which she intended to review with the bridge staff at the start of shift.
Her console chimed.
Moving to sit there she noticed the incoming communication wasn't tagged. She would have to speak with the Communications Officer about proper procedure for forwarding personal communiqués. But before she could activate the console…it activated itself.
She didn't recognize the man on the screen but she recognized the black uniform. And as this wasn't the man she had expected to contact her, the conclusion was obvious.
"You are Harnes." She said, before he could speak.
He paused at that, taken a little off guard. "That's right. You're pretty quick, Miss T'Pril. Or should I say, Captain Tucker? Congratulations, by the way."
"If Troy did not make contact then his superior would be forced to act in his stead." T'Pril explained. "It was the logical conclusion. Your resources are limited. Why has Troy not made contact?"
Another pause from Harnes. "Well, there's a little trouble on that front. I'm sure you've seen the news feeds from Alpha Centauri?"
"I have. My family continues to find itself at the center of profound events." T'Pril noted, dispassionately.
Harnes chuckled. "That's putting it mildly. At present agent Troy is a guest at your father's little security firm on the Tucker compound. So I'm afraid he's unavailable."
That brought T'Pril's eyebrow to attention. "And how did this occur?"
"You haven't spoken with your family lately then, I take it?"
That was not something T'Pril intended to discuss openly. And certainly not with this man.
"This is not an area of consequence to you." She said flatly.
He nodded. "Alright, then. In that case I'm sure you'll understand if I just offer my assurances that the matter is being handled."
At her glare he continued quickly. "No need for concern." He assured. "We have more…diplomatic avenues to pursue there. Your father will come around and Troy will be back at work soon enough."
'Diplomatic' avenues? In regards to her father? Unlikely.
"Very well." She conceded. "If you are confident you can intervene with my family effectively…then we will see. Why have you called?"
Harnes nodded, all business now. "In a few minutes you'll be receiving orders from Admiral Archer, Starfleet Command. You'll be taking on a…guest. And his entourage. For transport to Vulcan. Command figures, right enough, that there's no point in you waiting around for Rodriguez to make her way back on a commercial vessel or hitch a ride on the next Starfleet ship that happens by. This justifies the expense of sending the Vigilant out to pick her up directly, which of course they're more than happy for you to do. Leave the system, I mean. Two birds with one stone."
"You have arranged this escort then?"
"Not directly." Harnes shrugged. "We simply arranged it so that the Vigilant was the logical choice. If you'll pardon the expression."
"Of course. It is accurate." She nodded. "What then about this guest is of interest to your organization?"
"Not a thing. Couldn't care less. Some opera singer named Teval. But we need you at Vulcan."
She connected the dots quickly. "You arranged for Rodriguez to be selected to participate in the experimental program at the Vulcan Medical Institute."
He nodded. "That's right. You need your flight officer, Teval needs to get to Vulcan and Starfleet wants you out of sight and out of mind."
"Then I have questions concerning Rodriguez, her illness and your interest in her."
"Nothing to be said there." Harnes said, suddenly sober. "So let's just skip to the part where I tell you what you're going to be doing for us."
T'Pril stared for a moment before replying. "I am not an agent in your organization, Mr. Harnes. I am an officer of Starfleet. If you presume…"
"I'm not issuing you an order, T'Pril." He interrupted. "I'm simply telling you what you're going to be doing. Not quite the same thing, as I'm sure you'll see. So I have your attention then?"
After a moment, she nodded. Very well. We will see where this leads.
"Good." Harnes responded. "For four months now we've been tracking something new in the Romulan intel arena. Some new kind of encryption system. It's been popping up all over, a dozen different places. The latest thing, apparently."
That Section 31 had been monitoring Romulan communications at all was surprising enough. But the reference to 'dozens of places' was almost disturbing.
"It's nothing we can't handle, of course." Harnes assured. "Romulan technology is…well, woefully lacking in some areas. We could have it cracked in six months. In fact, we'll probably have someone familiar with the system in hand in four. But that would be four months spent scratching our heads unnecessarily when there are other paths we can take."
"I assume this other path references the Vigilant in some manner?" She guessed.
"Exactly right." He affirmed. "There's a certain sympathizer working on Vulcan. Naturally enough he works at the Vulcan Medical Institute, which makes him very valuable for…well, let's just say he's very valuable to the Romulan effort in a particular way and leave it that. So of course he was one of the first on the list to make use of the new system."
She found the direction the conversation seemed to be heading…rather disagreeable.
"You require our aid in securing this traitor then." She said. "That is not an area…"
"Not quite." Harnes interrupted. "As it happens he's useful to us as well, even if he doesn't know it. No, we want that encryption system. So you're going to get it for us."
Again T'Pril's eye brow rose to attention. "I am not an intelligence operative. And I'm certain both your organization and the V'Shar have trained agents available for this task."
Harnes grimaced a bit at that. "Well, we haven't been quite as successful in infiltrating Vulcan as the Romulans have, unfortunately. Especially in the last three decades. Intel security on Vulcan is tight as a drum. Romulans being the exception, it would seem. Which brings up some other points."
"To be frank, we don't trust our contacts in the V'Shar. They've been extremely helpful in all areas, don't misunderstand…except cleaning up their own backyard. Now, I can't say that I blame them. We're not about to invite Vulcan operatives to run rampant all over the Earth, either. But even after all this time they've still got Romulans agents and sympathizers stationed in every other back alley on their planet. So we need one of our own on the ground on this one."
T'Pril decided at last that it was time to get to the point.
"So you have an agent you intend for us to deliver in order to infiltrate and secure this encryption system, then?" She asked.
Harnes glowered slightly. "You seem to be having trouble following the conversation, T'Pril. We do have an agent you'll be delivering. You."
T'Pril stared back. "As I have said, I am not an agent of your…"
"Well, for now you are." Harnes insisted. "Your our asset on the ground on this one. You'll be on site and in the open, with only the barest intel coverage in the process. You can have a scan of the system in hand in under five minutes and be back on Vigilant in thirty. They won't know what hit them. And our friends in the V'Shar won't fail to notice we utilized you as an asset, either. Which we're certain will prompt a bit more cooperation in some other areas."
This was all becoming somewhat confusing, T'Pril had to admit. The machinations of Section 31, the V'Shar, the Romulans…were she less disciplined she might be tempted to frown.
"This entire conversation then seems unproductive to me." She said. "As previously noted, I am an officer of Starfleet. I am neither required nor compelled to assist you in this operation. In point of fact, it would behoove me to report this matter promptly to Starfleet Intelligence."
Harnes shrugged. "You won't. And you'll do what is required here. Because otherwise we'll be blind for the next few months. Completely unacceptable, as I'm sure you'll agree. Now, you can report this matter to Starfleet Intel but you and I both know that won't come to anything. Certainly it won't secure that system. And Starfleet isn't even aware of the Romulan comm traffic going on right over their own heads."
Harnes stared for a moment, letting that sink in a bit.
"It's very simple, T'Pril. You're a logical person. Follow the logic."
Before she could respond, Harnes nodded grimly. "You'll receive orders from Starfleet Command in a moment. Details of this mission are encoded in the attached supply manifest."
He tapped the console before him and her screen went blank.
T'Pril stared at the screen for a moment, reexamining the conversation. Noting the various hints and references that had undoubtedly been made quite purposefully. As well as everything that hadn't been said. If nothing else, she could certainly understand now the deep, abiding disdain her father had expressed for organizations such as Section 31 in the past. She found she was beginning to develop a similar opinion herself.
"Bridge to Captain."
Ensign Summers. Apparently she had not only arrived as expected but, T'Pril was satisfied to note, had already reported for duty. She leaned over, activating the comm.
"Captain, go ahead."
"I'm sorry, Captain. I had a little trouble getting through to your console for a moment. I have an incoming transmission from Admiral Archer. Routing to you now."
"Very well, Summers. Contact Commander McArthur and inform him that he is to prepare to break dock."
"Understood, Captain."