Lt. Commander Kaitlyn Falcon - The Extra Pip (Tag: Taybrim)
Jonathan Bockhorst
(( Command Center; Starbase 118 ))
::Another day, another shift. Yet another tour of the station and of Albion, followed by a number of hours hanging out in the Command Center. This was the main disadvantage to having the job title she had; the day-to-day grind was a bit more… grindy than in other positions. Still, she preferred this posting to most of the others she’d had in the last year.::
::She had her friends. More than that, she had Leo. Not to mention the fact that she was three missions in and, thus far, hadn’t been attacked while on the bridge.::
::Kaitlyn examined another PADD, scanning over the collected major maintenance items for their various support craft. There were a few items of concern, a couple overhauls taking longer than anticipated, but there was little she needed to get directly involved in. She simple forwarded the reports to the appropriate division officers with a request for status added in to get them moving.::
::The extra pip certainly had its uses. A year ago, she would have been the one sent to get the information for someone else.::
::As she pushed out the last message, she saw a figure approach from the corner of her eye.::
Taybrim: Commander Falcon, are you busy? ::He strolled up to where she
was working, speaking in light, conversational tone.::
::Kaitlyn looked up to Sal and gave a smile. In the time since getting to the station, Sal had proven himself capable of being both a superior officer worthy of her respect and her friend. It didn’t escape her that, while he’d approached with a calm tone, his question showed he was there on business. She matched his tone, giving a slight shake of her head.::
Falcon: Not at all, sir. What can I do for you?
Taybrim: Have you been keeping up with the reports on the explosion of the
freighter Annabelle's Lament?
::Her expression sobered a bit as she nodded. While she hadn’t known that freighter’s crew
personally, she still felt for them. Her
years of working her brother’s tramp freighter left her always sympathetic to
freighter jockeys. Much as she wanted to
dive in and help figure out what happened, she knew that Matthews and Udas had
been put onto the task. She trusted the
both of them, so instead supported them by making sure everything in their
department was managed without disturbing them.
That, and she checked a few things they might not have thought to.::
Falcon: Yeah, I have, and I don’t like any of it. The way it happened, timing, where they’ve
been, material condition… ::Shakes
head.:: Nothing points toward this being
an accident. ::Pauses a beat.:: We thinking foul play on this?
Taybrim: ::he nodded an assent:: Yes, foul play is suspected. Science and
engineering have come up with reason to believe the goods the Lament was
carrying were used to form an explosive combination; and it looks like it was
sabotage. All clues suggest the saboteur stayed behind on Miranda VII.
Falcon: Hard to say if that’s a curse or a blessing… If it’s just one guy doing it, it means less
chance of things blowing up here. Of
course, our luck really hasn’t been good enough for that, has it? ::Sighs.::
Taybrim: There's more. ::He frowned a bit, leaning closer:: Starfleet
intel informed me that Romulan traffic to Miranda VII has greatly increased in
the past two week. A Romulan owned company called 'Emerald Dragon
Enterprises' has been very active buying terraforming equipment and chemicals.
::Taking in a breath he paused enough for that to process before adding:: That's
suspicious because it's exactly the same things the Lament used to carry.
Falcon: ::Nods.:: VERY suspicious. And it gives us something we might be able to
look into. ::She paused a moment, giving
a small smirk.:: So… Are you telling me because you’re planning on
sending a team?
Taybrim: ::he smirked:: Yes, I am telling you all if this because I want a team
to head over there. And yes. ::a nod of confirmation:: I would like
you to lead it.
::Kaitlyn blinked. Twice. She was surprised. Not that she was involved. After all, she was the person in the staff most likely to know how a place like Miranda VII worked, given her background. She just expected more of a ‘provide transport and guidance’ role.::
::That extra pip… It meant more than just having more of a voice, more authority to use and get things done. It meant being called on to do more than you had before, push yourself beyond what you think you can do.::
::Was that from her own head? Or was it something remembered, something from one of the ‘Fleeters in the family?::
::Regardless, the task was being given. The fact that Sal wanted her in charge meant he was confident in her ability to pull it off.::
::Her. The LEAST Starfleet person in ALL of Starfleet. Leading an away mission.::
Falcon: ::Quietly.:: Wow…
Taybrim: Response?
::Had she REALLY said that aloud? She shook her head quickly, refocusing herself.::
Falcon: Sorry, I meant to say I’m on it, sir. ::Confident nod.:: I can do it. Who’s on my team?
::She said again in her head. ‘My’ team. It seemed so… foreign to her.::
Taybrim: Response?
Falcon: Okay. Next, did you intend us to go in incognito, or waving the Starfleet flag up high?
Taybrim: Response?
Falcon: Well… here’s how I see it. Incognito, we don’t get the same scrutiny from the locals that we might have as Starfleet, but it could bite us if we’re caught. Full Starfleet, we might have more pressure from the locals, but we might be able to put more official pressure to get information. I can see pros and cons with either choice.
Taybrim: Response?
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Lt Commander Kaitlyn Falcon
Chief Helm Officer
Starbase 118 / U.S.S. Albion
F237507RF0
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