Lt. Cmdr. Evan Delano: “Worth it”
Evan Delano
(( Captain’s Ready Room, USS Veritas ))
Delano: The fact is that security is a nearly impossible job on a starship. Especially when you're trying to get ahead of potential threats. I'm not saying you shouldn't try, but there’s no accounting for the unknown, and Starfleet makes it a point to fly nose-first into every anomaly we can reach and every newly discovered race's back garden.
Blake: That's just the thing. The Veritas spent most of its time around Meridian before Rahman took command - we'd only just recent branched out to Shadow's Edge. There are no overly strange anomalies out along the border - that we came across, at least. Now we're facing Borg, Omega molecules, and frequent visits by a small Valtese man. This isn't exactly my definition of 'normal'.
Delano: I was security chief of the Garuda for about three weeks before it was taken over by a hoard of sentient house plants. My first mission as a security officer involved an alien intelligence bonding to my ship's warp core and forcing us to crash land on an uncharted world. Trust me, I understand what it feels like.
Blake: Sentient . . . house plants?
:: Evan laughed darkly at her reaction. He recalled having a very similar reaction to the absurdity of the situation right up to the point where the vines of one of those plants snagged him from behind and yanked him down a turboshaft. He’d dislocated his shoulder trying to fight the damn thing off. ::
Delano: Yeah. That was a fun report to send back to Command.
Blake: That makes me feel a little better. ::She nodded her head.:: The deeper we go into the Shoals, the less I know about what we're going to find. After what happened, I can't say I'm overly comfortable with the idea of pressing forward. The Bajak Laut sector was safe. The further we pull away from that area, the longer it takes to go back for help if we need it.
Delano: There’s always the Marshals.
Blake: Well yeah, but . . . my experience with the marshals has been that they see us as the unwelcome cavalry. Individuals may be more inclined to assist, sure, but the organization as a whole? Honestly I'm surprised one of the Coalition planets hasn't yet declared independence. There was rumbling about that a little while ago, but we've been too out of the loop to hear about it since.
:: Evan thought about that for a moment. Indeed, some of the colonies - Antor came to mind - had strong secessionist movements. But, at least based on the news he had available, they were still short of the populist support they would need to actually make it happen. ::
Delano: The thing is, trying to build trust and good will with the Colonies is a big part of why we’re out here. We’re not going to do that by playing it safe.
Blake: Response
Delano: I think it’s worth it, at least. I wouldn’t have put this uniform back on if I didn’t believe that. And I don’t think you would have taken this job if some part of you didn’t believe it too.
Blake: Response
:: Evan nodded and set the PADD down on the captain’s desk. ::
Delano: Thanks for the report, Commander.
Blake: Response
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Lieutenant Commander Evan Delano
Operations Officer/Second Officer
USS Veritas
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