[Epilogue] Lt. Cmdr Robin Hopper – Say That Again
Robin Hopper
((Meeting Room B, Level 14, Copernicus Centre - Several Hours Later))
Robin sat, slouched in her meeting chair, slightly rumpling the front of her uniform as she sipped on the perspiring glass bottle of cola in her right hand. Her left hand rested on the table in front of her, fingers tapping softly at its surface.
Keehani looked peeved. If she didn’t know that Starfleet and, by extension, Hopper herself, Robin would probably have found it a little amusing. She hadn’t seen the typically-unflappable consul and Daughter of the Ninth House of Betazed looking so stressed in quite a while. Not even when the new Ambassador had arrived.
But Keehani and Robin did share in common a certain ‘uptightness’ when it came to matters of professional integrity – they just differed, from time to time, on what exactly ‘professional integrity’ meant. So, rather than make any sort of glib comment, Robin held her tongue, sipped her soda, and waited for the reaming that seemed to be inevitably barreling her and Wil’s direction.
Keehani: We’ve informed Starfleet to let the Valkyrie know you’re here. But with Pathfinder the way it is, the message could take several days.
Keehani was speaking, of course, to Lieutenant Seleya, whom Robin was not yet familiar with – except as the unwitting instigator of the present situation involving the Vaadwaur – and who stood, stiffly at the side of the room, seemingly in some level of discomfort.
Seleya: Thank you, I appreciate it.
Ukinix: ::patting knees, chirpy:: All’s well that ends well then, ‘ey?
Keehani cleared her throat and shot Wil a look. oO See, this is why I opted not to make any glib comments, Skipper. Oo
Keehani: And I quote, “prepare a communique to everyone in the region and broadcast it on an open channel. Underspace poses a threat to all species in the nebula, so we’re ::looking up at Wil, unimpressed:: *going to shut it down*”.
Ukinix: ::palms out:: Yeah, but I didn’t *mean* it. Heeeyy, where’d you get the Indy logs from so quickly–
But he was summarily silenced by his cousin with a ‘talk to the hand’ gesture – and before she knew what she was being blasted for, exactly, Keehani turned to Robin and continued.
Keehani: “So, do you want to chance a close encounter with that warp core, or leave well enough alone and get while the doors are still open?”
((Flashback – Hours Earlier, Talon Scout Daintree))
The core jettisoned, and began hurtling towards the lead Vaadwaur ship, with a countdown to the promised detonation now up on the screen.
There was another commotion behind them, as Kade whispered something just quietly enough so as not to be overheard by the comms call.
Hopper: =/\= If what we’re reading is correct, our lead ship is preparing to close the underspace rifts in this region of space. It won’t be long before they get them all closed – and at that point, retreat ceases to be an option. So, do you want to chance a close encounter with that warp core, or leave well enough alone and get while the doors are still open? =/\=
Vathrik: =/\= The doors close, skrall. Choose quickly. This core does not care about your pride. =/\=
There was an extended silence from the Vaadwaur ship – a moment during which Robin could feel, and hear, the beating of her heart in her chest. The move she had made was bold. Reckless maybe, even. But the Vaadwaur were bullies, trying to assert their dominance over Amity’s space, and they had bloodied Starfleet’s nose first. Starfleet didn’t go around starting fights – but they weren’t against finishing them, when the occasion called for it.
((End Flashback))
Hopper: ::Shrug:: I think the occasion called for that. Besides, it worked.
She wasn’t sure what Keehani expected, given that the Vaadwaur had, mere minutes before Robin had made that threat, fired a torpedo into Amity Outpost and nearly killed several of their officers.
Hopper: I didn’t really think the situation called for P’s and Q’s. ::Sipping on her drink::
That answer may not have satisfied Keehani, but she at least moved onto her next grievance.
Keehani: Ambassador Turnbull, who was on the way to New Talax to meet with a delegation for planning the final steps of Talaxian full membership into the Federation, has now had to turn the Shelby around to meet with the Trenvonn Grand Expert who is sitting in Conference Room B with several medical officers attending to her. Let alone Prime Claimant Vathrik, who we know has to get back to... wherever he needs to get back to.
Seleya: I apologize for the mess I have caused.
Robin’s eyes drifted to the Kazleti intelligence officer, her glacier-blue gaze tinged with curiosity and sympathy.
Hopper: You caused? ::Shaking her head:: Considering the readiness of the Vaadwaur to attack this Outpost, and the state we found – and, may I add, rescued Vathrik – in, I think it’s fair to say that they’ve been ramping up in this sector for some sort of conflict before you turned up. I’d say this is their mess and we just stepped in it a little bit. Don’t sweat it, Lieutenant.
Did Kazleti sweat? Robin wasn’t actually sure they did. Hmm.
Keehani: ::Daggers at Wil:: And now we’re going to have to smooth over that communique of yours. By the Four, Wil.
Ukinix: Hey, we’re in a meeting, that’s “Commander Ukinix” to you.
Robin rolled her eyes and continued addressing Seleya.
Hopper: Actually, for what it’s worth, it was probably good that we wound up tipping the Vaadwaur’s hand a little early. If they’re rearming and preparing for some sort of conflict or wide-scale offensive in this region, we need to know about it ahead of time and potentially warn some of our allies. The Vaadwaur Empire used to be quite expansive… If the Prime Claimant’s attitudes are anything to go by, I’d say they haven’t exactly forgotten about that.
Keehani brushed at her suit jacket and set down her PADD of reprimands.
Keehani: If it’s not too much to ask, the FDC could use your help, Lieutenant. A statement that can include the events of what triggered this whole episode. As part of our ::side eye to Wil:: retraction communique.
Seleya: Of course, Consul ::she dipped her head to Keehani:: More than happy to help however you need me to.
Robin perked up, sitting a little straighter and finishing off the cola and setting it to the side. She clasped her hands in front of her on the table. This part she was very interested to learn more about.
Ukinix: ::To Keehani:: You done venting, Consul? Because Lieutenant Seleya has some intel that the FDC *probably* wants to hear.
Seleya: Of course, Captain. I can fill her in.
Robin smirked, doing her best to mimic Wil’s Australian accent as she spoke.
Hopper: ::Very bad Australian accent:: Hey now, that’s “Commander Ukinix” to you.
It’s what he would have wanted.
And with that, Seleya began her recounting starting with her mission to Devinon V, finding the hidden factory for phase torpedoes, her getting caught on the Vaadwaur juggernaut, discovering coordinates to their drop off site, and how she ended up in Trenvonn space… It was eye opening – riveting even – and deeply concerning.
Keehani: ::Raised eyebrows:: Oh.
oO You can say that again. Oo
END Mission
