MdJG Jovenan – This is what I signed up for
Jovenan
((Jovenan’s quarters, Deck 3, CIC Desdemona))
The door closed behind Jovenan as she stepped in. When she had left the tactical science lab, she had said she’d go to the shuttlebay to help with the installation of the new prismic shields. Instead of heading there directly, she had decided to ask the turbolift to take her one deck above, where her temporary dwelling was located. She needed a moment of privacy before retuning to the filthy workstations of the Desdemona.
Jovenan: Computer, lock the door.
The computer bleeped affirmatively, and Jovenan exhaled deep. While Jovenan didn’t believe the crew of the ship would steal or snoop around in her quarters, she had been warned that the offworlders had little respect to the law when it suited their personal interests. The crew may have been rude and unmoved about the matters of personal safety, all of which exhausted her, but she hadn’t yet observed them to be outright criminals. Still, knowing the offworlder reputation of lack of morality, Jovenan had taken the habit of keeping the door locked at all times as a precaution.
She fell into her bed. No, it was no time for rest. She had things to do, and the engineers in the shuttlebay may start to wonder where she went if she doesn’t show up in a few minutes. She lifted herself to a seated position by the edge of the bed and pulled a travel box from underneath the bed. The first thing she took from the box was a portable cloth cleaner. She run the device across her uniform, ridding it – at least in part – of dust and other dirt she had collected during the day. Placing it back, she took out her cosmetics kit, refreshing her makeup. She had a long day still ahead of her.
Finally, she took out a small, flat tablet. Her personal small computer, very similar to the PADDs and other computer interfaces the Interstellar Fleet used, was not connected to the Desdemona main computer, allowing her to work in privacy, without the Commonwealth snooping her personal business. She connected it to the communications device that took bulk of the room within her travel box, but which allowed her to remain secure and hidden from the communications officers on the bridge. It didn’t take a full minute when her call was answered.
Aletor: Health and victory.
Jovenan: Victory and joy. ::smile:: Good to see you.
Aletor: You too, sister. How are you?
Jovenan thought for a moment. The link was weak, owing to her distance to the closest Divine Fleet communications node and Aletor’s ship, but she could see his square face framed by mid-length, curly blond hair, on top of his muscular body draped in the more typical style of white Edo uniform.
Jovenan: I’m starting to feel desire to come back home. The ship is dated, battered and disgusting, and the crew is rude. I don’t know why they are like this! I try to be friendly, but they constantly shut me down. They are miserable and seem to become irritated if I try to keep the spirits up. I don’t know how to reach out to them!
Aletor: That’s how the offworlders are. Try to remain in their favour, they can be very nasty if aggravated. ::pause:: Do they have any plans?
Jovenan: They are planning to steal a prismagon.
Aletor pressed his lips tightly together. The implications and gravity of Jovenan’s information was obvious to the both of them. This was as serious as Jovenan had seen her contact person ever be.
Aletor: I see. Do you know any details?
Jovenan: Not much yet. We had a staff meeting. One team was ordered to find a target, a cruiser or larger, and another team to plan the attack. I was to work with the team working on shield generators. They have a new design for prismic shields, not quite like counter-layer prism shields we’ve been working on, but nifty devices anyway. I’ll send you the schematics when I get them. They haven’t been tested yet, and won’t be out of combat, but I don’t see why they wouldn’t work.
Aletor nodded. The hanging tree branches in his background swayed in the artificial wind. Jovenan felt intense jealousy to his posting on a Divine Fleet vessel with very natural-like environment. The Desdemona felt crushingly artificial, chilly, cramped, and filthy compared to what she had used to.
Aletor: What do you say of their chances?
Jovenan: Non-zero. Their resources are poor and most of the crew are of limited capabilities, but I have also met some quite intelligent individuals, and all of them are determined. ::shrugs:: My assistance will greatly improve the odds.
Aletor: In that case you will resume aiding them. Their loss has no benefit to us. But if it at any point seems the failure is likely, remember that your allegiance is to God and the Divine Fleet. Capture is not an option. ::pause:: Do you still have the pack?
Jovenan reached to the small pack attached to her belt and clipped it open. Quickly checking its contents, she closed it again and turned to face him again. She knew very well why he had brought it up. Allowing to be captured was a criminal offence.
Jovenan: Yes. I haven’t used any of them. The crew hasn’t given me any reason to, yet.
Aletor nodded. For a moment, Jovenan expected him to move on, but he didn’t. There was one more question to consider, but Jovenan didn’t know if Aletor was oblivious to it or if he was unwilling to say it. But while he was standing on a clean and plant-decorated office, she was in the field. Jovenan didn’t have the luxury of hesitation.
Jovenan: And if they succeed? What are my orders then?
End scene
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Mediator JG Jovenan
Science officer (secondment)
CIC Desdemona
E239911J11