Lt Cmdr. Avander Promontory: Shark Vacuum
Avander Promontory
((Marine Intelligence Office, Gator Deck, OEB))
Avander’s replacement was here—a bit earlier than expected, but working, nevertheless. She had spilled some of the beans about the not-quite-announced yet change, but Ithri had had the presence of mind not to ask where Avander was going. He didn’t quite feel at ease about letting the crew know he was going to become the ship’s first officer. Not yet, anyway.
Introductions taken care of, the two women quickly returned to the problem at hand. The marine intelligence officer had identified a number of suspicious transactions across the quadrant that were at least a little suggestive. What it was suggestive of was quite unclear, but it was apparent that whatever was going on was nefarious. Connections to a number of the less savory actors in the region indicated at least that much.
The new Director of Intelligence was curious to know the other intelligence officers nearby, outside of the pair currently working the problem up in the Intel Suite.
Promontory: There’s one each on the Vulcana Regar, the Phoebe, and the Joseph M'Benga, they’re all here in system, I’m sure you know. (beat) And we’ve been holding weekly holo-meetings with the rest.
When he had first learned that the ships would be congregating at the newly minted DS14, Avander had planned a little in-person gathering of intel officers. However, since then, his role had shifted and now it seemed that that prerogative would go to Commander Walker, should she decide to exercise it. It might make a nice introduction to the quadrant and the role.
Avander cast a side-eye at the older woman. She didn’t exactly exude “close and personal,” perhaps she’d prefer the remote meetings.
Sh’shelor: This information is new. Perhaps others have noticed it and we can inquire at the meeting.
Avander was gratified to see the incoming director nod in agreement. That made it unanimous.
Promontory: Love that plan. (to Walker) I was planning to introduce you to everyone in the meeting tomorrow at 1600. Perhaps we can discuss it more then.
Sh’shelor: It is not enough to act upon. We must gather more information, but…
Walker: But…?
Sh’shelor: It is like a Vok.
Avander couldn’t place the term and there was little context to give him more of a clue. Fortunately, Commander Walker prodded the Andorian.
Walker: I beg your pardon?
Promontory: No need to beg, we’re all friends here.
Avander held his face to a deadpan, still trying to get a good read on his replacement.
Sh’shelor: On Andoria, they are large sea creatures with mighty jaws, very dangerous. Apex predators, I think, is the term. They will eat you.
Walker looked at Avander as if sharing a secret understanding with her fellow human. Well, mostly human.
Walker: Sharks.
Promontory: The information is like a shark?
While he was familiar with that term, he felt like he was still missing the application.
Walker: Of course, the question is what are they circling- and what do they want to do with it if they get it.
Oh, maybe that made sense… Maybe.
Promontory: So these groups are indicative of a larger issue? And whatever the sharks are circling—that’s what we need to figure out. Before we… become chum?
Avander was no longer confident that he was getting it.
Sh’shelor: Response.
Walker: These organisations and individuals are undoubtedly planning for something- and they’ve been doing it since before the Flotilla was assigned here.
Promontory: Or reacting to someone else who is planning for something.
Avander didn’t want to go beyond the data and he wasn’t quite sure they had definitive evidence of anything in particular.
Sh’shelor: Response.
Walker: History tells us that whenever a great empire falls into ruin, there will be a number of rump states that try to carry on its legacy: Soissons, Rum, Qara Khitai, the Romulan Free State… the United Dominion of Planets. :: beat :: They never last and they always fall. The UDP is no different- and I think the sharks are circling, ready to swoop in and fill the power vacuum.
Ah. So the leftovers of the Dominion was the chum. Avander could see the wheels spinning in the Andorian’s head. Or perhaps it was just the antennae.
Promontory: So are you saying we shouldn’t worry about this—that it will all come to naught anyway?
That seemed unlikely to be the point the Commander was driving at. Even a failed state could inflict significant damage to others as it crumbled.
Sh’shelor: Response.
Promontory: I also wouldn’t count the UDP out just yet. While they're fledgling, I think they might have some staying power. This crew has had a number of run-ins with them in recent years and I don’t think that they’re going anywhere for a while.
Sh’shelor/Walker: Response.
Promontory: True. (beat) But it’s a big universe; rare and unlikely things happen all the time.
Sh’shelor/Walker: Response.
Promontory: I think all we can do now is continue to monitor the situation and see what else we can learn.
Sh’shelor/Walker: Response.
Tags/TBC
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