Commander Margaret Walker: Business as Usual

[Michael Meir-Wright]

OOC: All thoughts and opinions are strictly in character. Commander Walker is supposed to be a bit abrasive.

OOC2: With Amanda’s permission I have corrected a small error with Ithri’s rank from her last sim.

(( Transporter Room #1, Deck 4, U.S.S. Octavia E. Butler ))

The journey from Earth to the Gamma Quadrant had been blessedly uneventful, and Commander Margaret Walker had been left to her own devices by the skeleton crew of the starship ‘Oumuamua. That suited her down to the ground and allowed to get on with the latest Intelligence reports and analyses pertaining to her new role as Director of Intelligence for the Gamma Flotilla Expeditionary Task Force.

At a little over 1400 Hours, the Luna-class vessel had slipped effortlessly into its berth at Deep Space 14, which had meant that she had four hours before she was supposed to report to the Octavia E. Butler, in orbit of New Bajor- the planet which the new Ashalla-class outpost orbited. Never one to be found killing time, Walker had made the decision before ‘Oumuamua had docked that she would simply report earlier and get straight to work. After all, the corner of the Gamma Quadrant that Starfleet were exploring was as unpredictable and unstable as ever before- and one had to remain vigilant in such trying times.

The somewhat dimly lit transporter room materialised around Walker in streaking flashes of white-blue energy. Her hazel eyes were still adjusting  from the relative brightness of ‘Oumuamua when she stepped down off the pad and looked at the perplexed enlisted Barzan woman behind the compartment’s primary console.

Transporter Chief: Uh, Commander Walker- we weren’t expecting you till 1800 Hours?

Walker: Yes I know, :: she responded in her usual clipped British accent. :: Where is Commander Etan? :: she inquired. ::

She had not expected the Octavia E. Butler’s outgoing XO to meet her and so her enquiry was where she could find him. The Barzan responded with a confused look and the tone of her reply implied that Walker ought to have known he was.

Transporter Chief: He’s… on medical leave?

Walker: Oh dear, I do hope he’s alright. :: she brushed away the thought with a wave of her hand and set about amending her plans. :: What about Commander Promontory? 

Walker knew that Lia Rouiancet was currently on shore leave and was therefore unavailable. Promontory had been third on her list of senior staff she wanted to meet- and upon discovering that Etan was presently unavailable, quickly bumped the part El-Aurian to first place.

The non-commissioned auburn-haired woman looked down at her console and tapped in a string of instructions. A moment or two passed and she returned her gaze to meet Walker’s.

Transporter Chief: Internal sensors say he is on Deck 12, but don’t give me any more specifics than that.

That must mean he is with Marine Intelligence, Walker mused to herself, remembering the ship’s internal layout and the fact that both Intelligence suites were did not register on any kind of internal scan.

Transporter Chief: Would you like me to call someone to escort you ma’am?

Walker: No, that is quite alright. ::she replied.:: I know the way.

Without another word, she departed the transporter room and set out for her destination. As she did, she swore that she heard the Barzan muttering a particularly odious Romulan curse under her breath.

(( Marine Intelligence Office, Deck 12, USS Octavia E. Butler ))

As she expected, Walker found the Marine Intelligence Office without difficulty. The door slid open as she approached and she stepped inside to find Avander Promontory (who she recognised from his personnel file)  sat with an unfamiliar Andorian woman clad in the uniform of a Starfleet Marine. In response to her arrival, the Marine- who bore 2nd Lieutenant rank insignia- stopped what she had been doing and deactivated her console. Her antennae dipped as she appraised Walker.

Sh’shelor: Greetings.

Walker: Greetings. :: she mirrored:: I’m Commander Walker from Starfleet Intelligence. ::her eyes found the El Aurian hybrid again. She noted he had touch more grey hair than his personnel profile had shown.:: You must be Lieutenant Commander Promontory.

Promontory: Response.

Sh’shelor: We have not met.  I am 2nd Lieutenant Ithri Sh’shelor. We have not met.

Walker:  Yes I’m aware, Lieutenant. :: she replied, idly wondering if the Marine was aware she had repeated herself.:: A pleasure to meet you. :: Again, she turned to Promontory. :: I take it that you are aware I am here as the Task Force’s Director of Intelligence?

She had assumed that Starfleet Intelligence had briefed him on the fact that she was replacing him. After all, even with the recent difficulties and security breaches caused by the defection of Commodore Oh to the Romulan Free State, SFI were still meticulous in their record keeping- no matter what the news media might have claimed otherwise.

Promontory: Response.

Sh’shelor: There are two of you?

At the Andorian’s puzzlement, Walker narrowed her eyes and looked between the two officers. She had also assumed that Promontory’s promotion to First Officer of the Octavia E. Butler was already public knowledge- especially since such news often travelled around the fleet at quantum slipstream.

Walker: Have I… misspoke? :: she asked with a hesitant tone. ::

Promontory / Sh’shelor: Response.

Walker: I apologise for any confusion or inconvenience. ::she said, eager to move past the faux pas and to focus on the matter at hand.:: Perhaps it’s best if we move on and you bring me up to speed on what you were discussing.

Promontory / Sh’shelor: Response.

Taking a seat besides Promontory, Walker listened to the two explain the situation as it stood and what the data that Lieutenant Sh’shelor had found might portend to. That said, she  was not entirely surprised by what had been uncovered- and it certainly tracked with SIGINT that SFI had intercepted prior to the establishment of the Flotilla the previous year. It also helped her to fortify her own hypothesis about what was unfolding in this region of space formerly controlled by The Dominion. Intrigued, Walker shifted in her chair and wondered if they were seeing the same thing that she had been.

Walker: What do you make of it? :: she leaned slightly on the right arm rest of the chair and absently stroked her chin with her index finger. :: What is the data telling you?

Promontory / Sh’shelor: Response.

—

Commander Margaret Walker

Director of Intelligence

Gamma Flotilla Expeditionary Task Force

assigned to:

U.S.S. Octavia E. Butler

C239203TW0