Lieutenant JG Amelia Semara - I Want to Believe

[Max]

((First Officer’s Ready Room, Deck 1, USS Khitomer, En Route to Alpha Trionus II))

Was telepathically connecting with Tori a mistake?

The question plagued Amelia no matter how many laps she ran or how much of a sweat she worked up.  It wasn't until she brought out her hang board and worked with it until her fingers felt like they were about to fall off that she managed to think about something else - though she had a sneaking feeling she'd be regretting that soon enough when she was ordered to the XO's office.  Even PADD duty felt weary after the few hours of post-conference break.

At least someone had the wisdom to give them all time to process before issuing fresh orders.  Not enough, in Amelia's opinion, but then again they had a week to figure something out.  They'd all be processing on the go.

Ras was already waiting for her outside of Hobart's office, though not long by the feel of him.  Mercifully, she'd just finished showering when the call came in - she didn't want to wonder how strong the Kressari sense of smell was.

The conference had ended pretty abruptly, and Amelia could have forgiven any soreness the man might have had at being cut off.  Even if she understood why, it didn't make it better.

She gave him a nod to press the chime.  Ready as she'd ever be.

Hobart: Enter.

The last time Amelia was in here, Connor was sort-of acting first officer and she'd dumped a heaping pile of words all over him.  She almost wished she could do that now.  Just unload a silly exposition of simple emotions that every freshly-promoted Lieutenant must feel.  It was impossible to think of what words could possibly describe what was in her head now.

Hobart shifted and motioned to the single seat.  Amelia looked over and up at the looming Kressari and lightly smiled at the absurdity of it.

Semara: I'm happy standin', thanks.  :: To El'Heem ::  You want it?

El’Heem: Response

Hobart: We have a few more hours before we reach Alpha Trionus. I don’t know what we’ll find there. Maybe we’ll find out that our visitors are full of it. But if everything checks out, the Captain’s going to have some decisions to make.

A few more hours... already so close.  Strange to imagine a facility full of Tholians and Sheliak captured from the battle at DS 33.  Oddly enough, Amelia was yet to see any action.  It was something to be thankful for - Starfleet was dangerous enough without a war on, but her lucky streak might run out soon enough if the time traveller's tale was true and they decided to do something about it.

Semara: Maybe they ain't told us everything, but they ain't lying, Commander.

And he should know, even if he was only half-Betazoid.  Perhaps it was still possible they were from some sort of alternate timeline, or their mere presence here changed things to where the POW camp raid would never happen, or some other bizarre oddity of maybe-time-travel would make their story fall apart, but they were true believers.

El’Heem: Response

Almost predictably, Hobart held up a hand to keep the chatter to a minimum.  He had a style, that was for sure...

Hobart: We’ve been told there’s a threat to the Federation, and we’re duty-bound to investigate. ::arched eyebrow:: Now, Captain’s said we’re not killing anyone. That’s the plan. But so far, we’ve only got one option on the table and if we go into this that way, we may be forced to take it. That’s why, Ras, I want you in the Science lab. Start gaming it out. What are our other options? I trust you to see the big picture, to think about repercussions. Run whatever probabilistic models you need to. I think Ensign Matthews should be able to help. And use Tori. She’s the genius on that team, and she seems committed to the cause, if not necessarily the plan. If we can convince her that we’re committed to the ends, not the means, we might be able to gain a lot out of her as a resource.

Goddesses - Tori the genius on the team.  She wanted to smile for pride except for how the brilliance, catalyzed by anger, was bright enough to burn them all.

She looked from the commander to Ras.  He needed to know everything she'd learned from her conversation.

Semara: We should chat 'bout Tori...

El’Heem: Response

Hobart: Amelia, take a team to the shuttlebay. I don’t know if they’re telling us everything. I didn’t get the sense that they’re not actively hiding anything from us, but you never know. Look for sensor data, communication logs. Wherever or whenever that runabout’s been, I want to know everything it saw and did. Ensign Michaels should be able to help you on the engineering side, and Lieutenant Zerva will keep people out of your business. Tear it apart if you have to—just… make sure you know how to put it back together.

It took her somewhat by surprise to hear Hobart address her by her first name.  There was an undeniable strangeness to the sound coming out of his mouth.  But that wasn't what made her hesitate for just a half-second.

Semara: Yessir.

Presumably Hobart could feel her turmoil and exhaustion even if her drawl wasn't a little slower and slurryier than usual.  Yet somehow he still trusted her to get the work done.  She just needed to find that faith for herself.

Hobart: If you have questions, ask them now.

Semara: :: To El'Heem :: May I have a minute with the Commander alone?  I'll be quick if you wanna wait for me.

El’Heem: Response

((OOC: Backsim more here, if needed))

Amelia gave a little smile of thanks to Ras as she got her moment alone.

Hobart: Response

For a brief second, Amelia had to chuckle.  Given their history together, it was understandable if Hobart imagined she was about to complain about the conference.

Semara: No, that ain't it.  :: A dim smile :: I think I know better than to try offerin' feedback when my head's turned 'round.  Though I'll say I'm glad I ain't the fool this time. :: Beat :: It's about the changed orders.  All this time, I've been wonderin' why they were changed - who needed the anomaly.  I'm guessin' you've already thought the same thing?

Hobart: Response

Amelia nodded.  They had just met prime suspects one, two, and three.

Semara: I just can't work out how they did it if they need an anomaly to mess with time, and I hope you understand I ain't eager to accuse... :: avoiding the word "daughter" :: Tori.  :: Beat :: Maybe Shayne told you I ran a trace on the orders.  It came back early this mornin'.  It was verified as an Admiral's code, but it didn't match any Admiral currently servin' in the fleet.  The comms array that sent the orders was one of the most common in the fleet.  Soundin' suspect yet?

Hobart: Response

Semara: I thought you should know, but...  Personally, I'd like to see if we can find hard evidence before sayin' anything more.  I guess that leads back to the shuttle.

Hobart: Response

Amelia shook her head, sending a blonde tress bouncing.  She hastily tucked it back in its place.

Semara: Nothin' else sir.

Hobart: Then you have your orders. I need to advise the Captain, and I need to do it before we get to Alpha Trionus II. Dismissed.

Semara: Yessir.

She pivoted to exit, only to find herself almost squashed between a Human and a Kressari officer - perhaps a different Betazoid's fantasy in a different time and place, but she only just managed to keep in a little mousey eep! from escaping her lips without such things crossing her mind or even coming anywhere near it.  A nimble slip to one side got her out of the way, and she actually managed to giggle a little at the absurdity of it and so many officers trying to navigate their way around the tight space.

She tried to give Connor a little smile when she finally caught sight of his sullen face and felt his clumping weight, only to be disheartened that he almost certainly missed it as he maneuvered past.

Somewhere underneath all the noise in her head her usual self was still trying to surface.

With a sigh, she followed Ras into the turbolift.  At least she wasn't the only one.

(( Turbolift, A system of tubes, USS Khitomer ))

The weight of everything that just happened in the last few hours set back in as the lift started to move under her feet.

Semara: Heavens, Ras.  I ain't got a clue where to begin...

El'Heem: Response

Her face scrunched up and her lips twirled oddly with a huff that was meant to show a bit of mirth.  He didn't even need to ask, and she didn't even need to come anywhere near his thoughts to accurately guess their contents.

Semara: 'Course I'm emotionally compromised.  How can I not be?  :: Beat :: But I won't watch us become murderers.  I can confidently say never.  :: A wince looking up at Ras :: Tori said she and I fought about it 'fore I died.  I get the sense I didn't give an inch.

El'Heem: Response

Artificial gravity pulled Amelia's head back down from its upward angle to Ras to a downward angle at the floor.  The lurch of the turbolift shifting to horizontal motion made her stomach churn a little.  Or maybe that was guilt.

Semara: I didn't want to disrupt the conference.  It was bad 'nough as it was...  But I felt like I had to go to her, at least telepathically.  I still ain't sure if it was a good idea.  :: Beat, shaking her head. :: So much hurt, Ras...  I want to believe we can change for her sake, but...

She trailed off and looked back up to Ras once more.  He'd made it pretty clear what he'd believed in the conference.  Or maybe he had - her thoughts had been swirling and all the emotions were kicking up so much dust it was hard to see anything beyond her own nose clearly.

Semara: You really think we can't change things?

El'Heem: Response

Tag / TBC...

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Lieutenant Junior Grade Amelia Magnolia Semara

Science Officer - Special Projects

USS Khitomer - NCC-62400

A239710MA0