Lt. Cmdr. Alora DeVeau - "Meeting's Over, Let's Get Moving"
Amanda Nordstrom
((Large Conference Room –
StarBase 118 Ops))
Change. It was inevitable for most people. Although there
were species who had, supposedly, been around for millenia,
even they must have experienced it at some point - or, at the
very least, watched as it happened all around them. For
people like her and most of those she knew, however, change
came whether they wanted it or not. Sometimes it was small.
A change in tastes. A change in scenery. A change in habit.
Sometimes it was larger. The changing of seasons. The
changing of homes. The changing of positions. For Starbase
118, this was a fairly big change. The man they looked to as
the main leader of the Starbase would no longer accompany them
for most missions. The red hair that was so easily seen, that
was a mark in their minds, the presence that brought them
comfort would not be physically there. They were going to
have to get used to that. Even though she’d only been with
the base for a little over a year, Alora was going to find it
an adjustment as well - though she wasn’t surprised by it. If
it kept him safer, then that was the best course of action.
Once that announcement was made, Sal opened the floor.
Taybrim: Before we begin the briefing, I wanted to give some
time for you to ask questions. I hope this transition does
not seem like too much of a shock, but I want to make it as
smooth as possible.
Alora was certain it wasn’t a shock, even if it wasn’t to
her. She, too, would feel odd not having him there, but it
was necessary. It was right. He was higher up in the chair.
He had bigger affairs to coordinate. They would have to do
without him.
Taelon: So, are you - when we leave on missions, you’ll be
staying behind?
Taybrim: I will be staying on StarBase 118 for some missions,
yes. ::he offered a smile:: Don’t worry. Other missions are
still under my purview so you’re not getting rid of me quite
yet.
Alora opened her mouth, then shut it as she looked down at her
food. Poking a piece of meat with her fork, she took a bite
and remained silent as others continued.
Tatash: We’ll try harder.
Taelon/Any: ?
Once the questions were finished, Sal searched for something,
or rather someone . Two someones. Specifically, Ensigns
Andrews and Drevas, then handed both of them PADDs.
Taybrim: I wanted to thank you both again for your assistance
last mission. You both did a tremendous job. And, I’m not
sure if this is good news or bad news, but you both will be
staying here on StarBase 118 with me for the upcoming
mission. I recommended you both to Admiral Hauke for some
security upgrades to our transport lanes and she’s very
interested in having you both work on the taskforce. It’s an
important job and I’m sure you will both shine on that
project.
Drevas/Andrews: ?
After both of them had departed, Sal focused back on the group
that remained. Once more, he took a breath. He’d done a lot
during that meeting. Was it a way of trying to get himself to
adjust to the changes? Something else? A way to steel
himself against something he didn’t want? To try and push
away the worries that surely came with the what ifs and
unknowns of change?
Taybrim: So, let me give a quick overview. Six days ago the
Federation freighter FIS Zarmaeon experienced critical engine
failure and exploded in the atmosphere of Astraemin V, home of
Utopia Colony. The Zarmaeon was carrying chemicals for
terraforming and a number of common but volatile substances.
::He drew in a deep breath and let everyone process that.::
This filled the atmosphere of Astraemin with poison and the
Utopia Colony called Starfleet for aid. As the nearest base,
we were easily able to replicate the necessary anti-toxin and
immediately sent a Federation medical frigate to aid the
colony.
As she took another bite of the uttaberry tart, Alora’s brow
furrowed into a frown. Poison? Anti-toxin? If the
Federation sent aid, then why was it being mentioned there?
In a meeting, one known that would contain a briefing for a
new mission?
Because that was the new mission, wasn’t it? Something had
happened...
Taybrim: However, the frigate was attacked by pirates and its
entire cargo load was stolen. Very brash of someone to attack
a Federation frigate in federation space. So Starfleet sent
the USS Apgar with a second load of medicine from StarBase 118
two days ago. ::He sighed, readying them for the dark
punchline.:: The Apgar was attacked and shot down. The
managed to make an emergency landing on Vestis VII and sent a
distress call. That’s when starfeet intel became heavily
involved.
Yes. Something had, indeed, happened. The frown deepened,
and the last bite of tart was returned to the plate. First
ship destroyed. Second shot down. Next?
Taybrim: Intel intercepted an independent medical trader on
StarBase 118 trying to tamper with the relief supplies, and
after interrogation found several useful leads. Which brings
us to where we are now. ::Another breath.:: while
unconfirmed, Starfleet Intel has a strong suspicion that the
freighter explosion as well as the subsequent attacks have
been orchestrated by the splinter group calling themselves
Terra Prime.
Tatash: A terrorist organisation that believes in racial
supremacy, very much the bad guys. ::he paused, sending over a
brief dossier on them to everyone else in the room:: There’s
some reading for you all.
Immediately, Alora winced. Terra Prime. Who didn’t know
about them? They were a group that gave a bad name to all
people who were from Earth. A planet that had a melting pot
on its own without the presence of those from other worlds
would seemingly be more open to integrating other peoples, but
not Terra Prime. While they didn’t represent a large portion
of Earth’s population, they were fanatical enough to cause
trouble. And Utopia? So named because its very existence was
made up by a multitude of species from all across the galaxy.
It represented a future that Terra Prime wanted to avoid at
all costs. Even at the cost of lives. Because to them, those
lives weren’t worth anything. They were so narrow minded, so
bigoted, so short sighed that they didn’t care if they harmed
anyone who wasn’t fully human.
Yael: So we’re assuming Utopia Colony was targeted, then.
Any: ?
Taybrim: I am sending the USS Avalon A to assist the USS Apgar
and ensure that the medical supplies are delivered to the
destination. However your role is more critical. Intel has
tracked this group and believe they are using the independent
spaceport of Miranda VII as a base of operations.
Miranda VII. It wasn’t a particularly desirable location for
most people. It attracted all sorts of unwantables.
Criminals. Those who dealt in the shadows.
And evidently Terra Prime. That was, if the reports were to
be believed - and Alora had a feeling they were completely
accurate.
Any: ?
Taybrim: The overall goal is to prevent this group from
launching any further attacks on Utopia or any other colony.
But you will be in separate groups each with a specific goal.
Commander DeVeau, you will work with Counselor Yael and Doctor
Bailey to open up negotiations with this group. We’re not
sure that it’s actually Terra Prime. This group could have a
completely different agenda. Your primary goal is to gather
as much information from the splinter group through diplomatic
means and reach a diplomatic solution if possible.
DeVeau: We’ll do our best to diffuse the situation, no matter
who it may be.
Yael: ::nodding sagely:: We’ll do our best to sort things
out. But… what do we do if it *is* Terra Prime? Or if
they’re someone else, but have further violent motives?
Alora glanced over at Ashley and Sheila. Ashley was one
person Terra Prime didn’t want to deal with at all. He was
representative of what they were openly trying to prevent and
avoid and destroy. Bailey, while not a hybrid, wasn’t human.
Yet, as Sal had said, they weren’t a hundred percent sure it
was really Terra Prime. Perhaps it was a completely different
group, maybe even using the name as a cover for some reason.
Ultimately, that’s all they could do, but hopefully it would
be enough. If they could avoid violence, all the better.
Bailey: ?
Taybrim: If a diplomatic solution is not possible, disengage
and stay safe.
DeVeau: Acknowledged, sir.
As a diplomatic contingent, they weren’t exactly going in
there armed to the gills. No, best to remain at a distance.
There were others who would go in with guns blazing if it came
down to it. Hopefully it wouldn’t.
Yael/Bailey: ?
Taybrim: Major Tatash, Commander Kasun, Lieutenant Taelon and
Ensign Amaase – your main objective is to find the fighter
ships that are housed or docked at Miranda VII and prevent
them from launching an attack. You are authorized to use
sabotage if necessary.
At the sound of his name, Tatash straightened. Considering
the fact they were being placed into a position like that
right off the bat, the likelihood it would be necessary was
pretty much guaranteed.
Tatash: Operating as one strike force?
Kasun/Taelon/Amaase: ?
Taybrim: I prefer you working in two teams of two each. You
can plan your approach and teams as you prefer. ::he passed a
PADD over.:: Here is all of the information Starfleet intel
could gather on the attacking ships so you can match the ships
as you find them.
Tatash accepted the PADD and perused the information, then
passed it along.
Tatash: One team for remote sabotage and e-warfare. One team
for the personal touch, if we have to. Got the right people
for the job. Those birds will never fly again,
Sir.Kasun/Taelon/Amaase: ?
Alora’s gaze swept over the four officers, but lingered a
moment on Ishani. She had a daughter - granted, technically
unborn, but still a baby. A child. What if something
happened to her?
It dawned on her that what if was surely considered by each
and every Starfleet officer who had children. What if. What
if. There were a lot of what ifs, and no one could account
for every single one of them. They would have to do their
best to stay safe and hope nothing went wrong.
Taybrim: Commander McLaren, you’ll be working with Lieutenant
Blackwell and Commander Nijil. Your role is to infiltrate
Miranda VII and gain as much information on the splinter group
as possible. Confirm if it is actually Terra Prime and what
relationship they have – if any – with the Orion Syndicate.
The Orion Syndicate. Since their re-establishment, they
seemed to have dipped their toes into an awful lot of pools.
Klingons. Puppeteering masterminds. Terra Prime. Even though
they weren’t human, they would use Terra Prime to gain any
advantage they could - and Terra Prime would do the same for
their own cause. Eventually, Alora suspected one would turn
on the other. It wouldn’t be pretty.
McLaren/Blackwell/Nijil: ?
Taybrim: The MTF Maximum Thrusters and any independent ship we
have in impound is at your disposal.
McLaren/Blackwell/Nijil: ?
Now Sal turned to another, that of a well manicured Andorian
man. Ishreth had a daughter too. Did she worry about her
daddy? She must. But that was the way it was when one was in
Starfleet.
Taybrim: Commander Dal, you will be in command of the USS
Rahuba. You will take the crew, launch any undercover vessels
outside of sensor range and approach Miranda VII with the
diplomacy team.
Dal: Understood, Commodore.
Taybrim: You’ll have Ensign Talas and Commander Maxwell with
you. It is critical that you prevent any splinter group ships
from launching an attack on the USS Apgar.
Maxwell: Aye, sir.
Alora caught Max’s eye and she managed a small smile for the
man. As a tactical officer, he’d be vital to coming up with
strategy. Talas was a crack pilot. The trio would make an
excellent team.
Talas: ?
Taybrim: And by the rings, may there not be any cloaked
vessels from former enemies helping this group. But if there
is you call StarBase 118 right away and we’ll send support.
Maxwell: Hopefully there's none ae our old pals out there.
Cloaked vessels. Alora hadn’t even considered that. It would
certainly change the stakes, wouldn’t it?
Talas: ?
Taybrim: Are there any questions?
Any: ?
Alora herself had none. She had more info than some of those
there, but she sat and waited for Sal to answer the
questions. Finishing off her food, she placed the small plate
in her lap, pondering over the situation. Diplomacy. She was
a science officer, not a diplomat. Guess it was time to
learn.
Taybrim: The USS Rahuba is fully stocked for this mission,
you’ll need to pull your preferred undercover vessel and
launch as soon as possible. You’ll have time to prepare once
you’re underway.
Any: ?
Taybrim: I wish you all the best and I know you will overcome
these challenges.
Tatash: Strike team, meet me in the Marine facilities after
this.
Sal smiled, the gentle expression encouraging. Yet, Alora got
the sense he was almost sad. Like a child being left behind
while everyone else went on a field trip. She had to hide her
own smile and rose, putting away the plate and waiting until
any last minute questions were asked, then approached Dal,
Maxwell already having joined him and stood by, listening for
a moment.
Maxwell: Commander, the USS Rahuba is already on final
approach tae her berth. She'll be ready for us tae board by
the time we reach the gangway. ::He turned to Talas.:: You'll
take over as chief pilot.
That was all Alora needed to hear. She turned away and raised
her hand again to catch the attention of Sheila and Ashley,
then hurried over to them.
Yael: We should go over the data together. I want to be on
the same page. Would you like to meet somewhere more private,
or remain here?
Here? No, they needed to get going. As Sal had said, there
would be time to prepare on the way.
Bailey: ?
DeVeau: I want to get on board as soon as possible.
The sooner they got going, the sooner they could get to
Miranda VII, the sooner they could stop whomever was causing
the problems.
Yael: If this *is* Terra Prime, we can expect a certain
degree of zealotry. I’m just… kind of astonished, honestly,
to hear they’re still in operation at all. It’s been decades
since they’ve reared their snake heads. And they’ve rarely
been successful when they have emerged. I’d heard them joked
about by some over the years.
DeVeau: A certain degree? I expect an exorbitant degree of
zealotry. And they’re no joke. It might have been a long
time since we’ve heard from them, but that just means they’ve
managed to keep their doings quiet.
Terra Prime. Even if other species didn’t know about them,
she certainly did. They were a part of Earth’s past that
should have never existed. It was a shameful mark on their
history, and their present.
Bailey: ?
Yael: More like a monster under the bed, meant to frighten
children into obeying. “Be good, or Terra Prime will come get
you.” ::he couldn’t help a slightly awkward smile:: It works
on hybrid kids, at least…
Alora winced. What a horrible thing to tell one’s children?
Why would a parent ever subject their child to that?
Bailey: ?
Yael: I would have expected a mermaid to step out of the sea
before hearing about Terra Prime. I hope it's a mistake.
Surely it's someone parroting the name just for the renown.
DeVeau: I hope so to, but even if they are ‘parroting’ the
name, We still shouldn’t underestimate them.
Bailey: ?
Alora nodded to both of them.
DeVeau: All right, enough chit chat. If you think there’s
something you need, get it now and then proceed immediately to
the Rahuba. I’ll meet you both there, and we’ll commiserate
more once on board. The sooner we get going, the better.
OOC: Going to move us to
the Rahuba in my next sim.
-- Lt. Cmdr. Alora DeVeau First Officer Starbase 118 Ops al...@blar.net M239008AD0