JP: Commander Etan, Commander Rouiancet, Lt Promontory, Lt Kessler, Lt Kel: Kessler's Gambit - Thresish PART 2
Avander Promentory
Kessler's Gambit - Thresish PART 2
((Intelligence Suite, Deck E, USS ‘Oumuamua))
Jack looked ready to burst. Rouiancet was stoic, professional as always–including her had been an insistence by the Commodore. Avander was anxious, but doing his best to radiate confidence.
Promontory: Jack, have a seat.
oO Have a seat…that does not sound good. Oo Jack’s mind was racing. Did they unlock the data? Of course they had and that’s why Commander Rouiancet was here. No doubt wanting to know where Jack got the file and probably to throw him into the brig.
Kessler: Well, what did you find? ::beat:: Come on Avander, the suspense is killing me.
Promontory: I know buddy. We’re almost ready.
Lia crossed her arms and pinned Lieutenant Kessler with a gaze. She’d accepted the commodore’s invitation to accompany Kessler on his mission, but that didn’t mean she approved. This was, too, a very different context than that in which she’d last encountered this pair: when they’d supported Commander Etan during his bridge officer’s exam. Kessler had proved himself very able on that occasion, and Lia hoped that he would show the same foresight and fortitude here.
Rouiancet: I know I’m more of an advisor here, Mr. Kessler, but I’d advise you to take Mr. Promontory’s advice.
Jack looked to the Commander and his chest tightened. Holding tight was not his best skill in this particular instance. On most occasions sure but this was different. The Commander saw that, didn't she?
Kessler: Yes sir.
Promontory: Well, the long and the short of it is that the intelligence checks out. (beat) We have verification of a number of high value targets being held… ::keying a console:: here.
A holographic display of Zet sector space filled the space above the desk. Avander gestured to a region near the edge of the interdiction zone.
Promontory: The Commodore can’t sanction an official mission. Not with the current state of the astro-politics of the region, but…
Rouiancet: She can give her plausibly deniable blessing, and also assign someone as her (beat) proxy. (spreading her arms) So here I am.
Jack could barely believe his ears. He was so sure he was going to have to fight for this unsanctioned mission and now the three of them were going to hit this covertly.
Kessler: ::looking to Avander:: Small group, just the three of us?
Promontory: And one more…
The doors hissed open and Dr. Kel walked in.
It was a welcome relief to be out of sickbay. The flurry of new personnel coming aboard the Oumuamua had not let up for days and V’Len had been spending parts of his off shift reviewing everyone’s files. He was not sure what the summons was for, but it was a welcome distraction. Upon entering the room however, V'Len's antenna drew back. Rouiancet, Promontory and Kessler sat around the table. V’Len felt he was punching above his weight.
Kel: ::slowly making his way to a chair:: Evening all.
Jack stood from his chair and reached out to V’Len. He could not imagine taking on this mission without his friend but at the same time he had not wanted to involve him in something that was as dangerous as this was going to be.
Kessler: I couldn’t do this without you buddy.
V’Len was unsure what “this” was but given the cast of characters around the table he had to wonder how many of them he would find himself patching up. Momentarily he wondered why Winters or Elaryn had not been pulled, but he dismissed that thought. Whatever was happening Jack wanted V’Len along and V’Len would not disappoint.
Rouiancet: Well, if this is the whole group, then…
Lia trailed off without finishing her thought. She was fairly sure that they would find themselves in dire straits before too long, and she wasn’t at all sure that they would be ready for it. Commodore V’Airu had asked her to accompany the lieutenants, true, but she’d never forbidden Lia from asking someone else to accompany them, too. The question was, if Lia wanted to ask someone else, who would it be?
Rouiancet: I suppose we might have everything we need.
But, of course, perhaps not everyone.
Promontory: That and the ship.
Case in point, Lia thought. She was ready to get going, but had completely neglected to think of how they would go. Some advisor she was!
It came to her in a rush. She’d already thought about him in the context of working with Lieutenants Kessler and Promontory, after all: Commander Etan. The commodore might not be too happy about the group’s surprise recruitment of her first officer – but that was only if he agreed.
Rouiancet: What about a craft that isn’t officially registered to ‘Oumuamua? (beat) And there may be one more thing…
Kessler: ::turning back to the Commander:: The Foxy Lady will be perfect. When do we leave?
Kel: The Foxy Lady? First off, where are we going? Second, Vomek, Nilsen and Arlill have been working on her for a week. We’re going to want to give her a thorough once over before we take her too far.
Promontory: We’re going here. We have actionable intelligence on Caboto crew members. And we could use a non-Federation ship.
Avander nodded to the holomap that was still on display. He kept it up for a minute while V’Len’s eyes caught it and then deleted it. They ought not to leave a record of this.
Rouiancet: It’s a good choice. Foxy Lady isn’t an official Starfleet design, as such, nor is it plastered with ‘Oumuamua registry numbers and transponders.
Avander looked over the assembled staff. This was a good sized group and, more to the point, a competent one. Too many people would attract too much attention and too few might leave critical holes in their support. He nodded at Jack.
Jack nodded and his face became much more serious. The thought of what they were about to do setting in for the first time as an actual mission vs a thought of one. The players were all the right ones but the stakes were high.
Kessler: Nothing that can lead back to Starfleet or the Federation. I’ll put together weapons and communications that can’t be traced back.
Promontory: Can I suggest the doctor implant subcutaneous transmitters, just in case? Special Ops don't always have the luxury of more straightforward approaches.
They would have to rely on whatever the doctor could provide and hope that was sufficient. To get any specialized tech from the engineers would be to involve too many people in this endeavor.
So, black ops was the order of the day. V’Len knew this would come up sooner or later. Lenshran had eagerly undertaken several such missions during the late stages of the Dominion War. V’Len was less eager.
Kel: What would you like these subcutaneous transmitters to do? Ideally I’d talk to Dr. Brzezinski, she’d probably have some good ideas. However, ::looking around the room:: I’m assuming you want this little caprice to stay in the circle of trust.
Avander nodded. Ideally, outside the Commodore, the only people who knew of this mission should be on the mission.
Rouiancet: The fewer people who know, the better. Whatever we think we might need, we should make sure one of this team is able to provide. (beat) But what would you think of adding one more person to the group? (another beat) Commander Etan, specifically.
She looked around at the group, and no one seemed to immediately disagree with the choice. Good. She’d contact him straightaway, as soon as the group figured out what else they needed.
Avander looked at the rifle mounted above his chair. Perhaps it was time to take it into the field.
Kel: I’ll bring a couple of my big medbags as a well.
Jack again nodded at the suggestions. Medical supplies would be hard to replicate once they were in the field and depending on the Zet, they were most likely going to need those supplies. Jack made the mental list of what they each needed and then paused as he made a final sweep around the room.
Kessler: I can’t thank each of you more than I am now for what we are about to do. I know we all are aware of what the Zet are capable of and I do not want to put any of you in harm's way looking for my parents.
Kel: ::smiling at his friend:: There’s no place else I’d rather be.
Rouiancet: (with a slight shrug) I said I’d go. I’m not going back on that now.
Promontory: Even if it wasn’t your folks, it’s a good mission. Starfleet shouldn’t leave anyone behind. (beat) But I think we’re all hopeful to get you and your parents reunited.
Allowing a humbled smile to cross his lips Jack nodded again to those in front of him and then turned to exit the office.
Kessler: I’ll meet you all on the Foxy Lady as soon as I have the gear ready. Give me about an hour.
Promontory: If anyone asks, I suggest telling them that we’re attending a… :: looking at V’Len:: … Dr. Sevrin concert at Port Loray?
V’Len tried to look unsurprised, while at the same time wondering if Promontory actually knew something or was just bluffing. He decided on the latter.
Kel: Seems plausible. You should talk to Nesre, she’s the real fan I hear.
Rouiancet: (with a nod) Not a bad idea. We should all be comfortable with our cover story.
Kel: So we have weapons and a ship. I’ll get the medical supplies and these subcutaneous transmitters. I imagine we won’t want to wear our uniforms. I’m open to suggestions for alternate garb. Alternatively I could give everyone some time in the surgical suite. We could go as a band of klingons ::thinking:: or Jem Ha’dar. Maybe even plain simple Bolian tailors.
Promontory: ::drolly:: I for one am very excited to change out of my uniform and into some black mission garb. (beat) But, no, I don’t think surgical disguises are necessary. There are trillions of lifeforms in this sector. (beat) If we run into anyone who could make us, we’ll already be facing bigger problems than a facelift could solve.
Avander considered the recent encounter with one Roger Hartmann on an Esh-o station. That probably qualified as a ‘bigger problem.’
--
Lieutenant Jack Kessler
Chief Tactical Officer
USS Oumuamua
T239901JK1
&
Lt Avander Promontory
Intelligence Officer
USS Oumuamua
O239910AP4
&
Lieutenant jg TK Cabrillo
Engineering Officer
USS Oumuamua
T239901JK1
&
Commander Lia Rouiancet
Strategic Operations Officer
USS 'Oumuamua
V238208LV0
he/him/his (player) & she/her/hers (this character)
&
Commander Etan Iljor
Executive Officer
USS Oumuamua
NCC 81226
&
Lieutenant V’Len Kel
Chief Medical Officer
USS Oumuamua NCC-81226
T239811VK2
He/Him (character and player)