Lieutenant Alira Venn: We're Not all Bad
Isara Aleron
Alira had been presenting her findings on the cosmozoans she’d studied over the last few years. In her estimation, they were all dangerous and should automatically receive a threat classification. Then, after investigation, that could be modified up or down. And this creature, whatever it was, was potentially a threat as well. She flipped her presentation to the next screen and continued with Captain Niac’s permission.
Venn: Gomtuu. Commander Raga has already mentioned this one as well, and as the Chief of Security has pointed out, it destroyed a Romulan Warbird.
She flipped the screen again. It showed sequential snapshots of the incident in which the Warbird had been destroyed as captured by the USS Enterprise-D.
Niac: As I recall the only reason they made it through that particular encounter was due to the involvement of a civilian diplomat who made...contact with the creature somehow. The mission reports I read were never particularly clear on that point but I believe telepathy was involved. Mr. Kel, Lt. Velis...fill in some blanks here if you could.
Kel: Indeed there was an intelligence there, and contact was made by a Betazoid via telepathy. Many of the "complications" of that mission could be attributed to the hostilities between the Romulans and the Federation.
Tucker: ::under his breath:: Freakin’ Romulans, bullies, the lot of them.
Beck: Some would argue they got what was coming to them. I am hardly surprised the Enterprise managed to make it out, though - they were plenty resourceful, and Picard was known for taking measured steps.
Raga: They were at that time but post Hobus they’re a bit different. But yes, they did provide a complication.
Velis: Response
Venn: It is true that this ended well for our people, but the Romulans didn’t fare so well. And that is a nice segue into the other possible threat here. The Lattice Alliance and the Consortium. Take the incident with Gomtuu. Why were the Romulans there in the first place? Because they saw the opportunity to secure a weapon. Oh, they claimed interest in First Contact, but have no doubt that they were seeking an edge against us. Do any of you have any doubts that the Lattice Alliance or the Consortium would see a similar opportunity here? There are a few more examples, like the Crystaline Entity, the Space Jellyfish encountered by the Cerritos, or even the creatures at Farpoint Station. I don’t think anyone here will argue that the Crystaline Entity was peaceful. The reality that this creature poses a risk exists, and if our enemies get ahold of it first, that risk increases exponentially. And that’s why I am here. Threat assessment. The final risk determination will be yours, of course, Captain Niac, but I’m tasked with bringing my expertise to advise on a course of action.
The one called Tucker stood up with a raised eyebrow and looked at Commander Kel.
Kel: ::angrily:: The crystalline entity acted purely on instinct, there was no malice. It's no different than me eating an apple and killing the bacteria on the surface. Starfleet was eventually able to communicate with the creature.
oO No malice? Perhaps, but it still killed a lot of people. Malice is … irrelevant. Oo
Realizing her thoughts were starting to sound Borg-like, she was grateful she didn’t say them out loud.
Niac: Thank you Lieutenants....what your information lacks in depth it more than makes up for in grave implications. Something tells me we're all going to lose some sleep over this in the next few days...but I am determined not to become another statistic in the 'failed first contact' ledger. So here's what we're going to do. Lieutenant Velis...you're to work with Commander Kel. He's our Chief Science Officer and for the purposes of this mission you're to report to him. Get the science and medical teams together...I expect everybody who isn't already an expert in astrobiology to become one in… ::he glanced at the chrono:: ...about three hours. Doctor Beck, if anyone from your team has relevant expertise I want them working with V'Len's people.
Beck: ::sighing:: Far as I know, that might only be me, but I'll poll my people. ::to Kel:: I'll send you a shortlist when I know better.
Velis: Response
Niac: Lt. Venn, you work for Lt. Kessler now. :: Alira looked over at the man and nodded. :: Mr. Kessler, I want your team to start developing tactical contingencies assuming the full spectrum of possible responses to our presence from 'big space fish wants a hug' to 'it just ate a nacelle and it still looks hungry.' Pull in Major Singh's people if it'll help...although I'm hesitant to even consider deploying our fighter craft in proximity to something like that. I want all the options you can give me before we try to make contact with the unknown creature. Understood?
Kessler: Aye sir.
Venn: Yes, sir.
Niac: Mr. Tucker...get back down to your people, see if any of them have expertise in biomechanics. If we can study this thing we'll need to understand it in a biological and a mechanical sense. Guess which side of that coin you get to focus on while you're working to make the good ship Ronin look as nonthreatening and...unappetizing as possible. That just leaves us, Mr. Raga...and we get the fun job.
Tucker: Aye, Skipper, I’ll head down there now.
Raga: Well, as long as we’re having fun. ::he smirked:: How exactly do we end up with the fun job?
Niac: Well I've got a symbiote in my guts that won't shut up and you're telepathically bonded with an owl who you keep telling us is housebroken. I think we're about as close to first contact experts as we're likely to find in the next three hours...so lets setup shop in here and go over some of the mission reports from those other crews, see if we can figure out a way to avoid ending up in one of these slideshows some future crew is scowling at. Alright...questions?
Beck: No questions. At least… none that you can answer for me.
Alira shook her head negatively. She’d provided all the data she had available to her. Given some of their reactions, she was certain they would still be skeptical of that fact, but she’d just have to deal with that for now.
Any: Response
Niac: Lt. Venn, Lt. Velis...for the duration of this mission you are a part of this crew and I will expect you to perform your duties with that in mind. There is a plaque on the bridge which bears the words 'for their tomorrows...we give our today.' It has become a rallying cry for this crew because that is our level of commitment...to one another, to the mission, and to the people we serve. I'll expect the same from you. If for one moment I feel like you're holding out on us, if you're withholding information or working with some agenda of your own, you'll spend the mission in your quarters or in the brig. Am I clear?
Alira bit down on her temper. She understood that they felt she wasn’t being entirely forthcoming. All to often, Intelligence officers had to withhold vital information for security reasons. It had even cost people lives on one operation she’d provided intel for. She’d hated that fact, but there had been little she could do. But in this case, she’d been as open as she possibly could be and it irked her that the Captain would think less. She came to perfect attention and looked him in the eyes. For a Rodulan, that was normally a sign of respect, and to some degree that was true here. But in this instance, it was also a challenge. She was going to show them all that not everyone in Intelligence was untrustworthy. Especially not her.
Venn: I understand, sir.
She turned that gaze on the First Officer as well, the same challenge still in her eyes.
Velis: Response
Niac: Then get to work. Dismissed. We've got three hours to intercept and I intend to be ready.
Kessler: Yes sir. ::beat:: Lieutenant Venn, follow me please.
Venn: Yes, sir.
She abruptly headed out of the conference room, following the Lieutenant.
((Turbolift, USS Ronin))
She stepped into the turbolift and stood next to the Chief of Security as he ordered their destination. She could sense something about his demeanor that she felt she should address if they were going to work together successfully. Something about his body language, combined with something she was sensing from his emotions.
Kessler: Deck 11.
As the turbolift started to move, she looked over at him and broached the subject.
Venn: Do you have a personal problem with me, Lieutenant Kessler? Or is it simply because I’m in – was in – Intelligence?
She’d had to correct herself since technically she wasn’t in Intelligence at the moment. True, she’d likely go back once this operation was over, but until then she was just a mission specialist trying to do her job.
Kessler: ::looking over to Venn:: Excuse me? Why do you ask?
Venn: I’m an analyst, Lieutenant. I have been trained to read people’s body language. I’m also part Rodulan, and while I don’t use my telepathy without consent, I still get glimpses of emotion. That, and you’re request to have the unredacted information all tell me that you have an issue with me. More likely, with Intelligence.
The man clasped his hands behind his back and seemed to consider his response. She appreciated that fact, because an emotional response wasn’t going to serve them right now.
Kessler: Let's just say I have a bad history with Starfleet Intelligence. It will not affect this mission if that is what you are worried about Lieutenant.
She thought about that for a moment, nodding. She’d suspected as much, and while she wasn’t aware of the details, she really didn’t need to know either. As long as he was assuring her it would not affect his professionalism, she really didn’t need him to like her.
oO But just once, I wish someone could see beyond my job. Oo
Venn: To a large degree, yes, it is. I appreciate you saying that, sir. Although I don’t need you to like me, I do need to work with you and it will be a whole lot easier if we agree to set aside personal issues up front.
Kessler: Response
She turned her head back toward the doors and waited. Just as the lift came to a stop, she turned back to him once more.
Venn: We’re not all bad, you know. And I hope that by the time we’re done here, I can redeem Starfleet Intelligence in your eyes. Even just a little bit.
The doors slid open and she stepped out, waiting for him to guide her to their destination.
Kessler: Response
Lieutenant Alira Venn
Mission Specialist (Intelligence)
USS Ronin, NCC-34523
A239412S10