Lieutenant Jack Kessler - You are correct Captain

[Joel Cannistraro]

((Deck 03, Bridge, Captain's Ready Room, USS Ronin))

Karrod held up a hand and Jack's grin turned into more of an inquisitive smile. 

Niac:  It's a bit of a long story...the short version of which is that our former Chief Science Officer had a pet that was one part canine and twelve parts Andorian mastodon.  Adorable but an absolute menace...more than a bit like her, actually.  Regardless...something tells me you didn't schedule this meeting just to introduce me to your synthetic companion here.  What's this about?  How does this relate to the Zet?  

Jack's smile faded slightly but he remained absolutely still. No shifting, no body language to give away his apprehension that the Captain might disapprove of this plan.

Kessler:  I need your permission for an off the books authorization to participate in a wildly dangerous rescue mission.

oO Hold your ground Jack. Back straight, shoulders tall. This is extremely important to the Federation as well. Oo

Karrod's mouth hung open slightly.  

Niac:  You're kidding...::One look at the mans expression changed his mind::...you're not kidding.  Go on.  

Jack's face shifted to a more serious look. He held the Captains gaze for the briefest of moments and then looked down to his lap as he picked up the other device he had carried in with him. The device resembled a late 2250's Tricorder. Jack held it up for Niac to see and then sat it on the floor to his left.

Kessler:  K9, activate.

As Logan had, a swirling of lights encircled the device taking on the form of another Earth canine. This time, sitting next to Jack was a solid black German Shepherd. Unlike Logan, this canine did not move or look around with the exception of a slight head twist as it stared directly at Niac.

Kessler: After Chief Corelli and I designed Logan, we designed a military version for Lt. Colonel Greaves and his Marines. We called it the K9 series. This is ::gesturing to the form sitting next to him:: K9 Bravo. This series is designed for a multitude of applications. One of which is covert surveillance and data collection. ::beat:: As for the Zet, when I was captured, our team had K9 Alpha with us. In all the confusion of the teams retreat K9 was not retrieved from its observation position. During my time at Itech'eman K9 found me, I placed him into long term surveillance mode and then when Commander Kel and Colonel Greaves rescued me our plan was to circle back and get K9. That did not work out.

Jack paused to let the information sink in. The Captain would surely understand what Jack was about to ask for. An infiltration unit had been left behind at the Zet's foremost prisoner holding facility before they were sold off to other species in the Gamma Quadrant. 

Niac: You're telling me there's what amounts to a multi-spectrum probe sitting in the middle of an adversaries encampment and it has been soaking up tactical data all this time?  And you want to go and get it back?  

Kessler: This solely about retrieving K9. It's been nearly a year and a half since I was captured and he went into data collection. The communication logs, prisoner observations and identifications he could bring back to the Federation, especially on Starfleet prisoners is priceless.

Niac: The tactical and strategic value of the data isn't lost on me, Lieutenant, but you're asking me to sanction a strike against a fortified enemy position that is, and I'm sure I don't need to remind you of this, in the Gamma Quadrant.  Where the Federation has few resources and your options for backup, if and when something goes wrong, are slim.  

Kessler: I understand the risk and the fact that Starfleet has diplomatic responsibilities with the United Dominion of Planets to think about. ::beat:: That's for the higher ups to deal with. I am dealing with the fact that the Zet have taken two Starfleet vessels that we know of. Two crews have been sold to various other groups and our technology is being sold off to the highest bidder. ::beat:: The data K9 has collected can turn the tide to our favor. That I do not doubt in the least.

Niac: Mr. Kessler...Jack.  When V'Len stepped into this office and proposed the rescue mission which ultimately lead you to that chair you're sitting in, do you know what I asked him before I agreed?  

Jack knew this was going to be a hard sell to someone who had not been face to face with the Zet as far as he knew but he also knew, from word of mouth, Niac was a Captain who was not afraid to step outside the lines when it really mattered. What did Jack need to give the man to prove the risk was well with the reward of getting that information back?

Kessler:  No sir.

Niac:  I asked him to give me a real plan.  To tell me there was a team, with a real chance of success that isn't based on grit and optimism.  To convince me that I wasn't handing these Zet another Starfleet prisoner.  Or worse.  Can you do that, Jack?  Can you convince me that you have a real goal with a clear, achievable objective and that this isn't just about getting payback? Speak freely. 

Jack knew the risk was more than just himself and Captain Niac did not know Jack at all other than his service record and what little he would have seen form this last mission before Jack fell victim to the Terralian Plague aboard the Compass Rose. 

Kessler:  ::straight faced:: First Captain, I assure you I am not asking you to formally sanction any mission that would put the Ronin or its crew in any harm. Second, I do have a plan but it will take a bit of time to put all the pieces together. In the Gamma Quadrant at Port Coray, a remote space station there is a Cardassian who own the Jonkuva. The business is a front for everything he offers to those who need anything in the Gamma Quadrant. Information, ships, weapons, maps, ::beat:: you name it and Gavet will give you a price. An agreement gets you what you asked for and no questions asked. I have dealt with him a couple of times under Commodore V'Aivu's permission to obtain information that the UDP was less forthcoming with on the Zet. Next is Cooper Cree. A former Starfleet Marine, turned Starfleet Intelligence who is now a private contractor in the Gamma Quadrant. He left Starfleet to work where Starfleet could not due to red tape and bureaucracy. Cree operates a Kaplan F17 Freighter called the "Broken Arrow". He will be the ride in and out of Itech'eman. My plan involves needing one or 2 volunteers with infiltration experience. Once we get close enough to the facility I can activate a recall for K9 and he will make his way to us. The plan does not actually involve us entering the facility or engaging the Zet in any way.

Jack watched as Niac rubbed at the bridge of his nose as he assumed the Captain was considering the variables.   

Niac:  You're this ship's Chief of Security and Tactical.  You've got extensive experience across two quadrants.  You've been a prisoner of the very same species you're intending to go back and kick in the shin, assuming they have those.  Why now?  The Ronin is a fresh start for you...one your friend V'Len fought very hard to make happen, both metaphorically and literally.  How would he feel if he knew you were considering this...action?  Something tells me you haven't discussed this idea with him.

The Captain was right. He had not mentioned this to V'Len. Knowing what happened last time they went after data from the Zet V'Len would most likely try to talk Jack out of this and if the roles were reversed Jack would probably do the same to V'Len. He lowered his eyes as he thought about the risks, the Zet and the way they fight. A chill ran down his spine as he recalled TK exiting the cell hold Lieutenant Commander Grant and a Zet's weapons bolt striking TK in the chest, sending the man to the floor unconscious. That mission was meant to avoid any contact with the Zet and it all went wrong in a heartbeat. oO Only because we did not know the Zet. Not this time. Oo

Kessler:  ::looking back up to the Captain:: I'll be honest, this whole thing with the Zet. I wish I could put it behind me, close the book on them and walk away. In a way, V'Len asking me here to the Ronin was an escape from that nightmare and you are correct, I have not mentioned this to him. He would disapprove and talk me out of it. ::beat, sitting more upright:: You are correct Captain. I am Ronin's Chief of Security and Tactical. My mind should be focused here and I should let Starfleet and the Federation diplomatic corp handle this. ::beat:: Forget I brought this up and I apologize for taking up your time with it.

Jack pursed his lips together and lost eye contact with his Captain. He had taken this new position to better himself, to improve his leadership roles and, in an unconscious thought, to get away from the nightmare the Zet had brought on him and his family. 

Niac: response

Kessler: No sir. I should not have brought this up, the Consortium should be my focus and I should have faith that Starfleet and the Federation Diplomatic Corps will achieve the end result we all want.

Jack did not believe that for a moment. Starfleet higher ups and their hands full with the United Dominion of Planets and the Federation Diplomatic corp were crawling at an insanely slow pace in getting anywhere on the disappearance of the USS Caboto or the USS Suesser. The fact remained though, if he had wanted to continue to chase this threat, then Jack should have kept himself on the Butler where he did just that. Instead, he had removed himself from the Butler and from the Gamma Quadrant entirely.

Niac: response

Kessler: I appreciate that Captain.

Jack was losing his own path on what this whole meeting was to be about. He was not second guessing himself and why he was here in the ready room with the Captain with a request that anyone not operating in the Gamma Quadrant would look at two, three or four times with the same look Niac had on his face. The Ronin had other threats to deal with and Niac did not need Jack wanting to run back off to the Gamma Quadrant. 

Niac: response

TAGS/TBC

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Lieutenant Jack Kessler

Chief Tactical/Security Officer

USS Ronin

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