Lieutenant Jack Kessler - Trust No One Mr Mulder
Joel Cannistraro
((Medusa, Argo-Class Shuttle, Somewhere in the Skelter Mountain Range, Proxima Sigma IV))
With the shuttle moving away and his target onboard Jack eyed the woman in front of him as she spoke. He had studied her file already, so now he needed to know the officer before him. This leap of faith was the first start and he was happy with what he had seen thus far.
Kessler: You can ask anything you want. I'll answer or I won't but I'm pretty much an open book.
That apparently earned him a nod and he took mental note.
T'Fearne: I suspect I’ll have plenty of questions later, if you ever decide to speak to me again, Chief. :: dryly ::
Jack narrowed his eyes slightly, posturing for what was suring a more aggressive attack on his actions and making her jump to the shuttle. As he braced himself for the response the Ensign continued.
T'Fearne: For now, :: matter-of-factly :: I’d like you to verify your identity and assure me that neither of you are impostors who’ve taken this shuttle by illicit means. Start by confirming the Ronin's status. Is the crew safe? The ship undamaged? I will know if you lie. :: she lied ::
Jack eased his posture slightly and smiled. oO Good, priority one the ship. Priority two the crew and three....Oo Jack paused and decided that she was clearly in the exact same place he would be if the roles were reversed.
Kessler: The Ronin's status is Green across the board. Crew is safe and ready for mission briefing and departure. Which if Captain Niac has his way will be in a few days.
Jack's eyes tightened on the officer as she nodded slowly, but didn’t relax. She shifted her weight and began a counter clockwise stalk, she maintained a loose stance, outside of his striking range. Jack kept his eyes locked on hers and tried to read the officer as she was trying to read him. From her file he knew that she was a class E3 telepath. She had to be in contact with him to sense anything and even then she was not strong enough to read his thoughts. Which in this case he would be ok if she did.
T'Fearne: Convincing but not enough. Tell me what brought you to the Ronin?
oO Play with her or just be honest up front??? Oo Jack could have continued to test her to see what her breaking point would be in suspicion of him and Winters but he also knew she was out here for more than recreation and he wanted to get to that as well.
Kessler: Your ship's second officer, my best friend, Lieutenant Commander V'Len Kel brought me here. When my friends ask, I answer.
His tone must have been a bit more than he anticipated as she straightened and held up a hand, palm open, fingers, green stained and spread in a silent gesture of surrender. A thin smile tugged at the edge of her mouth.
T'Fearne: Apologies for the interrogation, Chief. This is a lot to absorb for me and we are in the Alpha Isles. Changelings have infiltrated the ship and impersonated crew before. You plucked me off a cliff, claimed to be my new CO, and I didn’t recognize either of you. :: raising her chin slightly :: I’ll follow your orders, of course. But my trust and loyalty aren’t automatic. The last Chief earned that with actions, not just words. I don’t know anything about you yet. So respectfully... your past? Doesn’t hold great meaning to me. What you do now does.
Jack's eyes remained fixed on hers. He did not smile or waiver in his stance. He felt the desire to smile and tell her he understood and respected the position she was taking. Again, as before he would be in the same place as she was if the roles had been reversed. Starfleet put you in positions all the time that pushed trust and loyalty to the test. His father spoke of loyalty to his ship often and it resonated in Jack's head at that moment.
Kessler: ::stepping slightly closer:: I have done nothing at the moment for you to judge 'trust or loyalty' on Ensign. I do not expect you to trust me or anyone else out here until you not have gathered all the intel on them you can. Not when the Ronin or her crew's lives are at stake. Am I clear Ensign?
Elaazni blinked, apparently caught off guard by his response. It was not his intent to do so but it also confirmed her E3 abilities and the fact that she had not been able to read him without physical contact.
T'Fearne: Clear sir. I understand if the position offer is rescinded after subjecting you to that.
Kessler: ::tilting his head slightly:: Rescinded? Why would I rescind my offer to someone who was doing their job? No ensign, you don't don't get out of my sight's that easy.
T'Fearne: response
Jack looked forward to the cockpit and grinned. Michele had remained at the controls and had not joined them as Jack met his new Security officer.
Kessler: That is Marine Captain Michele Winters. She came over with me from the USS Octavia E. Butler. When I need a hammer, I call on her.
Michele looked back from the helm and smiled.
Winters: He would have been dead several times over if I were not around to save his backside. Pleasure to meet you Ensign.
T'Fearne: response
Kessler: Captain Niac says the Ronin is set to launch on her next mission in a day or two. I am not fully up on all the ships Security issues but I am guessing you are not out here on official ships business on your own are you? The question was completely in another direction but as Jack studied her bare feet and uniform he had to ask. If she had been out here on shore leave why was she not in more suitable climbing gear?
T'Fearne: response
[[Tags/TBC]]