Lieutenant Jack Kessler - Not Kidding Sir

[Joel Cannistraro]

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

Since joining the Ronin's crew, Jack had only sat foot on the bridge one time and that was when the ship's First Officer brought him up to meet the Captain. Since that day Jack had been off the ship during their past mission and then recovering in sickbay from exposure to one of the deadliest plagues ever conceived. That thought had a whole other discussion behind it and one that Jack knew the ship's Counselor was most likely biting at the bit to talk to him about. A conversation that he'd just assume happened and not really have to have. Plus he was still trying to figure out how to tell the two people he cared about most, his sister and the woman he very much loved, Nesre Salo. That conversation too, would be one he was going to have to work out in his head first. 

The exposure to the modified Tarellian plague did not weigh heavy on Jack's mind. In Jack's mind, the fact that he stood here on the bridge after the exposure supported his belief that given the opportunity, Starfleet was capable of unlocking just about any secret when push came to shove. He knew the inherent dangers that came with putting on the Starfleet uniform. Death was not on his agenda for any mission but at the same time he would be the first to tell you that there were no guarantees you were coming back. Just exceptionally good odds when you had people around you like those he served with. 

The risks of serving Starfleet was the reason he wanted to speak with the Captain. Risks he hoped to be able to help mitigate for future Starfleet crews. Jack paused, straightened his uniform and shuffled several items in his hands before he tapped the door chime to the Captain's Ready Room.

Niac: Come in.

The doors to the ready room whooshed open and Jack, putting on a smile, stepped through the doors and towards the Captain's desk. Stopping just short of the desk and directly behind one of two chairs sitting in front of the Captain.

Kessler: Good morning sir, thank you for seeing me this early.

Niac: Good morning Lieutenant, please take a seat.  Recovered from your ordeal?  One of the...numerous padds on my desk assures me you've been given a clean bill of health.  

Nodding Jack stepped around and lowered himself to a seated position, placing the items he carried in his lap.

Kessler: I feel good. A little fatigued but Doc says that's due to the plague and the treatment and it will pass in a few days. 

Niac: I'm convinced the medical team could wave a light over us and we wouldn't feel a thing but they like to keep a few side effects in there just to remind us not to provoke their ire.  What have you got for me? 

Jack looked to his lap and picked up a PADD, grinning at the thought of adding another one to the Captain's desk and the silent thought that must be going through his CO's mind at seeing a PADD about to be handed to him.

Kessler: Since Doc had me confined to that bed I had a bit of time to look over the data regarding the Consortium and those spider bots of theirs. Considering this is the second time this ship has had to face them I figured a new Security training might be needed to put in place for dealing with such a threat.

Jack passed the PADD over to Niac and then leaned back. Fumbling with two other devices in his lap. The meat of this conversation had not yet even started and Jack was feeling a bit nervous on how to proceed. He did not know Niac at all, he'd not even worked in direct concert with his Captain at this point and that gave him no room to judge the expression on the mans face.

Niac: These damn things are a menace...resistant to damn near every weapon we've got aboard, fast, almost impossibly strong...bit like the Consortium themselves.  Starfleet Security has been analyzing the ones recovered after they boarded the ship last year and have provided me several hundred pages of very interesting data that in no way helps us develop effective counter-measures.  I'm sure they'd appreciate anything you can add.  I know I certainly would.  

Kessler: To be honest sir, I am here not to discuss the Consortium, but to discuss the Zet and my imprisonment by the Zet at the Itech'eman facility. 

That must have hit a nerve with Niac as Jack watched the Captain's body language alter just enough to be seen but not enough to give away what it meant to him.

Niac: Computer, seal this compartment, security protocol Niac Beta One.  Time...ten minutes.  

Jack knew the Zet were 'Classified' subject but the order from Niac still caught him off guard. Maybe it was because on the Oumuamua and the Butler, the entire crew faced the Zet multiple times, all dealing with the prospect of death at the hands of that enemy. There were no locked rooms at that time but here on the Ronin it made sense. A pause, longer than Jack was comfortable with drifted across the room as Niac seemed to be thinking about something. 

Niac: Lieutenant...you're only the second person to mention the name 'Zet' in this office.  The last time they were brought up Lt. Cmdr. Kel was in here asking for off the books authorization to participate in a wildly dangerous rescue mission.  ::He offered the man a small smile:: I'm glad that mission, which I officially don't know anything about, was a success.  

oO Yeah, this is going to be a fun conversation then. Oo

Kessler: Before I get into that, I feel you need a bit more of a background on why I am bringing this up. 

Jack held up one of the items from his lap. The device, distinct in shape and easily recognizable by anyone as the device had become widely used by Starfleet ever since the USS Voyager had returned from the Delta Quadrant. 

Kessler:  say hello to Logan. ::beat, laying the device on the floor:: Logan activate.

The mobile emitter rose from the floor swifty as a holographic form took shape. Next to Jack not sat a species of canine from Earth. A breed known as the Golden Retriever. The dog's mouth fell open slightly and what appeared to be a smile formed as his tongue protruded out and he began looking around the room. Logan's tail wagged from side to side, whipping across the floor as he looked from Jack to Niac and then back to Jack. A visual excitement passed over Logan's face as he was about to get to meet someone new.

Niac: Niac: Welcome aboard, Logan.  We'll have to see if we've got a uniform in your size somewhere...perhaps one of Cheesecake's old collars is still around.  

Kessler:  ::grinning ear to ear:: Cheesecake sir? oO Oh there is a story here. Oo

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 mastadon.  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: response

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: response

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: response

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?

TAGS/TBC

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Lieutenant Jack Kessler

Chief Tactical/Security Officer

USS Ronin

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