Lieutenant Jack Kessler - [Backsim Shore Leave WrapUp] Permission Denied
Joel Cannistraro
((Medusa, Argo-Class Shuttle,Somewhere in the Skelter Mountain Range, Proxima Sigma IV))
It was apparent by the look in T'Fearne's eyes she did not recognize Michele either and based on her questions Jack felt a general introduction was best but not entirely needed. Still he wanted to start building a trusting working relationship with his new teammate so he decided a brief introduction was needed.
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.
Jack watched as Winters turned and threw a smile at the Ensign. T’Fearne, walking on slightly unsteady legs, moved up through the shuttle to the cockpit to greet the Marine Captain.
Winters: He would have been dead several times over if I were not around to save his backside. Pleasure to meet you Ensign.
Jack smiled knowing Michele loved the opportunity to bring up every time she had saved his life.
T'Fearne: Thank you for the catch, Captain. I was starting to think I had taken on too much of a challenge by myself on that cliff.
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?
T'Fearne: There :: gesturing out to starboard :: approximately 180 meters above where you pulled me off the cliff, under the thick tree canopy, is a mountainside tabletop. I was tracking a unique explosive residue signature from the bombing of the Soliton Receiving station tethered in orbit.
She gestured in the opposite direction, up toward a distant silhouette of the orbital lift, still tethered to what was left of the station, visible from their location, but veiled in distance and a haze of atmosphere.
T'Fearne: It’s the same signature of a compound used on the explosives on the Soliton Express. Maleconite. The trail led from the Terminal Facility to the Colony to the forest and this region of the Skelter mountain range. I believe there’s a cache up there, maybe a hideout. Possibly tied to the terrorist Emzai's network. I found data indicating the presence of co-conspirators in the area, and one of the colony’s Special Investigators, a Mr. Tarek, has gone missing suspiciously, just as the planet was rendered safe. He may have been on to the same trail, possibly taken against his will. I believe these are connected. We have to…
Kessler: (cutting T'Fearne off) I'm sorry. Explain to me how you plan to explain this off the books mission of yours and why you aren't turning it over to local authorities?
Michele glanced at Jack and locked eyes. He knew she was telling him to watch his tone but he also knew that based on Lieutenant Commander Carpenter's files, there is no way she would have let an Ensign run off on a personal mission like this.
T'Fearne: This whole region is riddled with magnetic ore. It shreds comms and sensor sweeps. I'm surprised you even found me. I lost contact with Ronin three days ago, but I couldn’t risk losing the trail. I know how it looks, that I’ve overstepped my jurisdiction. But sir… we are very close, I believe it would be worth having a look to confirm the information either way.
She leaned forward and shared the data she had discovered so far, bringing up the readings on the Medusa’s large display, fragmented data, but enough to suggest a pattern. Triangulated readings, barely coherent through the interference, pointed to a tight cluster beneath the canopy.
Jack looked over the data and then took a moment to think his response through. Maybe a little too long as Michele turned and glanced back at him and then to T'Fearne before returning her gaze to the flight controls.
Winters: Jack, what do you want to do? I can keep circling us around.
Kessler: Michele, take us back to the Ronin. (turning to T'Fearne) I'm sorry Ensign but we need to have Captain Niac weigh in on this and we need authority to follow this if we want any possible chance of apprehension to hold up in a court of law. We do this by the books, understood?
T'Fearne: Understood. May I have leave to continue to pursue this from another angle? I’ll return to the Colony Investigations Office and follow the data trail there…:: She looked back between Kessler and Winter :: And… and I’ll bring backup with me this time.
Jack kept his eyes locked on the Ensign. On her eye's trying to gauge the officer in front of him. It was not that long ago that he was in her position. A young officer out to save the galaxy and ready to jump into the gates of hell to do it. In the past few years Jack had learned quite a bit about how not to get yourself in trouble and what happens when you don't think things through and run off on your own. oO I'm starting to sound like Colonel Greaves aren't I? Ok Jack, this is your team, your department. She's on the right path but on a dangerous one too. Oo Jack thought about it for a moment longer and then shook his head in a negative motion.
Kessler: No Ensign. Request denied. We'll follow up on this, but once I am satisfied you have a better plan in place. (looking to Winters) Take us back to the Ronin Captain.
Winters: (looking from Jack to T'Fearne and then back to Jack slowly) Aye sir. Laying in a course back to the Ronin.
T’Fearne sat back in the jump seat, adjusted the strap on her pack, her eyes were not on Jack but fixed on the view port. Jack knew she was most likely not happy with the decision. He would not have been. He would have loved to support her and gone after the target but there were conditions of this hunt that made the mission more dangerous, threat levels he was not aware of or prepared to contend with. No this was not the time to run off on this kind of mission. He needed more information and a better plan.
[[End of Scene for Jack Kessler and Michele Winters]]
Joel Cannistraro
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