Cmdr. Clifton / meets Raydor / no tags

[Steve Bruin]

   *** Base Security Chief's Office ***

:: The young, female Ensign who served as Rayder's secretary was somewhat surprised to see an unknown officer walk through the door in a very angered manner, he strode past her desk as if she weren't even there which was something no officer ever did. ::

Clifton: Is Rayder in his office? 

Secretary:  Just a minute, sir.  I'll check and see ...

Clifton: charging past : I'll see for myself!

:: Clifton entered Rayder's office despite the young Ensign's verbal protests.  Seated at his desk, Rayder suddenly looked up and began to stand, this was a moment he had anticipated but certainly not looked forward to. ::

Secretary: Sir, you can't just barge in here like this.

Rayder: It's all right, Ensign.  Just give us a few minutes.

Secretary: Shall I call Security, sir.

Clifton: You're in the Security Chief's office.

Rayder: I'll handle this, Ensign.

:: As the Ensign left the office, Clifton walked around the desk to speak with Rayder face-to-face. ::

Clifton:  Okay Rayder, just what kind of a dirty, double-cross is this?

:: Rayder was visibly shaken, he knew full well what Clifton was capable of and had seen him take matters into his own hands before. ::

Rayder: If you'll just calm down Clifton, I can explain.

Clifton: irately : Explain?  Yeah why don't you explain why that data that Silva had was genuine and not falsified, like we agreed?  Why don't you explain how the whole plan was seemingly nullified without my knowing?  Go ahead and explain that!

:: Rayder composed himself and gave Clifton a somewhat officious look. ::

Rayder: Have you ever heard of a gag order? From much higher, superior officers who give one and order along with special instructions that it be discussed with no one?

:: Clifton calmed and took a step back, surely that was something he had not expected to

hear. ::

Clifton: Gag order?  Given by who?

Rayder:  People at the top levels of Starfleet Command, that's who.  All I know is that at the last minute I received classified orders that I was to not interfere with this Silva woman and that I was to allow her safe passage off this base whenever she wanted to leave.  I as also told to keep these orders confidential, and you know what that means.

:: Clifton relaxed a bit, his mind assessing what he had heard, why would anyone send such important orders concerning this Silva woman even if she were a Senator? He pondered everything for a minute and still saw no clue as to what was going on here.

Clifton: Okay, that explains a few things. I guess you really didn't have any choice, but what's so important about this woman and what she was carrying.  By the way, what was she carrying anyway?

Rayder: I have no idea.  All I know is that she had Level-Twelve clearance, and used it to gather whatever she gathered.

:: Clifton was surprised, a Level 12 clearance was the very top so far as clearance to access data was concerned.  Even a Senator would only have a 9 or 10 level, so far as he knew anyway, that made the whole thing that much murkier. 

:: Clifton left soon after, these developments were something he needed to think about.

Cmdr. Clifton

USS Odyssey

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