Final Mission Prep (Lexington)

Posted on Thu Jun 6th, 2013 @ 4:20pm by Fleet Admiral Mike K`Wor Bremer & Commander Jonathan Roebuck IV & Lieutenant K`Wor & First Ramata`tar & Captain Ryan Greenwood & Commodore Leon `Lee` Pike & Captain R'nard Lokran & Lieutenant Saith i-Ki Baratan & Ensign David Brody & Commodore Alexandra Harrison

1,961 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Mission 83 - Recovery
Location: USS Lexington, Briefing Room
Timeline: Following 'Sorting Baggage'

ON:

As the Lexington moved closer to the Chaltok system, Bremer tapped some commands into the display on his chair's right arm pad. He sent a message to K'Temoc, Pike, Harrison, Lokran, Coleman, Roebuck, Matthews, Baratan, Brody, and K'Wor to meet him in the Briefing Room in five minutes.

Since plans had changed slightly, he wanted to let everyone know, keeping everyone in the loop as well as allowing them proper time to prepare.

Once the message was sent, Mike looked over to Ryan. "I want you in there too."

"Understood" Ryan replied.

As Mike stood, he looked around the Bridge. Just about everyone was an Ensign or Lieutenant JG. The highest ranking person remaining on the Bridge wasn't even in Starfleet...

"Ramata'tar, you have the Bridge." Mike said.

Everyone on the Bridge turned to look at the Admiral, while Bremer was looking at the Jem'Hadar First. Ramata'tar didn't hesitate to answer, "It will be done."

Ramata'tar walked over to the Command Chair, but he didn't sit, instead he stood in front of it at the Admiral and Captain exited to the Briefing Room.

Slade had finished reading the brief he received only about 45 minutes earlier and was still processing it as he made his way to the Briefing Room. He arrived and noticed Bremer and Greenwood and acknowledged them both with a nod and by saying, "Sirs."

Ensign Brody entered the briefing room still wearing a surgical smock over his uniform. He had just come from sickbay where he was in the process of undergoing his Romulan transformation. His prosthetic ears itched incredibly and he was not looking forward to completing his alterations once the briefing concluded. He acknowledged Slade with a respectful nod before addressing his superiors. "My apologies, sirs. I was having these put on," he said, pointing to his pointy ears. "Reporting as ordered."

Lee made his way to the Briefing room without making it to sick bay to have altered to look like a Romulan. He walked in and as he headed for his seat."Sorry for not making it to sick bay. If could after the meeting would like a word with you Admiral."

R'nard was next to enter the briefing room. He didn't put his uniform back on, but did temporarily put on the robe of a Tralazar Master for the sake of propriety. He didn't think it proper to go there in only his fur, which is how he would be on the mission.

He bowed before he sat down. "Admirral, please forgive me being out of uniform. I am prreparing for the mission, and will not even be wearing this rrobe when I am there. It allows me to move more frreely and silently."

Saith let Lee and R’nard enter the briefing room ahead of her. She smiled at Brody’s half completed transformation, she did have sympathy for everyone having to have alterations. “Nice ears, you are almost good looking now.” She smiled and whispered to Brody as she passed. She smoothed her uniform and took a seat. She was once again in full Romulan Uniform; her hair was even within dress code.

Mike nodded to R'nard as well as Pike, Brody, and Matthews. Before he could say anything the door opened again as Roebuck walked in. He was dressed in a full Romulan uniform. Mike almost didn't recognize him with his Romualn ears, raised brow, and slightly altered skin color.

K'Wor and K'Temoc followed shortly after, and both paused a moment as they looked at Roebuck.

"I...really don't want to look like that." K'Wor said aloud, before realizing he'd said it out loud.

Saith’s temper flared, her hands balled in fists. “Watch your mouth!”She was up an in K’Wor's face in a moment. “As if you think you are all that! You say that kind of thing over there, you will be dead, and so will we.” She stormed out into the hall to cool off. After pacing up and down for a couple of minutes she took a deep breath and walked back into the room. She sat without looking in K’Wor’s direction, her face still flushed with anger.

K'Wor watcher her walk back in, his temper was flared up now too. The Klingon in him wanted to rip the Romulan petaQ in two, but while she was in the hall he also cooled off. He hadn't meant any disrespect, and shouldn't of said anything aloud. He decided to let the matter pass...for now.

Brody buried his face in his palm. Poor K'Wor had no idea he just kicked a hornets nest. Under normal circumstances, his off hand comment would have gone unnoticed. However, Saith was at red alert regarding all things Romulan. He looked over at K'Wor and shook his head subtly as if to say 'let it go, kid'.

Lee spun around in his seat:"That is enough! You both need to chill out and get your heads into this mission. This is a very high risk and sensitive mission. If you slip up just once cause your head's not into it and it not only will get you killed but will very well could get others killed."

Brody and Pike were right, and K'Wor took another breath to calm himself.

Saith's mind whirred. She wondered if any of them save Lee understood how far she had come by not starting a physical altercation with K'Wor. Captain Pike's words mirrored her own, only he was more eloquent with them. She stared at the front of the room, her face flushed but passive.

He glared at the both of them:"Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, sir." Saith replied, sneaking a glance at K'Wor.

"Aye sir." K'Wor replied.

Alex had been pacing outside the door of the briefing room. She felt rediculous looking like a Romulan. She took another breath and walked in, unaware of what had transpired. Alex was expecting a few snickers but when she walked in, everyone looked either upset or angry and didn't give her mind. She took an empty seat, feeling even more uncomfortable. "Sorry I'm late."

Mike had let the situation play itself out. He didn't want to jump in and appear he was defending his son, besides, he needed to learn from the situation...just like he himself had done in a similar instance years ago.

"All right everybody, listen up." Mike started. "The Lexington is diverting to Chaltok system. Mister Matthews has advised us that there is a stashed Romulan shuttle there that's used by Federation Intelligence. Once there, both teams will board the Shuttle and proceed to Gamma Crateris. The Lexington will follow close behind, still under cloak.Once there, Team One's mission to extract the Reman Scientists is still a go. Team Two's Mission is also still a go, however Commander Coleman has come up with a fail-safe plan to disable the Romulan ship in case they launch. He's going to upload command codes that will override the ship's Engineering controls and cause the vessel to drop out of Slipstream and power down."

Mike looked around for a moment, then eyed Matthews. Bremer had received and read the information from Starfleet, insisting the Romulan ship be destroyed. Frankly, under the circumstances, especially because of the nature of the ship, Mike wasn't opposed to the idea. It eliminated a major threat to the Federation, and would set the Romulan's efforts in Slipstream technology back at least a few years.

"Remember to gather any intel you can. Any data you delete from their database must look like an accident, nothing can appear to be sabotage." Mike finished.

"Questions?"

Saith did not have any questions, but in her head she was wondering if anyone had thought about the hypocrisy of disabling a Romulan ship when unprovoked. If it was the other way around, Starfleet would be all about how horrible the Romulans were and how they were risking war. Saith shook her head.

Slade leaned back in the chair, he'd caught Bremer's look. That look that command and flag officer's mastered early on in their careers. The one that said 'I know' and relayed so much information. In that look, he knew that the officer in Bremer at least understood and agreed with the orders under the current circumstances. It was tactically imperative that the Romulans and, by extension, the Typhon Pact did not possess Slipstream capability for as long as was possible to delay. Which would likely come when the Federation shared the technology with the Klingons, or shortly after.

The Romulans were making one mistake though, they kept all their eggs in one basket. All of the research, data, prototypes and the ship were all located in one location. Slade looked around the table again and stopped on the Admiral's son, K'Wor. He was young, but showed promise. His outburst was not professional, but was one of a child who hadn't been conditioned to duty as much as he'd like to think. He'd learn though and would most likely become an excellent officer.

Brody looked around the room. So many capable people with a wealth of knowledge and experience. Yet he couldn't shake the sense of secrets floating around the room like a thick fog. He didn't expect to be in-the-know on everything being an Ensign, but the long faces in the room indicated said secrets might be taking their toll on some. He figured he'd ask question no one had until now. "Admiral, sirs, is there any sort of abort protocol? I mean, is there a point at which we cut our losses and head home with as much as we can get our hands on or do we see this through to the end? I guess what I'm asking is, are we considered 'acceptable losses' now?" He tried to gauge everyone's reaction, but their poker faces were well practiced. "I just like to know where I stand is all."

Mike nodded at Brody's question, it was valid, and if he was in the Ensign's shoes he'd be asking it too.

"No one here is expendable. Frankly if one of you goes off and gets yourself killed, it not only risks the safety of the Lexington and all aboard, but it also risks all out war between the Federation and Romulan Star Empire. I'm not trying to add any undo pressure on you, but if you're unsure of yourself, the mission, or the reasons why we're here," He looked at Saith, then around the room, "then I want you to remain on board the ship. Frankly, I wish I was going down there with you, I don't like sitting and waiting, but I know you all are extremely capable of completing the task at hand and returning to the ship safely, with the Remans and Intel we're after."

Mike looked around again, hoping the confidence he was showing would help put any doubt to rest.

"Remember this is a covert mission. You'll be dressed as Romulans, look like Romulans, using Romulan equipment. They aren't expecting you. Blend in, do your job, and get back to the extraction point. If you are discovered, subdue, do not kill. By the time the person comes to, we'll be halfway back to the Station."

Mike flashed a smile, and looked around again to see if anyone else had any questions.

Seeing that no one did, the Admiral dismissed everyone. "If you haven't been to Sick Bay, go now. We need everyone ready for when we arrive at the Chaltok system."

As the group broke up and left, Mike handed K'Temoc a PADD, without saying a word. K'Temoc looked at the PADD for a moment, then quietly nodded as he headed for Sick Bay.


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