90: The Visit

The Visit
by TC Blane
Stardate: 80116.07
Time: Current

TC made his way back toward his quarters. He had just finished working a double shift and his dogs were barking to say the least. He made his way through the hallways of his new ship and home the USS Serendipity. He never knew how much work it took to put a new ship into service let alone one as specially modified as this one. They were scheduled to take her out in a day or two, just for a spin around the block so to speak.

He had volunteered to work the double because he wanted to make sure that at least his department was ready for her maiden voyage. His mind was still wrapped around all of the work that needed to be done in the next few days.

He walked along eyes down at the floor and mind still at work when he almost walked into another crewman.

“Sorry commander.” The man said before moving on.

TC nodded. “So am I.”

He turned back to his trek, shaking his head.

* Commander. *

That was another thing that he simply could not fathom. If you had asked him a year ago about where he would be at this time in his life, he would have replied. “A lowly security guard on a tramp freighter hauling rubber dog poop.” Never would he have thought he would be here as the second officer on a special new ship with a special purpose.

Before he knew it he was at the door to his quarters. He punched in his access code and the door slid open with the familiar hiss. He stepped into the darkened and was greeted with a familiar “Whoof Whoof.”

TC grinned. “Sunshine!” He dropped down to one knee and enthusiastically scratched the dog behind the ears. The collie was also thrilled to see her adopted owner, evident by the frenzied wagged of her tail and the numerous ‘doggy kisses’ that were planted on TC.

“Yes, yes, yes. I’m happy to see you too.” He patted the dog on the head again. “How did you get here, you mangy mutt?”

Suddenly he raised his head and peered into the darkness of his room. He squinted to see in the dark. Someone was here.

“Lights.” He called out.

The room illuminated and TC now could clearly see his visitor sitting comfortably on the couch in the living room area of his quarters.

“I am glad to see that your skills have not diminished over the years.” Came the familiar voice. “I had her transported here from the Independence .”

TC slowed stood up and folded his arms across his chest. “Thank you for bringing her home, but I see that your lack of respect for ones private space had not changed.”

His visitor was none other then Captain Tyra Do'Chal, his former special ops C.O. She slowly stood and firmly held her arms behind her as she stood at parade attention. TC had seen that stance many times before and it always signaled the start of a serious conversation.

“You remember the last time we spoke, I warned you that it would not be the last.” She smiled weakly. “It is time to have that conversation.”

TC frowned and made his way to the replicator. “Most normal people give a warning before simply popping in.” He looked over his shoulder. “I’m a busy man, you should have made an appointment.” He turned back to the replicator. “Coffee, two sugars.”

“Can I get you something?”

Tyra shook her head. “Negative.”

TC picked up his coffee and sat down in the chair at his desk. “So, what can I do for you captain?” He obviously did not feel the need to act formally under the circumstances.

“If you recall, and I am sure that you do, I told you that you were chosen for this posting partially because of your training and experience. It benefits all of us to have you here.” She shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “It was no accident that your name was pulled from the system.”

TC took a sip from his mug and confirmed that he did indeed recall the conversation with a slight nod.

“This project holds a lot of potential for all of Starfleet. Vox is the right man to head it up,” She paused as if choosing her next words very carefully. “however we at Special Ops have grown concerned with his unwillingness to inform the rest of the department heads with the progress of the technology.”

She leaned forward placing her hands flat on the desktop in front of TC. “Now with the Romulans aware of the Alchemy our concern is that having such an important piece of technology under one groups' control is hazardous at best.”

TC laughed. “In short someone won’t share their toy with you and your pissed.” He shook his head and shrugged. “I don’t see what this has to do with me.”

Tyra stood back up and once again placed her hands behind her back. “We have been able to convince Starfleet command that we should be allowed to put an operative on the Sera to oversee that security is air tight and to represent our interests in the project. After all Special Ops have contributed a rather large piece of our development budget to this program.”

TC snickered as he took another sip of his coffee. “To keep tabs on the progress no doubt.”

Tyra smiled. “No doubt.”

He put down his coffee. “Once again I fail to see what this has to do with me.”

“We want you to be that operative.” Tyra flatly stated.

There was a long uneasy silence before TC responded. “I don’t belong to Special Ops anymore.”

Tyra turned and picked up a clear garment bag containing a Starfleet uniform but with a black collar and grey piping, clearly a Special Ops uniform. In her other hand she held a PADD which he was sure contained the proper paper work to complete a transfer. “That is easily rectified.”

TC slowly stood up and glared at his former C.O. “Negative.”

“Now hear me out, Thomas. You will keep you current rank and position and still be under the direct command of Captain Zanh, you’ll just be reporting to us instead of Vox.” She shrugged. “Think of it like a liaison position.”

TC folded his arms across his chest. “Absolutely not. I will not act as your spy.” He turned towards the door. “Thank you for stopping by and don’t let the door hit you in the ass on your way out.”

Captain Do’Chal did not budge. She tossed the garment bag and PADD back onto the couch. “I do not think you are thinking this clearly through.”

TC shook his head. “Get someone else.”

The captain shrugged. “You are here and you are already in position. Besides Vox insisted that he had to approve of the person we chose. We know you’ll have his approval, well, as best as we’ll get anyway.” She smiled. “He was none too happy about Starfleet Command pulling the rug out from under him.”

TC took a step closer. “What part of ‘I’m not doing this’ are you not getting?”

Tyra returned the glare. “What part of ‘you don’t have a choice’ are you not getting?”

TC shook his head. “Get out of my quarters before I lob you out by your ear.”

She stood fast and folded her arms across her chest in defiance. “It’ll be a shame to toss your career out the window.” She looked at his determined eyes. “But we both know that you’d do that without even blinking don’t we. Your too loyal and dedicated to do otherwise.”

“But are you willing to toss your Captain’s career out to window as well?”

TC squinted in anger. “What do you mean?”

Tyra sighed. “It pains me to have to do this TC, I was really hoping that I could convince you with out having to play this card.” She looked his straight in the eyes. “Yensul, Commander Blane, Yensul.”

It suddenly sparked in TC’s mind what Captain Do’Chal was going to use as leverage against him. Now the only question was exactly how much they knew. “What about it?” He snapped back.

“Playing dumb does not suit you Mr. Blane. We know about the bodies you left buried in the snow on that frozen planet. Like I said before it is good to see your skills have not grown lax.” She walked around Blane as if inspecting him.

*So they know.* TC thought. The cat was out of the bag.

“I was justified in my actions.” He made his defense.

“Oh of that I have no doubt. But why didn’t you put the incident in your report?” She shrugged. “I mean you’d be a hero, you single handedly dispatched at least three Yensul troopers who were about to collapse a cave onto your comrades. Did modesty cause you to withhold the information, or was it the fact that you butchered them, with a knife? Not very Starfleet-like, now was it?”

TC glared back. “File charges then.”

“If you don’t do this for us we will, but not just against you. Also your Captain. She knew about this and also withheld it from the reports. You are far too loyal not to let your Captain know of your loss of composure.” She leaned over and whispered into his ear. “That’s conspiracy.”

She walked around to stand in front of him. “We’ll charge the both of you. You for murder and Zanh with conspiracy.” She shrugged. “Perhaps we’ll even extradite you both back to Yensul.” She observed TC as his face became flush with anger. “Of course, I am sure you could survive the ordeal. However I am not too sure if the Captain would, being a woman and all. I wonder if they have forgotten her? If not, that would make things, awkward.”

“Of course then there would be an investigation, I mean who else might be involved in all of this? Commander Salvek maybe? They’ll all get dragged through the mud, careers and lives ruined all because you refused to take on this one simple assignment.”

TC stood, fists clenched, and stared at the floor. His mind raced looking for a way out, not for himself but for his other shipmates that would be caught up in the whirlwind that would follow if he refused. Finally his mind conceded that Do’Chal had put him into check, but it was not quite yet check mate. Still for now he realized that he was going to have to accept his fate. For now.

“I’ll do it.” The rasping reply came slowly from his lips.

Tyra sighed. “I knew you’d protect your Captain. That is the only weakness you have I think. Your blind loyalty.”

“Not blind, earned.” He corrected.

Tyra nodded. “Of course.” She headed towards the door. “We’ll inform Admiral Vox of your change in status as well as Captain Zanh.”

“Negative.” TC stopped her. “I’ll inform her.”

Captain Do’Chal sized up TC with a stare then nodded. “OK, as you wish but just keep in mind what we discussed here is not to be repeated, is that clear?”

TC glared at her. “Five by five.”

Tyra stared at him a moment longer. “Good. Make me proud, Commander. Keep everything safe and cozy and keep us in the loop.” She turned and walked out the door.

TC inhaled deeply and turned to stare at the uniform on the couch. He shook his head. Sunshine came over and leaned against her master leg. Sensing TC’s tension she looked up to see if there was anything she could do to help.

TC glanced down at the dog. “Why didn’t you bite her?” He scratched the dog behind her ear. “Then again if you did I’d have to give you rabies shots.”

He glanced back the uniform. Tomorrow was certainly going to be interesting.

Commander TC Blane
Chief Operations Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012

NRPG: Relevent past posts are linked below: they're a really good read.

What happened on Yensul V.

Blane tells Zanh Liis after the mission

Check them out if you get a chance. ~ZL