By TC Blane and Salvek
80824.1300
Immediately Following Captain Overboard
-=Conference Room, Alchemy=-
80824.1300
Immediately Following Captain Overboard
-=Conference Room, Alchemy=-
As soon as the doors slid shut Blane was already offering Salvek and explanation. "She didn't want you to know. She knew you would worry about her."
Salvek nodded. "She was correct." He circled the table and sat down. "I had hoped to shelter her from this."
Blane rubbed his hands together anxiously. Every moment spent in here was a moment not spent helping the Captain. "Apparently the memories weren't lost in Sickbay like she wanted us to believe."
"I am not surprised she chose to internalize this. It is in the Captain's nature to put on a brave face for the crew even while she is suffering." Salvek laced his fingers together. "Still, Mr. Blane, it is not a crime to have memories. She cannot legally be relieved of duty and imprisoned simply because she recalled another life."
"Apparently Vox feels otherwise. So what can we do about it?" Blane asked.
"I'm not sure. We need something to turn the tide in our favor. Right now Vox has acted within his authority, whether with basis or not, and we lack the evidence and means to override him." Salvek stared at Blane as if he hoped the second officer would morph into a PADD with the answers he sought.
"Can we make up some medical excuse? Maybe the Doctor was treating her for some condition that requires a medication?"
"Vox would simply instruct us to have all the information sent to his own medical staff." Blane sat at the table and smacked his hands down in frustration.
"Maybe we could just tear his ship apart and pull her back out ourselves."
Salvek could give Blane a dozen reasons why that was a bad idea, but he accepted that the suggestion was rhetorical.
[Commander Blane, you are being hailed by the Gauntlet.]
TC raised his eyebrow, apparently now they felt like talking.
Blane walked back out onto the bridge, followed by Salvek. Vox was sitting, in his empty office, trying his best to look calm and in control, but TC knew better.
[Good day, Mr. Blane.]
"Commander Salvek is here too." TC replied, as Salvek entered the Admiral's view. "How can we help you, Admiral?" TC asked politely with a broad, very fake smile.
[We have an extraction to perform.]
TC frowned. “You want us to pull a tooth?” He asked with fake sincerity.
Vox’s face flushed red but he held his composure. [I need you to recall Dane Cristiane and Landry Steele and anyone else you feel may be of assistance in a rescue mission.]
"Zanh Liis could help." Blane said. Salvek was going to inquire as to Zanh Liis's well-being, but Blane's method worked just as well.
Salvek could see the Admiral's cheeks and lips flex as he ground his teeth inside.
[Mr. Blane, the charges against your Captain have been dropped for now. That's all I can tell you. Please report to my vessel, and bring Commander Salvek with you.]
Vox closed the channel, and Salvek ordered Steele and Cristiane located and beamed back to the Alchemy.
“Well at least he said please.” TC commented. “By the way Dane is in the brig, Captain’s orders.”
Salvek raised a questioning eyebrow.
“He was one of Vox’s spies. The captain caught him red handed in her quarters.” TC explained. “Steele must have been his other lackey.”
He rubbed his chin. “She must have been the one to find out about the captains memories. I am sure Dane was caught before he could report back.”
TC looked at the first officer and nodded in the general direction of the Gauntlet. “Why the sudden change? Vox does not strike me as one to change his mind after making a move to remove a command officer.”
"Indeed. Either the Captain persuaded him somehow, or Vox has been called on his move by someone above him. I suspect we will find out soon enough."
Dane and Landry appeared on the bridge. Cristiane looking like a man expecting the worst, and Steele like a woman whose precious time was being interrupted.
"What is so urgent you had to have us up here right now, Commander?" Steele asked, arms folded across her chest.
"Your presence has been requested for some sort of rescue mission by Admiral Vox. We are leaving immediately." Salvek replied.
Salvek strode past the two and into the turbolift. TC held the door open for Steele and Cristiane, not wanted to turn his back on either of them.
"Please, after you both, I insist." TC said
TC waited until both of the junior officers had walked past him, Dane glanced at him with a worried expression as he past him, and then TC followed them out.
The group assembled in the turbolift with TC being the last one to enter. He turned to face the bridge and noticed that Zander had stood and was looking at the group questioningly.
TC glanced back at Salvek who simply nodded in approval.
“Commander Blakeslee the ship is yours.” TC shrugged. “We’ll send orders for you and the rest of the crew as soon as we know what they are. Until then, keep the boat in one piece.”
TC nodded and allowed the doors to slide shut.
Zander stared at the closed lift doors and nodded. “Aye sir.”
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Commander TC Blane
Second Officer
USS Alchemy NX 53099
and
Command Salvek
First Officer
USS Alchemy NX 53099
Commander TC Blane
Second Officer
USS Alchemy NX 53099
and
Command Salvek
First Officer
USS Alchemy NX 53099