by Commander Salvek
80824.1900
Immediately Following Duty Calls
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80824.1900
Immediately Following Duty Calls
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Salvek, Blane, Cristiane and Steele materialized aboard the Gauntlet, to a most inhospitable welcoming party. The transporter pad was surrounded by security officers who held their weapons at the ready.
"Nice to see you too." Blane said.
"We were asked by the Admiral to come aboard. Surely those are not necessary." Salvek added.
"Sorry sir, Admiral's orders. Too much sensitive equipment and information aboard." Said the Lieutenant in charge of the detachment.
"Too much incriminating information aboard." Blane mumbled to Salvek, loud enough to be heard while still appearing as if he did not want to be heard.
"If you'll follow us please."
The quartet descended off the pad, with Salvek leading the way, followed by TC, Dane and Landry.
"What are you looking at?" Steele asked, as she looked over he shoulder at the two Ensigns bringing up the rear. She pushed her way past the still silent Dane, letting him be the last in line.
Once in the corridor, TC crept up alongside Salvek.
"Any chance this is a trap? We never did get to speak with the Captain. Maybe Vox wants all those who have knowledge of the crap he pulled out of the way." Blane spoke in a hushed tone.
"Or maybe he really wants us to perform rescue mission. One officer removed from duty can be explained away easily, but not five."
They entered the turbolift and rode to the bridge.
"No talking on the bridge." The Lieutenant ordered.
"Understood." Salvek replied quickly, before TC could add his own opinion of the Lieutenant's order.
The doors opened and the Alchemy crew did as they were told, walking in silence into Vox' office.
"Wait outside please." Vox ordered to Security.
Inside Vox' office Zanh Liis sat, with her arms clutched around her stomach, looking at the floor. Along with the Captain were two other men whom Salvek did not recognize. One of them waved and smiled at Salvek, but did not speak.
Vox casually adjusted his African Violet, and spoke without looking up at the newcomers.
"We have a small, problem, with the timeline. I need you all to proceed to the last known coordinates of one Carrick O'Sullivan and rescue him from a situation he is in."
"Carrick O'Sullivan?" Dane asked.
"No." Zanh Liis said, looking up at Vox. "Not Salvek, he's too valuable. He stays."
Vox looked over his shoulder at the two men seated behind his desk.
They both just smiled back at them.
"Of course Captain, you are correct." Vox said. "Salvek, you will meet up with the Serendipity, then proceed to a rendezvous point to retrieve the Captain's party. We will send you those coordinates as soon as we know what they are."
"Vague, Admiral. Can you even suggest a region of space we should wait in for the Captain?" Salvek asked.
Vox once again looked over his shoulder. The two men ignored him and began chatting with each other.
"Are you taking a holiday this year?"
"No, too busy. How about you?"
"The wife wants to go to Klaestron, she says it's lovely this time of year."
"But I've heard such wonderful things about Aertok!" The second man protested. Everyone in the room bristled at the mere mention of the name.
"No, we went there last year, and we've seen it all. Klaestron is all the rage this year."
"If you say so."
The two men returned their gaze to Vox. Jonas activated his computer terminal and began sifting through assignments for Starfleet vessels.
"Commander Salvek, the Federation is about to enter into negotiating rights for a large asteroid rich in dilithium that has been located in the Galador system." I'm going to order the Serendipity to meet you there. You will handle the negotiations personally." Vox said.
"Galador is awfully close to Klaestron." TC noted.
"But far enough away to not arouse any suspicion." Vox answered. "The Serendipity will be carrying a diplomatic team that will lead the negotiations. You can leave them behind if you need to depart suddenly to meet the Captain's team."
"I take it my knowledge of the true reason we are being ordered into such close proximity to Klaestron is to be kept classified?"
"Certainly." Vox said, as if it went without saying.
"If Salvek is taking the Alchemy to meet the Sera, then how are we going to get where we are going?" Landry asked.
"I have contacts on Betazed that will allow us to use one of their private sector's merchant vessels to gain Captain Zanh's team access to Klaestron. We don't know exactly where Carrick will be when you get there, or what he's gotten himself into, but we know he needs to be saved."
"Wait a minute, you said there was a problem with the timeline. Isn't this something TI should be handling?
What is wrong with the timeline?" TC asked.
"Admiral Vox miscalculated the effect that sending Keiran to his death would have on the timeline. Keiran was supposed to rescue his son, now he can't." Zanh Liis said. Salvek could literally feel the rage radiating from her.
Dane stiffened and Blane grabbed the young man's wrist to steady him.
"It's may not be too late for him, if we succeed." Liis said.
"When do we leave?" Dane asked. He knew he owed O'Sullivan a debt, but he also knew he owed Zanh Liis more than he could ever repay for the betrayal of her trust. He had expected her to be angry, but that she had clearly been hurt more than anything else crushed him.
"I'll have you a ship within thirty minutes." Vox said. That should give you all enough time to lose your uniforms.
"Wait." Zanh Liis said. "I need Reece."
Vox' shoulders slumped. "Really?"
"Yeah, really. If anyone is going to be able to work a sensor array to find a single person on a whole planet, it is going to be Dabin Reece."
Vox nodded. "I'll have him recalled at once. you'll have to fill him in en route."
Zanh Liis stood now, and took Salvek's hand in hers. "Take care of the crew, my friend. If at any point you think it is too dangerous to rescue us, abort the mission. I don't want you putting anyone else in danger for our sake."
"Now wait, I take issue with that." Steele said. A hardened glance from Zanh Liis silenced her protests.
"You have my word Captain. I should return to the Alchemy immediately. I'll inform the crew to wrap up any final business they have on Betazed and be prepared to leave within the next two hours. Good luck Captain."
He shook her hand firmly, and nodded to the rest of those assembled in Vox' office.
Minutes later he found himself on the bridge of the Alchemy once again.
"Orders sir?" Blakeslee asked, as Salvek took up the command chair.
"Inform anyone remaining on Betazed to be back here in two hours. Then, set a course for the Galador system. we are meeting the Serendipity there to discuss mining rights to a dilithium rich asteroid in the system."
"Mining negotiations?" Blakeslee asked. "Since when does the Federation send a starship for such a mining task? Usually just a diplomatic team on a runabout will do."
"Since now, Mister Blakeslee." Salvek said, neither lying nor offering any concrete information.
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Commander Salvek
First Officer
USS Alchemy NC 53099
Commander Salvek
First Officer
USS Alchemy NC 53099