715: Interdepartmental Cooperation

by TC Blane and Zanh Liis
81221.12

-=USS Serendipity=-

The Sera’s deck plates vibrated under TC's feet as she streaked through space at her maximum sustainable warp. The ship seemed to shake and rattle more then usual. The repairs of the battle damage from their first encounter with the Romulans had been hasty and was far from complete, but the ship was patched up enough and ready for round two.

This time they had the advantage. There would be no sneak attack, and the majority of the bridge staff were back onboard and itching for a little payback.

TC leaned forward in the captain's chair, his elbows resting on his knees as he stared straight ahead at the forward viewscreen, which had only recently been repaired.

The stars zipped by in long streaks as the Sera closed in on her prey.

“Sir, long range scans show the Romulan vessel is maintaining course but the Polaris and another vessel have engaged the target.” Tenney reported.

TC leaned back. “Time until intercept?”

“If everything stays constant, two hours and twelve minutes. If the Polaris can knock them out of warp...about ten minutes.” Was the reply.

TC nodded. “Maintain course and speed.”

*Come on, Salvek. Get them to drop out of warp.*

Zanh Liis strode onto the bridge and TC moved to relinquish her chair. She gestured for him to stay put, and paced forward toward the viewscreen, arms bent and clutched to her sides, fingers entwined over her knotted stomach.

"Blakeslee?" TC asked.

Zanh's expression said more than words possibly could have."Status?"

“We are approaching at maximum warp. Just under three and a quarter hours until intercept at current pace.”

"Keep me advised. I'll be back in a few." Zanh's decision to leave the bridge again, even momentarily, stunned those around her.

Blane cleared his throat to encourage them to quit staring after the Captain as she disappeared into her ready room and to keep their eyes on their work.

He stood and made his way along the same path she'd taken. “Reece you have the bridge,” he called out over his shoulder.

He took quick steps downward, stopped at the door and rang the chime.

"Come in, Thomas."

He stepped into the room and stood at relaxed attention in front of his captain.

“Captain?” Was all that he said.

"How did I know it was you. That's what you wanted to ask, just then." Zanh observed, walking around her desk. She paused, and picked up the spyglass he'd given her last Christmas.

She held it in her hands, slowly extending and retracting it as she came to rest sitting on the edge of the desktop. "I knew it was you, because I know you." She held the glass up for him to see. "Can you believe, it's been nearly a year since..." her voice faded.

Blane waited patiently in silence for her to continue.

"This is the big one, Thomas. Taris is the woman who has haunted me for, oh," she laughed, but the sound was more bitter than humorous. "More non-linear years of time than you've been alive. She gripped the spyglass tightly and sighed. "This. However this turns out, the repercussions are going to be profound, and far-reaching."

"You're afraid." Blane assessed, quickly and correctly.

Zanh would have taken the remark as an insult from almost anyone else. But he was making the point only to reassure her, she was certain of it. An instant later, he did just as expected.

"You don't have to be. You know we're all behind you. You know that O'Sullivan is out there ahead of us. Paving the way, to the best of his ability."

"Hope he's not also paving the road to Hell with good intentions." Zanh murmured softly to herself. She was looking with one eye through the spyglass as she raised it toward the viewport, pointed at the streaks of stars beyond. She tried in vain for all she was worth to use that glass to see into their future. "His intentions have always been nothing but good where I was concerned."

"Salvek is also going to do everything he can with the Polaris." Blane continued.

"I know, and I appreciate that. In fact, I can't think of any group of people that could give me more courage in this situation than the team that has come together here." Zanh blinked a few times quickly, looking down as the dim light caught her wedding band and reflected colorful specks onto the walls and ceiling.

She thought of all the times and places that Keiran and she had battled Taris with varying degrees of success, never quite able to finish her off for good.

Liis was afraid to even dare to hope that this time, between herself, Salvek, O'Sullivan, Blane, Lindsay, and the rest of the Sera's incredible crew, might finally be the time they got the upper hand and were able to keep it. "It's just this feeling I have, that, if I'm not-"

The door chime rang again, and Zanh and Blane exchanged a glance. "Who's there?"

"It's Will."

Another shared look passed between them.

"Come on, then."

Lindsay entered the room, and the moment that Blane saw what he had in his hands, he stood a bit taller, threw his shoulders back and his chest out.

He moved from his current location and instinctively positioned himself between Lindsay and Zanh.

"Where," Liis asked slowly, her eyes immediately fixed upon the device in Lindsay's hand. It was one she knew too only too well, "did you get that?"

"Captain, I'd like a moment alone to speak with Captain Lindsay." Blane spoke up, and Zanh's face reflected her surprise.

"Really."

"Yes."

"I need to speak with you privately, Zanh Liis," Lindsay cautioned.

"Captain," Blane implored her. "Please."

Liis, thinking that she could in fact use a moment to gather her wits upon seeing the thing in Will's hand, decided to allow it.

"All right. Will, can any real harm be done by giving Mister Blane two minutes of your time?"

He sighed. "Likely not."

"Then let's indulge him." Liis headed for the door. "I'll wait just outside."

She left the room without looking up at either man, and Lindsay's posture changed instantly the second she was gone and the doors closed behind her. "What," he growled, looking at Blane impatiently, "have you to say?"

“Computer secure the door. Authorization Blane Alpha-six-four-zero-Charlie,” was TC’s response.

There was the ever familiar beep.

Lindsey’s brow furrowed. “Mr. Blane what are you…”

Before Will could react, TC snatched him up by his collar and hoisted him clear off the deck with such speed and strength that he dropped the object in his hand.

TC forced Will backwards, slamming him into the closed and secure doors with a shattering thud that knocked the wind from his lungs.

The impact was strong enough to be heard on the other side, drawing more the one curious look from the bridge staff. Several officers glanced at the door, then to their captain, and then back to the door.

"Interdepartmental cooperation." Zanh folded her arms and leaned her back up against the same set of doors, knowing there was no way to disguise from those around her that the discussion happening between the two men inside had taken a decidedly unfriendly turn. "It's a thing of beauty, wouldn't you agree?"

Uncertain if she really expected any replies, everyone simply returned their focus to their workstations.

TC pinned Will to the doors, his forearm pressed to the superior officer's neck. Will’s feet dangled a good inch above the floor as he struggled for air. He grabbed TC’s arm in an attempt to remove it but quickly realized it was futile to try.

*I'm going to ask for an increase in hazard pay next time I have to deal with Zanh and her lot...*

“No more.” TC snarled, glaring at the man with his piercing, ice blue eyes. “No more.” He repeated.

Will tried to answer but couldn’t find the air.

“Why are you here?” TC asked. “Why can’t you allow the them to live their lives here and now? What is so blasted important that you people feel the need to play gods?”

Again, Will tried to speak and found it a fruitless task as he began to see red at the corners of his vision.

“I will not allow them to be hurt anymore.” TC uttered softly. “She is my captain and I WILL protect her with any means at my disposal, any means!” He leaned in close. “Do we understand each other?”

Will managed a nod.

TC released him and stepped back.

Lindsay's boots dropped back toward the deck in slow motion, it seemed. He locked his knees in anticipation of impact. He managed, just barely, to keep his feet beneath him.

"I understand you." He huffed, reaching up and touching the now pulsing skin of his neck.

Blane tilted his head in the slightest nod, very slowly. "Good." He backed up a step, prepared to execute the release command for the doors when he saw a flashing blur.

Lindsay suddenly had him by the arms, had spun him around and held him pressed face first up against the very same doors that Will had just become acquainted with a moment before.

A second thud was heard outside, and Liis jumped away from the doors, actually expecting one or the other of the two to come flying out through them at any moment.

Now, she could only pinch her fingers on either side of the wrinkles at the bridge of her nose and sigh. It was best they get this out of their systems now, if they had to, before what was to come.

"Now," Will rumbled, using a hold that Keiran had taught him years ago to keep Blane where he was. He was entirely certain, however, that Blane was allowing him to do so.

Perhaps out of respect for his rank, if nothing else. Blane seemed a fair sort of man, and Lindsay was certain that he was going to let him have his say. Because if nothing else, Will was also entirely certain that Blane would be feeding him his own teeth for breakfast right now, one at a time, if he had really wanted to do it.

"Let's also be sure that you understand me. She may be your Captain, but to me, she is first and foremost my best friend's wife." Will tugged at Blane's arms, shaking him once to punctuate his point. "If ya think I have any intention of puttin' her at any more risk than is absolutely necessary, then you underestimate just how loyal friends can be to one another."

"Big talk from a man who has known her for all of five minutes."

"Yeah, well, so. You have known her longer than I, I don't argue the point. Still, I am very loyal to Keiran O'Sullivan, and protectin' the person that matters most to him in this life or any other I've seen him live is the primary function I am here to serve. It is up to the likes of YOU and that green-blooded XO of yours to rescue the kid and catch Taris. It's my job to see to it that we get through this without either of the newlywed O'Sullivans' dyin' this time."

“This time?” TC scoffed. “You just proved my point better then I ever could have.”

Will finally released him and TC turned, standing tall and glaring at him.

"Look, you may have absolutely no respect for me or the work that I do, Spec Ops. Hate my bloody guts with a passion second to none, if ya like, I don't care." Lindsay's voice was still a low, seething growl. "But if ya truly do respect the woman on the other side of those doors, then you're also goin' to respect that this is the culmination of decades of work for her. You're going to do your job, and you're going to work with me to protect her once we catch up to the Romulans. You're going to have to force yourself to entertain just the possibility that maybe, I do have Zanh's best interests at heart, same as you."

TC straightened his uniform, then bent down and picked up the object that Lindsey had dropped. He took a long look at it before he handed it back. “We’ll see."

"Aye." Lindsay assured him. "That you will."

A moment passed between them. At last, TC broke the silence again.

“Computer, release the doors. Authorization Blane Alpha-six-four-zero-Charlie.”

The computer beeped its acknowledgment.

Lindsay watched the man walk away, regretting not only that Blane still doubted him, but that he next had to talk to Zanh Liis about the compass that both men wished they could destroy.

-----------------------
Commander TC Blane
Second Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012

and

-=/\=- Zanh Liis
Commanding Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012