"There At Last"
Previous Post: "Avatar" by Sabrina
-=/\=-
Stardate: 60320.1012
Setting: USS ANUBIS - Enaii's Office (IGC)
As the ANUBIS slowly left the hidden sanctuary of the Giza Nebula her senior staff was buzzing with anticipation. It would take only hours to reach the VEGA system, and there was much preparation for everyone to do in the mean time. Among the most obvious, each undercover staff member had to cram the most studying possible into their last hours as well as prepare their respective departments to function in their absence.
Enaii was busy doing the latter, programming PICA to handle any small issues that might arise and conditioning Lieutenant Commander Soran Elisse to command the department's resources while she was away. Fortunately for her, the role she had been assigned required no preparation on her part, it was someone she was quite familiar with after all. All she had left to do once she was finished here was pack.
Looking down at a little screen that displayed the current locations of every staff member, the woman noted just how many of the Senior Staff had congregated on the Bridge after their departure. She supposed it was a natural desire to be around those other people that would completely accept you regardless of your current appearance, the soon-to-be-undercover operatives would likely be the focus of much curiosity and no shortage of animosity for some of them on the rest of the ship. On the Bridge they were safe, or at least that's what the Agent deduced.
"Now, no one will have access to my office in my absence. No newly acquired or unknown crew members are to access the IGC at all until I have returned to the ship. This department will function on high alert and be prepared to take control of the ANUBIS at any time while the Senior Staff is away," Enaii commanded as she looked over the departmental manifest one last time before satisfied that everything was in order.
"High alert sir?" Elisse questioned, shifting his weight from one foot to another, "But that would mean that no one is to enter or leave the IGC until the situation is resolved…"
The Intelligence Operative did not look up from her work. "I am aware of that Commander, it is a precautionary measure only. I do not anticipate problems on board, however this would be the best time for any number of situations to arise."
The woman's subordinate nodded. "Yes, I agree. If someone were to try to compromise the ANUBIS this would be the best possible time to try, what with all the Senior Staff away."
"Precisely," Enaii replied, "Now, I have a lot of preparations to make, the IGC is in your hands Soran, do *not* disappoint me."
"Understood Sir," the man replied standing at attention, "I won't."
-=-=-=-
It had taken longer than anticipated for the woman to pack and get everything ready, she had hoped to find some time alone with her wife before their set time for departure, but found that it was beyond her capabilities to get ready with enough time to spare. Instead, after having packed her things and set everything in order, Enaii had headed straight down to the Shuttle Bay to await their departure, having done the next best thing in arranging to be on the same transport as her wife instead. She had also done a little bit of shuffling so as to have Ensign Mei on their transport… though she would normally avoid Counsellors to the point of being downright hostile, it was important that she form an accurate opinion of their new crew member as soon as possible.
Sitting in the craft, her head back and eyes closed, Enaii dozed as the time slowly passed by, waiting for the staff to slowly begin to arrive.
-=-=-=-
The young woman sat across from the CO, still finding it difficult to look at the Andorian man and acknowledge that it was James beneath the blue skin and gently swaying antennas.
"You wanted to talk to me Number One…" The Captain offered, mentally nudging his ExO into moving ahead with the reason that had brought her into his office.
"Its about Annie… I am not entirely convinced that it is a good idea to place her in charge of the ship while we are gone. Let's be real about all this… she doesn't even have an official Starfleet commission… and given the choice I would much rather see T'Reni or even Fairborn placed in command than her. I am sure that you have your reasons for this, but you have to admit that I have more than enough grounds to object." The ExO explained while trying to maintain her professionalism about the issue that had come up.
James sat in his chair, looking with great intensity at the green skinned woman across from his desk remembering that the scantily dressed woman was not only a Starfleet Officer but also his second in command… a woman that he had learned to trust in many ways. After having weighed the issue of keeping the Avatar's true nature from the rest of his crew and the tempering of the initial installation tests, the CO decided that if anyone needed to know about Annie it was Rikar.
"What do you know about Lt. Fairborn and his duties onboard NEW ALEXANDRIA?" The CO inquired, hoping that he could have his ExO figure it all out without his going against the Admiral's orders to keep this quiet.
"Elan is a gentle soul who wouldn't hurt a fly even if his life depended on it… as for his duties I remember him being a very capable engineer and that as far as the NEW ALEXANDRIA is concerned he was appointed as a robotics specialist, why?" The young woman replied, unsure as to what the question had to do with the objection she had presented the CO with.
"Don't you find it strange that the Admiral enlisted the aid of an engineer the likes of Elan and assigned him to an area that a first year cadet would be able to do? The supervision of the remote probes for the BARRACUDA and SPHINX did not require someone with his experience and could have easily been handled by any other engineer currently on staff." James continued, trying as best he could to point his ExO in the right dirction.
"Maybe Koneki wanted to make sure that Elan was up to speed…" The young woman began before letting her words and thoughts trail off in another direction.
"Or…" James said, indicating without actually saying anything that the redheaded woman had been on the right track.
"Or the Admiral concocted the story of the upgrade to explain why Elan would be on the ship while actually having something else planned for him... While on the base I overheard a couple of interesting conversations in the promenade, some of them spoke of the integration of an extension of a ship's computer in the form of a humanoid. Is that what Annie is? Is that why Elan was assigned to the ship for this mission and why she is being placed in command over other members of the crew?"
James said nothing and instead only smiled, glad to see that the young woman had been able to put the pieces of the puzzle together so easily.
-=-=-=-
Lea, David, Serenna and Susan had somehow managed to be the sole remaining senior crew members on the Bridge, everyone else having split off to tend to their own duties and responsibilities before their departure.
"This is going to be fun," the newly promoted Chief Medical Officer announced, drawing inquiring looks from the others. "I mean we'll be working, but at least we'll be able to play some too."
"It sure doesn't seem like as difficult an assignment as I expected we'd be sent into," Ensign Mei added her agreement.
David groaned, "It might not be life altering, but I'm sure this isn't going to be easy. They don't send out ships like ours to *play*."
The counsellor was beginning to form the idea in her mind that David Dawson might just be one of those people who enjoyed making themselves miserable. "Perhaps not, but I doubt they would have provided us with so much in the way of funds if they did not intend for us to enjoy ourselves at some level."
"I completely agree, with both of you," Serenna chimed in. "Undercover work is *not* easy, and they don't send ships like ours out for basic jobs. *BUT*," she emphasized, "Our crew has worked very hard lately, we're due for some R and R, and I am certain Admiral Koneki has assigned this mission to us so that we can wind down a bit at the same time."
"Harrumph…" David growled under his breath as the Bridge once again fell into silence.
-=-=-=-
The holographic image in the centre of the room displayed an impressive recreation of the VEGA system which gave the only occupant in the room a clear view of the region they would soon be visiting. With little effort anyone in the room could identify the target of the ANUBIS' next mission which could be found orbiting VEGA SIGMA and which had been identified by a soft red glowing sphere. Displayed on the large view screen at the back of the room, the TANGIERS ORBITAL could be seen in all of its glory with all available information scrolling next to it.
Although she now appeared as a Cardassian, the Shillian's love for science had in no way diminished which actually had been good considering that her role had been to portray someone possessing the general same interests.
As the CSciO continued her in-depth research into the TANGIERS ORBITAL, she was joined by a member of the crew who had developed a certain affinity for being in the Shillian's company.
"Is that where we are going?" Rixx, or Pravat for those who knew him as an Enaran instead of an Edo, inquired already pretty certain of the answer.
"The TANGIERS ORBITAL… a high class casino with a security system that is either incredibly impressive or nothing more than a total overkill. I mean whoever designed this thing must have been completely paranoid about *everything*. The orbital is protected by a force field projected from the planet surface with an encoded frequency that is changed every 14 hours and the docking system is specifically designed to accept only 1 type of craft, which of course are under lock and key on the planet and are specifically used to ferry the patrons to and from the casino. The external plating of the station is completely sensor and transporter proof which means that there is no way to scan inside or beam anything in or out. I have seen jails with less security than this casino." The CSciO exclaimed, finding it extremely difficult to understand why a recreational location such as the TANGIERS ORBITAL would require such extreme protection.
"Makes sense to me… those who go there don't want to worry about their own safety. They go there to have fun and carry with them enough credits and valuables to make the entire station a very enticing target. My guess is that the security systems you have listed are only the tip of the iceberg which is why all those shady characters go there and why we are being sent in to gather Intel." Pravat countered with, the entire mission having been something that he had been looking forward to.
"I guess you are right… but I would feel safer if the ANUBIS could keep a lock on us instead of having to wait for our return. If something should happen we would be completely on our own." The Shillian pointed out, allowing her concerns and fears to fill the air around her.
"Maya… relax… nothing will happen… not to you or anyone else… not as long as I will be there." The Enaran said as he moved to stand behind the Cardassian, not at all feeling awkward about what he had said, the words having been said from Rixx to Denir.
-=-=-=-
Sabrina, Mei, Serenna and Enaii sat quietly on the shuttle, all sets of eyes rested on the form of the four year old girl that accompanied them and hummed the theme of a Romulan cartoon loudly, occasionally adlibbing lyrics in Engish.
Ensign Mei, new to the crew and not knowing exactly how she should react to the child of the Intel Operative and Executive Officer attending a casino looked on with extreme curiosity at the odd family in front of her.
Finally, Serenna spoke. "Do you think it is wise to bring her along?"
Sabrina raised an eyebrow at the Romulan, she had just assumed it was a part of their culture and thus a part of the culture Talia was being raised in.
Enaii shrugged as she reached over to straighten a stray wisp of hair that had attached itself to the child's cheek. "Since I am going as myself, I see no reason why not. She will not be a danger to my cover since I do not have one."
The Ensign swallowed as she spoke up. "Aren't there laws about bringing children into casinos?"
The Operative looked over the counsellor from toe to head before speaking. "The TANGIERS ORBITAL is not governed by any government and therefore does not fall under any banner of law. They do not care about age, they care about wealth… and Talia qualifies."
Sabrina smiled as she watched their daughter do an impromptu jig as she made her way to the replicator at the back of the ship and got herself a glass of purple juice. "Be careful with that baby," the Orion-looking woman chided, "If you spill that it will ruin your nice outfit and then you'll have to wear your pink lacy dress."
The child blinked at her mother as if trying to figure out if she were serious before putting the drink back into the replicator and ordering water.
Susan chuckled at her Executive Officer's method of dealing with the child and how effective it had been. "That's a cute toy disruptor she's got there," the Counsellor commented while tilting her head toward the child's belt, she had spoken just loud enough for the Romulan woman to hear.
Serenna rolled her eyes, she had become used to the odd dynamics of the most talked-about family on the ship, it was almost refreshing to remember that they were anything but normal. "That's *not* a toy," Serenna whispered back before turning her attention to the only one of them that had maintained her original identity. "How did you convince Admiral Koneki to assign Talia a bank balance?"
"I don't suppose she did," Sabrina replied, reaching out to brush the shoulder of her child as the girl flew by to take her place at the window again. "Talia's got quite enough money on her own if you ask me."
-=-=-=-
James sat back at the end of the Transport vessel, watching the curious pairings of his senior staff. On one side of him, Lea and David sat, conversing about nothing at all, the small talk of an apparent developing courtship, one that the Captain hoped would be good for his former Chief Engineer.
On the other side of him, and far less likely, Pravat sat, completely engrossed in Maya's description of a quantum singularity and how it might be linked to the concept of luck. It was such an odd combination, such an unlikely coupling that James watched the pair interact, Maya speaking and Pravat listening, for quite a while before becoming bored by the woman's ramblings.
It was at this moment that he realised that he still had a quarter of an hour on the transport and no one to talk to. He began to greatly miss Clora, part of him wishing she had come along… that they could have been together for this mission. Being inside the TANGIERS ORBITAL was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and he felt more than a little guilty about going without her, duty or not. Still, after all was said and done, James was much more comfortable in the knowledge that she was on the ship, and that she was fully capable of lending a hand should any unforeseen circumstances arise.
-=-=-=-
The teams beamed down to the surface at randomly generated intervals and to different locations. They had been instructed to make their way to the TANGIERS ORBITAL's transport platforms and register for passage on any of the shuttles that left for the orbiting casino every fifteen minutes.
The crowds were thick and security was heavy on the long strip of casinos and malls that lead up to the Shuttle registration. Still, slowly, every member of the crew made their way to the platform, booking their passage and heading off into space, some travelled first class, others business… at this point they were in character and it was all up to them. A couple even browsed the shops or had a drink before making their way to the transports, it all helped maintain the illusion of their assignments.
-=-=-=-
Enaii sat in her oversized chair in first class, she had arranged for Talia to get a tour of the Pilot's Cabin and the girl had returned full of glee and with a gold-winged lapel pin she was particularly proud of. The girl was giddy with excitement as they made their way into what she viewed as a special vacation for just her and her mother, the thoughts of the undercover officers she had left behind on the way here having left her mind.
"Come here," Enaii commanded her child who was presently helping herself to the snack tray one of the attendants had prepared with special foods just to tempt the girl. As the child bounded over and landed in her mother's lap the Orbital came into view through the window.
"Woah…" the child whispered in awe as she watched what was quite probably the largest vessel she had ever seen in her short life appear just outside. "We go there?" she questioned, excitement laced her voice.
Enaii nodded her confirmation. "Grab your bag Talia, and don't forget to tip the lady that got you all those snacks and took you to the pilot's cabin."
The four year old's eyes got large and she hopped off her mother's lap, quickly slung her backpack over both her shoulders and ran over to the flight attendant, brandishing her thumb, ready to tip the woman in order to get to their new location as quickly as possible.
Just as the girl finished with her transaction, the shuttle docked with the TANGIERS ORBITAL, it's doors opening to allow the enchanting sounds of countless slot machines to drift in to them. Looking back at her mother with both anticipation and a little fear in her eyes, Talia firmly grabbed the woman's hand as they headed off the ship and into their new adventure.
-=-=-=-
Writing the hopes, dreams and future of:
Lieutenant Commander Enaii - Intelligence Liaison Officer
And if you see no reason for giving thanks, rest assured that the fault is in yourself.
With sections from:
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"We are Grey, we stand between the Candle and the Star, between the Darkness and the Light" 2005 post #156
Stardate: 60320.1549
Setting: USS ANUBIS - Shuttle Bay
Stardate: 60320.1022
Setting: USS ANUBIS - Captain's Ready Room
Stardate: 60320.1022
Setting: USS ANUBIS - Bridge
Stardate: 60320.1022
Setting: USS ANUBIS - Astrometrics
Stardate: 60320.1505
Setting: Transport Ship 2
Stardate: 60320.1505
Setting: Transport Ship 1
Stardate: 60320.1530
Setting: VEGA SIGMA
Stardate: 60320.1544
Setting: TANGIERS Shuttle
Lisa Mac Isaac {lisa_mac_isaac@hotmail.com}
USS ANUBIS
~~Chief Tecumseh 1813
Sabrina Jones {sabrina_sweet@hotmail.com}
Commander Sabrina Rikar
Executive Officer
USS ANUBIS, NCC-18501
-Entilza Delenn, Babylon 5
