From: Lynnaea AelCaymarth <rneces@mastnet.net>
Date: Tue, 29 Jul 1997 00:16:00 -0500
Subject: USS CHESAPEAKE: Lunch at The Gazelle
<<<ADVANCE WARNING: Gratuitous Character Development. Not Required
Reading -- unless you want to have any clue what's about to upset the hell
out of the CSO.>>>
SD 90729.0525
MD 13.1200
Scene: InterStellar Shipping, Inc., Planet Cygnus XIV
______________
Theresa Keyrin glanced at the latest memo with the same everpresent scowl
that seemed to be permanently chiselled into her sharp features. An
arrogant flick of her hand sent the piece of paper into the incinerator
chute under her desk, and the evidence was gone.
Things were beginning to heat up. She felt confident that she would make
it through, in the end; after all, when one had the backing of the
Trinity, and behind them, the Prota Canna, you were fairly close to
invincible, at least on Cygnus. No one wanted to cross the crime lords.
The Federation, however, did not see things in such a light. Never mind
the fact that they were quite insufficient at comprehending just how large
the smuggling and pirate trade was. Never mind that they failed to take
much more than 10% out of the Trinity's hundred-billion dollar profits
every fiscal year. They thought they had a lead here, and they had every
intention of pursuing it.
*The road to hell is paved with such... *
* * *
"Karen, I'm off for lunch. Do *NOT* page me. Understood?"
"Yes, Ms. Keyrin."
She strode out of her office and into the lift which carried her down to
the lobby. She flung open the impressive lead crystal doors of
InterStellar Shipping, Incorporated, and paused as the chaffeur
deferentially opened the door of the hoverlift for her.
"The Gazelle."
Wordlessly, the craft glided out onto the airways. Theresa watched the
city below her drift by, as if she were severed from it. Perhaps she was,
in ways more permanent than anyone would ever know.
The Gazelle Cafe was still four blocks away when she ordered him to park
the craft. "Here will be fine, Xavier. Wait for me."
"As you wish, Ms. Keyrin."
She walked the distance with her head down, preoccupied with the business
of the moment. She was seated promptly and with respect, and from the
shadows, her business associate appeared. The press of a button, and the
sound barrier materialized around them.
A small wry smile quirked at the corners of her mouth. "Shall we talk
business?"
"When do we not?"
"It is my understanding that certain figures are calling for my resignation."
"They will be silenced shortly."
"Will they? And what is the catch?"
"Your allegiance, as always. The promise of future favors, and your
listening ear. We believe in extending credit -- but the loan will come
due eventually."
"With full compounded interest, I'm sure," she snorted.
He pondered her, his head cocked as if listening. "Unless you'd like a way
out." Theresa caught the vaguest movement of his hand under the table, and
she knew that she had stumbled onto gravely thin ice. *Damn you,* she
swore mentally, at herself and at the emissary.
"There is no way out. And I am quite content where I am, thank you."
"I thought as much." An imperceptible relaxing, a withdrawal of the unseen
threat. A pause.
*Here it comes...*
"Should certain kin be transferred to inopportune branches of Starfleet,
they may have to be dealt with."
"My sister is not a threat to you."
"Not where she stands now, no. She is not. We have evidence to support
that she has worries of her own right now."
"You haven't infiltrated StarFleet."
"Not many times, no. And there is no operative within your sister's sphere
of activity. But there have been certain commlink communications which,
because of their civilian nature, have been on less than secure channels."
"All transmissions from Starfleet vessels are relatively secure."
"Relatively, yes. There is secure, and there is _secure._ It would be odd
indeed if she commandeered a Security-class channel for a family call, now,
wouldn't it?"
"I suppose."
"She may become an inconvenience."
"And at such time I will sacrifice her. Not before."
"I am surprised at your reluctance."
"Kin still means something to some of us."
"It can't mean that much. You have sacrificed before."
Theresa shot him a venomous look.
"Guilty conscience?"
"We all have them. I'm sure you would too, if you had a soul," she
snapped.
A low chuckle. "I think our business here is done. We will contact you
again shortly with a game plan."
She started to turn away, then stopped at an invisible bond, a connection
not yet broken. "Vixens should not have to gnaw off their own feet to
escape a trap."
"Vixens do if they wish to survive the hunter."
*And just who is my hunter?* She regarded the man across from her with
critical eyes. *Will they bite the hand that feeds them?*
The sound barrier derezzed. Knowing the answers all too well, she left,
her associate fading back into the shadows from which he had come.
Respectfully submitted,
Lynnaea AelCaymarth
ENS Aelyria Keyrin, CSO
USS CHESAPEAKE
<rneces@mastnet.net>
NRPG: Timeline updated.
Takako: Just to put your mind at ease, no, nothing untoward will happen to
the CSO during the mission. After mission stand-down? Now, that's another
matter. *grim smile*
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