Black Badge Part 3

Posted on Sunday 9 February 2020 @ 16:42 by Captain Melody Jones & Lieutenant Commander Rionuj ch'Anidem & Lieutenant Marbim Rejal

Mission: Ghost Ship
Location: USS Merlin: Deck 1, Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: MD 1 1215 Hours
1194 words - 2.4 OF Standard Post Measure

Rionuj had just finished getting his bones reset and knitted by the skilled talents of the ship's surgeon. Rio didn't even fight to keep a scar as he always did. He was en route to deck one in a turbo lift that had stopped three times since he got on. After a few more seconds the lift halted and the doors hissed open. He got off and headed for the ready room. He knew from asking the computer that his CO was there. Departure time was approaching and Rio needed to speak with Commander Jones before then.

He was mostly unnoticed by the alpha shift bridge team. Except who he recognized as the helmsman was seated standing in front of the command chair. The Andorian slipped past and was outside the ready room and took a deep breath before he pressed the chime button on the panel next to the door. He exhaled and waited.

Melody called out at the sound of her door chime "Come."

Seeing the Andorian enter, Melody smiled. "Commander, What can I do for you?"

As soon as the door closes the chime goes off again...

Melody raised an eyebrow and remarked, "My my aren't we popular suddenly?..." Then called out slightly louder "Come!"

Almost bumping into the Andorian, Marbim steps into the room. "I got a message asking if I'd be here, I'm guessing it wasn't from you Ma'am?"

The Andorian managed to side-step out of his new XO's way he chuckled slightly, "It was me that sent the summons." The Andorian paused a moment he was still unsure if he should refer to the man as sir even though the man was just lieutenant.
"I have something I need to share with you both," he started as he began to scratch his knuckles on his right hand, the regrowing skin and bones itched a lot; "I was contacted by Admiral T'Nae, the current director of Intelligence, let's just say for a Vulcan she has some unwarranted prejudices. Sorry..."

The Andorian paused and took a few deep breathes before he continued; "Ma'am the issue is that I have been reactivated as an agent of Intelligence. I have been ordered to wear my black badge as well. And what distresses me the most is that I have been ordered to spy on you, ma'am."

Taking his own side step, Marbim's smile quickly falters to be replaced by a look between anger, and bewilderment ... he holds his comments until his Captain has a chance to respond.

Meloy kept her face neutral as she absorbed what the Andorian had said. "I think you both better sit down."

Melody took her own seat on the other side of the desk. "So. Let me get this straight. You've been contacted by Starfleet intelligence. As well as been told you've been reactivated as one of their agents they've told you to spy on you Captain.?"

The Andorian took a seat in the surprisingly comfortable chair, "Yes ma'am."

Once Rionuj is seated Marbim will take a seat, sliding it so he can see both faces.

Melody continued "I take it from that fact you're telling me this is, that you're not happy about this assignment. First of all, let me say I appreciate you coming to me about this. It tells me a lot about your character. Now you can tell me more about your relationship with Starfleet inelegance and up to now what exactly you have told them."

"I worked with Intelligence for over a decade. Actually I was a scouted by them after I filed a report regarding the fabled section 31 during my Academy days. But, 6 years ago I decided I wanted to test myself further try to become Captain. So I hot reassigned to the Shraan-B. I was a great agent. I once had to spy on the crew of a now decommissioned ship the Arbiter. It turned out it's Vulcan Captain was a member of the Tal'Shiar. That experience got me noticed by Admiral T'Nae. She herself once did a deep cover assignment within the former Romulan Empire. Sorry, I digress. I have nothing to report about you at this point. So Intelligence knows that we are heading to Sector 715 and that's all. Though since I'm reactivated we can use that to our advantage ma'am. "

Clearing his throat, while watching his Captain’s face he asks, “Why are they interested in us at all, is it our mission or that the Borg seems to love us so much?”

"It's the Borg, and the fact that Commander Jones is a former Drone. There are two things that T'Nae is openly prejudiced against and it's Romulans or Rihannsu as they prefer to be called and the Borg which extends to former Drones. It doesn't help that we have uncovered intel that the Rihannsu have acquired and are experimenting with Cubes. It sadly gives T'Nae more credibility in her hard stance against those species."

Nodding, Marbim interjects, “What are her thoughts on our run-in with Species 8472 and the Puppet Master?”

Melody sighed. "Starfleet intelligence seems to conveniently forget that I was never fully connected to the collective, that I was rescued before the maturation process was completed... I find it very hard to believe that his feeling is shared by those in Starfleet Command. Do you think that Admiral TNae has an ulterior motive?"

"There are always ulterior motives when Intelligence is concerned and since she is the director of it she'll have over a dozen of them ma'am. Some suspect she is a sympathizer of Sec. 31 which officially no longer exists though most in my line of work know that to not be true. It's sad when President Ujaba refuses to confirm or deny their existence yet Command says they are not part of Starfleet or the Federation."

Melody thought for a moment. "Then you should do as you've been ordered. I want you to report on me to them. They need to belive you're following their orders. I want to go through everything you're going to send to them together. We might be able to use this to our advantage and weed out a cancerous growth from the hear of Starfleet. Don't you agree?"

The Andorian smirked, "Yes ma'am!"

Looking over at the Andorian, Marbim will nod, "If you need anything from me, let me know, I'd hate to lose my Boss to some snotty intel person in Starfleet..." Although he says it lightheartedly, both the other two can tell he is very serious.

"I'd kill anyone who attempts to harm anyone on this vessel." replied the Andorian.

Looking over at his Captain his grin gets bigger, "I like him already. Is there anything else we need to cover?"

"I Don't thin so Number one, I'll see you on the bridge shortly to get underway."

OFF:

●●● Lieutenant Marbim Rejal
First Officer / Chief of Operations
USS Merlin

○●● Liuetenant Commander MRionuj ch'Anidem
Chief Strategic Operations Officerr
USS Merlin


●●● Commander Melody Jones
Commanding Officer
USS Merlin