Choices

Posted on 07 Dec 2021 @ 12:26am by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Commander Morgan Tarin & Commander Scarlet Blake & Commander Marisa Wyatt & Lieutenant Commander Ryan Alexander & Yukime Frost

4,905 words; about a 25 minute read

Mission: Episode 18 - Cold Station 31
Location: Regula I - Level 16, Briefing Module
Timeline: MD 01, 1204 hrs

[ON]

Approximately two hours had passed since Galileo's overdue arrival at starbase Regula I. The ship and its accompanying task group were now docked at the deep space station for a crucial shore leave and resupply, leading to a sudden influx of new personnel aboard the modest-sized research hub. The long corridors within the tree branch hubs were abuzz with activity as crew members from all vessels disembarked and mingled. The sounds of multiple, simultaneous casual conversations permeated the mess halls, promenade and berthing modules. A mixture of wary Starfleet officers and cooped-up civilian scientists started to intermingle with interesting results.

In the starbase's port briefing room, however, more official matters were now underway. Several members of Galileo's crew had been summoned for a meeting with the station's senior staff. The nature of the meeting was unknown and hadn't been specified in the PADD transmissions, but a look around the room at those present from the Nova-class revealed the most probable reason. The briefing room was slightly larger than Galileo's conference room and was circular in shape. It had a diameter of roughly 13 meters with several large windows lining the walls to provide an unobstructed view of the surrounding cosmos and the purple planet below. A large triangle shaped table adorned the center of room with many additional chairs arranged along the interior bulkheads. A large wall-mounted LCARS screen was positioned next to the main entrance alongside a small replicator

At the main table sat four of Galileo's officers: Captain Lirha Saalm, Commander Scarlet Blake, Lieutenant Marisa Sandoval, and Ensign Ryan Alexander. Each of them were senior officers aboard their Nova-class starship and each had played a prominent role in Starfleet's actions at the Latari system three months ago. It wasn't a stretch to imagine the reason for which they'd been summoned to meet with the starbase's command staff. There were no representatives from Regula I there yet, which left them to wait in silence for several long minutes.

At one of the heads of the table - with her officers sitting next to her - Lirha scanned the room then quietly quipped, "Do you think I have time to get some food?"

Ryan chuckled lightly, shaking his head at Lirha's comment. "Depends how long we have to wait till the debreif, ma'am." He scanned the room himself, nodding respectfully to the other senior officers of the Galileo. He always found it a little surreal that he was apart of the senior staff, but one that he was honored to be apart of none-the-less.

"It might be a good idea, I have a feeling this isn't going to be a very brief briefing..." Blake shook her head, looking around with cool blue eyes that were slightly narrowed as her gaze went to the door. "At least they're leaving us to sweat in a room with a view."

The captain hesitated despite her XO's casual urging. Some strange part of Lirha could sense that the minute she returned from the replicator and took her first bite of wing slugs, a cadre of starbase senior officers would enter and catch her in a less-than-flattering manner. Orions had a canny intuition for these sorts of things. "I won't push my luck," she decided. "We probably used all of our allotment back at the Latari system."

Marisa sat quietly, thumbing through a PADD while she waited. She wasn't sure what to expect from the briefing, but she didn't want to get her hopes up--especially after dealing with the other Captains. At least Saalm genuinely cared about the colonists. It was entirely because of her that the encounter at the Latari system went as well as it did. Still, she hoped they'd be receptive to the data.

The conference room's entrance hissed open and the sound of two pairs of Starfleet boot steps quietly echoed into the small room. Both new arrivals were Human women but of much different appearances. The one in front was tall with Caucasian features and was dressed in a standard red-collared Starfleet duty uniform. Her dark brown hair contained loose curls which fell just below her broad shoulders. Three solid gold rank pips on her collar revealed her senior rank; her authoritative and athletic posture solidified it. She moved to the opposite end of the table from Captain Saalm then cast her hazel eyes across the assembled Galileans.

"I'm Commander Tarin. Strategic operations officer, Regula One," the woman announced, then looked to her civilian companion. "This is Yukime Frost, station commander. Welcome to the Pleiades Cluster."

Silk followed behind the Commander. She knew that most first impressions were going to be she should be a Tongo girl or something similar. Her size and her looks, made most beings presume that she was not physically very capable. Many had been proven wrong on that accord. She took a seat as well.

Silk waited while the Commander made the introductions. "Yes," she said finally. "Welcome indeed, and please, Silk is preferred. At a break I can always tell you the story behind that. I notice that you have not partaken of the hospitality. Please, before we get started, get something. A little bit of tea sounds perfect to me." She cast a look to the commander with those piercing blue eyes. "I am sure a few more minutes will not matter." Silk did not wait but got up again and headed toward the replicator. One did not have to be a telepath worth a damn to realize that there was tension here and something to at least break the ice.

"Actually," Tarin countered, keeping her attention on the exotic Orion captain and her crew, "Starfleet is anxious to get you debriefed as quickly as possible. They have several important questions." The pleasantries could wait until later, in her opinion.

Captain Saalm observed both of Regula I's senior personnel. They cut a stark contrast to each other -- one a tall, serious-minded Starfleet officer and the other a shorter civilian with a much more casual demeanor. She had read through both of their personnel files several times along the way to the starbase, however seeing someone in person for the first time and listening to them speak always made it different. "Thank you, Commander Tarin. Miss Frost," Lirha acknowledged them both then introduced her own crew. "This is my first officer, Commander Blake; my chief science officer, Lieutenant Sandoval; and my operations manager, Ensign Alexander."

Blake gave a short, silent nod at the introduction, her clasped hands resting on the table, her posture military tight. Her eyes were focussed on the two women in front of them, her features set in a neutral expression, the emotion shut off outwardly. The ex-marine knew all too well when she was being set up for an interrogation.

Ryan nodded to the two women, as a way of greeting as he all but came to attention in his seat, his expression masking the tension that felt. He quickly glanced over to Lirha before refocusing fully on the two women.

Marisa inclined her head in greeting, maintaining a demeanor of Vulcan calm even though she wasn't quite sure what to expect from this briefing, and wasn't sure she'd like it.

Silk smiled. "Pleased captain and again, please Silk. You have quite a career as does that little ship of yours. Well, I think we can all compromise here." She made a significant glance at Commander Tarin, as if to say, remember who is really in charge here. "If at any time you would like some refreshments please. This is a debrief not an interrogation. I have been through enough of both of those to know the difference."

Silk waited a moment and looked at a PaDD. "I note your second officer and chief medical officer seems to be absent."

Saalm tilted her head then shrugged. She had her own gut feeling pertaining to why some of her officers were now with her and others were not. After years spent dealing with the idiosyncrasies of Starfleet Command personnel, she'd learned to decipher the subtleties. "I believe she's currently standing watch on Galileo." Saalm thought back a couple hours and remembered the doctor adamantly volunteering for ship-based duties while shore leave was underway. "I don't get the impression she is fond of space stations."

"Her presence is not required," added the strategic operations officer. Afterall, Tarin had been the one who'd sent out the debriefing requests to select crew members from Galileo. "The reason I asked the four of you here is because, from the various accounts I've read," she looked down to her PADD and scrolled then looked back up, "each of you have unique knowledge of the situation in the Latari system. And," she continued, "I've been in Starfleet for a long time... I get the feeling there's more to what happened than you submitted in your classified reports." Tarin raised her eyebrows and looked across each of the Galileans.

The Galileo's science officer raised an eyebrow in response. She was going to follow Saalm's lead on this, although she thought the question more of a statement.

Captain Saalm didn't look away from the tall woman but instead held her eyes. She didn't detect malice or reproach in Tarin's voice. The commander's posture - while strong - appeared relaxed. Rather, she interpreted a desire to do her job which probably meant understanding the totality of the incident. Saalm knew the woman would record any statements she and her crew made here today then relay them back to Starfleet Command. That didn't particularly bother her. She didn't have anything to hide and ultimately she was right. There were several details Lirha had hesitated to include in her reports which she felt were better explained in person than over long-range communique. "Perhaps," she conceded.

Honesty was a valued trait among all Starfleet officers. It was one of the core tenants of personal and professional conduct, and was fundamental to the founding principles of the Federation. Commander Tarin appreciated Saalm's concession. She knew the Orion was a decorated and capable officer but was acutely aware of her controversial history as a captain and the tendency of her species to obfuscate the truth when it suited them. "In that case, I have some questions for each of you."

Galileo's captain looked at her officers and gave them all a nod of approval to verbally recall whatever details might be asked of them in the coming minutes. Then she looked back to the tall crimson-collared woman. "Proceed."

Regula I's strategic operations officer focused her attention first on Galileo's executive officer. "Commander Blake," Tarin started, now reading off her PADD, "your official report mentions that you and your away team made contact with colony survivors on the planet Latari B III." She looked up and trained her hazel irises on the former Marine. "Can you describe, in detail, the status of the colonists when you first arrived? Were they physically able or injured? Did any suffer from psychological afflictions? Were they...of sound mind and judgement in your opinion?"

Blake was silent for a long moment, contemplating the rather long and intricate question. To judge an entire group of people in a black and white way, it didn't sit easily with her. Thinking back, her mind gave her the image of Duke and that damned cigar. He'd been quite something. "Capable," she finally replied, sitting back enough to let her clasped hands fall into her lap. "They were a strong and capable group of people. They had adapted remarkably to their situation, despite what they had gone through."

"So their physical condition was what you would consider normal, for Human colonists? Does 'capable' refer to their mental states as well?" continued Tarin. She paused to consider how to rephrase the question. "Did you notice any of the colonists exhibiting erratic behavior? Anything that could be attributed to exposure from the anomaly on the planet?" She was deliberately vague in the way she described the proto-Tholian, for her counterpart Frost didn't possess the same classified knowledge as she.

"Not that I noticed," Blake replied honestly, shaking her head with a slight frown at the suggestion behind the question. "They had some frustration, maybe even some anger about what they were going through, and why it took so long for help to come. They were under pressure, but were pushing through it and staying strong. I feel that is understandable in their situation though. If I'm honest, I was surprised at just how together and in control they were when we arrived, but when I understood there had been something of a gap between their first...exposure and our arriving, it made sense that they'd had the chance to regroup and refocus."

A moment of reflection followed while the strategic operations commander entered notations into her PADD. So far the first officer's answers corroborated her initial filings. But there will still many questions. "Tell me about Maria Vasquez, the colony administrator you mentioned in your report. You wrote that she assisted your team by instructing her personnel to repair your damaged shuttlecraft. So your away team could return to Galileo?"

"Correct," Blake nodded firmly, crossing her legs as she held her eyes with a steady gaze. "It was badly damaged, I don't think we'd have managed to get back off the surface without their help. And we needed to get help for them. Their situation was becoming more precarious, and as much as the colonists had held things together, they only had a matter of time. Vasquez knew that. She was a realist. Intelligent, with a natural sense of people. She had maintained order amongst her people in an unimaginable situation and cared about getting them to safety. But she also understood our need for data and was willing to share what they had on the...anomaly."

Tarin entered more notes into her PADD then looked back up at Blake with a confused expression. "So...these colonists helped you repair your away team's shuttle and return it to orbit...but didn't attempt to repair their own escape modules?" Her voice sounded genuinely baffled. "Surely you were aware of their colony vessel's specifications; about the multi-use nature of the drop modules and their re-usability as escape platforms in the event of a crisis situation..."

Blake glanced delicately down to her hands as she took a soft breath. "I rather think that their idea of help meant a solution that enabled them to stay on the planet," she said quietly. "They weren't ready to give up the home they'd worked so hard for."

"Even facing imminent death from this anomaly? You truly believe they were willing to sacrifice their lives to protect a planet they'd only inhabited for five years?" Tarin's questioning continued with harder questions. "A planet they knew was experiencing, as you wrote," she looked back to her PADD, "'geological collapse from an unrecorded entity'?"

"Captains sometimes choose to go down with their ships," Blake shrugged lightly, shaking her head as she watched her. "There's no logic to that either. It's an emotional response, a deep one. It's not unknown in cases of natural disaster for people to stay in their home, despite knowing what is coming, rather than leave it. Whether you see it as an emotional bond or a form of the 'fight, flight or freeze' response to danger, it does happen. You asked for my opinion, Commander, that's it. If you want to know for sure, you'd need to ask them."

"If I may interject a comment," Marisa asked, not waiting for an acknowledgement. She maintained a tight rein on her thoughts and emotions. "As both a scientist and a psychologist, I concur with Commander Blake's observations. These colonists left everything behind for the dream of building a new world for themselves and their families. All were thoroughly vetted both physically and mentally before they were allowed to be a part of this venture, as is Federation custom. When the geothermic balance of the planet changed, they knew they had the ability and capability to rebuild on the other side of the planet. They were doing a remarkable job of it, too. Why is it then so difficult to believe that they would choose to stay rather than abandon their dream at the first or second sign of trouble?"

Commander Tarin listened to Blake's interpretation then that of the chief science officer. She turned her hazel eyes towards Sandoval while she lowered her PADD to her thigh. "Where I'm from, lieutenant, a 'sign of trouble' is when you default on a debt to a Ferengi. This was a catastrophic event that required detonating multiple tricobalt devices on the world's surface, rendering all plant and animal life functionally extinct." She paused then gestured with an open palm. "I do understand the logic behind your reasoning and I'll be interviewing several of the colonists in the coming days," she said to the first officer. "I'm not here to question your judgements or those of the Latari survivors. That's Starfleet Command's purview. My job is to fill in any gaps to create a complete picture of events."

Marisa nodded to show she understood.

Silk just watched the back and forth. Commander Tarin was efficient but she wondered if her somewhat abrupt style would get more if she moderated a bit.

"I think we can be sure we are all working for the best here," Silk commented. "I know you want to finish Commander Tarin but let me suggest we take a break in a bit. Please continue though."

Commander Tarin nodded to the station's administrator then returned her attention to Galileo's teal-collared science chief. "Lieutenant, since you have intricate knowledge of Latari B III before it was destroyed...just how exactly did you manage to obtain samples from the anomaly? Your report submitted that you," she pulled up her PADD again and started to read off of it, "'proceeded on foot through volcanic terrain to make first contact'?"

"Our team went in to find out why there had been no contact from the colony. We discovered that a cataclysmic geological event had decimated the area. Projectiles from the site damaged the shuttle, causing us to make a hard landing. When we landed, Shizn and Steele stayed to repair the shuttle while the rest of us went to the site of the eruption to have a closer look." Sandoval raised an eyebrow, waiting for a response.

Nodding with understanding, the strategic operations officer gestured for the woman to continue. "Describe this 'closer look' you and your team performed. Is that when you made first contact with the...lifeform?"

"We crossed the crust to get as close as we could to the eruption site. Due to the high radiation levels, we were unable to use our tricorders for scans until we were within a few meters of the crater. In the meantime, we collected what samples we could for later evaluation. The eruption site contained high levels of biosilicates in the core material. When the tricorders started working, we took scans. There was another upheaval and the tricorders registered something coming up through the magma. That's when we first encountered the life form. We tried to communicate with it, but it attacked and we ran."

Now taking short-hand notes again, Tarin wanted to know more and continued without looking up. "Exactly what form of communication did you use? How did it respond? Obviously it became hostile, but can you give insight into why your attempts at diplomacy failed?" As far as she was concerned, these were the most important queries Starfleet Command had tasked her with.

"Commander Blake tried the direct approach first, in case the UT could translate. We don't know if it worked or not. It emitted several high-pitched noises," Marisa began. "When that didn't seem to work, Lieutenant T'lin suggested creating 3D images with her PADD to see if the entity would react to any of them. She went through known silicate creatures. There was no reaction at all to the Horta, but when she displayed a Tholian the...entity...reached for it. But being holographic it couldn't grab it, so it came after us. That's when we ran."

"So first it attacked a projection of a Tholian, then your team directly?" the tall commander attempted to clarify. "Why did it do that? Why did the image of a Tholian provoke it?"

"It didn't say," Marisa replied, trying not to roll her eyes. "We believe the silicate entity may have been distantly related to the Tholians. Or it could be that it simply didn't react to the horta because it resembles a rock. At this point, we have nothing but theories on the cause of the behavior."

Blake nodded in agreement with Marisa, letting out a slight breath, one of the smaller signs of emotion that broke through her cool exterior. "Not being able to communicate with it is my regret from the mission," she said quietly. "It's very likely that we were in the midst of a unique first contact, and it failed. We don't know why it reacted that way to the image of a tholian. If I were to guess..." she glanced to Lirha, thinking on her part of the mission. "If the tholians were trying to purge the threat in the vicinity, perhaps there had been an aggressive encounter already?" the question was aimed more at Lirha rather than Tarin though. She'd had the direct contact with them, maybe she'd have a better insight.

Silk just sat quietly and listened. This was all very interesting material that was being divulged. Of course, she knew she would not say a word of anything unless asked or required. It sounded like this crew had been through quite a bit.

The Orion captain sat silently in her seat while she listened to the first-hand recounting of the away team's adventure. Blake had previously submitted a report to her detailing their contact with the proto-Tholian and the colony survivors, but this was Lirha's first time actually hearing the details. When she caught her first officer's glance from the corner of her eyes, she visibly adjusted herself in her chair then gave a casual wave to the stations administrator. "I think I will indulge in your hospitality now, Miss Frost. Hot chocolate, please." Lirha possessed a great deal of knowledge surrounding the proto-Tholians' origin. She stalled for time to collect her thoughts and ascertain the best way to respond to the open queries.

The crimson-collared strategic operations officer took the hint. Letting out a silent breath, she placed her PADD on the edge of the briefing table then turned towards Yukime and nodded. "Fine with me, captain. Let's have a short recess," Tarin replied to Saalm.

Hot cocoa sounded good to Marisa. The questioning was sounding more like an interrogation and she could use a break herself.

"I think that an excellent suggestion Commander. Shall we say fifteen minutes? That should give everyone some time to have a break. If anyone needs bodily function relief, there is a facility on the left just outside." Silk wondered if any of the officers would engage her otherwise. She was mostly just an observer here.

"Ten minutes. Busy schedule today," said Tarin. She picked up her PADD then informed the rest of the group of her intentions before heading to the briefing module's exit. "I'll be back shortly." Her long legs walked quickly to the door which hissed open then shut behind her.

Silk just smiled until the station commander had exited. "A bit too serious that one. Well, everyone, please help yourselves. I can arrange for something not so replicated later. Let us call it a real welcome rather than a near interrogation. It certainly sounds like you have all been through a lot lately."

"Thank you," Marisa said to Silk. She wasn't sure if Tarin left because she thought it would be awkward to stay, or if she wanted to see if they'd use this time to talk. It didn't matter either way. She replicated a cup of cocoa and some shortbread and went back to her seat to think over the questions so far.

Captain Saalm was next in line behind the science officer. She procured her own large replicated mug of hot chocolate along with a small salad. Plate in hand with some cutlery tucked under her arm, she returned to her seat at the briefing room's large table. "I have seen worse," she replied to Administrator Frost in response to the strategic operations officer's demeanor. "Working for Starfleet Command is a serious job. Or would you prefer Captain Rasmussen replace her?" she asked with a wry grin towards her fellow crewmates.

Marisa shook her head. She had enough of Rasmussen to last a lifetime.

Silk perked up at that. She did not know this captain, this captain referred to but sounded like one of those stubborn types. She tapped her finger for a moment and then asked, "So, as I mentioned, let me welcome you a bit later after this. I am thinking maybe give me a chance to get a word in and practice at the same time." She knew the crew members would not know what she was talking about so she added, "I was thinking perhaps a full Earth Japanese tea ceremony. I am from my younger days a fully trained geisha and it has been some time since I got to utilize that skill."

East Asian Tea ceremonies were unfamiliar to Lirha but she appreciated the sentiment. At the very least it would give her a chance to learn more about Human culture. Glancing left then right to her Galileo officers, she looked back to the blond-haired woman and politely smiled. "We would be honored. And maybe you can tell us more about this station and the planet we're orbiting."

Marisa had never attended a formal tea ceremony, although she'd read about them. She was eager to watch a fully-trained Geisha perform one.

"Very good, I will make arrangements and send out invitations. As far as the rest of the station, well..." she glanced at the chronometer. "I will be happy after the Commander is finished."


Several Minutes Later...

The briefing module's door swished open then shut, marking the return of Regula I's crimson-collared strategic operations officer. Commander Tarin was reading from her PADD when she entered but soon cast her attention back to the same familiar Galileo officers in the room. Instead of returning to her seat, however, she remained afoot and spoke to the group. "Captain Saalm. Ensign Alexander. I need to ask you both some questions...in private." Tarin specifically addressed those two before looking to Blake and Sandoval. "The rest of you are dismissed. Thank you for your testimony and enjoy your shore leave."

Marisa looked from Commander Blake to Captain Saalm, then back to Commander Tarin. She nodded. "Yes, ma'am." She was mostly relieved, but also curious about what she wanted to ask them.

With a nod to Silk, Alexander, and Saalm, Marisa left the room.

Silk made a quick note to check on where the two where assigned to for an invite later. She just nodded to the commander and kept her mouth shut.

Blake glanced over to Saalm, able to guess the direction this would take with the two remaining 'witnesses'. She stood, meeting Lirha's eyes even as she walked behind Tarin and Frost to leave, a look that said to 'give 'em hell' even if there was just a glint of very dark humour about it.

Once Galileo's first officer and science chief were gone, Tarin turned her attention to Regula I's administrator. "You too, Frost." It wasn't personal. In fact, the conversation she was about to have with Captain Saalm and Ensign Alexander was highly classified. It was for Yukime's own protection that she vacate the room to avoid overhearing information for which she wasn't authorized.

Silk made a little Mona Lisa smile. There was nothing that she could not find out if she wanted to, but those days were behind her. She just simply said, "Of course commander. Captain, I will contact you later." She then turned and left.

The room was finally quiet when the door swished shut behind Yukime. That left Saalm, Alexander and Tarin as the only remaining occupants within the circular-shaped module. A soft click broke the silence when the commander gently placed her PADD on the table. She reached up to tuck a lock of stray hair behind her ear then folded her arms loosely across her chest. Her hazel eyes were now trained on the Orion's light green irises.

"Tell me about the mutiny on your ship and why you two defected to the Tholians in the middle of battle..."

[OFF]

--

CAPT Lirha Saalm
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo-A

CMDR Morgan Tarin
Strategic Operations Officer
Regula I
[PNPC Saalm]

CMDR Scarlet Blake
First Officer
USS Galileo-A

Administrator Yukime 'Silk' Frost
Station Commander
Regula I
[PNPC Allyndra]

ENS Ryan Alexander
Operations Manager
USS Galileo-A

LT Marisa Sandoval
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo-A

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