Opening Up A Can Of Worms

Posted on Mon Aug 30th, 2021 @ 6:17am by Lieutenant Commander Aurelia Taylor & Captain Gary Taylor
Edited on on Mon Aug 30th, 2021 @ 6:23am

Mission: Season 5: Episode 2: Operation Save Humanity
Location: The Taylor's Cabin
Timeline: After the Dinner MD6 ish
2192 words - 4.4 OF Standard Post Measure

ON

Lia sat in her cabin looking around at the Japanese tea house, Gary had gone to his new Office. *How long before they get rid of Phoenix's Command Staff* she thought, she suddenly felt trapped and very alone. Shaking off those feelings she turned on her computer and began a search of the computer banks for any sign of Phoenix. To ensure she wasn't traced or locked out of anything, she resorted to an old Intelligence code which despite it's age still worked. It got her places where others couldn't go, she didn't use it often as she thought it to important to abuse but this thing with Phoenix was vital to discover what exactly what was happening.

At first she found no trace of anything untoward, but then what seemed a regular transmission to Phoenix herself sparked Lia's interest. Something called the Epsilon Protocol, and a further transmission of Avalon to Commodore Evelyn Mountbatten. Lia now knew that treason wasn't the reason for Phoenix's disappearance, but she still didn't know how Carrington and Lovejoy fitted in. And that fact alone bugged her, why didn't Mountbatten simply put Gary in Command? Had she done so, then the problems Carrington and Lovejoy were now having with the old Command Staff wouldn't be happening. Plus nobody would be doing what she was doing, and the information she had discovered would have stayed hidden.

Continuing to dig, Lia now found some names that made her stop and shake her head. Someone called Jackson had been the first contact, so to speak. It was his call that made Phoenix trigger this Epsilon Protocol, the other name connected her and Elysium together. Commodore Heling, the target of Lia's first mission when she joined the ship. Risa seemed closer very suddenly, and she knew if Gary found all this out he'd be off and looking for Phoenix in a flash. But again Lia couldn't get the connection with a dead Commodore and this damned protocol, and she was sure that there had to be a connection. More digging more research and then that light bulb moment, Admiral Sharr. A name which Lia had heard before, and suddenly fragments became a narrative. Phoenix had gone after "The Watch" again, only this time she'd possibly gone on her own.

But Lia was aware Phoenix wasn't the type to blindly rush a door without back up, so perhaps she wasn't alone. Could she have a form of backup? Or could Phoenix Lalor have a group similar to those she was now hunting? The later prospect seemed the more certain of the two theories, only fools rushed in and Phoenix Lalor was no fool. Pushing further into what little she had, Lia now had a chain of events which led to only one result. 1) Phoenix gets a message from this Jackson informing her of certain information. 2) This Epsilon Protocol is triggered by Phoenix herself, and she disappears. 3) Either Carrington or Lovejoy or even both know about the protocol. All this added up to Lalor being on the loose and not under arrest for treason, and Mountbatten being the link to Carrington, Lovejoy and the Elysium.

Lia was about to leave for her office when the computer chirped, she returned to it and took a look. *Joker?* She thought, *Why the hell is he contacting me?*, maybe he could get extra information on Phonix so she sat down and answered the call. "Joker, long time to see. Now just what are you after?"

Joker, aka Samuel T Barker, had been a one time partner of Lia when she was part of Star Fleet Intelligence. "Lady Sherlock, how ya doin'?" He moved slightly to show that he was in the Directors office, "As you can see, I got promoted".

Noticing the office Lia reacted quickly, "What? Your the new Director? You gotta be kiddin' me!" She shook her head and continued, "Ok I'll bite, your the new Director. Now answer the question, what the hell are you after?"

Barker smiled, "I want you back for a start, and second I have information you might be interested in". Sam now leaned back in his chair, "You got a wayward Captain, word is she's a traitor and in custody". He now picked up a mug and took a sip, "But we know different, don't ask how we know but yep we sure do know".

Lia suddenly got interested on what Barker had to say, "Listen Joker, that kind of BS isn't funny. Phoenix is a friend, and I don't like what your hinting at". She looked around to see if Gary had returned, he hadn't. "I'm not coming back to SFI anytime soon, so scratch that from your agenda. Now what do you know about Lalor?"

Sam shook his head, "You want the information, you got to give something back. You know how this works, nothing for free". Barker stood up and disappeared from sight, Lia could hear movement and a file hit the desk in front of the screen. Sam now re-appeared and sat down, "This is an old file about a certain Commodore Heling, you remember him don't you? If I get this right, it was your first away mission on that bucket of bolts your on. Now just suppose I told you, your missing Captain is chasing up some loose ends on that mission. She ain't no traitor, she's workin' for another little group. We're still not sure what they're called, but we know they got a ship and they be chasin' something or somebody".

Lia now had her connection, Phoenix was indeed on the loose and after "The Watch" again. "Lets say I'm buying what your selling, I guess there's a price?"

Barker nodded, "There's my girl, you were always ahead of the pack Sherlock". Sam leaned back again, "I want an agent on that ship of yours, and I've chosen you for the job. I need information on Captain Carrington and her sidekick Lovejoy, if you want the inside scoop on Lalor you know what it's gonna cost".

She sat and thought about what Barker had said, but she wasn't sure if he was playing straight with her. "I'd have to think it over Joker, I am the head of Security you know".

Sam simply laughed, "Hell I know that, why d'ya think we're havin' this little talk? Now I'm gonna give you twenty four hours, after that your history Sherlock because when I through your gonna be visitin' a certain penal colony for quite some time".

"I don't respond well to threats Joker, you know that. I'll get back to you, when I'm good and ready not before". Lia went to cut the connection, but Barker held up his hand.

"You ain't changed much have you? Ok, we'll do it your way. But don't you be takin' to long, I have other fish to fry". Barker cut the connection and left Lia wondering what the hell to do next. So now she had at least two lines to follow but why was Joker so interested in Carrington? And what about Lovejoy? He just didn't fit right, something about him had Lia thinking. Could he be playing a double game??

Maybe she needed to talk this out with Gary, but if she did he might go off at the deep end. She decided to keep what she had learned to herself for now, keep a watching brief on all the main players. If she could only fathom out just who the main players were.

Gary had entered their quarters just as Lia was finishing her conversation. When she had he asked, "Who were you talking to?"

Lia spun round as she heard Gary's voice, "Oh your back, guess I should fill you in on what I'm doing". She moved over to the sofa and took a deep breath, "I've been doing a bit of digging about since the dinner party, and I wasn't getting anywhere". She moved slightly and then continued, "So I decided to use a few old SFI tricks, and found some interesting information about Phoenix. But it looks like an old companion of mine was monitoring those very same resources that I used, His name is Samuel T Barker but I know him as Joker". Lia now picked up a PaDD and handed it to Gary, "You'll notice about two day's ago I got a message from another old colleague, her code name is Elvira but we just called her MOTD. Her cryptic message was blunt".

On the PaDD was this message:- 'Lady S, take note. Beware the Ides of March, no JOKE'.

"It's her way of telling me not to trust Joker, as you might have heard he tends to threaten people. But he also knows I don't bend to well when threatened".
She stopped and waited for Gary to respond.

Gary listened in silence as Lia told him what she was doing as well as being contacted by Joker. When she had finished he patted the space next to him on the sofa, "Come sit down. I have something to tell you." His tone neutral not revealing anything about what he was going to tell her.

"I have more to tell you, but I'm not so sure your going to like it". Lia now moved closer to Gary, and waited.

Once Lia was seated next to him, he began to talk. "I know the name from my association with the Admiral and being part of her Wolf Pack and she didn't trust him, so I don't trust him. In fact, I've been in touch with the Admiral, told her of Phoenix's disappearing and she was going to do some digging and get back to me. So, it seems we've both been doing some digging, using our own special resources."

A smile crossed Lia's lips, *So he's been doing the same thing* she thought. "Phoenix is on the loose, and I think Lovejoy is playing a double hand. Problem is I don't have one single shred of evidence to prove anything I've found, our dear Captain has hidden her tracks well". She took another deep breath, "I also think Carrington is being played so she can be a patsy, Mountbatten put both her and Lovejoy here. That's why I think Lovejoy is a double agent, support Carrington until Lalor returns then drop Carrington like a hot brick".

"I agree that the Commodore put Carrington and Lovejoy here but I don't think it was for Carrington to be a patsy. There's more to her appointment than that. I think Garrett is here to watch Carrington and be a buffer between Carrington and the crew." Gary replied. "Also Phoenix's disappearance was well planned. So it was on a need to know basis. I don't know whether to be insulted or not." Gary added. "Something I'll definitely have to discuss with Phoenix when she returns." He said with a smile.

Looking at Gary, Lia shook her head. "Your sure she's coming back?" Placing her hand on Gary's knee, Lia Looked out of the window into space. "That's not exactly a small space out there? And she's not honour bound to return if she doesn't want to, she might choose to remain outside of Star Fleet and continue what ever it is she's doing".

Gary hugged her tightly. "I'm sure. This is her home and we are her family. She'll come home, though I'm not sure she'll be the same Phoenix she was when she left. Whatever caused her to leave was big and as such it has to have some impact on her and we'll be here to help her when she needs it. It's what families do."

"Oh I have a vague idea what it is she's chasing, and I think she's not going to find it out there". She pointed out of the window, "What she's looking for is closer to home than she knows, but only she can fathom that out and come to terms with it".

"Do you now?" Gary replied with a smile. "You may be right Lia. That's the way it is with most things you search for. Their right in front of you. Case in point you were right in front of me and I couldn't be happier."

Lia hugged Gary, "Well lets just say that example took some time to work, and I think that's the same with Phoenix". She stood up and brushed her uniform down, "Right, I due on duty in around 10 minuets. So I'd better make a move, or Carrington will be chewing my butt out". She leaned down and kissed Gary on the lips and hugged his neck, "See you in about four hours, unless something unto ward happens.

"I'll be here." Gary promised. "I may even do some more snooping into Phoenix's disappearance. I'll say this, being a diplomat allows me much more leeway to conduct searches without attracting undo attention. I'll let you know what I turn up, if anything. You do your job and stay safe."

Commander Gary Taylor
Chief Diplomatic Officer
USS Elysium

Commander Lia Taylor
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Elysium