"Blind to all else that moves"

Posted on Wed Nov 24th, 2021 @ 9:03am by Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson & Lieutenant Clara Lawson & Tristi Richardson & Commander Arrianna Salannis an Vantar & Lieutenant Commander Malakai Starr [Taylor] & Sasha Stone [Whavi] & 1st Lieutenant Joshua Young [Taylor] & Lieutenant Commander Kara Starr {Kelea-Salik} & Captain Mattias Richardson [Reece]

Mission: Darkness Rising - A Phoenix Lalor Sub Plot
Location: Black Watch II
Timeline: MD34- 09h00
2895 words - 5.8 OF Standard Post Measure

Lily had retreated to the bridge. Something was knawing at her gutt. She paused at the command chair and then spun and hit the comm. "Everyone to the conference room." She announced and then she locked out all external comms.

Hearing Phee call everyone to the conference room, Mattias put the rifle he was cleaning back in its storage locker, and made his way to the meeting.

When he arrived, he moved over to sit by Phoenix, reaching under the table to give her hand a supportive squeeze.

She nodded at him and waited for the others.

Tristi had been tending to the plants in the hydroponics area and sighed before heading to the conference area of the ship.

Kara had been keeping a close watch over Cragen’s chrysalis, she needed answers about this transformation. When Lilli’s voice came over the comms she looked towards the cocoon. “I’ll be back grandfather, we all this is over we need to talk” with that she headed for the conference room.

Anna walked in and placed her beloved repeater next to the wall and sat down. Kate did not.

Joshua came in next, Like Anna he had his phaser rifle, unlike Anna he kept it by his side as he sat down next to her.

Malakai was in the armory, checking their stash of weapons as well as explosives. Could never have enough explosives. Hearing Lily's call. He stopped his work and headed for the conference room.

Clara entered a short time later and sat.

Sasha entered and promptly took an open seat.

tag all to the conference room.

Once everyone had gathered, Lily stood and took a breath. "This is going to sound horrible and I am not going to apologise but I think we are being played."

Mattias started to say something, but then stopped and thought about it for a few beats. Were they? "What makes you say that?" He asked, his tone not challenging, but curious and supportive.

“Do you have a specific reason to think that?” Kara looked at Lily curiously.

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"Highlaw said he would rein in Cragen. Yet Cragen amped everything up. While we are busy avoiding Cragen, and running small errands we see nothing of the big picture." She responded.

Mattias considered what he heard. It made perfect sense. "That Bastard!" He growled dangerously. "Do you think Highlaw set Cragen on us, two enemies to take each other out, leaving him high and dry in the end?"

Malakai listened as was his want, he didn't rush or make snap decisions. "I believe that Highlaw saw the opportunity to get rid of either us or Cragen as Mattias has already stated. He stays out of the fight while we or Cragen get dirty and suffer losses that weaken us sufficiently so he can then deal with the victor."

A voice came. "He has indeed played us. And I hypothesize he may have provided Cragen with mine and Josie's leave plan." A sight Phoenix had not seen for a month entered. Kate in a Starfleet Uniform. Or Arrianna Salannis an Vantar. "I must apologize. It took my near death to make me understand how much rage I fed in me."

Sasha's eyes involuntarily widened at the site of Kate, no Arrianna, in her Starfleet uniform. The site made her unexpectedly uncomfortable for reasons she didn't know.

Lily looked at Arrianna and tilted her head "And you are returning to Starfleet?" She asked curiously.

Mattias was unsure how to take this new development. So long as Kate, or Arrianna, or whomever she went by now didn't do anything to jeopardize Phee's safety, and the safety of her babies, he didn't care what she wore or where she decided to go. He remained silent and watched.

Arri spoke. "Lily.... Phoenix... They were never going to give your ship back after this mission." She mentioned. "You tired to bring down Matthew Highlaw with the black watch, and it ended with me and Josephine captured and sold as slaves.. Now.. your family is involved in this. Matthew Highlaw is a Fleet Admiral. There is little he does not have access to in Starfleet. Worse." She sat down. "Your ship was taken from you. Command was supposed to go to Commander Taylor, and myself. It went to Yasmine Carrington and Garrett Lovejoy. I almost resigned because of it. And in an act of my own foolishness and frusterations. I jeopardized everything I have known. And became a willing slave that helped Kyle Cragen break Josie. Yes... I am guilty of slaving." She noted. "There's no denying it. I am as guilty of breaking Josie, as Kyle Cragen is. I failed to save her as Kate Daniels.. I can only save her as Arrianna Salannis an Vantar... and to do so; I have to save Kyle Cragen from himself." Arri noted. "We have to make this enemy our ally."

"Oh that is not going to happen" Clara muttered and Lily nodded in agreement.

Mattias stood up, anger starting to bubble to the surface. How could she reveal Phoenix's true identity?! "Are you high, Kate, or Arrianna, whatever! You want us to what, welcome that animal," he looked over at his sister, "I'm sorry, Kara, I know hes your ancestor but," looking back at Kate, "welcome him in with open arms and say all is forgiven?! Well I say, FUCK that! I am going to make sure he gets dropped into a cell so fucking deep and dark and cold, it'll make Rura Pethe look like Maui in the middle of summer!"

Kara didn’t say anything, she knew there had to be repercussions for Cragen. She was feeling sorry for him, but only because he was her ancestor. She couldn’t blame Mattias for his response at all.

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"But even if you find evidence against Highlaw, they'll never give you your ship back. You have had opponents in Starfleet for a while. They do not like the diplomatic repercussions of an Erisian Woman, in starfleet, commanding one of the finest ships in the Federation. Now they have you right where they want you, and they will very much intend keep you here. They lied to you Phoenix.. Lied to you and found the only way they could to get you out of starfleet." Arri mentioned. "They tricked you out of Starfleet. I don't think the Black Watch can do any more good against Matthew Highlaw. So the only way I know how to oppose Admiral Highlaw.. and help Josie.. Is to make my enemy.. my ally. Mattias... I beg your forgiveness.. My anger jeopardized everything.. I only hope one day you think better of me. It is your right not to forgive me, but I can only fight these two villain's as a Starfleet Officer." Arri turned to leave.

Lily crossed her arms and stared at her for a moment. "IF you go back to Elysium Arrianna, you will be brigged, I can all but promise you that. They will have you for desertion. Its been weeks since you would have been listed as MIA."

"I have no intention of returning to the Elysium just yet. Not while corrupt people can snap their fingers and have both me and Josie arrested on vague and ridiculous charges. Now while despicable people sit in the highest ranks of Starfleet Command." Arrianna noted. "They may have directly been an accomplace to my and Josephine's torture and humiliation as slaves. And I say... When tyranny becomes law... Rebellion becomes duty. I will see to it that we find the evidence we need. Or I will contact Jean Luc Picard, Janeway, and many others. And tell them what happened. In Federation Space!!! If necessary I will get every commander who will listen, and lead a fleet on Earth to make them live up to their own principles." Arrianna noted. "And I will do it if I have to knock the center chair right out from under Highlaw's ass."

Leaning on the conference table, Mattias was turning red. The only thing that stopped him from completely loosing his shit, was the feel of Phoenix's hand atop his on the table.

"If I have to become a traitor in order to save everything I cherish. I will do so gladly to restore some semblance of what you once stood for. Good day Sirs and Madam." Arri left the room.

Malakai, looked at Lily, "You realize she is a loose canon. She has outted you with no regard what so ever, She is consumed with vengeance and that is all she sees and cares about. You cannot let her leave this ship."

"Lock her down" Lily said her tone cold. "We are at Warp so she cannot leave just yet, confine her to her cabin, sedate her if you need to," she nodded at Mattias and Malakai.

Clara stood and moved to follow Arrianna.

"On it." Malakai replied crisply. "Mattias, I may require your assistance, if you will please come with me. We can handle this quietly and without fuss."

"Yes, Sir!" Mattias said after giving Phoenix's hand a slight squeeze of solidarity. "I'd be more than happy too!" As he followed Malakai out, he said, "Just watch out if she has that damn sword of hers, if she draws on us, things might get messy."

"If she draws on us, I will stun her ass into next month." Malakai promised as the pair made their way to Arri/Kate's cabin.

Mattias nodded in agreement. No one messed with his family. No one.

Arrianna was preparing her things to leave. "Phoenix send you to stop me?"

"Yes Arri." Malakai answered simply.

Mattias stepped to Malakai's side and, looking directly at Arrianna, asked, "Why the hell are you doing tbis?!"

"Why? I've lost my life. Everything I've cherished. And the worst thing; I may have to save my enemy." Arrianna noted. "I'm wondering if Starfleet stands for anything anymore, when starfleet officers like you, decide going rogue will somehow save us from men like Matthew Highlaw." She looked at the broken painting. "I'll do anything to save her. But if I become what I'm not. That's a betrayal of myself. I joined starfleet to show compassion to my foes. I tried to kill him, and you stopped me, and now.. I can only be what I am."

"You are becoming as big a danger as the one you want to stop, Arri. You cannot see the forest for the trees. You outted Lily in front of the whole crew without a second thought. What's next? We can't afford YOU going rogue and doing more harm to this crew." Malakai answered bluntly.

Mattias growled. "This makes no sense! Since day one that we saved you, you claimed that you fully respected and wanted to protect Lily. You then turn around and do something so stupid as this?! Arrianna, I swear to you right now, if you EVER do anything or say anything that causes even a moments harm to her or her babies, I will destroy you."

Arrianna sighed. "Then it is clear I cannot leave here alive... The only rational solution is to stay confined in this room." She shook her head. "Ask yourself. What is needed more? Starfleet? or the Black Watch? I've gone mad... When I realized this.. When I almost decided that reality was too cruel to live in. I knew I became my own worse enemy. Being Mercenaries, Rogues, and Criminals will not solve this problem, and Phoenix should realize this soon. Leave me. Imprison me if you have to. But I cannot do this anymore."

Malakai nodded, "As you wish." And then he stunned her. "Help me get her on the bed and then we can secure these quarters so she can't leave. I don't put anything past her. She isn't thinking clearly. She doesn't have all the facts. She has become obsessed with a conspiracy in Starfleet."

"Gladly," Mattias was very angry at Arrianna. However, when helping Malakai move her, he showed care. Gently pulled off her boots, then paused. "Mal, as angry as she has me, I feel odd frisking her for any hidden weapons. I think we should have one of the women do that part, while you and I scrub out this room."

"A good idea." Malakai agreed. "Sasha, Anna, or Clara would be fine to frisk Kate. They are all experienced and know what and where to look."

Mattias moved over to the itraship comm panel and asked for one of the ladies to come down the Kate's room.

Clara entered a few mins later. "Well this is fun." She muttered.

"Clara, no commentary. Frisk her so we can seal this room and keep Kate from doing any more damage." Malakai told her.

Clara nodded and set about doing as asked.

== conference room==

Lily turned back to the others. "I have a list of things that we need to do to get further into Highlaw's trust. But the key one is this" She pressed a button and an image of a ship appeared. "The USS Elysium. He wants it."

Kara looked towards Lily. “Well if your crew there think as much of you as we do, I’ve no doubt he’d have a hell of a time getting his hands on the Elysium. Do you have a plan in mind?”

"Damn..." Anna noted. "He couldn't have picked a worst target. I know the squadron commander there." Anna mentioned. "Her name is Jessica Vaii. She's the one Commanding their Starfighter Squadron, and she's the best of the best. Her squadron will tear us to pieces before we get close to the Elysium."

"Well, as her former CO, i can access her." Lily said. "The cat is out thanks to Kate. My real name is Phoenix Lalor, and you all know the rest. But I do not want to put that crew or this one at risk by trying to take her over."

Kara looked towards Lily, “What about we take Kate home? Can we take her there? Wouldn’t they be the best ones to help her? Then once we know she’s safe we can sort out our next move.”

Josh nodded at Kara's suggestion. "That's not bad. However the question remains, what is your plan in regards to the Elysium?"

"I think I will ask to borrow it." She said calmly.

About ten minutes later, Clara, Malakai and Mattias returned to the conference room. Understandably, they looked upset. One of their own had lashed out and threatened their safety, and the safety of Phoenix's family. Now, there were two incapacitated individuals in the base.

Mattias moved back to his place by Phoenix's side. He gave her a grim grin, not knowing what exactly to say after all that had just happened.

"I was just saying, that Highlaw wants something big to accept people. Elysium. And I think I will ask to borrow the Elysium."

Malakai looked at her, "Borrow the Elysium? What are you going to do call whoever the captain is now and ask ? This isn't a runabout Lily. This is a starship and Command likes to keep track of their ships not rent or lend them out."

"Yeah you'd think that. They had me let it get stolen once. I will go through Commodore Evelyn Mountbatten. Arrianna told me she was involved after we were all pulled for this." Lily replied.

"That should be one heck of a conversation." Malakai observed.

"We will go in, in our alias's. I will deal with Arrianna first and set things in motion. It will take a few days. Maybe longer. Until then we need to lay low." Lily said.

"I'm all for lying low and staying off any sensor scans. Doesn't matter if takes a few days or a couple of weeks. As long as we can pull it off without a hitch." Malakai pointed out.

Mattias nodded. "Also, the more time we have to plan, within reason, of course, the more bugs we can iron out of the whole operation. I mean, we want this to go as smoothly as possible, obviously."

Lily nodded. "We will return to our base on Rigel and lay low. Jax?"

The man nodded. "Setting course now." He glanced at Tristi. "Come on Kid, I'll show you some stuff"

Tristi nodded and followed Jax from the room.

After Tristi had left the room, Mattias asked in a quiet voice, "So, what do we do about Arrianna? Do we keep her locked up? If so, her door is going to need to be modified, so food can be given to her."

"Yes. We keep her locked up." Malakai spoke up. "I'm sorry if that upsets some of you but we can't run the risk of her being free. There is no telling what she would do to either herself or us as taking us out of the frying pan and into the fire. If you don't want her locked in, then she needs to be sedated."

"Locked is fine for now" Phoenix replied. "I have an idea on what to do but i need time to figure it out."

"You got it." Malakai replied nodding.

Mattias nodded as well. Whatever Phoenix decided to do, she would always have him by her side, supporting her.