Curiosity is a Dangerous Thing

Posted on Sun Feb 13th, 2022 @ 9:06am by Captain Gary Taylor & Lieutenant Commander Rin

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Intel Office
Timeline: After Senior Officer Briefing
1572 words - 3.1 OF Standard Post Measure

Gary made his way to the Intel office. The Senior Staff briefing had ended and it had turned into a disaster. The information they had been given was scant to say the least and just didn't make sense. So here he was, now standing outside the Intel office, hoping to talk to the one person who he felt could help him in hoping getting some more information.

Rin stood as Gary entered. This wasn't the most surprising development in light of the recent briefing, but she was terribly curious about the specifics of why the XO was now in her office.

"What can I do for you, sir?"

Gary waved her back into her seat even as he sat in one of the chairs in front of her desk. "What was your take on the recent Senior Staff meeting" Specifically the information about the Intel Operatives coming onboard?"

Rin had quite a bit to say on the meeting in general, but she tabled that for the moment. "I haven't been given a heads up, if that's what you are asking. I am as in the dark as everyone else. If they are carrying sensitive enough information, I can understand why very little about their mission would be revealed ahead of time. The Captain specifically said it couldn't be discussed while we were docked at the starbase. My one question is why the Captain held that briefing at all."

"Possibly Rin and while I understand the need and reason for secrets, this just feels 'off' Meeting a ship in the middle of nowhere. You heard Miraj it's a void." Gary sighed, "Maybe I'm being paranod but as I said it feels 'off' and as for while the Captain called the briefing, I imagine he wanted to give us a heads up on what was coming."

"'We've been ordered to XYZ coordinates where we will be given further instruction' would have served that purpose," said Rin. "His commentary about people continuing to do their job without complaint seemed unnecessary. It made people defensive. Their response was still absolutely inappropriate. They could have both landed in the brig, or worse. Is there a chance the Captain wanted to see who might react the way some did?"

Gary didn't rush an answer, he thought on Rin's question. After several seconds he replied, "It's possible Rin." He admitted. "The Captain would know who the more outspoken officers were and wanted as you said to see their reactions. Though that seems a waste of time and effort."

"Are you familiar with what Commander Vaii was alluding to when she mentioned telling the crew about something Captain Lovejoy had said about Captain Lalor? And about making her disappear?"

Gary sighed heavily, "Commander Vaii seems to think that Captain Carrington and then Commander Lovejoy had Phoenix removed so they could assume the command roles on the Elysium. It is ludicrous in its nature."

"Are you familiar with what happened with Captain Lalor? Her file is remarkably light on details," Rin asked.

"Just that she was arrested on charges of treason and is in the New Zealand penal colony. Which is odd in and of itself." Gary answered.

"Yes, I did find that odd." Rin took a slow breath, considering her next words. "Sir, I want to make a formal complaint against Commander Vaii. Her open declaration of 'spooks' being expendable is deeply problematic. I don't find her specifying 'hired' agents to lessen that problem, especially when she denounced Starfleet Intel in general. The fact that she declared anyone expendable is objectionable enough, but she targeted my department. It destroys morale and creates a dangerously adversarial atmosphere."

"I thought you might. Put it in a PaDD and I'll see it gets passed up the ladder." Gary answered. "I don't know what got into Jess. She's always been high strung but this came from nowhere."

"Yes, sir. Thank you. Are you sure it's coming from nowhere? You said she's been nurturing a ludicrous conspiracy theory. Is this an extension of that? An expanding paranoia?"

"It could very well be Rin. She has always resented Captain Lovejoy and when Phoenix went missing that resentment grew and simmered just below the surface. Today it boiled over and you saw and heard the results."

Rin nodded seriously. "And, at this rate, she's going to drag Commander Taylor down with her."

"I don't think so Rin. Lia is too smart for that. Though she is treading on thin ice and I will tell her so." Gary told the Intel chief.

Rin nodded in acknowledgement. "Thin ice" seemed a distinct understatement , but the conversation had gone as far as it needed to go. Gary wasn't dumb, and had he witnessed the same thing she had. He might well be downplaying it in front of Rin out of respect for his wife. He was in a tough spot and she didn't envy him one bit right now.

"Back to your original question...you say it feels 'off.' What would be the worst case scenario in your mind?"

"That we are being set up for some reason." Gary answered without hesitation.

"Set up by who? Intel?" Rin asked. "I won't take offense if you say 'yes.' This is a brainstorming exercise."

Gary shook his head, "No, wasn't going to say Intel. I was thinking higher up the food chain... the Admiralty." He said slowly and deliberately.

Rin raised a curious eyebrow. With equally deliberate words, she replied: "Ok, theoretically, what would they gain from it?"

"That is the million credit question Rin. I can't see what they would gain. It doesn't make sense." Gary answered with a slight frown.

"Then why do you suspect them?" Rin asked.

To that Gary smiled, "Because when you eliminate all other possibilities that which remains no matter how unlikely has to be the answer.'

"But you haven't eliminated all possibilities. There's an infinite number of third parties who could theoretically be behind this. And...you haven't eliminated the possibility that there isn't something actually wrong."

Gary nodded, "That is true Rin but it can't be Captain Lovejoy or Carrington. He's in the dark as much as we are and Carrington didn't know what was going on."

"I feel like I'm missing something. What is this thing you are saying Carrington didn't know about?

Sorry Rin, Whatever was and is going on with Captain Lalor.. All Carrington was interested in was throwing her authority around." Gary replied.

"So...you do think Lalor has something to do with the current mission?"

" I don't know to be honest. Phoenix is an outstanding captain and a better friend. I would have thought she would have gotten word to me someway if she was." Gary replied.

"I think perhaps Commander Vaii's tirade has gotten into your head," Rin said kindly. "There's a lot of blanks and people are trying to fill them in. Right now, all we know is we need to meet operatives someplace remote for information that couldn't be revealed while we are at the starbase. that in and of itself isn't suspicious. It could be lots of things, and that includes it being exactly what it appears to be. Let's stop guessing and wait for more information."


"You may be right Rin. In any event what you are suggesting does make the most sense. We'll take a wait and see attitude and see what develops." Gary remarked.

Rin nodded. Again, she considered her words before speaking. "Do you think Captain Lalor was framed? You said 'is a friend,' present tense, not 'was a friend.'"

"Yes, I do. She was a well known and highly respected starship captain and to have her arrested on the charge of treason is absurd." Gary replied firmly.

"And who would gain from that, besides Lovejoy and Carrington?"

"No, neither one of them. Captain Lovejoy is ambitious, but he is also honorable, he wouldn't stoop to having Phoenix arrested even if he could and Carrington wasn't ready to be Captain. So it would be someone higher up, someone who didn't like Phoenix, someone with a bone to pick possibly." Gary observed.

"I didn't mean to imply I thought they should be on a suspect list," Rin clarified, holding up a hand to indicate a need for pause. "Just reiterating your previous statements about them."

Rin paused again. "Why are you trusting me with this conversation? YOu barely know me. I could be working for anyone." She had a few guesses as to his motivations, some of which he was unlikely to answer, but she was curious nevertheless about what he would say.

Gary chuckled at Rin's question. "What am I trusting you with Rin? We haven't exchanged any classifies material. We're merely talking about a situation and looking at different scenarios. Besides if I can't talk to the Intel chief, who can I talk to?"

"Ah, yes, the Emotional Support Spook, that's me," she responds with a grin. She seems much more at ease now than she did a few days ago with Gary in the gym.

"Well, don't know about that but it is good to have someone to bounce ideas off especially someone that knows the ins and outs of Intel."

"I appreciate you feel that way. Thank you, sir."

"No, thank you Rin for the conversation and discussing different possibilities concerning this mission and what we're headed into." Gary answered honestly.