Sacrific'd
Posted on Sun May 22nd, 2022 @ 11:55am by Captain Samuel Woolheater
Mission:
MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: TITAL - SOL VI - MARINE BASE
Timeline: THE PAST
Tags: Patel, Garmin
1079 words - 2.2 OF Standard Post Measure
[ON:]
=== TITAN- SOL VI – CAMP MARGRAVE – SFMC SYSTEMS COMMAND – LATE THAT NIGHT – MAJOR NIMA PATEL’S QUARTERS ===
It was late at night on Titan. The marine base was never “quiet” but this was as peaceful as it got. Outside, traffic was at its usual pace in the barracks. The corners of her room were dark, the only light streaming in was from a series of windows to the outside. Major Patel sat bolt upright in bed. She was startled by something. Something or someone in the dark. She sat listening. She drew the blanket in closer. Her eyes searched the darkness. Then she saw him.
“How long have you been there?” she asked the corner shadow of her quarters.
Garmin’s voice answered from the shadow and then he gradually revealed himself, “Long enough.”
“How did you get in?” There was no answer. But the look in his eye was cold.
“What do you want?” the Major asked.
“Closure” Garmin answered.
“Closure?” she asked. Nima felt hot and a little bit woozy.
“Yes. Major? Let me ask you something? What, in your long career, would you say is your first and most important duty?” Garmin asked. Now standing at the foot of her bed but still a meter away from it.
“My first duty is…is to the Federation President” she answered.
“No. Major, you are not a loyalist. And loyalty is worthless without principal” he answered. “Try again.”
Nima was feeling hot now and out of sorts, “Of course…I mean the Federation Charter” she answered as she started to feel tired.
“No. The Federation Charter describes the requirements for entry into the Federation. The Constitution contains the articles, the rights and the principals the govern the Federation. Come now Major, you are a dedicated Marine major. At one of the core institutions of our Federation. Are you telling me that you don’t even know a basic question like this? Once more, I’ll ask you for the last time. What…” he started again. Nima interrupted him.
“I don’t know what you want. And you’ve done something to me. I don’t feel right! What have you done to me?” she asked and tried to switch on the light.
Garmin snapped and yelled, “The first duty of every Starfleet Officer is to the truth. Whether that is scientific truth, historical truth, or personal truth. It is the guiding principle on which Starfleet is based.”
The lights didn’t work and neither did the COMM. She realized she has been poisoned. Somehow Garmin got into her quarters and poisoned her.
She glared at him but was becoming weaker all the time, “That’s rich coming from you. Truth? Truth! What is truth? I don’t know what the truth is anymore. So many lies, so many secrets. It’s people like you that have eroded the truth. Watered it down, confused it so that we no longer can recognize it when it’s staring us in the face. How dare you lecture me on my duties. I did everything you ever asked. I did everything the Agency ever asked. Why are you doing this to me?”
He crossed his arms and spoke calmly, “Because we can. Major, you are the wood rot at the foundation on which the Federation stands. And we are the cure.”
“Have you poisoned me?” she asked. Already knowing the truth.
“Yes” Garmin answered.
“When?” she looked at him.
“While you were sleeping” he said as he put his arms behind his back.
A few moments passed. Nima wept a little. Then, recovering she said, “Then it’s over?”
Agent Garmin nodded, “Your part has been played. But you are a liability. A loose end. And you should have been more of a Marine.”
She chuckled and laid against the headboard on the bed, “More of a marine? I should have stood up to you a long time ago. I knew back then that what you are and what you do is everything I have fought against my whole career. I should have exposed you when I had the chance.”
Garmin said nothing. He let her have her moment.
“Will it hurt?” she asked him.
“No, you’ll just go to sleep. They will say that it was…a heart attack” he said.
“And what of General Hostee? He gave me the order; to transfer those marines you want dead. What about him?”
“The General will be dealt with soon enough” Garmin replied.
She sighed and closed her eyes, “Thank you for that. But there’s one thing you overlooked? One…puzzle piece you cannot control or predict.”
“Oh? What would that be?” he asked.
“The Elysium…you think you know that ship? You don’t. Very unpredictable that one. No way you are going to catch all the details. And Marines? Especially those that you are trying to kill…we have an amazing capacity for survival and self-preservation. Truth? Truth. In the end, it is truth that will undo even you….”
“Goodbye Major…” Garmin said. In time, she fell asleep. When she did, Garmin activated a personal cloaking shield and vanished and then left the room.
=== THE NEXT DAY – SFMC - TRANSPORTER ROOM 21 ===
Woolheater wasn’t one for long goodbyes. He stood with everything he owned in a duffle and on his back. He gave each of the marines in his recert class a short hug. The last person to see off was 2nd Lt. Mason Hall.
Mason gave Sam a hug, “You take care LT. Watch your ass out there on Elysium. You won’t have me to watch your back.” Mason teased.
“Somehow, I think I’m going to miss you too” Sam said as the hug ended.
“Thanks for being there…you know…” Sam hesitated.
“Yeah, I know. Hey, nothing that a sub-space call can’t fix.” Hall said.
Samuel nodded. His transport group was ready to beam up to his ship. This transport would take him to the Loki star system and Starfleet’s Ninth Fleet. From there he would meet up with his new post.
Sam saluted them when he stood on the transporter pad, and they saluted back. The transport cycle started and in a swirling blue and white light, Samuel Woolheater left Titan.
[OFF:]
1st Lieutenant Samuel Woolheater
“Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas”
62nd Company "Spartans", 2nd Platoon CO
=/\= USS ELYSIUM - NCC-89000 =/\=
