"Warning bells are ringing"

Posted on Mon Apr 1st, 2019 @ 6:23am by Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson & Avalon [ADMIN NPC] & Commodore Evelyn Mountbatten [ADMIN NPC] & Captain Gary Taylor & Commander Liselle Qwyyn & Captain Garrett Lovejoy [ Taylor]

Mission: Episode 1: Hell is a four letter word
Location: DS9
Timeline: MD1
2716 words - 5.4 OF Standard Post Measure

Evelyn Josephine Mountbatten, Rank of Commodore, stood in silence as the large ship docked at one of the upper docking pylons on DS9. She watched it with cold eyes. There was a lot rumours about that vessel and she was here to make sure every inch was gone over by her and her team.

Commander Garrett Lovejoy was behind her with their mutual adjunct Lieutenant Commander Percival Albright.

“Gentlemen” She said briskly. “Let us prepare. I am aware we will have our work cut out for us.”

Lieutenant Commander Albright barely managed to stifle an amused snort. "Based on her records, seeing the Elysium in one complete piece is quite the rare sight." He tapped away at his PADD, shaking his head in disappointment as he scrolled through her recent service history. "If we're lucky, she won't have been stolen away before we have the chance to get aboard."

"Now, now Percy." Commander Lovejoy admonished their aide."Lets be fair. Captain Lalor may be new to being a Captain but Commander Taylor certainly has the experience unless you somehow feel he's been contaminated by being under Lalor's influence."

"Now, now Starfleet Intelligence arranged for that theft." The Commodore replied. "Though it does help the naysayers of the Captain to prove their point."

"Yes Commodore. You are of course correct." Garrett replied at the subtle reprimand.

Percy inclined his head in deference of the Commodore, though his distaste for the ship still curled his lips.

A humorless smile graced Garrett's face as he saw the look on Percy's face as he reacted to the Commodore's statement.

Commodore Mountbatten moved down the hallways, watching in stoic silence as crew moved out of their way.

When they reached the docking port, she said to the Ensign there. "Contact your Captain and let her know Commodore Mountbatten and her attache's are here."

The ensign nodded and sent the comm to Captain Lalor.

Phoenix got the call and frowning contacted Taylor and Qwyyn to meet her at the Docking hatch. Where they could meet their guests.

Hearing Phoenix's summon, Gary who had been in the shuttle bay checking on the readiness of the Elysium's fighters returned to the bridge. "What's up?" He asked as he came to stand beside Phoenix.

Phoenix turned as she handed an Ensign her 6 month old charge. "Commodore Mountbatten has arrived... not sure why. "

The ensign cooed at Sedi and stepped off to the side.

Gary nodded at the information or lack of it. "Having a higher rank officer show up unannounced is usually not a good sign." He observed.

"Indeed" Phoenix replied and stepped through the hatch to greet the Commodore. She stopped in front of the woman "Commodore Mountbatten." she said as she inclined her head. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance once more. I am Captain Lalor. This is my executive officer Commander Gary Taylor. You wanted to see me I believe?"

Mountbatten looked over the two officers carefully for a moment. "Captain, Commander." She said her voice cold. "I am here with my attache's to conduct an investigation of your ship's performance and your crew."

Phoenix's years at a royal court was the only thing that stopped her face from contorting into shock. "My crew is currently dismissed for 2 weeks shore leave Commodore. I, myself depart in two days for personal leave."

"Commodore." Gary replied diplomatically.

Liselle Qwyyn strolled down the hallway in quick steps to join her fellow crew members. "Captain, I'm sorry," she breathed. "I somehow spun myself around in the promenade and went the wrong way."

Percy furrowed a brow at the explanation, but kept his opinions to himself as he tapped away at the PADD he held. When he had finished entering the arrival times of Captain Lalor's crew from when she had first called them, he obediently handed the PADD to the Commodore for her review.

Gary saw the aide handing a PaDD to the Commodore and his eyes narrowed but he held his tongue. He had no wish to jump or misjudge the situation. He would wait to see what came next if anything.

Phoenix ignored the interaction from the Aide, and said "Quite alright Commander, you were not expecting to be called back so soon after all." Then Phoenix looked at the commodore. "I will have Avalon prepare you and your staff quarters, Deck 3, has our VIP quarters."

Commodore Mountbatten nodded. She noted the cool facade that the captain held and wondered if this was why Sharr had chosen her. "Lead on Captain."

Phoenix nodded and turned back into the docking port. She led the small group in and paused on the other side of the hatch where she collected a small 6 month old baby girl and settled the child easily on her hip and slung a bag over her other shoulder. "Welcome to the Elysium Commodore" she said as if she had not done so.

Commodore Mountbatten stared at the baby. "I thought you had no children captain."

"I am not a mother." Came the captain's response. "I am currently looking after this young crewman for her own mother."

"You Babysit for your crew?"

Phoenix raised a brow at the tone of voice. "I am looking after Sedi as a favor for a friend."

Gary walked behind the main group, He had the distinct impression this was setting up to be a hearing or more of an inquistion. Why? He didn't know but the Commodore's question and tone as well as the look of er aide Percy didn't bode well.

"For the record, Captain Lalor, are you currently on duty?" Percy asked. He held his fingers poised over his PADD, ready to record her answer.

"A captain is always on duty Lieutenant Commander, however if you are enquiring as to if this is my assigned duty shift then no. I am currently classed as 'off duty'." She gave the man a cool look and her eyes went a very cold pale blue. "I take the welfare of my crew seriously and if that means that I get the pleasure of Young Sedi's company here for a few hours while her mother takes a well earned personal time, then that is fine with me."

Sedi was looking around as they walked. They stopped at the turbolift and Phoenix pressed the call button.

Percy tilted his head to one side, as though he was completely unable to parse Phoenix's reply. He looked pointedly at the captain. "Do you often find yourself caring for young children when receiving a Commodore and her staff? Despite the notion that you currently consider yourself to be off duty, as you say."

"As your arrival was unheralded Lieutenant Commander and on such short notice there was no time to arrange different care situations." The tone now was icy. She had been polite but now she was through. "Had you sent through notification prior I am sure this would be different"

Gary had enough. "Just what is your problem Lieutenant Commander?" He made a point to stress the rank. "The Captain was doing a favor for a member of the crew. Or is the very concept of helping and being concerned about your crew a concept you fail to grasp?" His tone full of scorn at the notion that the man would even ask such a question.

Percy sighed audibly. "Commander Taylor, please. We are merely establishing a preliminary record of everyone's duties aboard the Elysium. It is important to ensure that your crew's interpretation of their individual duties has not deviated from Starfleet's mandates over time, as so often happens on these kinds of ships."

~ed' i' Seldarine~ Phoenix thought as she led the way into the lift. But she chose after several seconds of silence to turn to the Commodore, whose gaze had been watching everything "Do you normally allow for your subordinates to be so... insubordinate to senior officers Commodore? It does not match your reputation to be sure."

Evelyn had to agree with that but Percival had been selected for that very reason."He is correct in what he says Captain. Perhaps you and the commander are merely, over sensitive."

Phoenix let her teeth show in a very tight, polite smile. "I believe both Commander Taylor, Commander Qwyyn and myself would like to know just what the Lieutenant Commander means by These kind of ships. After all, the Elysium is run to the standards set by her original Commanding officer. Her crew is well trained, diligent and the best that Starfleet can provide, as per the mandate laid down by Admiral Sharr, himself." her icy blue gaze swept to Percival and it promised a nasty event would occur if he kept his mouth flapping.

"Excuse me Commodore." Gary spoke through gritted teeth. "Over sensitive? Is that what you just said. May I remind the Commodore of my service record as well as that of Captain Lalor's and I say without the fear of contradiction that nowhere in those records will you find any record of the words sensitive or over sensitive."

"You seem pretty over sensitive right now Commander" Evelyn replied coldly.

"Not at all Commodore." Gary's tone if anything was colder than the Commodore's. The temperature inside the lift seemed to drop ten degrees. "I'm just making sure your aide has his facts in order and where this questioning is going."

The Lift stopped and Phoenix waved them out of the lift. "Avalon!" She called as she joined the group out of the lift.

The AI appeared. "Captain." The red haired avatar looked around the group. "Commodore." she inclined her head. "What can I assist with?"

"Assign the proper VIP quarters for our guests." Phoenix said calmly as Sedi snuggled into her shoulder.

"Completed." The AI said. And on the deck plating from each of their guests were three lines. "If you follow the line assigned you will find your quarters Commodore" the AI said politely. "Shall I contact Ship security to complete a security detail for the Commodore, Captain?"

Phoenix nodded. "Standard VIP detail Avalon. Let Commander Holmes organize who she assigns." The AI nodded and vanished.

Evelyn had watched the interaction quietly. "Very efficent Captain. But I was under the impression that the ALICE program was disabled."

"That is not the ALICE program. That is the standard AI program from Starfleet. I personally voided the remnants of ALICE from the system." Phoenix said. "ALICE was a mistake that cost us, lives. It will not be repeated on this ship. Not while I am in command."

Percy came to life once more at that last bit of information. "On whose authority did you purge those subroutines, Captain?" The young aide turned a quick eye to Taylor. "Not an accusation, Commander. Just a question for my records."

This time, however, it was Liselle who spoke up. "That thing started murdering our crew!"

For his part Percy did not even seem to hear the protest, his attention focused on Phoenix, his fingers hovering over his PADD.

Gary looked over at Liselle, then back at Percy and shook his head in disgust.

Phoenix all but looked down her nose at Percy aa she spoke. "I did it under the authority of Admiral Paul Carter, Commodore Harrison Miles and" her gaze sharpened and her smile went cold "Commodore Evelyn Mountbatten."

Percy's fingers fell dead on his PADD. He lowered the device to his hip entirely. "Yes, well. Very good."

To keep herself from beaming a triumphant smile Liselle had to bite down on her lip. Hard.

Gary caught Liselle trying somewhat unsuccessfully to hide a smile. He shot her a look followed by a wink to show his agreement.

Phoenix chose to look over Percy and her gaze fixed on the silent member of the Commodore's aides. Commander Lovejoy had yet to make a sound and part of her was dreading it. She let her icy blue gaze sweep back to the commodore as the group headed down the corridor. "I am sure my crew, those who are remaining ship side Commodore will make you and your aide's welcome."

"I take it you are not cancelling your shore leave Captain?" Evelyn asked curiously. She also felt a small jab of shame that she had allowed Percy to walk into that trap. She had been, one of the officers who had debriefed the then Commander Lalor two years ago. But it had been a test for Phoenix as well as her own team.

"Unfortunately Commodore, the shore leave was organized before our last mission. As I have not taken proper personal leave since our return two years ago, Command is insisting I take this time." Phoenix replied softly as they paused where Percy's line ended. "Your quarters, Lieutenant Commander." She said. "I am sure you will find them more than adequate. Please let Avalon or the Operations team if you lack anything."

Commander Garrett Lovejoy stood silently. His eyes taking in everything, his ears not missing a word of what was said. As was his want he observed, made mental notes then when the time was right he pounced. He looked over at Percy and his eyes held a silent scolding for the Lieutenant Commander for allowing himself to be trapped by Lalor. He knew of the debriefing just as he knew of Taylor's reputation and fierce loyalty. He knew of Qwyyn and her being a joined Trill and inexperienced to the rigors of command. She could be the weak link in the chain of the Elysium's command team. He would continue to observe.

For his part, the young aide was clearly still shaken by his disastrous slip up. He had allowed himself to grow overconfident in the discussion, eagerly grasping at every opportunity that these people gave him to establish dominance. And now he had embarrassed himself. Painfully so. Worse still, he had inadvertently questioned the Commodore's own command decisions involving a previous engagement with Captain Lalor.

His face blanched, Percy nodded to each officer in turn before turning fully to Commodore Mountbatten. "Sir. I will set to work immediately on putting together tomorrow's agenda and submitting it for your review," he promised. He didn't meet her with his eyes. Ashamed.

Evelyn nodded "Do that." She said then she looked at Captain Lalor. "Captain.."

"This way Commodore." Phoenix said calmly, she showed no outwards glee of seeing the aide so defeated. She calmly led the way down the hall to the other two cabins. "I gather you shall wish to meet all senior staff before tomorrow Commodore?"

Evelyn nodded. "Indeed."

Phoenix nodded. "Then, I shall call them all back and arrange a dinner for 20h00 this evening, should that suit you."

Evelyn nodded and considered. "Very well. And Captain... Make sure they know it is dress uniform."

"Of course Commodore." Phoenix replied calmly. She stopped outside the Commodore's Cabin. "Your cabin Commodore. Commander, yours is across the hall." She said graciously. "Again, please contact Avalon if you require anything. Your belongings will be beamed in shortly."

Evelyn nodded. "It is more than satisfactory Captain. I see that Sharr's standards of VIP quarters has not slipped. Thank you." With that she turned to enter her quarters.

"Commodore" Phoenix inclined her head, and led her two officers off and down the hall. She remained silent as they entered the lift. Once the doors slid shut she said "Ah well this is one massive pain in the neck."

Gary turned his head to look at Phoenix, "That Captain is an understatement if I ever heard one. They are snooping. What are they looking for? I don't like this one bit." A frown crossing his features.

"Neither do I." Phoenix said "But we can do nothing more than put our best foot forward."

"And hurry them to the nearest airlock." Gary replied with a straight face.

Liselle, who had kept quiet for as long as she possibly could until now, finally released the nervous energy that had been building. "This is not a good time to be pulling the command staff away for a vacation to Trill. Those people are checking the shine in everyone's boots."

Phoenix agreed silently but she needed a vacation. In silence they dispersed to their separate duties.

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