Another De-Brief

Posted on Fri Dec 20th, 2024 @ 1:53am by Lieutenant Commander Rin & Captain Kett V'Laass

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Intelligence Suite
Timeline: Shortly after Elysium leaves Starbase One, before the accident
1008 words - 2 OF Standard Post Measure

:: ON ::

Ket was a starfighter pilot through and through, all he had done with his Starfleet career was fly. Even with his small stint in Starfleet intelligence. Before joining the crew of the USS Elysium and getting back into the seat of a fighter craft Ket last posting had been the Romulan border with Starfleet intelligence. With the crisis on Romulus deepening, Ket went undercover as a freelance Romulan freighter pilot. His work was simple, smuggling operatives from Federation Space into the Romulan Star Empire and then back again. Ket had struggled with his undercover role, putting on the facade of an emotional Romulan. It was a challenge as a Vulcan. This may account for Ket’s illicit liaisons with a Romulan Officer. Resulting in a disciplinary for Ket, a demotion and expulsion from his undercover work. Now Ket had to have regular check inns with Starfleet intelligence at any posting he was at. So Ket had made his way to the offices of the intelligence service on the USS Elysium for another de-brief.

Rin turned her chair toward the door of her office as a crewman ushered Ket inside. She had just been going over the captain's records in anticipation of his arrival.

"Afternoon, Captain," she stated. Her tone was clipped and even. Professional, unemotional. "I appreciate you being prompt in fulfilling your obligations concerning my department. Please, come in."

Ket nodded and took a seat opposite the Lieutenant Commanders. "Thank you for having me Commander, I apologise that this task is taking time out of your busy schedule." Ket shuffled in his seat a little. Though as a Vulcan he dfd not have emotions , he did have a certain sense of trepidation.

"So, I'm curious. How did a Vulcan with, according to your profile, typical Vulcan sensibilities regarding logic and emotion, end up being asked to masquerade as a Romulan?" Rin asked.

"I have not yet taken the Vulcan Kolinahr ritual yet to purge all emotions from my mental psyche." Responded Ket with no feeling in his voice "It is well known that Vulcans and Romulans share a shared heritage. So the medical modification needed to go undercover are less prominent and less likely to be detected. As i still have an element of emotion still, It was believed this would allow me to mimic a Romulan more effectively."

"Do you think you succeeded? In mimicking a Romulan?"

Ket nodded in agreement. "Indeed. I was most effective in my posting Ma'am."

"Are you intending to go through Kolinahr?" Rin asked. "If you're willing to say. You're not obligated."

Ket sat back in his chair and said without feeling "It would certainly be the logical path." But truly Ket had many doubts about completing the Kolinar, though he was not the oldest Vulcan to of completed the ritual he was certainly not in his prime physically and spiritually and he was not certain his psyche would take it.

And yet you haven't, Rin thought but did not say out loud.

Instead, she asked, "Would you ever want to work for Intelligence again?"

"I serve where ever starfleet orders me to go" The Vulcan gestured lightly with his right hand around the room they were in. "For example being assigned here , on the USS Elysium."

"I didn't ask where you were willing to serve. I asked where you wanted to serve," the xB replied with a slight frown. "Surely you have opinions. Some tasks are more appealing than others. Even the most logical of Vulcans have preferences. Starfleet wants officers, not drones."

The Vulcan paused for a moment, unsure on how to respond. He was not use to being asked what he wanted, and it had thrown his usual emotionless façade a little "Ma'am as long as I get to fly it does not bother me where i serve. I find the act of being able to use ones expertise on a daily basis rewarding. I would say that if Starfleet had me doing a role outside of flying that this would be most unsatisfactory."

Rin nodded in acknowledgement. She liked knowing what kind of resources she had on the ship outside her department. In this case, she could only agree with Kett's self-assessment. He was grounded in the life of a pilot. He might even be a splendid pilot. But she really didn't like the value he was putting on just following orders.

Chain of command was important. Militaries fall apart without them, and she found many Starfleet officers to be more casual about them than she preferred. She liked structure. That was where she was most comfortable. But duty is about more than structure, and being an officer is about more than just following orders.

And opinions matter. Voicing them is part of the process, yet being asked to give one clearly made him uncomfortable.

And that made her uncomfortable, because she remembered being like that once, early in her recovery. She wasn't sure if she should feel more frustration or pity for the captain.

Frustration, she decided. She was on duty and judging the captain's abilities. Pity was something more personal. Maybe she'd feel it later. Maybe not.

"That's all the questions I have for you, Captain," she said. "You've fulfilled your requirements. Is there anything more you need from me?"

Ket shook his head gently and politely from side to side. "No Lieutenant Commander" responded the Vulcan smartly and respectfully. But Ket was deep in thought. He thought that and imperceptible and elusive moment had perhaps just passed between them. That maybe he had been reviewed and found lacking in a certain area. Ket straightened his Marine uniform as he stood up. "Thank you Lieutenant Commander" he raised his hand and gave the familiar 'V' shape Vulcan hand gesture. "Live Long and Prosper."

Rin mimicked the gesture, responding "Peace and long life, Captain." She tapped her badge, requesting someone from her department to come to her office. "Thank you for your prompt report. The crewman will show you out."