"Discussion of the Situation"

Posted on Wed Dec 11th, 2019 @ 2:38am by Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson & Commander Liselle Qwyyn & Lieutenant JG Gallia Norris & Commander Sthilg & Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea & Commander Arrianna Salannis an Vantar

Mission: Casperia Prime - A lesson in relaxation
Location: Observation Lounge
Timeline: MD2 - 08h00
2077 words - 4.2 OF Standard Post Measure

IC

Phoenix walked briskly into the briefing room. Nearly 18 hours had passed since their sudden arrival and she still was no closer to figuring out Quinn's game plan.
She had summoned all senior Staff to the briefing room for discussion of the situation.

Jason walked into the briefing room, he'd just finished talking with some of his staff and setting appointments and time off for those who need it. He saw the Captain and nodded at her."Captain " he said and walked towards a chair on the other side of the table from her.

Gallia walked in next, taking her normal place at the table, not speaking to Morris, there was still too much tension there. She turned to the Captain and nodded, "Good morning, Captain."

Naxea entered and took her normal seat, acting more as a buffer between Morris and Gallia. "Good morning, captain." She then looked at Morris and Gallia. "Good morning."

Jason nodded to Naxea

"Naxea, how are ye?" Gallia asked, she was still genuinely fond of the Marine and hoped they would become close one day; the Marine looked like she needed as many close friends as she could get.

"I'm doing good, Gallia. Thank you," Naxea replied. "How is Tayalas?"

"Doin' real fine." Gallia replied, "Though shay might like it if ye dropped in on her. She's right crazy about ye, mah garl."

Naxea chuckled in response. "I'll try to make time to stop by then."

Anje sauntered in next, she'd exchanged her flat bottomed uniform boots for ones with a heel, she liked feeling tall, and placed a small wrapped parcel in front of Phoenix, "Por vous." She said with a slight smirk before walking on, playfully rubbing Gallia's hair, "Morning, red."

"Red?" Gallia muttered as she watched Anje take her seat, "Wha' the bloody hell was thot?"

Phoenix nodded to everyone as they entered. When Anje entered, dressed as she was, Phoenix struggled not to raise an eyebrow. However when Anje ruffled Gallia’s hair and called her ’red’, she could not stop the snicker and in her seat, she spun it so she faced away from her crew. It would not do. “Quinnitis” she muttered “Damn it. Quinnitis” She glared at the ceiling then turned back to face the table. She narrowed her gaze at Anje. “You are in a chipper mood Ms Brett.” She waved at the package. “You do something you shouldn’t have?”

Arrianna entered the room carrying a cup of tea and a saucer. She moved over quietly and sat down. Observing the latest, strange, changes in Brett. She decided to stay quiet for the mean time.

"Oh, just open it." Anje laughed, then continued, "And, no, nothing I shouldn't have other than waiting this long. As for my chipper mood, well, I have a new angle on life this morning. I had no idea Starfleet made these with a heel! I mean, three inches isn't much, but it's three inches I didn't have."

Naxea looked at Anje deadpanned. Was this woman serious? "Oh good grief," she sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.

Phoenix had to bite her tongue. She merely nodded. "So I see." She got out. Then she cleared her throat. "ok. Once everyone is here, we shall commence."

Anje didn't even acknowledge Azhul's commentary or her nasty look, she wasn't going to dignify it, ~A lady doesn't reply to rudeness, she ignores it like it didn't happen, because it shouldn't have.~ She turned her full attention instead to the Captain, this was clearly something important.

The doors opened as the ship's doctor hurried in. " Sssorry I'm late. Medical examination took longer than expected." He said as he took his seat. Though the big gorn face was trying to hide it it was clear something was upsetting him though he was clearly burying it in his work.

Varis stepped in wearing a disheveled suit with a loose tie. His portfolio pad under his arm. His thoughts drifted to the idea that all Starfleet seemed to do was have meetings. He wished he could get back to the work, his work. He took his seat silently and awaited whatever the current topic of discussion would be.

Liselle stepped into the room and found that she had to pause a moment as she caught Anje's eye. Clearly there was some misinformation going around the ship that was boiling over into full blown rumor. The two of them needed to talk. Later.

Once everyone was seated, Phoenix stood and took a breath. "After our arrival here, i contacted the planet's security chief. I wanted to know what was going on and why Quinn brought us here. Seems that the planet is not as idyllic as it is being portrayed." Phoenix pressed a button. An image of the planet appeared. And many red and green lines to and from the surface was highlighted. And then there were yellow lines as well but the yellow lines did not come from the Planets spaceports.

"I have accessed the logs of Starfleet Officers who have had dealings with the Q and studied them." Arrianna noted. "And we must assume she is listening into us. I believe Q is much more than what appears on the surface, by an unimaginable degree, and I think this entity is the ultimate test of our ability to grow beyond the trappings of our mortality." Arri mentioned. "But I digress, I don't think this Q is here for the planet, she's far more interested in what we're doing in her tests."

"Normally I would agree but in this case" Phoenix replied "I am not so sure. There are reports on the planet about illegal activities and people going missing."

Another button pressed. And more images appeared. Missing persons reports, including several starfleet officers or officials, and several civilians. Then there was a list of thefts and break and enters and the capital City's museum was top of the list.

"Who has been kidnapped?" Naxea asked. "Anyone of note?" She wondered if there was a pattern.

"No, just random people with no obvious connections, a few low ranking officers, no one above Lieutenant JG." Phoenix said. "Lieutenant Morris, I would like you and Captain Naxea to review these files closely. I am not sure but they may have something to do with the unauthorized flight plans we are seeing."

"So we're possibly looking at human traffickers." Anje cringed, she didn't like the sound of any of this, even though it did put Quinn in a more positive light, "I'd like to start contacting other powers, Captain, see if they've had people go missing from Casperia Prime as well."

Phoenix nodded. "Its a possibility." She paused. "Q's have rules. They have them and we may not understand them but I have a feeling that this was done because they cannot interfere in this. At least not directly."

Varis absorbed all that had been said. Pretty standard fare really. At least when it came to the Q. "With all due respect, the Q play by the same rules that we do really. Well to be more precise theirs are opposite. We have rules that prevent us from interfering with those who have not developed as far as us. The Q will interfere to teach a lesson. Much as they said they were doing with Picard's Enterprise. There is a test here, and it seems that with the Q the easiest way to handle it is to take the test. I will make sure that the timeline stays safe and sacred."

"And what is the test that Quinn has set for us?" Phoenix asked curiously. "Anyone? Because so far she has brought us here, suggested vacations and vanished. If we do as she has suggested are we failing the test?"

"Sounds like to me that we do both," Naxea offered. "While I would enjoy kicking down every door in sight, that's not the way to approach this and would reflect badly on Starfleet. So why not investigate out of uniform until we get evidence and then we start kicking down doors," she grinned.

"So it's a working vacation then." Anje stated, "Our sudden appearance here now makes more sense."

"I believe the human expression is 'Act casual'" Phoenix said with a nod. "Our officers are well trained. Lets use their eyes and ears."

"All things considered, recent events here and especially those abroad, I believe it might be best if you stay onboard ship, Captain." Anje suggested, "Lest some Erisian bounty hunter decide to use this as a convenient cover story to return you to your homeworld in chains."

"Ar' ot laste some day-sent undercover bodyguards, Ma'am." Gallia interjected, somewhat thrilled to see the logical Anje back.

"I agree ma'am. If you go down, take some Security or Marines with you. My Marines can more than handle any bounty hunter," Naxea stated confidently.

"Also I think we should encourage females leaving the ship to have someone with them." Anje added, "Safety in numbers. Two or three in a group should do it."

"Regardless of gender" Phoenix replied. "Everyone should have a buddy." she paused and looked around. "Any other thoughts or ideas?"

"I have a very good friend to go with. I call him Mr. Phaser." Arri said calmly. "And he is fashionable and fits into my back pocket."

"Gender is of no importance," Naxea spoke, personally offended that because she was a female that she needed extra protection. "I'm with the captain, we should all go with at least one other and carry a Type One personal phaser since it's easier to conceal. However, Captain, I must still insist you have at least two Security officers or Marines as your escort. I will leave a fireteam aboard, ready to deploy at any moment to the surface.

"Captain Azhul, my suggestion was based solely on the numbers. Human traffickers target women over men by a rate of approximately nineteen to one." Anje sighed, why this obnoxious woman had to make everything personal she'd never understand, "It was not a slight at your no doubt above par physical skills, please try and not personalize everything."

Oh it was the day when Arri was the quiet one in the briefing Phoenix mused. "Very well everyone goes planetside with a buddy. No exceptions. Lieutenant Morris, you and Captain Azhul will make sure of it please."

The ships MD had been thinking. He stopped tapping his fingers as he made the suggestion. " I could implant all persssonnel leaving the ssship with a sssmall sssub durmal tracker. It ssshould help thisss sssituation." he suggested.

Phoenix nodded. "Good idea. make it so. Work with Morris and Azhul Doctor."

Varis had been sitting silently, taking everything in. He never understood why he would be invited to these briefings, but he would make the most of it. He was an observer, so he observed and took notes. At the moment it seemed that everything that was being discussed had no effect on his plans or his department. He sat with his arms crossed across his chest, as he squinted in an attempt to make seem as if he had lost his concentration. In fact Varis was hyper-focused and when the idea to go down to the planet was brought up he decided to chime in. "Captain, if there is going to be an away team, I must be a part of it. If the Q are behind this and it is as I believe a test. Then they could quite possibly want you down there and when you arrive you may find yourself anywhere in time and space. That said you are going to need my very special skills." His voice a but more clipped then usual. Varis had not felt himself since the Q's arrival. He knew that it was because of his species inherit hatred of the Continuum, and he needed to make sure that the wretched Q did not interfere in this ship's mission.

Phoenix nodded. "When an official away team is formed, Director you will be involved I can assure you." she looked around. "If nothing else, please warn your teams and you are dismissed."

As the people began to rise from the table, Liselle made it a point to linger behind, standing off to one side beside the Captain. When she spoke, her voice was low. "Is everything alright, Captain?"

Phoenix nodded. "Yes. Everything is fine." She smiled.

OFF