A Modest Proposal

Posted on 13 Feb 2018 @ 12:32pm by Vice Admiral Nathan West & Captain Stovvan & Lieutenant Commander Geraldine "Geri" Severide

1,320 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Errand of Mercy
Location: Chief of Intelligence's Office
Timeline: ED 8: 1300

"Priority One message incoming." Geri's computer alerted her as she was reading recent intelligence reports.

"Put it through." She replied.

West sat behind his desk, the windows behind him covered.

"Is your link secure Commander?" He asked.

"Yes Admiral, only you and I will be aware of this conversation." Geri replied.

"Good, have you heard of the attack on the Archer yet?" His voice was icey at the thought of the loss of the ship.

"I have read preliminary reports. I will have my analysts study the specifications and battle log to provide a counter to this new threat." Severide responded. She was irritated by how she and Starfleet could be deceived, having such a project masked from their attention.

"What I know you haven't heard was your father commanded that ship. He killed 100 officers and crew and was responsible for Captain Franklin's decision to self destruct the Archer." He waited for that information to sink in. "Are you ready for the payback against your father we discussed before Commander? Now is your chance."

Geri's breathing instantly increased. Of course that egomaniac was at the center chair of the ship. Only he would be brash enough to overtly display his grandeur. She would ensure his arrogance was met with equal consequences. "Yes Admiral, is it time that we separate the head from the Viper. I will gladly serve this to you on the purest of silver platters." She spoke with clear vitriol in her voice.

He nodded "Good, I'm dispatching a shuttle to your location. We are going to put you in deep cover. Make you irresistible to them. I will brief you when you arrive."

"Admiral." Geri said placing her hand up. "I don't know what you intend to do, but Caleb Severide is not stupid. He will undoubtedly have me killed the moment he sees me. My face, beautiful as it is will easily be recognized. It's a suicide mission."

He grinned wolfishly "Commander get you ass on that transport and get here asap. I'll explain the plan when you arrive. I don't give a damned how secure the link is this is highest security protocols. Rest assured I wouldn't waist you on a suicide mission."

Geri had no reason to mistrust West as he had been a formidable ally to this point. "Yes sir." She said softly closing the link. She stood silently for a moment as her thoughts raced through her mind, analytically dissecting scenarios and West's words. What was he planning? How could he deliver on his promise?

She let out a long drawn sigh walking out of her office to the vacant conference room. "PALLAS, if you would please." Knowing the AI was aware of West's request.

The hologram shimmered into existence. "How may I help you today Commander?" She asked as she made a flicking movement with her hands that locked the doors and turned on the antispying fields which would prevent eavesdropping.

Geri rolled her eyes. "Don't play stupid, I know Admiral West has already given you instructions."

The hologram raised an eyebrow. "I was only made aware of the fact that you have been transferred and a transport is to be expected to pick you up in two days, sooner if the Redemption breaks orbit and returns to Earth."

"Well then, as you were." Geri commented.

---------FOUR HOURS LATER---------

Geri materialized on the transport sans any belongings. West would provide everything and leaving her effects behind would further add credibility to her story. She looked around the small transport, observing her surroundings as she awaited further word from the Master.

Tempest came out of the corridor and entered the transporter room.

"You are a persistent one Commander." He said with detached precision in his voice.

Geri smiled detecting the disappointment in his tone. "What can I say, I HATE snakes. I relish the chance to rid the universe of one."

Tempest sighed, the closest he would get to an open expression of emotion. "Your accommodations are down the hall. Galley is one door further down. Our ETA back to HQ is two days."

"Why am I here?" she asked bluntly knowing full well Tempest probably didn't have the answers.

He fought back a grin. "Because your a defector and a traitor to the fleet, naturally. At least that's what will be blasted, through the right channels at least."

"A traitor?!" Geri replied with an equalling grin. "And what circumstances led me to betray the fleet to which I hold a great loyalty to." Sarcasm seething in her words.

"As your last to only yourself and your a sociopath, I would say love. You figured out that she still lives." He said deadpan.

Geri eyes instantly widened as she filled with rage. She quickly lunged forward grabbing tempest by the collar and slamming him against the bulkhead. "You knew!" She cried out with tears falling from her eyes. "You sick bastard you knew and you let me think she was dead! How could you? HOW COULD YOU?!" Her tone now filled with hysteria.

He popped her elbows together and removed her from his collar as he stepped forward and around her.

"We didn't tell you for several reasons, not the least of which was we just saw her alive a few weeks ago while attempting to document which officers defected. Please, control yourself, the detached sociopath is a far better look on you." He took a breath before continuing "It is that reaction there which makes me think you may have a chance to infiltrate the fleet."

"What makes you think I will do this now? YOU left her with that MONSTER. You're lucky I have not slit your throat yet." Geri hissed as she balled her fists up in rage. Once again she found herself in the middle of one of the Company's games. Memories of the operation which had supposedly killed Tatyana flooded her mind. She would not allow herself to be pulled into this game again, she would not sacrifice Tatyana twice in a lifetime.

"Because you want to find out why she left you for them." He said simply "Star bring up file regarding death of Petty Officer Svechinskaya, display guest quarters. Specifically autopsy report and anomalies. Also, should you attempt to slit my throat, asset or not the ship will beam you out into space. It's programmed to defend me, vigorously. I suggest you read the reports once we suspected that she wasn't dead a second autopsy was conducted. There were anomalies. Also our research shows she is working with them."

"I WATCHED HER DIE IN MY ARMS!" Geri cried out hysterically as she felt her legs getting weak. She clutched the back of a nearby chair to hold herself vertical. She did not divert her eyes to the files displayed by Tempest, they were probably fabricated lies anyways. She knew what she had seen, there was no way Tatyana's death could have been fabricated. She watched the disruptor blast strike her in the chest. Geri looked down to her hand as if reliving the moment, she remembered seeing the dark crimson blood coat her palm and fingers.

He nodded "What do you know of genetics? Specifically the markers left from a clone?"

She did not answer his question or acknowledge the fact she had heard it. Truth be told she knew very little about genetics. Instead she remained fixated on her hand.

"Lieutenant Commander, this might be hard for you to digest but the person you saw killed was an almost perfect copy of the real woman." His voice was soft.

"That's not possible." Geri said softly shaking her head. "I felt her die..."

He breathe out deeply then decided it would be better to give her time to process the new information. "I will be in my quarters."

OFF

Stovvan
Captain
Tempest of the Company

&

Geraldine "Geri" Severide
Lieutenant Commander
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Redemption

 

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