Choppy Waters

Posted on 18 May 2016 @ 9:52pm by Lieutenant Colonel Cassandra Blackburn

1,201 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Errand of Mercy
Location: Starship Redemption
Timeline: ED3

Cassandra Blackburn was in her sparse quarters when she felt the ship shudder as she accelerated to a speed several times the speed of light. She had fled there since her unexpected encounter with her Sergeant Major on the holodeck - he had always had a knack of getting his way without ever compromising the chain of command - and true to form he'd won this battle before she even realised it was taking place. He had tied her into a morning inspection which she had very much wanted to avoid - she was not a leader to these people and she had no desire to be portrayed as such. After the mission - a medical mission - she would no longer be on the ship anyway.

"Medical mission." She muttered, spinning on her office chair, trying to justify her bad attitude to herself. "Marines will probably just fetch and carry anyway. Why the hell did Rhyan drag me back here for this?"

She found herself bored pretty quickly. Her quarters did not contain anything of interest and she did not want to replicate anything, just to recycle it after the mission. All her personal effects, what was left of them, were left on Luna. Her terminal was stacking messages but she couldn't be bothered with them. She decided to go on a walkabout, not because she was particularly interested in the ship, but mainly to alleviate her boredom. Only a few months ago she'd have drowned herself in her sorrows, but Starfleet Medical had taken that option from her too with their 'treatment'. Before she left she changed into a civilian tracksuit - she had no desire to be recognised by the crew if she could help it.

She bimbled about the habitat decks for bit, then stuck her head into the officers wardroom. Busy, as always, and she noticed a few faces she recongised. She didn't go in - socialising was not on her agenda. As she walked the endless corridors, she found her mind wandering. About her future outside the Corps, about the mission. About Bourne and Ashcart. About Rhyan. About Joe Fursman. She stopped herself abruptly and changed the direction of her thoughts. She didn't want her mind to go to any dark places.

She found herself in the corridor outside the Marine facilities quite by accident. The flight deck, armoury, munition magazines and Command Post were all there. She thought about going inside, but decided not to. As she lingered making her decision, two enlisted Marines walked through the large double doors from the flight deck, chatting to each other. They noticed and then ignored her as they walked past - clearly they didn't know who she was and that suited her just fine.

She decided to go back to her quarters. This place could wait until tomorrow morning. As she turned around to leave, she noticed that someone was stood behind her. "Oh, my God." She whispered, finding herself face to face with Jon Marshall.

He was stood only a few feet from her - how long he had been following her, she couldn't tell. Nor could she tell if he had expected to see her on the ship - she never had been able tell anything about this man.

"Hello, Major". He said.

She sensed immediate danger. Every instinct told her to attack or be attacked. She charged him, throwing her body weight against him and pinning him against the bulkhead behind. She pushed her forearm into his chest to hold him still. He did not resist her at all.

"What are you going to do now Major?" He said, half smirking in that infuriating way she had not forgotten. "Kill me?"

"It's on my mind" She said angrily; their faces were close now.

"Then spending the rest of your life in the stockade? And I thought that you wanted to disappear?"

"It might just be worth it" She hissed at him. Marshall had planted the idea of the Thorlarus mission in Rhyan's silly little head, and Marshall had her sent down there knowing full well that she would be captured by Joe Fursman. Marshall had hoped that her personal connection to Fursman would be a way in to the traitors mind - instead it resulted in her torture. She wrote Rhyan's actions off to incompetence and naivety regarding the Ee Hybrid, but as for Marshall, he was one of the most dangerous and capable covert intelligence officers she had ever met. Why was he here?

"You won't hurt me, Major." He replied. "And right now you're wondering why I'm here. It's not for you to know, and if you want to avoid your little mind-fixing visit to Luna, then you won't ask me any questions. I'll use you when I need you." He broke his arm free and tapped his head. "I know all about your little indiscretions and the presidential interference with the treatment order."

She pushed her arm against his chest harder as he wound her up. "Does Ashcart know you're here?" She demanded.

"Maybe. Maybe not. You won't speak to him about it." Marshall paused, smiling. "How's the family?" He asked. "Told them that you were on some secret deep space assignment for a year and couldn't communicate? Why did you tell them that?" The implied threat was clear.

"Don't you dare invol-" She started, but she was interrupted by the sound of the doors from the flight deck opening again. It was Lieutenant Roberts, reading a padd. He looked up, startled by what he saw.

"Major? What are you doing?" Roberts asked.

"This is none of your business, Lieutenant!" She said angrily. Of all people, why did it have to be Roberts?

"I'm sorry, Major" Marshall said, suddenly sounding terrified. "It's won't happen ever again, please don't hurt me!" She stared incredulously back at Marshall, still pinned up against the wall in his science Ensign's uniform.

"Major, what are you doing to the Ensign?" Roberts asked again, stepping forwards.

"Dammit, Roberts, this is nothing to do with you! Back off!" She shouted.

"I must insist..." Roberts began.

"If I see you again" She said to Marshall threateningly, "I will kill you." She meant every word of it.

Marshall suddenly pushed against Blackburn, taking her by surprise and causing her to stumble back. He went forward with her so that his head was close to her ear. "I doubt that." He whispered, out of the hearing of Roberts. She pushed Marshall in the chest so that the two parted. She stared at Marhsall, then short a glance at Roberts. She'd lost this battle too. Without saying anything, Blackburn stormed down the corridor. Her mission had just become a lot more complicated.

"Thank you sir. All I did was fail to salute." Marshall said to Roberts, who was for the third time in three days shocked and appalled by the actions of Blackburn. He had heard rumours of her erratic behavior, but after the argument in the shuttle bay, the incident on the firing range and now this, he was convinced that his new commanding officer was deranged.

"Uh, Don't mention it" He mumbled, but Marshall was already walking away.

OFF

 

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