A Stroll

Posted on Thu Mar 31st, 2022 @ 10:24am by Commodore Jacob Kane & Lieutenant Didrea Zade

Mission: With Gleaming Eyes
Location: USS Athena
Timeline: MD-05
1319 words - 2.6 OF Standard Post Measure

Zade sipped her coffee as she reread her report on the last several days on a PADD. It was a combined report from her and from the team who assisted Dr. Ki, and she was skimming their debrief. While she didn't really understand the science, sometimes she was just curious. She had planned to meet with Kane after their work on Ithaca was completed to see if the Athena needed the team from the Colossal for additional work, and if not, planning a departure time to return the team and the equipment.

Turning a corner, she stopped when she came face-to-face with Kane to avoid bumping into him. "Oh, good morning, Captain."

"Lieutenant." Kane nodded brusquely, but then stopped in his tracks, his expression changing momentarily. "Ah - Lieutenant Zade. I was meaning to speak to you, assuming Commander Zora hasn't yet?"

"No, sir," Zade responded, taking a small step back to make their distance more comfortable after avoiding a near-collision. "I was actually on my way to see one of you to discuss the best way to get the science team back to the Colossal."

"Unfortunately we won't be regrouping with the Colossal. Nor will we be returning immediately to the starbase. We have another task to accomplish first," he explained. "It's a sensitive matter, but I'll be needing someone trustworthy and competent. I hope you will be able to provide both?"

Zade initially raised a brow, but then nodded in understanding once she heard his brief explanation. It would be a good idea to relay that to the science team before they started packing the shuttle. "Aye, Captain. I am at your service." She lowered the PADD so it rested by her hip, a nonverbal sign that he had her undivided attention.

"Good. I suspected as much. The rumours I am hearing from my security department don't fill me with confidence; I need someone in place that will be able to bring some stability there." He motioned for her to enter the turbolift with him. As the doors closed, he grew contemplative. "As I said, we're not returning to the starbase immediately. We're investigating an old Dominion outpost that should have been abandoned decades ago. However recent evidence unearthed by Lt P'rel suggests it might not be so abandoned as we believe. We don't know what we'll be walking into, Lieutenant, but I suspect you'll be ready."

These rumors must be affecting performance if he felt he had to mention it, Zade mused with a slight frown, following Kane into the lift and standing next to him. The thought went to the backburner as he outlined the next mission, and she gave a slow nod as she processed it. It sounded like a recon mission with the possibility of a hostile welcome. Walking into something like that blind was not ideal. Zade could plan ahead all she wanted, but ultimately she'd still have to improvise depending on how the situation unfolded. "I understand, sir," she said. Zade paused for a moment before asking, "do we have any information on the outpost itself, perhaps from the Dominion war? What it was used for, defenses...?" She fully expected the answer to be no, but on the off chance there was something, she wanted to see if there was anything that could be of use. Worst case scenario, she could probably get a layout from the ship's sensors when they arrived and use that to fine tune whatever she came up with.

"Intelligence from wartime said it was an old cloning facility for Jem'Hadar and Vorta. Starfleet supposedly disabled it and then the last files we have indicated it was destroyed after the peace treaty was signed." Kane glanced over. "But there are too many recent factors to ignore that suggest it's been reactivated. We're going to find out why. As for defensive status? We don't know. It's not supposed to exist, never mind have active protection."

A cloning facility that shouldn't exist... Zade's expression turned into one of thought, and she took a contemplative sip of her coffee as she stared at the wall of the turbolift. Given its status wasn't accurately reported, it must have been really well hidden, which meant either some cloaking device or perhaps a nearby space anomaly to mask its signature. Regardless of why it exists, if the outpost was used to clone soldiers for a war, then she'd expect it to be more heavily protected. Zade mentally concluded that it would undoubtedly have some kind of protection, whether it was repurposed Dominion defenses or something else, and it would be naïve to expect anything less. With so little known about the activity, it felt reasonable to assume that sections of the outpost were shielded from sensors as well. Shielded areas typically meant something worth protecting, but it also meant increased risk to an away team, so finding a safe transport site or docking clamp would be key if an away team were sent to the outpost.

"I think it's safe to assume it will have active defenses," Zade said slowly, finally breaking the moment of silence. "... and I wouldn't expect the ship or an away team to receive a warm welcome. It sounds to me like the outpost could have areas that are more heavily guarded, which would make it harder to send an away team." It was a habit of hers to pace when in deep thought, but in the cramped space she knew it would be impossible so she settled for quietly tapping her thumb on the back of the PADD in her coffee-free hand. She glanced up at him, breaking her staring contest with the turbolift wall. "I do have a couple strategies in mind, but is there anything else I should be aware of, sir?"

"Truthfully, Lieutenant, we know very little for sure. We're piecing this together from clues we've picked up over a dozen systems. Many of them well-hidden." He waited for the turbolift to reach a halt and glanced down at her. "All I can say is, be ready for just about anything."

Zade nodded again, "yes, sir, I will be." She felt the turbolift slow down and, unsure if the conversation would continue for much longer, asked, "one last thing, Captain. You mentioned some rumors from the security department. Who or what do I need to address in particular?" If she was going to be here a while, she really needed to learn what was going on in the department, especially if it was affecting performance like she suspected.

Kane felt his eye twitch slightly. "Commander Zora mentioned something about a scene in the mess hall, involving Lieutenant Keating. At least two of those involved were Security." He crossed his arms. "I'd rather not have my security team intimidating my chief engineer, whether she wants to report it or not. Perhaps that's something you could look into for me as well?"

If her hands weren't occupied, Zade would have pinched the bridge of her nose. Instead, she sighed, clearly not impressed by the news. She was walking into a hell of a new position. "Aye, sir, I will go look into it." Knowing that she wasn't really in the clear herself, she made a mental note that she owed Fenn an apology before she experienced Zora's wrath again. The turbolift doors opened, revealing the bridge, and before he stepped out she held out the PADD. "Do you want the report from the Colossal's science team, or should I pass it along to the Commander?"

"Commander Zora can handle that," he replied. He had other matters to attend to, and hand-holding wasn't on his list. Besides, the department head role was vacant and this was a good opportunity for someone to stick their head above the proverbial parapet. "As you were, Lieutenant."