A Mission Post by Commander Zivit Agron & Captain Khiy Kanryth
Mission: Coil of Darkness
Location:
Timeline:
For all that she had insisted on accompanying the Captain, every moment since stepping on the shuttle had been thoroughly saturated with regret. Each time eyes had closed in desperate pursuit of even a moment's rest, flames had filled the visions of her mind. Memories and nightmares, bringing with them a choking terror that threatened to strangle the breath from her. Finally, she had admitted silent defeat, fixated instead on one particular panel of flooring for the remainder of the journey. Too many thoughts vied for supremacy, rendering none of them able to percolate to the surface long enough to truly be given anything more than a passing perusal. Whatever was waiting, she prayed only to have enough lingering strength to get through.
Starfleet was a veritable hive of activity as the shuttle gently touched down on the roof of the building. All around them shuttles and assort crafts poured into the sky as Starfleet personnel scurried around like ants whose mound had been disturbed. "Keep alert." Khiy ordered as the rear hatch lowered allowing a gust of salty air into the cabin. Stepping out into the bright midday sunlight Khiy shielded his eyes as he gazed upwards at a passing wing of fighters. A flustered Bolian Lieutenant Commander immediately intercepted the duo.
"I'm Sorry but the Starfleet command is building is restricted…"
"Captain Khiy Kanryth." Khiy interrupted the Bolian "and this is my Executive Officer Commander Zivit Agron. Admiral Raazh is expecting us."
"Ah…let me see…" The Bolian fumbled with a PADD before he turned and eyed Khiy. "yes, yes, I have your name here sir but not hers…"
"She is with me." He turned and walked past the Bolian hoping that Agron would follow his lead as he made his down the staircase.
Head held high, the Valzhan would have looked down her nose, had she had one. If nothing else, looks were the only defense possessed at the moment. Falling in step behind her superior officer, more than content to let him lead, Agron instead turned the larger part of her attention to the surroundings. Everything was...a mess. To expect otherwise would have been foolish; yet it still instilled her with even more unease than had previously been present. For all that Starfleet was a military force...it had fallen tragically short in her eyes over the last years. Perhaps more so even now. But that was a sentiment she would carefully keep to herself.
The activity seemed to burrow deep into the command building as large groups of people moved through the corridors to destinations unknown. After passing through two more security checkpoints they finally reach the temporary CinC's office and were immediately ushered in where they found the Tholian Admiral standing next to her desk gazing out at the flurry of activity occupying every corner of the Starfleet Command campus.
"Welcome back Captain…" Raazh turned and glanced at Zivit "Commander Agron." She lifted her hand "let's dispense with pleasantries and get straight to business. We have a significant dilemma. The Romulans are irate about the attack and are blaming it on a Federation conspiracy." She grimaced "the council is no better- several are clamoring about a Starfleet conspiracy. Par for the course I suppose…however our immediate goal is to placate the Romulans. We want to conduct an investigation into what happened but we need someone they will be comfortable with…"
"And you believe that they will find a fellow Romulan acceptable?" Khiy frowned "I regret to inform you that it-"
"I think they will find the son of the former Praetor acceptable. At least the Praetor won't protest the appointment of her mentor's brood." Raazh's eyes looked as cold as her cobalt flesh "you are former Praetor tr'AAnikh son after all."
Khiy said nothing as his mouth hung open- his words met an invisible wall and evaporated.
For a moment, Zivit experienced a preternatural stillness within herself. A blessed silence, brought on by something that could only be loosely defined as shock. That certainly was a bit of a...surprise. In a rush, countless questions surged on the tail end of the initial thought, clamoring over one another, through the whirling miasma already hardly contained within.
Unable to supply any comment or query that would prove worth the utterance, the Commander simply half-turned her head to catch Khiy from the corner of her eye. Whatever was to happen next hinged on what he would say, choose. Either way, she had chosen to be here. There was no altering that now.
Letting out a breath Khiy simply shrugged as he found his composure "if the universe was so simple Admiral we wouldn't be here. That matter is immedterial as to why we are here. So you want me to investigate? Who? What? With what authority? How can we be certain that you are not responsible for what happened?"
Raazh seemed satisfied as she nodded her head and smiled "you can't be. Investigate me as thorough as you investigate anyone else Captain- or should I say Commodore. I'm giving you a field promotion and the full authority to investigate this matter to its ultimate conclusion."
Stunned. Again. Khiy was silent for another long minute before glancing at Agron "my first act will be to promote Commander Agron to Captain to give her additional authority to assist in the investigation."
Raazh waved a finger "as you wish Commodore but I suggest you hurry. The Romulans and the Council have only a small reservoir of patience remaining. They want results and they want them now."
Whatever it had been that Zivit expected upon arrival here, this was absolutely not it. If not already caught up in a supremely overwhelmed state, the sudden progression of events would have elicited a much more pronounced reaction. As it was, all the Valzhan could do was nod her acknowledgement.
Khiy nodded his head while throwing a glance at Agron. "Then we will be on our way." He gave the Admiral a parting nod, spun on his heels, and quickly exited the office. With pace he made his way back up the path they had taken to get here "the Admiral is right about one thing. We will need to move fast. I fear the culprits will make good use of their head start. Get in contact with Sol sector operations. No vessels will be allowed to leave the system for the next 48 hours."
"Then it would appear that the countdown has begun." Zivit replied, keeping the long sigh that she felt held at bay. Barely. Keeping up with the Commodore's pace was a strain, even with her added height to lend, yet she managed doggedly on. Tapping the combadge on her chest, emerald gaze dared to turn upwards, as if she could see their ship, so far above. "Agron to Lieutenant Batul."
"Commander," Came back immediately, the Security officer's normally dull tone filled with something resembling discomfort. "I have found something I believe you and the Captain will wish to see."
"We will be returning immediately." The Valzhan replied, sparing a brief glance to gain the nodded approval from her superior officer. At least there was...something. Reaching their shuttle, she found herself more glad for the opportunity to sit than anything else. For just a moment.
=/\=
Commodore Khiy Kanryth
Commanding Officer
USS Crazy Horse
Captain Zivit Agron
Executive Officer
USS Crazy Horse
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