I Put My Career On The Line For This

Posted on Sat Nov 2nd, 2024 @ 7:46am by Captain Paul Griffon & Commander Lucy Sharpe

1,038 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Rescue Interruptus
Location: Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: MD 4, 1300 hrs

It was odd sitting in what had been Griffon's chair. It had taken some time to build up the courage to do so, especially considering this was the location in which he'd died.

The death of Captain Griffon had quickly brought special investigators from Starfleet who took over the investigation from Lieutenant Lotar. After a day, the investigators arrested Lieutenant Commander Osher, who admitted to poisoning the captain. He had used his access to the replicator systems to work the formula for Estimal into the system, by-passing safety filters. Osher held a grudge against the captain for miscues in an away mission a few years ago that got his wife killed.

The trip back to Starbase 312 was somber. No one could believe that anyone would murder the captain. When the ship docked, as was stated in the captain’s will, they were met by religious figures from the planet Herats who took his body away.


Died, a word Lucy had continued to chew on with mixed feelings. Privately she was convinced it had all been a ruse and somewhere her mentor was out there. Yet, somehow though, it felt real, that for same reason she continued to act sombre for the crew.

Her thoughts were interrupted by her computer panel as it flashed 242, which was one of the codes use to tell operatives to make contact with their go-between.

She stared at the screen momentarily unsure what to do. Should she respond? Could she? They'd need to know Griffon was dead, though they'll properly knew - hell they might have even been part of it. She heaved a heavy sigh and lent forward to respond in the hopes she could learn some answers.

The screen activated and her handler from the consortium was the caller. She nodded to Sharpe.

"Hello", she said. "A pleasure to see you again, especially since Griffon's extraction was successful. Well done."

Lucy smirked before shaking her head at the opening statement. She should have known there was another side to the coin. "Was it really necessary?" she asked the caller. "Why now?"

"Yes, it was necessary", her handler replied. "As to the why, given the nature of your relationship with Griffon, I will tell you, but it is not to be shared with anyone. There is a sect within the Consortium that is causing issues. We simply were going to wipe them out. He convinced the higher ups that they could be used and he could control them. The higher-ups gave him the opportunity to try."

She paused and then continued", "The delay at Aramal was causing the window for his chance to attempt his plan to slip, so he ingested a high enough dose of varial-root to make it seem he died of estimal poisoning and we took his body off the ship when you arrived given the dictate of his last will and testament. Does that ease your mind?"

She smiled.

"Ease my mind?" Sharpe repeated with a hint of sarcasm. "I wouldn't go that far but at least you answered by question instead of deflecting it." She leaned back in her seat before asking her next question: "What's next? Why are you calling?"

"I have disturbing news", the woman said. "The President of the Federation has over-ruled the Commander of Starfleet's decision to appoint you as Captain and appointed someone else. Given the importance of the Athena to our plans, we need you to stay aboard as Executive Officer."

"Why would the President do that?" Sharpe asked. "Is the Presidential office suspicious of us?"

"That has yet to be determined. What we do know, is that her choice is very intriguing to say the least", was the answer. "I am sending you his file. Mind you, there is a fair amount redacted and sealed that we couldn't get into. What we do know is, where there are redactions in his files, there was upheaval in many sections of the galaxy. The Dominion war, the Breen incursion on Baralla, the riots on Romulus after the Shizon incident for example. Another thing is he has multiple court martials. The most recent reduced him in rank to Lieutenant Commander, supposedly with no opportunity for promotion, to serve out his career as an Academy instructor."

The fact that they couldn't unlock the dark secrets of his file was a concern to Sharpe. He was an unknown player in the game and a risk to their future plans, judging by the description he was a hot head and could be reckless. "What changed?" she asked. "Does he have influence over the President?"

"We are uncertain", her handler said. "Perhaps something happened during time periods that were redacted. It is hard to tell. Given he has spent the last four years as an instructor at the Academy, one would have thought if he had such pull he would have used it. It would be useful if you could find that out. It would give us a little more information as to how much is known of our plans perhaps."

"Has he been on your radar before?" the Acting Captain asked. "When will he be arriving?"

"No, he has not, to the best of my knowledge", she replied. "Like you, I am not always privy to information. His early career and his last four years have been un-remarkable. It is the other times that concern me. As far as when he will be arriving, it should be in about three weeks, assuming there are no delays."

Sharpe nodded slowly taking in the unknowns. "That explains the impromptu stay we've been granted at 312," she replied. "I thought Captain Noxi was just being an ass and prolonging her own findings regarding the Griffon investigation," she grumbled folding her arms.

"I wish I could say it was", was her handler's reply. "We could deal with her. As far as dealing with your new captain, get as much information as you can, then you can deal with him how you see fit. The center seat only has room for one."

"Understood."

With that, the screen went dark.


*** End Mission ***



A Joint Post By
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A Mysterious Stranger
NPC, Played By Captain Griffon

Acting Captain
Lucy Sharpe
USS Athena

 

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