A New Face

Posted on Friday, 18 December 2020 - 3:22pm by Lieutenant Alex Kingsley & Commander Soral & Lieutenant T'Lanna Vali & Lieutenant JG Adrianna Eberhardt

Mission: Operation: Ouroboros
Location: Briefing Room | USS Standing Bear
Timeline: 2393, MD4

ON:

The Venus mission was over. Ella Demi headed towards the briefing room. She had waited on purpose allowing PO Grol to handle things. She liked the Trill she was actually envious of Standing Bear for having him. It would take he five minutes to get to the brief room and she hoped everyone was there.

Inside the briefing room Grol had placed PaDDs in all the seats that would be occupied. Now he just had to await the arrivals.

In her time aboard, Lieutenant Kingsley had never been the first person to arrive for a briefing. And of course her favourite yeoman was on hand, just seemingly waiting for someone - anyone - to arrive. “Petty Officer Grol,” she said with a nod as she took the nearest seat.

Grol gave a nod looking tired and worn. "Ma'am. We're just waiting on two more and Captain Demi."

“Captain Demi?” Alex repeated, frowning. “I don’t recognise the name? Should I know them?”

"Stationed on the USS Rademski. She's stepping in until Commander Stillwater and Commander Soral leave Sickbay."

T’Lanna stepped through the door just as mention of someone stepping in for Stillwater and Soral was mentioned. “Who would that be Petty Officer?” She looked at Grol curiously as she walked across to a seat, smiling at Alex as she sat down.

"Captain Ella Demi." He replied. She's been here since the day you all got back...well since they got back. But you were here..." He sat down hard. "We'll wait till everyone's here."

Ella Demi walked in just seconds befor Adrianna.

Adrianna came in, silently. She was midway through a report on her findings on Baciami and was feeling rather sick to the stomach about it. She felt as if she couldn't rid the negativity and couldn't reminisce without feeling guilt. She nodded to those there and blinked a moment at the new person, feeling a level of familiarity with the face, but unable to place it.

Ella stepped up "Good morning all. Hope everyone had a good rest." She gently tapped the top of her deep red hair that was in a bun on top of her head. Her green eyes studied everyone. She was a woman well in her 50s but looked younger. She smiled gently at everyone her kind face lighting up. "I'm Ella Demi you all can call me Ella. I'm just stepping in for a day or two until Stillwater and Sorki are out of Sickbay."

She laughed. "Sorry Soral. I've known that man for so long he's like a brother to me. Glad I could help out." She paused. "Let's go around and introduce ourselves to me of course."

Sorki. Maybe that grappa did kill her. “Lieutenant Alex Kingsley, Chief Science Officer,” she offered. Adding ‘wife of Sorki’ in her head.

"Petty officer Adrianna Baciami," Adrianna introduced, but rather practically muttered her surname, feeling horrible for even having it, "Intelligence."

"Excellent! Good to meet you and you must be Counsellor Vali."

T’Lanna nodded. “Yes ma’am ... Ella. Please call me T’Lanna.”

"Lovely to meet you ladies!" She stood up. "You Alex Kingsley must be Sorki's wife. I'm sorry I wasn't down for the wedding but I did leave a gift when I visited him in the bay."

Adrianna subtly watched to conversation unfold, feeling very unsure, but seeing a path for a potential conflict between women. There was room for it at the moment.

“That’s very kind of you, I’m sure Commander Soral thinks so as well,” Kingsley replied after a moment.

"It's nothing. But I'm glad he went the red head route!" She chuckled. "Now let's get some admin stuff out of the way. As many of you know there has been some tensions with Romulans etc... But now they've spilled over to Jupiter Station. We're watching things. Stillwater will be back in a few days and Soral after that, that man always finds ways of getting hurt." She shook her head.

“I’m sorry, Captain but ... what?” Alex interjected. When Grol mentioned Sickbay she assumed it was routine, linked to his cardiac episodes. Especially as nobody had told her. Not only as his wife but with both their XO and CO out of commission... her gaze shot to Grol. “We were without our CO and XO and we find out now?”

T’Lanna said nothing, not that she had much to add. She’d lost a little faith in herself given that she’d managed to offend both Talarn and Alex lately.

Adrianna cleared her throat and simply looked to the captain, "with all due respect, cap-ee-tan, there is a lot going on at the moment and being that commander Soral's wife is in our presence, I font feel it appropriate to continue in such colloquial manner unless there is a greater conflict of interest than what already exists in this room."

"I don't stand on formality only when angry." She smiled. "And as to your question. Grol did try to reach you upon you return but you were not in your quarters." She sat back. "The crux of it is there was an incident on Jupiter station with protesters getting...well a little too angry and Soral jumped in to save the Vulcan family. Later he was on the promenade coming back from the tact sec offices and a woman shot him with a phaser in the back...her accomplice another woman, wives of those that were arrested for causing a disturbance, threw the phaser out an airlock in the end we got them both. I can assure you Soral will be fine."

“He was shot?!” Alex repeated.

"Yes. But he's alright. Vulcan doctors are tending to him on the station. It was a bit of a longer surgery but he's okay. Woke up this morning." She shook her head. "Anyway. We should get back to things here. I have to brief both your stubborn XO and CO. How'd things go on Venus?"

Adrianna rolled her eyes at the captain. She was far from professional and clearly liked to tease whether it was malicious or not, it was unacceptable. Adrianna also felt that Grol didn't try hard enough. Surely a computer would know where Alex was and equally a comm badge call. Thankfully Adrianna managed to hold her temper and an audible sigh. Instead she looked to the crew that was to answer the question.

"I can forward you the reports submitted by the team yesterday on our return," Kingsley said tersely, trying her best not to drag Grol to the nearest airlock. Had he even tried to find her? "In short, we confirmed the materials and data were still secured; however, the data appears to have been copied. We believe we know by whom, and I have asked Petty Officer Baciami to help track down some further information. I'm concerned that if Starfleet Security begin looking with their usual subtlety, then our lead will disappear completely."

"I managed to bring some stuff back from the Baciami house. My brother appears to still be working from there. He doesn't know I was there. My mother won't say anything. The information collected and provided is all looking a touch too familiar. Once I'm done I'll have a second set of eyes on this. We're going old fashioned, mostly physical copies, offline."

Demi made some notes. "Excellent. Thanks on the reports. I will recommend that Starfleet Sec keep their paws out of it. Stillwater and Soral trust your team. You can handle it." She turned to Vali. "Any you counselor? How goes your work?"

T’Lanna gazed at Demi. “It’s busy to say the least.” She offered a smile. “Commander Stillwater has requested some information that I’m trying to find, plus I’ve also got mounting requests for Counselling appointments and a stack of reports to sit down and catch up on as well. Due to recent ...” she looked at her bump then back at Demi. “Changes, I’m also cutting back my on duty hours in accordance with my maternity leave.”

"I see." Demi said thinking, a plan forming.

"Aside from tracking down the few leads we have, where do we go from here?" Alex spoke up. While she knew for sure where her next stop would be, this mission was not one that could take a backseat because of injuries or personal dramas.

"From here I will take your reports to Stillwater and an action plan will be created. Take the rest of the day, all of you, decompress and we'll go from there. I will let you all know the next steps." She turned to Vali. "Counselor Focus on your work for Stillwater. I will be sending three of my counselors to take your load and fill those requests while you are still here." She smiled warmly. "Do you know if you're having a boy or girl?"

Adrianna interrupted before the mother-to-be could answer, "all due respect cap-ee-tan, but with the subject matter and the issues raised in mind, what is to stop us going directly to Stillwater and cut out the middle man, again, saving information being leaked, which seems to be a common problem in Earth's Starfleet facilities. You are new to us. A new face. What do you have to insure and ensure that we can trust you?"

Demi's eyes narrowed. "I doubt there is any respect in your conversation Petty Officer. Stillwater is recovering I was brought in and read in to take care of these issues until he is on his feet and you will show respect for chain of command or you can take a tour of the brig. I told you I don't stand on formality but do not push me." She drummed her fingers on the table. "If you have doubts you can take them up with Stillwater when he's well. This is not your family, this is Starfleet we do things properly and we do not stab on another in the back, figuratively or literally and if there are bad apples we weed them out. I am here," She paused, "Ladies to assist and to take over for Stillwater and Soral for a few days. If I wasn't cleared I would not have been read into this. So you do what you have to and I'll do what I have to. I don't tolerate insubordination and loyalty questioning lightly, or twice. Are we clear?"

Grol interjected. "Commander Soral asked for her specifically as a replacement."

Demi cut him a look and he sat down. "Sorry ma'am."

Adrianna looked her up and down. Her own temper reaching boiling point. Still, her words remained even and calm, whilst fire raged internally. "Respect is earnt not demanded and frankly you are far from respectful towards myself, a hurting wife and frankly an off situation anyway. Starfleet is as corrupt as my family and you'd be wise to not talk down to me. I know my family but that does not make me one of them." The Italian stood up, "I'll walk myself to the brig."

"Petty Officer Baciami You will stand at attention." Demi shot to her feet.

Adrianna raised a brow, but didn't stand to attention.

"As you say, trust is earned." She hit the communications button. "Demi to Security. I want an armed escort here in two minutes." She turned her eyes to the Petty Officer. "You will stand there until I dismiss you. I still outrank you." She turned to the others in the room. "Anyone else feel like a trip to the brig?"

Adrianna turned away and headed for the door. Baciami's may have had one hell of a reputation for negative things but they were known for one good thing: they kept their word. She had every intention of going straight to the brig to prove a point. The italian looked to the group, but didn't feel the need to say anything. This was her decision, and she wasn't about to defend herself. Everyone needed to make their own decision. Not to mention that if she was wrong, someone needed to be remaining. Baciami looked to Demi a moment and then headed out the door.

Demi hit her com badge. "Captain Demi to security. Petty Officer second class Adrianna Baciami just left the briefing room. She is to be considered hostile and intercept and drag her to the brig. Charges will be insubordination and the rest will be laid by Commanders Soral and Stillwater."

"This is T'Paris, we are on our way."

Demi sat back down. "I am here to assist on Soral's request. I have been cleared and certified and have been a CO for years. I will be treated with the respect that is due to rank. I may be light on formality but that is because Soral has assured me that he and Stillwater have a good and respectful crew. I see that they may have exaggerated. If this were my ship she would have been booted out. A report of this to Command and Stillwater and Soral will look bad, there are too many people against them in Starfleet for me to subject them to further disgrace. This incident does not leave this room ladies."

"Captain, this incident has already left the room," Lieutenant Kinglsey point out, "yes, some of what she said may have been way over the line, but in others she made valid points. We have suggestions of someone inside Starfleet betraying the Federation and walk in to a meeting to be told we have a new, albeit acting, commanding officer because our CO and XO are in Sickbay. Something we did not know. It is odd, Sir. And if that is out of line, I'll happily join Petty Officer Baciami in the Brig."

"And had she explained it in the manner you had she would still be here. I can understand doubt. She spoke with utter disrespect and crossed the linke. If she did that in front of someone who wanted to bury Stillwater and Soral she would have caused a lot of damage. Yes there are those who are betraying the Federation but had she checked her messages upon return, as is standard protocol she would have seen the orders for a temporary change as well as a brief on why. She is intel, she could have left the meeting checked my credentials or even submitted the report directly to Stillwater. She was way out of line and something like that in front of the wrong person could be costly." She stood. "Counsellor I will send my counselors to you. I have to get onto seeing Stillwater and Soral. They can deal with the petty officer but she is in the brig until they deal with her." She looked around. "Dismissed."

T’Lanna nodded and got to her feet offering a small smile as a good will gesture. “To answer your earlier question Captain” She looked at Demi. “I’m having a son.” She offered a warmer smile before turning and heading on her way.

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