[Runts] Guantanamo 101

Posted on Thursday, 14 January 2021 - 5:01pm by Lieutenant JG Adrianna Eberhardt & Captain Barret Stillwater & Lieutenant Alex Kingsley

Mission: Operation: Trail of Tears

Out of all the people in the whole roster of Starfleet, why was Adrianna Baciami, a recent brig tenant and acting CO offender being asked to teach a class at the on station facilities?

She hadn't even been told what about, only to go straight to the lecture hall and to bring a PaDD and plenty of enthusiasm. Infact, the member of staff requesting her had been that enthusiastic and peppy when inviting the Italian, Adrianna felt the need for another coffee or two and even let the thought of grappa cross her mind. Adrianna did just that, though her enthusiasm came in the form of a grande americano from Starfleetbucks.

The tutor welcomed her and Adrianna smiled politely, "thank you for coming, I felt someone in your position and with your history would be wonderful. They have so many questions."

Adrianna looked even more confused, "you never told me what you needed me for."

"Oh," the tutor was taken back, feeling silly for not saying, "this is a class for students interested in pursuing Intel. I know you are only enlisted but I thought this would be a good idea. We've just finished a unit on making, using and maintaining contacts. I was hoping you would be willing to discuss your experiences. I, personally, worked on your case after Harrison was reassigned and I just know you've got the right attitude and portfolio to help here."

The mention of Harrison had Adrianna shift uncomfortably. Adrianna was well underway of trying to brush her past under the rug, in a positive manner. She was unsure if this would help. "Was there really no one else?" she asked.

The tutor shook her head, "none back on the station. The recent events on Earth have made for a very small pool of available staff, and it's difficult enough to find Intel staff willing to share 'trade secrets' at the best of times."

After a little chat Adrianna stepped into the classroom, watching the tutor go to the back. It was daunting being in front of this many people. She took a sip of coffee and perched on the desk, putting the coffee down next to her," morning everyone, I'm Petty Officer Adrianna Baciami, current stationed on of USS Standing Bear. I have been in a form of Intel since I was old enough to carry messages. I have contacts near enough in every quadrant ranging from runners to bar tenders, private security to people who are just loose-lipped. Actively, I used around fifteen on a regular basis, but the others I actively keep track of, just in case. I don't know of what use I can be to you, but I'm here and I'll answer questions to the best of my ability."


"If you could give one word of advice," a female voice piped up from the back, "what would it be?"

Adrianna thought about it and gave the same advice her father did, "trust someone more if they give you facts for a price, though do not entrust them to remain loyal."

"Can you really trust any of them?" another voice called out from the other side of the room. "How'd you know they are telling the truth?"

"The simple answer is no," Adrianna replied easily, "everyone needs something though. Everyone can be bought. You'll learn quickly who you can and cannot buy. But being in Intel is not about buying loyalty, it's about buying information. Most of the priceless and most useful information comes from the ability to read people and to read between the lines. An informant that is usual forthcoming with information, but today is dismissive, is usually being watched. You'd be wise to keep them safe and move on quickly. If you save them, they'll feel they owe you."

"Do you have any regrets?" a quieter, more timid voice called out.

Adrianna sought out the person who'd asked and finally found them. It was a strange question to ask, but one that Adrianna felt she had to answer honestly, "many, but if I had a time machine, I wouldn't change anything. I'd maybe have joined Starfleet sooner, but life goes on."

"Do you trust the Romulans?" this came from somewhere near the back, a male voice which held the hint of a smirk. There was a moment of silence before a few murmurs broke out amongst the other cadets.

Adrianna looked around the classroom. She needed to choose her words carefully. "Do you think it right and wise to assume trustworthiness of an entire race for the issues that may exist for small quantity in comparison?" She paused for the rhetoric to kick in, then smirked, "if you want to to do that, I'm sure there are other organisations besides Starfleet that would be happy to employ you."

There was an almost audible gulp in the ensuing silence before a couple of laughs and filled the room. “Ignore him, he’s an idiot,” someone offered.

Adrianna smiled," he's not an idiot at all. It is right to query, however the assumed generalisation is a difficult thing to overcome since its a subconscious bias. Anyone else?"

“Is it hard to switch off? After a mission?”

"That depends on the mission," she replied honestly, "if I could give one word of advice it would be to find an outlet. Whether it's screaming into a pillow, playing a guitar, or beating the hell out of a punchbag, it doesn't matter, but you need to find a way to help you sleep at night. Not ever piece of information you gather will help someone have a happy ending. Sometimes you are the finger that pulls a trigger. Find a way, or suffer the consequence."

One Vulcan student, a male named Sodek raised a brow and inclined his head as his listened to the woman. "Though I value your advice, and find it logically sound for species of lesser mental discipline and order as my own," he began "I do not understand the logic in you addressing us nor you position aboard a starship as head of a department. You have not been through four years of the academy as myself nor my classmates will have. How is it you came to your position? Was your Captain illogical?"

It was a valid point. Adrianna had found herself asking the same thing a few times. She looked the vulcan over, "My XO is a Vulcan." She paused, "you do have a valid point. For myself though, Starfleet was not an option. I did not have opportunity to go through the academy. What I lack in academic knowledge that you will graduate with, I have experience and contacts. I came into my position because I worked hard to achieve it and to prove myself. You work up through ranks in Starfleet not based on acedemia, brains or years of service; you work up through the ranks of Starfleet because of merit." She looked round the room then back to the Vulcans," you won't make many valuable contacts is you use terms like 'lesser mental disapline' either. You can't rely on Vulcan strength and will power to be good at your job. In the same way that I can't use mafia training to help make problems disappear overnight."

"Very well," replied Sodek. "You are correct. Alternative knowledge and experience can be very effective, and my Vulcan way of thinking though logical, may not allow me to acquire as many contacts; however, it was not Vulcan that was attacked. It was Mars and now the Federation has lost one of it's primary fleetyards. So, does that not reflect poorly on Humans and their...intelligence communities and contacts, unable to prevent such an attack?"

"Perhaps, as you will find out over the many years that you will be working, the story is does not have such a basic plot," she replied then looked round to the class, "eitherway, as mentioned before, even with all the Intel in the world, sometimes the story doesn't have a happy ending. The lives lost in the recent attack may very well be an example of that. We don't have time machines and the best superpower in the world would be hindsight." She looked back to the Vulcan," even if this were a vulcan colony, bad things still happen. They always will."

"Bad things do happen to us all. I am still learning how to make use of being a Vulcan without being what my classmates call an 'asshole,' which apparently comes with being Vulcan," he replied. "My parents were engineers on Utopia Planitia. They both perished that day, I applied to the Academy for them."

Adrianna smiled, "Try researching my background. The mafia prefer strong willed and mentally disaplined. You can be an ass and still get the job done. Family is the best motivation and I'm sure they'd be as proud as Vulcans can be."

Sodek nodded. "They would indeed be as Vulcan as they could be encouraging me to do better until I am top of my class."

Adrianna couldn't help but take a shine to the Vulcan. She looked around, "I'm here for another few minutes. Anyone else?"


---

The talk had mainly been insightful. Starfleet certainly trained their staff well, but there was a lack in experience. She had no doubt that they would succeed. The Italian rounded off her talk, having seen the time fly by," thank you all for your time. I hope I've helped at least one of you. If anyone needs anything, I'm a message away. I have no doubt that you will all find your own paths and ways of doing things."