Increased Clearance

Posted on Tuesday, 7 April 2020 - 10:51pm by Commander DeVala Victrix Ph.D & Lieutenant T'Lanna Vali

Mission: Operation: Overdrive
Location: USS Fontana | Deck 00 | Tactical Suite

It had taken a bit longer than she had anticipated, but it was not that easy of a request to make. Going through the proper chains in order to get Lieutenant Vali's security clearance upgraded and access to the files which she would need took time; however, it was the time that the USS Fontana had to spare. A bit of a 'layover' at the USS Camelot had given Starfleet Command some more time to work their magic. Victrix was always thorough with the 'paperwork' end of matters. So, there was no hold up on the end. If anything, her meticulous nature of putting things in order and having them in pristine condition expedited the whole process significantly.

The Fontana's Acting Commanding Officer had made her way upward to the tactical suite which was designated at deck zero. It wasn't much of a deck so much as it was a nerve center with various displays and screens, a plethora of work stations and when the starship was finally at the full complement, it would be abuzz with intelligence personnel in collaboration with science and tactical. Right now; however, it was rather desolate. The USS Fontana had no Chief Intelligence Officer aboard yet. Victrix had temporarily placed her Chief Tactical Officer in charge of overseeing the few Intelligence personnel aboard, but his focus was going to be needed on the Security and Tactical facets of the starship in the coming days.

Lieutenant Commander Victrix took a quick walk through the tactical suite and waited for the arrival of the Ship's Psychologist. She had asked Lieutenant Vali to meet with her up in the tactical suite. It was the best place to get a head start on the work ahead of them. Of course, Victrix was giving the lieutenant free rein of the starship, access to just about everything. She wanted to officially inform the lieutenant that the increased security clearance had officially gone through as well as some other matters of importance.

Having checked out her office, T’Lanna had decided that it would double up nicely as a Counsellor’s office too. Checking the chronometer she put her plans for the office aside and made her way to the tactical suite to meet with Commander Victrix. It didn’t take her long to get there, she knew Victrix would be waiting but she pressed the chime nonetheless.

The lieutenant commander turned, feeling the presence from behind her. She greeted the women with a pleasant smile. "Ah right on time, Lieutenant," she said to the woman who was approaching Victrix.

Walking in T’Lanna offered a polite smile. “Reporting as requested Commander.”

Victrix nodded and reached for a nearby PaDD. A few taps and authorization on her part and Victrix handed the PaDD over to the other woman. "Lieutenant, the request to upgrade your security clearance came through not too long ago. You officially have access to all of the unredacted personnel file of Commander Stillwater along with any and all ship logs made by Stillwater as his time as Captain on his previous commands. Furthermore, I've granted you almost full access to the starship. The ship's resources are now at your disposal."

“Wow” T’Lanna grinned. “Sorry Commander, it’s not every day you get granted free reign of the resources of a starship.” She smiled warmly. “Hopefully I’ll be able to provide you with a fully detailed profile that gives us a good idea of where Commander Stillwater might be now.”

With a nod, Victrix gestured to the work stations and in general all of the Tactical Suite. "Use whatever resources you need. The Tactical Suite is one of the areas you have unrestricted access to. When he comes aboard, I'll be assigning Rhydian il'Vastam to assist you. He has extensive training and has a knack for data mining and if Stillwater is out there... I believe you two are going to be essential in finding him. We do not currently have a Chief Intelligence Officer aboard to keep the intelligence personnel on task and working. For time being, I will be placing you in charge of them."

T’Lanna nodded. “Yes Ma’am. May I ask what was your impression of Captain Stillwater?”

Victrix gestured to food and beverage replicator off to the far corner of the tactics suite, an area where a small conference table was situated with a few chairs placed around it. "I think that merits some coffee, Lieutenant" replied Lieutenant Commander Victrix who proceeded to lead the other woman in tow over to the conference area. Victrix, of course, ordered herself a hot mug of coffee, nothing too special about this one. More than anything she just needed to help her relax. Though it was a bit of an oxymoron to most with coffee's caffeine content, Victrix's body depended on coffee to take the edge off. She sat her mug down and looked at T'Lanna. "What's your beverage of choice?" inquired Victrix.

“I think a cola would go down nicely please Commander” T’Lanna smiled. “I’m something of a caffeine and chocolate junkie! I’m not sure the doctor would approve of such an unhealthy habit though.”

A few moments later and Victrix was back at the table taking a seat across from the Psychologist, each of them with a beverage in hand. Victrix took a few sips before she started to segway into the topic that had been previously conjured. "Commander Barret Stillwater is...was one of the more career-driven individuals that I have had the privilege of reading their personnel file. He was the sort of Starfleet Officer that always saw the light in the dark, and if there was no light within sight, he became a beacon of hope. He took the mantle of being that light" explained Victrix. "I believe there is an Earth term...white knight syndrome" she added. "If such a thing exists, Stillwater was a textbook example based on what I know about the man."

“So what is it that made him give up his career?” T’Lanna looked at Victrix curiously. “A man like him doesn’t usually give up a career without an extremely good reason. Plus why is he being sought out now? Is it simply concern about his whereabouts or some other reason?”

Lieutenant Commander Victrix flashed a smile at T'Lanna. "I'm not a Psychologist" she replied simply enough to the woman. "Nevertheless, I can offer you the insight to whatever extent I can. I know that Stillwater has seen his time in the courtroom, usually as a witness for the JAG prosecutors. On more than one occasion these were trials involving his Commanding Officers. I imagine that alone would limit the man's friendship count over the years. As to what the last straw was? I do not know, but Stillwater was one of the Commanding Officers who partook in the Romulan relocation efforts. When the Federation decided to pull from those efforts under the threat from Federation worlds closing their borders to refugees, Stillwater was not pleased. Prior to that, I would not rule out the synth attack on Mars."

She knew that there was one thing she neglected to answer. Why are we looking for him now? Starfleet Command intends to reactivate Commander Stillwater's commission and assign him this starship as its Commanding Officer" added Victrix.

“I see” T’Lanna nodded. “So in his time he’s gathered a few enemies as well as friends. Those JAG trials can be rough sometimes.” She reached for a small size PADD she had with her to take notes. “All this information helps. I like to get to know those I study on a personal level in a way, that’s why I like to hear what those who knew the Commander would say about him.”

"I wish I could be of more help, but I never met the man personally" replied Victrix. "I have gone over his personnel file rather extensively which I know you will do. There may be things in there that I overlooked or missed. Sometimes, I find it takes more than one pair of eyes to see things with the necessary clarity" she added. "In some ways, I feel sympathetic towards him" she confessed.

“I think a lot of people would feel that way” T’Lanna nodded. “Starfleet...has changed quite a lot over the years, but we do what we can and I for one hope that the Starfleet I used to hear about will return one day. “

Victrix was the sort of officer who held a similar philosophy. "Safe saying that in present company, Lieutenant, but I caution you. There are definitely individuals in Starfleet who would do what they could to stand in your way we're they to hear that. Not too long ago I dealt with an Admiral through a communiqué that laid out hefty prejudices and suspicions towards another individual, just because of their ears."

“I know that Ma’am” T’Lanna gave Victrix a knowing look. “I won’t be airing my views in public, I’m careful who I air my views too.”

"Oh, I suspected" Victrix replied. "Who better as a judge of character than a Psychologist of your background, lieutenant" added the woman. "I'd wager that Stillwater isn't likely on a Federation world?"

“As would I Commander” T’Lanna offered a smile. “He’ll be somewhere he knows the Federation wouldn’t come looking, somewhere most likely off grid that has a special meaning or significance to him. We just have to figure out where that might be.”

Victrix nodded in agreement. "Logical," she said to T'Lanna with a small smirk. "I wish I could say that limited the rocks to look under, but it really does not by much. These days especially" admitted the acting Commanding Officer. "There are thousands of independent worlds in the Alpha quadrant alone. More in the Beta quadrant, and oh hell I would hope he had enough sense not to venture into the Gamma quadrant or find a way out to the Delta."

“I certainly hope not!” T’Lanna offered a smile. “I will do my best to narrow it down.”

Victrix returned the smile. "I think we can rule out worlds belonging to the Shelliate, Tholians, Breen, and so forth. They would not have taken too kindly to a human being on any of their worlds. Most of the Tholian controlled planets aren't even remotely M class. At least Stillwater is human. That does provide some comfort in narrowing a search down."

“Some” T’Lanna nodded in agreement. “We can use connections from his past, family, friends and contacts. It may help us narrow things down a little more.”

"Best of luck to you" she replied. "Former shipmates are going to be the easiest to track down. I don't recall coming across any mention of family, at least not immediate. His parents are deceased from what I remember."

T’Lanna nodded. She was taking notes every now and again as they spoke. “Okay well that’s more information than I had to start with. The needle in the haystack is becoming a little less of a needle.” She grinned.

"Have at it, Lieutenant" Victrix replied. "We will be reaching the Camelot soon enough. You can access Stillwater's personnel files as you please. I will leave you to the haystacks" added Lieutenant Commander DeVala Victrix.

T’Lanna smiled. “Thank you Commander. I’ll get to work right away.”

"If you need anything, just let me know. I'll be in my Ready Room" said Victrix taking her mug with her.

“I will, thanks again.” T’Lanna smiled before turning back to the files, she had a lot of work to do.”

{OFF}

Lieutenant T'Lanna
Ship's Psychologist

Lieutenant Commander Victrix
Acting Commanding Officer