Secrets Revealed

Posted on Tuesday, 6 April 2021 - 5:29pm by Captain Barret Stillwater & Commander Soral
Edited on on Tuesday, 6 April 2021 - 6:04pm

Mission: Operation: Peace or P'Jem
Timeline: MD 1 - 13:25 hours

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Lieutenant Talarn Zilth was undoubtedly being a sentinel outside the briefing room as Soral stayed behind as the briefing ended. He'd made his decision almost as soon as the thought had entered his head. He waited for a everyone to pile out and he made no move to get up. He thought about how to frame things.

"Something you wanted to add, but not front of the others, Soral?" Inquired Stillwater. He was used to his First Officer being thorough, and usually very upfront about everything. Though from time to time, Soral could be strategic in what he said, when, and to whom.

He pushed a PaDD towards Stillwater. "This is … some information you might find helpful with respect to the Andorian situation, it is perhaps a few more details... that I ask you to read and if you find necessary share with Starfleet but keep the source to yourself."

Stillwater held back a groan. They both had worked intelligence before. "You know, as many years that go by...it never changes. Intelligence sucks at sharing what they have with one another."

The Captain began reading the PaDD. "I'm going to share all of it, but I'll leave the source out of it. It does none of us any good and we aren't operating on the same footing."

He gave a nod. "Captain, may I speak freely?"

Stillwater thought about what to say. He wanted to say something about knowing one another by now. "You always can between us, Soral."

"I have not been open with you about something. It is something that very few know about. I... was not sure, at first, if you could be trusted but despite our disagreements at times I have learned that you are a very trustworthy man."

Stillwater breathed deeply and exhaled staggeringly. "You don't have to tell the others if you want to keep it under lock and key." Stillwater braced himself. "I'm glad you find me to be truth worthy."

"I am a Starfleet Officer and I am also active within the V'shar."

Captain Stillwater sighed and wiped some sweat from his forehead. "I'm not sure that I am supposed to be shocked by that or not. If you're curious, I'm not nor do I care. The Vulcans are still part of the Federation unless that's changing?" he looked at Soral lifting a brow.

"No, it is not. Perhaps at some point but not for now."

"Nevertheless, The Vulcans are part of the Federation. Your people were permitted to keep the V'Shar active for the protection of Vulcan from threats foreign and domestic on the home front. It's nice that they share intel with Starfleet Intelligence, but Vulcans will be Vulcans. They have a tendency to not be entirely forthcoming."

"Indeed." He was a little surprised at the anticlimactic reception. "I believe I feel what you humans would call slightly let down. I expected a stronger reaction."

"Sorry to disappoint you, but I was an intelligence officer in my career. Our intel was never that good, and time and time again you always seemed to pull a rabbit out of a hat with information. It was only logical to assume you had your hand in more than one honey jar."

"I was trying to be discrete." He said. "Nonetheless I believe you humans would say that I feel lighter for sharing that bit of information. "

Stillwater nodded. "That's a human expression. Probably accurate. Try not to keep too much from me in the future, Soral, I don't like being kept in the dark." Stillwater gave him a stern look. "I need to know that you can be trusted with this crew and this ship should to need arise."

He gave a nod. "Understood sir."

"Dismissed," he said. Now to see what my husband wants thought Stillwater.

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