[USS Juno] Old Friends, (Pt. 1)

Posted on Fri Aug 3rd, 2018 @ 7:58am by Ensign Pecia
Edited on on Fri Aug 3rd, 2018 @ 7:58am

1,322 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: [USS Shanghai] S1, E3: Down Time
Location: Relay 114
Timeline: 5/18/2394, 15:00 Hrs

Located in the immense blackness of space, close to the imaginary line that divided that Cardassian Union and the United Federation of Planets there was a small communications array. From the outside, it was an unremarkable hulk of silver-white metal floating alone, maintaining its position with tiny thrusters. Antennae stabbed out into the nothingness, winking red and green lights at their apex, from both the top and bottom of the station. The primary function of this satellite, Relay 114, was to enable real-time subspace visual communication for this area of space to and from nearly anywhere on the Federation network. Unknown to most, Relay 114 had a secondary function. The interior, cramped though it was, housed a top secret Starfleet Intelligence station. Manned by an nine person team, their mission was to monitor the activity of the True Way terrorist organization within the Cardassian Union.

Relay 114 had a small shuttlebay, only large enough to fit two small craft. The intel team's runabout, the Mississippi-class U.S.S. Drake occupied the space whenever there was not an active field operation in progress. The other space was reserved for the very few visitors who came to the relay. Today, it was the Type-11 shuttlecraft that had carried another intelligence officer familiar with the True Way to the station. Staff Warrant Officer Pecia had begun her career with Starfleet Intelligence as a civilian asset while still a student at Tycho University on Luna, Earth's moon. The arc of that career had eventually led her to the frontiers of Federation space and conflict with the Cardassian terrorists.

Emblazoned on the side of the shuttle was the designation U.S.S. th'Sharan, named for a famous Andorian physicist. The block-y, Starfleet standard lettering disappeared from view as the hatch on the shuttle's side opened upward, out of Lieutenant Commander Xelanar Havr's view. He had been stationed on Relay 114 longer than any of the others and had seen numerous faces rotate in and out of the post. As a junior officer, he had served under the now deceased Lieutenant Commander Margeaux St. Croix, the former station commander, as an infiltration specialist. He still held that role, despite having been promoted to second-in-command of the relay satellite. He watched silently, arms folded across his chest, as Pecia climbed out of the hatch.

Dressed in a black leotard-like garment, with a large block of fuchsia running down the chest from the collar, and long, bicep-length black gloves, she stepped gently down onto the sterile deck plating. ::Good to see you again,::,/i> Xelanar projected his thoughts directly into Pecia's mind. She smiled at the warm tickle of his mind brushing her psyche. While he wouldn't make such an overture with just anyone he encountered, Xelanar and Pecia had a complicated relationship and were more than familiar enough with each other for him to do so.

While Havr was a powerful enough telepath to speak into Pecia's mind, she had no such talents and responded verbally. "You too Xel."

::How long will you be with us?:: he asked, dropping his arms to his side and turning toward the shuttlebay doors.

Pecia fell in beside Xelanar as the doors parted. The walk to the intelligence station hidden within the satellite was a short one, but provided them a few moments to talk on the way. "Many new faces since I was here last?" she asked.

"Only two," Xelanar answered. "A new logistics specialist and communications officer. Highgrove couldn't take the small spaces here and requested a transfer. Bdrell took a long-term undercover assignment."

"I never thought Highgrove would last," Pecia chuckles, her smile lighting up her alien features.

Xelanar stopped just before triggering the sensors on the door to the command center. "You're going back to the Gamma?" he asked, worry evident in his voice.

"And its too late to even try and talk me out of it," Pecia said, stopping alongside him and whirling to face him. "Not to mention you gave up any right to that a long time ago." Before the Betazoid could attempt a reply Pecia spun on her heel and made for the doorway.

Xelanar followed close on her heels. ::I'm worried about you is all,:: he said as he tailed her into the heart of the station.

Because of the dedicated nature of Relay 114's mission, the staff worked a modified duty schedule consisting of two shifts, which overlapped during the middle hours of the day. The whole of the intel team was busy at their respective duty stations when Pecia entered. The various staff officers remained at their posts, continuing their work, as the intelligence station's commanding officer stood up to welcome their guest.

Commander Ursula Solomon was a career intelligence officer who had been active on the Cardassian front since the end of the Dominion War. Human, she had been born on the Cephius IV agricultural colony. A bright smile beamed from her attractive, coffee complected face. Her dark hair was pulled back in a tight bun at the nape of her neck. "Pecia," she began as she crossed the floor to meet the distinctly alien woman, "always a pleasure to have you back for a visit."

"Thank you Ursula," Pecia said and the two women clasped hands warmly. "I'm glad it's under better circumstances than last time," she confessed as their grips released.

"Oh, me too," Ursula agreed. "Can I offer you anything?" she indicated the replicator across the room.

"No, thanks," Pecia answered. "Unless you've got any new information on Asur?"

"Actually," Xelanar spoke up from behind her, "we do. Ensign Jireal," he indicated a young Bajoran woman at one of the consoles who Pecia did not recognize, "could you bring up what we've got?"

Jireal Amara was a young Bajoran woman with chestnut brown hair, which she pushed back behind her ear as she turned to look at the senior officers. "Yes sir. Lek Lek Asur, known bounty hunter and smuggler, returned to the Alpha Quadrant through the Bajoran Wormhole approximately fifty-six hours ago. Twelve hours later the U.S.S. Delphi picked up his ship crossing into Cardassian territory. Three hours ago, he returned to the Gamma Quadrant. Those are the highlights, sir. There's more detail in my report," she said handing a PADD up to Pecia.

"Any idea what his cargo was this time?" Pecia asked even as she began scrolling through the data on the tablet.

"No ma'am," Amara answered.

Pecia turned away from the communications specialist and back to Ursula. "I'm going to have to tell the CO on the Juno about this," she said.

The station chief crossed to the replicator and ordered a coffee with cream, no sugar. Ursula used the short moment of quiet to consider the warrant officer's statement. "Eventually, I'd say that is likely," she nodded as she made her way back to where Pecia and Xelanar stood. "Not yet though. He has his own mission to pursue. Asur is secondary consideration, for now. If an opportunity to apprehend him on the far side of the wormhole presents itself, then approach Captain Anderson. Until then, mum's the word."

Pecia respected the commander's point of view, but she didn't necessarily like it. Joining the crew of the Juno as their Chief Intelligence Officer was her first real posting in Starfleet proper. On her only other starship based assignment, aboard the U.S.S. Regalia, she had still been surrounded by other intelligence personnel. On the Juno she would be the only intelligence officer, and that left her with precious few allies. She certainly didn't want to have to keep secrets from one of the few people who had a high enough clearance for her to talk to about anything.

She nodded curtly at Ursula and indicated one of the two unoccupied stations in the commander center. "Do you mind?"

"Make yourself at home," the commander answered and sipped her coffee.

 

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