[USS Juno] Covert Ops: Dinner & Duty

Posted on Fri Aug 3rd, 2018 @ 8:28am by Captain Harrold Anderson
Edited on on Fri Aug 3rd, 2018 @ 8:28am

2,075 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: [USS Shanghai] S1, E4: Empok Nor
Location: Cargy's Restaurant, Empok Nor
Timeline: 05/24/2394, 1800 Hrs

ON:

Alpha shift had ended several hours ago, which had given the captain of the U.S.S. Juno plenty of time to work up an appetite before dinner. Pecia had been pleasantly surprised when the captain's yeoman had accepted her invitation to dinner at the Cargy's Restaurant on his behalf. Pecia had spent far more time as a civilian doing Intelligence work for Starfleet without a uniform than she had wearing one. Reporting for duty so formally, with the saluting and pomp and circumstance wasn't exactly where she was most comfortable. Lost in a sea of people, pretending to be mundane when in reality what she was doing was anything but - that was where she was in her element. So, a less formal means of reporting for duty seemed a fair compromise to her.

The alien woman had opted not to wear her Starfleet uniform to this after hours dinner engagement, and she hoped the captain would do the same. She doubted it though, and expected him to show up in the full kit, spotlessly shined pips and all. He wasn't schooled in the trade of spycraft, and probably didn't typically consider how much a liability the immediately recognizable Starfleet uniform could be.

Instead of the trademarked explorer's garb, Pecia had zipped herself into a sleeveless, and more modern version, of the Starfleet miniskirt style uniform from the early mid-2200s. Her was all black and didn't have any of the insignia of the uniform. A retro-chic look that was common enough with civilians that it wouldn't draw too much attention. Pecia of course couldn't help but draw looks wherever she went thanks to her unique hybrid appearance, and she didn't want to minimize her impact too much, but still needed to blend in. The off-the-shoulder style showed off the twelve rows of tiny spikes that ran over her shoulders and disappeared down her arms into the dress. They mirrored the ridges on her tawny complected face, which she rubbed absentmindedly as she surveyed the crowd trying to spot her new commanding officer.

Harry was told that his new chief intelligence officer was meeting him at Cargy's Restaurant on Empok Nor. He was no stranger to the station. He wasted little time getting to the restaurant. He knew generally Starfleet intelligence officers were low key officers, so he had a feeling that she would not be dressed in her dead giveaway classic grey uniform. Most of his crew, would have no idea, who she was truly. He did not want to bring unnecessary attention on her, so he decided to dress in civilian attire.

Harry walked into Cargy's Restaurant, the music was loud, and the energy of the restaurant was positive and a fun environment. He started to look around the room. And he noticed her, he was greeted by the hostesses, but told her that he found his party already. He motioned for her to keep sitting. He was wearing black slacks, green blouse button style shirt and black shoes to match his black socks. "Good evening Miss Pecia." He said, as he took a seat across from her. He noticed a glass of water. He reached over and took a sip.

"A pleasure, captain," said said smoothly as Harry placed his glass back on the table. "I took the liberty of ordering a bottle of wine. I hope you don't mind." Pecia smiled at him, and the simple gesture brought her face to life.

"Don't mind at all," he said. He repositioned his silverware for a left handed person. Everything was set for a right handed person.

She surveyed the human as he spoke. "And not a comm badge in sight sir. I appreciate your attention to detail. I didn't expect you'd have such an eye for tradecraft."

"Not my first rodeo, but I appreciate the comment nonetheless. However I am getting a notation there is something you want to discuss? Seeing how we are meeting low key in a loud public restaurant, would suggest to me that you want to address with your assignment?" He asked, using the word rodeo instead of saying intelligence community.

"It is something I wanted to address," she said just as the waiter approached their table. He uncorked the slender bottle, allowing the deep purple liquid inside to breath. They gave their orders to the young man and he retreated away from the table leaving them with two empty stemmed glasses. "In an effort to keep our more clandestine activities... well, clandestine, I feel it may be best to keep the true nature of my assignment on a need-to-know basis. With your permission, I'd like to make some... alterations to the ship's manifest regarding my position aboard ship. I'd also like to wear a science officer's uniform, instead of intel-grey."

"I think we can accommodate that request." Softly said Harry with a grin. He started to think what role he could place her in, that would not draw suspicion on her, and she could work in shroud and cloak of secrecy. Then it dawned on him. He smiled and was about ready to tell her, when he noticed she reached out with her hand.

Feeling that the wine had sufficient time to breath, Pecia lifted the bottle and gentle swirled the contents. "Ktarian merlot," she said to the captain as she began to pour his glass first. "I never new my father... but his homeworld produces some of the most amazing vintages in the quadrant." She handed the wineglass over to Harry and began to pour her own.

"I could use a translation specialist, it would be the perfect identity cover and give several hours to be alone to carry out your primary responsibilities." Suggested Harry, as he took a small sip of his wine, and enjoying the intoxicating aroma and taste from it.

"How much time have you spent in the Gamma Quadrant?" she said after a swallow of the ruby-violet liquid, moving back to specifics of the Juno's mission.

"Barely a week, we had to comeback to the station, we rescued survivors of the New Bajor attack, Starfleet wants to debrief the survivors on Empok Nor, I was surprised we did not drop them off at Deep Space Nine, my only guess, Empok Nor is my home command." He said, not really sure why Starfleet diverted him here. At least he got to pick up his new chief intelligence officer.

Pecia absentmindedly toyed with the napkin draped across her lap. "I was there a bit longer. Just a few months. We encountered some hostile aliens and barely limped back to this side of the galaxy."

"Well I am glad you made it back safely, and we definitely could use your services, my report on you is a little unclear on your last, were you assigned to a freighter? All I get from your record is assignment and posting are classified, this will draw suspicion. Starfleet intelligence is writing you a cover story, to avoid that. But I am curious about your last assignment, from a curiosity standpoint."

"Oh, the Regalia was an intelligence ship, so there is a good size cache of information on the area, captain," she was saying as the waiter returned with their entrees. "Thank you," she said as an aside to the man as he placed her plate in front of her. Then turning her eyes back toward Harry continued, "It will be at your disposal."

Harry knew not to press her to hard too be more forth coming. He smiled, and listened to what she said. "It will be at your disposal." He could get all the intelligence they had on the Gamma Quadrant. His food was ordered at he same time as hers, while he waited for her response, he took a bite, allowing himself to saver the taste.

The spy stabbed at one of the Haliian giant prawns on her plate. She stopped after spearing it with her fork and looked up at the captain. "I am curious about your expectations of me, sir."

"Keep a low profile, gather intelligence and get a long with the crew. Should not be difficult expectations." He suggested, as he took another bite. The Chef at Corgy's really knew how to cook steak.

"No sir," Pecia said smoothly as she tilted her glass to her lips. The wine had a heavy body and she could taste the tannin and spices used in the wine-making process. "So, tell me about you crew Harry," she invoked the captain's given name instead of his rank, and took another prawn from her plate.

Harry was a little surprised by her taking the liberty of calling him by his first name. He looked at her, and smiled. With a soft voice he said, "Typically one should wait for the captain to say its okay to use his first name, but in small social interactions like this its okay to drop rank, but in official meetings, I prefer you call me captain. Now with that said, they are a good group. You're really going to like it here," said Harry.

She smiled coyly back at the senior officer. He certainly wasn't giving her much. Pecia was beginning to suspect that Harry had dealt with her type before. 'And I don't mean beautiful, alien women,' she thought and toyed absently with the greens underneath her shrimp, casting her eyes down to her plate. "I'd be lying if I said I hadn't already skimmed their jackets," she confessed and looked back up at the captain. "I know you've just gotten back and they're ready for some shore leave, I imagine."

"Nothing wrong with a little shore leave." Suggested Harry with a playful grin on his face.

Pecia took a long draw of her wine as she listed to the captain. "And how long until we're back on the other side of the wormhole?"

"A few days, why you in a hurry to go back so soon. The report I got on your activities, limited and vague. Stated you had, shall we say, an adventure." He grinned, as he waited to see how she was going to respond.

"Some... unfinished business," she answered mysteriously. "But we can talk about that another time, Harry," she winked at him. "You have a daughter...?"

"Two, one is about to move in. The other is going back to Deep Space Nine with her Mother. What about Miss Pecia, do you have children?" He asked, wondering what her angle here was? He assumed small chat. But it was hard to tell with a covert intelligence operative.

She chuckled just before sipping again from her glass. "No. I can't imagine that being easy given my line of work," she whispered to him with a faux-conspiratorial tone, putting one hand to the side of her mouth as if trying to avoid anyone seeing.

Harry just grinned, she was an incredible woman already. He liked her approach to life, and to her duties. "Hopefully this evening has been to your liking?" He asked, it was basically code, he was really saying. He hoped their introductions to one another was satisfactory. This was the first time he had an agent deep undercover, aboard his ship.

Pecia took the last of the prawns from her plate and chewed slowly, savoring the taste. "This has been a wonderful evening," she said just before wiping her mouth slowly with her napkin. "I hope the steak was to your liking?"

"It was, rather intriguing." He said, feeling grateful. He was looking forward to having an intelligence officer on his ship. "Would you care for dessert?" He asked, trying to indicate to her that their evening was going to end soon. He had others places to be this evening.

"Thank you, sir. I don't really have much a sweet tooth," she politely decline his offer to stay for dessert. "I do have some unpacking to do." The alien woman placed her napkin on the empty plate and stood up. "The bill is already settled," she said with a wink. "I'll see you aboard ship, Harry." With that she turned to go, sauntering out of the crowded restaurant. As she crossed the threshold out onto the promenade, she tossed a glance back over her shoulder at the captain and grinned.

"Then I will let you get to it." Said Harry, as they both parted ways.

 

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