An Old Friend

Posted on Fri Nov 15th, 2024 @ 3:14am by Lieutenant Daegan Baas & Lieutenant Julianna ("Jules") Raihan & Captain Rylan Gray

1,838 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: A Silence of Friends
Location: Transporter Room 1, Deck 15, USS Thunderbird
Timeline: MD002 - 0700

Her orders, signed by Admiral Aldrich Walsingham of all people (and wasn't that interesting), were tucked into the front pocket of her carry-on bag while the rest of her gear was being delivered to her quarters (because she'd checked). Twenty-four hours ago she'd been deep in preparations for a long-term undercover assignment and now, she was here. Mystifying but you didn't last long in Intelligence if you weren't able to roll with the punches. She stepped down off the transporter pad and walked over to the technician on duty. "Morning, crewman," she said in a voice that was capable of hitting three full octaves (lots and lots of voice training went into that bit of knowledge). "Is the Captain on board?"

The crewman who, at 6 feet, resisted the urge to kneel so he didn't dwarf the Lieutenant nodded. "Hits the Ready Room around 0800 hours," he said in a slight southern drawl. "Unless there's an emergency but that's not likely given we're at a starbase and all." It took him a second to remember his basic training and so the "Ma'am" that followed had a beat of silence between.

Jules, who had spent most of her career undercover, didn't notice or particularly care. "Good. Gives me time to get something to eat before I report in. Where's the officer's mess?"

The crewman provided directions from memory rather than tell her about the automated system that would direct her anywhere on the ship. If she was good, she'd remember; if she wasn't, well, it would be a private joke among the enlisted, now wouldn't it?

[Officer's Lounge]

Daegan was fresh from a nice hot shower after his regular morning workout. He was not in uniform as, at the Captain's insistence he was scheduled to be on shore leave for the next 2 days. All he had to wrap up was his briefing with Masterson and hit the station. He had take what had unofficially become his regular seat, the corner table and as usual, he sat with his back to the wall.

The steward had just brought him his order and he was lifting the first bite to his mouth when the door opened. At first he could have sworn he knew the woman and he felt a rush of excitement but then he noticed she had no spots that would have let everyone know she was a Trill. ...The resemblance was uncanny though. Unable to shake the feeling that his old Academy friend had walked in, he continued to watch her. Taking a sip from his coffee, their eyes locked as she scanned the room.

The recognition was immediate and he stood, quickly coming around from the table. "Jules!"

"Daegan," Jules said, a smile lighting her features, as she came forward, unceremoniously heaving the bag onto the nearest chair, to pull him into a hug. "What's that expression about joints? You remember, the one that Carlisle always used to say? He made us watch the movie when it was his turn to procure the entertainment?"

Giving her a big squeeze before looking at her again. "He always had a thing for those 20th century classics, 'Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world...'. What are you doing..wait a minute you're not our new intel officer are you?" Taking her face gently by her chin, ""And what happened to your spots?"

Jules held up a finger and started answering. "One, I've been assigned to this ... ship .... as its new Chief Intelligence Officer, if you can believe it. Pulled me out of prepping for a long-term cover operation too which is why," she held up another finger, "I don't have the spots. Medical did something but I want them back which means I have a question of my own. No two. First, how's the food coz' I'm starving and two, how good is your doctor?"

Waving over a steward he led her back to his table. "Have a seat and we'll get you something to eat. As to the Doc, never haven't needed his services so I can't speak to the quality of his care, but I hope he can restore then..." point at his neck "... you had that one that looked like a..."

She dropped into the seat he had vacated and laughed, "so help me, if you say flower ..."

Leaning back he raised his hands in surrender, laughing. "You said it not me. Gotcha though...some intel agent you are." Leaning in he lowered his voice, "You maybe all rough on the outside with everyone else, but I know you still have a soft side." Sitting up he smiled at her, changing the subject to divert her wrath, even if it was playfully meant. "So what was this big op you were prepping for or is that classified?"

Jules smiled back, her hazel eyes lighting up for a moment, as she leaned in, her voice soft and throaty, "I do," she purred. "You tell anyone else and I'll kick your butt." She leaned back, yawning slightly. "Details were classified. Probably best I don't tell you because someone else will be prepping for the mission now and I wouldn't want to mess up her chances of getting in." She spread her hands slightly. "Not that I don't trust you, it's just ... others can hear and not all of them are as trustworthy. You know how it is these days."

"Not a problem. Besides even I did have a need to know, this is hardly the place for that discussion." Taking a sip from his coffee, "So you all checked in yet or just getting started?"

Jules shook her head. "Came straight from the transporter room. I'd been up late studying. My boss shows up at my door in the middle of the night. I got new orders. So there I am. Dashing around like a crazy person, getting my stuff together, because I'm on a transport out in the morning. And here I am. They said the Captain doesn't hit his ready room till around eight so I figured I'd get something to eat." She cocked her head slightly to one side. "So ... can you tell me about him? The captain I mean?"

Daegan expression shifted to one of dread. Looking from side to the rest of the room cautiously. "An old, crusty, micromanaging, Vulcan tyrant..." He sat there staring at her for a long moment before cracking a wide smile.

Jules laughed. "Guess I'll find out on my own then," she said, "but ... just remember this, next time you come asking me for help, eh?" She turned toward the waiter and made a pleading motion. He came, she gave her order, and he departed just that quickly. "If the coffee doesn't get her soon, I swear I'm going to hunt it down myself."

Laughing, "The Captain's fine. Given the area we are going to be in and the changes taking place I can definitely see why he wanted an intel officer added to the crew. Say when to you think you'll be done with the boss?"

"Shouldn't take long," Jules said as she reached out her hands toward the incoming cup of coffee. The waiter passed it over with a smile and then headed back to pick up her meal. "I'm just reporting in. Briefings come later." She flashed him a look over the top of her coffee mug. "Once I have my spots back and unpacked. You know, priorities. Why? What did you have in mind?"

"Well I have member of my team that is going to be sent off on an undercover fact finding. I was thinking that someone," gesturing to Jules, "with first hand experience might be a good idea."

"Sure," Jules said. "How about I find you and your team mate after I get finished up. Your office." She frowned slightly. "I'm not even sure where mine is at this point. And isn't that a thought? I have an office and not just a go-bag."

Wiping his mouth after a quick bite, chuckling. "Like you'll ever be in that office. You'll probably convert whatever spaces you get into one big intel center so you can monitor whatever whenever...and even then assign that task to some poor non-comm while you keep yourself wherever the action may be."

Jules smiled the way a teacher does when the pupil gets it right. "Oh, you know me so well," she said. "I'm best in the field. I think better under fire. Always have."

"Well we may not have been together since the Academy, but we spent enough time together... Say you still singing? The XO is wanting to get some musicians together."

"Some of my best undercover work was done in bars with me singing. Easy in. So, I'd love to providing you're playing," Jules said as she attacked the food on her plate. She looked up between forkfuls, her expression turning soft with memory. "Remember singing on the beach? In what little free time we had?"

He smirked at the memory. Even though she knew he loved the water he still decided to bait her a bit. "Oh yeah...but I was only there for the view. OHH...speaking of the beach, you should have been here earlier. I put together a luau on the holodeck for the senior staff. There was a little post dinner bonfire and I even broke out the guitar."

"So was I," Jules said in return. "Luau, huh? Says good things about your captain, that he was willing to do something like that." She finished her meal, in record time even for her, and shoved back the plate. "Alright, I need to get going. Time to report in and scope him out for myself."

It was getting close to 0800 so they had to go their own ways. With Jules a part of the crew they would have all the time in they needed to catch up. "Well I will go get things started with my investigator and you can drop in once you are done with the Captain. You got nothing to worry about with him, he won't bite."

"Almost disappointing," Jules said as she rose smoothly from the table. "Coz' I sure do." She mimed taking a bite and laughing, waved and headed out.

Daegan smiled cocking a brow, "I'll be sure to keep that in mind." Lifting his coffee he paused to watch her walk out of the lounge, perhaps a little closer and for a little longer than was appropriate but he didn't care. During their time at the Academy they had been very close and he looked forward to rekindling things now that they were on the same ship. A random thought of him teasing her like before crossed his mind and he started to laugh out loud and as the cup approached his lips he spoke, "Oh I'm definitely doing that..."


A Post By:

Lieutenant Daegan Baas
Chief of Security
USS Thunderbird

and

Lieutenant Julianna Raihan
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Thunderbird

 

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