Touring the Aegis

Posted on Thu Mar 4, 2021 @ 12:30pm by Lieutenant Nicole Anderson & Lieutenant Arashi Tanaka Mr. & Lieutenant AJ Taggart & Fleet Captain Rhea Kennit & Lieutenant JG Markus Davenport

3,448 words; about a 17 minute read

Mission: Archangel
Location: Medusa Base

Medusa Base Hanger Bay

Standing safely on the observation deck, Commander Grissom watched as the Valkyrie shuttle from the USS Victory entered the bay and gracefully turned so that the sleek vessel's bow faced the cavernous exit and then gently dropped down to come to rest precisely in the center of it's designated landing position. Once the flight deck officer gave the all-clear, Grissom and two of the stations security officers exited the observation deck and walked down into the hanger, walking across the deck toward the new arrival. The shuttle's hatch opened, and after a moment two security officers dressed in duty dress uniform exited. A moment later and Fleet Captain Kennit appeared in the hatch, turned slightly as she gave orders to Lieutenant Davenport and what looked like another security officer still aboard. She nodded once in response to what one of them said, then turned and exited the ship.

She was smaller than he expected. Slender, graceful and dressed in her own duty uniform without so much as a strand of her hair out of place. She scared the hell out of him. Approaching her, he came to a stop as she turned toward him and said, "Commander Grissom. Permission to come aboard?"

He gave a quick nod. "Permission granted, Captain Kennit. And welcome. I was sent to guide you and your staff to meet with the station CO, Captain Beechwood."

Kennit nodded once, "Lead the way Commander."

---

For a hidden station, the interior was as comfortably designed as a Federation luxury resort. The lobby they found their way to was comfortably furnished, tastefully decorated and even had a bowl of fruit sitting on a table in the middle of the room. The three officers standing in the room watched the Victory's delegation arrive and the human man in the center of the trio stepped forward. "Captain Kennit," he said as the three station officers snapped a salute. "Always a pleasure to have a member of TRD here. I am Captain Cal Beechwood. Welcome to Medusa Base."

Her smile was knowing. No one ever considered the arrival of a TRD agent, who had announced themselves to be a TRD agent, a 'pleasure'. "Thank you, Captain. May I introduce my Chief of Security, "Lt. Tanaka, and this is Lt. Taggart, commanding officer of the SRU team aboard Victory."

Beechwood turned and gestured to his two companions. "My Chief of Security, Lieutenant Commander Opun," he said, gesturing to the Napean man, who gave a slight bow, "and my Head of Base Operations, Commander P'Tel." The Vulcan officer regarded them with a stoic expression and a slight head nod.

"Now, Captain," Beechwood said, smiling politely. "What brings an off-the-market agent to a base this far out in the middle of nowhere?"

"As I said Commander, an encrypted transmission sent from this station was intercepted and found to contain references to items of interest to certain people. I was tasked with coming out here and taking a look at your comm system to find out what I can about who originated the transmission, and where it was sent."

"Yes, I took the liberty of compiling our outgoing transmissions," he said, holding up a padd. "Since they are relatively few and far between, it wasn't too difficult to sort through. However, I'm afraid I can't be of much help with regard to this 'archangel' you're looking for."

Kennit accepted the padd and then handed it back to Lt. Tanaka. “Mr. Tanaka, keep up with this for me.” Then, her gaze returned to Beechwood. “We will compare that data, to the data I obtain personally and see what it is you don’t want me to find Captain.” He started to protest but she cut him off, tapping a control on her wrist unit she pulled up a holographic display of an official document, marked with Section 31’s authorization codes and signed by Admiral Herman Yeager and Vice Admiral Harv Bennett. “Save your breath Captain. This document gives me complete access to this station, and everyone and everything on it. I am no more interested in being here than you are to have me here, however you are not a foolish man. If you were, you wouldn’t be here. Don’t make me use that document. I don’t feel like the paperwork and it would put me in very bad mood. You don’t want me in a bad mood. I require access to your communications center, unimpressed and uninterrupted until I have fulfilled my orders.” Though she never raised her voice, her tone was soft and relaxed there was still something there. Ice cold and unyielding.

"Aye, Captain. I will do what I can" Arashi said as he took the PADD and quickly looked it over. He held on to it and looked it over when he had a chance. Something about it just seemed....Well he was going to worry about it later.

Beechwood sighed and draped his hands behind his back. "Captain, as I tried to say, I'm not hiding anything, it's more that I simply have nothing to hide. You're welcome to access the station's computer from any terminal. The information in that padd is all we have. One outgoing communique regarding an inquiry about Archangel, and two intercepted transmissions regarding someone named Aaron. We believe he's a crewman for a rogue ship that has something to do with Archangel, but we haven't been able to pin the ship down."

She waited a moment, then said "Are we going to just stand here, or are you going to show me the way to the communications center. Or.. perhaps you would prefer I find my own way.."

Beechwood gave a half smile and chuckled to himself. "This way, Captain," he said, gesturing to a door behind him. His officers stepped to the side as he walked through the door, letting the Victory people follow.

AJ stood with his muscles tensed as the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. Something felt wrong- Beechwood was being far too accommodating for someone who had just had a senior officer barge in on his territory. Putting up his wrist communicator, he tapped out a quick message to Arashi- 'CONDITION GREEN'. This was an old duress code but hopefully he'd know what it meant and stand by.

They moved through a short connecting corridor and into a main promenade. He led them down the spacious, beige hallway into a large, open turbolift. As they fall filed in, he looked up at the computer. "Deck twenty."

The lift sped off, Beechwood bouncing slightly on his toes. "Out of curiosity," he said, "once we've shared this information with you, do you have any intention of sharing what you know with us? Perhaps we should be putting our heads together on this."

"My orders are to report my findings to my superior, and nothing more." Kennit answered smoothly. "I am sure you understand."

As the lift stopped, he stepped out onto the deck and turned to face the Captain.

He got the message and slipped his hand by his PADD to look at it. "What could that mean?" Arashi thought to himself "There is nothing good going to happen I bet. Not sure what Condition Green means but it can't be anything good. I have been getting eerie sensations all day so I guess I should watch out." He sent a message back to AJ- 'Message Received' and started watching the captain. Beechwood did seem a bit nervous in the turbolift or at least he thought so he decided that he would bear watching but looked out for other dangers as well.

They stepped out and Beechwood led them into a spacious room with several computer monitors and a dual workstation. "We can access all the data from here." He said. "We've got a few communications we've intercepted and responded to. We aren't sure of their locations, however. When we scan the area, there's nothing there."

Entering the communication's center, Captain Kennit moved to a console and without wasting further time on speaking, she reached one hand out and to the complete shock of the station's crew--

--"No! Stop!" Lieutenant Commander Opun shouted, seeing what she was about to do. Unfortunately--

--twin silver metallic tubes snaked out of her hand, connecting directly into the computer's access port. On the display screen, data began to stream past in blur too fast for biological eyes to read, but easily studied, categorized and assessed by the neurological implants blended into Kennit's brain. Her eyes shifted, turning as black and cold as the depths of space as she searched deeper and deeper into the computer system, if what she was searching for was here..

She was going to find it.

The monitors above her immediately began to display the sectors they'd tracked the transmissions, and the contents. The text was all routine, the data was nothing to write home about, and the starscapes were empty. Completely empty. There was nothing but a cluster of stars in each photo. In fact, there was a familiar cluster in each photo staring Kennit in the face until the monitors went dark and the lights dimmed.

"Excuse me, I need to oversee the evacuation," Commander P'Tel said, leaving the room. As they doors opened, they could see various crewmen rushing down the corridor, carrying equipment.

"Captain, I really wish you had just asked me to bring up the data," Captain Beechwood said with a sigh.

"What now Captain Beechwood.." Kennit said, her voice holding an note of bored exasperation at the interruption.

"We're in the Delta Quadrant, Captain," Beechwood said, as if it was obvious. "Borg incursion is always a danger, and they absolutely cannot be allowed to access the information in this base. The computer is programmed to wipe the computer memory at the first contact with Borg technology, and any drones still attached will be infected with a virus to slow them down. You may wish to disengage."

"Is that all?" she replied, having already identified the computer virus, blocked it using a specialized code embedded within her cerebral node while still searching through the database for the information she sought.

"Yes, well, if you'll excuse me, I have to assist in making sure my crew gets to their ships quickly. I suggest you do the same. This station will explode in approximately 90 seconds. The Power Core is rigged to an independent system, and we can't override it." He shook his head, as if annoyed, and rushed along with his Chief of Security out of the now useless room.

"Someone get that blustering idiot back in here." Kennit said. "Do they really think that the same personnel within Section 31 who developed the damn virus didn't also incorporate fail-safes into the code?"

---

(Tag AJ and Arashi. Go get him boys!)

Beechwood was speed-walking down the corridor when he felt a hand on each shoulder. He grabbed one and spun around wrenching it forward, flipping the younger security man over his shoulder. He stood up and faced the SRU officer, blocking his first blow and delivering two sharp jabs to his jaw, then backing up to keep the both men within eyesight.

Arashi stood up and got into a fighting stance. He waited for a few seconds while AJ distracted, then ran in for two jabs and a spinning backfist, bloodying Beechwood's lip. He jumped back to prevent a counter attack from landing. "The captain requests your presence and I wouldn't want to be you if you refuse."

Beechwood rubbed a hand on his lip to wipe the blood off. "I've no desire to get assimilated." His head snapped back as AJ's fist missed his jaw by millimeters. He grabbed AJ's arm and twisted, almost dislocating it before swinging him bodily towards Arashi, and making a run for it.

He caught AJ and set him down. "OH NO, YOU DON'T GET AWAY WITH THAT!" He shouted and tore off after him. He managed to corner him and before he could do anything, the chase was on again. "I told you, the captain requests your presence. Refusing her would be suicide for you." He said and got into a fighting stance. Beechwood did the same but was not expecting what happened. Arashi went low and wrapped his arm around his legs like a 20th century football player and knocked him over. He got on top and beat his face a bit. "You are going to see the captain, whether you like it or not!" He said angrily. Arashi picked Beechwood up roughly and dragged him back to where AJ was. After he arrived he threw Beechwood at the wall. "Stay there." He said "If I have to chase you again, I will beat you to within an inch of your miserable life." He said and then tended to AJ's shoulder. "Are you all right, sir?" He asked.

AJ raised himself him from a nearby support bar, making a futile effort to conceal a wince as a searing pain leapt up his arm and into his shoulder "I'm fine- it's just been a while since someone has managed to knock me over like a drunk Klingon." he said, taking one of Beechwood's arms in a vise grip. "Listen, Captain. You're in no danger of assimilation. If you don't help us, it could end badly for everyone involved and to be honest, I have no desire to arrest you for obstruction. You get me?"

Beechwood yanked his arm, but it didn't leave AJ's grip. He swung, but was blocked and grunted as the two of them pinned his arms. "...got it..." he said, finally.

---

When a bloodied Beechwood was brought back, Kennit said, "now now Captain, how do you think they created that virus? Using data from the systems within my body that's how. There's also a failsafe which you don't know about, for your own protection. However, since this virus is based off the nanites in my body, its a simple enough matter to pass the appropriate data to the virus, shut it down and also disengage the self-destruct. Relax little one, before you sprain something. Everything you've heard about the Theoretical Research Division is false. We are far.. far worse than you can possibly imagine."

Beechwood frowned at her. "I know. That's why we altered the program. We trust you less than we trust the Borg. I was willing to give you the information. You violated our security, and now you're intending to hold me for...what? Information I don't have? By all means. Once the ships leave, the station will either explode on schedule, or your override will work and we'll be stuck here on a derelict station. Or you could be sensible and leave. Since polite didn't work, Captain, allow me to be blunt: you have what you came for, a sensor sweep of empty space. Kindly take it and fuck off."

AJ fought the urge to whistle.

Kennit stopped what she was doing, her body posture shifting almost impercitbly and yet the aura which now projected from her was decidedly more -

Dangerous.

Without turning, head cocked slightly to the right the Captain said in a soft voice. "What did you just say to me?"

Beechwood swiped a hand across his lips, looked at the smear of blood there and then answered. "You heard me. Fuck off."

A smile slowly curved across her lips, she slightly twisted her head and the resulting crack of her spine was audible beneath her words as she said, "Thank you..."

Beechwood had enough time to look confused for an instant before his ability to breath was cut off. Fleet Captain Kennit's hand around his throat crushing down, stealing away his breath. He couldn't believe how FAST the woman could move! He struggled to no avail, she held him with ease as she said "Empty space you say. Now, you know you're lying and I know you're lying."

She forced him to move, shifting her grip to the back of his neck, allowing him to breath but now putting pressure on nerve clusters causing considerable pain while at the same time allowing him a view of the screen she had restored power to. "You want me to believe that those transmissions went out into no where, that there was nothing out there to receive these messages and yet.. I see it. Do you see it?"

She asked, her voice almost cheery as she pointed, tapping the screen with her right hand while continuing to hold him quite firmly with her left. "See anything? No? Here. I'll show you. These stars here.. and here.. and here.. in each instance the same cluster of stars even though these transmission coordinates are no where near each other."

Her face twisted, anger darkening her eyes and making her seem to snarl her next words "I know what I'm seeing.. and I suspect you do as well... don't you .."

Beechwood could barely focus through the pain, but suddenly it clicked what she was saying. "No, you don't understand. We--" he stopped as all he could do was cry out in agony as she pressed down harder, snapping his collarbone with a sharp wet crack audible to all in the room. "You know why they allowed me to 'mostly' retire from active service within the Theoretical Research Division?" Kennit asked.

Leaning close to him, lips close to his ear she said "I really love this part of the job.."

The man screamed again, the sound full of agony as she twisted down harder, grinding bone against bone..

"Oh don't kill him.. at least not yet." The voice sounded clearly in the room, startlingly so.

Every officer present turned toward the voice, the new arrival was dressed in an unfamiliar style uniform, though the Admiral's rank pips at her collar were readily identifiable. Slender, a streak of gray in her hair which ran from her temple were a long, thin scar traced its way down over her jaw and neck, a reminder of an old and obviously serious injury. "Killing him now is far too merciful, besides. He might yet prove of some use. You can always kill him later." Admiral Rhea Kennit said, the older woman identical to the younger other than the scar and the streak of gray.

Seeing the expressions on the faces of those in the room, she rolled her eyes. "Oh please. As if anyone here really thinks Starfleet or the Federation for that matter really bothers with the Temporal Prime Directive. You.. Stay." she said, pointing to Fleet Captain Kennit.

The Admiral looked at Lt Taggart. "You. Get him out of here." she said, pointing to the groaning Beechwood. "The rest of you. Out."

Noting how everyone paused, Admiral Kennit added in an irritated voice, "Oh please you all know damn well this station won't self-destruct right now. It won't be destroyed for another .. well.. never mind. A story for another time perhaps." she said. "What are you waiting for? OUT!"

The two woman stood silent, staring at one another until the room was clear and it was just the two of them.

Once they were alone, Admiral Kennit said "I'm not here about your current mission. You'll handle it just fine, what I have to tell you is between the two of us and only us. And I don't have much time before I have to return."

****

Twenty minutes later, Fleet Captain Kennit exited the communications center. "We are done here. Get back to the shuttle and return to the Victory." She looked at Beechwood a moment, "You're going to wish I'd killed you.." was all she said, her tone almost laughing as she turned and walked away. Of Admiral Kennit, there was no sign.

Beechwood could barely walk, his knees buckling from the pain, as he was half dragged by the two men gripping his arms. He was somewhat relieved to see the bay empty when they arrived, the station now deserted as his people had all left. He wanted to snarl, to accuse, to remind the Captain they'd tried to be agreeable. He was relatively sure no matter what he said, it would just entice her to cause him more suffering.

As the shuttle lifted off, he closed his eyes, trying to focus his mind and ignore the pain. It offered him limited comfort, as he knew things were about to get much worse. They were going after severe pains in the ass, and hearing the Captain order the Victory to DQ8, he didn't relish having to deal with the biggest pain of them all.

 

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