I Wouldn’t Be Asking If You Weren’t the Best

Posted on Thu Nov 10th, 2022 @ 6:08pm by Fleet Captain Maxwell Culver & Commander Vianola Paxidor
Edited on on Thu Nov 10th, 2022 @ 6:46pm

3,129 words; about a 16 minute read

Mission: A Deserted Planet Is No Tragedy
Location: New York City, Earth
Timeline: MD 1: 1500 hours

Captain Maxwell Culver stepped out of the transport and marveled at the crowds coming and going. He couldn’t even stop long enough for a view.

“Keep it moving, Starfleet,” some woman grumbled as she shoved past him in Times Square.

Max took moved to the least busy part of the sidewalk and removed his sunglasses, tucking them into his uniform jacket, just below his rank pips.

He walked until his feet hurt, but according to his tricorder, she was nearby. He turned a corner and caught a glance. Vianola Paxidor stood outside a market, inspecting their fruit variety. He crossed the block quickly, keeping a watch on her blond hair and yellow Starfleet uniform.

Stopping beside her, he decided the boots were a bad decision for walking around the city. Next time, he’d wear trainers - duty uniform or not. Turning his attention to the person of interest here, he said, “Lieutenant Commander, I’m glad I found you. Saved me the trouble of following the Hong Kong. I’m Captain Max Culver. Do you think we can find somewhere quiet to talk?”

She had been caught in a daze, which for Vi was unusual as she often was quite alert in different surroundings. New York felt familiar, even if some of its inhabitants were not fond of those that wear the uniform that keeps them safe. Usually, they gave those in yellow a nicer time, not entirely sure if they were security or some form of engineering/operations.

A man had approached her, and she had felt his approach even from a distance away. His voice authoritive and direct and as he spoke, she turned to meet his gaze. He did look much like his file photo.

"Captain..." she began and gave him a bow of respect as was the El Aurian way. "It is nice to meet you, Lt. Commander Vianola Paxidor... but I'm guessing you know that and aren't just approaching random women in yellow." She teased a touch. "Of course, sir, there is a small coffee shop just around the corner, if you'd like to go there. It's a small locally run place. You need to know where it is to find it. Should be quite private. Is that okay?" she asked.

Max smiled, “I’ll follow you.”

Vianola wasn’t kidding, as the two of them ducked left and right. Moving down alleys, pushing through people on the sidewalk. At one point, he reached out to grab her hand. Then abruptly, Vianola stopped and turned right inside a shop he would never find again.

An old woman looked at her and her new companion, raising an eyebrow slightly. There might have been a slight smirk before she mumbled loudly, “Prendi il tuo posto normale…Caffè per due?” (Take your regular seat…Coffee for two? - Italian)

"Sì, per favore Sophie, e un paio di pasticcini se ne hai pronti." (Yes, please Sophie, and a couple of pastries if you have any ready.) Vianola replied with a warm smile and sat down at a small booth by the window on the upper floor. It was a somewhat secret coffee shop but from where they sat, they could look out onto a small square where people went about their business.

"How did you know I was in New York, sir? Brass following me again?" she asked with a twinkle in her eye.

“Following, no,” he answered with a gentle smile. “They’ve placed a subcutaneous tracker in you.” He shrugged as if it made simple sense. He was about to add that he was joking but was interrupted by the shopkeep. “Grazie mille, Sophie,” said in perfect Italian, making a note to remember her name.

Before he bothered with business, he sipped his hot coffee. “Ah,” he sighed. “I don’t care what they say about raktajino, nothing compares to Terran Italian done by a master.”

"I will agree if it is one thing that Humans got right, it is coffee... and chocolate." Vianola said with a nod. It was more her agreeing with herself but still she nodded away.

Setting his coffee down, he decided it was time to get into business. “We’ve been chosen for a mission. Just you and I for an opportunity, but the mission comes with more than a little risk. Not really sure it’s worth the effort, but Starfleet and their second chances, you know…” He left the sentence for her to question or maybe he wanted her to ask on her own.

"What's life without a little risk sir?" she asked rhetorically in return as he continued the conversation a little. Vi had heard murmurings, gossip if you will, of Starfleet and the Federation’s renewed efforts to revive a relationship with the Romulans.

It almost made Vi laugh that it had taken them this long to do so. They pulled back so much after Hobus, after the Mars attacks and the subsequent revelation of Commodore Oh's betrayal. Now they were putting their best feet forward? Of course not, they were using other officer's feet... it was safer for those who wore the bars on their uniforms.

"How close to the Romulans are they wanting to put us?" she asked outright. "And how did we qualify for this 'opportunity'?" she added.

“El Aurians,” Max replied. “ A species of listeners, we…listen. It’s how we qualified for this opportunity. Well, that and our specialties in hand-to-hand combat against multiple alien species and knowing the right ‘buttons’ to push, if you get me…

“As far how close we’ll be getting to the Romulans,” Max paused and sipped his coffee and ate a bit of the buttery pastry with peaches atop. It was better than anything you could get replicated on any ship. It made him consider accepting an Admiralty and there was a position open in New York.

Back on his train of thoughts as he swallowed and drank down the rest of his coffee. “Romulans…we’ll be able to count nose hairs.”

"Well, we only listen when we want to." Vi countered really only to herself as a comment on how some chose to live. Others of their species chose more 'immorally lucrative' avenues for life choices. Vianola understood her skillset was one of experience in the field she chose. She had fought in battles of the darkest kind, the Dominion being one of the most notable but that was many years ago now. Decades past.

Vi could see the wheels turning in Carver's mind. He was enjoying his drink that much could be seen without the need for empathetic senses as his eyes lingered on the cup and then a quick glance out the window at the world outside.

New York was nice, busy and full of life, but for her it didn't beat home. Not for her, even if her departure from Kaitos was not well received by the Paxidor family.

"Nose hairs..." Vi nodded. A place where there were many, no doubt riddled with them after the loss of their home. It reminded her a bit of El Auria, a people without a home, wandering the galaxy in search of something. The El Aurians were like them once in that regard, but different on all others as a people.

"So, I imagine they have inhabited somewhere Starfleet wants to dip their toes in. After our behaviour following on from the Mars attacks..." Vi paused as a painful memory flared. "And our withdrawal from rescue efforts there must be something of value Starfleet wants. They won't do anything without a 'profitable' reason. Where are we going?"

“Amphitrite,” Max answered. “It used to belong to Starfleet but was evacuated in the unknowns of the Hobus star going nova. It could be in the fall out. Luckily for the planet, the Hobus event missed. Unfortunately for us, we lost the planet to the Romulans and dozens of aliens. Once idyllic for Starfleet, the main colony has been stripped of all Starfleet equipment and replaced with Romulan counterparts. There’s over a million of them living there now. And Gods know who else?"

It was a common thing then, Starfleet abandoning positions. Their hope was to avoid a nasty clean up, to avoid loss of their own people and for a time it had made Vi consider her position. However, she stuck with it under the promise to herself that things would get better.

"Have the Admiralty told us why they want the planet back?" Vi asked. "What kind of resources we will be getting? I mean with that many people, different species involved, the security element of this whole thing is going to be a nightmare."

“And worse,” Max added, the sound of warning in his voice. “I’m telling you because I’ve got the clearance to tell you. Starfleet Maximum Security Prison was at the center of the H’Romi cluster. It was abandoned, but the prisoners weren’t. The worst of the worst are out there. Starfleet deserters, criminals, maniacs, Founders, Jem’Hadar, Vorta.” Max paused and held his breath for a moment. “We’re gonna have problems. The Klingon/Reman Alliance won’t be happy. And we still don’t know about the former indigenous people. It could turn into a shit show really fast.”

"I think I have leave saved up... I can't just take that right?" she asked rhetorically. This was going to be a huge undertaking and definitely one of the biggest security and logistical challenges Vianola had ever faced. The very thought of facing Founder, Jem'Hadar and Vorta again were not the most appealing of prospects. She still bore the physical and mental scars of that war from 25 years ago.

“As far as our assets, Starfleet is giving us Cerberus class planetary defense platforms. And, for a little fun, we’ll have a brand new Reliant class, USS Somersby. she’s the ace in the hole, equipped with all the newest Starfleet equipment. Our Chief Engineer may have to wipe the drool from his or her console; self-replicating ablative armor, auto-modulating transphasic shields, enough weapons to blow up three ships her size.

Starfleet isn’t hanging us out to dry, at least once we’ve brokered the deal to get back on the planet. There are safe spaces, the former colony is still set up well for the newest version of the seabase. We’ll have three new Continent class sea docks within the first six months.”

Vi nodded. They would definitely need defences before they needed any offensive capabilities. Well, in her mind anyway. A good offence starts with a good defence. The news of the USS Somersby also made her smile a little. It seemed Starfleet were truly giving them all the equipment to succeed.

"A seabase?" Vi openly asked. "So we are not going to be land-based." she nodded. "What kind of condition is the colony in? It's all well and good having defences to protect us from above, but what kind of infrastructure is there to help protect us on the ground? No doubt the colony has been basterdised by the newest tenants?"

“The original Starfleet colony is actually in decent shape. She was always a bit of a seaside shanty town between Starfleet buildings, but the Romulans have kept her up to pat, despite her being Romulan property. Land side, we’ll have our looks, our pretty faces and don’t underestimate the importance of body language.” Max laughed at his joke and wasn't sure Vi wouldn’t get it. He had an internal shrug and decided a personal joke was okay every now and then.

“Anyway, word has it that the Tal’Shiar want this deal and are offering us return of the original tower base until the seabase launches. They don’t know what to do with a base focused entirely on science and meteorology anyway,” Max paused. “I think they’re tired of cleaning it.

“Once we’re inside, we’ll be able to install the vehicle replicator and build any land vehicles we need. The Marines just sent us two designs for land escape. I think you’re going to like them. They’re both equipped with the newest top-mounted phaser cannons. We won’t be down and out in the event they want to play insurgency.”

"We aren't getting Marines, right?" Vi asked. She wasn't a fan of them and had heard that one planet side operations that Starfleet Security and Starfleet Marines could butt heads. There was the rule that on a ship security ruled the roost but on land marines were in control. She didn't want that headache.

“No Marines planned,” Max looked up as Sophie placed another coffee on the table before him. He smiled and nodded. “That doesn’t mean Starfleet won’t assign a ship full of Marines, cloaked in the system somewhere, to come rushing in. The Marines would sit there indefinitely to prove Starfleet can’t work with the Romulans.”

"Well then I guess we'll just have to be so good that we don't need them stomping their way in." Vi replied accepting another cup from Sophie as well. "They can stay hidden in the depths of space and I'll work on my tan and surfing skills." she smiled a little. "Do we have any link with the Romulans? A liaison, an advisor?"

“Starfleet has requested an Executive Officer from the Romulans; offered them a Starfleet commission from what I hear. I’ve also got ears out. The new Tal’Shiar is playing nice with the Federation, but they aren’t going to let a Romulan put on a Starfleet uniform. And make no mistake, we are talking about the Tal’Shiar. I expect nothing less than dozens of problems from that lot.”

"Well, I have no doubts that if they are requesting a Romulan XO then we'll have to be careful what we let them have access to." Vianola replied. "Are you comfortable with having one in such a powerful position?" She asked. "I know we need to work together but we all need to be fighting for the same thing."

Max chuckled. “The tower already belongs to the Romulans, the seabase has basically no weaponry. I’m not informing the Romulans of the Somersby. I’m sure as hell not letting their Romulan Exec on board.

“Besides, we have intelligence that places a Valdore-type warbird in the system. As you already know, our cloaks have significantly improved since the Romulans lent us one of theirs for the Defiant. Between that and the readings from the Scimitar, we’ve created a near perfect cloak. Better than what they have.

“First sign of trouble, we’ll use their ship.” Max laughed aloud. “They’ll have to take Starfleet officers on their best and newest starship - before their star and planet exploded - if they need to defend their planet.”

"No, let's not tell the Romulans, or the Tal'Shiar, of our nice new shiny toy," Vi agreed very wholeheartedly. "And even now I still can't get used to us having a cloak... it almost feels wrong. That was always the Klingons and Romulans." She shook her head and the shrugged. "Who is commanding the Somersby? Is it a skeleton crew until we need it, or do we have a Lieutenant in charge of our orbital defence?"

"Until the seabase is delivered and assembled, you'll be sitting in the big chair with a full crew. While the ceremonial ribbons are being cut and a bottle of wine smashed against the hull of Triton Seabase, twenty four cloaked starships will drop into orbit and set us up with the new, orbital Cerberus planetary defense platforms. One will be modified with a large ship dock in the event the Somersby sees any action.

"Based on the last CO's files, even when it was in Starfleet hands, the proverbial shit hit the fan a lot. I don't have to tell you the Romulans aren't going to make this easy. Beyond that - and this is highly classified - Starfleet Maximum Security Prison was deserted by Starfleet before the prisoners could be evacuated. We could be dealing with some of the worst criminals we can imagine. The only prisoner they found alive when they checked, was the female shapeshifter. None of the rest were accounted for, if you know what I mean.

"There's also the Klingon/Reman Alliance and we're smack dab, right between them and these refugees. There's an entire indigenous population we need to make contact with, assuming they are alive. There's the wreckage of a timeship under those waters. The former Neutral Zone, the vigilantes who think they protect it.

"We're going to have a fuck ton of problems, and I'm sorry to say this, But I hope the Marines will be out there watching our backs, even if it is quietly."

"Well, I guess we will just have to pray to the Gods that we won't need the marines. If we do, then we'll already be in as you say, "a fuck ton' of trouble." Vi spoke carefully choosing her words. "I will make sure our interests are protected as best I can with what security staff, we will have available, but I would recommend some form of safety training for all Starfleet personnel that transfer in."

“Agreed,” Max said as he finished his second coffee. “I’ll make the recommendation to Starfleet. In the meantime, you and I have to rendezvous with the new XO, incognito. The Romulans seem to be of two minds. One, ordering us to resume our research and the other hating the idea of Starfleet verifying their use of our planet. We leave tomorrow morning and it shouldn’t take us more than two days to make our way there.”

"I am sure we will find a common ground eventually. You and I both have all the time in the universe." Vi casually joked even if it was the truth. "I'll meet you at the transport sir." She added more seriously.

“I’d suggest a good night’s sleep, Commander,” Max suggested. He knew he wasn’t going to get one until the seabase was launched, and maybe not even then. “We both have our work cut out for us.”

"Yes sir." She said rising from her chair to meet her Captain face on. They shared a knowing look before he departed.

Vi sat down and people watched whilst she finished off her coffee. Her surroundings were about to change, and not for the better... well, not to begin with.

 

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