We Interrupt Your Shore Leave for Breaking News
Posted on Fri Apr 5th, 2024 @ 11:21pm by Fleet Captain Maxwell Culver & Commander Lorut Vila & Commander Rylen Lyo
2,692 words; about a 13 minute read
Mission:
The Fall of the House of Lyo
Location: USS Intrepid: Captain’s Ready Room
Timeline: MD5: 0730 hours local time
Max was exhausted with these complete interruptions in his sleep schedule, let alone his shore leave. He downed a second mug of coffee, but the cob webs of the early morning wouldn’t recede. When the com announced an arrival, he muttered, “Come.”
Strictly speaking, Rylen Lyo did not have a leg to stand on when he made the decision to approach the Intrepid command staff about his family ‘problem’ back on Krios. It was an internal political matter, which brokered no interference by the UFP and Starfleet by means of the sub-clauses of the Prime Directive. Which was why Lyo was going to request leave to take his personal shuttle to Krios; he was to ascend to the House Lyo Lordship, and he had a traitor to bring to justice. This was his battle, and his alone.
But, since news of the attack had broken on the Federation News Service four hours ago, it was public knowledge. Rylen had no choice but to, at the very least, bring the Command Staff into the fold.
“Lyo to Lorut,” he said calmly. “Could you please meet me in the Ready Room? I have an urgent matter to discuss with both of you.”
Vila was about to step off the bridge and turn it over to Callan and go sleep when her combadge chirped. She was of the mind to shoot back something nasty but a sudden curiosity-or sheer exhaustion-stopped her.
=/\=Just give me a minute to use the refresher, please. =/\=
A bit later, she stepped into the Ready Room, refreshed. Immediately, she crossed to the replicator, and ordered up a Rakajinto, hot.
"What's going on?" she asked the two men, settling in.
Rylen came to the center of the room, his hands folded into fists and held tightly behind his back. He was still swimming in a sea of adrenaline, and being pulled under by a tide of grief. His voice trembled noticeably as he spoke.
“Yesterday, at 0930 local time, my father and brother were killed in an explosion at the Estate’s transporter hub,” he paused, still struggling to hold back, “Per Kriosian law, I will be ascending to the Lordship of House Lyo. I am here to ask for personal leave to attend that ceremony in five days, as well as to discover who it has that murdered them.”
Max considered the request. After recent events within the depths of the Eldest, the murder of thousands of Changlings just to keep the rest safe weighed heavily on his mind. The idea that someone was seeking out Godlike beings and succeeding in killing them. It would break the minds of his crew if they knew.
“Permission denied, Commander,” Max said reluctantly. “This ship and its crew must learn to work as one. If you have a problem, we have a problem.”
Max turned to look at both Commanders, both capable, but with their own eccentricities. He had to pull them all together. “It looks like we’re going to Krios, at least those that volunteer. This judgment call is entirely mine.”
The Bajoran had been prepared for some kind of nonsense with the second officer-she liked him fine enough, as much as she liked anyone, but he struck her as....thinking too awfully much of himself.
Still, she could relate to losing a father, and her demeanor softened just a bit.
"I am sorry," she said. She was about to tell Lyo to take the time he needed, that between herself, Culver, and Ripley, they were fine, when the Captain interrupted. After his declaration, she let out a long-suffering sigh, but nodded.
"Alright. I will recall everyone," she said. If anything, she didn't mind another way to stick it to the Admiral again.
“I don’t think we need everyone, Commander Lorut,” Max disagreed. “Just the ones we need. Plausible deniability for the others.”
Max was about to dismiss the command team when an announcement came over the comms. “Captain, Admiral Albion is waiting, shall I patch him through?”
Max looked at the other two and rolled his eyes. “Stay out of view…deniability,” Max warned. He could see Lorut’ nose flare. Lyo was more reserved.
“How goes the hunt, Captain?” sounded the rough voice of Albion.
“You really should read your reports, Admiral. We intercepted a Pakled raider yesterday. Another amalgamation of parts Pakled-type creation, a kitbash, if you like. Our fighters turned them away, returned the supplies and have been tagged for future incursions into Kaitosian space. The KDF claims they can take it from here, sir.”
“A shame to interrupt your shore leave then for what could have been an internal conflict.”
“Perhaps, Admiral, but I’m glad you’ve brought that up. Krios has an internal matter and my second officer is highly involved. The Intrepid must make haste immediately.”
“I am aware of the matter, Captain, but the Kriosians will deal with this matter internally. Your Ops Chief has my sympathies, but you and your ship are on shore leave. The answer is no.”
“It’s the wrong damned answer then, Admiral,” Max raised his voice dramatically.
“And it stands, Captain! Do not take your ship to Krios!” Albion roared.
“Acknowledged, Admiral,” Max grumbled and crossed his arms over his chest.
Turning to his command team, Max adopted a smile. “I’m bored with Kaitos…I think I’d prefer to spend a few days on Krios. I have a few memories I’d like to recover. Commander Lyo, you’re officially on bereavement leave. Commander Lorut, recall just a few people who want to recover some memories.”
Max knew it was a bullshit cover, but definitely something he could swing.
The Bajoran didn't miss a beat. "You did say "ship", Admiral, but Captain...did you hear anything about a runabout? I surely didn't," she said. "I'll have a small team ready within the hour," she said, with a smile. "Commander Lyo, you best prepare your things for bereavement leave. I'll move one of Nyx's people into the spot under your assistant," she said, making a note on her PADD.
“Just back your ass up, Commander Lorut. I’m not done with the Admiral,” Max said, his voice firm and his intent clear. She wasn’t packing up a runabout to go anywhere.
“Excuse me, Captain?” The great Caitian roared with fury.
Vila cocked a half smile. She wasn't really planning to go anywhere with anyone but it was fun to poke at the Admiral. She hated him more than she hated most people, possibly as much as she hated Cardassians.
“And you can shut it down too, Admiral. First, my rank is Fleet Captain and you will address me by my proper rank. Second, this is a delicate diplomatic situation in regards to my Operations Chief. His father and brother were just murdered and you expect me to send him in his own ship or a poorly equipped runabout?”
“Well, I’m saying no! This ship and a skeleton crew can be to Krios and back before shore leave ends for the majority of the rest of the crew. You’re saying you want a High Lord of Krios to be murdered? Taken hostage? Are you ready for Krios to shut down that corridor to the Beta Quadrant and blow this whole exploratory and goodwill mission after the fall of Romulus to fail?”
“Because that is exactly what you will end up with…sir…”
Max realized he was about to be scrubbed down to Lieutenant, but the Admiral was wrong on all fronts regarding this situation. He felt justified. He felt anger and excitement and regret and frustration, but there was no fear.
“Don’t make me take this ship to Krios against your orders, Admiral.” Max slung himself back into his chair behind his desk. At least, his desk for the moment.
Albion was pressed hard against the wall. If he took Culver out of his position, Commander Lorut would step up and take the ship to Krios just the same. Next in line was the Kriosian in question, who had the most to gain by becoming captain and taking the ship to Krios. He truly had his Kobyashi Maru moment right now. The no-win situation.
“You have ten days, Fleet Captain,” the mechanical white tiger-esque Caitian responded. If he was being honest, Culver was right in his assessment of fact before mission and the fallout of another dead Kriosian. “As few crew as possible. Keep out of the FNN.”
Max nodded tersely. “Culver out.” He pressed the channel to close it and puffed out every ounce of bravado he had mustered up until then.
“It might be too early, but I need a drink,” he said to the other two in the room. He popped open his desk and found an Altarian mint crème that paired well with his coffee. Holding it up for show, he asked, “Anyone else?”
Vila sat back. Max was about to burn his fingers. He was playing a dangerous game-one SHE was skilled at, but she'd been doing it for thirty years and hadn't ever expected to get this far in her career and had zero qualms about flushing it all away, but Culver wasn't her. He wasn't reckless and traumatized to the point of not caring about anything anymore.
"Are you sure you know what you're doing?" she asked. Then, absently, she shook her head. "I'm trying to quit," she said.
“I’m doing the right thing, I think,” Max answered. “For all we know, Commander Lyo’s personal shuttle could be sabotaged. There could be assassins on any transport between here and Krios. The Intrepid is the only place that I deem safe for transport.”
Vila nodded her understanding. She would've suggested the same later but he beat her to it. The Cardassians had tried similar things, as had other races in her time.
Max kicked his feet up on his desk. “Besides, my diplomacy tact is straightforward and easily defensible. Albion knew it. If Krios closes their space to the Federation, the entire exploration of the Beta Quadrant could fall apart.”
“I hadn’t even considered potential sabotage of the shuttle,” said Lyo evenly. “With this being an ‘inside job’, to coin a Terran phrase, the list of persons that have my complete trust seems to get shorter with each passing hour.” He paused again. “Not to mention that Krios VI and VII have the largest combined dilithium mining operation in the sector. That’s a resource Starfleet can’t afford to jeopardize.”
Rylen was not sure how to interpret the emotional states of his superior officers. Commander Lorut was fairly easy…her near-constant outward state of dudgeon seemed genuine enough. But the Captain, it was almost as if he had a sense of bravado that wanted to defy authority. But the seeming growth of his empathic abilities over the last day or so could also be giving him false impressions; Rylen had yet to meditate and focus himself today, and for him that was key in understanding how he and others expressed themselves.
“It seems that we are going to Krios with you, Commander Lyo,” Max answered. “In the meantime, I’ll have security search your shuttle for any untoward devices or outright sabotage.
“For now, you are on bereavement leave, but I would like you to come to a small crew briefing at 0900 hours. I’ll try to leave your name out of it, but I would guess that’s probably not going to be possible once the news breaks,” Max explained.
“Aside from your family and this crew, I would hope you don’t trust anyone else.” Max looked at Lyo and wondered why he had never recognized how beautiful a man he is - the light spots at his temples and forehead almost concealed by his moppish hair, his inquisitive eyes and royal tongue. ’Where have I been these last few months that I’ve not noticed him?’ Max wondered.
"Indeed," Vila said. "And maybe not even the whole crew. Keep it on a need-to-know basis," she said. Her only concern was that nosy, moronic FNN reporter, really, but she kept things close to the chest.
“I’ll have to keep us on a small crew rotation. Commander Lorut, recall only people you trust,” Max ordered before adding, “Make sure that FNN person does not get an invitation. In fact, make sure she doesn’t step foot on this ship as of right now. That’s the last thing we need, a snoop with an audience who needs to make a name for herself.
“If she somehow does manage to get aboard, throw her in the brig. Make something up if you have to…say she had some connection to this Pakled raider business Lieutenant Jones just resolved if you have to.”
Vila raised an eyebrow but nodded. "It'd be my pleasure," she said.
“Commander Lyo, as you are on bereavement leave, and considering the circumstances, you are now restricted to the ship. It is the one place I will keep you safe.” ’Settle down for the sakes of the Gods,’ Max demanded silently. ’He doesn’t belong to you all of the sudden.’
"You?" Vila asked, an eyebrow raised. "My kill record is better than yours, Culver...at least with Cardassians. If anyone is going to be in charge of safety, it's the former resistance cell fighter," she said. She didn't like to talk about her time with the Resistance but this was one time her training would come in handy.
“We have a Security chief for that,” Max responded evenly and without rolling his eyes.
“I trust you both,” said Lyo plainly. “But I do not need nor want to be kept safe. What I need is…” Rylen bowed his head, his face reddening and hot tears streaming down his cheeks. “What I need…is…I do not know. I…I’m just grateful. To all of you.” He gave Max an almost pleasing look. “Permission to leave, Captain.”
Max nodded quietly. “Dismissed.” He felt all of the strain the Rylen was under, and with both of them being empaths, it was all more raw emotions. Pain, grief, anger, questioning, stress, worry about his new position in light of the now empty royal chair.
And something else. Inquiring, needing, desire. ’For me?’ Max wondered before throwing the very thought away. But not entirely. Never entirely, because their was something else, something primal that Max could not yet elucidate.
Once Commander Lyo had left, Max turned his attention to Vila. “Commander Lorut, I want him tracked by every camera, recorder and device available until we reach Krios Prime. Just in case…” Max allowed the sentence to trail off. He suddenly amended himself, except any FNN devices and his personal spaces, like his bedroom and his loo.”
Vila nodded. "Understood," she said. "I will talk to security and Intel and make those arrangements. If you have nothing else, my shift is over and I need some rest unless you'd wish for Kaitos to become another casualty," she said.
“Just the one thing,” Max reminded her. “A briefing in about 2 hours. Catch a cat nap if you can.” He was acutely aware that she wouldn’t.
"Have good day," she said as a he made her way out of the room and to her office, instead of her quarters. Truthfully, the Bajoran didn't sleep much-sleep was when the nightmares came and she didn't have time for that.
Max felt good. He’d never steamrolled an Admiral and his XO in the same meeting. He knew it was his power in both logic and rank, but it still felt damned good.
He moved to replicate another coffee and thought better. Brix would be ready with fresh coffee and the morning reports. He had a lot of paperwork to sign before they left for Krios.
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