The Winds of Change
Posted on Tue Jul 31st, 2018 @ 10:35pm by Commodore Tyler Malbrooke
Edited on on Tue Jul 31st, 2018 @ 10:40pm
1,316 words; about a 7 minute read
Mission:
Episode 4 - The Sum of Our Parts
Location: Bridge USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD001 1400 hrs
May 28 2394 1400 hrs (relative time)
Jati walked onto the bridge. It was a big place for such a small vessel, smaller than a Galor class. She approached the center chairs and said, "Gul Prenar, these are tonight's sensor logs." She handed him a PADD. "There is one anomaly, I am planning a follow-up in astrometrics to determine details." Why was he seated so low? Jati wasn't used to looking down on her Gul. And what was that second chair for?
Gul Hadir Prenar had been idling his time while the ship was assigned to patrols. He hated the idle time of patrols, and preferred the chaos and excitement of combat. However, orders were indeed orders. His thoughts turned toward how the time would eventually come for Cardassia to toss off the shackles of the Dominion.
The arrival of a female Cardassian with Glen's rank brought him out of his thoughts, and back to the present. Hadir took great pride in knowing everyone, and everything on his ship. He did not recognize this Glen. His thought on the woman was that she was perhaps a Klingon spy, a test was in order. He rose and turned on the woman. "Is that how you report to your superiors Glen, disgraceful." He snatched the PADD out of her hand. She would either come to attention and apologize for her impertinence or his initial feeling that she was a spy would hold true.
"I mean no disrespect, Gul", Jati responded. It was the chair, it was so damn low. How was she supposed to look at him without it seeming disrespectful? And she couldn't exactly stare off into the air above his head either. She stood rigid, wondering what his reaction would be.
"That is a little better. It seems that time with these Federation mice may have made you one too." Hadir replied as he began to scan the PADD. "You speak of an anomaly. What is it? Its import? Report!" Hadir began to circle out of the command pit, he hated these Federation starships and their lower command platforms. His 6'7" frame towered above the Glen as he came practically nose to nose with her.
"I don't know yet", Jati responded, ignoring the taunt. She wasn't in a flirtatious mood, certainly not with him. "It might be a curiosity, it might be important. There's a break in the fabric between quantum realities, or possible timelines. These happen all the time but without further study there's no telling whether this one's important. Additional resources directed to its study should determine that. And it would give us something to report that isn't mere patrolling data."
Hadir laughed heartily before he spoke. "If there is a break in quantum realities as you say, then we shall take over all the realities. As is the destiny of Cardassia. You may direct whatever resources you need to investigate this anomaly. If it turns out to be nothing you will be mining dilithium in the gamma quadrant until your existence is exterminated." Gul Prenar turned toward the human who sat at the helm. "Helm set a course for coordinates 36984 mark 7 and engage at warp 7." "Aye sir course engaged" the helmsman replied a brief moment later. Hadir turned back toward the Glen smiling broadly. "I hope that is understood Glen."
"Gul Prenar, whatever it is, I'm sure the Ministry of Science will appreciate all the data we can provide", Jati said. "My mother loves these kinds of mysteries." She knew mentioning her mother was a risk, she didn't understand why Prenar felt the need to intimidate her. But she felt it would get worse if she didn't push back at least a little. She wasn't sure where she came down on the issue of the timelines yet. No matter what those two El-Aurians thought was the correct timeline, who said theirs was any better than this one? But in either case, more data was always good to have.
Prenar eyed the woman suspiciously now, when he spoke his voice a bit softer. "What is your name Glen? I really must know, because the Ministry of Science was disbanded three days ago. They were taking up too many resources that could be used for the glory of Cardassia and by extension the Dominion. So you see I really must know the science officer who did not know that." He paused for a moment before adding as much insult to injury as he could. "As for your mother, who really gives a vole's a#$ what she loves." The last comment caused a few of the bridge crew to snicker, the Jem Hadar manning tactical burst out laughing.
"They... what?" Jati wondered. "I am Jati Niall, daughter of Professor Geske Niall. The woman who figured out how Starfleet suddenly resisted phased polaron beams, and whose re-modulations won us the battle of Chin'Toka." Jati felt the need to remind him, just in case. Science was too important for her to even conceive of the notion that someone was stupid enough to consider it a waste of resources. Not even the Klingons were that daft. Overcome by a sudden burst of nausea, Jati's knees weakened. She tried to steady herself at the guardrail but her butt crashed into what Starfleet had originally designed as the first officer's chair.
Hadir simply harrumphed at her recitation of the achievements of her mother. When Jati fell into the chair, he laughed. "If you are unwell I can send you to the Infirmary and have someone else lead the investigation into this anomaly. Or would you rather have the shot to do at least as much as your mother?" Hadir snarled at the woman.
"I have been to sickbay this morning", Jati responded, her voice quieter now. "Something isn't right with me, the doctor assures me it's not contagious." Since he had to ask for her name, Jati figured he didn't know she was sleeping with the doctor. She felt it was best not to mention it. "I want to investigate this myself. Besides, we have nobody else aboard who's qualified."
"Very well then, you have your orders. I suggest you get to them and get out of Castus' chair." Hadir replied. He was still suspicious about this woman. He would have to get his Intelligence people to look into this for him.
"May I make a private suggestion, sir?" she asked as she pushed herself up and out of the chair again.
"You may..." Hadir replied, he was ready to give her just enough rope to hang herself with.
"You could have engineering raise your chair, just a few steps, perhaps?" she suggested. "It is... awkward, trying to maintain proper decorum like this."
"The decorum of a vessel is dictated by the commander of the vessel. You see these chairs must be lower due to the unfortunate design of this vessel. The lower chair allows me to view all of the stations on the bridge as I wish. Unfortunate yes, but useful." Hadir replied curtly.
"Yes, sir", Jati said. She turned and headed back up the steps towards the lift. This could have gone better. She'd have to call her mother. Who would be stupid enough to de-fund science? Mind-boggling.
Hadir watched the woman leave and enter the turbolift. Quite the fetching female. However... his thoughts trailed off as he sat down. There was something about her that he could not put his finger on. He opened an internal ship's channel. "Bridge to Intelligence report to the Command Office..."
A Joint Post By
Gul Hadir Prenar
Commanding Officer, DWS Pioneer
PNPC Malbrooke
Glen Jati Niall
CDF Liaison/Assistant Chief Science Officer, USS Pioneer
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