All Out of Bubble Gum Part III
Posted on Thu Sep 26th, 2024 @ 3:41pm by Lieutenant Colonel Cornelius Tremble & Captain Edmund Merrick & Staff Warrant Officer Rommie
Edited on on Mon Sep 30th, 2024 @ 2:58am
1,995 words; about a 10 minute read
Mission:
Episode 15 - The Evil That Lies Beneath
Location: Captains Ready Room - Deck 1 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD008 1245 hrs.
"Honestly," Neil replied casting his eyes around the space, taking reassurance in the Sergeants steady demeanor and the updates his contact was feeding him. "While were away to...whatever or wherever. Or for that matter, whenever we were in relation to this reality, my contact didn't link." Shaking his head, Neil realized he'd wandered, "As far as you getting out of the hot seat, no idea. Fleet might decided to leave me in Limbo permanently and Tyler might need down time."
After a few beats, he said, "But, probably no more than a week. We'll be back to Empok and I'd imagine things will shake out by then. For now, any orders, Captain my Captain?"
Lachlan smirked. "Just take this time to rest Major. I have a feeling General Sobel will have quite the debrief for all of us... or you could check in on Malbrooke and McGowen." he leant forward. "I'd recommend rest, its easier." he chuckled.
Neil really disliked doing administrative work. The AI was proving to be much more efficient in streaming those duties and his eyes flickered toward it.
Rommie was standing off to the side of the ready room, eyes hooded as she trolled and processed information that was steadily streaming in, mostly from outside the Pioneer. She would break that data down, correlate it with other information and prepare briefings for the Major and forward data packets to Fleet and Brigade as he ordered.
The AI was feeling, if that was the correct word, much more useful now that she had more access. She’d had a moment to stretch into the Pioneer’s sensors and that had made her feel.
Well, wonderful as best as she could define it through her current configuration and protocols. For a few minutes, she’d been the Pioneer, flying through space at Warp, data flowing to her. Through her. Becoming part of her. She’d felt less when required to recede from the ships systems and she stored that notion away for later. To ponder and decide just what she’d experienced.
Neil eyed his AI and reminded himself again that Tyler really disliked AI's. For his own part, Neil was wary, but another part of him wondered if this last mess could have been avoided if Rommie had been able to monitor ship’s systems directly. Might she…it… have detected what the Entity had been about and let him stop it? His rumination on that was cut off when Rommie’s eyes changed and it looked at him, “Sir. Captain Merrick..” the AI started as the hatches annunciator chimed.
Neil noted Rommie's smile and she even quirked a smile and grinned at him, “Missed it by that much,” she remarked, holding up her right hand, thumb and forefinger separated by maybe two millimeters.
Snorting, Neil keyed the hatch himself and said without preamble, “Ed. Haul it in here and grab a pew.”
Stepping inside her beret in hand he glanced around then his gaze resting on Neil. Taking a seat his features still stoic, greeted Neil. "Good to see you in person, sir." Part of him wanted to clasp an arm around Neil's shoulder giving him a hug, right now though, he didn't think it would fly. He gave a nod towards Rommie, "Good to see you again." Tucking his beret into his belt.
"Good to be seen," Neil said dryly. "Rumors of my death are overstated. I was fairly glad the computer didn't argue with me about being alive." Crossing arms over his chest, he continued, "Right now I have a four flights of Valkyries and the Shadow Lass on the way to give us an escort back. After speaking to Lachlan, I'm thinking that might be slightly overkill and Fleet will be even more upset with Tyler if I camp 200 marines aboard as reinforcements."
He let that information sit for a few beats, then said, "I have the Sergeant Major's assessment. What's yours? Is this contained and can we assure that Rowena will not pose a further threat to the ship or the crew or Empok Nor, which is where we're headed right now."
"She is contained, and she does not pose a threat as she has been locked out from any access as per anything that is highly sensitive. This is a pure bit of a mess that is going to take a bit to untangle." Ed responded quietly. "And I don't think we need anymore troops on the ship than what we have already." a rather firm set to his jaw.
Neil's stared at his Marine XO and didn't say anything for a few beats, "I'm not overly happy that she's in Sickbay rather than the brig, but that's where we're at. The fact that Lieutenant Commander McGowan compromised the Captain. Apparently killed one of the crew. Kidnapped department heads and, to my mind poses a continued Clear and Present Danger to this ship has me debating things. As it is, the fire team at medical is to have orders to burn her down if she even tries anything cute. Double check that security is maintaining overwatch on her condition."
Biting the inside of his cheek, Neil continued, "The entity walked right through Marine Country unchallenged and Rowena hacked her way into the Morgue. She should have been shot at the door and I want to know how that didn't happen, Ed. Against my better judgement I opened up MC to make us more friendly to the Fleet and it bit me in the ass. That's on me."
Neil flickered his eyes toward Rommie, then said, "I will take your recommendation under advisement. Now. Tell me about Serenity."
A steadfast gaze, looking at Neil, Edmund reported upon the Serenity no sign of emotion. "The ship has taken damage, but it was piloted rather well by Ensign Wren in order to capture Commodore Malbrooke, it was successful on that point and the Serenity was able to make it back to the relative safety of the Pioneer. No one was lost, those that were upon the ship made it back in one piece."
Sighing, Neil said, "I'll tell you like I told Top. Write up any recommendations for those who exceeded expectations during this mess and I'll see they get added to their service jackets and mentioned in dispatches to Fleet. By all accounts you did well."
Neil looked his XO for another moment and then asked, "So, now tell me what's not in the reports? Wading up-hill against all of this is going to leave a mark."
"Too many mistakes were made on my part, and I bumbled my way through things. I was one step behind on everything. Jayna did marvelous in trying to piece things together. If I had thought of it, I should have shot Commander McGowan when I saw her where she wasn't supposed to be. It didn't click until too late. Due to it looking like your body in your armor. I can say it was a shock." Ed's voice still devoid of emotion.
Neil considered for a few moments, then said, "Rommie, take a powder."
The AI blinked twice and said, "Aye aye, Major" Then literally poofed from her corporeal form, leaving behind a shower of...
Neil had to look twice.
"Glitter? Well that's new," he remarked with a shake of his head. Pinching the bridge of his nose, Neil stood, then slumped into Tyler's chair and looked up at Ed. "OK troop. You had a clotting time and you're beating yourself up. We had a breach so I had to beat both of us up. What else?"
Edward swallowed hard before he stated the last part. "This last part is a doozy, I should have come to you once I found this out about McGowan, so yeah I am expecting a beating from this. I spoke of Commodore Malbrooke, at lunch well I had information as to Commander McGowan. She had shown me evidence of her having an entity in her. For some blasted reason I didn't tell you. So call it for what it is worth, me being stupid opening my heart. I feel I was the cause for the breach in security, I didn't know how far it had gone. A stupid moment on my part. There you have it, in a nutshell." his voice rather wooden.
Neil moved around and slumped into Tyler's chair, indicating Ed should take one of the seats opposite. "Is what you had on McGowan enough that I could have officially acted? With the Commodore compromised, it would have taken mutiny at the last stage I saw him at for me to do anything." Waiting a beat, Neil continued, "Knowing sooner would have been better. But proof is something else. Not much we can do now. It's over and we move on, yeah?"
"Actually I don't know if it was enough to act upon it, but the information could have been given to you. if there is some repercussions going down the line well, see what you see fit to do where I am concerned. I would like to move forward definitely." taking the indicated seat. Slumping down slightly. "I had found out that there were others that Rowena had mentioned the possibility and problem of her having an entity within her, and when I went to track down the facts, the person I had wanted to recheck facts with had disappeared. This includes Lieutenant Michaels. May he rest in peace." he leaned forward his elbows upon his knees rubbing his face.
"I think we'd probably still ended up in the same mess. The entity had a plan and was working that plan. We're past it and we move along," then Neil smiled wryly. "We're headed back to Empok and I'm pretty much at loose ends, officially, until they decide I'm no longer MIA. I'm going to tour the ship. You Continue Mission for now. We're a crew. We succeeded. There's only one person to blame for this. We've done our part to contain and have to concentrate on making sure Pioneer is back up to fighting trim."
Edmund gave a nod, in agreement. "Empok Nor, back to where I had first joined the crew and got into a brawl." a big smile slowly spreading. He drew in a breath letting it out. "You know i am looking forward to having some down time I will have to figure out just what to do, but I'm sure I can find something to do." leaning back in the seat, he looked at Neil contemplatively, "Glad you are back, Neil. And I had best get back to work. I'll see you around." moving forward in his chair, ready to leave once Neil dismissed him.
"Well not fully back until Fleet decides I'm not MIA," Neil groused, gesturing at the door. "Get your drahk together Captain. I doubt the Fleet will let us rest on our laurels for long." As he watched the marine exit, Neil rubbed at his face and bit off a sigh. He was doing too much sighing lately and the crew might think he'd developed a slow leak.
Time to get back to work.
A Joint Post By
Major Cornelius Tremble
Executive Officer, USS Pioneer
Commanding Officer, The Cure
Captain Edmund Merrick
The Cure Executive Officer, USS Pioneer
Staff Warrant Officer Rommie;
Artificial Intelligence, The Cure;
USS Pioneer;
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