Head to Head
Posted on Tue Mar 25th, 2025 @ 9:55pm by Commodore Tyler Malbrooke & Lieutenant Colonel Cornelius Tremble
Edited on on Tue Mar 25th, 2025 @ 10:10pm
2,822 words; about a 14 minute read
Mission:
Episode 16 - Silent Cries
Location: Captain's Ready Room - Deck 1 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD006 1400 hrs
After the meeting with the Department and (hopefully) sorting out Captain Merrick, Neil made his way to the bridge. Pioneer was back to standard rotations now that she had left port and the crew seemed to be settling down. The bridge, as usual was mostly quiet with the assigned officers going about the daily task lists. Noting the center chair empty, he made his way over to the ready room hatch, keying the annunciator with his contact.
"Commodore, if you've a moment?"
"For you Number One, anytime. Come on in. Can I get you anything?" Tyler stood up from behind his desk with his ever present cup of a coffee. He walked over to the couch and took a seat. Tyler rather liked the couch as the desk seemed so formal when having conversations. "How is the crew taking this latest turn of events?"
Neil sighed and slumped into a side chair across from Tyler and said, "Too early to be breaking out the medicinal brandy. Departmentally, the ship is where we expected coming off of the most recent difficulties with Rowena. With this assault from the Silence on all of our dreams, it's fraying nerves and people are going to make mistakes. Security is reporting a higher than normal instances of squabbling. Our telepaths and empaths are taking the worst impact from this. Hermia blew a nu...er gasget during the meeting and Vura is seeing to it I think. I'll be speaking to the Counseling staff that they'll need to be on their game, but since a share of them are at least empaths..."
Neil spread his hands and looked at his friend. "That brings me to the Silence. I've run tactical analysis on what little we know from our last run in with them, I can only decide that they are so xenophobic, that they should have destroyed the Pioneer and killed all of the crew." Slouching moodily into the chair, he continued. "Breaking that down further, I can't see us going down without some sort of a fight, so I'm guessing someone talked it out and came up with doing a mind wipe on the crew, clearing the computer records and that's led us to where we are today."
Realizing he was not sitting in a military manner, Neil pushed himself up with his elbows and said, "If this mission is going to go forward, at least with me in the second chair, they don't get to mess with our people's minds again. It sounds like they can't fight off whatever threat they have and want us to do the dirty work where people get killed. Yeah. No. Not going to happen. If they then turn around and want to try shampoo our brains,..."
Tyler held up a finger indicating that Niel should hold that thought. He tossed a PADD to his friend. "This contains the data that Lieutenant Commander tr'Hwersuil buried in our system. Kolok managed to find it and decrypt it. Seems that you are right Vaebn was the one who wiped the data, but in typical Romulan fashion he left us some of it just in case. Among this information is that the memory wipe seems to be something that they cannot control. It is in their physiology, anyone without telepathic ability just forgets they exist when they turn away from the Silence. However, we can make sure that our empaths still have a memory of them. Again, you are right there is going to be a fight. But, we won't go down without information. When we arrive I am going to ask The Silence to brief us before we send anyone to help."
Neil scanned the PADD, then gave a half grunt and dropped it on the couch. "A natural bit of their physiology my eye. Ok, I'm sure it might be, but wiping our data bases, even though Vaebn could retain the memory and was savvy enough to leave bread crumbs. What's the range of their ability. I doubt it stretches past maybe five meters. Natural or not, our people have been through a lot to push that untested hypothesis on them. As far as getting a brief from them? Fine, but I'd highly recommend it be via remote link or with them behind a level nine containment field. There's still the fact that they've somehow concentrated messing with the crews dreams from a considerable distance. They're influencing us now and we don't know how much. That needs to stop soonest. And how are they affecting crew that weren't with us at the time? Are they using you, me or all of us to find Pioneer and using their mental gifts to infect everyone."
Rubbing at his eyes, Neil pinched the bridge of his nose and said, "I'll welcome an stand up fight after all of this."
Tyler considered all that Tremble had said. The man would not be doing his job if he did not make sure that Tyler played it somewhat safe. "I want to invite them here for the briefing. However, a level nine containment field as well as security is a prudent answer. Their representative will go nowhere on this ship without one of Lieutenant H'ros' people with them. I do plan on asking them about reaching into the minds of our crew." He paused for a moment and sipped his ever present coffee. "Neil, it is not The Silence that worries me. The Silence ability to make people forget is a unique and powerful ability and yet there is someone or something that can take them out in a blink of an eye. That is what troubles me more than anything?" After a sharp exhale Tyler continued. "Tell me, in your history with the Corps have you ever faced such an enemy?"
Shrugging, Neil gave that the consideration it was due, though the answer didn't change. "No plan ever survives contact with the enemy. The sneaky buggers are always coming up with something we haven't seen before. That's why we still stress: Improvise. Adapt. Overcome. We'll find a way to deal with Species 626D." After another few beats, Neil said, "Tactically speaking, we won't know anything until we get some kind of briefing and data from the Silence. If I had to guess, the Silence has always had enough technology to roll over whoever they dealt with. Invasions are different. Look at an ant hill. A few red ants stumble into a black ant hill and they get dealt with and eaten. The black ants get used to the yard being empty. Now you dump in a thousand red's and they get overrun before they know what's going on. Being Xenophobic and comfortable can make you sloppy."
Neil kinda wished they were off shift and could get into the medicinal brandy, instead he said. "Look at old Earth. I'll pick on the United States. Prior to each of what they labeled Great Wars there was a period where that particular nation state decided that taking an isolationist viewpoint and forcibly took great steps to ignore what was going on around them. Or worse yet, profit from the war and death that was going on. Every time, they paid prices for it. Or rather, the young men did. Don't worry too much about how the Silence got where they're at. We are the Cure after all," he said with a grin.
"The other side of that equation is reasoning. The Silence have to have some reason to be they way they are. Perhaps they were threatened at some point in the past which caused them to over compensate into the xenophobic ways that they have now. We stand in a unique position in this situation, or at least that is the way I see it. Similar to the crew of the Enterprise C at Nervandra III. Just as they were the catalyst that brought the Klingons to the table, we can be the catalyst that brings The Silence into the galaxy." After a pause Tyler smiled. "Lets just hope we don't have to make the same sacrifice that Captain Garrett and her crew did."
"That's probably why Fleet really didn't want me as XO," Neil said. "I have a much more less rosy look and suspect everything. I"ll be happy to bring all the kids home." Rubbing at his face he said, "I need to go check on Hermia in person. And brief the counselors to let them know I'm looking at them to glue everyone together. Of course, Vura will likely have apoplexy but that's half the fun."
Tyler laughed and smirked. "Ever since Vura came aboard I have wondered exactly who counsels the Counselor. I think she could really use one, or is it just our own insanities rubbing off on her. That said she is a rather insightful person. Giving her coronaries is something that I would hate to say is rather enjoyable." Tyler paused to think for a moment. "I will say that you suspicions are what makes you perhaps the best XO in the fleet. Someone has to keep us dreamers from getting killed."
Neil half smirked at that. "Might be the other way around this time out. Trying to keep you dreamers from biting off more than we need to. Possibly declaring war on a new species on behalf of one that doesn't want much to do with us. Other than saving their bacon and after that who knows what?"
"Fair enough. But we wouldn't be Starfleet if we didn't try. Besides something tells me The Cure is itching to bust some heads. At least that is what it seems like when I go by the SCIF and see them on guard duty. So, lets get them some action." Tyler smirked, if it were anyone else he would not have said that. The thought of the possible loss of life did bother Tyler, but there was nothing for it sadly.
Neil let the silence hang for a few minutes. There wasn't a lot more to say: he'd gotten his view point out. Now it was time to shut up and soldier. Checking the time in his contact, he checked the Pioneer's system notifications. Everything was normal. He trusted the crew to do their jobs so he changed subjects, to ease his CO into a better frame of mind. "How's Katherine?"
"Hating that she is the size of a basketball, but otherwise great. Pregnancy seems to agree with her. Hermia says it should be another month or so and then small feet running around this ship and you get to be Uncle Neil." Tyler smiled despite the small amount of worry he had about having a family on this ship. With all that happens aboard the Pioneer he often thought if it was a safe place to raise a child.
"Uncle Neil? That's probably a year or so away. Well after you both haven't slept for about six months," Neil half smirked. "My brother Hugo came into the world screaming and really hasn't stopped, the git. And he's in his twenties. I am happy for you two." He thought for a moment and said, "A month. Are you going to try and stretch our port of call on Earth to have the baby there? And do you want to get a day in a day of deep sea fishing while we're home? Though with a baby due, I may have to catch those fish myself."
"You know that is not a half ba idea. I will file the request with Starfleet. Once we are done with this "scientific mission" we can put in to Earth for shore leave. It may be nice if our parents were there for the birth. But I guess the fleet may have other plans for us. Some, fishing would be grand." Tyler put the words scientic mission in air quotes to emphasize his stretching of the truth. He looked over at his Stetson which sat on a hook in the corner of the Ready Room and as an after thought added. "Say, do you know how to ride? If so we should get a couple of horses and take a ride through the plains in Oklahoma. Nothing like it I will tell you."
"I've ridden a few horses, and other animals," Neil confirmed. "The Sivlovian Emu's nearly jarred my insides out. If we can find the time, we'll have to give it a go. I'll admit it's been awhile since the last FMC survival training that included riding though."
"Then my friend you have a few days leave at the Malbrooke ranch in Oklahoma. Bring Mira I am sure she would love it. Open air, big sky, horses, campfire and the works. Hey perhaps we invite the whole senior staff. What do you think?" The more Tyler thought about the more he rather welcomed the idea of spending time with the crew away from the ship.
Chuckling," Neil nodded. "Sure. Just don't make it mandatory. Some don't like mom and dad being around while they're on leave." Sobering, Neil thought for a moment then said, "I thought you'd have gotten the heads up. The Cure is under preliminary orders to Mars for refresher training. I assumed that included Pioneer too."
"I did see the orders for the Cure. But there are none for the ship. As it stands now, when we are done with the current special assignment we have no further orders. Which is why I think the shore leave on Earth would be just what the doctor ordered. I will make sure that you and your people get some time before the training on Mars." Tyler had seen the orders as he had said, but now he was curious why the Cure was being pulled from the Pioneer for training. Exactly what did Sobel have up his sleeves.
Rubbing the back of his head vigoursly to get himself restarted, Neil said, "My dad has some sort of camp on Mars now. A retreat type thing around Arabia Terra. It's still a desert area and he has vehicles called dun buggies tricked out that you can take out for days. I might take the kids there after manuevers if they want. If you want to go bombing around the desert with us, bring who you like. The sunsets are pretty great I guess. Might be close to those in Oklahoma." Then he chuckled, "And it'll be a lot warmer than St. Johns where my moms at."
"Right, we ride the range of Oklahoma. Then we ride the dunes of Mars. Should be a hell of a good time. Something, we all damn sure need." Tyler smiled and downed the rest of his drink. He tossed his hat on his head. "Still fits, can't let it get too out of shape. Especially since we have a ride ahead of us now. Going to have to get you one."
Neil blinked at that. "Hats are supposed to be a tool, I thought. Keep the sweat and sun out of your eyes."
"They can and often are part of the culture as well. You will see when we get there. Now, that we have something to look forward to we have to get cracking on getting this little jaunt of ours over with. Somehow, I think we are going to need something to look forward to with all that is to come." Tyler was sure that Neil knew just as well as he that they were not going to get through what was ahead unscathed.
As they came full circle back to work, Neil stood coming to attention for a second, more out of habit than anything. "I'm doing my best to keep that part to mitigate the scathed part." Rubbing the back of his neck then, he continued, "Not knowing what we're going to be facing is the hard part. We can only prep so much before it's just another drill. But, I'd best get back at it. By your leave, Commodore?"
"Your drills are better than most people's real things." Tyler said with a smile. In the time that Tremble had been the XO he had come to trust the man's skill at planning and being ready for just about everything. "As you were Colonel." He added by way of sending Neil on his way. Then, as the the door to the Ready Room swished open to allow Neil to leave Tyler added. "Thanks, for you trust Number One."
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Colonel Cornelius Tremble
Executive Officer, USS Pioneer
Battalion Commander, The Cure
Commodore Tyler Malbrooke
Commanding Officer, USS Pioneer
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