Everyone Has Secrets
Posted on Wed Jun 24th, 2026 @ 3:40pm by Lieutenant Commander Rowena McGowen & Lieutenant Jayna Tremble & Lieutenant Junior Grade Stefan Zamfir & Brigadier General Seamus O'Rourke
Edited on on Sat Jun 27th, 2026 @ 8:02am
1,698 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
Episode 18 - The Edge of Darkness
Location: SCIF - Deck 9 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD002 1800 hrs
Jayna was both pleased and frustrated that she'd been called back to Intel to do a meet and greet with the general. She never liked them, but she understood the importance of playing nice--especially after all the time she spent with the Marines. She made a point of being early and dressing in her best Starfleet uniform instead of the one she generally wore.
She nodded a greeting to the others and found a seat to wait for the arrival of their guest. While she did so, she pulled out a PADD and began to review a report that had come in earlier that day.
Stefan pushed in his chair, putting his console into sleep mode. Even if there was a General coming in the man didn't need to see much of anything, Stefan thought to himself.
"This is going to be an interesting visit." he remarked to Mira. "And welcome back." Stefan giving a bit of a smile, then it faded away. He thought about a certain young woman, needing to have a discussion with Mira about Emiko.
Jayna chuckled. "Interesting. Isn't there a Chinese curse that says something like may you live in interesting times?" She raised an eyebrow. "Probably. If not, there should be."
Rowena walked into the SCIF while reading a PADD. She walked straight for the replicator and ordered a cappuccino. She just had dinner when she informed of the visitor to her department. So there for she did not have to dress for the occasion. She lowered her PADD and looked around the room. "Okay, who arranged this and why?" She tried her best to not sound agitated as she put her cup to her lips.
A quick once over the Chief's attire, didn't she get the memo as to the dress uniform?
"Um, Commander? Didn't you get the memo of the incoming inspection by a General O'Rourke?" of course she could have gotten the memo, she was the department head of Intelligence.
Was she deciding to play a game or had she been repossessed by an entity? Of course, he still needed to have asked that question, and if he didn't need to, it was too late to take it back.
Rowena grunted. "Of course I did, Lieutenant, I got it like 5 minutes ago when I was enjoying a nice hot curry. I didn't even have time to finish it. And so I was left with the choice to show up fashionably late and wear a dress uniform, or come on time wearing my usual attire." She explained and followed it with another sip.
She sighed after she downed the warm liquid. "I chose the latter, cause marines usually care more for punctuality than appearance."
Stefan could only nod, then stated "I suppose so, though I would like to bring up that we'd been given notification of the incoming arrival of the General's visit a few days ago."
Jayna was happy to be out of this particular conversation, but she found it more than a little interesting. She had no doubt Rowena got the memo before the commodore did, so this had to be some sort of ploy, but for what purpose?
She pulled out a small piece of red paper and began to fold a bull. She'd put it away as soon as the general entered, or she'd give it to him as a gift, depending on her first impression of the man. From what she heard, though, he might not appreciate the gesture.
Stefan glanced around at the intel stations that had been placed in sleep mode, where the General wouldn't be able to see what was on the screens. He glanced towards the door, wondering just how long before the General would arrive. He looked back at Rowena.
"You know, you could replicate a dress uniform for you to change in your office and come on out dressed like we are." Stefan having a slight smile. "Easy, peasy right?"
Brigadier General Seamus O'Rourke and Captain Feren X'tal had been given special permission to inspect the Pioneer's dedicated Intel centre.
After talking with the Marine guard outside, they were permitted to enter
Jayna stood at attention as the general entered. The origami red bull also stood at attention on the table beside her.
"At ease, Lieutenant." Seamus said.
Stefan stood at attention when the General entered, putting his thoughts as to Rowena to the back of his mind. He did observe the red bull that Jayna had folded, it was really good.
Rowena put her hands behind her back and stood at attention. "Welcome, General, to the Secret Compartmentalized Information Facility, SCIF for short." She looked down her uniform. "My apologies for my appearance. I have recently returned from medical leave and my agenda wasn't fully given to me, so I got the memo of this visit just a few moments ago at dinner. I hope you understand that I prioritized punctuality over dress code."
"I accept your apology, Commander." Seamus said. "But, isn't your job to collect and analyse data?" He asked.
Stefan was quiet, wasn't going to open his mouth. In essence, Rowena was caught flat-footed. He had hoped that she would be able to change into a dress uniform before the General had arrived.
He glanced at the red bull, wishing that he could just fly away, if the origami bull could grant wishes. Outwardly, Stefan was calm cool and collected, awaiting what might happen next.
Rowen had to admit inwardly that the General was right. She normally wasn't this distracted. She was usually on point. Back in the day. Ever since her whole ordeal with Malificus she was quite off her game. She wasn't sure if she had to inform the General off that. Finally she replied, "Touché, General, but to be frank, I could probably tell you what our Captain had for lunch, then what my own planner has in store for me. I don't think my own calendar is a very interesting topic to analyze for a spook. Besides, I didn't know you Marines were so punctilious on dress code. I am wearing my duty uniform, it's not like I showed up in my civilian outfit, sir." She remained perfectly calm and polite when she replied.
Seamus regarded the Commander for a moment. "As a department head, Commander McGowen, you are supposed to lead by example. Something you have failed to do here." He began. "From what I've observed here today, you seem to be totally incapable of doing your job. It does not take an Intelligence officer to know that the Corps is built on formality and ceremony. I will be talking to Commodore Malbrooke about your lack of suitability for the position you currently hold."
Rowena looked around at her officers. "My officers are in dress uniform. My department is as you can see, very clean. I can show you the rota of my department, I run it quite tightly, and whether I am suitable for this position, is not up to you, sir. You are here on a courtesy of Commodore Malbrooke, and you are allowed to see the ship. But this is the intelligence department and we deal on a daily basis with information that are classified." She now crossed her arms over her chest as she looked straight at him. "Technically you can't be here and I don't have to show you around, but my direct superior officer gave me an order to show you what I can. and technically he did not order me to show up in a dress uniform..." She shrugged, "It may have been implied, I don't know, but if that makes me unsuitable for the job, then sure, report me by all means to the Commodore."
Stefan kept his mouth shut, though his lips thinned, as he listened to what was occurring between Rowena and the General.
Right now, he was missing both Jack Patton and Aer. Things he thought were becoming tense, between Rowena and the General. He wasn't going to say anything still though, what was going to happen here.
Jayna was happy to be in the background for this. It was where she was most comfortable and it was familiar. Plus, she got to observe without having to say or do anything. Well, except remember.
"I admire your passion, Commander, but proper discipline is important and leader must lead by example." Seamus replied.
Rowena calmly took a step to the general. "You are absolutely right, General. Let me give the right example right now. Will you be leaving my department on your own, or should I request Colonel Tremble to escort you off?"
"That won't be necessary, Commander." Seamus said. "Captain X'tal, we're done here."
Jayna stood quietly while the general and his aide left the SCIF. The general threw a couple of good volleys, but the commander ended up with the spike and kill. It was good to see her showing some gumption again.
Stefan said not a word as per the faceoff between the general and Rowena. This was a different side of the Chief he saw, This could be good or bad. It wasn't his place to say anything. Except for. "Guess our inspection is at an end, and we can get changed out of these uniforms." When the doors to the inner room of the SCIF closed there was an almost eerie silence in the place. Something had happened, and what it was had not been figured out yet.
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Stefan Zamfir
Assistant Chief Intelligence Officer, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Jayna Tremble
Intelligence Officer, The Cure
USS Pioneer
Brigadier General Seamus O'Rourke
Commanding Officer, Camp Nostromo
Captain Feren X'tal
Aide-de-Camp, Camp Nostromo
Lieutenant Commander Rowena McGowen
Chief Intelligence Officer, USS Pioneer
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