In-Security

Posted on Mon Aug 11th, 2025 @ 8:24pm by Commander Rhupert Tyree & Lieutenant Aria Kanzaki

1,638 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: On the Trail
Location: USS Valiant, Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: Hours before the SS. Adelaide Departs Empok Nor.

Looking around his ready room (closet), Rhu decided it was neat enough. He hadn’t been about to dirty it up, after all. All of his paperwork was caught up and he just needed a word with Harriet before he changed identities and made his way over to the Adelaide.

“Captain,” Harriet’s voice sounded in the compartment’s comm

Rhu hit the toggle, activating his comm panel and said, “Speak of the devil. What’s up COB?”

“New officer at the hatch sir. Coming aboard to Join. Lieutenant by the name of Aria Kanzaki. Orders read Security Tactical chief.”

Frowning, Rhu turned to his computer and checked his messages. Sure enough, there was an update from Bu’PERS. A new Security officer for Valiant, just as he’d transferred their last new officer out.

That had been fast.

Unmuting the com, he said, “Ok Chief. Direct them to my ready room.” Un-toggling his com system, Rhu called up Lieutenant Kanzaki’s summary and began reading.

Finally she had been given an assignment. It had taken a while, but these orders seemed... different. She couldn't quite place her finger on what was so different. According to the orders she recieved that morning, she was to report to the Defiant Class USS Valiant. So thats what Lieutenant Aria Kanzaki did. She was surprised to see it at Empok Nor, she had come here to try and find something to do out here on the Cardassian Border.

As she walked up the ramp, duffle bag over her shoulder she was stopped by a crewman. "I was told to report here." she said simply holding out a PADD with her orders on.

Harriet had been watching the newcomer and gotten a bioread on her as she came through the bay's hatch.

Which is why she'd cleared the way. "Welcome aboard, Lieutenant. The Captain would like you to join him in his ready room. You've served in a Defiant class before or should I load a follow me into the ship's LCARS so you can trail along, ma'am."

"I can find it," Aria said confidently as she strode past the woman and up the ramp onto the Valiant.

Glancing at the new officer, Harriet called after, "You're welcome ma'am. Welcome aboard." Shaking her head slightly, Harriet made notes on the OOD's panel, noting the new officer's official movement aboard.

A few moments later, duffle bag still over her shoulder she found herself standing outside the door to the ready room. She reached out and tapped the chime.

Eyeing his console, Rhu could have sworn he'd already cycled that hatch. Making a note for Engineering, he answered the chime and said "Come in," as his ready room hatch cycled. Looking up expectantly he watched the newest member of Valiant's crew enter.

The doors opened and Aria walked in. She stood in front of the desk. "Reporting as ordered Capt... Commander." She said correcting herself. "Lieutenant Kanzaki."

Leaning back, Rhu said easily, "At ease, Lieutenant. Either term is correct when we're aboard, but that's neither here nor there." Gesturing toward the room's single guest chair, he continued, "Take a seat if you like. I must say you've good timing. Another couple of hours and Valiant would have been on it's way to Deep Space Five. She's going in for a refit, update to hull and torpedo launchers. They're putting in a handful of vertical launch tubes, though those will have short range and limited reloads."

Aria placed the duffle bag down and took the seat opposite the desk. "I only received the orders to transfer here this morning sir. So I came as fast as possible, I've been on Empok Nor for Twelve days now, between assignments." She explained.

Tilting his head and nodding, Rhu said,"There's fresh coffee and pastry in the galley if you'd like me to have the steward bring you something? And tell me about yourself, Lieutenant. I've only just gotten your file so I'd like to hear your own words."

"I'm good, thankyou sir." Aria said. "And in all honestly. I'm not someone you probably want on your ship. I've been looking for a posting for months, all because I slapped a Commodore who deserved it. Sir..."

Rhu didn't comment for a moment, then said, "So. You sum yourself up by stating you lack control and are lucky to be holding a rank or any position within the Fleet? Intersting."

"I have control sir. Just no space for people who sacrifice others for personal gain." Aria explained simply. "But, if you'll have me you won't regret your decision. I'm still a Starfleet Officer. I'll do my job as ordered, as long as it doesn't compromise morality."

Eyeing the woman steadily, Rhu percolated on that for a few beats and said, "Aboard Valiant, we operate in the Grey, Lieutenant. Valiant is a duck of a different color. On the outside, most will see an Escort class star ship that gets around a lot. Part of the ship's legend is that she's been adopted by the People of Betezoid, which means we get a few care packages while we're in scheduled ports of call and sometimes get recalled to show the flag, maybe act as a high speed transport if it's politically expedient. Technically, I'm still a member of the Betezoid Defense Forces through a Star Fleet program that was instituted after the Dominion occupation."

Pausing, Rhu continued, "So, we get involved in some surface politics from time to time, but they're good to us and it's nice to be looked after." Settling back into his desk chair, he continued with his brief, "On the other side of the coin. Valiant and her crew have been Seconded to Federation Intelligence, so we're part of the Fleet, but operate in that Grey part I mentioned. What I'm about to tell you is compartmentalized and code word restricted."

He let that settle and register. "Under FI, while we have a short chain of command, most of our missions start on the desk of the Federation President. He ordered the formation of the Department of Operational Affairs to look into things that he wants to make sure are getting attention. Some matters he doesn't want lost by having the Fleet or Intel communities looking into and decided on a direct course. Under that auspice, while we have the Valiant we also have a freighter named the SS. Adelaide that we recently liberated from a cold storage Cardassian depot for our own use."

"I've went through all of this to give you a choice, Lieutenant, "Rhu said, getting to the point. "The same choice I gave all of my department heads and those among the crew that have the need to know. You can opt in for the classified, off the book missions we'll be conducting aboard the Adelaide, or you can serve just as tactical/security officer aboard the Valiant and not have to wander into any morally grey areas. Intel work is not clean, nor is it all sunshine and roses. Some things very well may strain your morals. Unfortunately, we're on a tight schedule and I'm going to need to know if you can work with that. If not, the Valiant is leaving shortly for Deep Space five for some time in the yards. If you buy in, then you'll be leaving with me and the rest of the senior staff aboard the Adelaide."

"No Admirals?" Aria asked simply. "Nothing from stopping me getting on with my job? No pencil pushing bureaucrat's preventing me from getting an assignment?" She looked him dead in the eyes, her stare fierce and sharp. "If that's the case and you're telling me that you have a job for me, right here, right now then... I can start now."

Rhu looked thoughtfully at his security/tactical officer and said, "There's a chain of command. It's as linear as a straight line. Intel work is a bit different than Fleet work. You'll follow my orders and those of this commands chain or I'll see that you're working a Warp one shuttle between Sol and the Gamma Quadrant, cause you won't have a security clearance for anything else. We clear mister?"

"That's clear." Aria replied. "I'm not here to cause trouble. I just want to get on with what I'm good at." She added.

"Very well," Rhu said, starting to clear flimsies and PADD's into a carryall. "I'll show you to your quarters aboard Valiant so you can say you've seen them. Then you can change into mufti while I wrap a couple of things up with Harriet and then we'll get you to the Adelaide and start working on your NOC....or cover identity. Once aboard the freighter, I'll want you to get after getting me a full security check on the ship and a better update than I have on it's weapons and shields. It's not a combat ship by any means but we'll need to take some steps I think. Sound right?"

"Works for me." Aria said simply in response. "Is there anything aboard I should be aware of sir? Anything or anyone that could be considered a security threat?"

"Nope," Rhu answered simply. Valiant is a small ship and everyone aboard Adelaide are my department heads so have been screened fully, as far as Security measures go. Our problems will be all external. And getting everyone used to using cover identities and acting like they aren't members of a Federation starship. It's going to take a little getting used to."

Aria nodded simply. "Is there anything else you need me for?" She asked. It was evident that she wanted to get to work.

"Nope again, but lets go get you settled," Rhu said, moving to the hatch.

 

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