Chasing The Turncoat - Part I

Posted on Wed Feb 18th, 2026 @ 7:19pm by Commander Daynah Ral & Colonel Galen & Commander Rhupert Tyree & Lieutenant Commander Richard Dalziel & Lieutenant Commander Zuub & Lieutenant Katya Davi & Lieutenant Amy Gordon & Ensign Nyx Calder & Senior Chief Petty Officer Harriet Hastings
Edited on on Wed Feb 18th, 2026 @ 7:19pm

3,188 words; about a 16 minute read

Mission: Operation Kakori
Location: Mess Hall - Deck 2 - USS Valiant
Timeline: MD002 0800 hrs

The low hum of a transport beam always seemed to vibrate through Neil's entire being and he was more or less used to it after all these years. They'd transported from Earth to Luna, then dead headed aboard one of the transport shuttles that ran between Moghbeli Depot and the FMC Base on Phobos. From there, they'd beamed aboard the Valiant and now stood in a cramped four-person transporter pad. As they stepped down, a dark haired man Neil vaguely recognized stood regarding them next to a male Andorian transporter tech. With five people in the room, things were even more cramped.

Rhu let the new arrivals have a few beats, then said, "Colonel Tremble, Major Merrick, Lieutenant Mira: Welcome aboard. I'm Rhupert Tyree, Valiant's Captain. If you'll follow me, I'll show you to quarters while Chief Biv gets the rest of your party aboard. We're set up in the wardroom slash galley."

Neil nodded and followed the Valiant's CO out as they made room for the next round of arrivals.

Jayna followed closely behind Neil, carefully observing everything. It wasn't for lack of trust, but because she was curious, and she wanted to be able to get around quickly if it became necessary.

Edmund gave a firm nod when he stepped off the transporter pad following after the Valiant's Captain, he hoped that the rest would arrive soon.

Emiko beamed in and saw that Edmund was here. She beamed a smile at him, before quickly flattening her facial features. Was she really going to work with him?! She could hardly believe her luck!

Mercy beamed aboard with 3 others, 'Ruby' slung over her shoulder. She looked around the small room.

The WO had no problem with 'roughing it' on the Valiant, she was a marine, she'd make do. After all this wasn't her first time on a Defiant class, she'd served on the Liberator.

Rhu walked back into Valiant's wardroom/galley where the ship's chef had piles of fresh pastries laid out, and there were coffee and tea urns set up. The kitchen was also producing promising smells for the mid-watch meal that was a few hours away. All of the Pioneers were aboard, confirmed by his XO, and situated into a bunk situation of one sort or another.

He cleared his throat, and once things had quieted, Rhu said, "Welcome aboard the Valiant, everyone. We're underway and will get to warp as soon as we clear the limit. I'm sure this is obvious, but I'll say it anyway because it's my job. This operation is codeword classified and compartmentalized. It's not actually happening, and you won't speak of this mission to anyone not aboard the Valiant or having that code word clearance. At some point it won't matter, but for the next few months that's the game."

Rhu let that sink in, then continued after his eyes swept the room, "Once we arrive at the Badlands, the Valiant will engage the cloak that's been recently loaned to us by the Romulan Star Navy. Colonel Galen of the RSN is the cloak's operator and a mission advisor for Valiant. The cloak will get us through to our target. After that, at the behest of Federation Intel, my crew borrowed two Cardassian workbees from the graveyard at DS5. It'll be tight, but each can probably fit two people in case you want to use them. My Intel officer, Lieutenant Gordon, theorizes that once within range, we can eavesdrop on legitimate workbees, spoof a couple of transponders, and that should get a team aboard. After that, it'll be up to you...Valiant is your ride home."

Finishing his briefing, Rhu glanced at Colonel Tremble.

Neil met those eyes and looked over toward Jayna and pointed, "Intel mission until the snatch. What do you have for us, Jayna?"

Jayna nodded. "The workbees will be useful. They will save us time getting the transponder codes another way. Our plan right now is to send in Gage and Makeba first." She pointed to where the two sat. "Their job will be to find out where our target is and to facilitate getting the Marine strike team on board. Then they'll create diversions while the Marines do their job."

She paused for a moment, then continued. "While that is going on, Emiko and I will go in." Again, she pointed, indicating who the woman was. "Our job is to gather as much intel as we can from the station's computer and send it to the Valiant. Once the strike team gets out, Intel will follow. That may or may not be the same way we got in. If anything goes sideways, we'll improvise."

Emiko straightened up in her chair when she was mentioned, practically puffing, which was difficult for the diminutive woman.

Makeba had not been aboard a Defiant Class before. She was slightly impressed by its lack of comforts. She rather liked that Starfleet had finally embraced need over want. She was also impressed that somehow they got the Romulans to assist in their endeavour. For the time being, she stood next to Gage and awaited the rest of the briefing.

Once Jayna had said her piece, Neil pointed toward the Major and said, "Ed? We're out of the gate, but you have anything to add?"

Edmund had gone over those who were assigned for this detail in getting Quaid.

Lachlan; tactician, one who kept his cool and able to adapt on the run, Adelaide, evac specialist someone who had the capability of getting people out of a tight situation. Audie was to keep them alive and wounds taken care of.

Shy was one who kept an eye out on things and will be working with the sniper Mercy

"As what Jayna had said we will be going in and extracting Quaid based upon the intelligence that we have, no matter how much we have prepared there is always the fact that something could end up going sideways."

"We function best sideways, don't we?" Audie quipped, then resumed munching on a cheese danish. Yes, things were serious and grim, but if you embraced that, it was too easy to lose focus.

"Who is we?" Emiko asked in a high-pitched voice. "I would rather just make certain that everything goes as planned."

Mercy laughed. She'd been both a Marine and an intel field agent. "Trust me, Petty Officer, it's likely something will go wrong, it's how you adapt that's important." She said.

Emiko immediately decided that she did not care for Mercy. If the intelligence was good, then what could go wrong? If it was not good, then that was a fault of the department, and of course, then, one would have to adapt.

Lachlan had been quiet, arms folded, eyes moving between the speakers rather than the holo. When Edmund finished, he shifted his weight slightly and cleared his throat.

“Sir… plan’s solid on paper,” he said, careful, respectful. “I like that we’re not tryin’ to brute-force our way in. That alone’ll keep casualties down.”

A pause. Just long enough to be felt.

“But I need to ask — when, exactly, does this stop bein’ an Intel problem and start bein’ a Marine problem?”

He glanced briefly toward Jayna and Emiko, not confrontational, just factual.

“Because once the strike team’s aboard, we’re loud by default. Diversion or no diversion. Cardassians don’t half-lock a station. They slam the doors and start countin’ bodies.”

He looked back to Edmund.

“So I’m askin’ where the line is. If Intel’s still inside when that happens, do we press? Do we pull? And who’s makin’ that call when the clocks start runnin’ fast?”

Another beat, softer now.

“I’m not pokin’ holes for the sake of it. I just want everyone in the room knowin’ what ‘sideways’ actually looks like before we’re livin’ in it.”

Neil listened, and it was a valid question. As the silence held for a moment longer, he said. "Once we..." He paused and re-worded because he wouldn't be on the snatch team. "Once you're aboard, my best guess is you'll have eight minutes to grab Quaid and exfil. It'll probably be more like five. As soon as you have him and the Major gives the word, everyone starts heading for the extraction point. If anyone's late for the bus, we're not coming back for you. Valiant is a tough nut, but she can't take a Nor class station by herself."

He let that hang in the air and said, "If we all put on the EAS suits and went in like this, the Cure could capture the station, but we couldn't hold it, and there's no reinforcements. And we don't have the suits so that's moot anyway. The take away for everyone is Don't Miss the Bus."

Lachlan nodded once.

“Understood, sir,” he said. “I’ll make sure the team’s clear on the timing and the priority.”

He leaned forward slightly, forearms resting on the table.

“I won’t dress it up. We’re lifting Quaid because that’s the tasking — not because he’s worth bleeding for. The focus stays on getting our people in and out clean.”

A brief pause, then:

“I’ll keep it tight and by the plan.”

He settled back in his chair.

“No one gets left behind.”

"That's the plan," Jayna began. "But there may come a need for improvisation." She glanced to Neil, then looked around. "If we don't get Quaid now, we may not have another chance. That will be where we need a backup plan. Or two." In her experience, extractions like this rarely went to plan and she liked to know what options were available before going in.

"Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome." Mercy said. "As Marines, it's in our blood."

Makeba sat next to Gage and listened as everyone discussed. "Sirs, if I may? If my previous experience has taught me anything, it is that this version of the Order, and Maquis are detail and goal-oriented. If the Lieutenant here and I do our jobs correctly, they will never even know you are there. Nor Class stations have a lot of nooks and crannies. In fact, if there is a way we can get past their sensors, I am almost sure I can get a weak spot in their shields for the team to board. I estimate about an hour once we are aboard until the window is open for the rest of the team. What do you think?" She addressed her question to Gage.

"I agree," Gage said in an even voice. He had to be careful with what he said and how he said it. He'd worked with Marines before. "I want everyone to know that Ms. Brown and I know what we are doing. We've both done this before, many times. I'm not going to sit here and recite my accomplishments because, frankly, the past doesn't matter much on these types of ops. The present does. Trust does," he said, looking at each person in the room briefly. "All plans fail. All of them. Big failures, small failures. What counts is how we adapt. If everyone stays patient and does their job, we will be successful with the minimum amount of loss. Quaid is not getting away."

At the mention of sensors, almost on cue the comm system chimed. The sound of Galen's voice could be heard. "Commander Tyree. The cloak is ready to engage on your command."

Rhu checked his chrono and said, "That's my cue." To Neil, he said, "I'm retiring to the bridge, Colonel. I'll leave you to your planning. The cook has orders to feed you all a hot meal when you want it and my COB," he gestured toward a stout, ravan haired woman, "Chief Hastings is at your disposal to get your people settled and show you around. First planning session for combined mission prep will be tomorrow morning at zero nine hundred."

Neil nodded toward Valiant's commander after meeting eyes with the Senior Chief who had done a rather good job of blending in to the bulkhead near the door. "Sounds good, Commander," he vocalized his agreement before turning back to his Pioneers.

Neil had brought a version of Rommie with him within his comm gear and she scrolled a message onto his HUD. Flash Notice! Be advised: Marine Sgt. Kyle Walken has been assigned to the Cure through the Office of the Commandant, filling Team One's Platoon Sergeant's vacancy. Walken is due to beam aboard the Valiant to accompany you on Kakori. BuPer's Update via Commodore Malbrooke. Flash ends.

Neil bit the inside of his lip but kept his peace for now. They had a few moments, but he leaned near Ed's ear and said, "Join me in Transporter One in about ten minutes."

Edmund gave a nod, he had been quiet maybe too quiet. He needed to be more on the uptick of things, this though won't happen while on the station getting Quaid. Not being slow in making a decision.

He glanced over to where Audie was, gauging her reaction.

Audie gave Edmund a slight nod -- the plan sounded solid, and they all had the training and skills to improvise when it was called for, so she had no doubt they could 'overcome and adapt.'

Emiko looked sharply at Audie. What was that hussy doing flirting with her Edmund? Emiko decided she would definitely have to keep an eye on that one!

Jayna had been watching the team as they spoke and caught the look Emiko cast at the Marine. She didn't like it. A mission like this couldn't afford personality conflicts. She was glad the two wouldn't be on the same team. Even so, she'd keep an eye on Emiko and have a word with Neil later. She thought Emiko was over her crush. Apparently not.

Neil eyed the Intel teams critically. He knew them but hadn't worked with them directly other than normal day to days. Jayna and Tyler said they were capable and that was enough. He would pass full judgment later.

To Jayna, he asked, "What's the likelihood of spoofing the station's own transporters to transport the marine team? Cloaked, the Valiant might be able to get near enough to a legitimate vessel to make that seem routine."

"If we can get the transponder codes, we can probably make it work. We can run some tests." She could also reach out to a few people if they couldn't get it to work right away. And she had a few Maquis tricks she could try.

Makeba shook her head. "With all due respect sir. That won't work. Not with Cardassian systems. The Cardassians made sure their transporters couldn't be spoofed decades ago. Further I would imagine that a station that has remained hidden since who knows when has some tricks that no one has even heard of yet. I believe the safest entry for everyone is right under their nose. The Lieutenant and I can board via docking. I am sure the crew on the Valiant can make a shuttle look as if it has been through some problems. We are defecting so there should be no issues there. However, they will most likely scan our vessel before docking. We will board and get access to a docking port. From there the rest of you can in theory simply float on in. In suits if you move at the correct speed their sensors will read you as debris."

Jayna nodded. "Yes, that would be the easiest. And there was a mention of workbees as well that may be an option."

Neil's HUD flashed as he was updated to the new arrival and he said, "Alright. Let's get settled as best we can. Check out the shuttle-bays, which I understand are going to be used for staging doing team walkthroughs. We'll conform to Valiant's schedule and likely be hot-bunking with some of the crew.." he cast his gaze towards Valiant's COB at that.

Chief Hastings straightened at the marine colonel's remark and said with a clear voice that only slightly bounced off the bulkheads, "We've got most of you bunking together with only a few deviations where any of you Pioneers might need to share with our crew. The galley is manned twenty four-seven as well as the replicators, now unless anyone has questions lets get you all sorted.

"I'd just like to say, its nice to be on a Defiant Class again." Mercy said.

Edmund had caught the glance that Emiko had given to Audie, his lips thinning. There was certainly something wrong there where the girl was concerned, there could be even more trouble brewing with her. Drawing in a breath he rose from the chair, looking at Neil. Then he spoke,

"As what was said, get yourselves situated and get rest before we head in to our mission." with that Edmund made his exit towards the transporter room.
To Be Continued...

A joint post by:

Lieutenant Colonel Cornelius Tremble
Executive Officer, USS Pioneer
Battalion Commander, The Cure