MiddleGame
Posted on Thu May 21st, 2026 @ 10:05pm by Commander Rhupert Tyree & Commander Daynah Ral & Lieutenant Amy Gordon
Edited on on Fri May 22nd, 2026 @ 2:25am
2,260 words; about a 11 minute read
Mission:
Operation Kakori
Location: Messhall, USS Valiant
Timeline: Minutes before Final Measures.
START
Neil hadn’t even bothered keeping track of his workout. He’d just entered the space, limited as it was, the Valiant had set aside for physical fitness. Most of the escort’s crew were at stations, though Tyree had been shifting them through rest cycles every couple of hours. Neil knew keeping them at Condition Two would tire them out, fraying nerves racking up stress levels.
He’d been surprised when his timer had sounded and he realized he’d been running on the treadmill for two hours. The pain from his prosthetic had jabbed him a few times, then the pain patch had kicked in, numbing it. As his breathing and heart rate had come under control, he’d cooled off and gotten water to hydrate.
A sonic shower, change of uniform and general clean up had only eaten up another twenty minutes. A check of the mission update on his HUD hadn’t revealed much. The Cure and Pioneer’s Intel crew. HIS crew were still on mission and so far hadn’t been caught.
So far.
Neil had a feeling in the pit of his stomach and he DEFINITELY didn’t like being on the bench for this Op. Not just benched, but supposedly running it, but once the team had went in, there hadn’t been anything for him to do but sit and wait.
He wasn’t suited for either practice.
Restless and knowing he needed to stay off the bridge, Neil wandered into the mess. He collected a mug of real, brewed coffee from the urn and took a seat. The java was hot and smelled great.
And tasted like ashes in his mouth. Turning to diversion next, he brought up a holo, three dimensional chess board and activated Rommie within his HUD and began playing, the AI taking on the form of both opponent and coach as he worked through problems that were meant to make him a better leader.
Only he wasn’t leading. Was he. He was sitting on his behind, drinking coffee and playing chess while HIS people were Downrange.
Rhu is damned lucky that I like him. Daynah thought. This was the most recent in a long list of tasks that Tyree had delegated to her. Though this task was not one that she relished. The computer had told her where Tremble was and so now she found herself in the Valiant's Mess Hall. "Colonel, sir. I need to have a word." The usual easy going and smiling Trill seemed neither in this moment. There simply was no way to sugar coat what she had to say. She just wanted to make sure that Tremble was in a place to hear it.
Neil was repositioning one of the attack boards to the third level as the Valiant's XO approached and his ear picked up and registered something. He refocused, on the Trill and said, "By all means, Lieutenant Commander. You can call me Neil, by the way." Smiling, he continued, "The sir would have been fine. Colonel is better, but since Neil would likely be most comfortable." Rommie was being silent in his ear so Neil said, "What can I do for you?"
Amy had walked in,quietly getting a cup of coffee, taking in Colonel Tremble and what seemed to be filled with unexpended energy. Tremble was a man of action which seemed to radiate from him. A man who prefered leading than be stuck out of the action. A sip of her coffee while she listened.
"Neil it is then..." Daynah realized that they had not officially met so she continued. "...I am Daynah Ral, but Daynah will due just fine. There is simply no way to put this other than say it. Lieutenant Mira Jayna and Petty Officer Third Class Emiko Marley have been captured by a joint Cardassian, New Maquis force. It seems that they were caught making a data transfer. We have been monitoring internal station communications and they tried to play it off as they were attempting to find the real hacker. For the moment it seems that they were taken to the Brig pending an investigation. Major Merrick has dispatched Sergeant Kyle Walken, Sergeant Adélaïde Moreau, and Sergeant Andrew Shy to effect rescue. However, the order has been given that they are acceptable losses. The Sergeants have until Quaid is obtained to make the rescue. Should they fail then we are leaving without the Lieutenant and Petty Officer." Daynah's tone was even and official. When she finished speaking she ran her hands through her hair. This was not something she relished doing.
Amy's eyes widened slightly, at hearing Shy's name. She took another drink of her coffee, casually. Though she hoped that he'd make it back. One never knows though. If he does she'd greet him with a welcome back hug and kiss. She settled back to watch how things unfolded.
Neil's stared at the Valiant's XO for a few seconds as he sifted through the info dump. Part of him thought the Trill was nervous since she recited ranks and names of his Marines. His mind tried to linger on Jayna and the peril she was in but he DID trust her to get herself out of trouble.
She was a self-rescuing princess.
She even had the T-shirt.
In his embedded com, Rommie whispered. "Not funny, but I have to say Colonel. Your queen is in jeopardy." On the chess board, his queen began flashing red.
Focusing, Neil swore and said, "Commander. If they've captured some of our people they're likely hunting for more. I'd advise you take the Valiant to Red Alert and stand by. The Order doesn't mess around and there will likely be ships inbound and the station is probably going to go into lockdown soon."
There just wasn't time for Neil to go after either of the teams and he suspected that was on purpose. In fact there wasn't much he COULD do at this point and he gritted his teeth.
As if on cue the lighting on the Valiant darkened and strips of red light began to flash. "We have taken that precaution. For what it is worth Neil I am sorry." There was a part of Daynah that seemed to die. She did not understand nor did she like the idea of leaving people. The whole concept of acceptable losses was foreign to her.
"No need for sorries, Commander," Neil said. "You'll be needed on the bridge I imagine and I'll join you shortly." Out of the corner of his eye, he'd seen the Valiant's brunette Intel officer.
The one that had been corrupting Sergeant Shy.
Neil grinned slightly, but only at the corners of his mouth.
Daynah glanced in the direction of Amy and nodded. "My assignment is here. However, if you wish me to leave I can."
Amy caught the look from both Tremble and Daynah. she had looked up when the lighting changed when they went to red alert. She wasn't needed on the bridge, that wasn't her place. Another sip of her coffee then returned Daynah's glance.
The intelligence officer wasn't wanting Daynah to leave, she saw the look in Tremble's eyes. He had something going through his mind, and the man-was one to watch. Amy looked towards Tremble.
"If you've got faith in your people and from what I've observed, all of them seem rather competent.Perhaps they have been able to produce a Hail Mary from time to time on their missions?"
"Commander," Neil said more calmly then he felt at the moment. "I appreciate you letting me know. But your place is taking care of your Valiants. I'll come to the bridge and see if I can help with marine ops and getting them exfilled." Neil had brought a combat harness and full kit, just not a MARVEL suit. But if he could somehow get aboard, he could help..."
To Amy he said, "I helped train them and they're good people. Sometimes faith only goes so far."
Her gaze sharpened as she looked at Neil, Amy having noticed the look of a man making a plan within a plan.
"That is true." Amy responded, "Still need to trust in their skills, and I will say it does bite when, in a clandestine sort of mission, there is always the disavow and be considered as an acceptable loss."
It hadn't been lost on Amy about Tremble's reaction as to the mentioning of one of the operatives names. Lieutenant Mira Jayna. She also was well aware of Rhu giving up his quarters for Tremble and Jayna. She was just too polite to make a reference to that occurring. She wasn't oblivious either as to the fact of how it must be galling not to be there with his lady love, and causing great havoc together.
Daynah wanted to stay and chat with the Colonel. She knew better than most the look of someone who was troubled, or at the very least bothered by something. However, she had a responsibility to this ship, crew, and those on that station. She looked at Amy and Neil and thought that their job in this mission was through. It was best for them to begin the healing process as it were. As for her, Daynah had people to get home. She nodded in Tremble's direction, turned and left the Mess Hall. Her steps were determined and heavy, with her hands behind her back. Daynah Ral was a person on a mission.
"Lieutenant," Neil said once the Valiant's XO had made her departure. "Any way to beam me onto that station through the ships cloak without a dog and pony show. Something nice and quiet...?"
The intelligence officer, quietly mused over his question. Amy thought about Katya whom, she felt could possibly find a way to do his request.Then though, he was left behind for a reason, as in being overwatch. And him going in to try to rescue the team that had gone there. Alone, and this place was filled with trained individuals, he would be one against many. Even if he had possible superpowers.
"Sir, well that is Neil.The answer to your question would be there could be a possibility but, my helping you do such. It would be a no coming from me." Amy giving a firm answer.
She held up a hand to still a possible objection.
"I know you have someone you are involved with on that team. I also do understand you wanting to rescue her, as well as the rest of the team. You though, and this may come out rather cold, you are an important asset. If you go in there and things go south, not that I am saying it will, but the odds are rather high against the success. Your experience, your knowledge will be gone. Permanently. And not only losing you, and the loss of the team would leave a gaping hole." Amy went quiet, leaving Tremble to answer.
Scowling, Neil said, "I hate it when people are right. But you could have strung me along a little, Lieutenant," he groused. Glancing toward the hatch Dayna had disappeared through, he said. "I knew I should have packed my battle suit." He didn't comment or ask questions about a starship's XO wanting to play counselor with her ship about a hair's breadth away from fighting it's way out, much less handling a rescue mission.
Rubbing at the back of his neck, he said "Look into it at least. It would make an interesting table top exercise for your security contingent. Right now, I guess I'll haul my useless carcass over to the bridge."
"You didn't strike me as someone who liked to be strung along, Neil." Amy answered. "Instead, I felt that you were someone who liked things direct, in order to not waste your time." A twinkle in her eyes appeared. "Besides you've got someone and, I don't think she'd appreciate my trying to play or string you along, not at all." a playful smile appearing.
Neil let the over-familiarization go.
Which was saying something for him.
But he'd had a lot of the creases smoothed out by force when he agreed to become the XO of the Pioneer. Eyeing the brunette, he said, "I appreciate the frankness, Lieutenant. I'm glad you're not one to string people along though. As will Sergeant Shy." His lips took on a amused line of their own, though maybe pulled more by stress.
His eyes traced to the chess board and symbolically, he took his king and turned it upside down, then walked out the mess's hatchway.
Amy had a slight smile and yet a serious expression in her eyes. Giving a slight nod in Tremble's direction. He passed a test for her. He kept himself in check, even though she purposely stepped over a little bit of a boundary.
She was sure that he could have verbally slammed her to the floor, but he didn't. Amy did see it in his eyes, he resisted the temptaion. To Amy he proved his caliber and his quality, the placing of the King piece spoke volumes. The queen wasn't going to be sacrificed.
END
A cross sim post by
Lieutenant Colonel Cornelius Tremble
Executive Officer/Battalion Commander, USS Pioneer
written by R. Tyree
Commander Daynah Ral
Executive Officer
Chief Science Officer
USS Valiant
Lieutenant Amy Gordon
Chief of Intelligance
USS Valiant
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