A Knife in the Dark

Posted on Tue Jan 31st, 2023 @ 3:54pm by Captain Malcom Llwyedd & Lieutenant Commander Jörgen Leed
Edited on on Sat Mar 4th, 2023 @ 4:21pm

2,097 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Prelude to Rebirth
Location: Earth, Starfleet HQ
Timeline: 01 August 2395 Earth

[ON]

The early September morning air was crisp, with more than a hint that winter was not as far away as it seemed. The wind was blowing in from the ocean, spreading the smell of the sea into San Francisco. It was a busy morning, especially in the Gariedello Square, where Captain Holly Cruz sat at an outdoor table, sipping on her raktajino and slowly paging through a long diplomatic report. She looked up occasionally, looking for the familiar form of Commander Leed. She'd known Leed, in a general way, for a few years. Starfleet Diplomatic Corps was large but not so large that the faces were unfamiliar. They'd never served together but she had read a few of his important articles when she served on the Atlantis and had been headed to Bajor.

At forty-seven, Holly's career was, hopefully, at its midpoint and she'd been completing the Senior Diplomat course. Then the Xavi Incident broke and Holly's plans were altered. She'd served for years along the Neutral Zone and had what she thought to be valuable experience with Romulans. And that was why she was sitting here, on special assignment, to meet with Leed.

Jörgen himself ambled along one of the long paths that wound along the coast of the bay. The constant murmur of the ocean echoed along the shore below, growing with a sudden rush of sound as waves called up to him. He paused to watch swirls of foam below as incoming waves pushed against the pull of the tide flow. Lower currents could surprise a person aware only of the movements on the surface. Sailing that conflict was what had always drawn him onto the water. It was less interesting within his own job but so was his life since the Firebird had been docked.

So he approached Captain Cruz with a polite nod and a smile. She was pleasant, quite capable, with more intelligence than many in the corps credited her. Holly was not a leader but a comfortable friend. A person's guard could drop quickly if they did not know better. Starfleet was an ocean with many currents under the surface. "Good morning, Captain Cruz. What a pleasure to meet you one-on-one."

Holly smiled at Jörgen at gestured for him to take a seat.

"Please, call me Holly," She said. "I might have a higher rank but we both know that we judge ourselves on our accomplishments in the field of diplomacy, not in pips on our collar, and in that area, we are most definitely equals, Jörgen."

She waited until he had seated himself, took another sip of her boiling hot raktajino, managing to burn the tip of her tongue in the process. "How have you been? I know that being put ashore, as they say, can be a difficult transition. Is your family back from DS9?"

"Helle recently graduated from the Academy, so Anna and Birte came for the ceremony and stayed to visit family in Denmark," said Jörgen. "The change of pace has kept restlessness from afflicting them. Perhaps also the quiet is a nice change from the Firebird's sometimes hectic pace. Speaking of change, I gather you are finishing up your Senior training. Congratulations, Holly."

"Another officer in the fleet. How wonderful. What branch did she end up in? Following in her father's footsteps?" Helle asked. As they were speaking, the number of people in the streets around them began to grow. A large number of them were Starfleet officers and the colors and variety of uniforms made Holly think of a Jackson Pollock painting she'd once seen.

So the conversation would revolve around his family. "Quantum biology caught her passion. She found my interest in the 'mechanics of making sure all parties are disappointed,' as she describes it, very little to her taste. Birte is more intrigued by politics. Bolians, Bajorans, Tellarites. Now she is trying to learn the endlessly convoluted Romulan political history. So much that she has read a couple of your articles," he said. "What post do you have in mind next? With your background, there is a strong future for you."

Holly's face grew a little serious. "Actually, I've got my follow-on assignment. It isn't exactly what I was expecting but the way things have changed so much recently, I understand," she said and then took a drink. "I'm going to be overseeing diplomats working in the Gamma Quadrant. I'll be based out of DS9, which is where your family has been, I believe. Maybe they can give me some insight into what it is like to live aboard the station."

Beyond Holly, just above the edge of the cliff, an old-style sailboat crossed the choppy bay with the wind. Jörgen kept an eye on the jib. The second sail luffed side to side. It was searching for the wind. "Of course, I am happy to share my experiences there. Anna and the children spent more time at the station if you want a better source on extended living there. I saw the subtle forces of the station only in small vignettes. Most of my time was spent on the planet or off on missions. My briefings on changing Bajoran views and alignments might be of some interest."

"Of course," Holly said. "I've heard that Commander Llwyedd is back at the remedial command course and that he might even, somehow, have a chance at getting his command back. If he does, would you go back to your old post? It was such a complicated situation there,"

Leed did not know what intelligence Holly had been read into. Even among his corps the existence of Xavi was not even a rumor, as it should be. Jorgen smiled a little and shrugged with one shoulder.

"That is a decision for Starfleet. It is complex, with complications that exist in parallel and discordance with each other. On a quiet ship, a skilled engineer is necessary to prevent critical problems with a watchful eye. Even more on a complicated ship. Others must decide if there is a potential mission that requires my particular expertise."

"Of course," Holly said, her eyes darting behind Leed. "I'm going to run to the restroom." She got up and walked quickly away from the table.

Not three seconds later, the bulky form of an Bolion, wearing the uniform of an Admiral in the Diplomatic Corps, slid into the vacated seat opposite of Leed. "Hello, Commander Leed," the Bolian said. "Please forgive the subterfuge on Captain Cruz's part. She didn't want to cooperate but I ordered her to and here we are. I needed this meeting to be completely off the record and I also wasn't sure if you'd come if I asked."

Jörgen was caught halfway to standing up, eyes darting from the Bolian to Holly, then to the sailboat. The bay's constant crosswinds still eluded the sagging jib. Leed sat back down finally and smoothed the front of his unwrinkled uniform. "Admiral Maht, it has been a while since our last meeting. You know I would have been willing to meet with you any time, Sir," he said, convincing neither of them with a flat, forced smile. "Why take such measures to meet here, like this?"

Admiral Maht smiled. "Commander, I must admit that I admired what you did with the recent Romulan situation," Maht said, lowering his voice so that only Jörgen could hear. "And you have garnered some new admirers in the highest diplomatic offices. They've asked me to discuss a proposal. We know from your reports that you disagreed with Commander Llwyedd's decision to disregard his orders. We can't deny that the whole thing turned out for the best but, there was no diplomacy. That is what separates Starfleet from the rest of the galaxy. We believe in peaceful change, not half-baked actions that result in hundreds of deaths and only succeeded by luck." Maht's voice had grown strained and he sat back, adjusting his collar for a moment. "Worse still is the fact that Starfleet Command has decided to let the boy remain on the ship if the Commander regains his command. If that happens, we want you to be there, keeping an eye on him and making sure nothing happens."

"You are keeping the boy on the ship?" Jörgen leaned forward, his voice hard with surprise. He glanced to see if people were watching them. The admiral had chosen well; fewer than twenty people were close enough to care. He relaxed his shoulders but his mind raced. "I never believed that could happen with the scrutiny on the ship. Can you explain why Command will leave the boy there?"

The Admiral made a harrumph sound. "You know how it is. Command doesn't like to listen to us, even when we are clearly right. Their reason for keeping him on the ship is that he is safer staying constantly on the move and surrounded by people who will put their lives on the line. Personally, I think it is a load of... it's not smart. I think they are stashing him somewhere off the map so they can pull him out and use him as a token in the grand game. They assured me that your career will remain on track and once this is over, you can have your pick of assignments.

Back to the Firebird. He considered refusing but he also considered that some in Command, including Admiral Maht. might prefer Xavi be centered as a pawn against the Romulan Empire. Then again, Anna and the girls had hinted strongly their wishes for his next post and the Firebird was not one of those choices.

"Admiral, we both know how capable that crew is as well as their penchant for loosely adapting Starfleet rules. I would need primary decision-making power for the well-being of Xavi. Plus, quarters for my family if any of them choose to join me," said Leed.

The Admiral looked like he'd eaten a spoon full of soup with a fly in it. "Primary decision-making power," he said as he looked around the plaza. It was clear that Leed's demand had not been on his agenda. Finally, he sighed and nodded slowly. "Very well, Commander. I agree to your terms. The Firebird's Marine contingent has been reassigned, leaving plenty of room for family quarters. You will be reporting to me directly, with Captain Cruz as your local support. Agreed?"

Leed nodded. He felt the shift of weight on his shoulders from, 'I hardly dared hope that would work,' over to, 'there will be dozens of minds scouring my reports.' Neither is less or more uncomfortable. Just the life of a diplomat. "Yes sir, Admiral. One last question, however. Captain Cruz has more knowledge of current Romulan politics, will be available soon, and is likely eager to make a name. Why not choose her, or someone like her?"

"Captain Cruz is an expert in Romulan affairs, true. But if things go according to plan, you won't be dealing with any Romulans. In addition, Xavi and Commander t'Aegis, would be very suspicious of any change like the one you suggest. No," he said and shook his head. "You are the best person for this task for as long as it lasts. I'll keep you informed of changes and feel free to contact me if you need any support. You have backing all the way up to the chain of command. Now, I really must go. I have a full schedule today," And with that, the Admiral nodded at Leed, stood up, and walked away without a backward glance.

Leed watched the back of the admiral's retreating head, one of his hands clenching and unclenching. Everything had changed in one short conversation. He had a lot of work to do in the coming months and many crosscurrents to sail. Jörgen glanced out at the bay as he turned to his left. The sailboat had turned with the wind. With full canvas it sailed towards open waters and he went East with it.

[OFF]

Lieutenant Commander Jörgen Leed
Chief Diplomatic Officer
USS Firebird NCC-88298

Captain Holly Cruz (NPC by Llwyedd)
Sector Diplomatic Officer
Deep Space Nine

Admiral Bors Maht (NPC by Llwyedd)
Diplomat in Residence
Earth

 

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