Questionable Requests

Posted on Sat Apr 30th, 2022 @ 9:47am by Captain Temperance Harding & Chief Petty Officer Charlton Kelly

Mission: Mission 2: Chasing Shadows
Location: USS Endurance | Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: Prior to arrival at Lambetta

ON

Harding had been going over the last documents that were 'Eyes Only' to the Captain. Most of the day-to-day of running the ship was handled by her XO, but some things just had to be signed off on, looked at, or filed by the Captain.

Intelligence reports from the regional data analysts, updates from Starfleet Command on their current mission, and other pertinant information. Promotion, and award cominations. There was a lot of busy work that went into being a Starship Captain.

It was a welcome relief, then, when the door chimed. A break was just what she needed. "Come!" The Captain called, stretching her arms above her head.

The doors parted, to admit the Chief into her Ready Room. "Skipper. You got a minute?" Kelly asked once the doors had closed.

Harding eyed the man carefully. His posture was relaxed, but that didn't mean much with this man. She knew from his record that he could be relaxed, right in the middle of a firefight. "Grab a drink, and take a seat." She gestured first to the replicator, and then to the chair by her desk.

Kelly got himself a coffee, black, and sat in the offered chair. "Ma'am. I have a request. You might... no. You will find it an odd one."

Harding now raised an eyebrow. It was unusual for the man to beat around the bush. He was often just so direct. "Okay, Chief. I'm listening." She leaned bacl in her chair, watching the man carefully.

"I would like to e on the Away Team when we reach Lambetta."

Harding hadn't known what to expect, but it hadn't been that. She blinked, and just stared for a moment. "On the Away Team? She repeated.

"Yes, ma'am. To the facility." Kelly clarified.

"The Senior Staff meeting was supposed to be classified, for abvious reasons." Harding retorted. Only the senior staff should know about the research facility, lest someone speak too much, and word get out. "I won't even bother asking how you know."

"I have my sources." He answered the question anyway. Well, a half-answer. He could tell by her expression that was the wrong answer. "SHARC has always worked closely with Starfleet Intelligence. Your mission orders have gone through them. I have contacts there."

Harding sighed, and let the matter drop. Interrogating the man was wasted energy. "All right, Chief. Convince me."

Kelly took a deep breath. "Starfleet Intelligence has something they need accomplishing. It is something of a grey area, in terms of regulations, but sometimes, you gotta do the grey things so the Federation can sleep at night."

"You can't tell me what?" Harding asked. "Or won't?"

"Can't." Kelly skirted that slight lie. He hated lieing to this woman, especially as she was his second chance at a normal career, and a life. "Sometimes, things are best if no one else knows. I've worked alone in some of the most dangerous hell-holes in the Galaxy. Cardassia, Kronos. Even made an extraction from Romulus. I won't do anything to intefere with Commander Lightfeather's operations, and I won't impede their departure when the times comes."

Harding took a deep breath, resting her elbows on the desk. "If this... operation of yours impacts your ability to make the extraction, and we have to bug out, I cannot uarantee a rescue mission."

"That's where I used to live." Kelly replied with a nod. "Get in, get the job done, and find my own way out."

Harding just shook her head in bemusement. "Do you need any equipment?"

"Nothing I can't take with me."

She was all out of questions. They were just delaying the point she had to make a choice. She didn't like it. Didn't like sending people on a mission she knew nothing about. It felt wrong. The man seemed accepting of the consequences, and was preparred for them, though. "Fine. I'll alert the Commander. Anything else?"

"That's all, Captain."

"Dismissed."

Kelly rose, and smartly left the room, leacing Harding to contemplate her next actions. Might as well get this over with. "Harding to Lightfeather. Please report to my Ready Room."