A Request to Be Heard

Posted on Sun Oct 22nd, 2017 @ 10:41pm by Captain Michelle Bartlett & Lieutenant Commander J'Loni Mo'Bri

Mission: https://wellington.pegasusfleet.site/index.php/sim/missions/id/3
Location: Engineering Office
Timeline: June 17, 2399 1115

ON:

The conversations between her grandfather and the Chancellor himself, asking her to speak on his behalf, had been weighing heavily on her mind of late. The truth of the matter was that it was a political move to take over the current government and revert to the old militaristic ways of conquest. This would have a lasting and devastating effect on the Klingon way of life. All of what had been gained in attaining the peace that had been kept so far would have been destroyed. Sighing heavily, taking a deep breath, she made the call. "Commander Bartlett may I speak with you?", she said and waited.

"Of course." Michelle said. "I'm down in my office in the Diplomatic suite."

"Thank you Commander. I will arrive shortly", she said and picked up a small PADD that contained a message for the Commander and Commadore from the Chancellor himself. She knew of the contents but it was a message that conveyed his authorization to act on his behalf. He did not fully trust the choice of the Klingon delegates chosen, to be honest and honorable in this delicate matyer. The full extent and far reaches of The Cause were not completely contained yet, but were being systematically picked up by his own guards. It was his hope that they both would understand his request and honor it.

As she waited for J'Loni to arrive, Michelle was busy putting out fires. Half the Science department was livid with what had just happened, and the Security Officers also were irate that Major Lo'Mah was permitted to go and arrest a junior officer the way he did, thus completely blindsiding them. She couldn't fault them. But these were supposedly Admiral Marquette's orders - Another thing she had a hard time believing. She knew Marquette when she was simply the Squadron CO assigned to the Yorkshire. This didn't seem her style, regardless of the urgency of the mission. She heard the chime ring.

"Come." she called out.

Fixing her uniform, adhusting her baldric, she entered the commanders office. "Commander thankyou for meeting with me. I know you are busy and your time is precious, but, I come on the request from Chancellor Mar'Tok", she said as she handed him the small PADD containing the Chancellors request and why. "Once you have tead his tequest we can speak further. I am aware of what he requested and why", she said, as ahe waited.

"Chancellor Mar'Tok?" Michelle asked. "How is he getting involved in this?" She said, reviewing it. It was a request to allow her to speak on behalf of the Klingon government... Thankfully, Jason had sent the briefings to her and Commander Honn. "I would have to get Commander Honn to clear it with Diplomatic but I don't see anything wrong with it. I mean, if the Chancellor says 'I want this person speaking in my name', then we sort of have to go with it." she said. "Of course, as a spokesman for the Klingon Empire, you would be doing so out of uniform."

"Yes Commander, I would. I would, however have my communicator pinned on my Baldric showing that I am atleast part of the Federation, but yes, I would be in full Klingon dress", she said.

"As long as we're clear on that. I'm not about to reject Klingon intervention in this. And if it's from the Klingon government and they're prepared to acknowledge that these ships are part of a wider conspiracy against us, then by all means let's cooperate." Michelle said. "You'll be transmitting from the station, though. Commander Honn will also be present as I'll be on the bridge playing First Officer. Perhaps we can go one full day without things not being a total cock-up."

"Agreed. I can leave my husband, Lt. Jg. William Spanner in charge of engineering while I am gone. It would not be the first time he has been in charge. The guys there trust him and follow his orders to the letter, although they already know what to do without being told", she said smiling.

"Excellent." Michelle said. "It will give me more time to free Lieutenant Mordin. It seems our friends your grandfather warned us about are intent on completely misdirecting us."

"Yes, Commander, as I stated, the Empire is intent on keeping the peace. It would seem that The Cause is tied in with this so call Organization, with also the current Cardassian government, and quite possibly with those in the Federation, to see that these negotiations are destroyed, thus plunging us back several decades into another war, one which the Empire can not afford. It would open up areas for the Romulans, Cardassians, Dominion, and other aggressive specied to take advantage of weakened Federation forces and just walk into the Delta Quadrent. I would hate, or for that matter contemplate of what might happen to defenseless worlds and other species", she added, walking over to the window, looking out into the stars. "I would love to explore the opportunities of meeting new species and technologies out here", she said.

"It's never boring out here." Michelle said. "Always something that makes it worthwhile, though I'm not sure what would in this scenario we find ourselves in now. The Captain always used to say he'd never go back to the Alpha Quadrant after a few years out here. He can actually do something out here. And contribute. But he'd be damned if he'd let the Dominion, the Cardassians, and who knows who else just walk in here and start carving it up. And so will I." she sighed as she looked out the window. Ross certainly wasn't going back now. "As for the first thing you've been told about... It sounds to me like the Cardassians and the Cause are simply using the Organization as a means to an end. The Organization will lose all credibility. I suspect they're playing both against each other and neither knows it yet. They'll be in for a hell of a--"

Michelle was interrupted. She suddenly heard a shuddering sound. It was too soft to be weapons fire. But almost like a mechanical hiccup. "Bartlett to Bridge, is everything all right?"

"Just a minor fluctuation, ma'am. The origin is unknown. We'll have Engineering keep an eye on it." Garcia said.

At the first shutter, J'Loni's mind was hit by a sudden wave of empatic shock of intense fear, that made the color drain grom her face..."Oh...", she gasped.

"Thank you. Bartlett out." she said. "Now... where was I?" she said before a second shudder happened of a similar nature. "Bartlett to Meru." she said, tapping her commbadge. "Bartlett to Meru.. Commander, are you there?" she repeated. "Okay, that's strange. Computer, locate Commander Meru."

The second shudder sent J'Loni in a heap on the deck, this time hurting her head badly. Not uttering a word as she hit the floor, all she could do was hold her head, close her eyes, and sort out the flood of emotions that she got.

"Lieutenant Commander Meru is not on board." the Computer's voice replied.

"Their GONE! Dead! Just like before!", she said.

"Like the shuttle?" She asked, watching J'Loni go pale. "You can sense them?" she said. "Bartlett to Ensign Copeland, I need you to run a quick analysis of the nacelles. Make sure that whatever that was didn't knock anything out." she added. No response. "Oh no...."

"Yes commander I can. Although my range is limited, the yacht was in my range limit and I felt it juat as I have now. They are gone both of them", she said, as her anger welled, she let out a howl that would make the blood curl. "Grrrr.....rrllll, Qu'vatlh, p'tak, Murder!", she bellowed.

"Commander Bartlett, this is Lt. Mok'Tor of security, I am on scene and regret to inform you that Lt. Cmdr Meru Alennis and Ens. Copeland have died", he said. "I am personally going to lead this investigation as I believe it was no accident", he added.

"Proceed. Please report anything directly to Lieutenant Barnaby and myself. Also make sure the bodies get sent to Sick Bay. There ARE bodies, right?" she asked Mok'Tor.

"Unfortunately Commander there are no bodies. The plasma stream saw to that", he said. "They were vaporized immediately upon making contact with the stream", he added.

"Commander, it seems to me that this was premeditated murder. The knowledge of plasma vaporizing flesh on contact, would not leave any bodies or evidence to be traced back to anyone, especially if they can bypass and erase the computer records", she added as she stood up from the deck.

Michelle looked on in shock. More murder? More backbiting? She'd come to think of this crew as a happy, solid, functioning unit. And now it was coming apart... Was it all a charade? She took a quiet breath, and tried to calm herself. "Meru I can understand... But Copeland? He was a kid. He'd been aboard a year. Him and Ensign Gervais were inseperable. He used to sometimes fill in on my watch."

"Commander, I did know Copeland, but my boss I did know and come to understand her in the short time we were together. Since my grandfather commands the alligned fleet, I have been giving it some thought as to the way Lo'Mah's life will be taken. I do know he is a Marine, and I will not put my career in jeopardy by claiming the rite of vengence on Federation soil, as it were. May I suggest this as an alternative that migjt suit all parties involved?", she said.

"I mean, officially I have to remind you that Federation law is very strict about vengeance killing and I would discourage you from it not only as your superior officer but as a colleague. Having said that, A Klingon vessel would be an adequate and lawful approach. Lo'Mah is not to be harmed on a Federation vessel, planet or outpost. I hope I'm clear on that. Take him back through the wormhole just into Klingon space and that way, it's the Empire's problem. Of course... You do understand that the Federation will also want to pursue legal action against him."

"Agreed Commander which is why it would be more wiser that he be tried by your court martial system, have him stripped of his Marine rank and transported as a Klingon citizen back to my grandfather's ship, which is legally Klingon soil. No matter which side of the wormhole the ship is on it is considered by the Klingon government as Klingon soil therefore Federation jurisdiction ends and Klingon law begins. It also allows my career as a Starfleet officer to remain intact", she said.

"Just make sure you're doing it solely as a Klingon citizen on Klingon soil. Federation law gets murky if not outright hostile. But it seems you're aware of that, which is more than I can say for some." Michelle said with a smirk. "Though we'll also be happy to nail him to the wall." she said. "I adored Meru. She was always so spunky and sarcastic. Ross loved her too."

"Meru was by boss and I felt we had a close connection. I will take great pleasure in dispatching Lo'Mah in the same fashion, in cold blood", she said. "Commander...my husband tells me I am needed in engineering. I know there were no coms but he speaks to me here", she said, indicating her temple. "If we are done for now...you will let me know when the next session of the talks is to be scheduled to meet. Until then...", she said, standimg to leave...

"Of course... I'll keep you informed. Thank you, Commander." Michelle said.

Lt. Cmdr. J'Loni Mo'Bri
Assistant Chief Engineering Officer
USS Wellington

Commander Michelle Bartlett
Acting Executive Officer/Chief Diplomatic Officer
USS Wellington