Putting Her Plan Into Motion

Posted on Mon Sep 25th, 2017 @ 3:00pm by
Edited on on Mon Oct 16th, 2017 @ 11:58am

Mission: https://wellington.pegasusfleet.site/index.php/sim/missions/id/3
Location: Various
Timeline: June 15, 2399 - 1545

ON:

It had taken most of the day, but finally Walker, along with help from some of the others, hand found enough containers to safely store all of the 'Fire Dust' that was aboard the Wellington. It would be disposed of as soon as they were in deep space - and it would be none too soon as far as she was concerned. "Damned dangerous stuff if you ask me..." she muttered half aloud as she sealed the last of the containers. "And people of old Earth thought nitroglycerine was unstable. Nitro isn't even close to this stuff..." She checked the time and saw that Alpha shift was almost over. That meant it was time to put the first part of her plan into action.

She walked over to where Damian was working at one of the computer terminals. If this had been another time, she would have gotten as close to him as possible but not this time. She held back because she did not want to risk giving her plan away. So, attempting to make it seem as if she was just making conversation, she asked "Did I tell you that while I was on shore leave I went with a group of botanists to Taran IV?" She knew that he had an interest in botany among other things and thought this would pique his interest.

"I think you mentioned it a few days ago, yes..." he said, not looking up from the computer.

"I brought back several different samples of plants and seeds," she said, "and I've been able to identify most of them but there are two things that I have and I was wondering..." she let her voice trail off.

"Yes?" he asked. "You were wondering what?"

"I was just wondering if you would be willing to take a look at them and see what you know about them?"

"If they're not in the database what makes you think 'I' would know anything about them?"

"I know you were on the away team from the Phobos when we were sent to the Taran system several years ago," she answered. "I just thought you might know something about plants indigenous to that system that may not have been catalogued and that you would be willing to take a look at them."

What she had in mind wouldn't be in any plant database, she knew for a fact. But she didn't dare let him know what she was REALLY talking about. Her mention of his being in the Taran system brought back memories to Charles. There had been that business involving Chad Bedford and the Federation Mining Corporation when Damian was serving aboard the USS Phobos. But the most important memory it brought back was that of Laurana Zad - then his girlfriend, now his former wife. They had been part of an away team on Taran II where they had shared a tent and had spent their first night together as a couple. Back then they had thought they would spend the rest of their lives together but now it was ten years later and he was here in the Delta Quadrant and she was back in the Alpha Quadrant on her home planet of Trillius Prime - and they had been divorced for almost two years. He shook his head slightly in an attempt to force away the memory of Laurana and focus on what Karen was saying.

"Sure, I'll take a look. Just bring them to the botany lab tomorrow."

She hadn't considered that he would want her to bring any samples - which she really did NOT have - to the lab and she had to think quickly of a reason to not bring them. "Well, uh...that could be difficult because ah...well, I'd just rather not try to show them to you in the lab right now. Couldn't you just come by my quarters and take a look at them? I think you'll be especially interested in what I have to show you."

"I'm not sure that would be entirely appropriate, Karen..." he began but she quickly cut him off. "C'mon Charles..." she said. "It would mean a lot to me if you would do this. I promise I'll make it worth your while. In fact, I might even give you a sample or two..." she said with a grin. She just didn't say what it would be a sample OF.

Figuring that she wasn't going to take no for an answer, Charles finally gave in. "I guess I could stop by for a few minutes..." he began, but suddenly was cut off by her once again.

"Great! Then why don't we say about 1900?" she said. Then, before he had a chance to ask why the specific hour, she turned and practically skipped out the door.

'The first part of my mission is accomplished...' Walker thought as she headed for her quarters.

OFF:

Lieutenant Charles Damian
Assistant Chief Science Officer
USS Wellington

Lieutenant Karen Walker
Science Officer/Astrometrics Officer
USS Wellington