Dan
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A little man in a big world
Posts: 45
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Quote:
It is better to deserve honors and not have them then to have them and not deserve them.
--Mark Twain
ON
K'Hare was asleep when the comm system beeped and woke him. He sat up and growled at the computer. He'd hoped that away from his station, at this base he'd never been to before, he'd get at least one good nights sleep. For K'Hare, that meant staying up late in the bar, and then sleeping it off in his room. Something he hadn't done since that short time he was out of BF, out of the KDF, and just another resident of KDB. That was almost 2 years ago. He'd planned this overindulgence and now, a few hours into his itinerary, he was getting up and answering a hail, instead of passed out bliss.
The message was text and required security authorization so he grabbed a PADD, entered his personal code and read the message. He then closed his eyes, rubbed them, and read the message again. Confused he entered a code to confirm this authenticity of the message. It was real. For the third time in as many days he knew his life would never be the same again. He wondered if his hearts could take it... and laughed knowing he would kill anyone else who made that joke.
But despite the confirmation, despite the text on his screen, he could not let himself believe it. A joke? A miscommunication? There was just one way to confirm this. He put on his boots, grabbed the PADD and left his room. He didn't have far to go.
“Enter” Said Taylor from his desk, there was no way he could hide the hints of his mood. He tried to look more neutral but failed miserably as he kept re-reading the message sitting on the screen before him, each time the scowl lifted it resettled as he read the next line.
K’Hare entered the room and sensed the mood. It confirmed the orders, but didn't explain them. "There is a tale here... this PADD is clear enough, but it lacks explanation. The timing makes no sense. Why has this happened?"
Taylor looked up at K’Hare, he stared straight at the Klingon as he let out a deep sigh “I’m afraid I cannot say K’Hare, I am under orders from Star Fleet Command not disclose any information to anyone about my conversation with them.”
"This is what I received." The Klingon tossed the PADD toward the human. "No explanation. How can I do my job, how can I obey this orders if I don't understand the reasons for them!"
Taylor stood without saying a word to K’Hare, slowly he moved to the foot of his bed and opened the storage locker there. It was clear he was struggling with himself, trying to make a decision. He withdrew an object that looked suspiciously like a keg of bloodwine; he turned back towards the table and crossed the room again before gently placing the smallish container on the desk.
He turned to look at K’Hare again “This is something I cannot explain without a drink in my hand.” He cracked the top off of the barrel “I’m told this was a good year, I was saving it to share with you after the competition but now seems as good a time as any to start the barrel.” He dips a mug in to the barrel and offers it to K’Hare “Would you care to join me?”
K'Hare grinned. He had made an impression on Dan. "Hoch 'ebmey tIjon."
Taylor dipped the second tankard in to the keg and slowly brought it to his lips, he took a drink from the mug and savored the taste of the bloodwine. It was, he decided, better than some of the other bloodwines he’d tasted on XFY. “You may know that I never actually finished my last assignment with Task Force 17.”
K'Hare nodded. He'd heard the rumors when he'd checked up on his new commander. It hadn't been that long ago, which made this situation that much more suspicious.
Taylor paused to take another sip from his mug he continued a few moments later “I could get court martialed for saying this, however I feel I must. My last assignment was tracking down one Rear Admiral Rico.” He paused again letting the words filter through K’Hare’s mind “Yes Admiral Rico, my old boss and mentor in Task Force 17. It’s a closely guarded secret that Rico was really a terrorist working within Star Fleet to subvert our anti-terror mission.”
Taylor drained his mug dry before filling it again from the barrel “Help yourself K’Hare” he said as he took another drink “There is plenty more where that came from” he added with a slight grin on his face as he nodded towards his foot locker.
The scowl returned to his face as he pointed towards the terminal on his desk. “I’ve got a message from an agent within Task Force 17, when I left he was assigned to take over the investigation in to Rico’s disappearance and more importantly in to how Rico managed to get so high in Star Fleet without anyone breaking his cover.” Taylor stopped and stared at the screen for a few moments as if lost in his thoughts, as suddenly as he stopped speaking he started again “Now it seems like he’s been stone walled by Star Fleet Command, every file about Rico has been classified higher than I can access and my contact has been re-assigned after being told the Rico problem was being investigated by Star Fleet Intelligence.”
K'Hare took a long drink and refilled his tankard. "So your superiors decided that you were too emotional, too close to the problem. Not a decision I would agree with, not the Klingon way, but not uncommon in starfleet. Someone else was assigned, this is the human way."
Taylor sighed “It would seem that the Rico situation is being swept under the carpet, no one at Star Fleet Intelligence is even aware of what happened in Task Force 17. So now the agent in Task Force 17 and myself have both been left swinging in the wind so to speak, powerless against what ever forces are arrayed against us.”
K'Hare frowned. "The decision to give up the power was yours. You made a decision to weaken your position. You already regret that choice?"
Taylor looked towards the Klingon “Honestly K’Hare, what else could I do? There is no one in Star Fleet Command I trust.”
K'Hare stood and slammed his tankard down noisily. Then he looked around regretting how loud it was and reminded himself that some desecration was needed here. "You can trust me. If what you say is true, then my honor, my oaths to my Empire and to yours demand it. If, what you say is true." He picked up the tankard and frowned at the dent in its base but refilled it anyway. "One of my crew is quite proficient at acquiring hidden information. If evidence of this plot exists, he can find it. If he finds it, we will solve this problem together." K'Hare was already considering the tactical situation. An enemy using the resources of BF itself. He hated subterfuge but this action would require stealth.
Taylor smiled “I cannot and will not ask you to help me K’Hare, it would mean you putting your own career on the line.”
K'Hare balked at the idea. "There are things more important. I know you know that... you are proving that now. A Klingon does not let a friend go into battle alone."
Taylor smiled at the remark. "I'd like to think you have gained some respect for me but we both know you haven't known me long enough to call me that."
K'Hare stood firm. "You know I am right."
Taylor smiled once more as he heard K’Hare’s words as he muttered an old saying under his breath “Sometimes doing the right thing, isn’t doing the right thing.” He took a drink and considered his words despite the drink that was already affecting him. "I must do this alone. If you have a fault, it is that you are too honest." He waved away the response and focused on a point in the wall. "I don't mean to insult you but you are honorable and you would face the enemy. The next stage of this fight must be fought in secret." He turned to stare straight into the eyes of the Klingon. "If I fail, if I fall in this fight, I need someone to continue it, to make sure that we win. Success if more likely if you remain in the mainstream while I work in the shadows."
K'Hare took a step back and tried to be formal. He was hungover, needed sleep, but was drinking again. “Mr. Taylor,” said K’Hare as he waved a PADD towards Dan, “It seems I have this ship assigned to my base that I have little use for. It needs a captain and you seem to have the right experience. You would be doing me a favor if you would keep this USS Ronald Reagan in working condition while I decide what to do with it. Docked at KDB, it would just get in the way.”
“Thank you K’Hare. I couldn't ask any more of you.” He filled his cup once more and held it aloft towards K’Hare “A commanding officer always feels an obligation to those under his command, but I am assured knowing that Task Force 86 will be left in your capable hands.” With that he drained his cup and placed it down on the desk. “With you in command of the Task Force I can freely go hunt down some daemons from my past.”
The pair continued to drink until the keg was empty. The PADD, left forgotten on the table sat blinking. The text was formal and official as such documents always are but one sentence stood out, blinking. Effective, March 9, 2381, command of Task Force 86 transfers to K'Hare totlh.
OFF
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