Bearer of Bad News...

Posted on Mon Sep 13th, 2010 @ 7:09am by Vice Admiral Iluvar & Commander Fala Awen

Mission: Episode 1.3 - "The Time of Trial"
Location: Iluvar's Quarters, USS Pandora
Timeline: Mission Day 02, 1128

ON: [[Iluvar's Quarters, USS Pandora, Mission Day 02, 1128]]

The Security Officers had just left with Peter, Aris, and Korina; Awen had stayed behind. While she couldn't put off leaving too long, the Bajoran didn't want Iluvar to come back to his quarters and wonder where Aris was. Awen's nerves were getting the best of her at this point...being left in command of the Pandora with Earlond removed from duty and now Aris and Peter being taken...

A moment later, the door slid open and two gentlemen walked into the room. "I appreciate your confidence in me, sir," one of them was saying to the other, "but this isn't your typical board of inquiry. I know Arnold Mercer (NPC)..." The voice trailed off as the two of them noticed Fala standing in the middle of the room.

"Commander," Iluvar said slowly, nodding once in Fala's direction. It was unusual for him to return to his quarters to find a member of the ship's crew, not to mention the ship's Chief of Security, waiting for him.

Awen glanced over at the unfamiliar man, and then turned her attention back to Iluvar, "My apologies, sir, normally I wouldn't have waited here for you, but in this instance I felt it would be best that I speak to you as soon as possible..." She was still trying to decide how exactly she would tell him what happened.

The hesitation in the Bajoran's voice was immediately clear to Iluvar and he knew right away that something was not right. Turning his head slightly, he realized that he had not heard any noise coming from the next room. "Where is Aris," Iluvar asked softly.

"With StarFleet Security, Admiral," the Bajoran began, trying to keep herself calm. "Two StarFleet Security Officers boarded the Pandora without my knowledge and came directly here at Captain Mercer's orders to take Aris and Peter into custody. I happened to be walking by and came in to ascertain what was going on."

Joseph could not believe what he was hearing. As if delaying the formal introduction of charges wasn't enough, Arnold had the gall to go and do something like this. It was unprofessional at best. "I should have known," he grumbled, looking between the Bajoran and Iluvar to see what their reactions might be.

Her eyes slid to the other man in the room, then back to Iluvar, "I tried to stop them, but eventually they showed me their orders and I had no choice, sir, I'm sorry. I did, however, report them to their superiors...and I forced them to allow Lieutenant JG Vek (NPC) to go with them, so at least someone from Pandora are with them." It was a small consolation, Awen was sure, but it was the best she could do.

Without a word, Iluvar turned on his heels and was back out in the corridor before either of them could say another word. He started for the nearest turbolift access point at a brisk, deliberate pace. Men and women stepped to one side when they saw him coming, confused by the strange determination with which he proceeded down the corridor. Iluvar gave no indication that he noticed any of this.

"Deck eight," he barked as he entered the lift.

As Iluvar hurried out of the room, Awen had followed him; luckily the path he made through the crewmembers made it easier. Quickly she slid into the turbolift and stood along the side, facing forward, but watching the Admiral out of the corner of her eye.

Having followed along just behind the commander, Joseph managed to slip in just as the door closed. The lift began its descent in awkward silence. He couldn't claim that he knew exactly how the admiral felt, but he knew that this must have been a deliberate attempt to frustrate the situation even further. There was no other reason that could explain why Arnold had chosen to have Iluvar's adoptive son taken into custody without informing anyone. What's more, it had taken place at a time when Arnold had known that Iluvar would not have been aboard the Pandora.

The lift slowed to a halt and, as the door slid open, Iluvar stepped out into the corridor and continued walking toward the entrance to Transporter Room 2. He did not wait for the large doors to finish opening for him and was already halfway to the transporter pad by the time Fala and Wells had caught up with him.

The Bajoran followed Iluvar to the transporter room, but slowed once inside. While she wanted to go with him, her current responsibilities as Acting Commanding Officer made her pause. If she was simply the Chief Security/Tactical Officer Awen certainly would have gone with him, but recent events had changed things. Probably the best thing for her to do now was follow up on the complaints she'd filed and contact Korina to let her know that Iluvar had been informed.

"Admiral," Joseph said, pausing in the doorway to the transporter room. He hoped to get the man's attention and at least try to talk this thing through before one of them did something that they might regret.

Iluvar climbed onto the transporter pad and turned around so that he was facing the crewman manning the transporter console. The longer he remained aboard the Pandora, the longer Aris and Peter remained in the custody of Starfleet Security. He was reasonably certain that the security officers had merely been following orders. It was those orders that Iluvar fully intended to question.

Realizing that he only had a moment of Iluvar's attention, Joseph took a step forward. "I realize how frustrating this must be for you, sir," he said slowly, "But believe me when I say that you marching into the security office on DS4 is not going to help the situation any."

Awen looked over at the transporter operator, meeting his eyes and shaking her head just slightly to indicate that he should not follow through with the transport. Preferably, Iluvar would decide on his own that it was in his best interests that he not go, but if she had to, she would ensure that he didn't leave in this manner. "I've already filed a report with the superiors of the Security Officers and Captain Mercer, Admiral. Lieutenant Vek is with Aris and Peter; she would let me know if something happens."

"Crewman," Iluvar said, continuing to face forward. He respected their concern, but this was something that he felt he had to do. Aris and Peter were his responsibility and if he had been there, he might have been able to do something about this. Now he had only one alternative.

The young man looked from the Admiral to the Lieutenant Commander, unsure what to do. From what he understood, Awen was technically the Acting Commanding Officer of the Pandora, but Iluvar was higher ranked. His hands shook slightly as he wrestled with himself about what to do.

Iluvar turned to look at the crewman standing behind the transporter console, about to reiterate the order, and saw the conflict in the young man's eyes. As he stood there, it occurred to him that Fala and Wells were right...he had overreacted to the situation. He looked over to where the two officers were standing, watching him, and realized that what he had been about to do did not make any sense.

Noticing a change in Iluvar's demeanor, Joseph decided to seize upon the opportunity. "I admit that I would probably be doing the same thing, were I in your position," he said, choosing each word carefully, "but there is always another way."

"Not to mention that this is likely exactly what Arnold wants you to do, sir," Awen added. Though she didn't know the man, based on how he'd gone about things so far she wouldn't put it past him.

Nodding once, Iluvar knew that it was time for him to concede. This was not the way he should have been going about the matter and they were right in saying that it was not going to end well. He descended from the pad and took a few steps until he was standing even with Wells and Fala. Looking directly at Wells, he said, "We have work to do."

OFF

A JP by:

Rear Admiral Iluvar
Commanding Officer
USS Pandora

Captain Joseph Wells (NPC)
Legal Officer
Starfleet Judge Advocate-General
Played by: RAdm Iluvar

Lieutenant Commander Fala Awen
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Pandora

and

Unnamed Crewman (NPC)
Transporter Operator
USS Pandora
Played by: LtCmdr Fala