Defining Details

Posted on Wed Mar 3rd, 2010 @ 3:31pm by Vice Admiral Iluvar & Commander Earlond

Mission: Episode 1.2 - "A House Divided"
Location: Ready Room, USS Pandora
Timeline: MD01, 0900

ON: [[Ready Room, USS Pandora, MD01, 0900]]

The briefing had gone quite well, Iluvar thought as he crossed the Pandora's bridge, the single PADD with the mission details in hand. He entered the short corridor and approached the door to his ready room, which slid open to admit him.

Since coming aboard, Iluvar had spent most of his time touring the ship or unpacking in his quarters. He had yet to finish giving the ready room his own personal touch, which meant it still seemed foreign to him. His ready room aboard the Tethys had seemed homely and welcoming. With time, he knew that this new room would feel the same way. He just needed to finish making it his own.

The viewports behind his desk provided him a view of the aft portion of the ship, the drydock structure surrounding the Pandora, as well as open space. For a moment, his gaze paused on the view before turning to the desk where several PADDs already awaited his attention. He smiled when he realized that Oliver (NPC) must have already paid him a visit. The PADDs were neatly organized such that those with greatest priority were most readily available. It was thanks to Oliver that the paperwork Iluvar was forced to wade through was as minimal as possible. The young man certainly had potential, but Iluvar couldn't say he was disappointed when he had heard that Oliver would be transferring to the Pandora as well. Training a new yeoman would have proven...interesting.

Slowly, Iluvar made his way over to the replicator on the wall directly opposite the desk. He took a moment to examine the interface. Replicators were very often quite finicky in the way they operated. Most of the time they would work just fine, but every once and awhile, he'd run into one that had a hard time synthesizing something as simple as a cup of tea. The one in his quarters seemed to work just fine and it would be interesting to see if this one would behave just as well.

Iluvar turned and approached the desk again, knowing that he would have to start now if he wanted to keep on top of the paperwork. If he waited until after the launch, he'd end up behind. That was not something he wanted to make a habit of. He stepped behind the desk and took a seat in the chair. Reaching out, he lifted a PADD from the first stack and glanced at the screen. A quick skim of the contents revealed that it was the official list of transfers that had come aboard from the Tethys. Although the transfer was as good as finished, it still required his official approval before it could be "done".

He didn't take much time to dwell on the basic approvals, which allowed him to cut through the stack rather rapidly. Most of the reports had already gone through the entire system and, after a few years, he was getting better and better at knowing what needed his full attention and what could use a simple once over. It wasn't long before he had reached the meatier information regarding final launch preparations and their mission assignment.

"Computer, access starbase records on Tavez Summit," Iluvar said, activating his desktop terminal with a tap of a control. The terminal rose from within the desk, sliding smoothly into position as the display came to life with the Federation emblem.

=^=Information regarding that subject requires command clearance=^= the feminine voice of the Pandora's computer stated crisply.

It made sense that information regarding the events of an ongoing summit, especially one of this importance, would be restricted for the safety and security of the delegates, at least for the time being. A prudent precautionary measure to take this close to the Elyshan border. "Authorization Iluvar-alpha-two-one," Iluvar replied, watching the display as it changed to a secure interface with the Starbase 386's main computer. Sensor logs, discussion logs, various background information on the delegates, as well as other information began to scroll across the screen at a steady pace.

"Computer, adjust search parameters to include all entries relating to the Romulan delegations," Iluvar ordered. The computer processed the request and a number of entries disappeared from the list, though a fair number still remained.

Earlond reached Iluvar's Ready Room and activated the chime. He had a few things to discuss with the admiral.

At the sound of the doorchime, Iluvar looked up from the display before him. He had a pretty good idea who it was that was waiting outside to be let in. In fact, he'd been expecting to receive a visit sooner than this. "Enter," he called, turning his attention to the doorway.

"Already working on the paperwork, I see," Earlond said as he stepped over to the desk. "Don't they have people at desks who can do that for you?"

Iluvar smiled at his first officer and motioned for the man to take a seat across from him. He folded his hands on the surface of the desk as he replied, "Oliver has already been kind enough to go through the bulk of the 'paperwork', as it were. This is all mission related now...field reports on the region we're going to be heading to, among other things. I half-expected you to be in here sooner. Something on your mind?"

"A few things," Earlond said. "Had I known we were going to be with the Romulans, I would have pushed for the Tethys. Frankly, I'm not comfortable about going out there with just the Pandora."

It made sense that the man would have been more comfortable with the Tethys on such a mission, but Iluvar knew that there was a reason they would be taking the Pandora. "I understand your concern, Earlond," he said, "but Starfleet Command believes that the Pandora will make a better diplomatic presence, and I agree with them. The success of Captain Riker and the USS Titan has not gone unnoticed by those within the Romulan Empire. I'm sure Starfleet feels that the Pandora, being of similar class, will invoke a similar response."

"Well, you know how I feel about a 'diplomatic presence'," Earlond said wryly. "I'm just not very trusting of the Romulans. And so close to the Elyshan border...I guess I'm just not sure the Pandora is cut out for something that could turn into a tactical mission at any moment. I know you would rather not be using a warship as your flagship - and I agree we could use some more exploration - but something like this is dangerous , especially with a new crew and a new ship."

The response Iluvar was getting from his first officer was one that he expected. When it came down to it, he knew that Earlond would do his duty to the very best of his abilities. The man expected nothing less than perfection from himself. Yet it was Earlond's caution and concerns that made his counsel so valuable. It was a different perspective, one that Iluvar made an effort to understand. "I'm sure that we'll be fine," Iluvar replied, "We've been in far worse situations. Besides, from what I've been getting out of these specs, the Pandora can certainly hold her own when she needs to. Add to that a crew that I know we can count on...if something were to go wrong, I would have no doubt that we'd find a way."

Earlond nodded slowly. "Alright," he said. He understood Iluvar's standpoint - somewhere, someone had to step forward without all guns out and locked on the other party. In this case, that was Iluvar. Once, long ago, Earlond would have seen this as a weakness in Iluvar. More recently, he would have analytically seen it as being potentially more dangerous even than his own approach. Now, however, he had come to trust Iluvar's judgement, and he realized the gesture of good faith was just that - good faith. Iluvar didn't fear setting aside his weapons because he genuinely believed there was a chance for something better.

"There is another thing," Earlond continued. "The Elyshans will most certainly notice what we're doing. What do you think they will think?"

The question caused Iluvar to frown slightly. It was entirely possible that the Elyshans would notice the presence of a Federation starship on the Elyshan border. They may even know the reason for the Pandora's visit to the region. At the same time, it would not come as unexpected to the Elyshans that the Federation and the Romulans would be working together. "I would assume that they may be curious as to our intentions," Iluvar replied slowly, "As to whether or not it would be interpreted as a hostile act...I doubt that they would make an overt reaction to this."

"Even if the main Elyshan government doesn't react overtly," Earlond said, "how can we be sure that other factions won't take their own initiative?"

Iluvar looked at his first officer and replied, "We can't. Which is all the more reason it is imperative that we ensure the security of the Romulan people...for their sakes and for ours."

"I'd still rather have the Tethys, just in case," Earlond said. "But I suppose the Pandora will have to do." He was still reluctant to enter such a potentially hostile situation with a new ship less armed than the Tethys, but he trusted Iluvar to see them through.

"Understood," Iluvar said with a slow nod. He cast a brief glance toward the waiting display, then back toward his first officer. "Will that be all," he asked.

"For now," Earlond agreed, standing. "I'm sure I'll find other problems to bring to your attention later."

A smile appeared on Iluvar's face as he chuckled a little. "Of that, Number One, I have no doubt," he said, unfolding his hands and placing them palm down on the desk, "See you at eleven hundred hours then."

Nodding, Earlond turned and headed for the door.

The door hissed closed, allowing Iluvar a small, private chuckle before turning his attention back to the display on his desktop terminal. Though the list of files was much shorter than what he had started with, he still had a lot to go over before they reached the Neutral Zone. Like they said in the Temporal Mechanics Department...there's no time like the present.

OFF

A JP by

Rear Admiral Iluvar
Commanding Officer
USS Pandora

and

Commander Earlond
Executive Officer
USS Pandora