====== CO's ready room, Ops area, SB 234:
UNITY ======
The comm. went suddenly alive:
+TAPS+ Werannis here. Shane, you better come here
immediately +
For a slight moment, Shane was puzzled. Only Rangi called
him with his first name and rarely through the comm. system.
It took him another second to realize that the voice
belonged to Terek Werannis, his Chief Science Officer.
Several years ago, the two man become friend while serving
on the Chimera and remained on friendly terms ever after,
calling themselves with first names when not official. Using
Shane's first name in through comm. was surely a sign that
something important happened.
+TAPS+ Be right there + Shane replied. Just half an hour
ago, he and Admiral Jefferson ended with a 'sightseeing'
tour around the UNITY. The Admiral retreated back on board
his ship for some rest and Shane returned back to the Ops
… only to be told by Terek that there is nothing new about
Rangi and Martin.
Arriving next to Terek in half a minute, Shane asked:
"What's new?"
Terek said nothing, but tapped two buttons instead …
playing an audio message:
"We're in Quorum space ..although I don't know the exact
location. Harker is the reason behind it. He has a Chameloid
take Major Varis' place....I have no idea for how long and i
dread to think what he might have accessed...but he's dead
.. killed in a fight and Martin and I are safe. There are
some people here who have helped us and..."
Turning back to Terek, Shane asked: "IS this message
genuine?"
"Well" Terek said, "I ran the voice scan on the
message and it really is Rangi's voice. The message came
from Romulan space, but if its saying the truth … I
don't know"
Shane nodded. {HARKER!} Shane said to himself. {Murderer,
traitor and double agent} went through his head {but I
thought he's dead!} Harker defected to the Romulan Empire
several years ago and now it seemed that the Tal'Shiar
finally got their revenge on him … kidnapping the ones he
loves. The news of a Chameloid in Varis'es place explained
a lot … but now was a new question opened … what
happened with the original Major Varis? For a moment Shane
thought of Bren and the news he will have to tell him when
he's back from his mission …
"What's a Quorum space?" Shane asked finally.
"Quorum space is located within Romulan Empire. Its
annexed territory and since its not one of the core words,
it does not fall under total control of the Romulan
military. The bad news is that the region isn't exactly
small and unless you know where to go, it might be quite a
trip to search it all …"
Shane nodded but nonetheless tapped his badge:
+TAPS+ Guzman to Pakosii +
+TAPS+ Pakosii here, Commodore +
+TAPS+ Lieutenant, I need the Qashqai ready to depart on the
double! In 30 minutes I want to see this station through the
rear window of that ship. Have a squad of security be there
as well as one ODA team. +
The Lieutenant did well do hide his surprise about the
sudden order.
+TAPS+ Understood, Commodore +
Shane looked back at Terek and said: "Please transfer all
data to the Qashqai. Please continue monitoring the area and
inform me immediately about any news."
Terek nodded: "Certainly".
Seeing the tall figure of Chief of fleet level security –
LT. Mumacik, he summoned him to come. "Lieutenant, I am
taking the Qashqai into Romulan space for a rescue mission.
You want to join?"
Much to Shane's surprise, Mumacik shook his head: "No,
Commodore"
"No?" Shane asked.
"No, Commodore" came the all-explaining reply.
"Why not?"
"I am assigned as Chief of fleet level security on board
Starbase 234: UNITY" Mumacik said, "My responsibility is
the task force area as well as the task force staff.
Commander Summers and Major Varis are just two members of
the task force staff, what means that the majority of my
interests are on the UNITY. Logic dictates that I stay here
and continue carrying our my duties."
Shane raised an eyebrow and asked: "What logic Mr.
Mumacik?"
"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of a few" was
Mumacik's emotionless reply.
Shane pierced the Lieutenant with his stare for a moment,
but the grinned: "Right. Its great to see that not all of
us are affected by our emotions. You're the right man for
your job, Lieutenant. So stay here and guard my station well
…"
====== End of log ======
Commodore Shane Guzman
CO, 1st TF, SSF Command
CO, SB 234: UNITY
