====== Docking bay 14, Fleet level Docking area,
SB 234: UNITY ======
Picking up his duffle bag, Richard made his way out of the
craft. His personal effects, in storage crates on board,
would be beamed to his new quarters. What this station's
security sensors would make of his very large arsenal of
personal 20th & 21st century guns, he had no idea. As he
stepped over the threshold of the transport, he thought
"Onto new adventures and new beginnings."
Lieutenant Pakosii was standing near the entrance gate on
docking bay 14. There were three security officers following
his trail and waiting patiently two stapes behind him. The
exact time and docking bay where Brigadier General Richard
Sharpe would enter the UNITY was told him by UNITY's flight
ops. He was a bit stretched in time, but managed it to be
here 2 minutes before the transport ship.
Spotting the tall marine in a general's uniform, Pakosii
made his way to Sharpe. "Sir, I am Lieutenant Pakosii,
personal aide of Commodore Guzman" he said. "Welcome on
board".
"Good Evening Lieutenant." Richard said, as gruffly as he
could manage. He wanted to create the image that he was
loftier than the mere Lieutenant and talking to him was
grudging. Somehow though, he just couldn't. "I'm here to see
the good Commodore."
"With regret I have to inform you that Commodore Guzman is
currently on a mission away from UNITY. He specifically
instructed me to welcome you on board in his name and the
name of all Task Force Staff. He asked me to tell you that
he will contact you through a secure line in two hours with
a matter of importance". That was quite not true, cause
Guzman was often forgetting about formal meetings with new
crew or about the pleasantries that were expected at such
occasions. Guzman just said: "Pakosii, there should be a new
MEF Commander arriving at UNITY today. I don't know who it
will be or what his experiences are, but I need him on a
line at 14:00. It's important and no is no answer for me."
"Sounds like even though he's lightyears away, he's trying
to keep atop of things. That's encouraging." Richard said,
nodding approvingly. "Any idea where our mutual friend, the
Commodore is holding up?"
Pakosii shook his head slightly: "To be honest, sir, I don't
know much about the Commodore's whereabouts. He's in Romulan
territory with the Qashqai and the Detector left earlier
today to follow him. Reinforcements were called by Captain
Chisulo, who is Task Force Tactical advisor half an hour
ago, so I can only presume that those events take place in
romulan space"
"Bringing the fight home to the Rommies, is he?" Richard
chuckled. "I Hope they're alright. Last thing I want is for
my arrival to be marred with the death of the TFCO."
Pakosii nodded: "I am sure it would not be noted in your
personal file, sir" he said in a dry humor tone. He
developed this type of humor during the last year of service
as Guzman's aide. Sometimes, it was a fools job.
Motioning to two of three security officers behind him he
said to Sharpe: "Sir, as a security measure I'd like you to
be escorted by two bodyguards until you can arrange your own
security."
Richard raised an eyebrow. "I appreciate the sentiment,
Leftenant, but I don't need babysitters to hold my hand
around the station."
"We experienced some security breaches and accidents over
the last six months and three Task Force Staff members
became victims. Two died and the third has long lasting
health issues. I am sure that Commodore Guzman would not be
very happy if anything like this should happen to you"
"I pity the fool who tries to attack me." Richard smiled a
wicked smile. "But I will aquies to the Commodore's wishes
this one time."
It was just when the docking bay filled with more security
personnel who immediately went over to the cargo crates. One
of the security officers walked over to Pakosii and Sharpe.
Looking at the tall marine General he said: "I am Lieutenant
Mumacik, Chief of Fleet level security and I am looking for
Brigadier General Richard Sharpe"
"That would be me, Leftenant." Richard said, with his heavy
Yorkshire accent, not quite diluted after all these years.
Mumacik looked at his PADD and answered: "One of the cargo
crates was detected to contain non-energy weapons. Records
indicate that the crate belongs to Brigadier General Richard
Sharpe"
"That is correct, they are my personal effects." Richard
said, calmly.
"Sir, it is not allowed to import weapons of any kind on
board Starbase 234: UNITY unless they are a part of an
official Starfleet weapon storage cargo, allied forces
official weapon storage cargo or such a weapon presents a
cultural artifact and is needed for formal or official
events. Is any of this the case?"
"They are my personal collection of military issue weaponry.
I have carried them around with me my entire career,
spanning somewhere longer than your current lifespan, I'm
sure." Richard said. "I assure you that I am not 'importing'
or 'smuggling' weapons on board. They are for my personal
use, and will be stored in my quarters in a specially
created secure room. I have the schematics for this room
here, as I intended to liase with the chief engineer over
constructing this room in my quarters."
Mumacik remained quiet for a moment, like considering
Sharpe's words and SSF regulations ... all 4758 of them.
Slowly he nodded: "As a high ranking SSF officer and
member of 1st Task Force Command staff, you are allowed to
keep several energy or non-energy weapons for personal
safety and training issues. As long as those weapons will be
placed in a secure room and access restricted to authorized
personnel only you are authorized to keep in them within
Fleet level area."
"There we are, everyone's happy." Richard said.
With a matter-of-fact tone Mumacik replied: "Until the
secure room is finished and approved by office of SB 234:
UNITY's security Chief, I will confiscate those weapons
and keep them in a secure cargo bay"
"So long as I have access to my personal effects at all
times, whenever I
feel like it. Unless you want my first experience here on SB
234 to be that
of overbearing security personnel harassing experienced,
highly decorated
flag officers." Richard said firmly, his no-nonsense
attitude clearly in
play.
Mumacik looked at Sharpe with a puzzled look . like he did
not understand the hint . which he really did not. "Sir,
if you take notice of security personnel harassing any crew
of SB 234: UNITY, Task Force or any other passing Starfleet,
Allied of neutral crew, please report then to UNITY's
operations. Such a report will follow SSF Wartime regulation
Nr. 117 and finally end up in the office of 1st Task Force
Commander".
"Very well, I will certainly bear that in mind, Leftenant." Richard said,
firmly, and pointedly turned his back on the irritating man.
Nodding, Mumacik said: "Thank you for your cooperation
Brigadier General Richard Sharpe." It was Pakosii who
looked at Sharpe and shook his head slightly like saying
that it was on absolutely no use to use 'hints' on
Mumacik.
"Mister Pakosii, could you show me to this conference room I'm supposed to
go to? I have more important matters to attend to besides my luggage being
rifled by overzealous security chiefs." Richard said, then walked off.
