[Lakan City - Deneva]
Corporal Nihlus was not your typical Vulcan non-com officer. Perhaps it was because he wasn't a full Vulcan, but half human as well. His genetic make-up was becoming increasingly more common in the centuries after first contact. But unlike the famous President Spock of the same genetic inheritance, Nihlus did not embrace his Vulcan heritage. Perhaps it was because his father used that famous Vulcan logic to justify his escape from a family life. No, that was more than likely the case.
Nihlus saw his father as a coward - a man, or Vulcan who used his job at the Vulcan science academy to get away from the responsibilities manifested in the form of himself and his mother. He didn't how up again until Nihlus was an adult, and expressed an interest in joining the Starfleet Corp. His father tried to convince him otherwise. Nihlus didn't listen.
Nihlus had spent the last ten years in the service. He'd worked under many young inexperienced Second and First Lieutenants that were in charge of his platoon. Sometimes he respected them, but most of the time he didn't. It was hard for the half-Vulcan to trust anyone who was stupider than he was. Yet, whenever he was offered a commissioned position he'd turn it down saying he didn't want the responsibilities.
His ten years of service earned him this sabbatical he was on now. He decide to spend the year on Deneva, one of the most pristine Federation worlds that wasn't as cliché as Risa. He found it hard to settle down after years in an SSF platoon, he was always looking over his shoulder, always planning a means of escape. And he was always armed.
It was because of this ingrained vigilance that he noticed the middle aged, six foot tall human with brown hair, brown eyes, and a militaristic demeanour two blocks behind him.
Nicholas watched with interest as the Vulcan Corporal moved along the busy street constantly looking around at all the best routes for a quick exit and also over his shoulder. He knew his demeanour had given him away when their eyes met and he smiled to himself realising that Nihlus would know he would know all the exits just as well. He stood and watched the man with interest; he wondered if he would be a suitable tactician for his team and just how he was going to convince him that undercover, classified, unsanctioned operations was the best step forward for his career.
He moved closer and tossed down the news PADD he had been pretending to read. Moving closer he could see that Nihlus was onto him, he knew Nicholas was after him. Nicholas didn't however know what was going to happen next. Nicholas was now just some feet away from the Corporal and decided to make an initial move to test him. "Corporal Nihlus… ATEN-SHUN!" he ordered as the crowds parted and watched the strange scene on this bustling high street.
Nihlus cast an annoyed glance over his shoulder at the proclamation. How does he know my name? He thought. Starfleet. He answered.
Not wanting his sabbatical to end early he darted to the left, through the parting crowds, and into the supermarket. Without looking back, Nihlus pushed past a line at a register and headed down the hygiene aisle. He looked to the left, and headed for the door marked "Employees Only" next to the dairy case.
Nicholas sighed, the Vulcan was going to make him run for no reason… he watched as the man darted into the shop. He wondered for a moment the likely route and broke out into a sprint chasing down the Vulcan flashing his Starfleet ID when the local security officers in the shop looked like they were going to stop him entering the restricted area. He arrived in the freight and packing area and looked around, obviously the Vulcan with his head start had moved on but where?
The Vulcan passed through the freight door, and hoped down the drop-off to the ramp below. It was here in this secluded alley, not in the middle of a busy street, where he decided to confront his stalker. He faced the door and crossed his arms.
Scanning the area Nicholas spotted several routes and then chose the one that a SSF operator would take; back out onto the street. Heading through the freight door he saw the Vulcan standing and waiting.
"Who are you?" Nihlus asked, cutting to the chase.
"You know, running from a senior officer is a court-martial offence Corporal. I know a lot about you, what you've done, what you want to do with your life. Tell me, what is so bad about responsibility that makes you run away from it?" he asked not answering the Vulcan's question directly.
Nihlus' eyes stared with intent at the man. "I'm not running from responsibility, I'm trying to enjoy my time off... sir." He tagged on the last bit with a healthy dose of sarcasm - highly unusual coming from someone who looked like a vulcan. "Forgive me if I'm not too keen on following the orders of a green L-T again. And how do you know what I want to do with my life, Mr. ---- "
"First mistake Corporal; you think I'm some fresh-faced Lieutenant here to draft you back to some waste-of-space platoon. My name is Nicholas Angel; I'm a Master Sergeant who; like you rejected the commissions time and time again to stay in the field and do something worthwhile. I've been doing that for the past twenty-six years so forgive me if I'm not too keen running after Corporals that think holiday is more important than service" he replied coldly. "I have a job offer for you" he said tossing a PADD over which simply read 'Do you want to make a real difference in Special Forces?' and then gave the options of 'yes' or 'no'. "Think long and hard Corporal, your decision will shape your future" he added.
Nihlus looked at the PADD and laughed "Is this a joke?" He asked. The smirk looked unsettling nest to the pointy ears. "You hand me this padd with the vaguest expression known to the galaxy and expect me to make what you say is a career changing decision?" The smirk disappeared; replaced again by a more conventional no-nonsense expression. "Sorry if I seem a bit sceptical, Master Sergeant what's-your-face, but it would be illogical to make a decision with so little information."
"That's why I'm hoping your human side will take over and you will make a decision. Yes and your future changes dramatically and your career reaches new heights… you say no and your holiday continues, you go back to serving in those same-old platoons with fresh-faced lieutenants and never really make anything of yourself… your choice… yes or no" he said simply.
"Excuse me!" The Supermarket manager appeared at the backdoor. "I don't know what the hell you guys are doing, but I'm going to have to ask you to leave the premises before I call the police." The balding man held his hands on his hips in an attempt to look authoritative.
Nicholas turned on his heel to face the Supermarket manager. "It's fine, we're from Starfleet Security and we were running surprise security control tests on business premises most likely to be targeted by Romulan assault teams… our report indicates that if they are likely to attack it will be hard, fast and most likely premises that provide necessary services to populations like your own… you failed" he lied.
The balding man's hands fell to the side, in unison with his jaw. He stammered, "Uh... Uh... I did?"
"Yes." Nihlus said, adopting a more monotone vulcan cadence. "We will require copies of your latest security inspection by Lakan City Police. Will you please retrieve it for us?"
"Yeah. Sure." The man nervously rubbed the top of his shiny cranium. "One minute," he called back as he waddled off.
Once he was out of sight Nihlus turned back to the Sergeant. The emotion was back in his voice, "If this turns out to be a boring desk job I'm out. And if I have to babysit some commissioned greenie fresh out of Quantico I'm putting him in orbit without an EVA."
Nicholas chuckled. "I run a team called Division Delta, undercover and officially non-existent. We're an SSFI team attached to the 1st Task Force that deal with all black operations that Special Forces Intelligence feels we need to undertake – we go where Starfleet cant be seen to act using the latest technology. We have bases on the colony world below Starbase Unity and one masked base on the Starbase itself. Only the 1st Task Force Command Team and the SSFI Liaison Officer know of our true purpose, and on the records we're an SSFI Training Division… we also have a shop on the Starbase…" he said smiling "This is far from a desk job" he said. "Oh… there are no officers involved. It's my team, there's a Sergeant and four Corporals" he added.
"Good." Nihlus smirked. "But I must warn you... I'm difficult to handle."
[End Log]
Master Sargeant Nicholas Angel
Commanding Officer
and
Corporal Nihlus
Tactician
Division Delta