=TF/Starbase XO's Office=
=Starbase UNITY=
It was becoming more difficult for Trent to keep himself from dozing off into LA-LA Land. He sat quietly, numbly staring at the four other people in the room situated on the other side of his desk. Two days earlier, the XO hadn't even heard of the Unity Prominade Business Association, or UPBA for short. They had requested to meet with Admiral Guzman to discuss their concerns. But, since the admiral was a busy man, and Trent was the XO, representives of the UPBA had to settle on speaking with him.
"I can assure you, everything is being done to make certain that what happened in Cargo Bay 3 doesn't happen again," Trent finally said in a low, bored tone.
"But can you guarantee the safety of our families and businesses?" a human make asked. His last name may have been Phelps or Phillips or even Jones, Trent wasn't for certain, nor did he really care.
'I can't guarantee that this office will not blow up in the next five seconds,' Trent wanted to say, but thought better of it. To be honest, he kinda wished the office would blow up so he could get out of this meeting.
"Everything is being done to assure your safety," Trent said instead. "You knew that when you started doing business here that this was not one of the safest places in the galaxy, being so close to Romulan space."
"That's not the point," Mr. Phelps, Phillips, Jones or whatever responded. "We've been through quite a bit over the past couple of years, including an evacutation of the starbase. Through all of that, we didn't complain. But if someone can get an explosive in one of the more secure sections of the base, then they can hit us anywhere."
"I understand where your coming from, but ..." Trent was cut off.
"Do you, captain? Do you really?" a female Grazerite asked. "Many of came here in hopes of new, better lives for our families. We've made a home here, just as you starfleet people have. But you seem to be overlooking us, and I'm including all of the civilians on the base that are not related to starfleet personnel."
"I can assure you that is not the case," Trent replied.
"Really?" the Grazerite shot back. "Besides your aide, how many civilians on this base do you know, captain? I don't believe I have ever seen you in the prominade."
"Ma'am, I don't really see what that has to do with anything," Trent said as calmly as possible. He wanted to kick them out, but deep down, he understood their concerns. They were afraid and they needed somebody in a position of power to vent to. He was the lucky man.
"Captain, we're grateful for starfleet," PhelpsPhillipsJones said. "Not only have you provided us with protection during a difficult time, but you have also done good business with us. We are grateful. We just want your guarantee that what happened in the cargo bay will not happen in the civilian sectors."
"I make no guarantees. I never guarantee anything. But I can tell you that we just completed scans of all civilian areas and that no explosives were discovered. Besides that, all I can say is that we're beefing up security while doing our best to avoid interferring with your day-to-day lives. Right now, that's all I can give you."
"We understand, captain, and thank you," PhelpsPhillipsJones said, stopping the Grazerite woman from continuing her arguement. "Now onto other business."
'Oh, wonderful,' Trent thought, but before the meeting could continue, they were interrupted.
+tap+ "Security to Captain Rodgers."
Trent looked over at the civilians.
"Could you excuse me for a moment," Trent said, standing up and walking out of the office.
"Rodgers here," Trent finally said as the door closed behind him, leaving out the 'thank you' part.
+tap+ "Sir, Admiral Guzman wanted us to inform you of another matter that has come up."
They explained that sheets in a couple of the senior staff and VIP quarters had been discovered contaminated with a poisonous substance called Batrachotoxin.
+tap+ "Sir, we discovered Batrachotoxin on the sheets in your quarters as well."
"OK. Continue your scans. Rodgers out."
Trent looked over at his new aide, Denaria Loto, and shrugged, "I didn't even know we had housekeeping."
She looked up at him, "Do you clean your own linens?"
"No."
"Then how do you think they were cleaned?"
"Magic elves," Trent said. "Anyhow, could you please inform the committee of business of something or other that something has come up and I was called away from my office."
"Captain?"
"Tell them to leave their requests, complaints or whatever in writing and I'll deal with them at my earliest possible convience."
"So, you want me to lie," Denaria said.
"Yeah, pretty much," Trent responded.
She smiled, "You know, you'd make a good diplomat."
"Don't threaten me," Trent said as he walked out of the waiting area.
Captain Trent Rodgers (npc by Rick)
XO, 1st TF, SSF Command
XO, SB 234: UNITY
and
other npcs by Rick
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