The Fate of Corwin

Posted on 24 Apr 2017 @ 12:54am by Lieutenant Commander Joey Geisler & Commodore Blaise Satié

1,902 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: The Finnean Crisis
Location: USS Lakota
Timeline: October 23, 2388

It was 1800 hours on the dot, and Joey found herself standing in a private office where she would be meeting with Commodore Satié. She had no idea what to expect during this meeting, and it was because of that the Lieutenant was feeling a case of nerves mixed with a wave of nausea. Joey hoped she could keep the latter at bay until this was all over. It wouldn't be a good think to be sick on the feet of a flag officer. Then again... when her very future was up in the air as it wasn't too far a stretch that she'd be feeling the way she was. Especially when things were so up in the air.

Joey closed her eyes and took a few calming breaths. She and Harvey had been assigned temporary quarters while they were on board, so her dogs were two individuals she didn't have to worry bout for the time being. They were undoubtedly lounging on the bed and sleeping. Something she wished she'd been able to do for a couple of hours, but duty called.

Harvey's words replayed in her head, and he was right. Things were going to be fine. She would see to it... one way or another.

The Commodore's cold blue eyes stared at the tall and endowed woman before he. Satié was old enough to be a four-star admiral by now, but she'd refused promotion after promotion, choosing to continue operating with the freedoms she'd known for most of her life. Even in the Intelligence Community, the higher one went up the chain, the more restrictive it became. She'd only accepted a flag rank because she could no longer work in the field.

The boxed pip did give her access to a treasure trove of information. For the last ten years, she'd been one of Starfleet's top analysts. And the moment word had reached them of Deep Space 15 and the situation at Finnea, it fell to Satié to pick up the pieces. "It's amazing, really," Satié began, not even offering the young lieutenant a chance to sit. "Fifteen hundred people served on Deep Space Fifteen until the Consortium Crisis. Of those fifteen hundred, less than two hundred survived. How you wound up in Starfleet's hands is a miracle, Lieutenant."

"A miracle, ma'am?" Joey asked with her hands clasped behind her back. She couldn't have been more uncomfortable if she tried, but she was doing her best to keep from letting it show. After all, sharks attacked when they smelled blood in the water.

"The Akihito," Satié explained, "was the only ship that left Deep Space 15 that wasn't under Starfleet's control. The rest were Consortium and perished either at Idran or New Bajor. Aside from a miracle, are you aware of what that makes you?"

"Lucky?" Joey questioned, and she was quite serious about it. "It makes me one of very few who knows what went on and lived to talk about it." Though, she never really did talk about it with anyone, and wasn't sure she wanted to start.

Satié didn't nod or otherwise acknowledge her answer. In fact, she planned to circle back to it. "Aside from station leadership, as I'm sure you as a CPO noticed, no one rarely stayed on Deep Space 15 for more than six months. You were there for nearly two years." The Commodore didn't have to remind Corwin of the constantly high level of tension aboard DS15, or Finnea Prime itself. Nor did she have to remind Corwin of the many mysterious abductions or murders. Finnea Prime was a hell hole, the primary reason why the Consortium gave the order to evacuate the station. "What do you know of the Selubassari?"

"They're a humanoid race with resonating chambers on the tops of their heads which they use to speak and hear... neither can be done at the same time. They're from a frozen wasteland of a planet called Svarog. They express their emotions through their blood which can be seen through their skin," she replied, pausing for a moment before she continued. "They normally cover themselves in an attempt to hide that from others. They do, or did, have trading posts on Deep Space Fifteen, one was known as The Net, and have influence with The Steadings."

Joey kept her eyes locked on the Commodore in front of her. "Was there something specific you wanted to know?"

"Shortly before the evacuation," continued Satié, "you were assigned to protect a diplomatic entourage that was attempting to mediate a trade deal between the Selubassari and the Fourth Steading. What happened there?

"As a CPO, my job was to be a silent enforcer, though, I did see and hear a lot that most likely wish I hadn't," the Lieutenant replied. She had a feeling she wasn't going to get out of this meeting without talking about what happened.

Joey thought back to her time on Finnea Prime and the Steadings that she had visited. The memory of the trip to the Fourth Steading made her glad that she no longer had to deal with that. "It wasn't a situation that I would have voluntarily gotten involved in, but I was doing my duty," she said. "The Selubassari wanted a full economic trade pack and the Followers of Dolmoquour were there stirring up trouble as well. I had to protect the diplomats from more than one kidnapping and murder attempt while I was there to keep the diplomatic negotiations going."

"They've certainly taken advantage of your absence," Satié said. "In fact, much has happened since that trade deal fell through and you all left."

"Much has happened...," Corwin repeated with a frown. "What, if you don't mind me asking, exactly happened?"

"The Selubassari have completely overtaken the Fourth Steading and have a controlling interest on Deep Space 15. The Ferengi control the Sixth Steading, and the Rakhari... they have the Second and Fifth. Finnea's about to plunge into Civil War and drag the Federation into it."

This didn't really come as a surprise to the Lieutenant. "I would be lying to you if I said I was surprised by that outcome, Commodore, but I'm not. Now, my question to you is... other than the fact that I'm one of the few survivors to make it out alive, what does all of this mean for me?"

Inquisitive, noted the Commodore. Just as she should be. Satisfied enough to continue, Satié rose from her chair and slowly come around the desk. As she walked, she spoke, "I'm not at liberty to reveal all that I know. Orders..." Frowning, the woman continued. "What I can tell you is that something emerged from the Zone."

"Understood," Joey said. Revealing all you know would make this easy, and Starfleet can't have that. "When you sat the Zone, you're referring to the Convergence Zone?" At the rate this meeting was going, it seemed as though she, and whichever crew she was going to be a part of, would be heading to one of very few places she'd hoped to never revisit again.

"The Convergence Zone, yes. Aside from the Aketi that emerged a few years ago, this is proof that not only can the zone be entered, but it can be left as well."

"But... how is that even possible?" Corwin asked, trying to wrap her mind around what she was hearing. "The Aketi sent a lifeform through that didn't survive. Last I heard, they were on Deep Space Fifteen trying to figure out how to return safely. Are you telling me that someone has figured out a way?"

"Evidently," Satié murmured. "Now one knows how or what. All we know is that a distress call, a Federation distress call, was intercepted by the Vasco de Gama. The Followers of Dolmoqour have become even more active, partnering with the Selubassari and taking total control of Deep Space 15 and the de Gama."

"A Federation distress call... total control..." the younger woman repeated in total disbelief. "Given what you've just told me, I have no doubt that Starfleet has decided to send someone in to investigate, and considering that I'm one of few people who left the area alive, I'm going to be sent with them."

"Very good, Lieutenant," an impressed Commodore stated. "Starfleet has undoubtedly been curious about the zone for the last few years, but as soon as everyone knows travel is possible, the zone will be a popular destination for many. And, who's to say who will be on the other side. You are among a rare few who we consider an expert on the cultures and customs surrounding the zone, and the only one with a security background. Which is why we're transferring you to Intelligence. We'll need you to collect as much data as possible, and help provide insights on future dealings with the zones and the species it contains."

A transfer to Intelligence? That certainly wasn't what she expected to hear, given she was ready to hang it all up after everything that happened of course, knowing what she knew now... about being one of few remaining individuals to survive the area, that decision was made for her. "I will do whatever I can to help, Commodore Satié," Joey stated. "Are we going to attempt to regain control of Deep Space Fifteen as well, or will that be left to others to deal with?"

"Something will be done with Deep Space Fifteen," said the Commodore, her short frame now standing next to the taller Lieutenant. "The secret to entering the zone is there, and it will be up to the Black Hawk to get to it."

"And we will. Let there be no question." the taller woman said without any hesitation as she looked to the shorter woman. There was a newfound fire burning inside Joey. A fire she hadn't felt much of over the last couple of months, but now it was there burning brighter than ever.

Satié removed an isolinear chip from a hidden pocket. "Orders, authorizations, and other details are on here. There is also a sizable data packet set on a time release for after O'Connell's briefing. Don't try to open it until then, otherwise this chip will leave a nice black hole in the chip reader. Wouldn't be the best way to start your new career."

"No, it wouldn't be. Thank you," Joey said as she accepted the chip, tucking it into her own pocket. "I will see to it that it isn't accessed until after the briefing."

The Commodore nodded. "I'll be in touch." An instant later, she was surrounded by a transporter beam and plucked from the Lakota.

Joey wasn't surprised the Commodore departed the way that she did. She knew she should leave as well, but she opted to remain standing where she was to take in everything that had just taken place. No longer was she going to be wearing the gold of her department, but instead she would be wearing red. A smile formed on her lips as she recalled a memory from some time back. A time when Harvey told her she'd look good in red some day. That day was among them, and she planned to do her new role justice.

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