Reunion

Posted on Sat Mar 14th, 2015 @ 12:08am by Lieutenant Commander Rosaleen O'Donnell & Commander Eliana Masters & Lieutenant Commander Adria "Tempest" Desoro

Mission: Bloodpath
Location: Mess Hall Tent B

The prevailing wind was beginning to increase in strength, much to the benefit of everyone as the plume of smoke and ash rising from the city's smouldering center blew away from the camp and towards the uninhabited areas beyond. In time, the wind in the upper atmosphere would disperse the contaminants across the globe, perhaps even back to their source.

"Yeah, but by then, they'll be so dispersed that there won't be any risk, even if precipitation carries it to the ground," Masters explained to a local who had brought up that very point. "I tell you what, I'll be sure and run some simulations and get back to you with the results. Trust me, we're just as aware and just as concerned about the possible long-term effects this might have on the atmosphere, okay? We'll take care of it," she smiled.

"Okay, thanks Ellie," the woman replied.

An involuntary shiver caused the El Aurian to re-zip her jacket and reach for her hood to keep the wind off of her head. She stopped after a moment before looking down to realize that her hands were still shaking despite their relative warmth. Looking around, Eliana spotted a tent that would quickly remedy the situation.

"Ooh, stew and baked potatoes? Trying to spoil a girl," Masters basically drooled her way through the line in the mess.

Adria had gathered a plate of her own. More than ready for a hot meal after a long day. Using a free hand to pull her hood tighter round her. "I don't know about you but I'm hungry. Let's find a place to sit."

"Hi! It's good to see you, even if its the umpteenth time today," Masters beamed at her friend. "Let's find a spot."

With trays in hand, they found themselves a spot where the sun had sufficiently warmed the seats and sat down, promptly dissolving away the day's headaches in a smorgasbord of meats and carbohydrates.

"May I join you?" Rosaleen asked as she approached the table with her meal tray. "That is, unless I am interrupting something."

"Feel free..." Adria answered as pure shock appeared on her face when she glanced up from her meal to see a familiar, "What in the....I saw you die."

Rosaleen frowned...this was going to take some getting used to. "Uh...well, the rumors of my death are greatly exaggerated. At least that's how I think the old saying goes." She sat the tray on the table and move to take a seat. "I'm...better now."

Masters had stopped halfway through a bite into a loaf of bread. She was just as bewildered as Adria, but the ability to form her thoughts into words was evading her. Around the tent, a few curious sets of eyeballs started to focus on their table. Eliana waited just long enough for Rosaleen's tray to reach the table before ambushing her with a hug.

"You're here!" Masters practically screamed into her shoulder. Those who hadn't been looking out of indifference or politeness were looking now. "You're alive and breathing and warm and... and all adjectives opposite of those we were using. I don't understand. How?"

Rosaleen returned the embrace with equal enthusiasm. "I'm not completely sure of all the details myself. In fact...I don't really remember much of anything. Just fragments of images and dreams."

"Regardless of how it happened, you're here now. I've seen stranger things. I've heard of things stranger still," Eliana replied. "We were just about to sit down and eat. If you have some time, sit and join us."

Rosaleen paused for a moment, looking at the ceiling. "Yes...we have time." She took a seat. "Thank you." Taking a few precautionary bites of the meal, which was...interesting...she decided that it was palatable enough. "I take it the locals are cooking for us now?"

"A few of them have volunteered to help however they can. I love these people. They have such an upbeat attitude in spite of everything that's happened. Well, I suppose I can't generalize, but most of the locals I've run into are wonderful people. Every now and again you run across someone who isn't too keen to welcome aliens, but you can understand that," Masters stopped talking long enough to partake in more stew, which was odd because words usually busted through every seam in her being.

"I, um, don't really know how to put it," Masters continued in a low voice after an uncharacteristically long pause, "but I'm really happy you're back. Ugh, words are just so. . . inadequate when it comes to explaining these things. I hope you understand."

Rosaleen locked her gaze with Eliana. ~ I understand completely. And I know the sacrifices that you made for me. You did not have to act in the manner that you did. Thank you. ~ Rosaleen's words flowed through Eliana's head, even though she never spoke.

Adria had been mostly quiet still a bit in shock. "Yeah we need all the help we can get. I'm glad you're back as well. Honestly I don't know what else to say." She was tired like and overworked like everyone else.

"It's about to get worse." Rosaleen replied off-handedly as she ate. "A new age is upon us."

Eliana put down her spoon for a moment. The metallic clink of the utensil echoed through the air.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Rosaleen stopped eating and placed her utensils on the table. "It's like a dream...a dream that you can only catch the briefest glimpses of once awake, making you wonder....anyway that's not important." She leaned in and lowered her voice. "I fear that we have been set up to fail here, and that these good people are going to be abandoned." That wasn't anywhere near everything, but she wasn't sure exactly what to say, or how to say it. "Something is wrong in the Council."

Adria sighed, "Yeah I've had the feeling something is very wrong myself. Though I can't place exactly why. I just know the recent Intel we got from a reputable source makes no sense in any other context."

Rosaleen turned to Desoro. "What exactly have you heard, Adria?"

"Just recently I was informed there was a duckblind operation going on. I was briefed by that team leader. Their first indication of any sort of issues occurred only two weeks before our shuttle crashed. So I get the feeling none of us are getting a full picture of what's going on or why. It doesn't sit well with me."

A strange look came across Rosaleen's face. "Historically speaking, Duckblind ops usually don't bode well for the race being observed. Do we have any idea who sanctioned the mission?"

"Someone a lot higher than any of our command staff. As I understand it they wanted solid data that can only be obtained first hand. Possibly for potential membership all I know was the team was given orders carry out the mission and not break cover unless things went seriously south like it did. But you're right. I get the feeling we weren't meant to succeed for some reason."

Rosaleen sat quietly for a moment, considering her next words carefully. "This entire operation makes no sense from either a tactical or economic standpoint. Why would you press an attack and subsequent invasion operation in a completely different Quadrant? You cannot support it from a logistical standpoint, unless...." She went silent for another long moment...her eyes turning into sparkling crystals. "...unless you have strong support on this end. Support from somebody with the means to not only provide the needed supply chain that you require, but to also provide you with the necessary intel...and to stack the odds in your favor." 'It couldn't be...'

Adria considered Rosaleen's word for a long moment, "Their attacks aren't expertly coordinated however...if what you're saying is true...that could be on purpose. To what end I have no clue but it honestly can't mean anything good. All I know for sure is we're in deep trouble."

"If nothing else, it could be a diversionary tactic. Have all of us looking one way while something...while something is happening elsewhere." Rosaleen's mind was moving at light speed. "We don't even know the things that we don't know yet."

With a somber nod Adria answered Rosaleen, "You're right we don't even know the things that we don't know yet. Strategically that bothers me for several reasons..." Allowing her voice to drift off as her gaze fixed on Eliana and Rosaleen.

The idea that the "enemy" wore the same badge and uniform irritated Masters on a basic level. She had always kept one foot in the realm of naïve optimism while keeping the other firmly planted in the unemotional statues of reality. She really couldn't say to what extent underhanded dealings played a part in keeping the Federation together. Who in their right mind would want to know? Sometimes, ignorance truly was bliss.

"Your sources," Eliana gave voice to the thought on her mind. "We're sure we can trust them right? You know I trust you both with my life, but it has to be said. Somebody has to ask these sorts of questions and play devil's advocate here. I just want to be sure."

Rosaleen turned to Eliana. "Some of it you just have to trust to faith alone, but...my father has been expressing concerns for quite some time now. The voices of reason have become a minority in the Council."

"Okay," Masters nodded in return. She wasn't the type of person to distrust the recently resurrected, and even if she was, Ellie was fiercely loyal to her friends - perhaps to a fault.

"So what now?" The question lingered in the air like the morning fog.

"For starters, I need to go speak to Kathleen. I'm also going to try to get a courier to my Father to see what his thoughts are." Rosaleen had finished eating and pushed her tray to the side. She leaned in and spoke in almost a whisper. "Make a stash, guys. Start collecting weapons and ammo, and put it under lock. Have the people you trust...I mean really trust start doing the same. You never know what we may end up needing at a moments notice."

"Wilco," the flight operations chief replied. "I'm sure we can manage to create a pretty nice cache before long."

She turned to Adria after subtly looking around them once again. "Can you devise a remote lockout system that will put all fighters under your control if necessary?"

Adria nodded as if they were having a casual conversation, "I have a plan for that already to go. At this point it won't take much to put it in action."

Rosaleen stood with a smile on her face. "OK then. You guys work on all of that then. I'm headed over to Kathy's. I will see you all in the morning." Rosaleen made her way to the waste disposal area and dumped her tray into the recycle unit, then exited the tent.

Morning would come sooner than any of them expected.

------------------------------

Eliana Masters
Director of Flight Operations
Second Officer
Starbase 80

Rosaleen O'Donnell
Commodores Assistant
Starbase 80

Adria 'Tempest' Desoro
220th CAG
Starbase 80