Mushroom Gathering

Posted on Thu Jul 11th, 2019 @ 6:10am by Captain Jacob Lambert & Lieutenant Magnus Arynson Jr
Edited on on Tue Aug 6th, 2019 @ 7:42am

Mission: Episode 1 - One Arrow Does Not Kill the Serpent
Location: USS Unification; Captains Quarters
Timeline: MD01 || 1100

So many new faces. He had prepared for this, of course, but he didn't realise how many people he knew were Consortium agents, right under everyone's noses. The Unification had been inside the Hermitage now for coming up on three weeks. There were not many on the Unification, or indeed in Starfleet, that knew of its location. Even some of the senior officers were only aware of it because they were in it. It was, for all intents and purposes, a totally hidden base of operations.

So new people came here on one of the 2 starships, whose Captain's knew of its location, dropped off new crew or supplies. Now that the Consortium was basically gone, the crews of the two ships had been hand chosen by Rear Admiral Adislo, so he knew there would be no security leaks.

With all the secrecy, Jacob had elected to meet new crew and officers in his quarters, to put them as ease somewhat. It had worked so far. Though his current mood wasn't great right now. He was still quite agitated.

He tapped his commbadge. "Lambert to Lieutenant Arynson, please report to my quarters."

MJ had received a lot of unusual requests in his career, but it was rare to be summoned to the personal quarters of a commanding officer. Still, it was an order and he followed them; after a check with the computer to locate the Captain's Quarters, he checked his uniform, then headed to the location listed. There, he tapped the chime and waited to be admitted.

"Come in Lieutenant." He walked from his desk to the replicator. "Would you care for a drink?"

MJ entered and shook his head. "No, thank you, Captain," he said as the door closed behind him.

Jacob gestured to the chair. "Please, have a seat Lieutenant. Have you been on Hermitage long, before your assignment to the Unification?" He asked.

The big Security Chief sat awkwardly in the chair and raised an eyebrow at the question. "About a week," he said. "It was a rather unusual one at that. No one seemed to know where they were and even fewer people seemed willing to answer questions. I was more or less treated like a mushroom."

He smiled. "Just the way the Admiral likes it. This was one of his bases of operation during the incident. So he kept it off the radar. Not many people know where it is, but for good reason. This place kept a lot of people safe."

"Care to fill me in, Captain?" MJ asked.

He smiled. "There are some details that are still classified, during the Consortium incident, there were a lot of Starfleet personnel who were on various ships or bases that knew which side they were on. So the Admiral got as many as he could to safety. You know, those on shore leave, in transit between postings et cetera. So the Hermitage became a hidden safe place."

"Which tells me absolutely nothing useful," the big Security Chief said flatly. "Or does my current Security clearance and data access prevent me from knowing more than your average mushroom?"

There was one thing about MJ that Jacob had already decided. He had the ability to make him smile. "My security clearance isn't even high enough to know half the stuff I know. Officially I am in the same boat as you. Unofficially we are around 10 light years from the Jurgen system."

"Okay, all that aside, I'm sure you called me here for another reason," MJ said, wanting to cut to the chase.

"I like to know my officers. Even more so since the incident. Especially my security chief. Some of my friends were arrested, imprisoned and killed by their security chiefs. So I'm making more of an effort to get to know everyone. Especially those who may literally end up with my life in their hands." He stopped talking, feeling himself getting a little... too emotional.

"There's one main thing you need to know about me," the bulky Security Chief said. "That is that I will fight anything and anyone to keep my Captain and shipmates safe, and the ship itself. No matter what it takes."

"Then I feel we will get along smoothly. Because I feel the same about my ship and it's crew. I would give my life if it meant everyone would live. Let's hope we don't have any situations that requite it."

"I'll give my life if it's required, but I'd prefer to outlive my enemies through nearly any means possible," MJ told him.

"I would also prefer you outlive your enemies. Because your enemies are likely going to be mine as well." He let out a small chuckle.

"Your enemies are my enemies, Captain," MJ said.

Jacob smiled. He liked this officer. He also felt like never annoying him, because there would likely be repercussions. He laughed slightly, then covered it with a smile. He didn't want him thinking he was weird. "Glad to hear it."

The brawny Security Chief wondered why the man was smiling and laughing, but chalked it up to nerves. The reason behind it would raise if the Captain felt a need to reveal it. "Is there anything else, Sir?"

"No, that's all. Dismissed Lieutenant."

"Very good, Sir," MJ said and turned on his heel and headed out.