JDL | Cmdr. Dhej & Lt Cmdr. Rinehart - "Preparing"

Posted on 241501.09 @ 5:12am by Commander Tierney Rinehart

Mission: Holy Cow

The corridors took a it more care to navigate now, each twist and turn begging for her to approach with caution as she could never know who'd be around the blind curves. While Tierney sincerely doubted that the shadow-prince was still freely lurking, stranger things had happened and she'd been caught off guard before. It wasn't a good feeling. Sitting with Zhyalla had calmed her some, set her head back on straight and bolstered her nerves back to where they should have been. She was an Intel officer aboard the great ship Enterprise. She'd taken a field demotion to be able to serve her and her crew during a time of war. Lucas was gone, but a Romulan had cropped up instead -- this too would pass. She'd see to it.

As if sensing the change in the environment, the bridge crew was unusually quiet. Only the seldom chirp of a console broke the dismal silence and Tierney quirked a brow at them before pressing the ready room's chime. Normally she would have simply slid right in. She was a ghost afterall and the laws and limits that inhibited other crew simply didn't apply to her. Tonight, however, she waited for Karim's acknowledgement, knowing he was likely busily preoccupied with much of the same concerns she had.

Karim looked up as he heard the door chime and said automatically "Come in." Now that the ship was less than a few hours from the planet, it was time to plan the details of the away team. He was thankful that Tierney had agreed to help him out, it would make it a little less stressful for him.

Stepping into the ready room, she made quick work of the space between her and the Trill. The chair she'd chosen was little to no issue as she came around it and planted her tiny self against the cushion. Her tongue and teeth worried her lips and her fingers drummed a nearly silent tattoo against her thigh until she decided to cut to the chase and pulled out a PADD from the pocket of her throw. "Karim..." She started, settling herself with a small smile and blink, "When..." She bit her tongue and started over, "We have a Romulan Chief of Security?" She asked, the concern lilting in with the usual charming notes of her voice.

Sighing, Karim put down the padd he was holding and said "Hi Tierney, you certainly aren't holding back getting right to things are you? To answer your question yes, we have a new chief of security and tactical who is an exchange officer from Romulus. I must admit his assignment was a bit of a shock to me as well,since after Lucas' sudden resignation, I had submitted a request for a new chief. It would've been nice to have been given some notice of his arrival before seeing him appear in the observation lounge."

"So you had no idea he was coming... Just as I thought." She mused in response, the pad of a slender finger tapping at her lower lip. Her eyes narrowed and her nose wrinkled in thought as she steadily worked at putting two and two together. A quick look at the tired Commander, and she knew better than to pursue it. "I'll keep an eye on him." She said, and tabled the conversation for later. "Anyway... Planet, distress call... You wanted my assistance."

Nodding, he said "Yes, in the absence of an executive officer, I'm going to be relying on your help, since you're currently the most senior officer aboard. I want to prepare for the away team, and just want to make sure I'm choosing the right people. I will be leading the away team, I know its technically against regulations, but you know I've never been a huge fan of following them. I'm thinking of having sh'Thrass pilot the Lovelace, and including Cooper, Quoicho and yourself. I am tempted to bring tr'Verelan to help address their security concerns. Does all that make sense?"

Flicking on a PADD, Tierney began taking notes in what could only be described as short hand, "Fair enough, you know I won't do anything to leave you feeling failed. I was actually going to suggest taking sh'Thrass." She mused out loud with a nod -- and then came the name of the Romulan. That alone brought her to a dead stop, and she considered it. "The Arrain?" She asked, tilting her head as if to clarify. He was the chief of security and as such, it was imperative that he be there. "I don't see why not." She nodded again and added to the list.

Smiling slightly he said "Good, so the team is set. Now in terms of who will be left in command while we're gone. Any suggestions?"

Sitting back in the depth of her chair, Tierney shrugged and raised her hands, "That I don't have any input on." She said, "At that point your options are relatively limited. Normally the con would be left to Helm, but... We kind of need her."

Nodding, he said "I guess we'll work it out. Now in terms of the mission itself. I think we should go gentle with the First Mother, not overwhelm her with anything, and get a better sense of what is going on. Then we can set everyone to work on the various aspects of their concerns."

Again she nodded, "How long are we planning on staying down?"

Thinking for a moment he replied "I'm not sure to be honest. Perhaps a day or so initially? We don't know their culture, and I don't want to rush things. Why do you ask?"

"Because," she started and crossed her legs, looping her fingers around her knee as she did so, "If we're gone over night you, or someone else, is likely to notice a few things I've managed to keep under wraps for the year or so I've been with this ship."

Raising an eye in an almost Vulcan-like fashion he said "Explain please Tierney?"

Swallowing the growing knot in her throat, Tierney tossed her head to chase a few stray hairs away from her face and eyes. There was no turning back, no lying to him when they were knotted so intricately together surrounding her pregnancy and their friendship. "Computer," She ordered, "Reduce lights by one-hundred percent." And with a chirp of compliance, the room's lights blinked out leaving nothing more than the glow of what could have been mistaken for starlight as she sat there. Each exposed freckle shone against her skin in varying shades of turquoise, blue and white. It was subtle, not vibrant enough to light the walls or more than a blur where her skin came in contact with the chair and the fabric of her shirt. "I'm not human, Karim. Not entirely, anyway." She breathed, her eyes never leaving the last position she'd seen him. A few soft clicks of sonar, and the room would have been laid out better than daylight for her, but the need wasn't there. "We... I don't know much about what my mother was. She died when I was very young and my father didn't have the answers to the questions I've had over the years so I've had to learn to grow and adapt with time and..." She shrugged, the starlight moving to rise and fall as she did, "People are cruel, especially kids."

Taking a moment, he said "I don't know what to say Tierney. Thank you for sharing this with me, but please know this doesn't change anything between us. Does your mixed heritage have any other effect on you except for the skin coloration?"

"A few ways." She responded, "Echo location, bio-electricity... The need to dye my hair to keep it a semi-realistic color... And I made Captain of the dive team in the Academy because of my lung capacity."

Nodding, he replied "Ok, and do you think all of that will have an effect on the baby?" Pausing, he added "Also I don't want you to have to hide who you are. Let your true self show if you want to. I have to admit the doctor side of me is curious to find out more about your past."

"I'm sure baby will inherit some of these traits. Genetic coin flips and all that." She chuckled and ordered the lights to come back on. "With a Romulan lurking? I feel the need to guard myself a little more closely. I'm sure you can understand. I don't have a lot of answers, unfortunately, but I'll be happy to tell you what I can."

Smiling he said "That's all I ask. I want to be here for you. Not just as your commanding officer, but as your friend. If I can help with anything about you exploring your past please let me know. And you know I am here to help you with the baby. I've been a mother a few times, and a father once, so I think I may have some knowledge to pass on."

"Karim..." Tierney said softly, uncrossing her legs to lean forward and take the Trill by the hands, "You're always there for me. You're family whether you realize it or not." She explained, patting the chilly back of one.

Touched, he gripped her hands gently, and replied "Thank you Tierney. That means a lot." Pausing he said with a grin "So are we done here? I for one am ready to get things going for the mission. The Nirua planet is about half a day away."

"Always." She smiled and released him, happy to have been accepted yet again for who and what she was. "We're done here. I'll be happy to send down the message for the team to prepare."

"No its ok, I think I have a few things to sort out before I get everyone preparing. Just try to take it easy, you've just got out of Sickbay, and this mission could be a long one. I don't want you to wear yourself out." he replied.

"I'll be alright." Tierney chuckled and found her feet. "Just keep yourself nice and relaxed and I'll do the same. Promise."

With that and their usual warm goodbyes, she soon found herself in the ship's corridors and hot footing towards her corridors. Things had happened and were happening.... Fast.

---

Commander Karim Dhej
Commanding Officer
USS ENTERPRISE, NCC 1701-F

&

Lt Commander Tierney Rinehart
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS ENTERPRISE, NCC 1701-F