Posted by Lieutenant Commander Faye Calloway (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Intelligence Office - Department Briefing

Posted by Civilian Dawson (Intelligence Operative) in Intelligence Office - Department Briefing

Posted by Civilian Marishka (Lounge Host) in Intelligence Office - Department Briefing
Posted by… suppressed (5) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

Dawson listened to the ladies, his eyes discreetly lingering on Marishka’s eyes at the mention of her pheromones, a slight smirk appearing on his face before giving his own input. “Infiltration can be my specialty. I quite enjoy getting into the thick of it, analyzing the situation, gathering information from people. Plenty of ways to go about it. I could find a way to be on the bridge if we feel it necessary. I’m technically an intel and security liason. I suppose if I have to, I could don a uniform once again. I’m pretty flexible though.” His eyes once more lingered for a brief moment longer on Marishka before turning back to Faye.

-Dawson

“We’ll hold off on that for now. My experience is that the more people in an Intelligence uniform there are around, the harder it is to do stuff. Let me take the ire while you two can get by without it. And I am on the Bridge pretty regularly, in part because it makes sense to be there on occasion, but also because I am doing Command training and I have shifts up there.” Faye pondered. “What I think could be useful is the three of us having a private message group that we can send discreet notes to. Maybe come up with our own code in the off-chance someone manages to intercept it, which is highly unlikely given my data skills, but you never know. I also want to know what you are both willing to do if the occasion called for it, official status as intelligence operatives or not.”

She looked at Marishka. “Dawson already told me he was willing to help wherever, but I’m keenly aware that if you had wanted to return to uniform and official duty, you could have. You have not. It’s not my business why if you don’t care to share, but I don’t want to step on toes here by asking things that you you aren’t willing to.”

~Faye Calloway, CIO

Marishka had been waiting for a moment like this and relished it. She knew that her life could change in the next few minutes by everything that was said and unsaid here. She chose her words carefully.

“I am an unwanted, yet somehow very planned for conception, I claim no family and no family claims me. I will do what is necessary to keep the ship and these people safe and well because that is what they do for me. I have developed very close ties to people here. Some might say that is a weakness on my part. I consider it a strength. So, you only need ask and I will most likely do. If I cannot then there will probably be a damn good reason for it. As far as communications go, I might have that covered by something our dear captain gifted me within my first few days of coming aboard this ship. Let me handle that and get back to you.”

• Marishka, Intel

It was Dawson’s turn to speak, after taking a moment to consider the question carefully. “The job I was tasked with was assisting the Chief Intelligence Officer of the Athena with whatever they might need. Starfleet seems concerned about the things that happen on this ship. And while they would like to have a better understanding, my work is directly related to you now. Furthermore, the captain of this fine ship and I are in need of…a reunion of sorts. And in my short time of being here, I’ve found the fondness of the crew towards each other to be desirable. It’s possible I could be convinced to stay long term. All of that to say, I’ll do what I must to keep you and this crew safe.” There was a feel of promise he hoped was exuded in his voice. He meant every word after all.

-Dawson, Intel

Faye nodded slowly, not only digesting this information but adding it to the immense amount she was holding in hr mind at this moment. So many pieces to sort through and rearrange! But there were some that had not been placed in play in this conversation that Faye was understanding might need to be, for everyone’s sake. “I feel…” She sighed. “I never ask people to take risks I am not willing to take. I think we’re all the same in that regard. But I come with… risks. I’ve asked you for disclosure, and it seems only fair to give it in return. But knowledge is more than power, it’s also dangerous. Do you want to know, or are you content just trusting me to keep you out of it should it ever prove an issue?”

~Faye Calloway, CIO

“Danger is an interesting thing. To avoid it, you must know it exists. If you want to understand it you must also know it exists. I would not be here if I didn’t need to avoid danger. I think you are here partially for the same reason. I would assist you with your danger therefore I’d like to know a little bit about it. Whatever you feel necessary, the rest will come as we grow to know one another.”

Marishka knew there were things unsaid between all three of them. She felt that was the way it had to be for the moment and there was no hard feelings where that was concerned. Who knew what they might decide was worth trusting one another with in the next few minutes, few months or perhaps lifetime. It will all work out.

• Marishka

“You speak of some sort of vague danger. Teams are built on trust, and obviously I understand the need to keep oneself safe. Do you wish to keep us out of whatever this may be? Or do you want to take that plunge? I’ll respect your wishes. But when secrets become too big for us to handle, it’s best to have trusted allies.” said Dawson after letting Marishka have her say.

-Dawson, Intel

Faye glanced between them. “This might be obvious, but I… don’t trust all that easily. It’s not a skill that comes easily to me even when people have proven themselves to be trustworthy. It takes time.” An uneasiness swept through her, the kind that normally caused her to start pacing or oven flee. But Faye breathed through it, closing her eyes, allowing them to see her in this vulnerable state of uncertainty rather than shutting it down and ending the conversation. When her stormy grey-green eyes opened, she nodded slowly.

“It’s a long story I can’t and won’t get into, but several years ago I was undercover in the what remained of the Romulan empire. In executing the secondary of my orders I was caught, tried as an enemy spy and sentenced to incarceration, all in the same day. You know how much the Romulans love spies. But while I expected to be tortured and exectured that was not exactly what happened. I’m not going to outline my traumatic experience for you in detail, but what you need to understand is that the Tal Shiar mucked about in my brain. Treated it like a Human hard drive. And sometimes I get these mind dumps, as I call them, where I am flooded with information that flows so fast I can’t make sense of it. Images, text, all at speeds that put my coding to shame. Sometimes the effect on my nervous system requires medical attention. Other times, it’s fine and I can shake it off. And to be clear, this is going to look different than the dissociation I deal with sometimes because of my Borderline personality Disorder, and yes, I’m disclosing that as well so you are aware of some of the… challenges that might come up as we work together. I don’t mean harm, and I have done a shit ton of work to both handle all of this so I can be a functional person. As far as our work for the ship goes though, you need to understand that Intelligence and I have an agreement. I stay where they can keep on eye on me, because after earning a medal and promotions and proving I’m loyal, there is still a tiny bit of them that won’t ever trust me. And so, I play nice and they let me be, more or less. And I can continue to pursue being a starship captain one day.”

~Faye Calloway, CIO

Dawson could feel the emotions coming off of Faye. He kept his own very much in check as he understood trauma perhaps a bit too well. He had never been assimilated by the borg, but from the sounds of it, Faye had undergone it in one sense. The invasion of the mind was a hard thing to overcome, especially when it effected said person for the rest of their life. Dawson nodded understanding. “Starship captain, eh? I bet you’ll do well. Thankfully you have Marishka and myself to do all of the ‘not so nice’ work. I’ve lived a long life. The center chair was never something I was all too interested in. If I can help you reach that goal, I will.” He gave his head a slight bow to her before bringing his eyes back to meet hers.

-Dawson, Intel