Niles sat looking at the screen of the console. On the other side of the screen, the faces that looked back were a conglomerate of whose who in Starfleet. Various Captains, Admirals, and their aides surrounded a U-shaped table. Very few of these individuals could call each other friends and even fewer trusted anyone to their right or left. The lights in the room were dimmed even though no one would bat an eye at the group of men assembled in plain sight. It was normal for these men to meet and talk about matters. It was what Starfleet and the Federation paid them to do; however, sometimes, like in all matters of politics, their goals did not align with the roses and glory image the public consumed at the truth.

“So there has been no developments,” a young and newly promoted Captain said from the corner. “I thought they attacked unprovoked and you are telling me there have been no escape attempts, no incidents, no nothing?” His voice sounded incredulous and doubting as the question hung thick in the air waiting for Niles to reply.

“Lt. Commander Gravel Mardusk has them locked down with no access. I have sent down some junior counselor to do psyche evals. Rinker has been handling the fourth assets personally,” Niles reported.

“And Commander Rinker is on board with the plan,” Admiral Graham asked with suspicion in his voice. “I know of the man and he seems to be the type to avoid politics and sides.” Graham had always admired Rinker except for the man’s need to just do his job. Counselors were extremely useful in missions such as this. Talented ones could twist the facts and feed them back to someone resulting in the person believing what the counselor wanted them to believe. If Rinker was working on the fourth individual as Primrose claimed, Graham would be thrilled. The problem was Graham doubted Niles more than Heathcliff. Niles on some level was too arrogant to see past the nose on his face. If Rinker was not on board as Niles was claiming, Rinker and his ethical morality could prove as dangerous as any security guard with a phaser. RInker would not shoot you dead, but Graham had no doubts Heathcliff Rinker could shoot your career dead following the man’s conscious instead of the plan everyone in the room was laying out.

“Oh don’t worry about Rinker. He and I literally broke bread in his office and he told me he was a 12 par in golf. No competition there..in golf or resistance.” A small ripple of chuckles filled the room. If there was only one thing that bonded the group it was golf. The only one that still wasn’t laughing was Admiral Graham. He knew Primrose’s overexaggerated sense of self-worth and a first-year counseling cadet could easily diagnose his narcissistic tendencies.

“But you have him on board…with the program,” Graham pushed ending the slight bout of frivolity.

“Yes,” Niles growled slightly with his response. “He accepted the positing as head of psychiatric services at Starfleet Medical and the new rank of Captain. His only reservation was that he might not deserve the rank.” Niles let out a small self-absorbed snort, “seems more like he knows his place and wants to earn our trust than just making demands. Shows he is smart.”

Or shows you are an idiot and completely misread the man. Your assessment of the man is not what I know of the man, Admiral Graham thought yet kept his comments to himself. Nothing about Primrose’s assessment fit the psychological profile of Rinker. The man worked in underserviced communities for years before coming to Starfleet. He had a thriving side hustle with the rich and since he wasn’t living the lap of luxury from the fat payments which made Graham think Rinker reinvested it back into the communities he served. Morality like that did not belong around the table but people did change. Graham would wait to see if this was the case and said a silent prayer Rinker’s character and ideals had changed from the ethical psychiatrist everyone in Starfleet know of RInker’s reputation. Some people weren’t bought by shiny pips or promotions. Their price was much higher than that.

“Excellent. I will see that a desk spot has cleared for our newest member of the circle but,” Perkins held a bony finger towards Nile’s, “just make sure RInker knows if he does not play ball and feed the fourth prisoner what we need them to believe his promotion and ticket off that rusting barge is null and void. Now let’s talk about Gravel Mardusk.”

Niles Primrose and Admiral Perkins