Posted by Lieutenant Allison Scott (CMO) in XO office Sign my leave and don’t ask questions

Posted by Commander Balfor Kolar (XO/CSO) in XO office Sign my leave and don’t ask questions

Posted by Lieutenant Allison Scott (CMO) in XO office Sign my leave and don’t ask questions
Posted by… suppressed (9) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Ally heard the loud trill and let out a deep groan. There was only one device that made that sound and it was never good. She looked to the right and glanced at the numbers on the clock. “It is way too early to deal with this,” she moaned throwing her forearm over her eyes. She let the been continue for several more minutes before throwing back the covers and finding the device. Taking a deep breath, Ally opened the message.

CLASSIFIED TRANSMISSION
Channel: Blacknet // Encryption: Omega-Black
Timestamp: 4472.91.Δ

Coordinates: RA 17h 33m | Dec -34° 15′ | Grid XZ-77.114.4
Objective: Erevos-IV, Ilythos Binary

Directive:
Go and search.
Access codes remain valid. Risk level: Severe.

Proceed to Erevos-IV. Secure all data nodes. No open-channel comms. Authenticate using Protocol only.

Compromise of protocol = termination of asset.

END//TRANSMISSION

Ally Scott CMO

Ally sat up and pulled open her personal communicator. Placing the call she waited knowing that having coffee was definitely going to be needed before the end of the upcoming conversation. “Is there a problem,” a no nonsense voice replied over the line.

“Yes there is a problem. Lauren I just can’t take off take off,” Ally said making her way to the replicator.

“Why,” her question was short and clipped.

“Because I was on shore leave six weeks ago when the Saracen was in for a refit,” Ally replied taking a sip of her coffee.

“Forced shore leave. Don’t let them tell you when to take your time. Take it when you need it,” Lauren stated firmly.

Ally gave her a sour look. “I don’t need it. You need me to take it,” she replied.

“I do. You know why and the importance,” Lauren responded. “So go hit up your hottie XO and get it done. Lauren out.”

Ally stood staring at the blank screen knowing she would have no peace until she got this done. Knowing she was not going to get any sleep until she fixed this, Ally decided to catch up with the XO before going on duty. Two hours later she was at the XO’s office activating the door chime.

Ally Scott CMO

Kolar yelled out the customary response and half glanced up from what he was working on. While all commanding officers had the equivalent of office hours like that of the academy, few people just walked up as if they were a cadet having trouble with a physics problem. Most made appointments with information about why they were scheduling the meeting. Ally on the other hand seemed to approach interacting with him like a first year co-ed at the academy. It was always a crap shoot as to why the woman was standing in front of his desk. Like a roulette wheel the options could range from reporting on medical department business, requesting supplies, or coming up with some insane idea to boost morale that bordered on clever wording to get it approved.

“Lt. Scott, what do I owe the pleasure,” Kolar said in a casual tone.

Kolar XO

“I need leave,” Ally said in a rushed but firm tone. Internally she hated this. The situation with Lauren was one she could not in good conscious ignore but traipsing off to an Orion mining colony filled with pirates, smugglers, and ruffians was not on her top ten things to do on a Wednesday. If she hadn’t helped Lauren here and there over the past few years, Ally could have refused. It was not like the woman was on the Saracen. The issue was she had helped her and gave her word after their first escapade that if Lauren ever needed her help all Lauren had to do was ask. Ally just never thought Lauren would be asking this often.

“Hello, Commander Kolar, sorry for disturbing you without any warning or basic courtesy.”

His comment stopped her for a second and she internally reset. “Hello, Commander Kolar, sorry for disturbing you without any warning or basic courtesy,” she responded back with a small smile etching the corners of her mouth. His humor took her back for a moment. He was just slightly older than she was but the comment was something more like a grandfather would say. At first she was so worried about having a new XO but the more she interacted with the man, the more she found she liked him. His demeanor was a lot like Colter’s when he held that seat.

“Oh don’t worry about that, this seems important, is it an emergency?” Kolar was not the type to pry or micromanage, yet Ally seemed off. Being in the second seat long enough gave him a slight intuition about these things. This was the first time Ally had requested leave from him but they had a relaxed enough relationship that she shouldn’t be nervous about the request unless there was cause to be edgy.

Ally paused for a long moment before presenting Kolar with the PaDD with the documents needed for his signature. She was not as reckless as Lauren. If Kolar refused it, Ally was not going to just take a shuttle and bug out as Lauren had in the past. “I am doing some charity work with orphans on Everos IV. I know it is not the best section of the universe but if it was then I wouldn’t need to be there right?” Handing the PaDD over, Ally felt each second like an eternity as the XO glanced over the PaDD.

Ally Scott CMO

“Well I have never heard of Everos IV but I do know Orion space. It’s not the safest place and traveling there comes with a whole host of regulations.” He gestured for her to take a seat.

“It does,” she said again parroting him back. Her statement wore the surprise on her face that matched the tone of her voice. Ally let out a sigh cursing Lauren for not prepping her about this possible wrinkle. Lauren had far more experience being all sulky and lurking. Ally was a complete novice with the cloak and dagger thing.

“Lots and lots of paperwork,” Kolar clarified, shifting position in his seat. If Ally was trying to be deceitful, she was doing a lousy job at it. Kolar could spot someone trying to pull a fast one a mile away. This was not his first stint as XO but there was something off about how bad she was at doing this.

As she settled into a seat across from his desk, Kolar took time to process what she was asking for. “Do a lot of work with orphaned Orions? And lets pretend for a moment that I’m not a complete idiot, even though you already presumed I don’t know how to read a map.”

Kolar XO

Ally’s shoulders slumped. It was not out of frustration but more relief. She hated trying to be sneaky and Kolar’s gentle way of call her out on her BS was almost a gift. “Okay first off I don’t think you are a complete idiot,” she countered. The moment the words left her lips she wanted to retract them.

“Well that’s a relief,” Kolar leaned back in his seat with his coffee taking a sip of his coffee. In an odd way Ally was refreshing. She didn’t fit the stiff Starfleet mold and struggled not to keep her temper in check but her personality. Now Kolar could see how her background in pediatrics suited her.

“I was more hoping you would just be so busy you would sign the form and I would be on my way.” The clarification was weak but how did one come back from using the word idiot when addressing your XO. It was far more than a faux paus or foot in the mouth comment. It was more like a clear as someone did CPR to bring you back to life comment. Still Ally had no real recourse but to press on.

He continued to let Ally spin a little in her seat. Something was going on and Ally was the type to spill the story given enough silence.
“The orphan thing,” Ally shifted in her seat, shrinking the space between her and his desk, “that part of the story is legitimate. You can check my baggage. It is filled with toys, blocks, dolls, stuffed bears,” she rattled off the contents ticking off the items on her fingers.

Ally Scott CMO

“That part of your story is legitimate,” Kolar said, shaking his head slightly as if trying to understand. “Why isn’t the whole part of your story legitimate? You know what,” Kolar leaned forward so that he closed the space even more between them. Resting his elbows on the desk, he looked at Ally with an innocent but suspicious look. “Continue. I am all ears for the rest of your story.”

Kolar XO

Ally leaned in further as if imparting a secret. It was hard not to be passionate about what she was doing. “Starfleet is an honorable and noble organization. It helps countless billions in the universe but not everyone believes the recruitment posters and news clips. While we help anyone that has a need, there are those on the fringe that are wary of us. Many places in the galaxy think we want something for our services. I take my leave to participate in a Doctor’s without Borders type program. We try to reach those on the fringes of civilized society. My background in pediatrics lets me treat children whose parents might not actively seek it out but use it when it is right there in their faces. So sign the leave…please.”

Ally Scott CMO

“Doctor’s without Borders huh,” he said in a neutral tone. For Kolar her explanation hit closer to home. During the occupation of Bajor, they did not send in some perky blonde with a tricorder when he was in the camps, but Starfleet did arrive. The difference was Starfleet came as an official organization along with troops and other such things. They also did come with strings. Bajor was still an independent world but it was not a world under the umbrella of the Federation.

There was something different in Ally’s demeanor as she spoke. She retained the bright eyed optimism of Starfleet which at times dulled with years in service. Still something about her story felt off. “I’ll sign it as soon as I speak to your supervisor of this organization.” Leaning back in his seat, he took a sip of his coffee. “Call them. I can wait.” If this group was legitimate, there would be a supervisor and they would have all the paperwork necessary if this was truly above board.

Kolar XO

Crap Ally thought feeling a knot in her stomach. This was getting closer to the lying zone instead of the gray zone. Still Lauren needed her and Ally saw the importance of the mission while ignoring the folly of it. “One second,” she held up a finger as she pulled her private communicator out of her pocket. As Ally waited for the connection, she tried to breath evenly. Lauren had stated what the protocol was for this situation; however, Ally never had had a need for it as a junior officer. Natasha signed off and that was that. Now she was the CMO and the rules had changed.

=/\= Yeah,=/\= a female voice snapped followed by a dull thud and a smattering of curse words. =/\=What are you calling me for?=/\=

=/\=Ariel my XO, Balfor Kolar, he had a few questions about our upcoming mission=/\=.

The use of Lauren’s alias informed the woman everyone’s day was going as swimmingly as her won. =/\= Tell him what you need to. He is your XO not your Dad, Allison=/\=. Lauren moved the communicator away from her mouth slightly. She apparently was multitasking two conversations both of which were clearly irritating her.

Balfor raised an eyebrow but he reminded himself that this Ariel was not fleet but civilian.

=/\=Ariel… he is in the room=/\= Ally smiled weakly at Kolar and shrugged. She could not control Lauren’s behavior. Now she doubted her decision to call Lauren on the spot but leaving to make the call and come back would have raised more red flags.

=/\= You could have started with that Scott,=/\= Lauren snapped. Taking a moment to compose herself, Lauren began. =/\=Mr. Kolar,=/\= she addressed the man she could not see. Since Ally did not give her real name, and the plan always portrayed Lauren as a civilian, rank was not an issue.

=/\=You have some concerns? I can assure you that Allison will be fine. We are part of an intergalactic organization that provides relief and aid to individuals in the Beta quadrant who do not want to align with Starfleet, the Romulans, Klingon empire. Think of us as the non denominational angels of the quadrant. Any other questions or are we good?=/\= Lauren was polite but not overly friendly in her response. She was already irritated with her day on the Atlantis.

Ally Scott CMO

=/\= Oh where do I begin=/\= Kolar stated.

Kolar XO

=/\= By granting your officer the leave she is requesting. It is not that hard. Pick up the stylus, use a little wrist action, and you will have Scott back in one week, two tops=/\= Lauren’s response was flippant but she was busy multi-tasking with several things at the moment. Chiefly trying to get the supplies together before her own bosses caught wind of what she was planning. =/\=Come on Kolar=/\= Lauren said sweetly but obvious enough that it was apparent to both of them she was fake flirting =/\=Look how about this,=/\= Lauren changed tactics. If I don’t bring your medical chief back in one piece you can get grumpy with me? Ally I gotta go. See you there and Kolar I got your girl like I always have. It will be fine.=/\= With that Lauren signed off.

Lauren Shan

Kolar looked at Ally and shook his head slightly in disbelief. “She ain’t Starfleet,” he let out a sigh and picked up his stylus. “Don’t make me regret this,” Signing the PaDD he held it out for Ally to take.

Kolar XO