Posted by Civilian Cort Belanger (Executive Assistant to Lt. Gov.) in Government Tower- Dasca’s Office (TMODJ)

Posted by Civilian Dorma Fen (Governor’s Assistant) in Government Tower- Dasca’s Office (TMODJ)

Posted by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) in Government Tower- Dasca’s Office (TMODJ)
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Stepping out of Kenzo’s building, Eela moved swiftly to the slider and settled in. She pulled out a PADD and entered in her security codes to get into their internal governmental network. She pulled up the contacts for Dorma, Cort, Sherri and Elema and started a message.

||You know I would never ask you to come in so early unless it was urgent, but I need to see all four of you in my office ASAP. I’m on my way over now. Thank you for your understanding. ~ED||

She hit send at 0628 hours.

---

A few minutes later, she unlocked and entered her office. She set her workbag on her chair and moved immediately to the replicator. Ironically, she had been at the Quill but had not left with coffee, nor had she had anything at all this morning. It was far too early for food, but coffee was a necessity.

She hung her bag on the set of hooks underneath that kept is accessible but out of the way and then moved to the sitting area with the couch and two arms chairs facing it. With her door open, she leaned against the window, watching the last wisps of night disappear. Down below, Oed was waking up and going about its business.

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

“Five Jacolin red coffees with two shots of espresso and heavy cream.” a voice said from the door. Dorma Fen, assistant to the Governor walked in carrying a tray and began setting the steaming hot drinks down on the table in the seating area. “And I made sure we got Rigellian honey this time. I got sick of them forgetting it, so I stood there while they shaved it.” Dorma looked up with a smile, and then it immediately faded. “What is going on, Ma’am? Is everything okay?” and her almond eyes went wide “Is it the Governor? Is he alright?”

Dorma Fen, Governor’s Aid

Eela turned to face Dorma and shook her head. “It’s not the Governor, he is fine. And thank you for bringing more coffee. I have a feeling I am going to need a lot of it, though I won’t tell anyone if something strong happens to slip into it.” She wanted to be light and joking, but she just couldn’t manage such a pretence.

She downed a bunch from her mug before setting it on her desk, opting to have the one that Dorma so kindly brought with her. “Come sit with me,” she said, more softly as she moved over and sat on the couch and took one of the lovely coffees. “Something had happened and since I was going to fill in my office, the Governor asked me to include you too. I’m not sure when exactly he will be in. Consider today’s schedule tossed out a window. Can’t speak for tomorrow’s either.”

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

Dorma took a seat next to the Lieutenant Governor. She looked at her carefully and said “Wait till the others get here, ma’am. I have a feeling this is not something you want to go over more than once. Am I right?”

Dorma Fen

Eela nodded slowly. “No, no it’s not Dorma,” she said, holding her mug tight before she took another sip. “Wow, that is strong coffee, and no I’m not complaining. I think I’ve had three hours sleep. Maybe.”

He only lived a ten minutes walk from the Tower and had already been up for a good half an hour when the message had come through. He had been on the treadmill next door and had the message read aloud through his earbuds. Cort had returned home, had the shortest sonic shower he could manage so he didn’t walk into the office dripping sweat, dressed and (instead of walking), nagged an air car to work.

He saw the door open and simply set his jacket and work bag in his office and headed into Eela’s, straightening his tie. He felt he looked mostly presentable, though his hairline was still damp from his workout. Nothing he could do about that.

Cort Belanger was exceptional at his job and he and Eela had quickly built a working trust and rapport that allowed him to gauge her state with only a glance. Today was no different but the moment she and Dorma came into view Cort couldn’t quite grasp his boss’ mood. He wasn’t an empath in any way, but still he should hav been able to figure out something. The early hour and the way she phrased her request told him a great deal, but not enough.

He gave Dorma a nod, his own concern radiating from his blue eyes and he took a seat in one of the arm chairs. “Coffee, just what I needed,” he said, searching Eela’s face. He saw that trace of regret, that expression where she was going to apologize and he just lifted a finger and shook his head. “It’s not a problem,” he said, and he meant his words. This was the job, but more than that he knew she would never treat her staff poorly so this wasn’t some power trip the way someone else might try (and boy had he bene around enough of those people before).

~Cort Belanger

For a moment Eela just gazed at Cort and then sighed, giving a nod. She heard him loud and clear. “We’re waiting for Sherri and Elema, and then I’ll fill you in.”

The ladies arrived soon after, Sherri having had come the farthest but, to her the credit of her Starfleet training, was also in an impeccable uniform and her hair pulled up into a quick but tidy twist. Cort vacated the one chair so the women could sit and he pulled one of the guest chairs from Eela’s desk over.

Eela looked around at the group of them, and drew in a steading breath. “I think it goes without saying that this news is privileged for the moment. It will become public soon enough and when it does, expect a certain amount of chaos.” She looked at Dorma for a moment. “I know the Governor is quite formal, but right now I can’t be, and we’re”-she gestured to the group of them-“accustomed to less formality when it’s just us.” She didn’t want to make Dorma uncomfortable, but this was how she was.

“Umm, around 0500 I got a call from Ren Mathis, the Ambassador’s spouse. The ambassador was not doing well and they were trying to get ahold of Mr. Jones. When they couldn’t, they called me and tried to be tactful as they asked if I knew where he was. As it happened, he left my place several hours earlier but I wasn’t expecting to see or hear from him until around lunchtime today. So, since Mathis’ security is handled by Starfleet, I had them escort her to his apartment to do a wellness check, just like we would for anyone.” Eela paused and held her mug tighter. “I heard back from Ren a little while ago and it’s not good. Apparently Dashiel Jones is dead and the police have been brought into the picture.” Which they would only do if the cause was not obviously medically related.

Both Sherri and Elema radiated instant shock and dismay. “Do we know how or why?” Sherri asked, recovering the fastest.

Eela shook her head. “You now know as much about this as I do, aside from whatever I know through my relationship with Dash.”

Eela pushed on. “I wish I didn’t have to share this news at all, but I’d rather you hear it form me now, rather than from someone else or the press. Obviously…” She paused searching for the right words. “Obviously we have a lot of balls were juggling right now, the least of which being the Vren delegation on our planet. But as important as all the Oed business is, my concern in this moment is for all you, for your wellbeing, for your safety. I wish I had thought of it when I was talking with Hyrushi, but it might be wise for today, or a few days at least for you all not to go about the colony unescorted. That’s not an order or anything, just perhaps a request until we know what we’re dealing with.” She was focused on this group of extraordinary individuals, her empathy fixed on them and she radiated concern as she relayed this news. That seemed to be a bit of an improvement from earlier, but as Elema was noting, Eela herself wasn’t feeling anything else. Certainly not about herself.

~Eela Dasca, Lt Gov.