“After you,” Kasmira gestured Nicholas inside the Tower, her attention subtly drifting to their surroundings. Nobody was following. “I had Lt. Xorten check in with Admiral Emaastren prior to meeting me here,” she explained as she caught up, “I suspect that gives us half an hour until she and her unit arrive.”

Kassidine pushed past the swarm of people scurring across the lobby floor. They were mindless in pursuit of their destination, thoughts singled down to the point of total ignorance to those around them. Foolish people, she thought. Taking the lead, Kasmira stepped up to the reception desk where a young man was situated, chatting boredly with someone on the other end of the line.

“I’m affraid she is not seeing people at the moment,” He droned on, a look of irritation shimmering behind his trained gaze. “No, sir. I will have your messag– No, sir. I apologise for the inconvenience.” The whisper of shouting rose above the clatter of heels slamming against the tile, the mark of clear dissatisfaction. “Yes, I will let her know. If you would call back after four–sir?” He tapped his earpiece. “Mr. Stein?” Nothing. “Hmm,” a sigh built in his chest but he didn’t let it free. Several seconds passed before the receptionist realised the pair. “Oh! Sorry about that.” Bashfulness crept into the blush dusting his cheekbones, “What can I do for you?”

“Cmdr. Kasmira Kassidine, with Starfleet Intel, to see Captain Xavier,” she gave him little time to respond, “tell him Lt. Cmdr. James is with me.”

“Okay..” He tapered of, throwing a look between the gathered Officers. He knew better than to question Intel. Especially with James in tow. “Captain Xavier,” he buzzed the Lt. Governor’s office. “Cmdr. Kassidine of Intelligence is here to see you. She has Cmdr. James with her.”

Kassidine, “Intelligence”