Jason Reilly was in his quarters on the Wolverine when the comms dinged. He got up and walked to the desk and pressed the icon to answer. A familiar face filled the screen and Mildred Hathaway, Director of Covert Operations for Star Fleet Intelligence, said “Commander. How are tricks?” and smiled. Reilly shrugged slightly and said “You’d know, you’re the one walking the streets in the bad neighborhoods.” and the woman burst out laughing. “I’m glad to see Fleet duty hasn’t dulled your wit, Reilly.” she replied after a moment. Her smile slipped slightly and she said “I have… news, Jason. Not the pleasant sort.” Reilly sat down and looked at her and said “Well… spill it. No sense waiting aroun-“

“Someone is killing your network, Jason. It started forty-eight hours ago. Denube III. Your contact there was…” and Jason swallowed hard. “G’riln. Argellian commando caught by the Dominion during the war. I pulled him out of the camps. He’s a genius… was a genius… in directed explosive demolitions. And a pretty good guy.” Reilly said. “Who else?” Hathaway took a breath and said “Six more. Almost simultaneous. None of them are related to one another. Only commonality is you. Whoever this is, Jason… they know you. And they have reach.”

Jason stared at the screen for moment and then said “I need to come in for this. Now.” The woman simply nodded and said “Already done. Shuttle will be at the Wolverine in an hour. We’ve already processed the cover paperwork and were able to get Fleet to get the XO you replaced to come back.” “Good.” Reilly said. “I don’t want to leave these people in the lurch. They deserve better than Fleet has been giving them.” Hathaway shrugged slightly but said “Noted. Now get back here. We didn’t spend all those resources on these people just to see them taken out by someone you pissed off.” Jason stopped the gathering up of things he had just started and glared at the screen. “Or… you know… because they are innocent targets in this, right?” and he turned back to his chore. “Well… targets they are for sure. ‘Innocent’ might be a bit of a stretch.”

Reilly waved her off as he tossed a trinket off a low table into a bag. Hathaway said “I’ll see you when you get here, Jason. And for what it’s worth, I am sorry.” Reilly turned and looked at her, then nodded once before turning away. After the screen went blank, Reilly began packing faster.

Only a few things were tear-stained when he packed them.

Reilly
(Former) XO