Roundup

Posted on Jul 18, 2014 @ 12:46pm by Captain Siobhan Reardon
Edited on on Oct 26, 2015 @ 2:26pm

Mission: The Tangled Webs We Weave
Location: Various

"Roundup"
(Continued from "When We Last Left Our Intrepid Adventurers…")

=/\=

"By refusing to help me, you left me with the same choice I had to begin with; to try or not to try... to take a risk or to play it safe. And your arguments have reminded me how precious the right to choose is... And because I've never been one to play it safe... I choose to try."
-Picard to Rasmussen, ST:TNG: "A Matter of Time"


=/\=


Location: USS PANDORA, Outside Utopia Planitia
Scene: Bridge
SD: [2.14]0615.1330
Time Index: After the events of "Reality slapped her in the face, and it slapped her hard"

Layne set the PADD down on the arm of the CO's chair with a satisfying clacking sound. It would have been even more so if he were permitted to break it in two. The PANDORA was in the middle of preparations to leave the big blue marble. And the checklists, diagnostics, and requisitions just kept coming. Wasn't that what the rest of his staff was for? The built man took a look around and realized that although more relaxed than they would be while on a mission, the crew *was* busy.

A certain level of contentment had touched the Commanding Officer. The time spent with family and friends had been welcome, a pleasant reminder of some of the reasons why he was doing this, but there was nothing that could beat a good pirate-chasing. The space surrounding them beckoned at him, teasing him with its inky depths. He wasn't an exactly by the book Captain, but it took a bit of a renegade to catch renegades. Just the thought brought a grin to his rugged face.

"There's a communication coming in for you, Captain," came a voice from behind him.

"Put it through."

The junior office tried to comply, but a well-modulated beeping stopped his action cold. "It's on a secure channel."

"Oh joy," Tim deadpanned, but the grin never left his countenance. Probably some Commodore or Admiral too big for his britches and feeling all super-important. Then again, there was nothing like the opportunity to annoy a higher-up before lunch. He mentally rubbed his hands together. "I'll be in there," he said, gesturing towards the Ready Room.

The muscular CO took a moment to appreciate the vintage black Fender Stratocaster hung on the wall as he crossed the threshold, heading efficiently towards the desk. The entry had barely closed behind him as he provided his clearance.

"Layne, authorization bravo kilo two seven delta." The Federation Logo was replaced by the image of his oldest child.

"Dad," Amaryllis began. Her pretty face was dead serious. Whatever was going on was no bullshit.

His smile quickly faded. "What is it, baby?"

"Aunt Xana's in trouble."


=/\=

Location: EARTH, Paris, France
Scene: Hiram's Office

Due to the recent turn of events, John Hiram added a long list of expectations to his already full schedule. He expected Edgerton to be involved with this whole mess somehow. It was just a matter of trying to prove it while holding everything together. He expected an onslaught of demands for more information from the press. But they would just have to take a polite but firm 'back the hell off' as a standing answer. And he was expecting Thoris to drive him crazy before this was over.

The last thing he was expecting was an unannounced visitor.

The Edoan receptionist seemed nonplussed. "There's a lady waiting for you. Seems all business."

"Did you get a name?"

"No, but she said she was 'wearing a white hat'. But she didn't have a hat on. Sounds a little crazy if you ask me."

Hiram's mood brightened a little at the last comment, although he was still perplexed. But there was only one way to fix that. As he barrelled into his office, the woman stood to greet him.

She wore a tailored suit in charcoal gray, consisting of a long sleeved jacket and pants. Her comm badge was Federation issue, but she wore no rank pips. John guessed she was maybe in her early fifties. Her ebony hair was cut in a serviceable bob and threaded with steely 'highlights'. Her eyes were a vibrant blue and she gave an apprising look towards him. "Mister Hiram?"

"Yes... pardon me for asking Ma'am, but do I know you?" Honesty was sometimes the best policy.

"Retired Rear Admiral Marie-Claire Martine." She shook his hand with conviction.

The name sounded familiar, but it wasn't the time to play twenty questions. John made a mental note and moved on. "And how can I be of service today?" he asked the pat question as they sat across from each other.

"Word on the street is that the office of the Secretary is in a tight spot." The woman's voice was authoritative and distinctive. There was a trace of Canadian inflection and an even weaker French accent. It was faint, but still there.

"And how did you come to that conclusion, Ms. Martine?"

"Even people on the right side of justice are known to talk, and although I let my rank go, I did not let my connections go, mais certainement."

John sighed. He was still playing twenty questions, despite his internal promise not to. "So why does that bring you to my doorstep?"

"I come to offer my expertise. I've never made a misstep in my many years of service. Trust me, the cynics will go mad trying to find one. I was in charge of the Academy for a time, which as you well know is a vast organization. If one were looking for an interim Secretary, one who would more than willingly hold the spot open for Secretary Bonviva, surely I would be on the short list."

Well, that at least answered Hiram's question of why the woman's name was familiar. "And what's in it for you?"

Her cornflower eyes glimmered. "Nothing obvious really. But a long time ago, even before Ms. Bonviva was stationed there, I was CO of the GATEWAY. The Essentialists didn't make it easy for any of us to perform our duties, and contributed to property damage and loss of life. I'd say it was high time for payback."

Hiram glanced at his schedule. "Ms. Martine, have you ever had lunch with the Secretary of Interplanetary Relations?"

Marie-Claire smiled. "No, I can't say that I have."


=/\=

Location: EARTH, outside St Louis, Missouri
Scene: Reardon Farms

It was a perfect day for a barbecue.

Siobhan had been perfectly content to let her twin brothers handle all the cooking duties. Besides, they seemed to be enjoying teaching Drey the finer points of grilling. Sio's niece Lily was playing in a wading pool with her mom Aeris, Stephan's wife, watching closely, while Sean's latest boyfriend Raj was chatting up the family matriarch. The back sliding glass doors were open to allow the gentle breeze to move through both the house and the back porch.

All of this left Sio alone with her thoughts, and a very lazy marmalade-colored cat who was absolutely content to settle in her lap and be petted. "Callie," she murmured, gently scratching underneath the kitty's chin. "My sweet baby."

The feline's eyes were narrow slits, giving the impression that she was asleep, but she kept nudging Sio's arm and hand with her nose when she stopped petting her. The redhead laughed under her breath.

Maeve Reardon touched Raj on the arm and leaned over closer to where her daughter was seated. "She likes you."

"I don't understand how... I only come over on weekends usually."

"And all you do when you visit is spoil her. She knows a good thing when she sees it."

As if she could understand, Callie stretched and reached a paw towards Sio's arm. Then, just as quickly, she reevaluated and started grooming the same paw with her pink sandpaper tongue.

The front door chimed. "I'll get it," Sio said as she carefully stood up, being closest. Callie miaowed an objection at being displaced, but didn't waste any time looking for another caregiver.

Siobhan opened the door to find a man who appeared to be at least part Bajoran. He had strong features, blond hair, and brown eyes. He wore the rank of Commander.

"Captain Reardon?"

"Yes."

"Commander McInnis, USS PANDORA. I've been sent to escort you to the ship."

"Come in, have a seat," she said, a little surprised. "This is unexpected. Our departure has been pushed up. How long?"

He entered but did not sit, instead clasping his hands behind his back. "Immediately."

Sio's mouth gaped open at the affable Commander's matter-of-fact delivery. He didn't seem the least bit stressed at the change in plans. "You're serious," she said.

"Yes, Captain."

"You can call me Sio."

"Call me Mac."

She took another appraisal of her would-be escort. There was something reminiscent about him, something familar but not familiar. She then noticed the emitter built into his comm badge. "Does Captain Layne usually send photonic beings to do his bidding?"

He grinned. Apparently he got her attempt at humor. But just as quickly the smile faded. "It's not typical. But I was advised it was an emergency. The mission orders came through on a secure channel."

"What is your position?" she asked with curiosity in spite of the fact she was supposed to be hustling.

"Chief Counselor Medical Hologram," Mac said neutrally.

"I guess that means I won't get much chance to put my Counselling skills to the test," she replied jokingly. "Then what is my position aboard the PANDORA?"

"Diplomatic Liaison Officer."

She turned to stare at the holographic man. "It sounds like you made that up," she commented.

"But I didn't, that is not something I am capable of."

Sio shrugged. She knew he was right. And it was better than 'chief cook and bottle washer'. Anything to get her back on a starship. "If you will meet me at my residence down the street in about twenty minutes, to give my son and I time to prepare."

"Of course, Sio."


=/\=

Location: USS PANDORA
Scene: Conference Room
Time Index: 90 minutes later

The room was uncannily quiet, except for the voice of Captain Layne. The emotion and pathos in his speech was palpable, but equally so was the resoluteness in his tone. It was clear that someone was going to pay.

"Xana's kids have been taken, as well as the children of the Byrne-Davidson family. It's an attempt to move Madame Secretary out of the picture, and to make it look as though it is succeeding, she has taken a leave of absence to RISA, but not without asking for help first. We're going kidnapper hunting." Recent pictures of the children were displayed to allow for better identification.

Sio felt like someone had punched her in the gut. Dahlia and Benito were completely adorable as she herself had evidenced at dinner the other night, and they had already been through so much in their young lives, the thought that someone would take them made her seethe. But if that was the only motive, why the other three were taken remained an enigma. Her first instinct was to be with Xana during this time, but she was gone, and it was best that nothing link her to any efforts to save her children.

"There will be more information later, but for now your focus is on readying the ship for departure in the next four hours, with as little difference as if we had four days to prepare. Understood?" A pause. "Then, dismissed."

With very little verbal cues, the majority of the group respectfully disbanded, going their separate ways to make the orders come to life.

Finally it was just the two of them. Tim looked across the table at the redhead, completely professional in appearance, and her face completely serious and miserable. Little did he realize it was almost a mirror of his own.

"Any leads?" she asked him.

If there were any, he didn't vocalize them. "Listen, Sio, if you don't want to get your hands dirty, I understand. I can explain any request for your reassignment." In his mind, he didn't have a choice, but she still did. And he wouldn't think any less of her if she chose to leave.

Siobhan tried to take the man's compassion and consideration to heart, but a larger part of her couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her fist clenched involuntarily. "That's very gallant of you. But didn't your mother ever tell you not to piss a redhead off?"

"Excuse me?" this wasn't what he was expecting.

Sio took a breath, trying to calm down. "Captain Layne... Tim... I may not be the type to crash into every situation like a bull in a china shop, but that doesn't mean I run away from any challenge presented to me. What do you take me for?"

"Someone who values their career," Tim offered truthfully. "I can't guarantee you'll have one when we get back."

"As difficult as you may find this to believe, it wouldn't be the first time... I just look like this. I was serving on the flagship when you were sweating out your entrance exams." Her cheeks flushed with anger and embarrassment.

"True," was all he would manage. Now that she had mentioned it, maybe his mama had said something about not pissing off women in general. Not that he was able to heed that advice, apparently.

Sio stood, trying to work out the pent up feelings pushing to the surface like a deep sea diver in a stormy current. "I'm sorry, I'm not mad at you, I'm angry with myself.

Tim shrugged. Might as well go all in. "Why?"

"Teaching at the Academy, although satisfying in its own way, does not even come close to being on a ship. Period. The end. I wanted stability for my family, but I also want to teach my son self-respect. And I've been doing myself a disservice by pretending to think I didn't belong up here."

The CO sighed. So much loss, both planetside and in the great expanse of space. His wife and friend were gone. Xana's kids were kidnapped and maybe gone, even though he refused to believe that last part. Was it really a crime to be wherever you could be the most happy and do the most good? It was the question that Reardon had asked and finally answered honestly. "You're staying."

Her green eyes glared at him. "Damn straight."


=/\=

NRPG: Better to beg forgiveness than ask for permission as far as I'm concerned with this supremely talented group. If something is really off here with anyone's plans, let me know.


Susan Ledbetter (susanmled@earthlink.net)
writing for

Captain Siobhan Reardon
Diplomatic Liaison Officer
USS PANDORA

and

Rear Admiral Marie-Claire Martine (Ret.)


"I savored those stories; I read them slowly, one each day. And when I was done, I wished I hadn't read them at all. So I could read them again... like it was the first time."
-Melanie to Old Jake, DS9, "The Visitor"