An Teachtaire
Posted on Nov 21, 2016 @ 11:48am by Lieutenant Cantor Von
Edited on on Nov 21, 2016 @ 11:48am
Mission: Aftermath
"An Teachtaire"
(cont'd from "And this is the thanks I get")
- Translation from Gaelic: "The Messenger"
[/\]
LOCATION: Hilton Sea of Tranquility Suites, Luna
SD: [2.16]1121.0857
SCENE: Transportation Center
Cantor Von materialized in a blaze of red and blue energy as the Hilton's Transportation Center coalesced around him. A smartly dressed Bolian looked up from the branded transporter console and nodded to the Betazoid.
"Mr. Von, welcome to the Hilton Sea of Tranquility," the Bolian said, smile large and bright. "Captain Kane is in the Edgar Mitchell tower, Room 2432 on the 24th floor. Will you being needing a reservation for your stay?"
Von blinked, still rusty after years of dealing with a much different method of obfuscation than what was typical in the Federation during regular social interactions. Romulans epitomized the proverb that "Knowledge equals Power," so they were almost never direct and often danced around their intention waiting for the first move. The fact that they had developed the cloaking device cemented that aspect of their culture. The Betazoid had to cut a lot of that social paranoia out of his immediate reactions.
"No, thank you."
"Very well, sir. Please have a great day and let us know if we can help you with anything."
---
SCENE: Floor 24, Edgar Mitchell Tower
Cantor emerged from the turbolift onto the richly appointed 24th floor of the Edgar Mitchell Tower. Immediately the subtle scents of papyrus wood and saffron filled his nostrils, adding to the simple but lavish decor. He walked across the thick carpet that was a fractal blend of dark red and violet colors. Following holographic signs, he found Room 2432, but immediately sensed individuals approaching the door. With an impromptu reaction, he leaned against the wall opposite the door trying to look nonchalant, but failing in great fashion.
The door to Room 2432 swished open and out came a smallish human with short cropped hair that was graying and a neatly trimmed goatee, dressed very well. Following him was another human - a bit taller - with thick brown hair and a right eye that was an artificial gold color (while his left eye was a more natural green). *How odd,* Von thought to himself, trying not to stare at the human's obviously artificial eye.
The first man seemed to briefly look Von over and then nod to him. Von nodded back, resisting the urge to skim the human's surface thoughts and succeeding. Assuming the second man was Captain Kane, the Betazoid waited before the first human was out of earshot before speaking.
"Hello, Captain. I've got a message for you."
A pregnant pause played out just then, shortly followed by Kane raising the eyebrow over his natural eye. "And that would be...?"
Von chuckled to himself. "Apologies, I'm Lieutenant Cantor Von," he said, extending his hand in a customary human greeting.
Kane shook the Betazoid's hand. "A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Von. Now, what would that message be?"
"My orders are to escort you back to Earth for a personal meeting with Secretary Martine."
Now both of the Captain's eyebrows went up in surprise. "Right now?"
Von blinked, realizing that his orders had, indeed, meant right now. "Ah...yes, sir. That's the orders I was given. They included civilian transporter authorization instead of the typical shuttlecraft for our return."
Kane nodded, mismatched eyes taking in the Betazoid. "Right, then. Let me grab my day bag and I'll be out in a moment." And with that, Captain Kane disappeared back into his room.
---
SCENE: En route from the Edgar Mitchell Tower to the Transportation Center
The two Starfleet officers walked side by side through the wide and sparsely crowded hallways of the Hilton hotel, Captain Kane shouldering a large, navy blue travel bag. After walking for several minutes in silence, it was Kane who broke it.
"Lt. Cantor Von, was it?"
Von nodded. "Yes, sir."
"Betazoid?"
Cantor smiled. "What gave it away?"
"The eyes," they both said, simultaneously.
"Are you part of Secretary Martine's staff?"
Von smiled again. "Uh...no, sir. I'm fresh back from assignment and a personal friend of Secretary Martine."
Kane continued to look ahead as they walk, mulling over that response.
"What was your previous assignment?"
The Betazoid looked about uncomfortably. "Apologies, Captain Kane, but it was a covert operation that I can't speak about in public."
This surprised Kane, but he nodded thoughtfully. "Understood, Lieutenant. So what is your new assignment?"
Von started to respond, but then halted. What had been his new orders? Sure, he had been given the recall to Starfleet HQ, but - last he checked - no new orders about pending assignment had been given. Had that been deliberate?
"I'm assuming you're not going to be assigned to Secretary Martine, are you?" prompted Kane.
Von put on a neutral expression. "I don't think so, sir. Honestly, no new orders have come down yet."
"Ah," nodded the Starfleet Captain. "So you are in bureaucratic limbo at the moment."
Cantor chuckled out loud. "It would appear so, sir."
They arrived at the tinted, transparent aluminum doors to the Hilton Transportation Center that quietly slid open. A young human, dressed in the same Hilton uniform, now stood where the Bolian had been before. Von nodded to the human as they entered. "Two to transport directly to Starfleet Headquarters. Cantor Von and Michael Kane."
She nodded and keyed through her itinerary lists. "Yes, I have you, Mr. Von," she replied in accented Federation Standard. Kane and Von stepped up onto the large transporter pad who's sides were a Hilton-branded mixture of dark grey metal and diamond-like crystals arched in a semi-circle around them. "Coordinates locked, sirs."
Von nodded. "Energize."
---
NRPG: I hope I didn't besmirch our dear ol' Captain! And, no, I'm not getting kick-backs from Hilton.
[/\]
Marko J. Sertic
aka
Lt. Cantor Von
On assignment, Secretary of Starfleet's Office
