JP Cdre Jalana Rajel & PNPC Sen. Cmdr Nugra - We could have been best friends (Pt 1)

[T'Mar/Mel]

@Jalana & @Dizmim ChNilmani deliver an intense twist here! 

 

Quote

(( Corridor - USS Constitution ))

As Jalana had left the woman at the tea house, she had not noticed
either the strange look on the Boslic’s face, nor had she heard their
conversation. She had passed another officer - Park  - on her way to the
lift and briefly nodded to her before stepping into the lift.

She opened the Intel database to see what kind of progress they made.
Alas she was met with the much disappointing conclusion that they didn’t
know who the attackers had been, even though they had some suspects in
their list, but no clear and tight case yet. They were still missing
information to draw solid conclusions, it seemed.

With a quiet hum Jalana closed the files again and flicked through her
different sections she was keeping up with and was about to begin
reading again when the door opened and a massive wall of a Gorn stood
before her. She looked up and up and up.

It took a bit to figure out where Jalana was. Not that he didn’t have
the computer pinpoint the exact location but how he would approach the
situation. There could be a lot to explain her behavior. Maybe the CO on
the Hermes Station was strict and she just slipped, trying to give a
good impression to the new ensigns, or possibly Lystra had overreacted
due to the stress of the situation.

Either way, he needed to talk to her and just make sure. The Gorn had
spent years as a security officer and he had lost one commanding officer
in his lifetime. He was as sure as the dark goddess defends the gates of
oblivion, he was not going to lose another.

The turbolift opened and he found the short red headed Trill that he had
been looking for.

Nugra: Commodore. I was just trying to locate you.

Rajel: Oh you were? Seems the fates were on your side then.

She smiled up to him and stood back to make room for him to enter,
crossing her arms in front of her.

Nugra studied the woman. Nothing stood out as strange other than her
indifference to her oldest friend using her rank..

Nugra: I wanted to update you on everything we had been able to dig up
on the possible attackers.

Rajel: I saw you weren’t able to figure out yet who attacked us. The
list is short but still more than one power. What causes the trouble?

So she had access to the files. That meant that the security lock outs
weren’t an issue. Maybe Lystra had been panicking over nothing.

Nugra: There are a lot of unknowns that are making a proper assessment
difficult. I am hoping that Lieutenant Commander Ada can provide more
information when she returns to the ship.

Rajel: Oh? What is she doing?

Nugra: She’s over on the Deep Sensor array attempting to help repair it
and see if they can find any more data on the attackers.

Jalana nodded, slightly tapping her PADD against her side.

Rajel: Ah yes, that may give some insight. Especially if they manage to
access the long range data.

Vital information, especially if they considered that maybe the
attackers decided to come back. Depending on who they had to fight it
would be quite different tactics, after all. Also concerning.

Nugra: Am I keeping you from something? I am more than happy to follow
you and update you on a few other things.

Rajel: Not really. I’m just going around checking on updates, so you
will save me a few steps. So what else is on your list?

Nugra: The status of Earth. It appears that there is a full blackout in
effect and that the Borg are involved with the assault.

Jalana raised her PADD slightly, as if that would tell him all he needed
to know, but then added words too, because naturally he wouldn’t have a
clue.

Rajel: I just saw the latest news about the mention of borgs, officers
turning against each other and the destruction of the Excelsior. Has
there come anything more since then?

Nugra: There isn’t any more information than that. How…are you doing?

Rajel: It’s a tragedy that this happened but I have to focus on my work
here so we are up and running, just in case. If anything of that comes
over here it would be disastrous to not be ready. ::She then looked up
to him.:: Why are you asking? Got something in mind?

Nugra: Oh, nothing specific. I have not spoken to you since your return
from Hermes.

Rajel: Was just a little busy there.

Nugra: Ah.

The Gorn tried not to look suspicious (though Nugra wasn’t sure if a
humanoid could actually tell if a reptiloid was suspicious). Everything
he could see with his eyes told him that the Jalana before him was the
Jalana he had always expected. The spots were correct, the hair was
correct, and the voice was correct. Maybe Lystra was just struggling
with the stress of the day.

The lift door opened and for a moment Jalana simply looked out of the
door as if she expected someone to join. Then she realized this was her
floor and she moved to leave.

Rajel: As said, little busy I’m sure you understand, so I’ll see-

Nugra: There are a few things I have to report. May I?

As he stepped out of the lift she stopped in her tracks. He was coming
with her? She didn’t really know why, but okay. Might as well use the
time to get more updates then.

The massive lizard did not give her a chance to respond but took up his
place beside her with the intention of continuing to walk with her. His
mind raced. This was Jalana, everything should be fine. He just had to
make sure.

Rajel: Right. ::He had said he had a few things.:: So what else do you
have for me?

Nugra was glad that he had read up on the final reports that had come so
that he did not look like a complete idiot. He had taken off after
hearing from the Boslic with only a half baked plan in his head.

Nugra: I do not know if you had a chance to speak with our engineering
teams but Lieutenant Shimisi and Ensign Zaka submitted preliminary
reports and data of possible sabotage activity on the station.

Jalana’s brows jumped up squeezing into her hairline, the surprise
actually got her attention.

Rajel: Sabotage? Are you sure?

Nugra: They don’t have anything more than that right now. The
information is compelling but circumstantial. Commander Lida is not sold
on the idea at the moment by her notes.

The Trill hummed, slightly nodding.

Rajel: It depends on why they think it’s sabotage. If the Commander
doesn’t think so…

He offered the PADD that he usually carried with him. It was time to
find out for sure.

Nugra: I have compiled a report for you so you can update your superior,
Admiral T’Kel. You know how punctual Vulcans are.

Once more the Trill looked up to him and took the PADD before she looked
down to it with a little hum and a nod, starting to scroll through the
compilation. This Gorn worked quite thoroughly, she was impressed.

Rajel: Of course, I wouldn't want him to nerve-pinch me in
disappointment or something. I’ll get it done as soon as possible.

Nugra’s heart jumped ever so slightly and cold chills ran down his
scales. The lizard schooled his expression as much as he could. If
Admiral T'Kel existed outside of Nugra's imagination, he had never met
them. Who he had met, however, was Jalana's superior, Admiral Heraan, an
irritable old Tellarite. Jalana wouldn’t forget the interactions with
the man who had once called her Ensign Cactus because she had worn a
green dress.

Nugra: I…see. That’s good to hear. I prefer to send as much as I can to
him.

What now? What was he supposed to do now? He couldn’t just haul off and
punch the imposter. Who knew what they had done, how many there were or
even where Jalana was. The lizard decided to maintain his course and see
what he could figure out.

Nugra: How long were you at Hermes? Did you pick up anything weird while
you were there?

Rajel: ::A little shrug:: Hour, Hour and a half. I was in a long meeting
with Captain Va and Herren. We snatched a couple of PADDs with
information about the recent events in the area. Why? ::smirking:: Want
some of my paperwork?

Nugra: I see. I am just curious as part of my investigation into
Shimisi’s report. Even though the chief doesn’t suspect sabotage, I have
to positively eliminate the possibility. Any input you might have would
be great.

Rajel: Ah. ::She nodded:: Well I was in the Captain’s office the whole
time and then left through OPS transporters, so I have no idea what it
could be.

Nugra: Understood. That, in itself, is information.

Was that where it had happened? Is that where he would find Jalana if he
was to storm Hermes station? For a moment, he calculated what sort of
arsenal he needed to pack before he brought himself back. Was she even
still alive? Or was this her own body and it was her mind that had been
infiltrated?

JP By...

Commodore Jalana Rajel
Commanding Officer
USS Constitution B
Image Team Co-Facilitator
A238906JL0

&

Senior Commander Nugra
Intelligence Officer
USS Constitution-B

As simmed by...

Lt. Commander Diz'mim Ch'Nilmani
First Officer
USS Constitution-B NCC 9012-B
V238008N10