Assignment Dance

Posted on Mon May 30th, 2022 @ 4:48pm by Vice Admiral Niamh Devane & Lieutenant JG Mina Altair

Mina Altair picked the imaginary fluff off her shoulder as she waited for the door in front of her to open, no concern on her face, nor any expression than anyone could tell, even if someone had been in the lift with her. But when an Admiral summoned you to their office, it didn't matter what you were doing, you went. And if you'd been back from your most recent operation investigating missing items on a starship for a couple days? Then 'At your earliest convenience' meant 'Right the heck now' and there was no excuse for delaying by any more time than it took to physically get there on the bounce.

The lift door slid open and Mina exited, went down the short hallway to the Admiral's office, entering the tiny outlying room to the receptionist that acted as the guard dog to Admiral Niamh Devane's time. "Lieutenant Altair to see the Admiral at her request." She said in her natural Australian accent, but a completely flat tone of voice. The receptionist glanced up, glanced down, then keyed the door opening for Mina, who immediately walked into the room and came to attention in front of the desk, "Admiral Devane, ma'am, Lieutenant Mina Altair, reporting as requested."

Niamh looked up from the PaDD in her hand, one eyebrow raising slightly as she looked over the woman standing in front of her. "It took you long enough to get here," she said pointedly. "You cleared security fifteen minutes ago. Stop for coffee along the way?" She set the PaDD down and motioned for Mina to take the seat across from her.

No sooner had Mina taken the seat, Niamh's assistant entered the room, placing two mugs on the desk, one in front of each of them, then disappeared as silently as she had entered. Picking up the mug, Niamh took a sip, watching the other woman over the top of her mug. "I'll cut straight to the point," she said simply. "I'm reassigning you to Starbase 332, effective immediately. There's a transport in orbit leaving tonight, you'll be on it."

“Of course, ma’am,” Mina said as she’d picked up her own mug, forestalling any other comment as she took a sip. Her brow furrowed ever so slightly as she considered anything she’d heard about the goings-on of Starbase 332, but nothing seemed to click. Her role over the last few years had turned into a specialist role, being sent in one cover or another to gather information or investigate very quietly into one problem or another, but this didn’t seem like such an assignment.

Finally, Mina could stall no longer and she lowered the mug into both hands as one leg crossed over the other, “Is there a particular cover I’m going to be using, Admiral, or do I need to come up with one of my own? I haven’t heard of anything untoward happening on the station…” She trailed off, no emotion leaking from her expression, as was normal for her ‘official’ personae.

"Fleet Captain Vonn was recently involved in a failed court martial." Niamh leaned back in her seat. "Among other things, I want a body on the station that I know will report back to me as necessary."

Something nearly unreadable crossed Mina's face as she took another sip of her coffee to buy time to develop a response, "I can appreciate that, ma'am, which leads me to assume that this is going to be a long-term assignment. I presume that I'll be able to pursue some of my more... Esoteric personal activities for the duration of my assignment to the Starbase? I presume I'll be on call for any situation that arises in the general area, not just the station, of course."

Niamh offered a nod. "You presume correctly," she replied calmly. "Your assignment to 332 can be considered a long term placement at this stage. While you will be reporting to, and working under, Fleet Captain Vonn and her Command staff, you will also be reporting back to me should the need arise."

"Of course, ma'am." Mina considered the ramifications of the assignment for a few seconds. She tended to couch many of her suggestions, requests and ideas in presumptions and assumptions, not because she wasn't confident in her tasks, but because it was her nature to give herself more of a latitude in her activities and duties. If there were problems, she'd ferret them out in her own way, and she didn't fail. "Have there been any specific complaints that will need investigating?"

"I'll have some reading for you for the journey to the Starbase, a little background and history," Niamh offered. "Mostly I just want eyes and ears on the ground. I like to err on the side of caution," she added with a smile.

"Of course, ma'am." Mina agreed again, "And I can get into just about anywhere and everywhere one way or another." She gave a truly genuine smile, "It just depends on the skin I'm wearing at the time. I'll get a feel for what sort of rumors are going on and nip in to investigate things."

"Your commanding officer will be Captain Vonn, but of course, I want you reporting back to me as well. I want to know what's going on at each step," Niamh paused, watching Mina for a moment. "Do you have any questions about the assignment?"

"Only one, ma'am. I understand that I'll be under the orders of Captain Vonn, but what restrictions will I have otherwise?" From many others, most others, the question would have been rather concerning. Mina's asking of it was only to determine the scope of her own mission. If there were no restrictions, she'd consider herself on her own all but completely. There was no question of ethics, she wouldn't go on a murderous rampage or even do anything she shouldn't do. She'd stay within the lines, unless she had to cross them for specific and temporary reasons.

"You don't act on anything without my express permission," Niamh ordered. "And I am the first to know should anything happen. Understood?"

"Of course, ma'am." That gave Mina a lot of leeway, just the way she liked it. "I'll go get my gear set up for the transit." She stood from the chair, cup on the table as she waited for permission to head out, it was always proper.

"Dismissed Lieutenant," Niamh said softly, her attention already turned back to the PaDD now in her hand.