Long Fall to Bespin - Part One

Posted on Thu Mar 31st, 2022 @ 3:35am by Commander Victoria 'Enyo' Yamaguchi & Lieutenant Commander Alexandra Harrison & Master Chief Petty Officer Benjamin Kuuztin

Mission: Mission 114: Be All My Sins Remember'd
Location: Various Locations - Starbase Vanguard / USS Pembo
Timeline: 0800Hrs - October 30th, 2393

Commander Victoria Yamaguchi was sitting on the bridge as she read the PADD in her hands, she slowly blinked her eyes as she shifted her attention to her new first officer. a young woman named Alexandra Harrison, she had something of a nasty reputation for various crimes and offences she is alleged to have committed while under the command of the man she was married to. Aiden Torell was apparently abusive and liked to get kinky with his wife while he committed his own crimes. "Comm-" he paused. "Captain, a question if I may?" Harrison asked.

"Yes?" Yamaguchi inquired as she slowly smiled at the other woman across from her.

"I am a little puzzled. Why are we being sent on this mission with people who've never been assigned together before?"

Yamaguchi shifted her position in the chair, ever so slightly as she regarded the other woman before her. "The reason will become clear when I brief everyone in about thirty minutes time. Then we'll get underway on this assignment..." she explained as she smiled.

"I see..." Harrison answered as he frowned softly.

Yamaguchi noted the sudden change on her face and in her tone. "Number one, let's go into the ready room." as she rose to her feet, almost in a languid manner. She turned her head. "Chief Kuuztin. The bridge is yours."

"Aye ma'am." came the response from the massively built male standing at the tactical display.

Yamaguchi led her rather reluctant first officer into the ready room. She then proceeded to take a seat in front of the desk in this room that was at least a third the size of the ready room she had on the Peerless. "Whats up Commander," Yamaguchi asked.

"Well... I didn't want to say anything stupid out in front of anyone else." Harrison answered. "I have a lot of questions."

"So will everyone else..." Yamaguchi knew that placating her new temporary first officer came first. "This is a ramshackle crew that's all assigned here because of our rather specific skillsets. We're all either computer specialists, weapons and tactics people..." Yamaguchi explained. "Some of us are being purloined from other assignments because of how dangerous this assignment is... What does not help is that this assignment is also black."

"Oh. Lovely." Harrison sighed softly. "So we don't talk about this assignment, to anyone... ever?"

"Nope," Yamaguchi answered quietly. "Will that be a concern for you?" she inquired softly.

Harrison regarded this woman before her, it was only now that she had realized what it was with her body language and the like. This was a woman at home in this murk. She was used to getting assignments like this. "No... As strange as that sounds to me... But I'm a computer geek... Not someone from Special Forces."

"That's why I requested you." Yamaguchi answered." I selected you specifically because of your skills as a computer geek because of the fact that this mission... Is exceptionally dangerous... It'll go down as among my top three most dangerous and our chances of coming back... are one in three." Suddenly her countenance brightened. "That's assuming of course that the opposition doesn't know we're coming."

Harrison sighed. "This is going to be an interesting assignment."

"I was selected because of my rather unique skill set and background," Yamaguchi explained with a rather impish smile. "I am not the most gentle soul and nor am I the most subtle either." she paused. "Admiral Lasky selected me... Because of the fact that I am able to do what must be done and because of the fact that the vast majority of my experience is in special forces from... an associated nation-state known to the Federation and Starfleet..." she explained.

"Associated... Is that a clever way of saying you're not from around here?" Harrison answered. "Look skipper, no offence. I am not interested in where you are from. I'm more interested in where we're going and the fact that you look almost identical to Commodore Yamaguchi-Hobbs is kind of an eye-opener too... So I can only conclude that you are her missing twin or you are from another reality that somehow ended up in this one." Harrison explained. "As I said. None of this bothers me... We have a task to look after and the rest is unimportant."

"Very well then," Yamaguchi answered. "My background is actually classified. Because it's not the kind of stuff one needs in the peacetime Federation or Starfleet. My skillset is all about war."

Harrison paused. "I... I think I understand." she sounded unsure as she commented on the matter.

"With respect Alex." Yamaguchi sighed softly. "I hope you never learn what I know. It's not something I'm proud of. I've done things that keep me up at night..." she let out a soft sigh. "That makes me question if I am worthy to wear this realities Starfleet uniform... The only thing that kept me going was that someday I would be reunited with my children... The last thing in this multiverse that I give a damn about... and now that I have..." she paused a moment. "Because Admiral Lasky believed in me... Even when I didn't believe it myself... I thought they were dead... Tormented for the pleasure of others and finaly killed by a nation-state that abuses its own." Yamaguchi explained. "Thanks to the last assignment where I was attached to the USS Infinity. I was able to reclaim them... Now Admiral Lasky has asked me to help with this mission... I will see it done..." Yamaguchi regarded her first officer with a measure of trepidation. "We're being asked to look into the Halanan claims that their medical cure is the genuine article since they won't share their infomation with us." Yamaguchi spread her hands, palms up as she spoke. "They used Federation resources to accomplish their goals and the Federation wishes to ensure their resources were not wasted or worse, diverted to other things."

"Oh... I'm with you, skipper. Not that there was ever any question... But I... I had to be sure." Harrison answered quietly.

"I will explain all at the briefing. I'll also explain why everyone who's coming, was selected... You might enjoy the show." Yamaguchi rose to her feet as she regarded the other woman before her. "Do you have any further issues I need to address?"

"No skipper... The briefing should be interesting." Harrison answered while she followed Yamaguchi out the door.