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"Following Orders"
Previous post "Face-To-Face"
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"In the world of Intel, everything is true, especially the lies."
- Admiral Charles N. Koniki, Head of Starfleet Intelligence and CO of the NEW ALEXANDRIA Complex
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Setting: USS ANUBIS, Captain's Ready Room
Stardate: 32016.0235
=/\= They have disembarked, =/\= Commander Shar'El reported from the IGC. =/\= The Admiral is not taking any chances though. The lockdown is still in effect. =/\=
"The Admiral is a cautious man," Counsellor Dima noted. Although she did not know the man as well as the others on board the ANUBIS, the way events had unfolded pointed to her statement having been a simple and safe one to make.
"Being cautious has nothing to do with anything," The Native American countered. "The Admiral is nothing short of a man suffering from extreme paranoia bordering on psychotic episodes."
"Surely you are exaggerating," Nicole gasped concerned that a man in the position of the Admiral would be extremely dangerous if he indeed suffered from the mental conditions described by the Captain.
"Maybe a little," Erik softly grinned. "Not much though," he added before contacting the Operations Officer. "Lieutenant Stark, report."
=/\= Kai and the others are not displaying any heat signatures, luckily I can follow the rest of the security detail escorting them. They seem to be on their way to the infirmary. The Admiral appears to be taking ANI back to his office. =/\=
"Guess there is nothing else for us to do but to wait," Nicole sighed, still a little concerned about the way Captain Morningstar had described the Admiral.
"You would think that after all of the Intel missions we all have been on, I would be used to waiting," the Native American offered, clearly wishing that there was more he could do.
"No matter the situation," the Counsellor offered with a smile, "waiting will always be the hardest part."
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Setting: NEW ALEXANDRIA, Section C2, Level 1, Infirmary, Observation Room
Stardate: 32016.0250
Doctor Doyanne managed to remain silent during the entire trip to the base's medical facility. Elan and Kai had both appeared calm, almost content in the way things had unfolded while Lieutenant Ya'Han did not seemed in the least bothered by what she was doing. For someone who had been so willing to help their guest, the brightly crimson coloured haired woman now seemed almost pleased to be doing the Admiral's dirty work.
The half dozen security officers assigned by Koniki to escort them had been as cold and distant as one would have expected them to be. In a way this had proven to be beneficial to them as they avoided the Doctor's rage by keeping to themselves.
Following their escort, not that they had any other option, the group found themselves in one of the observation rooms, a single now heavily guarded door leading in and out.
"I hope that you are happy Ya'Han," Lillie snapped, finally allowing her anger to come out.
"I did what I needed to," the Nylaan stated without hesitation. "I did what was expected given the orders we received."
"Do not give me that BS about simply following orders," the Chief Medical Officer unleashed, appearing more than ready to physically confront the Chief of Security. The difference in their skills and abilities in hand-to-hand combat had beyond favoured the Nylaan, but that had not stopped the Doctor. What did bring the woman to a stop before the CMO could do something that she would likely all too quickly regret though was a single large arm belonging to the blue-skinned giant which descended to be in her path.
"There is no need for this," the towering Oltharian stated, the gentleness of the giant's voice acting as it had been meant to defuse the Doctor's anger enough for her to reconsider what she had wanted to do.
The door to the room opened allowing for one of the many base's Doctor's to walk in. "Is this the shapeshifting alien?" the man inquired, obviously making reference to the giant strapped on the transport medical table.
"Of course not," Doyanne snapped, rolling her eyes. "The woman with the red hair over there is the shapeshifter, we just managed to find a set of twins and strap one of them on this table to distract you. Of course the one on the table is the *alien shapeshifter* you half witted imbecile, and his name is Kai."
"The name is irrelevant, as is your anger," the man said, the tone and cadence of his words making it almost sound as if he had been part Borg. "I am simply here to perform tests to confirm all of your identities."
Complete silence suddenly flooded the room as the base's Doctor reached for his tricorder and began to scan the occupants of the room, one by one.
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Setting: NEW ALEXANDRIA, Section A, Level 6, Administrative Section
Stardate: 32016.0255
Sitting at his desk, the Admiral was reviewing the video and audio recording provided by the ship's Avatar, a distinct air of suspicion engraved onto his features.
"Remind me again who requested you to make these recordings?" The Admiral inquired, finding himself playing back certain portions of the recording over and over again as if trying to pinpoint the specific detail that seemed to be bothering him.
"Lieutenant Ya'Han, Sir," the ANUBIS' Avatar replied. "The same answer I gave you the previous three times you asked."
"I can see Lieutenant Paquette modified your interpersonal protocols," the Admiral unhappily sighed.
"My apologies Admiral," ANI offered, the mechanical words not at all carrying the emotion that would have been expected with those specific words. "I can confirm that the Lieutenant has in fact performed modifications to some of my base programming."
"I can see that," Koniki admitted, his attention still very much focussed on the images being displayed on his desk monitor. "We need to tackle one problem at a time though. Can you confirm the integrity of the recording you have provided me?"
"Yes Admiral," the Avatar quickly replied. "The highest possible security encoding was used placing it above the reach of both the Captain and Intelligence Liaison Officer."
"Ani?" The Admiral said as he reached for a set of controls to his right. As he pressed a button an unexpected smile appeared on his lips, one that appeared almost evil in nature. "Walk me through the playback, scene by scene."
As artificial as the android might have appeared to be through her mannerism and speech pattern before, whatever the Admiral had done had transformed her into nothing more than a walking computer deprived of any sort of personality. As a simple automaton, the Avatar recounted the events that she had recorded, not leaving a single detail untouched.
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Setting: NEW ALEXANDRIA, Section C2, Level 1, Infirmary, Observation Room
Stardate: 32016.0310
The medical scans had been thorough, or at least that was what everyone thought given how much time it had taken for the base's Doctor to scan each and every one of them. What truly bothered the Chief Medical Officer of the ANUBIS was the fact that the other Doctor had not said a single word during the entire procedure, this despite having been asked repeated questions.
"I am done," he announced while closing his tricorder. "I will make my report to the Admiral directly. You can all wait here until a decision is made."
"A decision?" Lillie exploded with. "We are all living, breathing beings here, not something whose fate can be defined or decided by a single word."
"Thank you Healer," the restrained Oltharian offered, knowing better than to allow this to escalate into an argument that they would all lose in one way or another.
"Thank you for your thoroughness Healer," the standing Oltharian followed with, sounding exactly as the one laying on the table causing Doctor Doyanne to look at the two Elans for a moment, as if trying to remember which one had been the real Robotics Engineer and which one had been the shapeshifting life form who had come to them seeking nothing more than its freedom.
Ya'Han stood by the door, thanking the base's Doctor with nothing more than a nod of her head as he walked past her. Now all they could do was wait.
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Setting: USS ANUBIS, Bridge
Stardate: 32016.0315
Sonja Paquette, the Chief Engineering Officer stepped onto the Bridge, the redhead having had enough of waiting for news. Her usual dislike of the Chief of Operations was momentarily put aside as she walked up to him and looked over his shoulder at the display of the heat signatures.
"Everything appears to be quiet over there," Sonja noted, not truly wanting to start any sort of conversation with Jayson.
"The Admiral seems to be drilling ANI, neither one of them has moved for a while," the Chief of Operations reported. "As for the others, they are waiting. My guess is that the person that just left the room they are in is heading to report back to the Admiral with their findings."
"What is he doing to my ANI?" the Engineer huffed, not liking the idea of the Avatar being there alone and defenceless.
"Whatever he wants I would guess," Jayson replied absentmindedly. "Bet he has ways to make her sing and dance to whatever tune he wishes. You might have done a lot of modifications on her behavioral and interpersonal subroutines, but the core programming is all his, and I am pretty sure that's the way he likes it."
Sonja didn't like what she heard. Granted he had been right, but that had in no way made it easier for the Chief Engineer to hear what had been the truth. Since the first time the CEO had tinkered with the Avatar, Lieutenant Paquette knew that there were things that had been beyond her ability to change. Hopefully whatever the Admiral was doing now would not leave the artificial woman broken in far more than in the physical sense.
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Setting: USS ANUBIS, IGC
Stardate: 32016.0325
Monitoring the data gathered by the passive thermal scans, the First Officer had been able to follow the events as they unfolded, but like Jayson and anyone else tapping into the feed, there had been no way for any of them to know exactly what was happening. So far, all they could see was that those brought to the base's infirmary had been visited by someone now heading to speak to the Admiral who had been busy with the ANUBIS' Avatar, likely trying to pry from her cold artificial body whatever secrets he believed her to have.
It was evident that the Admiral did not want to take any chances. The return of Kai had been something he wanted to make sure happened on his terms and without anyone trying to 'do the right thing'. Although many would have claimed that there had been but a single life at play in this Intel game, those on board the ANUBIS would be quick to point out that their lives as well as that of Kai had been thrown into the mix. Their actions had the potential of severely affecting the quality and number of days to come, forcing everyone to make a choice between duty and morals.
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Setting: NEW ALEXANDRIA, Section A, Level 6, Administrative Section
Stardate: 32016.0335
"Thank you ANI," the Admiral offered as he reached once more for the controls that he had earlier used to turn the Avatar into a completely mindless piece of equipment. "Your report was very thorough and will prove very useful as I consider what my next move will be."
Unable to recall what she had said during the time of her giving the report mentioned, ANI was left to question what had actually happened. Her internal chronometer did show a substantial amount of time had passed, but she could not access any memories for that specific time period.
"Doctor," the Admiral said, welcoming the new arrival into his office. "I gather that all went well."
"Of course Admiral," was the simple answer given as a PADD was placed on the imposing onyx black desk. "Here is my report on the complete biological scans of those currently in the infirmary as well as my own personal observations. Doctor Doyanne does appear to be in a rather foul mood."
"I would not have expected her to be in any other mood," Koniki nodded before dismissing the medical officer so that he could read the report that had been handed to him, all under the troubled and concerned watch of the ANUBIS' Avatar who seemed to still be trying to understand the inexplicable gap in her memory.
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Setting: USS ANUBIS, Captain's Ready Room
Stardate: 32016.0345
"Would you like another cup of tea?" Nicole asked. "I'm pretty sure that the one on your desk is long cold by now."
"Thank you Counsellor," the Native American offered with a forced smile. "I fear that any new cup would suffer the same fate as this one."
"There is an old EARTH saying that as I recall states that 'No news is good news," Counsellor Dima said, attempting to ease the troubled mind of the ANUBIS' Commanding Officer. Just as Erik had been about to offer some sort of counter argument, the sound of a chim indicating an incoming communication echoed through the room. Upon seeing the point of origin of the signal, the Captain quickly opened the channel.
"Yes Admiral?"
=/\= I want you in my office, now. We have certain matters to discuss. =/\=
"On my way," Erik offered, keeping any outward reaction to after the channel was closed.
"That didn't sound good," the joint Trill offered, concern lacing her words as it did her features.
"No," the Native American confirmed. "It did not."
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Setting: NEW ALEXANDRIA, Section C2, Level 1, Infirmary, Main Area
Stardate: 32016.0350
Without as much as an explanation, the group was escorted out of the observation room and into the main treatment area, the access doors being just as heavily guarded as they had been in the previous location.
"You know I am truly tired of being treated like some sort of criminal," Doctor Doyanne said loudly, almost screaming at whoever cared enough to be listening in. "You would think that this would be easy enough. We get ordered to bring Kai back, little miss fiery red hair over there decides to 'follow orders' and here we are. What is so damn complicated about that?"
"Are we permitted to leave?" Ya'Han inquired of the nearest security guard.
"You are," the Security officer replied, casting an unwelcoming glare at the retrained Oltharian. "That on the other hand is not."
"That?" Lillie snapped. "THAT!" The Doctor repeated looking once again as if ready to jump at the man who had uttered those words to teach him a lesson in manners.
"Maybe we should all leave," the redheaded Chief of Security proposed. "It might be safer for everyone."
"If you two want to leave, go right ahead and leave," Doctor Doyanne dismissed with a grand gesture of her hand. "Someone has to stay here and make sure that these lowlife barbarians don't suddenly decide to rip poor Kai to pieces just to see what would happen."
"Healer," the towering blue skinned-Engineer offered with a smile of tranquility. "Maybe we could speak with the Admiral and see if this matter could be resolved in a more amicable manner."
"You are too sweet and naive," Lillie stated as she looked up into the giant's grey eyes. "That is something that I truly like about you," the Chief Medical Officer added before taking hold of the Oltharian's hand in both of hers.
"Who knows," Ya'Han offered, "maybe the Admiral will have a change of mind and allow us to take Kai back."
"I would not count on that," Doctor Doyanne said with a sigh, letting the Oltharian's massive hand slip from her grasp before watching the two officer make their way out of the Infirmary.
"Healer," the restrained giant said drawing the woman's attention onto him. "All will be fine."
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Setting: NEW ALEXANDRIA, Section A, Level 6, Administrative Section
Stardate: 32016.0400
"Come," the Admiral ordered, sounding somewhere in between disappointed and aggravated.
As the Captain cautiously approached the massive onyx desk, Erik's eyes drifted towards the ship's Avatar who appeared puzzled to the point of being possibly worried about something. Of course seeing this only made the Native American that much more convinced that he would soon find himself on the receiving end of a less than pleasant exchange.
"I carefully reviewed the recordings provided by your ship's Avatar as well as the results of the medical scans done by our own Doctor," the Admiral announced. "I have to admit that I am surprised," he added as he leaned back into his chair.
"Surprised?" Erik echoed, knowing all too well that the Admiral had been fishing for more information than he already had.
"Yes, surprised, and maybe even a little disappointed," Koniki admitted.
The two men stared into each other's eyes for a few seconds before the doors to the Admiral's office suddenly flew open.
"I am sorry Admiral," Allyson, the Admiral's secretary offered as she rushed in behind the two officers who had just barged in.
"It's quite all right," Koniki said as he dismissed the blonde hair woman who exited while closing the doors behind her.
"No it is not *quite all right*," Doctor Doyanne exploded just as the doors were closed behind them. "I want to know why it is so important for you to have that shapeshifter be a prisoner here."
"Doctor Doyanne, please calm yourself," the Admiral offered from behind the massive desk that provided more than an ample barrier against the woman's rage. "If you want an explanation, I will give you the same one I gave earlier. You have witnessed with your own eyes just how skilled that shapeshifter is. Now imagine how many hostile forces would actively hunt it down to get a hold of those abilities. At best they would try to enlist it into their forces, at worst they would study it extensively both as a living entity and a corps to be able to discover how it is able to do what it does. I am only offering it a safe place to be."
"Don't you dare give me that 'only wanting to help' story," the Chief Medical Officer stated in return. "You are no better than any of those people you claim to be protecting it from."
"Fine," Koniki offered as an alternative, "Consider this instead. The devil you know is better than the one you don't. At least here on NEW ALEXANDRIA you would be able to check in from time to time to make sure that everything is fine."
"So you want us to trust you?" The blonde haired woman demanded, not appearing at all convinced.
"Doctor," Ya'Han jumped in with. "You have to agree that this is a far better option."
"Anyway," the Admiral continued, turning his attention back onto the Native American. "The recordings from your Avatar confirms the report given by your Chief of Security and since there is no way for our instruments to confirm beyond what our eyes can see, I am forced to accept the facts as they have been presented. You and your crew can return to the ANUBIS."
"What about the lockdown?" Erik inquired, not entirely certain as to what had just happened.
"The ship can't be on lockdown for ever," the Admiral chuckled, "especially given that I have a mission for you. I need you to leave right away," Koniki announced as he tossed another PADD towards the bemused Native American Captain.
"Are you getting rid of us?" The Chief Medical Officer demanded.
"Not at all Doctor," Koniki smiled broadly. "It is just that your presence is required elsewhere. You will just have to inquire about your guest upon your return. For now, you are dismissed and the ANUBIS is cleared for departure"
The Doctor appeared stunned and confused but the Avatar quickly stepped in and escorted the woman out of the Admiral office followed by the Chief of Security and Commanding Officer.
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Setting: USS ANUBIS, Bridge
Stardate: 32016.0420
The Captain stepped onto the bridge and immediately focused on their Flight Control Officer. "Set a course out. We have been cleared to leave for a new mission."
"We are being permitted to leave?" Tanith asked, not having expected things to have progressed this way.
"We have been given a new mission, so if you would, please take us out."
"Clearing all moorings," the Chief of Operations announced. "Umbilical connections have been detached and are retracting."
"Setting a reverse course out of the docking station," the Flight Control Officer followed up with, Ensign Jones added looking forward to putting all that she had learned and reviewed into practice.
"Well, if we are leaving I'd better get back to Main Engineering," the redheaded Engineer stated as she made her way to the turbolift followed by the ship's Avatar
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Setting: USS ANUBIS, Turbolift en route for Main Engineering
Stardate: 32016.0425
"The Admiral was very thorough in his review and examination of the recordings I provided him with," ANI stated. "There is even a portion of time that I am unable to account for while I was in his office."
"He probably used some sort of administrative override," Sonja huffed. "I just hope that he didn't mess up any of your systems while he pried the truth from you."
"You have nothing to be concerned about," ANI said, actually smiling as she did so. "As per your instructions I only allowed a fraction of the modifications to be active while I was in his office. Although they were enough to make him be less than pleased with you and your tinkering."
"Well, ain't that a shame," the Chief Engineer chuckled in a southern accent before allowing for a moment of silence to spread through the small pod.
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Setting: USS ANUBIS, Bridge
Stardate: 32016.0445
"We have cleared the asteroid field," Tanith reported. "What course should I set?"
"Commander Maya?" The Native American said as he turned towards his Chief Science Officer. "Any suggestions?"
"There are a few options, but some have a much higher mathematical probability of being the planet we are looking for," the Shillian replied.
"We don't know where we are going for our new mission?" The Flight Control Officer inquired with puzzlement.
"The new mission may have to be delayed a little," Ya'Han offered with a smile, an expression that she had not been able to display for far too long.
"Welcome back," Nicole said as Lieutenant Paquette walked back onto the bridge.
"How is ANI?" the Captain inquired, his curiosity having taken the best of him at that moment.
"Running a full diagnostic but the preliminary reports are promising," the Chief Engineer reported. "Whatever override we expected the Admiral to use did not appear to have done any damage to her systems. It's too bad though that Elan is not here, at least he would be able to help me make sure that Koniki didn't do any damage that I might not be able to detect."
"I suspect that Commander Fairborn will be quite busy for some time," the Native American stated.
"I would not worry too much about him," Jayson pointed out.
"I have the feeling Doctor Doyanne is going to be the one giving the base's personnel a run for their money," the Chief of Security added.
"Speaking of Doctor Doyanne," the Native American said as he stood from his chair. "There is something I should be taking care of. Commander Maya, please provide Ensign Jones with the coordinates to our first stop. I will be in Sickbay."
Maya smiled as she and the rest of the gathered officer watched their Commanding Officer leave the bridge with a certain bounce in his step.
"I will admit that I am a little confused," Tanith admitted.
"Bet you won't be the only one for a while," Sonja laughed as she made her way to the Engineering station.
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Setting: USS ANUBIS, Sickbay
Stardate: 32016.0500
"How are you feeling?" The Native American asked as he walked into Sickbay to find the Chief Medical Officer softly caressing the examination bed.
"I am fine," the Doctor replied, "and most grateful for all that you and your crew did for me. I hope that the price you will be made to pay for what you did will not be too high."
"Don't worry about us," Erik countered with. "The ANUBIS has set a course to the world that we believe most closely matches the description you gave to Commander Maya. It might take a few tries, but we will return you to your home."
"Again, I am most grateful for what you are doing."
"It's our pleasure," the Native American said with a casual nod of his head. "In the meantime relax. There is no need for you to hide anymore."
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Setting: NEW ALEXANDRIA, Section A, Level 6, Administrative Section
Stardate: 32016.0530
"Admiral," Commander NabuS said as she presented herself to the Commanding Officer of the secret base. "It seems that we have lost track of the alien shapeshifter. Internal sensors are tracking Commander Fairborn and Doctor Doyanne but neither seem to have any clues as to the creature's whereabouts."
"Erik, Erik, Erik," the Admiral said as he shook his head and smiled. "Well played my friend, well played indeed."
"Shall I order a base wide search?" The Chief of Security asked, not quite understanding the Admiral's reaction.
"No, don't bother. What we will need to do though is to provide quarters for Doctor Doyanne. I suspect that she will be staying here for a while," the Admiral stated, dismissing the female Andorian before turning his attention to the now vacant docking station where the ANUBIS had been. "I'm proud of you Erik, as well as your crew. For a moment I thought that some of them were going to turn on you but they respect you and your ideals. That is what I was hoping to see. Allyson, can you come into my office for a minute please."
A few seconds passed before the smiling blonde-hair secretary walked into the man's Office. "Yes Admiral?"
"Was the file I requested downloaded into the ANUBIS' computer?"
"Yes Admiral," Allyson confirmed. "It was placed under a special security lock which you alone can open."
"Thank you," Koniki smiled. "Guess I should unlock it now. Wouldn't want them to be overly delayed in getting to the mission I need them to be on instead of galavanting through the universe looking for a specific planet."
--==(/\)==--
Francois Charette
Commanding Officer
USS ANUBIS, NCC 18501
AND
Robotics Engineering Officer
NEW ALEXANDRIA