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"Black And White Meetings"
Previous post "Prelude to Requiem For A Dream"
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"Intel is a game of the mind, one that requires players to always be ready for anything, especially the unexpected."
- Charles N. Koniki

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Setting: NEW ALEXANDRIA, Section A, Level 6, Administrative Center
Stardate: 30150.2045

With his head filled with questions and personnel related concerns, the Native American walked into the Administrative Center and was instantly greeted by the head receptionist and secretary to Admiral Charles N. Koniki, a woman only known as Allyson.

"Good evening Captain Morningstar," the blond haired woman offered with a beaming smile. "Would you care to have a seat while I inform the Admiral of your arrival?"  Erik could not recall having ever seen the woman in anything other than a stellar mood, in fact the Captain of the USS ANUBIS could not recall ever having seen the overly joyous woman be anything other than a single minded individual focused on assisting anyone who came here.  "May I offer you a cup of Risian Tea Latte?"

"No thank you, I'm fine," the CO replied with a smile that had been far from matching that of the cheerful woman's.  "I'll just stand while I wait."

=/\= Send him in, =/\= the voice of the Admiral was heard over an open comm channel seconds later. Obviously Allyson had informed the head of the complex in a way that had not involved a verbal announcement.

"The Admiral will see you now," the blond haired woman stated, her smile not having diminished in the slightest which prompted the Captain to nod his head in thanks and move towards the already opening large double doors.

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Setting: NEW ALEXANDRIA, Section A, Level 6, Koniki's Office
Stardate: 30150.2047

Erik stepped in to find the Admiral sitting behind the imposing black onyx decks which had been placed in front of the large windows giving onto the New Alexandria's docking facilities.  What struck as being even more impressive than the desk had been the three large statues standing in front of the supporting columns, each representing one of the three active SCARAB-Class Intel cruisers.  The jackal-headed ANUBIS, the hawk-headed HORUS and the lioness-headed SEKHMET.

"Glad to see that you don't waste time, Erik," the Admiral offered as he invited the Native American to approach and take one of the vacant chairs located in front of the massive desk. "Your diligence and actions have made my job a lot easier in regards to assigning replacement personnel to your ship."

"I am guessing that you already know that Ensign Mizore has accepted to take on the responsibilities of Chief Medical Officer?" Erik stated, the question having been rhetorical given that the Native American knew all too well of the Admiral's ability to know the ongoings of pretty much everything before anyone else, even if they were directly involved.

"You offered her the job and she said, yes.  Didn't need to be a Betazoid to figure that one," Koniki said as if he had himself been there to witness the events.  "I just hope that you know what you are doing, that Bajoran is a feisty one. Then again most of them are.  Anyway, with her going up to CMO, you will be happy to know that I have a new aCMO for you; Ensign Andromeda T'Leia.  Her Intel credentials are impressive and I am sure that she will be of great value to you and the rest of the ANUBIS' crew."

"Speaking of my crew," the Captain began, the seriousness in his voice not having been missed in the least by the head of the NEW ALEXANDRIA complex.

"Erik," Koniki sighed with disappointment as he shook his head from side to side.  "You know better than to ask these sort of questions.  Doctor Doyanne and Ensign Shar'El are no longer your concern.  You took care of bringing them back home and they are now my responsibility, there is nothing more to say.  Worrying about them will do you no good, and I know you are not someone who likes to waste their time on trivial matters."

"Fine," the Native American quietly snapped back.  "You are right, I *do* know better.  When you get into this 'I'm in charge' mentality I know that there is nothing anyone can say or do,  So I have one last question; have you made a decision as to who will be the new ExO for the ANUBIS?"

"Maybe," the Admiral noted calmly as he picked up a PADD from his desk.  "There are still a few details that I need to review before my final decision is made, but until then you will just have to be patient.  I suggest that you call for a Senior Staff meeting tomorrow at 0900, you will have my decision by then."

Normally Erik was not the type to allow his emotions get the better of him, but his rapidly growing frustration had left the Native American to exit the office with haste before saying something that he had been sure he would be made to regret in an all too near future.

"Good night Erik," Koniki offered with friendly respect just as the doors closed behind the rapidly walking CO of the USS ANUBIS.

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Setting: USS ANUBIS, Deck 2, Counselor's Quarters
Stardate: 30150.2130

"Risian Tea?" the Counselor asked of the man who had just walked into her quarters with little to no warning.

"Not you too," Erik sighed heavily, his frustration still far too evident for his own liking.

"Okay then," Eve chuckled as she turned away from the replicator and took a seat on the couch in front of her Commanding Officer and friend.  "Guessing that the meeting with Koniki did not go well."

"The man can be a pompous know-it-all..." the Native American began but stopped himself short of openly insulting his immediate superior.

"He didn't tell you anything about Lillie or Shar'El," the Counselor said as she added a supportive nod of her head.  "You knew that is was a longshot when you went in. Koniki likes to show off that he has knowledge others do not.  This was nothing short of a reminder from him to you as to who he is and what he controls."

"I am not sure this is helping me feel any better," Erik chuckled as he leaned back into the single chair.  "Just would have liked to get some sort of answer from him instead of being completely stonewalled. I feel like I lost two good officers and i can't even explain to myself why they are not with us anymore."

"It's just the way he is," Eve offered as she leaned forward and placed her elbows onto her knees.  "You need to stop worrying about things that there is nothing we can do about.  Instead, try looking forward to the ball.  It should prove to be a very interesting and maybe even relaxing event."

"Yes, because thinking about bunch of high end dignitaries gathering on a Risian Cruise Liner is so much better," the Native American said as he actually laughed.  "I can't help but think that this is some sort of covert mission that we are going to be thrown in the middle of with next to no preparation.  There are just too many variables here for me to just see this event as being a simple black and white ball."

"You are being far too pessimistic," the Counselor offered glad to see the Captain actually relaxing.  "Just pick out a nice suit and embrace the moment.  I am sure that someone at that ball will manage to make you smile."

"Maybe so," Erik offered as he rubbed the back of his neck.  "First though we have to survive Koniki's announcement of who will be the new ExO which he will make tomorrow at 0900 during a senior staff meeting."

"Guess we'd better get ready then," Eve said as she playfully bit her lower lip.  "May I suggest a good night's sleep?"

"Easier said then done I am afraid," the Native American acknowledge as he rose from the chair and bid the Cardassian born Counselor good night.

--==(/\)==--

Francois Charette

Captain Erik Morningstar
Commanding Officer
USS ANUBIS, NCC 18501

AND

Lt. Commander Elan Fairborn
Robotics Engineering Officer
NEW ALEXANDRIA