Confined to Quarters

Posted on Sun Jan 19th, 2020 @ 11:11pm by Captain Wilkan Targaryen & Captain Nathan Bishop & Commander Sherwin Porter

1,730 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Genesis
Location: Ready Room, Starfleet One
Timeline: 2429-12-05

Admiral William Teagarden walked around his Ready Room holding the datapad holding the after action report for the mission to the Preserver vessel. This was the third time he had read the same section of text, considering the actions that were taken carefully. He pecked at the controls, returning again to the section regarding the revelation that Section 31 had been attempting to capture the alien vessel from its masters. Even though they were using the information to try to save Galatea, the revelation was one that was somewhat damning. More to the point it revealed something to which William had been genuinely concerned: that 31 wasn't as dead as they thought it was.

"Galatea."

The holographic artificial intelligence avatar appeared in the Admiral's Office not too far from him, "You asked to see me?"

"Indeed. With Commander Snow having been outed as a Section 31 Operative that brings a greater concern to us for the future. Begin a research project into Fleet Movements, Transfer Orders, After Action Reports, anything that indicates 31's involvement," the CO ordered from his chair.

"Admiral, with our previous encounters we had a dossier regarding Commander Snow that outlined her involvement in 31. You were aware of that relationship," the hologram answered directly. "If I may, Sir, why are we concerned by this detail?"

"Because it indicates that 31 is still operational. We have been working to eradicate that organization for decades and we thought it had been. This just proves that we were wrong," William answered from his desk. "Please inform Commander Bishop that I would like to speak with him. Doctor Porter as well."

The hologram nodded, "Messages sent. Will that be all?"

He nodded once in confirmation as he brought up a ship's status report on his console and waited for the XO and Doctor. He set the door to allow them immediate entry.

Bishop was in his quarters when he received the Admiral's summons from Galatea without comment. He was sure he knew the reason. A reason named Lily Snow and her recent admission of being a Section 31 operative and all that the admission detailed. The admiral would want answers and he wasn't sure he had the answers the Admiral wanted. Nonetheless, he would do his best to give the Admiral as much information as he could on Lily Snow. He personally didn't think Lily was a threat or a security risk but that would be the Admiral's decision. He rose from the couch and headed for the admiral's Ready Room, best to get this over with now then to let it linger.

Sherwin Porter received the order to come to the ready room while he was in his quarters. He had just been finishing up his reports from the mission. There were a lot of them, but he had managed to get through them. Instead of changing and getting ready for bed, he looked in the mirror, straighten up his uniform, and headed out the door.

When the XO and Chief Medical Officer arrived, William motioned toward the small lounge area of his Ready Room for his guests and picked up the crimson datapad he'd been using a short while ago. Joining them in the lounge he sat in the large chair that looked out at the window, leaning forward with the PADD still in hand toward his guests. "I want to talk about Lily Snow and her presence aboard the Enterprise," he said as he handed the PADD over to his XO.

Bishop nodded, accepting the PaDD. "Yes sir. I had a feeling that you might. In fact I was coming to talk to you about her."

"I read the after action report from the Preserver ship. During the encounter with Galatea I was surprised to find that Commander Snow revealed her past as a Section 31 Agent," he commented as he looked again at that line in the report.

"Yes sir. She did and willingly." Bishop answered. Wondering how much more he should say with Porter being here.

William nodded, "I see." He looked at Doctor Porter and sighed, "I was afraid of this. With the fall of 31 I was hopeful she wouldn't reveal her sordid past to help prevent something like this from happening." He looked back at his XO, "There is another file on that datapad for you to take a look at. Galatea, release file Project: White Knight on my authority to Commander Bishop."

"File released."

"There is a very long story behind all this, Commander," he looked at Doctor Porter for a moment then back, "but Commander Snow is here on special assignment for the medical department with the approval of Starfleet Command. We are aware of her prior involvement with 31."

The CMO kept his eyes locked on the Admiral. There must’ve been a reason he was involving the commander.

Bishop had begun to read the file when the Admiral's voice stopped him. "I think she felt she had no other option sir. That it was the only thing she could say that was going to give us or me pause. May I ask what the special assignment is?"

"The Commander is working on treating a patient aboard the ship who is part of Project: White Knight. The patient has been experiencing complications that required a trained geneticist who had been involved with the Project. Doctor Porter is an exceptional Doctor, but 31 placed a lot of safeguards and roadblocks in the genetic coding to make things difficult."

"I see." Bishop replied but wasn't entirely sure he did. "When you say we, you meant you and Dr. Porter for I didn't know anything about Commander Snow's involvement with Section 31 until she made it public on the Preserver ship." He sighed, "I appreciate you releasing the file to me but I feel I've been kept on the outside of this. As if you don't trust me."

Teagarden shook his head, "It's not about trust, Commander. This is a military vessel in the end. As Doctor Porter can attest over the nearly two decades of operations of this ship there have been many need to know assignments and missions. While I do understand your concern, this isn't going to be the last time. As you move closer to your own command that's something the becomes more and more clear - one day you'll probably be having the same conversation with a member of your crew as we are right now."

Bishop was unconvinced but discretion is the better part of valor and he knew how to pick his battles. So he simply nodded and replied, "Yes sir. I'm sure your right. "As for my own command. I don't know Admiral, we'll just have to see."

Sherwin understood the man’s concerns. He was after all, there to protect the crew, and this was very important news. On the other hand, the doctor knew why this had to be kept under wraps.

"Very well, Commander," Teagarden answered. He had a feeling his XO was still upset by this. "I need to meet with Doctor Porter about his patient. Did you need to speak with me about anything else?"

"No sir. Not since you already know about Commander Snow and her past involvement with Section 31." Bishop answered evenly.

He nodded in response. "Dismissed then," he quickly paused and added, "One last word though: try not to hold her past against her. Once you get past that icy shell you come to a snowy one. After that one," he paused and smiled warmly and chuckled, "well I'll let you know."

Bishop nodded, "Yes sir." Opting not to say anything more and feeling like he was a schoolboy and had been dismissed by the principal. He resolved to see Commander Lilly Snow as soon as he left here. He turned and headed for the door. "Doctor." He said as he passed the CMO.

“Commander”, Sherwin nodded as the man left. After the door closed, Win looked at Teagarden. “ Well, I guess that went as well as could be expected.”

The Admiral sighed, "I only hope that I didn't destroy our working relationship in the process." He looked up at the ceiling for a moment before looking to the Chief Medical Officer, letting out a long breath in the process, "If he only knew the whole truth. Anyway, let's move on from this. We have a lot of preparations to get underway. I'm going to reveal to the Commander that I'm her patient and allow her to begin the treatments before I progress any further. Keep a close eye on me though, just to be safe. If I appear to continue to revert or worse be prepared to take action. I think you understand me," there was deadly earnestness in his words.

Sherwin let the response about Commander Bishop drop, And focused on the question at hand. “I understand completely, Admiral,” he said. “Honestly, I’m pretty sure she’s figured it out already anyway. Yes, I will keep a close eye on the situation. I take that to mean I will have access to you as well at any time she does?”

"For the most part," the Admiral answered as he reached forward and poured himself a glass of water. His hand slightly tremored as he did, leading him to pull back. "Hopefully its figured out soon," he said looking at his hand.

The doctor knew first hand what consequences could come about if... No, he shook those thoughts away. He was not about to let things go south of he could avoid it, and to be honest, he was afraid of what could happen if it did. “It will be,” Sherwin reassured him, “we have your back. We will work together on this.”

"Thanks, Doc," William answered. He looked at the Doctor, "I think I may go take a nap though. Anything else we should talk about in the interim?"

“Not at the moment, Sir. I’ll contact you if anything important arises,” he said as he stood. “And please, don’t overdo it,” Sherwin added, knowing his plea would fall on deaf ears.

He headed for the door, turning back before he left. “Everything’s going to be alright,” he reassured, looking into his friend’s eyes. Then he sighed and exited, knowing he was trying to convince himself of that as much as the Admiral.

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