Regulation 46-A
Posted on Mon Jan 13th, 2025 @ 6:04am by Captain Maho Takahashi & Tanaka Miyahara & Commander Ichika Misono & Captain Mikoto Misaka & Ensign Miyoko Misaka
1,782 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
Captains and Contraband
Location: Ready Room - USS Myogi and USS Ermiana
Timeline: After 'Complications - Enter Pallis!'
Sure enough, once the away team had been beamed down, the Ermiana had once again contacted the Myogi on an encrypted frequency. Maho had decided to take the call in her ready room, being joined by Commander Misono with the bridge for once being left to the care of junior officers:
"Secure ready room - authorization Takahashi 2-4-6-Omicron-1 Beige." Maho ordered.
The computer beeped in acknowledgement as the doors clicked locked and the blast shutters lowered, blocking out the ready room's view.
"Let's hope this isn't a reprimand for earlier," Ichika sighed as the two of them took their seats.
"Let's hope that we get that answer as to why the hell Pallis is even here..." Maho said.
After a few seconds the face of Captain Misaka appeared on the screen. "I was informed you wanted me Captain?" She asked.
"I believe we were kept waiting on that explanation as to why the hell President Pallis is out here." Maho said. "Has he lost his damn mind?"
It was almost as if Misaka completely ignored Maho's question, or she was deliberately avoiding it. "The Ermiana is due to leave tomorrow morning after ensuring safe delivery of our 'cargo'," Misaka replied.
"With all due respect to you, Captain, that wasn't our question," Ichika was quick to point out. "For all intents and purposes, the Myogi and the Kaga were the ones tasked with this assignment; does your "cargo" no longer trust us to do our job?"
Once again, seemingly avoiding the immediate subject Misaka replied. "How about you and your first officer join us tonight. It's not often we Starfleet Captain's get a chance to socialise amongst the higher ranks. I am sure that Touma would be delighted to have guests for dinner, as well as our oldest home for a few hours..."
As if stricken with a sudden moment of clarity, Ichika proceeded to lean over and press her hand to Maho's ear.
"It would appear that the Ermiana's communications are being monitored, Captain," she speculated. "We're going to have to be careful with what we say."
"How about you beam over, let's say..." Misaka seemed to ponder. "At about 19:00 hours. I am also looking forward to hearing how my daughter has been doing on your ship." Misaka said.
"Understood." Maho nodded. "We'll be there at 1900 sharp."
Misaka nodded simply before the screen went blank.
"It looks as if this rabbit hole just got a whole lot deeper..." Ichika surmised.
Maho only nodded. "Computer, unseal..."
"Bridge to Captain Takahahi:"
"Oh, for the love of..." Maho trailed off before clicking a button on the desk. "Go ahead, Bridge:"
"Sorry to disturb you, but there's a priority transmission for you: Audio only."
Maho glanced over at Ichika, wondering the course of action to take.
"I'll meet you down in the transporter room, Captain," Ichika offered. "I should probably also speak with Ensign Misaka, see if she's interested in seeing her parents again."
Maho nodded.
"Computer, unseal ready room. Authorization Takahashi 2-4-6-Omicron-1 Beige."
The computer beeped in acknowledgement as the doors clicked unlocked. Once Ichika stepped out, Maho resealed the office.
"Okay, put it through:" Maho ordered.
When the screen lit up again, it was a hexagonal symbol. One which Maho immediately recognized from Confederate propaganda.
"Maho:" A familiar voice said her name.
"What do you want?" Maho asked.
"Now, is that the way you greet your mentor?" The voice responded. "After everything we've been through, you turn your back on me because I refuse to turn my back on our Federation. I can't believe I once called you family, and I'm starting to regret calling ahead..."
"Calling ahead?" Maho raised a brow.
"I'm sending some good people to secure Confederate interests in the Rheuys system." Miyahara explained. "You know, the Rheuysians are gold-blooded patriots to the core, but they too have fallen under the influence of Crooked Aisaka, and that needs to stop. So just stay out of their way and you won't be hurt."
"You know I can't let that happen, Senpai." Maho said.
"If you choose to get involved, Maho;" Miyahara warned. "I can't guarantee your safety."
"You didn't guarantee our safety when you sent that mob after Starfleet Headquarters!" Maho fired back as the transmission cut.
Left with only a blank screen, Maho leaned back in her chair and sighed.
...
"Trace the source of that transmission:" Maho ordered as she stepped out of the ready room. "I want to know the exact relay station that was tapped!"
[USS Ermiana]
"This is a most concerning development, Captain."
Having just disembarked from the transporter, the two officers made their way down the long and winding corridors of the Ermiana, joined in their excursion by way of Ensign Misaka, who had agreed to use the opportunity to catch up with the family.
"If Miyahara is willing to go out of his way to speak with you personally, then we have to take his threat at face value," Ichika insisted. "And given the recent turn of events at Wituu, it seems very likely that he can and will follow through on it."
"The way he phrased it- 'calling ahead'- leads me to believe his plan might already be set in motion..." Maho muttered. "If so, we might have just made a terrible mistake coming here..."
"If there's anyone I can think of whose battlefield prowess can match Miyahara's beat-for-beat, It's Captain Misaka," Ichika assured her as they drew up to Mikoto's quarters. "If the woman can tank a plasma conduit going off in her face and still return to active duty within a few days' time, she can take whatever the Confederacy has to throw at her."
"Not surprising, given they're of the same era." Maho commented. "The Dominion War produced some rather tough sombitches. It's just a shame that some have chosen to turn their talent against us."
A single hand suddenly appeared on both Maho's and Ichika's shoulders. Obviously she had somehow snuck up on them from behind and caught them in mid-conversation.
"You know..." Misaka's voice said from behind them. "Even here on the Ermiana. Walls might have ears. Or have you forgotten forty-six D?"
"Of course not." Maho responded. "But does it mean we always have to act with a damn veil of secrecy all the time?"
Misaka released her grip on Maho and Ichika. "You're not proving to me that you're being a good Captain now Takahashi. Or don't you remember our little conversation a few weeks ago?"
She didn't give her time to answer as she stepped around them. "Come on. This way. We're going to my quarters." She looked over her shoulder at Miyoko. "Ensign. I do believe that Commander Kamijou requested you in Science Lab twelve..."
Miyoko nodded. "Yes Captain. I'll go right there." She said before bowing quickly to Maho and scurrying off down a nearby connecting corridor.
"Well, lead the way." Maho said, perplexed that she was somehow proving that she wasn't a good captain.
It didn't take long for Misaka to lead them both to the Captain's quarters.
"So you heard, then?" Ichika asked as the doors slid shut behind them.
"Heard what?" Misaka asked. She beckoned them over to the large table and took a seat.
Maho took a moment to steady herself, and to separate her emotional involvement over what had happened in order to give the facts:
"Just before we beamed over here, I received a mysterious transmission of Confederate origin." She explained. "I was told some 'good people' were being sent to secure Confederate interests in this system, and to stay out of their way."
"Coupled with the recent turn of events at the Wituu Colony, we have every reason to believe that the Confederacy is intending to launch an attack on Rheuys," her XO was quick to chime in.
"That doesn't surprise me," Misaka said as she leant forward on the table. "After speaking with Pallis, I don't believe he's here to represent The Federations Interests at all."
Maho and Ichika looked at each other in surprise. This was news to them, for as far as they could tell, Sinisub Pallis had been a fairly trustworthy individual.
"So you suspect he may have his own agenda?" Ichika surmised.
"Doesn't all politicians?" Misaka replied. She pulled over a large tray which was covered by a large silver lid.
"If I may play devil's advocate here;" Maho spoke up. "Perhaps Pallis is expecting us to fall upon our preconceived biases against his physiology."
"I don't think that's it. Why would he show up here? Why does he want to arrive on my ship?" Misaka asked as she pulled off the lid. "Oh, peanut and jelly sandwiches it is. Self service. I used to live off these when I was pregnant with your new science officer." She smiled.
"Only if it's strawberry jelly." Maho smirked. "Grape is so overrated."
"I really shouldn't," Ichika dismissed. "The xylitol in peanut butter's not all that good for me, and if the jelly contains grapes... ugh, I don't even want to think about it..."
"Suit yourself," Misaka said. It was strawberry jelly too. "So why is he here then?"
"That's the question we're here trying to answer:" Maho said. "The Rheuysians have so far not given us a reason they can't be trusted, and they're one of the most vocally loyal member species. The sheer revelation that they're involved in underhanded dealings with the Confederacy is still puzzling."
"I believe he knew that Miyahara or someone representing him would be here too." Misaka said. "Quite simply, he told me some stupid political plan. I even played along with it a little. All of the pieces don't add up."
"How do you figure?" Ichika asked.
Before Mikoto could answer, however, Maho could make out the muffled, yet distinct sounds of the red alert klaxons blaring in the corridor outside. And then, as if right on cue; Mikoto's combadge went off:
=A="Bridge to Captain Misaka:"=A= Came the gravelly voice of the Caitian XO.
Misaka stood up straight. "Misaka here," she answered already walking towards the door.
=A="Hate to disturb you, but we've got company!"=A= The Caitian XO reported. =A="Several Elachi ships have just appeared!"=A=
To be continued...
Posting by
Captain Maho Takahashi
Commanding Officer
USS Myogi
Captain Mikoto Misaka
Commanding Officer
USS Ermiana
Commander Ichika Misono
Executive Officer
USS Myogi
Ensign Miyoko Misaka
Assistant Chief Science Officer
USS Myogi
Tanaka Miyahara [Voice only]
Supreme Leader
Confederacy of Independent Planets
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