Plot twist

Posted on Sat Feb 3rd, 2024 @ 9:01pm by Commodore Ledeya ‘Ed’ Ehestri (*) & Executive Officer Jake Ford

Mission: Cosmos
Location: USS Cosmos
Timeline: Jan 2398
1307 words - 2.6 OF Standard Post Measure

Silence stretched as time hung in suspense, each passing second amplifying the weight of anticipation as Ledeya sat at her desk and waited for the other end of the call to connect back.. She had been putting the call request off for weeks having a million other things that she would rather do but it was getting embarrassing for someone in her position to ignore now. The muted hum of ambient noise became a backdrop to the quiet nerves she felt as she faced accepting the sub space call despite rather facing a red alert. “Hello Jacob.” The woman finally said as the familiar man came into view.

"Commodore Ehestri..." Kane nodded back. "I think we keep missing one another; the difficulty of juggling a taskforce, right?"

Ledeya felt like his gaze was on her more than in previous occasions as he greeted her by rank and not by first name terms. “I could lie and say yes but my task force has been quiet I think it’s more my reluctance to catch up after the trial.” Ehestri admitted in a matter of fact way as was the way of Betazoids sometimes.

"You don't need to apologise for that," he shook his head. "I understand; hands were tied. Justice needed to run its course. I'm just glad Admiral Dulac intervened when he did, or things might have gotten messy. But...I am glad to hear from you. For one thing, you need to fill me in on all the perks being a Commodore brings..."

Justice needed to run its course but it ruined everything and everyone in its way until the truth came out. “Cannot say I have experienced many perks of being a Commodore.” Ledeya admitted sitting back a little in the chair. “I was brought in on a field commission to solve a problem and I feel like I have jumped from one clean up operation to another.”

"That fills me with confidence," he said wryly. "At any rate, you wanted to speak to me?"

“Sorry to burst your bubble but Commodore at the very least means you have worked to achieve it now instead of how it used to be.” Ledeya said kindly before she settled into the chair. “My executive officer is missing. I need to find out anything about this…” she sent him through a scan and image of the cube that they had encountered before he had become super powered and disappeared.

"Commander Mitchell? It's been a while..." Kane noted. His eyes perused the image slowly rotating on the screen. "I have to say it's not especially familiar. I could have my science officer run an analysis, but I suspect you have a much better-equipped science department than I do." He paused. Ehestri wouldn't call him for a scientific judgement on something. If he were in her place, he would likely be seeking answers...but also reassurance. "I'm sure he'll turn up. Mitchell's a competent and determined officer. I'm sure he's doing his best to make it back to you."

Ledeya pursed her lips. She did have a better science team and she would never tell Sloan that she went to get support else where but sometimes even the best needed more outside-the-box thinking. "I do not believe he is which is why I am asking for help around this cube. He got infused with god-like abilities and disappeared," It was not in the official report of his disappearance but she trusted Kane enough for him to read between the lines and why she had come to him.

"If I had a slip of latinum for every time one of our people developed god-like abilities..." Kane shook his head. "I can redirect a couple of assets if needed. The Spruance is on patrol nearby as it is."

“I would rather not bring in any collateral damage if I can, I just need information about this cube and where it came from.” Ledeya was struggling with the fact they seemed to have no starting point to try and find some clue around it all. “I have a blood hound of the security officer who wants to track him she just needs a scent.” It was a crude way of describing Agrax but it was true. The woman was bouncing off the walls with no information around him.

"Seems you don't need me after all," Kane replied, a faint smile on his face. "I'm sure you'll find him. If he knows what's good for him he won't leave you hanging too long."

“I do I just do not need your ships. Just access to some processing power and facilities as well as any of your scientific minds if they know anything about a cube.” She rubbed at her head showing the strain it was leaving her with right now. “I like to think so but he is stubborn and steadfast why I chose him over others but now that it the worst qualities that he possesses.”

Kane nodded slowly, making a mental note to route the findings through to Commander Lance; her scientific specialism vastly outpaced his own. "Worst qualities?" he echoed. "I'll try not to take that personally," he noted, a faint smile on his face as he acknowledged a similar temperament in himself. "Unless that's why you really called me: you want something who thinks like that?"

“Maybe it was originally but it’s been weeks since I first attempted to get ahold of you.” Ehestri shrugged softly. She was not overly sure anymore what she really wanted from her fellow commodore. Maybe he was simply just a way to vent when she could not do that towards anyone onboard at the moment and Minawara was too busy to offer that back and forth. “I am just at a lost of where he would have gone.”

He stroked his beard as he looked at her troubled expression. "You'll find him. Or he'll find you," he repeated, trying to be as affirming as possible. "If he's the same person, he'll have people he cares about and trusts over there." It was as empathetic as someone like himself could really be.

“Alexis…” Ledeya mused softly. She was the one person on the ship that had a solid connection with so maybe he would come back looking for her. “Maybe you are right. But until then I need a temporary Executive Officer.” That was a going to be an issue interesting conversation. “But enough about me how is it there?”

"Unfortunately not a lot I can explain over an open channel," he said apologetically, reflecting on his current top-secret mission to Naghel. As much as he would appreciate being able to chat details with her, he figured Ehestri would understand. "But the new squadron is coming together. I'm not sure whether to thank Minawara or strangle him for that. Logistically, running one ship is hard enough, never mind a whole bunch of them, complete with their own Captains."

Ledeya pursed her lips and nodded. She understood and did not want to get involved in his duties when she had her own things she needed to get done. “Think of it as they are in your ship and another department.” Ledeya offered. It worked for her and anyone else she had offered the advice to.

"I've had to learn the hard way to delegate..." he acknowledged. "Let it never be said that Flag Officers have nothing left to learn, hmm?"

“Even old dogs learn new tricks.” Ledeya commented with a smile as the ship suddenly lurched sending her forward into the screen for a moment and the red alert went off. “Excuse me Jacob.” Ehestri said not at all waiting for acknowledgment as she cut the connection leaving him with connection terminated on the screen where the Betazed had been seconds before.