Caustic

[Col. C.E. Harper 0]

"Caustic"

Harper/Korix Log 02.22.06

May 29, 2397

Alamis

 

"Colonel," Korix said finally calm enough not to shoot things. "A word..."

 

Harper, satisfied that her teams had matters under control, dragged her eyes off the landscape to the irate major. "I have a few for you as well," she agreed.

 

"I am sure you do."

 

He motioned towards a more secure area for the two of them talk in some relative privacy. Hand-signaling their position to the closest Marine, Harper let Korix lead her aside.

 

No sooner had they gone out of easy earshot than she turned and scowled at him. "What the hell do you think you're playing at, Major?"

 

Korix rolled his eyes. "Don't even pull that..."

 

"Don't talk to me like your barracks-buddy, mister. You can skate on your insubordinate attitude, but this is another matter entirely."

 

With deadly serious tone and eye, Korix smoothed his 'uniform.' "Colonel," he paused, clearing his throat. "I was doing my job."

 

She leveled a stony gaze on him. "Major," she replied steadily, "you can explain that to the officers you shot."

 

"Officer..." he corrected her. "We had to maintain our cover. How would it look it we just skated past a Federation vessel without a scratch?"

 

"Like you had the sense to lay low and not tangle with them!" she snapped. Louder than she intended, apparently; Adams glanced over at them. She waved him off.

 

"That's a question for my superior officers... not you." He said a little harsher than he'd intended. "However, I do regret the lapse in judgement, my apologies..."

 

The apology startled her enough to quell her rising temper, but she still wasn't ready to let him off the hook. "For the time being, Major, I am still your superior officer," she pointed out.

 

"That's debatable," he responded. "However, I'd like to point out, that if you followed orders... and did your job... you know, making a distraction. This wouldn't have happened."

 

Harper grit her teeth. "We created your distraction -- rather too well, in point of fact. Starfleet ordered us out here where things were calmer."

 

Korix sighed. "I suppose we're both at fault then, Colonel." He motioned towards the records. "That thing..." he said, "is worth its weight in solid lat."

 

Eyebrows shooting toward her hairline, she looked over at the wreck. "Doesn't seem like there's much left of it."

 

"No," he said with a look. "But what there is, is worthy of note. Apparently they were selling the stuff to the Romulans..."

 

Her gaze drifted to the Romulan bodies.

 

"The body," he said, with an air of debrief, "will be all the talk at AT..."He stopped himself.

 

"At...?" she prompted, a wicked grin tugging the corners of her lips.

 

Korix debated making another fight. "Colonel...I am going to make you very angry. Would you prefer me to do it now... or on the ship?"

 

She looked back at him, face sober but eyes dancing. "That depends, Major -- am I going to need a brig or a doctor for you when we're done?"

 

"Depends."

 

Sighing, she turned back to face him fully. "Tell me."

 

"The wreckage needs to be transported onto Agincourt," he gave her the good news first. "However..."

 

Harper waited, silently, her eyes steady on Korix's face.

 

"Once it is," he said noting the look. "I am going to be taking possession of it."

 

"You. Personally." The flat tone gave no hint to her thoughts.

 

"Well, ATAG officially."

 

"ATAG."

 

He ahemed; gave her that look. "Yeah... ATAG. Pursuant to code §3546-9.8 Part B-II."

 

She sighed. "Do I look like a lawyer to you, Major?"

 

"No," he said with a smile. "Just thought I'd give you a heads up before I tell Davies that."

 

That gave her pause. "Major..." she began, carefully. "You recall we discussed the... tactical considerations of conversation?"

 

"Yes," he said with a sly grin.

 

"To put it bluntly.... You've just proposed a suicide mission."

 

"And this wasn't?"

 

Her lips quirked. She quelled the reaction. "It wasn't supposed to be."

 

"If you had any idea what I had to do to get this far on the mission..." He paused, "So, you want to tell Davies, or should I?"

 

"Ask me again when I've seen how much damage you've done to my crew."

 

"Oh for the love of prophets," he said half-jokingly. "I shot Kroells... I should get a medal."

 

"I think there are some who might say the same about you," she replied, tapping one finger against the side of her rifle. But she was smiling, just a little.

 

He smirked. "We should probably get back, before they think we killed each other."

 

"I don't kill my officers," Harper said archly. "It's too difficult to get replacements."