“Alpha Quadrant: Grand Elder on the Prowl”

[Kansas_Jones 0]

05.07.07

USS Agincourt NCC-81762

“Alpha Quadrant: Grand Elder on the Prowl”

“…Commodore Traven?”

 

Traven Shen wearily toggled the private inter office comm that connected the inner and outer offices. “Yes Lieutenant?”

 

“Uh, you have visitor’s sir…” The human aide de camp sounded a bit concerned.

 

“Not right now I don’t - not with that conference call upcoming. Take their names and set up a meeting for later.”

 

It was at that point the doors to his office whooshed open, causing Shen to quickly stand up.

 

“…you can not go in there!” Lieutenant Arlen’s agitated sounding voice filtered in from the reception area.

 

An older Caitian female stood there, wearing a traditional Caitian day robe of brilliant blues and golds, and regarded the commodore with a no nonsense expression. Her younger companion, a Caitian female wearing a civilian business suit of brown, gently imposed herself between the elder felinoid and the mildly raging Lieutenant.

 

A sigh escaped the Bajoran commodore’s mouth. “Let it go Arlen, it’s alright, I can handle this.” Asking no questions, Arlen opted for the better part of valor and hastily withdrew from the area.

 

Traven turned to his guest, offering a small smile to her. “Commander MVirran. It has been a long time.” Prophets take me – she must be well over one hundred years old by now.

 

MVirran JoNs – who was 102 years old to be exact – slowly and methodically deposited herself in one of the chairs facing the desk. “It has indeed been a long time, and you can drop the commander bit. Allow me to introduce my youngest daughter, MVressa.”

 

MVressa merely offered a polite nod to Traven and continued standing a protective watch over her mother.

 

The elder Caitian wasted no time with what had caused her to grace the commodores day with her presence. “What can you tell me regarding the incident in the Melkas sector and the disappearance of the Agincourt. And I don’t mean what the civilian news feeds are reporting.”

 

“Command…MVirran, excuse me. I really am not at liberty to…”

 

The Caitian hissed and slowly stood, planting both paws on the desktop. Her visible neck and tail fur, gray tinged and beginning to split with age, began to fluff out as a barometer to her growing anger. Shen automatically took a step backward while MVressa flashed him an amused ‘you really stepped in it now’ look.

 

“Don’t even try and spit that bureaucratic nonsense at me Shen. You listen, and listen well. I have five grandchildren – MVess, Ravirr, Ravarr, Srrett, and Mrrett - serving in the Starfleet. Another grandchild, Vrrowl, recently retired after a twenty year career. My brother, MSarr, well into his seventies, still serves. I have a son and a daughter in law – Mrretts parents – who are employed with the Academy civilian workforce.”

 

MVirran’s tail had begun lashing. “Mrrett is missing with the Agincourt and MVess is participating in the task force searching the Melkas sector for them. Despite what I think of this veken organization that is Starfleet, the JoNs family has served and will continue to serve it well. Therefore, I expect some courtesy for our blood, sweat and tears.”

 

Shen noted that she had not mentioned her own service to the fleet, but there was really no reason too; he had been there at the end of her career as it went down in flames.

 

The elder Caitian paused in her tirade and carefully re-seated herself, the picture of elderly decorum again. “Unless you want the combined mobilization of tribe Honor Scar as we call in this and that favor, I need answers Shen. What can you tell me?”

 

Traven moved back to his desk and sat down, hoping the shudder he felt did not show. Despite having a pacifistic tendency that ran through their society as a whole, you never wanted to be on the receiving end of a Cait family tribe mobilization. Not a pretty site – if they gave themselves half a chance, the Caits could give the Klingon houses a run for their credits in honor based chaos.

 

The Bajoran looked from MVirran to her daughter and then back again to the elder Cait, deciding to be as truthful as he could. He owed her that much out of respect.

 

“I know as much as you do MVirran; there was a skirmish in the sector, a ship of unknown design attacking. The USS Gideon was destroyed; the Agincourt pursued the attackers into some sort of vortex and hasn’t been heard from since.”

 

He paused, and then decided to take a chance. “The only scrap of news that hasn’t been formally released is the fact that some of the eyewitness accounts state that the ship was very...alien in design. And if these beings manipulated that vortex technology, then that very much complicates matters. There are a few research teams here at command that are pouring over recordings and reports to see if any prior vortex manipulating aliens have been encountered or mentioned. It may lead to something, it may not. We shall see. I’ll take steps to keep you…quietly informed.”

 

MVirran sighed. News, any news, was welcome. She offered the Bajoran a respectful nod. “I apologize for the abrupt visit, but we worry for our lost young one. Thank you for your time Shen.”

 

“You are very welcome, Commander.”