"Honorable Surrender"

[Kansas_Jones 0]

Note: this log takes place five days after the events in "Ex Post Facto".

 

09.09.07

ISS Agincourt ICC-81762

“Honorable Surrender”

 

Written by: Colonel Harper and Lt. Commander JoNs

 

A gold feline walked down the corridor… and then walked back up... and then walked back down again towards her destination. All the while muttering to herself. Finally, under the stern (possibly puzzled) gaze of the guard, she politely indicated that he ring the door chime.

 

"Come," Harper's voice drifted out over the local comm. The door slid open.

 

JoNs entered the inner domain of her commanding officers quarters, and adopted an easy parade rest, projecting the very image of calm; that is, if it weren't for her tail swishing back and forth in agitation.

 

Harper set aside the knives she was cleaning. "Commander. This is a surprise." She motioned to a seat.

 

JoNs looked from the offered seat, to Harper, and then back at the overstuffed leather chair. She sighed. "Thank you ma'am, but I would rather...stand for this."

 

"Oh?" She leaned back against the couch. "What's wrong?"

 

The commander reached into a trouser cargo pocket and withdrew a silver coated fang on a matching silver chain, laying it carefully down on the small table nearest to Harper. "I just received that finished item today from a crewman who serves on the third shift ops cycle. Apparently, she maintains a hobby as a jewelry maker. That is the tooth that I lost during the shuttle crash the other day...."

 

Harper picked up the chain, examining it carefully. "It's fine workmanship," she said at last, laying it back on the table, "but why show me? Unless you thought I'd be interested in such an... unusual trophy."

 

"No sir, this is not my intention. I intend to wear the item myself as a reminder that all of my personal actions can and will have an equal and opposite reaction." The Caitian took a deep breathe as her nerves - a rare outward showing of her discomfort - got the better of her. "Sponsor. Regarding my creative personnel reconfiguring? There was one other time prior to Mister Zimm."

 

The colonel's eyes darkened. "That being...?"

 

"Lieutenant Commander Robairs transfer." The feline’s voice did not sound like her own. The tone sounded distant to her ears.

 

"That was your work?" Harper sat bolt upright, all trace of relaxation vanished.

 

Golden paws went halfway up in the air in the universal 'let me explain' gesture. "Sir! Yes sir! The man had some… odd ideas regarding duty and departmental discipline. I had screwed up - you may remember - regarding a tactical shift on the bridge. I was late. His disciplinary method involved taking me to his bed. He hinted the pattern would repeat itself with regard to a 'female in the department’. I refuse to work that way...and took steps to...remove him...in my own manner..." Oh gods.

 

Harper rose from the couch, approaching JoNs at a steady pace. "I see. Commander, you leave me little choice..."

 

It was like having a bad ass bird of prey swoop down on you. JoNs now had a new respect for field mice. Her breath hitched, and her hind paws braced on the carpeting. The colonel's hand shot out, snagging JoN's right paw. She pumped it up and down a few times, a grin stretching her lips. The security officer let loose with a trilled purr of shock, just staring at the marine colonel.

 

“Well done, Commander. I can't tell you how pleased I am to be rid of that idiot." She released JoNs. "Now -- why are you telling me this several months after the fact?"

 

"Hold that happy thought, Sponsor. Ah. Several months. You will adore this. The program I used to circumvent the ships systems...I tapped into the Hexens control grid. Apparently the civilian bypass program...corrupted the systems, leading to said shuttle plummeting like a rock. Ma'am. Hence, the necklace. As a reminder. I just felt it was the honorable thing to do, to inform you." The Caitians voice trailed off.

 

For a long moment, Harper neither moved nor spoke. "Let me see if I have this right," she said finally. "Your personnel reconfiguring led to the Hexen's crash?"

 

Kansas nodded an affirmative. "Ma'am. Yes. I have some skills, but I am sure a computer geek could be more enlightening on the aftermath. But, yes - the civilian program did not agree with and cascaded the systems. It could have happened anytime, or not at all. Luck of the draw it would seem, Colonel."

 

“Lucky it was on such an unimportant mission," Harper snapped. "Lucky you didn't get someone killed." The shorter Caitian feline looked over Harpers shoulder at a distant point, her jaw working.

 

The colonel sighed. "What am I going to do with you?"

 

JoNs wisely remained silent - this time.

 

"I'm glad you came to me, Commander," Harper said quietly. "It seems we're making some progress."

 

JoNs considered her response. One ear flipped back, and she slowly moved her gaze onto Harper. "I rehearsed that little speech for two days, sir. Five years ago - hell, a year ago - I would not have given a flying frag regarding what latter problems my unsanctioned actions caused." Her purred voice was just as quiet. "Times change."

 

Harper nodded slowly. "I should hope."

 

Turning away, the colonel strolled to the viewports. She stood there for long moments, looking out at the stars. "Commander," she said finally, "no one else knows about this incident?"

 

"Master Chief Keltex assisted me as I repaired my section of the system damage, but he has no details. My transfer contact is highly discreet, and none of the engineering techs who worked on the shuttle repairs are any the wiser. No one, Colonel."

 

"Then let it go." Harper turned to face the Caitian. "So long as it stays that way, let it go."

 

The security chief gave a quick, respectful nod. "As you say. Thank you Sponsor."

 

"Put the necklace on, Commander."

 

An ear flipped back in surprise, but the feline officer quietly moved to do as she was directed.

 

Harper studied the effect of the tooth hanging around the security officer's neck. "It's a good thought. Maybe we won't need to have any more such conversations in the future."

 

"Ma'am, with all of the trouble that my personnel reconfiguring has caused me - and you - No. Period. Sir."

 

"Good." Satisfied, Harper resumed her seat on the couch. "Was that all, Commander?"

 

"Yes sir. Permission to be excused?"

 

“Granted, Commander."

 

With a small, though genuine smile, the feline saw herself out of the CO's quarters.

Edited September 9, 2007 by Kansas_Jones