Mirror Corianis: Prey

[Kansas 0]

Note: the following post is a non Plot log set in the Mirror Universe of the ISS Agincourt

 

08.27.09

ISS Agincourt NCC-81762

“Prey”

 

It was a relatively quiet weekend evening on the ISS Agincourt, or, as quiet as an evening on a rough and ready Imperial warship of the line could be.

 

The big warship was still in an orbital holding pattern over the planet, but fortunately the Corianis colony situation had finally been contained to a degree and the workers were begrudgingly trickling back to work in the dilithium mines. Several key figures within the local colony administrative network responsible in part for the rebellious upheaval had been replaced (read: disposed of), and their successors were settling into their new positions nicely. Order to Corianis was being re-established, and that was the primary directive that the Agincourt and her crew had been dispatched to facilitate.

 

Meanwhile, ship-side, Commander Kansas ‘Will’ JoNs and her current romantic interest and lover, Lieutenant Commander Sarritt, were enjoying a quiet and romantic meal in the female Caitian’s private quarters; the two felines were taking advantage of the small bit of down time to get caught up on personal matters and enjoy a meal together.

 

The suppertime conversation was far from the sort of small talk shared by lovers however. As alien Imperial officers serving within a Starfleet controlled primarily by the Humans and the Vulcans, the two felinoid officers inevitably found their conversation moving to business and departmental concerns. With JoNs functioning as the ships First Officer, and Sarritt holding a senior rank position as a department chief, there was no shortage of the day to day shift and personnel concerns encountered by the two of them in their respective positions.

 

“How are the new transfer pilots that we picked up from Starbase 17? Are they treating you with respect?” Kansas speared a piece of meat roast with her fork, and popped the morsel in her mouth, delicately chewing and fixing Sarritt with her full attention. The last group of cadets, midshipman, and ensigns that had transferred on board the ‘Court had been less then stellar with their attitudes in general towards some of the established officers and line leads, Human and Alien alike, and JoNs had needed to go into XO Reign of Terror mode in order to whip the lot of them into shape.

 

The Kzinti feline mail nodded once, and finished chewing his own bit of food before answering the inquiry. “Yes. My replacement pilots are a mixture of Humans, Vulcans and a Bajoran and half Klingon. This batch is decidedly more agreeable and less green then the last midshipman and ensign transfers. I believe the correct terminology is that they have more of a ‘clue’? They do not care that their chief instructor and department lead is a Kzinti; they just want to fly the ship and the shuttles and do a good job.”

 

A good natured leer then plastered itself across his tiger-like face and muzzle. “A couple of them were even asking some thinly veiled questions regarding you Kansas.”

 

“Hm? Why?”

 

“Their curiosity is genuine. Apparently word is getting out that not only is the Agincourt a prime service assignment what with the Colonel in command, but that the ship also boasts an alien on the command team. That is appealing to some possible transfers.”

 

“Oh dear gods. That is all I need is to have groupies.”

 

“I am just putting forth, that should you desire to do so, you would do well to contact certain interested parties from within the Shuttle and Helm department and add them to your contact payroll. “Now – what of the rumors I heard winging about on the lower decks? The Colonel whooshed down on you and Caine in the mess hall and ordered you both with her?”

 

JoNs looked at Sarritt suspiciously, “…is there anything on this ship that you are not aware of? I do believe you are worse then the Master Chief Keltex.” A very brief, though well concealed, flash of sorrow and pain flashed across her bright green eyes; the loss of her chief bodyguard and mentor would be an internal wound that the ships Ex Oh would not easily recover from anytime soon, if ever. The old Klingon razor beast was sorely missed.

 

The tiger male chuckled lightly with laughter. “Then I am in good company. The enlisted officer contact network for any ship is always the way to go, and they always have damn fine information to give me.” Then his expression sobered a bit and he favored his lover with deep green eyes and one ear flipped back. “I must admit…I almost expected you to crawl back here after the meeting with the ships CO.”

 

Kansas’s gaze went out the display window, her attention seemingly fixed on a distant star in the black but yet not interested in any one thing shown out in the space scape. “Mm. It was merely a token reprieve. If I don’t play my dabo cards right, I may very well be crawling back to my quarters thanks to Medusa’s ministrations…”

 

The leonine Cait flashed a self deprecating smirk towards her compatriot and continued speaking. “I have not been at my smoothest operating capacity with this Lieutenant Caine, handling this situation as it stands. Neither has the lieutenant, for all her so called half-Vulcan pragmatisms.”

 

The golden furred Caitian chewed another bit of her food, swallowed, and then took a sip of wine before continuing. “As a result, the Colonel made note of the situation and took matters into her own purview. She basically told the two of us flat out to handle our own problems so long as we do not embarrass her and embarrass ourselves in front of the crew. It was a mistake for myself -- and Caine -- to take our feud public in the manner in which we did even though it was relatively low key. Hissing and spitting with one another in public, posturing, that sort of thing.”

 

The ‘Courts XO then pointed her fork towards her dinner partner to emphasize her words a she spoke them out loud. “So, I’m fine as long as I keep my snoot clean, continue to handle this issue on the down low and much more refined, and do not send Harper into stalking panther mode. If the Colonel goes into stalk mode? Then I’m scrooged.”

 

Sarritt flipped his left ear back in confusion, while his right eye whisker dove for his upper forehead line. “A stalking…panther? Our Colonel? We stalk, we are felinoids -- you, the leonine, myself a tigrean -- and it comes naturally to our movements.

 

Harper is a Human, and the Humans definitely do not stalk. Whenever they attempt it, they do look rather stupid. All skulking in the shadows as if they know what they are doing. It’s quite embarrassing really…”

 

“I beg to differ my large friend. Harper has the ability, and considering she is a Human and they as a general species are quite clumsy, it is a quite impressive sight to behold. I’ve learned over the past couple of years to recognize the talent when it manifests itself, if not push her buttons in the right way as to avoid being on the receiving end of it. I’ve been pretty successful as of late.”

 

Kansas made a circular motion through the air with her fork to illustrate. “But once the Colonel starts that whole circling the officer, then ends up behind me, and she leans close and whispers to my neck or ear or whatever with the light breathy statements…yeah, then I know I’m screwed and she’s just playing with me before she goes for the full smack down.”

 

Now that, Sarritt found amusing, and his cat ears perked forward. “You’ve been stalked by our commanding officer?”

 

“Indeed I have. And I have no desire to be her prey on a regular basis. Colonel Harper is content to leave her officers alone so long as they do not draw attention to her or cause her discomfort. Being adaptive yet comporting yourself professionally are the key features in order to survive on her ship.”

 

The chief shuttle and helm officer changed the focus of the subject. “Speaking of the stalking hunter and the prey…what of Caine?”

 

Kansas’s answer was prompt and direct. “Lieutenant Caine is most definitely my prey. She just doesn’t realize it yet. And, I won’t make it an order, but I will if you force my paw – I do not wish you to become involved in this little matter, Commander Sarritt, in any way, shape, or form.”

 

The tiger like Kzinti male thought it best to not comment on the thinly veiled order, and he continued with the general conversation at hand, “…are you so certain that you are not the one being stalked?”

 

“Yes. I’m certain due to Caine’s current senior Lieutenant rank. The rank of senior El Tee is a good, solid rank post, yet can also be difficult to maneuver with should you let yourself fall into the dreaded ‘gray area’. With a senior rank such as Lieutenant, you no longer have the luxury of hiding behind a junior officer rank, yet must move carefully so as to not either lose the senior rank or grab too much responsibility that causes failure, what with the dynamics of our Agincourt officer ranks in general. If Caine meant to pounce me and go for the attack? It would have happened by now. So that means that she is still building up her so called forces and contact network within her department and among any of the Agincourt junior crew until she feels comfortable to launch this so called offensive against my position. Therefore, I can use what delay there is to my advantage, and indeed I will.”

 

Sarritt took hold of his wine glass with a powerful and deadly paw, gently gripping the delicate wine glass and lifting it from the tabletop. “To the hunt, Miss JoNs.”

 

Kansas clinked glasses with his. “To the hunt, Mister Sarritt.”