Too Many Admirals

[RAdm S.Coyote 0]

This log takes place sometime during the first 24 Hours of our Three Day TBS...

 

Lieutenant Kevin Thomas Riley* was acutely aware of several things:

 

- Politics made the universe go round

- He was the only one wearing command administrative gold

- Everyone else was wearing the white/gray uniforms of the admiralty

- Admiral James Komack could be a desk flying tool when he wanted to be

- Do not aggravate Rear Admiral Shauna Meredith Walking-Coyote

- He probably should have taken that promotion to Navigator on the USS Enterprise

- Exit strategies are wonderful

 

The young aide was seated off to one side of the office, taking notations with a stylus light pen. The information he recorded was strictly for the private files of Shauna Coyote, and not to be used within the public forum.

 

“So in other words what you’re saying to me is that it’s perfectly acceptable for the First Threat program and the Border Patrol division to be continually treated as the Red Headed Stepchild?” Shauna’s rich baritone seemed to cut through the air, her tone sharp.

 

Admiral Komack* spoke, his tone growing increasingly tired. “Rear Admiral Coyote..”

 

Shauna Coyote had traveled in system from the First Threat Response offices at New Topeka to Earth in order to meet with Admiral James Komack at San Francisco Fleet Command; the FTR* program and the Border Patrol offices at New Topeka came under Komack’s jurisdiction as the officer in charge of Alpha Sector Command.

 

The agenda had been to discuss the now public concern over the rogue personnel issue with Intelligence, and the recent involvement of Calestorm, Wesley, and their crew. The situation had been contained for months, but in light of the new developments, the press was starting to get wind of the ongoing problem.

 

The meeting had started out well enough. And then things had…gotten tense.

 

Shauna cut Komack off with a vicious hand swipe through the air. “Command has been aware of the Intel breach. You did nothing. A general alert should have at least been forwarded to the out sector commanders.”

 

“SFI* Director Emirra has been dealing with the containment protocols. She enlisted the aid of the SPECOPS department to further assist in the counter operation. Codename Shadowbox.”

 

“That is not the point. This situation should have been blown wide open months ago. Personnel and civilians have been and are at risk with the deliberate silence–”

 

“It was on a need to know basis Shauna, and you – and others - didn’t need to know.”

 

“Are you aware my line captain was forcibly removed from the USS Comanche Creek in order to meet with representatives of this so called shadow faction?”

 

“Yes. That was made clear in your report. The circumstances are unfortunate.”

 

Shauna bulldogged, not leaving it go. “You saw the digital images of the bruising on her face, and that’s okay?”

 

Admiral Komack smirked. “From what I’ve heard she leads with her face – and her mouth – often.”

 

Komack’s comment held no malice, only gentle amusement; still, the Native Old-Americas woman stiffened and her blue eyes sparked daggers. “Now wait just a damn minute!” She half rose from her seated position.

 

Admiral Barnett*, commandant of the Fleet Academy, interrupted smoothly. “I think what Shauna is attempting to say is she would like more of an answer besides ‘it is what it is’, Jim.” Barnett had stayed seated through her mild outburst, his body language calm in contrast to her stiff posture. He flashed a warning glance at Coyote, who reseated herself.

 

Barnett was not a line command officer and served within the administrative and educational divisions, but he and Shauna had been friends for years; Coyote had asked him to attend, and Barnett had enough contacts within the Fleet to call in some favors in order to be present at the meeting.

 

If only to offer a buffer to the charged situation.

 

Komack wisely disengaged himself from the immediate area, or at least got himself out of the swing range of Admiral Coyote; the silver haired male got up from his seated position, moving to stand at the large display window that looked out over the San Francisco Old Quarter. The sun was just beginning to set on the horizon, casting the city section in shadows.

 

A couple minutes passed in silence, and then Komack ventured to speak again. “For what it’s worth Shauna? Word on down the line is that the CINC* finds it encouraging that the Neural investigation is being handled by your people.”

 

“Don’t stroke my ego Jim. Speak plain.”

 

“Let me rephrase: it’s appropriate for the USS Comanche Creek to become involved, circumstances aside. Neural should never have been compromised because of an internal Fleet Intel issue. What’s done is done however. A Federation survey team is missing, possibly dead, and we assume a pre-warp civilization has been compromised based on the last few sketchy reports submitted by Dr. Lester just prior to the Nero attacks.”

 

Komack turned from the observation port, the gleam in his eye a bit disconcerting as he spoke directly to Shauna. “Nero.” His distaste was evident in his tone. “The reason your FTR program got green lighted so quickly was because of that son of a bitch. We might be having problems in our own backyard, but Nero was the opportunity -- the Intel shadow faction used his attacks as leverage to start moving forward more aggressively.”

 

The sector admiral walked the short distance back to his rich mahogany desk, but did not reseat himself.

 

“We had no idea that the Nero attacks would have an outward effect with the shadow faction Shauna. Your program was given life from the death and destruction he caused. Now your officers, the spearhead of the FTR program, will handle the situation on Neural. It seems appropriate, that’s all I meant.”

 

Barnett made a noise in the back of his throat. “I think you can both agree that we can’t afford infighting over this.” The dark skinned man raised a scolding eyebrow at both of his colleagues.

 

The tension in the room seemed to dissipate by degrees; Komack dropped back down into his leather office chair with a heavy sigh.

 

Coyote sighed as well. The anger had gone out of her expression, and she just looked tired; she was going to have a banger of a tension headache later on. “Didn’t mean to chew you out Jim.”

 

Komack waved off Shauna’s apology. “No harm done. We all feel exactly the same.”

 

“Can we group hug now?”

 

Both Komack and Coyote glared at Barnett for the sarcastic comment, while Riley hid a smile behind his digi-slate.

 

_____________________

*Admiral Komack & Lieutenant Riley appear courtesy of Classic Star Trek (CBS)

*Admiral Barnett appears courtesy of Star Trek 11 (CBS)

* FTR – First Threat Response Program, Starfleet Border Patrol

* SFI – Starfleet Intelligence

* CINC - Commander in Chief, Starfleet