Ratted Out

[LeftEar JoNs 0]

It was 07:00 sharp and Left Ear JoNs entered the main Security offices for a scheduled pre-shift briefing. A wall of sound greeted her as several questions and comments were launched at her.

 

It wasn’t as if what remained of the security department was comprised of kids or anything. But, a good number of the department veterans had jaunted off with the NX to supplement the staff and observe the trials…so let’s just say that the acting CSEC was currently overseeing the more ‘excitable’ of the station staff in Daise Dabi’s absence.

 

The Caitian officer kept her visage stern, but her tail did a little swish of amusement and she raised a paw gently. “Hey! Everyone settle down. Easy.” Her purred voice had a snarl to it, but the tone was not unkind.

 

A senior cadet towards the back of the room spoke up; an Andorian, he was training on the station for his field thesis. “Commander, is it true the NX has vanished?”

 

Years of practice and schooling her body language kept Left Ear from reacting. Rumors, news and gossip traveled at warp 9.5 on ships and stations. Stations were usually worse though.

 

Play the gossip mongering down, just play it down…“Where did you get that idea Cadet? The NX is still out on trials with the Missouri monitoring. I’m sure if any problems are encountered, Captain d’Ka would contact Aegis for assistance.”

 

She let the murmurs of conversation continue as questions and answers and speculations were discussed. tr’Jeth Dabi would never have let the interactions continue, and JoNs had a feeling the question wouldn’t have even been asked of her if the Daise Dheno was still on station. Not that the she was a soft touch, but she had a feeling that she was the lesser of two evils and approachable…to a point.

 

A department admin, responsible for the day to day administrative operations of security, spoke tentatively above the muted sound. “Excuse me, Commander?”

 

The felinoid panther glanced up from her PADD preparations and flipped one ear back. “Yes Yeoman?”

 

“Will Aegis be sending out teams to assist the Missouri? I mean, we have plenty of cross trained pilots on the force that could help.”

 

A few whoops of approval echoed in response to the statement, as some of the crazier vacuum jocks that dual served made their intentions known.

 

JoNs knew - through that same department grapevine that engendered rumors - that the young woman was currently involved with one of the SEC pilots; in other words, she was now gung ho for ‘all things’ involving flight operations. Wasn’t love a grand thing? And hormones. Let’s not forget the hormones...

 

The feline hid a smirk, managing to turn it into a gentle smile. “Yeoman, as one of those cross trained pilots, I can say with certainty that that decision remains under the purview of Captain Chirakis and Mister Roberts. If we are to be deployed to assist the USS Missouri with the NX trials, they will let us know. Until then, we have station work to attend to….”

 

A young enlisted man spoke up then, a crewman judging by the hash marks on his collar. His expression was confused. “Commander JoNs, you don’t understand…Crewman Kichar is on Control Tower duty. Uh, she already texted a couple of us that the NX may have gone missing…”

 

The questions and speculations exploded again, fast and furious.

 

JoNs’s ears flattened with annoyance, though she kept her tone even when she called out, ”People! Settle down! Now! Do not make me break out Devil Cat…”