May I introduce myself.

Posted on 15 Sep 2021 @ 10:07pm by Captain Jonathan Reynolds

Mission: Picking up the pieces
Location: Medusa's head
Timeline: MD1 lunchtime
1131 words - 2.3 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

It was in the afternoon, Alpha shift was over Ethan pushed back from the desk, feeling a bit tired. He had been poring over reports and other bits and pieces of news from about the area the Andromeda was in . He also had gotten some news from some of his contacts on Starbase 308, just pieces of gossip rumors that may have kernels of truth to follow up on. Stretching a bit, he rose from the desk and headed out. Another thing that came to mind, Ethan felt he needed to meet the Captain, just to establish a connection. Before he left the intelligence office, he said to the computer.

"Computer, what is the location of Captain Reynolds?"

“Captain Reynolds is in the Medusa’s head” the computer responded.

Jon was enjoying a plate of pasta and garlic bread. Feeling he needed energy. Harper was proving to be a very interesting development after everything else lately. But what the hell were they doing? They were both moths to a flame. It had happened a couple more times now. Likely he was rebounding from True. He should feel angry at himself but he rationalised, she broke up with and left him. He did feel bad keeping a secret from Eddie. But oh by the goddesses she was just so ….

The man that approached him brought him out of his thoughts. He looked vaguely familiar. Jon focused on trying to place him and pull up a name. When he couldn’t he decided not to chide himself. In fact on either. He was Captain and it wasn’t possible to remember every name of every person in his crew. And he was Captain but he was allowed a personal life and to have fun. He could manage that balance between duty and enjoying life.

“Yes Lieutenant,” he looked up as he stopped at his table clearly looking to speak with him. Catching the colours, he was one of Rose's staff.

"Ah, the timing of things." Ethan responded, "dinner time and I'm interrupting. I'll be brief then, I was looking to meet you as per what I feel is protocol. I'm Lieutenant Belikov's assistant chief of intelligence, Ethan Smith. Starfleet transferred me here from Starbase 308. It seems they felt I was needed here. So here I am." giving a shrug. "Since you are eating, sir, and that looks good, I'll take myself elsewhere and get myself something to eat." giving a pleasant smile. There would actually be a sense of calmness from Ethan, as he turned to look for another table.

"Sit down Smith," Jon said simply. He was approachable. That much he wanted his crew to know. "And you can eat and tell me what's new on 308."

Ethan turned to look at Jon, and nodded sitting down. He caught the eye of the server who came over and requested some lasagna as well as a drink and when the server left, he responded. "Well, there is a small park named after you, for your heroic deeds. Its a lovely area. If you want the day to day life of the CO of the station, it seems that there is a new baby in the family. The crops in the hydroponics area is doing well. They are still talking about the way the Planet Killer had been stopped, and a lot of grateful people who still talk about the Andromeda."

He paused as the server came back with his food, and Ethan said, "Thank you." when the server left he continued,

" If you are looking for Intel on other matters, there are rumors of what is called the Five, they have been making a name for themselves. It is said that a son of the Five had gotten married. Lieutenant Belikov and I are looking to see if there is more word on the Five and whom the wife is. From my sources there also seems to be a planet that once seemed dead, is now fertile."

He picked up his fork to cut off a piece of lasagna, and popped it into his mouth.

"Okay back up," Jon said after a minute. "They named a park after me? Bonkers. However glad to hear the whole Andromeda crew is getting good press. So this "Five" they are what a group or collation of Beta quadrants aliens?"

Ethan slowly nodded, "Yes they did. As for the Five there is still just a small amount of information but it is trickling in. They seem to be big time players in this quadrant, but are on the subtle side. Unlike the Cetea, who are really big on causing mayhem and attention getting, thwarted at different times. Case in point when your team dealt with the Planet Killer and also those who opposed you to keep that thing from being destroyed."

"Then we need as much intel on these people as we can get," Jon said seriously. He was fed up of surprises in this part if space. "Make it a priority. In fact you focus solely on that," he ordered.

"Aye Captain." Ethan replied, taking a few more bites. "Lieutenant Belikov and I will focus on that. And I will be seeing if my contacts can get more information as well." finishing up the last bites of his lasagna. "Is there anything else I can do for you, sir?"

“We need to find out if they have links into the crossroads too. Between us, although your boss may have already mentioned it. We had a spy. They made an escape on the planet with the plague. I’m not convinced they were working alone nor do we have any clue who they were working for and why they decided to place themselves on the colony,” he said seriously. “I need you and Belikov to have all eyes and ears out and work with security.”

'Will do sir." Ethan replied, drinking the last part of his beverage. "We'll keep you posted on our findings. " he pushed back from the table, "And we'll be looking for another bug in the shadows too. Like what you had mentioned, its best to keep all eyes and ears open." Ethan picked up his dishes and gave a nod to Jon. "And if there is another spy on the ship, we may have to devise another way of communication without it being picked up by anyone too curious and wanting to keep track on things. Such is the life of Intelligence."

"Indeed," Jon nodded. "Well I am sure we will talk again Lieutenant. Good hunting."


"Indeed we will, Captain." then Ethan headed off to put his plate in the recycler and left Medusa's Head to get back to work.

OFF:

LTjg Ethan Smith
Assistant Chief of Intelligence

Captain Jon Reynolds
CO, USS Andromeda