Old Friends, New Places.

Posted on Tue Apr 28th, 2015 @ 9:51pm by Admiral Maximilian 'Max' Hunter & Jethro Vance
Edited on on Sat Apr 1st, 2017 @ 1:23pm

1,456 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Deadly Diplomacy
Location: Intel Offices

Jethro left York's ready room mostly unsatisfied with the meeting. She was trying to play a game of chess with him and he had no time for it. She would 'protect' his girls her way and he would his. He needed to find a familiar face.

This led him to Intelligence to an old friend he had not seen in a long time.

"Well holy damn. Just when it looks like you might burn the whole place down now you're running it. Max you son of a gun how are you old friend?" Jethro said entering the office approaching his oldest friend with a smile extending his hand.

A huge smile formed on Max's face as he stood up from the chair. He had on his typical black suit and tie as he walked over to Jethro, taking his hand and gripping it tight as his other hand patted his old partner's shoulder. "Someone had to take the chair and clean up after your mess, Jethro." Max said with a short laugh. "I'm fine, Vance. How the hell are you?"

"I seem to remember it a lot differently." Jethro said returning the greeting. "Given the circumstances, I've been better. I wish we could have got together under better terms, but it seems like we have a Cardassian problem on our hands. Is it her?"

"Can't say." Max replied with a sigh as he leaned back against his desk, looking to Jethro. "Given her history with Cardassian's, they would be the first people on my list, however there is something else we need to consider. Her training. Your daughter, Jethro, does have a flair for the over dramatic and theatrical. This very well could be her way of drawing out someone who has it out for her given the court martial and what happened. I can tell you that, I haven't given her anything and if she is out there, she is out there alone. We both know she can handle herself, but I and you, would feel much safer if we knew she was, in fact, alive. Anything other than that and I would be telling you far too much they I should."

"You believe that too? It's delusional Max and you know it. No one could run a ruse like that solo. If she IS alive then she had help. Meaning someone else here has something to hide and you and I weren't born yesterday. We'd see them."

Jethro took a seat in a chair across from Max leaning back rubbing his chin. "I just don't have the same faith as you do Max. This is far more then Alex can bite off and if our female Cardassian friend is truly behind this......Alex can't beat her one on one."

Max took a moment to look into his eyes before standing up. With a straight face he walked over to the office door and tapped on the small panel next to it, locking the door. "Computer. Engage Cone of Silence program. Authorization, Hunter Two Two Seven Nine Nine Adams."

The light in the room began to dim and shifted to a blue color. All communications were cut off as well as all hand held energy weapons were disabled. This was a familiar program to Jethro and Max. A program both men have used and created specifically for private meetings.

"You're going to need to be straight with me now, Jethro." He sat back down and looked at him sternly. "How much do you know about this one man army mission she put herself on? Has she communicated anything to you before all this happened? Has she said ANYTHING remotely odd or off?"

"Max I wish I knew more, but she did this on her own. She said squat to me however being a betting man I am certain this has something to do with our old friend Morat. She's the only one who could spook Alexandra like this. I don't know how or why but I can tell you Alex felt being here was placing everyone in danger. She was probably right, but now that's she dead I can bet you Morat isn't done. She has to make her point. Anything strange happening on this end? Your friend York seems to be misinformed as to exactly who I am." Jethro replied.

"If you've had no contact with her, how could you possibly know that? That's obviously something important, Jethro. If she told you she felt like she was putting everyone in danger than obviously you know something you're telling me. And if you do, now's the chance to tell me or else I can't help her, or you, if this thing goes south. I have no doubt this deal's with Morat, but you know how the higher up's work on cases like this. We need proof and word of mouth is not going to cut it. Hard Evidence. We need hard evidence and unless we know where to look we got nothing." Max replied, placing his hands on the desk and backing away slowly as he finished. Slowly, he crossed his arms over his chest and watched Jethro carefully. He wasn't sure his friend was telling him everything, but part of him knew he was onto something, but Max learned over the years that he needed to cover his bases if he was going to continue.

"I'm her father Max! I know her and if that isn't good enough for you then I don't know why I came her. You want hard evidence then we're gonna have to start digging deep for it." Jethro replied frustratedly. He began to wonder about his friend and to a greater extent the ship. It was as if everyone was disconnected from his daughter, or the opposite. For being on the ship for the better part of the year no one seemed to have a clue about who she really was. "Max, did she have any friends here besides Sergeant Beckinsale?"

"Take it easy, Jethro!" Max replied back with an equally hostel tone. "Given to what I experienced in the courtroom where I was protecting your daughter, I remind you, I am starting to suspect that someone in Starfleet might be involved because someone clearly has it out for her." He took a moment to let that information settle in Jethro's mind before speaking again. "We both know our girl isn't shy in making friends or enemies, but we also know if the situation calls for it, she isn't one from making sure there is a fine distance between innocents and her. Especially when she knows her life might be in danger."

He stepped for a moment, placing his hands off the table and crossing them over his chest. Max let out a deep breath and looked down for a moment, allowing his mind to relax and give himself and his friend a chance to calm before continuing the situation. "I understand your concern, but keep in mind, your not the only one worried about her. I pulled my best Intel team specifically to find out whats going on. I am behind you, 100 percent, but I want to make sure she didn't leave us, or her crew, some kind of message or sign of what she was doing. At least something to let us know she is okay and not really dead. I know your thinking like a father, but I need you to stop that and listen to me. Think like an officer. I checked everyone of her logs, both private and official, and nothing points to any of this or some kind of concern. I need you to think of maybe a code or method I haven't thought of. Maybe something you both know. Someone only you would catch."

"Ummm, Max." Jethro said shaking his head as tried to sort through his thoughts for the clue Max had described. "Music perhaps? Alex always liked her guitar. I don't know I'm grasping at straws here Max." Jethro replied frustratedly.

"I'm not sure, Jethro. Is there anyway you can think of she would use that to send a message towards us?" Max asked curiously.

"I can think of many ways she'd send messages, but given the fact neither of us have found anything yet. There's a good chance she didn't want to be found." Jethro replied glibly.

"Possible," Max agreed. "But sooner or later, I'm pretty sure she'll let us know. Just keep your eyes open."

Jethro sighed. "Will do. I need to get back. Talk to you later."

____
OFF

Jethro Vance
Former Intelligence Officer

Admiral Maxwell Hunter
Fleet Covert Operations

 

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