One Last Ride

Posted on Sat Dec 17th, 2016 @ 4:48pm by Commodore Samantha York & Commander Alexandra Vance

1,383 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Shadow Dance
Location: Ready Room

"Vance to York, I need to speak to you at once." Came Alexandra's voice over York's communicator.

"I'm in my Ready Room," Sam said, not sure she wanted to hear what was so urgent.

Seconds later Alexandra Vance materialized in York's ready room. What was odd is in this instance she was wearing her standard issue Starfleet uniform complete with red undershirt. As the light of the transporter dissipated she approached York's desk. "Ma'am, I am here to assist you in retrieving Lieutenant Commander Tate."

"Computer, remove transporter authorization from Alexandr Vance," Sam said.

"Authorization removed," the computer replied.

Sam then turned to Vance. "I have a team investigating the murder," she said. "How do you think you can be of help?"

"Showing the Jenefran people who truly killed their king." She stated. "The problem with your team is the simple fact they belong to you. Any evidence you have gathered is likely to have been tampered with. The key to revealing the true crime is to access evidence that is untampered. I believe this is best accomplished by focusing efforts on locating the princess and speaking with her before the Jenefrans can. Given what I have read in the reports it is likely the new King has sent out squads to capture her. We cannot allow this." Vance replied.

"We have no proof that Keelan is behind any of this, " Sam replied. "And Logan is already looking for Kali." She paused for that to sink in and continued. "While I agree that a third party investigation would be beneficial, you are hardly a third party."

Alexandra smiled. "You know that, the Jenefrans do not. My father and I both have several dossiers we have used as cover in the past. The Jenefrans hardly have the time nor the resources to put any real investigation into their authenticity. Besides I can assure you their top priority is the retrieval of the Princess."

Alexandra paused for a moment. "In order to exonerate Commander Tate we must also understand all the players, this will include Jennifer Tate in which my father is working on. I will also be asking for an audience with the Commander."

"You'd need an audience with the King first," Sam said. "He doesn't trust anyone with teh Federation right now and that would include you."

"Then you give him no choice but to. While the King may believe himself to be in an advantageous position he is not. He is dealing with a people and a culture he is unfamiliar with. He is also in a position where he needs the favor of his people, a diplomatic incident with a galactic superpower is something he will avoid at all costs. For this I shall portray a legal ambassador simply partaking in the investigation to ensure justice for both sides. My backstory will only loosely affiliate me with Starfleet thereby separating me from the entity. My hope is this will afford a higher degree of trust in addition to allowing me more freedom to speak and act without such being directly attributed to Starfleet."

A brief pause.

"I can also give him an offer he cannot refuse."

Sam raised an eyebrow. "And that is?"

"Rid him of a threat to his crown, the Calypso. I will tell him that so long as he is cooperative and that when the investigation supports his accusation the Calypso will leave the system, Tate will face a trial by the Jenefran people for her crimes and he will be free to rule without interference. I'll even offer to put in a good word with high command." Vance replied.

"I won't make that promise," Sam said. "I am going to find out what happened and I want to help Princess Kali. I will not interfere if Tate is guilty. If the evidence shows that she did kill the King, then she will have to face trial on Jenefra. However, there are other matters that also need to be addressed. And you are not in a position to promise anything involving the Calypso."

Vance let out a soft laugh raising her hand. "I'm blowing smoke Samantha. I have no intention of making the Calypso do anything nor do I intend to abandon Commander Tate, but the King doesn't need to know that. What's important is gaining his trust and cooperation which can still be had. As for Tate, she didn't do that. I'd be willing to stake my life on it. For one she doesn't have the guts to pull such a coup and people like her do not formulate motive in a mere 48 hours. Such individuals show subtle pattern through the years of their everyday lives. Jennifer Tate was content with being a simple analyst and allowing life to take its course. Either that or she is an incarnation of a modern day Moriarty which I once again doubt."

"I don't think she did it, either," Sam said. "I think someone in the Palace framed her. I want to find out who without raising suspicions." She considered Vance for a long moment. "I'm not sure you could do that."

"It's actually easier then you think." Vance commented. "Since leaving the Calypso my service record is protected by Starfleet Intelligence. Therefore without the right connections I would simply be a ghost to the curious onlooker. My father has created dossiers for us to fill this gap but give the appearance of a neutral party. Now, I'm not going to say this is a sure thing but we have to try Samantha."

She took a breath pausing as she stepped closer to York. "I came to you because I genuinely believe I can save Commander Tate. This time however, there will be no lies, no secrets....well not from you anyways. I need you to...trust me and I know it's not easy, but to trust me to do what I was trained to do best." She pleaded.

Clasping her hands together, she locked her gaze upon Samantha's. "I ask you, I beg you. Be my Commanding Officer, if only for this one last ride."

"Why?" Sam asked bluntly. Even though she knew that Tate was Jethro Vance's protege, she was curious to hear why this meant so much to Alexandra.

"Because it is my duty. You once told me that by chasing Morat on my own I turned my back on this crew. I failed to do what was expected of me as this ship's XO and see it how you may.....I owe it to you, Jennifer and every other member of this crew to see her home. This time, we do this as a team and I stand before you as a subordinate awaiting her orders." Alexandra replied understanding York's question not only to establish if Alexandra's emotions would compromise her abilities to complete the task but also to seek the motivation behind the seemingly random request.

"No, I told you that by insisting on going out on your own, you basically told us that you didn't trust us to help you," Sam said. "I said that you should have told us what was going on and let us help you," Sam corrected. "However, I know that you and your father care for Jennifer as much as Remy does. Therefore, I think the three of you should work together. I'll have all the information sent to intel where the three of you can find the holes in their investigation and hopefully find out who really murdered the King."

"I...." Alexandra stopped. In that moment she wanted to tell her everything. The beatings, her theories, her father, Jennifer. All her thoughts raced at once like a puzzle being dumped from its box, jumbled and disorganized. Could she tell Samantha she genuinely feared for Tate? That it was not compassion but yet a fear of watching a re-telling of her own tragic tale.

She couldn't. She thought to herself dismissing the notion. At least not yet, not until this crisis had come to an end. "Yes ma'am." She said breaking her silence. "Is there anything else?"

For a moment, Sam had the feeling Alexandra was about to explain, but then she closed up again. "Nothing else. Good luck, Alexandra."

____
OFF

Commodore Samantha York
Commanding Officer

Commander Alexandra Vance

 

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