Through the Looking Glass

Posted on Thu Aug 31st, 2023 @ 11:41am by Commodore Samantha York & Lieutenant Commander Damion Wolfe & Admiral Maximilian 'Max' Hunter

1,699 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Broken Mirror
Location: Shuttlecraft: The Prowler

ON:

The Prowler, home and vessel of the SWORD team, was cruising through space on impulse. Having left its previous assignment, the team was on its way to an intelligence base in order to get its new assignment, but they were on their own personal mission as well. Upon getting their assignment they wanted to proceed to the alternate universe, commonly known as the Mirror Universe in records, in order to bury one of their own. A member of their team and family member.

This time the team was traveling with one extra person. One extra person that was part of their family already. Alora had decided to stick with the team upon leaving the Tokyo and now was on her way with them. Both her and Alex were enjoying some much needed sleep in their quarters when a sudden pounding began on their door followed my chaotic tapping on the chime by it.

Alex rolled onto his back and let out a groan as he rubbed his face. "Whoever it is... I'm going to kill them."

"No, you aren't." Alora kissed him before rolling out of bed to slip on her robe. "They wouldn't be banging like that if it wasn't important. I'll go see who it is to give you another minute." And if it wasn't important, she'd send them away before Alex could chew them out.

"Computer, open the door," she said as she walked into their small living space and checked to make sure her robe was securely fastened.

As the door to their quarters opened, John stood there ready to knock again. "Oh... Sorry. Am I interrupting you guys?"

"Yes!" Alex shouted from their bed as he sat up. "But it's okay. Your knock sounded important." He let out another frustrated grunt as he got out of bed.

"Do you want me to tell Max to call back?" John asked.

Alex looked over to Alora before looking back to John. "Why didn't you say it was Max?"

John looked confused as he looked over to Alora. "I... just did. Did you hit him on the head a little harder than usual?"

"No, he's just a little grumpy," she teased, smiling at Alex. "Transfer the message to him here. Max wouldn't call unless it was important." What she wasn't sure of was if she would have to leave for the call. While she was still an intel officer, Max didn't share everything he told Alex with her.

"You got it, Boss Lady." John replied as he walked away from the door.

Alex walked to one of the drawers by the bed and pulled out a pair of pants before putting them on. "He probably want's a report on the Tokyo or to let us know what options we have as far as assignments." He said as he walked over to her. "Unless there is room for you too, I don't want it." He smiled and kissed her on the cheek before adding. "We spent too much time apart and I don't want us to be away from each other again."

"Good, because I'm not going anywhere." Nor was she going to let him go off without her. As he said, they'd done enough of that for several lifetimes and she was determined to stay with him now.

He heard the familiar beep of the monitor flipping on in his quarters, revealing a Starfleet Intelligence Emblem on it, as well as a request for a clearance code.
Alex gave Alora's hand a gentle squeeze before walking over to the monitor and tapping in his code just before Max appeared on the screen.

"Catch you at a bad time, Knight?" Max asked.

"Now that the wife is here, I try not to answer those kinds of questions." Alex replied with a soft chuckle.

"Good to see you've already adapted to being married." Max replied with a smile.

Alex raised a brow. "Says the man who isn't married."

Max leaned back in his chair and shrugged his shoulders before replying back without skipping a beat. "So, I've been told, anyway."

There was a...smugness about that response that made Alora wonder if he'd been married before. Deciding to turn the conversation back on track, she asked, "I'm sure you wouldn't call at this time of night unless it's important. So, what's going on?"

"You're right, Commander. This isn't a standard call." Max replied, his tone and appearance shifting to that of a more serious one. "Without question... I need you to send me your ships log. No alterations. Raw data. Specifically concerning the use of your drive that allows you to go into the alternate universe."

Alex raised a brow, looking over to Alora for a moment, before looking back to Max. "What's going on, Max?"

"Just do it, Alex!" Max replied quickly and firmly. "I'll explain soon. I just need to verify something."

Alex nodded his head and looked over to Alora. "Send him that data."

Alora was already halfway to the computer and paused to nod to Alex. If Max needed the information, there was something serious going on. She verified that the Admiral was on the Cerberus and transferred the data. "Done. Is there anything we can help with?" she asked.

Max tapped his console and turned to look at a monitor off screen. He scrolled through the data before nodding his head. "Yes... there is, now that I have seen this." He said as he turned back towards the two on the screen. "To our knowledge, you're runabout, is the only ship capable of crossing between realities. I say this, because we've received reports of a ship appearing and disappearing in the same manner your Prowler does, which is why I needed to see your records. I need this data to show Admiral Burke that it's not your ship and crew. To rule you out."

Alex looked to Alora, shocked at the reveal of another ship that could cross realities, before looking back to Max. "Wait... did you honestly think we would be doing whatever it is this other ship was doing?"

"No, Alex. I never believed it for a minute." Max replied firmly. "I wanted this information as irrefutable proof it's someone else." He leaned back in his chair and continued. "This ship is using this technology to raid outposts and Federation ships. No one has been able to track it or see them coming, but once I read the report and heard the description of how they vanish, I thought of your ship."

"We're not the only ship that's come across. Dylan did." Alora turned to Alex. "Could any of his cohorts have that technology?"

"That could be a possibility." Alex replied as he looked over to Alora. "We know he was finally detained and, whatever method he was using to come to this side may not have been recovered, but I don't see the people who work for my mother keeping a vessel that can cross universes intact or lightly guarded."

Max let out a sigh as he replied. "Regardless, this is a problem and your expertise should be valuable. I want to send you, and your team, to the Calypso to help deal with this situation. Commodore York, her Captain, is a close friend and she'll be expecting you."

Alora looked at Alex and then responded to Max. "How soon do we have to be there?" This was her first assignment as an official part of Alex' team and she was looking forward to it. She also was invested in stopping this particular piracy.

"As soon as you can." Max replied with a smile. "I understand you two, most likely, want your time together. So, feel free to take that time for yourselves, just remember your assignment. This group is causing all kinds of trouble and escaping with no trace. We don't want this to escalate and they deciding to do more than just grabbing what they need. The technology that they are using to traverse between the universes could be dangerous if it falls into someone else's hands. It's important that Starfleet catches them and deals with the technology."

"And if we manage to catch them, what do you want us to do with the tech?" Alex asked calmly.

"Honestly? I know this tech may be used to better our understanding between our universes, but... there are dangers to its existing." Max replied softly. "Part of me feels that destroying it and leaving your ship with the only device is the better option. Then again... that's my view. I'll leave you in charge of that decision. Your team has final say on that matter."

"As long as we're together, we'll be fine," Alora assured him. It wasn't the work she minded, but sending Alex off without her. They'd spent far too much time apart. At least she wasn't leaving the Prowler any time soon. Then an idea came to her. "I think you have an excellent idea, Max. As long as the tech stays with the Prowler, what we choose to do with it shouldn't matter." She smiled, clearly intending to keep a copy of this technology to study.

"I won't lie. I feel safer knowing that the Prowler is the only ship capable of travelling through the Mirror Universe and our own. I trust you and your team won't abuse it in any way. I can't say the same for those who intend to go against the Federation. Nor can I say that our own people wouldn't abuse it either." Max replied with a slight sigh. "This mission is complicated and there is no telling where it will lead, but stopping these raids is important."

"Understood. We'll let you know what we find out," Alora said. There was a lot of research that needed to be done, and contacts to be made, but she would like to get a bit more sleep before they had to leave.

The call ended shortly after. Alora turned out the lights and went back to bed.

____
OFF

John "Pitbull" Mackey
Prowler

Commander Alora Knight
Intelligence Officer
Prowler

Commander Alex Knight
Commander, SWORD Team
Prowler

Admiral Max Hunter
Fleet Covert Ops

 

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