CIO, CSOO | LCDR Stacker, LT Merlin | "Finding Waldo" (part 2)

Posted on Wed Mar 28th, 2018 @ 7:50pm by Commander Evan Merlin

Mission: Lacuna
Location: Interrogation Section | Deck 681 | Cold Station Theta
Timeline: SD 241803.28

The Lieutenant waited until the door had closed behind Archer. "Well, no doubt your friend will be watching from the other room, so let's just give him a little wave," he said, and did precisely that. "Now I could ask you to turn off the cameras and other equipment, and maybe you would even tell me you would, because that might make me feel more comfortable. But the reality is, even if you say you would, you won't, so I'll save us both the embarresment." He leaned back with a sigh. "Now, my estimate is that you have sufficient control of yourself not to start a war because of a bruised ego. Of your collegue – I'm sorry, Commander! – I'm not so sure. That's why I want to talk with you alone."

James did little more than silently think as he pulled a chair back out and - again - took a seat. After a moment of thought, and looking across the table, he finally nodded. Slowly. Whether he actually believed what the Lieutenant was saying was another matter entirely, but on the surface he at least appeared willing to hear the man out. Albeit when it came to convincing the chief intelligence officer that the Empress was, in fact, interested in peace. If his emotions from a minute before were any indication, he did not relish the possibility of war. But he was still a professional.

"Thank you, Commander," the Lieutenant said. He remained silent for a moment, gathering his thoughts. Then he gave a thin, somewhat wintry smile, quite different from his usual, slightly manic one. "I already did pass on quite a bit of relevant information, though I can imagine it did get kind of buried amidst the mutual baiting between your college and myself. I'll reiterate them and will expand when necessary."

He closed his eyes, then recited: "In answer to the question 'You said you'd spoken with her before the senior staff meeting. What about, precisely?' my reply was: 'We started with talking about Merlin, actually, and Arthur… and about whether or not to make a point'. Then you followed up with asking if our conversation turned, at any point, to Federation-Stenelli relations. To which I referred to my statement during the senior staff meeting, where I told you that the Empress was close to declaring war, and that I believe she'll explore other options, and will watch closely what we'll be doing to bring them back." He opened his eyes again, though his gaze seemed lightyears away. "Now, at that point, we were unfortunately interrupted. Now let me expand. She was already checking that impulse. Presumably she has been painting a similar situation in her mind as you sketched here, but from Stenellis perspective." Suddenly he looked directly at his collegue. "She asked what I would do." The words were casual, but the wintry smile was still in place.

James pulled his PADD back out from his holster and made a note on it, thinking briefly, momentarily grateful that the feeling of anger had dissipated almost as fast as it'd come. It hadn't been pleasant. Nor did he consider it in character for him. As to the man across the table ... the lieutenant was clearly enamored with the Empress. One did not need to have a background in intelligence to see it. The Diplomatic Corps would, of course, be on ballistic trajectory as soon as they learned. But ... "What about her advisers? Was anything mentioned about hardliners, or individuals who might pressure her towards war?"

"She did not refer to any, nor did I ask," the Lieutenant said. His manic demeanor had disappeared, though there was one bit of eccentricity: the glass ball appeared into his hand as if by magic and began its elegant dances over his wrist and arm as he talked. "Once again, I was not there to gather intel, or to give her any for that matter. However, my impression is that those people are indeed just that: advisors. She is the one who makes the final call, based on my observations."

There was no further notation. At least not yet. His eyes tracked the glass ball for a few moments, as it wove around and under a wrist before looping back up. What he was thinking was anyone's guess, but eventually there was a slight change. As if he had reached some conclusion. "Thank you lieutenant. I think that's all." He gave a slight nod towards the door.

The ball disappeared as abruptly as it had arrived, and once again the Lieutenant's eyes, as deep and unfathomable as the sea, fixed on Stacker's. "Are you certain, Commander? Have you asked everything you need to know?" There was that wintry smile again, like an arctic breath over tropical seas.

The look that was returned made clear that the Commander was unmoved. The wintry smile was met by a lack of warmth, the arctic breath by lines around the eyes that held no humor nor warmth. And then there was the voice, which hinted at sudden crushing weariness in equal parts. "Yes." He mentally shook himself, eyes opening a hair wider - but not in sudden shock or surprise. More the look of someone forcing their mind to remain awake and alert. "I'll be in touch if there're any further questions."

"Very well." The lieutenant rose in one fluid motion, brushed an errant lock of hair from his face. "And though I'm sure you do not want my advice, I'll give it nonetheless. Get some rest if you can. You cannot help her when fatigue clouds your judgement." By the time he finished, he had reached the door. "Good day, Commander," he said with a final nod. The door closed softly behind him.

In the aftermath of the - man's? - departure, James put his elbows on the tabletop and rubbed at his eyes. Then pinched the bridge of his nose and leaned into one hand. Was the lieutenant right? He didn't know. What he did know were the words he voiced aloud. It was a telling choice out of all the possible words and phrases that came to mind, and which went unvoiced.

"I'm getting too old for this shit."


Lieutenant Commander James Stacker
Chief Intelligence Officer/Acting 2XO
Cold Station Theta, SB-1170

Lieutenant Evan 'Weirdo' Merlin
Chief Strategic Operations/Acting XO
COLD STATION THETA, SB-1170