Meeting a Fellow Intel Officer

Posted on Wed Dec 25th, 2024 @ 8:07pm by Lieutenant JG Adam Burns & Ensign Josiah McEntyre

1,256 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Mission 5 - The Cold War Ends
Location: Mess Hall
Timeline: MD01 - 1200

As usual, Adam sat at his table alone. Oh, he was good looking and charming but those who knew him knew that he was a very much by the book officer. Worse, he had some rather peculiar habits that were somewhat off-putting to many people.

Adam ate slowly and methodically. Between bites, he would raise his head, look around less than surreptitiously, even though he thought he was subtle, and chew. The process would repeat itself until he would finish his meal. However, nearly thirty minutes later, he was only about half way complete.

A long 8 years in the sector finally brings the Caitian Field Agent, Josiah McEntyre back into friendly territory. What was supposed to be a short term assignment, turned into his longest mission to date.

Entering the mess hall, looking like he'd just stepped out of the field, still in his Tactical gear, cloak flowing behind him, pulse phaser on his thigh and several bladed weapons strapped to him, he looked like a force to be reckoned with. Lithe in body, he moved with cat like gracefulness to one of the replicatiors, producing a tray of food before taking a seat at one of the tables.

Adam eyed the cloaked figure skeptically. There were blades on him and yet he was walking around the mess hall without concern. Why was nobody else here concerned? Springing into action, Adam picked up his meal and found an unattended table just behind the cloaked figure.

Josiah's ears twitched. Still eating, he obeserved the man moving tables behind him. He wasn't stupid. For all his years, he knew how to survive and keep alive. His family name, also held the expectation to fight, not for themselves, but for the Federation.

"Not very subtle there," he would address Adam, not turning around as he did.

Adam said nothing. He was certain that Josiah had to be talking to anyone but him. After all, Adam had followed all of the protocols to the letter regarding stalking his prey. Even if Josiah was addressing him, he could not acknowledge it. Was not the first rule of spying to strike whenever it was least expected?

Having waited another two minutes of eating, Adam decided to make his move. With a shout of a fictional karate master, he pounced from the side of Josiah, hands out in a karate stance. "Drop the weapons now! These hands are lethal weapons and I'm taking you in!"

Josiah just stared, chewing his food nonchalantly.

"Take me in? Listen, I just got back to the station after a very long time. This is the first decent meal I've had that wasn't in bar form. Maybe we start by introducing ourselves before we start clawin' each other."

He puts down his fork, turns his head to face the man.

"Josiah McEntyre, SC-804-506, Ensign, Starfleet."

Adam pulled out a PADD out of nowhere and looked up the information. It certainly seemed plausible but he asked out loud the question that still bothered him. "How do I really know that you're who you say you are?"

Josiah just started blankly at him.

"If you had any real doubts, you would had stunned me and we wouldn't be having this lovely conversation, 'cause it would be the same thing I would had done. I could also slice my hand open and give ya a blood sample to confirm my DNA signature in the fleet's database if that'll help."

He said deadpanned. This one was strange. Stranger than most.

"A DNA sample would definitely be preferred. After all, every officer knows that weapons are to be checked in upon return of a mission and here you are with them," Adam shot back seriously.

Josiah took out the tiny knife, slicing his hand and laying the blade on the table. Alot like the histories he'd read about the Dominion Wars and Deep Space Nine.

"Help yourself." He got up from the table, pulling out a bandage wrap from his chest and plate carrier and wrapping his hand as he left for the door.

Adam watched wide-eyed as Josiah sliced open his hand. Josiah was clearly half insane. Nonetheless, he took the sample and followed Josiah out. "Wait! You can't leave yet!" Adam protested.

Josiah didn't care, frankly he was done with the exchange. The man accosted him, interrupted his first proper meal in several years and accused him of being an enemy agent. That stung the worst. His family name usually gave people some pause, the McEntyre's being one of the founding families of the Federation, whose history stretched back to before the Federation was established.

"Look, I've been behind the lines in the sector for frankly far longer than what is considered normal. You've accosted me without so much as giving me your name, and accused me of not being who I am. I don't think you got much room to talk and frankly, I got to report to Commander Patton with my intel chip anyhow. Good day, Sir"

"I'm your superior officer, Lieutenant Adam Burns, Junior Grade," Adam replied chasing after Josiah. "That is assuming that you are even who you say that you are and given you breach of protocol, I have reasonable doubt!"

"Reasonable Doubt? The first duty of every Starfleet officer is to the truth, whether it's scientific truth or historical truth or personal truth." Josiah retorted, turning on his heel in proper military fashion that would stun even the most aloof of Starfleet Officer.

"I apologize for not recognizing a superior officer, but that does not give you the right, sir, to accuse me of being a traitor to the Federation for simply not removing my armor and phasers."

"That is not what I said, Mister McEntrye. Perhaps you should remember your training and listen. I never accused you of being a traitor. I expressed concern that you might be an enemy or an infiltrator. I have not ruled out the latter, as I have not tested the DNA. I also stated that you did not follow protocol by directly reporting to your superior or returning your weapons. These are all basic rules that need to be followed, also potentially leading me to the conclusion that you are not who you say you are."

"I will not continue this argument with you, either arrest me or let me be about my business." Josiah was clearly annoyed, agitated and frankly offended by this man. If he was Intelligence, he was clearly not good at his job. If Josiah was in his shoe this conversation would not have gotten this far. Either Way, it was clear to the Caitian that this person would be not be swayed, and any attempt to remove himself could end his life.

"I cannot arrest you for an offense not committed yet. However, that does not mean that I cannot notate all of these things on your record," Adam answered. "It would be easier if you simply complied."

“You go ahead and do that; I make a note of your extreme paranoia and lack of officer decorum in my report to Commander Patton. Excuse me.” With that, The Caitian moved around him towards the door once more, having now lost what appetite he had.

He says paranoia like it is a bad thing. And he was in the field? Adam let him go. There was nothing else to do but to report in to the Chief. This ensign thought he was above protocol. Well, Adam would show him.

 

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