Security Meets Intelligence

Posted on Sun Jun 22nd, 2025 @ 11:12am by Lieutenant Commander Aer Feshau-Patton & Lieutenant Tomer Chaim

2,348 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: Mission 5 - The Cold War Ends
Location: Various, Faltan Station
Timeline: MD 01 - 1300

After the briefing, Tomer made it a point to move over towards Aer. "It has been a pleasure to meet you. I thought that we could spend some time together to discuss our current situation further." He paused for a moment and chuckled lightly, "That is assuming our spouses have no objections."

Aer smiled as Tomer spoke to her. She looked over at Jack and waved her hand towards him. "Oh please, he can object all he wants... and trust me he does more so now I'm carrying his demon children." she chuckled. "Please, lead the way. I still don't know my way around the station, so I'd just get us lost."

"His demon children, you say? My wife has only borne me captains. Sadly, we have not been able to have more than the two for now. Not for the lack of trying." He shrugged, his eyes lowering for the moment. "But the station is not that hard to follow and you should get used to it soon enough."

He looked over at Aer and saw that she looked about half way through her pregnancy, not that Tomer would inquire about that directly. "Are there any cravings that you are having? We could direct our attention towards something that you are currently in a mood for."

"We'll see what they are like when they arrive." Aer looked down at her abdomen. "They move and there's not a lot of me to stretch out," she implied her smaller frame. "I had a sweet tooth before I became pregnant... it has exploded tenfold into what I can only describe as some form of addiction. Chocolate is a particular craving I have often."

"Chocolate, you say? So, we must add to your sweetness. Understood. Well, there happens to be a Ferengi chocolatier on the station. He has a shop called The Sweet Nebula. Certainly we could find you something there. Would that meet your needs?"

Aer noted the sweetness comment. Flattery was often a way to get into someone's good graces but as she worked in intelligence she was trained, almost bred to keep people she didn't know too well at arms length. Still, she always pleasant enough to new people she met.

"That sounds like a nice idea." Aer replied with a smile. "I hope he doesn't charge above market price for them. Being Ferengi and all."

Tomer answered, "It is difficult to say what is above-market value or below. I've been out here at least 8 years and we're on the edge of nowhere. I'm sure that he would say something like 'You pay what the market will bear.' I'm sure it is some sort of Rule of Acquisition."

"I always remember the first Rule of Acquisition, 'Once you have their money, you never give it back.' Though at this point I don't think the twins care much for the cost of chocolate and neither does their mother." Aer smiled broadly. "You've been here 8 years? You must have seen a lot of change here then?" she asked.

"If by change, you mean my children growing up, then you're right. When the station was on the planet, things were more lively. There was a lot of tension. Now, well, things have been fairly calm. Yes, the people and stores have changed but not much else. It has put my mind at ease. I always wanted to keep my wife and children safe."

"I can appreciate that." Aer's hands drifted to her baby bump. "Jack... Colonel Patton, wants to wrap me up in a protective forcefield and have marines follow me around all the time. My job is dangerous, or it can be dependent on how far I dig into some people's darkness." She thought back to not so long ago, her being stabbed by that Klingon. Jack reminded her of it often when she wanted to go off and do things herself. "I'm glad though, that things have calmed down here. Makes me more reassured my two will be safe when they come."

"I hope it will stay so. However, now that we have said such things, the calm may end. Man makes plans and G-d laughs," Tomer replied wryly. "Have you considered giving your job up? Just being a mother? Perhaps until they're grown?"

"Your God doesn't sound like he's a very nice being." Aer thought at the strangeness of the saying. She found Humans had an array of strange saying, metaphors and all sorts. "As much as Jack would like me to do that. It would have to take a lot for me to give up my position. I worked hard for it, and I know children can change you, but I can make the place safer doing what I do than sitting nursing a baby. I'll take some time off though... not going to jump right back into it."

Tomer nodded as they arrived at The Sweet Nebula. He told Aer, "G-d is a mystery at some level. He made everything and gave us Free Will but he does seem to have a temper. Do not get me started. We seem to have an understanding though, yes? And he gave me two adorable future captains. What more could a man like me ask for? Now.... Please.... My treat. Order as you will and then we find somewhere to continue our chat."

"Oh there are many Gods/Goddesses that my people follow, and many of them have tempers too." Aer replied nodding in agreement with Tomer and moving up to the counter and ordering a couple of large brownies. "Thank you." she said to Tomer, for buying them for her. Would you like one?" she asked.

"Who am I to refuse?" Tomer asked with a simple accepting shrug.

Before he could utter another word, a holoscreen behind them flashed on a professional looking, attractive blond woman. "Good afternoon, my name is Candy Templeton and I am bringing you the Sweet Truth."

She pursed her lips into a small kiss shape before continuing. I may have to keep that as a trademark before I speak. "The Raeyan Sector Block has been in a state of tension for the last 8 years while the Falteans have blocked nearly all access to their planet. However, is that going to continue to be the case? This morning a new detachment of elite marines called the Kingsmen have arrived at Faltan Station. Just an hour ago, Captain M'Mira had a full briefing with her chiefs of staff. Is this a sign of coming military action by the Federation? Or are they preparing for an attack by the Falteans, Union, or Raeya? Whatever the case may be, it does appear that something has changed and those on Faltan Station should brace for it. Of course, I will continue my coverage of these developments and give you the Sweet Truth. This has been Candy Templeton reporting."

Tomer looked at Aer and flatly told her, "It looks like you have the official welcome to Faltan Station, now."

"My husband does for sure, and his marines." Aer replied as a shiver shot up her spine. "I've never liked reporters much I have to admit. Some things are better left unsaid and announcing the arrival of a more military force will no doubt stir up more negative reactions that positive..." she sighed.

"Miss Templeton is a mixed bag," Tomer answered simply. "If you would like to know more, I suggest perhaps moving to a more secure location."

This intrigued Aer. A secure location? This woman being a so called 'mixed bag'. "I'm always interested in knowing more about people. I'm not in intelligence for the lovely locations they send me," she added as they began to move.

"Then, would you prefer to go to your office or mine?"

"I've not had a chance to properly secure mine the way I would like." Aer replied, she liked to sweep it for bugs, secure it properly from all outside influences. Given her recent arrival, and physical state, she hadn't had the time nor energy to do so. "So, your office sounds better."

"Very well."

Tomer led Aer to the Assistant Chief Security Office, which was just past the Security Chief's Office. The Security Chief's Office was dark, as they passed it. Walking into Tomer's office, it was obvious to anyone that he was a dedicated family man. Pictures of a Trill woman who lacked irises were in several holos, as were a young girl and boy. Both also had Trill spots on them. Childish drawings decorated the room and he smiled the moment that he walked in.

Simple but comfortable chairs were on either side of a slim, silver colored desk. He moved behind the desk and before sitting asked, "If you need help sitting, I could assist." He was not going to allow her to fall on his watch. It did not matter that she was not yet in her final trimester.

"Thank you." Aer said accepting Tomer's help to sit. As her backside his the chair she felt an immediate relief from her feet that felt amazing.

She had looked around the room as she entered, logging the personal photos in her mind, as well as the room in general. "You have a beautiful family," she commented and gestured to the pictures showing such.

"My family is everything to me," he admitted willingly. "My wife is the Chief Counselor, Kara Quinn-Chaim. She's a beauty, isn't she?" Without waiting for an answer, he continued, "My kids are Brianna and Gabriel. I had hoped to have more but G-d has not blessed us with more. I'm sure that my great-grandfather would probably say it is because I married a shiksa but I don't believe in such nonsense."

"I am unfamiliar with that term." Aer said curiously. "I can see how your face lights up when you talk about them. They are very lucky to be as loved as they are and I don't even need to have met them to know how much your cherish them," she added as she shifted in her chair. "I am a little apprehensive about becoming a mother... am I ready? Am I too young? Can I cope with two straight away?" She began to list some of her questions without thinking. "And then there's Jack, what if he goes off on a mission for months on end, or something happens...?" she trailed off shaking her head free of that last morbidly negative thought.

Tomer sighed. "Shiksa is not a nice word but it essentially means a non-Jewish woman. However, my wife and my family mean everything to me. But a lot of your concerns are why we decided to stay in one place: here. She can do a lot of good as the Chief Counselor and well, I can protect my family directly. So, if I pass up a promotion here or there, so be it. Perhaps you should talk to Kara. Maybe both of you. She would likely have better words than me."

"Rank and privilege isn't everything." Aer commented. It was how she viewed the galaxy and how she lived her life. Maybe that was due to her El Aurian upbringing. There was never a rush for a species who lived a long life. "But I do believe in the same values as you. I'd give up my commission in a heartbeat if it meant keeping my family safe and together... but back to why we came here. Candy?" she steered the conversation back... oh her back... it was killing her.

"Yes, Candy...." Tomer started and finished with a heavy sigh. "She is a mixed bag, as I was telling you earlier. She used to date Connor Turner in Engineering. Their history is a bit complicated but suffice it to say he ended their relationship about 6 or was it 7 years ago? She could have left. Most would have. But Candy, well, she's not wired the same as you or me. I think she's still sweet on him."

He paused to explain further, "When she came here, she was nothing more than a normal news reporter. Well, normal is not right. She's always looking for a story. However, she and Connor had history before here. Anyways, Candy is all about the news. She will dig for anything and when she finds it, regardless of the consequences to anyone, she reports it. Thing is, she does not care how she gets it, and that includes carnal pleasures. Pretty sure that is why Mister Turner finally had enough. That said, while she can stir the pot, she's never done anything to betray the Federation. On occasion, she's actually fed us good intel about what's going on with the Falteans. But, as I said, she will report anything as she sees it."

Aer listened intently to what Tomer said. "Dangerous woman then," she agreed with a rhetorical statement. "Some things do not need to be reported, truth telling aside. Truth can cause more harm than a thousand lies ever could... I'll need to open a case file on her or read the one that's already set up if the previous CIO was doing their job...." She bit her lip as she went into thought. However, it was short lived as she shook her head as if to shake the baby brain from herself. "Thank you for telling me this, Lieutenant."

"You're welcome. Just know that she does seem to operate solely on the code that the truth is everything. It is not a bad ideal, even if her methods are...unique."

"Women have their 'unique' methods in many ways." Aer mused. "But I've taken up enough of your time, and the babies are needing some more food." she chuckled.

"As you wish. If there is anything else that you need, please let me know."

"I will Tomer, thank you." Aer said rising and heading for the door. Their conversation had definitely opened her eyes to a lot more of the inner workings of the station, and what players to keep an eye on.

 

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