Scrutiny

Posted on Sat Mar 13th, 2021 @ 9:47pm by Lieutenant Mila Lynn & Major Ashley Rogers

2,594 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Chapter III: The Hunt is On
Location: Science Lab, I.R.W. Ourainavassa
Timeline: 238702.07

With the Ourainavassa underway for their operation, Commander Ash Rogers was familiarizing herself with the ship and its crew. After the initial briefing from Raven and seeing a child being promoted to Lieutenant, she couldn't help but be curious about the young science officer that her counterpart had taken under her wing. That last part was surprising to her, given what she had found out about this universe's Ash Rogers, the fact the she would develop an attachment to the Lynn twins was not what she would have anticipated.

The Commander walked in the door to see Mila focused on her screen, "Hello, Lieutenant. What are you working on?"

Mila was reading the files the boss had given her about the Omega Particle, and, since she did not expect anyone to come see her, she had switched off her aural implants. She found that background noise disrupted her concentration, so she tried to avoid it where possible. Of course, she had learned the hard way not to do so on Drozana, but here, on the ship, in her lab, there was little reason to be hearing at all times. She had installed a little indicator next to her console screen that would light up when someone tried to contact her over the intercom, or entered the lab, and when the Commander walked in, that indicator began flashing to attract the young Lieutenant's attention.

When she noticed the alert, she quickly touched a finger to behind her left ear, where the activator for the implant was embedded, and turned around, immediately recognising Commander Rogers. "Ah, Commander," she said, with a friendly smile. "Welcome to my little brain cave, as I like to call it. Getting to know the ship a little before the mission, I assume?"

The Terran nodded, the child is quite astute. "I've noticed that my counterpart signs to you... You're hearing impaired," she said matter of factly. "In my universe, such a disability would be a death sentence. You would not have been allowed to live this long," the Commander continued. "So you'll have to excuse me as I navigate the social nuances of this universe. I'm surprised you would leave your ears off... wouldn't that put you at a greater disadvantage?"

Mila nodded. "Not only hearing impaired, I am entirely deaf, due to genetic engineering gone wrong. It did bless me with considerably higher-than-average intelligence, though. Especially where numbers are concerned. And while switching my implant off does pose a rather considerable disadvantages in areas where, for example, I wouldn't hear a would-be robber coming at me from behind, it does allow me to switch off any background noise. Since I was born deaf and only got my implant when I was eleven, I never quite mastered the art of filtering out background noise, so I tend to go deaf when I need to concentrate and can't have any distractions. At least while I am in a safe place, anyway." She pointed at the little alert light next to her console. "I installed these both in the lab and in my quarters, in case anyone wants to contact me through intercom or walks in and I don't notice them, and I've added a vibration alert to my combadge for the same purpose."

"Your parents did not terminate you at birth with your genetic flaws? What about your brother? Is he also genetically engineered?" the Commander asked without tact.

"It took them a while to realise that their engineering had gone wrong," Mila replied openly. "And they did not want to admit their failure. Or face prosecution for murdering their child." She chuckled. For all their flaws, her parents had been caring and supportive, at least for a while. "And yes, Miles is engineered as well. Enhanced reflexes and spatial awareness, the perfect fighter pilot. With incredibly fragile bones and incredibly weakened pain receptors. His skeleton is reinforced with titanium, so if you try to hit him, it will hurt you more than it does him. Trust me, I know that first-hand."

"Fascinating," the Commander replied. "And you have been the one working with my counterpart on my ship? I had my doubts about a deaf child being so involved in this ship's operations, but I'm starting to see that you are more impressive than I initially assumed. So, what do you think is happening with Hobus? Based on your scientific analysis?"

"Ash saved my and my brother's life," Mila replied. "But you can ask her for that story. As for Hobus, well." She turned her chair back to her console and beckoned the Commander to come closer and look over her shoulder. "When the three of us took Munin to Hobus, we found the research station, which you've seen yourself I assume, since you were the one who piloted her there originally. We were chased off by a Tal Shiar vessel very quickly, but I managed to get a lot of good scans before we got out of there."

She brought up the summary of the scans she had gotten, along with an image of the station that had been produced by combining footage from their trip to Hobus and the plans provided by Raven's father. "General Varis had somehow acquired some of the blueprints of the station, and although far from complete, they've helped me put together a better picture of what they are doing. The station has an incredible power supply, four singularity cores of the same model as found on a D'Deridex. So quite a bit more powerful. One of those cores runs nothing but the shielding, while another one seems to provide all the general power for the station, life support and whatnot. Which leaves two cores for whatever science they are working on."

Mila pointed at the secondary array that was tractored to the station, much closer to the star itself. "It would appear that they are using this pod here to experiment with what they call Element Zero. I don't know what your Starfleet calls the stuff, but ours refers to it as the Omega Particle. A highly unstable substance that, even in tiniest quantities, and we are talking about less than a dozen molecules here, has the potential to destroy subspace in a given location. I haven't got the faintest clue what they are using the stuff for, but hey, it's the Tal Shiar, and a substance that could end spacefaring civilisation as we know it. Whatever they are doing, it can't be good."

The Commander looked at the child... Mila and nodded approvingly, "You were able to piece together quite a lot. So, from a scientist's perspective, what is your hypothesis of what my mission is based on the evidence?" She was curious about Mila's mind and how much potential it had. Perhaps she was wrong to judge her counterpart for taking this girl under her wing...

Mila thought for a moment before replying. "Let me see. I would assume your involvement is centred on what's going on at Hobus. So whatever is going on there must have serious implications either on the integrity of the timeline, so someone is trying to alter the past, or it's going to cause enough of a reaction that it has been deemed acceptable to alter the past yourselves. Since you are Terran, from another universe, but operating here, and from what I have learned it seems in a joint mission with our universe's Starfleet, this must obviously have interdimensional implications. Whether that is because it involves parties from your universe trying to cause the issue, or effects that it may have on your own universe as well as ours."

She grinned. "Am I getting close?"

"You are easier to deal with than some of your crewmates..." the alternate Ash said, impressed. "You're very close. That's almost exactly the reason I'm here. However your crew is right to be skeptical. I was, as well, when I started doing this job. I appreciate you not immediately planning for my demise like your Ash's ex... She and the security chief seem to both want me dead for different reasons. You seem to be more pragmatic and open-minded. I appreciate that. I can understand why my counterpart is protective of you. This universe is strange to me, like many others, but I'm glad there are some things that I can relate to here. Do you have any questions for me? Surely you must be curious about the concept of interdimensional and time travel."

Mila stood, and, without a warning, hugged the Commander. "First and foremost, you are part of this crew, Ash. So, you are part of my family," she softly said into the Terran's ear." I do not judge people on their past, or where they come from, or what they may have done. I judge them on how they act, both towards me and others. And I have seen no reason so far to doubt that, at your core, you are a good person. Growing up in the Terran Empire and serving in its fleet may have shaped you into a person many people here may see as a threat, but that does not have to define you."

The Terran froze at the close contact from the child... resisting the urge to toss her across the room.

Mila let go again, and took a step back. "Ashley Rogers, well, our Ashley Rogers, thinks she is an awful person, for all the bad things she has done. She is, after all, a trained killer. But she has only ever done good by me and my brother. I may be wrong, of course. You may well be planning to kill us all and take the Ourainavassa, you may even be working with those people at Hobus for all that we know. But honestly, I don't think that is who you are."

Commander Roger looked at Mila and considered her words, "Where I come from, the things that your version of me have done would not be something to feel guilty about. She would be honored for her prowess and skill. It is unfortunate that she is tormented by what makes her who she... I suppose we are. Those traits are the same ones that makes me good at what I do now as a Temporal Agent. Sometimes we have to do what needs to be done for the greater good, no matter what the cost. Not that it means much, but I have no intention of killing all of you and stealing this ship. I just want to finish my mission and go home." She continued to consider the teen in front of her, "You are surprisingly wise beyond your years. I am actually saddened that if you existed in my universe, you probably did not survive..."

The Science Lab doors opened in time for Major Ash Rogers to hear the last part of what the Commander said, "And if you harm a hair on her head in this universe, I assure you that you will not survive." The Major stood protectively between Mila and the Terran and signed to her, Are you okay? Did she hurt you?

Mila looked at the Major and smiled. "Don't worry, Ash, we were just having a nice chat." She frowned. "Now I need to figure out what to call each of you. I mean, I don't really like talking to ranks, I talk to people. I guess I'll stick with Ash for the Major, and Ashley for the Commander, for now?" She shrugged. "Not important. The Commander here was just getting to know the ship, so she stepped by the lab to introduce herself. And besides," she added, gesturing towards a drawer under her desk. "I learned my lesson. There's a disruptor in there. Loaded. And I have another trick up my sleeve."

She grinned as she held up her left arm and clenched a fist. Suddenly, a small dagger shot out from under her sleeve. "I got the idea from an old earth video game, Assassin's Creed it's called. Spring loaded dagger strapped to the forearm. I can build more, if either of you want one."

Both of the Ashes looked at each other and said, "I can think of at least 42 uses for something like that.... dammit not again." They both put their hands on their faces and rubbed the bridge of their nosed in unison.

The Commander looked at the Major, "I see you've taught the child well."

Major Rogers glared at the Terran, "She has a name."

Terran Ash looked somewhat apologetic, "I'm sorry. It takes some getting used to. For as many universes and time frames I've been to, it's rare to see someone so young be so talented."

The Major continued her glaring, "And what did you say to Renee?"

The Terran smirked, "Probably things you should have said to her..."

Major Rogers practically growled at her counterpart... if Mila wasn't here she'd deck her right now.

The Terran continued to taunt her, "I know what you want to do right now... I know what I'd do. What's holding you back?"

Mila looked from one Ash to the other, and held up her hands. "Not in my lab you aren't. You both technically outrank me, but I am the chief science officer on this ship. And anyway, we're on our way to a battle if you haven't forgotten. We don't want to bother the Doc with casualties before we even get there." She shook her head. "You two are impossible."

The Major looked at Mila, feeling a little embarrassed that she had to step in to intervene but also feeling quite proud that she felt confident enough to do so. Not many people would be willing to stand up to one angry Ash Rogers... and here's two of them in front of her, one of which is a Terran with yet unknown motives. "You're right, Lieutenant. We should be focused on the task at hand. How are we looking for our upcoming mission. And hidden tricks up your sleeve for that?"

The Terran watched her counterpart stand down to the child in fascination. She couldn't deny that the child was correct in her assessment though. "Yes, anything tactically useful in your analysis, Lieutenant?"

Mila shook her head, while inwardly sighing a breath of relief that the two had stood down. "There's not much interesting to tell, really. As far as our opposition is concerned, they use pretty standard B'rel birds-of-prey, the design is so old your grandmothers probably could have told us how to blow them up easily. As for the nebula, it's fairly standard. Disrupts warp fields, scatters sensors, the usual stuff."

"There's no such thing as standard when it comes to missions like this," both of the Ashes said. "The moment we drop our guard... that's the moment any good enemy will strike."

Major Rogers pointed out, "For Vulture to have operated so long and to strike so much fear in the people here, they have to be damn good."

The Commander nodded, "Agreed. But this time, you have me... and I'd like to think having two Ashley Rogers to contend with will be something no enemy would want to deal with."

The Major looked at the Terran, "I'm not sure I want to deal with you...."

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