Post Staff Briefing, Operation Intercept

Posted on Sun Jun 1st, 2025 @ 1:06am by Captain Remy Johansen & Commander Maxun Spello & Lieutenant Commander Eirly Andersen & Major Clay McEntyre III & Lieutenant Xalanth

1,373 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Gone, Without Ever Knowing the Way
Location: Briefing Room, USS Astrea
Timeline: MD 02, 0300 hours (After Full-Staff Briefing)

Cyn didn’t move as the others began to file out, her eyes tracking the holographic projection still fading above the table. Once the room quieted and the Captain turned toward her, she spoke—low, precise.

"Before we leave Freecloud behind, we should consider leaving a footprint," Cyn said. “Quietly.”

She shifted her PADD slightly, bringing up a secure file but didn’t tap it just yet. “Clay’s team came back empty-handed, but the situation still has shape. The Breen may be retreating, but the Nausicaans are still sniffing around. That tells me there’s still a deal to be made—or intercepted.”

A pause. “We might not get a second pass at this, but if we act fast, we can stage a buy. Give them something tempting enough to draw out a seller. And if that doesn’t shake loose the weapon, it might shake loose a name. Either way, we learn something.”

She met Remy’s eyes, calm but intentional.

“I’m not the right face to stay behind—too many eyes already know mine. But Fulvia’s clean. She knows the terrain, and she knows how to disappear in plain sight. She can blend into the shadows without stirring them.”

Cyn tapped the PADD now, sliding the file across. “I recommend Eden McKenzie to go with her. She’s combat engineer trained, and more importantly—she’s motivated. There’s a personal thread here, and I think she’s ready to follow it without compromising the mission.”

She leaned back slightly, but her tone remained sharp. “And Noha rounds them out. Vulcan discipline, marine instincts. She's not there to start a fight, but no one’s going to want to finish one with her either.”

Cyn’s voice dropped just a fraction. “We leave a net behind while we move forward. That way, if anything tries to wriggle loose, we’ve already got the line in place.”

Xalanths heart's sank slightly at the thought of being separated from his fourth, but he understood why. If anyone could turn this mess around, it was his Fulvia. " If there's anyone in the federation who can fix this mess with a win, it's Fulvia. Shall I get something replicated that the Nausicaans would be willing to trade for? "

"That a good idea, Mr. Xalanth. I'm not saying for sure that's how things should definitely happen," Remy looked at Clay with some assurance. "The team will need to have autonomy and be able to make real time decisions. We'll like be unreachable. But it gives them some options, should the opportunity arise."

The Captain continued, "The Marines currently aren't staffing medics on board, but I don't want them to be here without some medical support in case there are any injuries. Our head nurse, Lieutenant Thivi is capable and trained above and beyond standard field medicine. Assuming Dr. Siv doesn't object, I think we should send her along and well stocked with a medical kit."

"Major, it was originally your plan to try to salvage this thing. What are your thoughts?"

"We send a small force. Corporal McKenzie would lead it, two to three at the most. Any chance to intercept any type of actionable intelligence should be the primary tasking." Clay began before he leaned back in his chair.

When Clay finished speaking, Maxun spoke up. "Captain, if the team is going to be on its own, they will need a combat-trained pilot. I think this would be an excellent mission to send Mister Williams on. His file shows that he has the required experience to get the team out of any danger that might crop up."

"Good," the Captain nodded at his suggestion. "When we've made some final decisions here on the team, you can get in touch with him and select what craft to take and any additional resources."

Maxun nodded, then made a mental note to contact the young pilot after the briefing was completed.

"I can contact Lieutenant Thivi," the Captain volunteered. "Major, you get in touch with the members from the Marine unit and have them report to the Intelligence suite within the next three hours."

The Captain continued, "Lieutenant Cyn, whatever your team is going to need, we need them to set up here, equipment, back up runabout. I also want to see what ships are in the vicinity that could be called on for support. We may be indisposed."

Cyn paused briefly, scanning her screen.

“I’ll begin prepping the Intelligence Suite for forward operations. The team will need to work autonomously once we’re in the Expanse—real-time comms won’t be possible. That makes their launch point and any local support critical.”

She tapped a few commands, a star map flickering briefly to life over her PADD before vanishing again.

“It will take a few minutes to find out if there are any Starfleet vessels in the vicinity of Freecloud now. If we can find one with low visibility—preferably science or intel-oriented—they can act as a relay point or fallback extraction. Even a listening post could help catch fragments of any burst transmissions the team manages to send.”

She glanced toward Maxun and Xalanth. “Once I confirm what's in range, I’ll coordinate secondary extraction routes. If this mission goes loud, they won’t have time to wait for us to loop back. They'll need another hand already nearby.”

Then her gaze returned to the Captain.

“If we can’t watch them in real time, we make sure someone else can. Quiet eyes. Quiet backup. And I’ll ensure Fulvia’s team leaves as little trace as possible. If something stirs in Freecloud’s underlayer, we want to hear it before it bites.”

"Fulvia has a few identity bags already packed down in are quarters. I'll go and get some of them and leave them with the equipment." Xalanth added.

"Yes, from what I've seen the Lieutenant can handle herself," Remy agreed.

Eirly had been listening and nodding her agreement with what everyone was saying but found she had a few concerns of her own. She turned to Clay, "Major, you mentioned that you would want Corporal McKenzie to be leading the team. I've got no intentions of going against your recommendations, but I've seen her in action and heard her mention before that she's more of a behind the scenes kind of marine, a follower if you will, rather than a leader. Are you 100% confident in her abilities to show she can lead?" It was more out of curiosity that she asked the question.

"I have every confidence in the Corporals ability to lead. I intend to hopefully promote her to Sergeant should the mission be successful" Clay elaborated. "This will be a good test of her leadership potential and her ability to achieve the mission with limited oversight from me."

Remy decided to interject before there was further debate. "And I'm sure that Lieutenant Fulvia will give the Corporal plenty of opportunities to prove herself on the mission, but at this point she is the ranking officer and will be the commander of the away mission. Both she and Lieutenant Williams have numerous hours in the field. Our younger officers will benefit from their wisdom and guidance out there."

"I understand, Captain," Eirly nodded to Remy and then added to the Major, "I have no doubt she'll make a great Sergeant. Without a doubt. I would just like the assurance that if something were to go wrong out there and Lieutenant Fulvia isn't around to help out or if the Corporal or any of the team finds themselves in a situation they're not comfortable in, that there won't be any reprimands or repercussions coming their way from it." It wasn't an arguing point from her, Eirly simply cared about the wellbeing of the crew.

The Captain nodded. "I think rank makes sense on this one. As of now that sounds like Lieutenants Fulvia and Williamson. I'm sure there won't be any issues with that."

"Okay, let's get to work. We're all around if questions arise. I want us to work cautiously so there are no mistakes, but let's get this team launched so that Astrea can get moving."

"Dismissed."

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