Tour: Intel

Posted on 20 Nov 2024 @ 9:18pm by Lieutenant Commander Joey Geisler & Commodore Harvey Geisler

2,179 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Bait and Switch
Location: Intelligence
Timeline: June 29, 2390 || 0850 hours

It was the morning after their departure from Gavara. At warp six, it would take the convoy two days to travel from there to Gavara. Harvey appropriately assumed that the first leg of the trip would be without event, but that did not make the current moment any less exhilarating. That word exhilarating was certainly not Harvey's first choice for a descriptor. Proper selections included mundane and uneventful. Those words adequately described how it felt following this convoy, waiting to see if someone would dare strike.

As was common for the first morning of a new mission, Harvey took it upon himself to tour the vessel, stopping by each of the major locations aboard the ship and check in with his senior staff. This leg of the journey brought him to the Intelligence Office where he knew he could find his wife. He knew what he was walking into, sipping his coffee and passing through the portal. There was no new information on the horizon, and the entire staff was in a holding pattern as they awaited new input.

Joey sat in her office, the door open since it was just her and one other currently on duty. A lukewarm half empty cup of tea sat just off to the right of her while a padd with a black screen sat to the other. She appeared to be lost in thought, mulling over the information... or lack thereof... they'd been able to learn.

She'd taken part in many missions since she joined the Black Hawk crew, but this one was so much different. So much harder. It just felt like there was no getting ahead of whoever was causing all of the devastation. But, they did have what she hoped would be an advantage in the form of the trap they were going to spring. If it worked or not, time would tell.

Harvey's knuckles rapped twice against the open doorframe. "Knock knock," he added verbally. "Penny for your thoughts, or is it too early in the morning to be thinking about thinking?"

Joey turned her attention to the door and smiled as she rose to her feet. "Good morning. It is a bit early, but I can honestly say I'm not thinking about a whole lot right now," she told him. "If I did, I'm fairly certain I would go crazy."

He grunted, stepping inside the door so he could enter and greet her properly. "The only problem with that is that you are assuming that you're not already crazy. Hell, more than half the quadrant believes this is a doomed ship and that all who serve upon it are either clueless or insane."

"I don't think anyone on the crew is clueless. Insane, perhaps," she said as she made her way over to him. "Nor would I consider the ship is doomed. She sure has been through more than her fair share of things, but I think most of that is because others lack the backbone that this ship and crew do."

After a strong chuckle, Harvey took a sip of his coffee before wrapping that same arm behind her back. "This new girl still isn't as tested as our last couple 'Hawks. The crew is ready. I just hope this ship is."

"I have a feeling she is," Joey said before she pressed a kiss to his cheek. "What brings you by this morning? Social call or coming to check in on the department?"

"Is it allowed to be both?" Harvey asked, his tone playful. It was always difficult to pass up a chance to see Joey, especially since captaincy kept him occupied so much of every day.

A smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she slipped an arm around him. Of course, being married meant he was likely always kept in the loop as far as the inner workings of Intelligence went, but Joey did try very hard not to bring work home. "It's allowed to be both," she replied. "Captain's... no... Commodore's privilege."

"Commodore," Harvey said with a chuckle. "I don't know if I want to get used to this rank. There are some days I still wish I was a Lieutenant or Lieutenant Commander. A lot less stress then."

"I don't know about that," she said, gesturing toward the couch with her free hand as she ordered the computer to close her door, only this time, there was no order given to lock it. "Regardless of rank, life in space is fairly stressful. The rank and position we bear usually determines the amount of stress we experience. At least, that's my opinion."

Harvey took note of how swiftly Joey closed the door, allowing the two of them to have a simple moment. As it was the beginning of the shift, Harvey did not make much of a move other than to pull her tightly close. "Commander to Commodore in three years," he remarked, reflecting on the past. You know, for a while it felt like Starfleet was pushing me into the command chair. This solo pip makes me think they're going to try and push me out soon."

"Doubtful. You're one of the best they've got out here, and they know it," she told him as her other arm went around his waist. Joey wanted to enjoy the simple moment... to savor it, because sometimes intimacy was more than just the physical act, but she still wished a little privacy. "O'Connell knows it. Even Graham knows it, which is why I think he's always trying to test your patience."

"Oh dear god," Harvey said with a chuckle. "Can you imagine Graham leading the charge? I feel like he'd be the modern George Custer leading us on the hill at Little Big Horn." The moment gave him pause and a laugh. "Researcher to strategist. Never thought I'd be here."

"You deserve to be where you are today," she said, giving him a gentle and loving squeeze. "I'm very proud of you."

Harvey turned his head to face Joey and smiled. "Thank you," he said before giving her a kiss. "You know," he said, returning to business, "we've been here before. Facing the unknown, trying to solve a mystery. With all of the death and destruction aside, I actually rather enjoy it."

Joey returned the kiss, but turned back to business when he did. "I could do without the stress and sleepless nights that it brings, but I know that comes with the territory. Still, aside from that bit about the birythium, we don't have much to go on. We're currently trying to determine which sectors in the Gamma Quadrant it can be found in. If we're lucky, we can pinpoint the exact locations and get more answers."

"Every little bit helps," Harvey remarked. "Even if we have to chase down twelve dead ends to find the right path, sometimes that's just what we have to do."

She didn't necessarily want to chase down dead ends, but it was all they had to go off of at the moment. "When should we expect to hear from Camila and her group?"

He shook his head. "We won't. That's not to say they won't come back, but we won't hear anything from there until she decides that it's either too dangerous, or she's been able to gather all she can. Could be as early as a couple of weeks, but it could be a month or two."

Joey couldn't help but frown. A month or two? She really hoped things wouldn't take that long. "Let's hope it's not that long," she said. "Is this your first stop this morning?"

"I've already been by Engineering, Sickbay, the Flight Deck, a few others," Harvey said. "Started at the bottom of the ship and worked my way up." He chuckled, then said, "Bottom to the top, then back to the middle. I hate that we're so new to this ship and we're already back in Aux Control. I hope that's not an omen for what's to come."

"You have certainly been busy," she said with a smile as she reached behind then to grab her tea. It was cold now, but she still planned to drink it. "I think I want to sleep for a few days after all of this is finally over."

"When this is over, we should do more than sleep," Harvey suggested. "It's been a hell of a year, and I think we're due for some leave. We should consider a vacation."

"A real vacation? Like perhaps, seeing our families?" She asked, looking a bit hopeful.

Harvey nodded. "I was thinking about having them come our way, but after the last few weeks, I really don't want them venturing any further than Gamma Command. Maybe we split the difference this time, and we all go to Bajor?"

"I would prefer they didn't venture out this way at all. There are too many dangers that could come up. I worry about our children and Eden being out here, but feel a bit better about it knowing I can keep an eye on them," Joey said. "All of that being said, I am okay with everyone meeting at Bajor."

"Eden's signed up for Starfleet," Harvey pointed out. "She'll have to get used to the requirements of the uniform sooner or later. Though, now that that's said, we probably should think about hiring a full-time nanny."

"How would we even go about doing that out here? I can't imagine there are very many nannies lurking about in the Gamma Quadrant."

He shrugged, "You know, we could always talk to Jill. She's back in a Captain's chair while Zach commands forces in the quadrant. Surely they could help."

Joey smiled. "That's actually not a bad idea. I'm sure she knows of someone that might be able to help us out. If not, then maybe she'll know someone who can steer us in the right direction."

"I'll reach out to her today," he said, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her close. "Might take us a bit to screen and hire, but I think moving quickly on this would not be a good idea. With the way things are in this quadrant right now, I feel like it's so hard to trust the people next to you. I don't know if I can take something like that again."

"You have been burned more than your fair share over the years, so it's understandable why you would feel that way. There's also knowing there are clones lurking about out here that may not be friendly makes that a bit harder, too," she said as she rested her head against his shoulder. "Thankfully, we know our crew is safe, so that should allow the opportunity to rest just a little bit easier."

Harvey couldn't agree that their crew was safe. If that were the case, he wouldn't have moved the bridge crew to auxiliary control or even drafted this crazy plan to use Wallenbergs as bait. "Burned indeed, voluntarily... involuntary. Hell, I even got shot in my own ready room. Hopefully, nothing like that ever happens again."

"Seems like we both attract that kind of thing," she said, thinking back to the time she'd technically died. That was when the decision to leave Security was made, and while there were times she missed it, Joey had no regrets.

"Yeah, well, let's hope that's coming to an end," he mustered. Harvey gave her a hug and then straightened his posture. "I probably should get back on the tour. Otherwise, I may not make it back to Auxiliary Control."

"And I have a few things I need to get done here. Not to mention more in depth searching to do. I don't think there's going to be anything to find, but I feel useless if I don't try to do something."

"Do what you can," Harvey said. "And try not to overdo it tonight. Stamina's the name of the game this time, not racing against the clock."

"I don't think I could overdo it if I wanted to. Especially when I have you and our kids to go home, too," she said with a smile before pressing a kiss to his cheek. "And, I expect you to follow your own advice as well."

Harvey chuckled softly, as he and Joey both knew the demands that came with both captaining a starship and task group. If it were possible, he would always be home on time, even if that meant he caught up on paperwork once many were asleep in the cabin. "I shall do my best," he honestly said. "And I shall leave you to it. Lunch later?"

"You got it. Talons or the Captain's mess?" She asked with a twinkle in her eye.

His only reply was a sly smile, purposely not selecting either option. He laughed gently and winked as he left the room.

Joey laughed as she moved back around her desk and settled in to get back to work.

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