“Security has flagged the delegation for review.” Commander Thasaz sat at the head of the table in the security conference room, listening to the latest from her team on Montana Station. The officer continued. “Their recent travel to certain worlds in the Klingon Empire is cause for concern. We’re reviewing it, but there’s a chance they’ll have to wait in holding when they arrive.”
She nodded, knowing full well the Klingon delegation would not respond well to waiting in holding, even as nice as their holding rooms were. “Loop in Commander Hargraves. He’ll have his work cut out for him. Next?”
Another junior officer spoke up, “We’ve had some chatter from the Orion quadrant about some issues they’re having with the Romulan groups. Nothing actionable, but there’s been an uptick both in observed and overheard. Our plainclothes teams are unusually concerned. We’re trying to source the nexus of the conflict, but it’s slow-going.”
Thasaz made a note on her PADD. “Trust the boots on the ground. Hasara been helpful?” She looked up when the officer didn’t reply and found her team nervously looking anywhere but at her. “To be clear, I did not stutter the question. Either answer it or tell me why everyone’s having a staring contest with the floor.”
The junior officer winced at the rebuke. “We’ve been having trouble with Mr. Hasara, ma’am.”
She narrowed her eyes, searching the faces. There had been some turnover in recent months with officers promoted outside Montana because of their experience. A fresh group had taken their place, and she found them to be equally amusing and frustrating. “Define trouble, Lieutenant.”
He replied, “He doesn’t want to listen to me, ma’am. I give him his directives, and he simply ignores them. The standard-”
Thasaz stopped him. “Lieutenant Brooks, as I’ve said to you and everyone else in this room several times in the last month, the standard operating procedure for confidential informants, operatives and whatever else we’re calling him and his people…does not work out here in the rimward.” She fought the urge to raise her voice and instead stared at each of them with her Romulan glare. “Montana Station isn’t like other places.” She glanced at her chronometer. “We’ll meet at 0500 tomorrow to go over the procedures and processes…again. Study the books I assigned you and take a walk into the lower decks. Off duty. Dismissed.” She stood, and the officers did the same. “Lieutenant Brooks, stay here, please.”
The others cast nervous glances at the officer and passed him by until it was just the two of them. “Ma’am?”, he asked.
She cocked her head to the side. “You came highly recommended from your various station and ship assignments. Your scores, commendations, and acumen told an impressive story.” She asked, “You can understand my concern with just over a month of service on this station having the issues you’re having.”
He let out a quiet sigh. “That’s a nice way of putting it, ma’am.”
She didn’t laugh or smile. She kept her stare brazen. “I’ve learned that the more I use my less than professional invective, the more it has a habit of making people cry. Or quit. Working on finding that balance. Point is, I’d rather not have to replace you, Lieutenant Brooks.”
His eyes widened, and she could see some relief visible on his face. “Thank you, ma’am.”
“Don’t thank me yet. You’re the highest-ranked security officer I have at the moment, so you’re going to take point with Hasara and a few other things. I’m going to meet with him tonight for dinner at his place of business. You’re coming with me.”
His eyes got wider. “Ma’am?”
“You’re going to learn, Lieutenant Brooks. One way or another, we’re going to teach you how to handle things out here on Montana.”
