Plan of Action

Posted on Wed Nov 29, 2017 @ 9:12pm by Commodore Michael Aravan & Captain Madelina Weisz & Lieutenant Marisa Cheshire & Lieutenant Commander Arrda & Lieutenant Martha Cusack & Lieutenant Commander Kelani Tetanal & Lieutenant Sarish-Illiana Luvol & Lieutenant Commander Alex Rho & Master Chief Petty Officer Thomas Barnes & Major Kasia S'er'in'e & Valasa Caenala & Lieutenant JG Gefel

Mission: Falling Star
Location: Ready Room
Timeline: MD 32 || 1000 Hours

Michael stood in the ready room with the map of the area they would be going into on the LCARS table and sipped a cup of coffee while he waited for his senior staff to arrive. He glanced at his favorite bonsai tree and frowned when he saw the cuttings he had done earlier were now back in place as if he hadn't touched it at all. He made a note to talk to a horticulturists when the meeting was over.

A Security officer assigned to Ambassador Caenala arrived with the Romulan woman and gave a nod to the Commodore. "Sir, I've brought Ambassador Caenala as you requested."

"Thank you," Michael said before he gestured the Ambassador towards a seat.

Valasa took her seat as she was bade and cupped her hands in her lap as she awaited the rest of the staff.

Sarish entered the ready room, and nodded to the Commodore. "Sir." She greeted.

Alex walked in and took a seat without saying a word. Senior Staff briefings were always interesting. But based on what he'd heard earlier, this discussion could take a few twists and turns.

Kelani entered the Ready Room, acknowledged the others with a nod, then said to Michael, "Reporting as ordered, Commodore."

Maddy looked to the senior officers as they began to file in. Since she was the one to summon everyone to their present location, she was the first to arrive and was settled in her usual spot. She glanced to Xylia who was settled to her right and offered her a nod before turning her attention to Micheal. The German woman noticed him glance toward his Bonzai tree and grinned inwardly. Oh, but this was just too good, and a big part of her hoped he'd mention it to her at some point. For now, though, there were things that needed to be discussed.

It was unusual for Tom to be one of the last to arrive. Lately, it seemed, all of his summons occurred when he was in the middle of a project that would take several minutes to transfer to another or reach a pause point. When he arrived, he took one of the few empty seats and mentally prepared himself for the briefing.

Douglas arrived on time, but realized that many of the others had beaten him here. Mentally, he cursed himself for being simply on time -- he was usually early to things. But this summons had come while he was drilling some lower ranking security officers, and so it had taken him longer to disentangle himself from the task and reach the Ready Room.

As he entered, he quietly took a seat. Normally, he would have his requisite cup of Marai coffee with him, but this time he didn't. And as he was nearly the last one to arrive, he did not stop at the replicator for it either. He could do without it until he returned to his office. For now, he merely took out his PADD and waited for the briefing to start.

The Major quietly made her way into the ready room with a PADD in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other, trying to remember the last time she'd attended one of these briefings. It was so long ago, she couldn't actually recall, and had it not been for the Colonel's injury during their last mission, she wouldn't even be here now. Still, there were things that needed to be done while he was recovering, and it was her duty to see to it that they were all done.

Martha entered clutching her mini flask which contained tea. She looked for the remaining vacant seats and after choosing one she sat down. Wondering what the briefing was about this time she waited patiently for it to start.

Marisa was among the last to arrive, her squadron jacket the only thing distinguishing herself from the majority of other officers. In her hand was an aluminum flask which she set down on the table as she took her seat.

Michael turned his attention to everyone once they had settled and gestured towards the Romulan woman. "This is Ambassador Caenala of the Independent Romulan Systems Allied Forces. They have officially asked for our help after the Romulan Republic unleashed a chemical weapon attack on one of their worlds and the IRSAF is asking for medical help. The Triumphant has been assigned to go in. Ambassador, would you care to provide the relevant data on the nature of the attack, please?"

The young Romulan swiveled around to face the rest of the senior officers. "Loyalists who we have strong reason to be bank rolled by the Republic have released a chemical weapon on the colony of Cassandara, the IRSA's most developed colony, specifically the new university in the city of Prisicus. Following that they uploaded a threat demanding the IRSA allow itself to be annexed by the Republic or suffer additional attacks. We've identified the agent as a Organophosphate, though levels in the area are still toxic."

"This isn't going to be a simple mission," Michael said. "The very presence of the Triumphant is bound to stir up attention. That's why I want to send in an advance group of fighters and the Victorious after we do a bit of changing how they look."

He looked at the Chief Engineer. "Mister Gefel, get with Lieutenant Cheshire for modifications to the fighters and then take a team to the Victorious for some superficial changes to her outside and signature."

"Understood, Commodore," The Bolian Engineer said.

"Lieutenant Luvol, make sure we're prepared for heavy casualties and treatment for this attack once we get a sample of it."

"I'll begin briefing my staff, sir. I'd like permission to ready one or two of the cargo bays as a triage center, depending on how many casualties we'll be dealing with." Sarish said. "I know we have a large medical area, but I want to make sure we're ready for all eventualities."

"Don't forget the medical holodecks and suites," Michael pointed out. "However, I'll make cargobay one available since it's the closest on deck nine."

“Science will be alerted to assist in any way possible “ Kelani said. She gave the Ambassador a respectful bow.

"Well I appreciate it." Valasa replied with a similar expression "In fact, one thing that I'll reiterate is that we've identified the agent as a Organophosphate, which I'm lead to understand has a high environmental persistence. Unless we find a way to break it down it could be months or years before the area is habitable again."

"We will research a method for rendering it harmless," Kelani told her, already planning who she would have on the team for the research

"Mister Barnes, I want the sensors working overtime," Michael said to the Master Chief. "I want to know the very second something is picked up on our route."

Tom nodded, already making the appropriate calculations in his head. The crew would have minimal power for creature comforts with personal replicators on restriction, as well as limited holodeck time, all so the computer's resources could be focused on the sensors.

"Mister Rho, get me the latest reports and do an analysis on the political situation of the Typhon Pact and the likelihood they'll interfere."

Alex, as stoic as ever an Intel agent was, nodded. "I can do that, Commodore." He hadn't read on the Typhon Pact recently and would have to do more research.

"Lieutenant Cheshire, I want your best pilots for surveillance craft to escort the Victorious when they're prepared," Michael said.

Marisa looked up the table towards the Commodore and the rest of the command team. "So, does anyone else want to point out that this is really skirting the bounds of the Prime-" The pilot cut her observation short as she caught the eyes of the ambassador staring daggers at her.

"On second thought I'm sure you've covered that base." She said, a little cowed. "I'll prep a sortie of four fighters along with Yellow 2," She continued after a little sigh. "will that be sufficient?"

"Yes, but have a backup ready to launch on standby," Michael said.

"Lieutenant Cusack, run a level three diagnostic on all tactical systems," the Commodore told the Tactical Chief.

Martha looked up upon hearing her name and nodded once to confirm she'd understood her orders. She made a mental note to commence the diagnostic Michael had requested once the briefing had concluded.

"Lieutenant Mallory, I want timed drills run on all critical areas. Response time shouldn't be more than a minute from any Security Checkpoint," Michael said. "Double Security on all critical areas."

Douglas had listened to the Romulan's words with a mixture of compassion and revulsion, compassion for her people and revulsion at the idea of anyone enacting such a genocidal plan. The Enforcer in him screamed for justice to be done for these people, but that was not his place here and now.

Commodore Aravan's words filtered through the thoughts and settled in his conscious awareness. Taking his PADD from his pocket, he acknowledged the order. "Understood, sir. I'm sending messages now to get my people doubled up on those areas. I will provide a schedule of drills to you after the meeting." With the work that would be undertaken onboard, the last thing they needed was unexpected trouble that could have been prevented.

Michael looked at the Marine Major. "Major Petrova, as the acting Marine Commander until Colonel S'er'in'e recovers from his injuries, I want four roving squads of Marines patrolling the critical areas with Security."

"Yes, Commodore. I'll see to it that the right people are put on those squads," the Major said. She trusted all of her troops, but only the best of the best needed to be put in place for something like this. Just in case.

"Any questions?" Michael asked as he looked around the table.

Douglas frowned in thought. For the most part, this was a scientific mission. In the old days, his function would have simply been to ensure the safety of the Scientists as they worked, and it was much the same here. "Only one pertinent one." he said finally. "Is there anything specific that my people should keep a lookout for, any special threat other than the obvious?"

"Anything out of the ordinary," Michael told the Chief of Security. "Make certain that all personnel are where they're supposed to be. Any deviation from assignment is to be investigated as well as a system check of any area they may be at."

"Understood." Douglas acknowledged, passing those instructions on to his people even as he answered the Commodore. He knew the typical way was to then brief his department separately, and he would give them a briefing of needed information; but he wanted these instructions carried out starting immediately, thus the sending he was doing here.

Kasia made a few notes on a PADD she brought with her and looked toward the Commodore to wait for the dismissal. She had some work to do, and that involved getting with the Security Chief, which would happen immediately following the briefing.

Maddy looked around the faces of those present. Things seemed to be pretty straightforward, but she couldn't help but feel this was putting them in a precarious position. Time would tell, of course. "If there are no further questions from anyone..." She found herself looking to Michael. If course, if there were questions, doors were open.

"Dismissed," Michael said as he stood up from the table. "It's time to put the plan into action."