Joint Log | FAdm. Malone & RAdm. Denterius | "Formulating Plans"

Posted on 241405.14 @ 6:50pm by Fleet Admiral Kerry Malone & Rear Admiral Kassandra Harper

Mission: Insurrection [Fleet Plot]

Kassi was in a much better mood lately, working seemed to be helping with that. Although Stevenson hadn't been to pleased with the couple of 'oppsy's' she'd caused, and Jace had gotten a couple good laughs, she'd managed to help keep things going to the surprise of many of the Marines. Even more was the surprise that she hadn't gotten bossy with any of them yet.

Another day was bringing more work. Slightly refreshed, she'd finished her breakfast before grabbing a hair tie. Holding it between her teeth as fingers laced within her hair to start working on the braid while she waited on Jace to arrive.

A message was dispatched from the flagship, directed for Commodore Denterius, requesting and requiring her presence aboard the flagship at her earliest possible convenience. This was mere formula and wording in formal terms for "Get your butt over here right now."

As her computer went off, she worked one hand out of the length of blonde hair and reached down to play the message. Dropping the hair tie she muttered before quickly working to finish up what she was doing. "Great, now... I've been good...." She said to no one in particular before heading to the door. Reaching it just as the chime went off. "Change of plans, heading to the transporter room." She said to Jace.

It took only as long as it needed for her to walk to the transporter room. After informing the officer there where she was going. She stepped on the pad and after a deep breath she gave a nod to the Marine. "Energize"

Kassi re-materialized aboard the Ticonderoga, where a fresh faced Lieutenant Commander was waiting for her. "Commodore Denterius?" The Andorian Thaan asked. "If you'd like to come with me please."

Like she had a choice? "Sure." She said as she moved to follow the other officer. Still trying to figure out why she had been ordered to visit this ship.

The Andorian led her down the corridor towards the bustling heart of the flagship - the Combat Information Center (CiC). There were two heavily armed marines standing outside two plexiglass doors. The Andorian placed his hand on a palm scanner, and the doors opened. He escorted Kassi into the CiC, and through the bustle of the major combat command center. Off to the far side was another door that lead to the Admiral's private office.

The Andorian tapped the chime, waited a few moments, and as the door opened, gestured for Kassi to enter the room.

Malone was seated behind his desk, and looked up when the blonde bombshell entered his office. "Good morning, Commodore." He said, calmly. "Please, take a seat. Care for some coffee?"

The perk about getting called over to the Flag ship was it gave her the chance to look around some. Blues roamed over every place as she walked, taking in the slightly more decorated ship than what she'd been on lately. Tucking a strand of hair that just hadn't made it's way back in that braid.

Stepping into the office she looked to Malone with a slight cant of her head. "Morning, Admiral. And no thank you." She said in answer to the coffee question as she moved to sit down.

Malone poured himself a coffee from a white china urn and stirred in some creamer. "I suppose you're wondering what you're doing over here."

"Yes Sir, that would be one of my bigger questions at the moment." Kassi replied, trying to keep her focus on him and not glance to much around the office and all the finer details that attempted to draw one's gaze from where it needed to be. A subtle smooth of her hands over her thighs nervously as she waited to hear the answer now.

"I have received some intelligence, that I believed I should share with you first. Gauge your reaction." He said, taking a gentle sip of the hot beverage in his hand. "The USS Zhanglao, sound familiar?"

She felt her heart skip a beat with the mention of that ships name. Though she tried to keep her reactions under control. There was a slight tenseness in her jaw and crease in her forehead as she finally spoke. "Yes, Captain Draven commands that ship, out of Zetari."

"Hmmm...." Malone said, as he put his coffee mug down. "I have verifiable intelligence that the USS Zhanglao was intercepted by a UFP strike force deep in the Gamma quadrant. The ship was attacked, boarded, and only one member of her crew arrested. She was the lucky one. The rest of the crew were eliminated by a Thalaron Bomb."

So much for hiding her reaction as her face paled as she swallowed hard a few times. Fingers curled on her thighs, trying to quill the urge to rise and pace. "Sarah was the one arrested." She said softly, not really a question but more a simply statement that she knew well enough what had happened and why.

"Indeed." Kerry said, looking across his desk at her. "General Sharpe has yet to be informed of this development. I can pretty much guess what his reaction is going to be, and I'm pretty much resigned to it. I just felt you ought to know, given that Draven was a friend of yours, and Zhanglao was one of yours."

Add to that was the fact that Richard was going to kill her now. She sighed softly. "Thank you for letting me know sir." The loss of a friend, and the family and crew of that friend was something that hit hard, yet something she was growing used to and knew later would be a better time to deal with it. Or at least once she was in the privacy of her quarters. "Is there anything I can do to help with.... anything..?"

"Funny you should ask..." Malone said, looking at her intently. "I have a new assignment for you." He picked up a PADD from his desk and tapped it. "I'm going to take back Zetari Station, and I want you to lead it."

"When?" She was going home... getting her place back. That light of anticipation caught her eyes and her struggle to remain seated was becoming even harder to control. She wanted to be back on the Station, making sure everyone and everything was still running alright. "How soon are we planning on taking it back Admiral?"

"As soon as you assemble your staff... Admiral." Malone said, as he slid across the desk a small box, which up until now, had been there but ignored. "I'm placing you in command of Task Group 1.4, whose entire purpose is the retaking of Starbase Zetari. You are to draw up your plans for the assault, and present them to me for final approval. I'm putting you in charge, as you know the station better than anyone else here."

Wait... hu? She blinked a few times, clearly she hadn't heard him right. Though the look on his face and the box he slid to her reaffirmed that she had. A hand reached and picked up that box to look at it a moment before looking to him again. Wait, she was being put back in charge of a Task Group? She swallowed hard as she tried to push those fears aside. she could do this... she could... she hoped. "I'll get right on that Admiral. And, thank you."

"Oh, and Admiral..." Malone said, looking at her. "Flag officers do not work on damage repair teams. I trust you will give your new duties the attention they deserve?"

Kassi blushed a little and nodded. "Yes, Sir... I'll let the marines deal with the repairs now. I'll have those plans for you as soon as I get them figured out." Her mind already swirling with thoughts and questions of how she was going to do all that.

"Very well, carry on Denterius." Malone said, dismissing the newly frocked Rear Admiral.

Pressing to her feet she held that box tightly as she looked to Malone. "Have a good day Admiral." She said before turning to head out of the office. She had a lot to think about now, and even more to try and figure out.

= End Log =

Fleet Admiral Kerry Malone
Starfleet CinC

&

Rear Admiral Kassi Denterius
TaskGroup CO
TaskGroup 1.4