I'm Back! Now the Fun Begins

Posted on 28 May 2016 @ 3:05am by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Captain Jonathan Holliday & Lieutenant Commander Evelyn Coleman & Lieutenant Benice Gyce Ph.D. & Chief Warrant Officer 3 Greg Mitchell

3,057 words; about a 15 minute read

Mission: Episode 11 - Divinum Mundi
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 1, Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: MD 12 - 2330 hrs

ON:

The last time Evelyn Coleman was in this office she was asking permission to take a shuttle on a mission that led to her being declared dead by the Galileo's medical staff.

Today she was waiting to reveal her fate to two people she had thought she would never cross paths with again. Normally they'd be the ones waiting inside the office for her to arrive, but Evelyn hardly was a traditional officer.

She walked around the desk and sat down on the chair with a smirk on her face. "Admiral Lirha Saalm and Captain Jonathan Holliday..." She mused as she leaned back in the chair and turned so her back was to the door.

Holliday was the first to arrive, his duty shift would be starting in a couple of hours time and after a session on the holodeck phaser range, he was ready to take on the whole universe if need be. With PADD in hand he acknowledged the portion of the Bridge crew he had observed on his way from the turbolift to the Ready Room, before tapping the door release controls with his palm.

As the doors parted however, the fact that the chair behind the desk was orientated in completely the wrong direction was enough to throw the Captain. Nevertheless, he approached in his usual fashion.

"Admiral. I thought we could start our handover brief a little early? My shift are eager to get to work as soon as possible and the fewer delays the better?"

"Not necessarily." Evelyn replied as she swiveled the chair around. When her eyes met his, a small smile formed on her lips. "Sometimes delays help you appreciate the moment more."

Jonathan's eyes went wide at the sight of what all logic told him had to be a ghost, a holographic projection, or the effect of some poorly digested meal. Taking a couple of steps back, it was only his back hitting against the now-closed door that stopped him regressing any further.

"What...how...who.....What?!"

Evelyn's smile faded, "What's wrong?" looking concerned now as Jonathan backed into the door, "you look like you're seeing ghost...Oh!" She snapped her fingers and she stood up. "You still think I'm dead don't you?"

The captain looked simply exasperated as he stared back at the face of a colleague that he had recorded as KIA - he had even written her eulogy back to Command to review her service record! This was a woman that for all intents and purposes, had been dead for some time.

"Well apparently not! Unless you're a holographic projection you certainly appear to be who you say you are...Lieutenant Commander?"

Evelyn narrowed her eyes at him as she walked around the desk, "I never seen you like this...you almost seem scared."

The door to the ready room swished open and Lirha casually walked in while staring at the contents of the PADD in her hand. Despite not looking up, she could sense the presence of a couple people in the small room and assumed it was Williams and Holliday. "Starfleet has just secured the U'welli sector, it seems...with only minimal opposition from the Tholians," she commented in a soft voice. When no reply came, she looked up at the people in front of her and her PADD fell from her hand to the carpet when she saw the remnants of a crew member that could not exist.

Instinctively and with her heart beating a thousand beats per minute, Lirha's green hand reached for the phaser on her hip and within a second it was upholstered and pointed at the imposter. "Identify yourself!" she demanded. Whatever type of creature it was -- a Changeling or clone, or some other sort of sick joke, Lirha was enraged and on alert. "John, step away from her...it. Slowly." Lirha kept her weapon trained on the suspect, the most beautiful yet confirmed-dead Evelyn Coleman.

Evelyn lifted her hands, "Whoa! Hold it!" she took a step back away from John, "This wasn't the welcome back I was anticipating."

Lirha tapped her commbadge with her free hand. "Security to the captains ready room. Immediately." The rear admiral's focus then trained back towards the familiar-looking gray-collared woman. "Who are you? Really?"

"Evelyn Coleman, Serial Number IL-104-0221." Evelyn recited.

Greg was patrolling the lower decks when the general alarm went out. Considering it's location, a very important and key part of the ship, he realized the importance immediately and expected others to arrive as well. He tapped his badge to inform Lt. Benice. "Mitchell here. Responding to distress call on the bridge."

"I'm on approach," Gyce's reply came, very serious and dutiful as always.

Greg took off dead sprint to the nearest turbolift and made his way to the bridge. After a few moments, the doors opened and he saw the bridge crew standing in awe of commotion in the ready room. He unholstered his phaser, held it in both hands and moved to the doors where he found the Admiral and Captain staring at someone he did not recognize.

More importantly, the Admiral was also aiming at the woman....which was enough confirmation for Greg. He aimed at the woman and moved into the room along side the others. "Security! Stay right where you are!" He ordered.

Ever so slowly -- while also feeling reassured by the security presence behind her -- Lirha lowered her weapon and peered at the blonde woman more closely. She stepped closer until her knees hit the edge of the desk that Coleman was situated behind.

"You are supposed to be dead..."

Evelyn nodded, "Yep, that seems to be the consensus in the room."

"She's a spook, Sirs." Gyce was leaning in the door frame, eating on a bag of dried apples, as if observing from a completely neutral stance. "I can't tell you how many times SCIS had to investigate supposed-dead operatives for their death certificates to become void... All the same, I could lock her up in the brig until the Command Staff feels she is truly who she says she is."

"You would think with that experience the security on this ship would be more prepared." Evelyn glanced at the Bajorian woman, "But alas; arriving onboard and sneaking into the office was a breeze." Eve then turned her attention on Lirha. "If you're asking me, how I'm alive, I'm afraid I can't answer that. One moment I landed the shuttle on a planet I assumed was El-Moria; then the next moment I woke up in a Ferengi sickbay after they retrieved my...coffin. They kindly transported me back Earth and I was reinstated by Starfleet Intelligence."

The Orion blinked several times while she listened to the story. A coffin? Ferengi? And back to Starfleet Intelligence with not so much as a notice to her former commanding officer Or perhaps Lirha had simply not done her due diligence in investigating Coleman's reappearance.

"...And you found your way back to Galileo? To rejoin us?"

"Actually, I'm assigned to the Semes and the colony. Starfleet wants a long-rage satellite to be established in orbit. I didn't know the Galileo was assigned to this mission until you entered sensor range. Coming over was a spur of the moment decision."

"Her story does check out... somewhat," Gyce spoke with a slight skepticism. "If she was a last-decision entry for the mission and Starfleet Department of Human Resources are slow to update the personnel computers, then yes. The Commander here could very well walk around uninhibited as a Non-person to the bioscanners... But we are still just hearing a story from you, Ma'am. Proof-of-life or proof-of-mission orders documents are likely needed to clear this matter up, I believe."

Lirha listened to Gyce's assessment and turned back towards the Bajoran to nod in affirment of her analysis. "Yes...perhaps." Proof-of-life..., she repeated in her head.

"Everyone clear the room. I wish to have a word with Miss Coleman in private," Lirha said to everyone else present in the ready room.

Oh for crying out loud..., Greg thought, as he tried to wrap his head around the events being described. "Uh folks. Forgive my prodding. I am new around these parts." He dropped his left hand from the phaser, turned, and looked at Gyce while still aiming with his right hand. "Now we're saying we know this woman, and you want to leave our CO in here alone with her? Even after she pulled a Lazarus?"

"I'm not completely convinced, Chief Warrant," Gyce assured him as she put her bag in the replicator.

".....well this is a fine way to start my shift." Greg responded holster ed his Phaser. "If anyone needs me, I'll be banging my head on the wall out here until we get the all clear." He walked out of the room and mumbled to himself, mocking his transfer letter. "Simple science vessel my ass."

"Until this matter is settled Commander Coleman, you are to check and surrender any weapons you have on your person," Gyce told the woman respectfully as she held her hand out to receive them. "I cannot leave the Admiral by herself until all potential threats are secured."

Evelyn raised her hands, "I'm unarmed."

Gyce gave a very skeptic stare before she nodded and left the room. At least so far as Gregg, in case backup was needed.

Holliday too had said nothing up until this point, he was still trying to figure out how someone he had buried had reappeared in what had previously been his ready room. The story perhaps might have checked out..but..at least some notice would have been appreciated?

With a dull nod to the Admiral, he turned on his heels and slipped out of the room, with the intention of finding a type 1 to tuck into his belt.

As the door swished closed, Lirha suddenly found herself alone in the ready room with Evelyn. "I suppose this is where you show me your...as Lieutenant Benice said, 'proof-of-life'?"

Evelyn eyed her and then took a step towards her and swiftly grabbed her face in her hands. Evelyn's blue eyes stared right into Lirha's green orbs. "You need proof, how about this.." she then planted her lips firmly against the Orion's, kissing her passionately.

Lirha's eyes suddenly went wide when she was kissed. A flood of conflicting emotions ran through her brain ranging from fear to coercion to affection then pleasure. Slowly, her eyelids closed and she reached a hand up towards the back of Evelyn's neck to stroke the exposed skin. She hesitantly returned the affection by indulging in the deep kiss and stepping closer towards the woman to inhale her scent.

Before Lirha became too caught up in the moment, she slowly pulled back then stared at Coleman. "How...did you know?" she asked with a tilt of her head and one of her hands resting on the woman's hip.

"You never did hide your attraction all that well. But you alluded to it when we were captured on the Klingon ship." Evelyn whispered as her thumb gently caressed Lirha's cheek.

Galileo's captain blushed. Her olive cheeks flushed to a dark emerald color as he eyes bashfully gazed downwards then back up into the El-Aurian's bright blue irises. "I have always cared for you," she admitted in a soft voice. Lirha then stepped forward to embrace Evelyn in a long-overdue hug. Her protruding pregnant belly pressed firmly into the taller Intelligence officer's waist. "I am so happy you are alive and well."

Evelyn smirked and hugged her friend back, "Now this was the welcome I anticipated... I'm glad to be back too." She replied and as they pulled apart, she glanced down at her belly bump. "So how long have you been pregnant?"

"Almost four months," Lirha answered with a protective pat to her bulge. "They are twins," she added with a proud smile. Hopefully it would soon become obvious to the casual observer that she was larger-than-normal for a slim and fit pregnant humanoid. "Would you like to become a godmother?" she teased with only half-jest.

Evelyn chuckled, "Twins..." she shook her head in surprise, "If I were you, I'd petition for a bigger ship, you're going to have your hands full with them."

"Perhaps." A mischievous green glint twinkled in Lirha's light eyes. "But is that not what you and John are here for?" she teased with only half-jest. "Speaking of John, I should have him return." Lirha walked towards the door to allow it to swish open, then motioned for Holliday to come inside while taking note of Gyce and Mitchell standing outside.

"Ma'am?" Gyce nodded at the door, as if asking if it was clear to walk back in.

The rear admiral nodded towards the Bajoran and motioned her inside. "I do not believe you have met Miss Coleman yet?" she asked of Gyce. "It is okay... she is not the imposter I thought she was."

If only Gyce could believe that. As she followed the command staff in, all she could think about was the layers of distrust Lirha had sown between Gyce and her. Personal matters, yes. But then, seeing the personal side of people told Gyce who they really were.

"As long as you are satisfied, Admiral," Gyce replied in her usual dutiful tone.

Greg was still outside the room when called. He had wondered over to an unmanned tactical console. He was killing time by screwing around pressing buttons. He tapped one that he didn't recognize the information for and a text appeared on screen.

WARNING! AUTO DESTRUCT SEQUENCE MAY ONLY BE ENGAGED BY THE COMMANDING OFFICER.

Oh shit! Cancel....cancel cancel cancel cancel., Greg panicked as he jammed the back button and cleared the text. He looked around the room to see if anyone saw, noted that Lt. Benice had been let back in, and walked back to the Ready Room. "Note to self, never touch anything on the bridge again.....", he mumbled.

"Lieutenant commander Coleman is...was our former intelligence chief," Lirha began to explain with a quick look back towards the tall, blonde woman. "If I remember correctly, she disappeared during one of Galileo's first missions and we were unable to recover her or her shuttlecraft. Starfleet listed her as MIA for twelve months, then when we had received no word of her situation, she was presumed dead."

Gyce nodded respectfully to Coleman, then turned rather cross to Greg. "Don't ever touch random buttons again... We don't want the squints thinking we're dumb grunts."

Greg, shocked that the Lieutenant's peripheral vision was better than he had thought, attempted to defend himself: "I thought it was alerting me to an.....unauthorized, transfluxer....coil weapon onboard so I was...........yes ma'am." He said, giving up.

Meanwhile, Lirha looked at Holliday then back towards Coleman. "Does your presence here mean you are rejoining us?" She hesitated to speculate given her former experience in Starfleet Intelligence, for she knew that there were sometimes conflicting interests that Intelligence personnel had to manage on their assignments. "Or...are you on some sort of other assignment aside from you have already told me?"

Holliday made his way back towards the assembled discussion. The Admiral had asked exactly the question that he too would have wanted to know the answer to. Folding his hands behind his back, he remained silent until the Commander had said her piece.

"Now that my work on the Semes is completed, I haven't been assigned anything else." Evelyn replied, "why? Do you still need an Intell Chief?"

Perhaps it was coincidence that Tyrion had recently departed from Galileo aboard a shuttlecraft as soon as they had reached orbit around Celes III. Or maybe there had been a plan hatched by the higher-ups in Starfleet Intelligence to maneuver some of their personnel to positions they felt were more appropriate. "We do," she confirmed. "Our previous chief -- Ensign Faye -- was reassigned earlier today and has departed our vessel. I do not suppose your presence is a coincidence?" she theorized with probing stare.

Eve raised her eyebrow, "That is interesting..." she commented letting her voice trailed off. For a coincidence it was pretty spot on. "Well, if you need me, I'll help you out."

"I suppose even if you were here at the hands of Starfleet Intelligence, there is little I could do about it," Lirha replied with a small smirk. Coleman's answer -- or lack of -- was indicative of an experienced officer who knew how to present only the most pertinent information required while achieving the objective. Lirha gave quick glance over towards Holliday and then back to the El-Aurian.

"Lieutenant Commander Coleman did gather an excellent knowledge of this vessel and her crew whilst she was in service last time...it would make logical sense that she could do so again." Holliday replied with an almost-Vulcan attitude to the situation.

"Consider yourself reinstated, then, commander," said Saalm with a soft sigh which eventually spread into a weak smile. "Welcome back aboard Galileo. I am sure you know your way around. Personnel rosters will be made available to you. Although...I am not sure if your office is in the same order it once was."

Seeing as things were wrapping up, and how his supervisor was here, Greg turned around to head on out. "Welp, if no one else needs me, I'm gonna hit rounds again and then maybe hit the Holodeck. I got looking forward to shooting something, but I guess fake targets will have to...."

"Hey, who tried to activate the ship's auto destruct?" Came a voice of one of the crewmen on the bridge.

"....and so, yah. I think I'll check the lower decks now. See if anyone needs me. Take care everyone!" He stated, rushing off the bridge.

[OFF]

--

RADM Lirha Saalm
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo

CAPT Jonathan Holliday
First Officer
USS Galileo

LCDR Evelyn Coleman
Intelligence Officer
USS Semmes

LTJG Benice Gyce
Security/Tactical Officer
USS Galileo

CWO2 Greg Mitchell
Security/Tactical Officer
USS Galileo

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