"So, do you have any idea what Admiral Lasiter is planning? When we last spoke, he
sounded like he had plenty of irons in the fire, so to speak, but he was not specific
as to what he was planning." Trying to switch the conversation back to the man that
she was trying to support.
"I know a little, but I have not been fully brrriefed. He keeps his carrrds close, as
I've said, and I have only just rrreturrned." She didn't want to give too much away;
her orders didn't include divulging information without authorization. Lasiter had
come to trust Jora, but if he had not told
her what was going on, she wasn't about to either.
She chatted with Jora for another 45 minutes or so before finally calling the waiter
for the check. "I'm afrrraid I have some business to catch up on still beforrre this
meeting. Being away gets me out of the office, but it has its disadvantages as well."
When the waiter brought the check, she put it on her credit chit.
"Thank you for agreeing to meet with me, and thank you for the meal. It was truely
wonderful. "
Kit stood. "Thank you forrr joining me tonight. I think we'll be a forrrce Admirrral
Ketterrring did not expect."
"That we will. We most certainly will."
She offered her hand to Jora. "I'll see you tonight, Admirrral."
Accepting the extended hand, "Until then."
Kit walked out with her and transported back to Spacedock. This game had been stepped
up about five notches in a very short time, and it was getting dangerous. She
wondered who Kettering had in his pocket, and whether he would play by the rules or
whether was prepared to eliminate opposition in the Romulan way, by convenient deaths.
Starfleet had sunk to a level that
he might just be able to get away with it if he were careful.
How to distract him away from Lasiter and a grab for power... There were a number of
possibilities. She'd never get Lasiter to give away his plans to the press, not now,
not yet. And yet they needed a red herring. Lasiter couldn't just get rid of
Kettering like you could a regular officer - he was a highly-ranked admiral but
moreso, he had power, and a lot of it.
Jora had asked her about political plans... Maybe that could be useful. If Kettering
thought she was going to take control of the opposite faction, his gaze would shift to
her and away from where Lastier didn't want, which was on the things he was doing. It
would be very dangerous, but to save the fleet, she might have to stick her neck out
and tempt the axeman.
"Kitanya to Admirrral Lasiterrr," she said, tapping her combadge.
"This is Commanderrr M'Rrrenn, Admirrral. The CinC is busy at the moment, is
therrrre something that I can help with?"
"I need a meeting rrright away, if time can be sparrred forrr it. Some old frrriends
of mine arrre have a social event tonight and I'm invited. I was hoping you could
help me prrreparre a toast." It was an open channel and anyone could be listening,
but he'd know what she was talking about.
"I see. Please come on up. I am surrre that Admirrral Lasiterrr would be morrre
than happy to take a brrrreak to add a phrrrase orrr two forrr yourrr toast."
{response}
When she arrived at the CinC's office, M'Rrenn was waiting. While it had taken some
doing to get past Lynn, Lasiter's tenacious executive assistant, the CinC would see
her. Eagerly so...
"Admirrral Kitanya, the CinC is waiting forrr you." M'Rrenn said in standard.
{response}
*****
Chris
GM- SPD & JSOC
