> "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."
"Thank you. I'll be up momentarrily. KItanya out." She headed up to his office.
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.
"Thank you, Commanderrr," she replied and went in. She went to his desk at attention,
awaiting recognition.
Lasiter was studying something when she entered. He looked up as he heard the doors
shut, turning off the display of his terminal and saving the files from Serana
D'amondra for later.
"Sirrr," she said, relaxing. "I have this meeting tonight..."
"That is what I hear. What news have you?"
She sat. "I learrrned just now that Admirrral Keterrring is prrreparring to
marrrshall his forrrces verrry soon with the ambition of ousting you and placing
himself at the head of Starrrfleet. The perrrson I spoke to believes that tonight's
meeting is crritical. If he feels his opposition in the
orrrganization is not effective enough to be a significant barrrrierr, he could
starrrt implementing his plans immediately. He has brrroadened and strrrengthened his
faction to the point wherrre he could divide the fleet in
half." Nothing like ripping the tape off fast...
"Arrogant and crafty little cuss, isn't he.", Lasiter commented on Kettering. He
knew him, served with him years ago. Their relationship swayed from friendly to
barely tolerating each other.
"Thoughts on options?" he asked after indulging in a moment's thought about the man.
She hated being the messenger. "Well, sirrr, there arrre two options I can think of
rrright off the bat. Firrrst, you issue something publicly, something big, something
that would errrode supporrrt frrrom Ketterrring and shift it to you. Howeverrr, this
would involve making yourrr quit plans verrry public. And, with Ketterrring so
strrrong rrright now, it may not deliverrr as much supporrrt to you as it could. It
could be prrromoted by
Ketterrring as a ploy."
"You are quite right. What I have in store for Starfleet is not quite ready for
prime time. There are still a few bugs to work out, and a few ducks to get in a row.
If at all possible I would prefer not to let them out yet. ", she would tell that he
was not happy about releasing his plans early, but he was not totally opposed to. He
would if he had to.
"I have anotherrr idea. I was asked this afterrrnoon if I had any ambitions forrr
yourrr job. I said not at that time, but I could change that answerrr, at least
publicly. I am told that I have garrrnerred a grrroup of supporrrterrs who would back
me in that. If I announced that tonight, that I had plans on the centerrr seat,
Ketterrring would focus his attentions on
eliminating me in orrrderr to consolidate his powerrr. It would take the heat off
you, and give you time, which is what I believe you need most rrright now, at least
until morrre of yourrr plans arrre in place and rrready to be enacted."
"Time is something that I need desprately, but is a luxury that I have little of.
He will come at you with everything that he can. You will be put under a microscope
that few beings are put under. If I may ask, why are you willing to do this? Or
should I ask you are you willing to do this?"
{response}
*****
Chris
GM- SPD & JSOC
