Part 4 --Butting heads

Posted on Thu Jul 31st, 2025 @ 9:38pm by Captain Xavier Carey & Commander Antonia 'Tony" Stoffels & Lieutenant Commander Ryan Price & Lieutenant Commander Rutherford (RJ) Milton

Mission: Those who are left behind
Location: [Maybe sickbay]
Timeline: [30 hours after part 3]

OOC: Reset for part four


ooc before I reply just checking we have our facts right. we are going to raid a dominion ship for the drug? If yes how far away is it?
-- We have two vials of the drug and a transponder module, but no way of using the module properly. The original plan from intelligence was to use transponder modules and various ships too support any guerilla activities as needed, there was no proof of concept beyond the idea.

Ok I think it is best to wait until Price feels better as I am not completely clear what we should be doing right now mission wise. :)

Right now, we are departing the system going to starbase, to deliver survivors, and the remaining POWs while awaiting the results from the Ops dept regarding the information downloaded, which will give us our next mission...

There is a side plot where Doc's wife has noted a build up in a certain star system with no mineral deposits of anything normally worth having a a whole battle group and full ground complement guarding it. It was taken over by Dominion and they want it kept under their protection.

The allegations against Stoffels father will be proven false when it turns out to be a shapeshifter at a later time; the murder too

IC

Toni walked back into sickbay. She had been hard at work looking at the new data and liaising with Melor on how to proceed now with the new finds. But she wanted to check with Price before any definite steps were set.

"How is he doing?" She asked the doctor.

"Toxins are pretty much out of his system. Milton looked up from the PADD he is working on while pacing around the SIck Bay. "He is getting stronger and close to release."

"I bet that is doing wonders for his behaviour." She smiled at her friend. "I hope he is not making life too difficult for you. Can I see him?"

"Official or Casual?" Milton asked as he started in the direction where Price recovered.

"Both, but a conversation with him never stays casual for long." Toni admitted.

"De-Tox is not a thing to be taken lightly; you can feel good without be fully better." MIlton warned as he led Toni towards where the patient lay, "I urge you to keep it as conversation tone long as possible. No need to get overly energetic at this point of rehab."

"I will try RJ." Toni promised. "Maybe you can stay present?"

"That can be arranged." Milton agreed and remained slightly behind Toni.

"Ryan how are you?" She asked when they came into the patient room. It was the first time she had used his first name.

Ryan sat up, setting down a pad he'd been given, "I've been worse after a mission that's gone bad."

"That's good to hear." Toni said as she sat down next to the bed. "But I hope you are going to listen to the doctor and take enough time to heal."

Ryan paused not wanting to be too harsh about what he needed to say next "The mission was compromised, I wasn't one hundred percent certain until I went through my body camera footage." he handed over the pad he was keeping under the pillow "I'd rest but I've only been able to identify four people including the so called medic who went down with me and doc if you redo my blood work you'll find traces of a nucleic enzyme called Rhyic Chormide, I shouldn't be in here I was poisoned unintentionally, I crushed a vial of the drug by stepping on it and then injection accelerated it's effects out of my own stupidity." Ryan paused knowing he was going to have to eat his fair share of crow on this mistake "Facial recognition struggled with some of the ground team that wasn't clearly starfleet, but did identify the medic, that wasn't Alexandra Fox, the real Lieutenant Fox was found dead two days ago."

Toni felt her temper rise but swallowed it down. "Where is this imposter now?" She looked at both Milton and Price. "The captain needs to hear this now as well. and damn it I told you twice to take Lt London with you. Her I trust. Did you tell Melor of this?" She fired off her questions while asking Carey to join them asap.

"Might I suggest the Buffer from transport as a 'Biological tag' on her no matter whom she said she is. The Transporter will give you a biometric to scan with internal or should the need arises tricorder?" Milton suggested.

Ryan knew he'd finally hit the nerve he wanted with the XO "The imposter beamed off with a relief mission planet side and is unaccounted for since then and I'm kind of limited being stuck here to find out who these people work for, but there are allegations within Starfleet whose involved."

"You have been in here incommunicado, how do you know this? Have you maybe thought to I don't know, at least share this information with your second in command?" The Sorrel side of her nature, the white hot temper of her mother and grandfather was in danger of breaking free.

"Your father is one of the suspects in the thefts of restricted and prohibited technology so I have no reason to trust you." Ryan said seeing the shock in the doctors otherwise calm expression.

Walking through the door, Xavier walked up to the group. "Status doctor, received word your patient is awake."

Seeing the Captain he handed over the pad with the surveillance images, "These were forwarded to me an hour ago, the so called medic, the first officers father, and two of the salvage team from my bodycam footage, and crime scene photos of the real Victoria Fox found dead at a starbase." Ryan paused to stare down the first officer "I was about to be accused of insubordination at which point every admiral across the quadrant will be on subspace screaming for heads, now doc I don't care what your opinion is I'm going back to my quarters to rest." Ryan snarled as he steadied himself to walk away.

"You fucking bastard!" Toni saw red. This was another plot by intel to get back at her father. She could see it now, Price's secrecy, his unwillingness to take Kay along on his little mission. He had somehow set this all up and used an imposter to portray her father. Not thinking clearly anymore she lunged at Price.

"Commander Stoffels, take a breather in the doctors office please." Xavier ordered sternly. "Commander Price, you are not leaving here until the doctor here says you are fit and ready. Not before. I don't care that you don't care about the doctors opinion, but as second officer of this ship, and the leading medical officer of this vessel, he has my full support in whatever he decides to do to make you stay in sickbay, whether its restraints, a forcefield, armed guards."

Ryan steadied himself, his balance was visibly not not good "I'll have to file a full report with Admiral Sokol and with earth, even if the evidence is circumstantial it has to be investigated, the first officer's outburst and his history won't help the situation." he paused waiting for the XO to leave "Free advice, keep her confined to the ship when we put into a starbase because every Intel Ops chief out there will be looking to put her in the jug to draw her father out, even if she is being self righteous there is a thing called due process and with some other events in recent history there's a way out of this." he shifted up onto the bed to finish his thought "After the Antwerp fiasco this type of situation has to be handled carefully."

Toni had been within earshot when Price spoke and now she turned around and walked back. "You are not going to believe him over me, sir." She asked Carey. "Isn't it clear he is setting my dad up. Last time that happened people died. Kay's baby sister died." There were tears of fear and frustration in her eyes. "I have to warn my family."

Ryan didn't bother to react, he got back on to the bed, "Knowing how the procedure works FSB is now notified and they're going to go to the courts to get a warrant for his arrest and possibly a property seizure, if the XO leaves the ship she'll be arrested on sight and detained under orders linked too the warrant, if she contacts her family starfleet security will be directed to detain her for interference in a criminal investigation."

The door was enforced by a Force Field.

"Now have we gotten out tantrums over?" Milton said calmly, no one would be leaving yet. "As to several key notes; least of which is my Patient giving me what he will be doing."

Toni finally could not take anymore and walked off to the hallway to cool off.

Milton shook his head.

"I will arrange a secure connection to the computer and PADD for you Ryan to do your job and reports; that is procedure to allow you to work if 'fit' enough. Mentally you can operate your duty but physically I will tell you what is going on.

He took a breath.

"Now keeping Toni from warning her family once we his Star Base is just not going to happen." He looked to Ryan. "I am sure the Intel Nerwork can be kindly given instruction that Toni is 'Hands Off' through proper Intel Channels and two trusted people with her at all times off ship to allow warning of family then getting the Hell back here."

Milton nod.

"Keep Pix on your shoulder; she is more help that you might think>" It was not a request. "Captain, got anything to add?"

Xavier sat back. "Just one. You are not having my second in command followed, observed or whatever you think is necessary. She cannot be bound because of what her family may have or may not have done. If she is, I should be as well. I ain't having it. If her grandfather or father is responsible for those thefts, I will look into it personally. Besides, isn't part of Intels job stealing." Turning, to the doctor. "I have a feeling the ship is about to get interesting. More interesting than it already is."

"I'm more worried about FSB than intel, most of intel ops are still investigating this as if it's one of the Changelings causing this unlike FSB who will shoot first and not ask any questions." Ryan said about the Federation Security Bureau, "The smart thing is to do is keep her here until I can get a handle on if the FSB is involved yet, if she over reacts this mess will make Antwerp look like a shuttle accident."

"I will handle my first officer, this ship has already went through a lot to rescue her family from those targetting them." He paused, taking a breath, "Commander Melor went through torture and almost killed from those individuals, luckily we rescued him in time, unfortunately, some of Stoffels family wasn't so lucky. We offered to keep them on the ship here to keep them safe. So far, we have only one attempt. Nothing since."

"Let's keep it that way, I'm going to see if we can distract FSB until we can get a handle on this." He said.

"Promise to help keep them safe and get down to the bottom of it, and that will go a long way with the Commander, just right now, treat her like glass when it comes to her family. Shes tough, but she is very protective of them."

"That's a given." Ryan said trying to keep upright.

"Now I got a first officer, and a good friend to calm down, her temper is legendary." Xavier replied as he turned

"I have the feeling through my Gut that Pix will be quite in favor of being with her Best Friend ." Milton mentioned. "She has quite the affection and protective nature when it comes to her BFF Toni."

"What about it Pix want to visit her in about half an hour, I do have to discuss things first with her however."