All the Presidents men...or are they? Pt1

Posted on Mon Nov 18th, 2024 @ 12:00am by Commodore Finchley Kerr & Lieutenant Commander Isabelle Savette & Commander Alec Hunter & Lieutenant Commander Shoniara T'ghann-Dex. Doctor
Edited on on Tue Nov 19th, 2024 @ 11:11am

2,892 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: The 'Eagle continues.
Location: Romulus, Federation Presidential quarters
Timeline: Current.

The blue haze of the transporter beam dissipated and Finchley looked round to check everyone was there. Satisfied that things were as they should be, he turned to the team.

"Ok, I think we should begin with recap of what Commander Hunter found out about the Presidents entourage, that way we're all up to speed. Commander Hunter, if you please."

Isabelle looked towards Alec, waiting to see what he’d have to say.

"Of course, sir." Alec replied looking at Isabelle and Kilbane. "I've already given the captain these details. and the flight members of his escort. He has an eight-man security team that will rotate in guarding him. Nothing unusual there. I did find two odd pieces of information which I informed the captain of. The first is the President's personal secretary and not his press secretary is on this trip with him the other is his doctor his also on this trip. Why? The trip is short and DS8 has a top tier medical staff and facility. " Alec stopped and looked to Kerr, "Was there anything else you wanted me to mention sir?"

"No, no, that's fine Commander!" Finchley replied, "So our primary focus are on three things. One, the eight man strong security team guarding the President, who are they, how long have they served with him and have there been any recent changes. Two, why has the personal secretary come with him and not the press secretary, and three, most important to me, why has his doctor come with him, do they have a hidden condition no-one knows about, if not, why are they here?"

He looked around the one by one, "Bare in mind, we're not subject his security team, we're Starfleet Intelligence, we have a certain...leeway...that allows us to question anyone at any time about anything. Anyone who refuses to answer our questioning is to be viewed as interfering and can be arrested. Commanders Savette and Hunter, I know this will be the first time that you'll have been in a situation like this, but believe, there's a lot at stake here so you must get to grips with the intensity of the job we're doing quickly. If you have any doubts, even small ones, talk with myself or Commander Kilbane about them."

Alec looked between Isabelle and Finchley and then to Kilbane. 'No doubts from me sir. Just ready to get started." He answered honestly.

"Ok, good" Finchley said, "Commander Savette, I want you to take the lead in finding out why the Presidents doctor is here, Commander Hunter, I want you to find out why the personal secretary is here. Commander Kilbane and myself will question the security detail, my gut tells me there's something more to them than meets the eye. Ok, let's go."

Alec nodded as Finchley's instructions. "Yes sir. Will do." he answered simply.

“Understood Sir, a few well placed questions, I’ll be able to tell if the doctor is telling the truth or not.”

Alec smiled at Isabelle's confidence. *Good for you Isabelle* He thought. "I just need to figure out a way to get the secretary away from the Presidential party."

Kilbane turned to Finchley, “Do we approach Peter…ehm, sorry…I mean President Hallmyre?”

Finchley gave Kilbane a disapproving look, shaking his head, “No, not right now, we need to find out more about the secretary and doctor. Let’s get going, I have a feeling time may be of the essence.”

As the team moved off, Finchley grabbed Kilbane’s arm and held him back. “Are you insane!”, he hissed under his breath, “Don’t ever let on we know the President again!!!”

Moving away Isabelle caught the emotions coming off Finchley, whether there was something to his feelings she needed to ask about or not was a matter for another discussion, right now she needed to go and pull the doctor aside for a discussion.

"Alright already!" Kilbane replied, yanking his arm back, "I'm sorry, it was a slip of the tongue, nothing more. It's not like you haven't done it before!"

"Look, the Presidents already in a tricky position, potentially, the last thing he needs right now is his past catching up with him, especially with it being us who'll be speaking to his security detail" Finchley replied.

"I'll make sure I mind my 'P's' and 'Q's' around them Captain, can we just drop this now?" Kilbane said in exasperation.

Finchley glared at him before finally saying, "Make sure you do!", and moving off.

Alec slid next to Isabelle, 'Commander, I think we should double team the doctor and the secretary. Get them alone where we can interview them without any interruptions."

Kilbane was passing when he unwittingly heard the suggestion, "I wouldn't do that if I were you, his nibs over there wouldn't be best pleased to know you're not following what he said, and he didn't say anything about questioning them together. But, it's not my call, it's both of yours", and he moved off following the Captain.

“I think you have a valid point” Isabelle nodded. “But at the sMe time as XO I have to make my own decisions. As such Alec, you and I will head there together, but questioning will be done separately. We can compare notes afterwards.

Alec nodded, "Of course Isabelle as it should be. I wasn't suggesting otherwise."

“I know” Isabelle offered a warm smile. “Let’s get going.”

Alec gave an answering smile. "Right beside you Isabelle."

[Federation Presidents office, Romulus]

"So doctor, what's my prognosis, am I fit to carry out my duties or not?" he asked.

Shon snapped her tricorder shut and placed it with her other diagnostic equipment into her bag. “I would say Mr President your Schoergrens syndrome is being kept under control. However this control has to be a tight one given your schedules. You will need your injections six hourly and, of course as you know I have to be with you, especially during your busy day.
I will also have to perform your regular brain scans to maintain your mental acuity. It would be good for me if I knew what your day today is like?” Shon hoped he would give her a full and frank answer.

"One would almost think you were a spy with all those questions doctor" he laughed. "Well, let's see, I have a meeting with the Romulan Defence Minister regarding our fleet coming in and 'parking up', then after that I have a private meeting with the Praetor to work out who of the Council will leave to take control of the government on Rator III, their new homeworld, and who'll be staying here to oversee the rescue of the masses. I may have to do some work to see to it that you're allowed to be in that meeting, the Romulans are understandably a little secretive, so if you're not...shall we say 'high born', they may refuse. After that, it an subspace meeting with Admiral Picard on how preparations are going on the rescue fleet."

Shon laughed a hearty laugh for a half Vulcan. ”Mr President there you have me, I am in fact a spy posing as a doctor to claim all your secrets. " She became serious. "Sir this is so very important to us all that you remain in good health. Unfortunately for one who has Schoergrens that means all these invasive tests and a pretty constant medical surveillance from a very experienced Medical professional hence me." She was immediately alert when he mention the meeting with the Romulan Praetor and wondered if she should not prepare a little something for the President that would ensure her presence at that meeting.

“Doctor, before you appeared on the scene, all it took was a stiff whisky and a haggis roll for me to still perform my duties” the President replied, “Then you came along with all your cattle prods and gizmo’s, now I can’t fart without you making a diagnosis.”

Shon smiled, “well Mr President I can still supply you with the Whisky and the Haggis roll if you so desire but, I will continue to prod and use my gizmo’s on you whilst you are here. You could do much worse than me you know Sir?”

“You do realise you need my permission still doctor, don’t you? Not that I object, but I’m just making you aware.”

“Of course I do Mr President, I am a physician, my oath is to do no harm and my care is for you entirely.”
President Hallmyre was about to answer what Shon had said when his desk COMM chirruped and a voice came through, saying “My apologies for interrupting your physical Me President, but you’re appointment to meet the Romulan Defence Minister is in five minutes, you asked to be kept informed.”

“Thank you Marsha, we were just finishing up” he replied, closing the link.

“Well doctor, I guess it’s time to put on the game face and meet this son of a highland cow” he smiled, “might I add that unless the Defence Minister speaks directly to you, you just play dumb. They’re a touchy lot, a little grim, dour faced and always serious…kind of reminds me of my mother in law actually…anyways, just be aware.”

She put her bag over her shoulder. “Yes Mr President, I understand, do not speak unless spoken to, got it.”

Hallmyre nodded and sat back in his seat, closing his eyes, "Right, time to focus" he said to himself.

A minute later, there was a knock on the door, it opened and Marsha walked in, "Mr President, may I present Romulan Defence Minister O'kNar, here for your meeting."

Hallmyre stood up and walked across the the Romulan who now stood in the room, " Minister O'kNar, it's an honour to meet with you Sir" he said, holding out his hand."

O'kNar looked down at the offered hand, an odd look on his face, but he didn't extend his hand, instead saying "President Hallmyre, the Romulan High Council bids you welcome here on Romulus and we thank you for your offer of help at this time of great need."

Hallmyre withdrew his hand, realising hand shaking wasn't a 'thing' on Romulus. "Thank you Minister O'kNar, I wish this meeting was under better circumstances, but we are where we are, shall we?" he replied, offering the Minister a seat.

O'kNar nodded his head and sat in the offered chair, and as he did so, he noticed Shon standing nearby."

"You are?" he asked her directly.

Shon spoke quickly and succinctly bowing her head for a few seconds. “I am Doctor T’ghann-Dex President Hallmyre’s personal physician Minister O’kNar.” She figured they would not ask her about the Presidents medical condition. She studied the Romulan closely. He was tall and spare, clean shaven and his eyes were wide set. He showed none of the tells that might indicate duplicity but then Romulans were good at covering their thoughts. She waited to be asked to sit but she didn’t hold out much hope.

O’kNar studied Shon a moment, then looked at Hallmyre, “Do you often have your personal physician at meetings Mr President, I do hope everything is well with you?”

Hallmyre was slightly at a loss as to what to say, and he looked at Shon to dig him out.

Shon did not smile, she knew it would cut no ice with the Romulan, they would admire polite strength. “Minister O’kNar everything is well with President Hallmyre and I am here as his personal physician to ensure that remains so.”

"So you have no official capacity in this meeting other than being the Presidents physician" O'kNar replied, "and as you have just pointed out, the President is well, so you may leave us, there are matters of...a delicate nature that require discussion, on a need to know basis."

“Very well Minister, Mr President I will be outside if you need me.” Shon picked up her bag and walked out.

"Thank you doctor, I appreciate it" Hallmyre replied, watching Shon leave and turning back to to O'kNar.

Isabelle had learned that the Doctor was in an important meeting with the President, she paused as she double checked the Doctor’s name wondering if it really could be the person she knew. She tapped her comm badge. ”Savette to Doctor T’ghann-Dex, could I speak to you in private?”

Shon was surprised to hear her communicator bleep. She wished she didn't have to wear it. "This is Doctor T'ghan-Dex and you are who?" Shen looked around her. Two Romulans were standing whispering to each other. Shon stood, she felt sure they were watching her.

“Apologies Doctor, but this is an important matter regarding the safety of the Federation, I just need a few minutes of your time.” Isabelle was trying not to say too much on an open channel. “I will be waiting for you.”

Shon looked unconcerned and sat down looking through her notes. she wasn't sure what to do, she could not acknowledge Isabelle but unless she met her she knew Isabelle would keep at her like a sehlat with a bone. She wandered into the corridor. The two Romulans had moved so they could see the corridor.

Seeing Shon walk out into the Corridor, Isabelle could see that she had company. “Ahh Doctor, thank you for your time. My apologies at taking you from your meeting, I just have a few questions so if you’ll follow me please.”

“I am waiting for the President but I can spare you a few minutes.” Shon followed her wondering what the hell she was going to do, recognise her or not? She noted one of the Rumulans had disappeared. That worried her even more. The last thing she needed was to be taken by them. Their interrogation techniques would probably break through her Vulcan attempts at subversion and misdirection.

Isabelle lead to the nearest empty room she could find that they could use, walking in she checked it before deciding it would be secure enough for them to talk. “Alright Doctor...” She gave Shon a smile as she kept up the pretence of them not knowing each other. “Why are you here? Why would the President need his personal physician with him?”

“I’m afraid if you need those questions answered I should direct you to the President’s Office but,I warn you you might not get the answers you except, now I am busy so I bid you a good afternoon.

“Doctor, wait!” Isabelle wished she and Shon could talk properly but here and now wasn’t the time. “Something isn’t right here and you know it, the President’s life could be at stake here!”

Shon was visibly annoyed, “there is a lot more than that at stake Counsellor. That is why I am here.” She whispered, “Why are you here?”

“I’m from the USS Blackeagle, we’ve been tasked with ensuring nothing happens to the President, it’s a matter of Federation Security after all.” Isabelle sighed. “It’s obvious I’m not going to get a lot out of you right now Doctor, but we will speak again very soon.”

Shon went back to the waiting room where she had left the President. She smiled, he should be needing her soon as the drug she had given him was a slow acting sedative, harmless but it would ensure she was called. The two Romulans were obviously surprised and a little bewildered that she had returned and one approached her.

“What are you doing here?”

“Waiting for President Hallmyre, I am his personal physician and, as such am waiting for him to need me.” She turned away and began reading her latest scan. They walked to the edge of the room and she could tell they were debating what to do next.


Alec meanwhile had found the President's personal secretary. An attractive brunette whose name was Martha Turpin. She was also single he had learned. She stood away from the others in the Presidential party. "Hunter to Miss Turpin. I need to speak with you on a important "matter."

As her COMM link chirruped and she listened to the message, she nodded to an under secretary to take a seat at her desk in case any messages came through or the President required anything.

"This is Ms Turpin, may I ask who this is and what it's about, I'm rather busy at the moment?" she replied.

"It is about an urgent matter Ms. Turpin and time is wasting. Let us not continue to waste it frivolously as Federation security is at risk."

"I don't know who you are, but identify yourself now or else I'll call the Presidents personal security team" Martha said.

Alec gave a humourless chuckle. " As I said my name is Hunter and it doesn't matter if you know me ma'am. I know you. In addition, if you want the president's security to know that you are being questioned in a matter of Federation security, be my guest and you will never hold another government job. I guarantee it."

TBC...

 

RSS Feed