All the Presidents men...or are they? Pt2
Posted on Wed Nov 27th, 2024 @ 3:26pm by Commodore Finchley Kerr & Lieutenant Commander Kevin Kilbane & Lieutenant Commander Isabelle Savette & Commander Sandy "Ghost" Shannon & Commander Alec Hunter
Edited on on Wed Nov 27th, 2024 @ 4:01pm
2,333 words; about a 12 minute read
Mission:
The 'Eagle continues.
Location: Romulus, Federation Presidential quarters
Timeline: Current.
"I don't care for your attitude Mr Hunter, and as for your threat...", Martha replied, she reached down and touched a button on her desk, "Ms Turpin to Presidential Security, we have a code one threat at the Presidents office."
She turned back to Alec, "Give it a moment."
Literally within seconds, six heavily armed Security guards appeared. "This...person is a threat to the President, he's just tried to kidnap me on the pretence of wanting to question me on a matter of Federation security."
The lead guard nodded to the rest and they hurled themselves on Alec, knocking him to the ground. All of them drew their phasers and pointed them at him, "Don't move!"
"Really guys? You're making a big mistake. I'm Commander Alec Hunter, of the USS Blackeagle. I assume you've heard of the ship and know what we do." He answered as he lay on the floor.
"Everyone in the Presidential Security service has heard of the Blackeagle" an overbearing guard replied, "Can you prove who you say you are?"
"I can," Alec answered simply and easily to the guard who addressed him. "I'll give you the ship's identity code that should prove who I say I am."
"Go ahead, what's your ships code?" the guard asked Alec.
"The Blackeagle code is Tango Omega Peru 3176." Alec replied.
“So, you have A code” a voice said from behind the group of guards and the six of them turned to see who had spoken.
“Who are you?” the guard asked.
“I…sonny…am the one who’s telling you to disappear and allow the Commander there to carry out his orders” Finchley answered, “Otherwise, my friend here” and he pointed to Kilbane, “will tear in about you all and have your dicks as trophies.”
The six guards looked at the rather angry Kilbane, who at that point was clenching and unclenching his fists, then looked at one another. Slowly they slunk off in the direction they’d come from.
Finchley then looked over at Alec, “Commander, please escort Ms Turpin to a room and carry out your questioning in private…but don’t tell her she’ll never hold another government job, that’s rather counterproductive.”
"Yes sir. Understood." Alec nodded then swept an arm in front of him as he looked at the suddenly abandoned secretary. "Ms. Turpin, if you will come with me, please. We can conduct our business."
Martha looked a little lost at what had just happened, and looking at Finchley she said, "Who are you, and what have you got to do with all of this?"
"All in good time Ms Turpin, I suggest you go with the Commander and answer the questions he has" Finchley replied.
She looked back at Alec and shook her head, beginning to walk in the direction he he'd shown her.
Alec fell into step beside her, "I'll try to be as quick as possible Ms. Turpin but that depends on you and the answers you give." he said in a not unsympathetic tone.
Now in a room down the corridor, Martha turned to Alec and said "What is it you want to ask me Commander?"
The room appeared to be a conference room or a small meeting room. There was table and a few chairs. Alec gestured to one of the chairs. "Have a seat Ms. Turpin...please."
“No, I would prefer to stand thank you very much” Martha replied, “please, will you tell me what it is you want to ask me!”
"Alec shrugged. "Have it your way though you may get tired standing. We could be here for a long time." Alec replied. "What it is all about is you Ms. Turpin as if you didn't know." Alec replied cryptically. His eyes never leaving the woman standing before him.
“I don’t understand, what do you mean it’s all about me” Martha asked, an incredulous look on her face, “and what would make you think I would have any idea it would be?”
"I believe the statement to be self-explanatory Ms. Turpin." Alec replied in a calm measured tone. "You are the personal secretary to the President?" he asked already knowing the answer.
“You’re not making any sense Commander, I’m assuming you already know I’m the personal secretary to the President, what of it, it’s my job” Martha replied.
"Your appearance and being part of the Presidential entourage makes no sense Ms. Turpin. Why are you here and not the press secretary?' Alec challenged.
"This isn't a photo opportunity trip Commander" Martha answered, "so there was no need for the press secretary, however, the President would, and still shall, meet with very high ranking Romulan dignitaries so it was thought best that his personal secretary could handle those negotiations better, why else?"
Alec looked hard at Martha. "A very glib answer Ms. Turpin but I'm not buying it. The press secretary has been on all of the other Presidential visits with other heads of state as well as high ranking dignitaries to give updates on how the meetings are progressing. So, to be frank I'm not buying it."
Martha stood her stance showed she was solid in her thoughts and her hands on her hips, the only tell a slight tremor of her fingers. “To be honest Commander, I don’t give a damn what you think, or whether you are buying it or not. Therefore let me go to get on with my job. If the President hears about this he will be furious.”
Alec was totally nonplussed by Martha's statement and attitude. "You think so? Maybe. But not as furious if he finds out he has a spy on his team, and nothing was done." Alec replied very no-nonsense tone.
Martha laughed, “a spy!” She said incredulously, “what the hell makes you think I am a spy, ask the President, or why not ask why he has his own medical Officer with him constantly. Dr Dex,” she snorted with derision. “Now there is a spy if ever there was one. I am tired Commander and I have a job to do so…I suggest you let me go?”
Alec remained stone faced at Martha's reaction. "Don't worry about Dr. Dex. I suggest you concern yourself with your own situation and lose the attitude and concern yourself with answering my questions. The sooner you do, the sooner you can leave."
Martha sat down, crossed her legs and appeared to make herself comfortable. She had nerves of steel and was more than willing to use them. “Ask your questions, I do not promise to answer them but ask away.”
"Just going to extend your stay if you don't Ms. Turpin." Alec replied coolly. "Now for the record, please state your full name and date of birth."
Martha stood, “you know my name and my date of birth is my own. I do not have to tell you anything. The President will be asking for his schedule soon. I must go. She walked to the door. “Let me go!” She ordered.
Alec shook his head, "Sorry Ms. Turpin, you are in no position to give orders. Now sit down and we'll move on to the next patch of questions."
She shrugged and sat down adjusting her clothing and looking bored.
Alec made no comment, just looked at Martha, giving her a very disappointed look. "How long have you been in the employ of the President?"
“Six months ten days, there is that exact enough for you?”
"Perfectly." Alec replied totally unfazed by Martha's sarcasm as he made notes on his PaDD. "Now how were you hired for your current position? Directly by the President or from a secretarial pool?"
“I was hired directly by the President’s office, I had some so work for him on a bill which he obviously found useful.” She yawned, “actually he will be looking for me.”
"The President's office but not the President himself?" Alec asked to clarify her answer. "And I doubt he is looking for you." Alec replied without going into any further detail.
“”Oh no doubt he will be looking for me near the time of his next appointment.” Martha stood and pushed her finger into his chest. “Listen to me, you do not frighten me one little bit you jumped up little piece of nothing. I am President Hallmyre’s secretary and you!” She began to loose her temper.
Alec smirked at her, "Good. Glad I don't frighten you because I think you are lying an I have the authority to keep you here indefinitely ma'am. Your answers don't make sense. I think I'll need to call in a doctor or nurse and draw some blood."
Martha smiled, so that’s how they thought they would trap her, a simple blood test would show she was human. Twisted DNA something that had been achieved by Romulan scientists. “I am more than happy to give you a sample of my blood. Look I have to go tell me how we can settle this?” She said giving him her best smile and leaning forward into him.
Alec eyed her, now he knew she was lying. She was all too eager to give him a blood sample. He smiled and indulgent smile at her. "I told you, you will leave when I'm satisfied with your answers and I am not." He didn't say that her constant mentioning of wanting, needing to get back to the President was a major red flag.
Martha sat back and waited. she knew what might come but she had been trained well, well enough to resist most forms of torture but to her the torture was just having to sit there. for a moment she even thought of trying to seduce him. but, here they were an unstoppable force against an immovable object so she sat in silence her eyes on his waiting for a tell.
Alec was looking at his PaDD when he asked his next question. "Tell me Ms. Turpin, how is it you have only worked for the President six months, yet you accompany on this state visit and not his press secretary. How do you explain that?"
She sighed, “Please, call me Martha, we’ve been together long enough, and now I am not telling you another thing until I have my representative here.
"Oh Martha, you do have a sense of humor and just when I thought you were a stick in the mud. Sorry Martha, you have no rights here, so no representative. Want to try for answering the question?"
“No rights, no answer.” Was all she said as she began to him a nameless tune. He’s too soft, she thought to herself. “Look it isn’t a state visit, instead, the Romulans asked the President to attend to help oversee the process of the rescue as a way of assuring the Romulan population that it is indeed a ‘rescue’ and not a deportation or ousting. Does that help you?”
Alec made nonreply. He walked over to where Martha was sitting when he suddenly slammed his hands down on the table she sat at, startling her. "NO, it doesn't help and we're just getting started. So, keep on playing stupid."
Martha stood and let her bag drop "I have had enough now". Watching his hands she moved around him, "So, let's get this over with Federation lackey." She kicked her pumps off and made to kick him but shot her hand out straight onto his chin pushing it up hard. She moved away beckoning him with her hands. She was an excellent fighter and she knew it.
"Thank you for confirming you are the spy." Alec gave her a humorless smile. as he held the PaDD up. "Starfleet Security has heard all of this. I think you can say goodbye to your secretary position. Or maybe something will turn up at whatever penal colony you get sent to."
“I have admitted to nothing, just wanted to see if you were all just talk and, you are.
Alec gave her a cryptic smile. "Oh, but you have Martha. In your arrogance, you gave yourself away. Thank you for making my job so much easier."
She laughed, “ I might have given myself away but you will not get anything else from me no matter what you do. You have no idea what is to come and I do not feel sorry for any of you.”
Alec nodded, " We'll see." Was his only comment has he sent a message to Kerr and security. I will say if you ever try to attack me again. You'll never use that limb again. His voice gold as an Andorian winter.
[Hall of Ministers Romulus]
President Hallmyre was beginning to feel unwell. Minister O’kNar was droning on about something and he felt he could not quite hear. “Minister O’kNar,” the President pulled at his collar and began to sweat. “Minister I am sorry I need my physician to attend to me.” he really had to sit down before he fell.
OkNar said, “President Hallmyre would you not like to see a Romulan physician.
NO” Hallmyre almost shouted. Doctor Dex please.”
“Very well.” He nodded at his attaché. “Fetch the President’s doctor now.”
The two Romulans were still with her, watching as she sat in the chair reading her PaDD. To be honest seeing Isabelle had shaken her but she knew she had her mission and was pushing the outer limits she knew. The door opened. “Doctor Dex, the President needs you he is unwell.” Shon gave herself a proverbial pat on the back. She didn’t like administering medications designed to have an adverse effect but she needed to be back at Hallmyre’s side. She looked concerned as she grabbed her bag and followed the attaché into the meeting room. She hurried to his side, “what’s wrong Sir?” She asked.
TBC