All the Presidents men...or are they? Pt3

Posted on Wed Nov 27th, 2024 @ 3:30pm by Commodore Finchley Kerr & Lieutenant Commander Kevin Kilbane & Lieutenant Commander Isabelle Savette & Commander Alec Hunter & Lieutenant Commander Shoniara T'ghann-Dex. Doctor
Edited on on Wed Nov 27th, 2024 @ 4:01pm

3,183 words; about a 16 minute read

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

“Extreme nausea, headache, room spinning and a pain in my back. Please help me Doctor?”

She patted his arm not looking at O’kNar but she could feel the annoyance rolling off him. Taking out a hypo she administered the antidote to him. “I told you not to overdo it Mr President, I will need to monitor you for a while.
Schoergrens syndrome sometimes manifests itself like this.”

Hallmyre nodded. “Yes please….Minister my physician must stay with me.”

O’kNar tight lipped just like a Romulan nodded. “Perhaps you would like some refreshment?” He asked. Hallmyre nodded.

Shon smiled, I’m in, she thought and it only took a small long acting injection of roaminol. She felt sorry for what she put the President through but her mission had to continue.

Hallmyre sat whilst a small meal and beverage was brought to him. Shon was not asked if she needed anything.

“Doctor if you have finished treating the President you may sit” he gestured to a chair at the other end of the room. Shon smiled as if the talked she could hear very well what they discussed.

Shon nodded and returned to the chair. The acoustics of the environment made it easy for her superior hearing. Hallmyre and O’kNar sat opposite each other, the Romulan guarded his posture and curt answers and loaded questions obvious to Shon.

“What do the Federation Council feel about Romulans Mr President? “ he asked, standing and walking around the table his hands behind his back.

“The Federation Council feels they should support and help any species that is in such desperation. We offer our help, as you know with the removal of the population. Minister O’kNar this is not the time for questions like this.”

"I see" O'kNar replied, now turning to face Hallmyre, "you use the term 'removal of the population', rather than 'evacuate the population', this is where my concern is Mr President."

"I chose my phrasing poorly Minister, forgive me, indeed, 'evacuate the population' is more appropriate" Hallmyre replied.

O'kNar stared at Hallmyre for a moment, looking to see if there was truth in what the President had just said. Satisfied that he was, O'kNar continued, "How will you proceed with the evacuation?"

"Well, of course, the first phase would be to have all officials and dignitaries would be the first to be offered passage so that they can help set up the governance centres on Rator III, then specialist workers would be next closely followed by general population" Hallmyre said.

O'kNar nodded his head slowly, agreeing with the listing the President had given him. "What about our ships?"

"We have no desire to give any say on that point Minister O'kNar, how you choose to evacuate them and their crews is entirely up to you and your government" Hallmyre answered.

"Would you object to them being part of any escort that goes 'with' the Federation evacuation ships?" O'kNar asked.

"I have no objections at all" Hallmyre replied, "in fact, I believe that it would be a good idea, giving peace of mind to those Romulans travelling on the evacuation ships."

Again, O'kNar nodded his head. "The we are in agreement 'in principle' Mr President. It only leaves your meeting with the Praetor to make this official. I will take my leave of you now as I know you have a meeting with them soon. Thank you for your time President Hallmyre, and also for your understanding of our plight."

He gave a curt bow, turned and left the room. Hallmyre rose to his feet as O'kNar gave his farewell, and once the Romulan Minister had left the room he collapsed back into his seat, looking at Shon.

"Why is it that Romulans can sound pissed off and magnanimous at the same time?" he asked.

"That is just the way they are Mr President, kind of clever don't you think?" Shon said. "So, where do we go now?"

“First things first, I need to speak to my personal secretary, she was outside the office, could you go and fetch her please Doctor, I need to have a chat with her” Hallmyre said.

“I can certainly do that for you Sir, but, please have them call me if develop more symptoms?” She waited for an answer.

“Yes, yes, yes Doctor I will.” Shon noted he had begun to sound irritable.

She left him resting as she looked for Martha at her desk.That there was no sign of her was strange. A couple of small bribes later she found out where she had been taken and by whom. Shon found him standing by a desk in the main passageway. “Commander, Commander Hunter?” She asked.

Alec was listening to Martha scream and yell and throw her shoes? Chair? against the walls and door which was securely locked. He looked up as Shon approached him. "Ma'am?" He replied politely.

“Commander Hunter, Alec Hunter,” she began. “You’re a rather difficult man to get a hold of. My name is Doctor Dex, I am with President Hallmyre in the position of his personal physician. I believe you are holding one of his valuable members of staff, Ms Martha Turpin, his personal secretary. He is asking for her as a matter of expediency.” She stood smiling.

"Difficult? Not me Doctor just need to know where to look." Alec replied with a smile. "Sorry to inform you Doctor but Ms. Turpin is being held as a spy and you'll have to inform the President she won't be writing any more letters for him."

“Commander Hunter I am afraid I will inform President Hallmyre no such thing. I want Ms Turpin here, now. This is a Presidential order Commander.”

Alec shook his head, "No Doctor. She stays here. She is a spy and a threat to Federation security."

“No Commander you must not have heard me, President Hallmyre IS the Federation and he wants her now, he is unable to continue without her. You may, of course send someone with her but she WILL come with me.”

"I heard you quite clearly Doctor and I don't take orders from you or President Hallmyre. No offense ma'am. My orders come from Captain Kerr. If he approves Ms Turpin being released, then I will do so and accompany her to the President."

“You realise you are committing a treasonable offense Commander Hunter, all I have to do is call the Presidential guards to arrest you?”

"Ma'am, Doctor, I am not your enemy. The woman inside that room is. You speak of Federation security. I am Federation security. The whole crew is and yes, I am trying to preserve Federation security and possibly the President's life. I realize you can call the guards. However, as I said, page Captain Kerr, if he approves, I'll open the door."

Damn men with a strong streak of courage Shon thought. Commander I am going to have to return to the President to inform him that you refuse to grant his request. The next time we meet I am sure you WILL be releasing Ms Turpin, you seem like good man and I am sorry for what may happen.

"Yes ma'am. I understand. You are doing what you feel you need to do. I am doing what is right and keeping a spy in custody and if the President can't or won't see that there is nothing I can do." He smiled at her, "I am a good man, and whatever happens, happens."

All of a sudden she wanted desperately to be this man's friend. When she looked into his eyes she saw something she liked, honesty and something else. She turned, "I too am sorry Commander Alec Hunter, very sorry." She left the room.

Alec offered a bemused smile. "I know and I can see you are. Inform the President and we'll let the chips fall where they may." He whispered as she left.

When she finally managed to return to the President he looked at her expectantly she was sure he thought Ms Turpin was with her. "President Hallmyre I found Ms Turpin, unfortunately she is a prisoner, accused of being a spy. I did give your name but I was still refused. I was told to contact Captain Finchley Kerr of the Blackeagle.?"

Hallmyre's head snapped up, "Captain Finchley...Kerr, of the Blackeagle...oh my God..." he replied, his head then hanging down.

"No, just Captain Finchley Kerr, on the ship that is, elsewhere it's Commodore Finchley Kerr now" a voice said from behind Shon.

Hallmyre's head came back up and he looked at who had spoken. "How did you...you were...

"Cleared on all charges, yes" Finchley replied, now fully entering into the room. "They're still looking for the perpetrator, but it's ok, they won't find them...unless I tell them that is."

Hallmyre opened his mouth to say something, but before he could, Finchley looked at Shon, "Who was it that said you should contact me Lieutenant, and why?"

Shon was shocked to see Finchley, "Doctor please.......apparently you are holding President Hallmyre's assistant Ms Martha Turpin, the President asked for her and Commander Hunter refused."

Finchley almost smiled at the slight chastisement from Shon, but he said nothing. "Then I suggest we go and see Commander Hunter and get this sorted then...Doctor."

Shon hid a smile, "Of course Commodore Kerr, President Hallmyre will you accompany us?"

"No, the good President will remain here, won't you Sir" Finchley said, glancing at Hallmyre.

"Ehm, yes, perhaps that's for the better, I wouldn't want to be in the way" Hallmyre stumbled over.

"Oh, your the expert on people being in the way Mr President, but I think it's best as well" Finchley replied, "and to ensure your safety whilst we're gone, I'll leave Captain Kilbane here with you to keep you company, I'm sure you remember him?"

"Really?" Hallmyre gulped.

"Oh yes...really" Finchley replied. Kilbane walked over to Hallmyre and slapped him on the arm, "Well Peter, oh, sorry, Mr President now, I forgot, let me fill you in on what happened to the Commodore and myself when you..."

"Careful now Kevin, we wouldn't want anyone else knowing the Presidents past and how disparate he was with us" Finchley said.

Again, Hallmyre gulped, he had the look of a man now in fear for his life. Finchley grinned, "Have fun."

He turned back to Shon and said "Please lead the way Doctor, it sounds like you know where Commander Hunter and Ms Turpin are."

"You have a history with the President?" Shon asked as she led them through the great Hall. "I'm sure you know the way better than me." she said. "Do you remember me Finchley?"

“Yes, we do, but myself and Kilbane will deal with that later” Finchley replied, “and yes, I remember you Shon, and I remember what we did…what you did for…to…me. Can you remember what you did?”

"You don't question me Finchley, after what you did to me. I had a good go at forgetting you and the rest of your little gang but you, you are hard to forget." Shon noticed that the two Romulans were back observing. "Right so now you're blowing my cover. In case you didn't know I'm not here for my health either!" Shon lead them to the door she left through. "In there" she gestured.

“I’ll question you whenever I fucking well want Lieutenant, don’t ever presume you can tell me what I can and can’t do” Finchley replied putting his face right into Shon’s, “and before you say it’s Doctor, I don’t give a rats arse, you’re an SFI officer, your rank comes before anything else and from now on, it’s Commodore to you. When you refer to the Blackeagle crew, you will show respect and call them that, they’re not ‘my little gang’. One fucking word out of place and I walk over to those two nice Romulans and give you up for what you are, a second rate loser who thinks she’s better than she is and who betrayed me. Better people have come before you and all have fallen. You stay right where you are, don’t move, you do move and I’ll make you wish you’d never been born.”


He opened the door and walked into the room, seeing Alec he said, “Commander Hunter, I believe President Hallmyre has been looking for Ms Turpin, is there a reason for her still being here?”

Alec had been standing watching Martha sulk and brood. "Captain." He said in return. "Yes sir, Ms. Turpin is a spy sir. I don't know for who, but she is a spy. She also attacked me when I confronted her on it." Alec said calmly and concisely.

“A spy…my my, isn’t that a kick in the head” Finchley mused. He studied the woman across the room from him, she seemed upset, almost child like upset and this made him smile. Turning back to Alec he said, “Commander, I can take this from here, would you mind escorting the Lieutenant outside back to the President’s office please, Captain Kilbane is already there with him. When you get her there, see to it she doesn’t leave again till I return.”

Only after Captain Kerr had finished did Alec reply. "Yes sir, I can do that." He cast a glance at Martha then looked back to Kerr. "Watch her sir. She may try to attack you and if that doesn't work seduce you."

Shon walked away filled with a cold fury and engaged the two Romulan guards in conversation.

Exiting the room, leaving the captain with Martha, Alec saw Shon talking to the two Romulan guards he had seen earlier. He cleared his through politely. "Ahem, Doctor, sorry to interrupt but I am to escort you back to the President."

The Romulan guards looked at Alec and Shon spoke to them in Romulan. Their hands went to their side arms. "We will escort the Doctor back to the Presidents office, there is no need for you to accompany us."

Alec shook his head from side to side, "Sorry guys, I have my orders to escort the doctor back to the President. Now, if you want to accompany us, be my guest." He replied easily.

Shon made to step away from them and they drew their disruptors. One pointed at her and one at Alec. Three more Romulans stepped towards them weapons drawn. "We are taking the Doctor into custody in the name of the Romulan Empire."

"Alec wasn't flustered at all, "Gentleman, no reason for that. I can see the good doctor stays put." He replied fluidly.

Shon was nonplussed, "er...gentlemen there is no need to go that far....|"

"Be quiet" one of them said and grabbed her around her neck. Shon stamped on his foot and jabbed her elbow into his midriff. then she was struck across the head with a disruptor and as she crumpled to the floor unconscious was picked up.

Alec drew his phaser and yelled, "Captain Kerr! Better get out here now sir! We have a situation." To the guards, "Back off now! You've assaulted a federation citizen and a member of the President's party. His personal physician. I said back off!" His phaser never wavering.

They spread out and Shon was dragged behind a pillar. "The Doctor asked for protection, we are only providing it. We do not want a diplomatic incident."

"For not wanting a diplomatic incident you did a great job in starting one. Providing protection by knocking her out and manhandling her? Alec replied as he waited for Kerr to join him.

Finchley was about to engage Martha in conversation when he heard his name being yelled and a hurried invite for him to go outside into the corridor.

“If you’ll excuse me Ms Turpin, it sounds like I’m needed” he said to her.

“Don’t be to long now…I might get lonely” Martha replied.

“Indeed” Finchley answered, bowing his head slightly as he turned and left. Once out in the corridor, he noticed Alec a little way down from him, and a number of Romulans with phasers drawn all looking menacing. He walked down to where they were, and looking at Alec he said, “Is there a problem Commander?”

"I guess it depends on your definition of problem sir. "These gentlemen." Alec gestured toward the Romulan guards, "Were in a conversation with the doctor and when she stepped away, they grabbed her by the neck and then knocked her out. When I told them to back away, they replied that Doctor Dex asked for protection and now you are here." He finished a bit breathlessly.

"That's really most odd, don't you think Commander?" Finchley asked rhetorically, and then turning to the Romulans he said "Why would Doctor T'ghann-Dex ask you for protection?"

"That is a matter for Romulan security" one of the guards replied.

"Therein lies the problem" Finchley carried on, "you see, the Doctor there is a Federation officer, under the protection of Commander Hunter here, who in turn is under my protection as his Commanding Officer, and I...am under the protection of the visiting Federation President. The area you're standing in gentlemen is basically an embassy...a Federation embassy. So firstly, the only reason you're here is as observers, nothing else, you have no jurisdiction here. Secondly, we have no idea what the conversation was the Doctor had with you, we only have your word that she asked for protection, she could have been asking for directions to the nearest bathroom for all we know. Thirdly, you assaulted her, knocking her out, again, done on Federation ground. So if you look at it all in context, what you've done is attacked a Federation officer on sovereign Federation ground and now you're threatening to kidnap her. I wonder how your Preator would view this?"

The Romulan guard who had spoken was now looking nervous, glancing at the others around him.

"There's two ways we can end this situation" Finchley carried on, "the first is you take the Doctor there with you, and that would be kidnapping someone on consecrated sovereign Federation ground, which would lead to all kinds of hell causing a diplomatic situation which could escalate and potentially lead to war between our two civilisations. or, you can leave the Doctor where she is, leave and nothing will be reported, thus saving face for you and your men. What's it to be, war or saving face?"

Again, the Romulan guard looked at the others with him, then back at Finchley. It felt like an eternity before he finally put away his phaser and nodded for the others to do the same. They complied, and slowly, hands still by their phasers, they all backed off and left, leaving Shon lying on the ground by the pillar.

TBC

 

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