Office of the Commander in Chief

The Admiral looked up and down at Cmdr Marino and smiled. This is going to be fun. he thought to himself. Reading the thoughts of Marino's mind was of no effort, so Aeryck was able to grab what the Commander was thinking as he entered.

Adm Arayuss: Commander, I assure you this is no hidden camera show and nobody is pulling a prank on you. Computer! Confirm identity.

SB34-Com: Arayuss, Admiral Aeryck Mykel. Commander in Chief of Gamma Fleet as of Stardate: 238210.29. Awarded Nebula Star in 2372, awarded Valor Cross in 2373, awarded Legion of Merit in 2374, awarded Starfleet Cross in 2375, awarded Golden Sunburst 2376, awarded Federation Star in 2378. Received commendation for return of USS Explorer from Andromeda Galaxy. Defected to the Federation from the Romulan Star Empire on Stardate: 236501.15. Was created in the genetic laboratories on Romulus...

Adm Arayuss: Computer, that's enough! Well, Commander? Do you have anything you wish to add before we continue with our meeting?

The Admiral remained seated at his desk as he waited on Cmdr Marino to respond to the confirmation of the CinC's identity. Aeryck could tell the Commander was on the verge of an anxiety attack as he stood there.
_________________
Admiral Aeryck M. Arayuss
Commanding Officer, USS Explorer
Commander in Chief, Gamma Fleet
Starfleet, United Federation of Planets

Cmdr Marino's chest felt like it was clamping down on his heart when he realized the child was the Admiral. Lou never saw a picture of the CinC before so he had no idea what he looked like.

Cmdr Marino: Identity confirmed Admiral, I was not aware of your appearance. My sincere apologies. If we may continue, Sir?

The Commander remained standing in the Admiral's presence, showing him the utmost respect and consideration due to any Commander in Chief.

Aeryck leaned back in his chair and tapped the armrest which revealed a large display of the Gamma Quadrant on the wall to the left of his desk.

Adm Arayuss: For quite some time vessels have been disappearing in Sector Epsilon on their way here. We've come to realize that a race known as the Deltaurans are responsible. Infiniti encountered them in Sector Omicron and it was very unpleasant. Fifty seven members of their crew were lost. Infiniti also took some heavy internal damage that's currently under repair. Oriskany has discovered the missing vessels and they were found in the same condition Infiniti discovered Kankakee, decaying orbit of a Class J planet. I've dispatched Whitestar to rendezvous with Oriskany and assist with securing the area and checking for survivors aboard those ships. There was a survivor hiding on Kankakee by masking his lifesigns, so others may be doing the same aboard those vessels in Sector Epsilon.

The Admiral took a few moments before continuing to drink some water in a glass he had on the desk.

Adm Antares: The horrors of what I heard about Infiniti's crew experiencing is very traumatic. If the Deltaurans come aboard SB34, there's going to be a panic on this Starbase that's never happened before in the history of Starfleet. This is why I had you transferred from Fargate Station. This place needs a very efficient Chief of Security that can handle such a disaster. Do you have any questions, Commander?

As the Admiral waited on Marino's reply, he took another drink of water from the glass on his desk. Images of the fleshpods appeared on the large viewscreen for the Commander to see. Aeryck looked to Marino for a reaction to those shells that used to be people.
_________________
Admiral Aeryck M. Arayuss
Commanding Officer, USS Explorer
Commander in Chief, Gamma Fleet
Starfleet, United Federation of Planets

Cmdr Marino looked at the images on the viewscreen. A look of sterness overtook the Commander's face as he spoke.

Cmdr Marino: Sir, this Starbase will be locked down tighter than Fort Knox. The only question I have Sir, is what resources I have at my disposal here at SB34, as I was not made aware of this before the transfer. We will have a very tight and efficient security protocol that will ensure the safety of all aboard and still allow for the freedoms all need.

The Chief of Security stood there and felt deeply concerned about the families of the crewmembers that were lost on Infiniti. To have lost so many at one time must have been a terrible loss on the ship's CO.

The CinC nodded in agreement to the Chief of Security's recommendation of the actions he would be taking to ensure the base's security.

Adm Arayuss: That sounds appropriate, Commander. But if just one of those things get aboard this base, we can just kiss all this goodbye.

Aeryck sighed as he folded his arms across his chest and was deep in thought for a few moments.

Adm Arayuss: Computer, where is Commodore Carpathia?

SB34-Com: Commodore Carpathia is in Thom's Tavern.

Adm Arayuss: Commander, I think you should go to the Commodore and introduce yourself and tell him that I told you to ask him for advice on defending the base against the Deltaurans.

As the Admiral waited on Cmdr Marino to respond he turned off the images on the large viewscreen on the wall in his office.
_________________
Admiral Aeryck M. Arayuss
Commanding Officer, USS Explorer
Commander in Chief, Gamma Fleet
Starfleet, United Federation of Planets

The Commander nodded to the Admiral while he was collecting his words and thoughts of what the CinC said about one of those things getting loose on SB34, how unpleasant those visions were and he knew he would not want them to become a reality.

Cmdr Marino: Yes Sir, I will head to the Tavern right away and meet with the Commodore. Will you please notify the Commodore that I will be joining him? I would not want to intrude upon him.

The Chief of Security waited on the CinC's reply. He was thankful the Admiral turned the viewscreen off. The images of the fleshpods, were the remains of Infiniti's crew. It would take some time for those images to ever leave the Commander's memory.

The Admiral looked up from the PADD he took from his desk and replied to the Commander before he left the office.

Adm Arayuss: He'll know you're coming before you arrive, I'll make sure of that.

The CinC concentrated on Commodore Carpathia and saw him sitting alone at a table in Thom's Tavern, many decks away from his office.

Adm Arayuss: EJ, I'm sending our new Chief of Security, Commander Louis G. Marino over to talk about your experience with the Deltaurans. Talk to him and tell him what you know.

The Admiral continued reading the information on the PADD in his hand once the telepathic link was discontinued. His primary task at this time, was to make sure that not one single Deltauran made it upon Starbase 34.
_________________
Admiral Aeryck M. Arayuss
Commanding Officer, USS Explorer
Commander in Chief, Gamma Fleet
Starfleet, United Federation of Planets

Stardate: 238303.29

As the General walked into the Admiral's office, he simulated the knocking on an imaginary door as he approached the desk.

BGen Alderez: Knock-knock! Admiral, I wonder if it would be possible to meet with Professor Brewer and his staff regarding the equipment they were using to monitor the Deltaurans. With what we got from using Explorer's phasers on them, I believe we could use that knowledge along with the Professor's to track and kill them before they could become a threat to Starbase 34. So...can I go meet with him, Aeryck...please?

Rex waited on the CinC's reply before going into the area of the Starbase that was reserved for Professor Brewer and his staff only. It was the only area on the entire base that was forbidden to everyone without checking with Admiral Arayuss in advance.
_________________
Major General Rex Alderez
Fleet Marine Force Commandant, Gamma Fleet
SFMC, United Federation of Planets

Aeryck listened to all that Rex had to say on the matter, and thought silently for a few moments before responding to the General.

Adm Arayuss: That sounds like an excellent way to pool all the gathered information on the Deltaurans so that if the need arises to defend this base, we'll have a plan of action. Our new Chief of Security has arrived and is speaking with Commodore Carpathia down in the Tavern now. He's a Commander by the name of Louis G. Marino, and he shouldn't be too hard to spot in there. The Chief should be brought up to speed with whatever plans you and Professor Brewer come up with. However, you should meet with the Professor yourself first since the two of you will be working together so closely, I wouldn't want Commander Marino to become a distraction.

The Admiral waited to hear if there was anything else the General wanted to say before he left for the labs in the lower levels of SB34.
_________________
Admiral Aeryck M. Arayuss
Commanding Officer, USS Explorer
Commander in Chief, Gamma Fleet
Starfleet, United Federation of Planets

Rex nodded in agreement to the Admiral's suggestion. He didn't want to annoy the Professor during such a precarious time. The General wanted Professor Brewer to feel comfortable working together him, and bringing in an additional person without his prior approval would start things off a bit awkward.

BGen Alderez: Understood, Admiral. I'll head down there right away and get started. Will you be able to obtain all of the sensor data from Explorer? I know the Professor will want to go over all of it so we can work on weapons and defenses.

The General made his way towards the doorway of the Admiral's office and waited to hear what Aeryck had to say regarding Explorer's sensor data being available for analysis. That data was crucial to the survival of everyone aboard SB34. Rex hoped that Explorer would not have any problems getting the data to them. Since the ship decided on it's own to hide itself someplace, that could be percieved as an obsticle.
_________________
Major General Rex Alderez
Fleet Marine Force Commandant, Gamma Fleet
SFMC, United Federation of Planets