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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2018 19:43:20 GMT
Personnel File: Misa Ishihara
Vital Statistics
Name: Misa Surname: Ishihara Species: Human Age: 33 Years (8504.17) Place of Birth: Tokyo, Japan Height: 158cm Weight: 53kg Eye Color: Brown Hair Color: Brown Starfleet Commissioned Officer Rank: Captain Status: Commanding Officer - U.S.S. Zorya NCC-86273 Previous Postings Operations Officer, Jupiter Station Chief of Operations, USS Cleopatra [Sovereign Class] Executive Officer, USS Cleopatra [Sovereign Class] Commanding Officer, USS Voltaire [Sovereign Class] Educational History
Graduated Starfleet Academy at age 22. Career Summary
Ishihara began her career at Jupiter Station as an operations officer where she served for two years. Next, she was assigned to the USS Cleopatra as Chief of Operations, a post she held for 5 years until she became Executive Officer. She held that position for 4 years. Personal Information
Born and raised in Tokyo, Japan, she is the youngest (by 2 years) of two children in the Ishihara family. Her elder sister, Hinata, is also a Starfleet Officer, a doctor on the USS Tethys. Ishihara is a classical pianist.
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2018 13:15:37 GMT
11805.07 with the ever-amazing Soph as XO Feyna
At some point, Ishihara would have to sit in the Captain's chair, and at some point she'd have to make use of the Ready Room. But it didn't have to be now. She walked to the XOs office, hoping to catch her during a brief break from overseeing the repairs with Engineering. In a few hours, the ship would be as good as new again. If only people were so easy to mend.
The atmosphere on board was as expected. People were sad and confused, and Ishihara was one of them. If only she hadn't been taken for a fool in the first place, the Voltaire might never have been stolen and none of this would have happened. And if she hadn't accessed the Maquis base, they'd never have been attacked, and Jiang wouldn't have died. She paused, took a breath to compose herself, and rang the chime to the office.
Jo knew that she looked like your stereotypical grease monkey; mussed up hair, a streak of something across her face, a look of tired pride of a job well done. She walked quietly towards her office, nearer than her quarters, desperate for a sonic shower and a cup of tea. Refresh her outsides as well as her insides. She turned the corner in the corridor, and saw the vaguely familiar figure at her office door, and her footsteps faltered. She stood there for a moment, unnoticed, looking at the woman. Not now. I just want a shower. I want to feel clean. Feyna rearranged her expression to one of calm friendliness, belying what she currently felt inside, and she moved forward. “Commander, you wish to see me?”
Ishihara took a moment, not wanting to correct Feyna. It didn't matter, anyway. "Yes." She could tell that Feyna was tired, perhaps a little impatient. She'd get right to the point, "We've managed to contact Starfleet. They've temporarily put me in command."
Jo smiled slightly before opening her office door and letting the Comman…Captain in. “I’ve never had the desire to be in command. I sort of….fell into this role. War forces us to take roles we never expected or intended. Would you like a drink?” She unzipped her jacket, and threw it on her desk chair before heading to the replicator.
"No thank you," Ishihara replied. "I'm pleased that my assignment isn't stepping on your toes, as it were. I know the circumstances aren't the best..." She let the silence hang a moment while she thought of how to word everything. "My main priority is finding a way to stop the Maquis, and more specifically, to take the Voltaire from their hands by whatever means necessary."
Feyna ordered herself a drink from the machine, despite her CO not wanting anything. She allowed Ishihara to talk whilst she sipped the warming drink, feeling it travel deep into her stomach, heating her from the inside. “We have both known loss over the last few days, and, sadly, the current climate has almost made us accustomed to it. You will find no resistance from me as XO, except in the way you would expect your First Officer to resist.” She gave another short smile as she placed the cup and saucer on her desk. “But regarding your objectives, as you have stated them, I will not let you unduly risk the Zorya in your desire to get vengeance. You are Captain of this ship now, and this crew is your responsibility and priority. If we get the opportunity, I will support you. But in a situation similar to the one that lost Jiang his life, I will not die for you to be able to exact revenge.”
So, this was how Feyna worked. The obvious battle for territory, clearly drawing a line. Better to have it all out in the open - this was one of the reasons Ishihara had gone down to Feyna's office, to meet her on her turf. "Resistance... not a word I was expecting to hear from you. That's not the mental approach I was hoping for under the circumstances, but your point is taken nonetheless. I should hope any good Executive Officer would act with the well-being of the crew in mind, and I'm disappointed you feel the need to imply I wouldn't."
Jo picked up the cup again, and took another sip, giving herself time to form her answer without the danger of being reactive. “I have not known you a long time, Captain, and I am also very aware that no one should be judged on such a short period of intense emotion. However, what I have observed led me to my comment. There have been some rash, ill-thought moves. And I too, am probably responding from an emotional place, as I feel that Jiang’s death could have been avoided, if he had retreated instead of trying to face an overpowering opponent. And, it does occur to me whether he would have done that without….external influences. In my time serving with him, he never came across as one to take rash actions.” She took another sip again, looking Ishihara directly in the eye. “Please forgive my frank response, but I felt we should lay our cards on the table.”
"I see," Ishihara said. Her voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "Your words feel more like daggers than cards, Commander." She moved to a chair and sat down. She didn't feel steady on her legs. Deep down, she knew her own role in the current situation, from the loss of the Voltaire to the transponder activation... but Feyna used that as a weapon, and a simultaneous defence. Part of Ishihara hated her for that. This whole thing was hard enough as it was. Her previous Executive Officer, Commander Ashcroft, had been one of the Maquis and had betrayed her, but at least with Feyna that wasn't going to happen - Feyna didn't trust her in the first place. Could she blame her? The only good thing about all of this was that she would get to see the crew as they really were. When the pain is raw, the veneer falls away and you're left with the core of a person, exposed like toothache in a cold breeze.
Ishihara continued, her voice a little louder this time, "I'm not sure how long Starfleet will leave me in command. I can't imagine it being too long given my record with the Voltaire. But I could use your support, and I'd like to give you mine, if you'll take it."
Walking forward, she laid a hand on her new commanding officer’s arm. “I think you’ll last here longer than you think. Give them reason to trust your decisions, but also listen to them and their ideas, and they will follow you to the ends of the earth. Most of them followed Jonathan Rome into the jaws of the abyss, and his decisions were notoriously grey. And with the support of the crew, Starfleet won’t take their leader away.” Quickly, Jo removed her hand, remembering how grimy she was. “And yes, I accept your offer.”
Ishihara stood up, her eyes slightly misty from the unexpected physical expression of support. "Thank you."
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Post by aoibheni on May 10, 2018 16:23:59 GMT
"And, it does occur to me whether he would have done that without….external influence." Buuuuuuuurn.
This was brilliant, you two. I already love them as a duo.
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2018 13:54:47 GMT
11805.14
It was interesting to see Captain Sumner's record read, "Redacted" more than once. Ishihara shut off the screen on the desk in front of her and sat back in the chair. Jiang's personal effects still sat where he'd left them. His wooden chess set had been left with the pieces arranged into a study position, the King skewered behind the queen - the queen, and ultimately the game, were sure to be lost on the next move.
More than anything, Ishihara wanted to contact her former Captain and her mentor, Iliria Pons, but it was impossible. The Cleopatra was part of Taskforce Vulcan, part of the Seleyan Sun offensive against the True Federation.
When she'd heard the order to team up with the Chiron, her heart had sank. Starfleet were pulling her away from recovering the Voltaire. She couldn't really blame them based on their results so far, but she did anyway. She wanted to make things right again, or at least as close as she could. People had died, and they could never be brought back. She had to stop the Maquis from hurting more people.
At the same time, there had been comfort in knowing there were others out here on the same side. They could pool their resources, work as a team and make solid progress. At least that was what she had thought until they arrived and Sumner had taken control of the mission without so much as a second thought or a private word. "Sit tight," she had said. Wait, and do nothing. We've got this… At that moment, she again felt lost and alone while the universe went on around her.
It was probably all in her head, she told herself, but the doubt always crept in - what Captain lost their ship on day one of command? Feyna's words echoed in her mind. "There have been some rash, ill-thought moves… Jiang’s death could have been avoided... without...external influences." No wonder Sumner didn't trust her. No, it was all in her head… wasn't it?
Ishihara knew she wasn't in a good place. The guilt was crippling, and the energy required to maintain face and be the leader the crew needed took everything from her. Occasionally, she would return to the ready room for a brief respite and to recharge. Until the situation was resolved, she wondered if she'd ever feel different, if she could even process the events of the past few days. The mission gave her a focal point, something to pull her through all this emotion and confusion. She latched onto it with all her soul. For her own sanity, she needed to act, she needed to do something, she needed… a sink. She ran over to the small restroom adjoining the ready room and vomited into the basin.
It was time to face the universe again. She walked back to her desk to collect her jacket from the back of the chair, passing the chess board again when she saw a resource for Black. It didn't matter that the queen was pinned - there was a counterattacking move that forced a win. She reached out a hand, considered playing the move, and realizing the effort it would take to calculate the entire sequence, toppled the king over instead.
"I'm sorry, Zhihao," she said quietly.
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Post by Einar on May 15, 2018 14:04:59 GMT
so much going on in this scene. I love every moment of it! Great log Smurf!
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Post by aoibheni on May 15, 2018 14:18:05 GMT
Wait, and do nothing. We've got this… hahahahaha. Nope. No one's "got this". This... is decidedly not got.
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Post by Deleted on May 17, 2018 20:32:52 GMT
with Pezzley as Lieutenant Soule
As Soule turned to leave the ready room, he paused, before looking back to the new Captain. "I don't suppose anyone's asked you this yet, ma'am, but..." He sighed. "How are you settling in Captain?"
Ishihara looked back up at Soule and realised she'd make a rookie mistake. She'd been too distracted with everything, and let it pass her that Soule wasn't human... he was half-Betazoid. Instantly, she put another wall in place, making sure her emotions were in check. Maybe he had no telepathic abilities, but why take the risk? Her emotions were her own, and she wanted them to stay that way.
"I'm not... settling in. I've barely been on board long enough, and frankly I'm not sure how long Starfleet will post me here. Besides," she added with a softer face, "it's my job to make sure you're all okay, not the other way around."
"Its a two way street." He idly walked over to the display cabinet, staring at the golden ship models of previous Zoryas and her current sister ships. "Shit rolls downhill, people forget though; that you can carry that shit right back to the top... sling it at the ones who dropped it on you, in the first place."
"I dont suppose you knew Captain Rome?" He asked, knowing that the answer would probably be 'by reputation only', continuing before Ishihara could reply. "Lot of people would say he was a great man, an excellent Captain, an inspiration to us all... but he wasn't. He was an asshole, the only thing he inspired was distrust amongst his crew, and he put us in impossible positions because of his own hubris... either thinking he wouldn't fail, or that dying was so certain, he simply didn't care."
"I was always at odds with him; I didn't even invite him to my wedding, because I knew the demons that followed him, and that he could never let them go."
She watched him making himself at home in the ready room, wondering if she'd actually dismissed him out loud, or just imagined doing it. One thing was for sure - this crew was different from any other she'd served with, and she knew it was going to take hard work to understand them. Yet another hurdle thrown before her. She took a deep breath, deciding to hear him out if only for his sake more than hers. "I can't say I've heard of Captain Rome. But if you're about to compare him to me, I'll stop you right there. As much as I want to get the Voltaire back, I won't unnecessarily risk the lives of the crew." In her head, she screamed. It had been hard enough being doubted by Feyna, and it was her job to say the difficult things. But now hearing it from a Lieutenant? She knew then, in that moment, that her career was over. You can't lead if a crew doubt you, and the events of the Voltaire would forever hang over her name. The Captain who lost her ship on day 1 doesn't inspire confidence. She wondered if there was a line of Ensigns and Petty Officers outside, waiting their turn to ask if she had "settled in".
"I haven't known you long enough, to insult you like that, ma'am." He turned to face Ishihara, feeling guilty about the look he could see on her face; while he couldn't read her mind, he could see she was now doubting herself.
"The point is, we need a captain... and you're it." He sighed. "Zorya's not as big, or as powerful, and she doesn't have the same prestige as the Voltaire; but she's a sturdy ship, with one of the best crews in the fleet. Maybe you think we've judged you unfit to sit in the captain's chair; prove us wrong. Maybe you don't think you deserve to sit in it; prove yourself wrong."
"However long you sit in that chair, is entirely up to you. If you dont want to be, then Starfleet will replace you. But if you do want to, and I mean really want to, then we'll follow you however far you lead us."
She took a moment to let what he'd said sink in. "Thank you..." She could nit-pick that she had no real control over her assignment. At the moment, her assignment was temporary, no doubt until Starfleet decided what to do on a more permanent basis, perhaps depending on what happens to the Voltaire next, and perhaps even following an inquest into her theft in the first place. But she didn't nit-pick, instead deciding to take his intended message, his show of support. "Sounds like we'll have to help each other muddle through," she said.
"Thats what a good crew's for." He gave her a reassuring smile. "We pick each other up, when we fall down."
She waited a moment to see if he had anything else to say. "Well then, let's get back to it, shall we?"
"Yes ma'am." He folded his hands behind his back, straightened his posture, bowing his head respectfully; before making his way back to the bridge. "Call if you need anything, Captain."
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Post by Deleted on May 17, 2018 20:36:24 GMT
with Chris as Lieutenant JG Cordan
When Ishihara entered the mess hall, she was relieved to see that nothing changed. All she needed was a quick snack, and she'd heard that the view from the large windows in the mess hall were good enough to get lost in. Her timing, however, couldn't have been worse. The room was packed with people jostling between each other to find a seat, and lining up at the replicators. Apart from low-level mumbling conversations and the ambient clattering cutlery, the room was unusually quiet. She took her place in the queue, protected by her introspective bubble.
She hardly noticed when it was her turn a few minutes later, realising just in time before she'd have looked a fool and held up the line. "Onigiri with ume," she said and moments later a small rice ball materialised in front of her, filled with the sour Japanese apricot. She picked it up and stepped aside, looking across the room for a moment before realising she wasn't actually looking for a seat, just staring in the general direction of the tables and chairs.
Cordan was sat at one of the tables near the window with a glass and a half-finished bottle of Kanar. He wasn't under its effects because he got used to drinking it in previous hosts. He also had in front of him a bowl of Wistan Gagh, which he ate slowly. He looked out of the big window and focused on the stars and the various shuttlecraft flying about, carrying components and replacement parts and supplies between the ships. He noticed the Captain and signalled for her to sit on the spare seat at his table.
Caught off-guard, and unable to decline the offer without seeming rude, Ishihara walked forwards and silently sat in the offered chair. She still didn't know his name. Then again, she didn't know any of these people. "Lieutenant," she said with a nod, putting her food on the table and pulling a jug of cold water towards them.
Cordan smiled and took off his combadge and put it on the table as a sign they didn't need to be so formal, "Pretty busy isn't it today. Misa," he said cautiously, "May I call you Misa sir?" he said drinking a tiny bit of his Kanar.
This officer was just full of self-confidence, wasn't he! Ishihara poured water into a new glass for Cordan, then into hers. "Captain will be acceptable," she said, being extra careful to say it calmly and with a slight smile to take the edge off.
He smiled at her, "Aye sir. So how are you settling in?" he said while picking up a piece of Gagh and making sure not to drop any Targ blood as he ate it.
"Settling in? There's no time for settling in. We have work to do. The Maquis won't wait around." Ishihara paused while she took a bite of her food. Why was everyone asking her that question? "Is that authentic Kanar?" She pulled the bottle over and took a quick sniff. "Being an alcoholic at a time like this is not a wise choice."
"Well sir there is always time for settling in, I found when I was Captain that if I settled in and got to know the crew a bit. The ship ran smoother." He looked at the Kanar, "Aye it is sir. From my own personal stock, and I hardly get drunk. Two of my hosts drank a lot and now I can drink most people under the table. I have a few things on my plate to deal with, wife's death, Jiang's death, a lot of repairs and then finding the damn battle sims. 90% of them I run are failures only the 10% are successes and they are hard to get," he said, smiling at the Captain, hoping he wasn't boring her.
Great, yet another who felt the need to dish out unsolicited advice. This was the second conversation she'd had in as many hours that included the words "settling in." It was impossible to feel comfortable with a new place when she didn't currently feel comfortable in her own skin, even if the crew meant well. "I don't have time to ask every officer what they had for dinner last night or what their favourite colour is," she said, realising it may have sounded snappy and forcing herself to calm down again, "There is a time and a place for that, and now isn't that time. I'm not even sure how long I'll be here." In an attempt to take the attention away from herself, she focused on the Kanar, "Also, I don't think that's how alcohol works with past and present hosts..." She was about to say that he shouldn't rely on the drink to get him through the tough time but realised she would have been guilty of offering her own unsolicited advice. And besides, she knew how tempting it was to have a quick drink right now, something to take the edge off.
"It is complicated I don't know exactly how it works it just does." He looked at the Kanar, "I kinda like doing it at times like this as it reminds me of simpler times before all this, before Starfleet. When I was a freighter Captain it was the simple life." He smiled while reminiscing on his past. "Well that's 'til I got pregnant but that's another story," he said chuckling.
Relieved the conversation was moving along, and wanting to keep it that way, she said, "Pregnant?" Cordan gladly accepted the invitation to talk some more about himself.
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Post by Einar on May 18, 2018 6:55:21 GMT
Nice couple of logs Andrew, Chris and Pezz!
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Post by aoibheni on May 18, 2018 9:13:10 GMT
Man, I feel bad for poor Ishihara. All she needs is Perez or T'ali to offer their opinions and she'll explode!
Hehe.
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2018 12:08:33 GMT
Drilling Holes in Themselves with Aoibhe as Nia Danann Stardate 11805.28
The Captain looked at Nia, hating the face-off, always having hated conflict. A little calmer than before, she said, "Starfleet won't take the time to distinguish between different groups of Maquis. You know that. I should think it is obvious that the best thing you can do, for your people, whoever they are, then, is to help us stop the Voltaire."
She glanced away, her eyes slightly wet as Nia's earlier words sunk in. "And yes, I've made mistakes, but I'm trying my best to make up for them by resolving this before more people die."
"You're making more mistakes right now, lady." Danann all but snapped. "Have you even a bull's notion of what you just did in there? How much damage you just - "
The redhead tilted her head to stare at the ceiling and took a laboured, calming breath that ended in a world weary sigh. Then she looked right at Ishihara. "What I asked for... moving my crew to quarters... was a way to save face for me, to allow me to cooperate with you without them immediately accusing me of betrayal... it was a nonce that you could have allowed without losing any control at all... Granting my request would also have ensured that each one of those slightly insane, definitely paranoid people in there saw that Starfleet isn't the intractable behemoth they think it is... " Danann shook her head, her red curls gently dancing around her face and neck.
Ishihara spoke calmly, something that surprised even herself. "That...performance in the brig is how you want to show the face of the Maquis? Saving face means the mockery of the situation, a complete nonchalance towards the horrors of innocent people being attacked?”
Niamh considered reminding her what had happened to the people of Zeta Nine, but she held her tongue, curious to see where this new Captain was going.
“...And yet you judge Starfleet? That," Ishihara said, pointing back down the corridor to the brig, "is exactly why people like me take the actions we do. How could we know any different? I admit, until you pointed it out, I hadn't even considered that the Maquis aren't just one big group. But it looks to me that you're just as guilty of labelling everyone with this uniform as well. And if we are guilty of it, those sat behind desks will certainly make the same mistake."
She let out a little sigh, looked at Danann's eyes and continued. "When I walked into the brig, I had no idea of the details of your deal, that it was only you and not your entire crew.”
Danann gave her an incredulous look. “You didn't think to get all the facts first? Colour me astonished...”
Ishihara continued, “Whatever you're hiding from your side, Sumner has been from ours. People are dying because of that ship; we don't have time to play whatever games you and Captain Sumner are plotting. Before we walked in to talk to you, she told me that this is bigger than her, and bigger than me. And she was at least right about that. It's bigger than you too, this isn't about us anymore." She paused, considering, then added, "So how about we stop tossing the blame back and forth and we get on with this.”
Danann rested her hands on her hips and considered the woman before her. She seemed so green, so earnest, and a little out of her depth. But, she thought, who wasn't right now? Tilting her head to the side and licking her lips, she looked at Ishihara with a sidelong stare.
“I'm not the only Starfleet officer that found their way across the border after the split, or before, for that matter. Some of us saw which way the wind was blowing and jumped early... others were pushed.” She shrugged. “The health plan ain't much to look at, but at least I don't work for a shady organisation past its prime anymore. And I gotta admit, I do prefer the uniform...” She smiled, tugged at her targ-leather jacket's high collar and winked.
Danann could see Ishihara bristle at her continued flippancy, so before the Starfleet Captain could argue, she continued, “I'm not surprised Ashcroft duped you to be honest, he's a hell of a charming man from what I hear. I never saw him in a fleet' uniform, but I bet it suited him.” She smiled a little and took half a step towards Misa. “Guess you didn't look past his pretty face, huh? Don't worry...” she confided. “...it's happened to the best of us.”
While the conversation wasn't exactly amiable, Ishihara noted the change in tone. The direct arguing had at least morphed into something else. She'd take it as progress of a sort, and let go the statements that she took issue with. "I didn't have time to get to know him at all. We'd barely been out of stardock for 14 hours." She slid a hand across her forehead to push some hair back, the tired gesture revealing more about how she felt about what had happened than she'd admit aloud. "You know him better than me. Please, tell me anything. If he's not acting with the entire Maquis in mind, what's his motivation? Why is he doing this? Vengeance?"
"See, here's where we hit a snag, darling," Danann sighed, taking another casual step in Ishihara's direction. She raised a hand, and poked Misa's shoulder lightly. "You took away any hope I had of controlling my crew when you pulled that little stunt of yours. I'm sympathetic to your problem, of course, I don't wanna see any good Starfleet officer die, either, but my part in ensuring they stay alive and well has been scuppered completely by your ill-timed bout of dick measuring. So now, I think, if you want my help, you're gonna have to fix that first."
Ishihara hated the physical contact, but resisted stepping back. For the faintest of moments, she had to fight the urge to punch Danann's smug face. She was so cocky and arrogant, probably underestimated her ability - she only needed to land one. But that wouldn't help. This was ridiculous. Every effort she made to see things from Danann's perspective, to show they had a common goal, the red-head would take a step closer but only to get a better position to spit from.
"You're still negotiating," she said. "All of your poking, your verbal jibes... I get it. But I'm not negotiating. I'm not Captain Sumner. I still have the padd and I'll walk right back in there if I have to. Call it whatever you want, I'm past caring." She held her gaze, wondering if Danann would make the same mistake twice, of assuming she was bluffing. "Tell me what you know and I'll speak with Captain Sumner about what can be done. I am certain she'll be willing to help your cause."
Niamh licked her lips again, considering Ishihara's words. She let her bright, green eyes settle on her face, taking in the steely look of determination. This, she thought, was like playing poker with someone who could only count to five. "Ashcroft is an associate of a young fighter wing captain called Oseth. He's not officially part of Oseth's cell, but he's come up in briefings often enough that the connection is obvious."
Danann grit her teeth. "Far as I know, the Voltaire wasn't part of any overall plan. They already think I'm more Starfleet than anything else, so maybe they just didn't inform me... After this debacle, you can bet your sweet ass they'll tell me even less."
"Oseth?" she asked, not willing to feel any pity over the career struggles of a thief.
Danann once more lifted an index finger, holding it up between them, at Misa's eyeline. "Immunity. " She raised another finger, "honourable discharge," her thumb uncurled, "official apology,", her straightened her ring finger, "medical license,", and her little finger, "a chance at an education..." she blinked, bit her bottom lip in thought, "and, actually, one last thing I think you'll appreciate... but that's best left til Sara and Tony are present."
"You can arrange your conditions with Captain Sumner, I told you, I'm not here to negotiate. Oseth?" Her tone clearly indicated this was the last shred of patience she had left.
Danann remained silent, her hand curling into a relaxed fist, save for her index finger which remained pointed. She rested it gently on Ishihara's sternum.
It was one poke too many. Ishihara snapped into motion, grabbing the finger and twisting Danann's wrist away, putting pressure on it to hold her at bay. "I guess we're done here," she said, with a genuine look of disappointment on her face. "You know what people say about the Maquis," she said as a matter of fact. "They say they are criminals, low-lives just looking for a fight, selfish and arrogant. I've even heard them called traitors. And I have to say, you've done nothing here today to disprove any of it." She released the finger, ready for any retaliation Danann might want to inflict.
Danann slowly massaged her twisted wrist, not breaking eye contact for a second. “I surrendered my ship,” she said, softly, “...I allowed my crew to be imprisoned, I gave you names, connections, associations, descriptions... and a comm frequency so you can go root out anyone on board up to no good... and in return, you have shown my crew no respect... you have completely decimated their trust in me, you've endangered not just my life, but theirs too, and single-handedly took away any calming, moderate influence I could have had over the Maquis council itself in the future...”
Danann drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Do what you want, lady. I'm done co-operating.”
Ishihara took a few moments, clearly considering Danann's words carefully, giving them due attention. Eventually, she nodded, Danann's words seeming to hit home. She didn't agree with everything, but she could understand. Just days ago, she had wept over the loss of the Voltaire, and struggled since with the idea that her crew might not trust her, that they wouldn't have confidence in her. And now she'd gone in, hot-headed and done the same to someone else without even thinking about it. "I can see why Captain Sumner likes you," she said slowly. "At least, I think I understand now. You're far too touchy, and more than a little patronising, but... I'm sorry." She raised a hand in gesture to avoid any interruption. "We're not going to agree on everything, so let's stop trying to convince each other." She looked down for a moment, then back to meet Danann's gaze. "Why did you surrender your ship? We were struggling to find you," she said. "Why did you allow your crew to be imprisoned, give us names... the comm frequency... why do all that in the first place if you're going to fight now when we need more information? Help me understand, and... I'll see if I can fix what I did in there."
“You guys don't realise how close you came to being pulled apart in there, do you?” she asked, truthfully, her voice a little less impatient. “A ship this big, in that section of the Badlands... it was a question of staying hidden, and watching you all get ripped to shreds, or showing ourselves and getting you out of there...” She looked down at her feet, masking her white lie with a sigh. She couldn't allow that beacon to be discovered. Coming out of hiding was the only way to ensure it didn't get clocked by some diligent, over-excited Ensign.
“A pilot is only as good as their experience at the conn, and I guarantee you, a Starfleet pilot wouldn't have saved you if shit got hairy...” She folded her arms, taking care not to jerk her wrist. When she spoke again, her tone was more reasonable again. “I don't want to see people die, you know. I'm not...” she said, “I'm still...” she winced, unable to articulate the difficult position she was in as a former Starfleet Commander who, despite her current role as Maquis Captain and smuggler, felt that Starfleet ideals were worth fighting for; even worth dying for, if the sacrifice was accepted with due deference. She shrugged. “Ask around, look up my file. I'm not the enemy here.”
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