--== Begin Log ==-- [Ripley's Office, SB Bragg] Ripley sat the PADD down again. "You know," she said, looking over at Gerrin, "Colonel Cole told us to call in any favors we may have with anyone in the higher ranks... I wonder if General Harper would know anything about this?" Harper had recently gotten transferred to Starfleet Command. "It's possible she may," Gerrin said. "Or could find out. She owes you a favor?" "Not really, but we go back. I took over Xonnel Colony when she was reassigned to the Fifth Fleet. I think she'd be willing to give us a hand on this." "Might as well give it a try," Gerrin said. "Worst that could happen is we end up with what little information we already have." "Yes," Ripley agreed. "It's worth a shot. I wonder why Cole didn't contact her..." she mused, but shrugged it off, and turned to the monitor that was on her desk. "Computer, open a secure channel to Major General Evelyn Harper, Starfleet Command," she instructed it. The Special Forces logo on the screen was soon replaced with the face of a low-level aide who most likely worked in Harper's office. "Greeting, Captain," the man said. "How may I be of help to you today?" "I'd like to speak with Major General Evelyn Harper," Ripley said. "And may I ask who's requesting to speak with the General?" "Captain Dana Ripley, Political Advisor to Starfleet Special Forces." "And what shall I tell her is the topic of your call?" "I'm afraid your security clearance isn't high enough to know that information," Ripley said. "Just tell her Captain Ripley needs some assistance. And please be quick, I'm on a rather tight schedule." The man on the other end didn't look all that thrilled, but he didn't remark on Ripley's rudeness, he wasn't high enough up on the chain of command. You had to know how to handle these people or nothing would ever get through. "One moment," the aide said, and the screen went blank. When the image came back, it was of Major General Evelyn Harper. "Captain," Harper said. "It's good to see you again. Petty Officer Graves said you needed some assistance. He didn't seem too pleased with you, but don't mind him, he's new. Not aware of all the ins and outs yet." Ripley smiled. "It isn't a problem," she said. "Adjusting to Starfleet Command?" she asked. "More or less," Harper responded. "I'm not a fan of all the red tape though," she added. "But you didn't call to chat about my new position," she said. "What did you need?" "How secure is this line?" Harper frowned, then reached over and pushed a button off screen. "More than sufficiently secure now," she said. "We can speak freely." "Have you ever heard of the Marduk?" Ripley asked, getting right to the point. "Marduk?" Harper asked. "I don't believe so." "You'd know if you had," Ripley said, and she went on to explain to Harper what the Marduk were, and where they came from. Throughout the explanation, Harper's face remained neutral. "That's one of the more interesting things I've heard today," she said when Ripley was finished. Dana nodded. "Unfortunately, we don't have any more information than what I just told you. You can understand how hard it is to get anything done with such limited facts." "Yes," Harper said. She wondered why she hadn't received any information on this matter. Usually a situation of this magnitude would be deemed serious enough to inform the various levels of brass. "And they refrained from giving you further information due to the security rating of the documents?" "Yes, or so they said," Ripley replied. "We're a little confused as to how they want us to contain this situation without being provided the full facts of what we're up against." "I can imagine. What was Colonel Cole's repose to this?" "I don't think she was happy about it, but there was nothing she could do. She told us to try and find out all we could, and ask anyone we know in the upper levels who may be able to provide us with information. That's why I put a call through to you. I was hoping you'd be able to tell us something we don't know." Harper nodded. "Well, I don't know anything off hand, but I may know someone who does. When do you need this information?" she asked. "As soon as possible," Ripley said. "Alright. I'm going to do a little digging around, and see what I can come up with. I'll be in contact with you again shortly, hopefully with something further to tell you." "That would be greatly appreciated, General," Ripley said. "We thank you for your help." "Anytime, Captain," Harper said. "Harper out." The screen returned to the SSF emblem and Ripley looked away from it. "Well, hopefully she'll be able to pull some strings and find out some more information for us," she told Gerrin. "Hopefully," he repeated. --== End Log ==-- <<More to come>> Captain Dana Ripley Political Advisor SSF Command Commander Gerrin Chaye Dep. Political Advisor SSF Command Major General Evelyn Harper Command Staff Starfleet Command