===== CO's ready room, USS Chimera ====== Shane nodded as Rangi and Samantha entered the room. He motioned both women to sit down and said: "Computer, secure this room. Authorisation ... Guzman Omega Zeta 9". The computer beeped in compliance and Shane knew that now they were safe. The room was secured and shielded ... noone will ever know what will be spoken here. He stood up from his chair, went over to the replicator and turned to the two ladies: "Chocolate for you Rangi and for you Miss Palmer?" he asked. On his table was a big mug of hot green tea and obviously he wanted to ease a bit the atmosphere in the room. Rangi smiled agreement to the suggestion of hot chocolate and took a seat to the left of Shanes. She placed her shoulder bag on the floor and leaned back in the chair, easing the collar of her tunic and flicking her hair back as she watched him obtain the drinks. "Coffee for me, thank you... black and sweetened." Samantha was starting to feeling rather tired after the last few days, and a cup of coffee would help lift her spirits and energy levels for a while at least. Shane replicated the requested drink, took both cups and carried it to the table, placing the right cup in front of the right Commander. He went over to his own chair, sat himself down and said (at last): "You are sure surprised about my request to come here. In fact there is an important thing I want to discuss with you" Rangi touched her mug, decided the chocolate was probably too hot to drink yet and gave Shane an enquiring glance. Samantha did the same, also placing her mug down on the table to let it cool down. She watched as the CO began to explain why he called them to his ready room. "It's about our suspicions of Intel involvement in the Marduk affair" Shane went straight to the point. "I have been warned that the situation is far more complex and dangerous then we ever expected". Rangi, not liking the sound of this at all, asked "In what way more complex?" Shane shrugged: "I cant tell you where I have my information from, but I can assure you that we ARE in serious trouble" Looking in the surprised faces on the two ladies he went on, "Now I dont mean our original mission. We were supposed to retake the Einhoften facility and thats what we have done. We have completed our mission and that's it." Taking a sip from his tea he continued: "Our concerns are the hints and suspicions we have about the type and way of Intel Involvement in this whole affair. If we are right ... and I think we are NOT too wrong, then both of you are surely aware of the consequences if might have on the whole Special Forces and especially on the Chimera. Using someone elses words ... our knowledge is a dangerous good." Evidently Samantha was not the only one who had suggested that getting involved with Intel business was a bad idea. Some flag officer obviously had a soft spot for Guzman and was keeping an eye out for him. Though Samantha did not know him all that well, Guzman seemed for her too honest a man to be part of SSF. Rangi looked at her mug and the bubbles that frothed on the chocolates surface.What Shane was now putting into words had been at the back of her mind ever since Samantha had told of her suspicion. She looked at Shanes strong fingers curled around his mug and then at his face. "What are you proposing to do?" she asked him quietly. Shane was getting tired as well. The whole mission was until recently half a nightmare, constantly threatening to fail. Peoples lives were at stake and the responsibility was ultimately on his shoulders. Honestly ... he felt damn well up for R&R. Trying to ease the situation a bit he said: "Well, we could sell the Chimera to the Ferengi and kill ourselves" he looked at Rangi and continued, "but I dont think that Mr. Summers would be too happy about it" A slight grin appeared on his face ... the real meaning of his words were in his mind only ... and then his expression changed to his usual one. Rangi returned the slight grin, knowing that he tried to lighten the atmosphere of the meeting. She reached to her mug, lifted it and took a taste from the edge, wary of the hot liquid.If Shane thought they were 'in serious trouble' then they were. She wondered who had contacted him and when and what exactly they had said. "Well" he said, "I would suggest keeping our suspicions secret". Looking at Palmer and at Rangi again he went on: "Our mission was to reestablish fleet control over the Einhoften facility and that has been done. We were never asked to find the whereabouts of the Marduk affair and I would stick to that" "That's fair enough." Rangi said, shifting in her seat. "I dont see a problem with that." She glanced at Samantha who had voiced her suspicions and had them proved true. Taking another sip from his tea, Shane nodded: "Of course, I cant order you not to mention the Intel involvement in this affair in reports of your own to SSF Command, but I would like to ask you not to do that" Shrugging he continued: "I know we were most probably more or less expected to find some background information about this event and none of us will be commended for not doing so. I am pretty sure Colonel Cole will ask me just about that ... but all I'll tell her will be that the facility is under our control again ..." "Well..." Rangi broke the silence that followed Shanes statement."I can report what I found.....which is exactly what they already know." she said looking at him steadily." There was evidence of genetic experiments..the body..the chemicals underground...they know we would find that. I will say that the Einhoften scientists were engaged in some work that is,as far as I understand it, forbidden. If they want to question me about my opinions on who instigated the programme..well..I'll say I dont know...and thats true." She gave a flicker of a smile to Shanes tired and worried face. "We could always wipe the shuttles' databanks... no one besides us needs to know what we've discovered," Samantha suggested, shrugging slightly. "After all, they are Federation property. And any number of possible malfunctions could have caused the data to be deleted." Shane noded pleased that he wasnt wrong with the two woman. "Lets do that" he stated. "Miss Palmer, you please delete the databanks ... beeing a former" he looked at her, "Intel operative yourself you are the most qualified from us three for the job. If anyone would be inquiring about what you are doing, just say that SSF Command has plans with those shuttles." Looking at Rangi he said: "Please write your report as you've suggested. List the findings ut please draw no conclusions. Just state the facts and let SSF Command worry about them." Looking at one woman to another he said: "Please dont forget, there was NO Intel involment in this case we know about" ====== End of log ===== Cmdr. Rangi Summers XO USS Chimera – A & LtCmdr. Samantha Palmer HELM USS Chimera – A & Cmdr. Shane Guzman CO USS Chimera – A