[Starfleet, Sciences Building]
Rear Admiral Chiran, standing above his desk, set several PADDs onto the black polished desk top. With a smile he carefully pulled free the bright red mug of coffee he had cradled in his arm safely insulated by a thick sleeve and placed it next to the PADDs. Making his way around the desk he sat down and took a cautious sip of the hot beverage. The middle aged Admiral smiled and started to go through the PADDs when his commbadge chirped.
"Admiral Chiran, you have a message from Romulan space."
The Admiral curiously tapped his badge "romulan space?"
"Yes Admiral. Captain Shiarrael Rehu of the USS Charon has asked to speak with you."
"Charon?" He tapped the console on his desk excitedly "please reroute the communiqué to my office Natalia."
"Yes sir."
The screen rose slowly and then brightened. On the other side he found a strangely beautiful woman looking back at him. Surprisingly for a Romulan her features were soft and exotic, almost Mediterranean. Her violet eyes offset the light olive skin and stark raven hair. Her striking eyes narrowed in his direction and her lips parted "Admiral Chiran?"
"Yes, I am Admiral Chiran." He said excitedly not having expected to be contacted by the Charon her infamous Captain "Captain it is truly a pleasure to hear from you! How is Aayla doing?"
"Better than most cadets thanks to your efforts." Shiarrael said, but it was quite obvious that her tone was far from complimentary. Chiran leaned back in his seat his mood slightly offset by her tone. "I have contacted you because my medical staff requires access to the Cadet's entire medical record, which has apparently been sealed." Shiarrael finished.
"Is something wrong?" He leaned forward again.
"That is a difficult question which I have been told will require her medical records prior to her entry into the Academy."
"That will be hard." Chiran said "she is a Va'ree- not much unlike your own people they are a terribly xenophobic species. I was the Captain of the Athens when we encountered the Va'ree. That was fifty years ago almost and we still know almost nothing about them. The only reason Aalya is in Starfleet is because one of their politicians wants to know more about us- think of it as a one sided exchange program. I will try to get that information from them, but it may not be possible. Anyways, I hope you are doing everything in your power to make her feel comfortable Captain. She is a very special asset."
"Doing everything in my power?" Shiarrael's eyes narrowed further "to me she is nothing more than a cadet and she has been treated as such. She may be special to you but I do not make distinctions aboard my ship- and while we are on the subject I would appreciate it if you did not interfere in my ship's operations. It is quite bothersome to have the added irritant of an obscure Starfleet Admiral meddling in my ship's affairs."
Chiran's brow's lifted and his forehead creased noticeably "we have been working hard to have some type of diplomatic relations with the Va'ree. Aalya is a key to this!"
"Is that so?" Shiarrael's expression soured further. Is she scowling at me? Chiran wondered starting to become agitated by the Captain's attitude. "However, such things do not concern this ship. I find it surprising however" she picked up a PADD and held it up to the screen before dropping it back down "that an Admiral could be so close to a cadet. You have aided her every step of the way- in fact she lived in your home when she attended the academy did she not?" The look on Shiarrael's was becoming feral- a cross between a smirk and a scowl "very suspicious indeed. You two are quite close. The cadet is special but she is also quite beautiful…"
Chiran sucked in his breath shocked by the Captain's word "are you suggesting that I…" his lips quivered "that is an outrageous statement Captain! How dare you!"
"Outrageous or not." Shiarrael's smirk was now fully formed "there is an old saying where I come from Admiral. 'Perception is everything.' I hope you will understand how bothersome your meddling is. What your fellow admiralty might perceive if it continues. I will appreciate your efforts to get that information to us. Shiarrael out."
Chiran sat wide eyed at the screen as her face was replaced by the Federation emblem. Too shocked to speak or move.
[End]
Captain Shiarrael Rehu
Commanding Officer
USS Charon
&
Rear Admiral Chiran
Starfleet
