Recruitment

Posted on Sat Jun 20th, 2026 @ 10:04pm by Captain Erik Norsgaard & Petty Officer 1st Class Jaclyn Masterson [Baas]

1,488 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Friends and Traitors
Location: SB 310

[USS Thunderbird]

With her transfer to beta shift she had come on duty as shore leave had been approved and was there as Daegan began planning his little jaunt to the surface. With him requisitioning a shuttle and checking himself planet-side an for approximately 18 hrs it was easy to see who else was going to be planet-side at the same timeframe.

She just couldn't understand what that black haired, spotted, slut had to offer him that she didn't. Thinking to herself, ~Our first meeting had been magical. Sure he was my OIC and I'm enlisted...so what. We still had a rendezvous here and there and we could prove the relationship started before we knew the ranks, so we could get around the whole fraternization thing. If there was still a stink I would be more than happy to drop to the reserve so we could stay together. But he didn't even try any of that, all he did was run right into the arms of that arrogant spotted slut. I mean seriously, who does she think she is?! She steals him, she treats me like a child before and after my assignment to Bajor, then blames me for getting attacked! Bitch...~

The more she sat there the more see fumed. It wasn't just the Daegan rejecting her and that intel chick stealing him it was everything else. What she had learned on Bajor. The recent treaty announcement and how the Federation was treating the border colonies only confirmed what her mystery rescuer had told her.. Her personal life was in shambles and to top it off the organization she grew up believing in was abandoning their own people.

During her shift she had repeatedly looked back and forth to a padd with a message to be sent to the frequency she had been given. It was only two words long. I'm in.

Pressing the the send she pocketed the padd as she turned back to her station.

The instructions, when they returned, directed her to a lesser used lounge with little to no view; it was open and spacious with lines of sight in pretty much every direction though it was used primarily by crewmen just getting off their ships handling cargo and the like.

[Starbase 310]

With her shift over she had left the Thunderbird an now sat in the starbase lounge spinning her third glass of wine as she fumed looking out the view port at the planet below.

He watched her for some time before making his approach. She'd been scouted and vetted of course; the man who approached wore civilian clothes. He had an easy smile and a relaxed attitude, he walked slowly and stopped short of the table. "Jackie," he said happily, "is that you?"

Jaclyn had been sitting there for a while. Moving between string out at, nothing really, appearing to read, and nursing her now cold coffee. At leas it was quiet. She was just about to leave when someone finally approach. Looking up and the familiar voice, "Delyn! What are you doing here?"

He grinned as he slid into the seat opposite her. "Well you know the glamorous life of a freighter pilot," he said. "We're here overnight for offloading which, mercifully, I don't have to do. Cap'n finally hired someone to replace Morlen."

While glad to see and old friend she looked around casually to see if anyone was entering the area. She reached across putting a hand on his, "You know I'd love to catch up but I'm expecting..."

"Me, Jackie," Delyn said quietly as he placed his other hand on top of hers. "You were expecting me."

The look of surprise clear on her face. "What!?"

"Friendly face and all that," Delyn said quietly. His smile was warm and friendly, his hand remained atop hers. "Are you always this easy to read, luv?"

"No no...Just wasn't expecting an old friend. Actually I was...well that doesn't matter now. What brought you into all this?"

"I don't much care for what's happening," Delyn said. "Never thought the Federation would do something like this ... promises were made. Commitments. And good people are expected to just leave everything they've tried to build. My sister and her family just lost their homes because of ... politics." His expression turned sad for a moment, remembering what Shaya had had to endure, and then smoothed over again as he regarded her. "What about you? What brings you into this?"

She looked around casually, "I spent some time on Bajor recently and had my eyes opened. Then the treaty announcement...so a lot of the same. I just never thought the federation would abandon their citizens like this."

"It's been a revelation to many," Delyn said, his expression turned somber, his sharp-eyed gaze taking in his surroundings without appearing to do so. "The question is ... now that you're eyes are opened. What's next?"

Pausing casually, taking a drink as a couple passed by having seen the reflection in the nearby portals. Once in the clear, "I assume there is some kind of plan to protect the colonies from the Cardassians, or at least to get them some kind of assistance?"

"Before I go too far into our plans," Delyn said, his gaze focused entirely now on her own, "you'll need to prove yourself. Offer us something that we can use ... to show that you're serious and not a threat to us, you being Starfleet Security and all."

She thought for a moment. What could she offer??? Leaning in, "Well without knowing what the goals are, what you needed or what can be of use. I can offer my services. The Thunderbird is supposed to be back and forth across the area, I could see that supplies make it to where they're needed, help cover weapons shipments, act as eyes and ears for you..." She paused. "I just thought of someone that might be of use to you. She's an intel type, not just monitoring type, but been in the field. She could have vital intel and should know who in the region Starfleet might use to come after our little group."

"Intel operatives provide a wealth of information. And do you think that she's willing to join the cause," Delyn asked. He sat easily, relaxed, as though they were doing nothing more than exchanging casual banter; his gaze focused on her and occasionally on their surroundings like a butterfly refusing to land in any one place for long. "Can you bring her around?"

She shook her head. "To be honest we don't really see things eye to eye. In fact she tried to blame me for getting target by the Circle while I was on Bajor. ...Like they weren't already targeting anyone that wasn't Bajoran." She paused. The more she spoke the more her plot evolved on the spot. "So it's highly unlikely I could could 'bring her around'. I could put some feelers out to see where she stands?"

"Alright," Delyn said. "Do that. Just keep in mind, you'll have to prove yourself before we go any farther. Right now, you could just be someone who's trying to infiltrate and bring us down. It's nothing personal. Just that the cause is too important to take any chances. You get that, right?"

"Understood." If it looks like she wouldn't be inclined to helping then what? With our recent involvement with that Cardassian prisoner release, she probably has info on Cardassian personnel, other ships in the area...who knows what she might know. Jaclyn had her hopes. If she could help them and remove Raihan from the picture at the same time it would be perfect. With that Trill bitch out of the way she could be there for Daegan, where she belonged.

"Send word when you have something," Delyn said. "I'll be waiting."

Jaclyn stood with a nod and head back to the docking slip. Along the way she began to think about how to set things in motion. Perhaps if see approached her in an attempt to bury the hatchet from from the whole Bajoran op thing? Maybe if she let slip that there had been something between her and Daegan? No that would just make things worse... It was decided then. She would play the apologetic underling that had a lot to learn. Hmmm... Maybe if she ask her to teach her the intel side of things. Yeah. The whole self-improvement track, that's the ticket. She could use that avenue to get in good and to she where she stood with the border developments...at least for appearances sake. Then she would contact Delyn and set up her departure.

As she walked she fine tuned a few ideas and her plans took shape.

---

Petty Officer First Class Jaclyn Masterson
Security Investigations Officer
USS Thunderbird
(Written by Lieutenant Daegan Baas)

Delyn Carstyn
Pilot, USS Geminon Pearl

 

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