The Federation was a strange place to live these days. Think about it. Over the last decade there’d been several wars, biological threats, alternate universe incursions and a version of Vger that made the Borg look like schoolyard bullies in comparison. Whatever comparison that was. Even now however, in a utopia of acceptance, schoolyard bullies were still something that you had to keep your eye on. Impolite? Absolutely. World ending? Not exactly.
That said, Sharon, I’ve still not forgotten about that time you told our entire year in junior school that I regularly ate garden snails. Your time will come.
–
The clatter of eight stompers made its way across the promenade of DS13’s semi-distant neighbour, Starbase 157. Their little legs blurred as they dodged and weaved through the built up crowd before the gigantic viewing pane of the observation lounge.
“Come on- We’re going to miss it!”
“We’re not going to miss anything T’ka, it’s old people talking.”
“But it’s famous old people talking, George!”
“They not old George, they just grownups.”
“… they’re not famous…”
Overlooking the shipyard the view of the Galaxy class vessel occupying the external drydock was mostly obscured by an ocean of tall Starfleet uniforms and engineering overalls, the crowd was a pretty dense obstacle that only the elite of the elite would have been able to overcome.
“Excuse me!” the tiny Andorian exclaimed, she was leading the courageous charge of the four outnumbered troops. “Coming throu- hey, ‘scuse me! Thank you, sorry!” The three behind her had linked hands, dragging the littlest at the back in effort to keep up with her.
As their zig-zag battle plan reached its objective, all that remained now was to bypass the impenetrable wall of stiff officers who took up defence at the very front. It was all that stood between the young task force and the speaker’s stand. The Andorian was taking no prisoners, maintaining her momentum- until she wasn’t, she struck straight into the wall with an inaudible thump.
The black pressed uniform trousers hadn’t budged, now T’Ka was face to face with the enemy. A pair of blue human eyes loomed over the Andorian’s head arming their in-built phaser banks as the officer’s brow furrowed, now coming to a crouch to meet his opponent on their own level.
The man’s voice was deceptive. It was calm, it was soft. “And where do you think you’re all going?” Too soft, the younger human George thought from behind T’Ka, it sounded like a trap in the making- and they’d walked right into it.
T’ka’s blue face grew stern, her own brow furrowing to the match of the starfleet officer. “We’re going to be late! Let us through, we want to watch! …” but she yielded to a visually superior foe rather quickly, “… sorry.”
Deployment of the tactical puppy eyes was a risky manoeuvre against an unknown combatant, but they apparently worked. The officer looked at the four of them squeezed into the crowd single file and grew a small, faint smile as he reached a hand into his pocket and withdrew a small notebook. “Well, you aren’t going to see anything from down here, are you? Do you see…” the man pointed through a thin gap in the gathering, a staircase to the upper promenade flanked by two of Starfleet security’s finest. “… up there? Tell them you’ve been tasked with…”
The officer paused, sucking in his lower lip with a squint as he did his best to come up with some shenanigan worthy excuse. “- tell them you’ve been tasked with aerial reconnaissance for the Vice Admiral’s speech. Hand them this, and uh, tell them I want it kept safe and I’ll retrieve it after the ceremony.”
The human removed the slid-in pen, scribbling into the first available page and tearing it out; he began folding the page tightly then offering it forward.
The Andorian minor snatched the folded paper out of the man’s hand, cradling it now with both her palms and staring intently at it. The thought of opening it hadn’t even crossed her mind. “Yessir.” releasing her right hand to perform a rather practised salute. In correct fashion, he just nodded his held small smile and turned back to the formation of the wall.
The crowd was a lot harder to pass back through now they were in technical retreat. A tactical retreat really, their new objective was the staircase. First T’Ka had to pass George, his face was of mild annoyance at the prospect of moving away from the viewing window- then she had to pass the mini-Bajoran lad, “Sorry Serais, you’ve- you’ve got to mooove~” as she squeezed past him. He was the muscle. At the rear, or now technically the front until the Andorian storms through, was the smallest of the four.
Her ears held the smallest of points and her forehead had faint ridges that were just starting to come through fully, though above her large eyes the sharp eyebrows were the final clue in uncovering her Romulan origins. Clutched in her hands was plushy, neon blue with four legs and a long snout.
“Come on Commander,” T’ka began, “… you’s gotta keep up!”
“Teeekaaa, I no want-” before the tiny Romulan could finish the brash Andorian was already heading the backwards advance through the crowd. George followed suit, but the Bajoran took hold of her hand and nudged her in the direction of the other two, himself now taking the rear section.
Fearlessly the group made it to the open railed staircase complete, no casualties, but were stopped by a sidestepping pair of guards. They both held weaponised smiles, the female Trill lowering herself some into a crouch as the task force arrived at the perimeter.
The Trill spoke cheerfully, “I’m sorry guys, it’s only grownups allowed up there.” in simple terms. The upper promenade didn’t look restricted by any means, but the translation was likely only Starfleet officers permitted for this occasion. Afterall it’d be daft to have a group of schoolkids running amok really, wouldn’t it.
“We’re on special assignment!” T’ka produced, proudly. The four of them had taken a bunched formation for defence.
The security officer grinned, “Oh is that right? Well that might be the case … but, I have strict orders, I’ll get into a lot of trouble if I let anyone up there, even groups on special assignments. I’m sorry- you can watch from here though, if you’re here for the ceremony!”
Andorian’s don’t exactly give in all that easily, another frown. “NO. We’ve been sent here on special assignment, we’re going upstairs. Stepaside!”
There was a pause, the Trill eye’d the four of them and was clearly making some quick calculations. Diplomacy. They’re children after all, they didn’t warrant any drop kicks or palm strikes, nor did they do anything wrong. Her motherly instincts would suffice. “- where are your parents, sweetheart?”
The little Romulan peaked from behind George’s left leg, prodding T’ka’s hip with a tiny extended index finger. “Give… paper!” she whispered, loudly.
T’ka, while clutching the folded piece in her hand the entire time, had already forgotten what the officer had said when he’d given them their new assignment to provide overwatch on the Vice Admiral’s speech. Her eyes widened, offering forward the note.
Without too much hesitation, the security officer plucked the note from the Andorian’s palm and began to unfold it until the paper was back into full form.
The taskforce of four stood and watched carefully as the Trill’s eyes went over whatever was written on the small sheet, her lips pursing as an eyebrow arched inquisitively. Coming back up to a stand she turned to face her colleague on the opposite side of the stairs, leaning over as she spoke softly.
George nustled forward, himself now leaning towards the Andorian’s ear. “What’s she saying?”
“I don’t know George, you’re talking too loudly!” T’ka retorted.
“I’m not being loud, you’re being loud! We should just make a run for it! She can’t catch us all!” He muttered, getting himself ready.
The Bajoran chimed in, “Guys we could get into a lot of trouble, why don’t we just-”
“WANT ICE CREAM.” the Romulan called out, hugging tightly her stuffed toy with a scowl that would have made Jean-Luc Picard think twice about making any sort of manoeuvre against her.
It was that request that caught the Trill’s brief glimpse once again, she smiled softly, “- yeah, I’ll take my break, call up Adderson for a few.” and she quickly returned to a crouch, folding the piece of paper and sticking it into one of her cargo pockets. “Okay you four. Ground rules first. You have to listen and do exactly what I tell you, you’re not to run off, and most importantly- you’ve got to be super duperly quiet when the Vice Admiral starts talking. It’s of utmost importance~. Those are your orders, if you choose to accept them.”
Taskforce leader T’ka turned a look over to the three beside her, them all nodding in unison as she returned to the Trill; “We accept this new mission, of utmost importance. Your support will be appreciated.” spoken eerily sternly.
“Alright then. Come with me.”