A Gracious Benefactor

Posted on Wed Sep 21st, 2022 @ 8:10pm by Captain William Maddox & The Narrator

790 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: The Song Of Silver Wings
Location: Starbase 14, Alpha Tucanne System
Timeline: One Day Before Launch

“Captain Maddox, an unasked for and unanticipated visitation.”

The man in the uniform of a Starfleet science officer stood before his desk, not behind it. It was a tool, after all, to assemble data and sort it efficiently. One did not sit behind a tool, but instead used it. And Rear Admiral Theodore ‘Trouble’ Tordon was not one to be used by anyone.

“I’d offer you a seat but I don’t think this meeting will take long,” he said, turning to finally look at Maddox who was framed in the doorway with a pair of Starfleet security officer on either shoulder. “It’s alright, the Captain’s authorised to be here.”

With that the two guards departed the office, the door closing behind them so that Tordon and Maddox shared the space. Tordon shook his head, picking up a coffee cup from the desk and smelling the cold contents.

“I know working with the OSI isn’t how you’d want to run your operation, but regardless of how it seems we still do adhere to standard procedure,” the admiral explained.

“Apart from when it comes to assigning personnel to my ship without my authorisation?” Maddox said through gritted teeth.

“Ahhh, Finch. He has that effect. Despicable man, but as an Intel Officer he’s first rate. You’re lucky to have him,” Tordon nodded and grimaced as he sipped his coffee. “And before this conversation gets into the shouting match you want it to be, let me remind you whose getting you underway at breakneck speed? It’s certainly not the Federation Exploratory Council who would rather write off the Icarus. And before you say anything yes, we read your mail. The OSI is like that, we know everything. As you recall.”

“I do have that recollection,” Maddox groused.

“Good then this has been a quick conversation-”

“He’s toxic. You know damn well that the glowing psychological flaws that he mistakes for a winning personality should have gotten him Section 8’d or demoted to the point of irrelevance. I’ve read his file, and noticed the marked absence of any letters of official complaint. He doesn’t strike me as the type to know the right people,” Maddox bulldozed his way past the Admirals attempts to get him out of his office.

“Right people, funny you should use that word. Because it was me, your old friend, who got you unstuck from Federation Council paper work when the Icarus crash beacon went up. The Office of Special Investigation is like that, we look after our friends and assets. Right now I’m talking to my friend, William Maddox. Push me on Finch and I’ll be talking to Captain Maddox from the very high pulpit that Starleet has given me in recognition of my service,” Tordon’s expression didn’t waiver one iota from the bemused collegian smile he used. “Look, if it assuages you to any degree, Finch is there as my eyes. I can’t put a OSI agent on the Daedalus, but Starfleet Intelligence can and Finch has been read up on certain realities. Such as the origins of the Proteus Drive.”

Tordon held up a hand at Maddox’s face.

“I didn’t tell him about anything important, the man is useful but only to a certain degree.”

“I know how much you care for the health of your operatives and officers, not overburdening them with information,” Maddox said cooly.

“That being said, Finch stays. Consider him part payment on my behalf for all of the favours I’ve called in to get this mission underway so quickly. Others would be thankful, but I know you, so I don’t expect glow appreciation. But just remember the Icarus Project is a joint venture between Starfleet and the OSI, and our core mission hasn’t changed: protection of the United Federation of Planets from threats of a scientific nature. As a former member of the OSI,” Tordon said to Maddox. “I’d expect you to understand why I want this mission to succeed as much as you. The Icarus is a treasure trove of information that will assure Federation security and technological superiority with the other powers of his galaxy for centuries. Its quid pro quo: you get your rescue, and the OSI gets Icarus data archives. Simple as that.”

“You know it’s not nearly so cut and dry.”

“And yet it is,” Rear Admiral Tordon said. “Now, I have work to do. And you have time table. So I can invite the two men from outside to come in and escort you to the dry dock, though I suspect you know the way there so why not save them the trouble?”

 

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