Aidan pulled at the collar of his Starfleet uniform as he walked through Starbase 1, he hated having to put on the traditional uniform. He was a field operator, not one of these fleeters. Oblivious to the real threats to the Federation, flying around in their happy little starships, ‘exploring.’ But then again, that’s why he and his team existed. To protect the Federation from the real threats. So they can go about their lives.

But the uniform was a constant reminder of their ignorance. Even as it let him blend in. He probably wouldn’t have made it 10 steps without someone questioning him, if he was walking around in his normal BDU’s. A quick security check and he would be on his way, but it was another hassle and even worse, a time delay. However, a Lieutenant Commander, in a crisp Starfleet uniform. No one would question his movements.

Coming around the corner, Aidan came up to the secured checkpoint. Not rare on the Starbase, there were many areas that were off limits to some people. This one however was different. The plain gray doors didn’t say much, but behind them lay one of the Section 31 stations. Nodding to the guard on duty, he placed his palm on the scanner. With a chirp, the light turn green and the door slid open.

As he stepped in the duty officer on the other side looked up. “Good afternoon Sir. Mr. Green is expecting you,” he said as the secured doors shut. “He’s in conference room 3.”

Aidan just nodded as he moved down the hallway. Mr Green was obviously an alias, but that was common in this field. And who was he to question an Assistant Director.

Stopping in front of the conference room door, he took a breath. He was much better staring down an enemy through the scope of his rifle, but going face to face with one of the Assistant Directors. He didn’t know what to expect. He knew it wasn’t the first time going in front of the brass, they were often overseeing his teams briefings. But it wasn’t often that he was called face to face.

Giving the customary knock, he opened the door and stepped in.

“Ah, Mr. Harmon, thank you for your quick response. Please,” Mr. Green said gesturing to one of the other chairs. “Do you know why you are here?”

As if that wasn’t a loaded question. Respond with the wrong thing and you are stuck with admitting to something that the superiors didn’t know about. Guess right and they are just going to ask questions about why you didn’t avoid the situation that they could see in perfect hindsight.

“Nope,” Aidan said leaning back in the chair. They were behind doors, he didn’t have to pretend to be the perfect Starfleet office anymore. “My handler just passed instructions for me to report here after our last debrief. So here I am.”

Mr. Green just smiled, but it was the kind of smile that never quite reached the eyes. “We have a new assignment for you. And after your last mission, we feel your skills would be better used in a different role.”

Aidan groaned inside, those were not the words to start anything good.

“We are starting up a new ship, and we are wanting your expertise on board.”

That was the killing blow. It was bound to happen one of these days, everyone eventually aged out of the field. But he didn’t feel like it was his time. He still had work to do.

“We are assigning you to the Trenton, as the second in command. We have a front line ship, and we need a senior operator on board to help her carry out her missions.

“Son, this is for the security of the Federation. What do you say?”

Damn, he thought. He was trapped with those words. He was being given a chance to write his own ticket, but could he really say going back to his team was better for the Federation. But if he took this role, he would have a lot more autonomy. And when this tour was done, if he really didn’t like it, well it would just give him more ammo to go back to the field teams. Plus, the whole reason why he joined was to protect the Federation. If they thought this was the best way to accomplish that mission, then who was he to argue. He had long ago accepted that he didn’t need to know the entire plan. Just his part, and the information to make sure he and his team made it home.

“Sounds like you’ve got your man.”

“Excellent,” Mr. Green said clapping his hands together. He pushed a PaDD across the table, coming to a stop right in front if Aidan. “Your transfer details. There is a Starfleet transport headed for Vulcan. From there, there is a transfer service to Intelligence Base Gamma. The team supply officer has already forwarded your kit, and it will meet you at the Trenton. Do you have any questions?”

“Any other details on the ship and crew you can share at this time?”

“The confidential dossiers have been transferred to your secure terminal. You will need to wait till you get to the Trenton to get further details. Anything else?”

Aidan just shook his head. The only thing he hoped was that whoever this CO was, they weren’t expecting the crew to wear these uniforms.

“Good. Well I’ll leave you to it. Your transfer shuttle leave in 2 hours. Good day Mr. Harmon.”

At the obvious dismissal Aidan stood up and exited the conference room. What had he gotten himself into.

Aidan Harmon - XO