<USS Avalon> "The Recruit" Pt. 1

?The Recruit? ? Part One
by Lieutenant Commander Javan Sierra



STARDATE 0006.11

San Francisco harbor was as calm as ever. The waves rising up that thundered with white caps glistening in the sun had been reduced to merely short spurts lapping at the shoreline. The trees swayed slightly in the breeze and the birds sang their songs in the summer air. The temperature was hovering just perfectly ? not too cold and not too hot. It was such a nice day that the graduating class of Starfleet Academy had opted to move the ceremony to the Presidio.

The area had been cordoned off and white chairs littered the grassy knoll. Ten chairs wide and what seemed like endless amounts of rows. The metallic stage stood as a citadel in the front. Lavish tapestries and decorum graced its surface and a path, made by the separation of the seats, headed straight for the heart of the platform. A white tent had been pitched up over the plethora of chairs, but the heat from the midday sun still irradiated the crowd.

High-ranking officials from all over the quadrant were in attendance. Starfleet Intelligence had eight representatives, the Bolian Stellar Cartography Institute had three, and the Daystrom Institute of the Arts had nine people. That was just to name a few. All were waiting to offer the highest ranked graduates a position in the sought after programs. There were so many Admiral pips that it almost seemed illogical to have so many people of that seniority in such a tiny spot, one torpedo would decimate almost all of Starfleet Command.

Lieutenant Javan Sierra sat next to the other members from Starfleet Intelligence. Admiral Teiran Mondale and Vice Admiral Janessa Trevell kept exchanging odd looks at each other about the presence of the ?Commodore?, but remained silent and they quenched any outburst that might have surfaced. Javan almost liked the fact of being all cloak and dagger with them; there was something about knowing more than they did that made him feel powerful.

He was happy, though. The USS Orion, his current assignment, had departed for some planet called Lenex Prime to help a colony ravaged by ion storms. It was a good thing that he?d left too. Commander Hayden Spryer, the commanding officer, got in above his head and the ship got destroyed. The only causalities, from what Javan had read, were the commanding officer and the chief science officer. Either way, Javan was glad he wasn?t there.

Finally, under the stress of confusion, Admiral Mondale turned abruptly to Javan. ?I?m sorry to be so blunt, Commodore, but why did Rear Admiral Elaine Simmons get reassigned at the last moment? She?s the head of the tactical resource department. It doesn?t make sense.?

?Well, Admiral,? Javan couldn?t help but let a smile slide across his face, ?There are just some things that can?t be explained. Something important must have come up to warrant her removal from the team to accept new graduates into our fine program.?

?Indeed,? the Admiral said after narrowing his eyes. It was obviously that the Admiral was skeptical about this new Commodore being hastily assigned to their team of recruiters, but there was something about him that he didn?t like. It wasn?t all that obvious, but it was like a small nagging sensation at the back of his thoughts that sent alert klaxons racing through him. ?How long have you been with intelligence, Commodore??

Javan perked an eyebrow, ?About six years now, since my promotion to Captain. I was originally assigned to covert operations dealing with the Dominion War and their allies. I was on the same assignment for nearly six years.?

?Must have been rough to pull out and leave after such a long stay and after so many hours of working,? Trevell added as her eyes roamed the crowd. She had that look in her eye that she was sensing something was up, but it wasn?t with Javan though. Janessa seemed to be completely oblivious to the conversation occurring between the two men sitting on opposite sides of her.

?Actually,? Javan lied, ?it was quite fun to watch the facility in which I had worked at explode into shards of unidentifiable shrapnel and to watch the Jem?Hadar and the Founders get obliterated into several fragments of nothingness. Nothing is better than a job well done.?

Janessa?s head turned quickly to meet his humorous glare, ?That?s horrible.?

?You do what you?ve got to do, unfortunately, Admiral.? He smiled and quickly added, ?Plus, I have a habit of following orders. Don?t ask me why, I just do.?

The brass from the instruments shined and sparkled as the heavenly tones rang out. The processional started as the flocks of instructors, tutors, counselors, and advisors marched down the center row clad in the gowns with Starfleet?s emblem emblazoned on the sleeves. The tassels bobbed gently as they strolled down the aisle towards their seats.

Each section, paired with their respective walking partners, branched off at the pinnacle of the chairs and walked slowly down the rows. Javan?s eyes searched the crowd for his target. His glance traveled from innocent faces, to the blank expressions of those that barely made the cut, and his eyes even settled on some of the angry scowls that he knew would be destined to be in jail at some point.

He spotted him walking with a lovely girl on his arm. He had all the charm for the job, but what set him apart were the technical skills that would rival the most proficient engineer in the galaxy. Last report confirmed he was being promoted straight to Lieutenant upon his graduation. He stood out like a sore thumb with the golden strands hanging around his neck ? he was one of the two valedictorians. Silver crescent moons signified his enrollment in the Engineering Specialist Corps.

?Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the graduation ceremonies for Starfleet Academy. What a gorgeous day in San Francisco!? The Commandant of Starfleet Academy, clad in a lavish robe with countless awards pinned all over, stepped up to the podium. ?We?re all very proud of the people sitting before us; they are, in fact, the future of the Federation and of humanity itself.?

Javan couldn?t help but roll his eyes for he?d gotten the same speech when he?d graduated.

?Now, I introduce to you Marissa Sharp. She?ll be presenting the class with their graduation certificates.? He handed a list to the approaching woman. She couldn?t have been older than thirty, Javan surmised, but she seemed to creep across the stage as if she was an aged widow. ?Ms. Sharp, if you?d be so kind??

?Thank you, Mr. Powell.? She tapped the PADD a couple of times and began to read the list, starting with student number one of seven hundred and fifty-two. It was one of the largest class sizes in recent history, but tradition was tradition and it must be upheld.

He groaned as he listened, drawing a knowing smile from Janessa.

The woman opened her mouth, ?Patrick Aaron??


********************


His eyelids sagged dangerously low. They felt as if someone had attached anvils to each one. It didn?t help that the woman was speaking in a monotone voice that made him want to transport into the sun. The reciting of the names had lasted what was going on almost four hours. Each cadet walked up and over the makeshift stage and received the award and the pip and then crossed back to their seat.

It was becoming quite monotonous to watch and he had felt himself slipping into unconsciousness on more than one occasion. For the sake of his sanity he?d asked Janessa to elbow him if she saw him dozing off ? he?d now credited the four bruised ribs to that mistake. Twice she?d elbowed him for no apparent reason and just acknowledged him with a mischievous smile.

?Wendy Zahn,? the last name came, ?That concludes the presentation of the class and I?ll now return it to the Commandant to make it official. To confirm the graduation and commissioning of each cadet seated before us. Mr. Powell, if now you?d be so kind?? She smiled and motioned to the throngs of students who were becoming impatient and squirming noticeably in their seats.

Javan smiled and his eyes locked on his target once again. Eli Vanneer sat rigidly like a stone statue. Gauging him up and down Javan realized just how important this person would be to the operations that were performed under the jurisdiction of Section 31. While everyone else was shuffling about nervously and showing off just how unprofessional they were, Eli was sitting with the composure of a Vulcan.

Even the Vulcans were showing the jitters in their own special way.

The commandant stepped briskly to the podium, a bright smile skewed across his face. ?I now present to you the newest group of Starfleet Ensigns.? He waved his hand and the crowd erupted in laughter, applause, and the sky was littered with the caps that were thrown into the air in celebration.

?I think it?s hilarious at the diversity here.? Javan pointed to particular sects of species in the group. ?There?s the Vulcans standing with their caps on showing their superb abilities to quench all emotion. There?s the Ferengis over there hoarding the hats to sell back later to the foolish hew-mons who threw them away carelessly.?

Janessa shooed him off with a laugh, ?Rule of Acquisition number thirty-nine, Mr. Rydell. Friendship is temporary; profit is forever.?

?And know what the Ferengi say, though. Rule of Acquisition number sixty-nine. Ferengi are not responsible for the stupidity of other races.? He folded his arms and watched the crowd disperse to their own parties, their families, and the drunken stupor that he knew would follow. ?If you?ll both excuse me.?

Eli?s group soon dissipated and he was left alone scrounging around for his lost hat, but he soon gave it up for lost and started to move away. Javan almost ran over a Bolian, knocked a Vulcan out of a meditation or what looked like total concentration, and snagged Eli by the back of his robe.

?Hey! What?s the big idea?? Eli protested after being pulled back a couple of feet. He readjusted his robe and glared at Javan. That was about the time he saw the Commodore?s pips and the color drained from his face as if someone had unplugged him from life. He stuttered over his words for a moment and then got a grip on himself, ?Commodore, I?m sorry, I wasn?t expecting you. I haven?t the pleasure of formally introducing myself.?

?Mr. Eli Vanneer, it?s a real pleasure; but, I assure you, the pleasure is all mine. I?ve read your reports, essays, and I?ve seen your student evaluations ? I?m quite impressed with your performances here at Starfleet Academy and I see you having a bright future in the fleet.? Javan shook the hand of the young man. The cadet impressed him again after a strong and firm handshake.

Eli smiled, ?Well, thank you, Commodore. I didn?t realize that any brass at all was watching me. I know that I?m supposed to meet with an attaché from Starfleet Intelligence after the ceremony. Am I to assume that it?s you??

Javan nodded, ?I?m Commodore Lance Rydell. Except I?m not the one you?re actually supposed to meet with. I have some covert operations that I?d like you to be involved with that are outside Starfleet Intelligence and known only to Starfleet Command.?

?Yeah, I?m interested. What would I be doing??

?Can?t answer that many questions, I?m afraid. If you are truly interested then you are to be at the designated location at the specified time. And, come alone.? Javan pulled a small PADD ? smaller than standard ? and handed it quickly to newly commissioned ensign.

His grin faded and he hid the information quickly, looking around quickly to see if anyone had seen the transaction. ?I?ll be there, sir. Anything I should know or bring with me??

?A good attitude and your first lesson. When doing covert operations or handling sensitive material that is for your eyes only then the only way to jeopardize the trade is by looking around and drawing attention to the fact that you?re concealing something.? With that Javan smiled and headed back over to the Admirals who were waiting for him.

A group of Eli?s friends sprinted up to him, a blonde with blue eyes spoke to him as she pulled his arm, ?Eli, we?re going to be late for the party! Come on! And, who was that?? She pointed to Javan, whose back was turned to the bunch.

Eli smiled at her, ?Just someone who was commenting on the engineering field and my notable marks.?

Javan?s ears perked up, he smiled, and nodded as he moved off behind Mondale and Trevell.

The boy was already learning the first tricks of the trade.

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