Rescue

Securing The Asset

The small ship was coming in hot as it approached the Calivon transport craft. This was high risk, everything had to go right, and there were a lot of moving parts to this whole operation. Alara Kitan, ex-Union Fleet Lieutenant, crouched near the hatch, poised to go in and help retrieve the asset as quickly as possible before an alert brought Calivon gunships in. For a moment she reflected on the changes in her life that brought her here.

A month earlier, she resigned from the fleet, despite a personal appeal from Admiral Tucker to reconsider.

"It's an untenable situation, sir. I have a reputation among my fellow service members that renders me unable to serve effectively in any capacity, let alone be a leader."

"But you're no longer on the Orville, I think you'll find the attitude to be more amenable on a different ship," Tucker replied. "Give it time."

"That may have been the case prior to fleet wide knowledge and seemingly obsessive interest in Gordon's court-martial and my role in it. It has definitely soured most Fleet members toward me, only a few overtly it's true, but it's a subtext in almost all my interactions," Alara explained.

"Perhaps a special assignment until it blows over. Your knowledge of security..."

"With all due respect sir, I don't see it happening for a while, if ever. In fact, I have a feeling that even if someone's attitude isn't negative toward me, there would still be a sense that anyone associated with me may eventually be affected negatively, in what humans call a 'guilt by association' scenario..."

"It appears your mind is made up. I'm sorry to see you go, especially under these circumstances. Good luck in whatever you choose to do," Tucker said sincerely. "If you ever reconsider..."

"Thank you, sir."

She considered her options after resigning. Security firms are always seeking ex-Fleet members, and normally her reputation wouldn't be a problem among the by-the-book types that security usually attracts if it was only the following of orders to return to Earth instead of attempting a rescue of Captain Mercer and Commander Kelly Grayson, that while unpopular with most of the Orville crew, would eventually blow over. Of course, in that case, all she'd have to do is wait it out on the Orville, or at worst transfer to another ship. But her role in the bringing down and cashiering of a surprisingly (to her) popular Union Fleet officer was apparently unforgivable even to a significant number of those types that populated the security field, even though by that point it was out of her hands, and she found it almost impossible to get a foothold in any reputable security firm.

Well then, she couldn't be choosy, that's all.

Whether by luck or design, she happened to run into someone who ran a more specialized type of operation, shall we say, as she was perusing the offerings at a local headhunter firm. She was referred to a Jack Gerson, who had an assignment that piqued her curiosity.

"You're very young for this type of work, but you have excellent credentials," Gerson told her. "Okay, but it'll be three weeks of specialized training and it won't be easy. Your strength is definitely an asset but this job requires much more than that, if you're interested."

And he was true to his word. It was a grueling, intensive, and exhilarating three weeks. She made it through training and now was the moment of truth. Now she would have a chance to put her newly honed skills to use.

"Timing is critical. Drop out of quantum as close to the transport as possible to minimize the chance of them rallying an effective defense, blow open the hatch and get in, retrieve the asset, then take off before the gunships get close enough to take you out," the operation leader said to his crew.