Stardate: 60829:1800
Title: Nothing To Report
Author: Admiral Elizabeth Foster
Time: Current
Scene: Starbase 9


Snapping the compact shut she acknowledged that the only way to get rid of the bags under her eyes and the wrinkles was to get a decent nights sleep and whilst she slept someone would need to rewind the clock by about 30 years.

Elizabeth asked herself for the thousandth time why she had agreed to do this interview for INN (Interstellar Network News). Her peers always readily welcomed the media attention but Libby hated the half-truths and propaganda that she would have to spin.

The door opened and in walked a perky young blonde, her entourage and all their equipment. Elizabeth stood and shook hands with the woman who presented herself as a cute bundle of love but in her eyes you could catch a glimpse of the real heart of stone, cold, power hungry b*tch she really was.

"Well I know you are very busy Admiral so shall we get rolling?" She looked like she was about to pounce and Libby could vividly imagine her jumping across the table and ripping at her jugular with her teeth. Composing herself the Admiral smiled.

"Ask away, Ms Taskins." Libby's clasped hands lay on the desk before her. She looked calm and professional.

"Let's start with Starbase 9." The reporters smile had a hint of cruelty in it. "This Starbase has the worst record for murders, violent crime, high staff over and stolen Federation property." She paused, but not to let Elizabeth answer; she wanted to see if the Admiral would squirm under the spotlight of all these failures.

"The Starbase is also a costly venture with money from central Government being poured in. However, reports suggest that through poor management it is just wasted. How would you respond to that?"

Elizabeth waited not because she didn't know what to say but just to make the acidic woman sweat a little.

"Starbase 9 does have its problems, like all Starbases, and they will not be solved overnight. However, in the six months that I have been here I have installed some vital new crew members and a dramatic reduction in crime has been achieved." The Admiral rattled off some statistics and sent a silent 'thank you' to Darien Trent for the large part he played in bringing about some of their successes. "Additionally, plans are underway to make the Starbase more self sufficient and I have even seen recent reports indicating that she could even be profitable."

Ms Taskins almost pouted at the way the Admiral had handled the question and came out quite favourably, but she bounced back quickly as she set herself up for the next question.

"Two of the Federation's newest vessels have been placed under your watch, the USS Relentless and USS Horizon. There were reports that before their new captains had even been given their first assignments they were causing problems here on the Starbase." She arched her eyebrow in an explain that one away manner.

"A misunderstanding is all that took place and both Captains handled themselves in a thoroughly professional manner. No damage was done and they have both been exemplary examples of the best the Federation has to offer."

The Admiral smiled.

"Speaking of their assignments, an INN source reports that the Horizon's mission logs on what they have found on Tharan 3 are being classified. Can you tell us more about that?"

Libby had a feeling this would come up. The Federation Council wanted to keep the outbreak of a deadly virus and the death of 99% of the population as quiet as possible, and not only internally but also from other races to avoid panic and any responsibility if the virus had spread further.

"For now the files are classified. This is because a natural disaster killed some of the inhabitants of the planet and we feel it is only fair that their family is informed before it is made public knowledge." Elizabeth had been one of the votes for clear disclosure on this matter but secrecy and dishonesty had won out and she was sworn to secrecy and was now spreading lies to help cover it up.

The reporter was obviously dissatisfied with the way the interview was going as she wasn't even pretending to smile now.

"There have been no reports on the USS Relentless; would you care to explain this?"

"The USS Relentless is responsible for travelling and expanding the borders. There is a lot of space out there Ms Taskins and I am sure as you can appreciate there is a lot of nothing out there. I'm sure there will, however, be ample reports in the future."

Elizabeth hoped that by now they had found they device the Progenitors had hinted at and that Captain Khavok would be in touch soon. She would give them as much space and time as she could before making any further reports to the Federation Council.

The interview lasted another twenty minutes as the reporter questioned the Admiral again on the same topics trying to trip her up, but Libby stayed alert and left the woman with no scandalous story to report.

At last, with her office to herself, Libby closed her eyes. Station personnel had reported that John Galt had left the Starbase, and this gave her an opportunity to work on getting closer to her gifted Counsellor. For the next five minutes she would close her eyes and pretend she was lying on a beach and that the thumping wasn't a pain in her head, but rather was the rhythmic sound of waves crashing on the beach.


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Admiral Elizabeth Foster
Commanding Officer
Starbase 9
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