In Case of Emergency, Part II

Posted on Sun Oct 11th, 2026 @ 12:12am by Captain Calypso Skyie & Rear Admiral Nevin Enor

4,781 words; about a 24 minute read

Mission: Interim 3: Subspace Drift
Location: SFHQ > Chimera Subspace
Timeline: Immediately Following Part I

The channel with Commander Velasquez closed, leaving Nevin alone in his office. The Fleming was handled, the medical team would be waiting at Deep Space 16, and there was finally a plan.

That should have made him feel better. It didn't.

His eyes drifted back to Jadizon's message still sitting in the corner of his display.

**I need you.**

Nevin exhaled slowly, rubbing a hand across his beard. “Alright, son. Let's find out what the hell happened to you.”

He straightened in his chair. “Computer, open a Priority One secure channel to the USS Chimera. Commanding Officer, Captain Skyie.”

“Priority One communication request initiated.”

Nevin paused, then frowned. “Wait. Drop the Priority One.”

“Please specify communication priority.”

“Personal. Flag officer to commanding officer.” He shook his head. “No reason to make half the damn bridge think the Federation's on fire.”

“Confirmed. Secure communication request transmitted.”

The Starfleet insignia appeared on his screen as Nevin leaned back and waited.

**SECURE SUBSPACE CONNECTION REQUESTED**
**USS CHIMERA**
**CAPTAIN SKYIE**

This wasn't Rear Admiral Enor calling about personnel readiness.

This was a father trying to find out what happened to his son.

***Chimera Bridge***

“Captain, you have a comm coming in from Starfleet Headquarters.” The Ops watch officer announced.

Cally groaned. She’d promised her crew a nice long vacation once they hit Deep Soace 16, had already made the arrangements for her OWN getaway to Gault with her girlfriend… If this would delay that, she was going to be mighty pissed, “Put it onscreen.”

“Cap, it’s marked as personal?”

That perked Cally’s ears up as she wondered if it could be Towers trying to mess with her… Again. That could be fun to handle, but usually he gave her more time to prepare, “All right, route it through to my ready room.” She stood from the chair and glanced around, spearing one junior officer with her eyes, “Glacus? You have the conn, don’t crash us into any moons or planets why don’t you?”

“But Captain, we’re in deep space, at warp?”

“Exactly! Don’t do anything I would do!” She quickly made her way to the office with a laugh as the poor Ensign’s reply was cut off.

Her desk was only a few more seconds away and she’d started to unzip her flight suit as she rounded the curve of the table, only to see the message header and stop. Oh. Her fingers resealed the uniform as she settled herself in the chair at a firm of attention: This WAS personal, well and truly. The acceptance key was next.

“Admiral, my apologies on the delay, how can I help you today?”

Nevin gave a small shake of his head. “No apology necessary, Captain. And since we’ve never actually met, Rear Admiral Nevin Enor. Deputy Director of Starfleet Personnel Readiness.” He paused. “But right now, I’m calling as Jadizon’s father.”

He shifted forward in his chair, looking more concerned than commanding. “Jadizon contacted me a short while ago asking for help. Now, I know my son. That man would rather chew through a bulkhead or eat a bowl of Ferengi tube grubs, which I know for a fact he personally despises, before calling me and admitting he needs help.”

Nevin’s brow tightened. “So when he tells me something’s wrong, he can’t explain it, and then uses the words this is an emergency…” He slowly shook his head. “Well, Captain, now you have a very confused and very concerned father sitting here trying to figure out what the hell is going on. A father who, inconveniently for everybody involved, also happens to be an Admiral.”

He paused, rubbing his beard.

“And a very concerned mother back on Betazed who, between you and me, scares the absolute hell out of said Admiral.” His eyebrows lifted slightly. “So you can probably appreciate the situation I find myself in.”

He leaned a little closer to the screen. “Before I get into what I’ve started arranging on my end, could you please tell me what happened to my son?”

“I can indeed appreciate the situation, sir.” Calypso bought time as she considered what she would tell him. The truth? It was fantastical, no one in their right mind would believe it. But what else could she say, “I’ll admit that my own current experiences with flag officers have been sub-par, but speaking to a parent? That I can do.”

She took a deep breath as she went to recall the details, “Jadizon is in serious mental distress, sir, part of it comes from going through a breakup, but primarily its damage from a non-corporeal being that infected him and entered his psyche some time ago, I’ve come to discover. I’m not fully versed in what all the effects were from the past, but it was no ordinary parasite, it was more an ancient metaphysical being that implanted itself in his mind and slowly spread out to take control.”

She pursed her lips briefly, then nodded, “I’m certain you availed yourself of my own personnel file before you opened the link, sir?” She waited for the slight nod of confirmation, “So you know that I’m Betazoid and that despite my own abnormal strength of ability, I have had it shut down for a long time. Recently I was forced to… Open back up to rescue another crew member, so when it was brought to me that there was something inside Jadizon’s head that was hurting him, I was in a position to take actions to combat this entity, with assistance, to drive it out of him, maybe even destroy it. I’m not sure which, but the process also traumatized Jadizon as far as I can tell. I can’t get into his head, I haven’t tried, sir, but yes, I believe he does need assistance.”

Nevin remained quiet for several seconds after she finished.

The breakup caught him almost as much as everything that followed. His brow furrowed slightly. “Well... apparently my son and I have even more catching up to do than I thought. I didn't even know he was in a relationship.”

He rubbed slowly at his beard. “And as for you, Captain, I'll be straight with you. I don't know much about you either. I gave your service record a brief read before I opened this channel, but I've never been much for deciding who somebody is based on what somebody else typed into a file. I'd rather figure that out for myself.”

Nevin leaned back. “What I *do* know is you've been handed a ship full of what an old Earth expression might generously call the ‘Bad News Bears.’” His eyebrows rose. “And yes, before you say it, I'm fully aware one of those bears is my son.”

There was a little humor there, but his tone carried genuine respect.

“Yet you've kept them together through what sounds like one hell of a situation. You went into this thing yourself to get one of your people back, then put yourself in harm's way again to help get whatever the hell this thing was out of Jadizon.” He nodded once. “Personnel file or not, Captain, that tells me considerably more about you than a service record does. So you have my respect, and my thanks.”

His expression became more troubled. “Now, somewhere between *breakup* and *ancient metaphysical being taking control of my son's mind*, you managed to answer about three questions and give me fifteen new ones.”

Nevin leaned forward, forearms settling on the desk. “I've been in Starfleet long enough that ‘non-corporeal entity’ doesn't automatically make me reach for the nearest psychiatric evaluation. Though I reserve the right to reconsider that policy after we're finished here.”

A beat. “You said this thing had been inside him for some time. Do you have any idea how long? More importantly, when you drove it out, what happened to Jadizon? What did you see?”

His voice lowered. “Because whatever happened in there, my son came out the other side unable or unwilling to speak, apparently with his telepathy affected, and frightened enough to call me.” Nevin slowly shook his head.

“That last part, Captain... that's the part that scares the hell out of me.”

"I can sympathize with you about that." Cally nodded, "Me, I cut myself off from everyone else intentionally, which is a different monster of it's own. I haven't tried to reach out to your son yet, but that hasn't been much of my methodology anyways and while I was in there with him, I was more a conduit than the actual instrument of the being's dismissal. I don't know how long it was in there with him, nor even where it came from, but I'm presuming it was before we even left Federation territory, so a long time. From everything I could tell, it effectively fed on his telepathic power as it wormed it's way into control of him."

She gave a slight smile, "But it was a woman of sorts, a dark woman who promised him whatever he wished, that she would give him everything, eternal loyalty, eternal life and power, so long as she could. I don't know if it was true, but the closest thing I could think to describe her as would be a succubus."

Nevin sat quietly for a moment, absorbing everything she had told him.

“A succubus,” he finally repeated, rubbing a hand across his beard. “Well, that certainly wasn't on my list of possibilities when I walked into the office today.”

He leaned forward. “Captain, Starfleet Medical hasn't authorized me to review Jadizon's medical record, and I'm not going to use these stars to get around that. While I don't know your CMO personally, according to a few people I've spoken with at Starfleet Medical, she's talented. More than capable of running a starship sickbay.”

His expression grew more serious. “But what you've described is beyond the level of care I'd expect any normal shipboard medical department to handle. When you present this to her, make it clear this isn't personal and it isn't a criticism of her abilities. But my son is my son, Captain. I'm not taking chances with him.”

Nevin tapped several controls on his terminal. “I'm sending you something from my office now.”

A formal memorandum transmitted across the secure connection.

**STARFLEET DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL READINESS**
**PERSONNEL STATUS DIRECTIVE**

**SCPO JADIZON ENOR, USS CHIMERA**
**STATUS: MEDICAL LEAVE, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY**
**DUTY STATUS: RELIEVED OF ALL DUTIES PENDING MEDICAL CLEARANCE**

Nevin looked back toward Calypso. “As far as this department is concerned, Senior Chief Enor is, effective immediately, on medical leave and relieved of all duties. I'm going to assume you already have him off duty, but now there's no ambiguity about it. No watches, no Chief of the Boat responsibilities, no paperwork somebody decides he can handle from his quarters. Nothing.”

He settled back. “He stays that way until he's evaluated on Betazed and cleared by the Betazed Medical Commission in consultation with Starfleet Medical. From this point forward, Jadizon has exactly one job. Get better.”

Nevin brought the sector display back up. “Now, getting him there. I've requested a Mobile Crisis Response Team from the Fleming. Four medical personnel aboard one of her long-range medical transports. The Fleming stays on assignment, but the team and transport will detach and meet the *Chimera* at Deep Space Sixteen.”

“They'll assess Jadizon there and determine whether he's stable enough for transport. If he is, they take him directly to Betazed. His mother will have things ready on that end. If he isn't, nobody moves him. The team stays at DS16 until he can safely travel.”

Nevin paused before adding, “And to be clear, I'm not reaching into your command and taking one of your people out from under you. Until Jadizon is formally transferred into their care, he's still one of yours.”

He glanced down at his terminal and pulled up another personnel record.

“There is, however, one small wrinkle in my otherwise beautifully constructed plan.”

**PETTY OFFICER SECOND CLASS RONAN DRAKE**
**CHIEF SUPPORT CRAFT PILOT, USS CHIMERA**

“The medical transport has a crew chief qualified to get them from the Fleming to DS16. Starfleet Operations isn't comfortable clearing that crew for the longer run to Betazed without a dedicated pilot.” Nevin looked back at Calypso. “Fortunately, somebody apparently parked a qualified support-craft pilot aboard the same starship carrying my son.”

He paused.

“So I'm asking rather than ordering, Captain. Once the medical team reaches DS16, I'd like Petty Officer Drake temporarily released from the Chimera to pilot Jadizon and the medical team to Betazed. Once he's delivered them safely, we'll arrange transportation to get your pilot back to you.”

Nevin leaned back slightly.

“That gets Jadizon somewhere equipped to deal with this, doesn't interfere with the *Fleming's* mission, and doesn't leave you wondering whether some Admiral just commandeered two members of your crew.”

A beat.

“Which, given your previously mentioned experiences with flag officers, I figure earns me at least a few points.”

"And which, sir you have already lost by making these arrangements and unilaterally relieving Senior Chief Petty Officer Enor of his duties without so much as a 'by your leave' to me." Calypso's voice had an edge to it, the one she'd grown familiar with when dealing with flag officers. "You say you presume that I have already relieved the Senior Chief and you're right, he hasn't seen anything official since he landed on Orgrann. You also made it sound magnanimous that you would assume I would do that."

The hand that had laid flat on the desk in front of her had balled into a fist, "But instead of asking his duty status, you send me your own orders, and yes, Admiral, those are orders to remove him from duty. That tells me that despite your platitudes, you still didn't trust me to do what was in the best interests of my ship and crew. That, Admiral, sir, while meant with good intentions, means I now have to wonder what you have planned."

Cally didn't give him a chance to respond, leaning forward in her own chair, her eyes ablaze, "I will not release Petty Officer Drake without his explicit volunteering to undertake this mission, Admiral. while I believe he might, he also may have made other plans for his extended leave time and I will not deprive him of one minute of that. If he says no, you can requisition a pilot from DS 16 just as easily." Her jaw worked for a moment, "And don't think you can threaten me, Admiral, you're aware of Vice Admiral Towers and what he did to me and my people in the beginning and continuing on. I know you can cancel all of our leaves and send us right back where we came from and if you do, sir, you'll find that Chimera will survive. I want the Senior Chief to recover just as much as you do, but I have over two hundred men and women aboard this ship and I'm going to look out for them as well, prevent them from being playtoys for people who have more stars than brains."

Nevin sat back in his chair, allowing the Captain to finish without interruption. His eyebrows had climbed considerably by the time she was done, and for several seconds, he simply stared at her through the screen.

“Well, holy shit, Captain.”

He let out a low breath, rubbing his beard before leaning forward again.

“First off, let’s get one thing straight. I’m not Admiral Towers, and I sure as hell don’t intend to become him. I’ve read enough about that particular situation to know you and your crew have been put through the damn wringer. And believe me, Captain, I’ve got better things to do than play some ridiculous game of whose rank is bigger.”

He paused, pointing a finger toward the screen.

“Now, between the reports your CMO has been filing and the information that’s crossed my desk, I was already aware Jadizon had been taken off duty. I wasn’t questioning whether you had the good sense to do that.”

Nevin leaned back, spreading his hands slightly.

“But here’s where things get interesting. You see, I happen to be both a Rear Admiral in charge of personnel readiness and the father of the man we’re discussing. And being the exceptionally charming, remarkably resourceful, and occasionally pain-in-the-ass Admiral that I am, I figured I’d make the whole thing extra official.”

He paused.

“And apparently, in doing so, I managed to step squarely on the toes of a Captain who has already had more than her fair share of Admirals stomping around her bridge.”

Nevin slowly nodded, his expression losing some of its earlier confidence.

“Yeah. Alright. That’s on me.”

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk.

“Captain, I’m not going to sit here and feed you some bullshit about how my intentions excuse my actions. You’re absolutely right. I should’ve discussed that memorandum with you before transmitting it. Your ship, your crew, your responsibility. And for the record, I have no intention of canceling anybody’s leave, threatening your command, or dragging your people into some personal crusade.”

He paused, considering his next words.

“Truth is, Captain, from everything I’ve seen, you’ve done a damn fine job commanding that ship. You’ve kept your people together through situations that would’ve broken lesser crews. You’ve protected them, fought alongside them, and apparently haven’t been afraid to tell a flag officer where he can shove his opinions when necessary.”

A faint chuckle escaped him.

“Can’t say I particularly enjoy being on the receiving end of that last one, but I’ll be damned if I don’t respect it.”

Nevin’s expression softened as he glanced briefly toward Jadizon’s message still displayed beside him.

“Here’s the part I’m having a little trouble with, Captain.”

He hesitated.

“Jadizon’s my firstborn. My baby boy, if you can imagine that stubborn son of a bitch ever being small enough to carry around in my arms.”

He shook his head.

“I’ve got four children. Love every damn one of them. But Jadizon? He’s the one I’ve never quite figured out how to reach. Somewhere along the way, between me wanting him to become an officer and him deciding he’d rather carve his own path through Starfleet, we lost something. We’ve spent years being a Rear Admiral and a Senior Chief instead of just being father and son.”

Nevin rubbed his forehead.

“And now, after all those years, the boy finally reaches out to me. Not to argue. Not to prove something. Just to tell me he’s scared and needs his dad.”

He looked back at Calypso.

“I’ll admit it. That clouded my judgment. I saw an opportunity to do something for him, and I started moving pieces around before stopping to consider whose board I was playing on.”

He sat upright again.

“So, Captain, you have my apology. A genuine one. I’ll issue a clarification that the medical leave directive is an administrative personnel action, not an attempt to override your command decisions. And as for Petty Officer Drake, I agree. He volunteers, or we find somebody else. Simple as that.”

Nevin paused, then gave a small nod.

“I still intend to get my son the help he needs. But I don’t need to make an enemy out of the woman who’s been looking after him to accomplish it.”

His voice lowered slightly.

“And Captain? Thank you for doing exactly what you’re supposed to do. Standing up for your crew. Even when the person on the other end of the screen happens to have a couple of stars on his collar.”

A beat passed.

“Now, if we’re done measuring the size of our respective command authorities, perhaps you and I can figure out how to get my boy home without either of us having to file a disciplinary report on the other.”

“I’m a Marine, Admiral, that means I’m typically direct, to the point and without regard for the niceties.” Calypso smirked in amusement, “Or at least my detachment CO on board says I’m still one at least, so my head is tougher than most. I will forward your request for PO Drake to him and Lieutenant Windancer for approval by him. If it comes down to it, sir, I’ll fly him over myself, but I don’t expect it will.”

She paused for a moment as she digested all of his words, having been unable to interrupt his trains of thought, knowing he’d do the same for her, then she sighed, “I will also apologize, Admiral armor, if anything I said was out of line. You’re right, this ship, this crew have been through a lot in the last year and a half. We were sent out to push the boundaries of the Federation’s knowledge of our Northern Territory, with the expectation that we would be unable to complete our mission and die, leaving our data as our legacy. All that because I didn’t rise through the ranks from an Ensign, because I wore green long before I wore red. It isn’t anywhere in my orders, sir, but it’s true nonetheless.”

She gave a wave to the side of the screen, “Some of my people will want transfers off the ship, I would be obliged if you could find them some posting that’s a fair sight more respectable than the one they were initially sent to, sir, and while I don’t know what the future has planned for Chimera, I’m hoping we’re going to stick a bit closer to home this time. Those deep space missions are hell on crew morale and I’ve been lucky so far. I know you don’t have much say in those regards, but it’s for the sake of my crew. And sir?” Her eyes flit up to look into his, “If Senior Chief Enor is fit for duty, or even close to it, I want him back. He and I got off to a rough start and in all this time, I’ve never gone back to him to set things right. Now isn’t the right time, but I do want to.”

Nevin let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. “Oh, believe me, I've worked with enough Marines to know subtlety isn't exactly your strongest selling point. Most of you would rather kick down a door than knock on the damn thing.” He leaned back, studying her for a moment. “And Calypso, if we're going to keep having conversations like this, do me a favor. When we're not standing in front of a room full of brass, call me Nevin. I've got enough people kissing my ass and calling me Admiral all day. Besides, you've already chewed me out once. I think we're past the formal introductions.”

“Now, about your people. Send me the names of anyone requesting a transfer. I'll have my department look into finding them a decent posting. Can't promise everybody gets their first choice, but I can make damn sure their time aboard the Chimera doesn't become some black mark on their record. As for where Starfleet sends you next? That's above my pay grade. And yes, believe it or not, there are still a few things above my pay grade.” He raised an eyebrow. “But I can make sure the people making those decisions understand what your crew has been through. Eighteen months of getting your asses kicked on the frontier ought to count for something.”

The mention of Jadizon brought a noticeable change to his expression. “And my boy...” Nevin paused, rubbing his beard. “I can't speak for him. Hell, I don't even know where his head's at right now. But I'll do everything I can to send him back to you. If he's cleared for duty and wants to return, I'll make sure that door stays open. Truth is, I think it'd do him some good knowing his Captain still wants him around.”

Nevin was quiet for a moment before something occurred to him. “Oh, and while we're talking transfers and Marines...” He turned toward his terminal, tapping a few commands. “Boy, have I got a little present for you.”

A personnel jacket appeared on his screen. He skimmed it once before transmitting a copy.

STARFLEET MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL TRANSFER ORDERS

Name: Corporal Jace Rourke Homeworld: Bozeman, Montana, Earth Assignment: USS Chimera, Marine Detachment Reporting Location: Deep Space 16 Status: Transfer Approved

“Corporal Jace Rourke. Young Marine. Good record, solid qualifications, and apparently a pair of balls so big I'm surprised he can fit through a standard Starfleet doorway.” Nevin leaned back. “See, I got a rather interesting request from our soon-to-be Vice Admiral Vance. He wanted this kid buried. Career finished. Shipped somewhere so far into the middle of nowhere he'd have to ask the Borg for directions home. Naturally, I got curious. What the hell did this Corporal do to piss off a man who already walks around looking like somebody shoved a Klingon painstick up his ass?”

Nevin glanced down at the file. “Well, wouldn't you know it? Turns out young Rourke was sleeping with Vance's wife.” He looked back at Calypso, eyebrows raised. “Yep. You heard me. The man's wife. Not his daughter. Not his secretary. His actual, honest-to-God, legally married wife. Now that's what I call having absolutely no regard for your own continued survival.”

Nevin's amusement faded a little. “But here's the thing. I read his jacket. And underneath that spectacularly stupid decision is a damn good Marine. Qualified, capable, and somebody who could actually have a future in this organization. And Vance? Oh, that son of a bitch. He beat me to flag rank by being the finest example of a brownnosing, ladder-climbing, self-important jackass I've ever had the displeasure of sharing a conference table with.”

Nevin pointed toward the screen. “So when he came asking me to bury Rourke, I thought to myself, Nevin, you handsome devil, you've got yourself a golden opportunity here. Not to screw Vance. Well... not entirely.” A dry chuckle escaped him. “But to give a good Marine a chance to prove he's worth more than the worst decision he's ever made.”

Nevin gestured toward the transmitted orders. “So instead of sending him to count rocks on some frozen moon, I'm sending him to the Chimera. He'll meet you at DS16 and report to your Marine detachment. And before you start sharpening those Marine claws, let me be clear. I'm not asking you to babysit him. If he screws up, you hold him accountable. If he earns his place, you give him the same chance you'd give anybody else.”

Nevin settled back, folding his arms. “Something tells me a former Marine commanding a ship full of misfits might appreciate a young Corporal who's been written off by somebody with more stars than common sense. Oh, and one last thing. If that kid starts flirting with anybody's wife aboard your ship, tell your Marine commander to have a very serious conversation with him about the importance of keeping his damn pants zipped.” A beat. “Preferably before I get another angry Admiral calling my office.”

"Problem solved!" Cally visibly brightened as she heard about the Marine, "No one is married on board Chimera, at least, not that I know of, so he can't run into that problem out here, not unless Henry has his druthers and Tessa stops being stubborn, but if they get married and your young Corporal Rourke tries to go after her? I think she'd show him the errors of his ways, in her own style, and if he survives that? He'll be much better behaved." She nodded, "But, sir? Nevin? Thank you. I'll keep you updated on our arrival schedule and how the transport of Jadizon is faring. You're not bad for someone who has let the bureaucracy take control of their lives."

She gave him a smile, "We'll get it all sorted, Admiral Enor. I'll let Major McEntyre know he's getting reinforcements and all settled in." A corner of her mouth turned up in amusement, "Skyie clear."

 

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