Merida Island was a crescent shaped island in the West Pacific that did not appear on most charts and sat outside most of the important satellite paths.
The home port of the Tuatha de Danaan battle group, it was the hub for Mithril's West Pacific Fleet. With Captain Testarossa and the Special Response Team, Urzu, amongst its most illustrious members.
Tessa was here, at her desk going over her operation report and other pertinent files in preparation for the council meeting scheduled to begin in the next two hours.
She'd expected to spend only a brief time going over the facts in her report and soldify her thoughts and positions, however, she had, almost immediately found her reports had been changed.
The over all basics of the events were the same, but not all.
Her updates on Ranma Satomi's capabilities had been rendered more vague. She'd given reports on Ranma's demonstrated abilities including statements from the woman herself and some witnesses. But now the woman was played off as an independent mercenary.
There had also been reports of unusual blood work from the three children taken in for medical treatment, now very much appearing to be routine. Mention of their involvement reduced to only hostages.
Reports on the Musk, reduced to descriptions of a regional terrorist group with similar kidnapping tendencies.
Frowning, she started to pull up the various files' adjustment records and found that, as far as the computer was concerned, she was the last one to modify them.
She was pondering this as the message came in that the meeting had been pushed up by forty minutes.
"Private Farrel?" Tessa called, pushing down on the intercom. "Inform Lieutenant Commander Kalinin and Commander Mardukas that the council meeting has been pushed up to thirty minutes from now and have them meet me in the council chamber in ten minutes."
"Yes, Ma'am," the secretary said on the other end.
Gathering her information together the captain mentally prepared a new report on this breach of security. She stood up and started walking out of her office towards the Merida council room where she sat calmly down and waited for her subordinates.
They weren't long behind.
"Captain, I assume there is there a reason you asked for us to be here twenty minutes ahead of the meeting?" Kalinin said.
"Someone's tampered with my reports," Tessa said firmly. "Much of the mention of the Satomis and other paranormals has been mostly eliminated from the report."
"Do you think they altered them somehow?" Mardukas asked.
"I wouldn't say so from their behavior," Tessa said. "And if they had a psionic way to alter the reports why would they bother with our memories intact?"
"Perhaps they assumed we would overlook the changes to your report," Kalinin suggested.
"Perhaps," Tessa said. "In any case, I plan to report this to the council in addition to my debriefing on the rescue operation."
As she spoke, her chair and one other started into life.
Across from her was the monocled image of Lord Mallory's hologram looking across the table at her.
"Captain Testarossa," he said. "It is good to see you well."
"And good to see you as well, Lord Mallory," Tessa said.
"I'm glad you can make it to this briefing," Lord Mallory said.
"Briefing?" Tessa said. "Shouldn't we wait for the rest of the General Council."
"This meeting is not for the General Council," Lord Mallory said. "In fact it is paramount that we finish this before the General Council convenes, at the original time."
"I'm not sure I understand, sir," Tessa said.
"You may have already noticed changes in your recent operations report," Lord Mallory said.
Tessa's eyes widened.
"Sir," Tessa said. "What is Mithril's interest in Ranma Satomi?"
"I'll be explaining that," Lord Mallory said. "Check your monitors, you should be receiving a report on Psyche Division."
Nodding, she looked down toward her chair's briefing screen and watched the information pulling up on her screen.
"Psyche Division, yes, I see it here," Tessa said. "I don't believe I've heard of this before, sir, but on first glance it appears to deal primarily with paranormal affairs."
"That's exactly what it is," Lord Mallory said. "Psyche division primarily keeps a list of known psychics and mystics and files on investigated paranormal phenomena. In fact, if the Whispered had not been a key factor in the founding of this organization, they'd likely fall under the aegis of Psyche division."
"And Ranma Satomi is an operative of Psyche?" Tessa concluded.
"If you can pull up her file," the head of the General Council suggested.
Tessa did as instructed and looked over the screen.
*Ranma Satomi Ethnicity: Japanese Nationality: Recently established Japanese citizenship. Age: 34 Birthdate: Unknown Status: Independent Operator Flags: Reliable, Uninitiated, Potential Recruit Enhanced Bio-Energy Production: Inborn, Class A Bio-Energy Manipulation: Training, Class A Paranormal Sensitivity: Exposure, Class C Regenerative Inhibitor: Exposure, Class C Danger Sense: Training, Class C Environmental Energy Manipulation: Training, Clas...*
There was a small laundry list of martial art styles and demonstrated abilities.
She read further and noted that the first time Mithril had used her was eight years back.
Prior to that they tracked her to a police report, sexual assault Tessa noted, and hospital, shark attack, in Greece.
Tessa winced at the day that must have been.
Unfortunately, that's where the story stopped and since Mithril hadn't yet been formed, much less Psyche division, little more had been found on the woman.
"For the most part, Psyche does not have full agents," Lord Mallory said. "But keeps track of individuals such as Miss Satomi that we've found to be trustworthy in the case that we have a paranormal situation to deal with. Since Miss Satomi and you have stumbled on each other, it is convenient to brief you on the situation."
"I understand, sir," Tessa said. "And I am to assume that this is not to be discussed with the General Council."
"Correct," Lord Mallory said. "You are going to find yourself reprimanded for your reckless authorization of the use of the arbalest in the rescue of three individuals, as well as your risk of the Danaan to run the secondary rescue."
"Of course, sir," the captain said.
"This extends to your subordinates, is that understood?" Mallory asked.
"Of course, sir," the two behind Tessa said.
"As to Ranma Satomi," Lord Mallory said. "Psyche division will handle that on their end, hopefully you'll be seeing more of her. As far as the general council is to be told, her potential ESP is unconfirmed. The DNA reports on her children are classified to the highest degree, I expect you to inform your medical staff immediately."
"And the troops that witnessed the abilities?" Tessa asked.
"Soldier's rumors, campfire stories," Lord Mallory said. "Be sure to brief the SRT members that had close contact with her as well. No mention of Psyche Division should be made at this time."
"Understood," Captain Testarossa said.
"Now, this briefing is at an end," Lord Mallory said. "Take the remaining time to the council meeting to be appropriately surprised at the accusations of recklessness. And do have counter arguments prepared."
"Yes, sir," Tessa said, saluting moments before Mallory's chair disconnected and his image vanished. "Well, that's informative."
She closed the information on Psyche in her council monitor.
"I'm not sure I like the idea of this Psyche division," Mardukas said frowning.
"People such as Miss Satomi rarely have military attitudes," Kalinin noted. "This might be the best way to utilize their abilities without the problem of organizational strife."
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(Posted Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:48)
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