One of the first things Ali does, when the ring is evacuated and the Indefatigable is on its way back to friendlier space, is file a brief with Command: Evacuation of Marines complete; all currently alive. Have surprise. Will contact again in twelve hours.
...well, it is called a "brief".
The next twelve hours are spent in very necessary ways. Ali sees that the Marines are being treated, arranges for enough treatment as to keep Precious alive, orders everyone to keep mum about "the surprise", and then gives command to one of her underlings so she can relax. A long soak in a bath followed by a shower scrubs all the dirt and grime of the last almost-week away, and then she falls into bed for a proper sleep. After she and Samus have eaten, and only then, would she again don her uniform to address Command (none of their dozens of attempts to coax or frighten her into delaying her well-earned rest have worked).
Tucking her hair once again up under her hat, she opens a comm channel to Command. "Admiral Trainer, reporting."
*Her message is put through almost immediately, a sure sign of her superiors' impatience. Ali and Samus find themselves faced by the holograms of three Grand Admirals, each telecommuting from elsewhere in the Federation to hear this report.*
It's about time, Admiral. What was so important about the last twelve hours that you couldn't file a proper report?
*Ali's threat receives a trio of frowns, but no verbal response. They'll take her explanation as the closest they're likely to get to an apology and leave it at that. They look impassively over the kill counts, and her query about the security of the channel prompts one of them to prod something on his panel. Their holograms pixelate and scramble for a moment before resolving again.*
We're encrypted now. I assume you're going to tell us why you want to assign an interrogation team to a former Intelligence operative?
"Because he's my Intelligence operative--you'll be reinstating him at his previous rank, of course. Oh, and you're going to owe Samus a considerable bit more. She captured a member of Pirate Command." She waits a beat before adding, "Alive."
*The Admirals are still trying to formulate their protests about reinstating Chel when Ali drops her bombshell. There's a long moment of stunned silence, if she'd like to slip in any further remarks before the inevitable flood of questions.*
"Yes, I expected you'd like that. Now, you'll be assigning me the personnel I requested of course, we don't need to discuss that. And we'll need to work out the payment for Samus' time while she oversees the interrogation. We'll be keeping Precious on the Indie. The fewer people who know about this, the better, and Samus and I are unquestionably the best people to oversee this job. She knows more about the Pirates than anyone, and I can communicate with him.
"The Pirates don't know he's missing. When they make planetside, they'll find that the pirate ship exploded some time after impact, and their poor commander was still on board. I recommend a pitched battle on the next encounter in the Valgish system, so that news of the commander's demise can make its way to their superiors. If they don't leave on their own, we can retake Neurtid later. But I don't expect they'll want to stay, since they wouldn't find mining any easier then we do."
*The admirals confer, their conversation muted before it reaches Ali's end. At length, they address her again.*
The Indefatigable put in at Valcaro Station--officially, for a refit after damage received in combat. You'll get your Intel team then, and you'll stay there until you've gotten all the information out of him that you can. At that time, you will turn your prisoner over for trial and execution, and we will have new orders for you based on what you've learned.
Ali shakes her head. "I'm afraid that's not a very good idea, sirs. A public trial and execution will only let the Pirates know we have him, and devalue any intel we can uncover. It would be much better if the general public never finds our we ever had him."
"Or much of a trial, if the verdict's already decided," she mutters before leaning over to Samus. "Is that acceptable to you? You can still decline to turn him in for the bounty."
*One of the other Admirals has spoken up, perhaps hoping to derail Ali's temper before it gets going.*
No prisoner taken alive may be sentenced without a trial, public or otherwise. A breach of that policy would open all of us, yourself included, to consequences that would paralyze the Fleet when it is needed most. None of us want a repeat of that.
I suppose, since I'll be paid for the live capture, I can't object much at being cheated out of the bounty for killing him. It's acceptable to me, and I look forward to being the first to act on whatever intel we get.
*The admirals aren't much pleased with Samus' veiled accusations, and clearly find her sudden eagerness a little unsettling.*
...well, it is called a "brief".
The next twelve hours are spent in very necessary ways. Ali sees that the Marines are being treated, arranges for enough treatment as to keep Precious alive, orders everyone to keep mum about "the surprise", and then gives command to one of her underlings so she can relax. A long soak in a bath followed by a shower scrubs all the dirt and grime of the last almost-week away, and then she falls into bed for a proper sleep. After she and Samus have eaten, and only then, would she again don her uniform to address Command (none of their dozens of attempts to coax or frighten her into delaying her well-earned rest have worked).
Tucking her hair once again up under her hat, she opens a comm channel to Command. "Admiral Trainer, reporting."
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It's about time, Admiral. What was so important about the last twelve hours that you couldn't file a proper report?
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We're encrypted now. I assume you're going to tell us why you want to assign an interrogation team to a former Intelligence operative?
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Why yes, she is a smug little thing.
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"The Pirates don't know he's missing. When they make planetside, they'll find that the pirate ship exploded some time after impact, and their poor commander was still on board. I recommend a pitched battle on the next encounter in the Valgish system, so that news of the commander's demise can make its way to their superiors. If they don't leave on their own, we can retake Neurtid later. But I don't expect they'll want to stay, since they wouldn't find mining any easier then we do."
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The Indefatigable put in at Valcaro Station--officially, for a refit after damage received in combat. You'll get your Intel team then, and you'll stay there until you've gotten all the information out of him that you can. At that time, you will turn your prisoner over for trial and execution, and we will have new orders for you based on what you've learned.
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*Samus, meanwhile, is considering Ali's question, and her options.*
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*One of the other Admirals has spoken up, perhaps hoping to derail Ali's temper before it gets going.*
No prisoner taken alive may be sentenced without a trial, public or otherwise. A breach of that policy would open all of us, yourself included, to consequences that would paralyze the Fleet when it is needed most. None of us want a repeat of that.
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"I still don't have to like the lie, sir."
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I suppose, since I'll be paid for the live capture, I can't object much at being cheated out of the bounty for killing him. It's acceptable to me, and I look forward to being the first to act on whatever intel we get.
*The admirals aren't much pleased with Samus' veiled accusations, and clearly find her sudden eagerness a little unsettling.*
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