After shoving off a sizable load onto poor Mister Drake, Jesa felt slightly better about her tasks for that day, as long as she didn't think about two things... the funerals, and... Buck. So instead she fixated her mind on the most prominent two mysteries laying about the ship at the moment. This JAG officer, and Victor Tyne.

The former was curious, indeed, as the most odd thing was what could she have wanted to know. Jesa had her share of black secrets, but none that would be of interest enough to send an agent. Though she had the list of possible agencies narrowed to about six when her console beeped at her. She tapped it absently then let her eyes run across the gold text on the screen. Sure enough, it was the 'official' file regarding Tyne, just as useless as she had expected it to be.

Tyne... now there was a puzzle. Something made her want to trust him, and help him... which only served to alert Jesa ten times more strongly about this character. Still, he gave her something to think about, a puzzle that wasn't easy to unravel. One thing she could say, he certainly wasn't a standard run-of-the-mill "disobeyed orders to go out and be the hero, or go down guns blazing" type of renegade she knew.

He seemed like he had lost a lot, and that life had not been kind to him. Yet, Jesa being herself, there was no way she could just turn him loose like some kind of jail break. She needed more information, and she needed a reliable impression of him... yet, something told her that the one she had was as good as she was going to get. Then, without really thinking she looked at the chronometer and then at the time of the message.

'Half an hour...' she thought, then replied with an affirmative. 'That will just give me enough time to talk to Lysander.' She thought. Without another thought Jesa tapped her comm. badge, "Lieutenant Commander Lysander, please report to the ready room." She stated, closing the channel without waiting for a response. Only after she said it she realized how formal she was, and winced.

Dismissing that thought, she picked up a padd and proceeded to work on it until the door chimed a few minutes later, which, coincidentally was just about the point where she as getting a hang on what she was reading. She rolled her eyes skyward and put her frustration aside. "Enter!"

Jesa looked up at Ethan, and couldn't help but laugh internally, as he had the look of 'have I done something wrong?' on his face. She motioned him in with a slight smile, one that was a little less guarded than the one she donned around Drake. "Come in... have a seat... sorry about the formality, I wasn't thinking."

"No problem... sir." A grin slowly spread as he lowered himself into a chair opposite her. The tension in the air seemed to indicate there was a problem, but the tone of her voice indicated that he, at least, was not the root cause. Allowing himself to relax slightly, he eyes quickly scanned the room before finally settling of Jesa. "So what's up? What's the problem?"

Jesa ignored his grin, and the tension. She actually found it a little amusing the way he scanned the room, as if he was expecting a surprise party or something. "No, nothing's wrong, not really... I just wanted to inform you of some things going on, as I realized I hadn't." She smiled slightly. "This whole command thing is taking some getting used to."

Ethan's grinned faded and replaced by a more genuine smile. "Well, just remember, you wanted that big chair. Go on..."

Jesa shot a slight look at Ethan then chuckled inwardly, she really did not want this position... well, maybe part of her did. "Well. We have a prisoner on board; I didn't know myself until he was just about literally standing in front of me. I have Drake looking at what little he might find on this Victor Tyne, but command has not seen fit to give us any real information."

"What is this, the man in the iron mask?" He asked cryptically. Jesa looked puzzled, "Sorry, an Earth Classic, the story of mystery prisoner... in a Iron Mask. Okay. If that's the good news what's the bad news?"

Jesa looked distant for a moment. "France. Two twin brothers. The one is on the throne, and in order to keep his power from being contested, the other is in a dungeon, heavily guarded. But so no one will recognize him... they put him in an Iron mask... wait, doesn't this involve the three Musketeers? Or am I mixing my stories?" Jesa questioned, tilting her head, a slow grin spreading on her face.

Ethan paused for a second, "Okay so you've probably read a lot more books in your time...."

She chuckled slightly at his "your time" comment. "We also have another little situation developing with the JAG team that was supposed to be investigating... apparently she had already called two interviews. But something didn't seem kosher about the whole deal, so I quietly and with dignity..." Jesa smiled a little Lysander's direction to let him know that she knew he knew she was giving a very mild version. "confronted her... interrupting her interview with Dixon. At which point, after a bit of verbal sparring she up and left, something I personally was not expecting."

Ethan's grinned returned for a brief second as Jesa briefly recounted her encounter. "A situation... well that's putting mildly, it's like saying the Dominion war was a small scale skirmish. Still that's not a JAG officer to turn tail like that."

She smiled a little at his statement of her melodrama. "No... she's not. I checked with the Starbase, she's not acting in official capacity if she is JAG... which I seriously doubt."

As if struck by lightning Ethan suddenly sat up in the chair, "This is a major security breach. I don't need to remind you that this mission was classified by the brass. Have we notified command, what's the plan?"

"Yes, I've quietly notified the only brass officer I even remotely trust, they're keeping an eye out for her... but I'm not sure, he might have known who she was, but was simply hiding it. Yet, I'm not satisfied with this..." She steepled her fingers. "On our end, I'm making it another one of Drake's little projects, as he might be able to do a better job since he was interviewed first by her... Of course, the real JAG team has yet to poke its head above water yet, but I feel they are just around the corner." Jesa added, starting to think as she was talking.

"I'll catch up with Drake later, to see if I can assist in any way." Ethan was about to rise from the chair when he sensed this meeting was not over. "Is there anything else, you look a little pre-occupied."

"Yes... far too much I'm afraid. We also have those two from the Prophecy still in our brig. I wonder what command is waiting for..." She refocused on him. "Sorry, just idle thoughts spoken aloud..."

Ethan slowly lowered himself back into the chair as Jesa finished talking. "Well perhaps the real JAG representative will be able to advise."

"They might.... But being myself, I don't trust outsiders, officers or no, and I trust lawyers even less. "She looked at him a moment, "Another odd thing is that Baker is also inquiring about Tyne, though I don't know what about yet, perhaps we just have too many curious people on this ship. Last update on the refit schedule is that we move off tomorrow, and the refit begins that night. Johnson is working in charge of the staff here, and I've assigned Drake to mediate between Johnson's crew, and the base team." Jesa said, her eyes running down the padd she was just working on.

"Well it looks like you've mastered the art of delegation..." the grin of Ethan's face clearly showed Jesa that he was joking. Jesa's face remained slightly passive, but not reacting as he was expecting. "Sorry, I guess I was fishing for a reaction. Still are you sure he's up to the job. I know he can do it but..."

She flashed a slight grin. "Well, why wait to break him in? I think he can handle it quite well, and he'll have such demands put on him soon enough." Returning the grin Ethan simply nodded.

"I'm a little concerned with Balur, as he is so new to this crew... I'd like you to assist him in scheduling, and yes, you will have to under go an evaluation. Perhaps you should schedule yours first, as a show of leadership." Jesa hid a grin, knowing that he was probably going to cite her in some way for her own avoidance of the topic.

"Oh gee, thanks boss. I guess that's what Starfleet calls, leading from the front... sure no problem, I'll catch him later today." Ethan made a mock look of disgust as he made a brief note in his PADD.

"I know. I hate them too..." she smiled a little. "I'm... trying to put mine off, because..." She tried to say it, but couldn't quite bring herself too. She knew that if she did, she'd loosen the mask she had been working under for the past day's duty hours. That was something she couldn't afford at that moment. Thankfully, Lysander had the insight to see that.

"Like I always said, you can't do too much for a good Captain."

"Thank you." She smiled a little. Jesa wanted to say something else, but couldn't find the words.

Ethan shifted for a second in his chair, "Jesa, I'm not doubting Balur's ability but... we are all a little shaky after that last mission. Would someone more familiar be better suited... Rich maybe?"

"Yes, ordinarily I'd agree with you. But he's been ignoring my messages, and for an odd reason has been rather out of sight. I will find him later, but for now I'd prefer to have you assisting Balur." She sought to downplay the situation, so added. "He may have just have forgotten to file for shore-leave, of maybe it was lost in a computer glitch."

Ethan quickly suppressed his frown, "Well you're the boss. I'll catch up with Balur shortly."

"The only other thing I have... is this strange situation with Summers. I trust you've heard the rumors." Jesa said, looking seriously at Lysander.

Cocking his head to the side, he asked, "Well I have heard some rumors... are they true?"

"Yes... I do have to confirm them, except the one about him being the third reincarnation of... oh, I don't even remember what the rumor was, but it was strange." She smiled slightly. "I also confirm that he went to sickbay, he came to the briefing, seeming more or less normal, and yet, now he is still in sickbay... but that's about all I know. Which is exactly the problem. I need a report from Medical ASAP. I feel like it has turned into some kind of secret blackhole, and I do not like that feeling, not on this ship."

Ethan nodded in acknowledgement. "I understand your concern, as soon as were finished I'll get down to sickbay and poke around a little."

"I need you to get a report from them about what happened, but that's not the most important part. I need to know if Summers is fit for duty. He has behaved strangely ever since I have spoken with him, and I need statements from both Faulk and Balur about his readiness for his duty. If he manages to get out of sickbay, he'll discover he's been locked out of the system at my request. But if he's like any security officers I know, he'll have a back door to get into the systems... and until the Isannah's memory is wiped next week, he'll still be a threat, if he is at all." Jesa said.

Ethan paused for a second, "Well... how about transferring him to sickbay in SB118? That will remove an immediate danger to the Isannah, if there is any. I'm sure we can find a temporary Chief of Security in his absence."

"Definitely... we have an Assistant Chief of Security Officer, one Ensign Carl, though you mightn't find him a whole lot of help. Not to be racist, but half-Klingons aren't known for their diplomacy... he might give you a good back-up though. He'll assume Security duties in an active roll until Summers's state is determined." She summarized, then paused.

"I think your doing the right thing... I'm sure Summers is not a security risk, but your right to put the safety of crew and the ship first." Ethan looked directly at Jesa, aware that if he misrepresented Summers, he could risk ending Summers's career, or his own.

Jesa's gaze held his own for a moment, then she broke eye contact, speaking something that was necessary. "There just are too many unusual things right now, circumstances I'd rather not have blow up into problems. Everything just feels off... of course, it probably is just me. I don't know," Jesa said, feeling decidedly unfocused.

"Well you know I'll support what ever decision you make." Lysander said simply.

"One more thing to add to the pile... with the upgrade, we will be getting a new EMH program, to replace the balding doctor. Because LAURA was Buck's property I'm going to have her taken offline and stored..." she couldn't avoid it now, and closed her eyes a moment before continuing. "...with Buck's belongings... I don't think his family will object... but since... we were never married..." she swallowed slightly, "His family really retains ownership... though I don't think they'll mind..."

"Jesa, I'm sure they wouldn't. Beside you and Buck were all but married in name. Not one of his family would argue with that. I'm sure they would be proud to learn that his influence would live on." Ethan said, his voice softening.

It happened again, as soon as Lysander spoke his name; she couldn't help it. She tried to hide the tears, and slowly she raised a hand across her face, but it would not work. Her body gave way to a slight shaking and as much yelling as she was doing inside herself to stop, she could not. After a moment of trying to regain control, she gave up trying to hide it, and lowered her hand, wiping her eyes slightly.

Through her tears she smiled at Lysander a little. "I'm sorry, I know it makes you uncomfortable when I'm not... emotionally strong."

Resisting the urge to comfort Jesa, Lysander sat back slightly in the chair. Jesa was in his mind was walking a very fine line. Complete denial of Buck would probably lead to a nervous breakdown while languishing in his death would end her Starfleet career. It was a rough tightrope to walk. If Jesa wanted his support then she would ask.

Jesa noticed right away his distance, and that he was holding back even as she was trying to hold the tears at bay. "Please... don't hold back. I'm..." she breathed shakily "not good... at asking for what I need." She sniffed slightly, embarrassed at her words. He reached out and touched her arm gently, she managed a weak smile.

"So..." he said, turning to turn the tide of conversation "Your sister, Terah... is she married or looking for a relationship?" Ethan grinned, as Jesa finished wiping away the tears.

Jesa laughed at the unexpectedness of the question. "Well, to be honest, I don't know. I don't think she's married unless she got married in the years that I was out of communication... but I think you'd have to ask her about that, Ethan. If you're asking in reference to possibilities with yourself and her, I'd say it'd definitely be good to ask her that question yourself!" Jesa smiled softly.

Loaded: 03.10.2004