[One Final Run Part 1] Let's Go Already

Posted on Tue Jul 15th, 2025 @ 4:34pm by Lieutenant Adrianna Baciami & Lieutenant Fang Lee

1,189 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Stars Around the Well
Location: Out In Space
Timeline: During Repair and Rest

ON:

Adrianna was first at the unmarked ship, she'd left Vance in bed as she had a number of things to do before being able to start this mission. She'd not spoken to him really, since he was arrested for everything with Jason the night before. It wasn't that she was mad at him, it was because she wasn't happy with how she was reacting to it all. She was happy that Jason got what was coming to him, but still-- there was a guilt that remained there.

She was in her civilian clothes, the same as she had worn whilst working with Vance all those years ago. She had a manifest in her hands, forged papers and a few other necessities. She stepped into the small vessel, checking it out. To her it felt good to be back working for intel, even if it was just a one off mission. It looked a lot like a small ship they'd hijacked whilst on the Pendragon, in fact, it may have been the same. She could quite be certain.

Vance came in carrying his duffle. "Well now, this looks familiar."

"Looks like the Merlin, right? I was just trying to figure out if it was," She turned around a grinned, "I agree that this set up seems familiar though-- Deja vu. One big difference though: I'm the capitano in this scenario... Although, we'll see how that pans out..." She winked at him, a flirtatious gaze in her eyes, before returning to business, "Constantine should be here any minute, and as soon as Annabel gets here, we'll be gone. Did you manage to take a look over the schematics for what we're picking up? Need to make sure that they're giving us the real one"

She took a breath, running her fingers through her hair, "This may be a favor, but gawd I'm nervous go back undercover, even if just for a day."

"Did I hear that right? Lisichka? The Adrianna Baciami is scared? The same woman that didn't flinch during a torture survival semina," a tall, handsome blond wandered in.

"Vance, Constantine," Adrianna introduced.

"Gawd-- you upgraded," Constantine chuckled before offering his hand to Vance, "nice to meet the Vance Adams. Honestly, your smuggling days are infamous. I'm jealous that Ade got the mission, not me. But damn 'the woman's touch' being requested."

"No no I was a space pirate. The space pirate if you will." He shook Constantine's hand. "Your the Ex Fiancé right?"

"Semantics," Constantine chuckled before nodding, "that's me. Don't worry though-- I'm happily married with kids and Ade and I are just friends. We ended on great terms. We were friends before anything else and we valued that more than anything else. You must be the husband?"

"I am indeed and I wasn't making any show of territory was just going to thank you for not going through with the wedding."

Constantine said something to Adrianna in Russian. Adrianna simply smiled, "yes he is, no you can't, and not in a million year. And I will be retaining standard for the majority of this mission unless we get delayed and will be staying over somewhere. Usual coffee rules apply. Ah! Coffee rules!" Adrianna stepped away and looked to where coffee could be replicated. She ran her fingers over the edge and opened a secret panel. Inside was a mug that said 'no standard before coffee' in it. Adrianna held it out and looked over to Vance, "it is the Merlin."

Constantine read the mug and chuckled, "I see old habits die hard. Is it true that it only took six months for that to turn into a truth?"

Adrianna nodded, "fourteen weeks, actually."

"I told you it would kill you," Constantine chuckled.

"True, but it worked," Ade smiled, "sadly the habit won't break now though. I've tried everything that I can think of. Ah, here's Annabelle."

Annabelle walked in. "Sorry I'm late. Frankie has some issues about me going on a mysterious trip." She sighed. "It took me the better part of an hour to loose the tail."

Adrianna nodded, "thank you. You'll be fine. I'll sort Frankie out when we're back if needs be. Did you look over the schematics for what we're retrieving, if not, both you and Vance have seven hours until we get there."

Constantine nodded, stepping over to run preflight checks. Ade looked at the captain seat and then to Vance. It felt strange. A plain clothes operation where she wasn't a mere crew member. She hesitantly sat down, "let's go."

Vance smiled and winked at her. "Come on Annabelle let's take a look."

Adrianna almost felt relieved that Vance wasn't having an issue with this. It felt odd to her, she had to admit. Certainly, the last time she was on this specific ship, the only time she had sat in the captain's chair was with him still in it. It was uncomfortable, in more ways than one.

Adrianna watched Vance and Annabelle leave before looking over to Constantine. "I really can't thank you enough for this, Connie. It means a lot."

He nodded, keeping his voice low, "I did as you asked, I kept it quiet from the crew we're meeting. If you're brave enough to leave the ship, they've agreed to not open fire. Obviously, the rest of us are fine, but you-- you burnt bridges. Not just Fleet, but you specifically– final body count was 17 and 3 behind bars. Equally, have you spotted where they're forcing us to meet?"

Adrianna nodded grimly, "you know-- there was no clean up. The chapel still stands. They left it as a warning." She sighed, "I'll stay on the ship. I don't fancy having bruises or scrapes mere days before the wedding. Equally, I think Vance would have a heart attack if I was to be reckless."

Constantine nodded, "I'll take charge as soon as we're there. I've got this. Let's just hope they do not wish any last minute acts of revenge. I don't understand why you didn't just have me telling them about our guests.”

“I didn't want the mission compromised, or an attempt at kidnapping,” Adrianna sighed, “if they knew, there would be a bigger plot– they'd probably feel like we hijacked their minds or something– turned them to Fleeters.”

“You do not trust our guests to make their own decisions?” Constantine asked.

Adrianna relaxed in her seat, “I see the nostalgia and longing for adventure, sure. I trust that both have found stability in this life though. They've found meaning.” Adrianna paused, “To answer your question properly: I trust our guests. I do not trust those we are visiting. They would do anything to have them back. Anything. I'm not putting them in a position of such unknown.”

“You understand that this is a potential suicide mission for you,” Constantine shook his head.

“They wouldn't kill me,” Adrianna firmly shut down the conversation, “they would prefer to keep me alive and torture me until they feel justice has been done. Our guests would get me out of it before I caved.”


To Be Continued...

 

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