Knuckling Down
Posted on Tue Jun 23rd, 2020 @ 12:36am by Cailus Griffin & Captain Nycolas Temple & Commander Owen Nash & Commander Mindo & Lieutenant John Sandoval & Lieutenant Commander James Smith
Edited on on Fri Jul 10th, 2020 @ 5:19pm
Mission:
Death in Paradise
Location: Deck 2 - Conference Room
A Mission Post by Captain Nycolas Temple & Commander Owen Nash & Lieutenant Cailus Griffin & Lieutenant Mindo & Lieutenant James Smith & Lieutenant John Sandoval & Lieutenant JG Natalia Parrino
Mission: Death in Paradise
Location: Deck 2 - Conference Room
Timeline:
Thu Nov 1st, 2018 @ 2:50am
With Paradise Outpost only a few days ahead of them, it was time for the Pandora crew to start planning their approach for finding the information they desperately needed. Paradise was neutral territory, but that didn't make them allies. It was a corporate business with clients to protect; they weren't going to just willingly hand over the information to Starfleet. To gain the intel, the Pandora would have to use a mix of subtle subterfuge and old-fashioned investigation to get what they wanted. And so Temple and Nash gathered together the heads of Security, Intelligence, Diplomacy, and Engineering to formulate their plan of attack. Sitting at the head of the conference table, Nyx awaited the arrival of the meeting party.
Natalia shuffled through her PADDs. She had been in the conference room before the Captain to make sure her presentation would display properly and the two exchanged brief greetings before she returned to reading reports.
Sandoval was next to enter the room. Having only arrived on the ship the day before, he hadn't yet met all of the Department heads. He nodded to the Captain and extended his hand to the First Officer and the intel officer both in the room.
"Good morning," he said, "Lieutenant John Sandoval, new Chief Diplomatic Officer."
"Natalia Parrino," the Intel Officer said, shaking John's hand before sitting back down.
"Welcome on board Lieutenant," said Owen as he shook Sandoval's hand. "Its a pleasure to have you join the crew of the Pandora."
Mindo hovered into the conference room very rested, despite a rather busy night. He'd awakened with enough time to shower, get dressed, and read his messages before heading to the meeting. He noticed a new face in the room talking to the Captain, and then noticed the coffee with various items like bagels, danishes, scones, put out by the hospitality staff. Mindo needed a good breakfast, so he went straight for caffeine and pastries.
James had spent the better part of the morning going over reports in his office. He had been reading up on Paradise Outpost and the information that Parrino had provided him. He was really impressed by what she had done since coming aboard and was going to enjoy having her as part of the team. Arriving he looked around before taking a seat near the front of the table. James smiled as he looked around, “Good morning everyone.”
"Morning, sir," Natalia said to her superior.
A couple of minutes later, the ever-disgruntled Chief of Security showed up. "Sirs, lieutenants," he said as he entered, greeting everyone with his usual polite gruffness. Noting the new CDO's presence, Cailus gave the man a respectful nod of welcome before sitting down.
Natalia smirked at Cailus's entrance.
Owen joined the others at the Conference table after ordering a Raktajino from the Replicator. Having been up for quite a few hours understanding the current state of Operations, he was glad to not be looming through reports. "Morning all, please continue," he said
Nyx clapped his hands together, "Let's get started, shall we? We're fifty-four hours away from Paradise Outpost and we need to formulate a plan for our arrival. Lieutenant Parrino, let's hear more about your suggestion for our cover story."
"Yessir," Natalia hit a button on her terminal and a slide came up detailing the plan. "The CONOP is has three spears: covert, overt, and a hybrid spear," Natalia continued, referring to the concept of operations.
The first slide showed a layout of Paradise Outpost's medical facilities.
"For the overt spear, since Starfleet has been directed to leave the area per the Alrakis Pact, medical will provide humanitarian assistance before Starfleet departs the region for what could be a long time. They would apply vaccines, delivering medication, etc. During this operation, they would collect any information heard during the program and/or track where the medication goes. My assessment is that with a medical shortage on the horizon, nefarious groups will attempt to hoard medical supplies.
"For the hybrid spear, operations will seek to requisition parts or other materiel needed for the Pandora. This will be an opportunity to collect information heard during exchanges or determine if there is a black market, who is running it, etc. My assessment is that Paradise Outpost has some form of black market, considering its location, and that will lead us to further intelligence and possible information brokers.
"For the covert spear, well this is probably the most simple plan of attack: engineering hacks into a computer terminal and pulls data. This could be more complicated though and provides the highest risk of exposure, not to mention the time needed to sift through any data. Are there any questions?" Natalia concluded.
The new diplomat on the team leaned forward into the table. "I can help give our overt spear extra legitimacy. The medical departments of civilian stations like Paradise receive requests all the time from organisations in the region seeking medical aid. Natural disasters, civil wars, displaced persons, and the like. If you like, I can proactively make contact with one of these organisations, essential schedule the deliver of aid in a public way. Our team can keep their ears open for anyone who would take the supplies, as you suggest." John then added, "Making contact with a group in need prior to arrival could also result in positive press in the region. It may not reduce the likeliness that someone will take the supplies, but the response by the various regional powers will be harsher when it comes out that the supplies were stolen from highly vulnerable refugees displaced by war."
Nyx nodded, "As far as we can tell, Paradise itself won't require medical supplies. It's well-resourced and it's marketplace wouldn't appreciate the Federation coming along giving out free samples. I like Lieutenant Sandoval's idea of using a third party that requires assistance. Any leads in that regard, Lieutenant?"
"Yes, sir," John said. "The planet Irokar, about seven light-years from Paradise Station, has been in the grips of civil war for the past seven years or so. Reports suggest that a delegation of Irokari are on Paradise seeking medical supplies to help the more-than-ten million people displaced by the war. Injuries are common among the refugees, and diseases are spreading through the camps. The delegation seeking aid isn't affiliated with either side of the conflict. Think the Red Cross/Red Crescent from Earth. My team and I can make contact with the Irokari and arrange a transfer of goods." He looked at Lieutenant Parrino. "I'd be more than happy to accommodate someone from the intelligence department on the Starfleet delegation to handover the supplies, to facilitate access to the station." John then smiled widely. "One more thing, Captain. It will almost certainly require a photo with you and the lead Irokari. The good press factor will be important"
"I would defer to Lieutenant Smith in selecting personnel from our department for this mission," Natalia looked at James.
“Sounds like a win-win. We actually help some people, and provide a solid reason for meeting at Paradise.” Nyx nodded. “Let’s make it happen. Lieutenant Sandoval, I may have declined to mention this earlier but you may want to get into contact with the Federation Secretary of the Exterior. He can expedite our necessary permits. He also happens to be my brother.”
Sandoval smiled at that. "Yes, sir. We'll be fully accredited by the time we reach the station."
Mindo leaned forward. "Engineering continues with repairs," he said. "I'm hoping there will be someone at the station who could lend a hand. As for the covert spear, I think I can make that possible, but I'd like to borrow Lieutenant Griffin to assist me in the operation."
“What?” Cailus said in confusion, caught by surprise. Glancing between Mindo and everyone else, he shook his head fervently. “I strongly recommend against that, lieutenant. Subtlety and deception are not my strong suits. Lieutenants Smith and Parrino would be far more able to assist you.”
"And I'm hoping one of them does," said Mindo. "But I'd still like a security officer with us. If you're too afraid, I could take T'Kemi instead..."
The irritated glare that Cailus responded with was fierce enough to cow a lesser man. "You know better than to provoke my ego, Lieutenant. I can serve as a personal escort, but if we get to the point where my combat skills are required, then we've likely failed anyway. I cannot fight the entirety of the station's security force."
"Let's wait on the Covert Spear for now." Nyx suggested. "From what we hear, the station has tight security and I don't wish to blow our cover by trying something so risky right away. Lieutenant Mindo, work on your repairs and if we see an opportunity to implement this idea, we'll find a way to make it work. Safely."
"Yes sir," Mindo replied.
"Aye Captain," Cailus acknowledged.
Natalia nodded. She trusted the Captain's judgment.
"Well, it sounds like the Hybrid spear falls to me for now," Owen offered. "Like Engineering, we could use with some replacement parts after the repairs effected to the ships various systems." He took a sip before pulling up a list of requirements in a hologram.
"The Pandora was shaken up quite badly during the storm and at some point, there are specific replacements we need will have to be sourced at a Starbase or Spacedock. So that offers a good chance to source parts at Paradise," he explained. "With the Palatine and other remaining Federation Starships already clearing the area, we'll also be attractive to any black market trades on the out post."
"I will meet with station's manager to request assistance." Nyx said. "It'll help to gauge their feelings on the Alrakis Pact. I can only imagine that a large power claiming ownership of the region would restrict their ability to do business. I hope I can use their angle to gain some necessary intel."
Owen nodded in agreement. "In times like these, people of decide which side their on pretty quickly and we can only hope that we stumble across a few willing allies onboard that are looking to... Assist us?" He offered.
On the other side of the table, Cailus frowned, clearly concerned. "But can we trust such people? Until last week, we counted the Talarians as our allies. Our entire mission here was enabled by the Talarians guiding us through the Corridor. Hell, it was only a few months ago that we were collecting Talarian dead off a crippled cruiser because of a Tzenkethi surprise attack. Alliances and friendships in general seem like a slippery business in the Expanse."
"This whole region is entirely unpredictable." Temple agreed. "I'm surprised by the Talarian's involvement with the Pact as well, and not entirely convinced they're willing members. But we have to play with the pieces on board as they are; even if it means making individual alliances to get the information we need to and return to Federation space." He took a deep breath. "Are there any other concerns?"
Smith nodded, “My only concern at the moment is the safety of the crew, I’d recommend a sub dermal implant so those still on the Pandora can track us and if necessary beam us back onboard. It would give us an added layer of protection.
"Talk to Medical." Nyx nodded, "It may not be practical if we're granting liberty to the crew. But we'll ensure everyone goes off with comm badges so we can keep track."
With a nod, the meeting was called to a close. Nyx headed back to his office. If they were going to make this cover story work, he was going to have to call in a favour from his brother.
OFF
