Subterfuge Most Helpful, Part 1

Posted on Tue Jun 23rd, 2020 @ 12:40am by Lieutenant John Sandoval
Edited on on Fri Jul 10th, 2020 @ 5:19pm

Mission: Death in Paradise
Location: Diplomatic Department, Deck 4
Timeline: After “Knuckling Down” and “Getting to know you”

A Mission Post by Lieutenant John Sandoval
Mission: Death in Paradise
Location: Diplomatic Department, Deck 4
Timeline: After “Knuckling Down” and “Getting to know you”
Thu Nov 1st, 2018 @ 12:55pm

Captain Nyx’s instructions were very clear. John Sandoval was to make contact with the contingent of Irokari, representing a nongovernmental aid agency on their homeworld, to bring medical supplies to those injured and displaced by civil war.

But he hadn’t even met his team yet. He’d met much of his senior staff, as well as the Counselor. But it was early morning and time to work. The computer directed him to his office, and he found the way to the diplomatic area.

The Pandora’s diplomatic zone was small, but perfectly functional. A medium-sized office for the Chief. A small annex for an administrative assistant and some other staff members. A small conference room for meetings with low-level dignitaries (anyone more senior would meet the Captain in the conference room two decks up.)

The entire staff had assembled in the conference room, at his request, to meet the new chief.

Crewman Liane Marcoux, his administrative assistant. A human woman who had been aboard for two years. Young, but it was said the department ran smoothly only because of her.

Ensign Jari. A J'naii and the only commissioned diplomatic officer on the team. John named them acting assistant chief until someone was assigned the position, or they proved themself. They would be responsible for gathering raw data and helping John prepare briefing material, talking points, and in rare occasions speeches.

Staff Warrant Officer Vashi th’Tashat. An Andorian woman who came aboard with John the day prior. She was his protocol officer, responsible for making logistical arrangements and ensuring no one on the Federation side offended anyone.

There were two empty positions that he needed to fill, but those would come in time. Once he proved his worth to Captain Nyx, and the value his team brought to the ship’s operations, the Captain would surely approve filling his staff to entirety. It could mean destaffing other departments, so it would only happen if the benefits were clear.

“Alright,” John said, joining his team after introductions and pouring himself a coffee. “We’re on our way to a station called Paradise. The order from the Alrakis Pact was for all Starfleet ships to be out of the Expanse, and that includes us. So we need an excuse to disobey that order.”

“How do we do that, sir?” asked Jari.

“There is a plan,” answered John, “and it’s our job to put part of that plan in place. There’s a delegation on Paradise Station from the planet Irokar.”

“I’m familiar with it,” said Vashi. “Warp-capable. The Irokari were on their way towards a united government, when the issue of whether to stay on their planet or expand into space divided them. It turned violent seven years ago, and the violence hasn’t abated.”

“That’s right,” said John. He took a sip of his coffee. Not bad. I think I’ll keep Marcoux around. “The Intelligence department suggested we go to Paradise on a humanitarian mission. We’re going to legitimize that plan. We need to make contact with the Irokari on Paradise ahead of our arrival, determine their needs and how we can meet those needs. Marcoux, I want you to set up the subspace transmission. Schedule something for later today. And get their needs list. Th’Tashat, once the list comes in, work with Ops and Medical to determine what we can give them. Reach out to Counsellor Kaleri; she’s a friend, she knows ops, and there's a good chance she'll be on the delegation. And study everything you can about Irokari customs. Jari, study the current state of the civil war closely, as well as the organization. I don’t want our aid to enrich some warlord or influence the outcome of battle. We need to ensure that the aid goes to those who need it.”

A trio of Yessirs followed and the team dispersed.

There was much more to do. A mission like this, where a foreign power insisted Pandora leave the region, required diplomatic legitimacy. John would need to make sure the team had diplomatic accreditation. He was fairly confident that the Alrakis Pact wouldn't attack a ship on an actual diplomatic mission. Formal credentials, and an active press campaign, would discourage any action against them.

Security was still a concern. He needed to talk with that chief of security he saw in the briefing, see about getting a security officer attached to his team. Something irked him about their security chief, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. A vague familiarity. It would come to him.

He would also need to follow up with the intelligence department to arrange having one of their staff come aboard his delegation, as well as Counselor Kaleri.

One thing at a time, though. Contact with the Irokari first. Nail down the specifics closer to arrival.