Interrogations and Interrogatives

Posted on Tue Jun 23rd, 2020 @ 4:56am by Captain Nycolas Temple & Lieutenant John Sandoval & Lieutenant Alexandra Alves MD & Lieutenant James Smith & Ensign Emmanuelle Larose
Edited on on Fri Jul 10th, 2020 @ 5:29pm

Mission: Death in Paradise
Location: Paradise Outpost
Timeline: 1200 hours

ON:

Lieutenant John Sandoval and Ensign Emmanuelle Larose were the first to the transporter room. He had his more ornate cane, while she carried a Type 1 phaser in her pocket. Though Paradise Station disabled hand phasers, they were confident that this wouldn't apply to the docked ship. And given the covert aspect of this particular meeting, the risk to their personal safety might be higher, especially if the Pact was somehow involved with the Irokari or the freighter.

The freighter Captain and most of his crew were Tellarites, though not in any way associated with the Federation. They were contracted to transport the Irokari delegation from their homeworld to Paradise Station, remain docked for a week or two while their passengers sourced their aid, and transport them and their cargo back to Irokar. They had no desire to interact with the Pandora, but sufficient pressure, especially towards the needs of their Irokari passengers, made them agree to permit a Starfleet away team on board.

Alexandra walked into the transporter room, carrying some medical equipment with her, finding two of her shipmates already there. One of them was Lieutenant Sandoval, who she's met already, when the diplomatic officer briefed her about this mission and asked her to come along, overseeing the delivery of the medical supplies. The other was a short brunette woman she hasn't met yet. The last few days were quite eventful for Alex. She just got transfered to her new assignment, and had to jump right into the middle of such a complicated mission, with all the 'behind the scenes' intentions the Captain told her about, not to mention the business with the medical aid, which she was now put in charge of.

"Lieutenant.", she nodded to Sandoval as she strolled in, then looked at the other woman, "Ensign.", she greeted her, extending her hand, "I don't think we've met. I'm Doctor Alves."

“Ensign Larose,” said Emmanuelle, taking the Doctor’s hand. “Security attaché to the diplomatic department.”

“Permanent effective today,” affirmed John with a proud smile. Emmanuelle beamed in her new purple uniform.

Smith had been going over the mission report before he had to report to the transporter room. This meeting would allow him better insight, and hopefully some room to move around the ship. He needed to know what Irokari were hiding if and necessary get the necessary Intel. Smith had gone ove the records of those that were going on the away mission to familiarize himself with the crew he didn’t know well.

Arriving in the transporter room with a datapad in hand he noticed that Lietenant Sandoval and Ensign Larose were already present. He caught sight of a new face and smiled, “You must be Doctor Alves, it’s a pleasure to have you with us, I’m Lietenant Smith head of Intel.”

Alexandra turned around to see another unfamiliar face, this time a short-haired, tallish man. "Pleasure to meet you, Lieutenant.", she replied with a friendly smile, and extended her hand towards the man.

"Good to see you, Lieutenant," John said to Smith with a smile. "I worked with your other half during yesterday's mission, until she was pulled away. Congratulations on the incoming bundle of joy, by the way." He looked to all three of his fellow officers. "We're just waiting for the Captain, and then we'll be off."

As if on queue, Captain Temple arrived. He was busy pulling on his jacket again, but he gave a curt nod to those assembled. "We're down one favour to Paradise now. I just needed to call on Katya's gratitude to allow our Fighter wing to dock with the ship."

"Fighter wing, Captain?" John said, not really looking for an answer, but he felt compelled to say something, and managed to be diplomatic before he could say So we're in the 'Death from Above' business now, sir? or So the best solution is more weapons, sir? Thankfully he stayed his tongue.

"To escort us back home to Federation space." Nyx replied, giving a hopefully reassuring nod. He then turned to the Transport Chief. "We're ready. Energise."

The five of them rematerialized on a transporter pad in the Tellarite freighter. The room was by no means clean, but it seemed fully functional. This was a ship run by a profit-minded Captain who understood that putting money into ship maintenance went a long way, but who also saw no value in a shiny floor. A squat Tellarite man, easily a foot shorter than the Captain, with long hair, a long beard, and porcine nose, stood before them, his arms crossed. "So what do I have to do to get you off my ship with minimal fuss?"

"We apologise for any intrusion." Nyx began, trying not to show his disdain for the rude greeting and also hoping to avoid an argument. "Our protocols necessitate our being here for the Irokari's supplies."

The Tellarite grunted and waved the Starfleeters toward him. "Come this way, then," he said with an exasperated sigh. He guided them down a short corridor, stopping at a junction in front of a large door. "Their leader is in our passenger quarters, this way," he pointed to the left corridor. He then pointed at the door. "This is our cargo bay. Most of your cargo is aboard already, and there are a few Irokari cataloguing it."

"Sir," John said to the Captain, "perhaps you and I can speak with the leader, while Dr. Alves and Mr. Smith look in on the cargo?"

"Good idea." Nyx remarked with a nod.

Alexandra found the whole ship messy and not exactly the best place to store medical supplies, which usually require a more sterile environment, but she had seen worse during her tenure in space medicine. Much worse. The Tellarite captain's demeanour didn't came to her as a surprise either, so, she just shrugged it off.

"Alright.", she nodded to the Captain and Lieutenant Sandoval, then looked at Lieutenant Smith, indicating that she ready to proceed to the direction their host indicated, and eager to check on those supplies. "Let's see what we have."

Smith nodded, “Aye sir”. Smith eyes fell on those crew still in the room, before looking at the doctor, “ Lieutenant I’m going to allow you to start questioning the crew, while they are distracted I’m going to attemp to get into their computer to see what information we can come up with.”

"Sure.", the doctor nodded. As they entered the small cargo bay, and approached the large pile of medical supplies humped together inside, she decided to take a closer look and let the Lieutenant hack their computer. The supplies were apparently all in order. A closer look will have to determine, of course, if they actually are. Alexandra approached the two Tellarite crewmembers present, who happened to be in the same mood as their superior. "Excuse me, can I have word with you regarding these supplies?"

Smith quickly found a computer port he could use and accessed through his tricorders, the supplies blocked what he was doing but he knew that he would eventually be missed. Quickly he went through the communications logs and noticed a few communications that were encrypted. Down loading them to his tricorders he quickly made his way back to were Alexandra was talking to the crew, he nodded letting her know that he had finished his work.


*****

Walking down the narrow corridor, Temple and Sandoval arrived that the passenger's quarters. Nyx gave a wry smile as they stood in front of it, "You know, I'm not used to knocking on someone else's door." He remarked.

"Good to get out of your comfort zone then, Captain," John said with a smile. "This is a non-neutral site, but the Irokari should feel good about talking to us. If they know anything about the Pact, they'll probably tell us." He pointed to the door chime, which was on Nyx's side.

After completing the necessary task, Nyx and John waited a few moments before the door was opened by an Irokari guard. Nyx gave a short bow, "Greetings, we apologise for the intrusion in your personal space, but we have requested an audience with your leader."

"Of course," said the white-feathered Irokari, returning the Captain's bow with a nod. "CAO Rivain awaits you just inside." He stepped aside and motioned with his manicured-clawed hand into the room. It was clearly a passenger cabin, though the living area had been converted into a workspace by the passengers. Rivain, Chief Acquisitions Officer of the Irokar Commission for Protection of Refugees, sat at a desk, working at a portable computer station. She looked up and saw three Starfleet Officers at the door. "Ah! Captain Temple, Lieutenant Sandoval, Ensign Larose. Please come in. I regret I do not have sufficient chairs for all three of you." She motioned at the two available seats in front of her desk.

"That's quite alright, we won't take up much of your time." Nyx replied, deciding to take one of the offered seats. "It's so wonderful to meet you in person."

John came around and sat next to his Captain. “Some of our crew are ensuring that you received everything you need. Our Chief Medical Officer is also going to provide information on a disease spreading through the camps that she has some expertise with.”

“I appreciate the gesture, Captain, Lieutenant,” replied the Chief. “But surely you needn’t have all come for that.” She walked around her desk and approached Emmanuelle. “And once again you show a lack of balance.”

John spoke up. “Ensign Larose’s duties require her to be standing at attention.” Emmanuelle nodded in agreement. “As for why we are here, we need your help. We’re trying to learn more about the Alrakis Pact, and we’re wondering if you or Irokar have any information about their activities.”

The Chief ruffled slightly at the mention of the Alrakis Pact, turning to the trio with an intense stare. "The Irokari are no friends of the Alrakis. They wish to subjugate us." She said in a harsh tone. "I have reason to suspect they have been helping to perpetuate the war on my planet."

"Really?" said John, solemnly. He wasn't expecting so forthright an answer. He glanced at the Captain, showing him his concern. "Please, Chief, tell us more. Anything would be helpful."

Rivain tilted her head to the side, "I do not wish to invite more trouble for my people or my planet. Six months ago, we were given an offer of assistance from the Breen, on condition that we aligned ourselves with their Alrakis Pact. We were not about to swap one war for another and declined. Since then, our war has escalated and I fear it is due to the Breen punishing us for rejecting them. I have no proof, however."

“Captain,” John said turning to Nyx, leaning in close so that only the Captain could hear him. “There must be something we can do. If Pact members are destabilizing neutral worlds, maybe the Federation can act more directly. Send aid more directly or prevent arms from being imported to Irokar by the Breen.”

"We don't have time right now." Nyx replied in a hushed tone, "We can report back on this intelligence when we return to Federation space. Hopefully we'll be able to return to the area and help in future. For now, we need to focus on the mission."

"Do share, Captain." Rivain interjected, her tone unimpressed.

"Chief, my apologies. We were trying to ascertain how best to assist you with your problem." Temple replied with an apologetic smile. "But right now, we're under considerably time constraints. If we don't make it back to Federation territory before the Alrakis Pact's deadline, we will be hunted and destroyed by their forces."

"I appreciate the thought." Rivain nodded, "Your medical aid has brought a temporary cease-fire to our planet, it is our hope that we can use this time to negotiate. If we must temporarily align ourselves with the Alrakis in the sake of peace, then so we shall. It is merely a matter of practicality."

John nodded. "The most lives saved, the better. We understand that sentiment. No one will judge your world's governments for wanting to avoid violence. But perhaps there is some more information you can give us that will obviate the need to align with the Pact. Do you know anything about Alrakis Pact ships in the area? How frequently the Breen or other members come to your doorstep? Anything that will help us help you."

The Chief ruffled again, noticing the pattern in the Starfleet officer's questions, "You want us to provide you with Intelligence." It was more of a statement then a question.

Nyx nodded, "We are facing the Alrakis Pact's deadline while the Pandora and several other Federation vessels are still in the Expanse. It is possible some might not make it home to safety and we need to be prepared. This sudden coalition of powers has caught us by surprise and now thousands of lives are at risk."

Rivian titled her head a little, considering the problem before her, "I understand your predicament, Captain. We've known something was happening in the area for several months now. Breen and Tzenkethi forces no longer fighting over territory, the Wi-u-Kai stopped raiding certain areas." She paused and sighed. "We foolishly believed the Inconnu Expanse was finding peace. Or cohesion at least. I never imagined it would be this."

"Us either." Nyx replied with a frown. "I hope we can have an opportunity to help each other in future, Chief."

Rivian paused and nodded, "I believe we can right now, as a matter of fact. Something is happening on Paradise Outpost. My people cannot tell quite what exactly, but the mood here - especially around the Security personnel - has changed significantly since our last visit. I would not trust them or Katya at this moment. She may seem friendly but the Irokar have seen people like her far too many times before. If I were you, Captain, I would leave Paradise Outpost as soon as possible."

With the grave warning received, Nyx and John thanked the Chief and departed from her ship. They rendezvoused with Smith and Alves before being transported back to the Pandora.

OFF