Squawk

Posted on Tue Jun 23rd, 2020 @ 5:48am by Cailus Griffin & Petty Officer 1st Class Greep
Edited on on Fri Jul 10th, 2020 @ 5:33pm

Mission: Death in Paradise
Location: Greep's Quarters
Timeline: current

"Private Message To: Lieutenant Cailus Griffin
From: PO1 Greep
Subject: Something you should know
Message:
"I have some information that may be of use to you, if you want it. My quarters are safe. You can meet me there."


The brief, mysterious message had come while Cailus was sneaking in a few minutes to have lunch with his family, and it had immediately set off alarm bells as he read it. Only hours earlier, Mindo had shared information that implicated Terrekal, a Fesarian trader on the station, was in actuality an operative of Starfleet Intelligence working for Vice Admiral Chase. The same Admiral Chase who had manipulated and hurt Mindo. The same admiral who might well have been behind the horrors of Shae and Aoife's past.

The same Admiral Chase who, until recently, had been Greep's commanding officer at Starfleet Intelligence.

Thus, after saying goodbye to Shae and Aoife, Cailus left the mess hall to head directly for Greep's quarters, not wanting to delay. Even so, with a nagging feeling in his gut, he took the time required to stop by the Armory to pick up a sidearm, even though he wouldn't be on duty for another twenty minutes. It was only instinct, and almost certainly an unnecessary one, but even so, Cailus had never quite been able to trust the enigmatic Ontarion who had switched allegiances to Mindo.

So armed, Cailus arrived at Greep's quarters and tapped the chime.

The doors parted to reveal Greep, assigned as a Petty Officer First Class to the USS Pandora, but with a rank of Lieutenant-Commander within Starfleet Intelligence. His identity in SI, Cailus knew, was virtually non-existent as far as records were concerned, but the Security Chief was smart enough to know that Greep wasn't ever what he said he was.

"Hello, Lieutenant," said Greep, addressing Griffin formally. Greep was arguably the oddest member of the Pandora crew. The only kind of his race in Starfleet, Greep's biology was not at all similar to the average humanoid race. His body mostly appeared Simian, with long arms, opposable thumbs on both hands and feet, thick blue fur, and a beak resembling an eagle's. He was cold-blooded, in more ways than one, and people often felt awkward around him, and with good reason. Greep did not actually talk, either. His throat imitated the sounds of language, but his voice sounded warbled, and many people liked to say he "squawked" his words. Greep himself often found it challenging to form words, and didn't talk very much. While he was seen as an outsider on most of the ship, the Engineering crew had adjusted well to him in the near-year he'd been aboard.

"Please come in," said Greep, moving to one side and allowing the Security Chief, with which he had a bit of a history, to enter his small quarters. The room smelled incredibly clean, and was clearly well-maintained. Greep didn't seem like the neat type, but his quarters were rather quiet. An abstract painting hanged on the far wall, and there was the occasional memento sitting on tables and various surfaces. Hanging high on the ceiling was a long metal bar. There was a quaint love seat, a dinner table with two places, and no bed. Greep stood in a long, heavy bathrobe. "Give me a minute to put something on," he said, grabbing a uniform draped on the love seat and heading into the lavatory.

Curious despite himself, Cailus stepped inside and just stood awkwardly, his hands behind his back as he looked around. The painting and mementos were fairly ordinary, but the bar was intriguing, especially given how Greep seemed to be partially avian. I wonder if he...

Greep emerged from the bathroom in his black and grey uniform with a golden "Engineering" turtleneck. "What have you heard of Mindo's new friend?" he squawked, getting straight to business.

"Nothing I can verify," Cailus replied, his eyes focused on Greep. "From what I understand, he is in the same line of work that you did until recently, and with the same boss. Can you confirm anything?"

"I'm afraid I can't," said Greep. "I recently intercepted a message from a person named 'Uno' that was sent to Mindo. Do you know of it?"

"Yes," Cailus said simply, although he wasn't inclined to elaborate, instead simply waiting.

Greep's voice was raspy, and strangely quiet. "I did some research and found Terrekal's ship. I went and saw Mindo outside the docking bay entrance arguing with a security officer. I had thought he was on board the Pandora at the time. The security guard seemed very calm, and Mindo walked away after a second. I decided not to do anything and mind my own business. Then I heard about the killing. It was the same security officer." Greep cocked his head to the side, a jerking, inhuman gesture. "Is this important?"

"Possibly," Cailus said, his expression and tone as unreadable as a Vulcan's. In actuality it was extremely important, but also very unsettling. "When did you see Mindo and the victim? Can you remember the precise time?"

Greep's head cocked again, awkwardly. "Not the precise time," he said. "It was some time mid-day. I had ended the morning shift and was going to get lunch. Maybe, twelve or thirteen hundred?"

Cailus' penetrating gaze remained locked on Greep's small alien eyes, assessing the Ontarion intensely. "Could you see any sign of what the argument was about? Or at the very least, could you discern Mindo's emotional state? Frustration, anger, irritation? Or was Mindo also calm?"

Greep was silent and still for a moment. He was thinking, though his head did not move and his usual expression did not change. "I couldn't tell," he squawked at last. "Mindo did not appear to be happy, but the guard did not look worried or offended. I'm not very good at reading people, though, and Mindo rarely ever gets angry, so I wouldn't know exactly what he'd look like if he were."

=/\= Mindo to Griffin, =/\= said Mindo's voice over the comm badge. Greep did not move.

His eyebrows raised, Cailus tapped his combadge, although he kept his eyes on Greep. =/\=Griffin here.=/\=

=/\= I've made contact with Terrekal. He's on his way. I'm meeting him in the docking bay. Shall we meet in the arcade? Someplace social? =/\=

Cailus considered for a moment. =/\=The arcade will do. I'll meet you there in half an hour. Griffin out.=/\= After tapping his combadge again, he frowned. "Greep, what else can you tell me about Terrekal? Or this Uno person?"

"I know as much about Terrekal and Uno as you do," Greep replied. "But if Uno knows Terrekal," he added, "chances are Terrekal knows Uno. I know nothing of solving mysteries; but if it were me, I'd start there."

"Perhaps," Cailus said contemplatively, the information and potential avenues of attack running through his mind. "Thank you, Greep. If you discover any more information, whether it's about Mindo's circumstances or the murder, please let me know."