Circling The Wagons

Posted on Wed Jun 24th, 2020 @ 2:54am by Cailus Griffin & Captain Nycolas Temple & Commander Owen Nash & Commander Mindo & Lieutenant John Sandoval & Lieutenant Krysia Kaleri-Smith & Lieutenant Alexandra Alves MD & Lieutenant Commander James Smith
Edited on on Fri Jul 10th, 2020 @ 5:41pm

Mission: Death in Paradise
Location: Deck 2 - Conference Room

ON

Upon returning to the Pandora from Paradise, after the discovery of Lieutenant Vicuno's death, Captain Temple had gathered members of the senior crew to hear about the latest development in this increasingly twisted mission. However, while the untimely and suspicious demise of a crew member would normally garner the most attention of the moment, Lieutenant Kaleri had returned from Paradise with something that was a little more shocking. She had mentioned it to Nyx once they were safely back on the ship, and the Captain had immediately called this meeting so the rest of the crew could learn the news as well.

As the crew sat down around the conference table, Nyx looked to the Counsellor with a grave expression. "Lieutenant, can you inform everyone of what you've just told me."

Krysia nodded and took a deep breath. "While we were at the station viewing the body, I was called out of the room by the prisoner I was taken to see when we first arrived. He took me to another room, which was sealed and a body of one of the station guards was on the table. It was supposed to be there for autopsy but no such thing was happening!" She looked around all those present. "He showed me what was underneath those helmets they wear....the guards on Paradise Station are all Breen!”

She paused to let the information sink in before continuing. "According to what he told me Katya is at the mercy of the Breen, we and the outcasts are her only hope now. They want to help us take back the station."

Alexandra spent the previous hours trying to find out what did exactly kill Lieutenant Vicuno, pushing the medical department to finish the post-mortem examination as soon as possible. She felt exhausted, yet determined to get the answers. Listening to Krysia's story suddenly lit a light in her head.

"I can probably confirm the Lieutenant's story.", the doctor spoke up, "In fact, it explains something which puzzles me no end.", she explained, "During the examination of the corpse, we have found the signs of struggle, and traces of alien DNA on the gloves the Lieutenant was wearing.", she paused for a moment, "We've analyzed the DNA three times. We can't be 100% sure, but it's very likely that it's Breen."

Owen sat forward as the information sunk in. "Well...that brings an interesting twist to this situation," he said. "We come here in peace, get the run around from Katya and then suddnely after two murders take place, she’s asking for assistance to help her get rid of her neighbours..."

Nyx took in a deep breath. “It’s fair to say this complicates matters, but it may also explain a few things too. We knew the Guards were hostile towards us from the beginning, and we knew from Griffin and Parrino’s meeting with their so-called Head Of Security that the Guards were self-managed and independent from Katya. Paradise didn’t let us see the murdered Guard, but they were quick to blame us. Now we know why.”

“Unfortunately,” The Captain sighed, “There isn’t anything we can do about it. Paradise Outpost is not a Federation owned or affiliated station. The Alrakis Pact have claimed total sovereignty over the Inconnu Expanse, meaning we have no jurisdiction to interfere. In addition, the Federation and Alrakis Pact have just signed a non-aggression treaty for the Expanse, meaning we cannot initiate any hostile action while we’re here. Even if the station requests it.”

“There might be some recourse, Captain,” John said. “Let me take a closer look at that treaty. If there’s even the slightest thing we can latch on to, I’ll find it.”

“Forgive me for asking the obvious.” Krysia looked around the table. “I know we don’t have access to the station anymore but what about the younglings? The Breen were obviously after them to use them against the other outcasts! It’s no wonder they didn’t want to be found, plus why the shopkeepers were so against helping us.”

Owen looked around the table before turning to face Nyx. "Captain, whilst the situation is currently clear that Paradise station is in the Inconnu Expanse and that The Alrakis Pact has claimed total sovereignty this area of space...We need to help out in some way," he offered.

"Whilst I'm sure Lt Sandoval may well find some details in the treaty that allows us to assist, I think we also need to make some...quiet inroads through unofficial channels to see how we can help." Owen may not have enjoyed his stay so far, but a Federation starship not assisting a faclity that was cleared under the influence of a hostile force was also something they couln't turn away from.

"We have to do something," he finished.

"If we do decide to do anything then you'll need me along" Krysia looked at Owen then at Nyx. "You'll need me to contact the outcasts, they trust me."

"It may be worth asking Terrekal about this," said Mindo, who had been silent up to this point but nonetheless present. "He seems to know a lot about what goes on here at Paradise."

"We came here with three approaches," John recalled. "Cover, overt, and hybrid. It might be a good idea to continue that angle. Approaching the outcasts is covert. My work would be overt. Mr. Mindo and Terrekal might be hybrid."

Natalia was still reeling from all the new information. She looked at the diplomatic chief.

"I may be biased, sir, yet I concur," she added.

Having stayed silent so far, the grim Security Chief finally spoke. "Whatever our plan is, I am obliged to report the possibility of the worst case scenario. If every security guard is indeed a Breen, and if those are professional soldiers rather than law enforcement, then that means that there is at least a battalion of Breen troops out there on the station. They are likely to outnumber our own combat-capable personnel by at least 4-1, possibly as much as 10-1. Moreover, the Pandora is designed for scientific exploration, not warfare. We have more scientists aboard than security personnel, and our defensive setup at the airlock is far too weak to defend against a concerted assault."

Krysia looked at James as Cailus finished speaking, right now she was more afraid than anything else. "So what do we do? We can't risk the families we have onboard the ship."

James had been listening and keeping quiet up to this point but he finally spoke up a bit when he saw Krysia look at him, “Our other concern besides the Breen is that their is the matter of a traitor on board this ship. I’m slowly getting my systems up and running again in Intel, but whoever was talking to the Breen knew enough to encrypt a fail safe in the messages to cause it to scramble my systems. The last thing I got was Pandora, Paradise and explosive device. So we need to not only check the Pandora but als Paradise as well, hopefully, without raising to much alarm.”

James looked down at his PADD really quick before continuing, “I agree that we can’t risk the families onboard this ship either, Deck 4 has a series of crew quarters that are kept in case we are transporting dignitaries in secret, the hallway and doors are monitored at all times so know one can come in and out without one of my people knowing it. I would recommend all families and those expecting babies to be assigned temporary quarters there. However, everyone should still keep working their duty shifts like normal.” Smith looked around to see what the captain or others thought.

Krysia smiled at James, she knew he was worried about the safety of her and their twins. “It sounds a good idea.” She looked at Cailus then at Nyx “I can organise all the families and anyone aboard whose pregnant and have them all moved to Deck 4 Sir.”

Owen looked around the room as the various Senior Officers suggested their ideas and thoughts on the matter.

"Well, somebody needs to make sure that the Pandora stays in one piece throughout this matter, so I'll be on the bridge, practising my CO impression," he explained.

“Let’s not get too hasty.” Nyx spoke calmly. “We won’t be joining any overthrow of Paradise. We simply don’t have the time or the fire power. We will have to pass on to Federation Intel that the Outpost has been compromised and to avoid future contact until the situation clears.” He paused and frowned, “Unfortunately we are still in our current dilemma. The murderer.”

“From the facts before us, we may be able to draw a conclusion.” Nyx continued, “Lieutenant Vicuno contacted someone onboard Paradise in an attempt to betray this ship. Something went wrong during the meeting and both he and a Security guard were killed. Either Vicuno or the Guard were betrayed, or the station’s Outcasts intervened. Either way, we need to give Katya the name of the murderer by tomorrow. Although I cannot say with any certainty that this is the full explanation, I say we offer this as our conclusion in order to satisfy Katya’s demands for a guilty person.”

The thought didn’t exactly sit well with the Captain, and he knew it may shock some in the room. But this was a matter of survival and escape now, and he had learnt from his many years in service of Intel that no escape plan was perfect - the goal was only to evac and live to tell the tale. Vicuno’s death was as sad as it was confusing, but it could also help the Pandora return home safely.

"After he woke up, Lieutenant Arnaldo told us a very fragmented and blurry story about the night of the murder. The same night he was injured.", Alexandra spoke up, "The two might be connected in some way, which means he might know something we don't.", she explained then looked at the counselor, "Lieutenant Kaleri has probably done a psychological profile of the Lieutenant a while back."

Krysia nodded. "I did but that was after we all returned from our....experience in the bubble universe. I'm afraid my assessment was more biased to what we all went through back then, Doctor Ashshy seemed to think that my assessment was incorrect. Now I look back he was most likely correct. I would like to reassess him." She looked at Alexandra. "If that is alright with you doctor?"

"Perfectly fine with me.", the doctor nodded.

Krysia smiled and nodded.

Mindo shook his head. "I just want to say I'm relieved I wasn't involved in this mess. I know I was kicked out of a bar early on during our stay here, but I never even looked at the security guards and none of them had any issues with me. It feels good to have no one looking at me for a change," said Mindo. There was an awkward pause and Mindo looked up and realized everyone was looking at him. "It's still terrible, though," he added. "I didn't know about Vicuno's troubled history, but I liked him all the same."

"That's completely understandable Lieutenant," Owen said in reply. "The Pandora is a family, despite its crw of many different races and worlds. Losing any member of a family, however closely attached or not is always a difficult step to overcome." Owen looked around.

"What we need to do now is to find a way to solve this mess so that we can leave Paradis Station in one piece and, common sense prevailing, I agree with the Captain. the conclusion he offers is the best chance we have so far...short of offering Katya someone as the murderer without the full facts....and that's not an option until Mr Griffin's investigation is completed."

“Captain would you like me to speak to Arnaldo? See what he can tell us?” Krysia looked at Nyx.

James looked at his old friend, “what else can my department and I do to assist you and Paradise station?”

Nyx gave out an audible sigh. “So what do we think about telling Katya that we believe Lieutenant Vicuno was the Murderer? I hate having to discredit his name in such a way, especially as we have no idea how or why he died in the way that he did, but we’re running out of time and it’s the only option at the moment.”

Owen stood tall before answering. "I second the move to inform Katya that we believe Lieutenant Vicuno was the Murderer..." he said in a solemn tone.

Krysia looked at Owen, she knew her brother wouldn't stand up for this decision if he didn't trust in the decision. "Very well, if that's what we have to do." Krysia nodded in agreement. "I can't say I like it but if it satisfies Katya then so be it."

“If it takes the pressure off, it’s a good idea,” John added. “We can avoid reporting back on it for now, so we don’t soil his name with Starfleet or his family until we’re certain. We can always fix it when we know more.” He smiled to the Captain. “Wrong, but not for long.”

At the far end of the table, the Security Chief shifted uncomfortably. "Setting aside the immorality of both lying and besmirching a good officer's name," he said gruffly, "I don't think that it would work. If we told Katya this, then her very next question would be to ask why, and we would have no answer. More than that, during the course of the investigation, I have not..."

And then, just like that, Cailus' words drifted into silence, his thoughts clearly somewhere else as he gazed out the viewport at the vast expanse of Paradise Station. A few awkward seconds passed before he refocused, although there was a newfound glint in his eyes as he looked at the others. "Apologies. As I was saying, I have found nothing to implicate Lieutenant Vicuno in the murderer. Moreover, his own death makes it plain that there is another murderer somewhere on Paradise who has yet to be identified. That will not make the Paradise people amenable to this suggestion, as it will make things harder for them, not better."

Caius looked up the table at the Captain and XO. "Sir, I can find the real culprit. We are making progress, and we can make the deadline."

Smith nodded, “I agree with Caius, we will find the real culprit, I have a score to settle with this person as well, he/she took down my network with one simple search.”

Owen looked over at Cailus, his anger with his friend and fellow colleague simmering somewhat after the incident with Rochester. "Cailus, do you think that you can deliver the name of the Culprit responsible for this in time for us to give that name to Katya?" he asked honestly, knowing what his friend was capable of in an investigative capacity.

"Yes sir," Cailus answered with curt confidence, not hesitating for a moment. "I can and I will."

Owen looked across at Nyx with an honest look on his face. "That's good enough for me, Captain. We may not have to bend the truth to Katya, we could, in fact, provide her with a concrete suspect for these murders," Owen pointed out.

"And if we can't," John ventured, "we can still offer Vicuno's name and a plausible story to Katya at zero-hour. It's still a card we can play if we need to."

Nyx gave firm nod, before clapping our hands together, "Alright, let's proceed with that plan. Kaleri and Alves, chat to Mauricio as well, see if his memory has jogged any further details about that night. Everyone else, let's get this investigation over soon and get the hell out of Paradise."

OFF