Valuable Connections

Posted on Sun Dec 8th, 2024 @ 11:24am by Captain Nycolas Temple & Lieutenant Daniel Keith & Lieutenant Krysia Kaleri-Smith

Mission: The Only Thing Left Was Hope
Location: Earth - Paris
Timeline: After "The Apple Strudel Protocol"

ON:

In the heart of Paris down the Rue d'Anjou, there existed what was known in English as the 'Bar in the Basement'; a restored World War 3 underground shelter that had been converted into a very unique meeting spot underneath the city streets. It was a labyrinth of rooms, decorated with stripped down, neo-industrial style of metal furniture, exposed brick walls, and deep mood lighting. The former dormitory was now the main bar area and off-shooting from there were many corridors of smaller private rooms for many private conversations. Legend belies that the space had existed for hundreds of years, but others believe it was just a modern recreation with good marketing.

Importantly, as the bar sat in the shadow of the Palais de la Concorde, the seat of the Federation's parliament on Earth, the bar was known as a favorite drinking hole for delegates, ministers, and staffers after a long day at work. Just as many important conversations were happening here as they were down the street at the Palais. For this particular night, after a long session in the chamber debating the latest bill, the Bar in the Basement was abuzz with patrons - either celebrating or commiserating their day in the Palais.

Standing outside on the Rue d'Anjou, Krysia paused at bar's small entry, which was a nondescript cellar door on the side of the building. It was a place you had to know about to get actually get into. She gave Daniel a worried look, “Are we sure this is where Magnus will be? I’ve never met the man before, the Captain never spoke of him.

Daniel nodded at Krysia's question. He had doubts about this as well but needed to see this through. "I don't know Krysia, I really don't. Only thing we can do is go into the bar and see what transpires... if anything." He gave her what he hoped was an encouraging look. "Ready to do this?"

Krysia nodded. “As ready as I’ll ever be, let’s get it over with.”

Entering the doorway, the two officers were met with a spiral staircase, which descended three levels into the Parisian underground. With every step down the metal stairs, they could hear the music getting louder and louder. Finally, they emerged into the main bar area, and saw it was packed with people. For a secret meeting spot in a basement, it sure was popular.

Krysia turned to look at Daniel, “Maybe we should ask the bartender where we can find Magnus? I’ll be able to tell whether he’s lying or not,”

"Good idea." Daniel replied.

At the bar was a rather tall individual wearing a black hazmat suit with a gas mask covering their face. A few of the patrons moved aside when they saw the Starfleet officers' approach. It wasn't unusual to see the Fleet uniform at the bar, but there was something about how Kaleri and Keith walked in that showed they were not here to drink. As the officers approached the bar and asked for Magnus, the bartender tilted his head for a moment, not saying a word. It wasn't common practice to divulge such information, but Hazmat could tell they meant official business. With a silent point, they were directed to a private room off to the right. Daniel looked over to Krysia for confirmation that the bartender was being truthful.

Krysia gave a brief nod not wanting to draw too much attention to the fact that she was an empath. It tended to put people off talking. With that they turned to head the way they were directed.

Daniel walked beside Krysia in silence for a moment before speaking in a low tone. "What did you sense? Was he telling the truth?"

“He was, albeit begrudgingly.” Krys smiled. “Magnus is here.”

In one of the private rooms down a corridor, Magnus Temple was finishing up his own official conversation. He reached across the table to shake the hand of his guest, a staffer from the Catullan ambassadorial office, Ananse Dreaver. In the soft lighting, there was a sparkle in Magnus' blue eyes as he completed his business, and he looked upon the staffer with a quiet glee. As Chief of Staff to the Minister of the Exterior, Magnus was often called upon to ensure the continued smooth operation of the Federation's many ambassadorships and their representatives, even if that meant making the difficult decisions and delivering the bad news.

"So, it's settled then." Magnus was saying with a firm but polite smile to his counterpart, "The Ambassador will quietly retire and assume her new role in Agriculture, and we'll hear no more rumors of her... extracurricular activities."

The staffer Ananse nodded diligently, "Best avoided. Please thank the Minister for her discretion."

"I've taken the liberty of writing the Ambassador a poignant but brief resignation speech; she can deliver it tomorrow to a friendly reporter from Fed News." Magnus handed over a PADD with the speech prepared.

"She won't like that. The Ambassador likes to write her own speeches." Dreaver said warningly, eyebrows raised as he scrolled through the speech.

"She'll like it a lot more than an investigation into the rumors. Which could still happen." Magnus immediately replied, that answer already locked and loaded. "Ensure that she is... clear headed enough for the interview at 9am."

"Will do," Ananse sighed, giving a resigned nod. He quietly stuffed the PADD into his pocket and returned to look back at Magnus with a knowing smile, "I suppose you already have a replacement?"

Magnus took a well-deserved sip of his drink and shrugged, "The coalition parties will each want their own choice of course, but my short list is very short." He put on a smug grin, "Maybe if you stick around for another drink, you might find a familiar face dropping in."

With a nod, Dreaver stood up from their table. He was about to respond when their conversation was interrupted.

Walking into the room Krysia offered an apologetic smile. “Gentlemen, forgive our intrusion, my name is Lieutenant Krysia Kaleri-Smith, and this is my companion Lieutenant Daniel Keith, we’re looking to speak with Magnus.”

Daniel gave a short nod but otherwise stayed silent as he surveyed the room and its occupants. He was more than content to let Krysia to take the lead in this little adventure.

A little stunned at their arrival, Ananse raised an eyebrow to Magnus, "Is the replacement Ambassador, Magnus?" He asked confused.

Magnus gave a boisterous laugh, in the same booming tone that Nyx would sometimes do, as he stood up from the table. "No, of course not. Though we're always delighted to see our friends from Starfleet, nonetheless." Magnus moved towards the doorway, gently but purposely guiding the staffer towards it, "You fetch that drink, Ananse, and I'll catch up with you soon." He gave a cheeky wink as he did.

The staffer gave a shrug before he exited the room. Magnus waited for him to disappear down the corridor, before he closed the door and turned back to the officers with a grin. "Well now. I take it you're here about my brother?"

Daniel exchanged a glance with Krysia before returning his attention back to Magnus. "That is correct sir." He replied and stopped waiting to see if Magnus would volunteer any more information.

“We were hoping that you might know of Nyx’s whereabouts?” Krysia gave Magnus a questioning look. “He’s our Captain, I’ve been through a lot with him, and we need to make sure he’s okay.”

"Alas, I do not." Magnus sighed, "But I am somewhat used to that feeling. When your brother is a Starfleet officer, you tend to stop counting the days in between contact. But I am aware that this time, there may be something untoward at play? Is that true?"

"Sir," Daniel replied respectfully. "We're not a liberty to say. Can you remember anything that might help us in locating him? Anything at all?"

"I know he was on Risa, to meet his crew." Magnus said. He looked down to his small replicated-leather workbag underneath the table. He leaned down, picked up the bag onto the table and began looking inside it. "So I did... a little... Ah! Homework." With a smile, he pulled out a PADD and held it out for the officers. "Risian Bureau of Customs sent me a log of all ships in sensor range of the planet during the forty-eight hours Nyx was there."

Daniel cast a look at Krysia to see what she thought of this latest information. "What does the log show sir? What ships visited Risa?"

Magnus demurred a smile. He had spoken to his sister-in-law, Emilie, he was a little more up to date with events then perhaps the officers realized. "I called in a favor." Magnus replied carefully, "The Ministry of the Exterior wishes to help Starfleet in any way that it can, though of course understands the sensitive nature of this information. Those logs can't tell you where my brother went, but it will tell you what ships were around Risa at the time that my brother went missing. It could lead you to who has taken him. That's the best I can do at this stage."

“Well, that’s better than no leads at all.” Krysia smiled warmly. “All we want is Nyx back, I’ve served with him a long time and he’s become more than just a Captain, he’s family now. We need to find him.”

Magnus regarded the Lieutenant’s comment with quiet curiosity. He had certainly heard of Starfleet officers feeling a familial tight-knit bond with each other, especially when serving together for long periods of time. Nyx himself had referred to the crew as his Pandora family before. But it still seemed strange to Magnus to hear someone so earnestly say it out loud, and about his own brother. Magnus treated his colleagues as colleagues, never like family. It was transactional, just like his conversation with Ananse had just been. He felt a moment of jealousy as he wondered if any of them would launch an urgent mission to find him, like the Pandora crew were doing for Nyx. He quickly realized that they would not.

The diplomat had to swallow that thought and he gave a warm smile instead, “Of course.” He replied.

"It sure is." Daniel agreed. "Perhaps after we study the logs and the ships, we can come up with some leads on what the captain was thinking and planning."

“Here to help.” Magnus responded with a nonchalant shrug. “I will continue to assist in whatever way I can, with the Department of the Exterior’s full resources.”

“I get the feeling that you found my comment somewhat, shall we say, touching?” Krys offered a warm smile. “We’ve, or at least, I’ve been through a lot with Nyx. He’s always been a fair man whose looked out for us, now we’re doing the same for him.”

Daniel spoke up. "I don't know the captain as well as Krysia does, but I've heard many good things about him, and I want to find him and serve with him. So, any help is appreciated. These logs may hold a key to where he is."

“Let us hope so,” Magnus replied earnestly, before he leaned in conspicuously, “Do try to find him before our mother finds out that he’s missing. That is one problem I’m afraid even I cannot help you with.”

Daniel nodded, "We are going to do our best sir. I can promise you that. As for finding the captain before your mother finds out, message received and understood."

Krysia grinned. “We’ll do our very best, that I swear to you.”

“Speaking of mothers,” Magnus raised an eyebrow, shifting in his seat to address Krysia, “Am I right to assume you are related to Ambassador Marina Kaleri, Lieutenant? I’m a big fan of hers.”

“She’s my mother, you know her?” Krysia gave Magnus a surprised look.

“Ah, I thought so. Yes, we’ve met a few times, during diplomatic talks,” Magnus explained, “As the Federation and the Drax continue to discuss a potential agreement. I also attended her address on empathic abilities on Betazed last year. Very thought provoking. The Drax have such a… unique sense of responsibility for their abilities.”

“We have to, when you have an entire species with abilities like ours, crime can take on very serious implications. As children we’re tested to determine our level of ability and what our future careers will be. The strongest of us all become law enforcement. They weren’t even sure what level my abilities would be being only half Drax, in the end I surprised them.” She grinned. “It seemed to make sense that I become a bridge, of sorts, between Drax and the Federation.”

"A bridge, you say?" Magnus smiled at the comment, another transactional thought forming, "I could certainly use a bridge for these negotiations. We're very keen to see Drax become a member of the Federation, but our talks continue to stall. Perhaps once you have managed to locate my brother, we could sit down and share some ideas?"

Daniel stood quietly by as Magnus and Krysia spoke of Drax and her being bridge between Drax and the federation. He was happy she may play a bigger part in Drax joining the Federation but felt decidedly like a third wheel as the two talked.

Krysia offered Daniel a smile before looking back at Magnus. “I’d be happy to help in any way I can, just let me know where and when, either that or come visit us once we get Nyx and the Pandora back.” She looked towards Daniel. “Sorry if you’re feeling left out there.”

Daniel nodded and offered a smile to Krysia. "Quite alright Krysia." He said simply as he continued to stand and feel useless.

Magnus pursed his lips for a moment before giving a large sigh. He started to think about his guest waiting at the bar. “Well, this has been an valuable conversation. Is there anything else I can help you with?”

Daniel shakes his head slightly. "Not for me sir. I thank you for information you have given us. Hopefully it will lead to the captain and the Pandora." He replied respectfully to Magnus. "However, Krysia may still have some questions."

“Actually, I think we’ve all gotten as far as we can get for now, but please do keep in touch.” Krys smiled. “Any help with finding Nyx is welcome.”

“I’ll let you know if I find anything else.” Magnus nodded. “Are you in Paris for long or is this just a short visit?”

“Just as long as it needs to be.” Krys offered a smile. “As much as I’d like to go sightseeing now isn’t the time.”

Daniel nodded and added, "Krysia is right, sir. As nice as it would be to see and explore Paris, now just isn't the time. Maybe after we find the captain but not now."

"A pity," Magnus replied with a nonchalant shrug, "Paris is the most beautiful at Christmas time, I think." He stood and gave them both a curt nod, "Good luck, Officers, I know you will bring my brother home safe and sound."

Krys smiled and nodded. “Thank you, Magnus, I look forward to our next meeting.”

"As do I sir. Rest assured, we will find and bring the captain home." Daniel replied confidently.

Magnus watched as the officers disappeared back down the corridor. He took a final swig of his drink before he grabbed his satchel bag. Heading into the main bar, he saw Ananse standing in the corner, head buried in the PADD, no doubt reading the speech Magnus had written. He felt himself reflecting upon the officer's words about Nyx and the Pandora, the family bond compelling them to search the quadrants for him. How touched he was by their commitment to him - even the one officer who hadn't really served with Nyx before. It still felt strange, but it was heart-warming too.

He had other meetings to attend to, a conversation with the next ambassador, a conference call with the department of Trade, but Magnus decided to forget about those. Work could wait. It was time to start making some real connections. Magnus walked over to Ananse and pulled the PADD out of his hand gently. "Another drink?" Magnus asked with a smile.

OFF