Elena de Luca
Starfleet Intelligence
Registered: Dec 14, 2009 0:38:17 GMT
Posts: 266
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Post by Elena de Luca on Dec 15, 2017 21:53:40 GMT
~ 007 : Coup d'état ~
Following the attempted assassination of Starfleet Admiral Sato Tetsutaro, Head of Intelligence Along with several other disruptive episodes on the Starbase which include an explosion, thought to be a self-detonated device of unknown origin It has been decided that those responsible must be pursued and prevented from taking further actions, against both the Command Structure of Starbase Forty Seven, and possibly the Starbase itself
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It is known that numerous disruptive groups have formed since the disaster that brought them to the Constellation of Centaurus Some of these have been deemed relatively harmless, but are nonetheless being kept under observation
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Unfortunately, larger, more dangerous factions, are believed to be growing, though it is unknown who may be leading these groups at present Now that one or more of these dissident groups have escalated their efforts to include attempted murder The Command Staff have no option but to hunt these people down
Starfleet Intelligence will lead the investigation into these more dangerous factions Hoping to bring those responsible to swift justice
Before it is too late for all concerned !
ooo000ooo
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Elena de Luca
Starfleet Intelligence
Registered: Dec 14, 2009 0:38:17 GMT
Posts: 266
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Post by Elena de Luca on Dec 15, 2017 22:43:22 GMT
Assigned to Investigation:
Elena de Luca David Tan Iorte Clancy
Cmdr Milo Van Lt Cmdr Nate Massa Lt Tom Demik Earlier:
Secure Conference Room Level Ten :: =^= Flag ranked officers to be accompanied by security personnel until further notice .. .. Keep it discreet however .. Guards at a distance and not too many per flag officer .. We mustn't cause any alarm or give the would-be assassins the idea we - or so we believe - are on to them .. .. We have to begin narrowing this down .. Are we dealing with a resentful researcher in medicine .. Discontented civilians Or something else .. Something more structured .. .. People whose target was always our overthrow ? =^= Gheskori said from the Enzio.
"I would suggest Intelligence begin prying amongst the lower decks, undercover if need be, work out connections between various groups, deprived or otherwise, agitators or otherwise; listen to rumour, hearsay," Brasidas stated.
"I'm ready to go," Iorte Clancy said.
"I will meet with my Senior Operatives at the close of this meeting Admiral." Sato informed Gheskori .....
Segment from meeting with Admiral Tetsutaro :: "... And the other groups ?" David asked.
"Well, as you are aware, there is at least one, maybe more more radical groups. These would include the people responsible for the, attack on Admiral Tetsutaro, and those behind the incursions on the USS Raven and possibly other vessels. We know that one man who was caught was scheduled to board the El Salvador but was for some reason yet unknown, deterred, or was possibly re-tasked to join the people on the Raven. At this point we are getting very little information from him. As you can imagine, we are somewhat in the dark here. Normal procedure would be to have the prisoner transferred to Earth for, questioning. Alas, we do not have that luxury open to us."
"We are considering asking Command if we may use more, persuasive, methods." Sato said, surprising everyone present.
"We are currently holding one 'Javad Eson Keer' ... Supposedly, this man was transferred to the Starbase on the day of the disaster. Apart from his personal data, gathered from the 'base itself, we have no record of the man prior to his boarding the Starbase." Lemond informed them, "We are aware that over forty percent of the stored information was lost when two of the computer cores suffered catastrophic failure, this does not resolve the glaring issues with his identity, and with no means to verify, we can only go on what we have. We do know, as he volunteered it without coaxing, that he was formally in the employ of the Grynax Corporate, California, Earth ..."
"Isn't that the bunch who were constantly opposing our expansion, even saying it was a mistake to have the Federation hovering over us ?" Elena asked.
"Yes." ......~~~ ooo000ooo ~~~ Vacant hotel room Level One Five five One Alpha Promenade :: "So, any thoughts on where we start ?" Elena asked the others present, David Tan, Iorte Clancy, and the three Officers from the USS El Alamein, who would be utilised as back-up and intermediaries between the Operatives and Command. "Well, it's pretty much a given that these people are not going to be wandering along the Promenade chatting up assassination candidates." David said with a grin, "Which means they have other places to do their plotting." "That could be anywhere though ...." Tom Demik, the El Alamein's Tactical Officer commented. "I assume you will want us three to hold back unless needed ?" the ships' Executive Officer asked. "Yes, at least for the time being. We'll try to get into one or more of the groups, maybe befriend someone in the upper levels of the group." Elena replied, "It isn't going to be easy, these people are clearly determined not to be found, but at the same time have managed to gain access to at least 'some' of the upper Command Levels to get at the Admiral. You three can get out of uniform for the duration, you have all be relieved of any shipboard duties and assigned to us, get about, try to catch a name, a venue, anything that will give us an 'in' ....." she said, speaking directly to the El Alamein Officers. "Do you want to split up ?" David asked Elena. "Iorte, what do you think ?" she countered. "We would cover more ground, but for the moment we could remain together, talk a little sabotage, a little discontent with the status quo." "Agreed." de Luca said, getting up and helping herself to a drink. "I'm a little hesitant to bring outsiders into this ..." Tan said, following de Luca to the bar, "But we do know that some of these groups are using O'Tooles as a meeting point. granted, they are considered more an inconvenience than genuine threat, but who knows, we might just have an opportunity there ?" "Yes, sounds good. We will have to make sure Sean and his Staff are out of the loop." Elena commented, "I'd suggest it be one of our colleagues from the El Alamein who makes the first foray into the unknown though. We might just attract too much 'friendly' attention, and we don't want anyone being brought to the wrong persons notice." she finished. "Good, maybe I'll manage to get myself arrested in there." David said with a wry grin, "Sean and Kira know better than to interfere if we're running something, but they do need a heads-up." "I'll swing by and have a word in Sean's ear." Elena said, satisfied their planning was going well, "OK, lets call it for now. We'll meet back here at twenty one hundred hours ..........
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Iorte Clancy
Starfleet Intelligence
Registered: Mar 9, 2016 17:58:55 GMT
Posts: 253
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Post by Iorte Clancy on Dec 17, 2017 15:25:46 GMT
In the later evening, following up on reasonably unimportant information, Clancy entered the passage 1550-beta-37 that led directly over the main thoroughfare of Alpha Promenade; the rumours were rife in this section and - he had decided - worth checking for veracity before he and the others reconvened in the hotel the deck below. It wasn't long before he found at least one of the sources of the disturbance. His unsettling quarry was speaking into a rough-shorn precious rock, metallic and granite, "Codified. Horkon-kai-zousai," it muttered, "Copy?"
Iorte approached the partially silhouetted figure - cast in dark relief against the anaemic light at this junction in the corridor - who turned towards him and dropped the comm to his side, mouth hanging open in horror.
Clancy kept his composure at first, "Yes, it's me."
"Unhappily."
"You'll cease your activities at once or you'll shortly be in a cell."
"You'd report me?" the potential agitator recovered his sangfroyd, "How unlike you. Aren't you at all worried that someone might tell them of yourself? Aren't they at all suspicious already? You know..." the man's voice quivered suddenly, "... What with Carpoln and his accusations against you, if someone were to -"
"Yes, I would report you." Clancy stepped forward abruptly and pushed the man against the wall, "Please try to understand, it isn't my fellow officers whose suspicions concern me, but those of my own people, away from the Starbase in the distant Beta quadrant, who if they wanted could..." While inwardly furious, Clancy took pains to explain to the man levelly; even though he had him pinned to a wall, there was no reason why he shouldn't keep things civil. His patience was rapidly expiring, however, "I hang by a thread, you insolent fool. Those who disapprove of me can, by a happy accident, dispose of me if they choose. Do you see now why I can't -"
"Then it wouldn't do to uncover your misdemeanours, hmm?" the man said, grinning lazily as if he'd just shared an anecdote round the family hearth. "You slaughtered them like cattle, Clancy."
Iorte growled and ground his teeth, blood from where he'd bit his tongue seeping between the white enamel, "They were abominations!"
"That is the excuse given by everyone who exercises power in such wanton fashion, Iorte, and you know it. It's just a shame you were under obligation to those people, as you'll now be under obligation to me. Remember, one word from me and your career is over. You'll be staring at cell walls - solitary confinement - for the rest of the Starbase's solitary confinement in these forsaken outer reaches... the rest of your life."
Clancy growled almightily, well aware how feral and beast-like he sounded, and forced the man into the wall - threatening inadvertantly to permanently damage his throat - before rebounding a metre back to leave the man crumpling to the deck choking and soothing his neck. The man's threat was quite real, Clancy was blackmailed to silence and would have to let the man go. He allowed him to his feet and watched as he retreated down the corridor, clothes' colours fading and cloaked again in a silhouette, passing from light and life back to the shade of the station's mysterious spaces. Watching him until he melded with the darkness down the impossibly long passage, Iorte began making his way back down to Alpha Promenade.
How far am I willing to keep my silence in the interest of my career? he wondered in amazement, What if the Starbase becomes endangered by these people?
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David Tan
Starfleet Intelligence
Suum Cuique ...
Registered: Dec 11, 2006 10:56:04 GMT
Posts: 792
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Post by David Tan on Dec 17, 2017 19:01:11 GMT
Following the meeting, David had gone down to Gamma Promenade on Level One One Five Five ... There were people there that had assisted him previously, and one, now Civilian, had served on one of the vessels Tan had been briefly aboard. If he could find the man without attracting too much attention to himself, he might be able to gleam a snippet of useful information out of him before the team reconvene ...
Stepping out of the turbo-lift he was almost surprised to see the condition of Gamma Promenade - It had been used as one of the primary triage stations during their flight from home, yet now, the deck was relatively clear, some of the shops and establishments were reopening, while others remained closed, their frontage painted a matt grey, doors sealed with Federation locks ... Stepping out he began to walk anti-clockwise around the Promenade, keeping his eye forward and trying not to attract unwanted attention. Finally he reached his goal.
The shop, like many others, was closed, but at least he could see work being carried out inside as contractors returned the interior to it's former state. Stepping inside he looked around, eyes finally landing on the man he had come to see. Noel Grimes, entrepreneur, businessman, and all round thief !
Leaning against the wall David watched as Grimes issued instructions, arms waving as he ripped into one of the men working until he seemed finally to have got his message across. The Contractor spoke to two others before they collectively ripped a newly erected partition down to begin again. Grimes shook his head, turning as if some second-sense had informed him of the interloper in his midst. He turned to see Tan. Something in his eyes changes subtly as he made his way around boards, cases, crates of who-knew-what, finally coming to a halt before Tan.
"I thought I told you that next time I set eyes on you I would kill you." Grimes spat in almost a whisper, "Given the number of blunt, not to mention extremely 'sharp' objects at arms reach, you must be feeling extr ...."
"Shut the hell up Grimes." David interrupted, pushing himself off the bulkhead before stepping past the irate man, "If you wanted me dead you would have done it already, but feel free to try now, no time like the present as they say."
Grimes glared at him, eyes flicking to the contractors, who had they been listening gave no signs. He leaned forward, picking up a large hammer, weighing the balance and weight in his hand before returning his attention to Tan, who stood calmly waiting. He took several steps forward, the hammer swinging lazily in his right hand, with only a meter between them he brought the hammer up in a lazy arc before slamming it into a worktop centimeters from Tan. Everyone in the room spun at the sound before returning to their tasks. Grimes was sweating now, the rage in him slowly dissipating.
"All out of your system now is it ?" David asked, vaguely wondering if Grimes would have actually risked injuring or even killing him in cold blood with so many witnesses to his action, "Any chance of a drink ?"
The standoff lasted a further thirty seconds. David was patient, after all, he had sent this man to prison and was the reason he was no longer a member of Starfleet. Four years ago he had discovered Grimes' activities and took his evidence to Admiral Tetsutaro, who in turn had Grimes brought back to Earth to face charges. Had the latter not been willing to give up his accomplices, and the traders he was dealing with, he would have never seen the light of day again. As it was, in regards to saving his own skin, Grimes was only too willing to divulge every iota of information he had. He was the sole cause of numerous high-level players on several worlds suddenly finding themselves in custody without any hope of regaining their freedom .... It finally resulted in him being in detention for only thirty months, and his records sealed to all but the highest echelons. Another, more annoying part of the 'deal' especially for those incarcerated and bent on revenge, was that Grimes undergo surgery and DNA reconstruction, so the man before him bore no resemblance to the Grimes in court four years earlier ...
"How ? ...."
"How did I find you ?" Tan asked, a smile forming as Grimes poured liquid from a flack into two cups, "It wasn't that difficult to be honest, something you are no doubt unaccustomed to. I knew you were aboard the Starbase, have known since you arrived as it happens, and it suited me to leave you in ignorance of anyone knowing your whereabouts, let alone your real identity."
"Who else knows ?" he asked, the liquid in his glass forming rings as his hand shook almost imperceptibly.
"Just me .... Though before you think about picking that hammer up again, there are files, I'm not that stupid Jensen."
"Grimes ... Noel Grimes." the man whispered venomously, eyes flicking to the contractors.
"Do I look as if I care what name you are going under ?" David said, pulling one of the chairs out from under the table before dropping into it. He kicked out a second and motioned for 'Grimes' to sit, "I'm going to take a stab in the proverbial dark here, and say that you still have your fat, grubby, fingers into all things illegal ... Am I right ?"
"I have left all that behind, and would appreciate you not bringing my excessive weight into the conversation, it was a 'flaw' in the DNA re-sequencing, and not of my own doing. Alas, they refused to rectify the flaw."
"I'll bet they did." Tan said with a grin.
"Shouldn't you be off flying around the Galaxy, annoying everyone you come into contact with ... What do you want ?"
"Oh, I don't do the flying around thing, at least not like when we were better acquainted ... As for what I want, well, I suppose 'information' might best describe what I am looking for."
"On 'WHAT' !" Grimes said, instantly regretting raising his voice as the contractors again looked in their direction.
"Well, several things actually, but for the moment, I just need some information on the groups that are trying to disrupt the day to day running of the Starbase."
"Disrupt ? ...... I have no idea what you are talking about Tan, and believe m, even if I had the names you are looking for, I wouldn't give them to you." Grimes said, clearly regaining his confidence as the minutes past. Tan was quite happy for him to think he had the upper hand, at least for the time being as the man continued, "It may have escaped your notice, but all those who swore their revenge upon finding my whereabouts, are something in the region of fifteen thousand light years away, give or take a month."
David shrugged before rising from the chair.
"Nice wine, little dusty. Never took you for a connoisseur. I'll be calling on you again 'Mister Grimes' at which time I would like you to tell me you have a name." he turned to walk out of the establishment, still at a loss to identify what the finished work would produce or what the former criminal had in mind for it. He didn't bother looking back but could easily imagine the expression on the mans face. Outside he checked the time, deciding he would go back up to Alpha Promenade and get a bite to eat before the meeting reconvened, he had the feeling it was going to go on for some time ..........
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Elena de Luca
Starfleet Intelligence
Registered: Dec 14, 2009 0:38:17 GMT
Posts: 266
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Post by Elena de Luca on Dec 19, 2017 17:19:24 GMT
Level One Six Four Eight Engineering Storage ::
[Unused at present time] "...... You heard ?" the first man said.
"Yes ... She's not going to be happy !"
"The fools. All they needed to do was carry out their instructions, did we find out why they didn't board the El Salvador as instructed ?"
"It was something to do with Security, I don't know, and given what has happened they are in no position to tell us. Thankfully they made it onto their second option." the second said.
"A lot of good that did !" the first spat, his temper reaching boiling point far quicker than he cared to admit.
The two sat in silence in the semi-darkness of the empty Engineering Store. Nothing was going to plan, despite their efforts. Tetsutaro was still alive, the El Salvador was unharmed and about to depart, assuring their safety, at least for the time being, and what happened aboard the Raven was nothing short of a debacle ! ... He was dreading having to explain their failure yet again, she was patient, telling each of them that time was on their side ... 'Small steps' ... That was her doctrine, but even her patience had it's limits, and those surpassing that flimsy threshold usually didn't last long enough to regret it. They had begun their endeavour almost three years ago, admittedly, it was small scale, tampering, sowing the seeds of doubt, delaying tactics, nothing serious. But then came the disaster, something no-one could have foreseen, and while each and every one of the survivors were determined to find a way home, the Federation was hell-bent on continuing their exploration, inserting themselves where they had no right to be, and this had to be stopped .... By any means ! ....
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Others had arrived now, forming into small groups of two's and three's talking among themselves while they waited for the three who led the group.
"She should have been here by now." the second man said after some time.
"She will come when she comes. She isn't beholden to any of us, after all, we are only the ones dying for her cause." the first replied, the sarcasm obvious.
"You wish to 'retire' from our little group, you are free to do so with my blessing." everyone turned to see the silhouette in the doorway, almost tiny in comparison to the massive door frame. After a long moment of silence the silhouette stepped further into the semi-darkness, her eyes locked on the last person who spoke as she approached him, "I do not hold you here, you are free to come and go as you please, all I would ask of you is should you wish to no longer be associated with our group, you pledge your silence ... Nothing more ... Nothing less." she said, a cold smile forming.
"No, I .... I am sorry, it was the frustration of our failure, no disrespect was meant toward you." the man replied, trying, and failing, to keep the tremor from his voice.
"Think no more of it." she said, placing a hand on his shoulder for a moment, then moved to the long makeshift dais at the far side of the room, her ever-present Deputies beside her, before turning to face the others assembled:
"So we failed in our task to destroy the El Salvador ...... No matter, there will be other days." she said, taking one of the chairs,
"It has come to my attention that those aboard the Raven have one of the spheres, is this correct ?" the first two men nodded, not trusting themselves to reply verbally, "Then, it appears we have much to discuss .........." Main Sick-bay USS Raven-C ::The medic began packing his bag with fresh supplies as the Medical Staff worked on the seriously injured insurgent. In her opinion it was highly unlikely that the man would ever regain consciousness, but she had no way of ensuring this at present without risking her own capture. The Federation was well known for it's lack of resolve where information gathering was concerned. They would never stoop to torture or drugs to extract what they needed, and this was the cause of their constant downfall. The Klingon's would have what they needed in short order, as would numerous other races, but the ever-civilised Federation, no, far be it for them to stoop so low. "Commander T'Seng ... I want two Security Officers beside this bio-bed at all times, and two outside the doors to Sick-bay." she heard Admiral Torek order. "Yes Sir." the Security chief replied. "I'd prefer them out of my way Admiral." the Doctor said. "They will give you all the room you need Doctor, but here they stay." Torek said as he and the others left the room ..... She risked glancing around to see if it were possible to reach the Bio-bed, but there was no way. She began to walk out of Sick-bay when one of the Security Officers called her back. "Marine .... Your pack." he said, pointing to the satchel still on the counter where she had been refilling her hypo-spray's. She went back to retrieve it, muttering something about her forgetfulness ... Once in the corridor she took a second to calm herself then headed for the nearest walkway to the Starbase ..........
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Elena de Luca
Starfleet Intelligence
Registered: Dec 14, 2009 0:38:17 GMT
Posts: 266
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Post by Elena de Luca on Dec 26, 2017 21:53:39 GMT
SD: 2403.01.1226 Level Nine - Command Center Intelligence Conference Room :: "It's going to be difficult infiltrating any of these groups, we all agree on that." Elena said, seeing those present nod, "So, my first thought was to go our separate ways, mingle among the malcontents and try to ingratiate ourselves with someone who could point us towards the higher up's ...." "Going it alone could put some or all of us in danger." Nate Massa, the El Alamein's Security Chief commented, "I think we should go into the lower levels as pairs or even as a small group, possibly formed due to our mutual discontent with how things are being run et cetera et cetera." "What about using O'Tooles, I'm sure Sean would be willing to play along ?" Demik suggested. "That could work .... We go in over the next few days individually. Maybe gravitate towards each other given our, as Mister Massa suggested, mutual dislike of the status quo. No doubt one or more of the established malcontent groups will spot us. I doubt any of them will make an approach, they are much too cautious for something that blatant. But if anyone does come calling, all well and good. Us being seen, and more importantly 'heard' voicing our opinions will aid us when we do make initial contact. It's a given that these groups will have eyes and ears everywhere." "One thing though ...." Clancy began, "I think we need to look the part. It's all well and good talking, but we hardly look impoverished, let alone malnourished." "I've already thought of that .... It is known that there are Starfleet Officers and Crewmen among these groups, we are picking them up but it's getting more difficult as time goes on to root them out, so, I think that given you three are clearly serving Officers, you can retain your roles, us three are well, unknown, shall we say. I've made arrangements for you three to be reported for dereliction, failing to turn up for duty shifts, insubordination, in your case Commander ..." Elena said, turning her attention to the El Alamein's Exec, "You are trying to fight for your colleagues here, but at the same time sympathise with their frustration about not doing more to get us home, as such, you are willing to listen, but need convincing. So you turning up in O'Tooles might be more through curiosity than anything else. Which could make it difficult for you if anyone chooses to 'question' your loyalties, shall we say." "Great, so I'm the one getting a beating." Van said with a resigned sigh. "Stop moaning, it's not like they will kill you ... Hopefully." Iorte said with a grin. "OK, so us three ..." David said, pointing to the Intelligence Officers, "Are going to be posing as civilian contractors posted here, while you three are as you seem, disgruntled Starfleet Officers." "We still hardly look the part." Demik said. "I've sorted that. Tonight we will go down to Level One Six Eight Eight, in the bowels so to speak. We'll spend twenty four hours down there getting 'acquainted' with everything filthy. We're squatting in one of the lesser frequented hotels on Level One Five Five Two, so no showers, no fresh clothes, you get the drift ... I want us turning up in O'Toole looking the part ... 'ALL' of us." de Luca said. "When do we start ?" "It's twenty one hundred, so I'll expect us in the bilges around zero one hundred. I want us all making regular trips down there until we move into the lower levels looking for our target groups. You three ...." Elena said, again referring to the El Alamein Officers, have already been reported as missing. The turbo-lift will not recognise any of you as you drop through the Starbase. Getting back up to Alpha Promenade is your problem. Just remember that Security will have been notified so if you are pulled in make it look genuine. Like I said, we have almost no idea 'who' is working for these groups, and how high up those people are." "Whoo hoo ... Been a while since I was arrested." Nate Massa said with a sly grin." "The object is to avoid it, not present yourself." David said, everyone laughing at the comment, but they all knew the seriousness of the task ahead. "Right. Once out of this room we'll head directly for the turbo-lift. It's been taken out of service temporarily, so we won't bump into any one. It will halt at Level One Four Five Zero, from there we're on our own." David informed the group. "OK, lets go." de Luca said, getting up, the others following suit. They left the Conference Room heading down a long corridor. In semi-darkness a Service turbo-lift was waiting ..........
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Iorte Clancy
Starfleet Intelligence
Registered: Mar 9, 2016 17:58:55 GMT
Posts: 253
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Post by Iorte Clancy on Dec 31, 2017 1:17:49 GMT
Nodding to his compatriots as they all exited the turbolift on deck 1450, Clancy made for an adjacent shaft which should leave him untracked as he plunged into the deeps of the station. It was unknown if he would rendezvous with them immediately, though they'd surely be linking up down there in various configurations over the next 24 hours. Impossible darknesses and unknown possibilities awaited. He considered this as he dropped through the depths, fiddling with his ID datachip that had engraved on it his unique numerical identifier. As for his name, he would go by the moniker Iorte Clancy, the surname already an alias for another designation many found unpronounceable, and the first name considered unimportant. As de Luca had pointed out, as a trio they were already unidentifiable, to compound the mystery with another ID (besides his contractor employment information) was unnecessary.
He elected to ride the carriage all the way to the target deck, look around before the others arrived and generally acquire a good knowledge of the area prior to the 24-hour dirge of their blending process in waste management.
1656... 1657... 1658. The lift jolted to a halt. Clancy folded his arms and waited impatiently for the doors to open - to his surprise it was Tom Demik who entered. "Lieutenant, that's not much of a diversion unless you ran half the way."
"I ran into a patrol of officers. Recognised one of the security guards from fast-tracking - if he recognised me and thought I'd gone rogue, or worse discovered I was undercover, well..."
Clancy nodded, silencing himself as another passenger boarded; together the three traversed the last few levels to 1680 and that place every Starfleet officer had always dreamt of one day travelling to: the sewers.
It was 1217 hours; less than an hour to search out new leads before bilge duty commenced. "Demik, stay with me... We'll play the role of misfits searching for work."
"What about your role as contractor, Clancy...?"
He glanced back as they neared one end of a giant hollow cylindrical shaft; diffuse green light emanated from the darkness of the cylinder, distant figures of work personnel milling back and forth in the tunnel; curses and harsh laughter, metallic clashing of tools and electro-plasmic discharges filled the fetid air. "I can play contractor once we get through this mess..."
As 0100 hours neared, they began to question the wisdom behind this sojourn into the rank abyss. Granted, it allowed them to blend into the environment while still pursuing leads amidst the unhappy masses, and they had only to spend short periods down here, interspersed with lounging at the rundown hotel while keeping an eye on O'Toole's that lay across the way - nicely in sight from Clancy's balcony window, in fact. However, surely it would've been quite simple to apply cosmetic muck, to transport a uniform into molecular stasis with an intermix of bacterial particles from a matter replicator...
The duo found an unoccupied place in the cylinder and pretended to work. "Name and number?" a supervisor said wandering by, several PADDs balanced precariously atop one hand and a faulty flux coupler clutched in the other. He glanced between Clancy and the topmost PADD just beneath his eyes.
"Perkins," Iorte identified himself, having seen the unconfirmed name on the supervisor's list; 'Iorte Clancy' was for the present a subcontractor for Starship Smelters Inc., not a plasma conduit scrubber or waste disposal officer.
"Perkins, eh...? Not how I remembered you. Hmm." The supervisor eventually moved on, the sharp white points that were his eyes staring dubiously at Demik, "And I suppose you've dressed up for a Sunday?"
"He mutinied on the El Alamein. He's just looking for work," Clancy said mock-defensively, interposing himself.
"No problem," the supervisor nodded and gestured to Demik, "You may be of use in cargo bay 1680-lambda... This way - "
As he spoke, the end-cap of the waste conduit Clancy was half-heartedly adjusting broke loose, the heavy duranium piece clunking to the grille beneath his feet. There was an absurd pause before a mass of lime-tangerine sewage slushed out over Clancy in a revolting wave, coating all of his frame except head and neck. Perhaps I now have an excuse for playing truant for the next 24 hours, he thought. Once the laughter, of which there was a great deal, died down, the supervisor offered to take him to the local Lodge so that he may clean up. Asking what this Lodge might be, Clancy was met with a curious silence of undefinable quality... A lodge, akin perhaps to those associated with certain old social practices, such as freemasonry, rosicrucian societies? Such communal gatherings - whatever their affiliation - often revealed hidden networks, were conduits into the subspace that underpinned the real-space of Federation social organisation and established institutions. Stepping aside at the entrance to the Lodge - which seemed to be nothing more than a large room - he commed the others, =/\=Tan, de Luca, I've made a detour... Will arrive back at hotel at 0400.=/\=
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David Tan
Starfleet Intelligence
Suum Cuique ...
Registered: Dec 11, 2006 10:56:04 GMT
Posts: 792
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Post by David Tan on Jan 2, 2018 0:06:54 GMT
They had stood around disguising options, finally Clancy had stepped into the turbo-lift and disappeared. David looked at the doors for a moment then turned to face the others: "I still don't like it." he said. "Sir, you yourself said that it would look a little strange for a group of us to suddenly appear."Nate Massa said, "I figure if we all go individually, or in small groups, two, maybe three, there's less chance someone's going to start asking 'awkward' questions. You agree don't you ?" he said, turning his attention to Elena. "Yes, but I also see David's point of view, and as we are in charge ...." "Demik has gone down there, he'll meet up with Clancy, we should do likewise, split up before going to the bilges. If we come up against any resistance at least only two or three are going to be delayed." Massa finished. "OK, I'll go with you." David said, indicating Nate Massa, "Elena, you head down with Commander Van." "Just Van." the El Alamein's Exec' pointed out. Tan shrugged then stepped into the newly arrived turbo-lift, his partner following suit, "See you later." Van said with a cheerful wave as the doors closed ..... Level One Six Eight One :: As the doors opened, both men tentatively stepped forward. The Level was in semi-darkness, somewhat surprising as this was supposedly one of the Levels devoid of power according to the schematics in the Command Center. They stepped out, the doors 'swooshing' closed behind them, the lift presumably heading back up to it's next designated stop. Massa looked less than cheerful, and for the first time, David wondered if he was feeling the pressure. He'd be OK Tan decided inwardly as they began to move along the corridor, both bemoaning their situation. "It's all well and good for you, I'm reported missing, no-one's going to miss you anytime soon." "Look, I don't even remember inviting you along, so quit your constant whining or go back to whatever ship you slipped away from, hell, worse case you tell them you were on a bender, got lucky with one of the locals, and well, nature took it's course. They may reprimand you, or whatever it is, might even give you a day in the cells, but they 'NEED' people man, They're hardly going to keep you hemmed up in some cell while there are things you could be doing, I was told to redirect some of the power on this level up to where it's needed, as I said earlier, no-one asked you to tag along, and frankly I could do without the company." Tan said, dropping his toolbox on the deck before kneeling in front of a meshed panel, he pulled it away revealing what he was looking for. "I can't go back. I told you that." Massa said, kneeling beside Tan. "Let's get this done then we can get back up to what they laughingly call 'Civilisation' .... Alright !" David said, punctuating the wording for the benefit of anyone who might have been listening to the conversation. They worked for twenty minutes, hardly speaking to each other to make it clear they had had a disagreement. during which time the concealed Comm badge in Tan's waistband chirped to muffled life. he heard Clancy inform then of his delay, and knew he at least had made some sort of contact. Tan sat on the deck, pushing himself back until he was against the opposite corridor bulkhead, eyes tentatively flicking in both directions as he allowed Massa to continue working. He began to rummage in his toolbox as if looking for something ... Moments earlier he thought he had seen someone in the semi-darkness, his instinct proved right as two men approached, one holding what was clearly a Starfleet issue phaser loosely at his side: "Starfleet Security. What are you two doing down here ?" the unarmed man asked, inserting himself between Massa and the open panel, "Well ... I asked you a question." "We, we were sent down to shunt power from this Level up to erm ..." Nate began, but he was interrupted quickly. "That could have been done remotely, who sent you down here ?" "You don't look like Security, unless they are going for the dishevelled look now." Tan said, making the armed man turn to face him directly. "Shut your mouth ... NOW !" the armed man ordered, the other retrieving a PADD from his belt before pointing it at the kneeling Massa, clearly scanning the knelt man, the first spoke again to David, "Name ?" "David, Tanner, I'm a Civilian contractor, got stuck here when all hell broke loose. I was at one of the aid stations, they were looking form people with skills, I put my hand up." "..... and you ?" the man asked, turning his attention to Massa. As soon as he broke eye contact David reached behind him for the wrench he'd been sat on and swung it in a low arc, impacting the mans leg below the knee. He yelped in pain dropping the phaser as he clutched his possibly fractured tibia or fibula. Tan spun the weapon to train it on the first man before he could react. But Massa too had reacted, admittedly faster than David had expected. He had seemingly uncoiled from his kneeling position, one fist thrusting upwards to impact under the mans chin, he was unconscious before he landed in a heap beside the open hatch. Nate took several strands of opti-cable, binding the prone man before turning his attention to the shocked and injured other man. "Hands behind your back." Massa said, but the man refused to relinquish hold in his broken limb. "Who are you ... Really ?" Tan asked. "I told you idiot. We are Security. What do you expect down here, dress uniform ... You won't get away with this you know, assault, unlawful detention, my colleague over there scanned both of you, they will be expecting us to request instructions and when we don't ...." the injured man said with something half grin half grimace. "We were defending ourselves, simple as that, and I've yet to be convinced that you are what you say you are. For all I know you could be asking one of your rebel groups for advice." Massa said, searching the second man for a weapon. "You might want to get up to where the air is cleaner mister, you're clearly suffering from oxygen deprivation." "I'll tie him up, then we need to get the hell out of here, We can't worry about his leg ......" Massa said, looking every inch the worried man now, "Someone will fix it when they find him, but if he is Security they will have realised something is wrong and will have sent somebody to investigate. I'm not getting nabbed to save this lowlife !" "OK, but make it quick, gag them both too, no point in letting their friends know exactly where they are." Tan said, kicking his toolbox aside before checking the corridor in both directions. Nate used a dirty cloth to gag the unconscious man then rummaged in his own toolbox for something for the man with the injured leg. Satisfied he'd found what he was looking for he knelt beside him. The man stubbornly shook his head until Tan raised the wrench over his head, making it perfectly clear that he had no misgivings about fracturing the other leg to match. As he slowed his struggling his eyes locked onto David's but as the gag was put in his mouth he said something. "Wa ...." "Keep still." Massa warned as he tried again, but David told him to wait. "What ...... Something to say all of a sudden ?" "Wait. I, we, we are Security, or at least were ......" the man said, completely ignoring the ragged cloth a centimeter from his mouth as he concentrated on the man he knew as Tanner, "We, are part of one of the groups you mentioned." "That is convenient, wouldn't you say ?" David asked Massa, who nodded as he moved the gag a little closer, "So, if I was to ask where I could find this 'group' of yours, you would of course be able to direct me, yes ?" "We are only small, but there's a much lar ....." he began, but Tan leaned forward landing a blow to the mans neck, the result was instant unconsciousness. "He was going to tell us where they are." Massa exclaimed. "Yes, he was. Gag him, but no 'too' tightly. I want him to be able to attract the attention of his colleagues. You ready ?" he asked as Massa stood, "OK, let's get the hell out of here." They closed the panel and headed as quietly as possible to the turbo-shaft they had arrived from. As the 'lift doors opened they stepped in, Tan gave their desired Level then fell silent, at least until Massa couldn't wait any longer: "Mind telling me what we're doing heading back up ?" "Look, if those two were 'genuine' Security, both our faces will be plastered on every PADD and bulletin throughout the Starbase as fugitives. On the other hand, if they were whom they claimed to be, part of one of the rebel groups, then when we go back down there in a few hours, we will have someone who can confirm just who we are ... Won't we." Massa looked at Tan then fell silent as the turbo-lift rose ..........
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Iorte Clancy
Starfleet Intelligence
Registered: Mar 9, 2016 17:58:55 GMT
Posts: 253
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Post by Iorte Clancy on Jan 3, 2018 16:47:18 GMT
Appearing thoroughly ridiculous coated in the fluorescent grime that'd spilled from the conduit, but glad that his blending process was already virtually complete, Clancy was shown around the lodge. It was, he discovered, dimly lit and possessed of more than just the one cuboid room he'd entered initially, there were in fact corridors and a couple of ante-rooms leading off the main room, in addition to a trio of quarters at the back. The walls were adorned with opulent curtains and hangings and in places braziers and torches lit up the surfaces, casting shadows in the recesses giving the impression of things forbidden, mysterious.
He looked around, "What is this hocus pocus...?"
"I beg your pardon?" the supervisor said over his shoulder. He led Clancy down the nearest sepulchral passage to a corner near the entrance to one of the quarters, producing from a box on the floor two worn-out grey worker uniforms, with patches and chemical stains. "Take your pick, Perkins." Clancy grimaced and pointed to the muckier, more torn outfit. "You're sure? The thing's falling apart... it's threadbare, and look at the holes in this glove."
"I like the tactile sensation of a plasma cutter in my hand," Iorte answered lamely, then asked off-hand, "What do you do here?"
"Ah... This is a place for the work-crews to relax during off-hours, besides their usual quarters or taverns. Here we can find solace from our shared tragedy, in a way we never could with family or friends we may consort with during the day. We model ourselves on the freemasonry revivalist movement of the late 21st century. Shortlived though it was, it finds many of its expressions in much the same context in lodges like this. The spirit of exploration in the nascent United Earth was disliked by the original revivalists... There are some of that persuasion in the current lodge, though not many and they're generally frowned upon by the majority of us."
Grynax Corporate dislikes exploration, too, he thought. "Are there any other such groups on the station?" Clancy asked cautiously.
The supervisor seemed to be enjoying himself but was suddenly guarded, "Well, that kind of information would only be available to initiates. Perkins, I thought you knew all this, and that you were a member? Apparently not..." he trailed off seemingly deep in thought.
Clancy reflected he and the others were still technically due to be down here until 'round midnight tomorrow. He took a breath, "Sign me up... My next shift starts 1000 hours tomorrow, I'll arrive an hour before if that'll be sufficient time for the... ceremony, thing."
The supervisor affirmed this and enthusiastically pointed out various features of the lodge HQ as he led Clancy towards the exit, pointing to his right as he strided past the other rooms, "This is the Grand Master's chamber." I wonder who that is? Clancy thought, though he suspected this group was wholly innocent; they were a conduit for him, nothing more, an entry node by which he could gain access to that subterranean network of hidden sects, etc. "I'm at the level of Adept myself..." the supervisor was babbling on. Iorte thanked him and made for the nearest turbolift lobby to find Demik; it was nearing 0400 and he wished to rendezvous with another party.
On the way to the lifts, his hidden commbadge buzzed three times and lit up with a compass-directional marker - ... He broke into a run in the given direction (three short buzzes, the signal for emergency, from either Tan or de Luca the only other commbadge brandishers amongst them). He arrived at the location and found de Luca and Demik dragging someone away from a crumpled figure which lay against the bulkhead. The man dragged away was pushed against the wall with arms behind his back, but he somehow slipped Demik's grasp and flew off down the corridor in a crashing of metallic grille-flooring.
Clancy rushed up and found that the person propped against the bulkhead by de Luca was Milo Van, his face beaten to a bloody pulp, "Ah, damn it! Demik, go after that man..." he commanded, "I don't care how long it takes you to find -"
"Iorte, that's not a good idea," de Luca objected, still tending Van who was just now climbing to his feet, unable to speak. "Prowling the corridors alone down here isn't safe." Demik, however, had already disappeared round the corner in the passageway in pursuit, and with no commbadge. de Luca sighed, "Van needs treatment. Now." Maintaining an unspoken disagreement, they boarded the turbolift for alpha promenade with Van supported between them, both parties resentful. "See you tomorrow, 1680," Iorte murmured to the deck as it was eclipsed by the closing doors.
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Elena de Luca
Starfleet Intelligence
Registered: Dec 14, 2009 0:38:17 GMT
Posts: 266
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Post by Elena de Luca on Jan 7, 2018 22:59:56 GMT
As they stepped out of the turbo-lift on Level One Four Five Zero, one of the Civilian Occupational Levels of the Starbase, Elena and Milo van headed off to their left ... Truth be told, they were following information that was suspect at best, having heard from Sean O'Toole that two possible members of one of the groups causing problems on the 'base were on this level.
"Delta Sector, Rooms four eight six and four eight seven, any thoughts on how we approach this ?" the El Alamein's Executive Officer asked.
"We could simply knock." Elena said, making van look at her to see if she was being serious as she pulled a PADD from the satchel flung over one shoulder, "They look like this ...." she said, handing the device to Van who studied the two images, one male one female, both in khaki coverall's ...
"There's a rec' area up ahead, maybe we can sit it out there, see if either of them pass by." Milo suggested.
"We need to get into one of those rooms, according to the register, Safron Nelor, room four eight six, and, Wilm Garas in four eight seven." de Luca said, Van nodding confirmation.
"Which do you want to try first ?"
"I think we should get into Nelor's room first, according to Sean 'she' was the one doing all the talking. Doesn't mean much I know, but I have the feeling that if these people are listening to her then maybe she has more pull than we first thought. Then again she could just be one of those disgruntled women who can't stop themselves moaning about anything and everything." she said with a wry grin. Sensibly, Van didn't offer any opinion on the topic.
"According to their duty schedules, both of them should be assisting cleaning crews a few Levels up. Neither is due back for hours."
"OK. let's go look, no point in hanging around." de Luca said, continuing along the curved corridor ....
~~~~~
"On the left." Elena said as they approached. Van put his back against the bulkhead, checking left and right that they were alone in this area. He tapped her on the shoulder and she placed a small device on the door, tapping the inlaid controls several times the door slid silently open. She retrieved the device, which simultaneously opened the door and wiped the ingress from the doors internal memory, then both stepped inside, the door sliding closed behind them, "Check in there." she said, pointing towards what should be the bedroom area. She looked around the room, it was sparsely furnished as most of the public accommodations were, People could live with what they had or furnish as them deemed fit, it was an entirely personal preference ... Nelor clearly wasn't one for decor.
"Out of curiosity, what are we hoping to find exactly ?" Milo asked from the other room.
"How the hell do I know." she replied, opening one drawer after another in the small cabinet under the window. She was glancing out at the ever-present Cloud when a reflection caught her attention. She turned but there was nothing out of the ordinary so she turned back, hoping to catch sight again. There it was, a tiny speck, red, intermittent. She turned back and squinted at the wall opposite and saw the light again. Approaching tenuously she knelt to see the small box against the junction of the carpet and wall, hidden behind a large plant pot. Had she not seen the reflection she would never have noticed it.
She took out a tricorder and scanned the device:
"Now, what do you do I wonder." she said almost to herself. Suddenly the frequency of the flashing light increased, not by much and it was the tricorder that picked it up before she did. Something told her that whatever the thing was, it wasn't there to improve the aforementioned decor, she shot to her feet heading for the door as she shouted to Van, "WE'RE LEAVING !" he didn't wait for an explanation, instead he came running from the bedroom and followed her out the door, they had gone less than ten meters when the bulkhead beside the door exploded into the corridor, the shockwave threw both of them off their feet and a further thirty meters before they came to a crumpled halt. Black smoke billowed from the gaping hole as automated fire control systems burst into action. Van didn't wait, he got to his feet pulling Elena up beside him.
"We need to get out of here ... Quickly !"
Five minutes later and two Levels up, they found a recreation area. Dropping into seats at a table they both looked worse for wear, dishevelled and dirty ... Elena asked him to get drinks for them both, Milo got up and left the table, she was reaching into her pouch when something dropped onto the table. Looking up quickly she realised what it was:
"I believe you may have lost this." the woman standing over her said, clearly referring to the malfunctioning tricorder.
"No, I don't think so." de Luca replied casually, risking a glance towards the counter where Van was still getting their drinks, unaware they had company as the woman sat down opposite her, "That seats taken."
The woman ignored her and turned the smouldering tricorder around with her finger as she watched de Luca. She finally picked up the device and tried, unsuccessfully, to get it up and running, giving up she pushed it aside but not quite out of reach. Milo Van had picked up the cups and had turned to see the woman sat with Elena. He walked over putting her cup in front of her before looking at the newcomer.
"Can we help you with something ?" he asked, glancing around in the hopes of seeing anyone who may be watching, before choosing to sit at the nearby table where he could see both of the woman 'and' the door.
"I was just returning something your friend here dropped."
"I don't think that belongs to us actually." he said, hardly looking at the tricorder.
"Hmmm, well, maybe I was mistaken. Bit of a fracas going on a few Levels down, some sort of explosion from what I hear, have to say, given your appearance, anyone would think you two were close to it." she said, eyeing Van up and down as if pondering a purchase. She reached over and took his cup sniffing at the hot liquid before taking a sip, "Can't beat coffee." she said, handing the cup back.
"Well, we have somewhere to be ...." Elena said, standing.
"If you step away from the table, sweetie, my girlfriend over there behind the counter will be forced to put a small hole in the back of your rather shapely neck." the woman said, taking Elena's cup and taking a drink from it before seemingly weighing up which was the better of the two beverages, "I believe you were in my quarters earlier, in fact, I know you were because you were observed. Now, I think you should tell me exactly 'why' you were there." she said, taking de Luca's satchel and pouring the contents out onto the table. Thankfully, apart from the device used to open the door, a few pieces of jewellery, a second tricorder, and numerous data-chips, it held nothing mysterious.
"They are mine ! .... I'm calling Security ...." de Luca began, but was interrupted:
"Feel free, of course, it could prove to be a difficult task without vocal chords." the woman said as a small hole appeared in the bulkhead beside Elena. Both de Luca and Van realised that sensors that would normally detect weapons' fire had either been taken off-line, or were damaged due to their trek through space. Either way, they could be killed and no-one would know a thing about it until their bodies were discovered, if at all, "What have we here ?"
"Look, we don't want trouble. If we've taken something of yours then we're sorry. Take it back and let us go. We are only trying to make ends meet." Elena said, suddenly looking both frightened and vulnerable.
"Petty thieves." the woman said with a glance at her friend behind the counter, who was somehow managing to serve others while ensuring no-one got up and left during the conversation, "Now I have to admit, that hadn't occurred to me."
"Can we have those back ?" Van said, reaching for the cheep jewellery. The woman eyed the goods then dropped them into his open hands. Milo reached over and tentatively took the satchel, secreting the goods inside while trying to look as if he was about to be given a life sentence somewhere not very accommodating to his continued well-being. The woman seemed to mull the question over as she allowed him to gather everything up from the table, but she put a hand on the burnt tricorder, preventing him from taking that back.
"This isn't any good to you now." she said, turning the device over in her hands for a moment, "No good to us either I suppose." she said, handing it to Milo.
"Can we leave ?" he asked, glancing at the server, who looked as if she was completely ignoring them.
"I don't see why not. You might want to be a little more careful who you target in future. Some people might not have my view to free enterprise." They got up and began walking towards the open entrance of the Rec Area silently thanking their proverbial lucky stars, when the woman spoke again, "Just out of curiosity here, but how long have you been 'helping yourselves' to other peoples' belongings ?"
"Me, about seven, eight months or so ...." Elena answered after turning to face the woman, "Him, I don't know. We met a week ago when I got into a little trouble, he helped out."
"So hardly the master criminals then ?"
"We manage to eat." de Luca said with a shrug, as if her comment was all the explanation required.
"Tell you what. Come back down here tomorrow, I might have work for you."
"I'm not for hire." Van said defiantly.
"Of course you're not." the woman replied, turning her back on them, clearly signalling that the conversation was at an end. de Luca and Van left, making their way to a turbo-lift eyes scanning every which way for someone following. They got into the empty 'lift and began to rise.
"Nice woman." Van muttered under his breath, Elena couldn't help but agree ..........
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Iorte Clancy
Starfleet Intelligence
Registered: Mar 9, 2016 17:58:55 GMT
Posts: 253
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Post by Iorte Clancy on Jan 20, 2018 21:48:08 GMT
Waving farewell to de Luca and Van as they remained in the turbolift on the way up to deck 1450, Iorte made his way from the shaft area onto Alpha Promenade, the place considerably busier than it had been this morning or indeed at the equivalent time late yesterday evening. It was indeed early hours now, however business was operating in an unusual pattern of repetition every 36 hours - something to do with correlating and realigning station time to promenade time - thus the working day of Alpha was constantly resyncing by half a day each time.
Making towards the delapidated end of Alpha Promenade and their hotel's upper levels - which protruded from the deck below up here into deck 1550, rising a distance equal to half the deck's full height - Iorte entered the lobby and signalled to the porter.
"Good evening, Mr Clancy, sir. How is business...? Ah, what were you in again, rare metals, was it?"
"Not so good in this quadrant, porter. I've lost contact with my business partners by a strange coincidence, ever since we were propelled through space to this domain."
The porter smiled sheepishly and took the overcoat of his ragged work coveralls, "Well, quite, sir, can I be finding you anything in the kitchen at this hour?" Clancy responded in the negative and descended in a malfunctioning lift to his floor on deck 1551. This wouldn't do, he decided, looking round the grim space; casting an eye to the window he found that it looked out on a disused cargo bay with the space-doors sealed shut, chemical spills dried from long exposure coating the surface, frozen in their flow from overturned barrels; he wanted a better-situated room, with a view, and a balcony.
"Porter," he tapped the wall intercom, "Porter? Someone?"
"Sir?"
"Can you arrange to put me in the penthouse?"
"Negative, sir, Mr Stirczki is resident, a prospector from Mars and our oldest living client." Iorte made noises of disapproval and acknowledged, requesting that he still be moved and to the nearest available room - to the penthouse - with a balcony that looked towards the centre of the promenade. Soon he was sequestered in his new quarters, casting his unclean overalls - courtesy of the lodge Adept who worked in the bilges - onto the bed. The porter called again, "Mr Clancy, a message has arrived for you. I have someone sending it up to you, now."
"Thanks," Iorte frowned. He opened the door, anticipating the knock, and a hand whose owner he didn't see passed him a slip of real paper on which was written in what he believed to be Tan's handwriting: rendezvous 0200 hours, level 1549 sector 17 grid upsilon-sigma, commbadge stolen, cannot explain, extremely important. Pacing back and forth he then rushed to the door, "Hey," he called halfheartedly, but the carrier of the message was long gone.
He stood outside the Alpha Promenade bakery establishment's storage centre - where Tan had instructed him to wait - and again found himself pacing. By 0217 hours he'd become impatient; about to depart, he was approached from behind and clubbed unconscious, sprawling now on his chest with darkness descending, welcoming the abyss.
* * *
Iorte sat in his hotel room, leaning back in his chair and sipping at his coffee. Occasionally and counter-intuitively, it assisted him in gaining sleep rather than its opposite. Sliding along to the balcony windows, he pushed back the curtains and cast his eyes along the main thoroughfare of the promenade: 0400 hours and the midnight business was at last evaporating. Less than five hours lay between him and his departure for the power grid and waste management decks once more, where he would be initiated into the freemason-revivalist lodge, becoming mutatis mutandis an Eleusinian mystes first experiencing the sacred revelations, or some such - as the work supervisor and lodge Adept had described it.
He was at last contacted by Demik, who informed him he'd failed to track down the attacker of Milo Van, though he had picked up a trail of blood and had contacted the El Alamein - would this be approved? he wondered - to see about analysing the blood sample, comparing it to known DNA records (there was an extreme outside chance that the blood would be on file).
He also contacted de Luca and Van, aware that they'd been chasing up a lead on Safron Nelor and Wilm Garas. It was now he found out about the explosion on deck 1450. "Are you going to take her up on the offer?" he asked concerning the proposition regarding thievery, sipping at his coffee as he peered out the balcony window.
<Tag de Luca>
It was perhaps a matter of interest that the explosion had taken place on in sector 17, grid upsilon-sigma of deck 1450 (directly upwards from the location where Clancy had not met Tan as expected, 99 decks below).
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Elena de Luca
Starfleet Intelligence
Registered: Dec 14, 2009 0:38:17 GMT
Posts: 266
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Post by Elena de Luca on Jan 21, 2018 16:32:18 GMT
O'Tooles Bar and Grill - 03:15 hrs Level One Five Five One - Alpha Promenade :: Elena and Milo had entered O'Tooles, Sean, the owner had left an hour earlier but his Bar Manager Kira was behind the bar: "Hmm, don't often see you at this time of night Elena, who's your friend ?" she said with an exaggerated wink. "Calm down Kira ...." de Luca said with a grin, "This is Commander Milo Van, you've met him before but likely don't remember. He's the Exec' on the El Alamein." "Ahh, rightio ..." Kira said in her Irish lilt, looking Van up and down before returning her attention to Elena, "What can I do you for girl, if it's Sean you're a wanting he's taken himself off to bed." "Just use of the back room, oh, and a lot of coffee if that's OK ?" "Go right ahead, I'll be right with ya's." Kira said with a wink in Van's direction. They went into the private room, the door, concealed from the bar and outer room, activated on her approach, sliding aside silently then returning to it's closed position once they had entered. There were two further rooms beyond, one housing cots, the other an extensive array of weaponry, along with a single-person transporter pad and communications equipment. They took seats and Milo commented on the room. de Luca told him that Sean and Carl Torek had set it all up on the proverbial 'QT', it was pretty-much invisible to all but the most thorough of scans and had everything they needed, from communications to weapons and even a fridge. Kira entered unannounced and poured them both steaming hot mugs of coffee. Elena noticed that Commander Van fell silent the second the door opened but she reassured him that unless they needed absolute secrecy, that Sean and Kira were allowed into the room as and when they chose but both tended to keep out unless sent for. Van nodded, taking the offered mug from Kira, who held onto it a few seconds longer than was necessary, enjoying the confusion of the Commander. "Sling your hook Kira." Elena said, reaching for her own mug. Kira pouted to Milo for effect then left .... "OK. We need to hear from the other teams before we progress." she said as the door closed, sealing them in the room. "Do you think it wise for us all to be seen together ?" "I think we 'need' to be seen together, at least at some point. I'm basically going off the premise that we are a small group of disenchanted workers and deserters, who are open to joining a larger, assuming more organised group to get their point across to those upstairs. I agree we need to be careful though, at least in the first stages." she said, enjoying the hot liquid. They continued discussion until the Comm chirped to life, she reached over for her discarded jacket and retrieved the hidden device: =^= de Luca .. .. =^= They spoke for several minutes then he asked: =^= Are you going to take her up on the offer ? =^= =^= Hmm .. I think it would be rude to refuse .. Especially as she clearly believes we're not going to go back down there =^= =^= Possibly .. .. Where are you ? =^= =^= Back room .. O'Tooles .. Have you heard from David ? =^= she answered. =^= Nothing yet .. I'm going back down in a few hours .. Hopefully I'll be initiated into their little group then .. Once in it might be possible for me to 'suggest' a few others who may be of a like mind =^= =^= Play it by ear .. We don't want then suspecting anything untoward =^= =^= Will do =^= Clancy replied, stifling a yawn. =^= Comm check at eighteen hundred tomorrow if possible =^= =^= Will do .. Out =^= she dropped the Comm badge on top of her jacket as Clancy closed the contact then took another drink of the still hot coffee. The door opened, this time Van didn't spin around. David and Nate Massa entered, both looking as if they had been in a sewerage farm for the duration. Kira walked in behind them, a fresh pot of coffee in one hand, a plate of sandwiches in the other. She removed the first pot as the group spoke: "We were just talking about you two." de Luca said, realising suddenly that she was extremely hungry having seen the plate. "We ran into a spot of trouble." David began but decided coffee and something to eat took precedence to his report, more so given Elena was not going to like what they had to say ... Massa reported the incident earlier, including what they had done. While they helped themselves to refreshments Van told them about their contact with Clancy: "You think they will initiate as you put it, him into their little coven then ?" David asked. "It seems so. From what he was saying they seem more than eager to increase their numbers. I'm a little concerned about the 'Masonic' angle he spoke about. Sounds too much like a cult thing to me, but I could be mistaken." Elena replied. "So ... Next steps ?" Van asked the room. "Well. Clancy and hopefully Demik, are going down to the Bilges in a few hours, I doubt they will be shown anything of use yet, they will need to prove their loyalty I expect ...." Tan said, pausing to take a bite out of the ham sandwich, ".... They will likely get some names, but initially will need to look to moving up in the world, so to speak. It's a given that whoever is leading these groups won't be easily accessible, but if they move too fast it will raise suspicion. It's not going to be something we can conclude overnight." "He's taken up residence across the way, by the way." de Luca said. "Lucky him. Hope he's picked out a good room." David said wryly. "Right ... Next moves anyone ?" de Luca asked as Kira reappeared to again refresh their coffee supply. "I think we should make ourselves visible were we had our encounter earlier." Tan said, thanking Kira as she passed, "If they were genuine it's plausible we'll be snatched up, which providing we actually get out again, would lend credibility to our stories. If they were from one of the groups it will give us an initial open." "Good, agreed. Milo and I will follow up on the job offer, I have a feeling that going back to either Nelor or Goras, will perpetuate our meeting with someone higher up, so to speak. I'd like to make our introductions from that angle." "Shouldn't we try to fabricate some reason for us all to be in the same locale at the same time, it may help with meeting up ?" Nate suggested. "We're all going to be low-level members ...." Tan explained, ".... So I have the feeling we might be watched at first, there would be no harm in dropping our names in conversation, who knows. It's a given that once we 'are' accepted, or 'hired' as the case may be, they will want to ensure we're precisely not what they fear we could be, so we might want to forego carrying comm badges and the like. I have a friend who can supply us with personal weapons, old type one phasers, aged Klingon weapons and the like, it would be plausible for us to want to protect ourselves. I'm still concerned about communicators to be honest." "Sew them into our jackets ?" Massa suggested. "If we are scanned, and it's an outside chance but possible, then even concealed they will be picked up. I don't like the idea of zero comms, but it might be necessary." Elena replied. David got up: "Let's contact Iorte, let him know what we've decided before he gets too used to that luxury suite. I'm going to get a few hours' rest." "I'll contact him now." Elena assured him .......... < Tag : Clancy / Demik >
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Iorte Clancy
Starfleet Intelligence
Registered: Mar 9, 2016 17:58:55 GMT
Posts: 253
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Post by Iorte Clancy on Jan 29, 2018 20:37:31 GMT
OOC: Hi Steve, yep Clancy was the one who was knocked unconscious during his failed rendezvous with Tan. I aimed to write that someone had faked Tan's handwriting and engineered a meeting with Clancy, in order to incapacitate him. What happened in the interval between the attack and his arriving back at the hotel is a mystery at the moment.
With the section you quoted regarding Demik picking up a trail of blood after someone attacked Milo Van, see the last three paragraphs of my 3rd Jan response. It may not be important now and we could say Van's injury was rapidly mended but it can be there as a potential subplot? Cheers, Andy.
Iorte switched off the light, now standing in pitch blackness except for a diffuse light visible through the window from the promenade 'street' below. Distant voices and a low murmur of the Starbase's throbbing power distribution network filled his senses aurally, then seemingly drawing themselves off into his other perceptive faculties such that his entire consciousness was dominated by the sound of the controlled detonation in which he - and all of the Starbase's personnel and civilians - were living.
He lay down and stared at the ceiling, minutes passing with no change; eventually his commbadge began chirping in the darkness - his dreams suggested crickets in the idyllic garden on his colonial homeworld, suborbital craft leaving vortices over his head, foster parents laughing and screaming in the luminous day. The crickets continued their mysterious song, he sighed and activated the badge, =/\=Clancy here.=/\= It was de Luca. =/\=Yes, I was just going to sleep... Four hours and counting.=/\=
de Luca informed him of the various tasks the other two teams had appointed for themselves, entailing joining Nelor's operation - whatever it may be - and furthering inquiries into those responsible for Tan and Massa's travails. He acknowledged the need to dispose of commbadges, and impatiently ripped his from the concealed place in the sleeve, casting it to the floor to ensure it didn't come with him to deck 1680.
* * *
Grey light emanating from the window - brightening as the station adjusted the light level in accordance with daylight time - Clancy rose from his bed and groaned, instinctively touching the back of his head and neck. Something wasn't right, but due to his semi-delirium he was soon unable to recall the discomfort; he ascended to Alpha Promenade's upper level, checking out with the porter and heading across the promenade - still eerily silent, devoid of the great humanoid stream - towards the suite of turbolifts.
He touched his cranium once again and found a bump, slight but piercing its way into his consciousness, intruding upon his pre-reflective state. "Now how the hell...?"
The abode of deck 1680 welcomed him with a threat, opening its arms and suggesting, by play of light and shadow, a sepulchre that enclosed about him, enveloped him into its loose globular sac like an expanding protoplasm, or a slow-acting poison into which he was ensconced to be gradually fed mortal venom. Deeply uneasy, he made for the lodge gathering place, aware it was almost 0900 hours, and nearly ran into the figure which stepped suddenly round the corner ahead.
"Demik!" He composed himself, "Did you find him?"
"No, sir," Demik confirmed, "Just the blood trail. The El Alamein's analysing it now; Captain Komin seemed pleased to make contact with one of us, although Lorok was furious." That they'd lifted total anonymity, Clancy finished in his head, nodding minutely; he enquired if there was any suggestion the blood was on record, to which Demik responded ambivalently. In the gloom the two advanced together towards the lodge; an uncanny sensation had fallen upon both of them, like rain straight down, undivergent, not allowing for combination or probability but utterly certain, dreadful, the expiring clock of fate whose hand would always reach the hour.
* * *
0900
"A strange occurrence," Clancy agreed, "And the note was written in Tan's hand. He didn't show and I walked back to the hotel. The time seemed to pass very quickly."
"I'll contact Tan afterwards," Demik confirmed, and the two became silent as the familiar adept in his robes, followed by others similarly attired - grey and crimson against the rich velvet trappings that adorned the walls and ceiling of the lodge HQ's interior - entered the main room and situated themselves in a rectangle about them.
"Are you prepared, initiates, for the first degree of initiation into the secrets of the Ordo Templum Sectionem XLVII? The revelation of the master builder's clandestine works, his resurrection of the glory of the hidden of the hidden?"
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David Tan
Starfleet Intelligence
Suum Cuique ...
Registered: Dec 11, 2006 10:56:04 GMT
Posts: 792
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Post by David Tan on Feb 4, 2018 20:58:00 GMT
Derelict Hotel Level One Four Five Zero Zero Seven Fifteen hours :: David was shaving when the door chime sounded ... Massa looked at Tan who nodded ... Approaching the door it slid aside. Two men in Starfleet Security uniform stood outside .... "Officers." Nate said, making sure Tan heard him, "Something I can do for you ?" he said, noting the phasers aimed casually at his midriff. "Step inside 'Sir' we received reports of an assault on two of our Officers late last evening. Eye witnesses say they observed you and another man exiting a turbo-life on the Promenade Level before entering an establishment on that level." the first Officer explained as the second moved around the room, he waved and Tan exited the bathroom. "You must be mistaken Officers." David began, casually wiping his face with a towel, "We 'were' on the Promenade last evening, but only to get a few jars before retiring. Hard day in the office, you know how it is." he said with a knowing grim. "Is that so, then mind explaining what line of 'business' you two are in that requires you to drink copiously prior to turning in ?" "I'm sorry, but that is our business." Massa said, unable to avoid the blow to his temple that felled him in a daze. "Please ... There's no need for that Officer." David said, kneeling to help Massa to his feet, "My friend here is just a little embarrassed that we have no regular employment since, well, you know." he finished, bowing slightly but keeping his eyes on the two armed men. "I'll ask you again, what line of work keeps you out so late ?" the first Officer asked, apparently ignoring Tan's plea for lenience. "Manual work, anything we can get our hands on, we'll turn ourselves to anything for meal chits." Massa said, wiping the blood off his forehead and cheek. "Get their identifications." the first ordered. The second Officer took out a retinal scanner from his jacket. A sense of dread passed through Massa as the man approached and aimed the device at his left eye, "Stay still or we'll do this while you're unconscious !" "He's Starfleet." the man said, moving on to Tan, "Him too, both ranked, Commander. Both wanted." he finished, returning the device to his pocket. Tan could see both Officers had tensed, their phasers now out in front and decidedly pointed at Tan and Massa. "You're coming with us, now." They stepped away, making retreat into one of the other rooms impossible, the first man pointed towards the door, making it clear what he wanted them to do. Massa moved first, Tan a step behind as they entered the corridor, "Turbo-shaft, that way. Move !" he punctuated his order by digging the business end of his phaser into David's back ... Moving ahead of their captors neither could see a way out of their predicament so had little option but to do as ordered. At the turbo-lift doors opened they were nudged inside, the two Security Officers standing facing them, each phaser resting against the naval of the man they were escorting. "Level One Six Seven Zero." the man instructed. "Where are we going ?" Massa asked, receiving another blow for his curiosity, but the man did seem to be willing to enlighten him on this occasion: "Converted Shuttle Bay. It is being used as a Brig and, interrogation Center." "What do you mean interroga ....." this time the blow took the wind out of him completely. "Shut the hell up, traitor !" David could only stand and watch as the phaser pushed into his stomach even harder. It didn't seem right, something was amiss here and he knew it, but risking trying to grapple the weapons off these two before they arrived at their destination was going to be all-but impossible, so with no options open to him he watched in silence as Nate Massa, bleeding profusely from several deep gashes, staggered to his feet ..........
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David Tan
Starfleet Intelligence
Suum Cuique ...
Registered: Dec 11, 2006 10:56:04 GMT
Posts: 792
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Post by David Tan on Feb 5, 2018 21:04:29 GMT
They were pushed through the massive doors into a darkened space. From memory, David knew how large the place was but it was no less intimidating ... Urged to move by the jutting phasers they walked forward into the darkness before coming on a table and chairs.
"Sit." one of the Security Officers instructed. Tan and Massa did so.
"Loving the ambiance." Nate said sarcastically. David had to love the mans determination to rile their guards at every opportunity, thankfully he wasn't rewarded for the comment this time around, "Mood lighting." he said to Tan who could only grin.
"Funny man ..." someone in the darkness said.
A woman walked into the light and took the single chair on the opposite side of the table. She eyed Massa then asked someone to tend to his wounds and while this happened she seemed to be lost in thought, in turn, David considered it wise not to interrupt. Once Massa's injuries were seen to she smiled at them both.
"I assume you are wondering what is happening gentlemen ?"
"It did cross my mind." Tan said, eyeing one of the Security Officers who seemed to have levitated closer to the table unnoticed, "All a little 'cloak and dagger' even for the Federation, but needs must I suppose ...... So, mind telling me why we were brought down here and what charges we're going to be facing ?"
"Nathaniel Massa. Former Executive Officer USS El Alamein. Desertion .... Commander First Class David Tan. Former Operation Chief USS Raven, Admiral Torek's ship if memory serves. Your record after departing the Raven is somewhat vague, which in and of itself raises a few warning flags, wouldn't you agree ?"
Tan chose not to reply.
"It doesn't really matter, I'm sure my sources can get me the information easily enough." it was then that both men realized that these were anything but Federation !
"Who are you ?" Nate asked, wincing in anticipation of the blow that didn't come.
"Fair enough question I suppose ..." the woman answered, seemingly thinking on the answer for a few seconds before deciding to reply, "My name is Safron Nelor." she paused as if allowing it to sink in, alas neither man knew the name so remained silent.
"You broke into our rooms." another voice in the darkness said.
In his peripheral vision, David saw Nate lean towards him slightly before recovering, he turned to look at the man who's eyes had rolled up into his head, he was either passing out or was suffering a delayed reaction to the blows earlier, he was about to raise the alarm when Massa slid sideways off the chair and to the floor. Disregarding the possible beating he jumped from his seat and knelt beside Massa.
"He needs help." he said. No-one seemed in any hurry to accommodate his observation so he felt the carotid artery trying to find a pulse, "He's dying, get help, or are you going to sit there and let him die !"
"His living or dying means little to me." Nelor said coldly, "Just one more in the scheme of things."
"You heartless witch." David spat before beginning artificial respiration ...... After what seemed like hours an arm reached out from the darkness and pressed a hypo-spray against Massa's neck before vanishing from sight. Nate coughed suddenly, bile oozing from his throat, inwardly David thanked whoever had halp while simultaneously condemning them for their callous delay.
Tan was pulled aside so the still semi-conscious Massa could be lifted. He was put back in his seat, held in place by shadowy hands, David got up from the floor and dropped into the other chair, glaring at the woman.
"So, you gentlemen were looking for work I believe ?" she asked casually ..........
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Elena de Luca
Starfleet Intelligence
Registered: Dec 14, 2009 0:38:17 GMT
Posts: 266
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Post by Elena de Luca on Feb 9, 2018 23:29:29 GMT
Alpha Promenade Level One Five Five One 16:40 hrs :: Elena and Milo Van made their way onto the Promenade .... They looked thoroughly disheveled, having been forced to sleep in what they were wearing the previous night. The 'look' was required to bolster their cover stories that they were out of work and decidedly hungry .... They were getting noticed, something that was both good and bad. "Where were Nelor and Goras last seen ?" she asked quietly as they were moved on from the front of one of the trading outlets by the proprietor. "Yesterday evening. Both went to her quarters and remained there until early this morning." Van replied, trying to palm fruit from an open doorway, and alas failing, "Our people lost them when they entered one of the abandoned shops, we're coming up on it now, on the left up ahead." Both of them completely ignored the darkened shopfront, choosing to cross the Promenade to look at garments in a window. They could see in the reflection that the shop appeared deserted, but nothing could be taken for granted obviously. "We appear to have picked up a tail." Milo said casually. "Seen her ... Blue jacket opposite ?" "Yes." "We need to get into that shop." Van said, taking off his jacket before handing it to her, "I'll go ahead, you hang back, she can't follow us both." Elena was about to offer an alternate option when he reached into the shop doorway and took a coat off the nearest rail. Seemingly satisfied of his acquisition he grinned at the shop owner then set off at a run, Elena, admittedly stunned for a second watched him go, the shops' owner and his assistant in pursuit. She risked glancing at the reflection but the woman was gone, presumably after the runaway Milo ... Casually making her way across the wide Promenade she stopped next to the abandoned shop and looked left and right, hoping to spot anyone who could have been with the woman, but she saw no obvious observers so wenet to the door of the shop and applied pressure, it gave way easily and she stepped into the dark, dank smelling shop. Closing the door she stood still, allowing her eyes to accustom to the darkness. After a moment she was confident she could see enough not to fall into some unseen hole in the floor and stepped further into the establishment. It looked like it may once have traded in objet d'art from what she could see on the shelving that remained as well as strewn around the floor. Kneeling, she tried to see if anything unexpected had been left by way of a booby-trap or warning system but it appeared that those frequenting the shop weren't too worried about unexpected visitors, hardly surprising really given there were better, more profitable locale's should someone be looking for anything useful .... She moved quietly into the back room, again strewn with broken and discarded items/ "What do they come in here for anyway ?" she muttered under her breath.Turning to leave something in her peripheral vision caught her attention. She stopped moving, allowing her eyes to roam around the smaller room, trying to pick up intentionally what she ha possibly happened upon by chance a few seconds earlier. She moved further toward the back of the room, eyes wandering left and right, up and down, she moved a small pile of frames with her foot to no avail. Moving to the restroom she gave the small room a cursory glance then turned to leave, it was then she saw it. Smiling she had to admire their ingenuity. Moving to the main room she picked a chair then sat down in the shadows to wait for Van ...... When he arrived, sliding through the smallest opening in the door before moving quickly out of silhouette before dropping to one knee. "About time." Elena said, getting up. "Find anything ?" "Oh yes, I found something. This way." she said, heading to the back of the shop once more. In the doorway of the restroom she pointed, "There ..." At first Van couldn't see what she was referring to, but as his eyes attuned to the semi-darkness he too grinned: "Sneaky buggers ! ... Who would have thought they would have come up with a site-to-site transporter. You have to admire their gall." he said, brushing some of the detritus away, "Have you found the control panel, or was you too busy resting while I did all the running ?" "There isn't one .... Only a small activator on the wall there. Must only go to one location." "Ladies first." Van said with a small bow from his waist. "No, we'll come back. We need to get hold of a weapon or two before we go into the proverbial unknown. Cover it back up like it was and lets get out of here." Minutes later they were back on the Promenade heading for O'Tooles ..........
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Carl Torek
Command Staff ..
Site Executive Officer Ranks Officer
Fleet Admiral
"UTRINQUE PARATUS"
Registered: Jun 17, 2006 22:34:35 GMT
Posts: 6,164
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Post by Carl Torek on Feb 10, 2018 23:05:56 GMT
OOC : Posting as Yeland Serova ...
Level One Six Eight One - 23:00 Lower Communications Offices (Presumed open to space) Headquarters of Dissident Leadership ::
Yelana paced the room like something akin to a caged animal ... Each circumnavigation of the room she glared at the two people who had been brought before her. One man, one woman, both had been charged with carrying out a specific task, both alas, had failed ! ..... The guards were keeping phasers on the two, despite the fact that neither looked as if they posed any threat to their leader. Finally, she trusted herself to speak:
"What happened ?" she asked.
"We don't know, it should have worked. All the testing said it couldn't fail, but ..."
"But it 'DID' fail !" Yelana screamed. Neither one of her guests felt it wise to reply so she continued, "You told me that killing the old Commodore would send a better message, yet far from actually killing the woman you left her alive. Mind telling me what sort of message that sends, either of you, no ?"
"Ma'am. There is no way Command could know it was a failed assassination." the man risked.
"Is that so ?"
"Well, she's in a coma and unlikely to recover ..."
"Did I 'ask' you to put her in a coma, no. What I asked for was something to convince those in the high tower of theirs that they were vulnerable, reachable. Yet all you have done is show our incompetence !"
"It should have worked." the woman ventured. Yelana spun on her like a feral animal on it's disabled prey.
"What was it you used ?" she asked dangerously. The woman risked pointing to the satchel she had with her when brought here, Serova nodded and she turned, bending down to retrieve something. When she turned back she was holding what looked like a metallic pencil. She turned the upper section and it slid away revealing an opening. The woman took out the empty phial, throwing it to one side before handing the device to Yelana.
She turned it over in her hands waiting for the woman to continue:
"The phial is placed in the top. With the cover replaced, a micro-needle is charged, which when placed against the skin activates the device to deliver whatever the syringe contains. It was initially developed for one of our lesser-known Sections, presumably to sedate or encourage information delivery. I modified the device and capsule contents. It should have killed the Commodore within seconds, I would stake my life on it." the woman said, immediately regretting her confidence.
"Is that so ? ......" Serova said, raising her eyebrows, again circling the two before reaching into the satchel held by one of her guards. She took out a small case, holding five more phial's and held the clear glass container between her fingers. She grinned as the woman winced, realizing that it must be extremely fragile in construction, no doubt something that would kill her if broken on her skin.
She placed the small glass container in the devise and closed the cap, still walking around the two in a tight circle. Without warning she placed it against the back of the mans neck, feeling it activate as it registered a viable surface. The man slammed a hand on the injection site his eyes widening in absolute terror. The woman, realizing what had happened stepped back against the wall watching her partner in a combination of curiosity and regret ... It didn't last long as his legs gave way from beneath him and he collapsed on the carpet dead !
"Hmmmm." Yelana said, seemingly satisfied as the corpse was dragged from the room. She returned her attention to the woman:
"You have more of these I assume ?"
"You know that I don't ... I had brought this aboard the Station to be assessed by Admiral Tetsutaro."
"..... then, if you cannot supply supply me with more of these, along with the poison that goes with it, of what use are you to me ?"
"With the right equipment and resources, more can be made, but without the schematics it would be almost impossible to reverse-engineer." the woman said, fearing her fate was going to parallel that of her former colleague, "Likewise the poison, it is a concentrated nerve suppressant, one which is highly restricted, and one which I doubt can be found on any random shelf on the Starbase."
"But that said, I could have the phial's filled with almost anything dangerous, is that not so ?" Serova asked. The woman remained silent, "OK ... I like the reaction to your little toy, so we shall need more, along with the substance you, acquired to inject."
"Ma'am, I am sorry but it woul ....."
"Take her below ..." she ordered. One of the guards took the woman firmly by the arm, pulling her to the door, Yelana spoke again, "You have twenty four hours, Doctor ... At which time I expect you to be able to tell me you can reproduce that device."
As the woman was led out Yelana sat in one of the plush chairs she had had brought down her, purely for comfort, and once again turned the small pencil-like device over in her hands. With her most trusted people armed with one of these, no-one within the Command structure of Starbase Forty Seven would be safe, likewise, when she decided the time was right to leave them behind, those aboard her chosen Flagship vessel would be brought to their knees once her rule was demonstrated.
Of course, she fervently hoped that it would not come to such extreme actions, but she had come to learn long long ago that having something to fall back on was always a wise option .... She believed that once she was strong enough she would be able to face those currently holding the Station and it's inhabitants hostage, and peacefully effect a change of Command, one with her at the pinnacle of power, and the savior to lead them home ..........
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Sato Tetsutaro
Starfleet Intelligence
[Deceased]
Registered: Nov 30, 2013 2:01:59 GMT
Posts: 538
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Post by Sato Tetsutaro on Feb 11, 2018 22:23:05 GMT
Level Fifty Six - Primary Medical Center Secure Suite Three :: Sato stood looking through the window at the still comatose Commodore ..... "Doctor, any signs that she will recover ?" "I cannot tell you Admiral. We are still trying to establish the makeup of the substance injected into her bloodstream, that is going to take time. I am also somewhat annoyed that my Center is now overrun by Security Personnel, they are in the way and are delaying my Staff at every turn." "They are here for a reason Doctor, and will remain here until I feel they are no longer required." while he was berating the Chief of Medicine, Elena de Luca approached them, standing to one side while the two concluded their conversation. "Admiral, you sent for me ?" "I did indeed." Tetsutaro confirmed, taking her arm before leading her to one side, "i would like a report on your progress thus far." "Sorry Admiral, i thought you were receiving my reports ....." "I am, and they make for interesting reading. But what I would like is your personal opinion on the situation and how you feel your teams are doing in the search for these discontented individuals. As you know, the attacks on Flag Officers are increasing, and I believe that it is only a matter of time before we face our first fatality ... To that end, I feel we should be making progress, do you not agree ?" "I do Admiral, and I believe we are doing so." Elena said, lowering her voice as someone passed, "We are attempting to infiltrate one or more of these groups but as you are aware, it is a drawn-out process. We have all made progress and should be established in at least one of the factions pretty soon. David believes that while these groups seem to be acting independently, he thinks there is someone, either an individual, or a small inner sanctum of sorts, that is working to unify these smaller, somewhat ineffective groups, into one consolidated faction. One that will ultimately have more sway in their demands." "That is my concern." Sato confirmed, shaking his head. "One thing Admiral ... Our covers are sound, as always, but I fear that anyone looking into us once we are installed within their groups, may wonder at our uncanny luck at not being questioned, placed under subservience, or even taken into custody. It might all appear a little 'too' convenient." "Leave it with me. I am sure it can be arranged for one of the team to be picked up and questioned .... It begs the question as to what you feel should happen to whoever is detained though, or do you have something in mind on that front also ?" "Well clearly whoever draws the proverbial 'short straw' is going to need an exit. No point in taking them in for the duration." Elena said, thinking for a moment while Admiral Tetsutaro stood patiently waiting, "We are fully aware that there are a small minority of Security Personnel who have voiced their discontent with the status quo. Maybe one of those could be coerced into accidentally allowing his or her captor to escape ?" "What do you believe your next move to be ?" "We're working in three teams of two, all three teams have made contact and are working their way into the factions in their own time. Several people are showing themselves to be higher than others, it's these we are concentrating on." "Very well my child ... Maybe it would be prudent to escalate your combined efforts to progress our investigation. To allow these actions to go unchecked is unthinkable." "Thank you Admiral." Elena said, turning to leave, then she thought of something else and turned back, "Oh Admiral. I put in my report our concerns regarding Comms. We have decided it best if we go below with no concealed communication devices, hidden or otherwise." "Somewhat risky, do you not agree ?" Tetsutaro said. "Very risky Admiral, but the alternative of getting caught with anything is likely to see us helped through the nearest airlock." "I will have all your quarters searched every twenty four hours, leave word there." Sato replied before turning away to look at the comatose Commodore and signifying the conversation was concluded. Elena left the Medical Center rubbing her wrist ..... Just in case .......... < Tag : Iorte .. (fancy getting snatched and 'questioned' by Security before being allowed to escape ?) >
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Iorte Clancy
Starfleet Intelligence
Registered: Mar 9, 2016 17:58:55 GMT
Posts: 253
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Post by Iorte Clancy on Feb 16, 2018 17:29:15 GMT
Clancy gave in response to the series of questions the passwords of assent, making the customary signs with the tool he'd been supplied. Demik fumbled with his ceremonial compass and it clattered to the metal floor section in front of them - a barred hatchway that led into a Jefferies' Tube beneath the room, extending down to the vast comm arrays beneath the base.
At last, having successfully negotiated their way through the required responses, the supervisor/adept intoned, "Ave Artifex Unitum Terrae."
"Ave Artifex Unitum Terrae," the others echoed, an infernal choir looming in the darkness. Clancy gazed straight ahead, experiencing a sharp pang in his stomach; he'd soon discover it was nothing to do with the unsettling scene about him, but everything to do with the unremembered encounter on deck 1549 last night.
The adept laughed suddenly, "Lights!" he commanded jovially, and the room was bathed in soft yellow illumination, the adepts lowering their hoods and making towards them with arms extended, smiling, "Apologies, Perkins," the adept laughed in Clancy's face, "Tradition, you understand. We have refreshments in the back. New opportunities await now that you're initiated... You know, some of those I spoke to you about yesterday - those not appreciating the Federation's attempts to expand their influence," he added quietly as the merriment caught light around them, "They may want to talk to you during the feast. Apparently they have open positions in their own professions, their own places of work which they are eager to fill... No one here wants to join them, but perhaps you might - he promised me credits if I found a new initiate willing to transfer himself."
"Who is he?" Clancy asked.
"The leader of the group, a businessman from Earth." The supervisor/adept took him aside as the others made for the feast room (Demik talking enthusiastically with a gaggle of adepts and one gold-cloaked lodge member). "There'll be an opportunity for your friend, too, if he's interested." Asking more of this businessman, Clancy discovered that he was from the Grynax Corporate; he was of late middle-age, and his name was Maksym Serov.
Shown through to the feasting area and its benches arrayed in parallel along either of the long walls, Iorte fell in with Serov himself. Serov introduced himself as such, "Have you worked in the bilges long?" he added. Clancy was cautious as the meal was served; he experienced the unwelcome sensation that the Grynax businessman was already onto him, perhaps naturally suspicious considering his likely clandestine operations.
"Only just assigned. After demonstrating how tired I was of the Feds' intrusion, I was chucked out of my last work," Iorte smiled, applying a razor-sharp knife to the lamb shank with which he'd been presented; if Serov was close to any potential dissidents courtesy of his Grynax connections, presenting a convincing story of Iorte's own discontent would potentially be a boon.
Serov was similarly cautious, reticent, "A working man needs to develop better habits, Mr Perkins..." he chided, then paused in his own consumption, "Saying that, if you're interested in representing a group of people opposed to the Federation... - well, specifically Starfleet, and its unconstitutional leadership of the remnant of this Sector's previous civilian inhabitants..." The man's long pause was absurd, overly dramatic; Clancy was patient and Serov sighed, "... Then I may have a position for you, and your friend if he's of similar mind."
Iorte's expression darkened and he looked across to where Demik was merrymaking with other cult members - for that's what it was, some mystic gathering, far from the neo-rosicrucianism he'd expected - and decided the El Al officer was settling in rather too well.
"Ah, leave him to it, Mr Perkins... You can contact him later once we have you in place. Come with me after the feast and see where you'll be operating." Of course, the interrogation was far from over, Clancy thought; indeed, he was soon answering a series of questions aimed at ascertaining his true suitability, and the more he was asked the more his mind was able to make the logical leaps, form the links in the awful chain that led to the object of anxiety par excellence: Serov was planning to lead him into the nucleus of the dissident movement, perhaps even to the very circles of those responsible for the assassination attempts.
Deck 1679, two above dissident HQ
They were en route, Serov leading him past various rooms and pointing out the one in which he'd be working, "Where are we going now?" Iorte asked. He hoped - he could only hope because right now he did not trust Demik - that Demik was faring well.
Serov answered, "To meet my sister Yelena. She can be difficult sometimes, but I think you'll learn to like her. In my view, it seems you're not too dissimilar."
Rounding a corner in the darkened passageway - cramped, only meant for maintenance, harsh metallic surfaces and angles - Clancy was sprung upon suddenly by a silhouetted figure from the shadows.
The figure flung itself at him; Clancy backed away, pivoted and prepared to kick, but the move was countered and he was brought into a hold, "Alright on the floor, Mr Perkins!"
"Disarm him!" a second person was shouting, to which the first cried back that Clancy was unarmed. Damn right, Iorte thought angrily as he was slammed chest first into the metallic floor. In the confusion, he heard the clashing of the passage's grilled floor as - presumably - Serov took flight. The first stranger then knelt over Iorte and spoke hurriedly in his ear, "Do not be alarmed, Agent Clancy... This is a ploy on the part of Command, I'm under orders from Admiral Tetsutaro." Clancy blinked at the grilled floor. He heard, "Come with me, sir, you will not be detained for long."
He was lifted, spun about, arms held fast behind his back with quite unreasonable and unnecessary force; they began to drag him away, "Some ploy!!" he screamed, still baffled. He was hushed, soon realising that he should play along - with whatever mad idea they had in mind.
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David Tan
Starfleet Intelligence
Suum Cuique ...
Registered: Dec 11, 2006 10:56:04 GMT
Posts: 792
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Post by David Tan on Feb 16, 2018 21:31:55 GMT
SD: 2404.02.0216 - 20:30 hrs O'Tooles Bar & Grill Alpha Promenade :: Several days had pasted now with each of the two person teams making headway into infiltrating the dissident groups ... He had left word in their quarters for everyone to try to meet at O'Tooles, hopefully there they would be able to gauge the intensity of unrest growing on the Starbase. Incidents had been increasing over the last month and it was clear that these incidents, along with the attacks of Flag Officers, were certainly connected. He and Nate Massa were now in the employ of a woman named Safron Nelor, who in turn worked for one Yelana Serova, possible leader of the predominant dissident faction. Alas, neither Nelor nor Serova could be found for questioning ... As he entered he nodded briefly to Sean who was at the bar. The establishment owner knew better than to approach Tan or any of the others from Intelligence unless given the all clear to do so. David leaned on the bar and asked for a drink ... "Seen any of the others Sean ?" he asked casually. "The ever-lovely Elena is in, she's in the booth in the corner over there." the Irishman said, nodding towards the far side of the room, "As for that Clancy bloke, no sign. He should drink more ya' know, loosen himself up a little. Much too tense if you ask me." he finished with a wry grin. "I'll be sure to pass on your concerns." Tan replied as he took the offered glass, "What the hell's this ?" "It's Guinness. You'll love it." Kira Boyle, Sean's bar manager said, waving him away. "He finally got you on the black stuff then ?" Elena said as David sat opposite, "Where's Commander Massa ?" "He'll be along, he's gone up to the Dome to give a report. Sato's Adjutant is going to meet him up there." he took a sip of the drink then held the glass up, deciding he actually liked the drink, nowhere near as much as his fondness for cognac but it was growing on him, as the saying goes. "So where do we stand ?" "To be honest I'm not sure. We should be further along in my opinion, but that said, rushing head-long into these groups is going to get us killed in short order. Iorte ans Demik were meeting up with one of the factions and were going to go through some sort of initiation, he's not reported back so we're still in the dark on progress there. As for Massa and myself, we're working for Nelor. From what I can gather she's planning on using our former professions within Starfleet to their advantage. I have the distinct feeling that she and Goras are trying to climb the proverbial corporate ladder. There's clearly one or more people above them and they seem to resent the fact. Both are trying to be something they are not." "Have you come across the name Grimes ?" Elena asked. waving to one of the staff who came over, "Same again Suzi please." the waitress nodded and headed off to the bar. "Apart from him owning the shop next door to the one you were looking into, nothing much, his name hasn't come up." "Oh, any more thoughts on the transporter ?" she asked. "Tetsutaro is having it investigated, but he seems to think that it's working on reduced power so it's hardly detectable in operation. Makes you wonder how whoever uses it actually materialises at the other end in anything but a puddle of goop." "We need to use it. It's the only wa ....." Elena stopped speaking while Suzi put their drinks down and took the empty glasses, "... way we are going to find out where it goes." "It's too much of a rick at this point. We have no way of knowing the destination, besides, I'd prefer to get there in one piece thank you very much." "I am telling you it's gone beyond a joke now. Those gold-braided fossils are going to get us all killed."
"Keep your bloody trap shut you idiot, want yo advertise your opinions to all who'll listen, do it when I'n not around, now, what you having ?" the other spat. David grinned as Massa and Van walked into the bar. They ordered drinks and began chatting to anyone who would, or wouldn't listen. Eventually they made their way over to the booth, dropping in beside David and Elena. Tan took the time to survey the other patrons of the bar surreptitiously, hoping to see someone paying them more attention than was warranted. It didn't take long to spot the two people watching them, covert they wasn't .... "So, it'sh about time we made a move." David said two hours and much drunker later, still seeing their shadows in his peripheral vision. As they all stood and began walking out of O'Tooles he waved to one of the staff, "Give these two a drink or two on my tab sweetheart, they have been sat here all night." He smiled at the two then continued to leave. It was obvious they were reporting to someone, maybe his 'outing' them would show whomever was having them watched that they were better then expected. After all, what was the use of having skills if they couldn't be made use of ? ..........
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Iorte Clancy
Starfleet Intelligence
Registered: Mar 9, 2016 17:58:55 GMT
Posts: 253
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Post by Iorte Clancy on Feb 18, 2018 19:52:22 GMT
Clancy had had it drummed into him several times, it seeping away from him on each occasion to be replaced by frustration and anger at having been snatched while in pursuit - in fact in the company of - one of the dissidents, and the anger was magnified, intensified in a vicious cycle due to his new knowledge of Serov's provenance, of what might've been the significance of Serov - he whom he'd been accompanying on deck 1679, whose confidence he'd gained - to the dissident movement.
"Ok, I understand," he'd said, sitting at a table in a weak pool of light, regarding contemptuously the investigators before him, "My disapperance - my being taken in by you - contributes to the illusion that I'm a rebel... Good idea, de Luca, good idea, Tetsutaro," he conceded, "But I was on the right track, and it might be difficult to get back in there... I certainly can't do it quickly."
The investigator to his left was veritably uninterested, glancing round the room, "What did you say his name was again?"
"Maksym Serov," Clancy intoned for the tenth time in the last hour.
The man glanced at his colleague, "Serov, eh... Do you think there's a possible relation to Serova?" he queried. Probably, Iorte said to himself sarcastically.
The second investigator tilted her head, agreeing that someone by the name of Yelana Serova may well be related to Maksym. Apparently, they now told Iorte, she'd been causing trouble in Starbase Ops, demanding rights for the civilians who were being unintentionally neglected by Command as efforts were made to repair the station (the civs - at least as the matter was represented to Command by Serova - were being exploited in their roles as labourers and things of that ilk). It was then that Clancy recalled Maksym referring to his sister whom Clancy had been about to meet; had her name been Yelana?
"She's one of the primary points of interest right now, in the view of Command," the male investigator said, "You let this lead slip through your grasp, Clancy."
Clancy felt rage coursing through his veins, into his skull, his brain matter throbbing, "You let it - !" he began to dive across the table but stopped himself.
The man laughed and the woman took a sip of water, "My colleague's sense of humour needs work, Mr Clancy. We apologise that we cut off your investigation at that time, when you - as you tell us - were being led to Serov's place of work, but consider this: now that Serov has practically witnessed your capture by us, he will be absolutely convinced that you are on his side, that you mean the Federation ill... or Starfleet at least, I don't know how these people feel about the wider organisation."
"Unitum Terrae," Iorte said curtly.
"I beg your pardon."
"The masons I joined venerate the idea - not of the Federation - but of United Earth. It fits in well with their tenuous connections with Grynax, whose anti-expansionism goes hand in hand with opposition to the Federation."
It was shortly after this that he was informed he was to be released back into the wild of the Starbase's lower decks - in order to follow up on his leads close to Serov and, as it now appeared, his sister Serova (who if not one of the primary dissidents was at least making complaints that roughly paralleled the type of rumour and hearsay being propagated by the dissidents). "We'd suggest you find a way to talk to him at the next lodge gathering."
Two full days had passed since the day he'd been taken by Tetsutaro's cronies, and it was now almost 0600 on the day after that... He wished to return to Alpha Promenade Hotel for a rest; close to the exit of the detention cell area, however, he was accosted by a gold-collared officer, someone he recognised from his encounter on deck 1549 before this assignment had properly started: he whose code was Horkon-kai-zousai, he who knew of Clancy's past, he who was involved with the dissidents and would inform the authorities of Iorte's misdemeanours if the latter progressed any further with his investigations. Iorte's position was now even more difficult - how could he point out this dissident without damning himself, yet how could he not point him out when the dissident wore the uniform of and was masquerading as a Starfleet security officer?
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David Tan
Starfleet Intelligence
Suum Cuique ...
Registered: Dec 11, 2006 10:56:04 GMT
Posts: 792
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Post by David Tan on Feb 18, 2018 22:33:14 GMT
"...... They're still behind us." Elena said under her breath, while laughing at something one of the others had just said. "Yeh, thought so." David agreed, "Persistent buggers ..... OK well at least we know that whoever they are working for don't seem too fussy about the quality of employee." "We could snatch one of them, or both. Hold them incognito so to speak until someone comes enquiring ?" Milo Van suggested, the others agreeing. Laughing drunkenly, narrowly avoiding being taken into custody by Starbase Security Personnel, they made their way back up to Level One Four Five Zero. Stepping out of the turbo-lift they separated, De Luca Van going one way, Tan and Massa the other ... Twenty meters along the corridor David and Nate stopped, sharing a joke both laughing and finding the need to steady themselves due to the drink. The 'lift doors slid open and their shadows emerged, hesitating at first then slowly walking towards the their targets. Elena and Milo had turned now and were coming up behind the two, making no effort to hide the fact, it didn't take long for them to realise their mistake. "Gentlemen." Elena said casually, smiling at the two who looked like proverbial deer in headlights, "You seem to have been making it your business to watch us closely earlier. We would like to know why, if that's alright with you of course." "Don't know what you're talking about lady, we're on our way to our quarters, nothing more nothi ...." the taller man began, falling silent as Van knocked him unconscious, Massa doing likewise to the other one. "It didn't occur to either of you to get them into the room under their own steam I suppose ?" Elena said, exasperated, "Well, pick them up." she said, stepping over the two and continuing to the room they had arranged. Shaking his head and grinning at the two El Alamein Officers, David followed Elena, Nate and Milo looked at each other then did as instructed, carrying them into the room before depositing them on the settee. Twenty minutes later the first of the two began to come round: "Ahh, welcome back." Tan said with a smile as the man shook his colleague awake, "Now in the spirit of détente, how about telling us why you had been watching us ?" "Look mister ...." one began, realising he was not going to be believed either way, "We were ordered to follow you, someone isn't too sure about where you stand, and we were to see if you met up with anyone or tried to pass informa ....." he stopped talking as the other gave him a dig in the ribs. "Listen you, we're going to be missed, and when we are." the second man began, but David interrupted him: "We are counting on you being missed. We're already in trouble with the 'authorities' on this tin can, the last thing we need is some nobody trying to force our hand. We are looking for work simple as that, nothing more. But my friends and I take exception to being followed, spied on, observed. For all we know you are Starfleet Intelligence, you certainly seem to have the acumen for the job. In which case we're in more trouble, if not, then you can give us a name, and we'll go see them in person, clear up any misunderstandings." "Oh you'll meet them soon enough, we already reported where we were." the smaller man said, a look of satisfaction on his face. "Then in that case we, no longer need you gentlemen, now do we ?" Elena said casually, the implication obvious, "So I would suggest you sit quietly." the four of them went into the other room, keeping the door open so they could see their guests. They discussed options, no-one could remain here to keep an eye on them so it was clear they would need to be restrained and possibly sedated. If any one of them broke routine it would be noticed by those they were gaining employment with. It was decided that the two would be sedated, that would allow the four to leave the room together. Elena rummaged in her satchel utill she pulled out a hypo-spray. Later that night they dosed the two with sedative that would keep them unconscious, they tied the two back to back just to be sure, then the four left .... 23:00 hrs Level One Six Five Six :: They had come down to the Environmental Control Level after receiving information from Sean O'Toole that a table of patrons at the bar were overheard talking about a meeting of some kind. When they arrived there was already twenty plus others there, all talking among themselves. The four Intel' Officers chatted among themselves, nodding acquaintance to others in the hall. After fifteen minutes several others entered, they moved to the far side and stepped onto a makeshift stage so they could be seen: The woman began talking, mostly about how their 'campaign' of disruption was progressing and plans for the near future. "Who is that ?" David whispered to his neighbour. "That, is Safron Nelor." the woman said with pride. "Oh ..." Milo said, having not seen her before tonight. "We will take this Station from those who caused us to be here, when that's done she will be among the leaders who will take us back home." the woman said, clearly believing every word she spoke. The Intel' Officers looked at each other, then at the woman on the stage, and David began to wonder how much weight this woman actually wielded ..........
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Iorte Clancy
Starfleet Intelligence
Registered: Mar 9, 2016 17:58:55 GMT
Posts: 253
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Post by Iorte Clancy on Feb 22, 2018 23:28:29 GMT
OOC: apologies for the combined length of these two posts To keep the chronology working, I felt I had to post back-to-backHaving arrived back at Alpha Promenade, dragging his feet along to the hotel, Clancy had collapsed into his penthouse suite's bed and slept for seven hours until early afternoon. Having come to and finding that he'd nearly rolled out of bed during the morning, the sheets strewn everywhere, he'd jerked upright, tense as if he'd slept but with no muscle relaxation. Drawing curtains he saw the promenade, shoppers milling, everything to such a degree normal that he'd be forgiven for thinking nothing at all untoward had befallen the station in these last months. Yet discontent bubbled beneath the surface, a roiling sea... in the Starbase and in his own mind. Roaming the promenade he attempted to locate the others of the team, just remembering in his bedraggled state the message that'd been left for him in his hotel by the others (without his commbadge - ripped away in half-asleep delirium on the morning he'd joined the lodge - he'd had no way of discovering the particulars of the activity of the other teams). They were in their separate pairs investigating matters mainly on deck 1450. Clancy's countenance darkened: over two days of detainment by Tetsutaro's security with no little questioning, fraying his nerves and taking him farther away from his target: Serov and his mysterious sister. And Demik... Well, Demik; he was still absent, still below with the lodge members - his new friends - in the 1680s decks. He glanced at his chronometer, his sight blurry - had they given him something? those people in Tetsutaro's offices? Were the Admiral's own personnel even safe from infiltration from the dissidents, or had people even crept into his room during his sleep, administered poison to disorient him, put him off their trail... induce psychosis? Could he be allowing paranoia to get the better of him, Horkon-kai-zousai (in his security officer's uniform) having threatened again to expose his past? "My word..." he murmured. He found himself stumbling along the Beta promenade. He collapsed into a chair - one of several set up outside what proved to be a cafeteria establishment. He groaned as he leant back and felt his mind slipping away from him... He fell into a state of hypnosis, eyes tracking vacuously and only momentarily people darting past, glazing over. A waitress approached him, her mouth moving in silence. Ordinarily he'd call it a daydream, a midday hallucination after a particularly exhausting assignment after which he'd felt it'd be the height of indiscretion to head straight for bed once debrief was over. He experienced a stinging absence and void; a glassy ceiling of black ice above him. It was the perpetual object of terror defined by its nothingness. Just as an identical twin whose counterpart dies young feels an incompleteness throughout life, so Clancy felt this nothingness as a hole, a flaw in his existence. Indeed, he was a rebel, an outcast... He would never again be accepted by his people and they couldn't help him, not for locating and bringing to justice the dissidents, not for discerning what Tan and co may be forced to do in Nelor's employ, not for assisting Starbase 47 in its entire predicament. [TBC]
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Iorte Clancy
Starfleet Intelligence
Registered: Mar 9, 2016 17:58:55 GMT
Posts: 253
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Post by Iorte Clancy on Feb 22, 2018 23:59:05 GMT
Deck 1680 at 2230 hours (half an hour before Safron Nelor's meeting on deck 1656)
Long having regained his wits and now bearing the knowledge that he was alone, truly alone in this region of space, Clancy entered the lodge's HQ for the weekly meeting that'd happened to fall on this night. He nodded to members, adepts, and asked the warden, "Where's Tom?"
"Tom?"
"Demik." He was told his wayward investigatory colleague had yet to arrive. Acknowledging, he made for the back room, locating Serov, "Ah, Maksym..." He remembered himself and ceased speaking, now looking contrite with hints of regret and relief - he hoped.
"You made a lucky escape, Perkins," Maksym approached and clapped his hand against Clancy's, the latter now sure that Serov considered him a loyal member of their cause, "The mainstream Feds have got something coming to them, if they think they can terrorise us with these random detentions." Clancy nodded, endeavouring to appear resolute, militant. "After the meeting, you can come along to our offices? We'll take a safer route - less chance either of us will run into trouble, this time." Clancy nodded.
Later, on deck 1681, approaching midnight, he found himself entering a suite of offices where he was told he'd be working from now on. He was glad to get out of waste management at least. Serov showed him his work-space, his terminal. "What will I be doing?"
Serov grunted and smiled, "Surveillance." He started up Clancy's terminal, "We've got hidden audiovisual recorders all over the Dome. Not so many in the Command levels, and none in Ops, but enough to keep track of the movements of 90% of the officers who have anything to do with the running of the Starbase. You'll be tracking this individual: Admiral Basirov. We suspect he might be, let us say extremely sympathetic to our cause, but..."
Clancy listened in respectful, attentive silence, but inside he was - figuratively - having epileptic fits.
"... But not being entirely sure of the object of his loyalties, we've chosen to keep an eye on his movements. Given the nature of our mission and its objectives, and the fact he's high-ranked and has a spotless service record, we'd be forgiven for wishing to ensure complete devotion."
Still processing this information - he'd be telling the other Intel officers, as soon as his 'shift' ended - someone who was immediately hailed by another dissident as President Yelana Serova entered the offices. It was a little past midnight. "Yelana," Serov approached his sister and they embraced. "What did they discuss?"
Iorte listened intently at his terminal, turning his head surreptitiously to the left to see the siblings: Serov with his back to him, Serova just visible to the man's right. "I wasn't there myself of course, but my spies' work was excellent," she replied, then spat, "Going by what she said at the meeting, Nelor thinks she's on the way up; she's got enough people following her in that little enclave up there on 1656. I hope she doesn't forget her place in this op, regardless of how tenuous the links are between our group and hers; we don't want a few petty criminals like her getting any ideas. Oh yeah, spies said one of the newbies tried to speak. I want to speak at the next meeting, Maksym, do you think you could arrange that?"
Serov protested, "Yelana, we don't actually have any authority there..." Clancy suspected that wouldn't stop President Serova. The following morning at Alpha Promenade Hotel, he made contact with the others, informing them urgently of the surveillance devices in the Dome and of his infiltration into certain possibly high-ranking dissidents' offices.
<Tag Tan, de Luca>
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Elena de Luca
Starfleet Intelligence
Registered: Dec 14, 2009 0:38:17 GMT
Posts: 266
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Post by Elena de Luca on Feb 23, 2018 23:16:49 GMT
It had been agreed that rather than constantly meeting clandestinely, they would, on occasion, meet in a relatively 'public' place. The reasoning behind this was was two-fold, they would be able to update each of the duo's on their progress, while voicing their 'so-called' opinions where they could be overheard, hopefully by their employers, in an effort to strengthen their individual positions within their hierarchy ...
Elena had taken the time to visit Sean O'Toole to appraise him and his staff on the need for them to be somewhat vocal about the over-exuberance they may encounter, and to remember that they are not friends but customers, nothing more, nothing less !
Sean himself had long had a reputation for his neutrality in regards to anything and everything outside his front door, as long as his establishment was profitable and he didn't openly contravene Starbase regulations, then people were free to come and go, discussing whatever topic they chose, providing that conversation didn't escalate into the physical, then all well and good ... Woe betide anyone that broke those regulations as they swiftly found themselves face-down on the Promenade, their open invite to O'Tooles rescinded. O'Tooles - 10:30 hrs ::Milo van and de Luca entered O'Tooles ... Outwardly, neither were in a good mood, in fact both looked more than ready to start an altercation with the first person that annoyed them, at least, this was the impression they were hoping to convey. "Two beers." Van said to the barmaid. "Please." Elena looked at the young girl then at Van, who was looking anything but hospitable. "Beers ... TWO." he explained, glaring at the girl until she turned away to fill the order, " They are in again, anyone would think they had nowhere else to be." he whispered to Elena, obviously referring to the man and woman who had occupied the same table for over a week. "Well lets no make too much of a spectacle of ourselves, I don't want Sean kicking us out." de Luca said, accepting the bottles off the young bar staff. She turned her back to the bar, her eyes taking in the early morning clientele, most here for the breakfast Sean supplied for a moderate stipend. She spotted the others in one of the booth and nudged Van to follow ... The group chatted for a while, making sure their dissident comments were overheard by passers-by, finally, with no-one in earshot, Clancy updated them on what he had learned: "What !" David spat, the astonishment obvious, how the hell had the dissidents managed to secrete surveillance equipment, the area's in question were scanned on a regular basis for this very reason, so it begged the obvious question. "They have someone who has access to both the Dome and above, including the Command Levels, but from what they said, nothing in the Operations Center." Clancy confirmed. "We need to get this to Command as soon as plausible." Tan said, glancing at their shadows, "We also need to get rid of those two. Frankly if they are this bad no-one could comment too much if they were to vanish, at least for the time being." Kira Boyce, Sean's Bar Manager, came over with a tray and began collecting the empty cups. Keeping his back to the two across the room David whispered something to her, Kira nodded as she left the table. A few moments later she returned with fresh coffee's and toast. The group tucked-in, enjoying the warm freshness of the buttered toast as two Security officers entered O'Tooles. they made their way around the room, glancing at one patron after another before setting their sights on the man and woman. "Identification please." one said, the other standing foo, hand resting lightly on the phaser at his hip. The two smiled, reaching into pockets before producing the requested data-chips. They scrutinised the two before inserting each chip in turn into the portable reader they had brought with them, they handed the mans back, the woman, expecting her's to be returned also was holding out her hand, relaxing visibly, her demeanour didn't last long: "There appears to be minor discrepancy here, Madam." he said, glancing at his colleague, who drew his phaser, "..... This identification chip appears to be corrupted." "Corrupted, what are you talking about ?" she said, the man becoming visibly uncomfortable. "It can happen, especially given what we've gone through, we come across a dozen daily." the Security Officer said amiably, "If you would like to accompany us to the Security Offices we can issue you with a replacement, won't take long." "But I ....." she didn't finish the sentence as the man jumped up from his chair phaser in hand, he fired on the Security Officer, missing him by the smallest fraction before the second Officer shot him in the chest. The woman was running,obviously hoping to escape in the confusion, but she too was shot, falling out onto the Promenade stunned into unconsciousness. More Security arrived to take the two away, with luck they would be held for some time. Elena watched them go then turned to the others: "We need to get this information to Admiral Tetsutaro, as soon as possible !" ..........
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