Elena de Luca
Starfleet Intelligence
Registered: Dec 14, 2009 0:38:17 GMT
Posts: 270
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Post by Elena de Luca on Sept 1, 2024 16:30:38 GMT
Elena had been about to go to help after Helen McMillan was hit, but she heard someone else approaching - Another Lentarai.
He stood motionless, watching until the retreating guards were well out of earshot before he knelt and began to help McMillan to her feet.
"He will kill you soon, lady," the man said, shaking his head as he pulled a cloth from his pocket and offered it to her.
"Not if I kill him first," McMillan had replied, spitting blood and mucus into a corner before wiping her mouth with the cloth ..... Elena watched as McMillan turned away and headed back along the corridor without another word. The Lentarai watched her, shaking his head in what, dismay, disappointment, before he too returned to whatever duty he was assigned. De Luca looked back at the corridor Helen had entered, and with the coast clear, she crossed the open space and followed. "Where's she going?" Elena muttered to herself as the Engineer continued past the turn that would have returned her to the others. She followed for several minutes, keeping a mental note of her return when a Cardassian approached, de Luca stepped back into the shadows as McMillan paused, seemingly listening to whatever the other was saying, she silently cursed herself for not having been closer. Then man began to raise an arm, Elena half expected the woman to receive another beating, but rather than hit out, the Cardassian placed a hand on McMillan's shoulder for a second before removing it! "What the hell was 'that' about?" de Luca pondered, surprised. She remained concealed as the two conversed for several minutes, then the Cardassian turned to retrace his steps, while Helen McMillan entered an office to her left. Elena quickly approached, flattening herself against the rough wall beside the single window. Taking a breath she leaned forward, turning her head to see through the dirt-coated glass. Inside McMillan was looking at several screens, all seemingly displaying various sections of a Galor Class Waship - Some were greyed-out, while others were highlighted - Possibly indicating sections of the ship currently under construction? Cautiously, de Luca looked back and forth along the wide corridor wondering if she should make contact with the engineer, but she was still harbouring concerns: Not least, her apparent capitulation when she had allowed the unknown Cardassian she had just been speaking with touch her without her objecting either verbally or physically! ... She knew she couldn't read anything into McMillan's actions without positive proof one way or the other, maybe the woman was doing what most in her position might do, ensuring her actions didn't incur punishment, or could her demeanour indicate something more? She watched as McMillan moved further into the long room before lowering herself into a seat in front of several large screens ... When de Luca was sure her actions wouldn't be overheard, she tentatively placed a hand on the door, then began to slowly open it, all the while eyes locked on the back of the engineers head ready to act if the woman suddenly turned around. Once the space between the door and frame allowed, she crouched and then slipped inside the room, her back to the wall while allowing the door to silently close behind her. Moving as quietly as she could she began to edge into a position where she could see what was being displayed in more detail. It was clear that McMillan was going over ships' schematics - Making alterations as she worked - Frustratingly, de Luca couldn't know which section or area of the Galor Class she was working on. Was she implementing minor errors, invisible to anyone not versed in warship manufacture? Errors that, undiscovered, could prove fatal once the ship was in the unforgiving vacuum of space? ..... She watched as the woman worked for almost an hour before finally standing to stretch out the ache in her lower back. 'Is she helping, or hindering?' de Luca silently pondered, as McMillan deactivated each screen in turn. Helen crossed the room, stepping into the corridor, de Luca moved quickly, not wanting to lose McMillan, but wary of being seen by any of those overseeing her and the others. After ten long seconds, she risked opening the door a fraction, listening intently she thankfully heard nothing but the woman moving away. Opening the door she stepped into the corridor, seeing McMillan already thirty metres ahead of her, she moved quickly, silently closing the distance as fast as she could. ----- It didn't take too long for McMillan, with de Luca following, to reach the accommodation section where the engineers were housed, elena remained hidden as she watched the woman enter her room, the door sliding closed behind her. She almost jumped out of her skin when she heard the whisper, so close she could feel the breath on her ear: "Anything.....?" She turned her head to see Sean O'Toole grinning at her, he nodded his head left and she could see the others keeping out of sight. With a glare at the Irishman, she joined them and relayed what she had seen: "She worked on what looked like ship schematics, I'm no engineer, it could have been drive systems but I couldn't sware to it. But one thing seemed obvious - I don't think she has any restrictions on access," "Now that would stand to reason..." O'Toole mused, winking at de Luca before continuing, "... Especially if she's maybe overseein' what the others are doing?" "You think she would cooperate if we approached her?" David asked, eyeing the frowning de Luca. "She reacted... Earlier, she was hit, hard, presumably to put her in her place. But later, she reacted strangely when confronted with one of the Cardassians," "In what way?" Clancy queried. "I wasn't close enough to overhear the conversation... But at one point the Cardassian put a hand on her shoulder ..... It didn't 'look' as if he were disciplining her," Elena replied. "Self-preservation?" David mused, but Elena could only shrug ..........
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David Tan
Starfleet Intelligence
Suum Cuique ...
Registered: Dec 11, 2006 10:56:04 GMT
Posts: 807
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Post by David Tan on Sept 8, 2024 11:21:14 GMT
"....."Self-preservation?" David mused, but Elena could only shrug.
I think we might be missing what could be a vital angle to all this," Nate Massa said, frowning.
"Which is?" Tan asked.
"Well, we were sent here to search and recover our missing engineers - What we didn't expect to find, was a fully functioning construction facility - So, my problem is this: 'Who' controls all this, the Cardassians, or the Tendarans?"
"They're constructing Galor Class warships, so wouldn't the Cardassians be running the show, using Tendaran, and Lentarai as a labour force?" Iezelda asked.
"Not necessarily ... What if the Tendarans have some agreement with the Cardassians, say locations to base, or service, their fleet? ... Tendaris Three is practically in Federation Space, closer than the nearest Cardassian outpost,"
"Plausible, but why?" Tan commented.
"The Tendarans have practically no usable space-faring fleet, that much we know, and maybe that's why they have kept themselves to themselves ... A deal with the Cardassians would give them both a fleet, and a means to expand?" Clancy mused, silently pondering the implications.
"I'm guessing no one else has noticed something that should have been obvious from when we turned up...?" Sean O'Toole interjected, pausing as everyone turned in his direction, he pointed at a wall-mounted schematic of the facility "... First off - Looking at this - This facility is roughly three square kilometres in size, there's no way the Tendarans could build this without help ....."
".....And second?" Tan urged.
"Second ... If it 'is' the Cardassians, why all the secrecy? ... They have never hidden their construction from anyone, least of all the Federation, that alone makes me think the Tendarans are trying to arm in as much secrecy as possible,"
"Well, kidnapping Federation engineers isn't likely to keep their secret safe for long, they must have known that we would come looking for them," Iezelda commented.
"Unless something went wrong..." Tan commented, "... The engineers were brought here legitimately, they were contracted to build hospital and research facilities, which we agreed to. Now in place, several are moved here, without their consent?" O'Toole said.
"But Erik McMillan found the plans and then the proverbial 'secret' was about to be out, so they disposed of him in what they hoped would be seen as an accident, alas his wife also knew what he'd found," Tan speculated, seeing the former Intel man nod.
"The Tendarans ... Or more likely, the Cardassians, must have known that it would only be a matter of time before the Federation cottoned on to their activities," de Luca said, unconvinced.
"What if the Tendarans took it upon themselves to kidnap the engineers they needed? ... Once done, the Cardassians would have no option but to capitulate. If they objected strongly enough, who knows what could have happened," O'Toole finished.
"..... And our people would have been stuck right in the middle!" Iezeld commented.
"Exactly...!" Sean replied, deep in thought.
"Which brings up another point..." de Luca began, "... We already know that 'whoever' was on board the escape pods it certainly wasn't Helen McMillan and her Daughter. Which brings me back to how the elder McMillan was acting earlier,"
"You think she might be helping willingly?" Nate Massa asked, shaking his head.
"I don't know. But it wouldn't be the first time someone's sympathies have been, let's say 'manipulated' to suit someone else's purpose," Elena replied.
"Sorry, but either the Cardassinas or Tendarans were responsible for her husband's death, you can't think that she would ignore that fact in favour of aiding a race to arm for possible conflict, maybe against her own people?" Massa replied.
"There's only one way to find out..." Elena said, eyeing the others before continuing, "... We'll have to ask her,"
"Not the best idea," Tan said, already running through the possible repercussions of asking a possible traitor where her allegiances lie.
"You think she's aware that her daughter is down here?" Iezelda asked in the following silence.
"She has too, in fact, that could be the domineering factor in the behaviour we've seen from her thus far," Massa answered.
"I think we need to move forward with two goals in mind - Primarily, we need to get our people out - Our secondary consideration has to be do we allow this facility to remain functional?" David said, falling silent ..........
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Iorte Clancy
Starfleet Intelligence
Registered: Mar 9, 2016 17:58:55 GMT
Posts: 270
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Post by Iorte Clancy on Sept 9, 2024 0:12:25 GMT
Tendaran warrior Xalk, meeting hall, sub-level 9
Xalk had been kept waiting for a long time. Too long. He began to wonder if something was amiss; there had to be a reason why the senior Cardassian in the subterranean shipyard hadn't shown his spoonheaded face, hadn't appeared at this meeting with he, the lead Tendaran administrator in this whole enterprise.
They were equal partners, only they had divided areas of responsibility. Xalk's Tendarans managed the whole administration and military business of the Tendaran species' wish to obtain a space fleet, by which it might expand its territory through war and trade; that included this shipyard and its functions. The Cardassians, led by Barim Muccha, rank Legate, had overseen construction work on the shipyard, and were in full charge of its day to day operations.
At last Muccha showed, along with his second-in-command, a stout Cardassian of Gul rank named Ericet Rimak, and two regular Cardassian soldiers bearing arms. The four entered the meeting hall, which was situated at one end of the subterranean shipyard.
Xalk and his Tendarans bristled slightly at the apparent lack of trust, seeing as none of his own group had brought ranged weapons while the Cardassians had brought at least two...
"Well, Muccha... What else is there I can do for you? You wanted to discuss our arrangement?" Xalk said mildly.
Legate Muccha's features contorted in obvious revulsion, "I think you know what's missing, Xalk... The payment."
"We've offered you and your soldiers full rights to the cobalt deposits on this world and throughout the system. You'll recall that the cobalt is pure, in need of little or no refinement. You won't find another source like that in the whole Alpha Quadrant. Is that not enough?"
"The agreement included a payment of 5,000 bars of gold-pressed latinum," the Cardassian second-in-command Gul Rimak put in brusquely, "To be made over to us once the shipyard was fully operational!"
Xalk gazed coolly at the man. He knew (and he was aware this knowledge was recognised, from how Rimak stared back at him) about Rimak's liaison with the human woman McMillan. He saw no reason to reveal that information to Rimak's superior Muccha, who'd expressly forbidden such relationships with captive workers.
Xalk wouldn't reveal it yet anyway. He would wait for a time - if a time ever came - when he needed Muccha's favour, and such would be the occasion he would inform on the Gul.
"Our reading of the agreement is that by 'operational' status, is meant that half a dozen warships should've been delivered and proven spaceworthy," Xalk replied, "That time hasn't yet come."
"We've built you this shipyard. We've built a number of our Galor class vessels. For us and for you!" Legate Muccha was spitting his words again. "And all in secrecy, which is not our normal practice. We've also helped you to develop and assisted you in building a new class of vessels of your own. And still you don't pay!"
"As I just said..." the Tendaran Xalk stopped, realised he was getting nowhere. He sighed and nodded to one of his unarmed guards who returned the nod and began trooping his small group of Tendarans out of the room.
"This meeting is concluded," Xalk told the Cardassians. "We'll pay once the Galor classes and our own ships have conducted their shakedown. In the meantime, help yourselves to our pure cobalt!" With that he marched from the hall, leaving the Cardassians bewildered.
Intel team, sub-level 16
Helen McMillan's quarters were just along the hall from where they were hiding and where they'd greeted de Luca upon her return. Opposite that quarters were the rooms belonging to Kumur and Bradshaw.
"We could simply go and knock. She went in there 10, 15 minutes ago, didn't she?" Iorte asked. Indeed, it was so. "So what, we just go in and ask if she's actually happy helping the Cardassians, and Tendarans?"
"Why not? If treachery is suspected, it should be confronted," Iezelda answered.
So they approached the door and entered without vocalising their presence. McMillan spoke from another part of the room. Hers was bigger than Kumur's and Bradshaw's, "Yes? Rimak, is that you...?" Then she spun and saw the Intel personnel, tried to make it appear she hadn't jumped out of her skin, "Oh. It's you."
"Yes, it's us," Tan said, "Not Rimak. Who is he?"
She paused and went about ordering some items on a side-desk, "Oh, just one of the Cardassians. One of the officers. A Glinn or a Gul, I can't recall. I'm forced to work with him."
"Forced?" Clancy probed.
She started, made a face and threw something from the side-desk, "What do you mean by that?"
"How unwilling a participant are you really? In all this?" Iorte asked.
"How can you even ask, even think that?"
"I followed you," de Luca spoke up. "I saw you beaten by one Cardassian with a Tendaran present. I wanted to assist, but then saw the Lentarai man come to help you. And then I saw you working elsewhere, alongside one Cardassian in particular."
"I suppose that was Ericet. Ericet Rimak."
"Would you say you make a good team?" Elena asked.
"Some people might say that. Not that I care," McMillan shrugged almost violently.
"Is there any way we can help you, Helen?" Tan asked.
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David Tan
Starfleet Intelligence
Suum Cuique ...
Registered: Dec 11, 2006 10:56:04 GMT
Posts: 807
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Post by David Tan on Sept 12, 2024 16:14:34 GMT
Sub-Level Nine ::
"As I just said..." the Tendaran Xalk stopped, realised he was getting nowhere, "...This meeting is concluded. We will pay once the Galor classes and our ships have conducted their shakedown. In the meantime, help yourselves to our pure cobalt!" With that he marched from the hall, leaving the Cardassians bewildered.
"You risk much without consultation," one of the Tendaran accompanying Xalk said.
"I feel it is the only way to deal with these... Spoonheads... Weakness will only result in their believing they have the upper hand, so to speak,"
I am not referring to how you converse with the Cardassians, but rather you're presumption that the Council will automatically concur with any decisions you make without first soliciting their, opinions,"
"The Council will allow me to conduct proceeding as I see fit..." Xalk said, stopping to face his subordinate, "... As for you... I am well aware that you report to the Council," he finished before turning on his heel and walking away.
Deep in thought, the Tendaran could only watch his superior retreat ..... Helen McMillan's Quarters ... Sub-Level Sixteen :: It was clear to David, despite her efforts to conceal her shock at their unexpected appearance, Helen McMillan was suddenly frightened, her eyes darting to the door before returning to the Away Team. He listened to her replies and then spoke: "Is there any way we can help you, Helen?" he asked. "I'm assuming that taking us out of here to a conveniently waiting Starship is out of the question?" she replied, the sarcasm clear to everyone in the room. "..... Rimak..." Elena interjected, "... Just how close are you two?" "As I said, I am forced to work with him, he is uncouth, argumentative, domineering... He's Cardassian... What else 'is' there to say?" "You're not, involved, outside your working relationship then?" de Luca pressed, seeing Helen's face darken before she replied. "You believe I am 'COLLABORATING' is that it?" the woman spat. "We couldn't help but notice you didn't exactly push the man away when he ....." Elena began but McMillan stepped forward so fast she almost ran into De Luca before glaring. "You want to try working down here?" she hissed. "Now, I'm sure that no one's accusing you of anything Ma'am," Sean said, smiling as he gently injected himself between the two women. "It certainly sounds like it!" Helen replied, her eyes still on de Luca as she allowed herself to be led backwards, putting breathing space between the two. "See it from our point of view..." David began, glancing over to make sure Elena hadn't moved before continuing, "... You hardly shook the Cardassian's hand away when he spoke with you, that 'lack' or reaction needs some explanation," Helen turned and took one of the chairs, not nothing to ask anyone else if they wanted to sit. She looked at David and then gave an almost resigned sigh. "He isn't like the others. There is 'NO RELATIONSHIP' regardless of what you might have thought you saw. When we first arrived I point-blank refused to work. They killed one of the missing engineers, undoubtedly to prove a point, but I still refused to do anything to help, so they took Zoe away. Not far, close enough in fact for me to hear her screams as she was beaten!" "..... So, from then on, you cooperated?" Nate asked sympathetically. "Not at first, no. But when they showed me images of Zoe, chained to a wall, Muccha was there, watching, as they..." Helen stopped, tears flowing down her cheeks, "... I demanded they release her and received a beating of my own," "..... and then?" Massa urged. "They said Zoe would be treated for her injuries, then she would be working in another section of the facility. She would remain 'well' as long as I complied. Rimak took it upon himself to directly oversee my work ....." "So his actions are nothing more than a show of concern?" Elena asked. "They murdered my HUSBAND!... Tortured my DAUGHTER!... If she were free of this place, I would take the first opportunity 'END' Muccha... Regardless of the consequences to myself!" she said, lowering her head. David had watched her reaction, it rang true, but without being able to speak to Zoe, he knew that there was no way to verify a word she was saying. Helen McMillan was hardly going to openly admit to working for the Tendarans, let alone the Cardassians! "Act normal, don't tell anyone we're here, we'll talk again," David said, heading for the door. "..... You're not taking us out of here!" Helen asked, eyes widening in shock. "Oh, we'll be doin' that alright. But I have a feeling that my associates would like a good look around the place, maybe even find a means to destroy it before we go on our way," Sean replied with a grin. "If you are found here, they will kill all of us, you realise that!" McMillan spat. David was still unconvinced of her sincerity but didn't push any further believing that doing so would put them in more harm, after all, if Helen McMillan 'was' collaborating, then all she would need to do was inform her associates of their presence. "We'll come to your quarters once we have something in place," Tan said as they left. They needed to find somewhere safe, moving back and forth from the surface only increased the potential for discovery. "You don't trust her," Elena said as they retreated the way they had come. "No ..... I don't ....." Tan replied ..........
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Elena de Luca
Starfleet Intelligence
Registered: Dec 14, 2009 0:38:17 GMT
Posts: 270
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Post by Elena de Luca on Sept 12, 2024 16:55:27 GMT
"You don't trust her,"
"No ..... I don't ....." Nate had seen what he thought was a disused section of the Level earlier - This was where they were now heading ..... The corridor was strewn with materials, disagreed sections of bulkhead, machinery, doors resting against the walls, crates, some opened, some damaged beyond usefulness. The lighting was sporadic at best with some tubes flickering annoyingly. The floor was dirty, as opposed to the rest of the place, which even to Cardassian standards looked clean and clear of obstructions. They waited, watching both ways along the Main Thoroughfare for any signs of company, while Massa entered the corridor. In the semi-darkness, he checked doors on either side and then returned. "The room at the far end seems our best bet, there's also an access hatch in there, presumably for maintenance, if we get stuck we can use that to move up or down a Level..." Nate said, wiping his hands, "... Keep to the left side, the muck and dust are heavier on the right," he warned as they entered the corridor. At the room in question, Nate paused, then reached forward and pushed the door aside. "We have power but I'm not sure if it would be monitored, we'll have to ask our friendly engineer next time we see her..." Massa said as he moved around the room, "... Two bedrooms, bathroom, working I might add," he finished with a wink. "Sometimes is alright to 'limit' information you know," Iezelda said with a faux shiver. "Helen said her daughter was working in another section. Any thoughts on how do we go about finding her...?" Elena asked as she looked into one of the bedrooms, "... There's only one bed," she finished. "I was never one for the sleepin' in," Sean said. "Any chance we could move around masquerading as workers?" Massa asked, looking at his already filthy clothes. "There were rows of lockers across the Main Thoroughfare, maybe there are coveralls?" Iezeld commented. "Go take a look..." Tan instructed, continuing after a pause, "... If there is only one pair in each locker, leave them. The last thing we want is someone complaining his workwear has been pilfered," Iezelda nodded, checking her phaser before heading for the door, seeing the coast was clear she set to her task. "Mind if I ask you something...?" David turned to see Elena looking at him a puzzled expression on her face. Tan nodded, "... Any particular reason you don't trust Helen McMillan?" "Call it a gut feeling, but something about her seems, off ..... Between how she acted with the Cardassian, and her obvious avoidance of questions. I don't know, maybe I'm just being paranoid," David shrugged. "Well, if there's one thing I've come to be sure of, it's your 'gut feelings' ....." de Luca replied. "You think this place runs twenty-four-seven?" Nate asked. "I'm guessing there must be 'some' work being carried out throughout the night..." Tan mused, "... Maybe manual work, fixtures, fittings, while the engineering personnel would work on the technical stuff during the day," "There would be fewer guards then?" Massa prompted. "I'd expect so. The Tendarans wouldn't need supervision given they're in cahoots with the Cardassians. The Lentarai might need to be watched, though I doubt they are involved in anything other than manual work," "So, you'll be thinking that moving around at night might be preferable to wandering in proverbial broad daylight? Sean commented. "..... Seems a reasonable assumption," Massa replied ..........
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