Debrief and New Orders: Time to Hunt (Part 2)

Posted on 09/17/2020 @ 1:51pm by Captain Cian D'Anvers & Lieutenant JG Niun & Lieutenant JG Larissa Syndel & Lieutenant JG Siobhan Richards PhD
Edited on on 09/18/2020 @ 12:26pm

Mission: S2E2: The Auction House
Location: Conference Room, Deck 1, USS Crazy Horse
Timeline: Day 41 at 0835

"Lieutenant Gallagher, is there anything you want to add," Cian asked. He took a sip of tea and set the cup on the table, one hand looped around the base, his middle finger rubbing the side in an idle motion that signaled thought to the few who knew him well.

When Kiernan had entered the conference room, he was not sure what he would be asked to contribute. However, he was prepared just in case he would've been asked and sure enough, he was. He had only been on board a couple of days, but he was a fast learner and he had been grateful the XO was able to bring him up to speed. He nimbly lifted the Padd that sat in front of him and activated it. He didn't have a lot of information, but he had a start and that was at least something. "Actually, I do," he began. "It seems the water source has been deliberately tampered with, which in turn, has caused the water the settlement uses to be unusable." He set the PaDD down and looked at the group of assembled officers.

"So the colonists hire mining experts who show up to train them but, unknown to them, set up a base on their moon. Their water source is fouled," Cian said, with a nod toward his new Chief Science Officer, "and something happens at the mine. We don't know what, since it hasn't been checked as yet, but I think its safe to assume it was some sort of tampering. And when the colonists try to end the arrangement, they are threatened by the Orion, Gilar."

"If I may," Captain," Niun asked. At Cian's nod, Niun continued. "At Lieutenant Lae'Or's request, I have done a search on the name Gilar and I apologize for how long it took, Lieutenant." He shrugged lightly as he poured himself a second cup of tea. "Took a bit to follow the small clues and fit together the larger picture. Gilar is the youngest of six sons of an Orion named Tilaa. There have been reports for some time now of an up and coming group in the Syndicate. Hard to track mostly because there wasn't much of a pattern to follow ... until recently."

Niun paused long enough to take a sip of tea. Something about public speaking always turned his throat to dust. "One of our operatives got word of a secret auction. If you know where to go, you could bid on just about anything."

"And do we," Cian said at once, "know where to go?"

Niun nodded. "Oh yes, Sir. At great personal risk, the operative managed to wrangle the location of the next Auction and from what we understand, the auctions are run by another of Tilaa's sons. Now, whether the missing Pergium is heading to the auction house or somewhere else, I don't know. But Starfleet Intelligence believes that those colonists are headed there."

"Number One," Cian said, turning toward his First Officer, "your thoughts?"

"Several," replied J.J. as he had sat quietly listening to information being produced by fine officers. His more reserved studious side took the starring role for his time at the briefing. "Tampering with and essentially poisoning a water source is one of the oldest and cruelest means of wiping out an enemy. It has primitive tactical origins" noted the First Officer.

J.J. shook his head thinking about the suffering the colonist had to endure. "If we know where the auction is taking place, then I say we lay in a course. There's an auction to attend; however, I suspect this will be no walk in the park."

"It seems to me, that we have two tracks to follow," Cian said, one hand revolving the now emptied cup by minute degrees, as he thought. "The Pergium trace leaving orbit is one. Lieutenants Cash and Syndel. Take a shuttle and try to track that Pergium. Don't engage. Just figure out where its going and then join us at the Auction House. You can get the coordinates from Lieutenant Niun."

"Aye Sir, I will get the coordinates and prep the shuttle for launch. Should be ready within the hour." Cash said.

"We should be able to get a more accurate track of the pergium signature by then." Larissa glanced at Cash then quickly rechecked her Padd. "We're going to need one of the type-9's if we're to catch up with you in any reasonable amount of time though."

"In the meantime, we'll head directly to the Auction House," Cian said. "With an ETA of ..." He turned toward the Chief Flight Control Officer who was already in quiet conference with Niun, their heads bent together over a PADD.

"Three hours at maximum warp, Sir," she responded.

"Three hours then," Cian said.

Siobhan listened to the exchange, her eyes moving from person to person. The new information that were shared gave the whole mission clear path to follow, though it seemed that the use of force might be necessary. The counselor worried that in such case there might be casualties. Civilian casualties.

"Sounds like fun." Siobhan commented. "Will they let us in on the auction just like that? Or you plan to use force to save the colonists, Captain?"

"I plan to rescue those colonists," Cian said. "By whatever means necessary. I would agree that its unlikely we'll be able to obtain an invitation on such short notice. Would you agree, Lieutenant Niun?"

"Yes, Sir," Niun answered almost at once. "Very secretive. Very hard to track down what we do know."

Lae'Or spoke up now. "Three hours away...? I find it rather suspicious that a major Orion operation could be occurring this close to a colony without someone noticing. Granted, we're a ways from Federation space, but still... Any word from Starfleet Intelligence on how they were able to set up shop as it were? ... Also, Captain, Commander, I think we should take precautions so that they don't know we're coming. I can't imagine that the Orions are going to be very happy to see a Federation starship dropping out of warp. Mr. Cash, how easy would it be to disguise our warp signature to make us appear to be... Say, a Dopterian bulk freighter? They're known to be on friendly terms with the Syndicate. I also would recommend we polarize the hull plating--old trick, but effective at throwing off scanners."

"Three hours at maximum warp," Niun said, "is not all that close, Lieutenant. But from what I can discover, It would seem that the auction house never remains in one place for long." He turned his attention to the Captain as he added. "That makes this all very time sensitive. Once the auction is over, the house, whatever it is, moves."

"Well, we can mask our warp signature. I can make us appear to be a Ferengi garbage scow on sensors if you like. That is not a problem. From a distance, anyone looking will see us as that. But, the secret is, don't let them get up and personal. I can have my team make us appear as a Dopterian bulk freighter. No problems. Will take less then an hour." Said Cash.

J.J. scoffed and nodded his head. "That makes sense. It is safer from a criminal aspect to keep your activities like a traveling circus" commented Lieutenant Jodon Joral. "Bring your operation into town for a few days, wheel and deal, then pick everything up and roll out until you find another location to set up operations. My concern is what's being auctioned. This is not an everyday antique roadshow."

Cian regarding his First Officer, his expression turned slightly mystified. "Circus ... antique roadshow ... I have no idea what those are but I do understand the concept of moving regularly as a means of preventing discovery. We don't know how deep this goes. Is there one auction house or twenty? No idea ... but if they have our colonists, then their operations are going to end."

Siobhan knew that when comes to combat her involvement would be minimal, but when they rescue the colonists, she would need to ensure they are taken care off properly for the short flight they planned. "We do fit all of the colonists on board, don’t we? Right? We don't need special arrangements and such?"

"It will be over 400 women and children, just from the colonists, with the possibility of others," Cian said. "Starfleet will be sending a transport vessel out to meet us but at least temporarily, Counselor if you could see to setting up something temporary, possibly in a cargo bay, that would be of enormous help. Doctor, I'm sure you already have protocols in place to cover this sort of situation?"

"My department can care for welfare of the colonists. However, very likely some of them will be requiring medical attention. Preparing the cargo bay for such amount of people with those conditions in mind needs expertise from engineering and operations departments." Siobhan replied. "From my perspective this looks like an emergency evacuation procedure and I am sure there are protocols for that, based on the ship type, so I defer that part to Lieutenant Cash and Lieutenant Syndel on the task for preparing the cargo bay."

"The cargo bays on decks 8 and 9 should be able to acommodate that many easy enough." Larissa said after some quick mental maths. "There is nothing in them that can't be moved to one of the bays on deck 11. Relief supply packages are already in the replicator files. I can have teams arranging both set up before I leave, should only take an hour or so."

"That is a huge undertaking. I'll need ALL the crew I can spare to help clear the cargo bay. Then, we can set up a large Starfleet temporary hut as a makeshift medical area. We will need to set up emergency cots for the colonists to sleep on. AND, now for the white elephant in the conversation....The cargo bay has 2 small toilet facilities. We can tap into the ship's pluming, but that will take time. While we are doing that, best have some Starfleet portopotties set up. And, there are 2 contamination showers set up that can be used as wash facilities. But, we will need at least 2-3 security stationed down there when the colonists arrive. There are key systems like the cargo transporter among others." Said Cash

"I'll see to it," responded Lae'Or promptly.

"Get a plan together, that covers all the necessities," Cian said. "This doesn't need to be set up in the next hour. "Lieutenant Lae'Or, you can speak to me later about the security arrangements. For now, Lieutenants Cash and Syndel, take a shuttle and track that Pergium signature. Do not engage. Figure out where its headed and then meet us at the Auction House. Dismissed."

A Post by:

Captain Cian D'Anvers
Commanding Officer
USS Crazy Horse

Lieutenant Jodon Joral
Executive Officer
USS Crazy Horse

Lieutenant (J.G.) Lae'Or Tahlin
Chief of Security/Tactical
USS Crazy Horse

Lieutenant JG Niun
Intelligence Officer
USS Crazy Horse

LT JG Larissa Syndel
Chief Operations Officer

Lieutenant Kiernan Gallagher VII, PhD
Chief Science Officer
USS Crazy Horse

Lieutenant JG Siobhan Richards PhD
Counselor
USS Crazy Horse

Lt JG Xander Cash
Acting Chief Engineer
USS Crazy Horse

Lieutenant JG Chester O'Hamlin, M.D.
Chief Medical Officer
USS Crazy Horse