USS Santiago - Report

Posted on 11/05/2020 @ 2:01am by Captain Cian D'Anvers

Mission: S2E2: The Auction House
Location: Captian's Ready Room
Timeline: Day 44 at 1310

"Computer, pause recording." Eleni Hauptman, just two years shy of celebrating her tenth year in command of the light cruiser, the USS Santiago, as she rose and stood beside her desk. At forty, she was as trim and athletic as she'd been the day she arrived at Starfleet Academy, and she owed it all to a Chief Medical Officer who was, aside from being her friend, dogged in his determination that she remain in peak condition. She did a series of stretches, working the kinks out of her tired muscles, then turned her attention to the replicator.

"Coffee, black," she ordered, her attention more on the report than what she was doing.

"Unable to comply. By order of the ship's Chief Medical Officer, you have already reached your daily quota." The ship's Chief Engineer, in collusion with the Chief Medical Officer, had prevented her replicator from delivering more than two cups of coffee a day.

"Fine," she growled. "Chai, hot."

Teacup in hand, she returned to her desk, and put her feet up, on foot stacked upon the other, as she leaned back and considered their findings. "Computer, continue recording."

"Recording," the computer responded.

"The station, known only as the auction house, has been secured. An investigative team has arrived and has taken over data mining. What we know so far is that this was a family operation. Evidence collected so far suggests that the matriarch, Tilaa whose whereabouts are unknown at this time, and her six sons were heavily involved. The youngest, Gilar, is in custody and will return with us to Earth. From what we have put together, the family hires out to anyone who can pay and uses the auction house as a way of selling off illicit goods gathered during their jobs. This is based on inventoried goods found on site. Investigators, under the supervision of Lieutenant T'Vaal, are currently working on connecting these items to previous crimes. From DNA and blood trace found in the cells, its clear that sentient beings were often part of their ... inventory."

"Computer, pause recording."

She sighed, closing her eyes for a moment as she pinched the bridge of her nose. The door to her Ready Room opened and a tall, raw-boned youth, pale but for the spray of freckles across his nose, with red hair that always seemed to be standing straight up off his scalp stepped in. "Cap, you wanted to know when everyone was back on board," he said from the doorway. Andrews had that way about him. Always on one foot, ready to spring to the next thing. "The investigations team has taken control of the station."

"Thank you, Andrews," she said quietly. "I'll be out in a moment."

She waited until he had departed and then said, "computer, continue recording."

"Recording."

"Evidence gathered by the USS Crazy Horse, including recorded conversations, makes it clear that Gilar was present on Skunil. We have yet to tie him directly to the mass-murder of the male colonists but I am confident that the connection will be made. I am appending copies of the information collected to this point including translations of conversations that took place between Sheliak Corporate and Tilaa as well as recordings from the holding cells. Also appended is a confiscated inventory list. Lieutenant T'Vaal says that it will be some time before they are able to break through the encryptions on the main computer. However, having secured the station and completed turnover to the investigations team, we are proceeding to Earth with the prisoners. Signed Captain Eleni Hauptman, Commanding Officer, USS Santiago. Computer end recording."

She took a long sip of tea and rose smoothly to her feet. Time to go home. Maybe take a couple of days leave, spend some time at the cabin. Shake off the feeling that she'd been bathing in filth for the last three days. She walked to door and stopped, squaring her shoulders and shaking off the feelings that were bound to collect on these kinds of assignments. Here in the Ready Room, alone, she could be Eleni. Horrified and sickened by what she had discovered. Out there, oOn the bridge, she was the Captain.

She exited the Ready Room and strode to her chair. "Mr. Sandoval," she said, "take us out of orbit and set course for Earth."

A Post by:

Captain Eleni Hauptman
Commanding Officer
USS Santiago