Identifying The Seller

Posted on Tue Nov 12th, 2024 @ 1:57pm by Captain Remy Johansen & Lieutenant JG T'lenn & Sub-Lieutenant Osirin Acainus & Commander Maxun Spello & Lieutenant Commander Nash Winters & Lieutenant Eirly Andersen & Lieutenant JG Fulvia

1,145 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Gone, Without Ever Knowing the Way
Location: USS Astrea Conference Room
Timeline: MD 0, After Sellers, Buyers, and Thieves

The Captain had gathered a meeting in the conference room only of those who were on a need to know basis. Covert teams were going back and forth to Freecloud in ships that could arguably have some degree of separation from the Federation. Astrea was too big to risk any chatter about what was going on.

Once everyone was gathered in the conference room, The Captain turned to Eirly, "Lieutenant, can you make sure the door is locked?"

"Yes, Captain," Eirly stood with a nod and made sure the door was securely locked before coming back to sit in her seat, taking all of a few moments as she entered a couple of protocols.

Once the Captain was satisfied she began. "I know quite a few of you weren't here for our senior staff briefing on what Commander Winters and Lieutenant T'lenn overheard on Freecloud, but I believe Lieutenant Fulvia has been brought up to speed on the possible transaction taking place between some seller who has established himself on Freecloud and the Pakleds for one our lost Starfleet vessels."

"We do have plans to try to hack into and intercept any comms transmission with the information, but we can't be certain that is how the information will be transmitted. Which is why you are all here. We need to find this person or people as soon as possible," Remy stated.

“His name is Axel, and it’s safe to assume it’s an alias," Nash stated "At first glance, the information on the PADD was indecipherable. We know it’s Starfleet technology he’s selling, we just can’t tell what. There is a way to narrow it down. If we compare the components on the PADD to the technology here on Astrea, the specific parts will come to light. There’s an algorithm the computer can run. Make the process go faster. Start there. We still have to find Axel. How do we do that?”

"Do you have any leads on how to find him?" Maxun asked as he looked Nash in the eyes.

“Unfortunately, T’Lenn and I were not able to track down any, Commander," Nash replied. "We still have Jezra and Phaedrae down there. They might be able to dig a little deeper. Come away with something,” Nash said.

Fulvia had begun typing on one of the computers on the desk. " I can run a program looking through the public data net see if anyone talking about any federation collectables."

"We were less than a meter from the purported seller for several minutes. I would recognize him and the Pakleds he was speaking with if I were to see them again. There were four of them," T'lenn offered. She was nearly unrecognizable having been surgically altered to appear Romulan. She was still dressed sharply in civilian clothes, and her hair was coiffed at the nape of her neck.

"Do we have any thoughts about trying to put more boots on the ground?" The Captain asked.

"I'm available if you need someone to provide overwatch. " Fulvia added.

"I'm happy to make sure we're covered on all bases and put a team on the ground to help out if the need were to arise." Eirly offered. She had all the confidence in her team that they knew what they were doing. "If need be, I would even be able to go down as well."

"As I was saying earlier," Osirin spoke up, "I'm not part of the Federation. Yes I know I have to abide by your rules I do have more leeway. And I do have certain mental talents."

"Let's start with Fulvia's idea and start searching their public net for key terms. Even if Axel is an alias, he still could be using it to conduct other business on the planet. Lets see if we can narrow down where he frequents so we're not searching the entire haystack," Remy suggested. "In the meantime, I'm not opposed to sending a couple of small units down to check into some of the local hangouts near where Commander Winters and Lieutenant T'lenn first saw this 'Axel.' Commander Spello, any thoughts?"

Maxun considered the options briefly, the nodded. "A few small teams would increase our chances of finding the information. Obviously, whomever goes down will need to do so undercover."

"Lieutenant Fulvia, thanks for volunteering as overwatch. Lieutenant T'lenn, I'd like you to go back down as well, since you know who we're looking for. Sub-commander Osirin," the Captain ordered. "Lieutenant Andersen, can you assign someone from tactical for the team as well?"

Eirly mentally checked off who would be suitable for the task, knowing full well that she'd prefer S'Niri to stay on board, "I'd be happy to send down Ensign Williams. He's got the skills for this." She tapped a reminder into the data padd in front of her.

“If I may add something, Captain,” Nash volunteered. “Though my presence may not be needed on the surface, ‘Malone’ may still have services he——I can offer. I suggest any communications with this guy take place aboard Astrea. Through me. I can reroute the comm signals. He’ll never know where it’s coming from. T’Lenn and Eirly can do what they have to do. Let me help. Make him come out into the open.”

Remy looked confused for a moment. "Malone? Oh. No, Commander, we'll only make contact from here if there are no other options. For now you can have your Chief Engineer job back. We used the slipstream to get here, you probably want to make sure we can use it again in a pinch. Nice work these last few days though."

“Understood. Just don’t hesitate to use me if necessary. I appreciate your confidence in me during all this. I really should get back to taking care of my engines. Thank you for keeping me in the loop,” Nash said as he looked around to Andersen and T’Lenn. “Look out for each other down there. We’ve been fortunate so far that our teams have come away unscathed. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to anyone.”

"Let's make preparations. We'll have Commander Razka take the team into transport range in the Holana," Remy confirmed. "Any final questions or concerns?"

"Alright, seeing none. Andersen, since we're pulling Winters and T'lenn from Lieutenant Cyn's mission, I'd like a couple of security officers assigned to back them up as well. Everyone check in with Commander Spello before departing."

The Captain looked around the room at the nods in affirmation. "Thank you. Dismissed."

~Off~

Captain Remy Johansen
Commanding Officer
USS Astrea

&

Commander Maxun Spello
First Officer
USS Astrea

&

Lt. Commander Nash Winters
Chief Engineer
USS Astrea

&

Lieutenant Eirly Anderson
Chief Tactical Officer
USS Astrea

&

Lieutenant JG Fulvia
Intelligence Officer
USS Astrea

&

Sub-Commander Osirin Acainus
Chief Counselor
USS Astrea

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