Post 35

Posted on Fri Aug 28th, 2015 @ 7:47pm by Captain Christina Curtis & Lieutenant Tal Sek 'Thaan

Mission: Begin with a Bang
Location: Tactical Armoury Station, Andorian Imperial Guard Vessel Docona, At Warp
Timeline: May 15th, 2155 - 1340 hours

Tal Sek marveled at the backwards engineering, and for the redundancies they built to compensate. One might say over engineered, but to expect failure and create specific redundancies for every foreseeable situation was a paranoia he appreciated. Humans tried to prepare for anything, this explosion disabled the mechanism that switched the proximity sensor mains to the back up, but there was a third unit that came into play barely a minute later. His personal assessment was this was no simple act of sabotage, but a puzzle piece of a larger plot.

He wished to have the MACO's here, he had questions about the tech at work, it was unfamiliar at best. The marines may have left, but Tal still chuckled at the banter and instant camaraderie he had experienced. Though antiquated, they had achieved a level of style that showed they could compete even despite their clear disadvantage. It took quite the culture to make their way in nothing but metal hulks to the deepest space. It harkened to the days of solar sailing for his people, the lunar wars, elliptical conflicts... These humans had bypassed that stage and had..."gone to the adults table" a phrase Tal could appreciate being the youngest of four.

The Commander had known there was more to the story then was let on, but had given them the respect of not asking. With nothing but their most subtle scans to go on Tal nonetheless felt the explosive was a red salmon. The true intent of the sabotage was the redundancy for Proximity sensor alarms. If the Mains had been disabled the secondaries would be absent, a built in delay would create a period of time... It would create an exploitation for someone to come and go... if the traitor was on board they were planning on using this to escape at some point, instinct confirming though years of chasing leads down exactly like this.

"Tal Sek to Tactical Watch. Relay message to Commander for approval, emergency transmission to Discovery."

Tal enclosed the data, it would show how to find the evidence of someone who had likely snuck on board at some point after construction crews were cleared from the final inspection. Lack of that evidence would prove a member of the crew was a member of Terra Prime. Either fact was perilous to consider, but his years of counter insurgency training compelled him to action. That explosion had not been intended for now, likely the act of discovery activated a fail-safe to cover the trail. The Discovery had an agent in operation...

Tal's communication link chirped, and the face of the Commander appeared on his screen barely a second later. It was pretty usual for the commander to just open a channel to someone who had contacted him about something rather than wait for the connection to be accepted, so it was no particular surprise. "Lieutenant. This information you want to transmit to the pink-skin ship; you realise that they didn't inform us of the nature of their 'accident' onboard? If your theory of an operative of a terror organisation on their vessel is true, they likely want to keep information about it off the subspace channels."

His antennae jerked in an automatic reaction to the Commander, both of them and him sat up ramrod straight. He knew better than to send this to the pink skins directly, but to delay or hold back vital intelligence would cost lives. Tal hoped the Commander would feel the same way, the Discovery may balk that they were scanned by an ally, but Tal was willing to bet they would be twice as grateful if a traitor was rooted out.

"Commander, my thanks for your attention. I wished for your approval for these reasons precisely, I am no shrewd politician, I seek to save lives and root out traitorous cowards. The Pink skins are in danger, I volunteer to take the reprisal for the breach of Tactical etiquette, but we must act quickly!"

The Commander thought for a brief moment, before nodding, his antennae curling inwards slightly. "I agree we need to warn them, but I think their interests would be best served for us to not use subspace to do so. I will order a reverse course, and then you will come aboard Discovery with me and explain your findings directly to their captain." He turned to issue the commands to the helm officer. "We shall be back at the pink-skin's location within minutes. Meet me at the airlock."

| Captain's Ready Room, Discovery NX-04, Deep Space
| 1350hrs

As the hatch to Christina's ready room slid open, it admitted the two Andorians from the Docona, which had reappeared and hailed requesting permission to dock less than half an hour after it had dropped off the MACOs. Christina hadn't had the time amongst the other things she was trying to do to meet their unexpected visitors at the airlock, but had had one of the officers not currently involved in the checking of the ship for any more planted devices escort them up to meet her. "Gentlemen," the captain said as they entered, believing that the salutation was appropriate to them, consider that they both appeared to be one of the two male-analogue genders of the Andorian's four-gendered species. "What can I do for you?"

"My tactical officer has some information that we believe is of a critical nature to your ship, Captain," the Commander said, launching without much preamble. "I felt it best to present this information to you in person rather than over an unsecure subspace channel. Lieutenant?" he finished, giving the floor over to his junior officer.

He would never admit to any feelings like anxiety, but standing between the two senior officers of the ships present Tal was well aware of the level of attention he being subjected to. His kin had long ridiculed him for wearing his emotions openly but amongst humans this was a sign of comfort and friendship. Deciding to press on that route Tal composed his thoughts in a moment.

"Captain Curtis, My name is Tal Sek 'Thaan. I must ask forgiveness, the investigation which lead to this information was done without authorization from my Superior or my Commander."

"Go on," Curtis prompted, curious as to what the investigation was for, but not really concerned too much with the Andorian chain of command.

"I have a long history in counter insurgency, and given the nature of what we knew of your mission, the accident, and loss of Commander Cayne I was... prompted to gather more information. Our species exchange gave me the plans for your ship, and upon analysis of what information I have currently I believe the following to be true."

Tal was using a personal display device to illustrate on the schematics as he spoke. Detailed technical breakdowns at the various components their scans had uncovered assembled a fair approximation of the bomb.

"The explosive was located in a panel which controlled the switchover relays and redundant proximity sensors. It is my belief that an agent was able to sneak on board post launch using this device to disable your proximity sensors, or this was an escape planned for after an operation which would implicate Discovery as part of the design. Commander Cayne's death was likely not intentional, but a necessary action by the covert agent to keep their tracks covered, almost assuredly a failsafe trap on the device, as its explosion didn't damage anything vital.."

Christina stayed quiet for a moment, judging her response before answering. "Yes, we had already determined that the explosion was caused by a device like this. I apologise Commander for not being truthful to you earlier, but our current mission has certain requirements upon our spread of information." What the hell, she decided. They were clearly smart enough to figure most of this out for themselves anyway. "Since you brought this to me directly, I take it I can trust you to keep anything else I share with you off of subspace channels. Starfleet Intelligence believes that a former agent of Terra Prime - the terrorist organisation which tried to disrupt the Coalition talks a couple of months ago - is planning to set a bomb at the Tellarite Compound on Deneva Colony. We were sent to try and get there before he does and stop him. Admiral Gardner is afraid that any indication of our knowing of the terrorist plan in advance could either send our suspect into hiding, or force him to detonate his bomb before we get there. After the events in the Armoury, we think we may have a sympathiser onboard, if not a direct agent of Terra Prime."

Tal said nothing at first, deferring to the Commander privilege of being the one to react officially. What the Commander said after that time was nothing Tal had ever expected to hear.

"I have seen what you pink-skins can do when fear and hatred are your primary motivators, You must deal with this in extreme prejudice. I offer you my Second Tactical Officer, Tal Sek. His investigation brought us here and I see you are in need of an armoury officer. Consider Tal Sek at Starfleet's disposal, he is a well trained and thoroughly efficient counter-insurgency specialist. I will add him to the exchange list if this is acceptable Captain?"

In true style of Andorian Commanders, he paid Tal Sek no mind as he decided the course of this mans life. Tal was an officer and would follow orders, though secretly Tal was thrilled for the opportunity to be with more humans. Remaining at attention, Tal nonetheless let his eyes drift to Captain Curtis to await her reply.

Curtis was clearly surprised by the offer, and took a moment to respond to it. She could definitely see the sense in the suggestion - the Andorians were well known tacticians, and this Tal Sek had already proven to be a very good investigator. No doubt he would make a good fill-in for Cayne at least - even if only for a short time. She turned towards the Andorian officer, wanting his own opinion before officially accepting the offer. "Lieutenant? Is this exchange something you would want to participate in?" While she was aware that the Imperial Guard was more militaristic than Starfleet, she didn't want the man to be on loan to Discovery if he really didn't want to be there.

He was certainly surprised at the question, he would later on think on this moment as his first steps to the greatest adventure of his lifetime. He had been made into a weapon by the Imperial Guard, and had to learn to be an individual again. The human on board Docona had been free and proud but it did not seem to have weakened them. By comparison Tal was a joker and almost insubordinate by his peoples standards but among humans they had called him... stiff collared.

"Captain, you honor me with your permission to accept the request." Truly by his understanding he was still under orders to do as his Commander bid, and the Captain merely offered a token of respect. Andorian soldiers did as they were told, and were damned grateful for the opportunity. Ice shaving and mineral extraction always needed fresh workers, a good soldier knew how to stay out of that.

The Commander was pleased with the answer and with antennae flared in his happy pose he clapped Tal on the shoulder. "He is yours then." a minor shove towards Curtis forced Tal to take a step, the symbolism was wholly lost on him at that point.

"Tal Sek, You are hereby assigned under the interspecies exchange to the command of Captain Curtis of Starfleet for the remainder of her need for your services. Captain Curtis will decide the rank you are to work under in her organization but you will retain your Imperial credentials and are subject to recall. I will have my Second forward appropriate paperwork and medical requisitions Captain."

"Thank you, Commander," Curtis said, shortly before the elder Andorian let himself out of the ready room and headed back to his ship. She turned her attention back to her newest crewmember. "Since you're not a member of Starfleet, you won't need to wear one of our uniforms, so your Imperial Guard uniform will be fine. The Commander called you a Lieutenant, is that right? You won't have a commission with Starfleet, but on this ship at least you'll have all the same authority as a Starfleet Lieutenant would."

Tal would need to brush up on the Starfleet side of things, but the approximate placement on the command chart fit what he knew of their ranks with his own. He nodded, "I will start right away, please notify the necessary departments of my acceptance for security purposes. I have my gear with me now if you can show me the way to the site of the expl-?" He saw a thought shoot across the Captains face and he stopped talking to allow her to interject. A Good officer never forced their superior to toalk over them.

"Our people are still going to be quite shocked by Commander Cayne's death, but we don't have much time to waste. I've asked Lieutenant Wakefield to oversee the security operation and checking the rest of the ship to make sure we are clear of any other devices. I'd like you to work with him. For the time being, at least until longer-term arrangements can be made, you'll be in charge of our tactical department. Ensign Wilson is the next senior tactical officer; I suggest you work closely with him to get the others amongst the crew used to working under you."

The level of trust was great with her, he would ensure it was not misplaced with him now. "I understand, I will shore up the department as its new supervisor first, a wise direction. And thank you for the chance to serve." Tal kicked himself after that last unecessary statement. It wasn't flattery, but rather his eager anxiety to impress. The two parted with Tal pondering a dozen different things about what to do next. It then occurred to him he wasn't exactly sure where his office was... F Deck was below him and forward, but wasn't he... wasnt this...