Bottom of the Barrel

Posted on Sat Nov 9th, 2024 @ 10:57pm by Lieutenant Commander Kelly Kerrigan & Lieutenant Commander Dr. Henry McEntyre, Ph.D & Lieutenant K’Var & Lieutenant Adrianna Baciami & Lieutenant Lanna Alexander & Ensign Karri & Lieutenant JG Jarin Alexander, MD
Edited on on Sun Nov 10th, 2024 @ 12:16am

1,108 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Stars Around the Well
Location: Starbase 2 | Observatory Lounge

Calling all remaining senior staff members to Starbase 2's lounge and bar, Lieutenant Commander Kelly Kerrigan grabbed another drink from the bar and walked over with Professor McEntyre to the two tables that Lieutenant Baciami had cleared for them. The Arcadia crew were already starting to enter the lounge. "Treat yourself to anything at the bar, add it to my tab, and come join us for a briefing" announced Kelly.

Henry sat down at the offered seat at the table, near to Kelly. He wasn't much for drinking but he did order a cup of coffee and waited with his colleages for the others to arrive.

This was going to be an interesting mission. Kelly had reviewed everything earlier, a mission not issued by Starfleet Command but by the Federation's Department of Commerce per its Commerce Secretary. Kelly had requested Ensign Karri for their knowledge and expertise.

Karri entered the lounge in Starbase 2 and dhe was excited. Most of the time she spent there time reading padds after all. She ordered a light beer and went to join all the officers

Adrianna smiled, sipping her drink, greeting everyone with a nod.

Getting herself a Risan sunset to drink Lanna joined the others nodding politely to Adrianna as she took a seat next to her.

“Thank you” K’Var said to the bar tender and took her warm mug of milk and started toward the table I’d of her colleagues. “Greetings” the Caitian offered a smile a bit of the milk still in her whiskers as she took her set next to Lanna.

Karri waved to all as the caitian suppy officer took her own seat.

Kelly began the briefing with a quick overview. "As Ensign Karri can attest to, the Federation has been having a cargo issue" noted Lieutenant Commander Kerrigan. "We are short on supplies and we are not alone."

"So far we're good on foodstuffs but it would be good to possibly have more" Karri began. "A few more medical supplies. Among other things "

"Crucial supplies that were part of a Federation cargo convoy. The problem is that convoy never reached their destinations. All the cargo freighters went missing. Their escorts, all contact lost."

“Do we have any information on the ships escorting the cargo vessels” K’Var asked as this information would tell her what kind of defense were provided to the convoy.

It was a substantial question. One that clearly was the sort of question he should have anticipated from the Security Chief. "A pair of Farragut class vessels and some smaller random ships as freelancers." He looked at the Caitian.

“Very interesting” K’Var started thinking of those classes.

"From first hand experience," Adrianna cleared her throat, recalling a memory from her undercover days, "it wouldn't be unheard of for a pirate or smuggler to disguise themselves as an escort vehicle. The 'paperwork' isn't that hard to fake, or at least delay. All you need is a person than looks familiar -- easy to do when everyone wears a uniform."

"I've lived on a freighter" Karri nodded. "It's amazing what you can do when you look the part."

Kelly took that information and mulled it over. "So, we are thinking this could be an inside job. One or more of those freelance escorts could of been pirates. Took out the Farraguts and seized the convoy?"

"Not necessarily inside," Baciami commented, "paperwork is easily lost and delayed, uniforms are easy to obtain, codes are easily forged. Whilst I can't disclose all of the details of the mission, I was once with a ship posing as an escort vehicle. We got what we wanted and left long before anyone realised. It wasn't an inside job-- just a well travelled route."

Kelly's mind was running through scenarios. His thoughts racing. "The escorts and the freighters have just vanished. If you were going to pull off this sort of operation, a heist or whatever, how would you do it?" It was an open question for Baciami but also the others.

A small smile crossed her lips as Adrianna had a bit of a flashback, "I'd take the lead escort position. A ship will follow the lead without question. Easy to disappear. Alternatively, take the back. No-one would see you coming. Out the other vehicles and use the vulnerability." She commented, "it's not difficult to be imposition and shuffle paperwork. I would have to agree in this case though-- it would be easier to have an inside man-- a captain or navigator perhaps."

"So..." Kelly began. "We have ships that did not make their rendezvous point, zero communication. Initial searches yielded no debris, nothing to indicate destruction."

"Why dispose of the ship when you can just reuse it for other jobs?" Adrianna proposed the hypothetical.

"That does make sense." Karri began. "If you can still use it, then use it"

Kelly nodded. They were capable vessels, taking them and reusing them did make sense. "And other possibilities? What about the science aspect, Professor?"

"Possibility of somekind of virus. Space Psychosis? Number of different possibilities. Though prevailing theory is that they simply couldn't." The Professor replied.

"Lieutenant Alexander," Kelly looked towards the the Ship's Counselor. What are your thoughts? As a someone who's studied psychology. What would account for several ships not to send a distress signal of any sort?"

Lanna had been giving it some thought. “Given the possibilities and probabilities I’d say they’d have to know, or trust, the person or persons they’ve come into contact with. At least long enough to prevent them from sending a distress signal. Maybe they’ve been conned into a distress call, something they’d let their guard down to.”

"Valid points, Counselor" Kelly replied. He turned to Doctor Alexander. "If we do find these missing vessels, people may be hurt. We will want medical prepared for that."

Doctor Alexander gave a nod and a confident answer "sickbay will be ready." At least it was confident on the outside, the young man was feeling a bit nervous.

Kelly then turned in his seat to face Baciami. "Lieutenant, pull reports from the previous search parties. I want you to examine the areas that have been extensively searched, ruled those out. Find us the next most logical place to focus our efforts."

Adrianna nodded, "si, captain. I will."

Lanna was feeling her husband’s nervousness, she smiled as she offered him a mental hug through their bond.

Kelly stood and gave a nod. "Everything is on my tab tonight. Enjoy yourselves, we'll reconvene on the Arcadia in the morning and get underway as soon as Fang and Doc return."

 

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