What We Know So Far Part III
Posted on Sat Oct 14th, 2023 @ 9:07pm by Lieutenant Commander Keishara Davaris & Commander Steven Greco & Lieutenant Evelyn Stewart & Lieutenant Dashku Zhevou & Lieutenant JG Baaru Liana & Remy Naal
Edited on on Thu Nov 9th, 2023 @ 1:55am
2,384 words; about a 12 minute read
Mission:
Year One: Whispers in the Wind
Location: USS Moore - War Room
Timeline: MD 015 - 0800 hours
Keishara brought up a schematic on screen. It was oval, palm sized and uninteresting. "This was placed on a conduit assigned to our comms array and was found by Ensign Bishop and PO Coleman during a repair. During an investigation by Commander Akimon, Lt. s'Lovok and Ensign Bishop they have found it to be a mass of many technologies which I believe to be an attempt to make it hard to pinpoint who is the culprit. There were many messages found, most seemingly rhetoric of anti-Starfleet views, how the Federation would be much stronger if we stopped helping everyone and pointedly aimed at the Romulans. Hate speech, threats and the like are highlighted in many messages and mention of an emerging extremist group called The Whisperers of the Federation. They also seem to be catalysts for many recent attacks on outlying colonies, and on the attack on Lt. s'Lovok here recently. Clearly they have a lot of sympathizers and at the moment we have a set of initials, JD, which we are running through intelligence channels and search algorithms to find if it matches anything of relevance. It could just be a fake sign off but I'm not taking that risk at this point."
Remy decided now was the time to speak up. “The Federation Council is reluctant to call their own extremists citizens actual terrorists, but I can assure you that they are. More than a dozen URC convoys have been driven off sanctioned worlds for Romulan refugees. Often they are being met with threats and there have been more than once instances of violence against my people. Thankfully so far we have gotten everyone out safely, especially the Romulans, but I don’t know how much longer that can last.”
“Who is supplying these whisperers? Military grade equipment can’t be made at just any replicator” Liana asked, thinking of the coup attempt on her homeworld by a Bajoran group known as the circle.
"Easy enough to acquire if you know where to look and have the latinum to purchase them," Dashku spoke up, pausing for a moment, before continuing. "Arms dealers might have even contacted them, knowing they could make some sales."
"Not to mention the many organizations and galactic powers that wish to see the Federation lose stability would jump at the chance to help these Whispers." Amarok piped in. "Might as well investigate all avenues."
Greco took all this in and he considered the information. “What we need is Starfleet approval.” He commented to the group. “Mister Naal just said the Federation is reluctant to call these people terrorists. We can’t defy our orders and go play vigilantes.” He said sternly, feeling like the only officer amongst the group. “I hate what these people represent as much as anyone else, but we have our orders. Unless some catastrophe happens, we have no just cause to go off and chase these people down.”
Remy turned in his seat at the first officer, he liked Steve. He was a good upstanding officer, which is why he couldn’t believe what he was saying. “At the expense of innocent civilians? My people are being grabbed by mobs. People are getting hurt. Children are afraid they may never see their parents again when they go to get food to survive because they are Romulan. All for a political statement and your response is to do nothing?” He asked incredulously, his passion coming through.
Steve set his jaw at the assumption. “With all due respect, Mister Naal, the URC chose to make these decisions without Starfleet oversight. This is not our responsibility. It is yours. Your organization, you , have made that very clear. You can’t have it both ways.” He said, his voice tight with the effort to restrain his response.
Remy gave him a disgruntled look before slowly nodding. “You are right. I did.” He said grimly, taking accountability for the public stances the URC has taken regarding military interventions on humanitarian efforts. “So….follow your orders, and wait.”
After listening to the exchange between Remy and Steven, Stryvek arrived at what he thought could be a logical solution. "Mr. Naal it would seem that my XO is correct. However, there is one way for this ship to get involved. That would be of course if you on behalf of the URC file an official request for involvement. After all it is one of Starfleet's missions to render humanitarian aid when needed." Stryvek stole a quick glance at Evelyn and then turned to Remy with a raised eyebrow.
There had been a lot of talk between the others in the room. "We can have plain clothes officers on the ground in places. If Starfleet thinks we don't do that without some oversight or approval then they are more naïve than I thought... plus Kirk did a lot of unauthorised shi---stuff and he kept getting promoted." Kei smirked. "Not that I am condoning that behaviour..." she thought it best to add.
"If we cut off their supply it may make them more desperate, more dangerous. Yes it may cause a mistake but it also may force their hand and make them do something stupid. If you want Captain I will put a closer watch on this system, whilst we are here at least, and we may flush out someone but right now the Whispers have yet to do anything too radical to take such drastic action. At the moment they have been nothing more than a pain in the ass, all talk." Kei sighed.
"We are getting ahead of ourselves with cutting supply lines, chasing them down. Truthfully we don't know much about them from what I have already said. Hate speech, threatening messages and more recently have escalated to physical violence against people. That is all we know and it is being done under the banner of the Whispers. We don't know anything of their tech beyond the device we found but it does suggest they have a hand in many cultures given its design. Intel on them is thin and right now Starfleet doesn't deem them too credible until they do something that causes a bigger stink. I think they are waiting for a larger scale attack beyond the simple beating of people, aggravated attack of some mobs." Kei continued.
"At the moment you all now know the extent of what we do on the Whispers. This was just a 'keeping you up to speed' briefing and not so much a 'take action' briefing as we don't have enough information to do so." Kei paused as she looked out the window at the planet. In her mind she knew she needed to reel them back into something positive. "There is to be a festival on the planet. Right now we are guests of Brighton Colony and it would be rude of us to take them up on their invite to join them. My suggestion would be to go down and enjoy that whilst we are here as soon after we will go back to supply runs and convoys. Enjoy real air whilst you can. We don't often get the chance to go to a party we don't have to clean up."
Evelyn had brought up the celebration earlier and Lily was looking forward to taking a part in it. Maybe there will be some spices she can round up there. Who knows.
"Um, do we know how and where to get someone undercover in the Whispers?" Amarok asked, though he was probably not one that should know the details since he is a civilian.
"No." Kei replied simply to Amarok's question. "We don't know where they are specifically yet to place someone and simply put don't have enough information to run with. I'm sure Starfleet Security is looking into it. For the time being they are not a concern for us here, nor are they our mission. After the weeks couped up on the ship watching the back end of a convoy I think we owe ourselves some fun when the festival begins."
Lily glanced up once more at the mention of the festival again, raising her hand. "On that note sirs, may I be excused? I would like to make some preparations before going to the celebration." flashing a bit of a smile.
"Commander Akimon I would like you to start working on the possibility of putting yourself or someone else undercover with the Whispers. Try to learn where we can make contact and how. Have a plan submitted to me in two days time. Commander Davaris you are too right when you say that this crew is in need of some fun as it is said. However, we will not have our fun at the cost of our safety. As such I would like security increased at the festival. Please coordinate with Mr. Naal's people." Stryvek began to give out assignments and before Remy could react he turned to the man. "Before you say anything about our getting involved. Consider the added security a measure to protect the crew of this ship. As for the rest of you enjoy the festival but be cautious. Commander Greco you may go and enjoy yourself as well, I will have the bridge."
Remy nodded in agreement with the captain. He didn't want Starfleet involved, but the justification was reasonable for the additional security. He would just have to live with it. He was more disturbed by the frown and brief glance that Evelyn made in Stryvek's direction. She looked confused but was trying to hide it. That was the third exchange of looks between the helmsman and Vulcan captain throughout the meeting. He found it odd but wouldn't draw attention to the matter. "The extra security would be appreciated, Captain."
Nahe nodded to the Captain. " As you wish Captain, I shall prepare myself for undercover work and see what we may learn. If these people are recruiting, then I should be to find out easily enough. Getting in may be a bit harder, But I'm sure I can do this, After all, I didn't get my rank by sitting at a desk and looking pretty. " She said with a smile. Besides, I'm a good enough actress to pull off a convincing story to get in."
"Great. Anymore questions?" Kei asked. "Fantastic." she cut anyone off from asking. "Briefing is over. Go back to your duties." she said as she picked up her PADD and left for the bridge, she had some checks to do.
Stewart glanced up to watch Davaris leave the room and smirked. "Well, that's that then." She commented dryly as she waited for the captain to dismiss them properly.
Stryvek looked at all those gathered. "You have your assignments. Dismissed..." As everyone left he leaned back in chair lost in thought for the moment.
A festival did sound nice and Amarok hoped that he'd get to attend at some point, though he thought it best that they'd stick to their actual assignment. Not go off putting their lives into danger when not ordered to do so, but he recalled much of Federation history and it is full of Starfleet crews getting into more then they were assigned to do. The unreal part of was they became famous for it. Amarok heard dismissed and stood without another word.
He had a feeling the Doctor would approach him and that was okay. He should have seen to his medical file being sent over, though everything happened so quickly.
On the way out he approached Remy. "Perhaps we can have a meal together when you aren't busy my friend?"
Waiting for everyone to depart, Liana stood up and walked over to the CO, “Um, Captain. Would you like me to send any messages to the Bajoran government? Maybe we should warn them about these whisperers?”
Vulcans always had a unique ability to be lost in thought and yet still be present to speak and answer questions. This was just such a time for Stryvek. "Yes Lieutenant. I believe that is a logical suggestion. It may have the added benefit of furthering our relations with the Bajorans. Go ahead and contact anyone you may have. However, make sure that this is more of an unofficial warning. Plausible deniability must be maintained."
Opening her mouth to ask why they would need plausible deniability, Liana figured Stryvek knew what he was talking about, “Um, yes Sir. I think I can do that” she said before giving him a slight bow and heading out of the room.
"Have you had Breakfast yet Remy?" Amarok asked as he gestured for them to leave together.
Remy nodded to the others as he got out of his seat and smiled at Amarok as he followed him out. "No, not yet. That sounds lovely, thank you."
Lily gave a mental sigh, though outwardly she had a sense of calmness. She rose up from her chair, she'll catch Amarok a little bit later and see about getting his readings. She paused to watch as Remy walked out of the briefing room with Amarok, then she made her own exit. She also cast a curious glance towards Nahe, had the chief of intelligence had her cursory medical examination as of yet? She will have to find out, for now the briefing was at an end and time to move on.
Nahe stood up and departed the briefing room and fell in step beside the CMO and spoke only when they got into the turbolift together. " Doctor I believe I'm in need of my duty physical prior to starting my duties, Shall I make an appointment or do you have time at the moment? " She asked.
"Yes I do."Lily replied as the turbo lift doors closed behind them.
Dashku didn't want to stick around to make small talk, or engage with anyone. She was still getting settled in her department and needed to get to it. She pushed back from the table and stood up. She nodded to a couple of people before making her way out of the briefing room.
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