Inspection: Intel

Posted on Mon Feb 5, 2018 @ 12:07am by Commodore Michael Aravan & Lieutenant Commander Alex Rho

Mission: Falling Star
Location: Intelligence
Timeline: MD 32 || 1200 Hours

The Commodore grumbled to himself, but immediately took it back as he had to enter his authorization to get the turbolift to take him to deck forty-four where the Intelligence Center was located. Normally, any officer had access to any part of the ship, but Intelligence was heavily guarded and required authorization just to get to the deck.

He stepped off the turblolift and glanced around as he walked down the neutral gray corridor that had doors with no listing on them as to the function or officer that served behind them. It was only due to his familiarity to the layout that he knew which office served as the Chief of Intel's and he came to a halt before it.

Michael reached out and pressed the chime, then waited while he could almost feel hidden scanners verifying his identity.

The edges of the hologram screens where Alex had been working turned red and alerted him that someone had ordered a turbolift to deck forty-four. He entered a few commands and brought up the scanners built into the corridor outside. It was the Commodore. He wondered how he would react to the computer's response to the door chime. It had certainly caught Alex off guard the first time.

"Please enter authorization codes," the computer requested from the door panel.

"Again?" Michael asked the air before he gave his code again, then overrode the panel with his clearance. He wondered how the computer would react to that as he stepped into what seemed like a plain room. It had a desk, a potted plant and nothing else. "Is this some kind of joke?" he asked out loud.

At the moment that panel was overridden, the Guardian AI's appeared in the Reception room. One was in front of the desk and the other was standing in the middle of the room. "I can assure this is no joke," said the one with the large gun raised. The other followed suit and added, "Please explain the nature of the override codes."

"Because I'm the Commodore and this is my ship," Michael growled when the AI's appeared. While he was impressed, he was also annoyed. "Your scans should tell you that much."

Alex had deactivated the holographic hidden door from inside his office and stepped out. "He's right, ladies. Let's stand-down and let the Commodore through." He moved his eyes to face his Commanding Officer. My apologies, Commodore, he spoke to his mind, they're sticklers for protocol. "I'm sure it won't happen again."

"No, it's fine," the Commodore assured him. "They were just doing what they were programmed to do. If I had been coerced to override the system, it would be their job to stop me."

"Coerced?" said the second Guardian AI. She disappeared briefly and reappeared. "There is no one outside. Scans indicate that no one else followed you down. Access granted." They disappeared back into the Center.

"Thank you, Sir," said Alex. "If you'd follow me, we can sit down in here."

"Certainly," Michael said. "Lead the way. Although," he continued. "With you being a Ullian, you know that people can be mentally coerced as well. Would there be a way to insure that the Guardians would be able to discern if someone has been?"

"That is something I can look into," replied Alex, as he walked into his office. The place was of a simple décor and he had no plans to change a thing. There was a simple desk with a holographic terminal centered on it and a number of PADD's stacked up on the left side. In front of the desk were two chairs. Other than his, those were the only places to sit. At least for now. Behind the desk was a small replicator and an exotic plant that floated in a liquid solution that was suspended inside of a glass bubble which was suspended from the ceiling. What seemed to be an ancient filing cabinet was against the wall and off to right side of the desk.

"Oh," he said. "My apologies, Commodore. Had I known you were coming, I would have changed earlier." Alex was inside the Department, so he wasn't wearing his uniform. Instead, he had on pair of denim jeans, a light grey pull-over t-shirt, and a grey blazer. Alex put his hand inside blazer and in a minute, his clothes changed to his Starfleet uniform. He zipped up the jacket and sat down. "Please Commodore," he added, gesturing to the two chairs.

Michael looked at the spartan office and back to the Lieutenant just in time to see his uniform change. "Now that's something I could use," he commented as he took a seat. "Have you had an opportunity to review the Ambassadors Intelligence files?"

The Ullian chuckled. "It comes in handy in a variety of situations. But, yes, I've had a chance to review them. And I must say, I'm more than slightly surprised, knowing what I do about Romulans."

"What did you learn?" the Commodore asked.

"Well, the first thing comes from a Starfleet Security report from Deep Space Nine," said Alex. "She turned herself in to Security as a Romulan Intelligence operative. Tal Shiar."

"Tal Shiar?" Michael echoed as his face paled a bit at that news. "How does a Romulan go from being in the deadliest organization the Romulans had to working for independent Romulan worlds? Have you had a chance to get in her mind yet?"

"That was my question, as well. As a matter of fact, it was the first thing I asked when I visited her," said Alex. "She deflected, I brought her back to it, and she answered. Oddly enough, for former Tal Shiar. In short, she went through their academy, got to her first posting, and the reality didn't match her expectations. She didn't like the politicking withing the organization and her first posting was behind enemy territory, at Amonak Space port on Vulcan. Again Commodore, odd...a former Tal Shiar who didn't like the politics became an Ambassador? I know us grey-suiters are suspicious, but this..." He let his statement trail off so that Michael could absorb the information so far.

"I agree with you on that," the Commodore said. "Usually with a record like that, they wouldn't stand a chance at advancing anywhere else unless she had some very elaborate contacts. You know as well as I do what kind of contacts those would be. Have you been able to verify what she's saying telepathically?"

"Indeed I do," he replied. "But I have another theory instead of elaborate contacts. All resulting from my probing of her memories. As far as verifying her words, I was unable to do that. However, her surface thoughts were disorganized. I've had the opportunity to read many Romulan minds. Unorganized is not a characteristic I would ascribe. Underneath it all, there was raw emotion which was more indicative of Romulans. I saw memories of dark figures wearing Starfleet combadges and impulses of guilt and remorse. When I probed deeper, I found no barriers or mental shields. Not even a screaming thought to exit her mind. Commodore, a Tal Shiar agent would have thrown those up the moment they sensed their surface thoughts being probed. My theory, if she was Tal Shiar, it was only enough to make a believable story when she turned herself in to Security on Deep Space Nine. It's a splendid move to solidify a backstopped identity. Oh," Alex said, as if he'd forgotten to add something, "she finally did acknowledge my perusal through her memories, despite not putting up mental barriers. It's possible that she simply allowed me to roam. Still, I wouldn't trust her as far as I could throw a Pakled."

"She was aware of your mental intrusion?" Michael asked as he thought about what he had been told. "So while it's likely she is what she appears to be, she's still a Romulan and that's not going to change anything. Still, we've been asked for aid and the Federation has chosen to grant it. Keep an eye on her, will you?"

"Understood," Alex said. "I will. And if I learn of anything pertinent to the mission of mercy, I'll let you know."

"Thank you," the Commodore said. "Also, coordinate with Lieutenant Mallory to assign someone to watch her discreetly as well," he said after a moment of thought. "Plain clothes."

"Lieutenant Mallory and I will make sure that happens. I'm sure he has some well trained people that he could rotate to provide even more discretion," said Alex.

"And I know you have some very nice, discreet tools available to you which could prove invaluable," Michael responded. "Not that I wouldn't mind mental updates in case she thinks of something."

Alex laughed. "Oh yes, I most certainly do. As a matter of fact, I was just going through such discreet tools in mind that we could use." He paused a second and grinned. "Are you sure you're not part telepath?"

"No," the Commodore said. "But it is my job to know what's available to all my department heads and how those things are being used."

Alex nodded. "That I can understand. When this is all over, if you'd like a demonstration of a few things, I can arrange it."

"I'd like that," Michael responded. "Maybe I'll borrow one of those suits of mnemonic material."

"They do have their advantages." Then Alex grinned. "I believe that a borrow could be arranged. I don't see too many people saying 'no' to a Commodore."

"Not if they know what's good for their careers," Michael laughed. "The next time you get a chance and she isn't aware, see how deep you can get in the Ambassador's mind. I still don't believe this is as simple as it seems. Especially with the Romulans."

"That I can do easily enough, Commodore. And nothing is ever as simple as it seems with Romulans," he added. "Their plans have plans and back-up plans."

"Which is why we're now making a plan of our own, Lieutenant," Michael told him. "Now to put it into action. Get to work." With that being said, the Commodore turned and headed for his next meeting.