Operation Shhhh

Posted on Tue Apr 17, 2018 @ 3:44pm by Lieutenant Commander Alex Rho & Master Chief Petty Officer Thomas Barnes
Edited on on Tue Apr 17, 2018 @ 3:44pm

Mission: Falling Star
Location: Conference Room
Timeline: MD 33 || 1400 Hours

Alex had a couple of things to do, ideas to sort out, and some equipment to pack into a secure carrying case after he'd left the Commodore. He figured he would meet with the Master Chief where he would have his tools to do what was necessary. Of course if they needed, they could always come back to Intel; which is why he packed an extra transporter armband. "Computer, what is the location of Master Chief Barnes?"

Following a whirr and beep melody, the computer informed the Intelligence Chief that Thomas Barnes had assumed his duty station on the bridge.

Alex nodded activated his transporter armband, once again taking him to the Bridge. He materialized near the back of the bridge near the console that he normally used for Intel when he was up there. He moved and looked towards the console where the Master Chief was sitting. This was to be a subtle thing, so out in the middle of the Bridge wasn't the best place. Continuing with the secrecy, he spoke to the man's mind, Don't startle, Master Chief Barnes. It's only me, Lieutenant Rho. I need you to meet me in the conference room please.

Tom had been in the middle of yet another sensor diagnostic when he heard the Ullian address him telepathically. The Master Chief had seen many things in his career, and this was certainly a first. It was an interesting sensation, feeling someone else's voice in his head. Naturally, Tom was lead to wonder what else the man could do in this manner besides communicate, but that was an investigation for another time.

However, he was absolutely unsure of how this worked. Continuing his diagnostic of the gravity wave generators that would allow their sensors to pick up cloaked ships, Tom thought, Of course, Lieutenant. Do I follow you, or is this one of those wait a moment then follow kind of things?

Give me a few moments and then come on in. Or get your current task to an automatic point first, he thought. Alex quietly walked into the conference room and set the case on the on the table.

The Operations Chief managed to keep himself from nodding. It took forty-five seconds to finish his adjustments and wait for the first round of readings to come through. Satisfied, Tom relinquished his station to a subordinate, stood up, and walked into the Conference Room. As soon as the doors closed, Tom said, "I'll admit, that's one of the stranger experiences of my life."

Alex smiled and nodded. "I can imagine. It comes in handy from time to time. Computer, secure this room for Starfleet Intelligence operations per the Chief Intelligence officer. Authorization, Rho-zeta-four-zero-gamma-gamma-two." Alex paused a few seconds while the door was locked, recording devices shut off, sensors were deactivated, communications in and out of the room were scrambled, and all other means of knowing what was going on inside the conference room were disabled. He opened the case and removed a small transporter inhibitor, putting it on the table and activating it. It only had a small range, which was perfect. He looked at the Master Chief again. "I can tell you, that you're about to add more strange experiences. We're free to talk openly now."

Tom stood completely still as the protocols were enabled. Stranger things had happened on the Triumphant, but never had he expected he'd be involved in them. On other occasions, he would have asked what the need for secrecy would be, but he'd been asked to do plenty of strange things this mission, and each one quietly and privately. Why should this one be more different. "In case you're wondering if I'm some sort of spy, I can assure you I'm not."

"And I believe you," replied Alex. "For now." He allowed a small grin to the corner of his mouth. "But that's not why we're here. We need your help, Master Chief. You have specialized expertise in Ops and run the station. With that said, are you up to a clandestine challenge?"

The NCO had made his comment in jest, but judging by the lieutenant's reply, he couldn't tell if the Ullian was continuing the joke or actually had some suspicions. "A challenge?" Tom asked. "With all of the power in Intel Country, what does the Ops station have that you don't?"

"Access to the Romulan Ambassador's PADD. And thus, her codes," said Alex. "You and I get to implant a device into your console that will passively gather all data from any PADD near it. Well, except Intel's of course. The next time we need her to enter a code, she'll unwittingly give them all to us when she brings the PADD to your console."

Tom nodded, considering the gravity of the man's plan. "No one trusts the Romulans, do they, sir?" he asked rhetorically. "This whole plan is hinging on the fact that we'll need the codes again, period. What makes you think she hasn't come up with a different way to communicate to her compatriots?"

"It is," he replied. "We might need them again, and maybe several more times after that. The Ambassador seems unwilling to give them up. And if she's not around or for some reason can't give them, we would be stuck. Though if she has come up with a different way to communicate with them and not shared it...well, there might be more things at risk. After all, they were the ones to request help from the Federation. To put us in the position of not being able to accomplish the requested mission wouldn't set well with the powers that be. At least I'd imagine."

"Definitely," Tom replied, falling silent for a moment to consider the next move. "Given the measures you've taken here, I can't assume I can just walk out onto the bridge, open the lid to the console, and put this inside. I'll probably have to open up each console for a random reason to cover it up."

"That is absolutely correct," said Alex. "You can't give yourself away. As far as this," he patted the case, "it has a couple of devices in it that could be used. I'm just not absolutely sure how you could incorporate them into the console." The Intel Chief opened up the case but kept it facing towards him. "Are you ready to get your hands on some Intel toys?"

"Can't say no to that," Tom said, peering into the case. He was not terribly familiar with either of them but judging by their labels and design, it was clear which of the options was the most usable. Tom selected one and removed it from the case. He turned it over in his hands, studying it, figuring how best to hook it up and keep it from being undetectable.

Alex smiled. "I'm not surprised a man of your talents picked that up first. It's what is affectionately known as a 'spycorder.' Some call it an Intel tricorder and others an Intel PADD. I call it friend. As for a bit of background, you can see it's significantly reduced in size compared to a normal PADD. It's components work on the same basic principle, too. So hopefully not too much of a headache for you. These things employ specialized software to help agents bypass most common computer authorization codes. The unit also has the capability to hack into an unauthorized computer. If you can connect it, whether physically or digitally, to your console, we'll have what we need." The thing he didn't mention was the spycorder would be connected to the Intel computer network on Deck Forty-four.

"It wouldn't take much to connect it physically," Tom replied. "And there's less chance it'll be detected that way. I can insert it into the isolinear rack inside the console, and it's plug and play. We'll be up and running in seconds." He flipped over the clear spycorder and marvelled at its technology. He wanted to play with it a little more before using it, but that just wouldn't be proper.

"That sounds like a quick and easy plan," replied Alex. "Well, as far as getting it in place." He paused a moment and watched the Ops Chief turn over the device...and smiled. "Amazing, isn't it?"

"It is indeed," Tom remarked. "Even when I was teaching at enlistment school, I never got to see anything so simplistic and sophisticated. Although, I did get my hands on a 2260's tricorder once. Even got to use it on an assignment."

"Oh, now that would have been a fun time," Alex said. He nodded toward the spycorder, "Technology advances as time marches on. Can you imagine if Humans or Klingons or Vulcans or anyone had accepted the first technological marvel as the height of achievement? We wouldn't be where we are today. Quite literally."

The Master Chief chuckled. "No, we most certainly would not. Then again, I think everyone likes new toys. Just wait for the day when all we have is a holographic wristband with a customizable tricorder to pop out from it."

"I hope to be around for that," he said. "Though, we do have some rather fun toys on Deck Forty-Four. The spycorder there is just the tip of the ice berg. Of course, you remember when the Commodore had me issue our transporter armbands that time."

How could Tom forget? That was during their first encounter with Zahara and the chaos that had ensued. "I do indeed."

"I imagine that took some engineers and operations personnel quite a bit of time to condense transporter and sensor technology to that level," he commented. "Who knows, maybe we won't have to wait that long for your holographic wristband tricorders."

"Time will tell," Tom replied. "Considering how much they manage to compress data storage onto smaller bits each year, and with spycorders like these, I'm certain there might even be a time where we can enter a holoprojector in our home and be projected out amongst the stars without ever needing a starship."

"With vision like that, you should be at a Research and Development facility," he said with a grin. "Today's first year Cadets could be using your technology tomorrow. At any rate," he gestured toward the spycorder, "I believe that should do it. When you get it installed and the Ambassador enters codes, we'll have what we need." And quite possibly a Romulan Ambassador's authorization codes. Fingers crossed, as the humans say.

Tom grunted. "I'm good at thinking ideas, not so great at building. If I were, I would have gone to the Academy and pursued being an officer." No, Tom enjoyed being enlisted far too much. It was only since coming aboard the Triumphant that he had so much paddwork to do. He was great at organizing people and operations, everything else he'd leave to the professionals.

"We all have our places, Master Chief. I'm glad that with those ideas, your's is with the Federation," said Alex. "And I suspect your's is also at the Ops station. I can't keep you away too long. Suspicions would start to rise, someone gets curious, and the next thing you know, they're trying to get in. Bad for business." He closed the case and let the spycorder stay with the Master Chief.

"Quite right." The master chief was about to tap his badge and summon a couple members of his team to the bridge, only when he remembered that there were protocols in place. Hand hovering in front of his badge, Tom asked, "Can you take care of those protocols? I'll get this squared away here in just a minute."

"That can be arranged. Computer, remove all Starfleet Intelligence security protocols per Chief Intelligence officer. Authorization, Rho-zeta-four-zero-gamma-gamma-two." Once the computer responded, Alex turned to Tom. "All yours," he said.

"Thanks," Tom said. "Barnes to Operations. I need a fresh set of isolinear tablets for the bridge stations. Bring them to the conference room please."

"Copy, Chief," came a faceless reply, followed by the clicking signaling that the channel was closed.

"As soon as those tablets show up," Tom said, slipping the spycorder inside his jacket for safekeeping, "I'll be able to take care of those consoles. Should be up and running in about fifteen minutes."

Alex nodded. "I like the sound of that. Also, I'd like to leave it installed for the duration of the mission. As you said earlier, she could change the codes at any time. And if she did, we'd have those too when she went to enter the new ones in."

"Consider it done," Tom confirmed. He didn't perform maintenance on the bridge consoles all that often, especially the maintenance was generally performed right after a mission, and he had to clean up after their battles.

"Excellent," answered Alex, closing up the case. The Intel protocols had been removed, so he dared not say anything out of the ordinary. Instead, he held out his arm towards the door. "After you."

Tom shook his head. "If you don't mind, Lieutenant, I'll wait here for the isolinear tablets. It's not the first time I've used the Conference Room as a temporary staging area."

Alex smiled. "That'll work just fine, then. Nothing out of the ordinary..." He took his kit and stood up. "Thank you for you assistance with this Master Chief."

"Of course, Lieutenant," replied Tom with a nod.

Alex headed out the door of the Conference Room. He had a couple of other things to do and a report that needed to be filed with Starfleet Intelligence.