Posted by Captain Orvos Legen (Commanding Officer) in Bridge- Main Sim

Posted by Lieutenant Owen “The Hunter” Ducante (Chief of Security) in Bridge- Main Sim

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Liam Madison (Chief Science Officer) in Bridge- Main Sim
Posted by… suppressed (33) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Leaving the briefing, Faye slipped onto the bridge and immediately logged into an aux terminal with her higher Intelligence credentials. She pulled up the records of the previous incidents in the asteroid belt, including anything she could get about the attacking ship. At this point, Faye just needed info. She was in particular interested in the ships that had bene attacked, looking for commonalities and reasons why they might have been attacked. Also, despite the fact that her stomach was twisting, she was looking to determine what factors made a crew ‘disappear’ versus not. Why kill some and take the others?

~Faye Calloway, CIO

There was a commonality Faye would find- the person who ordered the supplies. Whether the vessel was Starfleet or independent contractor, the cargo it was hauling had always been ordered by a colony administrator. Areth Kel.

-GM

“Hello, interesting person,” she murmured. “You’ve caught my attention. Sucks for you.” Faye pulled up anything she could find in public and classified records for this Areth Kel, as well as the colony itself.

~Faye Calloway, CIO

The colony itself could charitably be described as a dirtball. A moon orbiting a gas giant, the colony itself only had about 300 citizens. Their primary export was a natural gas used as a coolant in small-model warp cores.

Areth Kel was the picture of a bureaucrat. He had been named Administrator of the colony at its foundation 5 years earlier. Public records were nothing special to look at- each time their cargo failed to arrive, Areth Kel requested a new shipment. In a private communication, he did acknowledge that he knew each cargo vessel would be attacked. Better them than the colony. He didn’t seem to have any plans to acquire those things being stolen beyond another request. The only other thing of note was that his private calendar contained a monthly meeting with no name listed. Always at 15:30 on the 1st of a month, lasting one hour.

-GM

Lt. Ducante left the briefing room and headed to the tactical station on the bridge. When they got in close enough range, he wanted to have the ships sensors locked and loaded to get as much information as they could scan, so they could know exactly what they would be walking into, if there were any planets near it, if it was a planet itself at one time, if there were any security measures protecting the belt that starfleet may not have known about.
Lt. Ducante, CoS.

Serena followed behind Ducante onto the bridge. Glancing around she noted Faye was deep in concentration on her screen. Drifting past the tactical officer’s station she made her way slowly toward the CIO. She tapped the touch console with her nails two stations away to get the CIO’s attention after a couple minutes of waiting to be noticed.

“Hmm?” Faye said, still staring at the screen but her mind was elsewhere, calculating.

“Gonna burn a hole in the screen if you’re not careful,” she said as she drew closer. “Find something interesting?”

Lt. Cmdr. Stone, Executive Officer

She nodded. “Halcyn Seven. The Administrator, Areth Kel, is the kind of leader that makes me want to punch them in the nose.” Calloway pointed to the screen. “Look here, her knew the attacks would happen and just kept ordering. It almost sounds like a scheme and I wonder if he was profiting off of it. And then there is tis regularly scheduled meeting…”

“Computer, display the cargo manifests from the missing shipments.” Faye looked up at Stone. “Let’s see what’s so enticing to steal.”

~Faye Calloway, CIO

That was the strange part. It was food, medical supplies, basic necessities. Nothing on any of the manifests was particularly monetarily valuable. The shipments were just… things people need.

-GM

Serena frowned at the display. “Computer, cross reference and display points of origin for the manifest items. Let’s see if this stuff is coming from anywhere sketchy. This is just humanitarian aid. Anybody with a replicator can make all this. So is it actually what they say it is, or are they just calling it that on the paperwork?” It smelled fishy, and fudged paperwork was one easy way to cover up smuggling if nobody looked too close. She turned her attention back to Faye, wondering if the other woman could read her mind. Not in a telepathic way but their career fields overlapped a fair bit.

Lt. Cmdr. Stone, Executive Officer

The origin point was different for each one, but they all stood up to scrutiny as aid organizations. One Andorian, another based off of Mars’ moon Phobos, another was Vulcan. The list went on, but all of them were legitimate organizations.

-GM

Faye frowned. “Yeah, that doesn’t add up at all. Computer, display the places, companies, and organizations that Halcyn Seven exports their natural gas to.” Stuff in, stuff out. There had to be a balance if the colony was functional and surviving. “Let’s see if there is a reciprocal agreement, or if the colony is exporting and not getting enough resources back in exchange.”

~Faye Calloway, CIO

All the gas exports were bought and paid for by a Ferengi company that processed and sold it as refined fuel.

-GM

“Huh, only one. That can’t be good in a pinch, and might explain why the colony requires shipments from aid companies in the first place.. Computer, display stats on the gas exports, including changes in the amount exported.” Faye looked at Serena.

~Faye Calloway, CIO

The colony had been maintaining a steady output, but a new and large supply had been discovered approximately six months earlier and the value of the gas had plummeted. They were exporting the same amount for about 1/3 the money.

-GM

Serena frowned, studying the records along with Faye. “Everything with the Ferengi hinges on profit, and they’re losing money. ” She chewed the inside of her cheek for a moment. “They could afford Breen weaponry. Ferengi pirates and the like aren’t unheard of,” she murmured, speculating aloud. “I might be barking up the wrong tree here.” She shot Faye a look that said, Am I off base here, or… ?

Lt. Cmdr. Stone, Executive Officer

“But why attack the aid ships? I mean they could sell that stuff but it wouldn’t be highly profitable. Not enough to make up for the losses on the fuel.” Faye drummed her fingers on the edge of the console.

Calloway blew out a breath. “Computer, do any of the the aid organizations supply goods to places that the Ferengi group also purchase exports from. If so, list by itemized export groups.”

~Faye Calloway, CIO

Serena nodded. “The ships would be worth more than the goods anyway. Could sell those on the black market or gray market,” she added, while waiting for the computer to spit out the new results.

Lt. Cmdr. Stone, Executive Officer

“Except that the didn’t necessarily take the ships. Sometimes the ships were missing the crew.” Faye had to pause to resist the shudder that wanted so desperately to roll through her body. “so maybe that’s another query. Computer also display the attacks in lists by the outcomes for the crew.”

~Faye Calloway, CIO

“That’s my point,” she said. “It’s not like Ferengi to leave money on the table. Unless it’s more hassle than it’s worth. It doesn’t necessarily rule them out, but it seem sa little less likely.”

These aid groups did send supplies to one place which the same Ferengi company dealt with, its primary export was dilithium. The Ferengi seemed to specialize in buying unrefined fuel and power sources, refining them, and selling for a profit.

The ships, more often than not, turned up as wrecks. The crew who weren’t found dead, had never been located.

-GM

Serena chewed the inside of her cheek for a moment. “It still looks like someone in their sphere though.” She sighed in frustration, but not with Faye, only the situation. Investigations didn’t always go smooth and easy. “Let’s keep turning over all the rocks.”

Investigation 101 was all about motive, means, and opportunity. They at least knew the where, and some of the how. But not all of it. As far as opportunity,t hey didn’t even have enough of a list of suspects to start sussing out timelines yet. As for motive, the usual suspects were:

• Passion - Love/hate/Jealousy
• Money - actual money, power, influence, territory/turf, resources
• Crime - To cover up another crime, like a theft

It smelled like money, but the others could also be possible, she mused.

Lt. Cmdr. Stone, Executive Officer

The doors to the bridge slid open and the CE walked onto the bridge. He looked at Faye and the XO and said “The new toys are prepped and ready. You hit ‘em, and we should be able to track them.”

Hammor, CE

Faye nodded to Daggum. “We might need it,” she said idly even though her brain had already concocted numerous scenarios to that effect.

Returning her attention to their investigation, Faye sucked in breath. “Computer, identify the common place the aid groups sent goods to and outline the information we have. Cross-reference with the Intelligence database.”

~Faye Calloway, CIO

The query took a second to run. The other location was Estoc II. It was another small colony, and had seemingly no direct connection to the colony under investigation. The common thread was the Ferengi company and being relatively close together. Estoc II had the crucial difference of a thriving economy and a sufficient infrastructure to be relatively self-sustaining.

Serena straightened to greet Daggum, then nodded in agreement with Faye. “Outstanding, Mister Hammor. That was fast.” A small smile of approval played across her features. “Can you update tactical on any difference in proceedure or considerations they’ll need if we do have to use it? And coordinate with Mister Madison on anything needed for long-range tracking?”

Lt. Cmdr. Stone, Executive Officer

The comms suddenly buzzed to life on the bridge. =/\=Legen to bridge, ETA until we reach the asteroid belt?=/\=

The helmsman glanced at his readout before letting the commander know.

-Captain Orvos Legen, CO

-CO

“Minutes, sir.” The helmsman reported. It was likely that they’d hit the asteroid belt by the time Orvos could actually come to the bridge and sit down in his Captain’s chair.

=/\=Understood. I’m on my way.=/\=

-GM

Lt. Ducante thinking at the tactical station, not fully realizing they were already moved on with the subject, or that he said this out loud.
“Is it possible, as much as I hate to think this, and I feel like this might just be me overthinking really old human tactics, the crew that were never found the Ferengi are trying to sell as some sort of slavery? Find the right buyer, and they could make up for their loss in profits in no time.” He then turned to the Chief Engineer for the information the Lt. Comm. Stone was referring to.
Lt. Ducante, CoS

Hammor handed a PaDD to Ducante. On it were the specs for the new warheads. One required direct impact on the ship itself; the other required the warhead to detonate in front of the ship and the vessel to fly through the debris.

Hammor, CE

Liam’s finger flipped up the list of precautions for his department. Truthfully there wasn’t much he could do to prepare them that security wouldn’t cover. Worse came to worst, Liam knew he wasn’t helpless. One never realized how useful hot palms were until they came into contact with flesh or metal. Sadly, that wasn’t the case with everyone under his care. His eyes read over a suggestion about using an expanding foam to subdue hostiles. His eyes read message about using an expanding foam to subdue hostiles. it was put forward by one of his junior office inspired by a twenty-first century game. Theoretically, it might work. Still Liam had his doubts as he entered the bridge.

-CSO, Liam J. Madison, Sci.

Faye turned into her seat to face Ducante. “I mentioned the being sold into slavery bit in the meeting. So yes, it’s possible, though I doubt it’s the Ferengi alone. Not generally their shtick. There are more than a few other options though.”

Faye spun back, her jaw tight as she focused on the myriad of details that did not add up. She shook her head and pushed it aside, coming back in her mind to the meeting and running through the conversation. “Computer, list the ships attacked, by associated government, or group, and note which ones had their crews missing versus killed.”

~Faye Calloway, CIO

5 ships were listed.
Starfleet - USS Indiana (All crew deceased)
Starfleet - USS Mandrake (All crew deceased)
Starfleet - USS Leopold (All crew deceased)
Private Contractor - SS Dawn Treader (Crew missing, status unknown)
Private Contractor - SS Half Moon (Crew missing, status unknown)

All 5 ships were registered and classed as cargo ships.

Serena raised an eyebrow at the readout. “Oh. Well that looks personal,” she murmured to Faye.

Hammor moved to the Engineering console and began looking at the damage reports form each of the ships to try and find any kind of pattern.

Hammor, CE

They were definitely struck by the same weapons. The ships were kept intact in their cargo section before being robbed. Most of the attack was focused on hitting the bridge first, and then disabling the engines.

As if on cue, the doors at the bridge turbolift slid open. Orvos stepped out and briskly moved to the center seat on the bridge. His expression was likely difficult for anyone to read as he took in the readouts on his chair. “All stations,” he said aloud on the bridge. “Report.” His empathic senses were active, taking in the atmosphere of the bridge.

-Captain Orvos Legen, CO

As the captain came to the bridge, the ship emerged from warp. The asteroid belt they were in was… ordinary. Everything was still.

-GM

Serena pushed back from Faye’s station. “Keep digging. Eyes open,” she murmured while giving the other woman a look that said Got your back.

Turning to go, she drifted by Madison’s station. “Mister Madison, could use your expertise with the scanners. Eyes peeled for any anomalies.”

“On it.” Liam activated the scanner program to run a wide range analysis of the area for oddities.

-CSO, Liam J. Madison, Sci.

Continuing on, she took position near Captain Legen. “Whoever we’re up against doesn’t much care for the Federation. All three Federation ships of the five were killed to the man. The other two ships, crew is missing. I think there’s a greater chance they’re still alive. I’ve asked Commander Calloway to keep digging.” With one hand se gestured to Hammor and Ducante, bidding them add their reports.

Orvos had taken his seat and listened to the various reports being given.

As they finished up, she turned her attention back to the Captain. “Looks like we’re about as ready as we could expect for now, sir.”

Lt. Cmdr. Stone, Executive Officer

Lt. Ducante looked at the specs on the PADD that was given to him, copied down on a different PADD some information, then handed the PADD to an ensign. “Ask Lt. Hammor if he can spare an engineering ensign, then go to the torpedo bay and start working on this part. Everything else, I can input from this station.” Lt. Ducante pointed at a section of the specs on the PADD as he spoke to the ensign. When the ensign left, he turned to the other PADD and the tactical station, and started working on his part of the project.
Lt Ducante, CoS

Turning to the his first officer, he added quietly to her, “Sounds like we need to be ready for a fight. We’re not letting this ship go down.” His attention went back to the viewer after quietly observing the officers all at work.

-Captain Orvos Legen, CO

Serena took her seat next to him and nodded. A hint of a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. She’d had her misgivings about the ship and crew when first assigned. It had been sudden and hectic. But having settled in and been through a few crazy situations, she knew the crew was up to the task. They always shined when things turned stormy.

“The Athena stands ready for some good hunting,” she said.

Lt. Cmdr. Stone, Executive Officer