Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in side - sim: The Infiltrator

Posted by Ensign Kovan ch’Sirhc (Engineering & Communications Officer) in side - sim: The Infiltrator

Posted by Ensign Rand Farquharson (Yeoman First Class) in side - sim: The Infiltrator
Posted by… suppressed (9) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
Kovan, recently off-duty, stopped when he heard his name and turned to see Rand. She looked like she’s been through hell but Kovan wasn’t about to say anything. “Of course,” He said and listened carefully to what Rand had to say. To be frank it was quite a lot, but Kovan gave her his full attention. “I’ll do my best.” He told Rand, because while he didn’t give a damn about most of the crew, he liked Rand and was willing to help for her sake. So he joined Morgan and asked her, “So, what do you think about all this?”

Kovan

Morgan followed Rand as she talked to Kovan. “Based on what the other two engineers said it sounds like sabotage. But they also fixed it and messed with the equipment rather than leaving it to be examined.” Morgan handed him the incident reports.
The original ticket was for random shutdowns of the machine, signed by Alden. It was answered by an Ensign LaCroix, whose DNA signature matched that found on the machine.

The ticket said it was having random shutdowns. Meaning when it was used, it would turn off at random times. LaCroix found that the power supply was improperly connected… sort of like a cable coming loose but different. He fixed it by reconnecting it. He says he must have reconnected the wrong thing, and doesn’t even know how he could’ve done that. Any Engineer worth his salts would double check, especially when dealing with the power circuits.

Gallagher followed the cable back and then frowned. He reported that this was the cause of the machine’s issue. It was shutting down because somebody rigged it to.

LaCroix claims all he did was plug the cable back in. He thought it was the power, but look, it leads up to the controls. This is why it overloaded. Someone switched them around previously, like a setup.

Gallagher then switched them back how they were supposed to be. “It was set up so that any one of us could’ve made this mistake.”

“There aren’t any other recent work tickets for it. Whenever it was set up, it was done off the books. Also I found this video,” Morgan showed him a video of someone going into the lab, not on the duty shift, when the lab was empty. The person was an average height, like 5‘6’‘ish and build is pretty average, not athletic or anything, but not chubby either. That matches LaCroix, but it also matches a couple of scientists and several other crew members.

Once on Deck 9 she grabbed Franks and unlocked the lab to let Kovan have a look at the machine.

Morgan

Kovan read through the incident reports carefully. He knew Gallagher and was familiar with the man’s work. LaCroix. . . Kovan knew of him but they hardly interacted aside from the odd shared shift. He’s pretty sure LaCroix only came aboard about a month ago. He replayed the lab footage several times, watching the person carefully. Kovan studied the body language, the length of the stride and the movement of the arms. Studying people was apart of learning languages and Kovan was a practiced observer of body language.

LaCroix was known by those who did know him for good, if rushed, work. He did not have a reputation for being a slacker in the month he’d been aboard. The person in the video looked confident. They looked quickly to see that no one was coming, careful not to reveal their face to the camera, and then walked right in with an assertive, wide stride, arms swinging relaxed by the person’s side. The person was at least, not andorian, no antennae, and probably not Vulcan, the ears did not look pointed though from this distance it would be hard to tell.

Now in the lab Kovan approached the machine in question. “Switching power connections doesn’t take a genius to figure out. Anyone with basic engineering knowledge could do it. But knowing which connections to switch to cause a deadly overload? That would take some know-how.” For now he circled around the machine, putting himself in the shoes of their assassin.

I would have studied the commander. His work habits, his schedule, what projects he was working upon. I would know the schedule of the scientists, to find my opening. Maybe I am a scientist. I would know which machine to tamper with. But would I know how to cause the overload? If I did. . . why not outright rig the machine to overload when used? Why switch a connection, then rig the machine to randomly turn off during use? I don’t want anyone to suspect me but my plan could have been ruined by a more thorough engineer. Why the run around? The engineer could have tested the machine. They could have double checked the circuitry. Kovan turned to Morgan, “Would it not be more direct to rig the machine to explode when used by the commander?”

Kovan

All questions answerable only by the person responsible. Morgan shook her head to Kovan’s question. “May have only wanted to hurt the commander. From what they,” she jerked her head to Rand meaning her and Randy, “explained, there was a direct threat to the commander’s life. And now he’s in Sickbay in critical condition. So I’d say it was an effective plan, whatever it was. Also, Randy said only the CSO is allowed to use that piece of equipment, so there was a high likelihood no one else would touch it, let alone try to use it before the Commander did.”

~ NE Morgan, Security

Only the CSO was allowed. Kovan nodded, and moved towards the piece of equipment in question. When that was the case then why? If I was an assassin and I knew that this would get me the result I wanted then why would I not outright rig this machine to explode? Kovan opened the side panel of the machine to reveal the mechanical insides. This all began with the report of random shutdowns. He looked for the connection to the power supply and determine just how this all went down. How LaCroix determined the problem and follow the steps he took to fix it. What caused the random shutdowns?

The paperwork was filled out and well documented. LaCroix had first checked all connections within the machine. Finding no problems, he’d opened up the inside and checked the power supply. That was when he found the faulty internal connection, and connected it. It had appeared to be the right one, cables in the machine were colour-coded. LaCroix had neglected to follow the connecting cable to be sure it was the right one, instead relying on the colour code. The faulty internal connection had been to blame for the shutdowns, LaCroix wrote in his paperwork. LaCroix had simply corrected the faulty connection, and the machine had appeared fixed. Gallagher had said the same, that the faulty connection caused the original shutdowns, the cable swap was a believable mistake. The shutdowns were simply a means for the machine to have needed repair, to deflect suspicion.

There was a piece of the puzzle that wasn’t clicking into place. Kovan didn’t particularly like gut-feelings, especially his own, but he knew he couldn’t ignore them this time. I’m an assassin and I want to kill the commander. I’m assassin and I want to get away with it. Starfleet and the Federation may seem all peace-loving and other hippy nonsense but Kovan knew just how serious the Federation could be when one of their own was attacked.

In the reports it said that Gallagher found that connections were switched so that the power was rerouted to the controls, causing them to overload. Rigged so that anyone could have made the mistake. . . But could they? Kovan got to work, examining the equipment to determine the skill level of the assassin and every step they could have taken for this attempt.

Kovan

It was a cable swap. It didn’t necessarily take an engineer to do, but the equipment wasn’t a basic contraption. More than likely, this assassin had engineering knowledge to be able to pull it off without electrocuting themselves in the process. The cables were colour-coded, the cable had been replaced with one that was the correct colour for a power cable when it was in fact the control cable. Basically, LaCroix had accidentally plugged the controls directly into the power supply. It wouldn’t have caused an overload until the machine was used, meaning only the commander would be hurt. If the machine were rigged to explode, it would likely hurt others in the lab. Electrocuting him would only hurt him unless someone else had the lapse in judgement to try and touch Alden before the current stopped flowing through his body.

~ NE Morgan

This took someone with skill and know-how. Kovan pulled back from the machine and simply stared at the exposed insides for a moment. He sighed. Then ran his hand though his hair, loosening it slightly from around the tie at the nape of his neck. I’m an assassin. I want to get away with this. I only want to kill the commander. So I’m a good assassin. Kovan re-read through the reports and documentation one more time. Suddenly, he was struck by an idea. Kovan shot up and rushed towards the small engineering console tucked into the corner of the room.

Here he began to pull up the energy usage reports for all the equipment in the lab. Then narrowed the results down only to the equipment in question. Kovan paid close attention to data represented in line graph form. A faulty connection is a faulty connection. If it was improperly connected then it should be obvious from the power-usage reports. Kovan studied the data of the equipment’s power imput and output. He should be able to tell if the machine was using less or more power than normal if due to a faulty connection, or potentially see when the connection was made. There were dips where the equipment was not in use and on minimum power but surely there would be some slight rise or dip that would indicate a change.

Kovan

The graph would show the dips dipping lower than was typical for the machine, hence the shutdowns. It started about two weeks ago, which was congruent with the work ticket for the equipment.

Morgan, still standing behind Kovan, was watching him work, writing notes in her PaDD, keeping track of information. “Well? What do you think? Did you find anything?”

~ NE Morgan

“Look here,” Kovan pointed at the graph showing the start of the power fluctuations. “The power usage is congruent with the work ticket LaCroix answered. Two weeks ago. . .When was that footage you captured taken?” He asked Morgan.

Kovan

Morgan tapped at her PaDD and then looked up. “Two weeks ago. Whoever that was, might be our assassin. But they’re… Pretty plain looking. All I can tell from the video is they’re not Andorian, and probably not Vulcan. Looks more masculine than feminine, but I can’t rule out a woman based on the video. And a lot of the crew is about that height and build.”

~ NE Morgan

Alden was still in surgery and Randy nor anyone else had come out to tell her what was going on. Seemingly on autopilot, Rand wandered back down to the corridor get tea from the mess, make sure that meals were on schedule to be delivered, and then go check on Nibbles. Rand wasn’t really thinking she was just functioning. She became aware of that when she got to the lab, the door was closed, and locked.

Rand

Morgan and Kovan were still in the biology lab while Kovan did his own check of the machine, so when Morgan heard someone at the door, she unlocked it and let it open, standing in the doorway so whoever it was couldn’t just walk in. But when she saw who it was she stepped out of the way. “Rand. I thought you’d be in Sickbay,” She said softly. “We’re still investigating in here.”

~ NE Morgan

Rand blinked when the door opened and took a deep breath. They were investigating; she knew that. “I was. He’s still in surgery and I guess will be for awhile.” Why had she come there? Oh Nibbles and Mushu. “I…are you sure it was done on purpose?” What a stupid question. Yes, of course Morgan was. Rand sipped at the cup in her hand and made a face. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t hers. She wasn’t expecting that. She kind of shook herself a little and stood a little straighter. “Is there anything I can do?”

Rand

Morgan sighed and then reluctantly nodded. “There’s no way it was the accident they wanted us to think it was. I’m sorry, Rand.” Morgan noticed the face she made at the tea and wondered if it had been for him. But she didn’t say anything. She looked back at Kovan, and then to Rand again, “You don’t have to deal with this right now if you don’t want to, but… You do spend a lot of time in the lab. About two weeks ago, do you remember seeing anyone unusual hanging around?” The footage had the unknown person there in the middle of the night, so it was a long shot, but Morgan had to at least ask.

~ NE Morgan

Fear, sharp, icy, numbing fear ran down her back. This wasn’t like those horrible pranks, this was deadly. “Two weeks ago?” Rand had in eidetic memory, but reading was the main way she used to commit and recall details. “That clipboard, there, by that glass terrarium. May I see it?” Rand was suddenly uneasy about entering the lab. Morgan nodded and brought it to her. Rand flipped back in the notes to two weeks prior. She wouldn’t have made notes about someone strange in the lab, this was all about Nibbles, but recalling what she had been doing would help her recall other details from that day.

She read over them and then shook her head, “No, I’m sorry.” She handed the clipboard back to Morgan to replace.

Yeoman Rand

While Rand and Morgan talked Kovan wondered back to the piece of equipment, lost in thought. “Two weeks. Both the machine and our security footage. Morgan, what if we compiled a list of crew that matches the description. Focusing on those only in engineering or science and who have been aboard the ship for half a year or less. Let’s see what that gets us.”

Kovan

Morgan nodded, she liked that idea. “Then we can run background checks, more intensive ones, on those crew members.” She turned to look at Rand, “You’re the best of everyone with this kind of stuff. Do you want to help make that list?” She thought Rand might rather be in Sickbay, but maybe something else to focus on could help.

~ Morgan

Rand kind of nodded, “I can do that.” She lifted her PaDD like she would run the information from there, and the thought better of it. She could do anything from her PaDD but it was slower and more convoluted to do it that way. She glanced at the spare terminal in the lab, the one only she used and decided after everything she didn’t want to go in there. “Yeah, come with me.” She turned back towards sickbay but only went one door down. She pulled her key rods out of her pocket, picked one from memory and slid it into the door’s control panel and then pressed the button. The door slid open to Cmdr Alden’s office. She set the PaDD down and sat in his chair, with her feet pulled up cross-legged. Their height difference meant the chair was a bit too tall for her, and her feet would dangle. The movement was smooth and familiar, like she did this all the time. Another key rod was placed into a port in the side of the console and she typed in her access code, and then the crew manifest appeared. “Okay, personnel who have been on board less than six months,” Rand began putting in the search parameters, “science and engineering officers only. Average height, so let’s say between 5‘5” to 5‘10”, and average build, so let’s say between 120lb to 170lbs. Also they have brown hair.” She started the computer searching and when it was done she pointed vaguely behind where Kovan was standing as the computer spit out a printed copy of the search results.

Rand

Kovan turned and grabbed the freshly printed copies and brought them over to the XO’s desk and dragged over a chair for him and Morgan while at it. He set the papers on the table between the three of them, “Let’s see who we got.”

Kovan

Morgan followed Rand into the office, pausing briefly, as if thinking are we really allowed to be in here? Then she sat where Kovan pulled up a chair. “I want to do full background investigations on everyone who fits the profile.” The list did not rule out many of the officers from either department, leaving twenty people to investigate. This was going to take a while.

~ Morgan

Rand nodded, “When we found out I ran the numbers and some limited background checks. We still are sitting at 121 of what should be 120 crew on board, but I can’t find the mistake in the files and records.” Rand had already given Morgan all that information earlier. “The only suspicious thing I found was LaCroix. The highschool and Freshman Academy picture don’t match with him currently. But it’s not…totally wrong either.” This was so far out of Rand’s skill set. She let them talk for awhile commenting if she knew anything, but it wasn’t much, and then, “I need to get back to sickbay.” She locked the office behind them and then returned to sickbay.

Rand