Posted by Civilian Alston ‘Fox’ Mace (Colonial Intelligence Agency Asset) in Police HQ- Forensics Dept (TMODJ) ((Tag Nkosenye))

Posted by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) in Police HQ- Forensics Dept (TMODJ) ((Tag Nkosenye))

Posted by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) in Police HQ- Forensics Dept (TMODJ) ((Tag Nkosenye))
Posted by… suppressed (15) by the Post Ghost! 👻
In the Government Tower, on the 46th floor, forensic specialists operated in a set of labs. All the evidence collected from the apartment of Dashiel Jones rested in their collection containers, including organic matter and the smashed portable computer.

In the biological forensics lab, Dr. Rueen Narz was running the tendril that had been retrieved through their scanners. “It’s confirmed to be Flaxian,” she said to the recording. “We’ll have to run the DNA through the database to see if there is a match.”

Meanwhile, the digital forensics were a more complicated issue. Aliana Ripkiz, head of Technological Forensics was staring at the computer and sighed. She could get in easily, but this was a jurisdictional issue. She sent a message to the Major Crimes Division team that was handling the Jones murder and informed them they her lab had Jones’ computer and confirmed no one had accessed its contents. That piece of evidence was still secure and awaiting someone with the clearance to view the diplomats’ personal and professional documents and correspondence.

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

DCI Pangolin entered shortly after the message was forwarded to him as he’d been in a meeting with the Commissioner “We have a clearance issue?” He asked as he sauntered into the lab.

DCI Pangolin

Ripkiz looked up at Pangolin and nodded. “While I would have no trouble accessing Mr. Jones personal and professional files, given he is with the Diplomatic corps, those are all protected under diplomatic law. So, either someone from Federation Security has to go through everything themselves, or I have to be given specific clearance and then supervision while I go through everything. Either way, it won’t be up to us what will be allowed to be shared with the investigation. That, and Ambassador Mathis reached out asking to let her know as soon as his files could be released back to her as she’s looking for something he was working on that she needs prior to the first official meeting with the Vren Ambassador. She didn’t specify when that was but said it would be quite soon. So, I don’t know about you, but we really need to get started on this so that we’re not also holding up the future of an entire species unnecessarily.” Warring needs were common in an investigation, but this one was one of the highest stakes cases she had ever worked.

~Aliana Ripkiz

Pangolin sighed “Of course she does” He put a hand into his pocket and pulled out a communicator, it was an older model that used the flip-open panel. A civilian design popular with the out-of-uniform police on Oed. He pressed a few commands on the display and opened a call =^=Special Agent Nkosenye, this is Detective Chief Inspector Pangolin Major Crimes. We have some Diplomatic files here that need to be processed, can’t technically open them without either yourself or a member of the Diplo Corps, You available?=^=

DCI Pangolin

The response was immediate. =^= I’m checking into the lab now, Inspector. If I can get an escort to you, we can see about file access. =^=

Once he was in the lab, Nkosenye introduced himself to Ripkiz. “Special Agent Mthunzi Nkosenye.” and he lookedbat the computer. “Is that it?”

Nkosenye, FedSec

“Aliana Ripkiz,” she said with a perfunctory nod.

Pangolin nodded to the FedSec Agent “DCI Pangolin” He introduced himself “That’s the one, it’s up to you to access the files directly or simply act as supervisor” He said in a casual manner.

Commissioner Karlson

“Getting in isn’t the issue, it’s more the contents and who can view them. That falls to you,” she said.

~Aliana Ripkiz

Nkosenye nodded and indicated Ripkiz’s chair. “If I may?” the giant Zulu asked politely.

Ripkiz gestured to the chair.

Taking a seat, he opened Jones’ files while simultaneously activating a wrist-worn computer with a holographic interface. For several minutes, he never touched the computer, only the hologram; his dark eyes dancing back and forth between the two devices. Finally he looked at Pangolin. “I have not removed anything. I have also granted you and Officer Ripkiz temporary Diplomatic credentials. That will allow you, legally, to review all the files on Jones’ personal system and his work files. The only condition to that access is before you put anything you find in an official report, you allow me to review and redact as necessary… which I will take every available avenue to not do. Agreed?”

Nkosenye, FedSec

“FIne by me. I only put info together. Up to others what they do with it,” Aliana said.

Pangolin nodded “Of course, won’t be an issue with me and mine”

The door opened and the biological forensics lab tech entered with a PADD and held it out to Pangolin. “DNA results on the Flaxian tendril. Flagged with a criminal record.”

The DNA was ID’d as belonging to a 38 year old Flaxian name Tokerl. He had been in prison 3 times for assault and once for first-degree murder. Multiple other incidents that never saw a courtroom. He was also a known contractor of the Orion Syndicate.

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

Pangolin read over the file quickly then passed the PaDD to the FedSec Agent “Not familiar with him in particular but this type isn’t uncommon on Oed, career criminals with ties to some major groups or other. They were more common before the CCDA but you’ll still find people like that in the shadier bits of the city.”

DCI Pangolin

Nkosenye read the file and then said “The Syndicate connection is troublesome, but could also explain some things. I think discretion may be our best approach here. Try and find this Tokerl without alerting anyone to our interest.” He looked at Pangolin and then stood up and walked to the other side of the room, gesturing him to follow.

Pangolin nodded at his words in agreement then raised an eyebrow and followed quietly.

In a subdued voice, he said “I can authorize both you and your Colonial Intelligence Agency to locate Tokerl and take him into custody. You can then hold him for three days without filing charges. In that time, I am confident that all of us combined can find enough evidence to charge him… and, perhaps, get him to provide evidence against whomever he is working with or for. Regardless, this can be done without filing a request for a warrant; as it falls under Threats to Federation Security. Would you be comfortable conducting such an operation?”

Nkosenye, FedSec

Pangolin was quiet as he considered “I don’t mind, I can get the old man to sign off on whatever is required, we have holding cells at the MCD and the office itself is on the second floor out of the public eye” He tapped his arm for a moment “Holding him without counsel would cause a problem but if FedSec is willing to shield us in this matter I’m up for it. Only problem is finding him quietly, I have sources within the criminal underworld I can use but I can’t promise a quiet take-down.”

DCI Pangolin

“Did someone mention the criminal underworld,” Alston said from nearby. He had only recently entered the room, and only caught the tail end of the conversation. “Didn’t mean to be dropping no eaves, but I couldn’t help but over hear the end of your conversation there. I had stopped by to get caught up on what evidence had been collected so far in the Jones investigation.”

Mace
Pangolin turned to look at the newcomer “Ah right, Mace right?” He said with some mild recognition in his tone “Special Agent Nkosenye, This is…” He paused “Allister?” He said in a questioning tone “Well uhh Mace, he’s CIA”

Commissioner Karlson

“Alston,” he said as he held his hand out towards Nkosenye. “And recently of the CIA.”

Mace
The massive black hand engulfed mace’s and the FedSec Agent said “Special Agent Nkosenye, FedSec. And yes, we were talking of criminal organizations.” Nkosenye looked at Mace and said “You said ‘recently’ of Colonial Intelligence. Are you here in that capacity now? And do you have the authority to grant me permission to work with your agency on this?” He looked at both men and said “I am acutely aware of the conditions stipulated by your colonial government some months back. I have no desire to start an incident.”

Nkosenye, FedSec

“If that is what is needed, I would have that authority,” Alston answered cryptically.

Mace

Meanwhile, Ripkiz had settled back in and was perusing Jones’ communications. Everything in the inbox looked normal, but that was not unexpected. So she went to look at the deleted messages. Even if Jones had cleared his trash, she could have still retrieved stuff, but right away she found something interesting. “Holy shit,” she muttered under her breath.

“Gentlemen? You might want to see this…”

There were several messages from an unidentified sender. Aliana pulled up an older one, reading it aloud. “A simple task and we leave you alone. Like we said before, you are in a precarious position, Mr. Jones. I’m sure you don’t want everyone knowing what we know about you. It would make your career rather difficult, don’t you think? It could affect those around you. All you need to do to avoid this unfortunate outcome is tell us anything you can find out about PAD, especially if there are any contractors listed. Simple. You have a week.”

Aliana looked up at the two men. “What the hell is PAD and what exactly did Jones do to earn blackmailing?” The threat was very clear. “Wait, as far as I can tell, this is the only one he relied to, but I will have to dig more to be sure, but… he replied and said…” She smirked. “‘Go to hell.’ Good for him.”

“The most recent one says. ‘It’s very simple and you seem to be misunderstanding that this is an option. Ignoring my messages will only go badly for you. And for others.’ This one was sent Sunday morning around 10 am. So, about fourteen and half-ish hours before he died. There are other personal messages, some from his family, others between him and Dasca. But we already know about them.” She blew out a breath. It felt like a smoking gun, of sorts, but it really just opened up a whole slew of questions.

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

Nkosenye looked around the room and said “Alright. To prioritize, not to take over.” he said emphatically. “We need to know what this ‘PAD’ is. If they are asking Jones to find out, then it must be government related.” He looked at Mace. “That will fall within your purview, Mr. Mace, would it not? DCI Pangolin, could you pull Mr. Jones’ history? Someone somewhere seems to think that there is something there that they could use as leverage. We need to know what that was. I can assist Officer Ripkiz in ascertaining who sent the messages. Once we have all of that, I believe we will have a solid direction to aim this investigation. Would you agree?”

Nkosenye

“Well that definitely is a clear indication of a motive in this case, though there are still a few loose strings,” Alston said bringing out his PaDD and making a few notes.

“As for if that would fall under my purview, I believe it technically depends on what PAD is. Especially if it’s Starfleet. But until we know more, I can turn over a few rocks.”

• Mace

“The source of the messages is going to take some time and work. The initial attempts were unsuccessful,” Aliana said. “What I can tell initially is that whoever sent them has technical skills well above average. Like several levels above. We’ve got all sorts of signal re-routing going on,” she said, pointing the chaotic path out to Nkosenye.

~Aliana Ripkiz

Bump

“Feel free to make use of the techs back at the CIA. They might have a better chance of tracking the message source, especially if they bounced the message off world at some point.”

• Mace

Ripkiz nodded. “I’ll run it by them. But either way it’ll take time. You might be faster on your end if you can track down what PAD is, and the Flaxian,” she said with a one-shouldered shrug.

~Aliana Ripkiz