Posted by Civilian Alston ‘Fox’ Mace (Director - Colonial Intelligence Agency) in Federation Embassy - The Mystery Continues TMODJ (PRSIM) - Tag Mathis

Posted by Civilian Jeannette Mathis (Federation Ambassador) in Federation Embassy - The Mystery Continues TMODJ (PRSIM) - Tag Mathis

Posted by Civilian Alston ‘Fox’ Mace (Director - Colonial Intelligence Agency) in Federation Embassy - The Mystery Continues TMODJ (PRSIM) - Tag Mathis
Posted by… suppressed (6) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

Mathis’s breathing and expression were rather even as she gazed at Mace. “I explained to the police that there are delicate details about Dash’s adolescence that may or may not be in play right now. I legally, as best I know, cannot share those details, but then again, he told me, so maybe it doesn’t matter any more?” Mathis threw her hands out with a half shrug. “But I was never concerned about his work or his commitment. He never gave me a reason to doubt him. But… it did affect his self confidence. I think he felt like he had to prove himself at every turn. I think to think that that eased over the years we worked together, but there was always this underlying anxiety, this self-doubt. I don’t know if it’s related, but all I know is that he was… unnerved y something. Worried, even. He needed to reassure me that he’d never do anything to put me or our work in jeopardy. At first it was about his relationship with the Lieutenant Governor, but I reassured him that I saw no conflict of interest and that I trusted them to be professional. The Lt. Governor did say that he was worried about something and he was going to tell her the next day, but then he died. I don’t know if she’s found out what that was yet. I suppose that was the most concerning thing. Dash was never prone to melodrama, so if it had him that worked up, it had to have bene something. I told Inspector Pangolin as much.”

~Jeannette Mathis, Federation Ambassador

“I appreciate your candor Ambassador. Was there anything that would give you the impression that Mr. Dash would go outside of the normal channels, perhaps through not so legal means, in order to complete an assignment?”

• Mace

“Hells, no,” Jeannette said firmly. “Nor would it be necessary here. While I will credit him with some unorthodox solutions at times, it was always perfectly reasonable under the circumstances. Always above board. Keep in mind that he met me after I was doing mostly embassy work. Most of the time we were on Federation worlds, and the embassy served a somewhat different function than on outside worlds.”

Jeannette Mathis, Federation Ambassador

Alston nodded along as she spoke, checking a box on the display of his PADD.

“Would you be familiar with a program or group using the name PAD?”

• Mace

Mathis frowned, not even trying to school her features. “PAD?” She shook her head. “Never heard of it. It definitely not something related to our work here on Oed, that much I know.”

Jeannette Mathis, Federation Ambassador

Alston schooled the frustration from his face, so much for the easy answer. Time to jump tracks and see if he could dig up a new lead.

“What projects was Mr. Jones working on, or had recently completed?”

• Mace

Jeanette drew in a steadying breath. “The biggest for both of us was the welcoming gala for the Vren, along with setting up this embassy. He spent a lot of time working on the logistics of getting this place set up, which meant coordinating with a lot of people, including the Lieutenant Governor and contractors.” She paused and thought through the last few weeks since they had arrived and shook her head. “Everything had been going well even as we navigated hiccups and the challenges that come with being representatives of a government that much of the colony is wary of.” Mathis shrugged.

Jeannette Mathis, Federation Ambassador

Another dead end. Perhaps it was time to put the cards on the table and see what she was holding. At this point, the chances of her also being involved in a potential conspiracy were statistically nonexistant.

“Okay, cards on the table here Ambassador. We have credible intelligence that an outside group was trying to leverage Mr. Jones to gain access to a project they referred to as PAD. What I’m trying to figure out, what is this program, why did they think Mr. Jones had access, and why did they target Mr. Jones in the first place.”

• Mace

Genuine shock touched her eyes before she managed to contain herself. Normally Jean couldn’t be so quickly rattled, but given everything her emotions were far closer to the surface than usual. She blew out a breath, stared at Mace and then shook her head. “Because I don’t know what PAD is it’s hard to say what they thought he could do. As far as I know he didn’t have access. But maybe someone he knows does? I don’t know how this relates to anything but as far as leverage goes there is only one thing they could have used that would have caused him to feel so upset as he had been. In fact, if these people had found this out somehow, then yes, I can Dash being very upset and struggling to balance his options. His duty to Oed and to me versus his own reputation.”

Mathis leaned forward, no trace of pretence in her expression. She was all busines. “This does not go outside of our investigative circle unless we all decide it does, and I must be included in that decision. I get final say because of the very small possible impact on our negotiations with the Vren, am I very clear?”

Jeannette Mathis, Federation Ambassador

Mace nodded as he sat up and tucked his PADD back into his coat, as a sign of how serious he took the confidentiality. There would be no notes, or recordings, that could potentially leak.

“Nothing you say will leave this room, without your explicit permission.”

It was a risk depending on what information she had, but it was worth it to also lay the groundwork for any future cooperation.

• Mace

Jeannette expelled a breath. “Good. I did mention to Detective Pangolin that Dash had a… past, on Ajilon as an adolescent. While I didn’t think the details were pertinent at the time, I can’t be fully sure. So, I will tell you that Dash had been in trouble with the law. At one point, he and a friend were in the middle of robbing a residence when it turned out someone was home. His friend panicked and there was a struggle with the resident and the man was injured. He later died at the hospital from his injuries. While that part was not Dash’s fault, he was also arrested and charged. However, his advocate plead for leniency because it was Dash’s first arrest and up until very recently before, had been an excellent student and citizen.” Mathis took a deep breath. “Instead of juvenile rehabilitation, he went to a special boarding school and did community service. After five years, his juvenile record was sealed. He got a fresh start as an adult and persued work in the public sphere.” She leaned forward. “He paid for his mistakes and committed his life to positive work. But there was always a part of him that was ashamed. He still remained friends with the friend that went to prison for manslaughter, but kept his distance as the man had struggles. Recently, Rafael showed up here on Oed, asking for Dash’s help looking for work, and there was a brief argument in a restaurant but they were on well-enough terms. Dash told me all about this himself before whatever it was that had him so squirrelly recently. So I am certain that it wasn’t about Mr. Tores.”

She tapped her fingers on the desk for a moment and gazed at Mace with a piercing look. “I’m one-quarter El Aurian, Mr. Mace. While I don’t have the full gifts of my grandmother, my hunches are always dead on and I trust my instincts. Dash’s shame surfaced during our conversation in a way that was familiar to me. I can’t help but think that his past is somehow involved, but I couldn’t tell you how. His records were sealed. Were knowledge of his adolescent mistakes to come to light during these negotiations, it might cause a stir but I don’t think it would be enough to discredit Mr. Jones’s involvement, nor my reputation here. But that’s what he was worried about. So it had to be something else that was related. I just don’t know what.”

Jeannette Mathis, Federation Ambassador

Alston nodded along as he listened to Jeannette. He was not going to fault anyone for the mistakes they made in their past, especially if they had worked hard to put those behind them. He knew more then a few operators who had some trouble back when they were kids. And he could have been there himself if a family friend hadn’t knocked some sense into his head.

“From what we’ve found so far, someone has been trying to dig up his past to hold over him as leverage. It’s possible that they weren’t aware that he had already disclosed the information to you. I don’t think it would hurt your reputation, but there could be a direct impact on his position here, and future postings, if it came out that he had a record. Not everyone is willing to look past mistakes that happened in ones youth.

She nodded. It had been Dash’s concern as well and as far as she had been concerned, they would have dealt with it should that occurrence come to pass.

“Do you happen to know if he’s had further contact with Mr. Tores since the incident at the restaurant?”

• Mace

“Very briefly in that a close friend of Lt. Governor Dasca offered to give Torres work. He’s been working at their bookshop and cafe ever since and from everything I’ve heard been doing really well there. But Dash needed to keep some space between him and Torres, at least while we were dealing with the arrival of the Vren. It’s my best guess that once things had settled down after the gala, Dash would have checked in on him.”

Jeannette Mathis, Federation Ambassador

Alston nodded, yet another lead to follow-up. “Thank you Ambassador. By chance do you know the name of that bookshop?”

• Mace

She nodded. “It’s The Quill and Parchment. The Lieutenant Governor introduced the place to Dash and I when we first arrived. The proprietor was very welcoming.” Jeanette didn’t want to make things more complicated, but she also wasn’t going to hold back on details, especially if it could make a difference to finding Dash’s killer. The words sat heavy in the pit of her stomach but those feelings never rose to her face. She truly didn’t think Torres had anything to do with any of this though. It was too improbable, given all the circumstances.

Jeannette Mathis, Federation Ambassador

“As we had previously discussed, do I have your permission to talk to Mr. Torres? I hope it wouldn’t cause any impact to the negotiations, but I won’t know until I’ve had a chance to talk to him.

• Mace

Mathis gave a small shrug. “I don’t know him personally, and it really has nothing to do with me. If you think speaking to him would help, do so. Just… be kind about it, will you? From what Dash told me, he’s had a rough time and is likely to be wary of law enforcement of any kind.”

Jeannette Mathis, Federation Ambassador

Alston nodded, discreet it would be. Hopefully this would be one person who didn’t know what his job was on the colony yet. “That doesn’t totally surprise me. But hopefully it will give me a lead on what Mr. Jones was being blackmailed with.

“I’ll definitely take you up on the tour of the embassy later, but I really should keep pursuing this lead. Was there anything else you can think of that might be important?”

• Mace

Jeanette drew in a slow breath, letting her mind wander over all the details. So far as she knew she had told people everything, but there was always the possibility that she was forgetting something important. “I don’t think so, but if anything comes to mind, I will contact you.”

She rose from her desk and gestured to the door before stepping out herself into the hallway and leading him to the foyer. “I know no one can tell me anything about the investigation, but I would appreciate you keeping me up to date if you can.”

Jeannette Mathis, Federation Ambassador

“Of course. As we have information that we can share, I’ll be sure to see that it is passed your way,” Alston said standing up and heading for the door.

Jeannette rose and moved around the desk. “I appreciate, Director.”

“Thank you very much for your time Ambassador. And hopefully the next time I see you, it will be under better circumstances.”

• Mace

She didn’t bother to to mention that the next time would likely be at the memorial. Instead, she gave a tiny smile adn a nod. “As do I, as do I.” She led him out of her office and saw him to the entrance. “Good luck with the rest of your investigation.”

Jeannette Mathis, Federation Ambassador