[V-B] Capt Rahman: Private Conversation

[richyulin]

((Bridge, USS Veritas))

Rahman: It might help if we know *whom* we're looking for…

::Roshanara looked over to her first officer Sky Blake and Agent Delano.::

Rahman: Any clues? Hallmarks you've seen before in other attacks?

::The FedSec agent spoke first, the only one among them not in uniform. The visual contrast reflected the separation now between Delano and his former comrades.::

Delano: About two months ago, several dozen photon torpedoes were stolen from a salvage ship on Seheik. That was the reason for the message I sent back to the Federation. In the Shoals, that kind of armament could cause a real shift in the balance of power. I… can’t say for certain that these are the same torpedoes, but the yield and power signature are consistent. ::beat:: In any case, I’m certain we’re dealing with pirates, but it’s hard to judge what faction. 

::Her XO spoke up.::

Blake:::muttering:: I might. 

::Roshanara offered an amused smile, inviting Blake to say more.::

Rahman: Hmmph, it's all right. I'm willing to entertain even a hunch.

Blake: A Klingon in our Sick Bay. Hints at precision attacks by multiple ships. Now we have a connection to stolen torpedoes from Seheik. ::She sighed, a fist clenched as she leaned forward against the console.:: This sounds an awful lot like the Shoals' favourite pirate gang. 

Rahman: The Kos'karii.

::She'd read about them during her initial research into the Shoals after she learned she was being assigned to the region. From all reports, the Kos'karii's fearsome reputation was well-earned. Even after Starfleet had launched Operation Safe Harbor that forced many of the other pirate factions to withdraw farther off the beaten path to survive, the Kos'karii had continued to prey upon the major trade routes. Their ships were armed well-enough to challenge even the Colonial Marshals and were second only to the Veritas in terms of firepower in the Shoals.::

Delano: I haven’t dealt much with them, but I know the Kos'karii are led by a Klingon. Very few of their ships ever visited Seheik. 

Blake: Jilor. Everything we know about him is already in the Federation database - he has quite the history. And I doubt Seheik settlement would have much to offer his "fleet", aside from being the occasional trading post. The Kos'karii are the biggest pirate faction here - they're on top of the food chain. Jilor came to the Shoals with a single ship with his family, now he's got what he likes to call a 'fleet' and is intent on 'fixing' the Shoals. 

::The captain raised an eyebrow.::

Rahman: And what exactly does that mean?

Blake: For that answer, you'll have to get in line. I promised Commander Zhou he'd be the first to know as soon as I did. ::She grinned.:: But while the true meaning behind the crusade is unknown to us, their tactics aren't. We've had some dealings in the past. ::Crossing her arms.:: They like to cluster and pull people out of warp. 

Walker: RESPONSE

Blake: Once. Never again. And as you can see, Veritas is still in one piece - but they took out our sensors so quick that we're not even certain if it was the Kos'karii. No contact, no message, just . . . "unhappiness". That may have been what happened here.

Rahman: Have we been able to turn up more information on the Falcon herself?

::The Caitian pulled up the records and a schematic of the freighter appeared on the table display, a wall of text scrolling by.::

Mei'konda: Her originaal name was the USS Byblos.  A Federaation heavy freighter operaating between Vulcan and Starbase 15. She was buiilt in 2298, and decommissioned in 2370 before being sold to priivate operators.  Records are a little more spotty, after that, but cleaarly, some of her priivate owners have done some modificaations.

Sepek: RESPONSE

::Delano looked to be studying the schematics more closely.::

Delano: They were surprisingly well armed for a freighter. 

Walker: And they were carrying some interesting cargo that wasn't on their manifests.  Items that I'd normally expect anyone attacking a freighter would be very interested in. 

Rahman: Whom is she registered to? And where was she coming from?

Delano: Officially, she’s a Colonial Coalition freighter. Presumably used to make supply runs between the major colonies. 

::The operations officer attempted to get further information.::

Mei'konda: Her laast registered owner is….

::He suddenly stopped and then rolled his eyes.::

Mei’konda: ….Captain Amanda Huggenkiss.  I thiink we can rule that out as being a real name.

::Indeed. Roshanara shook her head, looking down as well now back at the schematic on the table.::

Rahman: Surprisingly juvenile...

Sepek/Anyone: RESPONSE

Walker: She's also got some seriously shielded smuggler holds.  I'm not sure the Veritas would even have been able to scan them in a normal situation. 

Blake: The unfortunate side affect of Operation Safe Harbor, no doubt.

Rahman: Was a manifest logged?

Mei’konda: Liike the name, the cargo listed on the manifest is clearly faake.  It’s the most generic cargo you caan imagine. ::He frowned.:: Eighty metric tonnes of self-sealing stem bolts? Who even uses those any more?

Sepek/Anyone: RESPONSE

::Delano offered some insight.::

Delano: Given how large a problem piracy has become in recent years, it’s not uncommon for freighters to employ smuggler's techniques to protect valuable cargo. I wouldn't assume anything nefarious.

::It was a good point, and one that Roshanara surmised Delano had come to trust from his time here in the region thus far.::

::Still, their chief engineer had her doubts.::

Walker:  With all due respect?  I'd not assume the reverse either.  And I'd say odds are better than even at least one of them was working with the pirates.  

Sepek: ::controlling his excitement:: Captain, it seems the warp trail heads to an area where the tetryon fields are more dense and active, but then cuts off. I'm assuming that this area is the shadows?

Blake: Every pirate gang from one end of the Shoals to another that we are *all* blind in there. 

::Mei'konda scratched his chin, deep in thought.::

Mei’konda: We’re probaably better equipped than most shiips to operaate in the Shadows.  Most shiips don’t haave Starfleet sensors and the combinaation of durability and maneuverability that the Veritas class has.  Still...

Anyone: RESPONSE

Blake: By the time we reach the Shadows, tracking them will be ten times harder. But last time we tried going after them, we had a good idea where one of their haunts. 

Anyone: RESPONSE

Blake: Reports suggest Veritas got called away before the crew could investigate further. I wouldn't personally know - I was on my personal leave.

::Mei'konda turned towards Roshanara.::

Mei’konda: I thiink we should interrogaate the Klingon, as soon as she waakes up.  If she would taalk, she might have all the informaation we need.  Up to date guidance chaarts, information on their fleet’s strength… it’s just a matter of getting it from her.

::She nodded. Warp trails as Sepek noted only went so far. The best place to look for where to go next wasn't out in space but down in sickbay.::

Rahman: Agreed.

Mei’konda: We could offer her plenty in return.  Supplies, mediciine, a small pre-fabriicated house of her own on one of the colony worlds, or baack in Federation space… I mean, if she’d want any of that.

Anyone: RESPONSE

::Roshanara leaned against the worktable with both arms, looking first to Walker and Sepek.::

Rahman: Continue to prepare the ship and the Falcon for the warp tow. Ensign Sepek, you'll be working with Commander Walker.

Walker: RESPONSE

Sepek: RESPONSE

::The captain then glanced over to the other three.::

Rahman: I want you-

::She stopped when her gaze met Delano's. Given how the man's previous interrogation of a prisoner had turned out, she decided to keep him away from a similar situation.::

Rahman: ...Commanders Blake and Mei'konda to head to sickbay and see if you can get our "guest" to talk.

Blake: RESPONSE

Mei'konda: RESPONSE

Rahman: Feel free to offer incentives for her, but... 

::She thought of the suggestions Mei'konda had made earlier about what they could offer the Klingon.:::

Rahman: ...don't be afraid to use the stick with the carrot.

::A shorter prison sentence was also an incentive after all.::

Mei'konda: RESPONSE

Blake: RESPONSE

::Good. They all had their tasks.::

::Well, except...::

Rahman: Let's get some answers. Dismissed.

::As the other officers split off to their duties, Roshanara and Delano remained at the table.::

Delano: RESPONSE

Rahman: You should feel free to continue offering your insight, agent... on the bridge.

Delano: RESPONSE

::She took a breath.::

Rahman: ...let's go to my ready room.

Delano: RESPONSE

::She led the way as they walked off the bridge into the small office. Once the doors slid shut behind them, the captain turned around to face the former chief of security.::

Rahman: You had further questions, agent?

Delano: RESPONSE

TAG! TBC...

Capt. Roshanara Rahman

Commanding Officer, USS Veritas

Writer ID: I238705TZ0