Ensign Jaran Jira - The Joys of Protocol
Jira Jaran
((Shuttle Griffin, Shuttle Hangar, Deck 11, Artemis-A))
Storm: Garret, maybe? I don’t know if he’ll be there or not. Neither of Kona’s grandparents are still living. I really think it’s going to be a lot of business associates. According to Kona, his dad was well-liked and well-connected. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you anything else with certainty.
Jaran: I won't know anyone anyway.
Cole: We don’t need certainty yet. We need something solid enough to stand on, and then we keep moving.
Storm: I think our best bet is going to be waiting everyone out and then confronting Kona quietly. I really ... don’t want a scene.
Alex paused and swallowed.
Storm: Not there. But I am concerned that even with my mental barriers up, he’ll sense me and run.
Jaran: And me? Cause a scene? I'm innocent as the day is long.
((Eleven hours Later))
((Shuttle Griffin – En route to Betazed ))
Natasha made a few small adjustments to their course, but the trip was turning out to be quick and easy.
Cole: I’m not saying I like our odds, but they’ve improved enough that I’ve stopped drafting apology letters in my head.
Storm: Once we see him there, make sure you alert Federation authorities, so they can take him into custody - just so we can get a judge to at least look at the case.
Jaran: He's not going to run away from this one.
A hail chime sounded. The three of them looked around before Alex answered.
Storm: =/\= This is shuttle Griffin. Who is this? =/\=
Nila: =/\= Alex, it’s Nila. We’ve got a problem.=/\=
Storm: =/\= What happened, Nila? =/\=
Nila: =/\= He’s gone. =/\=
Storm: =/\= Wait--Kona’s gone? Where? How? =/\=
Nila: =/\= He spent the morning at his parents’ house, but about ten minutes ago, he left. He had a large pack with him. I followed him to the spaceport. He left on a transport, stopping over at Vulcan, but heading on to Draylon, Trill, and Kressari. I’m so sorry, Alex. I didn’t expect him to leave before the funeral. =/\=
Storm: =/\= It’s not your fault, Nila. Kona is slipperier than a greased flabbit. We’ll figure something out. We’re getting close. What’s our current ETA, Nat? =/\=
Cole: ::glancing at the controls:: Thirty-six minutes.
Jaran: Time flies.
Storm: =/\= We’ll be landing at… =/\=
Alex turned to Jira.
Storm: What’s our berth number?
Jira stopped and thought. It was hours ago that they'd gotten ground clearance.
Jaran: ::tapping at the console:: It's... Station Alpha, Berth Delta-7.
Cole: Berth or not, first stop’s still the spaceport.
Storm: =/\= You’ll find us there shortly. Storm out. =/\=
Alex stood up and clenched her fists. Jira didn't need to be a telepath to feel the waves of anger and frustration pouring off her.
Storm: Just … give me a minute.
Jira sat in the silence. They knew better than to try and force platitudes right now. Sometimes the best thing they could do was let someone feel what they were feeling.
Cole: Take the minute. Then we stop reacting to him and start getting ahead of him.
Jira realised they had been clenching their fists too. Their own anger at the situation was coming to the surface more than they had even known.
Jaran: This guy's a piece of work. If I weren't the person I am, I'd say we hire some Nausicaans to put some real fear into him.
Storm: Response
Cole: He left before the funeral, with a packed bag and a multi-stop route. That’s not grief. That’s intent. Either he got spooked, or he was always planning to move before anyone could corner him.
No one planned this well. There was more going on.
Jaran: Someone is feeding him information. He can't have evaded everything this long by himself.
Storm: Response
Cole: When we land, we talk to Nila first. Then I want departure records, berth footage if there is any, ticketing, baggage, and whether he booked the whole route in advance or stitched it together as he ran. Men who think they’re being clever usually leave one detail behind. I just want to know which one he picked.
Jira let the tactical minds consider tactical things. They turned their mind to the question of the man himself.
Jaran: Do you know anything that would draw him to those planets? They can't be random. People he knows? Important places to him?
Storm: Response
They were approaching Betazed orbital space by now. One of the moons was passing them to starboard, and a hail from orbital control came through.
Betazoid Orbital Control: =/\= Avandar base to Shuttle Griffin. You are cleared to proceed to planetary orbit. =/\=
Jaran: =/\= Copy that, Avandar base. Proceeding on route. =/\=
Jira turned to Alex.
Jaran: No changes needed, right? Last chance.
Storm/Cole: Response
Jira sent the provided route from planetary control to Natasha's station. Protocol was to maintain orbit then proceed to the spaceport once given clearance. Betazed loved its protocol, but the atmosphere was always buzzing with traffic so it wasn't entirely unwarranted.
Jaran: Natasha, you have the route. Stick to it closely. Planetary control warns that deviation is not permitted.
Storm/Cole: Response
Jira felt the thrusters nudge them into the precise orbit required. A moment passed. Another moment passed. Jira looked at Alex, but before they could ask if this was normal, planetary control hailed them.
Betazed Planetary Control: =/\= Planetary Control to Shuttle Griffin. Maintain orbit. Please state the purpose of your visit. =/\=
Jaran ::to Alex:: I filed the plan as a funeral visit. They should already know that. Why are they asking?
Alex/Storm: Response
Tags/TBC