Lt. Dakora - Seeking Answers
Travis
(( Captain’s Ready Room, Deck 1, USS Artemis ))
Talos and Jovenan had read MacKenzie in their findings regarding the meteor that had struck Tecra and its seemingly unnatural trajectory. Now, armed with his CO's approval, Talos would begin a proper investigation, but there was still one thing bothering him.
Dakora: And what if they decline our assistance?
MacKenzie: If someone, or the leadership of an entire faction deliberately executed the slaughter of those people, then the other leaders on that planet deserve the right to know about it. Frankly, I don’t care if they decline our assistance.
He nodded, the gravity of what she was saying slamming home. Talos would be prepared to make the investigation a clandestine affair if the Da'al government didn't play ball.
Dakora: Aye Captain. ::He maintained eye contact with MacKenzie.:: I agree completely. Whoever did this needs to face the consequences...
Out of the corner of his eye, Talos saw Jovenan flinch, just a little. He shifted his gaze toward her, feeling her nerves radiating against his empathic senses. Still, she replied.
Jovenan: Uh, the planet has rings, which usually means that small objects falling to ground is a common occurrence, sir. Either they have a dedicated agency for detecting them, or they view it as a normal feature of weather and have placed the prediction of meteor strikes under meteorologists, for example. Those are the people who should have noticed the course change first.
MacKenzie: Ensign, it sounds to me like you’re already thinking like an investigator…
The corner of Talos' mouth quirked up in a slight smirk as he nodded his agreement. Nervous or not, he would need the Ensign's scientific expertise throughout the investigation to help fill gaps in his knowledge base. With any luck, their skills would prove complementary.
Jovenan: T-thank you, sir. oO I guess Oo
Dakora: I agree. Sounds like you're on the right track already.
The Captain waved the PADD in the air a few times.
MacKenzie: This is good work, but the work’s just beginning. We need answers… we’re finally starting to make headway toward a positive relationship with the Da’al, and I can’t go to Erbil with circumstantial evidence.
Again Talos nodded, taking what she had said and what she didn't say and using it to form a strategy for how they could proceed. A cordial, unofficial visit to these Meteorologists sounded like the first order of business.
Dakora: Maybe I should pay a friendly visit to the Meteorological Center at Tecra and see what I can uncover. ::He turned to Jovenan:: Do we know where it is located?
Jovenan: The meteor might have destroyed the local observation post, but maybe they have a more centralized system…
MacKenzie: I know it’s a mess down there, but I’m sure they have some kind of science ministry… I’d start with them. See what they know, and when they knew it, but don’t reveal any more than you have to…
He adjusted his plan on the fly, adapting the strategy as he went. Looking down at his foldable PADD, he tapped out a couple of quick commands before returning his gaze to MacKenzie.
Dakora: I've got my Signals team pouring over comm intercepts already. ::He steepled his hands in front of him.:: Jovenan and I will get to the bottom of this.
The Captain nodded, shifting her gaze between each of them.
MacKenzie: Good luck.
With the meeting at an end, Talos pushed himself up out of his chair, bowing his head respectfully for a moment before taking his leave. As he made for the door he felt Jovenan close behind.
((Turbolift, USS Artemis))
Talos and Jo walked to the turbolift in silence as they each processed their encounter with MacKenzie. It was only after the lift doors closed and they began moving that Jovenan broke the silence.
Jovenan: Sir… Do you wish me to try to check the figures now? Or is there something else I should do first?
He thought for a moment before shaking his head.
Dakora: No, I'll request that Kawarda re-check the data. ::His brow furrowed.:: I'd like you to focus on means and methods. We know what they did; I want some theories on how they might've done it.
Jovenan: Aye, sir…
There was another brief silence as the turbolift continued until, once again, Ensign Jovenan broke the silence.
Jovenan: Sir, if they used a tractor or repulsor beam, they probably used a vessel of some sort.
Talos eyes narrowed, but he nodded his approval. If they used a ship, then there'd be evidence of some kind on it. Whether it was physical like some particles unique to the meteor in its tractor array or a record of where it had been in the ship's log, there'd be something.
Dakora: Good thinking. Finding that ship could lead us to find whoever did this. ::He cocked his head.:: Does the trajectory data we have provide any clues about the potential ship?
Jovenan: It would have been a smaller vessel, since it didn’t show in the analysis. A shuttle, for example. I don’t think we can deduce the size or course of it from the data alone. Maybe the Da’al have a flight records or something, but I don’t know if we can use them.
The turbolift came to a stop on his level, Deck 8, but he placed his hand on the override panel, holding the door shut for just a moment.
Dakora: If I was the one who did this, I would want to avoid taking off from anywhere that would require flight plans. Preferably somewhere that sensors would have a hard time detecting. ::He reached way back into his academy memories.:: Maybe look for someplace with fistrium deposits... or kelbonite?... something like that.
Jovenan: Response?
He was about to release the manual lift override when he considered something.
Dakora: I think I'm going to need to borrow one of these blue uniforms. ::He pointed to Jovenan's jacket.:: People will be less suspicious if someone in blue is asking around the science ministry than someone in black.
Jovenan: Response?
Finally, he released the override and the door slid open, revealing a handful of perturbed-looking Officers and crewmen who were clearly annoyed by the delay. He kept his words vague, as he stepped out of the lift.
Dakora: Keep me posted if you find anything and I'll do the same.
Jovenan: Response (if any)?
With that, Talos moved down the corridor toward the Intel Hub. Both he and Jovenan had their work cut out for them if they were going to figure out who was behind the Meteor before the evidence disappeared.
END SCENE FOR TALOS
Lt. Talos Dakora
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Artemis-A
O238811CD0