LtCmdr Jovenan – Which hurts more, betrayal or guilt?
Jovenan
((Anteroom, Golden Spire, Boraxian Cityship))
Bancroft: ::softly, so as not to be overheard by the two Boraxians:: Anyone else see what I’m seeing?
Jovenan wasn’t sure what she was seeing. The recording of Commander Munro’s team and the Advocate had turned quickly from a standard, borderline mundane diplomatic meeting to utter disaster. The serene scene of graceful negotiators and glistering gold was invaded by the group of armed attackers, and the Starfleet team and their Boraxian counterpart were quickly forced to surrender.
Just months ago, or was it already a year, Jovenan had been held at gunpoint like Commander Munro’s were at the moment on the screen. She remembered her fear, the thought that she was already dead, when her life was dependent of the whims of a Suliban criminal. She couldn’t fault Commander Munro’s team for their immediate surrender. Jovenan had found the strength to try and persuade the Suliban criminal to let her team go, but Genkos, her team leader at the time, had refused that and they had all stayed. But unlike Genkos, or Captain MacKenzie, Talos or Vitor for that matter, Jovenan didn’t know Commander Munro, Lt K’Wara or Ensign Cole well enough to say if they really would resist or surrender as quick as it appeared on the screen… And it was Doctor Bancroft’s question that made her question if they did.
Jovenan: ::quietly:: Do you think it’s fake?
Her teammates didn’t say anything for a moment. Jovenan looked at each of them, but it was Lt Bergmen who she turned last. The Ops Officer was the likeliest of them to detect the signs of deceit in the recording.
Bergmen: With digital records, you can never be entirely sure. Yet, if, as shown... if those attackers ambushed the negotiations like they did in this footage, there wouldn’t be much left for anyone inside except to surrender, to avoid casualties....as they did. We need to know more.
Bancroft: I agree that we need to know way more – but I know Cole. ::pointing at the screen:: and that was not Natasha Cole.
Cold chills travelled down Jovenan’s spine as the realisation of the possible consequences of the faked video hit her. Not only did they not know the location and fate of their crew mates and Acting Commanding Officer, Jovenan and her team may have walked into a trap themselves. It was far too unlikely for the two aides to know there was a recording of the event without also being aware that it was a fabrication. Were they here to capture or kill her team as well? After the initial suspicion, she had wanted to believe the two officials in their uncertainty and guilt, but the galaxy was also full of experienced actors, pretenders and liars. She didn’t know whom to trust.
Jovenan: ::quietly:: We have to find out if what we’ve seen is real and if their route was caught on camera. Bergmen, Bancroft, that’s you. Luirétt… Luirétt, can I trust you?
Luirétt: Yes, but... What can I do? I don’t know- Everything I thought to be true is wrong-
Bergmen: ::to Jo:: Aye, ma’am. ::to Bancroft:: It's ok with you, Ensign, to start where breadcrumbs begin?
Bancroft: Your lead, Lieutenant.
The two officers acknowledged their order, but it was Luirétt’s response that she focused on. She knew that Bergmen and Bancroft would do what was required of them, not just by her with her superior rank and the temporary status in the command, but also by their duty to their friends and colleagues. Meanwhile, the Yurum faction leader was uncertain. Jovenan couldn’t order them, and they didn’t necessarily follow her order even if she tried, as was proven in the Commercial Sector. She was asking a lot of them, a refugee escaped unto their protection, to care for her colleagues. And yet, it was not the matter of coming to their aid that Luirétt hesitated, it was the skill. Jovenan could take that as an answer.
Jovenan: ::quietly:: I’m sorry for having you in this situation. We promised to protect you, but now you have to help us. It’s not fair, but I need you to be strong a little bit longer. ::out loud, to the Boraxian representatives:: How did the attackers enter the building? Did you see them breach in?
Boraxian Representative #2: No... It all happened so fast, we didn’t have a chance to-
Boraxian Representative #1: They wore the colors of the Patriarchy, the guards had no reason to prevent them from entering.
Patriarchy? Jovenan wasn’t sure what to think about the officials’ response other than that the attackers had used a false flag – if the aides were honest… and if Patriarchy was something that wouldn’t do such a thing, in which case the flag could be true. It was confusing to try and detect lies when she didn’t know even the basic facts. She knew that the Boraxians followed a matriarchal system, but she supposed there could be a parallel system to the Matriarchy known as the Patriarchy. Next to her, Luirétt had crossed their arms.
Luirétt: Patriarch colors? You’re claiming that members of the Patriarchy ascended to the 31st floor of the Golden Spire, passing through Lórins Chapel, the Moon Pool Vaults and past the entirety of the Gold Guard, without getting stopped? On a day like today, where the city is in an uproar, and the Great Mother’s safety is of the utmost priority?
Jovenan raised her eyebrows as she looked at the Yurum who had just moments ago been insecure and uncertain how they could help, almost fearful of what was happening and close to breaking down of guilt. Now, they were questioning the aides of the Golden Spire with confidence Jovenan in her junior officer years would have never been able to muster. Of course, she shouldn’t underestimate Luirétt, the person that led their fellow Yurum from their golden cages to freedom. It was now the Boraxian aides turn to realise that the quality of leadership didn’t depend on one’s gender.
Bergmen: ::whispering to Bancroft:: Time to take notes on the proper leadership reprimand.
Although Jovenan didn’t know nearly everything Luirétt had talked about, she could see their reasoning and could continue with a question.
Jovenan: Why is that? Why didn’t the guards act?
Boraxian Representative #1: The Gold Guard was... Redirected to more important floors.
Luirétt: More important than guarding the floor where Advocate Chavrainne, the voice and vessel of the Great Mother, was meeting with a foreign dignitary?
Boraxian Representative #1: That information wasn’t shared with us in any official way.
Bergmen: And… unofficially… You know about it, what?
The aides fell silent. Jovenan could see the situation turn in any direction just now, like a spring when the force holding it down suddenly disappeared and it flung itself to the unpredictable ways. If the aides were being honest and bound by secrecy, the questioning explained their hesitancy, and they could either speak or continue falling silent. But if they were in league with the attackers, they could continue lying or they could reveal their allegiance through force. Jovenan’s bated breath added to the silence that reigned over the room.
Bancroft: ::cocking his head:: Forgive me, but… your story’s developing some very troubling symptoms. This all sounds… very improbable.
Luirétt: It’s not improbable, it’s unthinkable. ::reaches out their hands:: And yet, the truth can be easily parsed.
The two other Boraxians hesitated in taking Luirétt’s hands. Jovenan observed the events before her, allowing her attention to shift ever-so-slightly from the caution and suspicion to the scientific curiosity. Her mind returned to what Luirétt had said of the Yurum acting as mediators and soothers and to what Doctor Bancroft had speculated about the behaviour of the crowd. There was still so much they didn’t know about, and the answer to all their problems could still lie in that fog of ignorance.
Luirétt: I wish not to force you, my beloved friends, but I beg of you. Speak the truth, and nothing but the truth.
Boraxian Representative #1: There were... rumors... about a certain section of the clergy, and the government, who weren't quite pleased with the Matriarch's approach to Yurum's departure and her openness to negotiate, not take an action, on their return.
Boraxian Representative #2: Don’t try to confuse Yurum; it was more than rumors. I overheard the Matriarch's councilors discussing this and riots with her just before Starfleet arrived.
Bergmen: And?
Boraxian Representative #1: Some of the rumored dissatisfied wearing patriarch colors were indeed seen in the city today, fueling the riots.
Jovenan sighed. The word “rumours” bothered her, but they pointed towards this Patriarchy group – or to whoever bore their colours. What it meant was still beyond her. Who would benefit from the chaos and the kidnapping of the Starfleet team, and how? Did this group take advantage of the Yurum’s departure, or were they involved in it as well? Mere rumours weren’t enough to satisfy their investigation.
Bancroft: You’re saying what we witnessed was planned?
Jovenan: If the rumours are true, then it sounds a lot like there’s a group who are behind much or all of what we’ve seen today. All the more reason to locate our officers as soon as possible.
While the conversation was still going on, Lt Bergmen had stepped aside and started investigating a closet. Jovenan turned to see what he was doing as he opened the cabinet’s door and pulled out an object for them to see.
Boraxian Representative #2: It’s a peacekeeper's stunner.
Lt Bergmen nodded and handed the weapon to Doctor Bancroft and took one more for himself.
Bergmen: ::to Jovenan:: Ma’am, one for you too?
Jovenan hesitated a moment. The word “stunner” implied that the weapons were intended for stunning the person, but that information was once again from a person she didn’t entirely trust. Some Starfleet officers had been rather liberal with their use of phasers set to stun, and it would be rather horrifying to find out the unfamiliar weapon killed a person that the shooter merely intended to incapacitate.
Jovenan: Yes. Use them only in the extreme case. We don’t know enough about their design to be careless.
Luirétt: Response
After she had received her Boraxian weapon, it was the time to return to the investigation.
Bergmen: Ma’am, permission to leave with Ensign Bancroft and conduct an investigation at the site of the abduction; perhaps it will tell us more.
Jovenan: I’d rather focus on the recording before moving out to a less protected area. Bancroft, try to see if there are any discrepancies in the content of the recording itself. Bergmen, if you could look for signs of tampering to the computer or the network, we might find if and how they’ve altered the footage.
Luirétt: Response
Bancroft: Understood, Commander. If there’s anything worth knowing in this room… we’ll find it.
Bergmen: Response
The two junior officers left Jovenan and Luirétt with the two Boraxian aides, although the small size of the room guaranteed that if the aides or anyone else who would come there caused any problems, they could all respond to the threat. Before the conversation with the aides could resume, Doctor Bancroft turned back and gestured to one of the aides.
Bancroft: Would you show me how these work? I’ve no idea what half these symbols mean – and the other half are just very bad guesses.
((OOC: Jovenan isn’t hearing what Bancroft and Boraxian Representative #2 are saying/don’t pay attention to it, so I’ve omitted the conversation. I assume the reverse for Bancroft, so that we can talk. I’ve left tags for Bergmen, but if you wish to move him out of the earshot for this bit, feel free to do so.))
The aide joined the Doctor at the screen, and Jovenan turned back to the two remaining Boraxians. Luirétt had proven to be at least somewhat reliable and trustworthy, but the aide in front of her was still suspicious. They had opened up a little over the conversation, but it had been the aide that now joined Bancroft that had been the easier one to make a connection with. This one seemed… less forthcoming.
Jovenan: Who are these Patriarchy people? Or do you think the attackers are merely posing as them?
Luirétt/Bergmen: Response
Jovenan: What motivation could they have to kidnap Commander Munro’s team and the Advocate?
Luirétt/Bergmen: Response
Boraxian Representative #1: No! Do not–
The shout by the aide was unexpected. Jovenan followed her eyeline over her shoulder and to the screens behind her. The image in front of Doctor Bancroft and the other aide had changed. The Acting XO turned around in silence and watched as the events run a different course from what they had seen before. The subtle differences grew larger, until the identity of the attackers themselves changed. Jovenan’s hand rushed to her new weapon. She held its handle, but didn’t pull it out. For the sake of the two Boraxian aides, she hoped that they had been honest saying that they were mere stunners. On the screen, the same duo herded the captives to a secret door.
Bergmen/Luirétt: Response
Boraxian Representative #2: He promised us change. He promised us truth. He promised us–
The other aide protested again.
Boraxian Representative #2: ::crying:: The kidnapping… the lies… the riots… the fires… this is not the way of our people. And this is not what he promised us.
Doctor Bancroft placed his hand on the crying Boraxian’s shoulders. Meanwhile, Jovenan turned to the other aide. Her expression was sour, mixed somewhere between anger and disappointment, but she hadn’t yet made a move to stop them. Jovenan hoped it stayed that way.
Bancroft: ::gently:: That took courage. Thank you… for choosing truth.
Jovenan: It was very brave of you to come through with us. Bergmen, see if you could find handcuffs or rope or something similar in here. ::to the Boraxian representatives:: I’m sorry, but I hope you understand that we can’t entirely trust you when moving ahead.
Bergmen/Luirétt: Response
Boraxian Representative #2: ::sniffling:: They took your officers to the Peace of Ellet… ::holding all four hands up, palms out:: I don’t know why. I truly don’t. ::deep breath:: His name… is Andoren.
Jovenan looked at Luirétt. The context implied that the “Peace of Ellet” was a place, but the name sounded more like an innuendo for death to her.
Jovenan: Do you know what that means?
Luirétt/Bergmen/Bancroft: Response
Once the Boraxian aides – misled allies or regretting enemies, Jovenan didn’t know – were tied down, she led her team out of the anteroom. She looked at each of them. Bancroft and Bergmen must have found something in their investigation, while Luirétt was the most knowledgable of them about the Spire and the Cityship. They weren’t exactly fighters all of them, they had little combat experience between them, but they needed to do what they could to at least locate the kidnapped team before seeing if a rescue operation was viable.
Jovenan: What do we got? Where will we find our colleagues?
Luirétt/Bergmen/Bancroft: Response
----
Lieutenant Commander Jovenan
Acting XO (Chief Science Officer)
USS Artemis-A
E239911J11