LtCmdr Jovenan – Just because we’re invited doesn’t mean we’re welcome
Jovenan
((Outside the Office Building, Afalqi Project Launch Complex, Meranuge IV))
One thing Jovenan hadn’t remembered about Meranuge was how bright it always was. Even in the shadow of a nondescript building, the ambient light level and the reflections made it difficult for her to see the image on her PADD. Adjusting the screen to compensate, she wondered how she had adjusted to it three years ago, when it hadn’t bothered her nearly as much. Had the years worn her down so much? It was a pointless train of thoughts to pursue right now, and instead she turned her PADD towards her team, showing the picture of a middle-aged, lavender-haired Da’al man.
Jovenan: This is Chief Engineer Havun. Age 49, married. Parents had a mining company on the moon. Accomplished engineer, worked on several successful projects before landing as the Chief Engineer on this project. And… that’s pretty much it. If he had a reason for stealing a starship, it doesn’t come up in the short bio the Provisional Government sent us.
Jaran: I wonder what causes someone to just throw a successful career away like that.
The Doctor had been on point to ask that question. It was also something Jovenan had pondered a lot, particularly in the recent year. What makes a person turn to crime? What can be so important that they leave behind their career, their colleagues, their friends, in the pursuit of something so uncertain or so vile? She had never understood that, and despite how much she tried, she never might. What could have one done to prevent that?
Bergmen: Reasons may vary, Doctor. Ideology, coercion, ingratiation, disgruntlement due to their ego or underappreciation… whatever it is, one is clear. Nobody ever betrayed because they were happy.
oO Nobody ever betrayed because they were happy. Oo
oO Nobody… Oo
Storm: He likely doesn’t look at it like he’s throwing away his career. I would guess, if he indeed did it, that this is either a step up for him or he is preserving something.
Jovenan closed her PADD and looked away.
The rings of Meranuge IV rose like an impossibly tall mountain behind the office building’s pale walls. It was view Jovenan hadn’t seen in years, yet now that she saw it again, she almost expected to see one of the giant, leathered birds to swoop from behind the corner where the building’s edge drew lines to the sky. None came – they were probably well out of the scaled monarch’s habitat anyway – so her gaze wandered back to the building. The rows of windows were so uniform and neat that she wondered if anyone had ever felt them trigger their trypophobia. One of them hid their objective, there was no telling which one. They had their first task set out for them.
Finally, she turned back to her team, she had a smile on her face.
Jovenan: This is a criminal investigation, so we need to be thorough, but remember also that everyone’s innocent until proven guilty. Keep your eyes and minds open until the end. ::pause:: Questions?
Jaran: Are we expecting any resistance to the investigation?
Lt Bergmen bit his lip. It was fair to say that they were all tired of being afraid, but when risk is one’s business, there’s really no escape.
Bergmen: On the one hand, they wanted us here and asked for our help. On the other... This isn't a Federation world, and I can imagine there will be some who see us as overstepping into their backyard. So I would wait and see, right, Lieutenant? ::glance at Storm::
Storm: Even if everyone else wanted us here, anyone involved in the crime certainly won’t want us poking our noses in. And that can look different depending on who we’re dealing with. Someone may appear to be extremely helpful, hoping to find out what we know. Avoidance is always an option, and others may refuse to answer simple questions.
Jaran: I guess I mostly wonder if we're anticipating... danger.
The Doctor shuffled their feet. Jovenan understood them perfectly. After so many missions that had started off seemingly peaceful, after probably reading about the previous missions with the Da’al, it was fair to be nervous. It had taken Jovenan a long time to hide her anxiety better.
Bergmen: Immediate danger? No. But be prepared if come? Definitely. ::smiles at Jaran::
Storm: We expect answers. Sometimes that invites danger.
Lt Storm gave a shot at smiling as well.
Storm: I hope everyone’s up to date on their phaser quals.
Adjusting her belt that held the holster for her phaser and tricorder, Jovenan wondered how she compared to her colleagues as a shooter. She hadn’t taken phaser training since – well, the Academy, but she was hardly held back in a while with real-life practise. Lt Bergmen had provided a demonstration of their weapons-handling capabilities on the battlefield on Galaris, while Lt Storm’s tactical proficiency was well known. Hopefully, for her and Doctor Jaran’s sake in particular, they didn’t need to draw their weapons.
Jovenan: Yes. But remember that we’re invited here by the Da’al government. There’s a lot of factionalism among the Da’al, but the Afalqi project was a major source of pride for many, so there are people who wish us to succeed. Let’s show people the courtesy one can expect from an invited quest.
Jaran: So where do we start?
Bergmen: One would expect a welcome committee, or at least someone to take us inside, but… I don’t know. Should we go by ourselves, ma’am?
Storm: I wouldn’t expect anyone to greet us until we actually get inside.
Jovenan glanced around them, just to verify that there were indeed nobody in there, before returning to her colleagues.
Jovenan: The Captain and her team are meeting with the political authorities, so they’re probably the ones being received by the “welcome committee”. Seems they’re giving us a wide berth to conduct our investigation.
Lt Bergmen nodded and was already making moves for them to find their scene of investigation when Doctor Jaran continued.
Jaran: Has anyone else noticed that this place feels... deserted? There's a guard at that one checkpoint over there ::points::, but the one over there ::points:: is empty. And there's no one moving around at all. I haven't seen a single door open or someone move past a window.
Bergmen: We are near the governmental building, doctor, which usually isn’t the most popular place to hang around. Plus the heat of the day. I wouldn't worry about it.
Storm: My guess would be that top-secret research facilities are rarely bustling with visible activity.
Jovenan: ::laughter:: True. And the ship that they were working on was stolen. There’s really no reason for most of them to come to work today. ::pause:: Okay, if we’re all ready, we can get on to it.
((Office Building, Afalqi Project Launch Complex, Meranuge IV))
The rush of air that served as their welcoming committee to the office building felt almost freezing when compared to the desert heat outside. Jovenan hadn’t minded the warmth – compared to some members of her team – but when they were likely going to be spending hours closed inside an office running through documents and logs, she was grateful that air conditioning existed. She looked around, finding the interior to be something of a contradiction to the austere simplicity of the exterior. Architecture wasn’t something she knew well, so she wondered if someone in that field had an explanation to the values by which the Da’al designed their buildings. The surviving government buildings in Tecra had also had plain concrete exteriors, yet the banquet hall, the very place Jovenan had received her first promotion, had been decorative. A notable difference was, however, that the hall in Tecra was inviting; the cold marble and glass room featured a guard post in the middle.
Bergmen: Should we wait for someone to pick us up or go and announce ourselves, ma’am?
Lt Storm gestured towards the only person they could see, manning the booth.
Storm: With your permission, Commander?
Jovenan: It would be wise to let them know why we’re here. By all means, Lieutenant.
Jaran: Response
The continued their walk across the entrance lobby. The echo arising from their boots hitting the stone floor was the only notable sound in the empty hall. Jovenan wondered if it was always like this, or if the scene had been different had they visited before the Afalqi was stolen: were there crowds of Da’al engineers and officials rushing through the space, was there a chatter that rose above the echos? Did they arrive here only when it had already turned into a ghost town?
Bergmen: Do you think they are watching us?
Lt Storm’s response was quiet.
Storm: They’d be foolish not to be.
Jovenan: I’d assume they’ve only ramped up their security measures after the theft.
Jaran: Response
Before they reached the booth and the lone Da’al there to receive them, Lt Storm stopped and turned to them, speaking only in whispers. Jovenan glanced at the person sitting behind the counter, a Da’al woman with brown hair, likely dyed based on what she knew of the Da’al phenotype. The official was merely smiling at them.
Storm: Assume they’re watching, listening—and recording. If we find something, let’s not flash our cards. Quietly tell the Commander and let her decide what to do with it.
Jovenan: That is… hopefully an overmeasured precaution, but you’re right, let’s avoid revealing to outsiders what we find, and let the official channels handle sharing the information.
They approached the receptionist.
Bergmen/Jaran: Response
Ce’Mond: Of course. And how can I help you today?
Storm: We’re from Starfleet.
Lt Storm gestured towards the badge. Jovenan quickly glanced downwards, as if to verify that she, too, was wearing one – she was, obviously. She turned back towards the receptionist, trying to match their smile.
Ce’mond: Starfleet?
Jovenan’s eyebrows shot up. What do you mean Starfleet? The receptionist was typing something on the computer terminal, but Jovenan couldn’t tell if she was informing someone of their arrival, checking if Starfleet’s arrival was planned or searching what Starfleet was in the first place. The question was so vague she didn’t know how to respond properly.
Jovenan: Um, yes. The Federation Starfleet. We’ve been invited here by the Provisional Government.
Bergmen/Jaran: Response
Ce’Mond: Ooo.
Finally… right? The smile on the receptionist’s face shifted, though Jovenan couldn’t decipher what it meant.
Ce’Mond: That Starfleet.
Storm: Yes. That Starfleet.
Bergmen/Jaran: Response
Now that they were at least recognised, Jovenan thought it was better to just get moving and start their investigation rather than try and find anything from the receptionist. She might not be willing to share much, or she might not know anything relevant either.
Jovenan: We’d like to look into some of Chief Engineer Havun’s documents, please.
Ce’Mond: Mister Havun is not available right now.
Blink. Uh…
Bergmen/Jaran/Storm: Response
Ce’Mond: His office is on the third floor, corridor 7a, room 31. You can use either the lift marked with dark blue or the staircase South-4.
Jovenan: Thank you. Uh, have a nice day.
The receptionist permitted them to pass through the checkpoint – still that odd smile on her lips – and the team ventured further into the building. After the wide and open entrance lobby, they entered smaller set of corridors. Everything was lit up as one would expect for an office building, but without nobody else in there, Jovenan felt somehow just as unnerved as she imagined she had should the lights be blinking and debris laying around the floor. It was just her imagination, but there was something unwholesome about the lack of people where there should have been some.
Bergmen/Jaran/Storm: Response
Jovenan: I wouldn’t read too much into that interaction. The Da’al politics are very factional, and our previous involvements with them are probably controversial among some people. Who knows what she’s thinking of us, personally. ::pause:: Third floor, corridor 7a, room 31. Let’s get going so we can start this investigation.
Bergmen/Jaran/Storm: Response
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Lieutenant Commander Jovenan
Chief Science Officer
USS Artemis-A
E239911J11