MSNPC Jetripar - Fine, I Give Up
Jira Jaran
(( Launch Bay - Afalqi Project Launch Control - Meranuge IV ))
Silveira: I admit I was reticent at first, but it had to be someone really high in clearance to be able to do that.
MacKenzie: Tread carefully, Commander...
Jetripar looked up from his stool. The tone in Silveira's voice, met with the tone in the Captain's, had momentarily brought him out from his internal political world.
Silveira: I would ask one thing that could be helpful Secretary, but I would understand if you deny it…
He wondered what Starfleet could possibly ask for at this point. They had been given both test and security data. What more could they want?
Jetripar: And what would that be?
Silveira: If you give us access to the Afalqi schematics, load out… Everything would be very helpful. Particularly the engine weapons and cloaking device…
MacKenzie: Mister Secretary, I'm afraid I'm going to have to insist that Commander Silveira is correct and we're going to need not only access to the schematics, but unrestricted access to personnel files and anything else my officers deem necessary as we uncover more clues and a potential motive in this investigation.
Schematics. The number of people that had full access to those could be counted on two hands. And half of those wouldn't know what they were looking at if they decided to look. "A novel, self-regulating core" and some vague gestures toward dilithium management had been enough to satisfy the more hands-off politicians in high places. And what was this about a cloaking device? Some sort of ploy to throw him off?
Jetripar: I'm sorry, but that's just not possible. Many of the highest-ranking people in our own government don't have access to that. I couldn't oO Shouldn't. Wouldn't. They all mostly mean the same thing. Oo even consider it without conferring with the entire council.
MacKenzie: Mister Secretary, either you can give us the information and access we require or I'll be forced to go to the Prime Minister and demand it myself. I might also add that I find your deflective nature deeply concerning and I'm inclined to suggest to my officers that we might hold you for questioning. ...Now, are you going to give us access to what we need, or are we going to have to do this the hard way?
Breys: ::quietly to K’Wara:: Are we allowed to hold him like that?
K’Wara: ::quietly:: It’s the government that invited us here, so technically? Yes. He’s just here as a guide to the facility. I’d presume the government put him with us partially so we could investigate him anyways.
The threat was calculated and direct. And effective, if not for the reasons she thought. The Prime Minister was blissfully unaware of the scope of this project, and Jetripar would go to great lengths (and personal humiliation) to avoid drawing his attention to it too closely.
Jetripar: ::snapping:: I can hear you talking. And you could certainly go to the government. Depending on who you talked to, you might even find someone who could actually help you. But it's unnecessary. The only way to access the full schematics is from the console in my office, but I'll provide them.
Silveira: Response
The Captain nodded, evidently pleased with the Secretary’s response.
MacKenzie: I thought you might. (beat) ::to the others:: Now is the time to make your requests. What do you need access to, and what other information do you need?
Breys: Mister Secretary, thank you for your time and cooperation.
K’Wara: ::lopsided smile:: Yes, very gracious of you.
Jetripar gave a mirthless smile in response. He did not like being bullied, whatever face it wore.
Silveira/Mackenzie: Response
Tamio nodded.
K’Wara: I want security data from all upper level cameras. If a Klingon did climb in through that roof, they were unlikely to have been subtle. And while it’s outside our purview, Secretary, I’d recommend your security personnel take a thorough look at Alvaine’s access logs. She may have been party to all this illicit business, but if she wasn’t, then she’s likely stowed away against her will somewhere.
Jetripar: That's all easily done. We've reviewed security footage and found nothing, but I'm sure Starfleet will be able to find something we mere Da'al overlooked.
Silveira: Response
Breys: The high energy particle sensor readouts, both internal and external, for the final test of the Afalqi are the most important thing I get my hands on, we might be able to use that data to track it. I’ll also need material composition data for the ship to calculate any interference it may cause with sensors.
For all the bullying they did, these were all simple requests to fulfill. It was taking all of his willpower not to resist out of pure stubbornness after the way he'd be treated.
Jetripar: That sensor data should have been in the test data I've already provided. If it was not, I'll instruct the scientific team to transmit it to your ship. The details on the ship's materials will be in the schematics.
Silveira/Mackenzie: Response
That was the obvious issue. Even if they knew what the Afalqi looked like and how its engine worked, they were still in the very unfortunate situation of not knowing where the ship had even been pointed at.
K’Wara: The Afalqi has quite a bit of a lead on us at this point. I doubt its warp trail will be legible at this point, if they ever went to warp at all.
Breys: I think if we can find the exact type of particle the cl- ::pause:: unknown device generates we could trace the decay trail left in its wake.
K’Wara: That’s presuming those particles don’t resemble anything else present in this area of space already.
Jetripar let the officers talk and turned his attention back to damage control. Letting the schematics out of his hands was a major breach. Could he spin it to seem like they had forcibly acquired them? Simply saying he had been bullied into handing them over, like a child, wouldn't cut it. Unless the rest of the council agreed that the Prime Minister needed to be kept in the dark. That could work.
Silveira/Mackenzie: Response
Breys: ::to Silveira:: I wish Jovenan was here instead, I’m in over my head.
Silveira: Response
Tamio crossed their arms.
K’Wara: Something’s still odd to me. The mismatched biometric sign that Secretary Jetripar and myself noticed was registered after the Afalqi was already off-world.
Jetripar: It wouldn't have been strictly necessary, but having someone in the control booth would have made the launch simpler and quicker. Are you saying someone could still be here?
MacKenzie/Silveira/Breys: Response
K’Wara: Well, either that, or they had a Ship on the surface or in orbit, ready to make their escape once the Afalqi was safely away. Either way, a ship with a foreign infiltrator was able to bypass Meranuge IV’s planetary defenses without anyone realizing they were here.
Jetripar was happy to grab hold of this moment to take some of the attention off himself.
Jetripar: If there were another ship, would it be possible to track that? It couldn't have had a Da'al signature, I imagine. I'm sure planetary control would have logs.
MacKenzie/Silveira/Breys: Response
That was the sign. It was time. He stepped to a nearby console to speak with his assistant.
Jetripar: =/\= I'm going to be escorting visitors to my office. Please hold all calls. =/\=
He gestured graciously to Captain MacKenzie.
Jetripar: I would be happy to take you to retrieve the data you've requested. Captain, I would be most comfortable giving this to you directly.
MacKenzie: Response
Silveira/K'Wara/Breys: Response
Jetripar nodded and walked to the door. He held his hand out to the security guard, informing him to stay put.
Jetripar: Please, this way.
Mackenzie: Response
Silveira/K'Wara/Breys: Response
He supposed he could understand the precaution, in this case. After all, after the explosion in the hangar, anything was possible.
Jetripar: Any or all of your team are welcome to come, and I can assure you of your safety. Take whatever measures you need, of course.
MacKenzie/Silveira/K'Wara/Breys: Response
TAG/TBC