Fleet Captain Addison MacKenzie - Confessions of Treachery

[Addison MacKenzie]

((Briefing Room – Deck 1, USS Artemis-A))

 

MacKenzie clasped her hands and rested them on the conference table’s surface, leaning forward as she did so.

MacKenzie: I’ll be honest, my teams are doing the best they can with the data and observations we were able to make from our limited time on the surface, but I’m not sure we have much to go on with what we’ve gathered so far… And I can’t in good faith send any of my officers in to conduct any further investigations unless the violence has stopped.

Kexxin: I expect nothing less from a leader. The safety of your crew comes first and foremost. 

Oolwi: I could not in good faith plead for your return. The Kobyari government has already failed to protect the individuals it welcomed as guests from harm, yourself included. And following the attack on the Capitol, Defense Service resources will be spread all the thinner.

She gestured to each of her officers.

MacKenzie: In the interest of collaboration and openness, I’d like each of my officers to share a brief synopsis of what they and their teams observed. Samantha was working on the investigation of Kobyar drone technology, and Ensign Cole was with the Grunden. Samantha, would you like to go first?

Samantha nodded affirmatively.

Richards: Things in the Kobyar Capital seemed relatively fine. They were welcoming and kind from what I could tell. A couple of the Kobyar drones were delivered to us at our guest suite where Imril, Silveira and myself were instructed to examine them. Ensign Imril should have a complete report on what was discovered inside the drones. We were unable to finish the examination. ::Side glancing at Kexxin:: Our guest suite was attacked and I am unsure of what was saved and what we lost.

MacKenzie: And Ensign Cole?

Cole: After arriving at the Grunden camp we departed towards New Kehixa, the local area did appear to have sustained quite a lot of damage from a bombardment of some kind. While enroute we encountered the Grunden sensor’s system. This did lead to some initial confusion as one of the sensors detonated unexpectedly. Upon arrival at our destination we formally meet with the General and Naru. Afterwards we split our team in two; Lieutenant Zoyara’s team went to investigate the downed drone in the area while ours investigated for any evidence of off world interference. During that investigation we were attacked by Hoppers, and in the aftermath of that attack we found a facility of unknown origin under a building that had been heavily damaged in the attack. Inside we discovered two individuals and a signal, also of unknown origin. I did have to take drastic measures to ensure our team, and our guests, were able to exit without issue. Full details are in my report.

Cole exhaled audibly, and MacKenzie turned her attention back to the representatives.

MacKenzie: It’s still too early to tell, but I’d like to believe that neither side is responsible for what’s happening on your planet. At least, not directly, and certainly not a majority of either of your peoples. Do you have any thoughts on what our findings have shown so far, or information that might lend to aid our investigations?

Kexxin hung his head low for a moment.

Kexxin: I do… 

He reached into his pocket and pulled out the small device. Oolwi leaned in to look at it, as did MacKenzie.

Kexxin: My Executive Officer. He- he attacked me when we went to find some of your team. He warned me that we shouldn’t go any further into the underground facility Starfleet discovered. His mutiny led to his death. I discovered this on him. I don’t know if it will be helpful or not. Hell, I don’t even know how to turn it on. I’ve never seen anything like it before… 

 

He slid the device towards MacKenzie, who picked it up and rotated it in front of her face.

 

MacKenzie: This looks like some kind of advanced data storage device or transmitter for the drones, but it looks more advanced than anything I’ve seen the Kobyar use so far…

 

Richards: ::Skeptically:: You are telling me you didn’t know your own Executive Officer was hiding something like this from you? 

Kexxin: A traitor is a traitor, I did what had to be done and now I am more unsure of my people than ever before.

That one of the Grunden might be a traitor (and the consequences of his treachery) was a testament to how much mess both sides were facing in the pursuit of peace – or the preservation of war.

 

Richards: ::To MacKenzie:: Captain, may I suggest we have that device looked at by our Engineers? Imril is probably still dealing with the drone parts. Perhaps Tho’Bi? I know he’s a bit strange, but I think he might be a good fit for helping find out whatever may be on that thing. 

MacKenzie: Absolutely.

MacKenzie held up the device where the attaché waiting in the corner came to retrieve it. He’d be responsible for delivering it to the team working on the decks below. In the meantime, the confession of treachery on the Grunden side prompted Oolwi to contribute her own information.

Oolwi: I’m sorry to report that there is more than one traitor involved in these events. For those of you who were unaware, the first attack on Breetia has been confirmed to have been ordered by one Grand Marshall Vef-Lai. Who my government had been holding for trial for enacting that massacre. At the same time as the Village, Kobyar capitol and Starfleet teams were attacked, the holding facility where he was being housed was also raided. He was freed and escorted away by persons unknown. One of the guards stationed at his door has also gone MIA. The other is in a morgue dead from a gunshot wound to the back of his head.

MacKenzie: It sounds like this has varying degrees of complications on both sides…

Richards/Cole/Kexxin: Response

Oolwi: I think we can start calling him Citizen Vef-Lai now. His dishonorable discharge is a matter of formality at this point. He’ll be tried in absentia if he is not recovered. The additional charge of desertion, atop others related to the escape, will seal his removal of rank and status regardless of the other sentences. High Treason carries the death sentence.

 

MacKenzie wasn’t sure about the pursuit of any kind of capital punishment, but she also knew it wasn’t her place to interfere with its implementation of the Kobyari government decided that was the price for Vef-Lai’s crimes.

Richards/Cole/Kexxin: Response

 

Oolwi: Captain, you said that you believe that neither side is responsible for what’s happening on our world. I think it’s becoming evident that, whoever the ultimate cause is, they are receiving aid, and a lot of it, from Grunden and Kobyars both. We are dealing with a many-headed conspiracy.

MacKenzie: That certainly appears so… And I would say not only in the form of technology, but also in making sure that tensions on both sides remained inflamed.

Richards/Cole/Kexxin/Oolwi: Response

 

Her attention shifted to Oolwi.

 

MacKenzie: Major, do you know if your government has any leads as to Vef-Lai’s whereabouts?

Oolwi: Response

 

Her gaze turned to the opposite side of the table.

 

MacKenzie: General, were you able to learn anything more from your former first officer before his death?

Kexxin: Response

 

MacKenzie sat back in her chair, clasping her hands, resting the folded pair in her lap.

MacKenzie: It sounds to me as though the apprehension of Vef-Lai and the analysis of the device provided by General Kexxin may contain two very important pieces of this puzzle. Major, would your government be receptive to assistance from Starfleet to locate your former Grand Marshall?

Oolwi: Response

 

Richards/Cole/Kexxin: Response

 

 

Tag, and TBC!

 

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Fleet Captain Addison MacKenzie, M.D., Ph.D., FASFS
Commanding Officer
USS Artemis-A

Captains Council Member at Large

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