Lt Alex Storm - We've Got Some Hunting to Do
Karen Morris
(( Shuttle Griffin, Enroute to Andoria ))
Alex had absconded with Nat’s viewscreen.
Some people say show and tell is for a child Cassie’s age, but in this case, showing Kona’s likely actions worked better than simply telling about them.
Storm: …Are mostly populated by Andorians and Aenar. But this area. ::Alex scribbled over a small portion:: has the highest percentage of non-Andorians. I’d suspect we’ll find him here.
Jaran: Gonna make it a challenge to hunt down two specific people.
Cole: ::with a twinkle in her eye:: Where's your sense of Adventure?
H’aal: I would expect you to be satisfied with that wish, Lieutenant.
Storm: I’m just sharing the intel that H’aal was able to find for us. Nat is in charge of the operational undertaking, so I’ll turn everything else over to her.
Jaran: Take it away, Nat.
Cole: The first thing we’re going to do is inform the Imperial Guard of not only Kona’s outstanding fines, but also that a child is involved. Growing up I remember hearing stories of how fiercely honorable Andorians are. An ancestor of mine had a… tenuous friendship with one for a while. That changed when he helped rescue someone in the Andorian's family. The point is their dedication to family is absolute. That might tip the scales in our favor.
Andorians were known for two things - their militaristic standing and their fierce love of family…well, and cold weather too, but that was the planet - not specifically the people.
Cole: I’d prefer we handle this as quietly as possible. If we could intercept Kona ::gestures to the display:: those that look like a residential biome, we could have a polite conversation to convince him to stop. Otherwise our best option would be to control where he runs. Limit his route by the illusion of many options, but they ultimately funnel to the same singular location.
H’aal: I would say by my experience, Andorian’s Guard will be anything but hidden with their presence in the streets searching for Kona. They will definitely smoke him out, and limit his options on the run… but… ::nods to unspoken, and then glance to Cole:: I would choose a less visible approach and search for a helping hand more locally, just my opinion.
Jaran: ::gesturing at medkit:: Please don't make me need this.
Alex disengaged her control over the viewscreen from her PADD. The starscape appeared in all of its black and white glory with one notable exception - A blue, quickly growing pin-prick was now visible.
Sambur: ::To Storm:: I’m not familiar with how well Betazoids can hide their psionic presences from each other. Is this a skill Kona might have developed?
Cole: That’s actually a good question.
H’aal: Alex?
Alex looked between all the sets of eyes converging on her position.
Storm: Um…that’s a complicated question.
Alex reached up and scratched behind her ear as her face drew in on itself. Her subsequent words came slowly.
Storm: I … well… I sensed him when they were leaving, but I didn’t know it was him at the time. It felt different than when we were …
The word “married” died on her lips. They were still married - technically.
Storm: Than before he left with Cassie. But if I can zero in on that different sense - maybe I can use that. It could be that he was trying to shield his thoughts, but something of Kona still slipped through.
Jaran: Yeah, this plan is great. But Kona seems to be good at making friends exactly where we don't want him to. He also seems to be pretty good about knowing when it's time to run. How do we know that's going just going to happen again?
Sambur: Cassie Storm is the child of a Starfleet officer, and Kona Antares is now the target of an official inquiry into her missing person status. Once he knows we're coming, if he so much as sets foot on a vehicle bound for West Andoria with her let alone off-planet, I can get a judge to sign a warrant for his arrest. And add a charge of flight to avoid prosecution.
Running her hands over her legs, Alex shrugged and blew out a loud puff of air.
Cole: Once we land I plan to pop the warp field regulator, just in case he tries to escape in our shuttle. Probably an overly cautious measure, but rather cover our bases just in case.
H’aal: I stay in my corner and make friends in Port Authority. ::shrugs:: To cover the angle with people who do not exactly check the personal papers, if they are gold-pressed into latinum… ::grins:: To let them know there are always deeper pockets…
Storm: If his pattern holds true, he won’t come to me. I don’t intimidate him, but … he is afraid of me. Don’t ask me how that works, but that’s the sense that I get.
Jaran: Do you think we can count on the Andorian authorities to help us?
Sambur: They are required to provide us a secure place, under their jurisdiction, from which to question him. But not to transfer either him or Cassie into Starfleet custody or even hold him any longer afterwards. His legal status will be determined by the results of the questioning.
Cole: They’ll cooperate as much as they’re able too. If Kona resists or causes any additional issues, that’ll only help our side of the case.
Storm: From your lips to the Four’s ears.
Sambur: Antares skipping out on his bills on Arbazan in favor of avoiding any uncomfortable conversations with yourself or your client could prove very useful in establishing consciousness of guilt. I’d appreciate a copy of your findings for my records.
Cole: Anyone else have questions, comments, concerns?
H’aal: Plan you have, paperwork with locals there Mr. Lawyerman will cover… I have a box of Saurian brandy packed, for friends and family. Anything else?
Jaran: I'll be entirely honest and say I'm not sure what all specifically I have to offer other than a plucky attitude and a desire to help. But it's there!
Storm: You’re here because I don’t trust Kona, and I need peace of mind that we will all leave in peace - and in one piece. We’d be foolish to come without a doctor.
Sambur: Response
Cole: ETA to Andoria… Fifteen minutes.
Storm: I’m going to try to block my abilities completely until after we’re on the ground. I don’t want him sensing me and trying to take off.
Sambur: Response
Watching Nat, Alex caught her wince.
Cole: Weather reports indicate that it is a balmy negative twenty eight degrees celsius. So bundle up extra carefully.
Jaran: My teeth are already chattering.
Storm: Fortunately, the wind is likely howling so loudly that we won’t be able to hear your teeth.
Sambur: Response
H’aal stepped closer and leaned toward Cole, smiling.
H’aal: Mrs. Cole, can you ask Arrival Control whether Thoras from Customs is on duty today? If he would be, just say hello to him from me and tell him I have something to declare. ::blinks one eye::
Cole: Response
Jira raised an eyebrow. Alex leaned over and said in a conspiratorial tone…
Storm: I think he’s referring to his Saurian Brandy.
Sambur: Response
H'aal moved back to his seat and sat down, ignoring any comments.
H’aal: Andoria, here we go.
Jaran: Hopefully, we'll be in and out with no complications.
Storm: And with my daughter in hand - please.
Sambur/Cole: Response
Jaran: ::still leaning back with eyes closed:: You know, I did my internship at the Sector General on Andoria.
Storm: I didn’t know that. Did you enjoy it?
Cole/H'aal/Sambur: Response
Jaran: No, unfortunately. I basically never left the hospital. You know how medical internships go.
Alex stood and moved to a bag she had in the back of the shuttle. She produced a second insulated shirt - this one with a hood. She slipped it over her head. Next came the parka - a soft grey to match her pants. It was lined with synthetic fur. The edges around the parka’s hood also sported the same type of fur. A face guard could be slipped across the hood, and in her pocket Alex had goggles - if it got really bad.
Storm: Hey, I’ve been here before. I learned my lesson then when my nose nearly got frostbitten. That cold is nothing to sneeze at.
Alex tipped her head from side to side.
Storm: But it has been known to cause people to sneeze because it freezes the nasal lining.
Cole/H'aal/Sambur: Response
Jira considered for a moment. Surely Dr. Sessinapurha was still the Attending. It hadn't been that long. They sat up.
Jaran: I hadn't really considered it until now. The Sector General isn't anywhere near the Eastern Ice Shelf, but I may have a contact in Laibok. Is that helpful at all?
Storm: If Kona runs that way, it might be…
Her voice trailed off. She blinked several times. It took a moment for her to find adequate words
Storm: … Just…please don’t chase him into the cold with Cassie.
She looked up and a chuckle died on her lips. She started breathing in and out and lay her head in her hands, fighting for composure.
Cole/H'aal/Sambur: Response
Holding up one hand, Alex’s other covered her eyes for a five count. As she blew out one more long breath, her second hand fell.
Storm: I’m sorry…It’s just…
Her eyes went wide and a shaky smile slipped onto her lips as her head nodded, but she only held that attitude for a moment before slipping from her seat and walking to the back of the shuttle.
oO Damn! We’re almost there. Pull it together, Alex. Oo
Cole/H'aal/Sambur/Jaran: Response
Alex felt a hand on her shoulder. She glanced that direction and tipped her head toward it. Several errant tears slipped onto the back of the hand.
Storm: It’s just hard. I’ve been so close before. I can’t miss them again.
Alex’s head nodded twice as she spoke.
Cole/H'aal/Sambur/Jaran: Response
Taking a deep breath and wiping her eyes with the back of her hands, Alex turned around. With a hard swallow and a confident nod, she said…
Storm: Nat, get us on the ground. We’ve got some hunting to do.
Cole/H'aal/Sambur/Jaran: Response
~*~
Tags / TBC!
~*~
Lt Alex Storm
Tactical Officer
USS Artemis
O240103SK2