Commander Margaret Walker: The Beginning of Something

[Michael Meir-Wright]

(( Security division conference room, Deck 7, USS Octavia E. Butler ))

Walker listened intently to Kessler’s confident recollection of his time as a prisoner of the Zet. It struck her that the man seemed oddly proud of his actions during his incarceration and wondered what that said about him. Overconfident? Reckless? Or just… very different from me? She dismissed the errant thought and continued to focus on his reply.

Kessler: I turned their own prison against them. My administrator was also in charge of the facilities security services. I made multiple escape attempts, each time finding a flaw in their security I could use to my advantage but then would deliberately trip a sensor or allow one of their patrols to spot me. I knew being the son of a Starfleet Captain they had in captivity somewhere would mean they would not risk killing me. In fact I was counting on that knowledge to get me closer to my parents. In the mean time, my administrator learned of some weakness in their facilities security, planned and implemented changes that brought him recognition from above and bonuses paid out to him. All in the mean while I was collecting a detailed layout of the facility and learning other security holes that we could use to breach the facility at a later date if needed.

The question that intelligence operative liked to ask bubbled to the surface of Walker mind. She did not hesitate, however, it was important that she demonstrate that she was in control of the conversation.

Walker: I have to ask, :: she said in her usual matter of fact tone. :: Did you give them any information at all, Mr. Kessler? Even if it was apocryphal or innocuous. Did you give them anything?

Kessler: (eyeing Walker with a straight face) No and I am somewhat offended that you ask. I put myself in that situation, volunteered for the mission knowing the possible outcome.

She glanced down at her PADD and looked again at the biometric readings. There was nothing out of the ordinary- the computer did not believe Kessler was lying. Walker could not blame the man for taking offense- if the roles were reversed, she herself would have likely felt the same.

Walker: It is my job to ask these questions, no matter how offensive. :: she said. :: I would be remiss if I did not ask them. :: she sniffed and learned forward. :: Tell me about your escape from the penal colony. Reports on that are… vague.

Kessler: Learn your enemy, know your enemy. Impatience for victory will certainly bring defeat. (leaning back) I learned the Zet, exploited their weakness and used it to finally escape. With the aid of Ensign Radek, a security officer from the Caboto that had been transferred to my facility just days before we left, we were able to get to their air dome and steal back an areoshuttle that we discovered there from the USS Caboto.

Walker raised an eyebrow and made notes on her PADD. That was interesting to be sure. A recently transferred prisoner and a conveniently parked Starfleet vessel- from the very same ship that Kessler’s father commanded. That was all very convenient- and very suspicious.

Walker: Is the aeroshuttle aboard the Butler now?

If it was she would have it searched and isolated from the ship’s primary computer network. Either the Zet were sloppy jailers or Kessler’s escape was not as miraculous as they had all been led to believe.

Kessler: Unfortunately no. Promontory can confirm it was destroyed. His team had to beam myself and Radek off the shuttle before the Zet destroyed it. I guess they were done playing host to escape artist.

She was not surprised, and it lead credence to the theory that was beginning to take shape in her mind. Shifting in her seat, Walker placed the PADD on the desk, tilted her head slightly and stared at Kessler intently as she spoke.

Walker: Does any of this strike you as suspicious, Mr. Kessler?

Kessler: The timing of Radek’s transfer to the facility was suspicious. They moved him over after I had almost demanded information again on my parents but refused to give any details about Starfleet operations.

How convenient, she thought to herself, he refuses to divulge information about Starfleet and the next thing he know he’s new friend just happens to be an officer aboard his father’s ship- and they escape together. Walker didn’t know what the odds of that happening were, but if she had to guess, she would probably say they were infinitesimal.

Walker: What can you tell me about this Radek? Did you get to know him well?

Again, she was sure of the answer before Kessler had uttered it.

Kessler: All I can tell you is that he is Rekarian and he was listed on the Caboto’s duty roster at the time of the ships disappearance.

I’m going to need to speak to this Rekarian, she decided silently. All of this is too much coincidence for my liking. She picked up her PADD again and set herself a reminder to find the junior officer and bring them in for questioning. She swiped across her screen and pulled up the scant file Starfleet had on the Zet.

Walker: Did you get any sense of what the Zet’s intentions in  this region are?

The insectoids were not likely to openly divulged their plans to a prisoner, but Jack Kessler had been a tactical officer- and that meant he was trained to be observant. Even the slightest clue would be helpful to better understand what the Zet had planned.

Kessler: Response.

Walker: I understand. But anything that you can share will be helpful, no matter how irrelevant it might have seemed at the time, Mr. Kessler.

In her years as an expert in the Gamma Quadrant, it had become clear to Walker that the region was a powder keg and that it would only take the smallest spark to set off a devastating explosion of chaos. Things were still precarious in the wake of the Dominion’s effective collapse- the last thing that anybody needed was the Zet causing yet more instability.

Kessler: Response.

Something else occurred to her and she decided to take a proverbial gamble.

Walker: Did anybody you interacted with mention Yansamin Anchorage? :: beat:: The neutral station on the outskirts of Esh-O space.

—

Commander Margaret Walker

Director of Intelligence

Gamma Flotilla Expeditionary Taskforce

assigned to:

USS Octavia E. Butler

C239203TW0