JP - Carry on my wayward son - Part 2 of 8 - LtCmdr. Avander Promontory, LtCmdr. Kel V'Len, Lt. Nesre Salo, Lt. Jack Kessler
can...@gmail.com
((Port Coray, Gamma Quadrant))
It was pure luck that the USS Ronin had decided to take shore leave on Ferenginar. It made it easy to find a vessel bound for the Gamma Quadrant. The particular trader he’d been a passenger on was hauling Tulaberry wine. It had a unique smell. Now back in the Gamma Quadrant V’Len made his way anxiously through the bowels of Port Coray, a waystation administered by the UDP, but only in the loosest sense of the word. He hoped he'd come across a familiar face in one of the many drinking establishments. Avander Promontory was the Oumuamua’s intelligence officer and had transferred to the Butler as far as V’Len knew. He would be the ideal person to speak with about Jack’s presumed whereabouts.
Thus far he’d seen no one, but there was a trio or perhaps a quartet of people following him. Very subtly, but they were there each time he left an establishment. He waited just inside a door for the group to catch up once more. They came soon enough and stayed near the door. V’Len rushed out toward them.
Kel: Hey! Hey! Who are you and why are you following me?
Luriaa hadn’t been trying to hide. Truthfully, she was surprised the man had taken as long as he did to approach as he did. When he finally hurried over to them and demanded who they were, her lips curled up in a pretty smile.
Luriaa: Pardon me, but I was wondering if you would, perhaps, confirm your identity.
Fraya: ::stepping to one side of the man:: I suggest you answer her.
Gavet, stood on the other side of the Vorta and Dosi watching the Federation officer. As a Cardassian Gavet had served in many military capacities before leaving the Alpha quadrant and launching into his current business. A business that had through shadows, grown into a wealth of information that many would pay for or even kill for to obtain. He valued his position but knew the worth in monetary gain as well as new ties to Federation and UDP business sources to come later.
V’Len eyed the group suspiciously. A Vorta, a Dosi and a Cardassian sounded like the beginning of a good joke, but something was familiar about the Dosi and Vorta. If he did know them it was most likely they were UDP. He decided to go for broke
Kel: I’m V’Len Kel. Should I know you?
Luriaa: No, you wouldn’t, but I wanted to be sure that I had the right person.
V’Len cocked his head to one side. How did they know to look for him and why?
Luriaa paused and studied the man who was rather belligerently demanding information. Starfleet supposedly was made of the brightest and best, but she wasn’t sure diplomacy was something they taught in their famed Academy.
Luriaa: We have heard of you, Doctor Kel. And perhaps I have an idea as to your purpose here.
Gavet took the opportunity to step up and speak, hoping that a face from the Alpha quadrant might help ease the situation just a bit.
Gavet: Mr. Kel, I am Gavet, I have a fine establishment here on Port Coray but I also deal in ::beat:: well more clandestine information and goods when the need arises. I’m sure you can appreciate the business and the opportunities it offers?
V’Len raised an eyebrow. A Cadasian information dealer seemed a stereotype. But if this man had intel why not see if it was useful.
Fraya: Why are you here Doctor?
Kel: I’m here because I have intelligence about the whereabouts of a missing Starfleet officer. I’m hoping to track them down.
Luriaa: That would be one Jack Kessler, correct?
Kel tried to keep his face placid and non-committal, but there was no way to disguise his rapidly moving antenna. He tried to keep them moving in order to disguise his obvious shock. How did this trio know about Jack? And why find V’Len, why not just go to Starfleet with the intel?
The Vorta studied the man closely. She was not unaware of the officer, for it had been his father’s ship that had disappeared, and that disappearance had been linked to the Zet. The contract made with the UDP had, supposedly, included statements that prevented the Zet from acting in such a way without oversight from the UDP themselves, but it seemed that they had gone rogue, though they attempted to hide their actions. Now, the organisation had to seriously consider whether or not the Zet were too much of a liability to remain in the UDP.
Kel: There are numerous missing Starfleet officers since the Zet attacked the USS Caboto. Jack Kessler is just one name on my list. Any clues to their whereabouts would be helpful.
Gavet: ::smiling suspiciously:: And that is worth something isn’t it Doctor?
Gavet knew the mention of the officers name, one tied to a lost ship and a missing crewmate would be worth its weight in gold pressed latinum but it might eve be worth more in terms of aid and support to the Federation for Gavet’s on gains while he also knew that Luriaa and Fraya would look to exploit this in favour of the UDP.
V’Len did not have deep pockets. He’d recruited Nelv to help because Nelv owed him a favour. How much Nelv had been able to find out V’Len still didn’t know.
Kel: ::cooly:: Do you know where Jack Kessler is?
Fraya: Yes Doctor, we do.
Luriaa: Indeed, we’re quite aware of the situation Doctor Kel, and I believe we can be of some help to you. Would you be willing to speak with me for a few moments?
V’Len felt as if someone had struck him in the chest. These people knew where Jack was? V’Len was not an accomplished intelligence officer. He would be seriously out of his depth if he tried to go this alone. Greaves, Promontory, Winters, Rouiancet, they’d all know what to do. But he’d not contacted them and there may not be time to do so. That meant it was down to him. He’d likely end up dead or in a cell next to Kessler, but he had to try.
Kel: I’m listening.
At the acceptance of Luriaa’s request the Federation officer stepped in her direction and Fraya looked to Gavet and nodded her head in the opposing direction to give Luriaa space to talk to the unusual blue man.
Fraya: Gavet, this venture will bring more information your way but if any of these leads fail to recover this officer you know that the Federation will come after you for answers.
Gavet: ::smiling as if playing a game:: My dear, the Federation gathers intelligence like I gather my menu ingredients. My ability to gather intelligence information would put their best to shame. I assure you my dear the information I have will put the UDP in a very favourable alignment to the Federation.
V’Len walked beside the Vorta. If he hadn’t been knee deep in spy games, he would have been intrigued to get to know her. He’d met very few Vorta and from a medical standpoint they were a very interesting species.
Kel: I’m afraid I didn't catch your name.
Luriaa kept a steady pace beside the doctor, despite her petite stature requiring far more steps than he would need. She cast a glance in his direction, his shadow caught in her lavender eyes as her lips curled up in a small smile.
Luriaa: I am Luriaa. The Dosi is Fraya. We have been looking into this matter since your former Captain and crew brought it to our attention.
Fraya: ::looking to Gavet:: I trust your intelligence. It has never been wrong but I hope your suggestion to involve the Federation is not a wrong one. This joint venture better pay out in our best interest or Luriaa will not look favourably on further UDP business opportunities with your well established organization.
Gavet: ::titling his head in Luriaa’s direction:: Oh I think this will give the UDP the ability to prove it’s value to the Federation in this region of space.
Kel: Well met Luriaa. So, the location of Jack Kessler what can you tell me?
Luriaa: Fraya.
Luriaa paused and turned toward the Dosi, whose response was immediate.
Fraya: Yes Captain.
Fraya’s voice carried a little louder than it should have as she answered the summons and started to step back over towards Luriaa and the Starfleet officer. Gavet followed closely but remained wide eyed and suspicious of the blue man’s movement.
So it was Captain Luriaa. That was interesting. She wasn’t Starfleet as V’Len knew. Given that she had intel that made her either a pirate or UDP? A Dominion Captain with intel on abducted Starfleet officers? This was getting complicated.
Kel: Captain Luriaa is it? I imagine you have an impressive vessel. I had a small freight for a while. Talaxian
Luriaa: Did you?
Those lavender eyes did not fall upon the Trilldorian just yet, but traversed across over to the Cardassian with whom Fraya had been speaking just a moment before.
As Luriaa motioned to Gavet, the Cardassian stepped past Fraya and closer to the Doctor and the Vorta.
Gavet: Our friends here ::motioning to Luriaa and Fraya:: have paid a considerable amount to locate your friend Doctor. At first I thought they were insane until I found out that your friend went hunting where he shouldn’t have. What are you willing to pay Doctor to get your friend back?
V’Len stopped walking, he regarded the Cardasian, but turned his gaze back to the Vorta.
Kel: Tell me captain. If you have this intel, why find me? Why not sell it to Starfleet?
Luriaa: We have our reasons, Doctor Kel.
Among those was the need to prove the UDP’s intentions. They wanted no quarrel with the Federation, and found themselves struck between two crumbling mountains. If they did not take action soon, they could incur the wrath of the Federation, and at that point in their development, it would be devastating. Now, this had to be reconciled, and quickly.
Kel: ::Turning to Gavet:: If you know me Mr. Gavet then you know I don’t have any money. What I do have is a certain set of skills.
It wasn’t untrue. V’Len was a doctor after all.
Gavet steepled his fingers together and smiled at the Doctor.
Gavet: Intriguing. Skills are always in demand in these parts.
Fraya remained silent as she considered the Doctor and how honest he was being with them or was he fishing for more information, playing hard ball tactics? Even Luriaa refrained from speaking, but instead watched and let the scene unfold.
Kel: So let’s say you give me Kessler’s location either out of charity or because I can assist you in some way. What’s in it for you?
This time Fraya reserved comment and looked back to Luriaa and then over to Gavet. The Cardassian lowered his gaze but Fraya saw a slight curl in his lips as she knew what he was thinking. This would be very profitable for him and it would help the UDP get the Zet back under control but the direction they would take was clearly the decision of Luriaa’s.
Luriaa: More than you might imagine. Let us just say that finding Kessler, and returning him where he belongs, will benefit us. The Zet have done us no favours in this regard.
V’Len felt a devious smile spread across his face. Whether they were pirates or UDP, it was clear the Zet were becoming a thorn in everyone’s side. V’Len had no charity in his heart for the insectoid race of Oligarchs and thralls.
Kel: We seem to have the same view on the Zet. So you give me Ja…Kessler’s location. I can hardly effect a rescue on my own.
Fraya: That’s not exactly how this works doctor.
Gavet: My young friend, giving (drawing the word out) is so unprofitable in a business arrangement such as this.
Luriaa: Of course it is.
Luriaa smirked a little at the Cardassian. The relationship between them and the Founders had been tentative at best during the Dominion War, and it had proven their undoing. Luriaa knew involving this man was a risk, but even riskier was not using the resources at their disposal.
Kel: So you want me to pass this along to Starfleet. You all don’t anger the Zet directly, but you stick it to them through us.
Fraya: No Doctor. You seem to misunderstand. The Zet may have strayed but they are still members of the UDP and under our protection.
Gavet: (stepping closer to the Starfleet officer and wrapping an arm around the doctor's shoulder) You see Doctor. Unlike the Federation, out here the UDP has a much different way of dealing with bad behaviour in their members but they do not alienate them.
Luriaa: We must tread carefully. And we also have to remember that the Zet are comprised of numerous people. Rather than rid ourselves of the entire bunch, would it not be better to weed out those who are unwanted?
V’Len found himself at a bit of a loss as to how this was supposed to work. He could not buy the intel and it did not seem that the UDP wanted him to pass it to Starfleet. What was their angle.
Kel: I’m afraid I’m at a loss as to how this transaction will work. Starfleet definitely wants its officers back so I’d like to find Kessler as quickly as possible.
Fraya: And that is precisely what we are trying to offer you Doctor but the Zet are members of the UDP….
Luriaa: What I mean is, we can use this to go to the other Ethereals. They value their membership in the UDP, and this puts that in jeopardy. At that point, we would then be able to deal with the people responsible, and yet retain our Zet members - at least, the ones who did not participate in this…situation.
It was the best way to pacify Starfleet while still exerting some control over the Zet. The Ethereals would not take kindly to losing so much when they have profited quite a bit as members. They could use this to keep them in line, certainly.
Leverage. Jack’s imprisonment had been reduced to leverage that UDP could use.
Gavet looked from Luriaa to the Doctor and then back to the Vorta.
Gavet: Perhaps the Doctor does not understand the political situation as it is here as well as we would like?
The question was one more to divert the growing frustration for the Alpha quadrant officer who might not truly realise that the UDP was not just about to abandon one of its members because Starfleet did not agree with the situation at hand.
Fraya: Just like your Federation, we too in UDP have guiding rules that we must abide by Doctor.
Kel: ::sternaly:: I find that completely unacceptable. Lieutenant Kessler’s freedom is not a bargaining chip for some political theatre. I’ve got leads of my own. Why should I stand here and waste my time?
The Vorta levelled her gaze at the blue doctor. She would reveal some things but not others. As always, she tread carefully.
Luriaa: Because we know you and Greaves came here to find information.
Kel: ::taken aback:: I beg your pardon.
It was true, he and Greaves had been on Port Coray and on the Tranquil Nebula clinic just months before and it had provided a strong lead as to Jack’s whereabouts. They’d barely been off the Foxy Lady, how could anyone have marked their movements.
Gavet’s eye’s broadened at the exchange and the Cardassian decided now was probably a better moment for him to remain silent. Looking to Fraya, the Dosi remained steady in her gaze at the Doctor and in no way showed any surprise to her Captain's decision to reveal this piece of information. Gavet did find the entire situation a bit exciting and he curled and uncurled his ring laced fingers a few times as if wanting to claw at the conversation and jump in but he knew better. That would of course be bad business for him to derail this exchange.
Those crimson lips curled upward yet again and the Vorta turned and stepped a little closer to the Trilldorian. Her voice lowered and she half whispered.
Luriaa: We have our ways.
Then, stepping back, her coy smile intact, she turned and resumed walking, motioning for the others to keep up with her.
Luriaa: I have met Greaves face to face, but I also know that Starfleet has sent him elsewhere at this time. You, however, we discovered, were also elsewhere, but then we found out you were here. So, now we are reaching out.
Fraya: Cautiously I would add Doctor. This action is not without risk even on our part.
V’Len was rapidly becoming dissatisfied with the situation. It almost seemed that perhaps these UDP folks were trying to slow him down. Time was of the essence as V’Len had no idea what Jack’s condition might be.
Kel: I’m not sure what kind of understanding you and Colonel Greaves have, but I need to act.
Fraya looked from Kel to Luriaa and then back to the Doctor. He was rash and not thinking about what was actually taking place here. Maybe the warrior side of Greaves understood the politics better than a Starfleet Doctor would. Honestly Fraya was not even sure if Starfleet trained their medical personnel in politics. Maybe he lacked the mental ability to understand but that seemed unlikely given his medical abilities.
Fraya: What is it you think you know about Lieutenant Kessler Doctor?
Luriaa nodded toward her first, then levelled her violet gaze briefly at the doctor, though she did not slow down her pace.
Luriaa: We may be able to fill in some gaps.
Kel: Starfleet Intelligence believes Jack Kessler is injured, possibly critically. It’s my responsibility to find him and treat those injuries.
Gavet looked from Kel to the two UDP representatives and then back to the Doctor. Stepping forward he raised a hand with a finger held high.
Gavet: I think I can provide a bit of insight here that might help. (pulling a data tablet from his jacket pocket and handing it to Kel) These images are just a few days old. As you can see, your Mister Kessler is well and looking in great health to me. I mean an injured man does not go jogging around a garden path does he?
Lieutenant Commander V’Len Kel
Chief Medical Officer
USS Ronin NCC-34523
T239811VK2
He/Him (character and player)
Luriaa
NPC Commanding Officer
UDP Rij’dal’vak
M239008AD0
Fraya
NPC 1st Officer
Rij’dal’vak, UDP
T239901JK1
Gavet
NPC Merchant
Port Coray
T239901JK1