Lt. Commander Foster - Curiouser and Curiouser
Jamie LeBlanc
((Public Plaza – Capitol City Center, Capricalia))
Wyn naturally spoke fast. He moved fast, spoke fast and something thought fast. Sometimes his mouth moved faster than his brain, but fortunately this was not one of those times. He was speaking fast today because there were a lot of things going on and he was worried that if he didn’t keep moving that something bad might happen.
Foster: We’re going back to meet with the Secretary of Commerce Themem Zilo. We have updates for him, which includes more information on a Federation contact that failed to communicate his struggles to the Federation Council, and a warning that there’s been an assassination attempt on one of the other Capricalian councilmembers.
He had an oddly Human accent, a brash tone to his voice which fit well within Starfleet though didn’t seem especially Andorian. Then again neither was his last name, so that all fit together.
Bryce: Understood. Is he expecting us?
He nodded, and for a moment he paused, giving Bryce a chance to digest. He empathized with her – he, too, was thrown into a complicated mission when he was an Ensign. He didn’t want to e the person making it more overwhelming than it already was.
Foster: Yeah, he’s waiting for us, so now is your time to ask any questions before we meet with him.
Bryce: Just one, sir. How receptive is he likely to be… and is he expecting us to bring him reassurance, bad news, or both?
He sucked a breath in through his teeth considering the perceptive question.
Foster: He … doesn’t like us very much. His concerns have been ignored by the Federation for the past two years, and his daughter was recently killed by pirate attacks – the very pirates he kept asking the Federation to deal with. Of course now we’re finding evidence of foul play that his messages were being intercepted and diverted … but between the dismissal and the grief, he’s a hard sell.
Wyn paused for a moment and considered that as soon as the high Council reached out for help using their channels, the Federation received the message and sent Starfleet. So Capricalia did have some channels that were not being tampered with.
So there was the question of what, internally, in the Capricalian council structure was against Themem Zilo as well? Did his own people not like him for some reason? Was he singled out by the Romulans to manipulate for s reason?
Or was it all just a big stinky misunderstanding?
If it was it was a big, stinky, incredibly deadly misunderstanding which still undersold the tragedy at play.
Bryce: In that case… I’ll follow your lead. Is there anything specific you would like me to focus on when we speak with him?
He nodded slowly.
Foster: He’s still grieving his daughter. But moreso, he seems to be separated from other members of the Capricalian council. I don’t know if that’s deliberate – on his part or the structure of the government or… if it’s something I’m not seeing. Either way I find it odd that he tried very hard to make his concerns heard, had his communications derailed and hidden from the Federation, and yet other members of the Capricalian council had other contacts and could communicate enough to get us to come here.
Bryce: ?
Wyn led the duo back inside the Commerce Center chambers, towards the lift that would take them up to Themem Zilo’s office.
Foster: I contacted him via the commline, he is expecting, well, me at least. I will introduce you. I think it fair for me to say that my former companions Ensign S’zurak and Lieutenant Ross are in the field focusing on completing his request.
Bryce: ?
As they got into the lift, Wyn snapped his tricorder out to check for listening devices. Paranoia? Wyn? Always. There was an all clear beep and he turned towards Bryce.
Foster: Lieutenant Ross confirmed that he identified undercover Romulan operatives on Capricalia. I don’t think Councilor Zilo is aware of this and I’m not sure how – or if – we should broach that with him.
Bryce: ?
Foster: There was an assassination attempt on Ozan Zirzal, the leader of the Council, directly while Captain Fairhug and Commander Marsh were meeting with him. It is a very concerning focused effort to undermine both our efforts and the Capricalian government.
Bryce: ?
The lift came to a stop, and opened to reveal a well decorated hallway, again with the beautiful and oddly pastoral paintings that depicted strong Capricalian men and women working verdant plains, defending their homelands, protecting the young and downtrodden. They were lovely, romantic scenes that stood in stark contrast to the exceptionally pristine, sterile space that was the Capitol Center.
And from what little he got from Evan Ross, this façade of pristine immaculate modern beauty only stretched so far. Beyond this was the decay and danger of a crowded, locked down, angry population that was running low on patience and resources.
Bryce: ?
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tags/tbc
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OOC – I’ll link us with Themem Zilo in my next sim, but wanted to make sure Bryce had a good idea of what was going on IC
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Lt. Commander Shar’Wyn Foster
Executive Officer
~Julian Beck
E239010ST0