Lt Ross - Rooftalks

[Hannah S]

((Roofs of Capricalia City)) 

Ross had left S'zurak behind down in the bar, sneaking through the backdoors of the run-down establishment. No one had noticed how he had left the bar behind and went up through a narrow staircase leading up to the roof - the building wasn't very tall, so he had clipped his PADD to his belt and stuck the scanner between his teeth before mounting a fire escape that ached and groaned under his weight as he had pulled himself onto the roof of the neighbouring building which was much higher. 

Up there he took a second to take a breath before adjusting his scanner to a broad frequency and collecting every invisible piece of communication buzzing through the are. Capricalia was a busy city and it would take some time to filter through all the noise of radio stations, comm-calls and private conversations, but Ross was positive: If someone around here was communicating with a Romulan outpost, he would find the frequency sooner or later.

While his scanner did the work, his comm-badge chirped up, causing a little spike of activity on the readouts of his PADD. Ross was quick to tap it, recognising Wyn's voice immediately. 

Foster: =/\= Foster to Ross. =/\=

Ross: =/\= Ross here. What's up?  =/\=

Foster: =/\= Can you talk? =/\=

Ross threw quick glance around - but the rooftop was abandoned. Just a weird greyish bird sat on top of a pile of what looked like black barb-wire. 

Ross: =/\= Yeah, go ahead. =/\=

He set the filter on his PADD to encryption known to be used by Romulan intelligence. It would take a few seconds. 

Foster: =/\= High Council Leader Zirzal was attacked. Poison. Someone I guess inside the high council building. Still at large. =/\=

Ross' eyes widened slightly as he heard the news. A cold rush of tension ran down his spine and he lowered the PADD. Those news were worrying.

Ross: =/\= Was it a targeted hit? Anyone else affected? =/\=

He could hear the tension in Wyn's voice. Despite being their FO for a while now, Ross knew deep down Foster was still first and foremost a doctor: People getting hurt on his watch was a horrible setback for the Andorian. 

Foster: =/\= Hoping it’s not a co-ordinated attack. I’m checking on Zilo anyways.=/\=

Ross: =/\= Please do. Let me know if he's alright. We'll keep our ears and eyes open. =/\=

Foster: =/\= It goes without saying to be careful out there. =/\=

There was an undercurrent of pleading in Wyn’s no-nonsense “I’m in charge” voice. Ross tensed his jaw and was about to answer, when his PADD displayed first results: 

SCAN SUCCESSFUL. 

He held his breath when he recognised the encryption details: There had been a hit. The proof was right there, in his hands: Romulan activities. 

Just minutes ago he had warned S'zurak how dangerous their venture was - if anything happened, this would be on him. A shiver ran down his spine. Were they about to go too far? 

Ross: =/\= The situation is tense. I'm not gonna lie to you, this might get a little ugly. But... I promise we won't take any unnecessary risks. =/\= 

He was considering telling Wyn about their suspicions, but their commline was too vulnerable and so he decided not to. 

Ross: =/\= Be careful, yeah? We'll be in touch. =/\= 

As soon as the commline closed, he compiled a follow up text message and encrypted it as highly as he could with the resources he had out here: It wasn't much, but he hoped it would be enough to warn Wyn of anything to come. His hands were shaky when he stared at the sentence for another second, feeling how his bloodstream ran cold. They were about to stab into a wasp nest - and they were stuck right in the middle of it.

TO: LT COMMANDER FOSTER

CAREFUL. ROMULANS ALL AROUND US.

--

***

Lieutenant Evan Ross
Intelligence Officer
StarBase 118 Ops
O240009ER2