Lt Cmdr Naledi - SOS
Naledi
((Director of Strategic Operations Office, Deck 1, USS Thor))
In a way, their team could only act as consultants. They were not the assigned escort, they were not part of the Syren Song’s fleet, they were only looking out for the safety of their own crew aboard that ship. Their words could be ignored with no consequence. Naledi hoped that this did not happen, Whilst Commanders Saa and Kreshkova would undoubtedly made a good Captain and First Officer, they were not in the position permanently yet.
Vharo: The likelihood of that going through is negligible, we don't have an actionable threat at the end of the day.
Fletcher-Bouchard: In an ideal world, we could reroute everything through the one network that we have complete control over. At this late stage, though, it’d be a complete overhaul of the ship’s systems, which isn’t ideal with the guests already aboard.
Naledi: Crick Snap Pop Hiss Clack… It does not agree, we can just as easily become compromised. With complete control, this vessel could condemn both ships in the wrong hands. With all of those people aboard, we are only looking at tightening security for our crew’s safety. We have no other stakes in the voyage of the Syren Song.
Although Naledi understood the ensigns concerns, it was not their place to take over the operations of another ship, merely to guide them to be more secure on their own.
Winters: I am starting to wish I brought a few more Marine's with me. More boots on the ground over there would help deter any potential threats unless you are thinking a much larger organization could be planning something?
Vharo: As I stated, all normal channels have been uncharastically quiet and unfortunately the wheels of Starfleet painfully turn slowly when it comes to espionage. We've caught the ships names in messages between various smaller groups but none of them have the funding, manpower or experience to conduct an operation of the complexity necessary.
Fletcher-Bouchard: So, this is the route the Syren’s Song will be taking. These markers ::pointing to each glowing mark in turn:: Show areas of space that have been flagged as “potentially problematic”. Not my description, blame astrometrics.
Naledi became confused at the ensigns’ words once more.
Naledi: Snap Pop Hiss Clap.. Why would it blame Astrometric for doing it’s job correctly?
The map was well completed, with in depth reports on sensor-blocking nebula, planetoids with high-density gravitational wells, known anomalies… They were unsure why the description was problematic.
Winters: ::looking at the data and ignoring the Commanders question:: Potentially problematic? From who? What' in that region that we need to worry about.
Vharo: With the FDC's inroads with our two local humanoid offshoots they have ceased to be a problem, though we've linked Free State funding to several third parties operating on both sides of the wormhole along with a not insignificant criminal element. The unexplored nature of this section of the Quadrant is key to their operations, this voyage is understandably not good for business.
Fletcher-Bouchard: If you look at it from the perspective of someone wanting to plan an attack, this region is perfect for it. Each point highlighted represents an aspect of the region that our hypothetical someone could use to their advantage. Nebulae to hide a ship from scans, pockets of spatial interference that will hamper weapon and shield control.
Naledi: Hiss Pop Snap Hiss Crack… Regardless, it has it’s own issues with the route planned. Having a hairy chest it believes the human saying is.
Another being “Handles like a bistro but built like a steakhouse”. Humans were a very strange species, comparing spaceships to the potentialized navigational prowess of eatery menu stereotypes.
Winters: ::pointing a finger at the holo-map:: What's making the hair on your chest stand up Commander?
Fletcher-Bouchard: At the moment? Everything. The path, the holes in their own security. They're testing the winds too much.
Unfortunately, that was true.
Naledi: Pop Hiss Crack Tick Crick… It cannot make changes, only their captain has that power. We can guide, but as it has previously hinted, we are an independent party pointing out things they may not have considered. To be ignored is a possibility.
Winters: Someone explain this reference to ::throwing up air quotes:: the Triangle. Remember, I am from the Alpha Quadrant so please forgive my not understanding that reference.
Tri-angle? It was a shape with three angles, as the name suggested. Although their reference to the alpha isles… Were they talking about a region of space known as the Triangle?
But, space was three-dimensional, wouldn’t a better name be the regular icosahedron?
Vharo: I trust you mean the Tangle, Captain. In simple terms it's a tear in reality filled with untraceable time dilation pockets, gravimetric field anomalies and not an insignificant amount of quote 'ghost' ships. It's incredibly dangerous.
Or that.
Fletcher-Bouchard: I’ve reviewed some of the protocols implemented across the ship; Medical thought enough of the sensor ghosts to put significant effort into determining what’s real, and what isn’t ::pausing: No definable borders either. The Tangle is known to shift of its own accord, making it virtually unmappable.
Naledi: Crick Snap Pop Hiss… It is a variable region that we have grown accustomed to.
Winters: Well that is a game changer then isn't it? How does that fit into your security planning?
Trying to predict the unpredictable, to Naledi, was security planning. In any case, there were variables, the competency of their security teams, the competency of the invaders, other dimensional beings… Life in Starfleet was based on the unknown. It wasn’t always about having a comprehensive plan to any situation, it was about tossing the odds into your own favour.
Vharo: From an Intelligence stand-point, it is quite low on my list of concerns. Frankly if something or someone emerges from it we won't have any more warning then the cruise ship . It's possible to sit at the edge and be relatively fine all while being completely shielded but that comes back to not having any warning on our end and our inability to effect change without anything meaningful threat wise mean's the vessel's track close to it is both a known and unchangeable factor.
Fletcher-Bouchard: For Securtity as well, it’s not the highest on the list at the moment. The Tangle is, by its nature, unpredictable, and trying to protect against every possible wouldn’t be the most efficient use of our resources. What I have done at least is taken the previous research Science and Medical did on The Tangle during the Thor’s relaunch, and made sure everyone has access to it.
Naledi: Crick Hiss Pop Snap Tick… It’s officers are correct. Whilst the region is anomalous, the preventative precautions revolve around the competencies of the crews and how we deal with the anomalies when they arise.
Winters: Why this route? The threat level is higher than I would think a Captain of a luxury ship would be comfortable with. Why not a less dangerous route or at least a request for heavier security escorts? ::beat:: I am the Captain of the Syren Song. I am bringing aboard a diplomatic core, hosting high level dignitaries from various regional groups. Why do I choose this region to traverse instead of a safer route?
There were many captains throughout history that disregarded warnings. The Titanic on Earth ignored iceberg warnings on it’s maiden Voyage to arrive in New York early. The Khraisa on Xindus decided to press through the Crystal cave, trapping the boat in a grip nobody could have escaped… All of those were for their passengers, passing through the danger zones was supposed to be the novelty of the cruise. It wasn’t just about going from point A to point B via point C, it was an experience to be had.
It wasn’t the destination, it was the journey.
Vharo: I might have a theory, it may however be a coincidence. The route was picked at least according to the briefing to offer the best show to better encourage expansion. The Captain isn't new but all his information is second hand, we've already proven the security is below par maybe someone adjusted what information he had access to weeks ago.
As this ensign finished their sentence, the other ensign made a face before looking up at the ceiling of their office. Looking up at their line of vision, Naledi couldn’t see anything all that interesting up there. It looked like a ceiling, as it always had.
Fletcher-Bouchard: So I pick a scenic route, with a single escort so the guests don’t think it’s a military operation. A better, more relaxed enviroment for diplomatic talks, and to encourage the powers that be to invest more in the region….maybe….but why the lax security aboard? If he’s not new, he’s got to know that someone could crack the Syren’s Song if they wanted.
Naledi: Crick Hiss Pop Smack Tick… No matter how much security they implemented, that rule remains a constant. If someone wanted to breach the Syren Song, they can do so. There will always be flaws in every ship, some find a satisfaction in taking advantage of those vulnerabilities. The Thors is [REDACTED INFORMATION], despite the effort made to draw away from that weak point, it’s remains, yet we still explore because it’s seen as an acceptable risk. That’s likely how they see these vulnerabilities.
The holoprojector changed once more, these particular edits being generated by Ensign Vharo. Dots splintered through the space, over and over and over again until the Thor was swimming in a sea of multicoloured dots.
Vharo: Half of those dots are unaffiliated low end smugglers and pirates, so we can discount them. That will leave us with ::she takes a beat as she deletes a large swath of the dots.:: Several Free State affiliates, high end smugglers and pirates.
The number of dots was now near depleted, but still higher than Naledi would have wished.
Fletcher-Bouchard: Any of whom could, theoretically, be able to field an operation like we’re discussing.
Naledi: Tick Snap Hiss… Would any have the motive?
Winters: Response
The ensign continued staring at the ceiling, yet Naledi was still unsure about what was so interesting about the space above their heads.
Vharo: Indeed, plenty of alternatives that intersect with the hot spots but I'm not seeing a pattern in it. The only route with no hotspots is the current one, which is technically speaking a good thing but there is something clinical about it like it's too clean ::she frowned, tilting her head at the map:: Maybe the route being empty is the point?
Fletcher-Bouchard: It’s perfect, isn’t it? No third party activity along that path at all, no cause for concern whatsoever. So naturally, that’s the route our Captain would pick; and because there’s no reported cause for concern, he’s light on his own security. It looks like a set up.
Naledi: Tick Snap Pop Hiss Crack… Perhaps there’s a reason the abundance of dots is absent in this zone. Their could be anomalies that we cannot detect there. Meaning that the captain chose that route without thinking about why it was empty. It’s survivorship bias. Any good captain would see that.
Winters: Response
Fletcher-Bouchard: So if this is a set up, like we’re theorising, what’s the end goal? Latinum, difference of opinion, chaos for the sake of chaos?
If their end goal was for material goods, there was an abundance of easier and more profitable targets. The most valuable cargo onboard the Syren Song was the diplomats themselves. If they did want to attack, it would be personal and highly planned in advance.
Naledi: Crick Snap Pop Tick Crack… The main cargo of interest are the diplomats. If someone were to gain access, they could terrorize them for their own political agenda. A petty theft is unlikely in this case. There isn’t anything onboard of physically high value that can be sold undetected, and the amount of planning needed to get omboard wouldn’t be worth the cost.
Winters / Vharo: Response
Fletcher-Bouchard: I agree. That doesn’t seem likely given the amount of planning and access this would have required. Too much effort and expertise to be random or pointless.
Naledi: Tick Snap Pop… It agrees, Ensign.
If they wanted to break aboard for the love of the game, there were more rewarding challenges out there.
Although this was all hypothetical and nothing may happen at all, Naledi always agreed that it was better to plan for the worst, but hope for the best.
Winters / Vharo: Response
Fletcher-Bouchard: ::turning to Vharo:: Do you have access to any older reports? Prior to the Syren’s Song announcement, I mean. The route’s clear now, but it may not have always been that way.
Winters / Vharo: Response
Watching as the holo-display changed again. Points of issue moved around consistently, but the proposed route never changed. It was always clear.
Naledi: Crack Pop Hiss Snap… It thinks the Syren Song is in danger. Why would a region of space with so much crime have a strip so perfectly clear? Especially given that we know the abundance of disruptive anomalies in the area.
Winters / Vharo / Fletcher-Bouchard: Response
As Naledi went to respond, they got a priority one message on bleep on their desk. Pressing the button with their palp, their other palp rose, ceasing the conversation.
Promontory: “SOS. Syren under attack, Janaran unresponsive. Send help.”
Naledi: Crick Snap Pop Hiss Crack… Why did we have to be right? This is a general distress call, bounced through relays. Team, we need to triangulate where it came from, cross-referencing with the data from stellar cartography.
Winters / Vharo / Fletcher-Bouchard: Response
Using their own terminal, they took their time in finding the signals source. For them, it was better to do it once correctly than several times incorrectly, but the trans-dimensional anomalies made the job… somewhat challenging.
Naledi: Tick Crack Snap Pop… Is anyone having any luck?
Winters / Vharo / Fletcher-Bouchard: Response
TBC
Lieutenant Commander Naledi
Director of Strategic Operations
USS Thor (NCC-85852)
R240107AS3