Murder and Deception: the second briefing

Posted on Sat Sep 27th, 2014 @ 9:21am by Admiral Kathryn Burke & Commodore Samantha York & Colonel Damon Raine & Lieutenant Ignatz Jones & 1st Lieutenant Leroy Mangalia & Sergeant Amarylis Beckinsale

1,387 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Deadly Diplomacy

ON

When the others had filed out of the briefing room, Sam pressed a button to activate the anti-listening device. "Thank you for staying," she said, checking to make sure everyone was present. "And now for the rest of the story." She was a fan of Paul Harvey, a radio personality from the 20th century. She doubted anyone else would get her reference, but it didn't matter to Sam.

"Yesterday, Alexandra Vance left the Calypso on a shuttle. I did not authorize it, nor was I aware of it. I received a message during the reception last night that her shuttle had been destroyed. There were no survivors." She paused to let that sink in. "Because of the nature of her departure and the involvement with personnel at Starfleet, I am not sure she's really dead." Sam turned to Leo. "I would like you to take a special team out to gather up the pieces and bring them back to the ship. Put them in a cargo bay and go over every piece. See if you can determine what happened."

"I'll see to it personally. I'm going to have to borrow a couple of the worker bees from Engineering. But I'll make sure that it all gets in. Also I'll need anyone we have from EOD or Security Special services that's fit for this and has the clearance to be briefed and cleared." He ignored her using a name he didn't respond to. They had had a Leo here at one time but he wasn't that man.

"As to Starfleet's involvement, Sergeant Beckinsale has some interesting information."

Amarylis nodded at York "A few years ago I served on the USS Shadowrunner with Commander Vance. During a mission on Cardassia Prime, Commander Vance was captured and held in a Cardassian prison. An away team in which I was a part of was sent down to extract Commander Vance. As we were escaping we saw a shadowy figure at the end of a corridor. I never was able to get a clear identity however a small light revealed a sleeve of the man's attire. The sleeve was the same as Commodore York's, a Starfleet flag officer. The man ran before we could confront him.

Now we have this court martial and her death. Someone wanted her dead and I am hoping you will all help me find justice for someone whom I considered my sister."

"Master Sergeant Mangalia, now you see how important your mission is," Sam said. "This is connected to the Court Martial and the forced transfer. We need to keep this quiet until we have proof of what happened and who was involved."

"As for the rest of you, I have another, equally important assignment.' Sam took a deep breath. "The weapon used to kill the Panerian delegation belongs to Lieutenant Damion Wolfe. I believe someone is trying to frame him for the murders and turn the Panerians and Octurians against the Federation. I need your help finding out who the real murderer is and the reason."

Blackcat harrumphed, "My bet is she's holed up in some blind spot in the jeffries system or some secret intel safe room. Probably eating popcorn and watching us on a monitor, laughing her butt off."

Amarylis snickered. "She always did have a strange sense of humour. Thing is if she's hiding we can't let anyone else beyond whose in this room know. According to the sensor logs Commander Vance did get on that shuttle. However Alexandra always had a knack for cheating death. We need to first find out who the Starfleet connection is, I already have a feeling I know who the mastermind is."

"Well we don't need to hear unfound accusations," Leroy said as he stood. "Or at least I don't before I start this new one. Phoenix has already been ordered to beef up patrols and I'll be out of rotation while I look at the wreckage." Stretching, he sighed. "Ever wonder where the days of peace went to?"

"Trust me I'm not accusing. This girl wants Alex dead, but she isn't Starfleet." Amarylis began. "As for the days of peace.....one step at a time Master Sergeant."

"It still seems like one step too many," Leroy said as he made his way to the door. "With your permission Captain?"

Before Leroy could take his leave, Damon spoke up. "Master Sergeant." He said as he pushed himself off the wall he was leaning on. "Take care that non of our equipment or fighters get too close to the planet's atmosphere for the next little while. The last thing we want to do is stir up an already sensitive situation with Federation involvement. Some might see our fighters as provocation."

"Easier said than done Colonel, but I'll see what I can make happen. I'll make sure that my men know to stay away."

"Marines don't do 'easy', Master Sergeant. But that's why we're in the Corps." Damon smiled.

"We can't let anyone outside this room know about Vance or Wolfe. Not even Starfleet," Sam said. "So not only do we have to keep them from guessing that there's more to our investigation than we're letting on, we have to keep them from thinking we're trying to strong arm the two governments."

"Not just that, with the fighting having been as vicious as it was, I can see one side framing the other to try to get starfleet to take care of their problem for them. But just as we don't want to pick sides, we do need them at the table. It's almost better that they blame one of ours rather than one another, it means the road to peace isn't all lost." Blackcat growled.

"If it comes down to it, we may have to," Sam said. "But by keeping this quiet until we can get more information, we are buying time. If we can find the real murderer, it may help us come to a satisfactory solution for all parties." Or so she hoped. She honestly didn't think Damion did it. But that didn't rule out someone else from Starfleet being behind the murders.

"Commodore? Do you think these events could be connected? It seems awful convenient that Commander Vance was targeted just as this delegation took place." Amarylis said wondering if Morat had another agenda. The Cardassian was a master of deception and slight of hand was a popular tactic used by her.

"I don't know," Sam admitted. "I'm not going to rule out the possibility." But she hoped not.

"Okay. I'll look into what Commander Vance was working on. Maybe she left us a clue." Amarylis replied.

Sam nodded. "That's an excellent idea. Thank you."

"I think it's important that we start thinking critically about this. Who benefits from framing the Federation for this?" Damon queried. "Is it ones interested in going to war or ones with a personal agenda against the Federation? The list seems long, but at least it gets us on the right track."

"We have several people at Starfleet Command who went after Commander Vance. They may be coming after us now and did this as retribution for supporting Vance," Sam said. "But that doesn't explain why Wolfe was targeted." She turned to Kathryn. "Admiral Burke, do you have any ideas why Damion was targeted specifically?"

"Admiral Hunter is looking into it now." He did have an idea, but it was part of Wolfe's undercover assignment and she wasn't in a position to give away secrets just yet.

"Sounds like a lot of warmongering. Diplomatic delegations make a perfect setting for this type of thing. I don't wanna seem like I don't believe in diplomacy but peace can't work with corruption present." Amarylis replied.

"We're an imperfect people in an imperfect society," Sam said. "We'll do the best we can and hope for a positive outcome."

She again looked around the room. "Keep me informed of what you find and please, as I said before, this information is classified. No one outside this room is to know of this -- at least for now. Dismissed."

____
OFF

Commodore Samantha York
Commanding Officer

Master Sergeant Officer Leroy Mangalia
Wing Commander

Sergeant Amarylis Beckinsale
Marine

Rear Admiral Blackcat Panthera
Judge, retired

Colonel Damon Raine
Mission Advisor

Admiral Kathryn Burke
Commander, Theta Fleet

 

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