The Curious Case of Alexandra Vance: Stage 3

Posted on Tue Aug 4th, 2015 @ 1:44pm by Commodore Samantha York & Lieutenant Commander Jennifer Tate & Jethro Vance
Edited on on Tue Aug 4th, 2015 @ 1:53pm

1,181 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Deadly Diplomacy
Location: Intelligence Labs

"Another fifteen minutes and the download will be complete." Jennifer reported.

"Alright. How about we look at the next incident? Ensign Landry." Jethro replied.

Jennifer nodded bringing the report up on the PADD. "Ensign Landry was found in Alexandra's quarters by Sergeant Beckinsale accompanied by a PADD with the words 'Forget me not'. Ensign Landry recovered from her injuries and is receiving counselling. In addition Ensign Landry was transported into the room from an unknown source with no clothing on. Commodore York was summoned to the room by Sergeant Beckinsale."

"This should be fairly obvious." Jethro stated as he waited for Tate to continue.

"It is. This was Morat sending her welcome message. Ensign Landry symbolized Alexandra and Sergeant Beckinsale was meant to find her just as she did in the Cardassian prison. The PADD was just showboating." Jennifer replied.

The console bleeped letting Jennifer know the information had been downloaded. She tapped her commbadge. "Tate to York, the download is complete."

"On my way."

Two minutes later, Sam arrived back in the lab. "Let's have a look at what the satellite recorded."

The images from the satellite began to play on the viewscreen. "Fast forward to when the shuttle appears," Sam said. "There. In the distance." A small shuttle appeared, speeding off at an angle from the satellite. Suddenly three Cardassian ships decloaked and fired. There was an explosion an the shuttle disintegrated. The three ships cloaked again and were gone.

"Computer, play back from when the shuttle appears to twenty minutes after the ships leave. Five times magnification and slow it down."

The image was now larger. With the slower speed they could see the ripple as the three ships decloaked. There was also an odd shimmer just before and off to one side. "Computer, go back, slowly. Freeze there." She turned to the other two. "What does that look like to you?"

Jethro leaned into the screen, a smirk quickly filled his face. "Clever girl." he stated.

"I think, I think that's a cloaked ship." Jennifer reported as she began to analyze more of the data. Sensor data indicates an increase in Tachyons. I can't be sure but I think it is a ship. Wait a minute. Commodore, I think I might have found what looks like a weak transporter signal. I can't confirm it. There's just so much going on at that moment."

"It is definitely a ship," Sam said. "A transporter signal? Excellent. The proof we need that Alexandria is alive." She smiled at the other two. "I suspected as much. However, now that we know for sure, we still have to pretend she's dead to keep Morat from going after her."

"I'm afraid Commodore it is too early to make such an assessment. There is no way of knowing if the transport succeed or what was being transported. There's a lot of interference in these readings, I can't imagine what would happen to a transporter. However, making Morat think Alexandra is alive would have her chancing a ghost, it would put her off her game. At least until she figured out we were bluffing." Jennifer replied.

"You don't know Alexandra," Sam said. "It's not the first time she faked her death. I don't want anyone outside the three of us and Admiral Hunter to know what we found. As far as everyone -- including us outside of this room -- is concerned, Alexandra is dead and the footage proves it."

"But, just so there is no doubt, Commander," Sam said. "Computer, zoom in on the ripple near the shuttle." The image focused in on the spot of space. "Now, watch," she said. The ripple moved away several seconds before the shuttle exploded. "That is the proof that she succeeded."

Jennifer turned around to both Jethro and Samantha. "I'm really sorry. I wish their was more to support the theory but this is just not definitive enough. As of now I still believe Morat has murdered Alexandra Vance."

Jethro remained silent as the two exchanged words. As much as he wanted to believe Samantha, he could not refute what Jennifer was saying.

"We are going to need someone....more experienced to aid us in determining what these readings are. Otherwise we will be the ones chasing the ghosts." Jennifer added.

Sam sighed. "I'm a scientist. Spatial readings were part of my job before I was given command of this ship. That included searching for cloaked ships." She sat down at one of the consoles and accessed the segment they were looking at. She quickly isolated the ripple by the shuttle and the ripple of the three Cardassian ships cloaking. She put all three side-by-side on the large viewscreen with a list of the particle reading.

Sam pointed to one of the readings closer to the planet. "This quantity of tachyon particles indicates a cloaked ship sat here for some time. This is close enough to the ripple of what I believe to be a cloaked shuttle to be conclusive. If you compare it to the particle readings of the Cardassian ships, you'll see what I'm talking about. You can also compare the ripple that crosses the stars as all four ships move away from the explosion and disappear. If you would like, we can have Lieutenant Hale run a detailed analysis to be certain."

"If you trust her." Jennifer commented.

"I do. She's proven herself to be competent and to not take unnecessary risks." Unlike Amarylis, she thought. But that was not something she cared to voice in present company. Ellise was a good scientist anda good officer, Sam had no doubt she could keep a secret if she needed to.

"Alright." Jennifer said handing Samantha a PADD. "This should contain everything she will need to determine what happened. Could you please let me know if she finds anything?"

"Why don't you do it yourself?" Sam asked.

"Of course, pardon me ma'am I didn't mean to....I'll give it to her." Tate replied turning quickly back to her console before Samantha could notice her blushing in embarrassment.

Jethro just giggled shaking his head as he also turned back to his console.

"Don't be embarrassed," Sam said. "If, as Mr. Vance wishes, you stay on board, you'll need to get to know people. Might as well start with Science."

"Yes ma'am. I'll go give it to her at once." Jennifer replied promptly leaving the room.

"She'll come around." Jethro said to Sam still facing his console.

"Or she'll leave, just like Storm," Sam replied. She turned and headed to the door, then paused. "Talk to Amarylis. She's in a bad way right now and could use you."

With that, Sam walked out the door. Now that they had the information they needed from the Panerian satellite, it was time to head to the nearest starbase for repairs. The shields could keep the ship together long enough to get there. Sam, for one, was looking forward to a break.

____
OFF

Lieutenant Commander Jennifer Tate
Intelligence Officer

Jethro Vance
Father of Alexandra

Commodore Samantha York
Commanding Officer

 

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