The Tribute

Posted on Sat Nov 30th, 2019 @ 11:33pm by Lieutenant Mira Jayna & Commander Hans Munich
Edited on on Sat Dec 14th, 2019 @ 3:37am

745 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Food for the Gods
Location: Planet

ON

Jayna transported down to the planet far enough away so as not to be noticed by anyone in the town. She wasn't comfortable in the current dress, but she needed to blend in. She also didn't like having her skin bleached. The disadvantage of being half Vulcan. But her skills as a tracker and infiltration specialist were needed right now, so she dealt with it.

She didn't tell Logan what she'd been asked to do. She left a message, though. She knew he wouldn't want her to go with two women missing. Or he'd insist on coming with her, and a Caitian would definitely stand out.

It didn't take her long to find Munich. "I believe we've met before, sir," she said, when she approached him.

"Lieutenant Jayna." Munich said in a low tone that he was sure no one else could hear. We are in the last area that we had visual confirmation of the two." He explained. "The Power source in near the temple from the long-range scans we are forced to take from this distance."

The general area around them resembled an industrial area in a way that Steam powered machines were being used. Some of the people were in more elaborate fashions. Those also had less well-dressed people around them; obviously servants. All these people are mingling others; some disdain by the upper crust yet they were here for a reason.

Jayna nodded. "Have you identified the machine?" she asked, casually looking around. She wanted to see what the lower class had to say about any strangers in the area.

"As far as we can triangulate." Munich began. "That structure at the center of town gives the strongest reading, I believe the source is in that facility but with the crowd have had trouble getting close." Munich explained. "Casual scans are more effort so our search is slower due to keeping our scans concealed."

"I'm going to mingle a bit, see what I can hear," Jayna said. She turned and casually walked away. She took a meandering path toward where the servants were working, stopping on occasion to look in a window.

People went about their daily routines; the flow of the crowd seemed to be like a lake filling with water, something significant was happening. Munich had heard the mumbling of a Festival and it being of great significance to the city as a whole.

It seemed more people were coming into the city center; the flow of what earth would call 'horseless carriages' had been steadily increasing as well as the Trolley system utilizing horse drawn cars along the tracks in the streets.

Luckily with the systems being Steam powered the energy signature could be more readily separated from the general mechanical background.

Jayna mingled with the crowds, stopping whenever there was the possibility of overhearing a conversation. Most were excited about the festivities. Some were eager to see the tribute given to the Protectors. The talk of tribute made her curious and she found reasons to linger.

"I hear they have two strangers this year," one woman said to her companion. "So, there won't be a lottery."

"Strangers?"

"Yes. Women. They came from over the mountain. I guess they didn't know it was that time of year. I'm just glad my daughter won't be part of the lottery. This is the last year she'll be up. She's getting married in the spring."

Lottery? Jayna moved off, not wanting to draw attention. She heard other people talking about the lottery, and the strangers. Bit by bit she learned more about the annual tribute. The more she learned, the more convinced she was that the two women were theirs.

She casually made her way back to Munich to report. As she did so, Jayna listened for more information about how the tribute was to be delivered, and where. There wasn't a lot of talk, as most were familiar with the process, but sunset at the pyramid was the general consensus. From the position of the sun, she gathered they had about an hour.

Jayna decided not to meet up with Munich. Instead, she found a quiet place to check her makeup, and send a message to Commodore York and Commander Munich, informing them of the tribute. Then she went back to mingling to see if she could learn where the two women were being held.

____
OFF

Lieutenant JG Mira Jayna
Assistant Chief Intelligence Officer

Commander Hans Munich
Executive Officer

 

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