Begin As You Mean to Go On

Posted on Thu 4th May, 2023 @ 2:55am by
Edited on on Thu 4th May, 2023 @ 2:57am

1,323 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Neither Yours Nor Mine
Location: Secret Base/?????
Timeline: MD3, 0625

Previously, in "A 3-Hour Tour" ...

"Oh ... well I guess that makes sense, now. Anyway, where is our fearless leader?" Podkayne responded.

"Fearless is right," Gordy muttered loudly enough for the two women to hear him.

Both of them laughed as the sound of the doors came again. "I think the answer is on it's way in," McCord said.

And now the late meeting gets going.

Riko raised her voice slightly. "Both of you overslept?" she laughed. "Mark that in red on the calendar!"

"Well, get used to doling those red marks out for me!" Verrana smirked as she and Isabella entered the hangar area. On her shoulder, Isabella carried a duffel bag that looked as if it contained multiple objects, She handed it over to Gordy who received it and looked as if he were familiar with this bag. Isabella leaned in and whispered something to the robot, whom she'd learned to call a friend over the years. Lights on Gordy's head seemed to get brighter as he heard the message from his master. When she was done talking, he scurried off with the bag, his singular wheel screeching on the hangar floor.

She then joined her crew who stood waiting. "Has everyone found a room and settled in well?"

Riko had watched the exchange with Gordy. It was another interesting bit that piqued her curiosity, but that could wait for now. "The computer, who by the way, is quite advanced and has a personality, was very helpful. I'm in better quarters than I've ever had," she responded. "And don't think I don't want to know more about that computer's history later." Quite a bit more, she thought.

"Well, make sure you have the time because that story can get long," Verrana said as she looked at Riko. "But if you ask her about her history, make sure you have a drink in hand."

"Ava runs this place, along with Gordy, when I'm not here. Remember when I said I set this place up as a refuge for those who are hunted? Count her among that number."

Isabella made her way to the center of the group, where a workbench stood. She inserted an Isolinear chip she retrieved from her pocket, and the holoprojector in the workbench came to life.

"Computer, open the secure file using Myriad protocol. Command code ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA 0324."

A Romulan male, with standard black hair looking to be in his 40s of Earth years, appeared on the holo-projector.

Verrana studied the image carefully. A hint of recognition gleamed in her mind, but she wasn't sure if it was from a memory or if he just reminded her of someone. She kept quiet as the ship's captain continued on.

"Ladies, let me introduce our first job and target." Isabella said and continued to pull up the necessary information for her briefing. "I present to you ei'Lyrrveoth. This individual has been a credible source of information within the Romulan Tal Shiar for the past few years. A few weeks ago, ei'Lyrrveoth told Starfleet Command that he had found some information in a log from a few years back about a device that may have been developed by Starfleet. He was unclear about what the device is and what it actually does, but he would not give any more information and instantly demanded that we grant him asylum.

"Normally we would need proof to verify such claims, but he's an asset who has never given faulty intelligence and has stopped many instances of war from occurring, so we are taking him at his word on this. After the planning phase was completed for the extraction, he went quiet on us. 36 hours ago, we received word from him stating that he was off-planet, but needed immediate pick up on Retivan."

"Retivan?" Podkayne said, startled. "I know that planet. No one who wanted to hide would be found there. It's a pleasure planet, though I didn't find it so." She shrugged, "It's just what I was told, and I was new and mostly unformed then. That and that there's quite a bit of ... what's it called? Gangster activity?"

"So ... how and why did he get to Retivan would be my question, but a criminal element would explain that, perhaps. Plus, why couldn't he continue from there?" After a moment, she hesitantly asked, "Are you sure we're the right ones for this particular job?"

"Why wouldn't we be?" Navarra asked with a hint of indignation in her voice. "Between all of us, we have the skill set to pull off a simple snatch and delivery job. Do we have his exact coordinates?"

"No, that would be too easy," Isabella said as she sent the image to her crew's comm bracelets. "This guy was smart enough to just send a burst message out to Starfleet without getting caught. Hopefully, when we arrive planetside, he will either send out another message, or we will have to do some old-fashioned detective work and locate him. Podkayne mentioned that this is a pleasure planet, and our target looks like he is one to indulge himself in the luxuries of his location. We can start there."

Podkayne thought about the logistics of getting from their base to Retivan. She'd honestly hoped to have time to get used to being off the ship a while, but it looked as if the job was heating up fast. She could do fast.

Nodding her head toward the picture still displayed, McCord said, "He does look a little self-indulgent, but not exactly ... dissipated, I guess you could say." As she studied the details of the Romulan's looks, she added, "I think it could come in handy for a spy to have that appearance that screams lack of substance, lack of competence. I'm guessing, with his record of help to the Federation, he's exactly the opposite. So how are we going to arrive ourselves?"

Isabella smiled as Riko finished her question. One of the things she loved about being in Starfleet Intelligence was the ability to make a new identity and become someone else when the occasion called for it.

"We go in as ourselves. I have made a name for myself out there already, so I plan to be myself. I am not worried about Verrana as she too knows the lay of these lands, but for you and Podkayne, you need to come up with a new name. Actually just a new last name. We can go see Ava upstairs. She can help create your backstop and the credentials you may need. We need to build up our reputations as transport professionals."

"You mean smugglers, right?" Verrana said before Isabella could finish her sentence.

"When the situation needs, yes," Isabella said with another grin on her face.

"OK, just checking." Verrana said. "I enjoy the smuggling bit the best."

Of course, she would, Riko thought. "I don't have a lot of experience with that, but I imagine I can figure it out. How about you, Podkayne?"

The humaniform's eyes gleamed. "I have an excellent memory, and I know I can do this. Shall we consult Ava now?" She was excited to get started, and suddenly ready to be back behind the console of Nomad, sailing through the black depths of space.

Isabella was glad to see her crew in good spirits about their first mission together. It was important that they get through this first hurdle together. "O.K., you two go see Ava. Verrana and I will get some supplies together. Podkayne, feel free to work with Gordy to get the Nomad ready for launch."

She took a moment to look over her crew. She felt that they were ready for this. Some were untested in this field, but she knew they had what it took.

"Well, if there are no questions, handle your tasks and meet back in fours hours. We lift off then."

 

RSS Feed