S1E2 - Love Thy Neighbor

[Nira Said]

[Continuation of Post #239]

"Commander, am I to understand that the negotiations are moving ahead and you're demanding the arrest of one of my administrators?"

"They are, Governor," Nira said tersely. "Commander Garrison is with the negotiating party right now. And what's more, we discovered who's been killing off your Diplomatic Corps, who poisoned the water at New Jericho...and who hired them."

"You mean Administrator Trann had...?"

"Oh, Trann is the one behind it. Besides, money isn't just his speciality, is it? What else does he handle, administrating blackmail?"

It was subtle, but Governor Xolo's lip briefly twitched before he spoke a nanosecond later. "If you caught that poisoner, then we ask she be brought to us, so she can be tried under her jurisdiction."

"I figured you would," Nira retorted. "It happened on your side of things, so the bioterrorist Sirad will be given over to you. But we're keeping her ship and her handiwork to guarantee she doesn't spread any more disease, least of all on Oaish'le."

"You will need to understand, Commander Said," Xolo said, almost warningly, "if the Oasis Romulans are allowed that new aquifer, nobody around New Jericho and the connected townships and subcolonies will stand for it. Not the landowners, not the settlers...and this Sirad will only be welcomed as a hero, you're going to have her be a martyr..."

"And what will you do about us in retaliation, hire more assassins to, oh, 'change our minds' through killing more impartial parties we hire?" said Nira in cold venom.

As much as Xolo was denying, Nira got a reaction nonetheless. She could tell as much from his body language; it might as well be letting a panicked yelp: "She knows!" Roshard was just as subtle, but Xolo's grandson Enrique was much more obvious. The governor must've realized it - what was the Terran phrase? Has "eyes in the back of his head?" Because he pressed on. "Like we have anything to do with it. And if Trann is responsible, he will be dealt with accordingly. He and Sirad and the other murderer..."

"...James Koto is under Starfleet jurisdiction and has been sent back to be tried accordingly. But I assure you, the connection to the administration of New Jericho...in light of this, we're watching your administration, Governor." And you, too, came the underlying implying tone from Nira as she finished speaking.

Xolo curled his lip. He kept it up calmly, but the pretense was abandoned. "You Romulan lovers may have won this round today," he said in calm, cold spite. "But tomorrow..."

"We'll see about tomorrow," retorted Nira with equally cold spite. "You, me and Commander Garrison and the crew of Outpost Solaere," she added, gesturing behind her to the senior staff.

"Yes, we will," Governor Xolo replied before he cut off transmission.

[Lindsey]

[Quarters that she shouldn't be in | deck 9 | but has a working replicator]

Lying on her back, one leg hooked against the other to make a surface - Lindsey typed

Invoice to Commander Kinley Garrison,
Stardate: <insert stardate here>

For emergency hire of the Shuttle surprise to rescue personnel aboard the USS Washington - immediately prior to the loss by explosion of the same.

Flight time :-27 min
Fuel usage total -  97 isotopic units
damage sustained - gash to damaged Starboard nacelle (nacelle already damaged)
Other costs -
various Fines issued by Outpost Solaere that apply to civilian craft,
Fine for loss of pressure in cargo bay 6,
Fine for public nuisance for vaulting the rails on the promenade,
Fine for unauthorised access to Jefferies tubes leading from Prominade to Docking bay 6,
Fine for not filing proper flight plan
Fine for overriding main door controls in docking bay 6
Fine for leaking plasma in proximity to station without prior notice
Fine for disregarding approved shuttle start-up procedures
Fine for Shuttle's computers not being synchronised to Federation or Galactic standard time
Fine for improper com protocols when requesting departure clearance
Fine for launching a Shuttle directly from a cargo hold lacking appropriate protections
Fine for flying in proximity to Outpost Solaere with faulty transponder
Fine for flying in proximity to Outpost Solaere with faulty navigation lights
Fine for flying in proximity to Outpost Solaere with an unregistered shuttle

Fine total yet to be finalised by whichever computer does this sort of thing.

Cost of pilot hours (rounded) 1 hour - No Charge
Estimated depreciation to shuttle value as direct result of hire- was worthless, now worthless - net change = nil

All costs to be paid within 30 standard days unless agreed otherwise

Lindsey read it a few times, corrected the occasional speling misstake and then pressed send.
then yawning, she wondered if she might be able to salvage anything of value from the Wreck of the Washington - before letting sleep grab her again

[Stryker]

When Stryker gave his piece, Nira listened closely. The idea of the cult of personality in keeping anybody, even so much as one person, from the Washington disturbed Nira. Considering the corrupt influence on Ciden IV, and the confirmation of New Jericho's capability, it made her concerned if they, or the Orion Syndicate, or (Allah forbid) both, would take advantage of the situation. The recommendation of the specific post Stryker made was sound.

"I heartily agree, Stryker," Nira said. "And I heard how much of a hard disciplinarian the captain of the Mayflower is. The modern Jellico, I believe he's referred to. It'll be the perfect place for Lieutenant Akar to be broken in," she added grimly. "I believe Ensign Arksen is due to leave on the Saratoga...?"

Sven nodded. "Yes ma'am. She ships out at 0800, today. I will let Captain Wantanabe know that you've approved of the transfer of Ensign Alar and 'ave the appropriate paperwork filled out and filed to finalize the transfer. They are in the sector and can be
'ere in 2 days to pick him up."

[Therem Estraven]

[Outpost Solaere - Deck 10 - Suite 4402]

Once the Surprise docked and everyone was released, Therem did his best to nonchalantly blend into the background separate from the group. Assassins, exploding hips, and manufactured diseases were certainly exciting, but also severely draining. All he wanted to do now was to get back to his suite, cook something with lots of spice and sauce, and relax.

However, he suddenly remembered that he was supposed to get paid for all of this nonsense! He still had to pay the Federation for licenses and living expenses, and he shuddered at the thought of being homeless on Ciden IV (or even worse--getting conscripted into the Federation). Taking out his padd, Therem quickly typed out an invoice to the ambassador's office

• Hourly Rate
• Aquifer Testing Fees
• Talinn Medical Care
• USS Washington Hazardous Duty Pay
• 1 box of Oaish'le Dates

As he wrote the invoice, Therem paused and looked back Commander Said herding all of the officers into a meeting room. He was suddenly inspired to add one last item. Just because the Federation might be slow to reward their officers didn't mean that Therem couldn't try to spread the wealth.

• Sub-contractor C. Fawkes - Disaster Recovery Operations

After shooting the invoice over to the Ambassador's officers, Therem inhaled deeply and stretched his shoulders before heading to his quarters. It had been a long day, but at least it was a profitable one that didn't involve any lost body parts (but there was always next time).

[Danjar-Torra Addams]

Lieutenant Danjar-Torra Addams
[Outpost Solaere - Deck One - Operations Center]

[Commander Nira Said | Operations Center | Deck One | Outpost Solaere]

The stakeout idea was a sound one to Nira...until the news came of a civilian shuttle heading off. Headed over to Sehila and saw the console. Sure enough, there it was: One of the three civilian shuttles, a Class C-12, commonly used as a taxi shuttlecraft, but was, in general, for civilian use.

"Well, we know where he is, now," Nira said. "I'm taking a security away team to deal with him..."

She had just risen and passed Tactical and saw the power fluctuations worsening.

"Oh, no," Nira said. "I don't think that ship will take any more...old as it is, our Starfleet based slipstream drive is just too new for that ship to handle..."

Nira turned to Torra and said, "I feel I'm going to need to bring one of your officers along, Torra, if you can handle things with one less officer for the time being. Also, hold the comm to Starfleet Medical for the time being."

Then she got her comm badge. "Said to Ensign Fawkes, Petty Officers Ramirez and Jerin and Crewman Harris, grab your equipment and report to the Transporter Room One."

She looked between Kinley and Torra and said, "In all respects, and as you know protocol for first officers and away missions, the team I'm bringing will serve a dual purpose: Confront and capture Koto, and help stabilize the systems on the Washington. I'm not going to be surprised if it's going to get burned out by the time we get there, it'll be their commuppance for trying to use slipstream, let alone too much, on an incompatible ship.

"Torra, keep an eye on the stolen shuttle. We'll transport to it first to see if we can apprehend Koto that way, and then we'll help the Washington."

.
"Yes, ma'am."
.

[Commander Nira Said | Dersch Family Temporary Quarters | Deck Three | USS Washington]

Nira looked at the information from the team gone to Engineering and gasped in shock. Well. She should've figured running slipstream hot ought to be screwing systems up, and on a starship incompatible with slipstream. For the first time, she truly understood why it wasn't a good idea for her last post, the Challenger, to be fitted with a quantum slipstream drive.

I'm no starship designer, but if I didn't know better, one would have to make a ship from scratch just to accommodate slipstream, Nira thought to herself, particularly reflecting on the weeks she and Discovery were over in the Gamma Quadrant, being fitted for slipstream at Katra Station. Tapping her comm badge, she called the bridge.

"Bridge, this is Said. I have just had a report from my team at your Engineering. The slipstream drive is causing phase variance, crashing your systems...they'll cause a containment loss, opening the path to a core breach in less than twenty minutes. I suggest you begin evacuation procedures. I'll be calling Solaere to assist in the evacuation of the ship."

Nira then sent a message to Solaere to let them know what's wrong with the Washington, and to call for their available runabouts to help evacuate the crew of the Washington.

.
Given the multiple hats she was juggling, Torra was appreciative of the fact that the Commander's yeoman stepping in to assist.  Answering calls from Nira, while Torra dealt with the plethora of her other tasks.  She smiled towards the woman and gave a slight dip of her head.
.
[~30 minutes later]

[Commander Nira Said | Operations Center | Deck One | Outpost Solaere]

Nira was soon back at Ops, reflecting on Estrevan's words and making a note to talk to Kinley later in regards to rewarding Ensign Fawkes. "Ah, Kinley...there's been a lot to take in...We have some things to discuss. Torra," she added, looking to Torra, "if Starfleet Medical still has a comm link, send it to Kinley's ready room, please."

The two women entered the office. Less than thirty-three minutes later, they were back out, Nira having a PADD in each of her hands, and sporting a disgruntled expression written on her face. Nira turned to Torra and spoke as Kinley left.

"Torra, Kinley and I had just finished chatting with the examiner of Suvin and Sot back at Starfleet Medical, Doctor Bertram, while we were discussing Dersch. He kept insisting he made a mistake when I kept telling him that he ought to have re-examined Sot and Suvin if he did so, that it was irregular of him to change it so fast where it took an examination for Bendii Syndrome days. He's kept up his insistence and has cut me off...I know this, he was lying. He sounded so bland and repetitive, I don't need to read body language to know he is lying...

"I'm going to be having words with Koto and his accomplice, and Dersch, too, Torra, but I need you to send this to Admiral Gillespie, to let him know of Doctor Bertram's suspect behavior," she finished, handing Torra one of the PADDs. "Meantime, I have some people to talk to...one to give a reprimand to, the other and his accomplice to interrogate."

.
Torra accepted the PADD and gave a slight nod.  "It'll be done right away, Commander."
While the Commander's were down in the Brig, Torra set to work sending the information to the Admiral, leaving Aryth to deal with the Ops comms.

[later...]

[Commander Nira Said | Conference Room | Deck One | Outpost Solaere]
"Now, in regards to the altered cholera...Fawkes, how are you coming along with working on the cure for Sirad's altered cholera? Drylo, how long do you both think it will take for a full recovery of all Romulans afflicted and for that strain of cholera to be eliminated entirely? Addams?" she asked Torra, given she was well business-like, hence using surnames, "how long do you estimate repairs to the water filters in the Oaish'le wells, to purge the strain of cholera from the water, will take?"[/color]

The more technical questions Nira knew to ask Torra, head of Operations as she is; the more scientific end was for Fawkes, in Savar's place, and Feeva.

"Well, Commander, with the station's industrial replicators on the fritz again, we are anticipating a repair time of 36 hours."

[Later still]

Torra was reviewing the invoices for the station Operations.

[Quarters that she shouldn't be in | deck 9 | but has a working replicator]

Lying on her back, one leg hooked against the other to make a surface - Lindsey typed

Invoice to Commander Kinley Garrison,
Stardate: <insert stardate here>

For emergency hire of the Shuttle surprise to rescue personnel aboard the USS Washington - immediately prior to the loss by explosion of the same.

Flight time :-27 min
Fuel usage total -  97 isotopic units
damage sustained - gash to damaged Starboard nacelle (nacelle already damaged)
Other costs -
various Fines issued by Outpost Solaere that apply to civilian craft,
Fine for loss of pressure in cargo bay 6,
Fine for public nuisance for vaulting the rails on the promenade,
Fine for unauthorised access to Jefferies tubes leading from Prominade to Docking bay 6,
Fine for not filing proper flight plan
Fine for overriding main door controls in docking bay 6
Fine for leaking plasma in proximity to station without prior notice
Fine for disregarding approved shuttle start-up procedures
Fine for Shuttle's computers not being synchronised to Federation or Galactic standard time
Fine for improper com protocols when requesting departure clearance
Fine for launching a Shuttle directly from a cargo hold lacking appropriate protections
Fine for flying in proximity to Outpost Solaere with faulty transponder
Fine for flying in proximity to Outpost Solaere with faulty navigation lights
Fine for flying in proximity to Outpost Solaere with an unregistered shuttle
Fine total yet to be finalised by whichever computer does this sort of thing.
Cost of pilot hours (rounded) 1 hour - No Charge
Estimated depreciation to shuttle value as direct result of hire- was worthless, now worthless - net change = nil
All costs to be paid within 30 standard days unless agreed otherwise

Lindsey read it a few times, corrected the occasional speling misstake and then pressed send.
then yawning, she wondered if she might be able to salvage anything of value from the Wreck of the Washington - before letting sleep grab her again

[Outpost Solaere - Deck 10 - Suite 4402]

Once the Surprise docked and everyone was released, Therem did his best to nonchalantly blend into the background separate from the group. Assassins, exploding hips, and manufactured diseases were certainly exciting, but also severely draining. All he wanted to do now was to get back to his suite, cook something with lots of spice and sauce, and relax.

However, he suddenly remembered that he was supposed to get paid for all of this nonsense! He still had to pay the Federation for licenses and living expenses, and he shuddered at the thought of being homeless on Ciden IV (or even worse--getting conscripted into the Federation). Taking out his padd, Therem quickly typed out an invoice to the ambassador's office

• Hourly Rate
• Aquifer Testing Fees
• Talinn Medical Care
• USS Washington Hazardous Duty Pay
• 1 box of Oaish'le Dates

As he wrote the invoice, Therem paused and looked back Commander Said herding all of the officers into a meeting room. He was suddenly inspired to add one last item. Just because the Federation might be slow to reward their officers didn't mean that Therem couldn't try to spread the wealth.

• Sub-contractor C. Fawkes - Disaster Recovery Operations

After shooting the invoice over to the Ambassador's officers, Therem inhaled deeply and stretched his shoulders before heading to his quarters. It had been a long day, but at least it was a profitable one that didn't involve any lost body parts (but there was always next time).

.
The Ambassador's office had sent Mr. Estraven's invoice to Solaere for processing.
After reviewing the list of fees, Torra added in the standardized pay equivilant in credits for each task, or fine being reimbursed for.  She summed the amounts and forwarded the total for each individual to Commander Garrison for approval.

[Kinley Garrison]

[Kinley's office]

Commander's log: Stardate 79202.02

"I just got back from the diplomatic meetings with Ambassador Sherry and the remaining  administrators of the Colony. We managed to arrange some help for the colony, and have sent over some engineer teams to help upgrade their water systems with better security.  It's not as much as we'd like, but for now, it's a temporary fix. Sherry, as dramatic as she is, was very helpful in negotiations. (I'm a scientist, not a diplomat, after all.)"

"They've invited Nira and I to the funerals of Sot and the other Counsellor, which I hope to make, at least. Hopefully, this show of respect will add some good graces to our reputation from the Colonists. Maybe not with Xolo and his compatriots, given that they haven't talked to me since, and I have my own opinions on what they're up to, but we have yet to find solid proof of anything. "

"We've got a vaccine and treatment  for the strain of bacteria that was affecting  the colonists. We haven't gotten too many illnesses pop up yet, thank goodness, since we called the boil order as soon as we were able. This should help prevent more people from getting sick. The Medical and Science departments have been excellent with that."

"Koto has been transferred to Earth and Starfleet HQ for a much more in-depth criminal trial. I've talked with this JAG  lawyer  onboard, and while I can't say specifics,  I think he's going to sit in New Zealand for a long time with everything he's done. "

"Reports of piracy have been up. Given how short-handed we are, it's been tricky, but I think I've FINALLY been able to requisition a runabout for us. (Took us long enough.) It definitely helps that we're getting some other Starfleet ships in the area. Hopefully this will lead to a much more safer route over here for trading and passage. That's the hope at least."

"Computer: End Log"."