Conspirators or Not
Posted on Wed Jan 24th, 2024 @ 10:04pm by Lieutenant Callan Armidale & Lieutenant Daisheliss "Lissa" Kerr
1,852 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
Interlude
Location: USS Intrepid: Intelligence Office
Timeline: After First Contact
With the Helivan situation nearly a week behind them, Callan decided it was time to test the waters with the new Chief Intelligence Officer. Callan had been taking assignments for the last few years to find his long-missing husband, Jonah Masters. The last report Callan had turned over was that Jonah was in StAX, Starfleet’s Maximum Security Prison, but that would have been affected by the nova of the Hobus star.
Callan had already sought out help from Lieutenant Stewart, but she had been reassigned. And, with all said and done, so had he. He trusted Stewart, but he knew nothing of Daisheliss Kerr. If she didn’t trust him, she could simply report him after which, he would be found guilty of conspiracy and sent off to a penal installation.
Lieutenant Kerr was reviewing what she'd already read of Lieutenant Armidale's personnel file, and that of Jonah Masters. He hadn't been entirely clear on what he wished to talk about, so she hadn't done any digging, just perused what would be available to any senior staff member. Yet, she already had questions.
Cal tapped the annunciator on the office door and as soon as it opened, Cal stepped inside. Behind the desk was a tough looking Orion with red hair. ’Why are they always redheads?’ he thought. “Lieutenant Kerr,” he said nervously. He wasn’t sure why, he’d had the same training as she had. “I wanted to ask a favor?” he started, already having activated his bug so that recordings of this meeting were scrapped in real time.
"A favor?" Lissa asked, gesturing for him to take a seat. "And what that might be, exactly." She noted that the young officer had started the conversation somewhat nervously, so she relaxed in her chair, hoping to ease any anxiety he might be feeling about approaching her.
“Well, considering the nature of the request, perhaps some information would serve both of us better,” Cal started as he settled into the seat. She had picked up on his anxiety and countered with some openness. “I expect you know, I’m, that Jonah Masters and I were in a relationship a while back. Um, before he was arrested for treason, obviously.”
Lissa nodded somewhat solemnly. "I took a look at your service history and personal history after requested a meeting, so I did see that, yes," she admitted.
“Our bond…I’m obligated to find him,” Cal explained. ’Til death do us part,’ he thought silently. “I have to go to Starfleet Max,” he blurted out. The most highly guarded, secret facility in the history of Starfleet. Callan had a friend die just to find the location of StAX. Starfleet was serious about keeping its secrets.
“After Hobus, minor repairs were made in the Hromi Cluster. That’s where we need to go. And we’ll need a hell of a pilot to navigate the back door.”
Lissa sat up in her chair to keep herself from falling out of it. "You want to do what, where?" she asked incredulously. "I'm sorry, but I'm not in the habit of helping Starfleet officers ruin their careers. What do you even expect to do if you find the prison?"
Callan was disappointed. He had received the typical Starfleet response, the same wall he typically ran up against. Allowing his disappointment to echo in his words, he answered, “You’re right, it’s a crazy idea. Let’s just keep this between us, please? I wouldn’t want to ruin my career.”
"I don't see a reason to say anything as long as you don't have an actual plan to break Federation law," Lissa said carefully. "But there is something about this conversation that I do find disturbing. Have you not been able to speak with Jonah since he was sentenced?"
“There are no communications to or from StAX. It’s Starfleet policy, so that the facility remains secret. No, I’ve not talked to him since he was sentenced and even then it was barely seconds,” Callan answered.
"I wasn't aware that detainees were cut off from society." She thought through what she knew of Federation and Starfleet law, and something didn't seem right. She looked at Callan, "I'm not a lawyer, and am certainly no expert in sentencings after a court martial, but even convicted criminals have rights under Federation Law, and I am having a hard time imagining that this is legal."
“Would you give one of your best Intelligence assets access to subspace communications?” Callan asked quietly. “Especially after setting him up for treason? Jonah is smart enough that he could show the Federation every dark op that he’s been involved with. Or even worse, just with access to subspace, Jonah could escape StAX.”
"Maybe prisoners wouldn't be so inclined to try to escape if they were afforded basic rights." Lissa retorted. "I don't blame you for wanting to do something, but if your current plan doesn't literally kill you, you will likely find yourself in a worse situation than Jonah is now. You need a better thought out plan."
“There is no better plan. Flying through the asteroid field is the ONLY option. The front door expects a rotating code per entering vessel. Wrong code and the ship or shuttle is torn apart by a half dozen Cerberus Mark V transphotonic blast assault your vessel. Assuming you still exist, a dozen more Type X-U phaser cannons fire. Finally, both rotate for an all out blitz.”
“A fleet of Dominion ships couldn’t get through there. Starfleet used their spoils of war. And yes, the weapons are classified. I’m sending them to your PADD now.”
"I appreciate that," Lissa said steadily as she tried to reason with Callan. "How about this: You said he was framed. Do you have enough evidence to win in a court of public opinion?" she asked. Lissa looked Callan in the eyes to see if he would maintain eye contact with her.
“Starfleet Intelligence doesn’t leave evidence of our operations, Lieutenant. If we did, we wouldn’t be doing the job, would we? No, there is no digital evidence, no technological evidence, no medications or toxins in the subject’s postmortem austopsy results. There were no weapons fired. No transporter anomalies. The grounds on Bali were searched, the café, even the Orion starship, which I expect didn’t put up too long a fuss. Especially considering their alignment with the Syndicate.” Callan kept her moderated gaze, the same as Jonah used when he was considering something outlandish. Callan was just sick and tired of going over this again and again.
Callan suspected he would have to have her PADD be fried by the end of the night, once her head hit the pillow. Additionally, the PADD’s data for the day would be erased in the presence of the senior staff. That an a dose of retcon in her drink if she didn’t that this half as seriously as he did.
He had done it before. He had had it done to him in the past as well. It wasn’t too bad, a slight headache the next day and some dry mouth. Rather like a headache. He stood gazing into her eyes. It could have been seconds, minutes surely, hours unlikely - he would want something to eat. Still, his gaze lingered.
"No, no I wouldn't expect we'd find much with Starfleet if what you say is true. Witnesses who might be sympathetic?" Lissa asked. "You said Orion vessel. I may have some contacts there. Unlike what you claim happened here, I've always been extremely protective of my assets. In turn, they have almost always been able to turn up something for me."
“They destroyed it. An entire ship and crew killed to cover up whatever is going on. It all makes perfect sense. First rule of the game is to target certain players and get rid of them.”
"If you think of something legal that I can do to help you, I will. I can pull some strings, talk to people, help you get an audience," Lissa offered. "I just think that trying to fly through this death trap, and break into a prison is either going to get you killed or rung up on your charges. I'm sorry, but that's the best advice that I have."
Callan heard her words. Another no just meant another obstacle to overcome. Callan had waited this long, he just hoped Jonah was doing the same. “Thank you, Lieutenant, it’s a gracious offer, but I’m aware of his location and there’s going to be no change to StAX protocols. There wouldn’t even be a record of the place. “To be honest, I’d prefer you didn’t put yourself in danger by even mentioning the prison. It’s dangerous territory, not just physically, but by mention alone. It’s possible you might find Jonah that way, by throwing around knowledge of its existence. Jonah wouldn’t want that on his conscience , and for that matter, neither would I.”
"Why did you come here?" Lissa couldn't help but ask. "If all you say is true, you took a big risk telling me. What's to keep me from taking this to Captain Culver?"
“You can do the math, Lieutenant. The captain knows, he reports it to Starfleet Command. We’re far out here in the Beta Quadrant and it’s very easy for a starship to disappear. I wouldn’t be surprised if Section 31 got involved themselves. No, I think…I hope you’d know better than to say anything to Captain Culver or any of the command staff,” Callan stated as a matter of fact. It was a threat, but Callan wasn’t threatening.
"I see," Lissa said carefully. "Well, it seems as though you've had a long time to consider your position on the matter, so I'll stop trying to change your mind then," she said standing up from her desk.
“Thanks for listening, Lieutenant. I’ll keep looking for something concrete, but my gut tells me that if StAX exists, Jonah is a prisoner there. If that’s true, it simply means searching until I have enough evidence to convince the Federation that it is there and that it is illegal. One way or another, I’m getting my husband out of that prison.”
“Good day, Lieutenant Kerr. I appreciate that you want to help through formal actions, but that’s a dead end. Best off forgetting I said anything,” Callan finished as deactivated his recording jammer.
"Okay, well, um. I wish you the best of luck. And be careful, Lieutenant," Lissa said cautiously edging toward the door.
Callan nodded. “Yes ma’am. I offer you the same sentiment now. Word of a truth like this, once shared, becomes twice as dangerous.”
He watched and waited until the doors closed with a hiss. He wondered if she knew the sizable target he’d just painted on her back.
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