All In the Details
Posted on Wed Apr 24th, 2024 @ 7:34pm by Fleet Captain Maxwell Culver & Commander Lorut Vila & Lieutenant Dovenice Nyx
1,687 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
The Fall of the House of Lyo
Location: USS Intrepid: Ready Room
Timeline: MD5:
Max was staring over the information regarding Kriosian diplomacy. He was getting nowhere from this distance, being passed from one low-level government worker to another. Each said the same thing, “That isn’t our department.” When he would ask for a supervisor, he’d be passed along to someone new, or worse, back to someone he had already spoken to. He was becoming more and more frustrated with their sense of diplomacy.
He was actually glad when the door chime announced his two guests. He had been spending time waiting for their arrival dealing with the bureaucracy of a planet 3 days away at high warp.
“Come in, please,” he said a bit too relieved to close the channel to Krios.
Nyx and Lorut entered the room, the atmosphere between the two of them was still frosty. Nyx greeted the captain with a nod, and she hovered near one of the chairs by the desk after entering the room. She pulled the PADD which was carried under her arm and reviewed her notes:
✎Nyx Notes✐
1. Our job is to transport the new High Lord safely to Krios for his ascension.
2. Starfleet is not to be involved in the internal politics of Krios. Lyo will ask permission from the government to allow SF to investigate.
3. Intrepid will maintain good relations with Krios.
4. Except for our special investigation team, no one else will be taking part in the away team.
a. Security complement is Vila and Wara.
b. Tete, Doctor, and scientists are the investigative team.
✐
"You asked to see us?" Nyx asked when the silence in the room was unbearable.
Max smiled. “I did. It’s come to my attention that Commander Lorut will be continuing her shore leave here on Kaitos with the crew. That means you’ll be picking up part of the special investigation crew. As Chief Engineer, with a Kriosian COps and second officer, I’m sure you know about the explosion that has catapulted our second officer to the position of Lord of his house?”
Nyx glanced at Vila, checking whether this news was a surprise for the executive officer. She shrugged in response to the captain's question, "I don't know about any explosions. Is that what the Commander needs to investigate?"
Vila was stone faced. She still hadn't managed to make it to her quarters to rest. She knew what had happened. She had nothing to contribute yet so she stayed quiet.
“Lieutenant, don’t you watch the Federation News Network? They’re calling this the Fall of the House of Lyo. Commander Lyo’s father and older brother, the first heir - and most prepared to take the throne - were both killed in a transporter explosion. That kind of thing should be impossible on a Federation world, let alone to the Royal houses on Krios.”
Vila nodded. "Well, they say a LOT of things shouldn't happen on certain planets, but that doesn't stop evil, does it?" She said. "And YOU, Lieutenant, are going to help figure out how and why an explosion happened," she said, looking at Dove.
Nyx looked between the pair of officers, "If it's not in ship reports and directly affecting the area of space I'm physically in," she used her hands to create a metaphorical box around her personal space, "I'm likely not going to see the news." She qualified this by adding, "Maybe I’ll hear about it if someone else is talking by the replicators as they're grabbing a drink... But the FNN spends too much time sensationalizing and scandalizing mundane events. I don't like the drama of it all."
Turning back to the subject matter at hand, Nyx asked to clarify, "When you say 'transporter,' are you saying a transport ship, or 'transporter' as in teleportation by way of matter-energy conversion?"
“Transporter as in teleportation if you like. Matter unspooling and respooling. It isn’t like in the early days, there were no complete bodies to recover, just parts and DNA. But enough to be sure it was them.
“On the flip side, while Valt Minor and Krios Prime have been at peace for nearly three decades, that fragile peace could be threatened if Valt is implicated.
“And lastly, I’m sorry about not being more clear during the briefing. I had assumed that through the FNN, the explosion was common knowledge. I will endeavor to cast a wider net of recent events that directly impact our operations,” Max finished, a truly apologetic tone in his voice and sent via his empathic abilities.
"You can do better in the future now that you've realized giving the crew more information is better than keeping secrets. Most of us can't read minds. And when people ask what's really going on, that's the point to go into more detail," Nyx said. "Is it okay if I contact someone at Starfleet HQ about the transporter once I get a look at it, if needed?"
“If needs be,” Max allowed.”However, that is to be kept quiet. Details without specifics, try not to mention the investigation is on Krios.”
"I made sure that the FNN reporter wasn't told," Vila said. "I didn't want anyone who doesn't have the right clearances to hear and report back to Albion," she said. Too late, that damn cat had somehow already heard.
"He wouldn't talk," Nyx reassured them. "And I would keep the questions to technical talk only."
“Agreed. I’ll be relying on you as ground support while we’re both on the planet. I’ll be worming my way into their royal hierarchy, if possible. So far, it’s been waiting for the rotation of the same three people. Something they’ve picked up from Starfleet no doubt.” Max might have to be more drastic in his actions.
"What do you mean?" Nyx asked, certain she was missing a ton of information again.
“I mean that you, Lieutenant Tête and Doctor Morgan will be responsible to not only review the Kriosian data, you’ll be responsible for making sure that it is accurate. You’ll have all the resources of the ship in this special investigation, but you’ll primarily be stationed within the House of Lyo and liaising with another new Security and Tactical Chief, Clay McEntyre. He currently is assigned to the Consulate on Krios,” Max explained succinctly.
“In all seriousness, this is a monstrous act if it was done purposely. Tragic either way, but transporters don’t just blow up, Lieutenant Nyx. At least, not to my knowledge…a hundred years ago, maybe, but even that’s a stretch. What else do you need to know?“
"Who is leading the investigation?" Nyx asked.
“You’ll be working as a trio. I’ll be the overall lead. Wara is focusing on criminality, Morgan on biology and you’ll be working the technology, obviously. You will all report directly to me. Your findings may only be shared with each other to postulate theories and support conclusions,” Max answered with conviction.
"And where does McEntyre fit into this?" she asked while updating her notes. ✎Culver: Hob-nob diplomacy. (LEAD) Tête: Criminal investigation. Morgan: Bio investigation. Me: Tech investigation. McEntyre: __ ✐
“Mister McEntyre is the current Starfleet Security Officer of the Federation Consulate, and I’m told, will be our newest Chief of Security.” Max wondered if the position was really filled this time. It was their rotating door for staff at the moment. “Commander Paxidor has been recalled to Kaitos again,” he added dryly. Though he did note Nyx had already been doing some investigating on her own.
In a distant memory of conversation, one that hadn't initially impacted her because she thought she was going along for the ride only, and possibly now brought to her attention by her shared consciousness, she remembered the ascension etiquette comment. "I'm not going to the Ascension."
“I don’t think we’ve been invited, no. We’re just going to make sure this accidental explosion is exactly what it appears to be.” Max relaxed a bit, that was the good news. “Though we will be working in the Lyo family home, so decorum and etiquette at its finest, Lieutenant.”
Vila nodded. "Indeed. I will be sure to remind the team about decorum," she said. "Are things more clear for you now, Lieutenant?"
"I believe Lyo put forth an invitation to 'those who want to go' during the briefing." Nyx reminded the captain. "I want to make it clear that I will not go. My quota of diplomacy and ceremony has been reached for the year."
“The invitation was made, as you’ve remembered, for ‘those who want to go’. I’m definitely not ordering anyone to go to the Ascension. I guess, as the Starfleet commanding officer, I’ll be expected to make an appearance, but that doesn’t extend to the crew.
In fact, it could be a good thing. All attention will be drawn away from the actual house and transporter. You and the others won’t be interrupted,” Max suggested.
Vila nodded. "I am not going, either. SOMEONE from Command needs to be around here, just in case. Besides, I don't do diplomacy well," she said. That much was obvious.
“Agreed,” Max said, not indicating which statement he agreed with. “It wouldn’t do to not have someone from command here with our crew’s shenanigans,” he added dryly.
Nyx exhaled slowly, uncomfortable with the vague quality of the captain's commitment. She looked down at her notes and waited to be dismissed, making a small comment in her records: review resume.
Without anymore questions or comments, Max waved his hand in the air. “Dismissed then. I can only hope for luck to be on our sides.”
Max wasn’t sure why he had said that. Maybe he felt in the lurch with Krios or maybe it was leaving the crew behind with Vila - admittedly not the best influence. But there seemed to be a dark cloud hanging over his head the minute they walked out of his office.
He didn’t like it..
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