Seeing Is Believing [Back Post]

Posted on Wed Apr 5th, 2023 @ 5:40am by Lieutenant Callan Armidale
Edited on on Wed Apr 5th, 2023 @ 5:41am

1,208 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Good Will Tour: Mountain Home [Part Two]
Location: Triton Seabase-The Sandbar
Timeline: MD17: 23:45

Stewart was sitting in her normal spot in the bar. She was finishing another Vulcan brandy, third of the night, and replicated another as she read over the information on her PaDD. She managed to decrypt the data her and Callan had stolen from the Starfleet Security databases and was waiting for him to arrive so they could discuss what she found about the hidden STaX prison.

Callan entered the small bar. It was barely used, almost depressing really. It would make better space as someone’s quarters. Still, it was the perfect place to meet without much intervention. He ordered his drink, a neat whiskey and sat with Evelyn. Palming the device in his hand until all three lights chased around and became green, Cal placed that on the table like a coaster.

“Safe to talk now,” he assured her, looking at the small device.

Stewart decrypted her PaDD and showed Callan her findings. “You were right. It’s in the asteroid. Looks like there hasn’t been an active Starfleet presence in the area for about fifteen years.”, she explained as she handed him the PaDD. “But there is a catch.”

Callan looked at the data. ‘Fifteen years?’ he thought. That didn’t make much sense. He felt something in his mind trip and he was back in the present with Stewart. “What’s the catch?” he asked, there was always something to interfere.

"Cloaked mines.", Evelyn explained, pulling up the information and schematics. "They are scattered throughout the asteroid field. Judging by the records, they are Starfleet in design. Most likely leftover from the Dominion war." She gave Callan a second to take this in. "It gets worse. They aren't fixed to one location and they are equipped with shield generators that modulate independently at different frequencies every eight seconds. That's probably why no one has been in the region all these years. The only way to disable the network would be to take down a whole lot of them at once, that's sure to draw Starfleet Security's attention."

“So we’ve finally confirmed the location of STaX, we just can’t get in or out without a death wish,” Callan surmised. ’What would Jonah do?’. Cal asked himself.

After a few minutes of staring at the PaDD, Callan thought the light went off in his head. “Can we get close enough to send a highly dense data stream through their communications systems without tripping their defensive weaponry? They have to get these types of communications all the time…” Callan gave small prayer as he waited for her answer.

Stewart thought about it and nodded. “It would work, but that’s not my biggest concern. I can fly us in no problem. I’m worried about the ship when we are in the prison. These mines are not fixed. If just one of them smashed into the ship, then we are stuck there until half the fleet arrives to investigate.” She explained. “We need to figure out a way to determine the sensor frequency these mines are using and how to manipulate it to mask the ship as one of their own so the mines stay clear while we are inside.”

Cal stood up and moved to her side of the table. “That’s what I’m saying. If we can move close enough on recon to send in the data stream, we can send in holoJonah and he can enter the base’s active systems. He will know Jonah in there in less than a minute and he can send himself back once his task is done. In for ten minutes, we dodge asteroids while holoJonah does the infil work. It would work! Once we have an answer, yes he’s alive or…not. Then we can get out of the way and activate the task force to retrieve him.”

Stewart looked at him. “There isn’t going to be time for a task force. Security is going to change all the access codes once they discover what is going on and lock down the system. If we are going to do this we need to go in on the first shot.”

“There doesn’t have to be any shots,” Cal said. “At least, if he’s not in there. HoloJonah will update if he detects living Jonah inside. If he does, we go in shooting first and asking questions after. If he’s not there, we recover holoJonah and retreat without anyone the wiser.”

Evelyn sighed and decided to address the issue head on. “And if he’s not? Are you prepared for the very real reality he may not be there, or even alive?” she was direct but sympathetic in her tone. She worried that Cal wasn’t being realistic and she needed him to be focused if this plan was to work.

“Well, this is the last place to look. After we find out whatever we find out, my life moves forward. With or without him, if he’s not there, my life has to go on.”

Stewart nodded at the man before turning her attention back to the PaDDs. "We will need a ship. And an excuse to leave the base for several days..." She thought out loud. She knew her relation with the Captain was at an all time low. She wouldn't be able to convince him to let her leave, no questions asked.

“I can have a ship and a cover in twenty four hours. Admiral’s desk, top priority, no arguments. I’ll have them pick a few others to plant a few nice action shots in their brains with us. That’s our cover.

“The captain won’t be able to refuse the orders. He even tries and he’ll snapped back so fast, he’d wish he was an ensign.” Cal gave Evelyn a bump with his shoulder. “I know you and he are like oil and vinegar, so just don’t piss him off after you say go, okay?”

Evelyn shook her head and couldn't help a soft chuckle at the assessment of her relationship with Culver. Half the base knew by now he threw her in the brig for punching him after they got into a shouting match just off the bridge. "No promises," she muttered before taking a long sip of her brandy and nodding, reading over the information on the cover. "After the flyby at Mountain Home," she said about when they will commence the mission.

“Good luck with that,” Callan took a minute to intently stare at her collar. “Still a JG then, mate.” He laughed a little too hard at himself. Picking up the device from the table, he deactivated it before showing her they were live again.

“What’s that you’re drinking then? Do a guy a favor and fill a cup. It ain’t gonna fill itself,” he piled on a little too high maybe.

Stewart smirked and took his glass. “Vulcan brandy. But it ain’t for the weak of heart.” She said as she stood to replicate him a glass, giving him a chance to turn back.

“Vulcan Brandy, sounds perfect,” Cal answered, sitting down and taking the offered drink.

 

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