The Take: Part 1

Posted on 04 Oct 2014 @ 4:35pm by Lieutenant Commander Amynta Markos & Petty Officer 1st Class Siren Hex Saalm & Maria Drake

1,178 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 06 - Legend of Souls
Location: Lyshan III - office
Timeline: MD 09 - 1210

ON:

Amynta smiled to the Cardassian who brought the woman in, the woman who they had discovered was a Starfleet Intelligence agent, giving a small nod. "Thank you...just routine questions now," she said, lightly, acting as if she were still just a random miner, giving the man a nod before motioning for the woman to sit. Next to her was Siren. With everything that was going on, Markos was tired of waiting around. Something had to happen now. And this, she knew, was a way forward. "Take a seat."

The SI agent still undercover as mining staff moved quickly to take a seat. Her blonde hair was tied back and she wore the generic, drab overalls of the other colonists. "Are we clean?"

"Yes," Siren assured her, glancing to Amynta. They'd gotten the go ahead from the command staff to investigate what was going on with the missing uridium, but they were Starfleet Officers representing Galileo so had to be careful with how far they went. This woman, however, was an undercover agent with a lot more scope to operate than them.

"We need to know what Taurus is doing. We need access to his personal terminal," Amynta said as she watched the other woman, closely. "And I think you are the only one who can get that."

Maria Drake looked carefully between the two of them, as if trying to judge if this was some elaborate setup. She licked her lips, sitting back slowly as she folded her arms, kicking her long legs up to rest the heavy boots on the desk. "You two are intelligence, you're trained in how to get what you need."

Siren gave a slight nod, but looked across to Amynta with small smile. "But we're here representing our ship. We're posted as Intelligence Officers in a department, not like you."

The other woman considered, rocking the chair back on to its back legs. She took her time, reaching into her pocket to pull out a silver case and matching lighter, sliding the tip of a cigarillo between her lips to light. "Maria," she finally said quietly before blowing a stream of smoke upwards. "If we're going to work together, I'm Maria."

"Nice to meet you, Maria," Markos said as she watched her. "As Hex said...we are here as an Intelligence department on a ship. We do not do deep cover, or this kind of espionage...it's not what we are about. But...we believe that Taurus is hiding something."

"Same," Maria replied firmly, holding her eyes with ease. "He's been orchestrating the disappearance of uridium. And there must be a reason for it."

"He's been clever....he's not deleted whole files, just small parts of files he otherwise leaves in place. But Cardassian tech isn't quite up to our standards, if you know what I mean, and it probably would have been enough not to be noticed without our own tech scans," Siren sighed, rubbing her neck as she sat back, tired and pale. "But I don't believe his 'anyone could have done it' crap."

"So, we want to know what is happening. On his personal computer..." Amynta said as she watched the two women. "And pray whatever it is will not start another war."

"In my experience, it's nearly always about wealth; believe it or not, ideological motives are few and far between. Cardassians however are different. Especially if we're dealing with CIB," Maria assured with a shake of her head, her tone completely cynical as she stretched her athletic body before setting her feet back on the ground with a heavy thud. "Okay. I get in, get into his things and find out what he's doing. We can't meet like this again though. I'm undercover, I have a good legend going and I've built up relationships with these people. They trust me, but they won't if you keep talking to me. We'll arrange a dead drop."

"Dead drop works better for me as well," Amynta said and smiled weakly. "I don't want to risk you anymore than we already have, Maria."

"Good, then we can make a deal?" Maria held her eyes firmly, leaning forward. "My escape plan is dead. And there's no way they're going to get an extraction agent in here any time soon. If I help you guys, you help me? Take me with you on your ship when you leave."

Amynta nodded, watching her for a long moment. "If you let us take your biosignature, we can get a lock on you and beam you out when we leave," she offered to her.

"I'll need a reason, or they'll know I was working for SI, it should look real to my legend," Maria frowned, shaking her head. "I can fake an accident. You can beam me up for Federation treatment; everyone knows the medical bay here is like something from the dark ages."

"Okay," Amynta said as she considered it, her eyes on her. "At the dead drop, I can put down some supplies that can help simulate injuries. It's that or you really hurt yourself."

"I prefer your plan," Maria said lightly, but there was a hint of humour in the blue eyes of the otherwise stoic woman. "Okay," she leant across to take Siren's tricorder, bringing up the map of the facility. "Here, in this corridor, there's a cupboard halfway down with firefighting equipment in. It's never been used all the time I've been here. We'll use it for the drop. A scratch on the right door frame means I've left the drop in there. When you've got the information I've left you and you've left the stuff for me, you leave a scratch on the left side frame of the door so I know. If you get caught in the cupboard, be ready with an excuse for why you're in there," she tilted her head before shaking it with a sigh. "Sorry, you know all this, you're not rookies."

"It's good to go through it all," Amynta said and took her tricorder. "I'm taking your biosignature, just in case. I know someone who deals with the transporters, we can even get this done under the grid if everything else fails..." she said playfully before taking a breath. "We're not leaving you behind, Maria."

"Then you have yourself a plan," Maria nodded firmly to them. "I'll get what we need to nail him. This is what I'm here for. At first I was furious you guys came, I thought it would blow my cover. Actually, this whole ghosts in the tunnel thing has been the perfect distraction for my job."

"Glad it was good for something," Amynta said firmly before nodding to Siren, taking a breath.

Siren nodded in return to Amynta, her eyes narrowing just a touch to assure her she was ready to get this over and done with.

TBC:

LT Amynta Markos
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Galileo

PO2 Siren Hex
Intelligence
USS Galileo
[PNPC Blake]

Maria Drake
Miner/Starfleet Intelligence Agent
Lyshan III
[PNPC Blake]

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