Needle in a Haystack? (Part 1)

Posted on 13 Aug 2024 @ 8:43am by Lieutenant JG Montgomery Vala & Commander Morgan Tarin & Lieutenant JG Rafe Caradec & Lieutenant JG Saelihn Valenis

3,241 words; about a 16 minute read

Mission: Episode 19 - Tomorrow's Galileo
Location: USS Galileo-A - Various
Timeline: MD 04, 1800

[ON]

Caradec and Vala exited the Admiral's ready room. Rafe turned to Lieutenant Vala and said, "I'm going to head to the mess hall on the A first and grab some grub. Maybe Valenis can join and we could get to know her. You want to join?"

Vala's eyes darted sharply to Caradec, "This is an urgent matter, Lieutenant, I would not wish to delay in order to allow the Commander any time to reconsider this course of action." His stomach did not agree, and he felt a pang of hunger run through it.

He exhaled sharply, "That said, we must eat sometime and we will look at this problem with more guile if we are not distracted by base desires." He gave a nod, "I shall join you."

"Excellent!", Rafe stated. He touched his comm badge, "Lt. Valenis, please join myself and Lt. Vala in the mess hall in 10 minutes. Lt. Vala needs to discuss some security matters and we'll define some action items moving forward. Caradec, out.", Rafe concluded. Rafe was accustomed to taking the bull by the horns, and he needed to in this situation. Neither Vala, nor Valenis could understand the importance of what Rafe was doing and why he was doing it. He had to stay a step ahead.

"Very well. I'll meet you both there, Valenis out." Saelihn replied. Truth be told she was pretty hungry and had totally lost track of the time. A sense of irony washed over her at that though as they too were in a time that did not belong to them.

They made quick progress between the ships, Vala keeping quiet in thought about the importance of their current task. His realm of investigation was scientific, rather than criminal, but if working out how these files changed custody and were ultimately released was the key to securing Commander Tarin's support for his alternative plan then he would have to ensure 'no stone was left unturned', as humans said.

Upon arrival at the Mess Hall, Vala quickly walked over to the replicator and grabbed a bowl of soup. It looked thin and dreary, but all food from Earth seemed to share that fate. What he'd do for a hearty bowl of Gletten...

He brought the liquid back to a table and sipped it with little pleasure.

The trip had been short and sweet, the advantages of a small ship, and Saelihn entered the mess hall. She hadn't spoken to Lieutenant Vala before but knew who he was and noticed him sitting mulling over a bowl of soup that he didn't look to be enjoying at all. Moving to the replicator she asked for a slice of chocolate cake with cream as she needed a sugar boost and moved to sit down with Vala.

"You don't look like you are enjoying that at all Lieutenant." Saelihn commented as she sat down, an attempt to break the ice that almost led to the frosting over of his bowl.

Vala looked up from the soup to the somewhat unfamiliar officer in front of him. She was an El-Aurian, not a people he had much experience with. Light hair, quite striking. Very... chipper demeanour.

"No indeed," Vala's tone was a little dry but he attempted to lace in some warmth for her. In the chaos of the past few days they hadn't been formally introduced.

"Human food is not particularly to my taste," he placed his spoon down and placed his hand on his chest, his palm spread in a reverse V. A Rihannsu salute.

"Lieutenant Vala," he said by way of an introduction, "It is pleasant to finally have an opportunity to be acquainted with you."

Saelihn placed her plate down on the table and gave Vala a bow of respect. El Aurian culture often 'bowed before time' and that tradition has been kept alive even now. It was also believed a bow was respectful of those that didn't want physical contact in a greeting and was deemed non-threatening to those of a more nervous disposition.

"Lieutenant Saelihn Valenis, as you know..." she smiled a little awkwardly, "but Saelihn is fine if you prefer." she added sitting down in front of him. "It's nice to meet you too. I've not been on the Galileo long and a lot has happened in that short space of time."

"Montgomery," he returned the name he had taken many years prior, his tone easing further. He preferred using given names in such settings. He'd had more than enough of formalities in the Star Empire - people there had always been quick to emphasise his status as Afvha s'Shiar, a citizen with impure blood, where they could.

"I too arrived just prior to this... well I will say it as it is, disaster." He took another sip of soup and allowed it to nourish him. There was no body to the taste. "A lot always happens here, as I understand it. Though involuntary time travel is a new one even for this august crew."

"If I believed in luck I'd say we just ran into a bad streak at the wrong time." Saelihn replied with a small smile. "But I've also heard this crew gets up to all sorts of adventures and it's one of the reasons I put in for a transfer here even when there's not a large security team on board."

Vala snorted a laugh, "Luck would be a fine thing... this whole escapade has been meticulously planned from start to finish by those from this time."

He took another spoon of tepid soup, "They think they can have us go back and tweak one thing and it will be Aemarau turnovers all the way down." He shook his head, "We're certainly in for an 'adventure' ha!" He laughed humorlessly again.

It was always nice to know that you may be at the whim of some future self, or even at the hands of some Q like being. Even the thought of the Q entering her mind gave Saelihn a shiver that went all the way down to her toes.

"Well changing timelines, universes does nothing but give me a headache. My species hates it when people mess around with it as it does nothing but cause us pain and discomfort. This is no different so the sooner we are back in our own time, the better." Saelihn took a large spoonful of her cake, placed it in her mouth and slowly pulled out the utensil as she thought on the matter of time itself.

"I feel that any... respectable people should balk at the idea of manipulating time," he took another spoon. Earth food was so... uninspired. "Some might say it is tantamount to a massacre in itself, untold billions no longer born, families never made, lovers never met..."

He shook his head, " I suppose it suggests how desperate the people of this future have become. It is why I am advocating for the minimum possible change. To maintain the essence of Commander Tarin's original decision whilst preventing this war."

Rafe arrived on deck 3, where his quarters were and one deck above the main shuttlebay. "Computer, locate Lt. Vala and Lt. Valenis.", said Caradec. The computer responded with them being in the ship's mess. He entered his quarters, quickly grabbed the device, clear, small, and disguised as a simple terminator of a conduit, and began recording a personal log. After completing his log, he dropped his comm badge on the coffee table and left. Entering the main shuttlebay by manually gaining access via the manual servos, he quickly moved to the Livia. Fortunately, due to the ship's damage still being under repair, the ship's sensors were focused on exterior threats. The darkness of the reduced lighting due to power constraints only helped his concealment. Entering the ship he reached under the wall panel and felt for the termination of the conduit. He felt the conduit, ran his fingers along its length, further...further, there. He squeezed the device and released it once he heard the small 'clip' sound. He then sprayed the device with a sealant that would not only make the the transmitter look like it and the terminal end of the conduit were one piece, but would remove any evidence of bio-matter. Four minutes later from the time he left his quarters, he was back, pinning his comm badge back on his chest.

He looked in the mirror, "For Starfleet!", the Lieutenant said, barely audible. He stared at himself, at the man. Was he who he thought he should be? Was what he originally did right? Who knows. Regardless of what happens in whatever timeline, they must pay. But how? That mountain now seemed so insurmountable. He repeated himself, "For Starfleet!" He then looked at the door, "Caradec to Vala and Valenis, I'm on my way." And he walked out the door.

Saelihn gave a simple, "See you soon." reply before returning to her chocolate cake. She was beginning to think she had an addiction to chocolate but she pushed that to the back of her mind as quickly as the spoon into her mouth.

Vala watched her eat the cake. He had never eaten chocolate before, but it had little appeal. "Lieutenant Caradec is an... interesting individual," he felt that was charitable, "Hopefully he will be of some great assistance in getting to the bottom of this data leak."

"Certainly not punctual." Saelihn joked. "I hope so, there is much confusion and worry across the ship." she commented as her empath skills never had an off switch.

"This is a most urgent situation, we will have to trust that the Lieutenant intends to eat at a pace," Vala responded dryly.

Rafe entered the mess and went straight to the replicator. "Computer, Caradec order #13.", Rafe commanded. The replicator quickly made him his medium-well ribeye 16 oz. steak with broccoli, a loaded baked potato, and a spring salad with croutons, tomatoes and Roquefort dressing. It also included a hefty portion of carrot cake. He took his massive dinner and sat down with Vala and Valenis, their eyes dropping to his meal and their faces showing a mixture of "we have work to do" and "why didn't I order that". "Greetings Lt. Valenis, I'm Lt. Rafe Caradec. Please, call me Rafe." He reached across the table and extended his hand for a handshake.

Saelihn reached for his hand and gave it a light shake, "Nice to meet you properly Rafe. Saelihn." she pressed her other hand over her chest expressing that was who she was. Not that anyone was doubting it at that point.

Looking at his gargantuan amount of food gave Saelihn some pause. "That looks... filling. Have you not eaten all day?" She asked.

Vala quietly observed the Lieutenant and his massive plate. This was meant to be a working lunch and the Caradec did not seem to be in a hurry.

Caradec responded, "No, so I'm pretty hungry." Rafe was inwardly grinning as he observed the looks on their faces. They had not seen his additional talent of being able to put away large amounts of food in record time. He then proceeded to cut his steak in six portions, take two of them, one at a time, chew them three times each and swallow. Taking up half of his broccoli, he inhales that at warp speed, proceeds to demolish half of his potato in two bites and drink his 30 ounces of water in 5 seconds. Exhaling as he put his tumbler down he says, "Oh, that's good! I'm glad we can finally get going on this investigation. It's time we put this to bed." With a third of his meal gone in about 40 seconds, Rafe looks up to see both of their faces aghast and in disbelief.

Vala had taken great pains to supress the xenophobic education and propaganda he had been exposed to in the Star Empire. It had claimed humans were base creatures that acted purely on desire and animal instinct. Living among them now for a couple of decades had largely proven that to be mostly untrue. But in this moment, watching Caradec eat such a large meal in such a short time, it was difficult not to lend a little credence to it all.

Supressing a look of disgust, Vala attempted to keep his tone neutral, "Very well. Now that we are... sated, perhaps you can take us down to Security, Lieutenant Valenis."

Saelihn could feel some duplicity from Rafe. Behind that face full of food and cheer there was something that she couldn't quite place her finger on but it felt suspicious to her. Being an empath had its perks from time to time but there was on occasion where it drew her to people when she didn't want to be distracted. It was times likes this that she felt her pheromone release could loosen many an individual's tongue and get answers, that 'listening' ability that would reveal so much that people became putty in her hands. However, she felt that doing this on a man she'd just met, a new crew mate as well, would not be an ideal first encounter. There was always so much to explain after as the recipient was often left confused when the pheromone wore off.

"Of course." Saelihn said shaking her head of the sight of Rafe stuffing his face and turning to Vala. "If you're finished Rafe, let's go." she smiled and rose from her seat.

"Indeed," Vala said tersely, his eyes unable to leave Caradec, "Time is of the essence - we can examine the recordings in Security I assume?"

Rafe smiled, while downing the last of his potato followed by the last piece of his savory steak. "Absolutely right, Lieutenant!", Rafe responded. Standing up and dropping his tray back to the replicator to be absorbed back into the collective, as he thought of it. He followed in step with the other two. "It's imperative that we see if we can find something, anything to help our situation." If Rafe would have been playing a part, he would be winning award after award. But that was just it. He was playing a part, one that his life and the past's future depended upon. He was focused...laser focused. And he would not be deterred.

"We need to start going over the video footage from when the shuttles arrived from Cold Station 31. We must observe every move of every member of each party to see exactly what happened.", Rafe said emphatically. He stopped in the middle of the corridor and they stopped to face him. "And let me say this, I must be vetted as well. Even though I was with the group the longest, besides the scientists, whom I don't trust at all, I trust both of you to uphold the highest of Starfleet standards in this investigation. Because this assignment is too important to allow anything to fall through the cracks! I hope I can depend on you both to bring your honest verifiable assessments to our leaders. I think, no...I hope and believe our individual investigations will reveal the same conclusions as we are all vetted and tested Starfleet officers. Are we in agreement?"

Vala cocked his head, giving a strange look. "Of course. I would hope it would go without saying that our scrutiny will be exceptional in this case." He glanced at Caradec, then Saelihn, "I know from the temporal mathematics that files were taken. What is crucial is that we find out who took them, and where they ended up. If we can secure this understanding then we can return to the past and prevent the Cold Station research ever seeing the light of day."

Rafe's continual shift in emotion made Saelihn scrunch up her nose slightly. Human's were very emotional creatures by nature and Caradec was by far at this moment in time internally erratic, at least to her. Her experience in understanding emotion was average at best, she'd not had the training that some do back on her own world.

"To be honest Lieutenant, everyone that's had access to Cold Station 31 is on my list as a suspect. Anyone who's had access to the files, anyone who can easily hack into tech, is on my list." Saelihn looked at Rafe. "You are no exception." In fact his behavior made her a little more suspicious of him than he knew, not that she showed it. She played it cool as if reading from the security operations manual.

"I would expect nothing less, Lt. Valenis. And I did not mean to insinuate that you, Lt. Vala, would perform anything but an excellent investigation.", Rafe said.

With a nod they began to move again, Rafe leading the group. He seemed intent on being the first in the room. Saelihn gestured to Vala to slow his pace a little and Rafe moved on ahead out of earshot. They continued to walk but she quietly said to Vala, "Does he usually..." she tried to think of her wording carefully. "show this amount of enthusiasm for an investigation? For duty to Starfleet?" she asked.

"No idea," Vala said softly, "I know him little. He was... contradictory in my briefing to the Admiral and the Commander. Initially opposing the idea of an investigation, then taking an eager interest." He raised an eyebrow inquisitorially, "I know not what to make of it."

Rafe continued to walk toward the security office, glancing over his shoulder he notices the conference going on between Vala and Saelihn. He was glad they were getting to know each other. Hopefully, that could strengthen the creativity of ideas between them both, and maybe him too. He got to the door and it swished open. He turned to wait for them, "I hope some good ideas are percolating to the top. We're going to need them.", he said as they finally entered.

"Hmm." Vala made a skeptical sound as he walked directly into the office. "There is certainly something to find, let us not waste any more time."

He pulled a PADD out of his pocket and sent data from it to a terminal. "For the benefit of Lieutenant Valenis, this is the evidence I am working from." A timeline and large amounts of mathematical data spilled over the screen. "The data originates here," he tapped a long finger at a place on the timeline, zooming the whole thing in, "and proceeds to here, Regula I, wherein it is distributed onwards." He pinched his fingers to zoom in further, "You can see here the data that the Commander deleted abruptly ends, but mere hours prior," he pointed further back on the line, "A copy finds it's way into other hands and thus it lives on."

He returned his gaze to the other officers, "I am no expert in security systems so I will leave it up to you both to work out who had the data and how. Finding this out could be crucial to avoiding the terrible research conducted at the Cold Station from seeing the light of day."

To Be Continued...

[OFF]

--

Lt. JG Rafe Caradec
Senior Conn Officer
USS Galileo-A

Lieutenant JG Saelihn Valenis
Chief Security Officer
USS Galileo-A

Lieutenant JG Montgomery Vala
Deputy Science Officer
USS Galileo-A

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