Quite A Haul

Posted on Wed Sep 28th, 2011 @ 6:34pm by Captain Alexander Gunning & Lieutenant Commander Melissa Daniels M.D. & Lieutenant JG Kili Dell & Commander Dietrich Reinhart & Lieutenant JG Allison Price

Mission: The Pak'Leth Problem
Location: Commanding Officer's Office - Operations Centre - Deck 12
Timeline: MD01 1500hrs

[ON]

Gunning sat in silence as Lieutenant (JG) Dell, Doctor Daniels and the young Cadet Price wandered into his office. They looked like they'd just passed through a decontamination lock and there was a definite difference in the expressions of both women. Dr Daniels looked relatively calm, as though she had found exactly what she expected on the little cargo hauler. Lieutenant Dell on the other hand, looked slightly more flustered while the Cadet looked like she had never even seen Main Operations.

He glanced across the desk at Commander Reinhart before motioning to the women to take a seat. The benefit of having a large office just off Ops was that there was plenty of seating space. He stood from behind his desk and moved to the small collection of softer chairs in front of the large viewing ports which overlooked Archa IV.

"What did you find then?" He asked simply.

Melissa spoke, "The most toxic and contaminated enclosed environment I've ever seen. The Artificial Atmosphere is a lovely concoction of oxygen along with generous amounts of Carbon Monoxide and other toxic elements that are produced by everything from conduit overloads to inadequate chemical storage. Their sickbay is nonexistent. Just a strange amalgam of equipment from Cardassian, Romulan, and Ferengi Triage Kits." Melissa noted. "Captain, many Governments, in this quadrant, require at basic medical facilities, on commercial ships, in order to operate a transport. If this ship isn't impounded by us, it will be by eventually by another government. Especially because of what Lt. Dell has found."

"What we didn't find might be a shorter list, really," the trill started to say, crossing her arms over her chest as she ran over all the items they had discovered in her head before continuing, "Numerous varieties of chemicals, alcohol, stimulants and weapons. If I were to hazard a guess, I'd say that they were definitely supplying either a military or some shady operation of some sort."

"What ever they were supplying, they weren't getting there in a hurry," the cadet added, starting to feel a little more comfortable in front of the officers. "Before we got the engines shut down, they were losing a lot of coolant. The Pak'Leth didn't know how to fix it, but they at least had the sense to slow down. If they had been running at anything higher than warp 1, they would have overheated and blown themselves up long before now. The equipment was in such a state of disrepair. I've seen elementary school science projects that were more well put together."

After sitting through the Doctor and Security Officer's briefing, Reinhart was lead to his own conclusion: live fire drone for station weapon's practice. The idea was immediately tabled though. Every two-bit trash-hauler in Galactic South was carrying something illegal. It was the only way people down here made money. The larger transportation fleets operated round the clock logistical cycles at a very lean 3 to 5% profit margin that made it tough for smaller companies to compete. Unless they were willing to forget about the manifest inquiry and carry whatever fit on the pallet. And by God, he would have been surprised if there weren't a few empty bottles of alcohol on that boat. The more interesting thing was the stimulants and weaponry. Phasers, blasters, disruptors. But to have a few stolen fleet-grade torpedoes was out there. But these folks were not capable of stealing it from anyone. Not in a ship of that condition. There was more to this.

The XO started to put a few things together. It'd be better if they traced their steps. "What were the last stops made by the ship? And where did the manifest say it was going next?"

"I've had that report from Intel." Gunning offered. "The ship's last stop was the Mira Trading Outpost." He looked around at the faces of his officers. Blank. It was fair enough, they probably hadn't been out that way yet. "The Mira outpost is run by the Ferengi and they claim to be mining down here. It's just codswallop. There are a number of different trading stations in the system and I'd imagine contraband runs through it. Starfleet has a couple of intelligence operatives working the inside but there haven't been any reports yet. Before that, the records have been falsified by someone with significantly more skill in computer systems than any of the Pak'Leth are likely to possess."

Melissa responded, "Normally I would not advocate that we destroy a ship like this, but this ship is dangerous even to go aboard. I recommend we impound the ship, and then scuttle it."

"What about the rest of you?" The Flag Officer said, leaning forward and clasping his hands between his knees. "Recommendations?"

The Station XO's response rode the line of diplomatic and investigative. The fact was this ship was smuggling and that smuggling would altogether continue in Galactic South whether or not these humanoids were on board the ship or not. So taking it out of service would effectively at least stop one shipment of illegal weapons and drugs. Someone out of Mira would miss it, but not today. "Impound it." He looked at each of the people at the table. "Let's take the issue to the Pak'leth homeworld." He waited for the idea to sit in. "We have governing authority over intergalactic commerce and the transportation of goods. If we needed it, we could exert our authority to them and include them on the discussion." His unmentioned option was to quarantine the planet until each departing vessel was inspected for space-worthy conditions and legal cargo. But he knew that 11th Fleet did not have the manpower to tie down a good portion of the force in order to keep the rats coming out of one rat-hole in a room that looked like swiss cheese.

"I would recommend against a scuttle, sirs," Allie added. "At least don't do it in a populated region like around the station. Their fuel stores are not well maintained, and there are a lot of hazardous waste that could be released if the ship was destroyed."

Melissa spoke, "We're talking about a race that has the average intelligence level of a four year old Commodore. They won't understand what we're trying to tell them. The Pak'leth in my medical center are only interested in 'what makes them go.' In fact, they think I am stupid for keeping them off their ship." The Doctor stated. "I don't think we'll be finding anything that remotely resembles a government anywhere on their homeworld."

"These intel reports suggest otherwise, Doctor." Gunning said, passing the PADD around the office. "According to this, their governmental structure is relatively advanced but shows their rejection of technology as being something to do with their violent history. We may not find much in the way of help forthcoming but we're far less likely to get any assistance if we blow up one of their vessels. Especially one filled with illicit contraband."

"Doctor," Reinhart tried to interject himself between the overbearing Doctor and the over-authoritarian Admiral. "The Pak'leth on that ship might not be the prime example of their people." He waited for that to sink in before continuing. "They were a very advanced culture who have been struggling since their demise in the 22nd century. I am not saying that they are on par with current Federation advancements, though. I'm saying that they have the will and the ability to improve themselves."

Melissa spoke, "Very well, you do what you have to. I need to return to my medical center." She said in her usual calm voice. Even with all her calmness, one could know that she was not happy.

The pilot shook his head and rolled his eyes at the Doctor's exit. It did not take long for Dietrich to wish he was back on vacation and forgetting about how personalities on this starbase mix like oil and water. Sometimes like magnesium and water. Sometimes like matter and anti-matter.

"So, Admiral. What are we doing with the Pak'Leth?"

"We have to assume that they were complicit in the smuggling. Seal off their ward and as soon as they're well enough, transfer them to the brig." Gunning ordered, glancing between the Doctor and the Security Officer. "Make sure they know that they're under arrest."

[OFF]

Rear Admiral Alexander Gunning
Commanding Officer

Commander Dietrich Reinhart
Executive Officer

Lieutenant Commander Melissa Daniels M.D.
Chief Medical Officer

Lieutenant (JG) Kili Dell
Chief of Station Security

Cadet (Junior Grade) Allison Price [NPC: Cmdr Von]
Engineering Intern