What It Is Ain't Exactly Clear
Posted on Tue Aug 21st, 2018 @ 4:02pm by Chief Petty Officer Leslie Calhoun & Lieutenant Amelia Zano Psy.D.
Edited on on Tue Aug 21st, 2018 @ 6:58pm
2,121 words; about a 11 minute read
Mission:
Episode 4 - The Sum of Our Parts
Location: Astrometrics DWS Pioneer
Timeline: MD001 1345 hrs
Suddenly the nerves in Amelia vanished as her 'alter-ego' took over, Calhoun's face a picture if ever there was one. "My authorisation as Senior Interrogator is enough Glen." Amelia began. "What we have to look at is not for someone of your station, unless you think you are better than us? I'd hate to see this little misunderstanding turn into us meeting in my suite. That would be... most unfortunate, especially for your sister. I hear she's doing well..."
She had no idea where all that had came from, every inch of her body felt dirty, her skin crawling with little ants but she kept up the demeanour of her 'role'. Keeping up appearances seemed to be important here.
For the moment the three people stood in Astrometrics without saying a word. Each wanted the other to make the next move. For Amelia and Leslie the plot was thicker as they had no idea who this Cardassian was or what her agenda was. It seemed that there was no another hurdle to jump as the two El Aurians sifted through this mess.
May 28 2394 1345 hrs (relative time)
"Look at this", Jati said, pointing at her console. "This is unfolding right now. It could be of critical interest to all of us. Whatever you want to be doing, it will have to wait until this has been finished. I'll be sending the data to my mother in about 20 minutes. Then it's a waiting game." She frowned at her. "And your threats don't impress me. I'd be up for dereliction of duty if I didn't finish this, and that's worse than anything you could do to me." At least she had mental resources to resist interrogation techniques. There was little she could do to resist a spacewalk unaided by an EVA suit.
Billy took a cursory glance at the Glen's console and saw that she had been scanning a temporal tear. He knew exactly why that would be of interest to Amelia and himself, but had no idea why it would be of interest to the Dominion. "That is just a tear, why is that of importance to all of us. More accurately how could that be important to all of us." Billy knew that attempting to use his intelligence training against a Cardassian was a risk. But now... now it had to be done.
Jati's eyes narrowed as she shifted her gaze from her to him. "You two are El-Aurians", she said after a moment of silence. "Don't deny it, I can hear it. Your hearts beat in a certain way. You're rumoured to understand temporal issues instinctively. So you tell my why this is so important?"
Amelia looked over at Billy somewhat trying to commuicate that maybe they should all work together. She got the impression from the Cardassian that they may be on the same side regardless of the changes that had happened. "In El-Aurian terms I am still quite young so my understanding of temporal issues as you put it is somewhat limited." She replied once again looking at Calhoun.
Billy still unsure who this Cardassian woman was or why she was intent on knowing about the anomaly cocked an eyebrow and stepped forward. "The rumors are true, but as far as I am concerned that is but a run of the mill tear in the space time continuum, nothing of note there." He was not ready to give anything unless he was getting something. Once more he had to make sure it was her who gave first.
"I'm not convinced", Jati said. "Which is why I'm staying and finishing the recording. Now unless you have something to add, leave. You can come back when I'm done. Chief, counsellor..." Jati turned around and turned her attention back on her console. Then she noticed, counsellor wasn't the right word. Where had that come from? She hoped they wouldn't notice.
And that was exactly what Billy was waiting for her to give. He was about to pounce on the slip when he realized. If the Cardassian wasn't from their timeline, and was testing them then the pounce should come from Amelia. Billy turned his back on the Cardassian woman and gave Amelia the look that said Hey I hope you heard that, and you're up.
Amelia cocked her head slightly as she too noticed the faux pa. "Counsellor?" She began stepping forward. "It would appear you have more information than you are letting on Glen so let's cut the crap... you claim as El-Aurians we are built for this type of situation so let's say that's true. My question to you is that why you slipped up? Very un-Cardassian... If I was a Counsellor, not an Interrogator, then I would pick up on your more defensive body language and before now careful use of language, your tone and pitch etcetera. You seem out of place even here, the feeling I get when I look at you suggests you are 'out of place', do you feel that way?" She asked this time with compassion as opposed to her attempt at pressuring information out. Some of the old techniques had to still work and she had a feeling this woman was on their side. She hoped she was right.
"As a matter of fact, I do", Jati admitted. "Which is why this anomaly is especially interesting. It's affecting us in some way, and I need to determine which way that is. You don't happen to have any insight, do you?"
Seeing that the situation was cooling off Billy took a few steps toward the console. "Well, like I said before, that looks like a rip in the space-time continuum. To answer your question about our species. Typically when things like this occur, the timeline reshapes around El-Aurians. It was that biological distinctiveness that led the Borg to El-Auria." He turned and looked the Cardassian woman in the eye as he squared his jaw. "Before we can proceed we have to establish when we are all from. Amelia and I serve together on the USS Pioneer NCC-74757. In our timeline the Pioneer is based out of a Cardassian station Empok Nor in the Trivas System." The look that he gave Jati spoke volumes, but right now it said it is your turn.
"This is true here as well, except there is no U.S.S. prefix on a Dominion vessel", Jati responded. "I have shadows of memories from a different time. That is all I can say. However, there are different means of ascertaining the truth." She retrieved a tricorder from a wall-mounted locker. "With this, we should be able to determine our quantum signature, at least in general terms. I've had a complete scan done this morning by Dr. Rossi, though she did not know what to look for." She configured the tricorder to scan for quantum signatures, then pointed it first at herself, then at the two El-Aurians in turn. For comparison, she scanned a piece of console. She took a few seconds to compare the data, then turned the display around and showed it to the others. "These are the facts", she said. Words were cheap, scientific evidence was something she could actually trust.
Billy looked at the scan results and saw that the three of them had the same quantum signature, which did not match where they were. "It seems that you are from the same reality as us, so how about we cut through the crap and all come clean. This way we can work together and get moving. What do you remember from the other time?"
"I don't remember having a girlfriend", Jati said. "That's missing, definitely. I don't remember a Dominion presence in the alpha quadrant either, though I do not remember why. It's hazy, for the most part. I'm fairly sure I'm a scientist on both realities, though."
"Well, I don't remember you from the Pioneer or Empok Nor. However, if you are here then you must have been in the vicinity of the explosion. Do you remember what your last mission was? My thought is perhaps you were a scientist in the labs that exploded." Billy responded, the more he spoke to the Cardassian the more the more he was at ease and worried at the same time.
Jati closed her eyes and thought hard. She tried to picture the situation she remembered last, before waking up next to that gorgeous blonde. "I was piloting a ship, small cockpit rather than a bridge, Cardassian in design but I can't say what class. There was a distress signal, from a science station. Something about a danger to all of Cardassia."
"Well I can tell you for definite I'm no interrogator. I know that to my very core I could never inflict that kind of mental harm on anyone let alone to just get information... but the mention of a science station rings true with me... I'm sure I had a conversation with someone called Malborough or something about it." Ameila added to the conversation.
"I suggest we look at the sensor data that I'm collecting", Jati said. "But I will not be adding an opinion to the data I'm sending. I will have to report this to the Gul as well. Don't blow your cover, not until we have figured out more, and know how to respond." She didn't trust them any more just because they were all from the same universe, but she had nobody else to work with, and at least they all shared the desire not to be found out.
"Agreed. But forward all the data you find to the Intelligence Department. From there I can cross reference it and see if anything turns up. One thing though if you send this to the Gul in charge of this vessel he is going to want to investigate it and shut us down. Are you sure it is wise?" Billy asked and when Amelia mentioned the name suddenly it clicked. He turned toward the Counselor. "Not Malborough, Malbrooke. I am not sure who he was but that was the name. I will check through the Intel logs and see if anything hits."
"I will have to inform him there's an active investigation", Jati said. "Else, he'll wonder who's using up all this sensor time and why. That is how it works, I'm sure you understand. I will word things carefully, however." At least she hoped he'd be satisfied with general statements and leave her alone to perform her research. "I will inform you as soon as I have additional data."
Billy nodded in agreement. He did not know if this Cardassian was on their side, however, it was comforting to know that she was from their universe. "In the meantime, I will use my authorization within the SCIF to get as much information on Gul Prenar and the Pioneer's current mission status as I can. I suggest we regroup tomorrow 1000 hrs in the SCIF. I can secure it from well prying eyes." Billy smiled and placed his hands on his hips. When he did so he was happy to find that his pipe sat in a holster there, it made the journey with him. He pulled it out and lit it. "It seems ladies that our luck is about to change." he laughed.
Jati coughed and snapped, "Get that filthy stinker out of my lab!"
"Ah just like a married couple." Amelia mused as the two before her quipped at each other. "I guess I'll use my current status to intimidate information out of people, try and find something useful that will help us figure some of this out." She added. "Loose lips sink ships I hear."
"Very well, see you both at the SCIF in a few hours." Billy stated then turned and left. All the while puffing away on his pipe.
Amelia nodded in agreement and left the room with Calhoun. He went one way down the corridor, Amelia the other.
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Amelia Zano PsyD
Chief Counselor, USS Pioneer
Glen Jati Niall
Cardassian Liaison Officer/Assistant Chief Science Officer, USS Pioneer
Senior Chief Petty Officer Leslie Calhoun
Data Systems Analyst, USS Pioneer
PNPC Malbrooke
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