From: Jerome McKee (parakeety_at_hotmail.com)
Date: Tue Jul 10 2007 - 09:17:42 PDT
"A VIEW FROM THE HUB"
(Continued from "How Long Have I Been Asleep?")
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Captain's Log, Supplemental - The away team on ANDARA has reported the
presence of Dominion soldiers in the High Fane. This, coupled with
intelligence that the plasma bomb's components were probably bought on
GATEWAY, indicates that we are somehow involved in a grander conspiracy that
we cannot see, one that involves the Dominion, ANDARA, and the criminal
element on the station. For all our sakes, we must get to the bottom of this
mystery as soon as possible...
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Location: GATEWAY
Stardate: [2.7]0710.1720
Scene: CO's office
"I feel like I haven't left this bloody room in days," remarked Michael
Turlogh Kane, ushering his First Officer to the couch by the wall opposite
the viewport. He went to the replicator and typed in a command for two cups
of tea. He shot a glance at Kat. "How are you feeling? You look like a
sehlat shat all over your face.."
"Thanks," she grumped, accepting the steaming mug with a scowl.
"Oh, right." Kane sat down opposite her. "I mean, you look fine. Better for
having woken up, like."
"What's been happening?" asked Kat. "The wormhole closed, and ANDARA is in
political crisis?"
"We're alone in the Gamma Quadrant," confirmed Kane quietly. "I'll give you
access to all my logs so you can see what happened. Ranjen Roh was the
serial killer."
"You don't say." Kat sipped the tea, blanching as the hot drink burned her
throat. "And Xana's been arrested for trying to kill Rixx."
Kane's jaw dropped. "What?"
"Didn't you know?"
"No, I bloody well did not!" Kane put his tea on his desk. "I've been living
in this office for the past twenty-fours, trying to maintain command and a
semblance of control! Who is this Rixx fellow?"
"He owns a nightclub on the Promenade," explained Kat. "We think he's
involved in shady dealings, but we've never been able to prove it. Xana
visited him while the Reaper was holding Gene captive - she must have
roughed him up a bit."
"And he's pressing charges?"
"Apparently so. She's been in the detention centre since yesterday morning.
I thought you knew all about it."
"The Andaran Prime Minister was nearly assassinated yesterday morning. I've
been up to my neck in it since then." Kane looked at her sidelong. "How are
you feeling? Fit to return to duty?"
Kat shook her head. "I need a few hours to get the children sorted out."
Kane rolled his eyes. "I need you back to work as soon as Doctor Gorman
certifies you able, children or no children. The plasma bomb that was used
in the Andaran assassination attempt was probably bought on GATEWAY, and the
Dominion are getting involved in the whole mess. The new Andaran government
is teetering on the edge, and we all have to muck in if we're going to
figure out what's going on."
Kat nodded, and stood up. "I'll check in with you later."
Kane sighed. "Alright."
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Scene: Science Centre
Eishnala and Yao were poring over a display in Yao's office following their
return from the planet's surface. Follwing detailed scans of the blast area,
it had been determined that the plasma bomb was of a specific neon isotope.
The security chief pointed at the display. "There. Only two freighters in
the past month had an isotope signature that matched the plasma bomb used in
the assassination attempt."
Yao nodded. "It would appear so. It follows, then, that the plasma bomb
detonator was transported to GATEWAY station on either of these freighters.
I will call up their details." The J'naii called up a new window. She looked
sidelong at Eishnala. "You are an Andorian female."
Eishnala nodded. "Yes. What of it?"
Yao's brow creased in approximation of a frown. "Many people complain that
J'naii all look similar, because of our androgynism. However, I note that
Andorian males and females also look similar. Do you find that you are
regarded differently by others?"
Eishnala looked like she was unsure of what to say. "Others' perception of
your androgynism is their problem, Yao, not yours."
The J'naii turned back to the screen. "One of the freighters was a Wadi
cargo transport which was an official trading mission from the Wadi
government into the Alpha Quadrant. The other was an Antares-class shuttle
registered to the Get Your Groove On bar - a civilian business here on
GATEWAY."
"Zane Rixx," nodded Eishnala. "I've been hearing a lot about him lately. So
the bomb was most likely brought to the station aboard one of his shuttles.
Interesting. I'd better report this to the captain. Thanks for your help,
Yao."
The J'naii looked pleased. "You are most welcome, Lieutenant."
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Scene: CO's office (again)
Kane was on to the flight deck. The pile of PADDs on his desk was growing
like a plastic weed. "Give me an update on the fighter engine
recalibrations, Lieutenant."
Nick's voice sounded bemused. [[They're complete, Captain.]]
"Already?" spluttered Kane.
[[Yes, sir. Cadet Crichton was able to diagnose and replair the problem
within a couple of hours.]]
"Good!" exclaimed Kane. "Ops out." He cut the connection. "I feel like I'm
going stir crazy," he muttered as the waiting Gene McInnis sat down opposite
him. "I should open an office on the Promenade - at least then I'd be able
to see people going past my window. Now, there's just blackness."
Gene wasn't sure where to look. "I came to deliver my report, Captain."
"The Dominion is attempting to politically isolate GATEWAY by fermenting
upheaval on ANDARA?"
"Er - yes."
"It's looking worse every hour. Doctor Gorman thought he saw some Jem'Hadar
on the surface, and now Ambassador Vertec proposes that we turn the station
over to Dominion administration."
"It's probable that she's also in diplomatic contact with the Andarans,"
mused Gene.
"Putting pressure on them." Kane pursed his lips. "We have to get to the
bottom of this bombing. If the Dominion participated in it - "
"Do we know that for sure?"
Kane stopped. There *was* no way to know that for sure - the evidence was
circumstantial. "You're right, Commander. I'll remain in contact with Prime
Minister Jarhid."
[[Security to Captain Kane.]] Eishnala's voice crackled over the intercom.
"Go ahead."
[[We think we know who supplied the bomb, Captain.]]
Kane leaped to his feet. "On my way, Lieutenant." He looked at Gene, a new
fire in his eyes. "This could be the break we've been looking for."
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NRPG: So dialogue-heavy, I want to puke. I'm used to posting big whoppers
(I'm a fan of big whoppers, girls) and these little tiddlers are, in a way,
much harder to write because they're less planned out than I'd like. Anyway,
let's nail Zane Rixx!
Of course, the crime lord has probably planned for this eventuality. His
henchman Enfron has been slaughtered on the surface, but the must a few more
who'll take the fall for him, right?
Jerome McKee
the Soul of Captain Michael Turlogh Kane
Commanding Officer
GS-2
the Soul of Lieutenant Solomon Arn
Senior ACT Instructor
Starfleet Academy
"He speak an infinite deal of nothing!"
- Sheakpeare's "The Merchant of Venice", Act 1, Scene 1.113
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Sun Feb 17 2008 - 03:10:17 PST