Uncovering Darkness

Posted on Fri Dec 17th, 2021 @ 11:53pm by Lieutenant Ayana Hillis & Lieutenant JG Eislyn Jortho & Commander Jonathan Grayson & Commander Samantha Howard & Lieutenant Commander Shoniara T’ghann-Travis Dr

Mission: Sinister Intentions
Location: New Krakow

The away team materialized inside the governmental building in a large rotunda. Various people were walking about paying the StarFleet personnel no mind.

"Seems like that captain found something to occupy him and the ship just as we were transporting" quipped Ayana.

"I'm more concerned about what we will find down here" replied Eislyn.

Jon chuckled at Ayana's quip. "I'm sure the captain can handle it." Jon replied before adding, "Agreed Counselor. Lets see if we can find someone in charge."

Sam followed Jon's lead, keeping slightly behind him and a careful eye open for anything that could be of interest. Hopefully this away mission didn't go south like the last few had.

Ayana kept close to Jon and Samantha, keeping her guard up. She wasn't going to let anything happen to the XO or the CMO on her watch. Eislyn broke from the group just a bit and sought out a person to speak, approaching what she believed to be some sort of receptionist. "Excuse me, but might you assist me?"

The woman sitting behind the kiosk desk looked up from what she was doing, a look of annoyance on her face, "What can I do for you StarFleet?" she said with a bit of attitude.

Eislyn sensed the tension though she wasn't sure why this woman would be upset. "We were looking for someone in charge, the magistrate or governor perhaps."

"Do you have an appointment?"

"No" replied Eislyn simply.

"Typical" said the receptionist flatly with a hint of sass. "Go down that hallway until you reach the atrium, them make a right. You'll see the offices, but I wouldn't get your hopes up without an appointment."

Sam looked bemused at the interaction, government officials were all the same, very busy avoiding things it seemed!

Eislyn smiled, "Thank you for you assistance." She turned and looked at Grayson and the others with a look on her face that signified how frustrating it had been to talk to this simple receptionist. "It is this way" she said.

Sam followed behind with the amused look still on her face " You think they'll actually speak with us?" She asked, knowing the likelihood of the answer being a distinct 'no'.

Jon looked over at Sam. "He'll talk to us Sam. Especially if he knows what's good for him." His answer clipped and firm.

Eislyn led the way towards the offices as directed. Upon arrival she found that they were practically deserted, with the exception of yet another receptionist who was sitting comfortably doing her nails. Eislyn stood dumbstruck at this, waiting for the rest of the away team which was a dozen or so feet away and closing.

Sam looked on "Gee... they seem totally busy" She quipped with a bemused expression.

Jon cleared his throat "Ahem, we'd like to talk to the person in charge....now."

The woman looked up with a near blank look on her face. "Do you have an appointment?" she asked.

"No" replied Eislyn simply.

"Well, I'm afraid if you don't have an appointment you can't be seen."

Jon stared at the woman for several seconds. "You know, you take incompetence to a whole new level. One I never knew existed before now. In fact if I look up the word in data file it has your picture there."

"Don't get all huffy with me StarFleet!" she exclaimed as she stood up. "The rules are the rules. Best I can do is put you in contact with T'Vall. He is StarFleet like you and can probably help you find whatever you need." She hit a few buttons on her computer, "He is available. Go back to the atrium and take a right. His office is the third on the left side."

"Thank you soooo much. You have been ever soooo helpful." Jon's voice was dripping with sarcasm. He looked to Sam and the others, "Lets go before her one brain cell dies from loneliness."

" Ouch" Sam replied as they turned and headed back towards the Atrium. Once they were a few steps away " Does anyone else get the feeling we're being given the royal runaround?" She asked, her boot clacking on the polished floors as they walked.

"An astute observation and a correct one Sam." Jon commented. "One I have already gone tired of. Lets see if T'Vall can be of any assistance if not, everyone here is going to know my name."

"Something about this whole facility doesn't feel right" said Ayana. "I've never in my life encountered a Federation facility that was filled with an air of incompetence and lackadaisical personnel."

"It is odd to be sure" replied Eislyn.

"It is almost as if they were zombies, almost" Ayana responded. "We are going to find a heap of trouble eventually if we pry just a little bit."

Jon gave a look over his shoulder to look at Ayana, a gleam in his eyes. "Then by all means lets pry and uncover just what is going on here."

Ayana gave a wry smile as her fingers tickled the handle of her phaser. "I'm game" she replied.

Jon shot her a smile, "Music to my ears Ayana. Lets see what we can find out and stir up."

The away team entered the location provided to them and found themselves once more in front of a desk. This time though a StarFleet lieutenant sat behind the desk and stood when he saw senior officers enter.

"This looks promising" quipped Eislyn.

"Don't jinx it" replied Ayana.

"How can I be of assistance commander?" questioned the lieutenant.

"Need to talk to Commander T' Vall." Jon replied. His statement direct and to the point.

"Not a problem sir. Let me get the commander. He can address the situation for you and work to get whatever you need" replied the lieutenant, his Indian accent thick but discernable.

It was the first time since they had beamed down that they had encountered someone even halfway competent, let alone willing to do their job. Eislyn wondered what this T'Vall might be like.

Moric T’vall heard the commotion from where he was sitting in his office, he liked the quiet. He also had an attitude, those who worked under him knew what he liked and what would happen if they displeased him. The tall handsome Vulcan stood and walked from behind his desk casually flicking a piece of supposed lint from his immaculate front and entered the reception area.

“I am Lieutenant Commander Moric T’vall head of the Fleet resettlement team here on New Krakow. The buck stops here…” he looked at Grayson’s pips to see if was worth talking to… “Commander Welcome to New Krakow, how can I help you?”

Ayana remained behind and to the right of Grayson. She was used to dealing with all types, including all forms of telepaths. Vulcans were touch telepaths, with a scant few having exceptional telepathic abilities that allowed them to telepathically communicate in a line of sight short distances. Something about this Lt. Cmdr. T'Vall bothered her. She wasn't sure what it was, but she was certain something was off about him, much like everything else at the colony.

T’vall turned his gaze to Ayana who was behind Grayson, he appeared to be studying her closely. He was an expert At shielding his mind, his father had taught him how to do that just after he had killed T’valls mother. T’vall turned back to Grayson.

Sam regarded T'vall carefully, pulling out her tricorder and taking a few general readings. This place was just odd, and she wanted to figure out exactly what was causing it.

T’vall looked at her, “I am not sure what you hope to find with your tricorder, quite a few Vulcan life signs as this immigration and refugee center is a Vulcan/Star Fleet initiative. I would be pleased to show you around if you are interested?”

Ayana could feel his gaze on her, feel the gentle telepathic probing. Though she was human, her experience with telepaths had taught her how to shield her mind up to a point, and she did so now.

He turned away from her. “I am a very busy man, Commander?” He let the question hang on the air.

Eislyn had known many Vulcans thanks to the memories of her symbiont. This T'Vall shared many attributes that she had come to know and expect, and yet already she felt he had certain differences that were uncommon, even uncharacteristic of Vulcans. His comment of being busy put a sarcastic remark to the forefront of her mind, but she held back speaking it to avoid speaking our of turn. This was a moment for the senior officers, Cmdrs Grayson and Howard to be the diplomats.

T’vall covered his cold fury that these people would bother him, already digging, trying to see his mind. He had heard of the problems the Nausican slavers had run in to with this Starship Washington. T’vall and his small team had spent so much time removing the memories the women had of their time in the underground facility and now, now he had to try to get them back. they were no use now so would need to be culled. A lot of good will lost between him and their clients. He looked at his nails and waited patiently.

"Are we keeping you from something important Lt. Commander?" Jon asked sharply as T'vall looked at his nails. "As to why we're here, are you aware of the number of missing persons that have been traced back to here on New Krakow?"

“I admit I am busy Commander, we can process up to a thousand new settlers, visitors and through passengers a day here. New Krakow is what might be considered in Earths old history a ‘frontier town’. It has its rough elements in the form of gangs who vie for power, position and money. Unfortunately people go missing from here every day. We try to keep track of them but with my small team it is impossible. Starfleet is aware of the situation.”

" People... and so they've become just numbers to you? Oh well a few more gone oh dear, move on?" Sam sputtered, her tone one of complete incredulousness.

T’vall looked at her as if sizing her up, his eyebrows raised as if just seeing her. “When you see a thousand..” he opened his arms..”souls a day you fight a war of attrition my dear, Doctor is it?” He just added her to his next haul if at all possible. Orion slavers would soon bring her into line.

"How can you say that? You are personally responsible for the operations going on here, every one of these people should be of concern to you. To dismiss lives as simple numbers is deplorable, especially from a Starfleet Officer who has sworn an oath to preserve and protect." Sam's words were venomous - every life mattered to her, she felt each of them deeply. How could he not?

“And they are of concern to me believe it or not, I preserve and protect what I can where I can. You know nothing of the work we do here of the thousands of settlers and travelers we have helped find new lives, while you in your comfortable ship on some kind of ‘trek’ round the galaxy and sit in judgement on others from space. Now if you can give me more information on those you say are missing I can check, otherwise I really am busy?”

"Commander please spare me the pity party. If you can't handle the job a replacement can be found for you." Jon replied, his tone hard and rigid.

T’vall stood to his full height and stood in front of Jon invading his personal space almost inviting a conflict. His tone was cold. “Do not threaten me Commander, I can assure you you will lose. I have the full support of the government of New Krakow and also Admiral Nakamoto my direct supervisor in San Francisco. Tell me what you want me to do and I will do it, otherwise vacate my offices or I will invite security to remove you.”

Jon wasn't cowed by T'vall in the least. He offered a cold predatory smile. "That's where you are wrong Commander, I don't threaten, I make a promise and I don't care two flips about who your Admiral Nakamoto is. In fact, I'll have my Captain give him a call and see if he is aware of the gross neglect going on here in regards to the missing people." Jon took a breath, "Now, what we want is all the data you have on the missing people, so we can see if there are any connections in their disappearance."

“And as I have said to you Commander,” T’vall somehow seemed to make the word Commander into a dirty one. His voice as cold as Jon’s. “You need to give me a list of those you say are missing and I will collate them with my records and give you the information you seek. And, by ALL means have your Captain give the Admiral a call that will be an interesting conversation I think. Now unless there is anything else? I also have calls to make.”

Ayana couldn't help but give a soft chuckle as she shook her head. She could feel everyone's eyes falling on her and she looked up, "You really have no idea who our captain is. Might as well ask the doctor to give you a rectal exam without a painkiller" she said, her voice jovial and yet her expression dead serious.

T’vall decided that this was important enough to call a urgent meeting with consortium members as well as the Orion Syndicate. He did not much like the people from there he had to deal with. He liked to keep the charge of the group and with the Orions anything could happen.

They would have to use the underground constructions under the city where the ‘taken’ were kept and conditioned for slavery. He stood watching them and waiting for their next move. At that moment he thought of having the group taken there and then but that would attract even more attention from the Starship on orbit.

They would all make good obedient slaves, even the Commander once he had been through ‘conditioning’ and he knew just the right Matron who would pay handsomely for him.

Eislyn was prepared for T'Vall's request, being no stranger to bureaucratic stunts and the paperwork they enjoyed using to give people the run around. She'd done enough of it trying to locate family of each of the children they had recently rescued from the Breen. She stepped forward with a PaDD, "I think you'll find everything you need to cross reference with your files here commander." She handed the PaDD to T'Vall and gave a sly half smile to Grayson and the others.

Jon gave Eislyn a nod of approval before he turned back to T'vall. "You were saying Lt. Commander?"

He nodded at Eislyn, “At least someone in this group has some sense, thank you Lieutenant. I will have the information for you by tomorrow.” He took the proffered PaDD without looking at it.

"I thought Vulcans believed in efficiency. A pair of first year cadets would be able to get that information in a few hours" quipped Ayana.

"Now Ayana." Jon playfully admonished. "I'm sure the Lt. Commander has been busy. I mean just look at the the beehive of activity we've seen since we got here." The dig aimed at the lackadaisical attitude of the people they had encountered up to and including T'vall.

T’vall sighed, he was obviously not going to get rid of them as quickly as he had wanted. “This is obviously not the processing center, that is by the docking bridge where the ships come in. I can take you there if you wish to see it? If not as I have said I will have the information for you by tomorrow.

"That's quite alright Lt. Commander, we don't want to take you away from your obviously busy work schedule. We'll have a look around on our own. I'm sure we can find the docking bridge." Jon replied off handedly.

“Are you sure Commander? I would hate to have to send a search team to rescue you and your party from the rough element down there.”

"Oh. I'm quite sure you would hate it. I'm equally sure, we can handle it." Jon agreed and moved on, "No, we can take care of ourselves."

T’vall turned and walked back to the peace of his office. Once there he closed the door sat down at his desk and pressed his desk comm. “Dorette get The Admiral for me on the secure Channel. Tell him we have trouble, and have someone follow that group from the Washington. If they are discovered tell them that they were just ordered to make sure they did not get lost.”

He pressed his personal communicator “Jordan, get the groups together in the usual place, we need a meeting tonight, something has come up, also notify the Orions 22.00.” He threw the PaDD onto his desk in disgust. He decided he would leave early for the meeting and apply himself to some of the new intake, a little violence would do his Katra a world of good.