An underlying lie

Posted on Mon Mar 21st, 2016 @ 1:32am by Commander Bertrand Cuprum & Captain Elijah Michaels & Commander Cor Cordale & Lieutenant JG Elliot Keller

Mission: Vipers and Scoundrels
Location: USS Victory.

Once the Away Team were aboard the Ship, Elijah proceeded off the Transporter with Cor and Bertrand in tow.

"Captain, you have an urgent request from Commander Bartlett to meet in your Ready Room." The Transporter Chief said to the Captain. "She also requested Commander Curpum and Cordale attend."

With a curious nod the Captain thanked the Chief and then left the Room with his two Senior Officers.

------------ Ten minutes later, Ready Room ------------

Elijah was behind his desk, Michelle sat opposite him with Cor and Bertrand flanking either side of her. "Oh I hate Diplomats, those lying bastards."

Michelle chuckled a bit, then leaned towards the Captain at the desk... "I'm afraid it's not going to get much better." she said, as she showed the scan results from the cargo hold. "Any theories on why an old dump like that would be carrying so much latinum?"

Cordale gave the matter a little thought, "Well, out in these reaches of space, Latinum is the currency of the realm. If there wasn't a mountain of the stuff, I'd say it was for repairs and maintenance. Though, I have to ask one question for clarity. Are we talking pure, refined liquid latinum, or gold-pressed? I mean, not that there's really a difference in value, but it's more for ease of use. You can't readily spend latinum in its liquid form." he paused for a moment, "It doesn't mean you can't, but you wouldn't use it to pay your bills or settle a tab at a bar. You'd use it to buy the bar."

Elijah nodded in agreement with Cor. "Based on the volume it has to be gold pressed," The Captain handed the Thux the PADD. "Several large containers holding enough bars to buy a small fleet."

Cordale took the PaDD, gave it a once over, and actually whistled. "Hoooo... leeeee... Shhhhhrubberies." Smooth dodge, Cordale. "That amount of Gold-Pressed Latinum's almost a war crime, chief. That kind of buying power is dangerous."

He paused, "I mean, that kind of currency could wreck a local economy, or jump start one. You know that hilarious human saying that there's 'No Amount of Money that could make me so and so'? Well, THIS is that amount of money. Carrying it is beyond dangerous." he paused, "I recommend we confiscate it and buy a moon. Just to keep it out of the hands of local warlords, really. It's the responsible thing to do." and at that, the Thux smirked.

"What is it with this crew and their desire to just 'confiscate' everything they don't like?" Bertrand muttered. "I was made aware of the cargo while we were on the ship, and as alarming as it may be, especially the circumstances of the transport, it is not in fact breaking any laws to own that much Latinum. Nor are we currently in Federation Space."

"That being said we ARE on Federation soil inside the confines of this ship and as such the Prime Directive applies, among others, about releasing this sort of money in a manner that could destabilize a society. At the very least we could hold the money belonging to Ambassador Collins pending his explanation and certain assurances. Trying to keep the money away from the other Ambassador's is much more difficult and I should not recommend it. No doubt they will have all sorts of Diplomatic Immunities on themselves and their goods."

Ensign Keller, the Diplomatic Liason Officer arrived at the Ready Room with the three Ambassadors in tow. "Captain I am sorry to disturb you, but there was an incident in Cargobay 2 and our guests have a complaint to launch."

Collins proceeded forward. "Yes Captain somebody among your Crew felt the need to open up our Cargo for inspection."

Elijah looked towards his Staff. "I would say given the nature of your Cargo and the quantity they were just being cautious."

Cordale gave a nod in support of the Captain's summation. "With respects, sirs, a large enough quantity of anything is cause for at least some concern. If you were transporting that much fluid water, for example, we'd have to inspect it for possible contaminants and transmissionable diseases." Hearing the Thux speak now, in contrast with his mannerisms a few moments ago, you'd think you were speaking with two completely different beings. "Though, as the Captain stated, when dealing with the quantity of cargo that large, better safe then sorry."

"I agree with Cordale. And the Captain." Michelle said. "Every little bit of precaution helps. The last thing we need is to have our crew blindsided if something ends up being not exactly as disclosed."

The three men all looked outraged and attempted to find an ally to their cause. "Commander Cuprum, you as an Officer who adheres to Duty must have an objection?" The Cardassian asked looking towards the Betazoid Security Officer.

Bertrand nodded, sizing the men up in a glance, "Absolutely. This behaviour is unacceptable under Ambassadorial regulations. I assume you did provide your ambasaddorial qualifiaction during embarkation, and identified the crates as under your own sanction?"

Collins blustered, Retak smiled, but Ulan growled, "I will make a protest!"

"I was just about to suggest that," Bertrand said retrieving a PADD. "Now I will need you to identify exactly what the Cargo was that was tampered with, or if not what it is, where it is intended for. This is just so we can be sure we are able to identify the correct incident, you understand?"

Ulan almost exploded but Retak stopped him, "Captain, I think perhaps we had better explain ourselves. You must understand that this is a matter of delicacy and we have had to risk compromising our reputation and position for what we are undertaking."

"Three weeks ago my daughter Alina was kidnapped. I received a ransom demand for a significant figure to be delivered to the station we are now traveling to."

"My wife, Barbara was taken at the same time by the same people," Collins said, deflating slowly.

"My brother, Rae'fin," Ulan admitted reluctantly.

"Three independent kidnappings in three different empires," Collins continued. "These were well connected people. We were being watched and so could not raise it with our local government for aide. Despite which the life of one or two citizens would be insignificant. The best we could hope for was an armed raid, which would kill our... our..."

"So you decided to capitulate to the kidnappers demands," Bertrand finished. "You had to grab whatever transport would get you there, no questions asked, hence the run down freighter."

"Captain Iver has recently undergone some significant set backs and was keen for an opportunity to get in well with us," Retak allowed.

"So the question becomes," Bertrand summarized, "Do we transport you and your money to a Pirate station, and allow you to re-buy your loved ones, only to increase the power of the Pirates and likely hood that they will do this to someone else."

"If you don't help us, they will die," Collins pleaded.

"They don't care," Ulan spat. "Their privileged is far more important to them. They would never put aside their vaunted regulations to do what is right."

"Following Regulations is how we KNOW what is right," Bertrand countered.

The Captain looked towards the Crew and Ambassadors. "There is another option we can consider." He said sat behind his desk. "Ambassador Collins Wife is a Federation Citizen, she is our responsibility."

With a moment or two to think about a course of action, Elijah came up with a theory. "If we show up with a Sovereign Class Starship we could lead them to their deaths, unless we establish a small team posing as a Crew transporting the three men and the Latinum."

"If you're looking for volunteers, I'm in. You wouldn't know it by looking, but I'm pretty business savvy when needed. Plus if we're looking for an underdog crew, nothing says grizzled like a false limb." Cordale offered. "No one hurts a kid on my watch."

Elijah nodded. "How quickly can we modify the Captain's Yacht?" Elijah asked Cor.

"To make it look like anything but the Captain's Yacht? Well, throw some paint on the hull, weld some extra bits here and there, modulate the engine output. Two hours for the engines, ten hours for the hull... six if we rush."

"I will give you five." Elijah said to Cor. "Take who you need, see to it Commander."

"Well then, I really should get to work sooner rather then later. If there's nothing else for me, sir, I'll get started immediately." Cor said, already half a step towards the door.

"Any recommendations from the two of you?" The Captain asked looking at both Michelle and Bertrand. "In terms of Personnel?"

"Marines, possibly an Intel operator." Michelle said. "Either way, anyone capable with a weapon that can fight if it gets to that point."

"Normally I would recommend against Marines in a Diplomatic or covert Op," Bertrand admitted, "but ion this case they would be exactly the sort of 'pirate crew' to blend in. I think I should go; I have the most direct experience with criminals, and also am missing a limb. I'd like to take Wakeman as well as Kilbane as intel and in case things do get political."

"What exactly do you have planned, Captain?" Collins asked. "I demand to be told; this is my wife at stake."

"And I'd like to know what they are planning for the other hostages," Retak added.

The Captain turned to the three of them. "Lieutenant Commander Cuprum and a small Away Team will take the Captains Yacht, pose as a hired Crew ferrying yourselves and report on the situation at hand." Elijah had seen and heard enough. "The Commander is a trained Criminal investigator, he knows what he is doing."

"What happens once they find them?" Retak asked the Captain. "Will we pay the ransom and be on our way?"

Elijah gave the Romulan a stern look. "I will be informing all of your respective governments, we are close to Cardassian Space and they have every right to know that one of theirs is in danger."

Ulan protested. You cannot!"

"Ensign Keller remove this man from my Ready Room." The Captain said to the Diplomatic Ensign stood to me side. "Bertrand, assemble me a team and have them ready for a briefing in an hour." He said to the Commander.

"Sir," Bert responded.

"Dismissed everyone." Elijah commented to the ensemble in his Ready Room.

Bert lingered as the group filled out so he could have a private word with the Captain, "Sir, those ambassadors are not telling us everything and my skin is itching. There is more to this than we yet know, but I'll get you what intel I can."

Elijah nodded. "I will get in touch with the Cardassians. If they are serious about the Alliance, then we will need them."