Information Exchange

Posted on Sun Sep 23rd, 2018 @ 10:22am by Commander Abigail Prescott & Telhas thu'S'Terion Sa-Shasol'kor t'Cheleb-Khor

2,332 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: Mission 1: The Return to Faltan
Location: Captain's Lounge, Command Building, Faltan Station
Timeline: MD07 - 2000

Although he had requested meetings in the evening, Telhas did not find time until now. As a sign of goodwill, he had offered to visit Mint. He beamed directly into the commanding officer's office, just to make sure to be safe. He still did not trust everyone at Faltan Station.

"Good evening, Abigail," he greeted her, "How are you?"

Mint looked up from her console. Her hands continued moving over the keys for a moment before she gave Telhas a tired smile and her full attention. "Fine," she said, despite wanting to say she was exhausted. It was easier to just say the one word at this point. "How are you, Telhas?"

Telhas smiled coldly. "I am fine. Got some more or less good news. There is no proof that my wife has been killed. I consider it an improvement."

"Well, that is good news in this sea of bad," she stood and moved around the desk, gesturing to the chairs and couches in the main meeting area of the office. "Please have a seat, can I offer you any refreshments?"

"Water, with a piece of lemon, if possible," Telhas said while walking to the chair and settling in it. "We also found out something about the explosives they used for the bombing. I guess I do not need to tell you who is the number one user of these explosives."

Mint went to the replicator and got the water with lemon for Telhas and a coffee for herself. "Starfleet," she said simply, not even looking at Telhas when she said it. "It seems we are being set up for a war, Telhas." She handed him his water and settled herself into a chair as well. A dark look crossed her face and it was easy to tell just how angry with this situation she was. "Tell me," she said finally looking him in the eyes. "Do you believe anyone in Starfleet would willingly bomb your embassy on such an insignificant planet?"

"Well, I would bomb any embassy, regardless how insignificant, if I would kill the right person," Telhas replied, "but I have some doubts that I would be a reasonable target for Starfleet, as I am pro-Federation and actually a Vulcan duke." He paused for a moment before he continued. "Beyond that, it would not make sense for Starfleet to start a war with my people. Yes, according to my analysis you would win such a war, but half the Federation would be bombed to ashes. And you know quite well that my people would not restrain themselves from biological warfare. As far as I know the professionalism of Starfleet, there must be the same analysis available to your strategic staff. So war would be unlikely as a goal. Now, what remains is an assassination attempt on me. However, there we are back in the topic of professionalism. I have been an analyst in the Tal Diann, Counterintelligence Department, and I can assure you that your intelligence is highly professional and they would not be so horribly stupid to leave any obvious traces pointing at them. You concur with my analysis?"

"Completely," Mint nodded, leaning back in her seat and holding her coffee in front of her. She took a deep breath of the rich aroma before letting out a frustrated sigh. "Whomever is doing this is trying to make us look stupid, sloppy, but they're just throwing red flags up, showing themselves to be incompetent at this game," she took a sip, then placed the mug on the table. "And you're right on the fact that our intelligence agency has similar resources to yours. And no, we would not attempt to start a war, even one we knew we could ultimately win, at this point in time. There is enough going on in the universe that requires our defenses to go into play. The brass wouldn't be stupid enough to go on the offensive and allow the SoK or the Gorn to find a crack in the defenses. Simply put, Starfleet has enough on its plate, there is no room to add another item."

"It is not much different with us," Telhas replied, "Although I could start my private war with my personal ships. By far not enough for Starfleet, but enough for Faltan. But I will not make things more complicated for you than they are already. So do not worry." He smiled and winked, trying to put some tension out of the talk.

Mint sighed and readjusted in her seat, crossing her right leg over her left and leaning slightly away from Telhas. While she appreciated his honesty and the fact that he was smart enough to not shoot first, ask questions later, she was tired of the situation in general. She was also tired of everyone throwing their 'power' around, most especially of the fact that she had to throw hers around too. Feeling frustrated, she reached up and pulled the clips holding her hair up out and rubbed her scalp as the black mass fell around her shoulders. Idly she though about adding some highlights, maybe she'd let M'Mira pick the colour.

"I have to be honest with you Telhas," she said looking over at him. "I am more angry at this situation than I am letting on," she gave him a grave smile. "Everyone throwing their power around, the Faltan Governor being so smug, the infighting, lack of information, investigations seemingly going nowhere, the damage to the embassy and station, your wife disappearing," she voice slowly lowered and she practically growled as she finished speaking. Her features grew dark, even her eyes seemed to dim. "It's making my blood boil. It's taking every ounce of my energy and focus to keep it under wraps. To try to act like everything is normal, that we're not on the brink of war with anyone," she stared blankly at a spot just over his shoulder, her brows furrowed. After a moment she shook her head, let out a long suffering sigh, and forced the mask of false happiness back onto her face. "I would love nothing more than to have a moment, one on one, with that bitch of a Governor...."

"Do not fight your anger. It is Ket-Cheleb's voice talking to you. Accept it, listen to it, but do not allow it to control you. Just keep it in your mind, but not dominantly." Telhas was not sure if this advice was welcome, but he felt he had to give it. "Ket-Cheleb is strong, and he hates weakness. You are strong as well, make sure that Ket-Cheleb is accompanied by more gentle gods. He hates them, but he cannot fight them. They are all part of your inner chorus, listen to all of them, and you will find valuable advice from all of them. When I thought Nevala had been killed, Ket-Cheleb advised me to start orbital bombardment and kill everyone on this planet." He took a sip of his water. "I have to admit that I have been very close to follow His advice. But then Valdena spoke to me, asking me if such action would honour Nevala's remembrance. Of course it would not, so I refrained. Yet, Ket-Cheleb continues to push me finding Nevala and punish those who attacked my embassy. And He is right doing so. At the same time, Kir-Alep continues to show me the value of peace. And Tel-Alep reminds me to think twice before I act and do something I might regret later. All these gods are with me, and together they guide me. I just need to listen to them and allow none of them to take control. I am the master of my mind, as you are of yours."

Mint smiled thinly. "The anger won't win over, but it will still be there," she pulled her legs up and tucked them under herself on the chair. "Maybe I should start meditating," she smiled at him. "For now though, what can I do to assist in finding your wife?"

"It would be helpful if your field agent could gather any information on that subject," Telhas replied thoughtfully, "And perhaps... if we could exchange sensor logs? Raw data would be best, as everything processed could have accidentally skipped important data. You get our full scans from one hour before to one hour past the bombing, and you get ours."

"Hmm... I had assumed that working together on this investigation meant such things would be shared," she rubbed her left ankle absently. "If anyone on my side is not cooperating, I shall have a talk with them. As for my field agent, she is doing the best she can, but has found something bigger to investigate. It may be interconnected, but at this point, there is little data coming my way. I don't expect much information from her until she completes her mission."

"Actually, we were so occupied with our own analysis that we forgot to meet with your staff. I will schedule a meeting with your Lieutenant Damon for tomorrow," Telhas smiled politely. "Besides, you should know that sometime tomorrow a Tal Shiar warbird will arrive, probably in the afternoon. I have requested assistance and my wife's cousin is the head of the Tal Shiar, so you can imagine they have some interest in the case. Have you ever dealt with the Tal Shiar?"

"I have not, and I hoped I never would," Mint shook her head. "No offense, Telhas, but they don't have the best reputation." She frowned, believing that the Tal Shiar arriving would not help matters as much as Telhas thought they would. "Telhas, please promise me you will not allow them to destroy this planet and its inhabitants based on the actions of a few."

Telhas did not say anything. He just looked at the piece of lemon swimming in his glass for a while. "Honestly spoken, I cannot guarantee. But a war would need a majority vote of the Imperial Senate. There I can use my influence." He sighed. "Unfortunately, the attack on my embassy and especially the abduction of my wife cost me mnhei'sahe. And it may have cost me just the bit too much to veto a declaration of war." He sipped some water. "Besides, the Tal Shiar may also conduct a small-scale military action to neutralize a threat. They are feared for a reason."

Mint got up and deposited her mug in the replicator to be recycled, drink barely even touched. "Telhas, if even one of those innocent civilians is harmed by the Tal Shiar .... I will hold you responsible," she was still facing the replicator as she spoke, but turned to face him, anger evident on her face. "Family or not, I cannot condone bringing them into this. Destroying an entire population and a Starfleet base will not regain your honour. All it will do is lead to war with the Federation."

"Fact is that I am only partially in control of the situation," Telhas replied calmly, "And this is not a matter of honour. Also fact is that the Tal Shiar would have been involved anyway. My wife is, after all, the cousin of the Tal Shiar's director. You may still hold me responsible for whatever happens, and you may court martial me, execute me, exterminate my entire family... it does not change anything. I do not want war, but if the Senate should declare war, I will fight, whatever it costs. But they are not stupid, they will not risk war with the Federation. And the Tal Shiar always considers consequences." He shrugged. "It may even be that they prefer my wife dead and bring me down that way. Who knows?" He shook is head and laughed. "What an irony of history that an insignificant government like Faltan holds the key to bring down a six thousand year old dynasty. Just because I have been stupid enough to believe that this would be the perfect place to secure peace."

"You aren't the only one who thought that and got disappointed," Mint returned to the couch. "This wasn't supposed to go this way. It's a mess and I don't know if we'll clean it up. And instead of investigating Refelian's shooting, here I am discussing the Tal Shiar and their known brutality."

Telhas shrugged. "This is what happens when things get out of control. By the way, how is Captain Refelian? Is he recovering well?"

"He is awake," Mint sighed. "We won't know the extent of the damage for a while, but he at least has his eyes open."

"At least some light in this darkness," Telhas said thoughtfully. "Please tell him my best wishes for a speedy recovery." He rose to his feet, bringing his glass of water to the replicator. "If you want my opinion," he said while the glass was recycled, "both cases are connected somehow. If we solve one, we solve the other one as well."

"Three," Mint pointed out. "I think the assassination of the previous governor is connected in there somehow as well. I just hope we can solve the case quickly, and get your wife back in one piece."

"If you excuse me now, I will return to my ship. If we are lucky, there will be no need for the Tal Shiar to stay here for long. Maybe I can even dismiss them immediately once they arrive. But we will see, time will tell." Telhas gave Mint an almost unnoticeable nod. "Abigail." And he left the room.

Mint sighed and stretched out on the couch after the Ambassador left the room. Her head was pounding and she felt exhausted. There was a ding from the computer console and Mint's heart did a small jump. She hoped it was more intel from Dufrai, but when she finally looked, she was disappointed to see it was a security report. "I hope you're gathering intel, Dufrai. We need it," she said aloud.

 

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