An Open Mind

Posted on Thu Dec 20, 2018 @ 8:51pm by Commodore Michael Aravan & Lieutenant Commander Alex Rho

Mission: On Slippery Ground
Location: Ready Room
Timeline: MD 1 || 1030 Hours

After the last of the senior staff headed out except the Intelligence Chief, Michael went to get a cup of coffee. "I'm sure you know why I asked you to stay behind, Mister Rho, but I have to make it clear. I've been told that the cargo the freighter is carrying is a generation or two beyond the current bio-neural gel packs built into the Triumphant."

"That means that if a leak occurs, it's going to attract some very unsavory people trying to steal it. There is already suspicion of such a leak and I want you to check every member of the crew who is authorized to even know what we'll be protecting. If there's other telepaths who are authorized or works with those that are, I want them monitored, too." the Commodore finished.

Alex nodded. "I'd say 'unsavory' would be an understatement. Pirates from Orion to Nausicca, rouge Ferengi looking for a big payday, black marketeers from across the quadrant, or even someone just trying to make a name for himself. The shipment, and even the location in the Badlands, could be compromised."

"As far as a leak, I'll begin examining the necessary crew and monitoring them right away." He paused a moment and thought. "Some of those that are authorized to even know are Senior Staff. I'd be ready for some blowback if they figure out their trust has been called in to question."

"You're authorized to monitor the ship quarters as well, but keep everything confidential," Michael responded. "If you find someone that's having thoughts about a big score related to this, have Security apprehend them immediately, then contact me and Captain Weisz."

Alex nodded. "That, I can do," he said. Confidentially monitoring the ship quarters would be pretty easy. One-on-one interviews or casually talking to people that he hadn't talked to before while searching their minds, that would be a challenge. And Alex liked challenges. "I'll start with Security, then. Better to clear them first in case I need them to take someone into custody."

"Just keep an open mind and report back if you hear anything. Do you have any questions?" Michael asked.

"Oh, I will most certainly keep an open mind." To everyone on this ship, he thought to himself. "You said that there's already a suspicion of a leak. Do you know who it is? Or which area of the ship talk originated?"

"It had to have started on Deep Space 10," the Commodore told him. "Who, where and why is the questions that need answered. If there's a leak on the station, it could spread and we just took on new crew, too."

"A station leak is not good at all. But I'd imagine that the new crew will spread it a little," said Alex. "So after Security will be the new crew from Deep Space 10 that work in Engineering, Operations, Science, and so on." He leaned back a little in his chair. "I suppose I could approach this from an Internal Affairs perspective, with your permission of course. People hate Internal Affairs as it is. Maybe that'll draw some attention away from everything else."

Michael shook his head. "If anything, it would make the people responsible even more wary. Do it like you were going to. Nice and casual."

Alex nodded. "You make a very good point. No need to upset the natives unnecessarily. I'll make it a point to 'run-in' to them off duty as well. And that was the only question I had. Everything else is easy enough. Well, at this point it's easy enough. But that never seems to be the case too long."

"Use everything at your disposal. If there is a leak, we need to stop it," Michael said ."If there isn't, then all the information you collect gets sanitized, correct?"

Everything at his disposal was actually quite a lot. And that was just fine with him. "Agreed. Leaks need to be stopped. Finding them is what we do. But yes, if there isn't one, collected information will be sanitized. And you can rest assured that what's up here," he said tapping his head, "will be safe and secure."

"If you don't have any other questions, I'll let you get to it," Michael told him as he reached for a PADD. He pressed his thumb to it and handed it to the Intel Chief. "This is my authorization for you to be able to access all personnel files up to my level. Don't abuse it."

Alex accepted the PADD and gave it a quick once over. "Understood, Commodore. No abuse."

"Dismissed," the Commodore said and after the Intel Chief had left, he sat down at one of the seats. "Now for me to keep an eye on you, Mister Rho," he told the air. The PADD he had authorized and Rho had accepted would give him access to any system the Intel Chief accessed after he had accessed the PADD. It was nothing personal, but he had his orders, too.