Things Yet To Come

Posted on 12/28/2021 @ 1:07pm by Commander Aer Feshau-Patton & Senior Chief Petty Officer Sean Healy & Lieutenant T'ra Na'vassa & Lieutenant Gilora Paret & Lieutenant JG Stefan Zamfir
Edited on on 03/05/2022 @ 5:04am

2,807 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Mini Mission: Lighting Up Shadows
Location: Briefing Room, Intelligence Suite, Deck 8, Poseidon Station

Aer's team had grew significantly in recent weeks, her core team. She had analysts, field agents, logistics officers and the like. Her team was large, it had to be for the location they were and the species that vied for power.

She had called a few key personnel to the intelligence briefing room so they could all be together for one. See how they interacted, if they had met each other etc. As always she would be taking note of every interaction, every word.

T'ra walked in and went straight to the replicator. " Green tea, Hot. " She took a sip and smiled. Good morning Commander. What's on the agenda for today? " As she found an open seat at the table.

Gilora ducked her head as she stepped into the briefing room in the Intelligence Department. She had taken a moment before coming to have her uniforms retailored. It seemed that they did not take Cardassian anatomy into account when they made the uniform. She took a seat at the table with a nod. "Good morning Commander, Lieutenant."

Stefan arrived a few minutes later, carrying a mug of tea which the scent of peppermint rising from it. "Good morning." he stated stopping for a moment to see whom was all there. He gave a brief smile towards LT. Commander Feshau, then sat down in one of the other vacant seats there. He cast a glance towards those whom he hadn't met before, giving a congenial nod towards them.

T'ra smiled at the newcomers and gave a polite nod in return. " Greetings, for those of you I haven't met as of yet. I am T'ra Na'vassa and have been recently assigned here, I hope we can all get along and work well together. "

"I am Stefan Zamfir, and I hope the same thing as to our being able to work as a team. I've only met Commander Feshau, so I've not met anyone else." The dark haired man said with a charming smile.

Gilora eyed the Romulan woman for a moment. Funny how even though she was Cardassian and not trusted by anyone she could easily not trust someone based on their race. For the moment thought Gilora made sure that her personal feelings were well hidden. "I am Lieutenant Gilora Paret. Welcome to the team ma'am." Even though she outranked T'ra, Gilora addressed the other woman's position as Assistant Chief with ma'am.

Sean walked in with a skip in his step and a couple of bags in his hand. "Sorry folks, Commander Feshau sent me out for some baked goods." he said placing the bags down on the table.

"Thanks Sean." Aer replied as watched him sit down. "Thank you all for coming. Here in our little dark part of the world we have lots of people working here and I wanted to form kind of like a core group. Leaders in prospective departments within. So, Lt. Paret I would like you to be my lead within Logistics, Sean my analysts, Stefan lead in the field officers and T'ra overseeing the group as a whole."

Gilora pulled a PADD off the table and began to take notes. She nodded when her name was called. The assignment was expected although the Cardassian had hoped she would be able to work in the field.

T'ra raised her hand slightly. " A question if I may Commander, Is this a general staff meeting or is something brewing out our way that Starfleet Intelligence wants us to check out? " She paused briefly. " Sorry, old habits die hard. But I was thinking that we have a motley enough crew here to pass off as a mercenary band or even as a small raider crew if we ever need to infiltrate a group. That could be a asset for this team. "

"It's a bit of both." Aer admitted. "You will all be the main points of contact within the departments I mentioned but also primarily working outside these walls in the field confirming the intel we get from our sources and our people." she added taking a sip of a drink. "However, a few months ago Colonel Patton and I wrapped up a mission in where we caught a Dr Rik, not sure if anyone has read that report?" she asked rhetorically (See mission: Know Thy Enemy). "I have been contacted by a few of my own sources, once from Starfleet Intelligence, about a group called The Unseen. Dr Rik was part of this group it seems and working for someone I called Shadow Man, who contacted me a few times but it was always an image shrouded in darkness. The group, The Unseen, has turned out to be a larger criminal organisation that we had realised."

Now this was something that Gilora could sink her teeth into. She began to take copious amounts of notes on her PADD. Covert organizations was something almost any Caradassian knew a lot about. "Do we know what governments, if any have been effected by these Unseen?" She asked as she turned to Aer.

"Nothing concrete unfortunately." Aer replied to Gilora. "There is some evidence to suggest they are working with the Breen given our previous interactions with them. So, it is possible they are working with species whom may have a grudge against us, but that is just a working theory at the moment. Dr Rik had a codename, The Bishop, so possible ties to religion there, but again this is theory." she said as an holo-image and information appeared up on the tables centre.

"If the Shadow Man is the top of the tree there could be many more Lieutenants under him that we do not know about. They could be on any planet, any species. We need to sort through the noise and find out how deep this goes." Aer said with concern.

"I may not be familiar with this particular person, however I am familiar with enemies in the shadows." Stefan remarked. "I'm willing to do digging and sift through details." his memory went back to his own particular history with a said shadowy individual, as in his uncle. He shook his head quietly. He's not checked on the status of his own uncle, may the man rot in Hell for all he cared.

"May I suggest that we get a notice out to the intergalactic Intelligence Community. We can notify the Tal Shiar, the KDF Intelligence wing, Cardassian Intelligence etc... Perhaps with their assistance and coordination we could get a handle on this Unseen. What is more is anyone who gives us push back on joining this little task force should be eyed closely as being under the thumb as it were." Gilora spoke up. She was actually a little giddy. Something like this was in the Caradassian's proverbial wheel house. There was a small part of her that wondered if her father was part of this Unseen. It definitely seems like something he would get up to. She thought.

"I have reached out to my contact within the Klingon set up, just to see what they have on them. It might take them some time to get back to me but they owe me a life debt so I know they won't disappoint." she smiled remembering her time with Dusak. "However, I don't want to openly notify other intelligence services, quietly yes, but I'd rather keep this a secret for as long as we can. Once the Unseen get a glimpse of us looking they may be forced to react. The Tal Shiar are hardly known for their generosity, and as for the Cardassians, forgive me Gilora, always have ulterior motives behind what they do. Although of late I can hardly say Starfleet has been a shining example of cooperation." Aer added. Lately she had been feeling resistance for her own bosses from upon high.

"With your permission Commander, May I have access to a probe? I could record a message that would transmit near the neutral zone as a anonymous tip from a passing ship. They would investigate the Unseen as a threat. You know how my people are, if they think something is a threat they will study it for weaknesses. If you follow up with a request for information, they may share what they have to see if you have information that they do not. It's your best bet to get them to cooperate. " Stated T'ra, hoping her knowledge of her people would be useful.

"I can also contact my Aunt, through a secure channel to see if she's heard of the people you are speaking of. My Aunt has been known to travel in different circles and may have connections that would be worthwhile to talk to her about." Stefan offered as well.

Gilora glanced in the direction of Stefan. She was not in charge of the department, however, sharing sensitive information with a civilian regardless of connections seemed reckless to the Cardassian. She thought it foolish to even suggest it. Her thoughts were not betrayed by her looks though. She hoped that Aer would shoot this suggestion down.

Stefan caught Gilora's glance towards him when he spoke of his aunt. "She is in intelligence." he stated as if those four words covered it all. His aunt was 62 now but was still in fabulous physical condition. You'd not think she was in her 60's by looking at her. He turned his thoughts back to what was at hand.

"T'ra you have permission to access a probe. If you believe that to be the best way to get the Tal Shiar involved through an indirect route then I am happy to proceed, but be discreet. Try and keep it out of the eyes on the Unseen if you can." Aer replied.

Stefan spoke and Aer smiled, "If your Aunt has the ability to get us something then I am not against it, but I'd be wary in including family in something of this scale. Everyone we include is someone we may be potentially putting in danger. If she is a seasoned intelligence agent with different, older connections then we could use that to our advantage."

Stefan nodded, "She is seasoned, and we're not unfamiliar with the stakes at hand. Call it somewhat old hat there." giving a half smile. It was the truth, as the family had been a team for some missions for intelligence. Including undercover work. "My aunt and I have worked together. We both understand the risks involved."

Gilora did not agree with Aer's choice to include family. It had been the Cardassian's experience that the more people who knew what you were doing the more likely for the op to go south or for the enemy to learn what you were doing. However, Gilora was not someone to argue with a commanding officer. She took a note on her PADD to coordinate with T'ra about the probe as it was her job as logistics officer to make sure everything was ready there. "Lieutenant Na'vassa I can have a lab secured for Intelligence work by morning. With one probe prepared for you."

T'ra smiled and nodded to the acknowledgement. Thank you Commander, I shall make sure that there are fail safes installed to prevent tampering or discovery of federation involvement. And after the probe has completed it's task, there won't be enough left of it to identify. "

"I have a question concerning these people, how long have they been around? Decades maybe?" Stefan was definitely getting interested in this.

"It's possible." Aer said begrudgingly. "Without knowing the players is it hard to say. If they have widespread influence then it is probably due to many years of growth or placement. Years, decades, generations, they all need to be stopped." she added. "I have it on good authority that our most recent capture, Dr Rik, will no longer be of any use to us." she paused for a little effect, more so in annoyance that they had let it happen. "He was murdered in his cell. Whomever did so left this." she brought up a holo-image of a small chess piece, a black knight.

T'ra was as stunned as the rest of the team with the bombshell that was just dropped in their lap. " Commander, This Dr. Rik was considered a high value asset for information on the Unseen. He must have been held in a maximum security area for questioning, and someone waltzed in and silenced him? How? What happened to security? Were they not guarding him around the clock? What about surveillance coverage? If they were able to bypass all of that to get the target, then the Unseen has infiltrated Starfleet as well. If we've been infiltrated, then I have little doubt that the Tal Shiar, Imperial Klingon Intelligence and the Obsidian Order have been as well. I fear we have ventured into dangerous uncharted waters and will have few others outside of this group that we'll be able to trust. "

Gilora thought it is appropriate that the Romulan in the room would look toward not trusting anyone. Fact was that Cardassians made their bread and butter on an old Earth axiom. "I would agree that a modicum of reservation is going to be needed now more than ever. However, my time in the Order taught me that the old Earth axiom of keep your friends close and your enemies closer is always true. If we extend an olive branch of sorts to these people and talk to them. We can learn volumes about them."

T'ra sipped at her tea as she thought. " If we're to extend an olive branch as you put it, Then I would also suggest we set up a meeting time and place to discuss our common problem. I think for security purposes that each party should send one ship to a agreed upon coordinates to rendezvous at, so as to lessen our chances of discovery. "

"My sentiments exactly..." Gilora said in agreement with her colleague.

"We'll need to find an area in neutral space and send out a message to the heads of the intelligence agencies and request a meeting and see if they'd be willing to attend or send a representative in their place to discuss this common threat. "

"Probably not a good idea for all of us to be in one spot for said meeting." Stefan remarked. "Would make some people nervous."

T'ra looked directly at Stefan. " I agree it's going to make people nervous. But this group who call themselves the Unseen, has infiltrated Starfleet and I'm willing to bet they have done the same to every government and power in the alpha and beta quadrants, and the only reason to do that is for power and control, And whatever their purpose is I doubt that it's for the betterment of anyone but themselves. "

"I do realize that, however it will be all up to Commander Feshau for her decision." Stefan remarked.

"I am fine with a representative of one of us going to a meeting with other intelligence agencies, maybe even two of us for safety. As we are the only people, those of us in this room, that are looking into this then we need to be careful that we are not compromised." Aer replied looking around the table. "T'ra you may take USS Caliban, she is a heavy class Hornet ship garrisoned here on the station. The group can accompany you on board and when the meeting is to take place whomever stays on the ship can support if needed but only one or two can beam over, down or whatever." she added. "I leave it for you to decide whom that should be but I would suggest that you consider the optics of whom you send. I know our counterparts will be looking for any weaknesses we have, any slips of information as much as we are in them."

"Understood Commander. I'll research a neutral location and work out a message to the other agencies and let you inspect it prior to sending it. If we can get them to agree to the meeting it will put us all in a better position to protect our own interest as well as mutual protection of each other."

"Great. That is all I have for now, if anyone wants to follow up privately we can do so once the deal with a couple of things." Aer said rather cryptically. "Everyone is dismissed to go about their duties." she said rising and watching the others filter out.

---

Lt. Commander Aer Feshau
Chief Intelligence Officer
Poseidon Station

Lieutenant Gilora Paret
Lead Logistics Officer
Poseidon Station

Lieutenant JG T'ra Na'Vassa
Assistant Chief Intelligence Officer
Poseidon Station

Lieutenant JG Stefan Zamfir
Lead Field Officer
Poseidon Station

Senior Chief Petty Officer Sean Healy
Lead Analyst
Poseidon Station

 

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