ILLUMINARRPG: (4- 1700)- SFI Michael Weston/CO Captain Sekal

[Charles Gatling]

Mission:  Death in the Shadows

Day: 4

Stardate: 2446.02.04

 (USS Illuminar - Deck 5 -  Sickbay – SFI Michael Weston/CO Captain Sekal –
1700)

In all his years in espionage Weston had taken pride in never compromising
himself, or others, the way he just did with Quinna.  He wasn’t really sure
why it happened.  It probably had something to do with her parents'
history.  He had long held an admiration for the information on how the
Aubejanois actually disappeared and her father’s role.

When he saw Quinna across the room he knew that it didn’t hurt that she was
so damn cute.  He put that thought in the back of his head and focused on
the task at hand.  It was time to have a conversation that should have
happened three days earlier, when he first arrived.  Before all hell broke
loose.

Weston stepped into the doorway of Sekal’s unit and nodded at the captain,
“How are you feeling?”

Sekal looked to the door to his left, the tray that his requested meal had
arrived on had been emptied and he had just taken a drink from the water
glass. "Come in Mr. Weston, I had a chair sent in for your use." He
gestured to another of the comfortable, black cushioned chairs nearby with
padded armrests. "I am quite recovered from the injury. And yourself?"

Michael sat down in the chair and swished his hips around to get the
maximum comfort from the cushions then sat back.

“Who me?” he replied. “Almost dying is almost a requirement for one of my
missions. But in all seriousness your Doctor Solice did a fantastic job,
even if I wasn’t always the model patient.”

Sekal looked up slightly. "Luma seal the room and scan for any
eavesdropping devices."

=^= Luma does not understand the reason for her brothers request but will
do so. =^= The Lenai sounded a bit skeptical but spoke after a tense
moment. =^= Luma has placed a forcefield at the door and detects no
intruding ears. =^=

Michael smiled, “Safest I’ve felt in days. “

"Nothing spoken here is to be recorded."

Luma sounded even more confused. =^= This one will do as her Sekal asks.=^=
then went quiet.

“Brother?” Michael looked amused.

The Captain quirked an eyebrow. "She sees my father as her father figure,
the next logical step is to identify with me as a sibling."

“Strangely enough, that makes sense,” Weston admitted.

Sekal then relaxed back into the chair. "I did mention to Doctor Solice
that theater had been played out here but not the reason for it. It seems
someone has been actively attempting to undermine your credentials Mister
Weston."

“And doing a pretty good job of it,” he admitted. “I’ve been burned pretty
good. And unfortunately that means I literally have nowhere to go without
putting myself, or others in danger.  I’m going to need to find the source
of that leak and put an end to it before this is over for me.”

The Vulcan nodded. "Which is why I held back the information from the
doctor. It was necessary to make it seem their plans are proceeding apace.
If overconfident it will be to our advantage."

“Absolutely,” Weston agreed.  “I didn’t want to involve her as much as I
did, but considering my circumstances I had to be able to confide somewhat
on somebody. I felt I could trust her to keep things to herself.”

"My Chief Medical Officer is above reproach but what others do not know
benefits you in the long run. She told me she had spoken with you." He
didn't mention she had offered to help wheedle more information from the
operative.

Weston appreciated the careful way Sekal worded his sentences. Never too
much. In a different world they could be friends. If he’d been allowed to
have friends.

“She comes from good stock,” Michael said with a nod. “She’d make a good
agent.”

"I prefer her in her current capacity." He set down the water glass. "From
the timeline of events it appears they logically inferred the presence of
this ship in your vicinity on numerous occasions which resulted in your
current predicament."

Michael chuckled, “You have a way of saying that that makes it sound so
obvious. Perhaps it was. Some of that may have been intentional.  I am used
to not being trusted. Sometimes when you give people a reason to not trust
you, they trust you even more.  But if the balance of trust changes
suddenly, well… bad things happen. Case in point.” He gingerly touched his
shoulder.

Sekal nodded. "This operation extends beyond the mere digging up and
selling of contraband weaponry. Command believes that there are some in
highly placed positions who were in a position to take notice of our close
proximity. Word appears to have trickled down slowly through the ranks else
you would not still be among the living."

“I had a similar thought,” Weston said. “If the people I have been dealing
with knew then what they know now, I would definitely have found myself not
among the living.”

He paused for a moment,then continued, “To be honest captain, I was very
close to getting a step closer to the source of the problem. We know who is
distributing the weapons. I was about to find out to whom. Which should
have led me to the source.”

Sekal stood up to stretch his legs and walked about a bit. It would take
time for the sustenance to have a marked effect on his strength and
stamina. "We have been going through the navigational logs for the pirate
vessel captured to find its source location through repeated stops as well
as its logs for information on cargo and equipment taken aboard and have
found a probable location. While I haven't left this room I have secured
access to the information I trust implicitly."

Michael smiled jealously, “Must be nice.  And your conclusions?”

Sekal returned to the chair and re-seated himself then crossed his legs.
"You must have had your own suspicions as you spoke it in the transporter
room before passing out." He then waited for the operative to make the
connection.

Now it was Michael’s turn to stand. But his pacing was for thinking. He
always thought better on his feet. Then he started talking to himself as
much as to Sekal.

“I really hadn’t thought much about it over the past few days. You lead an
exciting ship. Things.. happen here. But yes it goes beyond what we
discovered at the archeology site. If you look at who the victims, or test
subjects were. Why a Caitian exploration ship?  Why an agricultural
minister? It wasn’t random. It couldn’t be. That would just be crazy.”

He looked at Sekal, “ I know you are aware of the group of … dissidents
that are not in alignment with the Federation’s current philosophy of
returning to exploration over conquest. Would you be surprised to know they
were not alone?”

"Roanoke was thought to be disbanded and dismembered over a year ago. They
made a very pointed argument for being on this ship recently and through
silencing the one who attempted to kill me proved there are more. But they
need funding certainly and the Orion syndicates are extremely interested in
uncovering our classified technology. Their unearthing of it would have
broad repercussions as some of the classified material is present in Orion
space.. Conclusion: Roanoke is being manipulated."

“As are many other worlds that used to align themselves with the
Federation,” Michael put his hands on the back of the chair looking
directly at Sekal. “And it has been long affirmed that weapon sales is a
quick way of amazing a large amount of funding. Especially if you are
selling weapons nobody has seen before, and are deadly.  I’m sure you’ve
gotten reports on those missiles the marauders used against your ship.  How
many worlds would purchase such weapons?  At what price if they could bring
down what was left of the Federation?”

"There are a number of reasons for the sale and purchase but the presence
of Orion ships and crews points inescapably in their direction. And events
are precipitated by other events Mister Weston. The attack on myself along
with other events on this mission are not coincidence. Cause and effect.
Logic does not embrace coincidence in such rapid succession."

Weston came back around the chair and sat down with a deep breath. “I’m not
a fan of coincidence myself.  I’m more of a fan of paranoia and
conspiracy.  They usually keep me alive.”

He leaned forward putting his arms on his knees. “Have your people
discovered anything about that power cell?”

Sekal nodded. "My science staff replicated one after scanning the originals
component materials, though exotic they were simple to reproduce. He was
able to charge it using delta radiation to a pre-fire charge of 3,000
kilojoules. It could theoretically sustain a hand phaser beam for 20 hours
or a much more powerful weapon for over 200 discharges. The energy to mass
ratio is far beyond what we have seen before. Where did you acquire it?"

“From the group I was working with,”Michael said. “Specifically the woman I
was working… closely with.”  He looked down and then up again. “It was
supposed to be a prototype. Did you know that I found a weapon on your
ship?  A weapon that should not be here. I’m curious…” his voice trailed
off.

"I was not informed you had found a weapon aboard, no." And there could
only be one he would have told. It appeared the objectivity of his chief
medical officer had already been compromised.

Michael smiled, seeing the look on the captain’s face.  “She’s a good girl,
your doctor. She knew that anyone with this information was in danger and
she kept it a secret. I did NOT want to involve her. But it became
complicated. I needed it to be kept safe. She provided me with a safe
place. Do not doubt her loyalty, captain.”

"I don't doubt her loyalty Mister Weston but know this. Should you at any
point while here recklessly endanger the safety of one of my crew there
will be repercussions."

Micheal nodded, “Fair enough. But you should know this, I would never
endanger anyone recklessly. Especially Doctor Solice. I have, however,
often been considered reckless with myself. But never with others. It’s why
I’ve never attached myself to any person for long.  It’s not really safe
for them … or for me.”

"Back to the matter at hand. You believe all of the attacks have their
origin at Sigma Draconis VI." It was not a question but a statement.

Michael nodded, “To borrow a phrase, it is the only logical conclusion.
Believe it or not, I don’t always operate on gut instinct.”

"A logical determination, logically arrived at." From a Vulcan the highest
of compliments. "Once the ship repairs are complete we will be making that
our destination. But we will be making a short detour to allow you to
disembark as well as offload the prisoners taken during the battle."

Michael frowned, “So quick to get rid of me, Captain?”



"What logical reason would I have for keeping you aboard?"

“You may be surprised at how useful I can be,” he said without his
traditional charming smile which would have been lost on the Vulcan. “As I
said, I have nowhere to go until this situation comes to a conclusion. The
only way back for me is to keep going forward. If not with you then on my
own. You would see me at Sigma Draconis eventually. At least this way you
can keep a watchful eye on me.”

The Vulcan steepled his fingers as he considered. The conclusion to his
train of thought was inescapable. "I would expect you to work for your
ride, Mister Weston."

Weston stood up, “You should expect no less, Captain Sekal. You should
expect no less.”

Sekal nodded. "Find who poisoned the man who attacked me and any
accomplices aboard. You should be uniquely suited for the task."

“I will do what I can, leaving no stone unturned.”  He was pretty sure the
phrase would be lost on the Vulcan but he said it anyway for no other
reason than to amuse himself.

"Then your presence here is extended. Is there anything else you have to
add before we conclude?"

“Only this,” Michael said, “things are going to get worse before they get
better. But I believe we can minimize the worse working together. Thank you
for your time and my ride.  I suppose I have a spy to find.”

The Captain refilled the water glass. There was no doubt things had yet
come to a head and the closer they got to Sigma Draconis VI the greater
potential for danger became. "As you said. Luma you may unseal the door and
return to normal operations." He spoke again before lifting the glass to
his lips. "Thank you Mister Weston that will be all, once you are willing
to part with the information I will be available, until then you will be
remaining aboard. Dismissed."

It had been a long time since Weston had been dismissed. He wasn’t quite
sure how he felt about it. But somehow, it made him feel like he belonged.
And that, in and of itself, was troubling.

He turned and left the room smiling at Quinna on his way out. He gave her a
wink as he left sickbay.

(Reply: Quinna, any)

(Posted by Al Muir (Weston)

and Charles G (Sekal)

Charles Gatling
Commanding Officer
USS Illuminar
NCC 61240


"The light shines brightest amidst the deepest darkness."
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