Scene: The Promenade, at Higgs' Bar and Casino. The usual patrons are milling about, some gathered around the dabo table, some playing card games at a nearby table. Of course, there is the usual assortment of characters, both respectable and otherwise, seated at the bar. Higgs, the Bolian bartender, is chatting up some of the regulars.
Among the regulars is a newcomer: a Klingon male, arrayed in all the armor and arrogance of his kind. He speaks boisterously, joking with the other patrons. Clearly, he has had more than a few. His drink of choice, oddly enough, is Romulan ale, which had become legal again not long after the unfortunate Reman incident of 2379 had renewed talks between the Romulans and the Federation.
"Further you get from Romulus, though," says the Klingon, "worse the ale gets." He laughs, leering at one of the dabo girls from the corner of his eye. "A shame there's been so much peace, though," he muses. "Who knows how much longer it'll last, eh? Especially what with --"
He never gets out another word, for suddenly the Klingon is fallen backward onto the floor, a knife hilt sticking out of his neck. At the same moment, a hooded and robed figure, who had entered without being noticed and stood in a corner, makes a dash for the exit.
The assassin is stopped almost immediately by two security officers, who call for an emergency medical team to beam directly to the scene. Of course, there is a struggle, amid which the stranger's hood falls backward, revealing the killer's face: a Romulan female, her hair the familiar slick black, her features angular, and her demeanor enraged. Eventually, one of the security team is able to stun her, so that she can be brought to the brig.
The Klingon, whose name was Grawn, son of Gorm, is already dead when the medical team arrives.
Among the regulars is a newcomer: a Klingon male, arrayed in all the armor and arrogance of his kind. He speaks boisterously, joking with the other patrons. Clearly, he has had more than a few. His drink of choice, oddly enough, is Romulan ale, which had become legal again not long after the unfortunate Reman incident of 2379 had renewed talks between the Romulans and the Federation.
"Further you get from Romulus, though," says the Klingon, "worse the ale gets." He laughs, leering at one of the dabo girls from the corner of his eye. "A shame there's been so much peace, though," he muses. "Who knows how much longer it'll last, eh? Especially what with --"
He never gets out another word, for suddenly the Klingon is fallen backward onto the floor, a knife hilt sticking out of his neck. At the same moment, a hooded and robed figure, who had entered without being noticed and stood in a corner, makes a dash for the exit.
The assassin is stopped almost immediately by two security officers, who call for an emergency medical team to beam directly to the scene. Of course, there is a struggle, amid which the stranger's hood falls backward, revealing the killer's face: a Romulan female, her hair the familiar slick black, her features angular, and her demeanor enraged. Eventually, one of the security team is able to stun her, so that she can be brought to the brig.
The Klingon, whose name was Grawn, son of Gorm, is already dead when the medical team arrives.
The captain had been busy listening to the updates from Engineering when the report of the fight a the Promenade came through. The woman frowned visibly before she made her way down towards it.
Death was something that happened to everyone eventually. Death aided by a knife in the back, not so much. Who used knives these days anyway? Seriously. What kind of assassination attempt was that? On a Klingon more so! Then again if a Klingon could get killed by a knife maybe he deserved it. The captain was still wise enough to keep her thoughts to herself on that matter.
She'd show up in a fury frowning as she examined the scene. Dead body, check. Assassin in brig, check. Medical team present, check. Was her Chief of security around?
"I want to know how a Romulan got on board our station and are there any more?!"
Death was something that happened to everyone eventually. Death aided by a knife in the back, not so much. Who used knives these days anyway? Seriously. What kind of assassination attempt was that? On a Klingon more so! Then again if a Klingon could get killed by a knife maybe he deserved it. The captain was still wise enough to keep her thoughts to herself on that matter.
She'd show up in a fury frowning as she examined the scene. Dead body, check. Assassin in brig, check. Medical team present, check. Was her Chief of security around?
"I want to know how a Romulan got on board our station and are there any more?!"
Security Chief Lt. Commander Subak Ren had been standing behind the Captain the entire time she had been surveying the scene, but he now chooses to speak and announce his presence.
"Captain," he says, "it seems both the Klingon, Grawn, son of Gorm, and a Romulan, Talayr, arrived last night on the Leyor, a Caldonian merchant vessel." Given that there hadn't been war between the Federation and the Romulan Empire for over thirty years, and that trade had resumed in the 2380s, it wasn't unheard of -- if still rather unusual -- to see a Romulan or two passing through Federation facilities. But of course some prejudices die hard. Subak knows that from personal experience.
"They had separate quarters, but they appear to be the only two who did not re-embark when the ship left this morning. I presume the Romulan we have in custody is this Talayr. I will find out for certain when I question the prisoner."
"Captain," he says, "it seems both the Klingon, Grawn, son of Gorm, and a Romulan, Talayr, arrived last night on the Leyor, a Caldonian merchant vessel." Given that there hadn't been war between the Federation and the Romulan Empire for over thirty years, and that trade had resumed in the 2380s, it wasn't unheard of -- if still rather unusual -- to see a Romulan or two passing through Federation facilities. But of course some prejudices die hard. Subak knows that from personal experience.
"They had separate quarters, but they appear to be the only two who did not re-embark when the ship left this morning. I presume the Romulan we have in custody is this Talayr. I will find out for certain when I question the prisoner."
Alana was still settling in to life aboard a space station as opposed to life aboard a starship. It was similar; living facilities, the void all around, but being stationary made her feel... not ill at ease but off in a way she couldn't readily define. Maybe it was the lack of feeling the warp drive humming faintly through the deck, or the faint tugs of the inertial dampers when the ship would change course, but whatever the real reason, Alana felt out of her element.
She stayed active, familiarizing herself with the station and it's layout. She read the reports she was required to approve promptly, both to be a diligent executive officer but also to familiarize herself with the events, and people, of the station. There were fitness facilities that Alana made use of as well, one of her main forms of stress relief when a holosuite was unavailable.
When news of a stabbing went out, she'd wasted no time in responding to the scene with a phaser on her hip, but even so saw she was too late to make much difference at the immediate moment. The Chief of Security, Lieutenant Commander Subak Ren, was already there which spoke well of his own diligence. His Bajoran nose ridge marked him clearly and Alana enjoyed it, in truth. Though she didn't know the officer well yet, she'd served alongside a number of Bajorans during her career, and enjoyed their company as a people. She doubted he was very traditionally Bajoran as he didn't wear the earring, but she also hadn't asked. It had no bearing on his profession and she didn't know him well enough to ask.
Unfortunately, the Captain was also here, which wasn't bad except Alana would have preferred to be on scene ahead of her commanding officer. There was nothing to be done about that and she caught up quickly with what had happened. A knife... it made sense. Security checkpoints would detect an energy weapon and far too many, in this day of technology, underestimated how much damage a bladed weapon could do... and how quickly it could inflict that damage.
"Captain, Lieutenant Commander." She greeted them. "Were any security personnel injured taking the offender into custody?"
She stayed active, familiarizing herself with the station and it's layout. She read the reports she was required to approve promptly, both to be a diligent executive officer but also to familiarize herself with the events, and people, of the station. There were fitness facilities that Alana made use of as well, one of her main forms of stress relief when a holosuite was unavailable.
When news of a stabbing went out, she'd wasted no time in responding to the scene with a phaser on her hip, but even so saw she was too late to make much difference at the immediate moment. The Chief of Security, Lieutenant Commander Subak Ren, was already there which spoke well of his own diligence. His Bajoran nose ridge marked him clearly and Alana enjoyed it, in truth. Though she didn't know the officer well yet, she'd served alongside a number of Bajorans during her career, and enjoyed their company as a people. She doubted he was very traditionally Bajoran as he didn't wear the earring, but she also hadn't asked. It had no bearing on his profession and she didn't know him well enough to ask.
Unfortunately, the Captain was also here, which wasn't bad except Alana would have preferred to be on scene ahead of her commanding officer. There was nothing to be done about that and she caught up quickly with what had happened. A knife... it made sense. Security checkpoints would detect an energy weapon and far too many, in this day of technology, underestimated how much damage a bladed weapon could do... and how quickly it could inflict that damage.
"Captain, Lieutenant Commander." She greeted them. "Were any security personnel injured taking the offender into custody?"
Belladonna saw the medical personnel rushing out of their offices, saying something about a stabbing. Curious what sort of strange knives would be used on a starbase, she slipped along after them, her own ceremonial dagger on her hip, as always. She kept back a bit, so as not to interfere with their work, and managed to slip in past the cordon unquestioned, probably more by virtue of her uniform and badge than her usual short stature and sneakiness. That was the thing about Sciences: most people figured if you bothered to leave your usual scientific tasks you clearly must have a reason for being there.
She listened to the discussion for a little bit and surreptitiously looked up certain things she was less familiar with on her little pocket computer. For her, 2379 may as well be ancient history, so a little technological assistance was in order.
Choosing not to call attention to herself yet, she observed silently for now.
She listened to the discussion for a little bit and surreptitiously looked up certain things she was less familiar with on her little pocket computer. For her, 2379 may as well be ancient history, so a little technological assistance was in order.
Choosing not to call attention to herself yet, she observed silently for now.
The captain rubbed the bridge of her nose. Well this was all well and good, but at least her officers were on deck. Her first officer did ask a good question, although she had a feeling that it was probably not. Else she'd have heard of it, but then again maybe she might have missed it amidst her reports. Now Ami did not like the Romulans, not one iota. The woman folded her arms and studied the scene.
"Commander Richards, I'm putting you in charge of this investigation. Find out what the Romulan wanted and why. Mister Subak, I want to know that no one else on the station has such intentions... and every one on board the Leyor is to be questioned."
Her sharp eyes spotted the ensign lurking at the back. She was about to call on the Ensign until she remembered that Belladonna was a botanist and not a biologist... so she turned to regard her other officers.
"Are there any questions on your orders?"
"Commander Richards, I'm putting you in charge of this investigation. Find out what the Romulan wanted and why. Mister Subak, I want to know that no one else on the station has such intentions... and every one on board the Leyor is to be questioned."
Her sharp eyes spotted the ensign lurking at the back. She was about to call on the Ensign until she remembered that Belladonna was a botanist and not a biologist... so she turned to regard her other officers.
"Are there any questions on your orders?"
Lt. Commander Ren turns toward the new first officer as she makes herself known. He hadn't yet met Commander Richards, but there's no mistaking her rank insignia. Plus, as any good security chief, he'd reviewed her file extensively before she'd even come aboard the station.
His Vulcan brows furrow when the Captain orders him to question the passengers of the Caldonian vessel. "It will be difficult to question anyone on the Leyor, Captain," he says, "as they are by now halfway to their homeworld. As I mentioned, they left this morning. But I will review the records of their crew and passengers and see if any can be contacted. And of course security sweeps will be increased."
Subak taps his comm badge. "Ren to Security Staff. Please make sure the prisoner is secured and ready for questioning in ten minutes." After receiving an affirmative response, he stands at attention before his captain.
His Vulcan brows furrow when the Captain orders him to question the passengers of the Caldonian vessel. "It will be difficult to question anyone on the Leyor, Captain," he says, "as they are by now halfway to their homeworld. As I mentioned, they left this morning. But I will review the records of their crew and passengers and see if any can be contacted. And of course security sweeps will be increased."
Subak taps his comm badge. "Ren to Security Staff. Please make sure the prisoner is secured and ready for questioning in ten minutes." After receiving an affirmative response, he stands at attention before his captain.
Just then, a junior security officer -- Lt. Junior Grade Ranzia Amala, an unjoined Trill -- approaches Lt. Commander Ren. "Sir," she says, reporting to her immediate superior even as she sees the Captain and First Officer there. Chain of command. "I found this on the floor, in the corner where the Romulan was hiding." Then she holds up what appears to be an exotic-seeming flower, unlike anything seen on earth. Which, of course, doesn't make it extraordinarily unusual. Still, it's not one usually seen in Federation space, either. It appears to have some sort of clear containment tube around the base of its stem, filled with water, apparently to keep it fresh. The flower has a delicate and sweet aroma, perhaps rather pleasing to many.
The flower was surprising and the captain raised an eyebrow. So their Xenobiologist would be useful after all.
"Ensign Belladonna... I want to know its significance."
"Ensign Belladonna... I want to know its significance."
"No ma'am." Alana answered the captain. "I also wouldn't be surprised if we have a visit from a Klingon ship soon."
A Klingon on a non-military transport; there were Klingon civilians of course but it seemed odd. She wanted to know where the Leyor had come from more than where it was going. A Klingon being murdered on a Federation starbase just across from the neutral zone would raise attention, even if said Klingon turned out to be the scum of the universe. It was a good pretext for the Empire to begin muscling it's way into the area, if they chose to go that route. It would be interesting to see what the next few days brought.
"The Klingons may use this as an excuse to project a greater presence."
Nothing the Captain didn't know, she was sure, but Alana was fond of speaking her mind. Gaps in communication caused errors. Errors could be costly in terms of lives lost.
"Lieutenant Commander." She addressed the security officer. "I'd like to be present for your questioning the prisoner."
The flower could be significant as well... a calling card? The ensign would know more than she did. Botany was not Alana's specialty.
"Also recommend a full autopsy on our dead Klingon. For posterity's sake, let's be sure he really is a Klingon and that there's not more to him than meets the eye."
A Klingon on a non-military transport; there were Klingon civilians of course but it seemed odd. She wanted to know where the Leyor had come from more than where it was going. A Klingon being murdered on a Federation starbase just across from the neutral zone would raise attention, even if said Klingon turned out to be the scum of the universe. It was a good pretext for the Empire to begin muscling it's way into the area, if they chose to go that route. It would be interesting to see what the next few days brought.
"The Klingons may use this as an excuse to project a greater presence."
Nothing the Captain didn't know, she was sure, but Alana was fond of speaking her mind. Gaps in communication caused errors. Errors could be costly in terms of lives lost.
"Lieutenant Commander." She addressed the security officer. "I'd like to be present for your questioning the prisoner."
The flower could be significant as well... a calling card? The ensign would know more than she did. Botany was not Alana's specialty.
"Also recommend a full autopsy on our dead Klingon. For posterity's sake, let's be sure he really is a Klingon and that there's not more to him than meets the eye."
[For the players' sake, the flower looks like this, only some of the blooms are open, rather than just buds: ]
Belladonna looks at the flower curiously and eagerly accepts it. "I would be pleased to investigate this flower, Captain." She immediately scanned it with her device's camera for color information. "Inflorescence in the form of a raceme of purple and dark pink flowers, superficially resembling a terran succulent or orchid, that is to say, rather strange by terran standards. I will have to do more research, as this isn't of any of the common to uncommon families of angiosperms within the Federation. A very nice fragrance, perhaps mimicked in the perfume industry somewhere. I should also inspect the internal flower structure, and given how many xenoangiosperms are toxic in some way, I will have to do so in my office for your protection."
As she looks over the flower further her ears twitch at the mention of an autopsy. "Are those still done with scalpels and such here? I do hope the Klingons have no aversion to such things if so. Though given a flower is involved, you may wish to check for toxins on the blade as well."
She takes careful measurements of the flower and records them until she is certain she is not needed for anything else.
As she looks over the flower further her ears twitch at the mention of an autopsy. "Are those still done with scalpels and such here? I do hope the Klingons have no aversion to such things if so. Though given a flower is involved, you may wish to check for toxins on the blade as well."
She takes careful measurements of the flower and records them until she is certain she is not needed for anything else.
Ami nodded her head to the crew.
"Very well I hope for some preliminary reports on my desk by tonight. You may carry on your duties," she said before turning around and heading off.
(AND passing the baton to JT to man the thing since I wont be available for a while! Moving and settling in another country yay!)
"Very well I hope for some preliminary reports on my desk by tonight. You may carry on your duties," she said before turning around and heading off.
(AND passing the baton to JT to man the thing since I wont be available for a while! Moving and settling in another country yay!)
Subak raises a Vulcan eyebrow as the junior officer presents her findings. No, he doesn't pronounce it fascinating. "Best to make sure the flower what it appears to be, as well," he says, echoing the Commander's suspicions about the Klingon. "For all we know, its DNA has been modified to carry a virus, or something like that." But that's the xenobotonist's responsibility right now.
He turns to Commander Richards, as she addresses him. "Yes, sir," he replies, following Starfleet protocol rather than gender. "And let us hope your guess is wrong. The last thing we need is another Klingon conflict." Although it's been a few decades since they've had a war, he thinks, and perhaps this is just the prelude. This would be the right station for it, too. "Or a Romulan one. Let's see to the prisoner, then." He smirks, which might look rather odd, on a Vulcan face. "Have you had the chance to tour our secure containment facilities yet, Commander?" he asks, walking in the direction of the brig and assuming Richards will follow.
[Sorry for the long delay.]
He turns to Commander Richards, as she addresses him. "Yes, sir," he replies, following Starfleet protocol rather than gender. "And let us hope your guess is wrong. The last thing we need is another Klingon conflict." Although it's been a few decades since they've had a war, he thinks, and perhaps this is just the prelude. This would be the right station for it, too. "Or a Romulan one. Let's see to the prisoner, then." He smirks, which might look rather odd, on a Vulcan face. "Have you had the chance to tour our secure containment facilities yet, Commander?" he asks, walking in the direction of the brig and assuming Richards will follow.
[Sorry for the long delay.]
"Then I shall be in my office, sirs." Belladonna respectfully takes her leave and heads to her office.
It was unusual to see someone who looked Vulcan use facial expressions, not the eyebrow but the smirk. She was mostly sure he wasn't part Romulan; there would have been something of a brow ridge if so. Of course, even easier than speculating, she could simply read the head of security's personnel file later. At the moment, Alana didn't particularly care if the man was Vulcan, Romulan, or secretly a Medusan, she wanted answers about what had happened earlier and why.
"I've not, no." Alana answered him, falling in step next to Subak Ren. "I look forward to seeing them."
Klingons. Romulans. A murder on a starbase at the edge of the Klingon neutral zone. Nothing like kicking off a new assignment with something to do.
"I've not, no." Alana answered him, falling in step next to Subak Ren. "I look forward to seeing them."
Klingons. Romulans. A murder on a starbase at the edge of the Klingon neutral zone. Nothing like kicking off a new assignment with something to do.
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