One Pawn Down

Posted on Wed Oct 25th, 2017 @ 10:13pm by Captain Michelle Bartlett & Lieutenant Serik

Mission: https://wellington.pegasusfleet.site/index.php/sim/missions/id/3
Location: StratOps Suite
Timeline: June 17th, 2399 @ 16:34

Michelle was awaiting further information from what Rostra had sent the StratOps team regarding her assessment of the Dalacari "Confession." She had been waiting for Serik to get back to her and was looking out the window of her office, still thinking about everything that was taking place, or about to. In some ways, it was comforting that Wade was aboard. She knew him from years before on other assignments. It was no accident that he referred to Jason and Michelle as his children, as they considered him a father figure as well. Even if he was a little eccentric at times.

=/\="Serik to Commander Bartlett."

"Go ahead." Michelle said, tapping her commbadge.

"Commander, I have found some information in Strategic Operations that requires your presence." the young Vulcan Acting Chief replied.

"On my way." Michelle stated, heading down to StratOps.

5 minutes later, she was in the suite. She looked intently at Serik. "What do you have for me? Please say it's what we need."

"If your intent is to have proof that Lieutenant Mordin is not the suspect in the deaths of our senior officers, then I am pleased to confirm your theory." Serik replied. "Our records matched this with Commander Marquette's typical voice authorization for an order of this nature and found it was an extremely marginal mismatch. It is probable that they assumed we would be too distracted to notice. In addition, I have accessed records of Commander Tang's logs with her consent and listened to the typical Dalacari speech pattern. When picked apart, this video is the same individual posing as a Dalacari."

"Why wouldn't they just create a hologram?" Michelle asked.

"If we were to doubt it, we could easily detect that a holographic re-creation was generated." Serik said. "This was more authentic. However, the individual clearly never had any interaction with a Dalacari in his lifetime. It is worth noting that Commodore Myers and Commander Tang picked up on that discrepancy almost immediately."

"Thank god they did." Michelle replied. "What about the chips of Ts'usugi origin?"

"From what I have been able to gather of Intelligence's probe, it is likely the chips were not supplied directly by them but from a third party buyer. I have been following the questioning and investigation on Starbase 231. There is something else troubling as well that will require urgent action." Serik stated.

"What's that?" Michelle asked.

Admiral Marquette had been standing by as Serik gave the report. Serik nodded indicating he was complete with his briefing. "You've got bigger problems than a dead senior staff. Turns out Commander Mo'Bri and Lieutenant Mok'Tor's contacts in the Klingon government were correct. The Cause is working with the Organization to discredit the Federation but they're both being played by the Cardassian Bureau of Intelligence. Your Commanding Officer is an imposter."

"Then where the hell is the real Commander Bowman?" Michelle asked.

"That we don't know." Marquette said.

"And why the hell was Vargas working with the Cardassians?" Michelle wondered. This seemed like a strange collusion for those three sides to have with each other.

"Vargas didn't know." Marquette said. "He had a sketchy contact, audio only, but they could verify information about the Organization that a reasonable and devoted member of that group would know. It's possible the CBI's been out here for months. The only reason Vargas volunteered as much as he did was to stick it to the Cardassians."

"I have also followed up on your conversation with Commander Bowman's brother." Serik replied. "It turns out that Commander Bowman did in fact leave Earth the day after the funeral. The ship's logs indicate it came under attack but there were no casualties. Two weeks later, Commander Bowman reappears at Starbase 423 in the Alpha Quadrant to take passage back to the Delta Quadrant. She declined to submit to a medical examination at that time." Serik replied.

"I suppose one can hardly blame her for that." Michelle said. "So who's on board?"

"I have done an analysis through the Intelligence network regarding any chatter around Cardassian troop assignments. Around the same time, this Cardassian Gul was reassigned to a secret location. The report is heavily redacted. But when analyzing facial recognition, it appears to be Gul Kasella of the Cardassian 10th Order. Similarly, she has some of the qualities that the imposter Bowman displays quite definitively."

"We're going to give her rope to hang herself." Marquette said. "Do nothing about this right away. Keep playing the part of the loyal exec. I've transmitted orders to you and to Commander Bowman ordering that Major Lo'Mah be stripped of rank."

"Bowman won't do that." Michelle said. "He's her attack dog. The Marines basically took over Security on the ship."

"The second thing I'm sending is an Order of Release from the JAG office. Lieutenant Mordin is to be released immediately and placed under strict observation until you've left Dalacari space."

"Understood." Michelle said. "If there's nothing else, I think i need to get caught up and start planning strategy. For the battle and for what happens after."

"Agreed. I won't keep either of you. Commander?" Marquette said.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Please convey to the crew my sincerest condolences on the loss of your senior staff and on the deaths of Commander Meru and Ensign Copeland." Marquette replied. "When this is all over, I have asked Commodore Myers to meet with you regarding future arrangements concerning the chain of command."

"I'll be happy to meet with him, ma'am." Michelle said.

"I'll let you get back to work. Marquette out." She replied as the screen went blank.

====22 Minutes Later====

Michelle went to the Marine CO's ready room, nodding at the Marines who stood at attention... It seemed only a handful did.

"Major... Do you have a moment?" She asked as two Intelligence Officers were placed behind her.

Lo'Mah simply looked at the black collared officers. "Is there a question you have for me, Commander? I am rather busy at this time."

"Undoubtedly so." Michelle said. "Nice work you did, by the way. Killing senior officers, sending every department on this ship into chaos...It's a pity Commander Vargas disclosed your name. And it's a pity that your work was so sloppy with this court order and the confession video."

"Are you questioning my loyalty?!" Lo'Mah roared.

"Not at all, Major. I know you're a loyal officer. I just don't think it's to the Federation. But that doesn't matter anymore." Michelle said. "Major Lo'Mah, by the order of Admiral Elizabeth Marquette I hereby strip you of your rank and privileges as a Starfleet Officer. The order was signed by Admiral Marquette on this date, and countersigned by General Pyle as well as the Acting Commanding Officer, Commander Olivia Bowman. You are also at the direction of Starfleet Intelligence hereby placed under arrest. The charges are 11 counts of murder, conspiracy to commit treason, and providing aid to a domestic enemy of the Federation"

Lo'Mah stood up. "Very well." he said, removing his commbadge, his pips, and his uniform jacket. "This thing was always far too uncomfortable for my liking anyway."

"You won't like what the uniform is where you're going." Michelle said. "Take him to the brig." she ordered to the Intel officers. "I'm sure Security and the new Intelligence Chief will want a word with him she said as he offered no resistance. It bewildered Michelle... And it also concerned her.

END

Commander Michelle Bartlett
Acting Executive Officer/Chief Diplomatic Officer
USS Wellington

Lieutenant Junior Grade Serik
Acting Chief Strategic Operations Officer
USS Wellington

Admiral Elizabeth Marquette
Fleet Commanding Officer
New Earth Station

Lo'Mah
Infiltrator
USS Wellington