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Colony Outskirts, Astate
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A gentle electric hum pulsed through tiny, dilapidated shack on the outskirts of Caenis. Shadows danced across the walls in the dim light as a single electric lantern buzzed quietly in a dusty corner. Pushing a fresh power cell into his Romulan disruptor pistol, Zane checked its charge before sliding the weapon into his shoulder holster. Taking a seat on a squeaky bed, Zane closed a case of supplies and pushed the large metal storage box under the bed frame.
True to his word, Ailec Reltah had delivered putting Zane up in a small, poorly furnished, three room shack on the edge of the colony. The place was quiet, isolated, and out of the way; perfect for someone who needed anonymity. With few colonists on the outskirts, Zane could operate without raising suspicion.
The small cabin had a tiny bedroom, a dining and kitchen area, and a larger living area with a large table, a few rusty chairs, and a small sofa. The structure was poorly maintained as he could hear the wind whistling through several cracks. With only one window at the front door, the cabin provided moderate security and privacy.
Grabbing a padd, Zane activated its screen and made a final inspection of his recent handiwork. A small 2D wireframe map appeared on the padd’s screen showing the cabin and the surrounding area. A red line, roughly square, surrounded the cabin on all sides indicating the invisible security fence he had installed earlier in the day to warn of any possible intruders. He wasn’t taking chances after recent events. Someone out there with vast wealth and resources was trying to capture him or perhaps kill him. They had failed once, but given time, they would no doubt try again.
Tweaking a few minor settings to the security fence, Zane activated its alarm system and set the padd down on a nearby table. He was impressed with how quickly Reltah had been able to deliver the supplies he had requested. Weapons, security and detection gear, food, a generator, a personal replicator, and clothing had all arrived within 48 hours. There were a few intelligence issue supplies he was still waiting on, but such instruments would take Reltah time to acquire.
Yawning, Zane pulled off his boots. It had taken him almost two days to settle into the small cabin, secure it, and create a plan for going after and uncovering the truth. With Starfleet believing he was missing or dead, Zane could be more aggressive in his search to learn the truth. He had spent the better part of a day reviewing what had happened trying to determine the best point from which to begin what had become a personal mission.
== Commander Felix Griffen, Personnel Director ==
Zane’s initial encounter with the commander had been unusual. The commander’s secretary had been overly evasive to a superior officer. In addition, Zane had noticed several men who seemed out of place after he had twisted the secretary’s arm to get a meeting with Commander Griffen. Then there was the commander himself. The man’s office rivaled a fleet admiral’s in opulence and décor. Griffen had been blunt, evasive, and non-cooperative. Reltah had hinted that Griffen was being bribed or perhaps paid-off, but from who or why he did not know. It was possible someone was using Griffen to funnel personnel to or from Astate via the personnel office, but for what purpose still remained a mystery.
== Colonel Leon Ventris, Commander 145th Marine Battalion ==
Another odd character. Zane’s meeting with the Colonel was unplanned with the Colonel visiting him at his personal quarters. The Colonel appeared overly concerned with Zane’s unscheduled, and unannounced visit to the SFI offices. Zane was equally curious as to why a Marine Colonel would have such an interest and would personally investigate what was a security matter. Their conversation though brief had unsettled Zane. The Colonel appeared to be involved in something, but where he fit into the overall puzzle was unclear. Zane had no proof the Colonel was involved in anything illicit, but years of experience and his gut instincts told him there was more to the Colonel than met the eye.
Then there were the two dead SFI officers. Both had died in the fighting with the Romulans. Zane suspected a cover up. What bothered him was lack of interest by SFI. There were several possibilities. Zane suspected Griffen was somehow involved and had manipulated records and assignments to prevent fleet command from learning of the officer’s deaths. Still, he wondered if the two men had stumbled into something and if they had been killed for what they knew. The other possibility was that they were dirty themselves, aiding whatever scheme was being perpetrated on Astate, and they had been killed to erase a connection to someone or something.
Finally, there were the two hired operatives that had kidnapped Zane and attempted to learn what he knew. Both had met untimely fates, however Zane had to determine who had hired them and why. It was unusual for anyone except for the major powers, the Klingons, Romulans, an occasional Cardassian to go after a Starfleet Intelligence Officer. The risks of creating a diplomatic incident were too high. Dirty tricks, traps, bribes, and other nefarious methods were typically used to learn, extract, or obtain information. Violence was not unheard of, but it was used sparingly in all of the intelligence branches of the major powers. Intelligence operatives and agents were unseen and unheard in a silent game few people knew existed. Information was traded for favors, sex, money, influence, and power. Information was power, but there were rules of engagement and defined lines.
Someone out there had crossed the line violating the roughly accepted tenants of interstellar espionage. Zane had dismissed all of the quadrant's main power players. That left old rivals, enemies, small time criminals whom SFI had crossed, busted, or betrayed, or powerful non-governmental entities such as the Orion Syndicate or corporations. Such entities might cross the line to settle a score or vendetta.
Zane sighed with little to go on and more questions that hard facts. Tomorrow he would start searching for answers. Perhaps with a little luck he would lift the veil of mystery that surrounded recent events and shed some light on Astate's criminal darkside.
[ To Be Continued ... ]
================
A gentle electric hum pulsed through tiny, dilapidated shack on the outskirts of Caenis. Shadows danced across the walls in the dim light as a single electric lantern buzzed quietly in a dusty corner. Pushing a fresh power cell into his Romulan disruptor pistol, Zane checked its charge before sliding the weapon into his shoulder holster. Taking a seat on a squeaky bed, Zane closed a case of supplies and pushed the large metal storage box under the bed frame.
True to his word, Ailec Reltah had delivered putting Zane up in a small, poorly furnished, three room shack on the edge of the colony. The place was quiet, isolated, and out of the way; perfect for someone who needed anonymity. With few colonists on the outskirts, Zane could operate without raising suspicion.
The small cabin had a tiny bedroom, a dining and kitchen area, and a larger living area with a large table, a few rusty chairs, and a small sofa. The structure was poorly maintained as he could hear the wind whistling through several cracks. With only one window at the front door, the cabin provided moderate security and privacy.
Grabbing a padd, Zane activated its screen and made a final inspection of his recent handiwork. A small 2D wireframe map appeared on the padd’s screen showing the cabin and the surrounding area. A red line, roughly square, surrounded the cabin on all sides indicating the invisible security fence he had installed earlier in the day to warn of any possible intruders. He wasn’t taking chances after recent events. Someone out there with vast wealth and resources was trying to capture him or perhaps kill him. They had failed once, but given time, they would no doubt try again.
Tweaking a few minor settings to the security fence, Zane activated its alarm system and set the padd down on a nearby table. He was impressed with how quickly Reltah had been able to deliver the supplies he had requested. Weapons, security and detection gear, food, a generator, a personal replicator, and clothing had all arrived within 48 hours. There were a few intelligence issue supplies he was still waiting on, but such instruments would take Reltah time to acquire.
Yawning, Zane pulled off his boots. It had taken him almost two days to settle into the small cabin, secure it, and create a plan for going after and uncovering the truth. With Starfleet believing he was missing or dead, Zane could be more aggressive in his search to learn the truth. He had spent the better part of a day reviewing what had happened trying to determine the best point from which to begin what had become a personal mission.
== Commander Felix Griffen, Personnel Director ==
Zane’s initial encounter with the commander had been unusual. The commander’s secretary had been overly evasive to a superior officer. In addition, Zane had noticed several men who seemed out of place after he had twisted the secretary’s arm to get a meeting with Commander Griffen. Then there was the commander himself. The man’s office rivaled a fleet admiral’s in opulence and décor. Griffen had been blunt, evasive, and non-cooperative. Reltah had hinted that Griffen was being bribed or perhaps paid-off, but from who or why he did not know. It was possible someone was using Griffen to funnel personnel to or from Astate via the personnel office, but for what purpose still remained a mystery.
== Colonel Leon Ventris, Commander 145th Marine Battalion ==
Another odd character. Zane’s meeting with the Colonel was unplanned with the Colonel visiting him at his personal quarters. The Colonel appeared overly concerned with Zane’s unscheduled, and unannounced visit to the SFI offices. Zane was equally curious as to why a Marine Colonel would have such an interest and would personally investigate what was a security matter. Their conversation though brief had unsettled Zane. The Colonel appeared to be involved in something, but where he fit into the overall puzzle was unclear. Zane had no proof the Colonel was involved in anything illicit, but years of experience and his gut instincts told him there was more to the Colonel than met the eye.
Then there were the two dead SFI officers. Both had died in the fighting with the Romulans. Zane suspected a cover up. What bothered him was lack of interest by SFI. There were several possibilities. Zane suspected Griffen was somehow involved and had manipulated records and assignments to prevent fleet command from learning of the officer’s deaths. Still, he wondered if the two men had stumbled into something and if they had been killed for what they knew. The other possibility was that they were dirty themselves, aiding whatever scheme was being perpetrated on Astate, and they had been killed to erase a connection to someone or something.
Finally, there were the two hired operatives that had kidnapped Zane and attempted to learn what he knew. Both had met untimely fates, however Zane had to determine who had hired them and why. It was unusual for anyone except for the major powers, the Klingons, Romulans, an occasional Cardassian to go after a Starfleet Intelligence Officer. The risks of creating a diplomatic incident were too high. Dirty tricks, traps, bribes, and other nefarious methods were typically used to learn, extract, or obtain information. Violence was not unheard of, but it was used sparingly in all of the intelligence branches of the major powers. Intelligence operatives and agents were unseen and unheard in a silent game few people knew existed. Information was traded for favors, sex, money, influence, and power. Information was power, but there were rules of engagement and defined lines.
Someone out there had crossed the line violating the roughly accepted tenants of interstellar espionage. Zane had dismissed all of the quadrant's main power players. That left old rivals, enemies, small time criminals whom SFI had crossed, busted, or betrayed, or powerful non-governmental entities such as the Orion Syndicate or corporations. Such entities might cross the line to settle a score or vendetta.
Zane sighed with little to go on and more questions that hard facts. Tomorrow he would start searching for answers. Perhaps with a little luck he would lift the veil of mystery that surrounded recent events and shed some light on Astate's criminal darkside.
[ To Be Continued ... ]
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