Of Missing Links

[Chirakis 1]

Of Missing Links

A Joint Log by Cent tr’Jeth Dabi and Cdr Chirakis

 

The fact that Chirakis understood tr’Jeth Dabi’s concern for keeping the security information on the short list impressed him even more. He had great respect for her, simply because her reputation proceeded her. It helped him tremendously, being able to conduct an investigation in the way that was necessary

 

All of the staff was on Torate’s suspect list because the brief review of the idiots that were detained confirmed that they did not have enough intelligence to pull off such a stunt. The weird list of items found in their freighter didn’t make any sense. With no rhyme or reason for these particular items, the investigation was going to take time. He had to take his final report to Commander Chirakis in person. Something was amiss, and he wasn’t going to stand for this going on on his station!

 

=/\=

 

The Security Chief fixed his gaze on Cdr Chirakis as she turned to face him in the privacy of her office. Every muscle taut, his fists clenched in determination and turned his knuckles white, his breathing came in decisive bursts, as though he were poised for attack. Under different circumstances, Kirel might have considered it a challenge and taken the same stance. But the circumstance dictated a more cautious approach.

 

Torate was Romulan and totally devoted to duty which, in itself, was desirable for a security officer. But there was a fine line between duty and paranoia, and it seemed to Kirel that, given Aegis’ present state of affairs, Torate wasn’t the only one aboard leaning toward the latter.

 

He was clearly frustrated, as were they all. And he was obviously anxious to get things in hand, to take the proverbial bull by the horns and deal with it. Immediately and without question.

 

Understandable, but not advisable. There was enough to deal with without having department heads fighting for dominance, and, without challenging him, without disrupting his Romulan ethic, she did her best to defuse the situation.

 

Several hours later found Chirakis in the security office, reviewing a list of missing items with Security Chief tr’Jeth Dabi. After checking inventory against manifests, Cdr Brown had found air-filtration parts and two complete air filtration/ purification systems missing. Engineering reported the security chief’s replacement door missing. It had supposedly come in on the Deep Space Horizon, which was still docked, yet a check of the Horizon had turned up nothing. Also missing from engineering were sensor array components, PVC tubing, and simple kit equipment, but nothing from the TALIS project - which seemed strange.

 

Nothing of value, nothing of immediate consequence was taken. And the missing items had yet to be found. Whoever was doing this was either very lucky or professional, and her mind leaned toward the latter. But why would professional thieves bother with non-marketable items?

 

Strange indeed.

 

Engineering Chief Jorahl had a request in to the shipyard for an inventory-manifest check. If things were also missing from there.... Kirel made a mental note to check with the SI-5 team at their various locations, though she doubted there would be any correlation.

 

Science listed six tricorders, three science kits and four medium long-range probes. Medical reported five medical kits, seven tricorders, ten hyposprays, and several vials of a variety of medications along with other small supplies. It was all very puzzling.

 

“I want to keep the station totally locked down,” said tr’Jeth Dabi. “My staff delivered all of the goods as ordered, there are no holds.” He stood in front of her as they discussed the secured list.

 

“Agreed,” the commander replied, closing the file and preparing to leave. “The prisoners?”

 

“They are secure in their cells, until full interrogation when the investigation has completed.” He motioned down the hall.

 

Chirakis nodded, waving him into the lead.

 

=/\=

 

With non-essentials at the bottom of the list, replication units for office areas were not fully functional, leaving Security Technician Bean - low man on the totem pole - to shuttle food from the main Mess to the brig. Needless to say he was less than enthusiastic.

 

"Begin Personal Log:

 

"As I make my way through the halls and turbo lifts, the bowls of soup are awfully hot. I do not understand why I am required to feed these people. Engineering refuses to replace our replicators. I haven't been issued new quarters, as most of them haven't been refurbished.

 

"There's no way the others were remanded to do this sort of waitressing work. In fact, no one else has had to manually clean up the cells either! My parents would be appalled that I have had a toilet brush in my hand!"

 

He walked by a couple of officers, and shut up for a moment, so the log wasn't heard by them. After stepping into the turbolift, he began again.

 

"Computer continue personal log.

 

"Someone must be out for me, for my job. I do not understand why I am beaten down at every step. Why in the world do they persecute me? I do not cause any problems, in fact, I am almost happy with that dusty broom closet for quarters.

 

"I was the one that found the new prisoners during the commission of their crimes. They should give ME a medal!" His words got rather loud as the turbolift opened at security. He stared at Sec Tech Rutian, spouting, "End Log", while she was standing at the main security console. After she noted him coming out of the turbolift, she ignored him and continued her work.

 

He marched behind her, mouthing something like 'suckup' behind her head, then finished carrying the hot soup to the cell. He looked back down at Rutian and hollered, "Lower containment, cell C." He slipped the soup onto the floor and prepared his weapon with one hand, and ready to push the soup with the opposite foot. "Stand back," he ordered with authority at the prisoner.

 

The containment field lowered and he swiftly kicked the soup into the cell, spilling half of its contents. He rolled his eyes, knowing he was going to be ordered to clean that up later. He waved at Rutian, and the field went back up immediately, and without incident.

 

As quickly as he approached the cell, he marched back. No one else seemed to be around, and he guessed that the Chief was probably sleeping or something. As he almost got back behind Rutian, she called out to him, “And don’t forget to clean up Cell F - someone had an accident,” she snickered to herself.

 

He spun on his heels, leaving some dark blank marks across the newly replaced floor. He went down to the closet, one he never slept in due to its contents, took out the tools necessary to clean up a cell “accident”. He scraped his heels with each step, knowing he didn’t have floor duty and to torture the Chief Janitor because he frequently messed with him in his favorite resting place. He threw the tool bag into the empty cell and started spraying it down.

 

He wasn’t very quiet, saying, “I get it now... Least seniority does ALL the work.” He stepped into the cell to do the inside walls. As he continued to spray, his voice raised over the sound, “What do I have to do, take over the ship? Hold someone hostage? Kiss Commander Chirakis to get attention around here?”

 

“Perhaps.”

 

The all-too familiar voice of the station commander came from behind him and Bean whirled around, coming face to face with her and Centurion tr’Jeth Dabi. “I have heard others speculate that kissing up may be effective,” the commander continued evenly, “...but I do not advise it.”

 

Bean’s expression: priceless.

 

“Thank you, Centurion,” she said to Dabi while her eyes continued to pin Bean to the spot. “If anything else emerges, I will be in the control tower.” She remained another second or two, then spun on her heel to exit, confident that the security chief could handle Bean and hoping he would live through it.

[STSF_BluRox 0]

Of Missing Links

"What do I have to do, take over the ship? Hold someone hostage? Kiss Commander Chirakis to get attention around here?"

 

Ha ha!! Now that, I'd like to have seen him try!

 

Nice Log!!