Conundrum

[Chirakis 1]

Conundrum 
 

Security's detention area was fairly quiet at 20:00.  Only a few officers were on watch, some standing by retaining cells and a few monitoring the corridor.  

Normally the captain would be in CnC finishing reports and reading dispatches that were required, boring, and had nothing to do with Aegis.  This evening she was in the security complex, watching the gremlins play.

Since they were docile and inquisitive, all six that had been found on station were in the same holding cell, and all had been given tablets.  Extra berthing had been furnished, but apparently a bunk bed was not their style.  After extensive pulling and wrapping, they transformed their bunks into nests.  

Gremlin chatter was a mix of humming, clacking their teeth, moving their lips in various ways, and hand waving.  Occasionally, a few examined the force field by touching it—not exactly the best thing to do—or tossing an energy bar at it.  One examined it extensively, possibly wondering why he could see through it but could not walk through it.  Following Gramil’s directions, they painted pictures of female gremlins, families, homes, night skies, and one starship, which was interesting enough to give Kirel pause.

Lt Jeremy Garand, Security’s Interim Chief, walked up next to Kirel. PADD in hand, he waited for her attention. 

“They're small, Lieutenant,” Kirel began without turning, "like very young children. They're docile. They scramble easily through hidden parts of the station, much like the Ghost Squad. And, like children, they love chocolate.”

Garand chuckled.  “Can’t blame them, Captain. Chocolate's my favorite too.” 

“I see,” she replied, lifting a brow as she glanced in his direction. 

He shrugged.  “It's the same with most humans, ma’am. That’s why the energy bars are locked up. They’re too tempting.” 

“Of course.” She nodded.  “However, I can understand enjoying it, but making it their staple could not possibly be healthy… or so I have heard.  They have been offered vegetables, fruits, edible plants, and a few other things, but they are not interested.  However,” she mused, “energy bars do furnish nutrients essential for survival.” 

“True, Captain.  And the air is clearing.  I’ll bet that the chocolate—or whatever else is in the bar—might have something to do with it.”

“Hm….  Possible,” she mused. “Or engineering has found a fix.”

“Or that, ma’am.”  

"You have something for me, Lieutenant?" she asked, turning away from the force field.

“Yes, ma’am.  Word from Starfleet Intelligence.” He handed her the PADD.

As she paged through it, her expression changed from relaxed to concerned.  “Well,  it seems that they will be our guests for a while.  Thanks to Gremil’s sketching, we pinpointed their home world.  However, it is inside the nebula ring, and very close to Drakel’a.  It would be dangerous for them and for us to attempt....”

After a long, contemplative pause she glanced at the gremlin that was still painting the one starship it had worked on for a while. The ship was vaguely familiar.

After passing the PADD back to Garand, Kirel pulled her tablet from its clip and began to page through it.

“Lieutenant, has security discovered how these beings came aboard?”

“Not so far, ma’am.  The last report said they came aboard somewhere on deck 188.”

“On a ship? A shuttle? Another means?”  She continued to thumb through the tablet.

“None of those, as far as the report indicates, ma’am.”

“Isn’t that a little odd, Lieutenant?”  Having found what she was looking for, she stopped to wait for his answer.  He seemed stymied.  “I will take that as a yes, Lieutenant.

“To get the beings aboard, they could not have used a transporter beam. Therefore, there must have been something and someone to bring them aboard.  The someone is what we are looking for.  If the beings respond to any of these images we will have much more information.” 

Holding up her tablet, Kirel approached the force field. The gremlins were absorbed in their play and didn’t seem to notice her standing there until one looked up.  Its eyes widened, it poked the others, and they approached the force field. 

The image of a Terran woman dressed in leather, a sword at her side, bat’leth in hand, and several other weapons draped across her chest seemed to intrigue them.  Her expression was challenging, almost deadly.  The gremlins were more interested in her face, hair, and clothes.  Their heads tilted, they chattered and pointed for a while then looked up at Kirel.

She flipped to the image of a massive, threatening male humanoid of mixed species.  He was similarly dressed, held different but antagonizing weapons, and his expression was challenging.  Again, the gremlins were interested, tilting their heads, chattering, and pointing to various areas of the image.  Nothing more.

Excitement grew as they waited for the third image. As soon as it appeared, they gasped, backed off, and went into high-pitched screams.  Their screams alerted the officers on watch.  Within seconds, a Quick Reaction Force raced down the corridor.  By then, the gremlins had huddled together in their nests in silence, some whimpering and shaking, definitely traumatized.

Kirel had closed her tablet within seconds of their screams, but it took them a long time to settle down.  Garand had backed off and covered his ears. When the noise subsided Kirel turned to the reaction force and ordered them to stand down.

The tablet revealed the horrific image of a tall, massive humanoid clad in leather and carrying some of the most deadly weapons in the galaxy, ranging from disruptors and handmade plasma weapons to explosives and assorted caustic acid bombs.  Several knives glistened in the ambient light.

Kirel sighed and took a deep breath, wishing she had not shown the image, but glad they had furnished the information.  Now she had something to go on, as horrendous as it was.  

“Gentlemen,” she began, flicking open the tablet, “if you are not familiar with this person, you soon will be.  His name is Kran Magkor, Ragor Tal’s primary assassin and a master of torture.

"According to Starfleet Security, his ship is highly advanced, probably furnished by the Alien Alliance.  From the gremlins’ reaction, I would say that they are very familiar with him, which means that these small, innocent beings did not wander here, they were either brought here or sent here. They were used. They were ignorant of their purpose, and they will be given sanctuary.

“Lieutenant Garand, security is now at condition yellow.  If no one has identified the purpose of the metal stored in the storage room on deck 188, the Ordnance Disposal Unit will examine it immediately. Deck 188 is now off limits.  Our cover will be that we are refurbishing the area. Everything will be done quietly so we do not begin a riot on the station.  Understood?”

“Understood,” he replied.

"I will inform Starfleet Intelligence and Aegis Command.  Questions?”

“No, ma’am.”

“Very well. Ensign Schmidt, inform Dr Pavilion that the gremlins have been traumatized and need attention.  If she questions the purpose, send her to me.  If nothing else, carry on.  I will be in my office.”