Searching for a Haystack in a Needle

[Tachyon 0]

“Hunting for a Haystack in a Needle”

September 5, 2155

A Joint Log by Lieutenant Dave Grey and Lieutenant (jg) Aaron Westler

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Aaron looked up at Grey as Moore returned to his chair. "Let's go over this thing fromt he beginning, maybe we missed something."

 

Nodding, Grey shifted uncomfortably in his chair. He looked down at the computer console and its information before them, then back at Westler. "All right . . . so let's start with a set of assumptions. Let's assume that Nagen was the one who planted the file that's been causing us so much grief."

 

Nodding, Aaron brought up the now, thankfully, isolated recopy of the batch file onto both their screens. "This file could have been placed anywhere in the ship's computer. Nagen could have sent it to the Engineering subfolder through Communications, a normally busy system where it wouldn’t have been obviously seen."

 

"You said you found him in a conduit. Perhaps he interfaced directly with the comm system from there--if he used some sort of device on his person and didn't go through a console, it's possible the computer didn't record the access," reasoned Grey. Fingers steepled, he regarded the file on the screen. "Obviously he was preparing for an escape route. The next question is why Ensign Connor got himself confined to quarters and then started bypassing security protocols to talk with Montague."

 

Aaron rubbed his chin. "Well, what about the file we found. It's from this Omega V office. This may sound stupid and far-fetched, but what if Connor works for an intelligence agency? The message did order him to "infiltrate the conspiracy". It's possible he got himself confined so he could keep his cover."

 

"Really, when are these intelligence agencies going to learn that they shouldn't keep us in the dark," Grey rolled his eyes, "it all ends badly." Continuing their construction of a tentative timeline, Grey said, "So Nagen planted the file and Connor found out. He tells Montague, maybe? Or at least, he needs Montague to do the work he can't do from his quarters."

 

Aaron nodded. "That would make sense. I blocked all his computer access. Montague listens to Connor, opens the file."

 

Grey snapped his fingers. "The file is the crux of the matter. It all comes down the file. . . ."

 

"Exactly. Opening the file, he must have tripped something. He said he blocked computer access so that he wouldn’t have problems with what he found. At the time, i believe he said he had found something to do with the power problems onboard."

 

Grey blinked a moment, not quite up to speed. "Power problems . . .?"

 

Aaron shrugged, "At least that’s what he told me." He tapped on the console and looked through the engineering logs. "Some small problem, I think, not linked to the batch file or anything else.

 

Dismissing it as irrelevant to the discussion at hand, Grey considered the evidence so far. It seemed that they had been pulled into the midst of a very complicated web of shadow and deceit, one in which even the most hardy traveller could become tangled and misdirected.

 

Grey half-heartedly wished for a magician who could get them out of this trap, but as such a resource was not available, he made due with what was at hand. "I still think part of this was accidental. The file was opened, but they didn't know what it contained, and Nagen beamed off the ship." He thought about this and sighed. "What we really need now is just one small piece of evidence to conclusively prove it was the file that caused the phase cannons to fire."

 

Aaron considered the statement a second, then poured over the code in the batch file. "Here's our proof. Line 425, its a direct command to the weapons system, telling it to juice up the cannons. It also has a failsafe command, not letting anyone stop the charge or release."

 

"There we go, a perfectly plausible technical piece of evidence," said Grey. "Which means that Nagen was ultimately the one responsible, probably to prevent us from pursuing as I thought. However," he broke off, his mind reeling with possibilities. It was possible Connor had their best interests at heart. It was also possible the Ensign had simply been acting under orders from a shadow organisation that did not frankly care for Challenger or anyone on it. "However, Montague and Connor are still the unknowns. We need to learn what they know if we're ever going to piece this puzzle together in its entirety."

 

Aaron closed off the engineering window on his console. "You’re right. They're both aboard the Defiant at the moment; we'll need to get a hand on them when they get back."

 

Reasoning that they had done all they could for the moment, Grey just nodded dumbly and lapsed into silence. Just when thing seemed to be going well, Murphy's Law threw you for another loop and crazy events start happening all over again.

 

Aaron streched and look at Grey. "Well, I don't think we can do much more, all we need are Montague's and Connor's statements and we can work out the report."

 

Grey stood up, immediately feeling relieved as blood started flowing back into his cramped legs. His stomach growled fiercely. "Well then, that settles it," he muttered half to himself. "I'm going to get something to eat. Would you care to join me, or. . . ."

 

Aaron looked over at a side console. "Thanks, but no thanks. With most of engineering working on the Defiant, I’m stuck making sure everything is working a-ok after this whole spiel. I'll see you later to make out the report then?"

 

"Sure," replied Grey. He left the engineering station, already trying to figure out what he could eat that could settle his upset stomach.