" Operational Tag "
Previous Post: "Puzzle"
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Stardate: 60321.0945
Setting: TANGIERS ORBITAL, 2nd Floor, Bar
Leaving the busy main floor for the upper level that
was more suitable for the task given to her by both
the Tal'Shiar and her CO, the Romulan/Terran hybrid
sat at one of the table near the edge, giving her a
good view of the area below. While scrutinizing the
already impressive number of people gambling at the
various machines, Sevaal could not help but recall the
ramblings of the ANUBIS' CSciO who had, although in
more words than had been needed, had spelled out the
general feeling that this mission had taken.
More troubling to the Romulan/Terran hybrid had been
the absence of the CMO and ILO from their meeting.
Looking back at the professional track record of the
two women, the COO had not found it difficult to
imagine Ens. Summers still in bed while the rest of
the staff meet for an important session, but the void
left by Lt. Cmdr. Enaii had been strange and
disappointing. Considering the unique position the
Ops Officer had been placed in, she had hoped to be
able to ask Enaii for some insight into the Romulan
Intel Agency and its procedures. Having researched
said agency as thoroughly as she had over the years,
Serenna had discovered one thing of certainty about
the Tal'Shiar; that it was impossible to know
everything about them.
Looking at the floor below, the mind of the
Romulan/Terran hybrid was brought back to the task at
hand when she spotted Kreedar Brell, aka Lt. David
Dawson, and Niema Sol, aka Ens. Susan Mei step out of
the conference lounge where they had shared breakfast.
Keeping a close watch on the two officers made the
COO realize that the pair had gained a shadow, one
that bared some resemblances to the man the CNS had
identified as Matt.
Not anticipating any problems from that man, at least
nothing that David would be capable of handling in his
sleep with one hand tied behind his back, the
Romulan/Terran hybrid simply followed the three of
them as they slalomed their way through the machines
and crowd.
While continuing to follow the progress of her
shipmates, Sevaal gave the PADD in her hand, the one
that had been left behind on the table, another look.
The mystery of its appearing out of nowhere had only
partially lessen by the vagueness of the information
it contained making the Romulan/Terran hybrid wonder
as to who and why she had been given this.
While glancing at the floor below to insure that
David and Susan were still in view, the Romulan/Terran
noticed another form approaching and before she could
say anything, the man had pulled out a chair and
joined the Vulcan at the table.
Smiling broadly while looking at the PADD in the
hands of the commodities' trader, the Dralian made
himself comfortable and wasted no time in announcing
the purpose of his visit. "I'm glad to see that you
found it. I wasn't entirely certain that the casino
employee I gave it to would be able to carry out my
instructions. I had wanted to surprise you."
Looking at the PADD and the Dralian back and forth
several times, the Romulan/Terran hybrid could not
bring herself to accept that the device in her hand
had come from Guntiz. "The employees of the TANGIERS
ORBITAL are sworn to do everything in their power to
assist and please all customers, so your fears were
illogical and misplaced. That said, why did you not
give me the PADD yourself?"
Grinning beyond what the COO had thought possible for
that species of being, Guntiz nodded his head in the
direction of the Triple Diamond Lounge and replied in
his best imitation of a casino's employee. "We are
truly sorry, but the Triple Diamond Lounge is
currently closed to the general public, all seats
having been reserved for 1st Class costumers and those
with special invitations. If you wish to have
breakfast, our main dinning hall is currently serving
the standard breakfast mean in which I am sure you
will find something to your liking."
Nodding knowingly while reminding herself of the role she needed to play with the Dralian, the Romulan/Terran hybrid glanced once again at the PADD this time looking upon the information contained therein as T'Pring and not Sevaal. "You could have waited until I finished breakfast to give me this; it would have served to make it easier for me to understand the context in which the text was written in."
Reaching over the table and taking the PADD from the
hand of the Vulcan woman, Guntiz continued to smile
through his explanation. "I wanted to surprise you
and I couldn't wait, plus I wanted to make sure I had
your interest peeked so that you would not go off on
some other quest. I figured that if you were faced
with a puzzle, you would come here to think it over,
and I am glad to see that I was right."
Returning the Dralian's smile, although in a much
more subdued manner, the Romulan/Terran hybrid found
it a little amusing that Guntiz had predicted her
being here for entirely different reasons, the PADD
having absolutely nothing to do with her being here,
but if that was what he wanted to believe, the COO was
not going to set the record straight. "I hope you
will tell me what the data contained on that PADD
means so that we can proceed with a minimum of time
wasted."
Sliding the chair that he had been sitting in over so that he would be right next to T'Pring, Guntiz seemed more than happy about the willingness of his would-be companion in moving ahead with the pursuits of the Stone of Gol. "The first part is a poem, or at least that what I think it was meant to be, written by a pair of Bynars who visited a research facility near the Cardassian boarder. Of course the text was translated but it explains why some of it doesn't make that much sense. The reason why I wanted you to see it is because the text, which I know was not all that accurately translated, seems to mentions several Vulcan locations and items, one of which is inaccurately identified as the 'Rock of Peace' which I can only guess refers to the Stone of Gol. The second part is an extract from the navigational log of a Medusan who, I think, made a reference to a strange energy reading he picked up on that same Cardassian Research facility. My guess is that the two speak of the item we are interested in."
Looking rather unimpressed by the farfetched story presented by the Dralian, the Romulan/Terran hybrid concentrated to keep her reply within what a Vulcan would use. "You have offered a most fascinating theory, but one that is lacking in logic. Do you really believe that the Cardassians, if they had somehow obtained the Stone of Gol, would have sent it to a *board* research facility where Binars and Medusans would be able to get the slightest glimpse of it?"
Appearing unshaken by the negation of the Vulcan
woman, Guntiz presented T'Pring with a second PADD.
"I figured you would say that, so I made it a point to
research it a little more. Did you know that there is
one of the Cardassian scientists that worked on that
facility currently on the TANGIERS ORBITAL? Maybe we
cold convince her to help us out."
Trying her best to keep an eye on David and Susan while continuing her conversation, the Romulan/Terran hybrid dismissed the suggestion, using an apparent lack of interest to explain her looking away from Guntiz. "I doubt that any Cardassian would willingly help us in confirming the information you have obtained, information which I believe is ambiguous at best."
Looking at the two PADDs resting on the table, the Dralian did not appear to be any less willing to try. "You may be right, but there is no harm in asking. I have obtained the name of the scientist from a friend and have confirmed using the casino's information desk that she is here. Her name is Denir and from what I have heard about her, she might be persuaded to help us if we offer her the right incentive."
Doing her best to keep her jaw from hitting the floor, the Romulan/Terran hybrid could not believe that the name mentioned by Guntiz had been the identity borrowed by the ANUBIS' CSciO, making the situation both easier and much more complicated all at the same time.
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Lieutenant Commander Serenna 2005 post #188
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Serena Switt {serena1141@yahoo.com.au}
Chief of Operations / Second Officer
USS ANUBIS
