Undercover

Posted on Tue Nov 19th, 2024 @ 8:58pm by Lieutenant Julianna ("Jules") Raihan & Lieutenant Daegan Baas & Petty Officer 1st Class Jaclyn Masterson [Baas]
Edited on on Tue Nov 19th, 2024 @ 10:30pm

2,981 words; about a 15 minute read

Mission: A Silence of Friends
Location: Deck 15 - Security - Chief's Office
Timeline: MD002 - 0800

Daegan had left the officer's lounge and was on his way to Security to wrap things up before departing for his shore leave. While in the lift he tapped his comm badge to have Masterson meet him there. =^=Lt. Baas to Petty Officer Masterson.=^=

Jaclyn was running late and was still pinning up her hair as she was leaving her quarters. Muttering to herself, "Probably wondering where I am...wait. He's supposed to be on leave. Hhmmm." She flushed slightly as she imagined just what he was wanted before he left. After securing her hair she tapped her badge to acknowledge the hail. =^=Masterson here.=^=

He didn't to question the minor delay in her reply but would question that later. =^= I need to see you in my office before I depart for the station. I have an assignment for you to prep for. Meet me in my office. =^=

Checking the corridor around her and seeing no one and was going to reply with a lusty comment but there was no tell who might be around him, but still put a little edge to it. =^= Understood sir. =^= Closing the channel she moved a bit faster get there quickly. If he was still on his way she might be able to beat him and do a little prepping of her own.

There was no missing the...sauciness...in her voice and Daegan took a deep breath, letting it out in a huff. It had been a while since they had any direct dealing as he had see that their duties didn't directly interact, but there was no escaping the fact that they had a history. It had been sometime since their last encounter and he just knew that she probably thought his message was an invitation of some kind.

Stepping off the lift he was approaching the Security center when one off his staff approach. "Excuse me Sir. I found something you should see."

"What do you have T'Van?"

"I was doing a diagnostic and found that some of the brig cells had been activated. As we had no security incidents and no one had been confined to the brig I expanded my inquiry..."

Daegan raised a hand to silence the verbal report has he read the Ensign's finds of who had been transported, when it had taken place, and who had activated and deactivated the brig, Suppressing the urge to laugh at his assumption. The Chief was what one would call old-school. That and with is Tellarite nature, such a 'prank' wouldn't be outside the realm of possibility. He would have to meet with the Chief to see if his assumption was true. Looking up, "Who have you informed of this?"

"No one Sir but this..."

"Was an early morning test of the systems that wasn't logged properly. I will see that the error is corrected. Good catch Ensign."

T'Van had a puzzled expression and while illogical, the explanation was at least plausible. "Thank you sir. Shall I update the logs?"

Shaking his head, "No need the Chief made the mistake, so he can fix it. Carry on."

"Yes sir."

Daegan remained in the corridor for a moment before shaking his head, he chuckled as he slapped the padd against his leg as he proceeded into the Security Center. Just as he did, Jaclyn came rushing up behind him.

Seeing him in the corridor, she felt a rush of anticipation and disappointment all at the same time. He had beaten her to the area so she wasn't going to be able to be 'ready' for him like she wanted but they'd be alone soon enough and right in his office just as the day was starting too...such a bad boy. Leaning into him closely as the entered together...to anyone else it would simply look like they bumped into each other.

Without reacting, Daegan moved to his office and, as the door opened, he motioned for Masterson to proceed. As she did he looked over to the others in the area. "Our new Intel Officer should be coming soon; when she arrives just have her come in."

Jaclyn's head spun and her mouth dropped in surprise as she heard the others acknowledge the instruction before the door closed.

Daegan moved around to the other side of his desk, placing the padd aside, and took a seat.

Jaclyn hadn't moved except to put her hand on her hip. "What the hell?"

Daegan lifted his hands slightly. "Hey. I said I had an assignment for you. I can't help you read something into that wasn't meant." After motioning for her to take a seat, he pulled out a blank padd and downloaded the assignment and handed it over.

Taking the padd she reviewed the data looking up questioningly. "I don't know anything about archeology!"

"You won't need to. The Captain is making the arrangements for your cover identity, once that is established you will need to incorporate that into your preparations. In the mean time learn as much as you can about Bajoran history, culture, and the occupation. Go to DS9, make yourself known as an academic there to learn about the resistance and the liberation of Bajor. You want to learn what really happened not the 'official' version...that kinda thing.

Ask about all the various factions; what they did, how they operated under the boot of the Cardassians, etc.. But what we really need is information on is those that went missing, secret Cardassian camps, rumored or known, where they may have taken key prisoners. Keep and ear out for those that may have been liberated from these camps and if they may know of others especially a Dar Razul."

[At 0900 Hours]

After setting Masterson to work studying about Bajor, Daegan had planned to play catchup on his shore leave by checking out the station's promenade and maybe scheduling a few services, but he got pulled into another minor issue with the background of one of the archeologists. Instead of it being a real issue it was all about nothing and he ended up having to counsel an over eager Ensign about jumping the gun. Erring on the side of caution was one thing but sounding alarms with putting things into context was another.

His plans foiled he returned to his office to check on Masterson.

Having found her quarters and her office (conveniently near Daegan's), and made arrangements to get her spots back later in the day, Jules came into the security center and gestured toward the Chief's office. "Is the big guy there," she asked. "I'm Lieutenant Raihan, newly assigned Chief Intelligence Officer." She grinned slightly. "Otherwise known as the tiniest department on the ship, just me and a couple of analysts."

"Yes Lieutenant. He returned 17 minutes ago with Petty Officer Masterson. He's expecting you; he left instructions for you to enter upon you arrival."

"Thanks," Jules said and headed for Daegan's office with a bounce to her step. Spots soon to be back and already knowing someone on board had done a lot to lighten her mood. Maybe, she thought, not being undercover won't be so bad. Won't have to be so cautious all the time.

"...you have to remember that many of the resistance fighters don't trust the Federation so distance yourself from any affili...ahh Jules, Perfect timing."

Jaclyn saw the smile spread over his face as the door opened behind her and she cocked her head slightly thinking to herself ~Jules?~ Jaclyn turned in her seat to see who had entered. A Trill woman with dark brown almost black hair, angular features and a similar cleft in her chin as Daegan. If she hadn't known better she would have thought they might be related but having been the one to process the files on the incoming crew, she knew that wasn't so. That and the fact that Daegan used a nickname for her secured the fact that she didn't like her.

Jules, who didn't miss the sour look on the petty officer's face (if she were hovering outside the ship looking through a viewport, she wouldn't have missed it), pirouetted. "Your doctor seems capable and, with luck, I'll be back to normal this afternoon." She walked into the room and dropped lightly in the other chair. "I'm Lieutenant Raihan," she said to the enlisted woman, "Chief of the tiniest department on the ship. I checked."

Jaclyn nodded politely, "Lieutenant. Petty Officer Masterson."

Daegan was focused on Julles good humored display of her restored spots and decided to hold off on the tease that he had imaged earlier, especially with Jules giving him such a good opening. "Well that's only fitting given your height."

Jules leaned forward dramatically, as though imparting a bit of wisdom, "and I hear that the air is much thinner up there. Not good for the brain cells, you know. 'Sides, I can get where I need to go, by one means or the other." She grinned cheerfully, happier than she'd been in awhile, as she said, "So, how can I help you two?"

He smirked at the dig but let it go with the change of subject, but he ran a single finger along the nap of his neck, the location of a certain spot she hated had had once been, as he spoke. "Yes Miss Masterson here has been plucked, due to her investigatory background, for an undercover inquiry into the Bajoran Resistance, the disappearance of Bajorans, the possibility of secret Cardassian camps where they may still be holding Bajorans, etc.. The Captain had special interest in a Dar Razul and possibly those associated with him.

"The Captain is getting her cover credentials established but, as I told her this morning, the cover will be as an academic doing research."

Jules smiled, a bit sly, a bit knowing, at his gesture before dropping into professional mode. "Traumatized, angry Bajorans are not going to open up easily, if at all." She paused for a moment, picking at her pants leg, a gesture that generally meant she was thinking. Or bored. Sometimes, it was bored but mostly, thinking. "You know, there were blockade runners during the war. What if she," and here Jules jerked her head in Jaclyn's direction, "is connected to them somehow? Maybe to one of the ones that didn't make it. As the reason she's doing the research."

"I was doing some digging in that area as well. There is a Bajoran merchant by the name of Geral Lasuma that has been expanding his operations ever since the withdrawal. According to the official record, during the occupation he worked both sides. Apparantly he helped smuggle Bajorans offworld and provided the resistance information more than he provided things to the Cardassians so he wasn't considered a collaborator. He seems to be all about profit but he has a conscience, or at least s small one. He might be someone to approach.

"Heard of him but haven't met him as yet. You know, the Federation isn't big about paying people but," Jules said, a twinkle in her eye, "if you let me know what he wants, maybe I can help come up with a lucrative lure. Maybe a location or two that would provide a big payoff with minimum risk? That sort of thing."

"We might already have a lure. The new dig on Quran III that we will be setting up. If Miss Masterson were to promise to get her hand on a few artifacts, if needed..."

Jaclyn's head had been turning back and forth as they took turns brainstorming, but had sat back. With a huff she chimed in, "I am here you know."

"And ..." Jules asked as she turned toward Jaclyn, her head tilted to one side.

She irritation was obvious but more due to their good natured ebb and flow than the brainstorming about her upcoming mission. She wondered....no that couldn't be why she had been picked, this was already in motion before she showed up. Still she was going to have to do something and before she was sent off. Pulling herself back to the task at hand she turned to face the woman. "I would just like to be included in the discussion, not just talk around....ma'am. "

"No one told you to be quiet ... petty officer," Jules said, arching one brow (something she'd learned off of Sevryn, her Vulcan analyst no doubt), "and given the nature of undercover work, you'd best learn now how to insert yourself into a conversation rather than wait for a direct invitation. But, in case you're timid and need one, please do, speak up." She turned her attention back to Daegan, a decided twinkle in her eye. "I like the way your mind works. That would certainly be a lure especially if it was something no one else have. Geral, if I remember correctly, is a bit on the greedy side, no?"

One would have to be completely blind not to see the daggers being thrown between the two opposite him. Lifting his hands off his desk. "OK ok we are all on the same team." Accidentally using her first name, "Jaclyn, you are right I should made sure you hadn't felt let out of the discussion, but the Lieutenant is right you could have jumped in at any time." Glancing to Jules, "However I think, in this case, being quiet would be characteristic of an academic. In this situation we want those you seek out to talk, not be put off by being overly assertive."

"As Geral being more or less greedy...from what I've seen it's a mix of greed and being opportunistic. He likes profit but also knows how to play the long game. Getting the inside track on artifact from a newly discovered civilization would bee an opportunity for a quick a lucrative profit. What do you think."

Jaclyn smiled subtly at his support of her position. "I think we all agree that this merchant would be an in that could get us the information we are looking for. Plus with the Thunderbird helping to establish the dig site it would allow me to contact the ship should there need to confirm the progress of the dig's findings."

Daegan was nodding with her last. One of the hardest parts of covert operations could be communications with those sending others into harm's way. This would allow direct communications. "Excellent point. That will make things a lot easier. We will just need to make sure you can piggyback any special signals to us in whatever message you send." Smiling as turned to Jules, "I knew there was a reason I asked you here."

Clasping his hand as they were they were getting into the meat of things. "Lt. Raihan is here because she has a lot of experience in undercover operations and I wanted to her to help with your preparations. So what do you need to do?"

Jaclyn looked to the lady next to her before turning back to Daegan. "Brush up on Bajoran history and culture but when I get to DS9 and Bajor tell those I speak with that I want to learn the real story of the occupation and how they got rid of the Cardassians. Get the background information on the Lasuma guy but find him without seeming to have specifically done so. Learn what I can from Lt. Raihan about working undercover. And plug all that into whatever cover identity I end up with."

Daegan liked what he had heard and was smirking as he nodded, but he had asked Jules here specifically for her expertise. "Jules, what do you think?"

Jules, who had been observing the interaction between the two, had come up with some interesting conclusions of her own slipped, almost without realizing she had done so, back into operative mode. And that meant giving nothing extra away. Not until you understood better how things were. Or weren't. "I think it could work though I don't necessarily agree about academics being all that quiet. It's about building a character with a history of its own and then slipping into that character. You're from Earth, maybe tie it into your own family history, then it could be a passion project. Something you believe in strongly because of how much was lost in your own family. That will cover your questions. You want to appear curious and eager and involved. You care about what happened to them. Maybe want the heroes of their struggle to get the recognition they deserve. Ask them to take you to some of their places, former hideouts and the like, and then encourage them to talk while you're getting the tours. Sometimes, its the combination of the place and a sympathetic ear that will get a person talking."

Jaclyn hated to admit it but she not only agreed with was she had said but rather like her ideas. " I think that approach would probably be ideal." Adding with only an edge of distaste, "Any other help you can give me would be appreciated."

Daegan was relieved to her it. "Great, well as I am already suppose to be on shore leave I had better get to off the ship before the Captain or his Yeoman start hunting me down." Looking to Jaclyn, "I will leave you to your mission prep..." then turning his gaze to Jules, "....if you could coach her on any undercover techniques that would be ideal. I will be on the Station if needed."

"I'll be in my office, getting acquainted with things," Jules said to Jaclyn. "Take the morning to start doing your own preparations and we can meet again later."

A Post By:

Lieutenant Julianna Raihan
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Thunderbird

Lieutenant Daegan Baas
Chief of Security
USS Thunderbird

Petty Officer Jaclyn Masterson (NPC)
Security/Investigator
USS Thunderbird

 

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