What is what in here? Cataloging the Grotto

Posted on Fri Feb 2nd, 2018 @ 2:45am by Captain Rueben Gregnol

Mission: Mission 5 - Liberation
Location: Dedeck 4 - Corridor outside Crew Quarters
Timeline: MD -19 0830hrs
1262 words - 2.5 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

Braden went to the door to await the Captain and his co-workers. He had worked with Tran before and Paul as well so he was confident the team selected could handle the job. He still saw security as a big problem but that was the captain's problem to deal with as he saw fit. Braden had brought a thermos with soup as he did not expect to leave before lunch.

Quang came up to the area now termed the "Grotto." He was still surprised that it had remained largely untouched, but not that much. After all, from what Reuben had said, the prior owner hadn't had too many people on board. He had been a hermit with style. A very well educated hermit.

The former quartermaster had brought what he knew he had needed. two tricorders, because he wasn't sure of the memory capacity of the constitution era utility data storage devices. He also had brought a large flashlight, as well as what he called the "dork device". A small flashlight he could strap to his head if needed, to free up his hands.

Again, business casual as usual, khaki shorts untucked shirt, and sneakers. Ah, the joy of growing up in Ho Chi Minh City, one of the dark holes of the earth.

He approached McCloud with a smile. The tricorder was slung over his shoulder. The dork device was held loosely in his hand. A bento box was in the backpack on his back. "Hey, how's it going? Are we the only ones who will be inventorying the treasure trove?"

Braden had his tools in his back pack as he looked over what Tran was carrying. "Paul will be here as well. I was trying to determine the ship database on history, I am thinking we will need to wait to verify values when we get to a real Federation starbase. Unless we can find the Collector's manifest if these items? I think that is one of the things I will look for first. That and Captain's logs. I know you have some contacts, you mentioned them before. Are yours the legal kind or the kind you go to the exchange armed?" Braden asked with a smile, He had dealt with both kinds in his own life.

Tran smiled blandly. he answered with a practiced innocence and turn of phrase. "Let's just say that I have a variety of contacts, all of them useful and reliable."

Braden nodded it was as he had suspected "I will trust in your judgement then." Braden doubted anyone who would buy this lot would remain quiet long. This stuff was just too valuable to the right people, and if the buyers knew how much there was it could get dicey.

Reuben arrived and raised an eyebrow at all the flashlights they had with them but shrugged. It had been arranged to have the lighting fixed in the compartment but he literally wanted to get in let them in and get back to reading The Collectors diaries whilst they sorted through. "Good morning." He greeted carrying a coffee mug.

Braden nodded his voice indifferent as was his attitude. "Hello Rueben, will you be remaining here today or should we lock up when we finish?" Braden could not understand this guy at all. His best guess was the fellow just did not care overly much about wealth. He was certainly casual about opening up this vault room?" Braden tilted his head, not his problem, it was not his money.

Quang nodded as the captain entered. He remained quiet, as Braden had asked the question he had been thinking as well. Unless Reuben was a telepath, he would probably give an answer while giving the directions.

"Well as you requested you worry that you or your colleagues might get greedy and something go missing so you now have the pleasure of my company," Reuben said simply as he put his hand like before against the panel that had been installed after the virus that had raged through the ship had evaporated. He had only been inside a handful of times since the first opening always early morning before the crew awoke or late at night when people were too tired to worry where he was heading. The computer beeped to confirm his handprint, it was basic but no one else could get inside without his hand print.

Braden smiled politely, "No Sir I was not worried about the crew being greedy. I was concerned about the commands paranoia." Braden passed into the room and looked over the workspaces available.

Reuben just rolled his eyes at the man. Maybe he should just shove him in the Brig as per a few people requests.

---

"Thus far aside from some things being knocked down everything that was here when I began," he pulls up a datapad, "All told I could get us up to 30 bars of gold pressed latnium for the individual items sight unseen, but I'm not as savy with the historical artifacts fencing as I was tech."

"If it hadn't been for a power glitch we would have never found this place. I bet the person who Barton brought Rosie from would be kicking themselves for not discovering this place." The Captain said holding the door open for the trio of people to let them inside first.

Braden went to where someone else had been working and glanced at Tran "I know more about crafted items then the written articles. How do you want to handle separating this mess? I am thinking things we are sure of we should put one place. Items we cannot verify but believe are authentic in another, and items we have no clue about in a third, to be worked on in a second pass. What do you think?"

Quang thought about it for a moment. Considering the range of interests this "collector" seemed to have shown it was probably the most accurate way to work. Otherwise, something obscure might slip through the cracks.

"It sounds like the best approach. Especially with some of the more obscure items. And I'm not crazy about that cursed dagger."

Braden nodded as he knew most people had some superstitions, especially about luck. "No worries after I have a chance to verify it I will seal it in a case and catalogue it. No one else needs even handle it." Braden looked around "anything here that anyone feels uncomfortable about handling just let me know. I do not mind handling any 'cursed' objects. I do suggest everyone wear gloves though. It is safer for you and it is safer for the items as well." No telling what parasites, bugs, and bacteria might have accumulated on this stuff over the years. He would not count on the skills of the 'collector' to have safeguarded everything properly.

Tran smiled thinly at the comment. "I'm glad you say that. And caution is a good thing. Call it curses, magic, alien energies, whatever. In my region, there are situations not easily explained even today."

Paul chuckles, "I doubt even this collector touched these items with anything less than white glove treatment, perhaps even some stasis ones. But I think we've gotten this ready to showcase for sale if we get the urge to part with it all."

OFF::

Quang Tran
Quartermaster
S.S. Mary Rose

Braden MacCloud
Chief Science
S.S. Mary Rose

Reuben Gregnol
Captain
S.S. Mary Rose

Paul Cullars
Hydroponics Operator
SS Mary Rose