Grotto

Posted on Fri Feb 2nd, 2018 @ 2:46am by Captain Rueben Gregnol & Executive Officer Valiyi Uhin

Mission: Mission 5 - Liberation
Location: Deck 4 - Corridor outside Crew Quarters
Timeline: MD -20 14:00
2301 words - 4.6 OF Standard Post Measure

Previously, in ‘Today is gonna be the day, That they're gonna throw it back to you (PART 3)’

Rueben shined the light in the eyes of the first person as they walked in through the cut hull plating, even with the light from the torches in the space the place still felt sombre and the air was stale. It was incredulous what was inside the small space to the Captain, he couldn’t understand how Barton hadn’t found the space and sold the contents. The small hold was filled from floor to ceiling of all number of a manner of things, from old-school communicators all the way up to cabinets filled with piles of books and papers. Rueben shined the light along a shelf filled with artefacts before looking over coloured potions and labelled powders that were neatly arranged on tables while large contraptions and machines he could never begin to guess the purposes of covered the other tables.

“What is this place?” Jeassaho asked as she took in the room. The walls nearest to the entrance were covered in a mélange of posters of bands, old-world newspaper clippings, handwritten notations, and photographs. She didn't want to pry, but she leaned forward to focus on the closest one which, though in black and white, remained crisp and unaltered showing an animal she didn’t recognize but was connected by a thread to another and so on.

ON::

Rueben looked back at the small group and sighed as he pressed his hand against the panel that would look random if you didn't know what was there hidden behind it. The door beeped and slid open, it was a long way from the hole they had cut into the false wall to gain access nearly seven months before.

"Come on then." The man murmured stepping inside the thin corridor that was a between two fake walls that had been designed to fool anyone who had gotten that far but didn't know what they were looking for. The big man led them into the room that had been named 'The Grotto'. Compared to how the crew had found the room before it was now positively organised thanks to the former Science Chief Beck. Equipment in one area, paper and books to another, and anything else left unorganised was still in the centre.

Micheal followed Rueben through the hidden door. He was certainly curious as to where he was headed. When he finally entered the room at the end of the corridor, he let out a low whistle. "Wow! Nice collection of stuff you got her, Cap! How long did it take you to gather it all?"

"I didn't collect them." Hadn't this man learnt anything about this ship since he had been onboard? "This is all on The Collector. We discovered it when the ship kept blacking out."

Micheal nodded, realizing that he was a bit dense. "My apologies, Captain. I should really study the ship's history more. Could we talk about it later?"

The Captain nodded and offered a smile to the man. He was at least trying to learn about the ship and the events that she had been in to create such a varied and interesting past. "Any time."

MacCloud walked through the hole and looked around with an appraising eye. he noticed the books and art pieces first as they were mostly still in the center of the room. He noticed a few blades and steeped over to them. The Andorian Ice Fang was beautiful and quite valuable. There was a less dazzling blade beside it. The five gemstones in the pommel and the horn hilt design made the dagger worth millions if it was not a copy. "This dagger Rueben, if you can verify this as the original is nearly priceless." He did not pick it up but simply pointed to it. A dagger with that design and placement of gemstones was used to murder a rather popular Klingon Warlord. The killer's fate was most gruesome and the blade was displayed over the mummified remains for many decades. When it was stolen a huge hunt to recover it was begun. Something about the family's honor being soiled till the dagger was returned." Braden moved onto another section and smiled "If these Romulan pieces of jewlery are authentic Rueben you might be able to restore this ship? Or buy a better one." Braden shrugged and moved deeper into the room to inspect other items. he spoke over his shoulder as he moved into the corner "you might want to put a guard on this?"

Valiyi took to leaning against the side of the opening, watching as the others filtered into the room to give their perspectives on the matter. She spoke little, only nodding when her presence was noticed, eyes upon the crew as they surveyed. It was not until she felt right did she open her mouth. "I must agree, some form of security on this veritable vault of treasures would be ideal, especially if everyone knows it is here."

Quang walked in with the others. He directed a flashlight over the items. It was deeply impressive. It would need to be inventoried, albeit selectively, and then assessed. Properly marketed, it would be a sizeable supply of liquid capital.

He whistled quietly, "This is wonderful. I can't wait to dig into this. It's like a forgotten museum in here."

"There is security as you saw when you come in. Unless any of you want to chop my hand off I can't see you getting in here." Reuben said looking each and every one of them over before he grinned a little. He couldn't see any of them taking him out enough to get his hand without working together, and he could never see that happening. He didn't need to mention the other security that the people Micheal and Draia replaced put in place. They were correct not everyone needed access. "Most of the crew do not know of its location. You as Senior crew do."

"Rueben I don't need your hand to get in here. On top of that once we start working in here to catalogue this area it will no longer be a secret. The security cameras have significant gaps in coverage. Laser trip wires can also be beaten not to mention for something as valuable as this appears you risk being boarded by pirates. In which case subtle security will not even matter. So Rueben I believe you need to work on this a bit more. If you want to secure the crew loyalty they would expect some reward for risking their lives. I also think we should make way to a real Port with real security. A place you could attract buyers for this mess and off load it. Credits in a bank account are easier to protect after all." Braden shrugged "just my unwanted opinions. Now then to the part that affects me, when do you want me to begin going through this to assess the value?"

Jeassaho has heard enough of the Science Chief, sure she knew the chain of command and everything but the man wasn't just getting on her nerves before Reuben could even open his mouth the last person in who had only come along to repair the usual electric circuit before it shorted out again. "No disrespect to any of you but until now none of you knew about this place and some of you have been onboard months" She glanced at Quang and Braden. "...and others have pointedly been looking for secrets." She looked to the Security Chief for that one. "This has been hidden for thirty odd years, the poor ship was brought by Barton without knowledge that it was here, we only discovered it because a circuit kept plunging us all into darkness." The Captain coughed politely stopping her in her tracks as she rambled on like only she could before she got into the hull plating.

"Jeass... thank you. They don't understand the security it is fine that isn't their job to know what security is here." The Captain said raising an eyebrow at his former fiancee's passion on his behalf. She just looked at him then the Chief Engineer before pushing through the small crowd to the back. He watched the small woman go with an amused smile before he turned back to the group properly. "You can catalogue it. Your predecessor started to organise and catalogue so now that you've decided to stay it is now your job."

Braden tilted his head "who said I decided to stay? All I said was security was lacking and this will no longer be a secret if we are spending hours working in here. And Rueben I do understand security, probably at least as well as you do or you security Chief here." Braden had enough of this himself, he was tired of being spoken down to by these clowns. "If you want me to work in here I expect instructions, written instructions as to how you want this task handled. I also want a screening set up so no one can take anything out of here." His eyes narrowed on the Captain, "as I do not wish to be considered a thief because something went missing." He was still burned up about being questioned about the sabotage at the wedding. "When you meet my needs I will catalogue this, on a quick glance I would say three months at eight hours a day for three people. I still think you should sell off some of this stuff you already know what it is and bank the credits." Braden moved toward the door, "considering your lack of trust in me I will await your orders Sir." Braden slipped past the Captain smoothly to leave.

Shaking his head slightly, Micheal watched Braden leave. He honestly couldn't understand why the Captain allowed the guy to stay on the ship. His attitude was horrendous, and he carried a chip on his shoulder the size of Qo'nos. "Sir," He began after the Science Chief was gone. "What would you like me to do? I can certainly beef up the security of this compartment, of needed, unless you need something else?" He was very interested in helping Reuben in this area. As much as he disliked Braden, the arrogant sod was right about one thing. Any revenue that could be generated would help the ship considerably.

Valiyi followed the Science Chief's exit with her gaze, brow quirked, but had no intent to comment. "I do believe you are right in keeping this chamber's location to a small number of the crew, but I'm curious to know how well the scuttlebutt finds itself dragged throughout the ship, but that is not in our control. And I believe an appraisal of the items within is ideal, regardless of what is actually done with the items.."

The Captain shook his head at the Science Chief. The man was starting to get on his wick and that took a lot to be able to do that. He looked at Valiyi and nodded. "There has always been scuttlebug about this deck." The Captain said with a shrug. Nothing had happened so far and this chamber had after all cause the whole ship to become ill when it had first been opened like some Egyptian curse for opening a burial site.

Quang waited for the exchange to end. "Captain, I have experience not only with pricing items, but doing inventory, and finding appropriate markets for it. I'd be happy to do that."

He paused and then continued. "I understand needing to be discreet. I grew up like that. Ho Chi Minh City can do that. I do think having the security built up would help. Benign neglect can work for so long, but it has a limit. "

he looked at the others and shrugged. "What do you think?"

"Why do you think you are here." The Captain said softly getting more than fed up with people and their opinions on the security of the chamber. "It is going to be a science project as nothing else seems to be going on." He smiled looking at Paul explaining as to why he was there.

Paul blinks as he looks about, "While I do have some contacts that could get a hefty profit for the possibly authentic antiquities, regardless of their authenticity, I don't see what some of could really discern from these relics." He leant over but doesn't touch some of the papers, "I could easily carbon date the papers but really re-purposing a scanner would do."

"We just have to think outside the box," said Tran. "It's just a situation of including where we are, and where are contacts are. Anything is valuable given, time, location, and scarcity."

Listening to the conversation, Micheal spoke up. "If it would help, I'd be glad to offer the computing power of my shuttle's A.I.?"

Reuben nodded. He didn't truly believe the A.I was that but a rejiGGED EMH but that man was offering it if needed so who was he to argue.

Micheal nodded in return as well. He then moved off to the side to contact his shuttle's computer. While it was nowhere near as powerful as a frontline starship, he was certain it could hold its own against the Rosie.

OFF::

Braden MacCloud
Chief Science
S.S. Mary Rose

Micheal Robertson
Chief Armory Officer/Bounty Hunter
S.S. Mary Rose / Shuttle Alexandria

Valiyi Uhin
Passenger
SS Mary Rose

Paul Cullars
Hydroponics Operator
SS Mary Rose

Quang Tran
Quartermaster
SS Mary Rose

Reuben Gregnol
Captain
SS Mary Rose