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Posted on Wed Jul 1st, 2020 @ 5:37pm by Ka'see 'Cassie' Anderson (*) & Executive Officer Jake Ford
Edited on on Wed Jul 8th, 2020 @ 6:58am

Mission: Mission 11 - Prospecting
Location: New Laurium - Market
Timeline: MD03 13:00
1743 words - 3.5 OF Standard Post Measure

Researching was boring even to the Cassie now she was going through news networks, company listings, even records that she was sure she should not have access to but nothing was coming up with something around the owner of Equinox. Other big companies like that had tons of information, from information from the smallest employee to corporate events with images of the CEOs available. It was strange that there was just nothing available. It was like following a ghost and a big one at that. She looked up as Jake came into the Security Complex that she had been using as research space. She was sat on the floor with PADD spread all around her as she tried to organise what she did and did not now know.

“I sent Jeassaho to bed.” She admitted knowing her physiology would allow her to work for a little with longer before she needed to take a break. Even Vulcan's needed rest despite some saying they did not.

"Probably a good idea," Jake nodded. "Eden went to feed Stan," he added by way of explanation. He held out a cup of coffee for her. "Any luck?"

The woman nodded at his explanation as to where his little shadow was. Cassie accepted the mug of coffee without complaint and took a small sip not caring that it had milk in as it would give her a little boost. "Yes and no. I have started to compare similar companies. There is not much but it is really interesting the lack of anything. This CEO is a ghost."

"And yet they get to do business in Federation space," Jake sighed. "Back in the old days these things wouldn't be so commonplace. Seems like since the war, and the Romulans...guess times change." He glanced over her shoulder at some of the PADDs arrayed. There was little there that helped. "Times were this sort of thing led back to Ferengi or Orion groups. Nowadays it could be just about anybody."

"They are not involved as far as far as I can see anywhere. Nothing at all suggests them at work it all twists and turns around this planet and Earth. It is like a puzzle in a puzzle." Cassie hated not being able to find something. "He or she is there but they are hiding in plain sight."

"Usually I'm game for a good mystery," he responded. "But not today. We're missing something. Something important. I just don't know what it is..." He frowned as he started to hear a noise from somewhere in the room. "You hear that? Where's that coming from?"

"One of your consoles. I looped some bridge systems here so we would be aware of keys facts as they came in." Cassie said rising from the floor to look at which console it could be. "It is the communication system." She announced frowning as it took longer than she wanted to come alive. It was nowhere near as responsive as the bridge or science console but eventually, it revealed what it was going on about. "Gregnol's comm unit is back online and being used."

Jake joined her at the console. "Is it him? Maybe he's trying to contact us." It was a vain hope, but that was all they had for the moment.

"Nothing is on it. It is just active," Cassie sighed a bit as she rolled her shoulder trying to get the ache to stop a little. "Should we go and have a look? I mean we need to right?" The hybrid would not mind a chance to get off the ship for a few moments and look into something properly.

"Not like we have many other leads to go on," Jake replied. He moved to the locker and grabbed a hand phaser. Made sense to go prepared, especially if this was some sort of trick or deception. Then he looked back at Cassie. "Not taking any chances," he explained. "C'mon, let's go hunt it down."

Cassie looked at him as much to say why don't I have a weapon but then she remembered how she could barely pass annual live phaser fire training each year. For all her brains it was hard and somehow she could not do it, so it probably was for the best. She nodded and quickly followed him first to the transporter then down to the surface. Not many words needed to be explained between them which was a welcome changed from people trying to either set her up or make random conversation. "It is somewhere roughly around where we found all the blood." She mused trying to orientate herself.

"Makes sense. Stay close, none of this smells right," he noted.

The pair headed down to the colony and made their way towards the alley where they'd previously been gathering evidence and clues. Given the circumstances, they were torn between hurrying and being cautious about it, eventually settling on a brusque pace while keeping their eyes peeled.

"Right. Talk to me - where are we looking?" he asked, as they neared their destination.

Cassie looked up from her tricorder and looked around at where they had been the previous day. The pool of blood now much thicker and darker than it had been before but nothing else looks disturbed. "It's around here somewhere." She assured not sure how they could have missed something. She turned as someone walked down the alleyway blocking off the exit.

"Hold it." Jake had a hand on his weapon early and moved to slightly shield Cassie with his much bigger form. He squinted in the dark light as the silhouette started to take form.

"Easy there, little brother. Wouldn't want anyone to get hurt." The man took shape, his face finally visible. Jake's jaw dropped open, the phaser lowering along with it.

"What the-" he mumbled, staring into the eyes of his brother, Jack Ford. Out of uniform, but standing there in front of him completely out of the blue.

"It's a long story. Heard you're missing someone." Jack grinned confidently. He'd not changed, Jake noticed. He was still cocky and self-assured as always. "Relax, I'm not responsible or anything..."

"What are you doing here?" Jake asked, closing the gap a little.

"Shore leave." Jack's mouth curled up. It was a lie, and not exactly a subtle one. "That's the official line anyway." He glanced at Cassie, hovering behind. "Hey there lil' lady. I'm not going to hurt you or anything. Actually I'm here to help!"

"I am pretty sure I would hurt you before you hurt me. Your brother is just a little protective." Cassie said taking a step sideways looking at Jake for a moment. It was easy to see that they were related. "Help us how?" She wondered scanning him realising he had Gregnol's communicator.

"Yeah, this." Jack twirled the communicator in his hand. Then he tossed it to Cassie. "Thought that might get your attention." He looked at Jake again. "You're missing a Captain, I understand."

"What do you know about that?" Jake asked suspiciously. It wasn't exactly common knowledge.

"Not much. Some friends of mine got a little worried about him - Gregnol's a popular guy in certain circles. Just enough to warrant some questions being asked." Jack shrugged at that last comment. "But not enough to make direct intervention. So here's me, throwing you guys a bone so you don't chase your tails."

Jake cringed at the metaphor. Regardless, he didn't want to turn down an offer of help.

"Keep talking," he growled.

"Your friend the administrator. He was pretty close to the truth: Equinox are interested in Gregnol, for whatever reason. They've got him tucked-away at a facility here on the colony. Deep in their headquarters, I'd say." Jack explained.

"What are they doing to him?" Cassie demanded not at all liking the man at all. Is this what Starfleet had become since she had served. The communicator was damage so nothing would have been heard if someone was talking into it. "It is fried." She told Jake shoving it in her pocket.

"I don't know. A little curious, myself, but not enough to risk waltzing in there and creating more problems." Jack shrugged.

"So you want us to do that instead?" Jake frowned. "Do mom and dad know you're here?"

"Nah." Jack just grinned. "Though I'm sure we'll have it out next Christmas, eh?" He patted Jake on the shoulder, then turned to walk away.

Cassie watched the man walk away and frowned more than normal if it was possible. "What an ass hole. Seems you got the better genetics Jake." Cassie commented knowing she was the only one around who could comment on genetics.

"Maybe. I honestly never thought I'd run into him out here. Strange...wonder who it was he was talking about." Jake was distracted by that thought; why would his brother be the one involved in all this? "Either way, he gave us something. We should regroup with the others and put together a plan."

Cassie nodded as she watched Jack turned left at the end of the alley and disappear from view. "It makes me wonder what Gregnol could possibly involved in that your brother turned up." Cassie said honestly. She liked Gregnol and would follow him to end of the earth but it did make her wonder why Starfleet would get involved when they did nothing before to help the Captain when the Orion's had him.

"Jack's always been the one who flies the Starfleet flag," Jake replied. "I was never really at home there..." He shrugged. "As weird as it is, his information is worth checking out. We'll need help if we're going to take on Equinox, though."

"How to you taken on an organization like that?" Cassie wondered pocketing the communicator. Maybe she could get some information from it or some more trace to allow them some more clues to what happened to the Captain. She really could not remember anything happening like this in 2246.

"Normally? You don't. Certainly not without help," Jake replied. "I just hope the others have better news on Liha and the Doc."

“Well let’s get the help,” Cassie commented putting the rest of her equipment away. It was such an odd situation now. Nothing has prepared her for it all.

OFF::

Jake Ford
Chief Armoury Officer
SS Mary Rose

Ka'see 'Cassie' Anderson
Biologist
SS Mary Rose
(PNPC Gregnol)