Episode 2.02: Rivulets of Copper, Eyes Aflame

[Nolmir]

"Indeed, the evidence is so far circumstantial," Tobin replies to Asha. "Another monk could theoretically be responsible, but between his access to the weapon and a documented history of dispute with advocates of tuSurak ... well, I suppose you can call it a hunch."

The Trill scientist turns to T'Kiri. "And that is an excellent question, Principal Investigator. Let's see if there's anything to be gleaned from the data."

OOC: I'd like to look for any sort of signature that ties the anomalous tags together. I don't think Chief Science Officer applies to this situation, so I'll spend that last Momentum if not.

[Davy, aka GM]

OOC: Correct, neither the ship's Computers nor Sensors assisted in this task, so Chief Science Officer doesn't apply.

1 Momentum spent.

Current
Momentum 0
Threat 10

It takes a good half-hour to cross check with other TAICs proximate in time and location to the anomalous tags, but Tobin realizes the middle 15 digits in each anomalous TAIC is identical, even where they would normally differ. This could be a program signature of some kind...possibly something inserted by the programmer as a personal signature code, or a limitation of the device itself, which may be traceable.

[Nolmir]

Tobin explains his findings to the others. "These middle digits could be a programmer's signature code, or perhaps the unintended byproduct of the use of some sort of device. Either way, it does further demonstrate that these TAICs are all related. I suggest we do some research on Kavoran and his fellow monks to see if any of them have backgrounds that would suggest the skills necessary to pull something like this off. And perhaps, given this new information, the Vulcan authorities would be amenable to searching the monastery for additional evidence showing who our suspect might be."

[Renny]

"What do you think, Principal Investigator?" Cole said,  "Do you think we have enough to warrant a search of the monastry?"

[Davy, aka GM]

T'Kiri considers the evidence presented and nodded thoughtfully. "I agree. This should be enough to obtain judicial cause for a search of the monastery. Be advised however; in our justice system, such warrants are often strictly narrow, so expect limitations on what we can seek.

"In the meantime, could you and your team search the Federation criminal justice database to determine if the code you discovered is a known signature? I will do the same with the planetary database," she asks. "If it is a programmer's signature, it is likely not the first of its kind."

OOC: Inquiring of the Federation criminal database would be an Insight+Conn task at Difficulty 1. It can be assisted with a Presence+Conn task (to help grease the warp drive, so to speak). I'll allow for Success at Cost, the cost being a delay in retrieving the information (red data tape and such).

[Nolmir]

OOC: I think Cole's probably the guy for this, Cole. Tobin can assist if that sounds good to you.

[Renny]

OOC: Sounds good.

"I can do that, Principal Investigator but i'm going to return to my office to use my direct terminal. It will speed things up. I'll have one of my people come up and they'll be at your disposal while on board." Cole looks at Tobin." Sir, would you care to join? I could use your expertise"

[Davy, aka GM]

OOC: Once we resolve that task, the warrant will be ready.

[Nolmir]

"Certainly, Lieutenant. Let's see what we can find on our mysterious code."

OOC: Tobin's assist: Presence 9 + Conn 2

Rolled 1d20 : 1, total 1

[Renny]

Cole's office on the Drake sits on deck 7, just aft of the brig. He offers Tobin a seat whilst he settles at his own console and keys into the database. Having received the parameters of the search based on Tobin's work, he begins the search.

OOC: Insight (9) + Conn (3)

Rolled 2d20 : 9, 20, total 29

[Renny]

OOC: Urgh. One success and one complication.

[Renny]

OOC: I think we agreed to bin off the Complication with a Momentum spend?

[Davy, aka GM]

OOC: I think we agreed to bin off the Complication with a Momentum spend?

OOC: Aye. I'll incorporate that into my post. Any Obtain Information spends will need to be achieved by adding Threat.

[Davy, aka GM]

OOC: 1 Success from Cole and 2 Successes from Tobin. 3 Successes vs. Difficulty 1. Success, plus 2 Momentum and a Complication generated!

Current
Momentum 0
Threat 10

The complication will be Flagged Inquiry, which will inhibit any further information (no Obtain Information spends allowed for this success, and any further tasks along this line of inquiry will be at +1 Difficulty). Renny is spending the 2 Momentum to buy off the Complication.

Cole's knack for navigating the Federation Security Database and Tobin's greater authority as a lieutenant commander allows them to retrieve information in good time.

The code they provide is a programmer's signature. It's tied to a Tellarite criminal by the name Mostan Praam-Huver, wanted for several hacking and contraband device crimes. The moment they try to further gather information on Praam-Huver, their inquiry is locked down and they're kicked out of the database, their screen replaced by the Starfleet Security Corps emblem overlaid by "RESTRICTED" in large red letters. Whoever this fellow is, he's someone of extreme interest.

Cole, however, knows how to get by the block; he reaches down into a drawer in his desk and pulls out a microtape, given to him by Mia Tyler after their successful operation against Dietrich Schrepfermann, and inserts it into a slot on the computer. Their connection is quickly restored and the restriction is lifted.

Praam-Huver apparently has had an interesting career. Federation and member world security services have detained him and confiscated no fewer than 11 suspicious items over the past six years, including a device that appeared to be tailored to spoof tags on the Centauran transporter network (its signature code matches Tobin's discovery exactly). The restriction was placed by Starfleet Intelligence, who apparently have him sequestered somewhere under the watchful eye of Romeo Outpost Station HQ (near the Romulan Neutral Zone).

The device is described in detail, and images show it to be easily concealed in the palm. With this information, Tobin suspects they can find it if it's within two meters of a tricorder.

At this point, their communicator beeps, and T'Kiri announces she has obtained a warrant to search the monastery premises; however, two complications have arose: First, V'Kor leadership will not allow it's personnel to conduct the investigation, to avoid any potential sectarian "aggravation," meaning the Starfleet task force has to execute the warrant; second, the region around the monastery has just come under a transporter blackout due to a major sandstorm, and will not be accessible for at least two days. Given that the warrant expires in one star day, a shuttle is necessary to access the site. T'Kiri has been authorized to observe the search as part of the task force, but she is prohibited from participating.

Elsewhere on the Drake...
The young Andorian has had to endure the Vulcan heat and the Vulcan arrogance at the Starfleet station on that infernal red planet to finally get to his first posting out of the academy, the Constellation-class USS Drake. A brand new ship, straight off her shakedown cruise, from what he has heard...including some scuttlebutt about a scrap with the Klingons far away from the Klingon border.

Aboard for all of one day, Chev is assigned to the shuttle crew rotation (until Lt. Costa clears him for bridge duties), and is supposed to connect with a nav-department lieutenant by the name of Voshen to prepare the Dubilier for a sortie into a massive sandstorm.

Sickbay, Isolation Chamber
Sitting in a dimly-lit isolation chamber, Voshen breathes in the special gas mix that keeps him alive in the hostile nitrogen-oxygen environment. It's the first time in several days that he has been able to doff his apparatus and see without his special lenses.

Through the transparent aluminum window next to the door, in an equally-dimly lit control chamber, a Tellarite doctor and his human head nurse observe his vitals. Dr. Dourap is talking about how he devised a portable breathing apparatus for folks from a thin-atmosphere world a couple years ago, and how he could probably redesign the Zaranite's own device to be less bulky. The last one got him published twice, and he thinks he could get another one applying his lessons learned to Voshen's project.

Nurse Kiunya seems to chuckle slightly to himself as he observes the data, getting the doctor back on track by stating, "Your metabolism remains stable in this mix, Mr. Voshen."

"You'll need to come in a little more often to replenish your system's reagents," Dourap notes. "But I'm satisfied I can approve you for full duty." With a glance to Casey, the doctor disappears through the light trap and the soft hiss of a door opening and closing filters into the chamber.

"Go ahead and get your mask back on, I'll have you out of there in a jiffy," Casey says pleasantly.

Sickbay Offices
Chev enters sickbay just as a middle-aged Tellarite officer in a medical coat exits the main ward, his eyes scanning a datapad as he goes. Without looking up, he says, "You're new."

Only then does he acknowledge the young Andorian's presence by lifting his gaze, scrutinizing the newcomer as he adds, "Are you here for a check up? Injury? Stub your antenna? I don't have time for a social call."

OOC: Okay, stuff for everyone, methinks. socrates, Voshen can enter the sickbay offices scene whenever you want...as soon as Patrick gets the posting issue figured out.

[socrates200X]

"Acknowledged."  Voshen's thin voice rasped. 

A dull burn pitched in his throat.  Testing the ship's fluorine mix without the apparatus had been necessary to establish a baseline, and Dr. Dourap had assured him the procedure would be "painless enough".  The burning threatened to settle deeper into his lungs as he affixed his facemask, and took in a measured inhale.  The rebreathed air was sharp ice against the heat.  After a few more quiet breaths, the pain faded and was gone once again.

"Ah.  Home again, old friend," he said to himself, the sound of his vocoder now resonant in the isobaric chamber.  "My thanks, Nurse Kiunya.  You may inform the doctor of my continued survival."  He moved a hand to his brow in a jocular gesture, took another collecting breath, then turned to don the rest of his uniform.