Episode 2.02: Rivulets of Copper, Eyes Aflame

[Davy, aka GM]

OOC: No objections being heard (on IM ), Cole purchases 1 Threat to increase Work done on the third throw to 5, for an additional Breakthrough.

Work Remaining 15 6 1 0
Magnitude/Breakthroughs 4/4
Resistance 1

After the third throw pelts it solidly, the sehlat decides the pair aren't worth the potential cost and, with a huff, saunters away. Once it's out of sight, the young Vulcan says, "Thank you, Durham Cole."

The boy looks deeper into the grove. "I think I will continue in this direction for a while. I hope you are able to resolve your situation with your crew member as adroitly."

OOC: Current
Momentum 0
Threat 10

[Patrick Goodman]

"Any help will be greatly appreciated, Tobin," the captain replied. "I'll see you aboard shortly. Treyva out."

[Renny]

After the third throw pelts it solidly, the sehlat decides the pair aren't worth the potential cost and, with a huff, saunters away. Once it's out of sight, the young Vulcan says, "Thank you, Durham Cole."

The boy looks deeper into the grove. "I think I will continue in this direction for a while. I hope you are able to resolve your situation with your crew member as adroitly."

"It's been a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Sadek," Cole says, clambering down from the tree. Turning to face the young Vulcan, he raises his right hand in a respectable approximation of the Vulcan salute. "Live long and prosper, Sadek. I wish you well for the remainder of your trial. Hopefully we will meet again."

Cole reaches inside his jacket and produces his communicator. "Cole to Drake. One to beam up"

[Davy, aka GM]

At the top of the hour, Treyva, Sorak, Tobin, and Cole materialize on the main transporter platform at the Starfleet station. An aide escorts them to the commodore's office.

"Ah, good, you're here," Santiago greets them warmly upon entry; the 59-year-old Denevan appears short and thin, with medium brown skin and clean-shaven facial features that hints at a Spanish or Latino ancestry back on Earth. The officers know him to be a veteran communications officer who earned starbase command some 15 years ago; this is the third (and likely last) station under his command. To the senior officers' knowledge, he has never commanded a starship.

Next to him is a human woman of South Asian descent; if it weren't for the spectacles that dominate her face, her tiny stature would be her most noticeable feature. She is surely less than a meter-and-a-half and probably no more than 40 kilos, but, yet, she seems neither dainty, nor frail. To the contrary, she gives off an aura of being the toughest and shrewdest person in the room. On her bright blue sari hangs a brooch insignia of the Federation Diplomatic Service. Treyva surmises this must be the Dr. Suchwani he was supposed to meet.

A few paces away stands a dark-haired Vulcan male who appears a bit older than Sorak, wearing the dark gray uniform of the Vulcan Intelligence Service and the rank of subcommander. He's of average height for his people, and his eyes, even as they immediately scan the newcomers, have the quality of a "thousand meter stare." Sorak instantly recognizes the complete emotional purge of Kolinahr in his gaze.

Santiago begins, "This is Dr. Ratnam Suchwani, the chargee d'affaires for the Federation diplomatic mission to Vulcan -"

She nods in greeting. "Please, call me Rani," she says in a friendly tone.

"- and this is Principal Investigator N'Varas from the Foreign Agent Crimes Division of the VIS. He will be your liaison in this matter," the commodore concludes.

"Gentlemen," N'Varas adds dispassionately.

"Rani, PI N'Varas, this is Captain Treyva of USS Drake, his first officer Commander Sorak, his science officer Lt. Commander Les, and his chief security officer Lt. Cole."

OOC: Figure I'd give you gents a chance to respond before getting to the heart of the matter.

[Doug Burke]

OOC: Has Sorak or his family (to his knowledge) dealt with N"Varas before? If so,  what does Sorak know about him?

[Davy, aka GM]

OOC: Sorak is entirely unfamiliar with N'Varas. He's never encountered him personally, and he's never heard the name spoken by anyone in the family before.

[Renny]

Cole nods at each of the others in turn as the introductions are made.

[Nolmir]

Tobin inclines his head in greeting. "Greetings Rani, N'Varas. I hope we will all be able to work cooperatively to uncover the truth behind these unfortunate deaths," he says carefully, his gaze straying toward the Vulcan intelligence officer.

[Doug Burke]

"Indeed," Sorak agrees, his expression more reserved than usual. "My father has said, 'Truth is the goal of any logical investigation.' Wouldn't you agree, Investigator N'Varas?"

[Patrick Goodman]

Treyva nodded politely to everyone and took a seat. "I'd like to know exactly what's going on. Lieutenant Thadis has served under me for two years, and his record has been exemplary. I find it extremely difficult to believe these charges."

[Davy, aka GM]

Tobin inclines his head in greeting. "Greetings Rani, N'Varas. I hope we will all be able to work cooperatively to uncover the truth behind these unfortunate deaths," he says carefully, his gaze straying toward the Vulcan intelligence officer.

The diplomat smiles slightly and nods her head in greeting, and the Vulcan merely nods.

"Indeed," Sorak agrees, his expression more reserved than usual. "My father has said, 'Truth is the goal of any logical investigation.' Wouldn't you agree, Investigator N'Varas?"

The intelligence officer straightens up. "If you are seeking to provoke a reaction or cause me to misspeak, you will be sorely disappointed with the results," N'Varas says flatly. "I understand your need for emotional connections, Jarokovan, but you will get none from me. Logic provides all my needs, all my answers."

"Gentlemen," Santiago interjects before Sorak can respond. "Let's not start any philosophical debates; we're here to discuss the case, and the case alone."

Treyva nodded politely to everyone and took a seat. "I'd like to know exactly what's going on. Lieutenant Thadis has served under me for two years, and his record has been exemplary. I find it extremely difficult to believe these charges."

N'Varas abandons his brewing tete-a-tete with Sorak and turns to face the captain. "Seven bodies have been found in recent days, the first being Stardate 8864; all of their deaths have been by identical violent means, suggesting a potential connection," he explains. "Your Andorian officer was seen in the vicinity of the last four discovered deceased. Local authorities consider him a person of interest, and are determining if he is connected to others."

"You can see our predicament, Captain Treyva," Dr. Suchwani adds. "We don't want the old wounds of the last century to resurface."

"Which is why I've invoked our treaty with Vulcan," the commodore concludes. "Your mission, captain, is to conduct a parallel investigation into the seven deaths. Investigator N'Varas will be your liaison to the V'Kor investigation, and Investigator T'Kiri and two uniformed V'Kor officers from Ta'Vista Precinct 29 will assist you."

"I object to the inclusion of Sorak's mate, Commodore. She will be too easily swayed by the bias in favor of their officer -"

"Which will counter your bias against him. Police work is their family business, N'Varas, and you had no objections to his father Spalan overseeing the joint investigation," Santiago responds, showing a surprising bit of backbone. "T'Kiri is an investigator of the lead precinct, and her record is exemplary. She stays."

N'Varas poses no further objection, and the commodore continues, "Now, do you gentlemen have anymore questions before you get started?"

[Doug Burke]

Sorak listens to the conversation,  giving no more reaction to N'Varas' blatant (for a Vulcan and a devotee of the Kolinahr) prejudice towards himself and his mate than a single raised eyebrow.

After the Commodore's laying out of the ground rules, the engineer turns to the investigator and suggests, "You seem surprisingly upset by the involvement of Jarokovan in this investigation. Perhaps I might interest you in some meditational exercises my mate and I have found useful in containing emotional stress and freeing the mind for the direct application of logical analysis."

[Renny]

"Now, do you gentlemen have anymore questions before you get started?"

"I don't want to overstep my authority, sirs", Cole says glancing at his superior officers, "But i think I speak for all of us when i say i'm keen to get started so that we can prove the innocence of Lt Thadis as soon as possible."

[Nolmir]

"Your Andorian officer was seen in the vicinity of the last four discovered deceased. Local authorities consider him a person of interest, and are determining if he is connected to others."

"I do have a question about the basis of this investigation," Tobin says. "What led to Lt. Thadis being considered a person of interest in these deaths? Is there any evidence of his involvement, or is the suspicion based purely on, shall we say, circumstance?"

[Patrick Goodman]

Treyva waited for his officers to finish before he said, "So your evidence is that Thadis was in the wrong place while being blue. I know that the lieutenant isn't the omly Andorian on this planet, Investigator. From a scientific standpoint, the evidence is entirely circumstantial, and even then it's thin."

He paused a moment. "You say all seven were killed in the same way. What was the cause of death?"