Proven Confused
Posted on Mon May 30th, 2022 @ 3:40pm by Ranger Blue & Lieutenant Helena Issacks
Edited on on Mon May 30th, 2022 @ 7:59pm
1,340 words; about a 7 minute read
Mission:
Roll With It
Location: Security Offices, Room 3, Command Center
Timeline: MD 01 : 1302 Hrs
The morning had Helena swamped to her ears in complaints and filings of missing persons. Had they the foresight, she would have contacted the Federation law enforcement in the area. But, seeing as they were a small, civilian run operation, their offices were within the affected area that was causing problems to begin with. Therefore, the next best 'law enforcement' to report to was Starfleet.
Literally just.
Starfleet.
Eventually, Helena was flooded with missing person reports, questions on what was going on, and overall ire from the populace that Yet Another Event was going down. As if the citizens of this colony were not already used to it.
But once she freed herself from the numerous comments and complaints on the matter, she had a job to do. And that job? Was to see who was responsible for said, giant bubble of an issue currently plaguing their home. So she had a room set up for interrogation. People near the bubble were asked, as well as any scientists or new arrivals, including a pilot employed by Romulan dignitaries who was more confused than guilty of anything suspicious. And alarmed that said Romulan dignitaries were also trapped in the confines of the colony itself.
But her leads were thinning. She had one more person to probe. The arrival of Ranger Blue added up too well with the bubble appearing on the colony. They had done multiple scans of his little shuttle, and if she nor the Marines could have deemed anything worthy of taking him away for, she was also not going to rule out that he may have had something to do with this. That simply wasn't her job.
So there he sat, across from her. She had her arms folded over her chest as she let the initial silence wash over. "So." She let it sit for another moment. "I'm sure you want to know why you're here."
“Ma’am, I’ve been wondering why any of this is happening. I grew up with the understanding that the Federation was a utopia, full of good and trusting people.
I suppose not everything one hears is the truth since you’ve had me bound up in your electronic prison cell since I could stand on my own two feet.”
"I have a few questions, because I haven't quite managed to wrap my head around exactly why we've got a group of Pakled traders orbiting the nearest moon of this fine planet asking for you." She narrowed her eyes. "What exactly were you hauling, again?"
Ranger sighed. Heavily. “I was hired by a man on Elenant Colony to purchase supplies for the colony. The manifest included everything from plant seeds, food stuff, medical supplies and replacement parts for food replicators and power generators.
The deal was completed, the money paid and I was already in my shuttle when the Pakleds decided to double their price. Seeing as our agreement was signed and sealed, I decided -rightly - to depart their company.
If you have any doubt of my word,” Ranger paused and shrugged. “Ask the Pakleds directly for the documents. I’d either bet they’re unwilling to provide them or unable. You know that trick they try - playing dumb.
Go on, ask away. But those are legally my supplies, Lieutenant.”
"You know, I only asked you what you were hauling, not the legality of it," Helena pointed out. Her brow raised and her head tilted to one side. "We've asked the Pakleds all they knew, and they've decided to tell us to ask you, so here I am. Asking."
She shook her head. "Look, we've got a shuttle on your supplies. We don't intend to do anything to them except scan them and ensure their safety - so long as they aren't laced with some tech none of us are aware of. Which is why you're here. Help us? We'll make sure you don't get blown up in outer space the moment you leave Xaeprea, which I'm sure would put a damn big dent in your plans to get to wherever you're trying to go. Does that sound favorable to you?"
“Help you in what way, Lieutenant? I didn’t intend to end up here on your colony, my paperwork was in order until my ship was shot out of space.”
Ranger folded his fingers on the table. “What do you need from me?” he wondered.
Helena gestured her head toward the door. "I'm sure your paperwork is tip top, or... should I say was. The databanks on your shuttle fried up on crash. One of the engineering guys said they had to reboot the whole thing just to see if they could get it to work again - it can by the way. He's looking into finding the back up now so we can verify that information with what you're telling us. Whether Starfleet and the Fenris Rangers agree or not, I think we can all agree that resources needing to get to colonies is very important."
She waved a hand. "But that's not the point. See, I'm asking because we're having an issue outside. What we're calling the 'Big Ol' Bubble.' And this 'Big Ol' Bubble' seemed to appear hours after you were detained - I'm sure you see where I'm going with this."
Ranger ran his tongue across his teeth and ended with and audible ‘tsk’. “Fenris Ranger crashes on planet with an honest transport job. Strange bubble occurs over colony…must be strangers fault, of course. Somebody took Vulcan logic 101?” he suggested, the snark level set to stun. He smirked.
"You know, the more snark we get, the worse off it may be." Helena shook her head. "Did you happen to actually lay eyes upon the resources you believed to have been hauling? There wasn't any weird tech or something on it that would not match a bill of lading?"
“Lieutenant, I can’t say I inspected every last piece of equipment in the haul, but I can assure you, neither I nor the Pakleds have the power to create a planetary anomaly. Further, unless the Pakleds have suddenly gained about 100 IQ points per citizen, they aren’t smart enough to design something this big. All of their technology has been stolen, so unless you know of any aliens who’ve had a history of creating “Big Ol’ Bubbles”, then I don’t think they are capable, Lieutenant.
Helena had to laugh at that. "We're checking our boxes, Ranger. Just because you think someone isn't capable of something, doesn't mean they can't surprise you. You've managed to stay put this whole time, haven't you? Already, you've surprised half the security staff. What's to say there aren't more surprises?" She gave pause, turning grim. "And what's to say whoever you got your supplies from didn't have a terrorist among them? Happens all the time, someone nefarious prays on those in need. Do I think it's a Fenris Ranger? No, it doesn't fit your goals. Not with where you said your cargo was headed. But there are other people out there. People neither of our organizations like. People looking to frame someone who's just trying to do the right thing in front of Starfleet. The bait and swi-"
"Ma'am, pardon the interruption, but we've had... A complication." came the voice over Helena's badge.
"... Of course we have. Is anyone dead, missing, or pointing weapons?"
"No Ma'am."
Helena shrugged. "Looks like, Ranger, you and I will have to have a chat again soon. Maybe once we get those Pakleds out of here, we can get you on your way. Maybe."
“How about maybe an upgrade from the jail cell?” he shouted as she left the room. Looking from one security guard to the other, he sighed heavily.
Standing, he presented his wrists for the magnetic cuffs and the escort back to his exhibit. ‘Although the view isn’t bad,’ he thought about the blond ensign looking after him.
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