Needle in a Haystack

Posted on Tue Feb 20th, 2018 @ 6:08am by Fleet Admiral Donatella Figueroa

Mission: S01E02 D-8 With the Devil
Location: USS Musashi | Corridor
Timeline: The Night Before The Boarding

Captain Donatella was still partially in uniform when she walked off the Musashi's lift, the door swooshing open where she was met on the Recreational deck by Communications operator, Jakku of Trill. The Trill was simply a non-Federation observer and a participant in an exchange program on behalf of his species who were seriously considering joining the Federation. The Federation was eager for this to happen as it would expand not only their membership count, but also their space by a little. They Trill were a peaceful species who sometimes were bonded with these other creatures that lived inside them. The whole process was incredibly fascinating, but Donatella knew very little about it. As fascinating at the Trill were, they were still rather shrouded in mystery. They were not quite ready to share their intimate details with the Federation as of yet, but in due time, Donatella expected they would in order to be accepted as a member world.

"Mister Jakku" she said to the man greeting him. The Captain still had her uniform slacks on, but had a loose fitting simple blouse top. "You were successful I take it?" she asked as it had been him who requested to meet with her. She had tasked him with trying to assist her in locating a planet, one that the Federation knew about in passing, but not one located on any known Federation star charts that she as an experienced navigator was aware of.

The Trill nodded as he presented her with a data tablet. He had a stylus tucked behind his ear which he quickly grabbed and brought down onto the screen, changing the screen over to a region of space in the designated Alpha Quadrant. "I'll bet my spots on it, that the Kazarite homeworld is somewhere in this region of the Alpha Quadrant" he said tapping the screen twice more to narrow the region he was talking about. It enlarged with a grid background.

"Fascinating" she said almost as though possessed by a Vulcan scientist. "Where did you come by this information, Jakku? It is quite remarkable work. I was afraid we were not going to find this needle in a haystack" she said.

"Needle in a haystack, Ma'am?" he asked a bit perplexed.

"Earth saying" she replied. "It basically means having to search for something so small in an area so large, nearly impossible to locate what you are looking for" explained the Captain.

Jakku made a sound as though he wrapped his mind around the expression. "Well, the needle hasn't been found. What I am presenting you are a few haystacks instead of the whole farmyard" he said with a smile. "It took a lot of digging and I really was not sure I was going to yield any results, but it was actually the Xindi that helped" he partially explained.

The Captain looked up from the data tablet. "The Xindi? How?" she asked. He had snared her curiosity.

He of course was quick to reply, eager about his findings and the Captain's ammusement. "Well, they aren't the most forthcoming of people, but when you aren't human and aren't necessarily Federation...they are a little more open to working with you. I had a hunch and I followed it to the Xindi who apparently do know or at least used to know of an alien civilization with great abilities, able to communicate with the Xindi Avians who as you may recall have been long since extinct" he said.

The Captain nodded. "Yes, I do. I cannot say that I am an expert on the Xindi species, but I do know that the Avians have been extinct longer than we have had contact with the Xindi. So, the Xindi knew the whereabouts of the Kazarites?"

Jakku bit his bottom lip and went "mmmm" which was an indication that the information he was presenting was a little iffy. "Oral history telling and Xindi folklore basically describe a rought location of where the 'wild things' are. I think if you are going to have any luck finding these Kazarites, Captain, it is going to be here" he said pointing to the screen.

"Thank you, Jakku. Even if we cannot find the Kazarites, you have done remarkable work in trying. Who has been teaching you to dig through star charts so well?"

The Trill blushed a bit. "Arturo, Captain. He hasn't necessarily been directly helping me, but I like to watch him when he's working in stellar cartography plotting courses."

Of course. One smart cookie that ensign is thought the Captain. "Keep up the good work, Jakku. I might just request that you stay aboard after your observation period ends. If that is alright with you?"

He happily nodded. "Captain, I would be honored. This starship has become a home to me, and truthfully, I would rather stay aboard than return to Trill."

"I see. Then I will take this into consideration" she said with a smile. "Now, I'll need to fine Lieutenant Sh'howul" she said.

Jakku pointed down the corridor. "Roosevelt Longue at the bar" he said with a smile. "I just was working on this in there and saw him walk in a few minutes ago. Have a good night, Captain. I'll see you in the morning" said the Trill.

Donatella flashed a smile back in response. "Goodnight, Mister Jakku."