Security Incident: To Catch a Sneak

Posted on Sun Feb 2nd, 2020 @ 11:49am by Lieutenant Commander Seleya & Lieutenant Commander Michael Essex & Commander K'Niras Sh'howul
Edited on on Sun Feb 2nd, 2020 @ 11:50am

Mission: S01E05 ConQstador
Location: XO's Office & Science Lab

ON:

Seleya rang the chime to the XO's office. She sighed and waited to be called. She wasn't exactly comfortable talking to anyone... she didn't believe that she was sane herself but better safe then sorry.

K'Niras looked up from his desk, surprised that someone had come calling. He was still relatively new to the XO position, so everything still seemed a little awkward. "Enter!" he called out, unsure if he should have answered the door by getting up, or if what he had done was suitable. He did stand behind his desk for his guest.

Seleya entered. "Apologies. Am I intruding?"

K'Niras snorted in humor, his ears tipping out a little. "No Doctor. You are by no means intruding in any way. I'm actually glad to have some company and get away from this paperwork for a few moments." He grinned at her, just barely showing his front teeth, as was Caitian custom. It was considered very rude among Caitians to show your canine teeth, especially to people you liked. "Please have a seat and tell me what's on your mind. Oh, and how's the Andorian?"

"He's doing well," she said, sitting down. "I estimate that he'll make a full recovery. There might be a surgery or two down the line as there was a issues that were pre-existing that we can actually fix now but again he'll recover. I have doctor Linwood tending to him. I know that Andorians of that era were somewhat reluctant with Vulcans, so I do not wish to stress him."

The Caitian nodded, his ears twisting forward again with interest. "How are you settling in?" he asked. He had a feeling that the visit might be about more than their blue skinned guest. "Are you getting along with your staff? Linwood isn't causing you any trouble, is he?" K'Niras had been curious about how the intern was doing. Most starships didn't take on interns, unless they were teaching vessels, but Linwood had other skills that were valuable, such as being able to read Klingon.

"He is doing quite well. The staff and I are getting along. Each has skills that complement the others so it is a fit. I would not be surprised if Linwood turns out to be the best CMO in the fleet at a future date." She paused. "As for settling in, I have yet to fully unpack... however... there is something I do wish to discuss."

"I'm glad to hear Linwood is an asset. Of course, you are always welcome to discuss anything at all with me. What is your concern?" K'Niras was both puzzled and curious. Everything seemed to be going well for the new doctor, what could possibly be wrong.

She was silent a moment and then she began. "I have not had time to fully unpack yet.. perhaps when things settle but.. I believe someone has been in my quarters."

K'Niras blinked at her in alarm. "In your quarters? Is anything missing?" His tail bounced behind him in concerns and his ears swiveled from side to side. "I will alert security immediately."

"Nothing is missing, but whoever it was he or she was searching for something. Nothing looks out of place until it is closely examined. I know how I set things to the millimetre of its distance from the wall. Whoever it was did it in such a way as to think I would not notice. Everything was put back but... again I can tell. The tub that holds my clothing it was exactly 3.5 millimeters off from where I placed it. It is small things like that. I noticed... as well that my medical records were accessed from out of sickbay but I could not trace from where."

K'Niras was shocked. This sort of thing had never really happened to him before. He thought for a moment, his ears layered no back slowly as he processed what needed to be done. "We should alert security and see if we can find a time... when someone accessed your quarters and it wasn't you." He started to type on his terminal at his desk. "Your personal medical records? We will need to change all your codes immediately. I just sent all of the code accesses to your room to your PADD. See if you can recall which ones might not have been you." He believed her about the spacing of objects and her noticing, remembering when she came aboard and how organized and precise she had been.

"Thank you sir. I appreciate it. I must admit I am baffled as to what I could have that was of value."

"Of course. Maybe it's about what you know and not what you have. We will need to check access to your computer logs as well. Can you think of anyone that would want to do this sort of digging into your personal life? I mean... it wasn't like they broke into your office. They broke into your quarters. That's considerably more personal."

She sighed, "I cannot think of anyone. I am a doctor. I deal in health and none of my personal hobbies are of any worth."

"Where were you stationed before you came to be with us?" K'Niras was already looking up her background, but she could probably tell him faster. "Were you ever part of any sort of research projects? Maybe something that required clearance?"

"I was aboard the USS Apollo, Admiral Essex's ship. We were never part of any projects, but it did occur there as well... shortly after I became CMO.

K'Niras nodded. "Well... there's obviously a mystery and I'm sure someone is snooping where they shouldn't be. I will do my best. In the meantime, Doctor, just relax. At least if it's happened before they didn't hurt you physically. I will see what I can dig up."

She gave a nod. "Your time is appreciated sir."

--Meanwhile--

Ensign Marcus Fuller stepped out of Seleya's quarters and into the empty hallway. He walked quickly away from her door and down the hall. He ducked around a corner and onto the turbolift without anyone seeing him do any of this. He headed straight to his own quarters and opened his computer console. He had to go through several channels to get to the one that was encrypted, hidden and secure. "Admiral... I still can't find it. I'm not sure she has it. I'm still not sure I know what I'm looking for."

----------

K'Niras waited for the doctor to leave his office, then he rose from behind his desk and went to find the first person that had come to mind when she had brought him her concerns. Essex. There were so many things about him being aboard that K'Niras didn't like. Maybe it was his paranoid nature, from being the runt of his litter, that made him suspect of the Lieutenant Commander's intentions. He knew he might not get the answers he was looking for, because he wasn't sure that Essex was directly involved, but he might be able to give him some clues as to where to look first, even indirectly.

The Caitian made his way to the science lab, which wasn't a long walk at all. When the doors opened to the lab he looked around for Essex immedately. The only thing that really gave away K'Niras' intentions and feelings was the way his tail was whipping and twitching behind him. It would slide back and forth for a moment and then jump as if he was startled, without any other outward signs that he was actually startled, and then whip in seemingly all directions at once rapidly for seconds before starting the process over again. Another Caitian would see this as suspicion and hard decisions.

Essex smiled at Ensign Todd. "Great work. I knew you could do it."

Todd smiled back. "Thanks for the vote of confidence sir. I'll get the results to Doctor Seleya."

He hurried out and Essex left the small lab and found a very twitchy cat in the main area. "Ah Commander. Good to see you. You seem twitchy. I assume you wish to speak with me about something... important?"

"Very important," K'Niras confirmed for the admiral. "Can we use your office?" The tail did not stop twitching almost as if it had a life of its own and the Caitian was unaware of its behavior.

"Of course." He lead the way. Once the door was closed, he motioned for the replicator. "May I offer you a drink?"

"Please... coffee, black. I'm not sure if you're aware or not, but we may have a problem. I'm coming to you because I know you know something about this. None of this ever happened on this ship before you showed up here." His tail swished back and forth rapidly. "Are you aware of any information that Doctor Seleya might have that someone might want?"

Essex was grateful that he'd gotten the coffee to the desk before K'Niras had let that particular cat out of the bag. "Something she has that they want?" He shook his head. "No..." But then the good Admiral came to mind. He sighed and scrubbed his hand over his face. "What happened?"

"Someone has been in the Doctor's quarters. They have been very careful to conceal their movements, but her personal files have been accessed at times she cannot account for." K'Niras' tail continued to swish back and forth quickly behind him, a sign of nervousness or anger. "I do not know if you are responsible for this or if you know who might be, but I feel better coming directly to you."

While K'Niras was talking Essex's hand tightened on the glass. When K'Niras stopped speaking the glass popped. Essex swore and shook loose the remainder of the shards. He sighed, glad that none had broken skin. His face flushed red. "In her quarters? That son of a bitch! He has someone on the ship!" His anger was irrational as he promised his fellow admiral he'd spy on the good doctor, he, of course, had no intention of it, but whoever else was on this ship was insurance. "I want this idiot lensed out and I want him brought to me. If that jackass thinks I'll let him have Seleya for his lab he's got another thing coming!" Essex began to pace.

K'Niras watched him pace, taking in what he had said, slowly. He was definitely sure he had come to the right person for this. "Yes, her quarters... but now I have several more questions. Which idiot are you referring to? We're not even sure who the culprit is, but it's just a matter of time because now we're watching. I feel like you have ideas though..."

He sighed. "Has the captain filled you in on Seleya's... abilities?"

The Caitian's tail stopped suddenly and he tipped his head to one side. "Abilities?" he queried. "I have not been informed of any abilities."

He looked at K'Niras. "I'm trusting you. Betray me and her and we'll have a different conversation. The last person who betrayed Seleya's trust wound up on a prison planet. Not a fun one. Not a threat just a fact." He raked his hands through his hair and then sat down. He didn't think this XO would betray him. "I have spent years keeping Seleya out of Starfleet's clutches. She has certain empathic abilities... Vulcans are natural touch telepaths but this goes beyond...." He sighed. "Some years ago. I was injured. I was not expected to make it. Seleya... she did something. She just touched my chest and it was as if I felt the poison leaving my body, but when I opened my eyes... She started taking on the poison. The cuts on my forehead appeared on her... I realized what was going on and pushed her away, but what she did was enough for me to fight my way back. Seems there is an admiral in Starfleet who heard of her abilities, no proof, just suspects and he's interested in turning her into a lab rat. I won't let that happen. I love her too much." He then realized what he'd said, but it was too late to take it back.

K'Niras crossed his arms over his chest and leaned his weight on one foot, shifting his stance a little. His tail started to slowly swish back and forth again. He was silent for a few moments, long enough to make it uncomfortable, a little bit of a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. Then he nodded. "I believe you. So... this admiral has a mole? Someone planted on this ship? Which admiral is this? Do you think he would have installed one of his own people or has talked someone already on the ship into doing his dirty work? Starfleet is run by individuals, not a whole as they present. The whole is impossible. Yes, it's nice to present a unified front with rules and regulations, but it is still run by individuals. Individuals sometimes have ulterior motives."

"Admiral Jacob Stein. Starfleet's resident mad scientist." He sighed rubbing the bridge of his nose when upset. "He would talk someone into it... or bribe or bully. He must never know about her abilities for sure. He must never get his hands on her."

K'Niras wrinkled his nose. "He sounds distasteful. Let's see if we can catch his mole and dissuade them. I would prefer to handle this between you and me for now. I want to tell the Captain, but she's got enough on her mind without adding to it. I would also rather beg forgiveness than ask for permission regarding this... so there's that." He pulled his PADD from under one arm and started to look up any information he could find on Admiral Stein.

Essex gave a nod. "And not a word to Seleya. I don't want her spooked." He sighed. "I can't let him get her. I won't."

"Well, he sounds horribly disgusting and he better not come after a member of this crew. Fig will have his head for a wall decoration. I won't tell her our suspicions, but she's already spooked, Essex. Wouldn't you be, if someone had been in your quarters and going through your personal files?"

He sighed. "Yeah." He paused for a moment and took in a deep breath. "Alright. In the mean time I will make sure she's okay. Since I dealt with this on the Apollo, I'll speak with her. Thank you bringing it to me." He thought about his earlier slip. "I trust that our conversation will be... private."

If K'Niras had eyebrows they would be raised, but instead his ears cocked forward and his tail bounced behind him. "Wait... this happened on the Apollo as well?" he asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.

He sighed. "K'Niras, I have kept her safe for years. It was one of the medical staff that sold her out to Stein." He sighed.

"Well, we will not have any turncoats on this ship. If I have to involve security, I will, but this stops here," K'Niras said seriously. "We need to find the one responsible, like yesterday. I will be monitoring access to her quarters."

He gave a nod. "As soon as I finish here I'll go make sure she's alright." He sighed. "Thanks for including me."

K'Niras' ears lay back tightly against his head and the fur down his center started to stand on end. With his teeth showing. He pointed a clawed finger at Essex. "Listen to me Essex and listen well. Do not screw this up. Men do very stupid things for love. Very stupid. Do not be stupid. As for not having this conversation, I will keep this in my pocket until this corruption is off this ship. At that point you have to make a decision. Stay or go. Don't play with me." He realized he was threatening a former Admiral and newly demoted Lieutenant Commander and could potentially be court martialed for such an action, but he wasn't playing. There wasn't time out here for wasting.

The Caitian was also, in no way, not trying to protect the doctor. She needed protection and what he had heard from Essex made him doubly concerned for her safety. He didn't dislike Essex, in many ways he was slowly coming to respect him, but to a Caitian he lacked backbone. It was infuriating, this game of... for lack of a better term... cat and mouse. Why did humans waste so much time lying about everything? Mostly, their feelings. Not only did they lie to themselves, but they lied to others as well. When really there was nothing to hide. Starfleet had no fraternization policies. Yet, the humans still went about this archaic ritual.

Most of all, he was angry that he had sensed that the admiral had ulterior motives when he came on board. To find out this way was not what the Caitian First Officer considered ideal circumstances. He was angry about not being told that there was a potential threat to the crew and a personal threat to their doctor. It was irresponsible.

Essex studied him. He was relieved. Most people pussyfooted around him, but not this Caitian. He sighed. "Careful K'Niras I may have been demoted but I still out rank you and most former admirals won't stand for that kind of talk." But he wasn't bothered so much. He preferred direct. "That being said, I prefer you speak plainly. Now, as to Seleya. I had two reasons for being here. She was primary and secondary was to provide a buffer between Fig and the admiralty. They felt better having me here and Seleya was here. As for staying or going... when the time comes I'll make that decision."

K'Niras nodded and made sort of a snorting sound, his stance relaxing somewhat. "I don't care what most former admirals like or don't like. I'm not speaking to most admirals. I'm speaking to you, Lieutenant Commander. I'm glad you prefer plain, because it's what you're going to get from me. Now, let's try and find out who's behind this and keep your mouth shut. We don't want anything getting back to the sneak."

He smiled. "Isn't that my line." He chuckled. "K'Niras... I hope you find this sneak before I do."

"Why's that, Michael?" Since they were on first name basis, apparently.

He raised an eyebrow in Vulcan like fashion. "Because I shall be very cross with them and I might accidentally over react."

K'Niras snorted again. "We'll see," he said simply and headed for the door of the science labs. Now... to catch a sneak.

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