A different Perspective

Posted on Sun Jun 27th, 2021 @ 12:25am by Captain Maia Sterling & Lieutenant Commander Havri Belbre

Mission: The Thorion Conundrum Mission Brief
Location: Orion Base/Leto
Timeline: 239407.26

[On]

Toda Brebruit was a senior infiltration expert and assassin of the Rixxian Caliphate. Ever since the Dominion had attacked invaded and occupied Betazed, the Caliphate had been growing in power and influence. They were isolationists and against membership in the United Federation of Planets. They believed in the Matriarchy of the Betazed government but as a result of the occupation they wanted all off-worlders to leave Betazed. Toda had the ability to disguise herself as whatever she wanted too. Her abilities allowed her to get into places that no one could get into. That and her amazing telepathic powers and latent psionic abilities as well as specialized equipment made her a perfect operative for the Rixxian Caliphate. She had absolutely no compunction against murdering anyone who stood in her way and she was pretty single minded on the performance of her tasks. Her task was the retrieval of an information crystal that had been secretly given to Havri Belbre, who was now known as Lieutenant Angelina Brannon. Havri had been carefully hidden by Toda’s enemies, Tori-Loyalists of the matriarchy who believed there best chance for survival was within the Federation and greater galactic community. It took years to find her. Havri had been moved from planet to planet well hidden from any and quite out of reach of the Caliphate. The Caliphate had been forced to make a treaty with the Orion syndicate to help sabotage the Thorion/Federation alliance as well as steal as much Pergium as they could get their hands on. Toda soon came to realize that aligning with the Orion Syndicate may have been a mistake.

The Caliphate and the Syndicate had very different ideas on ways to do business especially in regards to torture and abductions. When the Orion guard’s noticed that Lieutenant Brannon was being tortured by Toda they immediately reported that to their superiors. Now Toda was taken to Slurg, who was the most senior representative of the syndicate. Slurg was a Gorn who looked more like a very intelligent velociraptor, complete with tail sharp claws and teeth. He stood nearly three meters tall. His reptilian eyes bore deep into Toda’s soul both chilling her and reading her. All he sensed was evil intent. Toda was informed that the federation captives, all Federation captives including and especially Lieutenant Brannon would be taken into syndicate custody. She was also informed that if she interfered, Slurg would bite her head off and eat her. Toda was extremely angered by this and made her case eloquently, but Slurg was adamant. The syndicate only killed when they had too or were attacked. Assassinations were okay but they had to be sanctioned and approved first. Random torture was considered a barbaric practice and was frowned upon by the Orion’s it was a cultural more. Toda was reminded of the treaty stipulations and warned not to torture anyone else. She was also informed that she was to be under surveillance. She still had relative freedom and would get her captive back after this mission was successfully concluded.

Toda returned to her ship and charged her equipment. She checked her own sensors from inside the landing bay she knew the Thorions had set up a Tachyon sensor net so that even cloaked ships would be discovered. And she couldn’t use her warp drive because Thorion space was more or less a spatial sand bar. She plotted to get Havri Belbre back and get revenge on the syndicate for hampering her mission. Using her Xalesian technology she was able to phase out of her ship and destabilize the power grid on the Orion syndicate base just as the Thorion’s began attacking. First she destroyed the shield grid. She then took out the primary and secondary power grid just as the Thorion commandoes were beaming on board the station. Toda made her way to Slurg. She managed to stun him then cut off his head and display it on his desk. She figured she would cut the head off the snake so to say. A snake that tried to foil her plans for Havri Belbre. She didn’t much care for the Gorn. She found them repulsive, especially ones that threatened to eat you. She tried to make her way down to the brig but the commandoes were everywhere. Explosions and smoke were starting to get pretty thick. When she finally made it to the brig the prisoners were gone.

She really had no choice but to try and escape herself, so she went to the docking bay. By that time the prisoners were being rounded up by Thorion commandoes and Starfleet personnel, she watched as they were treated medically. Toda managed to get a disruptor blast off which took out the ceiling above the captives and she thought she got one of them the one called O’Carrol. She also watched as another explosion blew a giant hole in the ceiling of the landing bay which destroyed her ship. Using her Xalesian technology she jumped one of the commandoes killing her then disguised herself as that same commando, taking ID, Comms and weapons. She dissolved the body using hydrofluoric acid. She then beamed out with the rest of them. She knew the pirates were doomed now she switched to assassin mode to continue her mission. She was one of the commandoes beamed to the Leto to ensure the safety of the captives. Once on board the Leto she took the form of a new security transfer. Time was running out though, her Xalesian technology needed to be recharged, without it she would be able to phase or cloak. So she became Ensign Alyssa Braddock a security officer on board the Leto. She still stalked Havri Belbre setting traps and trying to find that information crystal. She waited for the perfect time to attack. She still had to figure out how to escape. It wasn’t like she could steal a shuttle craft. She just wouldn’t be able to get far enough or fast enough. Definitely not in this space, Toda thought. She decided she would need to get captured, but maybe just maybe she could inflict enough damage on Lieutenant Brannon to get revenge.

Brannon was back on the Leto and recovering from her injuries. She got word of a new assignment to the Security team. She was looking at her records but something did not seem right. She kept and eye on her and set up some security protocols to detect Toda if she phase Shifted it would immediately set up a containment field in the area and prevent her from phase shifting out of the area to escape detection.

Brannon used her telepathic abilities to get any type of readings to find and identify Toda. She was dangerous and had to be stopped at all costs. Even if it caused her own death to stop her. She was constantly on guard and left the Amulet in the only place it was safe. She did not want it found by anyone. She kept 4 of her best Security Personnel with her and also only the ones she trusted the most. She was not going to make another mistake and let Toda get her again.

Toda performed her security duties well but she could never Lt Brannon alone, she could feel the mind probe and telepathic thrust from Brannon but she was able to deflect her well enough that she couldn't find out she wasn't who she claimed to be, She was a master of infiltration. She studied Alyssa Braddock once she was on the computer and in her own cabin. Being a officer even a junior officer had its perks. She learned Starfleet Security procedures and was getting pretty good at her job. She never slipped out of character but at the same time never stopped looking for the amulet.

Brannon walked past a groups of starfleet personnel standing in a group. For a brief second she got a telepathic reading the said Toda was in the group. But before she could figure out who it was the link went away. She could not go on a hunch and arrest all of them so she made a mental note and went on. If she was right she now had cut the list of suspects down to 8. And she was very seldom wrong. She walked by like she did not know who did it or had not heard the thoughts, but was getting close.

Even though She was not suppose to her telepathic abilities gave her an upper hand. She made sure to note who they were and what department they worked in so she could try to eliminate the others from suspicion.

Ensign Braddock came in a few minutes later.

"Excuse me Lt Brannon. Captain Sterling wants to meet you in holodeck 3 for target practice". Alyssa said.

Ensign Braddock came in and told me that Captain Sterling wanted me on holodeck 3. "OK thanks, I need you to checkout out a security issue on Deck 3 Section 12. It is and attempted unauthorized opening of a weapons locker."

Odd thought Brannon, The Captain always calls her by her communicator. Because it is not always a sure thing to have a verbal message delivered quickly. She got up and left going to the holosuite. And arrived in a few minutes. She had extra security patrols assigned nearby and was standing near the door.

It opened and she entered, " Hello Captain hear you want to talk and do some target practice."

"Yes I do Lieutenant. Please close and secure the door." Maia ordered.

Brannon smiled and secured the door. She also sent a message to the Bridge to let them know of her location. She was a little leery of this, it was not like Captain Sterling to send a courier instead of using the communicators. She had to be on her guard. She knew Captain Sterling could have secured the doors herself. She turned once she finished and smiled.

"All done as you requested Captain. What is it you wanted to see me about Captain?

"Its about Ensign Alyssa Braddock. There was some residue found on the shuttle she arrived in, Genetic residue it was mostly masked by hydroflouric acid. I wanted to tell you this in person because we know that your nemesis can alter her form in the Antosian manner. I ordered the techs not to report this through security, only I know. I analyzed the DNA myself." The Captain said.

Understood Captain, Ensign Braddock has been on a watch list I have of a few personnel. She has made some mistakes related to security issues and I had been watching her. At first I thought it was because she was new and just out of the academy.

And her mistakes start right after my rescue as well. She tries to carry close to me and like she is watching me as well.

I got a trusted security person on her as a partner so it is no suspicious. LT Garcia is one I trust with my life. I also am the only one that knows where I hid the amulet still. I don't want to needlessly endanger others. I hope you understand why I am doing it.

"Very well Lieutenant I will leave the matter to you. As I said I have not informed anyone of my suspicions but you." Maia said.

"Understood Captain" , she opened the doors to the holosuite. Great job as always Captain. A perfect score. I only missed one though.

[End]

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A post by:

Captain Maia A. Sterling
Commanding Officer
USS Leto

&

Lieutenant Angelique Brannon
Chief Security Officer
USS Leto