RP Log: To Catch A Thief
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| 2019-05-06 22:09 | |
[Berton's Commbadge] Incoming communication request from Lieutenant Chandler.
You tap your commbadge.
[Berton's Commbadge] Opening communications channel from Lieutenant Chandler.
"Go for Berton"
[Berton's Commbadge] Chandler says, "It's Chandler. Got a second?" A beat then as she mutters. "...good thing I guessed we were still close enough."
"I'm on the bridge, give me a moment to relocate."
- Conference Room <USS Antietam NCC-72540
- Sitting along the port side of deck one is the ship's conference room, which curves slightly along the forward section of the command module. Placed in the center of the room is a teardrop-shaped conference table around which three chairs are seated on either side, and at its apex, a single chair for the individual leading the meeting. The port bulkhead has three panels of large, rectangular windows that show an impressive view of space, while the forward and aft bulkheads boast large computer terminals that can display information or be configured as a viewscreen.
[Berton's Commbadge] Chandler says, "I can just come over there."
Berton looks around for anyone else. "Oh, yes, if you want to. We're aren't currently docked with the Phoenix though. You may be able to beamup."
[Berton's Commbadge] Chandler nods. "Let me let Kadn know and I'll be over. Where do you want me to meet you?"
Berton smiles, "I'll be in the deck 1 conference room."
[Berton's Commbadge] Chandler nods. "Sounds good. See ya in a bit."
[Berton's Commbadge] Lieutenant Chandler double taps her commbadge.
[Berton's Commbadge] Connection from Lieutenant Chandler terminated.
Lieutenant Chandler arrives from Deck 1 - Command Module.
Berton is looking out the port side window as he waits.
Chandler makes her way inside, letting the door shut behind her before speaking. "Hey."
"Hi", David says with a smile. He approaches you and can't decide if he is going to hug you, or kiss you on the cheek, and ends up awkwardly half-hugging with a pat on the back. "Good to see you, how are you?"
Chandler blinks a few times then rolls her eyes. "Geez you'd think I had a disease...." With that she just gives him a hug before she lets go. "Soooo....." A beat. ".....your little friends are causing issues....to where our security has gotten involved. Things have started coming up missing....one being something of mine that's one of a kind and they luckily found."
Berton is grateful for the full hug and returns it finally. "little friends... Oh, yes hmm. Let me guess, your item that was stolen was in the possession of someone who traded for it? Someone with no connection to 'my friends'."
Chandler nods a bit. "Yeah." Sighing a bit she chuckles. "I had already figured their trading system before T'Shaav got to me....though how the hell that kid knew I had a Romulan dagger is beside me....or how they got in my locked locker." Taking a deep breath she nods. "McMaster told me he'd tell Pilel of my 'useful skills' and will get in touch. Now I've just been subtly dodging him by being on duty but I'm going to have to play nice with this dinner request...ugh."
Berton nods, "That's part of the reason it was so hard to pin any charges on them. Half, or more than half of the time, they weren't directly responsible for anything, they'd arrange trades, or let people know who had what. Get others to do their dirty work for them." he raises an eyebrow at the mention of a locker, "Someone broke into a locked locker? I can't see an unwilling participant ever doing that, that might be a really good lead. If we can prove McMaster or Pilel actually did that work, we might have something." he asks, "dinner request?"
Chandler says, "Exactly. I know I try to keep my past low-key but who knows what out skills people got." Then she purses her lips a bit. "....don't ask, dude. I had to flirt my way into getting him to tell me anything so when he said Pilel asks for trade not money....that's how I got that."
Berton asks, "A dinner date for, information?" He gives you an odd look. "Be careful with him. He might portray a backwards hick sometimes, but he is really devious. I've not been able to prove it, but I think he is the brains of the operation, and Pilel is more a stop gap, a means to distract and postpone so they can vet their targets." He considers for a moment, "Do you know if your security have been read in on the operation?"
Chandler nods a bit. "Look the dude thought I was going to bang him in an office so I already know what kind of guy this is. And I know if I do go there....no way I could follow through....not now anyway...." Then she mutters a bit. "....Kellen would have my head...." Nodding she then smiles at him. "Nope. I wanted to see if it was cool now that stuff like knives are coming up if I could tell T'Shaav but I know it's gonna burn her britches."
Berton hmms, "You might be in trouble Sybil. I'd seriously reconsider meeting McMaster alone again. This could be really dangerous for you. It takes a certain kind of mentality to do what he does, and if you push his buttons the wrong way too many times..." he reaches out and gently grips your forearm in his hand. "Really, be careful. I know you can take care of yourself, but", he sighs, "I worry."
Chandler purses her lips then nods. "...so blowing him off won't piss him off either?" Chuckling a bit she then looks to his hand then nods. "Okay okay....I won't. If I can talk to Kadn and get T'Shaav in on it, maybe I won't have to. I just don't want them getting skittish either and doing something crazy."
Berton nods, "I'll send a note to Sam and your Lieutenant T'Shaav. Maybe we can all get together and plan a strategy that won't unneccessarily endanger anyone."
Chandler nods then. "Sounds like a plan to me."
Berton taps away on a padd, "Message sent." he smiles at you, "Glad you agree."
Chandler nods. "Of course. I mean...I don't feel like getting into another fight on that ship."
Berton asks, "Another fight?"
Chandler waves her hand. "Just with some frozen super human we found a long time ago."
Berton remembers with a nod, "I read about that. That was some time ago. Yes, lets hope it doesn't come to that."
Chandler chuckles a bit then laughs. "I don't think they're that crazy." Exhaling a bit she just licks her lips than sighs. "Well...cool then. I guess I'll....see you at the meeting then."
Berton smiles and nods, "We should make a date too, the three of us? I'd like to meet Kellen, if that's not awkward or anything?"
Chandler chuckles a bit. "Nope....not awkward." A beat. "Just gotta pull him out of his lab long enough."
Berton smiles knowingly, "We all have duties, some of us let our work get the better of us."
Chandler nods a bit. "Right? It's almost not being married at all save when I go home and there's a body there."
Berton is about to comment, but thinks better of it, then says, "Have you talked to him about it?"
Chandler chuckles a bit. "I know that look....so say it. And yeah...." She shrugs a bit then. "It's fine. Just been stressful is all. He's stuck with me or as he says....I'm stuck with him."
Berton shakes his head, "I'm not one to comment really. I... I love your mom, always will, but that ship has sailed. Don't make the same mistakes I did."
Chandler smiles a bit then nudges him. "I'm sure if you went home....she might be grumpy but...." At that she pauses then smiles. "....she still has a picture of you she carries so...." A shrug as she nudges him slightly. "And I'll try not to....."
Berton chews on that thought for a few moments, "A nice thought. Time will tell." he licks his lips, "Speaking of, I should get back to work. The sooner we can wrap up this ... thievery business the better."
Chandler nods a bit. "Understood...." Then she gives him a playful salute before grinning. "Maybe you'll get a promotion after this....so we're not the same rank...." Snickering she then moves her hand to her commbadge. "I'll also let you know when Kellen is available."
Berton shrugs, "My mission will be over when this is resolved, so who knows. I might be in a position to come out as your father, publicly, if that was acceptable to you?"
Chandler smiles a bit more than nods. "That's fine....dad..." She nods a bit before she moves over and gives him a quick hug before clearing her throat. "Assuming I don't cramp your style, David Berton." Smirking she just nods then.
>Intercom< Lieutenant T'Shaav says, "Lieutenant T'Shaav and party requesting permission to come aboard, sir."
>Intercom< Lieutenant Chandler says, "Permission granted. Welcome aboard."
Lieutenant T'Shaav arrives from Deck 1 - Command Module.
Lieutenant (jg) Worthington arrives from Deck 1 - Command Module.
Berton and Chandler are conversing over by the window.
Chandler chuckles a bit then shrugs a bit. "Yeah I guess...."
T'Shaav enters the conference room. Overall, the ship's been cleaned up since she was last aboard. Even the computer speaks comprehensibly again. "Lieutenants," she greets, with an especial nod to Berton, whose ship it de facto is.
Worthington enters behind T'Shaav, and offers Berton a sharp salute. "Afternoon Lieutenants," he says.
Berton nods to the two officers, "I wasn't expecting two of you, but glad you could make it. I assume you got my note Lieutenant T'Shaav?" He motions to the table for everyone to sit down, this could take awhile.
Chandler gives both of them a waves before moving to the table, sitting down and just listening for now.
T'Shaav nods and sits. "I brought Mr. Worthington, because he has been working closely with me in the resolution of these crimes. our command staff suggested it might be well that he also attend. I hope that is no inconvenience."
Worthington pulls up a chair and sits next to T'Shaav. "I am willing, able, and happy to assist in whatever way I can. It is my duty to do what I can in these matters," he says.
Berton shakes his head, "None. I've only one stipulation for this conversation, that it be treated as classified and nothing discussed here goes beyond this room. With the exception of your command staff, although they have been read in already." he waits for verbal confirmation of that understanding then asks, "If you could bring me up to speed on what you know, details would be beneficial, then I can fill you in on what I know. Sound good?"
Chandler leans back now, folding her arms as she waits.
T'Shaav nods. "We will comply, Lieutenant," the Vulcan says, speaking for her subordinate as well. "Aboard the Phoenix, we have a rash of unauthorized quarters entries and thefts. The items are generally personal in nature, momentoes and items of sentimental value, as opposed to the theives targeting high monetary value items. In at least one case, items were removed from a Starfleet-issue footlocker." A beat. "I suspect an underground ring specializing in trading of these items. We have arrested one low-level participant who traded some personal property of his own for one of the stolen items, for example, and that individual gave us the name of someone else who warrants questioning. WOuld you care to add anything, Mr. Worthington?" She steeples her fingers and goes silent.
Worthington shakes his head. "Only that Lieutenant T'Shaav speaks for both of us. You can rely on us to keep these matters confidential," he says.
Berton says, "First off, I am not an operations officer, I'm a Lieutenant Commander in Starfleet Intelligence. Full disclosure, my name is actually David Chandler, as it so happens, Sybil's", he nods his head in Chandler's direction, "father. She's been helping me, with Sam's", he clears his throat, "with your Captain's permission." He takes a breath, "I was assigned to the Antietam undercover to investigate a series of illegal activities involving three of her crew. The ring leader, or who I believed to be the ring leader, now I am not so certain, was the XO of the Antietam, Commander Riordan. The other two are now aboard your ship, and from what we've seen, have started up their illicit activities again. Given the quickness to which they re-established operations, I now suspect one of them is actually the leader."
Chandler goes quiet as David speaks, pushing her hair out of her face. Once she finishes she nods then. "I'm currently dealing with one of them who actually thinks....might be the mastermind." A beat. "From what I've uncovered so far...they definitely do favors for favors. Right now my skillset is on the table for what I told them I wanted to 'acquire' so the bait is there...."
The Vulcan tips a nod to the revealed spook. "Your being an intelligence officer does not surprise me, at least, Commander. You have seemed more self-assured than a typical junior operations lieutenant." A beat. "I also have a background, mostly classified, in Vulcan security and intelligence. My respects, then. It is not easy working under cover for an extended period even within one's home organization as I am sure you will agree." A beat. "So then, Commander, what is the point of this crime ring? Where is the logic in trading personal momentoes? Or do you think it a cover for some far more significant crimes?"
Worthington Lets T'Shaav do the talking, afterall, she has the experience to back it up. Worthington takes everything in that David is saying, but doesn't let it show if he is surprised or not.
Berton nods to T'Shaav, "Before the Antietam was lost, they were involved in a number of operations, the evidence to which has been lost with time unfortunately. Smuggling was a big one, Pilel and McMaster were both security officers, so had access and control over certain sections of the ship. But as for the trading you mention, that is only one of the first steps. Convince a person to do some semi-questionable act for something they desire, a dagger for instance, then the next time, the act is more questionable, and so on, until such time as they've broken laws and instead of owning up to them, are willing to do even more illegal activities to avoid being called out. A slow progress into blackmail."
Chandler just stays quiet for now.
"Logical," the Vulcan concedes. "ensnare the target in low level crime, and threaten to expose them unless they commit even more significant acts of crime until the victim becomes a purpetrator, steeped in the crime ring's activities and as culpable as the rest." A beat. "Both the men you mentioned are aboard our ship." A beat. "What do you suggest, Commander? I can take them into custody and you and I can question them jointly. But I suspect you have something more subtle in hand." She nods to Chandler. "You said something about bait."
Berton asks T'Shaav, "Have you attained any evidence regarding them specifically? If they are at the early stage, the only ones perpetrating any potential crimes are your crew, they are just the facilitators, difficult to convict without evidence. He said, she said, won't cut it, and they are not about to confess. More likely they'd continue their current activities and/or wait until they got home."
Chandler nods a bit then. "Exactly. Arresting them will only ruin things and this has been on going and it would suck to have it blow up now. Hence.....why I was asked to help." With that she leans back. "They like people doing favors so while McMaster was busy looking down my top and wondering....I let it 'slip' that I have experience from my days as a teenager. His eyes shot open and then he just said he's pass that on to Pilel. Now I can try to get more information but...." That's when she looks over to her dad now.
"Sybil has told me she ... made a dinner date with McMaster, in an attempt to get additional information, but has been stone-walling him for a bit. McMaster isn't the type to be forgiving of her stalling, I can't in good conscience let her proceed alone in that endeavor anymore. McMaster might come across as a half-witted hick, but I believe it is a ruse, and he is in fact a very intelligent and devious individual." Berton says, "Which is why we're having this discussion, so we can work together and safeguard everyone involved, while still getting a just resolution."
Worthington nodds to T'Shaav and to David.
T'Shaav nods. Her expression goes a bit more impassive, and those who know her best and have seen her in action might recognize it as her brain kicking into overdrive. "I concur with all that has been said," she says. "Here is my proposal. First, we surveil McMasters and Pilel. That will be the hardest part of the operation." She eyes Worthington. "I want our best security officers and we can borrow people from PHoenix's Intelligence section. They do not need to know why. They need only know the what, and the, what, is total, discrete surveilence. I want to know where they go, with whom they meet, what they do via the ship's computer and when and where they do it, what they drank with their evening meal, and their opinions about the ship's scrambled egg replicator profile." Laconically she says to Worthington, "You are familiar with using ship's systems to conduct discrete surveilence, for instance." A beat. "Keeping in mind that these men have security training, the surveilence will have to be exceptionally meticulous if it is to go undetected." Another beat. "Mr. Chandler's skills notwithstanding, I propose, part 2, that we offer them someone who fits their ideal parameters for a target. We can brief that person in, advise them that nothing they do will be held against them while working undercover, and let them get to the inside. I would offer to take this risk myself, but Vulcans make poor targets for that kind of work."
Berton nods to T'Shaav, "Not to mention they both know you are the chief of security aboard the Phoenix." he considers the proposal, "Agreed, but discrete is the necessity. They get wind of anything, and our hand is lost." He licks his lips, "I'd also like to suggest that Sybil", he nods in her direction, "if she is willing, and I imagine it would be hard to get her to stop." he smiles, a little pride in the expression. "Now that we have your involvement, you can have personnel positioned in a public space to safeguard her. The Deck 11 dining area would be a good spot. Lots of places to covertly observe. We could put a listening device on Sybil as well." he partially reaches a hand out to her then retracts it. "But, to pull this off won't be a one stop gig. We need to get Sybil in the mix so we can get evidence. Enough evidence to shut them down for good."
Worthington smiles at chandler as he addresses the other officers. "I can monitor the ship's computer systems and track movements that way, but we need physical tracking in case they are able to mask their whereabouts, which I would not put past them. I do like the idea of borrowing intel people from the Phoenix. Security officers like myself have an ora around us, we're pretty easy to spot. Intel people however, I feel they could pass themselves off more easily," he says.
Chandler raises her brow at T'Shaav, about to say something but David cuts her off. Squinting a bit she then looks over to the pair, glancing to David and smiles slightly. "At least you know I'm stubborn....wonder where I get that from." With that she looks to the two. "So let me be frank and clear. This....is not...my first rodeo. If you jump in before I signal, if you intervene, or if you blab anything....at all....." That's when she leans forward a bit. "....and it puts someone in danger as well as myself....I will personally and unapologetically shoot you my self then tie you two the front of the K'rel......and take that court marshal. I'm sure you know this isn't a joke....because I'm not joking at all about shooting someone for getting someone in a situation." A brow raises a bit then. "....are we on the same page?"
The Vulcan eyes the firery Human. "Tell me, Lieutenant Chandler, since everything we say here is classified, are you also a member of Starfleet intelligence? I have suspected as much." Her tone is lighter than usual, almost cordial. She and Chandler have been through a few things.
Worthington looks to chandler with some interest. "Well, you can count on me to handle myself appropriately. If I'm going to be shot, it better be by an enemy, because I don't plan on getting it from a Starfleet officer," he says. "I have been shot by a few museum pieces though, so I hate to say I'm used to it."
Chandler lets out a laugh, a real one. "Girl please. Hell no. I would have been kicked out ages ago. I'm just a pain in the ass that grew up in the wrong crowd."
Berton looks at Sybil, a slight hint of sadness in his eyes at her checkered past, but it soon fades. "So, we have a plan of action then?"
"We do. One other point," T'Shaav says. "Depending on what our senior staff has to say, I could release the ensign we arrested. We'll release him without comment and watch what happens. It may trigger a revealing response from our suspects.""
Berton asks, "You arrested someone? I would only release them if it makes sense on the merits of the charges against that individual only. If you are doing it to spark a reaction alone, that may trip an alarm to the suspects." He rises from the table, "Thank you all for coming to the briefing. I'll be available for any questions, on secured lines of course. Good luck."
Chandler says, "I don't know....releasing him might set them off...." But David was already on it. Exhaling she to then stands as she smiles. "Good talk...."
Worthington rises and salutes. "Thank you commander," he says.
T'Shaav stands and nods. "Thank you, Commander Chandler." More for the benefit of Worthington than Chandler, she adds to the two other lieutenants, "Please remember that outside this room, COmmander Chandler is still Lieutenant Berton of operations." She nods to the senior Chandler. "I believe the charges warrant him remaining in custody. Good day, Commander."
Chandler looks to David, nodding a bit. "I'll see you later....and try to drag Kellen out of his lab." With that she too makes her way out as she just looks to the others. "See y'all back on the Phoenix."