Setting Up Shop - Part II

Posted on Sat May 31st, 2025 @ 7:48pm by Lieutenant Sofia Gonzalez & Commander Vincent 'Vin' Salvatore

1,238 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: EPISODE 1: SHAKEDOWN
Location: Intelligence Suite
Timeline: MD030 0900 hours

::ON::

[And now the continuation ...]

Vincent nodded his head and gave a slight smirk. He was aware of what she was talking about, in fact, he was part of a team who was sent to keep that information from being spread outside the Federation. He wasn't aware of the name of the dig she was referring to, but when she started to hint as to the project and the involvement of six planets, he pieced it together. As he reached down to a nearby console, tapping it slightly which caused the lights to dim sand entrance to seal, activating a setting that shielded the room from being monitored or communication devices from recording the dialogue inside. A setting he clearly was aware of, despite this being the first time he walked into the room.

"You know what the interesting part about things that Officially don't exist? Making sure they don't." He said as he looked back up to her and placed his arms on his side. "For example; I had a mission once where I was part of a team that was sent this ship in a, lets said, particular area of space here they shouldn't have been. One that had all the signs and markings of a restricted area, but the ship didn't seem to care. You see, this ship was part of an alien race that isn't exactly on our list of allies, so them continuing their search in this area would led to an interesting discovery. One that involved our own investigations into a planet with this... obelisk I guess is the best word for it that was on this planet which described a whole experiment about saving dying cultures from extinction." He looked over to her, as if seeing if she caught the hint or understood what he meant, before smiling and continuing. "Or some such thing. I try not to get too invested into things, details sometimes just end up giving me headaches." He chuckled slightly.

Gonzalez nodded, 'I think I understand what you mean.' She motioned for him to continue her story.

"Anyway, the team and I, we infiltrated this ship and made our way to the computer system. The boys in Intelligence R & D made this tricorder that is designed to link with a computer system and search out keywords, coordinates, and stuff like that. It then sends this algorithm which removes all information and keeps it from being discovered." He shrugged his arms a bit and chucked slightly. "Pretty cool stuff, but you can understand why such a thing doesn't Officially exist. Neither should the coordinates they discovered and what was going on on that planet. The Intelligence team looking into the who and the why, not wanting to get involved in the society due to the Prime Directive, but to understand the reason for the... let's say... preservation of the species." He gave her a look. A look that hinted that he understood. That he was part of the secret and it remained just that. A secret.

As he leaned back down again, tapping the console to bring the room to its natural lighting and unlocking the door, he continued with a smile. "Well... it's best to forget about things like that. Move forward and leave the past in the past. After all... if it don't exist... why dwell on it, right?" Vincent said with a smirk, in an almost joking tone, before slipping in a wink. "Besides, If this dig did exist, then I am sure it would doing what it could despite the lose of a great asset. And I am sure its being well taken care of. You know... if it existed that is." He smiled again before quickly shifted to a odd look, raising a brow slightly, as he gestured to her. "We are speaking hypothetically, aren't we?"

'Hypothetically, of course,' Gonzalez returned the smile with a friendly one of her own, before leaning forward, making sure the dampening effect was still in play. 'I know space is vast, but hiding a whole planet, let alone six of them, seems a bit farfetched right? It would take more resources than you could imagine. Plus burying the expenditure requests and budget items for it. A lot of work to preserve something.' She shook her head and laughed. 'It was interesting though, but I'm glad I got pulled. I want to do the real Intelligence work, not just keep going as an archaeologist on projects that don't exist.'

"Lieutenant Gonzalez?" Vincent said softly as he let out a slight sigh. "Let me share something with you that a superior said to me when I first entered Intelligence. The primary job of an Intelligence Officer is gathering and sharing information. We are the keeper's of this information, whether its is meant to be a secret or widely distributed, it is out job to secure it by whatever means Starfleet allows. Yes, field work is part of the job, but those in the field are no less or more important than those who look through that information, preparing what needs to be released and what needs to be kept behind sealed doors and codes. So, don't let anyone tell you, that the work you did on that dig wasn't real Intelligence work. I owe my life, as well as many others, to the officers who stay behind to go through all that was left behind. Whether that information was on or under the surface. In the figurative and the literal." He have her a smile and let out a slight chuckled before adding. "If want, I can promise you, I will give you a chance to work in the field. I'll even offer to help you train if you feel you need it. Just remember, please, that what you do or did is no different from what I did. Even though our methods and tactics were different, our training was always meant to lead us to the same thing. Information that help save lives and used to protect those who wore the uniform."

She nodded in understanding. 'Don't get me wrong, I understand. But I'm an archaeologist by training. Not publishing our findings was killing me inside.' Gonzalez squared her shoulders, her slight German accent thickening as she spoke with determination. 'I would like to do field work,' she said. 'Teach me how.'

Vincent smiled back, giving her a nod, before replying. "I get it. For someone in that field, or any field of study, to learn something and not be able to share it. It's frustrating. Unfortunately, in our business, we have to consider the safety and security of the Federation as well as the impact this information could have on everyone and everything around it. Sometimes, the impact is minimal, but often it can lead to someone else wanting it. And those people will sometimes go to great lengths to take it for themselves and use it for their own means. And in some cases, to hurt others around them. To use it as an instrument of strength and intimidation. We can't always know what people will do with that."

[To be continued ...]

::OFF::

Commander Vincent ‘Vin’ Salvatore
Executive Officer/Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Hecate

Lieutenant Sofia Gonzalez
Intelligence Officer
USS Hecate
[PNPC Captain Robert Burke]

 

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