Secretum Testimonii - Part III

Posted on Tue Mar 16th, 2021 @ 7:56am by Lieutenant Commander P’rel M.D & [DECEASED] Gil Silnan Tolbarr

Mission: By Artemis' Bow
Location: Unknown Location
Timeline: Prior to MD-01
1318 words - 2.6 OF Standard Post Measure

P'rel blinked, slowly at first, then more rapidly as consciousness returned to her. She could feel the diminishing remnants of a warm fluid in her neck, most likely from a hypospray to wake her. Even for a Vulcan the light on her face was blinding. She searched through the obscene haze to look for the source; lamps of a terrific strength were positioned at her eye level, four of them, or perhaps five, she couldn't be sure they were so bright. Her vision was completely obscured by the dazzling lamps, though she heard the gentle buzz of a restraining field as she tried to move her arms and legs; it was clear that he wrists and ankles were secured as she partly stood and partly leaned on some kind of surface tilted at a 45 degree angle.

Obviously Cardassian security had recognised her. She was a prisoner, and Starfleet didn't have the best track record in securing the release of their own operatives; far better to save face and disavow all knowledge seemed to be the modus operandi. She was obliged to give some level of detail, and began "Lieutenant P'rel, Starfleet, Service Number 863 -"

She was cut off as a soft voice took over "- 896 dash 572 alpha green. Starfleet Command, Advance Contact Field Operative..." the voice was ahead of her, and moved slowly to her right in an orbit, "...recently assigned to USS Athena, Prometheus Class, Captain Jacob Kane...".

P'rel attempted to stare down the bright lights, hoping to force her eyes to acclimatise, but it was no use. The voice continued, behind her now.

"...Chief Intelligence Officer, former operative on Cardassia IV, former biological counter-warfare officer... Doctor MD and Kashek-nohv Reldai..."

P'rel spoke over the voice; "I never sought, nor took that title" she replied with irritation. The voice was referring to her time on Vulcan and her life's journey in becoming a mind-meld master; the rank of Priestess normally being bestowed to one with her level of proven skill but one which she refused. Vulcan society still looked upon her V'Tosh beliefs with cynicism and disdain, and she had turned her back on a holy life in favour of intellectual pursuit in Starfleet.

"...we must amend our records in that case Lieutenant, unfortunately we have you listed as a Reldai..."

She interrupted again, attempting to suppress the rising fear within the pit of stomach. "What do you want?".

"Assistance, Lieutenant" the soft voice replied, clearer this time; the absence of a previously unacknowledged noise informing P'rel they were on a ship which had dropped out of warp. A small ship, for the engines to affect the sound in the room. "What do you know of one mister Silnan Tolbar?"

The use of the name of her mentee, friend and clandestine contact came as little surprise. She had been captured after placing the meeting signal, and it was only logical to presume that her captors knew of their relationship. "I do not know a Silnan Tolbar" she replied dishonestly, not wanting to make the interrogation any easier for them. P'rel focused her mind on the feeling of her clothes against her skin, how were they moving, what direction and with what force; trying to ascertain the movements of the ship. On a small ship, the interial dampeners weren't going to be particularly sophisticated, and any situational information she could gather might aid her in time.

The voice did not reply, not for a while, until it had completed a full orbit of her and was now once again directly in front. Oddly there were no footsteps. "Of course not" it replied, sounding disinterested. "What do you know of the Iuvat system?"

P'rel tried to see past the lights, trying to lock onto a form of some kind, any kind of shape which might give her some information about her interrogator, but nothing, the lights were just too bright. "I know nothing of an Iuvat system" she replied truthfully.

"I see" the voice replied. "What is the nature of your mission to Cardassia IV?"

"I am sightseeing" P'rel lied, just trying to be awkward at this point".

"Lieutenant P'rel, would it surprise you to know that I'm fully aware that you are lying to me?" the voice asked, though oddly absent of any kind of threat, and more one of amusement.

"Not particularly" she responded, hiding her apprehension as well as she was able.

The lights suddenly disappeared at the same as the telltale buzz of a releasing forefield. P'rel moved an arm gingerly, and it was free, her remaining three limbs came to action immediately and she leaped to her feet in the pitch black room. A dim ceiling light activated, followed by four wall lights, one near to each corner of a small room. As her eyes adjusted to the light, she saw a solitary table in front of her with a Cardassian data PADD set on it. Turning, she briefly assessed the surface she had been restrained on; a medical examination table of some kind, tilted to 45 degrees with a bracket holding four lighting pods which had been elevated just above eye level. Next to it, an identical one with Silnan, still unconscious. Ignoring him for a moment, she took a few cautious step towards the table and lifted the PADD.

From an indeterminate speaker in the room, the voice resumed. "Mr Tolbar there is unharmed. Quite the opposite in fact. When he wakes, he will inform you truthfully that he has been promoted and placed on dethatched assignment as a liaison to Starfleet". P'rel activated the PADD, it showed a chemical composition she was unfamiliar with. "Whatever is happening in the Iuvat system Lieutenant, it affects us all, and there is far more in play here than the contents of that PADD".

P'rel tucked the device into the morning robe she was still wearing and walked over to Silnan. A quick check of his pulse and respiration suggested that he was simply sedated as the voice had implied. A Cardassian rank pin had been engraved into his military uniform, and the Gil shape was noticeably newer than the Garresh rank shape which preceded it. "Elaborate" P'rel told the voice; admittedly confused.

"You are free, Lieutenant. You and Mr Tolbar were removed from Cardassia IV to keep you safe. The young man had uncovered several pieces of a rather intricate and dangerous puzzle".

The room jolted slightly, and rumbled distantly as the ship they were on returned to warp as if it had just undocked from something.

"You are on board a small civilian transport shuttle Lieutenant. You are heading on an automated heading to your ship. The door to the cockpit will unlock in one hour, which is approximately when Gil Tolbar shall awake."

P'rel looked around the room, trying to find some indication of where the voice was coming from and attempting to work out if they were alone or if the mysterious voice belonged to someone on board. "I do not understand" replied the Vulcan, honestly. She had gone to see Silnan to find out more about Jemonite smuggling, believing it to be the tip of something far more profound. She now found herself locked on an automated shuttle, with far more questions than answers.

"You will find your answers in the Iuvat System Lieutenant, and so will we. Ronac III, Jemonite, Breen, Mr. Brill...the contents of that data PADD....these things are more connected than you realise Lieutenant. Be careful who you trust. Be careful in the Iuvat System."

"What is in the Iuvat system?" she asked. There was no reply. "Hello?" she probed; "hello?". Nothing. She retrieved the data PADD from her robe and opened it again. According to the voice, she had an hour to kill before Silnan awoke and before she could leave the room. The PADD might just contain some answers to fill the time with.