Plot Introduction Log “Memorias Rotundum”

Posted on Wed Sep 11th, 2013 @ 5:35am by Captain Landon Neyes

1,591 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Memorias Rotundum
Location: Starfleet Intelligence HQ - Earth

A Mission Post by Commander Denard Rask
Mission: Memorias Rotundum
Location: Starfleet Intelligence HQ - Earth
Timeline: Following "Unmasked"

= /= Plot Introduction – “Memorias Rotundum” =/=

Grabbing a cup of black coffee, Ascari quickly gulped down a mouthful. His diet these days consisted of Starfleet ration packs, energy and nutrient bars, and copious amounts of coffee. He barely had time to sleep let alone find the time to eat. Taking a bite of a chewy energy bar his comm line suddenly beeped forcing the captain to quickly chew the sticky mouthful. The line continued to beep as he poured in more coffee to speed the process. Swallowing a painful lump of half chewed honey almond something or another, Ascari opened the channel.

The image of Commander Birkin appeared. The man was a trusted and well respected officer. He was one of the few officers in intelligence Ascari felt he could actually trust.

“Sir, I thought you should know that field agent Rask has returned.”

Ascari’s eyebrow inched upwards at the mention of the agent’s name. He had been briefed on this agent’s activities and mission parameters. If he had returned then perhaps his mission had been successful? SFI could use every scrap of intelligence information and Rask’s information could be more valuable than a gold plated starship.

“Has he been debriefed”, he asked.

“No sir. He refused to speak to anyone except top brass. It appears he is aware of Admiral Douglas’s passing.”

Ascari nodded. The operation Rask was involved in was one of the Admiral’s pet projects prior to his untimely demise in Paris days earlier. The responsibility of the Admiral’s projects and their effects fell to him as the current interim director. “Birkin, verify he is who he claims to be. I want full a full genetic workup and a positive match of his EEG from our database. The Cardassians are excellent spymasters and I don’t want an imposter in our ranks. Also, restrict his access and monitor his movements and actions. Given the recent attacks we have to ensure he hasn’t been compromised or turned.”

“I’ll see to it sir.”

Ascari nodded. “As soon as we have positively confirmed his identity please inform me,”
The commander nodded as the channel closed. Ascari took another sip of coffee. Rask had the potential to shift the tide of the war back into their favor and give Starfleet a base from which to launch a fresh and successful offensive. It was if a gift basket had arrived. The captain was anxious, although wary, to unwrap it.

== Later – Starfleet intelligence Headquarters, San Francisco, Earth ==

Captain Ascari entered into the office where Commander Denard Rask was waiting. “Commander Rask”, he stated shaking the man’s hand. “Welcome home. I wish we were speaking under different circumstances however time is of the essence. I’m Sebastian Ascari. SFI operations have landed in my lap for the time being. As such, I’m afraid we’ll need to dispense with any pleasantries. I’ve been told you’re aware of Admiral Douglas and what occurred to Paris?”

Rask sighed as he quickly glanced around the room. Captain Lansine had warned him of the losses at Command, especially amongst the Admiral class. He'd known Douglas a long while, long enough to now have a lump in his chest as he stared at the man's apparent successor. Denard had never met Ascari, as with many other now in command of SFI, but that was the name of the game in the Intelligence field. Outside a close group of colleagues spooks tended to stay to themselves. It made getting past losses like this one easier.

“Yes, sir. I am aware of the change in command,” was all he offered. Perhaps it was the Cardassian-look he still sport, or perhaps the solemn sensation of seeing San Francisco in ruins. He had witness the attack from orbit and from a perspective not one other Starfleet officer could match, but now as he attempted to ingest the horrors on the ground he was struggling to find his words. “Douglas was a good man.”

Ascari nodded taking a seat. “Yes, the Admiral’s loss has been quite the blow. Still we must press on. I won’t beat around the bush commander. What information do you have? I pray you have something useful given the peril and hardships you’ve no doubt encountered.”

Rask let one large breath escape his lungs. His report was a long and perhaps paradigm-shifting. The events on Carida, while far beyond the Federation’s current battle lines, had begun to shape the Triad War in a way that very well could help them. Things however were quite precarious. What they did next could figure the outcome of the war.

“My assignment began six-months ago, sir, but I’m sure you’re quite aware of the details,” he stretched out his long scaly arms before leaning forward on the chair-back facing Ascari. The genetic changes done by their doctors those months ago had long held up. Dozens of opportunities for Cardassian doctors and scientists to discover his true identity had come and gone. The mastery of their medical team’s prototype genetic masking treatment had done him well.

“My cover story upon arriving on Carida held. General Neket’s security staff’s recent staff shortage had allowed for my transfer under the cover of Glinn Tekot, a Cardassian officer killed in a SFI Op nine months ago. I took what would have been his position as head of personal security for the Admiral.”

“Cardassian forces were at the time, still uninvolved, at least directly, with the conflict emerging across the quadrant. The war and the involvement of the Union alongside the Romulans and Tholians had yet to develop, but war production and Intelligence readiness in Cardassian space had obviously began. Military buildup, even in peacetime, is not unheard of in the Union, so my initial reactions lacked any sense of true suspicion.”

He paused and took a deep breath. It was relaxing to finally having the opportunity to tell his story—his true story. Months of following a concocted script written by Operational analysts, while tedious, was also exhausting. The truth was simple.

The truth made sense.

“But only a few weeks after I noticed the increase in military readiness and wartime production signs began pointing me in a different direction,” he paused again and this time produced a small isolinear stick from his utility pouch. “This data is an exact copy of the shipping manifests to and from Carida from the time of my initial suspicion till my exit three weeks ago,” Rask stopped as the Captain insert the small translucent green stick into his terminal port.

“You’ll notice a steady decrease immediately after… this point,” he pointed to the corresponding part of the report. “Cardassian outposts, especially strategically important outposts like Carida transfer a great deal of personnel and military assets off-world and receive numerous supplies from their logistics division every two weeks; that pattern is obvious in the states preceding this one.”

“It stops here. It stops and it never comes back; shipments to and from the planet cease.”

Ascari contemplated the information for several moments before responding. “A planetary emergency? Disease? Plague? Why would the planet be cut off if not for some calamity the Union wanted to perhaps…contain?”

“Had I not been on the surface I would have thought the same thing,” Rask replied, looking at the screen once more. “Cardassian Logistics Division is just as meticulous and calculating as our men,” or at least what used to be Starfleet Logistics and Personnel. “Supplies don’t get diverted without a reason, a reason that the officers at the top deem worthy. I was with the General every step of the way—nothing happened that would warrant changing our supply schedule. There was no rational reason for the embargo.”

Rask observed the Captain’s expression change before he chose to continue, “It didn’t take long for the effects of our supply shortage to begin affecting Cardassian forces. The Guls and most important officers managed to keep enough supplies to themselves to prevent all out anarchy amongst the commissioned cohort, but enlisted men were left to fend for themselves. Fuel, medical supplies and the vast majority of the food were cut off from the masses in order to hold onto operational control of the few ships and methods of transports out of the system. Carida, for its strategic position so close to Federation space, is fairly secluded when compared to other similar colonies.”

“Without the basic necessities the enlisted population began looking for an alternative source of food. Ever since Starfleet evacuated four years ago the small group of former Federation colonists on the other side of the planet has maintained a small farming community. It’s nowhere near the size it was while the Federation controlled the planet, but it was enough to tide over the enlisted Cardassians. Our reports were spotty—most efforts to control the hungry junior crew consisted of firing squads—not observation teams.”

Rask stopped to take a breath, his face distorted with a strange look—one not normally seen on Cardassian faces—guilt.

“They killed them. They killed all of them. Men, women, children. They took their food, took their land and then they butchered each and every one of them.


=/= End Part I =/=

Captain Sebastian Ascari
Deputy Director
Starfleet Intelligence

Commander Denard Rask
Covert Operations Officer
Starfleet Intelligence

 

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