13 Star Trek SID: Catalyst
Inspector Aradshin wy'Gist arrived at the Ministry of Internal Security headquarters ten minutes later. The Inspector had been coordinating a search for Bashir and Douglas, now that their real identities were known, across Andoria's third largest city on the other side of the planet. As disgruntled as he may have been at being pulled off the search, the Inspector was delighted to see Rockford once again.
"Celeste! It has been far too long," wy'Gist proclaimed as he hugged Rockford. The physical expression of affection was a rarity amongst Andorians towards aliens.
"It's good to see you again, Arad," Rockford admitted. She motioned Macen closer, "This is Brin Macen. He's my employer and my fiancé."
Arad's eyes widened, "Fiancé? Someone has finally laid claim to your heart? And here I'd hoped it would be me."
Rockford recognized his teasing tone for what it was, "Sorry Arad, you were too slow. A girl can't wait around forever."
"But to be sleeping with the boss?" Arad wouldn't let it go just yet, "Positively shocking."
"Well, we still haven't established who's boss just yet," Rockford grinned, "He bought my detective agency but we view ourselves as partners rather than employer/employee."
"So I take it I'm here at your request?" Arad inquired.
"That's correct, Arad," Rockford confirmed it, "Our agency is assisting in locating and capturing Commander Bashir and Lt. Commander Douglas."
"But you said your fiancé bought your agency. What agency are you operating under now?" Arad sought clarification.
Rockford gave him a rueful look, "It would've been easier if Superintendent Irak had briefed you on this."
She turned to Macen, "You mind jumping in now?"
Macen smiled, "Just waiting for the go ahead."
"Well, it's given already, you poop," Rockford cajoled him.
"The Rockford Agency is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Outbound Ventures, Inc." Macen supplied the answer Arad sought.
"I have heard of Outbound Ventures," Arad admitted, "Until recent days it was spoken of very favorably."
"I can imagine how that's changed," Macen wryly admitted, "Recent events seem to have pitted my agency against the interests of the current administration."
"Indeed, but then again there are a few that question the current Emperor's political appetites," Arad slyly put in and then he changed the conversation's course, "Tell me, is this a Starfleet investigation?"
"Not as such," Macen admitted, "The Tellarite government hired Outbound Ventures to investigate the growing piracy problem surrounding the joint colonies."
"Which our newly crowned leader decries as a falsehood," Arad said with a disgusted air, "The pirates are, in reality, hapless Imperial citizens who are mere sightseers to the region."
"Well, there's truth and then there's truth," Macen shared.
"Indeed," Arad agreed, "So which version of the truth brings you to Andoria?"
"Starfleet," Macen confessed with an amused grin.
"Bt you just said..." Arad began.
Macen held up a hand to ward off the protest, "I'm doing a favor for a favorite client. Perhaps you've heard of Starfleet's Special Investigation Division?
"I've heard the usual public affairs statements and the general rumors regarding it," Arad shared, "Why would the SID be interested in our affairs?"
"They're interested in Bashir and Douglas' affairs," Macen revealed, "Their CO is a personal friend of mine. She referred the matter to me and I, in turn, informed the SID."
"Informed them of what?" Arad knew they were nearing the heart of the matter now.
"Bashir and Douglas were recruited for this assassination," Macen divulged, "By Section 31."
"Tread carefully," Arad warned, "Even in these halls it is not safe to discuss S31."
"All the more reason to discuss it then," Macen insisted, "My crew and I had a truce with Section 31 up until the Cell 51 crisis. Afterwards, they violated that truce and now we find ourselves pitted against them once again."
"Arad, you're holding out on us," Rockford ventured, "What gives?"
Arad grimaced, "I'm sorry, Celeste. I've been involved with a series of investigations were well placed officials have either disappeared or suddenly died of 'natural' causes. These officials shared one commonality. They all opposed the Empire's expansionist agenda."
"You make it sound as though the Empire plans to expand beyond retaking the joint colonies," Rockford realized.
"Plans are in motion that while Starfleet is distracted, the Empire will move to seize nearby star systems. And continue to do so until we control the sector," Arad confessed.
"But Andoria shares the sector with Vulcan," Macen reminded Arad.
Arad nodded, "As I understand it, that has already been taken into account."
"And that is a blatant act of war," Rockford accused.
"Yes, it is," Arad said clinically, "But that is the purview of the Emperor. Our entire system is designed to indulge him and cover his tracks if he has committed any acts of malfeasance."
"Then we have a problem," Macen grimly concluded.
Douglas and Bashir reached the maglev train terminal in the heart of the Imperial capitol. Douglas immediately proceeded to a public comm booth while Bashir kept a wary eye out for law enforcement officers. Douglas used her padd to input L'Haan's secure comm panel. The padd also contained an invasive tapeworm program that scrubbed the comm link address out of the terminal's memory.
"I see you are still free to maneuver," L'Haan dryly observed.
"We need to know where to rendezvous with our contact," Douglas informed her.
"No contact will be meeting you. In thirty minutes an extraction attempt will be made at these coordinates," L'Haan transferred the data to Douglas' padd, "If you are not present for the transporter targeting sensors to acquire you, you will be abandoned to your fate. If you make it off Andoria, you know where to proceed."
Douglas nodded, "Understood."
"Another thing, Agent Douglas," L'Haan spoke before Douglas could sever the connection, "It has been deemed that Dr. Bashir is now a liability. Throw him to the Ministry of Internal Security so that the Imperial Guard can have their way with him. It will distract your pursuers and terminate a loose end."
"I don't..." Douglas began to protest.
L'Haan interrupted, "Sarina, Internal Security knows your actual identities. Your cover at Deep Space Nine has been broken. Even if Bashir were to make it off Andoria, we would give him up to Starfleet for a court martial."
"But..." Douglas feebly began.
"You have your orders, Sarina," L'Haan said coldly and with logical precision, "Section 31 requires your services. Bashir was always just an option. That option no longer serves the agency's needs."
"Understood," Douglas said grimly.
"Get underway then," L'Haan instructed.
Douglas closed down the connection and wanted to cry out in frustration.
"Our Starfleet officers have been sighted at the maglev terminal," Arad informed Macen and Rockford after conferring with a subordinate.
"Which city?" Rockford asked.
"This one," Arad said, "I've already alerted local assets. The transporter awaits us."
"Let me gather my team," Macen said.
The SID team split into three units upon reaching the train station. Each group was accompanied by an Internal Security officer. Arad stuck with Macen and Rockford.
Local officers established a perimeter around the station grounds. Arad had ordered the trains to be held until officers searched them. Manpower was still being mobilized and assembled. As the streets around the station platforms were surrounded by law enforcement officials, Douglas and Bashir become acutely aware of the manhunt descending upon them.
They exited their train and started making for an exit out of the busy yard. Rockford spotted the pair as they attempted to flee. Arad escorted Macen and Rockford as they began to pursue the Starfleet pair.
"It's them!" Douglas shouted, pointing at her pursuers, "It's the Emperor's assassins! Get them!"
The crowd began to move in on Macen and Rockford but Arad shouted them down, "These people are assisting Internal Security in apprehending the real assassins. Those were the people that tricked you into blocking us. Now get out of the way!"
The confused crowd wondered why an Internal Security officer was with imperial assassins. But they heeded his words and slowly parted so the trio could get a glimpse of where Douglas and Bashir had gone. But Macen, Rockford, and Arad were dismayed to discover the Starfleet fugitives were long gone.
Douglas and Bashir hurried across the courtyard and straight into Daggit and McMasters. The Andorian Internal Security officer with them held back and called in reinforcements while Daggit and McMasters chose their opponents. It was obvious from Douglas' stance that Sarina was the fighter between them. So Daggit faced off with her.
But Bashir had a few tricks up his sleeve. While McMasters tried to take hold of him, Bashir pressed a hypospray against the engineer's neck. It injected with a hiss and McMasters slowly sank to the ground. His Andorian counterpart shot Bashir.
Douglas snapped off a round kick that connected with Daggit's jaw. Despite being warned she was genetically enhanced it hadn't occurred to him that would place Douglas in Hannah Grace's caliber. She was marginally faster than he was and he took several blows before he responded with a backhand that nearly tore Douglas' head off.
She stepped back and revealed a Type I "Cricket" phaser she'd been holding in reserve. Nearly depleting its powerpack into Daggit, he went down but wasn't quite out. A shouted warning alerted her to the Internal Security officer. She whipped around killed him.
Checking on Bashir, she ascertained he was still alive. Despite her misgivings it seemed L'Haan's instructions were going to be carried out. She rose to her feet and cried to gather help for the slain officer. She slipped away in the resultant confusion.
P'ris and Grace had the fortune, or misfortune, of intercepting Douglas as she fled the scene. Their Internal Security escort was tending to her compatriot while the perimeter forces descended on the platform. P'ris drew her Bajoran made phaser and held it on Douglas.
Even with reflexes three times faster than a human's, P'ris was taken by surprise when Douglas deftly disarmed her by inverting her wrist and wresting the phaser free. P'ris tried to close the distance in order to limit the use of her stolen phaser. Douglas responded by applying a Vulcan nerve pinch. P'ris' eyes went wide with alarm as she realized what was occurring.
"Nice," Grace applauded, "But that won't work against me."
Douglas knew the Kelvan wasn't lying. The epitome of human genetics at this stage of evolution, Grace was more than a physical match for Douglas. And then there were the Kelvan's mysterious energy/matter manipulation abilities. Grace had been stripped of her Attuner device that supposedly controlled her native abilities. But the abilities were inborn. Who was to say Grace hadn't found a way to harness them?
"Maybe you're right," Douglas slid the phaser's powerpack free. Then she accessed the emitter array. Slapping the powerpack back into its receptacle she pulled the phaser's trigger.
"This phaser is now building up to an overload detonation," Douglas informed Grace, "Do what you need to do."
She dropped the phaser onto P'ris' fallen form and then sprinted away. Grace cursed Douglas as she lifted the phaser off of P'ris. Encasing the phaser in a green energy matrix, she held on to it until it exploded.
Winded, Grace rocked back onto her heels as Macen, Rockford, and Arad approached. Macen rested a hand on her shoulder to steady her, "Easy, Hannah. That couldn't have been easy. But you did good work. You just saved dozens of lives."
"But I lost our fugitive," Grace complained.
"We have Bashir," Macen informed her, "So Sarina may come after him."
Grace shook her head, "S31 doctrine is to abandon fallen agents in the field. She's gone and gone for good."
"Please do not underestimate my people's resolve or resources," Arad requested, "She has slain our former emperor. No stone shall be untouched in our quest to avenge him."
"Good luck with that," Grace said without much conviction.
Macen knew she spoke from experience. At one time she'd been the secondary Section 31 mole amongst his team. Macen turned to see Rockford using her tricorder from her utility belt.
"There's a transporter trace reminiscent of the one Captain Data employs," she shared.
"And how would you know about that?" Macen wondered.
"I have my ways," she smirked, "If I gave away all my secrets you wouldn't need me on the team anymore."
"Never happen," Macen promised, "You'll always be needed."
Rockford smiled, "You make my heart go pitter patter with the way you say that. But for all intents and purposes, Sarina Douglas is long gone. The range on one of those personal transporters isn't great but it's well beyond out little cordon. I think it's time to tell Arad to start breaking down doors."
"And they will too," Macen commented.
"It's no longer our world or our way," Rockford reminded him, "Let them do their jobs their way in peace."
Arad approached, "I have begun outward sweeps stemming from this location. Commander Douglas will be found. I promise you that."
"Could I speak with your prisoner after you have him remanded into custody?" Macen inquired.
"It is irregular but I shall see what I can arrange," Arad agreed.
"Then I guess we return to your headquarters and await another sighting," Macen realized.
"Too true," Arad said sadly, "I shall be most vexed if Commander Douglas gains her freedom."
Macen and Rockford exchanged a look that agreed with Arad's sentiment.
Bashir was placed in a holding cell while he was guarded by a team of Internal Security officers. The Imperial Guard was already howling to get their hands on him. So far, Irak hadn't caved in. Arad bolstered his position and eventually Emperor Thor intervened and gave Internal Security primacy on the case. The SID team met this news with skepticism.
Meanwhile, Macen got a report from Jonathan Pryce regarding the Outbound Ventures deployment. The Andorian naval units had sabered rattled enough to keep the three starships on the border. During this period of time, the Lug Nut and its convoy were attacked.
The pirates were beaten off with minimal property losses but when the Outbound Ventures ships made to pursue, the Andorians intervened. Citing that they were protecting their own citizens from "unprovoked Tellarite aggression".
But the Lug Nut had taken concrete scans of the pirate ships. They were uniformly of Andorian origin, wielded Type VIII phaser, and possessed micro-photon torpedo racks. It seemed the Andorians' operation was beginning to unravel because of the security firm's presence.
Macen instructed Pryce to forward all of the evidence on to the closest Starfleet Starbase and hope for a swift reply and even swifter action. Arad held his tongue while Macen relayed these instructions. When Macen had closed the circuit, Arad approached him.
Macen and Arad met Bashir in an interrogation room. Behind the holograms and force fields, Rockford, P'ris, and Grace observed alongside Superintendent Irak and two Inspectors. Irak and the others knew from experience that Rockford was a skilled investigator. P'ris, as a commanding agent of the Tal Shiar, was also undoubtedly skill at interrogation techniques. Grace, however, was a veritable unknown.
But Grace had a long standing flirtatious relationship with Julian Bashir before she'd met Ian Delaney. Grace had loathed letting Bashir down when she and Delaney grew serious about one another and eventually married. He'd been invited to the wedding but hadn't attended.
Bashir had spoken of Sarina Douglas before. So he knew the Doctor pined away for her. He had stronger feelings for Douglas than he ever had for Captain Ezri Dax. Which was saying something. Bashir, though gregarious and charming, had led an isolated existence. So it was easy to see how Douglas had managed to dupe him.
The observers all settled down as Macen and Arad sat across a table from Bashir. Macen noted with grim amusement that Bashir was shackled. Given Douglas' performance against the SID investigators and Internal Security's officers, they weren't taking any chances with their only apprehended assassin.
"I wasn't aware Federation civilians still operated on Andoria," Bashir spoke first.
"Nor was I aware that Starfleet officers conducted covert operations on my world," Arad countered.
"Apparently it wasn't a Starfleet operation," Bashir said grimly, "So let's not blame the wrong people here."
"Then who are the right people?" Arad wondered.
"Emperor Thor. He gave Sarina access to Thrak so that she could kill the emperor and pave Thor's way to the throne," Bashir stated, "Now, I've given you what you want. Why is Captain Macen here?"
Macen knew Bashir was gauging his captor's intentions towards him, "My company has a license to operate within the Andorian Empire, Doctor. A fact that I think you are aware off since your CO and I are close friends."
"Yes, Captain Ro has always spoken highly of you. Ever since I met her after the Dominion War when she came aboard the old Deep Space Nine, she has valued her friendship with you. She has also respected your skills as an investigator and a...shall we say, universal troubleshooter?" Bashir recounted.
"I know Sarina Douglas duped you into this mission on Section 31's behalf," Macen shared, "The visual log from the Emperor's chamber places the blame on Lt. Commander Douglas. It also casts a few implications on Emperor Thor's actions."
"I can persuade our prosecutors to shy away from the death penalty and seek long term imprisonment for your part in this fiasco, Doctor," Arad revealed, "In exchange for leniency, you will testify as to Emperor Thor's complicit guilt in arranging Thrak's murder."
"How lenient is lenient?" Bashir inquired.
"Pardon me?" Arad scoffed, "Are you daring to bargain with me? You will receive no less than life in prison and call it good. While you did not pull the trigger, you also did not stop your lover from doing so. That makes you a willing accessory to a premeditated murder. My people don't look kindly upon such things."
"I did not come to Andoria to rot in jail," Bashir argued.
"No, you came to kill an emperor so his replacement could be seated on the throne," Macen said coldly, "You don't have a bargaining position here. Take the deal and you'll have the rest of your life to wonder why Sarina abandoned you to Andorian justice."
"I don't think she has," Bashir rebutted Macen's statement, "Not yet, anyway."
Arad rose, "Enjoy your fantasy world, Doctor. May it comfort you when you are executed."
Macen left the room with Arad and Bashir was herded back to his holding cell by a team of four Internal Security officers. Arad stopped when he reached the observation room. Irak noted his Inspector's antennas were twitching in an alarmed fashion.
"Something's wrong, isn't it?" Irak asked.
"Bashir is too confident of his eventual release," Arad ventured, "I suggest that it is within the realm of possibility he will either receive an Imperial pardon or be transferred into Starfleet's custody."
"What can we do?" Irak wondered plaintively, "The Emperor's word is law."
"But who made Thor emperor?" Macen gently inquired.
Every turned on him, "If Thor can be made emperor, it goes to figure he can be unmade as well."
All the Andorians stared at one another in mute horror save Arad, "The Council of Ministers selects the Emperor from among their own ranks."
"And how do you suppose they'd respond to your video log?" Macen had to ask.
"They would probably remove Thor from office," Arad admitted, "But it is unprecedented."
"Not quite," a young inspector with a padd looked up from her reading, "It has a precedent."
Now every eye was on her. Irak broke the expectant silence, "Tell as Jarra. What precedent are you referring to?"
If Jarra was intimidated by the scrutiny, it didn't show, "The One Hundred and Fortieth Conclave of Ministers removed the sitting emperor. He was replaced by the only Empress Andoria has ever enjoyed."
Irak noted the smugness in Jarra's voice, "There was a reason why we only had one Empress, Inspector Jarra."
"It is because the male sexes are afraid of the female genders on our world," Jarra asserted.
"This is dangerously close to being a political discussion," Irak warned, "And Contravention Order Four prohibits political discussion in the law enforcement workplace. Particularly sentiments that could be considered radical."
"Radical would be bringing up the fact we've lost forty percent of our fertile couplings," Jarra countered, "We're losing twelve percent of our population to old age and other causes every year but our birth rate is only five percent."
"You are dismissed, Inspector Jarra!" Irak thundered.
Jarra shot him an impassive glare and marched out of the room. Irak sighed, "The younger officers are all closet radicals these days. They fault the Federation for not rendering what they deem as sufficient aid and agitate for greater cooperation with the Typhon Pact."
"Sir, I'm taking our evidence to the Council of Ministers," Arad announced, "I would appreciate it of you accompanied me. If not I will require that you at least alert them that they need to convene."
"I'll come with you," Irak assured him, "I've always wanted to make history."
The Superintendent turned to Macen, "If you and your crew would stand by. I received word that one of your crewmen transported to the surface. She has important matters to discuss with you. We'll bring her to headquarters for your convenience before you leave."
"Are you certain you don't want us to stay on?" Macen inquired.
"Thank you but no," Irak said firmly, "We have our culprit and I have a feeling you have other places to be to complicate matters."
That statement confirmed what Macen already had suspected. Irak had monitored his conversation with Captain Pryce. Irak simply wanted a potential thorn in the Imperial side gone.
"Thank you for the privilege of working with you all," Macen said graciously. A data clerk stepped up to escort the team to the transporter room. The sight of Rhiann awaiting them told him his fears were being realized.
"I'm sorry to see you go, Rhiann," Macen confided with her, "You've always been one of the most dependable members of the crew throughout its various ships and guises."
Rhiann looked miserable, "I wish I could stay on. I really do. But when someone forces you to choose between friends and your planet, the choice becomes an easier one."
"No one faults you, Rhiann. Good luck," Macen pressed his palm against hers, "You'll go far."
She wore a shy smile, "I've already been posted to an Andorian starship. I'm the chief helmsman and the Second Officer."
"Congrats, kiddo," Grace hugged her fellow pilot, "Take care of yourself."
"You too," Rhiann's eyes threatened to brim over with tears, "And you're only a year older than me."
"A year can mean a lot," Grace winked.
Everyone said their goodbyes before mounting the transporter platform. Telrik was contacted and the transports synched. Next, the SID team appeared aboard the Solstice.
Everyone scattered while Macen contacted Forger, "Make way for the disputed colonies, Shannon. By the way, who's manning the helm?"
"Radil, and she still can't stop sneezing, so we don't want her there if we're to see combat," Forger advised.
"It'll be a few days before we see combat again," Macen promised.
"Okay, we're headed out," Forger replied, "By the way, I don't know what you all were up to but the Andorian's have a new emperor."
"Anyone we know?" Rockford suddenly chime din.
"A Minister Shan accepted the post," Forger revealed, "The former minister of Military Affairs to be precise."
"Great. A headache in the making," Rockford complained.
"Isn't it though," Forger mused, "Now if you'll excuse me, my baby mama is coming unglued."
Rockford smirked at Macen, "Well, Shannon is certainly taking to fatherhood...motherhood...we have got to figure out these descriptors!"
"How about over dinner?" Macen asked.
"Know anyplace special?" Rockford grinned.
"There's a little cafe right down the corridor," Macen joined in the illusion, "Has great ambience and friendly staff and customers."
"You're on!" Rockford enthused.