Disclaimer: I still don't own STVoyager see also Chapter one
Operation: Information Overload.
Janeway:
The Admiral had finally managed to gain full unlimited access to her ship – Voyager where she stood on the plaza especially strengthen hard ground surface within the Academy grounds in San Francisco awaiting her fate. The decision had been made by the Starfleet Brass to turn her into a museum as a tribute to her and her crew's endeavours in beating the odds of a 70,000 light year journey to return home; yet this plan had not gone down well with her captain or crew as they felt the ship needed to be in space not stuck on the ground to be gawped at and trampled all over, but who were they to say!
In the meantime she was just standing idle having been trampled on – so-to-speak – in the last few mouths and examined by every department in Starfleet, except perhaps those who seemed intent on harming the ship and her crew, something Janeway, Elliot and Robin Hood were trying to unmask.
On the afternoon that they'd left The Night Owl they had arrived at the ship and had taken up residence to review all the data in the ships' mainframe computer: archives, logs, duty rotas, daily reports – how she had detested those on their long journey – personnel data, security upgrades, sensor data and the like, in fact anything and everything. They didn't look for any specific dates or data they just reviewed and made notes with paper and pencil which they shared non-verbally.
Those listening in remotely via electronic means, found them struggling to make sense of all the information flowing across Voyager's main consoles, whilst trying to hide their own activities with regards to the ship and her crew, especially the Command Team.
=/\=
Pathfinder:
Here Admiral Paris set his staff the task of unravelling all the events surrounding Voyager's return and what had followed and like Janeway they reviewed all data, interviews with FNN, PR events, daily reports from Pathfinder, Admiralty and Starfleet Medical – that threw up some unexpected finds – security logs, duty rotas, crew evaluations, de-briefings and the like.
Again the eavesdroppers were puzzled as there was no discernible pattern as to what Pathfinder was attempting to find, whilst hiding their own surveillance via electronic means; thus they missed all the vital clues for these were being written down the old fashion way using paper and pencil. Tom Paris knew this method was alien to most within Pathfinder, but it was deemed a necessity to keep the Blacks and others out or even guessing what the common theme of their search was and that they – whoever they were - couldn't hide from righteous Justice that they weren't above the Law.
=/\=
At the same time Fleet Admiral Necheyev initiated a surprise inspection tour of the whole Fleet starting with those currently close to Earth and in main space dock, either for due maintenance, shore leave or a change of personnel, seemingly picking a ship or station at random to view. No-one knew which Fleet ship she would visit next as the only warning she gave them was when she needed to be beamed aboard.
Whilst the ship's Captain kept her entertained, her inspection teams went over the vessel or station with a fine tooth comb, reviewing daily reports, maintenance logs, security, archives, duty rotas, as well as carrying out an evaluation of crew morale and general physical health, thus Sickbay's and Counsellors were busy too.
On each tour she varied the routine a little just to keep the whole Fleet on their toes as she knew the inter-ship grapevine would be busy informing others in the Fleet of her teams' schedule. Sometimes she would get the ship she was inspecting to take her to her next one, other times she used a private vessel, or even a combination of both, or go from space station to ship and/or vice-versa.
She smiled to herself as she stood awaiting her transport to her next visit from the JAG outpost to the Fleet's Flagship USS Enterprise. She and her team were greeted by Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Commander William T. Riker, in transporter room three; she wasted no time and ordered Riker to escort her teams for the inspection process, ignoring his rather bemused expression at being dismissed in such an off-hand manner; she also dismissed the transporter technician, thankful that both Riker and the Tech had obeyed without question. Once alone with a bemused and puzzled Captain did she turn to speak with him directly.
"Just answer my next questions, Captain Picard and we'll see," she said, her tone foreboding answering his unspoken questions.
"Very well, Admiral," he agreed, in his usual business manner.
"When was your vessel last in space dock for a full maintenance check?"
"Six months ago as per schedule," frowning a little as she could have looked that up for herself.
"Have you been in space dock since then especially Earth space dock; received any supplies from Earth's Quartermaster recently or a change of personnel, either directly from Earth dock or via a vessel from that sector?"
Negative!" he responded.
"Good. Bridge," she said and led the way out. Their journey there was a silent affair as Picard mulled over what she'd asked and what he'd heard via the Grapevine, itching to ask questions of his own about this whole inspection tour, but one look at the woman Admiral's face told him none would be forthcoming at that moment. When they arrived she made straight for his Ready Room, ignoring the rest of the Bridge crew and ordering Lt. Cmdr. Data to join them.
Once absconded inside she asked the same questions of the android officer and he gave the same answers with some additional details as to which space dock the scheduled maintenance had taken place and that it wasn't anywhere within Earth's sector.
"Thank you, Commander," she said sighing deeply relieved. "Now I want you to take this and find a common denominator," she told the android handing him a notepad – the same one from Voyager's family picnic – not that Lt. Cmdr. Data was aware of that fact.
"Understood, Admiral."
"And Commander, Do not under any circumstances commit anything you find to electronic data devices," her order firm.
"Acknowledged, Admiral," he said and looked at the paper notepad. "May I?" he queried mildly. She nodded with a smile and dismissed him.
"Tea," Picard offered holding out a newly replicated cup of her favourite blend.
"Thank you," she sighed taking the cup and a seat.
"Admiral?" he asked joining her on the sofa couch sipping his own Earl Grey tea that he'd ordered whilst she spoke with Data. "Conspiracy?" he asked mildly, having noted her guarded look.
"I hope not, Jean-Luc; and yet I can't rule out that possibility at this stage," she admitted quietly. "Operation Information Overload."
"Intriguing! Can you tell me more?"
"You can thank one Lt. Thomas Paris for the name," she grinned a moment, sipping her tea in quiet contemplation of the man beside her and the events surrounding Voyager, her crew and her XO the vanished Cmdr. Chakotay.
=/\=
NB: I suppose this part could be a crossover, yet it is not. More intrigue to follow!?
