Chapter 12

In the observation area adjacent to the interview room, Brown stared through the one-way glass at Commodore North's azure attacker, who sat silently at the table. Colonel Kostopoulos and Guardsman Threv accompanied him as they discussed the recent bizarre turn of events.

The door opened to admit Captain Thorpe, Starbase 1's burly First Officer.

"Commodore North is stable but recovering," Thorpe reported. "He lost a lot of blood. Doctor T'Ling says he's lucky though; another few centimetres to the right and he'd be the one with an artificial heart now."

"That's good," said Brown, turning back to the window.

Thorpe nodded towards the interview room. "Has our Andorian friend said anything?"

"No," said Brown. "But he's not Andorian."

"What?" said Thorpe, his chiselled features contorting in confusion.

Brown handed the captain a padd. "I had a medical scan conducted after one of his antennae fell off. He's Orion."

Wide-eyed, Thorpe looked up from the padd. "Orion?"

Brown gestured to Threv. "Guardsman, tell him what you told us."

Kostopoulos had called for Threv in the hope that a fellow Andorian might know something about the attacker - before they discovered he was not, in fact, Andorian at all. Threv had still been able to shed some light on the matter though.

"Um, as you know, sir," the genuine Andorian began, "Orions come in a variety of colours, it's just that the green ones are more common."

"Uh-huh," said Thorpe, obviously wondering where this was going.

Threv seemed embarrassed to have stated the obvious. "Uh, well, for years now, the Orion Syndicate has occasionally infiltrated the Andorian Empire by using Grey Orions as spies to impersonate Thalassan Andorians."

Thorpe was confused, just as Brown had been. "Thalassan?"

"A ethnic minority of Andorians," Threv explained. "They have different antennae, and they are paler in skin colour. Some can even seem greyish-blue."

Thorpe nodded, now understanding. "Hence why Grey Orions can pass for them. With some fake antennae, of course."

"Yes, sir."

Folding his arms across his broad chest, Thorpe now looked back at Brown. "Is this related to Bird's murder?"

"I'm not sure, Captain," said Brown. He was growing uncomfortable with the number of uncertainties in this case. "The timing seems too coincidental, but he was much more reckless. Brazen."

"Could be a Syndicate hit," said Kostopoulos. "The Commodore made himself an enemy of them a couple of months ago for taking in those refugees."

"Maybe," said Brown, rubbing his chin. "I doubt our friend will be willing to talk either way."

Thorpe smirked. "I might know someone who can help."

"He's not a member of an assassin's guild anyway," said Sal as she stepped up to the observation window. "Much too young, and too sloppy in his attempt."

Captain Thorpe had assured Brown that the buxom diner owner was an expert on the Orions, but wouldn't elaborate further. Regardless of her sources, Sal had indeed been quite informative and willing to help. She was full of surprises.

"Threv was right," Sal continued. "Grey Orions are sometimes used as Andorian spies, but usually just for information-gathering, rarely for assassination. I'd say your boy here-" she lightly tapped the glass "-is trying to make a name for himself by taking out an enemy of the Syndicate."

"North," said Brown.

Sal nodded. "That's not the Syndicate's style though. They prefer cluros - slow, cordial revenge. So, he's probably acting independently."

She turned to face Brown, Thorpe and Kostopoulos. "There's been slave rebellions across Orion territory since you guys took in those refugees. Not all successful, but it's a start. And, with this Federation coming, the Syndicate's worried there's gonna be a crackdown on their activities in this part of the quadrant." She pointed a thumb back at the window. "This kid's probably trying to move up in the world before he's made to replace the dwindling slave numbers."

Thorpe sighed. "Thanks, Sal. So, he's probably nothing to do with the murder?"

"I doubt it," said Sal. "Just bad timing on his part."

"I dunno," said Brown. "Something still seems… off. I feel he's involved, but I'm not sure why…"

"Any ideas on getting him to talk?" Kostopoulos asked Sal.

Sal and Thorpe shared a look. "I could give it a try," Sal said.

"She does have a way of... getting people to open up," said Thorpe.

Brown shook his head. "I appreciate it, Sal, but we need to do this by-the-book. Any ideas you might have would help though."

The Draylaxian frowned in thought for a moment. "He'll be scared, but that might just make him clamp up more, rather than spill. The Syndicate won't hold a high opinion of him for getting caught."

Brown contemplated this.

"I have an idea…"

Brown entered the interview room. The Orion boy - with one false antenna still absurdly sticking out of his white wig - half-turned to look at him, but remained quiet.

"Lennoc, is it?" Brown asked. This was the name the Orion had registered under for the expo, although it was likely fake. "You're free to go."

Lennoc - or whatever he was actually called - looked incredulously from Brown to the open door.

"E-Excuse me?" the boy said.

"You're free to go," Brown repeated. "Commodore North is fine and doesn't want to press charges, so we have no reason to hold you."

While it was true that North was recovering, the part about not pressing charges was a bluff. Brown was hoping that the kid was too inexperienced to pick that up.

Sure enough, Lennoc slowly rose. Although clearly unsure of what was happening, he started towards the door.

"Of course," Brown added, halting Lennoc, "if you, an Orion, were arrested for attacking a known enemy of the Syndicate and were then let go with no charges, it may look a little suspicious." He couldn't help smirking. "Might look as though you made some sort of deal with Starfleet. A deal for information on the Syndicate, for example."

"But I don't-" Lennoc blurted out, stopping himself with embarrassment as he realised he was about to give away too much.

"Don't actually work for the Syndicate?" Brown finished for him. "I'm sure you don't. But the problem with big, shady organisations like the Orion Syndicate is that, often, the left hand doesn't know what the right is doing. Not all factions may realise that you're a free agent. Or maybe they'll just think that you gave us general information on Orion activities. Either way, you're definitely never gonna work for them. You'll probably be a prime candidate for slavery, in fact."

Lennoc looked down nervously at this.

Now to reel him in, thought Brown.

"If you did tell us why you attacked Commodore North, however, we might be convinced to press charges and arrest you. Your cooperation would ensure a lighter sentence, and you could even apply for asylum when released, as so many of your brethren have."

The young Orion was obviously torn, face screwed up in indecision.

Brown stepped closer to Lennoc, speaking softly. "There's two choices, son: Walk out of here and take your chances with the Syndicate… or face your punishment and get the opportunity to live a better life."

After a long moment, Lennoc slowly sank back into his chair. Brown took the seat opposite him.

"I… I thought if I could kill North, I'd make my way up the Syndicate ranks," Lennoc began.

"Why North?" Brown asked.

Lennoc shrugged. "He was the closest enemy of the Syndicate. I don't have enough money to travel very far. I just didn't know how to get close enough to him… Then I heard about this trade expo."

Brown frowned. "How did that help?"

"I could easily get a weapon onto the base if I pretended I was showcasing it. I figured a laser pistol would seem innocent enough, especially if I made it seem non-functional."

Suddenly, a bolt of realisation hit Brown.

The laser.

An electromagnetic beam weapon.

The likes of which might have been used to overload Reena Bird's artificial heart.

Lasers were so damn primitive and outdated that he'd completely forgotten about it, but it must have been at the back of his mind somewhere, hence his suspicion of Lennoc.

The Orion was still speaking. "Posing as an Andorian seemed like a good way to avoid attention too. North was supposed to tour the expo on the last day, but this damn murder changed that, I guess. So, I had to improvise before the expo ended. Used a piece of broken metal. Stupid." He cradled his head.

But Brown had more important matters than the boy's confession to deal with now.

"Why didn't you use your laser?" he asked.

Lennoc looked up at him. "That guy at the expo took it. Said his boss wanted to inspect it for investment potential. I didn't see that coming, but he told me it would be returned the next day. He still has it though."

Brown had a sinking feeling in his gut that he already knew the answer to his next question.

"What guy?"

"The dead woman's assistant," said Lennoc. "Keenan."