Mischief Managed
Posted on Mon Oct 3rd, 2022 @ 3:36pm by Captain Akiva ben-Avram & Warrant Officer Laena ben-Avram & Gregorio Emanuel de Castillo-Bartres
4,566 words; about a 23 minute read
Mission:
S1E5: Symphony of Horror
Location: Theta-Corvus system
Timeline: MD 4
"The USS Holana was requisitioned under Authorization Sigma-9-Theta," Akiva explained for the nth time from the helm of the runabout, "just like every other asset. Before Memory Theta had a dedicated ship for field missions, this agency temporarily requisitioned ships and equipment all the time. I am running out of ways to explain it."
The trip from DS9 in Bajoran space to the utter reaches of the Theta-Corvus system had been an insufferable debate over bureaucratic policy and proper use of command authorization. That Mrazak had left an entire system on lockdown before running off on another wild goose chase was bad enough. Before Akiva knew that Gregorio, the new political officer from the Federation's diplomatic service was going to tag along, he had invited Laena to join him for the company and for the chance to talk more about their complicated relationship. No such luck.
Gregorio reclined in his seat at the back of the runabout as he looked at his fingernails considering the situation. He had little choice but to accompany Captain ben-Avram in an attempt to smooth over Mrazak's latest fuckup, but he was trying to figure why one Laena ben-Avram was there. It didn't take much digging to find she was married to Akiva, 9 years her senior. It didn't take much digging past that to realize they met and married violating several dozen regulations. None of which was his problem. "As much as I love sitting in awkward silence in between rounds of listening to you deal with people that Mrazak has pissed off, and wondering why Mrs. Akiva ben-Avram is here, but we should at least try to figure out what exactly Mrazak has done this time that apparently we by which I mean I have to attempt to fix."
"Nobody asked you to come along, you know," Akiva said to Gregorio with a cross sidelong look. "I was going to attend to the matter personally. The Theta-Corvus system merely requires the repeal of a Theta quarantine, something for which I do not require aid from you."
"Asked, no. Ordered yes. Lest you forget, your inability to control the Vulcan is the proximate cause of my being assigned to Memory Theta. While repealing the quarantine is a good first step, apparently, you missed or are choosing to ignore the rest: the INS flagship, the anti-matter explosion in the capital, the assassination of one of the seniormost government officials, and that's just what we know about currently. Shall we take bets on some other form of chaos having occurred that we don't yet know about? I'm sure you can handle losing a few."
Akiva refused to deign the insult with a response other than, "I am not a man of usury." Stifling any other snide comment with a soft snort from his nose, he said, "What your reports were unable to include is that some sort of biological outbreak in the major population centers of Corvus Prime has resulted in the collapse of infrastructure within a number of cities. The cause of the crisis appears to be the failure of a proprietary compound to regulate the side-effects of an endemic syndrome known as Corvan Dhampirism. It's the regulation of said syndrome that constitutes the world's affiliation with the Federation and reversed the world's status as a colonial failure. As much as I would love to blame the dire events of an entire world on Captain Mrazak, only a fool would actually think to do so." The look he shot at Gregorio was mixed with resentment and respect. "As someone who has brought a case against him before and lost due to backroom dealings, I know whereof I speak." Looking ahead at the main display and helm readout, Akiva sighed. "I can't lift the system quarantine until I can determine it's safe to do so. Looking for someone to blame is a secondary objective."
Laena kept quiet. She was hoping for this trip to be another step in the healing process between her and Akiva, though the lack of privacy was certainly getting in the way. All she could do for now was support him in any way she could. Without turning towards him, she snaked her arm under the console and rested in gently on his thigh, giving it a light squeeze. She looked at him and gave a soft smile, hoping it would bring him some comfort and maybe help alleviate the heightened emotions she could feel in the cockpit.
The situation being what it was, Akiva was startled by the gesture. Public displays of affection were lightyears beyond him, and that would be true without a scrutinizing apprentice bureaucrat on hand to levy judgmental looks and even more judgmental remarks. He still gave her hand a squeeze, though, in appreciation of the moral support.
Gregorio shrugged. "I should have specified I was only including items that occurred after the pointy-eared monstrosity showed up. As much as I'd like to, you are correct that we, unfortunately, cannot blame him for things that occurred before he even arrived. At least, I am assuming he hasn't yet gained the ability to remotely trigger catastrophes for the sole purpose of, somehow, managing to masturbatorily justify his own existence."
"I'll thank you not to use such lewd language in front of the lady," Akiva said with genuine offense. "Or speciesist language for that matter."
Gregorio did his best not to laugh at the Hebron. He looked at Laena. "It appears Mrs. ben-Avram is in no immediate danger of suffering from the vapours. Nevertheless, madam, my sincerest apologies for any offense caused to you," he commented. What kind of medieval chauvinist was Akiva? "Nevertheless, Captain, it appears Captain Mrazak understands something you do not. In the end, my reason for being here is the blame game. To your average Corvan, Starfleet instituted the system quarantine. Starfleet is responsible for every piece of suffering that results. We need not bet on this, but watch what happens when we arrive. That you are not Mrazak will not matter in the slightest to these people. That I am not even a member of Starfleet is unlikely to prevent them from blaming me as a representative of the Federation government that is ostensibly in charge of Starfleet. I see now why Captain Mrazak has managed to out-maneuver you so consistently. It would be wise for us to confer and adopt a singular 'party-line' so to speak for dealing with the Corvans."
"Except I am not here to confer with the Corvan government," Akiva replied. "The lockdown was initiated and enforced by Starfleet protocols. My inclination is to lift it against Mrazak's last standing order, but since the Phantom is flying dark for some reason, then I can't make that decision without assessing the situation first. I have been forwarded no fewer than a dozen urgent messages from a Fleet Captain Donal Mulryan who has command over the sector, each more urgent than the last, asking for rescindment of the lockdown, so his office on Belmont Station is the first and maybe only stop. We're going to avoid politicians and officials if at all possible." He chuckled a bit. "And by we, I mean myself and my guest. You are free to dally wherever and with whomever you wish, and even to find alternative transport to Overwatch Station."
When the Holana dropped out of warp at the edge of the Theta-Corvus system, it was amidst a traffic jam of starships of all makes and sizes. Cargo freighters, escort frigates, research vessels, even a stellar cruise-liner of all things, dotted the sensor readout. Before the full readout could be listed, a hail came in. Giving Gregorio the slightest glance before putting the message through, Akiva smiled at the smug man.
"Entry to this system is denied all unauthorized vessels due to quarantine restrictions issued under the special order of the Starfleet Medical Surgeon General," said a comms specialist in a tone that suggested it was far from the first time she had said those words. "You may enter the formal queue, although there is no current estimate on wait time. It is advised for all unauthorized vessels to depart the system immediately. Do you understand this advisory as I have stated it to you?"
Akiva smirked at the fine display of protocol and allowed the specialist to complete her script out of respect for the job. "I do understand. Notify sector command that Captain Akiva ben-Avram is requesting an approach vector and berth for Belmont Station."
"That is not possible, Captain," said the comms specialist, suddenly uncomfortable.
"Sending authorization now," Akiva said as he transmitted his Theta-level codes which he'd already punched in for such an occasion.
"Sir..." Looking around for direction and finding none, the comms specialist leaned closer to the screen and spoke in hushed tones. "Belmont Station is... not available."
That answer was as unhelpful as it was ambiguous. "I don't understand," Akiva replied at length. "Where is Fleet Captain Mulryan?"
The comms specialist just shook her head.
"Patch me through to sector command," Akiva said tersely. "Now, please."
Hesitation. The reluctance on the specialist's face told a veiled story of doom. "Like I said, that isn't possible. I can redirect you to Commander Skiba of the Corps of Engineers."
Akiva shook his head. "The only commander I want to speak with is the sector commander."
"... Commander Skiba is the highest ranking Starfleet officer in the system," said the specialist after a pregnant pause. "Patching you through now."
While the transmission bounced to Commander Skiba, Akiva couldn't help but shoot a glance at his companions. This couldn't mean anything good.
"Hello, Captain." A bald man with more hair in his facial stubble than the crown of his head appeared on the vid screen. "I would be lying if I said I wasn't relieved to see you."
Leaning back in his seat, Akiva sighed and took a breath. "I came here with the intention of lifting the quarantine restriction, as it is within my purview to do so, but something tells me you're about to tell me why I can't do that."
Commander Skiba just sighed. "I won't lie. It's bad. Might be better if you docked at Belmont Station and saw for yourself. We've reset the Neutron Purge, so it's safe now."
"Neutron Purge?" As the administrator of Memory Theta, Akiva knew exactly what that meant: biohazard breach.
"Yeah..." Skiba trailed off with a frown.
"We're on our way." Akiva cut the transmission and gave the helm a punch. Were Gregorio not present, he would have verbally vented his frustration, but Akiva was not in the mood for more of the man's general antipathy.
Gregorio's posture changed slightly. "I am perfectly aware of the urgency with which Fleet Captain Mulyran was trying to reach you. That he is now unavailable does not bode well. And while I may not know the specifics, I am versed enough to know that Neutron Purge is not a phrase I want to hear."
"It seems you have a gift for understatement as well as condescension," Akiva mumbled. "The situation has drastically changed and may not be done changing. Nobody say anything until we know more."
Docking was quick and expedited. Akiva, Gregorio, and Laena were barely five steps onto the station before they were met by Commander Skiba himself who was flanked by a small entourage. "Hello, Captain," said Skiba.
Akiva nodded in return. "We're here," he said. "Gregorio de Castillo-Bartres, representing the Federation State Department, and Laena... my... assistant." Akiva realized that there was no better way to explain Laena's presence than that. Any surname he gave her was preloaded with potential conflict of one variety or another and there was no sound reason that the only specialist he would bring was a stellar cartographer.
Laena merely gave a polite nod.
"Lieutenants Louise Ciccone and Tuomas Holopainen, my right and left hands," Skiba said, gesturing to his right, "and this is Dr. Lyza Bathory." He indicated a Corvan woman to his left. "She is the last remaining representative of Pathos BioMed."
"And newly appointed Special Quaestor to the Conclave," said Dr. Bathory with a wink of her right obsidian eye.
"Yes, there is that..." Skiba said wearily, trailing off.
Akiva made eye contact with all of them and nodded appropriately. "Well, Commander, let's see what you asked me here to see."
Rather than respond, Skiba stepped back and to the side with a wide, sweeping gesture of his arm.
The sight which greeted the three newcomers was horrifically charnel. HAZMAT crews were removing the residue of former sapient lifeforms off the deck, walls, and ceiling. Plasma tools were required, as the pulse of supercharged neutrons had turned every living thing on the station inside out before melting their remains onto nearby fixtures which were also scored by the nuclear discharge.
Akiva suppressed an intense gag reflex once he realized the desiccated black coating all over everything was not the soot that it appeared to be.
"You'll need one of these to go any further," Skiba said, handing over spare facemasks. They were flimsy and transparent, yet the micro-respirator unit on each one would guarantee a snug seal against airborne contaminants.
The Hispanic man took the respirator and affixed it to himself, albeit inexpertly. Walking through bio-hazards was not a normal daily occurrence for him. Fortunately, compartmentalizing was something he could do, at least for a little while. He might have nightmares later, but that was a future Goyo problem. "Perhaps we should start with what, exactly, happened here." He paused for a moment, "I mean aside from the obvious. WHY are there hazmat crews melting remains off the walls? The last indicator we received was that the situation in this system was grave, but it was decidedly not indicated to be at the nuclear vapourization stage of bad."
"Captain Mulryan uploaded his final logs to an external comm buoy before, uh, you know," Skiba said with a shrug and wave of the hand. "But there's time to go over the chain of events later. Right now the two largest existential threats to the system are the humanitarian crisis on the primary planet that worsens by the hour and the logjam at the edge of the system. Normally I could just override the lockdown, but with the unspecified parameters in the quarantine mandate generated by Memory Theta, then my hands are tied until someone higher up intervenes." Skiba gave them all a deadpan expression. "Not going to lie: it's a hell of a position to be in."
Akiva looked at Laena and Gregorio with an incredulous expression. "I understand you want solutions, Commander, but I need to understand just what the hell happened here. Is there a material hazard of a contagious nature or not?"
"Not that we can tell," Skiba said with a shrug. "But most of the Starfleet Medical SMEs [Subject Matter Experts] died in the purge. There are records to comb through but nobody qualified to make a heads-or-tails determination. We really need that quarantine lifted if we're going to save lives and get things running again."
"I can add the voice of the Conclave to that request," said Dr. Bathory. "And, if it's any help, Pathos BioMed has authorized the release of its proprietary epigentic therapy that pretrials suggest may put the advanced Hemophagia into remission faster than NOS-4-A2 dialysis. We just need bodies and resources to administer it to affected population centers. Authorized bodies, that is."
None of the three representatives of Memory Theta were any help in regards to resolving the medical dilemma. Akiva rubbed his chin as he allowed the situation to percolate in his mind while paying as little attention to the ugly tasks going on around him. He was faced with a crapshoot, courtesy of Mrazak who was not around to take responsibility for his actions or even explain them.
"All the traffic we saw," Akiva said at length, "what percentage of it is relief efforts? I can't imagine many tourists are waiting in queue for admittance."
"Roughly ninety-five percent," Skiba replied, "but that's divided into subcategories of researchers, relief workers, and logistical support. Starfleet Medical won't have any replacement experts here for another day, and current projections do not favor that timeframe as far as fatalities go." The commander bounced on his heels. "It would be really great if you could just give the word and let them in... sir."
Dr. Bathory raised her milk-white hand and set her ebony fingernails waggling. "Begging your pardon, but I do have a teensy, little caveat." Her black eyes squinted as if she were telling a joke. "As I said, I represent both the Conclave and Pathos BioMed, so I must speak in the interests of both. And that means I must enforce the agreement between my government and the patent-holder of NOS-4-A2 and the Key of Nebuchadnezzar therapy. Quite a few of those vessels at system's edge are tagged with registries belonging to industry rivals, and they simply cannot be let through to wander nimbly-bimbly in places they don't belong." She gave an exaggerated sigh. "It's ugly business, I know, but if we don't keep Pathos happy, then they can reneg the usage agreement for NOS-4-A2 and even withdraw their Nebuchadnezzar miracle cure which our entire world needs to simply survive. We can't afford to offend them now more than ever."
Akiva was appalled. "Seriously? They can't put aside their personal interests in light of... all this?" He waved his hands at the ugly scene.
"They aren't the only ones," Skiba muttered under his breath. When his eyes finally met Akiva's, he said, "Just being honest, sir."
"I see your point," Akiva conceded. "Excuse me. I need to confer with my colleagues." Turning his back to the entourage, Akiva faced Gregorio and Laena. "You heard all that, right?" he said just above a whisper. "I'm not seeing an easy way out of this. Maybe if I had time to review their contract, I could find some kind of loophole, but that's assuming the INS group didn't make it ironclad. I'm inclined to lift the quarantine and let the consequences be damned, but even if we don't end up with a pandemic on our hands, we could end up right back where we started with a formal inquest."
Gregorio gave a smile that was downright predatory. He tamped down on the juvenile desire to say 'I told you so' to Akiva and instead wracked his brain for a minute. "I did. Fortunately, I'm here. It'll take me a few minutes to pull all the relevant regulations, codes, and executive orders, but let them through and I'll deal with Pathos. Dr. Bathory will play ball, or she can explain to her superiors why their company is being nationalized and sold to their competitors. Thanks to the Venus stunt, we have a ridiculous amount of delegated authority while the legislature isn't available."
While Akiva was tracking every word that came from Gregorio's mouth, the implications were... unsettling. Bureaucracy was an ugly trade, but to so flippantly discuss the wheeling and dealing of entire worlds as one would a department on a starship felt a little surreal. Or maybe it was just the gravitas of the situation coming to a head that made him feel a little dissociated. Either way, the choice was clear.
"Commander Skiba," said Akiva, turning around to face the group again. "I am hereby lifting the system quarantine. All relief workers are to be granted unrestricted access. No ship is to be blockaded. Any interference with relief efforts will face obstruction charges."
Whatever Skiba had been expecting, his brow shot up. "Yes, sir!" His heels clicked together in a respectful attention pose, then he gestured for his lieutenants to follow along before Akiva could change his mind or be countermanded by another authority figure.
"I'm afraid I must object to those orders," said Dr. Bathory with a sultry drawl. "As much as Corvus Prime needs these present resources, they simply can't come at the expense of our future lifeblood. Pathos BioMed will litigate us into the grave if my government allows this."
Akiva shook his head. "It's done, Doctor. Quaestor. Ma'am. Since this relief effort is now a Starfleet-authorized operation, your government really doesn't have a choice in the matter. Do what you must, but those ships are coming whether you like it or not."
The Special Quaestor grimaced, though it somehow didn't remove the effervescent smirk from her face. "I like you, Captain. We all will do what we have to do, and I respect you for that." With a sigh, she removed her a leather-bound identification chit from her breast pocket and activated its digital logbook. "In the name of the Corvus Prime demesne and by the power invested in me by its Conclave of Noble Families, I declare a cease and desist mandate for all incoming system traffic pending the authorization of our custodial corporate partner, Pathos BioMed, who will necessarily vet each and every occupant of every ship before all ingress and egress of Corvan airspace."
Gregorio stepped forward surprised it had been that easy to goad the woman into a misstep. "I'm afraid not, Doctor Bathory. You really ought to have consulted before saying that," he said, slipping his own chit from his pocket and handing it to Skiba. "Under the authority of emergency order 274 declared in response to the Venetian incident and still in effect in the absence of an elected quorum of the Federation Council, Commander Skiba, Captain ben-Avram I declare Corvus Prime a humanitarian disaster directly requiring immediate intervention to prevent grievous harm to the health, safety, and welfare of the population of a Federation member world in accordance with the provision of the Disaster Relief Act of 2274, public law 93-288. Due to Doctor Bathory's acts ceding control to Pathos Bio-Med and her status as the sole representative of Pathos Bio-Med, I further declare, under the Continuity of Governance Act, Public Law public law 80-199 that the government of Corvus Prime has ceased to function as an institution of democratic self-rule capable of responding to this emergency and declare a state of martial law to be in effect until the end of the current crisis or until this declaration is rescinded by the Federation Council. Accordingly, you, Captain Akiva ben-Avram, as the senior most member of Starfleet currently available, are hereby named governor and custodian of Corvus Prime until such a time as martial law ceases to be in effect or a suitable replacement is named."
He paused for a moment and looked at Bathory. "Since I am sure you will ask, Captain, I also approve the eminent domain seizure and use of the formula, production process, local production line, and currently available supplies of NOS-4-A2 and the Key of Nebuchadnezzar therapy to address this crisis in whatever manner you deem best. Upon petition of Pathos Bio-Med to the Federation Court of Special Claims, administrative division, at the conclusion of this crisis Pathos Bio-Med is entitled to a hearing as to the propriety of this seizure where it may be adjudicated improper, justifiable, or necessary and to receive appropriate compensation should it be declared improper or justifiable. Should you disagree with the pronouncement of emergency or marshal law, Dr. Bathory, you or another representative of the Corvan government in pretense may file an emergency petition to the appellate bench of the Federation Court of Special Claims in Paris. I believe it is hoped to have an office available on Luna to receive such petitions by the end of the month. I would also be happy, Doctor, to find an office to go over the relevant orders, regulations, and laws authorizing these courses of action as soon as suitable office space is available."
That was an impressive execution of executive power. Akiva could only blink at the machine-gun burst of black-magic legalese. For the Corvan Quaestor's part, all she did was smirk.
The politician turned to the Starfleet officers. "With that settled, gentlemen, Mrs. ben-Avram, I believe there is a pandemic to manage and a planet to hopefully save. I suggest we get to it."
But Lyza Bathory grabbed the bureaucrat and pulled him into a wet, protracted, tongue-penetrating kiss. "My hero," she whispered as she pulled back from Gregorio.
The man blinked several times as a result of the rather unexpected incident of sexual assault. "Doctor, are you alright?" he asked in a puzzled tone. "I'm not used to that reaction from being an asshole and making people unemployed."
"Oh, kitten..." The Quaestor twirled her fingers around Gregorio's ear and traced a jagged line down his cheek with the black talon of her index finger. "By turning the predator into the prey, you have, along with my entire world, set me free. If you survive the consequences of what you've done, you are welcome to visit my family chateau on the coast of Savannah Novescu where I might thank you more..." She leaned in to deliver a husky whisper to his ear. "... intimately." Stepping back, she waggled her fingers with a terse but coy, "Bye, now," and sauntered away.
Between Akiva, Skiba, and the others, the Starfleet officers just stood with mouths agape. What else could possibly happen?
Gregorio shuddered after the woman walked away. He waited until she was out of earshot before muttering under his breath, "Maybe in, oh, say, never. Bloody skank." He looked at the Starfleet officers. "Do close your mouths before something moves in. Don't you lot have work to do?"
"Sir, Control is reporting an incoming vessel that just dropped out of transwarp," reported a Warrant Officer who had the auspicious occasion to interrupt the awkward moment.
"Transwarp?" Skiba asked, forgetting that he now had the privilege to defer command problems to Akiva. "That is... unexpected."
A pit formed in Akiva's stomach. "What's the registry?"
"Unknown," said the Warrant Officer. "No transwarp aperture was detected either. The starship was simply not there one moment and then appeared the next amidst a chroniton pulse whose vector spanned multiple astronomical units. After the starship appeared, it was reportedly obstructing incoming traffic. Now the captain who refuses to identify himself wishes to dock."
Akiva looked at Gregorio and bit back a smirk of his own. Perhaps this bull of a man would not be the thorn in his side that he'd anticipated--so long as he kept Gregorio pointed in the right direction, of course. "I believe I know who that is," Akiva replied to the Warrant Officer. "Allow them to dock but do not permit them on board the station. I will handle them personally."
The politician quirked his head at Akiva. "May I assume that the ship is likely headed by a certain Vulcan whose acquaintance I need to make and that we have a lovely opportunity to send into an apoplectic episode with absolutely nothing he can do about it, since even your theta level clearances cannot override an executive order from the president?"
"That is my belief," Akiva said, unable to hold back a smirk. "Commander Skiba seems to have this situation well in hand. Let's deliver the good news to Mrazak and get out of here."
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