Wiping Away the Fingerprints

Posted on Wed Oct 11th, 2023 @ 3:24pm by Lieutenant JG Ghemora & Chief Petty Officer Reeves

Mission: Repairs and Retribution
Location: Kunar
Timeline: Current

...After leaving Bonnie behind, Ghemora retrieved her tricorder and took a full scan of the surroundings. Just as she'd suspected given the limited resistance they had encountered, the rebelling Cardassians had pushed beyond to continue their hunt for Lady Maccet.

With the encrypted comms in place, the Intel Chief was able to clearly get a read on the locations of the Starfleet crew, even those without their commbadges thanks to the lack of Cardassian physiology. It was the one benefit of being the only one of her species attached to the Sunfire. All in all, the results they had been hoping for seemed to be coming to fruition, which meant she had the time and access to complete her secondary objective.

The sound and feeling of the shield generator blowing, needless as such may have been, told the officer that the barriers in place had been disabled, completing the steps to gain her all of the access she would need to make this a smooth and successful mission.

Taking off her commbadge and making the necessary adjustments with her tricorder, Ghemora contacted her counterpart back on the ship.

=/\= "Reeves, you reading me? Can you secure the connection?" =/\=

Back on the Sunfire, CPO Sloan Reeves was manning the desk in the office, having already activated SCIF protocols in preparation for her Chief's mission.

=/\= "Yes, Sir. One moment... There. Connection secured and ready to receive." =/\=

=/\= "Acknowledged. Watch the data flow and inform me of any disruptions. Ghemora out." =/\=

Slinging her rifle behind her back, the Intelligence Officer pulled the Cardassian Disruptor pistol into one hand and her tricorder in the other. Having been privy to both the local comms as well as those between the Away Team and the Sunfire, she already had a good idea about what had been transpiring for those who had separated for various objectives.

While it seemed the Security Chief and Marine Commander had had little issue reaching and securing the XO and the Counselor, the two chosing to take advantage of the deception the 'halos' provided while also using their true visages to attempt to quell any hostilities towards them, the other group had clearly chosen much more aggressive methods.

Scanning the surroundings as she moved toward the location of the main group; those being led by Patin, Ghemora made sure to make haste while also keeping a low profile. It didn't take long for her to come across the first evidence of the atrocities she was sure would happen given the civilian's previous attitude.

Shaking her head at the state of the dead Cardassians, her quick scan revealed the presence of the chemical agent that had been used. Scanning each of the bodies as well as the surrounding walls, there was no doubt from her readings that the tactic used wouldn't be attributed to the Cardassians. Pulling a small device from her pocket and activating it, the Intelligence chief began to pass the blue light that beamed in a flat arc from it over all of the surfaces and corpses, almost as if she was scanning them. Once she was sure, she deactivated and stowed the device, retrieving her tricorder once again to confirm that she'd fully accomplished what she'd just done…

…Arriving at the large house-like structure, Ghemora scanned and listened before making a covert entry. While it wasn't the scene she hoped for, it was the scene she expected to find. Once again she scanned with her tricorder before using the neutralization device to 'clean up' after the group that had swept through behind the Bajoran. If anyone had been with her, they would have seen the slight, disappointing shakes of her head and the disgruntlement in her features. This was not how Starfleet was supposed to approach and react in such a situation. It only seemed to remind her of the horrors she'd seen during the Cardassian wars and the genocides she'd witnessed as a child.

…It didn't take long for Ghemora to catch up with the main group that had looked to rescue the Captain and, subsequently, encounter Lady Maccet as she sought to escape. Sticking to the shadows, the Intel Officer used her tricorder, adjusting the settings, to monitor and record the interactions. While she wasn't surprised by Putin's spoken desires or actions, the Starfleet officer was pleased to hear the captain she had yet to meet maintain some semblance of expected decorum for one in her position… That was until Lady Maccet made a move that ensured the outcome the Bajoran civilian had wished for all along.

Taking no pleasure in seeing the Cardassian woman die, Ghemora could not find fault in the reaction of the others. The dissident had brought it upon herself, but that didn't mean the situation itself was closed. Waiting for the group to be beamed away and the Orions to move on to find the other Cardassians elsewhere in the facility, Ghemora slipped out from her hiding place and quickly wiped clean the evidence of Starfleet's involvement.

Between the scans she'd taken and the work she'd done, the Intelligence Officer was fairly certain she'd done all she could to ensure there wouldn't be consequences for the unsanctioned actions of the Sunfire crew, especially from the Cardassian government. That didn't change the fact that this mission, and all of the disregard for the numerous treaties and sovereignty agreements that had been violated, had taken place and approved by a senior officer commanding a Federation vessel.

There would be time to worry about the potential ramifications later, as well as do her part to inform those above her the truth of all that she'd witnessed. Tapping her commbadge and connecting with her Intelligence officer aboard the Sunfire over the secure channel,

=/\= "Ghemora to Reeves. Confirm reception of all data and recordings?" =/\=

=/\="Confirmed, sir. Will analyze and secure. See you soon. Reeves Out." =/\=

As the communication link closed, Ghemora sighed knowing her mission still wasn't complete. Using her tricorder to scan for the desired signals, she was able to quickly figure out a path that would have her intercepting the Sunfire crewmembers that remained. While sure Lieutenant Durnell would have some complaints about the Intel Chief's conduct, some things were bigger than one officer or one ship.

Twisting her neck and trading her current arms for the rifle on her back, Ghemora set out quickly and covertly to rejoin her people. It was time for them all to make their exit…