Contact Tracing

Posted on Mon Jun 7th, 2021 @ 11:08am by Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson & Lieutenant Commander Malakai Starr [Taylor] & Lieutenant Commander Kara Starr {Kelea-Salik} & Captain Mattias Richardson [Reece] & Sasha Stone [Whavi] & Lieutenant Clara Lawson & 1st Lieutenant Joshua Young [Taylor]

Mission: Darkness Rising - A Phoenix Lalor Sub Plot
Location: RigelX
Timeline: MD10
3719 words - 7.4 OF Standard Post Measure

The Black Watch dropped out of warp above Rigel X. "You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. " Lily quoted as she leaned over Jaxon's shoulder.

"You seen Star Wars Lils?" He asked.

"Once. And once was enough." she replied. "book us in to the orbit logs and then join us all back in the Lounge."

He nodded.

Lily moved back to the lounge to wait for the rest to gather.

Mattias was already there, sharpening his trusty Ka-bar. Looking up, his eyes glistened as Lily approached. "Hey, you." He shot her a quick wink.

She smirked back at him. "Hey yourself."

Anna came up from the cargo bay. "All set" she called as she did so.

Lily smiled. "Thanks Anna."

"So," Mattias whispered, "Do I get to kill anyone this time, ya know, on purpose?" They hadn't discussed him killing the Klingon that had nearly turned her into a pin cushion, back on the space station.

Malakai entered next, he still wore a happy grin on his face. He overheard Mattias statement about killing someone. "The universe is a big place, there's plenty of people you can kill on purpose or even accidently."

Mattias gave a level glare to Malakai. As he had whispered to Lily, it seemed that his new brother-in-law was already wanting to piss him off by eavesdropping.

Lily rolled her eyes. The others gathered around. "Right no one is going to kill or be killed this time. Sasha?"

Sasha took a breath. "Several people within the main market complex have been seen with this man" She pressed a button and a holo of a silver haired man appeared. "This is Admiral Matthew Highlaw. Retired, apparently. He was linked to the Watch years ago, and now he has been seen building up his war chest again. Our task is to go in, find his contacts, and make contact with this man." another holo appeared. "Kyle Cragen. He is the one we want to link up with."

"And what exactly is the goal of our linking up with this man?" Mattias asked as he looked at the images of the two men.

"If we link with Cragen," Lily said "We gain a route of access to Highlaw. And if we can get into his group, we can prove our "loyalty" and work to get closer to Highlaw."

Sasha nodded "Highlaw also has a type. He likes blonds."

Mattias didn't like where this was going. As there were only two blondes on the team, Gwynn and his sister, Kara! "Well, I guess I could bleach my hair."

"Are you suggesting we use Gwenn and Kara to get close to Highlaw?" He asked evenly even though he suspected the worse he wanted to hear Lily say it.

"no" came the response. "But the fact remains that those groups with pretty blond ladies often get closer to the big chief."

Malakai was relieved to hear Lily's answer as he didn't want to put Kara in any more danger than was necessary. "So what's the plan o linking with Mr. Personality?" He asked meaning Cragen and his grim visage.

Sasha spoke up. "He has listings of jobs each day. We will need to do several, but before that we need an introduction. we need to listen and find out who can give us that."

"It's a start, a first step." Malakai observed "Hopefully we can get the info we need to meet that person and make an introduction fairly quickly."

Sasha nodded. "Small steps but it works for now."

"Small steps to catching the big fish." Malakai added.

"So, Anna, Jaxon and Xavier will remain here, the rest of us will split up to cover more ground." Lily stated.

Kara had been listening to the briefing from the medical bay, after what had almost happened last time she was off ship just hearing the fact about blondes made her stomach churn. It was either that or her morning sickness. Packing what she’d need for being off ship she fastened her waist bag around her waist and headed to the bridge. She smiled a big smile as she walked in and stopped alongside Malakai. “So it sounds like Gwenn and I are the lucky charms this time huh?”

Mattias started to object but stopped himself. It was no longer his place to do so. While he didn't like her being in danger, it was now Malakai's place, as her husband, to voice any objections.

Malakai smiled at Kara as she stopped next to him. "I don't think so Kara. We're still going over the plan but not going to put you or Gwenn in danger." He said simply.

Kara would normally have complained about being over protected, but given her pregnancy she simply nodded in agreement.

While he didn't say anything, Mattias was glad, to both hear Malakai saying no and Kara listening. She may be married now but, she would always be his sister, moreso now, as they had made a blood oath. Turning to Lily, he asked, "So what do we do, Boss?"

"Sasha and Gwynn are paired, Mattias and Clara, Malakai and Kara and Joshua and myself." She said with a smirk at Mattias. "We will go down, there are supplies that we can gather while we are there. And for the most part, wander and listen and stay away from the Orion slave section."

Mattias reached under the table to lightly pinch Lily's left thigh, which was right next his right thigh, as he looked over to Clara and said with a grin, "Looks like you're with me, kiddo!"

Clara nodded and smirked. "You will have to keep up old man."

Mattias nodded and chuckled. "We'll see about that, now won't we?" He gave her a friendly wink.

Lily looked around and studied everyone's faces. "This is recon and knowledge gathering. No heroics."

Hearing the tone in Lily's voice, Mattias turned his eyes back to her and nodded. He could never say no to her.

"Good." Lily paused as Jaxon entered from the bridge.

"All good Boss, we have orbit permit and permission to beam down." He told her.

"ok. Suit up, and do not forget the holo projectors."

Sasha held out a PADD to Lily. "There are few items on here." she said as Lily stood.

"Thanks. Make sure everyone gets their lists."

Sasha nodded and handed out the other PADD's.

Mattias took his team's PADD, thinking that they'd be tasked with gathering weapons and muntions. Instead, they were given the galley consumables list. Arching an eyebrow, he asked, "You sure you want all of this? It could take days to find it all."

Sasha rolled her eyes. "Thats the point Mattias, to become visible yet unremarkable we have to be around a lot."

Kara looked at Malakai as he was handed their PADD, “What have we got?”

Malakai looked at the PaDD and smiled. "Upgrades for sensors and the targeting computers and whatever else we come across. Just one question, how are we supposed to pay for this stuff?"

Mattias almost said something rude but, for both Lily and Kara, he kept his mouth shut and his face neutral. Though, he suspected that Kara might have still heard him before he locked his mind down tight.

Kara gave her brother a wide eyed look before rolling her eyes.

Lily handed out credit chip cards. "Here, payment chips."

Mattias took the chip for his team. "What's the limit on these things?" If they were going to make tge shopping assignments look real, a fair amount of credits would need to be spent.

“That’s a good point” Kara nodded. “I can buy but it’s going to take a sweet budget.”

"Their probably fakes, but excellent fakes and by the time anyone realizes it, we'll be long gone." Malakai proposed.

"Actually they are real and the limit is 10,000 credits a day." Lily said. "Guys, remember we have financial backing for this."

Malakai whistled, "I'm impressed Pho....I mean Lilly. This is great. We should be able to get what we need."

She nodded. "okay, everyone ready to beam down?"

Kara looked at her husband, “I’m ready”

Mattias gave Lily a lop-sided grin. "Lets go shoppin'!"

"Well there you have it Kara and Mattias are ready so what are we waiting for? Malakai questioned.

Xavier rolled his eyes. "Ok.. lets beam you lot down."

He led the way down to the cargo bay and powered up the transporter. "First pair?"

Sasha and Gwynn stepped forward and Xavier beamed them down.

"Next?!"

Mattias and Clara were next. After he turned a gave Lily a wink and a smile. "Don't have too much fun without us."

Malakai took Kara's hand. "Off we go." He said to Lily. "Don't do anything we wouldn't which gives you lots of leeway."

"Ha so you think" she snipped back as they vanished.

Joshua and her went last and soon they were all walking through different areas of the base.

--

As they arrived Kara looked around before looking at her husband, her holographic disguise was a simple one, a human female. “Let’s find what we need to find, I’ll keep my senses alert for any trouble.”

In keeping with Kara's disguise Malakai's was that of a scruffy human male. Perhaps seedy was a more appropriate word. "Sounds good Kara." He replied his eyes sweeping over the area.

“So where do we start with our shopping list?” Kara looked at Malakai, smiling at his holo disguise. He still looked handsome, as for her disguise she was still funnily enough a blonde.

"Right here." He said gesturing to the open bazaar. "We walk, we look and we listen and we see what we can find."

Kara nodded. “We have to find what’s on our shopping list, and I think I see our first stop.” She pointed ahead of them.

"I never argue with a woman when it comes to shopping. Please lead the way and we'll see what we can find." Malakai quipped waiting for Kara to lead the way to their first stop,

A while, and plenty of shopping later Kara had everything they needed crossed off her list. They’d bartered their way along getting what bargains they could. Keeping her senses alert as well as they travelled.

--

In another area, Mattias, disguised this time as a pudgy male Bolian, played the part of a ship's cook, looking for supplies to feed his crew. "Now, my dear, you see these?" He pointed to some native potatoes. "While tubers from most class M planets can be consumed easily, some reqyire different prep work, depending on who would be consuming them."

Clara rolled her eyes, her disguise as a thin Andorian was gaining a few looks but she merely said "Yeah I know, but can you make them edible?"

Mattias grinned as he replied. "My dear, with the right amount of prep work and spices, I could probably make a sheet of duranium edible." He motioned to the stall proprietor. I'll take two dozen of these tubers, a dozen of those carrots, three bushels of that corn-like item and seven heads of that leafy veg there." He handed over the credit chip. "Please have them sent to our ship."

Once the purchase was completed, and the credit chip returned, Mattias turned to Clara and smiled. "Well now, onto to the meat market!"

"Make sure you get proper meat this time." She snarked at him.

"Hey, I wasn't the one who got the twelve racks of rak'tar ribs without getting the proper cooking instructions last time, young lady. That was aaaaall you." He shot back playfully.

"Nah it was tinkerbell." Clara shot back. "Maybe we should check out the importers as well."

Mattias giggled. "Flyboys don't know how to cook. They only know how to burn. As for the importers, good idea. Just no Klingons. Targ meat is waaay to stringy for my tastes."

The Andorian clad Woman nodded . "Do not forget to get Fruit" She added

Nodding, the Bolian replied. "Yes, yes, yes. Fruits and sweets will be after the meats. Now, move you. We have a lot of work to do, and not a lot of time to do it in."

Clara nodded and moved as he said, laughing softly.

---

Lily and Joshua, both disguised as Romulans moved through the crowds towards the clothing stalls. They all needed more clothing and better for disguises and also, Lily wanted to make sure they looked the part as a crew looking for new jobs.

Several hours later, Lily sent Joshua back to the ship with their supplies and found herself wandering around one of the many bars. She did not go in, just lingered and listened.

A few moments later, a pudgy Bolian quietly approached Lily from behind. He made no noise, moving quieter than his size seemed possible. When he was just a few inches from Lily, he whispered, "I thought I taught you better than that, your highness?"

Lily, the Romulan yawned and turned slowly. "Maybe you did," she muttered without moving her mouth too much. "But in this case, I want to be seen."

Turning his gaze to the bar, he softly chuckled. "Good girl. What have you found us?"

"listen" she breathed as she turned back to pretend to people watch.

Off to the side, two male Tellarites were speaking, They were not keeping their voices down but then in a crowded bar, they really did not need to.

"...telling you Cragen has a ton of jobs open, .....we should go there!"

"Crazy.... He is a lunatic.... jobs are for those with .... wish."

"Good Credits... and..... Latinium."

"death by... fleet... no thanks"

"Well.... going...club...."

"go... then.....I'll visit your widow!"

"Hmmmm.." Mattias whispered. ""Looks like someone might need our skills, ay, sweetheart?"

"Which club though?" Lily mumbled back and casually moved towards the bar itself.

One of the Tellerites stood and yelled belligerently at the other "GO AHEAD GET YOURSELF KILLED! I WILL HAVE NO PART IN IT!" And so yelling stalked off.

Mattias gave Lily a slight tap on the back of her hand and signalled that she go talk, while he would watch.

She moved and got a drink from the bar and then wandered around until she came up to the table. She glanced down and confirmed it was the Tellarite who she had heard, "Hello" she said calmly.

The tellarite looked up. "What do you want Romulan?"

She sat. "Romulans have good hearing. My crew are looking for a job. Our last one ended badly and we need the revenue. I heard you know of someone who has jobs?"

He sneered at her. "Why would I tell you?"

"Because your friend is off to fuck your wife while you die." She replied coldly.

He snorted. "Well, fine. You want a job Romulan. Go to the Sticks Club ask for Cragen, if you live, he will reward you for a job well done." He stood. "If you can get into the club, you may be successful in getting the job." then he moved off shuffling.

Lily sat there for a few minutes then stood, left her drink untouched. She moved out of the bar and back into the street. A few minutes later she was stepping into an alley.

A few minutes later, a pudgy Bolian stumbled out of the bar. "Next time! The..the..drinks....the drinks on me!" He then continued to stumble down the street, towards the alley. As he entered the alley, he instantly straightened up. "You get the info?"

"Hmmm" Lily nodded. "I am not confident though."

"Why?" Mattias asked as he kept scanning the area with his eyes. "Was the info too easy to gain?"

"Seemed set up. Too easy. I am not biting at this cookie just yet." Lily said. "We should move on."

Nodding, Mattias replied. "Maybe we see what everyone else has gathered. Start fresh in the morning. Besides, these holoimagers need to be recharged."

"Hmm true." She said "Beam back. I will be along shortly."

Looking at Phoenix with a level gaze, Mattias whispered, "No, you need to come back too, Phee. Don't think you should risk it, sweetheart."

She smiled faintly. "I will be fine. Make sure Kara and the others got back ok?"

Still not happy with her decision, Mattias finally aquiesced. However, before he did, he pulled her to him amd whispered into her ear, "You do anything stupid and I will become quite upset, your highness."

"I'll be fine" she said back with a smile. "Go, And make sure they are all good." she stepped away and moved deeper into the alley.

Still not fully happy with the situation, Mattias knew that it was near impossible to sway Phoenix when her mind was made up. "Amen mela Ile," he whispered, before activating the transporter recall signal. In seconds, Lily was completely alone in the alley.

Once alone, Lily kept an eye out and waited. She didn't expect it to be that easy as she said. And not 10 minutes after she saw the same two Tellarites meet at the entry to the Alley. They chuckled together and she smirked in the shadows.

"Well someone took the bait." One said. "I am sure Cragen will enjoy killing them,"

"All this so people can fight in his arena." the other said. "I wonder how many more dupes the others found?"

so chucking they walked off.

Lily narrowed her gaze. Arena huh. They would see about that. She hit her recall beacon and beamed up to the ship.

-----

Back aboard the Black Watch, Mattias had verified that everyone was aboard. He then told Malakai that Lily had chosen to stay on the surface, wanting to check sometjinh and she had told him to beam up and check on the crew.

That done, he began to pace back and forth by the transporter. It wasnt out a lack of faith in Phoenix's abilities to defend herself, between her Starfleet training and the added close quarters combat training he had given her, it was the primal need to be by her side in the face of danger.

As the minutes, which felt like hours, passed, he checked the charge level in the blaster on his right hip then, a few minutes later, did the same for its twin on his left hip.

Finally, he could wait no longer. As he started to enter the transport chamber, and activate his holoimager, the recall signal sounded on her comm unit. Quickly exiting the chamber, he activated the system, bring his love back safely to him.

Lily appeared on the transporter padd and removed the holo emitter. "Yeah set up" she muttered.

"What's the story?" He asked as he took her hand, squeezing it gently.

"Get the others, we need to talk" She kissed his cheek.

Smiling, Mattias pulled Phoenix in for a quick kiss. When he released her, he gave her a playful wink, then moved through the small ship to tell everyone to get up to the briefing area.


----
***A few minutes later***

The whole crew was standing or sitting around the galley table, waiting for Lily to talk.

"So, there are a group of people wandering around setting up people to go visit Cragen, when they do, they are captured and put into an Arena." She stated. "I am not going to go into any Arena."

"An Arena?" Malakai questioned. "That sounds ominous and not very appealing either."

Mattias shrugged. "If it'll get us an intro, I'll go. Only issue would be the holoimager. I'm sure I'd have to go as myself."

"I am not sending anyone into it until we get a better idea of what it is about." Lily replied.

"Sounds like something from the Roman Empire." Malakai noted.

"So, how do you want us to go about getting more info, Li?" Mattias asked softly.

"I think Joshua and I will maintain our Romulan disguises. The rest of you should swap to Romulans as well. Lets make ourselves very visable around the markets over the next few days. No one however is to approach any clubs without back up. Jaxon, Sasha I want scans of the surface and as far below as you can go."

Sasha nodded. "Sure"

“If any of you needs to question anyone give me a call first, I’ll be able to tell whose telling the truth and who isn’t.” Kara smiled. “Being half Betazoid has it’s plus points.”

"I could snoop around deeper, if you want?" Mattias didn't need to lay out the training he possessed. He knew tgat Phoenix was well versed in the parts of his personnel file that she could access.

"You and Malakai are going to be paired this time around." Lily said with a smile. "Kara and I will pair up and the rest will split into groups. I want to make sure we find as much information as possible before we act."

Kara couldn’t help but grin at the thought of Malakai and Mattias being paired up. “I’m sure you’ll both enjoy that.”

Mattias gave Malakai a polite grin. All the while, thinking of how he was going to make Phoenix pay for this idea of hers.

For his part, Malakai just gave Mattias a polite nod all while thinking *Fucking great!*

"But that is for tomorrow. Everyone get some rest. I have a feeling this is going to take a while" Lily announced.

Kara smiled and nodded. She had to admit she was feeling tired and queasy, she didn’t want Mattias to see there was anything wrong with her. Though her secret would eventually have to come out.

As everyone filed off, Mattias looked over at Lily and said, "Boss, may I please have a word in private?"

Lily rolled her eyes. "My cabin, 2 hours"

He started to object, but she was already gone. Mattias grumbled something under his breath, and then stormed out, heading to the gym. Now he really wanted to hit something.

********
https://hips.hearstapps.com/esq.h-cdn.co/assets/15/07/94149433.jpg - Admiral Highlaw

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/c2/7d/bf/c27dbf61dc2d8338552fdcd4b454320d.jpg - Cragen