Pack Rat

Posted on Mon Nov 8th, 2021 @ 9:25am by Lieutenant Tonya King ( Barclay de Tolly ) & Captain David Tonelly [Reece]

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Logistics Office
Timeline: MD 10 07h45 ( Prior to Capetown )
1018 words - 2 OF Standard Post Measure

Lt. Manuel Fox, the Mexican Chief of Logistics reported to the Logistics office as he sees his Assistant Chief Lt. Tonya King at her console. “Lieutenant. I thought you would be taking the day off.”

“I am okay Sir,” Tonya replied. “I am doing the quarterly audit as ordered.”

“What the hell,” Manuel says clinching his fist. “Who authorized this audit and why was I not told. I am suppose to manage this.”

“Starfleet orders plus it has to be done by more than just you,” Tonya stood up not feeling intimidated. “Starfleet Regulations.”

“You quote regulations one more time,” Manuel slamming his palm on the desk, “I send you back to Engineering. Do I make myself clear?”

“Loud and clear,” she said with a stoic unemotional face. “Sir, we should work together on this. We have some entries on the books that have me worried. Lots of electronics which were ordered as well as other items and the status of the orders are received complete but they are not accounted for. Same goes for phasers, machines and other items.”

“Apparently you do not have the experience to do an audit,” Manuel answered.

Tonya looked at him as she had done many audits before. She sighed as she gently exhaled. She suspected black market here and she felt he was the number one suspect. “This is my sixth Logistics audit but you are the boss sir.”

“That is right,” he said as his blood pressure was going up feeling worried he might get caught. “Let me show you how it is done here.”

For the next hour, he showed her how he did it and it was apparent he thought she was naive not to catch on. Only question she had for herself was who was he selling the merchandise to in the black market.

They were almost finished when Marine Corporal David Tonelly walked in to either place an order or pick up items.

“Corporal Tonelly,” Manuel asked, “How can we help you?”

David offered a friendly smile as he replied. "Hey, Lieutenant Fox, Lieutenant King. How are you two doing today?"

Manuel takes a deep breath. He closes one eye a little bit then opens it’s he thought about using the Corporal to distract Tonya’s inquiry.

“We are doing great,” Manuel answers. “We do not get many visitors in Logistics. Please have a seat.” He sees Tonya about to go back to her computer to continue her audit. “You too Tonya. The audit can wait. Now Corporal Tonelly, you were out of commission for a bit. Is all well?”

Tonya sits down as she crosses her legs.

Nodding and shrugging slightly, David replied. "Yes, thank you. Things are getting better."

Tonya scratched her head a bit. “Something does not seem right. I will get to the bottom of this.”

A confused look crossed David's face. "What's that now?" He asked the woman in Manuel's shop.

“Thing is David and Manuel, ” Tonya says looking at him directly, “I only have hunches and speculations. I am not accusing any one now but something seems off. The numbers are not balancing.”

Feeling uncomfortable with how Tonya just jumped in the middle of the conversation he and Manuel were having, David decided that it would probably be better if he just left. "Uh...okay? You know what, Manny, I think I'll just replicate something. Thanks anyways." He then turned and started to leave.

Manuel felt a little nervous as Tonya seem very close to finding what he had been up to in the past few months. “Tonya, you need to finish these inquiries in two hours. We have more tasks to do.”

“Yes sir,” Tonya replied.

Manuel left as he could tell Tonya was on to him, so he felt he needed to leave, so Tonya would not figure out the big picture. Plus the ones he had been dealing with in the black market might not be so happy with him.

After he left, one of the Quartermasters walked in, a young Ferengi named Petty Officer Gog. Rubbing his hands together like he just scored a big business deal he said to Tonya and David, “I smell opportunity. How can I help you?”

“Doing an audit of the inventory,” Tonya says, “Simply routine. David came by to see how we are doing.”

“Yes inventory,” Gog says, “I know you are the new Assistant Chief Tonya but you need to realize before you start auditing, we have to do things off the books, so that we may get dilithium crystals or fresh vegetables. This ship has is overstocked with so much inventory. I think the Chief suffers from Voyager Syndrome which means he feels we might get sucked up to another quadrant. I asked him why we have so much in the atrium and his response indicates he is a pack rat.”

“Hmmm,” Tonya says puzzling, “That explains the dilemma. The books are showing an exceptional movement of inventory for a Starship which is hiding the inventory that is missing. Gog, you are not profiteering from the excessive inventory?”

Gog grins showing his razor sharp teeth. “Why do humans always suspect a Ferengi? Do not answer it, it is just a rhetorical question.”

“You are right Gog,” Tonya says said shaking her head. “If I was insensitive in any way, I apologize.”

Gog grins. “You did nothing wrong. But we do have so much inventory now and we received yesterday we might get a replicator that could possibly replicate shuttles and such.”

“I heard about those,” Tonya smiled. “That would come in handy but only special ships will be approved to get one. There are a lot of protocols before we are even considered.”

“Ah opportunity for us to get one but where would we put it,” Gog asks.

“Senior Flight Control Officer would have to meet with other senior staff,” Tonya answers the question as she pondered the ramifications of such a device. I do think we are special after all.”

After David left, Tonya and Gog came up with a plan on storing the excess inventory.