Imperium Security visits MISS FORTUNE

Its not more than a couple of hours since LC, Bronz, and Kayla had brought their rental Grav-Truck to Miss Fortune and loaded the "medical supplies" for Admiral Santanocheev...

The comm on the bridge chimes with a priority alert. And mere seconds later the main airlock/entrance resonates with a banging..., then the buzz of the external intercom.

"This is Imperial Security. Open up. We need to ask some questions!"

Tharrok is on the bridge monitoring the delivery team’s comms when he realizes the comms have just cut out. His eyebrow rises in concern, his tail getting still. He begins to flip switches and virtual dials in an attempt to regain contact with his crew mates in the Grav-truck when his hackles begin to stand up unexpectedly. He suddenly notes unscheduled movement on the landing pad. "Aw man, I got a bad feeling about this," he says flatly to no one in particular. In that particular moment, the Priority Comms channel lights up followed almost immediately by the banging and external intercom.

"Oh shit." he quickly checks the ID on the Priority Comm and answers the call, wanting to verify who is calling and why before answering the airlock banging. He also gets on the crew net and says, "Hey y’all, we got company at the main airlock… and not the good kind…"

Turning back to the Priority Comm, he says, "Starship Miss Fortune, Pilot Tharrok speaking.". He waits for a response for about 30 seconds.

There are two humans, dressed in conservative but masculine looking business attire. The first one is tall and slender, the other a bit shorter and heavier of build. The tall man produces a high-tech comm unit and displays a badge along with very official looking tri-D image and biometrics.. "Agent Forstin, IBIS. We need some information regarding some passengers that recently left your ship. Informal, you see. Help out the Imperium, maybe,"

The more muscular man shows similar I.D. that says he's Agent Yassur adds: "Not here looking for trouble. Just information. Can we come aboard?"

Tharrok can use the ship's security cam to see who it is. But Llogan apparently opened up for them right away...

The muscular Agent Yassur nods to Leilani in a formal sort of way. "Baroness", he acknowledges. He glances at his partner but then proceeds:

"Can we come aboard, Baroness? We have some questions regarding passengers that have recently disembarked. Nothing that should take much time. But it would be... more comfortable... if we could come aboard. In the interest of Imperium security and safety."

Tharrok closes the open comms channel and heads to meet with the Imperial Agents. "Leilani, Tamm, please escort our guests to the crew lounge. I’ll be there in a minute."

The two agents, muscular Yassur and slender Forsin, follow Llogan and Leilani into crew territory and the mess/lounge. Offered seating, they take what's there looking a bit stiff and formal. They get right down to business.

"Two of your passengers have shown up on our 'alert' database. We have an interest in finding them and talking to them as soon as possible. Unfortunately, we lost tracking on them as soon as they cleared customs & immigration. This is a small down-port here at Port-au-Prince, and their tech is lagging and we don't maintain an office here. We had to get down from the major High Port as soon as we could. Now they are well and truly 'lost'. So any information you can provide will be helpful.

"Their travel documents show them as Theodorick and Adriana LeFrontaine. Recently married at Mora. The documents are very good, totally legitimate. Only one thing.... Well, op-sec and all I can't disclose the one thing that raised a red-flag in our system.

"Now, they could be totally legit. But we do have to check it out.

"So. How was the voyage? I see by your activity since grounding that you had a rather major malfunction. So how did your passengers react? Anything strange or odd about them, their behaviour?

"Did they say where they were headed? Who they might be meeting with?"

Tharrok strolls casually into the crew lounge, nodding when he sees Tamm and Leilani standing and the two Imperium Agents already seated. He nods to the two agents, holding his tail up high but only slightly wagging. He sits across from them, casually and in a manner picked up from LC… having nothing to hide.

"Good afternoon, gentlemen. I am Tharrok. I am the pilot. I am also the First Officer OF Miss Fortune. How can we assist you esteemed Agents of the Imperium?". Tharrok then listens to the questions being asked, but more importantly, he listens to how the questions are being asked. He first speaks of the component failure.

"Indeed, we had a bit of a tense moment during our most recent transition. Fortunately, it was nothing that endangered our passengers or ship. Prudence dictates that we go over the systems involved to ensure there won’t be any related concerns. We run a tight ship and have a very good crew. Aside from the original failure, unforeseen on our end as we are just a few weeks out of an Annual, we had a short power drop which was well managed by our fine engineering crew."

Tharrok stands and heads to the beverage dispenser, drawing himself an iced and spiced caffeinated beverage. "Can I offer you gentlemen anything to drink?" Tharrok motions to the beverage dispenser, his eyebrows raised in genuine offering. He will provide whatever beverage they ask for, if any, while continuing.

"Now where were we… oh yes. With the issues coming up so soon after our Annual, it was appropriate to return directly to the facility that performed the work. I am certain you gentlemen understand why we would want to do that.". Tharrok sips his beverage while letting the Agents soak in what he has said so far. "As for our passengers, yes. I do recall meeting with them. The LeFrontaine‘s." Tharrok considers the names, his eyes drift up and to the right, slightly. "Fine, if quiet and reserved couple. Mostly kept to themselves best I recall. I do remember Mr. LeFrontaine doted on his wife. Now that you mention it, I do seem to recall they were recently married."

Tharrok doesn’t quite suppress his reaction to the near slip the Agent made regarding the LeFrontaines’ credientials. "I cannot understand what could have triggered any kind of flag in the Imperium system for such a fine couple.". He eyes the agents, hoping they might give him some kind of hint. After a moment of uneasy silence, Tharrok continues. "I honestly don’t know where they are headed. I do believe I remember something about continuing their honeymoon.". Tharrok thinks carefully. "which may or may not include a pilgrimage to commune with ancestors. I honestly cannot remember. Please feel free to speak to our other crew. Perhaps one of them has more information.". Tharrok glances at Leilani and Tamm then back at the Agents while taking another draw of the beverage.

"So, you are saying these two seemed to be simple passengers, nothing to draw any notice? That is what happened..., nothing that is. Nothing out of the ordinary?

"They did not even seem nervous? During your equipment malfunction, they didn't respond at all?"

(They will want a response from all three of the crew present, and will direct the questions seperately and directly if needed.)

(Said Ma has so far evaded any attention, working on 'trades' from her stateroom. But that leaves Tharrok, Leilani, and Llogan.....)

"Did either one happen to mention where they were headed once off your ship? Or any mention of contacts, friends, or family here on Fornice?"

Tharrok listens to the questions carefully, taking care to keep his tail relaxed and his wag to remain without change. "They behaved as most well-heeled humans do, good sirs," he said. He forces his internal monologue to remain quiet. Despite this, he cannot stop one thought from coming to mind… *If they hadn’t reacted at all, how would that have been normal?*

Tharrok takes a sip from his drink. "As for their reactions during the malfunction, they seemed appropriately concerned, but they followed crew safety instructions. The wife, I recall, did have a momentary episode of hysteria and was offered an anti-anxiety. But that was completely understandable. The sir had informed us previously that she had very little, if any, space travel experience."

The pilot seemed fairly blasé about the questions up to this point. But it was time, he felt, to push back a little. Being polite was one thing. It seemed to be the grease that allowed bureaucracy to function. But he felt he had to assert some level of dominance if his answers were to be respected. But carefully. Maybe something LC would ask… "Would you care to share what Imperium Laws or local ordinances these two have run afoul of? This seems like an out of the ordinary line of questioning for a normal newlywed couple traveling off world."

"Hmm, well. We thought perhaps they'd mentioned something about where they were headed at the very least."

Getting nothing from that...

"Well, we can say that they are persons of interest to Internal Security. That does not necessarily mean they have broken any laws, you understand. Our assignment is to find them and ask a few questions. They could have information important to ongoing operations. These operations are, of course, of a confidential nature. So I am afraid we cannot share anything more at this time.

"If however you hear from them for any reason, please do contact us as soon as you can.

"And if we find out something more and can ask more specific questions we will return. Before you depart again.

"Good day to you. The Imperium depends on regular citizens doing their part to keep us all safe and prosperous. Best commerce!"

The two have nothing more to ask (at this time) and will depart unless anyone wishes to offer up more!

Tharrok shrugs helplessly. "I am sorry we could not be of more assistance. They only mentioned that they were honeymooning and visiting ancestors.". Tharrok stands when the two agents do. "Please, leave us your card. If we do hear from them, we will let you know. Would you like to pass on any messages to them? If we hear from them, that is."

Tharrok will walk with the agents to the airlock to make sure they don’t have any additional questions. He will watch them leave, closing and locking the airlock hatch. Turning to the rest of the group, "Well, now that the fun is over, we’ve lost the follower signal from LC and the Santanocheev delegation. Tamm, can you ready our own air/raft and arm yourself discreetly. We may need to mount a rescue mission.". With that, Tharrok turns and heads back to the bridge where he fights to reestablish comms with LC.

Agents Forstin and Yassur look dissapointed. But accept that the crew seems unable to assist. "We may return later in the week if something turns up that you might be able to help with. Clarification. Details. But for now we will be on our ways. Thank you."

"If we have to go, lock the ship down. No one in or out until we return. But at the moment, just keep working on the Engineering systems. I’m headed back to the bridge to see if I can reestablish contact."

Tharrok does just that, working the radio as well as any personal comms using the Computer to assist.

With the departure of Imperium Internal Security, attention turns to the "lost contact" status of LC, Bronz, and Kayla. The personal comm units are solid and dependable mid-Imperial tech. Being out of touch is a genuine cause for concern.

Fornice is about average among Imperial planet-states, ranked '7' on the TAS travellers scale. Carrying firearms is prohibited however, with the exception of sporting arms for recreational purposes. Departing the relatively small downport of Port-au-Prince would normally require passing through a security check-point even if using Miss Fortune's own air-raft. However, your prior experience here would lead you to believe that getting hidden weapons through a checkpoint would not be particularly difficult.

(more related to this in the other active thread!)

I am assuming that the entire crew knows the coordinates of the route of the delivery &/or its destination so we won't be going out blind if we have to go help the delivery crew. I cannot see why LC would keep it a secret or at least radio the coordinates back to Miss Fortune.

Of course, open comms would be the best.

Tharrok had just tucked his Autopistol into his waistband when comms crackled to life. Tharrok paused, his tail beginning to wag. He flips the comms switch. "Copy cancel the cavalry. Standing down here." He sighed thankfully. Then he sighed again. "hopefully, Mr. Murphy doesn’t hear that." he whispered under her breath as he flipped the comms signal closed.

"Ok, guys. Stand down and let’s get back to work on the drives concerns. The Captain finally got back through to us."

Tharrok notes the way Tamm is disturbed by the circumstances and finds a moment to speak to the Engineer alone.

"Hey Big Guy, something on your mind?" Tharrok keeps a neutral expression, yet with a cocked head and a stance that says he is truly concerned about what Tammi’s feeling.