Corrigere Praeterita (Part III)

Posted on Mon Feb 17, 2025 @ 2:27pm by Lieutenant T'Lul & Civilian Geral Lasuma
Edited on on Mon Feb 17, 2025 @ 2:29pm

1,231 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Tergum In Tempus
Location: Deep Space 5
Timeline: Two Days Before Attack

ON

T'Lul beamed into the bowels of Deep Space 5. After taking a moment to orient herself, she once again had to calculate, what to do first. Geral had wealth, contacts, and interest in the Captain. Thavas was an information broker and a tailor. He would definitely value the information of the upcoming attack, but would he freely disseminate the information? There was a significant chance that he would not. Therefore, she decided to make her way to Gerald's hidden areas of his shop, knowing that her past self would not be here at this moment, assuming that the station chronometer was correct.


[LASUMA'S]

Geral was flying high. Maritza and he had patched things up, his cargo ships were no longer being harassed, his donations to the stations medical department had been deployed to the surface and his two new personal yachts had arrived. The only downside to things was the recent death of Maritza's father.

Going down to the lower level of his shop he left the mercantile area and went into the cafe's kitchen area to get something to eat. As the lights came up, "T'Lul? What are you doing back there?"

"Am I?" she asked, trying to remember what her schedule was at the time. "Perhaps I am." She hesitated, wondering if she made a calculated error coming to Geral first. However, she was here and time was not on her side. Regardless of what she should have calculated, she decided that by leaving now, she would only raise greater suspicion and potentially make her the target rather than the Cardassians. "I have little time, Geral," she said uncharacteristically. "I have reason to believe that the Cardassians are planning an attack on this station and are currently in the process of sabotaging our defenses."

Geral's feature shifted from content and relaxed to stern and calculating. He had known his undermining of the Cardassians efforts to cut off the Xi'Cadian dilithium supply would have ramifications and the attack on the processing center a while back had confirmed that, but an attack on the station? He had to admit his recent issues with Maritza had distracted him but not the rest of his organization...surely if the Cardassian government we planning something this serious his contacts would have heard something. "What makes you say that?"

Vulcans were known for their honesty but they could stretch the truth and could lie when it was necessary. Telling Geral that she was a future T'Lul would likely break numerous different protocols, so it was necessary to fabricate something to require Geral to react. "I have been able to determine that the Captain's behavior and speeches have significantly upset a radical portion of the Cardassians. I have learned through a source that must remain anonymous, that this group will be trying to prove themselves by taking this station. Once taken, they will have the political backing to become the government of Cardassia, which is something we cannot allow. As we speak, sympathizers are sabotaging vital systems that would impair our defenses, especially shields, weapons, and communications. I, personally, have confirmed at least one such attempt and thwarted it. Unfortunately, without more direct proof, I cannot bring this to the Captain. Your assistance is required here. We need to lure the Cardassians in, thinking this station is vulnerable, and thwart the attack. That is the only way the Federation or Captain will believe the threat."

That was a hell of a lot to swallow all at once but, though annoying at times, she has never given him a reason to doubt her. "What do you need from me?" Even as he said it was wondering what other assets he could call in.

"Logically, you have the means to disrupt supply chains, sabotage or hinder communications between here and the Cardassians, and perhaps even feed false information. Perhaps you even have the ability to sabotage some of the ships that are likely to come here.... Give them a gift of a virus, perhaps?" She tilted her head and raised an eyebrow hopefully.

Geral looked at the officer. "Lieutenant I think you have been listening to too many of my competitors. I'm a legitimate businessman a well-connected one but still ...but wait who are these sympathizers? If they are known stop them. If they are sabotaging the stations systems wouldn't the logical solution be to stop that sabotage or at the very least circumvent it."

Damn him! That was logical and what T'Lul was intending to do but how would she explain it? "I have some of that under control," T'Lul assured Geral. "Maritza may trust you and I may as well. However, that does not mean that I can simply break protocol to have a civilian working on station systems." That should be sufficient to end that inquiry.

"As time is of the essence, I have to reach out to my other contacts before we run out of time." She started to back away. The Vulcan was concerned she already may have said too much. However, if he acted, this version of herself would no longer exist and her simpler self would receive the credit, though be confused as to why Geral would have thought that they had this conversation. Perhaps time would even heal it so that Geral thought this was his own idea. Either way, it would not come into being if she did not leave soon.

He nodded. For whatever reason she was coming to him. He still found it odd that a counselor was in coming to him clandestinely for help with a threat to the station. Where was Maritza in all this, what about station's security? Was this an attempt to keep things from being discovered or was he being tested? "Protocol...always getting in the way isn't it. Well, I understand that to an extent, but I think I can help you. My new yachts arrived the other day and they are still in need of...testing Do you know the frequencies the Cardassians will be operating on? Perhaps some of these tests could interfere with those frequencies, or unofficially monitor their communications and feed that information to someone?

"You know...my yachts are equipped with transporters, perhaps their transporters could be available for your operations?" Snapping his fingers, "Ohhh, but they would be detected. That is unless someone could bypass that particular 'protocol'."

If she was not Vulcan, T'Lul might have considered that last statement from Geral irritating. However, there was a solution to every problem. Remembering that Ace Cannon, the Assistant Chief Ops Officer was one of the missing from the eventual destruction of DS5, T'Lul nodded. "Perhaps Lieutenant Cannon could assist with that endeavor. Whatever he might do regarding a lack of protocol would be out of my control."

"Well, I will get one of my yachts ready to launch for jamming and have the other standing by your use in monitoring. Just need those frequencies and Cannon to help circumvent protocol so we aren't detected by whoever you need to keep things concealed from."

"I will send over Mr. Cannon and you both can sort those details. I now must attend to other matters." She turned to leave to find Thavas. After a moment, she paused, turned around and said, "Thank you, Geral." Without waiting for a response, she disappeared again.

 

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