It's Not Over Yet
Posted on Wed Oct 21st, 2026 @ 11:24pm by Captain Erik Norsgaard & Lieutenant Bartholomew Hale & Lieutenant Daegan Baas & Lieutenant Juliette Barnes & Lieutenant Tatiana Dragos & Lieutenant Daltom Vesper & Lieutenant Sylar & Lieutenant Commander Areum Choi & Lieutenant JG Caitlyn MacRae
2,193 words; about a 11 minute read
Mission:
The Invisible Hand
Location: Various | USS Thunderbird
Timeline: MD005 - 1100
[Conference Room - Deck 1]
He had spent a tense twenty minutes talking to Gul Maret who relaxed only after being able to see Ambassador Tasat appear, relatively unharmed, on the view screen. The Ambassadors and their staff were still aboard, talking things through, while the crew were preparing the Thunderbird for its trip back to Starbase 11. When the Ambassadors calld a break, Norsgaard called a brief meeting of the senior staff to get an update and issue assignments. "Before we interrogate our prisoner, I wanted to go over what we know. Lieutenant Barnes, has your team had a chance to go through the Maquis ship yet?""
“Not fully, but we’ve done a cursory inspection,” answered Julie. “Nothing of note, really, beyond what we learned just after impact. It’s a Spector class. From what I can tell, it hasn't got a true cloak, but a stealth field- bends sensor emotions around it so we just see what’s behind it. We’re still inspecting it though.”
"Very good. We'll take the craft back with us so do what you can to preserve it. Doctor, once you're finished with the wounded, I'd like you to examine the body, see if you can make an identification." He paused a second. "We have the suspect in custody and we're going to talk to him but first, is there anything else we know?"
Daltom spoke up. "I would like to be there when the interrogation occurs."
Norsgaard sighed inwardly but addressed the man regardless of his timing. "You can join me in Observation, Counselor. Lieutenant Baas and Commander Choi will be leading the interrogation."
Sylar spoke next. "Sickbay is currently treating five patients with critical or serious injuries. An additional seven patients with moderate to routine injuries are completing treatment now. All of this is within the capabilities of Petracca and Redstone. I will begin the examination immediately."
Baas looked to Choi with a nod before adding his report to the mix. "We've identified both of our attackers. The body of the woman found in the wreckage was Lysa Daren. She, and her parents where last known to have been colonists in the Juhraya system...which was handed over to the Cardassians in the treaty. The man in the brig, Elias Renn, he was a former Intelligence Specialist who resigned from Starfleet after his family's colony was ceded to Cardassian jurisdiction."
Pulling out the armband he had been wearing, glancing to Tatiana as he placed it on the table. "He was wearing this. Some kind of stealth field generator; which was how he was able to move around the ship without being seen."
"Current theory is that they had two missions. Kill the ambassadors by ramming us and blowing the explosives on their ship. This plan failed thanks to the last minute evasive maneuvers and the damage their ship took in the collision that disabled several of the devices. The second, breaking into the ships computer and transmitting that data over an open frequency which could have seriously compromised Starfleet and the Federation. Thankfully that stealth device didn't work against Vulcan hearing.
"I still have security stationed to protect critical areas; just in case."
"Good," Norsgaard said. "We'll maintain that protection until we're underway back to the starbase, I think."
From the far side of the table where she sat beside Tatiana, MacRae spoke up. “After a lot of effort from Lieutenant Dragos and her contacts, we finally received some more information from the base where the prototype ship was stolen,” she explained, “it shows two boarding the ship which, admittedly, would have been helpful for us to be aware of before they decided to crash into us."
"Agreed," Erik said, frowning slightly. "Then again, they didn't want to tell us about the stolen prototype either. Which leaves it to us to do the investigation for ourselves. Lieutenant Barnes, Lieutenant Hale, I want you both to go over the wreck. Scan everything. See if you can get holographic model that we can use for reference purposes."
"Aye, sir," Hale replied with a nod.
“We’ll find anything there is to find,” promised Julie. “If there’s a flea in the intake manifold, you’ll know about it.”
“Renn still has a formidable reputation in Intelligence circles,” Lieutenant MacRae cautioned. “Interrogating him may be quite a challenge. But it may explain how they even managed to steal this prototype to begin with.”
Tatiana glanced down at the information in front of her, going over what was there once more in her mind before she spoke.
"What I have been able to confirm is that there were two people who boarded the prototype when it was taken. With Daren being found in the wreckage and Renn being captured here, I think we can safely say those were the two who took it."
There was a slight frown from Tatiana, her eyes going towards the armband Baas had placed upon the table.
"What I haven't been able to find out yet is how they managed to get aboard in the first place, and then were able to just take the prototype. That is something which bothers me, and something I am still looking into."
Tatiana paused, tapping one finger lightly against the table. She took the time to look at those there, a furrow in her brow.
"Renn's background in Intelligence does answer a few questions. He would know how to make use of something like this, and how to get around a secured ship without being noticed. He would also know where he needed to go once he was aboard."
Her frown deepened slightly as she considered the rest of what they knew.
"There are other things though which don't quite fit. They knew about the negotiations, they knew when they were taking place, and they knew enough about the Thunderbird to make their attack count. This wasn't something they just decided to do."
She gave a slight shake of her head.
"I feel like I am looking at a puzzle where I have most of the pieces, but there are still a few missing. And those missing pieces could be rather important."
"I'm with you on that," Erik said. "Please keep at it and if you figure out any more of the pieces, let me know."
[Security]
Word had spread fast about the captured Maquis down in interrogation. From her station he had a small window open as she watched him, while at the same time seeming to work on her assigned tasks. Jaclyn was torn. On one had she was certain that Delyn would want this information, on the other this guy had attacked her ship. ...Though they were hosting a Cardassian ambassador. the more she thought about it the more she could see why. By attacking a Federation ship and not the Cardassian was definitely turnabout for abandoning the colonies and giving them to the Cardassians.
Pulling out here padd she his a message using the protocols she was given, Renn captured. Once that was done she pocketed her padd and returned to business.
[Interrogation Room - Deck 17]
To outward appearances, Elias Renn sat, relaxed and calm, in the Interrogation room. He had done his homework on the Thunderbird and knew there were no empaths or telepaths aboard. His mind was his own and thus, there had been no need for additional preparation. His mission was done and if nothing else, both the Cardassians and the Federation knew that the Maquis were serious. The next steps were in someone else's hands; he had made his peace with the risks a very long time ago back when he believed the Federation would always have his back.
Baas waited outside of the interrogation room for the XO. They already had Renn on a large list of charges so he was curious of what path Renn was going to take. Was he going to refute, clam up, or take pride in his actions. To be upset about policy, or orders a risk one took in Starfleet but Renn went well beyond that. Renn resigned his commission, took up arms against the Federation, and now he had blood on his hands.
Lieutenant Commander Areum Choi approached the interrogation room with measured steps, her uniform was crisp, wrinkle free, and her expression set in its customary sternness of stone. Composed. There was little about the situation that pleased her. A former Starfleet officer had abandoned his commission, taken up arms in a stance that opposed Federation values, and apparently involved himself in actions that had left bloodshed in their wake. Whatever grievances Elias Renn might have harbored, Choi had little patience for the notion that disillusionment granted someone the right to take the law into their own hands.
Coming to a halt beside Baas, she regarded the officer briefly before turning her attention toward the interrogation room's observation window. "He's comfortable," she surmised. His body posture was all wrong. "I don't love that," she added.
There was no warmth in her tone, but neither was there any suggestion that she intended to rush in. She paused, studying Renn through the observation area. He appeared comfortable, almost unnervingly so. Perhaps he believed his mission had been worth the cost. Perhaps he had already decided that nothing said in this room could change what came next. Choi had encountered that sort of resolve before, and she had never mistaken it for innocence.
“Very well. Best not keep our guest waiting," Choi stated.
She entered the room, For a moment, she said nothing, letting the silence settle between them. Her eyes remained fixed on Renn, assessing him without obvious hostility or curiosity. She had no intention of offering him sympathy, nor would she indulge any attempt to turn the proceedings into a debate about the Federation's imperfections.
Finally, she took the seat opposite him, her posture rigid and she intentionally tried to keep her expression unreadable.
“I am Lieutenant Commander Areum Choi, First Officer of the USS Thunderbird,” she introduced herself, though she suspected he already knew precisely who she was. She folded her hands on the table. “You once wore this uniform, Mr. Renn. You swore the same oath as the rest of us." Her gaze sharpened.
Elias listened, hands folded in his lap, and said nothing. Commander Choi's file had been an interesting read. Rules and duty mattered to this one though it had been indicated that she lacked empathy which made her initial assignment as counselor all the more interesting. Lysa had labeled her the Martinet as she had labeled the captain, the Viking. Red-circled had been the animosity of a particular Admiral toward her, to the point where he had to gone out of his way to block her career progression. He waited in silence to hear whatever she would say next.
Lieutenant Commander Choi locked eyes with him. He wasn't replying. She wasn't going to waste her breath. "Sit there. Be quiet. That's what you prefer? Sure, we can just sit here. Do you want anything to drink? Eat?"
"No, thank you," Renn said dryly. "I"ve already eaten. Why don't you have a seat, Commander."
[Observation Adjacent to the Interrogation Room - Deck 17]
Erick stood, arms folded across his chest, studying Elias Renn. Though the Maquis couldn't see either him or the counselor, honestly, it didn't matter to the ship's captain. Not even for a minute. Still, interrogation was something of a dance and best left to those with training in such things. Baas as Chief of Security and Choi because she'd spent a lot of time with prisoners over the years.
Daltom looked at the Captain. "You look impatient and expectant," the Counselor observed. He hoped that the Captain might actually allow some of his thoughts to filter through. "Do you think that this interrogation is going to actually work? He knows the system."
"Depends, I suppose," Erik answered. "On the one hand, he's former Intelligence which makes it unlikely. As you say, he knows the system and he wouldn't give up information easily if at all. On the other hand, he's got a cause and sometimes, true believers say more than they might have intended to say out of a need to justify their actions or just berate those they see as their 'enemies'."
Daltom avoided rolling his eyes. The Captain was hopeless. "No. Neither of those will happen." Would the Captain ask him what he believed would work?
Erik gave Daltom a speculative look. Counselors were meant to advise and yet this one, preferred hostility and agression. Interesting and telling but he'd play along for the moment. "What do you think will happen?"
Captain Erik Norsgaard
Commanding Officer
USS Thunderbird
Lt. Commander Areum Choi
First Officer
USS Thunderbird
Lieutenant JG Caitlyn MacCrae
Second Officer
USS Thunderbird
Lieutenant Daegan Baas
Chief of Security
USS Thunderbird
Lieutenant Bartholomew Hale
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Thunderbird
Lieutenant Daltom Vesper
Chief Counselor
USS Thunderbird
Lieutenant Sylar
Chief Medical Officer
USS Thunderbird
Lieutenant Juliette Barnes
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Thunderbird
Lieutenant Tatiana Dragos
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Thunderbird
RSS Feed