Infiltration "
By: Christine Walker , Bar Owner , [NPC]
Dr. Alyssa Caitlin Northrop, Acting Chief Intel Officer, [PST]

Stardate: 58205.28 1200

Alyssa followed Christine to the back of the bar and then up some stairs. At the top of the darkened staircase was a door. It opened at it's owners approach. The raven haired archeologist followed her hostess through.

"Have a seat, Doctor," Walker said motioning to the pair of chairs in front of her desk. Northrop took the chair on the left side and looked around a bit as the other woman took her seat. For some reason the room struck her as belonging in one of those old Gangster Holovids.

Nothing was said for a few moments. Chris would let her know when it was ok to talk...but first they had to be sure that no one was listening. After a moment, the signal was given and Alyssa looked over at her informant. "So what's the story around here?"

Leaning back in her chair, Chris began. "As you might imagine, when the Federation and the Cardassians arrived here on Pacifica they were eager to rid themselves of any sort of troublesome government interference. Governor Delaplane tried to reason with them...but Starfleet wouldn't hear of it. For all his trouble, Delaplane was replaced like a faulty lightbulb and the rest of us have been stuck here with Cardassian and Starfleet soldiers walking up and down the streets. I don't know if you've ever been in Occupied territory before...but let me tell you that living here is no walk in the park."

The Maquis Officer could only nod. "And what happened to the Governor...as well as the rest of your government?"

"Most of the government itself is still in place. They're colaborating with the enemy. But the senior cabinet members and the Governor himself....what happened to them is sketchy at best. However, being the local bartender and somewhat well connected gives me a somewhat unique ability to gather information. People like to tell me things....or tell other people things while not noticing that I'm sitting here. You see, the Capital isn't very far away from here at all. It's about 500 meters straight up from here."

Alyssa made a face at that.

"But anyway, alot of the puppets up there like to come down here because we offer things that they can't get up there." Alyssa had an idea what she was talking about...though Chris didn't elaborate and Alyssa didn't press the issue. "You see...there are three possibilities as to what may have happened to Delaplane and company. The first option is that the Federation simply shot his ass and tossed him into the ocean for the fish. I have to say that that particular opinion is a rather popular one among some of our less scrupled patrons. But since that doesn't help us we're just going to have to hope that that isn't what happened."

"You said there were three possibilities?" Alyssa prodded, wanting to get on with things. She was here to find out where that man was and how they might get him back.

"While not including the death of our fair Governor, the other two are still not the best possible outcome. I've heard that he's being held in one of two places. One source tells me that he's down here somewhere...most likely in the Government Center at the other end of the city. Another source tells me that he's in orbit...on that big honkin' ship they've got up there."

Northrop's head dropped. If he were in orbit, the man might as well be on Earth. Getting onto an enemy starship was going to be much, much easier said than done. It was best that the man was still here on Pacifica. "Ok...Chris...can you take me over to that Government Center? I'll need to check it out and see about getting inside."

Walker just smiled, "You know...you really are a pretty girl, Doctor."

The archeologist scowled, "And your point would be?"

"Just that I can get you inside....but it's going to require more than a bit of acting ability on your part." The smile on Walker's face got larger, which for some reason made Alyssa feel all the more uneasy about this.

"Ok...so what's this plan of your's?" she asked.

"As I said, the Federation and Cardassians come down here because we provide services that they can't get in the Capital, or many other places for that matter. And as luck would have it, I'm supposed to send a group of girls over to the Government Center to help ease the lonliness of the men there." Chris said this last part in with definitly fake sympathy. Resuming her normal tone, "Should you go in that way, you're much more likly to make it in alive."

Northrop blanched at the idea. She was not a whore. But....she had to admit that Walker had a point. "Durno IV all over again...," she muttered.

"What?"

"Oh...nothing. Alright....I don't suppose you have some clothing I could borrow?"

"I suppose you could call it clothing." She smirked a bit and stood. "C'mon...we'll see what we can dig up."

About an hour later, Alyssa Northrop stood in the center of a group of other women......although her dress was certainly the most conservative of the group. Thankfully, Chris had been able to find her something that would both fit and preseve her dignity. She was there for a reason...and that reason was not to show Pacifica the more risque portions of her body. For her part, Walker was doing a fairly good job at not laughing at her. "Ok Girls...I've got a little bit of an extra job for you tonight."

The bar owner pulled Northrop out from the center of the group. "This is Krystal. She'll be joining you tonight....but not for the entire evening. Now what we need from you here is that Krystal gets inside the G.C. but after that is able to safely disapppear. She has work to do that doesn't include poisoning any Cardassians." She smiled at that, knowing that she hadn't told that particular bit to their Maquis friend. "So once you're inside, there was only ever 10 of you. Got me?"

All of the other women nodded. "OK ladies...let's get to work."

The group left the bar and headed down the street. However, the women were not alone as they went. Chris herself led the procession while a group of 4 large men provided a perimeter. Alyssa figured that a Madame had to watch over her girls.

Parked just down the way from the bar was a group of ground effect transports. Alyssa followed the girls as they got into the vehicles. Within minutes they would be inside the walls of the Government Center....which Walker had told her were very large and very well guarded. The idea was that once they were inside the building that Alyssa would somehow detach herself from the group and vanish into the building. Then if anyone asked....she was never there. Ok...so maybe it wasn't exactly like Durno IV....but it was close. Her thoughts were interupted by a quick, sharp jab. "Oww....damn dress," she muttered.

Taking a second, she adjusted things and felt ok again. Yeah...no one would ever accuse this dress of being comfortable....though there were definitly girls here who had to be less so.

The GEVs slowed and came to a stop. Alyssa, who just happened to be sitting at a window, looked around at the goings on outside...and figured that she wouldn't have all that much trouble getting out again. Of course, if she did find Delaplane, that was going to make getting out all the more interesting.

There were a mix of Cardassian and Starfleet Security people around. Some were up in watch towers while others simply walked along the top of the walls. From what she could see, there weren't all that many around. Most of the soldiers were probably out patrolling the city. Of course Disruptor rifles tended to make up for a smaller number of men.

After a moment of talking with the gate guard, the GEVs slide inside the compound and up to the front door. Once there the doors were yanked open. "Ok...everyone out."

All of their party filtered out of the cars and stood together in a group. Alyssa could feel the leering stares of the guards. It made her feel dirty.....and more than just a bit angry. 'Hunter better appreciate this,' she thought.

They were taken inside and each girl was made to walk through a bank of weapon scanners. The four grunts, as well as Chris herself, got a free pass. She assumed that this was all part of the bargin. Alyssa was glad of this because George, one of the grunts had her backpack and instructions to hold it for her till she took it.

With that finished, the group was taken deeper into the building and towards, what one could only assume was the awaiting soldiers. Northrop began to fall towards the back. Apparently Christine Walker was quite a smart woman. They had an escort of one Starfleet Officer...and he was up at the front. All part of the routine. Alyssa fell into step with George at the back and got her backpack from him. At the next crossing, she broke off from the group after making sure there was no one in sight of course.

First order of business was to get rid of this dress, so she ducked into a storage closet and quickly got herself ready to go. It was amazing what one could get out of a properly programed replicator. Up to and including a Starfleet Security Uniform. Northrop even excerised a little bit of care putting the dress away. It was pretty after all. Now...it was time to find a computer and find the Governor. Exiting the storage closet, she calmly walked down the hallway. After all, she belonged there didn't she?

Finding the computer proved to be a bit more difficult than she's anticipated. It wasn't like on most Starfleet installations where the computer could be accessed from any number of places. No...she had to find an office with a terminal in it. Just finding the office ended up taking approximatly 20 minutes.....then getting past the security lockouts took another two. But finally the door spread open and allowed her in. Slipping the backpack off of her shoulders, she dug inside for a special piece of equipment. Once she had it, Alyssa put it down on the desk and activated it. The little box blinked some and then softly beeped when it was finished. Apparently the Federation hadn't deemed it necessary to put most security onto their computers yet...or hadn't gotten around to it as of yet. Once she was in, all she had to do was perform a simply search for the Governor.

As any good computer does, it obediently began searching for the data she asked it for. What it came back with was something less impressive. In fact it was bad news all together. Governor Delaplane had indeed been here...alone with his entire Cabinet. But the only thing left of him was a transporter signature. Apparently he'd been beamed up to the USS Yamato, which was still parked in orbit. Growling a bit, Northrop collected her things and began to make her way out of the building.

An hour later she was again sitting in Christine Walker's office. Chris herself hadn't returned just yet....but then again they weren't supposed to be back till later. It was a party after all. After checking the room herself, Alyssa pulled her comm badge out of her backpack. "Northrop to Tigirs."

Blitzer answered the hail, "Go ahead."

"Ok...I've completed phase one of the mission, Blitzer. But unfortunatly it's not great news beyond the fact that Governor Delaplane and company are still drawing breath. You remember that Sovereign class ship up in orbit? The Yamato is her name...well...that's where Delaplane is. I need you to get that information back to the Zion while I try to figure out what I'm going to do about it. If Captain Hunter has any ideas, please pass them my way. Just whatever you do...make it quick, ok? Northrop out."

It was a fairly short report...but she didn't want anyone tracking the signal back to her. While using different Subspace channels, the underlying technology was still nearly identical to that which Starfleet used. It wouldn't take a genius to find and trace the signal.

So now...all she could do was wait.