All that Cloak and Dagger stuff..."
By: Dr. Alyssa Caitlin Northrop, Acting Chief Intel Officer, [PST]

Stardate: 58205.29 1100

Alyssa Northrop had always prided herself on being a good judge of character, be it student or black marketeer. She supposed that Fleet Officers fell somewhere in between. Based on what she knew of Captain Ian Hunter, he was not going to sit idly by when he had cards on the table that he could play. And that had gotten her to thinking after the the call from Blitzer last night. The Zion ought to up there by now, though she couldn't be certain of that. But the information she had placed them in the system about three hours ago.

To this point there had been no further communications...but for some reason Alyssa hadn't wanted to just sit around waiting for some one to call or for something to happen. The archeologist turned spy had a strong feeling that she was going to need to get herself up onto that ship.....and the cautious part of her told her that it wouldn't be all that smart to be unprepared to do so. Then again, if Hunter didn't want her there...then there was really nothing lost.

Since early this morning she had been out doing some of the much needed inital legwork. Before she'd left the bar she'd asked Christine Walker to see what she could dig up from her contacts in terms of intelligence on partol movements and numbers. Walker had been more than happy to comply. If there was any chance of her getting aboard the Yamoto without being detected, it was going to be from inside the building just down the street from her.

The Government Center that the 'party' had been in stood there, staring back at her as if indifferent to what was going on around it. From this distance she could see the guards up on the walls and in the observation posts. She scowled, feeling the dark cloud that hung over the once-beautiful building. The cloud that had turned it into an ugly, oppressive enemy stronghold.

Part of her fairly screamed that going back into that place was a really bad idea. Northrop couldn't disagree with the voice. But at the same time, there was no other way of doing this. Travel between the cities was barred, save for those with the proper documentation...which was only given to special people...none of which were going to help her. This was true for both public transporter terminals and for the submersible craft that some people preferred. So in the end, it came back to this single building. She didn't have to like it....but then again, no one ever asked her opinion.

'Oh....time to go,' she thought to herself as a couple of the Starfleet guards looked in her direction. Lowering her head, she turned and walked off down the street. After a few moments, she risked looking back over her shoulder. No one was there.

"Excuse me, Miss......may I see your papers?" The tone was decidedly less genial than the words themselves. It was meant to be a command rather than a question.

Alyssa froze and looked up...only to see the chest of a very large man wearing a Starfleet Security uniform. She smiled at the man....though inside her head she swore for being that stupid. She'd pushed her luck...and it'd bitten her in the ass.

Shoving her hand down into her pocket, Northrop produced a small isolinear chip. One of Christine's friends had given it to her this morning. He'd explained that it would tell anyone that scanned it that her name was Skye Labelle, that she lived in an apartment on 7th Street, and worked in a women's clothing shop not far from there. He also assured her that everything would check out. She handed it over to the security man who took it without a word and plugged it into his Tricorder. After a moment, he scowled. "I'm afraid something is amiss with your documentation, Miss Labelle. You'll have to come with me."

Alyssa gave him her best 'I'm about to cry' look, "Is that really necessary? I was just out for a walk...and I'm headed home."

There was a slight quaver in her voice which, she hoped, would make the large man thing she was afraid of him. In reality, she held nothing but contempt for this man.

"Oh now...there there. I'm sure if you come with me that we'll get this all worked out." He took hold of her wrist with a grip that felt as if it could crush iron.

Alyssa winced as the man began to drag her along behind him. By now she knew that there was no one else around, which only confirmed what she thought this ass was up to. There was nothing wrong with her papers. She also had a feeling that no one knew where he was or what he was doing....which meant that no one would ever know.

"No...please...don't do this!" she pleaded, hoping that the man would listen to reason. Alyssa REALLY didn't want to have to do anything that would compromise her cover....but it was looking like that was what she was going to have to do...or else let the guy do what he was going to do.

The security officer dragged her down a deserted ally and spun her around. With a quick movement, he pinned her to the wall. "Now...we're going to deal with this problem with your documents. If you cooperate, I'll let you go on your way when we're finished....if not...well...we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

She struggled a bit, trying to get free. 'Damnit!'

Her first impulse was to scream...but that would do no good. There was only one option left....and she let her free hand slip down her side. Just under the windbreaker she was wearing was called a 'fractal blade.' It was a very nasty little device and was very illegal in the Federation. Her fingers closed around the hild of the blade as she prepared to pull it.

His hand came closer, but before he could do anything and before she could pull the knife, his comm badge beeped. He looked torn for a second and it beeped again. With a slight frustrated sigh he tapped the comm badge with his groping hand. "Stinson here....what is it?"

The voice on the other end could only have been Cardassian. It certainly sounded very reptilian, "Mr. Stinson....there is a crowd that needs pacification in Kenduku Station Square. I suggest you get there at once before I make an example of you to the rest of the security force."

Stinson grit his teeth and released his hold on Northrop, "Yes Sir.....I'll be there momentarily."

He tapped closed the channel and looked down at his intended target. He growled a little and then took off at a quick run. Alyssa Northrop wasted no time in going the opposite direction. 'Damn...that was sloppy, Girl. Keep this up and you'll be in a body bag for sure.'

She cursed her stupidity all the way back to the bar...but at least she had the information she needed.