The Morning Review - 0017
Posted on Fri Sep 4, 2026 @ 3:00pm by Lieutenant JG Natalie Cross & Ensign Cameron Hale & Staff Warrant Officer Mara Venn
964 words; about a 5 minute read
Mission:
Jubilee
Location: DS5 - Intelligence
Tags: the-morning-review
Cam was already seated when Natalie entered the room. He sat comfortably in his chair, PADD resting on the table in front of him, wearing a satisfied expression of someone waiting for his accomplishment to be acknowledged.
Natalie looked from him to Mara.
Mara continued reading.
Natalie took her usual seat. "How long has he been like this?"
"About four minutes." Mara replied.
Cam looked between them. "Neither of you is going to say anything?"
Mara finally raised her eyes from her PADD. "Good morning."
"You know what I mean." Cam sighed.
"I don't." Mara said.
"I'm early." Cam responded.
Mara glanced toward the chronometer. "Technically."
"Four minutes." Cam declared.
"Three minute, forty-three seconds." Mara corrected him.
Cam pointed at her. "Still early."
Natalie activated the PADD in front of her. "Should we commemorate the occasion?"
"I'd settle for recognition." Cam answered.
"I recognized you when I walked in." Natalie stated.
Mara lowered her eyes to her report again, but Natalie caught the small smile.
Cam sighed. "This is why people don't improve around here."
Natalie pulled up the morning agenda. "Anything requiring immediate attention?"
"Nothing immediate." Mara said.
Cam shook his head. "Same."
"Good." Natalie looked between them. "What do we have?"
Mara glanced at her PADD. "House Torvak closed its diplomatic office on Korvath yesterday."
Cam looked over. "Should I know who House Torvak is?"
"They're minor." Mara said. "Old House. Not particularly influential. Most of their holdings are along the Federation border."
Natalie looked up from her own PADD. "Why did they close it?"
"They didn't say." Mara answered.
"Staff?" Natalie asked.
"Recalled. All six of them returned to Klingon territory over the last three days." Mara answered.
Cam leaned back slightly. "Maybe they decided they didn't need an office anymore."
"Maybe." Mara hesitated.
Natalie caught the hesitation. "But?"
"They've maintained a presence on Korvath for thirty-two years. The office survived three changes in House leadership and two fairly serious financial problems." Mara answered.
"And now they just closed it." Natalie said.
"Without an announcement. No replacement staff. No relocation. They transferred their records, terminated the lease, and left." Mara added.
Cam glanced at the report. "Anything going on with Korvath?"
"Nothing unusual. The other Klingon diplomatic offices are operating normally."
"House Torvak itself?" Natalie asked.
"Nothing obvious. No leadership change. No dispute with the High Council that I could find. Their ships are where they're supposed to be. Their known holdings are operating normally."
Natalie considered it for a moment. "So we have a minor Klingon House closing an office."
"That's all we have." Mara said.
Cam looked at her. "And it bothers you."
Mara gave a small shrug. "It's different."
"Monitor them." Natalie said. "Nothing active. If anything else changes, bring it back."
Mara nodded and marked the report.
Cam looked between them. "That's it?"
"That's it." Natalie said.
He picked up his PADD. "I'm starting to think the two of you just don't like Klingons changing their routines."
Mara didn't look up. "People who suddenly change their routines are usually worth watching."
Cam paused. "Is that why you keep track of when I arrive?"
"Among other reasons." Mara said.
Natalie let the exchange die before looking toward Cam. "What else?"
"This one's a little more interesting. Starfleet Security recovered six EPS flow regulators from a commercial repair facility on Delphos." Cam stated.
Mara looked over. "Starfleet regulators?"
"That's what caught their attention. Correct markings, serial numbers, manufacturing stamps. Everything you'd expect."
"Stolen?" Natalie asked.
"Apparently not." Cam slid the report toward Natalie. "All six serial numbers show the components as installed aboard active Starfleet vessels."
Natalie looked at him. "The same components?"
"According to the records." Cam answered.
Mara leaned forward. "Counterfeit serial numbers?"
"That's what Security assumed." Cam shook his head. "They sent one of the regulators to the local Starfleet engineering detachment. It's genuine."
Natalie looked down at the report again. "Where did the repair facility get them?"
"Purchased them from an independent parts distributor about three months ago. Distributor says they came through a surplus auction." Cam answered.
"Starfleet doesn't auction active inventory." Mara said.
"No." Cam replied. "They don't."
Natalie tapped the edge of the PADD against the table. "How many?"
"Six that we know about."
"Then find out if there are more."
Cam nodded.
Natalie handed the report back.
"And before we start calling it theft, figure out where the supply chain broke." Natalie stated.
Mara glanced toward him. "Looks like you finally brought something useful."
Cam smiled as he took the PADD. "I knew coming in early would pay off."
"Anything else?" Natalie asked.
"A few things. Nothing that needs the three of us." Mara replied.
"Same." Cam said. "Unless anyone has strong feelings about unauthorized replicator modifications."
Mara picked up her tea. "I don't."
"Neither do I." Natalie said.
Cam removed the report from his queue. "Another crisis averted."
Natalie picked up her PADD. "Keep an eye on Torvak. Mr. Hale, follow the regulators back through the distributor. Find out where they entered the civilian market and whether anyone else bought from the same inventory. If there are more Starfleet components out there, especially on DS5, I want to know about it."
Natalie stood.
Mara collected her things and headed for the door.
Cam followed, but stopped as Natalie called after him. "Cam."
He turned.
Natalie glanced toward the chronometer. "Five minutes early tomorrow."
Cam stared at her. "You noticed."
"I notice everything." Natalie said.
A grin spread across his face as he backed toward the door. "I knew you were impressed."
"Don't ruin it." Natalie stated.
A post by
Lieutenant JG Natalie Cross
Intelligence Officer
Deep Space Five
Ensign Cameron Hale
Intelligence Officer
Deep Space Five
Staff Warrant Officer Mara Venn
Intelligence / Encryption Specialist
Deep Space Five
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