"A Fist Full Of Secrets" || Intelligence Log || CCpt. Sebastian Ascari, SFI

Posted on 241404.09 @ 8:10am by Commodore Sebastian Ascari

Mission: Insurrection [Fleet Plot]
Location: Undisclosed Location - Starfleet HQ, Earth
Timeline: Current

Several thin ribbons of red blood bubbled from deep lacerations on a bruised and battered face. His vision partially obscured by the red of his own blood, Captain Sebastian Ascari gasped for breath as another vicious blow was delivered to his abdomen. Tied securely to a chair in a barren isolation room the captain was flanked by three intelligence officers skilled in the arts of ‘advanced’ interrogation techniques. They had resorted to the most base and primal of all tactics not because they were after any information in particular but because their masters had ordered them to inflict a measure of pain upon the captain first and obtain any useful information second. More effective and less traumatic techniques had been foregone. Someone was sending Ascari a message for his meddling in their affairs. His situation was simple payback.

“Feeling more cooperative captain”, his interrogator asked cracking his knuckles as he slowly circled the immobilized officer. “We will get the information we want from you in the end. You know how this works better than most. Why don’t you just tell us what we want to know? This can all end.”

The strong taste of iron filled the captain’s swollen mouth. He had expected such treatment although that did little to blunt the acute pain rippling through him. “It is difficult to answer when one does not know the question”, he answered wincing in the response.

A fist struck him in the temple. The lights in the room seemed to dim with each such strike as Ascari shook off the attack as he had for the better part of an hour. “You know the questions all too well captain. One so intertwined with fleet security and intelligence activities knows what is being asked – no questions are needed. Just start talking. We’ll listen to what you have to say.”

“If you want intelligence I’ll talk”, the captain stated his breath now coming in gasps. His voice had lost its earlier character. He was resolved not to aid the enemy as he understood it, but his fortitude and strength were slowly being sapped by repeated beatings and pointless interrogation sessions. His captors were resolved to obtain some measure of revenge. He had been attempting to expose and undermine their efforts since the Cardassian attack on Earth. Sadly, he had been unable to uncover the masterminds lurking in the shadows until it was too late. Too cowardly to confront a beaten, restrained man they sent their minions to this place to do their dark bidding.

“Ah”, the interrogator stated with a smile. “Indeed? Well then continue captain. You have a ‘captive’ audience.”

“The…the corner of Sarek Avenue there is a…there is a…no, no I can’t say”, he mumbled.

“TALK!” Someone slapped him harshly against the face. The harsh sting quickly faded into the overall dull pounding affecting his head and torso. His body was slowly shutting down attempting to block out the incredible pain and agony which seemed to be radiating from every pore of his face and upper body.

“There’s this coffee shop. Only a few of the senior staff are privy to this information.”

“Go on”, the interrogator shouted.

“We meet there every Friday morning sometimes twice a week to talk. There’s an area in the back that is secluded. The owner. He…you have to give him the code word.”

“Code word? For what? What are you talking about?”

“It’s a guarded secret. Like I said only a few…of the senior staff even know about it.”

Someone gripped Ascari’s hair forcefully yanking his head backwards and upwards into a bright, white light that stung his already burning, bloodshot eyes. “What is so special about this coffee shop? Is it an intelligence safe house? Who is this owner? Keep talking!”

“The code word is….”

“We don’t care about code words captain! What is this facility’s relevance and purpose?”

A thin, subtle smile formed at the edges of Ascari’s blood caked lips as he tried to focus upon his interrogators. The room seemed quite cold now. Very cold. “Purpose?”

“Yes!” Someone slapped him again as he felt two hands grab what remained of his tattered and blood stained uniform. “What is it!”

“The owner makes the best blueberry scones in San Francisco. They are to die for. He doesn’t make them often however. If you want one and he has some available you have to know the proper code word. Like I said, it’s a secret only known to a select few….”

“BASTARD!” Several fists were driven into Ascari’s gut followed by additional blows to his face. A loud crack filled the quiet room as the captain’s nose was broken in the punishment he was forced to endure at the hands of his captors.

“Still feel like being smart captain?”

“Captain?”

“He’s unconscious”, one of the interrogators stated from the back of the room. “You’ve broken his nose and he has internal bruising and a fractured rib. Our orders were to obtain information and soften up the prisoner – not kill him.”

The lead interrogator slowly pulled off his pair of bloodied, black leather gloves throwing them into the lap of the unconscious, bleeding former intelligence captain. “This isn’t over. I will break the man. A few more sessions like this and he’ll sing like a songbird.”

Suddenly the door to the room swung open with a loud metallic groan. An authoritative figure stepped inside flanked by an armed security detail.

“Did you kill him”, the man asked pushing Ascari’s lifeless head upwards into the light.

“No sir.”

“Well one could hardly tell the difference.” The man allowed Ascari’s head to fall forward. “What has he told us?”

“He has been less cooperative than we expected sir leading us to use more aggressive techniques…”

“We want to know what he knows about us”, the man shouted. “I want names, people, activities, intelligence operations, stardates! We need to know who to target and who to eliminate aside from the obvious. Any first year cadet could tell you this man will not talk under these conditions! I am surprised you got anything more than a name, rank, and serial number.”

“But sir, he’s nearly broken. I just need more time. We’re close to…”

“He’s being transferred. You’ve had your fun and have nothing to show for it. There are others with more sophisticated techniques and methods who will get the information we require.”

“He mentioned something about a coffee shop. He did talk to some degree. I thought it was irrelevant, but perhaps it has some meaning? Perhaps it is code for something else?”

The man nodded after quietly contemplating the interrogators words. “Perhaps. Lieutenant!”

One of the armed guards quickly appeared. “Take these men into custody. They may be in possession of sensitive intelligence information and cannot be permitted to leave this facility…ever.”

“What? Wait sir. There’s been some sort of mistake! I am a loyal Federation citizen and officer! Sir!”

The interrogators were quickly seized by the armed men and marched out of the interrogation chamber to places unknown.

The man grabbed the face of the unconscious captain again. “If you can hear me captain be warned. We will get what we seek in time. In the end intelligence always gets the information it seeks one way or another. You are not an island. No one man can hold out forever. But you...can try if you must.”

Releasing Ascari’s face from his grasp the man withdrew a handkerchief and wiped his soiled fingers.

“Get this 'thing' to the infirmary and get him cleaned up. I don’t want him dying on us before we've had a chance to extract what he knows. He’s to be moved shortly. We’re currently waiting on things to stabilize first. A transport ship is already on its way to take the captain here and others like him somewhere that we can be assured of obtaining results.”

“Yes sir. I’ll see to the prisoner personally.”

“Very well.” The man cast a disdainful look at the beaten and bloodied captain before turning and exiting the room.

“You heard him, get the prisoner secured and transport him to the infirmary on the double", the guard yelled.

Ascari vaguely remembered hearing voices and seeing bright lights, but it all faded into nothingness as the world around him slipped into a dark abyss free from pain, worry, or concerns. He welcomed the escape after the past few days his final thoughts residing on whether he would ever return from the darkness that was quickly enveloping him.

== To Be Continued ==

Captain Sebastian Ascari
(Former) Director, Starfleet Intelligence

and

Various NPCs