> Lasiter just stared at the three for a moment.... Then, "Commander Dais
> what are your thoughts on this matter? Is it worth the diplomatic trouble
> it will cause to get this Allso fellow to cooperate with you?"
>
> Not waiting for an answer, Lasiter continued with some questions for
K'Tael.
> "Commander K'Tael, is this case related to any others that you are
currently
> working on? Will solving this case present evidence or gain witnesses
that
> will close those other cases? If I can secure this Allso fellow can you
> gaurantee me a conviction in this or other cases."
>
> Now he waited to see just how they would respond.
>
> K'Tael jumped in before Dais had a chance to respond. It would probably
> affect the Commander's response. "Sir, there is a real strong chance that
> this investigation *could* lead us to close some of the other cases my
> department is working on. The Bajorans have repeatedly come to the fore
in
> our investigations. At the same time, there is no way that I can
guarantee a
> conviction. I can pull together evidence that will help build a case, but
I
> am neither a lawyer to present a case or a sitting jury member to help
decide
> a verdict. All I can say is that this will most likely point us in the
right
> direction in a number of cases." K'Tael could only hope his
> honesty and frankness would help Lasiter understand the situation better.
>
> Dais Had been about to tell Lasiter that he thought it was worth the
> diplomatic strain to bring this investigation to the fore. "Sir, if I
might
> add, I have a feeling that there is more to this hand than meets the eye.
We
> have recordings that show high officials at the consulate are connected
with
> this. We cannot allow diplomatic immunity to be used as an excuse for
> murdering Federation citizens. The hand is human."
>
> "The fact remains that Starfleet is not a law enforcement institution, and
> our
> claim to jurisdiction is tenuous at best." Lasiter stopped long enough to
> take in a slow deep breath.
>
> "The tight rope that we must walk, gentlemen, is not simply a Starfleet
> issue,
> but one of the civilian, diplomatic, and political issue. If we misstep
we,
> meaning Starfleet, will get bogged down in a quagmire of scandal that will
> make Starfleet look terribly bad and stagnate any reform proposal that is
> sent
> before the President and the Federation Council. This is something that
we
> can not afford in our current state of affairs. However, on the otherhand
if
> we are careful and succeed, we will have taken the first major step in
> reshaping and reforming the fleet.
>
> So with that in mind answer this... Will this be a protracted ordeal, or
will
> this be quick? Can you resolve this case without Mr. Allso? Can you
solve
> the other open investigations without this? What are you going to do to
make
> sure that we do not misstep?"
>
> "I believe that with Mr. Allso's assistance, this case can be brought to
> close quickly, sir. I believe this case to be crucial to some of our
other
> open investigations. As for avoiding a misstep, I can promise to follow
this
> case through to conclusion as quickly and as thoroughly as possible."
K'Tael
> paused. "I would like to comment on what you said earlier about Starfleet
> not being a law enforcement institution, it you would allow me to speak
> freely."
>
"Go ahead Commander." Lasiter answered, curious to hear just what
K'Tael had to say.
>
> "Sir, if this crime did occur on station as I believe, than I dp represent
> law enforcement in this case. I and my department comprise what would be
> considered the police force on Spacedock. It is my duty to bring this to
> conclusion."
>
"Verywell then. I will make a few inquiries, but I will not make
any promises. Keep this Allso fellow under surveillance, until you hear
from me. It may take a few days, but I will try to get it as quickly as
possible. Commander, keep that attitude and you will go very far. It has
become surprisingly rare these days for officers to take responsibility and
duty as seriously as you do. I am pleased to be in the company off all
three of you.
Now, if there is nothing else that you wanted, there is something
that I need to discuss. The task force Mr. Garibaldi....."
{Assuming that y'all are done... other wise we can re-write}
"I need to make your orgainization public, Commander. What are your
thoughts on the matter?" Lasiter asked pointedly to Joe.
"Well, sir, I am not really in favor of the idea. With the
spotlight, no matter how little, it will put those that I am investigation
on alert. That will endanger my sources and hinder my progress. Progress
which has been slow already. May I inquire as to why you wish to make us
public?" joe responded slightly unsure how to proceed with the Old Man.
"Commander, I have to make you public at some point. Secret
investigations will not go over well with the rest of the fleet or with
Federation leadership. While confidentially is needed, secracy will only
hurt us in the long run. I can hold off for a while, but not indefinately.
Captain Boulay had mentioned that you needed to make a few arrests to break
up a log jam that you are having with your investigations. he said that
these arrests are planned to be rather small, is that correct?"
"Ahh, yes sir. Small time people to a few handlers. Nothing too
great, just people that I think I can turn into informants or other wise use
to break the bottle neck in the investigations. Going public now would only
hurt."
"Ok, Commander. I will give you some more time, but not much. How
much do you need?" Lasiter replied.
Joe thought for a quick moment, then "Sir, I have a suggestion.
Give me a permission to bring in those that I need to break up the bottle
neck. Then, after I have had a week or so with them go public. That will
give me time to make the necessary headway and make arrangements for my
operatives. "
"Very well. You have your time, but do not delay. Keep Captain
Boulay and I in the loop."
"Yes sir."
"Very well then. Dismissed. Captain Boulay and I have a few other things
to discuss."
"Yes sir. Thank you..."
{responses/reactions}
