Thomas Jett
Civilian
Posts: 136 Likes: 5 
Position: Civilian - Captain
Species: Human
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Post by Thomas Jett on Apr 15, 2020 19:32:53 GMT
[Deck 3 - Outside of the XO’s Office]
Tom had a Padd in his hands and he rotated the device. Instead of reviewing the information in the Padd, he played around with is as a nervous tick. The man swallowed his saliva and paid attention to painting across of him. As he looked at the painting, it reminded him of those found in cheap hotels or offices. They were generic, bland, and for some reason not inspiring.
He was in a waiting area, a room with a small number of chairs. It was not unusual for an individual to wait as they had the attention. He stopped tossing the PADD and looked at it again. The title of the form was “Application for Quarters for Front Ear”. As the man looked he wondered why he applied. As expected his application was not outright rejected but “Red Flagged”. This means that the Officer either Security or Executive would review the application in detail and it was customary for an interview.
Tom debated for days to submit his application to the Station. His thought was about Mr. 79. He intended to come to the Station and leave it was fast as possible as Felicity Ellis was on board. However, his investigation revealed something different. There was a clue on the Station, and he would need to find the next one.
“You may proceed Mr. Jett” the receptionist mentioned to Tom. The receptionist was a human female in her mid 20’s. She had green eyes and was brunette. By her rank, Tom could tell that she was a crewman and therefore relatively new.
Tom stood up from his seat and nodded in the direction of the Receptionist. “Thanks…by the way what are you doing for dinner later?” Tom asked in a flirty way.
The receptionist smiled and responded “As far away from you as possible. You’re hardly the smoothest guy in the Station”
Tom gave a small chucked at the receptionist and said “Mhh, you never know what you are missing” .
The Reception courteously smiled and responded, “She is waiting for you. Have a good day Mr. Jett.”
[Deck 3 – XO’s Office]
Tom felt the door behind him swosh closed as he entered the Office of the Executive Office. As he entered, he looked around and noticed that it was dramatically more substantial than the one he used to have on a ship. He thought to himself that it was the benefit of being on a Station, Larger Offices, Larger Quarters more space to move around.
“Thank you for agreeing to meet with me, Commander”. Tom said as he extended his application to the Officer. It was hardly a secret why he as there. He was flagged and it was hardly surprising his departure from Starfleet was scarcely amicable. He did not depart on the best terms, being a convicted traitor does not precisely scream trustworthiness.
He remained standing giving her a moment to get her notes and review it. He decided to break the ice giving his opinion of the painting. “Commander, have you ever thought of updating the paintings outside? It looks like someone was trying to have their painting be seen clearly through a fog” . Needless to say, his comment was meant to be an insult to the painting but he waited for the Commander to respond.
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Apr 15, 2020 21:12:34 GMT
[Cmdr. Judith Eastman(-Williams) - First Officer's office]
Thomas Marion Jett.
Judy had read the man's file several times, and she wasn't sure exactly which way to read him. Was he born with delusions of infallibility that led him to think he'd get away with his treasonous act, or had the God complex developed over his heroic career. Was he perhaps consumed by debt? The intoxication of fame and glory? Or was it grief over the wife that had gone missing?
No less important was the question of what he was doing here, on her turf.
He entered her office, and she looked up, taking the PADD in her hand as it was given to her. Through the reading segment of her bifocals, she skimmed it, to see the same application she'd seen in her morning pile of paperwork before.
"Thank you, Mr. Jett," she acknowledged, setting the PADD down on the majestic wooden desk.
"I appreciate the feedback about the artwork, but I can hardly change it without causing a rift in the family. My husband is an amateur painter, and my daughter enjoys photography," she commented, as she stood up and led Jett towards the large conference table that occupied about half of her office space. In the background, a photo of Judy, Max, all 4 children, and the 5 grandchildren could be seen. An observer could easily deduce the silver-haired man to be the husband - Max - and the teenaged blonde girl to be the daughter - Anna.
This mention of the family extended beyond Judy's love and pride of her relatives, as it was also a technique. She knew a former Captain couldn't be intimidated by the force of rank, so she sought to create a very relaxed, casual environment, not the kind one would expect between a very straight-laced Officer and a known traitor.
"Mr. Jett, as you can imagine, I have a few questions I'll be needing answers to. The first: can I get you some water?"
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Thomas Jett
Civilian
Posts: 136 Likes: 5
Position: Civilian - Captain
Species: Human
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Post by Thomas Jett on Apr 16, 2020 16:31:37 GMT
[Deck 3 – XO’s Office]
Jett came in and listened to the First Officer comment that it was her husband painting. He could not help but remember the painting as he was not impressed by it. “Words of Advice, please tell your husband not to quit his day job. “. Jett responded in a deadpan voice. He was serious about his statement as he aspired to be a painter revered by the universe, he had the same chance as him earning model citizen of the year by Admiral Ellis.
As she pointed to the Conference Table, Tom observed the picture of the family. He stood silent as he observed the decoration and went into his training. Individuals that show the picture of their family indicate lower lever of privacy and tend to be more attached and build relationship with other individuals. Tom might not be a Federation Officer but he still learned to observed his surrounding for details. As he observed the conference table, and noticed that it was neat with Stacks of Pack.
Those details indicated that she was probably detailed herself, hard worker and the stacks indicated that she was cultured and studied things carefully. He wondered about his background in Starfleet and the progress of her carrier. The man observed mementos which reflected his prior observations about attachments.
Tom remembered that he would like to visit new senior officers in their quarters not to check if they were properly acclimated but also to observe their quarters and their lifestyle. It would give them insight into how they were as individuals and hot to potential lead them. However, this situation was reversed she was there to find out more about him.
Tom walked to the Conference Table in which as she asked the question, Tom smiled slightly and responded to her “Of Course Commander, I would be doing the same in your shoes”.
As she asked him for water Tom politely declined “Negative, Commander. If you don’t mind I would like it if we get straight to business.” . Tom was curious about which question she would ask him and whether she would believe in him or not.
He thought for a second to tell her the Truth flat out, he is staying because he thing that there might be a conspiracy to hide the whereabouts or what happened to the Icarus. That Starfleet or someone in high up in Starfleet is behind. He is staying there to he could put the pieces together and if she or anyone else looks to deep, they might get burned themselves. The Truth if said out loud he sounded like he should get sent to a psychiatric ward. His case would be heard right next to the person that Is swearing that the hamburglar stole his burger as he was drunk the night before.
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Apr 16, 2020 17:39:25 GMT
[First Officer's office, Deck 3]
Judy didn't try to hide her disdain at the lack of courtesy shown by the man. It was almost as though he'd forgotten that he needed something from her.
"I'm getting water for myself, anyway," she replied, as she headed to the replicator and returned with a glass. She then took a seat at the head of the table.
"Let's start at the ground floor, if we may, Mr. Jett," she directed, setting a paper notepad on the table and beginning to scrawl on it. "What will you be doing, by way of work?"
Judy was systematic, an engineer by trade. Without a firm foundation, one couldn't build bridges, skyscrapers, or shuttlebays. Since her cursory assessment of Thomas Jett was a "move fast and break things" mentality, she expected he might grow frustrated with a large mass of background questions, and that was fine by her.
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Thomas Jett
Civilian
Posts: 136 Likes: 5
Position: Civilian - Captain
Species: Human
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Post by Thomas Jett on Apr 17, 2020 21:08:27 GMT
[First Officer's office, Deck 3]Judy didn't try to hide her disdain at the lack of courtesy shown by the man. It was almost as though he'd forgotten that he needed something from her. "I'm getting water for myself, anyway," she replied, as she headed to the replicator and returned with a glass. She then took a seat at the head of the table. "Let's start at the ground floor, if we may, Mr. Jett," she directed, setting a paper notepad on the table and beginning to scrawl on it. "What will you be doing, by way of work?"Judy was systematic, an engineer by trade. Without a firm foundation, one couldn't build bridges, skyscrapers, or shuttlebays. Since her cursory assessment of Thomas Jett was a "move fast and break things" mentality, she expected he might grow frustrated with a large mass of background questions, and that was fine by her. [First Officer Office – Deck 3] Tom observed as he saw the First Officer and she did not attempt to hide that she was not happy with his response. He reacted with a small smile he though she was probably annoyed with the fact that he wants to go straight to business. It also could have been that he offended her husband painting style. But at least he was honest. He looked at her and nodded as she mentioned that she wanted to get water. He would understand that she wanted to drink something as they talked about his checkered past. The woman asked him how he intend to do his living. A Detailed person like herself would know the answer. Which he wondered why she even asked. Jett looked down for a second and smiled at the Commander[color=darkorange Commander or Judith? Do you mind if I call you Judith?”[/color] He asked for a second waiting for her response. He then proceeded to talk to her “Regarless…you know the answer to that question. My guess is that you already know that I have a ship the S.S. Falcon which you already know is a modified NX ship. Including some modifications, I have made myself. Now…”. Jett remained silent for a second “What you do not know, is what exact modifications and the capability of the ship, in which the response is fast enough for quick transport, room enough to carry and small group of people comfortably and a few secrets…which if I told you it would violate Trade Secret protection” [/color] Jett responded. “How am I doing Commander?” Tom asked as he figured her questions was heading into places that she did not know. [/font] |
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Apr 18, 2020 2:40:53 GMT
[First Officer's office, Deck 3, Front Ear Station]
"Commander will do fine, Mr. Jett," Judy replied, and then listened intently as Jett described his ship. She'd been on NX-class ships, museum exhibits, but never an operational one, and she couldn't deny that this one seemed like a hell of a ship to tinker with and examine with her engineer's mindset.
However, it was also clearly a fine ship for smuggling, and she imagined a questionable fellow like Jett could be in that trade. This thought forced her to abandon her enthusiastic technical thoughts for the sad, adult world of responsible life choices.
"If your goal is to make me jealous of your cool ship, you're doing an exquisite job," Judy answered, sincere but still restraining herself. "If you're trying to convince me that you're going to be a productive member of this community and not, oh, I don't know, a smuggler, not so much."
Judy took a sip of water. She was curious to see how Jett would take this.
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Thomas Jett
Civilian
Posts: 136 Likes: 5
Position: Civilian - Captain
Species: Human
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Post by Thomas Jett on Apr 21, 2020 2:45:48 GMT
Jett remained standing as he listened to Judy. She mentioned she was jealous about a ship that was probably centuries old. The NX ship was a ship of the line centuries ago and most of them are in museums. For some reason he believed that the Commander was being sarcastic and was apprehensive. When she continued to speak about his not doing an honest line of work and accusing him of smuggling. Tom rolled his eyes. The Station has smugglers and people were bringing stuff to the Station but he hardly brought thing that were considered dangerous.
Jett reaction was to smile and said “Commander, odds that you have made up your own mind already. And there are three ways this can go. You either believe I am a smuggler which you can believe that I am a “good” smuggler and want to know more about me. Alternatively, you can believe that I am a “bad” smuggler in which case you are probably raiding my ship and scanning it as we speak, but you cannot prove anything. The third option is you honestly don’t know but has your suspicion. If not, you would not bring it up” . Tom took a breath and continue “In which case anything I say, would force to reinforce your mind already.”.
Jett thought of leaving and said “I recommend you, to think of one thing. IF I wanted to smuggle and or do harm, why would I bother making a request and putting myself into your radar?”.. Tom said as if started approaching the exit. He looked down and said “Words of advice Commander, the painting our there sucked and if I was the Station’s enemy sending an application is hardly the way I would approach it” . Tom knew that the woman had her objective and was not going to play it.
“Now may I be excused Commander?” Tom asked as he was done with the conversation.
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Apr 21, 2020 14:54:47 GMT
[Cmdr. Judith Eastman(-Williams) - First Officer's Office, Deck 3]
Judy adjusted her glasses and let off a little half-sigh, half-chuckle, coupled with a small smile. It was, if anything, a sort of non-verbal "Kids these days."
"You're right, Mr. Jett. I do have my preconceived notions and opinions. Of course I do," she admitted, ignoring his request to leave. "But I don't act on them when I don't have to. If you'll allow me to explain the world I'm coming from, maybe you'll get that."
Judy tapped on her desk before explaining.
"I'm an engineer by training, Civil Engineer at that. In that world, before you embark on a project, you go through a long design process with multiple stages of review. You start with your initial planning document. Then you flesh that out a little, about 30% of the plan, and those are your 30% designs, that you then go and review. Then you do the same for the 60%, and 90%, and only from there do you go to your final design and on to construction. So right now, I have a 30% on you, and that's nowhere near enough for me to act on," she lectured. "I know Starfleet captains tend to be Kirks, who'll happily build using the 30% drawings, but I'm not one of those. I don't cut corners, and certainly not this kind of corner."
Judy was relying on one fundamental assumption, which was that Jett was bluffing. Continuing to sleep on his ship, which she imagined didn't have water showers or other such luxuries, seemed like something he didn't want to do, given that he'd gone through this process so far.
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Thomas Jett
Civilian
Posts: 136 Likes: 5
Position: Civilian - Captain
Species: Human
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Post by Thomas Jett on Apr 21, 2020 21:01:40 GMT
Jett left and stopped how she explained herself that she was an Engineer. He smiled for a second and muttered under his breath “Of Course”. He understood the type and the need to make sure that everything was safe. Double check the calculations and made sure things were safe.
“You remind me of Cadet Michael Blight, from Starfleet Academy Engineering. He would come to use the Command Cadets and told us we have a thing or two to learn from Engineering School. If we constantly made optimal and informed Command Decision. Commander, with all due respect people are not a Math equation” . Tom said as he turned around before exiting.
“Your question was flawed, you want to be safe that I will not be a threat. I can’t prove a negative. During the Dominion War I could never promise people that the battle plans would work or they would be safe. The only thing that you can show them is when danger is coming. Asking me to show you that I am safe is like asking me during to the war that there were no dangers. Is an impossibility. But you are a smart person and already knew that. My guess you are trying to get somewhere Commander.” . Tom said. This was hardly his first interrogation and it was not his first-time observing people. Tom knew she had an angle wanted to play her angle while he just wanted to be straight up.
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Apr 21, 2020 22:55:07 GMT
[Cmdr. Judith Eastman(-Williams) - First Officer's office, Deck 3]
Judy shook her head and chuckled slightly.
"Mr. Jett, my question really boiled down to 'are you a productive individual or are you a smuggler?'" she pointed out. "You could've just said 'both'."
She added a few more lines to her notes, writing in the Hebrew script to make sure her notes couldn't be read.
"Well, Mr. Jett, let's keep the interview chugging along, and send both our egos out for a quick break," she urged. "If you are indeed a, I know you can't incriminate yourself by saying smuggler, so we'll say, 'discreet freighter captain'... if you are a discreet freighter captain, why would you choose to do business in this particular corner of the Federation?"
Judy didn't have the patience for word games, and it was with bemusement that she toed around the word 'smuggler' in this go-around.
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Thomas Jett
Civilian
Posts: 136 Likes: 5
Position: Civilian - Captain
Species: Human
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Post by Thomas Jett on Apr 22, 2020 23:07:30 GMT
Tom listened to Judy for a second and said “I’ve never said I was a smuggler. I was saying you implied it. “. Tom said to clarify his statements it appeared that she was putting on words on this mouth.
As the question came up why he was in their corner of the Galaxy. Jett looked down for a second and responded honestly “To finish my mission and goal. After I’m done. I’m out of here and the goal will not harm you. For over the centuries several ships have gone missing in this area of space. I think with my research and instincts” . The man smiled for a second as he was partly right. He based his searches out of feel more than science.
“I’m here to do salvage operations. Which of course, if I find a Federation ship your part of the deal is that I inform you before selling the technology. Now, other people would be less generous. That’s the truth.” . The man looked at Judy as he was actually telling her no lie. His objective was to find ONE ship but if he found others he would let them know.
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Apr 22, 2020 23:35:24 GMT
[Cmdr. Judith Eastman(-Williams) - First Officer's office, Deck 3]
Judy raised a skeptical eyebrow. There were those who made their living looking for and salvaging old ships, but Jett's ship as he described it didn't sound too well-suited for that task. No, Judy would expect bigger, slower craft for that, with larger cargo holds... and crews.
"Salvage. That's very interesting," she responded calmly, in between scrawling notes on her paper. "Do you have anyone working under you? Or any associates, for that matter?"
A quick, discreet, small vessel, which is what Jett had described earlier, just didn't line up with salvage operations. Judy was now giving him a chance to ferret out of that.
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Thomas Jett
Civilian
Posts: 136 Likes: 5
Position: Civilian - Captain
Species: Human
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Post by Thomas Jett on Apr 25, 2020 23:14:40 GMT
Tom listened as she did not believe that he might be in the line of Salvage. But that was the reality of the situation he was looking for missing ship precisely ONE missing ship. Jett said “It looks like this area is the Bermuda Triangle of ships. We know matter can’t disappear, which means they are out there.” . Tom responded.
As she asked him about his crew he responded “Still working on that. Sadly for us Civilians, there is nothing like a Standard Starfleet Background or Choices. So recruiting is taking a little longer, but I think it will work out. I can hand you a list once I hired them.” . Tom responded to Judy. He was being honest that his primary goal is to Salvage and fixing the ship.
Tom was more into investigation and actually taking the ship. Judy would probably not believe him. “I do spend a lot of time in archives” . Tom said he looked and said “There something…different about this region of space. Time will tell what it is” . He commented as he thought he was still an explorer and there was something here.
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Apr 26, 2020 0:07:57 GMT
[Cmdr. Judith Eastman(-Williams) - First Officer's office, Deck 3, Front Ear Station]
So it seemed Jett was committed to his line. However, Judy was just as certain she was being somehow lied to or misled. Salvage operations involved ships with bigger cargo hulls, and they certainly didn't draw in traitors with fresh pardons. No, a man of Jett's stature would be far more likely to go somewhere with money. Maybe a tell-all book, or back into the high-thrills world of crime and intrigues.
Yes, there was a possibility, and Judy couldn't put a number on it, that Thomas Jett was up to no good. There was a possibility that he was trying to rely on his character and his background (uncomfortable treason and lack of scruples aside) to talk his way into Starfleet's confidence, lower their guard, and then stab them from the inside for some patron. There was a chance that letting Thomas Jett onto the station was going to end with Judy's daughter, Anna, dead. Jett's lying, or concealing, only made this possibility, that Judy would've normally not made much of, seem more menacing.
"Mr. Jett, let me tell you something about women that I don't think you get," she opened, letting the seemingly out-of-context words hang for a moment.
"Telling a lady that she looks 10, 15 years younger than she is, is not at all the same thing as treating her like she was born yesterday," she explained. "We both know the ship you described is not suitable for salvage, so level with me here."
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Thomas Jett
Civilian
Posts: 136 Likes: 5
Position: Civilian - Captain
Species: Human
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Post by Thomas Jett on Apr 26, 2020 20:00:22 GMT
Jett listened to Judy as she questions his story about Salvage. Tom looked down and said “Is it really?” . Tom looked at her. He placed his hand on his chin and was curious. She certainly did not trust him and probably did not like him.
He could not blame her. In her view, he was a Hero turned traitor, and he has no integrity or honor. His story might be hard to believe but it was closer to the truth than anything else. He was here searching for ship and clues. It required a ship that was fast and had detailed scanners. “I’m not insulting your intelligence. But sometimes you can’t see the Forest from the Trees” .
Jett then calmly said “Let’s say I do salvage, with a bigger ship. Which means it would be slower, bulky but more Cargo Space. I also need a heavy tractor beam. The problem is finding it. “. Tom then handed Judy a PADD. “Let’s take for example the Icarus, disappeared roughly 2 years ago. This was the last stop, doing research and seeking clues or where it stopped after here so I can build a probable timeline and directions. Now, I know it was a Science vessel, Nova Class and the Captain was extremely conservative. Which take away obvious dangerous route out the equation. And you have there my preliminary studies of where I think it might be. Which is much ground to cover, especially for a solo operation.” .
Tom continued “Commander, I need good scanners and a fast ship to locate the Ships. That’s the Falcon job. It is worthless to have a big Cargo Ship if I can’t find it. I just need to find one ship. More than that is gravy.” . He then tried to make his point. The Falcon is a Search and Recovery ship. “Now, just because I do Salvage in a library and with scanners and a fast ship. It doesn't mean that my approach is wrong. It’s different. I thought as an Engineer you might appreciate the Study, Scan First approach instead of just randomly searching.” . Jett knew that the Commander knew the NX’s history. It was built like a ship of Science and exploration.
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