Scouring the Streets

Posted on Wed Jun 29th, 2011 @ 2:14pm by Lieutenant Xylia Lischka & Captain Nathan Cowell MD

Mission: Too Close for Comfort...
Location: Archadia - City
Timeline: Following "Bumming Around"

Ensign Schenk watched the Commodore and the Lieutenant Commander walk away and saw that other crew members were already teaming up to head out as ordered. He walked up to Lieutenant Lischka and smiled. "Well....care to team up with me? We've worked well together before, and there's no one else that I'd rather have at my back - or my side. Even in front if that's what you like." He checked the items that he brought along and looked around. "I have no idea where to start."

"Well, that makes two of us, then." The Lieutenant retorted, making sure she had all of her gear with her and off of the roundabout. This entire situation was an odd one. Splitting up on a strange planet when they were sure what kind of environment they were walking into was a bad idea, but she wasn't in charge and would never question the old man. "I suppose we just mingle with the locals and ask questions. I'm sure someone around here knows something. And as much as I'd enjoy it, there will be no beating anyone."

Marc nodded and looked around, picking an random street to start with. "Let's go down this way and see if we can find someone with friends in low places." He checked his equipment bag and nodded. He had brought along enough goodies for 'trade' if that was needed, and he would if it meant getting some good information even if the Commodore frowned on it. It wasn't like they had an expense account or Black Ops slush fund to work with. When in Rome...find out what the Romans liked.

"Sounds like a good idea to me. For the moment, I don't have any other suggestions, except one..." She set the two bags containing her gear at his feet and smirked. Everything she needed was in there save for her weapons. There was absolutely no way she planned on parting with those even if they were to still be within arms reach. "Congratulations, Ensign Shenk, you've just become my pack mule. Of course, I can carry my own gear, but based on the little information I was able to come by, the Archadian women are mostly in charge. I'm sure by the end of this you'll wish you hadn't picked me to team up with."

Marc groaned, but he had to admit that she was right. The lackey who had introduced the Prime Minister and the other female leaders seemed to be an indicator in what regard males were held in Archadian society. Adjusting his pack, he knelt down and picked up the Lieutenant's gear and slung it over his shoulder. Giving her a look, he grinned. "So...where to, Mistress?"

"We'll continue on as you suggested. See if we can find anyone who stands out." Oddly enough, it didn't bother Xylia that someone was calling her 'Mistress'. "We're bound to find someone on this rock who can tell us what we need to know. And if we don't... I'm not opposed to making people talk."

Marc laughed as he adjusted her packs as well, taking a look around again. "That, I do know, Lieutenant. I'm thinking that might not be a bad thing, either." He took a moment to do some people watching; some ignoring them completely and others giving them looks that were just a little too long, too indifferent, or just uncaring.

"Sometimes even useless violence has its uses. I've learned that throughout the years, but we'll have to see how things go." She replied, moving down the street. She kept her eyes on those they passed by, looking for anyone who stood out more than others. "This could be like finding a needle in a haystack."

Street after street, deeper into the Archadian city and going outwards in a spiral pattern, the two Starfleet personnel, all they seemed to find were people who knew little or nothing about the change that was visibly seen from the outside. Lieutenant Lischka tried her way and the Ensign tried things his way. Finally, they both had to agree that whoever or whatever was behind it, if anything, didn't want to reveal itself.

Taking a few discreet minutes here and there, Marc set up some hidden surveillance gear in spots near the government buildings just in case people talked when Starfleet wasn't around. He had placed surveillance gear near intersections, in janitor closets in public buildings, and saved a few in the event that they got inside the main government buildings.

Two hours later, they met back up at the main meeting spot as the rest of the teams slowly pulled together as well.