OPSEC

Posted on Mon Sep 25th, 2023 @ 1:41pm by Cadet Senior Grade Toareth Darqa & Cadet Senior Grade Naltar Jerane

2,090 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: **ARCHIVED** 0 - Assignment Day
Location: SF Academy: Operations
Timeline: Current

“Dumb OPSEC,” Toareth said as she slammed her PADD down. Upon the screen was the all too familiar “ACCESS DENIED” screen. She had just been working on it moments earlier and “Now this again.”

Grabbing her PADD, tricorder (because the same thing will happen to it as well), and her Academy commbadge, Toareth set off for the Operations wing of the Academy. Among the first people she saw that was free and not seeming to be deep in work was another cadet, a Cardassian one at that.

Toareth approached the cadet. “Excuse me cadet. Can you assist me with a little problem?” She then thought to add, “please.”

Having just finished up the section he was reviewing, he turned in his seat expecting an officer to be standing there. It was unusual for him at least, to be called 'cadet' by another cadet. Seeing the woman standing before him he looked over at her and gave a nod "Cadet...what are you having trouble with?" She certainly looked tense, maybe she'd need a drink after all this.

"It's my PADD," she held it up, flat so he too could see the big "ACCESS DENIED" error message. "And some other devices as well," she motioned with her shoulder and her tricorder, medical tricorder, regenerator with wand, and her commbadge all rattled about in her satchel. "Not sure if they all need meddling with but at least this," she held the PADD out to him, "has denied me access to it. I was working on a research project just five minutes prior to it locking me out."

The answer seemed obvious to him but this was a typical experience he'd been through more times than he cared to admit "So you HAD access, and then everything stopped at once? Did you check to see if your access has been locked?" It sounded to him either there was a notable malfunction or her access was rescinded. Which that may be, he didn't know at the moment.

"It's this silly Starfleet OPSEC protocol subroutine thing that is in all our devices now," Toareth started. "You see, Starfleet Security understands that we age. Over time, our voices change, retina alters slightly and fingerprints also alter ever so slightly. It is a natural progress as we grow older. If, in such time, it is proven that someone's voice has not changed, or retina does not indicate an appropriate passage of years, then the computer thinks it is being hacked and," she pointed at the PADD still with the big 'ACCESS DENIED' message displayed on it. "I am El-Aurian," she said with a hand to her chest, "and I age about 1 year to about seven of your...well...seven Earth years. In short," she smiled at him, "my PADD thinks someone pretending to be a me is trying to hack in, because it thinks my voice and my retina should show an age different of so many years." Toareth took a breath. "Is there something you can do to reset the protocol or," her voice changed to sound a bit sorrowful and distressful, "do I need to take it to the Security Office. I really do not want to go through that hassle."

As he listened, he found her request extremely unusual, but to be fair Naltar knew very little about her race. Other than they seemed to live forever. To him that seemed like it would dull savoring moments in ones life, knowing they would live for quite some time. "I can take a look and see, it may just be a matter of a reset, Being a fifth year I likely have access to at least do that. They didn't revoke a lot of my access after my last cruise." He spun in his chair towards his console and logged in. "May I have your service number?" Before anything else he had to at least visually verify her and then see what he could do going forward.

"Of course," she said rather cheerfully. It was one of the first things Lynch had her to memorize. She slung her satchel off and set it down. Taking a breath. "It is 9 1 6 0 8 7 6 1 0 9 4 4 4 1. Search for my record by name; last name Darqa, Toareth Lore. You will see it's me."

Entering the number it only took a moment for her image and profile to come up. He looked at her for a moment, then looked back at the screen. Then at her, then the screen. He decided something wasn't right and tapped it a few times to see if anything would change before hitting the refresh and pulling her profile up new again. "A hundred and sixty four, that can't be right." He spun back towards the woman "You look damned good for that age."

"Thanks," she swayed a bit and smiled at his compliment. "I am told I don't look a day over a hundred. It's the El-Aurian physiology."

Facing back toward the terminal, Naltar entered a series of commands forced a hard reset of the protocols that checked for variances. This was necessary from time to time in the result of drifts similar to the ones she noted, he'd known to use it a time or two in the even someone had an injury such as something to their eye or hand. While doctors had some outstanding tools for regeneration and healing body parts, there were known at times to be imperfections left behind, and the sensitivity of their security systems would pick it up. "Give it a moment and try once more."

"I certainly will. DO you," and she lifted her satchel again, "need to do the same to my other devices? They all still work. At least, they did ten minutes ago. Would be prudent I suppose to check them all maybe?" Toareth realized she could be intruding. "Some other time if you are busy now," she quickly added.

"I would give them all a try here before you go, I'm available in case something arises. I am ahead of most of my peers here." A Tellarite nearby made a disparaging remark under her breath and rolled her eyes before continuing to ignore the Cardassian. His statement was half true, the other half was in an attempt to keep her around a little longer for an opportunity to flirt.

"I guess I am in good fortune to have come to you first," she said. She held out her satchel. "This is everything I use frequently. And, of course, if you are ever in need, something broken, laceration, the like," she leaned in and brought her voice to a whisper, "come see me as I am ahead of my peers."

Toareth straightened and watched as he pulled the other devices out of her satchel. "So, uh, what brings a Cardassian to Earth...oh!" She took on an embarrassed face. "I am so sorry." Though he did know her name, she realized she never introduced herself. She sent a hand forward as the humans liked to do for a handshake. "Toareth Darqa. That's me. Soon to be doctor."

He grinned and returned the shake "It appears I'll be in good company then. I'll be sure to ask for you personally." Setting her items on the desktop he initiated a scan and resynchronization of all the devices, as well as a diagnostic. before turning back towards her.

She eyed his every move, they way he moved, taking in his features. Her reddish eyes connected with his as he turned back. She smiled, ensuring him he had her attention.

"And for myself, I'm here because my parents kissed one day, and then....well I don't suppose I need to explain to you how babies are made. But I was born here on Earth and so I'm looking to give other the same opportunity I had. Not everyone has the best of circumstances, my own people included. But theirs is a matter of self arrogance to their own detriment, something I'd say I despise personally.

"Despite my appearance, do know that I have delivered plenty of babies. And you are right. Not everyone has the best of circumstances. I have heard about the struggle of the Cardassians. Even though some paths lead to detriment, not just for some but for an entire people, at least there is time to fix those paths. My people were not so lucky. But here we are, you, "she gave him a light tap on the shoulder, "and I. The lucky ones."

He gave a nod back in agreement "Luck, I would say, has everything to do with it." A moment later the console chimed and Naltar turned back around to check the status. Everything was green across the board. He placed them back into the satchel and handed it to her. "Well, Doctor. It would appear I've managed to get your equipment working once again. But everything needs a tune up regularly and while I would offer my personal services and recommend you only come to me for that, I'll be heading out soon off planet. So unfortunately it looks like you'll have to settle for lesser skilled hands working to assist you. Which I must say, is too bad."

"Oh you don't know how much this means to me. You are a life saver, literally." She paused a second. "Going off planet," she repeated his words, gave a frown then brightened up in hope. "Please tell me you are referring to the Cadet Cruise."

"I am, on board the Stardancer.... it sounds like you are joining as well?" It seemed like as the days drew closer to the ship date, he was meeting more and more of his future crewmates by sheer chance.

"Yeah," she nodded, "that is my assignment as well. I am going to be the Cadet CMO. As a few of the other cruises have already departed, we are more likely to run into cadets we will be cruising with. Looks as though you may have the chance to be my life saver again. No ship can run without a good Operations team. I...uh..." and Toareth seemed hesitant to ask, but, "I have to ask. What is it like being among the very few Cardassians in Starfleet? I do not mean to put you on the spot and you don't have to answer if you don't want to. I just...I am just...genuinely interested."

Her question was a bit surprising but he chose to humor her a bit as a result "Well, my parents and I are the only ones I know of on Earth, I've yet to meet any others. Personally for a long time I didn't really have too much trouble being here and being accepted, but as of late with the current situation and political climate, along with the contention between the Federation and my people....well...it's been isolating, we'll say. People turn on you real fast just because others that look like you make terrible choices."

"Well, three hundred million indigenous people on Viridian III almost died only because one of my kind wanted to 'get to Heaven.' All this after he single-handedly destroyed a star. On top of that, people tend to pass judgment and think we have some ulterior motive when we age so slowly and are regarded as a "Race of Listeners" like we are slowly working on taking over the Federation or something like that. So...I understand your struggle. I have the advantage of looking human enough. Though sometimes, people take offense when I did not come forward earlier stating my true biology as an El-Aurian. I guess we are both sometimes finding ourselves in a little Kobayashi Maru of our own."

He appreciated her sentiment and attempt to empathize with him "It sounds like we may be finding time to talk more once we're on the cruise. After all those of us that are outcasts must stick together. But I believe most of the crew won't take issue with us, hopefully. A downside of course being that as far as I am aware, there won't be any real alcohol on the cruise so good conversation will have to take it's place." The Cardassain knew that a good ally was worth their weight in latinum.

Toareth smiled at him as he spoke. "Agreed on all accounts. Save for the alcohol part that is." As Toareth had Lynch's hailing frequency, "Let's just say I know a guy who might be able to help us out."

 

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