USS Cherokee episode 866
Grand Theft Artifact, by Steve Weller, Part 22
12208.31

Starring_
Steve Weller as Executive Producer, Scanlan_Riegel and SO_Lt_Trix 
Zach Farland as CO_Capt_Daniels and OPS_Ens_Granger 
John Garrison as CEO_LtCmdr_Hull, and TO_Lt_Lvor
Absent
None
Leave of Absence
Pablo Delsoglio as CIV_Capt_Marek and FCO_Lt_Alvarado
The crew of the Cherokee, continuing their investigation of the theft of several artifacts of historic and cultural value, are about to start interrogating their suspects.

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Host Scanlan_Riegel says:
::Sitting at the table, realizing that since the lawyers are now next to him that perhaps the investigation may be moving forward.  Sits with hands restrained, trying to act cool and in control of the situation, just swinging his legs.::

Host CO_Capt_Daniels says:
::Enters the room with CEO & SO:: All: Ah, everybody is here, good.

TO_Lt_LVor says:
::Takes up a post at the door where the conference with Riegel is taking place::

SO_Lt_Trix says:
::Preparing to enter the Interrogation room, for lack of a better term, reviewing what we know about Riegel before we get started. Looks up as the Captain enters.:: CO: Yes sir. I think we're ready to go.

CEO_LtCmdr_Hull says:
::Stands behind the chair he has chosen, waiting for the Captain and SO to sit.::

Host CO_Capt_Daniels says:
::Finds a seat on the opposite side of the table from Scanlan and lawyers::  Scanlan: Mister Scanlan, sorry to keep you waiting.  I hope you haven't been too uncomfortable?

CEO_LtCmdr_Hull says:
::Takes the seat, and gets comfortable::

Host Scanlan_Riegel says:
CO: To be honest I've had more comfortable seats, but never in such an official, high security location have I had such comfort. ::Smiles broadly.:: I assumed you would come for me when you were ready.

Host CO_Capt_Daniels says:
Scanlan: Why would you assume that?

Host Scanlan_Riegel says:
CO: That is how this game is played, is it not?  Granted I've never been arrested by as fancy a group as Starfleet, but I assume the game stays the same.

Host CO_Capt_Daniels says:
Scanlan: Listen, we don't want you.  We want who you were working for more.

Host Scanlan_Riegel says:
CO: I know, and I'd love to give him...give them to you.  I really would as I know I could trade that for a nice plea deal. But the issue is I can't give you that as I don't know.

Host CO_Capt_Daniels says:
Scanlan: Explain.  How did you get the job?  Who hired you?

Host Scanlan_Riegel says:
CO: I am going to go on the assumption you've always been closer to the "Law and Order" side of life, but this type of job, while rare, happen often enough people don't think twice about it.  You are contacted, remotely. Your interest is gauged, remotely. You are offered the job, remotely. And at no point do you ever think that you are going to know who hired you. It just isn't part of that type of work.

Host Scanlan_Riegel says:
CO: Our contact wore a Holographic image altering device, and even he was probably 2 steps removed from whoever is behind the job.

Host CO_Capt_Daniels says:
Scanlan: And let me guess, when it was time to be paid it just appeared in your shuttle?

CEO_LtCmdr_Hull says:
::Wondering to himself still how he got all that coinage that we found onboard his rented shuttle?::

Host Scanlan_Riegel says:
::Nods at the Captain.:: CO: Yes indeed.  That transport thing they did is very handy for moving cargo. But even though I don't have the answer you thought I might have, I might have something that I still might be able to trade.

Host Scanlan_Riegel says:
CO: It is fairly easy to find shady individuals willing to do work no questions asked, but customers?  Much harder to find.  And I think I know someone who might have bought from my employer.

Host CO_Capt_Daniels says:
Scanlan: You got a name?

Host Scanlan_Riegel says:
::Looks a bit surprised.:: CO: Oh, I thought you'd have questioned more about what I know, why it's important, all that fun stuff but I like cutting to the chase. Methel Bardhaven, antiquities collector on Trill, recently came into contact with what appears to be an original invitation to the launch of Enterprise B. His invitation, Kirk's.

Host CO_Capt_Daniels says:
Scanlan: Where would he be now?

Host Scanlan_Riegel says:
CO: There was a report, maybe 5 years ago?  Maybe more? That the original was stolen. By the Phantoms, as the rumor mill calls them.  Then it turns up on Trill without fanfare?  Pretty suspicious if you ask me.  Oh, he's on Trill.  Well he lives there, haven't seen him in a few months since I last passed through Trill but that's where he lives.

SO_Lt_Trix says:
Scanlan: Bardhaven...like the shipping magnate Bardhaven?

Host Scanlan_Riegel says:
::Shrugs.:: SO: No idea where his money came from but he has a lot of it.  A real, real lot of it.

Host CO_Capt_Daniels says:
Scanlan: You know I'm going to have to confirm all you're telling us.  If I find out you're lying to me.  All deals are off the table.

Host Scanlan_Riegel says:
::Smiles.:: CO: Does that mean a deal is on the table if it turns out to be true?

Host CO_Capt_Daniels says:
Scanlan: Your cooperation will go a long way with the courts.  I could tell of your cooperation.  It might lighten your sentence.

Host Scanlan_Riegel says:
::Turns to the Lawyers.:: Mulligan: See? I told you this was how things work. Give and take always helps both sides.

CEO_LtCmdr_Hull says:
Scanlan:  Yes, your cooperation might even offer some perks while you are serving your sentence; whatever that may end up being.

Host Scanlan_Riegel says:
CO: But there is one more thing I have to ask. Strongjaw, he...may not have known what he was signing up for. He's a good guy but kinda easy to convince to do things. Can the deal include help for him as well?

Host CO_Capt_Daniels says:
Scanlan: I was already planning on speaking up on his behalf.

Host Scanlan_Riegel says:
CO: Glad to hear that. I don't regret many things I've done but he...yeah, I shouldn't have brought him in.

Host CO_Capt_Daniels says:
Scanlan: Your crimes are serious.  Why go for such high ticket items? The things stolen are important to who they're stolen from. Either the guy at the top is a sick collector of some kind or he's planning on holding the items for ransom.

Host Scanlan_Riegel says:
CO: For what it is worth, I am almost positive that Bardhaven's invite is real.  I've got one of the minor ones, pride of my collection, but that braggart just had to show me up. I mean how can someone compete with the big o...
Oh, it's not ransom or any of that. There is a market, I guarantee that.

Host Scanlan_Riegel says:
::Glances at Mulligan.:: All: Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned my Invitation. Or the market. Oh well, no other way out I guess.

Host CO_Capt_Daniels says:
Scanlan: For collectors?

Host Scanlan_Riegel says:
::Nods.:: CO: There's a large number of folks who want big items, things that not just have a history but ARE history.  And there aren't many who can provide the big ones. Pretty sure it was the Phantoms that hired us but they are the go to for such things.

Host CO_Capt_Daniels says:
SO: Hard to wonder how what you found, the trill artifact, wound up where you found it.

Host CO_Capt_Daniels says:
Scanlan: Phantoms, tell us about them.

SO_Lt_Trix says:
CO: Yeah, good question.

Host Scanlan_Riegel says:
CO: I can tell you what I know, but the reason I didn't lead with them is what I know is mostly rumors.  Maybe a decade ago, rumors started flowing through the community of thefts taking place no one had any idea how it happened. The kind of stuff we're talking about, one of a kind, super secure, often big items.

Host Scanlan_Riegel says:
CO: Over the years you'd hear rumors. See news reports. Nothing solid, but once my job was done I realized why the rumors. They don't want to see you again once the job is done. One and done is king, that way they don't have "known associates".

Host CO_Capt_Daniels says:
Scanlan: Well, this has been going on for years.  
CEO: Can you think of anything to ask. I need to catch my breath.

CEO_LtCmdr_Hull says:
 CO:  Yes Sir!

CEO_LtCmdr_Hull says:
Scanlan:  So, your shuttle, tell us about your rental agreement, but also know that your bags of coinage from every Federation issuing entity has been seized, a right tidy sum.

Host Scanlan_Riegel says:
CEO: I assumed it was seized.  Pretty straight forward, when authorities find proceeds from a crime it becomes evidence or ::Does air quotes.:: "evidence".  The shuttle is a standard rental. Some of my tours are with others, some are on cruises and such.  Owning a vehicle is a luxury I don't need so I rent when I need one.

CEO_LtCmdr_Hull says:
Scanlan: So, how did you amass all the coinage, how did you collect it, and where did it all come from?

Host Scanlan_Riegel says:
CEO: It was payment for the job.  It was transported in with that whacky transporter they use. From whoever set the job up. That's how they pay us, "Clean" cash, remotely delivered.  Not like they can transfer credits the easy way and not be traced.

CEO_LtCmdr_Hull says:
Scanlan:  Ah! Transported in? That makes sense, how many jobs does that reflect? 

Host Scanlan_Riegel says:
CEO: Just the museum job.  They made it clear, once the job was done they would never, ever contact us again for another job. If you wanted steady work, look elsewhere.

SO_Lt_Trix says:
CEO: Gets around the side effects of D-shifting that way as well as making it harder to track them.

CEO_LtCmdr_Hull says:
CEO:  Ah!  I see that and it does make sense in a way.  The D-shifting is nothing to fool with!

Host Scanlan_Riegel says:
CEO: What do you mean, what's wrong with the shifting?!

SO_Lt_Trix says:
Scanlan: Only that it rips your cell walls apart, irreparably, each time you use it.

Host Scanlan_Riegel says:
Self: Oh boy...

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