After an exhausting series of interviews, and I am most grateful for the help of Commmander Evans and Sergeant Leo, we have narrowed the extortion to a trade for influence scheme linked to the Ishka syndicate now headquarters on New Netherlands. Though the federation trades in credits, many planets still accept latinum on trade. We know that Ishka is somehow in coordination but pinning something to the Ferengi will be impossible. We cannot get the crime lord but we should be able to get the middle man.
Martin went into the Village and Robert and I stayed at Omega Prime. We agreed to meet at the Commune for supper and go over out findings. Robert and I only came up with a bunch of dead ends. No one will speak up saying that if they did they would be off the colony.
Martin returned. He looked very grim as he spoke. He talked only about supper and ordered without speaking. I could not take it anymore.
"Commander, what is the problem? Did you find anything?", I asked.
"Commodore Viceroy, you will not like the answer.", Martin continued to speak softly.
"Speak up, Commander. I don't care if I would like the answer or not. I need to know.", I was growing a little upset.
"Commodore, the coordinator of the extortion on the planet is Victoria Viceroy, your niece. She is in league with the Ishka Syndicate and is using her abilities to garner latinum which is then traded by Ishka throughout the known worlds. She has many, and I do mean many influences.", Martin looked Vincent in the eyes. He knew that the Commodore was deeply hurt.
How had she flown under the radar for so long? She looks so innocent. Obviously she is in league with Ishka and given his history of bedding partners, she is probably sleeping with the Ferenginar national as well.
I left the Commune and headed for the Village. I found Victoria enjoying an incredible meal in the Village. I confronted her. She denied nothing. She told me it was all true. She even gave me a PADD with contact information for M'Porr Riore, the notorious Caitian Criminal Lawyer and asked that I forward all requests through her lawyer. She also told me that I brought her down that she would implicate the colony leadership including me and Nicole. She blew me a kiss and asked me, "What's it like, Mr. Mayor, Uncle Vincent to know you are screwed."
I was furious. Even though it was 23:50, I called Christine T'Nley. It was time for the information officer to do some good for once. I told Christine everything. I told her that I had used my influence to get Victoria on to the colony. I told her that Victoria was good friends with Mary-Lou Cole and Bobbi-Lee Kennedy, my girlfriend. I told her that Victoria was even seen with Nicole and Lisa and before that Nicole and others on occasion. I told her that Victoria was in league with the Ishka Syndicate.
Christine got out of bed. She rustled up the Student Leader S'Nii of Vulcan and headed for the Village. S'Nii was about to get a lesson in the effectiveness of the media as a tool.
Christine walked out in front of the offices of Viceroy Management and waited for Victoria to arrive. Then the fun started.
"This is Christine T'Nley, Omega News Network reporting live from Viceroy Management in Veltkamp Village with Victoria Viceroy, General Manager of the Property Management Authority. Tell me, Victoria, is it true that you are trading "free" community housing for peddling around the quadrant?", Christine started in like the vulture she is.
"I have no knowledge of any illegal activity involving myself or Viceroy Management.", Victoria responded, stopping in an all too cocky way.
"Are you in league with notorious pirateer Zek Ishka, whose business front, the Pirate's Brig is headquartered at New Netherlands? Isn't it true that you are funnelling latinum to the Station, latinum attained through trading "free" housing for travel?", Christine continued. The Vulcan S'Nii looked on in amazement. Christine was outstanding at her job.
"The Viceroy Management Group wholeheartedly supports the free housing efforts to populate the colony by Vice Admiral Nicole Branson and her staff. We have her full support. She is with us.", Victoria was so smooth, implicating the Governor as we expected.
"So what you are saying is the Governor is in league with the syndicate and is trading "free" housing to increase her influence throughout the quadrant. Let me tell you something, Victoria. Nicole is a lot of things but she is just plain NOT SMART ENOUGH to be doing that.", Christine laughed.
"I have no further comment.", Victoria smiled and waved to the camera. She was so smug. I was furious.
Christine smiled, "Don't worry, Commodore. She is rattled now. She will make a mistake and we will get her."
I looked at Christine. I truly hated her for attacking me and Nicole but today she did a good thing.
"Thank you.", I replied.
The Romulan-Vulcan hybrid winked and picked up her recording devices. She knew that I was truly grateful. As her shuttle car left, I turned to Martin.
"Thank you too. That had to be difficult.", I tried to sound accepting.
"Thank you for including me, Commodore. I will try to serve the city as best I can, even if that means bad news.", Martin smiled.
Robert and I headed for Omega Prime. Martin stayed behind. He had some loose ends to tie up. He was building a case against a crime boss of the worst kind; a relative of the colony powerbase and a very cunning manipulator.
Posted by:
Commodore Vincent Viceroy
Omega Prime Mayor
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Fleet
Commander Martin Evans
Omega Prime Police Commissioner
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Fleet
Sgt. Robert E. Leo
Omega Prime Police Officer
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Fleet
Christine T'Nley
Omega News Network
Chief Information Officer
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Fleet
