Backstories: Daher, Joseph - "Double Cross"

Chapter 1: Mixed Messages

“I will not be manipulated any further by this Romulan!” protested Galen, the Cardassian representative. The fiery former Gul slammed his right fist down on the conference table, stood up, and pointed directly at the Romulan representative, Shara.

Shara stood up as well and responded. “This is pointless. The Cardassians refuse to listen or keep an open mind.”

“An open mind?!” Galen asked, incredulously.

Finally, the human seated at the end of the table, a Federation ambassador named Bradley, spoke. “Everyone, please! Let’s all just take a moment to calm down.”

This was how the negotiations began everyday for the past three days. The Romulans and Cardassians were involved in a bitter territorial dispute and had come to the neutral planet of Parliament to begin diplomacy. The local government had asked for the Federation’s assistance in the mediation. At first, the Romulans and Cardassians were not too happy with the idea of Federation involvement, predictably. But once they realized how much they both hated the Federation, the more they realized that it was probably their best hope for an impartial mediator with experience in interstellar affairs.

That was the reason why these diplomats and their escorts were in that conference room today. They were seated at on oblong table with the Romulans and Cardassians directly across from each other. Windows on the far wall revealed the beautiful cityscape of the planet’s capitol. The rest of the room was very modest and spartan. However, it served its purpose: to get the Romulans and Cardassians to talk to each other. Well, mostly yell anyway.

And while the diplomats yelled at each other, their aides were just left to sit and watch it all unfold in front of them. Such was the case of one Lieutenant Commander Joseph Daher, the veteran Star Fleet tactical officer who was seated just to the right of Ambassador Bradley.

Daher, a 31 year-old human male, was the Chief Tactical Officer of the USS Gettysburg. He had been assigned to Bradley for these negotiations because he was considered an “expert” in Romulan affairs. In actuality, he was working for Star Fleet Intelligence to gather information on the Romulan Star Empire. While not officially part of the Intelligence Corps, Daher had been recruited into the organization a few years ago. He had worked a few intelligence-gathering missions with them before, and he had been called up for service with SFI once again.

Joe was eager to help anyone who was working against the Romulans. The higher-ups in intelligence were quite aware of his hatred for the Romulans and they used it to their advantage. The fact that he wasn’t officially associated with SFI also made it easier for him to obtain information. Even Bradley wasn’t aware that Daher was working for Intelligence.

Joe was trying very hard to make it appear like he was paying attention. In truth, he was bored out of his mind. He didn’t care about these territorial negotiations at all. He did most of his “real” work when the conference was in recess anyway – covertly following the Romulans around, clandestinely observing their meetings, taking notes, etc. He almost didn’t notice Ambassador Shara’s aide, Centurion P’Mek, staring at him. When Joe finally caught his gaze, the Romulan gave a small, nearly unnoticeable nod in the direction of Daher’s PADD, which had been laying face-down on the table in front of him. Joe casually picked up the PADD and looked at it. A brief, cryptic message appeared on the device’s screen.

[Ponamayu Café. 2200.]

Chapter 2: The Meeting

Daher was sitting in a corner booth in a restaurant on the other side of the capitol city. Another human man in civilian clothes sat across from him. He was slightly shorter than Daher, and a little bit older, but he really had no distinguishing features of any kind. He was the type of person that could blend in almost anywhere, which made him perfect for intelligence work. He was Daher’s case agent, also known as a “handler” in the intelligence community, and his name was Stone.

“Any idea what he wants to talk about?” Stone asked in hushed tones, between sips of bourbon.

“Something to do with the negotiations, I imagine,” Daher replied.

Stone shook his head. “It could be that. Or they could suspect you’re working with us. Be careful.”

Daher opened his jacket slightly to reveal the Type-II phaser pistol holstered to his belt. “Always.”

“Well, you’d better get going,” Stone said. “It’s almost 2200. I expect a full report when you get back.”

Joe nodded. “Understood.”

Daher got up from the table and walked out of the restaurant and onto one of the city’s main avenues. Because it was an unusually cold night, the streets were pretty empty. He set off in the direction of the café that P’Mek had indicated and had reached his destination about fifteen minutes later. The café was on the other side of the street, nestled in between several townhouses.

Amateur hour, Daher thought. Too many witnesses around.

Joe could think of 10 better places right off the top of his head to have this clandestine meeting. Unless, of course, P’Mek knew exactly what he was doing. Maybe he wanted witnesses.

Daher crossed the street. The phaser pistol at his hip stirred. To say he was nervous was an understatement. In his time with SFI, he had done several of these covert “meetings” and they never felt good – who knew if he was walking right into an ambush.

As Joe walked past an alleyway next to the café, he heard a voice whisper his name. “Commander Daher.”

Joe stopped and turned into the corner. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he could see Centurion P’Mek at the far end of the alleyway. He appeared to be alone, so Daher walked towards him.

“Centurion P’Mek,” Joe replied. “Why did you want to meet? This isn’t standard procedure; you should really go through Amabssador Bradley.”

Daher stopped so he was just a few feet away from P’Mek.

“Do not insult my intelligence, Daher,” P’Mek spat back. “We know you are working for Star Fleet Intelligence, so don’t even try to deny it.”

Daher couldn’t tell if the Romulan was bluffing or not, but he already didn’t like the way the conversation was moving. He needed to find out what P’Mek wanted quickly, or get the hell out of there.

“If you’re just going to name call, I’ll be leaving,” Daher said, feigning. He started to turn towards the street, when P’Mek grabbed him and spun him back around.

“I just wanted to give you this,” he said, handing Daher a Romulan PADD.

Joe sighed and took the PADD, quickly glancing at it. He couldn’t believe what it said. It had to be wrong.

“Why… did you give me this?” Daher, visibly shaken, asked.

“Does it matter?” P’Mek replied.

In one motion, Daher grabbed P’Mek by the collar, pulling the Romulan closer to him, withdrew his phaser pistol and shoved it in his neck.

“Tell me where you got this!” Daher said, switching the phaser’s setting to kill.

“I wouldn’t advise that, Commander,” P’Mek said. The Romulan was acting too calm for someone who had a phaser pistol set to kill shoved in his face. Then Joe realized why. Farther down the alley, out of the shadows, two Romulans stepped forward, pointing their disruptors at Daher.

“I came across that by accident two years ago,” P’Mek explained. “I didn’t know how to get it to Star Fleet until now. I knew you’d know what to do with it.”

Daher didn’t believe P’Mek… or the data PADD. But he wouldn’t have the opportunity to ask the Centurion anymore questions with two disruptors trained on him. Joe let go of P’Mek, but kept his phaser pistol leveled on him as he walked backwards to the lit street. When he was out of the alleyway, he holstered his phaser and walked briskly back to his hotel room.