Not long ago, Commander Nuni Irric had traded his cramped investigator’s office for the expansive view from the Deputy Director’s station. Yet, despite the new title and broader responsibilities, his eyes still drifted to an old case file on his desk—one marked with the precise, methodical notes of Lieutenant Talik.

Talik’s reports were exhaustive, filled with time-stamped observations, schematics of the Promenade’s hidden corridors, and flagged transactions that didn’t quite add up. A cargo manifest that listed medical supplies but weighed too much. A shopkeeper who always closed early when certain freighters docked. Patterns so subtle they might have gone unnoticed—if not for Talik’s Vulcan eye for detail.

Even after handing off the case, Tavik kept watching. On his patrols, his gaze lingered a little too long on a harmless-looking courier. His fingers hovered over his PADD before making another quiet note. He never spoke of his suspicions outright, but the data spoke for itself. And Nuni, despite his promotion, found himself returning to those reports, flipping through them long after his shift had ended, unable to shake the feeling that the real story had yet to unfold.

Today, the case finally shifted.

Nuni strode through the bustling Promenade Security Office, his mind split between duty reports and the nagging pull of unfinished business. Then, a figure stepped into his path—Talik, his expression unreadable, hands clasped neatly behind his back. Beside him, a Tellarite ensign shifted his weight, tusked jaw tightening, the single pip on his collar catching the overhead lights.

The young officer twitched with a nervous energy as his mustard shoulders shuffled slightly back and forth in unison with his large, ungainly feet. Despite his withdrawn form and cowed head the unusually tall Tellarite was undoubtedly Ensign Log, the usually good-natured systems engineer most often found waist-deep in console arguing with the base’s internal systems. To see him here was a surprise, doubly so in the company of the fastidious security officer.

“Lieutenant Talik, what a pleasant surprise,” Nuni said, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. His gaze, however, flicked between Talik and the tense Tellarite, anticipation tightening in his chest.

Log twitched again, acutely aware of the insightful glances of the much senior officer. His lips seemed to part momentarily but clamped shut again at warp speed, opting to defer to the tall Vulcan beside him.

“There have been a number of incidents and complaints involving unlicensed merchants along the promenade.” Talik handed a PADD to the Bajoran commander. “They set up makeshift, collapsible kiosks, selling items like timepieces of questionable origin and antiquities of dubious provenance. One was even reported to have been running a game of chance called…” Talik stepped and squinted at the text on the PADD, now in Commander Nuni’s hands, “…three-card monte.”

He stepped back to his place next to Ensign Log.

“No gaming license displayed, of course.” He added. The Vulcan looked alternately at the Tellarite and the Bajoran. “I’ve not been in this posting long enough to have evaluated the trends, but is this a seasonal occurrence or an anomaly?” An arched eyebrow punctuated the genuine look of curiosity on Talik’s face.

Nuni’s eyes lingered on Talik, noting the subtle shift in the Vulcan’s usually impassive demeanor. His hands were clasped firmly behind his back, but even the faintest change in posture spoke volumes. Nuni leaned forward slightly, his voice calm but edged with anticipation. “What do you need, Lieutenant?”

His gaze shifted to the Tellarite, who stood rigid, eyes darting around like a cornered animal. Nuni let the silence stretch for a moment before he raised an eyebrow, his tone sharpening. “And this one? What’s his role in all of this?” He gestured toward the Ensign, his fingers flicking in a motion that was equal parts curiosity and demand.

“Indeed,” Talik replied. “The security detail assigned to us has certainly observed this criminal activity, but has not, as yet, been able to catch these perpetrators in the act. With his permission, I would like to put Ensign Log in,” he looked over at the Tellarite, “plain clothes.”

Log shuffled again with heavy awkward footsteps, despite his experience with Theta Squad aboard Deadalus, security missions were rarely his forte, clandestine ones even less so.

“The lieutenant thought I might make a good mark.” The young officer lifted his head, tilting it slightly to his shoulder, causing his short tusks to rub against the fabric. “I think he was being complimentary.”

“Merely stating the obvious, Mister Log.” Talik’s face remained deadpan. “He looked back and forth to the Tellarite and the Bajoran. “It has been pointed out in previous assignments that performing undercover was not…” the stoic expression faltered for a moment, betraying…shame? “…not in my skill set.”

A momentary silence descended over the trio of officers as Log presented himself for consideration. The young man was fairly well known amongst the base’s crew but out of uniform could easily pass as a fresh face from Tellar Prime seeking his next freight job. Beyond the stoic grey walls, the hubbub of the Security reception continued to bubble as he attempted to channel his most naive visage, his large brown eyes becoming puppy dog wide.

“So, let me get this straight—you want me to send an Engineer, unarmed and untrained for combat, into a potentially dangerous situation while a squad of security officers stands ready?” Nuni leaned forward, fingers drumming against his upper arm as he studied the Vulcan.

“I did the basic security training at the academy sir,” Log announced quietly. “Professor Thronick gave me excellent grades.”

Log’s face twitched imperceptibly but enough to cause Nuni to raise a questioning eyebrow.

“Well, he said I was very enthusiastic.”

Talik turned his head slightly toward the Tellarite and raised an eyebrow.

Nuni exhaled sharply, his frustration clear as he crossed his arms, leaning against the wall of the narrow hall.

“Fine, it’s approved,” he said, voice tight with reluctance.

Nuni fixed Talik with a hard stare, eyes narrowing as if searching for any sign of doubt. “But you report back to me the second anything changes. And if this goes south, Talik, it’s on you. You’re the one pushing this, so you’ll be the one answering for it.”

The Vulcan drew himself up and nodded respectfully at his superior. “Yes, sir.”

As Talik and Log retreated from Nuni’s officer, the Vulcan slowed his pace. He turned and looked at the engineer. His implacable expression soon softened into — could it be? — embarrassment. After a long moment, he finally spoke.

“I thought you were security.”