The Camera Never Lies

It had taken Leviathan’s main computer all night to decode the data from the small device Stefen had discovered hidden within the walls of the Intelligence office. Whilst the computer had been working, Stefen had worked hard at trying to discover just how long the camera had been hidden. After much searching, he found a possible clue in the ship’s maintenance records.

The records in question were concerned with the refit of the Leviathan back at space-dock, Earth and coincided with Stefen’s arrival on the ship. Stefen could find no evidence in the records that the Intel office had suffered any damage, but there were records of work having been carried out two days prior to Stefen coming onboard. To Stefen this was no coincidence.

Finally the computer informed Stefen that the video data had been decoded and was ready to view.

“How much data is encoded in the device ?” Stefen enquired.

[The device contains three milli-quads of sensor data.] The computer replied.

“Describe the sensor data ?” Stefen asked.

[The device contains sensor data for the past seventy-two hours.] The computer informed Stefen.

“What type of data ?” Stefen requested. “Given me a complete analysis.”

[The device contains audio and visual data of the Intelligence office, along with bio-metric data from Lieutenant Stefen Moss and a complete log of all information retrieved from console three-alpha, Intelligence office, USS Leviathan-B.] The computer reported back.

“A complete record !” Stefen exclaimed. “Display information log.”

The computer started to show Stefen all the data recorded from the console and he was amazed at what he saw. All the data thought lost in the explosion that had devastated the Intel office was there. However, as Stefen saw more and more data pass across the screen, he began to notice odd things. Pausing the console, he read the page displayed and suddenly realised that not only had he a complete record of the data he had worked so hard to obtain covertly, but also that the data was intact and unaltered. This confirmed to Stefen that the data he had seen had been amended.

Reaching for a secure Padd, he ordered the computer to download all the data to the Padd. Whilst the download was in progress, Stefen started to wonder how the device had recorded the real data, whilst Stefen had only seen the data which had been tampered with. He began to search the ships schematics and within a few minutes had a possible explanation.

Knowing that the device was Section 31 issue and that it had only a limited memory, it must have been connected into the ship’s ODN network. From there anyone with the right access could download the stored data for later analysis. Stefen began to follow the ODN connections from the Intel office and found what he had been looking for, an ODN tap. The tap was placed between the device and the ODN switch in the Intel office, which meant that the data could be diverted to another location, altered and then passed back to the ODN switch. However that was as far as Stefen could go, he knew that a Section 31 ODN tap was impossible to trace, with the right access it could have been accessed from anywhere on the ship or even over a sub-space link.

The computer reported that the data download was complete and Stefen moved onto viewing the audio and visual data from the device. The past three days were recorded and Stefen hoped that the bomb had been planted within that timeframe and that whoever planted the bomb had not erased the data.

“Computer, run a full analysis of the audio and visual data. Extract all data concerning activity within the Intel office and display.” Stefen ordered, hoping to reduce the amount of footage he would need to analyse by remove footage where the office was empty.

[There is thirty-two hours of audio and visual data.] The computer reported.

“Categories the data into individual segments.” Stefen requested.

[There are ten segments of data.] The computer stated.

“Display segments with stardates.” Stefen requested.

A list appeared on the screen and Stefen began to examine each segment. The first three were pretty normal, with Stefen and Commander Rashad working in the office, going over data. The next two showed Stefen working alone in the office and the next showed Commander Rashad doing the same. That left four segments. The next segment was odd in that the room was totally empty, it only lasted for two minutes, but it struck Stefen as odd. The next segment was Stefen coming into the office and ending with the explosion.

That left two segments and Stefen watched these last segments, which were the Engineering team arriving, followed by Security, who secured the room and left. The last segment was Security starting to sift through the wreckage and ended with Stefen discovering the device and removing it fro the ODN network.

There was nothing to show who had planted the bomb and Stefen was just about to give up and make his report to Captain Taybar, when the segment showing an empty office started to nag him again.

“Computer, run a detailed analysis of segment seven.” Stefen ordered. “Search of anomalous data and signs of tampering.”

[Analysis complete.] The computer replied.

“Has the data been altered ?” Stefen asked.

[Affirmative.] The computer reported. [There is a hidden time-code within the data which does not correspond with all other data. Time-code would suggest that the data was recorded sixteen minutes earlier.]

“Can you recover the original data ?” Stefen enquired.

[The data has not been erased.] The computer confirmed. [The data pathways were altered to show the false data.]

“Can you play the video footage for the correct time-code ?” Stefen asked.

[Affirmative.] The computer replied.

“Then play data.” Stefen ordered.

Stefen watch the data in horror as he saw how had planted the bomb which had devastated the Intel office.

“Inform Captain Taybar that I am heading for the Brig and need to speak to her immediately.” Stefen ordered. “I know who the saboteur is.”

Stefen quickly access the Security console, picked up the secure data padd and headed for the Brig.

Brig

“Ensign, open cell one.” Stefen ordered.

“Do you have a prisoner ?” The young Security officer enquired.

“Yes.” Stefen replied. “Me.”

Stefen handed the Padd he had brought with him to the Ensign.

“When Captain Taybar arrived, hand her the Padd.” Stefen ordered, walking into the cell.