It appears that the next gen communicator prototype was indeed lost at the bar on K7.  A Starfleet communications engineer named Ensign Freeman was there to enjoy some much needed shore leave when a huge brawl broke out between federation officers and Klingon soldiers.  He unfortunately lost the communicator in the scuffle and has been looking for it's return ever since.

Here's a shot from station security of Ensign Freeman during the fight.  We received this image from an unnamed source aboard K7.

A local merchant, also at the bar, saw the fight and then found the communicator on the floor.  He tried to return it to Ensign Freeman when Starfleet security rushed the room.

Starfleet News Service reports that this incident aboard the station is another in a string of events that have taken place over that much contested area of space.

A few days after the troubles aboard K7 we were contacted by a fellow named Cyrano Jones, who claimed he had something that we might find very interesting.  After a brief haggle we made the necessary arrangements to receive the prototype and figure out it's authenticity.

Here are more photos of the prototype. 

** UPDATE **

Starfleet wants the prototype communicator back!

In a communique received this morning, Admiral Fitzpatrick of Starfleet command asked us directly for the device. This proves that the prototype IS INDEED the next iteration of the ever popular communicator.

Admiral Fitzpatrick's Communique

It has come to our attention that you are in possession of a classified device that belongs to Starfleet Engineering.  This communique constitutes a formal request that you return the device to Starfleet.  Any hesitation on your part will be in violation of Federation Judicial Order 47 and will be punishable by up to 3 years at a Federation Penal Colony.

END COMMUNICATION

Needless to say, the device is on it's way back to Starfleet as we speak.  I guess we all will have to wait until June to see the new communicator in action.