Curiosity & the Cat Part 2

Posted on 13 Jul 2018 @ 4:56am by Commander S’chqenr T’Jedf Tolkath (Jan 2389 - TRNSFR After Gorn War) & Captain Akio Tachibana & Lieutenant Commander Iria Taltos & Lieutenant Harry Stevens

Mission: Ne Me'e Laua Na Paio - Heroes & Villains
Location: Xavier
Timeline: 1250, 16 Jan 2389

[ON]

Continued...

[Deck 418 - XFY: Makeshift Security Brig ]

"Report," Akio announced as he entered the room with Tolkath and Stevens. He was much used to that phrase on a starship's bridge, not in a brig.

"Sir, So far we have found out that they have taken the data that the Lieutenant gathered and are holding her," replied Harry who knew this was a trumped up charge to say the least, he looked back at his commanding officer

"Captain" Tolkath nodded when Tachibana entered. The Vulcan turned back to the Brig Officer and stared at him until the man realized another senior officer had just arrived and jumped up from his seat, to stand at attention. Tolkath stared a moment longer, then turned back to Tachibana.

Akio appreciated Tolkath's ability to groom junior officers. He was clearly an experienced officer due to his comfort level in addressing senior commanders. Akio was again glad he made the right call to recommend promotion to Commander.

"It appears Lieutenant Taltos was carrying out an external Engineering inspection, via EVA suit, to assist with determining damage and repair options, further to the request for assistance at the Briefing earlier." He explained.

"For some reason, as yet unspecified Station Security has decided to detain her for failing to turn over the data acquired turning the inspection."

I am informed by Lieutenant.....?" He looked again at the Brig Officer.

"Versa, Sir." he replied after a beat.

"By Lieutenant Versa," Tolkath continued "that no formal charges have currently been laid at this time. I therefore see no reason why the Lieutenant could not be placed under the supervisor of Ensign Stevens and allowed to return to the ship while this matter is resolved.

Or until Lieutenant Versa can explain why Station Security requires copies of Engineering inspection data?"

"It is my understanding that Lieutenant Taltos is being held for violation of Article 92. So which order did she disobey?" Akio informed Tolkath of the charge that he heard previously as he attempted to probe further.

Versa looked from one to the other his face going paler, "I wasn't told which order she did not comply with, Sirs, when she was brought in by the team. Only to keep her here until she handed over the tri-corder." he paused a moment more to add, "Lieutenants Wali and Frasier were the ones that brought her in."

Tolkath looked to Tachibana. Was he going to find them, or were they being called here?

Harry tapped his combadge knowing that Station Security had been overwhelmed and whilst he was here had been asked to help run the department, he called,=/\= Would Lieutenants Wali and Frasier, please come to the Brig Immediately=/\= As he knew that the two officers had a lot to answer for.

Versa hesitated then he called the Lieutenants Wali and Frasier to return to the Brig. They arrived after three minutes in which time, Versa had then turned around and offered his chair to the Captain.

Lt Jorin Wali was Trill with the more familiar pigmentation lines running down the sides of her body. Aston Frasier was Human looking though his extremely dark Iris hinted that he might be part Betazoid.

They stopped short upon entering the brig their expressions flickering through several emotions. Then they seemed to catch themselves and stand at attention in the presence of the Captain and Commander.

Akio was getting irritated. How did they book one of his officers into the brig and not know the extent of the charge?

"Thank you for arriving so soon. Please, tell me why you booked one of my officers, Lieutenant Taltos, into the brig," Akio asked, attempting to keep his temper in check.

Versa had stayed back he had only been manning the desk, Wali and Frasier had brought her in, far as he was concerned it as their show.

Iria had stayed quiet until she saw the faces of the two. She blinked and then shook her head.

She hadn't seen their faces earlier they had been wearing their own EVA suits and their communication channels had been so full of static she hadn't heard any of what they said clearly unless they yelled it. Only thing that they had actually yelled at her was to turn over the tri-corder or else she was in trouble. She had not been mouthy about it until after she had finished sending everything to Tolkath on the ship. Afterwards she told them what she thought of the fact they hadn't given clear notice or reasons and no way in hell was she giving her tri-corder to them.

Jorin Wali cleared his throat and swallowed before speaking, "The Lieutenant was in an area that is restricted she refused to give us the tri-corder and we felt justified in bringing her in."

Aston nodded, as Jorin finished speaking, "We didn't have her marked as authorized to be in the area and she was uncooperative."

Tolkath asked a question of the two Security Officers, "As I recall from the Briefing, there were some areas which had limited access due to repairs on the grounds of the safety of personnel.

"The Lieutenant is a Engineer and Damage Control Specialist, her EVO suit rating is current, she was assisting with repairs and so perhaps you can explain to me what was unsafe about her actions?"

He continued "If it was not for safety reasons, then I take you have evidence this area was clearly marked as restricted; that Lieutenant Taltos was warned of the restriction and that you can prove that she then, willfully and deliberately, ignored such a warning?" He spoke quietly, but pointedly, dropping simple logic on the Security pair like a ton of bricks.

Jorin blinked and had the look of a fish out of water for a few seconds until he closed his mouth, Aston however appeared confident. "The area was marked clearly restricted access, again she wasn't on our list for authorized personnel."

"Did you bother to call station Security chief?" asked Harry as he continued "Or me for that matter, as I have been asked to help with the Security of this station?" as he looked back at the two Officers in question.

Jorin and Aston both shook their heads in the negative, they had not called their chief nor had they talked to any other personnel of the Hawaii.

Iria raised her eyebrows slightly, She looked to the Captain for permission to speak,

"Speak, Taltos," Akio commanded. If anything Akio was angry at the absurdity of the entire situation that amounted to some bullshit paperwork mess. While access lists were necessary, it was evident that Taltos was a Starfleet officer from one of the 'yellow' uniformed departments. Hardly the crime of the century.

Iria was trying very hard to not smile as she spoke, "I might have been difficult to them because as I told them their communication over their suits sucked. I couldn't hear them properly, only things I did hear clearly were that they wanted my tri-corder or else I would be in trouble. I said unless they want to clarify that and give names there was no way and excuse my next words were" she paused a small moment, "no way in hell I was going to give over my working data without proper cause. They just marched me in here after that." She finished evenly.

Iria knew she was right and the security footage from the whole thing would back her up. Unless someone had actually had taken the time to edit the footage to their advantage but she had a feeling they didn't since a good bit of color filled their faces.

Jorin and Aston both frowned, and after only a few seconds of hesitation they brought of the feeds and allowed it the play.

The video had barely played, yet Akio had made up his mind.

"I have seen and heard enough," Akio verbalized his thoughts. "Release Lieutenant Taltos," Akio commanded bluntly.

Versa turned around to hit the controls for the field in front of the holding cell. Once the field dropped Iria got up and walked out quietly, her expression was a funny mixture of amusement and annoyance she didn't look to anyone other than her Captain, Commander Tolkath and to Stevens.

Lieutenant Wali and Frazier stood at attention and waited in case they needed to hear something from the Hawaii's Captain. Though they were sure to get an earful later from their own head of security.

"Thank you," Akio said, relieved there wouldn't be a fight. "If I hear any one else accosting my crew, I will personally see to it that a full investigation is launched at the command level, understood?"

Lieutenants, Versa, Wali and Frasier all said clear, "Yes Sir!" In a cascading of voices and tones. Not one moved from his spot.

"After you, Lieutenant," Akio gestured outside the brig. "Walk with us."

Iria walked out holding her tri-corder n her hands, she wanted to skip or jog or something but made herself walk. She absolutely hated being cooped up/caged anywhere. She had paced than sat glaring at Versa, before Tolkath and the others had shown up. Iria was never so glad as she was right then and there.


[XFY Corridors]

"So what did you find that you would not give up your tricorder?" Akio asked while glancing at Tolkath and Taltos.

"Captain, it might be prudent to continue this discussion back on the ship" Tolkath said quietly, looking back towards the Station Security staff.

Akio didn't realize it was that sensitive, yet he understood what Tolkath meant.

Iria gave a cheeky grin, "Sometimes curiosity can be a good thing even if there's unexpected waits required." Her mismatched eyes twinkled, then she sneezed a few times, trying to cover the sounds of her growling stomach. She felt her cheeks turn pink but, said nothing further until they were safely on board the Hawaii.

The walk took about 10 minutes, yet on the quarterdeck, Akio gestured into a conference room within the Diplomatic Department.

[Conference Room, Diplomatic Department, Deck 12; USS Hawaii]

Iria worried the inside of her bottom lip with her teeth a moment before she looked up at the Captain, Commander and the Chief of security. She gave a cheeky grin then set down the tri-corder carefully upon the table. "Before I say anything would it bother you gentlemen if I get out of this EVA suit first?" She had been wearing the thing a while and it was starting to feel heavy and it didn't do much to keep down the noise of rumbling from her stomach either, much to her embarrassment.

"Feel free, Lieutenant," Akio permitted.

"If I might have that" Tolkath took the Engineer's Tricorder. He had no reason to doubt its accuracy but with the importance of the data he took the time to be sure. He sat at the table, placed the Tricorder on the table top in front of him and activated the unit's self diagnostic mode and let it run.

Akio had never seen Tolkath this way, let alone a Vulcan. Was it worry? Anxiety? Excitement? Suddenly, Akio felt himself get anxious. Was there something more nefarious as to why she was being held?

While the program checked the device, Tolkath looked to Taltos, wondering if she knew the significance of the data she had found.

After a few moments the device beeped as it completed the self diagnostic. He leaned forward, checked the readout and nodded.

Then he looked to the others, oblivious to their impatience. They would have to wait a while longer, as he had a couple of questions for Taltos. "Lieutenant, please confirm you have not used this Tricorder on any other damaged structure today, other that the area of the Station that you scanned?"

"I ran three scans on the station of the most damaged areas to be specific. I had planned to double check the minor areas as well but station security stopped me after the third scan. Commander, all after first checking that there was no problems with the tri-corder as per procedure. No sense making more work to sort through, Sir." She had to fight to keep her tone even, she understood the question and his reason for asking. It still irked her that he had felt the need to double-check her work. Iria reminded herself she hadn't been a part of the crew very long and as of yet likely hadn't earned that level of faith and trust in her or work and willingness to do the right things.

"And that area had significant damage, which is believed to have been caused during the Gorn attack?"

"It was what I was told was the cause, but the scans don't match the Gorn weapon's signature or damage yield, Sir." Iria said evenly, she might not be certain of everything but she knew she was right about that and the scans.

Akio already knew something wasn't right, yet the revelation was just another blow.

"Then who attacked XFY?" Akio asked the obvious question.

[OFF]

Akio Tachibana, CAPT, SF
CO

Tolkath, CDR, SF
2XO/CSO

Iria Taltos, LTJG, SF
ACHENG

Harry Stevens, ENS, SF
TACSEC