Interrogating The Lost (Part II)

Posted on Sat Nov 30th, 2024 @ 10:28am by Commodore Samantha York & Lieutenant Commander Damion Wolfe & Lieutenant Bela Swain

1,329 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Broken Mirror
Location: Calypso Brig

[PREVIOUSLY]

Damion stood there, listening to her with his arms crossed over his chest, before replying softly. "Counselor, I do agree with you that he is hiding something, but it could be a number of things. Being half Betazoid, I can tell he is holding something back, but it could be a number of things and may not lead us to anything useful. Pressing too little may not lead us to anything, but also pressing too much may force him to shut down. We don't want that, so we need to do this carefully." He paused for a moment before taking in a deep breath. "Counselor... Lieutenant Swain... please do not make the mistake in thinking you are running this interrogation because you aren't. While I do appreciate your insight, and assistance, the only person with authority here is me. You are here because I often like to have a second pair of eyes, so please do not order me around as if your experience supersedes mine. At the end of the day, this man is still a prisoner and a threat to this ship. I aim to treat him as such, not to give him milk and cookies before tucking him in at night. "

[CONTINUED]

Bela answered, "Honey often gets better results than vinegar. In fact, there are numerous studies showing that torture and hostility get false information. Perhaps you should try things my way."

"Counselor, I am not against your idea. In fact, I agree with you. However, in this situation, I don't believe it’s going to work." Damion countered quickly. He let out a slight sigh and ran his hand through his hair, combing it back slightly. "I was standing there, watching your conversation with him, and I can tell you for certain he was playing you once he knew you would take his side. I felt it. He was manipulating you so that he had someone on his side, now normally, that makes sense to do. In this case, it's not going to work, because even in his mind he was being careful about what he thought. Which tells me, he was prepared to encounter an empath or telepath. These people are prepared to be caught and interrogated. Think about it? If they are prepared to deal with being caught they know what to expect and honey from a Starfleet Officer is what they are expecting."

Bela sighed, completely flabbergasted that he thought so little of her. "I assure you that I was not being manipulated. I have been a counselor and the daughter of a family resort owner long enough to read people and to learn how to use people's own manipulations to get what I want. You did not let me work because you did not trust me. You only trust yourself and your hunch."

She turned her head away and then brought it back to Damion. "I'm not an empath or telepath, but you make an interesting point. Perhaps they have a weapon against them?"

"I don't know enough about these people to know their motives or tactics. That's for our mysterious friends the Knights who seem to have experience with them, but all I can go by is what I see, feel, and my experience." Damion replied firmly. "I'm not a counselor any more than you are a security officer, but over the years I have earned to use my abilities to read people in a certain way. That's why I am responsible for interrogating this prisoner, because of that experience. If you can't handle that then I suggest you file a report with the Captain and not come back into this room. If you are willing to accept that then come back in. I can't promise I'll do things your way, but I will promise to use a softer touch. Choice is yours."

Bela's smile lessened for a moment. However, it seemed that she at least had an effect. She might talk to the Captain later about this, but at the moment, time was of the essence. That said, she was concerned about false positives and the softer touch might help. She could always leave if he got out of hand and ask the Captain to stop it. "I may not be a security officer, but I do know the psychology of torture and interrogation. Do not discount my experience because I'm cute or I utilize different techniques. I accept that you will use a softer touch and stay for now. I would rather work together." She beamed a wide, genuine smile at Damion.

Damion let out a deep sigh, rubbing his forehead, as he closed his eyes. He took a moment to think and to stop feeling like he was slamming his head against the wall. After a few seconds, he opened his eyes and looked at Bela, speaking in a calming tone. "Counselor, your appearance has nothing to do with this. Neither does your techniques. I've already said I would keep it in mind, but your insisting on it is only making you come off as more of a problem then an asset. I'm done trying to build an understand here, with you, because you are determined to do things your way because you know better. I'll say this one last time and then I am ending this. You are here as a courtesy and not an obligation. I don't need you here, because while you may believe our goals are similar they are clearly not. What you are trained to do takes time and multiple sessions. We don't have that luxury. If you feel the need to continue to see this prisoner on your own time then I won't stop you, but you are not going to be able to accomplish what you want by doing things your way because it clearly requires more time than we have to work with and I am not going to waste any more of that time on... you."

He looked over as he saw Alex approaching down the hallway. A look on his face that seemed determine and mission oriented. Damion could sense some hostility in him, even before he approached, as if it was resonating off him. This concerned him, but with dealing with Bela trying to highjack the interrogation and Alex clearly not wanting to play with others, he had a lot on his mind.

Before Bela could answer Damion quickly held up his hand to stop her. "Don't say anything. Just listen." He said calmly, yet firmly. "If you have no intention of finding some common ground with me on this, that's fine, I won't force you to. However, it speaks volumes how you stand here and claim to want to work with me but you keep insisting on we do things your way because you skills and training tell you that you are in the right. I don't doubt you are good at your job, but as I pointed out this isn't your job right now. It's mine and my job doesn't require you to be here when you basically forced yourself here." As Alex walked passed them and into the Interrogation Room, Damion concluded. "Take the time out here if you need to and think about whether you are ready to come back in and work with me or against me, because one more sign of you trying to take control and I will have my men escort you out. I want to work with you, but the only person you clearly want to work with is yourself. So, take a minute and decide, because this right here is only keeping us from getting our job done." Damion finally walked inside, following Alex, to make sure nothing happened while he wasn't there.

(To be continued...)

Lieutenant Commander Damion Wolfe
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Calypso

Lieutenant Bela Swain
Chief Counselor
USS Calypso

 

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