Tracking the Troublemaker, part 2

Posted on Wed Oct 26th, 2011 @ 4:33pm by Commodore Samantha York & Ensign Daniel Daniels

1,109 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Shades of Gray
Location: Michnar VII

ON

[OLD]

Daniels shook his head. "She wouldn't have too. She knows Stran knows why she did it. She knows I'm practicing criminal profiling on my coworkers, and know why she did it. She knows Tyler knows her well enough to know why she did it. I'm fairly certain, Commander Raine knows why she did it. I know you don't, but that's because she considered you too much of an adversary to let you spend much time getting close to her. She did it, because she perceived these people to be like the Bajorans, in the Dominion war. Beyond Federation help. I'll even tell you why she made it look like she died in the explosion, even if she didn't. After being wrongly imprisoned for five years, I would not want to return, either." He shook his head. "What she did wasn't necessarily right, ma'am."

[NEW]

He managed to stand up again. "But it wasn't necessarily wrong, either. Why weren't we helping these people?"

Sam stood and glared at Daniels. "We're trying. I brought one of the rebel faction on board to find out what happened so we have enough information to justify our actions to Starfleet. We've given them food and cured their plague. We can't go running around blowing people up because we don't happen to like their politics, Ensign Daniels. We find the truth and expose it. Then, with proof that a violation was committed,we can step in and help the ousted government. But we have to do it by the rules. We don't practice Frontier Law anymore. It's called Rule of Law. Look it up." She ran a hand through her hair again in frustration. "You were part of the team sent down to find out what was going on. What happened?"

"To the contrary, ma'am. I was on the team sent down to defend our medical outpost. I was also part of the team who was sent to find Kyt. To my knowledge, ma'am, the Security Department was never, in fact, issued any orders to investigate anything but Kyt's disappearance. Once we found her, the Security Department's personnel became severely incapacitated by either the virus, or overworked, with security arrangements at the medical facility. Why was Intelligence not issued the data collection reports? Or, if they were, why are you not asking them that question?" Daniels countered, a stone cold look of annoyance on his worn out face. "No offence intended, ma'am, but this is as much my fault, as the engineer who cleans the EPS power conduit lines. I was part of the team sent down to bring Kyt back twice. I got her back once. The second time was out of my hands. Now, I've got an overworked department with an Acting Section Chief who is an SCIS agent, which, therefore means, strictly according to Regulations, that he's not supposed to be the Acting Section Chief, as SCIS investigations are supposed to be separate, and autonomous of Starfleet Security. The staff that aren't overworked are recovering from a virus that has left them still medically unfit for duty, which is the whole reason the remaining staff are overworked."

He fell back into his chair. He took a breath. "And worse, still. I have Stran to answer to. You think you are imposing, and scary, with your rule of law speech? I've got a man who's going to discover, if he hasn't felt already, via telepathic link, that the woman who cares for him, is likely dead by her own hand. How do you think Commander Raine were to react, if it were you? Would you want to be the one to tell him?"

Sam sighed. He had a point. "Your reluctance to tell Ensign Stran is understandable. Your inference that we weren't doing anything to help the is not. We have to follow the proper channels. And for that, we need proof. Part of your job -- and hers -- was to get that proof. Not that the law into her own hands."

Sam sat back down. "Unfortunately, Starfleet will want a full re port. We will mourn later. Right now, we need answers. I'm sorry, Daniels. I don't want to be harsh, but I can't afford to let this cause an interstellar incident."

Daniels nodded. "I've got a full report being written up. I'd like to have SCIS take over combing the rubble. They're better trained for crime scene analysis." He looked down, and frowned. "And I'd prefer not to be the one leading that team."

"Agreed. Make the arrangements. Just keep me informed. I want to leave this place as soon as possible."

"Very well. If there is nothing else, I have an SCIS agent to brief." Daniels said. He looked like duty was the last thing on his mind, and yet, there was still that curious determination in his eye, that an empath would note as 'it's not time to curl up, and cry yet. There's work to be done.' He looked just as worn, and tired out, as he had before, but now, he had orders. That put him in a slightly more straight frame of mind.

"There's nothing else. For now," Sam said. "Keep me informed and don't do anything foolish. Please."

Daniels shook his head. "I'm assigning teams, taking a nap, and writing reports, in that order, ma'am. I've got nothing left to give, to do something stupid. Not after this week."

"Understood. Let Commander Raine know and send someone back to the planet to work with him."

"SCIS investigations are just that ma'am. According to regulations, it's SCIS investigators only. If you want the marines to investigate, you will have to assign a separate investigation..." He dropped off. "You know, explaining it, will probably take more time than just asking the SFMC Jag officer to launch a separate investigation. I'll go do that, instead, and stop wasting your time."

She waved him off. "Go ahead. But you're not wasting my time, Ensign. There were some crossed wires and some dropped balls, but Lieutenant Tramira's actions were not warranted. Send in the SCIS. Give me your report when you have one." She gave him a cool smile. "And next time, less insubordination. Okay?"

"I'll try, ma'am." Daniels said, with a bit of a chuckle. "Hopefully, next time, we'll have a Chief Security Officer, who isn't about to go blow herself all over the wallpaper." He headed for the door, and left, to complete his duties, leaving the Captain, alone, in her ready room.

OFF

Captain Samantha York
Commanding Officer
USS Calypso

Ensign Daniel Daniels
Acting Chief of Security
USS Calypso

 

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