Widening the Crack (backpost)

Posted on Tue Jan 24, 2017 @ 11:43pm by Lieutenant Nicole Anderson & Fleet Captain Rhea Kennit & Lieutenant Arashi Tanaka Mr. & Senior Chief Petty Officer Samantha Summers

2,604 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Silence
Location: USS Victory - Brig
Timeline: Before "Getting Underway"

Having left Summers to contemplate her situation in the brig for the past three days with no contact allowed other than a brief visit from the ship's CMO and the sole security officer who brought meals to the prisoner and had been instructed to not speak a word, regardless of whatever she might say...Captain Kennit arrived at the Victory's Brig to deal with the prisoner.

Arriving in uniform, the Captain asked, "has Summers been moved to an interrogation room?"

Matt had been waiting on the Captains arrival. He nodded towards her question, turning and leading the way towards the room. "She's had no visitors, other than the doc, who had to come and set her nose....I wanted to leave it broken, personally, but apparently that would be inhumane." He said, waving his hand toward the cell where the former SCPO sat.

The former SCPO sat in her cell, cross legged on her cot/bunk. Eyes closed, she opened them and looked over at the Captain upon her entrance. She wiggled her recently-repaired nose." Thank your doctor for me, if you'd please? She did a good job of setting my nose - the one *you* broke." ' Summers' right eyebrow arched up with her last comment.

The Captain's reply came in a matter of fact tone of voice, "Consider yourself fortunate. I would much rather have simply broken your neck and spared myself the annoyance of being forced to deal with you further."

"And leave me the extra work of an autopsy," Nicole said, entering the brig, black bag in hand. "I've got enough on my plate, thank you," she said, looking at the Captain.

Matt looked over at Nicole. "That'd save me alot of paperwork though...." He said, referring to the paperwork he was going to have to complete regarding how no one had noticed that Summers was in fact a Romulan.

"Oh well in that case, by all means. Kill her," Nicole said, dryly.

As if summoned out of thin air, a slender blade, 6 inches long, crafted of obsidian pressure treated with a silica-compound to strengthen the blade so that it was as strong as tempered steel, with a razor edge a mere 2.5 nanometers thick slid out of a sheath tucked into the Captain's uniform sleeve. "All right..." There was nothing in Kennit's voice to indicate she was merely playing. Even as soft as her voice was, the promise of swift and lethal action was unmistakable.

Summers spoke up. "'Her' is named Karee. Centurion Karee of the Tal Shiar, although now out of a job. But, please don't kill me, or the child I carry. I give you my word, that I won't do anything to jeopardize your mission, whatever it is. If you wish, you may even 'talk' with Summers, if that is your wish...but you'd best hurry, the connection is wearing thin."

"What..." The Captain's single word, spoken in a tone of pure disgust did little to ease the threat of execution. If anything, she seemed even more inclined to put an immediate and final end to this particular headache. Turning on her heel to look at the Doctor, she said, "Child? This is a combat vessel, not a family pleasure cruiser. Is the spy serious, or is this just another ruse from a Rihanha wort?"

"Do you remember the message I sent that you ignored an hour ago?" Nicole said. "Four hours ago? Eight? Twelve? Sixteen? Twenty? Or how when you saw me coming you locked yourself in your ready room or your quarters and were suddenly 'busy'?" She gestured at their prisoner. "There you have it. Next time, read my reports."

Her eyes narrowed and she looked at the woman in the brig. "But as she said, she can't do anything confined here. I say we boot her at the starbase and let them put her into a nice, dark hole."

Karee spoke . " I don't think I'd like that. But, since I don't have many options available." Karee looked at her stomach. " I am as much puzzled as to how *this* ( pointing at stomach ) happened as you are. All I remember is attending an briefing regarding my mission.." Karee's voice trailed off as she looked at the Captain & Doctor.

Attention focused on the Doctor, the Captain said in perfect old English style accent, "Ah Doctor, Thy wit is a very bitter sweeting, it is a most sharp sauce. If you spend word for word with me, I shall make your wit bankrupt."

"Abru-tus," Nicole said, folding her arms.

"As for you," the Captain said with a cold glance to the prisoner. "You have violated General Order 18, General Order 4, and under our current operational situation. The tenants of Article 14, Section 31 which permits the use of extraordinary measures seem to apply as well."

'Summers' looked at the Captain, then at the Doctor, then back at the Captain. " I was hoping; if I gave my word not to do anything else against your crew or the ship if that would count for something? "

The Captain just looked at the prisoner, lips slightly pursed. Her expression seemed to indicate she was once more considering the first stated opinion more seriously.

'Summers' sat on her bunk, her hands under her to show that she meant no harm at the moment. " I'll have grounds
More relative than this—the play's the thing. Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the King. " She said.

"We'll soon see.." Kennit answered. "I asked that Lt Tu'Shan join us. He has only just arrived however, he is trained in interrogation. Might as well put him to work."

'Summers' right eyebrow went up. " Indeed." She replied and was silent for a moment before speaking again. " Captain, I was wondering if the ship has already docked with the base?"

Without looking at the prisoner, the Captain said "Ships status is not the concern of the prisoner."

'Summers' looked away from the Captain. " It *used* to be.." She whispered under her breath before lying back down on her bunk.

The interrogation chamber door hissed open and Varl walked in pushing what looked to all those present to be a very stripped down surgical bed used by Star Fleet Medical, although one that seen significant modification. Having been mounted to an anti-gravity sled the bed bob'd up and down very slightly as the sleds repulser field balanced with the ships own internal gravity. Suspended to both sides and above where the rather unfortunate recipient were a series of very fine needle thin manipulator tools. Each of them glistened quite disquietly despite their stillness. Holding the bed up were a series of extensible pistons and lever joints, allowing the table to expand or contract depending on the size of the patient. Upon seeing the doctor Varl scowled. He hated having to deal with Starfleet doctors when he plied his craft, it always meant a argument later on. Varl turned smartly and came to attention in front of the Captain. "I have prepared Captain and the Slab is ready for her, refitting for Romulan took slightly longer then I expected I must apologies for the delay." He glanced at the prisoner. "Tal' Shiar ehh? I ran into their work back home, very very good at cloak and dagger affairs, tended to find it alarming when someone from Starfleet started using their own methods on them though."

Nicole raised an eyebrow, looking at the Captain, but said nothing. She did take a step back however, putting some distance between herself and the unpleasantness that was about to happen. She disappeared into the shadows and made her way out of the room.

The Captain just smiled a little, "No apologies necessary Lieutenant. If you require additional materials.. just ask one of the security staff and they will see to it."

Varl smiled, and for the first time it had a slight evil edge too it, definitely not the smile you would like to see at the other end of blade. "Very well Captain, I believe I am well provisioned. Will you or the good doctor be staying for the work? If you have specific question to ask it might help if you were here, if not I will simply plug away till something cracks."

The Captain nodded once in acceptance, and turned toward the door. "In that case, I'll leave you to it. I will expect a full report." That said, the Captain made her exit, and left to tend to other matters.

He leaned over to the Slab and removed a very long and thin wind-like object measuring no more the 6 or 7 inches long and no more then an inch wide. It tapered to a fine point and simply ended ,but the pommel was topped by a strobing electorate that at present reflected white, dull light. He gestured towards Karee/Summers and there was a muffled crack as a miniature gravity field asserted itself around the prisoner, lifting her clear from the bed and slowly moving her clear of the bunks.

'Summers' moved her head back and forth as she felt herself lifted from her bunk. She turned to look at Varl with an angry face. " Hey! Before you do what ever you're going to do... may I *please* use the 'facilities' first?!?!?"

Varl scowled at Karee, then glanced at one of the security officers: "Do we have a lavatory on this deck? I've not gotten used to the deck's lay out yet."

Karee spoke before Security had a chance to. " There's one next to the Brig. I just need a few moments, and you can stand outside. I *promise* to be good." Karee slightly smiled at her 'joke.' Suddenly her eyes blinked. " Oh Lord...where am I? " The voice came from her in an hollow yell. She spotted to man and yelled at him.. " Get me out of here...*please!* Why am I here?!?!?" The woman began to weep.

Varl looked puzzled, unsure initially as to where this was going, before withdrawing the wand and directing it at "Summers". There was an acknowledgment chime from his Slab and he consulted the small dull green screen on its side and watched the sprawling characters. Almost muttering to himself he whispered "I will be damned by the Prophets, total metal reassertion, I thought it was only Vulcan's who managed to do it, well well." He deactivated the gravity field and drew up chair and sat in from of the cells force shield watching "Summers" before answering. "You are currently be held in this cell as part of a plan concocted by the Tal Shiar to take command of this ship and are being held under General Order 18, General Order 4 and several others I am sure. However I am now not sure that those same charges apply."

Summers/Karee looked at Varl. " I know what happened.." Summers began to talk fast..." Listen...'she' changed the polarity of the Victory to 'negative...' one on the station was to do the same..when they 'contacted,' their would be an ' minus + minus ' effect - in other words, 'nullification.' I.. am me...help.." 'Summers' looked away. When she looked back at Varl she shook her head in resignation. " Oh..she's good...she's more powerful than I imagined.... I'm sunk. The Tal Shier want no part of the Federation - they are *afraid* that the Praetor and Senate want 'better relations' with the Federation. They wish to 'start something' between Romulus and the Federation. If I go back to Romulus the Tal Shiar will have me killed. If not them, the Praetor will have me taken before the Senate and exposed...and then killed. I request asylum. "

Varl looked quite alarmed "Explain and quickly, what has polarity change got to do with this ship what is the intended purpose? Please bear in mind I am under orders to remove this information from you willingly or not. For your sake answer quickly and concisely will prevent me ministering to you, which I am I admit looking forward to, until your mind changed polarity."

Karee just sighed. "When this ship, with *its* negative polarity would dock with the base, with *its* negative polarity, there would be an reaction; a negative and a negative equals an *plus.* This would cause both bodies, this ship and the base, to 'implode on themselves.'"

Varl glared at her "Lovely, and your conditioning made it possible to allow yourself be killed? If I did not know better I would have suggested you were positively British"/

Tapping his com badge lightly, he stated, "Lieutenant Tu'Shan to Lieutenant Anderson, there has been a change in the prisoner. I am in need of your help. If you have anything on hand to aid with neural regeneration that would be best to bring"

"Oh smashing,' Nicole's voice said through the comm. "Why don't I bring a kettle along as well. And would you care for scones?"

Summers/Karee looked at Varl, with a mixture of hope and caution in her eyes.

"I'll be there shortly. Anderson out," Nicole said, closing the channel. Five minutes later she walked into the brig, her black bag gripped tightly in her hand, looking at the scene in front of her. "You called?" she said, opening her bag and reaching inside.

'Summers'/Karee looked out from her cell at the Doc. "Hiya Doc, long time, no see. How you doing?"

Nicole let out a small sigh as she pulled out her stunner and shot the prisoner in the shoulder, hopefully buying herself a few blissful moments of silence while she looked at Tu'Shan expectantly and returned the stunner to her bag.

Tu'Shan frowned slightly. "With respect, was it necessary to shoot her? She was being irritating but did not really warrant it."

Nicole swung her stunner around and pointed it at him, giving him a warning look.

He pointed towards the now semi-conscious Summers. "She is suffering from what I would suggest is either split personalities, or her conditioning is breaking. If you could stabilize her, then I would be very grateful. More than that I need to speak with the Captain prior to us docking; we need to stay off station from the base. This one just volunteered that our polarity and that of the station has been altered to cause an explosive result."

"Given that we docked some hours ago, I'd say we're safe," Nicole said, dryly. "Mister Torres and Ms. Naroot have been working diligently to undo her dirty work around here."

'Summers'/Karee pushed herself up on her one feeling arm and looked at the Doctor. "Well..so much for inviting you to next week's sewing bee." 'Summers'/Karee fell back on her bunk, muttering. "Gee, try and save a ship & base and see where it gets you...my head hurts..."

Nicole looked at her sideways. She immediately brought her weapon around and fired, hitting Summers square in the head, knocking her to the floor. As Summers/Karee mumbled out the words "asking...asylum..." and slurred the rest, before going inert, Nicole placed her stunner back in her bag and looked at the prisoner again. "Her conditioning began to crack after I first shot her," she said. "That would be the source of her headache. So let's see what this shakes loose. If you need another dosage, let me know. I'll be happy to provide it. Otherwise, hopefully we can give her to the station before we depart. Cheers." She turned and walked out of the brig again.


Joint Post

Lt. Anderson
CMO

Lt. Tu'Shan
Intelligence Specialist

Karee
Spy

 

RSS Feed