Interrogations

Posted on Sat Apr 22nd, 2023 @ 9:38pm by Commander Rhupert Tyree & Commander Daynah Ral & Lieutenant Jayden Meran & Lieutenant Rianna Repatha Thibideaux & Ensign Parker Rapp

1,881 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Prelude to War
Location: USS Valiant Fure System
Timeline: Ten days after Here there be Pirates.

Niev sat pensively in her cell, eyes glued to the small security rooms primary hatch. The forcefield hummed and there was distracting music being played. Something with bagpipes she thought…which wasn’t really called for.

*. *. *

Rhu studied the readout in front of him then glanced at the biometrics information streaming on the panels side display. “Well. For people that are supposed to be incarcerated on Vinderous III., they certainly did enough damage to Valiant. It explains why there were demolition charges on the rest. Maybe?

Rianna turned and looked at the captain, "That's not the half of it. They did enough damage so that if we did anything half baked in repairs, the ship would have exploded on its own," Rianna stated.

Daynah walked into the small brig that the Valiant had. She was rather curious about the two prisoners they had. These two had rendered a hefty amount of damage to the ship. Not to mention the number of people who were in Sick Bay. Daynah would know why this happened. When she arrived she saw that the Captain was already there. "Commander Tyree, I think it is time to learn what the hell these two are up to."

"Agreed Number One," Rhu agreed. "You take the lead on this and question our guests."

Niev watched them enter with both interest and trepidation. This wasn't going to go well no matter what and she wasn't sure exactly what, if anything she'd tell the StarFleet officers.

Daynah stood in front of the cell that held the two prisoners. She remained silent as she both steeled herself and accessed the berth of knowledge that Ral had. A full three minutes had passed in silence and then she cocked her head to the side and spoke. "First let us start with the pleasantries and the procedures shall we? I am Commander Daynah Ral and I am the Executive Officer of this ship. I have been given the responsibility of questioning you. Now if you would be so kind as to state your name for the record."

Niev peered at the Commander with both contempt and hopelessness in her eyes, saying nothing.

Luskan was nervously twitching, wringing his hands and said dejectedly, "Luskan. Luskan Dradj. This isn't my fault.."

Daynah cocked an eyebrow at the lack of response from the first inmate. However, she was surprised by the response of the second. She had not expected any of them to cooperate. She decided that the second inmate gave her a foot in the door. For the first time in a long time all of Ral's previous hosts were silent, as they all listened to what was to happen next. It was both heartening and worrisome for Daynah as she tread into unfamiliar territory.

Jayden stumbles in to the interrogation room. He straightened his uniform. "Sorry, sirs, I was writing a report on that surgery I did. The officer makes a full recovery, I am happy to report. I just wrote the report, already forgot the name." He laughed nervously and then turned to the prisoners. "Did I miss anything?"

Rhu glanced toward his second officer as he was listening to Daynah begin her interrogation. "Hello Doctor. I'm sure the work will be excellent as usual. Thank you for joining us. While you and the Commander question our visitors, I'll step out and attend to some other duties."

Jayden nodded. "Yes, sir!"He then walked over to the commander and stood next to her. For now he just listened and observed the situation, as he monitored the prisoners emotions.

Turning his eyes back to the prisoners momentarily, Rhu caught Daynah's eye and nodded. "Carry on, Commander."

"Very well Luskan. Why don't you tell me how this is all your fault?" Daynah saw an opening and ran with it.

Eyes darting furtively, the Tellerite avoided Niev's gaze and said. "I was kidnapped....forced to crew for them. I didn't want too. I was happy doing my time..."

"I see and a big strong Tellarite such as yourself could not fend them off? But please do go on." As Daynah drew from the centuries of experience she decided to play the aloof interrogator as she took verbal jabs at the prisoners whenever she could. Thus far this tactic seemed to be working.

Squinting at the Trill, Luskan swore at her in Tellarite, then retorted, "All high and mighty Star Fleet officer. Your kind put me in that hole. And more of your type decided to blackmail me into doing their dirty work. Fine. you want to act like you have a stick up your rear, then get me a lawyer."

Daynah smiled again, this time there was something off about her smile it had a somewhat sinister feel to it. What Luskan did not know was that Jazra Ral a former host was the guest of the Dominion and tortured. These memories are what guided her at the moment. The tactics that were used on Jazra came in very useful at times like this. "Oh you see you are under so many false thoughts. The charges that are currently against you mean that there are no trials, and no lawyers. You are a repeat offender charged with attempted escape. Now you can answer our questions and I can get you some favor or you can clam up and go back to the hole you crawled out of. So I state again. Continue your story."

Jayden decided to interrupt a moment. "Mister Dradj, I don't believe I have introduced myself. My name is Lieutenant Jayden Meran. I am the ship's counselor and second officer. The captain called me a doctor, cause I am also a Neurosurgeon." She looked over to Daynah before bringing her gaze to the Tellerite again. "I am also half Betazoid. Now it''s good to know that I can tell if you lie or not. I can also say the same about my senior officer here. She is not lying. I can sense both her and her symbiont. This is not a threat, but I wouldn't test her patience right now."

Daynah chuckled inwardly. Jayden had initiated the old good cop, bad cop routine. It was a good play Daynah thought. She decided to wait a moment or two to see if Luskan would take the bait as it were.

Luskan's forehead broke into a sweat and his small black eyes darted back and forth as all of that registered. He bit at his lip and finally said, "Fine. Ok. Look. If you had skills, they offered you a berth. A chance to make some money and get what the one called a Get out of Jail Free Card. Based off some dumb game. But they told us if we talked or got stupid. Got caught, we'd pay. Not just us either. But our families..."

It seemed that the tactic worked at least for the moment. "Now lets start with the basics. Who is they? Where did you meet them? How long have you been working for them?" Daynah leaned up against a wall and crossed her ankles. She had nowhere to go, and looked forward to hearing what this man had to say.

Rhu exited the brig and moved to the viewing chamber as he began reviewing reports.

Ensign Parker Rapp had hobbled from sick bay to brig he wanted a front row seat of these interrogations, Holding his side he strode in nodding to those in the room "What news on the realto?" He winced as he propped him self up on the wall "Don't mind me I've seen worse and been worse just wanted to see what these monsters looked like up close" he said with a slight smile and wink.

Smiling at the Ensign, Rhu replied. "Doesn't hurt to look. Good to see you up and about Ensign. How are you feeling?"

Looking at the captain "Five by Five boss" he said with a grin "Side smarts something awful but not my worst knock and I'll recover just need to give it time I suppose" he said standing forward "So do tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb have names?" He said his hand resting on his phase pistol.

Glancing at their subjects, Rhu touched controls to bring up their files and said. "Interestingly enough. They're already supposedly incarcerated at Nickadian Penal Colony. Not sure how that's possible."

Parker looked across at the captain "Well theve certainly been busy little bees haven't they captain" He said wide eyed "You want me in there with you when you go in I dont mind being some muscle spent about 6 months in starfleet marines so mucstle on deck I can be"

Rhu considered the Ensign's words for a moment then tilted his head indicating the female prisoner. "Why don't. you go in and try talking to her, Ensign? See if you can draw her out. I may come in later depending how how you do."

Parker looked to the captain "Me?" he got a little nervous, but stayed stoic for the most part "Well lets get in there" He said straightening out his uniform as prepared him self to enter.

He walked in Looking at the woman infron of him, sitting down at the table "its Luskan right?" he spoke as he steepled his chin on hi fingers "Enisgn Rapp for your information" he said with a flat matter of fact tone to his voice "Please start at the beginning entertain me?" he said relaxing back in his chair trying to gauge her as a person.

Rianna walked in with a stern face looking for an explanation as to how the ship was damaged. "Excuse me but just what in the hell did you do to my ship to cause this type of damage!", she barked.

Glancing at his CEO, Rhu's lips twisted into a smile. "Well, they did have interesting toys." He pulled up a series of reports and said, "Weapons systems appear to have been Cardassian in origin. Highly modified and miniaturized. Still had to have taken some decent engineering to jam that kit into those hulls. I take it you'd like to take a crack at interrogating our guests, Chief?"

Looking at Rhu, "You guessed correctly. You do realize that I can tell when they are lying and telling the truth," Rianna said, an evil smile creeping across her lips, looking at the prisoners.

"Fine by me, Chief. You and the Ensign have at," he said, gesturing toward the door.

Parker sat looking at the prisoner in front of him "So whats it gunna be Conversation with me or a not so nice one with one of my comrades either way you aren't getting out of this one unscathed so better to give us something over nothing as a species we aren't exactly well known for showing restraint" his eyes narrowed as he tried to figure out what was going through this persons head.

Rhu monitored the interrogations by his crew for a few more minutes before turning back to writing his own report. There would be more reports between Valiant and StarFleet. And, more importantly, Federation Intelligence. Lots and lots of reports and he wondered where it would bounce out at.

They were living in interesting times.

 

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