The debriefing (pre-mission backpost)

Posted on Thu Nov 21st, 2024 @ 10:57pm by Commodore Finchley Kerr & Lieutenant Commander Shoniara T'ghann-Dex. Doctor

2,224 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: The 'Eagle continues.
Location: SFIHQ
Timeline: 1 year ago.

Captain Jasper Potter entered the room, a PADD in hand, and sat down in the chair opposite Shon.

"Lieutenant Dex, I'm Captain Potter, I'm part of the debriefing team here at SFIHQ" he began, "The purpose of this debrief is to go over your time on the USS Blackeagle and determine it's Command status, crew status and the overall situation you witnessed in your time there."

He looked at the guards on duty, "Can we get the Lieutenant some water please."

One of the guards nodded and left the room, appearing moments later with a cup and jug of water. Placing it beside Shon, he stepped back and took his place again.

Potter looked at Shon and said, "This is a debriefing as I said, however, it also looks to determine your own input into the daily running of the ship as at the time you were part of the Command Staff, being Chief Medical Officer. With that in mind, you're able to have legal representation should you wish to have such, do you?"

Shon nodded a thank you for the water. “For the record Captain Potter my surname is T’ghann-Dex, now I understand the need for debriefing but why are there guards in the room? It makes for a very unsavoury atmosphere.” She sat back and crossed her legs.

"My apologies Lieutenant T'ghann-Dex" Potter replied, "the reason for the guards is we have information regarding the running of the Blackeagle, so we have to make sure nothing goes..amiss. As for that being unsavoury, you'll have to deal with it I'm afraid, it's how we do things. Let's get to it shall we, what were your impressions of the Command team on the ship?"

Shon sat quietly for a moment. "I do not need any legal representation Captain, thank you." She took a sip of water. "The command team worked well together, relaying information to the other members when we needed to. We interacted directly with other crew members and made ourselves available if there were any problems."

"And what of your own interaction with Captain Kerr, how would you characterise it?" Potter asked.

"Captain Kerr can be a hard taskmaster but he is fair. I got on well with him, but there were a couple of occasions we did not see eye to eye and I naturally deferred to him."

"You deferred to him, or you gave into him...they're two different things Lieutenant?" Potter replied. "In addition to that question, when you disagreed with him, did others disagree also, and if they did, how were they dealt with?"

“Sorry Captain, I thought you heard me, I said I deferred to him, I not give in to him. Captain Kerr is a strong leader and he is not stupid. He knows others can have better ideas than he does and he is very happy to entertain them. A healthy crew does have disagreements and they can usually be worked out by discussion. The Captain always bowed to experts not in his field, but, as Captain he takes the final decision.”

“Yes, we’ll return to him being a ‘strong leader’ later” Potter answered, “for now though let’s return to the Command structure. You served under Captain Kerr as his Executive Officer, a Commander in rank according to records, yet here you sit in front of me, a Lieutenant. Would you care to expand on how this is, was there a parting of the ways, did you do something to displease Captain Kerr?”

"No sir I would not care to expand on that. I am sure you can look it up in ship's records."

“Let me rephrase that” Potter replied, “You will now tell me what happened to cause your change in rank from Commander back to Lieutenant, and if Captain Kerr had anything to do with it. Fail to do so and you’ll find out why the guards are here.”

“I am not afraid of you or your threats Captain.” She said. “I claim the right to legal representation and will not now say anything until I have spoken with them.”

"That ships already sailed Lieutenant when you said you didn't need any legal representation" Potter answered, "and I think you will start saying something pretty soon. The sodium pentothal that was in the water you drank should be kicking in round about now..."

“Well Captain Potter I have to tell you that Sodium Pentothal does nothing for me, never has.” Shon laughed. "Remember I am half Vulcan.” Shon decided not to tell them and be damned despite what they would do to her. They had gotten her back up and she would not give in without a fight.

Potter was non-plussed at Shon laughing, “There was always a chance it wouldn’t work” he replied, that’s why we had a few backup options” he added.

Looking at the guard by the door he said, “Please bring in contestant number one”

The guard nodded, left the room then returned a few moments later with a blond hair girl.

Potter looked at Shon, “This will be on your own head, unless you want to talk that is.”

He looked round at the guard again and said, “Break any two things on her body.”

The guard grinned evilly, took hold of the girls left hand and snapped her left hand pinky finger. The girl screamed loudly and fell to the floor clutching her left hand. The guard didn’t flinch, he simply put his foot on her rib cage and dug his heel in, breaking a rib. Again the girl screamed only this time louder and more frequently, writhing around.

Potter looked at Shon, “There are many, many, bones in the human body, how many shall we break before you talk, mmmmhmmmm?”


Shon was appalled at the brutality she was seeing?, "Who is this girl, some random person you pulled off the street? stop, if you want to injure somebody injure me I am the one that deserves it for getting involved with you lot." she stood and moved quickly to the guard surprising him with a neck pinch. He went down like a sack of potatoes as Shon kneeled down to minister to the girl.

Potter stood up, drew his phaser, set it to the stun setting. aimed it at Shon and fired. As she crumpled to the floor, he walked over, took her by the hair and dragged her back to her chair."

"Secure her to the chair" he said to the other guard. He walked over, lifted Shon into the chair, took out a few security ties and secured her arms and legs to the metal chair she sat in.

"Wake that idiot!" Potter said to the guard, and he in turn walked back to the guard Shon had taken down and woke him up. Groggily, he got to his feet and walked over to Shon, drew his fist back and was about to punch her when Potter intervened, "Stop, get back to the woman over there."

The guard looked angrily at Potter, but said nothing, instead returning to the woman he'd brought in. Potter in turn gently slapped Shon's face till she woke up.

Shon regained consciousness slowly feeling like she had been slugged in the gut. Then she discovered she couldn't move. "water please?" she asked.

“Once you’ve answered the questions” Potter replied.

"It is no good asking me questions if I cannot speak, water"

“Then you have a choice, die of dehydration or answer the questions first then get water. Now, before you repeat you cannot answer any questions without getting water first, rest assured, I’ll happily watch you die of thirst” Potter replied.

"If I die Potter then you do not get any answers to your questions, and you loose. Now untie me, give me water and I will answer. you know you are a man after my own heart."

“Ok Lieutenant, here’s what I’ll offer you” Potter replied, “You’ll get some water, one hand will untied so you can drink it. Meantime, both my guards will stand either side of the room, phasers set on kill trained on the girl there. If you fail to answer the questions given you, they kill the girl, if you try to attack me or any of the guards, the other one will kill the girl. This is your last chance, either answer the questions or you both die. You’re actually inconsequential in my debriefing investigation, we already have enough evidence for what we’re going to carry out, you’re just the icing on the cake. So make up your mind.”

As he finished, one of the guards placed a cup of water on the table, then cut the binder on Shon’s left wrist allowing that arm to be free.

“Thank you,” Shon said as she drank the water she was offered. “I’ve certainly never been called inconsequential, but who is to say if I answer your questions you will not kill both of us afterwards?"

"I may well do so" Potter replied, "if I think you're holding back any information or lying to me so you best think about the answers you give me. I'm now very tired of you avoiding answering my questions, this is your very last chance...start talking."

“I am tired of you Potter, do your worst.!”

“As I asked before, you served under Captain Kerr as his Executive Officer, a Commander in rank according to records, yet here you sit in front of me, a Lieutenant. Would you care to expand on how this is, was there a parting of the ways, did you do something to displease Captain Kerr?”

She sighed. "Yes I was demoted, I broke protocol in a bad way, and I deserved it. Captain Kerr was right in doing so."

"Did he hold a court marshal, allowing you legal representation or did he just decide to demote you himself?" Potter asked.

"We were in the middle of a very intricate mission, there was no way we could break from it, I accepted the demotion, to tell you the truth I was in love with him."

“So he decided to be judge and jury himself then” Potter replied, “Sounds about right from what we’ve learned about him. You said you were in love with him, was this reciprocated?”

"Yes" Shon said, now silent caught up in her memories, she could almost touch him, he was in front of her now. That familiar cavalier look in his eyes and when he smiled......Shon stretched out her hand to touch him.

Potter watched as Shon reached out her hand towards him. “Uhhmm, what are you doing Lieutenant?” he asked.

Shon smiled, See, there" she pointed. He is here standing over there..........." Shon fell to the floor fitting an allergic reaction to the Sodium Pentathol they used. Then she lay still.

“Oh great, a tripper” Potter said unperturbed at Shon collapsing, “better take her to the medical room, have Doc Campbell look her over.”

The guard nodded and within minutes he had untied her, picked her up and carried her to the medical room, placing her on a bed. The doctor was told what had happened regarding her having the fit and he checked her over and said, “She needs rest, but stay over there, in case she tries anything”

Shon woke, the confusion in her mind clearing. She sat up. “I am feeling better now I can continue.”

The door to the medical room opened, and Potter walked in, hearing what Shon had said. "That's alright Lieutenant, we have what we need, once Doctor Campbell gives you the all clear you're free to go back to your duties, thank you for your co-operation."

With that, he nodded for the guard to follow him and they left. Doctor Campbell looked at the readings on his screen carefully, then went to a cabinet on the wall, opening it and removing a small box. Returning to Shon he said, "Your vitals are all clear, the sodium pentathol seems to have cleared your system, but in case you have any relapse of your visions, these are mild sedatives to help you relax. Take as and when required. Right, I have no reason to keep you here any longer, I wish you a good day Lieutenant."

Thank you Doctor but, what did I tell them and when?”

"Oh, I have no idea what was said and by who, in fact, to be honest, I don't actually know who you are, they didn't say, they just brought you in and said you needed help" Campbell replied.

“Well you say you’re honest but most people who work here are most definitely not. And that may include me Doctor.” Shon flashed him a smile and walked out.

Campbell hurried to the door, and as the departing Shon walked down the corridor he called after her, "Could I at least have a name Lieutenant, for my records, you know, everything's accountable stock wise for us, and I need to know who to enter for my records?"

Shon looked back at him, "Nope, guess or ask that nice Captain Potter." then she had turned the corner.

 

RSS Feed