Investigations

Posted on Wed Jun 21st, 2023 @ 3:12am by Lieutenant JG Miraj Derani & Lieutenant Commander Aurelia Taylor & Lieutenant Commander S'hib

Mission: Season 6: Episode 2: Survival
Location: Planet side Camp
Timeline: MD 05
1277 words - 2.6 OF Standard Post Measure

The physical evidence was not great. The necessary outerwear to survive the chill meant that there was little DNA left behind. The shuttle cave was still crisscrossed with DNA, and there was no way to tell how much was laid down at the time of the attack, and how much at any other time in the last week. And whilst everything in the area was limited to the remaining flight control crew, there were still eighteen of them.

Preliminary investigations and alibi checks managed to bring that down to eight. Crewmen Okemwe, Vex and Th'shyniq claimed to be asleep, and so were the people they were sharing with. Vex had claimed he'd gone out to relieve himself, but he had no witnesses; he was sharing with PO2 Sora who had likewise been asleep.

PO Shesh was in the same boat, though whether she could have sneaked out of a tent filled with three children under seven, her sister and brother-in-law all sleeping together, was doubtful.

The remaining three, PO1 Saviweir bunkmate had been in the MWR, and CPO Hath was sharing with Lt Morrison, who'd been on duty with multiple witnesses. And lastly, there was Ensign Eric Kyler, who was sharing with Ensign Anish Talan. Talan's alibi was unimpeachable; he had been on the bridge at the time.

So there were eight people unaccounted for. It was a place to start. With the primary witness still in a coma under Sthilg's care, there wasn't much of an alternative either

Pacing around her very small office, Lia wrestled with a problem she thought she had solved. Who to put in charge of the small detachment of Security on board Elysium, it looked like S'hib was now out of the running. A pile of PaDD's littered her desk, but one had been put to one side. CPO Carol Dolton. Lia had done some digging and found something unusual about the CPO. =/\="Taylor to Dolton, please report to Security."=/\=

Carol heaved a sigh, =/\="Roger, on my way Commander."=/\=

"You're going to wear a hole in the floor..." S'hib remarked as he sat on the side of Lia's desk, PaDD in hand. "Besides, I already told you I'll be fine once we catch whoever did this... just gotta, figure out who..." He added with a deep-set frown as he examined the list again.

Very few had a convincing alibi, which didn't help... and then there was the small problem of not knowing if the attacker was alone, which would increase the potential suspects even more.

A quick glance at her 2i/c made Lia smile, "So go buy a new carpet and cover the hole, and just who's in charge of the Security detachment back on the ship while we play Sherlock Holmes?" Lia sat down in her chair, "That's what I want Dolton for, she's had command before so until you get back to Elysium she can handle that little job for us."

“Little?” He questioned, there was nothing little about the responsibilities involved, especially now. “There isn't anything little or simple when it comes to the Elysium.” He added, trying to ignore the sting of his pride that he was being replaced if but only for a while. He just couldn't help but feel like he was letting everyone down, especially Miraj.

Lia looked over at S'hib, "Dolton was once an Officer, different universe different Star Fleet. You want whoever hurt Miraj right? I want that too, but I need the Elysium to be protected as well. That's where Dolton fits in, she can help with repairs and also keep our detachment busy doing their job." She stopped and picked up her empty coffee cup and stared into it, "Unless you want me to put you on the next shuttle, and handle the investigation on my own?"

"If you hadn't noticed, Commander." S'hib remarked as he got off the desk with an audible creak, grabbing the coffee mug from her as he walked past.

"Me and shuttles have had a bit of a falling out..." He quipped, holding up his injured hand as he clicked slowly across the prefabricated office to an almost empty pot of coffee. Its somewhat cracked glass slowly leaking the vicious black liquid as it sat awkwardly on a heating unit atop three crates, the whole setup screamed jury-rigged... but Lia did like her coffee and replication was very limited in its uses at current. So, this was the compromise.

"Besides, you're gonna need someone who can function without this," S'hib added as he picked up the pot and poured what was left into the mug. "Because we're going to run out of power if you keep filling this up at the mess." He teased, turning back to Lia with the mug of coffee.

At that moment Dolton arrived and stopped in front of Lia, "CPO Dolton reporting as ordered." was all she said. Lia took her coffee and had a sip before responding, "Chief, I understand you're heading back to Elysium later today. I want you to take charge of the Security Detachment on board while S'hib and I investigate the attack on our Pilot."

Carol stiffened, "Why me Ma'am?" Taylor picked up the PaDD, "Because you're qualified to do the job, I know about the Enchantress and your position on that vessel." Dolton shook her head, "That was a lifetime ago, I've not commanded people for over 15 years. With respect, I think you have the wrong person."

Lia now looked at S'hib, "What do you think Commander? Do I have the wrong person?" Knowing S'hib wanted to find the perp that clobbered Miraj, he would want to stay planetside. The only way that would happen, was if Dolton took charge of the section on the Elysium.

S'hib simply glanced at Dolton, with what could be considered his eyebrows raised. "I don't get a say in this... and neither do you, in fact, she's probably already signed the paperwork."

He let out a tired huff as he leaned back on Lia's desk, its frame protesting as his weight settled on it. "But it'll only be for a few days... I'll be damned if this investigation is going to drag into next week."

Dolton glanced down at Lia's desk, "I will obey this order but under protest. And I will hand over to the first one of you that steps onto Elysium." Carol now met Lia with a hard stare, "And since you've somehow read my sealed file, you know I mean it, Commander." Taylor nodded and smiled, "Spoken like a true First Officer, and yeah I know you'd do it. But don't get mouthy with me Chief, we're cut from the same cloth." Carol looked at S'hib then back to Lia, "Don't bet on it, permission to leave I have some packing to do." Lia stood up and placed her now empty coffee mug on her desk, "Dismissed Chief, Shib escort her to her quarters then to the shuttle."

“Escort?” S’hib thought to himself, very nearly saying it out loud. She got here on her own just fine? why did she need him to… “Come on then… I need the fresh air.” He sighed as his own thoughts trailed off, though his face was a puzzled mix of annoyance and genuine confusion.

Seeing S'hib's reaction, Lia held up her hand. "S'hib, I also need you to round up Crewmen Okemwe, Vex and Th'shyniq. We need to start on finding Miraj's attacker, those three seem as good a place to start as any."

"I'll drag them back here shortly." He muttered, giving everyone the impression that he might literally drag them here.