Means, Motive, Opportunity

Posted on Thu Aug 10th, 2023 @ 8:16am by Captain Gary Taylor & Lieutenant Commander Aurelia Taylor & Lieutenant Commander S'hib & Lieutenant JG Miraj Derani & Avalon [ADMIN NPC]

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Planet Side Camp
Timeline: MD 05
2682 words - 5.4 OF Standard Post Measure

"That hoofless, motherless..." S'hib grumbled angrily as he marched away from the makeshift office, scowling at the shuttle caves.

He had him, two days ago he had him right there... he could have finished it then.

The snow that had just fallen on his snout melted quickly, his blood was boiling, overpowering any sense of reason or duty he once had.

But he still had his orders... though he'd already broken one nose today, what was one more.

=/\= "Lieutenant Commander S'hib to shuttle flight control, I want all shuttles grounded until further notice... nobody is to leave the planet." =/\=

He didn't wait for a response, his hoofed fingers tapping impatiently at his badge as he marched forward, snorting hot steam out and shaking his head in an effort to calm down.

=/\="Sir? This is Chief Hath. Can I ask what's this about?" =/\= The reply was polite, but measured.

S'hib stopped briefly, letting a group of crewmen slowly walk by before unholstering his phaser and checking it once over.

=/\= "You know full well what this is about Chief... I'll be there shortly, S'hib out." =/\=

Lia Taylor sat waiting for S'hib to return with Eric, she knew this time a more softly softly approach might work better. She need to let S'hib know not to let his emotions run away with him. Then she remembered how that might be done, =/\="Lia to Gary, can you come to Security. We may have found Derani's attacker, and I might need a little help controlling S'hib."=/\=.

Gary's reply was quick in coming back. =^= Good to hear and know. I'm on my way now Lia. I'll be there shortly. =^= As he ended the message, Gary headed for Security. If Lia was right, then she was going to need his help in controlling S'hib and keeping him from committing a murder of his own.

Now all she could do was sit and wait, would S'hib arrest Eric in one piece or just murder him on the spot? Could Gary being here, control S'hib IF he brought back Eric in one bit? Questions questions, nothing but questions.

Gary entered security tent moments later. "Who is S'hib bringing back with him?" He asked curious to hear who Lia and S'hib thought was responsible for the cowardly and almost fatal attack on Miraj.

Giving Gary a smile, Lia responded. "Eric Kyler, he's been mentioned by all three of the other suspects. Seems he's got a grudge against our Pilot, so as of right now he's our prime suspect." She looked at Gary and waited for his reaction to the news, she could tell he wanted this over with as much as she did.

Gary nodded at the news. "Okay Lia, I want this over and done. I agree he's the prime suspect but do you have any hard evidence or is it just word of mouth? Which by the way is coming from the other suspects. Who may have a grudge of their own against him?"

"Well the Andorian Ran Thy'shiniq knows more than he's letting on, but the other two felt S'hib's rage. I don't think they have anything to do with the attack." Lia pushed the PaDD's containing the statements towards Gary, "Read for yourself, everything points towards Kyler. But I'd bet a Dollar to a Dime, Thy'shinq knows more than he's letting on right now."

Gary picked up the PaDD and read the statements of the other suspects. After reading, he handed the PaDD back to Lia. "This is all too convenient, too pat Lia. I agree bring Kyler in and question him, see what he knows or doesn't know. Kyler would have to be an idiot to leave clues or know people would speak up on his actions and feelings concerning Miraj."

"Perhaps we're missing something, a certain something which probably pushed Kyler over the edge. A lot of people died when that damn filament hit us, it could be he blames Derani for that. I know it's a long shot, but from what I've learned about him he's just the type."

"You may be right Lia. Maybe does blame Derani but if he does, he is a bigger idiot than I thought. He should be thanking her for saving us. If she hadn't done what she did, we would all be dead. He should consider that before he goes assigning blame." Gary answered.

Lia nodded in agreement, "But what if he lost someone special? He might just go nuts and attack Derani, you know no plan no goal except hurt her as much as possible. Only once he got started, he couldn't stop."

Gary considered what Lia said and had to admit she had a point. "Point for you. That is something to consider. Something you can ask him when S'hib brings him in. I just hope S'hib doesn't break his jaw. Accidentally of course."

The Security Chief tapped her communicator, "Taylor to S'hib, how you doing in apprehending our suspect?"

=/\= "I'm on my way back Commander... I have him." =/\=

Giving Gary a quick look, Lia replied. =/\="In one piece I hope!"=/\=

=/\= "For now..." =/\=

Before S'hib arrived with Eric, Gary turned to Lia. "Lia, I know you want answers as does S'hib, Phoenix and myself, heck the whole crew. However, do this questioning the right way. If he asks for a JAG lawyer get him one and for God's sake don't threaten or assault him."

Lia looked at Gary, "Be my guest, you question him. As for assaulting him, so far I personally haven't assaulted anyone." She stepped back and continued, "As for threats, if I can scare information out of a suspect. Then I'll do it, if that's wrong guess I'd better find me another job."

It was then the door opened, the chill air of the planet's surface sucking out what warmth had gathered in the office as Eric was shoved inside.

Eric stumbled into the room and the table. He spun glaring at S'hib but upon seeing Gary with Lia, clamped his mouth shut and sat sullenly in the chair.

"He's all yours Captain." Lia pointed at S'hib, "Leave the suspect to the Captain, we're off the case as of now S'hib."

Gary looked at S'hib and then Eric and finally turned to glare at Lia. "Absolutely not Commander. This is yours and Commander S'hib's investigation. So continue your investigation. I was only giving you some advice."

Lia shook her head, "I insist Captain, I'm sure you have your ways of conducting this interview." She looked at Gary, "If we do it right, then no one can say otherwise. Hence my asking you to question the suspect, that way you'll know it was done right. Sir."

Gary was steaming but he kept his temper under control. His look signaling that there would be a serious talk later. "Commander Taylor, you and Commander S'hib have started this investigation and you will continue it. Do you understand or do I need to make it an order?"

"Respectfully, Sir... Ma'am... shut up." S'hib snorted as he walked further inside, pushing through the middle of them both before gripping the back of the chair Eric was sitting in and pulling it away from the desk.

"Now before we start, Eric..." S'hib continued as he walked around, shoving the desk along the floor until he was able to crouch down in front of Eric.

"if you fail to refer to Ensign Miraj as anything other than her name and rank, I'm going to lose my shit with you... is that understood?" He snorted, eyes level with the man despite being crouched down into what could only be described as a squat.

Gary shifted his gaze to S'hib, Anger was still in his eyes but he made no comment not even when S'hib threatened Eric. Gary knew the ins and outs of questioning and right now all S'hib was doing was posturing, trying to scare Eric.

Eric's gaze shifted from S'hib to Lia and then Gary. Studying their faces. They all looked like they had been cut from stone. Hard, determined stares greeted him before his gaze returned to S'hib. "Understood ...sir." He answered sullenly.

"Good... Now, I'm going to be honest with you Eric... your friends, your department... they've all kinda thrown you under the shuttle, pointing their fingers at you." He inclined his head to one side, studying the man who sat before him with a single eye.

Eric was silent for several seconds before he replied. "Not surprised in the least. The whole lot of them would throw their own mother under the bus if they thought it would save them."

"But why you? that's what I want to know... why would they blame you?"

Eric stared at him for several seconds before he spoke. "Are you kidding? Why would they blame me? Because I was outspoken in my criticism of Princess Bub....." His voice hard and cold trailed off, "I mean Ensign Derani and I didn't hide it. She is a superb pilot for sure but a lousy officer sir. She can't make duty rosters. She submitted no one for promotions, so I don't know how Danvers and Neri got promoted." He stopped and leaned forward. "Look, sir. She doesn't have a clue in running a department. All she wants to do is fly."

"Dan... Danvers and Neri they got into a fight with someone at the ceremony, I remember that because I broke it up."

S'hib paused, his eyes flicking back and forth as he stared off to one side.

"Yep. It was me and Ensign Anish Talan." Eric said simply.

S'hib looked up, glancing between Lia and Gary. "We've been chasing the wrong motive... it was never about this, us being here or the accident... it was that damn ceremony and that argument about the promotions."

Eric looked between the three senior officers, trying to gauge how well they received and believed what he was telling them.

Lia now moved forwards, "Your lying Eric, I know it you know it. So let's start again shall we, what's the beef between you and Derani? And don't come at me with some cock and bull story, I want the truth. And I want it now, because I'm all out of being nice."

“Lia… Lia, I know he's lying. But there's a shred of truth in every lie…” S’hib spoke as he turned his head back to Eric. “You know its funny, I’ve been saying since day one… the injuries Miraj sustained, that is something one person would struggle with, but two?”

He leaned in close, keeping his eyes level with Erics. “You don’t have the imagination to pull something like this off… but you’re a good yes man, aren’t you?”

Eric ignored S'hib but focused on Lia. "You want to know why most of the department doesn't like her? I'll tell you. She's a lousy officer! All she wants to do is fly. She can't make duty rosters or do Maintenace and repair schedules and she treats the rest of us like we're the hired help. She's arrogant."

It was then Eric found a gentle pat between his legs, not directly touching anything sensitive but close enough. “We’re not here for your opinions Eric…Tell us what you know, because when we find out… and not from you, you’ll be sitting in the brig until we get back to the Alpha quadrant. Which by the way, might be never if Miraj doesn’t wake up.”

Eric didn't flinch at S'hib's words. "I told you and the Commander, I didn't attack Derani and I don't know who did. You both don't hear so good. So, hear this, charge me or let me go. I'm done talking to you."

Time stood still for a brief moment as S'hibs mind wandered out of the room and back to the shuttlecave, oblivious to the blind rage that was now lifting Eric up by the throat as he stood.

He had thought about that day continuously since it happened, about trying to wash her blood off in the icy cold stream, collapsing in the treeline where nobody could see him and crying.

But he was soon brought back to the present, back to the camp and this very room as he stared at Eric who now lay awkwardly on the desk with his cloven fingers wrapped tightly around his neck.

He was surprised at first, seeing him thrashing about and gripping his hand. His memory of the last few seconds were hazy, like trying to recall the finer details of a dream.

"For someone with a lot to say about a lot of things you sure do like to make it brief whenever we ask about specifics..." He snarled, leaning over the desk and Eric with ease as he clenched his throat tightly, refusing to let the man talk, let alone breathe. "So I'll ask you this, are you gonna keep rehashing the same story? or do you think they can pull me off you in time?"

Gary was beside him in an instant, pulling his hand away as he yelled. "Stand down Commander S'hib! Stand down now! Let him go!"

His hand remained, fixed on the man's throat despite Gary pulling at his arm, though thankfully for Eric it was enough to let him breathe.

"S'hib! Stand down!" Gary repeated. "Miraj wouldn't want this. Don't lower yourself to this. Let him go!"

"She didn't want to get beaten to death either, but people didn't seem to FUCKING MIND THAT!" He roared, bodying Gary away before hurling Eric across the room.

He stared at first, watching him crash over the chair and passed Lia, contemplating on following before bringing his hooves down on top of him. But instead, he turned back to the desk and brought both fists down, its legs and frame crumpling like paper as he repeated the motion until it was in ruin.

Lia walked forward, "You finished now S'hib? Can we get back to the business at hand?" Somehow things would end badly, and nothing could stop it. Yet she felt somehow that they could nail this SOB, if they just could make him talk.

"I want him taken up to the ship and medical to run a full bio!" S'hib spat as he spun around. "Get them to check for any recent dermal regeneration on the knuckles... and while he's up there get a warrant for engineering to tear out the filters in his sonic shower, that and I want his tent and his quarters scanned for Miraj's DNA."

He fell silent for a moment, staring at Eric with nothing but contempt. "I'm going to go find the other one..." He grumbled as he walked towards the exit.

Turning back to Gary she pointed towards Eric, "He's all yours, looks like Security just failed on this one." She then headed after S'hib, perhaps she could finally get him to return to the person he once was before this all began.

Gary made no reply as Lia made her comment and then followed S'hib out of the room. He walked over to Eric. "You want to file a report on them Eric?"

Eric shook his head, "No er no sir. They are after the wrong man. They will see. Am I free to leave?"

Gary nodded, "Go, get out but stay available."

Eric gave a humorless laugh. "Where can I go?" Then was gone, leaving Gary all alone.

Alone, Gary made a decision. "Avalon." He called out to the AI.

[[Captain?]] The AI asked.

Gary looked at and addressed the AI. "I'm guessing you made both a visual and audio copy of this questioning session." He stopped waiting for Avalon to confirm or deny his question.

[[As you say Captain.]] Came the reply. [[Would you like it uploaded to a certain area?]]

Gary nodded, "Please send to my computer a visual copy well as an audio copy. Place them in the file titled Investigations and time stamp them as well."

[[Acknowledged]]

"Thank you, Avalon. That will be all for now."