The Carpet

Posted on Tue Sep 26th, 2023 @ 9:52am by Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson & Captain Gary Taylor & Lieutenant Commander Aurelia Taylor & Lieutenant Commander S'hib & Lieutenant JG Miraj Derani & Lieutenant Serenity Triannth

Mission: Season 6: Episode 3: Far From Home
Location: Commodore's Ready Room, Deck 1, USS Elysium
Timeline: MD 4 / 0943 hours
3350 words - 6.7 OF Standard Post Measure

Phoenix had heard the rumours, had not wanted to believe them, but the medical report had confirmed the injuries. So she waited, bided her time to see if they would confess to anyone on their own or just continue on their merry way. That and they had been in a crisis at the time. But now, she had waited long enough.

She summoned Commander Aurelia Taylor, Lieutenant Commander S'hib, Captain Gary Taylor and Crewman Jandor Vex to her ready room, where she waited with their JAG officer Serenity Triannth.

Gary was on the bridge when he received the call from Phoenix wanting him in her Ready Room. Turning the bridge over to Lt. Gregory, he headed for her Ready Room. He paused to press the chime and await entrance.

The door slid open for him admitting him to the office.

Phoenix stood behind her desk, and Serenity stood off to the side. Both looked very serious.

Gary came in and stopped just inside the door as it closed behind him. He saw Phoenix standing behind her desk looking downright grim and to one side he saw Serenity looking equally serious. " Commodore, Serenity." He greeted the pair, electing to go with Phoenix's rank as Serenity was also here. His next question was right to the point. "What happened?"

Before he got an answer, the doors opened again, this time to admit Crewman Vex, and his line manager, Lt Morrison. There was so signs left of his broken nose, all neatly reset and repaired by the medical staff.

"Crewman, Lieutenant" Phoenix nodded. She waved to chairs off to the side. There were no chairs in front of her desk. "Please be seated."

The young trill relaxed a bit as the lieutenant nudged him towards the seat at the side.

Phoenix looked at Gary "Captain, when Commanders Taylor and S'hib get here, we have to discuss the investigation they have been working on. Due to your relationship with Commander Taylor, I would understand if you wish not to be here."

Gary's eyes drifted to Lt. Morrison and Crewman Vex before returning to face Phoenix. He gave a humorless chuckle. "My relationship? That is very diplomatic Commodore. Commander Taylor is my wife. Nonetheless, I appreciate your consideration but I'll stay."

"Very well" Phoenix replied but she had a feeling that he may change his mind later.

With her eye's on a PaDD, Lia made her way to the ready room. As the doors opened she took notice of the assembled people, with a dip of the head she spoke. "Commodore, Captain." Then with a look of pure hate she simply said, "Crewman." Turning to sit down Lia glanced towards the Lieutenant, "Lieutenant Morrison." Her mind now began to work out why she was here, *Judge, jury and executioner. S'hib we're toast with this lot.* Lia had been here before, and as such she didn't hold out much hope for any justice.

Noticing the look Aurelia have the Crewman, Serenity, stepped between them. She crossed her arms and looked at her former chief.

"Have a seat Commander Taylor" Phoenix said calmly pointing to two chairs on the other side of the room, opposite the Crewman.

A quick glance at the chairs and Lia nodded, "Thank you Commodore, I'm fully conversant on these kind of meetings."

Then after another awkward moment of silence, the door opened once more to reveal Lt Commander S'hib. "My apologies if I am late Commodore, I was asked to assist with repairs on Deck twenty six..." He confessed as he ducked low under the door.

"They're a bit short on anti-grav sleds down there... and torpedos are heavy." He added while taking a quick moment to straighten his uniform, its security yellow-mired by dirt and grease.

Phoenix nodded. “Very well Commander, please have a seat beside Commander Taylor over there” She waved to the chair that was obviously meant for him.

He said nothing else, finally reading the room before nodding and quietly moving to sit down.

Then Phoenix moved so that everyone could see her. “I have called you all here, because it has come to my attention that due process was not followed in the course of your investigation of the attack on Ensign Derani. “ She turned to face Commander Taylor and Lieutenant Commander S’hib. “A crewman who was being questioned, asked for a JAG officer, this was not provided, and that same crewmember went into the questioning hale and whole and came out needing medical attention.” Phoenix’s face was set. “I have contacted Lieutenant Triannath as she is the onboard JAG Lead, and she confirmed that her team received no such request from either of you during the investigation. Now do not get me wrong, I am just as angry as everyone else about the attack on our chief of flight control but I expected officers under my command to follow due process. Now you both have a chance to explain why it was not followed, before we take this to a tribunal.”

"Of course, Commodore... I will try." S'hib said as he patted a hand on Lia's leg to let him talk. "The investigation, into whom attacked Miraj has been hard... you see it became apparent early on that everyone involved, everyone in Miraj's department... present company as well despises her... and they don't hide, even from her."

He paused for a moment, finding his eyes staring daggers at the man across the room from him.

"They have nicknames for her, derogatory names... names I asked them not to use." He swallowed, finding it hard to keep his eyes on Commodore Lalor.

"While she lay, in a coma... fighting for her life, he refused to give her any respect and I snapped."

He sat up at this, looking Lalor dead in her eyes. "I broke his nose and I do not regret it... but I will accept the punishment for it, gladly so."

Gary's expression was unreadable, but his eyes were pained as they fell on Lia before he addressed S'hib. "Commander S'hib, I sympathize with how hard this investigation has been for Commander Taylor and especially yourself as you and Ensign Derani are close friends. I can also understand your frustration in dealing with the attitude of the officers and crew in the Flight Control Department, who have no respect for their chief... However, I don't understand how you both, who are such sticklers for protocol failed in this instance." Gary paused for a moment, collecting his thoughts and then continued. "Tell me, Commander, did you interview everyone in the department?"

"Because It was more than personal... Captain, Miraj is not just a friend, I consider Miraj part of my herd." He said in his native tongue while lifting a hand to point at his mane. "This is her hair, I wear... just like my Naxea."

"You wouldn't understand because you are not Sequus... but you are married, so you are not ignorant of the torrent of emotions a heart can whip up."

He looked away for a moment, catching sight of Lalor before looking down at the floor. He was tired, tired of being sad.

"But to answer your question, no..." He spoke once more, leaning back into the universal translator. "We didn't have time to interview the whole department on a personal basis... though we did get hold of many written statements, witness testimonies and reports."

Gary nodded, was quiet for a moment before continuing. "You are right Mr. S'hib, I am not Sequus but you are wrong in saying I wouldn't understand. I know full well what emotions can be stirred up by a loving heart. These written statements on general consensus, what did they say?"

Phoenix stood silent listening. She looked at Lia wondering what she had to say.

Having listened to S'hib, Lia thought hard before talking. "The events leading up to the attack on our Pilot, are still somewhat confusing. But the attack it's self was brutal and pre-planned, my department was overstretched and undermanned. Added to the mix was time, this vessel was marooned millions of light years away from Starfleet and the Federation. But repairs to it meant I would loose vital evidence if I kept to traditional methods, I refer to the shuttle bay.

I undertook the investigation along with the Commander, I wasn't fully aware of his relationship with Derani to begin with. But once we got our three main suspects, it became very clear." She stopped and looked around, "When questioning a suspect, a routine is adopted. In the old days it was called "Good Cop, Bad Cop", Mr. S'hib instantly became the "Bad Cop". So I adopted the "Good Cop" role, and allowed my 2i/c to fully express himself." She pointed to Vex, "He did indeed ask for JAG, but if you read my report You will find he wasn't refused a JAG. When he stated he wanted JAG I replied he could have one, I would personally go and find one then return with said JAG. But I also reminded him that during that time both he and S'hib would be alone, a common scare tactic used to disorientate suspects." Lia now turned to Phoenix, "He did not repeat his request, in fact he then became silent. I took this to mean he no longer wanted a JAG to be present."

Commander Taylor now glanced at S'hib, then back at the presiding Officers. "I didn't want another Officer male or female to undergo what Derani had underwent, and my instincts lead me to believe the perpetrator may indeed strike again. Evidence both on the ship and on the planet needed to be collected, checked and filed. Which it was!" Lia looked down for a moment to check herself and regain her train of thought, "I also knew that as soon as this ship was able to move, it would do so possibly loosing me vital evidence. So kid gloves were not an option, if anyone was at fault here. It was me, I wanted the coward who attacked Derani and I wanted him as soon as possible. Any disciplinary actions resulting from this investigation, should be aimed at me not S'hib."

Serenity spoke up. "Once someone asks for a JAG you should have stopped the questioning and you should have sent your assistant away Commander Taylor. Assaulting someone is not appropriate nor legal as you both know. It is not the crewmans fault that you chose to ignore his rights Commander Taylor. Commodore, a tribunal would give us more of the same. Blaming the crewman who asserted his rights to a JAG then stopped talking as per his rights until legal representation was provided. "

She crossed her arms and looked at the security chief and assistant chief "Were we in the Alpha Quadrant you both would be in the stockade for your actions. Ignoring the rights of a Federation citizen no matter what the circumstances is illegal. And no one should need to explain this to the chief of security of a Federation starship and her assistant chief."

Gary had been silent as Lia told her story, gave her reasons. Now he spoke again. "Commander Taylor." He stopped and started again, "Lia, all your explanations and your reasons and they are reasons not excuses don't mean a thing once Crewman Vex asked for JAG. They go right out the window. When he asked at that point the questioning was to have stopped and it did not. It in fact continued. You and S'hib both know better."

“Do we? do any of us here really know better? or are we just all pretending Sir? because I’ve seen a lot since coming aboard, things they never trained me for at the academy, things I wish id never seen or experienced… but i always felt safe, here. Felt like I had a home, had a herd… but I was wrong, there is no herd here…”

It was then his sombre voice cracked, raising an octave as he pointed across the room. “he and that whole department are proof of that!” he continued, muttering to himself in native Sequus.

Gary stared hard at S'hib. "You are wrong. Lieutenant Commander S'hib. Terribly wrong. We are a family, a herd if you will. Are we perfect? Not by a longshot but we look after each other, protect each other, even those who may not warrant or deserve it. It is what gives us strength to persevere, to get up in the morning even when we're dead tired and don't think we can go on."

S’hib shook his head as looked down, jaded and disappointed before looking back up sharply. He paused for a moment, staring at Gary as he grabbed his uniform, comm badge and all in his cloven fist.

“This, this is supposed to mean something.” He spat, shaking his uniform. “it's supposed to represent something! yet he and a sickening number of this family who wear it, have been silently celebrating the fact Miraj is currently laying in a runabout on life support!” He was yelling now, his large equine throat filling the room.

“So don't tell me i'm wrong, Captain… just because you don’t want to swallow the bitter taste of this fact!”

Gary moved with a swiftness none had ever seen and in a second he was in front of S'hib. His eye hard and his voice as hard and cold as ice. "You are wrong Mr. S'hib. Just because a few have shown to be less than stellar examples of Starfleet Officers. You wish to condemn the entire crew and use the worst example you can find. What of all the good the crew has? According to you that doesn't matter. You cannot see the forest for the trees! I understand Miraj is your friend. She is my friend, the Commodore's friend, Lia's friend. Get the picture?! You don't have a sole claim on anger here but I'm not condemning the entire crew and saying they and the principles they are to protect are worthless!" Gary's voice was raised as he finished.

S’hib stood up, towering over his superior whether he wanted to or not. “Where were you for me then?! Where were any of you if you’re all so damn good!”

He was trembling, a mixture of bitterness, anger and depression swelling to the surface. “I hadn’t even washed the blood off my damned hands and I was tasked with this investigation!” He continued, bellowing with clenched fists at his side, resisting the urge to head for the door.

“An investigation I should never have been on! an investigation you should have pulled me from, but you didn’t! you didn't even ask if i was ok, which for the record! I’m not!”

Phoenix stepped between Gary and S'hib. Maybe it was the knowledge that S'hib would never hurt her, but she didn't flinch as S'hib yelled. She reached behind herself and pushed Gary back gently. "Commander S'hib, stand down," she said calmly. She trusted the fact that her rank and position within the 'herd' as Matriarch would give him pause. "Stand down." She repeated "And I understand your pain. We all carry it." She glanced at Serenity who gave a half shrug "You are stood down until counseling clears you." she added calmly.

He stood there for a moment, frozen in place with just his eyes moving to meet Lalor's. He just wanted to leave, an overpowering urge to run away and find somewhere to sleep. Nobody could stop him if he did.

But he didn't. He just stared at Lalor until an uncomfortable sensation rose in his chest and throat and suddenly he remembered he had to breathe.

He shuddered in a breath of air and then nodded, slowly. Before finally sitting back down, his eyes falling to the floor where they remained, not wanting to see the faces staring at him.

Gary stared HARD at S'hib but remained silent as Phoenix stepped between them. S'hib was wrong in thinking no one felt like he did about Miraj, They all felt terrible about the attack the young pilot suffered. As for the rest of what S'hib said, it was wrong as well but rehashing it would serve no purpose.

As the back and forth between Gary and S'hib continued, Lia reached up to her collar. Slowly she removed her rank, holding them in a cupped hand she stood up. Her hand opened and the studs fell to the floor, scattering around her feet. She held out the PaDD she had been reading to Gary, on it was four service records. The three main suspects and her own, it showed that the three had been in and out if trouble since day one of their service. Lia's although far from perfect, showed a marked improvement over her service. "I resign, here and now. If you wish to continue to question me, I will be in the brig." She walked slowly to the door stopping next to Vex, "You may have bagged a Commander, but I would watch your back if you go after S'hib." Then she left the room heading for the Brig, she remained upright and proud. She had done her duty, she had the perp who harmed one of her friends. Now as her career lay in ruins, she would look to leave the ship as soon as possible.

Phoenix watched her go and hit her comm. "Security please escort Commander Taylor to the brig. She is to remain there until further notice." She wondered dimly why it was Aurelia's habit to go what humans called scorched earth.

Security acknowledged and then Phoenix turned to Serenity and said "Anything?"

"Commodore it is clear to me that the consequences need to be firm and immediate. For both parties. And that veiled threat to the crewman was well out of line by the Commander. " Serenity replied.

"And it will be delt with." Phoenix replied.

She turned to S'hib. "Lieutenant Commander S'hib, as you have confirmed what has happened, your punishment is thus. You are hereby confined to quarters for 7 days unless you are in counselling. You will then be confined to quarters while not on duty for a month. You are removed from the position of Assistant Chief of Security for 3 months, and you will undergo mandatory counselling for 6 months. You get your choice of counselor. Your contact wil Commander Aurelia Taylor will be monitored for 12 months. And you are to contact the onboard academy and undertake courses around the legal proceedings and procedures. "

S’hib let out a pained and involuntary sigh before finally lifting his head and blinking Commodore Phoenix into focus. “Understood Commodore, I’ll uh, I’ll write up some handovers to the rest of the department before I hand in my equipment.”

Nodding Phoenix turned to the crewman and stepped up to him. "Crewman, it is clear to me that the Flight Control Department has major issues, and it seems to have been allowed to fester without mine or Captain Taylors knowledge. That stops now. Captain Taylor and Commander Reece will both be assigned to do a comprehensive review of the department and i suspect crew transfers will be apart of it. Commander Taylor will be punished for her part in denying you your rights of that you can be assured. "

"Thank you ma'am," The young trill still seemed nervous and he wasn't looking at either of the security officer.

As she was escorted to the Brig, Lia thought about what had just happened. She had finally reached her limit with the Command Staff, how could they take the word of a trouble maker over someone like S'hib or even herself? Vex and his cohorts would take this victory and run with it, and Lia could see more trouble ahead with the way things were going.

Phoenix dismissed the Crewman and his superior. Once alone with Gary and Serenity, she took a breath. "Let us work out what is to be done."

OFF