Doing the unthinkable

Posted on Wed Nov 1st, 2023 @ 3:52am by Lieutenant Commander Aurelia Taylor & Chief Warrant Officer Carol Dolton

Mission: Season 6: Episode 3: Far From Home
Location: Security Section/Brig
Timeline: Present
819 words - 1.6 OF Standard Post Measure

ON

Lia had been out for about a week, she'd heard through the grapevine that Miraj was awake. The case still bugged her, she was sure one of the three had done it possibly two of them. Someone had to be keeping watch, making sure the incident wasn't disturbed or found to early. In her hands she held a copy of the Miraj 1 file, a back up in case they hit a wall. The idea was both she and S'hib could come at it from different sides, that wouldn't happen now. Even doing what she was doing could have her back in the brig faster than warp drive, but what bugged her the most was a fact she had overlooked. Imik, the Ojnas that had raised the alarm. Why had she been there? How did she fit in with the events?

Sitting in a cell she scanned the file for something, didn't know what she was looking for but she'd know it when she found it. So deep was Lia into the file she didn't hear Carol Dolton approach, "What you doing in there Commander?"

Taylor jumped slightly and moved to hide the file, "Oh its you Chief, what are you doing?"

Dolton had seen the file and now took a wild guess, "You were told that case had nothing to do with you Commander, now why are you opening yourself up to being arrested for breaking the rules?"

Lia looked non plussed, "What case? This is an old case, I'm just checking it to see if it afforded any clues."

Carol shook her head, "I'm not a bloody cabbage, I know what your doing. I should report this to Commander Reece, tell me why I shouldn't."

Lia knew she'd been busted, "One of those three did it." She pointed to the three names, "Possibly two of them, I want to know who and why. And I'm not involved with the case, I'm doing research into the case totally different."

Dolton placed her hand on her forehead and smiled, "Your splitting hairs Commander, you know it so do I. Now please hand over that file and I'll say I found it in a box somewhere."

Taylor shook her head, "Imik! The Ojnas diplomat, nobody has even spoken to her. She was there, she found Miraj. She may have seen or heard something, don't forget Ojnas are psychic who knows what she might remember."

Carol moved closer to Lia, "Lia, we're friends right? I shouldn't use your name during working hours, but this isn't right and you are playing with fire girl."

Taylor nodded, "Carol, you know what its like to be shackled and held back. Told you can't do something even when you know you can do it better than those who told you not to, nobody has looked at this angle before."

Dolton looked at the file and then back to Lia, "So what's the plan? There's no way in hell that you can talk to the Ojnas, and anyone even thinks your doing this will pin your arse to the wall."

Lia glanced at the file, "But they wouldn't think about you would they?"

Carol looked shocked, "What the bloody hell are you on about? I don't do investigations, I'm a brig Officer this is my domain." She gestured all round her, holding her arms out.

"Exactly! No one would even give you a second glance, you could talk to imik with the questions I give you and get the answers." Lia smiled as she spoke, her mind racing as it formed the questions.

Dolton stepped back, "Now why should I help put you back in here? And probably be next door, makes no ruddy sense to me."

Taylor glanced around, "I'm damned if I do, and damned if I don't. I'm an investigator, and this case is mine to solve." Lia stood up and walked to the cell door, "I'm already in a cell, told I can't do this and I got to go there. I screwed up, perhaps if I can find a crack that nobody else has spotted. It could get me out period! If I screw it up again, then what have I lost? I've been demoted, lost my department and possibly derailed my marriage for good. Short of kicking me off the ship, there's not a lot else they can take away."

Carol now put her arm around Lia's shoulders, "I told you I don't drop a friend when the going gets rough, well like you say. It can't get any rougher, so get your damned question ready and I'll go talk to this bloody alien."

Lia Taylor hugged Dolton back, "Thanks Carol, I'll have them ready by 08:00 tomorrow."

Dolton smiled and began to walk away, "We're going to get caught, you know that right?"

Lia nodded, "Yeah we are, but before that we're gonna crack this case wide open first."

OFF