Breaking the news

Posted on Mon Oct 16th, 2023 @ 11:13am by Captain Samuel Woolheater & Crewman Adelaide Kirkby & Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea

Mission: Season 6: Episode 3: Far From Home
Location: Marine CO Office; Marine Country; USS Elysium
Timeline: MD01
1390 words - 2.8 OF Standard Post Measure

[ON:]

Sitting at her desk, Naxea stared at the engineer on her desk monitor's screen. "Look, I need someone to come and take a look at the internal security systems. We're still getting blackouts periodically."

"I understand, Colonel. We'll get someone down there as soon as possible but I can't tell you when that will be as our department is busy with trying to get the rest of the ship in shape."

Naxea let out a sigh. She didn't like not having Marine Country running at one hundred percent. "Understood. Just get on it as soon as possible. Colonel Azhul, out." She pressed the button to close the channel as the monitor returned to the Starfleet Marine logo and slid back down into her desk.

Sam hated delivering bad news. And this was just more bad news. As he walked into the main HQ offices, he nodded to a few of the clerical staff. He made sure to stop by Adelaide's desk. She looked up at him, "Captain Woolheater, how good to see you" she said with a genuine smile. It took a lot of the edge off and Crewman Kirkby always was upbeat. Keeping the professional formality of the marine office he answered, "Crewman Kirkby, the pleasure is all mine. I never really got to say thank you."

"Whatever for?" she asked and rested her chin onher arm and her arm on the desk.

"For all the work you did. For us, for the sixty-second, for the ship, for the crew...for all of us" he answered in a moment that caught her off guard.

She was touched, "Oh? I just wanted to help. When I was a little girl, there was an earthquake in Argentina. The tectonic stabalizers were overloaded and they failed and we had an earthquake. I was so scared. I remember my mom saying to me, 'Look for the people who are helping. And be one of them.' And I guess it kind of stuck."

Sam smiled back, "It was noticed and it is appreciated. You helped out a lot. I meant to tell you much earlier. There just never seemed to be time." She nodded, "Well, thank you. Captain. Is there anything you needed?"

"I need to see the Colonel, if she has a moment?" he answered.

Adele checked the LCARS and looked at Colonel Azhul's day, "Colonel Azhul is on a call right now....but I can let her know you stopped by? Will you be around?"

Sam nodded, "I'll be in the office..." Adelaide interupted, "Oh! She just ended the call. Go ahead."

"Thanks Addy" he said and approached the office door. Adele sent a quick message to let the Colonel know who it was.

Arriving at the door with a PaDD in his hand and pressed the door chime. Hearing the permission to enter, the doors parted and he stepped inside.

Naxea looked up as Woolheater entered her office. "Captain Woolheater. How can I help you?" she asked. It wasn't often the man came to her office unless it was something important unlike Gunnery Sgt. Gami whom she was certain slept on her office couch a few times during late Beta and early Gamma shifts.

"Colonel, sorry to bother you ma'am. Uhhh. I...have some...bad news. It's come to my attention that the weapons...particularly the small arms locker is missing equipment. Two sidearms, 7.77 caseless munitions. One case of plasma grenades and four phaser...power...packs" he said with emphasis as he handed over the PaDD he had brought. It was a shitty hand he had just dealt. But, there it was; now it was out. He stood at more or less parade rest. Her desk was awash in PaDD's and reports. And the couch looked lumpy. Hadn't GSgt. Gami been seen catching a few winks on it during the wee hours? On a few monitors behind her, where there should have been security cameras, there was static on the monitor screens. The others were working.

Naxea looked over the PaDD, not wanting to believe Captain Woolheater's report. The missing weapons, especially the plasma grenades and the power packs could cause alot of damage if someone was trained to do so. Yet she was confused as to why projectile ammunition was missing. That narrowed it down to either Security or Marines with the Marines having the majority of projectile weaponry on board. "Are you certain these weapons and ammunition weren't lost while stuck on the planet?" Naxea finally asked, tossing the PaDD down on her desk. She knew the likely answer to her question, but she had to hope against hope.

"Yes Colonel, we looked into it. Sergeants Ortiz and Weeks looked at it. During our stay on the surface three hand phasers and one phaser rifle were not returned to the HQ armory. However, all those weapons have been accounted for. The rifle and two of the three hand phasers failed due to the extreme cold. The third hand phaser was fully discharged by heating rocks in the cave system of the main camp. No kinetic weapons, other than those brought by XO Taylor and Lieutenant Rin were used on the surface. And I had the TR-116 on my person while on the scouting missions. So, we do not believe that the missing arms were lost on the surface."

"Damn," she cursed under her breath. It made things even worse with Miraj's attacker still free. She was tempted to let Gami loose on the ship to hunt for the bastard--the woman could be absolutely terrifying when she needed to be.

"The other, more important reason we don't believe that any arms were lost at the camp is because, Corporal Griffin, the demolitions sapper, found two rounds fired into the bulkhead of his sleeping quarters in the barracks. Two families with young children and four Gammaraites were housed there after the ship foundered. They were rehoused off deck thirty-two yesterday. I don't believe any of those civillians are responsible for the discharged weapon. A child couldn't pull the hammer and the recoil...well...it just doesn't seem very likely Colonel. With so many people, so many of them civillians and now...with our recent losses. Its possible...the arms lockers were...unattended." He continued, "The data entry is when we discovered the discrepancy. The logs weren't compared until a physical count was done yesterday at 1900. This morning, it was verified. I've ordered all the armories locked down and the weapons replicators and manufacturing bays as a precaution. It's not anyone's fault but mine Colonel. I am the responsible officer. I should have done the inventory and made sure the data was clean when we got back."

Naxea stood from her chair, letting out a long sigh as she did so. She wanted to take her frustrations out on the Captain but that wouldn't be fair. "No, you're not to blame, Captain. But this is a huge security breach. Also, I don't care about those Gammarites, I want them questioned and their belongings scanned for any traces of residue that likely would be left on them or their belongings if they were there when those rounds were fired. Use Gunnery Sergeant Gami if you need to. I will contact Commander Taylor as well since this falls under ship's security."

Sam nodded, "Yes Colonel. Right away with Sergeant Gami. Are you thinking that whoever stole the small arms might have also been responsible for the assault on Ensign Derani?"

"I'm not ruling anything out. If so, then I don't want this attacker to go after Ensign Derani with a phaser and plasma grenades. Keep the Armory locked down. Any issuance of weapons are through my personal approval only."

"Copy that. I'll get right on it Colonel" he said. Once he had been dismissed, Sam turned and left the Colonel's office. He stopped by Adelaide's desk once more, "Get everthing you need Captain?" she asked him as he passed. Sam stopped and leaned in closer to her desk, "Armory and all the weapons lockers and manufacture bays are locked down. We have some missing small arms Addy. In case any of the other PC's ask? They can come to me or Sergeant Gami. I'm going to meet with her and get our gear back."


[OFF:]

Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea

&

Captain Samuel Woolheater