Interrogation

Posted on Fri Nov 4th, 2022 @ 2:02pm by Captain Xavier Carey & Commander Antonia 'Tony" Stoffels & Lieutenant Commander Diane Doctrine & Lieutenant Commander Aalis Rinne

Mission: Traitor amongst us?
Location: Security

Wagnor, in the room next to the interview room watched Sargent Drew on the monitor. He was waiting for Commander Doctrine, he'd asked her to handle the Interrogation. This was one part of the security job that he honestly hated.

Diane walked in wearing her Intel department uniform. She usually wore the command reds as a way to mix in with the rest of the crew. The intel uniform was completely black with the exception of her rank pips. Her hair, which typically hung loosely around her shoulders was pulled back into a tight bun. One look told anyone that saw her she meant business. She stood straight enough to be mistaken for a marine. “Commander Wagnor,” she said without her usual smile. “I’m here to help,” only now did the merest hint of a smile show on her lips.

"I'm glad you're here," Wagnor said. "The less I have to do with the sergeant from this point on the better, I have some history with this man."

“No one likes to… interrogate,” she replied with head slightly tilting, “It’s an unfortunate duty.” She took a couple of steps to the observation monitor and watched the person on the screen a moment, “What can you tell me about this person so far?”

"The sergeant and I have a well documented history of hostility," Soran handed her a PADD. “He was caught manipulating Lt. London into signing this. The boy's grandfather says he doesn't know anything about it. Lt. Jensen believes him."

“Violence won’t be a problem for me.” Diane’s mouth became a thin, straight line across her face as she turned the PADD on and studied the contents in silence for a moment. “I’m going to have to take this to the lab for a closer analysis.” She looked back to Soran, “I’ve heard I’ll interviewing a number of people today. When do we get started?”

"Do what you think is best," He gave her a searching look. "I'm going to hand over situation with the Sergeant to you and Lt. Rinne. As I've said I have a history with this man so I want things to be done right."

Diane noticed his quizzical expression, "Don't worry Soran, I won't hurt anyone. It's a well known and proven fact that physical torture doesn't get results."

Aalis had impeccable timing and walked through the door as her Chief mentioned that the commander and herself were going to be left in charge. She nodded when he spoke her name. "Always best to remove oneself when potential or actual bias is present. I'll follow your lead, Commander."

"You picked a good one to fill in for you, Soran," Diane said, "I will share all the results with you." Then to Lieutenant Rinne, "What do you know about interrogations so far?"

"I was more on the enforcer side of Security. Observation and threat reduction. What work I have in interrogation was from the Academy days," she commented. While she had always been kind of interested in Intelligence and have had worked with them while she was at the diplomatic complex on Earth, she really never did interrogations nor was she super interested in them. However, she did like figuring out why people do what they do and so she always liked watching them. "I've watched a handful over the years only because I like to see how people tick the way they do."

Diane allowed a small smile on her lips. Commander Wagnor did put some thought into who was working with her. "Excellent. What I need at the moment is an observer. The people I'll be talking to won't be restrained. Don't worry, I can handle myself if they try anything stupid. I want them unrestrained so I can give them a false sense of security. It'll be different with the Klingon prisoners but for these first three, unrestrained will be fine. I'll also be wearing an earbud. If you see anything, or can think of a question that I haven't, let me know. Sound good?"

Nodding, Aalis moved over to the window that overlooked the interrogation room that they had, and touched the key on the LCARs to activate the communications. After a nod from Diane concurring that it worked, she let go. "Sounds like a plan to me. Ready whenever you are. Are you going to remain for the interrogation, Sir?" she asked to Wagnor.

Soran shook his head, "No it's bad enough that I've had to handle him this far. I'll leave this to the two of you, I'll return to aid with the Klingon interrogations.

Diane looked to Aalis, "Looks like it's you and me for now."

Sargeant Drew sat in the interview room he shifted uneasily in the chair, he was waiting for that arrogant augmented prick to show his smug face.

Diane entered the room a PADD on the table out of Drew’s reach. She did not sit. Instead she paced slowly around Drew and the table he was seated at with her hands folded behind her back. “How are we doing today Drew?”

"Gunnery Sergeant, Franklin Edward Drew 068034-778230." Drew shouted defiantly.

“Ooh my,” Diane replied softly, “Shouting isn’t necessary, I can hear fine.”

The Sargent's eyes flashed with anger, "Where’s the fucking genetic freak! Guess he doesn't have the balls to face me like man, so he's sent some errant girl instead."

Diane stopped pacing and stood right in front of Drew. She rolled her eyes, “OH here we go with the childish insults now. Blah, blah, blah. I honestly don’t see why you’re so upset about having to answer a few questions. You're the one that needs a set of balls.”

"I have nothing to the say to you." He growled.

Diane laughed heartily, "Oh, I think you have quite a bit to say," she began her pacing in a circle around the table and chair Drew was seated at. "I'm not your enemy here, you know, I'm trying to help. All you have to do is answer a few questions and we'll let you go. Is it really that difficult?"

Taking the information that the Gunnery Sergeant was kind enough to yell, Aalis pulled up his record getting the data to have on hand in case she needed to provide any additional information to the commander. She started reviewing the file to see if anything jumped out between the lines.

"I have nothing to say to you," Drew smirked.

Diane took the seat across the table from Drew. She folded her arms and crossed her legs. She smirked as well and said, "I can do this all day." She simply stared back at him as if daring him to look at something else.

"You think I can't?"

Diane rolled her eyes. She was patiently waiting for some information from Aalis. Then she put one elbow on her knee and supported her chin with a fist. She spoke in a calm, measured tone, in a most totally unexcited way asked, "What exactly is it Gunnery Sergeant, Franklin Edward Drew, Starfleet registration number 068034-778230, that you're so afraid of that you won't answer a few simple questions, hmm?"

“Why are we even here? I didn't do anything wrong?” Drew barked.

Diane leaned forward and spoke quietly but more forcefully than before, “Tell me Gunnery Sergeant, Franklin Edward Drew, Starfleet registration number 068034 778230, what you were doing when the Sickbay security feed showed you trying to get a thumbprint from an unconscious man on a document that would have committed, said unconscious man, to a mental institution.”


******
Xavier walked into the room behind the glass. "Anything?"

"No he’s still trying to play mind games," Wagnor sighed. "Doctrine has it under control, Sir."

Soran didn't make eye contact he really hated interrogations.

Turning. "Doesn't take a telepath to know that the cold hearted killer that’s been my chief security isn’t as cold hearted as I’ve have been told." He stared out to the interrogation that was in progress.

"I'm cold when I need to be, but it has a price Sir." Soran said quietly.

Turning. "I am hoping, with you and Tony being together, we can warm you up. No one needs to be cold."

Soran turned to the glass, "I don't know who's pulling the strings. I'm doubting their intelligence choosing Drew it's true for the errand boy."

"If it is true what the general thinks... then it might take a while. I have at least one contact I can call... and have him look into it." His tone was indicative that he would know exactly who it was.

"Tell your contract that Vogel is wondering if hes heard from Albatross" Soran's face was neutral.

"I will put in a call." Xavier replied as he turned. "Anything more?"!

"No Sir, thank you." Wagnor nodded.

Nodding. "Will do Commander." He replied as he turned to the door.

******

Drew slammed his hands on the table, "Are you sure that footage hasn't been altered?! Wagnor has had it in for me for years!"

To Diane’s credit she didn’t flinch at the outburst. She didn’t move a single centimeter. She simply looked back at the Sergeant and replied, “I can assure you, Gunnery Sergeant, Franklin, Edward, Drew, Starfleet registration number 068034 778230, that the Resolution’s security chief is absolutely irrelevant in this matter. Now, tell me what was going on in that sickbay ward.”

"I went in there to deliver a letter no more no less," Drew said.

“Then why are you seen trying to get Nick’s thumbprint on it?” Diane rifled back with her tone still calm.

"I was just holding the PADD, I don't know what the boy did with his thumb," Drew smirked.

"He was unconcsious, he was doing nothing with his thumb," Diane said calmly, "You are clearly seen on the security footage trying to get his thumbprint on the PADD. I'd like an explanation... or would you rather explain it at your court martial for falsifying records?"

"I didn't falsify anything," Drew said.

Diane reached up with one hand and snapped her fingers with a such a loud report it echoed magnificently in the small room. That was the signal to those watching to play the security footage. Diane stepped out of the way so Drew could see the screen with no obstruction on the wall opposite of where he sat.

The screen showed the following...

===Nick's Sickbay Isolation Room===

Drew entered Nick's room, he told the guard he was a friend of the family. He nudged the boy awake

"Hey kid, don't worry." Drew whispered. "Your grandfather is sending a ship for you. I just need your thumbprint."

He gently got ahold of Nick's hand and brought it to the PADD.

Nick had been dozing thanks to the medication and was only slowly coming awake now. "What..." His head felt like it was stuffed with cotton balls and he could not really make out what the man was saying.
=====

That's where Diane paused the playback. “Explain this Gunnery Sergeant, Franklin, Edward, Drew, Starfleet registration number 068034 778230.”

Drew looked at screen and signed, "I was followed orders and I don't have to explain them to you."

Diane leaned in close and spoke quietly, "I'm tell you, Gunnery Sergeant, Franklin, Edward, Drew, Starfleet registration number 068034 778230, if you ever, in the rest of your God given life, want to see another living person besides me again you will explain them to me..." She sat back in her chair, "otherwise, you may..." she shrugged like it was nothing, "just disappear... and no one in the known universe will see hide nor hair of you until the heat death of all creation." She leaned in a little closer now, "And if you don't think I can make good on that promise then you have absolutely no concept of what I'm capable of."

"Look I received an encrypted message with orders to do what I did, the command code checked out." Drew said. "I don't know who gave them, only that they had the clearance."

"You mean to tell me, Gunnery Sergeant Franklin Edward Drew, Starfleet registration number 068034 778230, that your allegiances lie with someone you don't even know, and you take orders from this mysterious person, and that they want you to trick a fellow marine into committing himself to some mental institution?" Diane folded her arms, "The Starfleet Marine Corps is much more professional than that. I don't think you're telling me everything you know."

"Bring me up on any charges you like," Drew said. "I will say no more."

"Moxley can't help you here you know," Diane chided, "Your fate is up to Captain Carey and I." It was a calculated risk mentioned the retired marine but it just might provoke a reaction.

The code came from the Marshall's office," Drew said "Who do you think sent it?"

Diane sighed, "I can see you wish to be difficult. That's fine. I'll happily put you back in the brig." She stood to leave wondering if that would elicit a reaction.