The One After Questioning The Klingons

Posted on Tue Nov 8th, 2022 @ 8:48pm by Lieutenant Commander Diane Doctrine

Mission: Traitor amongst us?
Location: Wagnor’s Office
Timeline: Current

Wagnor went straight to his office, Aalis had taken care of the prisoners. He needed a few moments to compose himself before dealing with Doctrine. He retrieved a bottle his hands shook as he poured himself a drink.

Of course that’s when the door chime went off. Diane was upset at the way Soran ordered her to his office because first of all they were equal in rank, second of all Diane was a step higher as second officer, and thirdly because it was in front of subordinates. She didn’t care how she was spoken to in private, but his growling, angry, impolite tone in front of others was not tolerable in her estimation. She waited impatiently to be admitted.

"Come," He said as he downed his shot. "Thank you for coming Commander."

Soran was well aware that her appearance in his office was a courtesy.

She stood against the back wall next to the entrance and folded her arms across her chest. “You are welcome,” she replied civilly but not necessarily in her normal friendly tone.

"I apologize for my manner back there," He sat down and motioned to the seat across from him. "Please sit down."

Diane walked slowly but purposefully to the chair on the other side and sat. "I've noticed since this whole thing with the Klingon prisoners started you've been... shall we say, a little tense."

"You could say that yes," Soran said quietly. "Atrocities are atrocities whether you use a holodeck or not. The Federation is better than that, or so I've been told."

"Perhaps, but I will also remind you that the most pacifistic person on the ship agreed to that. We were only trying to scare them and it looks like it worked," Diane defended her position quietly, "No one was actually hurt in the gaining of that information. We already know what those Klingons were willing to do. You've seen the reports on Nick and Tasin's condition."

"Of I have, I'm the one who retrieved those boys and got hit with a painstick for my trouble." He paused and looked towards the bottle on edge of the desk before turning his attention back to Doctrine.

"Atrocities will never be justification for committing atrocities in my view," The Angosian swallowed hard. "I understand now why you didn't let me in on your full plan. You wanted my genuine reaction, that's a gamble I probably would have taken myself. Know this; I put my life on the line and watched hundreds die to stop a people who committed the atrocity I just witnessed on that fucking holodeck. That's not what I've signed up for."

"Then the next time we have to do this I'll make sure you have the full disclosure... or you can opt out all together. The choice will be yours." Diane noticed Soran eyeing the bottle. "Enjoy your drink," she stood to leave and made her way to the door.

"Where are my manners, would you like a drink?" Soran asked. "It's Aldebaran whiskey, I've been told that people who drink alone are prone to alcoholism."

One side of Diane’s mouth turned up a degree. “Trying to make up for your rudeness on the holodeck?” She asked with a hint of mirth, “AND drinking on duty no less?”

"Guilty on both counts," he grinned. "In my defense with my unique biology it takes a lot more than a shot or two to be a problem. I've drunk Klingons under the table."

Diane grinned back, “We’ll, I don’t have that constitution. Drinking Klingons under the table is no easy feat. Thank you but I’m still on duty, perhaps another time.” She paused before taking her leave. “It seems the Talsion War had a profound effect on you.” Anyone that knew her would recognize she shifted into information gathering mode.

I've found it's hard for most Federation citizens to understand what war really really is." Soran put the bottle away, "I was sixteen when I joined the Defense school, I had no family except my comrades."

“Were you a Sentinel, like Thatha?” Diane remembered the name from their last discussion. At one point, she looked it up in the Starfleet Intelligence database only out of curiosity. The data on the Sentinels was quite an interesting read. They were the Angosian Special Forces, not so much on their actual missions though.

"Yes," Soran started at the sound of Thatha’s name, but then remembered he mentioned her in a conversation a while ago.

"We served together," the Angosian said. "I guess you looked into her. I've often wondered how much the info my people shared with the Federation."

“Not much to be truthful,” Diane answered, “But enough history for us to understand the hows, whats, wheres, whens, and whys of the various conflicts… and even less about the Sentinels. All the rest is speculation and what we’ve heard from other governments about the… shall we say, unsavory work your special forces were involved with.” Diane thought a moment and added, “Is that the explanation for your reaction on the holodeck earlier? Hit a little too close to home I suspect?”

"Talsion Union resorted to tactics that my people's government used to justify some rather brutal tactics. I didn't take part in those, but I didn't stop them either." He looked at the floor. "I was captured and I saw several young prisoners thrown out of an airlock. I did what had to do to escape, the ship that escaped from was reported as lost with all crew."

Diane paused before saying anything. "Had I known all that I'd not have asked you to participate. It's obviously hit you harder. I may owe you an apology as well."

"I accept your apology," Soran said. "You couldn't have known, we'll have to share a drink when we're off duty sometime.

He paused for a moment, "When I escaped I went as from the my people as I could. I was never debriefed and there a lot things I've wondered about. I'll never go back, but I'd like some answers. I don't know how much I can find or find you'd be allowed to look into it, but I'd be grateful if you could help."

Diane tilted her head a degree, "I can take a poke around," she answered slowly, "Is there anything in particular I should focus on?"

"Look for information surrounding the conflict on Roth III, particularly treaty violations." He paused, and slid a PADD to Doctrine "Any information on these people would be helpful. the Angosians are in the process of joining the Federation, so they're releasing more of their archives. I can't poke around there without raising some unwanted attention. The last name on the list is purely personal."

Diane took a cursory look at the list on the PADD’s screen. The last name on the list was familiar and in her estimation familiar to Commander Wagnor as well. Crom Wagnor.

Her eyes went from the PADD to Soran, “A relative of yours?” Diane asked hefting the PADD in her left hand.

"Yes, my brother." He explained. "The family that adopted him was unaware of my existence, we met when we were teenagers. He joined the military but he wasn't in the Sentinels, he was marked as MIA. Maybe they found him."

Diane nodded in understanding. Her anger at the manner in which Soran called her to his office on the holodeck had dissipated after his apology. Now she knew the reason for the apology, he needed someone with her resources to track someone down. “All right then. I’ll do the digging and see what we uncover. One quick question, do you know of any aliases he might have used or could be using?”

"I am honestly sorry about the way I spoke to you earlier. You handled that better than I would have." He looked her in the eye. "As far as aliases go Dav Zayner has an odd sense of humor. If he wants to be found he'll be using my surname or the name Othlin."

She added a couple of notes to the PADD. “I accept your apology. I know you won’t let it happen again…” her mouth hinted at a smile once more, “…at least not in front of our crew mates.”

"I'll do better, thank you Diane." He smiled. "I'd appreciate it if you didn't mention the bottle to Tony she's worries about me enough as it is."

“So long as it doesn’t interfere with your duties I’ll keep it to myself,” Diane answered with a hint of slyness in her tone. Standing to leave she waved the PADD, “I’ll be in touch when I find something.”

OFF