Looking for Evidence

Posted on Tue May 18th, 2021 @ 11:01pm by Lieutenant Talsi Carey & Lieutenant Commander Diane Doctrine & Lieutenant Commander Tony Johnson

Mission: The Mentarin Effect
Location: Surface
Timeline: Current

Walking up to the two buildings, they were large, 8 story buildings, minimum, "I think we should have brought a bigger team."

Diane had her tricorder out again. "I think we'll be fine. We just need to check out the roof and the top floors." She looked up at the buildings in question, "Are they apartments or businesses?"

"Interior scans indicate plenty of close quarters, it looks to be an apartment complex."

Diane thought about that. "If we can get to the roof easily, we should look around up there. There's a possibility, according to the forensic information I have, the shooter may have used the top floor. However, I wouldn't feel comfortable going into someone's living space without local authorities present."

"No fire escapes," Talsi replied as she looked the building over. "The only way is through."

"Then we go in directly up the stairs," Tony suggested. "A representative from their local police department should be arriving soon. And here he is now."

A small male about in his 20s arrived to the group. "I'm Detective Chesire Newstrom. They assigned to work with you during this investigation."

"Now we can go on." Tal replied as she marched forward to the door. Looking at it, there was a problem. "It looks like I will be guarding the door." She was a good four feet taller than the door.

Diane looked to Tony and then said to Chesire, "We need to get to the roof, and possibly the top floor apartment that faces the complex where our... captain was shot. We're just trying to find out what happened and perhaps gain some clues as to the identity of the shooter."

Chesire nodded and proceeded through the door first.

The Chief Security Officer was the next to enter the building. Wondering through the hall there were several people who liked they squatting in the hall. It was clear that this building housed the impoverished residents of the city.

Diane looked around and felt bad for the people she observed. Surely a planet that sold minerals and other resources would be able to afford a better standard of living for it's residents.

Reaching the top floor, Johnson looked over the right side that had about three apartments. "Guessing it would have to be one of these three apartments."

Chesire walked up to one door and knocked.

"Who is it," a female voice called from inside.

"Detective Newstrom. We're investigated a shooting and we need to come inside."

The door cracked open slightly, which led to Chesire pulling out his badge. This resulted in the woman letting them into her apartment. "You can never be too be sure these days."

Entering the apartment followed by the Starfleet Officer, he pulled out his PADD. "Have you noticed anything suspicious around here?"

"Nothing out of the ordinary."

Tony circled around the apartment, observing anything that may have appeared out of the ordinary. "So you didn't notice anyone that didn't belong in the hallway?"

The woman simply shrugged. "I typically just mind my own business."

Diane decided the sniper didn't use this apartment and most likely used the roof. That would have provided less of a chance at being noticed and made for an easier escape. "Mister Newstrom, I'd like to check out the roof if that's possible. That's the most likely vantage point a sniper would have fired from."

Commander Johnson looked at the window seal that marks or sign of a sniper weapon perched on it. "I agree with the Commander."

"Sorry to bother you,' Chesire apologized. He then lead the group to the roof.

After a few moments Diane came to a conclusion. She snapped her tricorder shut with a disappointing 'clack' and said, "There is nothing out of the ordinary here. I suggest we check out the roof next door. It's the only other vantage point a competent sniper would use unless they somehow picked him off from orbit."

==On The Roof Of The Other Building...==

Diane's mouth hung open in disbelief. Then when the stench of a decomposing body wafted into her nostrils she closed her mouth. Trying to stay professional she opened her tricorder and began to scan. "I can't believe we're the first ones to find this. When was Captain Leonard shot?"

With the second building more accessible, a ladder conveniently up the side of the building, she was able to climb it. "Less than 24 hours ago Commander."

Diane studied the results on her tricorder, "An Orion male. He's been decomposing for about a day, which fits the timeframe when Leonard was shot. Judging from the rifle laying next him I'd have to say he was our sniper." There was something else that didn't sit right with her. That something else was the manner in which this Orion was killed. She didn't want to give it away in front of Newstrom.

She leaned over the dead Orion trying not to breath in and examined a wound on his neck. He'd had his throat slit cleanly. She used her tricorder to capture images of the body and the neck wound. This was some telling evidence but of what, she wasn't quite sure just yet. "Well, the first rule of assassination is kill the assassin," she commented wryly.

"No defensive wounds from what I can tell," Johnson brought up.

Chesire seen the Starfleet officers standing over the body and looked over the wound. "Looks like a wound from a Klingon blade if you ask my opinion."

Tony looked over at Chesire and Diane. "This typically isn't the Klingons way of doing things."

"From what y husband tells me of these... klingons... they would rather die than commit such a dishonourable act. Which means... those who committed this murder is not familiar with the ways of klingon honour."

"Yet were being steered in the direction of blaming the Klingons," Johnson replied.

"You two are making the assumption that all Klingons are honorable," the Detective spoke up. "Looks like an open and shut case to me."

Talshi looked at the others. "I agree, this does look like an open and shut case Detective. Commanders, might I suggest we consider this cased solved." she replied motioning them away from the detective. "Right now, I don't think we should let the detective know anything different. It may cause additional issues."

Tony nodded in agreement. "You make a fair point. Good to keep this ourselves for now for the most part."

"Contact XO tell them we found what we are looking for. I believe the Captain will want to know about this."

The Chief Security Officer tapped his commbadge. "Commander Sandoval, I believe we have found our assassin."