Suspicions

Posted on Wed Nov 24th, 2010 @ 7:31am by Commander Dietrich Reinhart & Captain Alexander Gunning & Chief Warrant Officer Daniel Maddux

Mission: Ten Little Diplomats
Location: Commanding Officer's Office [Ops]
Timeline: MD02 2100

[ON]

The Captain stood, staring at the three men standing before him. The time had come to involve his first officer in this and he knew that what he was about to hear would be almost unbelievable to his ears. Luckily, he was bound to have read the initial reports by now. Tieran and Maddux, by the looks on their faces, had a look of permanent surprise now etched on their faces.

"Look, I think you know why you're here." Gunning began. "More to the point, I think you know why you're here without the doctor. We've now lost three ambassadors on our watch and the Cardassians are starting to think that we might be behind it. I have my orders to find out who's responsible for this regardless of the cost. You understand my meaning?"

He paused, looking out the viewing port. "Could Melissa Daniels be behind all of this?"

"We cannot rule out anyone, as a rule," Davik stated simply as if he were quoting something. "Melissa Daniels isn't hiding anything. She is ashamed of her past but she recognizes it will assist us. That is all I can observe so far. Until we have reasonable and justified cause to do anything other than observe, that is all anyone is going to do. Suspicion isn't enough to hold anyone."

"But it's enough to watch anyone," chimed in Maddux. "Broken Spears are artful killers, yes, but they also can NOT be trusted. Intelligence tried to control them and failed. They are a loose end that no one wants to talk about."

"As far as I remember," Davik said with a slight smile, "Observe and watch have very similar meanings in Federation Standard."

Dietrich had only spoken to the Doctor once about her past. She was quite open about her experiences during the Dominion War, and her thoughts about her actions. The First Officer's mind traced through the events of the past day, and around Miss Daniel's comments to him. I did what I felt necessary. I am a Doctor now to make up for the deeds I did during the war. It was not a long conversation. In fact, it was a relatively brief one (the length of the surgery Reinhart underwent).

"Captain," the German spoke, "we cannot treat our own department heads like guilty convicts until we have some proof." That went against the very foundation of the Federation's values. Unlawful and unwarranted at best. "But," he offered, realizing that the circumstances at hand and prior evidence and experience did point to a plot involving Dr. Daniels, "I would be inclined to monitor the Doctor."

"Once a Broken Spear, always a Broken Spear," growled the Intelligence chief. "Don't be fooled. The Commander is right to make sure she is monitored. But let this be a warning: Broken Spears can NEVER be trusted. And our erstwhile Doctor can bleat all she wants to about how she has changed and reformed; I don't believe it." Maddux leaned back in his chair and let his opinion rest, deciding to refrain from mentioning the SI secret directive to its agents that any agent who found a rogue Broken Spear was to eliminate that person by any means necessary, and as quietly as possible.

The XO looked directly at the Chief, who's response was not really warranted. "Easy, Chief," Reinhart called before returning his attention to the Commanding Officer. "If you've made the assumption that she's guilty already, Maddux, you might as well be the man to check up on the Broken Spear." He obviously smelled a rat, why would he put a different hound on the trail?

"I agree, Maddux." The Captain said. "We would be remiss in our responsibilities if we didn't at least treat her with a little bit more care than we might have done previously."

"Observation is all we are legally entitled to do at this time, Captain," Davik reminded everyone, quietly cutting through the bickering as a silence fell slightly. He took the opportunity to stand up and brush himself off. "I cannot sanction any more than that. For now, what we should be doing is focusing on Dr. Daniels as an asset to this investigation. She clearly understands the motives and operation of the Broken Spears and it is a valuable source of information. Observation only."

Maddux eyed Tieran. "Let me put it to you bluntly," he said with his customary disregard for rank and protocol, "You can give all the orders you want, but this is fast becoming a Starfleet Intelligence matter, and that's MY jurisdiction. Here's a little secret, free of charge: A Broken Spear is always a Broken Spear. They don't change."

Davik tilted his head. "Dr. Melissa Daniels has free will. Your statements indicate that she could not have free will, because being a Broken Spear is synonymous to being predisposed to constantly remaining a member of that organization. Which would remove any free will from the person joining it. A Human being is someone who values their individuality and independence. A group like Broken Spear would have to forcibly remove that tendency by either conditioning, or through implantation of some kind. Threats, are also another method of doing so. Melissa Daniels does not pose with any of those prerequisites to losing her own individualism. Therefore, it is very possible that she has chosen not to be part of the Broken Spear organization. Just as it is possible for her to be a part of it. Nevertheless, your statements are contrary and bias and beyond the point. Melissa Daniels will be treated like every other Federation citizen until further proof can be obtained. Your opinions are your own. That is the end of the story."

The Chief couldn't help but let a condescending smile cross his face. "Is that little speech what they teach you in your sheltered Academy bubble, Lieutenant? Or is it a function of the fact that you don't have more than a couple of years of experience in this line of work? Sir."

"As I have stated, your opinions are your own." Davik gave the man a sincere smile and sat back in his chair, looking rather nonplussed.

"And blue is blue, and green is green. Spare me the worthless drivel, kid," came the response.

Davik simply shrugged and turned back to the captain. "And the law is the law, Chief Maddux."

"Gentlemen, please." The Captain said. "I want you to be more vigilant to the idea that the Doctor might have something to do with this. I do not want her to be treated like a criminal if we've no proof. Is that understood?"

"Affirmative, Captain." Davik nodded.

The captain took the other two men at their nods and returned to face the viewing ports. The big question still remained. How were they to find a former Romulan Tal'Shiar commander.

[OFF]

Captain Alex Gunning
Commanding Officer

Commander Dietrich Reinhart
Executive Officer

Lieutenant (JG) Davik Tieran
Chief Security Officer

Chief Warrant Officer Daniel Maddux
Chief Intelligence Officer