Truth and Consequences, Part I
Posted on Sat Jul 6th, 2024 @ 10:01am by Colonel Sehan t'Varis & Captain Freya Mannerheim & Subcommander Kaiae t'Lien & Major Ashley Rogers & Lieutenant Hatham tr'Krotash
3,184 words; about a 16 minute read
Mission:
Chapter VII: Into the Storm
Location: Briefing Room, Ourainavassa
Timeline: 238704.31
Two hours had passed since the end of the fight with the Terrans, and Captain Mannerheim was just finishing up her walk through the ship to determine the aftermath. Casualties had been surprisingly low, despite the sudden arrival of the boarding teams, and damage to the ship was minimal thanks to the virus that had disabled I.S.S. Amelia's weapons systems. Some minor internal damage had occurred during the boarding action, but repair teams were already working on the necessary repairs, and the ship was expected to be fully repaired within 24 hours.
Captain Rogers had, for the time being, been placed in the brig, under maximum security, while her fate would be decided on. But before that decision could be made, another matter had to be dealt with first. As she reached the briefing room, Freya tapped her commbadge. "Captain Mannerheim to Subcommander Kaiae, Major Rogers, and Lieutenant Hatham. Please meet me in the briefing room."
From ascertaining status of the ship itself and its personnel to directing damage control efforts and other matters, Kaiae had had exactly zero time to clean up herself, and entered the briefing room still with the typical bedraggled post-battle look; smoke and scorches and other damage to her uniform and spots of blood splatters Romulan and Terran alike from the defense of the bridge from the boarders. She split off a pair of crewmen she'd brought with her at the door, leaving them to flank either side of it as guards, and looked to make a beeline for the head of the table, where the commander would have sat were she still with them; found it already occupied by Freya; and took the next-best seat that would have been the executive officer's.
Hatham arrived, grim-faced - security had of course taken the worst of a boarding action and he had lost good people (some of them possibly the last of their houses if the rescue went wrong). He was in little mood for more uncertainties, and a big one had arrived on their doorstep. That arrival may have hastened Rogers' surrender, but it didn't change the questions about her. His face was a stone mask, but any who knew him would know there was a volcano under the mountain of a Romulan who silently took his seat.
Freya looked at Kaiae and Hatham, and gave a curt nod in greeting. Until Kaiae's arrival, it had not even occurred to her that she had taken the commanding officer's seat - force of habit, most likely. "Thank you for joining me at such short notice," she began. "While we wait for Major Rogers, I have something I want to discuss with the two of you, as I feel the Major will have a bit of a bias in the matter. It is, of course, concerning the guest in the brig. I am not familiar with Romulan discipline, beyond its application to this ship's crew. I know what Terran discipline would require in this situation, but I would like to ask the two of you what you think we should do about her."
"If you mean that damnable double of Rogers; shoot her. As quickly and with as little fanfare as possible. She's too dangerous to play a longer game with, or even a longer execution method." Kaiae said flatly. As for what to do with others we have to debate responses to, I'll give Raven a chance to explain herself, first; but she might end up getting to live with her prior desertion because we just don't have to time to bother at the moment, she appended silently.
Hatham nodded. "Or flood her cell with poison gas. You have to lower the force screen to shoot her. Better not to give her any opportunities." He'd seen both Rogers fight and didn't doubt she might be able to act on even that small opening. Besides, it was he would do if faced with execution by enemies.
The Captain paused for a moment. It seemed to her, that Romulan discipline, in this situation, was pretty much the same as what the Terrans would do - and while she usually detested it, it seemed like the best way forward here. "We'll do it her way. The Terran way," she finally said. "Since Major Rogers is clearly outvoted here. After this meeting concludes, we will head down to the brig, pronounce sentence on her, and, in true Terran fashion, beam her straight from the brig into space."
"That will work. Though, let's make sure in advance that she hasn't somehow tampered with it. I've heard rumors that devices exist that can override and re-route a transporter destination." Whether such rumors were true or not Kaiae was uncertain, but given the nature of the enemy - and some of her potential associates - it only seemed prudent to consider.
Major Ash Rogers has had a hell of time since her Terran counterpart showed up in her universe. The novelty of having a Mirror Universe double had worn out quickly. Ash used to have existential thoughts about the choices she's made in her life and how she had gone from life as a Starfleet officer to serving on a Romulan ship, holding Romulan rank, with her ex fiance working at the ship's chef. But now, she's seen a version of herself that she can't stand. And despite everything, she's pretty damn comfortable serving on a Romulan ship, holding Romulan rank, and even with her ex fiance working as the ship's chef. She rubbed her forehead before walking into the Briefing Room. She knows the conversation that's about to be had. And while she knows that Captain Ashley Rogers is not her... they are still the same person at some level. The actions that other version of her took, the thought processes, the decisions... all are a variation of things that she would probably do as well, if the situation called for it. They're not that different. Ash looked at the door, taking another moment before stepping through, readying herself for the judgment that is being handed out to someone that is her. These are people that she's worked with and have gone to hell and back with... and they all have perfectly valid reasons to hate an Ashley Rogers. While they may not hate her, per se, Major Ashley Rogers can't help but feel that the things that they hate about Captain Ashley Rogers are also inherent traits within her.
Ash walked through the door, "Sorry I'm late." She looked at the faces looking back at her, "It's me, not that other one. What'd I miss?"
The Captain nodded a greeting. "Major, thank you for joining us. We were just discussing what to do about our guest in the brig. Both Subcommander Kaiae and Lieutenant Hatham have made their feelings on the matter quite clear, but I would like to hear your opinion as well."
Ash looked at Kaiae and Hatham, the looks on their faces made it clear what they thought should be done with her counterpart and she sighed. She doesn't blame them at all. "I can only assume you all want to execute her via firing squad and then toss her dead body out of an airlock for additional assurances she's dead?" she asked. "I don't blame you. If the circumstances were different... if the person sitting in the brig right now wasn't me, I'd probably want to do the same. But there's something a little unsettling about voting to kill myself, or at least a version of myself that is only doing her job." Ash paced around the room a bit, "Can we just send her back to her universe?"
This discomfort, Kaiae considered, must be some bizarre Human Thing. "Actually, I recommended against an official proceeding of any sort like a firing squad or other formal execution methods: She's too dangerous to give the chance to escape." She tilted her head slightly, still somewhat mystified by this species in either of its incarnations, and decided a bit of further information would perhaps be of benefit here. "And I would most certainly vote to kill any alternate of myself in a similar position: If you know yourself to be a proper credible threat to your own enemies, and also that your other-self is an enemy to you or your cause and allies, then it is the simply appropriate course of action."
Captain Mannerheim nodded slowly. "Major Rogers, I fully understand your concerns. However, I must remind you that Captain Ashley Rogers may share your name, date of birth, and face, and maybe some character traits, but that is as far as it goes. She is not you. She is a Terran, and as such, an undeniable threat to this vessel, its allies, and its mission. And most crucially, she would not hesitate for a single second were the roles reversed here. Captain Rogers served as my Number One for quite some time, so I have come to know her quite well."
She believes that she is beyond the laws of any of the powers of this universe. She will stop at nothing to capture or destroy this ship, and kill every last person on board. Most of them, she would kill quickly and effectively, but the two of us?" She shook her head. "Captain Ashley Rogers of the Sovereign Terran Empire is a sadistic bitch. We need to deal with her quickly, and decisively. Execution is our only option."
Ash knew they were right. She also knew if the situation was reversed and she was being sentenced to death in any universe, she would do anything and everything in her power to escape. She's gotten herself out of similar situations more than enough times to know that a Terran version of herself is more than capable. She paced around the room and sighed, "You are right... I do know this." She looked at the Romulans in the room and shook her head, "You must think I'm a weak human for even hesitating. I've been in her position, I've been incarcerated in God awful places, I've faced a similar fate that she is now... and I'm still here.... I don't think it matter what I think. If she is who I know she is... good luck trying to kill her. You better do it right the first time. She won't forgive or forget. Trying and failing to kill her is worse than just letting her live. At least if show mercy, she won't be as pissed at us." Ash shrugs, "But what the hell do I know..."
Freya nodded. "You're wrong on one count. If we let her live, she'll see it as weakness. I think venting her into space is the most effective option we have. But we can discuss the how later. For now, we have another matter to discuss."
She pressed her combadge, and a moment later, Raven entered the briefing room. She nodded a greeting, and sat down at the opposite end of the table from the Captain. "Long time no see, everyone," she began. "I'm sure you have questions. But before we get to that, I have a gift for you all." She pulled out a PADD, and slid it across the table towards the Captain. "To you, I've been gone for about two months. For me, it's been two years. Dimensional jump gone wrong. And for the past two years, I've been part of Vulture's operation, gathering as much intel as I could. This PADD contains everything I managed to find out. Bases, ships, personnel, it's all there. Oh, and Vulture wasn't completely lying when she said she was my mother. She's her mirror. The original is dead."
She leaned back in her chair and took a deep breath. "Okay, that's the brief summary. Ask your questions."
Kaiae fought hard the urge to raise an eyebrow high; given her casual attitude and phrasing, either Raven was an excellent actor, or she lacked nearly enough knowledge of Romulan culture and behavior at all to be aware of exactly how much danger she was in at the moment. Either way, despite being the senior of the other pairs of pointed ears at the table, Raven hadn't ever been her commander, and so she passed the initial response to the one whose she had been, flicking her eyes very briefly to meet Hatham's for a split-second.
Questions. Where to start... Though hardly moving a muscle Hatham studied Raven in a way that would have worried a native born Romulan. Everything about Raven's story was too good to be true, and mysteriously returned comrades bearing gifts? That one was practically a Romulan proverb for 'Do Not Trust'. That this person apparently failed to grasp that despite the amount of time Raven had spent with Romulans ought to have been the nail in her coffin. Except that he had served with Raven long enough to know that she seemed impervious to understanding a number of things about the way the Romulan mind worked. Which meant he had no need to be anything but blunt. "First question: what proof do you have that you aren't an imposter or a double agent working for Vulture or the Terrans or the Tal'Shiar?"
"We just debated the fate of my Mirror Universe counterpart... you have to understand that we might be a bit skeptical," Ash said. "We been through a lot together and I want to believe you. But .... prove it."
Raven slowly nodded. "Of course, I wouldn't have expected it any other way. After all, this is a ship full of Romulans. Check the logs on that PADD. And then you tell me how I could have known exactly where Gunnar was captured by the Tal Shiar. I would have done something about it, of course, if mine had been the only ship in the system with a spore drive. Vulture managed to get her hands on blueprints and all that."
Freya chuckled. "Yes, we noticed your ship appearing just as we departed. Of course, that is no proof. You could have been there on behalf of the Tal Shiar, or the Zhat Vash, to take Gunnar to your boss. Sorry, Colonel, but you'll have to do better than that. It's a shame we had to blow Amelia up, the Empire has some very effective tools to ensure that people tell the truth. And I'm not talking about agonisers. Shouldn't there be some Tal Shiar equipment to that effect lying around on this vessel?"
"A whole roomful of it," Hatham remarked matter-of-factly. For once he was sorry the telepath had left the crew. "Though I've always found it suboptimal when there's any sort of time pressure involved. Still," he looked pointedly at Raven, "it would be in your interests to provide more convincing evidence."
Raven sighed. "I think I know what equipment you both are referring to, and I have to agree with Hatham. We don't have the time for that. Plus, I would rather avoid that unpleasantness. Directly verifying some of the information is, of course, also made more difficult by the time constraints. So, Hatham, do you have any suggestions what kind of evidence you want to see?"
'Solid evidence' came to mind, but he knew that was not likely. "Unfortunately,, we no longer have a powerful telepath on the crew. If lie detectors worked on practiced agents, the Tal'Shiar would use those, but they don't." He looked to Kaiae and Freya. "Perhaps we should bring the doctor in to decide if there are any truth serums effective for a hybrid."
The Captain smirked and pulled her Terran tricom badge from her pocket, activating its integrated holo-PADD with a tap. "Luckily, this thing still works. One of the things saved on it is a database of medicines and chemical agents, along with instructions on how to replicate them. Call Doctor Gable, and tell her to bring the Colonel's medical record. Surely there has to be a genetic profile in there?"
Hatham tapped his comm. "Hatham to medbay."
=/\= "What do you need? I'm still working on wounded from that Hu'tegh baQa boarding party." =/\=
"Doctor, we need to determine a truth serum effective for Raven. You have her complete genetic profile?"
=/\= "I do, but I'm a doctor, not some..." =/\= There was a break with semi-intelligible shouts exchanged in the background. =/\= "...baktag Tal'shiar agent. I never studied truth serums." =/\=
It was clear from her voice that requesting the doctor's presence for further consultation was possibly not the best option - at least if they wanted no one, except potentially Raven, to be vivisected. "Just the profile then. We'll have Science evaluate it."
There was a barely muffled order to someone to send the file, interspersed with 'You! Get back in bed!' followed by =/\= "Sent. Gable out." =/\=
The Captain shrugged and tapped her own comm. Moments later, Mila Lynn entered the briefing room. "You called?"
Freya nodded. "Yes, we need you to take a look at this database of chemical agents and medicines, compare it with the Colonel's genetic profile, determine an effective truth drug, and then replicate it." She copied the database onto a conventional PADD, and handed it to Mila.
"Right, okay. Right. Truth serum for Raven." Mila seemed a little taken aback by the request, but finally nodded. "This will take me some time. Give me, say, two hours, and I'll have it ready for you."
"I suppose that's the fastest option we have, unless anyone has any other ideas?," the Captain asked, looking around the room.
"Not really." Kaiae sighed, then given the mixed personnel present, decided it was necessary to blatantly state the obvious again. "She isn't to be alone until then, though, nor is anyone to be alone with her. And if anyone reviews that data - " she motioned to the PADD Raven had brought " - I will personally shoot anyone dumb enough to plug in into our systems while doing so." It was the sort of thing Kaiae wouldn't have thought she'd have to say to anyone over the age of about ten or so; but given how short the timeline was running, even a single mistake could doom them all.
Raven shrugged. "Probably be easiest then if you throw me in the brig, right? Just one request, could I have something to eat before you lock me up?"
The Captain simply nodded. "I agree with her. Captain Rogers is down there, so there's double guard anyway. So, that's what we'll do. Lieutenant Hatham, if you would be so kind as to escort the Captain to the brig. Make sure they replicate some rations for her down there as well, nothing too fancy though. We shall reconvene here in two hours, unless Lieutenant Lynn informs us that it's taken longer to finish the serum."
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