Inquisition

[WadeFKnight 0]

Wade stood outside of the forcefield the enclosed the Juno’s captain, examining a PADD of data collected from the now destroyed ship. Indeed, the more of the information he digested the more the circumstances surrounding the cargo transport’s untimely destruction the more questions seemed to be unanswered.

 

Interrogations was one thing Wade was not accustomed to. There was a good reason why he had chosen the field he had. EPS grids and isolinear chips didn’t lie, or get smart, or do bad things. But given the circumstances, he was probably the most informed on the Juno’s condition before it’s demise. As such he was inherently the most qualified to be a part of the investigation. Nodding to the security officer stationed next to the brig, Wade waited for the forcefield to be lowered and stepped in after him.

 

“Captain Angstrom, is it?” Wade said, looking down at the captain’s name on the PADD. The freighter captain nodded, eyes downcast, focusing on his hands propped up by elbows on knees. “I’m Wade Knight, I was in charge of the engineering team sent to help with incident on your ship.” The captain looked up, quirking a brow.

 

“Engineering? I would have expected someone from security to be questioning me,” the captain asked, leaving an implied question.

 

“Someone from security will be joining us momentarily, I’m sure. I’m just here to get an idea of the technical situation,” Wade replied, facing the captain and holding his PADD under his arm.

 

“Am I being charged with something?” The captain asked, obviously attempting to conceal his concern with a veil of arrogance. The captain sat upright in his bunk, leaning his back against the wall.

 

“We are not here to prosecute you, captain. The federation’s law is not the supreme law of the galaxy, and I am not a lawyer. We’re just looking for the truth,” Wade replied matter-of-factly.

 

“If I’m not being charged how can you hold me here?”

 

Wade looked over the captain, trying not to let his facial expression change. Looking back down at his PADD, he replied cooly, “As I said, I’m not a lawyer.” Clearing his throat, Wade walked across the small holding cell to stand against the far wall. “The shipment of triceron you took on, who authorized it?”

 

“I thought we were going to discuss the technicalities, Mr. Knight?” The captain asked, looking back down to his hands. Wade recognized the captain’s diversion, and took it as it were. The strategy that he and Shamor had discussed before the interrogation began didn’t really require Wade to get any real answers or solid evidence. At least not initially. It was fairly apparent that captain of the Juno was not keen on being cooperative at this point, and it was going to take a little bit more than simple questioning to get the answers they needed.

 

“You’re absolutely right, I apologize,” Wade answered, tucking his PADD back under his arm. “Why don’t you tell me how your ship fell into such ill repair, captain?”

 

“Lack of resources,” the captain replied curtly, not going into any further detail.

 

“I see. I can understand that. I had a friend who worked on a cargo vessel myself. The Prescott. Have you heard of it?” The captain shook his head again in response and Wade nodded. “Can’t see how you would have. Almost had me mucking around in the underdecks of that scowl. I can understand how difficult it is to maintain such a vessel with limited income.” Wade said with an encouraging tone. “That said, it does seem that your chief engineer was no where to be found when the proverbial crap hit the fan.” Again the captain simply nodded. Wade sat back in his chair, heaving a sigh that was meant to sound forlorn. “I assure you that things are going to be much easier, Captain, if you cooperate and answer my questions in as much detail as possible. Wade turned as the sound of an opening door came from behind him and Shamor entered.

 

“Well, here’s your security officer, now. Now the real questions start,” Wade said, nodding to the security officer stationed inside the brig with him to let Shamor in. The Zemun sent Angstrom a glare in which most cases meant that he would be in the deepest of trouble if things didn’t go as intended.

 

“Trying to be scary, too bad it doesn’t scare me” the captain said snidely.

 

“If I were to scare you, there’d be a mess to clean up off the floor. I’m to assume that you’ve been less than cooperative in this session.” The captain simply scoffed at Shamor. “In the event you’re wondering why you’re detained here rather in a normal room I will tell you. Your ship had the equivalent of a 6000 gigaton warhead with all that Triceron on board. If the cargo went critical and detonated in a populated area the damage would be severe. This brings forth an interesting question,” Shamor paused, slamming a PADD on a bench making Wade jump slightly. “Why the hell would you do something so stupid!?”

 

Angstrom thought for a moment, estimating the seriousness of Shamor’s bravado before fixing his eyes on Jon and speaking through gritted teeth. “If you’re not going to charge me I suggest you let me leave right now.”

 

Taking a deep breath, Jon picked up the PADD, still miraculously working after its earlier treatment, and began reading off the list of charges. “Careful on what you wish for, you just might get it.” Picking up the PADD he begins to read off the list of charges. “Hauling hazardous cargo with an expired license. Evading designated security checkpoints and patrols. Reckless endangerment of ship and crew. Obstruction of a relief operation. Three counts of belligerence towards a Star Fleet Officer. And last but not least, utilizing a ship that was not fit for hazardous transport. These alone can put you away for a good long time.”

 

Standing upright from his perch against the wall, Wade raised an eyebrow. “I thought he only had two counts of belligerence?”

 

Shamor didn’t turn to reply to Wade inquiry, “I added the third one. Suffice it to say that the walls have eyes and ears.” The captain of the Juno sat quietly, apparently contemplating the caliber of the two men sharing his cell. “Now that I have your attention I suggest you make like a stool pigeon and start singing. Otherwise these charges will stick to you like a Ferengi clings to gold pressed latinum.”

 

“Look friend,” Wade finally spoke up, coming to stand nearer to the freighter captain. “I,” he said, pausing to correct himself, “We can make this go a lot smoother for you. But only if you cooperate with us. Either way: you can tell us now, or you could spend the next couple of months with a Federation quorum. Its up to you.”