Lt. Commander Ren strides through the door to the brig, his expression becoming blank and professional as he heads immediately to the cell where the prisoner is being held. Several security officers and enlisted salute him. One approaches with a data padd for his inspection. "Bio scans confirm prisoner is a Romulan," the junior officer reports. "We don't have complete facial records for Romulan citizens in our system, but we were able to make a match. Biometric results matched for Talayr, the Romulan passenger aboard the Leyor."
Ren nods. So his guess had been right. Let's see how much more he can guess about this Talayr. He walks right up to the force field, peering in at the prisoner.
She sits on the floor in a kneeling position, hatred burning in her dark eyes as she glares at the half-Vulcan security chief. "Are you here to torture me?" she asks. "No, that isn't the Vulcan way. Not logical. A mind-meld, then? No, too dangerous. I warn you, Vulcan, that I --"
"Talayr of Romulus," Ren interjects, keeping his voice a businesslike near-monotone. "You stand accused of murder, with several witnesses to tie you to the crime. As yet I've received no orders extraditing you back to Romulus for punishment, which means you will be tried in a Federation court and, in all likelihood, sentenced as harshly as Federation law allows."
"Weak," she says. "You think you can threaten me? Your Federation is weak, Vulcan, without the stomach for true punishment. I-- "
"In the meanwhile," Subak interjects again, "I have been ordered to question you and find out if you have any co-conspirators. I have not, however, been given any guidelines as to the methods of information extraction I may use. Logic would dictate that I use only those methods which are humane and effective, without causing undue suffering on your part." He clears his throat. "However, as I am only half-Vulcan, you will of course understand if I stray from the path of logic." He raises a brow to underscore his point. Regulations or no regulations, Subak wants answers.
Ren nods. So his guess had been right. Let's see how much more he can guess about this Talayr. He walks right up to the force field, peering in at the prisoner.
She sits on the floor in a kneeling position, hatred burning in her dark eyes as she glares at the half-Vulcan security chief. "Are you here to torture me?" she asks. "No, that isn't the Vulcan way. Not logical. A mind-meld, then? No, too dangerous. I warn you, Vulcan, that I --"
"Talayr of Romulus," Ren interjects, keeping his voice a businesslike near-monotone. "You stand accused of murder, with several witnesses to tie you to the crime. As yet I've received no orders extraditing you back to Romulus for punishment, which means you will be tried in a Federation court and, in all likelihood, sentenced as harshly as Federation law allows."
"Weak," she says. "You think you can threaten me? Your Federation is weak, Vulcan, without the stomach for true punishment. I-- "
"In the meanwhile," Subak interjects again, "I have been ordered to question you and find out if you have any co-conspirators. I have not, however, been given any guidelines as to the methods of information extraction I may use. Logic would dictate that I use only those methods which are humane and effective, without causing undue suffering on your part." He clears his throat. "However, as I am only half-Vulcan, you will of course understand if I stray from the path of logic." He raises a brow to underscore his point. Regulations or no regulations, Subak wants answers.
Alana followed Subak into the brig and observed the Romulan woman. The security chief was doing the talking, so she did the watching. Physical condition, emotional cues... anything that could help the investigation at present or in the future. Talayr... it was a name that meant nothing to Alana, nor was there a guarantee it wasn't an alias. The murder had been such a brazen act that it was hard to believe getting captured wasn't part of the plan.
If the Commander had any objection to Subak's veiled threat, it didn't show in her face, posture, or with her ordering him to refrain. She could play good cop, bad cop just as well. Since Subak was taking the more threatening role...
"The Captain specified non-lethal, for now." Alana spoke to the man. "The Romulan tolerance for pain is also well documented."
She looked to Talayr.
"I'm Commander Richards, second in command. You'll do yourself a favor by cooperating. Captain Rosden is very upset by what happened. It took some convincing for her not to settle this by handing you over to the Kkingons." Alana half-lied. While she didn't know the Captain's exact stance, Alana herself was a security and combat veteran. She understood the need for drastic measures. They weren't quite there yet. "It would certainly spare you some trouble. The Federation and Klingon Empire are allies; you murdered a Klingon citizen. If they request you be extradited, they have a very good case, and we both know what Klingon justice looks like."
If the Commander had any objection to Subak's veiled threat, it didn't show in her face, posture, or with her ordering him to refrain. She could play good cop, bad cop just as well. Since Subak was taking the more threatening role...
"The Captain specified non-lethal, for now." Alana spoke to the man. "The Romulan tolerance for pain is also well documented."
She looked to Talayr.
"I'm Commander Richards, second in command. You'll do yourself a favor by cooperating. Captain Rosden is very upset by what happened. It took some convincing for her not to settle this by handing you over to the Kkingons." Alana half-lied. While she didn't know the Captain's exact stance, Alana herself was a security and combat veteran. She understood the need for drastic measures. They weren't quite there yet. "It would certainly spare you some trouble. The Federation and Klingon Empire are allies; you murdered a Klingon citizen. If they request you be extradited, they have a very good case, and we both know what Klingon justice looks like."
[Apologies for long delay...]
Subak glances aside to his superior officer, nodding in recognition when she states that the Captain had ordered non-lethal means only. He has no way of confirming this, given that he isn't present for all conversations between Captain Rosden and her first officer, but the Federation has never been one to use torture as a tactic -- at least not openly. "Non-lethal," he affirms. Of course, that is still a wide spectrum. His face remains stern, however; he doesn't enjoy causing pain, but he certainly would not shy from it.
"Regardless of what you think," begins Talayr, her voice calm but seething, her face full of the pride characteristic of her people, "you will not succeed in making me tell you anything. I am loyal to Romulus, and would die before I betrayed any information."
"So you admit that you are acting on orders of the Romulan Senate?" Subak pounces immediately.
The Romulan reacts with shock. "I-- I never said that."
"But you would be disloyal if you said why you were here," Subak pursues.
"I would be disloyal to say anything under duress to an enem-"
"The Federation and the Romulan Star Empire are currently at peace, the last time I checked. So you are saying the Romulans now believe we are enemies?"
Talayr glares at the half-Vulcan, hate clear in her eyes. She says nothing in response.
Subak glances aside to his superior officer, nodding in recognition when she states that the Captain had ordered non-lethal means only. He has no way of confirming this, given that he isn't present for all conversations between Captain Rosden and her first officer, but the Federation has never been one to use torture as a tactic -- at least not openly. "Non-lethal," he affirms. Of course, that is still a wide spectrum. His face remains stern, however; he doesn't enjoy causing pain, but he certainly would not shy from it.
"Regardless of what you think," begins Talayr, her voice calm but seething, her face full of the pride characteristic of her people, "you will not succeed in making me tell you anything. I am loyal to Romulus, and would die before I betrayed any information."
"So you admit that you are acting on orders of the Romulan Senate?" Subak pounces immediately.
The Romulan reacts with shock. "I-- I never said that."
"But you would be disloyal if you said why you were here," Subak pursues.
"I would be disloyal to say anything under duress to an enem-"
"The Federation and the Romulan Star Empire are currently at peace, the last time I checked. So you are saying the Romulans now believe we are enemies?"
Talayr glares at the half-Vulcan, hate clear in her eyes. She says nothing in response.
((Perfectly fine!))
"Maybe you had a very good reason to want the Klingon dead." Alana continued. "Reasons that would be perfectly justified. I don't know the Klingon. I don't know you."
She didn't know how much she was helping or hindering. Subak had a sharp mind though and she appreciated that in a security officer. Alana was curious again what his past was, his mixed heritage. She'd be reviewing his personnel record later. For now, this was more important.
"I know it looks bad however. Putting aside the notion that a Federation penal institute would hardly be physically torturous, being psychoanalyzed by the therapists there day in and out would be mentally so. But we both know you're not likely to end up in a nice penal colony."
Alana was just saying it how it was from her point of view.
"If you're lucky, after they extradite you, the Klingons will just execute you. But there's every chance they'll stick you on Rura Penthe for the rest of your natural life, mining dilithium and freezing to death." She tried to gauge how the Romulan woman was reacting. "No one does what you did without a good motive. A good reason. I fought alongside Romulan soldiers during the war. I know how duty-bound, how honorable your people are. You only help yourself and the Romulan Empire by telling us those reasons. You only hurt yourself and the Romulan Empire by giving us nothing beyond what we've seen so far."
"Maybe you had a very good reason to want the Klingon dead." Alana continued. "Reasons that would be perfectly justified. I don't know the Klingon. I don't know you."
She didn't know how much she was helping or hindering. Subak had a sharp mind though and she appreciated that in a security officer. Alana was curious again what his past was, his mixed heritage. She'd be reviewing his personnel record later. For now, this was more important.
"I know it looks bad however. Putting aside the notion that a Federation penal institute would hardly be physically torturous, being psychoanalyzed by the therapists there day in and out would be mentally so. But we both know you're not likely to end up in a nice penal colony."
Alana was just saying it how it was from her point of view.
"If you're lucky, after they extradite you, the Klingons will just execute you. But there's every chance they'll stick you on Rura Penthe for the rest of your natural life, mining dilithium and freezing to death." She tried to gauge how the Romulan woman was reacting. "No one does what you did without a good motive. A good reason. I fought alongside Romulan soldiers during the war. I know how duty-bound, how honorable your people are. You only help yourself and the Romulan Empire by telling us those reasons. You only hurt yourself and the Romulan Empire by giving us nothing beyond what we've seen so far."
Lt. Commander Ren made a scoffing hmph. The Commander apparently knows the Klingon well enough to know what they do with prisoners. "I've known a few Klingons," he says. "Proud warriors; almost as proud as the Romulans, and twice as stubborn. But still our allies. Unless things have changed. You can either tell us here, or let the Klingons force it out of you with painstiks."
Talayr refuses to look at Ren, turning her gaze upon Alana. "If you think you can play nice to me while your mongrel dog makes threats, you've --"
Just then, a yellow alert sounds, and the lights brighten in the brig. One of Subak's ideas -- typically the lights dim in alert situations, but that's obviously a stupid thing to have happen in a detention facility. Someone might be trying to help a prisoner escape.
Subak rushes to a terminal and, entering his security code, calls up the bridge display. "Commander," he says, a ship has just de-cloaked. Romulan. Scout." At least it wasn't a Valdore-type warbird. Brows furrowed deeply, the Lt. Commander turns toward the prisoner.
"Fools!" Talayr laughs, though there is fear behind her eyes, plain as the ridges on Subak's nose. "Did you think they wouldn't come to take back their own?"
Subak turns to a junior officer. "Sedate the prisoner," he orders. "Don't be gentle." He's had enough of her talk.
Talayr refuses to look at Ren, turning her gaze upon Alana. "If you think you can play nice to me while your mongrel dog makes threats, you've --"
Just then, a yellow alert sounds, and the lights brighten in the brig. One of Subak's ideas -- typically the lights dim in alert situations, but that's obviously a stupid thing to have happen in a detention facility. Someone might be trying to help a prisoner escape.
Subak rushes to a terminal and, entering his security code, calls up the bridge display. "Commander," he says, a ship has just de-cloaked. Romulan. Scout." At least it wasn't a Valdore-type warbird. Brows furrowed deeply, the Lt. Commander turns toward the prisoner.
"Fools!" Talayr laughs, though there is fear behind her eyes, plain as the ridges on Subak's nose. "Did you think they wouldn't come to take back their own?"
Subak turns to a junior officer. "Sedate the prisoner," he orders. "Don't be gentle." He's had enough of her talk.
"Romulan scout ship." Alana said out loud, ignoring the prisoner. "Better than a Warbird."
If a D'Deridex- or Valdor-class Warbird had decloaked, the station would have likely gone on Red Alert. As was, there was little odds a scout ship could cause significant damage through their shields but Romulans were nothing if not sneaky. The extraction craft, likely as not. It had also, likely as not, been hidden and only now revealed itself.
The question was why? Romulans didn't do anything without a reason. With the prisoner being sedated, Alana nodded to Subak.
"I'll be returning the bridge, Lieutenant Commander, if you care to share a turbolift."
She departed without waiting to see if he was following. He would or he wouldn't.
If a D'Deridex- or Valdor-class Warbird had decloaked, the station would have likely gone on Red Alert. As was, there was little odds a scout ship could cause significant damage through their shields but Romulans were nothing if not sneaky. The extraction craft, likely as not. It had also, likely as not, been hidden and only now revealed itself.
The question was why? Romulans didn't do anything without a reason. With the prisoner being sedated, Alana nodded to Subak.
"I'll be returning the bridge, Lieutenant Commander, if you care to share a turbolift."
She departed without waiting to see if he was following. He would or he wouldn't.
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