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A touch of murder to spice things up
A touch of murder to spice things up
Stardate: 53835.82
Maintenance Access L7
Deck 12
The burn marks along the walls defined for all those looking that they were walking in to a heavily damaged area. Maintenance Access L7 was one of the hardest hit areas during the resent accident that was inflicted on the Flight Deck. Within this access conduits ran up from the Hanger Deck and through the entire Flight Deck. Here the main power for the launch/recovery systems were ran. During the accident, a series of powerful backfeeds along the EPS Conduits triggered fires and explosions within the access areas. The scope of the damage was massive as told by the blacken walls.
A Damage Control Team of three crew members moved up the ladder as they laughed at the shared story. "Wait wait" crewmen Kaluza said as he laughed, "let me get this straight. He did all that within twenty fours?" he helped the next crewman behind him up the ladder by taking a pair of cases off of him.
Crewman Dustin Yonkers laughed as he nodded, "yeah, twenty four hours." Crewman Yonkers said as he finished climbing up the narrow ladder and turned to help the crewman behind him.
"Your lying" laughed crewman Raquel Stefanovic. She finished climbing up the last of the ladders to reach the maintenance access area.
"No I am telling you, I heard from my roommate. He was there, and saw what went down in the Lounge" Crewman Yonkers defended. The three crew members stood in a tight space that had black marks along the walls. There were signs of explosions and fire everywhere.
"Okay" crewman Kaluza, "hold on. I want to make sure those seals are still in place before we open the door." He pulled his tricorder and scanned beyond the door. "Well the odor will still suck but the atmosphere is still going to be breathable. Looks like that patch we welded in place is still holding."
Crewman Stefanovic moved forward and placed her tricorder on the door, "Setting the power transfer to the door motors." She started to tap on her tricorder. "this will take a moment" she added.
"Hey Yonkers, set up that portable purifier so we can have some fresh air while we work" Crewman Kaluza.
"Sure," crewman Yonkers said as he turned and dropped to his knees. He opened up one of the cases and started to set up the unit.
"Damnit, the door motor is jammed" crewman Stefanovic said in frustration. "I thought we fixed that earlier this morning"
"We did, " crewman Kaluza said as he came up next to her. He looked at her tricorder, "this doesn't make any sense. Get on that side of the door and help me," he said pulling out a pry bar.
Crewman Stefanovic nodded pulling out her own pry bar and both crewmen got ready to force the doors open. With their combined effort, the two forced the doors opened just a bit. Once the doors were pried open a bit, they set the bars on the side and used their hands to force the doors fully open. The small space was revealed to be just as damaged as the rest of the ship. But what surprised three crewmembers was the bloody mess of a body laying face down near the far side of the space. Unlike everything else in this room, the body had no signs of being burned. The pool of blood next to the body reached across nearly the entire floor. Crewman Stefanovic let out a stifled cry as she took sight of the scene.
Crewman Yonkers paused his task as too was too shocked to even speak. The body had been beaten so badly that its skull was crushed and mangled. A bloody piece of pipe laid next to the body and was clearly the murder weapon. The gold uniform told the three crewmen that the victim was an engineer. But it was Crewman Stefanovic that made the identity from behind her hand when she said, "Isn't that Lieutenant Medart?"
"It was...." crewman Kaluza said as he scanned the body with his tricorder. While the unit was not a medical tricorder, it was enough to tell him that Lieutenant Medart was dead. He reached to his com badge. "Crewman Kaluza to Security. You need to get a team up Maintenance Access L7."
Crewman Stefanovic turned and buried her face in crewman Kaluza's chest. It wasn't the sight of the body that shocked her. It was the brutality of the attack that left someone so loved in Engineering by the crewmembers laying in a pool of her own blood. The three crewmembers stood by and waited for security personnel to show up and start their investigation. It wouldn't take long for word of the murder to spread across the entire ship. This has caused security to step up its investigation before word of the murder could spread. The hope was to zero in on the murderer before the crew's imagination could take hold.
Within moments of security starting their investigations, they were able to correctly identify body as Lieutenant Kiera Medart. The witness reports showed the original findings of the three crewmen and they each were dismissed as suspects by Security. Doctor Bell was able to identify the nature of the death as massive trauma across the Lieutenant's body from a beating with the murder weapon. However within moments, he noted that the cause of death was due to loss of blood and shock. He noted that who ever attacked Lieutenant Medart left her alone in this room to die. A death that would have taken between one to two hours after the beating had stopped. According to Doctor Bell's estimate, this placed the time of death around stardate, 53835.55
The location of the murder made discovery that much harder because of the damage, none of the internal sensors within this section were functioning. This limited the amount of evidence that could be discovered as to who was behind the murder. Lieutenant Medart's finger prints were detected in the room as if she was checking systems that had been damaged by the accident. The tricorder that was found near the body had been smashed. However thanks to the science department, they were able to recover the data. It appears that Lieutenant Medart was running scans within the room searching for what could only be signs of intentional tampering with the Launch and Recover Systems. The broken tricorder narrows Doctor Bell's estimated time of day to stardate, 53835.64 It was the last moment the tricorder recorded anything. Sadly the tricorder was not set up to record any bio-signs, so it added no clues as to who committed the murder.
While there were no finger prints on the murder weapon, security was able to find three hairs around the murder scene. Two of the hairs were within the sealed room and the last was just outside the room. These hairs belonged to the only M'bwa M'witu aboard. The animosity between the two was well known across the ship. The two women had been known to have full blown arguments. On one occasion, Lieutenant Paxton even struck Lieutenant Medart across the face. To make matters worse, during the estimated time of death Lieutenant Paxton location on the ship was not able to be proven by the computer. This has prompted security to issue an a request up to the Chief of Security to bring Lieutenant Paxton in for questioning. Currently, the three crewmembers are being held to keep them from informing others of what they saw. Also, Doctor Bell has agreed to keep his finding secret till the investigation allows him to speak of it. His staff has taken the body for a full autopsy.
It had been such a long night than day with the accident on the flight deck. Lieutenant Paxton stumbled in to her quarter to the high pitched sound of a kittens meow. She had changed from her armored EV suite when she left the flight deck and was now in her Starfleet Uniform. Her hair was no longer in the tight pony tail that she had started the day with. The look of exhaustion was clearly seen across her face and in her movements. It wasn't the physical exhaustion that was weighing heavy on her, but the fact that she had people in sickbay. Luckily all would recover, but she felt personally responsible for their current condition. "Lights, dim" she said as she walked in to her darken quarters and within seconds the lights turned on just enough for her to see where she was going.
She smiled as she saw the little gray and white kitten coming out from under the bed on the left. "Ah, so now you love me lucky" she said as the kitten came up and started to rub on her leg. Paxton kneed down to pet the small creature. It purred to her touch, "oh after this morning, I figured you wouldn't want to love me" she explained as she talked about how the animal had urinated on her uniform. Paxton had come across the kitten a few weeks ago back as dry dock. It was a stray and half starved. She had heard of such creatures but had never seen one with her own eyes. Rebecca took pity on the creature and took it in. She studied how to care for such a creature but somehow the instructions were lacking in a number of critical areas.
After a short patting, Rebecca slowly stood up and walked over to the replicator. "A small bowl of warm shredded fish and chicken and a small bowl of milk" she said softly and glanced back at the little kitten. Her smile grew, "whole milk" she added. Within seconds the replicator acknowledged her commands and the two small bowls appeared on a metal tray. She picked up the tray and walked back over to the kitten who had moved in to the center of the room. Once more Rebecca lowered herself to her knees and placed the tray on the floor for the little animal to start eating. It let out a soft meow as it leaped at the food. She started to pat the little creature as Rebecca laid down next to it. She was so tired from the highly charged, emotional day. She ran her hand over the little creature with great care not to hurt it. The food was clearly appealing as the kitten kept purring as it eat.
Rebecca felt so tired after the long day. Her eyes were becoming so heavy that they were slowly drifting downward as she carefully pet her little kitten. There was just something relaxing about the way this strange little creature made that purring sound that seemed to induce sleep on her. So many times, Rebecca had come home from very long hours on the flight deck to this little sleep inducing creature. So many times she had drifted off to sleep right here on the floor next to it. At first she had suspected that the creature was dangerous to her race but Doctor Bell had assured her that this wasn't the case. He even took the time to run a full physical over the small creature to make sure that it was perfectively healthy. It was by his suggestion that she kept the animal in the first place.
Doctor Bell had told her that being able to care for the little creature would help her with the insomnia. He explained that such animals love unconditionally, much like her own race. That they were life time companions like what she was missing in her life. No one on the ship knows of her loss like Doctor Bell. He was the only one she could trust with her....'condition'. As she had many times before, her mind drifted back on him. She didn't blame him for what happened. She had been warned ahead of time about what she was getting in to. But that didn't change the pain that she suffered from. Just as her eyes were becoming settled and her mind started to drift in to the world of sleep her ears detected the sounds beyond her door. Her eyes snapped opened as a chime from the door sounded and drew both of their attentions towards the door. "Yes?" Rebecca said almost half asleep.
The door hissed open as Rebecca half turned to see who was bothering her at this hour. She didn't even know what the hour was, but her body was telling her it was too late for company. Or was that the exhaustion speaking. Rebecca saw Lieutenant Tabby Ó Ruaidh and pair of other security officers behind the female Lieutenant Ó Ruaidh. "Lieutenant Paxton, will you come please come with us." While her eyes told her that there were three members of security at her door, her ears told her that there were more in the hallway.
Rebecca eyed the three security officers as her eyes narrowed. She rose up from the floor and rested on her arm. "What is this about" Rebecca questioned then her eyes narrowed as if she could see right through their intentions. "What if I choose not to?" All Rebecca could do is question if that abomination of a Chief Engineer had reported their little exchange earlier today. Rebecca knew that the Starfleet had rules against what was said but she really didn't think that anyone would really be upset over it. She had expected another one of 'those' talks from the CAG about being understanding to those of different cultures or not to say hurtful things. Truthfully, she couldn't understand how Starfleet could have ever won a war while worrying about other's feeling. But she never thought the little rat would have sent security after her.
Lieutenant Ó Ruaidh facial expression didn't change, "Lieutenant Rebecca C. Paxton. I will not ask you again. Please come with us."
Rebecca noticed that the two officers behind Lieutenant Ó Ruaidh had carefully reached for their phasers. It wasn't more her eye sight that gave their movements away, but the sound of their uniforms slowly and carefully rubbing up against itself. Her ears focused on the sounds around her. Even her kitten Lucky could sense the change in the environment as it stopped purring. Rebecca's eyes widen with surprise. "Hey, calm down" she said raising her hands in surrender. She knew what she had said and done was wrong. She was not about to make this whole situation worse over some hurtful words and a 'slight tap' on its face. The surprise on her face over the seriousness of the situation was clear. "Okay okay! calm down. No need for weapons. I will do my time in the brig. After all that abomination deserved it" Rebecca confessed. She wasn't sorry and nothing in her voice reflected it. After all, Rebecca felt completely justified in what was said and done during the exchange.
It was Lieutenant Ó Ruaidh's turn to be surprised as she waved her people to stand down. Lieutenant Paxton's temper was well known across the ship and so was the feud between Paxton and Medart. Lieutenant Ó Ruaidh had half expected this to be much harder than as it appeared it would be. "So you admit what you did to Lieutenant Medart" Lieutenant Ó Ruaidh asked. She waved her team in to the small quarters as the kitten ran for the safety of the bed.
Rebecca was true to her who she was. She knew that she was wrong in that exchange. Sometimes she allowed her temper to get the better of her. She didn't feel guilty over it, but this didn't change that she knew she was wrong. "Yay, I admit it" Rebecca said accepting her fate of a few days in the brig. She rolled her eyes as she stood up and knew she was going to get a long talking to by the CAG now. 'Great' she thought as she watched the team of security walk in to the room.
The kitten disappeared under the bed as the Lieutenant Ó Ruaidh and two other security personnel moved in to the room while two of her people secured the door. Lieutenant Ó Ruaidh waited till they had secured Lieutenant Paxton before speaking again. "Lieutenant Rebecca C. Paxton, you are here by under arrest for the murder of Lieutenant Kira Medart" Lieutenant Ó Ruaidh said in a very professional manner. Everything in which Lieutenant Ó Ruaidh did was directly by the book. The only change was in that the suspect confessed to the crime. It changed the over all plan from a simple escort to security for questioning to apprehending a suspect who confessed to the crime.
Rebecca's eyes widen with shock and surprise as she tried to open her mouth but nothing came out. Horror filled her heart and numbed her mind as Rebecca tried to speak, to say something but her voice was caught in her own throat. As Rebecca was trying to figure out what the hell was happening, Lieutenant Ó Ruaidh tapped her com-badge, "Lieutenant Ó Ruaidh to Commander V'rol. We have the suspect in custody. She actually confessed to the crime. We will be bringing her to security for questioning at once, Sir."
The chirp of the com-badge indicated that the channel was closed as Rebecca let out a scream, "NO" she struggled against the two officers holding her. "Wait, no..." she tried to struggle and continued, "that is not what I meant." Rebecca's mind was spinning as continued to struggle and fight for them to listen to her. "I didn't kill anyone!"
Lieutenant Ó Ruaidh motioned for the door to the quarters be sealed as she tapped her com-badge, "Lieutenant Ó Ruaidh to transporter control. Security protocol three, Six to be transported directly to security. Within seconds, the room was empty as the group was transported directly to security. All that was left in the room was the soft sound of a meow from under the bed. The entire event had been carried out in all the perfection and efficiency that any Vulcan would have been proud of. Lieutenant Ó Ruaidh's official report would show that Lieutenant Paxton first confessed to a crime and allowed herself to be arrested than recanted the confession. Nothing of the event would be left out of Lieutenant Ó Ruaidh's official report. Internal sensors were recording the entire event so that everything would be recorded for the official records. After all, she was one of V'rol's personal protege.
A search of Lieutenant Paxton's quarters would reveal more damning evidence. On the floor near the entrance to her lavatory, traces of Medart's blood were found in the carpeting. The blood was consistent with as if it had fallen off something. Lieutenant Ó Ruaidh personally over saw the search of Lieutenant Paxton's quarters before they questioned the Lieutenant. The search was conducted in such a way to help element all possible suspects and leave behind the only possible person responsible for the murder. Because of this, Lieutenant Paxton's roommate was eliminated as being a suspect because she was in holodeck one with almost a dozen other officers and crewmen playing in a holo-novel during the time of the murder. Lieutenant Ó Ruaidh's own background in criminal behavior brought concern to the investigation.
In private she approaches Commander V'rol, "Sir, might I have a word with you" she ask softly. After being given permission to speak in private she voices her concerns. "Sir, I suspect that the investigation might have been misdirected, intentional. I don't have any prove to this, however my instincts are telling me that this is all too clear of a closure. Paxton and Medart are known rivals. Paxton is known for her temper and all of the evidence. Maybe I am wrong but it just feel too neat and tidy. I know I can not ignore the evidence before us, nor can we accord for Paxton's whereabouts during the time of the murder. But it just doesn't feel right. I suggest that we continue with the official investigation publicly. And that we launch a second secret investigation. Should both investigations point to Paxton, than at least would have given justice its due course. However if the second investigation reveals doubt to Paxton's guilt, we owe it to justice to follow that doubt to where it takes us" Lieutenant Ó Ruaidh explained. She paused for a moment before asking, "your thoughts Sir?
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Act Two, Scene Three
