<USS Avalon> "Covert Operations Interviews - Part 3 - Crossfire"

?Covert Operations Interviews - Part 3 - Crossfire?

by Lieutenant Second Class Bryce Quinn

& Warrant Officer Alexander Gibson

 

 

Again.  His words passed over the words echoing of cynicism and sarcasm, 
threats and loathing, but it just didn't make sense.  His eyes roamed the 
contents again, finding more and more that he disapproved of and didn't 
understand.  The second report was even more evident than the first that 
something was askew.  Why were the people under his command investigating a 
situation without tact and with complete disregard for respect and authority? 

 

"What the hell is this?"  Bryce said, laying the PADD on the desk and going 
back to peruse the first report for what seemed like the millionth time.  He 
tapped the communication panel on his desk, the computer's familiar beeping 
sound accompanying his gesture, "Quinn to Gibson, please report to my office."  
Waiting for a moment, he took a breath, "Immediately."

 

Vevay glanced up at Alexander as he stood and straightened his already 
immaculate uniform.  "You want me to come with you?  He sounded really mad."

 

"I am a grown boy, Vevay, I am in no need of your assistance."  His reply was 
curt and cutting so Vevay simply shut up and continued on the report she was 
writing.

 

Knocking once on the door of the inner office, Alexander entered and stood to 
attention.  "Sir."

 

"Sit, now."  Bryce didn't even look up from the information scattered across 
his desk.  There were so many places to start, so many questions that had 
flooded his mind, but it wasn't anything he hadn't encountered before.  Working 
in law, and specifically at the Starfleet Judge Advocate's General's office, 
one was bound to come across people who pillaged the truth and fought dirty.  
He wasn't immune to it either, but it wasn't anything he would admit too - 
obviously.  Bryce picked up the two reports, "What are these?"

 

"Reports sir.  Accurate transcriptions of the interviews with Lieutenant 
Jameson and Ensign Fenner."  Alexander crossed his legs but fought not to fold 
his arms, there was no need to start out confrontational.

 

"Very astute, Mr. Gibson."  He looked up, his eyes carefully shielded from 
anger and frustration.  "What I want to know is why you aren't interviewing 
these people with respect and tact.  I mean, look at the wording you use and 
the empty threats.  This is like reading through a record of a really bad fight 
between first-year debate students.  This is piss poor work that two officers 
called your bluff on.  Where did you learn to question people?"

 

Bristling, Alexander sat straighter in his seat.  "From the best.  These are 
not the type of people who will be buddied up to, they will not respond to 
someone trying to be their friend, to be their counselor.  They are more likely 
to respond to this line of questioning.  It is just that in this case, they 
wouldn't have responded no matter what the technique used.  Could you have done 
better, sir?"

 

"You're damn straight I could've done it better.  Blindfolded, gagged, and 
hanging upside down above a vat of anti-matter.  This is crap," Bryce 
practically hurled the PADD across the desk, "You came off as hostile and 
completely unprofessional, I would've told you to shove that PADD up your ass 
before I answered any questions.  The fact that you didn't even try diplomatic 
questioning shows your inexperience."

 

"Inexperience!?"  Alexander was practically spitting.  "How dare you?  I have 
been doing this job for longer than you, I would wager.  I didn't get my 
position handed to me on a silver platter simply because I attended the 
Academy.  I worked damn hard to get where I am.  There has never been an issue 
with technique before and I have worked with greater men than you."  His 
professionalism was being questioned and he could no longer take it.

 

He slammed his finger onto the PADD, "Well, this sure isn't your best work, Mr. 
Gibson.  You say that you've worked damn hard, well, I wouldn't give you a 
promotion or an assignment increase with work and form like this.  I don't know 
whose ass you had to kiss to get to where you are, but it sure as hell wasn't 
based on merit.  Other than the reports you have little more to offer me."  He 
walked over and closed his office door, shielding them from the onlookers 
beyond, "And, thanks to your damned crusade, you have ruined the questioning of 
these witness for anyone else who wants to try.  Want a gold star?"

 

Staring straight ahead, Alexander said nothing.  He'd already lost his temper 
in front of a superior officer, he wasn't going to again.

 

"And now, to top it all off, you're tainting the future of a perfectly good JAG 
officer.  I have the right mind to relieve of duty for the rest of this trip, 
Mr. Gibson.  I want to know how you're going to rectify the problem."  Bryce 
placed his hands on the back of his chair, it wobbled slightly, but his gaze 
remained steady.

 

Their eyes met very briefly and Alexander smiled for the first time.  "These 
three, their testimonies are redundant.  I know you have no call to believe me, 
but I think I have found someone who can answer all our questions about John 
Forester."

 

"Talk to Ketchum.  Have you looked at the facts, Mr. Gibson?  You could've 
ascertained everything you needed to know about the situation from looking at 
previous records of assault of John's father's behalf - or who claims to be his 
father.  I know that you know what I know.  Ketchum was Forester's father, 
though the kid didn't know it."  Bryce ran a hand through his hair, "It all 
makes sense.  And, no amount of yelling and threatening of other officers was 
likely to make it come faster."

 

"Of course, but are you aware of the rather intimate relationship between 
Ensign Harak and John Forester?"

 

"The fact that he was channeling John Forrester?"

 

Bingo! "That would be the one, sir."

 

"Yes, I'm well aware."

 

"To my knowledge, the consciousness of Forester is still embedded in Harak's 
mind.  All the answers we need are there."

 

"Mr. Gibson, as I am sure you are well aware, Mr. Harak does not have the 
ability to call Forester up at will.  The entity comes and goes given his 
proximity to people that John himself wishes to confer with.  If he doesn't 
want to talk to us, we cannot force him too."  The ethical and moral 
ramifications of such a forcing would bring the entire JAG Department on the 
Avalon down to their knees.  "And, seeing as how you have virtually ruined at 
least two other interviews, I am ordering you to stay away from Mr. Harak.  
Understood?"

 

"I think this is a mistake, sir.  He could be the key to the whole 
investigation."  Alexander wracked his mind for a way out of this.  He wanted 
to work this all out himself, he didn't want some snotty officer taking this 
from him.  How to get out of this?  "I know that my interview techniques have 
not been up to much, of late, but those of my student are unblemished."  
Smiling, he added, "Plus, she's not exactly hard on the eyes.  She is a sweet 
girl who can woo answers out of Harak.  Trust me sir."

 

Bryce sighed, thinking the proposition over, "Under one condition: you do 
nothing more than observe.  I don't want a single word from you on that 
transcript.  You observe the answers only.  Clear?"

 

"Understood."  Alexander stood.  "May I go?  I need to prepare Vevay for the 
interview."

 

"Do me a favor, Mr. Gibson, look up the definition of take and respect before 
you send her in."  Bryce smirked slightly, nodded absently and sat back down at 
his desk.  "You're dismissed, Warrant Officer."

 

"Sir," he said flatly and he turned his back and marched out.  Vevay looked up 
at the anger on Alexander's face but chose to say nothing.  "Well, looks like 
Fenner wasn't too far from the truth.  You just earned point in the Harak 
interview."

 

"Harak?"  Oh God, Ffej.

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