<USS Avalon> What a Find

"What a Find"
By: Commander Skyler, Lt. Jg. Redgrave, Ensigns  Garrity and McEntire
 
Turbo lift two was stuck between decks five and  six in section twenty-three, 
which left only one way to gain access to it; the  jefferies tubes. Melanie 
hated jefferies tubes, they were small and cramped, and  didn’t make carrying 
a 
large tackle box sized field kit very easy. She crawled  through the long 
series of tubes and up the ladders until she reached section  twenty-three, and 
then went on to the hatch that would open into the lift’s  shaft. She 
couldn’t 
help but wonder what the two engineers had found that they  called her 
instead of security, but something in her gut was telling her they  had made 
the 
right choice. 

The hatch at the end of the last tube was  already open and Melanie announced 
her presence just slightly before reaching  the opening. “Forensics.”

Josh jumped slightly at the voice behind  them, but was grateful she'd called 
out rather than just showing up behind them.  He shifted over to the left, 
placing his thin frame only just on the step. Mac  looked over at him 
nervously, 
sure he'd be heading headfirst down the lift  access any second if he didn't 
find more foothold than he had. He knew better  than to say anything about it 
though. He'd just get that look if he did.  Instead, he called out "Over here" 
and waited, hoping Josh wouldn't feel too  much more crowded. He was sure 
he'd be fast enough to catch him if he decided  he'd rather hit bottom than be 
touched, and he knew that with him, that was  always possible.

Melanie crawled through the opening and carefully  made her way towards the 
two men. She was so glad her kit had a strap on it,  other wise she would have 
had to flick it to the bigger one. As she approached  them she looked the two 
men over. They were both handsome in their own ways, but  she could tell the 
little one seemed to tense as she got closer. It almost  reminded her of a 
snake coiling before striking out in order to protect it’s  self. 

“Hello gentlemen,” She said in her accented voice. “I’ve been told  you 
blokes are in need of a forensics officer.” 

Josh just nodded. Mac  knew he'd have to do the talking, not that it 
surprised him. Didn't he always?  

"Yeah, you could say that. Any idea where Commander Skyler is? We called  for 
her, too. " He answered. Gesturing toward the weapon jamming the lift  
mechanism he continued. "I'm thinking she'll want to see that."

Lifting the strap of her kit over her head as she walked, Melanie made her  
way over to the object that the broad shouldered one was pointing at. It was a  
phaser, non Federation, and it looked pretty bent up. As carefully as she 
could  manage in the confined space, Melanie opened her kit and removed her 
tricorder.  She scanned the weapon and the area around it. “Commander Skyler 
is in 
a meeting  with Captain Ketchum. I’m sure she will be here as soon as she is 
able.”  

From the wear and tear on the weapon and the gears around it the weapon  had 
been in it’s current position for quite some time, but how did it end up  
crunched between the gears of a turbo lift? Melanie switched her tricorder for  
her camera and started taking pictures of the scene. “Has anything been  
touched?
”

Josh shook his head. Mac responded, "No, ma'am, we  called for you and the 
commander the minute we saw it and just waited. Figured  you'd want to see it 
like it was found."

Melanie nodded and then  returned to her work. Once she’d taken her pictures 
of the weapon she looked at  the shaft through the zoom on her camera. Clearly 
someone had thrown the weapon  down the shaft, probably hoping it would be 
crushed and never found. She snapped  a few pictures of possible places that 
the 
weapon could have been thrown from  and then returned her camera to her kit. 

“I need to remove it. Is there  any danger I could send us all plummeting to 
our deaths when I do?” She asked as  she removed an evidence bag and the 
tools 
she would need to remove the  weapon.  

Mac looked to Josh who shrugged, giving the slightest nod.  It was possible. 
Mac looked at him, waiting for him to offer to do it for her,  or at least 
assist so it wouldn't kick on at that wrong moment and throw them  off balance. 
Josh looked at him imploringly, really not wanting to have to get  any closer 
to her. Mac sighed, frowning slightly, shaking his head. "It could  happen, if 
it were taken out wrong. It's more likely the lift would zoom up and  crush us 
before we could stop it. But see, Garrity here's gonna make sure  neither of 
those can happen, aren't you Josh." 

Josh shot him a look of  exasperation but nodded. Keeping as much distance 
between himself and her as he  possibly could, he began sequencing the lift for 
emergency shut down. Any  movement of the mechanisms now would have to be done 
by hand, which might make  extricating the weapon a little harder, but at 
least the lift wouldn't come up  on them and the gear movement wouldn't throw 
them off balance. 

Deciding  he still needed something to laugh about later, Mac added wickedly, 
"Why not  brace her in, there, Garrity. You've got longer limbs, you're 
stronger, and  you're less likely to cop a feel than me. Makes you the better 
tether, don't you  agree ma'am? Wouldn't do to have you fall down the shaft 
getting 
that thing out.  We might not ever find you or it again."

“It wouldn’t be the first  time I was lost, Ensign, and I’m use to no 
being 
found. I would how ever like to  see you try to cop a feel, if you did you’d 
be the one taking the swan dive. I  mean a girl should get at least a couple of 
dinners out of a bloke before he  tries that.” Melanie replied with a smile 
as she turned back to her work. “And  don’t worry,” She said to the 
littler 
one. “I hand manage on my own.”

Skyler had just finished her meeting with the Captain and with Lt.  
Marksbury, so she figured she might as well find out what was going on in the  
turbo 
lifts. 

"Ensign Garrity this is Commander Skyler. I am on my way.  Do not touch or 
remove anything until my arrival. I repeat do not remove  anything. I want to 
see whatever you are looking at when I get there."

Skyler closed her comm and then made her way to engineering. She wasn't sure  
if she could deal with Melanie, but what was one more headache, in a growing  
list of them.

Melanie had heard Skyler’s voice over the little  one’s comm badge and 
tensed, not only from her tone of voice but because she had  just attached a 
jaw 
padded clamp to the weapon. She sighed and rolled her eyes  as she wondered why 
security officers and commandies were like that. This was  area was now part 
of an on going forensic case, her case, and they always wanted  to add their 
two cents in. 

“One of you hand me that L wrench.” Melanie  said holding out her free hand.

Skyler appeared in the jefferies  tubes just as Melanie was asking for a L 
wrench. "I thought I told you people  not to touch that or anything else down 
there? Doesn't anyone know how to listen  to an order around here." Skyler had 
just left her meeting with the captain and  even though she was in a better 
mood she wasn't in the mood to deal with her so  called sister. 

"Mister Garrity, instead of risking someone's life, why  not beam that object 
to a safer place? I realize I am just a Commander, but that  seems to be the 
most logical thing to do. That is if it meets the Forensic  Officer's 
permission. Better yet, Lt Redgrave take your pictures then I want  that beamed 
to 
engineering and we will all look at it together. Have I made  myself clear?"

Skyler looked at Melanie fully expecting to hear  some guff from her. She 
would deal with it as it came.

“Firstly,  having the object beamed anywhere will destroy any DNA evidence on 
the weapon,  Commander. Secondly, this has nothing to do with engineering, 
although I am most  grateful to the ensigns for finding this, it will be coming 
to forensics with me  so that I can run the proper tests.” Melanie replied as 
she still waited for one  of the boys to hand her what she would need to 
remove the weapon. 

When  she noticed that neither one was moving she looked over her shoulder 
while  holding the long armed clamp in her hand. “With all do respect, 
Commander, your  current orders could compromise the case I’m working on. We 
have 
followed all  safe protocols and you are all welcome to come with me to the 
lab, 
but I need to  get this my way.”

Skyler was at her wit's end. She had no  idea anymore about how do deal with 
Melaine. 

"Lt. we will do things your way,  however you can bet your ass that I will be 
watching everything that you do. You  make one wrong move and you will be 
busted back down to Ensign faster than you  can say "shit on shinola." Have I 
made myself  clear?"

Skyler was fed up with this murder,  with 'her sister,' with just about 
everything. Unfortunately she was ultimately  responsible for this 
investigation 
and she was going to make sure that it was  finished ASAP and that no mistakes 
were  made.

"Mr. Garrity, do as Ms.  Redgrave asks as long as no harm is caused to the 
weapon or to any personnel. I  will be in Forensics' waiting for the weapon and 
you Lt. I suggest you do not  waste your time or my time."

With that said Skyler turned and made  her way to the forensics' lab and 
waited. The sooner this investigation was over  the better.

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