Guarded

Posted on Sun Jun 21st, 2020 @ 8:40am by Cailus Griffin & Captain Nycolas Temple & Lieutenant James Smith & Tisar Zemel
Edited on on Tue Jul 7th, 2020 @ 1:50pm

Mission: Into the Wild
Location: Deck 17 - Brig

A Mission Post by Captain Nycolas Temple & Lieutenant James Smith & Lieutenant JG Cailus Griffin & Ensign John Logann & Tisar Zemel
Mission: Into The Wild
Location: Deck 17 - Brig
Timeline:
Mon Dec 18th, 2017 @ 10:58am


ON:

The Captain strolled briskly down the corridor flanked by the Chief and Assistant Chief of Security after their mission to the surface of Salvaxe. The away team had not come back alone, having found one Ravager alive in the wreckage of the downed vessel.

"You say he surrendered himself immediately?" Nyx asked as the group walked.

"Aye. He threw out his weapon with no prompting. He claims however, that he is not a Ravager. There was no hostility from him, and I wasn't exactly gentle with him, as he is a prisoner, and time was not our ally on that mission."

"Hmm," Nyx replied with an unimpressed tone, "I suppose we've had Talarians who are actually Mendazians, perhaps we can have a Ravager who's not a Ravager? The Expanse sure does like to throw in some surprises."

“I tend to agree with Ensign Logann,” Cailus said as they walked. Both he and Logann had hurriedly changed into dry uniforms, although Cailus noted with irritation that his hair was still somewhat damp. “Mister Zemel has not taken any hostile action against us nor violated any Federation law. Regardless sir, I would recommend keeping him restricted to quarters, under guard, with no access to ship systems. As a precaution.”

"I wouldn't put it past the Ravagers to attempt a Trojan horse," Nyx remarked grimly as the group arrived outside the Brig. "We'll wait for Lieutenant Smith before going in."

Logann nodded in agreement. "So, if I may ask Captain, what changed up here that put us in such a time crunch?"

Nyx couldn't help but laugh as he recalled what had transpired, "Turns out the Talarians that Mindo and Nash rescued were actually Mendazians. All this time we've been worrying about violating the Prime Directive and they were sitting in our guest quarters."

"So, then the Prime Directive doesn't apply in our situation? That makes things a lot simpler," Logann said, nodding.

"First contact has been made, meaning they are aware of us now," Nyx replied, "But we still follow the principles of the Prime Directive not to interfere with their development and society. I hope we can work together but it may be with a limited engagement against the Ravagers."

Smith made his way down the hall to the interrogation room shortly after changing into a dry uniform. Coffee in one hand and his Padd in the other he approached those that had assembled. Smith smiled slightly, “ So, who’s ready to see what we can get from this Ravager.

"I'm ready for some answers," Nyx replied with a nod.

The group marched into the Brig and Nyx gave a wave to the guards on duty. Standing in front of the force field, he sized up the Cardassian man in front of him, immediately noticing his reticent body language.

"Stand up." Nyx commanded to Tisar.

Tisar Zemel squared his shoulders and met the human's gaze with sincerity before standing and taking two steps forward. He knew this was their captain, by the rank pins. He was smaller than Nyx in height, but his shoulders were still broad. He had the typical coloration of a Cardassian, dark hair and dark eyes, but his hair was a little on the long side to be fashionable. He was pretty sure they weren't there to talk about Cardassian male haircuts. He took an at-ease stance, feet slightly apart, but he clasped his hands in front of him so they could see them. He nodded once, politely. "Captain..."

Nyx was aware that the Pandora was experiencing her second First Contact meeting for the day. For all their prior engagements with the bandits, the Federation had never met face to face with the Ravagers until now. For a Starfleet vessel to have captured one of their kind was a signifcant step in figuring out their elusive and dangerous enemy. That's if the Cardassian was willing to talk... and tell the truth.

"We don't have a lot of time, Mr. Zemel," Nyx began sternly, "You were found on the Ravager scout ship. The same ship that attacked Salvaxe and our runabout. The same Ravagers who travelled through the dark matter from the debris field trap created by the Ravagers. And yet you claim not to be a Ravager? Explain this."

Logann stood off to the side of the group, watching for tells, involuntary body movements, or anything else that would reveal Tisar Zemel a liar... or otherwise.

Tisar took a deep breath. "Then I will try and make it brief, Captain. I have been a prisoner aboard the Ravager vessel. Unfortunately, I honestly don't know how long it's been. I was on a civilian transport vessel, gathering supplies for my establishment. Upon my return to Earth I would have been allowed to be a shopkeeper on one of Starfleet's ships, actually. My application had been accepted, but we were attacked by the Ravagers. He calls himself The Butcher and his ship The Carnage. The man is rather unhinged, Captain. He is much like his ship... a jumble of parts. I don't know why he asked me to fly the scout ship... he apparently found out that I was a pilot during the Dominion War. Perhaps he was using the opportunity to test my loyalty, although why he thought he had any loyalty from me, I'm not certain. I am certain that I am more than familiar with the Hideki class... so I saw it as an opportunity to escape." He shrugged a tiny bit. "It was effective, although not quite in the way I had envisioned." He stopped talking, looking at Nyx.

Nyx gave a subtle nod to the men behind him, so one of them would check the Federation database to verify Tisar's story.

Subtly, Cailus moved aside to the console and relieved the guard on duty, accessing the ship’s computer.

"You could have been killed," Nyx remarked, "And yet you've survived with just a few scratches. It's incredibly fortunate."

Tisar nodded. "Yes, I could have been killed. Being killed would have been preferable to staying on that ship. It is not my job to worry about death, only to accept it when it comes for me," he said softly. "I survived the Dominion War and I'm sure that the crew I was captured with met that fate already. I was indeed fortunate, Captain. I am, however, willing to give you whatever information you need on the Ravagers."

“We’ll need everything,” Cailus said sternly from the console. He gave Nyx a subtle nod, indicating that the the Cardassian’s story checked out. “Details on the Carnage’s weapons and shields, information on this ‘Butcher’ and his crew, a full accounting of how they captured you, all of it.”

Tisar nodded. "Of course. I will provide you with anything I can remember. If I may though, I would like to ask two favors of you first. Please, may I get some sleep? One of the Butcher's favorite torture methods is sleep deprivation. I'm certain that my head would be clearer if I could get at least a little sleep. If it's not too much trouble. Of course I can tell you everything I know first... but I might remember more with sleep. My second request is merely a question that I'm sure anyone could answer for me. What is the date?" He smiled a little, it was a stern smile, one of someone who understood their situation was a little precarious. "The lack of sleep has lost me time. I'm not even sure what day it is, much less the year, anymore..."

Nyx gave a grim frown, "It's December, 2388. Stardate 55889.48."

He considered Tisar for a moment. Nyx had spent his career in Security and Intel and he'd interrogated many suspects before. Some could easily lie with confidence and sincerity; they could swear with all honesty they had done nothing wrong while still holding the figurative smoking gun.

Some would not crack no matter how long they were interrogated for, though given what Tisar had revealed about his time on the Carnage, it's unlikely this would work anyway.

"Get some sleep." Nyx added calmly, "I'll have them bring you a pillow and blanket."

"Thank you, Captain. I believe that I am tired beyond a pillow and a blanket really being necessary, but thank you. I sincerely appreciate being anywhere but back on that nightmare." He smiled a little. Of course he was Cardassian, so smiles always seemed awkward. "I promise you I will have plenty of information for you when return."

The Captain gathered the officers away from the cell, stopping briefly to speak with the guards. He looked to Griffin, Smith, and Logann with a sigh, "What do we think?"

Logann shrugged. "Well, it seems that Lt. Griffin confirmed his story with information in the computer. But then again, a story can be stretched and twisted to match information in a computer. I agree with what Lt. Griffin said earlier. No access to ships systems, restricted to guest quarters. If we can get a signal out, maybe send out to the nearest facility and see if they can get us some additional information."

Smith had been quiet, taking notes. Turning to the Captain, he said, “Nyx, I don’t trust him, while his story is rather convincing more research and intel gathering is needed to confirm his story. If he is allowed out of this cell, and personally, I don’t recommend it, he should be under guard at all times.”

Tisar Zemel apparently had meant what he said about needing sleep. Regardless of blanket or pillow, he appeared to be completely asleep, laying out flat on the bench in the holding cell. He was sleeping so soundly already that he was even snoring softly.

Glancing at the sleeping Cardassian, Cailus’ eyebrow shot up. “You can’t fake snoring like that,” he said wryly. “I’d recommend taking any information he provides on the Ravagers as unreliable, at least until we can verify it. For now, he needs a bed and he may be more amenable to answering questions if treated well. I can move him to secure quarters on Deck 3, under permanent guard.”

Tisar snorted loudly in his sleep, and Cailus shrugged. “Later. After he wakes up.”

Smith nodded, “Let me know once he’s awake and in his quarters, I may have more questions for him. In the meantime let’s check out his story and see if anything he said can be confirmed.”

"Sounds good to me," Nyx nodded. He looked to the three officers with a smile, "You all performed diligently and swiftly today, and as a result we may very well have the key to stopping the Ravagers in our hands. This is a great result, gentlemen."

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