The Verdict Comes Down

Posted on 18 Feb 2013 @ 3:15am by Captain Jonathan Holliday & Lieutenant Jared Nicholas & Ansen Pawlak

1,928 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 03 - Frontier
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 3 - Security Office
Timeline: MD 02 1800

[ON]

The trip in the turbolift with the now-in-custody chef of the Galileo seemed to take much longer than it usually would have done. If anything the XO was relieved when the doors finally opened, and the walk down the corridor could begin.

As the Commander and his prisoner reached the security office, the XO entered his access code and the doors slid open, ushering Ansen inside, John noted their security chief sat at the desk.

"Mr Stone...I trust Ensign Nicholas has been cooperative during his stay? I'm here to inform him as well as Mr Pawlak of the Captain's judgement."

"Reports indicate that he has created no major problems," Jeremy said, sounding as if he were disappointed to give that report. He was sure that Nicholas still whined about his 'unfair and brutal treatment' during his arrest. However, it served its dual purposes. He scowled as he saw Mister Pawlek being ushered inside the security offices. At least he didn't appear to have given the Commander any trouble...unlike Nicholas.

Ansen looked between the two of them, more and more confused by the minute. Wasn't he supposed to meet the captain? Why was Jared staying in the Security office?

"Computer, engage privacy field cell two," Jeremy said as he moved around the desk toward Pawlek and Holliday. With a nod to Holliday, he was ready to take custody of Pawlek for the duration of his - hopefully - very short stay in the brig. He wasn't sure his talk with Holliday did any good but, at least he felt that he had done what he had to do.

"Mister Pawlek, I'll need you to come with me, for a few minutes at least." He placed a hand on Ansen's shoulder. "And, though it may not matter by the end of the day, I want you to know that I'm sorry this is happening to you. I'll try to make this as effortless as I can."

He indicated the fourth cell made up and ready for Pawlek's short stay.

"What-" Ansen began, stopping just in front of the cell entrance. "What exactly is happening to me? I thought I was supposed to speak to the captain?" Was he losing his mind? Was this another one of those eerily realistic dreams he'd been having of late? "Sorry- I think I'm asleep."

"You're not asleep Mr Pawlak - if I can ask you to cast your mind back to a certain personal encounter you and Ensign Nicholas shared in the Mess Hall recently?" John replied before crossing his arms as the security field prepared to go up again as soon as Ansen stepped inside.

"The Captain and I have spent some time discussing your activities...and we aren't pleased."

"She should be down shortly, Mister Pawlek and..." Jeremy sighed. "As long as I'm here in the office, I'm not going to close the security field so, it's, really, just a place for you to sit and wait for her. It'll be okay, Mister Pawlek, I promise to the best of my ability to carry that out."

Ansen's face could have gone into the LCARS vocabulary database alongside the word 'perplexed'. What did his sex life - illogical and random though it was - have anything to do with anyone but himself and Jared? Marek would have made judgements, sure, but that was Marek who had raised him and always been frustrated by his lack of sense with regards to personal relationships. And Marek was gone. Ansen sank onto the cot in the cell and continued to gape at them. They couldn't actually put him away for sleeping with someone. Could they? He stopped looking at Holliday because - he was pretty sure - the man had turned into some kind of gargoyle, and focused on Stone. Right. Sitting and waiting. Waiting he was used to. He felt sick just from being in the cell, even with the containment field off, and he had absolutely no idea why he was.

Jeremy sighed as he watched Pawlek, knowing something of what the man must feel about the potential for being locked up. Jeremy stopped at the edge of the cell, knowing that a step further and the security field could be brought down, trapping both of them inside the small chamber. Sidi stood and whined as Jeremy hesitated at the invisible demarcation between cell and freedom. "Down," he ordered Sidi as he stepped across and to the bunk.

He sat next to Pawlek, close enough to be considered "close" but not so close as to actually touching him. "Mister Pawlek," he sighed, not sure where to start or what to say. "What you did wasn't wrong, just...where you did it. Look, unless I'm wrong, you're feeling confused and bewildered. None of us want this to happen but...there have to be consequences to actions. I've asked the Commander to consider leniency due to...recent events but, there still has to be a response so that we maintain order on the ship."

He shook his head, knowing he was screwing even this up. "What can I do to help? Within bounds of my duty?"

"Ch," Ansen rubbed a hand over his face, still feeling very much like a fish out of water. "I don't even... know what..." He shook his head.

"What don't you know?" he asked, then another idea struck him. "When was the last time you had a drink. The last time you had Vodka? Do you know how long ago that was?"

Ansen thought back, "Gamma."

"Okay," Jeremy said, flicking his wrist and tapping out a quick message to medical. "Do you know what DTs are? Have you ever experienced them before?"

"What?" Ansen squinted at him. "What are you talking about?"

"It's okay," Jeremy said, "I've sent a message to have medical come and give you a scan, just to make sure." Jeremy looked out of the cell at Holliday and sighed. "Just sit tight here and...things will be over before you know it." Jeremy moved out of the cell, breathing easier as soon as he passed that invisible line where the security field would come down.

"Computer, monitor lifescans cell four, set for audible alert." Jeremy sighed as he went to the security panel and brought up several screens.

"I wouldn't mind one now," Ansen said, even more nervous now that he was alone in the cell. Not so much what as where? How was that even- what? "If you're offering."

Jeremy stiffened as he stared at the screens. "Mister Pawlek, while in custody you will not be given intoxicants, to include alcohol."

"Right. I'm an idiot. Shutting up."

John waited until the conversation between officers had taken place. He took no enjoyment from imprisoning people and would be wanting to make their incarceration in the Brig be over as quickly as possible at least.

"Mr Pawlek, Ensign Nicholas...I have been in contact with the Captain these past few hours and we have decided to be...lenient on this occasion - mainly because this is your first posting out of the Academy Ensign, and I do not want to end your career after so short a space of time."

John sighed as he approached the row of cells, standing in front of the two prisoners so they could both see him from behind the forcefields that kept them in place.

"You are both restricted to quarters for the next 2 days - just as soon as Mr Stone and his team have made the necessary modifications to prevent you from opening your own doors and limiting your replicator privileges. The captain and I are not wanting to stop two people from...expressing themselves on this vessel, but in a public environment such as the Mess Hall it will not be tolerated. And if anything like this happens again, you'll both be in the Brig and off this ship before you can even blink, is that understood?"

"Crystal clear sir, nothing like this will ever happen again in public. You have my word on it."

"The word of a criminal," Jeremy muttered from the security station, "isn't worth much."

Ansen dropped his head in his hands. Someone would have to take over the kitchen. He didn't know who. Should have been me, he thought, not for the first time. Marek should be alive and I should be in a metal box floating out in space.

Jared heard he security chief's words and chose not to react. It would have only gotten him in more trouble and more than likely thrown off the ship. Stupid yes. Guilty of a tremendous lapse in judgement and violating protocol and regulations, undoubtedly. Criminal hardly.

Facing Holliday he said, "I'd like to make another suggestion sir. I've heard that there are going to be reporters on board. No one, from what I can gather wants to deal with them. Perhaps as another form of punishment I could be the liaison between our crew and them. I will assure you that I will only say what I'm told to say and nothing else."

"Request denied Ensign. We don't have a sufficiently large crew size for one of our members to be babysitting reporters during a mission. Not to mention a punishment chosen by the person being punished doesn't exactly tickle my fancy."

John turned to face their security chief as he finished his conversation with the two prisoners currently in his custody.

"Mr Stone - make the necessary modifications to Mr Pawlak and Mr Nicholas' quarters - they are to remain inside for the next 48 hours with basic replicator access only - once their quarters are secure have them escorted there immediately. Understood?"

"Yes sir," Jeremy said, still scowling over the unmitigated gall Nicholas had in even daring to suggest such a thing regarding his punishment and the press corps. Though, in all actuality, he really wasn't surprised. "It will be done very shortly."

The one thing he didn't like about this was that it still treated Pawlek the same as Nicholas. He was happy for a light punishment for Pawlek, not so much for Nicholas - considering his predatory nature and criminal past. However, it was no longer in his hands - he was enforcement, not arbitor or jury. The decision had been made.

"Get it done." John replied, before shaking his head one final time and turning his back on those amongst his crew who had disappointed him so much. With a nod to Stone, John said nothing further, and simply walked from the office.

Jeremy signalled for Davis to return to the security office, intending to take Pawlek to his quarters first and not have to make him sit in a fully contained brig cell any longer than necessary. Nicholas could wait longer - as far as Jeremy was concerned, he was getting off too easily in this matter. But, once again, his job was enforcement, not judgment and the command staff had issued their orders regarding the two. In the time it took for Davis to arrive, Jeremy had made the necessary modifications, using his intimate knowledge of door lock controls to ensure only three people on the ship were able to override the security locks, replicator controls and other required room confinement modifications.

[OFF]

CMDR Jonathan Holliday
Executive Officer
USS Galileo

LTjg Jeremy Stone
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Galileo

Ansen Pawlak
Chef
USS Galileo
(pNPC Lilou Peers)

Ensign Jared Nicholas
Language Specialist
USS Galielo

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