Debrief
Posted on Fri Dec 31st, 2021 @ 6:48pm by Captain Dirk Taggart & Lieutenant Commander James Trallos MD & Lieutenant JG Vespa Kale
Mission:
Buyer's Beware
Location: Forward Lounge
It had been an eventful 48 hours aboard the Pennsylvania, Dirk thought as he sat down in the Forward Lounge, he had it reserved so he could meet privately somewhere outside of his ready room. He looked to his right where his new Executive Officer sat and then to Lieutenant's Hart and Kale. He knew this could be a bit traumatic for the Lieutenants to talk about, but he hoped to be able to gain something positive through their negative experiences.
"Thank you for agreeing to meet with me, Doc or XO," Dirk said with a slight chuckle, "I'm still not sure what to call him, has said that you both are stable enough to discuss what happened on Ketram. I've asked him to join us because he is the XO and is also your Doctor. If we get to a point where either of you need a break or wish not to proceed just let us know and we will reconvene at a future time. XO, if you have no objections I'd like to hear from the start what happened to Hart and Kale after leaving the shuttle."
Vespa sat, a mug of warm coffee in each of her grasps. Dirk's concern for her mental well being went volumes to the Dalacari, and through the negativity of the entire moment, she offered him a pair of smiles. "Thank you." she started and drew a breath before the speaking form turned to Addie. "I'm so, so, so sorry." that form never stopped looking at Addie, while her other body turned to the Captain and the Doctor Commander. The Doctormander.
"This was all my fault. I got us caught. We were shopping and some stranger mentioned a really really good trending sale past the green and I ... I ..." she paused, her other form hesitantly breaking that look at Addie to turn to the others, "...I took us both over to look for that really good trend and that's when everything went black."
"I half woke up later, the room we were in was dark and dirty. Addie came back later after making arrangements for food. I felt so guilty the whole time." she kept her tone soft. Ashamed.
"Food. And I needed twice of it more than she did, I felt awful. Not just because I was half groggy, but ... but because she worked so hard to secure something and..."
"... I needed more of it than she did. I felt terrible, so I only took a few nibbles but I didn't tell her I wasn't eating full. I think she figured it out, though."
A pause, a sip of coffee. Something warm to banish the cold memories. "I..." she stammered. "They didn't do anything to me, I guess I'm more valuable. B.. but it was my fault we were there."
The doctor looked over at the twin forms speaking. "The fault lay with the people that do things like that to unsuspecting beings, not you Lieutenant. Guilt is normal, but you should not place the sole blame on yourself. It is not healthy."
"Doctor XO and I are not here to place blame, we just wanted to discuss the events that occurred and see what you learned about those who took you. If a starship visits that planet in the future, I don't want their crews to run the same risks or suffer the same way that either of you did," the Captain explained.
Vespa gave a pair of nods. She understood, but on a fundamental level she still worried. "I didn't see any seals, or insignias on anyone. No identifying marks, and they didn't mention belonging to any particular gang." one started after gathering her resolve.
"The attack happened in one of the lower parts of Ketram. Away from the main hub, away from the more heavily patrolled sections. I started to feel a bit..."
"... worried when I stopped seeing internal security really patrolling. That's when everything went black." a pause, "The simian that got us out of there, I..."
"... promised him I'd pay him back, or at least compensate him. I guess, lucky us, he paid for us in Units." she actually giggled, "Guess it's good to know what you're..."
"... worth. Don't worry, it's a joke." she tried to lighten the moment. It barely convinced herself. "He said he was an informant, probably knows more about the groups there than I do." she offered. "They were probably..."
"... more interested in selling us to the next bidder than actually keeping us around. Dalacari make terrible prisoners."
"I am glad the Simian was there when we needed him. Did either of you hear anything about the Ketram Ambassador. I read some odd things in another officer's report and wanted to see if it aligned with anything you knew about them or what you heard," the captain asked.
Vespa gave Addie a glance, then turned back to the others, "Not that I heard, though there was a bit of time where Addie and I were separated."
"Thank you both for your time, is there anything else you think we should know before we adjourn?" The captain asked.
#The End