On The Case
Posted on Sun Oct 13th, 2024 @ 10:03am by Commander Mariko Tao & Lieutenant Claire Fisher
Edited on on Sun Oct 13th, 2024 @ 9:43pm
0 words; about a 1 minute read
Mission:
Episode 2 - The Sins of History
Location: JAG Officer's Office - Deck 6 - USS Artemis
Timeline: MD010 1015 hrs
Mariko had now changed into her red uniform. It felt strange, almost like she was wearing someone else's but it clung to her like it fitted, like it was always meant to be there. She sighed as she walked thinking she already missed her purple uniform but in truth the captain was right... she did suit the red better.
The captain had also mentioned meeting the JAG officer, Lieutenant Claire Fisher, and getting to know what was going on with the upcoming case of Gul Yorr Vamcet. In respectable fashion she had sent Lieutenant Fisher a notice earlier asking if she was available and this was the time chosen. Mariko didn't like showing up unannounced unless she had to.
Pressing the chime to the office she waited for entry to be granted.
Hearing the chime of her office door, Claire looked up from her PaDD and through the stacks of others on her desk towards the chronometer. "Damn!" she muttered under her breath. She had lost track of time and had planned to make herself more presentable before meeting the new first officer, but this would have to do. Smoothing the front of her uniform and adjusting her hair back into the clip she used to hold it back, she stood and called out. "Yes, come in." She said as calmly as she could against her frazzled demeanor.
Entering the room with grace and poise Mariko took stock of the office in front of her, the stacks of PaDDs, some uneaten food and empty cups littered the desk. Clearly Fisher had been burning the midnight oil and then some. Silence hung in the air for a moment as Mariko continued to survey the room before landing on Claire. "When was the last time you stepped out of here?" she asked, the introduction could wait a moment.
Claire gave an embarrassed smile as she felt her cheeks flush briefly. “I had a sonic shower twenty hours ago,” She replied wryly before making her way around the desk and extending her hand to the commander in greeting. “Claire Fisher.” She said in a more formal and proper introduction.
"Mariko Tao." Mariko replied as she took the woman's hand and before stepping back and giving her customary bow of respect towards her. Everyone always had that, her respect, until they did something that would make her lose it. Then it was a hard task rebuilding what commonly took seconds to destroy. "And I am glad you showered recently." she teased in a deadpan fashion.
"Now, let's get you out of here for a minute and you can tell me how the Vamcet case is going. You have been couped up in here long enough and you need some 'fresh' air." Mariko took a sidestep and gestured towards the door.
Claire was about to protest at leaving her office but stopped herself before the words left her throat. With a biting of her inner lip, she simply gave a small polite smile as she nodded and placed the PaDDs out of the way. She knew better than to challenge the first officer.
As the women moved into the corridor, Claire looked at Tao. "So how long have you been aboard?" she asked to be conversational.
"I came on board this morning." Mariko answered plainly as they began to take a stroll. "I don't like to waste time getting to know how things work, what's going on." she gestured with her hand outward as if to encompass the entire ship. "A set up like this is unlike anything I have heard of in Starfleet, at least that I know of."
Claire bit the inside of her lower lip to hold back her initial thoughts and simply nodded, going for a more diplomatic response. "Indeed. I'm curious as well to see how things play out with this assignment and ship's mission."
As the two women wandered through the corridors, Claire wondered if the new XO had a specific agenda with the conversation, or destination. "Have you had a chance to get up to speed on the current assignment, met with the defense counsel, the chief counselor?" She asked with genuine interest.
"I am up to speed on our current assignment and where we are in terms of bringing the accused in. However I have not met the defence counsel as I felt you to be the more important to meet first." Mariko replied honestly. She had a strong sense of justice and even though she was never a lawyer herself she had a degree in interstellar law and always liked to keep her toes dipped in the proverbial waters. She failed to see the need to visit the counsellor but kept that to herself. There was no need for query that.
Claire smiled to herself as she listened to Mariko explain herself. "I see. It was my understanding that Starfleet was going to stand as a neutral party in the case, officially that is. We were simply the arbitrators and nothing else. I hadn't realized there was such a vested interest in the outcome." She said with a small smile at the telling response from the new first officer as she led them to the Mess.
"Arbitration merely shines a light on us as the ones in the middle of two interested parties." Mariko replied as the mess doors opened. "To not have an interest in the outcome one way or another would make one an ineffective arbitrator. To not care would you are giving less than your best and that is always something to avoid." she paused for a moment. "Starfleet is of course the neutral middle-person, but we cannot please one side without displeasing another no matter what the unhappy party says to save face." she walked up to the replicator and ordered some Japanese tea, collecting her cup, and turning to let Claire in.
Claire smiled in appreciation of the first officer letting her to the replicator, ordering herself a coffee before she nodded at the sentiment in the other woman's words. "I can see your point, but justice is justice. It is indeed blind and cares little for politics. Biases must be put aside in the name of seeking truth and justice. This case is indeed proving to be complicated, just by the nature of it."
Mariko gave a nod of agreement. "I suppose the diplomat in me is showing," she sighed. "I firmly believe in controlling one's emotions in public. Passion for peace is crucial in the Diplomatic Corps, yet displaying it can sometimes reveal too much during negotiations. I pursued law studies but never aspired to be a lawyer, which disappointed my father." They proceeded to a small table by the mess hall window. "Diplomacy and law are akin to chess, which I find fascinating. Victory over an opponent requires skill, strategy, and cunning. Justice must not only be fair but also fought for and maintained. That's why I hold your work here in high regard, Lieutenant, and want you to know that I'm here for any support you might need."
Claire gave a small smile and nodded in appreciation at the first officer as she sipped her coffee again. "I look forward to that very much, Commander. Things are never so straight forward as they seem." She commented as she observed the woman. She couldn't quite ignore her impulse to observe others from a clinical sense.
"Yes, sometimes the only thing more dangerous than a question is an answer." Mariko remarked cryptically quoting the 208th Rule of Acquisition before noticing Claire's gaze drifting over her. The conversation seemed to have naturally wound down as Mariko peered into her cup, now nearly empty, which had once held a taste of home. It was a pleasant exchange, and she had expressed all she intended to. "Well, Lieutenant, I shall release you to your duties. I've detained you sufficiently and drawn you away from the solace of your work," she sensed that Claire found profound order in her tasks. Standing, she offered a small bow to the woman. "Until our paths cross again."
Claire gave a small smile of agreement, nodding her head politely at the new first officer before sitting back in her seat to enjoy her coffee, giving herself a few minutes break before returning to the mess that awaited her back in her office.
A Joint Post By
Commander Mariko Tao
Executive Officer, USS Artemis
Starfleet Criminal Investigations Unit
Lieutenant Claire Fisher
JAG Officer, USS Artemis
Starfleet Criminal Investigations Unit
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