Exposing a Jubb (part 3)

Posted on Wed May 7th, 2014 @ 6:14am by Captain T'mpest Michaels & Lieutenant Commander Dylan Blake & Chief Petty Officer Adriana Keen

1,127 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Landreah
Location: Ranger, various

[CONTINUED]

[OLD]

Adriana almost drew back at the serious and somber look on her Department Head's face. She bit her lower lip nervously though and moved to the seat. "Is- Did I do something wrong?" she asked, confusion and apprehension clear in her voice and body language. If she was being disciplined for something, he would have called her into his office, not the bridge. But if she was being complimented in public, not an unusual occurrence and a practice the built morale and respect for leadership, he wouldn't have looked so shell-shocked and serious.

[NEW]

A quick glance around the bridge confirmed his woes, so taking a deep breath he tried to explain what was happening. "We've just heard from the away party," he began already finding this difficult. "There's been a complication."

Adriana's blood ran cold. "A complication?" she echoed softly. "What kind of complication?"

"They're being held against their will by Jaenero ." He said as tentatively as possible hoping to reduce the blow. "But they'll be alright," he added quickly watching her face crumple.

"They're being WHAT?" Adriana said, jumping to her feet as fast as if she'd just been stung by a bee. "What do you mean? Morai is supposed to be with the Admiral, how can he be in trouble of any kind?"

Taking her by the shoulders he eased her back down again. "We don't know," he sighed. "We don't have all the facts yet but this has something to do with Admiral Jubb and his past activates. It seems he has been hiding some pretty terrible stuff."

"But what does that have to do with my husband?" Adriana demanded, not mollified by her boss' attempt at calming her.

"The Governor wants justice for Jubb's crimes against his people. And because the others are with him Jaenero does not believe them to be free of Jubb's guilt." Dylan tried to explain feeling certain his words were not being felt in Adriana's clouded judgement. "He won't release anyone until we can prove otherwise."

"What are we doing about it, then?" she asked. "If they think Keen Morai has committed a crime, they are crazy- And he only met the Admiral a few days ago, how could he possibly be involved in whatever past activities you said he did?"

"I know it sounds crazy," he shook his head. "We all know he's not guilty of anything we just need to provide the proof."

Adriana stood again and pushed back any attempts at getting her to sit down again. "I want to go to him," she said firmly. "If he's been taken into custody or whatever, I need to go to him."

"I can't allow that Adriana," Blake's tone became more authoritative.

Adriana just looked confused now. "But-" she started to argue.

"There's another party involved in this chaos. A criminal gang, who have somehow captured the recon team. He's threatened to execute them unless the Federation withdraws. I won't give him another victim, he already has half a dozen of our people including Captain Halliwell and Sehra."

"Wait... BOTH of our away teams AND our Captain have been kidnapped, captured and arrested?" Adriana asked incredulously. "This has got to be one of the worst failures in the history of away teams; who the hell planned this operation?" Her question was rhetorical of course and based on frustration, anger and fear.

T'mpest walked back onto the bridge. She'd begun a search on all classified information regarding Landreah and set the computer to notify her when it found anything. She was just in time to hear the woman's comment. "That would be me."

Adriana whirled around, caught between embarrassment and anger and fear. The emotions rolled across her face and were finally replaced by despair. "How did this happen?" she wailed, tears welling up in her eyes and threatening to fall.

"I do not know. Nothing is as we were led to believe. Admiral Jubb did not tell us he was a war criminal here, or that by allowing him to come with us, we would be painted with the same brush," T'mpest said truthfully. "If Admiral Jubb is guilty, I will not prevent him from standing trial. But I will not let my crew be punished with him," she assured the woman.

"Then what are we doing about it?" Adriana asked almost desperately.

"Research," T'mpest stated. "We need all the information we can gather to best deal with the situation at hand. If you wish to be of help, then talk to Lieutenant Blake."

Rodney perked up as he heard the word 'Research'. "Commander, would you need anything specific? I can probably find most of the legislature of the planet, if it'd help."

T'mpest turned to Rodney. "Yes. Get everything you can on Jubb, on the Federation's connection to Landreah and on what happened here during the Dominion War. There has to be something in their records we can use."

"Already on it!" Rodney was already tapping furiously on the console, ready to find whatever secrets may be findable.

Adriana bit her lower lip, feeling helpless and unsure. She looked between Blake and T'mpest. "I- Is there any chance I can talk to him? Will they me call him? M-maybe he can give us a better idea of what we're up against?" she asked hopelessly.

T'mpest's expression softened. "I'm afraid not. They're holding him as an accomplice to war crimes." Before Adrianna could say any more, T'mpest added. "If you go down to him, you will put yourself and your baby at risk. All you can do right now is help me gather evidence to present to the Landrean Council showing the Federation's commitment to peace. We need to prove that our people weren't involved in whatever Jubb is being accused of."

Adriana seemed to wilt at being told she couldn't even speak to her husband. "Won't their service records be enough? I mean- if we can just prove that they were no where near Jubb when he did what they say he did, that would prove they aren't involved, right? It should hardly take a minute to send those down for them to review and drop the charges."

"I wish it were that easy," T'mpest said, her tone quiet and consoling. "What we have to proves is that Jubb acted without authority and without approval. We have to separate his actions -- if indeed he is guilty -- with those of the Federation. Only then can we begin to prove your husband guiltless." Of Jubb's innocence, she had her doubts, but she couldn't let the fact that Jubb was odious color the facts.

OFF

Petty Officer 1st Class Adrianna Keen
Operations Officer

Lieutenant Dylan Blake
Chief Operations Officer

Commander T'mpest Michaels
Commanding Officer

 

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