Judgement – Intrusion
by Commander Chelsea Dunham & Commander Isha t'Vaurek
Post Details
Hera Roshier was a private investigator of a very expensive and exclusive kind. She could not be hired for less than a small fortune and not just in gold plated latinum, but untraceable universal credits in floating stock and bonds that transfered silently behind the official scenes.
She had arrived on the same transport as a bounty hunter and the irony of the 'poor cousin' and his undignified public display of handcuffs and shouting, being the fracas that Hera had been able to slip away under cover of, was not lost on her.
Achieving her target, she now presented at the reception of the Romulan Embassy and politely asked for an appointment to see the Ambassador.
"You will have to come back at a more appropriate hour." Nahir said. "I will also need your official identification. You will not be allowed in until it is verfied," she said. "Return in the morning, 07:00."
---
The woman was back. Nahir hadn't been sure if she would return, but here she was.
Nahir simply turned her attention to her screen as though she had never previosuly met the other.
Hera had with her a tube shaped info-stick that confirmed her indentification. An impeccible forgery. "Madison Whittaker" she presented as. "Good morning, You may recall that I have an appointment with the Ambassador" she stated politely holding out the disc. "This is what you required of me. I should appreciate its return when I leave, if that meets with your procedures?" she stood awaiting the clearance patiently.
Eventually Nahir eaised her head. "I'll be sending this for further verifciation," she said, "It will be available when you are done." By now the Ambassador's strange body servant had emerged.
"This way," Ekenda said after the security checks were met. She followed the other down the hallway, who she was would not truly emerge until her Lady spoke with her.
"Ambassador, Madison Whittaker," she said as she stepped into the office and alllowed the woman in.
Isha's brow creased, Who was this person?
"Sit," she instructed as Ekenda took her place by the door. "What is it that the Stelam Shiar can do for you, Ms Whittaker?"
"Thank you" Hera sat as indicated and folded her hands in her lap. "I wonder, Madam Ambassador, if I might discuss a delicate personal matter with yourself, rather than the Stelam Shiar in all its official magnitude?"
"We are not acquainted, Ms Whittaker," Isha said tilting her head slightly to one side. This was curious. "How can we possibly have a personal matter to discuss?"
"I am here at the behest of the family of one of the victims of a tragedy on Vulcan of which I understand you were the sole survivor." she continued politely.
Isha's expression flattened, "That was fifteen years ago," she said, "and not an episode I care to dwell upon," not least because she and Rh'vaurek suspected that the whole episode was an attempt by a party yet unknown to have her eliminated; someone with no qualms about collateral famage either. "I don't see how I can help."
"Madam I feel sure you can imagine that the family simply wish to know more about how their loved one died, as grieving relatives do, and as you are the only living soul who could possibly know anything about this, it is natural that they should enquire of you as their only source." Hera explained.
"There was a full investigation at the time performed by the authorities on Vulcan. I was merely 'lucky' that the terrorists chose to imprison me in a cellar, rather than the main hotel. What they thought would be an unbearable humiliation to me turned out to be my salvation," she added, running her hands one by one over her wrists. I don't see how I can help you."
"I do not wish to cause you any distress, Madam Ambassador, please be assured of that. My purpose here is not to question the official account nor to bring back any memories that are, I am sure, most distasteful and upsetting to you. However, the official report in question leaves a great deal unclarified and is, frankly, sparse to put it mildly." Hera looked regretfully at Isha. She was full of sympathy and gentle apology for having no-one else to ask.
"We were desperately clinging to the hope, my Lady, that there might be something that happened to you that might fill in one or two of the gaps and perhaps thrown a speck of light on anything that might comfort the family and allow them to finally lay their loved one to rest at last. As you state, it was a long time ago and we were hoping that time might have been helpful to your own healing process too." She couldn't have been a more sympathetic and charming of inquirers.
No matter how nice, sympathetic or amiable the woman was Isha recognised an interrogation technique when she was faced with one. "There is very little I can tell you that would help you," she said without missing a breath. They had kept the quadrant hoodwinked for over a decade. It had to be that way, Rh'vaurek would not leave her there, and though the Tal'Shiar knew of the plot in advance they had allowed it to go ahead and because of that Rh'vaurek's involvement had to be kept hidden. Someone high up in the government wanted her dead in that seige, someone high enough for the terrorists to go to extraordinary lengths to 'prove' that they had her rather than admit their failure.
"Aside from the point at which I was brought out to prove that I was being held, I was kept in isolation," she said. Who the woman who appeared in the grainy news footage was, Isha did not know. Any discrepancies in features had been disguised not with surgery but with swift brutality and to seal their lie it had been down to she and Rh'vaurek to re-create the injuries that had been witnessed by viewers.
Isha touched the tips of her fingers together against her lips and closed her eyes, the shudder she experienced at the memory of that was entirely genuine.
"I know nothing about what happened to the others," Isha said dropping her hands into her lap. She had another layer of protection too that she would raise to augment the official report if necessary.
"I deeply regret, Madam Ambassador, to have brought back such unhappy and distressing memories for you." Hera had noticed the shudder and believed it to be genuine.
"I, and the people I represent, are very sorry to have wasted your time, but we do hope you will understand that in memory of the departed, we did have an obligation to at least ask. Whilst there was the smallest chance, it would not have been acceptable to simply avoid persuing even the faintest glimmer of hope." Hera said respectfully, standing up as if to leave but waiting respectfully for dismissal before she actually moved away.
"Very well. The past is best left where it is. Good day, Ms Whittacker," Isha said turning her attention to the screen inlaid in the surface of her desk.
For all the denial and the apparent lack of success of this interview, Hera went away satisfied that her *real* purpose had been successfully achieved. Clearly the Ambassador and more importantly the *hru'hfirh* had remembered those who died, together with how and why. *That* was the whole point. Hera collected her *reference* file at the desk and left with a spring in her step.
"Ekenda," Isha called summoning her servant the moment the woman had left and the doors were closed, "File a central request for an official investigation on Ms Whittacker. Provide them with the details she left with security, and ask our local services to find out what she really wants and who she is working for."
Isha steepled her fingers and stared into the middle distance ... anyone snooping around for details about that event required full and thorough investigation.
OFF
Ambassador Isha t'Khellian
Hera Roshier
P.I.
by Commander Chelsea Dunham & Commander Isha t'Vaurek
Post Details
| Title | Intrusion | |
| Mission | Judgement | |
| Author(s) | Commander Chelsea Dunham & Commander Isha t'Vaurek | |
| Posted | Sat Feb 26, 2011 @ 7:54am | |
| Location | The Romulan Embassy | |
| Timeline | D37 07:00 |
She had arrived on the same transport as a bounty hunter and the irony of the 'poor cousin' and his undignified public display of handcuffs and shouting, being the fracas that Hera had been able to slip away under cover of, was not lost on her.
Achieving her target, she now presented at the reception of the Romulan Embassy and politely asked for an appointment to see the Ambassador.
"You will have to come back at a more appropriate hour." Nahir said. "I will also need your official identification. You will not be allowed in until it is verfied," she said. "Return in the morning, 07:00."
---
The woman was back. Nahir hadn't been sure if she would return, but here she was.
Nahir simply turned her attention to her screen as though she had never previosuly met the other.
Hera had with her a tube shaped info-stick that confirmed her indentification. An impeccible forgery. "Madison Whittaker" she presented as. "Good morning, You may recall that I have an appointment with the Ambassador" she stated politely holding out the disc. "This is what you required of me. I should appreciate its return when I leave, if that meets with your procedures?" she stood awaiting the clearance patiently.
Eventually Nahir eaised her head. "I'll be sending this for further verifciation," she said, "It will be available when you are done." By now the Ambassador's strange body servant had emerged.
"This way," Ekenda said after the security checks were met. She followed the other down the hallway, who she was would not truly emerge until her Lady spoke with her.
"Ambassador, Madison Whittaker," she said as she stepped into the office and alllowed the woman in.
Isha's brow creased, Who was this person?
"Sit," she instructed as Ekenda took her place by the door. "What is it that the Stelam Shiar can do for you, Ms Whittaker?"
"Thank you" Hera sat as indicated and folded her hands in her lap. "I wonder, Madam Ambassador, if I might discuss a delicate personal matter with yourself, rather than the Stelam Shiar in all its official magnitude?"
"We are not acquainted, Ms Whittaker," Isha said tilting her head slightly to one side. This was curious. "How can we possibly have a personal matter to discuss?"
"I am here at the behest of the family of one of the victims of a tragedy on Vulcan of which I understand you were the sole survivor." she continued politely.
Isha's expression flattened, "That was fifteen years ago," she said, "and not an episode I care to dwell upon," not least because she and Rh'vaurek suspected that the whole episode was an attempt by a party yet unknown to have her eliminated; someone with no qualms about collateral famage either. "I don't see how I can help."
"Madam I feel sure you can imagine that the family simply wish to know more about how their loved one died, as grieving relatives do, and as you are the only living soul who could possibly know anything about this, it is natural that they should enquire of you as their only source." Hera explained.
"There was a full investigation at the time performed by the authorities on Vulcan. I was merely 'lucky' that the terrorists chose to imprison me in a cellar, rather than the main hotel. What they thought would be an unbearable humiliation to me turned out to be my salvation," she added, running her hands one by one over her wrists. I don't see how I can help you."
"I do not wish to cause you any distress, Madam Ambassador, please be assured of that. My purpose here is not to question the official account nor to bring back any memories that are, I am sure, most distasteful and upsetting to you. However, the official report in question leaves a great deal unclarified and is, frankly, sparse to put it mildly." Hera looked regretfully at Isha. She was full of sympathy and gentle apology for having no-one else to ask.
"We were desperately clinging to the hope, my Lady, that there might be something that happened to you that might fill in one or two of the gaps and perhaps thrown a speck of light on anything that might comfort the family and allow them to finally lay their loved one to rest at last. As you state, it was a long time ago and we were hoping that time might have been helpful to your own healing process too." She couldn't have been a more sympathetic and charming of inquirers.
No matter how nice, sympathetic or amiable the woman was Isha recognised an interrogation technique when she was faced with one. "There is very little I can tell you that would help you," she said without missing a breath. They had kept the quadrant hoodwinked for over a decade. It had to be that way, Rh'vaurek would not leave her there, and though the Tal'Shiar knew of the plot in advance they had allowed it to go ahead and because of that Rh'vaurek's involvement had to be kept hidden. Someone high up in the government wanted her dead in that seige, someone high enough for the terrorists to go to extraordinary lengths to 'prove' that they had her rather than admit their failure.
"Aside from the point at which I was brought out to prove that I was being held, I was kept in isolation," she said. Who the woman who appeared in the grainy news footage was, Isha did not know. Any discrepancies in features had been disguised not with surgery but with swift brutality and to seal their lie it had been down to she and Rh'vaurek to re-create the injuries that had been witnessed by viewers.
Isha touched the tips of her fingers together against her lips and closed her eyes, the shudder she experienced at the memory of that was entirely genuine.
"I know nothing about what happened to the others," Isha said dropping her hands into her lap. She had another layer of protection too that she would raise to augment the official report if necessary.
"I deeply regret, Madam Ambassador, to have brought back such unhappy and distressing memories for you." Hera had noticed the shudder and believed it to be genuine.
"I, and the people I represent, are very sorry to have wasted your time, but we do hope you will understand that in memory of the departed, we did have an obligation to at least ask. Whilst there was the smallest chance, it would not have been acceptable to simply avoid persuing even the faintest glimmer of hope." Hera said respectfully, standing up as if to leave but waiting respectfully for dismissal before she actually moved away.
"Very well. The past is best left where it is. Good day, Ms Whittacker," Isha said turning her attention to the screen inlaid in the surface of her desk.
For all the denial and the apparent lack of success of this interview, Hera went away satisfied that her *real* purpose had been successfully achieved. Clearly the Ambassador and more importantly the *hru'hfirh* had remembered those who died, together with how and why. *That* was the whole point. Hera collected her *reference* file at the desk and left with a spring in her step.
"Ekenda," Isha called summoning her servant the moment the woman had left and the doors were closed, "File a central request for an official investigation on Ms Whittacker. Provide them with the details she left with security, and ask our local services to find out what she really wants and who she is working for."
Isha steepled her fingers and stared into the middle distance ... anyone snooping around for details about that event required full and thorough investigation.
OFF
Ambassador Isha t'Khellian
Hera Roshier
P.I.