Episode 2.02: Rivulets of Copper, Eyes Aflame

[Patrick Goodman]

What is T'Kiri's rank? Treyva would want to reply with similar formality out of politeness before falling back on their more friendly relationship.

[Davy, aka GM]

OOC: Her V'Kor title is Principal Investigator, which is equivalent to the VDF rank of Subcommander. Treyva would know that Vulcan security services personnel are normally addressed by their service-specific title, rather than their VDF-equivalent rank (even as their insignias closely match, with subtle differences, the VDF rank insignia).

[Patrick Goodman]

Treyva returned the salute and said, "And to you and your officers as well, Principal Investigator T'Kiri. I, too, wish the circumstances were more social." He took a few steps closer, and said quietly, "I am deeply sorry for your loss, T'Kiri."

[Davy, aka GM]

She nods. "It is a weight that hangs upon me, Treyva. But I find my rest knowing my mate and his friends will help us uncover the truth of Talvar's murder."

T'Kiri then clears her throat quietly and introduces uniformed officers Ayhan and T'Ara, whom she says are assigned to the Drake crew task force and are available to provide administrative and enforcement support, as needed. The investigator then gestures toward the security checkpoint, where they're signed in as visitors (which amounts to logging of their communicator IDs and linking them to the facility's network) and turn in all other devices (weapons and tricorders). T'Kiri requests and receives from the desk officers a security tricorder, which she hands to Mr. Cole.

"For recording and scanning of the prisoner during the interview," she says. The crew is allowed through the checkpoint and continue to the courtyard. Impressive in its own right, it looks like an office park plaza straight out of Starfleet Command or the Federation Council Complex. About a half-dozen inmates - all Vulcans - are moving about, four of whom appear to be tending to the meticulously maintained flora. Another appears to be talking with a Vulcan in civilian attire on a bench in a corner, and the last one meditating in the central square.

Around the outer edge of the far side of the plaza are seven buildings arranged in a semi-circle. Each building is identical to the others in its design, also following the architectural style of the main hall; however, it is difficult to determine the function of the buildings by their outward appearance.

"The central block is the mental health center, where inmates receive behavioral care, both in group and individual settings," T'Kiri explains, "and also in guided and unguided practices." She gestures to the meditating inmate and the one talking with the civilian for reference.

OOC Editor's Note: I can imagine an Elba II rehabilitation chair is also on site, used only for the criminally insane who do not respond to other psychiatric treatments.

Other buildings include four main inmate residences (flanking the mental health center), which are "self-contained and largely self-sufficient." The inmates, she says, manage their own living quarters, prepare meals communally, study or practice trades, and share entertainment and other activities. The block on the far right, T'Kiri says, is an out-processing facility and visitation center; it contains additional security checkpoints to protect visitors from potential dangers, and no inmate can enter the building unescorted.

The investigator then points to the closest building on the left. "This block is where we house inmates awaiting trial and those in investigative custody, like your Lt. Thadis. Their access to the rest of the grounds is limited, and a dedicated staff performs the functions that would normally be handled by the inmates themselves in other blocks," she explains. As the crew enters, the common room is empty, save for two members of the facility staff overseeing the automated cleaning equipment.

T'Kiri leads them into a corridor with quarters on each side. Each room has smoked interior windows on the doors and walls, through which only silhouettes can be seen. "Security staff can adjust the opacity of the glass remotely, both one-way and two-way, as needed. The exterior windows on the opposite sides of each berth are the same. The default view from within the room, however, is an environmental scene, which is selectable by the inmate within the room."

At the very end of the hall, she taps the controls on the door to the right, and the windows shift to transparent view. Within, they see a meeting room. A dozen chairs are arranged in a circular pattern around the center in an otherwise pleasant-looking, but nondescript space. In the chair opposite the door, his hands on his knees, his eyes closed and his antennae low, sits Lt. Thadis.

Pressing another control, T'Kiri states, "Ta'Vista badge number I-3-6-A-9-8, entering Room 1-1-8. With two escorts and four guests." A light turns from amber to green, and the door slides open. Thadis stands and comes to attention as his commanding officer enters the room.

"You have no idea how good it is to see friendly faces," he says. "Please tell me you can get me out of this mess."

[Renny]

Cole regards Thadis sympathetically. Seeing a shipmate in a cage, albeit a pleasant looking cage, doesn't sit well with him.

[Nolmir]

Tobin smiles sympathetically at his subordinate. "It's good to see you too, Thadis. We're going to do everything we can to get to the bottom of this."

[Doug Burke]

OOC: It's up to you, Doug, if Sorak and T'Kiri visited/hosted Ayhan and his mate during the engineer's current visit home.

Let's say it was planned but had not occurred yet.

Sorak meets eyes briefly with both Ayhan and T'Ara, "It is agreeable to see you again, Officers. And gratifying to know we will will be working with such dependable and skilled investigators. My initial interpolation was that the investigation was not being seriously considered since such a... tidy suspect has been discovered so quickly. I am unusually content to apparently be proven incorrect in that assessment."

[Davy, aka GM]

Back in the lobby...

"...I am unusually content to apparently be proven incorrect in that assessment."

Both officers nod in return, a glint of affinity behind their otherwise stoic expressions.

"That was the provincial commander's doing," T'Ara notes. Both officers know of Sorak's familial proximity to Spalan.

*~*~*~*~*
In the meeting room...

"Let us sit," T'Kiri prompts. As everyone finds a seat, she continues, "Please note that this room is being recorded and all statements made herein will appear on the official transcript of our meeting. Captain, you and your officers may ask questions freely."

OOC: Ran out of time writing this, but I think this is probably a good place to stop, anyway.

[Renny]

Cole straightens in his chair and looks to Treyva.

"Sir, with your permission? Perhaps the Lieutenant could simply give us his account of the events which have led us here?"

[Patrick Goodman]

Treyva nodded. "Seems a logical place to start."

[Davy, aka GM]

"Where to begin," Thadis says, his eyes shifting as he appears to sift through the events of recent days. "Well, as you know, Mr. Les, for the first part of our yard period, I was overseeing the Helio*, Astronomy, and Astrophyics lab inspections and shakedown reports. Lots of trips to and from the the shipyard, though I had a little downtime for a short excursion here and there.

* Heliophysics

"The lab business concluded on 8866, and I began my shore leave rotation," the Andorian continues. "I've been working on a remote combined planetology course through ETH Zurich -" this is a surprise to Tobin "- so I arranged for a tour of an old mine near GolanKorsta for the next day. I never ended up exploring deep into the complex though, due to a collapse in an unstable area while I was there. A couple days later, I visited the Sas-a-Shar eremology research station, and I've been sightseeing in Ta'Vistar since."

T'Kiri notes, "The body of a geostatistician named T'Pak was found under that collapse on stardate 8869, but it was later determined her fatal wounds were not caused by it. Sas-a-Shar eremologist Verrin and shuttle pilot Subaltern T'Syra -"

"The pilot's dead?" Thadis interjects.

"Yes, Mr. Thadis. Her body was discovered under Verrin's earlier today," the investigator notes. "Both were reported missing the day after your visit; you were likely the last person to see both alive on stardate 8869."

The astronomer slumps back into his chair, looking quite shocked and defeated. T'Kiri continues, "The body of an academic named Sotir was found late last night; during forensic processing of that scene, the body of retired investigator Talvar was discovered this morning near Sotir's. Both were seen encountering Mr. Thadis on security sensors in the Ta'Vistar main shopping district on stardate 8870."

[Renny]

"Investigator, if I may", Cole takes advantage of the pause in T'Kiri's report.

"You suggested that T'Pak's fatal wounds were caused by something other than the collapse. Can you tell us what killed her, and the pilot for that matter?" 

[Davy, aka GM]

"T'Pak's cause of death was later determined to be heart seizure due to perforation by a foreign object," she says. "Her fatal wound was consistent with a blade of 30 to 70 centimeters in length."

T'Kiri pauses a moment to consult her padd. "The subaltern was decapitated, but any one of a half-dozen deep lacerations on her torso would have otherwise been fatal."

[Patrick Goodman]

Treyva had assumed his "Deep Thinky" posture almost as soon as Thadis had begun speaking. Without moving or opening his eyes, he said, "Lieutenant, were you with anyone when the collapse in the cave occurred?"

[Davy, aka GM]

"At the time of the collapse, yes, sir. I was with a staff geologist - I can't remember her name, to be honest, but I think she's from Earth, on exchange. But, I can't say I was with someone for the entire visit," Thadis says.