Lieutenant Commander Lael Rosek: A Different Tack
Lael Rosek
((Brig, Deck 4, USS Astraeus))
Rosek: I’m going to need you on my six to nail his @$$ to the floor in case he tries anything.
Wrader: ::lips curving slightly:: I shall endeavor to keep whatever part of his anatomy proves offensive well grounded, ma’am.
With the forcefield lowered, she stepped into the cell and moved cautiously toward its unconscious occupant. Pressing the hypo to the side of his neck, she quickly jumped out of the way so she wouldn’t become a victim of the Cardassian’s dazed lashing out. She then scrambled quickly out of the cell.
It all happened so quickly she hardly had time to process it. She’d intended to slam the forcefield back up before the Cardassian was fully cognizant, but the knee-jerk reaction and Wrader’s subsequent response had left her frozen. Thankfully, the Cardassian still seemed dazed and she surmised the Cardassian had just gotten lucky. She was relieved that she’d had the sense to scramble out of the way was quickly at she had.
Within moments, the Cardassian laid on his side on the floor in a rather undignified heap. She winced. It looked like it had really hurt. She made a mental note never to get on Wrader’s bad side. Even with her advanced martial arts skills and greater-than-Human strength, Wrader would be a challenge.
Wrader: Impressive.
Rosek: oO Like I said...lucky. Wrader just happened to be directly in front of him. Oo
Khamar: ::hisses:: Do you have any idea who I am?! When my government finds out, you’ll live to regret this!
Lael highly doubted that. Even she was shrewd enough to detect the slight waver in the man’s voice even as he tried to sound as intimidating as possible. The way his eyes had flickered between the two betrayed his nervousness. There was a missing piece to this puzzle that he was trying desperately to hide.
Wrader: I simply would have thought a longer recovery would have been required. But, to answer what I believe you really wish to have asked, we have questions for you regarding the recent incident.
Khamar: ::smirks without humor and looks to Rosek:: Your officer must think I’m an absolute imbecile to believe I’d answer anything you ask me.
Rosek: ::shrugs:: That is, of course, your choice. Though it would be in your best interest to cooperate. I don’t believe your own government will be so accommodating when they find out you were running the equivalent of a concentration camp without their knowledge.
She was calling the man’s bluff. She could tell from the slight narrowing of his eyes that he had his suspicions about her intentions, but he didn’t seem willing to call her bluff.
Wrader: ::gesturing at the chair:: May I sit?
Her gaze flickered to the Cardassian, who looked angry enough to kill. Not that Wrader wasn’t a perfectly capable fighter. In fact, his offensive style of fighting was an advantage in some situations over her preferred defensive style. With more volatile opponents, a strike first and ask questions later philosophy kept a person alive. Still, she’d rather not be responsible for him becoming serious injured.
Rosek: ::pauses:: I’d much rather you join me out here, Ensign.
Khamar: ::turns to Wrader and smirks:: You’d best be a good pet and listen to your master. Wouldn’t want her prize favorite getting hurt.
She stiffened, fighting the urge to step into the cell and pummel the Cardassian herself. A scowl twisted her lips for a moment before it gave way to a deadly serious expression, her gaze meeting the Cardassian’s for a long moment without blinking, her eyebrows arched high as though daring him to continue.
Wrader: ::smiling slightly and turning to Rosek:: Of course, ma’am.
Khamar: ::chuckles darkly:: Come now, Commander. I’ve looked into the eyes of psychopathic killers. Surely you don’t think you pitiful attempts will intimidate me.
Slowly, she stepped into the cell and strode toward where Khamar laid, dropping down beside him, her eyes never leaving his. She tilted her head slightly, not speaking for a long moment.
Rosek: I don’t expect to intimidate you, Khamar. Only to remind you that you don’t have the power over your fate that you seem to think you do.
Wrader: Indeed, I believe you have lost the ability to provide your masters what they tasked you to deliver. Even should you escape from our ship by some means, your future will once more rest in their hands.
She resisted the urge to glance in Wrader’s direction, hoping to drive home her point to the Cardassian in front of her. Her gaze narrowed as she mustered feelings of disdain, using her projection abilities to her advantage. She focused those feelings directly at the Cardassian, praying that Wrader didn’t get mixed up in the crossfire. What she was about toed the ethical line and she was certain if anyone figured it out down the road, she was in for another dressing down, this time from Mei.
As Wrader’s last words sank in, she saw a flicker of fear behind the Cardassian’s eyes, but it was gone as quickly as it had come and amusement once again filled the man’s features. Frustration bubbled up inside of her and she somehow managed to control it, feigning boredom instead.
Khamar: I have no idea what you’re talking about, Magna Roman.
Wrader: ::cocking an eyebrow:: The Son’a, of course. Or do you mean to say they are not your masters? They certainly took a marked interest in preventing us from extracting you.
Khamar: ::arches his eyebrows:: And how can you be certain my capture by you isn’t precisely what they intended?
The Son’a were clever, but not that clever. It required an intriquicy of thought and an understanding of Federation tactics that she wasn’t sure they possessed. Khamar was good at bluffing, she’d give him that. But then, years in politics had likely taught him how to save face with an opponent who appeared to have the upper hand.
Wrader: ::gesturing to the side:: Commander, might I have a word?
She desperately wished she spoke more than a couple words of his language to knock him down a peg or two. As it was, Cardassian wasn’t one of the languages she had a proficient understanding of. Sending a withering look and the accompanying disgust his way via her empathic projection abilities, she followed Wrader out of the cell, the field going up again as they exited.
She followed Wrader to a place outside of Khamar’s hearing range. A glance back at the cell revealed the man again taking up position on the bed.
Wrader: His disdain for the Son’a is apparent and yet so too is his dependency upon them. If we utilize that, I believe he will tell us more than he intends.
Rosek: ::nods:: I got the impression that they hold his fate in their hands.
Wrader: I concur. As such, we will have to give the appearance of pursuing an entirely different strategy than that we have chosen. If he believes he has identified our course of action, he will focus upon it and leave other avenues of approach open.
Rosek: ::pauses:: Agreed. The conventional methods aren’t going to work on him.
Glancing at Khamar, he seemed fidgety. He felt safe here and was likely aware that this was his haven from his Son’a masters. He also likely was under the impression that he wouldn’t be released until he gave them the answers they were seeking. The second he did, he lost his protection.
Wrader: As a Cardassian, I believe he is accustomed to extreme pressure—physical or psychological—as the primary form of interrogation. If we present him with that possibility, he will doubtless believe it is our approach. It is simply a matter of who suggests that threat.
Rosek: ::pauses:: I think we need to take a different tack. He won’t see it coming.
Wrader: Response
Rosek: ::smirks:: Follow my lead, Ensign.
Again, the pair strode back toward the cell with Lael in the lead. Khamar didn’t so much as sit up to acknowledge their presence. Another nod at Goodwell and the forcefield again came down. She stepped inside with Wrader beside her, hands tucked behind her back.
Rosek: ::sighs:: I can see we’ll get nowhere with this. ::features soften:: Are you comfortable? I can have one of our crewmen bring you something to drink and eat.
Khamar: ::turns toward her, narrowing his gaze:: What new trick is this, Federation?
Rosek: ::shrugs:: It’s clear that you have the advantage. You have information I need. So I’m willing to negotiate.
Wrader: Response
She turned to the Ensign, her expression stern, hoping it conveyed for him to play along.
Rosek: ::to Khamar:: We can protect you from the Son’a. You’ve seen how our ship easily fought them off in battle. They’d be foolish to take us on again. If you share what you know about them, we won’t turn you over to them. If not… ::glances away from him for a moment, then meets his gaze again::
Khamar: ::scoffs:: You wouldn’t. You said yourself that I have knowledge you need.
Rosek: ::shrugs:: Not so valuable that I wouldn’t enjoy seeing you at their mercy. ::arches an eyebrow:: I’m bound by my duties to seek a peaceful solution. I’d rather not answer to my captain for dragging you into an escape pod and ejecting it for your masters to find.
She noted how Khamar’s features shifted, clearly trying to figure out what her end game was. She gave away nothing, her features expressionless as she used her abilities to project a nervousness she didn’t truly feel. He had to feel he had the advantage or he wouldn’t bite. Hopefully, it would force him to tip his hand.
Wrader: Response
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Lieutenant Commander Lael Rosek
Executive Officer, USS Astraeus, NCC-70652
I238110RH0
"The growth and develop of people is the highest calling of leadership." -- Harvey S. Firestone