Lieutenant JG Amelia Semara - Missing in Action

[Max]

(( Substation Mu - Alpha Trionus II, Detention Facility 03949, "The Crack" ))

Amelia's first away mission as the "more senior" officer (as the ensign had so eloquently put it) was progressing.  About as swift and sure as the rickety clanker of a lift that she shared with the aforementioned ensign and the hapless Brikar guard escorting them, but it was progressing nonetheless.  They had a Sheliak to interview, thanks to the doctor's snooping through the prison's medical record, such as they were.

Amelia shuffled in a little closer to talk with Melville-Kilpatrick under the commotion of the lift's ascent.  She wasn't worried about the guard anyway - his mind was half a quadrant away, probably already on shore leave with some Brikar girl.  She'd know if he dipped back into the conversation.

Semara: Okay, you got your exam.  Thoughts on how we'll know the Sheliak's met any Tholians?  :: A sarcastic smirk. ::  I doubt they'll be as talkative as our guard friend here.

Somehow, she doubted any of these specist, supremacist prisoners would respond to any questioning - direct or otherwise.

Melville-Kilpatrick: Well, we already know that there's something wrong. Medically speaking, that is. Maybe this won't be the shiniest Sheliak in the sky and we'll be able to convince 'em that it's something much worse. Most people like this tend to have pretty strong survival instincts.

Her head bobbed up and down, a sly, satisfied smile .  A solid, simple approach.  The doctor might have had a touch of the collywobbles at being dropped into the middle of one of the crazier missions she'd experienced so far, but he had a good head on her shoulders.  The idea hinged on the doctor having a better grasp of Sheliak physiology than the Sheliak they were going to "diagnose", but she trusted him.

Hobart: =/\= Hobart to Lieutenant Semara. =/\=

Melville-Kilpatrick: =/\= I think that's for you =/\=

Her eyebrows lifted before she slapped the communicator on her chest.  The man would make a good secretary and a good doctor.

Semara: =/\= Semara here, sir. =/\=

Hobart: =/\= Any luck so far? =/\=

oO What kind of luck? Oo

Semara: =/\= Sure.  All kinds a' luck.  We got medical records for the inmates.  Our best lead on the Tholian is an asthmatic Sheliak we think might'a met with him.  As for the Sheliak General...  :: Flipping through the PADD records. :: Please hold, Commander... =/\=

She twiddled with her comm badge until it helpfully chirruped that the conversation was muted.  Understanding that the Commander operated on hard facts and action and not conjecture, it was worth the fifteen seconds to confirm what she was seeing on the PADD with Melville-Kilpatrick.

Semara: Hey doc, we got all the Sheliak medical records, right?  These look like ranks in the intake notes.  I don't see a General.

Melville-Kilpatrick: Response

Her lips pursed.  She already knew the answer - she remembered pushing the button to grab them onto the PADD.  But she'd hate looking the fool in front of Hobart.  So best to be certain the absence of any senior Sheliak commanders in the records wasn't either of their faults.  She unmuted the conversation with Hobart.

Semara: =/\= Thanks for holdin' Commander.  :: Beat :: There ain't any general in the Sheliak medical records. =/\=

Hobart: =/\= Response =/\=

Semara: =/\= Yeah, I checked careful-like.  :: Beat ::  We would'a known for certain we had a general in the first place, right?  Somebody had to order surrender at DS33. =/\=

Hobart was there.  He would have to know something about it.  It was hard to imagine if Starfleet was completely unaware it had a person of interest.

Hobart: =/\= Response =/\=

Amelia shot a glance at her companion doctor once more, a note of concern weighing at her eyelids.

Semara: =/\= Doc, any reason you can think of the General's medical record wouldn't be in there? =/\=

Melville-Kilpatrick / Hobart: =/\= Response =/\=

The lift jolted to a stop, and Amelia noticed that the air carried a faint breath of fresh air now, but there was still heat radiating off the mineral-laden rocks.  Without the mitigation of heavy-duty life support systems, it was a dry, high-pressure heat.  Not intense like the levels below, but just uncomfortable enough to start a sweat.

Semara: =/\= Maybe the cap'n can ask the warden.  :: Beat :: We'll find out what we can from here.  Maybe our prospective patient knows somethin'. =/\=

Hobart: =/\= Response =/\=

Semara: =/\= Aye, sir.  Semara out. =/\=

The Brikar turned back to give a wordless side-eye to check if the blonde Betazoid Lieutenant JG was still paying attention and still wanted this tour.  Amelia signaled with a well-practiced smile and ladylike tilt of the head that she was more interested in meeting this Sheliak than ever.

He punched a series of codes into a panel, and a heavy security door clunk-clunk-clunk-THUNKed unlocked, then opened inward.  Amelia straightened out a wayward piece of hair, determined not to let this place's neglect gain even a toehold on her polished poise and appearance.  She spared a sideways glance to see how the doctor was doing as the Brikar guard started moving again.

Semara: Alright Doctor, when we meet this Sheliak, I'm countin' on you to get him to open his mouth.  Or to activate whatever organ or tissue set it uses for vocalization...

Melville-Kilpatrick: Response

She couldn't help a grin.  She liked this ensign.  As they passed through the hall hewn into rough-cut grey and brown rock, following behind the looming mobile onyx statue that was their guard, Amelia leaned inward toward him a little.

Semara: Take a coupl'a breaths for me, will ya?  You're doin' fine.  Wouldn't be Starfleet if someone had done it before.  Think about the papers you'll get to write about Sheliak physiology!  :: Voice lowering conspiratorially. :: Or what flavor of ice cream we'll replicate when we get back.

Fascinating science or culinary delights?   Either way worked for her.

Then the Brikar came to a stop and gave the two Starfleet officers a meaningful searching glance.  Presumably, they had arrived at their destination.

Melville-Kilpatrick: Response

Tag / TBC...

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Lieutenant Junior Grade Amelia Magnolia Semara

Science Officer - Special Projects

USS Khitomer - NCC-62400

A239710MA0