Lt. Haukea-Willow: Half Measures

[Aly Drolet]

OOC: A slight, reasonable error occurred in the time between McLaren’s last sim and the posting of Metet’s most recent sim. I have taken liberties to correct the error, which was no one’s fault. Hopefully I combined everything reasonably well. The two sims fit together better than expected. One tag at the end, small, to allow the scene to get back on track. 

((Deck 4, Corridor, Main Shuttlebay, USS Narendra)). 

In order to remain practical, though avoiding Foster’s current position aboard the Narendra, and subsequently Ops, Haukea avoided revealing his place as First Officer. 

Brynn: ::In a whisper:: Foster’s ETA?

McLaren: ::Glancing down:: Not long. Seconds away.

Metet: Ah I see our own doctor is amongst those injured from the eddy's.

Willow: I can assure you he will receive the highest quality care possible.

Brynn: Oh….gods…

McLaren: ::Placing a hand on Brynn’s shoulder:: Hang in there, Lieutenant.

Metet: Please allow me to help all Romulan officers receive core medical training. 

Willow: However, until Foster arrives, I must reiterate that you are to remain well back from the 1st Lt., McLaren has got it well enough in hand.

Her toes, ankles, the muscles surrounding the top of her feet, beginning to ache from the stress of such a prolonged crouch, she stood, stance once again wide, hands on hips, covering her phaser. She was wary, being only one of less than a handful of individuals to be in contact with the Romulan beside her. She could not take any chances, not now, not ever; more when one of her own was injured. If McLaren ordered otherwise, now, currently, she was likely to counter the opinion, matters of security taking president. 

Brynn: Foster….please, hurry.

Haukea, despite her limited training, through the lens of crisis response, could in no way accurately diagnose 1st Lt. Brynn’s condition. Nevertheless, by way of sympathy, empathy and equally experience - from her own limited wounds, as well as those of other individuals - managed to, in imagination, understand the discomfort she must have been experiencing. Yet, with one open ear, Haukea - faintly - heard foot fall from down the corridor; Foster. 

McLaren: He's right here...

Metet: Ah this must be your Doctor. I could have assisted. We are all friends at the moment. 

Willow: You mean well. I am merely under oath from my position, you see. 

Still in an attempt to put distance between Starfleet and the Romulan official, the chief both validated Metet’s concerns - building trust, on the off chance it indeed could be kept - while likewise, indicating that Brynn’s injury was not a matter for himself to get involved in. Her statement was a clever way to announce it was her duty position to do as such; hopefully he would understand. 

Foster: Alright, alright. Emergency med coming. Doctors Wethern and Kel have sickbay ready.

Foster’s statement provided no direct sense of relief. Haukea, returning to a heightened state of defence, given the precarious turn of events, found her previous distrust continuing. Yet, in some way, given her station as chief security officer, trust, however limited, was maintained. Which further confirmed the logic behind her previous statement. 

Solaris and Wyn, having known each other far better than she herself knew them, engaged in a silent conversation, to which Haukea could not identify an easy outcome. 

Brynn: Thank goodness.

McLaren: Thanks for making a house call, Wyn.

Metet: I do hope your crew member is ok. I am still eager to see whether my crew are safe. Captains perogative you understand.

Foster: Let me see the patient. If you need you can go on ahead.

With a certified doctor, however removed from the position, present, Haukea replicated McLaren’s movements, maintaining distance between the intelligence director and the Romulan representative. Though McLaren herself maintained visual observation with Foster, as he attended to his patient, Haukea found herself unable to move her attention further from Metet. 

Brynn: ::to Foster:: I’m glad you’re here.

Foster: ::quietly:: I’m glad I’m here, too.

Metet: Ah a fine medic I see. Please let me know if you need assistance it is a minor wound.

Brynn: I know it’s bad.

Outside her visible spectrum Foster positioned himself in range of Brynn, pressing her shoulders back, assessing her condition, continuing a conversation. Meanwhile, Haukea’s own hand, as if on instinct, kept a firm grasp on her phaser, situating the weapon at her side.

Foster: It’s more than a bruise, that’s for sure. But don’t you go thinking you’ll be writing your eulogy any time soon.

Willow: ::From over her shoulder Haukea responded:: He’s the absolute best we have. 

Metet: I can see. 

A hint of panic embedded in her voice, Brynn spoke a concern. 

Brynn: Just how bad is it?

Foster, on the other hand, spoke calmly and with confidence. 

Foster: It’s fixable. With surgery. We’re going to get your legs stabilized and then into sickbay.

McLaren: While the Doctor tends to the Lieutenant, why don't we head along to sickbay.

McLaren made it obvious enough that herself, Metet and Willow would be leaving Foster to his patient. And while continuing towards medical facilities was the seemingly logical outcome, splitting from each other was a risk in and of itself. 

Haukea, in way of a response, hummed, providing an affirmative towards the intelligence officer’s statement. 

Metet: Yes please I look forward to seeing my crew again. As well as your medical facilities. I understand this vessel has recently undergone a refit. 

Brynn: So, I’ll be up and around in no time. That’s great to hear.

Foster: You might be surprised.

Willow: Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. Hope can go a long way towards the creation of our perception of reality. That is to say, hold onto such hope.  

Haukea certainly did not appreciate the smiles Metet threw their way. Such smiles reeked of mistrust. 

McLaren: That's the spirit, Lieutenant.

Haukea-Willow only provided another humm in agreement. 

Metet: shall we?

As the rest of the group gathered away from Brynn, Wyn spared a glance towards Sol.

Foster: You taking off?

McLaren: ::Placing a hand on Foster’s shoulder, whispering:: Keep your eyes open... and stay safe.

Once again, a portion of the communication was silent, given to years of knowledge gained of each other. Haukea merely readjusted her hold on her modest type II phaser. 

Foster: Tell Wethern I’ll be along shortly. You guys walk safely.

McLaren: If you will.

Willow: McLaren, Metet, you go on in front. I’ll take up the end. 

By following directly behind, Haukea was more easily able to guard her surroundings, pay attention to those who traveled with her, able to notice, though Metet made a fair attempt at hiding it, how he placed a hand on his own phaser. 

Metet: Whatever makes you more comfortable Lt. I simply wish to see my crew. 

Sol joined them, leaving Wyn and Abryl behind.

McLaren: I'm sure your wounded are being well taken care of.

Willow: Nothing other than the best here.  

Metet: So I can see, Starfleet vessels are so different to Romulan warbirds. 

McLaren: So, Commander. If you don't mind me asking, what is your warbird doing here, exactly?

Metet: Nothing exciting we were researching some particles in the area and noted the ships in distress. Taking casualties ourself.

McLaren: I see... you wouldn't happen to know anything about the Starfleet vessel that's also trapped?

Willow: It would be vital to understand their position in relation to the black hole. If possible. 

McLaren: Indeed.

Metet: If maybe you could provide some details of the vessel I could review our sensor logs to see if we passed anything. 

Willow: Though I may remind you, you are a guest on our ship. We will accommodate but only so far. Your people are being well treated by our doctors. 

Metet smiled in his awkward, uncomfortable way, while McLaren, turning around, nodded at Haukea. 

Metet: May I also remind you Lt. I am here as a representative of the Romulan Empire who has graciously provided aid to your shuttles and participating in a rescue attempt and the Starfleet officers on board those shuttles are equally "guests". 

As a security officer, the chief personally disagreed with the notion of providing Metet with vessel details. Knowing particular information regarding the Valiant, Metet may manage to send them to informants, initiating attack attempts that further jeopardize either the Valiant or the Narendra. Yet, on the other hand, Metet provided Haukea with a noticeably valid, if not agreeable, position. As far as Haukea was aware, The Romulans had supplied aid to the starships in question. She had difficulty in faulting the logic. By such words it seemed as if he surely could be trusted. Nevertheless, as it likewise came full circle, Haukea, by nature of herself and position, trusted her innate instincts far more; he was not to be trusted. 

The security chief moved forward with an open-ended line of questioning. 

Willow: Now, from your perspective, what exactly happened? 

An interruption towards her own line of questioning was given as, though not by Haukea’s own eyes, McLaren received a short, precise transmission on her PADD, her own face, from the chief’s perspective, showing concern, her questions indicating as such. 

McLaren: I see, Commander. ::She paused, forming her words carefully:: Did your ship experience any of the adverse effects from this region of space?

Metet - taking a moment to compose himself, and the Romulan perspective - while only a distinct portion of the truth, was able to provide genuine insight towards the larger picture of the whole situation, through both Haukea’s earlier question and McLaren’s own. 

Metet: We are aware of some radiation in the area, we have presumed that it is from the black hole. Due to the technology difference it appears to affect Starfleet vessels worse. However the Fulinmar's longer range transport and its weapons are affected. 

Willow: Such a response to the radiation is to be expected. I do agree the source is likely the black hole we are orbiting. 

In all of Haukea’s previous notions regarding the science behind the black hole The Narendra, Valiant and Romulan vessel appeared to be orbiting, distance varying, she had yet to consider the technology disruptions caused by the radiation run-off. Even so, she merely assumed that Metet was being truthful. Nonetheless, since the radiation harshly affected humanoid life, it was possible for a similar effect to occur with the electrical components aboard ships.  

The unlucky trio ambled down the winding corridor. 

McLaren: Really? Because we seemed to be getting hit much harder than one would expect.

Metet: How much further to your sickbay.

Again, to avoid the divulgence of unnecessary information, Haukea provided Metet with a generalization. Solaris herself only continued with their direct line of questioning. 

Willow: Not much further. We will be there before you even realize. 

McLaren: ::Shrugging:: I had theorized that it was this region of space... but if you weren't getting hit that hard... then it must have been something else?

Metet: I do wonder though what Starfleet was doing with so many vessels close to the Romulan border. 

Avoiding direct answers, Haukea quoted, in her long often used tallent of useless quotations, though a tallent not recently flexed, two distinct Ferengi rules of acquisition. 

Willow: ::Rule 76:: “Every once in a while, declare peace. It confuses your enemy.” ::Rule 35:: “Peace is good for business.” Our position in the sector, one could assume, is good for business. 

Several other rules could be applied, yet they provided far greater details regarding their position that she was unwilling to quote them. Though given Metet’s thin smile he agreed with the two she chose. 

Metet: Of course we are all allies at peace. 

McLaren on the other hand provided Metet with a dismissive wave. The exact information to his inquiry was unnecessary at this exact time. 

McLaren: I'm no scientist-- ::she pointed to her red collar:: just a command officer. They don't teach us all that fancy science stuff. I wouldn't want to assume anything... surely it couldn't be a ship causing it?

Shrugging once again, Solaris considered Metet’s reaction. Haukea however considered the statement a unique experiment in gaining information towards their cause. 

Willow: Hold your expectations on such an answer. Though I am interested to hear your response Metet. 

McLaren/Metet: Response 

Lt. Haukea-Willow

Chief of Security - Crisis Response

Starbase 118 Ops

M239512BG0

Ad Astra Per Aspera/To The Stars With Difficulty - Una Chin-Riley