Lt. Haukea-Willow: Emotional Resistance
Aly Drolet
((Corridor - Deck 4))
Perhaps, though not necessarily as a show of trust, the chief could allow Metet his own line of questioning. His own questions could quite possibly reveal motivations, additional body language and reveal hidden emotions as Haukea avoided them with her own questioning answers.
Willow: The distortions could easily be relevant to one’s distance from the black hole. Yet, why would a dense, dying star make exceptions? What do you make of that?
Metet: I cannot account for Starfleet engineering. Our vessels were retrofitted to operate in adaptable space. Equally your vessels have no cloaking ability. Perhaps it is linked to that? ::sneering:: I would happily review your ship's schematics to see where the failure might be.
Metet’s answers were as predicted, yet he talked as if the subspace distortions and the black hole were linked; A single entity that lived, breathed and had a consciousness all its own. As if it could decide which vessel to attack, eliminating those invisible to its eye, due to available cloaking devices. Yet, Haukea, thus far, was unaware of any individual consciousness discovered within the orbited black hole. Therefore, her only available conclusion was that the distortions were humanoid produced, and obviously not by any law-abiding Starfleet member.
Equally so, fairly matched with the frown upon Solaris’s face, the security chief pondered against giving the Romulan representative access to ship’s schematics. Thus far, their entire conversation was spoken in hypotheticals, in what would Metet consider if their positions were reversed.
McLaren: I don't think our ship's intelligence officer would appreciate me giving you access to such things.
Her thoughts indicated: And neither would its security chief. All the same, she continued her attempt to avoid a direct confrontation by persisting with the current line of questioning, attempting to learn Metet’s view upon the situation.
Willow: If it wasn’t the black hole, what would you make of that. If you were in our position, diplomatically speaking, what would your considerations be?
Metet: I would be seeking a cause for the disruption, however my science team believe the unstable black hole is the issues. Unless you are alluding that we may have something to do with this?
McLaren laughed, shaking her head in response.
McLaren: Heavens no! ::a lie:: I couldn't think what you might stand to gain from such actions...
Here Haukea broke her line of questioning in a cautionary manner, providing relevant details to their position on the ship.
Willow: Our main medical facilities are around the corner. Please prepare yourself. You are not to touch and are to follow doctor’s orders, it's their space. Yes?
She did wonder if Wether and/or Kel would still be entirely available as Foster suggested.
Metet: I understand perfectly Lt. I wish to check in with my crew and will make sure that I report back the suspicion I have faced from an "ally".
In her own Risian manner, Haukea was in fact agitated - though not necessarily panicked. She had her own harsh opinions, created through rigorous study at the academy, previous experience in the Risian Security Force, and now through numerous missions with Starfleet - yet, through some inane instinct, her own protective nature was heightened - a first at this level. She certainly developed a dissonant feeling at Metet’s use of the words suspicion and ally. While, in regular circumstances, Haukea would have no qualms with Metet contacting his own crew, though, now, she was unable to recommend against it, it was unable to be helped by curiosity at the exact information he would share.
McLaren: Forgive us, Commander. We only wish to ensure that all trapped are able to escape alive.
Willow: To further that, we are wanting the better outcome for every individual involved.
Whatever that better outcome may be.
Metet: Tell me, if we were a Vulcan vessel would we have faced this barrage of questions Commander, lieutenant? I presume my crew are free to leave at any point?
As both McLaren, along with herself, would go on to express, she was in little position to hold an individual hostage on merely the basis of instinct. Even in her early career, back on Risa, she did little to hold people in jails for the sake of cooling off, even if they were low-down, dirty intoxicated tourists. She was, typically, more in the manner of evidence collection, long personable conversations and a full report before giving into such a possessive power as an arrest. Yet, in this particular situation, as well as many others, she had to walk that line between emotion, evidence and instinct. Time was precious, and little, not one second could be wasted on deliberation.
McLaren: They would likely not. ::Sol paused:: However, the Vulcans are a member of the Federation and are direct allies of such. With respect, the Free State is not. Nor is the Republic. ::She paused:: You, and your crew, are not prisoners and are free to leave at any time.
Willow: Even as security I don’t hold individuals hostage unless given sufficient evidence. Currently there is only speculation. You and your’s are free to exert that will.
Metet: Hmmm we shall see. What do your crew make of the disruptions?
McLaren: Based on my conversations prior to meeting with you? They believed something was interacting with the subspace distortions, but were unsure as to what that could be.
Haukea, by her own nature, and that of security chief, had no information regarding the subspace distortions prior to her experiencing them. Furthermore, while personage like 1st Lt. Brynn were injured because of the distortions, bringing in speculations based on those emotions was not her place. Consequently she stayed out of that particular portion of the conversation.
Metet: Response
As Sol herself slowed her pace, Haukea followed suit, cautious in her movements.
McLaren: Going back to your earlier question: What would your course of action be, were our positions reversed? Surely if it was us coming aboard your ship in this situation, with another Romulan vessel trapped in a similar situation as the other Starfleet vessel out there, you would be questioning us?
Willow: My own questioning is to only ascertain your position on the situation at hand. I evaluate evidence from both sides as the truth often ends somewhere in the middle.
Metet: Response
While Haukea had positioned herself at the rear of the group, in an effort to better observe the other two, by McLaren placing herself in a more dynamically opposing location, the Risian experienced a flash of discontent. Recollecting on the event, with sufficient resources, a label of anger, if not jealousy, or envy, was warranted. Afterall as Chief of Security it was her position to protect - though momentarily the word’s definition was too miniscule to represent the exact nature of the given situation - the crew. McLaren’s own actions made her vulnerable and Haukea would not be seen as responsible for potential harm when she had the ability to protect and prevent. Though none of her own emotions mitigated McLaren’s own intention or abilities.
McLaren: If I were in your position, I might come aboard under the guise of peace, in efforts to distract while my ship enacted some other plan. I might also be jamming communications if possible. But that surely wouldn't be the act of an ally.
With the way McLaren’s eyes flicked towards her own, Haukea knew, in that exact instance, her own suspicions had been confirmed, which, in an ongoing show of anger, made her desperate to punch Metet for his disobedience, not that she would be the the one to enact such a fight - she was able to get involved, even finish them, yet rarely started such violence, if it could be helped.
Willow: Consider that for a moment, and carefully.
Metet: Response
Haukea watched, extremely cautious, as McLaren’s hands drifted towards her waist, resting dominantly on her hips, indicating a powerful, defensive posture.
McLaren: Surely if we were allies, your ship wouldn't be out there attempting something nefarious?
Haukea considered all possibilities, perspectives, and reactions to any given situation. While it was unlikely for a Romulan to safeguard a Starfleet vessel and its crew, no matter how improbable, a slim probability of it was available.
Willow: Or are you trying to protect us from a greater enemy?
McLaren/Metet: Response
Willow: One can never be too careful when dealing with non-Federation allies, or an individual all the more willing to cooperate.
McLaren/Metet: Response
Willow: You want to know how we know?
Now she was simply blasting their suspicions given the fact that McLaren herself had basically called Metet on his act - and to show she was in agreeance she ultimately removed her phaser from ‘hiding’, taking hold of it in both hands, at a low, 45 degree angle.
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
