Matters of Importance

Posted on 15 Dec 2015 @ 10:07am by Lieutenant Commander Camila Di Pasquale & Captain Harvey Geisler & Commander Jayla Kij & Commander Jillian O'Connell

1,538 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Rude Awakening
Timeline: MD 9 || 1200 hours

Once Camila left the Brig, she headed back to the turbolift and requested the bridge, thinking about the things that Captain O'Connell had told her, but there was only one concern that she wasn't going to take to the Captain. Once the turbolift came to a half, she came onto the bridge and hesitated; she knew she should have taken the matter directly to Commander del Rosario but she felt that the sooner she got the information to Captain Geisler, the sooner the convoy could be checked for what Captain O'Connell had told her. "Lieutenant Di Pasquale to see Captain Geisler," she announced.

Lieutenant Carmichael, the Acting Chief Science Officer, had been left in temporary command of the bridge. News of Commander Kos's arrest had begun to sweep the ship, and he only hoped that Commander del Rosario would come to the bridge soon to relieve him. After all, he still had plenty of work to do, picking up the pieces left behind by Rogers and Perei. "I think I saw him go in the Ready Room," Carmichael answered the woman in gold as he pointed towards the set of doors on the opposite side of the bridge.

"Thank you, Lieutenant," Camila said as she crossed the bridge and tapped the door chime, waiting to be admitted.

As he'd become accustomed to over the last few months, Harvey stood by his window, arms crossed as his eyes were fixed on the USS O'Carroll beside them. He didn't understand this at all. How could Mac willingly sabotage this ship?

Or, more importantly, if she was telling the truth, why would someone frame her? This crew knew how pissed he was after the Syndicate wounded and boarded the Black Hawk thanks to the sabotage from someone he trusted. Would they really take advantage of his anger? Why? What purpose would it really serve?

The door chime interrupted his thoughts. "Come," he growled, turning towards the doors just in time to watch them part and reveal the blonde Assistant Security Chief who'd accompanied him to the O'Carroll. "What is it, Lieutenant?" he demanded, making no effort to obscure his aggravated tone.

"Captain," Camila said as she came to attention. "Captain O'Connell suspects that the Gavara convoy has phaser rifles, grenades, and torpedoes hidden in their cargo bay and the Consortium plans to use Gavara as a staging ground for an assault, Sir."

Harvey was taken aback by the notion. If it were true, why come to him? Why not follow the chain of command and report to her supervising officer, Commander del Rosario. Scoffing, Harvey brushed aside the report. "It's a medical convoy, Lieutenant. And the O'Carroll is a Consortium ship."

"Would it hurt to check, Captain?" Camila asked. "I realize that I'm out of line, but if Captain O'Connell is right about this, it could prevent a lot of deaths. We have the bridge crew of the O'Carroll in custody, Captain. Why would their Captain start lying now?"

Harvey didn't reply, instead he turned back towards the window. "Jillian O'Connell is many things, Miss Di Pasquale. Lying was never one of them." He waited before a moment before turning back towards her. He said not a word, still considering what she'd relayed. "Either way, it's quite the accusation. I need a reason to search a cargo hold, especially on a ship that's not my own. I can't just go on the whim of someone whom I've been ordered to apprehend."

"What about offering to send over Engineering teams to assist in damage control?" Camila suggested. "One or two Security officers mixed in wouldn't be noticed, especially if they have a secondary in Engineering."

He nodded, though it was barely noticeable. He'd already talked to del Rosario a short while ago, requesting an Engineering detail be sent to the convoy vessels to affect repairs. "That is possible. Still, I will need to confer with Commander del Rosario. There is a chain of command, after all."

"I understand, Sir and I fully expect Commander del Rosario to slow roast me for coming directly to you," Camila said. "I just considered this serious enough to go straight to you, Captain. I'll report to Commander del Rosario for my punishment after I talk to Commander Kij."

Harvey nodded, this time noticeably. He hoped he could persuade del Rosario into withholding judgment until after the convoy was repaired. If anything, this development prompted more reservation in him now than he liked. What really was Mac's involvement in all of this. Why was Commodore O'Connell not present, and why would his wife be left in command and surrender so easily. Something didn't add up. What he needed right now was someone to talk to, and he wished it was Mac. Maybe del Rosario or Doctor Kij could fill that gap.

That, however, was not a topic to bring up while Di Pasquale was still in the Ready Room. "See that you do, Lieutenant. If there's nothing else, you're dismissed."

Camila nodded, turned and left the ready room with several things on her mind. Once she entered the turbolift, she tapped her combadge =^=Di Pasquale to Commander Kij. Captain O'Connell needs prenatal care in the Brig=^=

Jayla blinked. She had thought Captain O'Connell was a man, but obviously, she had been mistaken. Interesting. "Understood," she said, grabbing the appropriate medical tools and stowing them in a medkit. "I'll be there in about five minutes."

About four and a half minutes later, she walked into the Brig office area. "I hear there's an expectant mother needing some assistance?" she asked, her ever-present smile in place.

Camila looked up as she completed a report for the chief. "Yes, Commander," she said. "Captain Jillian O'Connell is in the Brig, Cell Four Beta. She told me she hasn't had prenatal care in several weeks due to her Chief Medical Officer being Consortium and the EMH had been disabled. I'm sure she would appreciate a visit."

Jayla grinned. "Me, too," she said, heading to the door that led to the cells. Once the brig officer opened the doors for her, she stepped through and found the cell in question. Nobody would've had to tell her this was the cell, though. The presence of a pregnant woman made that clear. "Hi," she said cheerfully, using her clearance to drop the forcefield. "I'm Doctor Kij. Shall we see how that baby is doing?"

Jillian, having watched the doctor approached, remained sitting on the cot-like bunk. She smiled in reply to the Trill's cheerfulness. Hopefully her bedside manner would match or exceed that smile. "Let's do!" Despite the eagerness in her own tone, a hint of hesitation remained. She wished that Zach could have been by her side for this, or at least Lieutenant Wul's empathic skills to screen the doctor before hand. Until the Consortium agents aboard the Black Hawk could be revealed, she would have doubts about everyone.

Jayla completely misread the hesitation as worry and smiled gently at the mother. "It's okay," she said, taking out her tricorder and beginning the scans. "I'm sure everything is fine. I trust you've been taking care of yourself? Not working too hard, spending equal amounts of time on your feet and off, eating properly- that sort of thing."

Jillian sighed, straightening her posture on her cot. "Not these days," she confessed. "Between running a ship and a person dancing in my stomach, I haven't been able to sleep much either."

Jayla nodded. "Understandable," she said. "Wow, you're only about three weeks out. And you'll be happy to know that the baby seems about the right size. I'd be a bit happier if he made it to eight full pounds, but he's decent. As for you, your blood pressure is a bit high- which is understandable. I mean, pregnant and arrested as got to be enough to do it." She gave the other woman a wry grin. "Sorry about that, by the way."

Jillian glanced outside the cell, wondering if the blonde security officer was still around. Looking back to the Doctor, she said, "I just hope we can get this matter cleared up quickly. It's not easy being accused of treason by those who actually did it."

Jayla blinked, brow furrowing. "Those who actually did it," she repeated. "You think Captain Geisler is responsible?" Though Jayla didn't know him well, she felt that notion was laughable. Geisler was the most loyal person she'd yet to meet. "I don't think that's possible," she added flatly.

"Not Harvey," Jillian confirmed with a shake of her head. "He's innocent and doesn't have any idea what he's doing. I think it's above him."

Camila entered the area a moment later. "Is everything okay, Commander?" she asked Kij.

"Yes, just fine," answered Jayla witha grin. "Everything looks great. The baby is healthy, as is the mother, if she is a bit overworked and under-rested."

"Did you speak to Captain Geisler?" Jillian looked to Di Pasquale and asked.

"I did," Camila said, addressing Captain O'Connell. "Unfortunately, I can't say anything about it, Captain O'Connell."

Jillian sighed. She was pregnant and alone with the enemy. Until then, all she could do was pray that Harvey saw the light.

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