Closing Arguments

Posted on Tue Nov 30, 2021 @ 4:00pm by Captain Larisna Koralova & Lieutenant Rei Yamashi & Lieutenant Penny Mc Taggard & Lieutenant Jaro Antos

Mission: Mission 1R - Vigilance Be Our Shield
Location: Observation Lounge, USS Hornet
Timeline: M1D3 1450 Hours

((GM NOTE: For the sake of expediency, the interviews with the Gorn CO and the Alameda Junior Officers happened off-screen.
The Gorn CO spent the time accusing Starfleet of a conspiracy to join the war and insisting it was the Klingons who attacked the Alameda without providing a shred of evidence. The junior officers, two of them were going off of rumors that coincided with the facts, the third was outright lying to inflate his career (a curse of ambitious officers on a California class starship) - but an impression is clear to both groups now: the Alameda was largely run by inexperienced junior officers and commanded by a Captain who seemed to be under the impression his career was going to die unless he got off the Alameda.))

Larisna wanted to pace around, but fought the urge and instead leaned forward and looked to her senior officers that were already gathered here. The visiting crews were in their respective quarters, awaiting the results, hoping their agenda would be fulfilled by the decision made here.

Amanda passed her PADD to Captain Koralova with the findings of the Klingon inquiry for verification.

"Okay. Starfleet Command wants facts and they want them now. My report will be going to the Klingon and Gorn embassies as well, so this is going to be as transparent as it gets. You all worked through the problem, so let's put our heads together and finally answer just what exactly happened here. Who wants to kick us off?" Larisna held out her hands in an open gesture to start the discussion for anyone.

Rei stood. "With the considerable assistance of Lieutenants Antos and McTaggart, the investigation of the Alameda itself yielded significant results." the rabbitess took a moment to acknowledge the pair, a nod each. "We were able to piece together a rough timeline of the events in question. While the logs are hardly intact, what they lack in completion they show in their failings. Holes and gaps are scattered through the logs in a manner more befitting failing equipment than intentional sabotage. What the logs do show coincides with the reports I received from their chief of damage control. The ship was at warp, then the system registered an error, a buildup of energy in one of the nacelles. The crew dropped out of warp to investigate, and that's when the event occurred. Not an attack or a willful act of war, but the culmination of neglected maintenance. The Alameda had missed several trips in for repairs and general maintenance refits." she paused.

Penny could still not believe their findings. After all the possibilities that could of caused all this. It all boiled down to bad maintenance.

"In the end, the power surge caused the nacelle power distribution relay to explode, and the power buildup popped the secondary relay. As you'll see in the images from the recorder in the EVA suit, the hull material was curved outward, not inward. This would indicate the explosion occurred within the nacelle, not from outside. Ruling out the usual suspects, such as an infiltrator hiding a skipper mine, or any other form of device while the chamber was flooded with energy, and the only results left to us are Unknown Subspace Anomaly, or Deteriorating Framework."

"Neither of which implicates the Gorn or the Klingon. Simply put, sir, Murphy's Law in full effect. The system finally had enough, and failed at the least opportune time."

Antos nodded. "Further evidence that seems to suggest this incident was not perpetrated by either the Gorn or Klingon ship is that the long range sensors of the Alameda showed both ships were tailing her but from a respectful distance and they were well within their respective boundaries. It was only after the explosion occurred that both ships moved to the Alameda.

Rei gave a nod in support of Antos' addition. "Trailing, perhaps to observe, but our collective findings show zero evidence of weapon fire." a pause "As for what each ship had planned, whether to render aid or not, is beyond the scope of the Engineering investigation." and with that, Rei lingered standing for a moment in case Penny had anything to add.

“ No. Expect to reiterate that the destruction of the warp nacelle. Was indeed down to the command crews carelessness in not seeing the Alameda had her routine repairs.” Penny replied

With that finality, Rei returned to her seat. As she was taught, sit to make a comment, but stand to make a declaration.

Larisna made some notes on her PADD, before nodding. "And do the testimonies from our guests correlate to the data?" She asked.

"As you can see on the PADD I gave you the testimonies of the depositions given were correct, although I have to say they really wanted to fight each other, and drag us with them into the fight, Captain," Amanda stated.

That got shake of the head and a sigh. "I'm not surprised. There's enough desire for confirmation bias around here that it's like an overly competitive finals week back at the Academy." Larisna commented, "Very well. I reviewed the transcripts and feed, I just wanted to hear it from you all."

"Firstly, I want to congratulate you all - you approached this in the truest manner of Starfleet officers. You pushed past the miasma of bias and personal feelings and found the truth. I'm proud of you all." Larsina said with a smile, "Particularly, I want to commend first Lieutenant Sakkar. Your candor in the interviews was the main thing that caught my eye. I've already added a letter of commendation to your file for it and your keen insight to avoid conflict here."

"I also want to give those of you who went to the Alameda a thank you as well. You took initiative and ran with it to further find the truth. Thank you all, and I'll see commendations added to your files as well." Larisna added.

"My official report will reflect your findings - this was simply a case of bad timing during a fragile situation. This could have gone so many different ways, many of them would have resulted in the Federation being drug into this conflict. As it stands, that won't be the case for now." She stood up, "If there's anything else, feel free to speak your mind. Otherwise, with the exceptions of Lieutenants Yamashi and Yeserina, please take your stations and prep to tow the Alameda. I'll speak with our guests once I'm done here."

Rei gave a nod at the praise. "I'd like to go on record and state that working with Lieutenant Antos and McTaggart on the Alameda side was exemplary. They put aside any notions of finding blame, and instead struck to the heart of the truth in their findings. They take suggestions to heart, and value the concerns of others. Professionals, both of them." she left out he part about Antos wanting to be armed for the trip, a simple slip. "It's good to know that interdepartment projects won't have anything blocking their progress here." though being asked to stay behind was a minor concern to the back of her head. It was either a follow up to their investigation, or something she missed. Or something entirely else, who was to say. Starfleet was odd about these things.

Antos nodded much obliged for the commendations but also grounded enough to know that he was simply doing his job. With the meeting concluded, he stood up and headed for the Bridge where he hoped to relieve Jazmine for the rest of his shift.

Penny also nodded. Although she was just doing her job. It was good to receive praise. McTaggard followed the others out and returned to the lab. What had happened on the Alameda prompt her to run a full check , of all the equipment the science department had. Even if it was brand new being prudent was always best.

Amanda returned to her seat on the bridge.

"Prepare tractor beam for towing. Target is the Alameda." Amanda said

Once everyone filed out, only the Captain and the two engineers were left.

"I'm going to make this quick. Firstly because we got a job to do still, secondly I have some crabby guests to get off this ship, and frankly I'm not keen on arguing this." Larisna said, "I'm switching the two of you around. Lieutenant Yamashi, you've been extremely proactive during this situation, whereas Lieutenant Yeserina, you've been passive to the point of being mistaken for a bulkhead. The transition is to be completed before we return to Cestus III."

She looked at E'Lor, "I understand the pressure involved here, particularly with your family connections, but doing nothing at all is not a suitable alternative to losing face in front of the Klingons. Since I feel that your being on the senior staff may have put you in that mindset, I'm effecting this change. The next time you feel this conflicted, I expect you to take it to me or relieve yourself from duty. Otherwise, I expect you to carry out your duties as a Starfleet officer. Indecision is not a luxury we have, Lieutenant, especially in a delicate situation like this. Report to Engineering, dismissed."

Larisna waited until E'Lor left before looking to Rei, her expression softened.

"This is highly irregular, I'll admit. But frankly, you took charge and you've demonstrated to me that in the face of a crisis, I can expect you to take some course of action. Or at the very least, be prepared to defend why inaction is the appropriate course to take." Larisna explained, "I've been mulling this over for a while now, so please don't feel as if you're to owe me anything. Just continue as you've been doing."

Larisna stood up, "Now, I need to go see to our guests. And then to inform the Captain of the Alameda that his...exuberance...was nearly the catalyst of a major conflict. I'm sure Starfleet Command has a nice desk he can fly." She added with a slight grin.

Rei was struck silent from the pace of it all. A promotion, this soon? She managed to pull herself together long enough for what protocol demanded, "I at least owe you gratitude for deciding on me, and a reassurance that the Engineering section will never let you down." she gave a firm nod at the notion. A promise, or at least a dedication to the cause. "As my first act as Engineering Section Chief, I'd like to request a talent shift." and Rei brought up a personnel file from the damage control team on the Alameda. "They're wasted on their current ship. I think they'd have a chance at something great here."

"I'll make it happen." Larisna agreed, "Alright, best we get this taken care of. And thank you."