Under Arrest

Posted on Thu Jul 27th, 2023 @ 12:59pm by Captain Temperance Harding & Commander Elias Maxwell

Mission: Mission 4: The Line of Duty
Location: Starbase 48

ON

The bar was more subdued than it usually was. Club Nova, the off duty watering hole for Commanders and above often had a buzz about it. Recent rumours had filled that to a quiet rumble of whispered conversation.

The common word around was that someone on the Admiral's staff had been killed. That was entirely disturbing concept. Harding looked down into her drink. Her last two requests for a meeting with Holbrook had been rebuffed, rather cooly, by the woman's assistant.

The conference had been interesting. A collection of Captains and Admirals sharing ideas and information. The White Wolf had never come up. Not once. The biggest pirate threat to the area, and no one seemed interested in talking about it.

She shook her head, dismissing it. She had wanted to speak to Holbrook in private after the conference, to get a read on the situation, and get some leeway to continue the hunt.

The Endurance would be back in a couple of days, and she was looking forward to finding out how Nyx had got on. She had high hopes for the Engineer, and a little command experience on a simple inner patrol mission would give her a taste.

A group entered the club's lounge, and Harding glanced over. Her eyebrows raising in surprise. Six uniforms. Five gold, with ranks of both Lieutenant grades, with a single command officer leading the way. It wasn't unknown for Security to be present, but they usually kept their presence to a minimum.

Such an overt appearance was a surprise, especially when Harding recognised the command Officer walking ahead of them. Commander Maxwell had been a friend for a number of years, but he was a far cry from Security. Hell, she had never been sure what it was he did do. It seemed to be a mix of Intelligence, Strat Ops, and-

Her thoughts cut off when she realised the group was heading for her table. The already quiet background noise had gone silent as everyone watched.

Maxwell's expression was almost unreadable, yet she had caught some of his tells. He seemed disappointed, and regretful. Odd. "Max." Harding said when they were close enough. "I assume you're not here for a drink?"

"Sorry, no." The way he said it had her on high alert. Something was very off. Her instincts were lighting off.

"What's up?" Her eyes swept over the security team, taking them.in one by one. Impassive expressions. This was definitely not going to be pleasant.

"Temperance Harding." He omitted her rank, seemingly deliberately. "You are hereby ordered to accompany us for questioning. A member of the JAG Corps will be provided to you for counsel."

Harding rose to her feet, giving Maxwell a hard look. "Max? What the hell is going on?"

The group parted, as Maxwell indicated for her to walk beside him. "Please, come with us. I don't want to make a scene here."

Considering her options, Harding nodded, and stepped away from the table, as the group came around the two senior officers.

Every pair of eyes were on the Entourage as it left the Lounge. As soon as the doors closed behind them, Maxwell gripper her elbow, as a security guard pulled both hands behind her back.

Harding's eyes grew wide as the magnetic clamps closed around her wrists. "Max?"

"You're under arrest for the killing of Captain Calliope Holbrook." His voice was flat, matter -of-fact.

Harding's mouth worked, but no words came out as she was led away, too stunned to try and resist.

==========

The containment field snapped into place, a faint hum present, to let anyone know the holding cell was active.

Harding stood, her eyes staring coldly at Maxwell on the other side of the field. "You really think I'm capable of this?"

Maxwell sighed, and shook his head. "I don't know what to believe. Yesterday? I'd have said no. The security footage is quite damming. Admiral Thornton was convinced by the evidence thus far, and authorised your arrest. I plan to keep looking. Something's off."

"Yeah, I'm being held, when I'm bloody innocent!" Harding turned her back on the man she had considered a friend. "Not saying anything else without that counsel."

Maxwell nodded, heading for the door. He looked back over his shoulder before leaving, wanting to say something, but had nothing to say.

OFF