Just a Few Questions

Posted on Tue Dec 30th, 2025 @ 6:36am by Deirdre Arlen

540 words; about a 3 minute read

=/\= Starbase 369 – Cargo Ring Access Corridor =/\=

Commander Hale walked down the corridor, looking carefully at the doors that lined it.

She came to a juncture and then retraced her steps. Arlen Transit & Freight was supposed to be somewhere around here.

"Computer, locate Arlen Transit & Freight.”

"Arlen Transit & Freight is three doors down to your left."

Elara followed the instructions and came to an unmarked door. She pressed the chime.

The door opened and a woman stood at the entrance. She looked Hale up and down. "Yes?"

"Deirdre Arlen?" Elara asked.

The woman nodded. "Is there a problem?"

Deirdre had expected someone from Internal Affairs to come around eventually. But she hadn't expected a high-ranking officer. This did not bode well.

"Ah, no. No problem. My name is Commander Elara Hale, I was sent here to review how certain incidents were processed. May I come in?"

"I fail to see how this relates to me," Deirdre said. She didn't move.

"One of your freighters..." Elara looked at the PADD she was holding, though she knew all the information she needed, "the Starburst, was involved in a firefight a few weeks ago."

"That's right. And we reported it, as required."

"Of course." Elara paused. "Are we going to have this discussion out here?"

Deirdre considered that for a moment. Moving aside to allow Hale entrance, she gestured her to a seat.

Rounding the desk, she took a seat on the other side. "What exactly is the problem?"

Elara had used the time to look around the room - It was small and crowded, every surface taken up by PADDs and manifests. She focused on Deirdre.

"The problem is from our side. A report of a firefight in the region should have been escalated up to Epsilon Fleet."

Deirdre waited for her to continue, which she finally did.

"It's been escalated now. I've gone over your report and I didn't find the follow up interviews."

"There weren't any."

"Right..." Hale paused again. "Then that's what I'd like to address next."

Deirdre shrugged. "I wasn't there, and the Starburst isn't here."

"I'm aware of that."

"So any follow-up interviews will have to wait until she's back," Deirdre added.

"And when would that be?"

"The Starburst is currently on a personal mission, so I can't really say."

Elara looked at her PADD again. "The Starburst's captain during this incident was Treon Brevor."

"That's right." Deirdre wasn't going to add any more info to that.

"Can you give me her contact details?"

There was a long silence.
Finally, Deirdre answered. “No. I don’t hand out my captains’ personal contact details. When the Starburst returns, I’ll inform Captain Brevor that Epsilon Fleet wishes to speak with her.”

Hale could see this interview was over.

"I'd appreciate if you gather whatever information you can about this firefight," she said as she stood up. "This is important to the Fleet. It should be important to you as well."

"Believe me it is."

Deirdre waited till Hale was out the door. She had no idea whether this was indeed about the firefight, but she was already on Starfleet's radar. Whatever came next, this was only the beginning.

=/\=

Commander Elara Hale
Internal Affairs
Starfleet Command

&

Deirdre Arlen
Arlen Transit & Freight

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