Drydock 7, Juneau Shipyard, Alaska System
8:32 A.M.
Hemlock watched with crossed arms as the operatives came aboard the Bay. The look on his face showed impressive discontent, but the fact that they'd nuke his ship if he tried anything kept him relatively docile. The port side docking arm alone looked like it had seen some action, owing back to the events of Delta, but still looked fairly serviceable. In fact, the entire ship looked like it had been through hell and back, and through an up clse look, it might have been a wonder as to how the ship even made it back to Liberty.
One of the doors nearby opened up, the XO walking out and stopping by his side. The hallway was cluttered with the added 'materials' the operatives and their escorts would've needed to run their tests. "So, this is how your journey ends, huh Cap?" She looked up at him, her face a tad upset, no doubt aimed at him. "You think I'm just gonna let him do as he pleases with her? Think again, Cath."
One of the marines, who was walking up the ramp aboard the ship, approached the two. He gave Hemlock a nod, his helmet covering his face from view, and held out his hand. "Weapons."
Matthew scoffed, yanking out his sidearm and rudely placing it in his hand. Catherine did the same, albeit more politely, and with that he turned and proceeded down the hall. "Pricks.."
Agent Nova looked on from an adjacent pad, noting the beat down condition of the warship. That ship's been through a lot, and without proper servicing. What went on out there... Nova planned to avoid encountering Hemlock as much as possible, but knew she would be the one responsible for questioning the crew. Order registration, but it doesn't look like it's been in anybodies shipyard since it left. I'll have to be thorough in my questioning to find out the truth behind this humanitarian mission.
"Operatives, begin sending any and all data to my and Admiral Saders office immediately. Whatever you find is to be recorded for inspection and review. Check for any recent transmission and their destinations. I also want a detailed report on the extent of the damage the ship has taken. Aside from this, have the medical staff begin their checkups, that is all for now. Nova out."
Nova had to cover every nook and cranny inside the ship, even though she knows Hemlock will protest, this was her job. Admiral Sader was brash, and holds little patience for insubordination, perhaps she could get Hemlock to calm down a bit. Or it may be best not to try, for now. He seems intent on being hostile to Navy and NIS personnel.
As much as they tried, there wasn't much they did before Hemlock started eyeing everything incessantly, watching the operatives as they did their work. Continually accompanied by his XO, she remained the single force keeping him grounded to reality. In one event, where an operative was pulling signaling data from the bridge terminals, he seemed to very nearly lose his temper, but Reyes' interference belayed it from going too far.
When it came time for the medical tests, most of the crew participated willingly. In fact, it almost seemed like Hemlock and about two others were the only ones aboard who had any problem with it. The medical tests wouldn't take long, given that the crew itself was about half the usual capacity of a standard cruiser, and even Hemlock didn't show much resistance, but only after it was explained to him what they were doing.
"See? It wasn't that bad.." Reyes said to him, taking his hand and squeezing it reassuredly. "At least my sinuses are cleared.." He took a large breath in, exhaling. The hallways near medical were lined with numerous biohazard bins, likely the operatives' way of being prepared for what they'd feared they'd find. "Scatter their junk all of the floor... Hmph. Seems they don't know what a broom is.."
Some of the operatives investigating eventually made their way into Hemlock's quarters, where they made some interesting discoveries. Notably out of place within the Navy Officer's study was a beret stamped with the insignia of the Order, alongside a slightly tattered book with the Eye of Ra on the front cover and a small model of the O.C.V. Osiris. Nothing much else stood out, and the room was fairly well kept, as was the standard. The beret and book sat on his desk, accompanied by what seemed like his medal rack for his dress blues and his cap to go alongside them.
"Agent. We've located some interesting items within the CO's quarters. Order in origin. Mark for retrieval? They look to be personal."
"Write detailed descriptions of the items and take photos, but do not disturb them afterwards. Hemlock might go off the deep end if we begin taking his personal affects this early in the investigation, I'll bring this connection to the Order up to the Admiral and we'll proceed from there."
A connection to the Order. Nova had to find out how deep this went. Maybe they docked there for emergency repairs or supplies. Maybe they had been fighting as an Order vessel, but for whatever reason had to flee. Either way, her operatives had to figure it out. "I'm also still awaiting the damage report from the inspection team, I need to add another thing to their search. Look for any patch jobs or emergency repairs made, if this ship sustained critical damage, they may have used the Order shipyards to repair it."
Looks like I might have to get on that ship after all. Nova wasn't looking forward to getting an ear full of Hemlock in person. She awaited the arrival of the photos and written descriptions of the Order items and proceeded to look for Admiral Sader to present them, and Hemlock's probable connection to the Order.
An officer wearing a Commander's insignia walked out from Sader's office with a couple of datapads. Sader was sitting in his office desperatly trying to catch up with the office work wich he hated the most. At least the after action reports are intresting to read sometimes. But the rest of it is the worst nightmare, at least thats what he thought about the various equipment and material requisitions. The time he spends on Juneau always reminds him why he has subordinates wich normally do this work. Otherwise his entire office would be full with theese datapads. He suddendly heard someone knocking on the door.
"Come in!" He said as the door opened operative Nova walked in with a datapad in her hand. "If that thing in your hand is yet another equipment requsition, heads will start to fall."
Nova walked into the office and closed the door. "Admiral, I have something urgent for you from the Bay. My operatives reached the CO's quarters, and found personal affects. The insignia on a beret matches that of the Order, alongside a model of the stolen Osiris prototype. Alongside these, was a tattered book with the Eye of Ra on the cover, which my men assumed to be of Order origin as well." Nova set the datapad with the descriptions and photos down before Sader.
"I ordered the affects be left as is for now, since it could send Hemlock into a frenzy if we removed them for inspection, but my people are ready to take them if you deem necessary. My conclusion with this discovery, alongside the Order registration, is at some point they associated with the Order, but the extent is unknown. I'm having an additional thing checked during the damage report, if the ship shows signs of being repaired at a shipyard. I'm waiting to act on this until you and I reach a decision."
Nova stood there, obviously engaged in conversation and deep in thought at the same time, running possibly a dozen possibilities through her head at the moment, and how to react to them appropriately.
Sader grabbed the datapad and looked at the pictures of the said items. And after at them for a moment he dropped the datapad on the table, stood up from his chair and grabbed a pack of cigarettes. "Well then. I suppose it's time for us to get to the questioning. We will start with Hemlock. Hopefully he'll be willing to co operate." Sader walked to the door and opened it. "Also prepare a batallion of Marines and tell them to assemble near the ship." He walked out and headed towards the Bay's drydock.
Nova made the call and quickly followed behind the Admiral. As they approached, the amount of Marines rapidly built up behind them, heading to the assembly area. "If I may, Admiral, what are the soldiers for?" Nova knew that with this many soldiers being put on standby, only trouble was about to come.
"This many men, Sir I have an idea about what's about to happen and it's only going to make things worse, we have no conclusive evidence of cooperation with the Order, this is only a lead to explain their actions, there still may be other ways their stay in the Omicrons played out, but I'm still investigating. I agree that we should begin questioning, but I have to know, what are the soldiers being assembled for?"
Nova, while worried, will never show it to anyone that she didn't trust. She had full confidence in the Admiral, but when Sader and Hemlock collide, sparks will fly, and Nova will have to be at the forefront to defuse them.
"The answer is simple. If we get the evidence we need i don't want to give them options to create a strategy."
They finally arrived at the ship where Sader gave a sign and 2 marines from the group started to escort them. The damped rythm of heavy boots were heard wich echoed on the silver grey walls of the corridors of the ship wich wasn't in the best shape. After arriving at the conference room of the ship Sader turned to operative nova. "Allright please escort Hemlock to the conference room, but please kindly forget to mention that i'm here." Sader walked into the room and closed the door behind him. The two guards remained outside.
Nova turned off and went to get Hemlock for questioning. As she walked through the ship, she was only relieved by the fact she'd be present during the questioning to stop them from butting heads, well, for the most part. Nova had regained her composure after departing to find the CO, but still had worries about what would happen.
Nevertheless, she got wind of where Hemlock was and went directly to him. "Commander, it's time to begin questioning, and I'd like to begin with you. Please, follow me."