Post 233: Truth or Consequences

Stardate: 70619.1600
Title: Truth or Consequences
Author: N’Dura
Scene: Transporter Room
Time: Following "Dead in the Water"

Coalescing on the transporter pad in a myriad of coloured photons were Lt. Faustine Margolis and Lt. Cmder N’Dura, holding the body of Kathleen Baux.

Lt. Quinlan had ordered an anti-grav gurney after he had received orders from the Chief of Security.

She placed the broken body gently and turned solemnly to the orderly in charge of the gurney.

“Take her to the morgue, I shall arrange to have her next of kin notified.”

The orderly gently pushed the anti grav gurney toward the service corridor. Dead bodies tended to demoralize the crew.

Fox looked on wordlessly. Fatigue had replaced grief and she was devoid of any words that could alleviate the sadness that permeated the transporter room.

“What will you tell them?” Fox was interested in knowing what N’Dura would say in her report.

“The truth.” N’Dura said matter-of-factly.

“Couldn’t you just say, she just fell, accidentally?”

The Klingon woman regarded the operations officer for a moment, considering her suggestion.

“No.” she replied. “Truth may hurt, but there are consequences to concealing it.”

“Let me guess, your mother said that?” Fox asked.

“No, that one’s mine.” N’Dura admitted.

Just then a burst of sparks came flying in front of the chequered grill that covered the Heisenberg compensators.

“In the name of Saint Patrick, what th’ snakes?” Gil said in his heavy Gaelic accent as he picked up his electrospanner… “I just replaced those!” he said walking over to the transporter platforms.

It was their cue to leave the transporter chief to his … devices.

Lt Commander N’Dura
Chief Security Officer
USS Independence