Debrief

Posted on 05 Sep 2024 @ 4:46pm by Lieutenant Commander Dresden Cage

Mission: M4 - Falling Out
Location: Starfleet Academy Administrative Building
Timeline: Six Days Prior to Joining Obsidian Command
831 words - 1.7 OF Standard Post Measure

The shuttle touched down gently on the landing pad at the Administrative Building at Starfleet Academy, the hum of its engines winding down as the ramp lowered to the ground. Dresden, his mind still reeling from the events that had unfolded, slowly rose from his seat. He was exhausted, having been up for nearly 24 hours straight, and the weight of the mission earlier.

As he stepped off the shuttle, two Starfleet Intelligence officers already waited for him. Their uniforms were crisp, their expressions unreadable—typical for the branch that dealt with the Federation's most sensitive matters.

“Lieutenant Cage,” one of them said in a tone that was all business, “if you’ll come with us, please. We need to debrief you immediately.”

Dresden nodded wearily. “Sure.”

The officers led him to a secure room within the Academy, a stark, windowless space with only a table and a few chairs. The lighting was harsh, casting sharp shadows that seemed to exacerbate Dresden’s growing headache. He took a seat, and the officers positioned themselves across from him, their eyes fixed intently on him.

“Lieutenant, we need you to walk us through everything that happened at the compound,” one of the officers began. His voice was calm, methodical, but there was an edge to it—like he wasn’t just seeking information, but also looking for any inconsistencies.

Dresden sighed as he rubbed his temples before he leaned back in his chair. “I was going to submit a formal report.” he said. “But fine. Where do you want me to start?”

“From the beginning,” the other officer said firmly. “Don’t leave anything out.”

Dresden recounted the mission—how they breached the compound, how it was eerily empty, and the strange symbols that adorned the walls. He detailed the encounter with Lake’s residence and at the compound, the deadly struggle over the floating platforms, and how Lake ultimately activated the device and vanished.

As he spoke, he could feel his frustration building. The officers interrupted him frequently, asked for clarification on minor details, questioned his interpretation of events, and probed for anything he might have missed.

“You said she used a device,” one of the officers said, narrowing his eyes. “What kind of device?”

Dresden hesitated. “I don’t know. It was… advanced. It projected holographic puzzles, sequences—things that seemed to control the environment around us. And when she solved it, she disappeared. The whole machine disappeared.”

“Do you believe it was some sort of temporal device?” the other officer asked, leaning forward slightly.

Dresden exhaled sharply. “That’s my best guess. A time machine, maybe. But honestly, I don’t have the expertise to say for sure.”

The officers exchanged a glance, their faces still impassive. “This is extremely concerning, Lieutenant. A device like that could have catastrophic implications if it falls into the wrong hands.”

“I’m well aware,” Dresden replied, his patience wore thin. “But you’re asking me the same questions over and over, and I don’t have any more answers for you.”

“You are right,” one of the officers said coldly. “We just need to be sure your information matches all the other interviews we are doing.”

The questioning continued, and Dresden felt like he was being grilled for every scrap of information, every possible angle. His exhaustion deepened, and he found it harder to keep his thoughts straight, his responses became more and more copy and paste.

Finally, after what felt like an hour, one of the officers leaned back in his chair. “That will be all for now, Lieutenant. We’ll be in touch if we need anything further.”

Dresden nodded, too tired to say anything else. He pushed himself up from the chair and felt the weight of fatigue settle into his bones. As he turned to leave, the first officer spoke again.

“Lieutenant, this situation is far from resolved. Commander Lake’s actions could have repercussions that we can’t even begin to predict. Starfleet Intelligence will be monitoring this closely, and we expect your full cooperation moving forward. If anything or anyone comes to you linked to this situation, let us know immediately.”

Dresden paused at the door, “No problem,” he said, his voice flat.

With that, he stepped out of the room and left the officers behind.

The corridors of the Starfleet Administrative Building were quiet, almost eerily so at this late hour. He glanced at the clock on the wall: 9:45 p.m. His body screamed for rest, but his mind was still buzzing with the events of the past day and the endless questions from Starfleet Intelligence. He was going to go to his office but changed his mind. He changed direction toward the exit.

The night was calm as he stepped outside, the cool air hitting him like a refreshing wave. The city lights of San Francisco shimmered in the distance, and for a moment, Dresden allowed himself to savor the tranquility. He made his way home.