Posted by Colonel Calvin Harris (Commanding Officer) in Shipwide Side Sim: FCIS Interview - Wright

Posted by Captain Molly Wright (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Shipwide Side Sim: FCIS Interview - Wright
<snip>

Newton walked over to the door and peered outside.

“Ms. Wright. If you’d please join us.”

Molly had been sitting outside engaged in pleasant chatter with Ryan. After almost two years of no contact, it had been nice to have the opportunity to catch up. Her only wish being that it had been under different circumstances.

Smiling at Ryan one last time, Molly followed Newton into the room.

Inside, there was a small square table with four chairs around it. Newton sat in one of them and Cal was sitting on another. Surprised to see the Marine still in the room, Wright shot him a friendly smile as she sat on one of the remaining chairs. Something didn’t feel right. There was something in the glance that he shot her back that spoke of something wrong. For a moment Molly wondered about what Newton had told him. What had she done wrong?

Harris watched the young woman carefully. He was afraid to let a single feeling show as he processed the storm of emotions inside him. Did he still love her? Of course he did! The question wasn’t if he loved her, the question was did he trust her and could he ever trust her again.

Trying to look as unshaken and as natural as possible, Molly broke the silence. “What can I help you with Agent Newton?”

Capt. Wright, CIO

Newton smiled a smile that would affirm the unsettled feelings Molly was having. “Just a few questions I need answered for my investigation, I promise… this won’t take long. Please, have a seat.”

Molly sat down slowly without another look at Cal. Her eyes were fixed on Newton evaluating the meaning behind her smile. It made her even more uneasy but she tried her best to shield her feelings from showing on the outside.

“Captain Wright…” Newton began in earnest. “… for the record, would you please state your name, rank and Federation ID number?”

“Of course.” Molly began. She knew the procedure, and she just wanted to take it out of the way. “Molly Grace Wright, Captain. 4826503-2831.” Her tone was assertive, but not hostile.

“Thank you.” She smiled a sickly sweet smile before continuing. “Now Ms. Wright, you legally changed your last name at age 10. Do you happen to know what your surname name was at birth? If so, could you state it for the record?”

Newton/Harris

Another procedure question… Molly had been asked that before, especially when dealing with Intelligence, so she thought nothing of it. The fact that she had never mentioned it to Cal was lost in her mind. “Yes Ma’am, I do. Molly Grace Holloway was my birth name. That’s Holloway with an O. H-O-L-L-O-W-A-Y.” The easiness with which Wright answered the question would tell both the occupants of the room that she had given that information a few number of times before.”

Without another word, she waited for Newton to continue.

Capt. Wright, CIO

Harris said nothing. He watched, listened and carefully monitored every word and move of Molly’s. Newton had a point to get to and she was moving full speed ahead.

“Can you…” The Agent continued. “… describe the purpose of the mission to Beta Prime, Ms. Wright?”

“It was a diplomatic mission.” Molly started without so much as a flinch. “The Federation had made contact with the people on Beta Prime. They go by the name of Regians, and they had just developed warp technology. We were to be their first contact.”

With a nod, Newton pressed on. “Why did you request to be involved with this particular mission?”

Molly knew these were coming. No self respecting Intelligence Agent would investigate their mission without questioning the actual mission. Especially when one of their officers had requested to be on board with no apparent reason.

Clearing her throat, Wright replied. Her voice as steady as before. “Beta Prime is a name that has been on Intel’s radars for a while. I knew that there had been suspect activity on the surface on several occasions. My sources indicated that it was suspected that someone else had established themselves on the planet, possibly another non-human race, but there was no word on whom. In the interests of protecting the away team and their Captain, who happened to be on the mission, I requested permission to join as they did not have access to the information I had.” Molly’s eyes kept focused on Newton. They didn’t move even at the mention of Cal.

Then Newton snapped the quick follow-up. “Why did you find it necessary to go disguised as a Tactical officer to a diplomatic mission?”

Newton/Harris

Newton’s sudden snap caught Molly off guard, but not so much that it was apparent in her tone. “It was a diplomatic mission, Agent Newton. Imagine that your people just developed warp technology. You’re expecting visitors from places you didn’t even know existed. You’re approached by the Federation, on what’s supposed to be a ‘full disclosure’ meeting, and they bring an Intelligence officer with them. A person that cannot share the information they hold. What would you think?” Wright was visibly annoyed. “It is much easier to explain the presence of a Tactical officer within the away party than the presence of a spook, don’t you think?”

Capt. Wright, CIO

Newton sighed with a cocky smirk. “I’m not attacking your actions, Ms. Wright. I am simply seeking to get the full and complete story. Now…” She looked down at her PaDD, clearly looking at nothing in particular. “Have you, Ms. Wright, ever withheld information from a superior officer?”

Sure. Molly resisted the temptation to roll her eyes. Instead, she crossed her arms over her chest.

The next question clearly caught Molly off guard. Not that Newton was asking it, but rather the mere suggestion of it. “No!” Molly replied. Disbelief clear in her voice.

The second she stopped, Newton followed with. “Have you ever withheld information from your current Commanding Officer?”

“What?” Molly looked at Cal, wondering exactly what Newton had told him during his questioning or if he had suggested that she hadn’t been sincere at any given point in their work together.

Harris glared at Molly and snapped. “Just answer the damn question Molly!” His tone harsh without a drop of care or concern.

As soon as the words left his lips, Cal would be able to see the sting of hurt behind Molly’s eyes. It lasted but a split second, before her gaze left his.

“No.” Wright looked back at Newton. The look in Molly’s eyes was almost menacing.

Newton nodded slightly. “OK… thank you Ms. Wright. I only have two questions left in the this section of the interview. Did you withhold information about your purpose to be included on the mission? And what were your expectations of the mission?”

Newton

Molly sighed. “The only information I withheld from Colonel Harris was my intelligence on the present mission, that I just disclosed to you. It was information I could not openly discuss at the time given my current security clearance. Not because I wanted to.” After a short pause, Wright continued. “I expected the mission to be nothing more than a regular diplomatic mission. If I thought that something was going to go wrong, or if I thought that at any time the away party would be in danger, I would have expressed my views, and I would have strongly recommended the mission to be halted.”

Capt. Wright, CIO

The Marine’s menacing glare had not softened in the slightest and Newton was almost… elated… as she continued. “Why did you change your name, Ms. Wright? Why would such a young child make such a decision?”

What does it matter? was the question on Molly’s mind, but she refrained from asking it. Whatever Newton had told Cal had clearly stuck with him. For a second, Wright wondered if it was worth fighting it at all. Her shoulder’s slumped slightly forward as her mind went back to memories she didn’t want to remember. “It was my father’s name… and after everything that he put me and my sister through… I didn’t want to be his daughter anymore. Biologically speaking, I knew that would never change. But I could at least stop carrying his legacy with my name.” Molly stopped for a second. Her gaze on the table in front of her. “Instead, I chose my mother’s maiden name. I thought it was more fitting… not to mention, it would be harder for him to find us should he ever come looking.”

Wright’s gaze settled back on Newton. “But if you’re insinuating that as a child I was not fully capable of making that decision, I can tell you Ms. Newton… if I was old enough to carry more concussions and broken bones that most see in their entire lives, and to take Erin from a horrible situation by myself, I can guarantee you… I was more than capable of making that decision.” The hatred in Molly’s voice was unequivocal. “I already have to stare at his eyes every time I look in the mirror. But I don’t have to remember him every time I write my name down.”

“Have you…” The Agent pressed. “… ever heard the name Lucas Holloway?” Harris was clearly paying closer attention now, leaning forward on his elbows, still eerily speechless.

Molly’s eyes glanced up at Newton in surprise. A glimmer of happiness crossed through them as she uttered the name. The change in Cal’s stance made her briefly wonder why was it that he seemed so interested in this matter.

“Yes.” Wright said assertively. “Lucas Holloway is my uncle.”

Newton looked unimpressed. “What is your relationship with your uncle, Ms. Wright? Or should I say, Ms. Holloway?”

Newton/Harris

Wright took a slow, deep breath, trying to calm herself down. She told herself that it didn’t matter whatever name Newton chose to address her by. It was clear that all she wanted was to get to Molly, and if she didn’t back up, she would give her exactly what she wanted.

“I haven’t seen my uncle since I left New York, eighteen years ago.” She paused. “He used to come by the house to visit us…” Molly smiled slightly. It was clear that she had fond memories of the man. “He always brought us stuff… it almost seemed like he cared…” Wright shook her head. “I don’t have a relationship with my uncle, Agent Newton. If he cared about me or my sister, he would have taken us out of my father’s house before–” Molly’s voice cracked. “He never did.”

Capt. Wright, CIO