Irric’s attention was drawn away from his PADD by the resonating chimes, their metallic notes rippling through the room. Annoyance welled up within him as he recognized the specific individuals waiting patiently on the other side of the door. He decided to keep them waiting for a moment longer.

Only a short time before, word had reached him about the investigation underway, spearheaded by two Ensigns. When he had initially granted Ensign Shepard permission to delve into the suspicious activities reported by Ensign Solari, he had expected a controlled and organized inquiry, not the disarray that seemed to be unfolding.

Complicating matters further, Irric had recently received a formal complaint from Ensign Miller, who alleged mistreatment during an interrogation conducted by the two Ensigns, an interrogation for which Irric had not granted authorization. His frustration grew with each passing second, mingling with his growing concern.

With a voice filled with a blend of frustration and apprehension, he finally uttered, “Enter.”

Cole and Cam had been tracking down their next suspect when they received a comm that called them to the office of Commander Nuni Irric, Investigations Section Leader. Previously, Cole had done most of his reporting to Commander Peri Anya but he had learned that this investigation would fall under the jurisdiction of Nuni. And now he found himself getting ready to walk into the man’s office. 

The call to enter came and the doors parted. They stepped forward and Cole spoke up first.

“Ensign Cole Shepard, reporting as ordered, Sir.”

Cam’s footsteps echoed as he quietly followed Cole into the office. Inside, the Bajoran senior officer maintained an air of authority as Cole respectfully reported. 

Cam, his voice quivering, added hesitantly, “Ensign Cam Solari.”

Irric observed the two ensigns with a scrutinizing gaze. His eyes flitted from one to the other before gesturing discreetly toward the chairs positioned before his meticulously organized desk. Both ensigns, their apprehension visible, took their seats, the chairs emitting a soft creak as they settled in.

Irric leaned back in his chair, his facial expression revealing a mixture of curiosity and thinly veiled irritation. 

“Ensigns Shepard and Solari,” he began, his voice even but laced with skepticism, “you seem to share more than your rank. I’ve noticed that both your given names commence with a ‘C’, and both of your surnames start with an ‘S.’”

A heavy silence engulfed the room, the tension nearly palpable. Irric continued to study the ensigns, his gaze penetrating, almost piercing. 

“And you both,” he continued, his voice raising in volume, “appear to be a considerable source of vexation for me.”

Cam shifted uneasily in his chair, Irric’s intense scrutiny weighing on him. 

Cole wasn’t sure how to react to this guy. He sat there and listened to what seemed to be an ass chewing for himself and Cam.

After a brief pause, Irric continued, “I’ve been serving as a Lead Investigator for well over a decade, with almost three years of that time dedicated to this very station.”

Irric’s fingers lightly tapped on his PADD as he leaned forward, his eyes shifting between the Ensigns. 

“By the Prophets,” he continued, his mounting frustration evident in his gestures, “I’ve never been inundated with such a torrent of complaints related to a single investigation!”

Cam’s heart raced, and his stammered response couldn’t conceal his apprehension. “M-M-Many… C-C-Complaints?” His face drained of color, and he felt a chill as though his blood had left his head.

Irric nodded, his tone resolute. “Many might even be an understatement, Ensign Solari.” 

He held up his PADD, the screen filled with a litany of allegations, each more disconcerting than the last. “Could you both kindly clarify why my PADD is overflowing with records of pursuit, a multitude of reports regarding harassment and intimidation, and, to my surprise, a formal complaint about an unauthorized interrogation conducted by a Security Officer and a–” 

Irric grit his teeth and with yet a new level of palpable irritation he finished his sentence  “Flight Control Officer!”

Cole took a deep sigh and took a moment to collect himself. There was no way this guy was speaking to them this way. There had been nothing wrong with the way they had handled things. He knew one of the complaints had to be Miller. But everything that had been by the book. Besides, Miller may not have been the smuggler but he was guilty of something.

“Sir.” Cole began. “I, I mean, we, are unaware of any of these complaints. We were given permission to pursue an investigation and that’s exactly what we did. No one was injured. Nothing was destroyed and while we haven’t found the smuggler, we did stop Miller’s…….um, side hustle.”

Irric’s stern demeanor eased, and the corner of his lips curled upward for the first time since the Ensigns had crossed his threshold. “What’s the implication here, Ensign Shepard?” he asked, his tone more curious than confrontational. 

“Are you seeking commendation because, despite your lack of progress in the primary investigation, you’ve unearthed Ensign Miller’s proclivity for clandestine rendezvous with Ferengi Lobe holograms?”

Cole sat back in his chair and took another deep breath. He was starting to wonder if Nuni was trying to provoke him for some reason. 

“No, Sir.” he finally answered. “I’m not looking for any ”Atta boys” or anything else. The Miller issue was just something we happened upon and isn’t even a drop in the bucket compared to the stolen equipment. But I also don’t feel we deserve a dressing down either. We done everything by the book. We’ve investigated and followed the leads where they took us and will continue to do so, unless you or Commander Peri decide to remove us from the case.”

Cam’s gaze roamed restlessly, his eyes flitting between the Lieutenant Commander seated across the table, Cole at his side, and the intricate patterns in the metallic floor beneath him. The polished surface held his attention, capturing his thoughts as he wrestled with his emotions.

Irric’s voice, tinged with genuine surprise, cut through the tension in the room. “A dressing down?” he said with a weary sigh, his expression hinting at hidden concerns. “I’m not out to sabotage you or snatch away this opportunity, Ensign.”

He turned his attention to the two ensigns, his eyes searching for answers. “I just want you to be cautious. Frankly, I’m still puzzled by why a Flight Ops Ensign is taking on the role of a seasoned investigator.” He locked eyes with Ensign Solari, silently seeking an explanation.

“You can’t say tha..” Cam tried to respond but he was cut short by the Bajoran.

“But your work has been nothing short of meticulous,” Irric continued, his voice now holding a note of admiration. 

“Now, it’s time to refine those skills.” He directed his gaze toward Cole, his tone indicating a challenge. “I want you to reach a level where your results match or even surpass the current standards, all without the need to fill up a PADD with complaints.”

Cam turned his gaze towards the Commander, a perplexed expression etching itself across his face. Shifting his gaze to Cole, he sought a reassuring connection, hoping to uncover a shared sense of confusion between them.

Cole turned to Cam and was glad to see that they shared the confusion. Cole had been all set to jump to Cam’s defense. Without the Flight Control officer, Cole wouldn’t have been nearly as far as they were in the investigation. He just knew the Commander was going to remove came from helping him. At the least. Remove them both at the most. Now they were being told to continue with what Cole would call, a little more professionalism.

“We understand, Commander. And thank you for not removing Ensign Solari, Sir. He’s been instrumental with his assistance. We’ve only got a few more suspects. Hopefully, we’ll have answers soon.”

Irric’s face lit up with a reassuring smile as he shifted his focus to Cam. “Although I’m not particularly thrilled about partnering on security investigations with personnel from other departments,” he began, “I must admit your contribution has proven indispensable.”

With a glance at both ensigns, he continued, “Given the circumstances, it falls to me to pass along orders to Ensign Solari. He’s to make his way to Commander Carter at Flight Ops right away.” Irric paused, his tone heavy with unspoken implications. “As for what awaits his contributions to this investigation in the future, that remains uncertain, but I can pledge that if an opportunity arises, I won’t stand in its way.”

Cam offered a nod of respect to the Lieutenant Commander seated before him, silently conveying his appreciation. He turned to Cole, his eyes holding a promise as he said, “We’ll be in touch.” 

With that, he exited the office, his departure marked by a purposeful stride and a sense of anticipation.

Cole gave Cam a nod of appreciation and watched as his comrade exited the office and then turned back to the Commander.

“I only have a few more suspects, Commander. With your permission, I’ll get on to checking them out.” Cole said.

The Commander gave him a nod and he was dismissed. He made his way down to the Security Office and began getting everything together to move forward with his investigation.