IC-GOLD-Investigation(Melinda/Kathryn/MPs)

[kabukiman]

-Thank you- she seems a bit more relieved.
-I used to work at Cabela's HQ in Sidney as a spokeswoman. You know, lot's of meetings and press conference everytime there was some problem. When everything started, I ru awayay to a safe place we had, but I discovered my coleagues had barricaded themselves and didn't let me enter. It was a carnage outside and I was trapped. Then on the last minute, a group of bikers appeared. I was even more scared. I mean, I didn't know what the "others" were, and a group of bikers didn't seem quite safe. But I was wrong, they save me and I have been with them since then- Melinda realizes that it was just a couple of days- After, that we found several other groups. Some of the people we found was actually a bigger threat than the "others", good people died. But my group was like a newfound family- she smiles at that moment remembering Keith (specially). Lisa and Amanda.

[Mr. Handy]

In Smedley's office-
"And you, sir?" the colonel asked Harvey.

"M-me?" said Harvey, nervous. "I'm just an accountant. I worked for Joey Milano."

"Yes, you arrived with him and his entourage. I'm aware of his family's business, but I'll judge each of you on your own merits. We can't afford to be too picky, but as long as you guys keep your noses clean we'll get along. Keep the organized part, but leave out the crime part."

"Y-yes, Colonel."

"Sir," said Laura Wyatt, "both of them were instrumental in unmasking the traitor Carioyn Wagner. None of her coworkers suspected a thing, but they saw right through her lies."

"You know why that is, Lieutenant? Apart from the fact that they both seem to be good judges of character. It's because you and your people were too close. You have to step back to see the big picture. You worked with her every day, you were used to her, and you couldn't bring yourselves to suspect her. Sometimes it takes an outsider's perspective."

"I agree, sir. That's one reason I brought them here. I'd like them to sit in on her interrogation sessions. I believe they could contribute."

The colonel nodded. "Yes, an excellent idea, at least for the initial phases." He looked at Melinda and Harvey. "Assuming you're both agreeable?"

[kabukiman]

Melinda seems surprised, but agreeds.

[Mr. Handy]

In Smedley's Office-
"Sure," said Harvey.

"Excellent," said Smedley, rising. "I'll come with you. I want to observe as well. If we learn anything, I want to know it right away. Follow me." He led the way out of the office and back into the hall.

[kabukiman]

Melinda followes the officer.

[Mr. Handy]

In the observation room-
Colonel Smedley led the group down the hall and back to the intersection, where he turned left. At the end of the hall was a door that led into a stairwell going up and down. He led the way down one flight to the basement, then out a similar door into a hallway. They reached another intersection, where they turned right and passed through a guard room staffed by four Security Forces troopers. Beyond a steel door, which the colonel unlocked, was another hall lined with doors. Smedley pointed out the first door on the left. "You and the other MPs take the prisoner in there and get her situated, Lt. Wyatt. You can get started with the interrogation yourself."

"Yes, sir," said Laura. She opened the door and entered the room, followed by the rest of the MPs pulling Carolyn inside.

Smedley opened the second door on the left. "This is the observation room, where we can watch without being seen ourselves. One-way mirror." He led Melinda and Harvey inside. They had entered a small room with a few chairs facing the left wall, most of which was taken up by a transparent glass pane. Through it they could see the interrogation room. The far side of that room had a large black curtain. Two burly MPs placed Carolyn in a chair that looked much less comfortable than the ones in the observation room and strapped her into it. Laura lit a lamp on a table next to the chair, shining it on Carolyn's face. She blinked and turned her head.

[kabukiman]

Melinda waits for the interrogation start.

[Mr. Handy]

In the observation room-
Lt. Laura Wyatt faced Carolyn Wagner, an angry expression on her face. "You'd better tell me everything you know," she said.

"I want an immunity deal before I say another word," said Carolyn.

"I can't promise anythng on that score. I will promise you, though, that if you know something and you hold back, we'll throw the book at you. You will hang, do you understand? That's the penalty for treason. On the other hand, if you tell us something useful, we can be lenient."

Carolyn gulped. "What if I don't know any more than I've already told you?"

"Then you'd have nothing to offer in exchange for immunity, which means you're trying to play us. Either that, or you do know something and you're holding back. You're in enough trouble already. Don't add to it."

Carolyn wavered for a while, like a spinning coin unsure on which side it was going to land. Finally, she cracked. "All right, I'll tell you everything! There are a bunch of people here at the base who are part of this group. The leader is Captain Michael Hobart."

"That's my aide!" said Colonel Smedley, rising to his feet. He spoke into his radio. "Sergeant Bloch, this is Colonel Smedley. Assemble a squad of people you trust and place Captain Hobart under arrest. It is imperative that you take him alive." There was a pause. "You heard me, Sergeant. I'll explain later."

[kabukiman]

Melinda thinks that they should wait until the end of the interogation before arresting anyopne, but hey, it's the army, they know what to do, so she keeps shut.

[Mr. Handy]

In the observation room-
"Don't worry, she can't hear us in there," the colonel said to Melinda and Harvey. "It's soundproofed. We can only hear them because there's a microphone in there and a speaker in here. We're also recording the session, both audio and video."

"Who else?" asked Laura Wyatt.

Carolyn, on the verge of tears, rattled off more names, and not just Dauterive. There seemed to be a disturbingly awful lot of them, and Melinda could sense that Carolyn was being truthful here. She was broken and spilling her guts. Even Colonel Smedley looked alarmed at the sheer number of traitors.

"The good news is that a lot of them are dead," he said. "The bad news is that a lot of the rest of us are dead too."

[kabukiman]

-I don't know if should arrest them for that reason; they may revolt. It's better to arrest the ringleader with some other pretext but that make sense like corruption or something like that.-says Melinda a bit worried.

[Mr. Handy]

In the observation room-
"I knew you were sharp, ma'am," said Colonel Smedley with a smile. "Yes, that's precisely my plan. That's why I'm having Captain Hobart taken into custody without telling anyone the charges yet. We'll sweat him in a different interrogation room and see if we can get some confirmation of what Wagner told us, as well as new intel. The rest of the followers will remain in place for now, except those in sensitive positions, though they may find themselves reassigned to the most hazardous duties."

[kabukiman]

-Thank you sir- she says with a smile. Then continuing: -The only good news, is that if there was some people outside that had the same ideas like them, it won't bother this base anymore.

[Mr. Handy]

In the observation room-
Smedley nodded. "Yes, we're secure in here, ma'am," he said. "One thing we lack is a means of resupply, but I think pretty soon we're going to start sending squads out into Cheyenne to scavenge what they can. Not only will this help us in the long run, but it will also serve as a convenient way to get rid of these traitors. We'll form squads consisting entirely of them and send them out into the most dangerous areas of the city. If they survive, we can simply refuse to let them back inside, and the problem solves itself. This way we can eliminate a handful at a time without alerting them and having a mutiny on our hands."

[kabukiman]

-That's a good plan. And in this way, they actually do something good for the comunity.

[Mr. Handy]

In the observation room-
Smedley nodded again. "Yes, precisely what I had in mind," he said. "We'll tell them we believe they've been exposed to something harmful out there as our excuse for not allowing them back on base. They may see through it, but there's not a whole lot they can do. They could cause trouble for our genuine scavenging teams, but I don't think they'd last long if they remained in Cheyenne. Even if it weren't for the masses of infected, all of the dead and decomposing bodies will make it a very unhealthy place to live, and they really will catch something sooner or later if they stay. Chances are they'll take whatever supplies they can scrounge up and hit the road, and good riddance to them." He gave Melinda a thoughtful look. "I can see why Lt. Wyatt brought you along, Ms. Christie. She's an excellent judge of people. You are a very insightful person, and I believe you're officer material. We can use someone like you, and I just happen to have a new opening on my staff at the moment. The fact that you're an outsider is actually a plus; it shows that you aren't part of this conspiracy, and you've also helped blow it wide open, for which I am extremely grateful. Are you interested?"

[kabukiman]

-I would be grateful to help in anyway I can, but I don't have any military training, And the true soldiers could resent to see an outsider to get a job with so much responsability. I think it's better that I don't get any oficial position but help in an informal way. In other words, yes.

[Mr. Handy]

In the observation room-
"Thank you, ma'am," said the colonel. "We do offer military training, and we could use some fresh blood to replace our losses, but that's a good point about our airmen not taking so well to an outsider - though I think they'd make an exception in your case. If you want to keep things informal, we can do that, but the offer still stands if you ever change your mind and want the commission."

The interrogation continued for a few more minutes, with Carolyn Wagner divulging more details to Laura Wyatt. Then the colonel's eyes flicked to one side, an involuntary reaction to someone speaking to him on his radio.

"Thank you, Sergeant," he said. "Once he's processed, get him set up in Interrogation Room 2. I'll be handling that one personally. Smedley out." He looked over at Melinda and Harvey. "Captain Hobart surrendered without a fight. I'd like you both to observe his interrogation when he's ready. Lt. Wyatt can sit with you two while I work."

[kabukiman]

Melinda nods and wait.

[Mr. Handy]

In the observation room-
After several more minutes, Carolyn had finished giving her statement, and Lt. Laura Wyatt and the other MPs escorted her out of the interrogation room to take her to her cell. Soon after that, Colonel Smedley reacted again to another voice on his radio.

"Thank you, Sergeant," he said into his throat mic, nodding even though it couldn't be seen over the radio. "I'll be in shortly." He stood up and opened the door for Melinda and Harvey. "He's ready. This way, please. It's just across the hall."