History had shown Amara Denorios to be the no-nonsense type. As a marine, her training centered on less than ideal situations where diplomacy had usually failed. But she also had a background in rescuing troops from combat situations. None of it made any sense. Of course she wasn't sure what to make of any of the current situation.
Amara's recent conversation with Lieutenant Stone only confirmed what she already knew. From the moment one of the marines reported an explosion type sound very near the marine base perimeter, she had sent a team to investigate. Between those marines and the SAR unit, they'd uncovered a big fat nothing.
However she knew better than to believe a crashed shuttle could just vanish. Too many components in a shuttle were too valuable and way too visible on scanners. From the start, Captain Denorios had expected to find traces of debris, noticeable tritanium signatures and some sort of IFF transponder code. In fact the lack of evidence was more than enough to put her on edge.
It didn't take her long to place that intended call to the Commodore. What they needed now was proof. Amara wasn't simply going to let a rogue craft loose near her territory, especially if its intentions proved hostile.
Thankfully the SAR unit Commander appeared to be thinking the same way. This wasn't a game of whose territory belonged to who, it came down to protecting Federation and Starfleet assets in the best manner they knew how.
While Amara found herself stuck in another report on base reactivation, she was interrupted by a young Gunnery Sergeant. "Go ahead," she replied.
The marine handed over the latest report. "You wanted to be kept in the loop, Ma'am, so here it is. Not much yet but we are working on it. There's no need to remind us you wanted results yesterday."
"I'm afraid to say we needed results last week on this one, Gunny." Amara was serious about it. Every ounce of data she'd seen so far made her skin crawl. Currently she wanted answers and she wanted them fast.
He turned with a perfectly executed salute, "You'll have it, Ma'am."
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