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Wonder Boy

Posted on Sat May 18th, 2019 @ 1:07am by Commander Rita Paris & Lieutenant JG Alex Strider

Mission: Fractured Fairy Tales
Location: USS Hera, Deck 4, Main Flight Deck
Timeline: 2396

The fleet had assigned an assistant to the chief of Security of the USS Hera, which was, given the circumstances, something of a bother for said chief- or perhaps an opportunity.

With the pending Tribunal, an archaic rite amongst space pirates, apparently, there came some courtly votes and challenges and decisions. Which might be all well and fine were it not for the Captain being involved, which meant the Hera was thus unavoidably entangled in it all. Which might in and of itself not be so bad. were it not for the fact that, while privateers who preyed on other pirates, they were still sneaky, underhanded, lying, thieving pirates. Which meant that multiple machinations and manipulations and plans and schemes arrayed against the Captain and various members of the crew had been in motion for some time now. Therefore it would come as no surprise to anyone that Rita Paris was a touch more paranoid than normal.

In point of fact, when it came to new crew members, she was already surprisingly paranoid. Of course, that often seemed less unhealthy suspicion and more jurisprudence when it came to a number of the two-legged disasters she'd steered clear of the USS Hera. She'd be telling her grandchildren about the time she'd caught a Changeling impersonating a senior master chief- one who didn't know military etiquette.

This immediate moment, she was waiting for the shuttle bearing one Lieutenant Junior Grade Alex Strider. Who, if his service jacket was to be believed, was far, far too impressive an individual to be working in SEC/TAC. Which scored him a few extra points that aroused the fulsome first officer's suspicions just a bit more. Mastery of six martial arts meant that despite his slight frame, he was very dangerous.

Hell, he didn't even bother listing Academy Judo as one of his mastered martial arts in his service jacket.

As always, she'd approach with optimism and see how it played out. After all, apparently for fun after the Vulcan Science Academy for a few doctorates he got a doctorate from Harvard as a psychologist, making him arguably more qualified than the ship's counselor. So in theory he would be one of the greatest minds of the age. A veritable wonder boy who was in truth an ancient.

Of course, Rita had met a few of those that didn't impress her much.

As the sleek Type 15 shuttle grew larger by the second, the lost navigator waited to see what the universe would deliver to her doorstep this time.

Which was when the shuttlecraft augered in as if someone was fighting the controls, and exploded into a fireball just before it entered the forcefield of the flight deck.

As the shockwave rolled across the deck, the mighty Hera shuddered, rocked by the explosion, but she was unbowed. Slapping her comm badge, Commander Rita Paris began barking orders, getting fire and damage control teams mobilized, scanners searching for more survivors, and more potential attackers.

There were no survivors, but no casualties other than the pilot, one Lieutenant Marston, the atmospheric systems engineer Chief C'huk and Lieutenant Junior Grade Alex Strider. As the black box was retrieved and the data analyzed, it would come out that Lieutenant Marston had apparently had a psychotic break and shot both Chief C'huk and Lieutenant Junior Grade Strider. The mortally wounded Strider was struggling with Marston for control of the vessel, which Marston planned to use to use as a suicide bomber on the Hera. As his last act, Lieutenant Junior Grade Alex Strider managed to use his Security override to self-destruct the Shuttlecraft Ghidora.

As the investigation played out, he would be awarded the Starfleet Medal of Valor, for sacrificing himself to save the crew of a vessel upon which he had never set foot. Yet his name would be immortalized alongside her honored dead, as one of their own.

What drove Lietenant Marston, an otherwise exeplary officer, to do such a thing remained a mystery. There was nothing to indicate why or how.

No proof.

But in the gits of Rita Paris, she knew exactly who had gotten to the Lieutenant, and why. She could prove nothing, but she still knew with the surety that guided her every step, that it had been yet another assault on the USS Hera from one Arenara Artan.

Another crime she'd be called to task for before this Tribunal was through, if Rita Paris had anything to say about it.

And she would most certainly have her say.

 

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