Tales From The Overnight
Posted on Tue Mar 22nd, 2022 @ 9:18am by Lieutenant Junior Grade Michael Harris & Sergeant Major Lachlan Barr
Edited on on Thu Mar 31st, 2022 @ 3:19am
1,577 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
Episode 12 - Risin' To Risa
Location: Bridge - Deck 1 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD004 0130 hrs
Michael manned the science station during Delta shift on the bridge. He understood why he was given the assignment. He did need bridge practice. However, he did not think that he would have had to be under the command of an enlisted man from the Marines. Not that he had a particular issue with that, it was more that he believed in rank structure and felt his rank merited him to have the command. And yet he did not have the command, so Michael made the best of it. He tried to keep his head down and his eyes on his sensors. After all the ship was docked at the station, what could go wrong?
Lachlan had always found these shifts quite boring, if that was the correct word. He didn't like sitting still unless it was at a bar or with a beautiful woman. Both would have his undivided attention. That, and he sometimes wished Starfleet installed comfier chairs. Sitting in one for an extended period of time did tend to leave to a numb backside.
Standing up from said chair Lachlan began to do one of his round trip patrols of the bridge. This was usually only to stretch his legs and interact with the crew, all fleeters. He could see how they looked at him, green did not belong on the bridge, let alone an enlisted man in charge wearing said colour.
He walked over and spoke to the helm, then tactical before stopping at the science station. "Don't suppose you have anything exciting to report Lieutenant?" he asked.
"Unless you count spacedust exciting. Right now I am running an experiment on the effect of time on a crew in extended slipstream. Only in simulations at the moment. We are also taking the time to work with Operations and Engineering on an internal sensor sweep and diagnostic of the ship. Doesn't hurt to make sure we are in tip top condition when we shove off this rock." Michael replied with a lot of sarcasm. He did not rise to attention as he did not feel like being the butt of some laughter at the moment.
"Sounds exhilarating." Lachlan replied in the same sarcasm vein. He noticed the man looking around at the others, almost as if he was expecting sneers and laughs for some reason. Lachlan shook his head, he was made of stronger stuff. Not only from being a marine, that was just what the corps made you, but from being Scottish. Even now in this century still give off the stoic, hard man vibe when needed. "Tell me, is there some reason you keep looking over at Ops? Do you think because you are talking to me that you will suddenly combust in to tiny pieces?" he asked quietly, almost deathly quiet.
"No sir... Just that despite what our society has become there are those that would prefer to keep themselves above others. My condition as it were is what keeps people commenting." Great now the Marine singled him out. Michael was sure he would never live this down now. Why couldn't people just let him work in peace. He could not wait for this shift to be over and he could simply climb into a mead bottle.
Lachlan leant in close and spoke quietly, "Nothing wrong with you mate. Aye, okay you're smaller than them but I bet you are twice as smart and can run rings around them. Jealousy creeps in to those with fragile egos." he said placing his hand on Michaels shoulders. "You fought how many?" he spoke loudly. "Jesus man, you must be fearless. Need to remember not to piss you off." Lachlan laughed as the intrigued faces of the crew diverted their way. As Lachlan moved away to return to his command chair they looked in amazement for a moment before quickly focusing intensely on their own consoles.
Michael watched as the Marine crossed back to the command pit. He had assumed that there would be something different when a Marine was in charge, but he did not think it would be for the better. He assumed that it would have been a want for more discipline and the chain of command. The present events just showed the scientist that hypotheses are often wrong, and to make sure he had all the facts before inferring.
A chime from Harris' console brought him from his thoughts and experiments to the present. The internal sensors were tripped, and his hands moved quickly across his controls as his brow furrowed. He called out to the officer at security. "Ensign do you see what I am reading on internal sensors?" The Vulcan Ensign Svrock looked down at his console. "Indeed Lieutenant confirmed. There is a breach in the computer security."
Michael ran, well it looked more like hopping over to the Security desk. "Show me what you have, lets see what we can come up with."
Lachlan rose again from the centre chair and tugged at his uniform. Placing both hands on the railing across from the security station he looked at the now two officers behind it. "Where is it coming from?" he asked. "And what are they trying to access?"
Michael leaned over the console as Svrock gave his report. "It seems that someone has tried to access the ship's logs and after action weapons reports..." His eyes scanned the screen and he read as he spoke. "They are attempting to change the data, they are trying to make it look like the Pioneer fired on Cardassia Prime and the Cardassians taking over Empok Nor was retaliatory mission to retake something that already belonged to them."
Michael was shocked by what he heard and saw. "If we use a recursive algorithm we may be able to see who is doing this. At the very least learn what access code is being used."
"Do it Lieutenant." Lachlan ordered. He wanted whomever was doing this found. There would be no way he would let Starfleet's name be besmirched by a rogue element. People would find it hard to believe Starfleet would openly fire on the homeworld of the Cardassians but with enough doctored evidence even a Vulcan wouldn't be able to see past the logic before them.
Lachlan fired in some of his command codes as he had now moved over to the armrest of the command chair.
Michael smiled broadly at the Vulcan. "You see Mr. Vulcan this why I drink and I know things." Svrock merely cocked an eyebrow in response. Harris' hands danced over the console it looked as if he played a piano. Within moments he laughed almost maniacally. "Ohhhh, I got ya now you piece of shit. Code number Omega-339-alpha-tango." Michael called out. Svrock moved quickly and deliberately. "According to Starfleet records that code belongs to Commander Calvin Quaid. He was the Strategic Operations Officer for Empok Nor. Deemed missing in action during Operation Homeward Bound."
"Can we trace it before they get into our system? If we can find out where its coming from we can see if Commander Quaid is not so missing or if someone else is using it?" Lachlan asked. If not then he would lock that code out so it could never be used again.
Svrock implemented the trace. "I have secured the Pioneer's systems so the culprit will be unsuccessful. Implementing the trace now. "The hack has been routed through a number of different relays. But, it is coming from The Badlands sir."
"Why is it always the Badlands? It's never anywhere with a nice name..." he said as Svrock went to answer his question. Lachlan held up a hand to stop him. "I guess we need to wake up the Captain."
Michael smiled, he loved being the bearer of ironically bad news. "Sir that would be impossible. The Captain is awake just not on the ship. He was seen boarding Serenity last night and leaving with Commander Malbrooke in tow. Major Tremble is on leave at Risa. So I believe that leaves you and Lieutenant McGowen in charge. Sir!" He could already see the Marine sweating and Michael loved it. It was not that he had anything against Marines or Barr. It was just that Michael was often grumpy.
Lachlan smirked. "Great, get to wake up a woman. Let's hope she gets out the right side of that bed." he said moving towards Harris. "Lieutenant Harris, you have the bridge. Don't break anything and keep tracing that hack. I want a better location than 'its coming from The Badlands'." he said as he slapped the man on the shoulder forcefully before stepping on to the turbolift. The doors hissed shut as he thought to himself that truly it was just his luck that this would happen on his duty shift.
When Barr gave Michael the bridge his jaw fell agape. This was something that the Science Officer did not expect. As he climbed into the center seat he could almost sense the smugness coming off the Vulcan at Tactical.
A Joint Post By
Master Sergeant Lachlan Barr
Chief of The Boat, USS Pioneer
First Sergeant, The Cure
Lieutenant Junior Grade Michael Harris
Science Officer, USS Pioneer
Ensign Svrock
Security Officer, USS Pioneer
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