Well my time has come. Four long years of studying, testing, and physical hardship, but I am assigned to my first ship, the USS JH Boner NCC-2010, a tactical attack ship on the front lines and ready for action.
Or so I thought. Having investigated the crew’s most recent official logs to Starfleet, it seems as if the crew must be involved in a lot of covert operations. Information leaving the ship is sparse and crew either leave almost immediately after transferring over or seem to stay there for life.
Captain Notpatrick Stewart has a long history of surviving conflicts with impossible odds stacked against him. It is said that he studied under the great Captain Picard himself and learned many of his battle tactics.
I have been asked to pilot a new shuttlecraft to the Boner. It seems something has happened to one of the eight normally assigned to this class of ship. On approach the first thing I noticed is that the torpedo pods and phaser banks are pointing to the rear of the ship, a very unusual arrangement. Why have all your heaviest weapons facing your exit vector?
I hail the ship and find I am surprised to see a disheveled looking man appear on the screen, “This is Lt. Commander Argyle.” <hiccup> “Who are you and what the hell do you want?”
I was taken back I stumbled through my reply, “Umm… Ensign Manlove. I am a new transfer and bringing a new shuttle from Starfleet sir.”
The man swore at me in Klingon and replied, “Well you’re on approach already boy, may as well take aboard.”
It was then I recognized the man, “Lt. Commander, are you the same Argyle who was assigned to the Enterprise? My uncle was an Engineer there and…”
My comment was cut short as the man cut off communications mumbling something about how a blind man with no game took his job.
Entering the shuttle bay I find all eight shuttles in their respective positions. Strange, perhaps one of them is not functioning and hence my need to take this one here. Landing the shuttle in next to Shuttlecraft 8 I see someone has sloppily painted the name “Tug” on its side.
Exiting my own shuttle I watch as a young and attractive Lieutenant runs from the opening door of the “Tug” shuttle. Her expression is that of a person who has seen something horrible and will need many hours of counseling to fix her fractured mind.
The woman is followed by a Lt Commander who seems to be adjusting his clothing, which looked to be soaked with sweat. A broad smile on his face he gives thumbs up to one of the shuttle engineers who laughs and shakes his head.
He looks around and takes notice of me. I have met many aliens, both friendly and aggressive, but never before have a felt as uncomfortable within their gaze as I did in Lt. Commander Johnson’s. He shouted for me to approach and asked me who I was.
I answered smartly, “Ensign Brutus Manlove, reporting for duty as your newest Weapon’s Engineer.”
He laughed in my face for several moments, a laugh that was both demoralizing and disturbing and kept repeating my name to himself over and over. With that he simply walked out of the shuttle bay, tears welling up in his eyes. Grabbing my bags I asked several of the crew if I had done something wrong. They seem to tell me it would be something I would get used to and to report to the 1st Officer Black and Asian who should be in forward lounge on Deck 6.
TO BE CONTINUED
Cerebral Paladin
aka Jack B
Well if you want action you will surely find it on the Boner. Welcome aboard, Ensign. If you have not yet been to Medical for your full physical exam, please report to me at once.
Wear something comfortable.