SFJAG

[Kaziarl]

Yay for part 3



1200 GammaZulu

Mitchell decided that they should talk to the Ferangi, Prina, first. Through no fault of her own, she was the most watched cadet at the Academy right now, and because of it there were many things that could go wrong. When Denalla and he arrived at Prina's quarters, he couldn't help but notice that she seemed nervous as she invited them in.

"P-p-please," she said, gesturing them through the door. "W-wont you come in?"

"Thank you Cadet," he replied. "First of all I want to offer my condolences. I know how close a squad can become, even just an academy training squad."

"Thank you Commander, but I'm not that close to the others."

'Interesting,' thought Mitchell. "Why not, may I ask?"

"Everyone knows how Ferangi women are treated on the home world Commander," she replied. "We aren't allowed to own anything, earn money. Essentially we aren't allowed to live. Everyone here thinks I'll uphold that stereotype and fail, since I'm just simply a female."

"So you feel discriminated against?" Denalla asked.

"With all due respect Ma'am," Prina responded sternly. "I doubt you would know anything about it. Deltans have been a part of the Federation almost since its birth."

"Easy Cadet," Mitchell interrupted, not wanting to break up a fight. "All we want to do is ask questions. I promise we are not trying to single you out."

"Sorry sir, my mistake."

"Good, now tell me, why did you and your squad try to do the Kolvoord Starburst?"

"Fame," she replied. "I've worked very hard to get this far, but then I started hearing things. It's a blessing and a curse for a Ferangi; you just can’t keep a secret when one is around."

"I can imagine," Mitchell said. "What kind of things have you heard?"

"Well, it started about 3 months ago. I was coming out of a class when I heard someone talking. 'There goes that Ferangi slug,' they said. 'She'll be taken care of; it's only a matter of time.' To be honest, it got me scared. I felt I had to do something to prove that I belonged."

"So you and your squad decided to do the starburst." he said, guessing. "Who's idea was it?"

"Reed's, he was our squad leader." she looked a way for a minute, as though contemplating something. "Sir, this wasn't meant to happen that way. I had the numbers figured out perfectly, as only a Ferangi could do. I just wanted to prove myself."

"The problem is Cadet, you already had." he replied in an authoritative tone. "You were two weeks from graduation. You would have gone home an officer, now you'll likely just go home."

Mitchell and Denalla stood and exited the Cadets quarters. He felt bad for her, with so much on her shoulders. He could only imagine the pressure on her to succeed, lest the next 3 generations of Ferangi women go by without another chance.

He decided that the next move would be to talk to the other two cadets before getting to Reed. He'd have Denalla question Toban Laal, the Bajoran female, while he spoke with the Benzite.



Ensign Denalla found Cadet Toban Laal near the large oak tree by the parade grounds. For many this spot was perfect for quiet reflection, studying, or simply getting some time to themselves. Dellana could only imagine how Toban felt as she approached the cadet.

"Cadet," she said, bringing the student out of her solace. "I'd like to ask you a few questions if you don't mind."

“Looking for a scapegoat Ma’am?” Toban asked.

“No Cadet,” she replied. “Just trying to get some answers.”

“There was an accident, what else is there?”

“Look, Toban,” Denalla said as she sat down next to Toban. “We aren’t out to get you, but please don’t make this harder then it has to be.”

“What do you mean?”

“The Kolvoord Starburst is illegal.” She replied. “Every cadet is told this before they start flight training, so you knowingly went against standing orders. That alone can end your career before it begins.”

“Look, this wasn’t my idea.” Toban pleaded. “I didn’t even want to do it. But I couldn’t go against my squad, we had to stick together.”

“Loyalty is a virtue, but that doesn’t mean you should have put a mans life in danger.”

“I know, but Reed and Prina promised it would be different then the other times.”

“How so?”

“Prina,” she began to explain. “She said she had it all figured out. She said the numbers came easy to her, since she was a Ferangi. We went to a civilian holodeck on our off time to practice; we didn’t want anyone from the academy knowing about it. Then the day came, and I was nervous. But in the simulations we did it perfect, so I tried calming myself down. We went over it again, and then went out.”

“Except one problem Cadet,” Denalla replied. “One of your squad didn’t come back. I think that’s all I need for right now. Good day.”

Toban watched as Ensign Denalla walked off, and wondered if the prophets would ever forgive her.

 

[BrotherBenny]

I'm enjoying this, but your continued misspelling of Ferengi (two e's) keeps jarring me out the story.

 

[Kaziarl]

I'm enjoying this, but your continued misspelling of Ferengi (two e's) keeps jarring me out the story.

I'm surprised no ones mentioned that yet. My apologies. I'll have to fix my dictionary file.

 

[mirandafave]

The interviews were rather short but our investigators are undetterred. Good going.

 

[Kaziarl]

I don't know if anyone has noticed, but I've dropped a couple of clues as to whats really going on. Hopefully I haven't put in to many obvious clues though, I still want it to be a surprise.

 

[mirandafave]

I've a couple of theories but I don't want to say them in case I ruin it for others (or look incredibly stupid when totally wrong!)

I think it has enough intrigue to keep readers interested and nothing given away.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

I've a couple of theories but I don't want to say them in case I ruin it for others (or look incredibly stupid when totally wrong!)

Me too...I had such a bad habit of posting stuff in the Star Trek: Shuffle the Deck thread that predicted future twists, that I think maybe I need to restrain myself!!!

I look forward to seeing if my personal theory comes true...

 

[Kaziarl]

Mitchell went over the notes he had collected so far, trying to piece everything together. So far he had a Ferengi that was concerned about sexism, and who was saying that the squad leader was the mastermind behind it. She claimed that she had worked out the variables to make the maneuver safe, and if that was true then she should be commended. But he couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something more.

He was waiting for Cadet Gorok in an auxiliary office space the commandant had offered him for use, while drinking a cup of coffee. ‘The inventor of coffee’ he thought to himself, ‘Now there’s someone who deserves a medal.’

“Sir?” came a voice from the doorway.

“Cadet Gorok,” he replied. “Come in, can I get you anything?”

“No,” responded the blue skinned cadet. “Thank you sir.”

“Alright, well I suppose you know why your hear?”

“Yes sir, the accident.”

“Exactly, so what happened?”

Gorok took a deep breath, then exhaled. “It is slightly more difficult for a Benzite commander. We are raised to be completely loyal to our superiors, no matter what they ask of us. Reed was my squad leader, and therefore demanded my loyalty.”

“So he came up with the idea for the starburst?” Mitchell asked.

“Yes, but it was Prina that set everything up.” He replied. “She was the one in control during the accident, we followed her instructions.”

“I see, so what happened next?”

“We finished our objectives for the training flight; it was S&D tactics in the asteroid belt. Afterwards Reed ordered us to start the maneuver. We came around the asteroid, staying low. Circled around each other and opened our manifolds. Prina told us that our closeness to the asteroid would keep a portion of the plasma fire under control, and not overtake our ships. But for some reason Myers’ manifold wouldn’t lock. The fire caught him.”

Mitchell stopped for a moment to think. Gorok hadn’t really told him anything he didn’t already know, but there had to be something he was missing.

“Can you think of anything else Cadet?” he asked. “No matter how minor it might seem.”

“Well… about a week ago…”

“Yes?”

“About a week ago I overheard Reed and Prina talking.”

“What were they talking about?”

“I didn’t catch all of it, but she sounded obsessed. Reed was saying no to something, and then Prina raised her voice. ‘I don’t care if you won’t help me then,’ she said. And ‘I’ll do whatever I have to do to ensure more women on my world know they can leave, even if I have to go through you.’”

“Is that all?”

“Yes sir,” replied Gorok. “She walked off after that, and the next day when I saw her, she seemed fine.”

“Thank you Cadet, that will be all.”

“Aye sir.”

Mitchell dismissed the cadet as Ensign Denalla walked in.

“Commander, I just had a talk with Cadet Toban.”

“Good, what did you get from her?”

“Well, it seems that although the initial idea was Reed’s, it was Prina that did all the planning.”

“Yeah, I got that impression too,” he replied. “And I think there is more going on then meets the eye. Did they do an analysis on the debris?”

“I believe so, but not a thorough one.”

“Have them re-do it.” He ordered as he stood to leave. “Check everything.”

“And where will you be sir?”

“Checking a hunch.”


Mitchell beamed aboard the USS Adventurous, and jogged to the hanger bay. The Adventurous was an Excelsior class that had been decommissioned and refit as a fighter carrier for academy training missions, and as such there wasn’t much of a crew. Mitchell had guessed it would be easy to slip in, do something, and slip out without much notice.

When he arrived in the hanger bay he was awestruck by the size of it. It seemed as if the entire secondary hull had been hollowed out. Near him he could see the 4 remaining falcons, and the wreckage of the 5th. He walked over to the control console, and brought up the security camera records. Since the accident had occurred in space, no one really thought to check the records, but now he was convinced something was there.

The events of the last several days sped past on the screen, as it showed cadets coming and going for training. Some would hang around and talk to the controllers, or other squads. Others would come, do their flight training, then leave.

Mitchell wasn’t concerned about them though, his eyes were focused on Falcon Squad. They sat there, quietly observing the cadets and other fighters, waiting for their turn to be taken out. Then something caught Mitchell’s eye.

“Computer, replay last 15 seconds, normal speed.”

The computer complied, rewinding the record 15 seconds. A man came onto the screen, dressed in a civilian contractor uniform. The man approached the group of fighters, and pulled something out of his utility case.

“Computer, enhance the object in that persons hand.”

The computer zoomed in and cleared up the image for Mitchell to see it better. It was a canister, used for storing exotic bacterial samples. ‘What was in there?’ Mitchell asked himself.

“Computer, can you tell who that is?”

“Negative, individual does not match any known civilian contractors.”

“What about public records?”

“Negative, individual does not match any known public records.”

Mitchell switched off the screen as a group of technicians entered the bay. He approached them before leaving, telling them to get the report to him as quickly as possible. They nodded, and he returned to the transporter room.



When Mitchell returned to the academy grounds, he had Denalla meet him outside the exo-biology labs. The pieces were starting to fit together in his mind, but he had one last thing to check. He waited a few minutes after the last class let out before pressing the door chime on the instructors office.

“Come in,” said the reply as the doors opened.

“Instructor Spyk, we’d like to ask you a question.” Mitchell said, wanting to get straight to business.

“You’re that JAG investigator aren’t you?” he asked.

“Yes sir.”

“What could I have to offer your investigation?”

“I want to know if you’re missing any samples.”

“It’s hard to tell Commander,” replied the instructor. “Many of my students take samples for study on their own time.”

“Could you check sir?” Mitchell asked. “It would be very helpful.”

Spyk stood up and walked over to the sample case. He checked the log to see what had been taken out, and compared it to what was still there.

“Interesting.”

“Yes instructor?”

“It seems I am missing a sample.” He said. “Category number 44398-b. It’s a subatomic bacteria that feeds of the material in the hull’s of most ships.”

“Is there a way to tell who took it?”

“Not really,” he replied. “As I said, many of my students take samples. If they didn’t note it here, it’s almost impossible due to the sheer number of students I have.”

“Thank you, that’s all we need.”

As Mitchell left, his communicator beeped.

“Mitchell here.”

“Commander Mitchell, this is Chief Technician Bradley, I think we’ve found something.”

“Evidence of subatomic bacteria?”

“Yes sir,” the technician replied. “we missed it the first time because the explosion killed the bacteria itself, but the stress patterns were a perfect match.”

“Thank you chief, forward your report to my office.” He ordered. “Mitchell out.”

“So, we have a missing canister of a subatomic bacteria,” Denalla said. “Evidence that it turned up on the fighter, and what did you find sir?”

“Someone snuck onto the Adventurous the night before and released an exotic bacteria canister onto the plasma manifolds.”

“So it was sabotage?”

“Looks that way,” he replied. “Come on, lets find Cadet Reed.”

 

[McCovey Cove]

Interesting read, though by contemporary terms, a first-time JAG lawyer would be a company grade officer (Ens/LTJG/LT) rather than a field grade officer (LCDR/CDR/CAPT). Seems like a huge jump to me without fully understanding the background the character. Even Rabb started out as a Lieutenant. Is this guy kind of like Perry Mason, with years and years of civilian legal experience who was offered a staff officer's commission?

-- ZC

Personally I'm thinking he's just been around the block. Probably was a low ranked jag lawyer on a starship till he requested a transfer to the JAG office.

Ah, I got the impression that he was on his 'first' assignment, due to a line in the first part you posted.

-- ZC

 

[Kaziarl]

Interesting read, though by contemporary terms, a first-time JAG lawyer would be a company grade officer (Ens/LTJG/LT) rather than a field grade officer (LCDR/CDR/CAPT). Seems like a huge jump to me without fully understanding the background the character. Even Rabb started out as a Lieutenant. Is this guy kind of like Perry Mason, with years and years of civilian legal experience who was offered a staff officer's commission?

-- ZC

Personally I'm thinking he's just been around the block. Probably was a low ranked jag lawyer on a starship till he requested a transfer to the JAG office.

Ah, I got the impression that he was on his 'first' assignment, due to a line in the first part you posted.

-- ZC

I was trying to imply that he had wanted to be here for a long time, but he had been stationed elsewhere first. But I see your point of view as well, I'll try to rework it in my own copy, since I can't edit that post now.

 

[Admiral2]

I see a couple of problems with this passage.

He walked over to the control console, and brought up the security camera records. Since the accident had occurred in space, no one really thought to check the records,

This doesn't ring true. Just because the accident occurred in space doesn't automatically mean that's where the cause was, and no competent engineer would rule out maintenance error or sabotage until he could prove conclusively something in space did it. If there's no evidence of meteor impact or other spaceborne external source, the cause has to be something that occurred to the ship's structure before launch. That means you interview the regular maintenance crew and see if they all did their jobs right before launch. If they did, and you can verify that, then you're going to check the security logs to see if anybody who has no business being near the ship was near it. This all happens ages before you call in any kind of outside investigator. The notion that it was left to Mitchell to find the saboteur makes it look like the initial investigators of the mishap weren't doing their jobs.

Ironically, this next passage proves they were:

As Mitchell left, his communicator beeped.

“Mitchell here.”

“Commander Mitchell, this is Chief Technician Bradley, I think we’ve found something.”

“Evidence of subatomic bacteria?”

“Yes sir,” the technician replied. “we missed it the first time because the explosion killed the bacteria itself, but the stress patterns were a perfect match.”

But, it makes them look at worst incompetent and at best non-thorough. To have missed evidence of subatomic structural damage when one of the things they should have been looking for is micro-meteorite impacts smacks of dereliction of duty. Whether they recognized it as being caused by bacteria or not, the evidence of the damage was there when they did the first survey, and it should not have been waiting around for JAG Mitchell to come aboard and order another look before it was discovered. This is something that should have been part of the file he was given at his briefing. It's damage that would be inconsistent with a mishap caused by something in space. If that weren't the case, a JAG investigation wouldn't be necessary at all.

One of the keys to writing a good mystery is to not make the investigators who are not the stars look like complete morons. This is true of mysteries ranging from Agatha Christie stories to Batman stories. JAG should only be called in when the investigators on scene have done everything possible to discern the truth and been stumped by the results. If what's in the passage is how things "really" happened, then the crew of the launch ship dropped the ball, and should face charges along with the saboteur.

 

[Kaziarl]

I see a couple of problems with this passage.

He walked over to the control console, and brought up the security camera records. Since the accident had occurred in space, no one really thought to check the records,

This doesn't ring true. Just because the accident occurred in space doesn't automatically mean that's where the cause was, and no competent engineer would rule out maintenance error or sabotage until he could prove conclusively something in space did it. If there's no evidence of meteor impact or other spaceborne external source, the cause has to be something that occurred to the ship's structure before launch. That means you interview the regular maintenance crew and see if they all did their jobs right before launch. If they did, and you can verify that, then you're going to check the security logs to see if anybody who has no business being near the ship was near it. This all happens ages before you call in any kind of outside investigator. The notion that it was left to Mitchell to find the saboteur makes it look like the initial investigators of the mishap weren't doing their jobs.

Ironically, this next passage proves they were:

As Mitchell left, his communicator beeped.

“Mitchell here.”

“Commander Mitchell, this is Chief Technician Bradley, I think we’ve found something.”

“Evidence of subatomic bacteria?”

“Yes sir,” the technician replied. “we missed it the first time because the explosion killed the bacteria itself, but the stress patterns were a perfect match.”

But, it makes them look at worst incompetent and at best non-thorough. To have missed evidence of subatomic structural damage when one of the things they should have been looking for is micro-meteorite impacts smacks of dereliction of duty. Whether they recognized it as being caused by bacteria or not, the evidence of the damage was there when they did the first survey, and it should not have been waiting around for JAG Mitchell to come aboard and order another look before it was discovered. This is something that should have been part of the file he was given at his briefing. It's damage that would be inconsistent with a mishap caused by something in space. If that weren't the case, a JAG investigation wouldn't be necessary at all.

One of the keys to writing a good mystery is to not make the investigators who are not the stars look like complete morons. This is true of mysteries ranging from Agatha Christie stories to Batman stories. JAG should only be called in when the investigators on scene have done everything possible to discern the truth and been stumped by the results. If what's in the passage is how things "really" happened, then the crew of the launch ship dropped the ball, and should face charges along with the saboteur.

You also have to remember there is a history with the Kolvoord starburst. Starfleet is used to dealing with it. As for the technician, they probably have a lot of people. One showing up, seemingly to check on something, could easily go unnoticed, even if no one recognized him. Analysis of the debris afterwards didn't show anything because the bacteria had been killed in the blast, not leaving much more then deterioration of the hull. Something that is reasonable in such an accident and doesn't show anything unless under extreame scrutiny.

I think the reason JAG is there would be clear. The maneuver in which Myers died is illegal.

 

[Kaziarl]

Conclusion.



Reed was walking across the Parade field, on his way to the dorms when Mitchell and Denalla caught up with him.

“Is there something I can do for you Commander?” he asked.

“Yes there is Cadet,” Mitchell replied. “Tell me, do you get along with the rest of your squad?”

“Well yeah, I guess,” Reed said. “I mean everyone’s got there differences, right?”

“Did you ever have an open argument with any of them?”

“Not that I recall,” he relied. “But I don’t think I understand what this has to do with the accident.”

“According to our investigation you had an argument with Prina about a week ago,” explained Mitchell. “We were told she was somewhat threatening. We also found evidence of sabotage, and a missing canister of a dangerous life form.”

“What, that?” he asked in astonishment. “She wanted me to help her spread news of her graduation to her home world. She thought if I, her squad leader, went with her to Ferenginar that it might help women there get more independence.”

“So then why the argument?”

“I told her no,” he replied. “I mean have you heard about their weather? There language has seven different words for rain. Not exactly my first choice for vacation. She became angry, saying a good squad leader would help out a member of her squad. Then she said she’d find a way, even if she had to go through me, and stormed off.”

“You didn’t report this?” Mitchell asked. “Starfleet takes threats seriously.”

“No sir, I figured she was blowing off steam,” he answered. “And besides, if I had it could have ruined what she was trying to do, and I didn’t want to risk that.”

“Alright Cadet, we’ll let you know if we need anything else.”

“Aye sir,” Reed replied as he continued on his way.

“Denalla, what do you think?” Mitchell asked.

“Someone is hiding something sir,” she replied. “The question is who.”

“At first I thought Reed, now I’m not sure.”

“I think we need to search the rooms.”

“Good idea, lets go.”


The searched the different quarters and found nothing, and finally they came to Prina’s quarters. The found several Ferengi artifacts, but nothing of consequence. Denalla was scanning things with the tricorder.

“Over here,” he called. “An exotic bacteria container.”

“Here to commander,” she replied holding some kind of device. She pressed a button and an energy field formed over her body. A moment later her image was someone completely different, and Mitchell recognized the image as the man on the security recordings.

“Holographic camouflage,” Mitchell muttered under his breath. “There’s just one problem, you aren’t tall enough.”

“Sir?”

“On the security log, the person I saw was taller then you,” he explained. “Which means it couldn’t have been Prina who used it.”

“You think it matches the users height?” she asked as she deactivated the device.

“Yeah, I do.” He replied. “Come on, let’s find Prina.”


Mitchell, Denalla, and Cadet Prina met in the office that had been given to Prina.

“So Cadet,” Mitchell started. “What was your problem with Myers?”

“Sir?”

“We found the camouflage device,” Denalla said. “And the canister of Bacteria.”

“Sir, you have to believe me. I had nothing against Myers.”

“Then why kill him?” Mitchell asked.

“It wasn’t like that,” she pleaded. “The lobe-less fool used the canister on the wrong fighter.”

“You were going to sabotage your own craft,” Mitchell guessed. “To gain publicity and sympathy for Ferengi females.”

“Sir, I’m so sorry.” She cried out. “If the right ship had been affected then I would have been the one. The only difference is I knew how to get ahead of the fire. It was all about number. I had to do it, don’t you see that. I had to make the universe open to Ferengi females, no matter what the cost.”

Mitchell signaled the two security officers to come in from outside his office. The came up beside the Cadet and restrained her.

“Cadet Prina, you are under arrest for conspiring to sabotage Starfleet property, theft of Starfleet property, involuntary manslaughter, dereliction of duty, and disobeying standing orders.”

Mitchell listened to the list of charges as she was taken away. He slouched in his chair with a contemplative look on his face.

“Denalla,” he said quietly. “I know she’s guilty, I know what she did was wrong.”

“But was it for the right reasons?” she asked.

“Yeah.”

“Commander, my father told me a story once,” she replied. “About a creature that tried to help a man. The creature even went so far as to fall in love with the man, but became so obsessive and sheltering that the man ceased to live. In the end the creature was alone and sad, and even though it felt its reasoning was right, its actions were wrong.”

“And because of Cadet Prina’s actions,” Mitchell said. “Females on her home world might have to wait another hundred years before they gain equality.”

Mitchell sighed. His yeas as a JAG representative on deep space starships hadn’t prepared him for the political aspect he had just encountered. And he wouldn’t be surprised if it got worse down the road.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Well, you've definitely caught the tragic and thorny political side of the Federation, and you got the feel of shows like JAG and Law and Order. Do you plan on doing any more episodes?

 

[Kaziarl]

Well, you've definitely caught the tragic and thorny political side of the Federation, and you got the feel of shows like JAG and Law and Order. Do you plan on doing any more episodes?

Not sure. I enjoyed writing this one, but it's not something I have alot of knowledge about. I like the JAG tv show, but I haven't seen it in a while, and I can't find anywhere to watch it. I'm kind of thinking about this becoming a collaborative piece, I have a couple of friends with whom I used to do alot of writing.

 

[Admiral2]

You also have to remember there is a history with the Kolvoord starburst. Starfleet is used to dealing with it.

The US Navy is used to dealing with ramp strikes. The FTA is used to dealing with bird hits downing aircraft. NASA is used to dealing with spacecraft blowing up on occasion. That doesn't mean they sit around and go "stuff happens" in the aftermath of one of these events, especially if somebody dies. They investigate. Again, the way you depicted it made Starfleet COE look lax in this instance.

As for the technician, they probably have a lot of people. One showing up, seemingly to check on something, could easily go unnoticed, even if no one recognized him.

But it's likely that only certain technicians would be assigned to certain craft at any given time, if for no other reason than to divvy up the roster efficiently, which means you only work with a team you recognize when you're helping to maintain a ship. You'd think the on-board investigators would have asked the maintainers of the dead cadet's ship if they saw anything unusual, and it would have made sense if one of them had said, "Hey, I remember seeing some guy here that wasn't assigned to our team." This is not a discovery that should have waited for Mitchell if you want this story to make any kind of sense.

Analysis of the debris afterwards didn't show anything because the bacteria had been killed in the blast, not leaving much more then deterioration of the hull.

But the deterioration was there, bacteria or not, and it should have been noticed after a proper investigation of the wreckage.

Something that is reasonable in such an accident and doesn't show anything unless under extreame scrutiny.

There should have been extreme scrutiny. Somebody died.

I think the reason JAG is there would be clear. The maneuver in which Myers died is illegal.

And if all this was about was the maneuver, the commanders on scene could have used summary judgment to punish the surviving cadets. For that JAG wasn't necessary. If you're investigating the cause of the dead cadet's death, however, everybody involved should have done more than wait for JAG to come and solve everything.

 

[Kaziarl]

You also have to remember there is a history with the Kolvoord starburst. Starfleet is used to dealing with it.

The US Navy is used to dealing with ramp strikes. The FTA is used to dealing with bird hits downing aircraft. NASA is used to dealing with spacecraft blowing up on occasion. That doesn't mean they sit around and go "stuff happens" in the aftermath of one of these events, especially if somebody dies. They investigate. Again, the way you depicted it made Starfleet COE look lax in this instance.

As for the technician, they probably have a lot of people. One showing up, seemingly to check on something, could easily go unnoticed, even if no one recognized him.

But it's likely that only certain technicians would be assigned to certain craft at any given time, if for no other reason than to divvy up the roster efficiently, which means you only work with a team you recognize when you're helping to maintain a ship. You'd think the on-board investigators would have asked the maintainers of the dead cadet's ship if they saw anything unusual, and it would have made sense if one of them had said, "Hey, I remember seeing some guy here that wasn't assigned to our team." This is not a discovery that should have waited for Mitchell if you want this story to make any kind of sense.



But the deterioration was there, bacteria or not, and it should have been noticed after a proper investigation of the wreckage.

Something that is reasonable in such an accident and doesn't show anything unless under extreame scrutiny.

There should have been extreme scrutiny. Somebody died.

I think the reason JAG is there would be clear. The maneuver in which Myers died is illegal.

And if all this was about was the maneuver, the commanders on scene could have used summary judgment to punish the surviving cadets. For that JAG wasn't necessary. If you're investigating the cause of the dead cadet's death, however, everybody involved should have done more than wait for JAG to come and solve everything.

Did you ever watch jag? they did this stuff all the time and it was a great show. Law and order, CSI, NCIS all do it to. Some key peice gets missed till later. If they found everything at the beginning, it wouldn't make much of a show.

15 minutes in you'd have the main character going "we found this, this, this, and this, you're guilty, goodbye." Who'd watch that?

And there's been several times on star trek, with all there fancy gizmos, where even they missed something at first.

And I don't know about you, but when I've started a new job, it takes a couple weeks for people to actually remember me. And as far as I know, unless you have photographic memory, the rest of humanity is like that too.

I appreciate your comments, don't get me wrong. And as I said I see several places I can better illustrate whats going on. Thats the thing about this being a first draft. This is my first attempt at a JAG story, so it's going to have flaws. But to be honest, I think you're over analyzing.

 

[Kaziarl]

I've a couple of theories but I don't want to say them in case I ruin it for others (or look incredibly stupid when totally wrong!)

I think it has enough intrigue to keep readers interested and nothing given away.

I've a couple of theories but I don't want to say them in case I ruin it for others (or look incredibly stupid when totally wrong!)

Me too...I had such a bad habit of posting stuff in the Star Trek: Shuffle the Deck thread that predicted future twists, that I think maybe I need to restrain myself!!!

I look forward to seeing if my personal theory comes true...

Now that the story is done, I'd be interested in hearing your theories.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

The sad part is...I forgot mine!

 

[CeJay]

I suspected the Ferengi the moment it became clear that she made all the calculations. But her motivations were mystery to me.

Learning the truth was interesting even though I'm not quite sure how her death would have benefited Ferengi women. Her excelling at the Academy might have been the better way to go.