The Star Beagle Adventures
Episode 21: The Revealing Science of God, Part 2
Scene 6: We Once Knew So Well
What happened to this song
We once knew so well...
21.6
We Once Knew So Well
We Once Knew So Well
“I know there has been some talk about war crimes. Vice Admiral Ho Lin Thao has advised that idle speculation of that sort in advance of an investigation is irresponsible, especially coming from flag officers. I will be filing my report with her.”
Grimur Nurzer had again chosen the U.S.S. Mako’s caudal lounge for this meeting. He had planned to deliver this report aboard the U.S.S. Citadel with Commander Alicia Wyr in attendance, but that ship had sailed less than an hour ago under emergency speed.
Nurzer had taken a liking to this room, farthest aft on the Intrepid class ship. A nicely appointed conference room, but the décor was less formal than the executive conference room and not as coldly functional as the rooms in the ship’s conference center. Most importantly, because of its location, it was a very private setting. Captains Rhonda Carter and Ronald “Skip” Howard, XIV, and Commodore Yui Song were in attendance. Nurzer had also invited General Krank, Carter’s first officer, Lieutenant Commander Zizira Gross and her coxswain, Master Chief Bill Waller, as a courtesy.
“This is an overview of my findings,” Nurzer said. “Commodore Yui will be provided all the records and all of the evidence collected, as well as scientific analysis that support each finding. Regarding the holy landers taking over the U.S.S. Escort and all the events leading to the Escort’s escape from their control while in the Jar Galaxy, it is my opinion that Captain Carter was simply unfortunate. Any human Star Fleet officer would have been equally vulnerable to the holy warrior’s song. It is of note that alone among her crew, Carter was able to free herself from that spell enough to wrest the Escort from their control.” Nurzer nodded to his assistant, the very young vulcan, Yeoman Svort. Svort made a note in his pad.
“Regarding the neurological assault on the Escort’s crew, and particularly against Captain Carter, by the alien characterized as a giant space shrimp…” Nurzer paused long enough to shake his head at how strange this sounded. “The giant space shrimp known colloquially as Stephanie, leading to the attack against said alien conducted directly and only by Captain Carter using the Escort’s phasers, my finding is that Captain Carter had reason to assume that her ship and crew were at danger and were actually under attack, a belief that Stephanie deliberately initiated and supported…” Nurzer drew his breath again. “This very much appears to be a suicide by starship on the part of the alien, who needed that attack to provide her the energy to give birth to the alien hybrids known colloquially as the godchildren.”
Again, at the prompting only of a glance, Svort closed and transmitted the relevant files from his pad.
“Regarding the use of the Escort’s transporters as a weapon against a population of inter-dimensional space mushrooms, known colloquially as leprishrooms, the ship’s records support Captain Carter’s assertion that the transporters were the only weapon that could be effective against these attacking aliens. Furthermore, analysis of these aliens reveals that they were engaged in exactly the same sort of attack against the Escort’s nacelles, extracting hydrogen from the ship. It has been pointed out that hydrogen is an essential component of every member of Escort’s crew. This tactic was a hard, but in my opinion, a brilliant choice by Captain Carter and, in my opinion, was the only action that could have saved the lives of her crew.”
Nurzer took a deep breath. “That dispatches three of the four charges I was commissioned to investigate. In each of these three, my finding is not only that Captain Carter acted correctly, but in the best tradition of Star Fleet, to protect her ship and crew. However, there is one issue remaining.”
Yeoman Svort opened the next file on his pad.
The trill inquisitor paused to stretch slightly and straighten himself. “Before I turn to the final issue, Commodore, do you have any questions arising from these findings at this point?”
Commodore Yui Song leaned slightly forward in her chair. “No.”
Nurzer nodded. “Thank you, sir. I now turn to the final issue. Regarding the failure to thoroughly investigate the gas giant named Leprechaun D, my finding is that a cascade of errors led to the Escort coming under attack, the attack alluded to previously, conducted by the aforementioned leprishrooms. Those errors all arose from actions taken or, more specifically, not taken, by Captain Carter.”
“In summary, Captain Carter allowed Ensign John Sevork to, during his rotation in command, order the Escort to approach Leprechaun D without first dispatching a probe into orbit for preliminary study and hazard assessment. Carter has stated that she anticipated that Sevork might make such an error and did not adequately prepare for it either by refreshing Sevork’s training in advance of planetary approach, or by ordering the probe launch in advance. She has also stated that she was monitoring Sevork’s actions from her quarters and did not countermand his order or advise him in situ. Her plan was to cover this issue in review as a training issue. This indicates that she severely underestimated the potential consequences from this failure of procedure.”
“Captain Carter is familiar with doctrine and protocol,” Nurzer continued. “But that knowledge was not backed up by the training that nearly every Star Fleet officer receives at academy, or reserve officer training corps, or even officer candidate school. The training that puts the “why” to the “how” provided by protocol.”
The trill inquisitor gestured toward the gray-haired captain. “Rhonda Carter is one of only four officers in the history of Star Fleet to be promoted from the ranks directly into the officer corps without attending OCS and to subsequently rise to the level of captain. And the only one to serve in that role for more than six months without attending captain’s training. That training is critical because it provides the context for doctrine and protocol. Carter is an unparalleled warrior. But she was never trained to be an explorer. It is my opinion that her failure to countermand Ensign Sevork’s order to enter orbit of Leprechaun D without first dispatching a probe arose directly from this lack of training.”
Commodore Yui Song waited a few moments to confirm that the trill officer had concluded his primary presentation. “Thank you, Lieutenant Commander. Please provide your recommendations.”
“Commodore, my recommendation to the Inspector General’s office will be that at minimum, a reprimand should be entered into Captain Carter’s record for her failure to follow exploratory protocol and that she should be temporarily reduced in rank to commander, given appropriate responsibilities, and placed under the general command of an experienced and properly trained captain until such time as she completes the mandatory captain’s training and passes the tests associated with that training.”
“My recommendation will also note that such action should have been taken immediately upon her assignment to this task force. Therefore, a reprimand entered into your record, Commodore, as her superior officer, for failure to ensure she met the requirements of her office, would also be appropriate.”
“I admit that I may get some push back from certain parties within the admiralty because all of my recommendations have already been carried out, but no one should be surprised that a commanding officer with decades of experience would come to similar conclusions.”
Commodore Yui Song made an amused noise. Then made it again. “I must express some admiration for your resolve, Mr. Nurzer. You’re stuck out here on the rim for at least the next year under my general protection, but you showed no fear bearding the lion in its den.”
Grimur Nurzer drew a breath. “I am unfamiliar with the idiom, but I have seen images of terrestrial lions. So I get the gist.. I would like to think that if I had to make such a recommendation about Commandant Star Fleet, that I would not quail to make it to her face.”
“Well, as you said, your recommendations reflect the actions I have already taken, so I am not displeased with your determinations,” Yui said. “Which is very far from saying that I am happy with them, but that has more to do with the events under investigation, not your investigation of them. You are dismissed to make your report. Contact Commander Clark. He will assign you temporary quarters and an office on Deck 3 for your use. And then tomorrow, if I am not mistaken, you are authorized to begin a year’s paternity leave to help birth, nurture, and raise a child that is not yours. I wish you greatest luck in your next endeavor. From what I understand of the situation on Rattleroot Island and of Akri Dexx, you’re going to need it.”
Nurzer came to attention without saluting. “Thank you, Commodore.”
Captain Skip Howard put his hand on Carter’s shoulder and waited until everyone else exited the caudal lounge.
The two captains looked at each other for a moment.
“What did I tell you, Rhonda?”
“Yeah. I owe you dinner. And a drink…” She took a deep breath. Rolled her eyes. “Several drinks..."
21.6
