JP: LT JG Josh Herrick & Ensign Lhandon Joseph Nilsen: Pasts That Haunt (Part 7)
Mark P
((Herrick’s Quarters, Deck 8, USS ‘Oumuamua))
The afternoon had proceeded quickly for Josh; the engineering team was still lamenting the loss of Perez as they realized that what he lacked in on-the-job confidence he made up for ten-fold over in repair efficiency. The Maui was now in serviceable shape; which was more than could be said for the York. While it would have been easier to perhaps scratch the whole shuttle and start over, there was history and the team wanted to rally around repairing the former Chief’s ‘go to boat.’
As he sunk into one of the two chairs in the room, he saw the PADD sitting there. He usually tried to read after a long day to destress — and this day had been a doozy. As he grabbed it and activated the display; the initial news report and Lhandon’s face flashed up. He hadn’t used the PADD since he ‘stalked the man’ a few days prior and now tension filled Josh.
Should he investigate further, continue to pull at the thread and see what unravels? Or, did he want to respect the man’s privacy and let him come to terms with how and when he wanted to share? He knew the right answer, but that itchy brain of his wanted to scratch that curiosity.
Herrick: (musing quietly) Choices, choices. What to do, what to do?
Going directly to the man was the problem, that was proven by today’s events. Maybe if he knew more about the situation, then when the time was right and Lhandon was ready to share, Josh wouldn’t be trying so hard to satisfy his curiosity. He called out for the computer to re-run the search and display the results; his curiosity had gotten the better of him… besides, it only killed cats not engineers.
Then, Josh saw a new search result appear. He was sure it hadn’t been in the results before and that could have been attributed to the access level he’d been granted with his new rank and position. He tapped the report and the entirety of it fit on one screen.
--
Starfleet Academy Incident Report
Date: [REDACTED]
Location: [REDACTED]
Incident: Shuttle Collision during [REDACTED]
Involved Shuttles: Shuttle [REDACTED] (Cadet Lhandon Nilsen) & Shuttle [REDACTED] ([REDACTED])
On [REDACTED], during a [REDACTED], two shuttles collided causing [REDACTED]. The preliminary report hinted at [REDACTED], with suspicions arising against Cadet Lhandon Nilsen of Shuttle [REDACTED] due to [REDACTED]. However, after an [REDACTED], it has been concluded that [REDACTED].
Evidence:
Onboard Computer Logs:
The logs from Shuttle [REDACTED] showed that Cadet Nilsen [REDACTED].
External Sensors:
The external sensors from [REDACTED] captured the incident [REDACTED].
Technical Analysis:
An examination of [REDACTED] revealed [REDACTED].
Communications:
The communications log showed that [REDACTED].
Conclusion:
All evidence points to [REDACTED]. Cadet Lhandon Nilsen's [REDACTED]. He is [REDACTED] regarding this incident.
It is recommended that [REDACTED].
Investigative Committee:
[REDACTED]
[REDACTED]
[REDACTED]
---
Herrick: ::reading the last section:: And… redacted. Starfleet censorship at its finest.
He struggled to make the connection and fit the pieces together from the report and the conversation earlier.
Herrick: So… we have a shuttle collision, an ‘Echo’ squad’ and those folks named Finn and Sh’Mais.
The itch became a bit more uncomfortable as he continued to reflect on the report; did he want to know the details? What if he caused it? What had been the fallout? It obviously couldn’t have been that bad for the man if wasn’t expelled from the Academy.
As the thought train continued, he realised he was letting his mind run away again.
Herrick: Stop it Josh.
Sometimes, a verbal self-chiding was needed to put himself back into place, hopefully not indicative of some larger mental issue but at least some semblance of self-control. They were getting their new orders tomorrow and he’d need to focus on that and his team for now. This… thing… could wait until later. He headed to the shower and set the sonic scrubbers to high; attempting to get a poor-man’s massage before he turned in.
He wondered what laid in store for their relationship, would it get through this rough patch that he had caused. He did find the man easy to get along with and hoped that it wasn’t beyond recovery. Time would tell.
---
Lieutenant JG Josh Herrick
Acting Chief Engineer
USS ‘Oumuamua
O240005JH3
he/him/his (player/character)
&
Ensign Lhandon Joseph Nilsen
HCO
USS ‘Oumuamua
O240007LN1
He/Him/His (Both player and character)