STORY NOTE

It was during his junior year when he met a young human Cadet named Edward Clark.

PILOT TRAINING

R’Tor was not raised with much technology, and it took him some time to adjust. One day R’Tor was in the flight simulator and with each failure, his frustration rose. The alarms and computer’s voice began to grate on his nerves.In the cramped shuttle R’Tor’s hands moved across the console.

“ Unable to comply, inefficient power.” The computer chided.

R’Tor made a minor adjustment to increased power.

“Unable to comply, port nacelle has been damaged.”

R’Tor Growled in disgust.

His hands moved quickly to input the proper commands, when he looked up
he noticed a large asteroid filling his viewscreen. He tapped in a command.

“Unable to comply, Starboard nacelle not functional.”

R’Tor began to tap in another command, Unable to comply. Before the computer could finish the sentence, the ship rocked and EPS conduits exploded. A few seconds later the entire simulation winked out of existence and the computer stated, “Simulation failure”

R’Tor stood in the middle of the holodeck and yelled….”Go to Hell”
And the computer responded, “Unable to comply.”

The doors to the holodeck hissed open and R’Tor stomped through the doors and down the hall when a voice called out to him. “Hey, Cadet!” – R’Tor’s ears flattened, and he turned to respond.

“What!” he hissed.

Edward noticed right away he was addressing an upperclassman, not to mention one with sharp fangs. In a moment, Edward’s mind went blank.  R’Tor rounded on Edward and with a low sustained growl, said, “What, do you want?” he glared.

“I’m sorry sir”, Edward shuddered a bit, but responded, “From the looks of the simulation running, you could use some help.”

A howl of laughter erupted from the large cat. “You, help me?” Then R’Tor thought about it for a moment. “How?”

Edward explained that despite his age and lower rank, that he was an expert pilot and could provide some tips that could be useful in passing the test R’Tor Required. At first R’Tor doubted this claim, but after a short while he was convinced this young human knew what he was talking about.

The two would become fast friends.

[Thank you for reading].

What is a person to do when an old friend needs help?  R’Tor, had finally became a JAG officer and as he soon discovered a good firend who had saved him a number of times, was in need of his help.  How could he refuse?

2398 > Starbase 260> 0915

R’Tor, entered his office on Starbase 260, having arrived a little over four weeks ago his office was in a state of disarray as he was still settling in.  As the new JAG officer he scanned over the pile of PADDS and could see he had his work cut out for him.

As he scrolled through the reports, one caught his eye. “What have you gotten yourself into now?” He stated out-loud.  He reviewed the information three times, before he came to accept that an old academy friend needed his help.

MESSAGE SENT

A furry finger extended and pressed the send button on the message and sat back with the PADD in one hand and cup of tea in the other.  He wanted to review the incident report more closely. The heat of the cup warmed him  as he looked out the viewport.  He imagined he could see the message being beamed straight up to the orbital communications array. Upon arrival, the commands encoded in the signal would direct the message to the nearest faster-than-light (FTL) communications array, upon arrival the message would be relayed through subspace. From Starbase to starship the signla would pass across the Alpha Quadrant, until it reached its intended target.

Depending on the speed and distance of the USS Shackleton, it could take anywhere from a few hours to several days to a week for the message to arrive. R’Tor’s tail swished back and forth in anticipation. “The time is now 0800.” the computer stated, reminding him of the time to report to duty. R’Tor stood up and remembered that there were reports, arguments, and motions that required his attention. Not to mention his Vulcan supervisor, Judge Vanok, abhorred sloppy work.

MESSAGE ARRIVAL

Deck 2. Observation Lounge    13:42 Hours__USS Shackleton

Edward Clark gazed out the viewport as he watched the  Deveron Fleet Yards ‘ work crews float about the ship like tiny insects around a fire. The past few days, the Shackleton was in spacedock and he was confined to the ship till the captain recieved a response from the JAG office.

The chirp of the door nudged him out of his daze. “Enter.” Edward responded. The  doors hissed open, and a young crewman entered. “Sir.” The young communications officer extended a PADD. Edward sighed, as he was awaiting orders pertaining to  charges of a court martial. Edward accepted the PADD and the young man exited quickly, more than likely off to complete another tedious detail. Edward was curious what he would be dealing with.

He looked down, shook his head, and smiled.  A few days later he was stepping off a transport at Starbase 260. And there waiting for him at the docking bay was an good friend he had not seen in years.

Edward grinned and exclaimed, “Hey, you old ball of fur!”

A smooth low growl emanated from the tall white & black Caitian as he responded in kind to his friend’s greeting.

The two friends walked toward the habitat area of the base and R’Tor’s office. “What do  you think ?”  Edward asked with anticipation. R’Tor responded with an unresolved grunt.

“You know Tor.” Edward jabbed his elbow into his friend’s side, “That is what I always liked about you.”  What is that?”  the Caitian responded. “Your strong communication skills, must be why you became a lawyer.”  At that remark they both laughed.

Once they were at R’Tor’s office, he handed Edward a PADD with the report on it.

PADD READOUT

FACTS OF THE CASE

USS Typhon

Edward Clark was pilot in a fighter group and his wingman’s ship became disabled. Edward was ordered to return to the carrier, but instead he remained. According to the captain’s log Clark fended off attackers, saved his wingman, but the ship . was heavily damaged. The captain felt you had made the right choice and was given a commendation for bravery.

 USS Shackleton

While the captain was off the bridge during an away mission, the ship came under attack. Several bridge officers including the first officer were injured. Command fell to Lieutenant Vorak the operations officer. After the attack was over, Vorak ordered the ship to move out of the system. Ensign Clark voiced his disagreement but set a course.

Ensign Clark wanted Vorak to mount a rescue mission to retrieve the captain and his away team. Vorak felt it was illogical to take on such a risky action.

Action: Ensign Clark, commandeered the Dorman an auxiliary craft. He piloted it down to the surface. While these actions resulted in the rescue of the captain and his away team, he did not gain prior approval or permission.

Filing: Lieutenant Vorak outlined the incident in his personal log and submitted an official request for disciplinary action. “Ensign Clark is insubordinate and unbeocming an officer in his rank.” He also suggests in his report that this is part of a consistent refusal to follow orders.

Starfleet Response

The captain of the USS Shackleton does not disagree, but also feels his actions had merit. Starfleet Command is concerned with the report and has convened a general court martial.

Research

The board of inquiry reviewed the facts of the case and finds sufficient evidence to bring charges.

Findings

Ensign Edward Clark is presumed innocent until proven guilty, and the service member is entitled to counsel at the preliminary hearing as well as the general court martial.

R’Tor of the JAG will serve as Counsel for Clark

<<to be continued>>

<<TAG>>

PART II

The prosecution consisted of a boisterous Bolian who was quite animated when talking. He outlined the events as they played out. He explained that, while the actions of Lieutenant Clark may have resulted in the rescue of a commanding officer, it was his responsibility to abide by the order of those placed in the command above him.

R’Tor sat calmly listening to the prosecution’s case. They marched one officer after another to take the stand. When the commanding officer of the USS Shackleton was called, R’Tor’s ears perked up and leaned forward in his chair. “Captain, do you agree or disagree that Lieutenant Clark disobeyed direct orders?”  The captain straightened his shirt and tilted his head to the side to think about his response. After a few moments, the prosecution pressed for an answer. “Captain, your answer please.”

The captain sighed and responded. “Starfleet exists to help expand our knowledge of the universe.” He began. “It is curiosity that leads men to try to go where no one has gone before.”  The captain looked at Clark and then back to the prosecution. “Lieutenant Clark took action to preserve life and I do not fault him for that.”

The prosecution responded, “Captain with all due respect you have not answered my question.”  A hush fell over the room and the prosecution attempted to push the issue but to no avail. The judge called for a recess and an hour and a half later it was the defenses’s turn to respond.

Standing in the front of the room, R’Tor’s deep voice resonated. “We as officers of Starfleet have general rules of orders and regulations to direct officers to uphold and protect others.” He looked about the room as his tail swayed and twitched. “Protect.” He emphasized that word.

R’Tor spoke about etiquette and policy, he spoke to each witness and drove home the point that due to the events that command fell to a lieutenant who had limited bridge experience. R’Tor almost roared as he talked about General Order #5.  “This order prohibits officers from leaving a dangerous situation if that puts others at risk.”

Finally, R’Tor ended the defense of Clark’s actions by highlighting  Article 14, Section 31 that states the use of “extraordinary measures” in times of dire emergency is warranted. When he concluded the judges stated that they would have their answer the next day at 14:00.

Clark leaned over to his friend. “What do you think?” R’Tor clapped his friend on the shoulder and with a grin said, “I guess we will find out tomorrow.” Clark blinked twice and shook his head. “What, don’t you know what to expect?” R’Tor snorted as he and Clark exited the room, “Unfortunately not my friend, because this is my first official case outside of law school.”  Clark looked at him in disbelief.

The Ruling

The next day tension filled the room as the judges sat down to read their ruling. The middle judge of the tribunal read the decision, “For charges related to violating or failing to obey lawful general orders or regulations, we find that Lieutenant Clark did  knowingly and willfully disobey direct orders from a higher-ranking officer.” Clark slumped a little in his chair and R’Tor gave him a slight jab to encourage him to sit back up.

The judge continued,  “We also find Lieutenant Clark, without permission or orders took the auxiliary craft from the Shackleton.”  The judge looked up, “While these facts are not in dispute, the defense had given us much to consider. “In accordance with Regulation 19, Section C, Lieutenant Clark took command of the situation while his commanding officer was facing  an imminent threat.”

Just as Clark was turning to R’Tor to congratulate him, the Judge interrupted. “As a junior officer, you have not earned the experience or right to question the orders given to you.”   Therefore, Edward Alan Clark, you are hereby reduced to the rank of Ensign, and a reprimand will appear in your records,”

The courtroom was dismissed, and Clark sat for a moment and bemoaned his situation, “We lost?”  His captain approached and reassured him that he did not lose. “You did what you believed to be right, but understand that ethics and the law are not the same.”

<<TBC>>

FIRST YEAR CADET

The shuttle craft landed in the middle of the plaza and a half dozen cadets shuffled their way through the exit. Earth, the heart of the Federation, upon arriving at Star Fleet Academy, R’Tor was struck by how bright and blue the sky was with its puffy white clouds. Thinking back to his planet of Narval, it’s sky was more an inky green with wisps of light blue clouds.

 “Cadets!” A voice pierced R’Tor’s moment.  “Sir.” His voice mixed with others as they replied with the standardized response. A short stocky human with thinning hair addressed the huddled group of fresh cadets. “I am lieutenant Jamareck and I am your drill instructor.”  He looked over the mix of cadets, mostly humans and other races that populate the Federation. His eyes fell upon R’Tor, a tall Caitian with white fur and black stripes. The lieutenant’s eyes widened in surprise but continued his announcement. “I’ll be one of your many instructors helping to mold you into a disciplined and efficient unit.”

Lt. Jamareck fell into a rehearsed announcement that droned on for the next 20 minutes. R’Tor yawned loudly, which caused the rest of the cadets to snicker in response. Jamareck stopped in mid-sentence and scowled in the large cat’s direction. “As a reminder, Starfleet is not for everyone. Remember many of you may not make to graduation.” That statement stunned the cadets into silence. “Follow me cadets!” he barked. And he showed the group around the campus which included their classrooms, quarters, and other facilities.

PERSONALITY REVIEW

Upon completion of a cadet’s first year, they meet with a counselor for their initial personality review.

[Report on Cadet R’Tor by Lt. Cmd A. Axelson]

R’Tor is a Caitian who was not raised on the main homeworld and his family would be best described as reclusive and at worst they could be considered outcasts from the rest of their society.

Strong willed/ stubborn / slow to anger – intelligent and curious. R’Tor is a skilled hunter as well as a bold and cunning explorer.  He tends to focus on his studies and has completed his Freshman year with exceptional marks. However, he is burdened by self-doubt, despite numerous personal feats of extraordinary skill. At times he is unaware of the admiration in which others hold and believe others fear him. He has sense of duty, and is dedicated to hard work.  His ambition and drive to succeed makes any imagined characteristics flaws fade and tempers his self-doubt.

[RECOMMEND ADVANCEMENT]

CURRENT YEAR 2391

Edward had just stepped out of the transport and sees his old friend at the docking bay.

VACATION STORY FLASHBACK (2384)

It had been nearly six weeks earlier when Edward encounter a very frustrated R’Tor. The Caitain upper classman was having difficulty passing a few piloting classes. Edward being an expert flyer offered his assistance and they became fast friends. R’Tor told Edward of his life before Starfleet and when Edward suggested a camping trip over winter break R’Tor gratefully accepted.

GO CLIMB A MOUNTAIN

R’Tor sat upon a rock with a blanket over him as he tried to warm himself by the fire.  His fur was matted and wet as he sulked and bemoaned his misfortune of overturning the raft.

“Here this should help.” Edward announced as he lazily tossed another log on the fire. A cloud of embers burst free and  flying in all different directions. A few embers landed on R’Tor. Before Edward could blink, the big cat showed agility he had not seen. He watched as the large cat somersaulted backward and scrambled away from the fire and ended by rolling in the dirt.

Edward let out a burst of laughter.

Luckily R’Tor’s, damp fur prevented any ignition. R’Tor was humiliated and Edwards’s laughter sent his irritation to another level. As a wave of anger washed over him, R’Tor flattened his ears against his head and let out a low growl, “R-R-R-Run…”.

Edward paused a moment not sure he understood, and was starting to wipe tears from his eyes when  he noticed the attack position of his friend.  His laughter was staggered  “What?” He asked while trying to catch his breath.

“Run!” R’Tor snapped loudly as he launched himself into the air. All Edward saw was a bright flash of fur and was knocked to the ground. Edward rolled away from the attack. He felt pellets of dirt hitting his face as paws thumped and clawed at the ground nearby.

Edward got his feet underneath him and ran into the thick brush of the forest.

A short while later, Edward had a funny thought,  this would be great motivation for the academy cross country team.

He stopped for a moment and leaned against a tree to catch his breath. Glancing back he noticed about fifty meters behind him, a white blur as his Caitain friend loped over a downed tree. Edward thought R’Tor moved fast for his size, but then again, he had not considered his friend could run on all fours. Edward pushed off from the tree and picked up the pace.

He eventually came to a ridge and almost ran off the edge.  He skidded to a halt and looked down. He noticed that the drop was significant. He turned back toward the trees and listened but did not hear anything out of the ordinary.  He walked along the tree line a while and waited for a signs of impending attack. Just as Edward was wondering if R’Tor had returned to the campsite, he heard a low thrumming. This sent a shiver down Edward’s back. It sounded as if something was warning him of an attack. He ducked quickly just in time as his attacker flew just over his head.

R’Tor landed less than a meter from the cliff’s edge, and his tail swished back and forth. He let out a low-pitched and curious sustained noise. Almost like he was laughing and growling at the same time.

Edward took a defensive posture as R’Tor charged. Edward kicked his leg out, in a move that caught the large cat by surprise. R’Tor tripped slightly and snarled in response. He began to circle around for a second attack, but stepped to close to the edge, and lost his footing.

Just as he set most of his weight on his back feet, the dirt beneath R’Tor’s feet diapered.  He scrambled to gain his footing, but to no avail, the ground was gone and tumbling down the steep cliff side.

Edward leaped forward and landed with a thump that knocked the wind out of him, but we was able to catch his friend’s thick furry arm. R’Tor dug his feet into the loose sandstone below to keep from falling.

He felt the dirt under his hands and feet begin to loosen and feared that the entire ledge would give away at anytime.

“You’re not going to learn to fly that way.” Edward mocked.  “Pull me up!” R’Tor growled in response. “Can’t, your too heavy!” Edward’s heart pounded as he pulled at R’Tors arms. R’Tor scrambled to gain a footing, but the dirt just kept falling away.

In a moment of desperation, Edward reached out and grabbed R’Tor’s tail. The cat let out a loud yelp and yowl of pain, but it was the motivation needed.  R’Tor dug his feet into the loose dirt and scrambled up. He and Edward rolled away from the edge, just as the area  they were hanging off gave way and fell down the cliff.

They laid side by side looking up at the sky breathing hard.

Between breaths, R’Tor attempted to apologize.  “I’m sorry….I lost control…..a bit.”

With a small grin Edward responded, “Don’t worry about it.” His response was broken between breaths.

“You’ve been under a lot of pressure preparing for graduation.” Ed laughed weakly, “My guess is that you just need a vacation.”

~end~