talking about, which made two of us. “When do you think he’ll be back?”
She laughed. “Not for several years,” she said. “He’s in command of Starbase 11, and they’re in the middle of an extensive upgrade and remodel.”
It was a testimony to the lack of forethought that went into this plan that it never occurred to me that Mallory, an officer in Starfleet, might not be on Earth anymore. My fantasy of walking into Starfleet and handing him the message had vaporized, and I just wanted to get out of there.
“Well, thanks for your help,” I said, reaching for the tape.
“Don’t you want to get the message to him?”
“Oh, um … I guess …”
“I’ll have someone upload it to him,” she said. “I’m just going to need your daily comm code.”
I had no idea what that was. She was looking at me intently now.
“You know, I should double-check with my superior officer,” I said. She nodded.
“Okay,” she said, “and you might want to ask him what the penalty is for impersonating a Starfleet officer. I think it’s five years on a penal colony.” I felt all the blood drain out of my head. Up until that moment, I had no idea that what I was doing was indeed a crime. I was lucky that Mallory
wasn’t
here; if he’d seen me in the uniform he probably would’ve made sure I never got near the academy. I was in a large amount of trouble. It was only her gentle hand on my arm that kept me from running.
“Don’t worry,” she said. “I’m just going to review it myself, and unless there’s something objectionable, I’ll make sure he gets it.”
Though I’d been unaware I was holding my breath, I felt myself exhale.
“Thanks,” I said. “I really appreciate it.”
“Don’t mention it,” she said. “What’s your name?”
“I’m Jim,” I said, holding out my hand. She took it in both of hers. The gesture completely calmed me down.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Ruth.” She looked me in the eye and I beamed like an idiot.
Ruth later said she got the message to Mallory’s chief of staff (and never mentioned my ludicrous “spy” mission), and since everyone I knew was pretty astounded when I was accepted to the academy, I assumed Mallory put in a good word, although at the time there was no way to know what exactly happened.
Nevertheless, a few months later, I was packed and ready to go. My parents took me to San Francisco. It was 6 a.m.; new cadets were lined up at the entry gates, waiting to go in. They were all saying goodbye to their parents, and I turned to mine. I looked at Mom and Dad. They’d both aged, but seemed happier, or at least more content than either had been in some time. Looking back, it was clear they’d found some kind of comfort in each other’s presence. But I was ready to go. I took a hug from Mom and a handshake from Dad, and said I’d see them at the winter break.
“Get ready to suffer,” Dad said, and Mom chuckled. I would shortly find out what he meant.
There is only one military institution left in the Federation: Starfleet. Though its “brand” is one of exploration, diplomacy, and civilization, the security of the Federation and its citizens is still an important part of its charter, and to look after it requires a military chain of command. So the one not-so-secret secret of its academy is that it makes sure its graduates can be soldiers when they need to be. And that starts on Induction Day.
New cadets sign in, are handed a big empty red bag, and from that moment on they enter a maze of abuse. You’re sent on an organized scavenger hunt to acquire your needed equipment in different buildings. And around every corner there’s an angry upperclassman telling you
you’re a stupid plebe who’s walking too slow; you shouldn’t be running, why aren’t you at attention, why are you standing there, get moving you stupid plebe, put your bag down when I’m talking to you, who told you to drop your bag, look at me when I’m talking to you,
She laughed. “Not for several years,” she said. “He’s in command of Starbase 11, and they’re in the middle of an extensive upgrade and remodel.”
It was a testimony to the lack of forethought that went into this plan that it never occurred to me that Mallory, an officer in Starfleet, might not be on Earth anymore. My fantasy of walking into Starfleet and handing him the message had vaporized, and I just wanted to get out of there.
“Well, thanks for your help,” I said, reaching for the tape.
“Don’t you want to get the message to him?”
“Oh, um … I guess …”
“I’ll have someone upload it to him,” she said. “I’m just going to need your daily comm code.”
I had no idea what that was. She was looking at me intently now.
“You know, I should double-check with my superior officer,” I said. She nodded.
“Okay,” she said, “and you might want to ask him what the penalty is for impersonating a Starfleet officer. I think it’s five years on a penal colony.” I felt all the blood drain out of my head. Up until that moment, I had no idea that what I was doing was indeed a crime. I was lucky that Mallory
wasn’t
here; if he’d seen me in the uniform he probably would’ve made sure I never got near the academy. I was in a large amount of trouble. It was only her gentle hand on my arm that kept me from running.
“Don’t worry,” she said. “I’m just going to review it myself, and unless there’s something objectionable, I’ll make sure he gets it.”
Though I’d been unaware I was holding my breath, I felt myself exhale.
“Thanks,” I said. “I really appreciate it.”
“Don’t mention it,” she said. “What’s your name?”
“I’m Jim,” I said, holding out my hand. She took it in both of hers. The gesture completely calmed me down.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Ruth.” She looked me in the eye and I beamed like an idiot.
Ruth later said she got the message to Mallory’s chief of staff (and never mentioned my ludicrous “spy” mission), and since everyone I knew was pretty astounded when I was accepted to the academy, I assumed Mallory put in a good word, although at the time there was no way to know what exactly happened.
Nevertheless, a few months later, I was packed and ready to go. My parents took me to San Francisco. It was 6 a.m.; new cadets were lined up at the entry gates, waiting to go in. They were all saying goodbye to their parents, and I turned to mine. I looked at Mom and Dad. They’d both aged, but seemed happier, or at least more content than either had been in some time. Looking back, it was clear they’d found some kind of comfort in each other’s presence. But I was ready to go. I took a hug from Mom and a handshake from Dad, and said I’d see them at the winter break.
“Get ready to suffer,” Dad said, and Mom chuckled. I would shortly find out what he meant.
There is only one military institution left in the Federation: Starfleet. Though its “brand” is one of exploration, diplomacy, and civilization, the security of the Federation and its citizens is still an important part of its charter, and to look after it requires a military chain of command. So the one not-so-secret secret of its academy is that it makes sure its graduates can be soldiers when they need to be. And that starts on Induction Day.
New cadets sign in, are handed a big empty red bag, and from that moment on they enter a maze of abuse. You’re sent on an organized scavenger hunt to acquire your needed equipment in different buildings. And around every corner there’s an angry upperclassman telling you
you’re a stupid plebe who’s walking too slow; you shouldn’t be running, why aren’t you at attention, why are you standing there, get moving you stupid plebe, put your bag down when I’m talking to you, who told you to drop your bag, look at me when I’m talking to you,
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