"Thinking Too Much"

[Kansas_Jones 0]

May 31, 2006 (2397)

USS Agincourt NCC-81762

“Thinking Too Much”

 

Lieutenant JoNs stood next to the TAC station, observing as Midshipman Spitfire checked on the away team progress as well as the scans monitoring the mysterious derelict freighter, the surrounding sector, and the traffic coming and going in the Epsilon shipping lanes. Spitfire did very well, asking only a few questions here and there, while he became familiar with the specific tactical systems of the Court. Kansas loved the teaching opportunity, and enjoyed the moment for all it was worth.

 

However, one fraction of her attention kept wandering back to the display screens on the tactical console and the main view screen. Both offered a differing view of the disabled freighter they were investigating; the tactical display overlaying the target ship with various graphs and numerical readings, the main viewer offering a real time image of the ship.

 

Why had this freighter been left like this? What had really set off the automated distress beacon? And where in blue Hades was the crew?

 

The un-manned, damaged freighter bore a striking resemblance to a certain freighter ship. She, of course, knew it wasn’t the same ship. It was a much newer model, the markings and paint scheme were different…but at first glance she thought it had been the SS Corsair, the privateer ship she had served on what seemed eons ago…mainly because it was eons ago.

 

Still, this encounter had given her quite a recognition jolt, and she had gone in a decidedly non-Starfleet train of thought...she felt as if there were shadows about. The Epsilon lanes attracted both legit runners and those of the non legal variety. The non legal ones always made life interesting.

 

She had chosen to stay in the Fleet those few years ago, instead of signing on permanently in the merchant cargo business. But, how would she react if the Agincourt ever encountered the Corsair crew? Or any of the other “good” crews she had met during that time of her life?

 

For all she knew this freighter was the Corsair. Morgan had changed the ID code enough on the original Corsair, so why not upgrade to a newer model along with the ID code?

 

What if one of those crews from her past was responsible for this…if she was ever ordered to fire, would she fire outright or “miss” a few of those targets?

 

The Caitian snapped out of her reverie when Spitfire reported a slight change in the movement of the away team, asking how the tactical board should compensate. She leaned over to key in the commands, showing the midshipman what to do in order to locate the best scan program.

 

You’re thinking too much, that’s all. Don’t go over tactical or you’ll get a headache. It’s just you’re mind running away with you. There are no ghosts out here, and you will never have to make one of those “target torpedoes away or not away” decisions toward your former cargo hauling associates. It’s a big universe, and everyone goes in their own direction. The odds are astronomical of physically encountering any of them again. This whole business with the un-manned freighter with its entire cockpit blown out just has you on edge, curious, that’s all.

 

With a final shake of her head, Kansas banished her fleeting thoughts and concentrated fully on teaching the midshipman the ins and outs of tactical as the systems monitored the current mystery the Agincourt had been assigned to unravel.

 

Lt. M’rrett Sh’aow “Kansas” JoN’s

Tactical Officer