Hows and Whys

[Sean Xiang 0]

Ensign Sean Xiang

Assistant Science Officer

Challenger NX-05

 

Lieutenant, Junior Grade T'Parek

Operations/Communications Officer

Challenger NX-05

 

 

T'Parek stared in a mixture of horror and shock, repeating herself. "Suicide. How illogical. Not to mention... primitive."

 

Sean looked up at her words. "Many cultures view suicide in the face of defeat noble." He was working at his station, cleaning up some of the aftermath of Aaron's logic bomb on the alien computer. She nodded silently. "Including ancient Vulcans and humans. However, I find it distasteful, and have no regrets about denying them their nobility."

 

"Do not mistake my comment for support of their cause." Sean said, raising his eyebrow. "Suicide is not something I condone. Even in defeat, life is life." She glanced at him. "I would not have thought otherwise."

 

Sean had begun to tie all the controls of the enemy vessel together. Together, T'Parek and he had found the navigation and weapons control. With those two systems, the ship was virtually theirs to command. "I just hope that transporting these misguided L’Traisans aboard our own vessel, even to the brig, does not come back to haunt us."

 

"I'm certain that Lieutenant Giovanni will have adequate security measures in place."

 

"No doubt he will." Sean replied.

 

Deciding to change the subject to something a bit lighter, he continued. "You did very well during our little invasion of the alien computer system. I could not have done it without you." She nodded. "As did you." Leaning back, she narrowed her eyes at him as a cat would a mouse. "Now, Ensign," she preambled, emphasizing his rank lest he consider not sharing the information she seeked. "Do tell what you were doing hacking into the Academy's computers."

 

Leaning in a bit towards T'Parek, Sean narrowed his eyes to match hers. "I said 'Late night computer sessions' Not hacking." He shrugged. "It was more of a game really. A few of the students in my applied science classes, including myself, developed a…well, game."

 

"A game," she repeated, doubtfully.

 

"It consisted of one player attempting to break though encryption, firewalls, and anti-hacking programs setup by the opposing player."

 

She raised an eyebrow. "I see. Needless to say, you were quite good at this game, I assume." Sean allowed a very thin smile across his face. “I held me own. Noone could defeat Marak though."

 

"Marak. I don't recognize the name. Is it human?"

 

"Denobulan actually. He was simply the best. Aced all the exams, never missed class." Sean finished his work on the computer, and slide the keyboard a bit aside. "As far as I know, he is on his way to a fine career at Starfleet’s R&D department. Back on subject, though, he was a big part of the games development."

 

"Most off-world Denobulans are quite brilliant," she commented.

 

Turning the metaphorical spotlight from himself back to T'Parek Sean asked. "Speaking of hows and whys. How exactly is it that you pulled off some of the fancy hacking you did?" Ah, now she could pull rank. "It's most likely classified."

 

"Most of the good things in life are." Sean commented. "Is there anything you can tell me?" She smirked, imperceptibly. "A few previous assignments involved both programming, and reprogramming computers.”

 

"Let me guess. You would have to kill me if you told me, right?" Sean replied dryly. T'Parek rarely mentioned her past, it was true, but something in the plucky little ensign's attitude made her forget her usually distant attitude. "Yes, I would." She gave him a wry look. "But I suppose that you'd like to know, anyway."

 

"You only live once Lieutenant."

 

She leaned back, lost in memory. "The first time was at the Vulcan Science Academy. Advanced computer studies were a requirement.

 

The second time was while I was serving on a High Command vessel as a science officer, and, similarly enough to this, we were hacking into the base computer of some Syndicate slave camps." She let out the smallest snort. "Although I have am obligated to mention that we had a few assistants along the way; a few of the slaves who had some scientific background."

 

She leaned back. "And the third was when I was working with the Syrranite movement. We hacked into the High Command database on more than one occasion."

 

Sean took all this in like the scientist he was, his face hardly changing. "Vulcan Science Academy. I would love to study the sciences as Vulcans do." He said this in genuine admiration for the race. Then the 3rd fact snapped into focus. "You were a part of the Syrranite movement?"

 

"Indeed I was. It was the logical thing to do. I considered the High Command corrupt."

 

"Yet, you served the High Command at one point?"

 

"My views changed after serving with them for as long as I did."

 

"Things do tend to look different once you have been to the puppet show...seen the strings" Sean commented. She nodded slowly. "An interesting analogy. The High Command authorities did in fact pull most of the strings...the commanding officers' privileges were much more curtailed than aboard Starfleet ships." She paused, thinking of Gardner. "I suppose that's where I picked up most of my disdain for pompous brass."

 

Gardner sprung to Sean's mind. "I have never cared for pomp and posturing." Sean paused as if in thought. "I suppose that is why I do what I do. Science is largely definable. And no amount of personal feelings or views will change that. It is what it is, not what it attempts to appear to be."

 

"Precisely. It is ...constant." She said. Sean gave a slight nod, looking back at his panel. "Of course without politics, we would probably not be where we are today. T'Parek nodded. "Earth did make some extremely progressive governmental changes in the past few centuries.”

 

"As did Vulcan, more recently." Sean commented.

 

"Politics and Politicians do have their place in things," Sean commented. "But that place is rarely on starships on the borders of known space." He turned back to his station, and as he began to type, Sean could not help but feel that maybe, on this far-flung vessel, on the edge of known space, he had found a kindred sprit.