Academy Application: Jack Craven

[Craven 0]

<<I've been itching to post this somewhere, and since I'm still a Cadet, I thought I might post it here. I'll see to it that when I'm posted in an advanced sim that it gets moved to the appropriate space. Til then, I guess this is the most appropriate spot! Sorry its a bit dry>>

 

"Computer begin recording, Commander Nicholas Cromwell interview to applicant #20011-9539 Jack Craven, authorization Cromwell-Omega-Two-Four."

 

The Commander walked over and took a seat at his desk. Across from him sat a young man of about 22.

 

"Well Mr. Craven this is all really a formality, er, the final part of your application. Just tell me a little about yourself."

 

The young man sat upright in his chair, which was a little uncomfortable, and ran a hand through his curled black hair before beginning to speak.

 

"Ah, well Sir I was born here on Earth...Canada actually in 2359. My parents were both Starfleet officers who retired to go off and do their own research. My mother was an engineer and my father was a science officer aboard the Stargazer. When I was 8, on Stardate 45863, we were traveling through the Posylien system outside Federation space and our ship was attacked by a Borg Scout Ship."

 

Commander Cromwell's face whitened a little. "There was no mention of this in your application.."

"Thats because I didn't want to be overlooked on paper because of my interaction with an enemy of the Federation Sir." The Commander nodded, signalling the young man to continue.

 

"Our ship had virtually no defences, and we were boarded quickly...." he paused momentarily. "We were...injected...with the borg nanites.."

 

"Assimilated!!!???!!???" The Commander had a look on his face that showed he either didn't believe the young man or was utterly horrified. The boy surely could not have been, otherwise he wouldn't be sitting in front of him. Seeing the stoic look on the boy's face, he let it go momentarily. "Sorry I keep interrupting...continue."

 

"My parents were assimilated yes, the probes were stuck in their neck, allowing the nanites to spread more quickly. I was struck in the leg, so it took about an hour for the effect to sink in fully. But something happened then. After 5 hours I was still conscious, still thinking individually. Do you know your Borg history Sir? Do you know what happened on stardate 45854 that would have caused me to not join the hive mind of the collective?"

 

"No I'm afraid I don't" Cromwell's brow wrinkled a bit. Then, as if a lightbulb went off above him his eyes widened.

 

"Hugh!?" The Commander had a wave of near excitement flow over him. "Thats when the Enterprise first encountered Hugh!"

 

"Yes," the young man went on. "That was the ship that picked up Hugh from the ice moon, where the Enterprise-D left him. Apparently while the Borg had our ship in tow, Hugh's newfound sense of individuality was taking hold on the scout ship. We must have drifted for hours and hours before HE came and..." the young man was suddenly very very upset...choking back tears.

 

"He? You mean Lore?" The Commander now leaned forward in his chair, "I read in the Enterprise reports that Lore was the one who took control of the rogue collective."

 

"Yes..he began experimenting on us. I was the first. He purged the now inoperative borg nanites from my system - in a sense, I was really never assimilated at all. To this day I don't know why he did it. Maybe because I was only a child...all I know is that that murderer did not show the same mercy on my parents. He manipulated them....he tried putting positronic devices in there cerebral cortex....he....killed them both."

 

The Commander sat back in his chair. Even if the boy was lying, he knew what he was talking about. Reports from the Enterprise's first encounter with the rouge collective at Ohniaka III were classified. It all seemed to fit too perfectly to be a fable.

 

"After months of keeping me as somewhat of a prisoner, Lore let me go...he dropped me off on some god forsaken planet and flew off with the collective. I was picked up by a federation starship some days later, nearly starved to death. I still don't know why he purged me of the borg implants or why he didn't kill me."

 

"What did you do after that?"

 

"I went to school...I began my study in positronics, warp fields and advanced physics. I gained my degrees all three before applying here....but....that all must seem pretty boring to you after that story......Sir."

 

"No no, your record is quite impressive Mr. Craven...but I must admit I find this all a little hard to believe....that you were part of a failed assimilation by the Borg...that you were "rescued" by a maniacal Soong-type android and then just "let go" without a scratch on you?"

 

"Well not without a scratch Sir...I lost my right arm in the process. This baby's an artificial endoskeleton with my own flesh cloned over-top."

 

"I see.." said the Commander, thoughtfully. There was a long pause before he began again, "Well Mr. Craven, I've been an Admissions Administrator here for a long long time. I can tell you I've met probably a thousand applicants from dozens of worlds...you may not be the BEST candidate I've ever seen but...you definitely have one of the best stories I've heard, be it true or be it false."

 

"Er...thank you Sir". The young man fought to keep back a smile.

 

"Well I suppose that experience might help you in your career, but don't think you'll be getting special treatment because of your dealings with our enigmatic enemy."

 

"Of course not Sir, wouldn't dream of it." The young man sat upright in his chair once more.

 

"Well then...Cadet." The young man's eyebrows raised at the sound of that title. "I would like to be the first to formally welcome you to Starfleet Academy. I hope you enjoy your stay here.

 

"Thank you Sir, I will Sir."

 

Cromwell looked over to the computer's visual recorder, "Computer, end recording."

[Elgor 0]

uhhhhh I think that's more effort that any cadet has ever put into well, anything dealing with actually being a cadet

[Guest Vulcan3324]

Interesting! I foresee many wonderful logs in the times ahead. B)

[STSF Shadow 0]

uhhhhh I think that's more effort that any cadet has ever put into well, anything dealing with actually being a cadet

Indeed. Quite impressive. Welcome to Starfleet Academy, Jack. May your stay be short and prosperous.

[Murdok Helios 0]

Indeed. Quite impressive. Welcome to Starfleet Academy, Jack. May your stay be short and prosperous.

When i first read that i was like huh? Thats kinda mean, then i read it again and said, oh ok. B)

 

Great writting there.

[Philip Carst 0]

One of my first academy sim had the borg. It was fun...So anyway, that is a great log. You want to write mine?

[Spitfire 0]

Great log! I hope to see you in the acads.

[Kansas_Jones 0]

Good stuff there Craven. B)

[DaryusZaphodDracal 0]

Great log Craven, welcome to the Academy.

 

Zaphod,

"Milk? Don't you have any bourbon?"

[Ember Prospera 0]

Wow, that is an amazing story/bio. I love how you really integrated your character with canon Star Trek events.

 

& I'm still trying to get my bio together. :oP Maybe I'll see you around the Academy. Awesome job.

[Craven 0]

Thanks Ember! That was a killer bio you wrote as well. I'll be sure to see ya around in the acad's!