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Challenger Operations Officer Found Dead

UTOPIA PLANETIA, MARS - STARDATE 50802.11

 

by Rathkaktakar Burme, FNN-Andoria

 

Last Night, I had the pleasure of attending the Launching Ceremony of the U.S.S. Challenger, Starfleet's latest Excelsior Refit to leave spacedock. Challenger's Captain, Rolf Seiben along with Admiral Atragon-9, Starfleet's current Chief of Fleet Operations gave two very wonderful speeches in celebration of the ship's commisioning.

 

However, the situation took on a very sour note, much too soon. Lieutenant T'Preshk, the ship's Tellarite Operations Officer was found dead in her Challenger stateroom just after the ship's launch from spacedock. Sources aboard Challenger will only say that there is a suspect in custody.

 

Rumors within the press ranks believe the person in custody is Lieutenant Benjamin Smith, Challenger's Construction Foreman here at spacedock. Smith has not been seen since the ship's launch, and did not report to his superiors that he was going to accompany Challenger on it's shakedown cruise. Smith is one of Starfleet Construction's most storied individuals, after leading the repairs on the U.S.S. Enterprise-B, just a few months ago.

 

Adam McAdams, an Operations Control Management professor at Starfleet Academy recalled that, "T'Preshk and Smith were both in my class oh, about ten years ago. She was quite older than him, but she was new to the field. They helped each other alot. But they both parted ways. Even with today's technology it's hard to keep in touch. I'm sure Benjamin was just paying a visit and found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time."

 

T'Preshk was Starfleet's first Tellarite officer, and one of it's first non-enlisted female crewmembers. She was aboard the NX-02, Columbia spacecraft when it left spacedock many years ago.

 

Starfleet sources close to Admiral Atragon-9 have indicated that Challenger will continue on it's shakedown, while a formal investigation is being conducted aboard challenger by it's Security Department and Marine Detatchment.

 

All attempts at communication with Captain Seiben and the Challenger have been denied.

 

Members of the Federation Associated Press contributed to this report.

Edited February 14, 2008 by MisterSmith