Once upon a time ...

[Shalin 0]

Incident report SFA20472-473-i

 

Summary: Altercation between Starfleet Academy Cadet Shan Shalin and assailants ( unknown ).

 

Nature of altercation: Assault

 

Location of altercation: Locker Facilities, Male, Starfleet Academy Arena #4.

 

Number of assailants: Four ( estimated )

 

Nature of injuries: Contusions, Concussion - Grade 1

 

Reason for altercation: Unknown, victim suggests retaliation for unconfirmed reasons

 

Recommendation: Insufficient evidence to pursue prosecution. Due to details in Victim's testimony, will advise Col. N. Jessup ( SFMC ) regarding the matter.

 

 

Details follow ...

 

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Shan sat in the isolated room, a single overhead light shared between himself and the lieutenant across from him. He had been in worse situations than this - one of them quite recently. That fact, however, didn't make him feel any better about what was happening.

 

Lieutenant Weisberg sat quietly across from him, waiting patiently until he felt the time was right. "So ... are you prepared to give your statement?"

 

"I guess I have to, if I expect to leave here." Shan was utterly mortified.

 

Weisberg sighed, clearly sympathizing at some level. "I have to write something down, and it might feel better if you let it out."

 

Shan paused for a moment, then began. "I can't prove it, but I believe it all started on board the Raden, a shuttle I was bringing in from Lunar station 4. We were bringing a squad of Marines back from a training mission - one of four shuttles assigned to move a platoon - I don't remember their designation."

 

Weisberg tried to encourage him. "Don't worry about the details ... I'll follow up on that."

 

"Well, we were hitting atmosphere and sensors detected a heavy weather pattern ahead of us. I had already signaled the Marines to buckle down - standard planetfall procedure and all that. Well, I didn't think to follow up on that, since I never had problem passengers before. This time, though, I guess a few of my passengers didn't listen. We hit turbulence, and they were bounced about the cabin pretty badly. In all five of them needed medical attention - three of them were bedridden for two days for their injuries.

 

"About five days had passed; I guess I forgot about it. I filed my report and that was that. I was doing odd jobs to round out my training, and still had three days before my next assignment. I decided to spend the first part of the afternoon running a mile or so. The nearest course was the Marine athletic field; the chief instructor was fine with it, so I did my run then hit the showers to clean up.

 

"I was making my way to the lockers when I was grabbed from behind. There were four ... maybe five of them. All in plain sweats and masks. They dragged me to the latrine block ... one of them had just finished in a stall ... they ... tied me up and shoved my head in the commode ..."

 

Weisberg motioned for him to pause. "Take a breath; you're not re-living it, you're just reporting on events."

 

Shan gasped a moment before continuing. "The water was still ... yellow. My head was soaked, and they just stood around laughing. I ... tried to get out, but they wouldn't let me ... said I would drip all over the floor, and that I had to clean up first. Said I had to do it where I was. They made me flush the stall, then rinse in the bowl.

 

"One of them called out that the instructor was coming, and they bolted." Shan gasped a bit, then sighed heavily. He had gotten through it - the worst was over.

 

Weisberg made a few notes. "Any idea who it was?"

 

"They said: 'this is what happens to flyboys who screw with Marines.' I ... don't remember anything more that could help."

 

Weisberg nodded, not bothering to press. He could see that Shan's assailants had gotten to him: even if he knew more, he wouldn't risk sharing. His assailants had put too much of a scare in him. He said his peace, knowing perfectly well that this couldn't be traced to any squad or platoon for sure. A Starfleet Cadet had been assaulted, the people responsible were going to get away with it, and there was nothing anyone could do about it. He packed up his notepad. He'd file the report to Colonel Jessup, who would probably send the platoon on a ten mile hike in full gear then call the matter closed.

 

As he stood to leave, the Lieutenant paused one last time. "Cadet ... they're not all like that."

 

Shan looked up at Weisberg, his weariness and humiliation showing plainly. "Sir - how can I tell the difference?"

 

"When you figure that out, be sure to let me know." The doors slid smoothly open, then closed, and Shan was alone.

 

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Five years later, and Shan still shook at the memory. Cass' had suggested that he train with the Marines, and everything came back in a rush. It wasn't her fault: she didn't understand - no Marine could. The idea that a Marine could ever do something wrong wasn't part of Corps indoctrination.

 

Shan sat on his bunk and sighed. He had switched his training to Bridge Ops to get as far away from Marines as he could, and here he was in a nest of them. He laid back and stared at the ceiling, marveling at the wisdom his uncle Inar had shared.

 

"Everyone's got their own private hell to live in. The sooner you get comfortable with that, the better you'll be able to live with it."

Edited February 25, 2012 by Shalin