The Incident

Posted on Fri Apr 24th, 2026 @ 1:10am by Commodore Elias McEntyre & Lieutenant Colonel W.B Llewelyn

865 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Prologue
Location: Commodore's Ready Room
Timeline: January 2387 - En Route to U.S.S. Artemis

Crewman Recruit Peter Lawerence had been dead for Three Days. Chief Petty Officer “Wild” Bill Hartman had been dead for three days, shot and killed by Crewman Recruit Peter Lawerence in a mental snap and psychotic episode brought on by the harsh and brutal training regimen brought about by Chief Petty Officer Hartman.

So why did Elias feel so much anger, guilt and hurt when he looked at his Chief of Security? Why did he feel the need to bring him before the mast before transferring him and his deputies to the Starfleet Criminal Investigations Service starship Artemis for transport and trial on Earth?

Perhaps it was the compiled reports and interviews from Lawerence’s fellow trainees in his cadre that the training regime that they had been subjected to, bordered on the criminal, the intensity not seen since the days of the old United States Marine Corps. It deviated well beyond the norms of Starfleet that it made Elias sick to his stomach, ready to hurl from reading over the interviews that had been conducted by Major Llewelyn and his Ground Force Troopers that read like a horror novel or sounded like the films of the late Stanley Kubrick.

Either way, Elias had to make some hard choices.

Commander Lance Arniss stood at attention before the commodore sitting behind his desk. He dared not make a move. The Commodore looked like he was about to pounce, leap across his desk in anger. Arniss stood stiff, rigid, breathing softly. Behind him was Major W.B Llewelyn who had conducted the preliminary investigation and the newly appointed Chief Medical Officer, Doctor Cressida Vale.

Elias drummed his fingers on the desk, deep in thought. The soft taps of his claws on the wood of the desk echoed loudly in the room. The soft ticking of a clock nearby punctuated the air, like it was counting down to an execution.

It felt like forever before Elias spoke.

“Commander Arniss,” he began, his voice low, deep, measured.

“Until now, I have never felt the need to question my officers in their competency to perform their duties to their abilities and to the expectations of the Space Service…until now.” he punctuated the statement with that last part, letting it hit the man in the chest. Elias’ had always felt that if he chose the right people for the job, the ones who would never give anyone any reason to question them, he could rely on them. He never felt the need to micromanage his officers. He had always given them his full trust to do their jobs.

Arniss had given him a reason to question this approach.

“According to Major Llewlyn’s questioning of the Training Cadre, Chief Hartman was a brutal task master who gave no quarter in his methods and continually harassed and demeaned the cadre at every opportunity. It had been also noted that this was implied to have been approved by you and your Assistant Chief.” Elias read off the PADD he picked up that had the summary of notes from the Major.

“Futhermore, the Crewman was able to evade the armory scanners, withdraw a Type-3 phaser rifle and return with it to the barracks without anyone noting it or the fire watch sentry even spotting it.” Elias continued on.

“It is the opinion of this investigation that serious lapses in command have occurred and actions be taken.” He finally finished before setting down the PADD and returning his gaze onto Arniss.

“The fact that he was able to breach an armory without authorization and without the fire watch sentry spotting him leaving, makes me question how they were trained at all.” Elias picked up another PADD.

“Given these facts and the autopsies conducted by Dr. Vale, I am ordering that you, Your Deputies, and your security staff are to be relieved of duty forthwith.”

Arniss stood stunned, silent, not showing the hurt and anger inside of being relieved of duty. He stood there, body trembling.

“Furthermore, you are hereby given notice that you are being charged under Article 92 and Article 133 of the Starfleet Code of Military Justice and are to be brought before a general court!” Elias punctuated that last point again.

“Sir, If I may…” Lance started before Elias cut him off rather sternly.

“YOU MAY NOT!” Elias growled.

“Major, escort the Commander to his quarters, where he is to be confined until our rendezvous with the Artemis. As of now, you and the Ground Forces are in command of Security operations.” Elias ordered the Major, who nodded as he stepped forward a step.

“Commander, if you will come with me.” He ordered in a firm tone. The two men turned on their heels as they exited the ready room. The air filled with tension.

This, Elias thought, would be a defining moment of the Guin’s service history. One that they’ll never reopen again, so long as he was her commander.

-----
Commodore Elias McEntyre
Commanding Officer
USS Guinevere

Lieutenant Commander Cressida Vale, MD
Chief Medical Officer
USS Guinevere

Major W.B. Llewelyn
Ground Force Detachment Commander
USS Guinevere

Commander (pending general court) Lance Arniss
Former Chief of Security
USS Guinevere

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