The Impromptu Drill "
By: Ensign Jason Manning , Science Officer , [NPC]
Jeff Westfall, Tactical Officer, [PST]

Stardate: 58206.20 0905

==BRIDGE: USS Zion==

Captain Hunter nodded to Westfall as he stood up and got on the turbolift. "I'll be in security."

"Aye-aye Captain," Westfall replied crisply.

As the doors closed Lieutenant Manning turned from the science station to Westfall.

"I heard they have caught Birkoff." he said with a grin. "What do you think they will do to him?"

"Sir, as the Tactical Officer of this ship, my duty is to ensure that he is adequately confined and has ZERO access to anything of material value that could be turned to his advantage to compromise this ship or its *ASSIGNED* mission from Maquis Command".

Science officer Manning grinned at Westfall. "You aren't worried he'll take over again are you?"

"Lieutenant, he has *twice* compromised every major system on this ship and waylaid its command crew on the holodeck, once in a tale that makes Captain Ahab vs. Moby Dick look like a weekend fishing trip with a six pack of beer aboard Huckleberry Finn's raft on the Mississippi River. That expedition caused Commander Wright to lose an arm, and nearly bled him to death, when the holodeck safety override protocols were shut down.

The latest "exploit" with the holodecks turned Doctor Dane's flight certification instruction with a shuttlecraft, into time in a 1960's television plot with a "B-Grade" storyline".

"Mister Birkhoff would, if I had my way be placed in cryostasis with transport inhibitors around a cargo bay to prevent anyone from gaining access to his location".

"Yeah," said Manning, "I was locked in my quarters the whole time that mad man was running loose." he nodded at Westfall, "Were you stuck in your quarters too?"

"Actually, I was stuck right here...he managed to isolate all the bridge command functions and shut off all the command overrides. I couldn't get access to *anything*. I've still not figured out what his point of access was to initiate shutdown.

"He couldn't have done it alone." noted Manning.

Lieutenant that man is a *threat* to this ship if he is even *BREATHING*."

Manning turned back to his station looked over his controls and then looked back to Westfall. "Sounds like as of lately he didn't even need to be on the ship. From what I heard, that holodeck AI was pretty advanced. Almost a match for the Computer tech and Chief Engineer."

"And that, Lieutenant Manning, is precisely *why* I consider the man to be so highly dangerous. I will be extremely interested in sitting down with Ensign Tapert to see if she can shed any light on how this happened. I am a Tactical Officer, I know that computer systems are programmed with scenariae, collected from real-time data, and both digested and extrapolated, so that together hopefully, next time we can predictively model a future threat and an adequate response to it, without having to lose more lives from the valued ranks of this crew. We need tighter protocols to make Mister Birkoff's exploits much more difficult to execute at his whim".

"Its pretty strange," said Manning with a pause. "We're trained to combat our enemies out there," said Manning nodding his head toward the front viewport...."and here he almost got us from within."

"As this ship's Tactical Officer, it is my duty to ensure that our infrastructure is sound and battle-ready at all times. Further all of the ship's crew must be able to act in complete harmony, in unison, to carry out every order from the Command crew, or from Maquis Command, consistent with our assigned mission".

"Mister Birkhoff has twice successfully and with impunity managed to subvert critical ship's systems, over-ride safety protocols, and isolate and severely injure members of its command crew.

"I cannot as yet, be certain that he has had no assistance from an infiltrator within our ranks, who has command grade access to this ship's systems". There is an old expression Lieutenant Manning, "Paranoia will destroy you". There is a paradox of course: What is it if they really *ARE* "Out to get you"? Manning laughed lightly and nodded,

"I don't envy your job," he said shaking his head.

Computer De-activate Lt. Manning's communicator and scan for signal emissions on all communications frequencies and bands within minus two minutes of his arrival on the command bridge". Jeff Westfall nodded imperceptibly to the bridge security team, so as not to alert Lieutenant Manning. Suddenly, from behind, he was disarmed of his weapon, and staring at Tactical Officer Westfall, pointing a his phaser at him with a look that told Manning he'd be shot if he so much as *twitched*.

"Wh-what, what'd you do that for?" asked Manning in disbelief

Security this is Westfall. Tactical team to the bridge. Lt. Manning is now in custody pending further investigation". Westfall looked the Lieutenant straight in the eyes, fixing him with a a cold stare.

"And that Lt. Manning is what I call "dragging for intelligence". A junior Science Officer has no "Need-to-Know" about Maquis Alliance Prisoners of War.

"Lt Manning, you are hereby relieved of duty. I can only assume that a Science Officer *is* compromised, to very suddenly and casually begin asking about the physical security protocols of the ship, regarding a SPECIAL prisoner--perhaps to relay information to another sympathetic agent buried within its ranks or fugitive from it. Therefore, you will be remanded in custody, in isolation from all members of this ship's complement, and the aforesaid "Special Prisoner". You will thus isolated, be prevented from passing your information to agents of Starfleet Command, or aiding and abetting his and their criminal purposes".

Manning blinked several times as if to wake up from a bad dream, "What is the meaning of this," he asked.

"I can no longer just *assume* all of our crew are "Loyal Officers," if in fact Birkhoff could still have "a mole within the ranks of Maquis officers and enlisted crew".

"Loyalty? are you going to have us all thrown in the brig," argued Manning defensively gesturing to the other crewman on the bridge.

"I cannot, unfortunately assume that your loyalty has not been compromised, Lt. Manning, considering we received a prisoner transfer from the Klingon Command of someone who appears to my evaluation to be the person who has commnadeered this ship once, way-laying the vessel, and its crew. Further the *alleged* prisoner in custody has twiced "left behind" infectious AI-based code in the holodeck system that has isolated parts of its senior staff. Until I *know* that you're SAFE, you're *NOT*!

Lieutenant Manning looked agitated. "How do you know *anyone is safe? I didn't do anything, now let me go!! That's an order!"

"You go nothing done because you were deprived of *opportunity*, and that is a key that will factor into your defense, I'm sure, and "How do you know *anyone* is safe,"? is now, unfortunately what I have to factor into my evaluations of the actions of this crew. *COULD* an action/pattern compromise operational/tactical security?"

"You've lost it Westfall! I'm going to tell the XO about this!"

"You can tell the General Courts Martial Panel when we get to Qul Tuq, Manning--or should I just have Ensign Tapert run the XO's "Fishing Expedition" on the Holodeck? How's your sailing skills vs. Birkhoff? "Safeties OFF?," Westfall queried.

Manning crossed his arms and looked sternly at Westfall for several moments. He looked around the bridge, Everyone was looking on. "Someone call the XO or the Captain please."

The bridge crew looked at each other to see if anyone would comply with Manning's request. Nobody moved, everyone seemed frozen in disbelief.

"Belay that," Westfall ordered. "Lieutenant Manning is in custody".

The Lieutenant was now furious, "I'm going to have you brought up on charges." he said, pointing his finger menacingly.

"Don't you dare point that finger at me, mother said it is rude to point, besides, there's a NAIL in it, which makes it a weapon". "I'm worried now, Lt. Manning, and you're still under arrest--I'm sure you'll have someone from the JAG appointed to your defense".

Manning looked as if Westfall had fired his phaser at him "a weapon? This is stupid, some one please call a senior officer.

The Turbolift doors to the Bridge opened to the Secure Override Command Code of the Security Team. Three heavily armed officers stepped out.

"Security, take Lt. Manning into secure custody," Westfall ordered.

The security officers pointed their phasers at him and said, "Let's go."

Westfall waited a moment, then gave Lt. Manning a cold, penetrating stare.

"Security: stand down, that's an order," Westfall said. Security looked at Westfall and hesitated a moment before lowering their phasers.

"Lieutenant Manning: You played well. This concludes the containment drill," Westfall said. "I needed to know that the Command Bridge staff would EXACTLY follow orders without hesitation. As well, you now understand how *motive* factors into the Tactical Officer's portfolio".

"Well done people", Westfall said.

Manning looked around slack-jawed. "A drill?" he said stammering.

Westfall grinned. I'll keep you in mind for the "Holodeck Mystery Night" lead. Unfortunately, I couldn't let you in on what I was doing. It had to be "real" in *real time*, so as not to "bluff out" the rest of the players.

Manning shook his head in further disbelief. "What is going on?"

Jeff Westfall's face relaxed, now that "the drama" had played out. "And by the way, I owe you a steak dinner and a beer or three at Miranda's as well.

"I should say so." stated Manning, not sure if he should still be upset with the tactical officer. He was definitely going to mention it to his superior officer.

"...if you'd join me, there's a couple of things I'd like to discuss without "protocol" getting in the way. I unfortunately don't have the deepest grounding in matters of "Pure Science", so I was wondering if you'd mind a part-time secondment as Science Dept. Consultant to the Tactical Officer," continued Westfall.

Manning still looked dumbfounded. "You had me really worried Sir...."

"Consider yourself "almost *drafted* as a Tactical Asset, Lt. Manning...if I need to, I'll *pull strings* to get you". I need people who can think under pressure, without "going to pieces," and that's about as difficult a test of character I've ever put someone through...congratulations". With all that's going on of late, I don't have time to use normal "psyche profiling, and you've just proved you can react under stress without hesitation".

Manning thought for a moment, "I'll take you up on the beers...at Quarks," he said. "I'll give your offer some thought."

"You realize I will be *forced* to report your performace to Lt. Sarik, as well as the XO and the Captain, in order to obtain your services. And I think it will be a Gold Star on your Service Record."

Manning paused, not sure what to say next. Could Westfall really get him a gold star? Surely he was bluffing.

I'll meet you at Quark's the first night we're free together, and I think Dinner at Miranda's tonight is something *I* need, if you'd like to join me.

Lieutenant Manning nodded, "Your on." He said. "Lieutenant Manning, You're "booked". I'll see you at 1900. Dinner's on me!"