=^= Casefile 6202-01-07 The Case of the Silent Commbadge; Lead Investigator: Sterling, Oliver W. Sterling, Reporting=^=
=^= Greetings, mystery lovers to my latest adventure. When I last reported on my investigations, I was still learning to be a Starfleet Officer, thwarted at every turn by my instructors. They took a very selective view of what I was doing … and what I did to save the Academy and the Federation with my efforts. But on this occasion, I was assigned to the Starship Athena as a Security Officer, but don’t worry, I’ve still got my rapier, my gloves, my bowler hat and my chronometer to help in my investigations. I now wear the mustard yellow of security to match the Starfleet Yellow of the Hover Skiff which you may recall was damaged in The Case of the Blue Tritanium when I stopped the Banshee powered foes and was told I’d be well suited for Starfleet. So I’ve transported on board, and by gosh, old chaps, I’ve got to speak to someone here. Its all terribly exciting! =^=

Oliver spoke to the transporter operator, handed over his transfer orders and continued through the ship.

=^= Oliver W Sterling, continuing. So the transporter operator, overcome by my presence assured me that I would most definitely be getting a personal invitation by the Captain to join him to provide my insights on the great captains I have known … Archer, Pike, Kirk, Picard, Sisko, Janeway via my combadge, so adventure loves, I’ll have to make sure I’m dressed and groomed perfectly for this experience. That will mean that I can give the Captain my insights. I’ll also have to visit my Department Head and have the boarding physical and counselling appointments, but they’ll understand that the Captain’s invitation to see him has to come bevore all of those standard operating activities. My combadge could sound any moment now. I am at my quarters, I’ve yet to shave for the third time yet today, and I need to look my best for the Captain. =^=

Meanwhile, the Transporter Operator opens a channel to Captain Orvos Legen. -/- Sir, Cadet Oliver Sterling has arrived. He seems to think that you’re going to be contacting him to arrange a private meeting with him. I told him that was unlikely to happen, but he refused to listen, and instructed me to let you know he’ll be waiting for your comcall. I … err … thought you had best known. He said he’ll put off his usual boarding requirements until he’s met with you. -/-

Entering his quarters, Oliver showers, shaves and changes. He’s now in his uniform, but with a bowler hat, cane, black gloves and an old fashioned chronometer on one wrist. Unsheathing a rapier Oliver stands at the en guarde position, and moves forward and back as though he’s in a competition of some kind against a shadow opponent.

=^= It is now 90 minutes since I’ve arrived and the Captain has yet to contact me for our meeting. My commbadge must be malfunctioning! Maybe the Captain is overcome by the thought of having to be in the same room as myself. He must be a fan of the Craterville Investigation Society! I should go to the poor man and explain to him that I don’t expect anything from him. Or maybe … my combadge is malfunctioning! I should take it apart and make sure the ghosts on the holodecks … all these old ships have them, ghosts on the holodecks, I mean. That the ghosts on the holodecks haven’t interfered with my combadge. Gordy, you rememeber him, of course, the Bolian boy who was the technical whiz and known by us as Gizmo, he’d have the commbadge open in a jiffy! It will take me a bit longer, but I’ll get it done! We can’t have these ghosts on the holodeck planning and getting away with these shenanigans. I must investigate the commbadge’s operations =^=

Oliver removed his commbadge and inspected it. There didn’t seem to be an obvious opening, so he got his rapier and tried to make one. He failed, so he studied it further using a magnifying glass. And then he saw it, a slight indentation on the side. He put it down on a table, readied his rapier, closed his eyes and stabbed the commbadge with all his might. He opened his eyes and saw the commbadge in pieces.

“HAZZAH!”

Oliver W Sterling + Security + Athena
Solving the galaxy one misunderstood ‘clue’ at a time