[snip]

Searching through the lockers found surprisingly little contraband. A few small one shooters of booze were here and there but mostly all were still sealed. Another thing found was two examples of test answers on a PADD but an interesting find in one of the senior red squad cadets bunk was a scandalous picture of Bradbury’s wife and the cadet! The signing on the back read ‘To the real man who puts the fire in my bed’. Could it be that Bradbury’s younger wife was having an affair behind his back with a red squad cadet?

Cross was still thinking about what Glen had said to her when she saw the men looking at a picture they seem to have found and curiosity took the better of her as the doctor walked over for a peek ‘’Well,well how about that!’’ she exclaimed ‘’Tks,tks.....all this for an affair and for the heat he’s providing gets the answers to exams?’‘.

Still Cross knew that things seldom are what they seem ‘’Maybe this locker belongs to a female Cadet and the heat is being provided by the Admiral’’ she ended up with a giggle at the very thought.

She took a closer look at the open locker ‘’Now if I wanted to hide something it would be behind what one would assume is the back,sides ,up and down ‘’ and with that she tried to check if what seemed to be a solid locker would cause it to shift or cause the slightest movement and then reposition itself.

“Captain, we need to tread very carefully here. This is not only a personal matter, but the ramifications are… severe… to say the least.” and he stood up straight. “I suggest we leave that particular locker open and continue the search. When the Cadet returns, we should pay very close attention to his reaction when he sees it that way. He could be a pawn in a larger situation.” He then looked at Cross. “Let’s pile the rest of the contraband on a central table. We can address it in front of all the squad.”

“I agree,” replied Glen. “We’ll put the shooters of booze and contraband on the central table as we planned, but the PADD and photo we’ll keep to ourselves and leave the locker open. I do think something of that magnitude was a little too easy to find though, almost as if someone wanted it found? And would she be so reckless as to sign a photo in that way when anyone could get sight of it?”

The Zulu nodded in silent agreement.

‘’Don’t get me wrong but its not illegal having an affair there must be more to this then meets the eye’‘ Cross responded ‘’Perhaps they want the Admiral out of the way ‘’ the female doctor mused while still trying to see if anything shifted with the darn locker.

“But it is against regulations for Cadets to fraternize with officers and their spouses. ‘Conduct unbecoming’ and all.” Nkosenye deep voice rumbled to Cross as he opened another locker. He then looked up at the ventilation covers and reached up and tested to see if any had been tampered with. “During my time at the Academy, my classmates would hide things here. They thought it was too much trouble for the Instructors to look at. Typically, they were wrong.” he mused.

‘’If someone hid anything in the ventilation covers then they’re not quite bright or ingenious ,since someone could be send from Engineering at any time to check them out’’ the doctor replied ‘’I hope we haven’t been send on a wild goose chase of something unattainable’’ then she thought about the map Cross had stolen years ago ,she couldn’t remember where she had hid it ‘’But back then I had the whole ship ‘’ the female doctor murmured.

“Trash can liners, sinks, toilets and the showers next,” said Glen. “Common communal areas! It might mean we need to get dirty, and I’m not sure this is worth getting dirty over?”

Looking briefly at the place the incriminating photo now resided, Nkosenye said “I believe we already are, Captain.” The picture was problematic. It, coupled with the Admiral’s strange behavior as reported by Glen, was a hornet’s nest of protocol and conflicts.

Under other circumstances Glen would have belly-laughed, but this was serious. Surely, the Admiral cannot have known about this photo, Glen thought. Why would he send me here to discover it if he knew? I cannot keep it a secret. I am duty-bound to hand it to FedSec. I owe the Admiral nothing, even if he is the innocent party in all of this. Even if this has been planted, and he is being set up by someone. Or else, he did know, but he was unable bring himself to report it, knowing, full well, the repercussions and consequences.

“I’ve been thinking,” said Glen. “We have no choice but to report it to FedSec.”

Nkosenye thought a moment and said “Sir, if I may. We are bound to report criminal activity. If the Admiral is being blackmailed or otherwise is compromised by this… situation… then yes, we are obligated to report to FedSec. However, Captain… if this is simply an affair, it is not criminal. It is a Star Fleet matter of fraternization. I respectfully suggest that we investigate ourselves the extent of the matter and then you make the choice on who should be notified. I say this because if this does go outside the Academy and Star Fleet, the repercussions for all parties is going to be severe… even if it is just an affair. If we make that determination prior, we may be able to shield any innocent parties from the worst of the fallout. And we are within our purview to do so, Captain. You, as a Command Officer. Doctor Cross as a Medical professional looking at this as a health and welfare matter. And myself as a Star Fleet Security officer looking into potential security compromises of a Star Fleet facility and personnel.”

Cross thought as a CoS Nkosenye took his work too seriously ‘’Maybe I should go and see this Admiral and hopefully succeed in evaluating his state of mind.....Captain?’’ the doctor asked waiting for a response.

From down the hall near the classrooms sounds of approaching cadets were heard.....

Glen had been considering Nkosenye’s advice and he agreed with it. To Miriam, he replied, “I should have taken you with me to see Bradbury before, but if you go I want to be there too.” As the sound of the Cadets grew nearer, he added, “Let’s stick to the plan we’ve already made for now. We’ll give them a dressing-down for the shooters of booze, and identify the cadet with the PADD and photo to speak to later in private. When we have more information, then we will consider our options.”

‘’Well’’ Cross remarked as she heard the Cadets approaching ‘’Let the show begin’‘.

Thinking it would be wise not to stay so close to each other ,the doctor moved away and stood next to the wall I should have followed my ambition and gone into the entertaining business as a dancer she thought with a heavy sigh.

Nkosenye made sure all the lockers stood open and in a state of mild disarray. He then took up a position in front of the Captain and Cross, keeping them from view until the cadets were well into the room. He didn’t want them whispering to the ones still coming in that there was a Captain in their squad bay.

As the doors opened and the Cadets came in, his booming baritone completely filled the room. “Attention on deck!! Senior Officer present! Fall in at your lockers. Move it!!” he shouted.

Glen had been preparing himself to do exactly the same thing; attempting to channel a Sergeant Major he had known during his own Academy Days. However, he was glad that Nkosenye had done it; he made a far better job of it that Glen would have. Now he could relax and watch the faces of the cadets as they realised what was going on. This would be quite fun, if not for the other more serious matter.

Red Squad Cadets scrambled to get to their assigned lockers, one who eventually stood by the one with Bradbury’s wife looked particularly nervous and already beads of sweat were just beginning to hint on his forehead. Eventually though silence fell across the room of the 50 odd cadets as they finished their hurried line up.

GM CockRoach