[snip + edit]

‘’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.

Cross did not move while scrutinizing closely and thoroughly every face, every posture. The doctor wondered were their instructor was, Where’s the darn counsellor when you need one!.

The female doctor hoped that the Captain and CoS would keep the charade of absurd pretence intended to create intimidation and respectable appearance. After all there was too many of them and just three of themselves.

Once all the cadets had arrived, Glen came forward from behind Nkosenye. The cadets were out of full uniform and the locker room was small, but Glen thought he might question a few during his review. By questioning several, it would also allow him to especially question one, without appearing to be particularly interested in any single individual.

“Good morning Red Squad!” Captain Glen announced. “I have been given the great honour by Rear Admiral Bradbury to inspect you today, and to see the future of Starfleet for myself.”

He walked forward again to the start of the line, allowing Nkosenye room to come to his side.

“Are you graduating this year, cadet? ....Where you going to next?” Glen asked the first cadet he came to.

“Are you an Upper Classman? …Where is home?” Glen asked a second cadet.

“We found several shooters of hard liquor in your locker, cadet,” Glen told a third. “Do you have a drink problem?”

“Ah! The cadet who likes to keep time,” Glen told the cadet with the watch, “Looking at the contents of your locker, it must be party time?”

Glen moved along the line, doing the same with each until he reached the one with Bradbury’s wife’s photo.

Kord entered the room after the last cadet had arrived. He took a place standing beside the door in much the same way he stood tot he right of the command chair on the bridge.

Glen noticed Kord arrive. His position would block the exit should any cadet try to do a runner. Glen was clearly enjoying this inspection and hoped that the others were too.

When he reached the cadet in who’s locker they had found the photograph, he had expected that the cadet might have been unaware. After all, it could have easily been planted there by someone else, to incriminate him, and to leave a false trail. However, from the reaction of the cadets, he had to assume that their inspection had remained a total surprise, and the beads of sweat on the forehead of this cadet spoke volumes about his culpability.

“Your locker contained some interesting materials, cadet!” Glen told him, “We are going to have a little chat about those once the others are dismissed.”

Glen thought he was about done with this charade, fun though it had been, it was also a little cruel. The cadets had now been standing to attention for quite some time. He didn’t know if his officers had more to say, so he gave way to them to ask their own questions, or for Nkosenye to formally dismiss the cadets as he saw fit. He thought they would keep the photographer behind to question further in private.