Remember the Maine
A Revision of Cadet Cruise
Prologue
"Begin Recording," the Andorian Ensign said, to the center of the conference table in one of the many meeting rooms in Star Fleet Academy's Christopher Pike Hall. "This is the official evaluation board of the cadet cruise aboard the USS Maine, Admiral Gregory Quinn, presiding. Also serving are Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Enterprise serving as an observer evaluator, Commander T'Gwen Washington serving as Command and Science Evaluator, Lieutenant Commander Charles Chang as Operations Evaluator, and Lieutenant Effia as observing Tactical Evaluator. Admiral Quinn also serves as Engineering observing evaluator." The ensign nodded at the Admiral, as his hands moved in position to begin taking notes at his console.
Admiral Quinn was at the center of the table, his white hair still streaked by the blue stain of the coolant leak which had put him out of commission for much of the cruise. "Well, Ladies and Gentlemen, we've got an interesting one, this time," Quinn began. "Before we get started, I'd like to thank Captain Picard for staying to serve as an evaluator today, forgoing a rush back to his command."
Captain Picard nodded. "It was my pleasure, Gregory." There was still a bruise on his temple from where he'd been hit by pieces of an exploding console.
"We'll start with overall impressions," Quinn said. "I realize that this cruise was atypical of normal cruises due to not only the deteriorating shape of the Maine but it's encounter with what the Romulans are calling a rogue commander. That being said, I am impressed overall with the behavior of the cadets, with a few notable exceptions, which I'll bring up later. With a short staff, failing systems, and a devolved command staff with very little experience, it is quite impressive the way they were able come together. With the way they not only brought the damaged Maine back to Earth but brought that Romulan ship in tow, I think we can trust Star Fleet in their hands. Captain Picard?"
Captain Picard looked at his fellow officers before beginning. "While there are a couple officers which I must particularly exclude myself from discussing, I have to agree with Admiral Quinn's assessment. I was particularly impressed with the Bridge Staff, once they realized where the chain of command was. Engineering was also impressive, and the entire medical staff deserves a commendation in dealing with the five hundred plus injuries."
"Commander Washington?"
Commander T'Gwen Washington was a statuesque woman, one of the most common of hybrids, Vulcan-human. She had started her career as a Science Officer, but lately had moved over to command, on the insistence of one of her Captains. Just finished with her Advance Tactical Course at the Academy, she was due to take up her first command shortly. This was the first time Captain Picard had met Washington.
Commander Washington began in clipped tones, "I find that I must agree with Captain Picard on the general tenure of the Maine's crew during it's last cruise,. However, I also find that the science staff was well below even minimal standards, which I intend to highlight when we get to that section. The quick devolving of command down to the most junior of officers gave me a fascinating look at officers that normally would not have received attention of a command evaluator during a cruise. I particularly suggest that we pay close attention in our evaluations to Cadets Hath, Janakowski, Szustakowski, and Crusher. In addition, it is advisable to watch closely the reactions around Acting-Ensign Marrissa Picard, due to the particularities of her command and the reactions of her age."
"Lieutenant Commander Chang?"
Charles Chang was an officer that had once served on the Enterprise. Charles had been Data's chief assistant before being transferred back to the Academy. Data had praised him for his ability to evaluate people, and teach officers to think beyond the book. He was on the short list of officers that Captain Picard wished he had a spot on his command worthy of their ability. The Enterprise Strings had been missing him as well. The new bass violist wasn't quite up to his standards.
Chang's deep bass, as melodic as he made the instrument he played, picked up, "Operational, we had every officer's worst nightmare. My evaluation of the cadets that took up that position is almost universally that of praise. There is only one black mark that I'll be giving, and that one was nearly redeemed by her subsequent actions. I hope no other cadet cruise goes this bad, that said, I believe that a particular two hour period should be transformed into a simulation, as Operations' version of the Kobayshi Maru. I believe that Lieutenant Effia even has a name for it."
"Lieutenant Effia?"
Effia was an orion female, short for her species, and well known for her unique public celibacy. She'd served with distinction in the last Cardassian War, and afterwards asked not to serve on an active starship for a few years. The Academy had jumped at the chance to employ her. Captain Picard had long enjoyed her articles in Star Fleet Tactics, a weekly Academy publication of which Effia had recently became Deputy Editor-in-Chief. Captain Picard was also one of the few who knew the reason behind her posting, her now seven-year-old daughter. She hadn't been on the cruise itself due to that fact.
Where Chang's deep base had been melodic, Effia's was lyrical, her coloratura soprano voice turning every day speech into music. It was no wonder that no one fell asleep when she taught the usually dry courses of Historical Tactics I, II, and III. "Tactically, I have much praise to spread around. Especially given the state of the ship, the maneuvers ordered by Acting-Ensign Picard during the capture of the Romulan ship, and the execution of them alone were quite exemplary. My colleague is also correct on the name. It is some what amusing that before I arrived today, I finished a unit on Naval Tactics during the latter half of Earth's Nineteenth Century, as it's an important event from that era that results in my suggested name for Chang's simulation. The American battle cry for their Spanish-American War will no doubt be repeated by many of the cadets involved for years. Ladies and Gentlemen, as junior member of the board, I hope it is not too forward of me to suggest thoroughness as every Cadet on this cruise will 'Remember the Maine.'"