Stardate: 60511:1955
Title: The Ghost and the Machine
Author: Lieutenant Kal Vilmer
Time: After "Secure Issues"
Scene: Engineering


Kal stood at the altar trying to put the image of Abigail out of his head for the hundredth time. 

*Commander Winters* the blonde reminded himself for the hundredth time.

The altar was the pet name Vilmer had given the main terminal through which all of the ship's engineering functions could me monitored and changed as needed. It would take the engineer a while but he would eventually get around to making the ship 'his' where he could find in his sleep anything and everything that he needed to keep her alive and agile. 

One of the first things Kal did upon his arrival on the Relentless was to affix a plaque to the bulkhead over the doors of main engineering. The plaque read, "Abandon All Hope, Ye Who Enter Here." The engineer's second favorite quote was "look upon my works, ye mighty, and despair." As soon as the plaque was affixed Kal busied himself with getting to know the Relentless. 

It didn't take the engineer long to get to love the ship. It was the first vessel he'd been on that had a distinct purpose. With the amount of classified data that blocked his initial inquiries the blonde was pretty sure what that purpose was. Security clearance or not some things can't be hidden. They certainly can't be hidden from a good engineer. Kal made a note to himself to chat with the Captain about that damn security clearance. 

Vilmer's head began to ache as he processed reports stemming from Relentless' performance during the escape. An armed security detail passed through engineering then pausing just long enough to make their presence noticed before they continued on. Kal pinched himself to make sure he hadn't slipped into the mirror universe while he wasn't looking. Vilmer was relieved when he didn't see any agonizers or the globe impaled symbol of the Terran Empire. 

An engineering crewman noticing the surprised look on the CEO's face regarding the security detail sauntered over to the Lieutenant.

"Strike you a bit strange sir?" the crewman asked.

"What's that?" Kal asked.

"Armed security details, when we're underway. I don't want to speak ill of the Captain, but we did leave in some strange circumstances. Not to mention, since when does a Star Fleet vessel have to fly around anyone?"

"Robbins, I think I'm missing the point."

"Well Sir, how much do you know of the Captain?"

"Not much I suppose, why do you know something I should?"

Robbins looked at Lieutenant Vilmer through veiled eyes considering what his next move would be. The 'crewman' didn't know anything about Vilmer. His arrival had been at the last minute and unannounced. With the increased security Robbins and his fellow agents were fairly certain that any attempt at communicating with HQ would be impossible. He looked at the blonde a few seconds. The blonde was young, from all outward appearances just a big stupid kid. With his bubble gum and shades probably some kind of savant with machines. Robbins leaned in close to the engineer and began to speak.

"Can I speak freely sir, off the record?" Robbins asked conspiratorially.

There was an itch in the back of Kal's mind, the engineer knew a black ops man when he saw one. He also saw in the man's body language that he bought Kal's 'blonde, young and stupid' act hook line and sinker. 

"Uh sure," the blonde returned, working his gum a little harder, giving the appearance of trying to concentrate.

"What would you do if the Captain was a criminal?"

"A criminal?" Kal asked incredulously.

"He did forcibly escape the station brig, and now he's endangered all of us by running from the proper authority and nearly caused a collision fleeing said authority."

"Well that does sound pretty shaky, but what is the Captain's side?"

"Can you really trust somebody that flees the scene of a crime?"

"I see your point, but what am I supposed to do? I'm just a lieutenant."

"Just a Lieutenant? Sir you're selling yourself very short," Robbins said warmly.

"Sir, you have absolute control over the ship, why if something had to happen to ensure the Captain's compliance…"

"You mean, do something against his orders?" Kal asked, injecting some hesitation into the question.

"Well I doubt it would actually come to that, but if it did, would it be lawful to follow the orders of a rogue Captain?" Robbins asked. "Well that's true, I guess but most of the functions I can't get to yet, my clearance hasn't been updated, I'd ask the Captain, but you know he's the Captain, most little guys like me don't do so well when we have to talk to the Captain, you know," Kal returned.

Robbins' smile broadened, "that's an easy fix young Sir. You just have a talk with him and let him know you need your clearance changed or you won't be able to do your job if we get into a scrape."

"Ok. I'll do it as soon as I get a chance, but what do I do after that?"

"You get that clearance, and I'll let you know when the time comes. Oh and by the way, you'll keep this under wraps? Who knows what a criminal would do if he was cornered?"

"I see your point, I'll get that clearance and let you know," Kal said, affecting a very concerned and nervous reaction.

"Good," Robbins smiled, "I better be getting along looks like the Captain's Gestapo is coming 'round again."

Kal watched the crewman depart. He made a note to check the work logs and see what if anything the man had done while in engineering. Vilmer honestly didn't know the Captain and at the moment didn't care if he was a criminal or not. The blonde had his own agenda and it wouldn't be served by having the ship he was on hurt. Kal's gut told him his best bet was to stick by the Captain. Besides Khavok was just the young dumb SOB that other men followed to greatness and glory, past death and beyond. A lot like Teriel; a Captain from long ago.

For the hundredth and one time Commander Winters' face ghosted into the blonde's memory, this time the distinction between her and Shenne was so minute as to be indistinguishable.


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Lieutenant Kal Vilmer
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Relentless
NCC 11966
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