Last words

Posted on 21 Dec 2017 @ 2:09pm by Chief Petty Officer Odette Farrar
Edited on on 21 Dec 2017 @ 2:16pm

464 words; about a 2 minute read

Mission: Crossing Over
Location: Personal Quarters, Chief Petty Officer E. Odette Farrar
Timeline: MD1 1630

Star Fleet service is not without its dangers. Even in the most peaceful situations, accidents happen and sentients die. And the most recent 'incident' involving Finnea Prime and DS13 had been far from peaceful. It was during that 'incident' that Chief Petty Officer O. Erica Farrar had successfully neutralized a live microtorpedo, saving countless lives, but only at the expense of her own.

As with all such deaths, there are ripples large and small, and certain 'things' have to be done. One of those things was the gathering of personal effects, to be sent back to the deceased's designated survivors (in this case, Erica's parents).

One of the objects gathered was a plaque hanging on the wall of her quarters, bronze on wood, with the outline of an old style peregrine attack fighter on the bronze, with a soliloquy engraved over the outline.

**********

You are a fighter and shuttle mechanic.

You won't be seen in recruitment advertisements. You won't be in Star Fleet holonovels, nor on the news as crews rescue persons in strife or drop disaster relief goods. Those kudos are for the pilots and crews.

You are a fighter and shuttle mechanic.

You are the unseen. The person who, with a fluid coated duty uniform, spends the entire night getting a "grounded" or "not full mission capable auxiliary vessels," ready to fly to meet a flight schedule. FMC. Fully Mission Capable.

You are a fighter and shuttle mechanic.

Strange enough, pilots know your name but not your face. As pilots and crews sleep in their quarters, you work with a palm beacon clutched in your teeth, so you can use both hands. With busted knuckles and circuitry gashed arms, you work through the night. When the morning comes, the pilots and crews look though the maintenance records for the fighter or shuttlecraft they are about to sign for, seeing a plethora of gripes fixed and repaired.

You are a fighter and shuttle mechanic.

Lastly, if the flight schedule starts early enough, you will get to see your hard work pay off. Power coming on, navigation online, computers 'booting up', flight controls checked, smooth and good, engines roaring to life. There's a scent on the flight deck of fighters and shuttlecraft ready to launch. The pilots nod their heads as they finish their preflight and prepare to taxi out. Exhausted and ready to hit the hay you may be, but you stay to watch them launch before you turn your attention to other craft waiting your attention

Yes, you are fighter and shuttle mechanic.

**********

On the back of the plaque there is carved "LPJ to OED 55088.58", but nothing else to indicate the history behind the plaque.

The plaque is examined, then packed with other objects, to be shipped to grieving family and friends.

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