Trouble with a Lock
Posted on Wed Mar 11th, 2026 @ 8:05pm by Ensign Garath Of the House of Varal [Baas] & Lieutenant JG Christian Rogers & Ensign Willow Oakley & Lieutenant JG Adam Taggart
Edited on on Wed Mar 11th, 2026 @ 8:06pm
1,757 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
What was Lost is Found
Location: Valkyrie
Timeline: MD 6 - 1630
The ship was above the planet where Starfleet and Romulans were living together in peace. Taggart wanted to have a conference with Rogers to see what his take was on all of this, and well, get things organized. He went to the office, to get set up for a meeting. When the door didn't activate, and there was no sign of Rogers at all he frowned. Tapping on his commbadge,
"Lieutenant Rogers, would you come to your office please." Taggart's voice coming out a little bit gruff.
Garath was completing a few tasks and glanced over his shoulder at the Lieutenants summons. Returning to his task he filed the various reports he moved on to comparing and updating the latest inventory.
[Holodeck]
The "crack" was satisfying as was the vibration that rolled through the thick wooden bat and into his hands and wrists. The force of the ball's sudden change in trajectory and the speed at which it flew away from him and toward the wall at the end of center field only enhanced the satisfaction. He almost wanted to take off at a jog toward first base, sure that the ball would sail over the wall and be a 'homerun'.
The puff of red dirt kicked up as his feet switched as he'd swung the bat slowly drifted over his shoes and the hem of the tight, gray pants worn by baseball players throughout time. It wouldn't have mattered much as his right side was already stained by the dirt ground into the fabric from the time he slid into homeplate, imagining his solid hit, but not a homerun that time, was careening toward an imaginary catcher defending the plate. He slid into the plate and in his imagination the umpire just barely ruled him safe.
He stepped away, not wanting the smell of it. Normally it was a part of the activities, but not today. Even though he hit himself with a dose of the analgesic to try to knock down the headache brought on by the strain of dealing with the colonists, the councilors and diplomacy. It worked, slightly. He needed sleep and contemplated cutting his holodeck time to get a nap.
But even as he allowed the thought to form: "Lieutenant Rogers, would you come to your office please."
Taggert that thought didn't wait to be summoned, it just appeared in his mind. Rogers shook his head, knowing the effects of the analgesic would no longer matter. Taggert his karmic punishment for what he could only assume was a past life of a genocidal maniac.
With a sigh, however, he reached into a pocket and brought out the communicator badge that had been fully outlined. "Copy," he said, with a practiced fling he flicked his wrist so the tip of the bat went from resting against the dusty red ground to just above his shoulder. Then, as he called for the arch and the exit, telling the computer to shut down the program, he made his way through the ship
[Security Complex|
Rogers was still trying to figure out when the subspace signal would finally arrive at the Valkyrie. The playoffs already started a month ago, but since they'd come out this way, it was taking the signal longer to arrive. Even longer still since for some unfathomable reason Starfleet didn't seem to think the replay of the playoff games were a "priority".
"Lieutenant," he said, rubbing his temple and realizing he still wore the batting glove and approached his department executive officer.
"Did you change the security code, Lieutenant? Though I'm sure you wouldn't have done so without letting me know." Taggart mused. He looked at the door, then back to Rogers.
Without waiting for a comment from Rogers, Taggart decided to call in someone from Operations. "Operations, this is Lieutenant Taggart from security, would you send someone down to come check on the Security Chief's office door."
"What are you on about?" Rogers asked, stepping forward to enter the office. As a citizen of the 24th century he was used to the idea that doors were on constant alert for people approaching and getting out of the way. That it didn't struck him as rather rude as he rebounded from the solid panel, his bat making a solid thud against the carpeted floor as it fell from his hand.
"What the hell?" he asked, glaring at the door. He reached out and entered the security code. Still nothing. He entered the code again, this time slowly and deliberately. His headache spiked. "Who the hell changed the code to my office?" Of course, the thought that maybe the captain rethought his appointment was a fleeting one but it was still there.
Wiping his hand on the backside of his pants, he entered the code once more. Still nothing. "Ops, this is the security chief, get someone here pronto."
Turning to Taggart, "What did you need?" he asked, in between trying to downplay the irritation of the day. This door issue just being the last bit.
"I wanted to know about your specialty team that seems to be all over the place and none of the others of the security team not being involved. These men who have been brought onboard, they worked with you before haven't they."
Taggart truly wasn't happy about this fact. More focus seemed to be upon this team. "Once the office is opened then we will be having a discussion, sir, about what I had just mentioned."
It was just Willow's luck that she got the message that the chief of security needed help. Hadn't he reset his codes yet? Then she had a terrible thought. What if he couldn't reset his codes? Surely the computer glitch wasn't that severe. She sighed. It might be... She shook her head. No. She couldn't--wouldn't--think that. She acknowledged the message, grabbed her tools, and headed for security.
She walked into security and immediately recognized both men. Lieutenant Taggart was here when the short circuit happened, and she recognized the chief of security, even though she'd never met him. "I'm Ensign Oakley. How can I be of help?"
"There's a problem with the door," Rogers said, turning his perpetual scowl on the operations officer. "My code doesn't seem to open the door. For some reason."
Willow looked calm on the outside, but inside she was growing more nervous. To give herself a minute, she looked at her PADD. "Yes, sir. There was a power surge in the EPS conduit and it reset all the codes. You need to use your command authorization to reset the password, sir." Her green hair now had a few strips of brown.
A power surge, Taggart turned to look at Willow, that sort of information seemed rather familiar. The woman with changing hair color, was familiar to him.
Willow recognized the other officer from earlier, when the power surge first happened and smiled.
Garath had finished his work but kept on acting as if he was still busy. Suppressing a grin he wanted to see how things unfolded.
Taggart gave a slight smile towards the ensign, then turned back to Rogers.
"Let's get the office open, sir." Taggart remarked with a firm tone in his voice. "It’s going to be taking you to get things going. And then we are needing to talk."
Taggart looked back to where Garath was, noting the Klingon's concentration upon his work.
The now-increasingly-brunette operations officer nodded. "You just need to set your access code again. And your voice print."
Rogers glared between the Ops officer and his second, understanding that they knew a lot more about this situation than they were saying at the moment. He turned toward the door, gave his identification code and voiceprint. "Computer, reset locks to previous access code." He again glowered at the Ops officer. "Later, I'll be interested to know what you discover as the reason for this 'reset'."
"As I said, sir, the reason you needed to reset your password is because there was a short in an EPS conduit in main security." Willow's hair was now completely brown as she grew more nervous. "A report was filed and you should have been informed. The conduit was repaired. However, your access could not be restored without you doing it yourself, sir."
Taggart had a blank look on his face when Rogers looked at him, suspiciously. "Now that is taken care of." he looked at Willow with kind eyes. "thank you for coming to fix the troublesome lock."
Willow smiled, grateful for the kindness. "You're welcome."
Then she nodded to the chief. "Now that the problem has been resolved, I'll be on my way. Have a good day, sirs." She wanted to get out of security before the chief could get mad at her for something else.
"I look forward to reading the report in the incident that caused this...malfunction," Rogers said, glaring at the OPS officer.
"Of course, sir." Willow's hair color darkened. "It's in the computer under operational repairs." Without another word, or a glance at either of the officers, she left calmly, but inside she wondered if she was cursed--at least where security was concerned. Suspicious, cantankerous, and probably hates kittens, she thought as she exited the room.
Taggart looked towards Garath, then he watched as Willow left the security area. Turning his attention back to Rogers.
"Sir now that the situation has been taken care of for us to get back into the office-" a chirp from his combadge interrupted him.
"Taggart here."
"This is a reminder of your meeting with the counselor." was the response.
His lips thinning slightly Taggart answered, he hated going to counselors.
"Very well, I will be on my way." tapping on the combadge to end the communication. "Well, looks like our discussion as to the previous subject will have to wait." Taggart looking at Rogers.
"Garath still on for the training later?" Adam looking towards the Klingon security officer.
Looking up from his previously completed work he cleared his throat. "Yes sir." Adding with a grin, "But don't expect me to go easy on you."
"I think that when we spar next, I won't be as distracted." Taggart replied with laugh. "As for now, I must go and talk with the counselor." with a wave, he left security.
Ensign Willow Oakley
Transporter Operation/Operations
USS Valkyrie
Ensign Garath of the House of Varal
Security Officer
LTJG Adam Taggart
Assistant Chief Of Security
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