RED SHIRT WATCH
Episode 1 — The Watch
Mercer quickly discovered tribunal security consisted primarily of standing still while important people ignored you professionally.
The corridor outside Observation Deck Three had been transformed overnight into a fortress built entirely around paperwork and anxiety.
Security personnel lined the hallway walls at measured intervals while officers, aides, technicians, and command staff flowed continuously through the area carrying PADDs, reports, coffee, and expressions suggesting nobody aboard the ship had slept.
Mercer stood rigidly beside the tribunal doors trying very hard to look like he belonged there.
Unfortunately, next to him stood a human mountain.
The giant enlisted crewman assigned beside him had introduced himself twenty minutes earlier as Briggs.
Then immediately followed it with:
“Everybody calls me Ox.”
Mercer had not questioned it.
The man was enormous.
Not muscular in the polished tactical-recruitment-poster sense.
Big.
Farm big.
Like somewhere in the galaxy there was probably heavy agricultural equipment named after his family.
Ox leaned casually against the bulkhead with his arms folded while Mercer remained locked at attention beside the tribunal doors.
After several minutes, Ox finally glanced over.
“You gonna stand like that all day?”
Mercer kept staring forward.
“We’re on duty.”
“Yeah.”
Silence.
“You look like you’re guarding the emperor.”
Mercer exhaled quietly through his nose.
Farther down the corridor another security team walked past.
One of them slowed slightly after spotting Mercer.
Smirked.
“Outstanding assignment, rook.”
Another added:
“Try not to let the hallway escape.”
The group disappeared around the corner laughing quietly.
Mercer shifted uncomfortably.
Ox grinned.
“See?”
“Nobody respects tribunal duty.”
The tribunal doors opened.
Immediately every security person in the corridor instinctively straightened slightly.
Two command officers exited mid-conversation carrying reports and steaming cups of coffee.
One of them spotted Mercer.
Without slowing down, he shoved his cup directly into Mercer’s hands.
“Hold this.”
Mercer automatically took it.
The officer continued reading his PADD while adjusting the front of his uniform jacket with his free hands.
Mercer stood frozen holding the coffee.
Ox stared at him in complete silence for approximately three seconds.
Then turned away trying not to laugh.
The officer finally grabbed the cup back.
Still not looking at Mercer.
“Outstanding work, crewman.”
Then both officers walked away continuing their conversation like nothing had happened.
Silence settled back over the corridor.
Mercer slowly turned toward Ox.
Ox nodded seriously.
“See?”
“Hallway furniture.”
Mercer stared ahead again.
“I hate this assignment.”
“No you don’t.”
“Yes I do.”
“Nobody’s shooting at us.”
Mercer considered that.
Unfortunately the giant idiot had a point.
The corridor traffic continued.
Crew members moved carefully through the area, lowering voices as they approached tribunal security. Nervous glances drifted constantly toward the sealed doors.
Nobody stopped.
Nobody lingered.
Everybody wanted to know what was happening inside.
Nobody wanted to be seen asking.
Ox quietly watched another pair of officers hurry past.
“Think anybody important’s actually in there?”
Mercer blinked.
“What?”
“Inside.”
Ox nodded toward the tribunal chamber.
“Think this is like… senior command stuff?”
“Or boring command stuff?”
Mercer stared at him.
“You volunteered for Security Division.”
“Yeah.”
“And you don’t know what’s happening?”
Ox shrugged.
“I stopped listening during the briefing.”
Mercer looked horrified.
Ox tilted his head toward him.
“Relax.”
“If it was important, Kane would’ve yelled louder.”
Mercer tried not to smile.
Failed slightly.
The tribunal doors opened again.
This time two younger enlisted personnel exited carrying equipment cases.
One glanced toward Mercer’s limp while passing.
“Away mission?”
Mercer nodded once.
The crewman winced sympathetically.
“Damn.”
“How bad?”
Mercer hesitated.
Ox answered for him.
“Bad enough Kane noticed him.”
The enlisted crewman immediately gave Mercer a look somewhere between pity and respect.
“Oh.”
“That’s rough.”
The two continued down the corridor.
Mercer frowned slightly.
“Why does everybody react like that?”
Ox looked genuinely confused.
“Because Kane noticed you.”
“That’s bad?”
Ox slowly turned toward him.
“Buddy.”
“Kane noticing you at all means one of two things.”
Mercer waited.
“You’re either really good.”
“Or about to die.”
Mercer stared at him.
Ox grinned.
“Good news is?”
“You’re still limping.”
“So probably not dead yet.”
Mercer shook his head slowly.
The corridor quieted briefly.
Then Mercer noticed something.
Farther down the passageway near an intersecting junction, a lone crewman stood partially turned toward the tribunal area.
Watching.
Not casually.
Not curious like everyone else.
Focused.
Mercer narrowed his eyes slightly.
The crewman noticed him looking.
Then immediately disappeared into the passing foot traffic.
Mercer straightened slightly.
Ox noticed the movement.
“What?”
Mercer kept staring down the corridor another moment.
Then slowly shook his head.
“Nothing.”
But somewhere in the back of his mind, something felt wrong.