Doppelgaenger

Posted on Sun Feb 23rd, 2025 @ 6:26am by Commander Kevin Lance

817 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: The days of our lives
Location: USS Biko
Timeline: Current

on:
{Shuttle Bay, USS Biko}

Kevin continued to practice maneuvering the Type XII shuttle in simulation, preparing for his task in the upcoming mission. The Biko was assigned to a humanitarian aid mission to a Federation aligned world in the Triangle, that portion of space nestled between the Federation, Klingon Empire and a rapidly devolving Romulan Star Empire. Kevin’s role was to shuttle cargo from the staging area to remote locations. Navigating the rocky terrain required a certain amount of piloting skill but hardly the “unique skill set” that Admiral Desai has told him was the reason that he had been assigned to the temporary duty.

Since coming aboard, Kevin had been mostly separated from the regular crew. He was assigned to living arrangements but was alone in the quarters normally assigned to two junior officers. He had spent his most his time in progressively harder simulations. While he understood the need to be prepared for any contingencies but the situations were crossing the line into ridiculousness. Even off-duty, while in the officer’s wardroom or in the gymnasium, the Biko’s crew mostly left him alone.

Kevin delicately applied thrusters and reduced the force of the gravitic generators to reduce altitude while simulated gale force winds buffeted the shuttle and an earthquake shook the small patch of flat space that was his landing target. He was so focused on the task that it came as a shock when the simulation was suddenly terminated.

“Commander Lance,” the shuttle’s communicator relayed, “we need you to deliver a warp coil to a freighter in distress.”

“Affirmative,” Kevin replied as he began switching the shuttle’s controls from simulation to full operation. A Star Fleet technician approached the cockpit from the outside of the shuttle and gave the hand and arm signal to lower the cargo ramp. He complied and a cargo team loaded the transfer crate into the back of the shuttle. During the operation, Kevin wondered why the warp coil wasn’t simple beamed across to the freighter.

Once loaded, Kevin followed the direction of the Biko’s flight director and once cleared of the Oberth-class science ship, he piloted the shuttle across the relatively short distance to the distressed freighter. He docked shuttle against the freighter’s hull and once a hard seal was secure, he lowered the cargo ramp.

Kevin was in the process of running the post-operation checklist when he was approached by a Federation officer in command red. “Commander Lance,” the man interrupted. Kevin turned to look at the officer.

It could have been his brother. The officer’s beard wasn’t quite as full as his own and his hair was a shade darker. Kevin estimated that the man was slightly taller than himself but not as muscular. Still, the man could be mistaken for Kevin by someone not familiar with him. “Who are you,” he asked suspiciously.

“You can call me Doppeler,” the man said.

“Like the Doppler Effect?” Kevin asked.

The man smiled, “No, but that isn’t important. I am your stand-in.”

“Stand-in?”

“I will take your place aboard the Biko so you can participate in your real mission,” the other replied.

Schemes within scheme, Kevin thought cynically, “Why would I need a stand-in?”

“Your mission is very off-book,” Doppeler answered, “I will establish a credible alibi for you while you are away.” Kevin was about to interrupt when Doppeler held up a hand and said, "I will be careful to be as unobtrusive as possible and prevent anything from happening to make your life more difficult than it already is. Give me your comm badge."

"What? Why?"

"It will help to strengthen your alibi if your electronic record matches what others see me doing," Doppeler told him, "And it will allow you to find me once your mission is complete."

Kevin tried to find a flaw in the man's logic but couldn't. He reluctantly handed over his comm badge and accepted the one that Doppeler gave to him. "That is untraceable by most standard technology. And you might give some thought to shaving."

Kevin's hand reached for his own beard. "Why?"

"The less you look like yourself, the less chance we have of being discovered. Now, we have little time. I need to get this shuttle back to the Biko and assume the role of Kevin Lance, pilot extraordinaire." He moved towards the pilot's chair.

The lengths that Admiral Desai went to cover Kevin's tracks was bordering on the maniacal and left him in a state of confusion. Still, he stood and exited the shuttlecraft. Doppeler gave him a sly smile and a little wave as the shuttle's ramp closed, leaving Kevin in the small freighter's cargo bay with a couple of technicians and a transit case that allegedly held a warp coil.

"Now what?" he asked rhetorically.

:off

Commander Kevin Lance
Executive Officer
USS Chuck Norris

 

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