The Walls Come Crashing Down

Posted on Wed Jul 15th, 2026 @ 4:33am by Lieutenant Commander Vladimir Borovich & Cadet Senior Grade Meghan Stefani & Cadet Senior Grade Daniel Weaver & Cadet Junior Grade Emma Mendez & Cadet Junior Grade Shafin Todenhöfer & Commodore Peter Murphy & Cadet Junior Grade Xiran Sun & Archibald 'Archie' Dorrian

2,370 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: The Cadet Cruise
Location: Cavalier Bridge
Timeline: AFTER: Bridge Training: Diabolus Ex Spatio Lacrimae (Part V)

ON:

As the Cavalier shook from another blast from the enemy ships outside, the turbolift doors opened up, letting Commodore Murphy and the Senior Bridge crew to enter. The shields were holding together, but there was no telling how long they would last. The ship wasn't fully equipped for a battle like this. It was a Cadet Cruise after all, meant to train the Starfleet Cadets. Primary weapons were locked unless absolutely needed. Power was limited. They had a small compliment of torpedoes, but even they weren't strong enough. Meant for training exercises. The only mission was to simply survive.

"Cadet! This is not part of your Bridge Training! Get off the bridge and proceed to one of the designated safe areas!" Commodore Murphy shouted as he made his way to the Command Chair. As he got close to his son, Cadet Weaver, another shot came in. It shook the ship hard, making him stumble, but Daniel caught him in time. "Get these Cadet's out of here, Danny. Get them somewhere you know will hold and hunker down until you hear otherwise." He whispered softly.

"Dad... I-" Daniel began to speak, but was quickly cut off.

"No excuses, Cadet." The Commodore said as he straightened up. He raised his voice again, this time adding a firmer tone. "The Senior Officer's will now take control of the bridge and deal with this situation. You all have your orders."

Vladimir Borovich put a comforting hand on Meghan's shoulder. "You did well, but I'll take it from here. Do as the commodore ordered."

Meghan looked at the chief and nodded. "Thank you."

As Daniel was about to make his way to the turbolift, he heard his father shout at him, forcing him to stop in his tracks and look toward him. What are the odds, this will be the day his father actually turns into a father and speaks to him like one. Giving him some kind of affection, despite being surrounded by other officers.

"Daniel..." Commodore Murphy said firmly, hesitating slightly, before continuing with a harsh tone. "You make sure the old man make's it to safety with the rest of you. I don't want to find him rushing around with his cane trying to fix things. Get him to safety... even if you have to drag him with you."

Daniel looked at him, his heart skipped a beat slightly, before nodding his head. "Yes, Sir. I'll make sure he joins the group." He went to turn away, but stopped in place. Maybe Daniel should say something. Doesn't matter what it was, at least it would be said out loud.

Before he could say anything. He heard the Commodore again. His tone harsher. "Now, Cadet!" He shouted as he took his seat at the Command Chair.

Shafin made his way towards the lift, huddled a bit with the rest. Commodore Weaver could have the bridge and take care of matters here. "Deck 5," Shafin said as calmly as he could muster but there was a haste to his tone. "We need to go there. The lounge on deck five" he elaborated.

Cadet Shafin Todenhöfer looked at the others. "It’s a designated refuge spot and given its location, logically a safer place to be. Cadet Walsh should meet us there." There was something in the glean of Shafin's eyes that alluded to unfinished business.

He inched towards Meghan and whispered softly "We can continue our work there" reassuring her that science was far from over.

Meghan nodded. This situation had become all too real and continuing to do...something might help her stay calm. At least, she hoped so. Besides, she really wanted to know what was really out there.

Shafin had wasted no time. Once the lift was summoned and had arrived, the beanstalk of a boy hurried in and waited for the others. "Out of sight out of mind" commented Shafin Todenhöfer.

A small translucent blue item rest in between the fingers of Todenhöfer who had promptly stood in the lift, hands behind him and resting against his back. When Daniel entered though, Shafin scooted closer and brushed the protruding chip into Cadet Weaver's hand.

Daniel didn't hesitate. Later he thought. When this mess is all over, I'll make sure he hears what I have to say. Before stepping into the turbolift, squeezing in with the rest of the Cadets. As he stood there, his mind racy with the usual thought's when he knew his father was in the middle of something official, he felt something touch his hand. He looked over to see Shafin before looking down to his hand. Daniel took the chip and looked at it as the doors closed. "What is this?"

"Everything," replied Shafin dryly. "At least everything that I managed to download before your father seized control of the bridge. Our scans, the readings, all of it. I copied what I could before we were forced off the bridge" explained Shafin.

Daniel nodded his head. "If I know the Commodore, he'll be focused on the battle. Keeping the ship and us alive. He'll only care about this stuff once the battle is over, even then, he won't think it's a big deal." He looked around the turbolift before focusing back on Shafin. "You said the best place to keep us safe was the lounge on deck 5. Can we continue this work there or is there someone on Deck 5 we can get more done and be just as safe?"

"It was logical to deduce the Commodore will be too busy to notice the download of files" agreed Shafin. "We will indeed be safer on Deck 5 and should be able to continue our work from there."

Daniel let out a slight sigh. His nerves were creeping up on him. They were in the middle of a battle and there wasn't much they could do other than follow orders and survive, but something about this anomaly that brought them here felt important. Maybe it was a key to getting them back. It was hard to say, but his mother would tell him, when you can, to look at everything around him before making a decision. Sometimes, the right move, isn't obvious until you see or learn more. "Gather who you feel with help you best to get started. If you need to make a side trip to pick something up, do it, or send a few people out. As long as it's close and they can come back. I have something I need to take care of. I'll grab two security cadets to come with me. Then, I'll meet you wherever you plan on setting up. We'll figure this out together."

Shafin knew who he needed. "I just need Meghan and Finn, maybe some others but do what you need to take care of. We'll be on Deck 5 in the lounge trying to get answers."

"Sounds like a plan." He looked around the turbolift before looking back to Shafin. "I see Mendez, but not Sun. Hopefully she's close by." He said softly before switching to a firm tone. "Computer: Locate Archibald Dorrian."

"Archibald Dorrian is located on Deck Six. Upper Engineering Level." The computer replied.

Daniel let out a sigh. "He's probably trying to keep the place running. Shouting orders." He said softly before tapping his combadge. "Cadet Weaver to Cadet Sun. Where are you?"

Xiran Sun was quick to respond. "Being ushered out of deck seven. I was working taking phaser inventory when I was told to vacate the armory" she explained. "Same thing happen up there? It looked like we all were getting pushed out."

"Yes. Bridge Training held a lot of surprises. Encountered this cloud that either wants to talk or kill us. Jury’s still out. Popped out the other side and got attacked by unknowns." Daniel replied, looked to Shafin, before shrugging. "Next time, I'll make sure you're assigned to the Bridge so you can be involved in all the fun. Can you meet me on Deck Six, Upper Engineering? I might need your help escorting someone to the Lounge. Try to grab some phasers. Three of them. Just in case."

Xiran scoffed. "Right... they just booted me out of the armory, Daniel. I am not sure they are going to just let me take three phasers as a Cadet."

Daniel let out a smile as he looked to Shafin. "Correct me if I am wrong, Xiran, but aren't there weapons lockers scattered on each deck in case of boarding? I am sure some, creative cadet like you, can figure out a way to open one up and grab some weapons. If not, we'll worry about it later."

"Absolutely brilliant, Daniel. I never would have thoughts about breaking into a weapons locker and taking Federation defensive weaponry. Will you be putting in a good word for me when the Commandant wants to see me about this when we get back? Sorry, but some of us don't have the fortune of falling back on the pillow of nepotism. My father isn't a Commodore," quipped Xiran. She sighed. "Give me a minute. I will be there."

He placed his hands on his hips and closed his eyes. Daniel hated when that word was brought up. Nepotism. Regardless of how much he fought to go through the Academy without having to rely on his father, going as far as to use his mother's maiden name, he couldn't escape it. No matter how many times he was brought up, each time was like being slapped in the face, no matter who used it. After a deep breath, he opened his eyes and replied.

"Xiran? We're in the middle of a battle and survival is our priority. There is no conceivable way they are going to run you over the coals for doing something smart like grabbing a weapon to defend yourself in the case of an attack. We're Cadet's and we're taught to act like Starfleet Officer's and the one rule during an attack is to arm yourself and protect those who can't defend themselves. We're security Cadets. We were taught this." Daniel let out a sigh and added. "I'll take full responsibility for it. I have orders, from the Commodore which everyone heard, to make sure Cadets are brought to safe locations. As a result, I am making the decision to arm some students with phasers in the event we are boarded to protect ourselves. Archibald Dorrian is a civilian on board and part of my words are to make sure he gets to safety. I don't plan on saving him with insults and dirty looks." He cleared his throat and finally added. "If it makes you feel better I'll grab some on my way there so you don't have to. It will all be on me."

"I'm on my way" was the only response Xiran gave.

Shafin just looked at Daniel. Shafin had done what he had, not because Daniel had asked him to, but because they all needed answers. He could respect Xiran's reluctance. "Keeping us safe and arming us are quite different. I understand Cadet Sun's hesitance. This does not appear to be a simulation. You may encounter some reluctance to blindly follow your leadership."

"I understand it too." Daniel replied, looking to Shafin. "But, as you pointed out, this isn't a simulation. We're being attacked. The senior officers are worried and we can't stand around and wait for them to do everything. We need answers, but most importantly, we need to be able to protect ourselves if the ship gets damaged enough to be boarded. This is a real fight and, unlike the simulations, we can't walk away if we get hit. We could die, Shafin. Believe me, I hope we don't have to use them, but I would rather have one and not need it then need it and not have it. Just because I was put in the Command course, by nepotism as I keep getting reminded, I was in Security first." He looked away as the turbolift doors opened on Deck 5.


"Just as I have been studying for potentially become a Ship's Counselor," Shafin added. "And for a time until things were shuffled around, your First Officer. I took that position seriously albeit begrudgingly at first."

Daniel stepped out and let the students start exiting. As they began to make their way to the Lounge, he stopped Emma before she could pass. "I need your help. I was asked to retrieve the former maintenance officer, Archibald Dorrian from Engineering. I have to escort him to the lounge." He let out a sigh before adding. "You don't have to come with me. I'll understand if you decide to head to the Lounge with everyone else, but I could use some backup. We might have break a rule or two. Can't promise we won't get in trouble, but I'll take all the heat if we do."

Emma nodded, a determined look spreading across her face. "Well, I am meant to be acting chief of security." She stated simply. "What do you need Daniel?"

Meghan had been standing quietly in the back and waited for the others to exit the turbolift before she did. Yes, she'd go to the lounge on deck 5, but she wanted to check something else first. And, since no one was paying attention to her, now was the best time to get it done.

She wanted to get all the data she could from science--just in case. A lot of the science scans from the bridge were backed up there, and she might need them later. So, when the others headed to the lounge, she went to astrometrics.

A post by

Commodore Murphy
Commanding Officer
USS Cavalier

Cadet Senior Grade Daniel Weaver
Command Cadet
USS Cavalier

Lieutenant Commander Vladimir Borovich
Chief Science Officer
USS Cavalier

Cadet Senior Grade Meghan Stefani
Acting Chief Science Officer
USS Cavalier

Cadet Junior Grade Shafin Todenhöfer
Acting Ship's Counselor
USS Cavalier

Cadet Junior Grade Xiran Sun
Security Cadet
USS Cavalier

Cadet Junior Grade Emma Mendes
Acting Chief Security Officer
USS Cavalier

 

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