Challenge #02319-F129: Not Paranoia If...
A ship's captain is particularly paranoid and adds stun guns to all areas of the ship, for emergencies. -- Anon Guest
In the years that ze was captain of the Twitching Whisker, Thragaak was derided as a delusional paranoid with a persecution complex. Now, we know hir as visionary who was years ahead of hir time. Plying the sargasso as ze did, surviving close calls with Deathworlders and unfamiliar peoples, it was, perhaps, wisdom to believe that They really were out to get hir.
The historic decision is on record, following too close a call with a Vorax Raider Scout, who was repelled by a hypersonic device designed for pest control.
"The crew of this ship," said Thragaak, pacing in front of hir chief officers, "have never been closer to death than they were yesterday. We had a lucky escape, and we cannot expect another. We must prepare."
First Officer Tenyi regarded the plan in front of them. "Stunners in all quarters, by all workspaces, and five DU's apart in all corridors? Captain, this ship mod will end up costing us two Years in finances."
"We'll begin with the corridors, ten DU's apart, then the upgrade will be for the key point workspaces. Next, we arm the quarters of key officers in each shift. Earnings should take that plan," said Thragaak. "We can't be complacent. Space is big and full of dangers. Just as we have our livesuits, we must have internal defences against invasion."
"Captain... this is madness..."
"Is it? We've encountered Humans twice, Vorsyk. One of them came close enough to touch you."
"I remember," said Vorsyk. "But... that many stunners? Why not have the crew go around armed?"
"We tried that. Engineers and maintenance are in the habit of disarming to access trouble spots. The Mediks take theirs off for surgeries or complicated procedures. The bridge crew take theirs off whenever they sit, and leave them wherever happens to be convenient. We might as well not be armed at all."
The chief officers had to admit that Thragaak had a point. Some of them even looked, embarrassed, at the holster belts slung over seat backs or armrests or, most incriminatingly, under the table where they had been kicking them about.
"If a Vorax crew invaded this vessel right now, we wouldn't have the time to reach for our weapons," said Thragaak. "We have to have a means of defence for all crew. Regardless of where they are and what they're involved in, nobody on board should be more than a short dash away from a weapon."
The chief officers glanced at each other, looking for someone - anyone - who had a salient argument.
Finally, the Twitching Whisker's chief Medik said, "Well. We knew the job was dangerous when we took it. That doesn't mean we have to make it more dangerous by being silly about things. I want it on the record that I'm adding my bonus to the funds pool for this ships's upgrade."
The others fell in line after that. A Medik's job was to preserve life by any means. If that meant by preventative measures, then they would move mountains to prevent. The rest of them considered the pros and cons and, weighing their bonuses against their lives, came out in favour of their lives.
In ten years' time, every ship, every station, every base in civilised space and out of it, had at least a Stunner kept at every junction or door. As a preventative measure, it was supremely effective.
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / jamesstar]
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