Starfleet Noire, Part IV

Posted on Fri Dec 12th, 2025 @ 10:08pm by Ensign Garabed "Garo" Hakobyan & Ensign Tenzi Sh'reyva & Master Chief Petty Officer Vashti Rao & Petty Officer 2nd Class Zal Rixi & Crewman Emiliano Echevarria & Sub-Lieutenant Osirin Acainus & Josef Forstinger & Lieutenant JG Jason Williams III & Ensign Luciana Aguila & Petty Officer 3rd Class Dallas Reese

1,906 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Shadow in the Static
Location: Holodeck 2, Deck 4
Timeline: 1820 Hours

Emiliano all but jogged the last stretch of the corridor, his fedora tucked under his arm, his pinstripe suit creasing with each stride. He'd barely had time to touch the chime to her quarters before Luci stepped out--and for a second, he forgot his own name.

"What, too much?" Luci said quizzically as the doors shut behind her. She was playing the role of a secretary so had dressed in a black pencil skirt that was tight around her already curvy hips and flared slightly at the knees, and a blush pink short sleeved blouse that was buttoned just enough to still be modest. Her hair was curled and pinned with a red flower clip that matched the lipstick she was wearing. A pair of four inch heels made her feel tall for once and almost Emiliano's height.

"Wait,'" Luci held up her hand and eyed him, "I know I'm running late, but you forgot again, didn't you?!" She really liked him but it was also fun to tease him. "Anyway, let's go. Don't want to keep everyone waiting."

It took Emiliano a good thirty seconds before he could gather his wits and pick jaw back up off the deck.

"Luci," he breathed. "Tes ves..." He couldn't even finish the sentence. The corridor lights did it for him.

"You're perfect--and I almost forgot. I'm so sorry--I got stuck listening to Garo explain the entire economic history of 1930s America and then I--well--ran."

He let out a breath, relieved beyond measure, and together they made their way toward the holodeck cluster. When they rounded the final turn, the whole motley crew was still gathered in front of the holodeck doors like some glamourous, time-misplaced street gang.

Rixi beamed. "Luci! Finally, someone else with taste."

"I'm for sure not as fabulous looking as you, Tenz and Vashti, being the starlets and all," Luciana greeted Rixi with a big smile as she quietly admired how well everyone looked, even the other guys she hadn't met yet. "But I gotta work with what I got here" she laughed again.

The Latina turned her attention to the others she hadn't met, "I don't know you guys like I know Emiliano and the others, but as you’ve probably guessed, I'm Luciana and I'm one of the Engineers. Thanks for having me here, by the way."

Standing towards the back, Josef gave a light 2 fingered wave towards the new arrival. "Nice to meet you. Names Josef." he gave as a brief introduction and greeting, not wishing to take up too much time.

Jason nodded to Luciana as he replied. "I'm Jason, starfighter squadron leader. Nice to meet ya." He then looked around the group as he added, "And, aside from the senior staff and a few other crew, I don't know many people here yet, either. Who put this whole party together and sent me an invite? Because, thanks!" He grinned easily as he spoke.

Vashti raised a hand. "I'm the one who sent out the first batch of RSVPs for this program," she explained, noting Jason's gentle eyes. "I'm glad we could fill-out the necessary roles for this holo novella."

Jason looked over at Vashti and grinned his boyish, lop-sided grin, as he responded. "Then, thank you. Ive been meaning to take some more time on the holodeck, other than just to meditate in Vulcan temples."

"So, what are these roles exactly ? Or how is this going to work? Are we each getting like a folder with information about our role like CLUEDO--I'm afraid I've not gotten much beyond the basics and outfit." Josef raises a hand and asked. Taking a quizzical look over to the nearby holodeck door as well. "Or do we just enter ?"

Vashti stepped a little closer to the center of the group, smoothing a hand down the dark fall of her dress--so different from the uniform she'd worn only an hour ago. The corridor lights caught on the sequins stitched along her neckline, scattering light across the floor.

"Okay," she said, lifting her voice just enough to rise above the chatter. "Before we stumble inside--and trust me, the program will sweep you into character the moment the doors shut--let me give everyone the lay of the land."

They quieted. Even Rixi stilled her noisy earrings.

"The holonovella is set in 1944 Los Angeles, Earth. It's noir-style. Hot sidewalks, wartime blackout curtains, radios playing swing music and bad news across both oceans. Once we step in, you'll feel a nudge from the simulation--it'll help with accents, mannerisms, everything. Nothing invasive, of course. This is one of those immersive programs." She shrugged. "Just go with it."

She turned to Josef first.

"Herbert Smith," she said, giving him a slight tap on the shoulder. "Dockworker down at the Terminal Island shipyards. You move cargo that sometimes has paperwork and sometimes doesn't. You hear things. You see things. You keep your head down because nobody ever looked twice at a dockworker unless something went wrong."

"Oh great, let me guess. I eat Spinach from a Can as well ?" *he asked while drawing back his sleeves. He flexed his comparatively large biceps while closing one of his eyes.

"Y'know, like Popeye the Sailor... like the Cartoon."

Next, she looked at Jason, who seemed to still be grinning.

"And you, Jason--you're Tony 'The Blade' Scarpelli. Mid-level enforcer for the Marcone Crime Syndicate. A real climber. Spent the past two years in Chicago. Dangerous when you have to be, charming when you want to be. Decent tailor, too. You co-own The Silk Slipper jazz club tucked off Main Street in old Broadway theater district." She lifted a brow. "Half the dancers love you. Half the cops can't wait to put handcuffs on you."

Jason nods as he listens. When Vashti finished speaking, he was silent for a few beats, then tried to speak in a New York gangster accent. "A-oh! You come into my place, you best show respect."

Vashti angled her attention toward Garo. "Frankie 'No Brakes' Mancini. Best wheelman the syndicate's ever hired. Recently paroled from San Quentin, which means everyone's watching you to see if you'll fold or fly." There was a hint of a smile on her mouth. "Try not to crash the program, Garo."

Garo muttered something about never crashing anything intentionally.

The she touched her own chest lightly. "I'm Daphne Delaney. House singer at The Silk Slipper. Trying to claw my way to the big stage before time claws back."

Rixi preened beside her, making her earrings dance. Vashti made a sweeping motion toward her and Tenzi.

"Vera and Sophie," she said, sweeping them both in the same motion. "Backup singers, waitresses when times are slow, good hearts with too many bad ideas. You're the soul of the club--don't let Tony pretend otherwise. If Daphne's the voice, you're the smoke and shimmer."

Tenzi winked. Rixi already looked ready to start singing.

Across the cluster, she found Osirin, short but composed like a detective should be.

"You're Detective-Sergeant Walter 'Wally' Briggs," she said. "Of the LAPD's Gangster Squad--the unit the brass pretends doesn't exist. You're steady. Clever. Not easily bought, which already puts you in the minority."

Osirin smiled at the name. It sounded right to him.

Then she turned to Emiliano.

"And you are Detective Henry 'Hank' O'Malley--new to the Gangster Squad after a year in Vice. You're sharp but green--still figuring out which movie lots the big shots own above the table and which ones they run in the dark."

Emiliano tipped his fedora but almost knocked it off his head. He needed a lot more practice.

Turning to Dallas, Vashti winked and grinned.

"The dashing engineer becomes Johnny Marino, the club's bartender, and also known as one of the more connected individuals in downtown Los Angeles. He knows who's who--the good guys and the bad guys. Politicians to gangsters, priests to scumbags."

Dallas grinned and touched his hand to the tip of his hat before nodding once, "Yes ma'am." Finally, his years as an actual bartender would come in handy for real on board this ship, even if it was on a holodeck.

Finally, Vashti met Luci's eyes. The red flower in Luci's hair glowed like something straight out of a sunrise.

"And Luci--Ruth 'Ruthie' Sullivan. LAPD dispatcher. The voice the patrol cars all know, the woman the detectives rely on. You dream of being the first woman detective in the city, but the brass says no, the bylaws say no, and history says no." Her voice softened. "The program will let you push the edges of that 'no' just a bit."

"Oooh!" Luci's eyes lit up at the prospect of it, "That sounds exciting. I can see the headlines now: Dispatcher Ruth Sullivan becomes the first female detective against all odds." Her hands made an arcing motion to emphasize the headline and her eyes had a far away look for a moment as she pictured it.

Vashti clapped once. "That's the cast, folks. Once we're inside, the city will take you by the hand. Or the lapel. Depending on who you are."

The holodeck doors chimed, the doors sliding open as though they knew Vashti was finished with the character introductions. Inside, the late-afternoon sun was still above the rooftops, and the rumble of a streetcar seemed to shake the deck. A billboard advertisement for cigarettes stared them right in the face through the threshold across Main Street.

"Let's have some fun!" Jason spoke in his own voice as he switched his ocular implants to view the holograms, just as everyone else did.

Josef stepped up to the entrance. At first dipping a leg inside it cautiously like one might with a body of water. Then peaking his head in-before finally taking a full step through it.

---

Master Chief Petty Officer Vashti Rao
Acting Chief Engineering Officer
USS Astrea


Sub-Lieutenant Osirin Acainus
Mission Advisor
USS Astrea


Lieutenant Junior Grade Jason Williams III
Squadron Leader
USS Astrea


Ensign Luciana Aguila
Structural/Environmental Specialist
USS Astrea


Ensign Tenzi Sh'reyva
Engineering Officer
USS Astrea


Ensign Garabed "Garo" Hakobyan
Transporter Specialist
USS Astrea


Petty Officer 2nd Class Zal Rixi
Engineering Technician
USS Astrea


Petty Officer 3rd Class Dallas Reese
Slipstream Specialist
USS Astrea


Crewman Emiliano Echevarria
Operations Technician
USS Astrea


Josef Forstinger
Civilian
USS Astrea

 

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