Consider the case of this handsome but unprepossessing Micron. Her name is Susan Andreevna Ivanova: Starfleet Academy, class of 2395, currently a lieutenant commander. Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Earth in 2376, she's just old enough to remember the galaxy before the re-establishment of the Wedge Defense Force. Qualified in starship operations, starship command, and small craft piloting, she served as one of Starfleet's few starfighter pilots before transferring to a command preparation career track. Thereafter, she spent a four-year tour seconded to Earthforce, where she served as a bridge operations officer aboard EAS Agamemnon under two different captains - the second of whom was Captain John Sheridan, about who much more presently.

Upon her return to Starfleet in 2404, Lieutenant Commander Ivanova was chosen to be executive officer of International Police Station Babylon under the Babylon Foundation's IPO/Starfleet cooperative charter. She was picked from a pool of five Starfleet officers recommended by Admiral Morrow, Chief of Starfleet Operations, on the basis of their experience and training. Jer Johnson, the IPSF officer who would command the station, selected her as his second with the aid of a heuristic decision module.

"What about this one?" Jer asked, gesturing to the dark-haired, slightly severe-looking woman displayed on his terminal screen. He turned over the black sphere in his hand and watched for the reply to appear in the window on the bottom.

IT IS DECIDEDLY SO.

"Good enough!" Jer tapped a couple of keys, sending Lieutenant Commander Ivanova's file to the Chief's office with his approval stamp.

Though it has no real bearing on this particular development in her career, Susan Ivanova is special. She believes that she is mildly telepathic but has been able to hide that fact from the Psi Corps. The truth, though she does not suspect it, is both simpler and greater.

She will not understand this for many years. She has not yet met the person who will make it all clear to her. But, thanks to a former Wedge Defense Force officer's sense of whimsy and the intervention of a ten-credit toy, she will - and all that ensues will turn upon the hinge of that man and that toy.

And that, my students, is the pattern of destiny among Microns. Reflect upon this as we prepare to study the momentous events that followed.

"Destiny" - a Future Imperfect Micro-Story by Benjamin D. Hutchins
Special to the Eyrie Productions Discussion Forum
© 2007 Eyrie Productions, Unlimited