Official Fleet Communication

To: Mrs. Madeline Evans
1384 Westbank Road
New Carnarvon, Crown Colonies

From: CPT Utena R. Tenjou, IPSFR

EYESONLY BCC: Benjamin D. Hutchins, Chief of IPO Operations

Deep space
Fornax sector, United Federation of Planets
March 8, 2410

Dear Mrs. Evans,

By now you will have been informed by the Personnel Office counselor of the death of your son, Petty Officer Second Class William G. Evans, in action against the Earthforce Navy on March 6 as part of Operation TRIDENT. I don't wish to intrude on your mourning, but there are a few things outside the official documentation that I feel you should know.

As I'm sure you know, Will was not a regular member of my crew; he was between assignments and volunteered to help crew the Valiant for the Tau Ceti emergency. I had met him once before, last fall, when the ship he was assigned to at the time (IPS Thomas Newcomen) operated in company with IPS Challenger, of which I held temporary command. I'll admit I didn't know him well, but I liked him. He had a natural charm and a genuine love for serving in space that was evident to all his shipmates; it informed everything he did.

During our action against Earthforce, Will was assigned to one of the Valiant's damage control parties. He and his team were on hand when the ship sustained a direct photon torpedo hit that penetrated the deflector shields and breached the dorsal armor on deck 2 outboard. Will was the first to realize that the resulting fire was beyond control and threatened to reach the starboard torpedo magazine. Separated from the rest of the team and unable to consult with his superiors, he took immediate and direct action to prevent a catastrophic explosion.

I'm hardly going to drop this level of detail on his poor mother, but I want this on record, Chief, and if she wants to know more later, when the initial shock has worn off, it'll be here to tell her about if you think it's the right thing to do. Examination of the onboard holologs after the fact clearly shows that there were two things PO2 Evans could have done in that situation. He could have used the intact escape pod in that section to save himself; or he could have done what he did. He sealed the Frame 12 bulkhead, then disabled the emergency pressure forcefield, venting the breached compartment to space. In the state that bulkhead was in, it could only be closed from the side facing the fire. He had to know that if he closed it, there was no way out for him.

With what he knew would be his final act, he saved 45 lives, including mine. People like to tell me I'm brave? But I've never faced a choice like that, and I pray to all the gods I know that I never will.

I know these details must be hard for you to read, and I'm sorry to put you through this, but I think it's important that you know why your son died. Will made a conscious choice to trade his life for those of all his shipmates. Mrs. Evans, if ever anyone asks you what heroism is... there's your answer. I am profoundly humbled by Will's example, and I promise you I'll never forget it, or him.

I'm sure at this time it's cold comfort, and given the choice you'd rather have Will back - as would I - but I intend to recommend him for the Star of Avalon First Class when we arrive in port tomorrow. I only wish it were not posthumous, so that I could pin it on him myself with his proud mother looking on.

Take care, Mrs. Evans, and please never doubt that Will was doing what he loved. We went to Tau Ceti to do exactly what he joined the IPSF to do: serve the public trust, protect the innocent, and uphold the law. I know first-hand that he was proud to be part of it. He was a fine spacer and an honest man, and I feel privileged to have had him in my ship's company, however briefly.

If you want to know more, or just want to talk, I'll be at the IP Shipyard orbiting Zeta 2 for the next few days, while the Valiant is in refit, or you can reach me through Headquarters any time.

Yours very truly,

Captain Utena R. Tenjou, IPSFR
IPS Valiant NCC-06041

I assume that this kind of letter is part of the IPSF's tradition. And if it wasn't already that it will be after Utena has got to it.

S.

And you know Utena was probably guilting something heavy while she wrote it, wondering if there was something, anything, she could have done differently that might have made that sacrifice unnecessary.

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We pray for mercy because we would be fools to pray for justice.

...I figured it was Utena reviewing casualty reports. "The Burden of Command," indeed...