In Plain Sight
Posted on Sun Dec 21st, 2025 @ 7:01pm by Lieutenant Commander Emilio Navarro
Edited on on Mon Dec 22nd, 2025 @ 3:48am
836 words; about a 4 minute read
Mission:
Episode 1: A New Sheriff in Town
Location: Security Office, Starfleet Academy, Earth
Timeline: Seven Days Prior to Joining Starbase Mohave
Navarro was alone at the office reviewing the surveillance footage from the crime scene. A hot cup of coffee by his side. Bustello. Cream. No sugar. Just how he liked it.
The unknown figure in black moved from background to foreground over roughly six seconds. The clip looped again and again, each restart triggered by Navarro’s command.
“Computer, restart,” he said for the eighth time.
The footage reset. The figure remained distorted. A dark, hazy silhouette blended into the background. Navarro made out one detail with certainty. A single blue eye. Whether it was a physical feature or a light reflection, he couldn’t tell at this point.
In theory, the earlier thunderstorm could have interfered with the sensors. Navarro didn’t dismiss the possibility but he didn’t believe it either. Not fully. Deliberate tampering felt more likely. A dampening field? Specialized equipment? He wasn’t totally sure.
Navarro glanced around the empty office. Thinking. The space was shared between himself, his superior Captain Sarah Lake and their assistants, Ensigns Cortes and Anson.
Four desks faced one another. Two on each side of the room. Navarro’s and Cortes’ desk were closest to the entrance. Lake’s and Anson’s were opposite. It wasn’t ideal, but it worked. They often collaborated and trusted one another when it mattered. Captain Lake was currently on leave. Navarro was in charge.
Navarro’s gaze drifted to the space behind Captain Lake’s desk. A low cabinet held family photos, sports awards from her youth, data pads, and small personal items. One image stood out: Lake shaking hands with a Commodore while accepting a medal for bravery.
He studied the photo longer than his intent. Lake’s ocean blue eyes seemed almost alive, light freckles dusting her cheeks, blond hair pulled back into a ponytail. Professional yet casual.
Navarro turned back to the console and the blurred image on the screen.
“Computer,” he said, circling the figure with his finger, “analyze the marked subject.”
“Provide parameters,” the computer responded.
“Isolate the circled figure from the rest of the photo.”
“Affirmative.”
A new window opened, displaying the figure alone on a white field.
“Enhance image clarity.”
“Image is already at maximum resolution.”
“Analyze and compare against all known body markers in the investigative database.”
“Security clearance required.”
“Triton five-four-four-nine.”
“Security clearance verified. Analysis in progress.”
A third window opened as the system began cycling through stored profiles. Navarro took a sip of his coffee.
The doors to the office suddenly hissed open.
Cortes burst in, breathless, uniform slightly disheveled, glasses fogged. He walked over to Navarro’s desk, grabbed Navarro coffee and chugged it.
“Thanks, Navarro. Im thirsty,” Cortes said completely sincere.
Navarro didn’t react. He sat frozen, expression blank.
“Guess what?” Cortes said.
“What, Ensign,” Navarro replied, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“I got the autopsy report.”
“Proceed.” Navarro let out with a sigh.
“Primary cause of death asphyxiation. Method strangulation. The coroner ruled it a homicide.”
Navarro nodded once. “Time of death?”
“Approximately ten hours ago. Overnight, most likely. But there’s something else. When the coroner examined the stomach wound she found a note embedded inside the stomach.”
Navarro looked up but was not surprised. “What did it say?”
“Tonight. 7PM.”
Navarro checked the time. “It’s 2PM.”
The computer chimed in.
“Results complete. The figure does not match any known body markers in any investigative record.”
Cortes stepped behind Navarro to look at the results on the computer in front of them. “What are you doing?”
“Checking for a match against our records. This has to be our suspect.”
“Might I try?”
Navarro hesitated, then nodded. “Go ahead.”
Cortes straightened and focused.
“Computer, has this figure appeared on security footage before?”
“Affirmative.”
Cortes blinked. “But you just said—”
“This figure is not present in any current investigative record. Security footage is stored separately unless flagged to be added to an investigative record.”
Navarro covered his face with one hand.
“Shouldn’t that be obvious if I’m asking—“
Cortes touched Navarro’s shoulder to reassure him as he pressed on. “Where else has this figure been recorded?”
“Cargo intake basement. Men’s gymnasium. This Security Office.”
Navarro’s hand dropped. “This office?”
“Affirmative.”
“Analyze all four instances,” Navarro said. “Generate a composite representation.”
“There will be a ten percent margin of error.” The computer responded.
“Proceed.” Both Cortes and Navarro said almost at the same time.
Cortes stepped back, nodding to him. Navarro leaned deeper into his chair, exhaling slowly.
“Cortes...” Navarro said, “you’re irritating but occasionally useful.”
Cortes bowed slightly. “High praise.”
“Analysis complete.”
The both of them moved closer to the screen.
A new image began to form. Blurry at first, then sharpening. Blonde hair. Blue eyes. Freckles across the cheeks. Light build. Upright posture. Strong core.
They both leaned in closer. The processing was almost complete. Navarro didn’t need more. To him the figure was pretty much identified. Their suspect was none other than Captain Sarah Lake.
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