Federation News Service/Special Report: The Face of Treason: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Rahman2.jpg]]
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===The Face of Treason===
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''FNS Special Report by {{n|Reza|Kardgar}}''
|valign=bottom|<font size=6>The Face of</font><br>
 
<span style="font-size:500%">'''Treason'''</span><br>
The blistering sun is ever present when you first arrive in Lahore. Here, in this storied City of Gardens, temperatures easily rise into the forties Celsius during the unforgiving summer months. Today, it's a merciful 32 by comparison. As my guide Mohsin and I prepare for the long day ahead, I shield my eyes as I gaze out across the city, and I cannot help but wonder if this is what motivated her to reach for the stars--to escape the sweltering heat. Such silly thoughts are quickly washed away, however, as we head into the city looking for answers. We have many questions, but ultimately we just want to find out one thing: who is Roshanara Rahman?
'''''FNS Special Report by {{n|Reza|Kardgar}}'''''<br>
''Stardate 239110.03''
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<font size=5>T</font>he blistering sun is ever present when you first arrive in Lahore. Here, in this storied City of Gardens, temperatures easily rise into the forties Celsius during the unforgiving summer months. Today, it's a merciful 32 by comparison. As my guide Mohsin and I prepare for the long day ahead, I shield my eyes as I gaze out across the city, and I cannot help but wonder if this is what motivated her to reach for the stars--to escape the sweltering heat. Such silly thoughts are quickly washed away, however, as we head into the city looking for answers. We have many questions, but ultimately we just want to find out one thing: who is Roshanara Rahman?


[[File:Harrison Ross (On the run).jpg|thumb|right|Commander {{n|Harrison|Ross}}]]
On stardate 239106.11, hundreds of light-years away from the Federation core worlds, the crew of the USS ''Garuda'' were betrayed by their first officer Commander Harrison Ross. A decorated career officer, Ross appeared to be the poster boy for Starfleet recruitment efforts. Young, handsome, and charming: this was a traitor? The investigation continues, but for now, Starfleet Command has been unusually quiet about the entire affair, and what scant details have been found about Ross by those outside of the service amounts to little more than the faintest sketch of a man beyond his spotless service record.
On stardate 239106.11, hundreds of light-years away from the Federation core worlds, the crew of the USS ''Garuda'' were betrayed by their first officer Commander Harrison Ross. A decorated career officer, Ross appeared to be the poster boy for Starfleet recruitment efforts. Young, handsome, and charming: this was a traitor? The investigation continues, but for now, Starfleet Command has been unusually quiet about the entire affair, and what scant details have been found about Ross by those outside of the service amounts to little more than the faintest sketch of a man beyond his spotless service record.


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"She was such a headstrong girl," recalls Rahman's secondary school teacher Obaid Amir. "I can't even begin to remember how many arguments she got into with me." He chuckles as he tells me a story of an influential visit to Moscow's Memorial Museum of Astronautics when Rahman was fourteen, but I see sadness behind his weathered smile.
"She was such a headstrong girl," recalls Rahman's secondary school teacher Obaid Amir. "I can't even begin to remember how many arguments she got into with me." He chuckles as he tells me a story of an influential visit to Moscow's Memorial Museum of Astronautics when Rahman was fourteen, but I see sadness behind his weathered smile.


[[File:Rahman-2371.jpg|thumb|left|14-year-old {{n|Roshanara|Rahman}} in [http://sims.starbase118.net/posts/205461 2371].]]
A knock at the Rahman residence goes unanswered. Rahman's parents--Issam and Najwa--have mostly stayed out of the headlines, avoiding the onslaught of eager reporters who have descended upon their humble home in the walled "Old City" district. Neither Issam nor his wife's families have had previous members who've served in Starfleet. In fact, according to at least one neighbor, the parents were initially rather hesitant about their daughter's career ambitions, especially while she was at Starfleet Academy and the Dominion War raged on across the quadrant.  
A knock at the Rahman residence goes unanswered. Rahman's parents--Issam and Najwa--have mostly stayed out of the headlines, avoiding the onslaught of eager reporters who have descended upon their humble home in the walled "Old City" district. Neither Issam nor his wife's families have had previous members who've served in Starfleet. In fact, according to at least one neighbor, the parents were initially rather hesitant about their daughter's career ambitions, especially while she was at Starfleet Academy and the Dominion War raged on across the quadrant.  


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"You look at the profiles of people who've betrayed organizations they've sworn to protect--whether it be law enforcement, Starfleet, the Federation itself--and there's a common thread of betrayal felt on their part. These people don't think they've actually done anything wrong because as far as they're concerned, they've already been let down by the organization," explains Dr. Keahvon of the Cerberus Group, a San Francisco think tank. "This is what makes it terrifying. You're dealing with someone who feels she is exacting some sort of deserved justice on those who've wronged her."
"You look at the profiles of people who've betrayed organizations they've sworn to protect--whether it be law enforcement, Starfleet, the Federation itself--and there's a common thread of betrayal felt on their part. These people don't think they've actually done anything wrong because as far as they're concerned, they've already been let down by the organization," explains Dr. Keahvon of the Cerberus Group, a San Francisco think tank. "This is what makes it terrifying. You're dealing with someone who feels she is exacting some sort of deserved justice on those who've wronged her."


[[File:Rahman-mugshot.jpg|thumb|250px|{{n|Roshanara|Rahman}} was arrested on SD 239108.03  and faces charges of sabotage and treason.]]
But what of the Ross connection? A senior officer betraying her shipmates is appalling but to have two senior officers on the same ship plotting such an act? Prominent commentators have questioned the implication that this was just the isolated story of a disgruntled officer who wanted to exact personal vengeance. Rather, they and other voices--including several on the Federation council--believe there is something far larger and more disturbing hiding within Starfleet's ranks and perhaps other venerable Federation institutions.
But what of the Ross connection? A senior officer betraying her shipmates is appalling but to have two senior officers on the same ship plotting such an act? Prominent commentators have questioned the implication that this was just the isolated story of a disgruntled officer who wanted to exact personal vengeance. Rather, they and other voices--including several on the Federation council--believe there is something far larger and more disturbing hiding within Starfleet's ranks and perhaps other venerable Federation institutions.


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"Trouble? She was certainly mischievous at times, but she was a good student. One of my best." Amir shakes his head. "I wish I had told her that. I don't care what they're saying about her. She isn't a traitor. She dreamt of joining Starfleet, and she's already paid so much for that dream. I won't let others insult her when she hasn't even had a chance to defend herself. She and others like her serve to give us that right. The least we can do is give her the same."
"Trouble? She was certainly mischievous at times, but she was a good student. One of my best." Amir shakes his head. "I wish I had told her that. I don't care what they're saying about her. She isn't a traitor. She dreamt of joining Starfleet, and she's already paid so much for that dream. I won't let others insult her when she hasn't even had a chance to defend herself. She and others like her serve to give us that right. The least we can do is give her the same."
 
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-''Reporting for the Federation News Service from Lahore, Earth, with additional reporting from San Francisco FNS correspondent T'Vas.''
:-''Reporting for the [[Federation News Service]] from Lahore, Earth, with additional reporting from San Francisco FNS correspondent T'Vas.''


[[Category:Federation News Service]]
[[Category:Federation News Service]]