Editing Eric McDermott (section)

==The Greatest Conspiracy of Our Time:==

At the beginning of McDermott’s second year at the Academy he became concerned about rumors of a rift within Starfleet. Putting the skills he learned at the University to good use McDermott began poking around in various Starfleet databases looking for information.

It took him nearly a year of cautious probing but eventually he was able to crack the security and access databases in a system coded “The Templar Files.” While McDermott was only able to break into the system once, it was a life changing experience. During the nearly forty minutes that he was able to study the files before being forced to terminate the connection to avoid being caught, he learned things that would change his entire career. 

During the unauthorized access, McDermott learned of the rise of [[Rodrigo Doenitz]] and the disappearance of [[Rondar Nell]]. He was able to study the details of the [[Battle of Andoria]], the strikes against [[Betazed]] and [[Tellar]] and finally details of the battle at the Gamma Sigma System. 

It took McDermott some time after this event to discover the leader of the opposition was Admiral [[Robert LoDona]] who led the [[52nd Exploratory Fleet]] which was operating out of the Beta Quadrant.

During the rest of his time at the Academy, McDermott did his best to learn more about LoDona and come up with a plan that would allow him to join the 52nd fleet. During that time his natural sense of caution protected him as security became tighter and tighter at the Academy. 

During his last year at the Academy, McDermott became convinced that he was being watched. While he was never able to prove who was behind it on several occasions he found monitoring devices in his quarters and among his belongings. While McDermott believed that he was suspected of having been responsible for cracking the security of the highly sensitive Templar Files, he was later informed that it was due to his performance and capabilities.  

During the last few months at the Academy McDermott was contacted a number of times by a female officer whom he was never able to identify. It was she who informed him that he was under watch by security forces loyal to Doenitz. 

The officer claimed that Doenitz had made it a policy to keep a close watch on promising young officers who could become dangerous adversaries to him and ensure that they were loyal to him, or terminate them if they were not. She warned McDermott that due to his performance at the Federation War Academy, that he had come to the personal attention of Doenitz, who was considering the young man for a position as a junior member of his staff.  

It was at this point that McDermott knew that he needed to escape, deserting if he had to. During his last months at the Academy he concentrated almost as much of his attention on escaping to the [[Beta Quadrant]] as he did on his finals. A week before graduation he received provisional orders assigning him directly to the Presidential Staff of Strategic Operations as a junior adjutant.

Only three days before his final exams and with Doenitz’ net tightening around him, his unknown benefactor acted on his behalf and he received new orders assigning him to the [[USS Nimitz]] which was one of the premier vessels of the [[52nd Exploratory Fleet]]. McDermott was warned that as soon as it was discovered that his orders had been changed Doenitz security would come down on him immediately and that he would need to leave immediately after graduation.

Twelve minutes was all the time Cadet McDermott required to take and pass his final exam and within twenty-three minutes of receiving his commission and final orders from the Academy Commandant, McDermott had left Starfleet Academy behind. He did not wait for the graduation ceremony, he did not attend the reception after that graduation and within two hours of receiving his commission to Ensign, Eric McDermott was on a long-range shuttle heading for Beta quadrant.

It was almost fourteen hours before Presidential security discovered the ruse and a search of McDermott’s quarters found only a hand written note addressed to Rodrigo Doenitz that was short and to the point.

“You expect Loyalty yet you have none. You demand integrity yet the very concept of that word is alien to you. You expected me to come to you on bended knee and swear fealty to you. The one thing I will swear to you is this: One day you and I will meet face to face and it will be you who is on your knees.

Eric Vitellius McDermott.”

It took McDermott nearly two and a half months to finally arrive in the Beta Quadrant, staying just one step ahead of his pursuers throughout the entire trip.