Sorry that it took so long for me to update this, I had midterms.

Commander Riker walked down the corridor towards holodeck 4 with a determined look in his eyes. Last night when Deanna had told him about Data's command exams, he had a feeling that something wasn't quite right about them. He knew that it was possible for an officer to fail that exam that many times, but it didn't happen very often. Most of the time when an officer had failed a few times their captain would stop approving for them to take the exam or they themselves would choose not to take it again. Also this didn't match up with what he knew from his experience. From what he had seen on the Enterprise not only was Data a reliable officer, but also more than capable for handling being in command.

When he looked over the records of Data's exams he not only had a feeling that something was wrong, he was certain of it. The First Officer of the USS Trieste had given little to no information about why Data had failed the exam. It was standard protocol that the First Officer explain, in detail, why an officer passed or failed an exam. Riker knew that something was not right and he was going to get to the bottom of it.

When Riker reached the holodeck, he went straight to the computer that sat on the right hand side of the door. After checking to make sure that the holodeck was not currently in use, he told the computer the information needed to view Data's first Command exam.

"Program is set, enter when ready," the computer said only seconds after Riker had but in the information and the door to the holodeck slide open.

When Riker stepped into the holodeck he was standing on the bridge of the USS Trieste. The Trieste's bridge was only half the size of the Enterprise Bridge, but with a view screen the same size as the one on the Enterprise. The helm and Ops stations where both in the center of the bridge facing the view screen and they were connected two each other, similar to how they were on Captain Kirk's Enterprise. The other stations were around the wall of the bridge, just like on the Enterprise. The odd thing about the bridge of the USS Trieste was that unlike most starships the Captain's and First Officer's chairs where on the left hand side on the bridge, perpendicular to the helm and Ops stations. It was there in the Captain's chair that Data was sitting. Data looked just the same as he did now; the only difference was that he was wearing the old Starfleet uniform from a few years ago. There were also holographic images of a few officers at the stations around the bridge and at both the helm and Ops station.

The fact that the bridge was on Red Alert, and the ship was shaking told Riker that this was the battle portion of the command exam. This part of the exam was centered on seeing an officer's ability to make clear and quickly decisions in difficult situations.

Riker watched Data take battle portion of the exam, then the engineering portion and the rest of the Command Exam.

When the last portion of the exam was over, Riker was furious with what he saw. He could not find any reason whatsoever that the First Officer of the USS Trieste had failed Data. Not only had Data passed but he had done better than most of the officers that Riker had seen. Now Riker had evidence that something was not right about those exams that Data had taken.

Data should already have the rank of Commander.

Riker did not need to watch any more, he knew that the other five exams would show the same thing. He also had no attention of giving Data the Command Exam now. Data should not have to pass the exam seven times to get his rank. With only the rank of Commander though, Riker did not have the authority to give Data his rank, without giving him the Command Exam himself. When Picard saw this, though, he would be able to give Data the rank he had earned fifteen years ago.

The question on Riker's mind though was why the First Officer of the USS Trieste had failed Data when he had clearly passed. The only possible reason that Riker could think of was because Data was an android. He had seen Data treated differently before because he was an android, like when Maddox had tried to take him apart and when Haftel had tried to take Lal away from him. The idea that Data would be denied his rank because of this made Riker's blood boil.

Riker transferred the information from the holodeck onto a disc, so that the Captain could view it from his Ready Room. When the information had finished transferring; he took the disc and left the holodeck and headed to his quarters.

When Riker got to his quarters he sat down at his desk.

"Computer, look up who was the First Officer of the USS Trieste fifteen years ago," Riker said turning the computer scene on his desk to face him.

"The First Officer of the USS Trieste fifteen years was Commander Benjamin Olsen," was the computer response.

"Pull up his service reports, particular anything that has to do with the time he served with Commander Data," Riker told it. A few seconds later the computer scene on Riker's desk was showing Captain Olsen's serves records, with incidents that involve Data highlighted.

Over the next few minutes Riker read over the few incidents that were highlighted on his scene, and he was not surprised by what he found. It turned out that from the time he was an ensign up to the time he had served on the Enterprise, Data had served on the USS Trieste. During that time, every time that Data's name was put up for promotion Olsen had disapproved of it; one time even going as far as saying that an android should not even have been considered an officer.

Riker put this information onto the disc that had Data's exam results on it, and he was ready to go to show this to Picard. If he had his way Data would have the rank of Commander before the day was over.

When Riker got to the bridge Picard was sitting in his Captain's chair talking with Deanna. Riker walked up to him and as he did so he couldn't help glancing over at Data, who was sitting at his post at Ops.

"Captain, can I see you in your Ready Room?" Will asked not wasting anytime.

"Of course, Number One," Picard said standing up from his set.

"You have the bridge Mr. Data," Picard added as he walked past Data and into his Ready Room.

When he got into his Ready Room he sat down behind his desk. When Picard had sat down and turn to face him, Will wasted no time.

"Captain I needed to speak with you about Data's Command Exam," Will stated. Picard looked a little confused at this.

"I was under the impression that Data was not schedule to take his exam till this Saturday," Picard responded.

"That's correct, but I no longer believe that Data should take the exam," Will said.

"Explain," was all Picard said to this.

"It was brought to my attention yesterday that Data had taken the Command Exam before," Will begin, "and because many officers had taken the exam before and had not passed I didn't think anything of it. But then I heard that he had taken it a total of six times and that where I started to think that something was up."

Will put his hands on Picard's desk and leaned forward, "Captain I reviewed one of his past Command Exams and he passed it, the officer who had tested him failed him out of prejudice."

Picard leaned forwarded a little in his chair, "Are you sure about this?"

"Positive," Will said pulling out the disc he had made during his investigation and put it on Picard's desk, "here the information I was able to pull up on this matter." He then pushed the disc to Picard. Picard picked the disc off of the table.

"Thank you, for bringing this to my attention. I will look into this," Picard said.

Will nodded and walked out of the Ready Room.

Picard looked at the disc in his hand. He wished he could say that this surprised him, but it didn't. He knew how some people felt about Data being an android.

Picard slipped the disc into the computer sitting on his desk and pulled up the records. Picard examined Data's first exam, and came to the same conclusion that Riker did. Data had passed the exam with flying colors. After that he looked at the records that shown Olsen trying to keep Data from being promoted. It didn't take long for Picard to but two and two together. And like Riker he was mad that this had been allowed to happen.

He took a deep breath and then took the disc out of his computer and put it on his desk. He was going to make a report to Starfleet about this and show them the evidence that Riker had found. Starfleet was not an organization that supported discrimination, and what Commander Olsen had done needed to be brought to Starfleet Command's attention. But at the moment he had something more important to do.

Picard reached down, under his desk in a small drawer was where the pips given to officers when they got a promotion where kept, he pulled one out. He set it beside the computer on his desk, where it was not in clear view of anyone else in the room. With that done, Picard clicked on his communicator.

"Commander Data, would you please report to my Ready Room," Picard said as soon as his communicator was on.

"On my way," came Data response.

Seconds later Data walked into the Ready Room.

"You wished to see me Captain?" Data asked walking up to Picard's desk.

"Yes, I did," Picard said leaning over the table a little. "I would like to ask you about the Command Exams you took while you served on the USS Trieste."

Data looked confused for a moment. He could not see why Picard would want to go over those exams that had happened fifteen years ago. Perhaps Picard was rethinking about allowing him to take the exam again.

"I have taken the exam a total of six times abroad the USS Trieste. I had hoped that I might be able to do more for Starfleet with the rank of Commander. At the end of all six of those exams though, Commander Olsen stated that I did not show the ability to hold command of a starship," Data replied trying to hide the nervousness that he had.

Picard nodded.

"Commander Riker was just in here after he had looked over your past exams," Picard said.

At this Data got a confused look on his face and tilted his head to the side.

"Did Commander Olsen tell you why exactly he did not find you capable of holding command?" Picard asked with a serious look on his eyes.

"No, sir," Data replied.

"Data, Commander Riker looked over the records of your Command Exams, and found reason to believe that you were not given a fair evaluation. This being the case I have went over one of your exams personally. The results of my evaluation and your service on this ship means it is past time for you to receive this." Picard said and then he stood up, picking up the pip and walking around the table. When he got to Data he held out his hand with the pip in it.

Data looked at it for a moment and then took it.

"Thank you, sir," was all that Data could think to say.

"Well done Commander," Picard answered.

One Week Later,

After Picard had promoted Data, he had immediately sent a report to Starfleet about the matter. An investigation into the actions of Benjamin Olsen provided that he had failed Data only because he was an android. They had pulled up letters he had written to Starfleet Command, stating the reasons an android should not be in Starfleet, as well as personal logs that had him talking about how if it was up to him Data would not be promoted. Most of the reasons he stated mirrored what Commander Maddox had said a few years ago, about Data not being a sentient being. Olsen was currently awaiting trial for the miss use of his command power.

On the Enterprise, Picard had made the official announcement that his new First Officer would be Commander Data.

At the current moment Data was sitting in Ten Forward having a drink with Geordi.

"I can't believe that for all this years you had been denied the rank you have earned," Geordi said putting his drink down on the table where he and Data were sitting at.

"I, myself, am finding it hard to believe," Data replied. "Though over the years I have learned that humans do not always make logical decisions."

At this Geordi just smile, "Well, that's one way for looking at it."