So here's a little thing I wrote as one of the opening acts to a much bigger thing that I may get around to writing someday. This basic scene has been in my head for a while, but I was finally inspired to sit down and write it after a Twitter discussion of the messed-up Federation justice system on TNG-era Trek, and how Starfleet is often conflated with the Federation. Comments and critiques are very much welcome.
SESSION OF THE FEDERATION COUNCIL EXPLORATION AND DEFENSE COMMITTEE: INVESTIGATION INTO THE PEGASUS INCIDENT, STARDATE 48130.1
Councilor Serikia Xiramin fixed Starfleet Admiral Jeremiah Hayes in her gaze. "An 'isolated incident'. That is how you referred to it in your statement, correct? Three Admirals--including the Chief of Starfleet Security--and a whole raft of senior Starfleet Intelligence officers conspired to violate the Treaty of Algernon, outfit the Starship Pegasus with an illegal cloaking device, smear the starship crew that died during its testing as mutineers, and cover up the whole affair, and it was just an 'isolated incident'? With respect, Admiral, what kind of fools do you take us for?"
Hayes was taken aback. The aides who conducted his briefing assured him that the junior Bolian member was only on the committee as a concession to the small-but-vocal faction of the Council that was critical of Starfleet. The committee chairman, Sotek, was supposed to be keeping her on a short leash.
"The truth is there have been quite a few of these 'isolated incidents' during the last few years, isn't that so?" Xiramin continued. She glanced down at her notes. "Stardate 45076: Starfleet Admiral Kennelly colludes with Cardassian agents to illegally offer weapons to Bajoran resistance fighters as part of a ploy to deliver them into Cardassian hands-"
Hayes tried to interrupt "A scheme that was thwarted by Starfleet officers-"
Xiramin ignored him and kept going. "Stardate 44769: Starfleet Security overreacts to an equipment failure on the starship Enterprise by sending retired Admiral Satie to throw due process out the window and start accusing everyone of treason-"
"That is an unfair characterization of-"
"And let's not forget Stardate 41309, when this Council learned that the 40-year civil war on Mordan IV was largely attributable to Starfleet Admiral Mark Jameson supplying weapons to both sides in clear violation of about two dozen Federation statutes and treaties-"
Hayes appealed to Sotek, "Mr. Chairman, will you please bring the junior Councilor to heel?"
Sotek remained impassive. "Your request is quite out of order, Admiral. Councilor Xiramin is speaking for the committee."
Xiramin continued. "Admiral Hayes, how can you seriously expect the committee to see this latest incident as anything but the most recent example of an out-of-control Starfleet establishment that demonstrates little or no allegiance to a bedrock Federation principle: civilian control of the military? How can the Federation Council pass any laws or ratify any treaties if Starfleet feels free to disregard them at will? How, Admiral, can we stand in front of the Romulans, the Klingons, the Cardassians, or the Dominion and tell them that the United Federation of Planets is a democracy if Starfleet will not abide by the decisions of the people's elected representatives?"
Hayes took a breath. "Councilor, with all due respect you're ignoring the fact that in each instance it was Starfleet personnel who brought these misdeeds to light and refused to participate in them even when ordered to do so."
"And you don't find it concerning that it's increasingly falling to junior officers to contravene the illegal activities of their superiors?"
"I have great confidence in the institution of Starfleet, and it its people," Hayes replied. "And based on every opinion poll I've seen, so do the citizens of the Federation."
"This isn't a talent competition, Admiral. The only opinion polls a democracy concerns itself with are elections."
***
The clip came to an end, and the image of the Council Chamber in Paris was replaced with the painting that normally adorned the large viewscreen behind the desk in Captain Picard's quarters. The Enterprise was returning from a mission to transport a group of colonists to a newly-explored world at the edge of explored space; the transmission of Admiral Hayes' testimony had taken two weeks to reach them.
After a few moments, Picard said "She's right."
Riker was surprised. "Sir?"
"Starfleet has a problem, Will. We have a problem. We've convinced ourselves that our being out here in the thick of things makes us better-qualified to set Federation policy than the people who were elected to do it."
"But Admiral Hayes is right, too, sir," Riker countered. "The public doesn't seem to mind. Think of how much responsibility the Federation has ceded to Starfleet over the years without a hint of protest--how many treaties have they sent you to negotiate rather than a civilian ambassador? How many crimes do we investigate and trade disputes do we mediate that used to be handled by civilian agencies not that long ago?"
"It's a fair point," Picard said as he walked over to the viewport and looked out as space flowed by at warp speed. "Our society is becoming more militarized. We're heading down a dangerous path."
SESSION OF THE FEDERATION COUNCIL EXPLORATION AND DEFENSE COMMITTEE: INVESTIGATION INTO THE PEGASUS INCIDENT, STARDATE 48130.1
Councilor Serikia Xiramin fixed Starfleet Admiral Jeremiah Hayes in her gaze. "An 'isolated incident'. That is how you referred to it in your statement, correct? Three Admirals--including the Chief of Starfleet Security--and a whole raft of senior Starfleet Intelligence officers conspired to violate the Treaty of Algernon, outfit the Starship Pegasus with an illegal cloaking device, smear the starship crew that died during its testing as mutineers, and cover up the whole affair, and it was just an 'isolated incident'? With respect, Admiral, what kind of fools do you take us for?"
Hayes was taken aback. The aides who conducted his briefing assured him that the junior Bolian member was only on the committee as a concession to the small-but-vocal faction of the Council that was critical of Starfleet. The committee chairman, Sotek, was supposed to be keeping her on a short leash.
"The truth is there have been quite a few of these 'isolated incidents' during the last few years, isn't that so?" Xiramin continued. She glanced down at her notes. "Stardate 45076: Starfleet Admiral Kennelly colludes with Cardassian agents to illegally offer weapons to Bajoran resistance fighters as part of a ploy to deliver them into Cardassian hands-"
Hayes tried to interrupt "A scheme that was thwarted by Starfleet officers-"
Xiramin ignored him and kept going. "Stardate 44769: Starfleet Security overreacts to an equipment failure on the starship Enterprise by sending retired Admiral Satie to throw due process out the window and start accusing everyone of treason-"
"That is an unfair characterization of-"
"And let's not forget Stardate 41309, when this Council learned that the 40-year civil war on Mordan IV was largely attributable to Starfleet Admiral Mark Jameson supplying weapons to both sides in clear violation of about two dozen Federation statutes and treaties-"
Hayes appealed to Sotek, "Mr. Chairman, will you please bring the junior Councilor to heel?"
Sotek remained impassive. "Your request is quite out of order, Admiral. Councilor Xiramin is speaking for the committee."
Xiramin continued. "Admiral Hayes, how can you seriously expect the committee to see this latest incident as anything but the most recent example of an out-of-control Starfleet establishment that demonstrates little or no allegiance to a bedrock Federation principle: civilian control of the military? How can the Federation Council pass any laws or ratify any treaties if Starfleet feels free to disregard them at will? How, Admiral, can we stand in front of the Romulans, the Klingons, the Cardassians, or the Dominion and tell them that the United Federation of Planets is a democracy if Starfleet will not abide by the decisions of the people's elected representatives?"
Hayes took a breath. "Councilor, with all due respect you're ignoring the fact that in each instance it was Starfleet personnel who brought these misdeeds to light and refused to participate in them even when ordered to do so."
"And you don't find it concerning that it's increasingly falling to junior officers to contravene the illegal activities of their superiors?"
"I have great confidence in the institution of Starfleet, and it its people," Hayes replied. "And based on every opinion poll I've seen, so do the citizens of the Federation."
"This isn't a talent competition, Admiral. The only opinion polls a democracy concerns itself with are elections."
***
The clip came to an end, and the image of the Council Chamber in Paris was replaced with the painting that normally adorned the large viewscreen behind the desk in Captain Picard's quarters. The Enterprise was returning from a mission to transport a group of colonists to a newly-explored world at the edge of explored space; the transmission of Admiral Hayes' testimony had taken two weeks to reach them.
After a few moments, Picard said "She's right."
Riker was surprised. "Sir?"
"Starfleet has a problem, Will. We have a problem. We've convinced ourselves that our being out here in the thick of things makes us better-qualified to set Federation policy than the people who were elected to do it."
"But Admiral Hayes is right, too, sir," Riker countered. "The public doesn't seem to mind. Think of how much responsibility the Federation has ceded to Starfleet over the years without a hint of protest--how many treaties have they sent you to negotiate rather than a civilian ambassador? How many crimes do we investigate and trade disputes do we mediate that used to be handled by civilian agencies not that long ago?"
"It's a fair point," Picard said as he walked over to the viewport and looked out as space flowed by at warp speed. "Our society is becoming more militarized. We're heading down a dangerous path."
