USS Accipiter - Buried History
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Buried History
Again delayed in putting up the story but we are getting ever nearer to the end and I ever closer to a new internet connection.
Beneath Mouyr City, Gedasada
Donna crawled out of the shaft and called out to Janek. He stopped in his tracks amazed to see Donna had followed him. “What are you doing? We got you back to your people!”
“Yes, but you can’t just run away! Come with me and help us to get this sorted out.”
“I’ll leave it to the peacemakers! Go back.” Janek turned and started to run again.
Donna stood to her full height and placed her hands on her hips. “Typical. I knew you were a terrorist but I didn’t think you were a coward!”
“Look out!”
Huyrek grabbed her throat and put a blade to it, twisting her round. Donna yelped in pain.
“Ah the almighty Janek, the famed and elusive terrorist leader. I dare say there is no point trying to bargain with you for this Federation witch’s life.”
Janek gave Donna a sad smile. “No, no there isn’t.”
Huyrek smiled, “I wouldn’t have listened to any bargain anyway. I was always going to slice her throat – ugh!” Huyrek was slammed sideways as Pet swung down from an overhead walkway her feet contacting with the side of his skull. Pet fell awkwardly as Donna toppled forwards released from the grip of Huyrek.
Huyrek got to his feet quickly and slashed out at Donna and Pet. As he did, his men started to piur through the shaft. But Janek was rushing forwards and opened fire on them.
As the soldiers were felled Donna kicked her feet out wildly as she scrambled backwards away from Huyrek. At a safe enough distance she got onto all fours and started to run off towards the relative safety of Janek. Turning back she saw Huyrek had Pet pinned against the wall, the hilt of his knife buried between her breasts.
“No!” She ran back to Huyrek. With venom, he pulled the knife out of Pet’s chest and ran to Meet Donna. Janek roared at the sight of the dead girl falling to the floor and directed his gun at the Gedan sergeant. Donna fell to the deck as Janek’s indiscriminate fire ripped open the ground around her.
Huyrek and his surviving men opened fire at Janek who dived for cover. A water line containing boiling water ruptured and volumes of steam poured out. Amid the confusion, Donna rolled under pipes and into another section. Janek took similar advantage and came up behind Donna.
“Janek!”
“Sssh! Huyrek is following us.”
“Huyrek?”
“One of the more truly horrible Gedan militia. A man to be killed.”
“He killed Pet.”
“I know and he will die for it. Wait those noises ... it must be some of your people looking for you. Come this way.” Janek led her up to a higher level so they now over looked the room they were in. At one end, she saw the Gedan figure prowling through in search of herself and Janek. Near to them, Donna spied Nathan leading Keresh and others.
“Oh God, they don’t see the Gedan!”
Janek unholstered his weapon and handed it to Donna. “Then do something to protect them.”
“What!” Donna was appalled. “You think to take this opportunity to try and teach me a lesson.”
“As you have lectured me these past few days. Your friends are going to be killed. So defend them. Protect them. But it means taking up that weapon and shooting the Gedan.” He forcibly put it into her hands. “All you need to do is point and depress the trigger.”
“I will not kill.”
“You might choose to not kill the Gedan but you will end up killing your shipmates. So shoot.”
She pushed the gun back into his hands. “No.”
He pressed it once more into her hands. “Then they will die.”
At his words the Gedan spotted the Starfleet security team and lined up to take their shots. Donna shook her head as she tried to comprehend the position Janek was putting her in. “You’re the killer. Take the gun and stop them.”
“No doctor now you see why it is I had to take up arms. Why I had to fight. Why I had to kill. Now you will have to too.”
“I’d sooner die myself than kill another.”
“Fine sentiments but ... It is not you who is going to die! It’s them.”
Main Bridge, USS Accipiter
The viewscreen ebbed back to life with the emergency lights. Dagon quickly toggled through the views and saw the Battlecruiser slowly bear down on the Accipiter.
Ignatius tried to refrain from wailing. “Engines are momentarily offline. Laura cannot give us manoeuvrability for a minute.”
“Use the time to locate the nearest source of dilithium. Helm be ready to move towards it as soon as power has been restored to the thrusters.”
Huyio quickly took in the sensor readings Ignatius was sending him. Dagon meantime indicated to the armouries to ready the needed spread of torpedoes. Then choosing his target wisely he stabbed at the phaser commands to fire a continuous beam into the weakest point of the Battlecruiser’s shields. Within a few short moments the phaser banks were drained of their residual power.
The phaser hits had been ineffectual but had stalled the Battlecruiser’s approach as they realised the vessel was not out for the count just yet.
From engineering, Laura’s voice harked, “I have thrusters back online but phasers are out!”
Dagon did not bother to acknowledge but barked at Huyio to engage thrusters. Immediately the ship jumped forwards just as a spread of torpedoes sped at their previous position.
“That was too close for comfort.”
Huyio cast a winning smile back at Ignatius his dark ebony features transformed into a boyish grin that allowed Ignatius to glimpse the former flyboy brat of the Academy and not the composed and mature department head of today. “If you think that was close, Dagon’s trick is going to be even closer.”
The Accipiter banked to the right as Huyio steered it to skim a deposit of dilithium. Dagon withheld firing at such close proximity for fear it might ignite the raw dilithium. The battlecruiser pressed on and by luck did not open fire at the critical juncture that could have destroyed the Accipiter.
Ignatius, excitement tingeing her voice, “Dominion vessel within range of the deposits!”
“Brace for impact.” Dagon fired a full spread of torpedoes. Some went to the deposit, some to hit the battlecruiser and two were delayed to wait for the explosion of the deposit to dissipate before they struck a weakened battlecruiser.
The deposits exploded with a blinding light and obliterated the Battlecruiser before Dagon’s delayed torpedoes smashed into a ruined ship smashing it into pieces. The shockwave crashed into the Accipiter sending it sideways. Various EPS not already overloaded exploded in showers of sparks and the lights dimmed before the ship righted itself and stopped trembling from the blast.
Ignatius jumped for height. “Yes!”
Dagon was nonplussed. “Take us back to Gedasada, at best possible speed.”
“Course laid in.”
“No more antics like that please!”
Huyio smiled and said to the disembodied voice of Laura, “We’ll try our best.”
Beneath Mouyr City, Gedasada
“I’d sooner die myself than kill another.”
“Fine sentiments but ... It is not you who is going to die! It’s them.”
Donna stood before he finished his sentence and shouted drawing the attention of the Gedan and Nathan’s team.
“Over there Nathan!”
All looked in Donna’s direction before the opposing groups spotted each other. Nathan fired and dove for cover. Keresh did likewise before the Gedan fire impacted.
The others from their team backtracked separating from Nathan and Sanjeev as they retreated from the firepower. Nathan held up an open palm telling them to fall back. He gave hand signals to Kh’ién instructing him to circle round and try a flanking manoeuvre.
“That was a bit hot.”
Nathan calmly replied, “That it was my friend. We need to make our way over to the doctor. You have my six?”
“Of course.”
“Good, let’s move off. Keep low.” The two men ran hunched over avoiding the fire from the Gedan as the remainder of the security team returned the fire.
As they came close to Donna’s position, Nathan hollered, “Doctor! Get down here.”
“I’m coming.” She crawled to the edge of the walkway but Gedan weapons trained on the walkway causing one end to collapse. Both Donna and Janek tumbled down the catwalk’s length to the floor below. The fall caused Donna to be sprawled out like a tossed ragdoll close to the Gedna lines.
Nathan and Keresh without hesitation ran forwards. As they did the rest of the team engaged the militia men driving them back from Donna’s position.
Donna scrambled to her feet but found a strong grip choking her throat. “We meet again Doctor.”
Huyrek’s vile breath and then the butt of his gun hit her square in the face. He held her aloft, with her feet dancing mere inches above the ground. “I’m afraid you are going nowhere.”
Donna kneed him in the groin. “I don’t have time for this.” She darted off towards Nathan, looking back expecting to see Janek in hot pursuit. Instead, he stood over Huyrek with his weapon pressed against his skull.
She stopped alarmed and called back frantically, “No! That’s cold-bloodied murder Janek!”
“And I am a cold-bloodied murderer Doctor. Sorry to disappoint.”
Huyrek snarled as he pulled out a dagger and slid it into Janek’s stomach. “No, I’m sorry to disappoint you. Actually, I’m not.” Janek alarm in his eyes dropped to his knees as Huyrek stole his weapon and stood to aim at Donna frozen in her place. “Now it’s your turn Doctor.” He fired.
Donna blinked but found herself spun round as arms wrapped her. She fell over as she heard Nathan’s scream. On her side, she saw Keresh running forwards roaring as he fired off a shot. Looking in the direction of the shot, she saw Huyrek crumple to the ground dead.
Keresh then forgot his weapon as he tossed it to the ground and collapsed to his knees beside Nathan and Donna. “Nathan! Speak to me!”
Blood pooled around her. At the sight of it, Donna switched into her doctor mode and sat up. She saw the blood poured from a wound to Nathan’s back. Nathan struggled for breath as he coughed up blood. Keresh explained, “The shot hit the same spot as before. The armour was already damaged Nathan. You stupid fool.”
Blinking away pain and losing consciousness, Nathan mouthed, “Keresh.”
“I’m here.”
Donna tore at a length of uniform to form a makeshift bandage. “I feel ...”
“Save your strength.”
“Give me you gun.” Keresh looked at her confused. “Give me your weapon. I can try to cauterise the wound! I’ve got to stop the blood loss.”
As she fired the gun Nathan let out a roar as its hot muzzled was buried into his wound. His eyes wide with pain, his neck muscles standing out in stark relief as he clenched and roared with the pain. “I’m sorry Nathan I have to stop the blood loss.”
Nathan’s eyes then closed over as his screams became a confused murmur.
“Here. Nathan!” Sanjeev holding Nathan in his arms shook him to keep him awake. “Stay awake the doctor is going to save you.” He roared over the noise of the retreating firefight, “Ramsey, where are those transporter enhancers?”
Ramsey came rushing over and spilled the rods out onto the floor. As he did Kh’ién tried to raise the Accipiter but found it was nowhere near. Instead they got the Manhattan. “Anything! Just beam us up.”
Kh’ién’s face was drawn and anguished as Nathan laboured for breath. “The Manhattan can’t get a lock. This area is too heavily shielded.”
“Then we’ll move him.”
Donna pushed Keresh aside. “He’s stopped breathing. His pulse is weakening. I have to start CPR. Get me a medical kit!” Donna started pumping Nathan’s chest and giving mouth to mouth as Martin rushed up with a medical kit. Keresh took over CPR as Donna emptied the kit’s contents and started frantically to pull her needed tools together. She pressed a hypo into Nathan’s neck before taking out the cortical stimulator as Nathan’s body shut down.
“Clear.” Nathan convulsed and then went still. Donna keyed it again to give another shock. “Clear.” Again, his body convulsed and fought for life. But after several more minutes of frantic attempts it was clear all was lost.
Donna dropped her tools and forlornly took in Nathan’s dead body. She looked up at the gaunt face of Keresh and numbly she shook her head in resignation. “I’m sorry Keresh. There’s nothing more I can do. Time of death ...” She didn’t bother to continue as she realised she had no timepiece and felt the full weight of these last few days press down on her.
She looked around at the dying firefight and saw the blood trail showing Janek had made good his escape. But Donna found she could not rouse herself to even protest. Instead she turned to watch Keresh cradle Nathan’s body.
Keresh sat silent and still for a long moment before he roared, “Noooo! Nathan! Nathan ... Nathan ... my friend.” He then buried his head in Nathan’s still warm chest.
Again delayed in putting up the story but we are getting ever nearer to the end and I ever closer to a new internet connection.
****
Beneath Mouyr City, Gedasada
Donna crawled out of the shaft and called out to Janek. He stopped in his tracks amazed to see Donna had followed him. “What are you doing? We got you back to your people!”
“Yes, but you can’t just run away! Come with me and help us to get this sorted out.”
“I’ll leave it to the peacemakers! Go back.” Janek turned and started to run again.
Donna stood to her full height and placed her hands on her hips. “Typical. I knew you were a terrorist but I didn’t think you were a coward!”
“Look out!”
Huyrek grabbed her throat and put a blade to it, twisting her round. Donna yelped in pain.
“Ah the almighty Janek, the famed and elusive terrorist leader. I dare say there is no point trying to bargain with you for this Federation witch’s life.”
Janek gave Donna a sad smile. “No, no there isn’t.”
Huyrek smiled, “I wouldn’t have listened to any bargain anyway. I was always going to slice her throat – ugh!” Huyrek was slammed sideways as Pet swung down from an overhead walkway her feet contacting with the side of his skull. Pet fell awkwardly as Donna toppled forwards released from the grip of Huyrek.
Huyrek got to his feet quickly and slashed out at Donna and Pet. As he did, his men started to piur through the shaft. But Janek was rushing forwards and opened fire on them.
As the soldiers were felled Donna kicked her feet out wildly as she scrambled backwards away from Huyrek. At a safe enough distance she got onto all fours and started to run off towards the relative safety of Janek. Turning back she saw Huyrek had Pet pinned against the wall, the hilt of his knife buried between her breasts.
“No!” She ran back to Huyrek. With venom, he pulled the knife out of Pet’s chest and ran to Meet Donna. Janek roared at the sight of the dead girl falling to the floor and directed his gun at the Gedan sergeant. Donna fell to the deck as Janek’s indiscriminate fire ripped open the ground around her.
Huyrek and his surviving men opened fire at Janek who dived for cover. A water line containing boiling water ruptured and volumes of steam poured out. Amid the confusion, Donna rolled under pipes and into another section. Janek took similar advantage and came up behind Donna.
“Janek!”
“Sssh! Huyrek is following us.”
“Huyrek?”
“One of the more truly horrible Gedan militia. A man to be killed.”
“He killed Pet.”
“I know and he will die for it. Wait those noises ... it must be some of your people looking for you. Come this way.” Janek led her up to a higher level so they now over looked the room they were in. At one end, she saw the Gedan figure prowling through in search of herself and Janek. Near to them, Donna spied Nathan leading Keresh and others.
“Oh God, they don’t see the Gedan!”
Janek unholstered his weapon and handed it to Donna. “Then do something to protect them.”
“What!” Donna was appalled. “You think to take this opportunity to try and teach me a lesson.”
“As you have lectured me these past few days. Your friends are going to be killed. So defend them. Protect them. But it means taking up that weapon and shooting the Gedan.” He forcibly put it into her hands. “All you need to do is point and depress the trigger.”
“I will not kill.”
“You might choose to not kill the Gedan but you will end up killing your shipmates. So shoot.”
She pushed the gun back into his hands. “No.”
He pressed it once more into her hands. “Then they will die.”
At his words the Gedan spotted the Starfleet security team and lined up to take their shots. Donna shook her head as she tried to comprehend the position Janek was putting her in. “You’re the killer. Take the gun and stop them.”
“No doctor now you see why it is I had to take up arms. Why I had to fight. Why I had to kill. Now you will have to too.”
“I’d sooner die myself than kill another.”
“Fine sentiments but ... It is not you who is going to die! It’s them.”
****
Main Bridge, USS Accipiter
The viewscreen ebbed back to life with the emergency lights. Dagon quickly toggled through the views and saw the Battlecruiser slowly bear down on the Accipiter.
Ignatius tried to refrain from wailing. “Engines are momentarily offline. Laura cannot give us manoeuvrability for a minute.”
“Use the time to locate the nearest source of dilithium. Helm be ready to move towards it as soon as power has been restored to the thrusters.”
Huyio quickly took in the sensor readings Ignatius was sending him. Dagon meantime indicated to the armouries to ready the needed spread of torpedoes. Then choosing his target wisely he stabbed at the phaser commands to fire a continuous beam into the weakest point of the Battlecruiser’s shields. Within a few short moments the phaser banks were drained of their residual power.
The phaser hits had been ineffectual but had stalled the Battlecruiser’s approach as they realised the vessel was not out for the count just yet.
From engineering, Laura’s voice harked, “I have thrusters back online but phasers are out!”
Dagon did not bother to acknowledge but barked at Huyio to engage thrusters. Immediately the ship jumped forwards just as a spread of torpedoes sped at their previous position.
“That was too close for comfort.”
Huyio cast a winning smile back at Ignatius his dark ebony features transformed into a boyish grin that allowed Ignatius to glimpse the former flyboy brat of the Academy and not the composed and mature department head of today. “If you think that was close, Dagon’s trick is going to be even closer.”
The Accipiter banked to the right as Huyio steered it to skim a deposit of dilithium. Dagon withheld firing at such close proximity for fear it might ignite the raw dilithium. The battlecruiser pressed on and by luck did not open fire at the critical juncture that could have destroyed the Accipiter.
Ignatius, excitement tingeing her voice, “Dominion vessel within range of the deposits!”
“Brace for impact.” Dagon fired a full spread of torpedoes. Some went to the deposit, some to hit the battlecruiser and two were delayed to wait for the explosion of the deposit to dissipate before they struck a weakened battlecruiser.
The deposits exploded with a blinding light and obliterated the Battlecruiser before Dagon’s delayed torpedoes smashed into a ruined ship smashing it into pieces. The shockwave crashed into the Accipiter sending it sideways. Various EPS not already overloaded exploded in showers of sparks and the lights dimmed before the ship righted itself and stopped trembling from the blast.
Ignatius jumped for height. “Yes!”
Dagon was nonplussed. “Take us back to Gedasada, at best possible speed.”
“Course laid in.”
“No more antics like that please!”
Huyio smiled and said to the disembodied voice of Laura, “We’ll try our best.”
****
Beneath Mouyr City, Gedasada
“I’d sooner die myself than kill another.”
“Fine sentiments but ... It is not you who is going to die! It’s them.”
Donna stood before he finished his sentence and shouted drawing the attention of the Gedan and Nathan’s team.
“Over there Nathan!”
All looked in Donna’s direction before the opposing groups spotted each other. Nathan fired and dove for cover. Keresh did likewise before the Gedan fire impacted.
The others from their team backtracked separating from Nathan and Sanjeev as they retreated from the firepower. Nathan held up an open palm telling them to fall back. He gave hand signals to Kh’ién instructing him to circle round and try a flanking manoeuvre.
“That was a bit hot.”
Nathan calmly replied, “That it was my friend. We need to make our way over to the doctor. You have my six?”
“Of course.”
“Good, let’s move off. Keep low.” The two men ran hunched over avoiding the fire from the Gedan as the remainder of the security team returned the fire.
As they came close to Donna’s position, Nathan hollered, “Doctor! Get down here.”
“I’m coming.” She crawled to the edge of the walkway but Gedan weapons trained on the walkway causing one end to collapse. Both Donna and Janek tumbled down the catwalk’s length to the floor below. The fall caused Donna to be sprawled out like a tossed ragdoll close to the Gedna lines.
Nathan and Keresh without hesitation ran forwards. As they did the rest of the team engaged the militia men driving them back from Donna’s position.
Donna scrambled to her feet but found a strong grip choking her throat. “We meet again Doctor.”
Huyrek’s vile breath and then the butt of his gun hit her square in the face. He held her aloft, with her feet dancing mere inches above the ground. “I’m afraid you are going nowhere.”
Donna kneed him in the groin. “I don’t have time for this.” She darted off towards Nathan, looking back expecting to see Janek in hot pursuit. Instead, he stood over Huyrek with his weapon pressed against his skull.
She stopped alarmed and called back frantically, “No! That’s cold-bloodied murder Janek!”
“And I am a cold-bloodied murderer Doctor. Sorry to disappoint.”
Huyrek snarled as he pulled out a dagger and slid it into Janek’s stomach. “No, I’m sorry to disappoint you. Actually, I’m not.” Janek alarm in his eyes dropped to his knees as Huyrek stole his weapon and stood to aim at Donna frozen in her place. “Now it’s your turn Doctor.” He fired.
Donna blinked but found herself spun round as arms wrapped her. She fell over as she heard Nathan’s scream. On her side, she saw Keresh running forwards roaring as he fired off a shot. Looking in the direction of the shot, she saw Huyrek crumple to the ground dead.
Keresh then forgot his weapon as he tossed it to the ground and collapsed to his knees beside Nathan and Donna. “Nathan! Speak to me!”
Blood pooled around her. At the sight of it, Donna switched into her doctor mode and sat up. She saw the blood poured from a wound to Nathan’s back. Nathan struggled for breath as he coughed up blood. Keresh explained, “The shot hit the same spot as before. The armour was already damaged Nathan. You stupid fool.”
Blinking away pain and losing consciousness, Nathan mouthed, “Keresh.”
“I’m here.”
Donna tore at a length of uniform to form a makeshift bandage. “I feel ...”
“Save your strength.”
“Give me you gun.” Keresh looked at her confused. “Give me your weapon. I can try to cauterise the wound! I’ve got to stop the blood loss.”
As she fired the gun Nathan let out a roar as its hot muzzled was buried into his wound. His eyes wide with pain, his neck muscles standing out in stark relief as he clenched and roared with the pain. “I’m sorry Nathan I have to stop the blood loss.”
Nathan’s eyes then closed over as his screams became a confused murmur.
“Here. Nathan!” Sanjeev holding Nathan in his arms shook him to keep him awake. “Stay awake the doctor is going to save you.” He roared over the noise of the retreating firefight, “Ramsey, where are those transporter enhancers?”
Ramsey came rushing over and spilled the rods out onto the floor. As he did Kh’ién tried to raise the Accipiter but found it was nowhere near. Instead they got the Manhattan. “Anything! Just beam us up.”
Kh’ién’s face was drawn and anguished as Nathan laboured for breath. “The Manhattan can’t get a lock. This area is too heavily shielded.”
“Then we’ll move him.”
Donna pushed Keresh aside. “He’s stopped breathing. His pulse is weakening. I have to start CPR. Get me a medical kit!” Donna started pumping Nathan’s chest and giving mouth to mouth as Martin rushed up with a medical kit. Keresh took over CPR as Donna emptied the kit’s contents and started frantically to pull her needed tools together. She pressed a hypo into Nathan’s neck before taking out the cortical stimulator as Nathan’s body shut down.
“Clear.” Nathan convulsed and then went still. Donna keyed it again to give another shock. “Clear.” Again, his body convulsed and fought for life. But after several more minutes of frantic attempts it was clear all was lost.
Donna dropped her tools and forlornly took in Nathan’s dead body. She looked up at the gaunt face of Keresh and numbly she shook her head in resignation. “I’m sorry Keresh. There’s nothing more I can do. Time of death ...” She didn’t bother to continue as she realised she had no timepiece and felt the full weight of these last few days press down on her.
She looked around at the dying firefight and saw the blood trail showing Janek had made good his escape. But Donna found she could not rouse herself to even protest. Instead she turned to watch Keresh cradle Nathan’s body.
Keresh sat silent and still for a long moment before he roared, “Noooo! Nathan! Nathan ... Nathan ... my friend.” He then buried his head in Nathan’s still warm chest.
****
Buried History
USS Accipiter, Transporter Room
Raymond Agnew gave a dark look to a scratched and scorched Caitlyn Ryan. The NCO operating the transporter welcomed them back onboard. Agnew then gave his men orders to stow their gear and prepare their after action reports. He waited for them to file out of the transporter room before turning on Caitlyn, “I hope you understand how lucky you were not to have been killed by those Jem’Hadar. How lucky we were not to be killed waiting for you to get out of the spacecraft. And all of those risks for nothing. Trying to get information from the computers was a futile effort and a reckless action.”
“I had to try.”
“No you didn’t and certainly not when I ordered you to leave the craft. Your actions left us in position where we were trapped and had no chance for escape.”
“My actions also meant I disabled the security field blocking transporters and I amplified the transmission signal through the Gedan security channels to allow the Accipiter to lock onto our position. You should be thanking me.”
“Yes and I do. But we wouldn’t have been in that situation if it hadn’t been for you. We could have been killed.”
“Well we weren’t. So let’s look on the positive.”
Failing to remain anonymous at his console as the two officers approached it, the NCO specialists broke the news to them of Nathan’s death. “The Captain ordered you to get checked out Lt Commander Ryan before you report to him.”
Momentarily, confused by the request Caitlyn asked, “Report to him?”
Agnew provided the answer. “You are the second officer. With Commander Forrest’s death, you are the acting XO.” He then left the transporter room and Caitlyn before he lost his temper with her.
USS Accipiter, Medical Bay
With heavy limbs, Donna wearily entered her refuge and domain. Her staff stepped forwards to assist to her injuries, noting in particular the blood that caked the front of her tunic. Her deadened eyes caused them to retreat and understanding passed that the blood was not hers. The doctor, flanked on one side by Kurt Ramsey and escorted with fragile care by Laura Fichtner, settled herself up onto a bio-bed in the farthest corner. Her staff took hint and left their superior officer to her own ministrations as they returned to treating some of the other injured personnel from the gunfight.
Kurt gave a subtle nod to the doctor by way of asking if she was all right. “Thank you ensign, you’re excused from ensuring I seek medical attention. I’ll be sure to inform the Captain you performed your duties exemplarily.”
“Don’t be like that Donna. Thank you Kurt and I’m glad you’re ok. As I am sure the doctor is too but she’s had quite an ordeal.”
He nodded his head in understanding. “As have us all. If you’re sure the doctor will receive the necessary medical attention I’ll report back to Lt Commander Dagon. He wants to debrief all members of the security teams as to the events, especially surrounding Commander Forrest’s ...”
Laura put a soothing hand on the ensign’s forearm. “It’s alright Kurt. It’s difficult for any of us to believe it never mind say it aloud. You can go on, I’ll make sure Donna gets treated.” With that, he turned and walked away, looking back at his comrades unlucky enough to be receiving treatment for various phaser burns but lucky enough to be alive to receive treatment. Both Laura and Donna looking in the direction he was looking thought the same.
A haggard looking Sanjeev Keresh similarly flanked by others was shepherded towards a bio-bed. Laura looked from Donna back to her trusted second hand in Engineering. Compassion and worry passing over her face as she took in the stiff movements and sombre body language of the engineer.
Donna also looked over the engineer. But her eyes were more professional in their manner and examined him closely, almost as if scanning him with a medical tricorder. Quietly, seeing the concern on her friend’s face, she assured Laura, “He’s fine Laura, medically speaking. He received no injuries but obviously the sight of Forrest ...” She didn’t furnish the sentence with any further details of what Keresh and she herself had witnessed. “He is suffering from shock but he’ll get help for that.”
“They were friends since the Academy.” She looked over in his direction absently before turning to look back at Donna. “I can’t imagine losing a friend after so long and with whom I was so close to. Though I almost could when I learned you had been taken by the terrorists. I thought, I feared, you might be killed.”
“Well I am fine and I am safe now.” As if to confirm that, she tightly grasped Laura’s hand in hers. “And I’m glad to be back. I just wish ... I just wish the cost hadn’t been so high.”
Laura returned her heartfelt relief at Donna’s return and her shared grief over Nathan’s death through a squeeze of her hand. “Let’s get you some medical attention.”
Donna hauled Laura back as she moved off to get one of her subordinates to tend to her. “No Laura.”
“I get you’re not badly hurt or anything but you do need to get checked over.”
“True but I don’t need to be poked and prodded by one of my own people. I’m a doctor myself and more than capable of running a self-diagnosis.”
Laura’s eyes narrowed as she surveyed Donna. “You’re just scared of discovering anything else considering your last visit here.”
“I think I’ve discovered all the secrets I can cope with.” Thoughtfully she mused aloud as her thoughts drifted elsewhere for a brief moment. “I must get back in touch with Dacyu and see what he can tell me.”
“That can all wait. For now I want you to get someone else to look to your needs.”
“Don’t fuss Laura. I’ve told you already I don’t want one of my people to treat me.”
“Fine.” She placed a medical tricorder into Donna’s hands and folded her arms defiantly, stating clearly her attention to stand over Donna as she examined herself.
Donna cocked an eyebrow. “Suddenly expert in fixing people now as well as engines.”
“Basic principles are the same.”
“I can assist.”
The two women looked to the third who had come up from behind them. Caitlyn Ryan coolly returned their stares. “I don’t need assistance I can check myself out.”
“No but I can assure Chief Amos that you are indeed thoroughly checking yourself out to alleviate her concerns.”
Fichtner archly replied, “I do not need anyone to vouch for my own thoroughness nor do I need a drop out doctor looking over my shoulder at something that has been my life work.”
“I am hardly a drop out. I simply offered suggestion. Likewise, you can vouch to the Captain that I received a thorough check over. I do not need you or any of your people to do that for me.”
“I cannot say I approve of that! This is my medical bay not a sand box for you to play at doctors in.”
Laura interceded between the two warring women. From day one onboard, they had coolly regarded one another and normally preferred to avoid each other’s company. “How’s about you check yourselves over and satisfy yourselves and the orders from the Captain and amicably ignore the impropriety of such actions. Otherwise I rat you both out to the Captain.” She gave Donna and Caitlyn a blank look so they could not read whether she meant it or not.
They tacitly agreed and ran their respective tricorders over themselves giving casuistry glances to the other. They did so in silence. Only because of recent events and sombre tone settling over the medical bay Laura would have smirked at the two them.
“What did you discover at the facility?”
Donna stopped what she was doing, setting her tricorder aside even as Caitlyn continued to scan herself. “You checked them out?”
“Of course, time was of the essence if we wanted to discover the intentions of the Gedans and the terrorists keeping you hostage. With the rescue effort in action we hoped it would prove to be distraction enough for us to sneak in the installation.”
The doctor demanded of Caitlyn, “What did you discover? Did Janek lie after everything?”
“No he told the truth in so far we discovered a toxin was being prepared and readied to put into the water supply for the lower city levels.”
Almost disbelieving Donna whispered, “The levels for the Conmenian.”
Caitlyn nodded assent. “Yes but we were able to nullify the toxin and destroy the chemical factory.”
“That much we can be grateful for.” Laura smiled with her back to them both, seeing in Donna’s statement the closest she could come to complimenting Caitlyn.
Laura voiced her own thoughts. “It’s hard to believe there is so much enmity between the two peoples.”
“Clearly the Gedan believe the Conmenian a threat to their existence and wish to eradicate them.”
Donna shook her head in a mixture of disbelief and disgust. “How can people believe such? How can someone hate a person based solely on his or her race, creed or religion?”
“Easy enough doctor.”
Donna was aghast. Truly appalled at what Caitlyn was saying she demanded of her, “How can you say that? You were a doctor once.”
Coldly Caitlyn answered Donna. “Five years at the hands of Cardassians changes your perceptions of the capabilities of people.”
The simmering hostility between the two women from the very outset of coming aboard the Accipiter was coming clearly to the fore. Both women were more alike than either would admit but here the difference between the two boiled down to a simple fact. Donna could never condone murder or aggression but Caitlyn saw the matter in black and white like the Donna but in terms of who was the good and who was the bad – and the bad had to pay for their crimes. Laura saw a need to interject quickly.
“Perhaps Donna it would be best to finish your medical examination. Remember you weren’t medically cleared before going planetside.”
“Don’t bother trying to remonstrate me Amos. I will not have it. Nor am I so easily deflected.” Donna returned her attention to Caitlyn. “Can you honestly say you condone the actions of the Gedasadan government?”
“No, of course not, I merely stated that I know how easy it is to hate someone because of their race. Let us just say I really should not be left in a room with any Cardassian and any sharp object. It does not mean I do not see the Gedasadans as monsters, for I do.”
“Oh that’s quite alright then. You see the splinter in their eye but not the plank in your own!”
Coolly Caitlyn replied, “Now you are saying that the treatment of the Conmenian pales in significance to my hatred of the Cardassians? Try to be consistent.”
The science officer’s droll return served to infuriate Fichtner. Jumping down from her bio-bed she rounded on Caitlyn, “Try not to be a hypocrite!”
“Donna!” Laura now forcibly interjected between the pair. “Get back up onto the bio-bed and let your nurses attend to you. Caitlyn, I think you are required by the Captain.”
Loathe though she was to appear as if she was running away Caitlyn acquiesced and nodded to Laura letting her hand drop from supporting Donna not ready to sit up on the bio-bed. “Very well.”
Caitlyn stepped away and started towards the bridge steeling herself for her new responsibilities as effectively the ship’s acting XO in light of Nathan’s death.
Laura turned to Donna. “It’s good to have you back. I was worried. Now take care of yourself or else how can you take care of the rest of the ship?”
Sadly, she said, “I didn’t manage to save Nathan however. In fact, it was because of me he was killed.”
“No, it was in the cause of his work and his sworn duty that he died. Remember that and remember too that he wanted you back safely in order to help the Conmenian. He knew it was vital no matter the cost.”
Donna waved her off. “Oh Laura you know I hate it when you try to placate me! Leave me be to my business.”
“Fine.”
“Oh really? Fine?” Donna was disbelieving of Laura’s apparent acceptance of the facts.
“Yes. Of course, it leaves me with only one possible choice. Computer: activate the emergency medical holographic program.”
“Oh no you don’t!”
“Please state the nature of the medical emergency.”
“A stubborn doctor, recovering from a concussion and whatever other injuries received during an ill-advised planet side trip and subsequent abduction.”
In a scowling voice, the bald headed man berated the doctor come patient in front of him as if she were a schoolchild. “You’re a doctor not a buccaneer.”
“You’re a soon to be smouldering set of holo-emitters! How dare you address me so? Computer: deactivate emergency medical program.” The EMH smugly crossed his arms still very much present. Donna exclaimed, “Why are you still here?”
“My program does not allow my patients to turn me off. What would happen if they did that during a surgery?”
“During a surgery I would like to think the patient would be sedated!”
“It is a course of treatment I am strongly considering!”
“I’m the Chief Medical Officer.”
“I’m the emergency medical holographic program. Pleased to meet you. For the present you are my patient.”
“I am not a patient! I’m the Chief Medical Officer aboard this ship!”
“Yes, yes! We’ve done the introductions. Shut up and sit up while I examine you.”
“Your manner is something to be desired. What kind of doctor are you?”
“I am the emergency medical program. In fact, Dr Donna Fichtner, yours is but one of the medical practitioners on whom my matrix was modelled.”
Donna was almost apoplectic. “And what do you mean by that?”
In light of Nathan’s death, Laura felt guilty but couldn’t help but laugh loudly as she quickly fled while Donna’s staff tried to hide from the scene.
****
USS Accipiter, Transporter Room
Raymond Agnew gave a dark look to a scratched and scorched Caitlyn Ryan. The NCO operating the transporter welcomed them back onboard. Agnew then gave his men orders to stow their gear and prepare their after action reports. He waited for them to file out of the transporter room before turning on Caitlyn, “I hope you understand how lucky you were not to have been killed by those Jem’Hadar. How lucky we were not to be killed waiting for you to get out of the spacecraft. And all of those risks for nothing. Trying to get information from the computers was a futile effort and a reckless action.”
“I had to try.”
“No you didn’t and certainly not when I ordered you to leave the craft. Your actions left us in position where we were trapped and had no chance for escape.”
“My actions also meant I disabled the security field blocking transporters and I amplified the transmission signal through the Gedan security channels to allow the Accipiter to lock onto our position. You should be thanking me.”
“Yes and I do. But we wouldn’t have been in that situation if it hadn’t been for you. We could have been killed.”
“Well we weren’t. So let’s look on the positive.”
Failing to remain anonymous at his console as the two officers approached it, the NCO specialists broke the news to them of Nathan’s death. “The Captain ordered you to get checked out Lt Commander Ryan before you report to him.”
Momentarily, confused by the request Caitlyn asked, “Report to him?”
Agnew provided the answer. “You are the second officer. With Commander Forrest’s death, you are the acting XO.” He then left the transporter room and Caitlyn before he lost his temper with her.
****
USS Accipiter, Medical Bay
With heavy limbs, Donna wearily entered her refuge and domain. Her staff stepped forwards to assist to her injuries, noting in particular the blood that caked the front of her tunic. Her deadened eyes caused them to retreat and understanding passed that the blood was not hers. The doctor, flanked on one side by Kurt Ramsey and escorted with fragile care by Laura Fichtner, settled herself up onto a bio-bed in the farthest corner. Her staff took hint and left their superior officer to her own ministrations as they returned to treating some of the other injured personnel from the gunfight.
Kurt gave a subtle nod to the doctor by way of asking if she was all right. “Thank you ensign, you’re excused from ensuring I seek medical attention. I’ll be sure to inform the Captain you performed your duties exemplarily.”
“Don’t be like that Donna. Thank you Kurt and I’m glad you’re ok. As I am sure the doctor is too but she’s had quite an ordeal.”
He nodded his head in understanding. “As have us all. If you’re sure the doctor will receive the necessary medical attention I’ll report back to Lt Commander Dagon. He wants to debrief all members of the security teams as to the events, especially surrounding Commander Forrest’s ...”
Laura put a soothing hand on the ensign’s forearm. “It’s alright Kurt. It’s difficult for any of us to believe it never mind say it aloud. You can go on, I’ll make sure Donna gets treated.” With that, he turned and walked away, looking back at his comrades unlucky enough to be receiving treatment for various phaser burns but lucky enough to be alive to receive treatment. Both Laura and Donna looking in the direction he was looking thought the same.
A haggard looking Sanjeev Keresh similarly flanked by others was shepherded towards a bio-bed. Laura looked from Donna back to her trusted second hand in Engineering. Compassion and worry passing over her face as she took in the stiff movements and sombre body language of the engineer.
Donna also looked over the engineer. But her eyes were more professional in their manner and examined him closely, almost as if scanning him with a medical tricorder. Quietly, seeing the concern on her friend’s face, she assured Laura, “He’s fine Laura, medically speaking. He received no injuries but obviously the sight of Forrest ...” She didn’t furnish the sentence with any further details of what Keresh and she herself had witnessed. “He is suffering from shock but he’ll get help for that.”
“They were friends since the Academy.” She looked over in his direction absently before turning to look back at Donna. “I can’t imagine losing a friend after so long and with whom I was so close to. Though I almost could when I learned you had been taken by the terrorists. I thought, I feared, you might be killed.”
“Well I am fine and I am safe now.” As if to confirm that, she tightly grasped Laura’s hand in hers. “And I’m glad to be back. I just wish ... I just wish the cost hadn’t been so high.”
Laura returned her heartfelt relief at Donna’s return and her shared grief over Nathan’s death through a squeeze of her hand. “Let’s get you some medical attention.”
Donna hauled Laura back as she moved off to get one of her subordinates to tend to her. “No Laura.”
“I get you’re not badly hurt or anything but you do need to get checked over.”
“True but I don’t need to be poked and prodded by one of my own people. I’m a doctor myself and more than capable of running a self-diagnosis.”
Laura’s eyes narrowed as she surveyed Donna. “You’re just scared of discovering anything else considering your last visit here.”
“I think I’ve discovered all the secrets I can cope with.” Thoughtfully she mused aloud as her thoughts drifted elsewhere for a brief moment. “I must get back in touch with Dacyu and see what he can tell me.”
“That can all wait. For now I want you to get someone else to look to your needs.”
“Don’t fuss Laura. I’ve told you already I don’t want one of my people to treat me.”
“Fine.” She placed a medical tricorder into Donna’s hands and folded her arms defiantly, stating clearly her attention to stand over Donna as she examined herself.
Donna cocked an eyebrow. “Suddenly expert in fixing people now as well as engines.”
“Basic principles are the same.”
“I can assist.”
The two women looked to the third who had come up from behind them. Caitlyn Ryan coolly returned their stares. “I don’t need assistance I can check myself out.”
“No but I can assure Chief Amos that you are indeed thoroughly checking yourself out to alleviate her concerns.”
Fichtner archly replied, “I do not need anyone to vouch for my own thoroughness nor do I need a drop out doctor looking over my shoulder at something that has been my life work.”
“I am hardly a drop out. I simply offered suggestion. Likewise, you can vouch to the Captain that I received a thorough check over. I do not need you or any of your people to do that for me.”
“I cannot say I approve of that! This is my medical bay not a sand box for you to play at doctors in.”
Laura interceded between the two warring women. From day one onboard, they had coolly regarded one another and normally preferred to avoid each other’s company. “How’s about you check yourselves over and satisfy yourselves and the orders from the Captain and amicably ignore the impropriety of such actions. Otherwise I rat you both out to the Captain.” She gave Donna and Caitlyn a blank look so they could not read whether she meant it or not.
They tacitly agreed and ran their respective tricorders over themselves giving casuistry glances to the other. They did so in silence. Only because of recent events and sombre tone settling over the medical bay Laura would have smirked at the two them.
“What did you discover at the facility?”
Donna stopped what she was doing, setting her tricorder aside even as Caitlyn continued to scan herself. “You checked them out?”
“Of course, time was of the essence if we wanted to discover the intentions of the Gedans and the terrorists keeping you hostage. With the rescue effort in action we hoped it would prove to be distraction enough for us to sneak in the installation.”
The doctor demanded of Caitlyn, “What did you discover? Did Janek lie after everything?”
“No he told the truth in so far we discovered a toxin was being prepared and readied to put into the water supply for the lower city levels.”
Almost disbelieving Donna whispered, “The levels for the Conmenian.”
Caitlyn nodded assent. “Yes but we were able to nullify the toxin and destroy the chemical factory.”
“That much we can be grateful for.” Laura smiled with her back to them both, seeing in Donna’s statement the closest she could come to complimenting Caitlyn.
Laura voiced her own thoughts. “It’s hard to believe there is so much enmity between the two peoples.”
“Clearly the Gedan believe the Conmenian a threat to their existence and wish to eradicate them.”
Donna shook her head in a mixture of disbelief and disgust. “How can people believe such? How can someone hate a person based solely on his or her race, creed or religion?”
“Easy enough doctor.”
Donna was aghast. Truly appalled at what Caitlyn was saying she demanded of her, “How can you say that? You were a doctor once.”
Coldly Caitlyn answered Donna. “Five years at the hands of Cardassians changes your perceptions of the capabilities of people.”
The simmering hostility between the two women from the very outset of coming aboard the Accipiter was coming clearly to the fore. Both women were more alike than either would admit but here the difference between the two boiled down to a simple fact. Donna could never condone murder or aggression but Caitlyn saw the matter in black and white like the Donna but in terms of who was the good and who was the bad – and the bad had to pay for their crimes. Laura saw a need to interject quickly.
“Perhaps Donna it would be best to finish your medical examination. Remember you weren’t medically cleared before going planetside.”
“Don’t bother trying to remonstrate me Amos. I will not have it. Nor am I so easily deflected.” Donna returned her attention to Caitlyn. “Can you honestly say you condone the actions of the Gedasadan government?”
“No, of course not, I merely stated that I know how easy it is to hate someone because of their race. Let us just say I really should not be left in a room with any Cardassian and any sharp object. It does not mean I do not see the Gedasadans as monsters, for I do.”
“Oh that’s quite alright then. You see the splinter in their eye but not the plank in your own!”
Coolly Caitlyn replied, “Now you are saying that the treatment of the Conmenian pales in significance to my hatred of the Cardassians? Try to be consistent.”
The science officer’s droll return served to infuriate Fichtner. Jumping down from her bio-bed she rounded on Caitlyn, “Try not to be a hypocrite!”
“Donna!” Laura now forcibly interjected between the pair. “Get back up onto the bio-bed and let your nurses attend to you. Caitlyn, I think you are required by the Captain.”
Loathe though she was to appear as if she was running away Caitlyn acquiesced and nodded to Laura letting her hand drop from supporting Donna not ready to sit up on the bio-bed. “Very well.”
Caitlyn stepped away and started towards the bridge steeling herself for her new responsibilities as effectively the ship’s acting XO in light of Nathan’s death.
Laura turned to Donna. “It’s good to have you back. I was worried. Now take care of yourself or else how can you take care of the rest of the ship?”
Sadly, she said, “I didn’t manage to save Nathan however. In fact, it was because of me he was killed.”
“No, it was in the cause of his work and his sworn duty that he died. Remember that and remember too that he wanted you back safely in order to help the Conmenian. He knew it was vital no matter the cost.”
Donna waved her off. “Oh Laura you know I hate it when you try to placate me! Leave me be to my business.”
“Fine.”
“Oh really? Fine?” Donna was disbelieving of Laura’s apparent acceptance of the facts.
“Yes. Of course, it leaves me with only one possible choice. Computer: activate the emergency medical holographic program.”
“Oh no you don’t!”
“Please state the nature of the medical emergency.”
“A stubborn doctor, recovering from a concussion and whatever other injuries received during an ill-advised planet side trip and subsequent abduction.”
In a scowling voice, the bald headed man berated the doctor come patient in front of him as if she were a schoolchild. “You’re a doctor not a buccaneer.”
“You’re a soon to be smouldering set of holo-emitters! How dare you address me so? Computer: deactivate emergency medical program.” The EMH smugly crossed his arms still very much present. Donna exclaimed, “Why are you still here?”
“My program does not allow my patients to turn me off. What would happen if they did that during a surgery?”
“During a surgery I would like to think the patient would be sedated!”
“It is a course of treatment I am strongly considering!”
“I’m the Chief Medical Officer.”
“I’m the emergency medical holographic program. Pleased to meet you. For the present you are my patient.”
“I am not a patient! I’m the Chief Medical Officer aboard this ship!”
“Yes, yes! We’ve done the introductions. Shut up and sit up while I examine you.”
“Your manner is something to be desired. What kind of doctor are you?”
“I am the emergency medical program. In fact, Dr Donna Fichtner, yours is but one of the medical practitioners on whom my matrix was modelled.”
Donna was almost apoplectic. “And what do you mean by that?”
In light of Nathan’s death, Laura felt guilty but couldn’t help but laugh loudly as she quickly fled while Donna’s staff tried to hide from the scene.
*****
Buried History
Ready room, USS Accipiter
“Captain.”
At any other time, Vaughan would have remarked on the almost servile tone from Caitlyn. He decided in the circumstances it would be in poor taste. “Thank you for coming Caitlyn. I’m sure you could do with a rest sooner than a chat with me but alas our circumstances ...”
“I understand Captain.”
Standing up from behind his ready room desk, he moved over towards the seats by the window and beckoned Caitlyn to follow him. She recognised the gesture as an attempt to discuss things in a less formal manner.
“We’re awaiting word from Admiralty as to what they want us to do now. Needless to say, our acting ahead of their earlier say-so has angered some but it does not negate what we did and what we have discovered. Clearly the Dominion have unspecified interests in this system.”
Caitlyn concluded, “Which complicates matters and causes Admiralty a headache as they try to figure out the strategy behind their motives. So we are to stay in system until they order so otherwise.”
“Exactly so, which means our return to Federation space is delayed indefinitely. It means I have need of you to act as the Executive Officer on board. I have no doubt you will rise to the challenge.”
“Of course.”
“It will be a difficult transition.”
“Commander Forrest was respected and well liked.”
Looking out the window Vaughan nodded slowly. “Yes, yes he was. But one does not need necessarily to be well liked in order to be effective as a commanding officer.”
Caitlyn gave a tight smile. “I appreciate that I am not the social creature Nathan was Captain but I don’t think I need advice as to how to command. I learned the hard way.”
“You learned how to survive and how to take charge, not necessarily the same thing Caitlyn.” He kept his tone low and carefully guarded. Just as Caitlyn was one of the few able to rile Vaughan, so too had the ability to, on more than one occasion, to say the wrong thing to raise her ire.
“I can see how you might see it that way Captain but I don’t think I need to try and win a popularity contest.”
“Nor do I suggest you try but you are respected by your colleagues as smart and extremely capable. Your actions in the installation show your ingenuity and courage but they also show your difficulty to follow orders. You might believe yourself to be acting in the best interests but Agnew and his men needed to be able to trust and depend upon you. However, going off on your own you impeded their mission if not almost ruined the chances of its success. The crew do not need to like you but they do need to be able to trust and depend upon you if you are to be their First Officer. But trust is earned and it is more often reciprocal. You trust the people you work with and they will trust you.”
This was met with silence and neither of them knew what to say next. It was a long moment before either spoke. It was Caitlyn who ventured to say, “Thank you for the advice Captain.”
“I hope you heed it as advice and not a lecture.”
“Sometimes you find it difficult to remember you no longer stand behind an Academy lectern.” She smiled before adding, “A joke Captain. The crew do not need to like me but I imagine things will run smoother in the interim if we can get along.”
He returned the smile. “That is true.”
“I hope I can also earn your trust.” She stood judging the talk to be at an end.
“You’ve gone a long way to earn it Caitlyn and I have no doubt you will do us both proud and the Accipiter crew too.”
She looked puzzled. “You make it sound like a permanent move.”
He stood and faced her earnestly. “I can make no promises but I would like to make it so. It would be good for the crew to have some stability and for me to have in my right hand someone I can trust, or at least learn to trust. By rights, you should have been made the rank of commander and first officer of the Hawkins but you were punished by Admirals riled by Admiral Burgess’ interference in the launch of the Accipiter.”
Ryan opened her mouth to speak but found words failed her.
“I know it is something you have sought actively so use this opportunity and remember you can only be as good as the people who serve you and as good as you allow them to be.”
“Duly noted. Thank you, Captain, for this opportunity.”
Mournfully he added, “Don’t thank me yet, especially not until we can find our way out of this mess.”
Chief Medical Officer’s office, USS Accipiter
“Damned thing! Two pins and I would remove every bloody holo-emitter in my medical bay.” She then cursed herself for not getting more involved in the EMH project when she was first approached. She had a partial input helping with many hundreds of doctors to compile the breadth of medical knowledge the program would need and to design the diagnostic skills programming to help it sift through the data to determine the best course of medical care or diagnosis of a condition.
And yes she reluctantly remembered being approached by Dr Zimmerman for the detailed interviews to help him design the matrix. He was very obtuse and Dacyu had to persuade Donna on more than one occasion to return to the interviews after being offended by Dr Zimmerman.
She later learned, it was Dacyu who had given Donna’s name to Dr Zimmerman as an example of a highly doctor whom he should approach as part of his in-depth studies for the design.
Upon remembering Dacyu, Donna having to wait a few more hours before the EMH cleared her for duty decided to call him back about their previous conversation. She wondered if he was more willing to talk now. She went to her computer and activated it awaiting it to make a connection. After a long delay, the signal was rerouted through to the desk of Dr Dacyu at Starfleet Medical HQ.
“Oh!” Donna exclaimed as a young nurse with red-rimmed eyes answered the call. “I was rather hoping to talk to Dr Dacyu. I am a personal friend of his.”
The woman looked equally surprised by Donna’s request as Donna was to her presence on the other end. “I’m sorry Dr Fichtner, but I would have thought you would know.”
“Know what? Obviously I don’t know what it is then what it is that I should know!”
“The doctor, he .. well I’m afraid it is most terrible .. there was an accident. It’s the type of thing you have nightmares about but are told statistically doesn’t happen.”
Donna frowned but grew worried and scared in the pit of her stomach. “I understand you are upset nurse but you are making no sense to me.”
The woman on the other end bit her trembling lip as tears she had obviously been holding back poured out anew, “Dr Dacyu was killed in a freak transporter accident returning from Starfleet Command.”
“Killed ...” Shock hit Donna and she collapsed into a chair she didn’t even appreciate was there.
Science Lab One, USS Accipiter
Ignatius froze in her footsteps as she spied Caitlyn hunched over on her stool viewing samples from an ongoing experiment. “Sorry Lt Commander, I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“I might be acting Executive Officer, but I am the head of this department and I still have work to do.”
“I appreciate that but I thought you might be resting.” Ignatius looked away nervously. “I will leave you to your work.”
“There is no need. In fact, we should talk. If I am to be acting as the XO I need someone to keep this department running smoothly ...” They shared an awkward look with one another, “but I can think of no one I would sooner hand that responsibility over to.”
Ignatius was clearly flustered to receive a rare compliment from the reserved Ryan. Caitlyn saw though that for all the fluster Ignatius swelled with pride and with a certain pompousness that the credit was deserved. Secretly Caitlyn thought it was indeed deserved.
An hour later, they had finished up discussing pertinent matters to do with the department. When a knock cae to the door. Looking up they saw a dishevelled and red-eyed Sanjeev Keresh.
“Keresh?”
“I wondered perhaps if we might talk.”
“Of course, I’ll see you later Ignatius.” Her Asian features looked blankly from Caitlyn to Keresh as she surmised she was being dismissed.
“Yes Lt Commander, or should I say Commander?”
Caitlyn winced at the comment in front of Keresh. Ignatius was slow to make the connection but quickly left when neither officer spoke.
For his part, Sanjeev tried to laugh off the incident, but it fell flat as his heart was not in it. “You were always ambitious and sure of your abilities.” He thought back to the Quicksilver were they both had served on together.
Caitlyn had the foresight not to remark on it. “How are you Keresh? What takes you here?”
“Laura is stuck in the middle of a Jeffries tube and normal practice is to get these updates to the executive officer. At present that appears to be you.”
“Surely it could wait and you should be resting.”
“Keeping busy is one way to get through it.”
“What is it that really brings you here?”
“I was talking to Major Agnew about your mission down on Gedasada and I cannot believe you were so reckless.” Again, he thought back to the fiery young science officer on the Quicksilver determined to prove herself after her rescue from a Cardassian hell. With a legend and a reputation to live up to in her father’s name she now had to live up to the stories that escaped from her Cardassian hell with her fellow survivors of how she, a mere junior doctor, had taken command and got her people through the ordeal with cunning and savagery.
Caitlyn stood defensively. “Sorry Keresh but what business have you looking into that and what qualifies you to scold me about it?”
“I’ve lost one friend already today and by all reports I almost lost a second!” He continued. “As I said you were always ambitious and therefore prone to taking risks. After everything you went through you deserve to trust in your abilities when you get into a scrap. But that was reckless. To be confident is one thing, but now you are proud bordering on arrogant. You might very well be a fine captain one day but today you’ve been made acting XO and that means you’re not just being reckless with your own life but with others too. It’s something to have belief in yourself but you think everyone else incompetent. Incapable of being trusted.”
“I’ve learned to rely only on oneself.”
“That will be fine if you wish to captain a ship with a crew of one. Nathan was a good man, a great friend, a fierce chief of security and a caring First Officer who was always careful of the lives of those under him.”
“Keresh don’t correct me not when Nathan died in the line of duty. I don’t mean any disrespect but how careful was that!”
He folded his arms with a smouldering heat but did not let it get the better of him. “He died protecting another, he was being careful of Dr Fichtner’s life. I want you to be careful of your life and you needn’t remind me that Nathan died. Caitlyn you are a friend.”
“No, I was a one-time colleague and an acquaintance at best.”
Keresh’s eyes narrowed as they winced at her characterisation of their friendship. “Then perhaps we can work on trying to be friends this time round.”
“I appreciate the sentiment but I don’t need a friend.”
Quietly he just replied in almost hoarse voice threatening to break with grief. “Yes but I do. Nathan was a friend since the Academy and I lost him today.”
Nonchalant she started before adopting a more regretful tone, “Sorry, I guess I’ve grown immune to the death of colleagues.”
With a correcting tone, he said lightly, “One can never, should never, grow immune to death. To do so, is to grow immune to life itself.”
Resigning herself to the point he was trying to make to her she said, “Always a sage Sanjeev and yet you come to me looking for pearls of wisdom to cope with Nathan’s death? Not the smartest move I’ll grant you.”
“Not words of wisdom just an ear to bend and a friend to sit with. Huyio and I have talked but sometimes you need to share your grief and celebrate a person’s life with others. Huyio has his wife and I ...”
Caitlyn relented allowing Keresh not to have to finish the sentence. Discussing their feelings and their friendship was too awkward for her to cope with. Escaping to a more public space might restrict the degree to which they might talk. But even as she accepted the idea she also knew she was wrong to brush her relationship with Keresh off. She had few friends, truthfully none aboard the Accipiter and she knew she had tried her level best to ignore Sanjeev since they both joined the crew. “I guess I could take a break, that we can grab something to eat in Cargobay 19.”
Grateful he accepted the invite sanguinely. “That’s settled then. Thank you Caitlyn.”
“Somehow, I think I should be thanking you. She gathered her stuff and they left the science lab. So tell me about Nathan.”
As they traversed the corridor to the turbolift, “You really want to know.”
“Yes I want to know. I want you to be able to talk about him. If you don’t want to believe that I can give you the cold bitch logical reason.”
He enquired with a teasing mocking tone, “That would be?”
She shrugged and struggled to come up with such a reason and hit upon one. “The practical part of me has to garner a deeper appreciation of who Nathan was if I am to fill his shoes as acting XO until we get back to Federation space.”
Momentarily, he was taken aback but then he recalled her dark and macabre gallows humour from the Quicksilver. Most people believed the serious and pensive Caitlyn possessed no humour but those who afforded the chance to know her better knew in fact that she had a dark drollness she hid from most. He gave a short laugh. “That is cold.”
Knuckling her forehead Caitlyn gave him a stern frown that gave way to a small smile. He could see her regret for her comment about the status of their friendship. “So just, tell me then for telling me sakes. This was your idea after all.”
Keresh accepted the conciliatory tone she offered in her statement and linked his arm with hers, “Ok then. Shall I tell you about the first time he ever played darts? The waitress whose bum he had viciously stabbed with an errant dart ...”
*****
Ready room, USS Accipiter
“Captain.”
At any other time, Vaughan would have remarked on the almost servile tone from Caitlyn. He decided in the circumstances it would be in poor taste. “Thank you for coming Caitlyn. I’m sure you could do with a rest sooner than a chat with me but alas our circumstances ...”
“I understand Captain.”
Standing up from behind his ready room desk, he moved over towards the seats by the window and beckoned Caitlyn to follow him. She recognised the gesture as an attempt to discuss things in a less formal manner.
“We’re awaiting word from Admiralty as to what they want us to do now. Needless to say, our acting ahead of their earlier say-so has angered some but it does not negate what we did and what we have discovered. Clearly the Dominion have unspecified interests in this system.”
Caitlyn concluded, “Which complicates matters and causes Admiralty a headache as they try to figure out the strategy behind their motives. So we are to stay in system until they order so otherwise.”
“Exactly so, which means our return to Federation space is delayed indefinitely. It means I have need of you to act as the Executive Officer on board. I have no doubt you will rise to the challenge.”
“Of course.”
“It will be a difficult transition.”
“Commander Forrest was respected and well liked.”
Looking out the window Vaughan nodded slowly. “Yes, yes he was. But one does not need necessarily to be well liked in order to be effective as a commanding officer.”
Caitlyn gave a tight smile. “I appreciate that I am not the social creature Nathan was Captain but I don’t think I need advice as to how to command. I learned the hard way.”
“You learned how to survive and how to take charge, not necessarily the same thing Caitlyn.” He kept his tone low and carefully guarded. Just as Caitlyn was one of the few able to rile Vaughan, so too had the ability to, on more than one occasion, to say the wrong thing to raise her ire.
“I can see how you might see it that way Captain but I don’t think I need to try and win a popularity contest.”
“Nor do I suggest you try but you are respected by your colleagues as smart and extremely capable. Your actions in the installation show your ingenuity and courage but they also show your difficulty to follow orders. You might believe yourself to be acting in the best interests but Agnew and his men needed to be able to trust and depend upon you. However, going off on your own you impeded their mission if not almost ruined the chances of its success. The crew do not need to like you but they do need to be able to trust and depend upon you if you are to be their First Officer. But trust is earned and it is more often reciprocal. You trust the people you work with and they will trust you.”
This was met with silence and neither of them knew what to say next. It was a long moment before either spoke. It was Caitlyn who ventured to say, “Thank you for the advice Captain.”
“I hope you heed it as advice and not a lecture.”
“Sometimes you find it difficult to remember you no longer stand behind an Academy lectern.” She smiled before adding, “A joke Captain. The crew do not need to like me but I imagine things will run smoother in the interim if we can get along.”
He returned the smile. “That is true.”
“I hope I can also earn your trust.” She stood judging the talk to be at an end.
“You’ve gone a long way to earn it Caitlyn and I have no doubt you will do us both proud and the Accipiter crew too.”
She looked puzzled. “You make it sound like a permanent move.”
He stood and faced her earnestly. “I can make no promises but I would like to make it so. It would be good for the crew to have some stability and for me to have in my right hand someone I can trust, or at least learn to trust. By rights, you should have been made the rank of commander and first officer of the Hawkins but you were punished by Admirals riled by Admiral Burgess’ interference in the launch of the Accipiter.”
Ryan opened her mouth to speak but found words failed her.
“I know it is something you have sought actively so use this opportunity and remember you can only be as good as the people who serve you and as good as you allow them to be.”
“Duly noted. Thank you, Captain, for this opportunity.”
Mournfully he added, “Don’t thank me yet, especially not until we can find our way out of this mess.”
****
Chief Medical Officer’s office, USS Accipiter
“Damned thing! Two pins and I would remove every bloody holo-emitter in my medical bay.” She then cursed herself for not getting more involved in the EMH project when she was first approached. She had a partial input helping with many hundreds of doctors to compile the breadth of medical knowledge the program would need and to design the diagnostic skills programming to help it sift through the data to determine the best course of medical care or diagnosis of a condition.
And yes she reluctantly remembered being approached by Dr Zimmerman for the detailed interviews to help him design the matrix. He was very obtuse and Dacyu had to persuade Donna on more than one occasion to return to the interviews after being offended by Dr Zimmerman.
She later learned, it was Dacyu who had given Donna’s name to Dr Zimmerman as an example of a highly doctor whom he should approach as part of his in-depth studies for the design.
Upon remembering Dacyu, Donna having to wait a few more hours before the EMH cleared her for duty decided to call him back about their previous conversation. She wondered if he was more willing to talk now. She went to her computer and activated it awaiting it to make a connection. After a long delay, the signal was rerouted through to the desk of Dr Dacyu at Starfleet Medical HQ.
“Oh!” Donna exclaimed as a young nurse with red-rimmed eyes answered the call. “I was rather hoping to talk to Dr Dacyu. I am a personal friend of his.”
The woman looked equally surprised by Donna’s request as Donna was to her presence on the other end. “I’m sorry Dr Fichtner, but I would have thought you would know.”
“Know what? Obviously I don’t know what it is then what it is that I should know!”
“The doctor, he .. well I’m afraid it is most terrible .. there was an accident. It’s the type of thing you have nightmares about but are told statistically doesn’t happen.”
Donna frowned but grew worried and scared in the pit of her stomach. “I understand you are upset nurse but you are making no sense to me.”
The woman on the other end bit her trembling lip as tears she had obviously been holding back poured out anew, “Dr Dacyu was killed in a freak transporter accident returning from Starfleet Command.”
“Killed ...” Shock hit Donna and she collapsed into a chair she didn’t even appreciate was there.
****
Science Lab One, USS Accipiter
Ignatius froze in her footsteps as she spied Caitlyn hunched over on her stool viewing samples from an ongoing experiment. “Sorry Lt Commander, I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“I might be acting Executive Officer, but I am the head of this department and I still have work to do.”
“I appreciate that but I thought you might be resting.” Ignatius looked away nervously. “I will leave you to your work.”
“There is no need. In fact, we should talk. If I am to be acting as the XO I need someone to keep this department running smoothly ...” They shared an awkward look with one another, “but I can think of no one I would sooner hand that responsibility over to.”
Ignatius was clearly flustered to receive a rare compliment from the reserved Ryan. Caitlyn saw though that for all the fluster Ignatius swelled with pride and with a certain pompousness that the credit was deserved. Secretly Caitlyn thought it was indeed deserved.
An hour later, they had finished up discussing pertinent matters to do with the department. When a knock cae to the door. Looking up they saw a dishevelled and red-eyed Sanjeev Keresh.
“Keresh?”
“I wondered perhaps if we might talk.”
“Of course, I’ll see you later Ignatius.” Her Asian features looked blankly from Caitlyn to Keresh as she surmised she was being dismissed.
“Yes Lt Commander, or should I say Commander?”
Caitlyn winced at the comment in front of Keresh. Ignatius was slow to make the connection but quickly left when neither officer spoke.
For his part, Sanjeev tried to laugh off the incident, but it fell flat as his heart was not in it. “You were always ambitious and sure of your abilities.” He thought back to the Quicksilver were they both had served on together.
Caitlyn had the foresight not to remark on it. “How are you Keresh? What takes you here?”
“Laura is stuck in the middle of a Jeffries tube and normal practice is to get these updates to the executive officer. At present that appears to be you.”
“Surely it could wait and you should be resting.”
“Keeping busy is one way to get through it.”
“What is it that really brings you here?”
“I was talking to Major Agnew about your mission down on Gedasada and I cannot believe you were so reckless.” Again, he thought back to the fiery young science officer on the Quicksilver determined to prove herself after her rescue from a Cardassian hell. With a legend and a reputation to live up to in her father’s name she now had to live up to the stories that escaped from her Cardassian hell with her fellow survivors of how she, a mere junior doctor, had taken command and got her people through the ordeal with cunning and savagery.
Caitlyn stood defensively. “Sorry Keresh but what business have you looking into that and what qualifies you to scold me about it?”
“I’ve lost one friend already today and by all reports I almost lost a second!” He continued. “As I said you were always ambitious and therefore prone to taking risks. After everything you went through you deserve to trust in your abilities when you get into a scrap. But that was reckless. To be confident is one thing, but now you are proud bordering on arrogant. You might very well be a fine captain one day but today you’ve been made acting XO and that means you’re not just being reckless with your own life but with others too. It’s something to have belief in yourself but you think everyone else incompetent. Incapable of being trusted.”
“I’ve learned to rely only on oneself.”
“That will be fine if you wish to captain a ship with a crew of one. Nathan was a good man, a great friend, a fierce chief of security and a caring First Officer who was always careful of the lives of those under him.”
“Keresh don’t correct me not when Nathan died in the line of duty. I don’t mean any disrespect but how careful was that!”
He folded his arms with a smouldering heat but did not let it get the better of him. “He died protecting another, he was being careful of Dr Fichtner’s life. I want you to be careful of your life and you needn’t remind me that Nathan died. Caitlyn you are a friend.”
“No, I was a one-time colleague and an acquaintance at best.”
Keresh’s eyes narrowed as they winced at her characterisation of their friendship. “Then perhaps we can work on trying to be friends this time round.”
“I appreciate the sentiment but I don’t need a friend.”
Quietly he just replied in almost hoarse voice threatening to break with grief. “Yes but I do. Nathan was a friend since the Academy and I lost him today.”
Nonchalant she started before adopting a more regretful tone, “Sorry, I guess I’ve grown immune to the death of colleagues.”
With a correcting tone, he said lightly, “One can never, should never, grow immune to death. To do so, is to grow immune to life itself.”
Resigning herself to the point he was trying to make to her she said, “Always a sage Sanjeev and yet you come to me looking for pearls of wisdom to cope with Nathan’s death? Not the smartest move I’ll grant you.”
“Not words of wisdom just an ear to bend and a friend to sit with. Huyio and I have talked but sometimes you need to share your grief and celebrate a person’s life with others. Huyio has his wife and I ...”
Caitlyn relented allowing Keresh not to have to finish the sentence. Discussing their feelings and their friendship was too awkward for her to cope with. Escaping to a more public space might restrict the degree to which they might talk. But even as she accepted the idea she also knew she was wrong to brush her relationship with Keresh off. She had few friends, truthfully none aboard the Accipiter and she knew she had tried her level best to ignore Sanjeev since they both joined the crew. “I guess I could take a break, that we can grab something to eat in Cargobay 19.”
Grateful he accepted the invite sanguinely. “That’s settled then. Thank you Caitlyn.”
“Somehow, I think I should be thanking you. She gathered her stuff and they left the science lab. So tell me about Nathan.”
As they traversed the corridor to the turbolift, “You really want to know.”
“Yes I want to know. I want you to be able to talk about him. If you don’t want to believe that I can give you the cold bitch logical reason.”
He enquired with a teasing mocking tone, “That would be?”
She shrugged and struggled to come up with such a reason and hit upon one. “The practical part of me has to garner a deeper appreciation of who Nathan was if I am to fill his shoes as acting XO until we get back to Federation space.”
Momentarily, he was taken aback but then he recalled her dark and macabre gallows humour from the Quicksilver. Most people believed the serious and pensive Caitlyn possessed no humour but those who afforded the chance to know her better knew in fact that she had a dark drollness she hid from most. He gave a short laugh. “That is cold.”
Knuckling her forehead Caitlyn gave him a stern frown that gave way to a small smile. He could see her regret for her comment about the status of their friendship. “So just, tell me then for telling me sakes. This was your idea after all.”
Keresh accepted the conciliatory tone she offered in her statement and linked his arm with hers, “Ok then. Shall I tell you about the first time he ever played darts? The waitress whose bum he had viciously stabbed with an errant dart ...”
****
Buried History
USS Accipiter, Captain’s ready room
Vaughan sat the padds on his ready room table when heard the door chime. He acknowledged the door chime allowing his caller to enter. He rubbed the bridge of his noise as if to ebb the building pain away.
“Doctor I dare say I do not need to ask the purpose of the visit.”
“I dare say Captain. The question is what is being done about it?”
Vaughan sighed and leaned back in his chair having anticipated this course in their discussion he was nevertheless reluctant to get into the issue with the high morals of the doctor. “We’re awaiting a response from Admiralty as to the course they wish to see taken.”
“They wish to see taken.” Her voice was curtailed but filled with her obvious belief in the preposterous nature of the statement. “I didn’t think there was much to think about.”
“There are many factors to consider. The important thing for us at present is that the necessary aid and relief is being provided for the people in the system.”
“Yes and thanks to the fact that it is us providing the relief measures that aid is being delivered to all the inhabitants of the planet and not the ruling elite of the planet alone.”
“Now Donna we don’t need to get into that at present. Our priority is assisting the people.”
“Of course it is our priority. I’m not arguing that Vaughan but what happens when the relief measures come to an end? Do we allow the Gedasadan government to go back to their status quo and subjugate the Conmenian people?”
“Sit doctor. Now I share your concerns as to the treatment of the Conmenian people.”
“Concerns! They are more than mere concerns. I was down there and I saw first hand the treatment by the police forces and the common person to the Conmenian people. As people lined up to get simple supplies like water, food and blankets they were herded into segregated lines. The more plentiful supplies being rationed to the Gedasadans. The Conmenian people were standing for lines and dare they step out of their proper lines they were beaten and ill-treated. Why should they be treated like that?”
“Again doctor I know and I agree. I agree entirely. However, what would you have me do here and now? First we aid the recovery and then we can assist in the reconstruction of the planet and its colonies and direct the government and the peoples of this world in reconciliation and develop equality.”
“Equality is far from what they need. All the talk of equality and reconciliation does not fix the problem.”
“Nor do I say it does. Donna I think even you fail to appreciate the depth of the mistreatment. By all intents and purposes the caves I found myself trapped in illustrate that the Conmenian people’s past has been erased ...”
“I’ve heard all about it from Mr Ramsey. It just makes their crimes all the more deplorable and heinous. You cannot erase the past, alter a person’s history, or distort their reality.”
Vaughan caught the use of the first person and it triggered an alarm in his head. “What is this about?”
“It is about the subjugation of a people.”
“No-no you’re personalising it.”
Donna flailed with her words attempting to deny the charge but then facing down Vaughan’s impenetrable stare she uncontrollably spat out, “Someone has altered my memory cortex!”
This caught Vaughan completely off guard. “What do you mean?”
“When I examined my head wound I discovered an anomalous signature. It showed someone had performed a … Look it is not why I am here.” Donna struggled for composure as she revealed this about herself and hid the grief for Dacyu. “My concern is with the Conmenian people below.”
Vaughan rose from his chair and leaned on the table by the knuckles of his fists. “First of all doctor, don’t give me half an answer. Are you saying someone performed a type of surgery on you and altered your memory? If so, when did this happen? Why did it happen?”
“The obvious and sarcastic reply to that Captain would be ‘I can’t remember!’ It seems that it happened about twenty years ago. But Vaughan that only serves to show that you can’t hide the truth from these people.”
“It is not our place to interfere. The Prime Directive…”
“Don’t throw that old chestnut out. Captains try to weasel their way out of a difficult situation use it. Let the poor planet below sort out the problem for itself. It means the Federation can pretend to attain to lofty principles. In reality, they have opted out of taking any viable action. It smacks of the policy Questern governments of Eraf used in tackling the problems in their Middle East.”
“I did not take you for an expert on history doctor.”
“And what I suppose you are?”
Vaughan cleared his throat and pointing to his qualification politely mentioned, “I found it useful for teaching history at Starfleet Academy to have a certain amount of knowledge. As to the specifics of Eraf history and in particular the era you refer to, I cannot pretend to have any authoritative knowledge on the matter. But I do know parties acted as mediators bringing parties together.”
“Hardly impartial and especially culpable when one of the parties involved is vastly stronger and more influential than the other, so much so it dictated terms.”
“We cannot simply charge in on our silver hulled steed and force our morals upon these people. We have the luxury of being able to swan off when we believe ourselves to be justified and morally superior. Not so, the people below.”
“What I am asking is that we stand up for a people who have been oppressed for by what amounts to an invading force. It is not a matter of acting as if we are morally superior. The simple fact of the matter is that we are morally superior!”
“Doctor, you are indignant and righteous at the best of times. But claiming yourself superior than a whole race of people.”
“Because I have not kept another species of people browbeaten! It does make me morally superior.”
“Donna if we impose our will on the planet’s people it makes us equally culpable.”
“Perhaps it makes us culpable but no where in the region of equally so. It is a small price to pay in order to see the Conmenian raised to an equal status.”
“One small step on the road doctor. How many other measures would you like us to take in order to impose this equal status you seek? Will we enforce a special government on the planet? Just to make sure their equal parity. Will we force people out of their homes? Just so that neighbourhoods are not the remit of one species. Where along the way do we stop?”
“I’m not asking for any such measures. But people are entitled to know the truth and to seek redress for past crimes.”
“Again you are allowing your own circumstances to cloud your judgements.”
“Wait a minute, do you think for even a second I would feel otherwise without my discovery? Truth is a corner stone of a society of freedom and equality. To tell the people the truth about their history will act as a catalyst to creating such a society. The truth can only benefit the people below.”
“The truth can be harmful.”
“How can you say that, of all people? Especially when the truth about your career would cause a few people to sit up and think.”
“No doctor, if the truth were ever revealed it would be far too damaging to the Federation. It is a prime example of how damaging the truth can be. Do the Conmenian people deserve to know the truth? Of course. Does it belong to us to make that truth known? No that is the role of the Gedasadan government.”
In exasperation, Donna vented her anger in a frustrated roar. Vaughan leaned back to stand straight. But Donna was undefeated yet and had plenty more to argue. “The very government that has hidden the true evolutionary history of the Conmenian! That smacks of stupidity never mind illogical reasoning. We cannot expect the government to decide suddenly to let the people know the truth. They have fabricated a lie for centuries if not millennia to the very opposite end.”
“What pray tell will our telling the truth achieve for the Conmenian? The planet below has to make its own path towards enlightenment and equality.”
“Do you seriously expect me to believe that leaving them be is the best option. How much longer do we allow the truth to be hidden? And what happens when the truth is revealed but in addition to it being revealed it becomes known that the Federation knew all along of their subjugation. Anarchy, civil war, hostility towards the Federation, and damage to the ideals of the Federation, are the end result of such an irresponsible decision. Was that not the very reason why you were chosen to command the Accipiter? To uphold and protect the ideals of the Federation. Did you not tell me yourself that despite that you have found yourself since taking command taken evermore militaristic and uncharacteristically Federation principled decisions? “
“Doctor those actions are not uncharacteristic when taken in defence and as a last resort. You’re asking me to play god with the lives of an entire planet!”
Angrily she retorted, “You’ve done that before!”
“HOW DARE YOU? You overstep the mark Donna.”
“Who is personalising now?”
The door to the ready-room chimed. Vaughan bit back an expletive and took a moment to compose himself. Then he bid the caller to enter.
“Someone ought to check the soundproofing when you two go at it.”
Vaughan took a deep breath unsure whether he ought to berate Ryan for barging into his ready room or thankful she had before the damage between Donna and himself was irreparable. “Commander Ryan.” The rank felt alien on his tongue and had the sour taste of Nathan’s all too present memory.
The Captain’s hesitancy in calling her by her recently acquired rank was not missed on Caitlyn. “Sorry, Captain, I came to present the preliminary findings of the archaeological survey from Dr Rowling.”
“What did Steven find?”
“From the evidence your team recovered before the Gedan destroyed the caves, he dated the cave settlements of the Conmenian and compared them to a site of similar historical age belonging to the Prime Gedan. They showed a marked difference in the evolutionary development of both peoples. The evidence suggests both peoples were developing at the same time on the planet. The rate of development differs and it does seem to tail off for the Conmenian and many sites show the Prime Gedan as more sophisticated and more technologically advanced. Rowling hypotheses that contact between both species did not occur for another couple of centuries after the date of the Ru’Ye cave city’s construction. Thereafter evidence shows up in the archaeological evidence and historical records of growing conflict and animosity between the peoples. It … it appears … there were sites that showed evidence of acts of genocide. Perpetrated by both sides I should add.”
Vaughan quickly interrupted his CMO. “Don’t start again doctor.”
“So far it all adds up to what we have gathered but the discovery at the chemical factory altered our thinking entirely. So Rowlings tried to investigate further back. In doing so he had less evidence obviously to go on but what really struck was a complete lack of any trace of Gedan settlements. It is as if they landed down out of the sky. Which of course, the evidence of the crashed colony ship tells us clearly is the case.”
“Is Rowlings certain?”
“Yes and I did also go over the evidence. The only traces on the surface belonged to Conmenian who appear to have at one time lived on the surface before a geological disaster, the evidence suggests a massive series of volcanic eruptions poisoning the atmosphere, forced them to live underground where they adapted to living and eventually evolved to live underground.”
“And you were unable to glean anything from the crashed colony ship?”
She shook her head. “None from the computers. The only information I could glean came from the Gedan studies of the ship. Even they appeared stupefied by the origins of the ship. The crash must have been very severe and if like our vessels it is likely the senior crew and possible government of the ship were in the forward sections of the ship most heavily damaged by the crash. Loss of knowledge, expertise and leadership ... well it all leads to much conjecture. Suffice to say the Gedan were at a loss and were also unable to salvage the computers.”
“So you were unable to retrieve any substantial information. Nothing about the origin of the ship or who these people were?”
She shook her head. “I was unable to retrieve anything but the scans from my tricorder did reveal something.”
“Caitlyn I don’t wnat to be led on a merry go round. What do you know?”
“I did detect a faint but familiar sensor reading. It indicated the ship passed through the Bajoran wormhole and therefore originated from the Gamma Quadrant. That may or may not explain Dominion interest in the system.”
Vaughan rubbed the bridge of his nose and waved a hand at Caitlyn to stop. “Let’s not get caught up in solving that mystery just yet. We don’t have anywhere near enough information to figure an answer for that.”
She ventured, “I could lead a team back but security is bound to be trebled by now. I can conjecture that the ship crashed to the surface and that the survivors cannibalised much of its technology to build a new settlement. Whether they intended to wait for rescue or whether Gedasada was the actual target planet for colonisation we cannot yet say.”
Starkly, Donna pronounced, “The end result though was they stole the planet from the Conmenian.”
“Essentially yes, though they probably were unaware of the Conmenian either way because of the way their life was lived. Upon discovery of one another there would have been mistrust and inevitably conflict.”
“Which led to the Conmenian being subdued and enslaved by the Gedan! It is absolutely disgraceful!”
“Captain if I might speak at ease?”
With a pointed look to Donna he said, “At least you do me the courtesy to ask. Go ahead.”
“The history, the archaeological evidence, the scientific surveys, they show a clear historical agenda of genocide. Most recently as a 150 years ago a number of Conmenian settlements were subjected to layers of Hudiseith gas which is lethal to Conmenian physiology. At least 90,000 skeletons in mass graves have been found. It was deliberate and it was methodical and I can only conclude that we should act decisively in favour of helping the Conmenian.”
Vaughan rolled his eyes despairingly. “I might add the huge number of bodies you discovered in the Ru’Ye foothills belonging to Gedan killed by Conmenian. There are two sides to this. The Federation is not about taking sides.”
“Sorry Captain but that is exactly what the Federation is about! If we can’t stand up for the innocent and defenceless who will?”
****
USS Accipiter, Captain’s ready room
Vaughan sat the padds on his ready room table when heard the door chime. He acknowledged the door chime allowing his caller to enter. He rubbed the bridge of his noise as if to ebb the building pain away.
“Doctor I dare say I do not need to ask the purpose of the visit.”
“I dare say Captain. The question is what is being done about it?”
Vaughan sighed and leaned back in his chair having anticipated this course in their discussion he was nevertheless reluctant to get into the issue with the high morals of the doctor. “We’re awaiting a response from Admiralty as to the course they wish to see taken.”
“They wish to see taken.” Her voice was curtailed but filled with her obvious belief in the preposterous nature of the statement. “I didn’t think there was much to think about.”
“There are many factors to consider. The important thing for us at present is that the necessary aid and relief is being provided for the people in the system.”
“Yes and thanks to the fact that it is us providing the relief measures that aid is being delivered to all the inhabitants of the planet and not the ruling elite of the planet alone.”
“Now Donna we don’t need to get into that at present. Our priority is assisting the people.”
“Of course it is our priority. I’m not arguing that Vaughan but what happens when the relief measures come to an end? Do we allow the Gedasadan government to go back to their status quo and subjugate the Conmenian people?”
“Sit doctor. Now I share your concerns as to the treatment of the Conmenian people.”
“Concerns! They are more than mere concerns. I was down there and I saw first hand the treatment by the police forces and the common person to the Conmenian people. As people lined up to get simple supplies like water, food and blankets they were herded into segregated lines. The more plentiful supplies being rationed to the Gedasadans. The Conmenian people were standing for lines and dare they step out of their proper lines they were beaten and ill-treated. Why should they be treated like that?”
“Again doctor I know and I agree. I agree entirely. However, what would you have me do here and now? First we aid the recovery and then we can assist in the reconstruction of the planet and its colonies and direct the government and the peoples of this world in reconciliation and develop equality.”
“Equality is far from what they need. All the talk of equality and reconciliation does not fix the problem.”
“Nor do I say it does. Donna I think even you fail to appreciate the depth of the mistreatment. By all intents and purposes the caves I found myself trapped in illustrate that the Conmenian people’s past has been erased ...”
“I’ve heard all about it from Mr Ramsey. It just makes their crimes all the more deplorable and heinous. You cannot erase the past, alter a person’s history, or distort their reality.”
Vaughan caught the use of the first person and it triggered an alarm in his head. “What is this about?”
“It is about the subjugation of a people.”
“No-no you’re personalising it.”
Donna flailed with her words attempting to deny the charge but then facing down Vaughan’s impenetrable stare she uncontrollably spat out, “Someone has altered my memory cortex!”
This caught Vaughan completely off guard. “What do you mean?”
“When I examined my head wound I discovered an anomalous signature. It showed someone had performed a … Look it is not why I am here.” Donna struggled for composure as she revealed this about herself and hid the grief for Dacyu. “My concern is with the Conmenian people below.”
Vaughan rose from his chair and leaned on the table by the knuckles of his fists. “First of all doctor, don’t give me half an answer. Are you saying someone performed a type of surgery on you and altered your memory? If so, when did this happen? Why did it happen?”
“The obvious and sarcastic reply to that Captain would be ‘I can’t remember!’ It seems that it happened about twenty years ago. But Vaughan that only serves to show that you can’t hide the truth from these people.”
“It is not our place to interfere. The Prime Directive…”
“Don’t throw that old chestnut out. Captains try to weasel their way out of a difficult situation use it. Let the poor planet below sort out the problem for itself. It means the Federation can pretend to attain to lofty principles. In reality, they have opted out of taking any viable action. It smacks of the policy Questern governments of Eraf used in tackling the problems in their Middle East.”
“I did not take you for an expert on history doctor.”
“And what I suppose you are?”
Vaughan cleared his throat and pointing to his qualification politely mentioned, “I found it useful for teaching history at Starfleet Academy to have a certain amount of knowledge. As to the specifics of Eraf history and in particular the era you refer to, I cannot pretend to have any authoritative knowledge on the matter. But I do know parties acted as mediators bringing parties together.”
“Hardly impartial and especially culpable when one of the parties involved is vastly stronger and more influential than the other, so much so it dictated terms.”
“We cannot simply charge in on our silver hulled steed and force our morals upon these people. We have the luxury of being able to swan off when we believe ourselves to be justified and morally superior. Not so, the people below.”
“What I am asking is that we stand up for a people who have been oppressed for by what amounts to an invading force. It is not a matter of acting as if we are morally superior. The simple fact of the matter is that we are morally superior!”
“Doctor, you are indignant and righteous at the best of times. But claiming yourself superior than a whole race of people.”
“Because I have not kept another species of people browbeaten! It does make me morally superior.”
“Donna if we impose our will on the planet’s people it makes us equally culpable.”
“Perhaps it makes us culpable but no where in the region of equally so. It is a small price to pay in order to see the Conmenian raised to an equal status.”
“One small step on the road doctor. How many other measures would you like us to take in order to impose this equal status you seek? Will we enforce a special government on the planet? Just to make sure their equal parity. Will we force people out of their homes? Just so that neighbourhoods are not the remit of one species. Where along the way do we stop?”
“I’m not asking for any such measures. But people are entitled to know the truth and to seek redress for past crimes.”
“Again you are allowing your own circumstances to cloud your judgements.”
“Wait a minute, do you think for even a second I would feel otherwise without my discovery? Truth is a corner stone of a society of freedom and equality. To tell the people the truth about their history will act as a catalyst to creating such a society. The truth can only benefit the people below.”
“The truth can be harmful.”
“How can you say that, of all people? Especially when the truth about your career would cause a few people to sit up and think.”
“No doctor, if the truth were ever revealed it would be far too damaging to the Federation. It is a prime example of how damaging the truth can be. Do the Conmenian people deserve to know the truth? Of course. Does it belong to us to make that truth known? No that is the role of the Gedasadan government.”
In exasperation, Donna vented her anger in a frustrated roar. Vaughan leaned back to stand straight. But Donna was undefeated yet and had plenty more to argue. “The very government that has hidden the true evolutionary history of the Conmenian! That smacks of stupidity never mind illogical reasoning. We cannot expect the government to decide suddenly to let the people know the truth. They have fabricated a lie for centuries if not millennia to the very opposite end.”
“What pray tell will our telling the truth achieve for the Conmenian? The planet below has to make its own path towards enlightenment and equality.”
“Do you seriously expect me to believe that leaving them be is the best option. How much longer do we allow the truth to be hidden? And what happens when the truth is revealed but in addition to it being revealed it becomes known that the Federation knew all along of their subjugation. Anarchy, civil war, hostility towards the Federation, and damage to the ideals of the Federation, are the end result of such an irresponsible decision. Was that not the very reason why you were chosen to command the Accipiter? To uphold and protect the ideals of the Federation. Did you not tell me yourself that despite that you have found yourself since taking command taken evermore militaristic and uncharacteristically Federation principled decisions? “
“Doctor those actions are not uncharacteristic when taken in defence and as a last resort. You’re asking me to play god with the lives of an entire planet!”
Angrily she retorted, “You’ve done that before!”
“HOW DARE YOU? You overstep the mark Donna.”
“Who is personalising now?”
The door to the ready-room chimed. Vaughan bit back an expletive and took a moment to compose himself. Then he bid the caller to enter.
“Someone ought to check the soundproofing when you two go at it.”
Vaughan took a deep breath unsure whether he ought to berate Ryan for barging into his ready room or thankful she had before the damage between Donna and himself was irreparable. “Commander Ryan.” The rank felt alien on his tongue and had the sour taste of Nathan’s all too present memory.
The Captain’s hesitancy in calling her by her recently acquired rank was not missed on Caitlyn. “Sorry, Captain, I came to present the preliminary findings of the archaeological survey from Dr Rowling.”
“What did Steven find?”
“From the evidence your team recovered before the Gedan destroyed the caves, he dated the cave settlements of the Conmenian and compared them to a site of similar historical age belonging to the Prime Gedan. They showed a marked difference in the evolutionary development of both peoples. The evidence suggests both peoples were developing at the same time on the planet. The rate of development differs and it does seem to tail off for the Conmenian and many sites show the Prime Gedan as more sophisticated and more technologically advanced. Rowling hypotheses that contact between both species did not occur for another couple of centuries after the date of the Ru’Ye cave city’s construction. Thereafter evidence shows up in the archaeological evidence and historical records of growing conflict and animosity between the peoples. It … it appears … there were sites that showed evidence of acts of genocide. Perpetrated by both sides I should add.”
Vaughan quickly interrupted his CMO. “Don’t start again doctor.”
“So far it all adds up to what we have gathered but the discovery at the chemical factory altered our thinking entirely. So Rowlings tried to investigate further back. In doing so he had less evidence obviously to go on but what really struck was a complete lack of any trace of Gedan settlements. It is as if they landed down out of the sky. Which of course, the evidence of the crashed colony ship tells us clearly is the case.”
“Is Rowlings certain?”
“Yes and I did also go over the evidence. The only traces on the surface belonged to Conmenian who appear to have at one time lived on the surface before a geological disaster, the evidence suggests a massive series of volcanic eruptions poisoning the atmosphere, forced them to live underground where they adapted to living and eventually evolved to live underground.”
“And you were unable to glean anything from the crashed colony ship?”
She shook her head. “None from the computers. The only information I could glean came from the Gedan studies of the ship. Even they appeared stupefied by the origins of the ship. The crash must have been very severe and if like our vessels it is likely the senior crew and possible government of the ship were in the forward sections of the ship most heavily damaged by the crash. Loss of knowledge, expertise and leadership ... well it all leads to much conjecture. Suffice to say the Gedan were at a loss and were also unable to salvage the computers.”
“So you were unable to retrieve any substantial information. Nothing about the origin of the ship or who these people were?”
She shook her head. “I was unable to retrieve anything but the scans from my tricorder did reveal something.”
“Caitlyn I don’t wnat to be led on a merry go round. What do you know?”
“I did detect a faint but familiar sensor reading. It indicated the ship passed through the Bajoran wormhole and therefore originated from the Gamma Quadrant. That may or may not explain Dominion interest in the system.”
Vaughan rubbed the bridge of his nose and waved a hand at Caitlyn to stop. “Let’s not get caught up in solving that mystery just yet. We don’t have anywhere near enough information to figure an answer for that.”
She ventured, “I could lead a team back but security is bound to be trebled by now. I can conjecture that the ship crashed to the surface and that the survivors cannibalised much of its technology to build a new settlement. Whether they intended to wait for rescue or whether Gedasada was the actual target planet for colonisation we cannot yet say.”
Starkly, Donna pronounced, “The end result though was they stole the planet from the Conmenian.”
“Essentially yes, though they probably were unaware of the Conmenian either way because of the way their life was lived. Upon discovery of one another there would have been mistrust and inevitably conflict.”
“Which led to the Conmenian being subdued and enslaved by the Gedan! It is absolutely disgraceful!”
“Captain if I might speak at ease?”
With a pointed look to Donna he said, “At least you do me the courtesy to ask. Go ahead.”
“The history, the archaeological evidence, the scientific surveys, they show a clear historical agenda of genocide. Most recently as a 150 years ago a number of Conmenian settlements were subjected to layers of Hudiseith gas which is lethal to Conmenian physiology. At least 90,000 skeletons in mass graves have been found. It was deliberate and it was methodical and I can only conclude that we should act decisively in favour of helping the Conmenian.”
Vaughan rolled his eyes despairingly. “I might add the huge number of bodies you discovered in the Ru’Ye foothills belonging to Gedan killed by Conmenian. There are two sides to this. The Federation is not about taking sides.”
“Sorry Captain but that is exactly what the Federation is about! If we can’t stand up for the innocent and defenceless who will?”
Buried History
“For once I agree with Ms Ryan.”
The two women shared a long look at each other. Normally Donna could not suppress her disdain at Caitlyn’s change of career, and Caitlyn felt the doctor to be an uncomfortable reminder of her past and chose most often to ignore the doctor when in company. Their previous meeting was still raw in both their minds. They both had clear and opposing viewpoints and moral values but saw now the common ground they shared too. The differences lay in how they reacted when they saw an injustice. That they should now agree on the course of action necessary did little to warm Vaughan.
“Not withstanding the two of you concurring with one another for once, we await our orders from Admiralty.”
Anger flashed in Donna’s eyes. “So while Admiralty procrastinates we allow the injustice below to continue. We have our evidence if that is what is required. We have the capability to enforce justice.” Her arms were extended to take in Accipiter. “We need only to act. To delay could be disastrous.”
“Since when did you condone force doctor?” He looked to Ryan and considered whether her firebrand attitude was rubbing off on the normally volatile at the best of times CMO. That Donna appeared to seek some form of retribution he could not believe. Caitlyn, after her years of torture and imprisonment yes he could believe but not of Donna Fichtner.
“What purpose does this ship hold if it cannot use its superior force to ensure some good in the universe?”
Caitlyn took up the baton. “Exactly Captain. We have the superior technology and firepower and we can make the Gedan do the right thing. We can free a subjugated people.”
“Just because we can does not make it right. Just because we have the might does not make it right. Justice without strength is helpless, strength without justice is tyrannical ... Unable to make what is just strong, we have made what is strong just. – Blaise Pascal. However righteous we might feel we cannot allow ourselves to become the bully. There are mitigating circumstances that means Admiralty wants to wait out a response. It is in the interest of the planet below and of the Federation at large to foster a closer relationship. With a closer relationship, we can affect changes in the society. Let the truth come to light in its own time. To suddenly make it known will undermine the fabric of the society and lead to civil revolt, a break down in law and order.”
In singsong, Donna responded in kind to Vaughan, “The Gedan are not interested in change. With the killing of the Prime Governor, they only seek to eradicate all Conmenian. Perhaps letting the truth be known will temper the Gedan thirst for revenge. It might actually make them consider making the changes you talk about. Just because the people know the facts does not mean they will vent their feelings in an angry mob.”
“When faced with such a truth yes.”
Caitlyn took up the argument too. “Even if the truth is so huge and disturbing, we have a duty to tell the Conmenian. If we were to help the Gedan to cover up the secret it only serves to make us implicit in their persecution of the Conmenian.”
With authority he replied, “Caitlyn we are not implicit.”
Caitlyn corrected him, “Yet. You mean we are not implicit yet but we will be if we wait around until command tells us to leave well enough alone and let sleeping dogs lie.”
Doctor Fichtner warmed more to the science officer. “She’s right Vaughan. You know it and you know already the decision Starfleet is going to make. You were put in command of this vessel because of your principles and reputation for upholding the tenets of the Federation. Don’t allow the needs of wartime policy turn you from those principles.”
“If I thought letting the people know served an immediate greater good I would act. But the planet is suffering a major catastrophe from a likely terrorist plot and the reaction of the government could be severe unless we guide them back to recovery and onto the correct path. We can only do that if we have a communicative relationship with the government. The change may be slow and it may be gradual but it will happen eventually.”
“The change might come quicker if we just let the truth be known.”
“And that will feed the terrorists. Sleeping dogs allowed to lie will remain sleeping until they wake of their own accord. Kick them awake or land on them and you incur their wrath. You’ll bring an unstoppable civil war to the planet. The people from both sides will be compelled along a certain path in order to protect their own kind.”
Caitlyn simply stated, “People have a right to defend themselves.”
Donna argued back, “The truth need not necessarily mean violence. You talk as if in order to protect their freedoms people will act in self-defence which in both of your eyes means responding with violence that is not necessarily the way it needs to be.”
“Donna when you were attacked in the docking bay at Starbase 49, did you not defend yourself?”
“Of course I did. Did you expect me to just roll over and be killed?”
“Far from it doctor. However, can you not understand that the people of Gedasada could see their actions as a form of defence, that they have a need to act in order to protect themselves. The Conmenian elements causing the violence are as like to use just such an argument. They need to act to throw off the shackles of the Gedasadans in order to be free, in order to no longer suffer. Likewise, the Gedasadan can argue (albeit from their own narrow-minded perspective) that they are acting in self-defence.”
“Huh! That is preposterous. You are being facetious now Captain. Using semantics as a tool of defence is a paltry effort to condone their actions.”
“I am not condoning their actions I am merely stating the arguments they are likely to give. They are also the arguments that people from both sides will believe and therefore act upon. That will be their motivation and reasoning to hurt others, repay a grievance or get back at an oppressor or a terrorist depending on who it is. So we have to be very careful how we proceed. Insurgents are causing anarchy in the wake of the moon explosion. The fact remains that they may very well have caused the explosion to such an end. Janek never produced his evidence to the contrary so the evidence still points to the Conmenian terrorists orchestrating it. We cannot afford to fuel their fire by making these revelations public at this time.”
“You mean Starfleet wants to have this world as a stop over in the war effort. Therefore the Conmenian can go to hell until then.”
“Hardly Doctor, I am making my case on its own merit. What do you think will happen if we reveal the true nature of the evolutionary history of the planet? Out and out anarchy, that’s what. We hold the Gedan culpable largely because we judge them for colonising the planet and interfering with its natural progression. That is something enshrined in the Prime Directive, so for us to interfere with the society below makes us equally culpable no matter how noble our intentions.”
Kh’ién Law’s voice broke over the comm. ending their argument. “Incoming transmission from Starfleet Command.”
Vaughan spoke to the ceiling in response to Kh’ién. “I’ll take it in here.” Returning his look to Fichtner and Ryan he said, “Ladies if you’ll excuse me.”
Donna shook her head. “No point wondering what their decision is.”
“For once I agree with Ms Ryan.”
The two women shared a long look at each other. Normally Donna could not suppress her disdain at Caitlyn’s change of career, and Caitlyn felt the doctor to be an uncomfortable reminder of her past and chose most often to ignore the doctor when in company. Their previous meeting was still raw in both their minds. They both had clear and opposing viewpoints and moral values but saw now the common ground they shared too. The differences lay in how they reacted when they saw an injustice. That they should now agree on the course of action necessary did little to warm Vaughan.
“Not withstanding the two of you concurring with one another for once, we await our orders from Admiralty.”
Anger flashed in Donna’s eyes. “So while Admiralty procrastinates we allow the injustice below to continue. We have our evidence if that is what is required. We have the capability to enforce justice.” Her arms were extended to take in Accipiter. “We need only to act. To delay could be disastrous.”
“Since when did you condone force doctor?” He looked to Ryan and considered whether her firebrand attitude was rubbing off on the normally volatile at the best of times CMO. That Donna appeared to seek some form of retribution he could not believe. Caitlyn, after her years of torture and imprisonment yes he could believe but not of Donna Fichtner.
“What purpose does this ship hold if it cannot use its superior force to ensure some good in the universe?”
Caitlyn took up the baton. “Exactly Captain. We have the superior technology and firepower and we can make the Gedan do the right thing. We can free a subjugated people.”
“Just because we can does not make it right. Just because we have the might does not make it right. Justice without strength is helpless, strength without justice is tyrannical ... Unable to make what is just strong, we have made what is strong just. – Blaise Pascal. However righteous we might feel we cannot allow ourselves to become the bully. There are mitigating circumstances that means Admiralty wants to wait out a response. It is in the interest of the planet below and of the Federation at large to foster a closer relationship. With a closer relationship, we can affect changes in the society. Let the truth come to light in its own time. To suddenly make it known will undermine the fabric of the society and lead to civil revolt, a break down in law and order.”
In singsong, Donna responded in kind to Vaughan, “The Gedan are not interested in change. With the killing of the Prime Governor, they only seek to eradicate all Conmenian. Perhaps letting the truth be known will temper the Gedan thirst for revenge. It might actually make them consider making the changes you talk about. Just because the people know the facts does not mean they will vent their feelings in an angry mob.”
“When faced with such a truth yes.”
Caitlyn took up the argument too. “Even if the truth is so huge and disturbing, we have a duty to tell the Conmenian. If we were to help the Gedan to cover up the secret it only serves to make us implicit in their persecution of the Conmenian.”
With authority he replied, “Caitlyn we are not implicit.”
Caitlyn corrected him, “Yet. You mean we are not implicit yet but we will be if we wait around until command tells us to leave well enough alone and let sleeping dogs lie.”
Doctor Fichtner warmed more to the science officer. “She’s right Vaughan. You know it and you know already the decision Starfleet is going to make. You were put in command of this vessel because of your principles and reputation for upholding the tenets of the Federation. Don’t allow the needs of wartime policy turn you from those principles.”
“If I thought letting the people know served an immediate greater good I would act. But the planet is suffering a major catastrophe from a likely terrorist plot and the reaction of the government could be severe unless we guide them back to recovery and onto the correct path. We can only do that if we have a communicative relationship with the government. The change may be slow and it may be gradual but it will happen eventually.”
“The change might come quicker if we just let the truth be known.”
“And that will feed the terrorists. Sleeping dogs allowed to lie will remain sleeping until they wake of their own accord. Kick them awake or land on them and you incur their wrath. You’ll bring an unstoppable civil war to the planet. The people from both sides will be compelled along a certain path in order to protect their own kind.”
Caitlyn simply stated, “People have a right to defend themselves.”
Donna argued back, “The truth need not necessarily mean violence. You talk as if in order to protect their freedoms people will act in self-defence which in both of your eyes means responding with violence that is not necessarily the way it needs to be.”
“Donna when you were attacked in the docking bay at Starbase 49, did you not defend yourself?”
“Of course I did. Did you expect me to just roll over and be killed?”
“Far from it doctor. However, can you not understand that the people of Gedasada could see their actions as a form of defence, that they have a need to act in order to protect themselves. The Conmenian elements causing the violence are as like to use just such an argument. They need to act to throw off the shackles of the Gedasadans in order to be free, in order to no longer suffer. Likewise, the Gedasadan can argue (albeit from their own narrow-minded perspective) that they are acting in self-defence.”
“Huh! That is preposterous. You are being facetious now Captain. Using semantics as a tool of defence is a paltry effort to condone their actions.”
“I am not condoning their actions I am merely stating the arguments they are likely to give. They are also the arguments that people from both sides will believe and therefore act upon. That will be their motivation and reasoning to hurt others, repay a grievance or get back at an oppressor or a terrorist depending on who it is. So we have to be very careful how we proceed. Insurgents are causing anarchy in the wake of the moon explosion. The fact remains that they may very well have caused the explosion to such an end. Janek never produced his evidence to the contrary so the evidence still points to the Conmenian terrorists orchestrating it. We cannot afford to fuel their fire by making these revelations public at this time.”
“You mean Starfleet wants to have this world as a stop over in the war effort. Therefore the Conmenian can go to hell until then.”
“Hardly Doctor, I am making my case on its own merit. What do you think will happen if we reveal the true nature of the evolutionary history of the planet? Out and out anarchy, that’s what. We hold the Gedan culpable largely because we judge them for colonising the planet and interfering with its natural progression. That is something enshrined in the Prime Directive, so for us to interfere with the society below makes us equally culpable no matter how noble our intentions.”
Kh’ién Law’s voice broke over the comm. ending their argument. “Incoming transmission from Starfleet Command.”
Vaughan spoke to the ceiling in response to Kh’ién. “I’ll take it in here.” Returning his look to Fichtner and Ryan he said, “Ladies if you’ll excuse me.”
Donna shook her head. “No point wondering what their decision is.”
****
Buried History
USS Accipiter, Medical Bay, Chief Medical Officer’s office
Laura took in the anguished look on her friend’s face. Setting the tumbler of whisky down on the table in front of Donna she held her own glass aloft in proposal of a toast. “To fallen friends and colleagues.”
Laura’s thoughts went to Nathan Forrest in particular and she knew that Donna’s went to Dacyu as the doctor fingered the frame of a holo-image of him. Absently, Donna drank the whisky and winced as it burned the back of her throat. A similar grimace played on Laura’s face as she downed her drink too.
Donna took in the grief in Laura’s eyes and alerted to Laura’s grief offered her words of sympathy. Laura had been kind enough to listen to Donna as she spoke of Dacyu’s death so she could do likewise for the engineer. Laura had ribbed Nathan throughout their time aboard and the two of them had shared a playful jesting friendship based on respect for one another’s talents and abilities. Both also had an easy approach and relationship with the vast majority of the crew and were often the centre of a party’s fun.
Though she found no fault with Nathan, Donna was slow to make friends and so why it was all the more painful to lose a friend such as Dacyu.
“I’m sorry about Nathan.”
“At least he died protecting others. If his life were to be cut short I imagine he would prefer to think it better that way.”
Donna looked at the last holo-image she had of Dacyu. The two of them, arms wrapped around one another, beaming smiles, and drinks in their hands. The quantity of alcohol explaining why both Donna and Dacyu, normally both reserved, showed such fun on that night of celebrating a colleague’s Carrington award.
Could Dacyu really be dead?
“I suppose. It makes Dacyu’s death seem all the more trivial or useless.”
“You say it was a transporter accident?”
“Yes, as he was returning to Starfleet Medical from the Command buildings.”
Puzzlement replaced Laura’s mood. “Command? Why would he be there if he was a doctor?”
“He was one of the greatest minds. He was consulted on many things by Command. It is actually only by his choice that he was not head of Starfleet Medical.”
“yeah but still, the distance between the buildings is not that great so transporting seems a bit strange not to mention the transporters on Earth are the safest, well any transporters are with back ups and fail safes. A transport accident is so ... well bizarre.”
Angrily Donna blazed, “Hence why they called it a freak accident!”
“You’re not getting what I’m saying. This happened only shortly after you had been talking to him yes? After he had warned you off pursuing answers to your mystery. Doesn’t it strike you as strange that Dacyu meets with a sudden and freak death so soon afterwards?”
Setting her tumbler down with a shaking hand, Donna asked trembling with fear, “What do you mean?”
“I hate to scare you but ... do you think something else, something more sinister lies behind it.”
Donna thought back to her last words with Dacyu.
“Leave this be Donna. You venture where you should not go. This line is not secure and those who would ... we cannot talk about this ... I am trying desperately to protect you.”
“Protect me from what?”
“The truth for a start. I am ending this communication.”
“Please. I need to know the truth.”
Dacyu paused. His hand hovering over the button to cut the link. “I will get back to you when I can. Over a secure link and when I’ve time to set certain things in motion to ensure our protection.”
“Oh God no.”
For so long he was her steadfast rock, from mentor to colleague and friend. She remembered the words he spoke to her once. They were the words of Helen Keller, and the Efrosian had remarked that the words spoke not just of the good people could do but he felt spoke in a special way a doctor can affect lives. Words that came back to her now and affirmed her course of action.
I am only one; but I am one.
I cannot do everything, but I still can do something.
I will not refuse to do the something I can do.
That this great man could meet his fate because of the mystery surrounding the secret brain operation upon Donna frightened her more than the discovery of the operation. Donna went pale as she realised her role in causing Dacyu’s death. First Nathan, and now her mentor and friend Dacyu. Sobbing her facade broke completely and Laura gathered her up in her arms. It was an hour later before Laura felt comfortable leaving her disconsolate friend.
Remembering the words Dacyu had spoken, Donna went to her computer console and started to collate all of the information and evidence the Accipiter had managed to gather thus far. It would be a simple enough matter. The real challenge would be getting it to the people who could use it.
Valkyrie fighter near the Gedasadan Sun
“Accipiter this is Harrison. We have reached the sun. As suspected, we have a fleet of Jem’Hadar vessels hiding near the corona.”
“We have been detected Founder.”
“No matter. Our game has been played. Lay in a course for Gedasada.”
Office of the Prime Governor, Gedasada
The Speaker with an imperious gait waltzed out of the room he would soon officially own. The ceremony was an elaborate and pretentious affair but the Speaker insisted upon it even at a time such as this.
The room emptied of the sycophants until only Galek and the Vorta, Keevan, remained. “So you refused a Cabinet position?”
Galek smiled knowing the Vorta as a snivelling toadstool for the Founders could not understand why he chose to abstain from a high office position. But he knew the Vorta would understand a baser and more duplicitous reason for it. “I discovered how effective it can be to work from the shadows.”
“Ah, pulling the strings as it were. A human expression I believe, indicating a desire to actually hold power than the trappings of apparent power.”
“These humans have colourful imagery.”
“”Yes I find so. It makes for a lot of study but I do find it illuminating. And what repercussions do you expect to come of the Colony craft being destroyed?”
“The Speaker was oblivious to its existence and Petok and Weran are probably secretly pleased all evidence has been conveniently erased. Besides all the technological advances we had been able to retrieve from it were almost extinguished. It was one reason why the last Prime Governor had started to approach other worlds to trade technology and resources after centuries of isolation.”
“And you have no answers as to what happened to the ship? The origin of your people.”
Galek smiled, “We are Gedan. We come from Gedasada.”
Keevan inclined his head in mute acceptance of the point being made. Galek however relented and offered, “The records are patchy. When our people escaped the crashed colony ship, they tried to make a new home here but then when contact with the Conmenian was made there was violence and much death on both sides. Somewhere along the lines our people achieved a superiority over the Conmenian as is only right. But the truth of origin started to fall away from memory and soon only the top officials ever learned and knew of the truth.”
“Remarkable. And what knowledge of where you originally came from.”
“Our scientists were able to develop technologies from the ship but unfortunately were unable to retrieve any data from the computers. They were irreparably damaged.”
“It is something of a mystery.”
“And what of yourself? Your ship has been destroyed. How do you intend to leave?”
“I don’t.” This caught Galek unawares. Keevan continued, “I mean to say, we have ships insystem ready to rendezvous and give whatever assistance is needed to your government. I must go and communicate with my people about that very fact.” Excusing himself, Keevan left Galek in the chamber. Checking he had privacy and was not going to be overheard, Keevan opened a communication with the lead ship of the fleet en route.
A Founder came onscreen causing Keevan to flounder for a moment. “Founder.”
“You have news to report.”
“Yes, it appears the Gedan truly do not have knowledge of their origin in the Gamma Quadrant or the crimes they perpetrated against your kind.”
The Founder was unsure whether to be angry or not. “They perhaps thought it best to try and hide from their past crimes. The history of the planet below appears to illustrate their inherent evil. They will pay for the crimes they committed against us. They thought they could flee their world and find a new one and save themselves from our retribution. Little did they realise who it was they acted against.”
Nervously, Keevan stammered with his displeasing news, “Alas the virus was stopped by the Starfleet crews.”
“No matter, when we have the system we will bombard the world with our battlecruisers. Before we move on to take Betazed. Our enemies past and present will learn not to defy the Dominion.”
****
USS Accipiter, Medical Bay, Chief Medical Officer’s office
Laura took in the anguished look on her friend’s face. Setting the tumbler of whisky down on the table in front of Donna she held her own glass aloft in proposal of a toast. “To fallen friends and colleagues.”
Laura’s thoughts went to Nathan Forrest in particular and she knew that Donna’s went to Dacyu as the doctor fingered the frame of a holo-image of him. Absently, Donna drank the whisky and winced as it burned the back of her throat. A similar grimace played on Laura’s face as she downed her drink too.
Donna took in the grief in Laura’s eyes and alerted to Laura’s grief offered her words of sympathy. Laura had been kind enough to listen to Donna as she spoke of Dacyu’s death so she could do likewise for the engineer. Laura had ribbed Nathan throughout their time aboard and the two of them had shared a playful jesting friendship based on respect for one another’s talents and abilities. Both also had an easy approach and relationship with the vast majority of the crew and were often the centre of a party’s fun.
Though she found no fault with Nathan, Donna was slow to make friends and so why it was all the more painful to lose a friend such as Dacyu.
“I’m sorry about Nathan.”
“At least he died protecting others. If his life were to be cut short I imagine he would prefer to think it better that way.”
Donna looked at the last holo-image she had of Dacyu. The two of them, arms wrapped around one another, beaming smiles, and drinks in their hands. The quantity of alcohol explaining why both Donna and Dacyu, normally both reserved, showed such fun on that night of celebrating a colleague’s Carrington award.
Could Dacyu really be dead?
“I suppose. It makes Dacyu’s death seem all the more trivial or useless.”
“You say it was a transporter accident?”
“Yes, as he was returning to Starfleet Medical from the Command buildings.”
Puzzlement replaced Laura’s mood. “Command? Why would he be there if he was a doctor?”
“He was one of the greatest minds. He was consulted on many things by Command. It is actually only by his choice that he was not head of Starfleet Medical.”
“yeah but still, the distance between the buildings is not that great so transporting seems a bit strange not to mention the transporters on Earth are the safest, well any transporters are with back ups and fail safes. A transport accident is so ... well bizarre.”
Angrily Donna blazed, “Hence why they called it a freak accident!”
“You’re not getting what I’m saying. This happened only shortly after you had been talking to him yes? After he had warned you off pursuing answers to your mystery. Doesn’t it strike you as strange that Dacyu meets with a sudden and freak death so soon afterwards?”
Setting her tumbler down with a shaking hand, Donna asked trembling with fear, “What do you mean?”
“I hate to scare you but ... do you think something else, something more sinister lies behind it.”
Donna thought back to her last words with Dacyu.
“Leave this be Donna. You venture where you should not go. This line is not secure and those who would ... we cannot talk about this ... I am trying desperately to protect you.”
“Protect me from what?”
“The truth for a start. I am ending this communication.”
“Please. I need to know the truth.”
Dacyu paused. His hand hovering over the button to cut the link. “I will get back to you when I can. Over a secure link and when I’ve time to set certain things in motion to ensure our protection.”
“Oh God no.”
For so long he was her steadfast rock, from mentor to colleague and friend. She remembered the words he spoke to her once. They were the words of Helen Keller, and the Efrosian had remarked that the words spoke not just of the good people could do but he felt spoke in a special way a doctor can affect lives. Words that came back to her now and affirmed her course of action.
I am only one; but I am one.
I cannot do everything, but I still can do something.
I will not refuse to do the something I can do.
That this great man could meet his fate because of the mystery surrounding the secret brain operation upon Donna frightened her more than the discovery of the operation. Donna went pale as she realised her role in causing Dacyu’s death. First Nathan, and now her mentor and friend Dacyu. Sobbing her facade broke completely and Laura gathered her up in her arms. It was an hour later before Laura felt comfortable leaving her disconsolate friend.
Remembering the words Dacyu had spoken, Donna went to her computer console and started to collate all of the information and evidence the Accipiter had managed to gather thus far. It would be a simple enough matter. The real challenge would be getting it to the people who could use it.
****
Valkyrie fighter near the Gedasadan Sun
“Accipiter this is Harrison. We have reached the sun. As suspected, we have a fleet of Jem’Hadar vessels hiding near the corona.”
****
“We have been detected Founder.”
“No matter. Our game has been played. Lay in a course for Gedasada.”
****
Office of the Prime Governor, Gedasada
The Speaker with an imperious gait waltzed out of the room he would soon officially own. The ceremony was an elaborate and pretentious affair but the Speaker insisted upon it even at a time such as this.
The room emptied of the sycophants until only Galek and the Vorta, Keevan, remained. “So you refused a Cabinet position?”
Galek smiled knowing the Vorta as a snivelling toadstool for the Founders could not understand why he chose to abstain from a high office position. But he knew the Vorta would understand a baser and more duplicitous reason for it. “I discovered how effective it can be to work from the shadows.”
“Ah, pulling the strings as it were. A human expression I believe, indicating a desire to actually hold power than the trappings of apparent power.”
“These humans have colourful imagery.”
“”Yes I find so. It makes for a lot of study but I do find it illuminating. And what repercussions do you expect to come of the Colony craft being destroyed?”
“The Speaker was oblivious to its existence and Petok and Weran are probably secretly pleased all evidence has been conveniently erased. Besides all the technological advances we had been able to retrieve from it were almost extinguished. It was one reason why the last Prime Governor had started to approach other worlds to trade technology and resources after centuries of isolation.”
“And you have no answers as to what happened to the ship? The origin of your people.”
Galek smiled, “We are Gedan. We come from Gedasada.”
Keevan inclined his head in mute acceptance of the point being made. Galek however relented and offered, “The records are patchy. When our people escaped the crashed colony ship, they tried to make a new home here but then when contact with the Conmenian was made there was violence and much death on both sides. Somewhere along the lines our people achieved a superiority over the Conmenian as is only right. But the truth of origin started to fall away from memory and soon only the top officials ever learned and knew of the truth.”
“Remarkable. And what knowledge of where you originally came from.”
“Our scientists were able to develop technologies from the ship but unfortunately were unable to retrieve any data from the computers. They were irreparably damaged.”
“It is something of a mystery.”
“And what of yourself? Your ship has been destroyed. How do you intend to leave?”
“I don’t.” This caught Galek unawares. Keevan continued, “I mean to say, we have ships insystem ready to rendezvous and give whatever assistance is needed to your government. I must go and communicate with my people about that very fact.” Excusing himself, Keevan left Galek in the chamber. Checking he had privacy and was not going to be overheard, Keevan opened a communication with the lead ship of the fleet en route.
A Founder came onscreen causing Keevan to flounder for a moment. “Founder.”
“You have news to report.”
“Yes, it appears the Gedan truly do not have knowledge of their origin in the Gamma Quadrant or the crimes they perpetrated against your kind.”
The Founder was unsure whether to be angry or not. “They perhaps thought it best to try and hide from their past crimes. The history of the planet below appears to illustrate their inherent evil. They will pay for the crimes they committed against us. They thought they could flee their world and find a new one and save themselves from our retribution. Little did they realise who it was they acted against.”
Nervously, Keevan stammered with his displeasing news, “Alas the virus was stopped by the Starfleet crews.”
“No matter, when we have the system we will bombard the world with our battlecruisers. Before we move on to take Betazed. Our enemies past and present will learn not to defy the Dominion.”
****
Buried History
Tis near the end now. thanks for those who have hung in there and are still reading. I've my internet sorted now so I can get back to reading everyone ele's so there's a lot of reading to be done and I am looking forward to it.
Not sure how these last segments have gone down - whether all waffley again or what not but I hope I managed to stay true to the characters and I purposely avoided a the ship fixes everything in a single stroke conclusion to the story. Enjoy
Mouyr City, Gedasada, two hours later
A series of explosions rocked the medical centre and bedlam reigned as people either ran for their lives or threw themselves prostrate on the ground. Gunfire aimed at the medical centre strafed their position. Major Simi Raleigh returned fire on insurgents and militiamen alike as their crossfire cut down innocents, from relief workers to casualties attending the clinic.
As she tried to contact the Accipiter about the rapidly deteriorating situation, Raleigh organised her marines into a defensive perimeter around the centre pushing both opponents back. It was now clear that as much as the attacks were co-ordinated and the response of the militia was targeted the situation was slipping out of either’s control as their men lost the run of themselves and let anger and fear rule their actions.
The resultant carnage was horrific for those caught up between the two sides and now Raleigh had no option but to put her men into the fray and desperately try to protect the innocents.
Behind her, medical staff rushed attending to injured and many of the support crew on the surface were now readying themselves for transportation back to the starships. It was now a hurried withdrawal from Gedasada before the casualty list grew too long.
Ever since the rebel leader Janek had hijacked the airwaves again to show the world the evidence of the Gedan atrocities and the true origin of the Gedan all hell had broken loose. Gedan and Conmenian alike vented anger and hatred in an unstoppable wave of violence across the world.
“At least try to consider what you are doing Tyler.”
Tyler Ramsey appeared unaffected by Vaughan’s plea over the viewscreen. From the centre chair of his Galaxy class ship he coolly replied, “I told you my position on this before you went in. Should the situation become untenable I would recall all Starfleet support from the surface. Captain Tiana has had several members of her medical teams injured and even killed in the attacks.”
Vaughan stepped towards the viewscreen his voice more emphatic, “Just because the situation is dire and dangerous for us does not mean we pick up and go. That is the price for protecting and helping those who need our help and protection.”
“Yes and had you, members of your crew,” Tyler’s eyes searched out Donna Fichtner trying to remain discretely at the back of the bridge, “not gone and blown the lid off the situation I would have supported your call to remain and continue the relief efforts. But Command wants us to vacate the system and the Gedan authorities have demanded it too. A Jem’Hadar force is en route at the request of the Gedan to enforce their decision. Therefore I have no choice but to hold up my hands and call it quits.”
Vaughan flared, “You were always quick to turn your back Ramsey!”
“And you always caused anarchy and destruction. Much of what has occurred here has been the result of your actions or the actions of those working under you.”
“Trust me they will be dealt with.” Vaughan gave a pointed look to Donna, who brazenly did not flinch under his glare. “But the people of the planet cannot hope to survive intact if we this to continue, if we pull out and leave them to their own devices.”
“It is far too late for that Vaughan. You should have controlled your people better.” Vaughan got no opportunity to respond as Tyler cut the link. Moments later the Manhattan and the Carling Paul Linnaeus broke orbit and began to leave the system leaving the Accipiter to patrol the skies above a smouldering planet alone.
“Captain I appreciate that you are angry with me ...”
He held up an admonishing finger and angrily bit back, “Do not even begin to make your excuses Doctor!”
The rest of the bridge flinched at the tone Vaughan took. Donna knew well enough not to push the matter. “Dagon you have the conn I’ll be in my ready room trying to convince Admiralty of the need to stay.” He moved off to his ready room but stopped as he passed the doctor. “I’d advice you to get off my bridge. By rights I should have you thrown in the brig. But I will leave your punishment to Admiralty when the times comes. Quite frankly, I’ll be surprised if they allow you to change a band aid within a mile of a starship after the stunt you have pulled.”
Donna raised her chin defiantly. Vaughan kept his blazing eyes on her before she conceded and walked off the bridge with as much stately and regal grace as she could muster. It was an effort but she managed to do it. When she had left, the silence on the bridge remained and Vaughan stalked off the bridge towards his ready room.
USS Accipiter, Science Lab One
“I came to apologise to you … doctor.”
“Doctor. My, my calling me a doctor. That has not happened in quite a while. You’re the very last person I expected to call me by that title.”
“Well, it seemed unnatural to call you Lt Commander or even Commander… if I’m going to apologise to you. It is easier to apologise if I call you doctor.”
“You could have gone for Caitlyn.” Donna harked at the thought. Caitlyn too would have felt uncomfortable with the doctor calling her by her first name. “Ok maybe not.”
“It is not as if to say we are on first name terms. Mind if I get on with my apology before I cause a further offence.”
“No problem at all. What is it you’re apologising for?”
“Not understanding.”
“Understanding what?”
“Why it is you turned your back. Why you switched from medicine to go shoot them up in command. I saw some horrible things down there and it was only a fragment I’m sure of what you witnessed during your … time.”
Setting the last of her instruments down on the test island Caitlyn turned displeased. “So a few days down there and you suddenly understand –“
“No I didn’t say that. I’m apologising for not understanding. I still can’t truth be told. After seeing all that suffering, all I want to do is to stop the pain, heal the wounds, and cure the ills. I don’t want to go off blasting the evil to kingdom come.”
“So I sold out. I see.”
“I see how bad I am at apologies. I’m not meaning to insult you … I never could understand why a doctor, particularly one as talented as you could leave that all behind.”
“I left it all behind because I didn’t want to react to the pain and suffering of people anymore. As a doctor, you rarely have the opportunity to live by the axiom prevention is better than cure. But as someone in the command structure of a Starfleet vessel I imagined I could make a difference to the decisions that could cause or alleviate others suffering. You yourself have been arguing with Vaughan to act in a particular manner towards the Gedasadan government. Perhaps if you weren’t a mere doctor he would take you more seriously.”
Donna almost flared, “So because I am not in the chain of command my views don’t count! Tell me ... Ryan ... did you influence the decision process any? What about Nathan? Did being the executive officer help in any way or did it simply lead to his premature and futile death? Or do you kowtow to powers that be?”
“I felt I had some measure of impact. That is until you acted alone. Now we have to await the outcome of your actions and what Starfleet says and what the Gedasadans decide. All I can go by is the past. During my captivity, the decisions slowly came to mind to make to keep the crew safe. I count those decisions as real burdens but I felt surer than ever before I was helping to stop the suffering of my crew. It meant I had to kill Cardassians that is true, but I did it gladly.”
“Gladly? I guess I never can understand. But you amaze me all the same. You suffered for years in conditions that I can only imagine.”
Caitlyn pulled a stool over and lowered herself onto it. “Gladly might not be the most choice of words but I didn’t have much of a choice but to survive. It should not amaze you. Suffering in those conditions is not an act of bravery. There is no courage in it. It is not redemptive just simply degrading.”
She sat silently for a moment but shook her head, “You might survive it but don’t expect your life to be unchanged, do not expect to forget it, do not expect it to change your life for the better, do not expect that it will make you stronger. And whatever preconception you have of your strength before you go endure such a captivity, of your sense of worth and mostly your sense of morality it will be undoubtedly wrong. Good people on the outside with their ‘normal’ lives can of course live good and simple lives; but in such extreme circumstances, those same people can do bad things. Even people who were friends or lovers.” This last was an inward reflection spoken aloud.
Donna did not respond to that but rather retorted, rather cruelly, “So doctors can become gun wielding vigilantes.”
Caitlyn simply replied, “Yes. Yes they can, in the pursuit of justice especially.”
Donna turned to go as feeble as her apology had been she felt she had little else to say. Certainly nothing that would help them to mend any bridges. Caitlyn called after her before she reached the threshold of the door. “For what it is worth doctor, I admire your skill as a doctor, but mostly I admire how you stick to your guns, I mean your principles. Do no harm. Despite my choices, the path I have taken, I know that it is a noble calling. Good luck with that. Before this war is out you will need that luck. I only hope you can stick to your calling.”
The sentiment was fine but irked Donna nevertheless. It smacked of sanctimonious double standards. “You say you do it in pursuit of justice. Justice or revenge?”
Caitlyn smouldered with fury. Something about the doctor always tended to get under her skin. She bristled at the retort and sought not to respond. “I’m glad you came offering apologies. Imagine if you wanted to be a bitch!”
“You never answered me – justice or revenge?”
It took a long moment before Caitlyn answered. “In the end - justice. But yes, first I had my revenge.”
“And you can live with that?”
“I’m alive.” It was enough of an answer for Caitlyn herself. The doctor however remained unconvinced. “I took action and I am alive. I live with it. You took action and now people on Gedasada can say they are alive. The end result you must live with whatever it may turn out to be. Your conscience need not concern me. My conscience need not concern you.”
“I dare say it shouldn’t, if it doesn’t even concern you.”
“I was more concerned about surviving. I repeat – I am alive. In the Captain’s ready room, you told him how you had fought the attacker in the hanger at Starbase 49. You fought him in order to survive and to help protect Laura. Did you fight him without any anger? Would you have killed him if you had to? If you could back to a number of hours ago with the foreknowledge Nathan was going to be killed would you have fired your rifle at the Jem’Hadar soldier to kill him rather than incapacitate. If you had, Nathan surely would still be alive.”
Donna looked appalled at the prospect her words might be true.
“For myself, I had to defend and protect. It was kill or be killed or have others killed. In that place and time, the Foxly crew became my responsibility. I could not shirk the responsibilities however much I wanted and that meant I could not shirk the actions I needed to take. I ... I needn’t explain myself. I don’t owe you or anyone else one. Someone, some deity or other owes me an explanation as to why that was allowed to happen. Why the things on Gedasada were allowed to happen. Why Nathan was fated to such a futile death? Suffice to say horrible things happened. Horrible, horrible, horrific things happened. I have many nightmares about that time. I might wish my life had turned out different. That I had stayed a doctor, remained married, had not had to betray my Hippocratic Oath, had not had to take the life of another. I might wish those things but I do not – do not - regret my actions. I wonder though Doctor if you do not regret your decision.”
Caitlyn turned back to her work and heard the doors whisper open and then close as Donna Fichtner left.
Moments later the Captain’s voice rang out over the ship intercom. “All senior officers report to the bridge.”
She laid sown her tools and pads. They had come to a decision. The delay obviously down to Vaughan arguing with Command. No doubt to no avail. And more horrible, horrible, horrific things would be permitted to occur.
Tis near the end now. thanks for those who have hung in there and are still reading. I've my internet sorted now so I can get back to reading everyone ele's so there's a lot of reading to be done and I am looking forward to it.
Not sure how these last segments have gone down - whether all waffley again or what not but I hope I managed to stay true to the characters and I purposely avoided a the ship fixes everything in a single stroke conclusion to the story. Enjoy
****
Mouyr City, Gedasada, two hours later
A series of explosions rocked the medical centre and bedlam reigned as people either ran for their lives or threw themselves prostrate on the ground. Gunfire aimed at the medical centre strafed their position. Major Simi Raleigh returned fire on insurgents and militiamen alike as their crossfire cut down innocents, from relief workers to casualties attending the clinic.
As she tried to contact the Accipiter about the rapidly deteriorating situation, Raleigh organised her marines into a defensive perimeter around the centre pushing both opponents back. It was now clear that as much as the attacks were co-ordinated and the response of the militia was targeted the situation was slipping out of either’s control as their men lost the run of themselves and let anger and fear rule their actions.
The resultant carnage was horrific for those caught up between the two sides and now Raleigh had no option but to put her men into the fray and desperately try to protect the innocents.
Behind her, medical staff rushed attending to injured and many of the support crew on the surface were now readying themselves for transportation back to the starships. It was now a hurried withdrawal from Gedasada before the casualty list grew too long.
Ever since the rebel leader Janek had hijacked the airwaves again to show the world the evidence of the Gedan atrocities and the true origin of the Gedan all hell had broken loose. Gedan and Conmenian alike vented anger and hatred in an unstoppable wave of violence across the world.
****
“At least try to consider what you are doing Tyler.”
Tyler Ramsey appeared unaffected by Vaughan’s plea over the viewscreen. From the centre chair of his Galaxy class ship he coolly replied, “I told you my position on this before you went in. Should the situation become untenable I would recall all Starfleet support from the surface. Captain Tiana has had several members of her medical teams injured and even killed in the attacks.”
Vaughan stepped towards the viewscreen his voice more emphatic, “Just because the situation is dire and dangerous for us does not mean we pick up and go. That is the price for protecting and helping those who need our help and protection.”
“Yes and had you, members of your crew,” Tyler’s eyes searched out Donna Fichtner trying to remain discretely at the back of the bridge, “not gone and blown the lid off the situation I would have supported your call to remain and continue the relief efforts. But Command wants us to vacate the system and the Gedan authorities have demanded it too. A Jem’Hadar force is en route at the request of the Gedan to enforce their decision. Therefore I have no choice but to hold up my hands and call it quits.”
Vaughan flared, “You were always quick to turn your back Ramsey!”
“And you always caused anarchy and destruction. Much of what has occurred here has been the result of your actions or the actions of those working under you.”
“Trust me they will be dealt with.” Vaughan gave a pointed look to Donna, who brazenly did not flinch under his glare. “But the people of the planet cannot hope to survive intact if we this to continue, if we pull out and leave them to their own devices.”
“It is far too late for that Vaughan. You should have controlled your people better.” Vaughan got no opportunity to respond as Tyler cut the link. Moments later the Manhattan and the Carling Paul Linnaeus broke orbit and began to leave the system leaving the Accipiter to patrol the skies above a smouldering planet alone.
“Captain I appreciate that you are angry with me ...”
He held up an admonishing finger and angrily bit back, “Do not even begin to make your excuses Doctor!”
The rest of the bridge flinched at the tone Vaughan took. Donna knew well enough not to push the matter. “Dagon you have the conn I’ll be in my ready room trying to convince Admiralty of the need to stay.” He moved off to his ready room but stopped as he passed the doctor. “I’d advice you to get off my bridge. By rights I should have you thrown in the brig. But I will leave your punishment to Admiralty when the times comes. Quite frankly, I’ll be surprised if they allow you to change a band aid within a mile of a starship after the stunt you have pulled.”
Donna raised her chin defiantly. Vaughan kept his blazing eyes on her before she conceded and walked off the bridge with as much stately and regal grace as she could muster. It was an effort but she managed to do it. When she had left, the silence on the bridge remained and Vaughan stalked off the bridge towards his ready room.
****
USS Accipiter, Science Lab One
“I came to apologise to you … doctor.”
“Doctor. My, my calling me a doctor. That has not happened in quite a while. You’re the very last person I expected to call me by that title.”
“Well, it seemed unnatural to call you Lt Commander or even Commander… if I’m going to apologise to you. It is easier to apologise if I call you doctor.”
“You could have gone for Caitlyn.” Donna harked at the thought. Caitlyn too would have felt uncomfortable with the doctor calling her by her first name. “Ok maybe not.”
“It is not as if to say we are on first name terms. Mind if I get on with my apology before I cause a further offence.”
“No problem at all. What is it you’re apologising for?”
“Not understanding.”
“Understanding what?”
“Why it is you turned your back. Why you switched from medicine to go shoot them up in command. I saw some horrible things down there and it was only a fragment I’m sure of what you witnessed during your … time.”
Setting the last of her instruments down on the test island Caitlyn turned displeased. “So a few days down there and you suddenly understand –“
“No I didn’t say that. I’m apologising for not understanding. I still can’t truth be told. After seeing all that suffering, all I want to do is to stop the pain, heal the wounds, and cure the ills. I don’t want to go off blasting the evil to kingdom come.”
“So I sold out. I see.”
“I see how bad I am at apologies. I’m not meaning to insult you … I never could understand why a doctor, particularly one as talented as you could leave that all behind.”
“I left it all behind because I didn’t want to react to the pain and suffering of people anymore. As a doctor, you rarely have the opportunity to live by the axiom prevention is better than cure. But as someone in the command structure of a Starfleet vessel I imagined I could make a difference to the decisions that could cause or alleviate others suffering. You yourself have been arguing with Vaughan to act in a particular manner towards the Gedasadan government. Perhaps if you weren’t a mere doctor he would take you more seriously.”
Donna almost flared, “So because I am not in the chain of command my views don’t count! Tell me ... Ryan ... did you influence the decision process any? What about Nathan? Did being the executive officer help in any way or did it simply lead to his premature and futile death? Or do you kowtow to powers that be?”
“I felt I had some measure of impact. That is until you acted alone. Now we have to await the outcome of your actions and what Starfleet says and what the Gedasadans decide. All I can go by is the past. During my captivity, the decisions slowly came to mind to make to keep the crew safe. I count those decisions as real burdens but I felt surer than ever before I was helping to stop the suffering of my crew. It meant I had to kill Cardassians that is true, but I did it gladly.”
“Gladly? I guess I never can understand. But you amaze me all the same. You suffered for years in conditions that I can only imagine.”
Caitlyn pulled a stool over and lowered herself onto it. “Gladly might not be the most choice of words but I didn’t have much of a choice but to survive. It should not amaze you. Suffering in those conditions is not an act of bravery. There is no courage in it. It is not redemptive just simply degrading.”
She sat silently for a moment but shook her head, “You might survive it but don’t expect your life to be unchanged, do not expect to forget it, do not expect it to change your life for the better, do not expect that it will make you stronger. And whatever preconception you have of your strength before you go endure such a captivity, of your sense of worth and mostly your sense of morality it will be undoubtedly wrong. Good people on the outside with their ‘normal’ lives can of course live good and simple lives; but in such extreme circumstances, those same people can do bad things. Even people who were friends or lovers.” This last was an inward reflection spoken aloud.
Donna did not respond to that but rather retorted, rather cruelly, “So doctors can become gun wielding vigilantes.”
Caitlyn simply replied, “Yes. Yes they can, in the pursuit of justice especially.”
Donna turned to go as feeble as her apology had been she felt she had little else to say. Certainly nothing that would help them to mend any bridges. Caitlyn called after her before she reached the threshold of the door. “For what it is worth doctor, I admire your skill as a doctor, but mostly I admire how you stick to your guns, I mean your principles. Do no harm. Despite my choices, the path I have taken, I know that it is a noble calling. Good luck with that. Before this war is out you will need that luck. I only hope you can stick to your calling.”
The sentiment was fine but irked Donna nevertheless. It smacked of sanctimonious double standards. “You say you do it in pursuit of justice. Justice or revenge?”
Caitlyn smouldered with fury. Something about the doctor always tended to get under her skin. She bristled at the retort and sought not to respond. “I’m glad you came offering apologies. Imagine if you wanted to be a bitch!”
“You never answered me – justice or revenge?”
It took a long moment before Caitlyn answered. “In the end - justice. But yes, first I had my revenge.”
“And you can live with that?”
“I’m alive.” It was enough of an answer for Caitlyn herself. The doctor however remained unconvinced. “I took action and I am alive. I live with it. You took action and now people on Gedasada can say they are alive. The end result you must live with whatever it may turn out to be. Your conscience need not concern me. My conscience need not concern you.”
“I dare say it shouldn’t, if it doesn’t even concern you.”
“I was more concerned about surviving. I repeat – I am alive. In the Captain’s ready room, you told him how you had fought the attacker in the hanger at Starbase 49. You fought him in order to survive and to help protect Laura. Did you fight him without any anger? Would you have killed him if you had to? If you could back to a number of hours ago with the foreknowledge Nathan was going to be killed would you have fired your rifle at the Jem’Hadar soldier to kill him rather than incapacitate. If you had, Nathan surely would still be alive.”
Donna looked appalled at the prospect her words might be true.
“For myself, I had to defend and protect. It was kill or be killed or have others killed. In that place and time, the Foxly crew became my responsibility. I could not shirk the responsibilities however much I wanted and that meant I could not shirk the actions I needed to take. I ... I needn’t explain myself. I don’t owe you or anyone else one. Someone, some deity or other owes me an explanation as to why that was allowed to happen. Why the things on Gedasada were allowed to happen. Why Nathan was fated to such a futile death? Suffice to say horrible things happened. Horrible, horrible, horrific things happened. I have many nightmares about that time. I might wish my life had turned out different. That I had stayed a doctor, remained married, had not had to betray my Hippocratic Oath, had not had to take the life of another. I might wish those things but I do not – do not - regret my actions. I wonder though Doctor if you do not regret your decision.”
Caitlyn turned back to her work and heard the doors whisper open and then close as Donna Fichtner left.
Moments later the Captain’s voice rang out over the ship intercom. “All senior officers report to the bridge.”
She laid sown her tools and pads. They had come to a decision. The delay obviously down to Vaughan arguing with Command. No doubt to no avail. And more horrible, horrible, horrific things would be permitted to occur.
****
Last Chapter - Buried History
Here it is the last segment of the story! Hooray for me. It has been a learning curve but I hope I have learned something from it. Also it would be good if others got something from reading the story - like a little light reading or entertainment.
Vaughan made his way onto the bridge from his ready-room. His mood was dark. Dr Fichtner stepped forwards from the security alcove. Vaughan threw her a warning look. Dagon at his station stepped back to stand beside the doctor. A further warning for her not to try the Captain.
Donna looked at the fierce security officer at her side and then Vaughan as he came to the centre of the bridge. “If you think you can scare me into being quiet then you are mistaken.”
Vaughan bellowed but deigned not to even look in her direction. “That is enough doctor!”
All on the bridge were taken aback. Vaughan was not one to holler. Few asides Caitlyn Ryan had irked his ire. For her part, as acting XO she tried to step towards her Captain and ask what the fallout was. Vaughan’s none too cryptic reply was addressed to the helm.
“Hayes, plot our course back to Federation territory.”
Caitlyn stepped forwards placing her hands on the rail, “What? We just leave without making a stand!” She had not set out to achieve a command so that she could turn from a fight to protect the needy. “But Captain Dominion forces are en route. The system will be overrun unless we stand and fight.”
Dagon was perplexed at the machinations of Admiralty. His unspoken thought was, ‘What strategy lay behind this?’
Vaughan’s jaw worked in pent up tension. “It seems the decision has been taken out of our hands.”
At engineering with his arms folded Keresh shook his head. Nathan’s death foremost in his mind. His loss a total squander of life as were the lives of so many on the planet below. “I cannot believe it. Does Admiralty not want us to defend the Gedasadans? I know recent events have marred their standing but surely they don’t deserve invasion by the Dominion.”
Donna scathingly expressed her anger, “They probably do deserve it but the Conmenian do not. We don’t need to act on behalf of the Gedan but we can step in to protect the Conmenian. The Gedasadan government may be in the wrong but still we are fighting a war against the Dominion for a reason. We hardly can allow the Gedan and the Conmenian to become the next victims of Dominion ambitions. We don’t just walk away.”
Vaughan turned to meet her stare levelly. “On this occasion we do.”
“And what of Liberty? What of Justice? The world below is ripping itself apart and now the Jem’Hadar are going to come in and take them piecemeal. Damn Admiralty’s sensibilities and prudence. The Federation has a charter for a reason to protect and serve a greater good.”
Vaughan quoted sotto voice. “O Liberté! que de crimes on commet en ton nom! – O Liberty! what crimes are committed in your name!”
“What the hell does that mean Vaughan?” She rounded the rail and stepped up to face Vaughan.
“The world below is tearing itself asunder because of your actions doctor! That’s what the hell it means. And it means the Gedasadans ... It means the decision has been taken out of our hands.”
“You don’t need to listen to admiralty. I don’t deny things on the planet have escalated beyond our control. I didn’t want to see anarchy reign but they needed to know the truth. So what if it puts the government noses out of joint. The fact that it firmly is means we should act now on behalf of the Conmenian.”
“The Gedasadan government have signed a non-aggression pact with the Dominion and seek to align themselves with the Dominion coalition. An unfriendly government saw the Dominion as a better option than the bleeding heart liberals of the Federation.”
Donna felt as if she had been soccer punched in the stomach. She quickly recovered. “Are you blaming me for this?”
“We could have found a different way to deal with the matter. Instead, you strong-arm a resolution you think works. Yes you tell the people the truth make them aware of their secret history. BUT sometimes our past has secrets in it and we should take care of what we reveal.”
Donna seethed. She felt his comment to be very pointed in light of what she had revealed to him. “I am sorry I did not see it as a matter of strategy and expediency Captain. You like to quote Vaughan, swallow this: Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves – William Pitt the Younger. Put that in your pipe and smoke it! Stand behind your orders if you will. Stand behind your precious Prime Directive. Do whatever helps you to sleep at night. You talk a good talk but I think Robert Burns said: Let us do or die. Either we stand for something or we don’t.”
A chirp from his tactical console brought Dagon to break the silence. “Jem’Hadar fleet approaching the planet. Within weapons range in two minutes.”
Indignant Donna pronounced and pointed his finger to the deck affirming her stance. “If we stand for something then we ought to stand here for it! You expect the young men and women on this ship to bloody their hands; you expect them to die for your orders. You expect me to try and stem the blood and heal the wounds. If you expect us to do that then ask it of us for a purpose and a reason, an ideal and not because of some strategy. We have to do something. If we do not stand up for these people then why are we bothering to fight a war with the Dominion?” Her voice was hoarse, raw with emotion and shouting.
“Thank you doctor. That is enough. The people, the government of the planet have made their choice. Mr Hayes lay in that course and engage. Warp 5.”
Hayes kept his head low as if cowed by an angry parent feeling implicit in the argument so vocally occurring on the bridge. He carefully inputted his instructions and the ship began to peel away from orbit of the planet the viewscreen sweeping to a field of stars increasingly beginning to speed as the impulse engines came up to full impulse before the ship could safely jump to warp speeds.
Donna stepped away from the Captain. They locked stares at one another. Donna could not hide her anger nor her disappointment with Vaughan. She had begun to slowly respect him. Vaughan bristled, daring the doctor to continue. She was damned close to insubordination, if she were not already for her actions below. Worse still, he agreed with so much of what she was saying. But he was the one who had to make the decisions, the hard decisions and even the bad decisions.
Donna relented breaking the stare and made towards the turbolift doors. But at the doors she turned and addressed them all not just the captain alone. Her voice quiet, almost dejected, and filled with a forlorn disappointment at their failure. “We could have acted to save the people below. We could have saved them.”
More quietly still, her voice warbling, emotions threatening to hush her, she spoke in a broken-hearted whisper, “They’ll be exterminated like the Maquis. Eviscerated. Wiped out.”
Her whispered anguish held a silence over the bridge with an accusing air. Her voice rallied, again indignant and angry. “The ever-helpful Dominion protectors ridding their vassal states of the thorns in their sides, a small price to pay to accept new leaders, don’t you think? We’ve even condemned the Gedans. A great day’s work. Evil exists when good men do nothing.”
Donna walked silently off the stunned bridge and the doors whispered closed behind her.
Here it is the last segment of the story! Hooray for me. It has been a learning curve but I hope I have learned something from it. Also it would be good if others got something from reading the story - like a little light reading or entertainment.
****
Epilogue - O Liberté! que de crimes on commet en ton nom!
Epilogue - O Liberté! que de crimes on commet en ton nom!
Vaughan made his way onto the bridge from his ready-room. His mood was dark. Dr Fichtner stepped forwards from the security alcove. Vaughan threw her a warning look. Dagon at his station stepped back to stand beside the doctor. A further warning for her not to try the Captain.
Donna looked at the fierce security officer at her side and then Vaughan as he came to the centre of the bridge. “If you think you can scare me into being quiet then you are mistaken.”
Vaughan bellowed but deigned not to even look in her direction. “That is enough doctor!”
All on the bridge were taken aback. Vaughan was not one to holler. Few asides Caitlyn Ryan had irked his ire. For her part, as acting XO she tried to step towards her Captain and ask what the fallout was. Vaughan’s none too cryptic reply was addressed to the helm.
“Hayes, plot our course back to Federation territory.”
Caitlyn stepped forwards placing her hands on the rail, “What? We just leave without making a stand!” She had not set out to achieve a command so that she could turn from a fight to protect the needy. “But Captain Dominion forces are en route. The system will be overrun unless we stand and fight.”
Dagon was perplexed at the machinations of Admiralty. His unspoken thought was, ‘What strategy lay behind this?’
Vaughan’s jaw worked in pent up tension. “It seems the decision has been taken out of our hands.”
At engineering with his arms folded Keresh shook his head. Nathan’s death foremost in his mind. His loss a total squander of life as were the lives of so many on the planet below. “I cannot believe it. Does Admiralty not want us to defend the Gedasadans? I know recent events have marred their standing but surely they don’t deserve invasion by the Dominion.”
Donna scathingly expressed her anger, “They probably do deserve it but the Conmenian do not. We don’t need to act on behalf of the Gedan but we can step in to protect the Conmenian. The Gedasadan government may be in the wrong but still we are fighting a war against the Dominion for a reason. We hardly can allow the Gedan and the Conmenian to become the next victims of Dominion ambitions. We don’t just walk away.”
Vaughan turned to meet her stare levelly. “On this occasion we do.”
“And what of Liberty? What of Justice? The world below is ripping itself apart and now the Jem’Hadar are going to come in and take them piecemeal. Damn Admiralty’s sensibilities and prudence. The Federation has a charter for a reason to protect and serve a greater good.”
Vaughan quoted sotto voice. “O Liberté! que de crimes on commet en ton nom! – O Liberty! what crimes are committed in your name!”
“What the hell does that mean Vaughan?” She rounded the rail and stepped up to face Vaughan.
“The world below is tearing itself asunder because of your actions doctor! That’s what the hell it means. And it means the Gedasadans ... It means the decision has been taken out of our hands.”
“You don’t need to listen to admiralty. I don’t deny things on the planet have escalated beyond our control. I didn’t want to see anarchy reign but they needed to know the truth. So what if it puts the government noses out of joint. The fact that it firmly is means we should act now on behalf of the Conmenian.”
“The Gedasadan government have signed a non-aggression pact with the Dominion and seek to align themselves with the Dominion coalition. An unfriendly government saw the Dominion as a better option than the bleeding heart liberals of the Federation.”
Donna felt as if she had been soccer punched in the stomach. She quickly recovered. “Are you blaming me for this?”
“We could have found a different way to deal with the matter. Instead, you strong-arm a resolution you think works. Yes you tell the people the truth make them aware of their secret history. BUT sometimes our past has secrets in it and we should take care of what we reveal.”
Donna seethed. She felt his comment to be very pointed in light of what she had revealed to him. “I am sorry I did not see it as a matter of strategy and expediency Captain. You like to quote Vaughan, swallow this: Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves – William Pitt the Younger. Put that in your pipe and smoke it! Stand behind your orders if you will. Stand behind your precious Prime Directive. Do whatever helps you to sleep at night. You talk a good talk but I think Robert Burns said: Let us do or die. Either we stand for something or we don’t.”
A chirp from his tactical console brought Dagon to break the silence. “Jem’Hadar fleet approaching the planet. Within weapons range in two minutes.”
Indignant Donna pronounced and pointed his finger to the deck affirming her stance. “If we stand for something then we ought to stand here for it! You expect the young men and women on this ship to bloody their hands; you expect them to die for your orders. You expect me to try and stem the blood and heal the wounds. If you expect us to do that then ask it of us for a purpose and a reason, an ideal and not because of some strategy. We have to do something. If we do not stand up for these people then why are we bothering to fight a war with the Dominion?” Her voice was hoarse, raw with emotion and shouting.
“Thank you doctor. That is enough. The people, the government of the planet have made their choice. Mr Hayes lay in that course and engage. Warp 5.”
Hayes kept his head low as if cowed by an angry parent feeling implicit in the argument so vocally occurring on the bridge. He carefully inputted his instructions and the ship began to peel away from orbit of the planet the viewscreen sweeping to a field of stars increasingly beginning to speed as the impulse engines came up to full impulse before the ship could safely jump to warp speeds.
Donna stepped away from the Captain. They locked stares at one another. Donna could not hide her anger nor her disappointment with Vaughan. She had begun to slowly respect him. Vaughan bristled, daring the doctor to continue. She was damned close to insubordination, if she were not already for her actions below. Worse still, he agreed with so much of what she was saying. But he was the one who had to make the decisions, the hard decisions and even the bad decisions.
Donna relented breaking the stare and made towards the turbolift doors. But at the doors she turned and addressed them all not just the captain alone. Her voice quiet, almost dejected, and filled with a forlorn disappointment at their failure. “We could have acted to save the people below. We could have saved them.”
More quietly still, her voice warbling, emotions threatening to hush her, she spoke in a broken-hearted whisper, “They’ll be exterminated like the Maquis. Eviscerated. Wiped out.”
Her whispered anguish held a silence over the bridge with an accusing air. Her voice rallied, again indignant and angry. “The ever-helpful Dominion protectors ridding their vassal states of the thorns in their sides, a small price to pay to accept new leaders, don’t you think? We’ve even condemned the Gedans. A great day’s work. Evil exists when good men do nothing.”
Donna walked silently off the stunned bridge and the doors whispered closed behind her.
****
A fortnight later, the Dominion used the Gedan system as a staging post by to launch the Betazed campaign.
A week later, a scouting Klingon Bird of Prey found Gedasada a ruined world obliterated by Dominion orbital weapons.
****
The End
A fortnight later, the Dominion used the Gedan system as a staging post by to launch the Betazed campaign.
A week later, a scouting Klingon Bird of Prey found Gedasada a ruined world obliterated by Dominion orbital weapons.
****
The End
Lastly before I put this story to rest here on the TrekBBS I just wanted to put up revised 'book cover' for the story which now includes a ship as suggested by commentators. Thanks to those who helped to contribute to the story with their comments, reviews and encouragement. It was a learning curve and a fun if frustrating experience. Again thanks.
RobertScorpio
Pariah
I just came upon this story and I just started it..I like it...I'll have more as I get into it and I DO like the artwork..
Rob
Scorpio
Rob
Scorpio
RobertScorpio
Pariah
I agree Cejay. By the way, if Cejay likes a story then its good. Cejay is VERY hard to impress...my favorite character so far is Captain Vaughan. I like these characters that are, well, not so stuffy like a certain bald captain we all know...Will be interesting to see how these strands stretch together...
Rob
Really? I had no idea that was my reputation around here.
RobertScorpio
Pariah
RobertScorpio
Pariah
Re: Buried History - Chapter 4 - Relief Measures [contd]
I really liked the dialog in this part. Even though Vaughan read him as a politician? I fell for the Prime Governor's explanation quite easily. Then again, after reading it again, the answer was pretty rehearsed. Realistic dialog is proving to be one of this story's greatest assets.
Rob
I really liked the dialog in this part. Even though Vaughan read him as a politician? I fell for the Prime Governor's explanation quite easily. Then again, after reading it again, the answer was pretty rehearsed. Realistic dialog is proving to be one of this story's greatest assets.
Rob
Thanks Rob. I know earlier segments of this story rightly got feedback about being I suppose clunky or waffly but when it kicked up into more dialogue character interaction peices I felt more at ease writing and portraying them.
RobertScorpio
Pariah
Dammit! I though you posted another part..get going sheppy!!! I want to read more of this at lunch time tomorrow!!!
Rob
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