Shadows of the War (A post-Dominion War fic)
- Thread starter Dingo
- Start date
Oh, I haven't forgotten what he says his motives are. But if you are a terrorist or you advocate terrorism--I'm sorry if this sounds cold, but everything you say or claim deserves to be dismissed at that point.
The crimes that the Cardassians committed should have been punished. But any moral high ground that terrorists or those who advocate terrorism has disappears the instant they cross that line. Period.
The crimes that the Cardassians committed should have been punished. But any moral high ground that terrorists or those who advocate terrorism has disappears the instant they cross that line. Period.
The massacre continues unabated. Odo would no doubt be appalled by the inability of the station's Federation, Bajoran, and visiting Cardassian security teams to locate, capture and/or kill Henry Tresckow. Hell, you could douse the station in anesthazine and sort through the unconscious bodies until you find the right one... but it's been hours now and the news networks are already interviewing Henry's old chums while the guy is still actively trigger-pulling! 
I've got to say that although I've enjoyed the story so far, it's presently riding a thin line between action-fueled allegory and war-porn. I've got nothing against graphic violence, if used sparingly and for good purpose, but I think I'm about at my limit of exploding heads and flaming chest cavities.
I would hope that the aftermath of this tragedy is greater cooperation and reconciliation between the Federation and Cardassia, but given how long this has gone on for, I could see the Cardassians making the argument that Starfleet stood by and did nothing while their guests were butchered.
Bad things, man... bad things.
I've got to say that although I've enjoyed the story so far, it's presently riding a thin line between action-fueled allegory and war-porn. I've got nothing against graphic violence, if used sparingly and for good purpose, but I think I'm about at my limit of exploding heads and flaming chest cavities.
I would hope that the aftermath of this tragedy is greater cooperation and reconciliation between the Federation and Cardassia, but given how long this has gone on for, I could see the Cardassians making the argument that Starfleet stood by and did nothing while their guests were butchered.
Bad things, man... bad things.
I'll second the motion.
I have to agree. I'm not sure I can take any more brains and blood and gore, not to mention Henry's oppressive loathing and angst. I hope someone puts an end to the massacre soon.
Deborah's last thought was "I wonder how Henry will take this?" That kind of says to me she knew he was unstable. Sad ...
Don't worry the denouement's about to come up. I intended this particular act of Henry's to cause massive shockwaves to reverberate through both Cardassia and the Federation.
Particularly on the Federation side: I intend to show that a percentage of the Federation's population seeing Henry as a man who died for his cause (the prisoner's suffering being glossed over by the likes of Jellico) while a others think he was little more than a monster.
Well recall he loved her with all that he had. To lose her was especially traumatic and pushed him to the edge. The injustice her memory received at the hands of Jellico is what pushed Henry over the edge and drove him to vengeance.
On another note I patterned Henry's character based on three characters from literature and film. In terms of idealism I looked no further than Ed Harris' character from the Rock (Brigadier General Hummel). In terms of passion I looked to Henry V as portrayed by Kenneth Branagh. In terms of the sniper angle I took inspiration from yet another Ed Harris character from Enemy at the Gates (Major Koenig).
Particularly on the Federation side: I intend to show that a percentage of the Federation's population seeing Henry as a man who died for his cause (the prisoner's suffering being glossed over by the likes of Jellico) while a others think he was little more than a monster.
Well recall he loved her with all that he had. To lose her was especially traumatic and pushed him to the edge. The injustice her memory received at the hands of Jellico is what pushed Henry over the edge and drove him to vengeance.
On another note I patterned Henry's character based on three characters from literature and film. In terms of idealism I looked no further than Ed Harris' character from the Rock (Brigadier General Hummel). In terms of passion I looked to Henry V as portrayed by Kenneth Branagh. In terms of the sniper angle I took inspiration from yet another Ed Harris character from Enemy at the Gates (Major Koenig).
Part V: Denouements and Reverberations
(AN: The musical score from this scene of the Rock is what inspired me writing this scene.)
Crossover Tunnel 2: Henry's crosshairs had just selected another two former guards that were at the facility that became Deborah's morgue. He fired two more shots and killed the men instantly.
It was then that his scans revealed a Cardassian fire team right under his position. Phaser blasts lanced into the ceiling around him. Several blasts impacted Henry.
One struck his abdomen shortly after he managed to snap off another shot and kill one of the Cardassian attackers.
More phaser blasts lanced into the ceiling. Henry felt his grip on his rifle loosen and he rolled over onto his side as more blasts lanced into his side.
He was vaguely aware of angry Cardassians still shooting below. But he was now many lightyears away.
Before his vision blurred as he died he saw a ghostly figure. Deborah.
"See, who said dying was a bad thing?" she asked with that smile he had missed.
He reached for her with his good arm while smiling.
---
Promenade Crossover Tunnel 2: "This is Trish Tilby coming to you live from Deep Space Nine. We have just received word that Henry Tresckow is dead." Tilby said.
The camera panned to several Cardassians dragging Henry's corpse out of a Jeffries Tube. One of them held up a TR-116 rifle. Another held up a bloodied assegai. The Cardassians surrounding the corpse began to kick and strike it with rifle butts.
"Enough!" Glinn Ekoor, a Cardassian officer who'd saved Kira, Damar, and Garak's lives shouted: "He is already dead. No further violence is needed!"
"How did it feel to hunt down your former officer?" Tilby asked Petty Officer Mazzola. He and four other Starfleet security personnel had been nearby.
"I had my orders." the big New Yorker replied, "But that didn't mean I liked having to go after my old LT and have to kill him."
"This just in. Federation and Cardassian officials have opted to resume the Reconciliation Talks." Tilby said.
---
OPS: "It's over. He's dead." Captain Moru said.
"No it's only beginning." Colonel Kira said.
"I for one think that this incident underscores the importance of these talks." Legate Breslau said: "With crimes from both sides needing to be addressed."
"Agreed." Admiral Bonifacio replied: "That a good man like Lieutenant Tresckow could be marginalized and pushed to do such a hideous act shows that we had a hand in this as well."
"There's plenty of blame to go around, gentlemen. But I don't think that either of our nations could take the strain of another war." Garak replied.
"Well placed Ambassador Garak." Bonifacio said: "We will resume the talks at 0800 tommorrow."
---
Infirmary: Gul Jassad opened his one good eye and sat up. He looked down to see both of his legs had been amputated above the knee and knew that one of his eyes had been damaged by the explosion.
He let out a scream of horror.
It was shortly after the nurses had attended to his scream that Legate Breslau flanked by two Cardassian soldiers walked into the room.
"Gul Jassad. You are hereby under arrest for your involvement in the Tunnel Through the Stars project atrocities." Breslau began.
"What! That's preposterous! What of the terrorist who did this to me!?" Jassad demanded.
"He has already been brought to justice." Breslau said.
As if to emphasize his point Jassad could see Bashir performing his post mortem examination on Tresckow's body.
"The Federation must answer for its role in this too Breslau!" Jassad challenged.
"And they've agreed to do so." Breslau said: "And we must hold ourselves accountable. So you and remaining facility personnel are to be arrested and placed on trial by a tribunal of Federation, Klingon, and Cardassian panelists to determine punishment."
"You're conceding to the terrorist's actions?" Jassad demanded.
"No. I'm merely saying that the atrocities our troops committed against the prisoners have gone unanswered for far too long." Breslau replied before turning to a glinn: "Keep a watch posted on Jassad at all times."
"Yes sir." the glinn replied and designated two soldiers to keep a watch on Jassad's bed.
(AN: The musical score from this scene of the Rock is what inspired me writing this scene.)
Crossover Tunnel 2: Henry's crosshairs had just selected another two former guards that were at the facility that became Deborah's morgue. He fired two more shots and killed the men instantly.
It was then that his scans revealed a Cardassian fire team right under his position. Phaser blasts lanced into the ceiling around him. Several blasts impacted Henry.
One struck his abdomen shortly after he managed to snap off another shot and kill one of the Cardassian attackers.
More phaser blasts lanced into the ceiling. Henry felt his grip on his rifle loosen and he rolled over onto his side as more blasts lanced into his side.
He was vaguely aware of angry Cardassians still shooting below. But he was now many lightyears away.
Before his vision blurred as he died he saw a ghostly figure. Deborah.
"See, who said dying was a bad thing?" she asked with that smile he had missed.
He reached for her with his good arm while smiling.
---
Promenade Crossover Tunnel 2: "This is Trish Tilby coming to you live from Deep Space Nine. We have just received word that Henry Tresckow is dead." Tilby said.
The camera panned to several Cardassians dragging Henry's corpse out of a Jeffries Tube. One of them held up a TR-116 rifle. Another held up a bloodied assegai. The Cardassians surrounding the corpse began to kick and strike it with rifle butts.
"Enough!" Glinn Ekoor, a Cardassian officer who'd saved Kira, Damar, and Garak's lives shouted: "He is already dead. No further violence is needed!"
"How did it feel to hunt down your former officer?" Tilby asked Petty Officer Mazzola. He and four other Starfleet security personnel had been nearby.
"I had my orders." the big New Yorker replied, "But that didn't mean I liked having to go after my old LT and have to kill him."
"This just in. Federation and Cardassian officials have opted to resume the Reconciliation Talks." Tilby said.
---
OPS: "It's over. He's dead." Captain Moru said.
"No it's only beginning." Colonel Kira said.
"I for one think that this incident underscores the importance of these talks." Legate Breslau said: "With crimes from both sides needing to be addressed."
"Agreed." Admiral Bonifacio replied: "That a good man like Lieutenant Tresckow could be marginalized and pushed to do such a hideous act shows that we had a hand in this as well."
"There's plenty of blame to go around, gentlemen. But I don't think that either of our nations could take the strain of another war." Garak replied.
"Well placed Ambassador Garak." Bonifacio said: "We will resume the talks at 0800 tommorrow."
---
Infirmary: Gul Jassad opened his one good eye and sat up. He looked down to see both of his legs had been amputated above the knee and knew that one of his eyes had been damaged by the explosion.
He let out a scream of horror.
It was shortly after the nurses had attended to his scream that Legate Breslau flanked by two Cardassian soldiers walked into the room.
"Gul Jassad. You are hereby under arrest for your involvement in the Tunnel Through the Stars project atrocities." Breslau began.
"What! That's preposterous! What of the terrorist who did this to me!?" Jassad demanded.
"He has already been brought to justice." Breslau said.
As if to emphasize his point Jassad could see Bashir performing his post mortem examination on Tresckow's body.
"The Federation must answer for its role in this too Breslau!" Jassad challenged.
"And they've agreed to do so." Breslau said: "And we must hold ourselves accountable. So you and remaining facility personnel are to be arrested and placed on trial by a tribunal of Federation, Klingon, and Cardassian panelists to determine punishment."
"You're conceding to the terrorist's actions?" Jassad demanded.
"No. I'm merely saying that the atrocities our troops committed against the prisoners have gone unanswered for far too long." Breslau replied before turning to a glinn: "Keep a watch posted on Jassad at all times."
"Yes sir." the glinn replied and designated two soldiers to keep a watch on Jassad's bed.
Re: Part V: Denouements and Reverberations
The strange thing here is, I'm not sure what to think of Jassad's arrest. What's more, the Federation soldiers don't seem to place enough blame on Tresckow. Bonifacio's statement in particular is far out of line. Just because you suffer--even badly--and just because you have a cause that may on the face of it be just...you do not get to become a terrorist. Period. I do not want to hear about how "marginalized" he was after what he's done. I don't care. I truly don't.
And the media in your universe is WAY out of line. They should not have that sort of access to a military institution, and be able to inject themselves into the situation in that manner.
Frankly, if I'd been the Cardassian government, I think that even though I would agree with Breslau about the need to make sure that the Tunnel perpetrators were held responsible, my reaction would've been to do one of two things, the way the Federation handled this situation, and with all the sympathetic talk towards the terrorist: cut the Federation and Klingons out of the trial entirely so it becomes strictly Cardassian justice and other powers cannot meddle, or delay the trials sufficiently that it can't be seen as a cave-in to the actions of a Starfleet terrorist.
I'm sorry to say, but I feel this story went too far in the end. Either he should have been brought to a much swifter end, or there should've been much, much less sympathetic talk. As it is, I wound up despising Starfleet and feeling sympathy for exactly who I don't think you wanted anybody to feel sorry for.
The strange thing here is, I'm not sure what to think of Jassad's arrest. What's more, the Federation soldiers don't seem to place enough blame on Tresckow. Bonifacio's statement in particular is far out of line. Just because you suffer--even badly--and just because you have a cause that may on the face of it be just...you do not get to become a terrorist. Period. I do not want to hear about how "marginalized" he was after what he's done. I don't care. I truly don't.
And the media in your universe is WAY out of line. They should not have that sort of access to a military institution, and be able to inject themselves into the situation in that manner.
Frankly, if I'd been the Cardassian government, I think that even though I would agree with Breslau about the need to make sure that the Tunnel perpetrators were held responsible, my reaction would've been to do one of two things, the way the Federation handled this situation, and with all the sympathetic talk towards the terrorist: cut the Federation and Klingons out of the trial entirely so it becomes strictly Cardassian justice and other powers cannot meddle, or delay the trials sufficiently that it can't be seen as a cave-in to the actions of a Starfleet terrorist.
I'm sorry to say, but I feel this story went too far in the end. Either he should have been brought to a much swifter end, or there should've been much, much less sympathetic talk. As it is, I wound up despising Starfleet and feeling sympathy for exactly who I don't think you wanted anybody to feel sorry for.
I think I get what you were after here... it's the I've-Been-Wronged revenge fantasy, ala The Crow.
It was entertaining, and you had me right up until near the end, but there's some stuff that threw me at the conclusion. The last thing Starfleet officers would do is express any kind of allegiance with Tresckow's brand of venom. Yes, they may be hurting for friends and loved ones lost during the war too, but they're not going to take his side in a post-massacre interview.
To me at least, Jassad's arrest at the end just comes across like a Cardassian gambit to try and prevent more attacks of that kind in the future, rather than as a legitimate attempt at justice.
I felt pity for Henry's loss for much of the story, and I interpreted the 'voice' in his head as perhaps an outside influence bending Henry to it's will, but in the end he became a coward and a murder, no better than the people he sought vengeance against.
It's a sad tale, to be certain, but I came away feeling there were few insights to be had here, aside from don't-commit-war-crimes-'cause-it'll-come-back-to-getcha.
It was entertaining, and you had me right up until near the end, but there's some stuff that threw me at the conclusion. The last thing Starfleet officers would do is express any kind of allegiance with Tresckow's brand of venom. Yes, they may be hurting for friends and loved ones lost during the war too, but they're not going to take his side in a post-massacre interview.
To me at least, Jassad's arrest at the end just comes across like a Cardassian gambit to try and prevent more attacks of that kind in the future, rather than as a legitimate attempt at justice.
I felt pity for Henry's loss for much of the story, and I interpreted the 'voice' in his head as perhaps an outside influence bending Henry to it's will, but in the end he became a coward and a murder, no better than the people he sought vengeance against.
It's a sad tale, to be certain, but I came away feeling there were few insights to be had here, aside from don't-commit-war-crimes-'cause-it'll-come-back-to-getcha.
Interesting ending. Will yu be continuing to do anymore storylines simliar to this one?
Epilogue: Letting the Dead Lie
Deep Space Nine, 2375: Both leaders faced great criticism in their handling of what would become known as the Tresckow Massacre.
Public opinion polls in the Federation showed that 85% of the Federation population disagreed or were outright horrified and disgusted at his actions.
A relatively small minority believed that Tresckow was in the right...
All these facts were furthest from Sam Lavelle's mind when he walked into the Promenade to square some things away with Quark for the produce he'd sold to the Ferengi. He found himself facing the tanned and coiffed Trish Tilby.
"Mr. Lavelle?" she asked, "I understand you and LT Tresckow were close friends. Was this the case?"
"Yes. Henry was a friend. And no I don't approve of what he did." Sam replied.
"Can we speak to you?" she asked.
"For what purpose?" Sam asked: "He's already killed people and you've got the exclusive you want."
"We want a sense of who he was beyond the killer everyone knows him to be." Trish replied.
Sam nodded his head.
"This is Trish Tilby coming to you live from Deep Space Nine." She began: "I'm here with former Starfleet Lieutenant Sam Lavelle, a close friend of Henry Tresckow's."
"When did you first meet?" Tilby asked.
"We were at Starfleet Academy together. He was one of my plebes and after the first year we got to being friends. He dated a good friend of mine for many years." Sam replied.
"Would that be Lieutenant Deborah Kelley?" Tilby asked.
Sam nodded.
"She died on that Dominion prison camp you were kept in at the hands of those Cardassian guards?"
"Yes." Sam replied.
"And here is footage showing one scene that probably provoked Tresckow into this course of action." Tilby said before showing the riot in the female cellblock where Deborah had died.
"No. I don't condone Henry's actions. In fact I'm so upset right now that words fail me. Henry was a good man. Yes. But he was also in the wrong no matter what the purity of his actions were."
"Any further commentary..." Tilby said.
Sam wiped tears from his eyes: "No. He's dead. Let the dead lie...Maybe in death he found the peace that eluded him after Deborah was killed."
---
San Francisco, Earth 2375: "Henry was a very passionate man when it came to many things in life. In rugby I could never imagine a more passionate winger. In archaeology I never met someone who could stay at the library till two o'clock in the morning and still have the energy to go through morning conditioning, classes, and still have enough energy to go take his girlfriend out to somewhere nice." Sam began, his words echoing through the small All Faith's Chapel at Starfleet Academy.
It was shortly after that that Sam's tears flowed unrestricted and Ro gently escorted him away from the pulpet.
It was then that Danielle Kernan took Sam's place to speak. She put a comforting arm around her classmate who was sobbing uncontrollably in Ro's arms.
"In love he was equally passionate and devoted. He gave Deborah every last beat of his heart. Every spare second of his love and devotion he gave her. I still remember when they first got together. When he quoted Henry V's love scene almost perfectly and my roommate fell for it. From that moment on Henry was totally devoted to her. He'd stay up late searching historical archives for great historic love poems and songs that he'd revamp just for her. He'd make history come alive in a way that she could never imagine." Danielle said before sniffling: "I just cannot see him as the monster everyone would have you believe he was. Yes he did something horrible. Yes he killed almost thirty people in a killing rampage. But I still think that somewhere we, his friends and loved ones...failed him..." Danielle said before the emotions became too much for her.
It was during that time that Sam stood with Ro outside the chapel talking to the handfull of wellwishers that showed up to attend Henry's memorial service.
"I just wish I could have seen this before it happend. I feel like the blood of Jellico and all those dead Cardassians is on my hands too." Sam said as he sniffled.
"Sam. It wasn't your fault. Henry's the one who planned the massacre. He set the bombs. He squeezed the trigger. You did everything you could to try and be there for him as the friend that you are. But it was Henry's choice to fall to the darkness." Ro replied.
"Still. I wish there was something I could've done." Sam replied.
Danielle came out of the chapel. She was still dabbing away tears when she came upon Sam. Sam put his arms around his grieving friend, feeling her tears soak into his shirt.
"The war's over already. I thought we'd buried enough people. Enough friends, enough family members, enough lovers...I thought it was horrible when we had to bury Deborah. I never dreamed we'd have to bury Henry shortly thereafter..." Danielle replied.
It was outside the memorial service that mobs of protestors shouting: "Tresckow is a traitor!" or "Murderer doesn't deserve Starfleet Chapel memorial services!" or similar hateful slogans could be heard.
---
The protests continued even at Henry's funeral. In his will he had requested he be buried beside Deborah. Sam had paid out of his own pocket for a new headstone with two large hearts for Henry and Deborah with the epitath:
"Here lie Henry Tresckow and Deborah Kelley. Two hearts separated by death. And in death reunited..."
Shouts of protest accompanied that burial too: "Murderer doesn't deserve burial on Starfleet property!"
"Killer should be separated from his beloved in death and life!"
Sam stood in the driving rain where the protests stood. "Well buddy you got your wish. You're with her again. It took a serious amount of arguing but we managed to convince Admiral Bonifacio to allow it. They're starting new legislation over our plight and now I and other former prisoners are guaranteed priority medical and psychiatric care for the rest of our lives. I only wish you didn't make a monster out of yourself."
"I know you." A woman said: "You were the Deep Space Nine murderer's best friend."
"I was a friend of Henry Tresckow's yes. And he did a horrible thing, yes. But let the dead lie..." Sam said as he stood in the rain looking at the mutual headstone shared by Deborah and Henry...
End...
Deep Space Nine, 2375: Both leaders faced great criticism in their handling of what would become known as the Tresckow Massacre.
Public opinion polls in the Federation showed that 85% of the Federation population disagreed or were outright horrified and disgusted at his actions.
A relatively small minority believed that Tresckow was in the right...
All these facts were furthest from Sam Lavelle's mind when he walked into the Promenade to square some things away with Quark for the produce he'd sold to the Ferengi. He found himself facing the tanned and coiffed Trish Tilby.
"Mr. Lavelle?" she asked, "I understand you and LT Tresckow were close friends. Was this the case?"
"Yes. Henry was a friend. And no I don't approve of what he did." Sam replied.
"Can we speak to you?" she asked.
"For what purpose?" Sam asked: "He's already killed people and you've got the exclusive you want."
"We want a sense of who he was beyond the killer everyone knows him to be." Trish replied.
Sam nodded his head.
"This is Trish Tilby coming to you live from Deep Space Nine." She began: "I'm here with former Starfleet Lieutenant Sam Lavelle, a close friend of Henry Tresckow's."
"When did you first meet?" Tilby asked.
"We were at Starfleet Academy together. He was one of my plebes and after the first year we got to being friends. He dated a good friend of mine for many years." Sam replied.
"Would that be Lieutenant Deborah Kelley?" Tilby asked.
Sam nodded.
"She died on that Dominion prison camp you were kept in at the hands of those Cardassian guards?"
"Yes." Sam replied.
"And here is footage showing one scene that probably provoked Tresckow into this course of action." Tilby said before showing the riot in the female cellblock where Deborah had died.
"No. I don't condone Henry's actions. In fact I'm so upset right now that words fail me. Henry was a good man. Yes. But he was also in the wrong no matter what the purity of his actions were."
"Any further commentary..." Tilby said.
Sam wiped tears from his eyes: "No. He's dead. Let the dead lie...Maybe in death he found the peace that eluded him after Deborah was killed."
---
San Francisco, Earth 2375: "Henry was a very passionate man when it came to many things in life. In rugby I could never imagine a more passionate winger. In archaeology I never met someone who could stay at the library till two o'clock in the morning and still have the energy to go through morning conditioning, classes, and still have enough energy to go take his girlfriend out to somewhere nice." Sam began, his words echoing through the small All Faith's Chapel at Starfleet Academy.
It was shortly after that that Sam's tears flowed unrestricted and Ro gently escorted him away from the pulpet.
It was then that Danielle Kernan took Sam's place to speak. She put a comforting arm around her classmate who was sobbing uncontrollably in Ro's arms.
"In love he was equally passionate and devoted. He gave Deborah every last beat of his heart. Every spare second of his love and devotion he gave her. I still remember when they first got together. When he quoted Henry V's love scene almost perfectly and my roommate fell for it. From that moment on Henry was totally devoted to her. He'd stay up late searching historical archives for great historic love poems and songs that he'd revamp just for her. He'd make history come alive in a way that she could never imagine." Danielle said before sniffling: "I just cannot see him as the monster everyone would have you believe he was. Yes he did something horrible. Yes he killed almost thirty people in a killing rampage. But I still think that somewhere we, his friends and loved ones...failed him..." Danielle said before the emotions became too much for her.
It was during that time that Sam stood with Ro outside the chapel talking to the handfull of wellwishers that showed up to attend Henry's memorial service.
"I just wish I could have seen this before it happend. I feel like the blood of Jellico and all those dead Cardassians is on my hands too." Sam said as he sniffled.
"Sam. It wasn't your fault. Henry's the one who planned the massacre. He set the bombs. He squeezed the trigger. You did everything you could to try and be there for him as the friend that you are. But it was Henry's choice to fall to the darkness." Ro replied.
"Still. I wish there was something I could've done." Sam replied.
Danielle came out of the chapel. She was still dabbing away tears when she came upon Sam. Sam put his arms around his grieving friend, feeling her tears soak into his shirt.
"The war's over already. I thought we'd buried enough people. Enough friends, enough family members, enough lovers...I thought it was horrible when we had to bury Deborah. I never dreamed we'd have to bury Henry shortly thereafter..." Danielle replied.
It was outside the memorial service that mobs of protestors shouting: "Tresckow is a traitor!" or "Murderer doesn't deserve Starfleet Chapel memorial services!" or similar hateful slogans could be heard.
---
The protests continued even at Henry's funeral. In his will he had requested he be buried beside Deborah. Sam had paid out of his own pocket for a new headstone with two large hearts for Henry and Deborah with the epitath:
"Here lie Henry Tresckow and Deborah Kelley. Two hearts separated by death. And in death reunited..."
Shouts of protest accompanied that burial too: "Murderer doesn't deserve burial on Starfleet property!"
"Killer should be separated from his beloved in death and life!"
Sam stood in the driving rain where the protests stood. "Well buddy you got your wish. You're with her again. It took a serious amount of arguing but we managed to convince Admiral Bonifacio to allow it. They're starting new legislation over our plight and now I and other former prisoners are guaranteed priority medical and psychiatric care for the rest of our lives. I only wish you didn't make a monster out of yourself."
"I know you." A woman said: "You were the Deep Space Nine murderer's best friend."
"I was a friend of Henry Tresckow's yes. And he did a horrible thing, yes. But let the dead lie..." Sam said as he stood in the rain looking at the mutual headstone shared by Deborah and Henry...
End...
Re: Epilogue: Letting the Dead Lie
Oh goodie. More love for the terrorist.
So it's hateful to speak the truth, which is that someone who commits a crime like this should have had a dishonorable discharge put on his record posthumously and not received Starfleet honors?
Maybe the funeral wasn't the appropriate venue...but I certainly don't care for Tresckow's sake...only for that of his family. But if those protests had been at the Federation's equivalent of the Capitol, it would've been VERY appropriate.
Maybe you were trying for a "morally ambiguous" Battlestar Galactica-type ending, but in the end it didn't work: you lead into that minority 15% as if it's desirable. At least to me, the effect of that ellipsis is to suggest you're inviting one to ponder the possibility...and one that to my mind does not deserve a second's consideration.
A terrorist is a terrorist is a terrorist. And I can tell you that if one of my friends, or even one of my loved ones did a thing like this, and it was proven, I would cut them dead and disown them without compunctions. And that's not just my in-character "Cardassian voice." That is the honest to God truth.
Would I be sorry that I missed the signs? Yes, especially because of the suffering of the victims. But sorry for a murderer and terrorist? Never...no matter WHO they were or what they used to be to me. Never.
Sorry--but if this story does continue, I'm done with it. As is my participation in the thread; I've said my piece and that's enough...this was too reprehensible and anything else I say will be redundant and purposeless.
Oh goodie. More love for the terrorist.
So it's hateful to speak the truth, which is that someone who commits a crime like this should have had a dishonorable discharge put on his record posthumously and not received Starfleet honors?
Maybe the funeral wasn't the appropriate venue...but I certainly don't care for Tresckow's sake...only for that of his family. But if those protests had been at the Federation's equivalent of the Capitol, it would've been VERY appropriate.
Maybe you were trying for a "morally ambiguous" Battlestar Galactica-type ending, but in the end it didn't work: you lead into that minority 15% as if it's desirable. At least to me, the effect of that ellipsis is to suggest you're inviting one to ponder the possibility...and one that to my mind does not deserve a second's consideration.
A terrorist is a terrorist is a terrorist. And I can tell you that if one of my friends, or even one of my loved ones did a thing like this, and it was proven, I would cut them dead and disown them without compunctions. And that's not just my in-character "Cardassian voice." That is the honest to God truth.
Would I be sorry that I missed the signs? Yes, especially because of the suffering of the victims. But sorry for a murderer and terrorist? Never...no matter WHO they were or what they used to be to me. Never.
Sorry--but if this story does continue, I'm done with it. As is my participation in the thread; I've said my piece and that's enough...this was too reprehensible and anything else I say will be redundant and purposeless.
Though I'm sure Henry's friends and family would indeed mourn both his passing and the horrific events that lead to his death, I simply cannot see Starfleet Academy allowing him to have a memorial service and/or burial on academy grounds. To do so would be to validate his reprehensible actions and spit in the collective eyes of the dead and their families. 
They laid them in the same grave? Really? 
Seconding those who don't think they would have had a memorial service for this guy ....
Just a question, Dingo, have you ever lost a friend or loved one in a massacre? 9-11, school shooting, anything like that? Because for those who have, I think this story treads pretty close to the "insensitive" line with its sympathy for the motives of the killer.
Seconding those who don't think they would have had a memorial service for this guy ....
Just a question, Dingo, have you ever lost a friend or loved one in a massacre? 9-11, school shooting, anything like that? Because for those who have, I think this story treads pretty close to the "insensitive" line with its sympathy for the motives of the killer.
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