Gravity - Chapter 5, Part I
Chapter 5, Part I
"Thank you, Captain Sandhurst," Aldo Ramirez said, his voice carefully modulated for public consumption, "for bringing my daughter home."
Sandhurst clasped Ramirez's hand firmly, his eyes searching those of Liana's father for any sign of emotion. The man remained very much like his handshake: warm, dry, and utterly perfunctory.
Thus concluded the hastily rescheduled memorial ceremony in the now heavily guarded conference center aboard Hades' Apex. A mix of company and shipboard security personnel surrounded the event, working in conjunction to assure the earlier incident was not repeated.
The assembly of corporate and Starfleet officers splintered into a milling throng as people made introductions, initiated conversations or made their way to the refreshment tables set along one wall. Sandhurst had just barely surrendered his grasp of Ramirez's hand when the CEO took him by the elbow and maneuvered him insistently towards one of the large viewing ports set into the outer bulkhead.
"Again, Captain, I wish to apologize for that unconscionable outrage when you arrived," Ramirez's features were suddenly tight with repressed anger.
Sandhurst took a moment to gaze out the viewport at the roiling, mesmerizing specter that was the planet Acheron. "If anyone owes an apology here, Mr. Ramirez, it's me."
Ramirez actually had to think about that statement before its meaning sunk in. His expression softened marginally. "I've been made aware of the circumstances surrounding Liana's death, Captain. I bear you no ill-will. She died as she lived, fighting."
Sandhurst was caught desperately trying to come up some kind of cogent response to that when Ramirez forged ahead. "If you can be spared, Captain, my engineering team aboard the particle fountain is eagerly awaiting your assistance. They've been pouring over your project evaluations from Tyra and can't wait to speak with you in person."
Blindsided by the unexpected shift in topics, Sandhurst stared blankly at the man for a long moment. "Yes," he finally murmured, sounding tentative. "Of course. Whatever help I can offer."
"Excellent," Ramirez responded, his earlier pique now apparently banished.
The remainder of the wake went by in a blur of expressed condolences and awkward conversation until such time as Sandhurst could gracefully bow out.
*****
"Come in." The response was muffled and listless, and as she entered his quarters, Issara Taiee found Sandhurst sitting at his work desk with an untouched glass of what she guessed to be liquor in his hand.
"Tarkalian ale?" she inquired as she stepped into the cabin.
"Whiskey, neat," he corrected.
"I didn't think you liked whiskey," Taiee noted as she moved unbidden to take a seat on the sofa facing his desk.
"Can't stand the stuff," he affirmed dourly. "I wanted something with some bite to it." He glanced down, swishing the amber liquid around in the glass.
She prompted, "And?"
He sighed and set the glass down atop the desk, pushing it away from him. "It won't help." He turned in his chair to face his Chief Medical Officer as he plastered on a forced smile. "What brings you around, Doc?"
"A little birdie mentioned to me that you looked a little rattled after the memorial ceremony. The person said you got out of there as soon as you could."
Sandhurst nodded slowly. "Yeah. That whole thing was... " he trailed off, at a loss for words.
Taiee merely sat there but did not press the issue. She had a knack for listening that rivaled that of the ship's former security chief.
"I was prepared for Ramirez to be enraged, spiteful, even vindictive towards me given what I did to his daughter." Sandhurst stared off into space, his expression vacant. "What I wasn't prepared for was the man's utter ambivalence."
"Really?" Taiee looked surprised and troubled by the revelation.
Sandhurst shook his head fractionally. "He was more concerned with my getting aboard his damned siphon station than he was with his daughter's memorial and wake. If anything, he seemed like the whole situation with Liana was an unwanted distraction."
"That's a shame," Taiee sighed. "Living with a man like that couldn't have been easy. It probably explains why she left home as soon as she could to pursue an appointment to the academy."
Sandhurst reached out a hand to turn his tabletop data terminal towards Taiee. On the display screen was a headshot of Liana Ramirez along with her service record. "I've been reading this over since I got back. Do you know that despite the fact that she had a stellar career, there are very few indications that Liana had very many close friendships?"
"She was on the fast track," Taiee offered. "She never struck me as having much time for anything that detracted from her quest for a captaincy."
He locked eyes with Taiee. "Could it be that we few are the only ones who will mourn Liana's passing? How fundamentally wrong is that? She's supposed to have a loving family who should be wailing and gnashing their teeth at the injustice of it all. Instead, all she's got is a group of people who barely knew her, the crew of a ship she never wanted to serve aboard."
"Perhaps that will have to do," Taiee said softly. "Liana was a force of nature, and she had a singular focus. What was it that Shakespeare wrote? 'I am constant as the Northern Star.' That's a pretty accurate epitaph for Captain Ramirez."
Sandhurst replied with a humorless smirk, "So what you're saying is the candle that burns twice as bright burns half as long?"
Taiee gave her captain a supportive smile. "That too."
*****
Lt. Verrik noted the loathsome looks both he and Ch'har received from the various passers-by as he and the company's Xindi reptilian chief of operations walked along the station's commercial promenade. Damage to various shops and kiosks from the short-lived riot was nearly repaired, and life seemed to be returning to normal, or what passed for normal on the emotionally charged outpost.
"What was the outcome of your security team's intervention during the earlier incident?" the Vulcan inquired stolidly.
The sensory vanes on Ch'har's head waved with agitation. "My men stunned over a dozen of the most violent protesters. The rest abandoned their cause rather quickly and departed the area. My staff are continuing the investigation and conducting interviews with identified participants in the disruption."
"Does this happen frequently here?" Verrik attuned his senses to observe Ch'har's reaction to the question.
The reptilian maintained a calm facade. "Not usually, but such incidents have been occurring with greater frequency of late due to company's financial situation and the union's perception of the particle fountain rig as a threat to their members' well being."
"I find it intriguing that something as mundane as currency-based economics could incite such behavior in otherwise rational humanoids."
Ch'har grunted disconsolately. "They see their livelihood at risk, and though they are incorrect in that assessment, humanoids have been known to go to war for far less."
Verrik considered that briefly. "I would be remiss if I did not point out that this entire situation could have been avoided by your company's incorporating within the Federation's economic markets."
That caused Ch'har to stop in his tracks to face the Starfleet officer. "The Ramirez family has built this company over generations, and one of the founding pillars of that enterprise was the idea that the corporation would be a for-profit industry outside the economic vacuum of the Federation. Your rules and regulations would have been a death sentence for this project."
"Vacuum?" Verrik looked very nearly displeased with that assessment. "As a citizen of the Federation, I can assure you that neither I nor my family have ever wanted for anything. Our needs are well met, freeing each of us to pursue such endeavors as pleases our individual natures."
"But what of those who want more?" Ch'har probed. "To limit an individual's potential wealth is stifling to some, regardless of what 'opportunities' the Federation tries to ply as compensation for that restriction." Ch'har eyed Verrik warily, "I don't find your outlook to be especially in keeping with your people's espousal of Infinite Diversity."
"Please to not presume to tell me how I should believe based on my genetics," Verrik parried, "or shall I point out that as a reptilian of the Xindi species, you should have become enraged with this topic of conversation thirty seconds ago and should by all rights have attempted to initiate a physical confrontation with me as a result."
This made Ch'har smirk. "What sort of Vulcan are you, Lieutenant?"
"An opinionated one," was Verrik's reply.
Ch'har laughed out loud at that. "I like you, Lieutenant. I may disagree vehemently with you on nearly every point we've touched on, but I find your divergent outlook... refreshing."
Verrik turned to examine a work-crew making repairs to a kiosk on the level below. "If only everyone shared that same appreciation," he observed with only the slightest hint of irony in his tone.
*****
Chapter 5, Part I
"Thank you, Captain Sandhurst," Aldo Ramirez said, his voice carefully modulated for public consumption, "for bringing my daughter home."
Sandhurst clasped Ramirez's hand firmly, his eyes searching those of Liana's father for any sign of emotion. The man remained very much like his handshake: warm, dry, and utterly perfunctory.
Thus concluded the hastily rescheduled memorial ceremony in the now heavily guarded conference center aboard Hades' Apex. A mix of company and shipboard security personnel surrounded the event, working in conjunction to assure the earlier incident was not repeated.
The assembly of corporate and Starfleet officers splintered into a milling throng as people made introductions, initiated conversations or made their way to the refreshment tables set along one wall. Sandhurst had just barely surrendered his grasp of Ramirez's hand when the CEO took him by the elbow and maneuvered him insistently towards one of the large viewing ports set into the outer bulkhead.
"Again, Captain, I wish to apologize for that unconscionable outrage when you arrived," Ramirez's features were suddenly tight with repressed anger.
Sandhurst took a moment to gaze out the viewport at the roiling, mesmerizing specter that was the planet Acheron. "If anyone owes an apology here, Mr. Ramirez, it's me."
Ramirez actually had to think about that statement before its meaning sunk in. His expression softened marginally. "I've been made aware of the circumstances surrounding Liana's death, Captain. I bear you no ill-will. She died as she lived, fighting."
Sandhurst was caught desperately trying to come up some kind of cogent response to that when Ramirez forged ahead. "If you can be spared, Captain, my engineering team aboard the particle fountain is eagerly awaiting your assistance. They've been pouring over your project evaluations from Tyra and can't wait to speak with you in person."
Blindsided by the unexpected shift in topics, Sandhurst stared blankly at the man for a long moment. "Yes," he finally murmured, sounding tentative. "Of course. Whatever help I can offer."
"Excellent," Ramirez responded, his earlier pique now apparently banished.
The remainder of the wake went by in a blur of expressed condolences and awkward conversation until such time as Sandhurst could gracefully bow out.
*****
"Come in." The response was muffled and listless, and as she entered his quarters, Issara Taiee found Sandhurst sitting at his work desk with an untouched glass of what she guessed to be liquor in his hand.
"Tarkalian ale?" she inquired as she stepped into the cabin.
"Whiskey, neat," he corrected.
"I didn't think you liked whiskey," Taiee noted as she moved unbidden to take a seat on the sofa facing his desk.
"Can't stand the stuff," he affirmed dourly. "I wanted something with some bite to it." He glanced down, swishing the amber liquid around in the glass.
She prompted, "And?"
He sighed and set the glass down atop the desk, pushing it away from him. "It won't help." He turned in his chair to face his Chief Medical Officer as he plastered on a forced smile. "What brings you around, Doc?"
"A little birdie mentioned to me that you looked a little rattled after the memorial ceremony. The person said you got out of there as soon as you could."
Sandhurst nodded slowly. "Yeah. That whole thing was... " he trailed off, at a loss for words.
Taiee merely sat there but did not press the issue. She had a knack for listening that rivaled that of the ship's former security chief.
"I was prepared for Ramirez to be enraged, spiteful, even vindictive towards me given what I did to his daughter." Sandhurst stared off into space, his expression vacant. "What I wasn't prepared for was the man's utter ambivalence."
"Really?" Taiee looked surprised and troubled by the revelation.
Sandhurst shook his head fractionally. "He was more concerned with my getting aboard his damned siphon station than he was with his daughter's memorial and wake. If anything, he seemed like the whole situation with Liana was an unwanted distraction."
"That's a shame," Taiee sighed. "Living with a man like that couldn't have been easy. It probably explains why she left home as soon as she could to pursue an appointment to the academy."
Sandhurst reached out a hand to turn his tabletop data terminal towards Taiee. On the display screen was a headshot of Liana Ramirez along with her service record. "I've been reading this over since I got back. Do you know that despite the fact that she had a stellar career, there are very few indications that Liana had very many close friendships?"
"She was on the fast track," Taiee offered. "She never struck me as having much time for anything that detracted from her quest for a captaincy."
He locked eyes with Taiee. "Could it be that we few are the only ones who will mourn Liana's passing? How fundamentally wrong is that? She's supposed to have a loving family who should be wailing and gnashing their teeth at the injustice of it all. Instead, all she's got is a group of people who barely knew her, the crew of a ship she never wanted to serve aboard."
"Perhaps that will have to do," Taiee said softly. "Liana was a force of nature, and she had a singular focus. What was it that Shakespeare wrote? 'I am constant as the Northern Star.' That's a pretty accurate epitaph for Captain Ramirez."
Sandhurst replied with a humorless smirk, "So what you're saying is the candle that burns twice as bright burns half as long?"
Taiee gave her captain a supportive smile. "That too."
*****
Lt. Verrik noted the loathsome looks both he and Ch'har received from the various passers-by as he and the company's Xindi reptilian chief of operations walked along the station's commercial promenade. Damage to various shops and kiosks from the short-lived riot was nearly repaired, and life seemed to be returning to normal, or what passed for normal on the emotionally charged outpost.
"What was the outcome of your security team's intervention during the earlier incident?" the Vulcan inquired stolidly.
The sensory vanes on Ch'har's head waved with agitation. "My men stunned over a dozen of the most violent protesters. The rest abandoned their cause rather quickly and departed the area. My staff are continuing the investigation and conducting interviews with identified participants in the disruption."
"Does this happen frequently here?" Verrik attuned his senses to observe Ch'har's reaction to the question.
The reptilian maintained a calm facade. "Not usually, but such incidents have been occurring with greater frequency of late due to company's financial situation and the union's perception of the particle fountain rig as a threat to their members' well being."
"I find it intriguing that something as mundane as currency-based economics could incite such behavior in otherwise rational humanoids."
Ch'har grunted disconsolately. "They see their livelihood at risk, and though they are incorrect in that assessment, humanoids have been known to go to war for far less."
Verrik considered that briefly. "I would be remiss if I did not point out that this entire situation could have been avoided by your company's incorporating within the Federation's economic markets."
That caused Ch'har to stop in his tracks to face the Starfleet officer. "The Ramirez family has built this company over generations, and one of the founding pillars of that enterprise was the idea that the corporation would be a for-profit industry outside the economic vacuum of the Federation. Your rules and regulations would have been a death sentence for this project."
"Vacuum?" Verrik looked very nearly displeased with that assessment. "As a citizen of the Federation, I can assure you that neither I nor my family have ever wanted for anything. Our needs are well met, freeing each of us to pursue such endeavors as pleases our individual natures."
"But what of those who want more?" Ch'har probed. "To limit an individual's potential wealth is stifling to some, regardless of what 'opportunities' the Federation tries to ply as compensation for that restriction." Ch'har eyed Verrik warily, "I don't find your outlook to be especially in keeping with your people's espousal of Infinite Diversity."
"Please to not presume to tell me how I should believe based on my genetics," Verrik parried, "or shall I point out that as a reptilian of the Xindi species, you should have become enraged with this topic of conversation thirty seconds ago and should by all rights have attempted to initiate a physical confrontation with me as a result."
This made Ch'har smirk. "What sort of Vulcan are you, Lieutenant?"
"An opinionated one," was Verrik's reply.
Ch'har laughed out loud at that. "I like you, Lieutenant. I may disagree vehemently with you on nearly every point we've touched on, but I find your divergent outlook... refreshing."
Verrik turned to examine a work-crew making repairs to a kiosk on the level below. "If only everyone shared that same appreciation," he observed with only the slightest hint of irony in his tone.
*****
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He's getting better, honest he is. Liana's father's lack of a reaction just took him off guard, as he'd been prepared to either get screamed at or cold-shouldered.
