CHAPTER 16
Supplemental
USS Independence, Executive Officer’s Quarters
Docked with Starbase 17
Ethan had been released for two hours to say his good-byes and pack his things. A reminder of the verdict was the tracking anklet he bore.
There was no point in hiding anything anymore. He told Susan everything that wasn’t revealed during the trial. She listened between his sobs.
The lieutenant commander concluded with, "There’s less stigma attached to being a mass murder like Captain Glover than a coward like me.” He blurted after a moment, “I'll go ahead and file for divorce if you want. You and the kids would be better on Earth without me, anyway."
Her reaction was quick, “There you go running again.” The comment hit with more punch than she had intended. Susan continued somewhat apologetically, “You never wanted command anyway. You're not a man of war; you're a man of peace. You were put in a situation you weren't made for. I don't think less of you because you didn't handle it well."
“But then I lied,” pro-offered Ethan.
She repeated, “But then you lied.”
“How can you or anyone else ever trust me again?” asked Windslow.
“I don’t know,” responded Susan. “But I’m not quite ready to give up on you.”
Ethan wanted to smile at the revelation, but then his thoughts went back to where they always go, "I'm responsible for 25 deaths."
Susan knew he was fishing for sympathy, but gave none, “Yes, you are."
He shot her a look of disbelief. He expected her to rush to his defense. Disappointed, he wondered, “How can I look my children in the eye?"
She spoke with a determination he had not seen in several years, “By learning to look at yourself in the eye, first.” She placed a hand on his shoulder, “As long as you don’t give up on yourself, neither will I.”
A glimmer of hope sparked deep in Windslow’s soul as he covered her hand with his.
Then Susan asked with steely eyes, "Tell me more about this Admiral Ross.”
*****
Karim had just got back on board. He was heading for his quarters as he thought. Sintina was still not totally convinced, but she wasn’t dismissive either. He had hoped for a better outcome, but wasn’t terribly surprised.
After the meeting with Nechayev and Aurelia was over, he went over to the starbase security office and released Tang, Jinal, and D’nas. Windslow was already gone to gather his things when he got there.
A sharp jolt abruptly ended his contemplation. He ran into something, someone. He looked to see Commander Windslow holding his forehead.
“Sorry commander,” offered Windslow. “I wasn’t paying attention.”
Instinctively, Bin Nadal rejoined, “Don’t worry about it, sir.”
Ethan restarted his gate before Karim inquired, “Did you really do it, commander?”
Windslow stopped, hung his shoulders, and turned back. And so it begins, he thought. With a long deep sigh, he answered honestly, “Yes.”
Karim immediately felt betrayed; if not for himself, then for all officers and crew in the fleet. He had been on away teams with him man before. It could have just as easily been him that Windslow abandoned. “If that’s the case,” said Bin Nadal, “You got off easy. People like you don’t belong in the uniform.”
Ethan walked away without response. He couldn’t help but wonder if there was any truth in his words.
*****
Now in the captain’s ready room, Bin Nadal discussed Admiral Nechayev’s claims with his captain.
“So what was her explanation for what Admiral Whatley and General Wo’toth were doing on Cardassia Prime?” asked Sintina.
“They were probably unwitting pawn like most everybody else,” offered the security officer. “The only thing Admiral Nechayev and me could think of was something an agent once said to Dr. Bahsir,…‘after the war, the Romulans would be the greatest threat to the Federation.’”
“This is just too much…,” began the captain. She halted once the door chime activated. “Enter.”
Windslow walked in. He glanced at Karim, but said nothing to him. He handed Aurelia a padd. “Last minute transfers, ma’am.”
“Your last duty before going to the stockade?” inquired Sintina; surprisingly, the comment didn’t seem to be intended as an insult.
The first officer put his hands behind his back and confirmed, “Yes, yes it is.”
“Who are we getting?” questioned the captain; again, in a casual tone.
Ethan wasn’t sure what to make of her disposition. Were they so uninterested? Had they already written him off? Did they expect for him to turn in his commission? He could only answer, “Two new crewmen and an ops officer.”
Aurelia read the padd, “Lieutenant Nicole Chase, huh? Ok.” She put the padd down and looked over, “Karim, would you take care of them for me?”
“Aye, ma’am,” he curtsied and exited.
After the hatch slid shut, she addressed the commander, “We need to talk.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Aurelia said matter-of-factly, “I don’t want you, and no one else will have you. It appears we’re stuck with each other.”
“Yes, ma’am,” responded Windslow, simply.
The captain got up from her chair, “Well, now that you’re not hiding anything any more, I need you to get out of this funk. Understood? I can’t have a clinically depressed first officer anymore.”
“Believe it or not,” Windslow said, “I do feel better now that it’s over.”
A dark sarcasm entered her voice, “You feel better. Well that’s great.” She ordered a root beer from the replicator before she continued, “Have you decided if you’re going to get out?”
Windslow considered as if it was the first time he had thought about it, “I don’t think so. Starfleet is all I’ve known for all of my adult life. …And I want to make it right.”
The sarcasm moved into the realm of belligerence, “You want to make it right? I wonder what the families of those officers would tell you to do with yourself to make it right.”
Ethan licked his lips and looked at the carpet.
“Fine,” concluded the captain, “I hope four months is enough time for you to get your head out of your ass. Dismissed.”
He considered getting off some snide remark, but his position was far too weak for it. He left with what little pride he could muster.
*****
A cylinder of energy coalesced on the transporter padd. A human woman officer, in her mid-twenties, with shoulder length blonde hair, appeared.
“Welcome on board the Indy!” greeted Karim kindly.
The young woman stepped down and offered a hand, “Thank you, Commander …”
“Karim Bin Nadal.”
“Karim,” smiled the new officer, “I like that name.”
He returned the grin, her hand shake now lingered, “Thanks, now it’s your turn.”
The female seemed lost in the Persian’s eyes, “Oh, Nicole…you can call me Nicole.”
Amused, he said, “Ok, I will. But on the bridge I might have to call you lieutenant something.”
“Oh, sorry.” stammered the young lady, “Lieutenant Chase.”
Karim finally broke contact, “I think you’ll like this ship and her crew.”
“Good…I’m always a little nervous when I transfer to a new ship.”
Bin Nadal ventured, “Tell you what, I’ll give you some time to settle in, but then you could meet me in the game room.”
“Where’s that?”
He thought about explaining it to her, but came up with a better idea, “I’ll pick you up and show you…say in an hour?”
Chase smiled widely, “I’d like that.”
*****
It had taken hours for her to locate that tailor, but Aurelia was determined to get some answers from that man. A Cardassian’s image now filled her small computer’s screen.
It didn’t take long for the captain to come to the point, “So was there ever a conspiracy against me or not?"
Garak smiled wickedly and shrugged, "Who's to say, captain. It certainly appeared that way didn’t it?”
A look of enmity shrouded Sintina’s face.
The Cardassian continued, “I do know one thing, if Admiral Nechayev had discovered that you covered up for that Bajoran friend of yours, she would have never considered letting you in."
"So what you’re saying is,” countered Sintina, slightly missing the meaning of his statement, “you’re not going to tell me if you where telling the truth or not."
Garak showed his teeth, "My dear captain, truth, like most things in the universe, is a matter of perspective."
*****
An elderly voice asked, “How did the encounter go?”
“About as expected,” reported Nechayev, “Mister Bin Nadal is in, but Aurelia is skeptical. It may have been a mistake to introduce ourselves to her.”
The form of the old woman walked about the admiral’s office. Alynna knew, however, it was merely a hologram. The former admiral always preferred using holograms for communication. She was one of the first people in the Federation to have access to holographic technology. During her stint as Head of Starfleet Intelligence, the elderly woman had used it quite often.
The dark-skinned, white-haired hologram said, “She’s headstrong, defiant, and she thinks she’s fighting the good fight. In fact, she reminds me of another captain I used to know. …Don’t worry, she’ll find out sooner or later what’s at sake and she’ll make the right choice.”
“If you say so, sir,” said Nechayev, obviously not convinced.
“I haven’t officially been in Starfleet for a long time…which explains a few things if you ask me. Anyway, how many times do I have to ask you to call me Nyota?”
The admiral counter-offered, “How about Miss Uhura?”
The old woman smiled with a wrinkled face, “It’s a start.”
END OF CHAPTER 16
END OF “CRIMES AND SHADOWS”
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