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Star Trek - Outwardly Mobile

Captain's Prerogative
By
Jay P. Hailey

51832.6 Starbase 412

 

Timeline -
Taken from the report of the finders of fact, stipulated to by all parties in the dispute.


51785.1 The USS Archer under the command of Captain Ricardo Alvarez is assigned to conduct a diplomatic contact with the planet Garnali. Reports say that the planetary population is descended from Orions, but has no contact with Botchok and has redeveloped warp drive on its own.

Starfleet Command is eager to make a good contact with Garnali to forestall the League of Unaligned Worlds or the Orion Syndicate from co-opting the world.

51801.1: USS Archer arrives in the Garnali system. Contact is made.

51825.1 Preliminary negotiations are going well. Garnali is currently in a state of tension, nearly war with neighboring world Kuarlli, a race apparently related to the Catians. Garnali welcomes the concept of Federation brokered peace and trade relations.

51832.1: A diplomatic reception is held at the Garnali Royal Palace to celebrate the impending treaty and friendship between the United Federation Planets and Garland.

51832.4: Captain Alvarez meets Queen Jellaa of the Garnali who tells him she is being held captive and desires asylum.

51832.6 - in a lightning raid, a team from the USS Archer takes custody of Queen Jellaa and returns to the USS Archer. Due to a Tetryonic jamming field in effect in the area of the Queen's Quarters, the Archer Team including Captain Alvarez and First Officer Zhelean Idrani engaged the guards in melee combat. Two guards were killed and three maimed.

51833.1 - The USS Archer breaks orbit and flees, pursued by the battle fleet of Garnali. King Relaj, offended and deeply insulted demands the surrender of the Archer and her whole crew as reparations for the crime. Alvarez declines

51833.3 - The out lying guard of the Garnali battle fleet move in. Alvarez insisted that this force would have interfered with his retreat, forcing the Archer to battle. This cannot be confirmed. The USS Archer leads her Pursuit into the region of King Gamat a Jovian gas-giant planet.

51833.4 - The USS Archer executes a bait and switch maneuver at a gas giant, pretending to use its polar radiation storm as cover for an escape attempt, Alvarez instead takes the Archer into gas giant's atmosphere and doubles back on his pursuers.

51833.45 - The USS Archer rises up from the Gas Giant, almost in the middle of the Garnali battle fleet and lays waste two imperial battleships are destroyed outright, a third is so crippled it eventually sinks into Kong Gamat and is destroyed with heavy loss of life. The Garnali flagship "Glorious Throne" is among those destroyed. USS Archer records show that a quantum torpedo targeted the Bridge of the "Glorious Throne". King Relaj's presence on that bridge was later confirmed.

51833.7 - the USS Archer fights free of the remaining Garnali battle fleet doing heavy damage to smaller units.

51833.8: Parnal, former defense minister and half brother of Relaj takes command of the Garnali fleet and government. Declares war on the United Federation of Planets.

51833.9 - The USS Archer leaves the Garnali system and heaves too a few light years away to repair battle damage.

51835.1 - USS Archer sensors detect a Battle fleet moving towards Garnal. It is a Kuarlli fleet. Hearing of the Garnali defeat by the UFP, they are staging a massed assault to take advantage of their enemy's weakness.

51835.3 - Captain Alvarez claims responsibility for the weakened state of the Garnali and moves to intercept the Kuarlli fleet.

51835.6 - USS Archer makes contact with the Kuarlli fleet. Archer threatens the Kuarlli with swift and sure destruction unless they call off their attack. The Kuarlli respond by opening fire on USS Archer.

51836.5 - The USS Archer disengages from the Kuarlli fleet. The USS Archer has destroyed one battleship, several cruisers, one carrier; five troop transports, and inflicted damage on many more ships, causing massive loss of life among the Kuarlli fleet. The Kuarlli fleet retreats expressing hostility towards the Federation.

51845.1 - the USS Nelson is sent to the Garnali system, to request their information on the events described above. After serious negotiation, Captain Crane wins their cooperation in investigating the incident.

51847.1 - Investigators aboard USS Nelson discover massive evidence tampering on the part of the Garnali. When evidence of this is revealed to his Majesty King Parnal, he personally recovers raw data from the crime scene and hands it over to the USS Nelson.

51867.1: Captain Alvarez is charged with gross malfeasance and conduct unbecoming a Starfleet Officer.

The Court Martial Panel consists all flag officers available at Starbase 412 at the time. Captain Atur Seven, commander of the USS Lathass. Captain William Cornell commander of Starbase 412 and Captain Li'ira O'Keefe of the USS Cincinnatus. Captain Crane of the USS Nelson acts as president of the Court Martial Board.

Commander William Delgar, the Chief of Starbase 412's JAG office, over sees the Prosecution. The Defense is handled by Lt. Commander Kella Molivik, Delgar's Second in Command at Starbase 412.

Finders of fact for this report: Commander Amo Glasix, Chief of Operations Starbase 412, Commander Sara Akoplas, Executive Officer, USS Lathass and Lieutenant Garan Draxil, Chief of Security USS Cincinnatus.

End Summary of report from the Finders of Fact. Starfleet versus Captain Ricardo Alvarez, Case number 2397-GVHJ-9895-2180-HR

-*-

The Andorian woman was slim and graceful. Li'ira immediately wondered what she danced like but quelled the impulse. Her dress uniform was well fitted to her form. The decorations on her chest were impressive.

She walked to the witness stand with her back straight and a confident manner.

She sat down and placed her hand on the verdicator plate. It lit up and the computer identified her.

"Zhelean Idrani" The Computer said, " serial number: SEC-7727-3006-5433-O. Rank: commander. Position: Executive Officer. Current Assignment: USS Archer NCC 79304."

The computer continued reading off her list of Awards. "Gold Palm, with cluster. Silver Palm, with two clusters. Purple Heart with three clusters. Citation for gallantry. Izar unit citation of valor, USS Khitomer, NCC 38912. Izar unit citation of valor, USS Zuhai NCC 73090 with cluster."

Li'ira did her best to hold a straight face. It was a bold record.

The prosecutor stepped forward. "Commander Idrani, do you have any disagreement with the sequence of events as described by the finders of fact?"

"No, Sir." She said.

His name was William Delgar. "What was your reaction when Captain Alvarez first told you of his plan to take custody of Jellaa?"

Zhelean looked him right in the face "The Captain's first plan was to challenge the King of Garnal, Relaj to single combat for Jellaa's freedom. I objected."

Delgar blinked for a few moments. "And this is when the raid to take custody of Jellaa was developed?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Why did you agree to this?" Delgar asked.

"My Captain said it was necessary and right." Zhelean replied.

"He said that conducting a raid on a sovereign planet to kidnap a head of state was right?" Delgar asked.

"Objection." This was Lieutenant Commander Molivik, a Betazoid woman with an intense stare. "Kidnapping has not been established."

"Upheld." Captain Cornell said. "Commander Delgar let's stick with 'Take into custody' for now."

"Yes, Sir," Delgar nodded. "Did Captain Alvarez explain to you why he elected to take custody of Jellaa?"

"Yes, Sir." Zhelean answered.

"Please tell us what he said to you."

"He said she'd requested asylum, and that he felt it important to grant it to her." Zhelean said.

"Asylum is usually granted to people who request it on Federation territory, Commander. It's not usually the subject of a commando raid." Delgar point out.

"The subject was held under guard and monitored. She was being held captive." Zhelean said.

Delgar thought for a moment. "Did Captain Alvarez mention his feelings for Jellaa to you?"

"No." Zhelean said.

"Did you know of his feelings?"

"It was not relevant." Zhelean said.

"Has Captain Alvarez ever taken custody of any captive male heads of state?" Delgar asked.

Zhelean looked at the JAG officer coldly. "Not to my knowledge, Sir."

Delgar looked off into space for a few moments. "No more questions."

Lt. Commander Molivik stood up. "How much do you trust Captain Alvarez?"

Zhelean replied "Absolutely."

"Has he ever left anyone behind on a combat mission?" Molivik asked.

"Never."

"Has Captain Alvarez ever failed to respond to a distress call?"

"Never."

"Why did you consider Jellaa's request for asylum a legitimate one?"

Zhelean's face grew dark. "They were holding her hostage. Using her as a trophy. She had no freedom of movement or self-determination. She was a slave to their political system."

"Had Jellaa delivered her message requesting help to you, would you have called for taking her into custody?"

"Definitely." Zhelean said.

"Explain to me the tactical goals of your raid, Please"

"Out mission had three parts, to infiltrate the palace, to take custody of Jellaa and then escape the palace. Our primary mission goal was to secure Queen Jellaa unharmed. Our secondary mission goal was to accomplish this with no Starfleet Casualties. Our third mission goal was to accomplish this with as few casualties among the staff of the palace as possible."

"Tactically would you rate this mission a success?"

"Yes. All three mission goals were accomplished to the best of our abilities."

"Have you, yourself ever been held captive?"

"Yes, I have."

"And how did you escape?"

"Captain Alvarez rescued me."

"No more questions."

-*-

Jellaa, formerly the Queen of Garnal took the Stand. She was dressed in a light but conservatively cut suit of clothing. Her golden skin shone and her black hair was lustrous and wavy. She was a humanoid of Orion descent

She gracefully placed her hand on the verdicator pad. The Computer intoned. "Jellaa, Civilian. Dependant of Captain Ricardo Alvarez."

There was uncomfortable murmuring from the gallery where representatives from Garnal watched the trial.

Delgar began. "Do you wish to challenge any of the statements made by the finders of fact?"

"No. However I did not witness all of the events in their account."

"Thank you." Delgar steepled his hands under his nose for a moment. "How do you feel about Captain Alvarez?"

"I love him."

Li'ira saw a very faint increase in the woman's pulse rate, visible at her neck.

Delgar nodded. "You love him because he freed you from Garnal."

Jellaa looked at Delgar carefully. "I loved him from the moment I laid eyes on him."

"Why?"

"He is easily the most courageous, handsome and true man I have ever met." Jellaa said it with quiet conviction.

Delgar asked, "what do you mean by true?"

"True to himself. True to what he believes. True to your Federation." Jellaa said.

Delgar nodded. "What if he'd refused your request?"

"Then I would have gone on." Jellaa said.

"Do you know what happened to your late husband?" Delgar asked.

"He was killed." Jellaa said.

"How?"

"When his flag ship opened fire on your Starship Archer they returned fire, damaging the flagship and killing Relaj." Jellaa said, calmly.

"How do you feel about that?"

"The loss of life is regrettable."

"How did you feel about him personally?"

"I felt little. He was a fact of life, like gravity, or the fact that walls are hard." Jellaa said. "He was my chief captor - that was all."

"And yet, you say your relationship with Captain Alvarez is based on love. Not your perception of a route away from your captors." Delgar said.

Jellaa nodded. "If I had not fallen in love with Ricardo, I might have requested Asylum anyway. Ricardo made me feel safe enough to tell him just how much I truly wanted to be free."

"Did you have any children with Relaj?"

Jellaa's face was bleak. "Yes. Three. They were taken from me at an early age. I have not seen them in years."

Delgar looked grim. "No more questions."

Lt. Commander Molivik began her questioning. "When did you first learn of your role in your world's political structure?"

Jellaa looked haunted. "I had heard of it all my life. It did not really become clear to me until I fell in love with a boy when I was 13. He disappeared."

"And this was because-"

"I was promised to the ruling house of Garnal."

"Had you ever met the King before you married him?"

"Briefly. He inspected my like a riding mount and pronounced me acceptable."

"And you had no choice in the matter?"

"Of course not. Noble women are belongings. Treasures. Not people."

"Did you feel a duty to uphold the ancient treaty and follow through with the marriage?" Molivik asked.

"It did not matter what I felt. My mind and emotions were coincidental to my uterus and my blood lines." Jellaa's voice was cold as she spoke.

"There was no way for you to opt out, or pass the position along to someone who desired it?" Molivik asked.

"I considered suicide." Jellaa said quietly. "It has been done before."

"But you rejected that option."

"Where there is life, there is hope." Jellaa said quietly.

"No more questions."

-*-

The Garnali Guardsman sat down with some discomfort. His uniform was ornate, borrowed a lot from Orion history, and it was complete in every detail.

The reason for his difficulty was obvious. He wore a neck brace and his right arm was missing.

He placed his left hand on the other interface for the verdicator, and the computer reported his name.

"Rano Colso, Serial number unavailable. Lieutenant, Palace Guard, Imperial Palace of Garnal."

"Commendations and Awards, unavailable."

Delgar approached the injured soldier. "You are aware that the Federation will treat your injuries?"

"Yes, Sir. I plan to visit the sickbay of the facility when my testimony is no longer required." He spoke definitely, staring straight ahead. Li'ira was struck by his age. He barely seemed old enough to attend High School.

"Good." Delgar breathed deeply and launched into his questions.

"Did you have warning of the attack?"

"No, Sir." Colso looked miserable. It was his job to bravely guard his queen and he'd failed.

"Tell us in your own words what happened, please."

"Suddenly there was a flash and a bang. I was disoriented. I went to a defensive stance and prepared to an attack. Suddenly there was a sharp, overwhelming pain in my arm, and I was on the ground and couldn't move well." Colso looked grim.

Delgar pointed to the main view screen. "This is a simulation based on the evidence scanned in the corridor. Does this match what you saw?"

Simulated Starfleet officers tossed a flash bang at the Simulated guards and, while the guards were disoriented the simulated Starfleet people attacked them, injuring and killing them.

Colso looked at the floor. "That one on the right was Keever. He was my friend."

"Does this match what you saw?"

"Yes, Sir."

Delgar turned towards Molivik, "Your witness."

Molivik stood up, and then went right into her plan of attack. "What were your orders should the queen elect to leave her quarters?"

"We were to accompany her, Ma'am."

"And if she left the Palace?"

"She wasn't allowed to Ma'am."

"What means would you use to prevent her from leaving?"

"Whatever means necessary, Ma'am. I can't imagine it would take too much. Her Majesty wasn't a trained combatant." Colso said.

"So she was a prisoner in the Palace?"

"No, Ma'am. With his Majesty's permission and suitable security precautions, she could go anywhere he let her."

Molivik thought about it. "So without her husbands permission, she couldn't leave?"

"No Ma'am."

"Why not?"

"Well, ah, she was the Queen, Ma'am. It wouldn't be proper."

"So you were there not just to keep intruders out but to keep Jellaa in."

Colso nodded. "Yes, Ma'am."

"No more questions." Molivik said.

"Redirect, your honors."

Captain Crane, the president of the court martial nodded.

Delgar stood up again.

"What was Queen Jellaa's role in your government?"

"Well, ah, to be the Queen, Sir."

"The marriage was pre arranged, right?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Why?"

"Well it was part of the peace treaty, Sir."

"What peace treaty?"

"Well, the peace of the Nolepor Plain, Sir." Colso realized that Delgar didn't attend the same school he had.

"The last civil war on Garnal, was ended by the peace of the Nolepor plain. The family of Garnal agrees to take the Family of their chief rival, Helzzpla in marriage. The Hezzpla clan, in exchange for peace and power sharing, agrees to surrender their female descendants to the heir to the seat of Garnal."

"Ah. And was this peace important?"

Colso nodded "Sure was! The Garnal and Helzzpla lined up every faction on Garnal as enemies or allies and they all had nukes. The war could have become much worse."

"And that peace treaty still hold true?"

"Yes, Sir!"

"What happens in that peace treaty falls apart?"

Colso shrugged. "I don't know. The Civil War resumes?"

"And preventing this nuclear civil war is a worthy cause?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Are you proud of your part in this?"

"Yes, Sir!" Colso sighed "at least I was, Sir."

"No more questions." Delgar sat down.

"Does the defense wish to redirect?" Captain Crane asked.

"No, Sir." Molivik replied.

Colso stepped down uncomfortably and was escorted out of the hearing chambers.

-*-

Celan was a dignified man of the same race as Jellaa, and Colso. He was thin and moved in a picky, careful way.

He placed his hand on the Verdicator pad. The computer identified him. "Janar Celan. Chief of internal operations, Royal Palace of Garnal."

Delgar said "Thank you for being here, today, Sir."

Celan nodded thoughtfully.

"What did you see on the evening of Stardate 51832.6?"

"The Diplomatic reception we had on that day was coming to an end." Celan said. "I was busy setting up for the tear down and clean up phase of the event. I was walking the corridors nearby the great hall to make sure everything was in readiness, and that nothing had been over looked when I saw our queen and your captain." Celan looked disgusted. "Talking."

"Was that all they were doing?"

"No." Celan seemed reluctant to surrender detail. "They also kissed, rather passionately."

Delgar nodded. "Did you hear any of their conversation?"

"No. I didn't pry." Celan looked angry. "If I had hundreds of lives might have been saved."

"The queen of your nation may be necking with an alien ambassador and you didn't say anything?" Delgar probed.

"It is not my role to judge the behavior of my betters." Celan sniffed. "History is replete with such incidents."

"So you saw nothing worth reporting in this incident?"

"Discretion is the mark of a true expert in my profession. I don't flatter myself to point out that the royal palace itself saw fit to employ my services." Celan said.

"No further questions."

Molivik stood up. "You say History is replete with such incidents."

"Yes." Celan immediately disliked the line of questioning.

"Your culture expects affairs from the ruling class?"

"Well, no, but it happens." Celan said.

Molivik approached with a PADD. "I have entered this data into evidence along with analysis from Federation sociologists." She handed the PADD to Celan. "Would you describe this data to the court please?"

Celan looked at the PADD for a few minutes, and then looked faintly seasick. "It's a video melodrama named 'Back Chambers'."

Li'ira smothered a grin. It was a soap opera. She'd watched hours of such idiocy when she was 14 and 15 years old. The times changed but the characters in such works never seemed to.

"What is the subject of this video entertainment?" Molivik asked.

"It's trash really, quite beneath my notice." Celan said. "Apparently it features a fictionalized palace, with a staff and residents who engage in.... melodrama."

"So you say that this sort of behavior was not expected at the royal Palace of Garnal?"

"No."

"Did His Majesty Relaj ever conduct such a dalliance?" Molivik asked.

"I... I don't know." Celan said. The verdicator pad under his hand turned red. "The subject is lying," the computer intoned.

Celan yanked his hand off the machine like it had stung him. "No one said it would do that!"

The verdicator pad went red again. The Computer said, "the subject is lying."

"Mister Celan, please answer the questions." Molivik said calmly.

Celan stared at Molivik almost fatally embarrassed. He slid his hand back down on the verdicator slowly and whispered "what was the question again?"

"Did Relaj conduct his own dalliances?" Molivik asked.

"Yes." Celan said, cringing.

Li'ira looked at the new head of state of Garnal. King Parlan. He was looking at Celan with no emotion. Coldly. Li'ira began to fear for Celan's life.

"How many?"

"I don't know, exactly. It was a common occurrence." Celan said.

"Did Queen Jellaa ever have an affair with someone in the Palace?"

"Not to my knowledge."

"Thank you." Molivik returned to her seat.

-*-

Li'ira caught up with the Garnal Party in the hallway outside of the courtroom.

"Mister Celan!" She called.

The Garnali turned and looked at her.

Garan Draxil and Tandala McBier had her back and the Starbase was well supplied with Security, but Li'ira was still afraid of making a scene.

"May I have a word with Mister Celan, please?"

"This is Irregular, Captain" Lt. Commander Molivik said.

Li'ira looked at the earnest JAG officer. "It's not directly related to the court martial."

"Mister Celan has an appointment at home." King Parlan said. He was a large man and had killer's eyes.

"Mister Celan, Please. " Li'ira said.

Celan stepped close enough to hear, but not far enough to be away from the Garnal party. "Yes?"

Li'ira took a chance. "Would you like to go exploring space with us? My Starship, the USS Cincinnatus could use someone with your qualifications."

Celan looked at her like she'd just grown a second head. "What? What?"

"I'm offering you a position, Sir. Are you interested?"

Celan looked like he was being crushed.

"He's not interested," Parnal said. The big ruler grasped Celan's shoulder.

"You don't have to go if you don't want to." Li'ira said. "The choice is yours."

Celan looked like a frightened rabbit. "Yes, please. I don't want to die."

Parnal started to whisper something at Celan. Celan got paler and looked about ready to faint.

Li'ira announced it clearly. "My ship is on a deep space mission. Where we go he cannot follow. When we return we'll be years ahead of him. I won't let him hurt you."

Parnal's body guard stood in an open V towards Li'ira. They looked very large and well conditioned. Li'ira took a deep breath and stood her ground.

A security alert went off and the sounds of running feet thudded.

"Your Majesty," Li'ira raised her armed in a gracefully slow gesture. Even so the bodyguards tensed. "Please stand away from Mister Celan."

Parnal stared at her for a long time. He seemed to be thinking, but Li'ira couldn't tell what he was thinking about. "I'll remember this." He said. Then he turned. "Come," he said, and marched down the corridor into the Garnali flagship.

His retainers and bodyguard retreated in good order, leaving Celan standing in the corridor shaking, in shock.

Li'ira heard a noise and looked behind her to find the corridor filled with Starfleet officers, all with phasers. Garan Draxil holstered his phaser with a wink.

Li'ira breathed deeply and work on not hyperventilating.

-*-

Jan Van De Bont was livid. "I am told that Starfleet Captains are trained in diplomacy!"

Li'ira looked him dead in the eye. "I offered a man who was under threat of death political asylum."

Van De Bont snarled "In public in front of his former Sovereign, humiliating the Garnali twice in three meetings with the Federation!"

"If I'd waited, he'd be in the Garnali flagship and rescuing would have been another invasion of Garnali territory." Li'ira pointed out.

"Did you consider letting him go? Did you consider not interfering in the workings of Garnali culture!?" Van De Bont yelled.

"It wasn't Garnali culture that put him on the spot!" Li'ira snapped. "It was your little kangaroo trial!"

Van De Bont's face grew red.

"He didn't have adequate warning about the Verdicator." Li'ira's voice was soft. "He wound up insulting the honor of the Garnali nobility on the stand because he couldn't lie to protect the illusion that kept him alive."

Van De Bont yelled, "In case you forgot, the verdicator called that statement a lie as well!"

"Either way, he was being taken to his death for the crime of telling the truth on our witness stand and it seemed our responsibility to try and prevent that." Li'ira said.

"Do you know he was going to be killed? Maybe he was on his way to being fired without a good letter of recommendation!" Van De Bont took a deep breath. "You reacted without enough information, Captain. And once again this has cost the Federation."

"Reacting without enough information when lives are on the line is my job description, Commissioner. The Cincinnatus is a first responder." Li'ira said, harshly.

"Yes, and trying to make friends so that these people don't want to kill you and me is my job! Why won't you let me do it!?"

"Would you like to summon a court martial for me? Maybe I can be tried for causing a diplomatic disaster with a totalitarian regime." Li'ira asked sweetly.

Delgar, the Prosecutor against Captain Alvarez said calmly but very clearly. "I'll be filing a motion to recuse Captain O'Keefe, due to her prejudice in the case."

Li'ira looked at the floor, holding her temper in check.

"Yeah." Captain Crane said, dryly. "Yeah, that makes sense."

"Alvarez shouldn't have been on trial in the first place." Atur Seven, another member of the Panel said. "It was a clearly cut rescue mission."

"That was bad enough, but you didn't even get to the part where Alvarez destroyed half the Garnali space fleet!" Van De Bont yelled. "Or how about the war he fought against the Kuarlli when they noticed that Garnal was helpless because of his actions in the first place!?"

"I think calling it a war is a little excessive." Seven said.

"The death toll from the two battles is over ten thousand Garnali and Kuarlli dead!" Van De Bont said.

Li'ira winced. "Ten thousand people?"

"That's right!"

"It was justified, in both cases." Seven said, sullenly.

"It was in no way justified. " Delgar said. "Alvarez attacked the Garnali fleet for specious reasons, and then attacked the Kuarlli fleet to prevent the war he'd set into motion by his previous massacre."

Molivik said urgently to Crane. "My colleague is arguing his case outside of the court, a clear violation-"

"ENOUGH!" Crane bellowed.

A moment of silence followed

"I make a motion that the trial be suspended." Crane said. "Obviously we're not going to get a verdict."

"Seconded." Seven said.

"It's going to be my ships and my people the Kuarlli and the Garnali are going to be gunning for." Captain Cornell snapped. "I need allies out here. Not another Orion free port."

"All due respect Captain, ceremoniously sacrificing a man like Alvarez is not the right way to assure that." Atur Seven said.

"I vote in favor of suspending the trial." Li'ira said.

"Me, too." Seven said.

Cornell sighed heavily. "I vote against."

Crane blinked for a few moments "I decline to vote. The motion carries."

Delgar looked very sour, but wordlessly left the conference room.

Van De Bont shook his head. "I only hope it is you, who pay the price for this, not civilians sold in a slave market on Garnal." He hissed as he left.

After a few moments of tense silence, Crane nodded to Molivik "Thank you for your time Lieutenant Commander. Dismissed."

The Betazoid woman nodded and left the conference room.

After a few more minutes, Crane opened the real can of worms. "Recommendations to Starfleet?"

"None from me." Atur Seven said, "He may deserve an apology."

Cornell spoke up. "He killed about ten thousand people. I think he's a loose cannon. He should be moved back to frigate command. A front line starship is no place for him."

"Hey!" Atur barked.

"If I could swap the crews and send you out in the Archer, I'd do it, Atur. You're not the idiot that Alvarez is!" Cornell snapped.

"Enough." Crane said.

Reluctantly Seven and Cornell kept their mouths shut.

"Captain O'Keefe?" Crane asked.

Li'ira looked sour. "If you look in my jacket there is a bad recommendation about me in there."

Crane looked at her for a few moments, and then said softly. "And look where you are now."

Li'ira blinked and nodded. "I agree with Cornell. Alvarez is too much of a hot shot to be trusted making first contact and dealing with potential allies."

Atur Seven threw himself back in his chair. "I don't believe this! He only did what any of us would have done in the circumstances!"

"I like to think I could rescue the beautiful alien princess without so much blood shed, Captain Seven." Crane said softly.

After another tense silence, Crane continued. "With that we'll adjourn this briefing. Write up your recommendations and detail why. I'll attach them to the report to Admiral Harriman. This briefing is adjourned."

-*-

Janar Celan looked at the lounge of the USS Cincinnatus. He looked about ready to cry. "I will be running this lounge for you."

"That and other hospitality work suitable for your skills and station." Li'ira said.

He looked haunted. "I'll never be able to go home again."

Li'ira turned Celan to face her. "Wrong. You're home now."

Celan took a deep breath and his voice quavered. He nodded for a few moments and then pulled himself together. "How long do I have to recruit a staff? Who selected this décor? It's unbelievably dull."

Celan walked forward planning his new kingdom.

 

-end-

Disclaimer: Paramount owns all things Trek. I claim original characters and situations in this story for me.

This story posted by permission of the author. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

Jay P. Hailey

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May 29, 2005