EPILOGUE

"Another incoming transmission, Captain... This one's from Federation Media, Sir."

"In here, Lieutenant."

Kheren came up before the wide screen of his comm panel removing the last droplets of water from his dark blue skin with a towel before throwing it aside to take a freshly replicated shirt in his callused hand. He did not rush to dress himself as he knew who's call it was before even activating the monitor; he was the one who had sent the call this one was answering to.

On the screen the pale-skinned Human was undetermined age, balding with a square face and etched lines meeting around the very wide mouth squashed under a straight nose, wide clear eyes looking him up and down as he too looked back at the half-naked Andorian.

"Doctor Joe,"

"Captain Kheren," greeted back the most well known sentient hologram accross two galactic quadrants. "A pleasure to finally make acquaintance with the only other Andorian ship commander in Starfleet this side of Captain Shon of the new Enterprise. "

There was a pause as the sentient artificial lifeform looked him over as he pulled his shirt over his muscular chest.

"You are aware that this phaser scar accross your chest is easily erased," he offered with the tone of a chief medical officer oh so familiar with the stereotyped starship captain aversion to medical care.

"It is the lesson it taught and reminds me of with every shower I do not want erased," answered back the commanding officer of the flagship of Lotus Fleet as he hid the large striaght burnt mark of his torso under the dark grey shirt.

"I was afraid it was some obscure warrior ritual from your homeworld that interfered with good sense," the Doctor grumbled in a sarcastic tone well known since the popularization the USS Voyager's extraordinary odyssey. But then his tone became serious, even for him. "I received your transmission and all the data provided with it. Took me a while and some hard pulling to get clearance from those overzealous paranoids from Starfleet Intelligence... I must admit that, even from my point of view, this is all quite astounding. "

"You understand what is involved here."

It was not a question. Kheren had not sent his message without thinking hard to find who in all the United Federation of Planets could deal properly with the situation. The Doctor voiced his conviction in plain terms.

"This Ensign Thetis Achilles is a unique artificial sentient lifeform even considering how unique those recognized lifeforms are in this whole galaxy, not excluding myself of course. You were right to come to me with this. I am in a unique position to try helping her."

Kheren stood straight at attention as he nodded to the sentient hologram's projected image before him.

"Ensign Thetis Achilles is not just a certified sentient artificial being but also a genuine Starfleet officer. As such, she is now cited to a court martial for her actions as yeoman and crewmember of the USS Nemesis."

There was a short pause as both pondered the meaning of what the Andorian had stated. 

"What are the charges?" asked the holographic former CMO of the starship Voyager.

"Theft of Starfleet property, namely the afore mentionned USS Nemesis; disobeying a direct order to return to base; alleged attacks and destruction of several vessels in the Mutara sector over the last forty years; a whole bunch of Starfleet regulations concernign undocking and flight procedures... and nineteen accounts for murder, namely the personnel of the Starfleet Corps of Engineers who were still aboard when she fled with the ship."

Again, there was a pause as the other pondered the information.

"You know that I am not a lawyer," began the holographic Human.

"And I know that you are no longer a doctor," shot back the Andorian. "But you are still yourself a sentient artificial lifeform, a former starship officer who still commands respect and credibility in Starfleet... and most of all, the very sentient artificial lifeform who wrote the most influential document about the rights of your kind... then fought for his rights and theirs before the Federation Court of law... and won... twice."

"I appreciate the vote of confidence, Captain Kheren; but I wonder what kind of a defense will be enough to stand against so many and so serious charges."

"The most simple and basic one, Doctor; legitimate self-defense against a direct threat to her life... from Starfleet itself."

The face of the Doctor went blank for a moment.

"There is proof of this?"

"There is."

Again the hologram went silent for a moment.

"Let's suppose that I go along with this... You know that I am no longer a member of Starfleet. As a civilian, I could only be called as an expert witness for the defense, or at best authorized as legal counsel; she is to face a court martial. Only a Starfleet officer could formerly act as her defense attorney and plead her case before the whole slew of Starfleet brass that will be in line for this extraordinary case. Most if not all of them would certainly come from Starfleet Intelligence; and these are not amiable and understanding individuals... especially now that Admiral Chekotay retired from their ranks."

The Andorian fixed his silvery eyes straight at the image before him.

"Well there might be one of these SI admirals that I know of who might be at least nominally understanding. One I actually asked for in her name to be among the judges on the bench, as is her right to demand through me, her provisional comanding officer since she is currently under my custody."

A smile started to creep at the corner of the holographic mouth.

"Ah, I see... Your logs were quite... interesting in this regard."

The smile froze then.

"But that does not solve the major problem of finding anyone in Starfleet who would be able, or even care, to stand up in her defense. Starfleet officers do not look kindly upon on of their own causing the death of their comrades, even by accident. Even legendary Captain kirk had had a hard time from his peers when he had been accused of causing the death of Lieutenant Ben Finney. I can't think of anyone who would stand up for her facing such grave accusations."

The antennae on top of Kheren's thick snowy mane started to curve inward in the distinctive Andorian smile.

"Doctor Joe... meet Ensign's Thetis Achilles ' attorney for her defense."

The image on the screen split in two, allowing another transmission to fully mix in with the one between the hologram and the ship commander. The image showed a man with almost boyish looks despite the obvious air of maturity and thoughtfullness in the oval, impassive face. Crowned by a Starfleet regulation crop of brownish air, the face was whitish in skin tone and each side of a straight pointed nose showed startling yellow eyes. Captain pips adorned the grey collar of his Starfleet uniform.

"Captain Data!" instantly recognized the Doctor. 

"Greetings Doctor Joe. I regret we did not have the chance to meet again after your trial. I trust you are well. Your latest novel was... intriguing."

"Of all people, you should be the one to appreciate it to it's fullest," said the holographic man with undisguised pride.

No one this side of the galactic center didn't knew who the android captain of the Enterprise E was. With the recent decommissionning of his old ship, Data had been offered several prestigious positions, among them  the position of Commandant of Starfleet Academy as well as the Chair of Physics at Cambridge University on Earth. Judging by the uniform he was still wearing, he was still considering his options.

The holographic face returned to a more serious expression.

"So... you are also committed to this... challenge?"

"Indeed, Doctor. I did extensive study of Federation and Starfleet rules of law since the day Captain Picard stood in my own defense to have me recognized as a sentient lifeform within the Federation."

"That's an understatement if i ever heard one," commented the Doctor. "That inquiry shook the very foundations of Federation rights. They even made a new Starfleet General Order out of it so as to include us, artificial beings, into the rulings of the Prime Directive no less!"

"We are all on a journey towards enlightenment, Doctor... organic and inorganic beings as well," thoughtfully said the android. "Captain Kheren's dedication towards Ensign Achilles well being, the efforts at reincarnating her currently done by his chief engineer Lieutenant-Commander Sisko, the sufferings and sacrifices made by his bridge officers, Redding, Jureth, K'Leysha... all of it speaks of a worthy individual that deserves our help, even beyond our own kinship to her, Doctor. I have even been made aware that one of the captain's officer is an Orion female willing to share with Ensign Achilles her own experiences as an exploited lifeform to both ease her restoration and plead for her case."

"This... camaraderie of so diverse beings against impossible odds brings back so many souvenirs... " murmured the Doctor before straightening up again. "So, Captain Data...you do beleive she stands a chance in court?"

"I have studied extensively all the data provided by Captain Kheren.... and dug up myself all the relevant restricted Starfleet files about project Achilles and Project Thetis. I am fully confident that we will, together, clear her name and restore her not only to freedom but to active duty on the basis of the defense suggested by the captain."

"Let's get to work then!" exclamed the Doctor clasping his hands. "I shall reach Earth by the time the storing device containing the Ensign will arrive at Starfleet Command Headquarters."

"I will greet you upon your arrival, Doctor, " answered Data. "We will join Lieutenant Commander Sisko in his efforts to... reincarnate Ensign Achilles in time for her hearing." 

"Remarkable work I might say, although I'm no expert," admitted the Doctor. "In any case, I am ready to lend my own portable holographic emitter to her and endure this... contraption my friend Anika Hansen came up with at the Daystrom Institute if need be. Let us stick together, we artificial lifefroms against the oppression of the organics..."

He laughed at the blank stare offered to him by both Data and Kheren. To the latter he then addressed an apologetic nod as he finished the transmission.

"Although all of them are not all that bad. On her behalf, Thank you for all you have done, Captain Kheren; you and your gallant crew."

"Keep me posted Doctor... Captain Data... and all our hopes go with you both."

"Fear not, Captain," Data said in parting. "What you have done, your crew and yourself, will not be in vain. We will have her exonerated and restored to the life she finally deserve. As one Doctor Leonard Mc Coy once said; in this galaxy, there is a mathematical probability of three million Earth-type planets. And in this universe, three million, million galaxies just like this one. And in all that, and perhaps more... only one of each of us. We will have her freed, if only because there is no one else like her."

And with a nod, his pale face also disappeared from the screen.

For a long while, Kheren stood before the dark glossy surface of the switched off monitor screen. Then, slowly, he turned and walked to the narrow transparency that showed the immense vista of stars beyond the starbase his colossal ship was docked to. His gaze was lost in the distance, looking far as if he could see beyond the dark horizon, to the very edge of the galaxy.

His voice filled the silence between the stars.

"No... there is another."

THE END