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USS LOTUS: Hawks & Doves.
Posted on 07/21/2016 @ 10:42am
Edited on on 09/05/2016 @ 11:29am
Mission:
The Stars Be My Judges
Location: Alpha Centauri.
Alpha Centauri System;
Keldon retrofit Heavy Cruiser Orias:
The impass situation on the Orias bridge seemed to hover for hours but, as with many tense confrontations, only minutes had passed. The telltale feeling of a starship slowing became evident as the cruiser dropped out of warp outside the Centauri triple star system. Dejar, now propped in a sitting position against the forward bridge chair, knew immediately the destionation, as she had set the coordinates herself. She informed the gathered antagonist's of the fact.
"We are now in orbit of a Federation triple system, a little over a parsec from Sol."
She glanced at the other's cautiously. A former Cardassian espionage agent, she knew the furtive glances and steely jawed determination affixed on the Star fleet Captain's features just a few feet away from her. Also evident was the calm, but equally determined mannerisms of the Deltan doctor beside her. Shel was nearly out of her sight, profiled behind the main bridge console and Commander Rogers, turned sideways to her, had the affixed gaze of one who would brook no interference toward his sister. She noted the resemblances mirrored in their stances, their two profiles almost identical in the bridge lighting. The family resemblance was uncanny. If she had ever had any doubt before, it was gone now. But now was a time for diplomacy, before the situation re-ignited into chaos. She tried to calm the captain.
"Captain, we are too far out to beam you back to Mars. Could I, perhaps, offer you and your esteemed physician here a shuttle?"
Felez regarded the woman silently for a few seconds.
"We should cover the basics first Commander."
He glanced at Rogers as he spoke.
"It is my evaluation that you and your vessel are not complicit it the theft of a Federation starship and was in fact the work of a lone renegade starfleet officer following a personal agenda."
"However.. I cannot overlook the fact that you kidnapped three starfleet officers from a secure facility as well as the use of banned technology within Federation space."
His face was completely void of emotion, his tone even.
"Officially, I must place you under arrest and impound your ship."
Struggling slightly, Dejar got herself up to a standing position, using the console as an aid. Once erect she faced Captain Felez and, with a quizzical smile, responded to the man's accusation's.
"My dear Captain, you are a guest on my ship! As your host I must adhere to certain personal protocols; Namely? Not beaming company into space when they're rude and mis-informed."
With a sideway's glance at the Rogers' siblings, who seemed to be following the developments near the bridge console, the Cardassian woman resumed her corrective of Felez' legal banter.
"However you may wish to put a spin on it Captain, for my part you and your friendly, ... shall I say ... scentsy?... Deltan compatriot there are trespassers on my ship! Your presence was not warranted, yet you callously hitched a ride on the transport of my friends brother."
Turning slightly, Dejar changed the weight off of her left foot and over to her right, taking some time and wincing at the pain in her ribs. She leaned on the console with her other hand now, and then resumed.
"It would appear to me, and my ship's log's I might add, that yourself and the Doctor here employed a covert ops attack on my ship. I think the Federation Grand jury would find, given my evidence, that you two had no authorization to board my ship and find you are both agents provocateur!
Dejar swept her hand over and down onto the console, activating one of the contacts on the board. Instantly, two vertical force fields sprang up , dividing the bridge into three separate zones. Near the front of the bridge, Felez and Nasaro-Myth were contained and separated by the orange hued floor to ceiling barrier. David found himself cut off from Shelly by the next barrier, which enclosed him and Dejar in their own separate zone, leaving Shelly within the third zone nearer the rear of the bridge. As the low hum settled into a constant drone just near hearing, Dejar turned to look first at the Captain and doctor, then over at David.
"Mister Rogers. I would like you to know that, as Shel is my only and dearest friend, I will aid her in keeping out of the Syndicates clutches. But that would entail a long and lengthy trip. If I allow your captain here to impound my vessel, that won't happen. If I may ask ... what are your intentions now?"
David looked back at his sister then turned slightly to look back through the force field at his ship mates. Looking again at Dejar he posed a question.
"What do you plan to do with my friends?"
Dejar glanced once at the two men beyond the orange glow and, with a slight wince, moved around to the front of the console she had been leaning on and replied with sincerety.
"Oh, they can return back from whence they came. Make's no never-mind to me. I find your captain's sincerety in upholding your vaunted Star Fleet regulations amusing, but fruitless out here. Really! Kidnapping? Banned technology? What universe do they think we live in?"
"The real one, my dear," answered Elliago with a soft smile but eyes of steel. " not the shady, shifty, expedient one of despicable groups as your own former Obsidian Order; a universe where the Federation actually lives by it's values, even to the point of respecting the sovereignty of non member worlds like Orion when such a world still practice primitive and barbarous institutions like slavery. But even if we do not impose them on others in their own recognized self-governing space, we still have laws within our space; and you, my dear, broke them in our space. I would like very much to actually see you try your childish sophistry of a moment ago before an actual court."
David winced slightly at the regulations jibe, knowing full well he was as bound by them as was Felez and Nasaro-Myth. But also, Dejar had her point made. Within the galaxy, many things were conveniently over-looked by the Federation when ideals were second place to larger problems. David had said it earlier. The syndicate was still allowed, after all these years, to operate within the alpha and beta quadrants with seeming impunity to Federation laws and regulations.
But now, the Deltan had explained it in unequicoquial terms he had never considered before; Orion was not part of the Federation because of their practice of slavery; therefore, being a recognized self-governing state, the Federation had no authority to stop their slavery except when actually done outside of Orion space; which Starfleet was effectively called to do, with general order 20 making it mandatory for all Starfleet officers to prevent and oppose any captivity, transportation or commerce of sentient beings within Federation space. But beyond that, it was up to Orion itself to freely choose to abandon it, even within their territory, if they one day hoped to join the community of free worlds; not for the Federation to dictate it's own policies on their non-member world. Or else, the Federation would be no better than they were.
The values of the Federation were high and hard to live by; but if it did not live up to them, then they meant nothing.
With that thought however came his own realization of culpability. He couldn't evade the outcome any longer. His sister was safe, that was the only important thing to him now. Rule one-sixty-two was for Shelly now. So it came down to trust this Cardassian, or further prolong the duel here. Rogers looked once at Shelly again and responded to Dejar.
"If you can promise to keep her out of the syndicates hands, send us back to Mars."
Dejar turned once again to the panels before her and started keying the controls, speaking meanwhile to Shelly.
"And your thoughts my dear? Have you decided on your brother? And your possible destination?
Shelly, alone behind the aft force field, looked once between David and Dejar, then at the two beyond the third force field. Looking back at her Cardassian friend Shelly spoke.
"I guess I am on the run old friend. If you'll take me. As for Commander Rogers? I would like ... more information."
Glancing back at Felez and Nasaro-Myth again, Shelly continued.
"I think we are in depth here beyond even your capable wrangeling's old friend. They should leave don't you think?"
Dejar laughed. A short bark that sounded out of place within the confines of the divided bridge.
"We always did think alike Shel."
With that final sentence Dejar activated the transporters again. Before David could protest both Captain Felez and Commander Nasaro-Myth dematerialized from the bridge.
"what! Where ... ?", David shouted, way too late.
"Relax mister Rogers, they have only gone to Proxima colony. I said we were in the vicinity of a trinary. Proxima Centauri. The Federation has maintenance yards there. They're in the command center there. The star fleet underlings down there will be quite surprised about now I think."
Turning off the force fields, she began entering more commands into the console before her, while continuing her dialogue.
"I really like this sub-space transport tech. They say it is untracable you know."
The ship surged forward as Dejar engaged the ship's drives, and the Alpha Centauri trinary system was left behind when the warp engines cut in. David walked over to ward Dejar, voicing a question.
"Where are you taking me ... us?"
Glancing up from the console, Dejar answered quizically.
"Ever hear of the Typhon Expanse?"
Back on Alpha Centauri C, within the commander's office of the maintenance yards, the doctor and captain materialized before the desk in the large, cluttered room.
"Well, that wasn't very considerate," Elliago grumbled, looking around rather disoriented.
But then, he quickly recognized the place from his own childhood abaord the starship of his mother. Born and raised all his life on starship and starbases, the Deltan Doctor could almost recognize any major one in the Federation just by the paint job on the walls.
"Alpha Centauri shipyards, Captain," he told Felez. "And this is Fleetyards Administrator Lheah Bhrams I presume?"
The middle-aged brown-haired woman had stood up the moment they had appeared in front of her desk. Her finger had moved to her comm panel but then froze as she took in the dazzling smile of the Deltan wearing a Starfleet uniform. Her throaty voice had a hard edge to it.
"This is a rather cavalier entrance, Commander... Captain. May I inquire the meaning of this... unannounced visit?"
"Yes," Felez said matter of factly. "Secure ship to ship communications to the USS Lotus, priority 1."
The woman hesitated but for an instant. Although she was not a Starfleet officer, she had worked for decades with Starfleet and knew quite well how to act around Starfleet officers, especially captains obviously caught in a serious situation. She hesitated but for a few seconds before securing contact with her communication bay. A few level 10 codes later, Felez was in contact with his ship and the entire Starfleet Security network in the quadrant, thanks to the efficiency of subspace relays.
"Aye, Captain, we have them. Six different relay stations and about a dozen standby vessels are triangulating their position as we speak."
"I want it on record that Lieutenant Rogers did not go willingly." Felez said calmly.
The Task force was one of the largest in starfleet's history. It was almost a shame it turned out to be the work of one man.
"Thanks to Doctor Nasaro-Myth, the implant in Rogers worked as expected. The moment they breached security at the shipyard we had his position in less than ten minutes," confirmed a rather happy sounding Tellarite starship commanding officer.
"A good think it is now standard medical procedure to inoculate protein-based transponders into every Lotus Fleet officer during routine medical exams," Elliago said with a sigh and a wry smile, "and that only captains and above are aware of it... with the exception of ship's CMOs of course. Even if they interrogate Commander Rogers, he will not be able to tell them what he himself doesn't know. And if a full medical examination by a trained medical officer is performed, they might find them... if you know what you're looking for in the first place... and that, only if they do an internal sensor scan for a low-powered narrow subspace transmission to begin with, just to be aware of what is going on. Even if they beat the odds against all those "ifs" stacked against them, extraction is impossible; the system is diffused throughout the cell structure of the host. Their very bones and the metals and minerals they are made of serve as the antenna."
"Indeed Captain Felez, we have them. Implants or not, no cloaking device will save them now," A rather smug-looking Vulcan agreed.
"The ship yes, but it seems we have an added problem; they have a subspace transporter." Felez reported.
The Vulcan on the communication screen showed no reaction and his voice stayed even.
"Already accounted for. Captain. That wont help them either, as long as they don't beam off before we intercept them that is. Their current heading is to the Typhon expanse. We have four
ships blocking their path."
Felez nodded in agreement.
"The Lotus will be picking us up in less than an hour and should beat them to the expanse by a good twenty minutes with the transwarp drive."
"They certainly are going to be in for a shock when they see us right in front of them, " the Deltan said with a wink.
Felez' race wasn't good at open expressions of emotion, but if one could be seen, it would be... dismay.
David and Shelly spent much of the time enroute with the elder sibling giving the younger woman a complete historical run down on her familial background. Her parents, Donald Rogers and Kalenna s'Hheinia, her birth above Romulus, the destruction of the SS Brilliant and her 'death'. The story of David's step-father, DaiMon Mok and the subsequent selling of Shelly into Orion slavery David had particular difficulty with. Not so much because the history was sketchy but that the anger still within him at Mok' betrayal toward his family. Much of the history now complete, David walked the corridor of the Orias heading back toward the bridge, temporarily lost in thought, when the lighting dimmed and a warning siren started a shrill pulse. He immediately broke into a run toward the Keldon's bridge.
"What is it?", David shouted as he got within sight of Dejar.
With an exasperated glance at her captive, Dejar swung back away from David at the aft of the bridge and resumed her scrutiny of the tactical situation that David could now perceive as he approached the side of the raised dais where the Orias' captain now sat. As she pointed out the display to Rogers, she summed up the situation.
"It would seem your vaunted star fleet are here before us commander. From long range scans we can identify three Federation heavy cruiser signatures."
As she spoke an officer at the tactical station off to her right interrupted.
"Captain, another ship has appeared. Federation Intrepid class. She appeared out of nowhere sir!"
Running a quick calculation over in his mind David surmised the distance from Mars to their current position some twelve light years from the expanse, near Epsilon Gruls, and concluded correctly the Transwarp flight time of the Lotus. With a slight sigh, David informed Dejar.
"That would be Captain Felez and the Lotus captain."
Comms then broke the ensuing silence with an announcement.
"Incoming hail Captain."
Glancing once at Rogers, Dejar stood and faced the view screen.
"Open channel."
* * *
Minutes before in his ready room, Felez was talking to Rear Admiral Kotari.
"I think it's our best option, Rear Admiral, although I would rather not use it if there was any other way."
"You realize that if this doesn't work, your career in Starfleet will be ruined of course... and Commander Rogers as well." Kotari said sternly.
"No less than Rogers would deserve for his crimes, and my own downfall would be well worth the risk," Felez said, showing no emotion at all.
"Very well, Captain Felez. Go ahead with your plan and I wish you the best of luck."
Kotari ended the transmission.
Five minutes later, the Efrozian sat in his command chair on the main bridge.
Ensign Tahndi gave Captain Felez his security report.
"Now arriving at task force rendez-vous point, Captain. Target ship has not deviated from either course or speed."
Felez looked intently at the main viewscreen. He whispered under his breath.
"Don't be stupid."
"Rogers is a sensible man," Doctor Nasaro-Myth assured him, having heard him as he stood right behind him, hands resting on the causeway ramp. "I could feel before we were unceremoniously booted out of their ship that both women had lost their hostility towards him. Let's hope he can reason them if they plan anything... unwise. But this Cardassian woman seems sensible as well. She surely knows that no one ship in the galaxy, short of a Borg cube, can stand against an entire task force."
Seconds later, Tahndi reported that the Cardassian ship dropped to impulse and was holding position.
Felez smiled inwardly and thought, Good girl.
"Open a secured hailing frequency."
Tahndi did so and reported that they were receiving the hail.
"This is Captain Felez of the Federation Starship Lotus. You are ordered to stand down and I invite Commander Dejar and the Rogers siblings to join me in the Lotus's conference room. You have five minutes to comply."
Barely two minutes passed before the Cardassian ship Orias responded.
"Commander Dejar here. I have decided to accept your gracious invitation, Captain. Expect our transporter signal shortly."
Moments later, in transporter room 1, the image of three humanoids could be seen materializing slowly on the transporter pad. The chief transporter operator gave Felez an approving nod.
"All clear, Captain. No weapons or biological surprises detected, Sir."
"Very well. Complete the transfer."
With that, the figures of Commander Dejar as well as David and Shelly Rogers materialized.
"Welcome aboard the Lotus, Commander. Please hold all comments until we arrive at the conference room. If you will please follow me..."
At that, Felez left the transporter room, leaving four security officers to escort their guests. Several minutes later, they all arrived in the conference room. Felez ordered security to remain outside leaving Felez and Dr. Nasaro-Myth and their guests alone.
Elliago went to the side of the captain, standing up behind him and keeping all his sensitive senses focused on their three guests. he refrained from using his soothing pheromones. Influencing their reactions would make Felez efforts useless. But he would be watching them intently for any sign of acceptance, refusal... or hostility. It would take but one word from him to activate security forcefield to encase them. But for the nonce, he remained silent, letting his commanding officer lead the meeting.
"Now, Commander, as I was saying before you quite rudely interrupted me, I was about to officially place you under arrest..." and he let that sit for a few seconds before continuing; "but as it turns out, that may have been for the best."
He sat down and motioned for the rest to do the same.
"So we're all on the same page, let's recap shall we? A short while ago, a Federation prototype starship was stolen from a secure shipyard within Federation space." Felez was careful not to say any names. "Most of Lotus fleet command as well as Star Fleet intelligence came to the conclusion that an inside operative working with a foreign element had to be responsible for its theft, and in a short time decided that Mister Rogers was the only reasonable and qualified suspect."
He looked at Rogers.
" Before it could be decided to apprehend him, the ship, on its own, returned to Federation space. It was then that I was assigned with the task of finding out the particulars of the situation, seeing as there were far to many unanswered questions. This was partially because of my familiarity with Rogers as well as my record for ferreting out saboteurs and spies. But, as I mentioned earlier, I have come to the conclusion that Mister Rogers was indeed acting on his own and attained the vessel using a dazzling array of tact and innovation."
With this, he took a deep breath and sat back in his chair.
"My original plan was to encourage Commander Rogers to attempt to escape or, at the very least, try to contact his allies for help, giving us an opportunity to track them down and catch them. To that end, Starfleet Command granted me command of this task force and what have I ended up with?"
He waved his right hand over the three of them.
"A discredited Cardassian smuggler trespassing in Federation space using illegal equipment; a victim of Ferengi exploitation and Orion slavery managing to comandeer a Klingon renegade ship for a personal quest of vengeance against the very person having freed her; and a decorated Federation officer with no faith in humanity and compassion of the organization he swore to serve, willing to place his personal problems of family over the security of Starfleet."
This last part seemed to bother him the most.
"I've tried to make you understand the severity of what you have done, Rogers, but I just don't think you can accept it."
He looked back at Dejar.
"Commander Dejar, Your ship will be impounded and crew arrested, tried and held, most likely, for most of the remainder of their natural lives due to the complicit nature of your involvement with this event. Unless you expect the Cardassian Union to intervene on your behalf, as I do not."
He turned to David Rogers.
"Rogers will, undoubtedly, suffer a similar fate, even if not convicted of it will be considered a traitor to the Federation, a probable thirty year incarceration followed by isolation because of his familiarity with Starfleet security protocols and obvious talent of bypassing them."
He shook his head sadly and turned towards Shelly Rogers.
"You Miss Rogers, will be a bit more complicated. Officially you're a civilian registered with the unaffiliated and independent Orion star system and, unless directly implicated by David or Dejar, will be turned over to the Orion government for processing in a few months."
His eyes stayed with her.
"I imagine, every facet of your life will be reviewed in detail and, if you're very lucky, they will attempt to use you as political leverage against the Federation, as you were of course an Orion citizen that was forcibly removed, drugged and abandoned after having your memory wiped, by a ranking, decorated, Federation officer."
He shot a quick glance back at Rogers.
"I'm sure you can imagine how THAT might play out."
Elliago didn't need to imagine it anymore than Rogers. Yet, the Deltan's sensitivity told him that all was not yet said or done. There was a tension in Felez, as if the Efrozian was about to fight or jump over a cliff. It was an odd feeling coming out of him, as by all facts and intents, he had completed successfully his difficult mission in finding out and apprehending whoever had been responsible for the theft of the Diamond Star. He had even discovered why. And yet, instead of a feeling of justified and righteous satisfaction at having well done his duty, there was still apprehension, uncertainty... and... hope?
It seemed that the game was not yet over.
The doctor looked at him but stayed quiet. Felez was not just a fellow Starfleet officer after all.
He was the captain.
The Efrozian closed his eyes and took a deep breath, preparing himself for what he had to do.
"By all rights, this should be what happens next..but it can't."
He addressed Dejar "If we can all come to an accord, this is what is being purposed."
"The Federation greatly appreciates your assistance during this exercise Captain, you have helped Lotus fleet refine it's security response to the probability of a cloaked infiltration of a secure installation. Showing the swift and completely successful tracking and recovery of a cloaked vessel in Federation space, this should give most of our primary opponents concern. You will be compensated for your time AFTER we recover the Illegal transporter tech we allowed for this exercise."
"I hope we understand each other Captain Dejar, and I apologize for any discomfort this might draw from your peers." The expression he gave her indicated he was not, indeed, concerned.
"David Rogers." Felez paused looking at him for several seconds.
"You are to be commended for the skill and professionalism in putting together a plan, with the help of a few key personnel, necessary for this exercise."
"It will be made VARY clear that the focus was not in actually taking the ship, because such a feat would be impossible for any lone individual to do, but in the response and efficiency of Star Fleet security in it's quick recovery and the apprehension of the hijackers."
"You will receive an award, I'm sure. And the people of the Federation will sleep better knowing that Star Fleet doesn't have people like you threatening it's vary existence for a matter of personal gain." His face went blank again.
"Shelly Rogers, as a personal liaison between Dajr and Rogers, is of course free to go with either of them as you wish. And I have arranged asylum for you if you so desire it." He didn't look at Rogers but the next comment was aimed at him.
"Because the Federation looks after its people, and their families."
He looked around the room sternly. When his strange whitish eyes fell on the purple ones of his chief medical officer, he could read in them surprise, then disbelief, a flicker of doubt... and finally approval, even genuine admiration.
Elliago was a Starfleet officer, born and raised on starships, a firm beleiver of it's rules of conduct. But he was also Deltan, instincitively empathic and sensitive to other beings; and he was most of all a doctor, sworn to do no harm and to heal all suffering, even when anemies were concerned... let alone colleagues... and friends.
Felez brough his gaze back to Rogers. There was no more apprehension in his mind or in his voice.
"That is what I, and I alone, am offering as an alternative to what should be happening, my terms are non-negotiable."
"If you need a moment to discuss this, we will exit the room." and waited.
While captain Felez spoke David stood quietly, knowing full well his culpability was without question, but also knowing that Shelly must be protected. The threat of her return to Orion space was unthinkable to him and he tensed visibly at Felez' mention of her being returned into the syndicate's clutches. Then the captains next words; an accord, gave a beacon of hope toward his sister and her fate.
The proposal unfolded like a un-thought for dream. Continued freedom for Shelly, with an offer of asylum within the Federation. A non-negotiable offer, but also an un-looked for alternative to his prior plan before beaming over to the Lotus. He, for his own sake, didn't need the offer. It was never his intention to gain anything except Shelly's freedom from the syndicate. With a warning glance toward the Cardassian, David answered for them, before Dejar could self inflict the pain on herself that the Orias was waiting for.
"Sir, Captain Dejar herself would be happy to accept. I am also confident that Shelly would be, shall I say, accommodating, in persuing asylum."
The last, as he looked directly at his sister,was slightly enforced by a lower tone of voice indicating his desire that she herself voice the desire of asylum within the Federation. Neither he, nor anyone else, could voice it for her. Finally, looking back at Commander Nasaro-Myth first, then down to Captain Felez, David continued.
"I, ... ask for nothing for myself Sir."
"Unfortunately Rogers, neither you or I will be awarded the luxury of anonymity, for the next few months we will be smiling, accepting awards and lying with a straight face about how safe and secure Star Fleet security is with guest appearances and security briefings. Some of those smiling back at us will know the truth and will be angry at both of us for the cover up."
"But in reality you will be a prisoner and I your keeper, at the vary least for the rest of your career. Security clearance will be just enough for your continue your duties aboard the Lotus, minus the ability to take command even if the only officer left to do so, and a special attachment to your personal file make it extremely unlikely another Captain will allow you a command position on their ship."
A cover up; Elliago was quite ill at ease with the idea. Truth was at the very heart of being a Starfleet officer. He almost tought about making a formal protest.
It took a moment for him to realize that, in fact, truth would be honored; only those not already in the know and not needing to be in the know would be exempt from it. Any captain and above would be aware of what had happened and would act accordingly as Felez had done; for the good of the service. Everyone could understand why Rogers had acted this way, many would empathize with him; but even if an officer of Rogers' caliber was essential for the current depleted state of the fleet. discipline could not be jeopardized.... security even less. Officially punishing him would expose all the vulnerabilities of Starfleet before they could all be verified, tested and corrected. This smokescreen of a security test would prevent the same thing to happen to an active duty starship instead of a mere engineering platform sitting in a yard. No one in Starfleet had yet forgotten the theft of the prototype USS Prometheus by Romulans several decades ago.
And Rogers would nevertheless be punished; he would be obliged to remain working in Starfleet where his career was, for all intent and purposes, all but finished. It amounted to nothing else than the same sentence as lifetime in a penal colony. His moving around in a staship would just cover it up for security's sake.
Hopefully, his love of his work would make him accept it just as James Kirk had graciously lived with his historically famous demotion. The Deltan sincerely wished it, for Rogers' sake. His actions were inexcusable; his feelings were still quite understandable.
Felez was acting to save both the Service and the man. The doctor could now feel nothing else but admiration for him and what he was trying to do... and for Starfleet for going, not outside but beyond the rules to do the same.
His mind was brought back to the present by the soft voice of the Efrozian captain.
"Captain Dejar, I don't doubt Rogers is correct, however.. I really must insist you agree to my terms personally."
For a few seconds Dejar looked to first Shelly, then over at David. She could tell that this was an opportune chance to exit gracefully. And beside's, her friend was safe; Her job done, in-so-far as it was her job to begin with. Looking back at Captain Felez, Dejar accepted the terms.
"Thank you Captain Felez. I agree to those terms."
Then, nodding in acceptance of Felez' casual wave of a hand indicating dismissal Dejar turned and stalked from the room, to be met outside by a pair of Lotus' security. They would accompany her back to the Orias, along with a small engineering team to retrieve the sub-space transporter technology. The doors swished shut behind the trio and the ready room quieted a moment before Shelly spoke.
"Sir,'" she spoke quietly at Felez. "I would request asylum in the Federation. "
Swallowing silently, she looked over at her brother for a second and noticed the exhale of breath, as if he had been holding it for long seconds. David's relief was apparent in that one breath. Then she too also exited the room, followed by Commander nasaro-Mtyh as he accompanied her to the door. Felez' short request at Rogers was muffled as the doors again swished shut behind the pair.
As everyone else left the room Felez asked Rogers to remain a minute longer.
He seemed calmer than before, and spoke softer.
"On some level I.. admire what you did here David." he looked out one of the windows.
"Just before I joined the crew of this ship my wife had been taken by the Borg, I was lost in my grief and oh so angry at Star Fleet."
"I know it's hard to tell, but Efrozians are a passionate people, easy to offend and known to hold a grudge for generations."
He took a breath and stood there for a few seconds in silence, choosing his words.
"What would I have done if I was in command of the Lotus at that time? likely the something similar to you, broke my oath and went looking for her against orders. Risking the lives of my crew on the slim hope of finding her before the trail got to cold." He sat back down wearily.
"I found out later that my commanding officer, my friend.. had located her not long after I took command of the Lotus, but chose not to tell me.."
"I hated him for that, still do. But I now know, thanks to you, that he did the right thing." he stood up and straightening his jacket walked to the door.
"Thank you commander Rogers, your dismissed." and left the room.
Right outside the room, Elliago was waiting for him. He fell in step with him.
"Well, Captain Sir... you certainly did it. I hope Starfleet Command will see things as clearly as you do and not have their rulebook so high up before their faces that they will not see what's best for everyone... most of all Starfleet itself."
Once Captain Felez had exited the conference room David walked silently around the vacated chair and stood looking out at the expanse of the surrounding space through the viewport. The Typhon expanse was a dim glow off in the distance, a mere couple hours away. He wondered for a minute; Would the outcome have been much different had the Orias made it to the expanse? Would he be standing just like this somewhere, Shelly safe? Dejar, somewhat unhappily, back on her merry way to do the bidding of her masters in the syndicate? He really doubted such an outcome would have happened had the Lotus' task force not intercepted the Orias here.
Stepping back a little David sat on the corner of the table, still looking at the stars, and gave thought to the future. Returning now to Lotus base, as surely must happen now, David surmised that Shelly may be asked to provide some intelligence on her contact with the Syndicate. He still fumed at the continued existence of that vile organization. And, upon retroflection to the doctor's conversation on the Orias, before Dejar had beamed them to the Proxima colony, he could see that the Federation's hands were effectively tied when it came to the Syndicate's operations within Orion space. But the fact still wrankled him.
Even the Free traders, a supposedly legitimate Orion group, was known to the Ferengii as opportunists. Even though they have an established relationship with Vulcan society, his adopted people knew also that the Free Trader's operated under the guise of 'free' applied as loosely as interstellar law could be applied.
David grunted and stood again, pacing the room broodily. There was much that he could regret, but ... would Shelly be returned to him now, had he done thing's differently? There were too many variables to consider here. With a heavy sigh, David rose from the table and again approached the viewport.
One thought appeared to him, courtesy of his commandeering the Diamond Star. While effectively in command of the Horizon's sister ship, he had been made privy to the Omega Directive through the main computer. This Directive gave precedence to the destruction of any Omega particle detected by Star Fleet captain's. It even allowed the complete disregard for the prime Directive in carrying out said directive, including the destruction of an inhabited planet to achieve the directive. Could a officer accept mere bending of regulations to rescue his sister, knowing that any ship he was serving on could be sacrificed just to destroy a molocule? Now that was a sobering thought that gave rise to too many what-ifs.
David shook it off and turned to the exit then. He must return to engineering and look after the Lotus. At least for now, he was still chief engineer and XO. Although the latter might change at any moment. The doors swished shut as David exited the conference room.
As the lights darkened the now empty room, a stray comet tail became visible off in the distance, previously hidden by the glare of the room lights. It's complacent journey uninterrupted by the puny comings and goings of sentient lifeforms; Its only prime directive ... get to where-ever it was going.
By David Rogers on 08/08/2016 @ 10:21am
Persistent bunch aren't you! ;)
By Connora'tu Felez on 08/09/2016 @ 5:41pm
Thanks for cleaning it up for me Kheren, I've been fighting chronic shoulder pain for about a week now (old army injure) and it's distracts from my typing. I'm starting to get over it.
*strokes cat on lap*
"Come now Mr. Rogers, you didn't think it would be so easy to escape my clutches.. no?" *laughs evilly*
By David Rogers on 08/22/2016 @ 11:27pm
*beams cat into a secure cell*
That cat hair is fouling the air reclamation systems!! *smiles smugly.*
I chose only "3" heavy cruisers because the rest are likely out of range for the Orias. I surmise they set up a blockade, thus the outer edges wouldn't be in range yet. ;)
We can wrap this up. I don't see a fight as an option, so Felez' opening hail should set the tune for Dejar's response.
By Kheren on 08/23/2016 @ 11:28am
3 cruisers + the Lotus ( transwarp capable, regenerative-armored, transphasic torpedo-armed with full nanite enhancement) makes for a full task force; more than enough to deal with one Cardassian ship.
A peaceful resolution is certainly in the best interest of all :)
By David Rogers on 08/26/2016 @ 12:13am
You do realize that Felez is backing Rogers into the proverbial corner ...
By Kheren on 08/27/2016 @ 9:52am
You mean, the corner he brick-layered for himself? :P
By David Rogers on 09/01/2016 @ 12:27am
This should wrap up nicely, and there is room I suppose for a few things here and there, but for all intents and purposes, a job well done guys.
I want to thank Kheren and Redding for exploring the depths and reaches of the Federation charter of rights and freedoms, as well as the Star Fleet general orders and code of conduct.
Well done Master & Commander! ;)