A Case of Conscience

Now back in his seat, Captain Kheren exchanged glances with his crewmates and sighed.

"Does anyone read reports anymore?" he whispered softly to them. "We know how to contain the anomaly; we even tested it successfully months ago. We can do it, all of us together, in but a few days. The problem is those who would interfere: Romulans panicking... like them; Klingons damning everything for their own survival... like them; Cultists unaware of the facts... like them... ''

"Maybe you should present your proposal, Sir," suggested Tyvya in the same low tone. "It might help calm things down."

"And the other possibility for evacuation besides running away or invading another universe,'' Elliago then chimed in.

The Andorian nodded to his doctor but then shot back:

"No. I'm not in command here, Samji is. It is his call and I will not undermine his authority by stepping up to play 'Savior of the Alpha Quadrant'."

"Sir?" voiced helmsman Snow for all of them.

"It would not only be overpretentious, but a ship captain showing lack of confidence in his own superiors like this would validate to all the indiscipline and insubordination brewing here. No; Starfleet may already have an excellent plan and I want to hear it out before I start yelling and pounding fists. Or if Fleet captain Samji wants to make my plan known, he will call me out. He already knows I have one. He at least do read reports."

"And he stands up for Federation ideals, especially when they may be sorely tested," commented the Deltan Doctor.

"Else we make these ideals meaningless," added Tyvya looking at her commanding officer. She knew like all of them that this was his own steadfast belief. And he voiced it plainly enough when he lifted his silvery gaze back to the podium to say:

"That is why I listen... and obey him."