Conversations of the Road

Ti Klec Cerina Ringo had noticed the crew's reaction to this order.  And it wasn't a positive one.  Which was why she had called her senior staff to the conference room.  She wanted to know what her fellow crew members were thinking.  Their opinions.  Concerns.  Thoughts.  Granted... she was still ti klec.  In the end, her decision was final.  But, she valued the voices of her crew.

She stood at the head of the table.  "All right.  I'll get right down to it.  The Federation is attacking Arcadia as we speak.  And I learned that my father is being held on Arcadia."  She let those two facts sink in.  "Before anyone asks... I'm not doing this solely for my father.  And I'm not doing it to gain favor with the Arcadians.  I'm doing this because I don't believe anyone... especially the Federation... has the right to exterminate an entire planet."  She cast her eyes around the table, taking in expressions of each member of her staff.  "Now... I want all your opinions.  Don't be shy... I know you all better than that."

Arloc Udeski stood first.  The massive tactical officer glanced around at the others before addressing Cerina.  "With all due respect, ma'am... this isn't our fight.  Besides... odds are... whatever the Federation has sent to destroy this planet is probably going to be more than we can handle on our own.  One Molyar -class couldn't hold its own against a Khalindarian super-destroyer.  And the Federation has ships a lot bigger than those."

CMO Trishel Volari jumped in.  "Would the Arcadians rush to our aid if the Federation attacked Bartok Prime?  Of course not.  They'd probably laugh... think to themselves, 'good... one less mongrel race to deal with.'  They don't deserve our help."

Tamara Udeski-Rillit, the ship's communications officer, cast a glance at Trishel of pure shock.  "Trishel... I cannot believe you'd say such a thing.  No one is undeserving of help.  You don't choose who you give assistance to based on personal prejudice."  She turned her attention to Arloc, her vuloran^[1].  "And the first Bartokians who encountered a Khalindarian super-destroyer said it couldn't be destroyed.  But, we found ways to beat them."

"We already have our hands full with the Khalindarian threat.  And now... without approval from Bartok Fleet Command... we're going to take on the Federation?"  The chief of operations, Janni Ghinta, shook her head.  "Ma'am... this is not a wise decision.  We can't fight two enemies at once.  Especially not two enemies as strong as the Federation and the Khalindarians."

"Please.  Why does everyone keep giving Khalindar all this credit?"  The security chief, Fiet Varitic, added his thoughts.  "Khalindar is fighting on borrowed time.  You saw the fleet analysis.  They barely have enough dilithium to run the ships they have.  They have fleet yards filled with ships they can't even power.  Half of their major cities are running on carbon-based fuels... and estimates claim that will be close to 70% by the end of the year."

"Borrowed time or not... Khalindar still represents a major threat."  Kayno Nalyz glanced over to Fiet.  "And sooner or later... I believe the Federation would have targeted us anyway.  You heard what Thunder said.  The Federation ships were at that conference to start a conflict.  Ignoring that is just postponing the inevitable."

Trishel rolled her eyes.  "And why does everyone keep believing this Lieutenant Thunder?  He's an Arcadian!  How do we know he didn't just make all this up to get us to help?  How do we know that the Arcadians aren't drawing us into the conflict just to get the heat off of them for the time being?"

"You just despise humans, Trishel," Tamara fired back.  "You could care less if they all exterminated each other!"

Korrine slapped the table with an open hand.  "Oh, will the both of you knock it off!  You sound like a couple of children arguing over who gets the last piecat !"^[2]  She glared at the two women.  "The point is... what does Bartok have to gain from entering a war with Starfleet.  And I'll tell you what – nothing.  We end up fighting two enemies instead of one.  And we cannot expect any assistance from the Arcadians."  She looked to Cerina.  "I'm sorry... but this is a mistake."

Cerina looked down the table to Dimohn Itaki, the ship's conn officer and the lowest-ranking of the officers in the room.  "Dimohn... what do you think?"

He slowly glanced around the room.  "This reminds me of something that happened to me when I was a boy."  He paused a moment, then continued.  "I was walking home from a friend's house one afternoon... when a couple of older boys started chasing me.  I ran as fast as I could... but I knew they were going to catch me.  All of a sudden... I collided with someone.  I fell to the ground.  I looked up... and it was a boy who I knew was friends with the ones chasing me.  I thought for sure I was going to take a beating.  The boys chasing me finally caught up... and started moving in towards me.  And then... the boy I ran into... he stepped between me and his friends.  And he told them, 'If you want him... you have to go through me first.'  They all argued for several minutes... but they eventually left.  I remember getting up, and thanking him for stopping the fight.  And he said to me, 'If there is one thing I can't stand... it's a bully.  And if someone doesn't stand up to a bully... they just keep getting stronger.'"  Dimohn looked to Cerina.  "I'm not saying we'll win a fight with the Federation.  I'm not saying that Fleet Command is going to approve.  I'm not saying that the Arcadians will even thank us for helping.  But I know this.  And I'll say this.  To stand by and do nothing while the Federation annihilates Arcadia... that is wrong.  I won't be a part of standing by and watching idly.  I won't."

Cerina nodded gently.  "I've already contacted Fleet Command.  I've given them everything that Lieutenant Thunder told us.  I've also appraised them of the situation on Arcadia."  She looked at each member of her crew.  "They have given the approval to engage the Federation."

The room got deathly still.  Cerina placed her hands on the table.  "If anyone wants out... now is the time to say so.  I won't think less of you for backing down."  Her eyes roamed the eyes of her crew.  She still saw many things – doubt, fear, underlying anger.  But she saw no quit.  "Very well.  We have less than an hour until we reach Arcadia.  We'd better start preparing our plan of attack."