What Were We Thinking?

Cerina Ringo sat in her chambers, what Starfleet preferred to call the "captain's ready room".  The phrase never made a lot of sense to Cerina, even when she was much younger.  A ship's captain was supposed to be ready for anything.  Why did they need a specific room for it?  Also, Starfleet's choice of placement for the room was questionable.  On most vessels, the ready room was near the front of the bridge.  If the bridge was targeted, odds were, the ready room would take the first hit.  On Bartokian ships, the ready room (generally referred to as command chamber) was located in the back of the bridge, near the main turbolift.

She had just finished a long conversation with Bartokian Fleet Command.  Their message had been simple and clear: Get back here.  Yesterday.  They were anxious to see what this human could tell them.  Which led Cerina to another question: Did they know something she didn't?  Granted, it wouldn't have been the first time that Command knew something they didn't tell the troops about.  But this was much different.  The stakes were much higher.  The consequences of their actions could have dire results.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the door chime.  "Enter."

Korrine Blail walked through the door.  "Sorry if I'm interrupting anything, Cerina."

Cerina smiled at her long-time friend.  "Nothing that can't wait.  What's on your mind?"

Plopping down in the chair in front of Cerina's desk, Korrine sighed.  "Any chance we can drop the human off before we return to Bartok?"

"You like him that much, huh?"

Korrine rolled her eyes.  "What is it with these humans?  We saved his life... and he acts as if he is the one doing us the favor.  He refuses medical treatment... food... clothing... For all I know, he hasn't even used the bathroom.  What is he trying to prove?"

Cerina stood, walking around the desk, and sitting on the edge.  "You know that at one time, my father was human."

Korrine nodded.  "You've told me before, yes."

"Humans... have a different way of looking at things.  And the separatists especially.  I don't believe they hate us.  They just wish to be left alone... to their own devices.  For him to come here... placing himself in the hands of an alien race... probably severing all ties to wherever he came from... I have to believe that he knows something of vital importance.  I don't think he would have done otherwise."

"That still doesn't mean I have to like him."  Korrine folded her arms over her chest.

"I'm not asking you to like him.  I'm not asking you to be his best friend.  But... that doesn't mean you have to lower yourself to his level.  If he wishes to be petulant and spiteful... that's his decision."

Korrine nodded once again.  "He requests to use our communications array.  He wants to check with his people about something."

Cerina stood.  "I'll handle it."

The door opened.  Although Cerina didn't know it, Thunder hadn't moved much from where he was when Korrine had visited.  He wasn't looking much better.  In fact, he was looking worse.