Decisions (Part 2 of 2)

Posted on 26 Nov 2013 @ 5:45pm by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Commander Scarlet Blake & Lieutenant Theron Rhodes & Lieutenant Aria Rice & Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Lieutenant JG Delainey Carlisle & Lieutenant Commander Amynta Markos & Commander Norvi Stace & Ensign Im'er Mor'an & Lieutenant Commander Dea Mialin & Lieutenant Asahi Kita

2,070 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 04 - Exodus
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 2, Observation Lounge
Timeline: MD 06 - 1625 hrs

Previously, on Decisions (Part 1)...

If the air wasn't so thick with silence then Stace's snorted scoff would have gone unheard, but the room was as still as unbroken glass and it cut through like shards of malice. Her eyes widened as she caught herself, once again, pleading the aggressor, and she tilted her head whilst trying to soften her face as the gaze of the captain fell upon her. "Sorry," she said almost meekly, fully aware now that her feelings were completely understood and fully expressed to the group. "Look, I know that I'm not their greatest fan, Captain," she added, raising her eyebrows in confusion as the words seemed to unexpectedly pour from her mouth, "but in the condition we're in, we couldn't limp far enough out of their clutches should they want to turn the tables. We're caught in this spider's web as it is, and the spider can either cut us loose from it or devour us as we inch our way further towards its edges. But either way, we're at their mercy. Or rather the Borg's. So we might as well take full advantage of their assistance whilst they still extend it."

And Now, the Conclusion...

[ON]

Scarlet nodded gently. "I agree. If they wanted to take the ship, they could have done it by now without deception. Same with destroying it. I think we should take the help to get us repaired. We are short staff and yet over crowded at the same time. However, I would recommend we don't take the offered help with the wounded," she looked to Allyndra to see if she agreed or not. "Not because of the trust issue, more because it would require moving already tired and hurting people, and then putting them through the cleansing process. I think it could be something of a trauma for them, not to mention a logistical nightmare. I'd recommend that with their help on repairing other areas of the ship, we could use our own people to focus on getting Sickbay back on its feet so we can care for our people here."

Allyndra nodded. "I agree, subjecting wounded and then the double assault to members that were assimilated is something I think best we keep to ourselves. Once repairs are further along we then can continue and perhaps expand our triage efforts."

Lirha rubbed her green forehead in thought, then looked towards Markos and Kita. "What condition is the ship in and how are our current repairs progressing? Would it be possible to isolate any assistance these beings offer us to only the critical systems and our main propulsion?"

Asahi had already been checking on the status of repairs by the time the question was asked. "Ma'am, we're actually doing fairly well, considering. The warp core itself isn't too bad, so long as we don't take another attack, and life support is functional on the necessary decks, but if we don't have any assistance, we'll be stuck where we are for awhile." He paused. "So yes, if we had assistance to our main propulsion and whatever needs fixing with the core and shields, we should have most of the systems up and functional within a few days at the most... thirty six hours if we have all the necessary hands helping out."

"Thirty-six hours?" Lirha was very relieved to hear such a timely estimate. "That is...excellent," she replied, then turned to Markos. "And our crew, how are they faring?"

Allyndra spoke up again though she had not the time to fully asses anything and certainly Commander Blake would have a good handle as well, "Morale considering the circumstances is remarkably high. I must say that most have risen to the challenges. What I do not trust is our erstwhile hosts." She took a deep breath, "Their ability to control the Borg would be something that us, the Federation, along with many others would love to know the secret to. Just how long it will be before they realize that as well and realize that their private corner will no longer be that? The quicker we can be away the better and at least make contact to the rest of the Fleet would be our best course of action in my opinion." Allyndra had only mentioned to Delany just how much experience she had with an insular people and a great secret.

Amynta arched an eyebrow at how Allyndra clearly had thought she had changed her own name, jumping in an answering something directed at Markos. In all fairness, Amynta couldn't give two tosses about how the crew were faring mentally. She wouldn't even have a basis to analyse that on; it wasn't something she was privy too unless she suddenly and magically developed telepathic abilities. It seemed everyone were doing their jobs. "I am sure that the Lieutenant was the better person to ask that question, as she clearly has such an insight into people's minds and hearts," she said with a shrug, sitting back. "It seems we are all doing our jobs. And that is pretty much the side I see."

"And the intelligence we have gathered from the Borg during our covert operations? Was there anything useful our teams retrieved which might provide us with some insight into these unique drones or give us a tactical advantage?" the captain proceeded to ask her Intel chief. She wanted to know what all of her available options were and have them laid out on the table before coming to a final course of action.

Amynta took a breath, leaning closer, her hands folded on the table. "They were luckily still close enough to the Borg for the developed serum to work on them. We extracted a lot of information and I aim for the Intelligence department to go through it. Still early days..." she looked around, at the others. "I have to say that considering the situation we found ourselves in, this is one of the best possible outcomes. All the rescue teams did what they could and the secondary objectives were followed as well. So my department will be very busy in the coming days."

"I don't know whether is was pure luck or somehow arranged but they were in regeneration mode when we arrived," Dea added. "It presented us quite an unexpected opportunity."

It was convenient, Lirha admitted, that many of the drones had been regenerating when Galileo's rescue teams had beamed on board. Or perhaps it was simply the luck of the draw, as all drones had to regenerate at some point or another. Nevertheless, Lirha turned her thoughts back to the alien's offer of assistance as well as the different opinions on the matter. "My report to Starfleet regarding this encounter will be most interesting..." she thought out loud, then adjusted herself in her chair and sat upright with her hands now on the edge of the table.

"Very well. I agree we cannot remain here much longer, and I also have no desire to linger about in this star system in our current state with all of our injured crew. Since we are unable to repair the extensive damage to our nacelle and the rest of the ship, I, too, agree it would be best to accept their offer," she decided, then began to delegate orders.

"I would like all of you to contact your departments and inform your personnel of my decision. Prepare to secure all stations as soon as repairs begin, and compile a complete list of damaged systems to send to these aliens as soon as we make contact again. We will not evacuate sickbay and I would like our medical facilities to remain under our own supervision and repair. I do not intend to move our wounded at the current moment," the captain said.

Aria looked over at Rhodes, staying silent. After all, he was her chief, so...this was sort of his job.

"Yes'm." Seemed easy enough. Asahi nodded. Maybe he'll be able to report to Lieutenant Fahad this way.

"Aye Ma'am," Dea replied. At the moment she didn't feel a need to say more. All that was required was an acknowledgement of her orders.

"Commander Blake, how do we contact these beings to let them know we have accepted their offer?" Lirha asked.

"With this..." Scarlet put the shiny disc on the table, sliding it over to Lirha with a small smile. "It can put you straight through to them. I don't want to take away from the warnings that have been sounded around this table, but for a culture who were completely reclusive only a few days ago, they have made some huge steps in a short time, and offers of cooperation despite their fears."

Looking at the small, transparent coin-shaped disc, Lirha picked it up and studied each side, curious to know how it worked. "I agree, we must remain cautious," she replied to Scarlet, "but I do share some of your optimism. I am not exactly sure why I feel they can be trusted, but I have the feeling they are more unintentionally strange than menacing and aggressive. And...if we could somehow communicate with them further and earn their trust...well, I would very much like to know exactly how they are able to control the Borg vessels and drones. Such type of technology would be immensely useful for Starfleet."

'Bite your tongue, bite your tongue, don't say it, don't say it...' Asahi scrunched his nose at the thought of being able to control... anyone. Even if the Borg were 'lifeless robots,' as his father would have called them time and time again, they were still technically a species of some sort. Nevermind all the issues that could have come out of Starfleet attempting to harness technology that turned Borg into little more than remote control cars in space.

But he kept himself from opening his mouth and saying something on the matter. He wasn't that high up on the totem pole, so his opinion meant very little amongst the senior staff.

Fortunately, Stace had no such theory on the importance or validity of her opinion in the group but she unknowingly shared Asahi's view. "We should be cautious, Captain," she said in reply, not having been asked. "There's an old Earth expression about playing with fire or some such nonsense. But it does hold a shadow of truth. We can only control such a menace so far. And we're not even taking into account that these aliens are using the Borg as a slave race. Something I did not join Starfleet to promote. I'm not against tipping the balance with them. We could sure use an effective defence against them, but to what cost of our own values?"

"That is a valid question," Lirha agreed, "but one which Starfleet's admiralty will ultimately have to make. My mission report will be quite thorough, no doubt, and I will be sure to include all of our discoveries and conclusions when I submit it. For now, however, we must prepare for repairs while I attempt to contact the people on the surface. You all have your orders. Dismissed."

Dea got up to leave the conference room. Given their situation she had mixed feelings about letting this species anywhere near Galileo, however she had her orders. She also been the very first one to interact with them and felt guilty for allowing Blake and her team to be subjected to what they had.

Asahi nodded, secretly grateful someone else had spoken up. He was quick to spring up and leave, ready to set the plans in motion.

[OFF]

--

CAPT Lirha Saalm
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo

LT Dea Mialin
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Galileo

LT JR Grade Asahi Kita
Engineering Officer
USS Galileo

Lt Allydnra illm Warraquim
Chief Medical Officer
USS Gailileo

LT CMDR Scarlet Blake
Chief Counsellor/2XO
USS Galileo

Lt. Theron Rhodes
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Galileo

Junior Grade Lieutenant Norvi Stace
Chief Research Officer
USS Galileo

LT Aria Rice
Asst. Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Galileo

LT Amynta Markos
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Galileo

ENS Im'er Mor'an
Operations Officer
USS Galileo

LT Delainey Carlisle
Asst. Chief Counselor
USS Galileo

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