The Path Not Taken

Posted on 01 Jan 2016 @ 8:54pm by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Captain Jonathan Holliday

1,400 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 10 - Symposium
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 1 - Saalm's Quarters
Timeline: MD01 - 0825hrs

[ON]

Jonathan straightened his uniform as he tapped on the chime outside Lirha's quarters. He had already been through more than a few meetings on the subject of their Brig's current occupant, but was no closer to finding a resolution. On the one hand, she could be a useful tactical asset aboard a ship of scientists, but on the other she was an enemy combatant from an aggressive universe, undisciplined in Starfleet ways and means.

"Enter!" Lurha called out from inside her own chambers. The PADD she currently held in her hand was full of operational status reports, including personnel casualties and starship systems evaluations. She barely had time to look up before she spotted John entering her quarters.

"Ma'am." Holliday replied, ever formal as he approached his superior officer, remaining at attention for the time being. Even though they had served together for some time, John was still ever the stickler for procedure.

"I wanted to...pick your brains, if you have the time, regarding the fate of the young lady currently in the Brig. I admit I am at an impasse as to how to proceed."

The lady in the brig? Lirha pondered that designation for several long moments while looking blankly at John, and then finally her green eyes lit up when she recognized the person he might be referring to.

"You mean...Corporal Wyatt? Scientist's Mate Wyatt's alternate?"

"Correct. She...has requested asylum within the Federation...with a view to eventually serving in the fleet."

John swallowed hard as he continued to try and figure out how exactly that course of action could even happen before continuing.

"I'm a little uncertain how to proceed. She is on the one hand an asylum seeker and a human, but on the other is an enemy combatant."

This much was true, and it indeed posed a problem for both of them. And perhaps Starfleet as a whole if it wasn't managed properly. Lirha couldn't help but now ask one of the most prudent questions. "Well...how does our Abbey-Mae Wyatt feel about having her counterpart on board?" she ignorantly asked, not having yet read through the entirety of the casualty report from the Mirror Universe.

"Our...Abbey? Ma'am we no longer have an Abbey.....she is documented in the casualty report from our previous engagement."

Holliday swallowed as he filled in the otherwise oblivious Orion to the situation. She had obviously not gotten around to reading the entirety of the reports filed by his staff; something he could not fault as he himself hadn't yet managed to get caught up on everything.

"So unfortunately there is no counterpart situation of which to speak."

Slowly, Saalm's light green eyes drifted towards the carpet at the news of a lost crew member. Of all the burdens a commander and flag officer had to deal with on a daily basis, the death of one of their own crew were among the hardest to cope with. And that feeling of remorse and regret tended to linger for a very long time.

"I see..." she replied very quietly. "Well...how do you feel about this? And what about Mister Wyatt?" Spirits only knew how the girl's alternate universe father would handle it, and Lirha felt a bit outside of her own element at the moment.

"I must admit I am yet to speak with Mr Wyatt. I cannot imagine he is in a situation to discuss it at any great length however. The real problem is where we stand as the senior most officers in the situation. I see two options - we assist with an attempt at a transition or we hand her over to Starfleet Security or Intelligence?"

John sighed as he thought on the subject once more. He truly did not know where to go from here, and found himself looking to his former mentor once more for guidance.

"And what would become of her if we did turn her over to Starfleet?" Lirha was a former intelligence officer herself, and there was no doubt in her mind that the young Wyatt's life would not be enjoyable under the scrutiny. "Three months of interrogation by the fleet? Followed by every other branch of the UFP which is interested in the secrets and political landscape of the Mirror Universe? She would not be able to serve in Starfleet nor see her father for a very long time..."

"If indeed Mr Wyatt is even likely to accept that this is indeed his daughter - I would have a hard time doing that." John replied, nodding lightly as he came to the same understanding as the Admiral.

"What if...Admiral if I were to speak freely - what if we were to simply...neglect to file this incident in our reports to Command?"

Saalm's eyebrows slowly raised to their fullest while she comprehended the captain's suggestion. Of all the people...she would have never expected it.

"You mean to suggest...falsifying Starfleet records...?"

Holliday scoffed at the suggestion of falsifying anything, such an action would go against who knows how many regulations, as well as being in violation of his own personal code of honour. Taking a moment to clear his throat he continued.

"No ma'am - falsifying records would be a court martial offence. I mean to say that we simply neglect to file the death of Miss Wyatt in our report to Starfleet, after all, when they look at our manifest, they will find aboard a genetically identical copy of our crew member. It isn't honest, and I imagine it would cost me my rank, but the other option is that girl spends the rest of her life in an interrogation cell...."

John allowed his voice to tail off. There was always a possibility that Lirha would strip him of rank and have security arrest him right here and right now, and she would have been right to do so, but he hoped that the Admiral would at least see where he was coming from. There were very few options he could think of and it would involve a proportion of his crew being involved in the deception, but he hoped that they too would understand his course of action.

"...How far you have come..." she whispered to herself. The original Holliday she had met at San Fransisco Fleet Yards had certainly turned into a more lenient commander over the years. Well, only slightly, perhaps, but she nevertheless gave him a small grin to show her appreciation.

"Very well. If that is our consensus?" She looked towards the imaginary computer in the ceiling and began the purge.

"Computer, delete casualty record for Crewman Apprentice Abbey-Mae Wyatt. Restore Crewman Apprentice Abbey-Mae Wyatt to active status. Confirm Crewman Abbey-Mae Wyatt is aboard the ship. Authorization Saalm-Foxtrot-November-One-Zero."

She then looked towards John for him to state his own command codes.

"Computer, confirm casualty restoration - authorisation Holliday Four-Seven-Victor-Charlie. Clear log and backups of this action once complete."

John took a deep breath as he heard the confirmation chirrup from the computer, followed by nothing but silence. The computer had essentially been told to forget any of this had happened, and as such a vocal confirmation of the purge would not be forthcoming.

"It's done...thank you..Admiral.''

"Of course. Although, I believe it is Miss Wyatt who should be thanking us." The Orion paused and thought about the Mirror Universe woman for a moment. "Perhaps it is time for me to meet her?"

"I think that would be prudent. Can I assume that breaking the news to her can be left in your hands? Or would you like me to handle that following your meeting?" John confirmed with a curt nod. Their crewman of course had no reason to be in the Brig, and if this deception was to succeed, he would have to get her out of there soon enough.

Lirha let out a soft breath and looked up at the captain with certainty in her green eyes. "I will inform her. Thank you, John. Let us hope we do not regret this decision..."

With one final solemn nod, John could say only one thing as he turned to leave the room.

"You and I both Admiral. You and I both."

[OFF]

--

RADM Lirha Saalm
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo

CAPT Jonathan Holliday
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo

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