1-08-3
Big Steve
Know what you're doing yet?
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The crew of the Aurora followed Julia and Robert back to the Committee antechamber. "Are you sure? It's been a long day, you could go back to the ship," Robert asked.
"We're leaving together," Leo replied, speaking for everyone given the nods.
Heads turned as the Koenig crew entered the antechamber as well, Zack in the lead. They walked up as a unit and stood with the Aurora crew. Zack looked at Robert and Julia and nodded. "Well, let's get this over with, huh?"
"Yeah, that would be good," Robert agreed.
Julia nodded in agreement and briefly met Zack's eyes. Zack forced himself to smile. This was not the place to show how he was feeling inside.
The door opened. "Commander Zachary Carrey," the Sergeant-at-Arms called.
Hawthorne wasted no time, going straight into the heart of the matter when he opened questioning. "Commander, were you ever informed of the suspicions regarding Lieutenant Draynal being an imposter or some form of security risk?"
"I was not."
"How much did you know about the security problems on the Aurora?"
"I was informed about the breach of computer security and the spying software," Zack answered. "Commander Jarod and Lieutenant Navaez concurred that there was little risk on Koenig due to keeping its network separate, but we did a thorough search anyway. No problems with the database were found."
"Yet your vessel suffered sabotage?"
"Explosives were used to disable our cloaking device and warp drive," Zack explained. "And a malicious command was inserted into the communications system to lock out our subspace and interuniversal communications."
"I see." Hawthorne nodded quietly.
"Commander." Davies was now speaking. "What do you think of the decision to keep you ignorant of suspicions about Draynal?"
Well, here it was. Zack knew this was the question Davies had set him up for with tthe conversation in the officer club. "I think it was a mistake," Zack answered honestly.
"A negligent one?"
"No." Zack saw the look on Davies' face. This was clearly not what he wanted to hear. "I think he just made a mistake. A small mix-up of priorities. But not negligence."
Davies let out a sigh and shook his head. "You're certain?"
"Yes. I think he was too worried about the Nazis getting their hands on Darglan data or technology. He thought it was more important to prevent than anything else." Zack swallowed. "To call it negligent or anything else is overthinking things. He just... he decided his priorities that way."
"I see." Davies looked to Hawthorne.
And here it comes, Zack thought.
Hawthorne made a show of looking over reports. "Commander, when did you decide to fire on the Reich destroyer?"
"After it shot at me, sir."
"Did it occur to you to negotiate first?", Hawthorne asked.
Zack blinked and stared at him for a moment. "Well, sir, I tried to talk, but they demanded I stand down and permit boarding. It was clear they were intending to seize my ship."
"You could have scuttled the Koenig," Hawthorne pointed out. "Or destroyed your sensitive technology beyond all chance of recovery."
"And then my crew would have been captured, sir," Zack pointed out. "Captured by Nazis, I'll add."
The Alakin Senator raised a gloved hand. "Surely they are a civilized people and would have treated your crew appropriately."
Zack turned his head slightly. Others were looking at the Alakin with extreme skepticism. "It's just as likely that they would have murdered most of my crew as 'inferior beings', Mister Senator."
"Surely you exaggerate," the Alakin said, persisting.
"He does not," General Gulinev growled, glaring across the circle. "They are monsters. And I do not blame Commander Carrey for keeping his crew out of their hands." His glare settled on Hawthorne.
Hawthorne seemed to get the message. "Yes, an understandable concern," he conceded. "But the fact of the matter is, Commander, that you may have started an interstellar war. This Alliance has not existed for a year yet and you may have just forced it into a conflict."
"I understand that, Minister, but I wasn't going to let my crew get taken by Nazis."
For the non-Humans in the room, a surreal sense of discomfort came at seeing the instinctive reactions of every Human in the room to that word. Revulsion and disgust, anger and fear, like the word itself was the foulest curse one could say. The other Human Councilman across from Zoral, Pensley, brought up a hand. "Commander, couldn't you have just evaded until repairs could be made and you could flee?"
"That would be putting my crew at risk, sir," Zack asked. "Not shooting back just means they're hurting you and not getting hurt back."
"But you've caused us to be facing a war," Pensley replied. "Started on your own initiative? And how do we know this wasn't planned?"
"Excuse me?" Zack blinked.
"Before the formation of the Alliance, you were in an organization of stateless radicals," Pensley charged. "We've heard that in testimony and seen it in the records. You repeatedly invaded sovereign countries that didn't live up to your ideals. How do we know this wasn't some kind of conspiracy to force the Alliance into a war against the Reich to continue your radical...."
"I call Councilman Pensley to order!" The Dorei Senator stood up. "These accusations are preposterous."
Even Hawthorne seemed irritated at Pensley, but he was continuing. "....continue your radical agenda? Are you expecting me to believe that you and your cohorts prompted this incursion of sovereign Reich space and fired on Reich ships without it occurring to you that it could force us to destroy the Nazi Reich, if we even can?"
"With all due respect, Mister Councilman, that is bunk."
"Is it? That's all you have to say about it? That it's 'bunk'? Because it doesn't..."
"Minister Hawthorne, please call him to order!", Senator Sriroj shouted.
Before Hawthorne could, Zack jumped to his feet and slammed the table in front of him. "Twelve of my crew died!," Zack shouted. "They were good men and women and they left behind families that loved them and.... and how could you think for one damn moment I'd get them killed to start a GODDAMNED WAR?!"
"You are out of order, Commander!", Hawthorne shouted in turn.
"I'm just supposed to sit here and..."
"In your seat, Commander, or I'll hold you in contempt!"
Zack frowned and sat down, fuming.
"Now Commander, I...." Hawthorne noticed Davies stir. "Yes Admiral?"
"I believe Commander Carrey's testimony has been adequate for the Committee's purpose," Davies replied. "Do any disagree?"
There were no nods, although not all outright agreed.
"Very well." Hawthorne nodded. "You're relieved Commander. Sergeant, please summon Commander Andreys."
Julia kept her spine straight and her face clear of emotion as she faced Defense Minister Hawthorne. "Did you ever consider informing Commander Carrey about Lieutenant Draynal?", Hawthorne asked.
Julia shook her head. "I wasn't told he was a suspect. I didn't know until Lieutenant Commander Meridina revealed he was a Changeling."
"Captain Dale kept this information from you, Commander? Despite being his First Officer and your responsibilities for the crew?"
"He had his reasons, I'm sure," Julia answered. "You would have to ask him."
Councilman Pensley spoke up. "Commander, I'm confused as to why this mission was proposed. We had no indications that the Reich even knew about that Darglan facility, correct?"
"That is correct, sir."
"Then why did your crew push this risky operation? You courted disaster and you succeeded," Pensley remarked. "You have brought us to the brink of war."
Julia didn't show any irritation at the Councilman's words. "Sir, we didn't know either way if the Reich could find that facility. What we did know is that we only had a small window of opportunity to move in, or we'd never find out what it was and remove the threat it posed in Reich hands. If we hadn't moved in and if the Reich knew to find it, then the first inkling we would have that they had done so was when their ships started jumping into our other universes."
"You don't know that would happen," Pensley insisted.
"No. But do you really think we should take that chance, Councilman? Having Nazis of all groups, loose in the Multiverse? Doing God knows what?"
Pensley frowned and nodded. "Point taken."
Hawthorne waited for him to sit back before resuming. "Commander, you were in the field during the operation on Abdis R4A1, correct?"
"Yes sir."
"So you made initial contact with the United States of that universe through their space-faring contact team SG-1?"
"I did."
"You are aware that technically they would fall under Contact Limitations, correct?"
Julia shook her head. "That is not how I read the regulation sir."
Hawthorne blinked. "Really? You have your own interpretation of regulations?"
"The regulation specifies a lack of interplanetary travel, sir," Julia remarked. "And no prior exposure to higher technology. But R4A1 Earth doesn't fit either. They have the Stargates. They've seen advanced technology. One of the members of SG-1 was not a baseline Human, he was a race called the Jaffa. Clearly Contact Limitation did not apply to them."
"During that mission, you engaged in hostilities with an alien power of unknown strength," Hawthorne asked. "Didn't it occur to you that the Alliance may not be capable of facing such a threat?"
Julia took a moment before she answered. "At the time, we were stuck on the planet. Even leaving would have revealed our presence to a hostile alien power."
"So you just decided to commence hostilities?", Pensley asked pointedly.
"We were trying to protect an innocent woman and her unborn child," Julia pointed out, a frown appearing on her face. "We were doing the right thing."
"By dragging the Alliance into a conflict?"
"The Goa'uld would attack us eventually anyway."
"You can't possibly know that...!", Pensley began.
"Councilman, please." Hawthorne smacked his gavel. "It's been a long day, and the Committee has more questions to address to Commander Andreys."
Pensley frowned and backed down.
"Commander, earlier this month you approved the use of the runabout Rio Grande to Commander Jarod. Did you know what he was going to do with it?"
"I knew he was going to go to his home world and look into the people he cared about," Julia replied.
"You are aware the Contact Limitations regulations extend to Earth of A4P5, correct?"
"I was, but I did not think Jarod would initiate any kind of contact as defined by the regulations, sir," Julia explained. "Anything he did there was done without my knowledge, although I do not believe he did anything wrong."
"Really?" This was from Davies.
"He rescued three people from a criminal organization, Admiral," Julia pointed out. "And he did it without alerting the wider world to our existence. I don't see how that is a bad thing."
"It shows a flagrant disrespect for regulations, Commander," Davies replied.
"With all due respect, sir, regulations permit exceptions to save life," Julia countered. "By doing so he was upholding the spirit of the Alliance's most noble intentions."
"We should have been consulted, Commander," Hawthorne existed.
"I'll keep that in mind for next time, sir."
"Are you being cheeky with me, Commander?"
"No sir," Julia answered promptly.
"I must say, Commander, I'm not impressed with your crew's behavior today. From where I sit, the Aurora has major discipline issues, and as First Officer that is your department," Hawthorne said. "This is a concern."
"With all due respect, Minister, my people do their jobs. And they do them to the best of their ability. The things being questioned in this Committee are being brought up as character assassination."
"Commander, I will not brook disrespect," Hawthorne warned.
"I didn't intend to disrespect you, sir," Julia replied. "But I will defend the crew from these complaints. They are groundless. No, the operation at LA33 didn't go as planned. Yes, we've provoked the Nazis. It couldn't be avoided. We tipped our hand the moment Aurora arrived in the vicinity. The Nazis would have known something was there and they would have searched for it too. And they might have found it. And that risk was too high." She shook her head. "And I'm honestly scared to death we'll end up in a war, but we have to face the fact that a war might be inevitable. I was there when we made first contact. They hate us and they'll come after us sooner or later. The best thing to do now is to prepare for it instead of pointing fingers!"
Hawthorne let her finish and took a moment to think. "Well-put, Commander," he conceded. "Before we go, I want to ask you some very sensitive questions."
"I'm at your service, sir," was Julia's humble reply.
"How much of a role does Lieutenant Commander Meridina play in the decisions of the Aurora crew?", he asked.
Julia remained quiet for a moment. "She... well, not very much, I have to say."
"Really?"
"Yes. Her place is security and she sticks to that, sir."
"So you and Captain Dale do not seek her counsel even on issues outside of ship security?"
Julia shook her head. "No more than we do any of the others, sir. Sir, what's...?"
Hawthorne seemed displeased, almost. "Did you allow a Mastrash of the Gersallian religious orders to tour the Aurora recently, Commander?"
"Yes, it was requested."
"Including sensitive areas of the ship?"
"Some, I suppose. Captain Dale handled the actual inspection, I merely arranged the quarters for Mastrash Karesl."
That seemed to get Councilman Palas' attention. "You had Mastrash Karesl on your vessel, Commander?"
"Yes."
"Why did you permit this, Commander?", Hawthorne asked. "The Gersallian orders have no authority to tour Alliance vessels."
"He was a visiting dignitary, sir. I followed proper protocol."
"I see." Hawthorne scribbled something down. "Last question. Who requested the tour?"
"Meridina, sir," Julia answered, becoming more and more suspicious of what was going on.
Hawthorne smiled. "I see. Well, thank you, Commander. You are dismissed."
Robert had expected to be called back when Julia came out, but the Sergeant-at-Arms hadn't appeared with her. He remained seated while Julia walked up, everyone gathering around them. "How did it go?"
"They're really interested in Meridina and the Gersallians," Julia remarked.
"I believed so as well," Meridina said. "I am unsure as to what their concern is, however."
Scotty nodded. "Aye. They dinnae know what they're lookin' for, so they're scroungin' fer anythin' they can find. Ah've seen it before."
"You couldn't get ahold of the President, Rob?", Julia asked.
"He refuses to talk to me," Robert said. "Whatever politics are going on, he thinks that being in contact with me would make things worse."
"Davies was telling me there was more going on," Zack said. Seeing their looks, he added, "He approached me in the officer's club during the recess. He was trying to get me to side against the rest of you."
"Did you?", Angel asked bluntly.
"Angel, that's not fair," Caterina protested. "Zack wouldn't say something to hurt us."
The look on Angel's face showed she wasn't so sure about that. Zack shook his head. "Whatever arguments I've been having with Rob, I'm not turning on anyone for that bastard. Especially not for someone who makes Cat cry."
Caterina smiled softly at him. "Thanks."
Robert walked away from them and looked out the window at the twilight sky. It would be dark within the hour. Julia stepped up beside him. "Are you ready for this?', she asked.
"No," he admitted. "I get the feeling everything they've hammered you and the others with was to gather ammunition against me."
"Well, from what the others said, Sriroj, Palas, and Zoral are on our side. And General Gulinev hates the Nazis enough that he might be sympathetic."
"Or he might be pissed at me for working with them at the first contact," Robert pointed out. He looked down at the Columbia River. Even in an era of faster-than-light starships and matter transporters, ships still moved along the river below. A cargo barge sailed quietly below. Shuttles flew in all directions around Defense Command, the setting sun glinting off of their surfaces. "You ever think we took a wrong step, Julie?"
"Oh?"
"How did we go from helping people to running around in uniforms? I mean, this lifestyle, is it even something we wanted?"
"Maybe not originally," Julia conceded. "But it feels good to know we're still making a difference."
"Are we? I've probably started an interstellar war." Robert sighed. "Sometimes I wonder if we should have just stayed on New Liberty and made lives there. We could have left this to someone else."
"I suppose we could have." Julia shook her head. "But then we wouldn't be, well, us. Whatever happens, Rob... this is what we are, this is what we want to be. We all believe in this new Alliance and we want to protect it."
"Even if it means dying young?", Robert asked quietly. "Or if we have to send our friends to die?"
Julia reached over and took his hand. "Rob, this is the life I want. I... I like being a part of this." She prompted him to turn and meet his eyes. "Maybe I'll get hurt by it. Maybe it'll kill me. But if I gave it up now, I'd regret it."
"Yeah." Robert closed his eyes. "I..."
The door to the committee chamber opened. "Captain Dale," the Sergeant called out. "The Committee is ready to see you now."
"Well." Robert sucked in a breath. "Here we go..."
"Go kick their asses, Rob," Julia said, smirking. "We're all rooting for you."
Robert took his seat at the table facing the Committee and immediately noticed he wasn't alone in facing them. At a second table was Smith who gave him a blank look as he took his seat. "Captain Dale." Hawthorne checked over his notepad. "Captain, you were called before this committee to ascertain your actions regarding the Darglan facility found in System LA33, Universe S4W8. And going by the records and testimony we have seen today, I must say I am not impressed with your performance."
Robert remained quiet as Hawthorne eyed him, apparently waiting for a protest. When none was offered he continued. "You commenced a highly sensitive mission despite a grievous breach of security on your vessel. You withheld vital information from your subordinates. And because of your actions, nineteen personnel are now dead and we are facing a potential war provoked by your actions. Before this committee rules on your actions, I would like to hear your defense of your actions."
Robert nodded. "Well, sir, all I can say is that I made judgement calls. Scrubbing the mission at the stage we detected the security issues would have come too late to hide what was attempted from the Reich. They would have known we were up to something. They would have doubled their patrols and investigated the area themselves. They might have found the Darglan base there."
"We have heard that defense already, Captain," Hawthorne remarked dismissively. "I find the supposition of it unconvincing. Still, this does not explain your failure to inform your subordinates at the suspicions regarding Lieutenant Draynal."
"Are you saying I'm supposed to spread suspicions about other officers, sir? We didn't have any proof, nothing beyond Meridina's concerns that there was more to it. And despite her abilities, even she didn't know the truth of whether Draynal or Liton had done the deed." Robert shifted in his seat. "As far as I knew, we're not supposed to accuse a man of anything without proof of actual wrong-doing."
"So you defend the fact you didn't warn Commander Carrey?"
"No, I simply believe I have a viable explanation," Robert finished. "I know full well that I made mistakes. I should have told Commanders Andreys and Carrey. I accept full responsibility for that decision."
"And what of the Reich?" Pensley stood. "Captain, do you expect me to believe this is all a coincidence? You and your crew are composed of radicals who have repeatedly conflicted with other states before. Now you have violated Reich territory and destroyed their ships. They're going to want blood."
Robert frowned and nodded. "I know that, sir. If I could change my decisions I would have changed what I did about Draynal."
"So you say. But what I wonder, Captain, is if this isn't what you wanted?"
"Excuse me, sir?"
Pensley frowned. "Your history ever since you gained access to the Darglan technology is that of a militant radical. You provoke other nations with little regard for the damage you cause. In the past half year you've provoked the Goa'uld, the Cardassians, the Dominion, and now the Nazis...."
"That's ridiculous, I've...."
"...in short, sir, it was a disaster the day you and your radical friends were given anything but a swift trip to a jail cell," Pensley declared. "Every bit of testimony today has served to reinforce this in my mind."
Robert remained speechless with surprise at the intensity of Pensley's words. "Sir, I have not mindlessly provoked enemies as you claim, and these accusations are incredible."
"You serve a radical agenda, Captain, and I am out to dismantle it," Pensley pledged.
"Councilman..."
Robert was interrupted by Hawthorne's gavel. "I think that will be quite enough, Councilman, Captain. The Chair still has questions." When Robert's head moved to face Hawthorne he checked his notes. "Captain, did it ever occur to you that taking the Aurora into Reich space would only make things worse?"
"We'd confirmed Koenig was engaging," Robert replied. "The damage was done. I wasn't going to leave them behind."
"Yes. I believe you invoked a similar reason for entering the Gamma Quadrant in January, defying orders to maintain position at Deep Space Nine. This caused thirty-eight deaths amongst your crew and the near loss of the Aurora to Jem'Hadar ambush." Hawthorne put his hands together. "You nearly lost your entire ship for one vessel. A vessel that is, in the grand scheme of things, not valuable enough to justify this cost."
"On the contrary, sir, we needed every indication of Dominion capability we could get, and losing Koenig could have compromised the IU drive."
"I'll remind the Committee that under Captain Dale and his crew, Aurora fought off a dozen attackers," Admiral Maran pointed out.
"And I'll remind the Admiral that this was because Koenig and the USS Defiant arrived to assist," Davies retorted. "Without their arrival the Aurora would have been destroyed or captured by the Dominion."
There was murmuring among the assembled at seeing the subordinate counter his superior. Hawthorne ignored it. "When assigned to the mission to chase down Captain Potala of the Mayala, you kept the Cardassians and the Federation ignorant of your plans, creating a situation where the Cardassians suspected you of duplicity and nearly started the conflict you were supposed to prevent."
"If the Cardassians had known, my plans might have been compromised," Robert said.
"Why did you choose such a high-risk solution, then?"
"Because it seemed the best way to stop Potala with a minimal loss of life," he answered. "If we'd had to destroy Mayala, the entire crew would have been killed."
"Why didn't you recover what was left of Mayala?" This was from the Dorei senator. "You allowed the Cardassians to recover the debris."
"There was nothing in that debris that the technical schematics we provided wouldn't have told them," Robert pointed out.
"And who authorized that? Who told you to compromise Dorei starbird design to a potential foe?", the Senator demanded.
Robert looked to Maran, who nodded. "Admiral Maran and President Morgan."
The Dorei Senator glared at Maran. "Under what justification?"
"That we couldn't risk a war with the Cardassians. My orders were to provide any support insisted upon, short of providing them with IU drives," Robert answered.
"And why did you rescue the terrorist captives liberated by Potala?", Pensley demanded.
Robert felt an involuntary shudder. Thanks to Meridina he knew what those "terrorists" had endured in Cardassian custody. "The alternative would have been to blow them up. And since I'm not that confident in the Cardassian judiciary, I wasn't going to condemn them based solely on what the Cardassians claimed."
Robert scanned his eyes briefly over the committee. He didn't have Meridina's senses, but he could see there was something going on given the looks being exchanged. He and the others were getting pulled into a larger issue.
"Captain." Sriroj stood. "You initiated first contact with the Nazi German Reich, did you not?"
"Yes," he answered. "During a search for the pirates responsible for attacking the colony on Grodni III. We encountered a Reich cruiser, the Reich's Glory, under Captain Joachim Lamper. With Captain Lamper's assistance we found the pirate base in the heart of the Krellan Nebula and destroyed it."
"How many pirates did you take prisoner in this operation?", Hawthorne asked.
"None. They were all killed and their ships destroyed. Their carrier vessel was successfully seized by Captain Lamper's boarding parties, so any surviving pirates ended up in his custody."
"So for all we know, this was a Nazi operation," Gulinev grumbled. "They could have tricked you."
"The thought crossed my mind," Robert admitted. "But if it was a Nazi op, Lamper didn't know about it. His behavior and actions were sincere."
"You know this for a fact?"
"It's my judgement, yes." Robert shook his head. "Minister Hawthorne, members of the Committee, everything that has happened was because I made a judgment call. It's what the job calls for. Thankfully I've usually been right. This time... well, I was probably wrong. I'm sorry. And the consequences are grave. If you want to punish me for that, fine. But it's just the nature of what we do. When we're out there, on the firing line, we have to make these calls. We're going to mess some of them up. All we can hope is that we're right more often than not."
The Committee sat in silence for a moment. Robert stole a glance over at Smith.
There was a smile on his face.
Davies crossed his arms and nodded at Hawthorne. The Defense Minister turned back to Robert and a smug look came to his face. "Thank you, Captain Dale, for that enlightening little speech. But I'm afraid we can't simply accept 'it was a judgment call' with you. Not given your history. Mister Smith?"
"Yes, Minister?" The NSA man stood.
"For the pleasure of the Committee, please explain the circumstances in which you met Captain Dale."
"I met him in federal holding in Portland," Smith replied. "He had just been arrested by FBI agents supported by the NSA."
"Why?"
"For one thing, he was wanted in the state of Kansas for the suspected murder or manslaughter of Patrick Duffy." Smith coughed. "However, my agency's interest was in Mister Dale's participation in several recorded raids into other nations, in which prisoners of varying types were forcefully removed."
"Which nations were those?", Sriroj asked.
"Kimmist North Korea. The People's Republic of China. Castroist Cuba. And a few other nations of similar stripe."
"He forgot Burma," Robert said aloud. If he was going to be hanged for doing the right thing, he wanted full credit. "And I can't remember if it was before or after we met that we got several journalists out of Putinist Russia."
"Wait." Pensley raised a hand. "What is this about murder? Admiral Maran, didn't you vette this man first? Putting a wanted criminal..."
"President Morgan was fully briefed on what happened to Duffy," Maran replied. "And the investigation has since corroborated Captain Dale's claim of self-defense."
"Has it?", Pensley asked, still openly suspicious.
"It has, yes," Smith remarked.
Robert resisted the temptation to look at Smith. He'd just missed what seemed to be an opportunity to dig the knife in.
Pensley frowned and went to speak further, but he was waved off by Hawthorne. "Mister Smith, can you explain the consequences that Captain Dale's operations had for you at the time?"
"It was a diplomatic fiasco," Smith remarked. "Multiple countries were convinced he was an American agent and we could do nothing to dispel this. He cost the United States significant pull in several nations and nearly provoked a diplomatic break with China."
"In other words, he acted without any regard for the conflicts he caused."
"Yes."
"And he turned down the request of your government to take over operation of the Darglan Facility, even though it was on US soil?"
"He did," Smith said.
"Thank you, sir." Hawthorne looked to Robert. "Do you have anything to say about this, Captain?"
"I was trying to help innocent people," Robert answered. "I wasn't thinking about consequences at the time because I believed they should not overshadow the needs of the people suffering. It was later that I realized our activities had further consequences we were responsible for, and I urged the Facility Council to account for those in what we chose to do."
Hawthorne shook his head. "I think, Captain, that we have heard enough on this subject. Your record speaks for itself."
And here comes the railroad. Robert raised a hand. "Minister Hawthorne, I'm...."
"Before we adjourn, there is something else to ask," Davies said. "Captain, according to testimony, Commander Meridina was the only other person to have suspicions of Lieutenant Draynal."
"Yes. She brought them to my attention," Robert replied, wondering where this was going.
"And you chose not to reveal this to other officers?"
"Commander Meridina and I decided it was safest to keep the information from being shared. We didn't know how far our systems had been compromised."
Davies nodded. "Tell me, Captain, how often do you turn to Commander Meridina for advice in your decisions?"
"When it's a security issue," Robert answered. "I'm afraid I don't understand this line of questioning."
"I have concerns," Davies said. He ignored a look from Maran. "Commander Meridina is the only member of her religious order to be an Alliance officer. She has already been shown to abuse her position in your crew, such as giving Mastrash Karesl a tour without the approval of Command."
"He was a dignitary," Robert answered. "His tour was in line with any other tour we would give to a visiting dignitary. What are you getting at sir? What's going on?"
Pensley looked at Davies and then Robert. "We question, Captain, the chain of command you follow, and I know I'm beginning to wonder if it's being followed from Gersal instead of here."
"That's preposterous," Robert retorted. "I take my orders from the President of the Alliance and the chain of command he laid out for me. Commander Meridina's advice is only at my request, and regards security."
"And this issue of Lieutenant Lucero manifesting abilities like the Commander's? Did that just... happen, Captain? Because that seems to be more than a security issue."
There was an edge to Davies' words. Robert almost responded to it, but held off not wanting to give him another opening. "I'm not sure. But it was probably a good thing." He wouldn't even let himself think about what happened when he'd tried to help Meridina when she was feeling the suffering of the Maquis prisoners. "I'm not sure what the Committee's concerns are when it comes to Meridina, but she's done nothing wrong."
"So you say, Captain." Davies sighed. "It's clear to me, at least, that regardless of this issue you have major issues with your command."
"Agreed," Hawthorne said. "You're dismissed, Captain. The Committee will deliver its judgement in the morning."
When Robert stepped out of the committee room he felt spent. Everyone looked toward him and he shrugged. "I don't know what's going to happen," he admitted. "Hawthorne's definitely going along with Davies, but the rest... it could go either way."
Julia spoke up first. "What's got me worried is how other officials will take it, or the governments inside the Alliance. I thought the whole point of the Aurora being in our command was because we have no tie to any of the Alliance systems?"
"Apparently they already feel we're being co-opted by the Gersallian swevyra'se," Robert sighed. "Sorry, Meridina."
Meridina was shaking her head with sadness. "It is I who should apologize. I asked for assignment with you. I did not anticipate such animosity."
"They'll give a final decision in the morning." Robert motioned to the far door. "Given how late it's getting, I don't imagine there's any point in flying back to the Aurora tonight. I think they have spare officer quarters in the southwest tower."
"Or we could always go get rooms in Portland or something," Caterina suggested. "It's an awesome city."
"Awesomely weird," Angel said.
"That's the fun part!"
"No, it's probably for the best if we stay here," Julia pointed out. "I'll go find a personnel officer to arrange rooms."
As they went to file out, Robert heard the sound of a throat clearing behind him. He turned and saw Smith had left the room as well. He had his briefcase again and carried it along. "Captain, it's... interesting to see you again."
"Oh?" Robert tried to hide his bitterness. This man had threatened his cousin's liberty, his liberty, and in general looked completely untrustworthy. "I'm not sure I'd call it that."
"Well, I haven't changed much," Smith remarked. "Save for giving up tobacco finally. On the other hand, you're a different man now."
"Oh?"
"Oh yes. You've learned quite a lot about responsibility since the last time we've seen each other." Smith set the briefcase down on the nearby bench. He turned his head and looked out at the lights of Command set against the dark night beyond. "Ironic to be in Portland again for this meeting. Always did like how crazy this city could be."
"To be honest, sir, you don't strike me as that type," Robert remarked.
Smith chuckled. "I suppose not. I have been careful about coming off as the stern man in government black, haven't I?" A small smile crossed his face. "Do they still have the Peter Iredale wreck? Or did it rust away finally?"
"I'm told it was preserved." Robert crossed his arms. "So you came all of this way just to, what, help them bury us?"
"As I said, young man, the United States is trying to stay on the good side of the United Alliance of Systems," Smith replied. "Don't blame me for that. Actually, you might want to blame yourself."
"Oh really?"
"Had you accepted my offer of patronage, we would have been involved with establishing this Alliance from the get go," Smith pointed out. "I would also point out that you would likely still have your Facility, since you would have never sent that nice young lady Miss Delgado out on a command mission she really wasn't qualified to perform. That's no slight against her, either. Caterina is a brilliant young lady. She's just not command material."
Robert said nothing. Smith was, much to his frustration, pretty right about that. "Of course, we might not have been in place to rescue Carlton Farmer's family," Robert pointed out. "And we wouldn't have rescued Nick and Scotty either."
"Maybe, maybe not." Smith shrugged. "Water under the bridge now. I have no intention of letting our rocky past interfere with the future. Regardless of our differences, I'm not too keen on seeing you stripped of your ship."
Robert almost replied with sarcasm and disbelief, but he held back. He had to admit that Smith had been quick to confirm the death of Duffy was self-defense.
"You're still one of us, after all," Smith continued. "You and your crew have quite the following back home. You haven't noticed it, maybe, given how busy you've been. Visiting for the funeral of Mister Carrey wasn't long enough."
"If we've got a following, how did we avoid getting swamped by reporters?", Robert asked pointedly.
"Good question," Smith agreed. "Maybe someone made sure that the media didn't put two and two together about Gerald Carrey's connection to Commander Carrey."
Robert couldn't hide his skepticism. "Really?"
"Maybe." Smith smirked. "I'd offer my hand, but I know you're not ready to shake it. I just want you to know that you've got friends back home who are watching out for you." He picked up his briefcase. "Good luck, Captain Dale, and many happy voyages to you and your crew."
The bunks given to them were small quarters for junior officers visiting from their normal places of duty. Six officers per room with set of desks, a replicator and common dinner table, and a common bathroom. At the central table, Zack looked at all of his subordinate officers. "It's been a tough day," he said. "And since I didn't sell Rob down the river for Davies, I'm just as likely to end up on the cutting block."
"I just can't believe that," Sherlily complained. "You've been a model commander for the Koenig."
"If they kick you off the ship, I'm going back to Sol service," Apley announced. "We did our job and we did it right."
"It's something political," Zack said, after which he sighed. "I'm lumped in with Rob now. And I don't regret it. I'm not going to sell a friend down the river even if I'm pissed at him."
"It's why we like you, Commander," Doctor Opani said with a smile.
"Thanks, Doc. Thank you all for standing with me. And if we make it out of this, well, I've had some thoughts, and I would like your input on them..."
A few rooms over, Robert was trying to sleep. He could hear soft sobbing from across the room; Caterina, by the sound of it. The day had brought back a lot of painful memories for her... and for everyone, really.
It was something to have all of those mistakes aired out like that. It made Robert realize how far they'd all come, how they'd matured and, perhaps, how far they had yet to go.
Sighing from inability to sleep, he got up and went to the replicator to get a drink and a fruit bar for a late night snack. When he went to the table he looked back and saw Locarno getting something himself. "Everything alright, Nick?"
"We won't know until tomorrow," Nick answered. Getting his own snack, an alien from from S5T3 that Robert didn't recognize, Locarno walked over and sat across from him. "It's gotten me to thinking about everything."
"The past." Robert took a bite.
"Exactly." Locarno sipped at his drink. "I've told you about Starfleet Academy, right? I remember explaining to the Facility Council at some point..."
"It was a past life," Robert replied. "Don't let it get to you."
"I can't just let it go." Locarno shook his head. "They trusted me. And I got Josh killed. All because I let my ego get ahead of my judgment."
Robert nodded silently. "Is that what I did wrong, you think? Let my ego get ahead of my judgment?"
"I don't know. Maybe."
"Yeah. Maybe I just wanted to be the one to accomplish that mission. I didn't want to come back into base and abort the whole thing. Then someone else would've gone in. Maybe gotten it right, maybe not, but it wouldn't be my responsibility." Robert took another drink. "Maybe that's my problem?"
"What?", Locarno asked.
"Trying to take on too much responsibility. Wanting to do everything." Robert closed his eyes for a moment. "When I look back, I get this feeling that maybe... maybe it's that I was finally getting control of my life back after losing my family and having the farm about to be taken. The Facility gave me a purpose. It let me focus myself."
"In Starfleet we're reminded that a good commander has to know when to delegate," Locarno pointed out. "Not that it's followed. Some captains had reputations for being control freaks. Others got reputations for delegating too much. Neither were supposed to end up going very far. Well, except maybe becoming an admiral."
Robert smirked and chuckled at that. Locarno did the same. "Yeah, I guess."
"If we walk away from this tomorrow, just keep that in mind," Locarno continued. "Trust us more. Don't be afraid to give us information, even if Meridina or Julia tell you not to. If you think it's the right call... sometimes you gotta make that call."
"Words of wisdom, Nick." Robert finished last of the fruit bar. "So, it's midnight, and we'd better get back to laying awake in our bunks."
"Speak for yourself, Captain." Locarno grinned. "I added sleep aids to my snack."
"Clever," Robert laughed.
The next morning everyone got up at roughly the same time. Julia took charge of making sure everyone got shower time in the three quarters granted to the combined crews and went last herself. Once in uniform nobody had the stomach for breakfast; with their fates being decided they went straight to the antechamber. And there.... they waited.
And waited.
And waited.
As the day drew closer to noon with no call to come before the committee, grumbling stomachs finally got the better of everyone and lunch was sent for. Robert accepted a roast beef sandwich from Angel, who had insisted on making sure he got his food. "I thought Julia was supposed to be the mother hen?", he asked her while looking out the window. He gratefully bit into the offered lunch.
"I can be comforting too, you know," Angel said with a sly grin. "I admit I'm not the doting girlfriend type, but I can't have you going in there on an empty stomach."
"Let's just hope I keep this down, right?"
"You really think they're going to find against us?", Angel asked.
Robert shrugged and finished a bite. "I think Davies and Hawthorne are against us. So is Pensley. Gulinev, i can't begin to think about. And the rest are more scared about the possibility we're going to have an interstellar war than anything. Won't be hard for them to get into a 'blame someone mood'."
"And that blame being thrown at us," Angel said in a bitter tone.
"Yeah." Robert looked back at the door. "I just wish I knew what was going on. Is it really taking them this long to deliberate?"
"They're politicians," Angel mumbled. "Who knows...."
The door opened and the Sergeant-at-Arms emerged. "The Committee will see you all now," he announced.
"We're leaving together," Leo replied, speaking for everyone given the nods.
Heads turned as the Koenig crew entered the antechamber as well, Zack in the lead. They walked up as a unit and stood with the Aurora crew. Zack looked at Robert and Julia and nodded. "Well, let's get this over with, huh?"
"Yeah, that would be good," Robert agreed.
Julia nodded in agreement and briefly met Zack's eyes. Zack forced himself to smile. This was not the place to show how he was feeling inside.
The door opened. "Commander Zachary Carrey," the Sergeant-at-Arms called.
Hawthorne wasted no time, going straight into the heart of the matter when he opened questioning. "Commander, were you ever informed of the suspicions regarding Lieutenant Draynal being an imposter or some form of security risk?"
"I was not."
"How much did you know about the security problems on the Aurora?"
"I was informed about the breach of computer security and the spying software," Zack answered. "Commander Jarod and Lieutenant Navaez concurred that there was little risk on Koenig due to keeping its network separate, but we did a thorough search anyway. No problems with the database were found."
"Yet your vessel suffered sabotage?"
"Explosives were used to disable our cloaking device and warp drive," Zack explained. "And a malicious command was inserted into the communications system to lock out our subspace and interuniversal communications."
"I see." Hawthorne nodded quietly.
"Commander." Davies was now speaking. "What do you think of the decision to keep you ignorant of suspicions about Draynal?"
Well, here it was. Zack knew this was the question Davies had set him up for with tthe conversation in the officer club. "I think it was a mistake," Zack answered honestly.
"A negligent one?"
"No." Zack saw the look on Davies' face. This was clearly not what he wanted to hear. "I think he just made a mistake. A small mix-up of priorities. But not negligence."
Davies let out a sigh and shook his head. "You're certain?"
"Yes. I think he was too worried about the Nazis getting their hands on Darglan data or technology. He thought it was more important to prevent than anything else." Zack swallowed. "To call it negligent or anything else is overthinking things. He just... he decided his priorities that way."
"I see." Davies looked to Hawthorne.
And here it comes, Zack thought.
Hawthorne made a show of looking over reports. "Commander, when did you decide to fire on the Reich destroyer?"
"After it shot at me, sir."
"Did it occur to you to negotiate first?", Hawthorne asked.
Zack blinked and stared at him for a moment. "Well, sir, I tried to talk, but they demanded I stand down and permit boarding. It was clear they were intending to seize my ship."
"You could have scuttled the Koenig," Hawthorne pointed out. "Or destroyed your sensitive technology beyond all chance of recovery."
"And then my crew would have been captured, sir," Zack pointed out. "Captured by Nazis, I'll add."
The Alakin Senator raised a gloved hand. "Surely they are a civilized people and would have treated your crew appropriately."
Zack turned his head slightly. Others were looking at the Alakin with extreme skepticism. "It's just as likely that they would have murdered most of my crew as 'inferior beings', Mister Senator."
"Surely you exaggerate," the Alakin said, persisting.
"He does not," General Gulinev growled, glaring across the circle. "They are monsters. And I do not blame Commander Carrey for keeping his crew out of their hands." His glare settled on Hawthorne.
Hawthorne seemed to get the message. "Yes, an understandable concern," he conceded. "But the fact of the matter is, Commander, that you may have started an interstellar war. This Alliance has not existed for a year yet and you may have just forced it into a conflict."
"I understand that, Minister, but I wasn't going to let my crew get taken by Nazis."
For the non-Humans in the room, a surreal sense of discomfort came at seeing the instinctive reactions of every Human in the room to that word. Revulsion and disgust, anger and fear, like the word itself was the foulest curse one could say. The other Human Councilman across from Zoral, Pensley, brought up a hand. "Commander, couldn't you have just evaded until repairs could be made and you could flee?"
"That would be putting my crew at risk, sir," Zack asked. "Not shooting back just means they're hurting you and not getting hurt back."
"But you've caused us to be facing a war," Pensley replied. "Started on your own initiative? And how do we know this wasn't planned?"
"Excuse me?" Zack blinked.
"Before the formation of the Alliance, you were in an organization of stateless radicals," Pensley charged. "We've heard that in testimony and seen it in the records. You repeatedly invaded sovereign countries that didn't live up to your ideals. How do we know this wasn't some kind of conspiracy to force the Alliance into a war against the Reich to continue your radical...."
"I call Councilman Pensley to order!" The Dorei Senator stood up. "These accusations are preposterous."
Even Hawthorne seemed irritated at Pensley, but he was continuing. "....continue your radical agenda? Are you expecting me to believe that you and your cohorts prompted this incursion of sovereign Reich space and fired on Reich ships without it occurring to you that it could force us to destroy the Nazi Reich, if we even can?"
"With all due respect, Mister Councilman, that is bunk."
"Is it? That's all you have to say about it? That it's 'bunk'? Because it doesn't..."
"Minister Hawthorne, please call him to order!", Senator Sriroj shouted.
Before Hawthorne could, Zack jumped to his feet and slammed the table in front of him. "Twelve of my crew died!," Zack shouted. "They were good men and women and they left behind families that loved them and.... and how could you think for one damn moment I'd get them killed to start a GODDAMNED WAR?!"
"You are out of order, Commander!", Hawthorne shouted in turn.
"I'm just supposed to sit here and..."
"In your seat, Commander, or I'll hold you in contempt!"
Zack frowned and sat down, fuming.
"Now Commander, I...." Hawthorne noticed Davies stir. "Yes Admiral?"
"I believe Commander Carrey's testimony has been adequate for the Committee's purpose," Davies replied. "Do any disagree?"
There were no nods, although not all outright agreed.
"Very well." Hawthorne nodded. "You're relieved Commander. Sergeant, please summon Commander Andreys."
Julia kept her spine straight and her face clear of emotion as she faced Defense Minister Hawthorne. "Did you ever consider informing Commander Carrey about Lieutenant Draynal?", Hawthorne asked.
Julia shook her head. "I wasn't told he was a suspect. I didn't know until Lieutenant Commander Meridina revealed he was a Changeling."
"Captain Dale kept this information from you, Commander? Despite being his First Officer and your responsibilities for the crew?"
"He had his reasons, I'm sure," Julia answered. "You would have to ask him."
Councilman Pensley spoke up. "Commander, I'm confused as to why this mission was proposed. We had no indications that the Reich even knew about that Darglan facility, correct?"
"That is correct, sir."
"Then why did your crew push this risky operation? You courted disaster and you succeeded," Pensley remarked. "You have brought us to the brink of war."
Julia didn't show any irritation at the Councilman's words. "Sir, we didn't know either way if the Reich could find that facility. What we did know is that we only had a small window of opportunity to move in, or we'd never find out what it was and remove the threat it posed in Reich hands. If we hadn't moved in and if the Reich knew to find it, then the first inkling we would have that they had done so was when their ships started jumping into our other universes."
"You don't know that would happen," Pensley insisted.
"No. But do you really think we should take that chance, Councilman? Having Nazis of all groups, loose in the Multiverse? Doing God knows what?"
Pensley frowned and nodded. "Point taken."
Hawthorne waited for him to sit back before resuming. "Commander, you were in the field during the operation on Abdis R4A1, correct?"
"Yes sir."
"So you made initial contact with the United States of that universe through their space-faring contact team SG-1?"
"I did."
"You are aware that technically they would fall under Contact Limitations, correct?"
Julia shook her head. "That is not how I read the regulation sir."
Hawthorne blinked. "Really? You have your own interpretation of regulations?"
"The regulation specifies a lack of interplanetary travel, sir," Julia remarked. "And no prior exposure to higher technology. But R4A1 Earth doesn't fit either. They have the Stargates. They've seen advanced technology. One of the members of SG-1 was not a baseline Human, he was a race called the Jaffa. Clearly Contact Limitation did not apply to them."
"During that mission, you engaged in hostilities with an alien power of unknown strength," Hawthorne asked. "Didn't it occur to you that the Alliance may not be capable of facing such a threat?"
Julia took a moment before she answered. "At the time, we were stuck on the planet. Even leaving would have revealed our presence to a hostile alien power."
"So you just decided to commence hostilities?", Pensley asked pointedly.
"We were trying to protect an innocent woman and her unborn child," Julia pointed out, a frown appearing on her face. "We were doing the right thing."
"By dragging the Alliance into a conflict?"
"The Goa'uld would attack us eventually anyway."
"You can't possibly know that...!", Pensley began.
"Councilman, please." Hawthorne smacked his gavel. "It's been a long day, and the Committee has more questions to address to Commander Andreys."
Pensley frowned and backed down.
"Commander, earlier this month you approved the use of the runabout Rio Grande to Commander Jarod. Did you know what he was going to do with it?"
"I knew he was going to go to his home world and look into the people he cared about," Julia replied.
"You are aware the Contact Limitations regulations extend to Earth of A4P5, correct?"
"I was, but I did not think Jarod would initiate any kind of contact as defined by the regulations, sir," Julia explained. "Anything he did there was done without my knowledge, although I do not believe he did anything wrong."
"Really?" This was from Davies.
"He rescued three people from a criminal organization, Admiral," Julia pointed out. "And he did it without alerting the wider world to our existence. I don't see how that is a bad thing."
"It shows a flagrant disrespect for regulations, Commander," Davies replied.
"With all due respect, sir, regulations permit exceptions to save life," Julia countered. "By doing so he was upholding the spirit of the Alliance's most noble intentions."
"We should have been consulted, Commander," Hawthorne existed.
"I'll keep that in mind for next time, sir."
"Are you being cheeky with me, Commander?"
"No sir," Julia answered promptly.
"I must say, Commander, I'm not impressed with your crew's behavior today. From where I sit, the Aurora has major discipline issues, and as First Officer that is your department," Hawthorne said. "This is a concern."
"With all due respect, Minister, my people do their jobs. And they do them to the best of their ability. The things being questioned in this Committee are being brought up as character assassination."
"Commander, I will not brook disrespect," Hawthorne warned.
"I didn't intend to disrespect you, sir," Julia replied. "But I will defend the crew from these complaints. They are groundless. No, the operation at LA33 didn't go as planned. Yes, we've provoked the Nazis. It couldn't be avoided. We tipped our hand the moment Aurora arrived in the vicinity. The Nazis would have known something was there and they would have searched for it too. And they might have found it. And that risk was too high." She shook her head. "And I'm honestly scared to death we'll end up in a war, but we have to face the fact that a war might be inevitable. I was there when we made first contact. They hate us and they'll come after us sooner or later. The best thing to do now is to prepare for it instead of pointing fingers!"
Hawthorne let her finish and took a moment to think. "Well-put, Commander," he conceded. "Before we go, I want to ask you some very sensitive questions."
"I'm at your service, sir," was Julia's humble reply.
"How much of a role does Lieutenant Commander Meridina play in the decisions of the Aurora crew?", he asked.
Julia remained quiet for a moment. "She... well, not very much, I have to say."
"Really?"
"Yes. Her place is security and she sticks to that, sir."
"So you and Captain Dale do not seek her counsel even on issues outside of ship security?"
Julia shook her head. "No more than we do any of the others, sir. Sir, what's...?"
Hawthorne seemed displeased, almost. "Did you allow a Mastrash of the Gersallian religious orders to tour the Aurora recently, Commander?"
"Yes, it was requested."
"Including sensitive areas of the ship?"
"Some, I suppose. Captain Dale handled the actual inspection, I merely arranged the quarters for Mastrash Karesl."
That seemed to get Councilman Palas' attention. "You had Mastrash Karesl on your vessel, Commander?"
"Yes."
"Why did you permit this, Commander?", Hawthorne asked. "The Gersallian orders have no authority to tour Alliance vessels."
"He was a visiting dignitary, sir. I followed proper protocol."
"I see." Hawthorne scribbled something down. "Last question. Who requested the tour?"
"Meridina, sir," Julia answered, becoming more and more suspicious of what was going on.
Hawthorne smiled. "I see. Well, thank you, Commander. You are dismissed."
Robert had expected to be called back when Julia came out, but the Sergeant-at-Arms hadn't appeared with her. He remained seated while Julia walked up, everyone gathering around them. "How did it go?"
"They're really interested in Meridina and the Gersallians," Julia remarked.
"I believed so as well," Meridina said. "I am unsure as to what their concern is, however."
Scotty nodded. "Aye. They dinnae know what they're lookin' for, so they're scroungin' fer anythin' they can find. Ah've seen it before."
"You couldn't get ahold of the President, Rob?", Julia asked.
"He refuses to talk to me," Robert said. "Whatever politics are going on, he thinks that being in contact with me would make things worse."
"Davies was telling me there was more going on," Zack said. Seeing their looks, he added, "He approached me in the officer's club during the recess. He was trying to get me to side against the rest of you."
"Did you?", Angel asked bluntly.
"Angel, that's not fair," Caterina protested. "Zack wouldn't say something to hurt us."
The look on Angel's face showed she wasn't so sure about that. Zack shook his head. "Whatever arguments I've been having with Rob, I'm not turning on anyone for that bastard. Especially not for someone who makes Cat cry."
Caterina smiled softly at him. "Thanks."
Robert walked away from them and looked out the window at the twilight sky. It would be dark within the hour. Julia stepped up beside him. "Are you ready for this?', she asked.
"No," he admitted. "I get the feeling everything they've hammered you and the others with was to gather ammunition against me."
"Well, from what the others said, Sriroj, Palas, and Zoral are on our side. And General Gulinev hates the Nazis enough that he might be sympathetic."
"Or he might be pissed at me for working with them at the first contact," Robert pointed out. He looked down at the Columbia River. Even in an era of faster-than-light starships and matter transporters, ships still moved along the river below. A cargo barge sailed quietly below. Shuttles flew in all directions around Defense Command, the setting sun glinting off of their surfaces. "You ever think we took a wrong step, Julie?"
"Oh?"
"How did we go from helping people to running around in uniforms? I mean, this lifestyle, is it even something we wanted?"
"Maybe not originally," Julia conceded. "But it feels good to know we're still making a difference."
"Are we? I've probably started an interstellar war." Robert sighed. "Sometimes I wonder if we should have just stayed on New Liberty and made lives there. We could have left this to someone else."
"I suppose we could have." Julia shook her head. "But then we wouldn't be, well, us. Whatever happens, Rob... this is what we are, this is what we want to be. We all believe in this new Alliance and we want to protect it."
"Even if it means dying young?", Robert asked quietly. "Or if we have to send our friends to die?"
Julia reached over and took his hand. "Rob, this is the life I want. I... I like being a part of this." She prompted him to turn and meet his eyes. "Maybe I'll get hurt by it. Maybe it'll kill me. But if I gave it up now, I'd regret it."
"Yeah." Robert closed his eyes. "I..."
The door to the committee chamber opened. "Captain Dale," the Sergeant called out. "The Committee is ready to see you now."
"Well." Robert sucked in a breath. "Here we go..."
"Go kick their asses, Rob," Julia said, smirking. "We're all rooting for you."
Robert took his seat at the table facing the Committee and immediately noticed he wasn't alone in facing them. At a second table was Smith who gave him a blank look as he took his seat. "Captain Dale." Hawthorne checked over his notepad. "Captain, you were called before this committee to ascertain your actions regarding the Darglan facility found in System LA33, Universe S4W8. And going by the records and testimony we have seen today, I must say I am not impressed with your performance."
Robert remained quiet as Hawthorne eyed him, apparently waiting for a protest. When none was offered he continued. "You commenced a highly sensitive mission despite a grievous breach of security on your vessel. You withheld vital information from your subordinates. And because of your actions, nineteen personnel are now dead and we are facing a potential war provoked by your actions. Before this committee rules on your actions, I would like to hear your defense of your actions."
Robert nodded. "Well, sir, all I can say is that I made judgement calls. Scrubbing the mission at the stage we detected the security issues would have come too late to hide what was attempted from the Reich. They would have known we were up to something. They would have doubled their patrols and investigated the area themselves. They might have found the Darglan base there."
"We have heard that defense already, Captain," Hawthorne remarked dismissively. "I find the supposition of it unconvincing. Still, this does not explain your failure to inform your subordinates at the suspicions regarding Lieutenant Draynal."
"Are you saying I'm supposed to spread suspicions about other officers, sir? We didn't have any proof, nothing beyond Meridina's concerns that there was more to it. And despite her abilities, even she didn't know the truth of whether Draynal or Liton had done the deed." Robert shifted in his seat. "As far as I knew, we're not supposed to accuse a man of anything without proof of actual wrong-doing."
"So you defend the fact you didn't warn Commander Carrey?"
"No, I simply believe I have a viable explanation," Robert finished. "I know full well that I made mistakes. I should have told Commanders Andreys and Carrey. I accept full responsibility for that decision."
"And what of the Reich?" Pensley stood. "Captain, do you expect me to believe this is all a coincidence? You and your crew are composed of radicals who have repeatedly conflicted with other states before. Now you have violated Reich territory and destroyed their ships. They're going to want blood."
Robert frowned and nodded. "I know that, sir. If I could change my decisions I would have changed what I did about Draynal."
"So you say. But what I wonder, Captain, is if this isn't what you wanted?"
"Excuse me, sir?"
Pensley frowned. "Your history ever since you gained access to the Darglan technology is that of a militant radical. You provoke other nations with little regard for the damage you cause. In the past half year you've provoked the Goa'uld, the Cardassians, the Dominion, and now the Nazis...."
"That's ridiculous, I've...."
"...in short, sir, it was a disaster the day you and your radical friends were given anything but a swift trip to a jail cell," Pensley declared. "Every bit of testimony today has served to reinforce this in my mind."
Robert remained speechless with surprise at the intensity of Pensley's words. "Sir, I have not mindlessly provoked enemies as you claim, and these accusations are incredible."
"You serve a radical agenda, Captain, and I am out to dismantle it," Pensley pledged.
"Councilman..."
Robert was interrupted by Hawthorne's gavel. "I think that will be quite enough, Councilman, Captain. The Chair still has questions." When Robert's head moved to face Hawthorne he checked his notes. "Captain, did it ever occur to you that taking the Aurora into Reich space would only make things worse?"
"We'd confirmed Koenig was engaging," Robert replied. "The damage was done. I wasn't going to leave them behind."
"Yes. I believe you invoked a similar reason for entering the Gamma Quadrant in January, defying orders to maintain position at Deep Space Nine. This caused thirty-eight deaths amongst your crew and the near loss of the Aurora to Jem'Hadar ambush." Hawthorne put his hands together. "You nearly lost your entire ship for one vessel. A vessel that is, in the grand scheme of things, not valuable enough to justify this cost."
"On the contrary, sir, we needed every indication of Dominion capability we could get, and losing Koenig could have compromised the IU drive."
"I'll remind the Committee that under Captain Dale and his crew, Aurora fought off a dozen attackers," Admiral Maran pointed out.
"And I'll remind the Admiral that this was because Koenig and the USS Defiant arrived to assist," Davies retorted. "Without their arrival the Aurora would have been destroyed or captured by the Dominion."
There was murmuring among the assembled at seeing the subordinate counter his superior. Hawthorne ignored it. "When assigned to the mission to chase down Captain Potala of the Mayala, you kept the Cardassians and the Federation ignorant of your plans, creating a situation where the Cardassians suspected you of duplicity and nearly started the conflict you were supposed to prevent."
"If the Cardassians had known, my plans might have been compromised," Robert said.
"Why did you choose such a high-risk solution, then?"
"Because it seemed the best way to stop Potala with a minimal loss of life," he answered. "If we'd had to destroy Mayala, the entire crew would have been killed."
"Why didn't you recover what was left of Mayala?" This was from the Dorei senator. "You allowed the Cardassians to recover the debris."
"There was nothing in that debris that the technical schematics we provided wouldn't have told them," Robert pointed out.
"And who authorized that? Who told you to compromise Dorei starbird design to a potential foe?", the Senator demanded.
Robert looked to Maran, who nodded. "Admiral Maran and President Morgan."
The Dorei Senator glared at Maran. "Under what justification?"
"That we couldn't risk a war with the Cardassians. My orders were to provide any support insisted upon, short of providing them with IU drives," Robert answered.
"And why did you rescue the terrorist captives liberated by Potala?", Pensley demanded.
Robert felt an involuntary shudder. Thanks to Meridina he knew what those "terrorists" had endured in Cardassian custody. "The alternative would have been to blow them up. And since I'm not that confident in the Cardassian judiciary, I wasn't going to condemn them based solely on what the Cardassians claimed."
Robert scanned his eyes briefly over the committee. He didn't have Meridina's senses, but he could see there was something going on given the looks being exchanged. He and the others were getting pulled into a larger issue.
"Captain." Sriroj stood. "You initiated first contact with the Nazi German Reich, did you not?"
"Yes," he answered. "During a search for the pirates responsible for attacking the colony on Grodni III. We encountered a Reich cruiser, the Reich's Glory, under Captain Joachim Lamper. With Captain Lamper's assistance we found the pirate base in the heart of the Krellan Nebula and destroyed it."
"How many pirates did you take prisoner in this operation?", Hawthorne asked.
"None. They were all killed and their ships destroyed. Their carrier vessel was successfully seized by Captain Lamper's boarding parties, so any surviving pirates ended up in his custody."
"So for all we know, this was a Nazi operation," Gulinev grumbled. "They could have tricked you."
"The thought crossed my mind," Robert admitted. "But if it was a Nazi op, Lamper didn't know about it. His behavior and actions were sincere."
"You know this for a fact?"
"It's my judgement, yes." Robert shook his head. "Minister Hawthorne, members of the Committee, everything that has happened was because I made a judgment call. It's what the job calls for. Thankfully I've usually been right. This time... well, I was probably wrong. I'm sorry. And the consequences are grave. If you want to punish me for that, fine. But it's just the nature of what we do. When we're out there, on the firing line, we have to make these calls. We're going to mess some of them up. All we can hope is that we're right more often than not."
The Committee sat in silence for a moment. Robert stole a glance over at Smith.
There was a smile on his face.
Davies crossed his arms and nodded at Hawthorne. The Defense Minister turned back to Robert and a smug look came to his face. "Thank you, Captain Dale, for that enlightening little speech. But I'm afraid we can't simply accept 'it was a judgment call' with you. Not given your history. Mister Smith?"
"Yes, Minister?" The NSA man stood.
"For the pleasure of the Committee, please explain the circumstances in which you met Captain Dale."
"I met him in federal holding in Portland," Smith replied. "He had just been arrested by FBI agents supported by the NSA."
"Why?"
"For one thing, he was wanted in the state of Kansas for the suspected murder or manslaughter of Patrick Duffy." Smith coughed. "However, my agency's interest was in Mister Dale's participation in several recorded raids into other nations, in which prisoners of varying types were forcefully removed."
"Which nations were those?", Sriroj asked.
"Kimmist North Korea. The People's Republic of China. Castroist Cuba. And a few other nations of similar stripe."
"He forgot Burma," Robert said aloud. If he was going to be hanged for doing the right thing, he wanted full credit. "And I can't remember if it was before or after we met that we got several journalists out of Putinist Russia."
"Wait." Pensley raised a hand. "What is this about murder? Admiral Maran, didn't you vette this man first? Putting a wanted criminal..."
"President Morgan was fully briefed on what happened to Duffy," Maran replied. "And the investigation has since corroborated Captain Dale's claim of self-defense."
"Has it?", Pensley asked, still openly suspicious.
"It has, yes," Smith remarked.
Robert resisted the temptation to look at Smith. He'd just missed what seemed to be an opportunity to dig the knife in.
Pensley frowned and went to speak further, but he was waved off by Hawthorne. "Mister Smith, can you explain the consequences that Captain Dale's operations had for you at the time?"
"It was a diplomatic fiasco," Smith remarked. "Multiple countries were convinced he was an American agent and we could do nothing to dispel this. He cost the United States significant pull in several nations and nearly provoked a diplomatic break with China."
"In other words, he acted without any regard for the conflicts he caused."
"Yes."
"And he turned down the request of your government to take over operation of the Darglan Facility, even though it was on US soil?"
"He did," Smith said.
"Thank you, sir." Hawthorne looked to Robert. "Do you have anything to say about this, Captain?"
"I was trying to help innocent people," Robert answered. "I wasn't thinking about consequences at the time because I believed they should not overshadow the needs of the people suffering. It was later that I realized our activities had further consequences we were responsible for, and I urged the Facility Council to account for those in what we chose to do."
Hawthorne shook his head. "I think, Captain, that we have heard enough on this subject. Your record speaks for itself."
And here comes the railroad. Robert raised a hand. "Minister Hawthorne, I'm...."
"Before we adjourn, there is something else to ask," Davies said. "Captain, according to testimony, Commander Meridina was the only other person to have suspicions of Lieutenant Draynal."
"Yes. She brought them to my attention," Robert replied, wondering where this was going.
"And you chose not to reveal this to other officers?"
"Commander Meridina and I decided it was safest to keep the information from being shared. We didn't know how far our systems had been compromised."
Davies nodded. "Tell me, Captain, how often do you turn to Commander Meridina for advice in your decisions?"
"When it's a security issue," Robert answered. "I'm afraid I don't understand this line of questioning."
"I have concerns," Davies said. He ignored a look from Maran. "Commander Meridina is the only member of her religious order to be an Alliance officer. She has already been shown to abuse her position in your crew, such as giving Mastrash Karesl a tour without the approval of Command."
"He was a dignitary," Robert answered. "His tour was in line with any other tour we would give to a visiting dignitary. What are you getting at sir? What's going on?"
Pensley looked at Davies and then Robert. "We question, Captain, the chain of command you follow, and I know I'm beginning to wonder if it's being followed from Gersal instead of here."
"That's preposterous," Robert retorted. "I take my orders from the President of the Alliance and the chain of command he laid out for me. Commander Meridina's advice is only at my request, and regards security."
"And this issue of Lieutenant Lucero manifesting abilities like the Commander's? Did that just... happen, Captain? Because that seems to be more than a security issue."
There was an edge to Davies' words. Robert almost responded to it, but held off not wanting to give him another opening. "I'm not sure. But it was probably a good thing." He wouldn't even let himself think about what happened when he'd tried to help Meridina when she was feeling the suffering of the Maquis prisoners. "I'm not sure what the Committee's concerns are when it comes to Meridina, but she's done nothing wrong."
"So you say, Captain." Davies sighed. "It's clear to me, at least, that regardless of this issue you have major issues with your command."
"Agreed," Hawthorne said. "You're dismissed, Captain. The Committee will deliver its judgement in the morning."
When Robert stepped out of the committee room he felt spent. Everyone looked toward him and he shrugged. "I don't know what's going to happen," he admitted. "Hawthorne's definitely going along with Davies, but the rest... it could go either way."
Julia spoke up first. "What's got me worried is how other officials will take it, or the governments inside the Alliance. I thought the whole point of the Aurora being in our command was because we have no tie to any of the Alliance systems?"
"Apparently they already feel we're being co-opted by the Gersallian swevyra'se," Robert sighed. "Sorry, Meridina."
Meridina was shaking her head with sadness. "It is I who should apologize. I asked for assignment with you. I did not anticipate such animosity."
"They'll give a final decision in the morning." Robert motioned to the far door. "Given how late it's getting, I don't imagine there's any point in flying back to the Aurora tonight. I think they have spare officer quarters in the southwest tower."
"Or we could always go get rooms in Portland or something," Caterina suggested. "It's an awesome city."
"Awesomely weird," Angel said.
"That's the fun part!"
"No, it's probably for the best if we stay here," Julia pointed out. "I'll go find a personnel officer to arrange rooms."
As they went to file out, Robert heard the sound of a throat clearing behind him. He turned and saw Smith had left the room as well. He had his briefcase again and carried it along. "Captain, it's... interesting to see you again."
"Oh?" Robert tried to hide his bitterness. This man had threatened his cousin's liberty, his liberty, and in general looked completely untrustworthy. "I'm not sure I'd call it that."
"Well, I haven't changed much," Smith remarked. "Save for giving up tobacco finally. On the other hand, you're a different man now."
"Oh?"
"Oh yes. You've learned quite a lot about responsibility since the last time we've seen each other." Smith set the briefcase down on the nearby bench. He turned his head and looked out at the lights of Command set against the dark night beyond. "Ironic to be in Portland again for this meeting. Always did like how crazy this city could be."
"To be honest, sir, you don't strike me as that type," Robert remarked.
Smith chuckled. "I suppose not. I have been careful about coming off as the stern man in government black, haven't I?" A small smile crossed his face. "Do they still have the Peter Iredale wreck? Or did it rust away finally?"
"I'm told it was preserved." Robert crossed his arms. "So you came all of this way just to, what, help them bury us?"
"As I said, young man, the United States is trying to stay on the good side of the United Alliance of Systems," Smith replied. "Don't blame me for that. Actually, you might want to blame yourself."
"Oh really?"
"Had you accepted my offer of patronage, we would have been involved with establishing this Alliance from the get go," Smith pointed out. "I would also point out that you would likely still have your Facility, since you would have never sent that nice young lady Miss Delgado out on a command mission she really wasn't qualified to perform. That's no slight against her, either. Caterina is a brilliant young lady. She's just not command material."
Robert said nothing. Smith was, much to his frustration, pretty right about that. "Of course, we might not have been in place to rescue Carlton Farmer's family," Robert pointed out. "And we wouldn't have rescued Nick and Scotty either."
"Maybe, maybe not." Smith shrugged. "Water under the bridge now. I have no intention of letting our rocky past interfere with the future. Regardless of our differences, I'm not too keen on seeing you stripped of your ship."
Robert almost replied with sarcasm and disbelief, but he held back. He had to admit that Smith had been quick to confirm the death of Duffy was self-defense.
"You're still one of us, after all," Smith continued. "You and your crew have quite the following back home. You haven't noticed it, maybe, given how busy you've been. Visiting for the funeral of Mister Carrey wasn't long enough."
"If we've got a following, how did we avoid getting swamped by reporters?", Robert asked pointedly.
"Good question," Smith agreed. "Maybe someone made sure that the media didn't put two and two together about Gerald Carrey's connection to Commander Carrey."
Robert couldn't hide his skepticism. "Really?"
"Maybe." Smith smirked. "I'd offer my hand, but I know you're not ready to shake it. I just want you to know that you've got friends back home who are watching out for you." He picked up his briefcase. "Good luck, Captain Dale, and many happy voyages to you and your crew."
The bunks given to them were small quarters for junior officers visiting from their normal places of duty. Six officers per room with set of desks, a replicator and common dinner table, and a common bathroom. At the central table, Zack looked at all of his subordinate officers. "It's been a tough day," he said. "And since I didn't sell Rob down the river for Davies, I'm just as likely to end up on the cutting block."
"I just can't believe that," Sherlily complained. "You've been a model commander for the Koenig."
"If they kick you off the ship, I'm going back to Sol service," Apley announced. "We did our job and we did it right."
"It's something political," Zack said, after which he sighed. "I'm lumped in with Rob now. And I don't regret it. I'm not going to sell a friend down the river even if I'm pissed at him."
"It's why we like you, Commander," Doctor Opani said with a smile.
"Thanks, Doc. Thank you all for standing with me. And if we make it out of this, well, I've had some thoughts, and I would like your input on them..."
A few rooms over, Robert was trying to sleep. He could hear soft sobbing from across the room; Caterina, by the sound of it. The day had brought back a lot of painful memories for her... and for everyone, really.
It was something to have all of those mistakes aired out like that. It made Robert realize how far they'd all come, how they'd matured and, perhaps, how far they had yet to go.
Sighing from inability to sleep, he got up and went to the replicator to get a drink and a fruit bar for a late night snack. When he went to the table he looked back and saw Locarno getting something himself. "Everything alright, Nick?"
"We won't know until tomorrow," Nick answered. Getting his own snack, an alien from from S5T3 that Robert didn't recognize, Locarno walked over and sat across from him. "It's gotten me to thinking about everything."
"The past." Robert took a bite.
"Exactly." Locarno sipped at his drink. "I've told you about Starfleet Academy, right? I remember explaining to the Facility Council at some point..."
"It was a past life," Robert replied. "Don't let it get to you."
"I can't just let it go." Locarno shook his head. "They trusted me. And I got Josh killed. All because I let my ego get ahead of my judgment."
Robert nodded silently. "Is that what I did wrong, you think? Let my ego get ahead of my judgment?"
"I don't know. Maybe."
"Yeah. Maybe I just wanted to be the one to accomplish that mission. I didn't want to come back into base and abort the whole thing. Then someone else would've gone in. Maybe gotten it right, maybe not, but it wouldn't be my responsibility." Robert took another drink. "Maybe that's my problem?"
"What?", Locarno asked.
"Trying to take on too much responsibility. Wanting to do everything." Robert closed his eyes for a moment. "When I look back, I get this feeling that maybe... maybe it's that I was finally getting control of my life back after losing my family and having the farm about to be taken. The Facility gave me a purpose. It let me focus myself."
"In Starfleet we're reminded that a good commander has to know when to delegate," Locarno pointed out. "Not that it's followed. Some captains had reputations for being control freaks. Others got reputations for delegating too much. Neither were supposed to end up going very far. Well, except maybe becoming an admiral."
Robert smirked and chuckled at that. Locarno did the same. "Yeah, I guess."
"If we walk away from this tomorrow, just keep that in mind," Locarno continued. "Trust us more. Don't be afraid to give us information, even if Meridina or Julia tell you not to. If you think it's the right call... sometimes you gotta make that call."
"Words of wisdom, Nick." Robert finished last of the fruit bar. "So, it's midnight, and we'd better get back to laying awake in our bunks."
"Speak for yourself, Captain." Locarno grinned. "I added sleep aids to my snack."
"Clever," Robert laughed.
The next morning everyone got up at roughly the same time. Julia took charge of making sure everyone got shower time in the three quarters granted to the combined crews and went last herself. Once in uniform nobody had the stomach for breakfast; with their fates being decided they went straight to the antechamber. And there.... they waited.
And waited.
And waited.
As the day drew closer to noon with no call to come before the committee, grumbling stomachs finally got the better of everyone and lunch was sent for. Robert accepted a roast beef sandwich from Angel, who had insisted on making sure he got his food. "I thought Julia was supposed to be the mother hen?", he asked her while looking out the window. He gratefully bit into the offered lunch.
"I can be comforting too, you know," Angel said with a sly grin. "I admit I'm not the doting girlfriend type, but I can't have you going in there on an empty stomach."
"Let's just hope I keep this down, right?"
"You really think they're going to find against us?", Angel asked.
Robert shrugged and finished a bite. "I think Davies and Hawthorne are against us. So is Pensley. Gulinev, i can't begin to think about. And the rest are more scared about the possibility we're going to have an interstellar war than anything. Won't be hard for them to get into a 'blame someone mood'."
"And that blame being thrown at us," Angel said in a bitter tone.
"Yeah." Robert looked back at the door. "I just wish I knew what was going on. Is it really taking them this long to deliberate?"
"They're politicians," Angel mumbled. "Who knows...."
The door opened and the Sergeant-at-Arms emerged. "The Committee will see you all now," he announced.