The Freedom of Choice Paradox

Posted on Jul 18, 2014 @ 12:41pm by Captain Kassandra Thytos

Mission: All Our Yesterdays
Location: USS DISCOVERY*USS CENTURY

"The Freedom of Choice Paradox"

(Cont. "Stubborn hope" )

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The more options one has, the more possibilities for experiencing
conflict arise, and the more difficult it becomes to compare the
options. - "Gut feelings" Gerd Gigerenzer.


Location: USS DISCOVERY

Stardate: 2.14.0703.2040

Scene: Transporter room


[[I'm coming down there, and I will not be alone.]] Stonn's ominous
unspoken threat hung in the air.


Kassandra burst into action. She was a firm believer in not over
thinking things, and learned through years of experience that her
first instinct plan was generally just as efficient as her plans that
she agonized over for hours, sometimes more so. She was prone to over
thinking. Besides, there was not a hell of a lot of time.


"PFC Massimo, go fry the circuits on that door n' booby trap it," she
ordered as she pulled off her communicator, popping out the computer
chip so she could get at it with a tool from her utilibelt. She fused
the circuitry so the computer would continue to broadcast her signal
and handed the badge to Kuenzi. "PFC Kuenzi, get the transporter ready
to beam yourself and Massimo to the CENTURTY. I need you to lure Stonn
and his goons here so they walk into Massimo's trap. Beam out the
moment they start openin' that door. Tell Cindy I'm gonna tag all the
crew members with cargo transponders to make them easy for her to find
and lock onto. They'll all be labelled as 'Romulan ale' so she can
tell 'em from actual cargo."


"We're coming with you." Kuenzi's face was grave. "You won't be able
to make it very far with no backup."


"I need you over there more. They'll need someone who's able to
coordinate the remaining crew, and someone to man the weapons and
tactical station."


"You don't plan on attempting to liberate the Sec/Tac hostages."
Kuenzi's eyes sharpened with understanding.


"No. Stonn probably owns most of 'em, and there's no way for me to go
in that wouldn't end in a bloodbath. Prolly my own bloodbath at that."
The Marine looked uncomfortable at the thought of leaving an entire
department to the tender mercies of their captors, but her decision
had cold, undeniable logic.


Kuenzi and Massimo shared one of their loaded looks.


"Pia will go to the CENTURY, I'll come with you." Massimo decided.
Kassandra opened her mouth, but her response was halted by his raised
hand. "Not open to negotiation, Major. All due respect, but things
here aren't exactly a normal situation, rules don't apply, and seeing
as we're effectively double mutineers, you're not really my CO right
now, and more of a co conspirator."


"I could debate that point." Kassandra said dryly, "But I don't have
the time to argue. Come on. You set here Pia?"


The woman lifted her hand and made the hand signal for OK, and unslung
her pulse pistol from her shoulder. Her face was set in a dead serious
scowl, her large, dark eyes unblinking and alert like an owl.


Kassandra and Massimo flipped on their HUDS and entered the Jeffries
tubes. Massimo took the lead, while Kassandra followed, clambering
awkwardly backwards, covering their retreat.


They were at the first junction when they heard the dull thud of the
explosives detonating, and felt the heat of the shock wave wash over
them. There were faint yells, and a moment later, an over enthusiastic
officer stuck his head into the Jeffries tube entrance, intent on
catching the escaping prey. A pulse blast to his head quickly stopped
his advance, and dulled the desire of any of any of Stonn's surviving
team to enter the bottleneck.


Kassandra had taken the time to adjust her sensor net once they had
put sufficient space between themselves and their erstwhile pursuers.
She'd overclocked them to allow herself to break their usual
constraints and see through bulkheads and doors.


It was singularly unpleasant. Her nets sparkled and blinked like
epileptic fireflies under her skin, and she felt hot and feverish.
Still, it had saved them twice when overambitious crewmen had laid out
ambushes for them in the tubes.


So far they had not seen hide nor hair of the remaining marines, not
even when they had swung by the Marine barracks to pick up the bag of
transponders. This made her very suspicious, though she supposed that
maybe it was Stonn's doing, he probably calculated that her most
logical move would be to try to assassinate him to put down his
burgeoning mutiny.


Fortunately Stonn didn't understand human psychology nearly as much as
he thought he did. But at some point things would have to come to a
head, and she was certain herself and Massimo would be forced to test
their skills against their former comrades in arms.


They arrived at the hatch that entered into the main science lab, and
Kassandra focused on her sensor net data. Five Neo-Essentialists. If
they were quick she could get them all with a gas grenade, and night
night. She tapped her companion's leg and put on her rebreather,
holding up her fingers to count down.


Three... Two... One...


The two Marines exploded through the hatch into the science labs.


They made quick work of the mutineers. It seemed recruitment in the
science department hadn't been high, apparently it wasn't a priority.
The entirety of the Neo-Essentialists were focused in the Sensor and
Computer specialists, and the aSCO, Ibrahim. Kassandra supposed it
made sense.


“If you have things that you absolutely need and you don't want the
Neo-Essentialists to get their hands on, or you think will assist in
survival on the Discovery, please gather it now, and make sure you
have your transponders on your person at all times. The engineers on
the CENTURY will beam you over as soon as possible.” Massimo was
ordering the 15 scientists that had been on shift around as they
secured the area. “We'll seal you in, do NOT let anyone in, and you
might want to see about arming yourself with anything you can find
just in case. You ready Major?”


Kassandra nodded.


[[Major Thytos, I am most displeased. You are are making a mess of
this entire operation.]] Stonn's voice rang out over the intercoms.
[[Surrender now, and I will give you a second chance. I know that
you're in Science. I do not know what you think you will achieve
freeing the crew. There is nowhere to go, and as you have no doubt
surmised most of Security and Tactical are loyal to the Cause. If try
to send most of these crew into combat to try and take the ship they
will be slaughtered quickly. Give up and perhaps we can reevaluate
what we intend to do with them.]]


“Bullshit.” Kassandra reached over to Ensign Abdullah's chest and
yanked off his communicator.


“Bullshit, Stonn.” Kassandra said into the badge. “You might have been
able to handle this with a delicate touch before you came in,
proverbial guns blazing, but not now. It's far too late for that. I
don't believe you even know what you're gonna do after this. What are
you gonna do, tell Starfleet that the crew mutinied? Tell em we were
wiped out by space pirates? How long exactly d'ya think that's gonna
hold up to scrutiny? Or you gonna go on the lam? It's not like you can
give the DISCOVERY a paint job, stencil on new numbers, and stay
hidden.”


She pressed the button to end the conversation and waved PFC Massimo
over. “Massimo, I want you to take the transponders and go to the OPS
officer quarters using the tubes. Try to get who you can, but try to
focus on the Damage Control Teams and Sensor Specialists. Those are
going to be the most critical. If anyone else looks like an easy
rescue, go for it, but remember who your first priorities are.”


“And what will you be doing?” Massimo frowned.


“Creating a distraction, and drawing their fire.” Kassandra's face was
grave. “I don't know if they realize you're working with me, but
hopefully if I light this place up enough I'll be able to draw the
majority of their attention. Wait until do a run through of that
corridor, than clean up after me, and then you get somewhere safe with
them and wait for transport.”


“And how are you getting out?”


“Let me worry about that.” Kassandra reached into her supply sack and
handed Massimo extra power packs and gas grenades.


“Alright Major.” Massimo gave her a hearty clap on the shoulder,
tagging her with one of the transponders in the process. The woman was
so focused on her work that she didn't seem to notice. “Ten minute
head start for you?”


“If I can't do it in five it's time to put me out to pasture.”
Kassandra snorted. “I better get movin' before Stonn decides it's time
to talk about our feelings or something'. Talk of the devil.”


[[Major, I assure you I have thought about all eventualities, however
I do not believe that you have. How are you going to get yourself out
of your predicament? I have your remaining Marines on their way, plus
security guards. You are not good enough to take them on.]]


“You don't know me, Stonn.” Kassandra was on her way out the door.
“And you're a poor judge of character. What the hell made you think I
was gonna along with this?”


[[Because you know the daily unseen fight of the Federation to
maintain the illusion of peace, and you know that illusion is paid for
in blood daily. You know better than to believe that just because we
don't see a clear and imminent enemy that one is not there. You know
being ready saves lives. And I am unclear why you are suddenly against
me, I thought you were devoted to the cause.]]


“I might have been, right up until you put me in the position of being
partially responsible for the death of over 150 men and women.”
Vulcans made Kassandra's head ache. Sometimes she felt like she was
talking to a three year old. They decided what was logical and pursued
that line of thought single mindedly. Somewhat inflexible, that was
what it was. “Stonn, I may be many things, but the thing I didn't want
to be again was a murderer. I would do anything for the Federation,
but I won't do that.”


[[That is a pity. I... Understand your feelings Major. However I would
hope that you could put that behind us, and... forgive me... With the
understanding that I would not put you in such a position again. The
Cause really could use your talents, I wish you would reconsider. You
would make a formidable trainer for our men and women...]]


“Stonn, as far as I am concerned, the major danger to the Federation
is you and your nutbar whackadoodles. You claim it's for the safety of
the Federation, but you have absolutely zero qualms 'bout killing what
amounts to civilians as a steppin' stone to whatever future you deem
fit t' impose. Talk 'bout killing somethin' in order to preserve it.
Makes no sense.”


There was a long pause, so Kassandra continued.


“Who'd you lose, Stonn?”


[[My wife.]] Stonn's voice was impassive.


“That's what I thought. You aren't as good a Vulcan as you think you
are, Stonn. That's revenge you want, that's grief. Emotion is why
you're here.” She stopped and looked around the corner. She could see
several Neo-Essentialists standing guard in the corridor.


“Speaking of here, I thought you might want to know, I'm heading
through the Junior officers quarters. I'm tired of skulking around.
You on the bridge? Cos that's where I'm going. See you soon,
Tinkerbell.” Okay, so goading a Vulcan probably wasn't going to get
her anything, but it made her feel a hell of a lot better.


She crunched the communicator beneath her foot and took a deep breath.
Pulse rifle held firmly on her shoulder, she performed a textbook 'run
and gun,' taking out two of the Neo-Essentialists closest to her.


She sped past the rest, feet clanging gracelessly against the deck
plates on a desperate quest to make it to the turbo lift before they
caught her. Her sensor nets picked up the incoming phaser blast an
instant before she felt the heat of phaser fire crease past her cheek.
The smell of burning hair filled her nose as her eyebrow and hair
withered under the heat. Another blast hit her armor square in the
shoulder, its heat diffusing over the surface. It wouldn't take
another direct shot. She made it through the turbo lift doors, praying
that Massimo had gotten to the OPS officers, and that Cindy Rochemonte
had gotten the transporters working.


The doors of the turbolift opened onto the bridge. Not a sign of
Stonn, but she was swiftly surrounded by the last five of her Marines
who were quickly joined by the guards that had been pursuing her.


“Halt Major, you're done. Stonn saw you coming a mile away, they've
moved operations down to the auxiliary bridge.” Rico smirked, his
pulse rifle aimed unwaveringly at her chest.


“Rico, Zim, Raczack, Currie, Hendricks... Think about what you're
doing here. Don't do anythin' that can't be undone.” Kassandra warned.


“Nice try, Major. We saw what you did to Raoul and Trebond. Don't even
want to know what you did to Massimo and Kuenzi. You don't move, we
don't want any of your tricks.”


“Too late boys.” Kassandra opened her hand and let the incinerator
grenade fall out of her hand, lights blinking placidly to warn that it
was armed. “If it's any consolation, we'll all go together when we go.
I just wish I was able to take out more of you assholes with me.”


They looked at the grenade. It took them a moment to understand what
they were seeing. By then it was too late. The delay hit zero, and it
exploded. Kassandra stood there with an eerily contented grin on her
face, arms outstretched, waiting for it to take her.


Suddenly she felt the familiar sensation of the transporter beam
beginning to disassemble her molecules. She stiffened.


“No no nonononono!!!” Kassandra's diffuse lips muttered in abject
horror as her sensor nets flashed crazily, feeding her images as the
blast ripped the five Marines to shreds.


Location: USS CENTURY

Scene: Transporter room


“Ah hah, I've got a lock on her finally.” Cindy Rochemont said
triumphantly. “Last one out. Get ready to slap up those shields. One
cranky, pain in the ass Major Thytos for you, PFC Massimo, though I
don't know why you'd want her back.”


The air shimmered, and a disoriented Kassandra Thytos appeared on the
pad, her eyes blank, and lips moving wordlessly.


“Guess that's two you owe me, Maj-” Cindy began smugly, but the other
woman was having none of it.


“Fuck you, Rochemonte. Fuck you!” The Marine rushed off the
transporter pad and towards the door. As she pushed rudely past Cindy,
the engineer could almost swear she saw tears running down the woman's
face.
_________________________________________________________________________________

NRPG: Ok. Quality issues with this, but I was ridiculously uninspired
for what should have been a super inspiring topic... I blame the dog
days of summer. Let's get this party back on track!

Alix Fowler

The way less nihilistic voice of:

Captain Kassandra Thytos
Likely to be ex-Marine once Kane finds out
USS DISCOVERY