Taking Sides

Posted on Nov 29, 2016 @ 5:35pm by Captain Michael Turlogh Kane

Mission: Aftermath

"TAKING SIDES"

Continued from "Just An Accident"

"...I... do solemnly swear...to obey the principle of non-interference and to uphold it with my life if necessary..."
- excerpt from the Starfleet Oath of Service (referring to the Prime Directive)

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Personal log, supplemental - for a man who is unassigned and hanging in buraucratic limbo, I certainly seem to have a lot to do, and it's not all good...

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Location: Starfleet Headquarters, San Francisco
Stardate: [2.16]1129.1400
Scene: Office of the Secretary of Starfleet


It had taken some hours, but Michael Turlogh Kane was finally getting to meet Marie-Claire Martine again. The last time they had spoken to one another was several months ago in orbit of Elandipole, but they had had prior contact two years ago when Kane had taken a chance and laid everything he knew about the Neo-Essentialists at her door. There had been no other recourse back then, but Marie-Claire Martine had certainly helped them out - using her contacts in Starfleet, she had arranged for Kane and his outlaw crew to hijack the starship Phoenix, to allow them to flee Earth before Richard Edgerton could have them murdered.

There had been no way to properly thank her for the efforts she had put in on their behalf, but Marie-Claire Martine had never even mentioned it. She lived in a different world from Kane and his crew - in the corridors of governmental power, words were knives.

Cantor Von and Arak Schad had been dismissed to go about whatever business they had, and Kane sat down opposite the Secretary of Starfleet with more than a feeling of trepidation. Being summoned usually meant something important - if it wasn't, then a comms message would have done just fine.

Martine leaned back in her seat and steepled her fingers, regarding him carefully. "Captain Kane."

"Madam Secretary," said Kane neutrally. "What can I do for you?"

"That's how it starts," Martine smiled, "with questions like that. What can you do for me? Nothing. What you can do for Earth - well, that's something."

Kane frowned. "I don't understand."

I"ll enlighten you." Martine got up, put her hands behind her back, pacing slowly around the spartan office. "Do you know who Hussein Karimi is?"

Kane watched her cautiously. She wasn't looking at him, she was looking at her own feet pacing the floor. Her body language was off, like she was apprehensive of this conversation. "Yes. He's Earth's representative on the Federation Assembly. I hear he's announced that he's running for the vacant Council seat."

"Do you think he'll win?" She still wasn't looking at him.

With a flash of insight, Kane realised that whatever Martine had called him here for, she didn't know how he'd respond. These probing questions, her general caution - there was something important on her mind, something that she needed him to do, and she wasn't sure if he'd do it. Kane thought a moment on how to answer - better to play it dumb for now, he decided. "I don't know, Madam Secretary. The media say that Earth enjoys much support on the Assembly, and that he stands a good chance of winning it."

"Would you like to see him win the seat?" asked Martine, looking right at him.

Ah, now we're getting into it, thought Kane. Being asked for a political opinion was just a prelude to a further question that may or may not be asked, depending on how he answered. He sighed aloud. "I suppose so, Madam Secretary, but that is strictly my personal opinion."

Martine nodded. She moved to the side of her desk and stood there. "Do you think Earth is entitled to a place on the Council?"

"Like the permanent seat we used to have?" Kane thought for a moment. "As a Human, I'm inclined to say yes, but as a Starfleet officer, I don't get involved."

"You don't get involved, Captain? Explain yourself."

Kane shifted in his seat. "The military should not interfere with the trappings of a civilian government. We fought Edgerton give power back to a democratically-elected government, not a junta of Starfleet admirals. Much as I disliked the Council vote, it was a legal one."

Martine leaned on the edge of her desk. "But you just told me that, as a Human, you think Earth is entitled to a place on the Council seat. You can't have it both ways, Captain Kane." She looked at him sidelong. "You trusted me two years ago when you came to me about Edgerton and the Neo-Essentialists. I'll trust you now."

Kane braced himself for whatever was coming.

"I am helping Hussein Karimi run for that vacant Council seat," said Martine evenly. "We have a new campaign manager, and you're correct - we do have widespread support in the Assembly. I'm doing this because I believe that President Sardak is acting out of fear, and is knee-jerking a response against all Humans for the actions of a few. I won't allow him to break our power. Humans are the driving force of the Federation, and we need to remain at its core."

Kane was flabbergasted, and he shook his head in response. "Spoken like a Neo-Essentialist. Human-centric politics have more in common with Richard Edgerton than they'd be prepared to admit."

"Don't be pedantic, Captain Kane. I'm well aware of the line between Human nationalism and fascism, and it's a line I have no intention of crossing. It is not a crime to advance the interests of one's species."

"At the expense of others, in this supposedly-equal grand alliance?"

"Those others have not led the Federation as long as we have," said Martine. "We lead, they follow. That's they way it's always been. Listen, I have a proposition for you." She stood up and leaned on her hands, resting them on her desk. "You and the crew of the Phoenix are heroes. If you were willing to appear in public and speak on behalf of Hussein Karimi's run for the Council seat, if you could persuade your officers to do the same, it would send a very strong message to the Assembly electorate. Humans would be back on the Council."

"And from there?"

"From there, we could reform the Federation, as President Sardak suggests," said Martine. "But not on his terms. On ours."

Kane slowly got to his feet. "I will not speak for the command crew of the Phoenix, but as for me, you can fucking well forget it." He gestured to the rank pips on his collar. "I will not participate in your grubby politicking, and I'm furious that you even asked me to. Everyone wearing this uniform took an oath to, among other articles, to uphold the Prime Directive, to not interfere in the natural development of any society. What you are doing, as a former Starfleet officer, is shameful."

"It's been a long time since I was in Starfleet -"

"Spare me, Madame Secretary. You might have a civilian position but you're in a position to direct the actions of all of Starfleet. You cannot in good conscience ask any member of Starfleet to assist in your political conspiracy."

"The Prime Directive does not apply to Federation citizens, Captain Kane, so my conscience is clear. You might have refused me, but that's not to say they all will."

"Then I congratulate you on manipulating the political circumstances with the skill of a Romulan." Kane turned his back on her and strode to the door.

"Captain Kane."

He froze, but did not look back.

"In this matter, nobody gets to be neutral. Think carefully about what you're walking away from." Her voice floated across the room like a bubble of poison. "You know what they say. If you're not with us...."

Kane closed his eyes, and took a step forward, hearing reproachful hiss of the door closing behind him.

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Location: The Presidio
Scene: Bayside path


Kane was a minute late, but David Gilvari was not. He was leaning against the fence that run along the edge of the path, enjoying the evening sunshine and enjoying the view. The huge red Golden Gate bridge stretched above and over the bay, shuttlecraft cutting the air above it and boats cutting the waves beneath it. It was a perfect picture postcard.

"I'm sorry I'm late," said Kane. "It's been a day."

"I've been having one of those myself," said David. They moved off together, strolling down the path. There was nobody near them, but there were several Cadets playing a volleyball game in a distant court. Their shrieks and calls echoed over the tumble and crash of the waves against the cliffs below. "It's what I wanted to talk to you about, as a matter of fact."

"Oh?" Kane forced himself to concentrate on the conversation, but the Martine-Karimi conspiracy was eating at him. "How can I help you?"

"I'm serving on a board of inquiry right now," began David, but then he paused. "This is all off-the-record, Captain?"

Kane nodded. "If you want to be, Commander, then certainly."

"Our defendant is Lynette Ryan. She's the cadet who found herself sent to work in Edgerton's underwater bunker, and helped out your away team when they went in there to finish him off."

Kane frowned, remembering the tall, slim Cadet who'd been on the Red October when it landed in the Presidio a few days ago. "I remember her. How's she doing?"

"Not well. It's obvious that she knows nothing. If it was up to me, I'd give her a commission and send her out into the fleet to start her career. As it happens, it's not up to me - all we as a Board can do is sent a report to the Chief of Operations." David shook his head. "I don't want to be responsible for ruining the career of an innocent person."

"Someone else on the Board is hostile to Cadet Ryan?"

"Got it in one." David stopped again, and the gravel of the path crunched beneath his boots. "My colleague lost people when Paris was... well, you know."

"I see." Kane looked out at the bay. Seagulls chattered noisily somewhere on the cliffs beneath them, then took to the wing, rising on the zephys of the breeze, and the world kept on with its turning. He thought for a moment before turning back to David. "Commander, have you ever been introduced to the Secretary of Starfleet?"

David shook his head, a little bewildered. "Uh, no, Captain, can't say that I have."

"Her office is in Starfleet Headquarters right now," said Kane, eyes creased as he thought ahead of his own words. "She's not left for Vulcan yet, and she'll likely be one of the last to go. Now would be a good time to ask her staff for an appointment."

"An appointment? I'd get five minutes with her if I was lucky. And what would I have to discuss with the Secretary of Starfleet?"

"You would be approaching her as a member of a Board of Inquiry, and you would be voicing your concerns that the Board you're serving on is over-extending its remit. That much is true?"

"Yes. Yes, that's true."

"I have a feeling that the Secretary would be quite amenable to the suggestion that people connected to the starship Phoenix not be persecuted for any Neo-Essentialist-related activities they are supposed to have done in the distant past." Kane's eyes narrowed. "Yes, I think she'd be quite amenable to that, especially if you mention that I was the one who suggested that you visit her. If you tell her that I'll keep her involvement quiet, then I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at the outcome of that meeting, Commander."

David looked uncomfortable. "You know something that can get all the Phoenix officers out of custody? Would she - " He paused to frame his words. "Would she be negatively disposed toward me as a consequence of this meeting?"

"No," Kane chuckled. "She'll be nice as pie and get you out of there as quickly as possible when your meaning becomes clear." He looked sidelong at David. "What do you think?"

David shrugged. "I'll think about it. It might be an option."

Kane indicated ahead, and they resumed their stroll.

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From: T'sen, Admiral, Chief of Starfleet Operations
To: Towers, Alexander, Lieutenant Colonel, Commandant of Starfleet Marine Corps


Colonel Towers,

This is to notify you of your promotion, effective immediately, to the rank of Brigadier General, and your confirmation in a permanent capacity, also effective immediately, as Commandant of the Starfleet Marine Corps.

This is in recognition of your sterling work in the last year, serving aboard the USS Demeter as one of the President's aides.

My sincere congratulations to you. We will be in touch with further details.

T'sen

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NRPG: Vulcans are not known for their flowery language. Also, muddying the waters...


Jerome McKee
the Soul of Captain Michael Turlogh Kane
former Commanding Officer
USS PHOENIX


"He speaks an infinite deal of nothing!"
- Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice", Act 1, Scene 1.117

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