Iscrpljujuće Sažetak
Posted on Dec 10, 2016 @ 3:26pm by Lieutenant Cantor Von
Edited on on Dec 10, 2016 @ 3:27pm
Mission: Aftermath
"Iscrpljujuće Sažetak"
(cont'd from "The Power of Words" written by the incredible artist Tiffany)
- Translation from Croatian: "Exhausting Summary"
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LOCATION: Starfleet "Hrvatsk" Facility, Rijeka, Croatia, Earth
SD: [2.16]1210.1258
SCENE: Balcony Section overlooking the Adriatic
Cantor Von stepped into the blazing sunlight, his eyes unaccustomed to the natural brilliance of Earth's native star after days indoors. Taking a break from his sixth day of debriefing at this coastal facility, he saw a familiar figure doing what he had intended to do for his brief mid-day respite.
"Gerry McKee. Jolan tru," Von said with a smile as he stepped up to the railing and took a deep breath of salt-tinged sea air. In the distances, small boats made their way across the azure Adriatic waters leaving tiny white wakes.
The Irishman laughed. "Very funny." He took a moment, then turned to the Betazoid beside him. "You know I almost said that on the first day of the debriefing?"
Cantor nodded, "Impressive. I'm sure that would have went over well."
McKee looked back at the horizon. "You know we didn't really have the best relationship with the Romulans before our little mission. It's not like it was a surprise something upped the ante while we were away."
Cantor sighed. "Yeah....but it doesn't help that things
"Half of me thinks Sardak was brilliant for what he did. We deserved it, having let a cac ar oineach like Edgerton get as high up as he did."
"The human half or the Irish half?"
McKee chuckled. "Are you implying the Irish aren't human?"
The Betazoid smiled. "No such thing. I just think its a good Irishman's duty to tell it how it is. Gods know you weren't shy about giving your opinion on the K'Torex."
McKee eyed Cantor with feigned suspicion. "Well, my mouth has gotten me reassigned to a starship. I'm departing for the ANDROMEDA tomorrow."
"A deep space explorer? Couldn't get far enough away last time?" grinned Cantor.
"Not if shite like this happens when we're gone. No, this time we'll be in the Delta Quadrant." The Irishman nodded. "I'll be the hero that the Delta Quadrant needs."
Von laughed out loud. "Wow. Humble, aren't you? I'm surprised you didn't request the PHOENIX."
"That beast? Why? To be some lowly technician or flight officer? No, a smaller ship is more my style. Besides, I don't think they're going to re-activate her after the pounding she took during the recent fiasco."
"Didn't you hear? They reactivated her."
McKee looked genuinely surprised. "Really? And how do you know this?"
"Hey, I still have some friends in Starfleet Command," Cantor replied in mock indignation.
The Irishman looked at Von in feigned surprise. "You have friends?"
Von nodded. "Nice. And when do you leave?"
McKee slow punched Cantor in the arm. "Not soon enough, my friend. I don't want to be anywhere near the political shite storm that is coming with the Sardak resignation. Where were you reassigned?"
The Betazoid shook his head. "I haven't been."
"What?" asked McKee, this time with genuine surprise. "Everyone else has gotten their orders. Who did you piss off?"
Cantor shrugged. "No clue, though I did have some face time with the Martine-"
The Irishman closed his eyes. "Tell me you didn't go see her when you got planetside."
"I just wanted to make sure she-"
"That's brilliant, Cant. Perfect to remind the SECRETARY OF STARFLEET that her former boyfriend - who dumped her - is back in town. I'm sure it was just enough time to issue your orders to be assigned to the Ferenginar Embassy."
Von laughed. "I don't think she's THAT mad at me. I also spoke to Captain Michael Kane - briefly."
"Wait, as in the PHOENIX's Captain Kane? Ol' Golden Eye himself?"
"The one and only." Cantor turned to McKee. "He's actually a decent guy."
"Really," replied the Irishman. "I always thought they'd either court martial or promote him. He's one of those bull-headed blokes that can't - or won't - do anything in between."
"I don't know about promotion, but rumor has it he's back in the Center Seat of the PHOENIX."
McKee. "Based on recent events, that ought to piss off the Star Empire right and good."
There was a small pause as the Adriatic wind picked up around the two Starfleet officers. "Gerry, I've thought about resigning my commission."
The Irishman took a step back. "Why?"
"Well, this mess, the Neo-Essentialists, Starfleet being more military than exploration-"
"Come on, you silly Betazoid. You know Starfleet's always been a pendulum between military and scientific aspects. We're just swinging toward the military aspect now. Give it a couple of years."
Von tilted his head. "Have you ever thought that maybe the Federation has run its course? That it's an outdated institution that is artificially held together by nostalgia of a couple of planets who met their first time beyond their respective atmospheres?"
"Wow, we're going there, are we?"
"Seriously, Gerry. This last Neo-Essentialist bit is just the most recent example of that. They've even tried to legitimize Section 31. Maybe it's time to deactivate the power to the Federation experiment."
"And then what, Cant? Do you honestly think the Star Empire will applaud and demonstrate self restraint in the face of such a weakening? You and I both know that the Romulans, the Dominion, and a bunch of other powers would love nothing more than to carve up Federation space."
"I'm not talking about total dissolution. There could be a mutual defense-"
McKee physically pushed the idea away with his hand. "Are you serious? Regardless of all this shite happening, Starfleet still holds the line between subjugation and freedom."
"You think the alternatives are that stark?" asked Von.
The Irishman nodded slowly. "I do. Idealism isn't free, Cant. Maybe it's human history that informs me of that, but it's no less true among the stars. The Federation, for all its faults, still means something more than just warmed-over nostalgia. The Federation can embody that idealism because we defend it so. Yes, there are factions. Yes, legitimizing Section 31 is crazy. But the Federation still is a beacon of hope in the galaxy. We both saw the alternative with our Romulan friends. Don't try to romanticize the Star Empire's propaganda."
Von looked sharply at McKee. "I'm not, Ger. Not for one moment. It's just..."
McKee patted the Von on the back. "Have faith, my crazy Betazoid." He looked into Cantor's ebony eyes. "You are where you're supposed to be."
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NRPG: Sorry for the brief hiatus...the holiday season hit me like a dreadnought with a singularity power core!
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Marko J. Sertic
aka
Lt. Cantor Von
In Bureaucratic Limbo, per Captain Kane
