"Quest"

[Guest Laarell]

"Quest"

Lt. Laarell Teykier

June 17, 23--

 

The battle had ended; the battle was won. Two straightforward sentences that should have required no further explanation. After all, a victory was a victory, and that was that.

 

But was it? What constituted a victory? How many could die before a victory reverted to merely surviving? Was it possible that this last conflict with the Al-Ucardians had crossed the thin line?

 

Glancing over the casualty lists, Laarell sighed. She wasn't exactly looking at some minor injuries that had been sustained. Entire starships' crews lost... lives spent like latinum slips. A thousand lives traded for what they were assumed was a victory. Was it even worth it?

 

Rumors flew of another battle, with yet another powerful force of the Gamma Quadrant. Another victory, the enemy fleet being repelled by the combined Dominion-Romulan forces. But... how many had died there, too?

 

No death was worthless if other lives ... other ideals were preserved as a result. But would the recent deaths be in vain? What would happen if more enemies emerged, in greater numbers?

 

Falling into orbit around Camelot, Laarell sighed. Such a beautiful planet, one that could have been lost, had the battle not ended in... victory. But by the gods, let their quest for the world not only be staving off an inevitable demise...