The Future of Aegis

[Sorehl 0]

Sorehl leaned back against his chair in Drankum’s, his fingers still steepled in a double-ta’al triangle. It was now common knowledge that he was the Commissioner who had been sent to assess Aegis’ mission and make recommendations regarding its future.

 

To avoid disruption of station activity and ensure impartiality in their responses, Sorehl had not identified himself to the junior officers he had been interviewing. As a result, he believed he had received more honest feedback, without undue influence due to his rank or past Aegis history.

 

Political shifts in the Federation had warranted a reassessment of the continuing mission of Sky Harbor Aegis. As a former commanding officer, Sorehl’s input had been sought by the Security Council. In that role, he had overseen initial construction and placement of the Jovian-class station in Cardassian space. He had negotiated its operation with Klingon, Romulan, Cardassian, and Ferengi parties. Despite his later postings to Empok Nor and Camelot Station, he had keenly followed events on Aegis. Since he had resigned his post and entered the Reserves, the Council opted to appoint him to a civilian post as Commissioner to conduct an inquiry on their behalf. Added to his own personal knowledge, he now had the perspectives of many who’d served here, past and present, as well as diplomats and civilians.

 

Sorehl sipped at the newly-refreshed glass of Altair water. The usual, Patti had called it. He glanced around the familiar confines of the establishment. Drankum had played a significant role in establishing and continuing this station. He found himself wondering whether the Ferengi was.

 

He looked across at the now-vacant chair across from him. Sorehl had just spoken with Commander Ethan Hawke, listening to her opinions. As an officer, it was clear she felt her duty was to support policy, not to influence it. But she had accepted his assurance that the Council and the Admiralty were seeking the thoughts of those on the “front line”. She had been sufficiently candid.

 

In addition to the officers of Aegis, he had heard from Gorn, Federation, and Romulan diplomats, and had contacted K’Vorlag for a Klingon response. Assuming a successful conclusion of the captain’s court-martial, Sorehl would share his preliminary findings with Muon before submitting his final report to the Security Council. He would also recommend further input from the Cardassians themselves, either through his own inquiry or the action of better-trained diplomats. The captain would undoubtedly look for counsel from her own crew, as was only proper.

 

The future of Aegis, he reasoned, was yet to be decided.

Edited February 6, 2008 by Sorehl

[Sorehl 0]

From his vantage within Drankum’s, the Commissioner looked toward the Midway entrance. Seeing the approach of Commander Hawke, he moved toward her. He unfastened the clasp of his outer cloak and removed it, revealing his uniform beneath.

 

“Good day, Commander,” he nodded in greeting. He folded the cloak over his arm.

 

Hawke looked toward the Commissioner, recognizing him at once. “I thought so,” she declared. His voice had sounded familiar from the summons. “Captain Sorehl, a pleasure to see you, sir.” Though they had not worked together, she was aware of his role in establishing Sky Harbor just after the war’s conclusion.

 

The Vulcan captain gestured toward an open table, and the two sat across from one another. From behind the bar, the Bajoran manager Patti Santos moved to take their order personally. “As you may be aware,” he began, “I have been conducting an inquiry for the Security Council, interviewing various crewmembers.”

 

“I had heard a bit of it, yes,” she admitted, “though I didn't know it was you.”

 

“Yes,” he explained. “It seemed wise to keep my identity confidential to avoid disruption. It has been most enlightening.”

 

“Really? How so?” she prompted. Perhaps she could hear some of his early impressions.

 

Hearing her question, Sorehl went on. “I have encountered, shall we say, a diversity of opinion on just what Aegis' mission is believed to be.”

 

Ethan raised an eyebrow. “Interesting... Such as?”

 

The Vulcan blinked momentarily, as if shifting in thought. “Before I answer, may I ask that same question of you? What is your perspective of Aegis' primary mission?”

 

She smirked. She had been hoping to distract him and avoid the coming line of questioning. “You can ask.”

 

Sorehl set his PADD aside, signaling an honest interest in the response. “Very well,” he concurred, pressing on. “What do you consider to be Aegis' primary mission?”

 

Hawke chose that moment to order a drink from Patty, before returning her attention. “What do you think?” Patty moved off, not even asking the Vulcan for his preference.

 

He wondered if she was choosing to be intentionally evasive. “My thoughts are,” he paused to edit himself, “if not irrelevant, then not pertinent. I am interested in the diverse perspectives, hence my inquiry.”

 

Ethan failed to suppress a smirk. “I don't know if I have a good answer for you, captain. We were sent here to help rebuilding efforts after the war... not dissimilar to the American's helping Japan after Earth’s Second World War,” she answered, invoking the historical analogy. “But it didn’t take the Americans eight years to complete that task.”

 

The Vulcan nodded. “True. Although the Federation did not attempt to occupy the whole of Cardassia,” he observed, noting a difference. “Go on, Commander.”

 

“I'm not entirely sure if we have a real purpose here now,” she continued. “The situation seems to be in a bit of a status quo. Is that due to our presence here? Or in spite of it?”

 

Sorehl listened. “Then do you believe Aegis has completed its primary mission? Should it be discontinued? Or withdrawn?”

 

“I don't know, but I’m not sure it’s mission can be completed as long as Cardassia sees us as a Fleet 'taskmaster'.”

 

The Vulcan leaned back as he considered. “Taskmaster. Explain.” Patty brought a tray with Hawke’s order, as well as a tall glass of Altair water with fresh uttaberries. Sorehl accepted it with a recognizing nod. She had remembered.

 

“We remind them that they were beaten. That they lost. And they focus on their disgust at our presence instead of moving forward with their lives. They seem to see us being here as forcing them into doing things ‘our’ way.”

 

Commissioner Sorehl steepled his fingers into a double ta'al triangle. “Has Aegis been able to do much in the way of assisting the rebuilding effort on Cardassia? Or has its presence been largely peacekeeping in nature?” He gestured toward the PADD. “There seems to be a division of opinion between those two roles.”

 

“Neither, in my opinion,” Hawke asserted. “We simply seem to give them a focus for their discontent.”

 

“Is it too late to change that?” Sorehl wondered aloud. “Or is it time to let the Cardassians alone?”

 

Hawke recounted occasions where officers had not been well received by the populace. To those, Sorehl added the kidnapping of Ambassador shiKatsu Raumuk and the attacks on observers of the planet-wide elections.

 

“As I said, I think the mere presence does more harm than good now,” Ethan summarized.

 

“Then you advocate Aegis' withdrawal from the system?” the Commissioner asked.

 

“I didn't say that,” she insisted. “It's not my place to advocate or determine our future. That's the job of some stuffy Admirals with no grasp of reality out here in the hinterlands. Far be it from me to attempt to tell them what to do.”

 

The Vulcan leaned closer. “With all due candor, that is why I was sent as a Commissioner. To hear from the front lines, as it were. This decision goes well beyond the Admiralty.” He paused. “I am empowered to keep your comments confidential, if you prefer, Commander.”

 

Hawke looked away. Sorehl wondered if his assurances would be sufficient.

 

Finally, she shrugged. “I think if things remain the same, the results will be the same in another eight years or perhaps even 80 years. If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you always got.”

 

“Then, perhaps you advocate something different? Something untried, or perhaps, no longer attempted?” He glanced up as Patty filled his water glass again.

 

Ethan shrugged again. “I don't know that I have the answers, captain. It seems that the present course of action isn’t achieving the desired goals. So, either we continue not meeting goals, or we change the course of action – perhaps even continuing somewhere outside the Cardassian system. It might make us appear less of a threat.”

 

“Indeed.” It was Sorehl’s turn to be candid. “It was never my intention to see Aegis installed as merely an ‘eye in the sky’ and especially not a ‘boot to the neck’ as some in the Cardassian media have called it.”

 

Hawke nodded. “It’s entirely possible they haven’t forged ahead in rebuilding because they are either waiting for us to do it all, or fearing that they can’t do it in their own way because of our presence – that we'll dictate what they can and can't do.”

 

“Interesting perspective,” he admitted. “I shall make certain to add it to my report.”

 

“I'm glad I could bring a little difference of opinion to your day,” she acknowledged with a smile. “I'd hate to just parrot the 'party line'.”

 

Sorehl made a mental note to transcribe the conversation. He would allow the commander a chance to review it and determine if she wanted her suggestions attributed to her. “Truth be told,” he hypothesized, “you are probably right. There will be change at Aegis.”