Silence Amidst the Coup

[Cmdr Ba'alyo 0]

Commander Zen Ba'alyo stepped out of the starboard turbolift onto the bridge, near the security console.

 

He recognized almost none of the faces. The recent crisis had not allowed much of a formal introduction to the crew. The center chair was empty – the captain was probably conferring with sickbay. Across the bridge, a relief officer was at communications, so he didn't see Lessard. The only person he'd met already was the Vulcan junior lieutenant nearby. Despite the color of his turtleneck which indicated he was a member of the science staff, he was hunched over the tactical console. This made sense, since Doug was recovering in sickbay.

 

He took a step forward, announcing his presence. "Savros."

 

The Vulcan looked up. "Sir," he straightened.

 

Ba'alyo made a motion for him to continue as he was, which sent a twinge of pain through his injured forearm. Savros noted the bandage under the damaged uniform sleeve, but made no inquiry.

 

"Status," he inquired in his low, rumbling voice. "What goes on out there?"

 

He already knew the internal status. The crew had come together to repel a dozen Klingons who'd boarded the ship. He wondered if that would cause it's own problems. In the last few months, his assignment had been to monitor treaty compliance at their star fortresses. Travelling on their ships, he'd learned some quirks of Klingon culture. Among their warriors, death concerned them less than the thought of capture. Now the brig would be filled with Klingons who had been gassed, stunned, or disabled. Would it have been more merciful to slay them? What would the confusing demands of their honor demand?

 

His own martial tradition flared briefly. They'd showed no mercy in bringing grenades and explosives to kill their target, a Klingon spy. What mercy did they owe in return?

 

He pushed his thoughts aside to listen to the science officer.

 

"Orbital communications are still jammed, so we still can't reach the Columbia," Savros reported. "The readings are confusing. The cloaked ship that attacked us went visible and withdrew after we hit it. Some larger ships are holding position above the capital city, but a bigger group gathers near the remains of Praxis."

 

"And on the surface?" the XO asked.

 

Savros shook his head slightly. "No contact, but there are Klingon warriors massed around the Great Hall."

 

So the coup was still happening. "But no calls for assistance," Ba'alyo noted.

 

"And no demands," Savros added.

 

The Efrosian cradled the adhesion bandage on his forearm and looked at the situation unfolding onscreen. They'd managed to stay alive and avoid violating the Prime Directive so far. But the rebel Klingons had tried to kill the Klingon spy onboard, which meant he was a some kind of risk to them. That alone might challenge their ability to remain neutral. He looked toward the center chair, realizing the ultimate conflict was not yet over.