"I"

[Joe Manning 0]

"I have seen, firsthand, what is taking place at Zencar IV. I have met Commodore DiAngelo. I stood before him and shook his hand mere months before the order was handed down to the men under my command to depart the Zencar system.

 

"I do not wish to show any disrespect to the esteemed ambassadors, representatives, governors, and officers gathered now in this hall when I suggest that reports sent over subspace relay and copied to an ODRI cannot do justice to the severity of the situation. The activities being conducted in the Zencar system prior to our exodus were being kept under tight control. We were aware of the potential ramifications of our activities and considered it of utmost priority to ensure that our mining operations were conducted discreetly, and that any complications arising from our contact with the people of Zencar IV be contained to the Zencar system and handled in only the most delicate manner by our cultural advisors.

 

"For eight months prior to Commodore DiAngelo's assignment to the project, we were markedly successful at observing this priority. This was not my own opinion, mind you, nor that of any of the project's direct overseers. This evaluation was made by thirteen of the joint chiefs of the Andorian Imperial Guard and affirmed by seven Starfleet Admirals.

 

"I need'nt remind this assembly that the Council approved of our activities in the Zencar system as early as the planning stages and favorably acknowledged aforementioned evaluation. Ours was not, as has been portrayed by some of the representatives gathered here, a clandestine operation. The executive order for my men to depart the Zencar system was, likewise, not the Council's reaction to learning of the extent of our activities. Let it be brought into the open now, and let there be no room for further doubt, that the termination of this project -despite- the objections of its evaluators was an attempt by this Council to maintain a positive public image in the face of a sentimental campaign which has only recently been risen by misguided idealists, some of whom sit within this very chamber."

 

Geron turned to face the five heads of the Federation Council with his antennae raised proudly. The mumbling from the crowd behind him echoed through the spacious Council chambers. The Andorian Admiral raised his hand to beckon for silence and continued, "Let it also be known that Commodore DiAngelo, the public face -- though not, mark you, the leader -- of this campaign to disrupt our mining operations, added the unstable element to what was a stable situation. The difficulties now taking place in the Zencar system are unfairly ... nay, outrageously ... being blamed upon my people. This is a sentimental, in fact a convenient, viewpoint for the supporters of the Commodore's campaign, but it not a viewpoint in any way substantiated by fact. The clumsy termination of what was a carefully managed project and, worse, the Commodore's unqualified meddling with the society on Zencar IV, a society which my people were extensively briefed on for two years prior to the project's commencement, are the causes of your difficulties and of further growing damage which the reports on your ODRI's can scarcely quantify.

 

"I submit, esteemed members of this Council, that the Commodore's activities in Zencar IV, stretching back to his assignment to our project, qualify as acts of sedition ag-- "

 

The rest of Geron's words were lost to an uproar from the Council representatives. President Yozel swung her gavel several times to restore order. The Andorian's eyes shifted momentarily to the hooded face at the far left end of the Council dais. In the shadows of the hood, only a single eyebrow could be seen, and it was significantly elevated. Geron's charge of sedition, while not wholly unexpected, carried tremendous weight. The rift in the Federation was growing.

 

When the din subsided, the Admiral unlocked his gaze from the hooded Councilor and continued, "I submit that the Commodore's ongoing activities in the Zencar system must be evaluated more closely, with particular attention paid to the growing mass of followers which he is gathering to himself. I would also call for a re-evaluation of his defiance of the Council's initial orders to mine the Zencar asteroid belt. My consultations with Starfleet Admiralty have reinforced my conclusion that the Commodore's actions in the system prior to the Council's revised orders provided sufficient grounds for court-martial.

 

"Esteemed Councilors," Geron nodded slightly and took a step back toward the assembled representatives, who continued to whisper among themselves. The Tellarite ambassador on the dais nodded approval at the Admiral. Geron noticed that Lockhart, the Council's human representative, looked perturbed.

 

The elderly Caitian at the center of the dais sighed deeply and spoke above the crowd noise. "The floor will be submitted to Ambassador Ri'nok, who wishes to respond to the Admiral's opening statement."

 

All eyes in the chamber shifted to the far left end of the dais, where the hooded figure stood. The hood was drawn back to reveal a wrinkled face framed by straight grey hair and a pair of pointed ears. The Vulcan ambassador glanced around the Council chambers and looked down at the Andorian. "Admiral Geron. It is to be acknowledged that your speech, full though it may have been of pomp and passion, drew attention not unwarranted to Commodore DiAngelo's initial defiance of Council edict. His defiance was significant enough to compel this Council to revisit its policy on your Zencar IV mining project. However, it was determined then, and it remains so now ... Commodore DiAngelo was upholding, as is his duty as a Starfleet officer, the Prime Directive of the United Federation of Planets."

 

Geron narrowed his eyes and swept his gaze over the Councilors on the dais. They all knew, even Ri'nok, that their indecisiveness on Zencar had backed them into a corner from which they could not escape. "The Prime Directive," the Admiral repeated, making a show of casually brushing nonexistent lint from his uniform. "I believe we finished that particular debate a year ago, did we not? Did the Council not determine, madam President, that an exception could be made in the Zencar system as a concession for the sacrifices which my people made for the Federation during the Beholder crisis?"

 

"That determination was made," Yozel stated. "But the Ambassador's point remains valid to our discussion, Admiral. The Commodore, as a high ranking Starfleet officer, is guided by a Directive which he swore to uphold when he took the oath of service. It is understandable that the Commodore's interests would be conflicted. I would remind you, however, that the Federation charter grants Starfleet the same degree of autonomy that your Imperial Guard is granted. The Commodore chose to put the Prime Directive ahead of Council authority, and it was our determination that he was not out of line in doing so. If you wish to plea for court-martial, you may take your plea through the appropriate Starfleet channels, but the activities of Commodore DiAngelo and his supporters do not provide ample basis for charges of sedition."

 

"And what of his present activities? Will you sit back and allow Starfleet officers to carry out their own coup d'etat in the Zencar system?" the Andorian asked. "I wonder, when were Starfleet -or- the Imperial Guard given so much independence from this Council? What powers, precisely, do any of you wield anymore?"

 

"You are out of line, Admiral," the Vulcan ambassador chided. "The Commodore is not defying any Starfleet protocol -or- Council edict. We put an end to your mining operations, and we have given our approval of the Commodore's restorative activities on -- "

 

"Restorative activities?!" Gelor interrupted, ignoring Yozel's gavel. "He is sentencing an entire world to death! Do not sugarcoat it, Ambassador. His 'restoration' entails infecting the people of Zencar IV with a rapidly evolving degenerative disease that will kill off their species, to a man, within forty years!"

 

President Yozel spoke up, throwing a hard glance toward Ri'nok before looking down at Geron. "There is no evidence that the Commodore reintroduced -- "

 

"You are ignoring the obvious because it is convenient!" Geron snapped. "We developed and distributed a cure for the people of Zencar IV. After a mere four months, our scientists determined that the disease had been wiped out of the population completely. Now it has inexplicably returned. Your experts surmise that it is merely returning from dormancy, that my scientists' efforts were ultimately ineffective. But having inspected the Commodore's lab facililties myself, I can assure you that his people were working to re-infect the Zencar IV population -- an atrocity that some would color as a 'balancing of the scales,' righteous upholding of your precious Prime Directive."

 

"Your moral ground is questionable, Admiral," Ambassador Ri'nok. "Considering that you used said cure to purchase the rights to mine the Zencar asteroid field."

 

At the right side of the dais, Andorian Ambassador Qelis stood and cleared his throat. "If I may, honorable President ... our offer of a cure to the governments of Zencar IV was an act of good will to cement a positive relationship between our peoples. Among the many indiscretions being cited against my people, as noted by Admiral Geron, is the false claim that we bartered with the lives of the people of Zencar IV. This is not true. We merely extended an olive branch, to use the human term, engaging in a free exchange of scientific expertise for commodities which they controlled, just as we would with a species to which the Prime Directive does not apply. At the time that this project was submitted for approval, this Council decided that the people of Zencar IV were sufficiently advanced for an exception to be made."

 

"It did not decide unanimously," Ri'nok pointed out. He glanced at Lockhart and Yozel. "But, regardless, the votes which swung in your favor at the time have since shifted toward our current policy on Zencar, that we are not to interfere further in the system until the people of Zencar IV have achieved faster-than-light space travel."

 

"Tell that to the people that are rioting on Zencar IV, Ambassador," Geron said coldly, drawing a glare from the Vulcan. "The people who have learned that the disease that's cure they'd been celebrating eight months ago has been returned to their world by the Commodore and the rest of your supporters. Inform -them- of your official policy."

 

"If I could speak to the people of Zencar IV now, Admiral," Ri'nok replied in a measured tone. "I would ask them -how- they learned such a thing. I wonder how much of the civil disorder taking place on their world was incited by your agents before their departure." He raised his hand sharply to silence Geron's oncoming response, then continued. "Your associates are in no position to deny responsibility for the troubles on Zencar IV, Admiral. To meddle in the affairs of insufficiently advanced species is to invite such disaster. The people of Zencar IV were a dying species. You would have defied the natural order and gifted them with a new chance at survival. In time, perhaps, their revitalized population would have achieved faster-than-light travel and been introduced into our society. But how would their culture have been affected by the dependency on their 'benefactors from above' that you would have created in them? If the people of Zencar IV are to survive the disease and take to the stars, they -must- do it on their own power."

 

"And what of our people, Ambassador?" Councilor Qelis asked. "Of the Andorians, who already belong to this society? Our world was ravaged by the Beholders. Our fleet was crippled by their attack on our homeworld. The minerals of the Zencar belt were vital to our rebuilding efforts."

 

"I acknowledge that Andoria suffered great loss at the start of the Beholder crisis," Ri'nok responded to Qelis in a gentle voice. "I also acknowledge that the tactical intelligence which Admiral Geron provided to the rest of the fleet was vital to preventing such catastrophic damage on other worlds. But it troubles me to see how the leaders of Andoria have worn these facts as badges on their shoulders. I do believe sympathy played a large role in this Council's decision to make the Zencar IV exception to the Prime Directive. I vehemently opposed the decision and fought to steer the Council's mindset away from such dangerous precedent. But do not mistake my stance for cold indifference to the people of Andoria. If you would presume that the Vulcan people lack understanding of your plight ... then you would easily forget that my people lost our entire homeworld a century ago."

 

Geron pointed up at the Vulcan. "What your people lack, Ambassador, is the emotion to put such catastrophe into perspective!"

 

Another tense exchange of words was shared by the assembly as Ri'nok, predictably, stared back at Geron with a perfectly even expression. "Then you admit, Admiral Geron that the plea you brought before the Council this day and the initial Zencar IV proposal were fueled by the emotion of your people?"

 

"They were fueled by practicality," it was the Tellarite Councilor who answered. He stood and glanced over Yozel, who was looking more and more frustrated with the course of the hearings. "Madam President. Our fleet ... our entire fleet -- Starfleet, Tellarite, Andorian -- ... was diminished terribly by the Beholders. Pirate activity along our borders is already at a high we have not seen since the early days of the Federation; lawless scoundrels are taking advantage of the vulnerability of our distant colonies. And it is not just outlaws that we must fear. Our more aggressive neighbors were hit by the Beholders as well, but this is only more cause for alarm -- they are desperate to recover from the damages, and there are more weaknesses for them to exploit in our defenses. For the first time in over 200 years, this Federation lacks sufficient resources to defend its assets. And, most alarming of all, what if the Beholders return with the bulk of their forces? Our fleet -must- be rebuilt if we are to keep this Federation of Planets secure. But wars and blocked expansion throughout the recent decades have stagnated our influx of new resources. There is only one answer -- we must look to the resources within our current territories, resources which we have ignored for centuries because of the presence of pre-warp societies. The Andorians do not simply wish to rebuild their cities. In fact, they involved Starfleet in their project because the resources of Zencar IV could speed the restoration of the entire Federation fleet."

 

"At what cost?" Ri'nok asked, looking down the dais. "What is the point of securing this Federation if you would so casually discard the ideals upon which it was founded?"

 

"We are not here to discuss the Prime Directive, Ambassadors," Yozel said sternly. "We are here to discuss the situation at Zencar IV specifically."

 

"Indeed, Madam President, you are correct," the Tellarite said. "But the Prime Directive is largely a non-issue here; this Council decided last year that an exception could be made. Our initial decision should never have been reversed. The Admiral is right -- the Commodore's presence incited too many difficulties. I move that this Council take the new developments at Zencar IV into consideration and to set things straight."

 

"I second the motion!" Ambassador Qelis declared. "I am not prepared to back up the Admiral's charges of sedition against Commodore DiAngelo, but, in light of the new data he has brought before this Council, I feel it is only prudent that the Zencar system be returned to the Andorian Guard's jurisdiction."

 

President Yozel watched Ambassador Ri'nok for a response, but the Vulcan merely sat down and pulled his hood back over his face. "So be it," the Caitian said. "The charter worlds will review the new findings privately and decide whether the issue of returning Zencar IV to Andorian control should be put before the Council for a vote." She struck her gavel and sat down while excitied discussions among the rest of the Council representatives commenced. Admiral Geron grinned smugly and nodded to the dais before turning and striding for the doors.

 

Yozel shook her head sadly and looked at Lockhart to her right. The Human Ambassador returned her concerned look. What was happening to the Council and to the Federation? With every meeting, there was more of an 'us versus you' mentality among the Ambassadors. Starfleet was a big part of it. The Andorians were campaigning heavily for radical reformations of Federation policy, and the Starfleet command officers who'd supported such reformations even before the Beholder invasion were only the first to take their sides. Admirals, Commodores, and even Captains were swearing their loyalties to Ambassadors and Governors; the Starfleet chain of command -- clear when everyone had the same goals and followed the same ideals -- was said to be splintering. The Council could not exert central authority over the fleets without setting back a century of reform stretching back to the end of the Klingon wars; the scandal that would cause would be devastating in this time of rebuilding. And Fleet Admiral Sawyer, the ultimate recognized authority, was viewed and treated largely as a figurehead by most of the Admirals; any attempt on his part to unite the purposes of the disparate fleet heads might only provoke a widening of the rift.

 

At the middle of it all was Zencar IV. It was to the Commodore that many Starfleet Captains were swearing their loyalty. The planet had become a symbol for the traditionalists who opposed the growing movement to lessen the Prime Directive's restrictions on fleet operations. What had started as a small task group of ships assigned to restore order to Zencar IV had somehow grown into a moderate fleet, almost as if the Commodore was challenging the Andorians to oppose his efforts.

 

If the Council decided to restart the Zencar IV mining operations ...

 

Would the Commodore's fleet simply withdraw without an argument?