A Call From Home

[Cmdr Ayers 0]

Nick is in his office working on trial preliminaries when Lieutenant Shaharin

says over the intercom "Commander, you have a transmission from Earth."  Nick sighs to himself and replies "Put it through, Lieutenant."

 

      The computer screen on the desk lights up and runs through it's routine.  After a few seconds, Nick finds himself feeling like he's on the business end of an Admiral's review board when his mother's stern countenance appears on the screen.  She says "By earth standards, this is the 24th century.  I seem to recall the technology for long distance communications having been developed by Starfleet quite some time ago..."

 

      Nick swallows then says "My apologies, Mom, for not calling but things have been near insane as of late.  I've been rather preoccupied."

 

      "Anything you can actually talk about?"

 

      Nick sighs "Well, the current insanity is that I'm sitting here trying to work out a strategy for a court martial because one of the ensigns onboard did a stupid thing and I've been appointed the prosecutor for it since Starfleet's bureaucracy hasn't gotten around to assigning a JAG officer out here yet."

 

      "What did the junior officer do?  And I know, you can't go into details."

 

      Nick frowns for a minute then replies "He did something that on a personal level I can relate to.  The Ensign doesn't particularly care for Cardassians.  We have a Cardassian scientist acting as Chief Science.  The Ensign...basically disobeyed orders and got in a childish verbal sparring match with said Cardassian and it denigrated down to the Ensign interfering with the Cardassian's ability to do his job.  Like I said, on one level I can understand the Ensign's feelings towards what was, until a short time ago, an enemy."

 

      Nick's Mom nods and says "And your feelings with regard to the Borg are making you sympathetic to the Ensign?"

 

      Nick nods and replies "Quite."

 

      "Well, the Borg are monsters, there's nothing redeeming about them.  I don't think there is an El-Aurian alive that wouldn't, if given the chance, be at least tempted to wipe the Borg out of existence for what they have done to us.  I know the clash between duty and emotions that you went through at the Battle of Wolf.  However, I also know that you wouldn't attack a person who had once been a Borg.  It seems like the Ensign forgot his duty and his responsibility.  You can feel sympathetic for him but you still have a job to do because of what he did.  His Counsel is probably going to argue emotions so what does that leave you with?"

 

      Nick nods "I understand.  It leaves me with duty, oath and responsibility."