War, and Rumors of War

[Cptn d'Ka 0]

War, and Rumors of War

 

USS Missouri, Stardate 2388.021

[2 days into the TBS]

 

And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled:

for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

~Matthew 24:6

 

 

Activity on the bridge of USS Missouri had settled to a normal pace, but an undercurrent of apprehension veiled the atmosphere. Heavy. Palpable. A curtain of suspicion and fear that was disturbing enough to distract Captain d’Ka from reading the After Action Report (AAR) he had just received from Colonel Anastis.

 

In many ways, starships are like small rural towns that are far removed from civilization. The constant presence and close proximity of neighbors and the lack of outside contact often led to a sense of entitlement. Your neighbor’s business was your business; passing it on, whether truthful or not, was standard practice. In the case of USS Missouri, the ship had been on mission, isolated from any starbase and sequestered from all but internal communications for several months. The strain was beginning to show.

 

It was common knowledge — whether for celebration or relief — that the remaining crew of USS Vladivostok had been rescued and were recovering in sick bay. Many had attended the ceremony for the nine who had been laid to temporary rest in the morgue. Whether or not the mission teams kept their oath of secrecy was immaterial; the cogs of the rumor mill were hungry. Feeding on observations and whispers, they eagerly ground them up and spit out enough fodder to fill the void for months.

 

The minimal hiss and the vague scent of mocha that drifted through the opening lift doors went ignored by Captain d’Ka while he continued to read, his expression grim.

 

“Captain,” said Commander Lei’ri as he secured the captain’s mug in the command chair’s holder, “the replicator is still not sure of the formula, but a few in science are familiar with the herbs. Hopefully they fashioned something closer to the original.”

 

“Um…” mused d’Ka continuing to read, “thank you, ‘Ri.” After a moment he looked up. “Any progress on the rumors?”

 

“Department Chiefs are working on it,” Lei’ri replied, settling into his chair, coffee mug in hand.

 

The captain’s brow knit, his lips pursed. “My ready room, Commander,” he said. “Mr. Sojek, you have the bridge.”

 

The tactical officer’s acknowledgment was barely heard before the ready room doors closed and d’Ka strode across the room. “Working on it, is not enough, Commander,” he snapped, tossing the PADD on his desk where it clattered to a stop just short of the opposite corner. He stopped, took a moment, then forced a slow exhale.

 

“Apologies, ‘Ri,” he said quietly, then turned to wave his executive officer into an easy chair before settling wearily into the other. “I feel everything on this ship… see everything... hear everything. It is the price I pay for agreeing to command a predominantly human starship.” He sighed, sensing his counterpart’s scrutiny, the Qr’var sensitivity on which he depended so often: his watchdog. “The rumors must stop, ‘Ri, and they must stop now. Do whatever you must to accomplish that.”

 

“Yes, Captain.”

 

“These alien beings are formidable,” d’Ka continued, “and the crew’s suspicions threaten to make them even moreso. Contrary to their belief, these aliens are not ‘omniscient,’ they are not ‘ethereal,’ they have no ‘supernatural powers,’ they cannot ‘poof into thin air,’ and they are not... ‘cannibals.’” His eyes flashed dangerously close to violet as he stared across the room. They sat for several minutes, the silence disturbed only by the gentle hum of Missouri’s engines.

 

“Keann-aí,”* said Lei’ri on a sigh, “your anger is more than I have seen since Grathor. But it is not against the crew or the aliens, is it. There is something more, something deeper."

 

The heaving of his chest slowed, his fists relaxed, and D'Ka's gaze, now softened, fell on his Second. "Yes,” he said finally. “I rage against myself for waiting too long. Against Starfleet for not finding them sooner. Against the situation... against the universe... against creation itself.” A sadness crept into his expression, then a sardonic smile that vanished as quickly as it came. “I rage to control the grief."

 

Missouri’s engines continued to hum as the ship cut a smooth, steady course toward Aegis, marking predictable progress in an unpredictable universe. Stability within the chaos. The concrete amid the abstract.

 

“Theirs was a senseless death, ‘Ri," he continued. “They died out of their captor’s ignorance. Doctor Shazarim informed me that the crew did not lack the proper nutrition; they lacked the proper amount of nutrition. The beings tried to adjust both the substance and the quantity, but what they concocted was so revolting that most of the crew could not eat it without regurgitating. When Missouri entered the system the alien vessel left — for reasons that we may never know — but they left crates of Starfleet rations at the mouth of the cave.” The captain’s eyes searched the room. “Why, ‘Ri? Why did they wait? The food was there all along. The crew was starving. Why did they wait?”

 

“I can think of several reasons, Captain,” Lei’ri offered cautiously. “If they were ignorant of the humanoids’ needs, they could have been ignorant of the crates’ contents, unable to read the label, unable to understand that the contents were edible, or, “ he spread his hands, “when they captured the crew they needed space in Vladivostok’s cargo bay, so they removed the crates without looking at the contents and simply left them behind.”

 

“Um,” d’Ka replied, the pangs of anger, grief, and helplessness subsiding, if only a little. “You are wise beyond your years, ‘Ri,” he said on a sigh, then straightened up.

 

“Doctor Shazarim also confirmed that the fermented leaves the beings fed to Captain Belton and the others who fell ill saved their lives. That, in itself, speaks well of the alien culture. Commander Worley gave him samples that will be passed on to Dr. Pavilion. Aegis’ advanced medical and science facilities should be able to analyze them.

 

“But back to the rumors. We have no evidence that these particular beings are here for a hostile takeover of Allied space. In fact, we have evidence to the contrary. What the crew of Vladivostok endured is inexcusable, but the beings did not kill them, nor did they torture them for information, nor did they act as hostile invaders in any other way.

 

“However, if these rumors continue, the crew will soon be convinced that they are up against an unconquerable foe. They will shrink in a crisis, jump to conclusions, or mistake an amiable gesture for a hostile one. And if they do that, these formerly friendly beings will retaliate and become hostile.

 

"Deal with the rumors in any way you can, 'Ri, and do so quickly. You have free rein. However, I need a moment. I'll be here if I'm needed."

______________

Keann-aí - the Sindar word for captain, used when showing great respect.