"Tolerance"

[FredM 0]

"The public is wonderfully tolerant. It forgives everything except genius."

- Oscar Wilde

 

 

"They're assistance is not required! It is simply not required! In my twenty years gaining education and another thirty within the scientific community, I have never requested nor needed assistance!!," he screamed. On the other end of the channel, a woman wearing a gold stole sat calmly smiling. It had always been the best response to potentially violent situations, or a good way to ensure one's political survival. Regardless, at the moment, it was becoming annoying.

 

The woman shifted position in her chair slightly and moved closer to the screen, "Doctor Wero, we are all fully aware of your remarkable career and history. However, I must remind you that you are utilizing Federation equipment on a classified project for the Federation. This isn't one of your plasma experiments in the Badlands." The man balked, "That wasn't to the Badlands, that was to the Alexerian Nebula!" The woman's smile vanished, "I don't care! For all the deria rats in the North, will you listen for a change! They are going to help you whether you like it or not. Starfleet needs that telescope operating yesterday. You know how important it is. Now do I have to give you a direct order on the subject?"

 

Wero frowned and stood up straight, "No, Prime Minister, you do not." The smile returned on the other end of the channel, "Good. Then you will welcome them and assist in any way possible. I expect I won't have to hear from you again until I can contact Earth and tell them the thing is once again online." Without another word, the screen went dark...replaced with the logo of the United Federation of Planets.

 

A console behind Wero beeped, indicating transporter activity in the reception area. The Bolian mocked the last words spoken by the Prime Minister as he started to move down the long corridor that allowed access to the entire facility. "Enough to make me want to take a walk outside....", he mumbled.