LtCmdr Salkath - Let Bygones Begone
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Salkath
Dec 30, 2024, 10:52:51 AM12/30/24
to Main Artemis
((Second Promenade, Deck 227 - DS224))
It was purely by happenstance that Salkath had encountered two of his fellow ranking officers from the Artemis on the promenade of DS224. Jovenana and Talos Dakora had been walking together, engaged in conversation, when Salkath intercepted them. Taking a long-overdue opportunity to atone for his past actions, the Vulcan had given his quirky version of an apology to the science officer for their past interaction prior to the infamous Frontier Day sequence of events. And, as one would likely expect with the engineer's level of social competence, he had completely confused the XO.
Dakora: I’m sorry, if this is a private matter I can… ::He jabbed a thumb back over his shoulder.:: You know…
Salkath turned his attention towards Talos. It was understandable that what the Vulcan was saying, bereft of any context, would be confusing. And, to be fair, if he was going to atone to Jovenan for his actions, he would also need to atone to Talos as his superior officer for those same actions.
Salkath: I had urged Commander Jovenan to join me in decrypting the classified Fleet Formation technical files prior to the events of Frontier Day. It is a testament to her character that she did not acquiesce to my entreaty. ::he nodded slightly, as close a symbol of shame as he could express:: I realize that advising you of my insubordinate plans will require you to consider disciplinary action, but I needed to express my regret to Commander Jovenan while I had the opportunity.
Talos turned to her.
Dakora: And Jovenan? ::He raised his eyebrows.:: I’d like to hear your thoughts on the issue.
Even Salkath could note the distinct change in demeanor that the two colleagues had now adopted. It had not occurred to him that he would jeopardize their previous congeniality with each other - why would it? In his analytical mind, he would state an obvious fact, complete his due diligence with an admission of regret, and allow the two to continue on as before. He raised an eyebrow in curiosity, social interactions were so fraught.
Jovenan: The account by Commander Salkath is accurate. We were discussing the secretive nature of the installation of what we now know was the Fleet Formation Mode, and the possibility of accessing the programming of the system was brought up. I became… uneasy with the suggestion that I interpreted as trying to gain unauthorized access and left the situation. ::pause:: If we had gone through with the plan, we may have been able to release the Artemis from the Borg control much earlier, or even prevent it.
Salkath: Your show of moral fortitude caused me to reconsider both the furtive nature of my plan and ultimately the logic in continuing altogether. It is conjecture that we may have had a different outcome from what ultimately happened, and actually very unlikely.
Dakora: And Jovenan? ::He raised his eyebrows.:: I’d like to hear your thoughts on the issue.
Even Salkath could note the distinct change in demeanor that the two colleagues had now adopted. It had not occurred to him that he would jeopardize their previous congeniality with each other - why would it? In his analytical mind, he would state an obvious fact, complete his due diligence with an admission of regret, and allow the two to continue on as before. He raised an eyebrow in curiosity, social interactions were so fraught.
Jovenan: The account by Commander Salkath is accurate. We were discussing the secretive nature of the installation of what we now know was the Fleet Formation Mode, and the possibility of accessing the programming of the system was brought up. I became… uneasy with the suggestion that I interpreted as trying to gain unauthorized access and left the situation. ::pause:: If we had gone through with the plan, we may have been able to release the Artemis from the Borg control much earlier, or even prevent it.
Salkath: Your show of moral fortitude caused me to reconsider both the furtive nature of my plan and ultimately the logic in continuing altogether. It is conjecture that we may have had a different outcome from what ultimately happened, and actually very unlikely.
The engineer truly believed that last. In hindsight, with how integrated to all systems the trojan program had been designed, with the ill intent behind it unwittingly entrenched throughout the hierarchy of Starfleet Command, a small contingent of officers on one ship of the fleet had little to no chance in decrypting the update in time, let alone actually disabling it.
Dakora: I think we can all agree that it was an unprecedented situation, one which ended disatrously. ::To Salkath:: We know now that your instincts were correct. ::To Jovenan:: and You followed protocol to the letter. ::He sighed and shook his head.:: From where I’m standing this seems like one of those situations where everyone involved had their heart and their heads in the right place…
Jovenan: ::sighing:: Maybe so. ::to Salkath, formally:: Commander, I accept your apology. Please receive mine. As the evidence post factum have proven, your logic was flawless. I find myself responsible for us failing to reach a better outcome.
Salkath: I appreciate and accept your apology as well, though I disagree with your latter assertion, Commander. ::adopting an 'at ease' pose, trying to project a calming influence in what little way he knew how:: A better outcome could have been achieved from choosing to follow protocol, with me bringing my concerns and potential action plans to Commander Dakora or Captain MacKenzie. Logic should not be heralded when it is not tempered.
Dakora: I think we can all agree that it was an unprecedented situation, one which ended disatrously. ::To Salkath:: We know now that your instincts were correct. ::To Jovenan:: and You followed protocol to the letter. ::He sighed and shook his head.:: From where I’m standing this seems like one of those situations where everyone involved had their heart and their heads in the right place…
Jovenan: ::sighing:: Maybe so. ::to Salkath, formally:: Commander, I accept your apology. Please receive mine. As the evidence post factum have proven, your logic was flawless. I find myself responsible for us failing to reach a better outcome.
Salkath: I appreciate and accept your apology as well, though I disagree with your latter assertion, Commander. ::adopting an 'at ease' pose, trying to project a calming influence in what little way he knew how:: A better outcome could have been achieved from choosing to follow protocol, with me bringing my concerns and potential action plans to Commander Dakora or Captain MacKenzie. Logic should not be heralded when it is not tempered.
Dakora: response
Jovenan: I couldn’t have known, no, but there would have been no damage done if the Fleet Formation hadn’t been as sinister as it turned out to be, except maybe for my conscience. As it turns out, my… moral compass is somewhat flawed.
Dakora: response
Salkath would have been content to discuss the intricacies of reasonable versus expected consequentialism at a purely academic level, but it was obvious even to him that to do so would put Jovenan at further discomfort. That had not been his intent at all with his choice to encounter her, and he believed it was time to make a strategic exit.
Jovenan: I couldn’t have known, no, but there would have been no damage done if the Fleet Formation hadn’t been as sinister as it turned out to be, except maybe for my conscience. As it turns out, my… moral compass is somewhat flawed.
Dakora: response
Salkath would have been content to discuss the intricacies of reasonable versus expected consequentialism at a purely academic level, but it was obvious even to him that to do so would put Jovenan at further discomfort. That had not been his intent at all with his choice to encounter her, and he believed it was time to make a strategic exit.
Jovenan: Unless there’s something more we need to discuss, sir… ::turn to Salkath:: Talos and I were about to go look for a place to eat. Would you like to join us? ::quick glance at Dakora for confirmation:: I’d like to learn more about you, as a person. That could help us avoid such, um, miscommunications in the future.
Salkath: I... I would not wish to impose on your social event.
Words failed to come to the Vulcan rarely, but he did not expect to be invited along with them. Considering that Salkath had changed the tone of their interaction with each other greatly from when he first spied them - unintentionally, of course - he did not expect that Jovenan and Talos would wish to have this deadpan killjoy interrupt their free time any further. It would seem, however, that he still had a lot of ignorance about how well others could compartmentalize their emotional states.
Dakora: response
Salkath: If you are certain that my presence would not disrupt you further, then I am amenable to joining you.
Despite his earlier objections to the quality of dining fare on the station, it was certain that whatever establishment was chosen would have at least one dish that Salkath could stomach. Besides, it was time for him to consider expanding his culinary horizons, as he had an inkling that an introduction to hasperat might be in his future if a certain helm officer had her way.
Jovenan/Dakora: response
Salkath: I assume that you are both familiar with Deep Space 224, or at least more so than I? Our limited opportunities to visit here since I joined the Artemis means that I am not used to the ::waving hands absently:: crowds.
Joining Starfleet was a conscious choice to expand his horizons from the strict secular life aboard a Vulcan High Command vessel. Now that this choice was made, he could not shy away from immersing himself in the multicultural life aboard ships and stations, even if it made him uncomfortable.
Jovenan/Dakora: response
Salkath: Considering that this station has a strong scientific mandate for the region, it must hold a certain appeal for you, Commander Jovenan.
Jovenan: response
Dakora: response
TAGS/TBC
Lieutenant Commander Salkath
Engineer, USS Artemis-A
A239111MT0
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