Lieutenant Ras El'Heem - Paradox Pt 2

[Ras El'Heem]

((Conference Room, Deck One, USS Khitomer))

Admiral: You misunderstand. It's not just the one I want to kill. The entire facility needs to go. It's the only way to stop the raid for sure.

 

The Kressari almost choked as he and almost everyone else in the room drew in a sharp breath. Some sharper than others. His eyes jumped around the room frantically, doing his best not to betray how unsettling the premise was. These were not simply people wanting to do what the felt was right. They were terrorists.

 

Richard: :: Head tilting to the side in confusion :: I really hope you mean ‘evacuate the facility’ and not ‘destroy it all’ because the later is such a stupid plan.

Zerva: I have some security concerns regarding that. What you’re proposing is like using an entire can of bug spray just for one fly.

 

That was putting it much too casually for Ras.

 

Korras: Destroying the facility with everyone there will make us the same as the Lattice Alliance. Killing everyone is not the federation way. We are better than that.

 

Harford: What you’re suggesting is premeditated mass murder of unarmed prisoners, not to mention the Starfleet personnel who operate that prison. And all those lives, to kill one man.

 

El’Heem: Captain, if I may, why are we entertaining this fanaticism?

 

Any: Response

 

Ras bit his tongue and held back saying more. His right wrist ached and he squeezed it with his left hand to help steady him in the moment. He couldn’t let anger and emotion overwhelm him.

 

Ayemet: Admiral, I’ve had my taste of the Lattice Alliance hospitality :pause and then speaking slowly: But you can’t seriously think that by killing this individual it will somehow change everything for the better? You’ve no idea the effects their death might have.

 

At least there was further voice of reason in the room. Ras nodded at the woman in agreeance.

 

Ayemet: You expect us to help you? Why would we do that?

Tori: Because if you don’t, you die. :: beat :: Not all of you, not all at once, but most of you soon enough. :: The silence in the room was deafening. :: Mostly pointless deaths fighting pointless battles. If you don’t like the sound of that, then open your ears.

 

That felt like a threat to Ras. He hands came back together and a steeple and the color in his left fingers flushed lighter as he pressed them together tightly. Before he could speak, Ezra had already began capturing his sentiments.

Zerva: My hearing is just fine thank you. ::beat:: So we either help you or die? That’s not a lot of options. I have a job to do as we all do. oO It’s the safety and security of the Federation, right mom? Oo If I am meant to die then that is because I’ve done my duty as a Starfleet Officer. Do you realize how many temporal violations just sitting here having this conversation we are all breaking?

 

El’Heem: At the risk of sounding fanatical myself, we will die when we are supposed to die. No amount of time travel will change that. This isn’t faith or destiny, it’s paradox. And you threatening us with our futures is hardly a way to illicit the outcome you desire.

 

 There it was again, that emotion welling up in him. He maintained a steady voice and refused to allow them to get under his skin any more. After all, that may be their goal. This could be complete obfuscation of their intent on altering history for a more nefarious plot. None of them were to be trusted and the others under their influence should be relieved of duty. His red eyes felt conspiratorial as he assessed each officer around the table.

 

Any: Response

 

Michaels: ::To Tori:: Miss, unless you desire to become a Cassandra... and if you do not know what that means, I am certain that Admiral Lacy can explain it... you may wish to consider the need for trust. Your male companion's... Kael is it not? I assume you were not named after Superman... Your companion's "answer" to my question has convinced me that there is a great deal you are not telling us. Whatever your reasons, it does give the impression that you do not trust us. That leaves us :: beat :: that leaves me little reason to trust you.

Ohnari: ::stern:: Lieutenant Michaels that was entirely unnecessary. Do not insult them. While this is a lot to take into account..I am sure there is a sense of urgency on their part, considering what was the timeline Admiral? A week's time? A little desperation is understandable.

 

The look on Ras’s face clearly showed concern, even without the prerequisite muscles required to twist them in that way. He looked down at his PADD and unsteepled his hands to write Tali’s name into the column of unfit for duty. He fingers typed slowly and bitterness crept into his mouth that made him realize how sore his jaw was from clenching. He looked back up and continued to assess the blunder unfolding before him.

 

Zerva: Insult them? ::beet:: We have shown them nothing but hospitality. They have been hostile since they arrived. Especially your s… ::bitting his tongue as hard as he could, causing it to it bleed::

 

Charles: With respect, Lieutenant Zerva has a point. We’ve brought them on board, assigned them quarters and included them at this briefing instead of interrogating them in the Brig. We could all face consequences for breaking the Temporal Prime Directive, and they aren’t exactly being forthcoming.

 

He leaned forward, intent on speaking in Charle’s favor but was cut off before he had the chance.

 

Shayne / Ohnari / Kael / Tori / Admiral / Any: Response

 

Zerva: ::stumbling on his words:: Y-yes sir. Apolo- ::clearing his throat:: I’m sorry everyone for my outburst.

 

Admiral: Lera has a point. We haven't told you everything, because we—I didn't want it to cloud your judgment. Starfleet principles aren't worth much anymore, to us, any more than Napoleonic principles are worth to you. ::to Tori:: Another European conqueror, with a much better reputation.

 

Colonial imperialism was hardly much better as it was less concentrated.

 

Hobart: Might as well tell us.

 

Ras’s eyes windened at Hobart’s comment.

 

oO No, you might as well not! This needs to end Oo

It wasn’t too late to put an end to this and preserve their timeline. They could place the travelers in quarantine until the could find a way to send them back through the Hobart Hole. Give the timeline a chance to correct the relatively minor indiscretion. Inaction being the best action.

 

Admiral: Might as well. After the raid, Khitomer and newly-promoted Commodore Shayne were tasked with organizing the search for the Alliance launching point. Khitomer, Ronin, Renown, Lowell, and Cadence were all deployed, but it was Khitomer that got lucky. Or unlucky, as it turned out.

 

Korras: I assume you found what you were looking for?

 

Shayne / Any: Response

TAGS/TBC

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Lieutenant Ras El’Heem

Science Officer

USS Khitomer (NCC-62400)

K240106RE3