Down the Rabbit Hole-Part Two

Posted on Sun Dec 8th, 2024 @ 6:09am by Consul Andrinn Orin

Mission: WHAT IF?
Location: Federation Council Cambers
Timeline: 2355 (Approximately a week later from Part One)
1033 words - 2.1 OF Standard Post Measure

[ON:]

Andrinn was waiting patiently within the Federation Council chambers as the various delegates were making their way into the large chamber, taking seats in the various seats. It had been approximately a week since the JAG inquiry into Captain Crusher and Commander Picard's destruction of a Cardassian vessel and the abandonment of the USS Stargazer.

By now, the news had spread throughout the Federation and other powers within the Alpha and Beta Quadrant, sparking more outrage and talks among the various powers about what to do with the captain and crew of the Stargazer. 99% of the crew had made it out of the battle and time within the escape pods unfazed. There were a few deaths from the battle itself or from wounds inflicted upon the crew that led to further death. Approximately 5-10 crewmembers had died in total, as the Federation were still doing some counts about who they had lost.

To help mediate talks and bring down some of the tension between the Federation and Cardassian Union, Andrinn and JAG Officer Phillipa Louvois had written statements for Captain Crusher and Commander Picard to read at the next Federation Council meeting. Not only was the Federation Council going to be in session, but they had invited several of the members of the Detapa Council, Central Command, and the Obsidian Order to come and listen to what Crusher and Picard had to say.

Andrinn and the members of the Federation Diplomatic Corps were hoping that by bringing them to the Federation Council floor and having them listen to the CO and XO of the Stargazer, they could avoid an all out war with the Cardassians. The Federation and the Cardassians had just opened up a cease-fire agreement with the Cardassian mere months before this latest incident and the Federation was hoping of avoiding going back to war with the Cardassians over something that could have been glossed over in the grand scheme of things.

But, for the Cardassians, this could have been seen as an attack on their pride and their people. In the decade or so since the Cardassian War was being fought, intelligence on the Cardassians only showed that they had become a more nationalistic and militaristic people. So, Andrinn knew that this would have had to work or there might be a continuation of war with the Cardassians.

It didn't take long for the grand hall of the Federation Council to fill itself up. Louvois had taken the empty seat next to Andrinn as the hall filled up and they waited for the proceedings to being. The three heads of the Detapa Council, Obsidian Order, and the Central Command all sat up on the main stage with the Federation President, talking at such a low tone that Andrinn couldn't make out what they were saying over the crowd. Captain Crusher and Commander Picard were sitting behind Andrinn and Louvois, going over some final points of their speech.

Both men themselves were becoming a bit antsy, ready to get this all done and over with. It didn't take too much longer to get it all started though...

The Federation President, a Vulcan woman by the name of T'Pragh, headed towards the podium and began speaking. "Welcome members of the Federation Council. We are joined today by the heads of the Detapa Council, Central Command, and the Obsidian Order of the Cardassian Union today, as honored guests within this chamber. While we do not have much to discuss today as a council, we have Captain Crusher and Commander Picard, both formerly of the USS Stargazer that would like to say a few words."

Picard and Crusher let out a soft sigh before getting out of their seats and heading towards the stage and standing in front of it. Andrinn had told them that they should stand their and make their speech towards the members of the Cardassian Union that had made their way to join them instead of having their backs towards them. He was hoping that it would make a little bit of a better impression when all was said and done.

Crusher, being the Commanding Officer, was the first one to begin speaking. He began by saying, "Welcome to everyone, including our esteemed guests from the Cardassian Union. We're glad that you could make it out here to the chambers of the Federation Council to hear us and allow us to apologize for the recent incident with your crew. It is with a heavy heart that we hurt any members of your crew of the CDS Duran, or your species as a whole. When we came into the sector where we encountered your vessel, we weren't sure of who they were and when they began firing upon us, we tried to get out of there, as to not harm them. But, they knocked out our warp drive before we could escape and we only returned fire to help defend some of our smaller craft as they attempted to escape such a scene of horror."

Picard spoke up as Crusher finished that part of the speech and said, "Yes, we were only trying to let our people get to safety and make sure that they had the best possible path to escape. Your ship's weaponry was pearcing straight through the shuttle's shielding, so Captain Crusher was only doing what he thought best when laying down ground fire for their escape. When I ordered the ship to go into a momentary jump to warp and we ordered our crew mates to open fire, we didn't know that your ship's shields were down and would cause them to explode. So, for that, we hope that you can forgive us."

There was a silence in the chamber that could slice straight through a bulkhead as the members of the Council watched the three Cardassians that were sitting on stage. Everyone in that chamber was watching for any kind of emotional give away, to see what they were thinking or how they would react to the two men's speech.

However, it didn't take long for them to get their reaction and a reaction it was....

[OFF:]

Consul Andrinn Orin
Chief Diplomatic Officer
USS Elysium