> > "Admiral, the pass code changes so do nto try to use that one again.
> That dampening field makes it very difficult to detect us and bug us." he
> said as they proceeded down a set of stairs.
>
> "Underrrstood."
>
> >As they walked down they could see a light, and hear voices. They were
> going on about something, and a few were quite excited.
>
> She had no idea what she would find there. She did know Alan, and trust
> him, and she found it hard to believe that he'd be involved in anything
> subversive or hurtful. And yet, with all the troubles going on, it was
> possible that these beings were plotting overthrow. She tried to be
> open-minded, but was cautious as well.
>
> >When they entered the room the talking stopped, but no abruptly.
> Attention was now focused on them...
> >
> >"Allow me to introduce a new member to our group. Vice Admrial Kitanya.
> She is like us, a restrained reformer." The Commander announced to the
group.
> >
> > "Welcome to our nest." one officer said from the other side of the
> room. "Please come down and have a seat where you will be more
> comfortable, and can hear."
>
> She bowed to them respectfully. "Thank you," she replied, and did as she
> was offered, taking a seat amongst them.
>
> >"We were just talking about the troubles within the fleet and just what
> needs to be done about it." said the same officer that greeted her. She
> could now see just who was talking to her.... Captain Wayne Simmons- a
> rather well known renegade officer who likes to buck the system. In fact
> as she looked around the room she saw many officers that she recognized.
> Officers that liked to buck the system. Officers that were strong
> idealists, almost fanatically loyal to the founding ideas of the
Federation
> and Starfleet. Others were just good, normal officers there to express a
> concern who believed that reform of Starfleet was not only vitally
> important, but that it could not wait. The numbers of prominent and
> normal, everyday officers was astounding... All said there were no less
> than 100 officers present, and more were to come.
>
> The size startled her, but not so much as the composition of the group.
> These were not the people she expected to find. These were, to be cliche,
> James Kirks. Good officers, officers she would have been proud to serve
> with, some she *had* served with. They weren't rebels, seeking to
> overthrow democracy, but people she knew cared about the Fleet, and cared
> deeply. No, this wasn't what she had expected at all.
>
> "Please, don't let me interrrrupt, Captain," she said. "I am most
> interested in hearing what you have to say about the situtation."
>
"We were talking about the state of Starfleet and our illustrious
leader, Admiral Samuel Lasiter" the Captain stated some what irreverently.
"I was saying that he is a relative unknown, and as such no body
really knows what or where his loyalities are. We can not be certain of his
plans for Starfleet, or if he is as corrupt as those political officials who
seek to corrupt the very soul of Starfleet." Captain Simmons continued.
Another stepped forward saying, "It was my position that we can not
wait for his intentions to be known. Starfleet in already in a precarious
position and very well may not survive the bungling of another officer that
is not cappable or equipped to command Starfleet. Lasiter neither resembles
an officer that is cappable or properly equipped." This officer being a Rear
Admiral. Rear Admiral Karachi was well respected for his ability to command
and his reverence for those that fall under his command. He also was a very
strong leader, and being a Tellerite would accept nothing but a strong
leader.
"I was saying that we need to give him time." This time it was
Vulcan officer, a lowly Lt.Commander. "It talkes time to build confidence
with the senior officers. It takes time to assess the situation, put
together a plan and to get it implemented. At the top levels of Starfleet
it is no different, except that it could take longer. I am not saying that
I support him blindly, just that we should express our concerns to him and
to give him more time. If he does not address our concerns, then we take
action."
By the looks of the room this voice of reason was the most
promenient one around, but while the faces shown their support for this idea
the smell of fear, concern, and hatred was think in the air. It would not
take all that much for more radical elements of this assemblage to turn the
peaceful gathering into a solid faction plotting a coup.
Kitanya's companion leaned over to whisper in her ear, "The light
commander is not of this group, well not entirely. He wants change, but
believes that another change at the top level of the command structure would
be disasterous. We have had too many beings to occupy the position of CinC
in these last few years. he has been able to moderate this group, but I can
not say for how long."
Karachi responds, "Just how long will you wait? Will you wiat until the
police actions bring us to the point of being a police state? Will you wait
until another 100 SF personnel are dead, or will be a 1000, or more? Just
how long are you willing to just sit back and do nothing, Commander?"
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