> > Jora answered, "Thank you, Captain. Thank you very much. However, the
being who deserves the credit is Vice Admiral Kitanya. It was she who
pointed out the obvious to me over dessert this evening."
>
> The Captain corrected himself, "Then to you, Vice Admiral Kitanya,
Kudos and three cheers."
>
> The spotlight, and attention was now focused on Kitanya, as others in
the room, quite a few others voiced their support for her, or was it for
what she had said. No one could tell over the din.
There were few times that Kitanya felt a full-throated roar was necessary, but this
was one of them. She roared from deep in her chest, letting the sound reverberate off
the walls.
The noise in the room settled quickly, and attention was again tightly focused on
Kitanya.
She let the silence settle for a moment before speaking. "Admirrral Ketterrring has
talked much about taking overrr Starrrfleet. But what I haven't hearrrd tonight
frrrom him is what he would do if he did securrre the top slot. Otherrr than the name
on the doorrr, what would change?
You've all hearrrd my ideas forrr what to do about ourrr prrroblems; worrrk togetherrr
as a grrroup, as a fleet, to rrrebuild ourrr infrrrastrrructurre, rrretrrain those who
arrre salvageable, and worrrk with the Federrration Council on how to rrremove the
ones that arrre taking up valuable space. Cut funding to rrredundant orrr bloated
divisions and
rrreturrn funding to the explorrration brranch so we can rrregain both balance among
ourrrselves and crrredibility among the otherrr empirrres."
She turned to Kettering. "I have yet to hearrr any solutions frrrom you, Admirrral,
otherrr than putting yourrr name on the doorrrplate and wielding absolute powerrr
along with those who supporrrted you." If he would accept her offer of cooperation,
then she would take him on. She was trying to plant the seed in the audience's mind
that he was nothing more than a
power-hungry despot, a symbol of everything this group had joined together to oppose.
"What about those who didn't help you an yourrr quest forrr powerr? What happens to
them and the rrrest of the fleet if they don't agrrree with you? Will you get rrrid
of them too?"
Standing and stepping forward to make his response, Kettering spoke with all the
command presence and sincerarity he could muster. "Those that do not see things as I
do, I would try to persuade. Persuade them that Starfleet needs change and a serious
leader. Persuade them that I am the leader of change. If they still do not see
things my way, then it is a shame. A shame that I could not make them see reason.
However, a place at the table will be made for them. They must have a voice, and that
voice must be heard. As for what other changes I would make. The initial steps are
easy. All will be given a chance to show that they belong. Those that belong in
Starfleet, but in different positions will be moved. Those that simply don't belong
in the fleet will be excised. Ships will be diverted from military posts to
scientific and exploration missions, and the development of new starships will be
stressed. While we refocus on exploration and research, we can not ignore our duties
on defense....."
Kettering went on for a good 20 minutes in total, covering topics as new research
projects he would work to further to shows of force in military exercises near the
borders to show off the power of the Federation so that the other races will think
twice about invading. He spoke of the culture of acceptance of half measures and
laziness on the front lines. He had a comprehensive plan, but it was conceived out of
gaining and weilding power. Lasiter's plan, what Kit knew of it, was based on uniting
the fleet and healing the divisions that the factional infighting has caused.
Kettering was proposing overt measures, and Lasiter was set to employ overt *and*
covert measures. Not all of Starfleet's dirty laundry needed to be public, and some
of the best changes are only noticed when finished not in progress.
Those in the room were split. Many still favored Kettering, but just as many
favored Kitanya and Jora. While, still others were in the middle, looking for some
tidbit to push them to one side or another. This issue would not be resolved on this
night, but at least Kettering's power base had been erroded. There was a viable
option to Admiral Kettering, and *real* issues were now being discussed.
Moreover, a strange sideline event was noticed by many in the hall. Perhaps it was
best described as a non-event. Rear Admiral Tyrus Lasiter, Kettering's right hand and
one of his chief drum beaters, was oddly quiet this night. His half attention and
deepness of thought served to punctuate his silence. Admiral Jora noticed it the
most, being a Betazoid she would, and she shared that with Kitanya.
{response}
*****
Chris
GM- SPD & JSOC
