[Conference Room - Taskforce Level - SB 234: UNITY]
Captain Cropa Rojac pulled down on the rim of his jacket as he approached the two solid doors with the Taskforce emblem emblazoned on their exterior. Though Bravo Group's mission was largely successful, the Eagle was lost - and he had behaved rather recklessly in his rescue operation for Major Cortez and his team. Of course, he would never outright admit that to his commanding officers. The data Shao was carrying was critical to the war strategies as a whole, and why not pick up Cortez and crew while he was there?
He passed through the doors to see Captain Rodgers already in attendance. He walked up to him and extended a hand. "Trent, its good to see you again." The task force XO's thoughts had been elsewhere when he was brought back to the present by Cropa.
"You as well," Trent took the offered hand. "I'm glad to see that you and the Chimera has made it home in one piece."
"Me too." Cropa replied before turning toward the opening door.
Shane wasn't in a good mood today. Starfleet Command was giving him headaches again and he felt increasing pressure to deliver results in a large scale. The reasons could be only two. Starfleet Command had great faith in the ability of SSF 1st Task Force to perform wonders in the war … or Starfleet Command was searching for reasons to reprimand SSF, 1st Task Force, Task Force CO, Task Force vessel COs.
Walking inside the conference room, He nodded towards the two other officer and said: "Gentleman" and walked to the head of the table, sitting down on his chair. Drinks were already present, so he said plainly: "Please, let's begin."
Trent took a seat, but waited for either Shane or Cropa to begin the meeting.
"As my report stated, Admiral," Rojac began, "Bravo Groups main objective in Operation Magna was completed, though at a high cost. The Romulan's influence in Quorom space will no
doubt decline without that Gate in the Stellar Nursery, however with the loss of Padassa and Anaxis our influence in the region will falter as well."
Trent looked at both the admiral the Chimera captain.
"Excellent work on shutting down that gate, but there's no way we can win this war going one step forward and two steps back. Hell, if we're taking two steps forward, we're just fighting the Romulans to a draw. And from everything I've read, it's the same on all fronts," Trent stated.
"I agree, Captain." Rojac said. "Which is why I'm glad to see some of the initiative the President is beginning to take. I only hope that he can get the council to follow suit."
Cropa looked toward the Admiral, "What are our next steps, sir?" He asked. "Have you heard anything from Command?"
Shane nodded: "Yes, there are news, but I do not like them and I am sure you wont like them as well." He stated firmly.
"I must second to Captain's Rodger's words ... you performed very well and we could not expect any better from you or your task group, but it just looks like that we are not able to make a real difference in this war. The best we can reach is a draw, what is just not enough. At least from the perspective of Starfleet Command."
Looking at both Captains, Shane asked: "What details do you know about the initiative from President Spock?"
The XO shook his head.
"I don't know much," Trent said. "Commander Rodgers was called away for something called Project Los Alamos. When I inquired to the specifics, I was basically told that it was nothing for me to be concerned about."
"Trouble is that I know hardly more, besides that fact that our forces are no longer thought as capable of winning this war and that we are moved to a support role. The plan of President Spock shall deal with the war and I fear that Starfleet Command will employ weapons of mass destruction upon the Romulan Empire."
"And here I thought we considered ourselves above such things, no matter how bad this war had become" Trent said. "The whole prospect is disturbing."
"Another disturbing point that there are two people on this station that will be directly responsible for a massacre that happened never before." Shane looked at Trent and said: "Your brother, Captain ... and ... me"
"Sir, what can you tell me that Starfleet won't?" Trent asked. "I read something about something called a TechEx that was discovered on a recent mission, but most the report was classified beyond my payscale."
"It's the strange device Rick found on the Detector when salvaging the ship. He explained some of the devastating effect of that device to me and I ordered that device to be dismantled. I should have destroyed it immediately, but I did not ... and now Starfleet posses a weapon like none else in the whole quadrant does."
"What kind of a device? Please tell me they haven't dug up another Genesis?" Trent asked.
Shane explained the basics of the device.
"Damn it," Trent muttered. "We've become a bunch of damn hypocrites, always claiming to be better than everyone else. And here we are, proving all of the so-called evil powers in the galaxy right about us. And someone as enlightened as Spock supporting this ..."
Trent allowed himself to laugh.
"Just a bunch of damn hypocrites," Trent repeated.
"The needs of the many..." Rojac muttered quietly. He looked up to see Shane and Trent casting him unusual glares - almost bewildered. "I do not think it's hypocrisy." He said more defiantly. "All of our current intel is pointing toward a stalemate - and not a stagnant one, but a bloody one. Both sides losing countless amounts of lives with no real progress being made. No real end to the war in sight." Cropa looked to Trent, "How many more people need to die before we end this war? How many systems will survive when we take down Romulus? How many will perish if we don't? They've already taken V'Tar with their Thalaron Cruisers, Charos with their biogenic weapons - what's next?"
The Chimera's Captain shook his head, "I can see Spock's reasoning behind this. I don't like it, but it is logical." He made eye contact with the Admiral at the head of the table, "Sometimes the best decision is the hardest one to make."
"Don't get me wrong, Captain Rojac. I'm not against the use of such a weapon" Trent said. He really didn't care how many Romulans were killed.
"Like you said whatever ends this war and saves Federation lives. We just need to take a long hard look at ourselves if or when we do. The Federation and Starfleet will no longer be able to justify this holier than thou attitude that we have displayed over the past two hundred years."
Trent paused for a moment.
"But if that's the sacrifice we have to make then so be it" Trent added.
Shane shook his head: "But we speak here of weapon of mass destruction. Starfleet used such weapons never before and it has been ALWAYS military structures Starfleet picked as targets. Now Starfleet will directly attack civilians, killing civilians, old people, and children. When it was the last time Starfleet took innocent lives with a purpose to end a war?"
"And here I thought we considered ourselves above such things, no matter how bad this war had become" Trent said. "The whole prospect is disturbing."
"Another disturbing point that there are two people on this station that will be directly responsible for a massacre that happened never before." Shane looked at Trent and said: "Your brother, Captain ... and ... me"
"Sir, what can you tell me that Starfleet won't?" Trent asked. "I read something about something called a TechEx that was discovered on a recent mission, but most the report was classified beyond my payscale."
"It's the strange device Rick found on the Detector when salvaging the ship. He explained some of the devastating effect of that device to me and I ordered that device to be dismantled. I should have destroyed it immediately, but I did not ... and now Starfleet posses a weapon like none else in the whole quadrant does."
"What kind of a device? Please tell me they haven't dug up another Genesis?" Trent asked.
Shane explained the basics of the device.
"Damn it," Trent muttered. "We've become a bunch of damn hypocrites, always claiming to be better than everyone else. And here we are, proving all of the so-called evil powers in the galaxy right about us. And someone as enlightened as Spock supporting this ..."
Trent allowed himself to laugh.
"Just a bunch of damn hypocrites," Trent repeated.
"The needs of the many..." Rojac muttered quietly. He looked up to see Shane and Trent casting him unusual glares - almost bewildered. "I do not think it's hypocrisy." He said more defiantly. "All of our current intel is pointing toward a stalemate - and not a stagnant one, but a bloody one. Both sides losing countless amounts of lives with no real progress being made. No real end to the war in sight." Cropa looked to Trent, "How many more people need to die before we end this war? How many systems will survive when we take down Romulus? How many will perish if we don't? They've already taken V'Tar with their Thalaron Cruisers, Charos with their biogenic weapons - what's next?"
The Chimera's Captain shook his head, "I can see Spock's reasoning behind this. I don't like it, but it is logical." He made eye contact with the Admiral at the head of the table, "Sometimes the best decision is the hardest one to make."
"Don't get me wrong, Captain Rojac. I'm not against the use of such a weapon" Trent said. He really didn't care how many Romulans were killed.
"Like you said whatever ends this war and saves Federation lives. We just need to take a long hard look at ourselves if or when we do. The Federation and Starfleet will no longer be able to justify this holier than thou attitude that we have displayed over the past two hundred years."
Trent paused for a moment.
"But if that's the sacrifice we have to make then so be it" Trent added.
Shane shook his head: "But we speak here of weapon of mass destruction. Starfleet used such weapons never before and it has been ALWAYS military structures Starfleet picked as targets. Now Starfleet will directly attack civilians, killing civilians, old people, and children. When it was the last time Starfleet took innocent lives with a purpose to end a war?"
Looking at both Captains, Shane asked: "If I would give any of you a direct order to get a cloaked ship to Romulus, beam a shock troop down the planet and attack a children crèche – where a son of the preator could be find, would you go and kill every single child in the crèche? Would you go and kill every single child on Romulus, just to get the praetor's son?"
"Like I said, we're going to have to take a long, hard look at ourselves if we use this weapon," Trent finally said.
Cropa did not answer but sat in the awkward silence for a few moments until the Admiral continued the meeting. As Shane delved into the more menial and administrative tasks of the meeting - arranging personnel and resources for the Chimera's repairs, granting leave time and transfers, and giving him conference assignments for the Chimera's senior staff - Rojac thought about Guzman's question. Would he go after every child on Romulus? He record suggested he would. He had rigged the Chimera-A for detonation when it had been boarded by Romulan Commandoes outside a secret base. He had killed the traitorous Captain Shivas - his own CO of the Dark Horizon during his stint as Executive Officer. Rojac followed his orders, and thought little of them most of the time. It was his method - effecient, no frills, no questions asked. Was he wrong?
After the meeting, he would be found in the BLuenote Bar on the promenade, mulling over the same questions.
[End Log]
Rear Admiral Shane Guzman
Commanding Officer
SB 234: UNITY and SSF First Taskforce
Captain Trent Rodgers
Executive Officer
SB 234: UNITY and SSF First Taskforce
Captain Cropa Rojac
Commanding Officer
USS Chimera NCC 96899-C of the SSF 1TF
Commanding Officer
SB 234: UNITY and SSF First Taskforce
Captain Trent Rodgers
Executive Officer
SB 234: UNITY and SSF First Taskforce
Captain Cropa Rojac
Commanding Officer
USS Chimera NCC 96899-C of the SSF 1TF
