Solidarity of the wrong sort

Posted on Wed Sep 23rd, 2020 @ 11:04pm by Jennifer Daxer & Lieutenant Takeshi Nakazato 'Zack'

1,348 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: The Elachi Return
Location: Bridge/Ready Room
Timeline: Shortly after the Senior staff briefing

Takeshi made his way to the bridge, PADD in hand, hoping to speak to the acting CO. True, whoever was in charge wasn't at all going to like what he had to say, especially what was contained on the PADD, and Takeshi knew he hadn't reached this decision lightly, but with everything Shingo had told him, Takeshi felt this conversation needed to happen sooner or later. He just hoped that the acting CO would understand his decision, even if it was selfish.

Daxer was sitting in the ready room, looking over reports, and scouring through the sensor logs. Despite them only being able to see inside of the mystery vessel, there was a lot of data to sift through. Her train of thought was broken, as she heard the door chime ring.

"Enter!" Jen called, as she blanked the terminal.

Takeshi entered the ready room and settled into the nearest chair. He made note of Daxer's rank pips, so he could refer to her by rank until she requested he refer to her by another name.

"Lieutenant Commander:" He began. "I wanted to speak to you personally about Admiral Miyahara..."

Takeshi made his way to the bridge, PADD in hand, hoping to speak to the acting CO. True, whoever was in charge wasn't at all going to like what he had to say, especially what was contained on the PADD, and Takeshi knew he hadn't reached this decision lightly, but with everything Shingo had told him, Takeshi felt this conversation needed to happen sooner or later. He just hoped that the acting CO would understand his decision, even if it was selfish.

Daxer was sitting in the ready room, looking over reports, and scouring through the sensor logs. Despite them only being able to see inside of the mystery vessel for a few seconds, there was a lot of data to sift through. Her train of thought was broken, as she heard the door chime ring.

"Enter!" Jen called, as she blanked the terminal.

Takeshi entered the ready room and settled into the nearest chair. He made note of Daxer's rank pips, so he could refer to her by rank until she requested he refer to her by another name.

"Lieutenant Commander:" He began. "I wanted to speak to you personally about Admiral Miyahara..."

"Call me Daxer, or Ma'am." Jen said simply. She remembered him from the crew profiles, so knew who he was, but this was the first time she'd met him personally. She also wanted to voice what she'd already heard about the Admiral during the briefing, but decided better of it for the moment, choosing instead to just mention his supposed affiliation instead. "Rumor has it you were once the Admiral's third officer, so I'm rather interested in anything you can tell me about him."

Takeshi nodded. "I'd call it less of a rumor and more of a fact." He explained simply. "I've been under Admiral Miyahara's command ever since I graduated from the academy, and I've come to view him as something of a mentor figure. I still consider his ship my home, and his crew my family, especially the first and second officers, Captain Nishizumi and Commander Takahashi. If I'm being honest, I consider them friends more than I do anyone on board this ship, who have done nothing but suspect and belittle my talents at every turn. At least they understand and respect my potential:"

Takeshi gulped. He knew Daxer probably wasn't going to like what he was saying, but to be fair, she was expecting honesty from him. The truth was brutal, and Takeshi knew it. And regardless of how much the truth hurt, he knew Daxer wasn't going to like what he was going to say next:

"He's a good man, ma'am," He said. "And he wouldn't be doing what he's doing if he didn't think it was right. Which is why I wanted you to know that I stand in solidarity with him: And if that means I stand against you, than so be it: If you wish to detain me as a traitor, than I completely understand."

Jen raised an eyebrow at both the news, and his willingness to be incarcerated for saying it. "Considering the fact you were part of this crew, and even participated in the battle that led to this, I sincerely question your motives." She told him, without hesitation. "It is entirely illogical for you to believe that the Captain destroyed that colony, after being here to witness our attempt to save it from a dreadnought warship of unknown origin."

"Ma'am, with all due respect, I still have friends aboard the Myogi." Takeshi explained. "Including my aforementioned best friends. If I were to stand against Admiral Miyahara, he would not permit me to speak to either him or any of his crew, and I would lose those friendships forever."

Takeshi lowered his head and sighed.

"No matter what I do, I'm going to be viewed as a traitor by one party or another." He admitted. "I've merely decided to stand with my mentor and my friends over a bunch of suspicious, distrustful strangers. I apologize if Human emotion flies in the face of Vulcan logic."

"It flies in the face of true justice, because if your friendships are based on lies, then they are not true friendships." Jen said, and this time, there was disappointment in her voice, indicating she was one to allow her emotions through to the surface. She tapped a single button on the table's keypad, as she stood up from the chair. "This is an unfortunate turn of events, Lieutenant, because it means I'm under obligation to place you under arrest for impeding an official Starfleet investigation."

"Fine then: Arrest me, Daxer:" Takeshi said, placing the PADD with his letter of resignation on the desk and standing up with his hands in the air. "But just know that in doing so, you are merely helping Admiral Miyahara's case: A case that goes beyond this simple incident and is far deeper than you can even comprehend."

"This is more than just a simple incident." Daxer said firmly. She came around the desk, and stood looking at the man. "Taiga Aisaka is being framed for the destruction of Alvatar Colony, and the death of all of it's inhabitants... If you are willing to allow this for the sake of your friendships, then not only are you sacrificing the freedom, and possibly the life of an innocent woman, but you're also risking all out war between the Romulans, and the Federation."

"It is war that Admiral Miyahara hopes to stop before it starts." Takeshi explained. "He's been building a case against incompetent and rebellious Starfleet captains for years now, and this incident is a big enough spark for him to light a fire to initiate sweeping reforms in Starfleet. He believes that commanders like Captain Aisaka need a wake up call; that they are not above the law, and the perfect stage for that wake up call has played right into his hands. He's also a natural-born peacekeeper, and if he can't talk the Romulans out of going to war with the Federation, than I don't know anyone who can."

"What you're talking about is treason, and I can't allow it!" Jen said, with some anger in her voice, as she stepped past him to the door. She thumbed the controls, and opened the door to show a young Ensign standing there wearing a security uniform. "Ensign, please take Lieutenant Nakazato into custody, and escort him to the brig."

"Sir?" The young man gave her a quizzical look.

"That's an order." Jen told him.

"Yes Sir." He said, then approached Takeshi. "If you will follow me, sir?"

Takeshi nodded.

"Very well..." He calmly said, allowing the ensign to lead him away.

Jen watched as the two left the ready room, then sat back down with a heavy sigh. "It just gets worse, and worse..."

Posting by

Lieutenant Takeshi Nakazato
Air Boss

Lieutenant CMDR Jennifer Daxer
Acting Captain

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