Conference Call

[commodore_69]

Tandy had read the documents provided by Dr. Noel over, and the two women had traded information back and forth several times. In between each communication, the Commodore had called meetings with her security staff, as well as the heads of other departments when their input would be valuable and relevant. She still had some reservations, but

Comments

[first_noel]

It had been a long shot to begin with, and there had certainly been no shortage of bureaucratic hoops to jump through to get the Federation to even consider a transfer request for Nero and Ayel. They were incredibly lucky - the Federation's belief in the value of rehabilitation, rather than a focus on punishment, had not only saved them from execution, but it looked like it might actually allow them to serve out their sentence on a civilian starbase, rather than inside a prison

[commodore_69]

"Good morning, Dr. Noel." Tandy smiled. "Or evening, as the case may be. I might as well tell you up front that I intend to improve the transfer. I'd just like to talk over a last few details and considerations first."

She paused for a sip of coffee, then continued on at a brisk pace. "For example, we've discussed in writing that your patients will be doing community service as construction workers, essentially, and I have plans in place for how to ensure that they don't put themselves or anyone else at risk. But I'm curious about whether you think they'll find the work challenging or rewarding enough to keep them interested in it. It's my understanding that convicts who find their rehabilitation work engaging are less likely to plot escape."

[first_noel]

Helen's expression brightened at the Commodore's announcement - she'd hoped, certainly, and she'd suspected that Otrona had planned to announce her decision, one way or the other, today. But it was good to know for certain.

"That's excellent news," she said, and stopped to ponder the Commodore's next words.

"They're miners, by trade," she continued slowly, thinking out loud. "But Nero was a ship captain, and Ayel was his first in command - he had navigation duties, I believe, as well. They're used to physical labor, of course."

They should be used to it by now: they'd been doing prison labor long enough. Twenty-five years in the Klingon camp, plus the work the Vulcans had set them.

And they'd escaped from the Klingons, and gone on to destroy a planet.

"They'll do the work well, and not complain," she said. "But you're right. If there was some way to find more engaging work for them, I think it would significantly improve the chances of this succeeding." She frowned thoughtfully. "I'm just not sure what that work might be."

[commodore_69]

Tandy nodded thoughtfully as the psychiatrist spoke.

"I'm starting to get some practice finding occupations for people with interesting skill sets," she said. "Maybe once you're here and have the lay of the land, we can come up with some ideas together."

"I also wanted to ask for your thoughts about ways we can ensure the safety of the station's residents, beyond the protocols that the Vulcans have been using - tracking devices, and so on. I've read your formal recommendations, but I wondered if there was anything you want to add."