[Officer's Meeting] -- [About Nero/Ayel/Narada]

[kirktastic]

Bones: Bones watched from his corner. He could see from the way people were entering the room that everyone seemed to understand how serious this was going to be.

TOS!Jim: Jim entered with a confidence he was used to carrying, whatever questions he had inside. He *was* fairly confident, but that did not mean there were no doubts. Doubts about what this meeting would bring. But mostly doubts about what lay between himself and Kirk, a rift in the instinctive rapport he had not before thought to question. Even so, he smiled at Kirk--and the others--in greeting. He missed them. It seemed he'd been more or less avoided since before Jim and George had been returned. He could understand that.

But it didn't make it much easier.

He was here now, however, and was glad, at least, that Kirk was interested in gathering diverse opinions. It was, after all, mostly what he had wanted and had been asking Kirk for. Spock could not be here, but Jim now carried Spock with him. And he had practiced enough that he was capable of alerting Spock himself, should the need arise.

Spock: Spock entered the room and glanced around the conference room per habit. He gave a nod to the captain and the chief medical officer--and the elder Jim-- before taking his seat nex to Kirk as his First Officer.

Admiral Pike: Pike entered a little late, and, relieved to see the meeting apparently hadn't started yet, took a seat, looking around the table. Well. Probably the first multi-universal officers' meeting in Starfleet history. Sure to be an interesting one, at least, if not an all-out battle royale.

Uhura: Nyota entered the conference room with less confidence than she normally would, though she still greeted them all with her customary polite smile. It was a little more subdued and professional than if she were meeting them in a casual setting, and she said nothing as she slipped into her regular seat. Remaining silent, she carefully placed her PADD on the table in front of her, ready to take whatever notes she felt were necessary. As she tapped the tips of her fingers against the side of it, she risked a glance up at Kirk, noting his less than easy expression. This was going to be difficult, she could already tell.

Kirk: Kirk looked around to everyone, and nodded, "Pretty sure everyone knows why we're here. Not only do we have Nero, his crew, and his ship outside... but we have it inside, too. We need to decide what our course of action is. I'm open for any ideas... but more then anything, I want to know how all of you feel about this." He gestured, opening the floor.

TOS!Jim: Jim waited. Kirk knew how he felt. Or at least, knew that he wanted it to be a discussion. Which it now was. He was curious to see what the others thought. Kirk had, he felt, already warmed to him by calling this meeting and including him. He would offer his side when he felt it was not an intrusion.

But his silence chafed.

Spock: "A question, first," Spock turned a sharp look to the elder Jim. "How has the Narada progressed? Its development will influence our decision."

TOS!Jim: Jim nodded. "I've kept her under surveillance since she arrived," he began. "She has shown a vast, quick intelligence, capable of understanding not mere data but concepts heretofore foreign to her. She's shown interest primarily in the secondary systems--she wishes to upgrade her life support and replicator systems. She's shown no objection to my denial of more sensitive areas. Furthermore, we've engaged in several discussions touching on our cultural values versus those she was developed under. It's my opinion that her primary goal is the life and comfort of her masters." He glanced at Jim. "And while that is, of course, a concern, she's shown evidence on several separate occasions that her interest in their welfare is capable of transcending their orders. In short--I believe her to be a sentient, autonomous being."

Which he would freely admit did not make her not dangerous.

Spock: Spock reserved his skepticism to himself. He nodded once, accepting his observations (no matter how flawed), and looked to his captain.

Kirk: Kirk looked to Jim for a long moment, then said, "But we have no idea how much it agrees or disagrees with its masters, or how much it will or won't obey them, which leaves it an unknown... and dangerous. Right outside on our virtual spacey doorstep."

Uhura: As Jim spoke, Nyota found herself leaning forward to listen with some curiosity, though she didn't speak up until she had something more useful to offer. But the Narada gaining sentience was an interesting development, even more so that this manifestation was capable of seeing past their blind orders to judge what she felt was best for their welfare. That she noted down.

TOS!Jim: "I couldn't agree more," Jim said easily, though no less seriously. "It seems to me, however, that this is directly in line with our mission statement." It was their purpose out here. On any given planet they beamed down to with only the protection of their phasers and tricorders on far less information.

Bones: Bones frowned, "Just out of curiosity, Jim... what is the mission statement of your Starfleet? I just want to make sure we're all on the same page here." A lot of things were different in their universes, between the people, the places... what else might be different?

TOS!Jim: A half-smile tugged at one corner of Jim's mouth. "To explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations," he quoted, hoping to whatever would listen it was the same here. If it wasn't, he was going to feel very stupid.

nu!Spock: He closed his eyes for the moment, sifting through images in his memories, and finally opened his eyes again. A look to his captain, and then to Jim. “Articles of the Federation, chapter eight, article fifty-four: ‘Star Fleet shall be used to conduct missions of scientific exploration and investigation…whenever its services are not required in the maintenance of interplanetary peace and security.’ I believe this may qualify as such a circumstance.”

TOS!Jim: "Naturally," Jim said. "I don't think it's a question that we should be investigating this. Our Starfleet, too, recalls us on various unrelated missions when needed. Including peace and security. I thought the question, rather, was what was to be done. Not whether. My point was that the fact that the Narada is an unknown quantity is hardly an unusual circumstance. Or any more threatening than any other unknown quantity. Which isn't to say there's no threat at all." There was always a threat. Being in space constituted one all by itself. Risk was their business.

Kirk: Kirk tapped a finger on the table, "While I'm obviously concerned about the Narada, considering that last time we tangled with it, it had better weaponry and shielding, I'm more worried about the crazed Romulan who is the captain of that ship. If we made some move against Nero, be it to have killed him, to have captured him, whatever ends up happening, do you seriously believe that the Narada won't react to that? Won't try to get its captain back with less thought to our lives then his?"

Bones: "That's a good point," Bones broke in. "I mean, let's say we take Nero back to Earth for a trial... is the Narada going to sit back calmly and watch that, without any sort of reaction?"

Uhura: Have him killed. Her head darted sharply up from her PADD at those words, and she regarded him carefully. Was that still how he felt? The two weeks she had been missing, Nyota wasn't sure if they had made any decisions, if he had reconsidered his thoughts on the matter. "Of course she wouldn't," Nyota spoke up, hardly realizing that she had referred to the ship as a she rather than it. "The people she loves are threatened, she's going to take action. Just as we would, and do. But..." Now she glanced to Jim. "If she is capable of reason, then she may see the merits in allowing us to rehabilitate Nero."

TOS!Jim: "Not at all," Jim said softly, his eyes never leaving Kirk. "I think that's exactly what would happen. Exactly what our ship would do, too, in reverse circumstances. But that makes me inclined towards greater caution. Not less. We're faced with a being who is not only very powerful, and quite loyal to our enemy, but intelligent. Capable of reason. Capable, for instance, of disagreeing with her crazed Romulan captain. It's not a sure thing. But neither is firing all phasers."

Not to mention the fact that his Spock was over there at this minute.

"She's already requested Spock's assistance for the good of her crew, despite their own prejudice." He glanced at Uhura. "And that shows she is capable of seeing merit in something we might find agreeable, as well."

Spock: “There are no merits in a task that is inherently impossible.” Rehabilitate. Were they expecting to ‘rehabilitate’ his planet? Nurse it back to life? Have Nero write a public apology to the survivors of his race? “He has shown no remorse and he will not in the future. When he is captured, Nero will be placed on a distant planet to decay for the remainder of his life, away from harming others in the Federation. He will not be rehabilitated.”

TOS!Jim: Jim's eyebrows rose, but he remained silent, for now. With great effort. Who was Spock, Jim, even himself, to say what Nero's fate should be? Who were any of them? The Federation existed for a reason. Jim may not always agree with their rules, but he understood the need for them.

Kirk: Kirk glanced sharply to Spock in some surprise. So Spock agreed with him. It pleased him in ways he couldn't even say even if he had to try. They disagreed on a lot, and this... was something important to be doing agreement on. He drummed his fingers once, and said aloud instead, "I agree. I mean, rehabilitate?" He looked to Jim, brows coming together, "How can you rehabilitate a man like that? Even if you could, what good would it do? What good would there be in having a man who destroyed one of the founding planets of the Federation be supposedly rehabilitated? Would you turn him free? Leave him locked in some cell for the rest of his long life? You," A glance to Uhura too, "Talk about rehabilitation? What about punishment? Paying for the crimes he committed?"

Uhura: Nyota found herself torn between wanting to agree with Spock, for she knew how much he hurt, had lost people she loved in that battle too though her loss seemed so little compared to his. And because of that she allowed him some leniency, and swallowed down her immediate reactions. But she couldn't forget that he had been the one to teach her that you could not deal in absolutes. "No I wouldn't set him free," she replied firmly, keeping a steady gaze on Kirk. "I'm not even suggesting that he could ever be safe enough to do that. But we are not an executioner. It's not our right to decide whether he lives or dies."

TOS!Jim: Jim's expression darkened now. This had been the part he'd feared. "That is not my job," he said, his voice firm. "Nor yours, either. Maybe I'm wrong, but in my world we've abolished the death penalty. It's not the right of any man to condemn another to death. Nor is it the job of a starship captain to dictate the same. Except in times of emergency. We are permitted extraordinary measures when under direct threat, per Starfleet Regulation 3. Can you justify this situation, with her standing out there doing nothing, as 'Imminent destruction'? Will you be able to do to so in the inquiry that follows? Are you ready to have lives on your conscience, not just Nero's but the others on that ship?"

Kirk: Kirk leaned forward and looked over to Uhura, brows up, "Remember what happened, just before we got the call to Vulcan? You got a distress call. Where was it from? From who? About what?"

Spock: Spock drummed his fingers against the table slowly. Kirk could be an insufferable bastard at times, but it had its uses when partnered with his particular brand of genius.

Uhura: "It was Klingon," she replied coolly, arms crossing over her chest almost defensively (though she was a year too late in trying to hide her modesty). "I intercepted a Klingon distress call about their armada being destroyed. Kirk you know this."

Kirk: "You're in communications, you know about the meetings that came later. Tell me, Uhura," Not Nyota, not now, "What ship, and who, was destroying their armada? Which was, for those who weren't in this universe at the time, was stationed around Rura Penthe." The Klingon prison planet, known for its security, hopelessness, and feared across the universe.

TOS!Jim: Was this a meeting to determine their course of action, or a trial? Jim glanced at Admiral Pike. Surely this wasn't how Starfleet worked in this universe. If it was, Jim had been sorely mistaken. About a great deal.

Kirk: "I wasn't looking for absolution." Kirk said immediately, "The point I was trying to make is," He looked to everyone now, "This man escaped from one of the most secure prisons in any known galaxy. He found the means to get back out into space, weaponry, got through Klingon and Federation defenses.... and blew up a planet, almost two. The point isn't entirely choosing a punishment now, after we waited so long and given them a leave of time to bide their time, but how to deal with bringing him in, and what's going to happen when, not if, he resists. He's still a threat. I don't understand how that's seemed to be forgotten. It isn't just about what he's done, but what he can do in the future. He got out of one prison, why couldn't he get out of another? How do we know, even if we brought him onto our ship to take back to the Federation that something wouldn't happen? Why are we willing to take such a risk to bring back someone that given the chance, would kill us in an instant?" He looked around the room slowly, "Are you really thinking about bringing him on board our ship? Are you all really thinking about the consequences of that action?"

Spock: A slight eyebrow arch, but he didn’t dispute Kirk’s words. He would sleep even less if Nero was within the ship-less of fear and more resisting the urge to kill him. Eschak was a mysterious gift, but apparently one iteration of him carried it.

TOS!Jim: "There are always options," Jim said. "Have you thought about the consequences of what you seem to be suggesting? To your career, to Spock, to what that means about you, us, as people? Nero may well kill us in an instant, given the chance." He paused. "Do you want to put yourself in his league?"

He could not understand what he was hearing. Nero had been out there, suspended in space and with direct access to the man he hated most in all the world, and nothing had happened in over a week. Nothing. There was no question in Jim's mind that "disposing" of the latent threat would be justified. He wondered, briefly, whether McCoy had signed off on Kirk's psych eval. Figuring out what to do when there was no script was what they did. They didn't write it based on what would make them feel better.

Kirk: Kirk just looked to Jim, and said quietly, "Maybe I just care less about my career then I do about making sure this crew, this ship, and the Federation are safe from a mad man."

Uhura: "I'm not suggesting that he's changed," Nyota began, wanting to make it very clear that despite what he thought, she wasn't suggesting welcoming Nero on board with welcome arms. "But he's had Spock on his ship for over two weeks and has done nothing to harm him. He may be mad, but he's also broken. Maybe rehabilitation is not an option but neither is sentencing him to death. You're a member of Starfleet. Member."

Kirk: "He hasn't harmed Spock because, if you notice, we have ...some... thing... involving his ship. A manifestation, whatever it fully means. Its sentience, maybe." Kirk pointed out. "Sure as hell was willing to torture my father and I to death to get what he wanted." He held up a hand, marked with Romulan.

TOS!Jim: "Your protective instincts are commendable," Jim said, trying to regulate his tone. "But you should seriously consider the cost to you. And what you would become." The name Kodos rang in his mind. Nero, too, had acted out of what he considered to be legitimate motives. "As Uhura says, Nero hasn't hurt Spock in all this time, despite being a mad man and unlikely to be curbed by rational means. Would you, now, to rid the universe of Nero?"

Kirk: Kirk's brows furrowed, "Clarify? I don't understand what you mean at the end there... would I now to rid the universe of Nero?"

TOS!Jim: Jim fixed him with an even look. "Hurt Spock," he said clearly. "Do what Nero has failed to, every time, in order to make yourself feel safe from him."

Kirk: Kirk gestured, "Did I say anything about hurting Spock?" Now he was just confused, feeling like he was missing something Jim had in his head but hadn't said.

TOS!Jim: Jim's frown was now one of confusion. "Spock's on the Narada," he said. "How do you propose to... deal with Nero without also destroying it?" He kept his voice steady, but no one present would be ignorant of what that meant to Jim.

Uhura: Averting her eyes from the marks on his skin, Nyota held up her own hand and shook her head. "Regardless of what we have of his," she chimed in, "do you think that would stop him from taking his revenge? He was willing to die for it, he did die for it and took his entire crew with him."

TOS!Jim: Jim glanced at Uhura for a moment, appreciation in his eyes. He had not enjoyed Kirk's tone with her earlier--he wondered if he got that terse when he felt strongly about something. He would have to watch that. But here, now, he respected Nyota's support. And hoped she could feel his.

Bones: Bones took a deep breath - this wasn't getting them any further, other than everyone airing their feelings, which in the end, was probably the point of it all... and fuck it, they all had their points. "Jim, I don't want to make it sound like I'm not listening to you but - what would *you* propose we do. Given the chance, what do you propose be done right now?"

Kirk: Kirk gave Uhura a brief look, one that tried to portray, What? Obviously it did stop him.

Uhura: "Until now, all Nero has cared about is his own vendetta," Nyota elaborated at his look. "You say we can't ignore what he has done, but neither can we ignore what he hasn't. The fact he hasn't taken the multiple opportunities to kill Spock, that he is allowing him to wander his ship, shows he is capable of vague reason. Not change, I'm not saying that. But he's been sat there two weeks and done nothing."

TOS!Jim: Jim nodded in agreement with Uhura and turned to McCoy. "Right now? Negotiation with Nero is both impossible and undesirable. But he's not the only party involved. Spock believes that Ayel is rehabilitatable. The Narada has shown a capacity for independent thought. I would propose that we speak to them--in the former case, through Spock--and determine our options from there. We are not in immediate danger--no weapons target us and our shields can repel an attack for some time. A preemptive attack would be, in my opinion, a violation of Starfleet and Federation ethics. I don't see any reason why Ayel and the Narada could not be further reasoned with, and a solution found without further loss of life."

Kirk had not responded to his previous query. Jim tried not to speculate as to the reason. He was not going to lose Spock. No matter what.

Kirk: Kirk looked to Jim and said quietly, "I'm not about to kill Spock, and if you think I would, I'm hurt and offended. I have no doubt in my mind the ONLY reason he hasn't killed Spock is because of the Narada being over here. He's psycho, they don't follow logic."

Spock: “Kirk.” Spock drew his hand back from the surface of the table so he could have it fall into the middle of his lap, where it clenched into a loose fist. He could remain diplomatic, if his captain could. “Our shields are useless in the face of their superior technology. They could not repel a transporter beam, which led to the disappearance of my captain and his father, and we have already experienced an instance where they barely held against their advanced weaponry. We have been in immediate danger since we have entered their phaser range. There is nothing stopping them from destroying us besides the sentient body of their ship, which could easily transport off now and then lay waste to our defenses within the next three-point-four seconds. Possibly less.”

TOS!Jim: "But my point," Jim said, "is that she has not destroyed us. I cannot say I fully understand your loss, Spock. But I do sympathize. It doesn't mean I believe such an attack on our part warranted. The Narada's weapons systems are significantly depleted. And she's shown no sign of using them, or wishing to." He turned to Jim. "You can't have it both ways. If Nero isn't following logic, how can you say, categorically, that he has only spared Spock for the Narada's sake? Spock has vowed to remain there, so long as he feels she is in danger. With or without the security of her manifestation on board. Further, the Narada was never able to break through our shields. They were down, to facilitate the other Spock's transfer from the mirror universe. Or am I mistaken?"

Spock: “You may be correct,” He conceded, tilting his head slightly to the side, his equivalent of a shrug. “But that does not negate the danger presented by it. You, nor your Spock, know precisely the state of that ship, and its configuration is foreign enough to question our scanners. Furthermore, its status is not constant. The planet we are currently orbiting has significant mineral deposits that could make them as destructive as before. Perhaps Nero is only waiting to recover his full capabilities before acting.”

TOS!Jim: "That said," Jim returned, "we happen to have an extremely intelligent Vulcan on board that ship right now. Who might be able to tell us more about those capabilities. And Nero's plans."

Kirk: "You're telling us to negotiate. What exactly would you chose to say? To offer them?" Kirk fixed his eyes firmly on Jim.

Uhura: Bringing it up felt a little like she was the kid in class who always had to state the obvious, but nobody else seemed to be willing to say it. "You're right," she conceded, nodding to Kirk and glancing briefly at Spock. "We can't promise that he won't turn around and pose an even more significant threat to us than he already does. But it is not only us he is a danger to, and therefore it's not only our decision to make what his fate should be. What does Command have to say about this?"

TOS!Jim: "I'm telling you that we need more information. And we have a window in which to obtain it, while the Narada believes Spock is helping. While she and Ayel learn that there is another way to deal with their situation. What we're offering them is time to prove themselves. And we're offering them a period of clemency for Nero, whom they love, for good or ill. That motivates them. It may well lead to negotiation, but the fact is I don't have the solution, Jim. But I don't think we have the information to make an informed decision yet." He nodded at Uhura. "I'd like to know that, too."

Admiral Pike: Pike straightened up from the hand-on-chin listening posture he'd been in, watching the opinions fly back and forth. "Command wants the crew of the Narada taken into custody and brought back to Earth for trial."

Bones: "This looks like a place where we might stop then -" he looked at Kirk, "and think about what's been said."

"But can I get back to the Narada for a moment?"

Bones watched with a feeling of worry in the pit of his stomach. He'd never seen anything affect Kirk quite the same as the argument he was having with the Jim, and nothing thus far gave him any indication that it would get any better. Fuck... "There are steps to take to have a being declared sentient under Federation protocol, a series of tests." He was fairly familiar with these, having undertaken them recently with the Enterprise. "Are you officially requesting that be done?" he asked, looking at Jim.

TOS!Jim: Jim was almost grateful at the turn of the conversation. Once again, practical matters. "Yes," he said firmly. "I am."

Kirk: Kirk gave a look to Bones that was unreadable, then stood up, "I think Bones is right. We've said everything that could be said, at least for now, without going in circles. You're all dismissed, but keep your ears open for another meeting."

TOS!Jim: Jim glanced at Kirk in barely-concealed surprise. He was right. And Jim was glad that it had not escalated or devolved. And at least... no outcome had been decided that he felt unsettled by. But there was so much left undone.

Kirk: He looked to Jim, silent, then sat back down. He thought about what he said to Bones, about his own choices, and felt like something was different between them then some of the others. He just... wished it could go back to what they had, when things were better, easier, and he had someone he could trust at his back. Jim had, in so many words, thought him ready to kill Spock. That, almost more then anything else, hurt. He thought of the memories from Prime, things Jim would do that would be worse then anything Kirk could chose to do now. He missed the old guy, and wished he had him to talk with right now.

Uhura: Getting to her feet, Nyota gave him a polite nod. It didn't feel as if they had accomplished much, but pushing him didn't seem to be in anyones best interests. "Captain," she said quietly, picking up her PADD and quickly leaving the conference room. There was so much she still had to do, reports she had to file and things she hadn't had the time to think over these last few weeks. Arguing was a pointless waste of her time, and she was far too exhausted for it.

Kirk: Kirk watched Uhura leave and closed his eyes. They had settled something between them only for it to get a whole new hitch in it. The seperation between Captain and Jim... sometimes wasn't easy.

Spock: His expectations for the meeting had not been so much better than what had actually turned out, but Spock was…relieved, that it was over. None of this-he didn’t want to dwell on the thought, just frustration and anger and ridiculous emotions. He stood from his chair, murmured a curt “Captain,” and departed from the room with his hands at his sides.