The Unethicals Within--Part I
Star Trek: The Next Generation "The Unethicals
Within"
Captain's Log, stardate supplemental. I have
called a meeting of the ship's senior staff in the
briefing room. It is only the second one today,
and yet this has prompted several of my senior
officers to request permission to move their duty
stations here. Their inappropriate attempts at
humor were not appreciated.
"Is everyone here?" said Picard, looking
around the conference table. "Dr. Crusher,
Geordi, Chief O'Brien, Kaiko, Mrs. Troi, Worf, his
son, Alexander...."
"I'm here too, Captain!" said Wesley, popping
in.
"Oh, Wes," said Picard, making a weak smile.
"So good to see you." He looked around the table,
wondering who had told the young lad about the
meeting. Picard attempted to make some light
banter. "So, Wes, how are your studies coming?"
"Well, gee.. they're fine...."
"Good, good...." Picard smiled genially.
Everyone in the room looked at him. Were they
waiting for something?
"Captain!" said Troi. "I sense
something...."
"Yes? What?" said Picard, struggling to
remember why he had called this particular
meeting.
"I sense... you are wasting our time...."
"Quite right," said Picard, pulling down on
his uniform as memory returned to him. "Let us
get down to business. Starfleet has ordered us to
establish relations with the Melkotians in the
star system-"
"Melkotians?" said Riker. "Don't we already
have diplomatic relations with them?"
"You know of them, Will?" said Picard.
"Only from what I've read of the old
Enterprise records. Wasn't there something about
the 18th Century Wild West, and a shootout at OK
Corrale....?"
"Sir, if you will permit me, I can elaborate
on this topic in a more articulate matter," said
Data.
Picard nodded, implicitly acknowledging
Riker's inadequacy. Data continued. "The old
Enterprise, under the command of Captain James T
Kirk-" Picard winced, even at the name, "-was
charged with establishing relations with the
Melkots, 80 years ago. The Melkotians were
resistant to Captain Kirk's overtures and punished
him for trespassing on their region of space.
They created an illusion of Earth's old Wild West,
and, after a spectacular confrontation, Captain
Kirk beat up Wyatt Urp, landing fist after fist in
Urp's-"
Picard winced at the mere inference of
violence. "I think we understand, Commander," he
said sternly.
"But I am puzzled for the need for our
mission," said Data.
"Well, Captain K-... the Captain of that
Enterprise did establish relations with the
Melkots," said Picard. "And, for the past 80 odd
years, we've had good relations with them. Until
recently."
There was silence for a moment.
Then Troi remarked, "I sense that everyone
here is annoyed with you for wanting to make us
ask the obvious question."
"Hm, yes," said Picard. "Well, anyway, one
day three months ago, the Federation ambassador
was giving a speech on morals, when all of a
sudden he and his staff were booted off the
planet."
"Does the ambassador know what precipitated
the break in relations? Data asked.
"No. The only thing the Melkotians said was
that they were finally getting rid of a bunch of
boring hypocritical spineless do-nothings.... And
in response Starfleet has decided to present the
Melkots with a different face of the Federation."
Picard cleared his throat meaningfully for a
moment.
Everyone in the briefing room suddenly looked
around at each other. "Have we taken someone new
aboard?" said Riker, confused.
"Negative, Numba One. We're the ones who are
going in," Picard said, in case any of the others
hadn't figured it out. "We have been assigned to
reestablish relations with the Melkots at all
costs."
Picard paused, and then, rapidfire, snapped
out orders. "Commander Riker, you'll take the
next bridge watch. Mr. LaForge, we'll need full
power to the engines. Mr. Data, we'll need an
appropriately plotted course. Mr. Worf, we'll
need you to refrain from arming weapons.
Counselor Troi, we'll need you to continue to
sense things. Chief O'Brien, we'll need the
transporter in ship shape to beam us down. Kaiko,
we'll need you to continue to trim the plants in
botany. Whoopi, I'll need you to make sure that
the liquor replicators are in good working order.
Is that everyone? Oh yes, and Alexander, we'll
need you to curb some of your bolder
kleptomaniacal tendencies. Yesterday you shut
down the ship for several hours when you stole the
dilithium crystals during your school tour in main
engineering. There, is that everyone? Yes? Yes,
that is all," said Picard.
TO BE CONTINUED
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