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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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