Bridge of the USS Tsalagi
Kira and the rest of the bridge crew couldn't see the battle, but the comm. link left open let them hear it. Kira was sickened at the complete disregard Kostamojen showed for the hundreds el'Aenians that he simply blinked into non-existence. These people were her progenitors, the ancestors of Bajorans and the Prophets.
Tsalagi to away team" she crooked out, almost losing her composure.
"S'Ling here"
"Is everyone alright down there?"
There was a very uncomfortable pause before anyone answered.
"We have suffered no injuries, Captain; the only casualties were the el'Alenians who stood with Kostemojen in the clearing and the villager who was the victim of the deflected energy bolt from Adoyi Nvda. Our plan worked. Although we were not able to prevent any casualties, we were able to protect Lieutenant McKnight and the village."
S'Ling couldn't see the stricken bridge crew of the Tsalagi as they fought hard to hold back the emotion and not doing a very good job.
"Three hundred casualties means we failed three hundred times" Kira said under her breath.
Megan was exhausted but she wasn't about to show that until Kostemojen had gone. Once the demon-lord had left, though, she felt all the life drain from her and the world began to swirl around her. Scott was there in moments, catching frail form before the el'Aenian soil felt her wieght; her weary eyes met Scott's as her breath returned. She hadn't realized that she had been holding it." I don't know if I can win this fight. How am I going to forgive myself if Kostemojen claims these people?"
Scott smiled and stroked her sweat-soaked hair.
"I'm not concerned about that. I know you will win."
Megan smiled. "How can you be so sure?"
Scott gently cupped her cheek into his hand and pecked her there. He took just a moment to linger before he answered her.
"Because you married me. That means you are very strong. Only a strong person could put up with me."
"Well, that's the truth!" Megan smiled for the first time today and Scott knew it was Megan, his wife smiling and not the Goddess-Queen of el'Aena. He scooped her up and carried her back to the tent. Several young women were waiting there to attend to her. Scott suddenly felt like he was intruding, so he excused himself.
"Tsalagi to McKnight."
Scott was glad Kira wanted to talk to him; it would take his mind off Megan for a while.
"McKnight here."
"Scott, are you and Megan all right?"
"I'm fine, just a little shocked. Megan will be fine too, after some rest."
Scott could hear Kira breath a sigh of relief.
"How does everything look down there?"
Scott did a quick scan of the surroundings. Except for the Orb, which still held watch and the odd-looking new bush that used to be a villager, everything was as it should be. He started walking closer to the victim for a closer look.
"Except for a new tree in the village, everything is status quo. You would never know a battle just occurred here. I have a theory about the wave that Megan put out that Kostemojen deflected. I'd like to beam up a sample for analysis."
"No problem, Commander. I'll tell S'Ling to collect it and bring it back with here."
"Acknowledged. Let me know something as quickly as possible, in fact, how about beaming me up so I can talk face-to-face with you. I think I have an idea forming."
"No problem, Scott" Kira replied more calmly now, "anything else?"
"Yeah, do you pray a lot to those Prophets of yours?"
"All the time."
"Keep doing it."
S'Ling didn't need to study the twig and leaves of what used to be a humanoid for very long before she saw the characteristics she was looking for. The library computer identified it almost immediately and she was sure this is what Commander McKnight thought as well.
"S'Ling to Kira."
The comm. beeped quickly with Kira answering.
"Kira here."
"Captain, I've completed my analysis of the sample from the surface. Only one type of radiation could have done this to organic matter. It's the Genesis Wave. Shall I inform Commander McKnight?"
"No need to, I'm right here" Scott replied. "I thought as much. The beam seemed stronger this time than when she restored Bajor."
"I'm not surprised, Commander" S'Ling responded. "The beam manipulates proto-matter and proto-matter is notoriously unstable. It could be that the beam is stronger now. Logically, what Lt. McKnight needs to do is try to isolate Kostemojen and thereby prevent anyone else from becoming an innocent victim. Captain, I propose we try our plan again but this time, form a force field around Lt. McKnight and Kostemojen, level 10 or better."
Scott could not contain himself.
"That would mean Megan would be caught in her own wave and destroyed!"
S'Ling kept her voice calm.
"You assume that she cannot protect herself from it. That is not certain. In any event, wouldn't the sacrifice of her life be preferable to the deaths of hundred, perhaps thousands of natives."
Scott couldn't speak. There was a long silence before Kira spoke up.
"We'll take your suggestion under advisement. Kira out."
Kira stared at Scott, who sat silent on the chair in front of her desk in the small ready room. Scott looked up at her and fought back a tear.
"As much as I hate to admit it, S'Ling is right. I think we should do exactly what she suggested. I just really hate that damned Vulcan logic sometimes."
Kira nodded in agreement. "Me too, Scott. Sometimes, I wished I could belt her across the chin, just once. Of course, with her Vulcan physique, she probably wouldn't even feel it. Do you want to return to the surface and let Megan know what we're planning?"
Scott shook his head. "No, why tell her that we are most likely condemning her to death. Besides, she's a Starfleet officer as well. She would probably come up with the same plan herself even knowing what could happen. My guess is, she already knows. I say we get to work and prepare that shielding."