Disclaimer: see chapters One & Two
Notes: see end of chapter
Honour Laws
Janeway watched and listened quietly as events played out across her boards, feeling more unwelcome facts would be coming to light, that many would have wished had stayed hidden in the shadows and thus out of plain sight, even from those in the upper power houses of the United Federation of Planets and her allies. War here in the Alpha Quadrant had engendered an atmosphere of deep fear and suspicion which had been spreading like a deep malevolent plague across this whole region of populated space, infecting even the most placid of people, causing disunity and disharmony among the Federations closest allies, but especially within Starfleet. That in its self was worrying, but how to stop the plague from causing lasting harm here in the place she had always thought of as stable and safe, whilst trying to survive in the Delta Quadrant.
"At least we knew who our enemies were, out there," she said softly and then added. "Most of the time!" making her smile in retrospect. Elliot grinned, checking the console in front of him, which informed him of who was linked into the system, so that all could hear and see what was happening within that usually enclosed space.
"It appears the Voyager Family aren't linked in at present," he noted quietly, speaking close to her so that only she heard him.
"Good," she said firmly. "Computer halt last command," she said feeling despondent. The computer's only response was a gentle sound; but then a new sound replaced it as data started to appear on her screen, startled by the chatter of the electronic information that sped across their console and into Voyager's main frame data base. It was where some of the information was coming from that surprised her – Ocampa.
"Kes!" she whispered, causing Elliot to look at her, puzzled by her soft motherly tone of voice.
"Greetings, Voyager!" a cheerful alien male voice said, that had her smiling brightly, even bringing a tear to her eye.
"Greetings, Neelix. Sorry Ambassador!"
"Not so formal, between friends," was his happy response, his be-whiskered face finally appearing on her screen. "We here are all well and am pleased to hear that you all made it to your home. We hope your current problems will be sorted openly," was his warm friendly advice. Janeway found herself grinning broadly at the Talaxian male. Trust Neelix to find a positive note to all this madness that was coming from this seemingly unstoppable juggernaut.
"I wouldn't worry too much about the Vaadwaur, last I heard here, they have been scattered across this quadrant into smaller groups or single vessels, and are still being harassed by their enemies."
"Thank you for that reassurance, Neelix."
"You are welcome," he said formerly and then frowned. Janeway found herself looking at her console as the information continued to flow across it, along with soft colours that spread across the electronic board, causing both her and Elliot to step back.
=/\=
Slowly the screen cleared of all the faces that were currently linked in to the open communications network and had spoken at some point. At first only a blank white screen stared at them, and then colours appeared from the centre spiralling out from the shape of a Bajoran orb. Then words appeared in the language of the reader, thus it came in Federation Standard in the main, but also Klingon, Vulcan, Romulan, etc, even Talaxian.
Softly at first and then with growing conviction the deep gentle voice of Chakotay gave the words their true meaning:
"To have friends and to keep them one needs to be a friend. Offer the hand of friendship and peace with both hands open and in front of you.
If you go looking for trouble, trouble will find you; not because it is there, but because both sides expect it to be. Open both hands and embrace each other's culture. Never try to impose one's own views and laws on others. Embrace each other's differences.
Starfleet has always prided itself on being a force of tolerance and acceptance, a force for the good of all. At times though behind the scenes there has been suspicion and counter intelligence moves to push things towards the hidden personal agendas of a few individuals, making tolerance shaky at best.
'Too many chiefs and not enough Indians' has often been levelled at Starfleet Admiralty."
"He got that right!" muttered Dalby grinning at his host Admiral Paris by way of apology.
"The Principles that have governed Starfleet and the Federation have to some extent been largely ignored over the last few months and years in favour of pushing through private and questionable agendas, seemingly for the greater good of the UFP, when in fact it only oppressed and ignored the plight and voice of very ones that Starfleet is sworn to protect, that of the innocent."
Alynna knew to what he was referring to the DMZ and the treaty with the Cardassians. This was broken time and time again, by all sides. "The colonists had been right," she sighed softly. Her companion nodded his understanding.
The pause in his narrative of the words felt loaded; he and his companion quietly took in what was appearing next and smiled at each other. With his friend's encouraging nod of agreement, he started to read aloud again, realising who these words were coming from and yet putting his own heart behind them.
"Laws and rules, protocols, etc, are for the benefit of all whom they govern, including those who are required by those laws to implement, enforce and police them. In recent times these have again been either pushed aside or carried out to the letter, rather than the spirit as they'd been intended.
Laws are ridged, solid, often hard and harsh, appearing inflexible and often full of loopholes and get out clauses and therefore breakable. Laws provide a stable framework to operate within, without this framework chaos and anarchy would ensue, governments would breakdown and life would be endangered," pausing a moment as the next words appeared.
No-one thought to takeover or make any comments in his gentle reading of the words; words that was speaking to all persons via this very open communications network.
"Principles on the other hand are fluid, soft, gentle, being able to be applied in any situation, with any peoples, even those who are not governed by them. And yet the limits they set are unbreakable," pausing again to let that sink in.
"Principles also curb the ambitions of those who would try to use the Law to their own advantage and way to the detriment of others around them. It was the lack of adhering to the guiding Principles of the UFP that has caused Starfleet and others to lose their way and resort to underhand tactics and shadowy organisations and their agents, that has led to the current state of play. Section 31 being a prime example for the Federation, but the Tal Shari and the Obsidian Order are not without blemish. Even The Founders should be included, as their phobia of solids fuelled their own actions and reaction for self preservation, both in their home area, the Gamma Quadrant and in the Alpha.
This message is for all species whatever their standing within the Milky-way Galaxy and beyond it.
Find the guiding light."
Those words stood out filling the screen, before quietly fading into the orb shape, along with the rainbow colours, leaving behind a lasting impression on the mind's eye, although the screen was now white again.
=/\=
Slowly the original screen of faces reappeared, stunned and puzzled looks stared back at each other.
"Principles?" questioned the Romulan.
"Honour Laws; could be an interesting application," noted Martok, carefully, the Klingon Emperor nodded agreement.
"War has left its ugly mark on all of us, leaving a bitter after taste of distrust and suspicions," noted a new soft voice, yet there was no visual, so no-one knew who'd spoken only that the words were poignant.
For a moment no-one spoke, trying to take in all that had been revealed over the last few hours, some of the information was a bitter pill to swallow.
"I think...Hmm!" began the voice of the Federation President, his face appearing on the whole screen. He breathed deeply, having obviously come to a decision. "We all need to take stock of what has been revealed and said here today and then proceed one step at a time," he sat taller, for although he needed the consensus of the full council, his companion's encouraging smile was all the endorsement he required right now.
"In due course I will issue invitations to all allies, former allies, neighbours etc, to meet together to discuss the revelations raised here. It will not be behind closed door either. I would suggest that we all use the next few days to gather information on our own cultures, peoples situations and submit reports on what they find," he paused, reflecting that the task ahead appeared to be a daunting one.
"Kathryn Janeway, you have asked some very pressing questions that I believe can only be answered by those who have the relevant information, to answer them for you; which I do not think to be your fellow Rear Admiral," smiling at her.
"I do have one pressing request, that I'm sure is shared by everyone. Please close the network."
"Yes, Sir, Mr. President," she acknowledged. "Computer close all channels opened and restore and clear all navigation beacons."
#Acknowledged. Beginning closure of all channels and clearing all navigation beacons#
"How long will that take?"
"Six hours forty-five minutes and fifteen seconds," both the computer and Cmdr. Data responded. Laughter issued from the Enterprise bridge crew, echoing across the airwaves, as everyone breathed relieved.
=/\=
Notes: Sorry this has been a long time coming, especially for those of you who have kindly reviewed and followed this story. Life has been rather trying recently and I have not felt like putting pen to paper, but I will do my best to get this finished ASAP, for all. Thank you for your patience and tolerance. Lizzy
