Chapter 16

Less than four hours remaining.

North stared grimly at the countdown clock above the main viewscreen in Ops. They were now down to a skeleton crew, only about a hundred staff left on-site, and everyone else on the fifth planet, or in transit between worlds.

With a heavy sign, he checked the traffic control monitor. The Garas was pulling into orbit. At least they had been helpful with the evacuation, if not in redirecting the comet.

He opened the base-wide intercom channel. "Attention, all hands. This is the final evac order. All personnel, repeat, all personnel are to clear out and report to the Hangar. Commodore North out." Closing the channel, he felt that those were rather empty words for his final order as CO of Starbase 1. Something like that required more ceremony than he was capable of presently.

Perhaps Starfleet would let him command the next starbase, he speculated emotionlessly. If they offered him such a position, would he accept it? He didn't know right now. This whole experience had left him burned out - not merely because of the exhaustive effort involved, but also because it had felt like a blow to the head from fate itself, whether he believed in it or not. If the universe sought to take this all away from him, who was he to argue?

Everyone in Ops was still at their posts, looking at each other with uncertainty. "That means all of you as well," North said, making things certain for them. They all started to shuffle out, and McQueen passed him, looking as defeated as he felt.

"I wish I could have reached the lifeform," she said, choked up. "Persuaded it to move."

North had been briefed on McQueen and T'Ling's fruitless attempt to initiate telepathic contact with the comet creature. It had been foolhardy, and they should have sought his authorisation first, but none of that mattered now. He patted McQueen's shoulder.

"At least you tried, Commander. You can take comfort in that."

She nodded and moved out with the rest of the Ops staff.

Lt. Vaughn was still at North's side, as ever, when only the two of them were left. Despite having a family, Vaughn had refused to abandon his post. North admired the young man's dedication, although he wondered if Vaughn's fiancée would feel the same way.

"Are you coming, sir?" Vaughn asked.

The Commodore slowly sat in the chair at the command console. "I intend to remain here until every last person is off this base and safely on Berengaria Five. Besides, we'll need someone to switch the lights off."

Vaughn shared his small smile, albeit more nervously. "Very well, sir." He remained rooted to the floor.

"I appreciate your loyalty, Vaughn, but you have Angie to think about. Get out of here."

Vaughn thought about it a moment, then headed for the exit. He stopped in the doorway and turned back. "You... You are coming, aren't you, Commodore?"

North fixed him with a silent stare. He thought about his future, and found it barren. It had taken him months to build what they had here, and it would soon come crashing down along with his optimism. He had felt like he'd been living on borrowed time since the end of the war, maybe now it was up.

Neither man spoke. Vaughn walked back along the length of Ops and stood before North with his hand extended. North slowly stood and shook it firmly. Welling up, Vaughn left.

Sitting back down, North took in the empty command centre around him, consoles still beeping and flashing like nothing was wrong.

Now he was alone.

"Last of the evacuees are aboard," Grum reported, still at the auxiliary console on the Garas' command deck.

"Shuttles are clear," said Sandor from the operations station.

Grum and Sandor had been liaising with the base engineers over Commander Chen's idea about extending a warp field around the comet, but it had led nowhere. The power requirements would have been enormous, and field stability wouldn't be strong enough to hold for very long. Besides, Grum conjectured, the creature would probably scupper their efforts with its telekinesis again.

"Wheel," Terev said, addressing the helm officer by the Tellarite term, "set course for Berengaria Five, maximum impulse."

Brantik, who had been idly rubbing one of his tusks, loudly interjected. "Belay that!" Everyone turned to face him as he stood. "Set course for the comet."

"Director?" Terev asked, surprised. Grum was also shocked.

"North is being a fool," Brantik said. "And I won't let it continue any further. We're going to destroy that comet and save the planet."

Grum also stood, indignant. "Those were not our orders, sir!"

"We're not in the Federation yet!" Brantik shouted back. "I don't have to obey Starfleet's orders. Wheel, set course. Gunner, prepare torpedoes."

"No!" Grum shouted before anyone could move. "I will not allow you to kill that lifeform or its young!"

Brantik snorted. "The Humans have made you soft, Supervisor."

Grum, stood his ground. "Then I shall behave more like a Tellarite for you, Director! I disagree with your decision and I shall stubbornly prevent you from carrying it out by any means!"

"You have forgotten our ways," Brantik, equally determined, retorted. "Disagreement is used for constructive purposes, not because you didn't get your way. This serves no purpose."

"I'm trying to save that creature!"

"At the expense of the Draco? Of a whole world?"

All eyes on the command deck were going back and forth between the two.

Grum sneered. "Now who's forgotten the Tellarite culture?"

Brantik recoiled at this, outraged. "What!?"

"Argument and debate is about understanding! Seeing things from another point of view! I know the Draco. While you may find their fate unacceptable, they are not so... so ignoble! They accept their end with dignity! They reject their violent ways, and would be disgusted to prolong their race by extinguishing another! And the Humans also respect the natural course of things!"

Brantik scoffed. "Natural? By Kera and Phinda, if we all cared about what was natural, none of us would have left our homeworlds! That's just an excuse for a primitive outlook."

"Remember the core tenet of Tellarite society, Director: You cannot win a one-sided argument."

"What are you talking about now?"

"What about the creature's side?" That silenced Brantik. Grum continued. "It cannot speak for itself, but it's made its position pretty clear. It will not be moved! And yet, you ignore it! Centuries ago, our people realised that all conflict stems from lack of communication, and that all voices must be heard to achieve peace! You ignore that creed now!

"You've made the decision for the voiceless, well now I am that voice! And I say that you will not harm that creature."

The air was thick with a heavy silence. Brantik seemed angry still, but torn in thought. Everyone awaited his next statement.

But it was Terev, also rising, who spoke first. "Sir, Supervisor Grum may have taken on some Human faults, but he's right." Grum appreciated the support, and even the casual insult. "This lifeform has a right to its decision. As do Commodore North and the Draco. Argument is a good thing, Director, but sometimes one must concede to the majority." He looked approvingly at Grum. "Especially when they argue better."

Sandor folded his burly arms. "I will also not take any action against that creature."

The rest of the command deck crew took on expressions of concordance with this sentiment. Brantik absorbed this.

He grunted. "Hmph. Manager, take over here. Get us to the fifth planet." With no further comment, Brantik stormed out.

Terev started issuing orders, and Grum, letting out a long breath, sat himself back down. While debate and disagreement were encouraged on Tellarite vessels, outright insubordination was still disapproved, and there were protocols to be followed. He was content he had done the right thing, but Grum wondered what the consequences would be. With Starbase 1 not long for the universe, he'd probably end up serving with his own kind again fairly soon. Would he be accepted after this?

He felt Sandor's heavy hand on his shoulder. "You have Human compassion and Tellarite stubbornness," the engineer said quietly to him. "If you were a little better looking, you could be an Hungarian."

They both chuckled. At least someone appreciated him.