Chapter 9

Sherene was in Colonel Kostopoulos' office in the Barracks, staring at the imposing MACO commander from across a desk. The office was small and packed with data modules, padds, awards; yet all orderly and neat. She had been expecting the usual Human pleasantries, but neither of them had spoken since sitting down.

"Are you going to start the interview?" Kostopoulos said suddenly.

"Oh, uh, yeah," said Sherene. The Colonel was a lot more blunt and standoffish than the other Humans Sherene had known - almost refreshingly Andorian in her attitude - and the young journalist got the distinct impression Kostopoulos had misinterpreted the interview request as an order.

Sherene activated her recording padd. "Tell me how you came to join the Military Assault Command Operations," she asked with equal concision.

Kostopoulos, remaining bolt upright in her chair, said, "I was young and there was a conflict on a Human colony world called Alpha Three. I didn't like what was going on there. It went against my beliefs. So I signed up to help."

Sherene's antennae pointed forward in curiosity. "A conflict? I thought Humans didn't fight amongst themselves any more?"

Kostopoulos cracked a small smirk at this. "That's true for the most part nowadays. But, back then, a lot of troublemakers who found themselves unable to stir up conflicts on Earth made their way out to the colonies, where it was easier to take control. Laws and rights were less clearly defined outside the Solar System, and some people wanted to take advantage of that.

"That's partly why the MACO was created in the first place - to pacify colony disputes, as well as protect them from aliens who saw them as an easy target."

Sherene nodded, wondering what would have happened if her people had encountered such a Human colony at that point in history. Would Humans now be subjects of the Andorian Empire?

She pushed the question away and asked, "What was this conflict about?"

"The colonists on Alpha Three originally started a government based on ancient Greek ideals. That's an Earth culture I come from, with a long history, so I also took interest because of that, I suppose.

"Unfortunately it didn't take long before a group of genetic supremacists twisted the philosophy to suit their own ends. First, they started categorising people based on medical background. The 'weak' would receive lesser treatment - food, accommodation, and such. Then, it became ethnically-based, and the treatment got worse."

Sherene was shocked at this, based on everything she'd heard about Humans. "And Earth allowed this?"

Kostopoulos sighed. "Back then, we could barely reach warp two. It took us a long time to get around, and ships were scarce. We asked the Vulcans to intervene, but they cited their non-interference policy."

Sherene scoffed. Although the Vulcans had changed for the better in the past few years, in the past they were well known for looking the other way when it suited them.

Kostopoulos continued. "My faith preaches tolerance and peace to all, so it didn't sit right with me. There were rumours that Earth would be sending the MACO to investigate, so I signed up for training at West Point. My country still practices national service - it's no longer mandatory, but years earlier I had volunteered for nine months in the Hellenic Army out of a sense of tradition. My previous service gave me a head-start, and I quickly became a lieutenant.

"Soon after, I was on a transport ship bound for Alpha Three."

"What happened when you got there?" Sherene asked, becoming enraptured by this tale of militant patriotism. Kostopoulos must be part-Andorian, she decided.

"The journey took months. Reports had stopped coming from the colony, so we didn't know what to expect. When we got there, we accessed local communications and found out that things had gotten worse. The supremacists had installed a totalitarian regime, organising anyone they thought of as 'lesser' into slave labour camps.

"But we learned that a woman named Kenzie had started a rebellion against the government. We were able to join forces with the rebels, and helped them to storm the colony's capitol. Like most bullies, their dictators crumpled when stood up to, and were taken back to Earth for trial.

"Kenzie and her people were able to establish a new, more just government, in the spirit of the original colonists. They drafted a charter - the Statutes of Alpha Three - which redefined civil rights for a new era."

Kostopoulos, who had remained stoic throughout this telling, now smiled faintly. "That was my first engagement, and I like to think I helped make history."

"Was it a difficult battle?" Sherene asked.

"It was a lot of difficult battles, over several days," said Kostopoulos, her smile gone again. "It was brutal, but necessary. There were times I wasn't sure if I would make it. But my faith kept me strong."

"You mentioned your faith before," said Sherene. "I've never known Humans to be religious."

Kostopoulos nodded. "It's not so common any more, but some of us still follow certain beliefs. Human history has had its share of religious conflicts and abuse, so there is still some stigma attached to it. Like the other dark parts of our past though, we've learned to move beyond such things, and that we're stronger when we coexist, regardless of our differences."

Sherene considered the woman across from her a moment - a fierce and proud warrior, clearly, but with a compassionate, spiritual side as well. It was a dichotomy she had never encountered before in her short life, rarely having left Andoria.

She was about to inquire further about the nature of Kostopoulos' beliefs, when the comm chimed.

"Thorpe to Kostopoulos."

"Excuse me," Kostopoulos said as she pressed the intercom button on her desk. "Go ahead."

"Colonel, McQueen's survey team is overdue and non-responsive, so I'm putting together a search party," said the base's First Officer. "Have six MACOs meet me in the Hangar in twenty minutes."

"Understood," Kostopoulos said, closing the channel. She looked back at Sherene and stood. "We'll have to cut this short."

Sherene's antennae bent back in anxiety. "Threv was on that survey team," she said, looking at Kostopoulos with concern.

The Human woman moved around her desk to place a hand on Sherene's shoulder. "Don't worry. I'm sure everything's fine. I intend to go on that search party myself, and us MACOs never leave anyone behind."

She was probably trying to be reassuring, Sherene realised, but her rigid demeanour completely failed to convey this.