"Cornwell, we are not going there!" Georgiou shouted.
"We can clean up the mess afterwards," Terral said.
Georgiou looked disgusted at the holographic representations of Starfleet Command in attendance.
"We will not," Georgiou said. "The Discovery took out some of the major players."
"Voq is planning to wipe out several Starbases and colonies," Terral said. "We can not stand by and watch people lose their lives over bases that have no defenses."
"And how do you know this?" Georgiou asked.
"We have informants," Terral said, dryly.
"Look, we have not much of a choice," Cornwell said.
"You are insisting we perform genocide against the Klingons," Georgiou said.
"That is where most of the rogue Klingons are based," Terral said.
"It's unethical," Georgiou said.
"It's the only way," Cornwell said.
"I propose we make them fight against each other," Georgiou said. "start a fight."
"That would make a new enemy," Anderson said. "the war wouldn't end."
"They are not interested in fighting a lost cause against us!" Georgiou replied. "Our enemies can become our friends."
"These enemies have teeth," Anderson said. "It would take a miracle to capture Voq alive, let alone kill him." Saru entered the conference room with one arm swaying behind him while his other hand was holding a cup of tea. A cup of tea that he handed off to Georgiou.
Georgiou slowly sat down into the chair then took a sip and glanced up toward the other admirals.
"What if they don't raid the starbases and instead take them over?" Georgiou asked.
"It wouldn't happen," Anderson said. "They are determined on making sure we never existed."
"Now that is a possible situation," Cornwell agreed.
"We don't give up," Georgiou said. "I have faith in the Discovery."
"We almost lost the Glenn to the rogue Klingons two weeks ago," Terral said. "We cannot risk any more Starfleet property and lives in this senseless war."
"Have faith in the Discovery," Georgiou said. "and Commander Burnham."
Anderson and Cornwell eyed the admiral.
"The chances of a miracle are bleak," Cornwell said. "we are going ahead."
"Alright," Georgiou said. "you going to be aboard the ship? Anyone I should know leading it?"
"Captain Constaza is awaiting the order," Anderson said.
"Me and Constaza are very good friends, " Georgiou said. "she won't like having blood in her hands. Does she know the shipment she has aboard her vessel?" there was silence in the room. "Does she know? Did you lie to her about what is in her cargo bay?" she stood up. "Does she know why she is stationed close to Qo'nos?"
"Classified mission," Terral said.
"Retrieving a informant from Qo'Nos," Anderson said.
"Do not interfere with the mission," Cornwell said. "it's out of your hands."
"So it appears," Georgiou said, with a nod. "I was once in your mind set. Never again." She reached forward and pressed a button on her station.
Saru looked down toward the admiral.
"Should USS Mae be informed not to empty cargo bay?" Saru asked.
"Quickly," Georgiou said.
"On my way," Saru said.
Saru left the room in a fast stride.
Georgiou took another sip from her glass.
She could hear the non-existent screams of the terrified Klingons ringing in her ears. She could see the cities falling apart once engulfed into flames. She could see the green planet turning red before her eyes from all corners. Klingons attempting to flee the disaster only to end up vaporized. Survivors seeking for help while appearing to a dead warrior walking. Klingons in the middle of hunting, patiently, and silently. The native wildlife fleeing before the Klingon could let go of their old fashioned weapon then turning their heads to see the end coming toward them. She took another sip from the tea cup and lowered the cup onto the table. Starfleet had become desperate and it seemed that hope was little more than a word. It seemed as though Starfleet itself had entered into darkness.
Bryce's eyes opened to see a small fire from across. He was pressed against a big body of wood. Burnham was meditating beside him on the ground. She had a calm and serene aesthetic to her. The flames made beautiful shadows against her skin and her body. The stars seemingly outlined her head. It was awe-inspiring and odd at once. He remembered keeping a grip over the console. He remembered the shuttlecraft losing warp over loss of power. The sounds of metal breaking loudly. Burnham moving L'Rell to her seat then going into the original seat that L'Rell had been. A quick moment of action that could have saved her life. Risky choice of action. His eyes looked over to see both halves of the shuttle craft were pushed together with the faint lines of the damage seen visibly.
"Hello, Liuetenant," L'Rell said.
Bryce looked over toward L'Rell.
"Nice to see a familiar face awake," Bryce said, jokingly.
L'Rell nodded in agreement.
"I initially believed you were never going to wake up from the head injury," L'Rell admitted.
"What?" Bryce asked. "Klingons sometimes don't wake up from a head injury?"
"A never ending sleep," L'Rell said. "You humans are more resilient than what Klingons thought."
"I thought Klingons wouldn't have a problem with that," Bryce said. "Redundancy in their bodies."
"The way you are saying it makes it seem we have two heads," L'Rell said.
"Yeah, no," Bryce said. "I mean to say it seems that. . . your brain could come back faster from injuries to it."
"We have a secondary brain system," L'Rell said.
"Ahhh," Bryce said. "So they injure the head twice to make it permanent?"
"Something like that," L'Rell said. "We are in Voq's territory."
"I'mma kick their ass," Bryce said.
L'Rell looked over raising a eyebrow ridge at the man.
"You are in no position to do so," L'Rell said. "We will be slaughtered and discarded."
"Is it going to be a quick slaughter?" Bryce asked.
"Depends if Voq will attend," L'Rell said. "All we can do is wait and be patient."
"We'll get out of this in one piece," Bryce said, confidently.
"Why are you so confident on the eve of your death?" L'Rell asked. "I have seen officers aboard the Discovery go out to their deaths with a smile and hopeful. Not bold and grim."
"Hope is all we got," Bryce said. "if we let misery fall on us then we would lose the war and everything good about the United Federation of Planets, Starfleet, and everything about life. We have to march forward not run away."
"Most Klingons would back off and come back with better allies," L'Rell said. "I've been keeping up with the losses."
"We have all the allies we need to end the war," Bryce said. "My head hurts."
L'Rell looked curiously at the injured communications officer then held out a stick.
"Eat," L'Rell offered, holding out what seemed a roasted animal attached to a stick.
"Uh no," Bryce said. "That isn't treated."
"Humans have survived off worse," L'Rell said. "Such as eating squids."
"Those were dead!" Bryce said. "They were also safe to eat!"
"Like chocolate ants?" L'Rell suggested
"They are nutritional, okay?" Bryce said.
"So is this," L'Rell said.
"Why you-" Bryce took the stick then bit into the back of the rat like animal then yanked it back chewing on the meat while glaring back back at her and handed it back.
"Finish it," L'Rell said, holding a hand out in decline.
Bryce took the stick back and resumed chewing.
Burnham awakened from her long rest within the shuttle craft.
L'Rell was covered in a Starfleet issued blue blanket.
Bryce was resting across from L'Rell against the wall with a very special adjustable pillow.
Burnham was resting beside the doorway. She stood up to her feet feeling Tilly's worry through their link. She slid the door open then hopped out of the shuttle craft. Burnham brought along her Starfleet rope. She swung it at the cliff side again, tugged it, then began the climb. She made it to the top plotting her way back down during the climb as a way of means of returning to the group. It took one hour to reach the top. Burnham collected large pieces of rock then formed two words. A move that could be wise. L'Rell and Burnham had spoken about it at length. If it could work, it would give Starfleet a edge in the war. Or perhaps hand the Discovery over to a dark time in command. She stepped back after making the two words. Burnham made the climb down the cliff with the rope wrapped around her shoulder. Her fingers were covered in dirt, chipped, and covered in scratches shielding her mind off from Tilly. She made it down to the base in a hour with kind, well made patience.
Burnham stabbed a large, muscular rat with a long stick.
The large, muscular rat only was able to scream once then die before her eyes.
"TURN THE ALARM OFF!" Bryce called.
"Ssssh, small human," L'Rell hissed back.
"No, you sssh," Bryce said.
"Do not make me smack you," L'Rell replied.
"Fine," Bryce said
Burnham collected more pieces of sticks to the rounded center that had been constructed while carrying the long stick. It was very fat enough to be cooked then sliced into three pieces. The head and hindquarters were off the table. The arms were covered in fat. Thick fat. Burnham peeled off the skin using a sharp rock. The contraption that L'Rell made with the help of four sticks were still up and ready. Burnham placed it onto the contraption. She started the fire. This was enough for breakfast while they waited. She cleaned her hands off in the small pond nearby. Bryce took off his red shirt coming over to the cooking fireplace. Burnham returned rubbing her hands.
"Good morning, Lieutenant," Burnham said.
"I trust you slept well," Bryce said.
"That I have," Burnham said. "Are you with us should our plan to get off this planet not be in your interests?"
"I like to get this cut healed properly," Bryce said. "and a brain scan to see if anything is messed up."
"Yes or no will suffice, Lieutenant," Burnham said.
"I am with you," Bryce said. Bryce smiled. "Then we will get off this planet in one piece." Burnham nodded in return.
"Indeed," Burnham said, then turned her attention onto the cooking breakfast.
"Captain, captain, captain!" Tilly ran into the captain's cabin speeding into the office. Landry looked up from the padd toward the woman.
"Ensign," Landry said. "What brings you here?"
"The shuttle is in Klingon territory," Tilly said.
"I know you share a link with the Commander but being told she is in Klingon territory is not helpful," Landry said. "Very vague."
"She is on a planet that belongs to Voq," Tilly said. "L'Rell and Bryce are alive but injured."
"He has conquered a lot of planets, some of them federation," Landry said. "And the next Klingon vessel is going to have him aboard. She doesn't know when. But it will be soon." Landry cupped her hands together looking toward the Ensign with curiousity. "She thinks there is a way that Starfleet can end the war."
"Can we get him alive?" Landry said.
"There is a good chance that he won't," Tilly said. "And the war ending. It will be eventful but it will be over."
"That is not good enough," Landry said.
"She knows," Tilly said. "She has hope that it will not happen."
"We need him to face trial for what he did," Landry said. "His honor has to be taken away so they can stop fighting his war. We need them to see him alive," Landry placed her hands to her lap. "And I doubt that even if they kill him it will do anything to end the war. Tilly, whatever Burnham is planning, it will not work unless the rogue Klingons have decided to end the war."
Tilly nodded.
"She understands that," Tilly said. "She just wanted you to know."
"I appreciate her thought," Landry said. "I will inform Starfleet command and hopefully, we don't have to see how the war concludes." she waved her hand, dismissingly. "You are dismissed, Ensign."
Tilly walked out of the office. Landry turned away, her hands balling up into fists. She was angry at how the war against the rogue Klingons had turned against Starfleet. They were winning, initially, and now they were not winning as often. She stood up then came over to one of the windows. She looked down to see a planet that was below. A planet they were assigned to protect. Her hands were linked behind her back. The USS Isaacs was still out there including fifty percent of Starfleet. Fifty percent was smaller than the mere 80 percent that they had came into the time loop in the first place. She smacked the wall then pressed her head against the window with her hand alongside. Her eyes looked down toward the floor aimlessly. She felt helpless to the storm that could not be stopped headed toward Earth.
"Eve of death, silence in the air, people walking around with hope on their hearts, and death coming in silently behind them," Landry said. "it is the beginning of the end."
Ten hours passed on the planet.
Burnham had eased and calmed Tilly from long distance.
L'Rell was impressed by the human keeping her demeanor when she could die at any moment.
Bryce was not keeping himself well together regarding the issue. His hands were trembling while he sat down on a log after spending so many hours on a single task. He was sharpening occasionally a stick then hiding it in his boots as though they could pose him help in a fight for his life. Burnham was mediating inside the shuttlecraft. The air was still on the bottom of the canyon. As though if movement was attempted then it would result in a terrible storm. It was eerie like even for a Klingon. Listening to Bryce speaking in his nap was far more odd than the silent commander who tossed and turned. She had caught Bryce once about to walk out the shuttlecraft that previous night and talked him back in. Listening to the hissing, howls, and the shuttle tremble at night as though something shook it attempting to get food. There were scars on the side of the shuttlecraft that acted as evidence. She had good eyes to see in the dark for moving rogue Klingon Bird Of Preys. They had eaten three fat rats and no one had a single clue on what they were eating to get so far.
Burnham theorized there was a city up ahead with natives.
Bryce suggested there must be a lot of food lying around.
And L'Rell believed there must be dead bodies laid about-then she saw one,
"Commander Burnham!" L'Rell called.
Burnham poked her head out of the shuttlecraft.
"Yes?" Burnham asked.
"The Bird of Prey is in orbit," L'Rell replied, as the first officer came out of the shuttle.
Bryce straightened his regulation shirt looking toward the first officer then toward L'Rell.
"Do they have any beef over you?" Bryce asked.
L'Rell looked at the communications officer.
". . . They don't have meat for me to eat," L'Rell said. "Hardly willing to feed me as one of their own."
"He means, do they have anything against you?" Burnham said.
"I was in a cell," L'Rell reminded.
"To kill you," Bryce clarified.
"No, not really," L'Rell said.
Burnham joined the two by the side.
"Follow my lead," Burnham said, slapping the Starfleet insignia on her pants. "The fate of everything we hold dear rests on this mission."
"Do I get to kick rogue Klingon ass?" Bryce asked.
"Possibly," Burnham said.
"I am good with it," Bryce said. "How about you?" he looked over toward L'Rell.
"I do not look forward to seeing a mockery of a house that welcomed me," L'Rell said, shamefully.
"You are part of a larger force that welcomes you in the eve of a battle's end," Burnham said, optimistically.
"That I am," L'Rell agreed, as in a red light appeared a squad of Klingons across from them. She looked up toward Burnham. "I am honored to serve you, Commander Burnham."