A Time for War, a Time for Peace - Keith R. A. DeCandido [90]
Smiling, Riker said, “It’s certainly worth a shot.”
“Agreed.” Picard sat up and straightened his uniform jacket. “Set a course for the Davlos system, Number One, maximum warp. Commander Vale, inform Admiral Janeway at Starfleet Command of our heading.”
Both Riker and Vale said, “Yes, sir,” as everyone save the two captains headed for the bridge.
To Data’s retreating form, Picard said, “Well done, Mr. Data.”
Stopping and turning, Data said, “Thank you, sir.”
A moment later, only Picard and Go were left in the observation lounge.
Go, still seated, looked up at Picard. “That’s quite an officer you have there.”
“If you mean Mr. Data, I was already aware of that, Captain. It’s why I was willing to trust his judgment at Rashanar. If only those at Starfleet Command were able to do so a year ago, we might not even need you here today.”
“Quite possibly, yes.” Go looked up at Picard. “Captain, you’ve been nothing but professional during this inspection, and you’ve been completely cooperative, but there’s been an undercurrent of annoyance every time you and I have spoken. What you just said made that more of an overcurrent. I take it you have a problem with my presence here?”
Picard hadn’t wanted to say anything, but Go had asked a direct question, and he did promise to answer all her questions. So he decided to put all his cards on the table. “You personally? No, though I question the wisdom of your being assigned to this tour. The stated purpose of this inspection is to assure Starfleet Command that officers who fought in a war can adjust to a time of peace. But I was a Starfleet captain for decades prior to the war, and my staff have proven themselves time and again in both war and peace. The Enterprise would not, on the face of it, appear to fall within purview of this tour.”
Go tapped the side of her padd for several seconds before responding. “If I had been given this assignment a year ago, I’d agree with your assessment that I was unfit for it. It’s a good thing you and I didn’t meet then, Captain, because I don’t think I would want to be held responsible for my actions. Jill Leeden was my best friend. She was maid of honor at my wedding. I read the eulogy at her brother’s funeral. We’ve been through hell and back together, and when they told me that you were responsible for her death
” Go trailed off.
Picard found himself remembering the first time he met Benjamin Sisko a decade earlier at Deep Space 9. Sisko had lost his wife in the battle at Wolf 359, a battle that was directed by Picard when he had been assimilated by the Borg and made into the creature Locutus. Although Sisko did eventually forgive Picard, the waves of hatred emanating off the younger man at that first meeting had hit Picard like a slap. He imagined that, had he encountered Wai-Lin Go a year ago, the situation would have been similar.
And I doubt I would’ve been able to entirely blame Go any more than I blamed Sisko.
Go finally spoke again. “I take this uniform very seriously, Captain. When I’m asked to do a job, I do it. Admiral Nakamura instructed me to lead an inspection of the Enterprise and to evaluate the performance of the ship and its crew since Rashanar.” She took a breath. “You’re right to question my placement here. The admiral knows damn well how close Jill and I were, and I’m willing to bet he was counting on that. But I do my job, Captain, and I can assure you that my personal feelings will not get in the way of my evaluation.”
With that, Go stood up.
Picard stared at her for a moment, then said, “Captain, if I may ask—why haven’t you questioned me or anyone else about Rashanar itself?”
“Several reasons,” Go said. “For one thing, that ground was pretty well covered in the inquiry after the fact. For another, I’m not sure I could maintain