Distant Shores - Marco Palmieri [132]
The protests within Central Protectorate have grown increasingly violent. Several of the outer suburbs have reported incidents of civil unrest, and those detained during these protests have accused the police of threatening them to make sure they remain quiet.
It’s still not clear where this situation will lead the Central Protectorate. It’s obvious-at least to me-that Terrina Protectorate is looking for a way to start a war, but wants to shift political blame from itself. From the reports, the Central military generals are growing anxious for hostilities to begin.
I believe Terrina Protectorate is going to oblige them soon enough.
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OCTOR’S
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ERSONAL
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OG
- Stardate 53501.3032806513
Day 100 on Tahal-Meeroj
One hundred days have passed since my arrival-a mere ninety-seven seconds on board Voyager-and I feel as though I need to remain here another hundred days, if not more. I’ve been spending every second I’m able to get away from the hospital with Mareeza. Her pregnancy is not going well. She has developed gestational diabetes, and we have been trying to adjust her diet to keep her away from foods that will do her harm, as well as creating the best exercise regimen that she can tolerate, but it’s not abating. The methods I’ve tried to raise the level of amniotic fluid are also not proving successful on a long-term basis. There is an old Bajoran homeopathic remedy that might work, but I’m still trying to locate adequate substitutes for the necessary herbs from those available to me here.
The next few months are going to be difficult, but I think we will persevere.
C
HIEF
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EDICAL
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FFICER’S
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- Stardate 53501.3039039751
Subjective time: Day 119
A month has passed since what Protector Baracin has not-so-eloquently deemed “the Incident.”
Since that time, relations between the Central Protectorate and Terrina Protectorate have remained surprisingly stable. Neither side is completely trusting of the other, but at least no more deaths have come because of it. An interesting occurrence, since at least one of the other political prisoners held by the Central Protectorate has a family in Terrinan territory. We’ll see how long it takes before the Terrinans use them against us.
Us?
When did I begin to think of myself as a citizen?
In the meantime, a demonstration in support of the peace effort is being organized on the public grounds just outside the capital rotunda. One of the central pieces of the rally is the new piece Mareeza Tabreez is composing, and-if I can keep her up to it-will perform. She has taken it upon herself to use her pregnancy as an example, saying that peace should be on the fore of our minds, for the sake of the future, and for the sake of our past. Without either, she believes, the Tahal-Isut have no “present.”
D
OCTOR’S
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-Stardate 53501.3048225575
Day 147 on Tahal-Meeroj
Today was a day of supreme highs, and devastating lows.
Allow me to begin with the supreme highs. Today, I made my triumphant stage debut. Mareeza and I performed her magnificent aria. I couldn’t be happier that she asked me to sing.
The devastating low? As the last performer-a gymnast of some repute in the northern regions of the Central Protectorate-was finishing up her routine, the screams of rocket engines could be heard. Two medium-grade ballistic missiles came in low over our heads, right into the capital building. Thankfully, they were loaded with conventional warheads. If the Tahal-Isut had discovered even the most primitive of nuclear fuel, I doubt I’d be here to give this log entry. My mobile emitter would likely be fused to whatever remained of the stage.