Metamorphosis - Jean Lorrah [98]
“Doctor,” said Picard, “there have been rare instances in which Starfleet officers ignored the NonInterference Directive and were ultimately exonerated. But those cases have never included interference in the politics of a planet. Perhaps Starbleleet Command was wrong in not punishing those who gave aid in cases of epidemic or natural disaster, no matter what the mitigating circumstances. The consequences are that we sit here arguing over a clear-cut situation in which we are strictly forbidden to take sides: war between two opposing forces from the same culture, plain and simple.”
“But it is not plain and simple,” Darryl Adin spoke up. “This is not a dispute over laws or lands or resources. When both sides choose to fight, it’s none of our business to get involved.
Or when people allow themselves to be mistreated, because they are afraid to fight for their own rights, it’s not our place to do for them what they will not do for themselves. “But when a mighty force rises up and destroys a weaker populace, those who are killed and enslaved don’t make a choice, any more than those who die in an epidemic choose to be attacked wasdisease.
The Samdians are fighting; they are simply outnumbered by the Konor, and unable to match them in viciousness.”
“Mr. Adin is right!” Pulaski agreed. “The Konor’s prime weapon is this form of broadcast telepathy, intangible but deadly when they use it to disorient those they attack. They’re more like an epidemic than an attacking army.”
“Or locusts,” Geordi added, “gobbling up what other people have worked hard and long to cultivate.”
There were murmurs of assent all around the table.
Picard looked from face to face, his features hardening. “Listen to yourselves!” he demanded. “My God, don’t you realize that you are doing to the Konor exactly what they do to those they call Ikonor: refusing to see them as people? They are people.
They are not bacteria or viruses, Doctor.
They are not insects, Chief Engineer. They are people, and part of the natural population of the Samdian Sector.”
“Natural?” Dare scoffed, his voice taking on the tight nasal quality it had had when Data had first met him, when he had been a disillusioned fugitive from Federation justice, convicted of a crime he had never committed. “Is it natural to turn on your own kind, Captain?”
Picard said sadly, “From galactic history it would appear that it is only too natural. I am sorry, my friends, but the Prime Directive forbids our interference in the internal conflict in the Samdian System.”
“But it doesn’t forbid mine,” Dare said.
Data was startled, but realized at once he shouldn’t have been. “But what can you do, Dare?” he asked. “Eight people, two ships, a few weapons?”
“And many years of experience,” the mercenary replied.
“I’d advise the Samdians left on Dacket to refugee to Gellesen. That should give them some breathing space while we train them. Sdan knows mental techniques to avoid letting telepathic transmissions disorient people. We all know how to devise defense systems. We can prepare.”
“When the attack comes, and it will,” Data said, “it will be the population and resources of two planets, Jokarn and Dacket, against one, Gellesen. I thought you did not take on lost causes.”
Dare gave him his old non-smile. “Who says this is a lost cause? And who says everybody will be as reluctant to help as Starfleet?” Picard’s mouth was a thin line. “There is no way we can stop you from involving yourselves in this dispute, Mr. Adin. If you plan to stay here, I suggest that you remove your ships from the shuttle bay before we leave orbit.”
“Oh, we’ll leave immediately,” Dare said, his voice acerbic. “Thank you for your hospitality, Captain.”
When Dare and his gang had gone, Riker said, “He’s going to escalate the situation. Captain, you know Adin’s reputation: he’ll deal with anyone to accomplish his ends. The Klingons will honor the Prime Directive, but the Ferengi will have no qualms about selling him weapons. We’re close to the Neutral Zone, too. This dispute among three minor planets could erupt into interstellar