We Grow Wise

Posted on 30 Nov 2012 @ 1:32pm by Crewman Athlen

3,015 words; about a 15 minute read

Mission: Episode 02 - Resupply
Location: USS Galileo: Mess Hall
Timeline: MD13 0700 Hours

ON:

They were right in the middle of the mess hall, and they were currently in a vehement argument. At least, the Rigelian was. The Vulcan sat over his meal, eating calmly. "You cannot honestly tell me you believe that was moral!" the Rigelian was saying, thrusting a PADD down in front of Liyar. "Thirty two people were killed!"

Jeremy continued studying the libretto. He had partially translated most of the lyrics from the old German into something that he could understand but his was a direct translation and had none of the beauty of what must be there. The computer could have made a translation, but he learned long ago that the computer failed to take into account artist interpretation of words and would be little better than a direct translation.

However, the declaration of thirty two dead caused him to look up. Frowning, he looked around him trying to remember why he came to the mess hall. A glance at his PADD while a Rigelian continued to harangue a Vulcan reminded him that he had come to get something to eat before starting Alpha shift. The problem was he didn't know what he wanted because the replicators on Galileo were not programmed the same as the station. He knew what he wanted at the station. The computer recognized his vocal pattern and made it for him. Now he had to remember things if he liked eggs or not.

Except, as he looked around the room, he realized there was something wrong with the replicator. He saw crewman at a buffet counter instead of using the replicator.

"As a result, seven hundred and twenty innocent civilians were rescued. The individuals whom perished were volunteers and thus fully cognizant of their actions. To deny them their own choice would be to disregard their capacity as self-aware, rational adults capable of maintaining responsibility for themselves." Liyar took a bite of mia-zed, and washed it down with some orange juice.

Jeremy blinked at the response of the Vulcan. He continued to look at his PADD wondering if the mess posted a menu of their selections or if he was supposed to just look to see what they had. He'd been onship for how long? Did he have this problem before? Or, another thought struck him, had he already eaten? There wasn't a tray in front of him but he could have bussed it already. He checked his PADD for notes on whether he ate.

"You - !" Athlen coughed, in between spluttering and laughing. A couple of ensigns were snickering in the corner and Athlen glowered angrily. He gestured widely with the hand holding a fork. "Their captain should never have allowed them to do it! The boarding Cardassian party completely slaughtered them and Captain Zerith knew they would be killed if they tried to effect a rescue. That's like saying their lives are meaningless because their numbers are less. That's a terrible argument, even logically. That's like saying because I want to charge in front of a raging Klingon in your honor, you should just let me, because it's my choice. Just because I can choose to do it doesn't make it right," the Rigalien said animatedly. "Don't Vulcans believe in collective consciousness? By failing to act, I get speared with a targ horn, that sort of makes it your fault."

The mention of the Cardassians caused Jeremy to grip the PADD until his knuckles turned white and there was a possibility of cracking the PADD's display. His heart rate jumped and he didn't realize his breathing had shallowed until there was a beep on the PADD. His biometrics were displayed but Jeremy still looked around, expecting a Cardassian party to come into the mess hall, weapons blazing. He reached into his pocket and gripped the little hand phaser he kept there for emergency use.

He knew all too well that the Captain's decision to let the rescue party die was the best one. Being in Cardassian custody was worse than death. Jeremy vowed that would never happen again.

"You describe an inherent difference of situation," Liyar pointed out. "As your direct superior, I would be negligent in my duty to allow you to harm yourself where the situation could be resolved logically. The one must be cognizant of their behavior, else it is coercion," the Vulcan was explaining. By Vulcan standards their conversation was positively lively. "Were you in a position, uniquely, to benefit the majority, and you coherently chose to act, it would not be immoral. You view Spunau bolayalar t'Wehku bolayalar t'Zamu il t'Veh as offensive. Why?"

Now Jeremy did frown and sighed. Vulcans believed everything could be reduced to a simple equation. However, they failed to consider that their own deductions could be flawed. While the Vulcan argued, Jeremy wondered how he could mix deontology with utilitarianism so haphazardly.

"Because it trivializes life based on mathematical algorithm," Athlen supplied easily. "I thought you were the one arguing Miran secession over Romulus? The numbers favored destruction there, too. That is not logical. No one is absolutely responsible for another, that is force, to maintain a societal standard that you have to be responsible for other people, that you have to act only in accordance to how the whole entire population must progress." Athlen paused to eat some of his own meal, unaware that several dozen others in the mess hall had long since stopped eating and focused on them.

Two crewman in security gold entered the mess hall, turning to the Rigelian immediately. The Rigelian was, so far, becoming loud. Maybe obnoxiously so, but thus far Jeremy didn't see actions that he felt warranted involvement. Someone may have no doubt called in a complaint, however, he was not about to allow a flagship to become a totalitarian regime where people were not free to have an exchange of ideas. Without explicit orders from Captain...he frowned...Liyhra?

"Collective consciousness is not a belief," Liyar reminded him. "It is a product of psionic resonance. The Vulcan that places his own life before the needs of the many is not forced to do otherwise. He is regarded as an aberration. That pronouncement is not force. That one is asked to protect greater need is a request of individuality. That is why their actions matter."

The social contract signed at phaser point, Jeremy thought making sure to catch his officer's eyes and the slight shake of his head. One nodded and whispered to the other. Both seemed to take a more relaxed stance.

"There is always another way!" Athlen exploded. He blinked and sat back down, realizing he'd shot to his feet.

Jeremy stood as well, his PADD hitting the tabletop and moving from behind the table with practiced ease. He noted his officers moving toward the group as well. "Getting loud," Jeremy said, glaring at the Rigelian. Heated debate was one thing, he would not tolerate them becoming physical or assaults.

"Sorry." He flushed bright green and continued the conversation in a lower tone. "It's one thing to say that you know, Mr. Random gets to sacrifice his life and save his entire ship," Athlen continued, placing his hand on the table to drill home the point. He barely even registered Jeremy on his radar. "It is another for a captain to knowingly order his subordinates into an enemy situation where they will be killed to effect a rescue of a greater number of people. The captain didn't hurt those people to begin with, the captain is not even responsible for the situation. He judged the lives of his crew to mean less. It doesn't matter if there were five thousand civilians, Liyar. Those are all sentient lives being destroyed. None of those are worth more than the other," Athlen said.

Jeremy positioned his men at the edge of the buffet counter. He noted they had taken on a nonchalant attitude but they kept monitoring the Rigelian and Vulcan. Jeremy glanced back at his table and wondered, did he already eat?

"I am uncertain where you derive the interpretation that Vulcan epithet takes into account qualia value. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few is a mathematical statement."

Jeremy snorted at that. Vulcans.

"It has outweigh in its name!"

"A collective survival is greater than an individual survival. We are equally a qualia of value, immeasurable by logic. Yet, it is universally acknowledged that one of us is inferior to this entire crew compliment. They exist in more abundance. To acknowledge this is logical."

"So, what? If there were twenty of you and one me, you would be more valuable?"

"It would be a greater gain to conserve me, yes. Logic can only define the logical. I am concerned that you so believe logic to comprise the be all and end all of existence, that you dispute a simple statement of numbers on the basis of being morally incorrect. Vulcan epithets do not attempt to define morality. We define logic. Logic is a tool of morality, not an indicator."

Except, Jeremy thought, still trying to remember if he'd eaten or not. Vulcans do equate their subjectively derived logic into moral judgements. It is codified in their very concept if IDIC and their common belief of 'the needs of the many'. That is a moral judgement rather than a mere logical deduction. One of his crewman came over. Jeremy tried to remember his name - or if he'd even met him yet - but couldn't and his PADD was on the table. He understood that some places, people in organizations wore name tags. Why didn't Starfleet have this policy?

"We got a call about a disturbance, seems pretty obvious where it is," the crewman said.

"So far just talking. Though the Rigelian is getting pretty upset over the Vulcan's refusal to admit the flaw in their entire planet's philosophy." Jeremy checked the time. These were gamma shift officers, so they had time left on their shift. Keeping them here wouldn't be a problem. They could get...coffee or some other beverage.

"So what, you don't agree with it then?" the Rigelian said.

"On the contrary. I find it to be logical."

Athlen slammed his head on the table and groaned, placing his hands over his hair. "Vulcans." Athlen stood up. "You owe me a fight," he announced with a finger pointed in Liyar's direction. To the onlooking enlisted and ensign's surprises, the Vulcan simply nodded in acquiescence. "Ack!" Athlen shouted abruptly, and his tray flew everywhere, dumping soup all over Liyar's chest and head as the 6'4" tall frame of the Galileo's new security officer slammed into him. "Ow!" Athlen shouted, sniffling and coughing up a bit of green into his hands. "Oh, gross! Today sucks!"

Liyar blinked a wayward bean out of his eye.

Jeremy pressed Athlen against the wall, making sure to control both arms in an arm bar maneuver. The only reason why Athlen didn't instinctively fight back was because he didn't want to start an all out brawl, and because he was confused. It was through sheer force of will that Athlen let himself be maneuvered around instead of doing what his body instinctively craved. When the Rigelian wasn't unstable enough, Jeremy kicked one of his ankles, spreading the leg out further. "Now, turn your ankles into the wall and don't try to come off it until you're told otherwise," Jeremy said into his ear. "I do not want to have to obtain medical attention because you decided to resist being taken into custody."

"...What?" Athlen said, blinking. His stance was completely devoid of tension (with some great conscious effort. He was honestly a little scared, and didn't want anybody to phaser him). "What? What did I do?!" he asked, genuinely confused.

As the crewman came over, Jeremy held the Rigelian against the wall so he wouldn't fall over. Until one of the crewman took control of him. "Take him to the brig," Jeremy said, gazing over the Rigelian as he was removed from the wall for any signs of possible injury. "Process him for disturbing the peace, assault on an officer with a diplomatic attachment, threatening harm and..." Jeremy looked at the table where the Vulcan sat. "And littering."

Jeremy picked up his PADD and used it to pull up the Vulcan's facesheet. "Lieutenant Liyar, I'm going to need a statement from you regarding this incident."

Athlen's eyes widened as he realized what the other officer must have thought, and he turned bright green, kind of like a broccoli with eyebrows as he was lead away. "No! I wasn't - I mean - it wasn't a threat!" he started, looking terribly flustered. "Oh crap! This is horrible! My day is sucking! Wait a minute... littering?!" Athlen let himself be led away. "You can't be serious!" was heard out the door.

Liyar stood, and arched a single eyebrow at the taller security officer in front of him. "Crewman Athlen has been misunderstood," the Vulcan said. "Due to his own unfortunate wording. His intent was clear to me. He was requesting a sparring session in the holodeck. It is the Rigelian custom, one I have participated in several times." He had his hands folded behind him.

Beside Liyar, one of the golden uniformed men nodded his head. "Rigel... five," he mumbled to himself. "What was that seminar... fighting, discipline, and logic?" the man tilted his head quizzically.

Liyar inclined his head, realizing for the first time that this was actually his job. "Not fighting as you term it. The more accurate translation is catharsis. It is similar to a Vulcan participating in meditation to purge powerful emotions. It is how each of our races deal with difficult emotions. Most humans do not require structured activities to handle their day to day happenings in the same manner. I apologize if we have disrupted your morning meal. Crewman Athlen and I maintain a suitable professional relationship due to our mutual understanding of cultural conception."

Jeremy continued to look blankly at Liyar while listening to the Vulcan expound on the inoffense of the nature. "Lieutenant, would you direct me to the regulation that states it is okay for a member species to violate Starfleet Regulations when it becomes inconvenient for them?" Jeremy turned to the officer, making a note on his PADD to mark him as well. "Officer, if the Lieutenant here is not able to do so, could you cite it for me?"

"I was unaware that sparring sessions were against Starfleet regulations," Liyar spoke, expression not changing an iota. "I was given to understand that it is an encouraged past time." Briefly, Liyar wondered if he was wrong, and somehow this was an unwritten rule, some misunderstanding he had the misfortune of entering into yet again. The V'Shar was definitely nothing like Starfleet. The regulations were excessively irrational. Of course, Liyar came from an organization of telepaths. It did smooth things over somewhat.

Jeremy took a breath and returned to the Vulcan. "Once, again, Lieutenant. I will require a written statement regarding the incident here. I did not ask for a defense of the crewman. He will be able to plead his defense to the arbiter when his case is brought forward." Jeremy tapped on his PADD sending a file to Lieutenant Liyar, Diplomatic officer. Jeremy read that position again. A Vulcan diplomat and before he had his morning coffee. Maybe. He still hadn't determined that. "I have sent you the necessary forms, please be thorough and complete and transmit them back to me by the end of Alpha shift today. Also, I will caution you that Starfleet officers will be held to the same standard as the enlisted crew, and any form of personal duels will result in arrest and request for formal charges to be made."

"I shall forward you the necessary reports," came the Vulcan's simple reply, a slow blink accompanying it.

"Thank you, Lieutenant. Please remember, however, that a statement is a recitation of fact to the best of the writer's ability without slant or opinion. Opining upon the nature of events is testimony, which I did not ask for. If you wish, you may speak with the crewman's advocate, once assigned, and give him testimony."

Liyar blinked yet again. Maybe it was a Vulcan sign of irritation Jeremy didn't know about. Or maybe he was exceptionally blink-y. The confirmation, as ever, was perfunctory and terribly boring. "Very well."

Jeremy turned to walk away but stopped as soon as he came shoulder to shoulder with the officer. "Crewman, I will expect you to have found and transmitted the specific regulations, order or memorandum of instruction to me by the end of your shift this morning."

Jeremy turned back and looked at the Vulcan. "And, sir, if I may. You are incorrect. "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few" is not simple mathematics and fails to disclose many possible variables making the ability to accurately calculate the truth of that statement nearly impossible."

"Such is the way of language, Lieutenant. I suggest you narrow your parameters if you wish to retain any truthful phrase at all. Am I free to go?" he asked, intoning the words like a quote, which was probably why they sounded awkward coming from a Vulcan.

Jeremy nodded, "You were never detained, Lieutenant."

Liyar inclined his head, picked up his tray and walked away.

OFF:

Lieutenant (JG) Jeremy Stone
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant (JG) Liyar
Diplomatic Officer, SDD/VDF
USS Galileo

Crewman Athlen
Sociologist, SCC
USS Galileo

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