[Galaxy] [New-Darwin] [Valiant] 2158.02.08 || Joint Log || Morotai/Garroway]

[blanhe2]

// ESS Valiant - Ready Room \\

Sitting back in the comfortable chair of the ready room Kareem
 reflected on
his visit to the medical center of the Valiant. He had the Captains
 face in
his mind, looking so serene and relaxed, oblivious to the internal
 conflict
within her first officer and her own body. He was preparing to open a
channel with Starfleet Command to update them. They'd already been
 called to
send a transport to New Darwin to pick McKenzie and the Eagle crew up
 and
bring them back to Earth. Now he'd have to explain the details and ask
 them,
'What Next?' for New Darwin.

With Lt Fisher out of action he had added Haydon and Youngblood to
 shifts in
the command chair in his absences from the bridge. Both of them could
 handle
the role, he felt sure, and might appreciate the experience. Besides
 which
they'd soon be back at New Darwin, even at their reduced speed.

Garroway stood outside the door to the ready room, considering what he
wanted to say to Morotai.  He didn't linger long before hitting the
 door
chime.

Kareem was about to hit the comm and get a channel opened via the
 nearest
echo buoy to Starfleet Command when the door chime went. Hoping it
 wasn't
more trouble he got up and pressed the open button. In the doorway
 stood
Thomas Garroway.

"Commander," Garroway greeted.  "I was just curious how you were
 holding up,
given the circumstances."  He waited for the offer of a seat, as was
appropriate.

"Hello Thomas... come in, take a seat" he said gesturing to a vacant
 chair.
He retook his own seat and faced the former Commodore. "Captain
 McKenzie is
suffering head injuries, and needs better care and surgery that we can
provide her. Lt Fisher is going to recover, but it'll take him a few
 weeks.
Everyone else escaped unharmed. I've been thrown into a position I am
 not
totally familiar with; starship command operations... If I am honest,
 its
been a turbulent time in the mind of Kareem Morotai just recently." he
summarised. "I feel exhausted"

"Command always does that," Garroway sighed.  He took a seat and
 settled
himself into the cushions.  "Starship ops may be unfamiliar, but it's
 in the
unfamiliar that we get the best look at ourselves.  Everything is
 amplified,
both good and bad.  I have to say, as lucky as the Naussicans were to
 get
the drop on Captain Freeman, we're probably just as lucky to have taken
 them
out in turn.  Looking back, I'm surprised we pulled this mission off at
all."

"We still aren't clear why they destoryed the Eagle. But your
 experience on
the bridge was invaluable." Kareem acknowledged. "I am going to put a
 number
of the crew forwards for commendations owing to their performance
 during the
mission. Hopefully the intelligence data we've collected about the
Naussicans will provide useful to Starfleet Command." he drew some
positives. "I have certainly learnt a lot about myself here - the
differences between leading Daliwakan slaves as a representative to
Klingons, and leading Starfleet personnel and liberated Daliwakans, its
 a
steep learning curve... especially in the absense of the Captain. I'd
 be the
first to admit, I still have much to learn... " he explained outloud.

"I would agree," Garroway said honestly.  "But as long as you remember
 to
lean on the people that know their jobs, you'll do fine.  Command isn't
about having all the answers, but knowing where to get them and guiding
everyone through the big picture."  Garroway realized he was sounding
 like a
preachy instructor.  "But you'll have plenty of time to get all that.
Right now, the job is just to get back home, and get home straightened
 out."

"I am not sure what Starfleet Command will do about New Darwin now. I
 am
certain they won't pull out and leave us Daliwakans to fend for
 ourselves.
We've entered an agreement, they will honour that." Kareem expressed
 his
concern for the future of the colony.

"Of course," Garroway said dismissively, "Starfleet has too much
 invested at
this point.  There's an old Earth saying that gets reused a lot: 'The
 three
most important things are location, location, location.'  The
 opportunities
for trade, defense, and not to mention the promise to your people,
 means
Starfleet couldn't pull out if they wanted to.  No, you're stuck with
Starfleet whether you wear that uniform or not."

Kareem paused and wondered whether Garroway could read his thoughts. He
 had
thought about, when they returned to New Darwin, stepping down from his
Starfleet role. At least until he could get further training. "I have
considered my future with Starfleet" Kareem explained, grateful for
 having
someone to consult. "I will continue to consider it... carefully."

Garroway looked at Morotai a moment, realizing he inadvertently hit on
something.  "There's an old human playwright," he began, "that once
 said,
'Some people are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have
 greatness
thrust upon them.'  Things got difficult this time around.  You may not
 have
been ready, but the cosmos doesn't care, and it's only going to keep
throwing things at you.  The only thing you have to answer is where you
 can
do the most good."

"I believed at the start, that I could do the most good for the
 Daliwakan's
on New Darwin and our chances of building a home, by joining
 Starfleet's
revolution. Despite this mission I still believe that. Right now, we
 need to
get this ship back to Gamma Sagittarii. That far up the path of the
 future
we can see; the rest will be revealed soon. I should speak with
 Starfleet
Command and see what their next move is. "

Garroway nodded, "One step at a time, Commander."

"Thank you for your counsel Thomas. I am glad you came along, though
 also
sad to have dragged you into this mess. Next time we'll let you stay on
 the
colony oblivious" Kareem said. He had a feeling that despited what
 Thomas
had said about not wanting to get involved when they had first met,
 that
staying behind and out of the action, unable to help, wouldn't sit
comfortably with him. "Perhaps this mission proves what you said,
 Starfleet
is becoming more military... but, perhaps its not Starfleet but the
 Universe
we find ourselves in that forces us into that mold?"

"I couldn't have said it better myself," Garroway said.  "Starfleet is
 just
one of many things in the universe that is forced to change.  Ourselves
included."  He stood, giving Morotai another nod, then stopped as he
 was
about to leave.  "Oh, something else I wanted to say.  You've mentioned
*several* times that my experience was invaluable.  I get the picture.
  I'll
admit I've been around the block a few times, just don't forget that
 you've
got good people out there -- Fisher, Youngblood, Hayden -- that have
 been
around the block a couple times themselves.  Don't forget to tell
 *them* how
invaluable they are, too."

"Aye, i'm already making plans for that" Kareem smiled. He planned to request
that Starfleet command put a permanent commendation in his crews record
to reward their efforts during the mission. He checked his clock. "We
should be
arriving back soon... see you around the colony!" he said, taking a deep
enthusiastic breath and composing himself.

As Thomas left the room he hit the comm. "Morotai to bridge, please open a
secure channel to Starfleet command and patch it through here..."

LtCmdr Kareem Morotai
Executive Officer
New Darwin Colony

Thomas R. Garroway
Independent Freight Coordinator
Earth Cargo Authority