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<TITLE> [New-Darwin] 2161.09.21- Strength and Weakness</TITLE>
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</SPAN></FONT><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12pt'><FONT FACE="Arial"><I>~New Darwin Center, Infirmary~<BR>
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The gas had finally dissipated from the common room as Carter leveled the disruptor and stared into the eyes of the Klingon captive. Most of the human and Daliwakan wounded had been evacuated through the hidden tunnels back to safe site one, but the young scientist had stayed behind to look after the former captors. Outside he could see smoke rising from the colony's command center, an indication that the infirmary raid wasn't the only action going on. <BR>
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He turned his attention back to the Klingon. His hands were tied behind him and to another of his kind, who was seated back to back with him. The alien glared at the young Lieutenant with undisguised hatred. Behind him, Carter could see the bodies of several of the former captives who had been dumped unceremoniously in a corner. His eyes returned to the Klingon, the disruptor leveling. Kalli' had warned him to kill them all.<BR>
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"Wh-why did you do this?" He said, his voice shaking. "Why did you have to kill them? What do you want from us?" Carter's vision grew blurry as the tears welled up in his eyes, threatening to tumble forth. <BR>
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The Klingon smiled, revealing his sharpened teeth, giving him an even greater appearance of savagery. "You are weak." He said simply. "We came because you are weak. You don't deserve this planet or it's resources. Only the strong deserve to rule."<BR>
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Carter shot forward, bringing the weapon up under the chin of the man. He pressed his face closer. The Klingon continued to smile. "We don't look so weak now do we?" He said, his voice cracking.<BR>
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"You are." He said in reply. "If you were truly strong we would already be dead. You lack the courage to do what needs to be done. The woman..." He cast his eyes toward the hallway, indicating where Kalli' had led the prisoners. "She was right. For us there is only death or victory. No other options exist."<BR>
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"Oh don't they?" Carter said, pulling away. "I can think of another one."<BR>
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The Klingon looked puzzled, his smile fading.<BR>
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"What if we were to strip you of your weapons and send you back to tell your superiors that you were beaten by a bunch of soft humans and former slaves? What if we told them you weren't worth our time to kill? How would that go over?"<BR>
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The alien snarled. "You wouldn't dare! We would be dishonored! Our families would be dishonored!"<BR>
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Now it was Carter's turn to smile. He stepped back closer, taking one finger and running it down the alien's brow ridges. "In ancient times, on my planet there was a custom known as 'counting coupe'. Brave warriors would engage in combat with their enemies and strike them, but leave them alive. It was said that the warrior stole a bit of his enemy's strength in the process, leaving him disgraced and humiliated, but alive. A group of weaklings has counted coup on you and yours. If you can escape, you can crawl back to your masters and tell them of your failure. Should you return..."<BR>
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The scientist spun on the Klingon, pulling his head back by a handful of his hair. "You will find that we now share your 'strength'." He caressed the side of the Klingon's face with the cold metallic barrel of the disruptor, then turned and began to walk away. Behind him he could hear the alien struggling, a string of Klingon curses flowing freely from his mouth.<BR>
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As he turned, Carter saw Mane standing in the hallway, leaning against the doorframe. The redhead smiled at him as he passed her.<BR>
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"I'm impressed Carter." She said, letting him pass. "I thought you were going to let him have it."<BR>
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"So did I." Carter said softly. "Then I realized that if I did, I'd be just like him." He whirled to face the Amazon, his eyes full of of tears. "And I'm not like them Mane... not like them at all..."<BR>
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Lt. (Jg) Carter Austin<BR>
Chief Science Officer<BR>
New Darwin Colony<BR>
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&<BR>
Elizabeth Mane Walker (NPC)<BR>
Phoenix Survivor <BR>
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