Subject: Grail: "The Great Brightness" - Prime Directive Be Damned (Sorry)
(OCC: My apologies for the past couple E-mails. My E-mail provider, usa.net has
been causing me some technical problems.)
J'hon bristled at mention of the Prime Directive. As the "new guy" he was loath
to get into a debate over the Prime Directive, but his honor would not allow him
to stand idly by and watch the Kerestians perish when aid was so near. He
stepped forward from his position in a far corner. When he spoke, several
officers started in surprise, having not seen him slip into the meeting.
"If I may be so bold, let me quote from Starfleet General Order 30. 'Starfleet
Command recognizes the right of each ship commander to interpret the
specifications of the Prime Directive as he sees fit, consistent with the
conditions of other existing general orders in effect, and based upon
circumstances that may arise in dealing with newly discovered sentient races.'
In my opinion, it would be unconscionable for the Majestic not to intervene when
the Kerestian's survival is in our hands. The Prime Directive was conceived to
protect other races from harmful change -- what I am proposing is their very
salvation."
J'hon's eyes blazed with conviction. "Would intervention be immoral? For us
NOT to step in, for fear of contaminating their 'natural progression', is not
only amoral, it is the very definition of immorality. And do not think that I
do not understand the dangers of extraterrestrial intervention. I grew up under
the omnipresent rule of a race that did not hearken to the dictates of a Prime
Directive. Or even mercy, for that matter. However, I still maintain that
non-interference is a noble ideal, but too easily does it equate to isolationism
and apathy towards the plight of others. How can we watch an entire race
succumb to extinction, while assuaging our conscience with a moral high ground
of our own design. Our own problems with this plague are immaterial next to the
moral responsibility we have to lend our assistance. I am not proposing
kidnaping. I am not proposing discarding the Prime Directive. I AM proposing
the preservation of an entire race. A sacred duty that we are uniquely
qualified to perform."