Subject: Grail: "The Great Brightness" - 'Rules be damned'

<<Stardate: 47307.30- 09:ish>>

<<Observation Lounge>>

"But make no mistake, we WILL do whatever it takes to save

ourselves. I will do whatever it takes to save this crew. To Hell with

the Prime Directive." Epic looked directly at Francois as he said it.

There was no challenge in his eyes. There was just the solid conviction

of a captain who expects his orders to be obeyed.

"Now...", Epic said, once again taking his seat. "What I want to

hear now is: What do we need? And what can we do for a world that will

soon be consumed by ice, and is under the Iron Thumb of selfish

oppressors."

François just stared back at him. Epic had closed the matter. They

would not respect the Prime Directive because the it was a Federation

idea and Epic had decided to throw them away. Decided with the authority

given to him by the same Federation. They would not even try to respect

the PD. François didn't agree with him. The Prime Directive was more

than a rule, it was a philosophy and, opposed to what many people

thought, it did not forbid contact with other races. It warned against

interference. But François would not contradict him in front of

everyone, of course. Staring into his captain's deep blue eyes, he

accepted his decision and to abide by it. To the fullest extent.

"Very well, Captain," he said, before turning to the Torellion

Ambassador, "Ambassador, I am sorry if I offended you, I just thought

the question of the Prime Directive should be adressed. Now that it's

out of the way, I suggest that we ask our terraforming experts if they

can find any way we can rectify Kerestria's climate. As for the selfish

oppressors, I think we can ask Major Brinn to take care of that. After

her and her boys settle their case, we then institute a new government.

The real question, though, is: what type of government should we choose?

A monarchy? A presidential democracy? A ruling council? Another

dictator?"

François was serious, even if he didn't believe in his words. If

they were to play by Epic's rules, that was the best solution possible

in his opinion. What he wondered, though, was where Epic would draw the

line. Would they visit every sentient civilization from here to the

Delta Quadrant, rectifying those that didn't respect our standards?

François then looked at T'Nek. 'Is your Emperor fair and just in our

eyes, Ambassador?' he thought, 'For his sake, I hope he is, because

we're apparently cleaning up the Beta Quad.'

Lt(jg) François DeMontigny

Assistant Chief of Flight Control

USS Grail NCC 1124