Subject: Grail: "The Great Brightness"; `Answering Objections'

<<Stardate: 47307.30- 09:ish>>

<<Observation Lounge>>

Epic looked at Kaitlyn Brennan with incredulity. He put a hand up

to Lt. Fionn. "We'll discuss this in a minute, Lieutenant." Then he

turned back to his Asst. Chief Engineer."

"Lieutenant.", he addressed her and kept a firm grip on his anger.

"At this moment, I have issued no orders that violate the Prime

Directive. Will our efforts alter the natural evolution of the species

called Kerestians? If we can succeed in this endeavor, yes, I suppose we

will, by allowing them to even have a natural evolution. Will I

delivering into their hands any technology that exceeds their own? No, I

will not. Have I given any orders to affect their rule in any way? No.

Quite the contrary. I have ordered the Away Team to operate within the

cultural guidelines established by Ambassador T'Nek and whatever they

encounter when there."

Epic was starting to shake with all his repressed anger. He had

tried. The Four Deities knew he tried, to give these people a voice and

some control in their lives. But it was starting to feel like they

didn't want that. Like children, they needed to be told what to do and

when to do it. Starfleet threw them out. Now, like abuse victims, they

wanted to reflect the nature of their abusers, rather than stand for

something better. Something better that they would have a hand in

making.

"The Kerestians are capable of warp flight.", he continued. "If

they weren't, T'Nek would not have been able to get to us. To use your

own species as an example, it was warp capability that finally made them

worthy of attention, even though they were a rabble of violent

barbarians at the time. So, then, where is the violation you object to?

"And do not forget, Lieutenant, that for our OWN survival, we need

them, too. Dr. Ramin gives us two weeks before we start falling like

rain.

"So, before you start waving a UFP flag and spitting on my

authority, LIEUTENANT!, you should either describe your perceived

violations or offer an alternative that can save lives. Ours and the

Kerestians!"

Epic stepped around the table and stood only inches before her.

::Well.....?::, he spoke directly to her mind, his eyes blazing so

blue they were almost white.