The Pacifist and the Butcher, Part One: Planning

Posted on Wed Jun 24th, 2020 @ 3:41am by Lieutenant John Sandoval & Ensign Emmanuelle Larose
Edited on on Fri Jul 10th, 2020 @ 5:57pm

Mission: The Evils Within
Location: Holodeck Two
Timeline: A few days before arrival at Hesiod

ON:

John had put up with enough from the security chief in the previous months. Things had been tense between the two of them ever since the diplomat learned who Griffin was historically. It briefly improved after they spoke about the late Dorian Rochester, and after he had tea with Griffin’s then-fiancée. But then Griffin took John’s admittedly-wrong omission from his statement way out of proportion, going so far as to get Emmanuelle involved to undermine him.

Every time he thought of how Griffin made Emmanuelle escort him to security and stand over his shoulder as he rewrote his official statement, all he saw was the callous man who ordered dozens, if not hundreds, of Starfleet officers to their deaths a century ago.

John needed to understand more. What really happened at Menelax? What motivated a man to decide to be so callous with people?

This wasn’t something he could talk to Krysia or Aeryn or Alexandra or even Emmanuelle about. This was something he needed to figure out for himself. And what better place to begin trying to understand the man than by closely studying the thing that made him famous.

In holodeck two, he’d just finished watching a program that recreated the space battle over Menelax. A Federation colony world, in 2297, the Tholians seized it and tried to annex it into their Assembly. The Federation, in a move that what diplomatically brilliant, if maybe slightly illegal, made the Tholians believe they were ceding Menelax, all the while planning to retake the world. Seven Starfleet ships obliterated the Tholian fleet in orbit, taking heavy losses in the process.

The next phase of the holographic recreation was a staff meeting aboard USS Stargazer, whose captain, Agatha Schmidt, was senior officer for the task force. Unlike much of this program, this wasn’t a re-creation by academics and documentarians. This was a recording of the meeting in which the ground portion of the Battle of Menelax was planned. Over a dozen people were present, one of whom John recognized immediately. A young Lieutenant Cailus Griffin, in a period-appropriate red uniform with an olive-green security lapel.

John watched the conversation unfold. Captain Eccles of the USS Kupua explained the threat. A Tholian fortress with an impenetrable shield. A weapon, similar to a Genesis device, capable of turning Menelax into a world suitable for Tholian colonization, killing millions of Federation citizens at the same time. An incoming force of Andorian Imperial Guard marines due to arrive in three weeks. An uncertainty as to whether the Tholians would or could activate their weapon in the meantime.

Next one to speak was Captain Copeland of the USS Churchill. He surprised the table by having his chief of security present a viable battle strategy. He noted that the shield protecting the fortress stopped short of the ground. With only ninety Tholian troops defending the base, elite though they were, a numerically superior force could take it, explained holo-Cailus. He estimated he could gather 400 security personnel and combat-trained volunteers from other departments.

Then came the part that froze John's blood.

"Casualties?" asked holo-Captain Schmidt.

Holo-Griffin didn't even hesitate. "Significant. I anticipate 40% casualties as minimum. Worst case scenario, our casualties may exceed 70%. There is also a serious risk that we could lose the entire landing force."

John joined the others around the table in stunned silence. "That's not war," holo-Captain Eccles said in disgust into the silence. "That's butchery. You're talking about throwing four hundred people into a killing field, using our crews as cannon fodder. That is morally reprehensible, Lieutenant. We do not, ever, use such barbaric tactics. Our crews are not cattle."

Holo-Griffin didn't flinch. "Respectfully, sir, there are times when slaughter and warfare amount to the same thing. It's ugly and distasteful, and I suspect that is why the Tholians allowed this vulnerability in their defensive setup. They know that Starfleet would never utilise the human wave tactics required for such an assault. However, under the circumstances, we have no choice. The lives of four hundred troops in exchange for eight million civilians is not difficult arithmetic."

"Computer, freeze program," said John, his skin noticeably paler than it had been. "Computer, chair." A chair materialized in front of him, and he slowly allowed himself to sit. He had just witnessed the formation of a plan that would lead to a great many deaths. And to think he knew the man who came up with it.

"Mister Sandoval?" came a familiar voice. "Are you okay?"

John hadn't noticed Emmanuelle come into the holodeck, but she had arrived in time to hear the last minute or so of conversation between the holodeck characters. "So this is why you don't like Mister Griffin," she said. It wasn't a question.

John sighed. "I'm trying to learn more about what happened here. What motivates a person to do what I find unconscionable? It just...it got to be a bit much for me. I've seen similar programs for worst atrocities, but--"

"But it's a man we know." She nodded sagely. "May I stay?"

John nodded back. "Help me up?" Once he was standing, he addressed the computer. "Discontinue chair and resume program."

Some Captains continued to advocate for waiting. Reinforcements capable of handling this would arrive well before more Tholian ships could. But as with all things in Starfleet, it came down to chain of command. One person had the authority to say yes or no. And Agatha Schmidt approved the plan.

Tomorrow, the slaughter would commence.

:OFF


OOC: Credit to Cailus Griffin for writing all the holodeck dialogue and the story of Menelax :)