Punishment

Posted on Fri Apr 12th, 2019 @ 6:17pm by Fleet Admiral Mike K`Wor Bremer & Captain Paul MacLeod & Lieutenant Karl Ballard & Tom Vercetti & Vito Russo & First Ramata`tar

1,393 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 97 - Cultural Exchange
Location: Starbase 400, Main Brig
Timeline: MD8, 1410hrs

ON:

Bremer and K’Temoc entered the brig and were met by First Ramata’tar. The big Jem’Hader allowed the Admirals to walk into the section where MacLeod, Metsker, and Ballard were in one cell and Vercetti and Ruso were in the next cell over.

“They haven’t been any trouble since arriving in their cells Admiral.” Ensign Harper reported from the Brig’s Security Station.

“I’d expect not.” K’Temoc said as he crossed his arms and leaned against the station. He glared at MacLeod, Metsker, and Ballard…members of his Special Operations Group. K’Temoc and MacLeod also went to Starfleet Academy together and had known each other a long time. K’Temoc was disappointed in them all, especially Mac.

“What the hell is wrong with you people?” Mike asked to the group in an angry tone. “We come back from an Alliance event designed bring people closer, to show we can all get along, but when we get back to the station not only do I have Bajorians acting out and attacking a Counselor, but I also find out I have Starfleet Officers, Command level and Security Personnel, fighting in the Promende with Civilians.” He looked over at Tom and Vito, “Who use to also be Starfleet Officers and therefore also know better!”

“Admiral…” MacLeod started before Bremer cut him off.

“Shut up, I’m not done yet.” Mike said angrily. “It’s bad enough you beat the hell out of each other, but you also looked like complete idiots in front of many other civilians, Starfleet personnel, and others.” Mike paused and took a breath, “What if you had injured a bystander?” He looked at each person individually for a moment.

“Mac, you Metsker, and Ballard are all relatively new to Starbase 400. This kind of behavior will not be tolerated.” K’Temoc added.

“With all due respect,” Tom stated before he too was cut off.

“You’re one to talk about respect right now Vercetti.” Mike said as he glared.

“We received Security’s report, as well as witness statements and internal sensor logs. Metsker, Ballard, and you too Ruso should have done something to stop this before it started as well as after it began. You’re all confined to quarters for the rest of the day. Metsker, Ballard you both are on report, report to Vice Admiral K’Temoc tomorrow at 0830. Ruso, you’re to stay off the Promenade for the rest of the week as well.” Bremer explained. “Mac, Vercettie, you both will remain here a little longer.”

Mike looked back at Harper and gave a nod to lower the force fields on the cells. Metsker and Ballard stepped out and paused a moment.

“Ensigns Tezu and Krall will escort you to your quarters.” K’Temoc said. “I’ll be aboard the Yorktown tomorrow, she needs a complete diagnostic of her tactical systems followed by a cleaning of Deck Three’s jefferies tubes, and then her Bridge baffles need to be cleaned. After all of that, I’m sure I can find something more for you two. Dismissed!”

Metsker and Ballard both nodded before walking off with their escorts behind them.

Mike then looked up at Ruso. He had a scowl on his face, “If Tom is still in here, then I need to be at the restaurant.”

Mike locked eyes with him, “No, you need to be in your quarters or we can find another cell here for you to enjoy.”

Vito didn’t like the answer, didn’t like being confined to his quarters, but he didn’t want to be back in a cell either, and he knew Mike wouldn’t change his mind.

“First Ramata’tar will escort you to your quarters.” Mike added. “When the week is over you’ll report to me before going anywhere else. Understood?”

“Yeah, I got it.” Vito said as he walked away with Ramata’tar behind him.

“Now, the two of you.” Mike started as he looked at Tom and Mac. “Tom, Nat was killed eleven years ago and there is absolutely no proof Mac did anything wrong. I know what the Cardassians said and I know Mac and Stor’k had an unfriendly history going back to the Dominion War. I also fully understand Mac was in command of that away mission and everyone assigned to it is his responsibility but he’s not the first person to lose someone on an away mission. You have to let the past go. God as my witness that is one of the hardest things for me too, letting go, but it’s something you have to learn. Attacking someone on the Promenade didn’t solve anything, and it didn’t bring Nat back either.”

Mike paused a moment as Tom looked away, “Mac you’re just as much at fault here. Tom approached you, but you could have walked away. You could have called for Security. An open brawl is inexcusable. I also know you still carry the scars from that day. The ‘Gomor Incident’ was tragic, but you didn’t know Gul Stor’k was smuggling contraband and into other illegal things. We all knew he was accused of and probably guilty of war crimes, which is why you boarded his ship. You took every step by the book, both of you did, but no one could have foreseen his reaction when Nat found something…and we all know she did otherwise he wouldn’t have shot her, vaporized her tricorder, and attacked you while his bridge crew attacked Tom’s team. Neither of you were at fault that day, and neither of you were responsible for Nat’s death.”

Mike paused a moment to let his words sink in a little, but after a moment, Tom replied.

“You don’t have much room to talk.” Tom said. “When your wife was attacked, two of your kids injured and two others killed you didn’t just let it go. You both boarded the Pegasus and went off on a revenge mission and killed the son of a bitches that did it. So you have no room to give a lecture about this.”

K’Temoc uncrossed his arms and stepped forward while Mike took a deep breath, turned and took a step away while he tried to hold his anger back. It had been six years, but Tom was right, Mike hadn’t let that go and probably never would.

“And right now, you want nothing more than to grab me by the throat and slam me against the bulkhead like you did Westmoreland before you snapped his neck.” Tom added. He wished deep down he hadn’t brought up the death of two of Mike’s kids but he was still furious. Still, what Mike had said made sense and was making him think and he already regretted his comments.

“The difference was, those kids were attacked by a psycho. They were kids Tom! Yes, we did go off to find who did it and who kidnapped K’Wor, and when we found them they were killed in a fight, not in cold blood. We went to bring the murders to justice, we didn’t project that anger off on someone else that survived the same attack.” K’Temoc replied.

Mike finally turned back to face Tom and MacLeod. “You’ll both remain here for the rest of the week, sharing a cell. “Talk it out, beat each other to a bloody pulp, whatever but when you leave the brig this little tiff between you both is over...because no matter what you do it won’t make the pain or the hurt go away and it won’t bring your loved ones back.” Mike looked at both men, a hint of a tear resting in his right eye.

Tom and MacLeod stepped inside the cell Tom and Vito had previously shared. They took seats on pull out chairs across from each other as Harper reactivated the force field.

Mike glanced at his brother as he left. K’Temoc stayed for a moment. “Mac, report to me when you’re released. Tom, that was really a low blow.” K’Temoc didn’t wait for an answer, he too left the Brig as Tom and MacLeod glanced at each other then looked away.


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