Twist Of Fait

Although not a human myself, I have over time learned how to navigate the human-dominated hierarchy of Starfleet better than many native Terrans. The two adages which have kept me alive and in uniform are "Nothing succeeds like success" and "It's easier to get forgiveness than permission."

The first one is remarkably similar, in meaning and outcome if not in phraseology, to another human expression, "The ends justify the means." That adage, however, has a rather disreputably history to it, given how (and by whom) it has been employed. To a certain extent, however, it remains true: if one is successful in carrying out his mission and achieving his goals, his superiors will often be somewhat lenient in judging the means through which victory was achieved. The career of James Tiberius Kirk, by former captain's idol, is replete with examples of this phenomenon. And given some of the USS Murgatroid's recent successes, most notably against the alternate universe analog Janeway; Starfleet is willing, to some extent, to overlook our recent actions in support of those successes.

To a limited extent. When I spoke to Starfleet Command, they went on at great length about the complaints they had received from Captain Wong, late of the late USS Cairo. Wong has been recalled to Deep Space Nine on the Ankh, and I have been commanded to restrict Counsellor Lothar to the Murgatroid. Given his current condition, Lothar is unable to move under his own power and thus actually has no choice but to follow this order. I have propped him up against the wall outside of the hydroponics lab, to act as a guard for Alabama Picard. He may be unable to move, but he is aware of his surroundings … and none of the crew will enter the laboratory against his wishes, for fear of his retribution once he recovers. Doctors Mib Khan are still finishing the repairs and reactivation of their cloning and ansible apparatus in the Murgatroid's sickbay, after which they will examine Lothar. They refuse to approach him without that apparatus in place and functioning.

The second adage also comes with ample precedents, especially from Kirk's era in which instantaneous communications with Starfleet Command were impossible over long distances. The adage recommends that the commander on-site utilize his own initiative, and seek "forgiveness" or approval after the fact, rather than delay to obtain permission before acting. In some cases, the commander on-site may believe that the odds of receiving permission in advance are unlikely, and may therefore move without seeking sanction specifically to avoid being ordered not to perform the actions he plans to take. At least this way, although he acted without orders, he did not specifically act against them. This is known as presenting one's superiors with a fait accompli, a thing already done. At this point, the superiors can either retroactively condone the acts of the errant officer, or punish him; but either way, the act has been accomplished. Whether or not the officer receives "permission" depends in a large part upon the success of the actions performed – thus returning to the first adage.

I informed Starfleet Command that I could not order Evil Storvik to return to them, because he had already left Starbase 668 on Surak's Razor. Granted, I could have attempted to prevent him from leaving; but once gone, he is out of my control. Also, or so I assume, once they acknowledge that he is gone and out of their control, and grow accustomed to this fact, they will not attempt to have me re-capture him when he returns to the Murgatroid. I do not know where and when that will be, but I do know that he does not plan to abandon our daughter T'Sorvik for long.

Starfleet Command, speaking for the Vulcan Science Academy, has also sought the return of T'Sorvik; but here, I refused. Another human adage, which some Ferengi have also adopted as an unofficial corrolary to the Rules of Acquisition, is that "Possession is nine-tenths of the law." When they had T'Sorvik under their control, it would have been difficult for me to free her; but now that she is under my control, the difficulty and effort ("the ball", as the humans would say) is in "their court." As they wish to study her development, we were quite scrupulous in giving her frequent mental and physical examinations during our time in hiding; and now, I have just sent almost seven full years of data (along with Khan's recent reports) back to the Vulcan Science Academy. That will keep them occupied for some time; and when they are finished processing that data, I shall have plenty more to give them. As I am giving them everything they need (and then some, to keep them particularly "swamped"), they have no call to press for T'Sorvik's return. I expect some routine protests from them, but no real difficulty. T'Sorvik shall remain here, where she belongs, with her family.

Starfleet Command will also be lodging some serious protests about "Evil" Storvik, as I shifted the blame for our unauthorized trip through time upon him. Still, given that he was also instrumental in the defense against the Janeway analog, that too (as the humans also say) shall pass.