Star Trek: The Fall: The Poisoned Chalice Read Online Free PDF Page B

perhaps you can explain something to me before you leave.”
    The Tellarite halted. “What is it?” he asked, frowning.
    â€œDoctor Julian Bashir. Captain Ezri Dax.” Riker saw Velk stiffen. “Doctor Tovak. Doctor Elizabeth Lense. Doctor Katherine Pulaski. Doctor Lemdock.” He held up the padd containing the report that mentioned the names.
    â€œThe disposition of those individuals is not a matter for your concern.”
    â€œI don’t agree.” Riker folded his arms. “I owe my life to one of them. But according to the Federation Security Agency, under a special executive directive they are being held pending court martial charges. I want to know the reasons why.”
    Velk turned back to face him. “This is a very delicate matter. The Andorian problem . . .” He paused, a momentary look of distaste crossing his expression. “Bashir and the others violated their oath of service in a misguided attempt to take matters into their own hands.”
    What Velk dismissed as “the Andorian problem” had been a biological time bomb for that species. A race with four genders required for procreation, issues of falling birthrate, and infant mortality had finally brought Andor to the brink of global crisis—and the eventual result was the succession of a founder species from the very Federation they had helped to create. Velk was right when he said Bashir and the others had taken it upon themselves to aid the Andorians, but they had only apparently done so in reaction to the Federation Council’s unwillingness to intervene. Whatever had happened out there in Epsilon Indi, Andor was now petitioning to return to the fold, but actual facts were thin on the ground.
    â€œIt is my understanding that the medical officers remain under house arrest while their involvement inthe incident is fully determined. I am aware that the Pulaski woman served directly under you, but I would advise you not to allow your past associations to cloud the facts.” Velk’s expression became unreadable, with the steady focus of someone repeating a prepared statement. “Captain Dax disobeyed a direct order from Starfleet Command and she has been relieved of her position and placed under guard at the Jaros II penal colony. As for the ringleader, Bashir . . .” The Tellarite paused, framing his words. “You are familiar with the Shedai Meta-Genome?”
    Riker gave a slow nod. “A storehouse of sensitive alien genetic data recovered in the twenty-third century. Highly classified.” Even knowing that was at the very limits of his security clearance.
    â€œThrough means we have yet to determine, Bashir illegally accessed elements of that data and gave it to a non-aligned power . . . namely, the Andorians. He is being held at an undisclosed secure location, for his own protection. Once the present crisis has been dealt with, both he and Captain Dax will face a full military tribunal.”
    For now, Riker didn’t argue over Dax’s fate; but Julian Bashir’s wasn’t so clear-cut. His illegal actions were not in question, but his status was. He had officially resigned his commission as a Starfleet officer before he fled the Bajor system for Andoria, and he had apparently been granted political asylum on his arrival. Riker said so to Velk, trying to gauge any reaction. “He can’t be held off the grid under such vague circumstances. Bashir has to be brought back to Earth for a full and transparent trial. The Andorians consider him a hero and under the protection of their planet, with all the rights and privileges of a resident of a non-alignedworld. He should have his day in court, in the public eye.”
    Velk gave a curt shake of the head. “I don’t agree. These are extraordinary circumstances, Riker. The presence of the Meta-Genome data makes this a national security issue, and the Federation Council deems Bashir