97794.4
LCDR H'ajah
ADDENDUM I, H’AJAH, DAUGHTER OF SHAL, OF HOUSE CARGH IN EXILE – CHIEF ENGINEER OF DEEP SPACE 13, BARD OF KILUR, JAILER OF GODS – DO HEREBY AFFIRM COMMANDER SALENE’S ACCOUNT OF WHAT TRANSPIRED AT UCH’MHAGK. THE FACTS AS SHE REPRESENTS THEM ARE TRUE IN EVERY DETAIL I WITNESSED WITH MY OWN EYES. HOWEVER, I AM BOUND BY HONOR TO CONTEST SOME OF NA’TOTH’S INTERPRETATIONS, SPECIFICALLY THE TERMS OF OUR MISSION DIRECTIVES AND THE COMMAND DECISIONS NA’TOTH MADE IN THE MIDST OF BATTLE.
THE PURPOSE OF OUR MISSION WAS TO RESPOND TO A DISTRESS CALL FROM AN OUTPOST BELONGING TO AN ALLY OF THE FEDERATION, THE KLINGON EMPIRE. BECAUSE THE FEDERATION HAS DECLARED ITS NEUTRALITY IN THE MATTER OF THE CIVIL WAR UNFOLDING WITHIN THE EMPIRE, OUR ORDERS SPECIFICALLY ENJOINED US FROM ENGAGING IN COMBAT WITH ANY KLINGON FORCES. OUR PURPOSE WAS TO INVESTIGATE AND, PER STANDING ORDERS, INTERDICT ANY ATTEMPT TO INTERFERE IN THE EMPIRE’S INTERNAL POLITICS BY FOREIGN POWERS.
THE DISCOVERY OF AGGRESSION AGAINST THE EMPIRE BY ROMULAN WARSHIPS, WHETHER ALIGNED WITH HOUSE D’EWOS OR NOT, REQUIRED US TO INTERVENE. IF AN ALLY WILL NOT COME TO YOUR AID WHEN YOU ARE UNDER ATTACK BY A COMMON ENEMY, THEY ARE NO ALLY AT ALL. THE KLINGON EMPIRE WILL NOT SOON FORGET OUR COWARDICE ON THIS DAY.
COMMANDER SALENE EXPLAINED HER REASONING, BOTH ON THE BRIDGE AND IN HER REPORT, AND I BELIEVE HER CONCERNS ABOUT COMMITTING THE FEDERATION TO IRREVERSIBLE ACTION TO BE SINCERE. BUT HONOR REQUIRED US TO ACT IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE, AND BY STANDING ASIDE WE HAVE MADE OURSELVES COMPLICIT IN THE DEATHS THAT HAVE AND WILL RESULT. OUR INACTION MAY PROVE TO BE AS CONSEQUENTIAL AS ACTION WOULD HAVE, AND WITH EVEN MORE DIRE DOWNSTREAM EFFECTS.
ALTHOUGH I JUDGE NA’TOTH’S COMMAND DECISIONS HARSHLY, AS I BELIEVE HISTORY WILL, I MUST ALSO ATTEST TO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS OUTCOME. THE ATLANTIS WAS SELECTED TO LEAD THIS MISSION AT MY RECOMMENDATION, AND AS THE RANKING DEEP SPACE 13 DEPARTMENT HEAD ASSIGNED TO THE MISSION, COMMAND OF THAT VESSEL WAS RIGHTLY MINE. IN DEFERENCE TO COMMANDER SALENE’S EXTENSIVE COMMAND EXPERIENCE, I RELINQUISHED THAT ROLE TO HER AND INSTEAD ASSUMED A POSITION AS ACTING CHIEF ENGINEER AND FIRST OFFICER ABOARD THE ATLANTIS. THEREFORE, I MUST SHARE THE DISHONOR OF THIS OUTCOME, AND ALL CONSEQUENCES WHICH MAY ARISE FROM IT.
LET IT BE KNOWN THEREFORE THAT I, H’AJAH, DAUGHTER OF SHAL, COULD HAVE STOPPED THIS FROM HAPPENING, BUT I STOOD ASIDE. THE BLOOD OF INNOCENTS IS ON MY HANDS AS MUCH AS HERS.
OOC Thanks for running this event, Davin!