<USS Avalon> Summit

Daniel Murgo read the commendation from headquarters and laugh so hard he 
almost cried. Dammit, Alder, you arrogant son of a bitch. So much for that 
plan, eh? I bet this isn't exactly what you had in mind. He responded 
immediately, making certain to note that Alder had actually carried out the 
order and should be commended as well, but choosing not dispel their initial 
assumptions and closed the communications, fielding the last of the reports on 
his ready-room desk and preparing to head back to his quarters where his dear 
wife had assured him a surprise they could both no doubt appreciate would be 
waiting. 

He stretched wearily behind his desk, awaiting Alder's arrival, having been 
warned he was on his way here, and seriously contemplated whether or not the 
man should be allowed to leave there alive. In the end, he decided he probably 
wouldn't kill him. Somehow, it seemed as though it  would just be more 
paperwork than Alder was worth to put him out of his misery.

The chime rang. Three rings in less than two seconds, it could drive anyone 
insane if they heard another set of ringing. Alder stood outside the doors, 
waiting for Murgo to respond. The General will either answer,he thought, or 
he'll answer when I take control of the ship again.

"Enter," came the response.  Skipping a beat, Alder tugged at this uniform and 
walked in. Daniel remained seated at his desk, apparently looking over the 
files in his hands, seemingly relaxed, as though Alder simply wasn't relevant 
enough for him to give him his full attention. 

Ignoring the formalities, Alder  went right to his wandering thoughts, "You 
mind telling me where the hell you were during and after I eradicated Risa?"

Daniel looked at him as though he were amused at the mans audacity. "As a 
matter of fact, I do." 

He looked the man over, taking full measure of him and still, as usual, finding 
him quite lacking. He was the kind of man Danny'd grown up around, those sick 
with their lust for power and control at the cost of others. His father was 
surrounded with them. There were many of them in the fleet, and more arriving 
all the time. Even so, they disgusted him. He'd learned early, though, not to 
let any of those feelings show. "Will there be anything else?"

"Funny thing really, there is. I was wondering if you were going to sit on your 
ass all day while you sit behind your lofty desk doing 
some-oh-so-important-thing," Alder looked at him with a sarcastic look. "Well? 
Are you going to lead the battle? Or were you planning on retirement? Either 
way, we'll be at Betazed in three hours, and I want to know if I have to lead 
this ship. Again."

There was a slight laugh as Alder took a seat right across from Murgo's desk, 
"don?t get me wrong, General, I can get this ship in and out alive with or 
without you. But a little backing from the General himself might be good for 
the crew." 
Daniel looked across his desk at the pompous ass sitting so smugly there. ?A 
little backing from me while you commit genocide, undermine our plans, which 
you would have been aware of had you actually read the communications you 
signed for from me?? He shook his head, keeping his ___expression friendly, as 
though this were nothing more than a private conversation between friends. ?I'm 
afraid I can't give you that. In fact, I think you'll find that getting anyone 
on my bridge to follow you a second time might be more difficult than you 
think. You see, had you read the information you signed for you?d have known 
we?d infiltrated the Risan leadership and were prepared to move in. You might 
have at least held your fire until all the people you wanted dead were down 
there, then you might have at last had the control of my ship you seem to so 
desperately want" 
 
He took long drink of his scotch, then smiled, continuing conversationally "You 
could have it all, Alder. You could have killed me down there along with all of 
your other shipmates you butchered in your haste to prove what a genocidal 
bastard you are. I all but dared you too, believing you were at the very least 
literate.? He leaned closer and added as though confiding, ?As I informed you 
in that communiqué you obviously didn?t bother reading, I  was on my way in the 
second cloaked ship when you lost control and shot too soon. I?ve been since 
informed that?s a problem you?ve always had.? 
 
He paused a moment, leaning back in his chair and lighting his cigar before 
continuing, still maintaining the façade of casual conversation, ?Word has made 
it through channels to the powers that be of your ?oversight? so that even if I 
were to die today, you would not have my ship. You see, they sort of insist you 
be at least marginally literate before they give you a command of your own." He 
laughed, taunting him, not caring how dangerous the man believed himself to be. 
 
"You really are an ass, Alder." Daniel announced, rising from his chair and 
looking out the port near his desk, putting his back to him as though daring 
him to try something. "You?re reckless and thoughtless and have no business on 
a ship, let alone anywhere near a command chair. In your haste to usurp my 
control you?ve added fuel to the fire of the war, martyring an entire race in 
the eyes of their fringe allies and further endangering our outposts close to 
them. Already, three have been destroyed. They commend our bold tactics and yet 
send me report after report of casualties, colonies eradicated in the name of 
the fallen Risans. It could have been done cleaner. It was in the process 
already. Eleven of our people died down there doing their jobs while you sat up 
here playing God."
 
Alder shrugged, "they were in service for the Empire. They knew the risk. They 
also knew that if things went the wrong way, they planet would've been 
eradicated. The colonies- of which aren't loyal to us to remind you- would've 
been wiped out in the name of the Risans, and even if your little team were to 
succeed, there would still be colonies under attack. So don't bother saying I 
might have caused this outcome,  cause you could've done exactly the same. I 
just happen to act quicker- no matter how rash you think it is, while you had 
your subtle methods- no matter how ineffective I think that is."
 
He leaned back into his seat, keeping his eyes on Murgo, "any rate, the defense 
fleet on Betazed has assigned up to the fourth squandron. The Lesseter and 
Cordova will be with us while the system's own fleet surround the homeworld. 
The fourth squandron is supposed to be nearby the homeworld and will be 
awaiting your orders."
 
Danny just shook his head. Was Alder really that dense or was he pretending. 
The fringe allies of the Risan's weren't the ones dying. Our colonies...our 
people...sighing, he let it go, knowing it would make no difference. Alder 
didn't care. That alone, more than anything else, was why he hated him so much.
 
Just like that, the entire situation was dropped from Alder as he expected 
orders, or whatever it was the General had in mind for a response. 
 



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