<USS Cervantes> "The Prime Directive"

A log from Oriana!
The Prime Directive
(This log takes place after Rain Dance, Part II) 
"Admiral, I need to talk to you," Oriana began. 
Cicada chirped in the distance, as the tranquil clip clop of the horses
provided a soothing background rhythm to Oriana's speech. 
"Of course," Kirk replied. "Anything, Ensign. You know that."
Though the holodeck program Oriana selected placed James T. Kirk several
years into his retirement, they maintained a Starfleet formality. Kirk
and Oriana turned a corner in the path, following it up a steep incline.
Even at his age, the man could still ride.
Oriana enjoyed this Kirk program the best. The younger, more virile
Captain James T. fulfilled her purposes well enough at times, but this
one--well-aged, with lines of experience around his eyes and a
considerable paunch around his middle, had become a father figure to
Oriana. 
"It's the Khefiraa, isn't it, Oriana? You want to help." She had
programmed the details of her dilemma into the program, to get to the
heart of the matter. After all, this wasn't the first night on the
Cervantes that Oriana hadn't slept. Nonetheless, she desperately needed
advice. 
"I do! When I was watching them, I could feel their fear. It made me
nearly sick. I think the saddest part was their hope. They weren't sure
of their demise.they had hope that their-what was it Ssarish called
it--their 'hatchling imaginings' would work. I don't know how my crew
members can watch it so impassively. I think about the entire
destruction of a species." 
Tears welled up in Oriana's eyes. 
"Oriana-" Kirk interrupted. His eyes, too, showed a softness that belied
his sympathy, but his words carried strength and logic. Yes, for this
situation she had chosen the correct--older, wiser--Kirk. "When
Starfleet was young, we broke the prime directive with wild abandon-and
not always to the benefit of the involved species'. But we've learned,
and continue to learn, from our past mistakes. You have NO idea what
ramifications may come from saving the Khefiraa. You still don't know
the extent of the Slytha'an's involvement, either. You may risk a
current species to save an extinct one. Think, Oriana."
Oriana sighed. She knew Kirk was right-in a way. But she had also done
her homework. She cited several instances of Picard's famous
Enterprise-D breaking the prime directive. 
Kirk remained silent and stoic as Oriana spoke. No matter. Oriana,
Social Historian, had more where those came from. The exploits of the
Enterprise D were merely the most publicized examples. She noted several
smaller starships that had given small, inconsequential, yet
anachronistic, bits of technology to less evolved races. She didn't
mention that each of those captains had faced court martial. 
Getting aggravated by his impassiveness-yes, James T. Kirk was nothing
if not stubborn--Oriana pulled out her big guns. 
"And Captain Janeway's Voyager broke every directive in the
book-including a few temporal ones." 
Finally, Kirk grimaced. Halting the horse, he turned to face the Ensign.
"Oriana, those, each mission you mentioned to me, were unusual
circumstances. And Captains making those life or death decisions in the
best way they knew how, drawing upon years of knowledge. You.are.on.your
first away mission. Ever."
Now it was Oriana's turn to grimace. Kirk was right. She filled with
love for this man-this hologram-who had been more of a father to her
than some long-gone Klingon warrior. Admiral Kirk had taken her through
the Academy, had been a teacher, and a friend. She knew it was a
holodeck program-no delusional disorders clouded her judgment-but he was
a damn good listener, who gave damn good advice. 
Oriana took a moment to let his words seep in. "Captains, yes.but do you
doubt MY knowledge, sir? MY belief in what is right?" 
Kirk chuckled lightly. "I believe YOU believe you're right. The same as
I did when I was a young Captain." 
"And, no offense, sir, but you never had the benefit of empathy. I KNOW
these people would appreciate it if only I could do something.I know
they wouldn't resent it.In fact, they are PRAYING for something like us
to come along, every day of their lives. Besides, can you tell me you
have any regrets over the decisions you'd made?"
The holographic Kirk gazed into the horizon, past the tree line into the
seemingly never ending mountains, and thought hard. The montage of his
actual life flooded his circuits.Spock.Bones.'We need more power,
Scotty'.'The needs of the many'.Kahn! "No," he said finally. "No
regrets."
"Besides," Oriana said, "I have a plan. Ssarish shared some of the
details with us, and it just might work. Only, none of the Slytha'an
care to try." Caring was the key, Oriana thought. And maybe she DID care
too deeply. But she, too, only wanted to live a life with no regrets. 
"It sounds like you've already convinced yourself, Ensign. And if I was
a bright eyed, bushy tailed captain full of optimism rather than a weary
old man, you'd have ME convinced, too. Go. Live your life.with.no
regrets."

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