Breaking Bones

Chapter 7: Changing the Game

Lieutenant, have you confirmed that Nero is headed for Earth?" 

"Their trajectory suggests no other destination, captain." 

"Earth may be their next stop, but we have to assume that every Federation planet along the way is a target." 

"Yes agreed, but why didn't they destroy us?" 

"Why waste a weapon? We weren't a threat." 

"That's not it. He said he wanted me to see something; the destruction of my home planet."

"And how the hell did they do that by the way? When did they jump so far ahead in the arms race?" 

Leaning against the captain's chair in the middle of the multiple voices surrounding her, Anatalia did her best not to let her pounding headache and nausea get the best of her. The way that everyone kept bouncing comments off of each other and the brightness of the white lights in the bridge were not helping. But not wanting to seem like the weak one in the room, Anatalia fought through her pain and shook off any tiredness that threatened to take over her being. She thought she was doing a good job of hiding it, but when she looked up and locked eyes with Leonard, she immediately knew he could see right through her. Not wanting him to make a scene, she shook her head ever so slightly, telling him to keep quiet and they'd deal with it later. He pursed his lips, suggesting he wasn't happy about it, but remained silent, both of them returning to the larger conversation at hand. Doing so seemed pointless though as Kirk and Spock were once again at each other's throats. 

"We must gather with the rest of Starfleet to balance the terms of our next engagement."

"There won't be a next engagement, Spock! By the time we've "gathered" it will be too late." The rise in volume between the two men was increasing by the second and Ana's patience was running out just as fast. 

"Jim, that's enough!" All eyes turned to Talia at her sudden outburst, it being her first words since this discussion had started. "Spock is captain. You can offer up all the suggestions you want, but his word is final. If he says we are to return and gather Starfleet, then that's what we are doing. End of discussion." Jim quickly turned his attention back to Spock for the shortest of moments before moving to stand just in front of Anatalia, his voice at a whisper as he looked down on her smaller frame. 

"Ana, you can't tell me you actually agree with him. Pike told us to go back for him, that's what we should be doing. Please, I need you to back me on this. If we go back, Pike is as good as dead, and so are we. Please Tali." Talia's head shot up at the nickname, her face suggesting to Kirk that he'd better take back what he had just said, or else. No one called her Tali except Leonard, and the fact that he was using it now showed that he was trying to appeal to her soft side, something she did not appreciate in this environment. "Sorry. Ana, please." 

Talia debated the options as she scanned the other main officers of the Enterprise currently engaged on the bridge. Honestly, she did agree with Kirk over Spock; they should be going after Pike. Going back to Starfleet at this point would do no good except bring more death. But her responsibility as Chief Security Officer, now the only one on the ship, was to get this crew home safely. And as much as she hated to admit it, she already felt like a failure following the destruction of Vulcan on their watch. She couldn't risk another loss like that. Not with the people she loved and cared for the most. 

"I'm sorry Jim. We can't risk it. We need to go back to Starfleet. I agree with Spock." Jim deflated slightly as he took a couple of steps back from Anatalia. He had truly expected to have her on his side at the very least. To say he felt betrayed was quite the understatement. But he quickly shook it off as he returned to his earlier position before Spock, choosing to pretend his plea with Ana had never happened.