“I do not like it either, Captain.”

Captain Wren Walton stared across the briefing room table at Captain Ki, Montana Station’s Director of Starfleet Intelligence. “You’ll have to pardon my inability to suspend my disbelief.” He turned her stunned look to Montana’s Sector Judge Advocate, Commander Archibald Davidson. “There’s nothing to be done?”

Walton watched Davidson carefully. He sat, ramrod straight, eyes alert and forward. Her evaluation of him came directly from reputation and first-hand accounts of his so-called bedside manner. The older officer rarely smiled, and his lips remained firmly planted in a straight line. “We’ve evaluated the translation and the language within it. We’ve asked several of our intermediaries with the Tholians. Each of them was clear in their reply – do not attempt to work around the Tholians and their punishment.” He shook his head firmly, as if to add emphasis to his statement, “We cannot risk any kind of irritation to our ongoing fragile peace with the Tholians.”

Wren asked, “What if this is a rogue element? A fringe operation?” She worked out her thoughts as she continued, “We could claim…,”

She startled as Davidson interrupted, “Impossible. As fractured as we may imagine them to be, they are still a collective group – harm one, you harm them all. We spent the trip here examining as much of Tholian culture and politics as is available. What they interpret from our actions is part of the problem.” He pointed to the translation on the viewscreen at the front of the room, “It may say any removal will bring consequences. We interpret that as physical removal, but their decision matrix would be incomprehensible to us.”

Wren grumbled, “Damnit.” She sat back in her chair, frustrated. Doctor Galdrid Ahon was a fearsome horror. That the Tholians were the ones exacting their own brand of justice wasn’t what was playing a hard tune on her nerves. It was that they could do nothing. They couldn’t help speed her death. She would live until the time of the Tholians’ choosing.

Captain Ki pushed back from the table and stood. “We didn’t get the win this time, Captain Walton. We have to accept it and walk away. Anything beyond that is actionable by Commander Davidson.”

Walton felt the concurrent stares from both officers. She asked, “You think I’d contemplate that kind of crazy?”

Davidson said, “It’s not a statement on you, Captain Walton.” He stood and followed Ki out the door. Walton sat back in her chair.

What a mess.