Devore Imperium Inspector Jasev stood on the viewscreen, his eyes scorching the bridge of the Mackenzie.  “Captain, this is…unspeakable.”

Harris was at a loss.  He had just reported to the Devore that his people were safe and ready to be transported.  “Inspector, you took our people…and were going to sell them as targets for the Hirogen.  I’m aware that you firmly believe that is an acceptable practice…and perhaps it is with the rest of the Delta Quadrant…but I was not going to stand by and allow people we had been asked to look out for to be offered up as a sacrifice to the Hirogens.”

Jasev shouted, “You’ve invalidated a treaty we entered into with the Hirogen, Captain.  A treaty that governs our relationship.  It is a treaty of balance and trade.”

“It is a treaty of trafficking, abuse, and genocide.  Maybe if it hadn’t been our people, we maybe would have held back and let the Delta Quadrant’s cycle continue.  You had told us they had already been sold to the Hirogen, Inspector.  We were under the impression they were long gone and deep inside Hirogen space.”

Normally someone would be embarrassed at being caught in a lie.  The Devore responded differently.  “We were under no obligation to tell you the truth about anything, Captain Harris.  It would have been better if you had accepted your fate and let your people die the way they were intended – hunted until they were no more.”

Ambrose stared at the inspector, “Do you want your people back or not?”  

Jasev looked as if he was going to rail against them, but he fell silent to consider the question.  He replied curtly, “Yes.  We will transmit details on where you can transport them.”  The channel closed, and the entire bridge seemed to let out the breath they’d collectively been holding.

Atega confirmed the transporter details had been sent.  Harris wearily “Go ahead and get them transported over.”  A few minutes passed as the shields on both ships were dropped, and the transporters worked their magic.  Moments later, the process was complete, and the shields returned.  Ambrose was about to order Prentice to set a course for the outpost when Atega spoke up.

“Uh…Captain…Inspector Jasev is hailing us.  Again.”  She felt something was off, and the look on her face gave her CO some warning.  Something was wrong.

“On screen.”

Jasev stood, the look on his face triumphant and pleased with himself.  It was the person that was being held prisoner next to him that sent chills through Ambrose.  Natalie gasped audibly at her console.  The Inspector chuckled, “You’ve made the Devore Imperium quite unhappy, Captain Harris.  You know this man here…one Julian Harris.  He’s found every way to offend the Imperium.”  Jasev looked at Julian, “Despite our repeated warnings, our repeated punishments…he just couldn’t learn.”  Atega reported two other large Devore ships had entered the system and were coming alongside Jasev’s ship.

Ambrose found his voice as he stood, “We’re aware of his…behavior.  He’s slated to stand trial back home for a long list of offenses.  I can assure you he will receive punishment for his crimes here…and there.  That I can promise with absolute certainty, Inspector.”

Jasev laughed and kicked the feet out from underneath the older Harris cousin, “You don’t understand me, Captain Harris.  We aren’t negotiating the release of your family member.  We’re holding his trial.”  He amended that, “I should be clear, as you humans like to say.  We held his trial.  We would have left him to the Hirogen…but I realized you and your crew needed to pay.  The balance of things, I think you call it.  So we picked him up.  I had hoped the Hirogen would eliminate the diseased crew, but you got lucky.”  He adjusted the camera and stepped back as Julian’s prone body on the floor was struggling to get to his knees.  “Your cousin is not so lucky.”

Harris spoke quickly, “Clear the bridge.”  Officers glanced at Harris, and he repeated, “Clear the bridge.”  The officers quickly headed for the turbolift, and Natalie hesitated.  Ambrose shook his head, “Clear the bridge, Nat.”

The bridge suddenly sat empty, save for Ambrose.  Jasev cackled, “I was so hoping they would see the consequences of your actions, Captain.  Anything you want to say to your doomed cousin?”

Julian’s face was battered, bruised, and bloody.  His eyes were barely able to open, and Ambrose could tell at least one of his arms was broken the way it was hanging.  He sputtered, “I am sorry, Ambrose.  I’m sorry I dragged Natalie into this.”

Ambrose felt his throat tighten.  If it had been one large Devore ship, he could have rationalized trying to take them.  But three…was a statistical impossibility.  “I’m sorry we couldn’t get to you in time.”

The Harris cousin nodded weakly, “I did this to myself, Ambrose.  Don’t blame yourself.  Don’t blame Rafael.  I did this.”

Sitting slumped in the center chair, he shook his head, “Everybody shares the blame for this, Julian.”  He met the eyes of his cousin, “I’m so sorry.”

Jasev rolled his eyes, “Humans.”  He pulled out a disrupter and put it up against the head of Julian Harris.  And fired.  The screen flashed as the microphone picked up the thumping of the body to the ground, and Ambrose tensed at the sound.  The Inspector stood over the body and repeated the killing shot once.  Twice.  Three times.  He adjusted the camera to focus on the dead and smoking body of Julian Harris.  Pulling it back up, he intoned, “You did this, Captain Harris.  I should blow you out of the stars…but I think this will keep you from ever entering our space ever again.  We’ll send the body to you as a courtesy.”  The channel closed.

Ambrose tapped the console, and he whispered, “Computer, activate Emergency Command Hologram.”

McKee appeared, “Please state the natu….” she stopped and observed Captain Harris slumped in his chair, tears falling down his face.  She considered various paths of action and settled on, “Captain, you are relieved.”  

He stood shakily as his words filtered through his sadness, “I am relieved.”  He walked the path to his ready room, and the door closed behind him.

McKee stared at the Devore ships as they departed, leaving the Mackenzie in silent repose.  She tapped at the console on the chair, ordering the bridge crew to return.  They needed to find a valley to find rest.