06-23-2025, 03:07 PM
Since returning to the ship, Kalli had been keeping herself very busy. She had seen for herself just how intrusive the technology had become with the population. She never understood the desire some people had to augment themselves. She supposed that it involved any of a variety of psychological motivations. She recalled a few long conversations about the topic with Cdr Talion and came to see how easily certain insecurities revealed themselves when implanted devices were allowed, especially when unchecked by requirements like medical and psychological approvals. The people of this planet weren't exactly Borg, but it felt to her like they could easily be on a slippery slope. What bothered her more than the devices was the dangerous lawlessness she saw around her.
Kalli was no stranger to violence. It was even necessary at time, but the problem was typically a matter of who was deciding it was necessary or not. The act itself was easy enough. For her to be able to live with it, she needed to feel it was to save a life. When you compared the loss of a life of an innocent to the loss of the life of someone who wanted to take that innocent life away, the logic became easy, justified and there was little remorse. When a criminal element was introduced, everything quickly became a grey area.
Having been returned to the ship, part of her was grateful. There had been a worry in the back of her mind that something might happen and she would have to take a life in front of her fellow crew. Even if it was justified, it often changed how someone saw you after that. Killing PO2 Yizzah had been unfortunate in that it wasn't really his fault, but she was glad that nobody had witnessed it, nor had they connected those dots. She was also pretty sure that nobody would investigate the matter further, given the classified nature of that mission.
Right now, what was most on her mind was that she wanted to be sure that the ship would be prepared for anything someone on that planet might be bold and stupid enough to try, if they got desperate enough. Desperate people were less likely to do rational things. When people were scared, they didn't think things through. She knew all too well that you had to keep your head straight and stay calm when life was on the line. She just hoped that everyone on the surface made it back in one piece.
Kalli was no stranger to violence. It was even necessary at time, but the problem was typically a matter of who was deciding it was necessary or not. The act itself was easy enough. For her to be able to live with it, she needed to feel it was to save a life. When you compared the loss of a life of an innocent to the loss of the life of someone who wanted to take that innocent life away, the logic became easy, justified and there was little remorse. When a criminal element was introduced, everything quickly became a grey area.
Having been returned to the ship, part of her was grateful. There had been a worry in the back of her mind that something might happen and she would have to take a life in front of her fellow crew. Even if it was justified, it often changed how someone saw you after that. Killing PO2 Yizzah had been unfortunate in that it wasn't really his fault, but she was glad that nobody had witnessed it, nor had they connected those dots. She was also pretty sure that nobody would investigate the matter further, given the classified nature of that mission.
Right now, what was most on her mind was that she wanted to be sure that the ship would be prepared for anything someone on that planet might be bold and stupid enough to try, if they got desperate enough. Desperate people were less likely to do rational things. When people were scared, they didn't think things through. She knew all too well that you had to keep your head straight and stay calm when life was on the line. She just hoped that everyone on the surface made it back in one piece.