With the Ronin now safely back in
the Alpha Quadrant, Repairs from the battle were underway and the Ronin was
heading home at warp eight. It felt good to be back home, but now Ryan had the
problem of what to do with Commander Heim. Ryan approached the brig. He had
not been looking forward to this. In the few short months Heim had been under
his command, the two had become close friends. Now, after Heim had attempted
to kill Ryan on the Proletarian ship, Ryan was not too sure about anything anymore.
Ryan stepped in and relieved the brig officer. He walked over to the single
cell and looked at Heim. He lay there and said nothing.
"Ben?"
Heim didn't respond.
"Ben?"
Still no response.
"Computer, lower forcefield."
The force field lowered and Ryan stepped in and pulled Heim off the bench.
"Commander! I'm trying to speak to you!"
"I have nothing to say" Heim replied.
"How about why you tried to kill me back there?"
"Quite simple really Captain, I realised that you were just like Devore. You blindly followed his orders and we may have been out there for the rest of our lives."
"Ben, it was starfleet protocol. He was in command, but that still doesn't explain why you tried to kill me!"
"If it were up to me, I'd have set a course straight for home and not looked back. Screw the starfleet designated planets and Lieutenant Williams! I would have taken the Ronin home!"
"Youd have been dead before reaching the Alpha quadrant!"
"Maybe so, but it was better than risking our lives out there for nothing!"
"So if it were up to you, youd have just left us on that Proletarian ship and headed for home?"
"Yes"
"You sicken me! You call yourself a Starfleet officer?!"
Ryan walked over and removed all but one of Heims pips.
"You are hereby demoted to the rank of Ensign. When we reach Earth, you will be courtmarshalled for the attempted murder of three federation officers. Until then you will remain here."
The doors to the brig opened and Ensign McCloud stepped in.
"Captain, repairs are almost all completed. Lieutenant McQueen asked if he could see you in engineering however."
"On my way Ensign."
Ryan headed back to the control panel to raise the forcefield once more when Heim spoke up.
"I sense you blame me for the deth of Benosk also. Let me just say, I'm glad he's dead! I never liked him anyway!"
Ryan charged for Heim but was restrained by McCloud.
"Captain, restrain yourself. This will not bring Lieutenant Benosk back!" he said.
Ryan calmed down and reactivated
the forcefield. The two officers left the brig and left Heim alone.
