As Desai encouraged the group to put forth hypothetical scenarios posing ethical conundrums that Starfleet officers might face, it was not long before the male Vulcan, a young, lean one named Vekal, peered intensely at the three Warborn and asked, “Can it be considered ethical to create an entire race of people purely to fight and die in wars?”

Horatio faced the pointed-eared youth with an even, calm gaze. “I would ask the opposite: Is it ethical to force ordinary people to sacrifice their homes, their families, their careers, and even their very lives in order to transform them into warriors? If wars must be fought, should they not be about protecting the lives and freedoms of ordinary people, rather than taking them away?”

Next to Vekal, his Tiburonian friend Zirani Kayros tilted her head quizzically. Kayros looked slightly more like an Arcturian than any of the others here, for her scalp was bare and she had large, scalloped outer ears bearing a faint aesthetic resemblance to an Arcturian’s skin folds. “I thought the whole reason you were here was to learn to live like ordinary people,” Kayros said to Horatio. “You don’t think you have a right to that?”

Horatio smiled at her. “I believe my purpose is to serve others. To protect my homeworld and its people’s well-being. That is the sacred calling I was created to serve.”

Vekal lowered his upswept eyebrows mistrustfully, taking in all three Warborn with his gaze. “You were created to fight and kill. Do you believe that’s your calling now? Are you here to fight?”

Portia locked eyes with him and smiled. “Are you offering?”

Horatio touched her arm to still her. “What matters is the end, not the means. Our ancestors kept the people of Arcturus safe and free to live their lives by defending them against invaders. We do the same by removing ourselves from Arcturus and learning to follow a new path.” He shook his head. “And no, that path cannot include combat. Not unless the motherworld herself is threatened.”

“So, what if you’re on a ship that’s attacked?” Kayros asked. “If you’re part of the crew and your captain orders you to fight? Will you disobey?”

Horatio looked uneasy. “Not all posts in Starfleet are combat-oriented, or even starship-based. There are ground postings. Administrative tasks. Communication and clerical work. Research asteroids.”

Benedick grinned. “I would like to serve on one of those. Imagine—a whole asteroid, and all they do is research!”

“Even those can come under attack,” Kayros countered. “A crew needs to depend on all its members to work together to defend it.”

“Our faith does not allow it,” Horatio insisted. “Starfleet would not force anyone within it to violate their beliefs.”

“Then how do you expect to make this work, if you don’t think you can fulfill your duties to Starfleet?”