Jim raised his hands. "Gentlemen, you seem to be laboring under a misapprehension about our values and motives. Jim, at no time have I valued the Narada or her sentience over the safety of this ship. It is simply that I do not believe in the taking of life under any circumstances that aren't direct self-defense. I have found, over time, that beings want to response, to respect and be respected, to grow and cooperate when given the chance. Not all. I'm not without my own prejudices, either. But I try to live and command by the values of the Federation and of Starfleet. And that means seeking any alternate means than destruction whenever possible. No matter the crime. In my opinion, this is exactly the time for applied philosophy. Else, what is it worth? If our values only hold up in the abstract, academically, what value are they? What are we spreading to the four corners of this galaxy?"