“Not really, Doctor,” Batanides said. “These people don’t have any trading partners within ten parsecs in any direction. On top of that, they only discovered fasterthan‑light travel about a generation ago. Zefram Cochrane’s first warp experiments didn’t bring us asteroid mines and food replicators overnight. Until the start of the twenty‑second century, after the first Oort cloud resource‑extraction operations had gotten under way, Earth was still in pretty rough shape economically.”
Tabor nodded toward the admiral before continuing. “As I’m sure you’re all aware by now, the Chiarosans are about to make a choice that could be as critical as their discovery of superluminal travel. In a little less than five days, they will decide whether to become a provisional member of the Federation, or yet another vassal of the Romulan Star Empire.”
“And if the Chiarosans enter a pact with the Romulans,” Batanides said, “then they also gain effective control of the entire Geminus Gulf.”
Picard looked at the impassive faces of each of his senior officers, none of whom looked overly impressed by the point Batanides had just made. Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge, the Enterprise’s chief engineer, was the first to give voice to what they all must have been thinking.
“I’ve seen the reports about what’s in the Gulf. Or rather about what’s notthere, at least in terms of resources. To put it delicately . . . why are we so concerned about whether or not the Romulans annex the place?”
“Other than simple altruism,” Riker said, “the best reason I can think of is because the Romulans seem to be very concerned about whether or not weannex the place.”
Tabor nodded. “And because First Protector Ruardh’s planetary government has officially invited the Federation in, pending ratification of its decision by a popular vote.”
“There’s also the matter of the Slaytonto consider,” Batanides said. “The Chiarosan government claims that the Slaytonlaunched a diplomatic shuttle toward the planet shortly before the starship mysteriously disappeared. But the Slayton’s diplomatic team never made it to the Chiarosan capital. We need access to the planet and the surrounding space to mount a proper search for the crew. But if the Romulans force the Federation out of the Geminus Gulf, then we can forget about ever getting at the truth.”
Or finding Corey,Picard thought. Aloud, he said, “ Admiral, are you saying that you believe the Romulans had something to do with the Slayton’s disappearance?”
“I can’t prove it,” she said. “But I wouldn’t put it past them.”
Picard was skeptical. He tried to word his objection as diplomatically as possible. “Admiral, to risk war with the Federation over three sectors of essentially empty space would not appear to make a great deal of sense.”
“Granted,” Batanides said. “But it’s hard to evaluate the Romulans’ logic when we have so little hard intelligence about their agenda here.”
Crusher spoke up then, her brow creased in thought. “Putting aside the Romulans for the moment, how difficult can our mission to Chiaros be? The planet’s government was duly elected by the Chiarosan people, wasn’t it?”
“Of course,” Tabor said, raising an eyebrow. “We would not be considering them for Federation membership were it otherwise.”
“Exactly,” Crusher said. “So if the duly‑constituted Powers That Be on Chiaros IV want us in and the Romulans out, then it seems to me that we’d have to work pretty hard to fail.”
Tabor smiled his indulgent smile once again. “I’m afraid it isn’t quite as simple as that, Doctor. Despite their proven ability to unite themselves behind a single government, the Chiarosan social order remains a patchwork of clans and families, some of whom harbor ancient rivalries. It is a fragile coalition, and it can be broken by resource disputes . . . or by outside alliances made by Chiarosan clan leaders.
“A pro‑Romulan dissident faction–run by a man named Falhain–has been launching guerrilla attacks on government infrastructure. It is the opinion of Ruardh’s government that the rebels are using Federation weapons seized from the Slaytonto carry out these raids. Needless to say, the citizenry is talking. Whether or not these charges are true, the prospect of Federation weapons getting into rebel hands has made even Ruardh’s supporters question the wisdom of siding with us.”
“Making the Romulans look more and more like the better alternative,” Picard said grimly, his eyes on the slowly turning holographic globe.
“And making us responsible for cleaning up the mess our own weapons may have created,” Riker added.
“Precisely, Commander. Captain, my mission–and therefore yourmission–is to help Ruardh and Falhain put their ancient enmities aside and reach an accord, so that Chiaros IV will at least have a chance of taking its place alongside the other members of the Federation.” With that, he lifted the remote and the holographic image of Chiaros IV winked into oblivion. No one else spoke for several long seconds afterward, as the import of his words sank in.
Batanides stood, signaling that the briefing had come to a close. “The Enterprisewill arrive at the Chiaros system in approximately twenty‑two hours. Captain Picard will assemble a team to accompany Ambassador Tabor to the Chiarosan capital for the initial peace summit between Ruardh and Falhain.”
And to make certain that everyone gets out of the proceedings alive,Picard thought.
Picard lingered in the observation lounge after his officers had left. Besides himself, only Batanides and Tabor remained.
Tabor took one of Batanides’s hands between his own. “I’ll be in our quarters, my dear. I have a great deal of reading and preparation to do before tomorrow.” He turned toward Picard. “Captain, I understand that you and Marta are old friends. Friendship is something we Ullians value very highly. Why don’t the two of you take advantage of my preoccupation and spend some time catching up on–how do you humans say it–‘old times’?”
Batanides tilted her head to the side as though weighing her options. Then she favored Picard with a slightly mischievous smile.
Picard felt awkward in the extreme. “Marta, I completely understand if you’re too busy–”
Tabor interrupted him. “Please, Captain. I insist.” Then he walked to the door and was gone. Picard and Batanides stood alone together, looking out onto a stunning vista of stars.
“I think I can spare a few hours of my time,” she said brightly. “Let’s see if you still know how to show a girl a good time, Johnny. How about a holographic jaunt to the Bonestell Recreation Facility and a few quick games of dom‑jot before dinner?”
He smiled sheepishly, then said, “All right. But let’s ask the maУtre d’ to hold the Nausicaans this time, shall we?”
She grinned and took his arm.
Whatever am I going to tell Beverly tomorrow morning at breakfast?he thought, as they exited the lounge together.
Chapter Three
Aubin Tabor stepped into the quarters to which he and Marta had been assigned. As the door hissed closed behind him, he spoke into the air. “Computer. Dim lights. Blue illumination.”
As the computer adjusted the room’s lights, Tabor moved to a sleek case lying on a side table. Opening it, he removed a small sculpture, a representation of two entwined water nymphs, sea foam gathered at their ankles. The nymphs were facing away from each other, though their arms were interlinked behind them; each a part of the other, but watching vigilantly to either side. He had bought it for Marta on a trip to Crete a few years ago, when they were still newly discovering each other. So many secrets were shared in those early days, so much revealed. Marta had recently broken up from another relationship, and her mind was guarded. Aubin had promised her from the start that he would not use his telepathic powers on her–that he would neveruse them on her–and it had helped to forge the bond that had grown between them since then.