Part 14 (1/2)

”Enterprise, your message regarding armed Romulan presence on the Federation-allied planet of D'rahl, in the K'tralli sector, has been received and submitted to Emergency Plenary Session 2351-B of the Federation Council. Pursuant to the Council Finding of this date, and Starfleet regulations regarding the provisions of the Treaty of the Algeron, the U.S.S. Enterprise, Captain Jean-Luc Picard, commanding, is herewith authorized to take whatever steps deemed necessary, in the discretion of the commanding officer, to enforce the Treaty. Additionally, as of this date, Federation stars.h.i.+ps Intrepid and Serapis have been dispatched to the K'tralli sector, to rendezvous with the Enterprise and enforce the provisions of the treaty. Captain Jean-Luc Picard is hereby authorized to a.s.sume overall command on their arrival and make whatever command decisions he deems necessary regarding the dispositions of the joint expeditionary force. Signed and executed this date, by order of Federation Council, the Honorable Bokar Dirvak Singh, Chairman.”

Creighton put the Finding he was reading from down on the desktop and gazed directly into the monitor. ”There you have it, Jean-Luc. That's the official line. Note the language of the Finding, however. It does not, repeat, not const.i.tute a formal declaration of war. The Council is suspending judgment on that issue, pending the actions of the Romulans. You're formally charged with enforcing the provisions of the treaty. Period. If that means engaging the Romulans and blowing them to kingdom come, then you are authorized to do it. And it doesn't necessarily mean you have to wait for them to initiate hostilities. In the opinion of the Council, they have already done that by crossing over the Neutral Zone and establis.h.i.+ng a presence on D'rahl. They must vacate immediately and return to their own territory, or else suffer the consequences. No discussion.”

Creighton took a deep breath, exhaled heavily, and then continued, grimly. ”There is, however, one fly in the ointment. The Council has, at least for the present, declined to vote on the question of expelling Overlord J'drahn from the Federation. The K'tralli Empire is and must remain Federation territory. From a strictly legal standpoint, that means K'tralli autonomy must be respected. You are not empowered to take any actions that would be in violation of a strict interpretation of K'tralli law, and you are not authorized to remove J'drahn from power.” He paused. ”But if a way could be found to remove J'drahn unofficially, the Council would not be unduly distressed. They didn't say that, however, and neither did I. You are hereby ordered, under the provisions of the Official Federation Secrets Act, to keep no record of this communication and you and any members of your crew who may be privy to it are never to discuss it with anyone. The only official record of this Finding will exist here, at Starfleet Command. And that goes for my supplementary remarks, needless to say. Good luck, Jean-Luc. End transmission.”

The logo appeared on the viewscreen once again; then the screen went blank. For a long time, everyone on the bridge of the Enterprise remained absolutely silent as the import of Creighton's words sank in. Finally, Gruzinov broke the silence.

”Am I imagining things, Jean-Luc, or did I just hear Creighton tell you to-”

”You have just heard Admiral Creighton order us not to discuss the Council Finding with anyone,” Picard said, quickly interrupting him. ”I interpret that to mean that we are not to discuss it among ourselves, as well.”

Gruzinov stared at him, with astonishment. Picard's expression was unreadable. ”My G.o.d,” Gruzinov said, in a low voice. ”Jean-Luc, what about the Prime Directive we're talking about-”

”One more word on this subject, Captain, and I shall be forced to have you placed under arrest and removed to the brig,” Picard said, fixing Gruzinov with an unflinching gaze. ”This is my responsibility, Ivan,” he added.

Gruzinov stared at him for a moment, then swallowed hard and nodded. ”Of course. I understand. But must you carry it alone?”

”Estimated arrival time at N'trahn, Mr. Koski,” said Picard, curtly.

”Approximately ten minutes, sir.”

”Captain,” Troi said, ”I must have a word with you. In private.”

”My quarters, Counselor. Captain Gruzinov, you have the bridge in my absence.”

”Yes, sir.”

The moment the turbolift doors closed, Troi turned to Picard with concern and said, ”Captain, you cannot possibly be considering-”

”I said, in my quarters, Counselor,” Picard repeated.

”Yes, sir,” she replied, and they went the rest of the way in strained silence.

The moment they entered Picard's quarters, he waited till the door had closed, then turned to her. ”Now that we are safe from any possibility of being overheard, Deanna, allow me to antic.i.p.ate you. No, I am most definitely not considering a.s.sa.s.sinating J'drahn. Surely, you did not think me capable of such a thing?”

Troi sighed with relief. ”No, Captain, but considering what Admiral Creighton said-”

”Admiral Creighton said the Council would not be unduly distressed if J'drahn were removed unofficially,” Picard replied. ”That comment is, of course, open to interpretation, as Admiral Creighton fully realizes. I choose to interpret it very literally, as a simple statement of the Council's feelings concerning Overlord J'drahn, and not as any sort of order, direct or otherwise.”

Troi nodded. ”I understand. But Captain ... what are you going to do?”

Picard sighed heavily and sat down at the table. He drummed his fingers anxiously on the tabletop. Troi watched him, her face full of concern. She could sense his inner turmoil.

”I don't know yet,” he replied, after a moment. ”But I am not going to start a war, if I can possibly help it. I wish to G.o.d that Will were here. And La Forge. To be confronting the possibility of engagement without my executive officer and chief engineer ...” His voice trailed off and he simply shook his head.

”That is not all you are concerned about,” said Troi.

Picard nodded. ”No, it is not. I fear for their safety, Deanna, but I cannot afford to give any thought to that right now. I must consider the fact that Intrepid and Serapis cannot possibly arrive in time. We may well have a general engagement on our hands long before they get here. It all depends on just how far Kronak is willing to go. And if there is an engagement and we should lose, then Intrepid and Serapis will be arriving not merely to enforce the Treaty of Algeron, but to fight a full-scale war. I've got to prevent that at all costs.”

”But the Council has practically tied your hands behind your back,” said Troi. ”If General H'druhn proves unable to remove his son from power, then how can you possibly fulfill the mission without contravening K'tralli law?”

”I cannot,” Picard replied, ”and the Council knows that perfectly well. They are practicing the fine art of brinkmans.h.i.+p. They have their official Finding as evidence of the fact that we were merely ordered to enforce the provisions of the treaty with all due respect for K'tralli autonomy. Never mind how ludicrous that may be in reality. As a policy decision, it possesses the proper ring of diplomacy.”

There was a signal from the bridge. Picard activated his communicator. ”Picard here.”

”Captain, we are approaching N'trahn,” Gruzinov said.

”I'm on my way,” Picard said, getting to his feet. He turned to Troi. ”This has been a privileged conversation, Counselor.”

”Yes, sir,” she said, with resignation. ”I understand.”

Riker got back to the bridge in time to catch the tail end of a communication from Governor T'grayn. He had not been part of the landing party that had visited the governor of D'rahl, so he did not recognize T'grayn's face on the screen when he came onto the bridge, but in the course of the conversation, it quickly became obvious who he was. Fortunately, his inability to recognize T'grayn also meant that T'grayn couldn't recognize him. In any case, T'grayn's attention was entirely on Blaze as Riker came onto the bridge. If T'grayn noticed him at all, thought Riker, it was probably merely as a body moving in the background. The K'tralli governor was overwrought and on the edge of hysteria. Riker took up his position at the weapons console and listened to the exchange.

”You have got to help me, Blaze!” T'grayn was saying. ”You owe me!”

”I owe you?” Blaze said, his calm tone a marked contrast to T'grayn's agitation. ”What, exactly, is it that I owe you, T'grayn? You have become rich from the bribes I've paid you, and you have raked off a generous percentage of all my profits in return for the dubious security you've granted me. There is nothing you have done for me for which I did not pay dearly.”

”But I ... I ... I could have charged you a great deal more!” T'grayn protested.

”If you thought you could have, Governor, I have no doubt you would have done so. And then it is you who would have been the pirate and not me.”

”But I have also given you valuable information!” said T'grayn. ”I told you that the Enterprise has departed for N'trahn! If not for me, you never would have known that, stationed where you are!”

”Well, no, not really, Governor,” said Blaze. ”It is true that I have taken care to keep the planet between me and the Enterprise, even while cloaked, because I had no intention of underestimating Picard again. However, the fact is that Tribune Kronak contacted me only moments earlier and informed me of the Enterprise's departure. He wanted me to join forces with him and pursue Picard to N'trahn, but regrettably, I have not yet completed my repairs. He was most displeased to hear that. He felt that I owed him something, too.”

Riker tensed. In one brief, overheard exchange, he had just learned information that was absolutely staggering. Not only would the Enterprise be unable to help them, because it had departed for N'trahn, but there was a Romulan Warbird in pursuit. Moreover, the presence of a Romulan tribune could only mean one thing-not only a Romulan s.h.i.+p, but Romulan land a.s.sault troops. Only where? And how many?

”Without Kronak and myself, where would you have ... Wait, what are you saying? You mean you cannot leave?” T'grayn asked, with alarm, as the full import of Blaze's words sank in.

”The repairs should be completed before long,” Blaze replied. ”Especially now that the Enterprise is gone and I can safely order a drive systems shutdown and decloak. But I estimate that it will take at the very least another twenty-four hours, and probably longer.”

”How long?” T'grayn asked, moistening his lips nervously.

”A conservative estimate would be approximately seventy-two hours,” Blaze replied.

”Three days?” T'grayn said, with despair. ”In three days, we could be in the middle of a war!”

”Then I will try to get it done in two,” said Blaze. ”I have no desire to get caught between the Federation and the Romulans.”

”You must take me with you, Blaze! Please, I beg you... .”

”Why?” asked Blaze. ”Of what possible use would you be to me aboard this s.h.i.+p? You would merely be unwanted cargo. Unless, of course, you were in a position to make it profitable for me to take you. I do not imagine you would wish to leave all your ill-gotten gains behind.”

”I ... I was going to ask your help in transferring my a.s.sets,” said T'grayn. ”You have contacts in the Ferengi system, I know you do. I would gladly pay-”

”Half,” said Blaze.

T'grayn's jaw dropped. ”Half? But ... that is outrageous!”