Part 7 (1/2)
”I'm sorting the forward vessels out, sir-ah. The lead wave of the Krann fleet is presently located eight hundred million kilometers from standard orbit at Nem Ma'ak Bratuna. That's just outside the orbit of the fifth planet in this system, sir. These leading elements of the Krann fleet are presently traveling at a speed of just under four thousand kilometers per second and are decelerating under power at a constant one gravity of boost. They will arrive at Nem Ma'ak Bratuna in four days, sixteen hours. Elements of the fleet toward the rear seem to be changing course and speed, however.”
”Where are they going?” Picard asked. ”Worf?”
”They are forming an attack pattern, sir, to center on Nem Ma'ak Bratuna,” the Klingon replied. ”It is similar to the cla.s.sic Brunckhorst pincer movement, but the Krann are going about forming the pincer very slowly.”
”Well, that makes their motives clear,” Picard observed. ”That pattern is in no way defensive.”
”What we're seeing strongly suggests that the Krann are constrained by cla.s.sical Newtonian physics,” Riker said. ”The Krann can't just wheel around, change course, and accelerate any which way. Their technology just isn't up to it. They're slaves to the laws of motion and thermodynamics. That gives us a decided advantage.”
”I wonder, really, how much of an advantage our technology does give us,” Picard mused. ”It seems to me-”
”Captain,” Worf interrupted, ”the head of the Lethantan government is hailing us.”
Picard winked at Troi. ”On audio, Mr. Worf,” he said. ”Yes, First Among Equals?” Picard's tone was purposefully cold.
The speed-of-light delay from ground to orbit was negligible. ”Captain Picard,” Kerajem began, ”on behalf of my entire government, please let me apologize for the conduct of our security minister. He has been severely reprimanded by myself and the council for his precipitous actions and accusations, none of which were authorized by us or even known to us before he made them. We beg your forgiveness for this serious breach of diplomacy, Captain. Let me a.s.sure you that this is not the way we usually treat our friends.”
Picard signaled to Worf to cut the audio. ”What do you think, Counselor?” the captain asked Troi.
”He's sincere,” the counselor allowed. ”He's also very worried. I think he's telling the truth. The altercation with the security minister was not planned.”
”I knew he was telling the truth,” Picard said. ”Nevertheless, the incident with Jemmagar shows that Kerajem has a certain lack of control over his subordinates. I'm reluctant to send a contact team again if I don't have to. The situation is still unstable.”
”Sir?” Riker interrupted. ”We could meet with them here aboard the s.h.i.+p.”
”Exactly what I was thinking,” Picard said. ”Put the First Among Equals back on, Mr. Worf.”
”On audio, sir.”
”Ah, there you are, Captain,” came Kerajem's voice. He sounded relieved. ”I was afraid we'd lost you.”
”Not at all, Kerajem. I accept your apology. I'd like nothing better than to put this unpleasantness behind us.”
”Most generous of you and your people, Captain. I and the council thank you most sincerely. So, what next?”
”I would like to propose that our second meeting take place here, aboard the Enterprise. We will furnish transportation and facilities. You may, of course, bring along as many ministers of the council and their staff people and a.s.sistants as you require. My first officer, Commander William Riker, will personally handle the arrangements with your people.”
The First Among Equals hardly hesitated. ”Excellent, Captain Picard. We're pleased to accept your invitation. I look forward to meeting Commander Riker. I and a subcommittee of the council will be there at your earliest convenience.”
”Very well,” Picard said. ”Commander Riker will be calling you shortly. I look forward to seeing you again, Kerajem. Picard out.” The captain turned to the first officer. ”I want the Lethanta up here as soon as courtesy permits, Will. We still don't have answers to our questions. There's a great deal we need to know before-”
”Before what, sir?” Riker asked.
With a nod of his head, Picard indicated the thousands and thousands of lights that dotted the main screen. ”Before we have to deal with them.”
Picard, Riker, Troi, and Worf were waiting as Kerajem and four members of the Council of Ministers materialized on the chamber platform in transporter room two.
”Welcome aboard the Enterprise,” Picard said.
”Thank you, Captain,” Kerajem said, looking around him. ”An amazing experience, to say the least.” The ministers with him were working hard to maintain their sang-froid, but they were not doing very well. They had seen the Federation officers beam away, but that was a far cry from experiencing it themselves.
”Is this how you managed to get your shuttlecraft back from the s.p.a.ceport, Captain?” Klerran asked. ”Did you perhaps place a pilot directly inside it? We'd a.s.sumed you'd flown it back by some sort of remote control.”
”That's not really important,” Picard said smoothly. ”Commander William Riker, allow me to introduce you to Kerajem zan Trikotta, First Among Equals of the Council of Ministers of Nem Ma'ak Bratuna; Presinget fes Kwaita, the minister for labor; Klerran fes Dresnai, the minister for science and education; and Rikkadar zan Therrka, the finance minister. Gentlemen, Commander Riker is the first officer of this vessel and my second-in-command. He'll get you settled.”
How does he remember all those names? Riker wondered as he extended his hand. ”I am very pleased to meet you all,” the first officer said in his best company manner. ”We have guest quarters ready for each of you. We thought you might want to refresh yourselves after your trip.”
”Trip?” Klerran said, a bit bewildered. ”That was a trip? I still don't believe we went anywhere.”
”Did our staff people get here all right?” Rikkadar asked.
”The other members of your party beamed aboard several minutes ago and have already been escorted to their guest quarters,” Picard told them.
Presinget looked around him. ”I'd like to see those quarters you mentioned, Commander,” he said gruffly. ”If this transporter gadget is how you people get around, then the bathrooms around here must be something terrific.”
”We're rather proud of everything aboard,” Picard said agreeably. ”I thought we might begin our next meeting in, say, half an hour, if that's all right with you.”
”That will be fine, Captain,” Kerajem answered for all of them.
”Excellent. We'll send someone to escort you to our observation lounge at that time. I think you'll appreciate the view.”
”If you'll follow me, gentlemen?” Riker called as the door to the transporter room slid aside. He gestured them through the doorway and onto the gangway of Deck 6. Kerajem and the ministers moved out slowly, looking from left to right and all around as they moved through the exit, even though there was not yet much for them to see. With a last, resigned glance at Picard, Riker followed the Lethantans out of the transporter room, and the doors slid closed behind him.
”This is always Will's favorite part,” Troi said.
”Don't I know it,” Picard replied, not without humor. ”One of the better things about being captain is that you can a.s.sign these kinds of jobs to others.”
”Sir,” Worf said, ”with your permission, I will return to the observation lounge and complete preparations for our meeting with the Council of Ministers.”
”How is the hospitality team doing?” Troi asked.
Worf frowned. ”The team is having trouble resetting the replicators to duplicate the food and refreshment items Kerajem's a.s.sistants sent us in preparation for the council's arrival. They have not had much time to do so.”
”Perhaps they'll like chocolate,” the counselor ventured half seriously.
”I will suggest it to them, Counselor,” Worf said tightly. ”They may have to live on it while they are here. Captain, if you will excuse me-?”
”Of course, Lieutenant.” The door opened for the Klingon and slid closed again after he pa.s.sed quickly through the entrance.
”We'd better get going ourselves,” Picard said to Troi. ”That meeting starts in less than thirty minutes-and this time we shan't be interrupted. I mean to find out exactly what's been going on around here, and without any further delay.”
”-and it took me about five minutes to figure out the d.a.m.n thing, but I finally did,” a slightly out-of-breath Presinget whispered to Klerran. They, along with Rikkadar, were sitting on one side of the conference table in the observation lounge, waiting for Kerajem and Picard to appear. ”I'm just glad I managed to get here before the First did.”
”So what did you do?” Klerran asked him.
”All I did was say the world flush out loud, as though it could hear me and do what I wanted it to, and it worked. Uh, what's the matter, Klerran? You look as if something's bothering you.”
”Oh, nothing,” the science minister replied. ”I was just thinking that the sooner I got back to my quarters, the better.”
”I'd just as soon get home to plumbing I can trust,” the labor minister groused. He turned in his chair to look out the lounge windows. Nem Ma'ak Bratuna shone green, its clouds glaring white. A thin, hazy envelope of atmosphere softened the curvature of the planet.