Part 1 (1/2)

Articles of the Federation.

by Keith R. A. DeCandido.

This novel commences shortly after the events of the feature film Star Trek Nemesis, as well as the novels A Time for War, a Time for Peace by Keith R.A. DeCandido, Death in Winter by Michael Jan Friedman, and t.i.tan: Taking Wing by Michael A. Martin & Andy Mangels.

January 2380 ”It sure is h.e.l.l to be president.”

- Harry S Truman

Chapter One.

ELE'ER SAT IMPATIENTLY on her stool in the learning room. Mother was late, of course-she always was late for their learning sessions, which meant they ended later, which meant that Ele'er was always late for sky-singing. Ele'er hated being late for sky-singing because it meant she couldn't go through the warm-ups, and when she couldn't go through the warm-ups, she sang poorly, and the songleader gave her that disapproving look. Ele'er would explain that Mother had been late with her lesson and that it had been important, but the songleader never cared.

Mother finally transported into the learning room in a s.h.i.+mmer of light. Ele'er knew she'd used a transporter because she was running late.

”I apologize for my tardiness,” Mother said, pulling a padd out of a pocket in her cloak and sitting on the larger stool that faced Ele'er's. While they were both seated, Mother remained on a higher plane by sitting on her taller stool, reinforcing her position as both parent and teacher. Ele'er started to remind her that she'd be late for sky-singing, but Mother didn't give her the chance. ”Today's lesson will involve the politics of the Federation.”

Ele'er felt the folds of her skin tighten. She hated when the lesson involved politics.

”We are going to observe the Federation News Service, because they have a segment called Illuminating the City of Light.”

”That's a stupid name,” Ele'er muttered.

”What was that?” Mother asked tersely.

Sighing, Ele'er enunciated the words this time. ”It's a stupid name.”

”It is not at all a stupid name, Ele'er.” Mother folded her hands on her lap, which meant she was going to start quizzing her daughter. ”What is the seat of the Federation government?”

Ele'er sighed. ”Earth.”

”More specifically, please.”

”A city called London.”

”Wrong, Ele'er.” Mother made a note on her padd that Ele'er a.s.sumed was a demerit. ”It is in Paris, in a building known as the Palais de la Concorde.”

Though Ele'er was tempted to point out to Mother that she had no need to know the differences among the many cities of a planet that (its role as the seat of the Federation government notwithstanding) was light-years away from Bre'el IV in terms of both distance and relevance, she knew that it would probably just result in another demerit.

”What is the name of the native population of Earth?”

”Human.” That was an easy one.

”And what is the nickname that humans have for Paris?”

Ele'er felt her skin folds tighten again. ”I don't know.”

”The City of Light.”

”Do the other cities on Earth not have light?”

Mother made another note on her padd; Ele'er feared another demerit. ”Of course they do, don't be absurd, Ele'er. Now then- ”

This time, Ele'er saw where Mother was going with her questioning. ”This FNS segment discusses the goings-on in the Federation government in Paris?”

”That is correct.”

”So the presentation's purpose is to provide insight into what happens in the City of Light-which is why it has that name.”

At that, Mother put her fists to her chest, with wrists crossed-a gesture of respect and grat.i.tude. ”Very good, Ele'er.” She made some more notes on her padd. ”Now, then, we will watch.”

Mother removed a control from her cloak and pressed a b.u.t.ton on it. The emitters located in the walls lit up, and five figures seated at a desk appeared in the middle of the learning room. One of them was a Bre'ella like her-Ele'er thought he looked familiar, but she couldn't place his face, though his cloak's red color indicated a high office.

The images were frozen. Mother asked, ”Can you identify the species and s.e.xes of the people sitting with Councillor Nitram?”

Councillor Nitram, of course, Ele'er chastised herself. She was grateful that Mother's phrasing of the question-a.s.suming that Ele'er knew Bre'el's representative on the Federation Council-had saved her the embarra.s.sment of admitting that she hadn't recognized him.

Ele'er peered at the images. Such identification quizzes usually were the purview of biology lessons, not political ones, but it was characteristic of Mother to throw in queries from other disciplines to keep Ele'er on her toes.

The one on the far right with the dark skin looked like she was a native of Earth, so Ele'er pointed at her and said, ”Human female.”

”Correct.” Mother made a note on her padd.

Next to the human was Nitram, and next to him was a female with spots encircling her face just under her hair-line. Ele'er knew that there were two species with that characteristic, but she couldn't remember either of them. Taking a wild guess, she said, ”Betazoid female?”

”No. That is a Kriosian female, though I would have credited you if you had said Trill, since you have never seen this segment and are not aware that its host is from Krios. The next one?”

This was a person with blue skin and no hair. She remembered that Andorians had blue skin. ”Andorian chan.”

Mother's lips pursed for the first time since she arrived, which meant her displeasure was even worse. She made several notes on the padd, and Ele'er feared she was setting a record for demerits this lesson. ”No, that is a Bolian male. Andorians have antennae.”

And I was so proud of remembering the Andorian genders. Ele'er tried not to sigh.

”The final one?”

This last one she knew: ”An Efrosian male.”

”Very good. I will now play the recording of the show, and you will watch it. When it is over, I will quiz you on its contents. If you have a question at any point, I will pause the recording and you may ask.”

Ele'er stared intently at the hologram.

The Kriosian woman spoke when Mother started the playback. ”Good evening. This is Illuminating the City of Light, I'm your host, Velisa. It has been two months since Federation President Nan Bacco took the oath of office, after winning a close election against Ktarian Special Emissary Fel Pagro. Tonight on ICL, we'll be examining President Bacco's first eight weeks in office. Is she taking the Federation in a new direction after seven years of Min Zife? Is she simply treading water? Or is she floundering on the galactic stage?”

Velisa started introducing the panel, starting with the Efrosian and going down the line.