Part 28 (1/2)
In light of that, he had thought the a.s.signment to work out the details of establis.h.i.+ng diplomatic relations with the Trinni/ek would be a comparative walk in the park-but also a major step forward in his career. This was a first contact with a new species, the gold standard for diplomatic work in the Federation. Morrow was in a position where he could make history. On top of that, Captain T'Vrea's reports all indicated a species that was the textbook example of the type of people the Federation liked to deal with, and who might eventually join up.
Until they'd gone insane in the Roth Dining Room.
This time, though, the signs were better. Speaker Ytri/ol had made an effort to be communicative during the journey here, though he had seemed much more tired.
Now Morrow was accompanying them into the council chamber on the first floor of the Palais after just beaming down from orbit. This time the Starfleet escort vessel had been the Hood. Captain DeSoto had been a fine host, and he was now walking alongside Morrow, Ytri/ol, and the delegation.
DeSoto leaned over and whispered to Morrow as they approached the door to the huge chamber, ”Don't worry, it'll be fine.”
Morrow nodded. DeSoto's support had been very helpful. Morrow knew the man's war record-the Hood had suffered a great deal during the Dominion War-but DeSoto showed no signs of wear and tear. He was friendly and affable, and just the person to keep the Trinni/ek-who were apprehensive about their second trip to Earth-from worrying overmuch.
If only it worked on me.
As they entered, Morrow noticed that the room was packed. Most of the hundred and fifty-four councillors seemed to be present, seated on either side of the large pathway in the center of the room. President Bacco stood at her podium, smiling. In the back of the room, the gallery was packed with reporters, civilians, some government staffers- - including Esperanza, who smiled at him as he entered.
Morrow hadn't expected to see her here, but he was glad for it. He was really growing to like the chief of staff.
”If you start drooling, it'll be real embarra.s.sing,” DeSoto whispered to him.
Trying to keep his dignity, Morrow whispered back, ”I don't know what you're talking about.”
”Right. Those diplomatic skills may need a little refining there, Colton.”
Morrow said nothing, as Ytri/ol came to a stop at the center of the speaker's floor.
Bacco said, ”The podium recognizes the delegation from Trinni/ek, as well as Federation Amba.s.sador Colton Morrow and Starfleet Captain Robert DeSoto.”
”Thank you, Madam President.” Ytri/ol's voice sounded even weaker than it had on the Hood. ”First, I must-I must offer the humblest apologies to the people of the Federation for the rather-embarra.s.sing display that my staff and I put on in this-in this building three months ago.”
I don't like the way he sounds. Morrow shot a look of concern at DeSoto, who returned it. They both started to inch closer to the speaker.
”We very-very much- ” The speaker's breathing was becoming labored now. ”- wish to-to open- ”
Three of the delegates collapsed. A gasp shot through the room even as DeSoto ran to the one who fell first.
”I'm sor- ” Ytri/ol wasn't able to get the word out before he, too, collapsed, as did the final aide.
Slapping his combadge, DeSoto said, ”Medical emergency in the council chambers, five Trinni/ek have collapsed, repeat, five Trinni/ek have collapsed.”
The guards at the door were also summoning people. n.o.body would be beaming in, Morrow knew, as the chambers were s.h.i.+elded against transporters.
Moments later, six people in Starfleet uniforms ran in, and Morrow recognized one of them: Dr. Catherine Papadimitriou, the chief medical officer on the Hood. The other five were navigating gurneys into the chamber. Moments after that, two more people entered, both dressed in blue lab coats emblazoned with a caduceus, indicating that they were also medical personnel.
”Somebody talk to me,” President Bacco said after a tense moment as two doctors examined the five Trinni/ek forms with medical tricorders while the others a.s.sisted.
The civilian, a Rhandaarite male, said, ”I'm not sure what to make of this.”
”I am.” Papadimitriou had been kneeling by Ytri/ol, but now she stood and addressed the podium. ”Something has shut down their peripheral nervous systems.”
The other doctor sounded dubious as he asked, ”How can you be sure?”
”I can't-but that's what the indicators are based on, from what I've studied of them on the way here from the Hood.” Papadimitriou turned back to the podium. ”Madam President, the best nearby medical facility is on Starbase 1. Request permission to transport the patients there.”
Bacco, to her credit, didn't hesitate. ”Go.”
Morrow and DeSoto helped the others load the five patients onto the gurneys, as did the guards. As they did so, the Rhandaarite said, ”Are you sure they're safe for transport?”
”Transporting has no effect on the nervous system.” Papadimitriou didn't look up from her tricorder as she spoke.
”Of most humanoid species,” the Rhandaarite said. ”They beamed down right before they collapsed. Maybe that is responsible for their condition.”
Papadimitriou still didn't look up. ”Maybe pigs'll fly out of my b.u.t.t, but I'm not holding my breath. Right now, the best course of action is to get these people to Starbase 1.” Now she looked up, even as the gurneys were being scooted down the hall to the turbolift to take them to the second-floor transporter bay. The guards had already cleared the way, and three empty 'lifts were waiting for them. ”Unless you think the Hopital V'gran is a better facility. Speak now, Doctor.”
The Rhandaarite, who was apparently from the nearby hospital in question, shook his head, even as Papadimitriou got into the elevator with Ytri/ol. Morrow and DeSoto got into the second one with two of the delegates.
”What do you think happened?” DeSoto asked.
Morrow sighed. ”My career coming to an end?”
DeSoto smiled. ”I meant to the Trinni/ek.”
”Do I look like a doctor?”
”You look like someone killed your pet.”
Morrow sighed as the doors to the turbolift opened onto the second floor. The two medtechs navigated the gurneys out. ”That's twice the Trinni/ek have done this-and I was the one who pushed the president to give them another shot. This isn't my finest hour as a diplomat.” As they walked, the other gurneys came out of their 'lifts and moved to the transporter bay.
”Well, it could be worse,” DeSoto said philosophically as they watched the five gurneys being transported to the large starbase in orbit of Earth.
As they stepped onto the platform for their own transport, Morrow asked, ”How could it be worse?”
”They could be dead.”
Morrow's reply was lost in the transporter effect.
It took all of Amba.s.sador K'mtok's willpower to keep from wrecking the room in which he sat.
Not that it mattered, since if his willpower failed, he was sure that the four armed guards standing at the doors to the room would not hesitate to shoot him down where he stood if he tried that.
He turned in his chair to glower at Amba.s.sador Kalavak. The Romulan man simply stared at the curtained window. K'mtok was grateful that the curtains were down, as he found human architecture to be intensely dull. He had specifically requested that his offices in the Klingon emba.s.sy have no exterior windows.
If he couldn't wreck the room, K'mtok would have been happy to kill the Romulan amba.s.sador, just on general principles. He didn't know this new amba.s.sador very well. It had taken the Romulans six months to appoint a new amba.s.sador to replace T'Kala after her cowardly suicide-only a Romulan would find honor in taking one's own life, he thought with disgust-so this one had only been on the job a few weeks. T'Kala had, at least, been as worthy a foe as a Romulan could be. He wondered if this one would prove as able. I doubt it.
Finally, the doors slid open to reveal the Federation president. ”Sorry I'm late, but there was a bit of a problem with the Trinni/ek.”
K'mtok had no interest in the doings of aliens. He rose from his chair; the Romulan did the same. ”The High Council demands to know Starfleet's findings on Klorgat IV!”
Bacco walked over to her desk and said, ”K'mtok, good to see you, too. I don't think you've met Amba.s.sador Kalavak.”
Kalavak spoke in a voice that K'mtok immediately cla.s.sified as mewling. ”The pleasure is, I'm sure, entirely the amba.s.sador's.”