A Time for War, a Time for Peace - Keith R. A. DeCandido [87]
“You have done quite enough, Councillor.” With that, Worf turned his back on Kopek. The insult was probably lost on the honorless petaQ, but under the circumstances, an insult was all Worf could really give him.
This is what it has come to, he thought as he left Kopek’s derisive laughter behind. I have kept my word to a yIntagh who does not deserve or appreciate it, and it has driven the Federation and the empire closer to war. The immediate need to preserve the peace at Tezwa was fulfilled, but Worf now had to wonder if his effort to achieve peace only served to make it easier for war to come later.
Worf had deliberately saved Kopek for last on his list of councillors to visit this day, so he returned to the embassy. Until this last visit, the trip had been more or less successful. Unsurprisingly, the hardliners had not changed their position, but Worf had been able to convince the more moderate councillors to support the alliance. He wondered how Alexander did.
Upon arriving at the embassy, he was greeted in the lobby by Wu. “How did it go, sir?” He looked at the singed material on the shoulder of Worf’s cassock. “Or should I even ask?”
“It went quite well, despite the damage to my clothing,” Worf said, not wishing to dwell on Kopek. He filled Wu in on his progress.
“That’s good to hear, sir.” They entered the turbolift, which accelerated up to the second floor. “You’ll be happy to know that Alexander was able to obtain the support of Grevaq, Mortran, and Qolka.”
Worf shot Wu a look of surprise at that last name, even as the lift came to a halt. “Qolka?”
“Yes, sir.” They exited the turbolift as the doors opened. “He seemed quite pleased with himself.”
“As well he should.”
“If I may say so, sir—if there is a way to make his assignment to the embassy permanent, you should attempt to find it. He has a knack for this sort of work.”
Worf had been thinking much the same thing—indeed, he had entertained such thoughts as far back as the mission to Aluwna two years earlier, when Alexander had resolved a dispute. “Perhaps” was all he would say out loud. “Are there any other matters that need my immediate attention?”
As expected, Wu ascertained from Worf’s phrasing that right now he wanted to deal with diplomatic matters only if absolutely necessary. “Nothing that can’t wait until morning, sir.”
“Good.” He removed his cassock and tossed it to the floor of his office. “I will require a new cassock. Make sure all the decorations are transferred. I shall be in the gymnasium.” The embassy gym was equipped with holoemitters that could generate sparring partners, and at the moment Worf felt the need to hit something very hard.
Chapter 11
U.S.S. Enterprise
“A HOLOGRAM?”
Picard regarded his first officer with surprise. The captain had specifically requested that everyone read the material Starfleet had sent them before this meeting, so the fact that Kahless had been replaced with a hologram should not have come as a shock. Riker and Troi were seated in the two chairs to Picard’s immediate right, both looking rather strained. Next to them was Vale, who kept fingering the hollow pip on her collar—Picard expected her to be doing so unconsciously for at least another month; he certainly had done so every time he was promoted, though it had been over four decades since his last one. Data, La Forge, and Crusher had the seats opposite those three. At the other end of the table sat Go, quietly making notes on her padd. Picard found he was glad she was observing his crew in action. If she’s going to evaluate us, let her do so when we’re actually on a mission, doing what we do best.
“Yes, Number One, a hologram. It was in the mission briefing.”
Riker closed his eyes. Next to him, Troi looked guilty. Suddenly, Picard understood.
“I’m sorry, sir, but Deanna and I have been a bit—pre-occupied,” Riker said, confirming