Articles of the Federation - Keith R. A. DeCandido [112]
K’mtok stared at Bacco for several seconds. The human continued to stare right back at him.
Then he reared his head back and laughed. “Well played, Madam President, well played. You manipulate the pieces on the board like a master zha player.”
Bacco frowned at that. “I don’t know that game.”
“Perhaps one day I will teach it to you.” K’mtok wondered if the president knew the compliment he paid her by making the offer. Few non-Klingons were worthy of even knowing of klin zha, much less being taught how to play it.
Apparently she had some notion, for she inclined her head slightly and said, “I would be honored.”
“As for the rest of it, I give you my word as a Klingon-the High Council will have your precise words.”
“Thank you, K’mtok. That’s all I ask.”
Oh, that is not all you ask, K’mtok thought, but he did not say so aloud. This president was no fool.
However, she wasn’t done. “One other thing, Mr. Ambassador.”
That got K’mtok’s attention-she hadn’t called him that since the Romulan left the room. “Yes?”
“Please also tell Martok that I think it would be best for both the Federation and the empire if he and I met-perhaps on a neutral planet?- to discuss the future of both our nations.”
Typical Federation, K’mtok thought with a sigh. Their solution to everything is to talk. It grows wearisome. However, he said, “I will pass that request along to the chancellor. Is there anything else?”
“No, that’s it.”
“Thank you, Madam President.”
“Ambassador Morrow, please report to the infirmary.”
Colton Morrow sighed and drained the rest of his allira punch. Slamming the mug down on the table, he slowly departed the Starbase 1 lounge and meandered down the curved corridor toward the turbolift that would deliver him to the infirmary on the other side of the station.
It isn’t going to be good news. I know it isn’t going to be good news. It’s been a week since Ytri/ol and his party collapsed in the council chambers, and there hasn’t been any good news yet. If it was good news, they’d call me directly over the open channel instead of just paging me. If they need me in the room, it’s because they need to consult with me about something they haven’t figured out or to give me bad news. Neither of those options is palatable.
He arrived in the spacious starbase infirmary and went back to the office of Dr. Rebecca Emmanuelli, the chief medical officer of Starbase 1. Already waiting for him were Captain DeSoto and Dr. Papadimitriou from the Hood; Chirurgeon Ghee P’Trell, the head of Starfleet Medical; and Emmanuelli herself, sitting at her desk. On the screen behind her, he could see the lovely features of Esperanza Piniero, obviously calling from her office in the Palais.
Under other circumstances, he’d be pleased to see the chief of staff’s face, but this told him that it was a briefing for her, and he doubted there was any good news to tell her.
“Mr. Ambassador,” Emmanuelli said, “thanks for joining us. I think you know everyone here.”
Morrow nodded. “What’s happening?”
“Any number of things,” Esperanza said. “But the reason why I called is that I just got a call from Second Speaker Rale/ar. She’s accusing us of kidnapping Speaker Ytri/ol and his delegation.”
“That’s ridiculous,” DeSoto muttered.
However, Morrow could only sigh. “That’s to be expected, honestly. I mean, think about it from their perspective. They weren’t here, so they didn’t see how Ytri/ol and the others behaved last time. Sure, they’ve heard reports, but trust me when I tell you that the way they were acting was completely out of character. I wouldn’t be surprised if Rale/ar thinks we just made it all up.”
“Why would they think we’d do that?” Papadimitriou asked.
“We’re new to them,” Esperanza said. “Their only exposure to us was one ship and a couple of politicians.”
“So they leap straight to we’re-deceiving-them?