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Because if she knew what he knew, she would disappear as completely as Min Zife, Koll Azernal, and Nelino Quafina had. And there would be nothing William Ross could do about it this time, either.

“You know, when I started this conversation,” she said, “I was concerned about what I had to do, but the more I talk to you, Admiral, the less problem I have with it.”

Now Ross was confused. “I don’t know what you- “

“The reporter-and I think I’m going to refrain from giving you the person’s name-has discussed the matter with the Palais press liaison and has informed him that there is a condition on which the story will not be run. If that condition is met, the story will in fact be buried where no one can find it.”

Ross didn’t hesitate. He stood up. “My resignation?”

Bacco regarded him. “Actually, the terms weren’t that specific. All that was required was that you no longer have any influence over the running of the Federation or Starfleet. Resignation, retirement, ritual suicide, whatever, as long as you become just an ordinary Federation civilian who’s no longer in a position to exert undue and illegal influence on the Federation government.”

“Then I’ll resign immediately, ma’am.” Ross didn’t hesitate. This was the only way to preserve the Federation, and Ross never hesitated when it was necessary to preserve the Federation. After he spoke, the thought occurred to him that he would no longer be the highest-ranking Starfleet officer who was answerable to the organization, which meant he’d no longer be able to control their actions. Then he laughed bitterly to himself, being careful to keep his poker face for President Bacco. The control was always theirs, and I’m fooling myself if I ever thought otherwise.

Then Bacco surprised Ross by saying, “No. Not resignation. Resigning sends up red flags. People resign in protest or resign because of disagreements or to avoid scandal. Retirement, though, that’s normal-particularly for someone like you. You led our forces during a vicious war, and you’ve stayed at the forefront of the admiralty ever since. In fact, lots of people were surprised you didn’t retire after the Founders surrendered.”

Ross saw the wisdom in her words. “In that case, ma’am, I’ll announce my retirement tomorrow morning.”

She nodded.

“Thank you, Madam President.” He turned to leave.

“Bill?”

He stopped and turned around. “Ma’am?”

Focusing a remarkable amount of anger and confusion into one word, Bacco asked, “Why? I can understand why you had to remove him from power, but why take the next step?”

Why kill them? Ross could understand why Bacco couldn’t say the words out loud. He took a moment to compose his answer in such a way that it wouldn’t even hint to Bacco the real reason. She had to be shielded from that-even though he knew that if there was ever a president who might be able to stand up to them, it was her-and so he said, “Because they killed millions of people-directly or indirectly. Every death caused by those cannons, every death caused by the Klingons’ retaliation, every death caused by Kinchawn’s guerillas after he was removed from power-all of those deaths were on their heads. And worse, they caused more death in order to keep themselves absolved of the crime, and they did it from a distance so they could create the illusion that their hands were clean.” He took a breath. “And so for five minutes in the Monet Room last year, I became them. That reporter downstairs is absolutely right in that there should be consequences for that, and my only regret in all this is that I didn’t take this action before it endangered your presidency, ma’am. For that, I am truly sorry.”

Bacco said nothing. Ross hoped that she believed his words-which were certainly true, as far as they went.

Then, finally, she nodded her head.

“Thank you, Madam President.”

As Ross turned back around, he wondered what the consequences for him would be. He suspected that they’d let him live out his life in solitude, as long as he didn’t get on their sensor screen.