Articles of the Federation - Keith R. A. DeCandido [138]
“What is it,” he finally asked after a long pause, “that you are proposing?”
“That our governments jointly support MOE-or HapHoch, or whatever it winds up being called-and give them every chance to do what they want to do, and do it right. Let’s give them support from Starfleet and the Defense Force. And let’s show that we can work together on this and move forward on this and not let outmoded prejudices get in the way of doing the right thing.”
Martok threw his head back and laughed. “It has been a long time, Madam President, since I was able to convince anyone on the High Council to admit their prejudices were outmoded-much less that they should do the right thing. However, I will bring this to them and make it clear that I wish it to be so.”
Bacco smiled now, for the first time since she brought this up. “Thank you, Chancellor. I think the best thing for all our people is to work together as much as possible. The galaxy’s gotten too small for us to keep hiding behind neutral zones and ethnocentric biases. And I think, my friends, that that’s it.”
Tal’Aura then spoke. “I’m afraid there is one more thing that I must discuss with you both.”
Looking at Martok, Bacco said, “Well, I already went off the playbook, so I’m in no position to argue. Chancellor?”
Martok’s instinct was not to care what the Romulan had to say, but she had also been very subdued throughout this entire summit, participating only as much as had been necessary. Given how hard her people had worked to get her here, it seemed odd to Martok that she would then have declined to involve herself in the goings-on of the summit itself. He suspected that the answer to his unspoken question would come from Tal’Aura now, so he nodded his affirmation.
Tal’Aura took a moment before she finally spoke. “Within a few days, an announcement will be made on Achernar Prime by Commander Donatra. She will be calling herself Empress Donatra, actually, and she will declare Achernar Prime, as well as all the worlds in that star system and three or four more besides-including Xanitla, Ralatak, and Virinat-to be the Imperial Romulan State under her rule.”
“And how does this concern us?” Martok could have answered his own question-it was a cause for celebration. Tal’Aura had been holding the empire together with her teeth, and now two large morsels had slipped through.
“Those three worlds are our primary farming planets,” Tal’aura snapped in a voice that sounded even more like Sirella.
“Does she have the support of the rest of the military?” Bacco asked.
“No-many are still loyal to me. However, the ships she has are guarding those three worlds.”
Bacco nodded. “She’s holding the empire’s food supply hostage?”
Tal’Aura nodded. “I have managed, over the past year, to unite at least some of the factions. The Tal Shiar, Durjik and his radical sect, and several admirals and commanders have all pledged their loyalty to me. But Donatra has fought me every step of the way. Now she has seceded from the empire.”
“I’m afraid,” Bacco said, “that I’m with Martok. What is it you want from us?”
“To not recognize the Imperial Romulan State. To refuse to trade with them, to impose sanctions upon them, and to aid us in retaking their worlds for the Romulan Empire.”
Martok snarled at her. “You wish me to commit Klingon warriors to fight for a united Romulan Empire?”
“Donatra will reach out to you as an ally, or at least as a trading partner, offer you the resources she is now denying us in order to build her strength. And then, when she is powerful enough, she will try to succeed where Shinzon failed. Remember, Donatra was on Shinzon