Articles of the Federation - Keith R. A. DeCandido [144]
Nan smiled. “You’re saying I should pay attention to the good stuff I’ve done?”
“Well, I could mention that you kept the Reman situation from getting out of hand, or that you opened up trade talks with a new species that was ready to break off with us because their people got sick. I could say that you strengthened our relationship with the Klingons to the best it’s been since the war, which is impressive, since the alliance was on the brink of falling apart when you took office. I could talk about all the legislation you got passed or the good decisions you made or that you got the Deltans and the Carreon to talk to each other.” She smiled. “But I think I’ll just stick with this: The Federation’s still intact. So nice job, so far.”
Nan couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah, I guess. Of course, you left off one thing.” They were now coming to the backstage.
“What’s that?”
“I get to be the one to welcome a new world into the Federation.”
“Yeah, ma’am-fun job, isn’t it?”
Again, Nan laughed. “It has its moments.” She approached the leader of the Koas. “Caliph Sicarios, I’m President Nan Bacco. It’s truly an honor to meet you, sir.”
“Thank you, Madam President, for honoring us in this way-and for all that your Federation has done for us.”
Nan shook her head. “Don’t be ridiculous-we should be the ones to thank you.”
“I do not understand. We have done nothing.”
“Nothing?” Nan’s eyes widened. “Caliph, I’ve read the reports, not to mention your planet’s history. You heard tales of a great federation, one that accepted anyone and everyone. So you shrunk your planet down and put it into a pyramid in the vague hope that those tales might possibly be true. You are a brave and noble people, and it is the Federation who should be thanking you for letting us enjoy the fruits of your bravery and your nobility.”
An odd excretion appeared near Sicarios’s head, which Nan supposed was probably their equivalent of tears. “You do us honor, Madam President. This is the beginning of a new age for Koa.”
“For the Federation, too, Caliph. I understand you’ll be representing your world to the Federation Council?”
“Yes, ma’am, I will.”
“Then I look forward to a lot more conversations with you when you report to Earth for the next session.” She indicated the staircase that led to the stage. “Now, then-let’s get you people joined up.”
“Thank you, Madam President.”
Appendix
KNOWN PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED FEDERATION OF PLANETS
What follows is an incomplete and partly conjectural list of people who have served in the office of Federation president since the nation’s founding in 2161. If the president in question appeared or was mentioned in a movie, episode, or work of fiction other than this volume, it is cited.
Haroun al-Rashid. Human male. One of the first presidents of the Federation, serving in the twenty-second century.
T’Maran. Vulcan female. One of the first presidents of the Federation, serving in the twenty-second century.
Avaranthi sh’Rothress. Andorian shen. One of the first presidents of the Federation, serving in the twenty-second century. Former Andorian councillor.
Madza Bral. Trill female. Served in the early twenty-third century. First person not from one of the five founding worlds of the Federation to be elected president.
Kenneth Wescott. Human male. President during the Klingon conflict and subsequent signing of the Organian Peace Treaty, in 2267. Declined to run for reelection in 2268. One of the fifteenth-floor meeting rooms in the Palais de la Concorde is named for him. (Star Trek: Errand of Fury Book 1: Seeds of Rage by Kevin Ryan.)
Lorne McLaren. Human male. Former Starfleet officer. Elected president in 2268. (Star Trek Core Games Book by Last Unicorn Games.)
Hiram Roth. Human male. President during the so-called Genesis incident, as well as the attack on Earth of a probe seeking out humpback whales and the subsequent rebuilding, all in 2285-2286. Died in 2288 on the day that