Articles of the Federation - Keith R. A. DeCandido [5]
Esperanza said, “They’ve also been going at it for a month, and they haven’t gotten anywhere. I think we need to bring them here.”
Shrugging, Ashante said, “Then they’ll just yell at each other here.”
Z4 Blue, who had, after a great deal of wheedling and convincing by Esperanza, given up a forest quadrant governorship on Nasat to become a deputy COS, spoke from his specially modified chair. “There’s a big difference between arguing on some moon in the Delta system and arguing in the Palais. Here they’re under the gaze of the council and the president.”
“And the press.” Another deputy, a hyperactive Zakdorn woman named Myk Bunkrep, leaned forward in her chair, so much that Nan feared she would fall out of it. “I can talk to Jorel,” she said, referring to the press liaison for both the president and the council, Kant Jorel, “get him to have some reporters ‘accidentally’ stumble in on their meeting, or ambush them as they come out of the transporter room.”
Ashante rolled her dark eyes to the ceiling. “Yes, that guarantees that they’ll be friendly and open to a negotiation.”
“They’re already disinclined to talk.” Myk blew out a breath through her mouth, wedged as it was between the thick folds of cheek skin that was peculiar to Zakdorns. “Why not take advantage?”
“Hold on a moment.” Xeldara Trask tugged on one of her oversized earlobes, as she always did before she said something, a habit of the Tiburonian’s that Nan found irritating. “Why are we even having this discussion?”
Nan smiled. “I’ve been asking myself that question for the last five minutes.”
Most of those present chuckled-Myk being the exception, as she never quite grasped humor, her one character flaw, as far as Nan was concerned-and then Xeldara said, “I’m serious, Madam President, why don’t the Deltans just use another water reclamation system? I can’t imagine that the Carreon’s is the only one available.”
“It’s a time factor,” Esperanza said. “Traditional systems will work eventually, but their water will be irreversibly contaminated by that time. They’ve been staving it off, but- “
“And the Carreon system- ” Xeldara started.
Ashante finished the sentence. “- will work ten times faster and clear their entire water table of the toxins the Jem’Hadar put in.”
Again, Xeldara tugged on her ear. “All right, then, we stick them in a room.”
Esperanza looked at Nan. “What do you think?”
Nan let out a long breath. “I think that a month ago, I said that we should bring them here and lock them in a room until they starve to death, and you people told me to give them a chance to hash it out first. Well, I gave them that chance, Delta’s water is getting worse, and we’re all a month older. I think we’ve all learned something from this.” Nan grinned. “I’m right, and you’re all wrong.” Again, the soft laughter. “I think the next four years’ll go a lot more smoothly if everyone gets that through their heads.”
“Absolutely, Madam President,” Esperanza said in her usual deadpan.
“What’s next?”
Ross leaned forward in his chair. Nan had mixed feelings about Ross. A decorated Dominion War hero-he led Starfleet’s forces on the front lines-his support during the campaign had made a huge contribution to Nan’s victory. But Nan also knew the real circumstances under which Min Zife had resigned-and Ross’s role in that. At first she had resisted making him the fleet liaison, but Esperanza had reminded her of the old adage about keeping friends close and enemies closer. Nan wasn’t sure which Ross was-yet- but it was best to keep him in the Palais to be safe.
“The U.S.S. Io has reported in with a first contact.”
“That worked out?” Esperanza said.
This was the first Nan was hearing of this. “First contact?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Ross said. “The Io is one of