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Turning to T’Latrek, Nan asked, “What do you think, Councillor?”

“I think removing the Remans from Romulus would defeat one of the primary goals of having the Klingons act as the Remans’ protector-uniting the Romulan factions.”

“Since when do we want that?” Jas asked. “A united Romulan front hardly benefits the Federation.”

“The benefits to the Federation are irrelevant,” T’Latrek said.

“She’s right,” Nan said before Jas could object. “A united Romulus will benefit the Romulan people-that’s what I’m concerned about. If what happened on Remus today really was an accident, it happened because there isn’t anyone maintaining the machinery down there. Weakened central authority-and Tal’Aura’s authority is pretty damn weak-means this sort of thing is gonna keep happening, and the victims won’t be the military, they won’t be the politicians trying to angle for a senate seat now that the old senate’s been turned to pixie dust-they’ll be the Romulan people.”

Another silence descended upon the room, before Akaar finally spoke. “Although the councillor’s theory is sound-indeed, it was one of Captain Riker’s selling points of the plan-it has not been working in practice. The parties are not talking, because they are blaming each other for attacks on Klingons, or they are blaming the Klingons, or blaming the Remans. Their attention is focused-but not on what is important.”

Nan turned to her chief of staff. “Esperanza?”

“I think Ambassador Spock is right. When slavery ended in the country of the United States here on Earth five hundred years ago, the government didn’t just tell them, ‘You’re free,’ and leave it at that. Slave families-who worked on large farms-were given a segment of land and a farm animal from their armed forces that they could call their own. But it didn’t work very well in practice, and the law that gave them that land was revoked. It was centuries before the former slaves were able to achieve proper equality with their former masters.”

Chuckling, Nan said, “So you’re saying the forty acres and a mule in Ehrie’fvil isn’t working either?”

“No, ma’am. It was a good idea, truly, but the Romulans and Remans aren’t holding up their end. We need new options here.”

“This doesn’t change the fact that the Remans don’t want our help,” Jas said. “So we find them a world, so what? How do we get them to it without annoying the Klingons?”

Raisa said, “I believe, Admiral, that you have provided the answer. The Klingons.”

Jas blinked. “Actually, that’s true. Damn, I didn’t- ” He turned to Nan. “Ma’am, as you probably know, the Klingons expanded into Sector 798-C a few years back.”

T’Latrek put in, “The Klingon Empire refers to that vicinity of space as the Kavrot Sector.”

“Whatever.” Jas glowered briefly at T’Latrek, then turned back to Nan. “The point is, they did a huge survey of that area and have only actually planted their flag on a few worlds. They shared some of their sensor data with us a year ago-specifically the areas they scanned but didn’t explore or didn’t think were worth their while.”

Nan liked the sound of that. “Check it over, Jas.” Then a realization struck. “This may kill two birds with one stone, actually.”

“What do you mean?” Esperanza asked.

“Those refugees-this may give us somewhere to send them.”

Nan’s intercom beeped. “Madam President,” Sivak said, “I have Ms. Huaig in the Monet Room for Admiral Abrik.”

Jas jumped up from his chair and moved toward the door to her private office. “Ma’am?”

Nan sighed. Everyone in this room had the clearance to listen to a conversation between the security advisor and his deputy, but Abrik obviously preferred the security.

The hell with it, she decided. We all need to hear this. “Sit down, Admiral. Sivak, pipe it in here.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Abrik did not look pleased as he sat down.

The screen on the wall facing Nan’s desk lit up with the image of a young Delbian woman. This was Roshenz Huaig, Abrik’s deputy. She looked surprised.

“Rosh, this is the president.”

“Uh, ma’am, I was trying to reach Admiral Abrik.” The young woman sounded flustered.

“He’s