Articles of the Federation - Keith R. A. DeCandido [57]
K’mtok was less impressed with this woman now. “Do not be absurd, Madam President. It is, in fact, completely ‘cut and dried,’ as you so colorfully put it. The treaty is very clear.”
“Yeah, it is. It refers to Klingon nationals. That means Klingons who are citizens of the empire, as well as the various subject species. However, it does not apply to the Remans.”
“That is ridiculous, the Remans- “
“Are not Klingon nationals. They’re not citizens, they’re not jeghpu’wI’, they’re just under your protection.”
K’mtok stood up. “This is outrageous! You would deny us our rights because of a semantic difficulty in the treaty?”
Bacco also stood up, which denied K’mtok his ability to look down on the human. “Semantic difficulties in treaties start wars, Mr. Ambassador. Maybe it does apply to the Remans-and maybe it doesn’t. It’s something that needs to be worked out. Now, if you want to be part of those discussions as a representative of the Klingon Empire, that’s just fine. We’d welcome your input-in fact, we encourage it. You’re our allies, and we’re supposed to work together on this kind of thing. But if you’re gonna stick to your guns and insist on the most rigid stance on this without any kind of negotiation, then I am going to be very much inclined to go for the interpretation of the treaty language that serves your purposes the least well, am I understood?” Again, she leaned forward, this time her fists balled on the desk. “Those Remans have been persecuted, Mr. Ambassador, not just by the Romulans, but by their fellow Remans. Their asylum request isn’t from you or from Romulus, it’s from their brothers and sisters. I think there’s a little room to maneuver, don’t you?”
Every instinct in K’mtok’s body screamed out to tell Bacco that the Remans must be remanded to the empire, and that was that. But Bacco’s offer made that difficult. He could, of course, take that position and simply not report Bacco’s offer to the High Council-but no, that was too risky. Bacco would inform their ambassador, and that infant that had replaced the toDSaH Worf had Martok’s ear. Martok would learn of it one way or the other and then ask why K’mtok had not conveyed it to the council.
“I will consult with my government and inform you of our decision.”
Bacco nodded. “Glad to hear it. By the end of the day, if you please.”
K’mtok refused to give that ground, having already given so much. “I promise nothing, Madam President. I will inform you of our decision when that decision is made-whenever that may be.”
He then turned on his heel and left the president’s office. This battlefield will be more difficult than I expected.
Edmund Atkinson had yet to grow tired of the council chambers.
No matter how old and cynical he became-and he was more of both than he liked-he always felt a mild thrill whenever he entered the huge chamber that took up most of the first floor of the Palais de la Concorde. Below the floor ran the Champs Elysees, which the Palais straddled, supported by duranium beams at the four corners. In one of those beams was the turbolift that led to the basement levels.
But, though many classified activities went on in the basements, it was in this room that much of the Federation’s government work got done. Though the building was cylindrical, the chambers were rectangular. In front of the south wall was the podium emblazoned with the symbol of the United Federation of Planets, which matched that of the flag hanging from the pole behind it. That podium was