Articles of the Federation - Keith R. A. DeCandido [90]
“It would be consistent with past Romulan behavior,” T’Latrek pointed out. “Thirty-six years ago, Praetor Dralath ordered an attack on the Klingon world of Narendra III. It was an attempt to rally his people behind a war with the Klingons in order to stave off the economic depravations of his administration.”
Shostakova said, “That type of thinking is consistent with the reports we have been getting regarding Admiral Mendak.”
“The last report we have of Mendak’s activities,” Hostetler Richman said, “from about a month ago has his fleet on a course that could take them to Klorgat. Of course, it could also take him to half a dozen other places that are actually in Romulan or neutral space, and he could easily change course.”
“I take it that Praetor Tal’Aura is still denying any responsibility for Mendak’s actions?”
Nodding, Shostakova said, “Our latest report from Ambassador Spock indicated that Mendak has officially been declared a criminal, and that any Romulan soldiers who see him are to shoot him on sight.”
Abrik rolled his eyes. “That just means they want deniability. He hasn’t done anything that’s actually hurt Tal’Aura in any way-just the other factions.”
Bacco looked at T’Latrek. “What do you think?”
T’Latrek raised an eyebrow. “I believe that any attempt to speculate would be foolish without the benefit of an investigation.”
“Me, too. I’m gonna talk to K’mtok when I get back. Meanwhile, I want an S.C.E. team going over that moon with a fine-tooth comb.”
“The da Vinci is in the area. They’ll be able to tell us exactly what happened.”
Ashante hoped that Ross’s confidence was well placed. On the other hand, she had heard nothing but good things about the Starfleet Corps of Engineers and their ability to solve the insoluble, which this little mystery was shaping up to be.
“Good,” Bacco said with another nod. “Ambassador Rozhenko, while I’m selling this to K’mtok, you sell it to the High Council. I don’t want anyone going off half-cocked until we know for sure what happened.”
“Of course, ma’am. As it turns out, I’m having dinner with Martok and several councillors tonight, so we can talk about it then.”
Esperanza chuckled. ” ‘As it turns out’?”
Rozhenko just smiled back.
Ashante shook her head. She had been leery of the notion of appointing someone so young, with minimal diplomatic experience, to replace Worf as Federation ambassador, but Alexander Rozhenko of the House of Martok had proven as adept as his father at bridging the gap between the two cultures.
“Let’s do this right, people,” Bacco said.
Several of those in the Monet Room thanked her, and the screen went dark.
“Thanks everyone,” Bacco then said to the other three, then she looked right at Esperanza. “Now then, you wanted to talk to me about Xeldara’s replacement?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Oh,” Bacco said to Ashante, “and tell that husband of yours that he did a fine job with the speech.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Ashante said hesitantly.
Bacco smiled. “Let me guess, he spent the entire walk from Squyres to the spaceport whining about the way I changed some of the phraseology.”
“Just one, ma’am. When you added in ‘well.’ “
“Well, you tell Fred that the holoprompter glitched for a moment, and I was just trying to cover it.”
Ashante blinked. “Really, ma’am? Because it didn’t come across that way-you covered very well.”
“Nah, it didn’t glitch-I just changed the phrasing. But I want you to tell Fred that to shut him up.”
“That’s a battle I gave up three years before we got married, ma’am.”
“Fair point. Now then, who’ve we got in mind for the new deputy?”
Chapter Seventeen
CADET KARIN NOOSAR tried not to fidget in her seat. This year, as with most years, the Academy graduating class was having its commencement in Golden Gate Park. It was a cool, pleasant day in San Francisco, as it often was even without aid from the weather net, with the sun shining down on the grass and trees and the blindingly white dress uniform worn by