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“Starfleet is the glue that holds the Federation together. The responsibility you each have now is to maintain this little miracle that we’ve kept going for over two centuries, through tumult and strife, through feast and famine, through war and peace. It will be difficult. All of you will face hard choices in the years ahead, if history’s any guide-and it usually is. But throughout it all, you must remember that it is from the stars that you find knowledge, it is from the stars that you find hope, and it is from the stars that you will find peace.

“I’d wish you luck, but I suspect you will not need it. Simply continue to do well. Thank you.”

Karin wasn’t sure if she was the first one to her feet when the president finished, but she liked to imagine she was-and that she was also the last one to sit down several minutes later when the applause finally died down.

She thought about what Bacco said about past presidents who were Starfleet officers first. Lorne McLaren, she knew, was a twenty-third-century president who’d run after the pressures of the Klingon conflict and the Organian Peace Treaty had led Kenneth Wescott not to seek another term; McLaren had negotiated the historic agreement with the Kelvans. Thelian had served during the early days of contact with the Cardassians, and T’Pragh had served during the Tzenkethi War.

Smiling, Cadet-soon to be Ensign-Karin Noosar thought, Maybe I will go into politics some day after all.

August 2380

“It is better to discuss things, to argue and engage in polemics than make perfidious plans of mutual destruction.”

- Mikhail Gorbachev

Chapter Eighteen

“GOOD EVENING. This is Illuminating the City of Light, I’m your host, Velisa. Tomorrow night, the second attempt at welcoming the Trinni/ek to the Federation will be made. This time, rather than a state dinner, Speaker Ytri/ol of the Trinni/ek will be meeting with the Federation Council on the first floor of the Palais. Tonight on ICL, we’ll be examining what led to this change of heart on the Trinni/ek’s part, as well as other business on the council’s agenda over the course of the remainder of the session.

“With me tonight to discuss these issues are Artrin na Yel, former councillor from Triex; Gora Yed, the new Palais correspondent from Seeker; Safranski, the secretary of the exterior; and, remotely from the U.S.S. Io, Commander Therese Su, first officer of that vessel. Welcome, all of you.”

“Thank you.”

“Thanks, Velisa.”

“Thanks.”

“Glad to be here.”

“Commander Su, I’d like to start by asking you your impression of the Trinni/ek, both the first time you met them earlier this year, and your trip back a month ago.”

“Honestly, the two impressions weren’t any different. The Trinni/ek we spoke to on both trips were curious, friendly, and eager to open diplomatic relations.”

“When they stormed out of the Palais three months ago, were you surprised?”

“To be honest, I watched the FNS footage, and I didn’t recognize anybody from the Io’s trip to Trinni/ek-and neither did Captain T’Vrea or anyone else on the ship. It was like they were replaced with cranky duplicates.”

“What was the reaction when you returned?”

“The same as before, only very apologetic. Speaker Ytri/ol didn’t know what happened and was sure that the Federation hated them. They were scared that when we came back we were there to attack them, and were very relieved to find out that we didn’t hold a grudge.”

“Safranski, do you think that this second trip will be more productive than the first?”

“It could hardly be less productive, Velisa. The Trinni/ek’s reaction was what I would expect from a Chalnoth delegation, not a civilized race that Commander Su’s CO referred to as ‘friendly,’ which isn’t an adjective Vulcans use lightly. Assuming that what happened in May is an aberration, then I have every confidence in the ability of the president and the council to welcome them into the galactic community.”

“And if it isn’t an aberration?”

“Then you’ll have a lot to talk about on your first show