Double Helix 03_ Red Sector - Diane Carey [57]
“Wouldn’t you, sir? They see a chance that they might not have to die.”
“Not everyone craves havoc, Mr. Riker. As Dr. Crusher pointed out, many of these victims wish only to live and see their children live, and to do so in a fairly stable civilization. Unfortunately, the empress must walk a very thin tightrope. For her own survival as a ruler, after nearly two hundred years of anti-Federation propaganda, she must not be seen as cowardly or complacent toward the Federation. The Romulan people on the outskirts, including those in command of ships, have been told all their lives to distrust the Federation. Now all the Romulan leadership is suddenly dying. What would you expect them to think?”
“Yes…” Riker’s eyes widened. “How much of a leap would it be to assume the Federation is doing this?”
Spock rewarded him with a nod. “The propaganda is turning on them.”
“And now they need our help,” Dr. Crusher folded her long arms. “It figures. Has it occurred to anyone that this may be a genetic anomaly?”
“Isolated to the royal family’ Picard protested. “How likely is that?”
“Pretty damned likely, Jean-Luc.” Crusher held out a hand. “The Romulans used to do genetic experiments-about a century ago, a little more. Those experiments could just now have incubated to mutancy and be coming back to bite them. It could be completely incurable. In that case, are we getting involved just to prove we didn’t do it? I’m not sure I can prove a negative that big. If that’s what the Federation expects, I’ve got an impossible mission here.” Wondering if indeed all physicians were necessarily cantankerous, Spock found himself sympathetic to her dilemma. The ball she had been cast was a familiar one to medical specialists with deep-space exploration, for they had the most experience dealing with the unknown, the foreign, and the unheard-of as commonplace. He had in his long life seen this first-hand, seen that expression in the eyes of many doctors into whose hands a monumental task had been shoved.
“Like myself, Doctor,” he placated, “I know you prefer clarity to choices. However, choices are the more frequent curse of authority. The Romulans are advanced, but the Federation is much more advanced in the medical field. We’ve had to deal with so wide an array of alien members.”
Will Riker cocked a hip and leaned against the navigation station, drawing a glance from the crewman manning the helm. “They might as well accept our help. They can always kill us tomorrow.”
“Whatever the sociopolitical ramifications,” Spock added, “they simply need our help”
“Captain, short-range emergency sensors,” the fierce voice of Picard’s Klingon officer erupted suddenly. As they all turned to look up at him, towering there over the tactical station at the back of the wide bridge, the surly lieutenant raised his eyes from the board and glared at the forward screen. “A Romulan Scoutship just decloaked off our bow!”
“Shields up, Mr. Worf. Red alert. Battle stations. Helm, hold position.”
Lieutenant Worf watched the incoming angular featherpainted Romulan wing on the wide forward screen. “Should I arm photon torpedoes also, sir, considering their duophasic shields?” “Ah, certainly:’ Spock turned. “Captain, may I suggest “
“I understand, Ambassador, but no Romulan commander expects less and I don’t intend to show squeamishness.”
Retreating, and somewhat embarrassed at this change in himself, Spock instantly acceded, “Forgive me.” “Captain, they are hailing,” Data reported. “Ship to ship, Mr. Data”
“Frequencies open, sir.”
“This is Captain Jean-Luc Picard, U.S.& Enterprise, Starfleet. Identify yourself, please.”
“Subcommander Cul, Captain, Imperial Reconnaissance Scout Tdal.”
“You’re in violation of the Neutral Zone treaty by several light-years, Subcommander. Explain your presence here.” “Our weapons are cold, Captain. We have a passenger” Picard paused, then glanced at Spock.
Spock was careful to keep