Double Helix 03_ Red Sector - Diane Carey [6]
“… and the provincial vice-warden will be sending his prolocutrix as proxy to speak for the entire hemisphere at Federation central. Also, sir, the consul general’s wife and children are waiting in the Blue Room, and Chancellor De Gaeta’s wife is in his office”
Miss Theonella finished her sentence just as she and the ambassador and their party came into the foyer.
“Thank you, Karen, very good work,” Ambassador Spock said gently, countering her quivering report with his silky baritone voice. “Suggest to the Sagittarian military attach that he post a Pojjana communications sentry, and that person must speak both Bal Quonnot and Romulan.”
That voice! That famous voice! Stiles had been heating it all his life! Historical documentaries, training tapes, mission interactives, holoprograms-now he was here, in person, right in the same room with that voice!
“This is Ensign Stiles,” Miss Theonella added with a gesture. “And the evacuation escort men, sir”
The ambassador scanned the team, then fixed his gaze at Stiles. Directly at him. Right in the eyes! He was looking right at him! Those eyes like blades! Black blades!
Stiles tried to take a breath, but all he got was a gulp of garbage fumes from his soaked trouser leg. As his lungs seized up, he felt the boink-boink of Perraton’s finger poking him in the back. Report, you idiot!
“Ev… Evacuation Squad reporting as you requested, sir! Ensign Eric J. Stiles, Starfleet Special Services reporting, sir! One G-rate transport coach, evacuation team, and five fighter escorts, sir?
The ambassador’s black-slash brows went up like bird’s wings. The chamber fell to silence. Stiles’ fervid report echoed absurdly. Calmly Spock said, “At ease, Ensign:’ His deep mellow voice took Stiles utterly by surprise. “Aye aye, sir!” Stiles choked.
“We’ll be ready within five minutes,” the ambassador told him fluidly, then turned to the attendant who’d put the jacket on him. “Edwin, please bring out the consul general’s family and Mrs. De Gaeta and turn them over to Ensign Stiles.” “Right away, Ambassador.”
As the man left, Spock turned again to Miss Theonella. “You have our records and diplomatic pouches? The legal briefs and service files? Personnel manifests?”
She held up a stem black pilot’s case with a magnetic lock, hanging from a strap on her shoulder. “All here, sir”
“Very well. We should also bring the jurisdictional warrants. They could be confiscated and used to gain passage into restricted areas.” “I’ll get them, sir.”
“No, I’ll get them.” The ambassador turned to leave, then paused and gazed briefly at the tiled floor, thinking. “Stiles…” “Here, sir!”
Spock looked up at the inflamed response. Coolly he repeat ed, “At ease, Ensign”
Stiles shivered, glanced at Travis Perraton, and again met the ambassador’s eyes. “Yes, sir….” “Are you by chance related to-“
“Yes, sir, I am, sir! Starfleet Security Commander John Stiles, Retired, is my grandfather, sir! He served with you under Captain James T. Kirk, Stardates 1709 to 1788 point 6 as Alpha-Watch navigator aboard the U.S.& Enterprise, NCC 1701, commissioned stardate-” “I recall the ship, Ensign.” “Oh… oh… aye, sir….”
“You have a long line of Starfleet service officers in your family heritage, I also recall.”
“Yes, sir! Several active-duty servicemen lost in the Romulan Wars, sir! A captain, two lieutenants, two-“
“Commendable, Mr. Stiles. Carry on:’ Spock turned to the little gaggle of people behind him and said, “All of you please stand by until everyone else arrives. Then you’ll take your instructions from Ensign Stiles as to how you will arrange yourselves during the actual evacuation. As you know, the building is beam-shielded, and therefore we must go out the door and board the transport coach on foot. Unfortunately, our general safety compromises our safety during emergency evacuation. Karen, keep them in order. I will return momentarily.”
With that he disappeared down a different hallway and into an office, leaving a confused clutch of embassy persons standing here in the foyer,