Ghost of a Chance - Mark Garland [18]
Some of our greatest works of literature and--" "We find it hard enough to keep up with the many cultures and politics in our own quadrant, Captain," Jonal said. "I hesitate to mention the size of my current reading list. But I will make a note of this. Certainly there is a measure of value there.
What else?"
"What else?" Chakotay asked, mildly indignant.
"As I indicated to Gantel," Janeway said more sternly, "we are also willing to do whatever we can to help you render aid to the people on the planet below, as that is your stated mission here.
The medical and library data are being offered as an added consideration."
"Yes, of course," Jonal said quite agreeably, though he seemed less than enthusiastic. Then he looked at Janeway as though he had known her for a very long time, as if they had shared, or were about to share, some profound secret together, some defining knowledge. "May we make yet another suggestion?"
Janeway leaned back. "Please do."
"The Televek deal frequently in weapons, Captain, that is no secret, and to be blunt, yours are quite impressive. To be more precise, my employers would be most interested in learning how you've managed to get your phasers to operate at such incredibly high power levels, all while maintaining such extraordinary accuracy. Also, their sensors indicate that your warp drive nacelles are not fixed, but are--" "No," Janeway said, a flat statement of her own. A troubled voice was calling to her from the back of her mind, one she had been listening to since her days at the Academy. She purposely took her eyes off the Drosary, especially Jonal, and focused instead on the relief sculpture of Voyager that hung on the wall.
The euphoria that had begun to dominate the meeting seemed to have ebbed slightly, and her inner voice was growing louder.
"Under no circumstances will we give Federation weapons technologies to the Televek, or to anyone else. That is simply out of the question."
"We are sorry to hear that, Captain," Mila replied, looking at her two companions. They seemed to reach a silent accord of some kind, almost as if they could communicate without speech.
Janeway didn't think they were telepathic, but she found herself wishing Kes were here. The Ocampa had demonstrated some mild telepathic tendencies; she would likely be the best judge of these new visitors in that regard. Still, that wouldn't change the facts.
We're running out of pockets, Janeway thought, still avoiding Jonal's bright green eyes. Voyager's variable geometry folding wing nacelle configuration, which tended to minimize the negative effects of warp fields on the subspace continuum and on habitable worlds, was no doubt a curiosity to the aliens. In fact, their own ships appeared to operate on a more primitive reactor technology. She might agree to discuss that, at least. In a pinch.
She said as much.
"My dearest Captain," Jonal replied, as if greatly saddened, and perhaps a bit ill as well. "I will certainly convey all of this, I promise you, and in the best possible light, but I do not think these... these preferred arrangements you mention will be enough. I know our patrons are particularly interested in phaser performance. I understand your concerns, but the Televek already possess phaser technology, after all. It is simply an area in which you seem to have made some rather significant improvements."
"Our sensor scans indicate you have two warp-powered payload-type weapons trained on the Televek cruiser," Mila said, tipping her head, letting a thick mane of long white hair drape itself across one dark-skinned shoulder, yet keeping her eyes on Paris the whole time.
"The Televek might be interested in discussing those. I know they are curious as to why these weapons remain armed even though the Televek have powered down all their weapons."
"They're photon torpedoes," Paris explained,