Ghost of a Chance - Mark Garland [19]
"They're very efficient, too."
"Captain to Ensign Rollins," Janeway said, tapping her badge.
"Secure photon torpedoes. Maintain yellow alert." She looked at Mila as the Drosary glanced in her direction. The two women smiled politely at each other.
"Ah, of course," Tassay said, finally speaking again. "This is encouraging. The Televek have weapons of that type as well, and of comparable strength, I believe, but they use a pulse generator. A comparison to your systems would likely be of minor interest, but perhaps some equity could be found there."
"I'd say that is also unlikely," Chakotay responded, glancing candidly at the captain, and she knew that, like her, he was not totally convinced of anything yet.
"Please try to be reasonable," Jonal said, clearly addressing Janeway.
"It is in your own best interest, after all, to cooperate as fully as possible."
Janeway sat considering her visitors a moment, particularly Jonal, who seemed as pleasant and straightforward as any diplomat in the captain's memory. And utterly attentive toward her, she noted. And they were right, of course. But so was she.
It was the Televek she was ultimately dealing with, after all, not these people. How could she know that something painted here in black and white would not turn gray once it got over there?
How could she even trust these three Drosary, no matter how reasonable a choice that seemed to be?
Still, her own options were quite limited, while theirs were not.
She was clearly the one under pressure to compromise. But not just yet. She still had a vest pocket remaining...
"Will you excuse us while we talk this over," Janeway said, not really making it a question. "Perhaps you would like to discuss it as well.
I need to evaluate our protocols, among other things."
"Of course," Tassay said graciously.
"I'm not certain how long our discussion will take. You are welcome to stay aboard, of course. We will try to make you comfortable, and then see if we can reach some sort of agreement."
"Entirely understandable, Captain," Jonal said, showing Janeway a smile full of fellowship. Mila and Tassay joined him in a genial nod.
"Thank you," Janeway said. She signaled the two security officers standing near the door, and they gently escorted the aliens out.
"Wait a few minutes--as long as you can--then bring them back in," she told Chakotay when they were alone. "Keep them talking until I get back. You have the cone, and you have full authority to make a deal if you can persuade them on our original terms, but I have a feeling nothing like that will happen. Despite their overtures, these Drosary, or our friends the Televek, or whoever it is we're dealing with, don't seem terribly interested in anything other than their own terms."
"Can I ask where you are going?" the first officer asked, clearly perplexed.
"The more I try, the harder it is to get all of this to fit together.
If the Televek are involved in some kind of rescue operation, they don't seem very eager to get it under way; I've seen no evidence to indicate it has begun. And when I brought it up, the Drosary virtually ignored the topic."
"They do seem to present a one-track agenda," B'Elanna said, speaking for the first time since the meeting had begun. "I don't think I'd like the idea of them probing around in our weapons and propulsion systems, even if I was standing right there. And I would be, no matter what. I don't know what this feeling is based on, but something about them gives me the creeps." She looked around the table, apparently searching for confirmation.
"I didn't notice anything quite like that," Chakotay said.
"I definitely didn't," Paris said.
B'Elanna only frowned at this.
"It's not the Televek's style, all this sharing, I assure you," Neelix said, finally giving B'Elanna what she wanted. "If you ask me, they're up to something. You are right not to trust them, Captain. The stories I've heard are enough to make your skin crawl.