Myriad Universes 02_ Echoes and Refractions - Keith R. A. DeCandido [51]
“capture of the I.K.S. Katai by the aggressive and unprovoked actions of Starfleet! To the men responsible: You are in illegal possession of property of the Klingon Defense Force, and you are holding the crew of the Katai without cause. We demand the immediate return of the vessel and its crew and redress for the injurious nature of these actions! Furthermore, unless Starfleet wishes to declare this incident as an act of war, the men responsible are to be turned over to the Klingon Empire forthwith to face immediate trial for their actions. Message will repeat. This is Brigadier Kerla of the“
Thelin switched off the speakers in disgust. He looked over at Sulu and Chekov at the helm.
“Well,” Sulu said. “At least Starfleet has plausible deniability.”
“Perhaps, but…” Thelin shook his head. “Little good that will do them if we start a war.”
“Bah,” Chekov spat. “With what they did to Kirk’s son? Then to blow up the Enterprise with the admiral aboard? We didn’t start a thing. But we might finish it!”
Thelin held up his hand, stopping Chekov’s rant. His other hand was held over the earpiece as he monitored the subspace transmissions broadcast from Earth. His face grew more troubled as he continued to listen. “It’s President Roth!” he said softly. “Listen…” He flipped on the ship’s speakers.
“-of the United Federation of Planets. Do not approach Earth. The transmissions of an orbiting probe are causing critical damage to this planet. It has almost totally ionized our atmosphere. All power sources have failed. All Earth-orbiting starships are powerless. The probe is vaporizing our oceans. We cannot survive unless a way can be found to respond to the probe. Further communications may not be possible. Save your energy. Save yourselves. Avoid the planet Earth at all costs. Farewell…”
Thelin dropped the earpiece, and the three men on the bridge sat staring at one another in bewildered silence.
5
“Ladies and gentlemen of the Federation Council, and honored guests…With heavy hearts we assemble today for this, the first meeting of the Federation Council since the inexplicable attack by an unknown probe nearly one month ago.”
Federation President Hiram Roth delivered his opening remarks from the podium at the head of the council chambers, on the first floor of the Palais de la Concorde in Paris, France. Outside the recently reinforced windows along the length of the side walls, behind the rows of council members and other dignitaries in attendance, the gale-force winds and driving rain continued to beat interminably against the glass, testing the resolve of the men and women within, who defied the wrath of nature as it struck out at them like a wounded animal.
The president had been quite adamant that, despite the wanton destruction leveled upon Earth by the probe a month earlier and the dangerous weather patterns that had persisted in the time since, the council would nonetheless meet on Earth as a symbol of their perseverance and fortitude. Being an Earth native, Roth had received a fair amount of resistance to the idea, many believing that his judgment was compromised by his grief over his homeworld, and indeed the pain in his normally staid bearded face was apparent as he addressed the assembly. But no one could doubt his inspiring determination to overcome this tragedy.
“Before we begin,” Roth continued, “I should like us all to observe a moment of silence for those who lost their lives in the devastation wrought that fateful day, as well as for those enduring souls who remain, many of whom still await assistance, suffering and starving without any access to the basic services needed for survival. I should like us to remember all of the fine men and women in San Francisco, who perished in the destruction of Starfleet Headquarters, including many of our most respected leaders: Admiral Lance Cartwright, Admiral William Smillie,