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‘Captain, I cannot let them take you,” Worf said.

‘Yes, you can, Lieutenant, and you will.”

‘I am responsible for your safety.”

‘I am still your Captain, and you will obey a direct order. Holster your arms, Lieutenant, now!”

The Klingon frowned down at him, hands clinching and unclinching on his phaser. “Captain, please… “The last was said through gritted teeth.

‘No, Worf, we cannot fight our way out of this. We are here on a peace mission. We are trying to show them that violence is not the answer. Fighting now would not help us prove our point. Put up your weapon.”

Worf gave a long sigh, but put up his phaser. The other guards followed his lead.

Picard turned back to the waiting leaders. His pulse was a little rapid. Everything was going wrong at a breakneck pace. He could barely keep up with it. “I am ready to go, General. We will not fight this injustice at this time.”

‘Wise of you, Captain, I would hate to explain the deaths of the entire Federation party. As it stands, only you will be executed.”

Picard said, “Worf, don’t!”

The Klingon took his hand away from his phaser, but the glare he gave the waiting Orianian guards made them step back, just a bit. “I cannot allow you to be turned over for execution, Captain. Surely, that is a failure of my duty as your bodyguard.”

Picard fought an urge to smile, but it wasn’t hard to fight. “When will this execution take place?” His voice sounded very calm, normal. Years of practice.

‘In three days, unless proof of your innocence can be found.”

‘I am a mind-healer,” Troi said, “and I can read emotions. The Greens and Captain Picard were as surprised as everyone else when the general fell ill.”

‘I understand loyalty to your leader. There is no shame in that,” Basha said.

‘I am not lying to save the captain. Don’t you want the real murderer found?”

‘You have three days to find proof of another murderer. Unless that proof can be found, your captain and the three Greens will be executed on the evening of the third day.”

Picard’s eyes widened just a bit, but otherwise he took the news stoically. What else could he do? He turned to Troi. “Counselor, do not worry. You and Lieutenant Worf must simply find the culprit. When there is proof, the executions will be stopped.”

‘Captain…”

‘No, I will be fine. We will solve this mystery without violence. Intelligence and peaceful investigation will win out.” He looked at Worf as he said the last. “You are now in charge of this peace mission, Lieutenant Worf. You are the acting Federation ambassador.”

‘But Captain…” Worf said.

‘Remember your duties, Ambassador Worf, and remember you represent the entire Federation.”

Worf drew himself to his full height. “Yes, Captain.”

Picard looked into Troi’s large dark eyes, and said, “Remind him occasionally, Counselor, that this is a peace mission.” He managed to smile softly at her.

She smiled back, but her eyes gave her away. “We’ll find the truth, Captain.”

‘I have the utmost confidence in you both.” He turned to the waiting guards. “I am ready to go.

The three Greens were already surrounded by people in both Torlick and Venturi uniforms, working together to punish the murderers.

Perhaps peace was still possible, if they could find the real murderer. Of course, chances were very good that it was one of the warring factions, which would start the war all over again. Would it be better for the peace mission if Picard and the Greens took the blame?

No. The Greens could save this planet, rebuild it. Even if the fighting stopped, the planet was still dying. There had been too much damage for easy solutions. The Greens had to be included in this peace. That meant they had to be cleared of these charges.

Picard stood beside Audun, behind a wall of guards. He could see Worf’s head towering above the others in the room. The Klingon was watching him with fierce, dark eyes. Picard wondered what the lieutenant would do if he and the counselor could not find proof. He doubted the Klingon would allow his captain to be executed without a fight. If the Enterprise