Pantheon - Michael Jan Friedman [184]
Williamson didn’t answer right away.
“Judging by your expression and your silence,” Picard asked, “am I to infer that you’ve had conflicts with the Kelvans?”
The colonist frowned. “They’re not the Nuyyad,” he said, “I’ll grant you that. But those few we’ve met have been arrogant and untrustworthy in their dealings with us.”
Picard smiled. “Jomar can be arrogant at times. On the other hand, he’s absolutely dedicated to stopping the Nuyyad from invading the Federation. If I were you, I would take advantage of that dedication.”
Williamson thought for a moment, then nodded. “All right. In the interest of working together, we’ll welcome this Jomar as well.”
“Good,” said Picard. “But before we work out the details, I would like to know more about the Nuyyad’s interest in your world…as it may shape some of our tactical decisions.”
“Of course.”
“From what I have seen so far,” the second officer went on, “the Nuyyad did not have any presence here on your planet’s surface. They seemed content to remain on their vessel.”
“That’s true,” the colonist responded.
“Then why bother to come here at all?” asked Ben Zoma.
Williamson smiled ruefully. “Actually,” he said, “it was your fault. Your Federation’s, I mean.”
Picard was surprised. “The Federation’s?”
“That’s right,” the colonist told him. “A short time ago, the Nuyyad got wind of your existence—apparently, from a species that routinely crosses the galactic barrier. They’re known as the Liharon.”
Picard nodded. “Yes…I am familiar with the Liharon. They are traders, for the most part.”
“They trade, all right,” said Williamson. “But not material goods. Their main business is information.”
Again, the Earthman was surprised. “The Liharon are spies? No one in Starfleet has ever suspected…”
“Of course not,” said the colonist. “If everyone knew the Liharon for what they are, they wouldn’t be very effective.”
“I guess not,” Ben Zoma allowed.
Williamson continued. “Once the Nuyyad knew something about the Federation, they couldn’t help seeing it as a potential conquest. But before they could launch a military offensive on the other side of the barrier, they needed to know more about your defensive capabilities.”
The second officer began to understand. “And even the Liharon couldn’t obtain that kind of data. Then someone pointed out the similarities between your people and the human species…”
“Exactly,” said the colonist. “An intrusion into our database confirmed the connection. We were human, the Nuyyad discovered. Even better, we shared a common history with Federation humans. And if we sent a plea for help to the Federation, it would likely be answered.”
Picard grunted thoughtfully. “So it was our fault that the Nuyyad were drawn to you.”
Williamson smiled again. “As I said. Mind you, none of us wanted to cooperate with them. We had no desire to be part of their plans for conquest. However, we had little choice in the matter.”
“Because the Nuyyad had taken your world hostage,” Ben Zoma observed.
“Yes,” said the colonist. “Once they had us where they wanted us, they went through our records. After a while, they selected two ‘volunteers’ on the basis of intelligence and resourcefulness.”
“Daniels and Santana,” said Picard.
“Daniels and Santana,” Williamson confirmed. “They were to visit Federation territory and lure a Starfleet vessel out past the barrier.”
“Judas goats,” Ben Zoma noted.
“Yes,” said the colonist. “Though quite unwillingly. After all, they hated the Nuyyad species and all it stood for. However, the alternative to cooperation was to see their families and friends tortured to death, and that was too bloody a scenario for either of them to contemplate.”
Picard couldn’t help sympathizing with Santana’s plight. Had he been given the same choice by the Nuyyad, he would have had a difficult time deciding which road to take.
“I hope you understand,” said Williamson, “how terrible we feel about this. We’re a proud people. The notion of being forced to do something against our will is anathema to us.”
Picard nodded. “And the fact that