Section 31_ Rogue - Andy Mangels [103]
“To the future of the Geminus Gulf and the Chiaros system,” Koval said before emptying his glass. He relished the burning sensation the pungent liqueur created as it went down.
Zweller picked up the other two glasses and handed one to the woman. “I can drink to that,” he said, and downed the beverage without a moment’s hesitation. Though the woman seemed a bit put off by the drink’s piquant bouquet, she drank her portion as well, though not as quickly.
“It’s been a good while since I’ve had nonreplicated kali-fal,” Zweller said. Though he was smiling, his eyes were hard.
Regarding Zweller coolly, Koval segued straight into business. “You must be aware by now that the Federation’s presence on Chiaros IV is at an end, Commander. Most of the precincts have already reported their election results. Within perhaps ten of your minutes, First Protector Ruardh will formally announce her people’s willing entry into the Empire.”
“I suppose so,” Zweller said, nodding slowly.
“Then perhaps we should finish our transaction as quickly as possible,” the woman said evenly.
Koval held up his left hand, palm up, and one of the guards stepped forward and placed a slender data chip into it. Koval was about to present it to Zweller when the secure comm chip implanted into his jaw vibrated gent-ly. Because the tiny speaker conducted sound through the bones of his skull, only he could hear Subcenturion V’Hari’s urgent hail.
Go ahead, Thrai Kaleh, Koval subvocalized. Only the slight clenching and unclenching of his jaw muscles betrayed the fact that he was having a covert conversation.
“There’s been an attempt to sabotage the Core, Chairman Koval,” V’Hari said emotionlessly. “However, the security failsafe programs are already isolating and purging the intrusion.”
Acknowledged, V’Hari. Keep me informed.
Koval studied Zweller and Batanides through narrowed eyes. He was well-aware of Ambassador T’Alik’s failure to persuade Picard to make an early departure from the Geminus Gulf. He could only assume that this incursion on the Core was Captain Picard’s doing. The scoutship that T’Alik had said Picard claimed to know nothing about-despite the fact that he’d used it to escape from the Army of Light compound-could have given the Starfleet captain some of the tools necessary to mount an effective assault on the Core.
But he knew it couldn’t give him the capacity to defeat the rokhelh, the state-of-the-art artificial intelligence that patrolled the Core’s every system. Nothing Koval had ever encountered could do that.
“Chairman Koval?” Zweller said, ending the protracted silence. “Are you all right?”
Koval still held the data chip tightly in his hand, and continued searching the humans’ faces with his eyes. Their expressions betrayed nothing. Was Zweller involved in the sabotage as well? Or had Picard undertaken the attack entirely on his own initiative?
Deciding that the rokhelh would render those questions moot soon enough, Koval surrendered the data chip to Zweller, who responded by flashing a toothy smile.
“When you return to the Enterprise,” Koval said quietly, “tell Captain Picard that he plays a very dangerous game. That is, if he survives his current endeavor.”
Koval was pleased to see that Zweller’s smile had faltered ever so slightly. So he does know something. Koval suppressed a triumphant grin.
Koval set his kali-fal glass down on the table, none too gently. “The Federation’s welcome in the Geminus Gulf is now worn out,” he said, freighting his words with menace. “And when Protector Ruardh makes the official declaration, you and every other human in this system would do well to be heading back toward Federation space very, very quickly.”
Chapter Fifteen
The errant code-sequence did not respond in any intelligible fashion, nor did the rokhelh immediately