Section 31_ Rogue - Andy Mangels [26]
Hawk looked away for a moment, and Tabor could feel him remembering his loss at hearing the news that his first lover-and several Academy classmates-had been killed in a battle against the Cardassians. He finally turned back toward Tabor. “Yes. I’ve lost several friends… out there.”
“I sympathize. On several occasions, as an ambassador, I’ve even argued to the Federation Council that it has badly mishandled the entire Cardassian Demilitarized Zone-Maquis situation,” said Tabor. “That surprises you, doesn’t it?” He knew that it did. He could feel it in Hawk’s mind. “And I disagree with the Council now, regarding the situation on Chiaros IV.”
“But you’re going there as a Federation representative.” It was both a statement and a question.
“Yes, because that is my job. The First Protector has asked for Federation intervention, promising to ally her people with us if we aid in ending the conflict and thereby help keep her in power. The other side has made overtures to the Romulans, and doesn’t want the Federation involved.”
“The Romulans?” Hawk’s eyes were wide with surprise.
“That’s one of the reasons why the Enterprise is here,” Tabor said, lowering his voice. He knew that in doing so, he was making Hawk feel as though he were being entrusted with privileged information. Which, in a subtly expanding way, he was. “Starfleet’s flagship is a symbol of its military might. The Romulans dare not try anything untoward with Picard around.”
“So what does that mean for the peace summit?”
“It means that an already unstable-and morally questionable-situation has become more aggravated, Sean. I argued to my superiors against the alliance with Protector Ruardh’s side, but they didn’t concede my point. The advantages to having Chiaros join the Federation are few, and the ethical implications are shady at best. And there are advantages to letting the Romulans have the Chiaros system, even though doing so would give them control of the entire Geminus Gulf. I can’t tell you what those advantages are, but they would strengthen both the Federation and Starfleet.”
Tabor sensed Hawk’s confusion before he spoke. “Surely you can’t be saying that you plan to defy the Federation Council’s agenda,” the younger man said. “You can’t just act on your own initiative.”
“My own initiative? No, not entirely. But I do have a certain autonomy once the negotiations start. As a diplomat, the specific direction of the talks is often mine to choose.” Tabor felt Hawk inwardly wince, and quickly added, “As much as I care about galactic peace and interstellar amity, I feel just as strongly that the Federation must be protected, at all costs. Sometimes, that goal can only be achieved in unorthodox ways. Why, your very own captain has bent the rules of the Prime Directive more than once to achieve a greater good.”
“I’m not sure I know what you mean, sir… Aubin.”
“Haven’t you ever felt that the people making the rules sometimes make mistakes?”
“You aren’t suggesting that Starfleet Command is-“
Tabor leaned in closer to Hawk, conspiratorially. “I’m not suggesting that Starfleet Command is incompetent. But Starfleet is a gargantuan organization. Surely you can understand how some things might slip through the cracks? How mistakes can be made? How poor policies can be implemented and perpetuated?” Tabor probed again, and heard Hawk’s mind whisper Maquis, as if validating the ambassador’s words. He was relieved that Hawk was not prejudging him. He was, in fact, wanting to understand Tabor better.
“I will let you in on a secret, Sean. Starfleet knows that mistakes can be made. Are made. They’ve known it since the beginning. It’s why the founders of Starfleet created a secret bureau, an elite group whose job is to provide for the organization’s best interests.”
“You mean Starfleet Intelligence? They’re hardly a secret.”
“No, not S.I.” Tabor paused for a moment, knowing that what he was about to say marked