Section 31_ Rogue - Andy Mangels [74]
“Johnny, what do you intend to do with Grelun after he wakes up?”
“I want to hear his side of the Chiarosan conflict,” Picard said. “From what Riker, Troi, and Corey have already told us, Falhain’s indictment against Ruardh’s government may have real merit, after all.”
“Too bad the rebels conveniently relieved Corey of his tricorder before we could examine their alleged evidence,” she said acidly.
“Do you think Grelun’s people are fabricating the massacre stories? My first officer and counselor have made a pretty good case that they’re not.”
She sighed and seemed to let down her guard. “Since Aubin’s death I’m really not sure what to believe.”
“But you don’t trust Grelun.”
“In my field, trust has to be earned. And I have trouble trusting people who’ve just tried to kill me.”
Picard nodded. “I understand that. And I also understand that they’re desperate people.”
“No doubt. But it still strikes me as strange that Grelun confiscated the evidence that might have convinced us that he’s in the right and Ruardh’s in the wrong.”
Picard felt the car change direction. Now it was moving horizontally toward the center of the ship. “It’s like you said, Marta. Trust has to be earned, and we have yet to earn Grelun’s. He sees us as in league with his sworn enemies. And from his own people’s point of view, we’ve just taken him hostage.”
“Then we’ve got to send him back to Chiaros IV as soon as possible,” she said. The turbolift shifted again, resuming its upward motion. “The longer he’s with us, the more tensions will escalate on Chiaros IV. And going down there again to gather new evidence to prove who’s in the right and who’s in the wrong is just going to make us targets for both sides.”
True, Picard thought. Up to now, every one of our encounters with Chiarosans has led to violence.
He looked her in the eye. “Believe me, I am excruciatingly aware of that.” He hadn’t been enthusiastic about Grelun’s capture in the first place, though he had understood the necessity of it after Will and Batanides had explained it during the flight back to the Enterprise.
“Then you agree we’ve got to send him home,” she said.
“Of course. Once Dr. Crusher has certified him fit to travel.” And after I speak with him. And Corey.
The doors opened, and Picard and Batanides stepped together onto the bridge.
Data rose from the command chair, an urgent expression on his pallid face. “Captain, we have just detected an extremely unusual energy reading, centered on Chiaros IV’s Nightside.”
“What sort of reading?” Picard said.
“It is difficult to be certain, given the atmospheric turbulence and magnetic field-driven planetary radiation belts. But it appears that several Starfleet quantum torpedoes have just been detonated on the planet’s surface.”
Picard was taken aback. “That’s impossible.”
“We’re receiving a hail, sir,” Lieutenant Daniels said from one of the communications consoles. “It’s coming from the communications tether orbiting Chiaros IV. It’s First Protector Ruardh.”
“On-screen, Lieutenant,” Picard said coolly, standing very straight in the center of the bridge.
The Chiarosan leader sat behind an impressive desk that appeared to have been carved from a single block of wood. An unabashed display of opulence, Picard thought, on a world with an ostensible lack of forested regions. Beside Ruardh stood Senator Curince, elbows bent backward and hands behind her back. Both women wore solemn expressions.
Ruardh spoke first. “Captain, I have just been told of the explosion on Nightside.”
“As have I, Madame Protector,” Picard said.
“There are many on my world who would like to thank you for at last locating and destroying the Army of Light’s principal military facility. Unfortunately, in the minds of many this development will also cast additional doubt upon the Federation’s motives. You see, our traditionalists prefer field-of-honor combat to guerrilla warfare.”
Picard shook his head. “Madame Protector, let me assure you that the Federation had nothing whatsoever to do with that.”
“Please do not