Section 31_ Rogue - Andy Mangels [81]
“Surely that would be unnecessary, Mr. V’Riln,” Picard said, deliberately adopting the smile of a magnanimous host. “After all, what do either of us have to hide from each other?”
Troi’s expression told Picard that she could probably spend several hours answering that single question. Batanides, for her part, seemed content to let Picard do all the talking. She sat in silence, watching the Romulans closely.
“Please allow me to come to the heart of the reason for this visit,” T’Alik said.
“I would appreciate that, Ambassador,” Picard said. “We only have one day left before the planetary referendum, so time is fleeting. And I suppose you’ve read the polls.”
T’Alik almost smiled at that. “We are well-aware of the referendum’s likely outcome. And frankly, I have come to ask you to concede those results sooner rather than later. After all, no purpose can be served by waiting until the bitter end.”
“The writing, as you humans say, is on the wall,” V’Riln said.
“Perhaps you’re right,” Picard said, smiling. He hoped to throw them off-balance. “It might do my crew some good to leave this dreary region a day or so early.”
“That would be a great relief, Captain,” Troi said, falling in step.
Picard smiled at the counselor, well aware that the relief Troi had just registered was not her own; T’Alik was evidently both surprised and pleased to hear that the Enterprise might be leaving early.
Perhaps she sees that as a sign that we won’t embarrass her in front of the Chiarosans by unveiling the unauthorized ship we captured.
That was the moment when V’Riln floored him.
“The Tal Shiar has informed us that you still have the scoutship you used to escape from the Army of Light’s Nightside compound,” the Romulan assistant said in a matter-of-fact tone.
Picard did his best to hide his surprise. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”
T’Alik did not appear fazed in the least by her assistant’s revelation. Picard supposed that their presentation had been well-rehearsed for maximum emotional impact.
“No, Captain,” the ambassador said with a faint smile. “I don’t suppose that you do. But I must tell you that I am delighted to hear you say it.”
“I’m sure if we were to discover any unauthorized Romulan vessels on Chiaros IV,” Picard deadpanned, “it would greatly complicate your mission here.”
“Indeed it would,” T’Alik said.
Picard put on his most solicitous expression. “And it would probably place you, personally, in an extremely awkward position.”
“It would force the ambassador to protest the actions of her own government, Captain,” V’Riln said haughtily.
T’Alik began to look ever-so-slightly uncomfortable. “In the event of any such discovery, Captain, I would likely have no choice other than to resign my post. As a fellow diplomat, I’m sure you can understand that I cannot be a party to a treaty violation, either official or otherwise.”
Picard smiled broadly. “Madame Ambassador, as a fellow diplomat, I wouldn’t dream of placing you in that position.”
“I’m delighted that we understand each other so well, Captain,” T’Alik said, bowing her head fractionally.
And with that, the Romulan diplomats said their short but polite farewells, then allowed the security officers to escort them out of the ready room.
“Well,” Troi said. “Now we know that they know we have the scoutship.”
“Data was right,” Batanides said. “Whatever we decide to do with that ship, I suppose we can forget about having the element of surprise.”
“I’d already accepted that as a given,” Picard said, frowning. “But if there’s a way around that problem, Geordi and Data will find it.”
“For some reason, our continued presence is making the Romulans very nervous,” Troi ventured.
Batanides nodded. “It can only have to do with whatever the Romulans are hiding behind their cloaking field.”
Picard rose from behind his desk and walked over to the viewport. The darkness outside was punctuated by thousands of distant pinpoints of light.
For a long moment, he silently contemplated the loss of