Spirit Walk_ Old Wounds (Book 1) - Christie Golden [23]
Janeway smiled, and Kol smiled in return. Janeway, at least, had enjoyed talking with the female leader of the planet, and it seemed as though Kol had enjoyed interacting with her as well. If only they were discussing Kerovian symphonies and theater instead of secession.
“Good evening, Admiral Janeway,” said Kol in her soft, deep voice. “Or, perhaps, it should be ‘good morning’ in San Francisco?”
“Bright and early,” Janeway replied. “I’m sorry to keep you up so late.”
“Not at all,” Kol said. “It’s always a pleasure to talk to you.”
With a twinge of regret, Janeway suspected this was quite true. It was a sentiment she shared.
“Likewise, Amar Kol,” she replied sincerely. Kol had always used Janeway’s title, so Janeway was careful to use hers. “Have you had a chance to review the statistics I sent a few days ago?”
Kol nodded. “They are very impressive, and I am delighted to hear that so much healing has already been accomplished.” She stretched her wide mouth in a sad smile as she continued, “But both you and I know that statistics can be interpreted to say whatever one wants them to say.”
Soft, but stubborn. That was Merin Kol, the proverbial iron fist in a velvet glove. The leader of the Kerovians was slender, with delicate features, and she always wore flowing, fine garments. Janeway had to wonder if the choice was deliberate, if Kol was well aware of how soft a demeanor she presented while remaining strong and resolute. It would be easy to underestimate Kol if one didn’t know her well. Inwardly, Janeway sighed.
“Kerovi has always stood firm on its policy of nonviolence,” Janeway said, “and the Federation has always respected that. You know well that we have never forced your people to contribute troops, not even at the darkest times of the war.”
“No, you have not,” Kol agreed, “but one does not have to use force in order to exert pressure.”
Janeway thought about the statistics she had been reading lately: how many millions had died. Kerovi had a population of two billion, and they had not sent a single person to fight. They had not contributed weapons or vessels or even supplies for the war. The one thing they had done was contribute assistance when it came to helping the victims of the war, willingly providing food, medicines, clothing, and shelter, and for that the Federation was grateful. Still, Janeway couldn’t help but feel a twinge of anger.
She resisted the temptation to rise to the subtle bait and continued, “Be that as it may, it still stands that Kerovi didn’t suffer a single casualty in the war, and yet it and its people were protected by the Federation.”
Kol’s gaze was steady. “Protected from attack in a war we did not want,” she said. “Kerovi’s government—and I personally, Admiral—wanted no part of the Dominion War. We spoke against it. We would not have required such protection from the Federation had not the Federation turned every single planet that belonged to it into a potential target for its enemies.”
Her voice was growing harsher, and Janeway changed the subject.
“We’ve discussed this before, Amar. And we’ve agreed to disagree. It’s a moot point. The fact remains, we won this war, and the planets in the Federation are safe because of that fact.”
Kol arched a red eyebrow.
“If there were to be trouble again,” Janeway continued, pressing her point, “from a neighbor or another direction, Kerovi would be able to call upon the Federation for assistance. If you secede from it, you would be left completely vulnerable. Your planet has no real way of defending itself.”
“Until we joined the Federation,