Taking Wing - Michael A. Martin [112]
Then Riker saw Xiomek and Spock nod silently to one another by way of greeting. Deanna glanced significantly at Riker, as if to confirm the two men’s already apparent mutual respect.
Spock turned to face Riker. “Ehrie’fvil is the name of a small, all but uninhabited continent located in Romulus’s southern hemisphere,” he said with the quiet confidence of an academic authority. “It is roughly the same size as Earth’s Greenland, and possesses similar climatological characteristics.”
Facing the Vulcan ambassador, Riker said, “He’s asking for a whole continent?”
“This isn’t the first time the matter has come up. Neither crops nor animals can flourish in the harsh, dry, tide-locked climate of Remus. This has made the Remans dependent upon those who have enslaved them for centuries. It is no surprise that such an unbalanced relationship would give the people of Remus cause to covet the abundance of their planet’s companion world. However, the Remans have never before attempted to seize Romulan lands using the direct threat of military force.”
“We have been confined to Remus, and to the darkness of the dilithium mines, for as far back as our history records,” Xiomek said. “There we have provided all the toil necessary to power the fleets of the Empire. No more. No more will we be forced to dwell in lands blighted by the Empire’s insatiable greed.”
Facing Xiomek again, Riker said, “You are in a position to do a great deal more than seize land, Colonel. How do we know your people won’t also exact revenge against the Romulan people you’ve been laboring for all these centuries?”
Xiomek bared his fangs again in what might or might not have been a smile. “You do not know that, for I can make no such guarantee. But you have no choice other than to accept my words at face value. As well as my assurance that this man”—the Reman colonel pointed a long-nailed, gnarled finger directly at Ambassador Spock—“has already made every effort to dissuade us from engaging in unnecessary bloodshed.
“I, however, will decide how much bloodshed is necessary, Captain—based upon whether or not you or anyone else attempts to stop us from claiming the land and water and air that should have been ours long ago.”
In response to a glance from Deanna, Riker gestured to Keru, who momentarily interrupted the audio portion of his exchange with Xiomek. The Reman colonel continued to glower silently at the bridge crew from the main viewscreen.
“I sense that Xiomek is being sincere, Captain,” Deanna said.
“And I can confirm that about half the Reman ships are headed directly for Ehrie’fvil,” said Keru. “The rest of them are leveling out their descent.”
“Heading?” asked Vale.
“They’re remaining in the upper atmosphere, and appear to be heading for positions over major cities all around the planet.”
“So they’re daring us to follow them down there for close-quarters combat,” Riker said.
“Or warning us not to,” Deanna said.
“We’re not built for that, Captain,” said Vale, looking slightly worried.
Riker nodded. Like most starships, Titan had not been designed for flight within a planetary atmosphere, let alone for atmospheric combat.
“And there’s no way we can engage the Remans without inflicting a lot of harm on the innocent civilians down below,” Deanna added.
Vale sighed. “We just have to hope that there are enough cloaked Romulan ships nearby to encourage Xiomek’s fleet to back off quickly.”
Riker looked toward Jaza, who was shaking his head. “I’m afraid there’s no way to know for sure, Captain. Our enhanced sensor nets notwithstanding.”
Riker gave another hand signal to Keru, who reactivated the viewer’s audio pickup. “What are your terms?” he asked the Reman. He hated feeling so helpless, but he knew he had little choice.
“If we encounter resistance, we shall bombard the cities of Romulus. And I promise that Ki Baratan, the praetor’s pride, will be one of our prime targets in that event.”
Spock stepped forward. “But you will encounter resistance, Xiomek. Surely you must realize that.