Taking Wing - Michael A. Martin [34]
“Excuse me.” Nearly everyone in the room seemed surprised at the almost brusque interruption. Except, Troi noted, for the man to whom the voice belonged: Will Riker.
Based more on her private conversations with Will than her Betazoid talents, she knew exactly what was coming.
T’Sevek replied in an almost chiding tone. “Captain, we would prefer that your questions be held until after our briefing presentation.”
“That’s a fine idea, ma’am. However, there’s one question I really need to get out of the way first. And that’s because nobody has answered it to my satisfaction yet, even though I’ve already asked it more than a few times over the past two weeks.”
Clearly becoming irritated, all three Vulcans turned as one toward Admiral Akaar, who sighed as he spread his hands in capitulation. “All right, Captain Riker. Which question are you speaking about?”
“The most fundamental one, Admiral. Why is Titan being sent on this mission rather than the Enterprise? I don’t mean any disrespect, sir. But Titan has been a ship of exploration from drawing board to final crew roster. It seems to me the Federation’s flagship would be far better suited to this mission—as would its commander, who is a much more accomplished diplomat than I am.”
Troi suppressed a smile. My, but you are still eager to get out to the far reaches of the Orion Arm, aren’t you, Will?
But she also knew very well that far more was at play behind Will’s wrinkled brow than simple frustration over Titan’s recent change of orders and mission. He was clearly suspicious that the loss of personal prestige his former captain had suffered following last year’s Rashanar catastrophe had had something to do with Picard’s being passed over for this historic diplomatic assignment—a job that Will clearly believed that Picard should have drawn. Troi was forced to ask herself if Akaar might not be holding Rashanar against Picard, despite his subsequent multiple vindications at Dokaalan, Delta Sigma IV, and Tezwa, not to mention Picard’s aiding Klingon Chancellor Martok in recovering the clone of Emperor Kahless after he had mysteriously gone missing several weeks ago.
Frowning, Akaar nodded and regarded Will in silence for a protracted moment. Still unable to read the guarded Capellan very deeply, Troi began to wonder if Will had finally pushed him too far.
Then the admiral spoke with surprising mildness, in tones tinged with regret. “That is a fair question, Captain. But it is one that your former commanding officer has already answered, during his recent mission into Romulan space.”
Will scowled. “I’m afraid I don’t understand, sir.”
“Let us simply say that Captain Picard’s…uncanny resemblance to the late Praetor Shinzon did not go unnoticed on Kevatras,” Sorok said, stepping forward. “Word of the unfortunate relationship between Picard and Shinzon has already spread far and wide throughout the Romulan Star Empire.”
Troi suddenly understood, even as she noted the look of comprehension that was spreading across Will’s face.
“You think Captain Picard’s presence would destabilize the Romulan Empire even further,” the captain said.
Sorok nodded solemnly, one eyebrow slightly raised. “Of course, Captain. As the man who assassinated the Romulan Senate, Shinzon is widely viewed as the author of virtually every difficulty the Empire currently faces. The fact that he was a clone of Jean-Luc Picard is just as widely known throughout the Romulan sphere of influence.”
“Our primary mission is to assist the Romulans in the creation of a sustainable political power-sharing agreement,” T’Sevek added, speaking in professorial tones. “Picard’s presence would be antithetical to this goal.”
“Is that really our primary goal?” Troi was startled to note that she herself had been the one to voice this question. Every head in the room had turned in Troi’s direction; her crewmates’ emotions ran the gamut from surprise to expectation,