Taking Wing - Michael A. Martin [37]
Troi could not help but agree. Ten years earlier, Romulan dissidents had forced her to impersonate a Tal Shiar officer. Though a Romulan commander named Toreth had ultimately seen through her disguise and exposed her imposture, Troi had tasted in others the hot fear that a Tal Shiar operative could generate, even among hard-bitten Romulan military veterans.
“Two other important factions remain to be discussed,” T’Rel said. “The first of these has benefited hugely from the power vacuum created by the sudden removal of the Senate, as well as from the deaths of Praetors Hiren and Shinzon. I speak of the newly emancipated Remans. Formerly exploited by the Romulans as slave laborers in the dilithium mines of their all-but-uninhabitable homeworld of Remus, the Remans have used the current political turmoil to add to the pool of ships and weaponry they apparently began assembling quietly during the manifold distractions of the Dominion War. The Remans are quite angry, and their leader—one Colonel Xiomek, a decorated Dominion War veteran who fought for the Alliance alongside Shinzon—expects to accomplish a great deal of very rapid social change on his people’s behalf.”
Akaar spoke at this point, apparently surprising T’Rel and the other two Vulcans. “The final group has also taken advantage of the recent social upheavals in order to obtain political prominence.” The admiral fixed his gaze squarely upon Will. “I believe both you and your former captain are well acquainted with its leader.”
Will answered with a sober nod—and a single syllable.
“Spock.”
After Akaar signaled with a hand gesture that he was finished for the moment, T’Rel resumed the briefing. “This group, which was founded some thirty-five years ago and has since come to be known as the Unification movement, has been an underground, countercultural force until recently. Federation ambassador Spock assumed its mantle of leadership more than eleven years ago, and since that time the movement has come to venerate Vulcan logic above the traditional martial values of Romulus.”
Sorok chose that moment to make it clear that he did not share T’Rel’s apparent approval of the Unificationists. “Ambassador Spock’s faction claims to seek the cultural, political, and philosophical reunion of the sundered worlds of Vulcan and Romulus. It is Spock’s stated belief that this development represents the only viable path toward a permanent peace between the Romulan Star Empire and the Federation.”
“I take it you don’t exactly agree with Spock’s appraisal of Romulan-Vulcan relations, Sorok,” said Commander Ra-Havreii, a wry smile crossing the Efrosian’s usually melancholy countenance.
After exchanging cryptic yet clearly significant looks with both T’Sevek and T’Rel, Sorok turned to face the starship designer. “Proponents of Ambassador Spock’s Unificationist viewpoint see remolding Romulus in Vulcan’s image as necessary and desirable—”
“As well as inevitable,” T’Sevek said, interrupting.
Troi noted that Sorok’s composure remained unassailable—but only on the outside. “That inevitability is open to debate, T’Sevek. In truth, any effort at reuniting Vulcan and Romulus may just as ‘inevitably’ lead to Vulcan’s transformation into a second Romulus. In fact, a poll taken only days ago reveals that a majority of Vulcans stands with me on this issue. That is to say, most Vulcans believe that Spock’s endeavors on Romulus are far too risky.”
“A political majority can be transitory,” T’Sevek said coolly. “Particularly such a narrow one.”
T’Rel remained silent, though the cold glare she was casting at Sorok betrayed a deep belief in Vulcan logic—a belief that wouldn’t yield to Sorok’s obvious apprehensions about Romulan conquest, however well justified they might be.
Vulcan must be split right down the middle on