The Last Stand - Brad Ferguson [15]
“One of them is quite nonhuman,” Jemmagar whispered. “He appears rather grisly.”
“I wish he wouldn’t try to smile like that,” Kerajem whispered back.
“There’s another one who looks, well, rather pale.”
“They do seem disposed to be friendly.”
Jemmagar snorted. “Well, I hope you’re right.These people surely don’t seem very concerned, considering what’s going on.”
“They may not feel any need to be concerned,” Kerajem observed. “That might be the most hopeful sign yet.”
The force of two dozen security personnel accompanying the Council of Ministers kept a discreet watch on Picard and his people as they left Justman and walked across the landing pad to the spot where Kerajem and the other ministers were waiting for them.
“Captain Picard, I presume,” Kerajem said, smiling broadly. He put out a hand in the friendly manner common to many humanoid cultures, and Picard shook it.
Kerajem indicated the six men standing immediately behind him. “We of the Council of Ministers of Nem Ma’ak Bratuna extend greetings to you and your people on behalf of all the citizens of our world.”
Picard smiled back pleasantly, “And I, sir, and my officers greet all of you in the name of the government and citizens of the United Federation of Planets. Thank you for your most gracious welcome. May this initial meeting be only the beginning of a long and productive relationship between our two cultures.”
Kerajem nodded. “Indeed.”
“Allow me, please, to introduce my colleagues,” Picard continued. “This is Counselor Deanna Troi, my closest and most trusted advisor. To her left is Lieutenant Commander Data, second officer of the Enterprise, and to his left is Lieutenant Worf, our chief of security.”
“I am pleased to meet all of you,” Kerajem said. “If you will, Captain, allow me to present some of the other members of the Council of Ministers.” Together, Kerajem and Picard walked to the head of a short receiving line formed by the seven waiting men.
The first minister was a burly, determined-looking sort. “Captain, allow me to present Presinget fes Kwaita, our minister for labor.”
“Ah. A pleasure, Minister Presinget.”
“The pleasure’s all mine, Captain,” the burly former miner replied, shaking Picard’s hand with a bone-crushing grip. “Glad to meet you. Pretty exciting, you know. People don’t drop in on us from outer space every damn day.”
“Uh, I can imagine,” the captain said.
They came to a slight, balding man. “Captain, this is Umbeltag zan Swannet, our social services minister.”
“How do you do, Captain?”
“Very well, thank you, Minister. It is an honor to meet you.”
The next minister was a short, fussy-seeming man. “Captain Picard,” Kerajem said, “this is Jemmagar fes Kah, our minister for security.”
Picard put out his hand and smiled. “A pleasure to meet you, Minister Jemmagar.”
Jemmagar looked at Picard for a long and impolite moment, letting the silence linger until he saw that Kerajem was gritting his teeth. “As you say, Captain, a pleasure,” Jemmagar said lightly, finally giving Captain Picard’s hand a quick, limp shake.
Kerajem noted that if Picard had been offended by Jemmagar’s studied rudeness, he was giving no sign of it. That was a relief. He and Picard came to the next man, one who seemed younger than the others. “Captain Picard, this is Klerran fes Dresnai, our minister for science and education.”
Klerran grinned and extended his hand. “Don’t let these others get to you before I do, Captain.”
Picard smiled back. “I think that’s more or less up to you, Minister Klerran.” They shook.
The next minister was an older, slender man with a whiff of the diplomat about him. “Captain, allow me to introduce you to Terrestak zan Pettok, our minister for state.”
“Welcome to our world, Captain Picard,” Terrestak said politely. He shook Picard’s hand with just the proper pressure for exactly the right length of time.
“Thank you for inviting us, Minister,” Picard replied.
They came next to a much older man.