The Last Stand - Brad Ferguson [20]
“It’s lovely,” Troi said quietly. “So peaceful.”
“We have it refinished every so often,” Kerajem said. “Each time we repair the table, it comes back to us better and stronger.”
Picard looked up. “I sense there’s a parallel there to the experience of your entire world, First Among Equals.”
Kerajem smiled a secret smile. “I believe there is, Captain. Shall we all be seated? We have a great deal to talk about.”
“Certainly.” Everyone took their seats.
“If I may, Kerajem,” Picard began, “I would like to ask you about these ancient writings that Minister Rikkadar referred to aboard the aircraft on our way here. Perhaps they might offer us further clues about your past—”
Out of the corner of his eye, Picard saw Troi suddenly sit up perfectly straight. Her hands were clasped easily in front of her on the table, but the captain saw that she was holding one forefinger slightly elevated. Wait.
Picard saw that, suddenly, several of the faces across the table had grown clouded with something that seemed like anger. With the skill of long practice, the captain smoothly changed the course of his remark. “—but, of course, all that can come later. We feel sure that all of you must have many questions for us.” He smiled encouragingly. “Please proceed.”
Security Minister Jemmagar had something very much like a sneer on his face. “Captain Picard, there is only one thing we want to know about,” he said bitingly. “How did your ship get past the Krann line?”
Picard looked at him. “The Krann line? I told you that we know nothing of these Krann you’ve been talking about—”
Jemmagar slapped a hand on the flawless surface of the table, leaving a palm print. Worf stiffened. “Come, Captain!” Jemmagar prodded. “You know very well what I am talking about! How did you do it? How did you get past the Krann?”
Picard looked straight at Kerajem. The captain knew that his face was coloring with anger, and he did not bother to hide it. “First Among Equals, this is insulting and completely needless. I have assured you repeatedly that we have come here in peace—”
“Captain, please,” Kerajem said, holding up a hand. “I tell you in all candor that no one here greeted the arrival of your ship with more anticipation, more hope, than I—but your lack of response to this vital question is straining even my goodwill.”
“Please, Captain Picard,” Minister Klerran said, pain in his eyes. “Please tell us how you got through the Krann line unmolested. It is so vitally important to us. Surely you must see that. Surely.”
Picard shook his head in puzzlement. He did not need Troi to tell him that Klerran was sincere. “We went through no line, sir. We have seen no Krann and have no knowledge of them. The first thing we encountered in this star system was your very own probe.”
“The one that first detected you in the region of Ma’ak Unselbe,” Jemmagar said. “Yes.”
“Captain Picard,” Minister Presinget said, “we really don’t have much time for this nonsense. Please tell us about the Krann.”
“We know of no Krann,” Data said.
Jemmagar leaned back in his seat. “Of course you don’t,” the security minister said in a bored tone as he gazed absently at the ceiling. “You came here out of simple curiosity, is that it? How nice for you.”
Picard ignored his tone. “We came here because we detected a certain form of radiation, a pulse, that was of interest to us.”
“Do you generally go more than eight hundred trillion kilometers out of your way just to look at interesting forms of radiation pulses, Captain?”
“Frequently,” Picard responded calmly. “Our mandate is to explore, to find out what we can, and to send back the information we gather. That is our job. That is what we do.”
“I believe him,” Minister Umbeltag said suddenly.
“You would,” Jemmagar sneered. “Liberals!”
“What kind of radiation pulse was this?” Klerran asked. “It might help if we knew more about it.