The Last Stand - Brad Ferguson [39]
“I always did think the view from here was rather remarkable,” Picard said. “I never seem to have enough time to enjoy it.” He looked down that part of the Krann line that was starboard of the flagship, his eyes drifting to the point far away where the ships grew too small to the naked eye to appear to be anything more than points of light. “This is a rather remarkable formation, don’t you think?” Picard asked Riker. “They’re holding a line that’s several hundred million kilometers across.”
“Given their technological limitations, sir, I would have thought it impossible,” Riker replied. “It shows they have enormous control over their vessels.”
“And they possess enormous skill in flying them,” Picard added. “Lord knows they’ve had enough time out here to learn how to handle a spacecraft. Well, we’ve had a bit of experience to that end, as well—as the Krann are about to find out.” The captain paused. “Picard to Commander Data. Execute the pending program.”
“Aye, sir.”
The line of the Krann fleet tilted and disappeared from the lounge windows as the Enterprise began a roll to port.
The part of the Krann line that lay to port of the flagship came into view as the Enterprise completed half its end-over-end roll. The Krann were much closer now.
“They’re scared, Captain,” Riker reported. “Running-around scared.”
“They probably think we’re going to hit them,” Troi said.
“Not if Mr. Data is as capable of handling the ship as I know he is,” Picard said. “Let the Krann be a little scared, Number One. So long as they don’t go to their weapons, everything will be fine.”
“Completing maneuver, Captain,” Data reported. “We’re ready, Mr. Data,” Picard replied. The three of them stood straight in front of the frontmost, centermost window in Ten-Forward as the bridge of the Krann flagship suddenly swung up into view not three meters away. The Enterprise and the Krann flagship were flying nose to nose, precisely as Picard and Data had planned it.
Data killed all ship motion at that instant, and Picard found himself looking straight through the Krann ship’s large forward viewport and at—someone. While all the other Krann standing around him on the bridge appeared nervous and fearful, this particular individual stood there, his arms crossed. He appeared supremely confident. He was even grinning, perhaps in admiration of the Enterprise’s deft maneuver.
“That one’s the leader of this bunch, or I’ll eat that chair over there,” Picard said.
Troi frowned. Emptiness. “I’m afraid that I can’t read them, sir.”
“I was afraid of that, Counselor. Picard to Worf. Hail the Krann flagship one more time.”
“Channel open, Captain.”
Picard stared across three meters of space and straight into the eyes of the one he took to be the Krann leader. “Krann flagship, this is Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Federation starship Enterprise. I wish to discuss with your leaders the increasingly dire situation between yourself and the residents of the third planet of this star system. We wish to offer our services as mediator. We have no interest here other than to avert needless bloodshed between your two races. We are fully prepared to listen to your side of the story and, if necessary, seek redress for you from the native population of this system. We await your prompt reply.”
The three Enterprise officers stood by silently, doing their best to appear patient. After a moment, Picard saw the Krann leader gesture.
“Incoming message, Captain,” Worf said. “Coming through now.”
“Captain Jean-Luc, this is Hek Portside Hull Patcher, Presider of the Fleet Congress. I’m the one you want to talk to.”
“A pleasure, Presider Hek Portside—”
“‘Presider’ or ‘Presider Hek’ will do, Jean-Luc Captain. We need not be formal with each other.”
“Very well, then, Presider. Please do call me Captain Picard, then.”
“I am honored, Captain. Well, then, what can we do for you, Captain Picard?” His tone