The Last Stand - Brad Ferguson [81]
Riker reached into the pocket of his Krann clothing and slipped the audio pickup bug into his left ear. He then tapped the communicator. “Riker to Enterprise,” he said quietly. “Are you receiving me?”
“Loud and clear, Commander,” came Geordi’s voice. “Are you receiving us?”
“You’re coming through five by five.”
“Good. Patching in the captain now.”
There was a very brief pause. “Hello, Will,” Picard greeted him. “Is Counselor Troi there with you?”
“No, sir. She’s not far away, however. We’re in no danger. I’d like to make my report.”
“Go ahead.”
Riker gathered his thoughts. “Captain, the people on this flagship apparently have no idea that the fleet is about to go to war with the Lethanta. There is a major holiday in progress aboard this ship, and virtually everyone seems to be celebrating it. I’ve seen the way civilian populations conduct themselves during wartime, and what I’m seeing here is in no way similar. These people are at peace, or at least they think they are. The only sign of impeding hostilities was the declaration of a combat alert some two hours ago, and it took everyone around us completely by surprise. They were all frightened and shocked.”
“We know about that alert, Will. The Lethanta held a planetary defense drill, and the Krann took it as a provocation. In response, elements of the Krann fleet carried out an attack on various Lethantan targets, civilian and military alike. The losses on both sides have been high, but the effect on Nem Ma’ak Bratuna has been nothing short of devastating. I’ve arranged a truce in place, pending negotiations between the Lethanta and the Krann, again with us acting as mediator. All Krann forces are returning or have already returned to their original stations. I must also tell you, Will, that Commander Data and Ensign Ro are missing, following an attack on the Lethantan capital. We have not been able to raise them.”
Riker stroked his chin in thought. “I see. All of this explains a great deal, sir—but it does not explain why none of the Krann we were with understood what was happening, or why.”
“Where have you been, by the way?”
“At a party. Sir.”
“Oh. Excellent way to meet people. What did you find out?”
“Today is an important Krann holiday called Posting Day, Captain. It is the day upon which Krann authorities grant married couples permits to have babies.”
“I see,” Picard said. “Procreation is very strictly controlled, then.”
“I believe so, sir. The permits are issued only every few years and are apparently hard to come by even then. Influence appears to count. Couples who receive one throw a big party, the bigger the better. We dropped in on one of those. The size and location of the couple’s Posting Day celebration confer status upon them, according to what we’ve heard.”
“Rather like an Earth wedding, I suppose. Your point, Number One?”
“Sir, it seems to me that these people don’t have a clue as to what’s going on between the Krann and the Lethanta. There were a lot of people where we were, all of them in a relaxed social situation. Counselor Troi and I talked to young people who have never even heard of the Lethanta. The Krann we’ve met know they’ve arrived in a new star system, but they have not been told that it contains two class-M planets.” He paused. “Captain, Presider Hek said we’d see his intentions were peaceful if we came aboard. I wonder if he was telling the truth, after all?”
“Sir?” came Geordi’s voice, interrupting. “Counselor Troi’s subspace communicator link has just been opened, but she isn’t talking to us. I’ve got her located.”
“Is she in trouble, Geordi?” Riker asked quickly.
“I don’t think so, Commander. From what I’m hearing, the counselor is engaged