The Last Stand - Brad Ferguson [88]
“—by the nose? Yes, I do. And wait’ll I tell you about what I saw.”
They boarded the tube car. As it pulled away, Wiggin reemerged from the security gate and, standing there, watched as the train departed. When it was finally gone, he allowed himself a tight, brief smile. He then rapped his knuckles on the side of Guss’s guard booth and walked onto the tube station platform to wait for the arrival of the next car. It had been a job well done, but he was off duty now and, after all, it was Posting Day, and there were drinks and a woman or two out there somewhere with his name on them.
Chapter Sixteen
PICARD WAS IN HIS READY ROOM, taking another call from the First Among Equals.
“Things are tense here, Captain Picard,” Kerajem said. He was in his office at Government House. “The Cabinet is increasingly restive. The older ministers are almost too scared to speak, and the younger ones want to teach the Krann a lesson, as that idiot Jemmagar put it during our last emergency meeting.” Kerajem nearly spat. “How could we ever hope to teach the Krann a lesson?”
“And where are you on this, First?” Picard asked.
“In the middle, as usual, and hoping for some sort of miracle. Captain Picard, do you have any hope that Presider Hek is open to some sort of peaceful settlement?”
Picard considered his words carefully. “I’m not sure, First,” he said. “I cannot tell what’s on his mind or what kind of settlement he might accept. I have been trying to find out all along, but the man is extraordinarily difficult to read.”
“So you think he is insincere about seeking a peaceful resolution to this crisis?”
“As I said, I’m not sure,” Picard said. “But I do think he is a practical man. If a peaceful settlement is attractive enough, if it allows him to maintain his authority, then he might agree to one.”
Kerajem nodded. “I hope you’re right, Captain.”
“There is one practical reason for hope, First Among Equals,” Picard said. “In my last conversation with him, Presider Hek seemed to bring up the possibility that the Krann might want to settle on the fourth planet of this system.”
“Settle down? And abandon their fleet in space?” Kerajem shook his head. “I doubt they would ever do such a thing, Captain Picard. They’ve been living a spaceborne existence for thousands of years, and they’re used to it. Oh, some of them might like to live planetside, but I can’t believe all of them would. It’s just not their way.”
“They lived on a world once,” Picard pointed out.
“That was a long time ago. ” Kerajem sighed. “Captain, our Cabinet session resumes in a minute. I’ll call you at the next recess.”
“Very well,” Picard said. “Good luck to you, First Among Equals.”
“And may good fortune find you, Captain. I know you’re doing your best.” The terminal went dark.
“I just hope it’s enough,” muttered Picard.
“Captain,” came Worf’s deep voice, “Commander Riker is calling.”
“Ah. Thank you, Lieutenant.” Picard pressed a button. “Hello, Number One,” he said into the air. “Is everything all right?”
“Yes, sir. We’re both fine. Is there any word yet from Commander Data or Ensign Ro?”
“I’m afraid not.”
“Understood, sir. Deanna is right here and will communicate through my pickup.”
“Fine. Are you two reasonably private? Can you talk freely?”
“Yes, sir, ” Riker replied. “We’re in what amounts to a cheap hotel room just outside the gray zone. No one else is in the room with us.”
“Excellent. I can have you beamed directly here to the ready room to make your report in person—”
“Excuse me, Captain, but I don’t think that would be wise. I have reason to believe that the Krann can detect our use of the transporter. If we beam out, they may know it, and I’d rather have them realize we’re still here, keeping an eye on them.”
“Understood. Your findings since your last report, then.”
“With your permission, Captain, I’ll let Commander Troi make her report first. She reconnoitered