The Murdered Sun - Christie Golden [67]
"They learn very quickly. They were able to follow everything I said in my presentation. We had hoped to have time to get in a few test flights of the repaired escort vessels, but..." He shrugged. "They should be just fine, Captain."
"There was a real sense of camaraderie down there," said Torres.
Paris and Chakotay nodded agreement. "They're very grateful for our aid, that we've decided to take their side in this war."
Janeway stiffened in her chair. "It takes two to make war, Lieutenant.
I'm not going to play that game--and neither is any member of my crew, is that understood?"
Torres's dark brows drew together in puzzlement. "With respect, Captain, the Akerians did declare war on us--right before they attacked!"
"It takes two to make war," repeated Janeway calmly but firmly, "and it takes two to make peace. I have reason to believe that I can get these two races talking to one another. Now that game," and she allowed herself a smile, "we might be players in."
"I'm not so sure about that, Captain," said Chakotay. "The K'shikkaa are peaceful by nature, but the Akerians have done some pretty terrible things. It's not likely that they will be forgiven their atrocities by the Verunans. And what makes you think that they'd even be interested in suing for peace?
Everything we know about them indicates that they're warlike and hostile by nature."
Janeway smiled at Kim and Tuvok. Kim grinned back, but Tuvok merely nodded slightly. Did they have a surprise for the away team!
"Everything you know about them, perhaps, Chakotay. And you don't know everything--not yet. But before I have Mr. Kim share his findings with you, I have something to say." Her blue eyes scanned the table, looking at each officer in turn. "And I'm not saying this lightly.
I've done a lot of hard thinking on this.
If it turns out there is no wormhole in that concavity--and believe me, I hope there is--I propose closing Sun-Eater."
There was a stunned silence as the officers absorbed her pronouncement.
She took advantage of the pause and continued.
"Both Ensign Kim and Lieutenant Tuvok share my opinion. This concavity was harmless until three hundred years ago. It should never have been tampered with. I believe very strongly that closing Sun-Eater is the right thing to do--and is not, in fact, as much of a violation of the Prime Directive as it may first appear."
"Captain--and I can't believe I'm saying this," began Torres, looking troubled, "but I'm afraid that I have to disagree."
"Ah, for crying out loud," exclaimed Paris, "it's like supplying them with phasers, keeping this concavity open! The Verunans have so little time--" "Don't give me your opinions yet," interrupted Janeway. "I want you to have all the facts, just as I have, before we decide. Mr. Kim, please give our away team a recap of that enlightening presentation you gave me and Mr. Tuvok."
His grin threatening to split his face, Kim rose. Mentally, Janeway reminded herself that she needed to have a talk with young Harry about that. Officers needed to have a poker face.
He could take a lesson or two from Tuvok about that. Diplomacy meant not giving everything away in the first five minutes of negotiations.
Though, she mused sadly, it would be a shame to quash that boyish enthusiasm that seemed to be the epitome of Harry Kim. Maybe later.
And maybe, her thoughts taking a darker turn, maybe one of these days he'd have that enthusiasm knocked right out of him. She desperately hoped not.
Kim launched into his presentation vigorously. He'd smoothed out a few things, and Janeway kept her eyes on her officers, watching their faces, their reactions.
Kim showed them where the Akerian system was in relation to the Verunans, summed up the planet's harsh environment and the eventual formation of the Akerian Empire.