The Sky's the Limit - Marco Palmieri [94]
Teku’s face creased in concern. “With respect, sir, you will not be simply deported and left to fend for yourselves. Once you arrive at Starbase 310, you will be given the opportunity to resettle on any one of a thousand worlds all across the quadrant.”
Anthwara spread his hands. “This is our home, miss,” he told her. “What my grandson-in-law says is what every one of us will say.” The elder looked at Jellico. “I apologize for your wasted journey, Captain.”
In turn, Jellico shot Wesley a poisonous glare, as if the whole turn of the proceedings were his fault. “Crusher,” he began, “these people have lived here all their lives, and maybe they don’t know the score. But you? You’ve traveled, out on the fringe worlds. You’ve seen Cardassians and what they’re capable of.” He took a step closer. “Explain the difference between us and them to your friends here. Tell them how Cardassia Prime won’t beam down representatives to talk but will just wipe this township off the map with a disruptor barrage from orbit.”
“If they come, we will reason with them,” said Anthwara.
Jellico ignored him, fixing Wes with a hard eye. “Two days. This colony will be evacuated within two days. This isn’t some negotiation. It’s a fact.”
“The treaty terms allow for no flexibility,” said Teku. “After the assassination of Ambassador Spock and the fallout from the Klingon Civil War, the Federation cannot afford any incident that might disrupt the tenuous stability we have with the Cardassian Union. There is no alternative.”
Wesley met the older man’s gaze and did not flinch from it. “Go home, Jellico,” he told him after a moment. “Starfleet’s not wanted here.”
The captain of the Enterprise stepped away and nodded to his subordinates. “Two days,” he repeated, then tapped his combadge. “This is the captain. Bring us back.”
Wes watched the look on his mother’s face as she faded away into the grip of the transporter beam, her sadness and concern melting into the morning air.
He felt Lakanta’s hand on his shoulder. “Thank you, my friend.”
“For what?” Crusher said bitterly. “Everything he said was right. The Cardassians will come, and they’ll arrive with guns first and questions later.” A heavy weight settled on him, and with old regret he realized the sensation was unpleasantly familiar.
“Perhaps we should consider their offer in more detail,” said Sinta. “Put it to the community, let the tribe take a vote upon it.”
“Anyone who wants to go can go!” snapped Otakay. “They’ll find themselves in the minority! Our forefathers were forced from their lands by the hands of men who cared nothing for their tribes and their culture…. Have we come so far and done so much on this world to let that happen all over again?”
“Kin,” Anthwara said, “this is not an excuse to fight battles of the past. We must take the path that we know to be the true one, and keep to it. This man Jellico, he will see that we will not be swayed, and he will go on his way with his starship.”
“And when the Cardassians come?” said Sinta. “What then?”
“We’ll answer them with the same voice.” Anthwara approached him. “Wesley. The woman, your mother?”
He nodded.
“The distance between you is great. If you wish to, none of us would think ill of you to visit her on the starship.”
Wes found himself shaking his head. “That won’t be necessary.” He began to walk away.
“Where are you going?” Otakay demanded.
“To be with my wife,” he replied and left the square behind him.
He did not see Lakanta watch him go, measuring the desolation in his manner.
In the evening, Mika went to the porch and adjusted the gain on the telescope rig as it turned gently on automatic servos, plotting the star positions and correlating them with the data matrix in the house