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By Root 571 0

blazing look on Hara’el’s father. “Haven’t you been listening to Mr. Data’s report, to this young woman’s testimony? How can you approve of what these people have done? How can you willingly admit them to the Skerrian union? Your own Ambassador Lelys would neverre” “What Ambassador Lelys would and would not do concerning Ne’elat no longer matters at all.” Valdor cut him off coldly. “I have been listening, Captain Picard. Have you? Your own man reports that Ambassador Lelys has undergone a sudden and complete behavioral change. In plain terms, she has lost her mind, become-incompetent to carry out her official duties.” “I beg your pardon, Legate Valdor,” Mr. Data spoke up. “To the best of my knowledge, Ambassador Lelys’s condition is not permanent and was brought about by the Ashkaarians’—” “Impossible.” Valdor folded his arms. “The honorable leader of the Masra’et himself has just said that the Ashkaarians are mere barbarians. How could they even dream of exerting mind control over our ambassador?” “You have the testimony of a Starfleet officer,” Picard said.

“I prefer the opinion of one of my own lost brothers,” Valdor replied. He reached into his tunic and took out a small device which he placed on the table and covered with his palm. “I hereby record on behalf of the Orakisan mission that Ambassador Lelys having become mentally unfit, as witnessed by Commander Data of the Enterprise, she is to be declared incompetent and her vote in any subsequent ambassadorial decisions to be rendered null and void. The requisite vote of three will be therefore reduced to a vote of two, according to emergency procedures. In approval of which I and our junior representative in the field, Hara’el, do here give ourre” A younger hand slammed down atop the recording device. Hara’el’s voice shook only slightly as he said, “I give nothing.” “Do you dare?” Valdor’s thundered out, filling the conference room. “Do you dare to defy me?” By reflex, Hara’el quailed and looked away. As he averted his eyes from his father’s outraged stare, the younger Orakisan glanced toward the head of the table. Picard caught his eye. Very subtly the captain of the Enterprise turned one hand palm upwards on the table and with the other mimed the plucking of a flower’s shadow.

Hara’el’s spine stiffened. He looked his father in the eye and decreed, “If you make this statement part of our official record for this mission, I swear that I will use my vote to block any decision of yours, first of all this move to disenfranchise Ambassador Lelys. I say that we must see her condition for ourselves.” “And how will we do that?” aldor snapped.

“That will be our job,” Captain Picard said, rising to his feet. “Gentlemen of the Masra’et, if you will follow Mr. La Forge to the transporter room, you will be returned to your own world as soon as—” “Not so fast, Captain Picard.” Udar Kishrit, too, was on his feet. “My people and I have some unfinished business to discuss with Legate Valdor. That is, if you do not propose to interfere?” He raised one eyebrow in a manner intended to provoke.

Picard did not react to the taunt. “Naturally you are welcome to remain aboard the Enterprise, Udar Kishrit. In fact, I would prefer it if you did. When we recover Ambassador Lelys, perhaps her testimony will help you change your mind about Ne’elat’s continued role in Ashkaarian life.” “If it pleases you to think so.” Udar Kishrit inclined his head slightly, then he and the rest of the Masra’et accompanied Legate Valdor from the room, Hara’el trailing reluctantly after.

As soon as they had gone, Picard swung into action.

“Mr. Data, you will head the rescue mission to Ashkaar. You are familiar with the territory and you seem to be proof against their mental powers.” “Indeed, sir,” the android agreed. “I believe that they found my resistance to be most disconcerting.

Shall I select the rest of the mission personnel?” Before Picard could give his approval, Ma’adrys spoke up. “My lord Captain Picard, let me go with him.” “Young woman, that must be out of the question,” Picard said gently. “This