Tooth and Claw - Doranna Durgin [3]
that I will be dealing with on the kaphoora. I see no reason to involve these others.”
“These others are valued members of my crew.” Pi card stood by the flat, amazingly detailed wall image of the arborata, and spoke with quiet assurance, unmoved and unaffected by Akarr’s formal dominance posture. His father would be pleased; this human would be worth dealing with.
“Commander,” said the big one, the near-human with the interesting face and the low, growly voice not so unlike a Tsoran male’s, “permission to—”
“That won’t be necessary,” Commander Riker said, calm despite his interruption.
“Very well,” the big one said, but he gave Akarr a meaningful look. Akarr blinked without thinking about it, a subtle offer of subservience. No matter. The big one would not know; none of them would know.
Akarr advanced to the table, disdaining their chairs. “The ReynTa has advised you of our requirements. I only wish to confirm them.”
“On this ship,” Captain Picard said, “we follow certain procedures. In this case, we are discussing your requirements among the officers who will be most affected by them. You’re welcome to stay while we complete our discussion, at which time we’d be grateful for your comments.”
The golden-skinned being gestured at an empty chair and said, “Would you like to be seated?”
Akarr hesitated. He wasn’t sure how these humans would view a choice to sit, especially not since the captain and his favored officer were both standing. As if reading his mind, Picard sat, crossing his legs in a move that Akarr could not hope to duplicate, but which looked casual enough. Riker, after a brief hesitation, also sat.
Akarr discreetly rearranged his stiff formal vest and followed suit, displeased to discover that his feet barely touched the floor.
“Since the ReynTa is here, we’ll forgo discussion about the Ntignano situation and concentrate on the kaphoora arrangements,” Picard said. “ReynTa Atann has requested that we transport the ReynTa and his private security to the planet Fandre, along with an accompanying honor guard from the Enterprise. Mr. Worf, that will include you and six of your most appropriate personnel. The ReynTa has also requested that we provide assistance in solving a problem with the Fandrean force field that encloses the preserve, and which keeps the civilian population safe.” He glanced at Akarr. “We, of course, are glad to do so. Mr. La Forge, acquaint yourself with the force field specifications and prepare to join the away team.”
The smaller, darker human with the strange facial assembly stiffened—in chagrined surprise, Akarr would have said, had he known the species better.
“I was thinking I’d deal with graviton mapping issues,” the human said. Mr. La Forge. “Barclay’s got a good feel for field diagnostics—”
“You think this is not worth your time?” Akarr said, staring hard at La Forge despite the disconcerting realization that he couldn’t tell when he was looking the human in the eye.
“No, that’s not what I meant at all,” La Forge said, somewhat hastily, and looked to Picard.
Pathetic.
Picard gave a simple shake of his head. “Ambassador Jesson, who has made the arrangements and forwarded the force field details, informs me that the fields, while in some ways technologically more basic than our own, are formed from complex interlocking frequencies;
they’re also combined with a technology damper of some sort. With the safety of the Fandreans at stake, I think it’s best that you handle this situation.”
“Yes, sir,” La Forge said, and Akarr had to give him that much; he was as obedient as his lower rank dictated he should be. He liked Picard’s confidence in the man, as well.
If the force field on Fandre failed, the beasts—freed from their huge preserve—would