Unification - Jeri Taylor [80]
“I am Commander William Riker of the Federation starship Enterprise. Identify yourself.”
The viewscreen flickered and then the image of a smiling Romulan captain appeared. “Commander, I am Danut of Romulus. We are a peace envoy, on our way to Vulcan. Our mission is an historic one. We welcome your congratulations.”
Amazing. Riker never ceased to be astonished the way some people can look you straight in the eye, smile at you, and lie. “I assume you’re hoping we didn’t hear Ambassador Spock’s message, sir. Unfortunately, we know you are an invasion force. You are occupying stolen Vulcan vessels, which we must retrieve. Please set a course for Starbase 314. We are prepared to tow you with a tractor beam if you do not comply.”
The smile froze on Danut’s face. “You are mistaken. Ambassador Spock’s message was an announcement of the impending reunification talks between Romulus and Vulcan. You have no legitimate grounds to interfere, Commander. I suggest you fall back.”
“We will be within tractor range in three minutes. Change course now or suffer the consequences.”
Danut’s face flushed darkly, and his fury crackled over the viewscreen. “We are armed, Commander. We will not hesitate to fire in order to preserve this historic mission.”
“You are no match for the Enterprise and you know it,” snapped Riker. “Now change course, bearing two-one-seven, mark zero-zero-seven.”
Suddenly Riker saw a Romulan aide hurry to Danut’s side and whisper something to him. At about the same time, Worf announced, “Vulcan defense vessels are also responding.”
So Spock’s announcement had reached his home planet, and ships were rushing to prevent the Romulan force from invading their planet. Riker watched as Danut’s visage grew dark and glowering. “We have no further business, Commander,” he said, and the viewscreen returned to a starfield.
“Sir,” said Worf, “the Romutan force is retreating toward the Neutral Zone.”
“Oh, no,” said Riker. “They’re not taking those Vulcan ships home with them.” He realized he felt downright proprietary about those Vulcan ships. Those were his Vulcan ships. He’d invested himself in them—well, one—and now he wasn’t going to see some arrogant Romulan take them back across the Neutral Zone.
“Change course. Pursue the Vulcan ships.”
“Sir, they have gone to warp eight. They will be within the Neutral Zone in minutes.”
“Acknowledged, Mister Word Warp nine. Proceed.”
Riker saw Worf and Geordi exchange looks, and knew they were thinking that he was playing it close to the edge. Well, so be it. He wasn’t going to let go now, after all this. He was willing to risk an unauthorized entry into the Neutral Zone in order to apprehend the Romulan force and reclaim the ships that he was sure had been stolen from Federation depots. He had come too far to quit now.
Picard would have admitted that he was nervous about making this next maneuver work. But he had no better alternatives to offer, and so he agreed they had to take this chance if they were to get out of Sela’s office and escape the Irnilt. The greatest source of his apprehension was that they could not carry disruptors. They would be un-armed, and consequently dependent on the cleverness of their scheme. There was no contingency plan; either this worked or they would be easily recaptured.
And so he stood with Spock and Data as two security guards entered the room and Sela rose to greet them. She gestured toward her prisoners disdainfully. “These fools are unwilling to talk. Take them to the underground tunnel in the east wing. Turn them over to Semeth. He may be more persuasive.”
The guards nodded obediently and gestured Spock, Picard, and Data toward the door. Sela’s men carried disruptors at their sides but did not draw them. Picard was sure they felt confident that there was little the prisoners could do within the well-guarded confines of the Irnilt.
And so the small band proceeded out of Sela’s office and into the marble halls of the magnificent edifice. Remembering the oppressive streets at