Spock turned to address Riker. “Colonel Xiomek tells me that your convoy appears to consist of four Starfleet vessels, accompanied by three heavily armed Klingon warships.”
“That’s correct,” Riker said.
“And Titanis one of Starfleet’s twelve new Luna-class vessels, is she not?”
“Right again, Mr. Ambassador.” Riker wondered how the ambassador was able to stay so up to date on such relatively recent developments within Starfleet. Of course, he could have learned a great deal about the Luna-class starships being developed at Utopia Planitia during his most recent visit to Earth two years earlier.
“Which means,” Spock continued, “that Titanis hardly unarmed herself.”
Riker’s brow crumpled involuntarily into a frown. “If you’re aware of the Lunaprogram, then you know that its purpose isn’t to wage war.”
“I understand, Captain. Just as I understand that good intentions are necessary but insufficient requirements for success here.”
“The Federation cannot simply stand by and do nothing,Mr. Ambassador,” Akaar said. “Nor can the Klingon Empire, for that matter. You know as well as I do that billions of deaths could result from the sudden collapse of the Romulan Empire, and the accompanying unconstrained spread of its weapons technologies across two quadrants.”
Spock’s eyes narrowed. “I have never been more keenly aware of anything in my life, Admiral. This is a proud but gravely wounded empire. One that is arguably more susceptible to provocation now than at any other time since the Vulcan and Romulan peoples became sundered from one other. And both Romulus and Remus are all but certain to experience a mutual bloodbath unless they fundamentally reorient their social priorities.”
“And you offer a cultural reunification with Vulcan as the solution to the Empire’s woes,” Akaar said.
“Given the Empire’s current vulnerabilities, Unification—tempering the Empire’s ingrained violence with the discipline of Vulcan logic—could well be the last viable chance for peace. It may be the only way to guarantee a secure future for both the Romulan and Reman peoples.” He paused before adding, “And it may bring Vulcan a step closer to becoming truly whole.”
Riker couldn’t help but admire Spock’s idealism. But he also had the real world to consider, as well as the immediate future. “You could be right, Mr. Ambassador. History might even prove that someday. But we don’t have the luxury of hindsight right now. We have to worry first about the short-term survival of billions of people. Unification is just too long-term a goal and too lengthy a process to provide the kind of immediate stability the Romulan Empire needs in the here and now.”
Spock nodded somberly. “Your analysis may indeed prove to be the correct one, Captain. Nevertheless, I must caution you: Romulus and Remus are both caught in the grip of fear, one of the more incendiary of the emotions. The presence of a heavily armed outworld contingent such as this convoy could well ignite that fear—thereby bringing about the very societal collapse we all seek to prevent. Imagine for a moment how the Klingons would have reacted to such an intrusion after the Praxis explosion nearly laid waste to Qo’noS.”
“But we’re not ‘intruding,’ Mr. Ambassador,” Deanna pointed out. “The Romulan praetor has requestedour presence here.”
“Tal’Aura,” Spock said, “is a praetor whose authority is opposed by a strong plurality, if not a clear majority, of the Empire’s citizenry. Supporting her is a dangerous gamble.”
“We’re not supporting anyparticular faction here,” Riker said, feeling a surge of pique rising and doing his best to squash it back down. “Our goal is to help them all hammer out a mutually acceptable power-sharing arrangement.”
“The Remans have yet to be included in any such discussions,” Spock pointed out. “Therefore they might be forgiven for doubting your goodwill. And perhaps that of the Federation Council itself.”
Riker felt his own frustration continuing to rise. “We’re trying to include everyonein the power-sharing talks, Mr. Ambassador.”
“That is wise, Captain,” Spock said. “Please allow me to assist you by returning to the Remans. Unless, of course, your intention is to arrest me for having failed to respond more promptly to the council’s diplomatic recall order.”
Riker leaned forward, meeting Spock’s gaze squarely. “Mr. Ambassador, my intention has always been to rescueyou. And then to ask you to return the favor by helping me accomplish a damned difficult peace mission. However, your fate isn’t entirely up to me.” His questioning gaze lit upon Akaar.
“Conducting unauthorized interstellar policy on behalf of either the Federation or a Federation member world is a serious offense,” Akaar said. “Especially after the council has issued a formal order of diplomatic recall.”
“Indeed,” Spock said. “However, I have…resisted such orders before without suffering any serious consequences.”
“That was before Shinzon changed everything,” Akaar said. “Certain members of the council are nervous enough to wish to see you in irons, Mr. Ambassador. However loudly Councillor Enaren may sing your praises, both Gleer and zh’Faila continue to characterize your activities as unacceptably dangerous under the current circumstances. Even T’Latrek of Vulcan voted in favor of the recall order.”
“I am not surprised,” Spock said. “Fear exists in abundance on bothsides of the Neutral Zone. And fear trumps logic all too often.”
“It’s too bad the council has no way of knowing for certain whether or not you ever actually receivedthe recall order, Mr. Ambassador,” Riker said, allowing a slight smile to tug at his lips.
“A logical assessment, Captain,” Spock said, then turned to face Akaar. “Am I under arrest, Admiral?”
Akaar mirrored Riker’s smile. “I doubt I could trust myself to carry out such an order, Starfleet discipline notwithstanding. I have not forgotten that you and my namesakes saved my life, and that of Eleen who bore me, more than a century ago.”
“Then allow me to return to my Reman negotiating partners now,” Spock said. “Before they overreact to my sudden departure by—”
An almost shrill voice from Riker’s combadge interrupted the ambassador. “Ensign Lavena to Captain Riker.”
Riker tapped the device on his chest. “Go ahead, Ensign.”
“The new sensor nets have just picked up a whole fleet of incoming warships, Captain. Several dozen strong. They’re entering orbit around Romulus. And they’re loaded for bear.”
“More Romulan military vessels?” Riker asked, rising from his chair.
“Yes, sir. But Jaza’s scans say they’re crewed byRemans .”
Chapter Twenty
U.S.S. TITAN
M aybe Spock was right after all,Riker thought as he left his ready room just ahead of Deanna, Akaar, Spock, and Tuvok; he bounded through the doors and toward the center of Titan’s bridge as the others hastened to follow.
Christine Vale—her short hair still somewhat disheveled after the raid on Vikr’l Prison—was already relinquishing the central command chair, moving toward the seat located on its immediate right. But she remained standing, her small frame fairly vibrating with tension.
“Red alert! Shields up!” Riker shouted as he seated himself in the command chair while Deanna took the seat at his immediate left. “Hail the lead ship, Mr. Keru.”