Star Trek by Dayton Ward & Kevin Dilmore

Author:Dayton Ward & Kevin Dilmore
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pocket Books/Star Trek

CHAPTER

6

“And considering the length of time the people of Elysia have been together and in light of the very real society they’ve formed here, they should be allowed to decide for themselves whether they leave, and their wishes should supersede those of any outside influence, be it ours or anyone else’s.”

Okagawa halted his dictation, reaching up to rub his tired eyes. “Computer, pause recording.”

Seated in the only other chair flanking the small desk in the captain’s quarters, Commander zh’Rhun regarded Okagawa with an expression of worry. “Are you all right, sir?”

The captain shook his head. “I’m fine. I just want to make sure I get the wording of this right. Diplomacy has never been my strong suit, but it takes on a different level of complexity when you can’t even rely on real-time responses to your questions or concerns.”

Leaning against the wall of Okagawa’s quarters with his arms folded across his chest, al-Khaled nodded in sympathetic agreement. A subspace message transmitted from their current location would take nearly three weeks to reach Starfleet Command, leaving the captain in the unenviable position of having to anticipate wishes and decisions that might not be conveyed to him for more than a month while continuing to deal with the fluid and chaotic situation unfolding right in front of him.

“If Starfleet agrees with your line of thinking,” zh’Rhun said, “and the Gorn really do intend to stay in Elysia, then it would be equivalent to their being granted asylum.”

Okagawa reached for the cup of coffee near his right hand and took a sip before replying, “I’m no lawyer, but it seems to me that there’d be some kind of precedent for what I’m proposing. A colony that’s declared independence from its homeworld . . . something.” Shrugging, he added, “I’m sure there’s a legal expert or diplomat who can find some way to justify it and back us up, but saying they support our position and their being able to help us defend it are two different things entirely.”

“Somehow I don’t think the Gorn are going to side with our lawyers or politicians,” al-Khaled said, shaking his head. Despite the Gorn captain’s agreement to allow Okagawa a chance to consult with his superiors, the engineer knew that the situation here, already tense, would likely continue to deteriorate.

“Agreed,” Okagawa replied, “which is why I’ve already dispatched a call for any Starfleet ships in the area to get here as quickly as possible. Ensign Pzial tells me that the Lexington is already en route, but Commodore Wesley says he can’t get here in less than eighty hours even at his ship’s maximum speed.” He released a tired sigh. “For better or worse, we’re on our own until then.”

Though no one in the room said anything further, al-Khaled figured that the thoughts running through his own mind were not all that different from those preoccupying his captain and Commander zh’Rhun. The Lovell and the T’Saura were not ships of the line, possessing only minimum armaments and defensive systems.

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