Star Trek: Destiny: Mere Mortals by David Mack

Author:David Mack
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Star Trek, Fiction
ISBN: 1416551727
Publisher: Pocket Books
Published: 2008-01-02T08:00:00+00:00

"Rhys," said Bowers, "I think this is one of those times we should just be glad we didn't find out the hard way."

11

"According to the Breen domo," said Esperanza Piniero, "our compulsory summit is an insult to his people's sovereignty, and the Tholian Ruling Conclave is calling it a war crime."

President Bacco faced away from her chief of staff, reclined her chair, and regarded the dreary, gray morning outside her office window. Thick fog and a misting rain had settled upon Paris. "What did the Gorn Imperator say?"

"Only part of it translated," Piniero said. "The gist was that Zogozin might try to eat you, or a member of the cabinet."

"Let's hope I get to choose," Bacco replied, turning her chair away from the urban vista of spray and sprawl.

The door to her office opened. An aide entered to collect from a side table the tray on which Bacco's breakfast of French toast, strawberries, and coffee had been served. As he gathered the linens and cutlery and glasses, under the watchful eye of protection agent Alan Kistler, Bacco continued her conversation with Piniero. "Zogozin makes a fuss in front of the others, but I think I made some progress with him last night. If we can get him to talk in private, we might sway him."

"Sounds like a long shot," Piniero said.

"So is a counteroffensive against the Borg."

Tray in hand, the aide exited Bacco's office through the north door. Agent Kistler secured the portal behind the man.

Piniero checked her data padd. "If you've got such a warm-fuzzy for Zogozin, why is your first one-to-one with Garak?"

"Because he's the one I least want to talk to," Bacco confessed. "Plus, if I can win over the Cardassians, we'll have a better chance with the Gorn-and it'll cow the Tholians and the Breen, so we won't have to watch our backs so much."

A doubtful expression sent Piniero's eyebrows climbing toward her hairline. "On the other hand, if Garak leaves us high and dry, there's a good chance the Breen and the Tholians will be annexing our border systems by dinnertime."

"Thanks for the pep talk," Bacco said with a dour grimace. "I knew I could count on you to bolster my confidence." She pressed the intercom switch to her executive assistant. "Sivak, we're ready for Ambassador Garak."

The droll old Vulcan replied, "So soon, Madam President? His Excellency has been waiting less than an hour."

Bacco's fists curled shut. "Now, Sivak."

"The ambassador is on his way in, Madam President."

In the anticipation-filled moment before one of the doors opened again, Bacco straightened her posture and pulled her chair up closer to her desk. She folded her hands in front of her as loosely as she could, in an effort to appear calm and statesmanlike. Images and impressions were critical in politics, and she expected to call upon all her years of experience in order not to be outmaneuvered by the wiles of Elim Garak.

The south door opened, and Garak was ushered in by another of Bacco's protection agents, a tall Andorian chan whose face looked as if it had been chiseled by wind from a slab of blue ice.

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