Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Romulan Stratagem by Robert Greenberger

Author:Robert Greenberger
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Science Fiction, Star Trek, Fiction
ISBN: 9780671879976
Publisher: Pocket Books
Published: 1995-01-02T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

PICARD SAT ALONE in his ready room, reviewing the purification plant reports on his desktop screen. Slowly he reviewed the sensor scans that distinctly showed a human being near where the bomb went off. His cup of tea had grown cold and ignored as the captain concentrated on this new turn of affairs. He considered that this would be a major obstacle in convincing the Elohsians that the Federation was a good partner, a better one than the Romulans. To date the Romulans had offered presents and behaved themselves. No doubt this would influence members of the parliament, who seemed easily swayed. Picard had earlier convinced himself that these politicians were all relatively new to their tasks, most of them having been soldiers of some sort just a few short years previously. Politics was a different kind of war to wage and not everyone seemed equally equipped to handle the new responsibilities.

Picard turned away from those meandering thoughts and returned his attention to the report on the explosive itself. It was a concussive bomb, placed well enough to cause the maximum amount of damage without totally destroying the plant. He was pondering the implications of the location and the importance of the plant when his door chimed.

He beckoned the caller to come in and was greeted by Riker, Data, Troi, and Worf. All looked solemn, concerned over the fate of their colleague and the blow this dealt to their diplomatic mission. With a gesture, Picard invited his colleagues to take their seats. Worf and Data chose to stand, and Picard snapped off the viewer and turned his attention to his officers.

“Have you found anything that can help Geordi?” Picard asked.

“Unfortunately, their sensors monitor the complex rather thoroughly,” Data noted. “Seventeen minutes before the explosion, Geordi was by the key juncture.”

“Captain, have they determined the size of the bomb required to cause that much destruction?”

“Not yet, Mr. Worf.”

“Commander La Forge was carrying only his tricorder; surely they will see that he could not have carried anything resembling a bomb.”

Picard gave his security chief a tight-lipped smile. “A good point, Lieutenant. But we must await their report and see if we need to make such an argument.”

“How is Daithin taking all this?” Troi asked, crossing her legs.

“He’s very concerned, Counselor. Both he and Larkin seemed genuinely shocked by the news. It seems that since the unity, there has not been a single recorded act of terrorism. Therefore, he has asked that both Romulan and Federation personnel remain aboard their ships until this is sorted out.”

“A wise move,” Riker noted. “Do you think this will cost us Eloh?”

“It’s too early to tell, Number One. We’re awaiting a revised itinerary from Larkin, and we’ll see if that weakens our ability to present a clear case. When we can prove Mr. La Forge is innocent, then it falls to someone to find the true culprit. When we learn who that is, then I can better gauge how this will end.”

“What if your culprit is not found?” Troi voiced their worst fears.

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