Star Trek: The Next Generation - 098 - A Time to Kill by David Mack

Author:David Mack [Mack, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, General, Science Fiction, Media Tie-In, Space Opera, Adventure
ISBN: 9780743491778
Publisher: Star Trek
Published: 2004-01-02T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter 30

Tezwa—Keelee-Kee

IT WAS THE FIRST Gatni war council Bilok had called in more than a decade, and convening it in the middle of the night only made it feel like what everyone present knew it was: a conspiracy.

In addition to himself, Neelo, Dasana, and Elazol, four of the Gatni Party’s senior ministers, had assembled in a remote and neglected research archive, in the Assembly Forum basement.

Itani, the minister of health, was a firebrand; at least once per day she could be trusted to unleash an apocalyptic vocal conflagration on the Assembly floor. In contrast, Edica, the minister of labor, spoke about as much as the granite statues that towered over the main entrance to the Forum—yet she managed to draft more pages of legislation than any other five ministers combined.

Unoro, the minister of justice, was regarded as a master dealmaker—which probably explained why he was the only Gatni other than Bilok who still occupied a senior seat in the Assembly. He’d undoubtedly fared better than Tawnakel, who still fumed over being forced to resign as minister of state; after being third in line of succession, being minister of the arts rankled.

Bilok had personally mentored all four of them, which was the only reason he trusted them enough to invite them here this evening. There was too much at stake to risk a larger gathering, which could easily fall prey to turncoats who would betray Bilok and his political brothers and sisters to Kinchawn’s ruthless Lacaam Coalition.

“Our first priority,” Bilok said in an urgent but hushed voice, “is to get me a new secure line of communication to the Federation. I’ve been informed that Kinchawn has placed a signal intercept on all transmissions from my home and office.”

“Before we do anything,” Unoro said, “we need to know more about your dealings with the Federation.” Most of the other ministers murmured in agreement. Bilok expected they would be quite angry with him, but that couldn’t be helped now.

“What I’m about to tell you must never leave this room,” he said. “The future of our world and the Alpha Quadrant hinges on it.” The other ministers nodded.

“Seven years ago,” he continued, “shortly after Kinchawn rose to power, he made a deal with the Federation. They needed a neutral planet on which to build a massive artillery system. It was designed as a trap for the forces of the Dominion, with whom they were at war. You saw today what those guns can do.

“In exchange for helping them build their secret weapons, Kinchawn and the Lacaam Coalition received material aid meant to improve the standard of living for our people. Instead, Kinchawn sold those goods on the black market, through the Orion Syndicate. The money that he raised then bankrolled the Lacaam’i candidates’ slander campaigns against us—and his new fleet.

“Four years ago, I was contacted by Koll Azernal, the senior advisor to the Federation president. He had come to believe that Kinchawn was unstable, and feared he might strike a bargain with the Dominion—betraying the Federation and its allies if and when they came looking to spring their trap.

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