In the short time I'd spent tidying my hair and changing into a fresh set of duty fatigues, several visitors had arrived. From halfway down the hall I could hear the familiar rumble of Venn's voice:
"... curious as to why Counselor Elydex and I were summoned here. We didn't expect--ah, good afternoon, Commander."
His use of the title was meant to warn me that outsiders were present, but the caution was unnecessary: I had identified the pheromonal signature of one of my visitors seconds before I entered the apartment's conference room.
Ra-ghoratrei stood up and crossed his arms on his breast. "Hello, Commander. I apologize for calling on you at such short notice. I won't detain you any longer than necessary."
"At this meeting, Minister? Or on this planet?" Ignoring Tilendi's reproachful glance, I addressed Elydex. "Hello, Counselor. I'm pleased to see you here."
Somewhere in the depths of her huge black eyes I could read a flicker of emotion. She gave Ra-ghoratrei and Tilendi a long look. "I would have been here sooner, Commander," she said, "had I received any prior notice."
Ra-ghoratrei, who appeared to be in charge of the proceedings, motioned for us to be seated. Like willing students, we all complied--except for Elydex, who stood next to me, her long, spidery fingers resting on the back of my chair.
"I will come directly to the point," Ra-ghoratrei said. "You probably know that the president of the Federation Council recently traveled to Algeron Station, a Regulan colony. What you do not know is that while there he met in closed session with the imperial praetor of the Romulan Empire." He paused, apparently for dramatic effect. When no one spoke, he went on: "Acting upon the advice and with the consent of the Federation Council and the Imperial Romulan Senate, the president and the praetor signed a treaty on behalf of their respective jurisdictions." He withdrew from his portfolio four data disks and handed one to each of us. "The full text of the treaty is reproduced here."
If Elydex had had eyebrows, she probably would have raised them. "A treaty with the Empire?" she said. "The Ministry of Justice knows nothing about this. We weren't asked to review any drafts."
"The president's staff advisors reviewed the document."
"And how was this accomplished so quickly? Even a simple trade agreement can take a year or more to negotiate and ratify."
"Let us say that both sides were motivated to expedite the matter. The disk you're holding contains the final, ratified document. This treaty is in force."
"But the Treaty of Alpha Trianguli has been in effect for more than a Standard century," Venn said, frowning. "Ever since the end of the Wars, when the Neutral Zone was established. It's been amended many times to take account of changing circumstances. Why is there a need for a completely new treaty now?"
"Starfleet's culpability in the Enterprise incident made it imperative that the Federation move decisively to defuse any threat of war with the Romulan Empire. This has nothing to do with the Alpha Trianguli accord. It is aimed solely at righting a specific wrong done to the Empire."
"With respect, Minister," said Elydex, "surely any assessment of Starfleet's culpability is premature. The inquiry into the Enterprise incident has not even begun."
Ra-ghoratrei nodded. "Of course. Nonetheless, we had to be practical. The commissioners' report may not be handed down for some time."
"Agreed," said Tilendi. "We had to move expeditiously. Neither of our governments has any wish to go to war, and public opinion in each of our domains is volatile and divided. It was the praetor's desire, and the president's, to safeguard the peace and see justice served."
"And this new treaty will accomplish both those ends?" said Elydex with the faintest note of skepticism.
"Among other things," said Ra-ghoratrei.
Something in his tone caused a flutter of apprehension in my stomach. As if she'd sensed my unease, Elydex said, "What are the terms of this new treaty?"
Tilendi and Ra-ghoratrei exchanged a quick look. "Only a few articles are relevant to our discussion," said Tilendi. "The most important is this: the United Federation of Planets undertakes not to research, develop, purchase, or construct any form of cloaking technology, and to make no practical or theoretical use of any information it may have obtained from its analysis of the stolen Romulan cloaking device."
"Gods of Remus!" exclaimed Venn, before the rest of us could react. "What must the Empire do in return? Enroll all its firstborn children in Starfleet?"
Tilendi went on as if she hadn't heard him. "The Romulan Star Empire consents to the specified redrawing of the contiguous boundary of the Neutral Zone to ensure that certain Federation outposts, to be named in the annex to the treaty, are thereby relocated farther from the border. In addition, the Empire agrees to release seventeen convicted Federation spies into the custody of Federation Ambassador Thallis."
Venn was quick to ask the question that I was too stunned to articulate. "Let me understand this," he said. "The Federation is willing to give up a potentially invaluable military technology--a technology already perfected by its enemies--in exchange for a few squiggles on a starchart and a handful of operatives so grossly incompetent that they managed to get themselves arrested?"
Ra-ghoratrei's eyes narrowed. "The Federation and the Empire drafted the treaty provisions in good faith, Counselor. Perhaps you would care to suggest an amendment?"
"Not at all, Minister," Venn said, smiling ingratiatingly. "I merely wished to be sure that I understood all the terms."
"Those are the relevant written terms of the treaty," said Ra-ghoratrei.
"But there's something more, isn't there?" I said. "You wouldn't have come here just to tell me about a treaty, no matter how remarkable its terms."
Elydex laid her hand on my shoulder and addressed Ra-ghoratrei: "I too am curious to hear your answer, Minister. Does this treaty affect the commander directly in some way?"
Another look passed between Ra-ghoratrei and Tilendi. "There is a corollary provision to the treaty," said Ra-ghoratrei, "one that has not been and will not be reduced to writing."
"Go on," said Elydex.
"Obviously, the terms of this treaty are heavily weighted in favor of the Romulan Empire. The Council would never have agreed to such an arrangement unless the Federation stood to benefit in equal measure."
Venn, who had been scanning the treaty on his reader, broke in: "Well, if you can tell me how seventeen spies and these wretched outposts can possibly mean as much to the Federation as cloaking technology means to the Empire--"
"Be silent," Tilendi said in a dangerous tone. "Please continue, Minister."
Ra-ghoratrei leaned towards me. Quietly, intimately, as if no one else were present, he said: "In brief, Commander, the treaty--specifically, the Federation's promise to abandon the development and use of any form of cloaking technology--was entered into on the understanding that you will not return to the Romulan Empire."
So, I thought. Here it is at last. I was aware simultaneously of Ra-ghoratrei's heady proximity, Venn's shocked amazement, and Tilendi's utter stillness. My voice sounded, to my own ears at least, extraordinarily calm and detached: "I know about the Federation's political difficulties, Minister, and about Starfleet's. I don't doubt that my continued presence here would solve some of them. But if your treaty depends on me, then I'm afraid it will never come into effect. As soon as I've testified at the inquiry I'll be leaving for Romulus."
Ra-ghoratrei didn't protest or argue; he merely nodded, whether in agreement or in sympathy I couldn't tell. To my surprise, he stood up suddenly: "I'm sure you will want to speak privately with your ambassador and your legal counsel concerning this important choice." He bowed slightly to Tilendi. "You know where to reach me, Ambassador, should you require anything."
"Goodbye, Minister," Tilendi said. "I will be in touch."
As the door closed behind him, I looked over at Tilendi, waiting for her to vent the same anger and incredulity that I felt. "This is madness," I said. "It can't be true. The Federation would never give up what it risked so much to get. And the Empire--gods, Lidiya, the Empire would never willingly turn a Fleet commander over to the Federation! How is there any choice involved here? What is this really about?"
She had no chance to respond; Elydex answered, speaking to
me but looking at Tilendi: "You're right, Commander. This is not
about choices, but about agendas--everyone's agenda except
yours."
* * *
I realized soon enough that I owed McCoy a debt. If he hadn't
let slip those ambiguous comments about propositions and pawns,
thereby giving me an indirect warning of what was to come, I
would certainly have lost the precarious control I'd gained
through my meditation practice. What the Federation had contrived
was enough to shake the composure of Surak himself.
They'll offer you political asylum and try every way
they know to make you accept it. I had scoffed at Uhura's
prediction, but it was clear that she'd been proved right in
substance if not in form: Ra-ghoratrei had simply bypassed any
attempt at persuasion and proceeded directly to blackmail.
But "blackmail" wasn't quite the right word. That Standard
term connoted a threat; instead, Ra-ghoratrei had dangled a
promise. And what a promise it is ...
With Ra-ghoratrei gone, the conference table was evenly
balanced: Elydex and I faced Tilendi and Venn across that smooth
wooden surface as if we had suddenly regrouped into two opposing
sides. I listened with growing disbelief as Tilendi enumerated
matter-of-factly the supposed benefits of the treaty.
"It amounts to a public admission of guilt by the
Federation in the matter of the Enterprise incident," she
said. "The imperial praetor will be lauded for prying such an
unheard-of concession out of the enemy, and the Senate will
astonish the citizens of Romulus with tales of its hard
bargaining and its ultimate triumph over the Council." She looked
at Elydex: "Forgive me, Counselor, but it's clear that this
arrangement will provide political capital to both our
governments. I expect yours will make the most of it too."
Elydex said nothing.
"The Klingons will sleep soundly," Tilendi continued,
"knowing that they will not have to join with us in a war against
the Federation, and that the Organians will thus be kept out of
the picture. They will owe us an enormous and long-term debt for
negotiating a treaty that so unequivocally benefits both our
empires."
"And I'm the one who will pay for all these grand things." I
didn't trouble to keep the bitterness from my voice.
"Come, Aerlyn. When you joined the Fleet you took an oath
to protect the Empire's interests with your life. Surely you
understand that this is nothing less than your sworn duty."
"Surely you understand that a person cannot be used
as a bargaining chip or as consideration for the performance of a
contract," said Elydex.
"I dispute your terminology, Counselor. The commander will
be, in effect, a surety to peace--an honorable tradition in our
people's history." Tilendi turned her attention back to me. "The
Federation wants to ensure beyond doubt that your life will be
spared, Commander. They are obsessed with the idea that you must
not be punished for Starfleet's illegal actions. They believe
that the only way to guarantee your safety is to keep you out of
the hands of the Empire."
Venn, having suddenly remembered that he was supposed to be
acting in my behalf, tore himself away from his reader long
enough to ask, "Why couldn't the Senate simply give an
undertaking that she won't be executed when she goes home?"
"I put that question to Ra-ghoratrei," said Tilendi. "He
believes that the Federation's political problems will be solved
only if she is kept here. Evidently our word of honor is
insufficient." She didn't sound very offended by that. "And then
there is the Starfleet issue, which Counselor Elydex can explain
better than I."
"Starfleet!" I cried. "The only thing Starfleet wants is to
be able to say that it's captured a Romulan officer!"
"There is more to it," said Elydex reluctantly. "This
treaty unequivocally demonstrates the civilian government's
absolute control over Starfleet. The cloaking device was obtained
illegally; it is the fruit of a poisoned tree. The Federation's
refusal to benefit from it will send a strong message to any
other officers who might be considering an unauthorized
adventure."
I looked around the table at each of them, wondering whether
I was trapped in some kind of bizarre collective nightmare: "What
does any of this have to do with me?"
"A good question," said Elydex. "Ambassador, exactly what do
you and Ra-ghoratrei foresee happening to the commander now that
this treaty has been pushed through?"
"She will be offered Federation citizenship. When she
refuses it, as she will, she may be assisted in relocating to
another territory, perhaps one of the nonaligned worlds. But in
no circumstances will she return to the Romulan Empire or any of
its colonies, or otherwise place herself under Romulan
jurisdiction."
I stared at her, horrified. The nightmare was deepening.
"You can't be serious," I said. "My family--"
"Your family and friends are in no danger, and their honor
will not be compromised. The imperial praetor will see to that.
In fact, they will be revered for their sacrifice."
"Does the small matter of consent enter into your scheme
at any point?" Elydex asked politely.
Tilendi replied with an exaggerated air of puzzlement: "The
commander is bound by her oath. Is there any reason why she
should not consent to carry out a lawful order that
endangers no lives and aids the cause of peace?"
No one seemed to have an answer to that question.
* * *
A surety to peace. I could understand why Ra-ghoratrei and
Tilendi didn't want those particular words written down anywhere.
To Romulans, the concept was, as Tilendi had said, an honorable
one: in ancient times, a person might be held by one party to a
conflict as a pledge that promises would be kept by the other
party. But that phrase, so high-sounding in Romulan, would be
shortened to a single Standard word with a far less noble
connotation: hostage. True, I hadn't been taken by force
to an enemy's camp and held for ransom under threat of death; but
I was no more in control of my own destiny than if I had been.
It hadn't been easy to persuade Elydex to leave me alone
with Tilendi; I'd had to assure her that I was fine, quite fine,
and that I would call her at the Reticulan embassy as soon as
possible. Venn, by contrast, had needed no encouragement to
depart. It was obvious to all of us that he wanted nothing more
than a chance to dissect in private, clause by clause, the
provisions of what he was already calling "the Treaty of
Algeron."
"You can't blame him," said Tilendi. "Taris finds it hard
to believe that the Federation would willingly relinquish the
scientific invention of the millennium, as he put it. He's
overwhelmed by it all."
"And he's allowed to be. Whereas I must accept with
no more than a shrug lifelong exile from my home and family."
Tilendi sighed. "You must try to understand."
"I understand that Elydex was right when she said that this
was all about agendas. I think it's about one agenda in
particular. Tell me, Lidiya--what did Sarek say when he
heard of your plan? Was it enough to make him forgive us for
Al-Diraj?"
"Vulcans regard every sentient life as precious beyond
measure," she said without a hint of irony. "Sarek was pleased to
learn that you would not be returning to face capital charges,
and that our government is dealing with the Federation in good
faith."
"Which will help you in your private negotiations, I'm
sure. Who else knows about this unwritten codicil to the treaty?"
"Besides the people who were here today? Sarek, of course,
and Legate Nanclus. The president of the Federation Council and
the commander in chief of Starfleet. The imperial praetor, the
elders of the Senate, your immediate family. A few others on both
sides of the Line, perhaps. Why do you ask?"
"McCoy said there had been rumors. I was curious to know
who might have had a hand in deciding my fate."
"Ra-ghoratrei is a clever and ambitious man, Aerlyn. I would
not be at all surprised to find him sitting in the president's
chair one day. He was the principal architect of this agreement."
"And you knew a good thing when you saw it," I said in
Standard. "Well, at least this explains why you've been so
difficult to get hold of these past weeks."
"My first duty is to the Empire," she said coldly, "just as
yours is. You
should be honored to assist your people in this important way."
I bowed my head, partly in deference and partly to hide
my own anger. Remember to whom you are speaking ... "As
you say, Lidiya. I am honored."
She nodded, apparently satisfied with the reply. "If I were
in your place," she said, "I would look for the advantages in
this arrangement, the compensations."
"I'm afraid I don't see any just now."
"You surprise me, child. I daresay you can think of one or
two if you put your mind to it."
* * *
I spent much of that evening on the commlink with Elydex. But
our conversation revealed nothing new: the consensus was that the
Federation and the Empire were free to negotiate whatever written
terms they wanted in their treaty so long as they did not violate
interstellar law. As to the unwritten term with which I was most
concerned, even Elydex reluctantly agreed that from a Romulan
point of view I was bound by law and military regulations to obey
the legal orders of my superiors. I was still a soldier: if I was
told by my commanding officer to stay away from Romulus, then I
must do so. And since there could be no question of my requesting
asylum voluntarily, I would serve the Empire as it wished.
"No one in the Federation will protest," Elydex said
at one point. "The member worlds abhor capital
punishment as much as they value self-determination--perhaps
more, in your case. Or so Ra-ghoratrei hopes."
"I'm sure Ra-ghoratrei must have been advised by Vulcans," I
said. "That's just the kind of thing they'd approve of. The
preservation of a life at the expense of everything that makes
that life worth living, such as home and family and friends."
"It comes down to a question of trust. The Federation,
for all its evident willingness to appease the Empire, simply
doesn't trust your government. Ra-ghoratrei believes that if you
are sent home, you will be executed, no matter what promises are
made. It's as simple as that."
"But he trusts me? How can he be sure I won't catch
the first freighter out to the Orion Congeries and never look
back? This arrangement isn't documented anywhere, after all."
"It's often easier to place one's faith in an
individual than in a people. Ra-ghoratrei has satisified himself
as to your trustworthiness."
"How? He doesn't even know me."
"I told you once before that you were not lacking for
advocates, Commander. Perhaps he obtained some character
references."
© 1996, 1999 Kathleen Dailey. All rights reserved.