The Lethean folded his arms across his chest. He stood there, facing the High Council, his red eyes smouldering. "I have no name of my own, when I stand here and speak for Lethea. And it is Lethea as a whole that requires answers relating to our colony at 54 Eridani VI."
"Your illicit colony," Dillan snapped.
"We do not require the High Council's permission to exploit an uninhabited world outside Klingon space. Unless our relationship with the Empire has significantly changed? - in which case, we should surely have been informed."
There was a grumbling, hostile sound from the massed Councillors. At the centre of the Council dais, J'mpok made no sound, no movement.
"Contact was lost with our people," the Lethean continued, "and no information is forthcoming. The High Council has placed an embargo around the 54 Eridani system, and our ships are intercepted and turned away. I have come here, on behalf of my people, to request answers. The High Council has always dealt honourably with the Lethean people - before now, at least."
More hostile grumbling. "The embargo is necessary," Dillan said. "The human population on the neighbouring world is a potential source of conflict with the Federation! And, when we consider the other issues -"
"What other issues?" the Lethean demanded.
"The intrusion of the Chancellor's rogue agents." It was T'Khal who spoke, now. J'mpok's heavy-lidded eyes turned towards him, but the Chancellor remained silent.
"Whatever they were doing in that system, it poses more dangers to our alliance with the Federation," said Dillan. "An alliance in whose favour the Chancellor has, previously, argued strongly. The Council is acting to contain the situation, nothing more."
"Until it becomes clear," said T'Khal. "Should we appeal to the Chancellor for clarity?"
J'mpok stirred. "I have little to spare," he growled. "If my agents were brought before me, they would explain themselves... but, thus far, the Council's operatives have been unable to accomplish this, no?"
"No small number have died trying," snapped Dillan. "Perhaps the Chancellor should choose his agents more wisely in future!" There was a mumbling from the rest of the Council - uncertain, but possibly approving.
"Perhaps we should all choose our agents more wisely," said J'mpok, "and refrain from setting them at odds with each other... if we desire clarity."
"The Chancellor and the High Council may desire clarity," the Lethean said. "We, however, merely desire answers. The last message from 54 Eridani spoke of some kind of emergency - since then, we have heard nothing. Our government, and the families of the colonists, are naturally concerned."
"Your people should not have settled in that system at all!" Dillan shouted. "The consequences are on their own heads!"
"What are the consequences?" the Lethean demanded.
"The High Council does not answer to you!" Dillan snarled.
"Why not?" the Lethean countered. "What possible reason could the Council have for withholding information? The Lethean people are allies of the Empire. And the Empire has always respected the ties of loyalty, of family -"
"Do you criticise us now?" Dillan demanded.
The Lethean stood there silent for a few seconds, his blazing eyes fixed on Dillan. Then, "It seems I must," he said, and turned on his heel, and stalked out of the Great Hall.
---
"That was not good," S'taass observed, later, in J'mpok's private office.
"There was a very peculiar atmosphere in that meeting," said Melani D'ian.
J'mpok had been sitting at his desk, his head hanging. Now, he sat up, and glowered at the other two. "Peculiar," he said, "yes."
"Why is the High Council being so obdurate?" S'taass asked. "A simple statement would answer the Letheans' requests... why not give one? Whatever the facts, giving them would be preferable to these... stalling tactics."
"It almost seems," said D'ian, "as though someone is anxious to provoke an open breach with the Letheans."
S'taass shifted his huge bulk. "That would be... somewhat of a problem," he said. "The Letheans are a minor power, true, but there are commitments, treaties, with the Gorn Hegemony - a rift with Lethea would weaken King Slathis, would perhaps allow openings for the separatists to gain influence -"
"The Syndicate also has agreements with the Letheans," D'ian observed. "True, our arrangements are flexible, but they can only flex so far before they snap. A serious breach with the Letheans is... something to be avoided."
"But elements on the High Council are positively courting such a breach," said S'taass. "Why?"
"To weaken our alliances," growled J'mpok. "To weaken me."
D'ian's eyes glittered. "You suspect an incipient coup?"
"Suspect?" J'mpok laughed, a harsh, humourless bark. "We are half way there already. First they engineer a disruption, then they propose a solution..." He raised his head. "After so many years, I know the Great Hall, I feel its temper, its undercurrents. I can feel the treason gathering...."
D'ian raised one exquisite eyebrow. "Would you care to share your insights?"
J'mpok scowled. "It is a matter of... the sounds, the looks. I caught shared glances among several of the Councillors... I have seen such things in many a conspiracy before. The moment of shared recognition, the glance that says "ah, you are one of us too, are you?'.... It has implications. Whatever this is, it has been long in planning. T'Khal and Dillan -"
"They are highly vocal," said S'taass.
"They are fronts. The humans have a term, stalking horse. T'Khal and Dillan are the tools, another's hand wields them. That person, I believe, is Thrang's main ally on the High Council. Or am I wrong, do you think, to see Kalevar Thrang behind all of this?"
"Thrang has certainly been active. And his ambitions are grandiose," said D'ian.
"But I still do not see, quite, how he proposes to realize them," growled J'mpok.
"Your agents?" asked S'taass.
"They are active. I know this much."
"General Shalo seems... reasonably capable. Though somewhat rigid in her outlook." D'ian sniffed.
"She and her companions are competent enough. But they will need to be." J'mpok shook his head. "With the High Council's proscription hanging over them - if they return here, it must be with all the answers, or they will be executed. They have one chance. One only."
No comments:
Post a Comment