"The situation is, I grant you, an unusual one," Silit said. He looked around him, at the tastefully furnished reception room, at the various guests of the Hegemony of Bresar - and the members of the Hegemony itself. The tall Romulan, Valikra, was the centre of a tight little group of people; Silit could not see her Vulcan counterpart Stiak. He tried to sidle unobtrusively around a smoothly curving piece of abstract sculpture, but the human followed him.
"I mean," St. Charles continued, "these people are, well, what are they doing, exactly? Trying to set up an alternative government? I mean, why does your government even stand for it? Why doesn't your Council do something, eh?"
"Possibly because freedom of association is guaranteed in our planetary constitution," said Silit.
"Freedom of association is one thing," said St. Charles, "but sedition, now, that is quite another."
"But no sedition is contemplated," said Silit. He felt obscurely annoyed at having to defend the Hegemony people to this human nincompoop. "The Hegemon of Vulcan is merely the leader of a social group. If there is any intention on the part of this group to change the government or the policies of Vulcan, that change will no doubt be effected by appropriate constitutional methods."
"The Hegemon of Romulus is effecting change with massive war fleets!"
"In the troubled situation in the Romulan state, that, I suppose, is an appropriate constitutional method. Here, such methods are not required. You have, have you not, political parties and associations on Earth?"
"We have, we have." The human smiled. "Though they don't quite give themselves such airs as the Hegemon does."
"The title is grandiose," said Silit, "but Stiak himself has no affectations. To some extent, this reinforces his position in Vulcan public opinion. It is clear that he does not act from motives of personal ambition."
"Ah, well," said St. Charles, "you'd know more about Vulcan motivations than I do, of course."
"Inevitably so." The human was very dull, Silit thought.
"Still - what do the actual office-holders think of these titles Stiak is passing around like party favours?"
"In many cases," said a new voice, "the actual office-holders and the titular ones under the Hegemony are the same people."
Silit turned. Stiak's partner T'Nir had come up unnoticed beside them. She looked composed and elegant in a simple blue robe, and her voice was mild and reasonable in tone.
"Ah," said St. Charles, "the - the Hegemon-ess? Hegemona? What is the appropriate title, anyway?"
"I am T'Nir. The Hegemony of Bresar recognizes the disadvantages of nepotism. I hold no rank within the Hegemony, since any such appointment would be open to misinterpretation." She smiled gravely. "Still, I am sure you understand that I support my husband as best I can."
"That is logical," said Silit.
"Ah, right," said St. Charles. "The political good wife, yes, I understand. Well, I wish you luck with that - it's a tough row to hoe, that one! But you were saying, about the office-holders -?"
"We hope to persuade as many members of the Council and the general administration as possible to join our organization," said T'Nir. "In the event that a political reunification becomes practical, that will greatly simplify the transition of government."
"I see, I see," said St. Charles. "You want the key people to join your - your Freemasonry. Makes sense."
"I am not familiar with the term," said Silit.
"Oh, an Earth thing. A social grouping. Nothing political, of course, just an organization... of people who know each other, and rely on each other."
"It sounds admirable," said T'Nir.
"Mmm," said St. Charles. "Can be... or not. Depends, really...."
Silit and T'Nir waited a moment for him to explain further, but he said no more.
"In any case," said T'Nir, "I wished to speak with you, Commissioner Silit, on precisely this matter."
Silit raised one eyebrow. "You wish me to become a member of the Hegemony? I am not a person of influence."
"Your position as Commissioner for the Vulcan Defence Force is not without importance," said T'Nir. The human said nothing, but his gaze darted rapidly from Silit's face to T'Nir's and back again.
"The VDF is simply an appendage of the Space Service. It exists only in the remote eventuality that Starfleet should be unable or unwilling to extend military protection to Vulcan. As Commissioner, my role is simply to maintain it in adequate condition to be called upon."
"Indeed," said T'Nir. "It is a measure of the divergences in our cultures... your equivalent, on the Romulan side, would be at least an Admiral of the Fleet, commanding great respect and influence."
"Such matters are of no concern to a logical mind," said Silit.
"Of course not," said T'Nir. "This is an important reason why you should be a member of the Hegemony. You could communicate Vulcan logic, Vulcan values, to your Romulan counterpart. There would, no doubt, be practical advantages as well - the VDF's preparedness and efficiency could be increased by a study of Romulan military methods."
"I concede that the Romulans have more current practical experience in that area," said Silit. "We recruit, of course, a cadre of retired Starfleet officers -"
T'Nir touched his arm. "I will not ask for any commitments at this stage," she said, "but I would like to introduce you to your Romulan counterpart, Admiral D'Kalius. I am sure you will have much to discuss with one another, regarding your mutual profession at least...."
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