The First Minister was standing at the high window, looking out at the setting sun. He turned as his aide showed Stiak in.
"Hegemon Stiak. Welcome."
Stiak bowed. "First Minister. I am honoured."
"My condolences on the recent loss of your colleague."
"Thank you, First Minister. It has been a great blow. Hegemon Valikra will be sorely missed."
The two men regarded each other for a moment or two in silence. The First Minister broke it. "What now lies ahead for your political movement?"
"The work will continue, First Minister. It must. We have devoted too much effort to turn back now - and the goal remains a worthy one." Stiak's voice fell. "I realize the load that will now fall on me... but I must continue. In taking on the role, I have taken on the obligations."
"That is inevitable."
"Of course, you understand this, First Minister - better than I."
"Yes, since I have longer experience in the situation."
Another pause. This time, it was Stiak who spoke first. "The Romulan side of the Hegemony will need support."
"In what sense?"
"Principally moral, though organisational and material assistance will also be required. The Romulans are still prone to emotionalism, and this event will dishearten them. It is necessary to show that we Vulcans still stand by them."
"I see the logic in that. Who will replace Valikra in her role as Hegemon?"
"For the present, no one. It is emotionalism at work again - none of the Romulans feels worthy to claim her position. There is talk of leaving it forever unfilled, as a memorial. In any case, the original Hegemony did not operate as a duumvirate, and it is natural that the organisational structure should have its authority consolidated in one person."
"That one person being yourself," the First Minister observed.
"I accept the obligations."
"You have inherited command of a military force of some substance - and one engaged in a war."
"There will be difficulties. They will be surmounted. It is for this reason, though, that I would like to discuss certain avenues of practical support."
The First Minister raised one eyebrow. "What avenues?"
"The Romulans are demoralized and beset with enemies. They must have military assistance. Starfleet is unlikely to offer such assistance, in view of the existing conflict with the Klingons, and also because of some tensions which have arisen between Starfleet and Hegemony ships." Stiak drew in a deep breath. "They have nowhere to turn, except to us. Commissioner Silit has prepared some theoretical studies regarding an expansion of the VDF -"
"Silit has joined your movement, I understand."
"We seek such support from talented persons in positions of authority. First Minister, would you yourself consider joining our number?"
"I do not think that would be appropriate."
"Were you to do so, you would naturally assume my own position at the head of the organization. I would gladly step aside - it would be the only logical course of action."
"To do so would be to commit my own authority - which derives from the people of Vulcan - to your political cause. I cannot do that, without a clear mandate from the people of Vulcan."
"That also is logical."
"In any case," said the First Minister, "you were speaking of Commissioner Silit's study."
"Reserve industrial capacity can be diverted to the construction of ships to supplement the Romulan forces. We would have no difficulty in finding volunteers from our movement to crew them. The material assistance to the Romulans would be considerable, but the boost to their morale would be yet more of an asset."
"You are proposing, in effect, a direct military alliance between Vulcan and the Romulan component of the Hegemony."
"You should bear in mind, First Minister, that the ships would be part of the VDF and under Vulcan control - and, as they intermingle with the Romulan forces, those forces also would fall to some extent under our authority."
The First Minister's eyebrow quirked again. "Do we need a Romulan battle fleet?"
"One exists. The measures I propose would give us extensive control over it - enough to prevent excesses, to lessen the existing tensions with Starfleet - ultimately, to divert the Romulan military machine towards more constructive ends."
"I understand." The First Minister hesitated briefly, then said, "Such a force would, naturally, operate independently of Starfleet."
"There is no reason why Starfleet should have authority over an expanded VDF."
"No. However, we must consider Vulcan's treaty obligations to the Federation. Would you be in a position to guarantee that the VDF component would not be deployed contrary to Federation policy?"
"I cannot think where such conflicts might arise. The Federation has no treaty obligations towards the rump of the Romulan Imperial State."
"What of the Remans?"
Stiak seemed, momentarily, discomposed. "The Remans.... First Minister, we see no reason to continue with Valikra's antagonistic policy towards the Remans."
"I am relieved to learn that."
"But - the circumstances of Valikra's death are obscure. The nature of the attack... is not inconsistent with Reman terrorist methods. Naturally, we await a full explanation - but, if it is discovered that Reman forces were responsible -"
"We must tread cautiously around our obligations to the Federation, and the Federation's obligations to the Romulan Republic."
"All treaties must be honoured. But, First Minister, I am not aware of any treaties preventing us from prosecuting action against murderers and political assassins."
The First Minister inclined his head. "Violators of the law must be punished, within the law. That is only logical. Very well. The Council will meet to assess your request for assistance to the Romulan component of the Hegemony of Bresar."
"Thank you, First Minister. I will leave the requisite data with your administrative assistants."
Office of the Proconsul, Mol'Rihan
D'Tan looked across his desk at the hulking figure sitting in shadow. "I will ask," he said. "For form's sake, I must ask the question."
"I will answer." Blue eyes glared from the scarred gargoyle face. "I did not kill Valikra; I did not order her death; I did not desire her death." Obisek's deep voice took on an ironic tone as he added, "I will not go so far as to say I mourn her death. But my people took no part in it."
D'Tan sighed. "I believe you," he said.
Obisek's eyes narrowed. "By which you mean... that no one else will."
"She was an enemy of your people. If we could discover how she came to die -"
"How can we do that?" Anger edged the Reman leader's voice. "We, of all people, have the least chance to prove our innocence. We stand accused, so we stand convicted - as it always has been, for my people."
"I have prepared a statement repudiating the Hegemony's accusations. We will not abandon your people, my friend."
"As a matter of political necessity," Obisek said flatly, "you may have to."
D'Tan leaned forward. "We will not abandon you."
The Reman regarded him closely for a moment. Then he gave a reluctant nod. "I believe you. Your mnei'sahe is not... flexible... enough for you to abandon what you know to be right. Some would consider that a failing in a Romulan," he added tartly.
"I do not. I will not renounce what is right, on the basis of - of a spurious accusation."
"The Hegemony," Obisek observed, "wants reunification. They want your people, my friend. Your people. They do not want mine.... An old tune, that, one I have heard many times before... but it still seems depressingly popular."
"They will not take us. I will not see the Republic sundered - and to split my people away from yours would destroy us both. Your people have been part of the foundations of the Republic from the outset, my friend. Reman efforts, Reman honour, Reman worth have been proven a thousand times or more.... Even discounting the justice owed to your people for centuries of inequity... to lose you would destroy us."
The Reman stirred in his chair. "Fine words, D'Tan... and I admit, it is good to hear them. But words alone will not be enough to save us."
"True," said D'Tan. "So, let us turn to practicalities...."
Shipyard reception area, Qo'noS orbit
R'j Bl'k' stalked away from the chief engineer's station, a snarl on her face. "S's's'-rrrrr-tk't," she said.
"Problems?" asked Rrueo, idly examining her claws as she leaned casually against a pillar.
"Another three days before repairs to the Goroke are completed," the alien said in disgust.
"Well," said Rrueo, "if it is any consolation, the USS Canberra will undoubtedly be in spacedock much longer... if the Feds can even find all the pieces."
"Starfleet clings to the Aznetkur corridor like a dd'hhd-kk'rr."
"Rrueo assumes that is a clingy thing?"
R'j glared at the Ferasan. "They are... they are unreasonable," she spat.
"They are Feds, what do you expect? Rrueo hears, too, that their distraction in Romulan space will soon be over."
R'j cocked her head to one side. "How so? What have you heard?"
"The Remans have assassinated the Hegemony leader Valikra. Oh, they deny it," she made an airy gesture with one paw, "but it was them, who else could it be? So, leaderless, this Hegemony will naturally fall apart, now."
"S-s-s-s-s," said R'j. Her swirling metallic eyes seemed to turn inwards, and a series of clicks and rasps started to sound from her complex mouth.
Rrueo rolled her eyes. "Oh, now you are thinking," she said. "Rrueo knows those noises, you are working things out in your head, and soon you will come up with reasons why Rrueo is wrong. Rrueo cannot wait to hear them, this time."
R'j clicked some more, then said, "You are too dismissive of this Hegemony. It is a threat, a danger. What are their aims? To reunite the Vulcans and the Romulans under the banner of an old Vulcan warlord. In the name of his philosophy." Her rasping voice dripped with scorn. "Vulcans are trouble enough now, when they follow a philosophy of pacifism. What will they be like when they do not? Vulcan science officers are worthy enough opponents - do you yearn to face Vulcan warriors?"
"But Valikra is dead," Rrueo protested. "The Vulcan leader of the Hegemony is a nothing, an academic, a theorizer - Valikra was the force, and she is gone."
"S-s-s-s-s. You are not a fool, do not talk like one. Not a force? Her memory will be more of a force than ever she was in the flesh. She was a leader - now, she is a martyr." R'j's eyes fixed on Rrueo in a glare. "Think about it. She is dead. She can do nothing, so she can do nothing wrong. She cannot make anything, so she can make no mistakes. I tell you, fanatics will follow a glorious memory much, much further than they would follow a fallible living woman."
Rrueo's whiskers drooped. "But... if you are right... what can we do about it?"
"Nothing. That I can see." R'j turned. "I am going to the mess hall for a drink - will you join me?"
Rrueo shook her head. "Rrueo will return to her ship. Rrueo has no desire to hear you make that noise again."
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