by Dayton Ward
Rolling her eyes, Chen sighed. “You know what I mean.” She folded her arms across her chest. “So, what are you going to do now?”
“I will remain in my quarters until Captain Picard rescinds his order. I am in the process of preparing a new report for Admiral Akaar, which includes another request for more information that I can in turn share with the captain.”
Chen shrugged. “Well, that might get you back on the captain’s good side.”
“I do not seek to curry favor,” replied Taurik. “I am merely carrying out my duties as I am able, even with the restrictions placed upon me.”
“Whatever you have to tell yourself.” Chen smiled, hoping to take out some of the sting from her sarcastic remark. She saw by the slight curling of the corner of his mouth that he understood her intentions.
Before she could say anything else, the tone of the ship’s intercom sounded, followed by the voice of Commander Worf calling for the members of the away team accompanying Captain Picard to report to the transporter room.
“That’s my cue,” she said.
As he regarded her, Taurik’s expression softened. “Be careful, T’Ryssa.”
Was he trying to tell her something, without really telling her something? Chen decided that the more reasonable explanation was that she was just being paranoid. Still, there was something in her friend’s eyes that gave her pause.
“Hey, I’ll be with the captain. What could possibly go wrong?”
10
Sralanya
2386
Even as the residual tingle of the fading transporter beam played across his skin, Picard noted their rather large welcoming committee was already on station, waiting. Six Eizand, three males and three females, stood at the edge of a circular grassy quad that had been designated as the away team’s landing point, flanking a seventh individual whom the captain recognized as Hilonu. Her six companions were likely her security detail, dressed as they were in matching dark maroon garments that Picard instinctively knew were military or police uniforms. Each carried a sidearm in a holster worn on the hip, with the weapon’s stock or grip facing forward. Hilonu had exchanged her green dress for one of azure blue contoured to her figure, and which Picard saw was accented in much the same fashion as her previous ensemble with gold patterns woven through the fabric. Behind Hilonu and her flanking detail were another eight Eizand, a mixture of males and females dressed in what Picard took to be formal civilian attire, consisting of robes and loose-fitting blouses and trousers of varying colors, with each garment featuring its own version of gold or silver patterns around the neck or shirt and pant cuffs.
A quick glance around him affirmed his earlier thoughts about the city itself. Beyond the courtyard where the team had materialized, a large park filled with trees and other vegetation—most of it growing at odd angles and featuring leaves and bulbs of varying colors—acted as a buffer between the surrounding buildings. While the city itself was by no means beautiful, Picard still sensed a vitality and purpose all around him. The structures appeared to prioritize pure function over anything else, with very little in the way of aesthetic embellishments. Most of the buildings were squat, gray or brown in color, and rose only eight to ten stories above the ground while covering entire city blocks. Some of the structures were connected by elevated walkways, and the streets—composed of a white-gray material with flecks of some mineral that reflected the late afternoon sunlight—were wide and filled with an assortment of ground vehicles that looked to operate on a form of antigravity or repulsor-lift technology. Despite the obvious activity unfolding all around them, Picard noted a lack of background noise he might expect from a thriving urban environment. A sweet, pleasant scent hung in the air, reminding him of raspberries or honeysuckle.
Returning his attention to their hosts, he stepped forward. “Presider Hilonu, we meet at last.”
Crossing her forearms before her, the Eizand leader offered a slight bow, tilting her head so that it almost touched her chest. “Welcome to Sralanya, Captain Picard, and the city of Ponval, capital of the Tevent Coalition.” She gestured toward her entourage. “Please do not be alarmed. These are my security escorts. Protocol requires them to accompany me whenever I leave our assembly chamber or my home.” Her expression brightened in what Picard thought was her first genuine display of emotion. “It is but one of the many burdens of my office.”
“Indeed,” said Picard. “I can sympathize, as regulations call for me to have a similar escort whenever I leave my ship.” He used the reply to introduce the other members of his away team—T’Ryssa Chen, Dina Elfiki, Glinn Ravel Dygan, and security officers T’Sona and Austin Braddock.
Taking a moment to study the other strangers in her midst, Hilonu said, “I see that at least three of your party are of species different from yours, Captain.”
“That’s correct. Lieutenants Chen and T’Sona represent the planet Vulcan, though Lieutenant Chen is of mixed heritage, with a Vulcan father and a human mother.”
Hilonu stepped away from her security detail, extending her hands toward Glinn Dygan. “I have never seen a being like you. What do you call yourself?”
“We call ourselves Cardassians, Presider,” replied Dygan. He nodded toward Picard. “In fact, my people were once enemies of the Federation. We waged war against each other, and later we fought alongside one another against a common foe.”
“It is nice to see that such disparate peoples can come together in times of strife, and later in pursuit of shared goals and opportunity.” As she spoke, Hilonu directed her gaze to Picard. “Was that always the case with the people of your world, Captain?”
“Not always, Presider. We definitely endured a great many growing pains once we achieved space travel capability.” He extended a hand toward Chen and T’Sona. “The people of Vulcan were our first interstellar allies, and we learned much from them, including many things we were doing wrong in our haste to explore space. They made us aware of the countless planets where life exists and gave us some of our first and harshest lessons about interacting with those worlds.” Again, he smiled. “Even with their help, it took us a while to find our way.”
“Intriguing,” said Hilonu, once more adopting that same detached manner she had employed during their first conversation. “I look forward to hearing more, Captain.”
Recalling a request made by Lieutenant Elfiki prior to their beaming down, Picard said, “Presider, I wonder if it might be possible for the members of my team to tour your city.” He gestured toward the group of onlookers who still stood behind Hilonu and her security detail. “Under escort, of course. It’s obvious that a great calamity once befell your world, and we’re most interested to learn how your people survived its aftermath.” He paused, looking at the city that surrounded them. “You appear to have made remarkable progress, despite the challenges you’ve faced.”
“Our plight fascinates you.” Hilonu seemed to ponder her own words for a moment before adding, “Yes, we have endured a great deal rebuilding our society. We have tried to make things better for our people, but there are those who do not believe in what we are attempting to do, or who have lost faith in us. Indeed, we still deal with dissenters on a frequent basis, but our efforts continue.” She sighed. “One day, I hope we will earn back the trust we have lost.”
Then, as though deciding this was not appropriate conversation for visitors, Hilonu said, “As it happens, we anticipated your request, and we are happy to accommodate it. Perhaps we can learn something from one another.”
He should have been buoyed by her comments, but instead Picard found himself parsing her words, searching for hidden meaning. That earlier suggestion of antipathy still seemed to be present, though Hilonu offered no other obvious indications of such feelings. Perhaps the Eizand simply did not like outsiders of any sort, but to Picard it seemed too pat an answer.
Only one way to find out.
Leaving Elfiki in charge of the rest of the away team with instructions to remain in
regular contact, Picard along with Lieutenant T’Sona accompanied Hilonu and her security detail from the courtyard. Their route took them to a stone walking path that wound through the park. Her escorts set up a protective cordon around her but allowed him to fall into step beside the presider.
“This area is really quite lovely,” he said, once more eyeing the nearby trees and other foliage. “I think I could find myself spending quite a bit of time here.”
Hilonu replied, “I often come here in an attempt to relieve the stresses of my duties. It is a wonderful place for quiet contemplation.” She pointed ahead of them. “There is a small pond ahead, and I often sit on one of the benches there, reading or simply closing my eyes for a short time. Then disappointment sets in when I am required to return to my duties.”
Picard was reminded of the Starfleet Academy campus, so lovingly tended by the seemingly ageless groundskeeper, Boothby, whom he had befriended so long ago during his earliest days as a cadet. Picard had found similar solace in those gardens and quiet spaces.
“The park was a deliberate choice on the part of the city’s builders,” said the Eizand leader. “They wanted those who lived here to remember that our planet was once home to great beauty. It could be so again, and we did not have to remain confined to these cities that are all that remain of our race.” She shook her head. “We were meant for more than that. Many areas of Sralanya still carry the scars of the war, but efforts are under way to reclaim those regions and hopefully restore them. It is a task that began well before I was born and will continue long after I die, but it is worth it. Many of our people have devoted their entire lives to the cause, and it is a source of great pride.”
“I can imagine,” replied Picard. “My planet endured a similar conflict, centuries ago, and it required the same level of commitment to help it heal the wounds it had suffered.”
Hilonu turned to look at him. “Your people waged war on themselves?” When he offered a silent nod as reply, her expression turned to one of sadness. “A horrible thing, is it not?”
Emerging from the park, the presider’s escorts led the way across a raised walkway toward one of the larger buildings surrounded by a fenced enclosure. The procession continued across to the structure’s entrance, at which point Hilonu moved to the front of the group as it passed through the large, arched doorways. The building’s exterior may have been as drab as its neighbors, while inside was a different story. Polished tile covered the floor, and large columns rose toward a high ceiling, upon which was a colorful, abstract mosaic. The oversized foyer reminded Picard of a museum or art gallery more than the office of a political official.
Even that opulence was overshadowed by the appointments of Hilonu’s own office. The presider’s inner sanctum, located on the building’s uppermost floor, was filled with ornate furniture, artwork, and sculptures representing a variety of styles—at least so far as Picard could tell—and had a commanding view of the park they had just traversed. From this vantage point, Picard was able to make out ground and small air vehicles moving about the streets of Ponval and over, around, and even through the various buildings. There was a definite energy here, and even a beauty, he thought, amending his earlier feelings.
As Hilonu moved to a curved desk positioned in the room’s far corner and the young Eizand male standing next to it, Picard and T’Sona stood near the entrance, waiting for an invitation to join the presider. He watched as the other Eizand, obviously an assistant, handed her a type of tablet, which she began to scrutinize. Outside the office, the security detail was breaking up, with two members of the group moving to stand near the doorway while their companions, along with Hilonu’s assistant, disappeared down the long corridor. Facing away from the office, neither of the remaining guards appeared to give him any notice before the door closed.
“If Presider Hilonu’s office is any indication,” said T’Sona, “it appears the Eizand are quite fond of the decorative arts.”
Picard nodded. “So it would seem.” A longtime admirer of such things, he had already added this to the list of topics he hoped might occupy the time he spent with Hilonu. Covering a diverse range of subjects, he had learned, was a fine means of navigating the often uncertain waters of dialogue and diplomacy when interacting with the leaders of a newly contacted species. Anything that might serve to highlight commonalities was always useful, in his experience, and an appreciation of the arts, literature, and other cultural pursuits was one of his favorite subjects.
“Captain,” said Hilonu, and Picard turned from T’Sona to see the Eizand leader gesturing toward him. A nod from him was enough for the Vulcan security officer to understand that she should remain by the door as he crossed the office. Hilonu had moved from behind her desk to a curved sofa situated before the large window and its view of the park, and she indicated for him to sit with her.
“I apologize for keeping you waiting, but I was reviewing a report from our constabulary. It seems a group of dissenters ransacked one of our offices. There is no way to know if they took anything of value, as they burned the building to cover their activities.” She shook her head. “Just when I think there will be a brief moment’s peace, something like this happens.”
Picard said, “Presider, if there is something you need to be doing, we can meet at a more appropriate time.”
“No. I have a dedicated staff seeing to matters such as this. Besides, I imagine you have a number of questions, and I’m anxious to hear them.”
Picard nodded. “Indeed. Obviously, we’re quite interested in your people and how you came to be where you are today. It seems that the history of your world has at least some parallels to mine and a great many others.”
Waving toward the window, Hilonu said, “This city and the others like it represent most of what remains of the Eizand people, Captain. Our numbers are much stronger than they were even just a few generations ago, but in the immediate aftermath of the war, our civilization was on the brink of vanishing altogether.” She paused, looking away from him and casting her gaze toward the window and the city beyond.
“Even before the last war, we were mired in problems that largely were of our own making. There are representatives from more than two dozen city-states that survived the war, but only three had amassed enough territory and resources to affect affairs on a planetary scale. My people, the Tevent, along with the Galj and Yilondra, were by far the largest nations on Sralanya. Naturally, most of the conflicts between our different peoples arose from the usual sorts of disputes, and were the same things we thought defined us: the land we claimed, and the things to which we thought we were entitled, or thought we needed more than anyone else. Matters of faith and the deities and beliefs embraced by our different cultures seemed like a convenient way to sow divisions between us.”
“Yours is not a unique story, I’m afraid,” said Picard. “Quite the contrary, it is an all-too-familiar tale; one that for a time defined the people of my world.” He nodded to where Lieutenant T’Sona remained by the door. “Even Vulcan, whose civilization I would consider one to which we all might aspire, at least in some ways, was once gripped by the same sorts of conflicts. They corrected their society’s downward spiral, and later helped mine emerge from the darkness into which we’d plunged ourselves. If not for them, I honestly don’t know what might have become of my own people, but I likely wouldn’t be sitting here talking with you today.”
For the first time since meeting them in the courtyard, Hilonu smiled, but Picard noted it seemed a grudging one. “Perhaps we are not so different from one another as I originally believed.” Once more directing her attention to the window, she said, “So, we quarreled over land and natural resources to feed our ever growing, industrialized existence. We ripped into the planet that had given birth to us and claimed its riches as our own, consuming them with nary a second thought as to the impacts of our pillaging on the atmosphere, our oceans, even ourselves. Then, as those resources began to dwindle and it became evident that what
ever was left would be the focus of future conflicts, the wars became more heated, the tactics more underhanded. While the Tevent, the Galj, and the Yilondra at first ignored one another in their quest to expand territory, we soon reached the point where we were all that was left standing in each other’s way. That’s when the skirmishes and wars began in earnest.”
Something beeped on her desk, and she rose from the couch. Hilonu reached for the tablet her assistant had given her, likely studying one of any number of reports and updates she doubtless received on any given day. It then occurred to him that it was the first such notification she had received since their arrival in her office, and he wondered if he should take anything from that.
Aren’t you being a bit paranoid, Jean-Luc?
Returning the tablet to her desk, she crossed back to the couch. “It soon became apparent that we would have to take action, as a people, to ensure our survival. Some of our brightest scientific minds had already been making all manner of dire predictions, warning us about our continued abuse of the planet’s natural resources and the impact on the environment. Several initiatives were put forth, including radical programs to curb our dependence on the very fuel sources that were causing the damage. Other, more extreme scenarios also were developed, including an increased emphasis on travel to other worlds in our star system. It was hoped that those planets or their moons or whatever other objects might be found would harbor resources we could exploit.” Again, her expression fell. “Apparently, it was not enough that we were killing our own planet. Now we wanted to take our shortsightedness to the stars. There even were those who thought it would be better for us to find another world suitable for relocating our entire civilization. Hence, the development of ships that could travel at the speeds necessary to reach beyond our system.”
“Faster-than-light propulsion,” said Picard. “You had warp capability generations ago?”
Hilonu nodded. “Before the war, our level of technological advancement was quite impressive, though perhaps not as much as that which you currently enjoy.” She smiled, adding, “Like something out of a child’s storybook, yes? Ships that we could hurl toward the stars, in search of a new chance for our people. Surely, your own culture’s fascination with space travel began in similar fashion.”
