The planet had been colonized by the Federation roughly eighty years ago. Since then, the inhabitants had spread along the coastlines. Today, Lembatta Prime had approximately twenty million inhabitants, including a small percentage of Renao. They had settled here during the years when there had been political rapprochement between the Federation and the Home Spheres. The way Adams had understood it, the sun dominated the cultural and religious lives of these people. Important holidays took place on the days before and after a total eclipse of the sun. As Lembatta Prime boasted three moons, that was rather a frequent occurrence.
Winter interrupted Adams’s thoughts. “Captain, we’re being hailed by the planetary government.”
Adams rose from his chair and stood on the top of the three steps that led down to the control pit. “On screen.”
The image changed, and a woman of approximately fifty years appeared. She was clad in a robe of flowing fabrics in various hues of blue. A bronze brooch adorned her chest. Her skin was tanned, and the dark hair was braided into a sophisticated style. Relief was visible in the woman’s eyes, and her voice mirrored that emotion.
“Prometheus, I’m Governor Elenor Sarin. I’m glad you’re here.”
“Madam Governor, my name is Captain Richard Adams. We came as quickly as possible.”
“Your arrival has already been announced. If I can assist you in any way, shape, or form, please let me know.”
“Thank you very much. How is the situation on Lembatta Prime, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“So far, there haven’t been any incidents. But everyone is naturally very worried. We all heard about the explosion on the starbase, and the threat from the Purifying Flame has been all over the local news. Since we are direct neighbors of the Renao Home Spheres, many fear that we might be one of the terrorists’ next targets. We don’t have a fleet at our disposal for our defense, and the ambassador arrived in a scarcely armed courier vessel.”
“The special envoy is already here?”
“Yes, he arrived this morning. As far as I know he’s in his hotel in Sun City.” She hesitated, glancing at someone who was outside the field of sight. “I stand corrected, Captain. I have just been informed that he is already on his way to meet the Renao representative in their embassy.”
“Very well. We will meet the special envoy there. And I assure you, Madam Governor, that we will do everything in our power to protect Lembatta Prime from a terrorist attack.”
“Thank you, Captain. We appreciate that. Sarin out.”
Adams looked at his communications officer. “Mr. Winter, contact the embassy and announce our arrival.”
Winter acknowledged that order.
“Commander Roaas, Commander zh’Thiin, Lieutenant ak Namur,” the captain said, “you’re with me.”
“Sir, do you think it’s wise for me to come along?” ak Namur asked hesitantly. “You know that I don’t have the best standing with my people. I have left the Home Spheres. I don’t belong to them anymore.”
“You’re a Starfleet officer,” Adams said. “I expect the embassy staff to treat you with the same respect as the rest of us. Besides, you may be able to provide us with valuable insight into the behavior of our hosts.”
“Understood, sir.” The young Renao left his console, joining the Caitian and the Andorian.
Adams faced his second officer. “Commander Carson, you have the bridge.”
“Aye, sir.” Carson left her place at ops while replacement crew took the conn, ops, and tactical stations.
“Oh, and Carson,” Adams said, already on his way to the turbolift where the others waited for him.
“Yes, Captain?”
“Keep your eyes peeled for anything out of the ordinary. The terrorists might have cloaking technology at their disposal.”
“I’ll have Commanders Mendon and Kirk recalibrate the sensors to search for suspicious radiation and propulsion residue.”
“Excellent. Do it.” Adams knew that Carson had served on the U.S.S. Defiant, which was the only Starfleet starship with a cloaking device. If any of them knew how to detect cloaked enemies, it was her.
The captain stepped into the lift with the rest of the away team, and shortly after that they beamed down to the planet’s surface, materializing in the embassy’s courtyard.
The first thing Adams noticed was an extraordinary pattern of entangled gold rings that had been embedded into a floor of polished, light gray stones. Dark red columns lined the circular yard. Beyond, the embassy buildings extended into the distance. Three people stood in the shade of the columns, clearly expecting the visitors. They stepped out into the open when they saw the newcomers.
Adams didn’t know the first two men. Both were clearly Renao, as they had the same red skin color as ak Namur. Their faces also sported the familiar gold jewelry that was attached to the skin, and their eyes glowed noticeably. The men wore black robes, adorned with gold ribbons.
The third man was considerably older than his companions. He also wore a robe but it was white and gray. A bronze-colored pin was attached to his collar—a small triangle, its tip pointing toward a specific point within a circle. This was the IDIC symbol showing its bearer to be an advocate of the philosophy of Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations. The man’s iron-gray hair was cropped short and it didn’t cover his pointy, elegantly curved ears.
When Adams recognized his counterpart, his eyebrows rose. “Ambassador Spock!”
Spock was one of the most renowned figures within the Federation—and beyond. He bowed his head. “Welcome to Lembatta Prime, Captain Adams.”
* * *
Jassat ak Namur stared in awe at the famous half-Vulcan. He had never met him personally before but he did know all about the exceptional role that Spock had played in the history of the Federation. His career was textbook material at the Academy: first officer of the legendary U.S.S. Enterprise under James Tiberius Kirk; driving force behind the reconciliation process between the Klingons and the Federation after the moon Praxis had exploded; the Federation’s longstanding ambassador in the Romulan Star Empire, attempting for years to reunite Vulcans and Romulans. Hardly any event of galactic consequence over the past one hundred and twenty years had taken place without the involvement of this serene man, who was driven by logic and empathy in equal measure.
And now he was here to put Jassat’s people to the test and to find out whether the Renao were all fanatic serial killers.
Somehow, Jassat felt both honored and uneasy.
Spock introduced the dignitaries by his side. “These are the ambassadors Himad ak Genos and his deputy Seresh ak Momad.”
“Pleasure to meet you,” Adams replied. He pointed to his colleagues. “My first officer, Commander Roaas, my security chief, Lieutenant Commander Lenissa zh’Thiin, and my conn officer, Lieutenant Jassat ak Namur.”
“Captain,” said ak Genos, drawing a circle with his right hand in the air in front of his chest—a gesture of greeting. “Commanders.” He studied Jassat. “And you must be the Renao serving in Starfleet.”
“Yes, Mr. Ambassador,” Jassat said.
Ak Genos faced Adams. “I hope he doesn’t put our people to shame.”
“Mr. ak Namur is an exemplary officer,” Adams said, to Jassat’s relief. “I have the utmost confidence in his abilities and his knowledge. That’s the reason why I have asked him to accompany me here.”
“I’m pleased to hear that.” The ambassador’s voice didn’t betray anything, but Jassat had the feeling that his demeanor slightly stiffened.
He just realized that a renegade and sphere refugee is supposed to assess him and his people for Starfleet. The young Renao could easily imagine that the ambassador might not be delighted about that.
Ak Genos made an inviting gesture. “Please, follow us into my conference room. We can take counsel about the events of the past few days.”
It struck Jassat that the ambassador didn’t use a universal translator. What’s more, he spoke Fede
ration Standard remarkably accent-free. He must have had close contact to the outworlders during the years of rapprochement between the Federation and the Home Spheres.
The group left the courtyard behind, walking through a broad corridor that led deeper into the building. They went past circular passages twice. Bilingual signs on the wall announced that they were walking from one embassy department into another. Many of the Renao they encountered were clad in similar ankle-length robes to the ambassador and his deputy; some wore pants and jackets pertaining to the colonist’s fashion on Lembatta Prime. The majority of employees were men. They only saw two women. Both were clad in elegant dresses made from flowing fabrics. Things haven’t changed much during the past few years, Jassat thought.
Although the Renao made an effort not to stare, Jassat felt the double-takes that the mixed away team attracted. The population on Lembatta Prime was primarily human; it was rare for the embassy staff to encounter an Andorian or a Caitian. Lenissa held her head high with pride, while Roaas seemed filled with determination.
Jassat also garnered attention from his fellow Renao; some curious, many disapproving. Even to those who worked and lived voluntarily outside of the Home Spheres, a Renao committing himself to deep space was at best a suspect sphere defiler.
“You got here fast,” Adams said to Spock in front of Jassat while they walked along the corridors. “Were you in the vicinity?”
“No, I came from Vulcan,” replied the ambassador. “But I made the journey aboard the U.S.S. Bohr.”
“The Bohr…” The captain searched his memory. “Merian-class, right?”
“That is correct,” Spock said. “Like all ships belonging to that class she has been equipped recently with a quantum slipstream drive.”
Adams sighed quietly. “At this rate the warp era will be over soon.”
“That is not entirely impossible,” the ambassador agreed. “Especially where the Federation is concerned. And no matter how carefully Starfleet will conceal this technology from the eyes of others, it will eventually become accessible to other nations as well. That may not be a detrimental development since it would bring the people of the galaxy closer together.”
“The only question is whether they are ready for it,” Adams mumbled.
Most of the space in the conference room was filled with a sickle-shaped table. The pointed ends almost touched each other. Comfortable chairs had been arranged around the table. Jassat noted that they had been manufactured on Earth. A large panorama painting hung on the room’s back wall. It depicted a rough and rocky landscape, covered with rusty dust, below a red sun. In the background huge structures that looked like beehives towered over the landscape. The image radiated somber beauty. Onferin, the young Renao realized, and a touch of sadness washed over him.
“Our home,” Ambassador ak Genos explained to Captain Adams. “The Bhorau Desert on Onferin at dawn. In the background you can see a bunch of Griklak-hives, dwellings of giant insects native to Onferin. They are virtually extinct these days but thousands of years ago they were the predominant life form on Onferin. Our ancestors built their first cities in abandoned Griklak-hives because they offered ample space and at the same time excellent protection against a hostile environment. That’s how the concept of Home Spheres came about.”
“That’s very interesting, Ambassador,” said Adams. “But if it’s all the same to you, let’s talk about the present, not about the past.”
“Of course, please, be seated.”
They settled down around the table. Spock as mediator took the seat between Adams and ak Genos. Jassat found a seat next to Lenissa right on the far end. That was fine by him. Coming back home had caused an emotional rollercoaster within him. Happiness mixed with sadness, curiosity with fear. So he was grateful to take a back seat, watching, but not actually speaking.
“Ambassador,” Spock began, “I assume you have been just as well informed about the events of the past few days as we have. I will therefore spare myself the trouble of playing the Starfleet recordings taken around the field of debris, or the video from the Purifying Flame claiming responsibility.”
“Of course. We know what happened on the borders of the Home Spheres,” ak Genos replied. “And we strongly condemn such terrorist acts. But the Renao people have nothing to do with these attacks. Yes, it’s true, we do not condone the Federation’s philosophy to expand uninhibited further and further into space. How often has your unrestrained desire for expansion caused millions of deaths throughout the galaxy? And yet, our protests have always been peaceful. We only took appropriate diplomatic steps such as severing contact with you and concentrating on our inner matters. Violent murder of thousands of people is not what we desire.”
“What about the Klingons?” Adams asked. “There has been an attack on the Klingons as well. A dilithium mine has been blown up, and there has been another video claiming responsibility. And Tika, just like Starbase 91, is in close proximity to the Lembatta Cluster. Do you think that’s coincidence?”
“On the contrary, Captain,” the ambassador replied. “I’m convinced that this was arranged very deliberately, and that it was carried out by an unknown power, which quite clearly is keen to commit atrocities, laying the blame on the doorsteps of others. Maybe we should take another look at the videos after all. You will soon realize that nobody can deduce any solid facts from these transmissions. Is the man beneath the cloth really a Renao, or has he donned a disguise? Does he really say what he appears to be saying, or has the audio track been tampered with?”
“Our experts have already thoroughly looked into that line of questioning,” Spock said. “I can assure you, Ambassador, no alterations have been made to this recording.”
“And I can assure you: that man in front of the camera represents neither the government nor the people of the Home Spheres! It’s much more likely that he is a sphere defiler—much like the lieutenant—who doesn’t live within the Lembatta Cluster anymore, and hasn’t done so for quite a while. There, far away from home, he has joined the Typhon Pact. You must have noticed that the attacks were directed against the Federation and the Klingons—the so-called Khitomer Powers. Why didn’t they attack targets in the Gorn Hegemony? To we Renao, the Gorn are as guilty of violating the universal harmony as the Federation or the Klingon Empire.”
Jassat knew that wasn’t strictly true. The Gorn Hegemony was a comparably small power bloc in the framework of the Alpha Quadrant. Contrary to Federation, Klingons, and Romulans, the Gorn’s intention to expand in space was fairly limited. If radical movements existed in the Home Spheres, they would certainly turn on the Gorn last of all. But he kept his objections to himself. Voicing them seemed inappropriate in this situation. He would inform Captain Adams later.
Just like he would inform him that something wasn’t quite right. Jassat couldn’t tell with absolute certainty, but he sensed that the ambassador was keeping something from his visitors. His voice and his demeanor expressed righteous anger about the accusations made against the Renao. But his purple eyes flickered in a way that he perceived to be great nervousness. Again, Jassat could not confront the ambassador openly about it. The scandal would have been far too great. Still, he was deeply concerned about the implications of the ambassador’s behavior. Clearly, there was much more rotten in the Lembatta Cluster than ak Genos let on.
The conversation among Spock, Adams and both Renao diplomats was fairly short and unproductive. Ak Genos insisted that this was a conspiracy against the Renao, and he reminded them of the biggest sticking point the Federation also had: his people didn’t even have the technology available to commit such atrocities.
In the end they went their separate ways peacefully, but dissatisfied.
“If you come across any helpful insights, no matter what kind,” Spock said when they parted, “the Federation would regard it as an important sign for a peaceful future coexistence if you were to inform us.”
“That goes without saying,” ak Genos said. �
�In exchange we would appreciate receiving any new findings from your investigations. If enemies of the Renao have slipped into the Lembatta Cluster and settled here, we need to take measures against them.”
“We will keep you posted.” Adams looked at the Vulcan special envoy. “Are you prepared to accompany us to the Prometheus, Ambassador?”
Spock nodded gracefully. “Indeed. My luggage can be retrieved from the hotel residence.”
“All right.” The captain touched his combadge on his chest. “Adams to Prometheus. Five to beam up.”
A shimmering veil of light engulfed them, and several seconds later they arrived back on board.
“That wasn’t very productive,” Adams stated when they stepped off the transporter platform.
“That was not to be expected,” Spock replied. “This conversation was merely our first attempt. It will reach its conclusion at a later date.”
“And what are we going to do next?” the captain asked.
Spock expressively raised one of his eyebrows. “I suggest we take a closer look at the scene of the crime.”
17
NOVEMBER 9, 2385
U.S.S. Prometheus, on the periphery of the Lembatta Cluster
Starbase 91’s expanse of rubble covered almost one point five million kilometers in space, spreading further by approximately one kilometer per second. Not much was left of the large Watchtower-class space station. It had been literally blown to pieces that had been scattered all over the void. Richard Adams felt a huge lump in his throat staring at the few pieces of wreckage visible on the bridge’s main screen. Shimmering dust and radiation spikes on sensor displays of the science station were the only indications of what had happened here.
Star Trek Prometheus -Fire with Fire Page 14
