Beta Quadrant - Romulan Science Ship Sseikea

Danok, commander of the science ship Sseikea, couldn't help feeling annoyed. When he had been offered command of this mission, he had been assured that nothing unusual would happen. He needed only four months to qualify for his full pension, and Admiral D'Kan had promised him that he could finish his term with honor but without incident. He wasn't a coward; far from it, Danok had an honorable career. But nearly a year in a Jem'Hadar prison camp had turned his hair white, depleted his poise and eroded his confidence. His mere survival was a triumph of will, and the Admiralty had rewarded him with this assignment, scanning for valuable elements and metals in a remote sector of the Beta Quadrant remarkable only for its lack of traffic.

So when the centurion manning the long-range scanners said, "Sir, I'm picking up an unidentified object," Danok was annoyed. There weren't supposed to be any 'unidentified objects' out here. There wasn't supposed to be anything except the Sseikea and the small space station that served as its base of operations.

"Be more specific," he snapped.

"It appears to be an artificial construct," the centurion - Danok hadn't bothered to learn his name - said. "Ten meters long, titanium alloy, hollow, one life sign. I believe it must be a ship, but the configuration is unfamiliar."

A ship? Danok frowned deeply. There were no spacefaring races in this sector, nor in the next. The inhabited planets were all pre-warp civilizations; that's why it was so quiet here. "On screen," he ordered.

His frown deepened at the image. The object was undeniably a space ship - primitive, small and derelict. It looked cold and dead, and despite the fact that the Sseikea could destroy it in less than ten seconds, the sight of it filled him with foreboding. He didn't know why, but he had a feeling he was looking at his doom.

The second in command, Subcommander Kelar, looked up from his console. "The life sign matches the anthropological files on the planet Keaynn, approximately one parsec from here." When Danok only raised an eyebrow in response, he went on, "Keaynn is a primarily agrarian society last surveyed twenty years ago. The last report indicated they were fifty years from developing warp technology."

"Apparently they didn't see the schedule," Danok said.

"The bioreadings are in fluctuation," Kelar said. "I believe the occupant is dying."

Danok said nothing. It could be a trick, a means of gaining access to the Sseikea. Or it could be what it seemed, an unfortunate Pioneer dying of sheer bad luck. And if so, why should he care? When had the Romulans cared about the weak and wayward, except to render them harmless to the Empire?

On the other hand, when had the Romulans feared the weak and the wayward? Perhaps they should rescue this unlucky traveler and interrogate him to learn what other advances Keaynn had achieved ahead of schedule.

The entire bridge crew was staring at him, waiting for his order. Shamed by his indecision, he nodded once. "Beam him to Sickbay. Alert the medics that I want to talk to him as soon as possible."


USS Pioneer - Colonists Mess Hall

"And then her eyes lit up, and she said..." Neelix paused for dramatic effect, building to the punch line of his story. The former Voyager crew members at the table - Michael Ayala, Angelo and Celes Tessoni, Jim Morrow and Sarexa - were already grinning, but the others, especially Daeja Thev and Kajee Narel, were starting at him in rapt attention. "Then Captain Janeway said, 'There's *coffee* in that nebula.'"

Kajee smiled hesitantly, clearly not understanding. Her knowledge of Voyager was limited to what she had acquired since learning her foster son was actually Mike Ayala's boy, and this was something she had missed. Daeja Thev, though, laughed out loud. "That is typical Kathryn," she said, her antennae curling in amusement. "Confronting a scientific mystery and gorgeous example of nature, she thinks of coffee."

Ayala leaned close to Kajee. "You have to know Captain Janeway to really appreciate it, Narel."

"Yeah, but what I want to know is how you are so certain of that, Neelix," Angelo said with a broad smile. "I'm pretty sure you weren't on the bridge then."

"I heard from Commander Tuvok. " Neelix leaned back smugly, knowing his source was impeccable.

"Oh, my," Sarexa said. "Look who's joined us."

Everyone turned to follow her gaze and saw that Ambassador Diaza had entered the Colonists Mess Hall. "That's a first," Angelo said under his breath. The Andorian Ambassador preferred to take his meals alone in his quarters or in the Officers Mess, with Captain Merves.

Daeja's smile disappeared. "He's probably looking for me." Neelix realized for the first time that Commander Thev was not enjoying her assignment as attaché to the Federation Ambassador to the Delta Quadrant.

Sure enough, the Ambassador looked around until he spotted Commander Thev, and then he moved purposefully across the room to towards their table. Daeja pushed her tray back, and rose as her fellow Andorian approached.

"Ambassador Diaza," she said. "How may I help you?"

"Sit down, Commander," the Ambassador said. "I was looking for Ambassador Neelix."

Neelix straightened reflexively. "Oh? Well, please pull up a chair and join us."

Diaza looked around the table. "That's very kind, but I was hoping for a private conversation. Apparently my messages haven't reached you."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I haven't even looked at my message service. We've been so busy the last few days, making sure everyone was settled in. A little chat, one ambassador to another? Of course. I'm at your service - as soon as I've finished lunch. This stew is too good to waste." He smiled widely. "You might want to try some yourself."

"No, thank you." Diaza held himself stiffly, as if trying not to shudder.

"At least join us for a cup of tea," Sarexa urged. "We have an extra cup handy."

Daeja added, "Do join us. You haven't had an opportunity to meet many of the colonists."

From the expression on his face, Diaza agreed with that observation and would have liked to keep it that way. But that look was quickly replaced with a professional diplomat's smile. "Thank you. Madam Neelix, I would be grateful for a cup of tea."

"Call me Sarexa," she said as she poured him a cup from the large carafe on the table. "And why don't we go around the table and introduce ourselves."

As they did so, Diaza listened carefully and when they were finished, he said, "You were all on Voyager, I believe. Except Commander Thev, of course, and you, Ms. Kajee. At least, I don't recall your name."

"You're right," Neelix said, impressed. "You've really done your homework."

"It's important to have the entire picture." Diaza took a small sip of the tea.

"I hear you don't think Janeway handled the Vidiians very well." Jim Morrow, sitting at the opposite corner of the table, spoke a little too loudly.

Neelix winced at Morrow's confrontational tone, but Diaza remained unruffled. As he set down his cup he said, "I realize it was a difficult situation, but yes, I do think it could have been handled better by a true diplomat."

"You're probably right," Morrow said sarcastically. "When they boarded the ship, I'm sure you could have got them to sit down and talk instead of ripping out vital organs."

"Jim," Celes Tessoni said softly. To Neelix's relief, the admonition was enough to make Morrow lean back and frown rather than say anything else.

"I've read those reports," Diaza said. "Frankly, I always allow for some exaggeration. No one likes to admit they mishandled a first contact situation."

Before the others could react, Neelix said, "There was no exaggeration, Ambassador. The Vidiians were little more than pirates at that time. They weren't interested in cultural exchanges."

"Just body part exchanges," Angelo added.

"You make them sound like monsters," Diaza said, apparently unimpressed.

"Not monsters." Neelix spoke firmly. "But they did monstrous things. They were desperate. The Phage very nearly brought them to extinction."

"They weren't always like that," Sarexa added. "Before the Phage, they were known as a very sophisticated and generous people."

Diaza nodded. "Exactly. I'm sure they always were. Voyager's unfortunate first encounter set a tone for subsequent relations. My mission will be to rectify that regrettable state of affairs."

The conversation was beginning to grate on Neelix. "You make it sound as if Voyager were to blame."

"That's not my intention. I am merely acknowledging the facts."

"The facts," Neelix said, his throat tight with irritation, "are that the Vidiians terrorized their area of space for decades. The first time they found Voyager, they ripped out both my lungs and then raided the ship to take more. The second time, they killed several crewmen and tried to tear apart the DNA of B'Elanna Torres. The third time, they did their best to capture the ship and take us prisoner. Voyager did nothing to provoke them except to be there, with a healthy crew."

Diaza looked surprised. "They really took your lungs? I assumed that was an exaggeration, since you obviously survived."

"Our physician saved me by creating holographic lungs until Kes volunteered to donate one to me." Neelix looked him in the eye. "The reports are not exaggerated, Ambassador."

"I see." Diaza's antennae curled inward as he took a long sip of tea. When he set the cup down again, he glanced around the table. "I'm surprised you all agreed to join this colony, given the way you feel about the Vidiians."

"Dr. Pel was always our friend," Celes said. "And Kes says it's safe."

Jim Morrow snorted. "Nothing in the Delta Quadrant is *safe*, Celes. And I don't care if the Vidiians are as healthy as a horse on derby day - you still can't trust 'em."

Neelix saw the color drain from Kajee Narel's face in reaction to Morrow's words. Apparently Ayala did too, because he said immediately, "The Vidiians are like anyone else, Jim. They've got good people and bad people. But if Kes says they're different than before, that's good enough for me."

Diaza rose. "Thank you for the tea, and the most interesting conversation. Ambassador Neelix, perhaps you could stop by my quarters later? 1500, if it would be convenient."

"My pleasure." When the Andorian was gone, Neelix shook his head. "I wonder if he's irritating on purpose. Is it some sort of diplomatic skill?"

"No," Daeja Thev said. "He honestly believes that no one in Starfleet can do anything but fight."

Sarexa frowned. "Well, at least we set him straight about the Vidiians."

"Perhaps." Daeja glanced at the door through which Diaza had left. "Perhaps."


Beta Quadrant - Romulan Science Ship Sseikea

Consciousness returned quickly to Distor Stann; he went from oblivion to wakefulness with no steps in between. As soon as he opened his eyes, his two hearts began to pound furiously. In the days he drifted through space after his fuel had run out, he had come to terms with the fact that his world was gone and he had a very limited future. His last thoughts as he slid into blackness had been that he would awaken in the Cradle of Souls or not at all; he had always been ambivalent in his religious beliefs. But with only a glance he knew he was someplace the Elders had never imagined.

A being of stern visage stood beside his bed, frowning. He was generally built like a Keaynn, but only two arms were visible, his skin was a strange color, a kind of pinkish beige with odd hints of green instead of a nice, healthy gray. His forehead was thick and his silver hair short, revealing ears that were - Stann swallowed - pointed.

When he took the Seeker Ten assignment, he had hoped to prove the Elders wrong and find other intelligent life in space. Now that he was apparently looking at it, he was terrified.

The frowning silverhair spoke. His voice was deep but the words were gibberish. "I don't understand," Stann said, but even so couldn't help asking, "Who are you? Where am I?"

Apparently the lack of understanding was mutual. Silverhair turned his head, and for the first time Stann saw a second being in the room, one who looked just like Silverhair except that his hair was dark as a tooli bird. Stann didn't need to understand the language to recognize authority when he heard it. Silverhair was clearly in charge. Tooli-hair uttered a meaningless syllable, and then slapped something against Stann's chest. The move caught him completely by surprise, and he had no chance to block it. Dismayed, he looked down. Whatever it was, it was no larger than a clan brooch.

"Do you understand me now?" Silverhair asked, in perfect Keaynn.

Stunned, Stann whispered, "Yes."

"Good. I am Commander Danok. You are on my ship, the Imperial Science Ship Sseikea."

A ship. Looking around, Stann realized he was in an infirmary. There were several beds, all unoccupied, and two other crewmembers standing on the other side of the room. There were lights and consoles and monitors, and each of them was more surprising than the first. The technology was completely incomprehensible and clearly far more advanced than anything on Keaynn. The room alone was ten times the size of the crew cabin on Seeker Ten; the rest of the ship must be huge.

He suddenly felt as if all the blood in his body congealed as the full force of reality hit him. He was talking to *aliens*. He was conversing with intelligent life that had never set foot on blessed Keaynn. He was the first of his people to encounter beings from other worlds.

He was the last of his people to encounter beings from other worlds. The irony of it left him mute.

"I just introduced myself," Silverhair - Commander Danok - said. "It is considered good manners for you now to do the same."

Stann straightened his shoulders. "I am Distor Stann, pilot of the Seeker Ten of the Keaynn Space Exploration Authority." His words triggered a sudden thought. "My ship - where is my ship?"

"In our cargo bay. You were drifting in space; we took you for a derelict at first." He hesitated, then said, "We have uploaded your records. We need to ask you about the weapon you observed."

Tears burned his eyes, but he was unashamed. "A weapon. Sacred Powers, it was a weapon. Do you know who sent it? Why did they do it? We couldn't hurt anyone."

"I don't know," Danok said, his expression troubled. "That's what worries me."

Alien though he was, Stann had no doubt that this man, who commanded a ship beyond the fantasy of the wildest dreamers, was clearly telling the truth. And somehow, that was the most terrifying thing Stann had experienced since watching the destruction of his home.