The Enterprise's captain studied the face of his crewmembers as they sat in a circle around the large table of the main conference room. Some of the faces wore expressions of dread, some of excitement and one person had the expression of neutrality. It seemed as though nothing was bothering him at the moment and that nothing could bother him in the future. It was, of course, lieutenant commander Data, as Picard had to remind himself. "I presume you all know why you've been called here," the captain said as he looked at every individual briefly who was sat around the table in front of him.
They all nodded and commander Riker was the first of them to actually speak. "Sir, if I may…" he waited for captain Picard's approval and when it came in the firm of a slight but still quite distinguishable nod, he continued, "Why are we getting involved in this thing in the first place?"
Picard formed a steeple with his fingers and placed them firmly on the desk in front of him, thinking deeply for a short moment. "What do you mean, Number One?" He asked his first officer.
"Well," Riker carried on, "These two planets, what were they called again? Apollo and Artemis or something?"
Picard sighed and replied to the commander, correcting his ridiculous but quite obviously purposeful mistake, "No, commander. They are called Hypnos and Thanatos."
"Ah, well… I was half right," Riker said, defending his words. "They're not Federation planets are they?" He asked, his eyes were full of uncertainty and scepticism.
The captain looked over at the golden skinned android, who was sat in the chair next to Riker. He could tell that Data wanted to say something, so he prompted him, "Mr Data?"
The android nodded, and then placed his hands firmly on the table. "Sir," he said, looking over at commander Riker carefully, "the Federation charter states that any planet which has traded with or is currently trading with a Federation member planet, must be allowed aid from Federation sources." Data displayed a very brief and very small smile, obviously quite satisfied with his explanation, which was actually word for word from the Federation charter.
Riker nodded and said, "I see."
"But, who have these planets traded with?" It was Geordi La Forge who had asked the question. It seemed to be aimed at no one in particular.
Data paused for a moment and then attempted to answer his friend's question. "Thanatos has been known to Trade with Vulcan and Hypnos used to trade with the Trill home world and, centuries ago, sources suggest that it also traded with the Cardassian Empire."
Counsellor Deanna Troi nodded and then added to Data's explanation, "I remember mother once telling me that Thanatos traded with Betazed."
Data nodded in agreement with Troi's addition. "That is correct, counsellor."
Captain Picard then endeavoured to continue on with the meeting. "Starfleet Command has told me that we are to act as intermediary between the people of Thanatos and the People of Hypnos. I will select an away team, closer to the time of the conference, to beam down with me." He looked at the faces of the people at the table with him. They all appeared as though the understood what they said, except for one officer, Reginald Barclay. But, he usually looked confused, so Picard ignored that and said firmly, "Dismissed."
Commander Riker waited for everyone to leave the conference room and then walked over to the captain. "Captain?"
"Yes, Number One?" Picard looked up at his first officer, expectantly.
"I can't say that I'm all that convinced about what we're doing here," Riker said as he knitted his brows ever so slightly.
Picard walked over to the large, floor to ceiling window and stared out at the stars, almost dreamily. "Whatever do you mean, Number One?" He asked.
"I'm not sure whether we should be getting involved. I mean, it's their problem to sort out, isn't it?" He asked the captain.
"I understand, Will," the captain said reassuringly, dropping to a more informal and casual tone of voice this time. "But, Starfleet have told us what to do, and, at the end of the day, we have to obey their orders."
"I know that, sir," Riker said loudly and defiantly, before lowering his tone considerably.
Picard attempted a smile and then announced, "It will be fine, Number One."
Riker tried to smile back, but he wasn't really all that convinced. He left the room deep in thought and consideration.
