Genre: StarTrek: The Next Generation

Title: New Civilizations

Summary: The new mission is under way. Visitors arrive on the Enterprise

Chapter 4

"Captain Picard." Worf's gruff voice sounded tense.

"Yes, Mr. Worf?"

"Sir, we're coming within orbit range of Kron III. There is another ship in orbit, and it is not a Kron vessel."

"Yes, Worf, the Ferengi presence was expected."

"Sir, it is not a Ferengi ship. It is Romulan."

Picard, accompanied by Counselor Troi, was moving out of his ready room and stepping to the center of the bridge seconds after Worf had completed the last word. "Screen on. Have you detected any hostile actions on their part?"

"No sir. They're in communication with the planet. They have no armament at ready and there are no shields up."

"Send them a hail."

"Yes sir."

"Number One, what do you make of this?" Picard turned to Riker who had already risen from the central command chair.

"Beats me. I take it you had no notification of their being here?"

Picard turned back to the screen on which was centered the oddly shaped malevolent ship. "No, I didn't."

Worf spoke from his command station. "Sir, the Romulan ship is answering our hail."

"On screen, Mr.Worf."

The screen changed views from that of the ship to the seated figure of a Romulan. Once part of the Vulcan race, the Romulans were unknown to the Federation a bare eighty-five years previously. Their existence had even been forgotten by the Vulcans, though whether on purpose or accident was shrouded in their early turbulent history. The Romulans were as dedicated to war and discord as the Vulcans had become dedicated to logical harmony. Centuries of complete separation, originally caused by opposition in ideals and beliefs, had also wrought a separation in physical appearances. Where Vulcans had become pale and lean, the Romulans were flushed dark with warrior thick bodies; where Vulcans spoke with ascetic reticence born of constant consideration of the logic of their words, the Romulans launched their thoughts with considered aim.

"Captain JeanLuc Picard, commander of the USS Enterprise. Who do I have the honor of addressing?" His smile looked like a picture cutout pasted on his face.

"Commander Lareth, of the Romulan Empire vessel, Timarock. Greetings. The Kronatina were just telling me they were expecting your arrival, momentarily. They are quite excited." The Romulan's face was grave but not threatening.

"Yes. We're here on a diplomatic mission of peace."

"So we heard." Something that might pass for a smile almost approached the Romulan's lips.

Picard decided to stop smiling. "And your intentions?"

Again the almost smile. "We're hoping to negotiate a trade agreement, Captain Picard."

Why was it, Captain Picard wondered, whenever a Romulan spoke his name, it sounded like a curse?

The Romulan continued. "We had heard about this new civilization and its possibilities of trade resources. Actually, we waited until we heard the Federation was sending someone to start negotiations. We could have been here first, of course; it is rather close, albeit in an unsettled area of the Romulan Empire, but because we have respect for the Federation, we decided it best to wait for you. After all, this is a Federation discovery."

"We're already hoping they will eventually become part of the Federation."

The Romulan moved a hand as if to dismiss the remark. "Well, that remains to be seen, but we would very much like to trade with them, whether they join your little band or no. That is within our rights under the latest treaties, I believe?"

Admiral Podyznit had mentioned that the latest peace negotiations, under the famed Mr. Spock's directions, had brought about an agreement of limited mutual trade but she'd said she didn't think they would act upon it yet. Even old hands at the trade tables could be mistaken.

The captain granted the Romulan a small curling of his lips. "Entirely within your rights. In fact, we were expecting to see a Ferengi trading vessel here. They'd informed us of similar intentions. I'm surprised they aren't here."

"They were here when we arrived. We hailed them, but they decided to leave. I suppose they'll return later." Though lightly said, the Romulan disapproval of the Ferengi was obvious.

Picard had no doubt that 'later' meant shortly after the arrival of the Enterprise. He wondered if there had been words between the vessels over and above a mere hail of recognition. Well, no matter, he'd speculate on the whereabouts of the Ferengi vessel at another time. "I've been given to understand that we're to be greeted by the Kronatina with some ceremony before entering into talks with their diplomats. Are you to be so honored?"

The Romulan stopped his attempt at smiling. "No. In fact, we've informed the Kronatina that we don't wish to be celebrated, that we wish to begin talks as soon as possible. They are making preparations for a conference room now."

"I see. Well, I hope you achieve an agreement. If there's anything we can do to aid you, please let us know. We'll be here for quite some time."

The Romulan nodded acquiescence, "Don't worry, Captain Picard, we won't harm your new little friends. We'll keep our claws sheathed. Trade is all we're here for, this time." Commander Lareth gave a slight nod to someone off screen. The screen image returned to the exterior view of the ship. The Romulans had ended transmission.

Picard turned to Counselor Troi, "Well?"

"I couldn't detect much; the Romulans are very good at covering their emotions. What I could sense was exactly what his words projected; they're here for trade, nothing else. They seem to have no ulterior thoughts." Conscious, as always, that she couldn't sense complete thoughts like most full Betazoids could, Deanna made the very most of her available gifts.

When Deanna had concluded her assessment, Picard went through a characteristic series of movement. He thrust his jaw forward, raised his chin, and inhaled sharply as he twisted his torso while his eyes remained on the view of the Romulan ship. Finally, he said, "Mr. Worf, please see that the Romulans are kept under instrument surveillance at all times. Ensign," he turned to the helm station where Ro was seated, "Put us into the same orbit as the Romulan vessel, no deeper and no higher and just far enough away to keep them from being nervous."

Though Ensign Ro's personal arguments were with the Cardassians, she was not above having salt ready for any Romulan wounds she could find. She enjoyed the brief inner calculation of how close she could bring the Enterprise to the Romulans, and maybe just raise the hackles a little, without annoying them into action.

Captain Picard turned to Riker.

Riker replied to the unspoken remark. "When the Ferengi arrive, you expect they'll assume the same orbit only on the other side of us. We'll be a buffer between the two." He rose from his seat and stood beside the captain, staring at the view screen.

Picard turned his eyes to the view of the enigmatic vessel. "It probably won't help."

Riker smiled at the shorter man as he narrowed his eyes. "Yeah, but it couldn't hurt."

Having established orbit, the Enterprise hailed Kron III and almost immediately, were welcomed by a striking display of the Kronatin fleet of space and air ships. Though the vessels were of primitively quaint designs, they were also uniquely beautiful, being coated with a material that reflected light prismatically. The light in space being unmodified, unlike that filtered through their golden-pink atmosphere, the air vehicles reflected differently from their space sisters, and as the air ships soared high into the stratosphere and the space ships dipped as low as they dared they created beautiful patterns. The beauty of the skill and imagination as the hundreds of luminescent specks from the planet in contrast with the brilliant fire of about seventy-five larger embers, impressed the Federation Starfleet observers.

Then they heard a welcoming speech from a high official, who expressed a desire to develop trust and an offer of their goodwill. Then, a second official, A's'kahn'a, apparently the one who was to head the diplomatic team, greeted them. After a pleasant speech (one that seemed familiar in content to speeches offered by most civilized people), he ended with, "And now, we would be most pleased to be welcomed aboard your great starship. We made a similar request of the ones who call themselves Romulans, not of the Federation, but, most regretfully, were refused."

During the ceremonies, Picard had stood, unmoving, smiling graciously, official prime recipient of the welcoming gestures, but the request to board the Enterprise brought him up short. His smile remained frozen, while he nodded, saying, "I'm sure we'll be pleased to have you pay us a visit. Won't you just wait one moment while I make some arrangements to honor your arrival?" He turned from the view screen on the bridge and said, "Discontinue audio please, Mr. Worf. Number One, what reasons could there be to deny such a visit?"

Riker shook his head. "None that I know of. Uh, wait, medical, perhaps?"

Captain Picard tapped his communicator, "Dr. Crusher?"

"Yes Captain?"

"The Kronatina have requested a visit to the Enterprise. Have they been checked out medically?"

Her answer was immediate, "Yes, they have been. The first encounter team did a full medical on the Kronatina as well as general planetary bios scans. Our transporter biofilters have been calibrated to take care of anything communicable from either the Kronatina themselves or even any stray dust they may bring with them."

"Thank you, Dr. Crusher." Captain Picard turned to his chief of security. "Lieutenant Worf?"

"Sir, there is no reason to deny them visitation privileges. They do not even carry personal weapons."

The Captain turned to Commander Riker. "Nothing like being sure your house is in order before receiving guests." He tapped his communicator again. "Guinan?"

After thirty seconds of giving Guinan the responsibility of almost instantaneously preparing a room to receive a diplomatic party from Kron, Captain Picard gave Worf the signal to resume audio, and turned back to his politely waiting viewers. "How soon may we transport you to the Enterprise?"

TBC to Chapter 5

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