Legacy of Force Chapter 10
Captain's Log Stardate 238608.22
Enterprise is en route to the Transentient Empire's Babylon Station under the escort of their heavy warship TMS Thunderbird. Our talks with the Empire have been promising so far, and I look forward to seeing their homeworld. The glimpses of the culture, civilization, and technology we have seen so far has been astounding to say the least. Still there are social concerns. The Empire seems very wary of Federation interference in its economic and social constructs. They have been practicing genetic engineering with what was described as a gleeful abandon for the past two hundred plus years. This is a practice that makes many in the Federation wary after our experiences with the Eugenics Wars and the Augments...
Jean-Luc felt Q's presence the second he entered his ready room. "Jean-Luc old friend, you must tread lightly, here," the familiar face wearing a Starfleet Admiral's uniform commented.
"Q! I was wondering when you might show up," Doctor Crusher muttered from her seat to Jean-Luc's left. Doctors Crusher and Jarn had just arrived to discuss their findings from the data exchange with the Thunderbird brought back by Ensign T'Lear.
Q cocked an eyebrow in her direction and asked, "Are we becoming prescient Doctor Crusher?"
Beverly shook her head and replied, "No. It just seems like the kind of mission you'd interfere with, Q."
"You wound me, Doctor," Q replied in that nauseatingly superior tone of his. "I merely come to warn you that you should be very careful around this particular species of humans."
"Why is that, Q?" Captain Picard asked. "Because they've seen fit to issue an execution warrant for you?" To be honest with himself, Jean-Luc was uncomfortable with the concept of dealing with a civilization that still practiced the death penalty.
"I am curious as to how Q feels about this particular species," Doctor Jarn asked.
"You've replaced the counselor?" Q asked. "It would seem you traded up in power, but down in other areas." Q commented giving the counselor an appraising leer.
"This is Doctor Jarn," Jean-Luc told him.
Q ignored the introduction and turned back to Captain Picard saying, "I am here as favor to an old friend, Jean-Luc. Nothing more. I'm simply trying to warn you that this Transentient Empire holds far more danger to you than even the Borg."
Captain Picard nodded his head and said, "They told me that you dropped a Borg cube on them, and that a quarter of a million of their people died."
"How was I to know that the Shan biology would not react well with the Borg implants. The Shan disappeared from the galaxy millions of years ago," Q said. "They weren't supposed to still be around. Supposedly they died out during the Voth civil war."
"But they are here now, and they aren't happy with you Q," Picard told him. Then crossing his arms he said, "You're afraid of them. Why?"
"Because they don't play by the rules Captain," Q said almost petulantly as he strode to the large windows and looked out across at the Thunderbird.
Picard shook his head and demanded, "Explain."
"The Continuum has been watching the development of these people since before they fled your eugenics war. They are single minded in their devotion to concepts of religion, individuality, and family," Q said. "They cling to their outdated ideology, and refuse to participate in the galactic community as anything other than traders and observers."
Picard smiled and asked, "You are complaining because they refuse to interfere in the affairs of others? That's not like you, Q."
"They are a highly advanced people, Jean-Luc, with powers and abilities beyond most of the other races in the galaxy. They aren't quite to on the same level of the Continuum, or the Organians, or even the Excalbians, but they are formidable, and yet they refuse to take their responsibilities seriously."
"What would those responsibilities be, Q?" Beverly asked. "Should they bounce starships into the range of a Borg cube to demonstrate their power? Should they involve other species in their internal wars? Should they act like the Continuum? If they bother you so much, then why not strip them of their powers?"
"Because they can't, Doctor," Dr. Jarn suggested. "Isn't that right Q?" he asked with a slight tilt of his head.
Q crossed his arms and replied, almost poutingly, "We tried. They are outside our realm of control somehow."
Jean-Luc chuckled, "How is it that the Continuum can strip one of their own of their powers, imprison another in a comet, or grant non-Q similar powers as their own, but they can't affect one small empire of humans?"
"We don't know," Q said. "But we do know that they are terribly violent Jean-Luc. When they are threatened, their violence is a terrible thing." He rubbed his shoulder as if remembering something unpleasant.
"What power is it that they have, that scares you so Q?" Jean-Luc asked. "Is it that they know something you don't?"
"We know what we need to know," Q said defiantly.
"But we don't," Jean-Luc said. "I appreciate the warning Q. I really do, but we must proceed as we have. The Federation can ill afford new enemies."
Q smiled and said, "I've seen your ship. The Federation has been ill used over the last few decades. The average age of your command officers is in the high twenties, and your ship is one of the better staffed in the fleet. They're captains of Renaissance-class starships in their twenties, most of their crews are barely out of the academy. You've lost ships and personnel faster than you can replace them. Starfleet is becoming a children's club with the very old giving orders to the very young. You're making mistakes that your predecessors would have never made because you don't have the experience. You've fought the Cardassians, the Borg, the Dominion, the Tholians, the Grey in Briar Patch, and the Archiens in Romulan Space. You cannot afford to take on the Transentient Empire. If you should fail here, then the Federation would probably cease to exist."
"I am well aware of our limitations, Q," Jean-Luc told him. "And our situation." And of course he was right. Picard had seen the reports coming out of Starfleet. The shipyards were able to produce the ships, but the crews were getting younger and younger. The very life-blood of the Federation was flowing out of Starfleet, and the people back home were starting to take notice. If it had not been for the Romulans coming to the Federation's aid when the Tholians advanced on Alpha Centauri in order to distract Starfleet from the Briar Patch, then Earth probably would have fallen- in spite of the "Watchers" left behind by the Empire. "The Empire offers an ally of considerable power," he finally said.
"And their sentimental attachment to Earth is in your best interest as well."
"What do you know that I don't, Q?" Picard asked. "For once, just come out and tell me, what you are trying to say."
Q smiled and said, "Very well, Jean-Luc. The Empire is far more advanced than the Federation, but they are limited as well. They are working toward goal that astounds even the Continuum in its scope, and they themselves are dedicated to beings that are as confusing to us as we are to you."
"Dedicated to beings?" Beverly asked, "You mean like worship?"
"It's a primitive term, but it serves, Doctor Crusher."
"They're pagans," Jarn said. "They follow the mythology of ancient Earth. How is it that this threatens you? Those gods were beings much like the Q, visiting planets around the galaxy and feeding off the psychic energy of their worshipers."
"I never said that they threatened us, Counselor, I said they confuse us. They have great power, but use it sparingly, and they are not like us. They are quite different. It is very possible that they are older than the Continuum." This last was said with an air of someone taking a perverse joy in admitting a cultural taboo.
"Captain," Commander Greenbough's voice came over the intercom. "The Thunderbird is hailing us. They want to know if there is a problem? They said that they were reading an energy spike onboard the Enterprise."
"Who was that?" Q asked.
"Commander Greenbough, my first officer. Will Riker is now captain of the Titan." He hit his com badge and said, "Commander Greenbough, please tell Fleet Captain Plainwalker that everything is under control."
He turned back to Q to find that he'd left the ready room. Looking over to Beverly and Doctor Jarn he asked, "Observations?"
"I never thought I'd see Q worried," Beverly said.
"How do you know that he was worried? I couldn't get a reading off of him," Doctor Jarn asked.
"We've had enough encounters with him that I can tell that something about this particular mission worries him. This isn't the usual case of the Q testing us. This is much more serious, they're worried about something. Also, he almost cringed when you mentioned Commander Greenbough" Beverly replied.
"And anything that worries the Q, is enough to worry me," Jean-Luc said. The door chimed. Picard looked toward it and said, "Enter."
Commander Greenbough strode in followed by a security detail, all with phasers drawn. The room suddenly seemed much smaller, "Captain Picard, Fleet Captain Plainwalker warned us that you might be in danger."
"We had a visit from Q," Picard said looking at his first officer and the security detail. "You can stand down."
Greenbough nodded tilted his head to the side holstered his phaser and said, "Sorry I missed him." He turned to the security detail and continued, "Stand down. Return to your posts." The two security officers nodded and left.
Picard smiled, "Don't worry Num… Commander. I'm glad to see that you're pro-active."
"Yes sir," he replied. "We're in potentially hostile space. It would not do for me to lose my captain from his own ready room. Fleet frowns on that kind of thing. Ensign T'Lear confirmed the energy spike in your ready room, so I decided to check things out for myself."
"And a little precaution is never a bad thing," Beverly said.
"If you will excuse me," Commander Greenbough nodded to the Captain, "I'll return to my duties."
"Of course, Commander," Picard nodded as the huge red haired man exited the room.
Turning around, he noticed that Doctor Jarn was somewhat pale. "Is there anything wrong, Doctor?"
Doctor Jarn swallowed and Jean-Luc could see genuine fear in the man's eyes. "There was a terrible potential for violence just now, Captain." He nodded toward the door and said, "That man came in here with the intent to kill anything attacking this ship or its crew. I have never encountered that kind of potential for violence in a human before."
"Explain yourself, Doctor," Picard said. "Are you saying that he is a danger to the crew?"
Doctor Jarn shook his head, "I'd say that man was a danger to anyone or anything threatening the crew or the ship. Not even the Klingons engender that kind of fury in full battle mode."
"Yet he seemed so calm," Beverly said.
"That is what frightens me. He was calm, but there's something lurking just below the surface. Something dangerous, something deadly, and something very powerful, Captain."
"What have your counseling sessions with him revealed, Doctor?" Picard asked.
"He seems to be a very well rounded officer, sir. I haven't done a mind scan of him, as he some pretty effective mind screens of his own. Since Commander Tuvok told me that the he'd studied on Vulcan I assumed he'd picked up the ability to shield his thoughts there."
"I don't understand Doctor," Picard said.
"Vulcans are touch-telepaths sir, but strong emotions can leak out and affect even them. Many humans who study there, learn to keep their emotions under tight control, and to shield their thoughts from randomly bombarding their hosts.".
"Did you request to do a deeper scan?" Beverly asked.
"I didn't see a need to. The Commander has shown no signs of being psychologically or mentally unstable. His psych reviews from Starfleet have all come back fairly flat across the board. The usual elevations found in battle officers after the Dominion War, but nothing that stood out." The man shook his head
"Can you detect anything unusual from him now?"
Doctor Jarn closed his eyes and seemed to concentrate, "Nothing sir. He has retreated behind his shields again." He opened his eyes in surprise, "I am however detecting a great deal of traffic in the Imperial psi net. I would say as we grow closer to the Babylon Station, it will become much clearer."
Picard nodded. "Keep me informed on it. Have you been able to glean any more information from it?"
Jarn nodded, "There seems to be a whole new area of discussion about us on it. I haven't attempted to "join the conversation" but I can listen in. There's an intense debate on bringing the "Watchers" home. Also there's a public forum on how to integrate trade with the Federation regarding intellectual copyright laws and how they apply to replicator technology. Oh, and evidently Junior Williams has made a full recovery from his injury in the Imperial Furball Playoffs. The Razors are expected to have a good season next year," he said with a slight smile.
"Doctor, are you trying to be humorous?" Picard asked.
"No sir. I'm just unfamiliar with this psi-net and tend to get tossed around from one conversation to another. The recovery of this particular player takes up a significant portion of the conversation on the net. Some the minds involved are extremely powerful. Some of them are completely bypassing the Imperial relay stations, and are broadcasting directly into the net."
"I don't understand the analogy," Picard said.
"Imagine the Enterprise bypassing the Federation subspace booster relays and transmitting its data directly to Starfleet Command at Star Base One- without burning out every other receiver between here and there."
"The power must be staggering," Beverly said.
"Doctor, some of the minds I'm getting a glimpse of are unbelievably powerful. They are carrying out tight beamed communications across interstellar distances without the aid of instrumentality."
"Could this be what has the Q so worried?" Picard asked.
"I don't know. I'm unaware of the Q's attitude toward psionic species."
"Very well, for now, just monitor this psi-net the best you can but don't try to make any contact. In the meantime, let's return to our discussion at hand."
"Commander Greenbough or the data brought back by T'Lear?
"The data; I am unconcerned for the moment about my first officer's penchant for violence. He seems to have it well under control, and channeled into healthy endeavors."
Both doctors nodded and Jean-Luc leaned back in his chair. He addressed Doctor Crusher first, "What is Starfleet Medical's likely reaction to a race that practices genetic engineering to the degree we've seen so far."
"They will be strictly forbidden from service in Starfleet. Regulations are very clear on that issue sir."
"Would we want to integrate them into Starfleet? Would they want to integrate for that matter?" Jarn asked. He shook his head and said, "I'm sorry Captain, but why would they want to join Starfleet. They have a perfectly good Imperial Navy that can stand against the Dominion for 200 plus years."
"What about travel in the Federation in general?" Picard asked.'
"Those with genetic enhancements would be required to register with the Federation Bureau of Security."
"What about allowances for cultural differences?" Jean-Luc suggested.
"I'm not sure Jean-Luc. There are several races who practice it on a minor level, but nothing like what we've seen here. I think that the source of the problem is not the genetic enhancements themselves, but a sense of fairness."
Jean-Luc was surprised to hear that. "Explain please, Doctor."
"Many of the laws were enacted to keep people from having their children enhanced to give them advantages over others when competing for scholarships and professional positions. It was felt that to keep the playing field level, that the enhancements should be outlawed."
"And the Imperial policy?"
"Is to allow people to make whatever genetic enhancements they can afford, and push those without enhancements to work that much harder."
"How has that worked for them?"
"I can't honestly say, Jean-Luc. The data we've been given may very well have been "sanitized" for our consumption."
"Captain, if I may," Doctor Jarn interrupted.
"Go ahead counselor."
"I don't think the data has been sanitized. If you look at it, they show about the same dropout rate for university as most Federation planets. They also show a very vigorous technical and trade training program. If you cross reference it with service in their Imperial Star Navy, and Ground Forces breakdown supplied, then you WILL see a pretty even distribution across the chart of what they call baselines and transentients. It would see that they compensated for the differences in ability with their rather unique social structure of nobles, citizens, and subjects."
"Genetic enhancements are of little use in earning citizenship. The number of years of service to earn citizenship is the same no matter what enhancements a person has or what their economic status is."
"So they've merged a meritocracy with both an aristocracy and egalitarianism?" Picard asked.
"It works for them, sir. I would say that Doctor Crusher's assessment of Federation policies is correct, but at the same time, they don't really apply to the Empire. They have approached us for diplomatic relations, not for membership. We don't expect the Ferengi, the Romulan, nor the Klingons to abide by our laws. I don't think we should expect the Empire to either."
"You raise a good point, Doctor…,"
"Bridge to Captain Picard…," Commander Greenbough's voice interrupted again.
"What is it Commander?"
"We are approaching Babylon Station now sir."
"On my way, Commander."
"Well, looks like this it, Doctors. We finally get to see the station that the Founder described as the thorn in the Dominion's side." He gestured toward the doorway.
Entering the bridge, Picard could sense the excitement. "Captain on the Bridge!" Command Greenbough said standing.
"Put it on the main viewer Commander."
"Aye aye, sir."
The scene on the screen shifted to a massive space station shaped like two mushrooms sitting column to column glittering like a bright blue and silver jewel in the night. Huge space doors not unlike the ones at Space Dock back at earth were on both "caps". "She's massive sir, over fifteen kilometers from top to bottom with a maximum diameter of 8 kilometers on each of her caps," Commander Greenbough said. Then his voice changed from one of awe to incredulity, "I don't believe it"
"What is it Commander?" Picard asked.
"Captain, that's the Bloodwing sitting in parking orbit." He touched several controls, and the image of an old Romulan Winged Defender class starship came up on the screen- her feathers painted a deep green.
"Bloodwing?" Doctor Jarn asked.
"Empress Ael t'Rllallieu's ship. The one that disappeared in 2301 with the Empress aboard," he said.
"THE t'Rllallieu?" Beverly asked. "The one who went with Kirk to destroy Levaeri V, who rescued Admiral McCoy from ch'Rihan?" Beverly asked.
"The same, Doctor," Commander Greenbough confirmed. "Her battle tactics were required reading for the command program. She was brilliant!"
"You sound like an admirer," Captain Picard said sitting down. "Now what would that ship be doing here?"
"They're hailing us Captain,"
"Put it on the screen."
The main viewer flickered and small female vulcanoid with graying hair wavered into the existence. She was wearing the uniform of the Transentient Empire, but had an aura of great command about her. "Welcome to Babylon Station Enterprise. I am Admiral t'Rllallieu, The Imperial Homeworld had sent word that you are to be shown every courtesy."
Next to him, Picard felt Commander Greenbough stiffen. The woman on the screen smiled, "I would say that my image has surprised your first officer, Captain."
"What is it Commander Greenbough?" Picard asked.
Greenbough nodded to his captain and said, "With your permission, sir?" He then indicated the screen with his head.
"By all means, Commander. Just please, don't start an interstellar war."
The commander nodded, smiled and rose to his feet. He adjusted his tunic and then began to speak quickly in a very fluid sounding language. The woman on the screen smiled and exchanged greetings with him. Picard noticed that the word jolantru was nowhere to be heard.
"Well, Commander?"
"It would appear that we are addressing the former Rihannsu Empress, sir."
Picard turned to the screen and asked, "Is my first officer correct, madam?"
She smiled, "You're first officer is rather perceptive, and speaks the language rather well. Yes, he is correct, Captain Picard. My ship was attacked on the edge of Cardassian space and was thrown through a wormhole. We found our way here, and were surprised to find a non-Federation Terran colony at war with the Dominion. They made us an offer, and we've been here since."
"That was over eighty years ago, madam."
"Of course, Captain. Rihannsu are a long lived people," she said. "Now if you would beam over, I think we have much to discuss. The captain of the Midgarth's Warder is waiting for you in my office. He has some things he wishes to discuss with you We have a bit of a problem we need to address before we proceed."
"Problem?" Picard asked not liking what he was hearing.
The admiral smiled. "Nothing serious, Captain. It's actually a family matter. As you know there were several families left behind on Earth when these people left the planet. Some were left as Watchers, others had different reasons for staying. A very high ranking family has requested a chance to speak with you in order to find a missing person. The captain of the Midgarth's Warder is the representative of that family. He will fill you in on the details when you come aboard. To be completely honest, tracing a family history in this Empire is like navigating a wormhole with a slide rule and a calculator. It can be done, but it puts a great deal of stress on the patience of the navigator."
Picard smiled and nodded, "I'll beam over at your convenience."
The Admiral nodded and said, "I'm glad to hear it. It's been a long time since I've had the captain of the Enterprise as my guest. I look forward to the experience again. In the meantime, my dock master will transmit a parking course next to the Midgarth's Warder. I will see you in an hour, Captain."
"Captain, we're being routed to the other side of the station," Ensign T'Lear said.
"Follow the corridor set by the station, Ensign," Picard told her.
"Yes, sir."
Enterprise glided along the path laid out by the station. Several ships of various Dominion and unknown designs were scattered in parking orbits around it. Small worker modules and transport tugs were travelling back and forth between the station and the ships. Two cruisers similar to the Thunderbird were sitting in a high orbit on station guard. It took quite a while to even reach the massive structure, much less navigate under it.
The image on the screen changed as the ensign rolled the Enterprise to the port, allowing their momentum to shift in such a way as to be useful to the ship's gravity generators instead of a complete drain on the inertial dampeners. It was a trick many flight control officers in the fleet had picked up over the years. It didn't make a lot of difference in the ship's energy consumption, but it did save some slight wear and tear on the inertial dampeners, those were something no one serving on a starship wanted to see worn and torn.
As the upper portion of the screen drew back from the station's hull, the image of a huge craft came into view. She had a definitely organic feel to her lines, like some kind gleaming cocoon. From the forward section projected two staggered wings raking back over her ventral and dorsal spines. Hundreds of launch bays were embedded along both the forward and aft edges of each wing. Her main hull sloped backwards to a fine point. Four warp nacelles projected from much smaller wings at her aft section. "Get Doctor Seizemore up here immediately. I want her impressions of the technology," Picard said.
"No need, Captain," the small woman said from behind him. "I came up here as soon as I heard the news."
"Impressions?" he asked.
She went over to the science console and began scanning. "She's six thousand three hundred seventy four meters from stern to the fantails of her warp nacelles; five thousand six hundred twenty-two meters across her dorsal/ventral axis; and four thousand four hundred eighty meters from port to starboard. I'm getting exactly zero life signs and no energy signature from her what so ever."
"Cloaking technology?"
"Possibly, but we can see her. More likely internal shielding," Seizemore said. "She's evidently designed to run silent and run deep."
"What are you sensing from their psi-net, Dr. Jarn?"
"Excitement, anticipation, mainly sir. Evidently there's some kind of news agency covering our arrival and it's being broadcast as well- images only though. However, the conversation is rather interesting."
"Explain Counselor," Picard said.
"The primary area of discussion seems to be between two factions. The first is very interested in making contact with us and visiting Earth space again. The other faction is ambivalent toward opening diplomatic relations. They feel that we have very little to offer them except more discrimination and misunderstandings. They also seem to be unimpressed with Enterprise, sir," Dr. Jarn said.
"So there may be a split between the official government position and the general populace?"
"It's possible. Maybe it's something you should discuss with Admiral t'Rllallieu," Doctor Crusher suggested.
"I'll bring it up if the opportunity arises," Picard said. "As for this meeting, what do you think it's about?"
"She said it was about a missing person. If nothing else, maybe we can reunite one person with their family," Beverly said.
"Only one way to find out, beam over and talk to the woman," Commander Greenbough said. "Just take a security detail with you." He leveled his gaze at Picard, "I'm sure I don't have to quote General Order 15."
Picard shook his head, "One of these days, Starfleet is going to clarify that regulation, and first officers across the fleet are going to resign en masse. Very well Commander. Will Commander Tuvok be acceptable?"
"Of course, Captain," Commander Greenbough said without a trace of irony. "Commander Tuvok is a highly trained and efficient security officer. He is more than capable of handling your safety."
Picard looked over to Doctor Crusher and said with a smile, "He's worse than Will ever was."
"I know," she replied.
"What else can you tell me about the Midgarth's Warder and Babylon Station?"
"Babylon Station has an unusually high water content sir, much like the Thunderbird. Scans on the interior of the Midgarth's Warder are ineffective," Doctor Seizemore said.
"The water, this would be their habitat for the Shan species?" he asked.
"I would say so, sir."
"What can you tell me about them?"
"Very little, we know they are an amphibious humanoid species, who according to the data files garnered by Ensign T'Lear, have developed bio-technology to extreme levels. They don't build phasers and starships, they grow them."
"Could they be the source of the Empire's genetic manipulation technology?"
"Very possibly."
"Lieutenant Commander Vovarasky described herself as a Shan defender. What do the files say about that?"
Ensign T'Lear tapped several interfaces on the helm and said, "The defenders are a genetic variant of the Shan with increased strength, durability, and speed. According to my discussions with Lieutenant Windham, the Shan were starting to die out in ancient Earth's predator filled seas. The appearance of the Shan defenders gave them the wherewithal to not only survive but to thrive as a culture."
"So they are capable of adapting to both an aquatic and a land environment?" Commander Tuvok asked.
"Yes sir. They have a rather interesting physiology and culture. Their cultural practices are hedonistic by even Deltan standards, and according to Lieutenant Windham, their preferred mode of dress is none at all."
"It makes sense," Doctor Jarn said. "Most clothing would become cumbersome in an aquatic environment."
"Of course Doctor," Ensign T'Lear said. "The uniforms that I observed the Shan wearing on the Thunderbird were scant at best, and I got the impression they were for my benefit more than for the normal functioning of the crew."
"Maneuvering with that much water in a spacecraft could prove to be a rather large energy drain," Ensign T'Lear commented
"I wondered about that myself, Ensign," Picard replied. Large amounts of liquids of any sort always proved to be difficult to transport in space, as it shifted rather easily in its containers. Building a starship designed to hold liquid as an environment was unheard of.
"Their inertial dampeners must be impressive," Commander Greenbough said.
"Aquatic races don't usually achieve star travel," Doctor Jarn commented "I wonder what made them different."
"Perhaps the fact that they are amphibious by nature?" Doctor Crusher replied. "And they did evolve alongside the Voth. Maybe that is the difference. I wonder if they are asking as many questions about us, as we are about them."
"They do have several tactical advantages," Commander Tuvok said. "Not the least of which is our ignorance of their very existence. Combined with what is evidently their superior technological and psionic abilities and we are sorely outmatched. Diplomacy is not only desired here, but is mandatory."
"Agreed Commander," Picard said. "Now if you'll join me in the transporter room
Five minutes later, Picard found himself stepping off a well-appointed pad alongside Commander Tuvok. Two armed guards wearing Imperial uniforms stood at a nearby door, and a technician was behind an operations console. Next to the console was a young woman who appeared to be in her mid twenties, dressed in what Picard assumed was civilian garb consisting of a simple white blouse and a pair of green slacks. Her long red hair was pulled back along the sides of her head to cascade elegantly down her back like a rich copper waterfall. Her green eyes sparkled as she looked over at the captain and said in English, "Welcome to Babylon Station Captain Picard. I'm Aerin Grimwauld; Admiral t'Rllallieu has asked me to be your guide on the station."
Picard raised an eyebrow and asked, "A civilian guide?"
The woman smiled, "The Admiral prefers you to get a broader cross-section of experiences on the station than just the military. This is a civilian station with a military command staff. I'm a member of the Trade Council on the station, and a labor arbiter." She then turned to Commander Tuvok and raised her hand in the traditional Vulcan salute, "Welcome Commander Tuvok. Peace and long life."
Commander Tuvok raised an eyebrow, but returned the salute, "Peace and long life, to you as well, Ms. Grimwauld."
She turned back to Picard and said, "I was briefed on your command staff by Lieutenant Windham. He's been reassigned to Lady Tethys' staff for the duration of your visit. The Imperial Council felt it would be best to have at least one consistently friendly face among the diplomats you will be dealing with."
Picard smiled at the woman. "That was very kind of you."
"Kindness is only part of it, Captain. We wish these negotiations to go well, and a consistent presence will facilitate that. The fact that that presence is in the form of a Prince of the Realm, is a bonus."
"I had forgotten about that part. Ensign T'Lear's reports on the young man were rather glowing in their assessment. She didn't make any mention of an aristocratic bearing," Jean-Luc said.
Ms. Grimwauld indicated the doorway where they should exit, and said, "I would be surprised if she had. Prince Stefan is anything but a social snob. From what I've heard, most of the time he's more embarrassed by his rank than reveling in it."
Jean-Luc smiled, "I've met a few young men like that. Usually though, they're out to embarrass their parents in the process." He remembered a time when he had similar attitude. He never had a social rank, most of that kind of thinking on Earth had disappeared a long time ago, but he did remember rebelling against his parents. He was after all the first Picard to leave the Sol System.
"I don't think that's Stefan's plan. I think he just wants to be left alone to do his job."
"An unusual attitude for one so young," Tuvok said.
"Stefan is an unusual man," she said. "But that is a tale for another time. For now, the Admiral is looking forward to meeting you."
"I'm curious, how was it that you were able to convince a Romulan Empress to serve your Empire?" Tuvok asked.
The woman smiled up at him, "My Emperor can be quite persuasive. That and the fact, that we understand the Rihannsu concept of mnhei'sahe. We understood why she needed to leave her people, and what she was trying to do. We were able to work within her sense of honor to find a place for her crew and for her."
"So your security force here is Romulan?" he asked.
"Rihannsu," she said.
"Of course Rihannsu."
"Yes, they are Rihannsu, some of them at least. Others have moved on to other duties in the Empire, or retired. When we made our agreement, it included the opportunity to become citizens."
"Rihannsu are a notoriously xenophobic people, Ms. Grimwauld. One wonders how you were so easily able to overcome that?" Tuvok asked.
She smiled and said, "We never said it was easy. It was a very wary relationship for the first ten years or so. However, we were very careful to avoid cultural misunderstandings, and slowly became allies. She accepted an appointment in Imperial Navy as convenience for both of our peoples."
Picard had been on alien space stations before, and of course had managed to visit about half the starbases in the Alpha Quadrant throughout his career. Most alien stations were somewhat xenophobic, with stares and lidded glances indicating distrust. Here he found people openly nodding to him, greeting him with brisk "good morning sirs," or "hellos" and even a few "bonjours".
"Your people are remarkably open, Ms. Grimwauld," he said.
"Your arrival has been a source of excitement throughout the empire for several days now. It's managed to take some of the wind out of the sails of other news," she replied.
"Such as?" Commander Tuvok asked.
She smiled at him as they entered a lift. "Green 5." As the doors closed and the lift began to move, she turned to Commander Tuvok and replied, "The whole fiasco of the Junior Williams getting injured in the IFL Playoffs. The Saber's upset was all everyone was talking about for a while. Also there was the attack on the Saexa System, and some a suggestions that there has been a new incursion into Imperial Space from outside our galaxy."
"Like the Archiens' wormhole incursions into Romulan Space?" Picard asked.
"We don't know right now, Captain. Andromeda is on the opposite side of the galaxy from us. They would have to be punching a wormhole through the Shapley Center, and I don't think their technology could pull that off- not without reigniting the super massive singularity there. We do know that their ships have proven difficult for us to kill."
"Even for a vessel like the Midgarth's Warder?"
"Midgarth's Warder is a powerful ship, Captain. Possibly the most powerful in the fleet, but there is only one of her and limited number of her brothers and sisters. We are not like the Federation. Our physical resources are not limited, but our human resources are finite. We can't keep sending younger and younger men and women out into space to die- and we refuse to conquer other people to do our fighting for us. We have thirty worlds in six star systems. Our next stellarforming project is not due to come online for another fifty years."
The lift stopped and opened into a large reception area filled with various station personnel. Jean-Luc noticed that the vast majority of the people in this area were wearing Imperial Uniforms. Two guards, one Rihannsu, and the other human stood on either side of a door. Ms. Grimwauld guided her charges to the door. The guards stepped aside so that they could pass.
The first thing that Jean-Luc noticed about the room was the huge window behind the desk. It looked out to the expanse of stars and ships beyond to give the Admiral a perfect view of station space. Admiral t'Rllallieu was sitting behind the desk speaking quietly to someone else. Jean-Luc stopped himself from doing a double-take. The man was huge, with a red beard and long copper hair pulled back into a neat pony-tail. His was a good two meters tall and half as broad across the shoulders and was the spitting image of his first officer.
The Admiral rose and nodded, "Ah, Captain Picard. Thank you for joining me. This is Captain Ridvin Greenbough of Their Majesties' Ship Midgarth's Warder."
The big man nodded to Captain Picard, offered a huge paw of a hand and said, "I'm pleased to meet you Captain. I believe you have my brother on board your ship. My mother would really like to have him back. Dad's got a whole squadron of Imperial Marines sitting on her right now, and we're not sure how long they can hold her."