Chapter 51

Tiron touched the control on the center of the small table and a holographic image of the approaching region of space manifested itself in the makeshift conference room.

Beverly studied the image, then shook her head, turning to Data for clarification. "I'm sorry; stellar cartography isn't my strong suit. What's the problem?" she said.

"The problem, Doctor," Data replied, "is that, based on the information S'bey has given us regarding our eventual destination, our most probable destination is here." He pointed to an apparently insignificant system on the periphery of the image.

She shook her head once again, still unclear on the issue at hand. "And...?" she pressed.

"And, Doctor," Worf interjected from the opposite side of the table, "that system lies adjacent to Breen territory."

"And?"

"If we are to reach this location prior to the birth of Mshara and Usmet's babies, we must travel through Breen space," Data explained. "A more circuitous route would take several weeks."

Beverly shook her head. "Without knowing the state of medical care on whatever world Biji has found for them, that may not be a bad thing..."

"But your prolonged absence from Starfleet would," Data pointed out. "If you do not return on the date you had indicated, Starfleet will initiate an inquiry..."

"And this is not where I want them to find me," she agreed. "All right," she sighed. "So we need to travel through Breen space. It shouldn't be a problem," she said – then looked at the expressions on the other people's faces. ""Should it?"

Worf growled. "The Federation and the Breen have not yet agreed upon a treaty," he reminded her.

"But we are in negotiations," she countered. "Surely they'll let us across..."

Tiron sighed, shaking his head patiently. "It doesn't work that way, Doctor; while the negotiations are in process, both sides must dance about, observing every technicality, every legality, lest they imperil their positions by establishing a precedence that might later be claimed as the basis for a continuing practice."

"The greater problem, Doctor," Data interrupted, "is that this vessel is not a Federation ship – but rather a Romulan one. Unlike the Federation, the Romulans are not in discussion with the Breen about a S

"So that should make it easier to cross..."

"It will make it impossible," Tiron said. "As a Romulan, I cannot initiate contact with a foreign government; it would be treason."

Beverly glared at him, her expression caustic. "Dee risked more than that to save those children," she pointed out.

Tiron countered her anger with a calming smile. "I did not say I would not do it, my dear; I'm letting you know the risk involved. If my actions were to come to be known by the Romulan Senate, even the Praetor could not protect me; my life would be forfeit upon my return to Romulus – and with my death, any protection I could provide my baj would be gone. I could not even leave her my fortune so that she could defend herself; everything I possess would revert to the state. She would be left without protection, and without the means to buy safety for herself – or the children."

A look of sadness crossed the old Romulan's face at the thought of never seeing his home world again – only to be replaced with one of solemn resolve.

Seeing the look on the older man's face, Beverly instantly regretted her words. "I'm sorry..." she began, reaching out, laying her hand on his arm.

"No need, my dear," he said, softly, "No need." He patted her hand gently – then pulled away. "But the problem is two-fold. I cannot initiate contact – and even if I could, the Breen could not respond. Not as a government; not to an individual."

"But..." she began to protest, "surely Jemat would be willing to grant us permission to pass through Breen space."

Worf interrupted. "He, too, is an individual; though we do not know the structure of the Breen government, I do not believe he is in the position to be able to provide us with the required permission we need to legally travel through Breen space." Despite his cautionary tone, Beverly heard a faint emphasis on the adverb.

"Then how did Dee manage it?"

"The Breen forces are not vast, and their technology is dated," Worf replied. "We have managed to elude the Federation – which has a substantially larger number of ships and more modern equipment. It is not improbable that she simply was not noticed."

"And, Doctor," Data added, "we often forget that space is very, very large. Even when you are actively searching for a vessel, it can difficult to find it; when you are not looking, it becomes very easy to miss it."

"So she just... slipped by?" Beverly said, amazed.

Tiron nodded. "Presumably."

"Then why can't we do the same?" she replied.

"We can," he agreed, "but there is a risk."

Worf gave a low grumble of agreement. "Violating Breen space is a crime; if we are found, we will be arrested, tried, and..." His voice trailed off.

Beverly blanched. She knew as well as they did what the Breen did with any – indeed, with all! – criminals.

After a grueling trial, they would be found guilty and executed.

Without question, without hope of reprieve – and without exception.

"Doctor?" Tiron asked, seeing the movement.

"Termination of existence," she said quietly, hating the euphemism the Breen used for the punishment of their criminals.

"Ah," Data said.

"Ah?" she snapped back, glaring at him. "That's all you can say? They murder their own people – and all you can say is 'ah'?"

Data's eyes widened at the rebuke. "I... apologize," he said after a moment. "I did not meant to suggest I approve their actions, Doctor. I do not. I was simply commenting upon your... comment," he said tentatively.

Beverly instantly regretted her words. "No, I apologize Data. I shouldn't have snapped at you. I... I just can't believe that Breen do that to their own people."

"I agree, Doctor – but it a response made necessary by the telepathic nature of the Breen: deviation from the societal norm evidenced by the ability to act in opposition to the standards of behavior would, by the very nature of their ability to instantly and totally communicate with one another, render them subject to disruption of their society; indeed, it would not be a far reach to see that their society could be destroyed – and quickly – should such ideas be transmitted to other members."

"That doesn't justify murdering them," she answered.

"Not just them, Doctor," Data said, "and not just us. If we were caught, it is likely that the revelation that Ginger and the children moved through Breen space without permission; they, too, would be subject to arrest and execution."

Beverly gaped at him, horrified. "But... they're not even in Breen space!"

"Not now – and as long as they remain outside their territory, they would be out of danger – but the location of that planet is one of the contested regions if the ongoing negotiations; if it were turned over to the Breen as a part of a treaty, they would be subject to arrest – and execution."

She stared – then whispered, "They are only children."

Worf shook his head. "There is nothing in the Breen legal archives that suggests that they would be spared because of their age. Which makes it all the more imperative that we remove the children from that world and transport them elsewhere," he concluded.

"Transport them, Worf?" she answered. " How? And where? Not Cardassia: they've already condemned them to death. And taking them back to Federation space means risking Czymszczak finding them."

Tiron sighed. "I wish that I could offer a refuge – even a temporary one – but Romulus is even more wary of off-worlders now. Even with the help that the Federation provided during the Reman rebellion has done little to moderate the level of distrust that exists between our people and other races," he admitted.

Beverly nodded, smiling gently at the man. "Tiron, if Romulus had been an option, you would have said something long ago," she said gently.

"She is my baj," he answered quietly. "I will protect her to the ends of my life and my fortune – but vast as it is, I cannot buy her a place on Romulus where she can raise the children in safety – let alone the thousands that remain on Cardassia."

"Do we have to move them, though? What if the Federation doesn't give that area of space to the Breen?" she said – then instantly realize the consequence of that possibility. "No; they would be in Federation space – and Biji would be in danger," she said quietly.

"As to where these children are going to go, we will have to decide - later," Data said. "For now, however, we must remove the children from the world where Ginger has left them and move them out of the contested area. "

"Biji didn't leave those children there on their own," Beverly pointed out. "There must be dozens people – children and adults – who would have to be moved, Data," Beverly pointed out. "This ship isn't rated for the number we have on her now."

Data nodded, conceding the point. "It will be a..." He hesitated for a moment, searching for the term, "...tight fit, but it will be possible – if it is only for a brief period of time."

"And then what?" she asked. "Where do we go once we have them? Gentlemen, we only have a few weeks – maybe only a few days – before Mshara and Usmet have their babies. Handling a high risk delivery is challenge enough – but the babies are going to need specialized care," she reminded all of them.

They fell silent for a moment, then Worf said, "As long as Andile is not with them, we can take them into Federation space, Doctor, and invoke the Compassion Laws...

"Which will get right back to Czymszczak," she pointed out. "How long until he tries to capitalize on the political situation and turn it to his own benefit?"

"While that risk is real, Doctor," Data agreed, "the cost is acceptable."

"What if the politics means he decides to turn the children back over to the Cardassians?" she countered. "What if one of the children says something about Andile, Data? What if Czymszczak realizes she's still alive? He's going to come after her – and when he finds her, he will kill her. Are those costs acceptable?"

She turned to Worf. "What about Q'onos?" she asked. "Could they request asylum there?" she asked the Klingon.

He nodded. "Providing we can get them there, it is likely they would be permitted to stay – if families can be found that would foster them," he added.

Beverly frowned. "Is that likely?"

Worf bared his teeth in response. "Family is everything to a Klingon! We are warriors – but we fight for our families first, to honor our houses. The Cardassians who abandoned their children are petaQ !"

"Not to mention the quadrant-wide humiliation the Cardassians would face when it became known their enemies were raising their children," Tiron offered, smiling.

The smile faded after only a moment, however. "Taking the children to Q'onos is a solution, Doctor – but only a short term one. It is what we can do for these thirty-some children – but what of the others that my Tironbyaj seeks to rescue?" he asked.

Beverly nodded. "Not to mention that Andile is not going to want these children separated on a hundred different worlds. No, I think we're going to have a find a better solution."

"A better solution may have to wait, Beverly," Tiron said, "but a temporary one may be possible. Mr. Data, how familiar are you with current Federation law regarding the diplomatic immunity relating to Romulan Senators within Federation space?"

Data cocked his head to one side. "Unfortunately, Geordi only updated my memory files at the time he re-initialized my program, and I have not had the opportunity to re-familiarize myself with current law since that time," he apologized.

"Mr. Data, I doubt that things have changed significantly on the last two weeks," Tiron answered, smiling at the android.

"No, sir – but I must point out that you are not currently a Romulan Senator – and therefore the laws would not apply to you in either case."

"No – but that is something that can be changed," he replied. "A Senate position can be bought – and quickly – if you have the money. And I do."

"But we will still need a place to which we can move the children," Worf reminded him.

"No we don't. Unless my memory fails me, diplomatic immunity would extend to my ship as well as to myself – and to anyone on my ship," he added.

Beverly nodded, understanding where the Romulan was going with the idea. "But as we said, the number of people we have on this ship now is overcrowded; add another thirty or forty – or more! To that number and..." she began to point out, only to see Tiron's smile widen.

"This ship, yes. But this is but one of my ships, Beverly. While we are evacuating the children from the planet, I will have my ship readied. Mr. Data, will you determine the coordinates for our fastest escape from Breen space once we have removed the children, and I will have her meet us there? Doctor, please prepare a list of the equipment and the personnel needed for caring for the children, Mshara and Usmet, and their infants. I will have the ship prepared and staffed. Mr. Worf, we will need to execute this operation as quickly – and as unnoticeably – as possible. This ship is equipped with a cloak – but Breen technology can detect the particle debris left by the cloak. We need to plot a course through Breen space that will obscure that debris to whatever extent is possible."

"Magnetic anomalies, cometary debris..." Worf nodded as ideas came to him. "It may require a somewhat circuitous route."

Tiron nodded. "As you must – but we will drop the cloak in order to maximize our velocity on the path to meet the ship on our escape."

"A high velocity escape may permanently damage your ship, sir," Data reminded him.

"It's a ship, Mr. Data," Tiron said. "A good ship – but a ship nonetheless. I can buy another." He laughed quietly. "It's quite remarkable what money can do, you know. I'm always a little surprised that the Federation gave up on using it."

Without further comment, the four rose from the table, and Worf and Data left to attend to their tasks. Beverly, however, held back for a moment.

"This is only a temporary solution, Tiron," she reminded him. "There's a limit to the number of children we can put on a ship – and it doesn't begin to address the long term problem of how we're going to get the remainder of the Chiemma, and how to educate them, raise them, find jobs... not to mention Dee's going to raise hell when she finds out you've moved them," she added.

"I will deal with the baj when the time comes. This was, after all, my doing," he sighed, "and I shall rectify the situation."

"Your doing?" Beverly asked.

He smiled – but tiredly this time. "Beverly, I was a fool. An old man and a fool. In my so-called wisdom, I thought I could bend the baj into growing as I thought she should – and when she came to me with her needs, her wants, her concerns, I dismissed them. Had I listened then, and granted her the answers she deserved, she – and her children – would be safe on a world where they would come to no harm; where they could live – and thrive.

"Now, now I must put my 'wisdom' aside and do as she wants and as she needs. I must help her save her children – and help her save herself."

Beverly nodded, understanding. "Thank you. For Dee – and for the Chiemma. But the real question remains: where are the children going to go? These children – and the thousands still on Cardassia Prime?"

To her surprise, Tiron laughed. "My dear Beverly, you Federationaists never fail to amaze me. When you gave up on money, you forgot all that it can do – especially when you have a lot of it. And I am, I assure you, quite, quite wealthy. Buying a seat in the Senate is nothing. And as for where my baj and her children are going to go, well, they can go wherever they want.

"I'll buy her everything she needs to raise the children, find the people she needs to help her – and then I'm going to buy her a planet. A world. A home."