Chapter 9
The Cardassian ship answered his hail almost immediately. A young Cardassian appeared on the screen. 'I wonder where the Gul is', Larenzo thought.
"This is the Cardassian ship Talor," the Cardassian replied. "We were under the impression this was Kenzaton space not Federation space."
Larenzo leaned forward in his seat smiling, "I'm aware of that. However, your ship had to cross Federation space to get here and if I'm not mistaken you have to go into Federation space to leave again."
"Captain I thought we were allies," the Cardassian said feigning surprise. "We are here as friends of the Kenzatons."
"That's true we are allies," Larenzo replied conversationally. "Since we are allies and you are here as friends of the Kenzatons then perhaps you wouldn't mind answering one question for me. Why are you hiding?"
The Cardassian smiled back, "We are not hiding Captain but surveying. I don't know if you had noticed but this sun is emitting higher radiation than we would normally expect from this type of sun. Our scientist's wished to study this phenomenon and here seemed to be the perfect place to do that."
"I'm sorry, what's your name?" Larenzo asked and then dismissed his own question. His eyes flashed dangerously, "I wasn't aware that Cardassian ships carried scientists."
"My name is Ca'rol and Starfleet doesn't have the monopoly over scientists." The smile had now left his face.
"Where is your Gul?"
Ca'rol shifted a little uncomfortably, "Gul Sherat is otherwise detained."
"Hmmm," Larenzo mused the smile had left his face too. "Sorry Ca'rol I'm not buying it. I'm willing to guess that your ship attacked Kenzato and that you told the Kenzaton's that we were responsible. I'm also betting that this Gul Sherat is down there now and that you were hiding here hoping that we would leave in accordance to Kenzaton wishes and never discover your presence."
"This is an outrage," fumed Ca'rol.
"Outrage or not here is what is going to happen," glared Larenzo. "You are going to power down your shields and weapons so that we can lock onto your ship with a tractor beam. We are then going into orbit around Kenzato and you are going to explain to the Kenzaton's EXACTLY what happened."
"We don't take too kindly to threats Captain."
Larenzo smiled again, "Most people don't. You, however, are hardly in a position to argue. It wouldn't take much effort to obliterate your ship."
Larenzo could see that someone was conferring with Ca'rol. The Cardassian looked back at the screen sullenly, "Fine Captain we will comply with your wishes."
Larenzo nodded for the transmission to be cut off.
"Shields and weapons have been lowered," informed the tactical officer.
Lock on tractor beams," Larenzo commanded.
"Tractor beams locked."
"Take us back to an orbit around Kenzato."
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President Makell continued to smile as he watched Sherat and waited for the Starfleet officers to come back. Sherat was looking steadily more nervous as he watched the door. Finally the others arrived and Makell turned to great them, still with a cold smile on his face.
"Commander Johnson, let me introduce you to Gul Sherat. Gul Sherat this is Commander Johnson, Counsellor Trent, Dr Munroe and Lt. Hant of the USS Pegasus," said Makell watching them as he made the introductions.
Makell noticed that all four officers stiffened at the sight of the Cardassian Gul. Sherat on the other hand had managed to place that smile back on his face.
"Ah Commander, I hear you are trying to place blame for the attack onto us," said Gul Sherat in what sounded like a friendly tone.
Commander Johnson smiled back, "We have heard that you are trying to do the same to us Gul Sherat."
"I only state the facts as we see them Commander. After all we had to chase your ship away."
Trent raised his eyebrows, "I really don't remember that event taking place."
"Besides, how are Cardassians supposed to be able to carry out an attack when our own world is in such turmoil?" continued Sherat, ignoring Trent's comment.
Johnson looked faintly amused, "If your world is in such turmoil then how ere you able to chase our ship away?"
Makell sat quietly as he listened to this little exchange. Already he had had enough of their petty bickering and decided that it was time to interrupt it, "I think that is quite enough gentlemen. Regardless of who is blaming who my own people are now checking the energy signatures even as we speak?"
It wasn't long before they had the results through.
"Tests confirm that the energy signature of the weapons used do not belong to the Federation ship," came the voice of the secretary.
"Thank you," Makell looked to Sherat to see his reaction.
Sherat didn't look flustered, "Of course they would. The Federation are trying to deceive you by using our weapons."
Johnson rolled his eyes, "Mr President we cam here to seek peace and friendship. The Cardassians however are after your organic technology. They admit their world is in turmoil. With your technology they could rebuild more quickly."
Sherat just glared at Commander Johnson. Makell was stunned. Was this true? It seemed highly unlikely. Organic technology was something he had always taken for granted. Yet he felt inclined to believe this Federation.
"Mr President, Captain Larenzo wishes to speak to you again," came the voice of his secretary.
Makell had it patched through and once again Captain Larenzo appeared on screen.
"Captain Larenzo," Makell greeted. "I'm glad you could join us in this conversation."
Larenzo gave him a nod, "I found something that may be of interest to you. We came across a Cardassian ship hiding behind your sun. The young officer in charge while Gul Sherat is absent has admitted that they were responsible for the attack."
"Ca'rol," growled Sherat.
Makell turned to Sherat and stared at him, "I want you off my planet and I don't want to see you here again."
"But surely.." began Sherat.
"Enough," Makell shouted. "I don't want to hear any more from you."
Makell then turned back to the screen, "Captain I wish to apologise for these accusations."
"Apology accepted," Larenzo smiled, genuinely this time. "I also want to apologise for the behaviour of these Cardassians. My officers will take Gul Sherat off your hands as they return to Pegasus. You have my word that they will pay for their crimes."
"Thank you Captain," Makell replied relieved that this was over. He knew though that Kenzaton life would never be the same again.
The Cardassian ship answered his hail almost immediately. A young Cardassian appeared on the screen. 'I wonder where the Gul is', Larenzo thought.
"This is the Cardassian ship Talor," the Cardassian replied. "We were under the impression this was Kenzaton space not Federation space."
Larenzo leaned forward in his seat smiling, "I'm aware of that. However, your ship had to cross Federation space to get here and if I'm not mistaken you have to go into Federation space to leave again."
"Captain I thought we were allies," the Cardassian said feigning surprise. "We are here as friends of the Kenzatons."
"That's true we are allies," Larenzo replied conversationally. "Since we are allies and you are here as friends of the Kenzatons then perhaps you wouldn't mind answering one question for me. Why are you hiding?"
The Cardassian smiled back, "We are not hiding Captain but surveying. I don't know if you had noticed but this sun is emitting higher radiation than we would normally expect from this type of sun. Our scientist's wished to study this phenomenon and here seemed to be the perfect place to do that."
"I'm sorry, what's your name?" Larenzo asked and then dismissed his own question. His eyes flashed dangerously, "I wasn't aware that Cardassian ships carried scientists."
"My name is Ca'rol and Starfleet doesn't have the monopoly over scientists." The smile had now left his face.
"Where is your Gul?"
Ca'rol shifted a little uncomfortably, "Gul Sherat is otherwise detained."
"Hmmm," Larenzo mused the smile had left his face too. "Sorry Ca'rol I'm not buying it. I'm willing to guess that your ship attacked Kenzato and that you told the Kenzaton's that we were responsible. I'm also betting that this Gul Sherat is down there now and that you were hiding here hoping that we would leave in accordance to Kenzaton wishes and never discover your presence."
"This is an outrage," fumed Ca'rol.
"Outrage or not here is what is going to happen," glared Larenzo. "You are going to power down your shields and weapons so that we can lock onto your ship with a tractor beam. We are then going into orbit around Kenzato and you are going to explain to the Kenzaton's EXACTLY what happened."
"We don't take too kindly to threats Captain."
Larenzo smiled again, "Most people don't. You, however, are hardly in a position to argue. It wouldn't take much effort to obliterate your ship."
Larenzo could see that someone was conferring with Ca'rol. The Cardassian looked back at the screen sullenly, "Fine Captain we will comply with your wishes."
Larenzo nodded for the transmission to be cut off.
"Shields and weapons have been lowered," informed the tactical officer.
Lock on tractor beams," Larenzo commanded.
"Tractor beams locked."
"Take us back to an orbit around Kenzato."
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President Makell continued to smile as he watched Sherat and waited for the Starfleet officers to come back. Sherat was looking steadily more nervous as he watched the door. Finally the others arrived and Makell turned to great them, still with a cold smile on his face.
"Commander Johnson, let me introduce you to Gul Sherat. Gul Sherat this is Commander Johnson, Counsellor Trent, Dr Munroe and Lt. Hant of the USS Pegasus," said Makell watching them as he made the introductions.
Makell noticed that all four officers stiffened at the sight of the Cardassian Gul. Sherat on the other hand had managed to place that smile back on his face.
"Ah Commander, I hear you are trying to place blame for the attack onto us," said Gul Sherat in what sounded like a friendly tone.
Commander Johnson smiled back, "We have heard that you are trying to do the same to us Gul Sherat."
"I only state the facts as we see them Commander. After all we had to chase your ship away."
Trent raised his eyebrows, "I really don't remember that event taking place."
"Besides, how are Cardassians supposed to be able to carry out an attack when our own world is in such turmoil?" continued Sherat, ignoring Trent's comment.
Johnson looked faintly amused, "If your world is in such turmoil then how ere you able to chase our ship away?"
Makell sat quietly as he listened to this little exchange. Already he had had enough of their petty bickering and decided that it was time to interrupt it, "I think that is quite enough gentlemen. Regardless of who is blaming who my own people are now checking the energy signatures even as we speak?"
It wasn't long before they had the results through.
"Tests confirm that the energy signature of the weapons used do not belong to the Federation ship," came the voice of the secretary.
"Thank you," Makell looked to Sherat to see his reaction.
Sherat didn't look flustered, "Of course they would. The Federation are trying to deceive you by using our weapons."
Johnson rolled his eyes, "Mr President we cam here to seek peace and friendship. The Cardassians however are after your organic technology. They admit their world is in turmoil. With your technology they could rebuild more quickly."
Sherat just glared at Commander Johnson. Makell was stunned. Was this true? It seemed highly unlikely. Organic technology was something he had always taken for granted. Yet he felt inclined to believe this Federation.
"Mr President, Captain Larenzo wishes to speak to you again," came the voice of his secretary.
Makell had it patched through and once again Captain Larenzo appeared on screen.
"Captain Larenzo," Makell greeted. "I'm glad you could join us in this conversation."
Larenzo gave him a nod, "I found something that may be of interest to you. We came across a Cardassian ship hiding behind your sun. The young officer in charge while Gul Sherat is absent has admitted that they were responsible for the attack."
"Ca'rol," growled Sherat.
Makell turned to Sherat and stared at him, "I want you off my planet and I don't want to see you here again."
"But surely.." began Sherat.
"Enough," Makell shouted. "I don't want to hear any more from you."
Makell then turned back to the screen, "Captain I wish to apologise for these accusations."
"Apology accepted," Larenzo smiled, genuinely this time. "I also want to apologise for the behaviour of these Cardassians. My officers will take Gul Sherat off your hands as they return to Pegasus. You have my word that they will pay for their crimes."
"Thank you Captain," Makell replied relieved that this was over. He knew though that Kenzaton life would never be the same again.