Present
Enterprise
The bridge crew held their collective breath.
"Captain, vectoring received," Nicola announced five minutes later.
"Wise choice," Pike muttered under his breath. He then ordered, "Number One assume a geosynchronous orbit."
"Yes sir. And?" she asked.
"The next move belongs to the Aschaski," Pike replied. He continued standing near the helm and navigation consoles, hands clasped behind his back. The second officer, the ship's security chief, quietly entered the bridge.
Minutes ticked by.
"Captain," the tactical officer on duty called, his voice louder than needed to be heard over the hum of instruments and the quiet conversations of those manning stations and their numerous backups, "two of the orbiting defense platforms have activated."
Isak placed a steadying hand on the ensign's shoulder.
"Their targeting software is online," Spock reported from the science console.
At Number One's nod, the navigator, Amin, called up the control panel for Enterprise's shields; her finger hovered a centimeter above the activation icon.
"Their guidance systems are pinging our hull," Spock continued in a monotone.
"Captain, their weapons just armed," the tactical officer announced, his voice pitched higher than usual, alarm bleeding in. "Suggest we charge phasers." He stifled the word please.
"Are their weapons hot?" Pike queried.
"No sir."
Pike stared at the viewscreen. Then he said, "Let them snort and paw the ground. Maintain our current status." His body's stance remained poised and without tension.
The tactician looked to his superior and mouthed, "Snort and paw?"
"A horse metaphor. You'll get use to them," Isak explained softly.
Minutes ticked by.
Spock raised from his viewer. "Aschaski defensive orbital platforms remain on alert; however targeting software is disengaged. Their weapons status is now unarmed, repeat unarmed."
"Nicola send our greetings to the office of the Triumvirate. Request a private meeting with its leaders," Pike ordered.
Minutes ticked by.
"Captain, Goe, Ambassador Plenipotentiary for the Aschaski Triumvirate, representing the Huangdi of the East, the Chief Executive Officer of West, and the Secretary General of the Commonwealth offers their salutations in return. He is prepared to beam on board Enterprise and awaits your convenience."
Pike stifled his impulse to circle the bridge while formulating a response. He never paced with an audience. Instead, he sat in the command chair at the center of the room, spine straight and leaning forward. The crew tended to the nonstop work of operating a starship while remaining alert for new orders.
"Nicola, establish a visual, wide angle, let them see the entire bridge," Pike ordered. Isak crossed large arms across his six-foot-six frame, flexing his well-developed deltoids and biceps.
"Ready, sir," Nicola said.
"Ambassador Goe," the Captain deliberately paused while the Aschaski eyes' swept the nerve center of Enterprise, the most advanced ship in the fleet. "Your flexibility is appreciated. However, I repeat my request to visit your planet. As a neutral party in this conflict, it is important I understand the needs of both sides when negotiations for a permanent treaty resume at the end of this cease fire. Is it not?"
Trap set, Number One thought.
Goe held Pike's gaze. Pike returned this with a serene faint smile thinking, If Goe's eyes were lasers, I'd be bored through.
"Captain Pike, your guidance and fairness during the work for an equitable truce, the temporary," Goe emphasized, "cease fire, was noted and appreciated. We already believe your intentions are honorable. And do not wish to waste your limited valuable time. Therefore an in-person visit planet-side is unnecessary. We continue to accept you and Captain Georgiou as intermediaries." Goe paused. In a tone almost menacing he warned, "Tend to your own."
Nice shot across the bow, Isak thought.
"Your sentiment is admirable, and I thank you," Pike replied in a pleasant tone.
Goe failed to hide his satisfied, triumphant smile.
"Yet …"
Goe's smile faded.
Pike's forehead creased, his expression and tone of voice now communicating concern. "Yet, having witnessed the suffering of the Noohran people, especially those in the mountain villages, my … neutrality requires, shall we say, strengthening."
"I agree the losses are regrettable," Goe said in a soft and he hoped sad but reverent sounding tone of voice. "But this is the nature of war." He then added adamantly, "We must defend ourselves."
This time Pike's gaze bored through the Ambassador. He stood. "You cannot be the aggressor, the instigator of war, and claim defense as a shield … without allowing a more thorough examination of your own circumstances."
And trap sprung, Number One noted.
"I'm certain you appreciate our planetary leaders are busy ministering to their people during this trying period."
Pike remained silent.
Goe steepled his fingers. "Very well. We require time to prepare for your arrival. Tomorrow morning? When the sun nears apex?"
"That is 11:00," Spock softly translated for the Captain.
Number One swiveled her chair in Pike's direction. He favored her with a sideways glance. She subtlety nodded once.
"Your gracious invitation is accepted. My second officer and my science officer will accompany me."
Goe's chin dropped in acquiesce. "Until then Captain." He abruptly cut the transmission.
"Interesting," Number One mused.
"Indeed," Pike agreed.
"Why, Captain?" Spock asked. "Why give the Aschaski time and opportunity for masking that they do not wish us to see?"
"Because what they choose to hide speaks volumes," Pike replied. "Nicola, Mann, and Spock, survey publicly available print publications as well as all broadcast channels, voice and vids. Feed the information to the sociology team." His hand stayed Spock's next question. "Stick to public for now, though at some point we may need to dig deeper. I'll expect a briefing by 7:00am on your findings and how those findings do or do not change our understanding of the Aschaski. Until then we shall be patient. Mann you have the conn. Commander, Number One, join me please."
The doors to the ready room had barely closed when Isak observed, "So the Aschaski have the balls to threaten a heavy cruiser. What ace in the hole are they holding?"