Genre: StarTrek: The Next Generation

Title: New Civilizations

Summary: The conference doesn't go well.

Chapter 14

"Get me Captain Picard."

Within seconds Picard's concerned voice replied, "Doctor, I was just about to contact you. Is Will all right? Lieutenant Sugiki said you'd called him into Sick Bay."

She filled the captain in on the events. When she related Riker's odd behavior with herself, Commander T'Shing and the young nurse, Picard mentioned his observations of his manners to Worf on the bridge.

"But wait a moment," Picard interrupted himself, "You say the hat is alive?"

Beverly confirmed.

"And it seems to be holding onto his head?"

"Yes, which is how the virus is being transmitted. It's some bug that our wide range vaccinations simply don't cover. The diagnostic computer has a sample of Will's blood and I'm sure it'll quickly come up with something that will kill the virus and not Will; the problem is, we don't know what the vaccine might do to the animal. I'd hate to damage the mission by killing this thing, but I want to get it off of him. We've come up with an idea, although it could be harmful to the creature, so I thought I'd better talk with you. I don't imagine it'll help diplomatic relations to harm it. It might be their national symbol or something." Dr. Crusher found these last words hard to say. She had been charged with maintaining the health and well-being of people, especially the people on board the Enterprise. Allowing an animal to harm a person for the sake of friendly relations was outside her intentions. However, her commanding officer was now trying to set up a structure of diplomacy and it was part of her duty to provide support for his efforts, not tear it down.

Picard's sigh came over the ship's speakers quite clearly. "I'm afraid you're right. I'll have to talk with the Kronatina. I'll have Worf set up a vocal monitoring for you into Sick Bay so that you'll be able to hear me as I talk with them. If they impart any information that will get that animal away from Riker, use it immediately."

"Yes, Captain," answered the medic.

"And Beverly," the captain's voice became encouraging, "If they don't give us a satisfactory answer very soon, you may find your own solutions." He could not see her smile in the assurance that her captain supported her as much as she did him. "Keep me informed please, especially if there is any change for the worse."

A moment later Picard was talking with Worf on the bridge. "I'll want you to carefully monitor us. They may have a perfectly reasonable answer about why they gave us a creature with such dangerous capabilities but they may also have had ulterior motives and feel the need to take action against us. I want you to transport us out of here at the slightest hint of danger."

"Yes, sir. I suggest I send an armed security team down, now."

"Thank you, but I don't think so, not just yet. Just be prepared to get us out of here before we wish we had protection."

Worf's confirmation was plainly gilded with his disapproval. "I will have Chief O'Brien stand—Sir! the Ferengi vessel has just taken up orbit."

Picard's face took on an ironic expression. "Their timing is, as usual, remarkably annoying. Hale them and ask them to stand by please while I deal with the current situation. Say as little as possible to them." Picard knew better than to ask the honorable Klingon to tell even a white lie.

The face of the Klingon did not change expressions. "Aye, sir."

Picard continued, "I certainly hope that none of these precautions will be necessary. They should have no reason to want to undermine our activities at this point. Stand by, audio on. I'm ready to address the Kronatina now."

The scene on the large screen on the bridge reverted to the view of the planet as seen from orbit but Picard's voice as well as those of the Kronatina could still be heard.

"Oh, A's'kahn'a, I have just had some very disturbing news from my ship. Commander Riker, the one who was making his acquaintance with your representative, has fallen ill. Apparently, he has contracted a virus from the Kronatt. It was passed on to him because your representative has somehow gripped onto Commander Riker's head. It is also injecting chemicals that may have affected or may yet affect his behavior."

A slight sound of shuffling was heard and then a Kronatt voice, still much like a goat's bleat, said, "Is our representative all right? He is not injured? You have not hurt him?"

Picard was obviously choosing his words carefully. "As far as I know your friend is as fine as he was before Commander Riker collapsed, but our medical team cannot remove it from his head."

"He is safe, then?"

"No, Commander Riker is very ill and we're very concerned."

"But S's'haht'a is safe?"

"We don't know. It, he, is sitting on a seriously ill man!" Picard had to take a breath to regain his composure. "Please, can you tell us how to remove your representative from Riker's head?"

There was a sound of more shuffling. "It is not necessary to remove S's'haht'a. S's'haht'a should remain with your Riker."

"Please! I ask you how we can remove your friend without causing harm either to him or to my officer. My medical officer assures me that it will be best to remove, uh, to separate the two. Please, we mean no harm to S's'haht'a. You must understand that, in order to properly treat Commander Riker, we must inject him with a vaccine that may somehow harm S's'haht'a. All we ask is to know how to induce S's'haht'a to release his hold." Captain Picard's voice was acquiring the pitch and cadence so often familiar to the members of the Enterprise. Riker had once said of that quality, 'When Captain Picard talks like that, he could plead the Devil's case to a jury of religious fundamentalists and get him off with a light sentence.'

The Kronatina relented. "We would go to your ship-home and bring our friend home."

Dr. Crusher's voice sounded quietly from the communicator. "Captain?" The Kronatina could not hear the voice.

Picard bowed to the Kronatina. "A moment please. One of my fellows wishes to communicate." He turned his back on the diplomatic group. "Dr. Crusher?"

"If they come on board then they must do so without wearing those creatures on their heads. The virus is very likely transmitted only through body fluids, however, I don't know that, and I'd rather not take the chance."

Picard's voice lowered to a murmur, apparently in hopes of not being overheard. "Those things, as you call them, are apparently highly regarded members of their society. They're referred to as Kronatt in the same way as their...wearers."

Dr. Crusher's response was quick. "My apologies to the Kronatina. I don't wish to offend them. My policy remains the same. I'd welcome their aid but they must leave their. .friends behind."

Captain Picard raised his voice to be purposely overheard this time. "But, Dr. Crusher, are you not concerned that the rest of the Kronatina are carrying similar virus?"

"No, Captain." The answer was swift. "One of the duties of the original contact team was to check the Kronatina for diseases that could be transmitted to Federation members so biofilters of the transporters could be adjusted accordingly. They also developed antidotes and vaccines for anyone who was to go planet side. That is standard medical procedure. No one thought to check the headdresses."

"I see. Very well then." He turned to the Kronatina, "Oh, A's'kahn'a, I would welcome you aboard the Enterprise but we have one stipulation. I will have to ask you to leave your ah, fellows, er, those who you wear on your head, you must leave them behind when you accompany us to the Enterprise. It seems the biofilters on our transporter are not adjusted to their systems."

The goat voice screeched, "That is not possible! One cannot function without the other! Take us intact. Take us now! We wish to rescue our friend!"

Captain Picard's voice thundered over the distraught Kronatt, "It is not your friend that is currently at risk. It is my first officer who is at risk. If you cannot bring yourselves to come without your, your attachés," he could only hope this was a correct term, "then please, just tell us how to make this one who is with Commander Riker, let go!"

Worf fidgeted on the bridge while the sound of shuffling and mumbled words from the Kronatina came over the ship's speakers. Not only had the Ferengi been nearly insane over their lack of protection from the Romulans, but they had wanted to immediately transport down to the meeting. Only when the Klingon had hinted that Romulans might be present (Worf knew they were at a meeting somewhere on the planet, so it might be in the same room for all he knew), did they consent to wait to hear directly from Captain Picard before proceeding. They'd included that they'd be listening to the ongoing transmission to 'make sure they would not be dealt out of the picture behind their backs.' This, and the escalating situation on Kron, was making shivers of anticipation run up and down the Klingon's spine.

Captain Picard's voice spoke very quietly apparently strictly for Worf's benefit. "A Kronatt has just left the hall. I hope they're seeking wiser council."

A's'kahn'a, who was speaking also, sounded subdued. "If S's'haht'a does not have contact of one with whom he is familiar, if the Commander Riker does not agree that to part company is good, then our friend will find it best to stay where he is. You say S's'haht'a is in no danger. You say we may not rescue him. Your Commander Riker is ill and cannot agree to part company. We do not know what to do."

"You mean, you cannot tell us how to remove your friend from Commander Riker?"

"There must be our company present or agreement between the two."

"Dr. Crusher, would it be possible to transport Commander Riker down here?"

"I'm sorry Captain, I won't take that chance. He's stabilized only by constant monitoring of the medical equipment here."

"We seem to be at an impasse. Perhaps if you could explain why these fellows of yours are so important in your functioning—"

The sound of footsteps approaching could be heard by those on board ship.

A's' kahn' a' bleated, "You seem to wish to hold one of ours on your ship. We would like to make it so you will be our guest here."

"I am sure those are police approaching us. Now, Mr. O'Brien!"

The entire away team sparkled and faded away from Kron.

TBC to Chapter 15

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