Chapter 44:

Admiral Tarabai Kamath, a non-magical Human, commanded the fleet. The flagship had a conference center prepared. MACO Minister Ling headed the delegation. She had been part of Khan's group from its beginning. She led an organization called Military Assault Command Operations, similar to the one in Canon. It was the Solar System's equivalent to a combined army and marines, while Starfleet was the equivalent to its navy and air force.

On the bridge of the USS Vikrant, the tactical officer declared, "Fleet of 16 starship sized ships are holding position. A small ship is detaching from it and heading towards us."

Following a preplanned contingency, the communications officer said, "USS Vikrant to approaching ship. You are welcome to dock with this ship and come aboard for a conference. Guidance lights will show the way to the docking port."

The response was made audible to the entire bridge, "The Andorian Empire accepts this invitation."

The communication officer announced, "There is constant subspace communication between the scout ship and the fleet."

The protocol for docking a ship included magical shields that would prevent the hole in the shields needed for coming on board to be used as a way to attack the starship. In case of hostilities on board the starship, the corridors and rooms had a variety of magical and technological devices to suppress hostiles as well as hostile drones, as soon as hostile actions might be initiated.

The scout ship docked and four Andorians came aboard the USS Vikrant.

MACO Minister Ling bowed slightly from the shoulders, as seemed to be the done in Canon, and said, "Welcome aboard the United Solar Ship Vikrant". After introductions, they were led to a conference room.

The Andorian, Bynil said, "Before we get started, would you object to my transmitting the audio of this meeting?"

Ling said, "No objections"

Bynil pressed a button and then said. "An interesting collection of ships here. Tellarites and Solars together."

Ling answered, "The United Solar Civilization and the Tellarites are allies."

Bnril asked, "Are you also allies with Vulcans?"

Ling answered, "No. Our meeting will help determine the future of all four of us in this region. Our appearance as a fleet is to help send a message that we can be significant allies or adversaries."

Bynil said, "We appreciate strait-forward honest communication. Whether we will be enemies or allies we respect that. What do you want?"

Ling answered, "We have long term goals and short term goals. Long term we want an alliance that includes both Andoria and Vulcan. Before you object to that, we realize that it will not be realistic until we and you together are stronger than the Vulcans. At that point, why ally with them? Together we would be stronger against much more powerful adversaries further away, than if we were to together defeat the Vulcans or exclude the Vulcans."

Bynil said, "We are listening. What are your short term goals, and how can we be sure that defeating Andoria is not on your agenda?"

Ling answered, "Our short term goals are: 1. Build up our technology and strength by cooperating. 2. Maintain peace among the four civilizations, including the Vulcans. 3. Settle borders among the us, and then focus our expansion in outward directions. In that context Tellar and Sol are settling new planets together. Perhaps at some point Andoria can join in that effort."

Bynil asked, "What will you do if Vulcan and Andoria have a full scale war?"

A Tellarite, Zhishlaag, answered, "That would be a foolish action that would hurt our future strength against much worse adversaries. We would likely stand by, but if we could prevent this war with threats of intervening we might consider that course of action."

Ling added, "We would want to be your allies in the context of an agreement with the Vulcans that we could help guarantee."

Zhishlaag added, "It is obvious that you do not truly care about the border disputes with Vulcan. Instead you worry that it is territory that they would use as a base to conquer your homeworld. We do not want them to conquer your homeworld and we also do not want you to fight them as idiots, with no real gain, but with long term loss to us all."

Bynil said, "We are familiar with Tellarite arguments and insults and will not respond the way we would if an Andorian spoke in the same way. I'll repeat what I said earlier. We respect honesty even if hostile. We would be most displeased if anything you were to say were to be a lie."

Another Andorian said, "I am Andorian Intelligence representative Tiriv. Tell me if anything I am about to say is wrong.

You have been telling the Vulcans camped out on a space station in the Solar System something similar to what you just said to us. You're main species includes a small number that have abilities to manipulate energy in ways not understood by the Vulcans, that you call magic. That same ability gives you information not otherwise known. Part of that information is a collection called Canon that shows an alternate future timeline that gives you information about the civilizations around you."

Ling answered, "All correct. I am one of those Humans who has magical abilities."

Tiriv continued, "Then you understand that we would be suspicious. I won't insult you by insisting on you demonstrating magic. I won't even doubt that Canon gives you certain information. However, when you show parts of Canon to influence others, how do we know that you haven't manipulated it, or for that matter, whatever its true source, hasn't manipulated you? That Canon has an agenda and that it might not be in Andorian interests to make decisions based on information from Canon that you might show us?"

Ling answered, "We have our own ways that prove that the Human source of Canon believed what is shown to be true. I recognize that it would be difficult to convince others of that conclusion. Canon has provided us with much helpful information, but a hypothesis that it would do so to a certain stage, including providing information that is later verified, and then later lead us to a predetermined course of action is not disprovable."

Tiriv said, "How can we know it isn't the Vulcans who are behind it? We know that some Vulcans have mental abilities that would also be called by magic by our understanding. Perhaps they have hidden much more extensive abilities such as implanting this Canon information to one or more Humans. They are capable of reading minds, and have an ability to transfer minds that they call a katra. We also know that they have had agents on Earth. A Tellarite ship once relayed a message from a Vulcan team stranded on Earth."

The Tellarite Zhishlaag answered, "Even though Canon at present leads Humans to be suspicious of the Vulcans, you argue that it could be a very complex plan that is to Vulcan's advantage and other's disadvantage. I also cannot disprove this."

The Andorian Bynil said, "Where does that leave us? You show up with a threatening fleet near our homeworld. You describe an agenda, and more or less say that we can cooperate or be enemies."

The Tellarite Zhishlaag answered, "You have made clear that Canon will not sway you. Our analysis of the situation of the four local civilizations, and the likelihood of other stronger civilizations to be encountered later, should still be valid."

Bynil answered, "But what if it were to be to Andorian advantage to ally with another empire?"

Zhishlaag answered, "That would be stupid. Empires expand sometimes by finding local enmities. They offer help, but then after consolidation become rulers of even the side that helped them. An alliance of four peer civilizations gives each of us a better chance of preserving our own civilizations."

Bynil answered, "And you said earlier your goal of advancing to the level of the Vulcans before adding them to that collection. It is true that the Vulcans advance slowly. Very well we have much to consider. Present how you will make Andoria stronger and our government will decide how to respond. It would be best if your fleet left the area, but you can leave behind diplomats and can carry our diplomats to both Tellar and Sol."

Ling answered, "We accept these next steps. Our diplomats will discuss possible agreements with your government."

[Planning meeting, March 2022]

Tellarite Ambassador Grashnish and Technology Envoy Rannerg were permanent parts of the planning meeting group. Tellarite leader Mirggond only occasionally was part of it, during the times he visited the Solar System. We didn't have enough confidence in even our one time pad encryption to want to discuss our greatest secrets over subspace radio.

I said, "The Andorians were much more careful and calm than they were shown in canon."

Khan answered, "They didn't attack the Vulcans when they first met either. Canon never showed them as berzerkers, at least not until they decided to fight."

Jonathan Pike said, "I guess having our delegation practice dueling with those Andorian ice cutting knives wasn't necessary."

Hermione asked, "Can you remind me why we let them on our ship carrying those knives and those handheld beam weapons?"

I answered, "We had sufficient magic and technology to prevent harm from a sudden attack. A formal request for a duel would have been granted, but we might have made use of the Andorian rule allowing a champion to be named. We determined that Ling could have defeated them, and by appearance they would not have expected that.

Beyond that, our spell casters will not ever accept having their wands kept from them. We'll accept that gentlemen are comfortable with their associates also being armed and know that they would follow dueling etiquette in the event of a need for violence. We would also expect everyone capable, to defend each other in the event of an unprovoked attack."

Daphne added, "I think the Andorians want to get us to fight against the Vulcans together with them. They were trying to persuade us that Canon was a Vulcan plot and implicitly that we should not fall victim to it."

Juan said, "They perceive that there is common ground with us. We each want to reach the level of the Vulcans. Cooperation with Andorians might make that faster for us. They will worry that we will maneuver to be able to perform a coup or invasion against Andoria in the course of appearing to help them."

Harry added, "Their intelligence operation is quite good. They probably know how we took over Earth governments. They also know that they do not have mental defenses."

Tracey added, "In Canon they think the only way to prevent a Vulcan invasion is to have the capability of doing significant damage to the Vulcans as a deterrent. They are probably working on the same against Sol and Tellar."

[July 2022]

Andoria sent a delegation that can negotiate a treaty to Jupiter Orbit Station. The Tellarite and Solar leaders were there.

Andorian Intelligence representative Tiriv addressed the conference, "First I must inform that if this delegation agrees to something that the home government considers out of character, that would be a cause for war. We know that both Humans and Vulcans have mind altering capabilities."

Khan answered, "Intelligence Leader Tiriv, I assure you that we will not practice mind arts on anyone during this conference, and have not ever tried to alter the minds of Andorians. Furthermore we are taking precautions to prevent such magic from being practiced here by anyone, whether by Vulcans or any others."

Tiriv continued, "Canon cannot be the basis for any agreement. While it may have contained hidden truths that you have verified, it might well contain nine truths and one lie that could cause decisions to be made against the long term interests of not only Andorians, but also Humans and Tellarites. You have acknowledged that you cannot disprove this possibility."

Tellarite leader Mirggond interrupted, "Fine. Let us look at the situation without Canon. You are weaker than the Vulcans and also close to war with them. While the Solar Tellarite Alliance might help balance power against Vulcan, at least in the future, it has no interest in doing so, except to stop Vulcan from engaging in preventative war."

Khan added, "Let us look at our long term goals. Whether you believe that the Romulans and Klingons will be threats that will need considerably more strength to counter than we presently have, you must assume that there is some empire out there that will have the same capability, ruthlessness, and likelihood of expanding in our area at some time in the future. Tiriv, do you accept that working theory?"

Tiiriv answered, "Yes, but before that time, there are other possibilities. The Klingons are fighting the Vulcans now. One possibility to consider is joining them against Vulcan. The Romulans we only know from Canon, but you have told us that they are also enemies of their cousins the Vulcans, or at least want to take them over and add them to their empire.

However, yes, if their strongest enemy, the Vulcans were eliminated, and either the Klingons or another empire prevailed over the other, we accept the working theory that they would not allow the independence of any of the three of us."

Khan said, "Excellent progress. Now let us review some of Canon, even if we do not all accept that it is completely true. Then we can build upon our progress towards an agreement another day."