10
A large, dark-blue Valerian land vehicle with big rubber tires rolled up to the barricades just outside the embassy and Owens watched with some displeasure as the Marines all around him brought up their weapons to track the ground vessel as soon as it had approached.
It came to a halt and the side door slid open to allow a middle-aged Valerian with dark long hair to step outside. He was a short man, Owens had at least half a head on him, but he carried himself with dignity, his chin up and his shoulders straight. Like many male Valerians he had a somewhat craggy face with large round nostrils positioned underneath his eyes, and flanking his high and prominent nasal ridge. He wore a long leather-like coat which fluttered slightly with the wind.
“Chief Magistrate Yoral.” Owens pressed his palm against his own chest which he had since learned was a traditional Valerian greeting gesture. “I am Captain Michael Owens from Starfleet. Thank you for coming.”
The smaller man looked up at Owens, then considered Deen at his side, his eyes widening for just a brief moment before noticing the armed Marine detachment just behind them. He glanced back at Owens. “Yes, yes, Sharval has spoken off you. You are the one who believes he can solve our dilemma.”
“I am certain that with your help we will.”
He puffed a little bit. “I’m a busy man, Captain. I’m chief magistrate for the entire southern region so you can imagine that I don’t have much time to waste on trivial matters and folly undertakings.”
Owens tried hard not to frown. “Sir, I do not believe any attempt to end this war to be either trivial nor folly.”
“Yes, yes,” he said again. “Fine. Let’s see if your actions are as convincing as you’d like your words to be.”
“This is Lieutenant Deen, she’ll escort you into the embassy.”
She stepped forward, repeating the greeting. “Chief Magistrate, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
Her presence seemed to help lift his mood, albeit only slightly, and he mirrored the greeting for her, something he had not done for Owens. “Yes, yes,” he said. “You are a quite pleasing individual. Now, let’s not waste any more time.”
She nodded. “This way, Chief Magistrate.” She pointed towards the entrance of the embassy. He puffed a little bit more and then set out.
Deen exchanged a quick look with her captain, making it obvious that she didn’t think even her natural charm would do much to make this man more agreeable, before she followed him.
They didn’t get all too far. The Marines insisted on checking the magistrate before he set foot into the building which included a scan as well as a manual pat down. Predictably the magistrate was not happy with this and made his displeasure known, threatening to turn and leave on the spot. Only Deen’s soft reassurances seemed to keep him from putting up with the procedure. And only barely.
Owens didn’t follow straight away. Instead he glanced towards the vehicle. When nobody else emerged from it he walked up to it and looked inside to find Sharval in the plush passenger compartment. She was sitting way back in her seat with her feet up on another one, clearly having made herself comfortable. “Hello there, Sky Knight. One chief magistrate delivered as promised.” She wore that grin again which Owens had to admit was beginning to grow on him. Even if the nickname didn’t.
“Are you not coming?”
She shook her head. “I told you I’m not setting foot in there.” She indicated with her head towards the building behind him.
“Unless you absolutely have to.” He remembered her words. “You don’t think this qualifies? A chance of ending this war and getting rid of all us meddlesome aliens.”
Her smile widened. “They’re not all bad.” Sharval continued before he could say anything. “Besides, I’m not a diplomat. I leave that to you and Yoral.”
“Right,” he said. “By the way, you could have warned me about his general disposition.”
“I’m sure you’ll get along famously.” Another wide grin. “Good luck, you’re going to need it.” And with that she knocked against the side of the vehicle.
Owens had barely enough time to jump back as the door suddenly slid shut and the vehicle sped off. He shook his head slightly as he watched it disappear behind a corner. He turned and quickly headed into the embassy to follow Deen and the magistrate.
He found them in the large conference room he had chosen in which to hold the talks. Like most of the interior of the building, this one too was elaborately decorated with gold rimmed and red satin covered cushioned chairs and a long wooden table adorned with golden legs. A huge crystal chandelier hung from the high ceiling and the walls were decorated with large paintings from Earth’s classical period. The most famous of which was a replica of the
Oath of the Horatii depicting three brothers and Roman soldiers pledging to their father while he held their swords above them.
Owens was sure the painting appealed to Lam for the sense of loyalty and dedication to one’s country that it invoked. But Owens also remembered that the tale behind the painting was about the promise to end a war. For that reason it was strangely appropriate to their current situation. He hoped that differently to the events that were to follow the depiction in the painting, he could achieve this without further bloodshed.
Yoral showed little interest or appreciation of the foreign art surrounding him and seemed to fidget a little bit in his chair next to Deen. Opposite to him sat Gul Belore. One of Lam’s administrative assistants sat in the corner and two lightly armed Marines guarded the door. They came to attention as soon as General Lam entered, followed by Major Wasco.
The flag officer regarded the room and its occupants for a brief moment before he found himself a chair at the most remote end of the table to sit down. Wasco took the chair next to him.
Owens would have preferred if Lam had taken a more central position but for now he was glad he had everyone in the same room.
“Thank you all for coming.” Owens took a seat at the table and regarded the people in the room, especially Lam and Yoral who he noticed did not make eye contact with each other. “The purpose of us meeting here like this is to discuss the immediate future of Valeria. At least as far as the Starfleet and Cardassian presence is concerned. As you are all aware, the war between the Federation and the Dominion has ended and a peace treaty is now in effect between both powers as well as with the Cardassian Union which is no longer formerly associated with the Dominion. I believe I speak for all of us when I say that our most important task now is to ensure an end to the ground war here on Valeria which has cost thousands of casualties on both sides as well as among the civilian population. Both Starfleet Marines and the Cardassian forces are urgently needed back home to help our respective people rebuilt after the costly fallout which has devastated so many worlds.
While we do not currently have the resources to remove all the fighting forces on this planet and return them to their homes, we can and must prepare both sides for their imminent withdrawal. The best way to do this is to agree to an immediate cease fire which will put an end to hostilities between all parties.”
Lam glanced at Owens. “Captain, if I may?”
“Of course, General, please go ahead.”
The Marine commander looked at the only Cardassian in the room, then briefly glanced at Yoral before looking back at Owens. “As the supreme commander of all Starfleet forces on Valeria I understand why I am part of your summit here but I cannot see Gul Metral anywhere. How do you hope to agree a cease fire without his presence?”
Owens nodded slightly, admitting to the difficulty. He along with Sharval and Belore had tried to get in touch with the Cardassian officer again but with little success. Of course he doubted that even if they had been able to talk to Metral he would have agreed to enter deeply into Federation controlled territory and sit down with him and Lam. Thankfully he was not entirely empty handed on this front. He looked at Yoral. “Chief Magistrate, perhaps you could tell us what you have been able to achieve regarding Gul Metral?”
The Valerian returned an empty look in response.
“I believe you had some success being able to communicate with Gul Metral.” Owens hoped the clarification would prompt him to speak.
“Yes, yes.” He spoke quickly and nodded. “However it was not me who spoke with him. I am in close contact with the other magistrates including the one responsible for the northern region in which Metral has his command post.”
He stopped there as if he had explained everything. The room fell quiet and most eyes regarded the short Valerian.
Owens suppressed a sigh. “And?”
“And my counterpart has imparted to him that we are holding these talks with an interest to resolve the conflict. Metral has let him know that he would very much be interested in finding a solution himself.”
The captain glanced back towards Lam but judging by the general’s mien didn’t find him convinced at all.
Belore noticed this as well. “And of course I am fully authorized to speak on the behalf of the Cardassian Union as well whose leaders are committed to ending the Valerian conflict and returning all troops to Cardassia.”
Lam looked at the man suspiciously. “Forgive me, Gul Belore, but from all I have been told, there isn’t much more of a Cardassian Union left. You expect me to believe that a man like you who seems to have been a senior military officer for a very brief time can speak for whatever is left of your government?”
“It pains me to say this, General, but we are now a conquered and occupied people,” said Belore. “The terms of the Treaty of Bajor have put all Cardassian military decisions temporarily into the hands of your allied occupational authority. What is left of my people’s civilian leadership, as transitional as it may be, supports all its decisions and those which would see remaining Cardassian troops being returned home.”
“Spoken like a true diplomat.” Lam sounded perhaps a little too dismissive, like a man who didn’t much cared for that profession. He glanced back at Owens. “My concerns about a possible Cardassian overreach on Valeria, with or without the blessing of this Cardassian leadership Gul Belore speaks of, have not been assuaged, Captain.”
“And I understand your position, General. However the Valerians are an independent people. As Federation representatives, whatever our own concerns may be, they have to be purely secondary to theirs.” He offered the floor to Yoral but it turned out the man had to be prompted yet again. “Chief Magistrate, I believe you have brought a document.”
“Yes, yes.” He produced a data padd from his coat. The movement caused the Marines at the door to tense but thankfully that was all they did. He placed the slate onto the table and then slid it over so that Lam could consider it. “It contains a statement drafted on the behalf of the Valerian people and signed by myself and my fellow magistrates which declares that we wish for a withdrawal of all foreign troops from Valeria.”
Lam looked the document over and then glanced up again. “And I assume you would expect us to make the first move?”
Owens shot Lam a sharp look. “Somebody has to, General.”
He shook his head. “It would be a mistake and an invitation for Metral to take control of the rest of Valeria.”
“That will not happen,” said Belore.
“You don’t know that for certain and it’s a risk I am not comfortable taking. Even with the peace treaty in effect, what is to stop Metral to break with his people who as you say are already defeated elsewhere? With out us, Metral would have free reign to claim Valeria for himself.”
“General, this is simply not our decision to make.” Owens wasn’t afraid for his voice to take on a somewhat sharper edge now. “We have to respect the wishes of the Valerian people in this matter.” He shot Yoral an intense look to make sure he’d not miss his chance to make his point.
The man didn’t hesitate this time. “It is our wish for your troops to leave.” He managed to sound just as stern as Owens now. “We are willing to take the risk you have implied, however we are assured by Gul Belore as well as what we have learned from channels coming from Gul Metral, that the Cardassian troops have no intentions on staying on our world.”
Lam considered that for a moment. “The supreme monarch would disagree.”
“General, with all due respect, the deal you’ve made with the supreme monarch is not a binding one. He wields no legitimate political power on Valeria and I believe you know that.” Owens’ tone was becoming increasingly icy as he spoke. Perhaps it was not a good idea to push Lam too hard but Owens could tell that he had the military man on his back foot now, desperately trying to legitimize a war which couldn’t be legitimized.
“The risk is still too—“
“The risk is not ours, General.” Owens interrupted him. “You have already lost thousands of men in this war. Thousands more have perished on the Cardassian side and among the Valerian populace. It is our job now to put an end to the dying. Not one more person must lose their lives for a war which is already won.”
Lam glared at Owens. “And I will see to it that their deaths were not in vain.” Lam shot back with twice the intensity Owens had showed and forcing the room into silence once more. He was more settled when he spoke again, shaking his head slightly. “You may not see, Captain, but I know what’s going to happen here. I’ve seen this kind of thing before. Metral is not just going to give up, he too has lost too much to be able to convince himself to simply pack up and go home. No, he will see his people conquered and defeated and he’ll look at Valeria as his chance to make Cardassia strong again. Without us standing in his way, he’ll have no problem taking this world. And then one of two things is going to happen. Either we let it be and watch silently as he slowly but surely burns this world to cinders like they did to Bajor, or the Federation will learn from its mistakes and ask us to come back here and take him out. And once we’ve lost our foothold on this planet it is going to cost us immensely more resources and blood to remove him from his entrenched position.
I am not willing to accept either of those scenarios and as such I say no to you, Captain. And I say no to you, Magistrate. Not because I enjoy war and suffering but because I want to prevent it.”
Owens wasn’t sure what he could possibly say at that point. Lam was absolutely convinced of the truth of his words, that much was obvious. Even if it went against everything that he and the Federation were suppose to stand for. He didn’t know if two years of uninterrupted warfare on a remote planet had changed General Lam or if he had always thought this way. He didn’t know what it would take to make him change his mind. He didn’t even know if it was possible. “General Lam, the Valerians do not want us here. Whatever consequences may arise from our withdrawal are not for us to ponder at this time. The Prime Directive specifically forbids us to get involved in their affairs.”
“We are already involved, Captain. Can’t you see that? We have been involved for two years. And we have died defending these people. I am not going to stop now just because it seems no longer convenient to do so.”
Owens stood. “Convenient for whom, General? You or them?” Anger was now asserting itself in his tone. “You speak of your sacrifice on this world and I am truly sorry of the people you have lost here. But even you must see that this was never about Valeria. It cannot be about Valeria. This is and always has been about us and the Dominion. And we have all bled and suffered in that war. A war we have won, General. At a high cost. But you are making this personal.”
Lam stood as well. “How dare you—“
“You are a Marine, are you not, General? You have your orders from Command. Stand down and prepare to return home. Follow you orders.”
The two men, standing at opposite sides of the table and ignoring everyone else assembled in the room, were now staring daggers into each other, neither willing to back down from their position.
It appeared Lam gave in first as he took his seat again. He looked over the padd Yoral had given him. Then he placed it back on the table. Face down. “Captain Owens, you will immediately order your ship to transport to this location Echo Company currently stationed on your vessel as I will take control of that unit and temporarily attach it to Second Regiment, Fourth Division. Further to this you will transport a number of engineers, building materials and replicators to assist in completion of a fusion energy plant.”
Owens shook his head. “I’ll be doing none of those things, General.”
Lam shot the other man a sharp look. “In which case I am invoking Starfleet directive 175-b, subsection four, and take command of all Starfleet forces and vessels in this system in response to a direct and imminent threat to the Federation and its interests.”
“There is no such threat and you know it.”
Lam stood again and gestured to his assistant. “Lieutenant, make contact with
Eagle and advise them that I am now in command and have them execute my orders at once.”
The man nodded and stood, quickly heading towards the exit.
“Safe yourself the trip.” Owens glanced back at the general. “
Eagle wouldn’t be able to follow that order even if they wanted to. She’s no longer in orbit around Valeria.”
Clearly this had come as a surprise to Lam, judging by the anger in his eyes. “You ordered your ship away from this planet while fully aware that I required its resources?”
“No,” said Owens. “They are responding to a distress signal in a neighboring sector. But I have to say that after witnessing the clear overreach of your authority which you have displayed here today, I cannot say that I regret sending them away.”
Lam was fuming. “Captain Owens, I’m placing you under arrest.”
“What?” Deen stood, total surprise evident on her features. “On what grounds?”
“For the willful obstruction of ongoing and essential Starfleet operations and for consorting with known enemies of the Federation.” The general spoke without hesitation and then gestured for his guards who quickly took position at either side of the captain.
A tiny but humorless smile was beginning to tug at Owens’ lips. He knew exactly what was coming next, suddenly understanding Lam’s game perfectly. And he knew he was too late to stop it.
“You didn’t really think I would miss that you were having private meetings with Sub-commissioner Sharval?”
“A Valerian peace officer.”
“A suspected criminal.”
“You never had any intention on taking this peace talk seriously, did you, General? You came here with only one intention. Getting me to support your private little war or if not, take command of my ship.”
“You gave me no choice.”
Yoral stood. “This, this is an outrage.”
Not a moment later another, more heavily armed detachment of Marines entered.
“Sergeant Thelos, escort the captain to the detention complex. Lieutenant Deen, Gul Belore and Magistrate Yoral will keep him company there.”
Yoral basically trembled with anger. “You cannot do this.”
“On the contrary, Magistrate. I have the full cooperation of your supreme monarch to identify and detain any Valerians which pose a threat to Starfleet and Valerian interests alike. People like you.”
Wasco left his chair now as well. “General, don’t do this.”
Lam turned to the other Marine. “You better start deciding whose side your on, Cesar. Remember who you are.”
“I’m a Marine, sir.”
Lam nodded. “Precisely. And you know as I do that sometimes we must make the hard choices. For the greater good.”
Owens looked at Wasco and then back at Lam. “A great number of tyrants throughout history have used that very same rationale, General. Are you sure you want to be in that kind of company?”
“With time even you will understand, Captain, I’m sure of it.” He glanced at the Andorian Marine who was leading the armed detachment. “Sergeant, please take them away.”
Thelos nodded but couldn’t quite hide a little smile, clearly enjoying that particular order after his previous run-ins with the Starfleet captain. He made sure to grab Owens’ shoulder personally, a little harder than he needed to, and dragged him towards the door. “This way,
Captain.”
The other Marines quickly gathered Deen, Belore and Yoral and escorted them out of the door as well.
“I really hope I’m not a fool for thinking that getting us thrown into jail is all part of your great master plan here.” Deen spoke quietly to Owens as they were being shackled outside the conference room and then led down the corridor.
Owens didn’t respond to her. There was no point in letting her know that things had gone horribly wrong. Not that the evidence was not already firmly pointing that way anyhow.
He had to admit that he had always liked to see himself as somewhat savvy in diplomatic settings when he had to rely on nothing more than his wit and a strong argument to convince others to see things his way. This time he had lost control as well as some of his cool when facing Lam but then again he was no longer certain if there was an argument in existence strong enough to be able to cut through General Xiaogang Lam’s absolute dedication to the course he had embarked upon.
Owens knew without a shadow of a doubt that if they could not find a way to change it soon, it would be thousands of innocent lives that would have to ultimately pay the price for his diplomatic failure.
* * *