On the screen, the Tholian appeared to lean closer, as though intrigued by the statement. “We know of some efforts by the Kling-ons to invade the sector of space you call the Taurus Reach, but according to our latest reports, their attempts to this point have been rather limited.”
Seeing his opening, Jetanien said, “That appears to be changing, Ambassador. Indeed, the Klingon Empire has recently laid claim to a mineral-rich world in the Traelus system, which is very close to Tholian territory. It is but one of several such systems the Klingons are planning to conquer. Unlike the Federation, they are unconcerned with the welfare of anyone who might already be living there. Such people will simply become subjects of the Empire. This may expand to include allies of the Tholian Assembly.”
“We will never allow such heinous acts,”Sesrene warned, though the tone of his voice even as filtered through the translation software running in parallel with the subspace communications relay still betrayed surprise at what Jetanien had reported. “Any form of military buildup in the Traelus system would provide a point from which to launch an offensive campaign into our territory. We cannot allow that to go unchallenged.”
“I am sympathetic to your concerns, Ambassador,” Jetanien replied. Sensing the Tholian’s skepticism, he raised a hand and added, “A Klingon invasion of your territory presents a problem for us, as well, as the Federation wants no part of the conflict which surely would result, and in which we would likely find ourselves trapped. While it’s too late for us with respect to the Traelus system, we obviously would like to avoid such an incident being repeated.” What he of course did not say was that he was still angry at the fact that his failure to detect the spy working on his staff, Anna Sandesjo, had allowed her to inform her Klingon handlers about Starfleet’s interests in Traelus II, if not the reasons behind wanting to subject the planet to further scrutiny. There was nothing to be done about that, Jetanien knew, though he might well be capable of turning at least part of the situation to his advantage.
“What are you suggesting?”Sesrene asked.
Adjusting himself to a more comfortable position atop his glenget, a backless chair constructed to support a Chelon’s physique, Jetanien said, “That we work together, Ambassador, against our common adversary. Though our diplomats are locked in seemingly unending negotiations with their Klingon counterparts, anyone with any experience in interstellar politics knows that the Empire is simply using such talks to provide cover as they mobilize for their next armed confrontation. It is their way, and always has been. What you and I have is an opportunity to perhaps serve both our peoples and enable them to be ready when the Klingons finally choose to strike.”
Sesrene seemed to consider that for a moment before responding, “For this to be of any use to us, we would need access to information which currently lies beyond our grasp, such as data on Klingon ship movements and targets for conquest. Are you in a position to provide such information?”
“Officially?” Jetanien asked. “No, but as we both know, there are occasions where diplomacy must be conducted in the shadows in order to succeed.” It would not be difficult to obtain such intelligence data, he decided, particularly given his current role as one of Commodore Reyes’s only on-site advisers with respect to Operation Vanguard. Getting that information to Sesrene or the ambassador’s duly appointed representative might prove more challenging. Still, if the Tholians could be informed as to the location and activities of Klingon assets within the Taurus Reach—in particular when such assets posed a threat to Tholian security, as was the case with a possible Klingon base in the Traelus system—that might go a long way toward keeping their attention occupied on matters away from some of the more sensitive missions Starfleet ships would soon be undertaking elsewhere within the region. It was impossible to know how much time such a ploy might buy the Federation as it continued its own investigations into the Taurus Reach.
Likewise,Jetanien reminded himself, you cannot predict whether what you propose might have other, costlier consequences.
As always, there were risks to be considered, but to Jetanien, such overtures on his part might be a step toward leveling the playing field so far as the Tholians and the Klingons were concerned. His actions today could help his efforts toward eventually bringing both parties as well as the Federation to some form of negotiations, which he foresaw taking place right here on Vanguard under his own guidance. If all worked according to his plan, he might well succeed in forging a lasting agreement between the three powers.
If his plan failed, he might well be responsible for embroiling the Federation in a massive, two-front war.
So, let us not fail, then.
“Allowing our respective peoples to become mired in conflict requires no effort or risk on our part, Ambassador,” Jetanien said. “However, I suspect you feel as I do and that you and I, given the roles we’ve chosen for ourselves, consider it our responsibility to help our leaders find a better way to resolve our differences. Surely, by working together we can present our governments with alternatives far more attractive than that of going to war with one another.”
Sesrene paused, perhaps to consider Jetanien’s words, before replying, “You have given me much to consider, Ambassador. We will contact you shortly with our decision.”Before Jetanien could offer any kind of response, the Tholian’s visage disappeared and was replaced by the image of the rotating polyhedron, before that too faded as the computer screen deactivated.
He sat motionless for several moments, reviewing the conversation that had just taken place. There could be no doubt that the Tholian ambassador would examine Jetanien’s offer from every possible angle. This would almost certainly include how to exploit such information so that it perhaps even turned the Federation and the Klingons upon one another, leaving the Tholians to collect whatever remained. Would they even be interested, given their demonstrated lack of desire toward anything within the Taurus Reach? That remained to be seen, but it was not something with which Jetanien could be concerned, at least for the moment. Embarking on the course of action he was envisioning was fraught with its own problems, not the least of which was how Anna Sandesjo fit into the equation.
Not just Sandesjo,he reminded himself, but T’Prynn, as well.
Based on his own observations as well as those of a few trusted assistants, Jetanien was certain that T’Prynn must now know that Sandesjo was a spy. Unsubstantiated accounts alleged that the two women had engaged in at least one clandestine romantic liaison. If that was true, and given what Jetanien knew of Vulcan telepathic abilities, he saw no means by which T’Prynn could have avoided learning Sandesjo’s true identity. Therefore, if she did know, then why had she not yet elected to inform Commodore Reyes? Was it possible that the Vulcan was pursuing some other agenda, and that Sandesjo somehow fit into that scheme? Perhaps T’Prynn was a spy herself, and was now considering a means of manipulating Sandesjo for her own ends.
Interesting.
Though he had considered taking this information to Reyes himself, Jetanien had opted against such action. Keeping Sandesjo in place and providing what she thought was valuable intelligence data to her superiors might prove useful, at least for now, as he continued with his own plans, or until such time as he could find a more overt way of turning her presence here to his advantage. Perhaps T’Prynn had similar thoughts, in which case she certainly had a head start on Jetanien. He decided he also would wait and observe that developing situation, in the hope that there might be something there for him to gain, as well.