Archer allowed a smile to begin spreading very slowly across his lips before he answered. “And not even Admiral Gardner himself can stop me.
“Not unless he wishes to commit a direct violation of the Coalition Compact, TPol said. “What should I tell the minister?
Archer did a few quick back-of-the-envelope calculations in his head. Enterprisewas on the inbound leg of this latest iteration of her Sisyphean journey, three to four days out from Earth at maximum warp, as near as he could figure.
“Tell her Ill be on Earth just as soon as Enterprisecan get us there, he said. “And with bells on.
One of TPols eyebrows launched itself skyward again. “Respectfully, Captain, I would recommend a more dignified choice of apparel. However, I will advise Minister TPau of your decision. And I shall instruct Ensign Mayweather to make best speed for Earth. With that, she turned back toward the door and exited, leaving Archer alone with the subspace-transmitted image of his fellow starship captain.
“Vulcan, Jon? Thats one hell of a back channel. Not exactly part of the officers manual.
His smile widened into a broad, triumphant grin. “When have you ever known me to stand on ceremony, Erika?
She beamed at him. “Nowthats the Jon Archer I know. By the way, I hope youll accept my apology for implying that you might have been replaced by some sort of overly complacent shape-shifting alien monster.
“No offense taken, he said, returning her grin at a comparable wattage. “It was just your frustration talking anyway.
Hernandezs smile abruptly turned mischievous. “Would you like me to tell Gardner about this, or do you want to break the news to him yourself?
Archer felt his own smile begin to sputter out, like an old-style propeller-driven aircraft running out of fuel.
“And theres yet another unpleasant reality to consider here, Jon,she continued, sounding grave.
“Whats that? Archer asked.
“You have to get busy preparing another big speech.
Though Hernandezs grin returned, what little remained of Archers own smile immediately stalled, crashed, and burned.
TWO
Monday, May 26, 2155 San Francisco, Earth
“T HE PRIME MINISTERS MOTIONamounts to nothing less than a blatant attempt by the human species to dominate this alliance! Gora bim Gral of Tellar shouted from behind the negotiating table. He punctuated his words by pounding his hirsute fist against the curved wooden table before him, then paused briefly to point an accusing finger toward the rostrum at the front of the room. “My people, for one, will not stand for it!
From his position at the central lectern that faced the semicircular array of conference tables that filled most of the main council chamber, Prime Minister Nathan Samuels thought that the murmur of reaction passing through the assembled Coalition of Planets delegates sounded uncomfortably like general agreement. Other than his nearby negotiating partner, Interior Minister Haroun al-Rashid, Samuels suspected that no living human besides himself understood as clearly as he did how truly rare it was for the Tellarites, the Andorians, and the Vulcans to achieve such a complete consensus regarding anyissue.
“Our advocacy for Alpha Centauris admission as the fifth member of the Coalition of Planets is hardly a bid for galactic domination, Samuels said with a mild smile, meeting the hostile glare of Grals dark, beady eyes without flinching. “Frankly, Earths Coalition delegation finds it surprising that the government of Tellar has chosen to make such an issue of it. Unless, of course, Tellar would prefer to make its own deals for access to Alpha Centauris abundant ship-building resources rather than allow them to benefit the entire Coalition.
But Gral clearly wasnt buying that line of argument today. Brushing off Samuelss question, he said, “Do you deny that the world you call Centauri III would be empty of sapient life but for the presence of a handful of cities built and inhabited by Earth humans and their descendants?
“Of course not, Ambassador Gral, Samuels said. “The history of Earths first extrasolar settlement is common knowledge.
Gral fairly snarled his response, pounding the table again for good measure. “Just as it is common knowledge that the admission of Centauri III to this body will give humans twovotes, rather than the one each to which Tellar, Andoria, and Vulcan are entitled, in both the general Coalition Council and Security Council. Why should the other members of the Coalition stand idly by while the human species effectively doubles its influence over every future decision taken by this alliance?
Haroun al-Rashid, the interior minister of the United Earth government, folded his hands atop the table nearest to Samuelss lectern. Still seated like the other Coalition delegates, he began speaking, his smooth voice carrying an equanimity that Samuels couldnt help but envy.
“And why should any of the other members of this body assume that the human species is a monolithic entity that always achieves unanimity on every issue? al-Rashid said. “I think we humans would be making a grievous error were we to harbor the same presumption about yourspecies, Ambassador Gral.
The Tellarites only vocalized response was a guttural, harrumphing growl, which may or may not have been a Tellarite curse that the rooms universal translator system had mercifully failed to recognize. Ouch,Samuels thought, suppressing a triumphant grin.
“The interior minister makes an important point, Ambassador Gral, he said aloud. “Moving in lockstep is not something that comes naturally, even to us humans. Im sure I neednt remind anyone here that it has been only five years since the last of our worlds great independent nation-states finally agreed to join the global government of the United Earth.
As he watched the grave nods that passed among the Vulcans and Andorians, the latter group displaying a potent mix of emotions via their writhing antennae, Samuels thought, I cant believe Im trying to mollify these people by pointing out how bad humanitys résumé looks when it comes to playing well with others.
Ambassador Jie Cong Li of Centauri III rose from her seat, the slightness of her form doing nothing to negate the quiet dignity of her bearing. The rooms assemblage of scowling Andorians, grumbling Tellarites, and stonily impassive Vulcans made no move to interrupt as the prime minister nodded to yield the floor to the Centauri representative.
“I do not wish to risk appearing overly agreeable with the ministers of the United Earth government, the Centauri woman said, filling the room with the round, resonant vowels that characterized her peoples dominant accent. “But I must point out that New Samarkand, Alpha Centauris capital, is a good deal more remote from the center of Terran power than was Australia, the last of this planets nonaligned nation-states to allow itself to be enfolded into the UE government. I therefore implore all of our friends and allies from here to 61 Sygni and Procyon and 40 Eridani A to mark this occasion well. It may be the last time in the careers of everyone assembled here that the Earth and Centauri governments agree on anything. Her grim smile provided the only clue that her words werent entirely serious.
Great,Samuels thought, his guts churning as the Centauri delegate quietly reseated herself. If Li and I keep this up much longer, these people are going to start wondering why the hell they signed the Coalition Compact in the first place.