Steepling his fingers contemplatively before his pursed lips, Soval said, “Vulcan, Andoria, and Tellar have each agreed to defer their final decisions about whether to declare war on the Klingons until after Earths military experts present us with a new intelligence briefing on the issue.
Minister al-Rashid nodded, thankful for whatever restraint the other Coalition membersparticularly the Andorianswere willing to exercise.
“This decision is only a provisional one, of course, Thoris said in a cautioning manner. “As far as the Andorian government is concerned, at any rate. My people are not in the habit of allowing threats of incursion to grow unchecked, whether they arise near our homeworld or our colonies. But my government has agreed to stay the hand of the Imperial Guard for the momentat least until we have more complete information about thisKlingon problem.
“Thank you, Samuels said. Coming from the notoriously touchy Andorians, this was practically a declaration of pacifism.
Lets hope their restraint lasts long enough for us to find a way to keep the whole Coalition from being dragged into a major shooting war,al-Rashid thought. And to keep our allies at our backs in case diplomacy with the Klingons fails at the end of the day.
“Regarding the other matter before this body, Soval said, “I believe we have come to a far more definitive decision.
“You are referring to Minister al-Rashids compromise proposal regarding Alpha Centauris petition for Coalition membership? said Samuels.
The prime ministers gaze broke with Sovals long enough to communicate very clearly to al-Rashid that there would be hell to pay if the Coalition continued tearing itself asunder over this extraordinarily sensitive issueparticularly with a Klingon war apparently looming on the horizon.
“Indeed, Soval said. “We have all decided to accept the interior ministers compromise offer. Vulcan, Andoria, and Tellar will support Alpha Centauris admission to the Coalitionif Earth and Alpha Centauri will both support the simultaneous admission of Draylax.
Li displayed a smile of gratitude that gave every appearance of utter sincerity. “Alpha Centauri will be pleased to share with the Coalition of Worlds all the mutual defense responsibilities to which we have already committed with both Draylax and Earth, she said.
Just as our nonhuman allies will no doubt be delighted to share in Alpha Centauris shipbuilding resources via the Coalition,al-Rashid thought as he cast a grin back at Li. It would certainly suit their individual governments interests better than allowing humanity to keep those resources all to themselves via exclusive Earth-Centauri arrangementseven if they still dont much like the idea of humans getting more than one vote on the Coalition Council.
Ambassador shRothresss next utterance almost made al-Rashid wonder if the Andorian woman had somehow read his thoughts. “Andoria, likewise, will be pleased to dilute the resulting overly strong human plurality in the Council vote by adding anothernew nonhuman member to our alliance, she said, nodding toward Grethe Zhor, who stared back in silence, her vertical pupils revealing no emotion; Ambassador shRothress seemed to be trying to demonstrate that her people were most definitely notkowtowing to Earth or any other world, in or out of the Coalition.
“I trust this new Coalition member will prove far less disagreeable than have my esteemed Andorian colleagues, said Gral, who bowed his porcine, gray-maned head toward Grethe Zhor with uncharacteristic deference. Then al-Rashid noticed that the Tellarites gaze lingered a little too long on the Draylaxian womans conservative gray tunic, and the three breasts it concealed. Why that particular anatomical detail seemed to fascinate Gral escaped al-Rashid completely; he thought it unlikely that Draylaxians would be considered attractive by the esthetic standards of Tellarites, who considered six nipples the norm as far as he knew.
Though she made no reply to Gral, shRothresss antennae flattened slightly against her scalp, signaling her displeasure with the Tellarites insult. But such exchanges were nothing new, al-Rashid reflected; as long as the Andorians and the Tellarites werent reaching for knives or phase pistols, he wouldnt worry.
Maybe my plan wont go down in history alongside the Missouri Compromise,al-Rashid thought, looking down at his hands, which remained placidly folded on the tabletop. But it should keep the Coalition from coming apart at the seams, at least for another few months.
He heard several sets of footfalls approaching rapidly from the back of the auditorium. Looking up, he saw a small group of uniformed humans walking almost at a march directly toward the council tables. At the forefront of the group were four gray-haired men, three of whom wore formal Starfleet uniforms, complete with neckties, while a fourth was attired in MACO dress whites. All four men were distinguished from the small cluster of aides and security personnel that partially surrounded them not only by their bearing, but also by the impressive array of medals and ribbons displayed on their chests.
Right on schedule,al-Rashid thought. The time had finally arrived for the military briefing that might well prove to be the basis for a horrific war. He knew he could do little now other than pray that whatever was to come next, the coolheadedness of the Vulcans would prevail over the excitability of the Andorians and the Tellarites.
May whatever these men have to share with us today not tear open the wound of blind fear we all have worked so hard to suture,inshallah.
Admirals Gregory Black and Sam Gardner formed almost matching bookends flanking Captain Eric Stillwell of Starfleets tactical technological branch and the commandant of United Earths MACO forces, General George Casey. Since all four military officers were already familiar to the assembled delegates, Gardner wasted no time on introductions, opting instead to plunge straight into his much-awaited briefing about the latest news concerning the Klingon situation.
“Captain Jonathan Archer has just uncovered critical new information while he was on the Klingon homeworld of QonoS, Gardner said without preamble. “In short, Captain Archer has determined that the Klingons are notresponsible for the recent acts of aggression that have occurred in the Draylax system.
“Allah be praised, al-Rashid muttered as the Andorian and Tellarite delegates erupted in a gabble of surprise and consternation.
“It would appear that Captain Archer has once again performed a great service to this alliance, Soval said, raising his voice slightly in an effort to restore decorum to the room.
“May we assume that you have hard evidence to back up thisextraordinary claim? Gral asked, his piggy eyes overflowing with suspicion. The Andorian contingent seated near him appeared equally skeptical.
“We do indeed have such evidence, said General Casey, nodding. “The audiovisual records supporting Captain Archers findings will be made available to each of you later today. He paused momentarily before adding, “I must admit up front that the quality of the images is less than optimal; as with many intelligence finds of this sort, it had to be obtained using less-than-optimal means, and under less-than-optimal circumstances.
Something in the MACO generals tone warned al-Rashid that pressing him on those “less-than-optimal means and circumstances would be less than welcome.
After the two Starfleet admirals had finished spending the next twenty minutes furnishing the details of Archers fateful discovery, Soval said, “Attacking the Klingons would have been a grievous error on our part. Despite his peoples vaunted emotional control, the Vulcan foreign minister looked somewhat rattled by the enormity of what the Draylax affair had nearly caused.