Summon the Thunder

That can’t happen, regardless of the cost.

“So,” he said after a moment, “if it wasn’t the Klingons and it wasn’t us, who the hell was it?”

T’Pry

Turning his attention once more to the viewscreen, Reyes folded his arms across his chest and said nothing as he rubbed his chin with his right hand. He was surprised to note the presence of beard stubble along his neck and jaw line. What the hell time was it, anyway? How long had he been on duty today?

Maybe that’s why you’re so damned tired.

Ignoring the question, he instead concentrated on the chart. A two-dimensional representation of this area of the Alpha Quadrant, the display outlined the gap of space sandwiched between Tholian and Klingon territory. The Federation border was to his left, while nothing on the right rimward side of the image was labeled, signifying the area as unexplored.

Had someone from that section of uncharted space come calling for their own purposes? Perhaps the explanation was even simpler, with a species indigenous to the Taurus Reach acting out against what they perceived as aggressive action. If that were the case, would such people make distinctions between Klingon, Tholian, or Starfleet ships? Were Federation colonists in danger from a known enemy, or instead a foe that had yet to make itself known?

Considering what had happened to Captain Zhao and the others on Erilon, Reyes knew these were not unreasonable questions. Every piece of new information regarding the Taurus Reach begged another question: If a new player is moving into the neighborhood, is it in any way co

We’ll be in the front row of the biggest conflict we’ve seen in more than a century.

“What are the Tholians pla

“Lack of resources, I suspect,” Jetanien replied, moving across the office to stand next to Reyes. “So far, Tholian attacks on Klingon vessels have been scattered, and they’ve been forced to employ fewer vessels than they’re accustomed to using. As a result, their tactics have been largely ineffective and they’ve been forced to retreat. Likewise, the Klingons lack the ships, perso

Cocking his head in the Chelon’s direction, Reyes eyed his friend warily. “Do they teach you to talk like that in ambassador school?”

“Absolutely,” Jetanien answered without hesitation. “It’s a required course of study, you know.”

Reyes shrugged as he turned to move back behind his desk. “I can see how it comes in handy when you’re negotiating,” he said as he lowered himself into his seat. “You just bore everyone to the point they’ll do anything just to make you shut up.”

Bowing formally, the ambassador held his rather large right manus to his chest. “Yet another veil pulled back from the shroud that protects the grand secrets of diplomacy.”

“Gentlemen,” T’Pry

Despite himself, and the personal and professional stresses he had shouldered during the past month, Reyes chuckled at the Vulcan’s perfectly delivered, straight-faced observation.

Remind me never to play poker with her.

“Don’t tell me,” he said as he regarded the commander, “you’ve got a plan to make this all go away.” In the short time since she had been serving aboard Vanguard, T’Pry

Her right eyebrow rising in a distinct arch, T’Pry

“Humility? That’s a first for me,” Reyes said. He could not readily recall T’Pry

It was especially true in T’Pry

Had the ends justified the means?

Pushing away the thoughts while knowing they would revisit him in due time, Reyes turned to Jetanien. “Okay, what’ve you got up yoursleeve?”

“It seems the most prudent course of action would be to bring our resident Klingon and Tholian delegations together for a summit of sorts,” the ambassador replied. “Perhaps by working together here, we can hammer out some form of accord that’s agreeable to all parties.”

The very notion of the Klingons, Tholians, and Jetanien all corralled into the same room for any length of time sent a fresh stab of pain to Reyes’s temples. “Why don’t I save us some time,” he said, “and just activate the station’s self-destruct protocols?”

Though Vanguard currently played host to diplomatic envoys from the Federation as well as the Klingon Empire and the Tholian Assembly—a measure seen as a judicious forethought at the time of its institution—Reyes himself had questioned the prudence of the idea. Tholians of any professional stripe could be counted upon to be reserved and paranoid in all their dealings with those not of their own race, and in that regard could be somewhat predictable. Klingon politicians, on the other hand, could be a

Or any politician, for that matter.

Despite his misgivings, Reyes was forced to admit that having representatives from the other governments had to be of some benefit with regard to the current situation. What he wondered though was whether Jetanien, even with his impressive record of diplomatic achievements, was up to confronting the formidable task of bringing the Tholians and Klingons to the same negotiating table.