"No, thank you very much, Governor," Picard said, waving aside the proffered tray. "We really do not wish to take up much of your time."

"Yes, yes, there are so many demands upon my time," said T'grayn, wearily. "Still, it is not every day a Federation starship captain pays me a visit. Most of the dignitaries call on the overlord at N'trahn. Sadly, they don't pay very much attention to us out here in the colonies."

"Well, we did pay our respects to Overlord J'drahn, but I also considered it important to pay a call of courtesy on you, as well, Governor," Picard said. "D'rahl is an important planet. N'trahn may be the K'tralli homeworld, and a beautiful world it is, but D'rahl is a major shipping center and K'trin a thriving port city. As such, it bears great importance for the Federation."

"Yes, yes, we are always so busy here," T'grayn said, with a dismissive wave. "There is no end to all the aggravation. So much traffic, so much business, so many things to see to. I scarcely have any time to myself at all."

"Yes, Governor, we realize you must be very busy," Picard said, keeping a straight face, "so I shall get directly to the point. We have been dispatched here to a.s.sist the commander of Starbase 37 with the problem posed by the freebooters in this sector."

"Oh, yes, how very tiresome," said T'grayn, with an expression of distaste. "Freebooters, freebooters, that is all Captain Gruzinov ever seems to talk about. You would think I had nothing else to do but drop everything and concentrate on his problems alone. As if I could do anything about the freebooters! I have no ships with which to pursue them! Here we have only small transports and merchant vessels. The K'tralli fleet is under the direct authority of Overlord J'drahn, and he a.s.sures me that everything in their power is already being done to address this vexatious problem. I honestly don't see what more I could do. I do hope you understand that, Captain."

"Yes, of course," Picard said. "Doubtless, you have many more problems taking up your limited time."

"It is not as if I am unsympathetic, after all," T'grayn said. "But I understand these freebooters are well armed, and one of them even has a cloaking device! Can you imagine! How could my small and lightly armed patrol vessels stop a ship they cannot even see?"

"Precisely, Governor," Picard said. "Which is why Starfleet has dispatched us to a.s.sist you with this problem. A cloaking device in the possession of a freebooter like Captain Blaze is an alarming development, indeed, and raises the likely possibility of Romulan involvement."

"Captain Blaze, Captain Blaze, I am sick and tired of hearing about Captain Blaze! He is the bane of my existence! Who knows where Blaze got his infernal cloaking device? Perhaps he got it from the Klingons. They also possess cloaking device technology, do they not? And there is no telling what Klingons would do!" He popped two more crystals, apparently oblivious to the fact that he had just insulted Picard's chief of security. Worf stiffened, but at a sharp glance from Picard, kept his peace with an obvious effort. "Ah! Delicious! I truly wish there was something more that I could do to be of help with this annoying freebooter situation, but they plague the shipping lanes in s.p.a.ce, and I have my hands full with problems on D'rahl, as it is. I am limited in my resources, after all."

"I understand entirely," said Picard. "Which is why I have instructed my investigative team to use their own resources and avoid troubling you with their work."

T'grayn frowned. "Investigative team?"

"Overlord J'drahn has a.s.sured me of his complete support in our efforts to apprehend the freebooters," said Picard, "so I was not going to trouble you with any unreasonable requests. I realize you are a very busy man, Governor, and Overlord J'drahn has already officially granted his approval. However, I did feel it was inc.u.mbent upon me, given your esteemed position, to call upon you formally in this regard before we began our work."

"I see, I see," T'grayn said, looking a bit distracted. "What sort of work?"

"Well, D'rahl is a center for commerce in this sector," said Picard. "And as such, the city of K'trin sees a great deal of merchant traffic. I thought it might be helpful to a.s.sign an investigative team to conduct interviews with some of the transient merchant crews, as well as local businesspeople and perhaps some of your law-enforcement personnel, in an effort to gather information that could help us learn something more about these freebooters."

"Yes, yes, I understand," T'grayn said. "But I was under the impression that Captain Gruzinov had already conducted a similar sort of investigation."

"Indeed, he has, Governor," Picard replied, "but I fear that it has not yielded any significant results."

"Well then, I fail to see the point in repeating the entire dreary process," said T'grayn, with a frown.

"Perhaps it would be merely a duplication of effort, Governor," Picard replied, "and it may well produce no better results, but I have my own superiors to answer to and they shall want to see reports that every possible effort was made to conduct a thorough investigation. I must at least go through the motions, purely as a matter of form, you understand. We cannot remain in this sector indefinitely, after all, and I am anxious to get my ship back out on patrol. That is where I feel we have the best chance of success."

"Yes, I see, I see," T'grayn replied. "Well, do whatever you feel you must, Captain Picard. I will see to it that our law-enforcement officials are advised of your effort and extend their fullest cooperation." He clapped his hands and spoke to a member of his entourage. "See to it that Captain Picard receives whatever he requires."

"Thank you very much, indeed, Governor," Picard replied. "And now we really have taken up enough of your time. I do appreciate your seeing us."

"My pleasure, Captain, my pleasure. Do feel free to call upon us again."

"Thank you, Governor, you are most kind. Oh, there is one other small matter. I understand that the distinguished Colonel Z'gral, a hero of the K'tralli revolution who was instrumental in the signing of the treaty leading to your membership in the Federation, resides here in K'trin. I would be remiss in my duties if I did not pay a call on him as a courtesy."

"Regrettably, Captain, Colonel Z'gral is in very poor health these days," T'grayn replied, "and is not receiving any visitors. It would be quite a strain on him, at his age, and he has requested that his desire for privacy be respected. I am sure you will understand. He is one of the Empire's leading citizens, and has devoted a lifetime of service to our people. It is the very least that we can do to allow him to live out his final days in the peaceful solitude he craves. However, I will be certain to pa.s.s on your respects to him."

"Thank you, Governor, I understand, of course," Picard said. "And now we really must be going. You have been most accommodating. I will be sure to mention that in my report."

T'grayn inclined his head and made a grand gesture with his hand. "It was my pleasure, Captain Picard. I am always glad to be of a.s.sistance to the Federation."

As they left, Worf growled deep in his throat. "That man will be about as much use to us as a phaser to a Denebian slug!"

"Which is about what I expected, Mr. Worf," Picard said. "What did you make of him, Counselor?"

"A most unappealing man, Captain," Troi replied, "and thoroughly duplicitous. He was not at all pleased to learn of our presence here, and even less pleased at the idea of our conducting an investigation. I distinctly sensed that he saw it as a threat. However, his concern seemed to abate somewhat when you told him that you merely had to go through it as a matter of form, for the sake of your reports."

"Yes, I thought that would be wise," Picard said. "If he thinks that we are only going through the motions here, and counting on stopping the freebooters in s.p.a.ce, he may be lulled into a false sense of security."

"Perhaps, Captain," Troi replied, "but despite his manner, he is a devious individual. When he told you that Colonel Z'gral was in poor health and did not wish to receive any visitors, I sensed it was a lie."

"I thought as much," Picard said. "However, I was in no position to press the issue. The important thing is that we received his official sanction to conduct our investigation. Were you able to get all that, Mr. Data?"

"Loud and clear, Captain," Data replied, from the ship.

Worf glanced at Picard with surprise. "Your communicator was active the whole time?"

"Yes, Mr. Worf. We now have recordings of both my conversations with Overlord J'drahn and Governor T'grayn."

"So they will not be able to protest that you interfered and conducted an investigation without their prior approval," Troi said. She smiled. "Very clever, Captain."

"I, too, can be devious, Counselor," Picard replied. "And I was very careful not to state what sort of investigation it would be, or how many people would be involved."

"So the governor's approval could be construed to apply to Commander Riker's undercover team, as well," said Troi.

"He did say, 'Do whatever you feel you must,' and that was a direct quote," Picard replied. "I would interpret that as a carte blanche, Counselor. We may be walking a rather fine line here, but since T'grayn is not telling us everything, I see no reason to be completely candid with him, either."

No sooner had they left the garden than an abrupt change came over Governor T'grayn. He clapped his hands and dismissed his entourage, and his expression grew very serious as his eyes narrowed and he swore softly under his breath. He reached into the folds of his robe and withdrew a Romulan communicator. "You heard?" he said.

Footsteps sounded behind him on the path. "Yes, I heard," said the figure who stepped into the plaza. Physically, he resembled a K'tralli, but his Romulan military uniform labeled him as something else entirely.

"He could be trouble," said T'grayn.

"A Galaxy-cla.s.s starship is always trouble," said the Romulan. "But trouble can be dealt with."

"Must you wear that uniform?" T'grayn said, tensely. "Your presence here is risky enough as it is."

"With a Federation starship in orbit above this planet, if I am caught in civilian garb or K'tralli uniform, I could be executed as a spy."

"The Federation does not execute its prisoners," T'grayn replied.

"So they claim," the Romulan replied. "I have no intention of finding out for sure firsthand. If something should go wrong and I am captured, it will be as a Romulan military officer."

"And if you are captured as a Romulan military officer, it could mean war," T'grayn said. "This Captain Picard is n.o.body's fool. He wanted to see Z'gral."

"You handled that very well," the Romulan replied.

"A call of courtesy," T'grayn said, scornfully. "A likely story! I see Gruzinov's hand in this. He must have told Picard that Z'gral is the only one who would stand a chance of convincing H'druhn of J'drahn's involvement with the freebooters. I know what Picard's after, but I could not very well refuse to let him conduct his investigation. Especially since he has already secured J'drahn's approval. And J'drahn could hardly have withheld it, under the circ.u.mstances. This Captain Picard is a more skillful manipulator than Gruzinov. I should have had Z'gral eliminated a long time ago."

"That could easily be arranged," the Romulan said. "Z'gral is old and has not appeared in public for a long time. You have already circulated stories about his supposed ill health. Death at his age would not appear untimely."

T'grayn compressed his lips into a tight grimace. "It must be handled quietly and efficiently," he said. "If I am tied to Z'gral's death, it would mean the end of me."

"Trust me," said the Romulan. "I will see to it. Have you heard from Blaze?"

"Yes, blast him for a fool!" T'grayn said, viciously. "He attacked the Enterprise and compounded his mistake by suffering damage to his own ship. He said some of the drive components were badly damaged and will have to be replaced. He barely managed to escape. And how are we going to resupply him now, with the Enterprise here?"

"Leave that to me," the Romulan said. "This possibility was foreseen. Blaze will not be out of action very long."

"The longer he is out of action, the better I will like it," said T'grayn. "The other freebooters have all suspended operations while the Enterprise is here, but Blaze is impossible to control. I told him to keep out of sight until the Enterprise departs, and he just laughed at me. At me!"

"Blaze is the sole reason the Enterprise is here," the Romulan said. "Picard will not leave until he has either captured Blaze's ship or else destroyed it."

"So then what are we to do?"

"Send Blaze back out to finish what he started," said the Romulan.

"Are you mad? You want him to destroy the Enterprise? Do you realize what that would mean? They would only send more ships to replace it! Besides, Blaze has never destroyed a ship. He cripples them and loots them."

"If he were to cripple the Enterprise, I certainly would not object," the Romulan said.

"And what if Picard should cripple him, instead? If he were to capture the Glory, then Blaze would implicate me!"

"And you would doubtless implicate J'drahn," the Romulan replied. "And me. I have no illusions about your keeping heroically silent, T'grayn. But if Blaze were to cripple the Enterprise and take her, it would give us access to all the secrets and technology of the most potent weapon in the Federation's a.r.s.enal. A Galaxy-cla.s.s starship would be quite a prize, indeed."

"On the other hand, if Blaze is captured, our involvement will surely be exposed!"

"True. But the Federation is weak. They shall not go to war over this. They will not be able to remove J'drahn from power, because their own Prime Directive would prohibit it, so they will have no choice but to expel him from the Federation. And then J'drahn will turn to us, for without the backing of the Federation, he could not survive. The K'tralli sector will become part of the Romulan Empire, and the boundaries of the Neutral Zone will be extended to cover it. Either way, we cannot lose."

"But I could lose!" T'grayn said, with dismay. "I could lose everything!"

"You should have thought of that before you decided to support the freebooters for your own gain," the Romulan replied. "You are in this much too deeply to back out now, T'grayn."

"But there is still H'druhn," T'grayn said. "He does not believe his son capable of corruption, but if it were proven beyond a doubt, and the K'tralli Empire faced expulsion from the Federation, H'druhn himself would remove J'drahn from power, for the good of the Empire."

"That would, indeed, be unfortunate for you," the Romulan replied. "If H'druhn were to return to power, or name a successor to replace J'drahn, then the K'tralli Empire would remain in the Federation, which means that J'drahn and his accomplices would be punished according to their crimes. However, I do not think J'drahn would go so easily, and General H'druhn is old. His death, like Colonel Z'gral's, would not seem at all untimely."

"You are talking about the a.s.sa.s.sination of the most revered figure in the Empire!" said T'grayn, in a low voice. "That is not the same thing as eliminating Colonel Z'gral! Z'gral is here, and under our control. H'druhn is on N'trahn, and protected by his own guard!"

"That is not my problem," said the Romulan.

"Surely, you cannot be suggesting that I ... ?" T'grayn's voice trailed off as he stared at the Romulan with disbelief.

"It would make no difference to me how it was done. You are the one with the most to lose, T'grayn. You and your partner in crime, J'drahn. He would be the most logical choice to carry it out. I am sure you could convince him of the necessity."

"But ... his own father?"

"If H'druhn is everything you say he is, then he would be no less sparing of his own son," the Romulan replied. "Especially considering the extent of his betrayal. J'drahn knows that perfectly well. Why else would he have gone along with imprisoning Colonel Z'gral?"

"But suppose the Federation does not expel J'drahn?" T'grayn asked. "They have a starbase in this sector, after all, and the colony on Artemis VI. To keep them out of Romulan hands, they might be willing to pardon him and merely impose some sort of sanctions."

"I am afraid they would not have that option," the Romulan replied. "Open acknowledgment of J'drahn's involvement with the Romulan Empire would mandate his expulsion, according to their own laws. They could not depose him and violate their Prime Directive, the very foundation on which the Federation stands, nor could they pardon him, for that would violate their own Federation Accords and render them meaningless. Expulsion would be the only choice left to them, whether they liked it or not. And we would graciously allow them time to move their starbase and evacuate Artemis VI."

"By the G.o.ds! You have planned all this from the beginning!" said T'grayn.

"Of course," the Romulan replied. "And very carefully, too."

"You have played me for a fool," T'grayn said, bitterly. "And J'drahn, as well."

"You and J'drahn have played yourselves for fools. It was merely your own greed that made you think our motivations were similar to yours. We did not go to so much trouble and expense merely for a percentage of the profits in your freebooting operation."

"No, your ambition was considerably greater," said T'grayn. "You were after the whole Empire. And you accuse me and J'drahn of greed?"

"What I have done, T'grayn, I have done for the glory of the Romulan Empire. What you and J'drahn have done was line your own pockets, and in the process, you have sold out your own people. However, I shall not be ungrateful. For my efforts, I stand to be appointed military governor of the K'tralli Empire, and I shall need pliable administrators. You and J'drahn will have secure positions that will enable you to maintain your decadent lifestyles. You may keep your odoriferous garden, stuff yourself to your heart's content, and administer Romulan law on D'rahl. Your people will not love you for it, but then again, they never did, did they?"

The final mission briefing was always the most important, thought Picard as he strode briskly down the corridor. It was the last opportunity to pick up on anything that might somehow have been overlooked. It was not the first time crew members of the Enterprise would be functioning in an undercover capacity to gather information, but it was still an uncommon sort of a.s.signment. He always worried about them. And this time, several missions would be proceeding simultaneously.

Lieutenant Worf and Counselor Troi had already had their final briefing and beamed down to the surface of D'rahl, along with three crew members from ship's security. Picard would have liked to send more, but they were supposed to be an investigative team dispatched to work with local authorities that were ostensibly cooperative. Picard felt that sending a larger landing party might make it appear as if he didn't trust T'grayn. Of course, he didn't, but it had to appear as if he did, even if Governor T'grayn had no illusions on that score. It was all a complicated dance, a dumb show of diplomacy where no one said what he really meant and everyone had his own hidden agenda.

Now it was time for Riker's team to beam down. Picard was a great deal more concerned about them than he was about Worf and Troi's team. T'grayn would make sure that they were safe. He would also try his best to make sure they didn't learn anything of substance, which was why Picard had sent Deanna Troi along. He could count on her to sense any deception, and the K'trall did not realize she was half Betazoid, with empathic abilities. But T'grayn would make sure that nothing happened to them.

On the other hand, Riker's team was going in without any safeguards at all, and they would be circulating in the most dangerous areas of D'rahl's capital city. Merchant s.p.a.cers were a tough and unruly lot, and many merchant captains were not too particular about who they recruited for their crews. The merchant s.p.a.ce fleet had become a refuge for all sorts of borderline personalities- people who were fleeing from their troubles, social malcontents, hardened adventurers, even criminals who had gone to s.p.a.ce to escape the authorities on their homeworlds. Taking on a fugitive from justice to serve aboard a merchant ship was a violation of the Federation Maritime Code, but even the best-intentioned merchant captains could be fooled by cleverly forged papers. Some simply didn't care, so long as they could claim that they'd been fooled.

Liberty ports were often tough, freewheeling cities, and if law-enforcement efforts were lax, the neighborhoods where s.p.a.cers went to unwind often attracted crime. Transient s.p.a.cers were often easy pickings for muggers and prost.i.tutes, con artists and gambling sharks who knew the territory better than they did. And in many liberty port cities, the local authorities had enough to worry about just with keeping order. If a transient s.p.a.cer got in trouble, he usually had to fend for himself. And given what he already knew of Governor T'grayn, Picard was fairly sure that local law enforcement was likely to be as corrupt as the administration.

Riker and his party were already waiting in the transporter room when he arrived. They were all dressed in navy blue, like merchant s.p.a.cefleet officers, but since uniform requirements in the merchant fleet were never observed too strictly, Riker had wisely chosen to personalize their costumes somewhat. They all wore short black boots and blue trousers and shirts, but Riker also wore a short black leather jacket with a wide, open collar and epaulets. He had various merchant fleet patches sewn to it, some identifying ships, others ports of call, and he also had the name STRYKER painted in military block letters over the left breast pocket of the jacket. He had combed his hair differently, as well. He usually brushed it up and back, but now it was more casual, parted on the side and down over his forehead.

La Forge had opted for a dark blue, loose-fitting tech's utility jacket with numerous pockets, just the sort of thing a Merchant s.p.a.cefleet engineer would favor, and Lieutenant Dorn had on a brown, Klingon-style armored vest. She had also let her hair down, and wore it in a loose ponytail.

"Well, what do you think?" Riker asked, as Picard looked them over.

Picard shook his head. "You look like three of the sorriest s.p.a.ce b.u.ms I've ever seen," he said. "On D'rahl, you should fit right in."

"That was the general idea," Riker said. "We're carrying merchant fleet issue communicators, so we won't have anything on us that could be traced to Starfleet."

"What about phasers?" asked Picard.

"I thought about that," Riker said. "But merchant s.p.a.cers aren't equipped with phasers, and K'tralli law prohibits the carrying of energy weapons without proper authorization. Despite the temptation to carry them concealed, I didn't want to ask for trouble with the authorities. They would also blow our cover if we had to use them. So we're leaving them behind."

Picard nodded. "Yes, that's probably wise," he said. "But I'm not at ease about you beaming down without any weapons at all."

"I didn't say we were doing that," said Riker. Lieutenant Dorn pulled out a wicked-looking alloy knuckleduster, and Geordi had a stun rod. Riker pulled aside his jacket, revealing a huge knife in a leather sheath.

"Good Lord. Is that a bowie knife?" Picard said, with astonishment.

"I had it replicated," Riker said. "I think it's the sort of thing my character would wear."

"Your character?"